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Justice Roberts: Can the government make you buy a cell phone?
politico ^ | Marhc 27 2012 | BYRON TAU

Posted on 03/27/2012 12:09:57 PM PDT by NoLibZone

Opponents of the individual mandate provision of President Obama's health care law contend that if the government can force you to buy health insurance, its powers of compulsion are virtually unlimited. Chief Justice John Roberts wonders what else Washington can force citizens to buy in this exchange:

CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS: Well, the same, it seems to me, would be true say for the market in emergency services: police, fire, ambulance, roadside assistance, whatever. You don't know when you're going to need it; you're not sure that you will. But the same is true for health care. You don't know if you're going to need a heart transplant or if you ever will. So there is a market there. To -- in some extent, we all participate in it. So can the government require you to buy a cell phone because that would facilitate responding when you need emergency services? You can just dial 911 no matter where you are?

GENERAL VERRILLI: No, Mr. Chief Justice. think that's different. It's -- We -- I don't think we think of that as a market. This is a market. This is market regulation. And in addition, you have a situation in this market not only where people enter involuntarily as to when they enter and won't be able to control what they need when they enter but when they --

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News
KEYWORDS: justicekennedy; obamacare; scotusobamacare; scotusocareday2
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To: sam_paine
How did we get into the awful position that we have to hope Kennedy wakes up in a good mood to have a just government?

Because the liberal left / progressives stole our Country and we let them. Now we must challenge them at every turn and use ALinsky against them, with righteousness.

41 posted on 03/27/2012 1:40:33 PM PDT by LALALAW (one of the asses whose sick of our "ruling" classes)
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To: nhwingut
Two best parts of Bush legacy — Roberts and Alito.

This being the decision that will determine whether we shall continue to be a Republic, or Socialist/Marxist state, then the Jury is still out.

Personally, I think they will at best, sever the mandate, and leave the complete socialist power structure on place. The mandate portion will just be passed on to the state to work out, since Romney has proved that part to be constitutional.

42 posted on 03/27/2012 1:49:03 PM PDT by itsahoot (Tag lines are a waste of bandwidth, as are most of my comments.)
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To: LALALAW

If I was a Congressman and the individual mandate does not get tossed out by the SCOTUS I would introduce legislation that every adult American citizen be FORCED to buy a firearm.

Shove it down their throats.


43 posted on 03/27/2012 1:49:23 PM PDT by Noamie
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To: sjmjax
Correct. Our family uses a chiropractor and, thanks to ObamaCare's mandates, my work insurance greatly reduced these type of coverages so they could cover the cost of treating winos, junkies, illegal aliens and other ObamaCare mandates.

We asked him about it and he said that by the time the insurance paperwork is done, he only ends up getting about what our previous co-pay was anyway. So we arranged treatment without insurance for the former copay amount, cash on the table.

44 posted on 03/27/2012 1:54:32 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: sjmjax
What I don’t understand is why anyone, the Justices in particular, accept the premise that buying health insurance is the only way one can pay for their personal health care?

EXACTLY! When I was young and somewhat a little "poorer" I saved and paid cash for our family office visits and I even paid cash for the birth of my 4th child. Believe me, I got discounts when I flashed cash at the doctors office staff. They even worked hard to be sure I got the "samples" instead of sending me off to the pharmacy. Worked well for me.

Now, I will admit it is a bit risky if you end up in the hospital or with something serious. I think I was in my 30's when I went with a high deductible catastrophic plan.
45 posted on 03/27/2012 2:02:50 PM PDT by copaliscrossing (Progressives are Socialists)
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To: TexasFreeper2009
Next the government will force us to buy Chevy Volts

Actually you are buying them already indirectly, you just don't get to physically own them. Is this a great Country or what?

46 posted on 03/27/2012 2:15:00 PM PDT by itsahoot (Tag lines are a waste of bandwidth, as are most of my comments.)
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To: nhwingut
Two best parts of Bush legacy — Roberts and Alito.

And may GOD bless and protect them!

Thank you Mr. President.

47 posted on 03/27/2012 2:17:08 PM PDT by quesera ("the darkside is upon us")
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To: NoLibZone

the gov’t makes me buy car insurance...

as for cell phones, the gov’t is already forcing me to buy cellphones and minutes...

they just give them to other people


48 posted on 03/27/2012 2:25:12 PM PDT by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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To: Ancesthntr

Exactly, therefore my question to Roberts - how is being forced by the government to purchase a necessity any less intrusive than being forced by the government to purchase any non necessity?

IOW, how can Wickard (and Raich) stand if the court rules against Abomicare? Further, how can Social Security remain constitutional?


