Today we celebrate (or should) our National Independence. If you've never, or haven't in a long time, read the Declaration of Independence, here's a copy of the text: http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyame.../doi/text.html really won't take that long.

Jefferson used the terms "usurpation" and "tyranny" with some regularity. Note that much of the text was a listing of "charges" of tyranny against the then King of England, but could just as easily apply to any political power group/individual. He and the other signators of the Declaration understood the laws of tyranny;

Any power that can be abused will be abused.
— Tyranny Law #1

Abuse always expands to fill the limits of resistance to it.
— Tyranny Law #2

If people don't resist the abuses of others, they will have no one to resist the abuses of themselves, and tyranny will prevail.
— Tyranny Law #3

Have a good and safe day.