Most Americans aren't the sort of citizens the Founding Fathers expected; they are contented serfs. Far from being active critics of government, they assume that its might makes it right.

In one century we went from teaching Latin and Greek in high school to offering remedial English in college.

'Need' now means wanting someone else's money. 'Greed' means wanting to keep your own. 'Compassion' is when a politician arranges the transfer.

If you want government to intervene domestically, you're a liberal. If you want government to intervene overseas, you're a conservative. If you want government…