Lawlessness and authoritarianism aren’t opposites; they go hand in hand.

Those who affirm the rule of law most loudly and call for harsher treatment of (selected) lawbreakers often end up being lawbreakers themselves, or defenders of brazen disregard for the law by their leaders with authoritarian aspirations.

Respect for authority as “God-ordained” is selectively invoked as a means of justifying abuse of power and mistreatment of others (e.g., children of refugees, women in abusive marriages), then tossed aside when the rules aren’t in line with our personal preferences (e.g., mask mandates).

People who dare to investigate our leaders or check their power are traitors, but the Confederates who took up arms against their own government in defense of slavery are heroes who deserve to have military bases named after them.

Law enforcement officers are held in the highest regard until they stand in the way of a violent, lawless attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power and execute the Vice President (Jan 6).

We’re outraged by those who “disrespect our military” by taking the wrong posture during the national anthem, then nod approvingly when our leaders talk about civil war and assure us that “when the times comes,” this same military for which we have such reverence will be no match for our populist mob and the AR-15s they’ve kept clean “for such a time as this.”

Authoritarian groups are often lawless until they succeed in becoming the law. They believe in the rule of law only insofar as they can use it to wield control. When they cannot, they behave as if they and their leaders are above the law, because deep down they recognize the exercise of power as legitimate only if they’re the ones exercising it.