Aug 12, 2009

Why Are You for X, When You Like Y?

Someone asked me yesterday, Hey Cap, why is it you trust the US Government to run the Military and control the largest nuclear arsenal on Earth, why don't you trust it to manage a health care option?

First off, that's not what we're going to get. Second and more importantly, let me answer your ridiculous question. The question is a fallacy argument called a Bad Analogy - which is to compare two things are similar, but in fact, are not.

Article 2 Section 2 - Civilian Power over Military

"The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment."

The civilian run military is the primary function of the Executive Branch of the US Constitution. IE it is the Federal Government's Job to run the military. Prior to the first Great Depression, the military and the post office were the only interactions most citizens had with the Federal Government.

Could you please point me where in the Constitution it is written that it is the job of the Federal government to provide We the People with Universal Healthcare?

Besides, the job of the military is to kill. The oath of the soldier and the President are to uphold the Constitution.

The job of the medical practitioner is to heal. The oath is to do no harm.

No comments: