Florida Declares Gov't Healthcare Unconstitutional

Pete Souza/White HouseA federal judge in Florida declared President Obama's healthcare reform was "unconstitutional" because of something-something. It really doesn't matter. This was part of about 26 random state lawsuits against the bill ever since it became law. (The Federal government has argued that state's cannot just sue this thing away, but the ruling will get bumped up to the Supreme Court, so that should be fun.) I think the judge was arguing the landmark legislation wasn't legal because folks would have to sign on for the health insurance program in 2014, via the "individual mandate." Of course, based on this logic, folks should be able to declare their car insurance payments unconstitutional, but, believe me, if the government didn't require car insurance, a whole lot of people would be using that $50 to $100 per month State Farm payment playing online bingo and/or beer. But MANDATE! STATES RIGHTS! OBAMA-SCARE! FLORIDA! ALL-CAPS! (TheLoop21.com)

Beaten At A TownHall?!? Knee-Grow Please. (Guest Post)

This story originally ran Monday on AverageBro.com, the Web Site of The Black Snob's official play cousin. It was reposted here due to its St. Louis connection and the long-held belief that if some Union thug actually did beat you down you honestly wouldn't be able to talk about it as your jaw would be wired shut. Let's just be real about it. Also, even though the county police were out numbered at this event 15 to 500, the county police (like many law enforcement officials) don't tolerate anyone dolling out beatdowns who aren't them. But I digress ...

By AverageBro

Maybe you saw last week's alleged beating of a black man outside a St. Louis townhall meeting, maybe not. In any event, the organizers of these sometimes disruptive protests now have their mascot. And surpise, surprise, he just so happens to be black.

More after the jump.

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Question of the Day: Healthcare -- Privilege or Right?

One of the terms I've seen used on this blog by commenters and in other pro-healthcare reform articles on the Web is that universal healthcare should be seen as a right and not a privilege of those with jobs who provide it or can afford it on their own. I'm pro-healthcare reform. I've both had healthcare through work and I've had to pay for it on my own at different times in my life. Currently I have no medical insurance as I can't afford it. But there's nothing in the law necessarily that says you are promised medical coverage, just as there was nothing in the law about Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare and Social Security before those plans were implemented. I'm also for those social welfare programs as well, but I recognize that there's no promise that these plans will always be there. I'm already prepared for the reality that I'll probably never really "retire" in the way my father did as he had a pension plan and I'm operating under the promise of a meager 401k and Social Security.

If you believe healthcare is a right, where do you draw your reasoning from? If you think it's a privilege (one I can't afford at this time), why do you feel this way? Answer below.

Yelling In America: They Went to A Healthcare Townhall and a WWE Match Broke Out

Here in St. Louis University City School District canceled Sen. Claire McCaskill's healthcare forum after a congressman's forum on aging ended in fights and arrests. Here in this video clip from Harold Ford Jr.'s old district in Tennessee they had the bomb squad out and someone was escorted off the premises with a gun. Can you say U-G-L-Y? You ain't got no albi. It's getting ugly. Yeah, ugly.

Of course, it's all poops and grins until someone gets hurt (or arrested).

More after the jump.

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Health Insurance Woes: The Middle Class Killer

Many of us don't like to think about it, but a lot of us are one bad, medical emergency from poverty -- even if you have insurance.

What's supposed to be there in an emergency can be easily ripped away with the stroke of one red pen. The New York Times took a look at the killer trend that's destroying bank accounts and lives -- the sagas of the underinsured.

Health insurance is supposed to offer protection — both medically and financially. But as it turns out, an estimated three-quarters of people who are pushed into personal bankruptcy by medical problems actually had insurance when they got sick or were injured.

And so, even as Washington tries to cover the tens of millions of Americans without medical insurance, many health policy experts say simply giving everyone an insurance card will not be enough to fix what is wrong with the system.

Too many other people already have coverage so meager that a medical crisis means financial calamity.

More after the jump.

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