The Supreme Court speaks: Writing for the majority, Chief
Justice
John Roberts, an appointee of President George W. Bush, wrote
that
the Affordable Care Act is
an issue decided by the people’s elected
representatives. In
other words, he stood against ‘judicial activism.’
U.S. Health
Reform: Another ‘Moral Victory’ for Obama (Le Temps, Switzerland)
“This is a reward for Obama’s moral stand and his personal
commitment. The confirmation of the change by the Supreme Court on Thursday is
historic. By spreading the risk of insurers among a larger pool of insured and by
daring to speak of the solidarity of all Americans, in a land where
individualism is sacrosanct, the Democratic administration induced a
philosophical upheaval. ... This will not put an end to the political struggle.”
For Barack Obama,
the
ratification of health reform confirms the principal success of his
presidency. It is also a reward for Obama’s moral stand and his personal
commitment. No president before him had succeeded or even attempted to reform a
system so plagued by health lobbies and undermined by such an uncontrollable explosion
of costs. During the debate over the Affordable Care Act, many criticized
the apparent lack of control of the process by the White House. However,
against the advice of Vice President Joe Biden and his advisers and despite headwinds
related to the financial crisis and Republican obstructionism, Obama wanted to
carry out the reform. The confirmation of the reform by the Supreme Court on Thursday
is historic. By spreading the risk of insurers among a larger pool of insured
and by daring to speak of the solidarity of all Americans, in a land where
individualism is sacrosanct, the Democratic administration induced a
philosophical upheaval.
This isn’t the only argument in favor of Obamacare, however
imperfect the law may be. There is also an economic rationale. At a time when
health care costs consume 17 percent of U.S. GDP - a world record - the reform
should limit increases in premiums for policyholders who today must bear the
costs of the uninsured; and it should reduce costs by promoting prevention,
which is largely ignored in the United States. Americans without health
coverage will no longer wait until they are seriously ill to seek care. They
will no longer have to choose between paying the mortgage or
paying for health insurance. The Organization
for Economic Co-operation and Development shares this view, holding that
the reform is an opportunity to control health costs, which is a principal
budget menace.
As for the Supreme Court, discredited after "inappropriate"
comments about the White House by Justice Scalia, it has made a courageous
decision within the context of extreme politicization.
Posted
by Worldmeets.US
However, this will not put an end to the political struggle.
Having made opposition to Obama Care its battle cry, the Tea Party is shattered.
Nevertheless, it promises a July vote in the House of Representatives to repeal
the law and to elect Mitt Romney president in November. But as governor of
Massachusetts, the Republican, who vows to eradicate Obama's program, passed a reform
similar to Obamacare in 2006, which was primarily funded by Washington
...
