Thug Government and Dangerous Times

"If you want to see what American fascism would look like, well this is it."

This is worrying. (More here.)

It just so happens that I am reading yet another book on the rise of Hitler and the Nazis.  Of course I have long known the details but it is always helpful to be reminded of a few things from time to time.  For example,
- Hitler lost the presidential election 37%-53% in April 1932
- Hitler was appointed Chancellor in January 1933
- The Enabling Law was passed in March 1933

Hitler went from an election defeat to becoming dictator in a span of 11 months. With the right tactics, in the right environment, the bad guys can take over a country.  

Of course, electing the bad guys helps too.  Throw in a little economic misery, and this is how you lose your freedoms, lose a country, and unleash murder, mayhem and war.

Oh, and, not coincidentally, the Nazis talked about their political opponents as extremist and less than human terms.