At most times and places in history, state authorities have had pretty wide discretion to help or hurt folks. People knew to submit to authorities, and to accept occasional arbitrary applications of authority power. Thankfully, such applications were limited by the fact that authorities were distracted trying to keep their power via keeping the peace, meeting revenue targets, etc.,
Today folks proudly bask in a glow of higher status by believing that they have more control over their government. They believe democracy puts them in charge, and that a �rule of law� drastically discourages arbitrary applications of authority power. They are deluded.
Whole piece at Overcoming Bias.