On Saturday, left-wing crowds across the country echoed the chant, “There is no king.” They were staging protests, donning three-cornered hats, and, somewhat amusingly, even an inflatable frog costume. The slogan harks back to the revolutionary fervor of 1976, and discussions about freedom were plentiful.
It’s a complex scenario. Sure, elections have consequences, but isn’t government just our collective label for what we choose to do together? For many liberals, the landscape has transformed since President Trump took office, pushing some to adopt libertarian-style rhetoric and shift the national sentiment from a strong federal role to a more hands-off attitude.
Since 2002, during what some refer to as the left’s earlier embrace of freedom, Gallup has gauged American sentiments about the Patriot Act and federal authority. The trends have fluctuated—most recently reflecting a surge in anti-authority feelings. In fact, a new survey reveals that 62% of Americans now believe the federal government wields excessive power, a record-high percentage. In contrast, only 30% consider the current levels just right—again, another all-time low. Only 6% think the government should take a more active role, which seems to blend various political viewpoints.
Interestingly, the composition of this supermajority is telling. Two years ago, about 80% of Republicans felt the government was overreaching, a sentiment typical during the Obama administration. However, after Trump’s re-election, that concern dropped; currently, only 58% of Republicans express worries about federal authority, marking the lowest levels observed since before the pandemic.
On the other hand, Democrats have had a different experience. Their discomfort with federal overreach grew significantly during Obama’s second term and into Trump’s presidency. By 2019, half of Democrats were expressing anxiety about government expansion. The onset of the pandemic shifted Democrats’ calls to action, as they advocated for stronger federal powers. By 2021, their concerns about federal overreach had halved to 25% but remained low throughout Biden’s term.
Now, for the first time since 2007, more Democrats (66%) are worried about federal power than Republicans (58%). This shift, one might argue, highlights the absurdity of partisan divides. Concerns about government authority often follow party lines; as control shifts, so do the narratives. It’s speedy, really, how opinions flip the moment a party takes the lead.
This back-and-forth has shaped a robust executive branch that loses sight of a true republic. In a more traditional parliamentary system, the winning party gains full control and can implement its agenda. The U.S. system, by contrast, is designed to check powers across branches, typically requiring bipartisan efforts to govern effectively.
But when the parties become polarized and legislative cooperation falls apart, simple governance tasks can morph into significant conflicts. What happens when control is unified again? It’s likely to unleash a flood of governmental demands. Legislative gridlock could turn into transformative actions, with the president stepping into a role akin to a prime minister, pushing through party goals while expanding executive powers.
As H.L. Mencken aptly put it, “Democracy is the theory that common people know what they want and have the right to make it work.” Yet, what we’re witnessing is possibly a reiteration of selective outrage over federal power. Many Republicans who once labeled Obama’s executive actions as tyrannical have since rationalized Trump’s more controversial approaches, such as ordering extreme measures against drug smugglers and influencing prosecutions.
The prevailing sentiment is that once Democrats regain power, they might retaliate against the GOP and the Constitution in the same manner as Republicans. It’s true that Democrats didn’t restrain their actions during Biden’s presidency, and it stands to reason the backlash from growing abuses in the next Trump administration would be even stronger.
Yet, that’s a prediction based on the unpredictable nature of the last two decades in U.S. politics. For now, it seems that right-leaning advocates of limited government might welcome the rise of left-driven protests, reminiscent of the Tea Party movement, even if it feels somewhat situational.
Bringing the legislative body back to a functional state will likely require collaboration, whether people are sporting three-cornered hats or just engaging with the issues at hand.
