Several letters have argued whether the Constitution’s words “promote the general welfare” include health care or not.
Article I, Section 8 says, “The Congress shall have Power To … provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States….” and lists the other powers of Congress. No mention of health care.
In Federalist No. 45 (written to explain the new Constitution so states would ratify it), James Madison wrote, “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the Federal government are few and defined.”
The 10th Amendment: “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.”
Health care is not supposed to be the business of the federal government. We can either ignore our Constitution, or we can go back to a more limited constitutional government, reducing taxes so more people can afford health care and donate to organizations that help those who still can’t afford it.
Millie Wilcoxson
Marysville
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