Universal Health Care and The Constitution

A quotation from the Constitution of the United States of America:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to...promote the general Welfare...do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

I would like to analyze this part of the Constitution. I do so in light of the current discussion regarding Universal Health Care in the United States. Does the statement that the constitutional government is responsible for the "general Welfare" of the country imply that universal health care is indeed guaranteed by the Constitution?

It would seem that two important words in this statement need to be understood to properly interpret the semantic message: "promote" and "Welfare." If promote implies something along the lines of "provide," "cause to exist," "ensure," or "guarantee," then the government is required constitutionally to provide Welfare generally to those it presides over. Then, if "Welfare" implies something along the lines of "physical health" or "well being," the government must promote that. If both words have those certain meanings, the constitution can be said to require that which it creates to provide physical health generally.

First, "Welfare."

In 1996, the Random House Webster's Dictionary defined welfare as "the good fortune, health, happiness, prosperity...of a person, group, or organization; well-being." This is how we might define it today. However, how was it defined in 1787 and 1788? The oldest American English dictionary I have access to is the 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster. Although meanings of words can change much more quickly than thirty years, I will use this dictionary out of convenience.

The 1828 Webster's Dictionary defines welfare when used in the context of "states" (as opposed to "persons") as "exemption from any unusual evil or calamity; the enjoyment of peace and prosperity, or the ordinary blessings of society and civil government." The same word as applied to "persons" is defined as "exemption from misfortune, sickness, calamity or evil; the enjoyment of health and the common blessings of life; prosperity; happiness." Note the critical differences as they apply to the context of this examination! When applied to persons, sickness and health become part of welfare. So, is the Constitution referring to the "general Welfare" of the country or of the people?

Let's look at the entire paragraph for additional context:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Note the syntactical structure of the paragraph. It may perhaps be rewritten like this:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to [form A, establish B, insure C, provide D, promote E, and secure F]...to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

So, looking at it in this way (if this way is proper as applied to late Eighteenth Century English), it would seem that the Constitution was ordained and established, in part, to "promote the general Welfare...to [our forefathers] and [us]." Therefore, it would seem that the guarantee of "general Welfare" is applied to "persons" rather than a "state."

In light of that information, the definition in this examination of "Welfare" as used in the opening paragraph of the Constitution will be "exemption from misfortune, sickness, calamity or evil; the enjoyment of health and the common blessings of life; prosperity; happiness." This gives us a more expanded meaning: "promote the general Welfare" becomes "...promote the general exemption from...sickness..." or "promote the general...enjoyment of health...," in part. (I should note here that in many instances, I am shortening the quotations to provide an easier read by only including things that are most obviously associated with the context of this discussion.)

We now must examine the meaning of the word "promote."

The 1996 Webster's Dictionary defines "promote" as used in such a context as "to help or encourage to exist or flourish; [to] further." The 1828 definition is "to forward; to advance; to contribute to the growth, enlargement or excellence of any thing valuable..." This shows that our meaning today and the meaning in 1828 is not as different as one might think.

Armed with this extremely brief examination, here is what might be a possible rewording of "promote the general Welfare":

"to help or to encourage to exist...the general exemption from...sickness..." or "to help or to encourage to exist...the general...enjoyment of health..."

How does the organization that the Constitution creates (the government) "help...or encourage...the general...enjoyment of health?" In other words, how does the government help each citizen enjoy "[good] health?"

There are, of course many ways to do this. One way is through Universal Health Care. This provides an equal guarantee of good health to each citizen whether they are rich or poor. In my opinion, each citizen should only be provided government sponsored health care if they cannot afford it on their own. However, with 300,000,000 people to deal with, it is probably unfeasible to create any sort of regulation on such a system without it becoming too general and missing important special cases. Therefore, in the interest of compromise, I am entirely supportive of a Universal Health Care system to be established in the United States of America...

...if the collection of taxes becomes more fair.

Family History

Today being Memorial Day, I decided to do some family history work and focused on genealogy. Using a circular ten generation pedigree chart I bought at Deseret Book in conjunction with my Personal Ancestry File software, I figured the following statistics of my own ancestry:

24% England
13% Switzerland
9% Denmark
6% Prussia (now Central Germany)
4% Wales
42% Unsure at this time

This is exciting to me because many people are not sure of this type of information. I am not sure of the practicality of such knowledge but it is extremely interesting to me.

My excitement about family history work was prophesied by Malachi when he said, "Behold, [the Lord] will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of...the children to their fathers, lest [the Lord] come and smite the earth with a curse." (Malachi 4:5-6) My excitement has been termed the "Spirit of Elijah." In other words, my heart has been turned to my fathers.

