My take is, AMERICANS are just beginning to get a taste of what the rest of the world has been getting from the United States government since WWII.
Our government is just beginning another "nation building" project where they will subdue the local, and regional (in this case "States") governments, rearrange the political power structure, substituting local officials with more DC friendly leadership.
Cultural influences, and independence has to be subdued, along with the power to disagree with government.
The difference this time is, this "nation building" project is the United States of America. As in all "nation building" projects attempted by the United States government, beat down has to be done incrementally.