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Name: Plabius
Location: Buffalo, NY
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Post Cards from Attica

Posted by Plabius on Saturday, November 07, 2009 6:30:00 PM

If H.R. 3962, as is, is passed by the Congress and signed into law by Obama, then many people will be turned into criminals.  Since I live in New York, I'll send you a post card from Attica.

Pelosi: Buy a $15,000 Policy or Go to Jail
Posted by: Meredith Jessup at 11:17 AM
A letter from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) sheds some light on the consequences outlined in Pelosi's new health care proposal for those who choose NOT to comply with its new individual mandate--including up to a $250,000 fine and 5 years in jail:

Key excerpts from the JCT letter appear below (courtesy Ways & Means Ranking Member Dave Camp, R-MI):
“H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax.” [page 1]
                                                       
“If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply…” [page 2]
                                                      
Criminal penalties
Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses.  Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:

• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.” [page 3]
Rep. Camp reports that according to the CBO, the "lowest cost family non-group plan under the Speaker's bill would cost $15,000 in 2016.
 
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There is hope, however.  It is unconstitutional to force anyone, against his will, to purchase a product; and it is also unconstitutional to arrest, try, convict of a crime, and then fine and/or imprison anyone for refusing to purchase a product.

Forcing anyone to do so is an (unconstitutional) act of tyranny.  This is so obvious (to anyone with the good sense that God gave to a dog, or a passing familiarity with the Constitution), that one or more persons will sue the federal government on the grounds that the law is unconstitutional and the Supreme Court (if it even gets that far) will agree.
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Congress Should be Forced to Enroll in any "Public Option"

Posted by Plabius on Thursday, November 05, 2009 3:20:00 PM

I applaud Congressman Joe Wilson's (R-S.C.) proposal of an amendment that would force the members of Congress to enroll in any "public option" that the Congress might impose on America via healthcare reform legislation.

James Madison, the "father of the Constitution", believed that subjecting the legislature to its own legislation is not only prudent, but required!  In support of this understanding of the duties and obligations of the House of Representatives, Madison wrote the following words, in Federalist Paper No. 57:

"I will add, as a fifth circumstance in the situation in the House of Representatives, restraining them from oppressive measures, that they can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well on the great mass of the society.  This has always been deemed one of the strongest bonds by which human policy can connect the rulers and the people together.  It creates between them that communion of interests and sympathy of sentiments of which few governments have furnished examples; but without which every government degenerates into tyranny.  If it be asked, what is to restrain the House of Representatives from making legal discriminations in favor of themselves and a particular class of society? I answer: the genius of the whole system; the nature of just and constitutional laws; and, above all, the vigilant and manly spirit which actuates the the people of America — a spirit which nourishes freedom, and in return is nourished by it.

"If this spirit shall ever be so far debased as to tolerate a law not obligatory on the legislature, as well as on the people, the people will be prepared to tolerate anything but liberty." (Emphasis is mine.)

I believe that the current proposals of the Democratic Party, for the reformation of healthcare in America, are both foolhardy and obscenely expensive; and thus, I do not support them.  However, if we are to have this expensive foolishness forced upon the people, then it must be forced upon the members of Congress, as well.
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What Iran Really Wants.

Posted by Plabius on Saturday, October 17, 2009 3:38:22 PM

I read an article at http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/01/eu-diplomat-iran-world-powers-meet-october/, wherein a few words of Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, spoke volumes to me. Here is what Mr. Mottaki was quoted as saying:

"And we have entered into these discussions with this clear agenda, and this dialogue can also be enhanced, both in form and the level of discussions .... So, different committees can be formed and they can cover various topics in the discussions and they can be put in the agenda .... And from the point of the level of discussions ... the Islamic Republic of Iran has the readiness to enhance the level of such talks up to the level of a summit meeting."

These words were where it all came together for me.

The translation...?

Iran wants respect. It wants Honor. It wants to be taken seriously on the international stage. It wants to have an equal voice and an equal influence on international and global affairs, spanning the gamut from politics, economics and finance, energy and the environment, to religion and culture, and beyond. It wants to be treated as being just as important as the United States, China, Russia, and Europe.

Iran is like a sixteen year old boy, young and strong, who wants to be who he is, assert himself, and who demands to be thought of as, and treated like, a man. But Iran doesn't want to grow up and acquire seasoning and maturity. It doesn't want to earn its respect and honor. With much petulance, it wants what it wants, now.

And so, like a teenage bully, Iran plays a game of brinkmanship in an effort to force others to embrace it and give it some fear and respect.

And like all bullies, its insolence will continue until it gets beaten.

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Why Did Russia Oppose New Sanctions Against Iran?

Posted by Plabius on Saturday, October 17, 2009 3:34:13 PM

Just a thought ...

Immediately after being visited by Hugo Chavez, Russia publicly rejected imposing any further sanctions against Iran in order to end its nuclear enrichment program, signaling that it would veto any additional U.N. Security Council resolutions.

When I noticed this, it occurred to me that Chavez — whom we know is in league with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, having just enhanced his ties with Iran in a visit to that country just before his arrival in Russia — is attempting to strengthen his position against the United States. Indeed, he announced that he will begin purchasing "little rockets" from Russia.

While in Iran, he agreed to sell Iran some 20,000 barrels per day of petrol, and other refined petroleum products, ostensibly because Iran cannot refine its own crude oil. Further sanctions against Iran — specifically, the prohibition of the exportation of refined petroleum products — would harm this deal.

Could it be that Chavez talked the Russians into rejecting further U.N. sanctions against Iran in exchange for the Venezuelan purchase of Russian weaponry? It makes one wonder ... doesn't it?

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