END COMPLACENCY - FIGHT FOR LIBERTY

To the Editor:

With the passing of the Fourth of July, a celebration of liberty is still
missing from the agenda. The ideology of liberty, which was the founding
fathers' ideology, not liberalism or conservatism, is on attack from all
fronts. The sad issue is that no one cares. People are more concerned with
safety and feeling good about themselves than preserving liberty. Each
political faction seems to think it is on a higher "moral ground" than the
next. While we are distracted by fears of environmental disasters,
uncontrolled crime and massive drug abuse, our liberties are disappearing.
People voluntarily are willing to give up liberty for some sort of security
promised by big government! Where is the logic in this? The bigger
government gets the less liberty and privacy a citizen will have. Who is
going to protect you against an all-powerful government if it abuses its power?

In this technological age the idea of personal liberty and responsibility
are more important than ever. Advances in technology give government the
ability to track our every financial transaction, phone and e-mail message,
location and medical record. The ability to profile personality and
spending habits is used every day. What could happen if government abused
technologies under the premise that it is for your safety or own good? Does
anyone see the danger in this?

The principles of liberty should be embraced in every citizen and defended
by each citizen to the best of their ability. The fight for liberty will
never end. The nature of the world is not in liberty. Tyranny and abuse are
the natural order. Without each one of us defending the principles of
liberty everyday, tyranny will thrive in the land of the free. I pray we
snap out of our complacency before it is too late.

Larry White
Beckley