Authoritarian or Autocrat? What is the difference?

Is Trump an Autocrat or Authoritarian?

To answer the question of whether Donald Trump is an autocrat or an authoritarian, it's essential to first define the terms themselves. Autocracy refers to a system of government in which one person possesses unlimited power, often exercising it without the consent of the governed. This could be a dictatorship, where the leader has absolute control over the state and its functions. In contrast, authoritarianism is a concentration of power in a leader that limits political discourse and suppresses dissent, while still allowing for some degree of restricted individual freedoms.

Donald Trump's leadership style has often been criticized as polarizing. His tenure as the President has been marked by a series of controversial decisions and statements that raised questions about his respect for our democratic institutions. Supporters argue that he is a transformative leader who challenges the status quo and the political establishment, while critics contend that his actions undermine the principles of democracy.

When determining whether Trump fits into the categories of autocrat or authoritarian, we need to examine specific characteristics associated with these leadership styles.

Autocrats centralize power, bypassing traditional checks and balances. They may also try to manipulate the electoral processes to maintain their grip on power. In the case of Trump, his frequent criticisms of the media, judiciary, and intelligence agencies, along with his dismissal of electoral results that did not favor him, show tendency toward autocratic behavior. These tactics are right out of the old playbooks used by dictators and autocratic leaders.

On the other hand, authoritarian leaders often rely on a strong ideological narrative to maintain control and justify their actions. Trump's populist rhetoric resonates with many who feel disenfranchised by the political system. His appeals to nationalism and a disdain for political correctness, reflect elements of authoritarian control, where dissenting voices are often marginalized or attacked.

The perception of Trump as either an autocrat or authoritarian varies widely among different groups. Supporters often view him as a protector of American values, arguing that his unorthodox approach is necessary to combat what they see as a corrupt political establishment. However, opponents argue that his tactics have eroded democratic institutions, leaving in its wake a climate of division and hostility. This polarization is how leaders who exhibit authoritarian tendencies can still maintain substantial support among their base.

My conclusion is, Donald Trump is an authoritarian who has designs on being an autocrat.

How did I draw that conclusion? Because Donald Trump is not hard to figure out. Trump spent his entire life as an authoritarian and autocrat. All businessmen or businesswomen demonstrate some degree of those characteristics. At least successful ones do. Businesses are not a democracy and are not run by votes. He has brought those business traits with him to government. That is bad.

In the process of his belief that every decision is his and his alone, he has disregarded the democratic process and ignores half of the population. In the process he has persuaded his followers that a single decision maker is good for everyone. That is creating a cult mentality.

The result of his singular decision-making process is that the people he put in important position’s who should be making decisions based on background and experience are inexperienced and are in fact sycophants who are interested in their own personal ambitions and gains.

How will this end? We hope with elections that will put the levers of government power back into the hands of an electorate who have decided that looking back on the history of authoritarian and autocratic governments is not the road we want this country to be on.

It’s time to remember the quote from Georger Santayana from 1905! "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". In other words, learn from mistakes and don’t fucking do it again!

Are things perfect? No! Do we need a daddy to tell us what to do? No!

Do we need a military in our streets? Fuck that! People who follow authoritarians, cannot think for themselves and are too lazy to grab a handful of problems and fix them.

I have worked for and with authoritarians. Not just one but many. They are all the same. They are all convinced they are right and have the answer to everything.

Is Donald Trump an authoritarian? Yep.

Could he or those who follow him become autocratic? Yep.

Think about it and be sure to VOTE!

Jack Wilson

Opinion