It’s a popular bumper sticker slogan, “Kill ‘em all, let God sort it out”.
It seems most of our politicians, at least Democrats in Congress, have taken that attitude and applied it to their votes. “Pass em all, let the Supreme Court sort it out”.
Our Constitution is pretty clear overall, even to a layman. In it, all powers granted to the federal government are enumerated, and our founders were careful to clearly state that if it ain’t in here, you (federal government) ain’t got it.
As far back as 1994 the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) wrote: “A mandate requiring all individuals to purchase health insurance would be an unprecedented form of federal action. The government has never required people to buy any good or service as a condition of lawful residence in the United States.” In fact, the 5th amendment (part of the Bill of Rights), makes this pretty clear:
“No person shall … be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”
If you do not want to spend your hard earned money for health insurance, but would prefer to use it for rent, groceries, or even beer, this requirement would constitute a “taking” of private property under the 5th Amendment. Obamacare, in its current form in both the House and Senate versions, will contain some form of forced participation with jail or fines used for enforcement. An obvious violation of the 5th Amendment.
That’s not all. The Senate version contains race-based incentives and preferences. A clear red flag that the bill does not conform to the Constitution. In fact, the United States Commission on Civil Rights sent a letter to the Senate regarding racially discriminatory provisions in Obama’s health plan. The letter reads:
“No matter how well-intentioned, utilizing racial preferences with hope of alleviating health care disparities is inadvisable both as a matter of policy and as a matter of law. … Ensuring that all Americans, regardless of race, have access to quality health care requires both creativity and hard-nosed attention to data. It also requires staying within the requirements of the Constitution. The current race-based provisions of the Senate Health Care bill display none of these qualities.”
This “Pass em all, let the Supreme Court sort it out” attitude may sit well with some of you, but I consider it blatant dereliction of duty and a clear violation of the solemn oath each has taken upon being seated in Congress.
Here in Virginia, one of our Senators has taken two separate oaths to uphold and defend the Constitution. First as a Marine, then as a Senator, Jim Webb has sworn before God that his first duty is to the Constitution. Shame be upon him for placing his party and President Obama above the Constitution and the Commonwealth of Virginia.