came across this video on qbn.com that, although lengthy, is definitely worth the time if you truly care about the future of america and our democracy. the speaker states that there is a blueprint of things that always happen when would-be despots are seeking to close down an open society (i.e. crush a democracy) as drafted by mucelini and followed by hitler and then stalin who each perfected it from one another:
1. invoke an internal and external threat and abuse it
2. create a secret prison system where torture takes place that is outside the rule of law; establish military tribunals that strip prisoners of due process
3. create a paramilitary force
4. create a surveillance/security apparatus aimed at ordinary citizens
5. arbitrarily detain and release citizens and infiltrate ordinary citizen groups
6. target key individuals (press, academics, media, etc)
7. restrict the press
8. recast criticism as espionage and treason, expand definition of “terrorist” to include more critics/people
9. subvert the rule of law, or simply declare martial law
here’s the video on youtube if you are concerned about our democracy.