[DCPatriot]

1. Freedom: Commies and various other totalitarians used "mental health" as an excuse to imprison dissidents. Imagine President Hillary! with this program in place.

That's quite a leap there, IMO. It would be virtually impossible for it to be abused in such a manner as it would require a Congressional mandate.

2. Taxes: I don't want to pay for this crud.

But $1,500 hammers purchased by the military are okay, huh?

3. Constitutionality: When did providing mental health screening and health care become a responsibility of the Fed?

When did it become the responsibility of the Federal government to mandate seatbelt laws by essentially blackmailing the States with the threat of losing highway funding?

[RobRoy]

I'm not all that interested in what Bush proposes in an election year. But I will be VERY interested in Bush's clear take on this (as opposed to peoples speculation on what he "means") after the election.

[Little Ray]

1. Freedom: Commies and various other totalitarians used "mental health" as an excuse to imprison dissidents. Imagine President Hillary! with this program in place.

That's quite a leap there, IMO. It would be virtually impossible for it to be abused in such a manner as it would require a Congressional mandate.

Sure it would. Just like Waco, just like Ruby Ridge, just like Elian Gonzalez all required Congressional mandates. All it would take is a cooperative AG and / or Surgeon General. Expect to see "health police" coming to "help" the uncooperative.

Or maybe I'm just paranoid.

2. Taxes: I don't want to pay for this crud.

But $1,500 hammers purchased by the military are okay, huh?

Yup.

3. Constitutionality: When did providing mental health screening and health care become a responsibility of the Fed?

When did it become the responsibility of the Federal government to mandate seatbelt laws by essentially blackmailing the States with the threat of losing highway funding?

Dunno, but I don't like that either.