Krugman: Spend Now, Save Later

[Kasz216]

Final-Fan said:

TheRealMafoo said:

richardhutnik said:
While you can say the government has no role to insure that people are able to eat, I believe the preamble, and "promote the general Welfare" says something about making sure the citizens don't starve.  There is a problem that happens when people feel they can't survive, get food to eat, and have a chance to "secure the Blessings of Liberty" for themselves and future generations.  Starving people refuse to care about anything, and the well being of the country.  Liberty without blessings will end up not really being liberty at all.

Welfare in 1776 didn't remotely mean what it means today. If it did, it would not have taken 150 years to use the world in the way it's interpreted today.

You can't change the meaning of words, and then say that's what the constitution meant.

I don't want to put words in your mouth, but did you think he was using the word welfare in the sense of the government program?  Because if so then you're wrong. 

The actual meaning is quoted apparently in either case.

Thomas Jefferson actually is quoted to explaining the clause.

“[T]he laying of taxes is the power, and the general welfare the purpose for which the power is to be exercised. They [Congress] are not to lay taxes ad libitum for any purpose they please; but only to pay the debts or provide for the welfare of the Union. In like manner, they are not to do anything they please to provide for the general welfare, but only to lay taxes for that purpose.”

It's ironically a limit of power unlike most "general welfare" clauses which are meant to increase government power.  Originally said clause actually did prevent welfare taxes and even taxes that were meant to be a deterrant like sin taxes.