And don't say Trump because he is currently asserting federal authority over NY for the laws they passed, and claiming he is a king. In his last term he spent more money than all other presidents combined. He argued in court he had the right as President to use the military to assassinate his political opponents. The Biden administration argued against that idea. I forget, is murdering your political opponents an expression of authoritarian or democratic values?
As far as Democrats, they didn't storm the Capitol and beat police when they lost this year, so that's a false equivalence. One side is happy to burn down the Capitol if they don't win, the other grumbles but accepts the results of the election. One response is authoritarian, the other is democratic.
Ronald Reagan (1981–1989): Fiscal Year 1981: Federal spending was approximately $678 billion. Fiscal Year 1989: Federal spending increased to about $1.14 trillion.
George H. W. Bush (1989–1993): Fiscal Year 1989: Inherited a federal budget of $1.14 trillion. Fiscal Year 1993: Federal spending rose to approximately $1.41 trillion.
George W. Bush (2001–2009): Fiscal Year 2001: Federal spending stood at about $1.86 trillion. Fiscal Year 2009: Federal spending increased significantly to approximately $3.52 trillion.
Donald Trump (2017–2021): Fiscal Year 2017: Federal spending was around $4.1 trillion. Fiscal Year 2021: Federal spending rose to about $6.8 trillion.
Can you explain how the Republican Party is the party of small government, if Republican Presidents in my lifetime have always increased federal spending?
You can’t with a straight face call the party of small government pro authoritarian. Unless you’re purposely skewing reality.