A Nation of Sheep

"If our fear of terror makes us give up the rights that make us free, then the terrorists have won." Judge Andrew Napolitano

In "A Nation of Sheep", Judge Andrew Napolitano reminds us that "Government is not our friend". The book was a quick read at only 180 pages, but presents a well-documented laundry list of government abuses that should be enough to enrage any American. Unfortunately, as long as the government's boot is on someone else's neck the American people are content with bread and circuses; and hence the title of the book. Judge Napolitano divides the American people into two categories - sheep and wolves. And the overwhelming majority of Americans are sheep; which does not bode well for our country.

Judge Napolitano's point of view is based on his belief that "natural law" is the basis for our freedoms and liberty and that the Constitution is the guarantor of our rights. Like the Founding Fathers, Napolitano believes that men are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights". Our liberties and rights are not granted to us by the government and they are not the governments to take away. Taking away our rights is a violation of the natural law and is unjust (and should be resisted). The Judge explains that there is an opposing camp known as positivists who believe that the law (whatever that may be), and ultimately the lawmaker, is almighty. This "might equals right" philosophy breeds totalitarianism. President Bush pays lip service to natural law, but actions speak louder than words and Napolitano presents plenty of examples of Bush's accumulation of power at the expense of the liberty of American citizens. Napolitano pulls no punches in his attacks on the lawlessness, or at least casual disregard of the law, of the Bush administration (you can be guaranteed that Napolitano did not receive a Christmas card from Bush).

Napolitano describes how Bush administration propagandists have created a "culture of fear" and the government has used the premise of our "national security" as the excuse for a litany of abuses; including speech suppression, state secrets privileges, National Security Letters, illegal domestic surveillance, the suspension of habeas corpus, and on and on...

I was amused to see the endorsements for the book from Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity on the book cover jacket. Since their praise for the book is not consistent with their daily recitation of Bush administration talking points I assume that they did not actually read the book before recommending it. Anyway, maybe their recommendation of the book will attract and open the eyes of an otherwise unreceptive audience.

Don't be a sheep. Read the book. I'll loan it to you.