What did our founders really mean when they said “general welfare”?

[rightwinger]

You can't read obviously as you keep claiming what the Constitution says doesn't apply.

Hasn’t been interpreted that way in over a hundred years

You lose again

 

[Monk-Eye]

" Compelling Alternatives To Complete Abandon "

* Recommended Read *

Nobody but libertarian nut jobs believes that.
Why don’t you take specific powers to court and see what happens?

https://www.acslaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ACS_KeepFaith_Chap-4.pdf

 

[John Edgar Slow Horses]

Monk-eye has it backwards.

The basic point of Chapter 4 of Keeping Faith with the Constitution, titled “Promoting the General Welfare,” is that the U.S. Constitution supports a broad and evolving role for government in addressing the needs of society—particularly in promoting economic and social well-being.

Key Themes:​

1. Two Dimensions of “General Welfare”:
   
   • The duty of government to provide for the basic needs of its citizens.
   • The scope of government authority to respond to national challenges.
2. Historical Judicial Constraints:
   
   • Until 1937, the Supreme Court often limited Congress’s power to regulate the economy, citing federalism and “freedom of contract.”
   • This restricted both federal and state governments from enacting labor protections, wage laws, and economic reforms.
3. The New Deal Shift:
   
   • During the Great Depression, the Court initially struck down many New Deal programs.
   • After Roosevelt’s controversial court-packing plan, the Court reversed course and began to uphold broader federal powers, enabling more robust economic regulation.
4. Modern Implications:
   
   • The chapter argues that the Constitution should be interpreted to support proactive government efforts to ensure economic fairness and opportunity.
   • It promotes a vision of constitutional interpretation that adapts to changing societal needs while remaining faithful to core democratic values.

 

[TemplarKormac]

If you voted for Trump there’s a good chance you’re a lot like me with regard to why....I voted for him on two policies almost exclusively...First and foremost on how he would deal with illegal Mexicans and the border and second on how he would yank lowlifes off the Democrat induced welfare plantation.
Anyhoo, as we approach the point where welfare reform will be visited I ask for your opinions on EXACTLY what you think our founders meant when they used the phrase “GENERAL WELFARE” in the constitution?

Attention all Smartest Guys In The Room, and legal scholars:
Please spare us the case citations such as the U.S. vs Butler case and the like. I’m interested in YOUR opinions.

First, that's Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1 of the Constitution.

Second, the first part deals with the common defense. I assume it means just that, giving Congress plenary power to declare war.

Third, the "general welfare" part, I assume, means that it is in charge of passing laws and treaties that provide for the overall "general welfare" of the US. In my opinion, it's straightforward. I would gather that welfare programs fall under that role.

Then again, "general welfare" may mean that of the government itself and not of the citizenry, which I think is unlikely.

 

[John Edgar Slow Horses]

The deportations are continuing.

Where the Medicaid struggle ends up is anybody's guess.

I have no trouble with work requirement for able body recipients, as long as no ill or infirm are shunted away from service.

 

[Monk-Eye]

" Nigh Hi Jinks Of Columbus As Ass Clowns "

* Paying Into National Debt To Become A Population Minority *

The deportations are continuing.
Where the Medicaid struggle ends up is anybody's guess.
I have no trouble with work requirement for able body recipients, as long as no ill or infirm are shunted away from service.

A disturbing part of the budget proposal is the collectivist , socialist , multi trillion dollars in tax credits for children over the next ten years , to promote population gluttony and forced surrogate of non kindred children by others , to exemplify a pretentious and mentally retarded perception that such public policy establishes a professional life agenda .

 

[rightwinger]

Monk-eye has it backwards.

The basic point of Chapter 4 of Keeping Faith with the Constitution, titled “Promoting the General Welfare,” is that the U.S. Constitution supports a broad and evolving role for government in addressing the needs of society—particularly in promoting economic and social well-being.

