Larry Tannahill and others who oppose the abuses of liberty in the name of public safety remind us that the individual ought to be the most valued component of society. It is not a question of individual selfishness thwarting the will of the majority, but of individual worth being recognized and respected as foundation of our culture. Ultimately the price of keeping government at a respectful distance is not too high, but the price of failing to do so is the loss of our political soul.
Joseph L. Jacobson is legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas.