Dakota Beacon

We got back from the Republican State Convention in Grand Forks last month having had a grand time. If you are at all passionate about politics, you should go to a state convention just to see what it is all about. Three people who were mostly unknown ran for the two Congressional nominations, which proves that anyone eligible in North Dakota can run. It is so great to be part of a direct democracy like we have. I have long known that I was more conservative than the average politician. Today, there are many types of conservatives; Reagan Conservatives, Tea Party conservatives, but the bedrock of the movement has to be Constitutional Conservatives. Best quote of the convention: “When people fear government it is called tyranny; but when government fears the people it is called liberty.”

I am going to deviate from my normal routine and discuss the constitutional issues involved in the Congressional mandating of health care. It seems to ride on three parts of the constitution: the commerce clause, the 9th amendment, and the 10th amendment. The commerce clause reads (Art. 1, Sec. 8, Clause 3): “Congress shall have the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian Tribes;” 9th Amendment: “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” 10th Amendment: “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.”

Many states view this bill as unconstitutional because some states were given better deals (Nebraska, Louisiana) than others. People are upset because government is forcing them to buy something. The United States Constitution passed in all 13 original states but by a narrow margin. The accepted reason it passed was because a Bill of Rights was promised. So if there is conflict between the commerce clause and the 9th and 10th amendments, one must remember that without the Bill of Rights, there probably would not have been passage of the constitution. It is complex, but you can read it for yourself and make up your own mind.

I am constantly fighting the “battle of the bulge”, meaning I am overweight. So in an effort to humiliate myself into losing some weight, I took a picture of my big belly, printed it out on the computer, and placed it on the refrigerator door. It has helped somewhat, but not enough. But then the other day, while I was doing the dishes, I looked down at my feet and it occurred to me that I was barefoot. I looked at the picture and I looked pregnant. Naturally, I was in the kitchen. Not exactly how I imagined I would end up. Have a good one! 

Yours in the Spirit of the Republic,

Coach

Mike is a New England businessman who is currently a legislator serving in the North Dakota House of Representatives (District 36). He has served in that capacity between 1988-90, and was reelected in 2008 to his current term. He was a National Finalist for the High School Coach of the Year in 2000, leading the New England Tigers to four North Dakota State Class B championships in 1988, 1995, 1996, and 1997. He ended his coaching career with a 47-game winning streak.