Congress Passes Socialized Medicine and Mandates Health Insurance -In 1798

[goodboy]

The ink was barely dry on the PPACA when the first of many lawsuits to block the mandated health insurance provisions of the law was filed in a Florida District Court.

The pleadings, in part, read -

The Constitution nowhere authorizes the United States to mandate, either directly or under threat of penalty, that all citizens and legal residents have qualifying health care coverage.

State of Florida, et al. vs. HHS

It turns out, the Founding Fathers would beg to disagree.

In July of 1798, Congress passed – and President John Adams signed - “An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen.” The law authorized the creation of a government operated marine hospital service and mandated that privately employed sailors be required to purchase health care insurance.

Keep in mind that the 5th Congress did not really need to struggle over the intentions of the drafters of the Constitutions in creating this Act as many of its members were the drafters of the Constitution.

http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/01/17/congress-passes-socialized-medicine-and-mandates-health-insurance-in-1798/

[derby378]

1. Back then, corporations were not considered "persons in law"

And the new law only applied to sailors, not to all Americans. Just pointing stuff out...

[goodboy]

3. But that would've been a precedent to offer it to everyone, don't you think? (nt)

[Tx4obama]

2. K & R n/t

[Sherman A1]

4. Thanks for Posting

I put the link up on my FB page. Should be some interesting responses, I suspect.

[Volaris]

5. I don't want to hijack this otherwise good thread, but......

“An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen.”

Please tell me that I'm not the only one thinking that in here, somewhere, there isn't a (very modern) joke relating to In Vitro Fertilization....

I know, I know, and I'm sorry. It's late and I'm still at work.....

[Hannah Bell]

6. "did not really need to struggle over the intentions of the drafters of the Constitution"

:>)