Open Letter to Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ)
April 28, 2011
Rush Holt
50 Washington Road
West Windsor, NJ 08550
Dear Mr. Holt,
Thank you for your letter regarding your support of the Food Safety Modernization Act, dated March 10, 2011.
It is indeed sad and disappointing that you fail to appreciate the profound harm that can be expected from the enactment of a law like this. I believe that such myopia results from a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of government in a free society. Or, perhaps, a free society is of no concern to you.
The federal government of the United States is not tasked with protecting individuals from every conceivable danger that might arise during the course of their lives. The very idea that the government even has that capacity is absurd. Additionally, in its efforts to provide such “protection”, the government invariably harms the very people it is purporting to serve. The Food Safety Modernization Act is an excellent example. To give an unelected government agency like FDA the power to control the very sustenance of the people is akin to binding and gagging them. At a time when Congress and the Executive are wasting trillions of dollars on war and largesse, it is just plain irresponsible to throw more resources at the dysfunctional and corrupt FDA with the effect of restricting the freedom, power, and prosperity of the people.
The Founders knew that such shenanigans were likely when the political class became entrenched and beholden to special interests. That is why the powers delegated to Congress are limited by Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. I urge you to read that section of the Constitution, which you so disingenuously carry in your pocket to display at appropriate moments to your constituents. There is no provision in Article I, Section 8 which authorizes Congress to “protect” the public against food poisoning. Nothwithstanding possible court decisions to the contrary, the so-called Commerce Clause does not authorize such congressional action (so don’t even try to go there).
Your primary duty to your constituents is not to ensure that they avoid E. coli tainted lettuce; it is to uphold the Constitution. And in that endeavor you have failed miserably. Please try to do better. A great place to start would be to take seriously the restrictions on the powers of Congress in Article I, Section 8.
Best regards,
Dan Maiullo
50 Washington Road
West Windsor, NJ 08550
Dear Mr. Holt,
Thank you for your letter regarding your support of the Food Safety Modernization Act, dated March 10, 2011.
It is indeed sad and disappointing that you fail to appreciate the profound harm that can be expected from the enactment of a law like this. I believe that such myopia results from a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of government in a free society. Or, perhaps, a free society is of no concern to you.
The federal government of the United States is not tasked with protecting individuals from every conceivable danger that might arise during the course of their lives. The very idea that the government even has that capacity is absurd. Additionally, in its efforts to provide such “protection”, the government invariably harms the very people it is purporting to serve. The Food Safety Modernization Act is an excellent example. To give an unelected government agency like FDA the power to control the very sustenance of the people is akin to binding and gagging them. At a time when Congress and the Executive are wasting trillions of dollars on war and largesse, it is just plain irresponsible to throw more resources at the dysfunctional and corrupt FDA with the effect of restricting the freedom, power, and prosperity of the people.
The Founders knew that such shenanigans were likely when the political class became entrenched and beholden to special interests. That is why the powers delegated to Congress are limited by Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. I urge you to read that section of the Constitution, which you so disingenuously carry in your pocket to display at appropriate moments to your constituents. There is no provision in Article I, Section 8 which authorizes Congress to “protect” the public against food poisoning. Nothwithstanding possible court decisions to the contrary, the so-called Commerce Clause does not authorize such congressional action (so don’t even try to go there).
Your primary duty to your constituents is not to ensure that they avoid E. coli tainted lettuce; it is to uphold the Constitution. And in that endeavor you have failed miserably. Please try to do better. A great place to start would be to take seriously the restrictions on the powers of Congress in Article I, Section 8.
Best regards,
Dan Maiullo