How has the modern welfare state redefined our notion of individual liberty? Are we free to express ourselves in speech, at work, or through sex? Arguing that equality is often the most potent rival of liberty, legal philosopher and jurist Fried demonstrates how the dense tangle of government regulations both supports and threatens our personal freedoms. Illustrated with examples from contemporary life, this book is vividly relevant to the experiences and needs of everyday Americans, updated for a time when we have put fascist and Marxist tyranny firmly behind us but still confront kinder, gentler threats to our liberty.--From publisher description.