I think there's a useful distinction to be made between a tyranny that tells you what you can't do and then leaves you alone as long as you don't do it (think Singapore, or most historical monarchs), and a tyranny that tells you what you must do and then never leaves you alone again (think North Korea or the British Empire).

Of course, the line is blurred because if the latter is sufficiently incompetent or rules a sufficiently technologically backwards jurisdiction, it will look a lot like the latter. I'm sure the counter-reformation would have liked to impose a totalitarian rule on their lands. But that just wasn't gonna happen given technological capabilities at the time.

- Jake

Austerity can only be implemented in the shadow of a concentration camp.