The Patriot Post® · General Welfare

By Edward J. Brown ·
https://patriotpost.us/commentary/18035-general-welfare-2013-05-06

Mayor Bloomberg in New York City as well as the President and some members of the Democratic House and Senate have suggested that The Constitution of the United States is no longer effective and contemporary times now require that we replace The Rule of Law in favor of the Rule of Men. I agree, but only in regards to the term General Welfare. Article I, Section 8 states, “The Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes, Duties, Imports and Excises to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States;…”

There is now a growing division between what the Founding Fathers deemed, “The General Welfare,” and how that term is understood by many of our leaders today. The Founding Fathers were practical, ethical, and reasonable men unlike some leaders presently in office. To them this term meant Basic Necessities, but our leaders today have expanded it to include everything from taxpayer funded abortions, to free birth control, to free cell phones all at the taxpayers’ expense.

Our Progressive representatives are prepared to suggest that what were clearly luxuries just a few years ago are now basic necessities and they have the duty and power to provide them to the people they represent. They are not something citizens need to earn and provide for themselves anymore, but government gifts weaning voting citizens away from self dependence and independence to government dependence. The cost we unconsciously pay is not only our tax dollars, but also our dignity and freedom. How many more homegrown terrorists are we financially supporting right now?