Did you know the word “republican” is in the U.S. Constitution, but “democracy” is not? Similarly, “contract” is in there, but “subsidy” and “price control” are not.

The Constitution (1789) guarantees to each state a “republican” (not political party) form of government (Article IV, Section 4). The U.S. is a constitutional republic protecting individual rights, not a collective democracy, or “Mobocracy” – where 99 percent or 51 percent can oppress the 1 percent or 49 percent.

Did you know that “health care,” “retirement,” “education,” “college,” “university,” “scientific research,” “energy” and “art” are not in the Constitution? Thus, they’re not proper functions of the feds.

So the following federal programs are unconstitutional: ObamaCare, Social Security, Medicare, prescription drugs, No Child Left Behind, college funding, scientific research (including NASA & National Science Foundation), art funding (including National Endowment for the Arts), and the Departments of Education and Energy.

Similarly, minimum wage laws and prostitution laws unconstitutionally violate the right to contract. Article I, Section 10 states, “No State shall . . . impair the obligation of contract.”

And it’s wrong to say “the Constitution is a living, breathing document that must change with the times, especially with technology and urbanity.”  The only way to change the Constitution, the only way it “lives and breathes,” is by Amendment, per Article V. This is controversial, but shouldn’t be. We’ve had 16 amendments since the Bill of Rights in 1791.

If it’s not in the Constitution, the federal government shouldn’t do it. And if you don’t like it, amend it.

Jeff E. Jared is a Kirkland resident and attorney.