Liberty or Death!

As I reflect on the history of the United States, I contemplate how we got here as a society.  Our founders set out to create a form of government where the people are the beneficiaries; however as time passes, we continue to indulge ourselves in the activity that we were asked to avoid.  When did we decide that Liberty is dependent on government?  Why did George Washington warn us to avoid political parties?  Why did Washington say that government is a necessary evil?  Does it not fascinate anyone that he warned us of the divisiveness that political parties create?  My distant relative, Patrick Henry, said "Give me liberty or give me death!"  I tend to agree with him.  Therefore if there is no liberty, then there is no life.  In other words, will the sheep keep following the herd or will they do like our founders and take it upon themselves to pursue their own vision of happiness?