This is my shortest diary ever, but I think the point I'll make is too important to bury in a comment.
"It's my contention that the US government has no right to take money from one person to pay for another persons health care."
This is a direct quote this morning from a Wingnut in a chat hall I frequent. I have heard many Wingnutz make this claim. So I figured I lay it to rest as deeply underground as possible. We in the United States of America have a Constitution which defines us and guides the making of our laws. It reads, in part:
Section 8
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and
Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general
Welfare of the United States;...
"and general Welfare of the United States;..."
Important words, put there for a reason, as are all words in our Constitution. But Wingnut ignorance of the document that forms the foundation of our nation is well known, so it is perhaps a good idea to remind them of this particular section whenever they make their stupid constitutional contentions in discussions of health care reform, (or virtually anything else that concerns the public welfare for that matter.)
If they still claim the government has no right to tax us to pay for the general welfare of our citizens, just tell them they're in the wrong country then, and perhaps they should leave.