When the principles of self-ownership are taken into account, two-thirds to three-quarters of what Congress does violate those principles to one degree or another as well as the Constitution to which they've sworn to uphold and defend. In 1794, when Congress appropriated $15,000 to assist some French refugees, James Madison, the father of our Constitution, stood on the floor of the House to object, saying, "I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents." Did James Madison miss something in the Constitution?
You might answer, "He forgot the general welfare clause." No, he had that covered, saying, "If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one."
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Madison has a good point - but we are still a deomocracy.
ReplyDeleteYou don't like what Congress is doing, vote for someone else; or better yet - RUN FOR OFFICE - so we have someone GOOD to vote for!
:)
Not a democracy. A republic.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, but... more a democratic republic these days....
ReplyDeleteAnd if you consider how much governing is now done by polling results... we're more democratic than ever!
I did not realize US Senators used to be appointed... Very interesting:
http://www.williampmeyers.org/republic.html