Why we question our forefathers’ motives

The interpretations of the U.S. constitution are broad and that is why we question the meaning of what our forefathers were saying. Domestic tranquility means keeping our streets safe, Common Defense means keeping our country safe. It is the General Welfare clause that I think we have trouble with the most.

To me, general welfare means I want the people of the United States to be healthy and educated. Everything else should be state and local.

Secure our liberties ... the Bush administration brought in unwarranted wiretapping in the effort to keep us safe, but we already had a system in place for that called the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

I would think the Michelle Bachmanns and Rick Perrys of our country would have been enraged by this trick. But we heard not one outcry from the tea party. Weird. And where was the outrage when we invaded and occupied Iraq?

The right to bear arms ... I wonder how our forefathers would have dealt with this issue if a 30-round assault weapon meant to wipe out masses of people was available in 1787.

The Constitution says Congress will have the power to regulate our money, and what do we do? We cater to Wall Street and make it so easy for the bankers to make the rules as they go.

Uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies ... why is it so much easier for a corporation to file for bankruptcy rather than the individual?

This, too, is in the constitution. No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office of public trust. Attention, Sen. Rick Santorum, a Muslim can be elected to office.

Martha Hanna

Batavia