The Fragility of Liberty

James Madison

Jason Teal, ABG Contributor

Dear citizens:

I see a few of you begging government to further restrict us, in the name of safety.

Please consider what you are asking.

And take heed to the haunting voices of history:

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."-Benjamin Franklin

"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."-William Pitt the Younger

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive."-CS Lewis

“But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty once lost is lost forever.”-John Adams

“I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.”-James Madison

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​I believe we are too quick to clamor for government to "do something", and I believe we have been groomed by bad faith actors to do so for generations.

We need to be reminded that liberty surrendered is VERY hard to get back. BUT, that liberty is not only lost by acts of willful surrender; it is also in jeopardy by acts of willful stupidity in the name of liberty:

“Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as the abuses of power.”-James Madison

And so, while I am never going to be one of those who beg government to do more, I will say that the free citizen must do more, more responsibly, and of his/her free will, so that liberty is not put in danger by those insisting government "do something" simply because we aren't being freely responsible with our liberty.

Stay home.

Dang, people, just stay home.

Not because some government official makes you.

But because it's right and responsible.

And thus, we may continue to "secure liberty for ourselves and our posterity".(US Constitution)

Stop waiting to be forced to do the right things. Stop begging for this force.

Just grow up. And do it yourselves.