Liberty and Tyranny

We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word
we do not all mean the same thing.
With some the word liberty may mean for each man
to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor;
while with others, the same word may mean for some men
to do as they please with other men, and the
product of other men's labor.
Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things,
called by the same name — liberty.
And it follows that each of the things is, by the
respective parties, called by two and incompatible names —
liberty and tyranny.
— President Abraham Lincoln
When one thinks of the great nation of the United States of America, one almost certainly thinks of liberty, among the other blessings that are attendant to a blessed land.  Liberty, though, is an abstract, almost philosophical concept, as are other words we use to describe our condition and who we are.  Just what are conservatives?  Just what is statism?  Even more importantly, what do these words and concepts, bandied about by talking heads, have to do with everyday people?

They have a lot to do with everyday people, and in his book, Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto, popular radio host Mark R. Levin explains just what those concepts are, how they apply to every American, and why a philosophy and course of action grounded in true conservative principles is the most effective approach to preserving liberty and avoiding tyranny.  Levin examines those topics that people associate with conservatism, the Constitution, federalism (states' rights), the free market, limited government, and national security, among others.  He ties it all back, though, to what conservatism is really all about — the ability to make choices for oneself, one's family, and one's property, or liberty.  He ends the book by explaining that conservatism has a chance to lead America if those who believe in its core principles are ready to put forth the required effort.  Armed with the proper understanding of the concepts and the long-term vision such understanding gives, the call is inspiring.

Given that I am not a fan of Levin's show and that I have been disappointed by radio hosts' (Hannity's, to drop names) books before, I was skeptical of this book.  I wasn't more than ten pages into the book before that skepticism had worn off.  The book is surprisingly well written, well sourced, and explains in a profound clarity just what it is that conservatism represents.  Time after time after time Levin blows the leftists and statists out of the water, exposing them for the power-hungry and hypocritical jackals that they are.  It's all done almost void of the over-hyped emotion his listeners have come to expect, too.  The reader sees solid analysis and an accurate examination of the Founders, current politics, and other relevant history.  There is a reason this book was a New York Times bestseller for so long and still trades hotly on resale sites like Half.com and DealOz.  The book will open your mind and solidify the truths that readers already know.

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.
It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same,
or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children
and our children's children what it was once like in the United States
where men were free.
— President Ronald Reagan