Without the mandate does the ACA still seem like coercion?
All laws are coercive in nature. The question is whether the coercion is justified or not.
Also, generally it seems like you are saying that you have no problem with any specific program designed to support a specific group, but you simply believe that government is the wrong tool to deliver those services. Does that apply to all government or just the Feds. For example, would you be comfortable if Montana wanted to provide health care for all residents by imposing large statewide taxes? Would you be comfortable if states formed insurance consortiums? So let’s say all New England states decide to create a single payer market in their states? Ok or still too much danger of creating agencies that seem to do nothing but extend their own existence?
For me, the same principle applies at any level of government. Under our current Constitution, states have wider leeway to pass and enforce these kinds of laws. I'd oppose them in my state, in any case.
Also, you use the phrase “force conformity” in certain areas, would you include issues like Civil Rights in this?
As I said, all laws force conformity, the question is whether it's justified. Our approach to civil rights legislation has been a mixed bag. Equal protection is fundamental to just government, so all the legislation passed to combat Jim Crow laws and ensure equal rights are completely justified. I should clarify that when I refer to equal rights, I'm talking about actual civil liberties ("negative rights" in the parlance of modern liberalism), and not claims on services.
Finally, would you please continue to present a thoughtful conservative view here. It is refreshing as some folks on the left view conservatives as autocratic wack jobs who are devoid of compassion and some here do nothing but reinforces that misperceptions. A characterization that clearly does not apply to you. Thanks for taking the time.
Well, that's very nice of you to say. But, as much as I don't want to ruin your kumbaya moment, I'm not a conservative. I'm a libertarian.