By Bryan Golden

Tyranny:  Oppressive government rule in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler; arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; exercise of power over subjects and others not authorized by law or justice.

Totalitarianism:  A dictatorial political system in which the state holds total control over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life where citizens are totally subject to absolute governmental authority and complete subservience to the government is demanded.

Is freedom important to you?

Do you care about the quality of your life?  Do you like to make your own decisions?  Do you want to control your future?  Would you like to be free to determine where you live, what you eat, the type of car you drive, how much money you earn, what movies you watch, the TV shows you enjoy, etc?  If your answer is “YES,” then freedom is important to you!

Or, do you prefer someone else making all of the decisions in your life for you?  Would you like a government agency monitoring every aspect of your life to ensure you are in compliance?  Do you want some random government employee making personal choices for you?  And then, if you don’t like what they have dictated, how would having no recourse whatsoever make you feel?

When all freedom has been taken from you, compliance is what remains.  This is life in a tyrannical, totalitarian society; misery and suffering.

Do you believe you should be in charge of running your own life?  The founders of America understood that government has no right or legitimate authority dictating every aspect of your existence.  This is one of the reasons our Constitution is so specific as to the limits placed on government.

Individual freedom is the core foundation of the quality of your life.  The United States Constitution provides the framework for your individual liberty.  It details your rights and has specific constraints which prevents tyranny and protects you from totalitarian rule.

The Bill of Rights, which is part of the Constitution, was designed to protect you from tyranny.  It includes the following rights:

The right to free speech, the right to freedom of religion, the right to freedom of the press, the right to protect yourself, and the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Tyrants consider the Constitution and your freedoms as an impediment to their accumulation of absolute power.  Tyrants believe they are above the law.  Tyrants feel they know best and are intent on imposing their will on you.

Some people don’t care if the government oppresses those who disagree with them.  This is a truly dangerous attitude.  People who live in, or have fled from tyrannical regimes will attest to the fact that everyone suffers under tyranny, even those who agree with and support the tyrants.

Tyrants seek to maintain their hold on power by destroying dissention.  All opposing opinions are suppressed.  Free speech is eliminated.  The voices of those who stand up for freedom are silenced, ridiculed, and maligned.  Tyrants take over the free press and turn it into a compliant propaganda agency. A totally supportive, groveling press, which gives up any appearance of objectivity through its unquestioning support of lawless behavior, is one of the first signs of progressive tyranny.

Tyrants control the media to ensure that only supportive stories are broadcast, printed, and disseminated to the population.  A tyrant’s quest for power is facilitated when the truth about their objectives is hidden. This is why free speech is the enemy of tyrants.

Since the founding of America, enemies have sought, without success, our destruction.   The downfall of America will occur when people, groups, or government operate outside of the constitution and above the law without any outcry from freedom loving Americans.

Bryan is the author of “Dare to Live Without Limits.”  Contact Bryan at Bryan@columnist.com or visitwww.DareToLiveWithoutLimits.com © 2015 Bryan Golden