Not Yours To Give Away

freelythinking.com ^ | Edward S. Ellis

[Willie Green]

Thank-you for reposting this classic!
It USED to be an extremely popular viewpoint around here,
but I've been informed that I am "irritating" for mentioning it.

Can you imagine that?

[jackbob]

LOL!! Well, you've contributed exactly nothing to the topic of the thread.

You are right again. But I don't see what all you have contributed.

[jackbob]

In 1794, James Madison addressed the House of Representatives on a $15,000 French refugee relief bill. He said; "I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on the objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents."

Given the enormous wealth of our society, I see no reason to believe, that our people would not provide these people the immediate needed aid in medical supplies, bulldozers, and food, if our constitution were followed.

[jackbob]

Now I fixed it. Your contribution?

[NMC EXP]

Unfortunately I can imagine that.

I would have drawn more fire with this post but it somehow ended up in bloggers and personal rather than news/activism.

[NMC EXP]

The really pathetic thing is that I have had arguments with several republicans (disguised as conservatives) about the fact that charity, welfare and the transfer of wealth is not among the enumerated powers. These republicans include the usual FR suspects right up to congressman ray lahood (the best congresscritter Caterpillar Inc ever owned).

I mention your quote and others from Madison regarding the general welfare and it does not make a difference. The fact Madison is the author of the Constitution does not make him an authority on the subject to some people.

[Zeroisanumber]

A lot of numbers have been thrown around, but the count as of this minute is upwards of 100,000 dead and millions displaced and starving. Whatever qualms I might have with the government appropriating taxpayer monies for the effort seem pithy and niggardly compared to the tremendous need of my fellow human beings.

And before you ask, I already gave $500 myself.

[NMC EXP]

Whatever qualms I might have with the government appropriating taxpayer monies for the effort seem pithy and niggardly compared to the tremendous need of my fellow human beings.

But you apparently do not have qualms about theft.

[jackbob]

Imperial Right Wing Internationalists, Moderate Leftwing Christian Socialists, combined into one, and passing as Conservatives.

[logician2u]

Katrina-caused, politically-motivated, national disaster of Biblical proportions requiring commitment of grandchildren's inheritance to restore the charm and style of N'Orleans for the good of the entire Free World

BUMP