“Taxes already reward or penalize activity or non-activity. Having a child is a choice, marriage is a choice, buying a home and paying a mortgage is a choice - all involve particular tax benefits or penalties”
Yes, and that’s a big plus in favor of the flat tax. But nevermind, there’s something else involved here. It’s not just that they tax married couples and mortgage payers different than single people and renters or outright homeowners. Now they’re explicitly ordering you to buy insurance and threatening you with a penalty if you don’t.
That’s different than different rates for different behavior.
The government didn't order me to buy a house - but they sure as hell assess a tax ‘penalty’ for not doing so. The government didn't order me to marry my fiance - but there is a significant tax ‘penalty’ for doing so as long as she continues to work.
I think this health insurance thing is the reducto ad absurdum of this exercise of government power - that or ordering you to buy a pound of broccoli per month or be assessed a tax / fine - and hopefully people will see it for what it is and insist that they cut it out!
Much like Kelo vs New London sparked a lot of laws protecting property rights - sometimes it takes a blatant and ugly over-reach before people get mad enough to SMACK that hand!
I hope November (and after) is a display of this sentiment.