And then see the last clause of Section 8 of Article I.
"The Congress shall have Power To...provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States;"
OK, so right there, in the same clause, the Congress is supposed to provide for the defense of the country (Air Force) and the general welfare (Social Security). Would you argue that half the clause is invalid?
Air Force does not equal defense.
General welfare does not mean social security.
If you read the article or documents pertaining to the constitution you will find:
"Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated."
Thomas Jefferson
"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
Its really a simple concept.
Regards
J.R.
You quoted me thus: "And then see the last clause of Section 8 of Article I." And then you proceeded to quote from the first clause of Section 8. I'm talking about the last clause, to wit: "To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof."
The power - indeed, the obligation - to protect the country from invasion is vested in the U.S. government, and any military force is clearly necessary and proper to that end. There is no corresponding grant of power when it comes to "general welfare". The clause you quoted, when quoted in full, is not a grant of power, but a limitation on the power of taxation.