A comment on a comment on health care

[neadods]

Seen in just about every newspaper article covering health care: Randy Barnett, a law professor at Georgetown University, said the lawsuits have a chance. "Never before in this country has the government mandated that a private citizen do business with a private company," he said.

Except for
- car insurance
- pre-sale car inspection
- home insurance
- pre-sale home inspection
- drug prescription sales

and more...

Comments

[lagilman]

I guess, though, people have the choice if they own a car, buy a house, etc? But we're sort of stuck with our bodies.

(I agree, I just see why people aren't seeing the connection immediately)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I guess, though, people have the choice if they own a car, buy a house, etc?

True. But in every case, the federal government mandates that you deal with at least one, and usually two, private companies to seal the deal. Which (to bring it back to the body) shoots the "Gummit ain't never" argument right in the foot.

ETA - Looking at my list, I'm reminded that we all have bodies, but anyone who wants to put pills into theirs has to buy their 'scripts from a most-likely-privately-run pharmacy.

[lagilman]

as I said, I'm not disagreeing with you. Just that cars/houses make people think "optional" not "mandated." And since pills = medical insurance, it's dumped into that bucket...

[redpanda13.livejournal.com]

While we're at it, maybe someone could explain to me why, when you need a license to own a car and another license to drive one, the idea of similar licensing for guns makes the people in charge of Congress run around with their hair on fire.... (In this case, "the people in charge of Congress" means the NRA and their minions.)