With this law, the federal government will force citizens to buy health insurance, claiming it has the authority to do so because of its power to regulate interstate commerce. We contend that if a person decides not to buy health insurance, that person — by definition — is not engaging in commerce, and therefore, is not subject to a federal mandate.
… Just being alive is not interstate commerce. If it were, there would be no limit to the U.S. Constitution’s commerce clause and to Congress’s authority to regulate everything we do. There has never been a point in our history where the federal government has been given the authority to require citizens to buy goods or services. … The suit will be filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division.
QOTD: "Just being alive is not interstate commerce."
By on March 22, 2010 4 Comments
What they’re basically going to say is that they’re requiring us to participate in interstate commerce. Granted, I don’t think it’s even possible to buy insurance across state lines, but then they’re going to say that the dollars they’re forcing us to spend will indirectly affect interstate commerce. And the sad thing is the courts might buy it.
The well being of citizens does affect interstate commerce. Enjoy your health insurance.
So basically, Anonymous coward, you are willing to accept the premise that the government has a right to force citizens at the point of a gun (16k new IRS agents with all kinds of enforcement powers, including, YES, guns – don’t believe me, try taking a few years off paying taxes) to purchase a product. Commerce that they regulate to a fare-thee-well and directly profit from. And you weenies whined about how Bush shredded the Constitution! Hypocrites, all of you.
Added – as to “enjoying” the sort of insurance that puts patients in the UK on the “Liverpool pathway” and send Canadian officials to the United States to get surgery… not to mention the fact that Medicare and Medicaid are already bankrupt and that doctors are dopping out of both systems because they lose money every time they see a patient. Likewise for Tricare, aka “good luck getting care.” Health Insurance ≠ Health Care, idiot. I’m going to be LMAO at you in a few years, unless we get this monstrosity repealed and replaced.
I’m guessing maybe you skipped civics class the day they taught about federalism, Anonymous? Under your rather unintelligent reasoning, Congress never had any limits to its power. Everything *affects* interstate commerce, including a butterfly flapping its wings in Japan.