Can I get some DU opinions on the words of James Madison regarding "General Welfare"? [View All]

I've been involved in a long conversation on Facebook with a friend who appears to be essentially a small-or-no-government libertarian. I had quoted Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, making the argument that the current health care situation is serious enough to represent a threat to the "general welfare" of the country, and that thus Congress was operating within the scope of its powers in passing the new law.

He replied today by quoting James Madison in the Federalist Papers #41 and #45. Madison asserts that the Constitution specifies a narrow range of Congressional powers, and not "an unlimited commission to exercise every power which may be alleged to be necessary for the common defense or general welfare."

My friend finished by adding: "These quotes from Madison and Jefferson are completely consistent with the meaning of the term "Welfare" at the time. "Welfare" was defined as "Exemption from any unusual evil or calamity; the enjoyment of peace and prosperity", (Webster's Dictionary, 1828)

This stands in stark contrast to the modern definition of the word "Welfare", redefined by the unrestrained spending of the Federal government as: "financial aid provided to individuals in need" (Wikipedia)"



I'm inclined to tell him that the current health care situation is dire enough to qualify as an "unusual evil or calamity" by modern standards, but that doesn't address his main argument. So I thought I'd run this by the smart folks on DU and see what their thoughts were on the matter.

What say you, DUers?