No, but the government gives them away if you get any form of welfare....
I would ask can the government force you to buy cell phones for yourself and for others.
Two best parts of Bush legacy — Roberts and Alito.
Question to Justice Roberts:
Can the government force you to buy food, by denying you the right to grow your own?
Roberts and other members of the court recognize council’s arguments as simply niggardly.
What the hell is this "market" baloney and what does it have to do with the question asked: Can the government force you to buy a cell phone... or a toaster (you need food) or a windmill (we all have to participate to make the 'green energy' market effective)
CHILDBIRTH IS.
The government is arguing that if you don't buy health insurance, you MAY burden the state with unpaid healthcare costs down the road.
But if you "choose" to have a child, the government will easily be able to make the case that you will be adding to the costs of society for infrastructure, for trash collection, for the CO2 that your child will breathe out.
Thus, the government should be able to have a say in who gives birth, how many times, and which ones.
What the hell is this "market" baloney and what does it have to do with the question asked: Can the government force you to buy a cell phone... or a toaster (you need food) or a windmill (we all have to participate to make the 'green energy' market effective)
Next the government will force us to buy Chevy Volts
These justices sounded like Rush Limbaugh with the questions they were asking. That Solicitor General is gonna need a few months in therapy.
GENERAL VERRILLI: No, Mr. Chief Justice....I don't think we think of that as a market.
Verizon, AT&T Wireless, Sprint, etc. all better immediatly file suits in federal court stating they no longer should be governed by federal regulation, since cell phone service isn't, by the government's admission in open court, a "market," and therefore is not subject to the interstate commerce clause of the US Constitution.
They are taking our money and using it to give out free cellphones and free high speed internet by levying taxes on providers to fund free stuff for people.
Nice question by Roberts. It’s very much on point, despite the SG’s reply.
Is the guy without one going to be able to get one when he needs it anyway and stick me with the bill?
What I don’t understand is why anyone, the Justices in particular, accept the premise that buying health insurance is the only way one can pay for their personal health care?
The communist USA government is already forcing us to buy cell phones for people THEY have determined need them. It matters not if these people are in need because of circumstances beyond their control or in most cases due to a life time of dumb, stupid life decisions.
Somehow, the communists gained control and now feel cell phones are a right and we must pay for them.
Can the government make you by cigarettes? After all, the taxes go to the CHILDREN!
the gov’t makes me buy car insurance...
as for cell phones, the gov’t is already forcing me to buy cellphones and minutes...
they just give them to other people
If so, there is NO end to what Congress can make you buy or make illegal for the betterment of society in general, and healthcare specifically. There are countless products and services that could be deemed to be detrimental to the populace at large, and others that could be required to purchase due to aforementioned.
Everything from cars to motorcycles to fried foods to chainsaws to farm equipment to the most absurd, and on and on could be made illegal because they cost the health system.
The USSC better find Obamacare un-Constitutional or we are heading towards civil disobedience on a massive scale. I don't foresee a RVII, but I see chaos with the States finally saying enough and forgoing much of their returned tax dollars like Texas is currently doing.
The above said, I am going to post an article that lists products and services that the Fedgov should insist we all be required to purchase for the "general welfare" of our Country. If we take the "Solicitor General's" argument far enough, maybe we can get some folks to see how absurd this argument is and that there is no limit.
I'll start with Congressional legislation that should pass be required of all persons (hereafter, known as Persons) under the jurisdiction of US Federal statutes, that requires a penalty/fine under the color of law:
1. Persons must purchase a described percentage of healthy foods and limit their intake of burgers, fries, and other such foods, in accordance with existing FDA and other known or to be created bureaucracies. Such agencies will monitor grocery stores and fast food establishments, as to be in compliance;
2. Persons shall purchase only Fedgov approved vehicles that fall within FTC safety standards. Purchase of non-approved vehicles will be subject to penalty/fine as stated above;
3. Persons shall purchase only Fedgov approved sporting equipment. Skiis, snowboards, surfboards, snorkels, parachutes, hang-gliders, kayaks, mountain-climbing gear, must have approved safety devices to be determined.
4. Persons playing in team sporting events and individual activities must purchase Fedgov sanctioned safety gear. The aforementioned includes: Pop Warner, High School, Colligiate, and professional sport activities.
5. Persons must purchase new bathtubs as prescibed with the guidelines of Fedgov policy and provided herein: Bathtubs with less than three (3) inches of water; top level of edge only five (5) inches; a quick-acting flotation safety device. All Persons shall attend a bathtub safety course;
6. Personal and public pools shall be of the same depth and as provided in paragraph BS and item number five (5) above. The public pools must have 1 to 1 Lifeguards. Private pools must have an around the clock adult supervision. If not practical for parents, they must higher said Lifeguards for 24/7 protection;
7. Persons/businesses must buy fire, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, riot, global warming insurance, as provided by Fedgov mandate.
8. Persons must buy Fedgov approved fire and flood and SHTF back up power supply and enough water and supplies so as not anyone get sick or die.
That's just a start, and somewhat facitious, but do the extrapolation for the arguments in front of the USSC. Feel free to add and modify.