Top 10 Most Outrageous Government Programs

HumanEventsOnline ^ | 03/15/03 | Human Events Staff

[Copernicus]

Why did we put this list together?

Consider what John Erlenborn, president of the Legal Services Corporation, said when we asked him to cite the language in the U.S. Constitution that authorizes the federal government to run a legal services corporation.

“I don’t know,’ he said. “The general welfare clause.”

Erlenborn’s uncertainty, and apparent insouciance, about the constitutional justification for his own agency may explain why a group of conservative leaders assembled by Human Events picked LSC and the nine other items for our “most outrageous” list.

LSC, which finished Number 1, was not the only program whose spokesman found it difficult or impossible to point to constitutional language authorizing what it does.

Arguably, all the programs on our list lack a constitutional mandate.

Certainly, none deserves to continue drawing on the hard-earned income of American workers.

[Copernicus]

I hope this wasn't already posted,I did a title search.

Certainly a long overdue discussion to initiate.

The real bad news: Richard Nixon is responsible for more outrageous government than Lyndon Johnson.

It is on the cover of Human Events so it must be true.

Best regards to all,

[error99]

bump

[Copernicus]

I haven't finished reading this article, but I don't think importing Somali Bantu's made the top ten list.

Maybe next year...

[Charles Henrickson]

1. Social Security
2. Medicare

Combined, these two unconstitutional wealth-redistribution (i.e., involuntary servitude) programs make up over half the federal budget. All the other unconstitutional federal programs pale by comparison.

[MIgramma]

As for me, I'd like to see that guy, I forget his name, who's always hawking his books on how to get millions form the Federal govt. put out of business.
If all of those give-aways he "finds" were eliinated we'd nave more money SOMEWHERE!

[Eagle Eye]

The DEA and the ATF.

[dalereed]

"1. Social Security
2. Medicare "

You beat me to it!

I'm a senior and don't have any kind of pension but these 2 programs should be eliminated now! They should have never been started, both being unconstitutional!

[Drango]

Hmmmmm....Public Broadcasting, the proganda wing for the left, only got 23 points...

[Jhoffa_]

I see McCain made the list.. All that hard work has finally paid off! Yessiree Bob, he comes in at #2.

BTW, Willie Green is liable to be highly pissed when he sees AMTRAK listed there.

[Charles Henrickson]

I think it would be harder to come up with ten federal programs that are not outrageous. Let's see . . . national defense, national currency, maybe a few others that are actually in the Constitution. . . .

[3catsanadog]

I nominate the SSI program which gives "crazy" checks to alcoholics and drug addicts.

[Jhoffa_]

That's convenient.. As I was considering becoming an alcoholic anyway.

[tahiti]

I know the following will be hard to believe but you can do the research just as I did.

Social Security is constitutional because it is voluntary for U.S. citizens.

The first SS law was held unconstitutional in 1935 in the court case Railroad Retirement Board v Alton Railroad.

So, in order to get around that problem, FDR signed a treaty, International Labor Agreement, with the advise and consent of the Senate.

Article VI, Section 2,

"2. This constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, any thing in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding."

Medicaid is constitutional becuase of,

Article I, Section 8 Clause 1.

"1. to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States:"

The Medicaid tax is an excise tax. It is uniform throughout the US. Everyone pays and everyone pays the same percentage rate of tax.

These are the short answers to the question of constitutionallity of SS and Medicaid.

We citizens need to fear treaties as the greatest threat to our liberty and sovereignity.

The EPA exists because of treaties signed by Nixon. Why do you think the Democrats want the Kyoto treaty signed so badly.

[cmsgop]

The "Pixie Aid" really gets my Shih-Tzu.......

[38special]

EPA The EPA sucks big time!

[Jhoffa_]

Those pixie bastards.. Picnic basket raiding, government aid sucking, head wear making fun of little so and so's..

[cmsgop]

You Need your own show on HBO. Just let me be head writer,OK?

[FreedomCalls]

A link to the actual list.

[Jhoffa_]

Mental note, get a couple of casting couches from the furniture store..

[cmsgop]

They will be Leather.With Mini-Fridges built in..........