Meanwhile, 44 percent backed the American tradition of competing branches of government as a model, if sometimes ā€œfrustrating,ā€ system.

Why would people want to live under an authoritarian’s thumb? It’s rooted, experts say, in a psychological need for security—real or perceived—and a desire for conformity, a goal that becomes even more acute as the country undergoes dramatic demographic and social changes. People also like to obey a strong leader who will protect the group—especially if it is the ā€œrightā€ group whose interests will be protected. Recall the Trump supporter who, during the 2019 government shutdown, complained, ā€œHe’s not hurting the people he needs to be hurting.ā€

  • outdated2139
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    9 months ago

    I wouldn’t say that everyone wants their own benevolent dictator, but the ones who have that view can only picture theirs in power. I’m sure Hitler had a bunch of people who liked what he was doing.