Dakota Beacon

What is authoritarianism? Authoritarianism is a form of government characterized by the curtailment of political plurality; the application of strong central power; and restricting the rule of law, separation of powers, and democratic voting. Forcing compliance through edict rather than law smacks of authoritarianism.

What does authoritarianism look like? Consider the US House Select Committee formed to investigate the January 6, 2021 disturbance at the US Capitol. From the beginning the hearings appeared crooked. The House, controlled by Democrats, formed the committee of nine members including seven Democrats and two Republicans. The two Republicans, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, previously voted to impeach President Trump. As of June 15, 2022 more than 876 demonstrators had been arrested. Of these, 185 have received criminal sentences while the rest await trial. Some have been held in detention, deprived of their livelihood, held in solitary confinement, denied formal charges, were not offered bail, and deprived of the right to a speedy trial. Another 315 entered guilty pleas rather than remain incarcerated without bail. This is what authoritarianism looks like.

Institutional leaders’ control over healthcare, food production, education, social media, and energy keeps the civil population in line. Whether curtailing oil and gas production to fight “climate change” or mandating alternative energy use for the same reasons, elites will force their preferences on the American people – for their own good, of course. That is authoritarianism.

Under the category “never let a crisis go to waste,” COVID has not yet outlived its usefulness. The U.S. could still expect a new COVID national mask policy and nationwide lockdowns. See this as authoritarianism at its best.

Biden’s administration hoped this summer would give them a respite from questions about the illegal immigration crisis the president created. When he signals that the federal government will no longer enforce the law at our borders, an invasion is inevitable. Arrests at the border reached a 21-year high but few illegals show up for court. Inaction sustained by the president's intention to ignore illegal border crossings and not enforce existing laws produced the crisis.

(Note: 8 USC Section 1226(c) says that the government “shall take into custody” certain classes of aliens upon their release, including controlled substance offenders and aliens with “moral turpitude” convictions (e.g., fraud, theft, and sex offenses). DHS, therefore, is violating the Administrative Procedure Act, which prohibits federal agencies from acting contrary to law. It also means that the president is failing to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed,” as called for by Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution.)

Which raises a broader issue. Don’t we have enough laws on the books already? In any given day most of us have violated laws and regulations we don’t even know exist! Why legislate more laws if they are going to be ignored?

Those who control the levers of government power comprise the elite. They see their place in American culture as above the law. Their view of the law serves to keep the population under control. Law is for the common man, not the elite. When was the last time you saw the likes of Hillary Clinton, Hunter Biden, Peter Strzok (FBI), Andrew McCabe (FBI), James Comey (FBI), and other elites held accountable under the law?

When authoritarians control the levers of power they secure their elitist position. Institutional elites rely on the power of civilizational foundations that long predate them (free markets, religious values, military strength) to prop up their failing ideas that, in turn, undermine those very foundations. Authoritarianism contradicts American history and culture. No wonder the elites despise the Tea Party, the Make America Great Again folks, and America in general. They hold little regard for the Constitution and its Amendments – except when it helps them ascend above the greater public. As authoritarians view the world, America must uphold the world order (globalism) to sustain their elitist playground. This, too, smacks of authoritarianism.

Here are more examples of authoritarianism at work. As vice president, Biden oversaw the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, which coerced Americans to enroll in government-run health care. Kamala Harris, during her presidential bid, promised to unilaterally rewrite immigration and gun laws by executive decree. Inspired by various strains of Marxist thought powerful institutional leaders orchestrated riots in American cities for months employing fascistic strategies of looting, destroying property, censoring, and violently coercing civilians through mob intimidation. Under President Obama the IRS in 2010 engaged in political profiling. Led by Lois Lerner the IRS targeted for retribution American organizations such as the Tea Party and other patriotic groups critical of the administration. So many more examples could be cited.

The message from the authoritarians? Do not ever, ever transgress their power or edicts. To do so brings down on the head of the transgressor, the “little guy,” the selective application of the law.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).