The road to totalitarianism

There's been a fair amount of recent discussion in the blogosphere about how the United States is headed down the path toward a totalitarian, fascist state. Supposedly it all starts with a "common enemy" that is some sort of vague, faceless danger (i.e. "terrorism" or "Jews"), then continues with the suspension of civil rights and an increasingly powerful executive. The warning signs are all there.

Well, not quite.

Some of the warning signs are certainly there. There is absolutely no question that Bush is running roughshod over the Constitution. There is absolutely no question that the administration is using whatever means they can to achieve their goals, ethical, legal or not. And it is essential that we resist unlawful attempts to seize power. At the same time, though, I feel it is incredibly important to point out exactly why it is far too soon to go into panic mode.

1. The Democrat Party is alive, well and healthy. The Bush administration has not silenced the opposition party, and the opposition party is still quite vocal.
2. The AP, Reuters, AFP, New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and other press are active and independent. They may be biased one way or another, and their reporting may be shoddy, but they have not been silenced.
3. Elections are on pace for 2008. The administration has failed thus far to extend the 2-term limit. Furthermore, none of the candidates has close ties to the current administration. Some candidates have similar views, but this isn't the perpetuating of a small elite. Bush has no heir apparent.

I'm not suggesting things are good. I'm not suggesting we should not be vigilant and allow our rights to be trampled. But I am suggesting that most of the institutions that make this a democratic nation are still in place, and that for better or worse, things will return to normalcy. This isn't Venezuela. Congress still has power. Bush isn't president for life. No Enabling Act has been passed. We, the People, still have the final say. It isn't too late.