Pubdate: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 Source: El Paso Times (TX) Copyright: 2002 El Paso Times Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829 Author: Jim Parker PROTECT FREEDOMS It seems those in power seek to keep the nation in a perpetual state of war, from the Cold War against communism to the failed "wars" on poverty, crime, drugs and now the "war on terrorism," unlimited and without definition of success or failure. No one loves war more than government and the media. The media love disaster and war because they seek attention and more revenue; government because it gains support from the weak and fearful bureaucratic growth, unlimited spending, ever-increasing power and greater secrecy of action. The greatest and most dangerous threat to American freedoms may not be from without the nation, but from within. As James Madison wrote: "There are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpation." In 1957, Gen. Douglas MacArthur added: "Our government has kept us in a perpetual state of fear with the cry of grave national emergency. Always there has been some terrible evil at home or some monstrous foreign power that was going to gobble us up if we did not rally behind the government." Jim Parker Upper Valley - --- MAP posted-by: Beth