What the decision means to you

[Gina]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/what-health-bill-means-for-you/

plug in your numbers and read and weep

[vesta111]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/what-health-bill-means-for-you/

plug in your numbers and read and weep

Scenario,------

Today thousands of part time government workers congregated on the streets of the city's and small towns to round up the homeless that did not pay for health insurance.

Workers were surprised at the number of people they had to issue citations to for not paying for their health insurance.  Jails are so over crowed that people on death row are released.

Hospitals and clinics have had to lock their doors as they cannot treat those without insurance.  Woman are giving birth in the parking lot and accident victims brought in by ambulance are dumped off the gurneys when they arrive if they have no insurance.

New construction is going on to provide a safe entrance for those insured, these are the privileged. Police and the toxic teams in city's are ramped up to remove the large number of dead outside the hospitals.   The Town council feels they should be removed fast  as tourest money will fall off if they remain in site.   

1760's ding ding bring out your dead, so far we have come.

[EagleKeeper]

Well...tough day indeed.

Anyway I've been trying to understand what just happened and although my understanding is still very much evolving.

The analysis that matches up the best with what I think so far comes from Slate(?!) of all places.

Obama Wins the Battle, Roberts Wins the War

The chief justice’s canny move to uphold the Affordable Care Act while gutting the Commerce Clause.

By Tom Scocca|Posted Thursday, June 28, 2012, at 11:59 AM ET
 

There were two battles being fought in the Supreme Court over the Affordable Care Act. Chief Justice John Roberts—and Justice Anthony Kennedy—delivered victory to the right in the one that mattered.

Yes, Roberts voted to uphold the individual mandate, joining the court's liberal wing to give President Obama a 5-4 victory on his signature piece of legislation. Right-wing partisans are crying treason; left-wing partisans saw their predictions of a bitter, party-line defeat undone.

But the health care law was, ultimately, a pretext. This was a test case for the long-standing—but previously fringe—campaign to rewrite Congress' regulatory powers under the Commerce Clause.
<snip>

Please read more at the link.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/scocca/2012/06/roberts_health_care_opinion_commerce_clause_the_real_reason_the_chief_justice_upheld_obamacare_.html


Am I full of it? I could very well be.

[Chris_]

I'm still trying to find someone that will explain what Roberts meant when he said you are not obligated to pay the tax, even though it's mandated by the ACA and enforced by the IRS.

[Kyle Ricky]

I plugged in $19,000.00 and lower and it came up where you will not have to pay for it? This is a married person with three people in the household.

Your coverage:

Right now:If you have been unable to obtain health insurance as a result of a pre-existing medical condition, you may be able to buy it through one of the “high risk pools” the law has set up in each state through the end of 2013. But the premiums in the pools vary and can be high.

Starting in 2014:Based on your income, it appears you would be eligible for Medicaid beginning no later than 2014. The law expands Medicaid to all individuals and families with incomes at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level. But the court found that states cannot be penalized if they decline to comply with the expansion, raising questions as to how effectively the federal government will be able to implement it.

Anything above $20,000.00 a year is responsible to pay.

[EagleKeeper]

I'm still trying to find someone that will explain what Roberts meant when he said you are not obligated to pay the tax, even though it's mandated by the ACA and enforced by the IRS.

The only sense of that I have so far is sorta like "Fine, you don't want to pay, that's your choice...the consequence of that choice is that you will then have problems with the IRS." If the law stands that is the obvious outcome.

I think that Justice Roberts voted the way he did is because he took the narrowest view he could and that was the administration did argue that it was a tax and Roberts agreed with that arguement as Congress does have the ability to levy taxes. Basically the opposite of judical activism.

Roberts also mentionend that it is not the duty of the court to judge on the wisdom of the law but only on its constitutionality and at first blush I think he did just that.

If one does not like bad law it's the duty of the people to get the right people into government.

[rich_t]

The SCOTUS just gave the other 2 branches a complete carte blanc on taxing us for breathing.

You just watch at all the new types of things they will try to tax.  A very dangerous precedent has just been set.

[EagleKeeper]

Oh...the other take away is that I have been reminded, again, that 99.99% of the talking heads on TV have no better understanding of things then anybody else.

[Bad Dog]

The only sense of that I have so far is sorta like "Fine, you don't want to pay, that's your choice...the consequence of that choice is that you will then have problems with the IRS." If the law stands that is the obvious outcome.

I think that Justice Roberts voted the way he did is because he took the narrowest view he could and that was the administration did argue that it was a tax and Roberts agreed with that arguement as Congress does have the ability to levy taxes. Basically the opposite of judical activism.

Roberts also mentionend that it is not the duty of the court to judge on the wisdom of the law but only on its constitutionality and at first blush I think he did just that.

If one does not like bad law it's the duty of the people to get the right people into government.

Dead on.  Obama has proven a real bad law can still be constitutional.  Roberts protected the Commerce Clause & state's medicade funds & sent the rest back to the idiots who elected Obama et. all.

[rich_t]

Dead on.  Obama has proven a real bad law can still be constitutional.  Roberts protected the Commerce Clause & state's medicade funds & sent the rest back to the idiots who elected Obama et. all.

Does the Commerce Clause even deserve to be protected considering how badly that Congress has abused the living hell out it it for over 100 years?

[EagleKeeper]

Does the Commerce Clause even deserve to be protected considering how badly that Congress has abused the living hell out it it for over 100 years?

I won't speak for Bad Dog, but, my personal view is that the majority opinion actually pushed back regarding use of the commerce clause.

Basicly putting a limit on its use.

[Bad Dog]

I won't speak for Bad Dog, but, my personal view is that the majority opinion actually pushed back regarding use of the commerce clause.

Basicly putting a limit on its use.

Exactly.  You may speak for me any time you wish.

[seahorse513]

I am so lost and confused by this whole orfdeal!!

I just don't understand any of this....
Can i ask a few questions?

1. Who is paying this tax??

2 IF I have insurance through work , I am happy with, do I still pay this tax???

3> If I do have to pay this tax, how will it be done?? Through my paycheck (like Fica, medicare??)?? a bill from the government?? at the end of the year, by the IRS??

4. Why do I have to pay this tax, when people who already on Medicaid don't have to, because of no/limited income??
This should get you started...
Is there a link perhaps ??

[Bad Dog]

I am so lost and confused by this whole orfdeal!!

I just don't understand any of this....
Can i ask a few questions?

1. Who is paying this tax??

2 IF I have insurance through work , I am happy with, do I still pay this tax???

3> If I do have to pay this tax, how will it be done?? Through my paycheck (like Fica, medicare??)?? a bill from the government?? at the end of the year, by the IRS??

4. Why do I have to pay this tax, when people who already on Medicaid don't have to, because of no/limited income??
This should get you started...
Is there a link perhaps ??

1. You.

2. HHS has to be happy with your work policy. If not your employer will most probably drop the employee plan.

3. Nobody knows, they are still reading the bill.

4. Because you have money.  Not much point in taxing folks who don't have money.