Alex McLellan (2/28, Letters, “Obama’s speech to Congress”) could not find the words “energy,” “health care,” or “education” in the Constitution of the United States. He implies that our government is therefore not empowered to deal with any of these areas.
Our Constitution was written “in order to form a more perfect union” (our government) empowered to “establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity” — all words that are found in the preamble to our Constitution.
Every one of these constitutional aspirations would be extremely well served by health care that is both more affordable and more widely available, by higher quality education at all levels for all citizens, and by cleaner, safer and stable domestic energy sources, to name but a few of the cornerstones of our freedom and prosperity.
Perhaps actually reading the Constitution (as I will bet President Obama has) would serve our nation better than having a computer do a word search without context.
Kimbrough D. Warber
Kansas City, Kan.
That said, there are many constitutional rights and privilages that are not honored by the system. Bad faith admistration of the Constitution has plagued this country from slavery to gay rights.
Posted by: Stifled Freedom | March 08, 2009 at 01:28 PM
If health care is not a right today.....want to put out there for a vote? It will be then?
Posted by: Stifled Freedom | March 08, 2009 at 01:27 PM
Careful BuddyT,
Ollie is going to get jealous over your man crush on Rush.........
Posted by: solomon | March 08, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Reading it and understanding it are two entirely different things. Sure, Obama has read it but he only interprets what benefits his bottom feeder lawyer agenda.
You do realize there are not supposed to be debtors prisons, that we have a right to bear arms, that we have a right to assemble and protest government (yes, even the PERFECT DO NO WRONG OBAMA ADMIN).
Posted by: NoMoreMrNiceGuy | March 08, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Why don't you call him yourself jack (leg), after all you are infinitely smarter and better informed that he is, you always say so, right? Go ahead jack (leg) pick up the phone and set old Rush straight!
Posted by: BudRog | March 08, 2009 at 09:47 AM
Would someone please call Rush Limbaugh about this? According to his speech at C.P.A.C., he thinks the statement about "...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness..." is in the constitution.
Posted by: jack | March 08, 2009 at 07:51 AM
eng: One of the truly brilliant aspects of our constitution is that it is much more clear about what the government is not allowed to do, than what it is allowed to do. Of course, our political "leadership" has been busy figuring out ways to get around the prohibitions roughly since the day it was ratified, but it's still a good thing.
Posted by: jack | March 08, 2009 at 06:30 AM
The Constitution sets out the powers of the Congress and those of the President. The authority to provide those items mentioned in the letter is not included in the powers authorized.
Posted by: Engineer | March 07, 2009 at 11:30 PM