krugman demonstrates again that an advocate of liberty has no place in the current american political spectrum. in fact, up until the bush administration started trying to impose religious values by legislative and judicial means while suspending civil liberties on the pretext of terrorism, i would have said that the greatest threat to american liberty is "public health." the restraints appear small- usually - but they hound you throughout the day, from seatbelts and helmets to diet and tobacco, etc. there is practically no restraint that can't be justified when you start to aggregate the results of individual or family choices into public costs. these restrictions reach actually into your body. fundamentally, the justification is precisely the same as the patriot act: we can make you safe if you will hand us your freedom.