Obamacare: Repeal Is up to Congress

Morning Bell: Join the Fight to Repeal Obamacare

Ed Feulner, President, The Heritage Foundation

Many wonderful patriots are out in the trenches, fighting tyranny with all their hearts. Truth is our greatest weapon, and The Heritage Foundation works 24-7, educating American citizens. They are among the groups who have the most influence on Congress. CD

Fellow Americans,

Like you, I am disappointed by the Supreme Court’s Obamacare decision. The Court misread and rewrote Obamacare in order to save it. Such contortions are not the proper role of judging. Most Americans are with you and me and deeply dislike this law.

We believe, however, that this is far, far from a time for despair. This decision will energize freedom-loving Americans to once again take matters into their own hands. Our republic has survived and flourished for more than two centuries because men and women—brave, determined, and deeply committed to the cause of freedom—were willing to stand, to march, and to make whatever sacrifices were necessary so that their children would know the blessings of liberty, the hope and opportunity that flow from living in “the land of the Free.”

They will receive this ruling as a clarion call to action. Once again, the people will have to rise to defend a fundamental American concept: that the power of government over individuals must be limited.

First, let’s acknowledge what was good in the decision. The Court recognized that there are limits to what Congress may do under the Commerce Clause. Big-government forces have for too long abused this clause’s grant of congressional authority, but the Court’s decision reaffirms that there are limits on their actions.

There’s also the fact that the individual mandate has acquired the official constitutional status of a “tax”—and if it is indeed a tax, then that is even more reason for the U.S. Senate to repeal it with the 51-vote threshold available under the Budget Act’s reconciliation process. It is a revenue provision. No filibuster problems there now.

Calling it a tax, of course, doesn’t make the heavy-handed policy in Obamacare any better for those who now have to buy a product they don’t like. And yesterday’s opinion makes clear that President Obama enacted a massive new tax on the middle class, breaking one of his repeated promises.

We must resolve to check this dangerous expansion of power.

The first step is to work harder than ever to fully repeal Obamacare. Now that the Supreme Court has had its say, Congress becomes the arena in which we can fight for relief and restoration of constitutional limits.

Congress can and must reassert its constitutional authority. Indeed, the House of Representatives has already acted. We congratulate the lower chamber for having voted to repeal Obamacare.

Now it’s the Senate’s turn to do what’s right: Repeal Obamacare, and force the President to sign its repeal.

The American experiment is predicated on the idea that government exists to serve the people, that it derives its power from the people, and that the people retain all powers they do not specifically grant to government. Obamacare turns that fundamental idea on its head.

Ours is still a government “of the people.” And the American people have spoken clearly. Indeed, the people’s antipathy toward the law keeps growing. Just this month, a poll conducted by The New York Times and CBS News found that more than two-thirds of Americans wanted the Supreme Court to strike down Obamacare as a whole or in part. Only 24 percent would keep the law in place. While Court decisions obviously should not be driven by polls, the poll clearly shows the people’s dissatisfaction with the bad policy in Obamacare.

So many aspects of Obamacare are appalling. Once all its provisions kick in—conveniently, after the November election—millions of Americans stand to lose their current coverage. Already, it saddles individuals and families with higher premiums, higher costs, and higher taxes—and even steeper increases loom on the horizon. It has sparked a host of other loathsome mandates, like the HHS mandate that requires charitable religious organizations to provide coverage that violates the tenets of their faith.

But why should we expect government to respect the constitutional right to religious freedom if we allow government to ignore fundamental restraints on its power to regulate the lives of its citizens?

This year will mark a pivotal point in American history. The American people now must make a critical decision: We must choose between constitutional, limited government on the one hand and arbitrary, unlimited rule on the other.

We at The Heritage Foundation, as always, will stand in defense of our nation’s founding principles. We are eager to lead the fight to overturn this Intolerable Act—Obamacare—and we are grateful for your support of our efforts to save the American Dream for the next generation.

Join our fight: Become part of the mission to repeal Obamacare and create a better America.

Sincerely,

Ed Feulner
President, The Heritage Foundation

Supreme Court, Immigration, and History Timeline

History Timeline

Dinner Topics for Tuesday: What do Leaders of Tomorrow have in common with Queen Esther of Ancient Times?

What can we learn from these moments on the history timeline? Consider the following three examples, then do an analysis. What would you do?

Old Testament Era

“For Such a Time As This”  Esther, by Elspeth Young.  Copyright 2003.  All Rights Reserved.  Used by Permission of Al Young Studios.

Mordecai, the Jew, refuses to do obeisance to Haman—Haman arranges a decree to kill all the Jews in the kingdom. Mordecai and the Jews mourn and fast because of the king’s decree. Mordecai asks his niece, Queen Esther, to petition the king on behalf of her people, saying, —. . .and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Then Esther bade them [the messengers] return Mordecai this answer,

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.  (Esther 4:14-16)

Esther, at the peril of her life, went in unto the king.

