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Liberty: Void Where Prohibited, originally uploaded by mrwilloby.

Because he works for Fox News, one might be quick to dismiss this book by Judge Andrew Napolitano. It should not be dismissed. He truly is a “born-again individualist” as he claims. His beef is with the government, whether controlled by Democrats or Republicans.

I was inspired to buy the book because I read an interview of Napolitano by Nick Gillespie in the March issue of Reason. I was blown away by his consistency and principles. I had seen the guy on TV a few times but either hadn’t really listened to him, or they had him talking about frivolous things that I didn’t care about. If you are at all curious about the book or the man, read that interview.

That is not to say don’t read the book though. It is very disturbingly detailed in its accounts of government abusing and mistreating the innocent and the guilty, citizens and non-citizens alike. We all have rights and if the government does not respect those rights, we live under tyranny. Laws are put into place to preserve our rights, but when the government and officers of the government do not abide by those laws, our rights vanish and become arbitrary.

Napolitano points out abuses by local police, federal agents, the Reno and Ashcroft Justice Departments, and the courts. He vigorously defends our liberties while pointing out how they are systematically being taken away.

This is my kind of stuff, though I know most people can’t get into it. You should try. I think it’s important.