“Another thing to note is that Chief Justice Roberts’s opinion on the taxing power is limited. He noted that it could not be considered punitive because the amount citizens are required to pay for not having insurance is far less than they would have to pay to obtain insurance. He strongly suggests that, if Congress were to require citizens to pay an amount greater than the costs of insurance, that would constitute a penalty, and thus would be unconstitutional. “
So, if you don’t have insurance and pay the penalty, it must be cheaper than the cost of the insurance. That is the silver lining?? What if you want an alternative insurance program (if one is allowed)? The cost of that, plus the penalty will be more than the cost of buying into the obamacare system.
The simple fact that you must play the “What If?” game is a huge silver lining. Every time that game comes up, it’s pretty clear that there will be attorneys getting rich and injunctions abounding.
This ruling is an application of Saul Alynski’s rule
#4. “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules. You can kill them with this, for they can no more obey their own rules than the Christian church can live up to Christianity.”
Certainly. How about the FREEDOM of not having to buy ANY insurance, and not having to pay ANY fine?
What if someone is married to or has a close relative who is a physician? Herbal healer? Christian Scientist?