What are we going to do? Government at all levels is increasingly dysfunctional and unstable. Even as it grows more powerful, more greedy, more tyrannical and more totalitarian. Even and especially in the States. John Whitehead, a long-time libertarian/conservative activist and commentator, suggests that we need to “recalibrate the government” in his recent commentary. John is a thoughtful, careful analyst and writer. We at TPOL value his thoughts, his points, his suggestions highly. We are indebted to him in many ways. He makes us think! He ends this latest commentary with the following: “In other words, the American police state is alive and well and flourishing. Nothing has changed, and nothing will change unless we insist on it. How to do this? It’s not rocket science. There is no 10-step plan. If there were a 10-step plan, however, the first step would be as follows: turn off the televisions, tune out the politicians, and do your part to stand up for freedom principles in your own communities. Stand up for your own rights, of course, but more importantly, stand up for the rights of those with whom you might disagree. Defend freedom at all costs. Defend justice at all costs. Make no exceptions based on race, religion, creed, politics, immigration status, sexual orientation, etc. Vote like Americans, for a change, not Republicans or Democrats. Most of all, use your power—and there is power in our numbers—to nullify anything and everything the government does that undermines the freedom principles on which this nation was founded. Don’t play semantics. Don’t justify. Don’t politicize it. If it carries even a whiff of tyranny, oppose it. Demand that your representatives in government cut you a better deal, one that abides by the Constitution and doesn’t just attempt to sidestep it. That’s their job: make them do it.” He makes many very good points, and as we said, causes us to think. But are his recommendations going to work? He lists a very long list of grievances. Will these actions serve to end those? To repair the damage they have created over a century and more? And most especially, the damage in the last quarter-century? We don’t believe John’s suggestions, his recommendations, will fix the situation by themselves. Solve the problems and restore our liberty? Not without more. A lot more. And John gives clues to what is absolutely essential: “at all costs.” At all costs… “to defend freedom, to defend justice.” In our situation, to restore freedom and restore justice. Who must pay the price? Of course, the monsters in human form who have done this (whatever their excuse or reasons) must pay. Both with blood and wealth. But that is not enough. Lovers of liberty, lovers of their family, lovers of their community, must also pay the cost, at whatever price is necessary. Including you, dear reader, and me and my family and all of us at TPOL. And in the liberty community: our lives (however much we have left), our fortunes (however tiny and insubstantial), and even our sacred honor. In other words, blood, sweat, and tears. Our own blood, sweat, and tears. But it doesn’t mean to man the barricades today. Or even tomorrow. And perhaps, by God’s grace, we won’t have to do that at all. Of course, we need to be prepared for that, but understand that the dangers – and therefore the risks – of such action are unpredictable and dire. So what do we do? We follow John’s recommendations. As government, as the other enemies of liberty, do more and more stupid things. As they foolishly push hard and harder. We plan and pray and talk. Some to those in power – but remember they are not really listening or hearing. It is the rest of the people that we need to talk to. We start with education and preparation, with mentoring and training and encouragement. But we must give and do far more than that. John’s talking about the beginning. But the price of liberty is far more than that.