You'll Go to Prison If You Don't Buy This -- WTF?

I had problems with the federal government mandating individuals buy insurance when the initial "healthcare reform" bill passed. Today's news of an appeals court finding that provision unconstiutional made me very, very happy.

The White House's response to that act is (emphasis mine):

"The individual responsibility provision -- the main part of the law at issue in these cases -- is constitutional. Those who claim this provision exceeds Congress' power to regulate interstate commerce are incorrect. Individuals who choose to go without health insurance are making an economic decision that affects all of us -- when people without insurance obtain health care they cannot pay for, those with insurance and taxpayers are often left to pick up the tab."

Source: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/08/obama-aide-health-care-ruling-wont-stand/1

So, let me get this straight, I choose not to buy something and the President wants that to be against the law.
 

~head explodes~

With that sort of logic, individuals who choose to not to spend their money on goods made in the USA are making an economic decision that affects all of us, so they should be put in jail too. That'll have a bigger impact on fixing the nation's debt problems more than putting someone in jail because they chose to buy groceries for the needs they have NOW versus a health problem they might have later.


No, this isn't the same as having car insurance or home insurance. In those instances I've chosen to buy a car or a house. In order for me to take the car into public, I have to have insurance in case I hurt someone. That insurance is as close as the public gets to having some recourse against my stupidity.

Mandating I buy health insurance is the same as making me pay for the "privilege" of being alive.