Monday, February 04, 2008

Mandates

I know all serious people think "mandates" are the only way to get universal health care in this country, but "garnishing your wages" sounds a hell of a lot scarier than "taxes will pay for it."

WASHINGTON - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday she might be willing to garnish the wages of workers who refuse to buy health insurance to achieve coverage for all Americans.

The New York senator has criticized presidential rival Barack Obama for pushing a health plan that would not require universal coverage. Clinton has not always specified the enforcement measures she would embrace, but when pressed on ABC's "This Week," she said: "I think there are a number of mechanisms" that are possible, including "going after people's wages, automatic enrollment."


This isn't a knock on Clinton, it's just that the whole concept is flawed. "Raise your taxes" is actually more politically palatable than "make you buy it."