Sadly, many people just want to be highly trusted in society (whilst themselves fearing most of the rest of it). It's why we flirt with/fall face first into authoritarianism every few decades.
yes, better dead then red scare and Mccartyism that faded during nixon-regan into more capitalistic freedom when the USSR failed and there was opportunity around the world.
We created an extrajudicial prison outside of our borders to house "prisoners too dangerous for the normal court system", created an entirely new surveillance police force, and expanded FISA in response to 9/11.
So if that's not asking authoritarianism if they'd like to go out for drinks, we have very VERY different views on freedom.
Also, I really don't care about other "advanced democracies", we're talking about America and it's not really relevant to my points.
Authoritarian are not high trust. And people who call for authoritarian societies are not calling for high trust. They call for control and subjugation.
Whoever call for it usually thinks they are rich or influencial enough to never ever be affected. They really do believe in it right until they take a flight out of some office window.
One fascist guy who took part on the murder of a socialist MP when fascism had just gotten in power was jewish. Ended up being killed by nazis later on.
Did the US or any advanced democracy "flirt with/fall face first into authoritarianism" a few decades ago?