"In America, the rule of law is king. But where says some is the King of America? In America the law is king. For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be King; and there ought to be no other. But lest any ill use should afterwards arise, let the crown at the conclusion of the ceremony be demolished, and scattered among the people whose right it is."

— Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

What characterizes a tyrant or king, as espoused by those with authority in the matter:

  1. Immunity from prosecution and legal processes in opposition to his or her actions. A person not subject to the rule of law. (John Locke: "Wherever law ends, tyranny begins." Roman philosopher Seneca, d. 65 CE: clemency is the quality that most distinguishes a tyrant.)
  2. A ruler who exercises the means of governance in service to his or her own interests, and profit. (Aristotle)
  3. A tyrant disregards the rights of individuals.
  4. Tyrants use deception, fear, and intimidation to maintain authority. Prosecution, unemployment, and the like. (Prof. Daniel Treisman.)
  5. The tyrant exercises a corrupt intellect (Plato) while perverting truth. A tyrant's perversion of truth is a systematic method of control that uses lies, misinformation, and the manipulation of language to destroy objective reality and dominate a population. By dismantling the very concept of truth, tyrants can eliminate dissent, maintain an authoritarian narrative, and make citizens more dependent on the state for guidance.
  6. The tyrant silences the media while installing allies in positions of political power who are willing to pledge their unquestioning loyalty and obedience to the tyrant.
  7. Tyrants create unreal threats in order to exploit their own followers and maintain dominance over the whole population as people react to fear by conforming to their leader and his or her will. (Robert Higgs.)
  8. Lack of accountability: Leaders face little or no consequences for their crimes, and transparency is minimal.
  9. Eliminate checks and balances. (Prof. Daniel Treisman.)
  10. Pretend to arrest a political opponent for non-political reasons. (Prof. Daniel Treisman.)
"Wherever law ends, tyranny begins." John Locke

John Locke again, more fully:

"… this is making use of the power any one has in his hands, not for the good of those who are under it, but for his own private separate advantage. When the governor, however entitled, makes not the law, but his will, the rule; and his commands and actions are not directed to the preservation of the properties of his people, but the satisfaction of his own ambition, revenge, covetousness, or any other irregular passion."