The prophet Joseph Smith was visited by Elijah on April 3, 1836 - the day of Jewish Passover. (See D&C 110:13-16) According to Malachi, the hearts of the children would then be turned to their fathers. Did this happen?

Prior to 1836, genealogy and family history work was almost exclusively the domain of royalty and the purpose was usually to lay claim to property of some sort. In 1846 the founders of the New England Historic Genealogical Society (one of the oldest genealogical societies in the world) said, "The minds of men are naturally moved to know something of their progenitors - those from whom they have derived their being; and there seems to be an increasing interest in this subject; many are trying to trace their genealogy back at least to the first settlers - the early pilgrims of this country." (See NEHGS Website) I remember hearing that every genealogical society on Earth was established after 1836. Now people research their ancestry usually not to lay claim to anything physical but rather just to know. People are simply interested and curious. This is the fulfillment of Elijah's prophesy and truly the hearts of the children are being turned to the fathers. I know my heart has been turned.

Comfort

Tonight I feel a need to express what I know about providing and receiving comfort. As a model I will use the perfect comforter, the Holy Ghost.

Jesus Christ said, "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance." From this portion of a larger statement we can learn several things about the blessings that learning how to be a comfort can provide both to a person and to those who associate with that person. It is significant, I think, to note that our Father in Heaven has chosen the same person to provide both perfect comfort and perfect teaching. Perhaps comfort and teaching work together and strengthen each other.

Luke wrote later in the New Testament that, after the Gospel was taught, "the churches...were edified...and...the comfort of the Holy Ghost [was] multiplied." Elder Bruce R. McKonkie of the Quorum of the Twelve said that being edified is to "be taught by the Holy Ghost." So in other words, what Luke wrote may perhaps be rephrased like this: "After having been taught by the Holy Ghost, the members of the church received a greater feeling of comfort from the Holy Ghost." Personally, I can testify that while I am being taught by the Holy Ghost and after, I feel comforted. They almost come hand in hand. Greater knowledge of truth almost always if not always brings greater comfort. A roller coaster ride changes from a fearful experience to an exciting one after you understand how safe it really is. The difference between fear and excitement in the same situation is always knowledge. Comfort does not seem to bring knowledge but knowledge does seem to bring comfort.

The purpose of the Holy Ghost is to teach us truth directly or to bear witness to truth that we learn from other means. A person might be reading the scriptures and pondering about one certain topic when suddenly they learn something new about a completely unrelated topic. This may be an example of being taught truth directly. Also, a person might read in the Book of Mormon that "whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins." Following this, a conviction comes into their heart and mind that it is true. This may be an example of the Holy Ghost bearing witness to a truth gained from another source.

There is one more important thing to note before I make my final point. A person can have knowledge of something without knowing it. For example, I have heard that if I jump out of an airplane with a parachute and open it properly, I will be alright and not die in a horrible demonstration of physics as I hit the ground. However, if I were to jump out of an airplane right now with a parachute (even with proper training), I would be extremely afraid and uncomforted. This seems to be because I do not really know for sure that I will be alright. However, if I repeatedly leap out of an airplane with a parachute and land safely each and every time, eventually the fear will be replaced by excitement as my experience comforts me. Having a sure witness and knowledge of truth is an important part of being comforted by it.

This is one reason, perhaps, that the Holy Ghost is such a perfect comforter. When He teaches, the lesson is emblazoned on the heart and mind in such a way that the knowledge feels more sure and complete. Thus the knowledge brings almost immediate comfort.

So, what does this teach us about providing and receiving comfort? First and most importantly, it shows us that the most effective way to give comfort to a person is to bear your own personal witness of the knowledge that they need and then encourage them to receive that same witness that you have. That may be best obtained through prayer and revelation from the Holy Ghost. Figure out, if you can, what knowledge will best provide comfort to the person and then pray that the Holy Ghost will attend your words when you share the knowledge that you have with them. Perhaps you will need to gain that knowledge yourself before you can share it with them. Get to work quickly, then - perhaps even make an effort to learn what needs to be learned with the person that needs to be comforted. Perhaps even make it a group effort!

While this is certainly only a brief examination of some of the principles behind comfort, hopefully it will provide us with a powerful weapon to dispel darkness and non-comfort both in our lives and in the lives of those around us (including family, friends, enemies and even those toward whom we might be neutral). Paul calls this weapon the "sword of the Spirit." May we all live in such a way that the Spirit will always attend our words and actions! By so doing, it seems that we will radiate comfort like the sun radiates warmth and light. Surely we will become a light "set on a hill" and our light will "shine before men."

