In the Guardian, Naomi Wolf shows us the road to a "Fascist America, in 10 Easy Steps":

1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy
2. Create a gulag
3. Develop a thug caste
4. Set up an internal surveillance system
5. Harass citizens' groups
6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release
7. Target key individuals
8. Control the press
9. Equate dissent with treason
10. Suspend the rule of law

You can see that, as concerned as I am about the slippery slope we're on in America, I still couldn't resist the temptation to edit item #9 for parallel construction.