US ambassador killed over a film

[kandrathe]

I think it would also require changing laws and possibly the constitution about how taxes are handled. I know that the recent health care stuff was deemed OK but I'm not sure everything like that would withstand a challenge.

I agree with most of what you discussed above. This part though, I would clarify that the SCOTUS only confirmed that congress had the power to "tax" people, not that it was a sound and wise decision. They don't really offer blessings on legislation. They DO allow us to suffer with our own bad legislative decisions.

Ultimately the what and why of our laws rests with US, and who we send to represent our opinions. I tend to think the "blank check" health care programs are doomed to fail due to a lack of resources, and inability for a semi-rigid system to cope with the pace of change, and the volume of health care issues.

It is perhaps "more fair" to expect tobacco or alcohol consumers to pay for the additional societal costs of their consumption. Would it make sense to add taxes for grams of fats or sugars in foods? Should all food consumers pay for the additional societal costs of low exercise, diabetes, heart and artery disease of a few?

Why not engage in reckless self-indulgence when there are ample social programs awaiting your eventual decline? Can I get the government to both buy my drugs, and set me up with a free place to live as an unemployable addict? It reminds me of some people and places in my life, like Venice Beach near LA, or Ocean Beach near San Diego.

I think it moves away from a premise of individual liberty where each person is responsible for their own behavior and to a degree suffers the pros and cons of their own decisions.