In the movie “Cool Hand Luke” the warden tells Luke “What we have here is a failure to communicate.” Today many Americans are having a problem with getting truthful communications. Certain groups of Americans and others put out “slanted truth”, half truths, and complete lies on Cable and Internet. In spite of what the real news, bi-partisan news, checks, and commonsense millions of Americans are deceived into believing lies.

History is full of examples of a man leading a small group of devotees who fawned over the leader while going forward with greater plans and activities. Just as with other authoritative leaders, they like to make speeches to inflame their followers to their countries’ despair.

Such leaders must have a population of some ethnic, race, or religion to demonize. Once in power those groups which had helped the leader attain power were eliminated one group at a time until the leader and the small group of sycophants are in total control and the rest of the country has little choice to do anything about it. They take control of the media so all information the people receive is what the leader wants them to know.

Among those in the total control of the national police, military, bureaucrats, and media today are Putin, XI and Kim. Past leaders are Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini. All followed the same track to take control of their country. We should all know one American who is on that track so why support him?

        My Webster’s Dictionary defines an authoritarian as an adjective meaning “as believing in or characterized by absolute obedience to authority.” We have two basic types of authoritarians today. One is Russia’s President Vladimir Putin where politburo/parliament dares not to disagree with him making him a dictator in name. China’s President Xi Jinping has a stronger Communist Party to enforce his demands.

            Several countries of lesser status like Venezuela and Cuba have authoritarians. Some are controlling all functions and law enforcement in their countries. Israel and other countries have rewritten or reinterpreted their constitutions. Among those are India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan. Dissent in those countries is dealt with extra judicial means.

            The one connecting thought among all of those men is they are openly friendly and supportive of each other as a way of showing strength to stay in power even if their former laws limited their time in office. Those who lost their elections have all declared the election was fraudulent and crooked. When they are investigated they claim it is a witch hunt. Do the words sound familiar? Maybe it is because the same political advisors for Trump have worked in other countries. Most, if not all, have constitutions or laws preventing their head of state from being jailed. That is one reason Netanyahoo of Israel courted the far right to get back to Prime Minister. Does that sound familiar in this country? Postpone, delay, stall and hope to be sworn in on January 20, 2025 and protected at least four more years or until death.

What is leadership in today’s political environment and what is authoritarianism? Leadership can be doing what the group wants done or guiding the group to another or greater idea than the original idea. An authoritarian is someone who has total control over the group and all ideas are the leader’s. The group has no involvement in decision making.
                Today we have political leaders with messianic powers over their people. The people are told what to think, say, and do. Disagreeing may mean jail or death. Sometimes their agenda is wrapped in religion as in Turkey with Erdoğan. Others like China’s Xi Jinping have wrapped their agenda within their idea of the Chinese brand of Communism. Both are authoritarians who have a semblance of being elected.
            Putin eliminates any opposition candidate with prison or murder so he can continue in power. In Iran opposing people are jailed and their party banned from the ballot. Other countries do the same but we aren’t aware because their country isn’t in the news. Many of the old Soviet Bloc countries are in that category.
            For a leader to continue in authoritative power they must have control of all or at least a sizeable group of people. These people must believe what that person says no matter how outrageous and obviously false the statements are. This Hitler-like control of sycophants destroys all semblance of democracy while making an easily identified portion of another group evil and destructive.
            Such people have enormous egos and need the adoration of their followers to override constitutions, laws, and morals of their country. Absolute loyalty, in spite of facts, is dangerous to all.