If you refuse to buy insurance and you refuse to pay the fine/tax, then the IRS can put you in jail, right? How is that not coercive? (I’m not addressing this to you specifically, just a general question). There are ways to avoid other taxes. In this case, you pay the tax or go to jail.
You are right it is coercive. But all taxes are. Theoretically Congress can pass, and the president can sign, a 99 percent income tax tomorrow. What stops them isn’t the SCOTUS - it is US.
I wondered the same thing.
IRS can put you in jail, right?
No, first they threaten you with fines or confiscate your property and sell it at a tax sale for whatever they can get.
If your lucky you declare bankrupsy and have seven years of bad credit.
Unless you came here illegally then you move to the front of the line.
Or, if you are a minority you get bonus points.
2+2+5
“then the IRS can put you in jail, right? How is that not coercive?”
Does anyone have citation of IRS getting 16,000 new IRS agents and, at the same time, IRS agents could carry guns. Wha....?
It is just in the back of my head. Did IRS get the 16,000 and gun rights?
How does this prevent a freedom-loving “insurance” company from providing health insurance for $.01 a month with an extensive rider that indicates no actual healthcare (with maybe the exception of aspirin) will be provided?
You haven't quite taken it to it's logical conclusion.
If you don't buy the insurance, they will "tax" you. If you don't pay the tax, they will attempt to jail you. If you resist, they will kill you, and your neighbors will just shake their heads at your extremism, if they even notice your death at all.
The ultimate threat behind all laws is the state's willingness, and in fact, eagerness to employ lethal force against you.