When asked why certain things I would find to be socialist
policies are allowed under the Constitution of the United States, most Liberal Progressives always
cite either the "Commerce Clause" or the "Necessary and Proper
Clause" of Article 1, Section 8. Tonight, I spoke to someone who claimed both
of those clauses in defense of the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as “Obamacare,”
Social Security, Medicaid, and Public Education. This person happened to be a lawyer
and wanted to cite case law to me.
This was my response:
Well, I'm not an attorney and I won't be citing any case
law. I'm a simple man and a Soldier, who took an oath to support and defend the
Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this
obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and
that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I
am about to enter; So help me God.
Because of that oath, I take time on occasion to read the
Constitution of the United States. I believe upon reading it that it was
written for the common people of the United States, and doesn't require a lot
of interpretation for what is hidden between the lines.
I'm also an architect, husband and father, avid reader of
the Bible and a child of God. I consider myself one of the common people of the
United States of America.
So, here is what I see:
The Commerce Clause: "To regulate Commerce with foreign
Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;"
Regulation of commerce is much different to the common man
than directing you to buy something. Regulating something means you control how
it is done when someone chooses to do it, but it doesn't mean you force them to
do it. I also fail to see how this could apply to "Social Security. And
Medicaid. And public education."
The Necessary and Proper Clause: "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 Laws must be necessary and proper for carrying into
Execution powers which are actually delineated within the Constitution of the
United States. According to a common man interpretation, Congress doesn't have
the power to create "hoop-dee-do" Laws at will. The foregoing Powers
fail to mention forcing an individual to purchase anything. They also fail to
mention "Social Security. And Medicaid. And public education." Or
Healthcare Insurance. "All other Powers vested by this Constitution"
fail to mention those things either.
And then there is Amendment X: "The powers not
delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the
States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
It seems pretty simple really. Well, until you involve those
seeking power and attorneys; but I repeat myself. (Apologies to Mark Twain) I'll
add that I doubt seriously anyone would have fought a war for independence from
a single king only to establish a government with 545 potentates....
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