Providing Happiness Isn't Government Role

The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. ~ Benjamin Franklin



The House of Representatives made a valiant effort this week in repealing the atrocious Obamacare. But Sen. Harry Reid has now vowed not to bring up the repeal in the Senate. So much for government of the people, by the people and for the people, since the majority of the people favor repeal of Obamacare.


But let’s be clear, Obamacare is not healthcare, it’s health insurance and it mandates that taxpayers subsidize health insurance for all. Many who don’t have insurance made that choice. Republic Roots has friends who made the choice of not buying health insurance in favor of buying a luxury car and a bigger house. That’s their choice, so why should the rest of us be burdened to help pay for their insurance? Granted some people are in need, but that was already provided for through Medicaid and hundreds of charitable programs.


Many in Congress have pontificated that healthcare or health insurance is a right. Healthcare and health insurance are goods and it’s a personal responsibility to provide that for yourself. It’s not government’s responsibility to provide. Government’s role should be to create the environment for lower healthcare costs and reasonable health insurance premiums through fewer and smarter regulations, such as competition across state lines and tort reform. Health insurance is a good. And with Obamacare, government is mandating that everyone buy it and that we subsidize it for everyone, so next you know we’ll be having to pay to provide everyone with a flat screen television or a swimming pool because wouldn’t that be a right, too, as defined by some members of Congress?


Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) stated this week that healthcare is a right and constitutional. Lewis erroneously cited several amendments to the Constitution as well as saying healthcare falls within the pursuit of happiness guaranteed in the preamble. His ignorance of the Constitution he swore to uphold is stunning. Congressman Lewis, pursuit of happiness is mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution, and it is something granted by our Creator, not by government. Providing happiness for every citizen is not the role of government. Government’s role is to provide the environment for individuals to pursue their own happiness and purchase their own goods.


Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated. ~ Thomas Jefferson