Key Themes:​

1. Two Dimensions of “General Welfare”:
   • The duty of government to provide for the basic needs of its citizens.
   • The scope of government authority to respond to national challenges.
2. Historical Judicial Constraints:
   • Until 1937, the Supreme Court often limited Congress’s power to regulate the economy, citing federalism and “freedom of contract.”
   • This restricted both federal and state governments from enacting labor protections, wage laws, and economic reforms.
3. The New Deal Shift:
   • During the Great Depression, the Court initially struck down many New Deal programs.
   • After Roosevelt’s controversial court-packing plan, the Court reversed course and began to uphold broader federal powers, enabling more robust economic regulation.
4. Modern Implications:
   • The chapter argues that the Constitution should be interpreted to support proactive government efforts to ensure economic fairness and opportunity.
   • It promotes a vision of constitutional interpretation that adapts to changing societal needs while remaining faithful to core democratic values.

In summary….Congress needs to do what needs doing for the General Welfare of the people

 

[Mac-7]

If you voted for Trump there’s a good chance you’re a lot like me with regard to why....I voted for him on two policies almost exclusively...First and foremost on how he would deal with illegal Mexicans and the border and second on how he would yank lowlifes off the Democrat induced welfare plantation.
Anyhoo, as we approach the point where welfare reform will be visited I ask for your opinions on EXACTLY what you think our founders meant when they used the phrase “GENERAL WELFARE” in the constitution?

Attention all Smartest Guys In The Room, and legal scholars:
Please spare us the case citations such as the U.S. vs Butler case and the like. I’m interested in YOUR opinions.

If government builds a bridge that anyone can drive on that's part of the general welfare

If the same government gives a greenie $7,500 to help pay for an electric car THATS NOT the general welfare

 

[rightwinger]

If government builds a bridge that anyone can drive on that's part of the general welfare

If the same government gives a greenie $7,500 to help pay for an electric car THATS NOT the general welfare

If you build a bridge in a red state, it doesn’t help me

Nothing says every expenditure will help everyone equally

 

[initforme]

I'm not sure the founding fathers had a clue.

 

[there4eyeM]

I'm not sure the founding fathers had a clue.

They certainly never anticipated the society that has actually emerged in modern America. One certain thing, however, is that they expected future generations to be as interested and informed as they. In this, obviously, they were wrong.

 

[initforme]

They certainly never anticipated the society that has actually emerged in modern America. One certain thing, however, is that they expected future generations to be as interested and informed as they. In this, obviously, they were wrong.

I think they'd be appalled by the corporate aristocracy

 

[Mac-7]

If you build a bridge in a red state, it doesn’t help me

Nothing says every expenditure will help everyone equally

I think it does

We are a mobil society and you are free to travel in that state

 

[Mack The Finger]

General welfare meant the welfare of the states not individual citizens and certainly not foreigners.

Good Post !

 

[John Edgar Slow Horses]

" Nigh Hi Jinks Of Columbus As Ass Clowns "

* Paying Into National Debt To Become A Population Minority *

A disturbing part of the budget proposal is the collectivist , socialist , multi trillion dollars in tax credits for children over the next ten years , to promote population gluttony and forced surrogate of non kindred children by others , to exemplify a pretentious and mentally retarded perception that such public policy establishes a professional life agenda .

You have no idea what those words mean.

 

[rightwinger]

I think it does

We are a mobil society and you are free to travel in that state

You ate free to buy an EV

Not all programs help everyone but they help the nation as a whole

 

[John Edgar Slow Horses]

In summary….Congress needs to do what needs doing for the General Welfare of the people

Yes, it has always been so.

 

[Woodznutz]

If you voted for Trump there’s a good chance you’re a lot like me with regard to why....I voted for him on two policies almost exclusively...First and foremost on how he would deal with illegal Mexicans and the border and second on how he would yank lowlifes off the Democrat induced welfare plantation.
Anyhoo, as we approach the point where welfare reform will be visited I ask for your opinions on EXACTLY what you think our founders meant when they used the phrase “GENERAL WELFARE” in the constitution?

Attention all Smartest Guys In The Room, and legal scholars:
Please spare us the case citations such as the U.S. vs Butler case and the like. I’m interested in YOUR opinions.

I think it means that any General named "Welfare" should be promoted.

 

[Mac-7]

You ate free to buy an EV

Not all programs help everyone but they help the nation as a whole

The logic of libs is so illogical

Unless government gives the same gift to gas car buyers then it is not the general welfare but only for the welfare of greenies

 

[rightwinger]

The logic of libs is so illogical

Unless government gives the same gift to gas car buyers then it is not the general welfare but only for the welfare of greenies

Government can give incentives for desirable behavior.
They did it with gas vehicles too