Here you've captured the problem with the american anti-government movement. Most americans have very [materially] comfortable lives, full of privileges we fear to lose. We refuse to risk anything, we refuse to make any sacrifice for the greater good. Even those of us who despise the state and the violence it employs won't sacrifice much of anything to better it.

Sacrifice. This is the difference between people like you and I and people like Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning. We are revealed as selfish cowards when held up to that standard.