The threat to America

In this country we are told from birth that certain things are guaranteed to us as American citizens. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness sums it up rather succinctly. The aforementioned guarantees are not something that we are asked to pay for and they are not something that the government grants us. They are our inalienable rights, our BIRTHRIGHT. However there has always been a school of thought in this country and others that questions whether or not we "deserve" some, or all of our rights. These movements come in different names and shapes, but they are all the same at the core.

Now I do not believe there is any kind of organized conspiracy to take away our rights, far from it. I feel that what we have to fear is the unorganized tyranny that happens incrementally and often without direction. Things like gun control laws, government surveillance, protest regulations all seem to be reasonable ideas to many Americans, yet these are just another part of the slow and creeping death of our rights- and this is why. While these measures may reduce crime, or stop terrorism or prevent whatever the boogeyman of the day is- allowing the government to engage in these activities without check is making a devils bargain.

Again- I do not feel that anyone particularly insidious is driving this activity. Rather it is all of us that encourages and allows more and more government encroachment into our lives. When we fear death in a traffic accident we allow the government to set up cameras on street corners. When we fear violence we allow police to violate the rights of fellow citizens in order to be "tough on crime". Our fear will take everything we hold sacred and dear.

We must not fear our neighbors. We must fear ourselves.