From Common Sense II
The future of this great nation is imperiled as it has not been since the revolutionary war. Slowly, ever so slowly, our freedoms have evaporated into the air of a slow motion tyranny. As Americans this was the only way to conquer us—so slowly that most of us accepted a “small” encroachment here and a “small” encroachment there, as necessary to satisfy the ever increasing hunger of the statist.
"If it's to protect our kids, I'm all for it," neighbor Glenn DeWitt said.
““Do you really think we want those laws observed?” Said Dr. Ferris. We want them broken. You better get it straight that it’s not a bunch of boy scouts you’re up against - then you’ll know this is not the age for beautiful gestures. We’re after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick and you’d better get wise to it. There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted and you create a nation of law-breakers - and then you cash in on guilt. Now, that’s the system Mr. Reardon, that’s the game, and once you understand it, you’ll be much easier to deal with.”
Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 2, Chapter 3, Page 404