Ron Paul - Forcing Kids Into a Mental Health Ghetto

House Web Site ^ | 9-13-2004 | Rep. Ron PAul (R-TX)

[Chemist_Geek]

The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

I'm sorry, but while I see that Congress can dispose of territory, I don't see where Congress can add territory. Nor, do I see in Article 1 where Congress can buy a whole territory, only "places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings". That clearly implies that the only land the Federal government may buy, must reside in a State.

Therefore, going back even further the Louisiana Purchase was unconstituitional, right? I mean, they should have known, it was in 1803, and the Founders were all still around... If it were unconstituitional, then there should have been an outcry and uproar from the people who wrote the Constitution and knew what they themselves meant. The lack thereof leads me to conclude that Constitutional fundamentalism was not endorsed by the Founders.

[freeeee]

If nearly unlimited powers were intended by the general welfare clause, what is the use of listing enumerated powers in Article I, Section 8? They could have simply said "Congress will have the power to legislate to promote the general welfare" and been done with it. Were the founders in a chatty mood when they wrote that section?

people who wrote the Constitution and knew what they themselves meant

In post #73, I quoted founders stating explicity what the general welfare clause means. They couldn't have been clearer. The ratification of the 10th Amendment removes all question - they intended specific, limited enumerated powers.

even further the Louisiana Purchase was unconstituitional, right?

Yes. Expedience caused them to faulter. The Republic began to unravel almost as soon as it was created. The founders were human beings, not angels and were not immune from the seduction of power and grandure.

One more thing, what you're arguing in favor of is literally the definition of a "living Constitution", where the enumerated powers model is abandoned for a more flexible version where nearly unlimited non-enumerated powers are found in loose interpretations of constitutional text. This version was conspicuously absent until FDR, the most notorious liberal who ever lived, and is central to the Democratic party's ideology. How is this conservative?

And why not pursue the amendment process? Is it really that absurd to think an amendment allowing for the purchase of land wouldn't pass?

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Just heard Congressman Steve King addressing this very issue this am on the radio on the Jan Mickelson show from WHO radio in DM.

Congressman King said he was the only one from the Iowa delegation to vote against this.

[TravisK]

Doesn't anybody realise that Bush is a part of this sick socialist plan? He signed the bill! He is guilty of being a traitor to the constitution, and he is guilty of being a stinkin' liberal. John Kerry- Socialist. George Bush- Socialist. Politics is a giant sham, perhaps FR should stand up against Bush as long as he supports drugging millions of children and pregnant women? And don't bother blaming it on liberals, the republicans control congress this time! They are either all doing this on purpose, or are all too stupid realise what's going on. I suspect both.