Sparks

   I recently read the Constitution. So many times  we concentrate on the Amendments only, and not the original Articles. I found some of it particularly interesting reading.

   We get angry because the government got into the automobile,or banking business, or now they want to regulate our healthcare. We use the argument that it costs too much, or we may have rationed health care. All of which I agree with.

   Amazingly, I found that the U.S.Constitution specifically lists the things Congress has the power to regulate. To my surprise, there are only 18 things that Congress has power over. All other powers are that of the State or the people.

   Our elected Officials swear to uphold and defend the Constitution, but the way I read it, they completely disregard our sacred document. I bet many of them are ignorant about what it says. It's one thing to swear to protect it, and another to actually put it into practice.

Article I, Section. 8. of The Constitution

(1)  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; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; 

(2)  To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; 

(3)  To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; 

(4)  To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; 

(5)  To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; 

(now the Private Corporation known as the Federal Reserve Bank, regulates the value of our money, by adjusting interest rates and tightening or loosening the supply of money that is available to lend)

(6)  To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States; 

(7)  To establish Post Offices and post Roads; 

(8)  To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

(This is issuing patents and copyrights)

(9)  To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court; 

(10) To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations; 

(11) To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; 

(12) To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; 

(13) To provide and maintain a Navy; 

(14) To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces; 

(15) To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; 

(16) To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; 

(17) To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for  the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And 

(this is the District of Columbia, AKA Washington DC)

(18) To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. 

The way I read this, the Federal Government has no Constitutional authority to Socialize Medicine, Impose Minimum wage, force the Environmental Protection Agency laws upon us or Place plants and Animals on the Endangered Species List. Not, that I want to breathe dirty air, or see the Bald Eagle disapear, I simply don't see any Constitutional Authority for such regulations.

   I would like to get our elected Officials to promise to read any Bill, and understand it, before they vote to pass it, and explain to us what Constitutional Authority they have to pass the said bill.

                    Steve Sparks

To read the Constitution (Click Here)

leslie@sparksgunsnstuff.com