# "RJ's Law" and other ways for government to invade our lives **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 21, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rjs-law-and-other-ways-for-government-to-invade-our-lives/438628 "2008-02-21T22:04:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rjs-law-and-other-ways-for-government-to-invade-our-lives/438628/21 "2008-02-22T01:46:20Z")
While there are a lot of good and reasonable things said in the OP, I predict you’re going to get a substantial amount of well deserved flak for this: [QUOTE=Indygrrl] Addiction is a disease just like cancer is a disease. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rjs-law-and-other-ways-for-government-to-invade-our-lives/438628/22 "2008-02-22T05:37:54Z")
[QUOTE=BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed] There are a lot of things that don’t happen in Canada that could happen in the US. [/QUOTE] Or the U.K.: > **[This is London Magazine](https://www.thisislondontickets.co.uk/)** > > This is London magazine has been established for over 65 years, providing readers with information about events, exhibitions, music, concerts, theatre and dining. As life returns to normal, Londoners are heading back into the Capital and many... N.B. that the exponents of this policy are the “conservative” party – once you’ve made the government the payor of first and last resort, all political bets are off. IIRC John Edwards suggested something along the lines of “mandatory preventative care.” ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rjs-law-and-other-ways-for-government-to-invade-our-lives/438628/23 "2008-02-22T06:05:09Z")
> [@](#): > > **“RJ’s Law” and other ways for government to invade our lives** How about Homeland Security using the Real ID Act in enforcing [over the counter drug transactions](http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9851813-7.html) from your local pharmacy or supermarket? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rjs-law-and-other-ways-for-government-to-invade-our-lives/438628/24 "2008-02-22T06:18:33Z")
[QUOTE=Starving Artist] This kind of thing is another reason why I’m opposed to government-run health care. Pretty soon you won’t be covered if you smoke, you won’t be covered if you drink, you won’t be covered if you don’t bring your weight in accordance with government mandates, etc., etc., etc. . [/QUOTE] Private insurance isn’t necessarily any better. Insurance companies often refuse to take on new customers who take more than one or two prescription drugs, even if they are absolutely necessary for sustaining life, by treating blood pressure for example. I learned recently about a 31 year old woman who can’t get insurance because, at the age of 14, she used an acne drug that has been since banned. The free market does _not_ guarantee access to care any better than the government would. I’m on COBRA now, and if I don’t find a new job with the 18 month deadline, my wife and I will likely not be able to get health insurance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rjs-law-and-other-ways-for-government-to-invade-our-lives/438628.md?page=1)