Actually, the Constitution expressly forbids a tax of the type Roberts proclaimed - a tax on NOT doing something, in this case, not having an insurance contract the government likes.
The government is permitted under the Constitution to impose an excise tax - a tax on a transaction or action.
But Roberts' tax is a tax on NOT doing something. That is simply a direct tax on people, which is not allowed to be imposed except when allocated among the states based on population.
The Framers recognized how dangerous a direct tax is, that Congress could impose it on groups of people who did nothing but were members of a group Congress didn't like - for example, people who don't carry health insurance.
I am.
Therefore, I can be taxed. And apparently, chipped.
The congress has been doing that for ages then - by your definition.
We get “taxed” for not having kids, not buying a house, etc.
Now we get taxed for not having health insurance.
(I’m not happy about - I’m just saying)