YankeePhil: Guard with jealous attention the public liberty

Patrick Henry

Everyone knows Patrick Henry’s famous line, "Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?...I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

What is less known, and maybe more importantly, he stated, "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel."

Be careful of those that promise safety at the expense of your freedom.

This is as true today as when Patrick Henry uttered those words.
We must guard against those who are trying to infringe upon the great liberties of this land. Piece by piece they wear away at liberty in the name of the greater good. "If it saves just one life" or "It is for the children" are common phrases that usually are the introduction to a decrease in our liberty.
We must guard against those who are taking away liberty in the name of our children, in the name of "fairness".

They passed Campaign Finance Reform. All that did was restrict the speech of voters. It should be called the Incumbent Protection Act.
They are outlawing products that people want and need in the name of "Protecting the environment". They are mandating the use of mini fluorescent bulbs that require a HazMat team in your house if they break. They are requiring Hybrid cars with batteries whose creation is destroying forests in Canada to mine the metals needed to produce them.

They create Zero Tolerance laws that push common sense out of the public square.