I don't understand why Obama didn't just take all of the insurance companies out of the picture and institute socialized medicine. That way it's a tax. Everyone pays into it. Nobody is forced to purchase anything. Everyone has health care whenever they need it. It lifts the incredibly crushing handicap U.S. businesses face when competing against companies from every other modern nation, and cuts out all of the money that has to go to insurance company and HMO profit. And the price is reasonable. In my province monthly rates are $64.00 for one person, $116.00 for a family of two and $128.00 for a family of three or more. If you are employed, many employers will pay 50% of your monthly premium for you. And those premiums only apply to people earning > $30,000/year. For those making less than that, premium assistance is provided on an upward sliding scale as income declines, to the income level of $22,000/year, at which point your premiums are 100% subsidized. Quite civilized really. Not a threat to liberty at all.