by Ski Ingram
The Preamble to our Constitution tells us the purpose of our Constitution is “to form a more perfect Union.” It goes on to list five principles to help ensure that America becomes a “perfect Union.” They are (1) establish justice, (2) ensure domestic tranquility, (3) provide for the common defense, (4) promote the general welfare, and (5) secure the blessings of liberty for all.
Promoting the general welfare in this country was something that everyone once took for granted. Today I’m not so sure. When I look at the state of the country today, I shudder. I see violent crime in our streets, an open border, 300 youth dying every day from fentanyl that’s being smuggled in from Mexico, a lack of goods in our stores, crumbling infrastructure and the high cost of food and fuel. These things and more are clear evidence to me that our government is failing to provide for our general welfare.
Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution lays out the powers of the government, which in part is “to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts (customs), and Excises (excise taxes), to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and General Welfare.” The question that needs to be answered is, what does general welfare mean?
As we see, the government is charged with promoting the general welfare as clearly stated in the Constitution. In recent years, with politicians fighting to increase their power, the government has gone from providing basic needs for its citizens to trying to provide cradle-to-grave welfare as a way to seduce voters.
The government is not promoting our general welfare when it lies to us about things that we know to be true. When the Biden administration tries to change the definition of a recession, it creates distrust. For our government to work, we need to trust it and our elected leaders. Even though the price of gas, food and just about everything we purchase has risen over the past few years, the Biden administration refused to admit there was inflation. However, they recently passed the “Inflation Reduction Act” which spends more government money, adding to inflation but never reducing it.
The Biden administration is taking credit for creating jobs when every honest person understands that these jobs are not new, but jobs lost during the mishandling of the pandemic. When President Trump would embellish his accomplishments, his detractors never hesitated to call him a liar, but when President Biden tells these giant whoppers, we hear nothing from the press or the pundits.
The FBI is continuing to investigate President Trump even though he is no longer in office. I would have no complaint if they would find wrongdoing on his part, but so far, they have found nothing. It could be argued that this is judicial harassment. We know that the government spied on President Trump before he was elected and then used false information, such as the Russian hoax, to harass him during his term in office. We have positive proof that the Hunter Biden laptop has information that is evidence of his and possibly his father’s illegal activity. Where is the investigation and constant media commentary about that?
Last month I asked my readers to give me their thoughts about what general welfare means to them. Keith, a dear friend responded with, “I have such mixed thoughts on this. It seems that many very specific ‘welfare’ needs are the focus these days, and then only for those who appear to be woke. … I see this as ensuring roads, water, clean air, etc. things we all need, are available and usable by all. … It doesn’t say ensure, or shall require, just promote.”
Bob wrote, “At the time of the Constitution there were no government welfare programs let alone all-encompassing welfare. Consequently, I believe the intent of “Promoting the General Welfare” was for the government to make decisions that contributed to a safe and just environment while maintaining individual liberty. Many today seem to think it means for the government to provide not only security, but all sustenance and never-ending medical care.” I agree with both Bob and Keith, our government was established to promote the general welfare, not guarantee it.
If the Biden administration was interested in promoting the general welfare, they might start by securing our southern border. They could end the war on cops. Crime in the United States began to spike when the left launched their ill-advised war on our police officers. They could urge the cancelation of the bail reform laws which are a disaster, especially in democratic run states and cities. They could acknowledge that we are in a recession and work to do something to end it. President Biden, who was elected to unify the country could stop demonizing 76 million Americans who don’t agree with his progressive policies. He could use unifying language instead of words like semi-fascist and other negative labels.
In a few weeks we will be voting in the mid-term election. It’s imperative that we vote for the candidate who will fight to keep America free. It may sound like hyperbole, but I believe this election will be the most important since that first election in 1776. I love my country and do not want to see it fail. I am sure I am not alone. Far too many men and women have died while serving to preserve our freedoms. As President Reagan said years ago, “we owe them something.” That something is to preserve this nation for all who live here, even if they do not appreciate what they have. “We the people” still have the power to elect representatives who will promote the general welfare of this great country.
