Nice to see a little life stirring again here at NLDs. Auntie J, I think the statement you mentioned "...how a government that began in 1776 as a protector of individual rights” really hits the nail on the head. That is, the government moved from being a protector of individual rights to being the means to futher the economic well being of select groups of people. When states rights were trampled after the war for southern independence, the slippery slope became a well-greased road to...well you get the picture. The question we have been discussing here (I think) is how do we reverse this trend or is it possible with out a revolution. As history has shown there is no difference in the two controlling parties especially when it comes to excessive growth and centralization of government. Therefore what Obama is doing is building on the massive pro-government policies of past administrations. This brings us another part of our discussion, the mainstream media. MSM (and television in particular) has failed us completely. The Internet has lifted the veil and allowed us to see through its agenda-based reporting. Still, many people rely on and trust television for their news. How do we change that? Say it with me, all together “The Internet.” Google “economic freedom”. You don’t have to go very far down the list to see names like Adam Smith, Milton Friedman, Friedrich Hayek, and Ludwig von Mises. Names the controlling elite would rather you didn’t see. Education is not just learning facts, it is seeing through the propaganda and mind numbing hogwash spewed forth by the MSM. It is spreading the word and encouraging people to think for themselves. I have seen friends and coworkers change the way they look at  the government's wars and self serving policies after talking to them and emailing them articles exposing lies. It is a long row to hoe. Ron Paul has been in the trenches for 30+ years and hasn’t given up. To quote John Adams "The Revolution was effected before the War commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations ... This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people, was the real American Revolution."