The United States is the greatest country on earth. As a 17 year old I volunteered to risk my life to defend it and the principles on which it was founded. Since then I have had too many friends who gave their life to uphold that commitment. Even more were injured and they still deal with the repercussions today.
This level of sacrifice puts things in perspective. Each veteran I served with felt they were “defending freedom.” This freedom means that the citizens of the United States don’t live in fear. They have the freedom to choose how to live their lives. If they want to have 5 children, they can. This isn’t China. If someone wants to practice a certain religion, they can. No one will stone them for not following a national religion.
All of this has come under jeopardy. Months ago President Barack Obama helped pass the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The same day, 26 states sued the federal government over the ACA (also known as Obamacare). Is that a joke? I wish. More than 50% of the states
A portrait of the justices of the Supreme Court of the United States of America
didn’t agree with it. Unheard of! Many felt that the individual mandate was unconstitutional because it violated personal freedoms. Yesterday, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a ruling on the case. In a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court upheld Obamacare. Chief Justice John Roberts, a historically conservative-leaning justice, voted with the liberal justices to make the difference.
It is noteworthy that President Obama was very clear from the beginning that the Affordable Care Act was not a tax. I don’t know if this was for political reasons or not. It doesn’t matter. The Supreme Court stated that the law was upheld because they viewed it as a tax (as opposed to viewing it as a regulation on commerce) which therefore gave Congress the power to enforce it. This legal jockeying is absurd. I’m not a lawyer so maybe I’m just naive and dumb. Doubt it though.
For a moment, I want you to forget party lines. I don’t care if you’re a Republican, Democrat, Independent or Alien. Frankly I don’t care if you have never paid attention to politics in your life. THIS IS A BIG FUCKING DEAL. For the first time in my life I’m scared of what is possible in America. I’m scared that we’ve lost the first piece of our freedom. When this has happened historically, the rest of the societies freedom usually crumbled soon after.
Today I don’t write as a Republican or Democrat. I write as a protector of freedom. The same thing I swore to protect at age 17. I can’t truly be free if it is mandated that I buy something. I understand controlling or prohibiting me from doing certain things for reasons like safety, etc. A mandate to do something is completely different. If the government can mandate me to buy insurance, what can’t they mandate me to do? What if they mandated me to have kids? What about if they mandated that I need a job and can’t retire? This is some scary shit.
The sad part is that there are many people that President Obama has tried to help with Obamacare. I think these people need help too. They should have access to care. Instead of mandating it for everyone, we can merely provide access to those in need. Nobody says that sick people should be abandoned. I do think however, that there are better options to help without encroaching on the inherent freedom that this country was founded on. We can’t forget that the pilgrims came to America to escape mandates and other forms of government oppression. I don’t think we’re at that point yet but the door is certainly open.
I rarely become passionate about what happens in Washington. Today I can’t stop thinking of each young man I know that sacrificed so much in order to protect our freedom. If we lose that freedom than they died in vain. That is not an option. I will be paying close attention to how the next 6 months play out and who is elected President in November. While everyone must choose their candidate individually, I ask that each of you becomes educated on the issues so that you can make a sound decision according to your thoughts, values and morals. Is that too much to ask?
What is your reaction of the Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare? Do you see other areas where our freedoms are being encroached? If you completely disagree with me, why? Help me understand more of this issue by leaving a comment below or tweeting me @APompliano!
Good article. I find the ruling by the no-so-supreme court to be no less than a slap in the face of every service man and woman in this country, alive or dead. It’s also a slap in the face to every civilian man, woman and child in this nation. Coming generations will continue to pay for the arrogance, ignorance, and hatred for this country and it’s people and our way of life that Obama and this evil administration have spewed upon us. Obama voters, how’s that “hope and change” going for ya?
John thanks for the post! The situation is so complex. I don’t think that Obama hates America or even necessarily wants anything bad to happen to the country. I think the problem lies in the strong rhetoric by both political parties. They have effectively divided our country into two extreme groups. I hope we can overcome it and get back to working together to build the greatest nation on earth. If not, that goal will be in jeopardy.