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Steve Axinn, an attorney and Putnam Valley resident, and Robert Tendy, Putnam Valley supervisor, have been hosting weekly classes about the Supreme Court on Thursdays at Temple Israel at 140 Lake Drive in Lake Peekskill.
Recently, Axinn discussed the ruling that upheld the Affordable Care Act, National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius.
"Is it the responsibility of community and the government to take care of people or is it the responsibility of individuals to take care of themselves?" Axinn said. "That question is a fault line for conservatives and liberals."
The United States is one of the only countries without free health care. The United States ranks about 36th in the world in the quality of health care.
"In most countries, medical care is an obligation," Axinn said.
Axinn noted that programs like Social Security and Medicaid were unpopular when they were passed.
"If Social Security was eliminated today, they would burn down the White House," Axinn said. "Lyndon Johnson paid a heavy price for Medicaid."
The group debated the merits of the Affordable Care Act, while Axinn pointed out one of the flaws of the program.
"How do we get 18-year-olds to contribute?" Axinn said. "What if the people who sign up are sick and old? We cannot provide mandatory coverage and not have the healthy contribute."
In deciding the case, the Supreme Court was dealing with the ghost of Bush v. Gore, in which it, in effect, decided the 2000 presidential election.
"That was a political decision,:" Axinn said. "The Supreme Court took a big hit. If the ruling came down and Democrats were for it and Republicans found it unconstitutional, we would face a court crisis."
Axinn said he believes Chief Justice John Roberts felt the integrity of the court was more important than the outcome of the case.
Maureen Dorsey, a Carmel resident, said she has been coming every week.
"I find the topics very interesting," Dorsey said. "Steve and Bob do an excellent job. They make it interesting. They are terrifically informed."
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