Ideas of liberty, freedom, and government (or lack thereof):
All too often, these are seen as opposing principles, but that is not necessarily the case. A few thoughts about each:
In economic terms, we have freedom if we have equality of opportunity and NOT equality of outcome. And no matter that we have people that are uber-wealthy: today in those nations with at least some liberty, we find that 95-99% of the people have wealth that just a century ago was denied to the top 1% of societies.
As regards diplomacy, we think of the quote from Adolf Hitler: “When diplomacy ends, war begins.” Liberty requires that we be armed in order to be able to resolve issues by diplomacy and not through violence, as paradoxical as that seems. Peace with liberty is best served by being ready and prepared to defend ourselves violently.
Civility is much easier if a society is armed and has liberty and a respect for one another as individuals. But authority outside the family turns into tyranny even more quickly than in the family. Authority must be constrained by liberty if we are to enjoy the benefits of civilization. All liberty is civil in nature, even though we distinguish between personal and economic liberty.
Societal success is highly dependent on balancing tradition and progress. In both, there is good and evil: not in the traditions and progress themselves as much as how they are applied. Progress does not mean rejecting any and all traditions any more than tradition rejects any progress: a society needs a mixture of both to promote peace, prosperity and (in all things) liberty.
We shall know the truth, and the truth shall make us free.
The Price of Liberty 
Government immorality explodes?
Or is it just more obvious today? The little soap opera in Georgia regarding attorneys seeking to imprison The Donald for life is just one of hundreds of examples. Especially here in the Fifty States.
John Adams stated, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” This thought is profound and holds great importance in understanding the foundation of the former American republic.
Especially since that foundation is virtually completely eroded away. It was once thought to be “a solid rock” but has proven more and more to be nothing but shifting sands. Again, we point to the Willis situation in Georgia: the facts and especially this lawyer’s testimony. Not only does it again confirm the reason that more and more of us distrust more and more lawyers. It is truly disgusting to hear what passes for acceptable relationships between people who are, officially at least, adults.
But we see it everywhere we look, especially in government. Politicians and elected officials who seek out and exploit loopholes (real or perceived) to enrich themselves, their families, and friends. Who not just twist the law but write the law in such a way to make it easier to cheat, steal, and take advantage of it. Who are willing (but don’t need) to wear blinders and rose-colored glasses when looking at some people, while demanding and getting the full force of the law used as a hammer on their political enemies and the less-powerful.
How can someone who steals campaign contributions or money from family and friends be trusted to wisely spend (and not steal) the public (taxpayer) money? Especially when the way that money comes under their control is itself immoral?
As one commentator noted today, we are indeed seeing the nations of North America burn to the ground. But the fuel load has been lovingly put together for decades. And the ignition sources have been ready to be applied.
Scientists, engineers, and firefighters recognize that there are four requirements for fire. The fire tetrahedron needs heat (the right temperature), oxygen (a supply of air), fuel (of many kinds), and a chemical reaction: