The left wing ObamaCare supporters have no problem requiring citizens to purchase health insurance from an “approved” company with “approved” plans.
What could the Republicans mandate when they regain power, seeing that federal mandates to purchase items from private companies is acceptable?
Should everyone be required to purchase a weapon from an approved government list? And approved ammo? After all, if you are unable to protect yourself and are shot and killed as a result, you cannot purchase items made in other states, which is harmful to interstate commerce.
Perhaps we should all be forced to buy SUV’s because they are far safer than the little mini cars. The extra fuel burned will increase federal revenue on all your driving, including trips out of state on vacation. And the larger vehicles will cut down on injuries, having a positive effect on Health Insurance premiums. And that is all interstate commerce, right?
And Bibles? King James only on the approved list? Religion makes people less likely to hijack trucks on interstate missions of delivery.
And shouldn’t people in Virginia be forced to buy wine from states with the highest number of electoral votes, like California and New York, instead of from local wineries? Buying local harms interstate commerce.
Of course Republicans already know the slippery slope the Health Care bill puts us on. If the individual mandates to buy health insurance are allowed to stand, there is nothing the Federal Government cannot mandate that we purchase.
Tax breaks and credits are one thing. Encouraging behavior with tax credits is something we have done for a long time (to the detriment of our liberty).
Encouraging a behavior is one thing, but forcing us to purchase a product from a private company or face a heavy fine is quite another.
We already have tax credits in place for the self-employed. You are allowed to deduct 100% of the premium and it is not subject to the 7.5% floor.
Those who are offered health insurance at work, but decline, do so because they know they will be treated in the event of a serious accident or illness, and it is often the lack of financial consequences that encourages this behavior. But a punitive tax should not replace a failure to act responsibly. A tax deduction for individuals in an income bracket where they are forced to decide between Health Insurance or food or rent would see more people covered voluntarily. But when we see people who are making the “hard” choice between Health Insurance and a new BMW, they should be put on notice that the BMW will be sold to pay Health Care bills. And the condo at the beach.
But the financial incentive to buy Health Insurance must come from the private sector, not the government. Government needs to get out of the way and let the private sector take care of deadbeats.
And if the government wanted to help, they would look at true health care reform that addresses the problem – the high cost of care – and not the symptom – the high cost of insurance.
Liberals may love this idea now, but there will come a day when they regret this mandate.
Article written by: Tom White
