Author Archives: Bok
Study Guide for Teachers – Obamacare Ruling
The education division of Bokbluster upper management is introducing a new study guide feature. I’ve always thought of cartoons as windows on the news and history. With that in mind I’ll offer study guides from time to time to draw students into the news.
Bokbluster Study Guide 06/28/12
The Supreme Court is issuing a rasher of rulings this week. The most prominent decision upheld the individual mandate to purchase health care.
The government argued its healthcare mandate was justified under the constitution’s commerce clause. When Justice Kennedy asked if government “can create commerce in order to regulate it” it looked as if things would go badly for Obamacare.
The court determined the mandate is a tax and as such it is constitutional under congress’ taxing authority, not the commerce clause.
Now that the individual mandate has been upheld, what are the limits to government power? Should it be limited?
What is the commerce clause anyway?
What does this cartoon mean to you? (Click the cartoon to find links to stories I read that inspired me to draw it, several months before this ruling.)
In the disputed 2001 presidential election, the Supreme Court ruled George Bush the winner over Al Gore. Needless to say, this got Bush off to a bad start with a lot of people.
Later that same year the court ruled in favor of a professional golfer named Casey Martin. He was disabled and sued the PGA for permission to play on the tour while riding in a cart.
What does this cartoon mean to you? (I drew it in primitive times, so no links, sorry.)
How do you see the Supreme Court’s role in relation to the other two branches of government, the states, and you as an individual?
Express your thoughts and feelings in a cartoon. Have fun!
Egypt Arab Spring
Democracy in Egypt features checks and balances. The voters elected a Muslim Brotherhood majority parliament and a Brotherhood president. The military checked the new president by stripping his office of its powers. The judiciary balanced the parliament by dissolving it.
Executive Privilege
Here’s a Rich Lowry piece about administration loquaciousness when it comes to national security secrets that make the Preezy look good but not so much for Fast and Furious.
Body Language
Clemens
The justice department is 0-2 vs the Rocket and the Creep.
Meanwhile Attorney General Holder could be held in contempt for trying to stall a congressional investigation into the Fast and Furious gun-walking scandal.
Update: President Obama has asserted executive privilege in the Fast and Furious case.
