“To promote the general welfare” That is one of the stated purposes of the U.S. constitution. What does that mean? It means that the government should support the overall interests and well- being of the people in general. It should not cater to special interests or minority groups.

Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? Well, it isn’t quite as straightforward as that, the main reason we have constitutional scholars and attorneys. How do we establish what everything in “general” consists of? Defining “general” is the tough part in all of that.

Now I don’t have any issue defining what in general things are. I know the difference between a man and a woman for instance, no biology degree required for that. I also know, in general, men are stronger than women. I don’t require a study to validate that observation. I can apply that to any number of things that I know, in general, to be the truth of the matter.

But we also have the exceptions to the rule. We can define those exceptions in many ways. Perhaps it is just eccentric behavior, an aberration or idiocrasy, maybe insanity. Attempting to define any one is tricky business. Generally speaking, however, we tend to define that in terms of how it affects us personally. We aren’t concerned with the “general” welfare, we are concerned with our welfare.

The constitution is an attempt to codify what is generally acceptable behaviors in the American society. The original document, before the Bill of Rights was added, was feared gave too much power to the government.

Anti-federalists argued that, generally speaking, the people didn’t have enough protection from the government. The people should decide what was, in general, to be allowed and not allowed. Stuff like, the government couldn’t tell you to shut up or not write your opinion on any subject. You could practice your religion anyway you felt like as well. In general, it was the Christian religion being addressed.

And here we are today still arguing over what constitutes the general welfare. Each and every piece of legislation involves the general welfare of the people. Why is that? It’s simply because the government in its’ responsibility to provide for the general welfare has to collect funds to enable that. Those funds belong to the people in general! Yes, every citizen has ownership.

Government controls what is legally allowed and what is not. The purpose of government is to do what? Maintain order, provide public goods and services, and promote the general welfare of the people. The problems begin when there are those that can influence the government through the use of funding. Not a new issue, it has always been an issue.

So, in general, what is best for everyone? Everyone one of us will have a different answer to that question. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. We have all heard that idiom. It means if something benefits you, it should benefits others equally as well. And today we are struggling to separate the goose from the gander!

The larger question in all of this is, just who in “general” are we talking about. I say it is the American citizen that is being addressed. The constitution with all amendments and all the codes and statutes apply to the citizens. That, to me, is the “general” population. And that being said, I firmly believe all legislation should be for the benefit of the “general” population. Yes, America first.