Esther, as the queen chosen by the King of Persia, found herself in a difficult position—it was necessary for her to oppose one of the king’s decrees, in order to preserve the lives of her people. Her uncle, Mordecai, urged her to petition the king for the protection of her people. She did so, even though it was dangerous, and not popular with the ruling regime. God was with her, and she was able to affect the law so that her people could protect themselves.

The Fall of Rome

The sack of 455, A.D. was the second of three barbarian sacks of Rome; it was executed by the Vandals.

Upon the Vandal arrival, according to the chronicler Prosper of Aquitaine, Pope Leo I requested that Genseric not destroy the ancient city or murder its inhabitants. Genseric agreed and the gates of Rome were thrown open to him and his men. Maximus, who fled rather than fight the Vandal warlord, was killed by a Roman mob outside the city, possibly together with his son Palladius.

It is accepted that Genseric looted great amounts of treasure from the city, and also took Lucinia Eudoxia and her daughters hostage. The sack of 455 is generally seen by historians as being more thorough than the Visagothic sack of 410, because the Vandals plundered Rome for fourteen days whereas the Visigoths spent only three days in the city.

The cause of most controversy, however, is the claim that the sack was relatively “clean”, in that there was little murder and violence, and the Vandals did not burn the buildings of the city. This interpretation seems to stem from Prosper’s claim that Leo managed to persuade Genseric to refrain from violence. However, Victor of Vita records how many shiploads of captives arrived in Africa from Rome, with the purpose of being sold into slavery. Similarly, the Byzantine historian Procopius reports how at least one church was burnt down. (Source: Wikipedia)

2010

Arizona Immigration Law: What would you do?

The United States is faced with insecure borders.  American citizens have been violated, vandalized, and even murdered by immigrants who have not entered the country legally—essentially they have invaded this country. Children have had their identity stolen to create fraudulent papers. Many of these criminals are not being held accountable, as in the following example.

“Political correctness also does its best to affect the collective judgment of the American people when it comes to illegal immigration. There is no question it affects law enforcement agencies. I had one veteran police officer tell me when they stop illegal aliens for some violation, they often just send them on down the road after the same violation for which a lawful citizen would have been ticketed, fined or jailed.

Evidently this attitude also affects the feds in charge of enforcing our immigration laws. Did you see the story out of the state of Washington where an illegal immigrant was arrested after being caught in the act of raping a woman? He had been deported nine times. You read that right, NINE times.” ~ Tim Wildmon, director, the American Family Association.

Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona responds to questions regarding her efforts to secure the borders and protect her people from a growing criminal element among illegal aliens.

“The irony is that President Obama’s Administration has chosen to sue Arizona for helping to enforce federal immigration law, and not sue local governments that have adopted a patchwork of ‘sanctuary’ policies that directly violate federal law.”  ~Governor Jan Brewer

Question: What is the reaction of the majority of the population in Arizona to the federal government’s hostility toward the Arizona immigration law?

Brewer: They’re outraged. And rightfully so. These people are supposed to be protecting us. Not assaulting us.

Question: Your family must not like seeing you go through this.

Brewer: No. and they don’t like to see me under fire, and the nasty things that are said and the horrible things and the comments, and efforts made against me and the manner in which they are made.

Question: Most people probably don’t under stand what it’s like, either as a governor or a private citizen, which you also are—to be targeted by, demonized by, and aimed at by the President of the United States. Have you ever. . .been temped to say, “Forget it—it’s not worth it?”

Brewer: Well, sometimes I get a little bit down. But then I hear from so many people, and the encouragement and their support and their prayers have really taken me through all of this. Certainly it has been rigorous and it’s been difficult—and it has been something I would have never, ever anticipated that I would be in the position of doing. But I’m here, and I’m not going to back down. I’m going to keep going. I’m going to do it for every American. Because it’s the right thing to do. (Source: Limbaugh Letter, August, 2010, p.9)

 

Today

Would the States conceivably have entered into the Union if the Constitution itself contained the Court's holding? Today's judgment surely fails that test. "'The laws under challenge here do not extend or revise federal immigration restrictions, but merely enforce those restrictions more effectively. If securing its territory in this fashion is not within the power of Arizona, we should cease referring to it as a sovereign State.'" ~Supreme Court Justice Anton Scalia, regarding Supreme Court ruling on Obama regime’s suit against the state of Arizona

To American Young Adults: Who Knows Whether You Are Come. . .For Such a Time as This?

As college students and young adult Americans, you will be our leaders of tomorrow. You may find yourselves in situations similar to Queen Esther, Governor Brewer, or even the ruling powers of Rome in 455, A.D. Educate yourselves, prepare yourselves. What would you do if you were a leader?

