It’s absolutely true to say “what the government can give, the government can take.” But that just means “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance,” that “Freedom means ‘self control’ that “power” because democracy really is “people power” means “self control”. It also underscores, boldens, and highlights something to the effect of a quote by Eugene V. Deb’s who told his followers something like <<Even if I could lead you to the promised land, I would not do so because if I could lead you in, someone else could just as easily turn you around and lead you out again.>>

I appreciate the care and learning that you put into your writings. One thing I have not seen (I haven’t read everything) you deal with enough is the tendency of every human (rich, poor, majority member, minority member, insider or outcast) to fear being victimized and to piously avoid confronting how we all project our own violence (through collective, unthinking scapegoating and demonization).

I am not a good Christian (nor to I especially desire to be considered one), but I am thinking of the Beatitude that I believe goes “Blessed are the ‘poor in SPIRIT;” as opposed to simply “the poor”. Being poor “in spirit” is universal even if being poor in terms of property is AT BEST only about 90% of the earth’s population