Sure, they call it Obamacare. But hey, he borrowed the idea from Romney’s healthcare law in Massachusetts, so let’s honor the original inventor of this law at least while the law is being disputed. Once it is the law of the country and expanded to the whole 50 states, I will proudly call it Obamacare, even prouder if they add the Public Option to it.
Hundreds of supporters and opponents marched today outside the white-marble building across from the U.S. Capitol. And inside the Supreme Court Building, it is not clear who is a supporter and who is an opponent.
The pundits are having a feast trying to guess what the Supreme Court will decide. As reported by many law experts, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy, are two conservatives who could join the four liberal justices to uphold the law.
But after today’s arguments, US health law partisans are reading the high court arguments both ways.
Liberal justices said in today arguments:
“The health care market is unique because of the nature of the health care service, you are entitled to health care when you go to an emergency room , when you go to a doctor, even if you can't pay for it.”
That brought Justice Kennedy back to one of the key points:
“the cost of treating people without insurance has shifted to those who do.”
This answer suggests that his vote may be in play.
Jack M. Balkin, a Knight Professor of Constitutional Law and the First Amendment at Yale Law School, wrote a great article stating that there is a Small Chance the Supreme Court Will Overturn the Health Care Act.
But my own assessment of the possible ruling has nothing to do with law, although of course, those arguments are more valid than mine, and the justices will use judicial precedent and an array of legal arguments to support their decision, but as an experienced observer of capitalism in the USA and an expert opinionator, my take is that capitalism and economy will guide the ruling of the court. And because 6 of the judges are Republicans, and therefore big time defenders of corporations over people, they will rule to uphold the law.
Why so? Because the mandate is the only way to keep costs low and because it will help the rapacious private health insurance companies by being able to enroll millions of new customers, which in turn will grow the insurance industry which is known to be a big time supporter of the GOP.
Let’s not forget the insurance companies fought tooth and nail to defeat the Public Option and if the mandate is overturned, the Public Option may be the better option for Obama but not the best for the insurance industry.
And hey, the mandate is a Republican idea, Romney did it first, and last time I checked, he is a Republicano comemi$rda as they say around here in Miami!