If the courts don't strike this down the road to repealing this will be very long. It will take at least two election cycles. We need to keep the idea that the future for obamacare is uncertain -- that repeal is inevitable.
Posted on 03/23/2010 4:56:20 AM PDT by Kaslin
A terrible thing happened to America on Sunday, March 21, 2010.
The country took its biggest step ever down a road diametrically opposed to its original intent of keeping the state small so that the individual can be free and great.
Therefore, in this unprecedented crisis of values, this is what needs to be done:
1. Know and teach America's core values.
We got to this point solely because over the past few generations, Americans have forgotten the values that have made America distinctive and great. Even the "Greatest Generation" failed to communicate them.
In a nutshell, they are what I call the American Trinity: "In God we trust," "Liberty" and "E Pluribus Unum." The left has successfully made war on all three -- substituting secularism for God and religion in as much of American life as possible; substituting equality (of result) for liberty; and multiculturalism is the opposite of "E Pluribus Unum."
People who do not understand American ideals -- especially small government -- now dominate our schools, our entertainment media and our news media.
(My own contribution here is a video titled, "The American Trinity" at prageru.com. Please view it and forward it.)
2. Recognize that we are fighting the left, not liberals.
Conservatives and centrists are no longer fighting liberals. We are fighting the left.
Liberalism believed in American exceptionalism; the left not only does not believe in it, the left opposes it. President Obama, when asked if he believes in American exceptionalism, replied, "I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism, and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism."
Liberalism believed in creating wealth; the left is interested in redistributing it.
Liberalism believed in a strong defense. The left believes in cutting defense and a strong United Nations.
3. Democrats should be referred to as Social Democrats. This is not meant to be cute, let alone as a slur. But calling Democrats Social Democrats is an effective way of reminding Americans that there is no longer any difference between what is now known as the Democratic Party and the Social Democratic parties of Europe. When the Democratic Party returns to its roots as a liberal, not a left-wing, party, we will happily resume calling the party by its original name. However, since no Democrat can cite a significant difference between the Democratic Party and the SD parties, there is no good reason not to use the more accurate nomenclature.
4. Work tirelessly to repeal the bill.
We must single-mindedly work to repeal the government health plan. We all know that it is difficult to repeal entitlements because they are like drugs and it is very difficult to wean people off drugs. But it is not impossible. We need to warn our fellow Americans that entitlements will do to America what drugs eventually do to addicts.
All Republicans must run for office on the "repeal" issue. Even when they lose, the difference between right and left, between Republicans and Social Democrats will have been made clear; and clarity is our best friend.
5. Our motto: "The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen."
I used this phrase in addressing the Republican members of Congress. It has become widely used, including by Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., on the House floor during the Congressional debate on Sunday. It encapsulates this epic battle of American values versus leftist values. Every movement needs a motto. I nominate this.
6. Do not let other matters distract.
Neither Republicans nor conservatives are united on every issue facing America. Immigration is one example. But we are united on the big government vs. free individual issue, which, more than anything else, has defined America. If we allow any other domestic issue to divide us, we will lose.
And here's why: If Americans forget what America stands for, it won't help us if there is not one illegal immigrant here. And if we do remember what it means to be American, we can handle anything.
7. Acknowledge that we are in a non-violent civil war.
I write the words "civil war" with an ache in my heart. But we are in one.
Thank God this civil war is non-violent. But the fact is that the left and the rest of the country share almost no values. The American value system and the leftist value system are irreconcilable. If the left wins, America's values lose. If American values prevail, the left loses.
After Sunday's vote, for the first time in American history, one could no longer confidently believe that the American system will prevail. And if we don't fight for it, we don't deserve it.
I know that you're not talking to me, but I think that - ultimately - we'd have been worse off under McCain. For instance, with the stimulus, the Dems would have started at 1200 Billion, then McCain would have negotiated them down to "only" 700 Billion....
And everyone on FR would have said "Phew, it's a good thing that we've got a Republican in the White House. Or else things would be REALLY bad."
More-or-less, I think that things would have played out roughly the same under McCain. Although, honestly, I don't know what McCain would have done with HealthCare. And, I'll readily admit that I voted for him. At the time, I thought that he was a better candidate than Obama. But hindsight is always 20-20, and ultimately over the long run, the US might be better off with throwing all the bums out in the next couple of elections (something that's a distinct possibility) rather than just continuing the business-as-usual slow burn under 4 or 8 more years of McCain.
