
Originally Posted by
Belgarath
I looked over all of Section 8, including both the apparent thesis statement and the supporting principles and all I can say is that if Madison is correct that the elastic clause isn't meant to be used for such situations as SS, that was some of the worst writing I've ever seen. They teach you from the earliest grades that a thesis statement can't be too vague, just as it can't be too specific. The writers of the constitution, assuming they meant the meaning you indicate, must have been exhausted, confused, or just plain having a bad day when they wrote that section. I'm sorry: but it says very specifically:
Nowhere in that thesis does it state the power to do all that according to the below options
Nor does it say that there shall be any limitations in number, size, or variety of provisions for defense or welfare.
I can understand exactly what it is your arguing- that if the thesis was meant to be taken as is, the list below would be useless. I'm just saying that the writing is absolutely dreadful, and that I utterly agree with the President using that as the elastic clause, as a totally viable loophole. I would too if I were in his position, since as far as I am concerned that loophole makes what he is doing entirely constitutional. It's neither his fault nor responsibility if the Founds left a gaping hole for him to work with.