Wisdom From the Founders: Madison on the “Welfare State”
The "welfare state" is unconstitutional. James Madison said so, and he should know
“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.” (James Madison)
I have said, many times and in many articles and many lectures over many years, that our current federal government pays almost no attention to the Constitution in the things it does. Regarding the structure—three branches, House, Senate, Presidency, Supreme Court—yes, the Constitution is followed. But in regards to the powers given to the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, they pay no more attention to the Constitution than they do to Aesop’s Fables.
The “welfare state” is nowhere in the Constitution. It exists only to buy votes for politicians. Whether it is a “good thing” or not is wholly irrelevant when it comes to the question of its constitutionality. James Madison is the man who is given the most credit for writing our Constitution. If anyone should know what it means, it’s he because he wrote the bloody thing. And he plainly said (in another place), “charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government.” If it is, please find it in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, the defined powers of Congress. Don’t bother. You won’t find it.
Charity, of course, is a good thing; we all need help at times, and we all should be charitable human beings. But there are two things wrong with government charity, and this is why the Founders didn’t give government that power: one, we need to be charitable with our own money, not with somebody else’s. Forced (taxpayer) charity is not charity at all. It’s...force. It’s a good way for politicians to buy votes, but there is nothing virtuous about it.
And secondly, government charity too often encourages sloth. Give out free money and, quite naturally, the lazy and indolent will stand in line to get as much as possible. Rather than working hard and contributing to the well-being and prosperity of society, government charity incites those of low moral character—a class too common in any society—to be slothful and live off the diligence and industry of others. The government is supposed to tell people, “Word hard and be virtuous and we’ll protect your property and give you the right to participate in your own governance. Be lazy and you get nothing from us.” We don’t want a society of lazy bums; that will destroy any country. Thus, the Founders did not give government any authority in matters of charity. That is to be an individual thing, accomplished by a virtuous citizenship.
How many millions of illegals have crossed the border of America in the last few years because Congress ignores this most important limitation on its powers? Politicians, especially Democrats, but all of them including Republicans, love government charity. It buys votes. It is also the major reason why the United States is $35 trillion in debt and headed for bankruptcy at some point in the future.
Our Founders knew what they were doing. The only thing they couldn’t control was the evil, godless nature of men. And evil, godless men are all too common, and they love power—even in America.