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Obamacare Ruling Upholds SCOTUS Responsibility to US

A letter to the editor of one resident's opinion on the Supreme Court Affordable Healthcare Act ruling

The Supreme Court’s victorious healthcare ruling today ranks right up there with the passage of the Women’s Right to Vote! In the past few years it seems the Republican voice has been to uphold the rights and privileges of business over their Christian responsibility of caring for the people.  Today the Supreme Court reversed that voice and upheld their responsibility to the people of this great nation. 

In these bickering days of uncompromised attitudes, it’s so easy to forget our moral and social obligation to each other and think only of ourselves. This country did not become great because we were uncompromising, but rather, because we were passionate about working together to bring about a great nation for the people by the people.

So we can either continue to rally under the “Sour Grapes Banner of Repeal” or we can come together under the “American Banner” of creating jobs and building a better economic future for all Americans.  The choice is yours.

Phyllis Greco
Lansdale, PA

David Miller July 1, 2012 at 03:02 pm
Harry
I agree with your point of the government bailing out the banks and letting home owners go to the wall, but not everyone has a job who wants one. Should these unemployed have to die for lack of funds? I'm reliably informed that approx. 30,000 of your fellow citizens die each year because they can't afford to pay for health care, yet 3,000 died in the Twin Towers and your government went to war over it. (Unfortunately with the wrong country) Why should your employer be stuck with providing your health care? It must be a BIG disincentive for anyone thinking of starting a new business and employing people. I am against all wars but my taxes are still used to pay for them. If I don't own a car should my taxes be used for road upkeep? Should I be required to die because I can't afford thousands of dollars a month for expensive pharmaceuticals? Regards David Miller Sydney Australia
Christopher R. Collopy July 1, 2012 at 03:07 pm
As i sit here at my "telescreen" I'm trying to understand "what is isn't and what isn't is" "It depends on what your definition of what is is." I believe JESUS came to serve not to be served. To say business and people are takers and not caring about poor is shallow. 1984 knocking at your door was let in.
Sugaree July 1, 2012 at 03:12 pm
Excellent comment Dan Soderberg! Apparently in their world, everything is a one size fits all; you are either lazy and irresponsible, or you're a god-fearing good 'merican. Too bad everyone doesn't fit neatly into that huh?
BTW, naysayers, you do realize this whole debate is moot now, don't you?
Christopher R. Collopy July 1, 2012 at 03:13 pm
I also believe "For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world if he loses his own soul'!!!!!!!! Does BHO want the whole world taken over by muslim brotherhood??? 12th calithate??? Taxing the infidel? Persecution of Christians and Jews?
Matthew Stone July 1, 2012 at 03:40 pm
Mike, we have that situation quite a bit. They're called tax breaks. If I have kids, I have to pay less taxes than if I don't. By your logic, it sounds like the government is fining me for not having kids.
Mike Shortall July 1, 2012 at 05:11 pm
Matt: You get a TAX CREDIT for having children. If you end up paying a "tax" for NOT HAVING children, then you fall under the ACA "tax" anaogy I used.
Mike Shortall July 1, 2012 at 05:13 pm
Marc: Where in the ACA does it say insurance premiums cannot go up?
Phyllis Greco July 1, 2012 at 05:53 pm
Yea that’s right, liberals bringing Jesus into the conversation. Get used to it because I don’t see Republicans out there feeding the hungry.
And by the way, I fully support the ACA and I am one of the very fortunate in this country as I am over insured and hopefully will never need this provision. If I pay more to keep a sick child alive so be it. I’ll eat out once a month less, big deal!
Mike Shortall July 1, 2012 at 09:46 pm
I'd be more concerned with an employer turning people loose into the system for $2000 instead of paying for both my healthcare insurance premium and the administrative overlay to manage it. I imagine a lot of employers, who do not have to compete intensely for good employees - like now, when the economy remains in the crapper, deciding it's not worth the cost to offer healthcare coverage.
SMYRNA-X July 2, 2012 at 01:24 pm
What a silly letter for the patch to contribute to the heathcare conversation. The writer states "christian responsibilty" as if that means jesus would expect the govt to determine your wealth, take under force of law what it likes, and apportion
the spoils as the govt sees fit. Give unto ceaser what is ceasers. Although I was brought up catholic, I understand that others in this country may not share your convaluted "responsiblity" because of differing faiths or a true understanding of christain ideals. As far as the writers "lock arms and move foward" atitude, where were you for george bush. I could only imagine our dear phyllis talking about how dumb he is and lets impeach the warmonger. Get over your messiah obama phyliss.
