Many people in countries with corrupt governments and crappy politicians state that, but in most cases, a government simply does, what the people allow it to do.
yes, even more sadly, its fear it self that is mostly used for persuasion. So don't be afraid America, we, the rest of the world, can't afford to have half of the world's nukes controlled by fascists and corporate blood suckers, oh, wait..
Sadly, people can be persuaded to allow all manner of things, if they're led to believe that their way of life is under threat.
Thomas Jefferson put it better than I ever could: “He who trades liberty for security deserves neither and will lose both.”