Authoritarian regimes crave power and influence. They enjoy being perceived as elites soaring far above the affairs of ordinary people. They relish pomp and circumstance, which celebrate and put them at the center stage.
Hitler’s followers wore sharp uniforms, marched in unison with goose steps, and energized themselves with patriotic music. Loyalty is a key aspect of authoritarian groups, and rank commands the highest respect. When our president went to court, several congressmen showed up wearing blue suits and red ties, the uniform of their commander-in-chief.
Authoritarian regimes often identify a group to scapegoat and blame for all issues. Part of their tactic is to depict the group or groups as less than human, thus not deserving the same treatment they might give to friends or family. They enjoy targeting vulnerable people who can’t defend themselves and pose little threat.
The current administration has exaggerated the immigration issue and portrayed immigrants as criminals ready to invade communities. It attempts to create a fear-driven crisis and then heroically intervenes to solve it. By depicting refugees as criminals, the administration believes it can treat them accordingly. It cages them and treats them like animals because that aligns with the image the administration has constructed. Words like vermin are popular with authorities because they suggest filth that must be eradicated.
Like Hitler’s Third Reich, the current administration wants to build a country of strong, white men and women, although their leader is an out-of-shape, portly man who has seen better days. Trump likes his Health and Human Services appointee because RFK Jr. emphasizes a healthy lifestyle. He appears more focused on diet and exercise than on illness and its prevention. Hitler eliminated many mentally ill and disabled people, along with other marginalized groups. The authoritarian’s idea of the perfect man or woman is the stuff of fiction, not unlike a Superman or Wonder Woman comic book.
Excellent, spare prose that makes the idea of dictatorship crystal clear.