If Obamacare were Militiacare

[cybernorris]

Here's an idea that might help someone understand how the individual mandate of Obamacare is a reach beyond the limits of the Constitution.

Suppose Congress were to pass a law recognizing that every able-bodied person is a member of the militia. As part of this law, Congress would require each such person to purchase their own uniforms, firearms and ammunition. Every year each person would have to submit to an inspection of their uniforms, firearms and ammunition. Any person found to not have what is required would have to pay a fine.

I believe that even the most stubbornly pro-Obamacare individual would argue that Congress should not be able to pass and enforce such laws. However I doubt most would recognize the parallel.

[1gewehr]

Of course, most states HAD such laws in the early 1800s. In North Carolina, for example, each man over 16 and under 45 had to appear for monthly militia muster with a firelock (long-gun) of military caliber (.50 or greater), 50rds of ammunition, canteen, bayonet or tomahawk, and two day's rations. Similar laws were in place in most other states.

[Guest uofmeet]

Federal judge in Va. strikes down health care law - Yahoo! News

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Wasn't a standing army only authorized a year at a time, back then? It's an interesting way to look at it, though.

[cybernorris]

I am very aware that this is the way things used to be... as required by state law, not federal law. I lived for eleven years in the People's Republic of Madison, WI and know many who are on the left fringe. Thus my example is intended to demonstrate something that they would find to be absolutely unacceptable and even unthinkable in their minds. But I fear their thoughts would be along the lines of "That's not right" based on their feelings, rather than any consideration of Constitutionality.

[Guest 44M]

Bush care or Obama care, one thing in for certain, US has one of the worst healt insurance systems in developed world...now, dont mistake healthcare development and technology with healthcare insurance system... I have never heard of "pre-existing condition" or being droped of the insurance until I moved here...

Db

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Bush care or Obama care, one thing in for certain, US has one of the worst healt insurance systems in developed world...now, dont mistake healthcare development and technology with healthcare insurance system... I have never heard of "pre-existing condition" or being droped of the insurance until I moved here...

Db

I'd like to know how you arrive at that statement. If you are tugging at the idea of saying we don't

insure all those poor and indigent people, maybe you are right, but since when is it my responsibility

to pay for someone else's needs and/or wants? Maybe I'm just a cold, callous SOB, but I even remember

when there wasn't any health insurance in my family and we paid our own damned bills. All the insurance

industry and government regulations do is shift payment responsibilities to third parties and make it seem

like those premiums we pay are a good price, until so many people are dumped into the system by said

regulations that we are in the fix now.

Pre-existing conditions have been in the insurance business for a long time. If you were in the insurance

business(I'm not) you would try to cut costs any way you can because it is a profit driven business. Unless

you are telling me that you don't like profits, we'll leave that stone unturned.

Take the government out of the insurance industry and let it sink or swim on its own merit. Plan for your

health care instead of putting your problems on someone else's back.

I think the USA has the best health care industry in the world. I don't hear of anyone going to England,

Canada or Cuba for their health care. Name one that is better overall than the USA's private health care

system than just saying it is the worst. That dog won't hunt.

[strickj]

I don't hear of anyone going to England,

Canada or Cuba for their health care.

You may not, but I do.

Most recently, a friend went to a hospital in Beijing for treatment. He could not have received the care from hospitals here, nor could it be affordable if even offered.

[JayC]

Wasn't a standing army only authorized a year at a time, back then? It's an interesting way to look at it, though.

Every 2 years and it still must be done that way now... It's a Constitutional requirement.

That's how bad out founding fathers did not want a standing army for the country.

[china coaster]

Since this got off on health care, I've had to use medical facilities in other countries. I had to go to a doctor in kobe once and it was about the level of the early 60s here. Hong Kong not much better. In Karachi our crew had to go for mandatory vacinations (required by the Pakis) it was done at our embasy by pakistan medicos and was not that clean plus they used same needles for two vaccinatios. When Castro needs medical care he goes to Spain and when a lot of European medical types need care they come here. I have friends in Canada that drive over to New York for special treatment. When i was a kid most families only had catastrophic insurence. They paid for everything else out of pocket. We were basically poor farmers but my folks managed to scrimp enough to have blue cross through the farm bureau. I've been all over this world and we have the best medical care there is. Our only problem is government is involved in health care. Thats the way I vote and if I can do anything to reverse govt. health care I will. I go to the VA for my care but I'm not srevice connected disable , so you can have that to if it will save money.