Federal funds=federal control

A lot of people are concerned about the Health Care Reform law that congress recently passed. I have heard people say that it is the end of our republic as we know it. To me, it's just another step in the slow progression towards federal control of our life. It's nothing more or nothing less. It seems to me that whenever the federal government funds an activity, they also end up deciding how you get to do that activity. A couple of examples of this federal control are funding for highways and funding for education. I see no reason that federal government for health care will end up any different.

Highway funding

From 1974-1995, the Federal Government controlled how fast you can go on freeways. If your state posted speed limits above 55, the federal government would withhold transportation funding for your state. In Nevada, they tested that law by posting a 70 mph sign. They found that the feds were serious and were willing to stop giving the State of Nevada millions of dollars of federal money for road repair and other transportation needs. Recently, Senator Chuck Schumer introduced a bill that would strip federal transportation funding from states that did not have a texting while driving law. Now, I am not against a law like that, but I don't see any provision in the Constitution granting permission for the federal government to pass that kind of law. It's up to the states to make that kind of safety law. Federal funds= federal control.

Education Funding

Funding for public schools is important, right? I agree that education is extremely important, but is it best served by funding from the federal government? With federal funding comes federal regulations such as No Child Left Behind. I have met quite a few teachers who HATE that law. I have heard that if schools don't meet the standards, then federal funding gets cut. Again federal funds=federal control.

Health Care Funding

Now we have a Health Insurance reform bill. Everybody will get covered, but I hear the price tag is almost 1 Billion dollars over 10 years. My understanding is that half (500 billion) of that will come from Medicare and half from new taxes. What will come with this new federal money? If past experience is any indicator, I predict that more federal regulations and control will come along with that federal money. After all, federal funds= federal control.