No Kings, No Fiefdoms
Today has been dubbed “No Kings Day” and tied to protests across the country in defiance of what many view as tyrannical actions by Donald Trump. People taking to the streets to remind everyone that no one person should hold unchecked power. It’s a sentiment which for me ties into having spent years watching how power consolidates among the few at the local level.
I’ve seen it firsthand in Miami’s development battles. The same names, the same developers, the same ZIP codes getting special treatment. Public art funded by public money, serving private circles. SAPs (Special Area Plans) that were supposed to relieve pressure on city staff but ended up giving developers a fast track while small business owners jump through endless bureaucratic hoops.
It’s not just about Trump or any single leader. It’s about systems designed to favor the few over the many. Whether it’s federal politics or neighborhood zoning, the pattern is the same: those with money and connections get to play by different rules, leaving the bulk of the burden on the shoulders of the many toiling in the metaphorical (and sometimes also literal) fields.
The protests today aren’t really about one person, even if that’s the focal point. They’re about recognizing when systems are rigged, when the game is working exactly as it was built to work. Not broken, just designed to benefit those who already have the advantage of funds and clout.
No kings means no fiefdoms either. At every level.