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Americans have always surrendered rights in times of great danger. They quickly take them back when the danger is over.

Abraham Lincoln even suspended the right of Habeas Corpus during the civil war. That meant the government could have any person arrested for any reason sufficient to the government. Once a person was taken into custody, the Government did not even have to admit it had done so. The Federal Government could make any citizen disappear and not tell anyone it had done so.

Like many people, you think the nations freedoms were maximized at the founding and have gradually ben limited in scope ever since. Nothing could be further from the truth. The breadth and scope of individual liberty has been a function of the dangers we face as a nation.

There were lots of limitations in world war II. You had to have government permission to buy gasoline or even butter. Travel of all kinds was limited, and people even suspected of being supporters of the Germans or Japanese can and were put in concentration camps for the duration of the war. All war reporters were drafted into the military under martial law during WWII. Any reporter who failed to get all stories approved by the military before pubishing, could be shot by a firing squad. How is that for your freedom of the press.

There is no danger to freedom as long as we can elect anyone we choose. You should try reading a history book or two to learn how this nation really works.

Here is a truism that even a libertarian with only a partially drug fried brain should be able to comprehend. In all nations the army and the police are made up of ordinary citizens. When ever the police refuse to arrest the people the government says arrest, and when ever the privates refuse to shoot the people the leaders say to shoot, the government falls.

Many thought the Soviet Union could not collapse. But when its citizens wanted a new form of government they destroyed the Soviet Union.

People like you have a huge inferiority complex. To you people like Bill and Hillary seem to have the power to rule you and all around you. You are the gutless fearful majority and can easily be controlled and ruled. But there are always a few with the guts to take a dictatorial government down.

As long as you believe yourself to be helpless and inferior... you will live in abject terror of those you think would subjugate you.

"There is no danger to freedom as long as we can elect anyone we choose."

That's a great point. It seems there are always periods of alarm over perceived civil rights violations but very little hard evidence--i.e. "Bob Smith of 123 Washington Street in Duluth is now in XYZ prison because he looked at George Bush funny."

I mean, where are the spouses of these folks who are in prison unfairly due to Ashcroft? 60 Minutes had a story on some citizens who were questioned and perhaps held by the government post-9-11, but even I was thinking, "Well, come ON, this is kind of a big deal, and a few inconvenienced folks ain't that big a deal."

Thanks for your perspective.

As long as you believe yourself to be helpless and inferior... you will live in abject terror of those you think would subjugate you

It's not that easy.

Standing up for your rights in any confrontation with the law is likely to get you killed or jailed on numerous trumped up charges.

It takes organized political action, not individual heroics, to prevent a tyranny. For the moment, that means the ballot. However, if Hitlery is elected, all bets are off regarding the normal election process in this country.

My guess is, she would never get to take the oath of office. But that's just my opinion, if anyone "out there" is listening.