We are supposed to live in a democracy – a country “of, by and for the people”. And the Declaration of Independence says that all men are endowed with certain unalienable Rights including “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”Over time however, Americans have focused on their “pursuit of happiness” and not paid enough attention to issues that keep us free (i.e. Liberty) and protect us from our enemies (i.e. Life). Special interest groups have filled the void. The result has been that our freedoms are eroding and we are becoming more vulnerable to outside influences. And, we have become a SIGocracy – a country “of, by and for special interest groups”. (July 2003)