Political pundits are tongue-wagging concerned about the mad dash to be the first state to hold a presidential primary. The real concern should be: Why are taxpayers paying for primaries?

Party activists should select their national standard-bearer at privately-funded state conventions, or in some other privately-financed fashion. The reasons are many, principled and practical. And, they hold true for primaries at the state and local level.

Forcing taxpayers to support candidates or views they disagree with is a violation of the First Amendment. Or worse. Thomas Jefferson remarked, “To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical.”

Tax-funded primaries are a violation of the Freedom of Association, the flip side of which is the Freedom to Disassociate. As much as possible, people should not be compelled, through forced financial contributions, to be associated with a candidate. That is something more fitting in free societies like North Korea, Cuba or Venezuela.

Primaries are simply welfare programs for politicians. You can also call them subsidies. Either verbal shoe fits. Whether you consider them welfare programs or subsidies, the outcomes are not desirable.

Welfare causes dependency, fosters slothfulness. (What we have now are beggars masquerading as caretakers of the public good – and they have access to your paycheck before you do.) As for subsidies… you get more of what you subsidize and, outside of the guests and panelists on “The McLaughlin Group” or "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" who really wants more politics?

As a strong rule, primaries do not produce high caliber candidates, rather they deliver politicians who appeal to the lowest common denominator. That has been apparent for some time. Look at the national debt. You don’t want these people in charge of balancing your checkbook — not when you’re on the hook for the rubber check fees.

Finally, we can advance the important principle of equality before the law by ending welfare programs for politicians (e.g., taxpayer-funded primaries). Going to privately-funded primaries allows us to painlessly reduce government spending, and thereby reduce the tax burden on all people.