The "Question Authority" meme never really went away, but it's evolved as its boomer carriers aged.I think the evolution has taken two very different paths, as shown by the basic philosophical differences between today's conservatives and liberals.

In conservatives it seems to have changed into the "fear the government" meme. Authority has become the quintessential "Other", distant, impossible to understand or predict, capricious, arbitrary, and above all, scary.And not just government; many conservatives seem to view Big Business and its institutions that way, as scary entities who must be placated lest the Job Creators take away our livelihoods.

For me, and I see it in most other liberals, the notion of a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people", has really taken root. And not just in my perceptions of government, but in general it applies to my relationship with all institutional authorities. I expect openness and transparency, and accountability. Corporations in particular bug me because they actively try to evade all three values. But one thing's for sure: I'm not afraid of Authority, and when I see it misbehaving, I take for granted that I have the power to influence, if not change, rogue authorities.

I think that the phrase "question authority" doesn't often come to mind because it's so internalized. It'd be like a fish needing a "swim in the water!" bumper sticker. I've spent my life questioning authority.