Several lawyers on MSNBC today

[EC]

say that if they had passed this under tax and spend laws and charged a tax instead of the mandate it would be constitutional...as Cuccinnelli (sp) from Virginia said that if the cost of insurance were paid in taxes instead of premiums to the insurance companies, it would be constitutional...wouldn't that be single payer, if we paid our premiums were paid by taxes ?

[cindyperry2010]

1. seems like that

to me but they would not have thought of that

[Vincardog]

2. I would support that. Single payer now.

[PoliticAverse]

3. Medicare has been ruled to be constutional and it's payed for by taxes...

so if a plan amounted to an expansion of Medicare to all Americans there would likely
be no reason for the plan to be found to be any different constitutional-wise.

[CAPHAVOC]

9. The only ones against medicare

for all are the insurance companies and their paid lackeys in the GOP and DNC.

[Whiskeytide]

4. I think that may be the catch 22...

... the republicans on the Court find themselves in. The easiest way to strike down the mandate might simultaneously legitimize single payor.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, EC.

[EC]

6. You're welcome, Joe. n/t

[karynnj]

7. It would not have to be

It could be that there was a tax and then everyone got a voucher that was used to apply towards their health insurance. (Obviously, single payer is better)

[The Wielding Truth]

8. The mandate was constitutional in 1798.Is this pertinent?

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

[Uncle Joe]

10. No because that was an actual tax paid to the government and for a very limited occupation,

not every American was subject to it, just hazardous duty sailors.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

11. I'd think it would be single-payer yes

If that's how it worked.

[JDPriestly]

12. Yes. That was my opinion way back when.

Single payer is probably the only workable answer. That does not mean that the government has to run the health care or be the only insurer. That isn't necessarily the way single payer works.

[CTyankee]

13. I agree. There are several european countries that offer single option in different scenarios.

They have nonprofit private organizations to offer health care. There is competition for tax dollars paid to those health care non profits.

The key is NON-PROFIT. By law, in these countries, they are forbidden to be FOR PROFIT.

That is a big difference.