myth buster
2009-10-16 12:46:14
David, you’re the one arguing from false premises when you use “general welfare” to describe aircraft carriers. Aircraft carriers have nothing to do with the “general welfare;” they have everything to do with the “common defense.”
Also, here’s an Econ 101 lesson for you: a public good or service is any good or service for which it is impossible to exclude non-payers, and for which each individual’s contribution is small compared to the total cost. Therefore, it is in no individual’s best interest to volunteer to pay for it without the guarantee that everyone else will, too. Health care is not a public good, because you can exclude non-payers.