Tony Di Domizio (Editor) July 2, 2012 at 01:38 pm
This "silly letter" is an opinion piece written by a reader and citizen. We welcome all opinion articles to run on Patch. Thank you.
SMYRNA-X July 2, 2012 at 02:19 pm
Tony, I understand this is an opinion piece, but seriously, some other reader had to have wrote in a more coherent response to this scotus finding. How about a reader and citizen who disaproves of the findings? Where is that opinion found besides in the comments? At least the obama admin was creative enough to sell the penalty as a tax to the scotus,meanwhile before and after court sessions, its magicaily not a
tax. I only ask that when you highlight an opinion piece the writer makes an effective case. As well any conversation of a politcal nature will and must be commented on if someone choses to be public. If they cannot contribute to a intelligent public discussion or handle critics, perhaps you can have them write about the weather, cooking or fishing.
Tony Di Domizio (Editor) July 2, 2012 at 02:32 pm
We are welcome to readers submitting opinions/editorials via email
Marc Lombardi July 2, 2012 at 03:15 pm
Mike: The ACA doesn't state specifically that premiums cannot go up. But common sense and a basic understanding of how economics works is that when you open up the number of people who pay into insurance (adding in 50 million currently uninsured people will do wonders to that) brings down premiums. The main reason premiums keep going up are because so many people are choosing to go without insurance, therefore raising the costs for people who have it because we need to cover them.
Mike Shortall July 2, 2012 at 05:44 pm
Well, Marc, that's speculation. I can just as easily see that many of the people added to the insurance pool will be considered of much higher health risk to insure because of poor lifestyles. And since insurers tend to avoid that risk by spreading the higher anticipated costs across a broader insured base, they will increase rates for everyone in the pool.
Given the $1.76 trillion CBO cost estimate (which could end up being much higher if Congress does not follow through with assumed actions that framed the current CBO estimate) this bill will not be a good thing for the working middle class. The original CBO estimate was $970 billion, by the way. Healthcare reform with no control or reform of costs is no reform at all for those of us already paying our way in taxes and premiums.
Mike July 2, 2012 at 06:38 pm
I am going to assume that no one posting here has read the healthcare bill, then hired a law firm to interpret the contents. The only things being discussed are the talking points coming from both parties, basically advertising from either the Democrats or Republicans. The bill is over 2000 pages, and written by a group that, whether Republican, Democrat, or Independant, most Americans feel, was the worst ever at the job they were elected to do. These are the people that put together the most complicated, expansive bill in our Nation's history. These are the folks we think came up with a successful overhaul of healthcare? No one would argue healthcare needs to be addressed, and that there are good ideas, concepts, and idealistic parts of the bill. Find me one person who is happy with the job the Federal Gov has done over the last 20 years. Government run healthcare?? I don't know how to fix the healthcare situation, but believing this bill is not a disaster, written by self serving fools ( who don't participate in it ), that will damage all citizens of the Country in 1 way or another, and ballon our Countries debt even more, is the epitome of a fool.
Phyllis Greco July 3, 2012 at 11:12 am
I am sorry you feel this way. Jesus would not expect governments to take care of us He expects you and me to take care of each other. It is only because we failed in our Christian Responsibilities that room was made for government to step in and do it for us. You are right, not everyone agrees we are our brothers keepers, but it seems we can not agree on anything these days.
Bruce Bailey July 3, 2012 at 11:28 am
If personal responsibility is what you're after, then the ACA is the perfect plan for you. Right now, there are millions and millions of Americans who don't take personal responsibility for their healthcare. When they get sick or injured -- which happens to everybody sooner or later -- guess who ends up paying for their visit to the ER for treatment? That's right, we do - the responsible, insured, taxpaying middle class. With the ACA, we don't have to pay for those who are too irresponsible to insure themselves. Listen, this plan was first drawn up by the Heritage Foundation - it's as conservative and as free-market as it gets; stop listening to the knee-jerk, "we hate it because Obama is President" talking heads and understand: if you are a conservative Republican, the ACA originated with the people you support.
Bruce Bailey July 3, 2012 at 11:40 am
