&gt;&gt; No people ever recognize their dictator in advance. He never stands for election on the platform of dictatorship.<p>She obviously never imagined the state of American politics today.  A good chunk of them now openly want a &quot;strongman&quot; in the high office.  The degree to which they want to be bullied by those they elect boarders on socio-political masochism.<p>So I disagree with Thompson.  To say that people don&#x27;t see the dictator coming is too easy.  The people must be held to account for the leaders they create, else the cycle repeat.