Via Instapundit: http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2008/04/you-dont-screw.html

In a case that's more instructive in government power and control than most anything a liberal, or civil libertarian might opine upon, Wesley Snipes received the maximum sentence, 36 months in prison for not paying his taxes. While I personally believe too much is made of alleged civil liberty encroachments under Bush and in the so-called war on terror - there is no greater threat to freedom in a capitalist society than that of the government to tax and regulate activity.

I'm not suggesting Snipes isn't guilty, or shouldn't go to jail, but you never hear a peep from the supposed freedom loving liberals when it comes to how government taxes and spends, thereby controlling our lives, as well as our livelihoods. You can peace march all you want, try to persecute telco's for providing information to the government, and stage all the faux torture events you want in protest of government actions. But what's perfectly clear in America today is one thing - you don't screw with the tax man. Never let it be said that our government doesn't know from whence its power springs. It would be wise to consider that when debating hyper-regulative responses to issues like global warming and supporting politicians who love big government. It always comes with a price. And ultimately that price is freedom, just as much as it is dollars.

In relative terms, there will be little or no liberal hand-wringing over the Snipes conviction, which causes one to wonder if they really understand freedom at all. Snipes appears to be guilty, but he WAS striking Big Brother at its heart in a way few if any anti-war protesters ever do. And the message is clear - Big Brother knows how to deal with threats to its collective heart when they really matter. Issues like the above are why I genuinely question the motivations of liberals today. They claim to be championing liberty. Yet nearly everything they champion calls for more taxation and regulation. One can't do both and be intellectually consistent, or honest.