The guys who wrote the fucking constitution, that's who.

In July of 1798, Congress passed—and President John Adams signed—“An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen.” The law authorized the creation of a government operated marine hospital service and mandated that privately employed sailors be required to purchase health care insurance.

Keep in mind that the 5th Congress did not really need to struggle over the intentions of the drafters of the Constitutions in creating this Act as many of its members were the drafters of the Constitution. And when the Bill came to the desk of President John Adams for signature, I think it’s safe to assume that the man in that chair had a pretty good grasp on what the framers had in mind.

ZOMFG! The founding fathers were socialists! Disband the Tea Party and put Glenn Beck on suicide watch! (Anyone want to volunteer to watch?) But first—go read the whole fascinating piece by Forbes Magazine's contributor Rick Ungar.