Precisely, Barry. I have seen the obvious movement toward fascism growing stronger and stronger in the USA ever since I first lived there in the 1960's, and it is stronger now than it has ever been. It is most vigorously supported by the neoconservative movement, allied with major corporate players and the military-industrial complex. All the symptoms you mention above are typical of the phenomenon and they have been happening at a growing pace, specially since 911, which was the American "burning of the Reichstag" excuse (whoever actually did it...) for ramping up domestic oppression and overseas aggression.

The USA also has 2 official political parties who are effectively BOTH pursuing a very similar set of objectives, while pretending publicly to be different from one another. This is a handy way of giving common people the false impression that they still live in a working democracy, when in fact they really do not.

Both of the US parties would be considered anything but "liberal" in most other parts of the developed world. One (Dems) is a wolf in sheep's clothing, the other (Reps) is a wolf in wolf's clothing...even with an important official named Wolfowitz. Perfect.

God save America...from itself. And God protect the rest of the world from America when its teeth are bared.

- LH