Here’s a letter to USA Today:
Sandra Day O’Connor and George Nethercutt are correct that too many Americans lack sufficient understanding and appreciation of U.S. history and of the meaning of this nation’s founding documents (“Celebrate America by learning about her,” July 3). In no group of Americans does this ignorance run more deeply and malignantly than it does for those in Congress and in the White House.
Aimed at ensuring that there would be no misunderstanding, the Tenth amendment makes clear what James Madison wrote in Federalist #45 about the U.S. Constitution: “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the Federal Government, are few and defined.” Those few powers are enumerated and defined in Article I, Section 8. Read the 429 words of this part of the Constitution and you’ll find no authority there (or anywhere else in the Constitution) for Uncle Sam to enforce minimum wages; to command Americans to purchase health insurance; to dictate the hiring practices of private firms; to operate a universal ‘pension’ program; to oversee or fund education; to subsidize farmers – indeed, no authority to do so much of what Washington does today as a matter of routine.
Yet every elected official in America swears an oath to uphold the Constitution. Clearly, these oaths are muttered insincerely or in inexcusable ignorance (or both).
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
