[GT40FIED]

I think it depends how you define power. The administrations around the time of...say...J. Edgar Hoover we definitely involved in some seriously shady deals. Hell...Hoover had more dirt on anyone of importance than any human has a right to have. That said, it was all done in a real cloak and dagger kind of way. Behind closed doors and without the slightest hint of public knowledge. So there's really little chance for people to speak out on specific issues because they just plain have no clue that it's happening.

These days there are still no doubt shady deals being done in back alleys but you've got to admit that we're a lot more open about fucking people over than we were 50 years ago. Imprison someone without charges or counsel for an indefinite period of time? Sure. In fact, let's turn it into a law. Place wiretaps on citizen's phones without a warrant and little more than a hunch? Sure...we'll even defend it on national TV even though it's clearly illegal. Simply put, I think a lot of the perception that the government has more power now is purely psychological. They've done all of this shit that make a good amount of people furious, then waved their middle fingers and told us there was nothing we could do about it. Chairman Mao once said "kill one, scare a thousand" and I think the same theory applies loosely here. If you watch someone get royally fucked over you'll think twice about picking up where they left off. It's a great way to keep people quiet...even if it is morally, ethically, and legally reprehensible.