Reply #9: 10 Steps to Despotism...being followed almost by the letter...

[TruthBeTold65]

Per the book "The End of America : Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot" by Naomi Wolf, which is a study of the rise of dictatorships in the early 20th century, came up with these 10 steps that were seen in all cases:

>>> 1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy. (Done: Terrorism)
>>> 2. Create secret prisons where torture takes place. (Done: Gitmo & various secret holding areas in the world)
>>> 3. Develop a thug caste or paramilitary force not answerable to citizens. (Done: See OWS tactics by police; Federalizing of National Guard Troops)
>>> 4. Set up an internal surveillance system. (Done: Adding cameras everyday; Tapping/Tracking of all electronics)
>>> 5. Harass citizens' groups. (Done: i.e., OWS or those who are "against us")
>>> 6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release. (Done: Gitmo; various "special" people around the world...most we aren't aware of)
>>> 7. Target key individuals. (In progress: we have seen this by the US going after US and foreign individuals throughout the world)
>>> 8. Control the press. (In progress: There is a partial control from the right and "use" of the press by both sides)
>>> 9. Treat all political dissidents as traitors. (Done: "Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists."...per GWB)
>>> 10. Suspend the rule of law.<5> (Done: Per various laws/acts/orders since 9/11, peoples rights under the law are being stripped away. This video points to one major one.)