Oh Yeah!

What a crazy day in American government! I was on pins and needles before SCOTUS announced its decision on Obamacare this morning. Initially I was dismayed at the ruling because I strongly disagree with things that reek of socialism when my people have fought and died for a democratic republic since the founding of this nation.

Why, pray tell, would Chief Justice Roberts consider this a tax? More on that in a minute. It’s also interesting that Attorney General Eric Holder was found in contempt of Congress and I applaud the guts of both the Democrats and Republicans who made this happen. Our government is supposed to have such checks and balances; nice to see them in action.

A money thing happened on the way to the quorum (nod to Shevelove and Gelbart): Campaign for Liberty is reporting that “This morning, Audit the Fed unanimously passed the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee by voice vote!”

Yes!!! This is a step in the right direction. This means that soon the U.S. House will vote on it, and then hopefully it’s on to the Senate.

If you’re unfamiliar with Audit the Fed, please see an older post on the issue, https://wildninja.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/audit-the-fed/. Here’s a couple paragraphs that explain why a full audit of the Federal Reserve is necessary:

The Federal Reserve, even in the words of its former chairman, Alan Greenspan, is not a government agency. It is the central banking system of our country, created in 1913, and since then has frequently acted as the middleman between private and public interests. While Congress does have limited oversight power, the Fed acts largely on its own volition, not per our president, Congress, courts, or voters.

But that’s our money that it’s controlling. For that reason, a diverse coalition of supporters is backing the effort to make the Fed fully transparent for the first time in its history. From the Green Party to the Tea Party, from staunch conservatives to proud Democrats, people are coming together demanding that we know what on earth is happening to our hard-earned dollars. Some don’t even think that such a middleman with unchecked godlike powers should exist.

This is not a partisan issue. It’s a common sense issue. It’s high time that the Federal Reserve act like a glass house instead of a brick wall. It’s also about protecting our country from foreign interests and the fat, greedy fingers of corporate sociopaths.

Back to SCOTUS and the curious case of Kennedy placing himself in the minority and Roberts being the surprise swing vote. I was just sent a thread that discusses possible reasons Roberts did what he did. It’s intriguing– check it out: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crazy_politics/message/3061.

The full text of today’s decision is at http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-393c3a2.pdf. It’s worth a read, especially if you’re going to develop strong opinions about this ruling.

We so often rely on tidbits from the talking heads for the ammo to back up our personal views, but it’s beneficial to go to the source and understand the arguments that both sides are making.

Besides, as a legal geek, I like to read Scalia for his wit and outspokenness as well. I don’t always agree with him, but anyone who can make me giggle and snort in the course of a lengthy legal opinion has my attention. His chocolate chip cookie comment in Pleasant Grove City v. Summum was priceless.

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The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding. -Louis D. Brandeis

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©2012 H. Hiatt/wildninja.wordpress.com. All articles/posts on this blog are copyrighted original material that may not be reproduced in part or whole in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from H. Hiatt/wildninja.wordpress.com.