Do I? I’m just giving you textbook facts about authoritarianism and the consequences of living under one.

Whether you believe that this relates to your situation is something else. I’m not here to play mind games with you, all I can do is encourage you to simply look at the traits and definition of it, and bring your bingo card with you. Here it is, unaltered from Wikipedia:

Authoritarianism is a political system characterized by the rejection of political plurality, the use of strong central power to preserve the political status quo, and reductions in democracy, separation of powers, civil liberties, and the rule of law.[1][2] Authoritarian regimes may be either autocratic or oligarchic and may be based upon the rule of a party, the military, or the concentration of power in a single person.[3][4]

Also, I gain nothing from this “fantasy conversation” besides the hope that it might help the reader navigate through what’s happening (and that they will avoid the worst of it).