THE "TEETER TOTTER" OF AMERICAN FREEDOM

It appears to me that the relationship between the power of the state and the freedom of the people are inversely proportionate.  As the state gains power the people's liberties diminish, or at least are harder to preserve.  The bizarre thing about this phenomenon in our nation is that the people choose to give or deny the state its power(s).  I have thought about this constantly for several years now and have arrived at only one unfortunate conclusion as to why people would want to empower the state?...

Some people actually don't want to be free.  I know I know, this is hard to swallow but it has to be true.  I understand that some people are tricked into voting for certain things and others vote for things that will get them free stuff.  Some vote for things because they plan to use the system for their own gain politically, financially, or even as a subversive act of sabotage.  However, I think these examples don't account for all people.  This is difficult for me to even say but I believe that some people actually don't want to be free.

This doesn't make me feel any better but only brings up more questions, the most important one being:  
Why would someone NOT want to be free?

Maybe we'll tackle that one another time...