Obamacare has been upheld by the Supreme Court, notwithstanding how it was spawned by the legislative branch via concealment, secret sessions, bribes, extortions, misrepresentations, legalistic spin and special exemptions or exceptions.

Now it can be said that this legislation was not enacted for health reasons, but to raise taxes against certain segments of the American people. It does not affect members of Congress, the president, certain religious affiliations and other privileged or elite classes that are exempted from its purview.

Section 8 of Article 1 of the Constitution specifically grants to the Congress the authority to "lay and collect taxes" and to regulate commerce among the various states.

This bill of goods (Obamacare) was represented and sold to the American people as a panacea to provide health care to all Americans, and had the Supreme Court adhered to that intent or representation, it would have struck it down as if it were broccoli (as Scolia put it).

Rather, the Supreme Court played the shell game and justified the act as a tax, pure and simple. In other words, the federal government can force people to pay taxes, but not compel the purchase of a product under the commerce clause.

The net result of Obamacare and the decision by the Supreme Court is that it imposes a ruinous tax upon the American public (those who do pay taxes) and businesses that endeavor to survive in an overregulated market place (not a free market).

But mark my word, Obama will continue to tout his signature act as a boon to the health of all Americans. The Supreme Court has held and said otherwise -- it is a tax, and it will not enhance the general health and welfare of Americans, but will only drive them further into poverty under more overhead to support.

Where are Obama's promised changes to cut the deficit, to tax only the rich (whatever that number is), to create more employment by easing the tax burdens on the middle class, or to exclude the illegals from its coverage?

The president has defrauded the American people every bit as much as the Supreme Court has disingenuously construed the Constitution to allow Obama Care to become law.

In my mind's eye, the executive and judicial branches of the federal government have become irrelevant to the survival of this nation. It remains only to Congress to right the ship of state through the process of repeal, curtailment or containment.

Failing that, it remains to the individual states through the process of nullification, repeal or succession.

And finally, failing that remedy, an "American Spring" would be in the offing through the cleansing effect of revolution. It worked in 1776, and revolution is now having its tortuous way in Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Tunisia, Sudan and Libya.

The election year of 2012 will determine which course the American people will take through the electoral process. Let's hope they choose wisely!

Fredric Butler