The reason most people fear truth is because it can often be very painful. And here’s one of the most painful of all truths: There have always been, and always will be, people who aspire to power over others.

To make matters worse, the envious nature and absolute morality of a great many people fuel this yearning for power. Those who desire to see the happiness and success of individuals more fortunate than they are destroyed, or who want to impose their moral standards on their neighbors, are a power-seeker’s dream.

Silver-tongued, immoral politicians know how to use these base human traits to commit tyranny against law-abiding citizens. For more than two hundred years, the dream has been self-government, but the reality has been ever-increasing government control over people.

As Thomas Jefferson put it, “It’s the natural progress of things for government to gain and liberty to yield.” Too bad the average American didn’t know that he spoke these words, let alone have the courage to do whatever it would have taken to make sure it didn’t happen in America.