49 posted on 03/27/2012 2:44:25 PM PDT by An.American.Expatriate (Here's my strategy on the War against Terrorism: We win, they lose. - with apologies to R.R.)
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To: Noamie
If I was a Congressman and the individual mandate does not get tossed out by the SCOTUS I would introduce legislation that every adult American citizen be FORCED to buy a firearm. Shove it down their throats.

Or demand of all Republican Senate candidates that they take an oath not to approve under ANY circumstance any candidate for the bench who does not specifically repudiate Wickard v Filburn, the ObamaCare Case and all the commerce clause chicanery.

50 posted on 03/27/2012 2:51:03 PM PDT by LALALAW (one of the asses whose sick of our "ruling" classes)
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To: NoLibZone
More importantly, within the question of healthcare, can the fedgov force you to buy so-called healthy foods - such as broccoli as mentioned recently by a politico?

If so, there is NO end to what Congress can make you buy or make illegal for the betterment of society in general, and healthcare specifically. There are countless products and services that could be deemed to be detrimental to the populace at large, and others that could be required to purchase due to aforementioned.

Everything from cars to motorcycles to fried foods to chainsaws to farm equipment to the most absurd, and on and on could be made illegal because they cost the health system.

The USSC better find Obamacare un-Constitutional or we are heading towards civil disobedience on a massive scale. I don't foresee a RVII, but I see chaos with the States finally saying enough and forgoing much of their returned tax dollars like Texas is currently doing.

The above said, I am going to post an article that lists products and services that the Fedgov should insist we all be required to purchase for the "general welfare" of our Country. If we take the "Solicitor General's" argument far enough, maybe we can get some folks to see how absurd this argument is and that there is no limit.

I'll start with Congressional legislation that should pass be required of all persons (hereafter, known as Persons) under the jurisdiction of US Federal statutes, that requires a penalty/fine under the color of law:

1. Persons must purchase a described percentage of healthy foods and limit their intake of burgers, fries, and other such foods, in accordance with existing FDA and other known or to be created bureaucracies. Such agencies will monitor grocery stores and fast food establishments, as to be in compliance;
2. Persons shall purchase only Fedgov approved vehicles that fall within FTC safety standards. Purchase of non-approved vehicles will be subject to penalty/fine as stated above;
3. Persons shall purchase only Fedgov approved sporting equipment. Skiis, snowboards, surfboards, snorkels, parachutes, hang-gliders, kayaks, mountain-climbing gear, must have approved safety devices to be determined.
4. Persons playing in team sporting events and individual activities must purchase Fedgov sanctioned safety gear. The aforementioned includes: Pop Warner, High School, Colligiate, and professional sport activities.
5. Persons must purchase new bathtubs as prescibed with the guidelines of Fedgov policy and provided herein: Bathtubs with less than three (3) inches of water; top level of edge only five (5) inches; a quick-acting flotation safety device. All Persons shall attend a bathtub safety course;
6. Personal and public pools shall be of the same depth and as provided in paragraph BS and item number five (5) above. The public pools must have 1 to 1 Lifeguards. Private pools must have an around the clock adult supervision. If not practical for parents, they must higher said Lifeguards for 24/7 protection;
7. Persons/businesses must buy fire, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, riot, global warming insurance, as provided by Fedgov mandate.
8. Persons must buy Fedgov approved fire and flood and SHTF back up power supply and enough water and supplies so as not anyone get sick or die.

That's just a start, and somewhat facitious, but do the extrapolation for the arguments in front of the USSC. Feel free to add and modify.

51 posted on 03/27/2012 4:06:50 PM PDT by A Navy Vet
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To: SandRat
Jackson & Sharpton will soon accuse you of racism for using niggardly.

Progressives have already characterized the anti-socialist position as inherently racist (since blacks are predominantly socialist). I heard this during the 2008 election season.

I'm probably considered racist for bringing it up.

52 posted on 03/27/2012 4:22:16 PM PDT by nonsporting
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To: sam_paine

What about, “match denied”, when you go to get married. Hey, with this its coming.


53 posted on 03/27/2012 4:30:03 PM PDT by AGreatPer (Obama has NEVER given a speech where he did not lie!!!)
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To: sten

Is your car insurance from the govt?

Or a private firm?


54 posted on 03/27/2012 9:40:21 PM PDT by NoLibZone (When will Obama call Trayvon's mom? He was quick to call Sandra Fluke.)
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To: NoLibZone

the demand is from the govt. I have some choice in the supplier.

govt support of an industry thru regulation. if I don’t bend to the demand, they will fine me

I wish the govt would demand people spend $2k+ per year buying products from my industry (software).... let alone specific types of products


55 posted on 03/28/2012 4:59:23 AM PDT by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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