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Old 09-13-10, 03:28 PM   #12
Aramike
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Show me in the constitution that my tax dollars can be used for space exploration. Show me in the constitution where the DEA can arrest me for a meth lab. Show me in the constitution where I have to comply with a flight attendant's directions.
Article 1, Secton 8, Clause 1 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; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;"

Hence the space program. Congress can collect taxes to pay for things. Congress cannot force citizens to pay private companies for things. Furthermore the same section grants Congress the power to ban your meth lab and the 4th Amendment provides where the DEA can enter your home and arrest you for it. Finally, the flight attendent can force you to comply due to the Federal Aviation Act which was legally enstated by Congress due to powers granted to them via Article 1 Section 8.

Congress forcing all citizens to pay private companies for insurance could be considered a federal tax, but such a tax seems to be a clear violation of the language in Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1 which states "...but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States", unless of course the bill provides that all insurance coverage costs be precisely the same (which I don't believe it does). And even then it would be a stretch to consider a payment to private companies a tax.

(To be honest, I believe a single-payer system would be far more Constitutional than Obamacare, but people just don't want that.)
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