Have you ever toured the historic roots of America's foundation in Philadelphia? Smelled the scent of rough-hewn wood and homemade paint? Wall paint 230 years ago was usually made from a mixture of lead, charcoal and sour milk. Incredibly, this paint is a pleasant and unforgettable scent after it dries. You can still take that in at some old, historic buildings.

It was a hot, humid and long summer 231 years ago in 1776. No telephones, fax machines, telegraphs, internet, air conditioning, electric fans, limousines, radio or television. There were just messengers that rode like fire across the countryside, to bring the first Continental Congress messages from men like George Washington who was desperate for food, men and ammunition. If you were in Philadelphia in Congress at that time you REALLY worked. No creature comforts whatsoever and you wore layers of clothing each and every day. You wore that attire because that was the style of that time. As a member of the fledgling Congress, proper attire was expected of you. You were a respected gentleman who was automatically held in high regard. A number of the first Congressman were doctors who gave up their medical practice to be part of Congress.

Congress was meeting in defiance of the King of England ­ a fact every member was constantly aware of. In effect, Congressional meetings were an act of treason punishable by hanging. But a most necessary Congress it was, since the King was taxing and controlling the colonists almost to the point of suffocation. Something had to be done. It was now time for the descendants of those who came to America several generations earlier to have real, permanent freedom.

Could these brave men have envisioned what life in 2007 would be like? Not likely, but they didn't need to. They were wise enough to know that the wondrous, natural feeling of freedom is one which will always be a feeling independent of any technology. Technology and the tools of war can be used to take freedom away as well as give freedom. But true freedom is real freedom.

It has been 231 years since a feather quill pen was used to sign the Declaration of Independence. Looking into the future, we can hardly conceive of life in 2238 - another 231 years from the date of this writing. Perhaps total conformity will be the order of the future. Or maybe Earth will no longer exist after 2012. All the technology, politics, sadness and joy, successes and failures of our time will be lost forever to the icy cold of space. But freedom will always remain a true and precious attribute of good men no matter what the future brings.

But we are in 2007. And we are dealing with a serious threat to our very freedom, existence and way of life. The self-appointed "social engineering experts" think they know what's best for both the Earth and its resident population. A hidden, devious social engineer's philosophy is not based on freedom, love or a better life. Yes, there are social engineers who do value and desire these things for our future. However their opinions and designs will never see little more than the light of candle. These experts do not have the backing of those determined to tear America down to the ground, so it can be re-built in the image of power-hungry men. Only devious social engineers want this to come to pass.

The rumblings in the media today are disturbing indeed. Secret executive orders, Congressman denied access to read them, and word from the administration that a nuclear attack is coming on American soil. These mostly-hidden forces are the invisible bulldozers clearing away the old for the social engineers to build a "global vision." These hidden forces are becoming more open and bold in their public declarations, as they come closer to their planned day of reckoning.

Consider standing alongside a desolate highway with a straight section about a mile long or more. When a vehicle is about mile away, all you can determine is that some type of vehicle is coming. It could be a truck, a farm tractor or a car. As it moves closer, you can tell it's a car, tractor or truck. A little closer and you can confirm what color it is. A bit closer, and perhaps you can see what make and model it is. And just as the vehicle passes by, you can probably tell whether a man or woman is driving.

For many years, we knew a vehicle was coming but knew little about it. We are at the point where the vehicle is now passing by. This is the truck of tyranny, and we know exactly who's driving it. Though we know who's behind it, we can't see the engine propelling the truck. Yet few attempts are made to stop it by those in the circles of power. After Ron Paul, Congressman DeFazio is among one of the first on Capitol Hill to awaken from an extended deep sleep.

So where did it all go wrong? In government, history shows us that power always fills a void. In American government, that void was created when the American people became self-obsessed with endless toys. It started with television and radio brainwashing which began back in the 1950's, then the proliferation of drugs in the 1960's, and after that moved into electronics with cable television, video games, VCRs, cell phones ("I'm in the store in aisle two now",) DVDs and other toys.

ALL of us could live just fine without any of this technology, except perhaps for a phone on the wall for emergencies. Today's children think it's some God-given right for them to have a cell phone and countless electronic toys. I hold any parent responsible that gives into this idiotic mindset. What good will all this do the children when they lack the grades and skills to enter college?

When America began this self-obsession with instant personal gratification about forty years ago, the move was an effective strategy for government. Everyone quickly forgot all about watching what our government was doing, something which our founding fathers told us to do. When the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba took place in 1961, people hardly noticed it. Today 37 years later, people hardly notice that the Guantanamo Bay POW camp was built within that same country ­ Cuba. The same country which the United States still has economic sanctions with and tense relations. Yet we pay them to operate a base there. Is this hypocrisy?

Thirty years ago, drivers in residential and city neighborhoods were ever watchful for children dashing out between parked cars chasing after a ball. Drive through one neighborhood after another today and what do you see? Almost no children are playing outside anymore. Those very same neighborhoods which had children running after balls and playing baseball in backyards are now inhabited by a new generation of families.

This new generation thinks nothing of letting their children stay indoors with their face transfixed to either the computer or television screen. Parents irresponsibly use this technology as a babysitter, too. And when these children are not parked at either one? There is a cell phone which appears to be attached to the side of their head in one form or another, while they ignorantly irradiate their brains possibly creating tumors. Gone are the days in most homes when parents often heard the request, "Dad, can I use the phone?" And the example these parents set for their children? "Do NOT watch the government. Just be self-obsessed like I am."

To many readers, I must sound as old fashioned as a Typewriter. Perhaps I am in some respect, even though my profession involves designing and working with leading edge technologies. Perhaps I'm a bit sentimental. But there is no doubt what's so very precious and important, with liberty and freedom very high up on that list. How do I know? Look at the history of America,Germany, Russia and other countries. Any monarchy or dictator is a totalitarian state, which is not something to look forward to especially if it can be prevented. Good people like Congressmen DeFazio and Ron Paul know about world history too, and don't want to see it repeated.

It was once said that those who cannot learn from history's mistakes are condemned to repeat them. History shows us that when any country's citizens fail to watch and control their government's actions, that mistake is always measured in the loss of life for countless millions of innocent people. And among the first to die will be those who stood by and did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. And on that day, they can thank themselves for their self-centeredness.

Any government, no matter what country it is, must be watched by its people. Power can and always will lead to corruption. America's founding fathers already knew that in 1776. The structure of American government counts on good, honest men and women at all levels of power. A system of checks and balances can only work if MOST of the men and women in government are honest. It is they who keep the dishonest in check and expose them, and are a second line of defense along with the citizenry.

If an insufficient number of members of government do not possess the quality of honesty and integrity, then the system of checks and balances fails and a dictatorship is sure to follow.

Ted Twietmeyer

www.data4science.net