Authoritarian ideologies are afraid of free thought and free speech. Why?

Thatcher gave the answer when she observed that socialists don’t like people to choose because they might not choose socialism.

From one inherently authoritarian ideology to another, the Chinese have the same fear but are a little ahead of the curve on expunging ideas and speech, which place individual liberty ahead of the state’s approved message, than our local socialists and Marxists. But as we witness the punishment, deplatforming, milkshakes and assaults carried out by left wing supporters we know it’s not far off.

Just don’t give them power.