"Only the mob and the elite can be attracted by the momentum of totalitarianism itself. The masses have to be won by propaganda.”

-Hannah Arendt

I think people in power who work with other powerful friends to do each other favors and such are attracted to the efficiency and ease totalitarianism promises. If getting things done like "Hey I don't really have to follow THESE laws because we're buddies right?" works, they like that idea...