Sarah, your article, while well-timed, is about 20 years late. 

See American dictatorship began 20 years ago. Just that the people were too stupid, to washed, to know it. Further they were bribed by their own money to celebrate the splendid freedom of the dictators. This era of American Dictatorship began with the Bill Clinton regime and continued unabated today. It just got more exposed while more entrenched as it proceeds. 

Today more Americans like you are finding out America in fact have been ruled by dictatorship. All the time criticizing and loathing foreign dictatorships. Stupidity have a way of reverse shock. 

There will be a new dictator in town. The Donald loathes China 'dictators' so much he will launch a war on it soon. Just like dictator GW on Iraq. 

Fortunately, China is not Iraq. But then don't count on those who warred on China twice (Korea, Vietnam) but got defeated to remember things.