On a couple of other threads, while others were deeply (and rightly) concerned about the bellicose intentions of the Bush administration, I made it a point to caution people not to be so distracted that they didn't notice what was happening domestically: the erosion of social programs and the laws being passed that negate the Bill of Rights and other portions of the Constitution.

Being a student of history and detecting a number of ominous parallels, I alluded to things that were going on in Germany in the 1930s. A few people took me to task for invoking the image of the nasty little man with the postage stamp mustache. I was not trying to say that Bush was that kind of monster. I was saying, however, that with the Patriot Act (already passed) and other "national security" laws that the Bush administration is trying to push through, they are setting the United States up for someone of that stripe to come along. And they are out there.

I hope I'm wrong, but so far, I stand by my warning. By undercutting the Bill of Rights, we're traveling a dangerous path.

Don Firth