America. Are we losing some basic freedoms?

On a street, where I have lived exists a road and a gate. The gate allows or restricts access to a public area park that is run by the Army Corps of Engineers or 'The Government' for short. Most of the time, that gate is open and travel over the road is permitted, but at other times it's been closed. This is usually because the Corps had determined that potential hazards might exist. But take note, it's the government and not the the People who are making that decision and that's precisely why I have a problem with it in the first place!

Here in America, where we all enjoy a representative form of Republic where we are granted certain rights among which are basic individual freedoms; 'Individual freedom is a complex of values. In its most basic form, individual freedom is the freedom to live as you choose as long as you harm no one else. Each nation, each epoch in history, perhaps each individual, may define this ideal of individual freedom in different terms. In its noblest of expressions, individual freedom is enshrined in our Bill of Rights. It is freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, economic freedom, and freedom to choose your unique life style.'

In the United States, you see millions of individuals who make many choices every day. Some are good and others not so good. The point being is that we do get to choose... Excepting when a gate controlled by the government happens to block your way forward...

Now I know what many are thinking right now, 'Hey dummy, They close that road to protect you from harm!' To which I would replay, 'Oh, yeah? Why? Because I'm to slow to figure things out for myself?' In point of fact, there didn't used to be a gate there in the past at all! And, drivers made up their own minds if it was safe to proceed or not and few if any ever got hurt. Why exactly could they do this, back then? Because most everyone had a measure of common sense! Now, let me switch gears...

One of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, expressed his fears of giving too much power to the government thusly - ' In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.'

Concentrated political power frightened the Founders.  They believed that only by limiting government could liberty survive the natural tendency of man to dictate the habits of other men.  The balanced separation of power with checks was designed to prevent tyranny.  Each branch was given delineated powers, and then each of these powers was limited and checked by another branch or entity.  The system was purposely designed to slow governmental actions enough to allow due deliberation.  This frustrates those who want the government to always “do something” about every problem (rules and restrictions), but it also hampers the government from doing something grievous that affects our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

I close by stating this... 'Tear down that fucking gate!'