Last night an old friend passed away after a long illness

[peternap]

[ScottA]

I couldn't find a hat over the heart smiley...sorry Peter. On a more positive note I'm learning how to spell Ameristan.

[NM_Shooter]

Don't worry.  We'll get the defibrillator powered up this November.

[glenn kangiser]

I dunno, Frank.  I think the corpse is already decomposing.  I noticed quite a stench...

[StinkerBell]

Texas is planning on suing over the obamacare bill. Heard it on the radio on the way to work. We (Texas) are citing liberty issues.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Attorneys general from 13 states sued the federal government Tuesday, claiming the landmark health care overhaul bill is unconstitutional just seven minutes after President Barack Obama signed it into law.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/2118223,health-care-lawsuit-constitution-032310.article

[peternap]

We filed the paperwork today. I think 13 states so far are planning to go to court.
Va passed a law this session that said the Federal Government cannot force Va residents to comply.

This is not going to be an easy case. The Supreme Court has allowed nearly everything to fall under the interstate clause.

This will be the base cite the Government will use:

In the 1942 case Wickard v. Filburn, the Supreme Court authorized the broadest federal power to date, concluding that a farmer growing wheat for his own use was not exempt from federal caps on wheat production that had been established by the government to artificially drive up the price of wheat. The fact that the farmer was growing wheat for his own use meant he would not purchase it on the open market. The Court held that his failure to purchase wheat in the market, taken in the aggregate, would have a substantial effect on interstate commerce. Thus, the Court laid the groundwork for Congress to regulate nearly any activity with a weak connection to economic activity, and for years Congress did not even bother to establish the basis for its Commerce Clause authority.

The may not even argue that if they can convince the court it's a tax.

The courts have upheld nearly every tax imposed.

The case is winnable though. If I had to guess, I'd speculate that part of the bill will get shot down and part will stand.
I suspect there will be shooting before this is over going by what some of what the Tea Party people have already said.

Va and the other states that passed "not in my state" legislation will probably be OK. It will be like the Pot Growers in California. Illegal under Federal law but near impossible to enforce.

Whatever happens, we have just witnessed the end of this country under our Constitution.

[peternap]

This is interesting and disturbing.

http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/

[Pox Eclipse]

That's nothing.  The teabaggers are now threatening to shoot people to overturn health care reform:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cjbrenchley/4448018629

[NM_Shooter]

Taxation without representation has been known to start revolutions.  I'd prefer peaceful means, but some folks are going to feel as though that the representatives are operating purely under personal motives.  When even CNN shows that a majority of Americans are against the bill, and yet it still gets passed... while votes for it are being bought and paid for....that is going to raise a few hackles.

I'm afraid that I don't think this is anywhere near as bad as it is going to get.

[Pox Eclipse]

Sore losers who resort to violence because they don't understand representative democracy deserve what happens to them.

[NM_Shooter]

Sore losers who resort to violence because they don't understand representative democracy deserve what happens to them.

Freedom? 

I'm curious... how does representative democracy work when the representatives ignore the constituents?

[peternap]

I'm not going to get into violence here. If it happens, it won't be over the internet.

I have to agree with NM though. This is far from over and I haven't decided who the good guys are yet. Too bad they really don't wear white hats.

I've had that 1968 feeling for a long time now, suddenly, it feels more like 69.

[NM_Shooter]

Violence is not the answer.  Unfortunately, this seems to be the recourse of those who feel that they have no other avenue for notice. 

Legal means will do.  That and voting in November. 

[peternap]

Violence is not the answer.  Unfortunately, this seems to be the recourse of those who feel that they have no other avenue for notice. 

Legal means will do.  That and voting in November. 

I'm afraid we'll have both. That idiot advocating throwing bricks through windows isn't helping...and he;s only one of many.

The lawsuits will go on for years and I expect they will get an injunction stalling the law in the meantime.
Virginia and a number of other states passed "Not in my state" laws and that will throw a monkey wrench in implementing the Health bill.

But every time the Federal Government makes a counter move, some fool will go postal.
I often wonder how humans survived this long...and why!

[ScottA]

Anyone who commits violence over this is falling right into their trap. That's what they want so they can tighten the screws ever tighter. A better way is to spread the truth far and wide. Talk to everyone you know. Changing opinions is the first step and really the only step. A guy with a brick has no chance against a Blackhawk. So long as we have a vote I'll never vote for an incumbent again. For that matter I'll never vote for a democrat or a republican either. It probly won't matter though since they control every name that gets on the ballot anyways. Stop working for them. Work just enough to get by nothing more.

[peternap]

I don't know what all the fuss is about Scott (I took a little break from the tractor)

[Pox Eclipse]

I'm curious... how does representative democracy work when the representatives ignore the constituents?

According the the latest poll, only 40% thought passing the bill was a bad thing.  So Congress did exactly what the public wanted. 

Reform opponents are very loud, but they don't represent a plurality in any way.  The system worked.

[fishing_guy]

And before long, the MAJORITY, (Who don't pay nearly as much taxes as the minority), will vote themselves riches that will bring down this country.  But since they are the MAJORITY, that makes it right, right?

[peternap]

The ones I'm watching are the Soccer Mom's that spend half their life in the tanning salon. The tanning tax will actually go into effect immediately and I'd bet very few even know about the included taxes.

It'll make for spirited conversation around the beauty parlor

[Pox Eclipse]

And before long, the MAJORITY, (Who don't pay nearly as much taxes as the minority), will vote themselves riches that will bring down this country.  But since they are the MAJORITY, that makes it right, right?

That's right.  I have said it many times, and I won't apologize now.  I favor tyranny by the majority.  It is not the best system, but it is far better than allowing the minority to hold the country hostage to their crackpot ideas. 

Think of it as the free market of ideas.  Good ideas generate more votes.  Bad ideas, not so much. 

The market has spoken. 

[NM_Shooter]

I'm curious... how does representative democracy work when the representatives ignore the constituents?

According the the latest poll, only 40% thought passing the bill was a bad thing.  So Congress did exactly what the public wanted. 

Reform opponents are very loud, but they don't represent a plurality in any way.  The system worked.

Scroll down just a little bit on the page you provided as a link and check out the average number of all the polls. Based on your comment that it worked if the polls proved it, then it must have failed if all the polls say so as well..

[glenn kangiser]

I like Dees and his educational art....

[peternap]

I like Dees and his educational art....

Hey, that kid in the front right used to come here pretty often. Sold junk car parts, didn't like guns and beat people with pipes.

[MountainDon]

 

[glenn kangiser]

Talked to him last night... chatted on face book.

The one that my dog would like is the one with the doggy chew toy ears...top center right.