Wherever people like you and me are willing step up and actually fight. A &quot;free society&quot; is not some intrinsic property; we get to have a free society - and a democratically elected government - if <i>and only if</i> we defend it.<p>Patrick Stewart has a great line at the end of TNG 4x21 &quot;The Drumhead&quot;[1]<p><pre><code>    [V]illains who twirl their mustaches are easy to spot.
    Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well camouflaged.
    ...
    [Admiral Satie] or someone like her will always be with us,
    waiting for the right climate in which to flourish – spreading fear
    in the name of righteousness. Vigilance, Mr. Worf. That is the price
    we have to continually pay.
</code></pre>
Any system will eventually fail if it isn&#x27;t maintained. When we allow small, trivial abuses of power, people become conditioned to <i>expect</i> exceptions to the rule of law. These exceptions are normalized into a power structure that deviates significantly from anything resembling a free society.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=eahs1H9tdcU" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=eahs1H9tdcU</a>