iberty, whereas the second is simply impossible. The natural political state is that people will differ in their opinions, interests, passions, and abilities, and hence in the amount and kinds of property they acquire; and Madison says that the first task of a democratic government is to protect this diversity, not to attempt to eliminate it.
Madison continues his line of thought by saying that people have a propensity to form into opposing factions over almost any issue. However, he says the following about property:
[T]he most common and durable sources of factions have been the various and unequal distribution of property. Those who hold and those who are without property have ever formed distinct interests in society. . . . The regulation of thes
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