I think that's all Tom is trying to say.

There is nothing wrong with the personal support of charities, and there is nothing wrong with the government supporting your support through the initiative of certain tax-breaks for charities and contributions. There is, however, something very wrong with forcing the money from my hand to place in another's, possibly for the simple purpose of getting dunk or acquiring that much-needed drug-fix.



The "general welfare" does not mean Welfare.

With the right to drive on freeways and enjoy all the other benefits of a citizen of this great nation come certain responsibilities. One of these is helping promote the general welfare.

"Driving on freeways and enjoying all the other benefits of this great nation" are the mentioned general welfares of the nation -- and they are being promoted.

Dan