By and large, it is for Congress to determine what constitutes the “general welfare.” The Court accords great deference to Congress’s decision that a spending program advances the general welfare,595 and has even questioned whether the restriction is judicially enforceable.596 Dispute, such as it is, turns on the conditioning of funds.

supreme.justia.com/constitution/article-1/18-spending-for-general-welfare.html

Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — August 7, 2007 @ 1:16 am

Now stupid, you know very well that I can read. If you WOULD read, you would know that the founders were referring to the welfare of the country. Remember, in their time they expected those who were able to work to do so. They only advocated charity to those who were unable to care for themselves and their children. Those who CHOSE not to care for their children weren’t rewarded, they were punished.

As for that “it’s for Congress to decide business,” that’s what got us into the welfare crisis we had when government was trying to be all things to all people. ;)

Comment by michael — August 6, 2007 @ 11:44 pm

My guess. michael lives in California and makes about $100,000 a year. How close?

Well ranted, Miss Molly.

Comment by michael — August 6, 2007 @ 11:44 pm

I realize that Michael went to bed late, and probably isn’t up yet. But if these tax claims are true (and that’s a BIG “if”), he most likely has a much-higher than average income and a much-higher than average home. I’m curious to know how much he pays for his health insurance, whether it’s out of his pocket or employer-provided, and whether it covers only himself or a family. If he pays for his own out of pocket, even in his high tax bracket he would mostly likely pay less in extra taxes to cover UHC than he is currently paying in premiums.

Michael also seems to think that everybody can pay for their own health care if they really want to — that if they don’t, they are just lazy. I urge him to go here…

http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml

…and pay particular attention to this paragraph:

“The annual premium that a health insurer charges an employer for a health plan covering a family of four averaged $11,500 in 2006. Workers contributed nearly $3,000, or 10 percent more than they did in 2005 (3).The annual premiums for family coverage significantly eclipsed the gross earnings for a full-time, minimum-wage worker ($10,712).”

Most minimum-wage earners (as well as many workers making above minimum-wage) do not have their employers paying for their health insurance. If they want it, they have to pay for it themselves. Swearing off the Budweiser won’t be enough to pay for it, I’m afraid.

And my final point: Even though people like Michael believe it’s sufficient to just say “I’ve got mine, and to h*ll with everybody else”, it’s prudent to give some thought to the rest of society. Just as society benefits when everybody has access to education, it benefits when everybody has access to health care. The working poor aren’t just going to vanish into a black hole somewhere because the rest of us ignore them (and even if they did, they would leave a lot of work undone that would have to get done by somebody).

When somebody can’t afford health care, they lose the benefits of regular check-ups, wellness programs — you know, stuff they need to stay healthy. When they do get sick, they will wait until their situation gets dire enough for an emergency room visit — the most expensive kind of health care (and paid for by the rest of us). Their children, having no access to health care, can grow up unhealthy (and in some cases, disabled) if conditions such as asthma, hip dysplastia, anemia, etc. aren’t corrected early. And healthy adults contribute more to society than unhealthy ones do.

ALL of society is affected when a large part of it has no health care, just as all of society is affected when a large part of it has no education.

Comment by JPark — August 6, 2007″

No, I hate their mommies and daddies!

Comment by michael — August 6, 2007 @ 11:39 pm

Please don’t call this choad “Mikey” anymore.

Wrong, they are having money problems because they have to pay for the legacy benefits of past employees under programs structured by the strongarm unions, programs which were destined to be untenable in todays markets.

And it would save 18,000 lives every year. And American automakers are moving to Canada because US healthcare is too expensive.

Comment by upright left — August 7, 2007 @ 12:50 am

The Constitution doesn NOT address “the general welfare of the United States”. It merely refers to “the general welfare” – “to promote the general welfare”. You can read, can’t you? ;-)???

By and large, it is for Congress to determine what constitutes the “general welfare.” The Court accords great deference to Congress’s decision that a spending program advances the general welfare,595 and has even questioned whether the restriction is judicially enforceable.596 Dispute, such as it is, turns on the conditioning of funds.

supreme.justia.com/constitution/article-1/18-spending-for-general-welfare.html

Comment by upright left — August 7, 2007 @ 12:50 am

You’re right, upright left.

Comment by Jim Wolf359 — August 6, 2007 @ 11:47 pm

The words “of the people” do not appear with “general welfare.” The constitution addresses the general welfare of the United States, not individuals. ;)

Well, it is the michael troll, so it’s a given. :D

His use of the question mark is baffling…..and hilarious!

Comment by Zooey — August 7, 2007 @ 12:34 am

Not to mention stupid ………..

His use of the question mark is baffling…..and hilarious!

Comment by MCMetal — August 7, 2007″

Simple! Read your stupid posts? Good night!

Comment by michael — August 7, 2007 @ 12:28 am

Yes, because you Chimpy leg humpers certainly make real persuasive arguments and plenty of sense by posting links to joke sites like The Weakly Substandard and the American Sphincter , and claiming lies that have been debunked repeatedly are “fact(s)”…

**snort**

Comment by Zooey — August 7, 2007 @ 12:30 am

Now Zooey, in all fairness, michael is the expert at simple, stupid posts.

** double snort **