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After studying how once democratic nations slide into fascism, writer Naomi Wolf came to a horrifying conclusion: in the last five years, the United States has taken all of the steps that have historically led to the end of democratic governments. She feels we are headed to a Hitler style fascist government in the USA. So Wolf issued a call to citizens to be patriotic and dissent in her book “The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot”.

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Take a look at a speech given by Naomi October 11, 2007 at Kane Hall on the University of Washington campus. In the speech Wolf takes a historical look at the rise of fascism, outlining the 10 steps necessary for a state to take control of individuals’ lives and slide into fascism:

1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy.
2. Create secret prisons where torture takes place.
3. Develop a thug caste or paramilitary force not answerable to citizens.
4. Set up an internal surveillance system.
5. Harass citizens groups.
6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release.
7. Target key individuals.
8. Control the press.
9. Treat all political dissents as traitors. (Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. George Bush)
10. Suspend the rule of law.

The book explains how this model was followed in Nazi Germany and Mussolini’s Italy as well as elsewhere, and compares it to the current affairs of state in the American Political power scene since September 11, 2001.

It is amazing to me how much of this has already taken place or is taking place. Isn’t Black Water a perfect example of #3? Just something to think about.

She is so right about what she says - especially about things like the move to silence opposition through the Patriot Act and being able to label people as “enemy combatants”. The main thing is the current administrations removal of the checks and balances from the system, checks and balances necessary to prevent the abuse of power. There has been a huge power grab ever since George Bush took office. The Bush administration has eroded the constitution many times over.

In the book, the Ten Steps to Fascism are referenced with historical data. She points out that fascism can exist without a dictatorship. Her warning is urgent, a citizen’s call to action. We are living through a dangerous “fascist shift” brought about by the Bush administration. After all, it was Bush who said about the Constitution: “It’s just a goddamned piece of paper.”

On September 11th, 2001 there was a conspiracy waged for war with Iraq and Afghanistan for oil and corporate greed.

This video is a reminder of that, and is a compilation of clips I put together, with a song by the legendary musical activist John Kasper, whose musical talent and ambition rival that of big-time musicians. Anthony Krizan of the legendary *Spin Doctors* produced “Conspiracy of Silence” with the New Jersey based John Kasper Band.

“Remind us again how September Eleventh will justify all of your unjustifiable wars.”
~ John Kasper’s Official Website ~ | ~ John Kasper’s Official MySpace ~

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Dare To Be Imprisoned, Beaten, and Downtrodden! Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine. It is unconstitutional to prevent the people from petitioning, in a peaceable and orderly manner. The “right to petition” is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution, and specifically prohibits Congress from abridging “the right of the people…to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

An Oakland Police officer fires a shotgun at a group of anti-war protesters near the Port of Oakland

Female Protester hit by Oakland police rubber bullet weapon during peaceful anti-war protest in Oakland, California

This man faces a six-month jail sentence for taking part in the 2006 Peace March to the Pentagon (Photo by Matthew Bradley)

Man being arrested at Antiwar protests in San Francisco (Photo by Franco Folini)

Police use force against a protester 2006 Peace March to the Pentagon (Photo by Matthew Bradley)

Iraq Die-in March 19th - four years of the Iraq war (Photo by Steve Rhodes)

The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle… ~ Samuel Adams, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He signed the Declaration of Independence, and played a prominent role during protests against the Stamp Act, and in the protests during the Boston Tea Party in 1773.

To stand in silence when they should be protesting makes cowards out of men. This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it. ~ Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States of America