The Most Fundamental Human Right

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Apparently, James Madison was collecting suggestions for inclusion in the Bill of Rights. (The lecturer I heard say this did not make it clear whether he was asking for them or just getting them anyway.) The Pennsylvania legislature wanted the following included in the Bill: "Every farmer has a right to be paid a bounty for every squirrel pelt he turns in to the government."

They said that one could easily deduce this right from the axiom of self-ownership.

(That last bit is the only part that's not true, btw.)

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