We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,[1] 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.

In the same sentence, we see “provide for the common defense” and “promote the general Welfare”.

The Preamble does not have the force of law, but many people think that a case could be made that “the general welfare” could include providing health care for all. Some suggest that we could make a case to establish a right to be secure in our personal health, or perhaps that right was already given to us by the same agency that gave us the right to life, etc, but it has just not yet been enumerated. Some have suggested that we should establish the right to breathe clean air and the right to drink clean water. It’s a short step from the right to life to a right to health.

We pay for Defense by collecting taxes. We can pay for health care by collecting taxes. We can end the war in Iraq. Started by one man, this war, like any war, took on a life of its own. We can just stop fighting, just like a bar fight. We can find the money to take care of the least among us.

Posted by citizendave.net at 03/08/2010 @ 8:34pm

From a comment via Kucinich’s Health Reform Dissents Merit Consideration.