Without the authority granted by us to the government, and the government's ability to exercise said authority, there could be no freedom. The authority granted to the government by the people secures our rights, and in effect our freedoms.
What is freedom without the presence of authority?
Somalia.
The Founder's own words prove the fact that freedom is not secure without the presence of authority..."to secure these rights..." If there were no "authorities", the strong could kill the weak to steal their possessions, the many could subjugate the few, the young abuse the old, and the mature the immature.
In the Founder's own words...governments are instituted among men to secure rights; we agree as a society to grant the power to an authoritative presence to do whatever we deem necessary to protect our rights, and to punish those who violate them.
There's nothing dark or scary about Rudy's words.
Luis, certainly there needs to be authority to protect our individual freedoms from the threats of others in or out of our society. Including especially from those who wield authority. IMO the preservation of liberty is nearly the sole justification for government.
Let's hope that's what Rudy meant. I'll take your word for it that he did. I like the guy.
Because freedom isn't really about authority. Freedom is freedom *from* authority.