I don’t want to start a big argument about medical insurance in this thread, but a mandate that everyone must buy medical insurance is not a tax. Such a mandate is similar to a tax in that it is a payment compelled by the government. Such a mandate differs from a tax, however, in that the money does not go to the government.

A law that every driver must buy automobilie insurance is not considered to be a “tax” by most people.

Yes, I do understand that that the public option eventually will lead to the goverment take-over of all medical insurance and then eventually all the money will go to the government and then it will be essentially a tax.

Right now, though, Obama is correct that the proposed mandate is different than a tax.