My Initial Thoughts on the Obamacare Ruling

Today, in a complicated and nuanced ruling, the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act. While the full implications of this decision will take some time to become clear, there are a number of things that are immediately obvious.

First, the Supreme Court did their job today. While I would have preferred a different outcome, I accept the Court’s decision without challenging their legitimacy. This is a contrast to Keith Ellison, who just last week declared that the Supreme Court was “a wholly-owned subsidiary of the right wing” because he didn’t agree with one of their rulings. As disappointed as I am in this ruling, I respect the Court and the rule of law. It’s clear that Keith owes the court an apology for his childish and unfounded outburst. 

Chief Justice John Roberts demonstrated that he is able to independently and objectively interpret the law. We need more of those qualities in the people who are charged with serving our country. 

Where I do believe Americans were let down is in an interpretation of law that allows for a group of individuals of one party to ram a tax down the throats of Americans for simply breathing. The ruling that the Affordable Care Act is a tax is damaging to personal choice because it will open the floodgates to a plethora of new taxes and new laws.  

We used to aspire to having more freedom and more liberty. Now we have a ruling class in this country that believes it is their sworn duty to protect us from the decisions we make for ourselves. 

While supporters of today’s decision, like Keith Ellison, will have fun spiking the football, it’s important to remember that the American Revolution was started in part because of taxes.  

The next revolution we must be ready to usher in is not just against this ruling but against a political system that allows politicians to say one thing and do another.  President Obama said, “this was not tax” but then went to court to argue it was a tax.  Likewise, Keith Ellison continually says he needs money for his re-election campaign but then sends thousands of those dollars off to other candidates throughout the country like Charlie Rangel (D-NY). Our political system is broken and we must elect leaders who have the intellectual integrity to repair the damage.  

We’ve already seen provisions of the law repealed. In fact even Keith Ellison voted to repeal a part of it (the Medical Device Tax). I will support the repeal of more.  We need well thought-out solutions, not more grandstanding and bait and switch tactics. Too much is at risk. 

Our ability to make personal decisions has been hijacked by a Washington DC mob who believes that they know how to best to care for every man, woman and child.  That is not the American way. 

We can fight back today and put in place a government that treats us like free, mature citizens.  Our efforts must lead to building a government that serves us and not supervises us.  We can achieve this goal, but only if we Come Together.

ABOUT: Chris Fields is the alternative to Keith Ellison in Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District. Chris is a retired combat veteran who honorably served his country for more than 21 years in the United States Marine Corps.  His message of reform, responsibility, and accountability is encouraging people from diverse backgrounds and political persuasions to Come Together to support a leader that will make real and tangible changes to a broken political system.