we are surrounded by authoritarians on all sides right now because power corrupts, and only those that seek power run for office. I reject the notion that what we are dealing with is the end result of any (actual) liberal ideology.

inb4 but muh mass immigration, muh homeless crisis, muh niggers!

all these issues stem from welfare slavery, importing desperate people and then addicting them to government handouts and making them dependent. that's not liberalism. the welfare state was one of the leftist positions that I universally rejected growing up.