I think though, that anyone who says "Yep, I saw this playing out exactly as it has, and THAT'S why I voted against McCain in the elections." .....is full of it. :-)
Ping
I AM GOING TO JAIL.
I WILL NOT COOPERATE.
I WILL NOT BE VIOLENT.
THEY CAN’T PUT US ALL IN PRISON.
Won't happen. Neither will stopping cap & tax or global warming laws.
The only way to completely stop the madness is for the people to take back both houses of Congress, as well as the Presidency. And then, much longer term, take back the courts and the education of America's children.
Even if the Dem's loose control of one or both houses of Congress, ole' Barry will simply use Executive Orders to push his agenda upon the American people. Think that won't happen? Your living in a dream world. Look at what just happened! The progressives/socialists/marxists have literally taken control of our federal government and will stop at NOTHING to rahm their agenda down our throats, thereby remaking America in their image. They've waited for generations to do this, they aren't going to stop now and "threatening" them with the lose of their political careers means little to nothing to most of them.
They knew before the H.C. debacle of a "vote" that they would certainly loose ground in Congress this fall. Doesn't matter to them. It's just acceptable collateral damage to them.
It's a bit early and optimistic to make this declaration.
Yeah, except that the “well now the American people see that it’s time to throw the bums out” strategy has never, ever worked.
I’ve said it before here and here goes again: Secession is the coward’s way out; avoiding the tough option of fighting to maintain the constitution. It didn’t work in 1865 and it won’t work now. Yes, it may be a war at this point but not so much a civil war as a second revolution to reclaim what the founding fathers fought to establish...a constitutional republic. Secession is no different from what the democrat party would like to see happen, divide and conquer.
I think that it depends on if Republicans can put up some decent candidates. I'm not one of those damn fools who's waiting for the second coming of Ronald Reagan.... but there's got to be SOMEONE who's conservative and qualified for the job who wants it. In November, Republicans could run a Wooden Indian in some of these districts and win going away. Hopefully, some smart people will step up.
That's why I said in some previous posts that I'm working within the system.
For now.
I’m reading this thread, and your derisive “chair-bound warrior” comments show me you aren’t; you’re preemptively “saving face.”
The people on this thread you are impugning are not jingoists; they simply realize there is a line the citzen can not let the goverment cross. For our forefathers, it was being disarmed which lead to lexington and concord. For us, controling our access to healthcare hits a frighteningly similar chord.
If you think they relish the idea of civil war, you’re as vain and stupid as someone who “knows” others only like opera because it makes them feel superior.
Honestly, your lack of recognition of what was perpetrated on sunday, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT’S EVER IMPLEMENTED, reminds me of the deputy in “Silverado” that had to be told the good guy wasn’t hitting anyone because he wasn’t TRYING to!
God, you guys, grow up. This is no civil war. It’s health insurance reform, for chrissakes, trying to break up the health insurance monopoly like Reagan broke up the communications monopoly. Why is the Republican Party suddenly the party of wee-wee’d up Chicken Littles? You can’t declare war on Democrat America; they won the election fair and square by a hefty amount, they have the right to govern, and majority rules. Anything against that paradigm is treason, don’t you see?
Tom Brokaw, a left-winger, coined the phrase “The Greatest Generation.” It was said generation who gave us the Great Society and Democratic control of congress for decades. In terms of voting, the boomers were more to the Right.
.
“The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.”
Bump.
NO, WE DON'T! Would you please give the cliches a REST?
These people are trying to rule us WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED! What part are you not getting here?
happy birthday sjb...and many happy ones to come...
And, if I may ask one other question, how is that you - and only you - know where the line is "That the Government may not cross"? What about state governments? Local governments? Because if you go to war with the Fed, BO isn't going to be coming out to arrest you personally ....it's going to be some local flunky out of the FBI office in the county seat of whereever is closest to where you live. Maybe he'll follow his orders. Maybe not. Maybe they won't even percolate down to his level. Or maybe he'll "find more important things to do".
An earlier poster said "They can't come and arrest all of Virginia". That's where my hope lies if things really go to hell - local and state gov't. And, those are also places where regular people still have some influence.
Fortunately, at least one type of lawsuit can be launched against this law, said lawsuit being based on the fact that this REVENUE-RAISING bill originated in the Senate, not the House.
