Those who believe that their country is immune to the rise of authoritarianism become complacent. One might even say that they are complicit. Authoritarianism may announce itself in the form of martial law or a military coup. Or more subtly, as when a ruling party uses its total control of the state to lock in its power, as we have seen in Hungary. A constitutionally limited government may abandon democracy and become a dictatorship by electoral means, for example, when candidates vow to imprison their critics, whom they designate “the enemy within.” The institutions of limited government only work when those in office decide to follow the laws that limit their power. Those who say “it can’t happen here” should know that those words were earlier spoken in countries where “it” did happen. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Dr. Palmer will address how we can maintain our vigilance.
