People don't really want freedom. They want security. They don't want the risk of taking care of themselves, even if it means that many of their fellow citizens end up dead.
Rome had a republic, but they threw it away for the illusion of security. We are doing the same.
They'll get neither.
I think the learning that still needs to be done: never let the judicial branch anywhere NEAR the legislative branch.
Unfortunately, even our esteemed Founders let that one ‘slip through’ the cracks.
As for your point, you’ll note even those here fall into that group. “Paying into S.S., Medicare” and the ‘leave your hands off *my*...’ crowd. To the detriment of their own brood (taxes/etc.). Different teat, same big gov’t sow.