Yes, it would have helped Republicans quite a bit in the last decade. It should be hard for government to institute sweeping changes that only 51% of the voters want.

In other words, it should be hard for the government to govern? Well, that's one way of looking at it.

You know, if they instituted these "sweeping changes" and the public didn't like it, they could always be voted out next time and the changes reversed (with ease!). At least that way the policy would actually get tested. And it seems that the ability to actually enact the majority's wishes is more democratic than not.