Letter In the Times

[libertango]

...at least somewhat.

My letter to the editor regarding Rob McKenna's illegal law suit has been posted on their "Northwest Voices" blog. That's basically their letters overflow page. It's possible it'll be printed in the paper version of the newspaper, but it's unclear.

In the comments section:

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"If you are truly a conservative, then you must be appalled that for the 1st time in 200+ years, the Federal Government is forcing everyone to purchase a product from a private business."

But those previous times Congress did force everyone to purchase a product from a private business are instructive, especially since they're from early Congresses composed of many of the Framers of the Constitution.

There's the Militia Act of 1792, which mandates every male citizen, "provide himself with a good musket or firelock..." and various other supplies. This was not provided by the government; the citizen had to buy it on his own from private vendors.

Then there's the Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen from May 1802, which establishes both a government mandated insurance program and the first payroll tax in America.

Many say they respect the Founders; few act like they do when the Founders disagree with them.

Comments

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

Appeals to the Founders are as selective as appeals to the Bible.

[hal-obrien.livejournal.com]

It's true. I keep waiting for Justice Scalia to write, "I don't agree with this, personally, but as an originalist I find I must decide as the Founders would and..."

I suspect I'll be waiting a long time.