
In a hopelessly political Supreme Court, Justice Kennedy, the supposed “swing” justice, reverted to type, leaving some to wonder why Chief Justice Roberts reversed his expected position. It’s my hunch that in the heat following Citizens United, he hoped to deflect criticism that he’s a just another political hack like Scalia, Aleto, and Thomas.
But the squirming motives of one justice are irrelevant compared to the squalling of those who seem to believe that something terrible has happened to them. Mitch McConnell calmly spews his usual lies while Mitt Romney, in his best imitation of fervor, promises to reverse it on Day One of his putative presidency. Both cater to the fears of those duped by lies, mendacity, and hate.
Lie: Obamacare comes between doctors and patients. Patently false.
Lie: Obamacare will raise insurance rates. Fact; it will lower rates by injecting millions more into the insured pool.
Lie: There will be Death Panels. The only “death panel” exists in Sarah Palin’s alleged brain.
Mendacity: People scream about not wanting to saddle grandchildren with debt. Our grandchildren will be major beneficiaries. U.S. health care is the most costly per person in the world. Obamacare will lower costs by providing child care, preventative care, immunizations, screenings, and early intervention, saving the hugely greater costs of severe illness. It also saves on those who otherwise show up in Emergency Rooms needing treatment costing millions.
Hate: To some, “Obamacare,” is a code word for a shameful truth; racist hatred of a black President. Anyone openly anti-black, anti-Jew, anti-Hispanic, anti-Native American, etc., is an instant pariah, so they deny it. But does anyone believe that racism, sexism, ethnicism, etc, evaporated like morning dew after Obama was elected? The ugly truth is the notion that defeating Obamacare would strike a blow against our first black president. Like the Peaceable Kingdom where the lion sits with the lamb, a Post-Racial society is still a distant dream.
Obamacare. already benefitting millions, is a precious advance in a country that for billionaires has the best health care in the world, sub-standard care for most, and no care at all for many. For the 99%, Obamacare is a blessing. Long may it reign.