"All government, of course, is against liberty"

H.L. Mencken's quote suggests that government is naturally opposed to liberty. He indicates that federal government is a force that restricts freedom and autonomy, which it is not possible for government to exist without limiting the liberty of its residents. This idea is rooted in the principle of the social agreement, which mentions that citizens should give up some of their flexibilities in order to gain the benefits of living in a society. Mencken's quote implies that federal government is a needed evil, which it is difficult to have a functioning society without sacrificing a few of our specific liberties. This quote is a pointer that we must be vigilant in protecting our flexibilities, which we need to understand the power of federal government to restrict our rights.