Constitution supports health care act

“To promote the general welfare” in our Constitution has a great deal of relevance. Since 1933 we have had Social Security by our government with premiums paid for this retirement insurance by us; Workman’s Compensation paid by employers and unemployment insurance into a fund by the employer and the employee into a stable federal government insurance arrangement.

Then in 1967 we paid into the Medicare health for the disabled and retirees over the age of 65.

Now in 1973, Medicaid came into fruition as a state and federal sharing of monies to provide for substance and necessary entitlements for low-income people and retirees. And, now the Affordable Health Care Act — 33 million of us who can’t afford a decent private insurance will receive assistance from our benevolent federal government.

The Republicans call it socialism. They think they cannot be destitute but they can. Perhaps they will realize as they often never do, our Constitution includes “promote the general welfare;” thus they cannot deny or arrogantly abuse the needy.

Marvin Barry Birchfield

Elgin