Just to say, this is on par with how many dictatorships are run. Spur of the moment decisions and edicts, with no actual protocol or procedures behind them beyond “this is a thing now”.

That way when you can’t comply, you can be arrested, despite not being able to comply even if you wanted to.

They may decide one day you now need a certain license to practice your profession, but there are no forms or procedures to obtain this license. If you contact the head of that department you are ignored. However, if the govt wants to shut you down at any point (say if you happen to be publicly dissenting) they can officially say it’s because you don’t have that license. The one that is impossible to obtain.

Of course you continue to work, you’ve got to earn a living, but now maybe you’ll keep your head down so the govt hopefully stays off your back.

I’ve kept it vague on purpose but it’s a real example that I’ve witnessed in an actual dictatorship. Not that the US was ever perfect, but the past year should be alarming to everyone who isn’t a fascist.