re: #59 Daniel Ballard

How much are you going to like that precedent when some future GOP administration wants to force something you oppose based on this instance?

I’ll live with it, because I see the use of compelling a society to action in important ways.

The point I’m most trying to make is whether you want a mandate on this in particular is a very separate discussion than the enumerated powers issue. Tax and benefit would solve this via single payer and avoid this dangerous precedent.

I really don’t find the precedent dangerous. I don’t expect the constitution to help people pass laws that are wise or good. You can do all sorts of dumb-fuck stuff while still being absolutely constitutional. We’re doing a lot of them.

The point of the Constitution is to balance the powers of the branches of government and protect the rights of the citizens. The government can really fuck people over without violating their rights, if rights are largely defined in terms of freedoms and not expectations.