<That is the crux of this debate: "Should government levy taxes for the purpose of redistribution to those in need, or should that function be left to the private sector?"

If everything that was not Constitutional on the literal face of the written document was eliminated from government, it would shrink to about a fifth of its current size. The fact is, the Supreme Court decided long ago that the way they read the Constitution, Federal wealth redistribution--and not just to the poor, mind you--is just fine, thank you very much. This function now comprises well over half of our government, which I am almost certain was not the original intention of the Founding Fathers.

Most of the "New Deal" was stricken down by the Supreme Court during Roosevelt's administration, until Roosevelt put the fear of God into them by threatening to literally replace the court with one of his own choosing. Eventually, most of the court consisted of what you might call "advocates of activist government." Which is why you have to go to Washington D.C. to find out what size the holes in your Swiss Cheese should be.

As for Davy Crockett, I suspect his biography, written in 1884, included a lot of hearsay. More importantly, it would have to have included repeatings of tales told to others by Crockett himself, who, to put it mildy, tended to elaborate. If the entire story turned out to be apocryphal, I would not be totally shocked.

In any case, the moral point remains the same.