Kevin McCarthy Quotes
The simple truth is that the implementation of Obamacare has hurt Americans and their health care more than it has helped.
McCarthy, Kevin. "Statement on the Affordable Care Act." Office of the Majority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives, 21 Mar. 2014.
For most of the opponents of Obamacare, it was definitely about health care. For a few like Paul, the fact that under Obamacare, it was the fact that it was mandatory for everyone who could afford it to buy health insurance that was unacceptable. The government in a free country in his view should not require citizens to buy a specific product. Obamacare supporters observe that society has an interest in that if someone who refuses to buy health insurance gets seriously ill, our societal mores will require his to be treated and we all have to pay for that treatment. Without the government mandate, a group of people will simply get a free ride, getting health care if they need it, but never contributing their fair share. Paul and many libertarians do not deny the argument or its basis. They simply argue that such a mandate is unacceptable even for a very worthy purposes. Any loss of essential freedom, can be—and often has been—justified be numerous worthy reasons. Slave owners used to justify slavery be all the good it did for society, economic development, culture, etc. Principled libertarians also oppose, the draft, government wiretapping, drug illegality, and many other steps where some freedom is lost – given up for a worthy purpose.
Kevin Owen McCarthy is an American politician serving as House Minority Leader in the United States House of Representatives since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as House Majority Leader from 2014 to 2019. He was the U.S. Representative for California's 22nd Congressional District from 2007 to 2012 and has served in the 23rd District since 2013 after re-districting. The district is based in Bakersfield and includes large sections of Kern and Tulare counties, as well as part of the Quartz Hill community in northwest Los Angeles County.