From Congressman Steve King:
“I have said for two years- we need to repeal it, we need to pull it out by the roots. It’s unconstitutional in a number of different ways,” said King. “That was the central question that was before the Supreme Court here this week. The central piece of the constitutionality pivoted on the individual mandate. Can the federal government compel an American- just virtue of breathing this free American air-to buy an insurance policy because they believe that somehow they’ve engaged in interstate commerce? The commerce clause, if the Supreme Court finds ObamaCare to be constitutional, will have been stretched to the point where there is no limitation to the federal government whatsoever after that. I think many of the enumerated powers would collapse, I think the tenth amendment would collapse, it would be a resounding decision of activism on this court.”
Watch video:
My wife has a sister in Scotland, that bastion of communist radicals. All their health care is free to all who need it. FREE!!! Sure they pay more taxes but look what they get for their money! They are not unhappy with their system. They love it. They do not have to be on long waiting lists. That’s a lie. They feel sorry for us when we tell them the horror stories of trying to get basic care in this country. HEALTH CARE SHOULD NOT BE A PROFIT INDUSTRY! IT IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT!
That may be true in Scotland but I can certainly assure you it is not true in Canada where I spent two years. You will (I have friends who did) die while waiting to see a doctor there. Yes-it is good for the simple things like the flu or a broken arm but if you have cancer you will wait years to see a specialist. Get the Canadians to talk to you without bragging and they will tell you this. It is the same thing in Mexico where they have about the same system.
That’s total BS! I have friends in Canada (Manitoba). They have no complaints about their health care system and say they would never want to trade it for the dysfunctional mess we have here.
it would be a pretty cold day in h3ll before i would listen to, put any store in, or give a tinker’s damn what Congressman [sic] Steve King has to say about ANYthing. if it looks like a tea bag and smells like a tea bag, its Steve King. this country could use more socialism, and a little communism couldn’t hurt. what it could do without is tea baggers and conservatives.
Peter & Larry, — use of seatbelts are not analogous to the health insurance mandate issue.
Seatbelts are required for all who use the government owned and maintained road system, as are the possession of an operator’s license and proof of financial responsibility, usually accomplished through auto insurance.
Your decision to use or not use the public roadways is optional (maybe not practical) but optional. Therefore government is allowed to set minimal standards for its use.
Healthcare insurance is different in that the healthcare system is in large part owned outside of government. As citizens we are free to choose if and when we access the system and how we pay for the service. Government can (and does)offer all sorts of healthcare for a variety of groups (VA, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) but no one is “required” to use any of these.
Obamacare seeks to compel citizens to purchase insurance (a product) to cover the costs of their healthcare. This compulsion is not Constitutional in my opinion and we are all waiting to see if the Supremes’ hold the same opinion.
By the way Peter, holding this opinion does not make me, King or anyone else idiots.
Hogwash. The roadways are built and maintained to accommodate a private industry consumer product known as automobiles. Your tax money is used to maintain them regardless of whether you drive or not. Thus, issues associated with roadways and transportation ARE analogous to the health care system.
Again, the key word is LIABILITY. If you drive on the roadways you must convince the public you can protect us from your liability, in following the rules of the road, keeping your vehicle under control, and proving financial responsibility in the case of an accident.
The same should apply to the health care system. You must prove to all of us that you can keep your body under control, not engage in reckless eating and living habits, and prove financial responsibility in the case of traumatic injury or illness.
Why do I say this? Because of the Congressional Provision / Law that states that HOSPITALS MUST SEE PEOPLE ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS DESPITE ABILITY TO PAY.
If it weren’t for that forced mandate by Congress, I would say that healthcare could be the optional private endeavor that you make it out to be.
However, society as of current has made the decision that turning away dying and sick people at the steps of the hospital door is unacceptable, and so therefore we must find a way to make it solvent.
I’m perfectly willing to allow people exemption from the health care mandate if they are willing to sign a waiver and go on a national registry that exempts hospitals from liability should the person become sick and need emergency medical care.
If you are so confident in your health, or you are so John Wayne that you think you don’t need it…then sign the exemption form and give us all a break and just die or deal with your illness on your own, when you inevitably become ill.
Peter-Peter, I have always thought and still do think the seatbealt law is unconstitutional. The government has no business telling me what to do in my private life, especially when I pay for it. I wear mine because it makes good sense to wear it. It was never about uninsured, it was about profits for the insurance company’s. It’s the same as the tobacco tax laws. It’s about saving the insurance company MONEY. It’s all about the money, they could care less about the people. Get REAL. Obama promotes communism and socialism. He needs to go along with Obama care.
Sounds like you are basically in agreement with Rep. King. That both should be repealed. What does that make you Peter? Again, the first thing libs do is start name calling.