Morning Joe 3/28/2012 -- Healthcare debate

On Morning Joe today there was a lot of talk about the government's poor presentation in defending the mandate before the Supreme Court. We now have to wait to see what the court decides. On Morning Joe at different times were Larry Kudlow, Andy Serwer, Tina Brown, Donnie Deutsche and a few other semi-regulars.

The same old arguments were tossed about. The Left insists that we must have a mandate because otherwise healthcare coverage won't work as those who do not buy insurance are too big of a drag on the system when they get sick or injured and wind up in the ER. Larry Kudlow made the most pertinent argument -- the mandate is not a power that congress possesses. If we allow congress to mandate that everyone buy insurance, then we have to ask what limits are there on government power? There would really be no limits on government power once we grant the power to force citizens to enter into contracts. What most debaters can't understand is that it's not about the good reasons for a mandate. We can all find good reasons for government to do many things, but do we want to give goverenment unlimited power? Are there other ways for people to become insured without giving government unlimited power? These are pertinent questions.

As I wrote in the post about independents and libertarians -- we have to change our direction and mindset regarding governance. If we look to the private sector for solutions, we'll avoid many of the economy-killing interventions which have come about when we have government as the default solution to all problems.