I get a blog free day because The Volokh Conspiracy has written a very nice blog about things I think. And then did a beautiful job of adding intelligence and insight.
Go, and read concerning the DC court and the individual mandate.
Some snips:
Notice that [Judges] Steeh and Moon do not argue that everyone will inevitably use health insurance. Instead, they define the relevant market as “health care.” The same sleight of hand works for virtually any other mandate Congress might care to impose.
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Exactly!! Everyone keeps talking about “free rides” etc, but there are only ‘free rides” because a) hospitals are required to see everyone and b) eventually they send people to collections vs collecting. Sure, insurance goes up because some folks don’t/won’t pay, but the same goes for all shopping due to shoplifting. Prices are slightly higher to cover loss. Should I be required to pay a shopping insurance to cover this?
In a footnote, Judge Kessler blames the plaintiffs for supposedly choosing to “‘free ride’ on the backs of those Americans who have made responsible choices to provide for the illness we all must face at some point in our lives.” But it is Congress, not the plaintiffs, which is responsible for the requirement that hospitals free emergency service to the uninsured. If it wanted to, Congress could have eliminated such free riding simply by lifting the requirement with respect to anyone who had enough income to purchase health insurance but chose not to do so. That approach would have prevented free riding without imposing any mandates, and would also have avoided any possible constitutional problems.
This “regime” has got to go. I am astounded by the power they think they have and the fact that they really are having it due to other parts of the power structure. (In this case court) What are we going to do if he actually wins a 2nd term. I can’t even go there.
