Almost 4,000 years ago, the code of laws issued by Hammurabi, King of Babylon, included a decree that if a house is not constructed properly, collapses, and kills the owner’s son, the builder’s son should be executed. Fast forward to the Cold War, when many Americans were forced to resign or were fired from their jobs or blacklisted because they were allegedly or actually linked to alleged or actual communists. These days, laws punishing people based on their connections to disfavored individuals or groups are regarded as incompatible with the fundamental premise of liberty: Americans should be held responsible only...