We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. [as quoted off Cornell University Law School's website]What does general welfare mean? How can we adequately define it?
Consider, for example, how politicians fighting for the upcoming U.S. presidency are promoting or fighting over a new concept for America: "Universal Healthcare" (UH). Can the preamble's goals be tied to UH? Which candidate do you think supports the preamble most closely with regards to health care or what you have come to define as "general welfare"?
15 comments:
This is going to come out a bit weird, but here is what I was thinking:
"General welfare" can be defined as considering what best actions our government can make to take care of American citizens, both physically and ethically.
I believe the general welfare, as stated in the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution, can be easiest defined as looking out for the well-being of others in ones actions. For example, if one person is smoking pot, that can have an impact on another’s life through the air, or if it is being distributed and it’s a distraction to the society. Unfamiliar people can see this substance and wonder what it is then its life a snowball effect and everyone jumps on the bandwagon and that’s how things become popular.
I believe our founding fathers intended for this statement to mean that they cared about everyone and the birth of a new country, and to establish a well-backed government they would have to prove to the people that they cared about their ways of life and safety.
General welfare is the happiness and well-being of the general population. It is the assurances that the general population is entitled to benefits that help them survive, make them happy, and gives them a healthy life, such as healthcare. It is the entitlement to basic necessities to allow one to have a joyful, prosperous, and vigorous life.
General welfare as it relates to what was intended in the US Constitution in my opinion means what the governments role will be in the areas of health, transportation, housing, education and free enterprise.
General welfare means a broad spectrum. To me it means that we, as a country, need to do what is best for the lives of our fellow countrymen. I take that to mean things such as the welfare system, which when not abused, can be a very good thing to help out people, but also by enforcing laws to help protect our country and make it better. Laws such as the ones against murder and stealing help to make people safer, thus going toward their “general welfare.” If we did not have laws such as these, this country would more than likely be in a state of chaos. While we live in a scary world, most of us are comforted by the fact that there are laws protecting our well being and if we are harmed, that hopefully the perpetrator will pay. I do think that something such as universal healthcare could be included into that because it would provide continued options for us to better ourselves as a country.
I think general welfare means or was intended to mean the standard of living of the average American. That the government should provide the means to ensure the safety and well being of the populace. They can do this by providing our tax dollars back to us for improvements in the infrastructure we live in, or in dealing with foreign nations so our welfare isn’t threatened by war or acts of terrorism.
Also, having programs in place to assist people in obtaining a means of increasing their ability to lead a happy and normal life. Such as Small Business Administration, Welfare, Veterans Administration for the military, etc. etc.
By ensuring we have a safe and secure environment to thrive in our economy and standard of living will increase as time goes by. If we had a universal health care system the burden on the populace would (hopefully) be lessened, and also the cost of providing this care would decline. It has worked to some extent in other countries. Doubt it would work here as there isn’t enough money to be made by anyone.
General welfare, as presented by our founding fathers, encompasses domestic tranquility and the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. It is the protection and preservation of those inalienable human rights given to all people, not by governments, but rather by the de facto act of being a human being. This was a chief concern of those who had so recently cut ties with the militant and oppressive monarchy of England.
When looking up the meaning of "welfare" in the Constitution, I noticed it is also used in one of the articles as well. "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States," found in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.
At first the words, "general welfare," seem to apply to the U.S, itself, but I think it stands for more. The Webster Dictionary of English language defines welfare as "the good fortune, health, happiness, prosperity, etc., of a person, group, or organization; well-being."
This definition seems similar to the beliefs John Locke had, we had inalienable rights, as said in the Declaration, " "life, liberty, and property."
General welfare seems to be the overall "fortune, health, happiness, prosperity, etc., of a person, group, or organization; well-being," which can apply to America as a whole.
Welfare is defined as the state of doing well especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity. So if we are talking about general welfare this term is not exclusive to any specific party. It looks out for the best interest for the general public.
General Welfare – This term to me is referring the Welfare or well-being of the nation as a whole. From this spawns the many restrictions and limits to our own government’s powers. In my mind the General Welfare of the nation is in regards to our economic standings, after all a growing economy benefits everyone from the government to the common citizen.
General Welfare does not specifically cover just health but does cover a wider range of items. Just about anything you look at can be argued to serve the General Public.
I think the general welfare means the overall well being of all people to include, economic, security, professional, medical, safety etc. However, the preamble states that the government would promote not provide for the general welfare. I don’t believe that government intended to take on direct or absolute responsibility for the general welfare.
I like this content for "General welfare". Actually it is an abstract of a book.
http://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt/lpbr/subpages/reviews/barber704.htm
I am so sorry to post an adress again.
http://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt/lpbr/subpages/reviews/barber704.htm
It's truly amazing how everything written from our founding fathers before the establishment of this nation we today call The United States of America. How did they write and establish such things like "all men are created equal" or just writing the constitution and talking about the pursuit of happiness.
In today's society words like general welfare arise and what does this actually mean? I believe it describes that every person has rights to make decision or have options.
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