Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

The only thing that saves us from the bureaucracy is inefficiency. An efficient bureaucracy is the greatest threat to liberty.

In the midst of the American Revolution, with his armies demoralized and in retreat, Gen. George Washington asked Thomas Paine to speak to the hearts of his soldiers. Paine's writings became a book titled The American Crisis, which served to galvanize the spirit of the revolution and help turn the tide of the war. In one excerpt, Paine writes:

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country. ... Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered."

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Our founding fathers faced a time like this. The American Revolution eventually ended, and peace was signed in 1784. Our country was born with nearly $12 million in foreign debts and more than $65 million in domestic and state debts--and without a penny with which to settle those obligations!

But in less than 20 years, our founding fathers had not only eliminated the war debt but also had gone on to raise enough money for the Louisiana Purchase.

Looking back, those endeavors were sustained by hard work, guided by an optimistic vision of the future and inspired by a belief that unexpected opportunities were out there just waiting to be discovered.