Dedication

Dedication is an interesting idea. The word dedicate comes from Latin through Middle English and refers to the idea of declaring or consecrating something. It is not the etymology, however, that interests me. The English definition is "to devote wholly and earnestly." Most of us understand what it means to be devoted wholly but earnestly, which is less understood, refers to ideas such as seriousness, depth of feeling, and sincerity. To be dedicated to something or someone means, therefore, to be entirely devoted in a deep, serious, and sincere way.

In religion, dedication often refers to the setting apart of a building for sacred purposes. If a building is dedicated to the Lord, for example, it becomes a special place where one acts differently than one would elsewhere. Usually this includes greater reverence and respect in general, greater focus of thoughts and acts, and greater dedication toward the principles that the Lord teaches. This comes not only from tradition but also from the teachings of the Lord that we should act that way in such places.

Husbands and wives are considered dedicated to each other. A husband is dedicated to his wife and a wife is dedicated to her husband. This should affect the way they act toward each other. There should be a reverence and a respect in the marriage. A focus on one's spouse should develop so that thoughts and acts and goals and plans include one's spouse both literally and in effect.

Cecil B. DeMille said, "Most of us serve our ideals by fits and starts. The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication." Calm, quiet, and continual dedication to something will always bring success. If it is some goal of personal development we seek, it will come. If it is some relationship we seek to strengthen, it will come (as long as both halves of the relationship have the same level of dedication). If there is any goal which you seek to obtain, dedicate yourself to it with the fullest extent of what that means - depth, sincerity, focus, seriousness, etc. - and you will achieve what it is that you desire. It usually does not involve some great flaming ball of fire streaking across your personal sky. Rather, it involves steady, calm, and continual focus in the choices one makes throughout the weeks, months, and years that brings the success.

May we all be dedicated to principles of goodness!

Jesus Wept.

Over the last quarter century, my experience has taught me many things. One of the lessons most prominent in my recent life is best described by the promise given me through my stake president which I paraphrase here: "All things will work together for the benefit of the faithful." I have recently really started to notice that this is a promise which will always be upheld. It is a law. Also, my understanding of what it means to be "benefited" has been increased at the same time.

As an example, here is a quotation I received:

"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate now knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares." - Samuel Paterson

This is something I really needed to hear right at the very moment I received it. From it, I learned many lessons. One was that even if we do need to change something in our lives, it does not mean we need to change everything. For me, that means that I was not entirely in error as a teenager. It taught me something that many of us need to learn: to just listen and be with a person and not worry about trying to be a problem solver or give advice all of the time.

Sometimes a cure is in order - sometimes we are to do more than just listen. However, we will know when that time is and then we can act. I am reminded of a scripture:

"Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping...he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept." (John 11:32-35)

Here we see Christ, the great physician of all mankind, weeping with Mary as she mourns for the death of her brother, Lazarus. Christ knew that Lazarus was not lost forever for He knew not only that life continues beyond death but that Lazarus would soon be raised from the dead and, after his mortal life again came to an end, Lazarus would experience the resurrection and be forever without death. So why, then, did He weep?

I think Christ wept because He felt the pain of Mary. He wept with Mary. He did not immediately try to cure her sadness or fix that which caused her sorrow. Instead, He remained with Mary and wept with her.

This is a lesson we can all learn a little better. For me, it is something I have struggled with since I left on my mission. I have become one who wants to fix the problem now! If I were in a similar situation as Christ was with Mary (and I am in no way comparing myself to Him who is Endless), I would have immediately ran to where Lazarus lay and brought him back into mortality and presented him before Mary. This is rarely an example of a proper course of action.

May we all seek to be those who weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn. Let us all be friends who, when we see a friend in turmoil, sit down with our arm around them and just listen to them if words come. Perhaps we just sit. May love always be our guiding star!

Obama Won

While I never felt a major passion toward either candidate, I am glad Barack Obama won this election. I think he'll be the better president mainly because he has better counselors. Anyhow, the next four years will be interesting and unprecedented. One image I'll remember for a long time is Reverend Jackson crying as he is informed of Obama's projected victory.

Looking back on this blog, I recognize that I do not get into my personal life as much as I might want to. I think I try to avoid more personal matters as a matter of interest to my readers. I'm sure none of you want to hear about my personal life! That said, I am going to try and include some personal experiences more often in my entries.

