Summary of Thom Hartmann's The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America

Book excerpt: Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The idea of balance and democracy in nature was argued by John Locke in the 1600s, who believed that humans could live in the then-modern world without submitting to some dear leader. #2 The Iroquois had a court system that was similar to our Supreme Court. Jefferson knew the Indians of Virginia well, and he defended them against those who argued that they were uncivilized brutes. #3 Until 1803, the Supreme Court was only the final court of appeals. The arguments against a Supreme Court were that it could make laws and strike down laws, which was dangerously similar to the European monarchies that the colonists had just fought a revolutionary war against. #4 The Supreme Court ruled that the penalty for not having insurance is indeed a tax, and thus the Affordable Care Act is constitutional. However, they also ruled that states can’t be forced to expand Medicaid.