Don Firth has made the point that we are not nearly a "facist" state yet, but are "moving in that direction"....

Of course G. Bush and cronies, having been raised in the U.S.A with certain values and traditions, do not sound just like Hitler in 1933 or Mussolini in the same era, but their impulses to adopt various of the practices noted in the 14 characteristics above make me wonder how G. Bush would have developed and acted had his family been part of Italy or Germany in the 1930s!

Yeah, it's speculation, but I see trends and explanations and laws and claims and manipulation of the political processes that leave me aghast! The conservatives not only want to *win*, as any political movement does, they want to Gerrymander voters and 'adjust' laws and alter financing and control the courts and pressure voters in 'interesting' ways that they will never, ever LOSE again! They seem to be willing to do as Hitler did, and make the very machinery of the state operate according to THEIR rules.

If all the changes in laws and procedures that are being pushed become standard, my grandchildren may just notice a bit more resemblance to classical fascism someday! I agree with Don's comment that "The best time to put out a fire is when you first smell smoke and see the first flames, not when the house is fully engulfed."

Patriot Acts and "homeland security" practices and tax law changes..etc..are disturbing puffs of smoke which need to be monitored!