this is definitely an opinion piece with many facts to support a thesis about what's been happening in the U.S. It would have been a better piece with some information from experts who have studied patterns which led to fascist regimes. However, there have been others looking at the Bush administration's actions who have taken similar paths as Ms. Wolf. In the lead-up to the 'war' with Iraq, Senator Byrd of West Virginia made a long speech in the Senate in which he used (I believe it was) many quotes fromHerman Goerring regarding how a government can convince the people to let it take whatever actions it desires even when which the public would normally object to those actions. These steps sound similar to that recipe. and john dean of nixon's administration has written a book which describes some tendencies of those on the right to desire to control the public in ways which also remind one of Ms. Wolf's thesis here. it is important for americans to understand that this government is doing something different from what we have known and to try to figure out why. this piece should make us at least think about it .more. t