Good Intentions?

Today is Friday, 21 January 2011.

Several cases pend in the Federal courts, claiming that the new healthcare legislation is unconstitutional on multiple grounds, including mandated purchase of healthcare insurance.

It is therefore germane to examine “An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen”, passed by Congress and signed by President John Adams in July of 1798. The Act created a payroll tax: American ship owners were required to deduct 20 cents per month from the wages of each seaman employed, such funds to be used to maintain a system of hospitals for “Sick and Disabled Seamen”. In essence, targeted socialized medicine, funded by a Federal insurance system.

The Congress which passed the Act included framers of the Constitution. Adams wrote most of the Massachusetts constitution and his ideas influenced the Federal Constitution.

Opponents of the healthcare reforms fantasize that they violate the original intent of the Constitution. Are Framers themselves and a hero of ‘76 “originalist” enough for ya?
_____________________________________

Thanks to my friend Lee. W. from college for directing my attention to this Act.
_____________________________________

Vladimir Lenin died on this date in 1924.

James Beard died on this date in 1985.