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Not quite true.
It is a question of sovereignty and dominion.
In the British empire, the monarch is the sovereign, and all others are subjects, obligated to serve and obey.
In America, the situation is entirely different.
Jefferson and Madison on "provide for the general welfare"
Indeed these framers may have had crystal balls because their explainations seem to be salient to our condition today and how we arrived in the mess we find ourselves.
“Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
“With respect to the words general welfare, I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators.” ~ James Madison
"If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare, and are the sole and supreme judges of the general welfare, they may take the care of religion into their own hands; they may appoint teachers in every State, county and parish and pay them out of their public treasury; they may take into their own hands the education of children, establishing in like manner schools throughout the Union; they may assume the provision of the poor; they may undertake the regulation of all roads other than post-roads; in short, every thing, from the highest object of state legislation down to the most minute object of police, would be thrown under the power of Congress.... Were the power of Congress to be established in the latitude contended for, it would subvert the very foundations, and transmute the very nature of the limited Government established by the people of America." ~ James Madison
"To lay taxes to provide for the general welfare of the United States, that is to say, "to lay taxes for the purpose of providing for the general welfare." For the laying of taxes is the power, and the general welfare the purpose for which the power is to be exercised. They are not to lay taxes ad libitum for any purpose they please; but only to pay the debts or provide for the welfare of the Union." --Thomas Jefferson: Opinion on National Bank, 1791. ME 3:147
"They are not to do anything they please to provide for the general welfare, but only to lay taxes for that purpose. To consider the latter phrase not as describing the purpose of the first, but as giving a distinct and independent power to do any act they please which might be for the good of the Union, would render all the preceding and subsequent enumerations of power completely useless. It would reduce the whole instrument to a single phrase, that of instituting a Congress with power to do whatever would be for the good of the United States; and, as they would be the sole judges of the good or evil, it would be also a power to do whatever evil they please... Certainly no such universal power was meant to be given them. It was intended to lace them up straitly within the enumerated powers and those without which, as means, these powers could not be carried into effect." --Thomas Jefferson: Opinion on National Bank, 1791. ME 3:148
We the People of the United States,... ... do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
and the "why"...
Quote:
Originally Posted by legalsea
... in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,...
The "how" comes later.
It is the "pie-in-the-sky" part of a very practical document.
The Constitution gave authority to federal Congress, as our elected representatives, to pass any laws necessary "to promote the general Welfare". It means anything for the Public Good.
That's a nice way of saying tyranny.
If you are right then why bother writing the rest of the Constitution?
Why can't a president just declare himself the best person for the public good and declare himself king?
And there is no such thing as a "public good". It is a term made up out of thin air by politicians. The fallacy of "public good" was exposed by Hans Hermann-Hoppe. A UNLV professor of economics. It's interesting reading.
The Constitution gave authority to federal Congress, as our elected representatives, to pass any laws necessary "to promote the general Welfare". It means anything for the Public Good.
Article I, Section 8 is one long sentence.
Notice the semi-colons?
Like any patent claim, each "sentence-subpart" comprises the restriction of the whole sentence (claim).
Notice how Article I, Section 9 is not constructed that way.
Each complete sentence following the Preamble is a separate claim of the invention, described generally by the abstract, known as the preamble.
Preamble:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Section 8 - Powers of Congress
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
The Constitution gave authority to federal Congress, as our elected representatives, to pass any laws necessary "to promote the general Welfare". It means anything for the Public Good.
Who was it that placed the label "Welfare" onto public assistance?
Why? It couldn't have been some Progressive, could it? Why?
Why did the Progressives change their name to Liberal, when they were and still are, anything but liberal? Why?
Deception and you are the perfect example of the trap they set many years ago, with the label "Welfare" place onto public assistance.
"Welfare" at the time of the Constitution did not mean public assistance. It meant to keep the USA safe for all people in each State, with Health, prosperity, happiness, and good fortune; well-being. Research the man that wrote that sentence.
If you are right then why bother writing the rest of the Constitution?
Why can't a president just declare himself the best person for the public good and declare himself king?
And there is no such thing as a "public good". It is a term made up out of thin air by politicians. The fallacy of "public good" was exposed by Hans Hermann-Hoppe. A UNLV professor of economics. It's interesting reading.
You clearly did not read my post so I will post it again for your benefit. The Constitution set up Checks & Balances to prevent what you say in your post.
The Constitution gave authority to federal Congress, as our elected representatives, to pass any laws necessary "to promote the general Welfare". It means anything for the Public Good.
You clearly did not read my post so I will post it again for your benefit. The Constitution set up Checks & Balances to prevent what you say in your post.
The Constitution gave authority to federal Congress, as our elected representatives, to pass any laws necessary "to promote the general Welfare". It means anything for the Public Good.
What you don't get is our government in its original interpretation, did not single out groups of people to get special privileges. If the government gave to the poor, they also had to give the same and equal to the rich. If they gave to the blacks, they also have to give to every other color of skin . If they gave to one state, all the states were to get equal.
"Welfare" as it has been labeled is not in line with the original intent of our nation. Tax only a select few, to turn around and give it to those that pay no taxes. Punishing me for reaching for the American dream and rewarding those that have no dreams.
You clearly did not read my post so I will post it again for your benefit. The Constitution set up Checks & Balances to prevent what you say in your post.
The Constitution gave authority to federal Congress, as our elected representatives, to pass any laws necessary "to promote the general Welfare". It means anything for the Public Good.
I can pass anything on the premise it is good for the public.
It is a law you must tie your shoe laces... Because you could trip crossing the street causing a driver to slam on its brakes, and causing someone to rearend them and dying in the crash. It is for the good of the public everyone ties their shoes. It is law, so be it.
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Jefferson and Madison on "provide for the general welfare"
