Unhappy Anniversary: The Supreme Court's Obamacare Decision Turns One

One year ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in the case of National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare, by a vote of 5-4. According to Chief Justice John Roberts' controversial ruling in favor of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, "It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices."

To mark the decision's one-year anniversary, Reason looks back at a few of the negative consequences now unfolding as Obamacare becomes the law of the land.

Federal Watchdog Report Points to Trouble For Obamacare's Health Exchanges.

Is HHS Secretary Sebelius's Solicitation of Private Industry Support for Obamacare Illegal, or Merely Unethical?

Obamacare Author Max Baucus Sees "Huge Train Wreck" Coming For Health Law.

HHS Secretary Sebelius: Some Premiums Will Rise Under Obamacare.

More Bad News for Obamacare: Study Finds Medicaid Has No Effect on Measured Health Outcomes.

California Regulators Hide Obamacare Rate Shock With Misleading Comparison.

Comments

[AlexInCT]

Die an ugly death you monstrosity from Pelosi's mind....

[DEATFBIRSECIA]

Somebody drown it in the bathtub. Oh wait, it's the size of the house now.

[Hugh Akston]

In related news I have been shopping around for health insurance lately. Can anyone recommend a plan/carrier that doesn't cover maternity care?

[Pro Libertate]

Yes. Abduct and enslave your own doctor. Preferably one who doesn't speak English.

[Brett L]

BCBS didn't used to on their HDHP, but that may have gone by the wayside.

[Auric Demonocles]

You don't want maternity care? Why do you hate womenz?

[Caleb Turberville]

"It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices."

Please tell me that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is just playing political games is not ignorant of the role of the Judicial Branch in checking the power the Legislative Branch.

[Bones]

No shit. This is actually exactly what his fucking job is. More specifically to protect the minority from the political choices of the majority, as it pertains to, you know, the fucking Constitution! What a retarded fucking asshole!

[AlexInCT]

Would anyone here be surprised if we find out someday that Roberts had someone show him something incriminating, likely obtained by the ongoing NSA surveillance of everyone, that affected his descisions making on this topic? I would like to believe the guy isn't so desperate for affection from the left that he would throw principle out the window. Then again...

[Anonymous Coward]

Just like with HMOs, the government will, in about 10 or 20 years, solemnly declare the failures of Obamacare to be a result of the evil and predatory insurance industry that can only be curbed by full nationalization.

[sarcasmic]

Market failure.

[Caleb Turberville]

If Roberts is still on the court in 10 to 20 years, will he still be playing "judicial deference" when it comes to nationalization, or will it finally go too far even for his expansive interpretation of Congress's tax powers?

[Agammamon]

Hey, they've already decided that the government can only control *80% of an industry before its truly nationalized.

So that leaves plenty of room for the free market (to get the blame for all the fuck-ups).

[Lord Humungus]

As pointed out by others, this is the method of operation of the neo-socialist: don't directly administer / takeover an industry, but essentially strangle it through regulations. In this case the blame will fall on the shoulders of the insurance companies, not the government.

In the old days, the blame would fall directly on the government, leading to discontent that could potentially topple the powers that be.

[sarcasmic]

Government is us. Corporations are them.

Can't blame or be discontent with the government. Government is society. It's you and me. Corporations are the enemy. If it wasn't for government, we'd be in shackles, slaves to the corporations, living in a poisoned wasteland. Government keeps us safe from the wicked corporations. So it can't be the fault of the government. Must be the fault of the evil corporations.

[Hash Brown]

I'm even more depressed now than I was a year ago. I didn't think that would be possible.

[Lord Humungus]

A year ago was a shitty day. At least Tony was happy.

[Irish]

OT: Good news! Charges dismissed against student who wore an NRA t-shirt to school.

Although the charge related to the boy's behavior after the incident began, White said the school's unreasonable demand that he take off the shirt caused the situation to get out of control.

[Brett L]

Try to keep up.

[Number 2]

Ah yes, the one year anniversary of the Obamacare decision.

One year ago, our Great Leader claimed that any group of unelected justices that dared to void a law that had been passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the President would be committing an affront to democracy and would diminish respect for the court for decades, if not centuries, to come.

Yesterday, a day after the Supreme Court struck down a different law that had been passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the President, our Great Leader termed it a "victory" for "American democracy."

And you wonder why I hate the bastard.

[DEATFBIRSECIA]

Oh I don't wonder.

[Caleb Turberville]

You make an excellent point...

By the way, WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?!

[Number 2]

That would be telling....

[Auric Demonocles]

Yet another instance where we need some video of Obama arguing with himself.

[Auric Demonocles]

Unhappy Anniversary: The Supreme Court's Obamacare Decision Turns One

Fuck. Guess that margarita with lunch won't be all the booze I have this workday. Maybe if I get drunk enough I'll start seeing double alt-text.

[The Late P Brooks]

"It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices."

What a maroon.

[Auric Demonocles]

I actually agree, that specifically he is correct. However, his job is to enforce the Constitution, which sometimes may protect people from their political choices.

[Hash Brown]

"You elected someone who has no respect for the Constitution. Not my problem. I'm gonna play tennis."