I’m with you on
1
2
4.....;-)
Here's a fairly comprehensive listing I culled; the links will all open in a new window:
One Thing That's 100% Guaranteed: The Healthcare Bill Will NEVER Be Repealed
Joe Weisenthal | Mar. 22, 2010, 9:36 AM
Already Republicans plan on introducing a bill this week to repeal last night's historic healthcare vote.
Obviously that's going nowhere.
But looking out, Republicans will probably try to run on repeal in the runup until November. It's possible that will play okay at the ballot (we don't know) but anyone who thinks this is a realistic prospect is smoking something illegal.
First of all, to repeal the vote would be just as difficult legislatively as passing healthcare was, so just think of how hard that was. Republicans would need 60 pro-repeal votes in the Senate to defeat a Democratic filibuster. And remember, they'd need a President who wouldn't veto the bill (i.e. not Obama or any Democrat).
But even that's putting too fine a point on it. Here's the real story, and it gets down to the fact that this new bureaucratic superstructure is now permanently ossified into our federal government.
There's just no way to repeal benefits. Even if people don't seem to like the new plan, there's no way a politician successfully runs on some combination of: let's go back to when insurance companies could exclude you for pre-existing conditions and let's go back to when your kid gets kicked off your healthcare plan the moment he or she gets out of college.
See the problem? It's the same reason no other benefit or entitlement will ever disappear.
15 New Taxes The Democrats Just Foisted On The American People
Gregory White and Joe Weisenthal | Mar. 22, 2010,
Bill: H.R. 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Status: Awaiting President's signature
Description: A 40% tax on health insurance plans exceeding determined levels. Those levels are projected for 2013 to be $8,500 for self only and $23,000 for any other level.
Bill: H.R. 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Status: Awaiting President's signature
Description: An increase from 10% to 20% on taxes of money in a health savings account not used for qualified medical expenses. For Archer medical savings accounts, an increase from 15% to 20%.
Bill: H.R. 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Status: Awaiting President's signature
Description: A $50,000 tax on hospital organizations, which fail to meet described quality requirements.
Bill: H.R. 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Status: Awaiting President's signature
Description: A fee based upon the sales of pharmaceutical companies in relation to the total sale of such pharmaceutical products to the public.
Bill: H.R. 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Status: Awaiting President's signature
Description: Medical device manufacturers must pay a fee in relation to the sales of their product in the marketplace and the total sales of devices.
Bill: H.R. 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Status: Awaiting President's signature
Description: A fee applied to all health insurance providers based upon net premiums and any third party fees associated with the administration of those programs.
Bill: H.R. 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Status: Awaiting President's signature
Description: High income tax payers, making on a joint return over $250,000 and a standard return over $200,000, are required to pay an additional 0.5% of wages. This applies to both self-employed, and regularly employed individuals.
Bill: H.R. 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Status: Awaiting President's signature
Description: A tax of 5% is levied upon the am mount paid for any cosmetic surgery. This does not include the need for such surgeries created by trauma or a disfiguring disease. If the tax is not collected by that professional completing the procedure, their business is still liable for the requirement.
Bill: H.R. 4872 Reconciliation Act
Status: Yet to be approved by the Senate
Description: A 2.5% income tax on individuals who do not have health care coverage, limited to a cost less than the average national health care premium.
Bill: H.R. 4872 Reconciliation Act
Status: Yet to be approved by the Senate
Description: For self-insured plans, a fee on the the sponsor whether that is the employer or the employee organization. Also, a fee on the issuer of every health care plan imposed.
Bill: H.R. 4872 Reconciliation Act
Status: Yet to be approved by the Senate
Description: For firms refusing to pay health insurance, but not meeting required exclusions, an 8% tax on wages will be applied.
Bill: H.R. 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Status: Awaiting President's signature
Description: A tax of 10% on the amount paid for any tanning service.
Bill: H.R. 4872 Reconciliation Act
Status: Yet to be approved by the Senate
Description: A 1% tax increase for individuals making between $350,000 and $500,000.
Bill: H.R. 4872 Reconciliation Act
Status: Yet to be approved by the Senate
Description: A 1.5% tax increase for individuals making between $500,000 and $1 million.
Bill: H.R. 4872 Reconciliation Act
Status: Yet to be approved by the Senate
Description: A 5.4% increase for individuals making more than $1 million.
Stock up now - it's going to be a long decade!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.