There still appears to be a great deal of confusion over whether the money assessed via ObamaCares' individual mandate is a tax, or a penalty.
Chief Justice John Roberts based his vote on the idea that it is a tax, and therefore comes under the Federal Government's mandate to levy taxes. On the other hand, even after the questionable decision that saved ObamaCare, both President Obama's campaign and Romney campaign adviser Ed Fehrnstrom are telling us it's a 'penalty'.
The answer's perfectly obvious, and it amazes me that anyone even questions it.
The individual mandate is obviously a tax, which is why the IRS in in charge of collecting it. They have no mandate whatsoever according to federal law to collect anything else but taxes levied by the federal government and penalties and liens directly resulting from those taxes.
But it's also worth mentioning that if it is a tax, it's an illegal tax according to the Constitution, which severely and narrowly defines exactly what kinds of taxes the federal government may levy. And a 'tax' on inactivity for not performing a certain action or purchasing something isn't one of them.
There are only three kinds of taxes the federal government may collect. There are capitat or head taxes equally levied on everyone, income taxes, as per the 16th Amendment or excise taxes, based on economic activity - interstate commerce, tariffs on goods of foreign origin, sales taxes, and so on. The assessment based on the individual mandate fits in none of these categories, and there is no precedent for anything like this in U.S. law.
As Jesus himself once said, "Thou art neither hot nor cold, so I will spew thee out of my mouth."
As perfect a description of the individual mandate as I can imagine.
I predicted long ago that at least one and possibly more SCOTUS justices would change their position on ACA due to pressure. The problem is several fold. 1.) The media is leftist in nature. Leftists suppor this bill. Anyone who voted against it and prevented it from passing would have faced endless vilification in the news media. 2.)The American public is politically left of center. As such, the public looks more favorably upon someone who espouses leftist political views than one who holds a more "conservative" position. 3.) Given the media's propensity to demonize those who don't tow the line, and the fact that Mr. Roberts was never really vetted, there may be somethin in his record that would be, at best, embarassing and, at worst, career ending he may have felt intense pressure to "tow the line." In this case, towing the line meant voting for ACA. 4.)Government agencies support ACA because it gives the government more power. The government bureacracy and the media work hand and hand to try and make life difficult for any one who does not tow the line on the leftists politial agenda.
ReplyDeleteDue to these factors any prominent person or want to be prominent person will face tremendous pressure in America to adopt a "leftists"/"progessive" agenda. Resisting this requires ENORMOUS character. Mr. Robers was never really vetted. There is no way to know if he had or has the kind of character that would have been necessary. As such, if he did change his vote due to pressure, this would harldy be surprising.
Btw, your description of this law is about right. I could not say it better myself.