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[quote]
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defence, 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.
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<p>It's quite beautiful, really, and I just had to reprint it, although I agree with harri that it's a bit more than we need here.</p>
<p>Much higher education has been funded under the enumerated Defense power. So has the entire federal hghwy system.</p>
<p>The enumerated powers give the Federal Government the power to do some surprising things. In the most famous case under the Commerce Clause (power to regulate interstate commerce), a federal law/reg prohibiting a farmer from growing wheat FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL CONSUMPTION was upheld by the Supreme Ct because even this small amount of consumption would "affect commerce."</p>
<p>"Strict construction," which ieatglue and mediocrites appear to favor, is impossible to follow, even as an ideal, as the examples that harri cites (NASA, No Child LB) show. The Founders could never have predicted important needs 300 years hence.</p>
<p>I do agree that there is no Constitutional "right to an elite education" anymore than there is a right to sing lead in in the Met. But that's different from saying Congress couldn't pass a law giving everyone the means to pursue the best education they are capable of qualifying for. I'm in favor of that, and I think that our country is doing a good job, but could do it better.</p>
<p>If you're still awake, thanks for reading this "blog."</p>