In 2010, President Obama signed a major health care reform bill into law. Seventeen state attorneys general filed a lawsuit challenging the Constitutionality of the new statute. A key argument in the case will revolve around "interstate commerce". The states will argue that a provision in the law that requires Americans to purchase health insurance or face fines should be struck down, because the Constitution allows for the regulation of commerce, but does not allow the federal government to require people to participate in commerce, that is, to buy something.

Does this argument seem sensible to you? Should the government be able to require those who can afford purchase health insurance to purchase it?