After a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and an enjoyable scouting campout, I find myself getting back into reality. Even with the Christmas season upon us, all is not well with our country.

Take for example the latest news about airline flying. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) informed all passengers flying beginning in November that security will be beefed up to insure everyone safety. The TSA themselves claim to be “50,000 security officers, inspectors, directors, air marshals and managers who protect the nation's transportation systems so you and your family can travel safely.” The problem is there is no rhyme or reason to what they do.

News reports have shown ridiculous pat-downs of people’s bodies in an attempt to “make our travel secure”. Everyone from little old ladies to young children, some snatched away from their parents, in order to do the pat-downs.

Regardless of what the media spreads about our security, there is no reason to be physically abused by security guards. Ultimately, this could be the demise of our airlines as there has been a definite decline of flying citizens and more who have been polled on whether they will continue to fly with this new security rule. Yes, I could walk, drive or bike my way to a destination but flying is much more convenient. Allowing our government to control us in this way, all in the name of security, is an unbelievably poor excuse citizens of the United States have for safety in our country.

I think what we have stumbled upon is just the tip of the iceberg. Speaking of iceberg, there was a ridiculous story posted in September of a Georgia farmer facing over a $5,000 fine for growing “too many” organic vegetables on his own property and he had been doing it for 15 years. Even after properly rezoning his land for the extra growing area, Dekalb County is still pushing for the fine to be paid. He had done nothing wrong nor broken any laws.

Government has gone too far and should keep its nose out of people’s business. If this farmer decides to sell the excess food from his own land, then he should be allowed to do so without interference from local government officials. Besides, how can anyone tell what constitutes “too many” from someone’s own property?

Another story from Ohio (http://www.waynestrnad.info/#15) tells of a family (The Stowers) who stored their own organic food and helped others in their community to do the same were illegally searched by “government officials” and then much of their food and some personal items taken without a warrant. This family also did nothing wrong.

As I have written in past editorials, too much government for its citizens means less freedom. In all of my reading of what has happened to plan ordinary citizens just living their lives, there have been too many liberties taken against those who have not broken any law. We need to wake up to what is happening because as a people, we have the power to hold our government to the Constitution. Our only defense against tyranny.

Loxley resident Valerie J. Steimle is now the author of four books. Her latest, "Dogs, Blogs and Hobbits: Writings from a Widow's Perspective" is available on Amazon.com. Contact her at valeriesteimle@yahoo.com or visit her website at www.stregthenyourhome.com.