Roughly 2/3 of the federal budget is dedicated to one type of entitlement program or another. Farm subsidies, education, welfare, food stamps, WIC program, Medicare, Medicaid, chips program, various forms of corporate welfare, Social Security. The list is almost inexhaustible.
The vast majority of Americans really don't see a problem with this. My point is this, the Constitution does not allow for any of this. The Constitution, if you will, are the rules which govern the operation of our nation. If we just pick and choose which rules we would care to follow and disregard those we don't like, are we not experiencing a form of anarchy.
Many politicians and poorly educated citizens will quote for the general welfare of the citizens or to promote the general welfare. This is not the intent of the founding fathers. The promotion of the general welfare was extremely specific and limited. Its interpretation has been bastardized in order to accomplish social and political ends that the statist desires.
James Madison should know something about the Constitution as he is widely considered to be its author. "The government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like the state governments, whose power are more general. Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government." -- James Madison. Another founding father seemed to agree "Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare but only those specifically enumerated." -- Thomas Jefferson.
The Ysleta School District in which I reside passed a bond election approximately 4 years ago. They sent out their little propaganda newsletter explaining how the money was wisely spent. Approximate 50% of the funds which were touted as indispensable to a quality education were utilized in the following matters: field houses with boys and girls locker rooms, bus drop-off points, and tennis courts. I'm sure with these wise investments resulted in students TAKS scores shooting through the roof. They'll probably all graduate either Harvard or Yale. I often think of the people that voted in favor of this bond issue and wonder how many of them pay taxes at all. "When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the Republic" -- Benjamin Franklin
Don't get me wrong I'm in favor of assisting the truly needy and those in need of a helping hand. State and local jurisdictions can initiate whatever programs they and their electorate see fit. If the multitude of programs make the city or state unbearable to live in the citizen can always relocate. Examples of this would be California, New Jersey, and Detroit. If a person reaches into their pocket and takes out money to help someone that is a very admirable and no doubt a laudable act. Now on the other hand say for instance I observe an elderly man lying in the gutter. His destitute, hungry, and in need of medical attention. Across the street I observe a clearly well-to-do female standing on the corner. I approach her and tell her to give me $500. I warn her that I have a gun. I then collect the elderly man and take him to feed him and have medical attention provided. My question is that a crime? Yes, under duress these funds were stolen. This clearly was a despicable and detestable act. About 300 million Americans do not see it that way. The federal government acting in an unconstitutional manner on a daily basis, steals citizens monies using duress.
Three additional thoughts from our founding fathers: "to take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his father's has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily a first principle of association, the guaranteed to everyone the free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it." -- Thomas Jefferson. "I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it." -- Benjamin Franklin. "Remember democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide."--John Adams
A. C. Smithson
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