Does Congress Have the Right to Require Health Insurance?
Posted By admin on November 22, 2009
I have a question, just how many of our Senators and Representatives do you think have actually read the Health Reform Act? Yes, I think you are right.
Not very many.
Regardless, it seems to me that it is not within Congress’ authority (House or Senate) to dictate to any citizen whether an individual must carry health insurance. How about you? How do you feel about it?
It is like the automobile seat belt laws. I know that there is evidence to support the use of seat belts. In my naive way of thinking, I cannot accept being fined for not wearing my seatbelt. There is no evidence that my not wearing a seatbelt will hurt any one else.
So then, this law, the seatbelt law, is a law for my own good. A law passed by “do gooders” for my own good. Whatever happened to my unalienable rights? I realize that those unalienable rights are not part of the Constitution but they are words on which this nation was founded (The Declaration of Independence).
There are some that would argue that enacting a mandatory Public Health Policy requiring health insurance under penalty of prosecution falls under the Congress’ Constitutional prerogative or right and duty “to promote the general welfare”. I agree. Promoting the general welfare is Congress’ obligation.
However, it is not their prerogative, duty or right to dictate the general welfare. Promoting and dictating are two distinct words with completely different meanings.
Any law that would require a citizen to insure himself for his own protection under penalty of prosecution is not promoting. That is dictating. It is enforcement, not a suggestion.
Do not confuse the likes of auto liability insurance, which is an enforced law in most of the country, with a required health insurance mandate.
Liability insurance protects you from the consequences of someone else’s actions. If someone causes harm or damage to you or your property, you have recourse. Liability insurance protects you from someone else’s negligence not your own.
Requiring liability insurance is promoting the general welfare. That mandate protects you from others. Health insurance protects you for you. It does not protect you from someone else.
Requiring me or anyone else to have medical insurance under penalty of prosecution is just plain wrong.
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