A government that is powerful enough to protect you is also powerful enough to oppress you.

The idea is simple, really - the federal government behaves much like a child: it does exactly what it knows it is allowed, and then "pushes the envelope" just a bit farther. We the people (essentially the "parents") have allowed that "child" to push and push and push and justified it with this and that and the other, but the end result is an uncontrollable "child." We have only ourselves to blame. The saddest part is that some people are clamoring to give the "child" even more leeway to misbehave while continuing to offer excuses.

How is it that government, whose only legitimate responsibility is to PROTECT individual rights, can somehow VIOLATE individual rights simply by virtue of its participation in some venture?

Do you want to see real terrorism?
Just hole up in a 'compound' somewhere in rural Texas while publicly asserting your rights under the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution - you'll have more terrorists than you can handle before too long...

It is in vain, sir,to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry peace, peace - but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!

A right is the sanction of independent action. A right is that which can be exercised without anyone's permission. If you exist only because society permits you to exist, you have no right to your own life. A permission can be revoked at any time. If, before undertaking some action, you must obtain the permission of society, you are not free - whether such permission is granted to you or not. Only a slave acts on permission. A permission is not a right.