“Intellectual and cultural freedom is the most important single precondition for the breakdown of the kinds of tyrannical and totalitarian systems that periodically threaten us.”

Onse upon a time our colleges and universities believed in intellectual freedom ,but no more. Now you can speak at almost any of these schools as long as you are on the left, but conservatives need not apply.

I don't believe that it is the most important single precondition but it is sufficient to here get 5 stars.

I agree with Mike. You can think and speak all you want, but ACTIONS are what count. We are 'free' to dissent, but that won't be enough without actions to back it up. Our rights are ignored whenever it is politically advantageous -- after all, if government officials will not uphold the law, how will 'intellectual freedom' enforce it? If anything, the citizens need to form 'law enforcement' departments to enforce our government to obey the Constitution. Guess what, that is us, the citizens at large, and it will take action not just words.