Paying taxes for an Abrams an infringement on your rights, too, or is it OK as long as it keeps you part of the US?

However, for the sake of argument, the point you raise is why the Snowe amendment was written as it was: There would only be a single payer program on a state by state basis but with federal funding, it would only take effect if coverage in a state was <95% by a certain date, and any state that wanted could opt out when they wanted. The states had almost all the control, even to the point of deciding whether to participate, but with federal funding backing it (see, 'cos the feds creating a state mandate and then expecting the states to pay for it is asinine. ) This, once again, would be an example of a Republican idea I'm unwilling to accept because I'm too partisan.