The Nanny State Strikes Again

Fox News ^ | 12/26/03 | William A. Niskanen

[jimkress]

Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, who must have little else to do, has recently urged state governments to pass "primary" seat-belt laws, which allow police to stop and cite motorists solely for failing to wear a seat belt.

And the Bush administration has proposed a $400 million incentive to reward state governments that pass such laws.

[freekitty]

My age is not your concern.

[Luis Gonzalez]

So, here's a real problem:

Let's suppose you are serving in the U.S. Congress.

There are people out there, real people, (your constituents whom you are responsible for representing) who worked hard all their lives and saved a little for their "golden years", who are now facing the stark reality of having to make a choice between eating, and buying prescriptions badly needed for their continued health.

In your version of America, they should just be left to die?

Don't give a "pie in the sky" answer about volunteering, or nonexistent charitable organizations.

I want a real-time solution to a real-time problem.

These people need a solution now, so your solution must exist right now because as a member of the U.S. Congress, you have the Constitutional duty to "provide for...the general welfare" of the United States, and by extent, its citizens.

[NMC EXP]

Whose courts would you appeal to in order to get money from the guy that hurt you?

IN your scenario LG you said the guy ran a stop sign and hit me.

He was in the wrong. I could sue to collect damages.

By the way. I was wearing a seat belt years before the nanny state got involved.

You see, I am a rational and responsible man.

Regards

J.R.

[NMC EXP]

...as a member of the U.S. Congress, you have the Constitutional duty to "provide for...the general welfare" of the United States, and by extent, its citizens.

Bravo Sierra.

Do you know what the author of the Constitution said about the "general welfare clause"?

Regards

J.R.

[Luis Gonzalez]

There was a time when I actually had a measure of respect for you, it's pretty much gone now.

Not that it apparently matters much to you anyway, as you call someone who entered the thread hurling personal attacks, and who added absolutely nothing to the debate your "amigo", while insulting those who hold an opinion different than yours by calling them "bots".

I have news for you, your're just a 'bot of a different color, and Fred adds nothing to any thread he ever participates in.

You are who you hang out with I guess.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Don't answer questions with questions, and don't dodge the issue at hand.

Tell me your solution.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Do you know what the author of the Constitution said about the "general welfare clause"?"

I care about what the Constitution says, not about what its authors may have to say about what it says.

Jefferson's commentary of the Constitution are not the law of the land, the Constitution is, and the Constitution says that Congress is in charge of providing for the general welfare of the United States.

Jefferson was a citizen, and I am a citizen, my opinion holds equal weight to his.

[NMC EXP]

Don't answer questions with questions, and don't dodge the issue at hand.

Tell you what.

If you expect to be able to accomplish something here in the world of 1s and 0s (telling me what to do) that you could not do standing eyeball to eyeball with me in the meatworld you are sadly mistaken.

THe issue at hand is precisely the fact that the fedgov redistributing wealth from me to someone else is not among the enumerated powers.

So Louis, you like the philosophy of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs"?

There are still a few communist countries around. You could emigrate.

Cuba comes to mind.

Regards

J.R.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Your constituents are looking to you for help with their problem, and you are dodging the issue, and discussing Cuba.

Do the job they sent you to Congress to do, and find a solution.

You've been a member of the U.S. Congress for less than an hour, and you're already behaving like a politician; not answering direct questions, and dodging the hard issues.

Now, what's your solution for the real problem that I posted to you?

[NMC EXP]

Louis, Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence.

James Madison wrote the Constitution. This is what he said about general welfare:

“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article in the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.... With respect to the 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, 1791

Regards

J.R.

[B0rat]

I'm so tired of those who feel self ordained to say wether someone is a RINO or CINO or whatever. A President does not stay President by being a Orthodox nut case or whatever. A President maintains the Presidency by prioritizing his politics not by being a pure idealogue.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Did he say that on the Constitution?

I could care less about Madison's opinion, I care about what the Constitution actually says.

Now, old people are starving for lack of food, and dying for lack of medication while you ponder Madison's ponderings.

Have you no sense of duty to your constituents?

What's your solution?

[NMC EXP]

Now, what's your solution for the real problem that I posted to you?

Repeal all un-Constitutional federal legislation. Abolish all federal welfare programs including social security.

Reduce federal taxes by the amount saved. Entitlements are 70 to 75% of the federal budget.

With their 70% tax savings, people can directly care for the needs of their family and neighbors.

Regards

J.R.

[NMC EXP]

I could care less about Madison's opinion

That is obvious.

That it not surprising from one who is at least a communitarian, or collectivist or maybe even a socialist.

But sadly, you are not alone. A lot of folks share your views. A very diverse group pf people including the one who said:

“The greater the readiness to subordinate purely personal interests, the higher rises the ability to establish comprehensive communities.... This state of mind, which subordinates the interests of the ego to the conservation of the community, is really the first premise of every truly human culture. “
-- Adolph Hitler, Mein Kampf, Chapter 11, Ralph Manheim translation

Regards

J.R.

[Luis Gonzalez]

I said no "pie-in-the-sky" crap.

So, to help your constituents who cannot afford to eat and buy needed medication, you would take from them the Social Security payments they have a right to demand from you, and any financial help they may have available to them.

So, your solution is to abandon them.

I need a solution Congressman, not ideological crap!

Quit holding the health and well-being of your constituents hostage to your ineffectual ideology.

It would take you decades to do everything you claim would be the "solution", what do people do in the interim?

WHAT IS YOUR REAL-TIME SOLUTION CONGRESSMAN?

[inquest]

These people need a solution now, so your solution must exist right now because as a member of the U.S. Congress, you have the Constitutional duty to "provide for...the general welfare" of the United States, and by extent, its citizens.

So let me see if I've got this straight: In the century and a half before FDR came along, Congress was completely remiss in its "constitutional duties". Amazing what you can learn on conservative websites such as this one.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Come on, quit posting crap and address the issue.

Your constituents are starving and dying from lack of needed medication.

WHAT SOLUTION DO YOU HAVE FOR THEM?!?!?!?!?!?

[Luis Gonzalez]

What's your solution to the stated problem?

[inquest]

The solution is contained in the second-to-last word of your question ;0)

[NMC EXP]

...what do people do in the interim?

Its not my problem.

Darwin defined the solution.

Regards

J.R.