I think we need to talk about facist tendencies rather than use the term to cover every aspect of the political system in the US. We are not a facist nation as of yet because we still have checks and balances.   There are unquestionably in my mind facistic tendencies at work such as the Ashcroft "disappeared" in Guantanamo. The alarming connection to separate church and state through "faith based iniatives" might be construed this way. The jingoism is rampant and some of the other points could loosely be applied but we still have social security, political opposition to the current administration which is not totally being squelched by the media, no real book or magazine burning, no pressure toward accepting a fuhrer Bush, (even some of his supporters are openly critical of some of his policies such as an expensive space program), no conscripted military, a disenfranchised electorate that has not been herded into concentration camps, and other glaring examples as to how we are still a free and vibrant country. This might change but it hasnt happened yet. OHOH it could go the other way more toward democratic ideals and less hegemonic policies abroad.

I don't think that Bush is doing a good job for America but he's not Hitler. That comparison doesn't seem fair to me. He seeks what every American president seeks, power.

I accept that as an American, I have the right to disagree with him and those who support him have the same right to disagree with me. I don't see that as facism but one of the elements of this country that I love.

Frank