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Conyers: Individual Mandate Has Nothing to Do With Individual Liberty
CNS News ^ | February 16, 2011 | Matt Cover

Posted on 02/16/2011 12:54:29 PM PST by Sopater

Washington (CNSNews.com) – Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said Wednesday that the individual insurance mandate in the Democrats’ health care law has nothing to do with individual liberty.

“[W]e have been hearing that this is all about individual liberty, the right to be let alone. But is it really?” Conyers asked in his opening statement.

“The liberty interests at stake do not change simply because it is the federal, rather than the state government that is imposing the requirement.

“While we can debate whether Congress has the power to impose this requirement – something I believe we clearly do – we should not scare Americans into believing that how we resolve that question says anything about their individual liberty.”

Conyers argued that states require the purchase of auto insurance and that citizens are required to pay taxes, send their children to school, and receive vaccinations.

Conyers made the comments Wednesday in a House Judiciary Committee hearing examining the constitutionality of the insurance mandate.

For the record, a number of Republicans have dismissed the Democrats’ auto insurance argument.

"This is the first time in American history that Congress has passed a law mandating that you buy something simply because you're breathing," Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) wrote in a USA Today op-ed last year. "You don't need to purchase a car. You do need to breathe," he said.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: congress; conyers; democrats; healthcare; house; individualmandate; johnconyers; liberalfascism; liberty; obamacare; rapeofliberty
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...citizens are required to pay taxes, send their children to school, and receive vaccinations.

That's news to me. Is that really what these guys believe? I pay taxes, but I don't "send" my children to school, and I pay to vaccinate my children with the vaccines that I choose to give them.
1 posted on 02/16/2011 12:54:32 PM PST by Sopater
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To: Sopater

Don’t forget - this numbnut is exempt from Commiecare™.


2 posted on 02/16/2011 12:58:04 PM PST by Libloather (The epitome of civility.)
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To: Sopater

Freedom is slavery. George Orwell was a prophet.


3 posted on 02/16/2011 12:58:35 PM PST by Spok
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To: Sopater

Conyers is right, the individual mandate has absolutely
nothing to do with individual liberty except be it’s
antithesis.


4 posted on 02/16/2011 12:58:44 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: Sopater
Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said Wednesday that the individual insurance mandate in the Democrats’ health care law has nothing to do with individual liberty

Senile old fool should have been retired by voters years ago.

5 posted on 02/16/2011 12:59:05 PM PST by GoldenPup
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To: Sopater

Conyers, I think you should be required by law to purchase a gun and pay for gun safety classes out of your own pocket. After all, it’s for the safety of your family and yourself, and will save the taxpayers money because the police won’t have to respond to calls to your home. Why should I have to foot the bill because you don’t want to take responsibility for keeping your family safe?


6 posted on 02/16/2011 12:59:27 PM PST by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: Sopater

A thought for the worthless POS National Socialist: There was once a mandate that escaped slaves be returned to their masters which ultimately went to the SC where another POS democrat Chief Justice ruled against Dred Scott. Conyers has just made it clear that Taney’s ruling was correct and had nothing to do with individual liberty.

FUBO & FAD


7 posted on 02/16/2011 1:01:07 PM PST by RJS1950 (The democrats are the "enemies foreign and domestic" cited in the federal oath)
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To: Sopater

Conyers is probably still looking for the “good and welfare” clause in the U.S. Constitution. I think it might be in there next to the “Good & Plenty” clause or maybe the “Snickers” clause.

/sarc

Seriously, though, was he asleep in law school when they covered Federalism and the responsibilities of the federal government vs. state governments?


8 posted on 02/16/2011 1:02:05 PM PST by ConjunctionJunction
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To: Sopater

You would think a guy whose wife did time in the Iron Bar Hotel would grasp the concept of deprivation of liberty.


9 posted on 02/16/2011 1:04:17 PM PST by LostInBayport (When there are more people riding in the cart than there are pulling it, the cart stops moving...)
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To: Sopater
The comparison to auto insurance is a specious one. Not only is there the difference between requiring insurance for those who breathe as opposed to those who merely drive, if Congress tried to pass a law requiring auto insurance, we'd have the same objection we have with health insurance. It's simply not a federal function, no matter in what ways one tries to twist or spin constitutional intent. Period.

If Conyers really doesn't think there's any difference as to our liberty between federal and state requirements, he should be just fine with leaving health insurance to the states, as he in effect pledged to do when he swore an oath to the constitution.

10 posted on 02/16/2011 1:04:17 PM PST by Emile (Leftists are so 'open-minded', their brains have fallen out. -- (HT to GOPJ))
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To: Sopater

This senile, dirty old geezer has the time to drool over girly magazines, but apparently not the time to read the Constitution or the Bills that come before him.


