How exactly do you get more strict than martial law?
One thing I have also learned from history is that the majority of tyrannical regimes only enacted "temporary" measures. A very small minority ever called anything they did or any new powers "permanent".
To keep with a more well known example for the sake of time, Hitler only was given 4 years of "temporary" powers due to an "emergency" crisis.
The "emergency crisis" was an "act of terrorism" in the burning of the Reichstag, thier parliament building, similar to our Congress. Supposedly set by communists to start a communist revolution.
So for comparison (as we do not have a parliamentary system): essentialy the Capitol building was attacked in an act of terrorism, and the president or powerful individual in government asked for Patriot Act like powers to deal with the crisis.Those powers were granted, and with those powers they slowly insured they gained increasing levels of power while limiting opposition.
The population was drummed up into patriotic support to resist "terrorists".
The Third Reich was born.
Anyone who questioned what was happening was considered unpatriotic, or a "terrorist sympathizer".
Similar to the Dixie Chicks (not a fan) in early 2003 when they questioned Bush going to war with Iraq.
Washington Times 2003:
"They're still all riled up: A well-heeled audience booed the Dixie Chicks plenty during the country music's biggest night of the year Wednesday proof that patriotism continues to run deep through America."
And lines like: "It's yet another scene from an ongoing national morality play with a looming moral: Even celebrities can't mess with respect for country and national unity."
The entire group posed nude on the April 28 cover of Entertainment Weekly magazine, their limbs printed with mottos such as "Saddam's angels," "traitors" and "proud Americans."
So you see, the road to tyranny is not something the average person would recognize even if it was happening. They can be drummed up into support for whatever is going on, and anyone that speaks out can be blackslisted. Considered unpatriotic traitors.
Tyranny usualy comes with applause and many "temporary" measures to deal with a current crisis as history shows.
Fortunately the fervor died down, most of the Patriot Act was repealed, and Bush or someone else didn't take things too much further to "protect us in the War on Terror".
In many other situations in history things were not so fortunate.
The masses can be made to follow or allow anything. They just need to be scared, hungry, or desperate.
Top Nazi, Hermann Goering:
"Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship. ...voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."
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