Xenady posting @52 said: “…leave the realm of the Threatening Letter and move on to actual raw coercion or lose everything everywhere.”

I call that a distinction without a difference.

The Federal government – as well as the State & local gummints – have at all times backing any “threatening letter” the ultimate power of arrest, criminal prosecution, confiscation of property, imprisonment, and whatever physical violence is necessary to subdue and overcome resistance, including lethal force.

If that’s not coercion, nothing is.

We citizens GRANT this power to the government, only so long as the government uses it judiciously rather than arbitrarily or in clear violation of prescribed limits.

The only question then is how much violation and abuse of the consent of the governed will be tolerated.