It time to put an end to the GOP talking point repeated here on DU again and again.

[JoeyT]

94. Then you'd better pay that fine if you don't get insurance.

Because if you don't pay it, you'll either go to jail or they'll start seizing your assets.

All laws to make you do or prevent you from doing something have enforcement mechanisms. The idea that you have the "option" of triggering the enforcement mechanism means you aren't being forced to is completely absurd. It's like claiming laws against murder aren't trying to prevent murders because you can always kill someone and go to prison. Forcing people to do/not do things by punishing them if they don't/do what our entire legal system is based on.

I'm open to arguments that the mandate is a good idea. I'm not sure if it actually is or not. If the consumer protections are strong enough and the subsidies for lower-lower middle class people well funded enough, it may be a good thing. That's an entirely different argument, though. Your argument doesn't say the mandates are a good idea, in fact it implies mandates are a terrible idea. It claims the mandate doesn't exist at all.

"Sure I had a gun pointed at him while he signed that contract, but he didn't HAVE to sign it. He could have chosen to make me shoot him." The "Mandates aren't mandates, they're suggestions that we punish you if you don't follow." argument negates the very idea of forcing anyone to do anything. Ever. Under any circumstances.