...legislating all kinds of mandatory behaviour and restrictions...

I humbly submit that we already heavily legislate our own behaviour, and for good reason: we're a bunch of animals.

We have all sorts of laws barring us from the bad (eg. murder, robbery, rape assault), so why not also have laws directing us toward the good (eg feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, providing medical care--and insurance--for the poor)?

I turn a decent buck for what I do, so I'd be one of the underwriters of such legislation. I've never had any problems with tax dollars being used to help people who need help.

I think the Africa aids initiative arose because the admin felt the need to publically balance its political karma, not because of any particular ethical or moral stand. Hell, that's what I thought even when I was cheering Bush on. (I'm nothing if not a cynical bastard.)

Maybe Hillary will want to take our guns and give us healthcare. Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad deal.