The Straight and Narrow Versus the Broad and Flexible

Straight and law-abiding route through life.

Definition, Straight and Narrow

Wide is the gate and broad is the way to destruction.

Matthew 7:13

The stage is set. The issue is: should only state health exchanges offer ObamaCare subsidies or can the federal government also offer these subsidies? The question may be en route to the Supreme Court.

It promises to be a fascinating exercise.

It will be between originalist judges, who believe the original wording of the Constitution persists to this day, and activist judges, who maintain you must interpret the Constitution in light of current events.

It will be between those who say the authors of the health law meant what they said when they narrowly wrote subsidies could only be granted in “exchanges established by states,” and those who insist the broad intent was to have the government subsidize everyone who qualified for the exchanges.

It will be between those who say the other side is morally rigid and those who say only they are morally compassionate.

It will between those who say subsidies are only legal in state exchanges and those who say subsidies are legal everywhere, in state and legal exchanges.

All of this assumes that the Supreme Court will take the case. If the Court does and rules for the states, ObamaCare will likely die If they do not take the case, ObamaCare will continue to be deeply unpopular among Americans.

Today the polls indicate ObamaCare is more unpopular than ever since it passed 4 ½ years ago.

Public Approval of Health Care Law

Polling Data

Poll Date Sample For/Favor Against/Oppose Spread

RCP Average 6/1 - 7/26 -- 39.8 55.8 Against/Oppose +16.0

Rasmussen Reports*
7/25 - 7/26 1000 LV 39 57 Against/Oppose +18

CNN/Opinion Research
7/18 - 7/20 1012 A 40 59 Against/Oppose +19

Quinnipiac
6/24 - 6/30 1446 RV 43 55 Against/Oppose +12

Bloomberg
6/6 - 6/9 1005 A 39 53 Against/Oppose +14

FOX News
6/1 - 6/3 1006 RV 38 55 Against/Oppose +17

What matters most? Objective language or subjective intent? Exact words or supposedly noble deeds?