“Throughout American history, the government has said we’re in an unprecedented crisis and that we must live without civil liberties until the crisis is over. It’s a hoax” (Yale Kamisar at the University of Michigan Law School).

It’s never, ever been true, but it’s frequently used to justify all manner of executive power grabs and egregious tactics, like Japanese internment, no-knock SWAT-equipped drug warrents, and the PATRIOT act. Don’t believe them.