On the recordJanuary 18, 2011
Never before in the history of our great country has a tax been levied on individual Americans by the Federal Government with the purpose of forcing citizens to do something the government wants them to do. And never before has the government self-righteously ordered Americans to buy a product or pay a punitive fine. In my opinion, the Constitution does not give the Federal Government, even well-intentioned government, the authority to make citizens buy any product, whether it's a car, whether it's health insurance, or even whether it's a box of chocolates. The individual mandate provision of the health care bill is unconstitutional. The author of the Constitution, James Madison, said: "The powers delegated by the Constitution to the Federal Government are few and defined. Those that remain to State governments are numerous and indefinite." The health care bill is a theft of the individual freedom to control one's health to have it now controlled by omnipotent government. Big government doesn't mean better solutions. In fact, as someone has said, "If you think the problems government creates are bad, just wait until you see government solutions." Government is partially to blame for the health care crisis, and the nationalized health care bill's government solution is unworkable and unconstitutional. And if you like the efficiency of the post office, the competence of FEMA, and the compassion of the IRS, we will love the nationalized health care bill.
