Rational Nation USA

Rational Nation U S A Purveyor of Truth The old adage be carful what you wish for certainly comes to mind with this one. THE HILL - Republicans in Congress are worried the Supreme Court will hand them a major headache this month if it rules against the federal health insurance exchanges in more than 30 states, ending subsidies for millions of people. While the Affordable Care Act remains broadly unpopular, two new polls show a majority of Americans don’t want to do away with its subsidies, a core component of the law. This poses a conundrum for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). They are under pressure from colleagues up for reelection in swing states and districts to extend the subsidies, at least temporarily, if the court strikes them down. But doing so would risk a backlash from the conservative base. The Supreme Court is expected to hand down its decision in King v. Burwell, which could strip 6.4 million people of health ...

Rational Nation U S A Purveyor of Truth Affordable Care Act has made it possible for approximately 7.5 million individuals who would otherwise have no insurance coverage to feel more secure. 7.5 million qualified for tax payer funded subsidies that either significantly lowered, or eliminated altogether, the cost of health insurance. A good thing. There are others like myself (my wife is covered under medicare with an appox. $120.00 monthly premium) who do not qualify for a subsidy yet the monthly premium cost for even the low cost higher deductible bronze plan is affordable. But I'm okay with this because of my relative good health and my decision not to reduce my life activities so I can pour in excess of $5.000.00 per anum into the coffers of an insurance company. The forgoing does not include dental and vision. There must be a more effective avenue to take in pursuing affordable health care coverage for all. The ACA, aka ObamaCare, a start in the right direction but ob...

Rational Nation U S A Purveyor of Truth "We will not obey.” That’s the blunt warning a group of prominent religious leaders is sending to the Supreme Court of the United States as they consider same-sex marriage. “We respectfully warn the Supreme Court not to cross that line,” read a document titled, Pledge in Solidarity to Defend Marriage . “We stand united together in defense of marriage. Make no mistake about our resolve.” “While there are many things we can endure, redefining marriage is so fundamental to the natural order and the common good that this is the line we must draw and one we cannot and will not cross,” the pledge states. The signees are a who’s who of religious leaders including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, National Religious Broadcasters president Jerry Johnson, Pastor John Hagee, and Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse. The pledge was craf...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to reject requests from five States to review state laws that prohibit same-sex marriage. “The Supreme Court’s decision to let rulings by lower court judges stand that redefine marriage is both tragic and indefensible,” said Sen. Cruz. “By refusing to rule if the States can define marriage, the Supreme Court is abdicating its duty to uphold the Constitution. The fact that the Supreme Court Justices, without providing any explanation whatsoever, have permitted lower courts to strike down so many state marriage laws is astonishing. “This is judicial activism at its worst. The Constitution entrusts state legislatures, elected by the People, to define marriage consistent with the values and mores of their citizens. Unelected judges should not be imposing their policy preferences to subvert the consider...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Putting all political, ideological, and social issues aside for the moment, and turning to the issue of money in politics, just how in the hell the SCOTUS ruled to strike down aggregate limits on federal campaign contributions escapes all logic. Aside from the fact that pull peddlers, and make no mistake about the fact that the more money contributed the greater the pull, will undoubtedly spend greater suns of money to influence politicians (think Koch and Unions) our counties long term rational self inters will increasingly be on sale to the highest bidder. Essentially, America is now on sale to the biggest and deepest pockets of corporate American and labor unions. Everyone should take a long pause and consider the ramifications of this ruling. Especially since it will likely be followed by a complete elimination of ALL campaign contribution limits. Frankly the thought of our nation's elected representatives and sen...