This is very common in human history. Khaddafi (and his family) lived very well for years and years. Only when their government collapses, and the infrastructure that protects them is gone, that the leadership are treated like Khaddafi.
As our federal government gains more power through regulation and control, and the power shifts away from the people, a tyrannical form of government is more likely to happen. The movements to centralize power are control of energy to combat global warming (government control of the people and the economy) and control of our health care system (government control of the people and economy) and disarming the populous (preventing the people from resisting tyranny).
“As our federal government gains more power through regulation and control, and the power shifts away from the people, a tyrannical form of government is more likely to happen.”
More likely? In my view we have had it for decades already. My grandfather would certainly call it tyranny if he were still around. I know it can get worse but NOT calling it tyranny is lie calling someone with diabetes, high blood pressure and morbidly obese healthy because he doesn’t have cancer YET.