An Independence Day Meditation

On the anniversary of our nation's declaration of independence from the arbitrary rule of a man - unconstrained by Constitution, checks, or balances - two quotes:

You really don't have any civil liberties if you're dead.
  — Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), February 3, 2006

Give me liberty or give me death.
  — Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775

I suggest that this election year presents our nation once again (for the 460th time, more or less) with a choice between these two contrary approaches to the problem of governance in the face of a mortal enemy.