Local Political Activists React to Supreme Court Decision on Obamacare

Alafia Republican Club past president Chris Shalosky said he was, frankly, too depressed to give his opinion on Thursday's Supreme Court decision on President Barack Obama's health care legislation. 

"This is clearly unconstitutional," said Shalosky. "We have to elect people who will stand up for the Constitution or we will end up like Greece."

His successor as president of the club, Jeff Lukens, had plenty to say, however.

"I think it's an appalling decision, quite frankly," said Lukens. "It's an appalling breech of the Constitution."

His only explanation was that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has been "co-opted by the liberal culture in Washington.

"Judge Roberts should know better," he said. "If they can force people to buy insurance, they can force you to buy a Prius or buy health food. There's no limit. This is in no way what the Constitution is about."

Lukens said Roberts was right about one thing, though.

"He said this is a political issue that the Supreme Court should not be involved in," said Lukens. "It should be resolved politically."

In contrast, Robert Price, president of the South Shore Democratic Club, said he couldn't be happier. 

"It's a major victory for the nation’s and its citizens’ health," said Price. "Today’s Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act moves the U.S. toward a financially sustainable health care system that covers all citizens."

He noted that although the U.S. spends more in total, per capita and as a share of gross domestic product on health care than any other nation, "most industrialized countries are ranked higher in health care outcomes and life expectancy.

"Had the Supreme Court ruled against the law, more than 50 million Americans would have been denied health care insurance," said Price, adding that the effort doesn't end with the Supreme Court's ruling. "Now the task is to pursue further steps to reduce the rate of health care cost escalation while improving the quality and efficiency of treatment and prevention."

Lukens disagreed, saying the decision takes away the free will of the people to oversee their own health care.

"This will start rolling things back," he said. "The country we have now is gone. It's a mandate of something people should choose of their own free will."

Also notable, he said, is the fact that the Obama administration spent two years telling the American people that this would not be a tax.

"And now Roberts says it is a tax," said Lukens. "The real effect is that money will come out of people's pockets in a severe way, and health care will be restricted in a severe way if it's not appealed."