The constitution's preamble states that government's role is to "promote the general welfare". While there are provisions in the Constitution (art 1 sec 8) defining that the government has the power to provide for the general welfare, does this mean that government should perpetually be using that power?
A bulldozer has the power to drive through your house. However, that would not generally be a proper use of the power of a bulldozer. |
Government has the power to provide for the general welfare, but (just as there may be times when it is appropriate to bulldoze your house) only under unusual circumstances should it exercise this power, such as in natural disasters or other general emergencies. Beyond those limited emergency situations, government's role should be to limited to the constitutional defined role of promoting policies that help everyone provide for themselves. In the case of welfare for the disadvantaged or poor, government could promote policies that for families, extended families, communities, private sector businesses and/or charities to provide these needs, rather than putting government in the business of directly providing such benefits to people.
By promoting the private sector to provide these services, the recipients of such service or charity are put in proper contact with the representatives of those who are paying for the charity or providing the service. Under such a system of welfare (welfare in the broad sense of what is good for all), politicians are positioned in their proper role of promoting the general welfare and are removed from their propensity to provide the public largess to special interests in return for a long and prosperous political career. 8/2/96