Two Words

One way to lose freedom is for the regular people to misunderstand the deep principles of freedom. 

Another is for the regular people to simply misunderstand a few words in important documents. 

For example, the U.S. Constitution allows the federal government to take action for the "general welfare" of the nation.

For many decades the American people have just left the definition of this phrase to the Court. 

But it had a specific meaning to the regular people who ratified the Constitution in 1789. 

For them, there were two types of welfare: special and general. 

General welfare was the kind that provided an equal benefit to every citizen in the nation.

Special, or private, welfare was a specific benefit to a group or person at the expense of the other citizens.

This misunderstanding has cost the American people a lot. 

Imagine the difference in the U.S. budget, debt and deficits if all national private welfare were discontinued, if the federal government only spent money in ways that benefit all citizens equally every time.

The meaning of two words can make a huge difference in a nation's freedom.