Jean Dubofsky & Dave Kopel, Live Debate on HCR Lawsuit

[CWSmith1982]

"With respect to the two 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." --James Madison The Father of The Constitution.

[SourDoughBill]

@CWSmith1982 "The terms 'general Welfare' were doubtless intended to signify more than was expressed or imported in those which Preceded; otherwise numerous exigencies incident to the affairs of a Nation would have been left without a provision." - Alexander Hamilton

[CWSmith1982]

If healthcare was constitutional then the founding fathers would have enumerated it under Article One, Section Eight. And that "general welfare" theory is full of crap. If the contenental congress wanted the federal government to do whatever it pleased they wouldent have fought for so long about the enumerated powers of congress. The role of government is to protect individual liberty. Not take it away from them in the name of the collective. This is non debatable.

[SourDoughBill]

@CWSmith1982 That is a fallacious conclusion. They didn't enumerate the powers of the FAA, either. I'd whole heartedly agree that you should not have to buy health insurance if your stupidity didn't impact me. If we as a nation could leave you on the side of the road, then by all means, don't buy health insurance. Liberty means to be free from oppressive restrictions WITHIN a society. Health insurance coverage hardly rises to the level of being oppressed.

[YKantBobReed]

Thanks SO much for having this debate and posting it here. It's clearly more complex than standard media sources can display, and this forum does it so much more justice than anything else I've seen. This is one of the reasons that the ACLU is so important.