So, back to the original topic. One last comment about the events of this evening. I thought that McCain's concession speech was one of the best I have ever heard or read. I think McCain is one of the better men in this world - a good man. Let us all put our voices together and work together for good.

A Reminder of What Was Before

"I guess it's hard for people who are so used to things the way they are - even if they're bad - to change. 'Cause they kind of give up. And when they do, everybody kind of loses."
- From the move Pay It Forward

This is a statement - a part - of my testimony.

Another part that I will include - my motto:

Never give up.

2008 Election Choices

After a great deal of research, I have come to the conclusion that the following will likely be my choices in the 2008 elections:

President of The United States of America: Barack Obama

Federal House of Representatives, Utah District 2: Jim Matheson

Utah Governor: Jon Huntsman, Jr.

Utah Lieutenant Governor: Gary R. Herbert

Attorney General of Utah: Mark L. Shurtleff

Treasurer of Utah: Richard K. Ellis

Utah State Auditor: Auston G. Johnson III

Utah House of Representative District 37: Linda Cooper

Utah State School Board District 8: Trent E. Kaufman

I post this list amidst feelings of social unease - politics has quickly become a taboo subject in many circles. While it should not be a subject discussed in some situations, it should not be a taboo subject. I post my probable choices in an effort to: 1) Demonstrate that I have a choice, 2) Encourage others to vote, 3) Encourage others to do their research before voting, 4) Express my opinions, and 5) Express my support for certain issues.

As I have mentioned before, no candidate is perfect. This is especially apparent to me in the list above. Each and every person above holds ideals that I agree with while at the same time holding ideals that I disagree with. I choose these people because their stance on issues which I consider most important at this time in history agree with my stance on those same issues.

Do you know who you will be voting for? Feel free to e-mail me or post a comment below if you would like information on how to research your choice in the upcoming elections.

Pumping Iron

The current topic of study in my calculus class is differentials. These are not a topic that I enjoy yet and I hope that I can quickly become comfortable with them. I do not yet see the great power that lies behind these mathematical gadgets and I need to come to enjoy them because they are such a big part of the math used in theoretical physics! Hoo-ray.

The other day I talked with a young lady at work about intelligence. I have never considered myself an intelligent person but rather an average person who enjoys science. It has been pointed out to me several times over the past couple of years that my mind tends to work more quickly and efficiently than most in the world of logic and math. This was not the case when I was younger. This young lady attempted to convince me that intelligence was always an inborn trait which is unlearnable. Is it?

My mathematics teacher taught me something about this. He compared the study of mathematics and the application of what is learned to a mental gymnasium. Just like lifting weights and running track builds strength, endurance and physical ability, so doing math builds mental strength, endurance and ability. Since he told me that about a year ago, I have paid special attention to my mental strengths. I noticed that on days when I did mathematics, my mind tended to work better in terms of speed, efficiency, and capacity. I have also noticed an improvement over time as I continue my study in the field of mathematics.

What does this all mean? Almost anybody can develop intelligence! Isn't that wonderful? Just spend time in a mental gymnasium however you see fit. Make sure to push yourself just like you would if you were training yourself physically. You will get tired. You will want to give up. Work through the pain and let your mind grow! Never give up! Intelligence is a talent that can be developed.

To me, this is humbling and empowering.

Apparently it was also empowering to that young lady who visited me at work. She requested the name of my professor who taught me the idea and will sign-up for his next class.

The Vice Presidential Debate

While watching the vice-presidential debate this evening, I had a thought that I would like to flesh-out. This thought came about as I was listening to Palin and Biden talk about the role and duties of the office of vice-president.

Biden spoke about how he would help Obama out with decisions and give Obama his best advice - that he would sit next to him and provide support. Palin spoke about how she would use her opportunity to increase the power of the vice president in the senate.

Why did each presidential candidate choose their running mate? After listening to each running mate this evening, I was able to infer (with a grain of salt) the answer to this question.

McCain chose Palin for political reasons. She is a woman (no duh, right?) and she is young and energetic. She is the perfect compliment to McCain to make him look better during the campaign race.

Obama chose Biden, in part, for these same reasons. However, I think that Obama had his presidency more in mind. Biden will be able to provide him with tremendous advice because, as Biden said tonight, he will not be afraid to speak his mind. He will provide honest and good advice to Obama.

To me, this strengthens my opinion that the Obama group is more sincere, honest, and forward thinking. Did I see this because of my opinion? Perhaps. However, this debate only strengthened my lean toward Barak Obama for president of the United States.