To the Editor:
Re “The Founding Fathers Versus the Tea Party” (Op-Ed, Sept. 24):
Ron Chernow portrays the founders as a “noisy and clamorous” group who
generally favored limited government but otherwise shared few clear
principles. But one idea that infused their work could hardly be
clearer: Individuals have inviolable rights, and government exists to
secure them. Jefferson and Madison believed that a government restricted
to enumerated powers would perform that function best.
One can only imagine what they would make of the “implied” powers
discovered by modern politicians, who circumscribe the activities of
private industry, award public funds to favored businesses and otherwise
make political and economic life indistinguishable.
Even the Federalists would have been surprised that a future Congress
could examine the Commerce Clause—all 16 words of it—and discover
the authority to compel citizens to buy health insurance policies.
Jefferson warned that the federal government’s first step beyond its
specified boundaries would lead to “a boundless field of power.” He was
correct.
Michael Smith
Cynthiana, Ky., Sept. 26, 2010
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 