The new Republican majority in the House of Representatives will vote to repeal President Barack Obama’s health-care legislation today. A repeal bill is almost certain to die in the Senate where Majority Leader Harry Reid has threatened to not even bring it up to a vote.

On NBC’s Meet the Press two weeks ago Senator Reid dismissed the repeal effort as “a gesture in futility.” He couldn’t believe that Republicans were serious.

They can’t be serious to want, have people now that have preexisting disabilities no longer be able to get insurance. They can’t be serious when people who are on Social Security now can get a free checkup, wellness checks anytime they want and not have to pay for it.

In reality there is nothing “free” about any of the nice things in the health reform bill. It is premised on the misguided notion that government can take from some in order to provide for others. Jason Sagall’s health-care parable makes clear the immorality of that assumption.

Republicans do seem serious about questioning some of the “rights” Americans have grown accustomed to. An entitlement crisis is already looming in America. It cannot afford to grant more privileges at the expense of the taxpayer.

If Republicans fail in their repeal effort, as they probably will, they might at least undo the most appalling affront to individual rights that is embedded in the reform bill — the individual mandate that forces people to buy insurance. The constitutionality of this requirement is rightfully contested as should its morality. The government has no right to force people to do or buy anything even if it is in their best interest.