Here's a Short, Descriptive, Remarkably Accurate Term

From Samizdata comes a suggestion that we call a spade a spade when it comes to what our putatively representative forms of government actually are:

Populist Authoritarianism

Property rights? What are those? The tyranny of the majority (or their elected representatives who know what's best for all of us) has spoken! Smoking? Verboten! Fast food? In their gunsights. Guns? You're not qualified! You cannot possibly make a decision for yourself that is not first reviewed and approved by the nanny-state!

Spread the meme.