SCOTUS, POTUS, and other things that make me giggle

I make serious, conscious effort to be a thoughtful, well-rounded, and educated person. I really try. Some days I have to remind myself to try. Like today, when I learned that the Supreme Court ruled Obamacare constitutional.

I believed that Obamacare was unconstitutional, but I would be an idiot to argue that now. Luckily, The Supreme Court did strike down the unconstitutional mandate, thus satisfying my desire to be right about something. Unfortunately they also ruled that if we were to simply change the term "individual mandate" to "tax" that then it magically becomes constitutional. Ok, whatever, so it's constitutional now, but it's still bad medicine. The philosophy of universal healthcare is great, but it just doesn't work. There are just too many problems that I don't feel like addressing right now. Just ask Canada.

And believe me (I know you won't believe this, but it's true!), I tried to see the good in this. I thought, "ok, maybe it's not so bad and I'm just being a regular ole' stubborn cynic, per usual." But I couldn't wrap my head around a few things.

For instance, now that it's a tax and not a mandate, I should be happy! Reason is, you see, because I don't make $250,000 annually, so my taxes aren't going to go up. Right, Barack? Oh, sorry, didn't mean to bring up yet another botched campaign promise . . . But I still should be happy, because the constitutionality has been proven and that was my only hangup! Except that your healthcare overhaul also includes several OTHER tax provisions in no way related to healthcare. Oh, well, at least I don't have to fund abortion! Oh . . . Stupak squealed . . . Moving on.

My first reaction was something like this: "&#IWKROPUFP(*Q&@#!*)@!*Y*HF{." That's more of a declaration of thunderstruck-tivity rather than a string of obscenity, by the way. Believe it or not, and maybe it's just pure naivety at it's finest, but of all the groups with political power, I think I trust the Supreme Court the most to make decisions. Of course they are probably swayed by their political convictions, but I think they are the best at pushing aside emotion and looking at straight fact. So here are some facts:

Obama and others adamantly denied that it's a tax before the bill is passed, because, seriously, a new tax would look bad and no one would have voted for it:



I would hardly consider a "mandate" more appealing, but what a clever way to disguise a tax. And now, "Obama say 'tax good!'" And followers say "tax was bad, now tax good." 

Please, do not be that person who supported Obama when he made the "it's not a tax!" argument, and then continue to stand by him when he says "See, it's a tax!" You look like a wagon-jumping idiot -- void of awareness, abundant with blind loyalty.

And now we have opened floodgates to the possibilities of the government's broad and ill-defined access to tax power. It would be even more scary to think about if, say, we had a president who was getting on-the-job-training after being elected by the American Idol generation who get their news from Comedy Central. It's not like electing an unknown senator who had zero legislative, business, economic, or leadership experience would be a bad idea, right?

Here's the kicker -- I actually think that Justice Roberts, who was the swing vote for this decision -- is helping the cause of the GOP, and maybe even on purpose. Read what he said about the decision:

“Members of this Court are vested with the authority to interpret the law; we possess neither the expertise nor the prerogative to make policy judgments. Those decisions are entrusted to our Nation’s elected leaders, who can be thrown out of office if the people disagree with them. It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices.”

In other words, "You're on your own, suckers!"

Feeling Grumpy. So Grumpy Left.

I have a bunch of drafts written up from when I lived in Berkeley (you know, when I was bottled up by "well meaning peace-seekers" who hated me for having a different opinion) and I want to break them up into smaller, easily digestible word snacks because I think they are funny now that I'm in an environment that isn't as hostile to different views. But now, we have much *ahem* bigger problems: Midget fury.

According to The New York Post, the recent release of the film “Snow White and the Huntsman” has created serious uproar in the community of "little people." We all know that dwarves are an integral part of the story, but the actors playing them were actually “full-size.” For this reason, the Little People of America and dwarf actors are protesting the film, even threatening a “100-Midget March.” Dwarf actor Danny Woodburn is quoted to say, “this is akin to black face,” which was when white people would paint their faces black to portray black individuals.

I can't believe that society has become so over-sensitive.

By sensitive, of course, I mean that we would forget little people during such an economically deficient time. It's understandable that they would feel so shortchanged. Sources say that the Little People of America even offered to stunt the roles for minimum wage, but obviously they were easily overlooked. Some would suggest that the dwarves are being shortsighted and should just act like bigger men and walk away from this small creative licensed script change. Perhaps Woodburn just woke up on the wrong side of the shoebox, but he shouldn't have mounted a soapbox expecting to become a big voice sharing the same arena as those who have larger acting careers. Instead, they should look up to the actors chosen to portray the 7 dwarves and realize that, in comparison, their acting falls short. Perhaps this is just a poor attempt at trying to revive their minuscule career by demanding that tall people be discriminated against instead. But let's not jump to disproportionate conclusions and instead be very compact in our thinking. Why should we build up such a diminutive issue? We should empathize with their dilemma and try not to look down on them during the 100 midget march.

Does this mean that there will be a fat woman march in protest of Tyler Perry movies? Oh, who am I kidding?