by Sandi Crain

Created on: April 08, 2010   Last Updated: April 10, 2010

According to the U.S. Constitution, one role of the government is to "promote the general welfare" of its people.  This clearly means that the health of the citizens of the United States is important to the success of the nation.  Also according to the United States Constitution, the Congress has the power to collect taxes that will pay for the general welfare of United States citizens as long as every American benefits equally. 

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 25% of Americans die of some form of cancer.  Even if this data has been fudged to get increased attention and funding, there is no arguing that every American has experienced a loss of at least one loved one due to cancer.  This is a serious disease in the United States and is definitely within the confines of the Constitution to not only permit but demand that the government use our tax dollars to fight this devastating disease. 

At this time in the political history of the U.S., there is a heated debate about the government funding health care.  Most of the arguments both for and against are completely irrelevant in this constitutional republic.  Although many things that the government wastes taxpayer money on is completely illegal, health care is not.  If the American people are not healthy enough to contribute to society then it's the government's job to ensure that they are. 

Many forms of cancer are curable if they are caught early enough.  Others are preventable if the family doctor can detect lifestyle and genetic warnings.  However, if millions of Americans cannot afford to go to the doctor until it's way too late then there is a problem that the nation needs to address.  Of 19 industrialized nations, the United States ranks 15th for death due to lack of health care.  Of those same nations, the U.S. has fewer doctors per 1000 patients.  And of those patients who actually can afford to see a doctor, many cannot afford the medicines prescribed.  These are the reasons that the American Cancer Society supports a universal health care system in the U.S.

Ideally, the U.S. government will stop spending trillions of our tax dollars on military equipment and conquests.  Instead of finding new ways of killing people with unmanned aircraft and depleted uranium bombs they will spend that money on trying to save the lives of American taxpayers.  If the U.S. government will stop spending more trillions of dollars bailing out bankers who bet badly on the stock market, there would be cures for the diseases that shorten the lives of so many American taxpayers.  It's time the government reads the Constitution that they swore allegiance to and started funding cancer research.  It not only promotes the general welfare but benefits everyone equally.  Wars and bailouts only benefit a select few.   

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