Well, Mike, using your definition of the situation, we should never attempt any improvement since it will always come down to passing laws via the Congress. Once again - we say this time after time after time, but it just keeps getting drowned out by the Right Wing fright machine -- the Affordable Care Act is NOT "government run healthcare." It IS a law that forces irresponsible people who are draining the system by using hospitals and ERs as their personal doctor's office to get insurance, get covered, and quit relying on responsible, taxpaying middle class Americans to foot the bill. That should be a concept that anybody - left, right or center - can support.
Mike July 3, 2012 at 03:45 pm
Yes Bruce, your point about people using ERs is correct. This bill is not the solution. My comment was directed at only this Bill. I am not sure how that translates to we should never attempt any improvment...the problem is, there is no "we", unless you are an elected official. This group of self serving politicians, Dem or Rep, they are ALL the exact same, is incapable of solving anything, because all they want, is to keep their constituants happy, and stay in office forever. Anyone who thinks the left is bad, or the right is bad, is a fool. They are exactly the same. This is the hardest concept for us to accept, because our idealology usually leans a little more one way or the other. I have never understood how anyone can NOT be conservative, and NOT be liberal. We havebeen sold on the fact that one needs to be one way or the other, period. THIS is why nothing can get done at the Federal level, until "we" start becoming more involved citizens. Please re-read my original post. You and I most likely agree on most issues, including what is wrong with and needs to be done with healthcare. This bill is the worst possible thing, passed at the worst possible time, in our Nation's history. They were not bright enough to construct a bill of this magnitude, and did it too quickly. Saying this is not gov run healthcare is frightening. I do not know any way to support that point of view.
joe blow July 3, 2012 at 08:32 pm
It's to bad employer's don't help us poor middle class people, all they want to Do these days is get rid of you because you been there to long, and they have someone lined up to take your place for half the pay.
Phyllis Greco July 4, 2012 at 05:02 pm
You know Mike, nothing is perfect and we know that about this bill. As time goes on people will make good use of the good parts of this bill and if necessary other parts will be adjusted. People were irate over Social Security when that was passed and that debate makes this ACA look like puppy love. But Social Security is a life line to millions of Americans and you will not appreciate that until you retire. The same can be said for unemployment insurance. For those millions who have lost their jobs, those checks were invaluable. And what about Medicare, Medicare Advantage and the Prescription part D? Yes there are financial problems over the cost, but Medicare is well run from the healthcare side and provides hundreds of millions of Americans with services, Bruce makes some good points about this not being government run health-care but rather just a health-care law that makes everyone get health-care coverage.
David Curran July 5, 2012 at 06:45 pm
Harry since you are such a champion of personal responsibility what is your answer to the people that have the means to pay for health care but choose not to, and ultimately end going to the emergency room on your dime. The ACA addresses this issue. What is your solution- let them bleed out in the parking lot?
Mike July 7, 2012 at 04:45 pm
Phyllis, I truly appreciate your optimistic point of view, you are clearly a good, caring American. As I said, there are good parts of the bill. That's the easy part. We all want no poverty, homelessness, healthcare for all, etc. Creating a solution that is feasible is the hard part. The cost to our Nation as it pertains to this bill, will be staggering. It IS Gov run healthcare. They control citizens, doctors, insurance co., hospitals, and States. You cannot create law without enforcing it. Social Sec is the perfect example. Gov run disaster. I won't get social sec when I retire. All Gov had to do, is take and place $ in pile A, and then move over to pile B, the citizens collecting. They couldn't even perform that task correctly. It all comes down to lousy representatives, Dem & Rep. They write bills with good tag lines, "lets help teachers/police" whomever..they put total nonsense in, knowing it will be voted down because of it, and use it against their opponent in the next election. "They voted against helping teachers/police!!" They are ALL the same, Rep or Dem. They DO NOT care about anyone but themselves. Every time some Representative tries to pass the line item veto bill (which would allow them to dismiss all the garbage in bills they would otherwise like to vote for) they ALL strike it down, THAT they ALL agree on! They need to become regular citizens, 2 term limit, no free healthcare and pension for life. Only way to get them to do what's right for America.
Bringing Truth To Stupid July 7, 2012 at 09:49 pm
I believe someone missed some important parts of Christianity.
