I just wish we could say this stuff was new. It isn't, of course. Persistent abuses of liberties at the state and local levels are the reason the federal government has to frequently step in to at least keep them mostly under control.

It's a balancing act, though, remembering that political power comes from the voters, who not only can take it away and give it to someone else every two and four years, but who also can empower or take power away from sitting pols midterm by expressions of their will.

That in fact happens very often, as often as local majorities feel their will is being oppressed by applications of U.S. constitutional principles. Federal "tyranny," as they almost always regard it.

Again, though, let's not join the far right to claim the entire nation is sunk under tyranny. Not while real political oppression, kidnappings, murders, imprisonments without trial, tortures, and mass killings are taking place in other nations this very moment.