Originally posted on 06/25/2012:

obamas liberals are going to uphold it.

Personally, i believe you can't force people to buy something. If people (perhaps unwisely) choose to spend their money on goods and services other than health insurance, it is their right to do so. You cannot mandate that individuals purchase insurance. That is unconstitutional. People have the right to do what they want with their money. It's not a debate about whether universal healthcare is good or bad. It's whether congress has the authority to pass a law mandating that people have to buy a service.

Can the government mandate that all persons, under penalty of law, be required to purchase cell phones, "in case" of the event where they need severe 9/11 assistance?

No.

Then why can they mandate that all persons, under penalty of law, purchase health insurance "in case" of the event that they get sick?