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The people you are arguing against are those trying to point out how to KEEP the best country in the world, and not just remember it nostalgically. From reading your posts, it appears you believe that the U.S. is a static nation - that the fact of having inalienable rights identified on paper makes those rights inviolable.
I wonder what I said to give you the impression that I think that the U.S. is a static nation.
Also, how does having inalienable rights on paper make those rights inviolable? I sure don't think they do. My father fought in World War II, in North Africa and then Anzio. Why would I not believe wholeheartedly in our inalienable rights? He fought for them and it cost him...

The people you are arguing against are trying to tell you that crap like the roadblocks discussed on this thread are inherently violations of those inalienable rights.
Question: are ALL roadblocks inherent violations of our inalienable rights? Are there no acceptable and useful roadblocks? I live in a city and we don't have roadblocks unless there is street construction.

Acceptance of this by subjects - er citizens - is the alienation of those inalienable rights.
Accepting a roadblock is the alienation of our inalienable rights? Interesting logic. I don't understand your logic but I won't be screaming at you and calling you a troll because I don't understand your logic.

Oh - I, too, have been overseas and fully appreciate the greatness of this country. I want to keep that greatness as more than a memory.
Amen to that.
I lived in Mexico for two years and in Saudi Arabia for five years (with my husband).

The “static” impression is given by the comparative nature of your points - most (if not all) of us would agree that the US is better - but most of the posters on this thread are looking at what the US was and is, and seeing that things like this non-judicial roadblock for “voluntary” collection of a DNA sample is anathema to the preservation of freedom.

And I was careful to identify a police roadblock for the purposes of trying to coerce “voluntary” DNA samples. I would feel exactly the same for police roadblocks to force all drivers to blow a breathalizer test as well. Honestly - I disagree with sobriety check roadblocks too (where an initial interview determines if further field sobriety tests are warranted), but the courts have found they are constitutional.

Obviously, a road blocked for safety is not part of this discussion, and appears to be an attempt at a diversion from the discussion.

I have to sign off for now, and will likely be offline until tomorrow evening. Thank you for a civil debate on this subject. I hope you would agree that I have obliged in kind.