Admittedly it is just a working theory but let me address your points.

First - free healthcare would maybe not serve the purpose obamacare serves. It's an issue that keeps us divided as a nation red team versus blue team meanwhile team red-blue just keeps screwing us.

Second, laws in time of crisis, even if absurd will give them some semblance of authority and allow them to feel justified in doing unspeakable things. Everything Hitler did in Germany was "legal" - according to him. Also the laws will serve them well as they crawl out of the bunkers and try to enslave the rest of us to to the heavy lifting since these bloodsucking scum balls don't have the fortitude to actually rebuild society themselves - think Elois and Morelocks.