COVID-19 Outbreak (Update: More than 2.9M cases and 132,313 deaths in US)

dtc said
The POTUS is using language and terms describing us as warriors and the CV crisis as a war. In the constitution as I recall are clearly enumerated powers to provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. The passage is of such significance that not only do I remember it, but it's in the 1st Article.

The government seems to clearly have the power to set speed limits, enforce drinking ages, restrict the use of cell phones while driving and even to xray us in order to get on a domestic flight. The notion that temporary measures to protect society from a global pandemic such as requiring masks is some sort of abridgement of our freedoms is patently absurd. And it comes from a special type of person who cares not a wit for the hypocrisy they're supporting.

Oh, it's the Preamble to the Constitution. Just never heard it called "first principles" before.

Here it is:

"WE THE PEOPLE of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. "

I mean sure, it basically established that the Constitution is a Social Contract like was discussed by John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau. (Hobbes too, but for a bit different reasons.) It's why it starts with "We the people." It shows that the people have joined together to enter this contract.

Anyway social contract theory (mostly Locke) is the basis for the Constitution. We give up the right to do whatever we want, license, in exchange for safety and protection. I think that encompasses laws for the public good, especially during a pandemic. It's why the Constitution gives the power that the government has. Because all other powers reside with the individuals (or states). In fact, many founders didn't want the Bill of Rights because they felt it was redundant and it was clear we had all those rights since there were not restricted in the Constitution itself. Luckily those who wanted the Bill of Rights won because I doubt we would still have most of them if they were not spelled out.