Naomi Wolf

There are 10 classic steps despots and would be dictators use to close down a democracy. They were first developed by Mussolini, perfected by Hitler, and refined in subsequent decades until we are seeing them recycled today.

Naomi Wolf studied history to document these steps which she has discussed in her book "The End of America" as a warning to us all.

The founding fathers of the US were well aware that governments can and do abuse their power at the expense of civil liberties if not restrained by checks and balances in the system. The US constitution is a reflection of the founders' vision.

For example, all would be dictators start by invoking a real or imagined threat to society as a pretext to get the people to sign away some of their powers, accusing critics of being unpatriotic. Hmm... sound like 9/11 to you?

Step 2 is establishing a prison outside the rule of law where torture takes place, and prisoners are stripped of due process. The despots start by attacking the people at the margins of society and work their way in to anyone who criticizes the government.

Hear them all here: