and they certainly have a good point.

But the reverse is also true, by dispersing power to individual economic and political entities you allow local thugs to take over. What you have in Russia today, and what the hard right would like to install here, is a gangster state, run by a loose alliance of oligarchs. If you look carefully at Project 2025, it is a plan to install exactly such a state. There's a lot of handwaving about ideology and culture, but its really all about money.

And these gangster states are not necessarily all on the Right. Look at Cuba and Venezuela, and coming soon, Mexico.

Magna Carta limited the divine right of kings, but it did not lead to increased rights for the common man. Granted, King John was a very bad king, but rule by the local barons was no improvement.

I'm looking forward to reading Applebaum's book. She appears to be a worthy successor to Barbara Ehrenreich.