This is probably the biggest decision the Supreme Court will make since Roe v. wade in my opinion. This ruling goes far beyond the scope of
healthcare and instead will determine once and for all:
Does the US Government have the right to force citizens to purchase a product?
The ramifications are huge. Should the Supreme Court rule that the government can enforce the personal mandate clause, our lives will forever be
changed.
Change the subject to energy for example. What is the biggest threat to climate change and foreign policy according to the government? The importing
of oil and dependence on fossil fuel. What's the problem with "clean energy"? It's too costly.
Now, if the Supreme Court rules that the government can force all citizens to purchase health insurance ( and impose penalties if you don't), than
this concept can be easily be spread from health insurance to clean energy.
The biggest problem with all of this though is that the government can then make whatever requirements it feels like to enforce compliance. Whatever
the government wants to make as a requirement to obtaining said health insurance is limitless. Think: all medical records housed online, finger
print identification to thwart health insurance identity theft, vaccines up to date or penalty assigned, submission of medical insurance proof,
vaccines, flu shots to be submitted when filing income tax....etc. There will be no limit to what the government can require in order to have health
insurance.
While I agree our healthcare system needs an overhaul, the government's right to enforce the purchase of a product, any product, is a rather scary
prospect.
edit on 14-11-2011 by lpowell0627 because: Edit: my prediction is that Obama will find a way to delay the ruling until after
elections. I wouldn't be surprised if Republicans also supported such a delay since it is likely that the direction of the ruling will directly
affect the winner in the next election.