Since the idea of reconciliation entered the minds of congress as a way to pass the Health Insurance bill there has been raging debate on the constitutionality of the bill.  Not for the way it was imposed on the American people but for what it imposed.     We could argue all day about parts of the bill but one Judge in Florida had made  a very clear and somewhat wordy argument for the unconstitutional nature of the individual mandate.

Since Judge Vinson issued his ruling the Department of Justice has already issued an appeal.  As you read Judge Vinson’s ruling you are amazed by the depth to which this man researched one of the most important issues of our time.   It took this judge 78 pages to decide 2 items.   What people don’t realize is that it was a split decision.  The reality is that the matter of the individual mandate due to the governments own contention on its importance to the legislation.  Striking down that mandate would hollow out the law entirely.  Not being able to sever as most court decisions can do makes this law useless.  But let’s take a minute to reflect on the governments win.

Judge Vinson ruled that the Medicaid expansion forced on the states by this law was constitutional.  The states contended that the law would create a new and much larger class of people covered by medicaid.  This being an unfunded mandate would place undo strain on the coffers of the individual states.  The judge ruled that there would be no coercion on the part of the government due to the voluntary nature of Medicaid.  I don’t see anyone applauding this decision.  But say that the government can’t force you to buy health insurance and you get labeled a Tea party judge and a nut.  read more »

The guys in the South Dakota legislature appear to be having a little fun at ObamaCare's expense.

Five of them have introduced a bill that would require every adult over the age of 21 to buy a gun.  Specifically, a gun that is "sufficient to provide for their ordinary self-defense".  After taking effect on January 1st of next year, it would give everyone six months to go out and buy the hogleg of their choice.

Of course it's not a serious bill in the sense that they want it to take effect, rather that they are trying to prove a point.

The measure is known as an act “to provide for an individual mandate to adult citizens to provide for the self defense of themselves and others.”

Rep. Hal Wick, R-Sioux Falls, is sponsoring the bill and knows it will be killed. But he said he is introducing it to prove a point that the federal health care reform mandate passed last year is unconstitutional.

“Do I or the other cosponsors believe that the State of South Dakota can require citizens to buy firearms? Of course not. But at the same time, we do not believe the federal government can order every citizen to buy health insurance,” he said.

You have to admire the simplicity here. 

Point out the absurdity of the ObamaCare individual mandate by being absurd...and to use guns to do it with, just to antagonize the folks on the left a little more to boot.  read more »

In 1975 advertising executive Gary Dahl had one of the simplest and most rewarding marketing ideas of the decade. He placed a shiny little rock in a box decorated as an animal carrier and offered it to consumers to buy and keep as a “pet.”

Dahl marketed this (unique) product by reminding consumers of the unwanted expense, time and effort that conventional pets take compared to his lovable and low-maintenance “pet rock.” Within a six-month period, the Pet Rock received national fad appeal and Dahl made millions of dollars before market saturation and copycat competitors, in combination with the next line of fanciful fad products greatly diminished the short-lived pet rock craze.

If you asked me if the pet rock changed the world I would say no. However, if you asked me if the Pet Rock, when compared with the colossal Obama health care system that now looms over the country, will be seen as having more of a positive impact over time, I would say absolutely. Liberals will jump out of their skin at such a statement because Obamacare, with all its countless socialistic tentacles, is advertised as a cure-all for so many issues that the list of its potential good deeds is still being written. With all that said, I still pick the rock. Why? While both the Pet Rock and Obamacare fall within the category of goods and services, we have to look deeper to see what they really represent if we really wish to see their impact on the country.  read more »