The “general Welfare” is mentioned twice in the Constitution for the United States.
First in the Preamble where embedded with other reasons to establish a Constitution, it is stated: “. . . to promote the general Welfare . . .”
Article I § 8 then states: “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; . . .” This declarative sentence is followed by a list of powers that restrict what Congress may do in this regard.
As James Madison states in Federalist 41 referencing the General Welfare clause: “Nothing is more natural or common, than to use a general phrase, and then to explain or qualify it by a recital of particulars.” Madison further writes that it would be an “absurdity” if the list of particulars was interpreted as anything but restrictive on the general statement.
Therefore, notwithstanding the interpretations of the past century, the Congress of the United States has misinterpreted the General Welfare clause in order to expand its powers and to impose the tyranny of unjust taxes upon The People.
The Preamble of the Constitution reveals that one of the reasons for its creation is to promote the general welfare of the people. A foreign policy which seeks to meddle in the internal affairs of foreign countries, including the act of choosing sides, is clearly detrimental to this cause. The “9-11” Report documents that this policy of meddling has caused foreign nationals to turn their hostilities toward Americans. These hostilities have given rise to domestic policies such as the so-called “war on terror”, which have resulted in the enactment of statutes such as the USA PATRIOT ACT that are inconsistent with the so-called Privacy Clause of the 4th Amendment.
There can be no doubt that this policy has endangered the security of the American people and has restricted their Natural Rights. This approach to relations with those beyond our borders clearly does not serve the General Welfare and does not serve the national interest.
The federal government has been served with a Petition for Redress of this grievance. However the government has failed to respond. Such refusal to respond, along with infringement of natural and enumerated Rights, Freedoms and Liberties reflects the behavioral characteristics of a police state.
The general welfare of the People is a principal goal of the United States Constitution, which implies a foreign policy consistent with the admonition of George Washington in his Farewell Address regarding foreign nations – i.e., “to have with them as little political connection as possible.”
We might look to Switzerland, a land-locked country in Central Europe, which has one of the highest GDP per capita in the world, which has avoided war since 1815 despite shared-borders with Germany, Italy and France. Switzerland has remained aggressively neutral and her citizens are well-armed and well-prepared in the defense of their country.
Learn more about the subject matter of this Article. Read the GENERAL WELFARE CLAUSES. Read the PETITION for Redress of Grievances Regarding The United States’ Unconstitutional Financial Aid To Israel And Occupation Of Various Countries In The Middle East. See the related CC 2009 video presentation: George Washington, First President (David Justice, WTPC State Coordinator) – Foreign Policy excerpts from George Washington’s Farewell Address.