Here's the interesting thing. American politicians are always, always talking about "self-determination". They relentlessly lecture other countries: Let your people decide their own fate!
But no way will they allow that freedom in their own country. Try it, and the next thing you know Sherman is burning your town.
That's because these politicians and their enablers in the press and crony capitalist sectors assume they will be the ones at the levers of power, and they will remain "royalty elite," by controlling all sides of the political spectrum. Sometime referred to as "uniparty," a system of insiders pitted against each other, pro wrestling style.
The opposition to each other is mostly fake - sure, some of it is real because staying inside the ring of privilege is valuable and powerful.
So, "let the people decide" is limited to allowing the fake contests to go on. If the people leave the arena, if the people reject the fake contests and bring in a real wrestler, well that's just not fair. The politicians do not want an independent people. They want dependent people. It's obvious, listen to them tell us how much we depend on the government.
-- Try it, and the next thing you know Sherman is burning your town. --
Exactly. The government is violently destructive and hostile to liberty and independence. It has always been this way.