Monday, September 7, 2009

Further response to "Anonymous' " Comment on my Letter to Chris Murphy.

I got most of this from the web site Animal farm (http://animal-farm.us/change/constitution-project-575). I attempted to contact them for permission to use it, but could not find any way to contact them, so I will use this (slightly rewritten and condensed) and say that it is well written and anyone who is interested in further info should visit their website.

It's really a shame that certain people don't have the courage to stand up and be counted as to their opinions, but have to hide behind the term "Anonymous". When I find the urge to email or reply to something outrageous or just plain stupid, I let them know my name, address, and phone number on the rare chance that they might want to talk about it.


To "Anonymous",

You have to look at the language in use at the time to understand the meaning of the Constitution. We’ll look at the misunderstood terms in the Constitution mentioned by "Anonymous".

1. Interstate commerce clause
Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3.

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

In England (at the time), when your clock was slow, you took it to a clock smith to re-regulate it. That is, to make it in proper working form. In England today they still ‘regulate’ their watches.
Other definitions include “functioning”, “to make regular”, “to keep in good working order”, and “maintained”.

The intent was to regulate, or maintain, trade between governing bodies, not private business. This restricts the power of the federal government “To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes.” States, not people, not businesses… STATES.

The Commerce clause was intended to promote trade between the states. The states can not erect trade barriers between one another. Regulate, this time, meant to maintain, not restrict, which is the way the Federal government reads it today. Today, government thinks “commerce” includes all gainful economic activities. Hence Congress thinks it has a license to regulate the entire economy.

So what is understood is:
To maintain trade with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

2. The misunderstood term was “general welfare”.
Constitution, Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1.

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

Government points to “general welfare” to account for your unlimited power they think they possess. Welfare did not have the same meaning as it does today. In the Constitution the word “welfare” is used in the context of states and not the citizens.

Do you really believe the United States could afford to provide for welfare of the people (welfare as defined today, and not as defined when the Constitution was written)?

What is understood is,
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Prosperity of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

The Constitution is designed to “LIMIT” government, not man. It was FDR that brought about the atrocities we have today and twisted the Constitution into the blank check that was used to carry out the New Deal.

If you really knew American history, you would know that the founding fathers were for small, limited government. Listen to our founding fathers. They wrote the Constitution.

“Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government.” –James Madison

“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” –Patrick Henry

“When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.” — Benjamin Franklin

“Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated.” — Thomas Jefferson

“If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the general welfare, the government is no longer a limited one possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one subject to particular exceptions.” — James Madison

“The greatest calamity which could befall us would be submission to a government of unlimited powers.” — Thomas Jefferson

“The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.” — Thomas Jefferson

“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.” — James Madison


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