From a reader:

I wish people would quit stating that “forcing people to purchase health insurance OK, since we also force them to buy automobile insurance.” This is nonsense. The reason we force people to purchase auto insurance is that frequently when someone gets into an accident, it is with another vehicle. If you are at fault in the accident, and have no insurance, then you impose unwarranted costs on the other party. The costs of your reckless party are partly imposed on the other party. In economic terms, there is an externality, and this is precisely the circumstance in which there is a good reason for government intervention (i.e. mandating that people must purchase auto insurance).
By contrast, it is rare that when you need healthcare, it is because of an encounter with another individual. When you break your arm, or get influenza, it is usually not because of an encounter with someone else. That is, there is no such externality, and no comparable reason for government forcing people to purchase insurance. Except for cases in which there is a highly contagious disease, health care is something you purchase for yourself. Whether you purchase it or not, it imposes few external effects on others.
Otherwise, keep up the good work.