For some reason, the GAO didn’t directly make reference to the most effective alternatives that would do an even better job than the individual mandate at decreasing the number of uninsured–single payer or a basic public plan that would enroll the uninsured by default.

If Democrats had listened to warnings about what a political disaster the mandate would be, this problem could have been fixed before the law was passed and the law might have ended up slightly less unpopular.

Now that federal judge Henry Hudson has just struck down the individual mandate in the new health care law, the case will likely end up before the Supreme Court. While I suspect, in the end, the constitutionality of the individual mandate provision will be upheld, this individual mandate is not critical. There are many alternative ways to deal with the potential issue of individuals who might try to save money by delaying the purchase of insurance until they get sick that would meet the requirements set forth in Judge Hudson’s ruling.