For the education of the "return to the Constitution" heckler at Spector's townhall:

[ddeclue]

Sorry you are such an ignoramus but...

Health care is a constitutional right reserved to the people in the 9th and 10th Amendments. The Declaration asserts that we all have a "right to life" and this right although not explicitly enumerated in the Consitution is an unenumerated right protected by the 9th Amendment:

Amendment 9 - Construction of Constitution. Ratified 12/15/1791.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

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Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People. Ratified 12/15/1791. Note

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people

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"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."- Declaration of Independence
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Any reasonable person understands this right to life to mean health care which sustains or preserves life - we protect this right every day through first responders like the police and paramedics and firefighters.


Finally: In Article I Section 8, the Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce which definitely includes: HEALTH CARE.

[NYC_SKP]

1. The "awakening giant" referred to at one meeting today...

Was asleep while the last asshole in chief stripped them of their constitutional rights.

Somehow, NOW they're waking up.

Bullshit.

Good post, thanks.

[Kansas Wyatt]

3. "awakening giant" acted like she was with a group, with her body language.

She just looked like she was looking around to other people she had been with before.

And she would be screaming bloody murder if any socialization benefit was taken away from her.

[LARED]

2. I'm pretty sure the framers of the Constitution would not be

amused. You're not going to find a right to health care in the Constitution of the USA.

That's not to say the right does not exist, but it should be enumerated by the states.

[ddeclue]

5. Benjamin Franklin founded the first public hospital in America

in 1751 so I would beg to differ.

[geek_sabre]

4. I don't agree

It is not a constitutional right. A moral obligation for a civilized nation, sure, but it doesn't fall under "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness." Certainly not at the federal level.

As much as I want universal health care, I hope that it will stand up to inevitable SCOTUS challenges in the future.

[ddeclue]

6. Well sorry but I've made a valid case for it you've offered nothing in rebuttal.

Doug D.