reply to post by whatukno
Ah yes, but the "Commerce Clause" is expressly to regulate interstate commerce, which implicitly forbids federal regulation of
intrastate commerce. Actually, the expression regulates commerce "among the several states", which I admit is rather loose and open to
interpretation. They seem to have applied the freer version, regulating private commerce across state borders, rather than the stricter view which
would be commerce between the states themselves.
Over time, they've loosened that up even more, applying it to intrastate commerce on the theory that interstate commerce is somehow affected by
commerce that is entirely contained within a state. That's a reach, but the government generally does as it wishes, until and unless the people jerk
it up short.
So then, according to a median stricture of usage, the clause would be applicable to insurance companies doing business in another state, but since
states regulate insurance within their borders via licensing boards, that would be open to legal challenge if anyone cared to challenge it,
statewise.
I doubt that happens, but time will tell.
I'm with you on the insurance industry being a scam. I know I'LL never buy into it again. A government run insurance company, euphemistically called
a "public option", would be no different, except in where the money goes, and in the alleged power to force victims... er, umm, I mean
customers, to purchase through force of law.
Either way, I'm not buying in to it via a private company OR a "public" company, and I'm not paying any sort of fines or taxes for exercising my
rights to life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness.
Of course, there's no doubt at all that there will be hell to pay in my own little corner of the world when it comes to a showdown of force. I've
drawn the line that says "this far and no further", and will back it up with all means necessary if that time comes. That said, it's a sure bet
that when the dust settles, I'LL be among the bodies on the ground.
That's how far I'm willing to go over principle, all the way to death. I've said it, and will stand by it. I won't start the fight, But I won't
back down from it either. That's mostly why I'm putting it out on ATS, so that when I die over it, someone will know WHY I was willing to die, and
the spin meisters can spin it any way they want.
At least SOMEONE will know.


They certainly aren't going to gun you down for refusing to buy the public option. 