In 2007 Naomi Wolf wrote a piece called "Fascist America, in 10 easy steps."
From Hitler to Pinochet and beyond, history shows there are certain steps that any would-be dictator must take to destroy constitutional freedoms.
It was about George Bush.
The piece itself is a bit breathless at times. Back then, too, she claimed that all 10 steps had been activated in some manner.
While I, too, opposed the "Patriot Act," I did not at the time share her concern that we were about to go full-bore fascist. I viewed it as another step or two on our journey towards an increasingly powerful and authoritarian state that had been taking place for decades.
I am less sanguine this time.
Wolf created a video about 6 months ago on Facebook. This was much more comfortable for her in that she keyed in on Trump and repeated some liberal talking points.
What's interesting is, she's not backing down, even with a new president. And to her credit, she is taking some risk leaving her liberal lane to sound the alarm bells again.
And this time I think she is a lot closer to being correct.
She even appeared on Tucker Carlson this week.
Here are the ten steps:
1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy
COVID-19 fits the bill nicely. Not only did it originate from beyond our borders (back when we had borders), but can you think of anything more internal than a virus?
2. Create a gulag
The government created the greatest gulag in our history: Our homes. If you were deemed "non-essential," you were to go into "lockdown," the same term used when prisons are trying to quell a riot.
3. Develop a thug caste
Antifa, anyone? BLM, in many instances, too.
4. Set up an internal surveillance system
Contact tracing, vaccine passports, and so on seem to fit the bill nicely. A week does not go by that my phone does not harass me about this. Speaking of which...
5. Harass citizens' groups
It's almost as if the whole citizenry has become a citizen's group, at least if you dare speak out against any of the edicts passed down by our rulers. Small business owner? Prepare to be harassed, and more.
6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release
Strange that Gavin Newsom hasn't been harassed for ignoring his own Covid rules.
7. Target key individuals
Big Tech is only too happy to!
8. Control the press
You don't have to control someone if they're already on your side. And they'll do their best to control the few remaining voices that are inconvenient to the narrative.
9. Dissent equals treason
You're not being unpatriotic, are you?
10. Suspend the rule of law
Right to assemble, right to worship, even freedom of speech, if you view Big Tech as effectively an arm of the government given how well their interests are aligned.
I'll leave you this, one line that stood out for me from Wolf's original piece in 2007:
It is a mistake to think that early in a fascist shift you see the profile of barbed wire against the sky.
It might be a mistake... but not always.
