Newsflash 1798: Founders favored "government run health care"

[kpete]

Posted at 2:35 PM ET, 01/20/2011

Newsflash: Founders favored "government run health care"

Forbes writer Rick Ungar is getting some attention http://politicalcorrection.org/blog/201101200002 for a piece arguing that history shows that John Adams supported a strong Federal role in health care. Ungar argues http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/01/17/congress-passes-socialized-medicine-and-mandates-health-insurance-in-1798/that Adams even championed an early measure utilizing the concept behind the individual mandate, which Tea Partyers say is unconsittutional.


Congress Passes Socialized Medicine and Mandates Health Insurance -In 1798
Jan. 17 2011 - 9:08 pm
By RICK UNGAR

The ink was barely dry on the PPACA when the first of many lawsuits to block the mandated health insurance provisions of the law was filed in a Florida District Court.

The pleadings, in part, read -


***** The Constitution nowhere authorizes the United States to mandate, either directly or under threat of penalty, that all citizens and legal residents have qualifying health care coverage.

State of Florida, et al. vs. HHS
http://www.scribd.com/doc/39344827/State-of-Florida-v-United-States-Dept-of-HHS

It turns out, the Founding Fathers would beg to disagree.

In July of 1798, Congress passed – and President John Adams signed - “An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen.” The law authorized the creation of a government operated marine hospital service and mandated that privately employed sailors be required to purchase health care insurance.

The United States Marine Hospital, Chelsea, Mass.
Keep in mind that the 5th Congress did not really need to struggle over the intentions of the drafters of the Constitutions in creating this Act as many of its members were the drafters of the Constitution.

And when the Bill came to the desk of President John Adams for signature, I think it’s safe to assume that the man in that chair had a pretty good grasp on what the framers had in mind.

Here’s how it happened:
http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/01/17/congress-passes-socialized-medicine-and-mandates-health-insurance-in-1798/

http://open.salon.com/blog/paul_j_orourke/2009/07/22/our_founding_fathers_socialist_healthcare_system
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2011/01/founding_fathers_favored_gover.html#more

[Myrina]

1. Yes, but one could CHOOSE to be a sailor (or not).

Under this legislation, one cannot CHOOSE whether or not to be ALIVE. Therefore, the mandate - and by extension the legislation it resides in - SUCKS.

[TeacherB87]

3. Yeah it really sucks

that all of these wonderful (albeit limited) improvements to the healthcare system passed! Damn if only we could go back to people being dumped from their coverage because of their "high-risk" leukemia. Go over to FOX news buddy...spout your nonsense there...leave us out of it.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Myrina has been here for almost seven years, you just joined in late November and you

never addressed the Constitutional difference which Myrina raised, just a personal attack.

[SlimJimmy]

6. Agreed.

"There's no proof from the historical record that Adams would have backed the idea behind the individual mandate in particular."

[HereSince1628]

2. History really BITES!!!!!!

:rofl:

[helderheid]

5. :)