Newsworthy: Required reading before Thursday

First of all, I take great offense to people who refer to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as ‘Obamacare’. Like, it gives me hives. It started as a pejorative but I suppose the left has kind of taken it back after the President said - and I’m paraphrasing here - ‘They call it Obamacare and it’s OK because I do care’. Or something. But it still irks me.

Thursday will be the day that the Supreme Court issues its ruling on National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius one of the cases that where SCOTUS will determine the constitutionality of the individual mandate provision of the Affordable Care Act. Linked to this decision are the cases of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services v. Florida and Florida v. Department of Health and Human Services. Both of which also deal with the individual mandate and whether or not removing that section of the Affordable Care Act will invalidate the entirety of the legislation. The latter will also determine whether or not Congress can determine that a state will lose its Medicaid funding if it chooses not to impose the individual mandate.

I, like millions of people, have been waiting anxiously for the court’s decision. Though I am insured - very well I might add - I also have a pre-existing condition that will weigh me down for the rest of my life. I shudder at the thought of what if and know that so many do not have that option. For some, what it comes down to is their individual liberty. For me, what this comes down to is empathy and knowing that so many people are hurting. Not to say that those who are worried about the constitution are not empathetic but...you know...actions speak louder than words. Politics also comes down to personal circumstances and I have personally watched loved ones struggle with health care costs and it is not something I would wish on my worst enemy. So there that is.

And now a piece from the NY Times that will break your cold, black heart:

Oregon Study Shows Benefits , and Price, For Newly Insured

"It's scary for me, having cancer and knowing I can't do anything about it," said Ms. Kious, her hair in an elaborate plait. "It's an I-don't-know-when-my-next-meal-will-be- sort of thing. It's really difficult because health problems make you scared and emotional."

11 Facts about the Affordable Care Act via Wonkblog

When the individual mandate is fully phased-in, those who can afford coverage — which is defined as insurance costing less than 8 percent of their annual income — but choose to forgo it will have to pay either $695 or 2.5 percent of the annual income, whichever is greater.

The Kaiser Family Foundation’s Health Care Reform Portal is brilliant and breaks things down into plain English.

On Thursday I’ll be tuned into the SCOTUSblog. You should be, too.

Newsworthy

Photo by Pete Souza via Whitehouse.gov

I cannot be the only person who has a difficult time keeping up with things in this 24/7 world of ours. I find myself starring things to read later only to go back the following week and things have up and changed. This also means that while I have a running commentary in my head, I don't necessarily have the hours to devote to getting all of my thoughs out on paper. But I'm really, really going to try. I decided earlier this week that I would do a once a week round up of things that made me stop and think. Fingers crossed that this gets me back into the groove. Happy reading!

10 Women to Watch during the 2012 cycle

Eric Holder warns of a 'constitutional crisis'

Paul Krugman on how Liberals and Conservatives differ

Melissa Harris-Perry discusses the LDS faith with LDS panelists via Mediaite

Thursday was all about the word 'vagina' via Angry Black Lady

What Happens Now?

I just finished a conversation with a colleague on the progressive movement. The policies and the politics and how we are, unfortunately, failing. Since the gubernatorial election in Wisconsin last week, I have found myself conflicted in trying to separate the me that is a voter and a tax payer and the me that has made a career of working in progressive politics. By the weekend, with Mitt Romney implying 'we don't need no stinkin' teachers' I have found myself with a little bit more resolve when it comes to what I, personally, would like to do with my life. You see for me, politics isn't just an every four years event and then I go back to whatever normal might be. Trite as this will sound; politics is something that I live and breathe. I can't just turn it off and go about my day because it's everywhere.

More on all of this later as I know that I have been MIA thanks to politics of all shapes and sizes. For now I will leave you with the President's Weekly Address where he expressed the need for teachers and public employees. It's hard to believe that we are at a place where the necessity of educators needs to be justified.