Yes, it definitely depends on whether you're cherry-picking a few issues or taking a more balanced view. When it comes to property rights, most would say the De

Yes, it definitely depends on whether you're cherry-picking a few issues or taking a more balanced view. When it comes to property rights, most would say the Democrats' acceptance of higher taxation and regulation makes them more authoritarian. And then there's the second amendment. On the other hand, the "anti terrorism" (pro war) "tough on crime" Republicans seem rather inimical to individual freedom at a much more fundamental level: * More search, seizure, and surveillance * Less due process * Less independent judiciary * More suppression of information (violation of public records laws, gag orders, general enmity toward science/journalism/education) * More tolerance of authoritarian regimes elsewhere * Corruption and concentration of influence among leaders' cronies Really, unless you're a corporation, you have much more to fear under a Republican government than under a Democrat one. If you want to see which party is more authoritarian, look at which one real civil-liberties organizations like ACLU, CCR, etc. find more objectionable. More partisan-political organizations that focus only on "economic rights" and generally act as extensions for the Chamber of Commerce don't paint an accurate picture.