Initiatives v Oligarchy

Our Founders' Warning: “Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.” (Thomas Jefferson)

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What Does the Constitution Preamble Say?

(See Summary)

The Constitution Preamble Defines its Ownership and Authority:

Constitution Preamble: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.    

  1. The Preamble declares that: “We the People of the United States …. do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” The meaning is clear that all authority originates from the People. Some may argue, but if not the People then ordained by who and how was it authorized?
  2. The meaning of the word Welfare in the Constitution is different from its current usage. The constitutional meaning of welfare is: 1. health, happiness, or prosperity; well-being.

Welfare in today’s context also means organized efforts on the part of public or private organizations to benefit the poor, or simply public assistance. This is not the meaning of the word as used in the Constitution at the time it was written. Consequently, for clarity and simplicity, it is clearer to use the word “well-being” in place of “Welfare“.