Health care law’s mandate strikes at freedom

Ray Kolander, Las Vegas

Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.

I disagree with the Las Vegas Sun’s Wednesday editorial, “A poor decision.”

Although the federal government has the authority to regulate interstate commerce, the commerce clause was never intended to be used by the federal government to force citizens to purchase a particular good or service. If that were the intention, then the federal government could force citizens to purchase anything it deemed necessary — a very dangerous concept.

U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson of Virginia hit the nail firmly on the head when he said that “neither the Supreme Court nor any federal circuit court of appeals has extended commerce clause power to compel an individual to involuntarily enter the stream of commerce by purchasing a commodity in the private market.” Amen to that.

Also, the argument by Judge George Steeh in Detroit that was used in the editorial — which states the law doesn’t force people to participate in anything they don’t already take part in because sooner or later they will need health care — is flawed.

Sooner or later, as distasteful as it may be, death will occur. It is part of life. Does that mean people should be compelled to purchase life insurance? Of course not; that is an individual decision — as purchasing health insurance should be.

I strongly suggest your editorial writers open a book on American history and thoroughly read and understand the concepts and beliefs on which this country was founded, i.e., limited federal government powers, individual freedom and responsibility, etc.