11 posted on 02/16/2011 1:07:17 PM PST by bimboeruption (Clinging to my Bible and my HK.)
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To: Sopater

In Egypt, a couple thousand people stand up to a ruthless dictator and drive him out of the country.

In America, people do nothing as a old fool with a 4th grade education tells forces them to give up their God given liberty.

Sad.


12 posted on 02/16/2011 1:08:36 PM PST by wilco200 (11/4/08 - The Day America Jumped the Shark)
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To: Sopater

Conyers became senile years ago.


13 posted on 02/16/2011 1:09:25 PM PST by beethovenfan (If Islam is the solution, the "problem" must be freedom.)
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To: Libloather

Did any media person ever ask Obozo, Pelosi, Reid et al who jammed this Obozo Care bill down our throats if it is so good for the people why are elected officials and their staff exempted? If not and since this administration is hell bent on the blatant contempt of our constitution it is not too late for someone to start asking. Good format would be Chris Wallace on Fox Sunday because he usuall has a dem and repub on his show.


14 posted on 02/16/2011 1:10:43 PM PST by drypowder
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To: Sopater

> Conyers: Individual Mandate Has Nothing to Do With Individual Liberty
If thay is true, then I’m at liberty to not pay it and there will be no fines, penalties or other repercussions.


15 posted on 02/16/2011 1:13:46 PM PST by BuffaloJack (Re-Elect President Sarah Palin 2016)
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To: Sopater
Conyers: Individual Mandate Has Nothing to Do With Individual Liberty

I agree completely. In fact, almost nothing the Democrats have done recently has anything to do with individual liberty.

“The liberty interests at stake do not change simply because it is the federal, rather than the state government that is imposing the requirement.

Once again I agree with Conyers (this has to be a record). It is tyranny in both cases... just in one case the Constitution doesn't allow it, while in the other the various state constitutions might.

16 posted on 02/16/2011 1:14:00 PM PST by KarlInOhio (Washington is finally rid of the Kennedies. Free at last, thank God almighty we are free at last.)
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To: Sopater
"Conyers argued that states require the purchase of auto insurance and that citizens are required to pay taxes, send their children to school, and receive vaccinations."

Yes this is true, However in each of these statements there is an "if" involved.

Example: "You are required to purchase car insurance "IF" you drive it on federal state or city roads. If you do not own a car Or if you do and don't drive it on government roads, then you do not have to purchase insurance."

In other words, one can "opt out" of any of the above reuiements by not participating in the activity that requires the mandated action by the state. With the Healthcare Insurance mandate the only way one can "opt out" is by either breaking the law or renouncing citizenship and leaving the country. (or getting some form of official exemption from the state.)

17 posted on 02/16/2011 1:18:37 PM PST by Mad Dawgg (If you're going to deny my 1st Amendment rights then I must proceed to the 2nd one...)
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To: Emile

Maybe we should investigate some of these dems for violating their oath of office. Then maybe after we lock a few of them up for ignoring that oath they will have a better understanding of individual liberty.


18 posted on 02/16/2011 1:20:28 PM PST by precisionshootist
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To: Sopater
The liberty interests at stake do not change simply because it is the federal, rather than the state government that is imposing the requirement

Yes it does. In a state sovereignty model, I can simply choose to move to a different state and remain an American. In their fed-rules-all model, I have no choice but to renounce my citizenship and leave the country -- and even then in many cases the IRS can still get you.

19 posted on 02/16/2011 1:26:43 PM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: Sopater
Conyers: Individual Mandate Has Nothing to Do With Individual Liberty

Conyers, you effing POS Communist vermin Alzheimer wife-abandoning scamfest.

It has everything to do with individual liberty, BY DEFINITION. A mandate REMOVES THE FREAKIN CHOICE THAT A FREE PERSON WOULD HAVE.

Conyers argued that states require the purchase of auto insurance and that citizens are required to pay taxes, send their children to school, and receive vaccinations.

States require the purchase of auto insurance IF YOU HAVE A CAR. You are free not to have a car.

States require PAYMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES (which are usually used for schools). You are free not to send your child to a public school, or home school. You are also free not to own your home.

States require vaccinations TO ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. You are free not to send them to public schools.

This will be the first time in American History that citizens would be required to buy a product, and have no freedom to take alternative measures.

Conyers, you are a liar, a thief, and a Communist. But I repeat myself. Conyers made the comments Wednesday in a House Judiciary Committee hearing examining the constitutionalit

20 posted on 02/16/2011 1:27:00 PM PST by Lazamataz (If Illegal Aliens are Undocumented Workers, then Thieves are Undocumented Shoppers.)
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