Has DeSantis Democracied Much?

Gauging a Candidate’s Democratic Qualities Against Their Autocratic Tendencies

There’s a reason I like DeSantis running for president. More than any major candidate I remember, he contains every quality needed to lose and is the anti-thesis of democratic ideals. Yes, even more than Trump. So, I get to study him to find out what the heck is wrong with American democracy.

It turns out everything. Though it should be noted hard right candidates with a MAGA conservative style contempt of minorities and democracy are nothing new, DeSantis check all the boxes.

He is “uncompromising.” Yep, the sounds a hundred percent autocratic. Other synonymous phrases include he is unbending; he won’t give in; he takes no prisoners. You probably can think of better ones or more frequent ones and can tell me some in the comments. I like to collect such phrases so I can play spot the autocracy candidate better.

Personality plays a role whether DeSantis likes it or not. You are giving your power to the candidate in a democracy; your vote for them means they represent you. In an autocracy you don’t have much choice, or any choice for that matter. If you don’t like President Xi in China, or MBS in Saudi, don’t worry, you can’t vote for him. They don’t represent you. That’s not how their voting system is set up for you the people, because…