The validity of the public debt of the U.S.....shall not be questioned (14th Amendment) [View all]

[louis c]

The whole fourth section of the fourteenth amendment to the United Sates Constitution reads

Section 4:The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bonuses for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

It seems very clear to me that the United States government is responsible for all debts incurred which are a result of any duly enacted law by Congress, past or present. As a result, the debt ceiling itself is unconstitutional. This amendment, actually, makes it unlawful to even "question" such debt. I would interpret that to mean that law makers (and even private citizens) can't even intimate that a financial obligation of this country should not be paid.

When the debt ceiling debate starts, I hope we clarify the meaning of this amendment and let's see what the "strict constructionists" think of the meaning of the constitution now.

Link:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv