Can Congress mandate economic transactions?

Can Congress really require that every person purchase health insurance from a private company or face a penalty? Currently the healthcare legislation extends the Commerce Clause's power beyond economic activity to economic inactivity. That is unprecedented. While Congress has used its taxing power to fund Social Security and Medicare, never before has it used its commerce power to mandate that an individual person engage in an economic transaction with a private company. Regulating the auto industry or paying "cash for clunkers" is one thing; making everyone buy a Chevy is quite another. Even during World War II, the federal government did not mandate that individual citizens purchase war bonds. If you choose to drive a car, then maybe you can be made to buy insurance against the possibility of inflicting harm on others. But making you buy insurance merely because you are alive.

* from story by Randy Barnett in The Washington Post

 

The Constitution of the United States:

Article I, Section 8 – Commerce Clause

"The Congress shall have Power …To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;…"

Amendment IX

"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

Amendment X

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

 

 

 

Refined and prepared

Throughout my life the Lord has placed me in positions and situations that have prepared and equipped me for what He has planned. Although I'm not very old, I can look back and see the knowledge and experience I have gained from coincidently being in the right place at the right time and being "right man for the job."

 

In college, I found my extra-curricular activities more fun than the classroom so I felt led to change to a major that would be more suitable for the work I did with non-profits and service organizations. Originally I was an education major until called to change from high school education to communications and leadership. I was involved with many extra-curricular activities which led to both sought-after and unwanted leadership positions being given to me. Each opportunity to lead whither wanted or unwanted was an opportunity for me to serve. There were many successes that were accomplished and failures that had to be endured. These experiences provided many opportunities to learn valuable life-lessons.

 

In case it wasn't already known, there was a time in college when I fell away from my Christian upbringing. It was a time of questioning and rationalizing my religion, and I can look back on that time and see that even though I wasn't exactly living a good life the Lord was still working in me and preparing me. It is amazing to look back at the vast experiences I had throughout high school and college and see how it has prepared me for where I have been currently placed. My current job with Team Focus provides an opportunity to incorporate all the knowledge, skills, and experiences I have been so very fortunate to have. Though many hardships and obstacles have come my way; I can now see that those hardships and obstacles have refined me into who I am and prepared me for the job the Lord has set before me.

 

Timothy (T.J.) Martin

Opelika, AL

Keep thirsting after righteousness

Giving all diligence, may I add to my faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.  – 2 Pet. 1:5-7

 

" ^*One of the most encouraging Scriptures in the Bible is 2 Corinthians 4:7: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." Then Paul goes on to describe those earthen vessels—dying men, troubled on every side, perplexed, persecuted, cast down. And even though never forsaken or in despair, those men being used by God are constantly under the burden of their bodies, waiting anxiously to be clothed with new ones."

 

May I not go on presenting the members of my body as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but may I present myself to You as being alive from the dead, and my members as instruments of righteousness to You.  – Rom. 6:13

 

" ^*Have you failed? Is there a sin that so easily besets you? Do you feel like a weakened coward, unable to get the victory over secret sin? But with that weakness in you, is there also a hunger for God? Do you yearn for him—love him—reach to him? That hunger and thirst is the key to your victory. That makes you different from all the others who have been guilty of failing God. That sets you apart. You must keep that hunger alive. Keep thirsting after righteousness. Never justify your weakness—never give in to it—and never accept it as a part of your life."

 

Father, as a sojourner and pilgrim, grant that I may abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against my soul.  – 1 Pet. 2:11

 

^*taken from David Wilkerson Today, 3-12-10

 

 

T.J. Martin

Opelika, AL

Search me, set a guard, and direct my steps

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and now my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.

                Ps. 139:23,24

 

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;

Keep watch over the door of my lips.

Do not incline my heart to any evil thing.

                Ps. 141:3,4

 

Direct my steps in Your word,

And let no iniquity have dominion over me.

                Ps. 119:133

 

 

T.J. Martin

Opelika, AL

Iran's determination to trigger global chaos

It is important for us to unnderstand the events happening in the world around us. It is important to understand different religious thought and different points of view. For our government leaders I believe it is even more important for them to understand different cultures and thoughts so to assist in diplomacy. After researching statements made by Iranian president Ahmadinejad I have begun to understand the motives behind his controversal actions and positions. Ahmadinejad has stated on the record that he feels he plays an important role in the bringing back of their messiah. As a nation and as a world we have not faced this type of religious zeal as it pertians to a government. In dealing with this type of religious idealology there is not much room for negotiation. I have come to understand, as I hope our government will, that Ahmadinejad is determined to bring about chaos and bloodshed. Watch what Joel Rosenberg has to say.

 

It will give you some thoughts to consider.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BV4hKOL_10

 

T.J. Martin

Opelika, AL