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Top 10 Most Outrageous Government Programs
HumanEventsOnline ^
| 03/15/03
| Human Events Staff
Posted on 03/15/2003 8:27:58 PM PST by 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 dont know, he said. The general welfare clause.
Erlenborns 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.
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS:
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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,
To: Copernicus
bump
2
posted on
03/15/2003 8:29:25 PM PST
by
error99
("I believe stupidity should hurt."...used by permission from null and void all copyrights apply...)
To: madfly; All
I haven't finished reading this article, but I don't think importing Somali Bantu's made the top ten list. Maybe next year...
3
posted on
03/15/2003 8:30:16 PM PST
by
Copernicus
(A Constitutional Republic revolves around Sovereign Citizens, not citizens around government.)
To: Copernicus
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.
4
posted on
03/15/2003 8:32:42 PM PST
by
Charles Henrickson
(Tenth Amendment Constitutional Conservative)
To: Copernicus
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!
5
posted on
03/15/2003 8:36:04 PM PST
by
MIgramma
(FEAR= False Evidence Alleged Real)
To: Copernicus
The DEA and the ATF.
6
posted on
03/15/2003 8:37:08 PM PST
by
Eagle Eye
(There ought to be a law against excessive legislation.)
To: Charles Henrickson
"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!
7
posted on
03/15/2003 8:37:38 PM PST
by
dalereed
To: Copernicus
Hmmmmm....Public Broadcasting, the proganda wing for the left, only got 23 points...
8
posted on
03/15/2003 8:47:39 PM PST
by
Drango
(Two wrongs don't make a right...but three lefts do!)
To: Copernicus; Willie Green
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.
9
posted on
03/15/2003 8:52:30 PM PST
by
Jhoffa_
(Yes, there is sexual tension between Sammy & Frodo.)
To: Copernicus
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. . . .
10
posted on
03/15/2003 8:56:03 PM PST
by
Charles Henrickson
(Tenth Amendment Constitutional Conservative)
To: Copernicus
I nominate the SSI program which gives "crazy" checks to alcoholics and drug addicts.
11
posted on
03/15/2003 9:12:52 PM PST
by
3catsanadog
(When anything goes, everything will.)
To: 3catsanadog
That's convenient.. As I was considering becoming an alcoholic anyway.
12
posted on
03/15/2003 10:01:43 PM PST
by
Jhoffa_
(Yes, there is sexual tension between Sammy & Frodo.)
To: Charles Henrickson
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.
13
posted on
03/15/2003 10:01:45 PM PST
by
tahiti
To: Jhoffa_
The "Pixie Aid" really gets my Shih-Tzu.......
14
posted on
03/15/2003 10:03:31 PM PST
by
cmsgop
( Arby's says no more Horsey Sauce for Scott Ritter !!!!)
To: Copernicus
EPA The EPA sucks big time!
To: cmsgop
Those pixie bastards.. Picnic basket raiding, government aid sucking, head wear making fun of little so and so's..
16
posted on
03/15/2003 10:05:25 PM PST
by
Jhoffa_
(Yes, there is sexual tension between Sammy & Frodo.)
To: Jhoffa_
You Need your own show on HBO. Just let me be head writer,OK?
17
posted on
03/15/2003 10:10:34 PM PST
by
cmsgop
( Arby's says no more Horsey Sauce for Scott Ritter !!!!)
To: Copernicus
18
posted on
03/15/2003 10:11:35 PM PST
by
FreedomCalls
(It's the "Statue of Liberty" not the "Statue of Security.")
To: cmsgop
Mental note, get a couple of casting couches from the furniture store..
19
posted on
03/15/2003 10:17:42 PM PST
by
Jhoffa_
(Yes, there is sexual tension between Sammy & Frodo.)
To: Jhoffa_
They will be Leather.With Mini-Fridges built in..........
20
posted on
03/15/2003 10:23:48 PM PST
by
cmsgop
( Arby's says no more Horsey Sauce for Scott Ritter !!!!)
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