"The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable"

This quote by H. L. Mencken talks to the power of independent thought and the threat it positions to federal governments. Mencken recommends that when someone has the ability to believe for themselves, without being affected by the beliefs and custom-mades of the society they live in, they are most likely to come to the conclusion that the federal government they live under is corrupt, unreasonable, and intolerable. This is an effective statement that speaks to the value of important thinking and the requirement for residents to be able to believe on their own and question the status quo. Mencken's words are a pointer that federal governments must be held accountable which citizens should not be afraid to challenge the government when it is not acting in their benefits.