Entry 1001 of 1199
By Blue Prevails On March 12, 2010 at 4:18 AM
 I know that we Virginians value our individual rights, but again this week, our General Assembly, by voting to approval a bill making it illegal for the federal government to require individuals to buy health insurance, apparently has put the “rights” of the imaginary few above the well-being of many. Of course, the new Republican governor says that he will sign the legislation. If you haven’t been keeping up with the ins and outs of this legislation, here are a few facts (and my opinions) to consider:
  1. Five Democrats including two who represent Southwest Virginians, Sen. Phillip P. Puckett (Russell) and Sen. William Roscoe Reynolds (Franklin), voted with Republicans to enact the legislation. Senator Puckett said, "I don't believe someone should be forced to buy something they don't want to[.] It's un-American. And it might be unconstitutional."
  2. Some of those voting for this bill said that it wasn’t because they opposed Obama’s health care legislation; it was because they didn’t believe in government mandates (as if there are not already many legal requirements imposed on individuals for the good of society as a whole). The question is, “Do they really support Obama’s legislation or not?”
  3. Consider who are the most likely to opt out of a health care program if not mandated--young, healthy people without whose premiums the program would not work because the risk would not be spread widely enough. We have already had to endure a year’s worth of tinkering and compromising without much progress. The program is supposed to provide universal coverage. People cannot opt out at will and expect it to work.
  4. Those in favor of the legislation want to send a message to Washington. OK, just what message do they want to send? That they would have people who need health coverage continue to suffer and not get treatment because they don’t have insurance and cannot pay for doctor’s visits or hospitalization on their own. I’m glad our legislators decided to stand on principle and somehow stick it to Washington (sarcasm) over this issue.
  5. If health care reform is passed by Congress and becomes law, The Supreme Court has ruled that federal law takes precedence over state law when there is a conflict involving the same activity. Soooo, it seems that passage of this law by the GA will have no standing in the end.
  6. Although no one knows the motives of lawmakers, I do wonder if some voted for this legislation not so much out of their own beliefs that it would be best for their constituents, but because they think it might sit well with voters in the next election.

I’m glad Virginia decided to be the first state to enact this legislation to hamper the Obama health care plan. Again, it shows how forward-looking our lawmakers are.