Flashback 1798: Congress Passes Socialized Medicine and Mandates Health Insurance

[Soral]

Here is a bit of info that I don't see how any right-wing fool can argue against.

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In July of 1798, Congress passed – and President John Adams signed - “An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen.” The law authorized the creation of a government operated marine hospital service and mandated that privately employed sailors be required to purchase health care insurance.

Keep in mind that the 5th Congress did not really need to struggle over the intentions of the drafters of the Constitutions in creating this Act as many of its members were the drafters of the Constitution.

And when the Bill came to the desk of President John Adams for signature, I think it’s safe to assume that the man in that chair had a pretty good grasp on what the framers had in mind.

http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/01/17/congress-passes-socialized-medicine-and-mandates-health-insurance-in-1798/

[meegbear]

1. I like the ending of it ...

The moral to the story is that the political right-wing has to stop pretending they have the blessings of the Founding Fathers as their excuse to oppose whatever this president has to offer.

History makes it abundantly clear that they do not.

[Soral]

2. agreed :)

[The Wielding Truth]

3. Great find, Soral. This cuts their FF argument.

[Sherman A1]

5. Indeed

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x231537

[MissMarple]

4. The comments from the readers and the author are very interesting.

Unger defends his point quite well.

[felix_numinous]

6. K & R

This is a very significant marker in our history. It looks like many Americans need to be educated in our actual history for the first time, since civics is not routinely taught anymore.