The Little Brown Reader

Daiell spoke passionately on the merits of the Fourth Amendment.

Following a discussion of how property is protected under Articles I and IV of the Constitution of the United States, he turned his attention to the Bill of Rights.

“But the real story of how respect for private property protects our freedoms is found in the Bill of Rights,” he says. “Did you ever wonder why the First Amendment forbids the establishment of religion, (yet guarantees) the free exercise thereof? Especially since there were countries in Europe that had official churches but still respected the right to attend others? It’s because the Founders knew it was wrong to force individuals to subsidize beliefs they found objectionable with their money — with their property.”

Daiell contrasts that same notion with present-day political practices.

“Unfortunately, many state legislatures don’t understand that the same objection should apply when it comes to politics,” he says. “Unlike federal campaign financing, which comes only from those individuals who choose to participate, some states subsidize political campaigns from the taxes of all of their citizens. You thus have individuals forced to finance ideologies and political parties they find repugnant.”

However, according to Daiell, the clouds are forming inside the Beltway.