Nine on Our Side

Ninety nine
I've been waiting so long
Oh, ninety nine
Where did we go wrong?
--Toto

Thomas Massie suggests that those believing that the Constitution authorizes government to forcibly do things in the name of public health (e.g., mandatory vaccinations, face masks, tracking protocols) misunderstand the Ninth Amendment.

There is no authority in the Constitution that authorizes the government to stick a needle in you against your will, force you to wear a face mask, or track your daily movements.

Anyone who says you have no right to avoid those things fundamentally misunderstands the 9th Amndmnt

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) May 22, 2020

The Amendment states:

"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

James Madison was fearful that government officials would assume that rights not specified in the Bill of Rights belonged to them and not to the people. He authored the Ninth Amendment to clarify that the opposite was true.

There are no provisions in the Constitution for surrendering individuals rights for some 'common good'--such as protection against a pandemic.

The Ninth Amendment tells us that people retain their rights--even in cases of emergency.