This assertion was surprisingly easy to disprove. While it would be enough just to point out one of the times in the past when the feds compelled us to buy something, the example we present here has the added appeal of being really old. Not only does it demonstrate that Congress mandated purchases of specific products in the past, without incident, but it also has the nice tricorne-hat aura of explicit Founder's intent.
How do we know the founding fathers were okay with this? Because Congress passed it on May 8, 1792:
United States Statutes at Large, Volume 1 by United States Congress
Public Acts of the Second Congress, 1st Session
Chap. ⅩⅩⅩⅢ.—An Act more effectually to provide for the National Defense by establishing an Uniform Militia throughout the United States.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective states, resident therein, who is or shall be of the age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years... shall, within six months thereafter, provide himself with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack, a pouch with a box therein to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges, suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and ball: or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot-pouch and powder-horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powder...There you have it. In 1792, Congress mandated that we all buy some stuff to protect ourselves in order to ensure the health and safety of the country-at-large. If you ask us, the scheme worked out pretty well. The USA has been kicking ass all over the globe ever since! Regardless, there is definitely precedent for the individual mandate.
You can red the entire act of Congress here.
