Photograph by Nathaniel St. Clair

The historical pattern is clear and documented worldwide. When dictators decide to take over a nation, the first thing they do is purge their government of anyone that doesn’t kow-tow to their ideological mandates. Then they target the intellectuals, the press and those who raise dissent over their loss of freedoms – including individuals, businesses, universities, and political opponents.

Then they turn the military against their own citizens to crush any thoughts of protest while weaponizing the government against any entities that resist the crushing jackboot on their necks.

If this sounds mighty familiar these days, there are far too many reasons to list in one column. In truth, the American people are now largely in shock at what the historically unpopular president is doing to our country — and to the total disregard of the ethics and norms so many have taken for granted.

We have taken pride that our still very young nation was........

© CounterPunch