Tim Lynch discusses the Powers of Congress

[punkyoliciousness]

what is the judge's name?

[RoySC1]

Congress can take over healthcare by their authority to "promote the general welfare" as long as such a program is paid for by uniformly "laying and collecting taxes".

[RoySC1]

Do you believe in allowing your government to steal wealth from your grandchildren? It may, or may not, surprise you to find out that your Constitution contains a license for Congress to do exactly that. It is the 2nd clause, Section 8, Article I, the power of Congress to borrow money on the credit of the United States. This is where all of the peoples problems lie, and this power must be abolished if we are to really be a free people in this country. It must be done by Article V.

[polljc]

The repeal of the 17th amendment would go a long way to eliminate or reduce the federal government from enacting unconstitutional legislation (e.g. Obamacare).

[mkloppel]

What a GREAT video. Worth watching. Educational definitely.

[rockhuddy]

About 20% of the budget is spent on defense. Allowing for another 10% that might be legitimate, that means that 70% of our federal government is unconstitutional and illegal.

[MooseOfReason]

Unfortunately, the Constitution didn't come with a method for enforcement, aside from the Supreme Court and impeachment.

[helltrackrider]

VOTE

VOTE

VOTE

Only method we have nowadays...

[hapspir]

I noticed that they didn't invite any statists into the discussion to defend a national health care system. It went very smoothly as a result.

[TNROLM]

Hey, don't talk bad about the ACLJ or other defenders of the Constitution. I planned on interning for both the ACLJ & Cato Institute in law school.

I don't know where you got that impression of the ACLJ as "fascist" either.

If protecting Americans against "the Fairness Doctrine" "protecting civil & religious liberties" "freedom of speech" and promoting an understanding of Constitutional Law (like Jay Sekulow does) is FASCISM, then I want some MORE of it!

[FlailingJunk]

I think it was from listening to Jay Sekulow's radio show. He did not come across as a libertarian at all.

[TNROLM]

Oh yea he's not....

[FlailingJunk]

I thought the ACLJ was a christian fascist organization. I am not sure where i got that impression.

[chevydriver1123]

It was founded by Pat Robertson of all people.

[VisitingXenoc133]

We need to hang a banner with the words of the 10th Amendmen in huge letters in the house and senate!

[a4finger]

I agree, its against the law for government to do all this

[TheZav88]

I actually think Madison wrote something about the meaning of "general welfare". I don't have time to look it up, but I remember reading something.

[TheZav88]

Ah, found it.

"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. "

[MagnusIan]

To some, "Promote the General Welfare" means anything from banning drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, to contolling everyone's health insurance. Jesus fucking Christ, if people can spout off that healthcare is a "right", then what else can be a right? Food? Shelter? What else must the government provide for everyone?!

[CountArtha]

But "promote the general welfare" could mean anything to someone born after 1850 or so.

[Scoforever]

The problem is 'general welfare'.

[Theevagabond]

I agree. Another problem I see is just how Law is done. It's not based on common sense English of the time and it seems like the role of the Lawyer is to pervert the language and the Law instead of represent it.

[MooseOfReason]

Thomas Jefferson said this about "general welfare":

"Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated."

Those specifically enumerated powers were the ones Judge Napolitano listed at the beginning of this clip.

That's what you say when anyone, Democrat or Republican, uses "general welfare" as an excuse.  Just google "General welfare James Madison" and click the first link.

[Theevagabond]

Thank you and TheZav88 for this, in a matter of moments we have shown historical context of what was intended. Now you will hear the arguements of how the Founding Fathers view are no longer valid. These quotes were from the Federalist and Anti-federalist papers, were they not? What documents are these found in again?

[MooseOfReason]

Theevagabond, The Madison quote is from a letter he wrote to James Robertson. The Jefferson one is from a letter to Albert Gallatin.

[Theevagabond]

Thanks much! :)

[MooseOfReason]

Sure.

[sgtlabar]

first one!