[highlander_UW]

That's why it's a tax bill. Calling it a healthcare bill is a straight-out lie. It's a tax bill that slaps civil and criminal penalties for either 1) not purchasing a health insurance policy from an IRS-approved health insurance provider, or 2) paying an increased tax rate.

While there are tax increases involved in this bill as well, the portion that is particularly unconstitutional is the requirement to purchase insurance from private companies. Purchasing a service or good from a private company is in no way a tax, nor can it be compelled. If that were true, why bother to pass a cash for clunkers bill, why not just require all Americans to buy a new car? That is in essence what the democrats are doing here, forcing purchase of a good or service under penalty of fines and jail.

[Talisker]

Purchasing a service or good from a private company is in no way a tax, nor can it be compelled.

Personal income is not taxable either, nor is it compelled. Instead, the taxing agencies "presume" you have "volunteered" to pay it, and then go after you for the "fraud" of "violating your commitment" and the "theft" of "stealing" the money you "promised" to pay the government.

Now they're doing the same thing with healthcare.

[Gondring]

Take a look at United States v. Butler, 297 U.S. 1 (1936).