Bible Study, Dinner, Traditions, and the Supreme Court

 Bible Study, Dinner, Traditions, and the Supreme Court

Bible Study and Dinner Talk Question: How might our heritage of liberty compare to the “birthright” of American families? Worth noting is this lesson from forgotten history—the ancient example of Biblical parent Rebekah, who guided her son Jacob to rescue the sacred birthright from destruction.

Isaac told his son Esau to bring him venison, and then he would give his son a blessing. Isaac, aged, blind, and dying, prepared to extend the birthright blessing to the eldest son, as was the tradition. Rebekah, however, arranged that Jacob, the younger brother, ended up receiving the birthright blessing. Rebekah’s motives might appear on the surface to be unjustified. But she had reasons, and there have been numerous instances since, in which the eldest did not receive the birthright, because of unworthiness.

Selling the Birthright, by Matthias Stomer, 1640

A study of this Bible story in Genesis reveals some sensible reasons behind Rebekah’s actions. First, the Lord had told Rebekah that Jacob was to be the birthright son. Second, many years before Isaac was to bestow this great, eternal blessing on one of his sons, Esau had shown contempt for it by selling it to Jacob for a hot meal of pottage. Dallin H. Oaks observed, “Many Esaus have given up something of eternal value in order to satisfy a momentary hunger for the things of this world.” Third, Esau married girls who were unbelievers, in direct disobedience to his parents. Fourth, Esau persisted in wickedness, without remorse.

Surely, over the years, Isaac and Rebekah had sorrowed together a great deal over Esau’s unworthy behavior. Lest we judge Rebekah too harshly, she had not forgotten that the Lord had revealed to her the destiny of the righteous Jacob. As parents do, she must have spent sleepless nights wondering how this would come to pass, especially as time paced inexorably toward the appointed moment. Perhaps by some miraculous means, the Lord would have brought about the prophecy, if Rebekah had had more faith. But at length, the moment of decision came. Isaac was dying, and perhaps he himself saw no way to change the tradition, knowing of no precedent. Nevertheless, once Isaac discovered that he had blessed the younger son, he continued to ratify the blessing. Rebekah was willing to take full responsibility for ensuring that her revelation from God was fulfilled.

In America today, our heritage of liberty might be compared to our sacred birthright. Are we losing that heritage? If so, who is taking it, and what can be done about the pottage replacing it?

What do epic heroes do? They save or rescue nations and peoples. But epic heroism can also take place in a home, within a family. In rescuing the sacred blessings of her family, Rebekah did a heroic act. Are today’s parents confident that their children and grandchildren can enjoy, unfettered, the hard-won heritage of freedom bequeathed by previous generations?

In today’s society of shifting values, most parents have serious misgivings about the future of their families. In the Biblical type-scene, the birthright blessings were in danger of falling into immoral hands. So it is today. When did the birthright begin to slip from our grasp? There is a specific event that breached the protective dike, so to speak.

In 1963 the United States Supreme Court banned prayer and Bible-reading from public schools. Trying to avoid the “establishment of religion,” the Supreme Court actually “prohibited the free exercise thereof,” and inadvertently established atheism as the state religion. Countless teachers and students have been punished for praying or reading the Bible in public schools.

When God was removed from the schools, so was accountability. Over time, as Constitutional principles have been replaced by philosophies of despotism, the slope toward the abyss of moral relativism has slickened, and slipping down it has accelerated. The destructive moral decline in our society can be traced back to the enforcement of atheism. What are the consequences of this enforced system of beliefs?

•    The theory of evolution has been taught as fact almost exclusively in the schools. Equal time to examine creation or intelligent design has been denied.
•    History is no longer taught in the schools. Christopher Columbus, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln are no longer honored by national holidays in most schools.
•    Fornication and abortion are taught as acceptable behavior. Nevertheless, sexually active girls are three times more likely to take their own lives than those who are abstinent. Boys are eight times more likely. Two thirds of teens who have committed moral transgression wish they could go back to innocence again and desperately wish they had waited.

•    Widespread abortion is considered by some government leaders to be a national cost-saver

So, What Is to Be Done?

In the rising generation will be found tomorrow’s leaders. They are our hope for the future. They are epic heroes in training.  That training, also known as character education, is not offered in schools, because the best training manuals, containing the word of God, are banned in the schools. Nevertheless, the pattern for our solution is found in the banned books. Biblical prophets were trained at home, by their parents, or in Samuel’s case, by a priest.

Parents can rescue their families from the onslaught of unholy influences. It is simpler than you think. It doesn’t have to be formal instruction. Think of it. Rebekah’s heroic act revolved around a meal. Just gather for dinner daily and teach with scriptural epic stories, like Jesus did.

Copyright © 2011 by Christine Davidson

C.A. Davidson is author of Epic Stories for Character Education, a collection of scriptural epic stories told in easy, dinner-talk style. Additional dinner talk topics for leadership training of young adults: book reviews, sociology and culture, world history, heritage, stress management, and family traditions are provided in the Dinner Talk for Champions, a character education journal, and may be found at http://www.epicworld.info