1 John 3:17 But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won't help him--how can God's love be within him ? Prov. 14:31 Anyone who oppresses the poor is insulting God who made them. To help the poor is to honor God. Prov. 21:13 He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need. Prov. 28:27 If you give to the poor, your needs will be supplied! But a curse upon those who close their eyes to poverty. Prov. 22:9 Happy is the generous man, the one who feeds the poor. 1 Tim. 6:18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. Luke 3:11 "If you have two coats," he replied, "give one to the poor. If you have extra food, give it away to those who are hungry." Lev. 19:18 Don't seek vengeance. Don't bear a grudge; but love your neighbor as yourself, for I am Jehovah. 1 Cor 10:24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's good. Matthew 5:42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. Romans 15:1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Bringing Truth To Stupid July 7, 2012 at 09:51 pm
The message here is really very simple: help the needy. It's not hard to understand; it's just hard to do.
And the message is continuous. It's in the Torah; it's in the Prophets and Psalms; it's in the Gospels; it's in the Epistles. How many churches emphasize serving the poor as much as the Bible itself does? Would the world look the way it does if all believers followed these commands? Another thing to note about these verses is the lack of caveats-- the lack of excuses. None of them add "...once a year" or "...when you feel you can" or "...if they're moral" or "...unless they're black" or "...if they speak English". We have plenty of reasons (I'm sure you can think of a dozen) why we can't go out and feed the hungry, why we have to turn away the needy borrower-- and God help us, how many of us have sold so much as a lawnmower in order to have money to give away? But all those reasons belong to our sinful human nature, not to God. God just wants those needy people helped. If you wanted to be a Biblical one-issue voter, you'd do well to make that one issue serving the poor.
Harry July 7, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Very well said Teri B!!! Bringing Truth To Stupid, I like how you pick and choose the bible verses that suite your point of view. How about God helps those who help themselves?
First off, if you or any of your liberal friends really think that someone on the right would not help the poor or needy, you are truly misguided!!! If you read Teri B's above post, he sums it up pretty well. His points are very clear and to the point!!! We The People are endowed by our Creator!! Not our socialist czar in the Peoples House! Our rights are not to be infringed upon! Maybe you should read the Constitution as it is written, not as the state run media tells you. As far as two wars, I agree with you 100%, so maybe instead of attacking each other, we should find common ground and move forward, this discussion is going nowhere at the moment. The government and media have us so divided that they are able to push through legislation because we are busy fighting each other and not paying attention to the scum in DC who continue to take away our rights each and every day. HMS and the TSA under Bush, need to go!! God Bless the USA!!!
Bringing Truth To Stupid July 7, 2012 at 10:37 pm
Harry,
I didn't "pick and choose" anything. I agree that people should attempt try to help themselves. But the Bible does NOT say that you should ignore those who do not say. Please point me to a verse that says "Help the poor, as long as you think they are really poor and aren't jsut lazy". You should try and do the best you can and work hard at what you are able, and you should give freely to those that do not have. Only someone with a "screw you, got mine" attitude would look at the two types of verses, both the "Help the poor" and the "Help yourself" and decide that one invalidates the other. It is every Christians responsibility to try and "Help themselves" but it also every Christian's responsibility to try and give and sacrifice to help others. But I digress, I am used to the hypocrisy of so called Christians and their selfish desires to cling to the parts of the Bible that they want to follow, and ignore the parts that are inconvenient to them. I'm not saying that individuals would not help the poor, but it's obvious that enough people are not helping them or else there wouldn't be this problem would it? If all of the so called Christians did as their Bible instructed, then we wouldn't need Obamacare. You have no one to blame for it's need but yourself and your brethren who selfishly looked to their own good and not their neighbors as instructed by your religion.
linda spreeman July 8, 2012 at 03:20 pm
This debate will continue forever. It's not possible to please everyone in every camp. No system is perfect. The best that one can hope for is a system that provides the greatest good for the most amount of people (Utilitarianism) a la college Philosophy 101. Any system or law will produce flaws or critics. <Linda Spreeman, King of Prussia>
Christopher R. Collopy July 8, 2012 at 05:39 pm
Is BHO trying to gain the whole world for a Muslim Brotherhood and servitude for infidels??? Spend Spend Spend Waste Waste Waste Tax Tax Tax Taxxxxxxxxxxxx. Had enough yet???????????

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