Constitution Lecture 7: General Welfare (HD version)

Probably the most misunderstood clause in the Constitution is the General Welfare clause. Once again, we use logic to determine the meaning of the clause and how it should be properly applied.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• welfare
• freedom
• liberty
• lecture
• constitution
• general
• politics

[vspqbd]

This lecture reminds me of Fringeelements. He claims that the General Welfare clause gives the US Federal Government unlimited power, and thus, the constitution was never made to limit the power of the government in the first place.

I can't say I necessarily agree with him on that, especially in light of this lecture series.

[shanedk]

@vspqbd I don't think I'd agree with him if he said the sky is blue; I'd check out a window first.

[evb4mvp]

@shanedk would universal healthcare aply? it is something that the entire population requires and just because we have required healthcare or government run doesnt mean we cant choose our own doctors and such.

[vspqbd]

@shanedk

Yeah.  That sounds like Fringeelements to me.

[shanedk]

@Drgamedood Read Roe v. Wade. The same reasoning applies.

[Drgamedood]

@shanedk What? How would it violate my right to privacy? All it would do is make healthcare accessible to all. Much like education is.

[shanedk]

@Drgamedood It's also a HUGE violation of the constitutional right to privacy precedent established in Roe v. Wade (unless you'd like to overturn that?).

[shanedk]

@Drgamedood First and most importantly, nothing in the Constitution gives the government the power to interfere in health care. Remember that the General Welfare clause applies ONLY to taxation; it then serves as a limit to other powers. But if it's not another power--if it a power listed elsewhere--then it just doesn't apply.

It also violates the universal right to contract specificed in Article I Section 10.

[Drgamedood]

@shanedk Why not? Explain how, on the constitution, universal healthcare would not be permissible.