Freedom of Association

"To take from one because it is thought that his own industry... has acquired too much, in order to spare others who... have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association - the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it." -- Thomas Jefferson

CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS; OR THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.

Along with the provisions of freedom of speech in Article 1, that most beloved of all the Bills of Rights, is one that covers freedom of association. It certainly is not the one most vigorously defended, particularly when it involves Boy Scouts, smokers, and college republicans.

Selwyn Duke posted an article in February (http://www.newswithviews.com/Duke/selwyn9.htm) that makes this point as well as anyone has.