Message sent loud and clear

The citizens of Missouri sent a screaming loud message to Washington in Tuesday's primary election. In passing Proposition C -- the Missouri Health Care Freedom Act -- with an overwhelming 71 percent of the vote, Missourians let Washington lawmakers know that they were not in favor of a health insurance mandate by the federal government.

The national health care bill calls for an "individual mandate," which means that most Americans, starting in 2014, must have insurance or face a penalty. The penalty would be $95 or one percent of income (whichever is greater) in 2014 and go up to $695 or 2.5 percent of income in 2016.

Missouri's State Senate voted 26-8 in favor of referring Proposition C to the voters, followed by the State House in a vote of 108-47. Proposition C amends current Missouri law to deny the government the authority to "penalize citizens for refusing to purchase private health insurance or infringe upon the right to offer or accept direct payment for lawful healthcare services."

Similar measures are scheduled to appear on other 2010 statewide ballots, but Missouri's Proposition C marked the first time voters had a voice in blocking the federal government's 2010 health care reform. More than likely, the voice of the voters will be drowned out by the voice of the courts. Since federal law generally supersedes state law, Missouri's Proposition C, along with similar measures in other states, will probably not hold up in inevitable court battles to follow. But even if the vote will not ultimately change the legislation, it is still a chance for the average Joe to be heard on the issue. And with 71 percent of the vote, the average Joe seems to be screaming very loudly in Missouri.

Republicans see the Missouri vote as proof of the American public's opposition to the national health care bill. They seem almost giddy, as they are interpreting the vote as a vote in support of the Republican Party in the mid-term elections.

The health care issue promises to be a significant battleground topic leading up to the November elections. It is a complex issue, not only encompassing health care, but also the role of government, deficits, job creation, and individual and state's rights,

We have a word of caution for the Republicans -- watch out what you wish for. If they are right in their interpretation of the Missouri vote, they should also know that those same voters have an expectation that they fix the system. They better have a plan.