The issue is finally raised

(CNSNews.com) – "Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) would not say what part of the Constitution grants Congress the power to force every American to buy health insurance--as all of the health care overhaul bills currently do.

Leahy, whose committee is responsible for vetting Supreme Court nominees, was asked by CNSNews.com where in the Constitution Congress is specifically granted the authority to require that every American purchase health insurance. Leahy answered by saying that 'nobody questions” Congress’ authority for such an action.'"

Well, we certainly do, and we're not the only ones:

"The Congressional Budget Office, however, has stated in the past that a mandate forcing Americans to buy health insurance would be an 'unprecedented form of federal action,' and that the 'government has never required people to buy any good or service as a condition of lawful residence in the United States.'"

Of course, no rational argument exposing the illegitimacy of forcing people to buy something that they have no wish to own matters when it comes to swaggering martinets such as House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, to whom nothing seems to be off-limits to the meddling ministrations of him and his Congressional cohorts:

"[Hoyer] added that Congress has 'broad authority' to force Americans to purchase other things as well, so long as it was trying to promote 'the general welfare.'" (Emphasis mine)

The general welfare of the country, sir, not of each individual citizen's cholesterol levels. Is the next step going to be requiring Americans to buy only GM and Chrysler vehicles regardless of whether they wish to own a car or not? After all, since our government is now saddled with owning part of those firms, such a move would certainly improve the "general welfare" of the nation's economy in short order, at the mere expense of everyone's freedom of choice.

"Well, we meant well, anyway. Sorry we broke the country's economy, as well ruined the health and tried the patience of millions of citizens along the way, while "trying" to fix something we know absolutely nothing about."

We're not going to buy into your Ponzi scheme, Messrs. Leahy and Hoyer. Ever. Neither are lots of other folks who see through your plan to socialize one-sixth of our economy.

What do you gentlemen propose to do about that little eventuality?