Hacking Away At Personal Freedom

One of the more delightful elements of the "framework" of Max Baucus' health care reform proposal is the levying of fines against those without coverage:

Families who fail to get health insurance could be fined up to $3,800 under a health care reform plan proposed by a top Senate negotiator.

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee is leading talks among the "Gang of Six" senators to hammer out a bipartisan compromise, offered what he described on Tuesday as a "framework" and not a "final product."

They're going to get your money one way or another, apparently.