On the SCOTUS Health Care Ruling

I’m sure you are all aware that I have been following the SCOTUS ruling like a lion hunts its prey. Initially, I was shocked by the high court’s decision, a bit disheartened that the Constitution was not defended, and somewhat ready to throw in the towel. Then I realized something. The Founding Fathers created three branches of the government to establish checks and balances. In the case of the health care law, all three branches have weighed in and the law stands. However, the particular genius of the Constitution still remains. What is the particular genius of the Constitution? That it can always be changed. Who can change it? The people. That’s right, we the people can change it. We are the fourth check and balance. We, the people of the United States, are fully capable of changing this law. How? By voting for a new president and a new Congress. That’s how.

This epiphany came to me last night, while checking my Twitter feed when I happened upon a tweet to Charles Krauthammer’s article on the SCOTUS decision.   I strongly encourage all of you to click on the link and read Krauthammer’s perspective. It is a rallying call to the people. Chief Justice Roberts and the majority opinion gave us what we need to know. If we don’t like this law and wish to repeal or change it, then we MUST elect a new president. That’s not the job of the Chief Justice, that’s our job.

WE can change Washington. Only we, the people, can change it. How? By electing Representatives and Senators who put principle over party and who will actually vote FOR the people and against their party when something is right. Elect leaders who can make the tough decisions and go against party politics when they know it’s for the good of the people. That’s what we need. Governor Romney did this as Governor of Massachusetts. He went against his party on many votes and laws, but he did it for the people. He understood what the founding fathers understood-that he didn’t know everything, so he listened to the people. That’s the type of leadership we need.

So here’s my appeal to all of you. Some of you reading this are Democrats, some Republicans, some Independents-that’s fine. 

Here’s the message the Supreme Court sent us yesterday: We, the people, have the power to change our government. They’re clearly saying if you don’t like this law, fix it.

I say to you all, be engaged. Do your homework. Question candidates, question current politicians. Find out what they really stand for and decide for yourselves who you will support. Then do it. Support that candidate with everything you have. Participate in phone drives, door knocks, etc.

We the people have the power, but ONLY if we utilize it. Will you wield this power? If so, join me. Join the fight. Stand up for what you believe in and support candidates that align with your ideals. The days of sitting idly by and letting the government work on its own are over. The people must speak, and to do so, we must have your participation.

Go out there, talk to people, get information about candidates, attend meet and greets, make phone calls, spread the word. Fight for the power of the people.

This November 6^th, let’s send a message to Washington and Harrisburg that will be resoundingly clear-we, the people of the United States, have had enough of your games. I make no secret of the fact that I believe Mitt Romney is the candidate who will do this. He is a Republican, yes, but a moderate one. One who understands that there are many sides to every issue, and it is his job to see through the fluff and do the right thing for the people. Support whomever you like, but real change will not occur if we re-elect the current President who seems even more committed to control every aspect of our lives.

Rise up, people. The fate of our nation depends on it. 

Take it or leave it, that's ChadlyMc's take on the SCOTUS Health care Ruling.

On Back to Blogging/Contraception Debate

Hello world. I'm back. Sorry about the massive deletes and abrupt end to the blog with no explanation. Anyway, the reason for it no longer exists, so I'm VERY happy to be back with you now.

Today, let's talk about the contraception debate. I know that issue is almost gone in society, but I still would like to stir the pot a bit. I was home in PA for about a week and a half earlier this month and I read a letter to the editor in our local paper that made my blood boil regarding the contraception issue. Specifically, the writer was ranting against the Catholic church and all of its "allied fundamentalists," who, according to this concerned citizen were content on creating a "theocratic hegemony" in the United States.

What?

A theocratic hegemeony-yep that's what he said. Now, please keep in mind that I am a graduate student, and I will graduate this May with a Masters Degree in Public Communication, and I had to look up the word hegemony. I even inserted a link to the dictionary.com page for you all to learn about the word itself. It means to be a predominant leader or to impose, through leadership, your opinions on those you view to be beneath you. This author even went  so far as to say that Catholics in America were trying to make their religion more dominant over other religions such as: Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, etc. 

Really? That's very interesting. Especially considering that let's see-abortion is legal, schools are not promoting abstinence, prayer (especially christian prayer) is not allowed in schools, creationism isn't taught, and most schools don't even give the students Easter Monday off any more. That's right, Easter Monday, the day Jesus appeared to his disciples in the Upper Room. But yes, according to the author of the letter to the editor, the Catholics were all about imposing their religious beliefs upon everyone else. 

The author then went on to speak about the rights of women and how they deserve to be offered these services and that the Catholic church must honor womens' rights. He basically lambasted the Catholic church and all of its followers-condemning them for standing up to what the author called their "putative respect for life". 

Well ladies and gentlemen, I couldn't take it. I could NOT be silent and let this man rant about the persecution of women. It's time for someone to take a stand, so I did. I wrote back to the paper, and they published my letter to the editor. In the center of the editorial section, above the fold. Must've done something right. 

The gist of my argument? This issue is not about women's rights. It's not about institutions denying women access to contraceptives or to payments for contraceptives. This is about religious freedom. Our founding fathers wanted to ensure that no government could infringe upon any citizen's religion. So they created the First Amendment which protects religion, speech, assembly and petition. The link provided shows that the First Amendment clearly protects the practice of religion. 

Catholics believe in respecting life and understand the fundamental principle that when one engages in lovemaking, one assumes the responsibilities and consequences. Catholics are not trying to usurp the authority of other religions, nor to force women to have babies. They are standing up for what they believe. Good for them. 

Since when did it become so wrong for people to have different beliefs in America? It is those beliefs that make this country great. If the First Amendment truly protects the rights of people to practice their religion freely, then the section of the health-care law requiring Catholic institutions to pay for contraception had to be stricken. President Obama has backed away from this requirement, but I'm not sure the revision is proper either. 

The bottom line is-no government should ever attempt to usurp the authority or freedoms of its people. People are entitled to their own beliefs. If women want to use contraceptives, then by all means they may go to any clinic, school, or institution that provides them, but they won't find them at a Catholic institution. Just the same, the author of the letter to the editor is entitled to his beliefs, but what he must learn is to respect the other side. 

Take it or leave it, that's ChadlyMc's take on the Contraception debate.