Paul Starr wonders why the government will make people buy health care insurance if they are not otherwise covered. They call it an individual mandate. This will be a major backlash when large numbers of people realize that they will face fines for not buying insurance.

The trouble with the fines is that they communicate the wrong message about a program that is supposed to help people without insurance, not penalize them. Many people simply do not understand why the government should fine them for failing to purchase health coverage when it doesn't require people to buy other products.