Letter: The 10th Amendment is under attack with government-mandated health care

Government-mandated health care is a 10th Amendment issue, pure and simple, independent of merit. Any merit of government-run health care can be accomplished just as well at the state level, where it is entirely 10th Amendment compatible. Specifically, governmental functions not allowed the federal government nor prohibited to the states are left to the states or the people.

After just extricating themselves from the clutches of the British monarchy, the colonists were adamant about setting up a system of government that was limited, constrained and, most importantly, immune from future tampering by Congress. The result was the 10th Amendment, which has historically been a bulwark of this constraint. Unfortunately, the 20th century and the early 21st century has seen a continual erosion of governmental limits and constraints — with the complicity of the states, the press, Congress, the courts, both political parties and the people in general— just those institutions that could have been and should have been watchdogs of government.

The present attack on 10th Amendment principles by uninformed or unthinking people is most insidious and hence, will be the most difficult to counter. To maintain the American Dream, the 10th Amendment needs to be re-enthroned to its original intent and the public in general needs to be educated as to its centrality in protecting against excessive government.

Ellis D. Harris

South Jordan