Autocratic Breakthrough

Thom Hartmann has described the 14 steps to tyranny, how autocratic breakthrough happens.  According to Hartmann those fourteen steps are:
 Demonization of political opponents using dehumanizing language such as traitors, enemy of the people and scum

1.  Attacks on the press with claims that the media is fake news or the enemy
2.  Politicization of law enforcement and intelligence agencies
3.  Elevation of the executive above co-equal branches of government, bypassing legislative authority
4. Election manipulation. The ruling party makes it progressively more and more difficult to vote.
5. Judicial capture characterized by the regime packing the courts with lawyers and judges who put their loyalty to the leader over their oath to the nation and its laws.
6. Criminalization of the opposition by prosecuting rival politicians
7.  Militarization of domestic law enforcement
8. Fusion of party and state in which open loyalty and fealty to the regime or party becomes necessary for state employment and government media become party propaganda
9. Abolition or nullification of meaningful elections, or postponing elections indefinitely
10. Loss of civil liberties, including freedom of assembly, speech and movement
11. Constitutional overhaul or emergency rules to entrench autocratic power
12. Exile, imprisonment, or assassination of opposition begins when key dissenters are forced into hiding.
13. Strongman cult of personality replaces institutional legitimacy.

 Many of these steps to tyranny have already been taken.  Hartmann says, “…it’s so crucial that we educate people about this process and this history so that we can stop that process now while it is still possible.”
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Jim Rabata

Manitowoc