disappointment to great and holy anger. And they won't feel bad about it, either.

Since the 1970's the revival of the sayings and truisms of these worthy ancestors, judging from what we see in elected leadership, is often pearls cast before swine. Men in high places in  government often respond to such wisdom with the retort that these are dead, indicating that we are here, therefore wise. What fools we mortals be! Among the revival of wisdom and quotations of the great men who built upon the Rock of Ages, the Magna Charta and our ancient God-given liberties is one outstanding quotation of Benjamin Franklin.

"HE WHO WOULD RELINQUISH ESSENTIAL LIBERTY FOR A LITTLE TEMPORARY SAFETY DESERVES NEITHER."

The Mockingbird was inspired to record this column for posterity because of the results of the survey, front page, January 2005, The People News. In particular the question was asked in October 2005: "Considering the high cost, loss of individual rights and freedoms, guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution and the failure of state and federal agencies to protect life and property in the New Orleans area, would you support the disbanding of the Department of Homeland Security?"

The results were that an astounding 51% voted that Homeland Security should not be done away with!!! Let us imagine what kind of people would vote to continue an agency which has  proved not only woefully incompetent, like all bureaucracies, but the anathema of personal liberty!! Indeed, what kind of people would vote for this agency in the first place? Discounting the lawless libertarians and godless Communists of the AntiChrist Lawyers Union (ACLU) who merely capitalize on every issue to promote  sin, while parading as the saviour of liberty, aside from these, the Internet, patriotic meetings, and such men of integrity as Congressman Ron Paul have been warning of the erosion of our freedoms through the so-called "homeland security." Trouncing  the Bill of Rights, paid for by the blood of our veterans from 1620 and secured by the Blood of Covenant of Christ, is insufferable.

I say, again, what kind of people would want the continuance of this agency? One once concluded that they are either stupid, ignorant or part of the problem. They may have secured a plush bureaucratic job with its attendant perks and pensions, or have a relative who is so employed. The astronomical spending of this agency cannot be measured and is counted in the billions.  Experience with government agencies from the infancy of socialism in the 1930's has  taught these mortals nothing.

Perhaps they spent their young life in government schools where there was no Bible and no Constitution, but merely the feel-good oozings of Title 42. Here they were persuaded that the government was there to look after them, that they are a mere helpless being, dependent on Big Brother to take care of them. I know this is the case with a vast multitude of slavish women who are on The Check, know nothing of faith and trust in God nor their God-given Rights to defend themselves with an old-fashioned American rifle and a King James Bible.

That Americans would voluntarily "relinquish essential liberty for a little temporary safety" is abhorrent to those who have just an inkling of what government-gone-wild can do. Coupled with a willingness to report your neighbor to the officials without a "right to know your accuser" is the underpinning of suspicion and complete loss of trust, the fostering of darkness, spies and secret police. The Soviet Union and its black history comes to mind. Forbid it, Almighty God! said Patrick Henry.

That one person should vote to trade personal liberties for the umbrella of this newfangled safety-net would be bad enough. Two percent, ten, twenty - horrible.  Let this Mockingbird admonish the 49% to read carefully and prayerfully II Chron. 7:14, act accordingly and stand firm. You are the salt of the earth, what's left of America. You might try to educate some of the others and warn them what they are about, but the first question to anyone who voted to the bad side is: WHY?
.