[Nachoman]

I think this argument will get shot down. The gov’t mandates we buy a retirement and disability program called Social Security. Oh, I forgot, federal workers are exempt.

[Renderofveils]

The gov’t mandates we buy a retirement and disability program called Social Security.

Actually, the government mandates that we pay a Social Security Tax. The myth that it's a trust fund, insurance, or any other rainy day savings can be popped by looking back at the Court rulings on the Railroad Retirement Act. FDR sold Social Security as an insurance to the public, then argued to the courts that it was nothing but a tax in order to maintain its "constitutionality."

[freespirited]

I’m not a lawyer but am not sure this is the same thing. The RATS insist that the feds can force us to buy insurance pursuant to the commerce clause, which allows the feds to REGULATE interstate commerce. I would argue that the right to regulate interstate commerce is not the same as the right to COMPEL interstate commerce by forcing citizens to engage in transactions with PRIVATE players (i.e. insurance companies).

Medicare and Social security are taxes. You have to pay them only if you have wages. It’s a govt program so I dont know whether the commerce clause governs.

Maybe a lawyer could pipe up and give a more authoritative explanation.