If there is one thing that a Westie like me is good at doing, it is rolling on the ground. As soon as I see a nice, cool clover patch, like the ones on the North Cambridge bike path, I put my front shoulders on the green stuff, twist my body left and right, and get a nice, satisfying backrub. Ahhhhh!
Well, there was a lot of rolling done at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, today, after its justices upheld President Obama's health-care law and its "individual mandate" that Americans either purchase health insurance, or pay Uncle Sam a fine. And there are three "twists and turns" that would get a 10.0 score from yours truly.
Roberts is 'roll' player
Chief Justice John Roberts was appointed by former President George W. Bush. Yet on a court narrowly divided between conservatives and liberals, it was the supposedly right-wing Roberts who cast the deciding vote for "Obamacare" as it passed by a 5-4 margin. Roberts backed up the president even though Obama criticized the Supremes in his 2010 State of the Union address.
Roberts did sound a little snippy in remarks quoted by the BBC: "We do not consider whether the Act embodies sound policies. That judgment is entrusted to the Nation's elected leaders." Maybe so ... but the fact remains, Roberts still rolled left to support the president.
'Rolling' rationale
There is a classic saying: "If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck." And as a dog who has frequently examined ducks (and geese) from the shores of Spy Pond, Arlington, I agree with such reasoning.
The Supremes, however, made more of a leap in their logic ... one that I do not think Obama will appreciate. The administration claimed that the "individual mandate" was legal in that it fell under the power of the federal government to regulate interstate commerce. The ruling upheld the legality of Obamacare ... but for a different reason. Namely, that it is a tax, and that it is OK for Congress to tax people like this.
Trouble is, from the Boston Tea Party of 1773 to the Tea Partiers of today, Americans like taxes even less than I like day-old food. Look for the unscrupulous Republicans to try to exploit this new definition.
360-degree roll for Romney
Speaking of unscrupulous Republicans, Romney reacted to the ruling predictably and on cue, like one of Dr. Pavlov's dogs to the sound of a bell. "If we're going get rid of Obamacare we're going to have to replace President Obama," he said. "My mission is to make sure we do exactly that."
Well, just six years ago, Romney's mission as governor of Massachusetts was to sign into law universal health coverage in the state I call home. And I think it has worked very well, with the government making sure that citizens take care of their health. It is too bad that Romney has rolled away from his praiseworthy record. Who knows, if the Supremes hadn't upheld Obamacare, maybe out-of-staters would have moved to Massachusetts so they could get coverage.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to roll on down to the next issue. In the wake of the Supremes' ruling, it is time to start thinking about universal health care for pets as well.
Daisy is a 10-year-old West Highland white terrier living in Cambridge, Mass. Her column runs regularly.
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