American Culture: Pros and Cons of Universal Health Care

July 23, 2010
Pros and Cons of Universal Health Care

Early America, era of creation of the U.S. Constitution

James Madison

In the days that followed [the compromise on state representation], the convention made rapid progress. The delegates voted that the new Congress would not be able to negate state laws, although its acts would be the “supreme law of the respective states.” ~Convention debate (17 July 1787), Farrand, The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, 2:28-29

This is not an indefinite government. . . but a limited government, tied down to the specified powers which explain and define the general terms. The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former [the federal government] will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation. . . James Madison

Congress [has] not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but [is] restrained to those specifically enumerated. ~Thomas Jefferson

The Constitution makes clear that the federal government was to be more limited in power than the states were—and that, in the end, all power resided in the people themselves.  Parry and Allison, The Real George Washington, p.495

Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. ”

Question: Based on the 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which type of government do you think can legislate health care reform?

a. State governments, each for their own state

b. The Federal Government, for the entire nation

Please enter your response Click here to take survey

Next week: health care, second opinion; voters guide survey

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United States Constitution: Understanding its foundations