I Think My Views May Have Changed Some (at least in some emotional way)

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

I agree with realisticidealist almost verbatim. As to what Clarence said, I've always felt that totalitarianism can fall pretty much anywhere on a policy spectrum, and this hasn't changed my view on that (I wouldn't call it 'totalitarian' but I would call it bad and less-than-transparent public policy).

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Yeah, the ugly truth is, by nature of what a state structure is, any limits on its power are basically the honor system. The only reason to have statist leanings of any kind is if you happen to think that the alternative is worse.