Government

I have a set of skills, that through some negotiation, have been determined valuable to the State of Mississippi, and in trade for me supplying those skills, the state compensates me for my time, effort, and expertise.  Fair trade in my book.  I'm satisfied with what they pay me, and apparently they're satisfied with my work.  We're both happy.

Now let's consider a smart, highly intelligent person, who decided to challenge themselves to the long months and years of medical school.  They invested their own monies (borrowed probably from family, sometimes through student loans to be paid back) and sacrificed a long portion of their lives to gain a highly valuable skill - the ability to offer a healing hand to the sick and injured.  As a patient, I recognize both my need for the physician's skills, and I agree to pay them for their time, their effort, and their expertise.  Again, a fair trade in my book.  If at any time I don't like it, I am free to find another physician.  If I've chosen live my life in a manner that brings me the rewards offered in a free market environment (getting paid for what I can do for someone else), maybe I'm able to pay my physician directly.  Perhaps I've also chosen to watch after my own health, monitor my diet, exercise, be proactive in being educated about my own health and limit the time I spend seeking the counsel of my doctor, I can save money over the long term.  And on the outside chance that I suffer a devastating illness, I chose to enter into a private contract with a firm that is in mutual contract with other individuals, who pay a small fee to the company to invest.  Should I ever need to exercise the contract (insurance) then I will be paid from those investments.  I know what that insurance contract will cover, and what it will not.  Again, a pre-arranged business contract; I pay for a service.  Simple.

Now.....

WHAT IN THE WORLD leads ANYONE to think that because they've chosen not to gain marketable job skills, and don't give a flying darn about their own general health....WHAT DO THEY THINK gives them the RIGHT to tap into MY pocket to fund THEIR health care?  WHAT DO THEY THINK gives them the RIGHT to demand the physician to GIVE them what he's worked so hard to develop into a MARKETABLE job skill????

If you chose a poor health lifestyle, you get heart disease, you get diabetes, you toast your liver from alcohol abuse, you get lung cancer from chain smoking.  Those were your CHOICES.

Because of your poor choices, you're expecting me to fork over more taxes, and because you want insurance to pay for pre-existing conditions, they'll raise their rates to match the looming payouts.  More money out of my pocket. 

If you came to my house, broke in, and demanded money from me, you would be arrested for a crime.

But now you reach into my pocket, but with the backing of government.  Without my consent!