With the departure of John Ashcroft as Attorney General of these Divide States of America, I thought this quote appropriate:

"Those who would give up essential liberty for temporary safety deserve neither."

Benjamin Franklin

Franklin may not have been the founding father of the Democratic party, or of liberalism in US politics, or of the ACLU, but the man understood what our forefathers were fighting for, and against.

I have another quote, which we ought to contemplate as we see the over-reaction to terror and the recent fear tactics foist upon us by the recent elections:

"The psychic task which a person can and must set for himself is not to feel secure, but to be able to tolerate insecurity."

Erich Fromm

The ideas in these two quotes complement one another so perfectly, that I will comment no further. Just read them again. And again. And then decide for yourself what role the government has, and what role you have, in guaranteeing your rights and your security.