The purpose of the General Welfare clause is to provide a reason, motivation, and purpose to the proper exercise of the Powers the Constitution specifically grants to Congress.

FORBES: The Top Ten Tax Cases Of 2012, #1: Obamacare Is Constitutional Because The Individual Insurance Mandate Is Both A Penalty And A Tax. Wait...What?

Without missing a beat, he cited the General Welfare Clause.

FORBES: New York's 19th Gets the General Welfare Clause Right

Citing James Madison, Woods asks an important question: if the general welfare clause is sufficient to justify pretty much anything the Federal government wants to do, why bother with enumerated powers?

FORBES: Nullification Should Be Taken Seriously, Not Caricatured