I believe "provide for the general welfare of the United States" is exactly what it means, given the 1828 definition. The key being the "United States" as a nation...to provide for the safety and security of the nation AS AN ENTITY, not the individual states or the people!

As Madison said in 1792, if that clause was meant to allow Congress to pass anything it wanted to ensure the CREATURE comfort of all citizens, then you might as well throw the Constitution into the fire!

The fact that the framers were careful enough to insert "of the United States" was brilliant and by no means an accident.

Health care, along with Social Security, Medicare, etc. is NOT therefore authorized by Article I, Section VIII as an area within the power of the Congress to regulate and/or legistlate.

Unless and until an Amendment to the Constitution is passed, and if health care is passed, states should explore "nullification" whereby they are not required to assist the federal government in implementing federal laws. In addition, I hope and expect that many Constitutional challenges to the law will be filed.

Anyone reading this: TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WHAT THE CONSTITUTION IS!! Schools will tell your kids "it made us free". No, the Declaration and war did that. The Constitution kept us free FROM OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT!!!!

- a concerned attorney and Patriot