VALDOSTA —
Given Thursday’s reaction to the Supreme Court’s health-care decision, a deep breath and a bit of calm may be just what the doctor ordered.
The frenzy began immediately as national television and Internet news attempted to recap the Supreme Court’s 100-plus pages through osmosis, analyzing something it was literally reading live on the air and in real time. Some news networks and websites had to correct themselves as first they announced the Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare, was overturned then unconstitutional then upheld by a 5-4 vote.
Then both the health-care law’s proponents and opponents seemed shocked that it had been upheld at all. Given the Supreme Court’s perceived conservative slant, both sides seemed to believe President Barack Obama’s signature legislation would be overturned. And if it wasn’t overturned, many people assumed Justice Anthony Kennedy would cast the deciding vote. Earlier this month, Time magazine placed Kennedy on its cover, calling him “The Decider.”
Instead, it was Chief Justice John Roberts who sided with what is considered the court’s liberal half. Even more surprising, considering as a senator, Obama opposed Roberts’ nomination to the Supreme Court. But these moments were only the beginning, just the tip of the iceberg, as the decision spawned responses of outrage and celebration. Email accounts became clogged with pro and con statements from what seemed to be every organization ever chartered in the United States. Social media sites erupted in a blistering storm of fury, hoorays, and debate that often pitted friend against friend, and brother against brother.
Reading some of these posts and wading into a few discussions, what became painfully obvious is how many people think they know what Obamacare will do while realizing how little anyone knows what it really will or won’t do.
So, the prescription may be a deep breath and a few moments of calm. Find out if what you like about the Affordable Care Act is true. Learn if what you hate about it is true. If you love it, see if there are some parts you may dislike. If you hate it, learn if there are some parts you might like.
Replace the shock and outrage with clarity and reason then register your opinion by voting for the candidates who oppose it or support it in November’s election.
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Obamacare: A dose of calm
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