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It depends on who you're speaking of. There wasn't this uniform voice of what exactly government should look like. From day one there were competing visions on the power of the different branches.
That is why I'm interested in those where the ideas written originated. If we do this its pretty clear for example the commerce clause is abused heavily.
This is a problem I have....Libertarians/Small government types project their beliefs onto the founders.
No, I don't. What I want is not in the paper. For example, I would have never added eminent domain at all and if I had my way I would take it out. I also would have never given the states the amount of power that was given, but would have limited them to only a few functions as well.
From day 1 there were battles between the size and strength of government...and ultimately...a lot of proponents of smaller government expanded the power of the federal government while in office.
Also...the Constitution does no such thing. It's vague and left open to interpretation for a reason. I'd like to point out that as early as Jefferson the Government led by a small government guy bought a whole lotta land and divvied it up and that power is not in the constitution if you take a literal view.
I never claimed the founders even stuck to what is written. I know for fact Madison, Jefferson, Adams and Washington all failed to follow what is written. The only one I'm letting off the hook even a little bit is Washington since he admitted it. It's also not that vague to excuse the expansions people like you support. For example, we both know there is no way welfare falls under any clause for the federal government.