Scripture from the State | Capital Commentary

Scripture from the State | Capital Commentary by Matthew Arildsen.  MGB:   It is not the Court's business to determine the political or moral righteousness of the Health Care Law, even though the four conservative justices were chomping on the bit to do so. The Chief Justice was quite correct in deferring any suc

h change to the political process - although given the likely requirement that repeal meet a 60 vote point of order because it would increase the deficit, such a political repeal, even during reconciliation, is highly unlikely. The constitutionality of the social welfare state was secured with the passage of the income tax in the 16th Amendment, even though it took time to build practical majorities to enact it (and yes, the progressives did contemplate health care reform, even then). A good source in analyzing the moral righteousness of the social welfare state is over 100 years of Catholic Social Teaching (not the same as the Evangelical social gospel - as it is based on reason, not just scripture - although there are scriptural bases for it). In every papal letter on the subject, the passage of public social programs has been seen as a good thing - and their repeal a tragedy. The current Pope was quite explicit on this in Caritas in Veritate. I recommend a thorough reading to anyone who would engage in this issue.