The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the republican model of government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people. — George Washington

My Take – All it takes is for one generation of Americans to forget how precious and lucky our situation is, and it will all be over.  Our nation is not hereditary, and our freedoms are not genetic.  A few short years of tyranny or apathy is all it will take to destroy what has taken over two centuries to build.