Is the Federal government mandating that I have another child?

[erislover]

From the the “Is there any limit to the commerce clause” thread:

@erislover

People are forced to buy health care the same way I am forced to have kids, forced to own a home, forced to put solar panels on that home, forced to eat corn products in that home, forced to buy American products for the home…

I think I would ask a different question. If the government can’t do what it is attempting to, how can it do these other things? If I would buy wheat normally, then I am taxed and that tax money is given to farming entities that grow corn, then corn drops in price and wheat raises, I am “forced” to buy corn—to buy corn or pay a penalty. I want to know that if we stop the government here, what is the limiting principle? Every time the government blinks markets move and someone, somewhere can cast this as “forcing” them to do something or else pay a penalty (and they’d be totally right). What does the commerce power actually mean, then? What does the commerce clause actually authorize?