Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines fascism as “a way of organizing a society in which a government ruled by a dictator controls the lives of the people and in which people are not allowed to disagree with the government” characterized by “…severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition”.

For a country founded on the premise of democracy, the United States of America has been treading a fine line in recent years. From the Patriot Act to the PRISM program, our country has been tumbling down a slippery slope towards fascism at ever increasing speeds. This ridiculous progression of events all started with the Bush administration’s response to 9/11 and it is coming to an explosive head with Donald Trump’s incoherent, polemic, fear mongering rhetoric.

The attack and destruction of the Twin Towers was one of the darkest days in American history. The loss of life was incredible, the fear we felt was palpable and the measures we took to ensure that it never happened again were extravagant. Within a mere six weeks of the collapse of the World Trade Center – the loss of friends and relatives still fresh in our minds – the Patriot Act was passed. The Patriot Act, which wasn’t even read by many of the members of congress who passed it, served as a platform for excessive state control. This US Constitution defying act serves to subjugate American citizens by allowing several extrajudicial measures including but by absolutely no means limiting itself to:

• Allowing the arrest and detainmentof residents and visitors without warrant, evidence or trial; a violation of both Amendment VI (the right to confront your accuser) and Amendment IV (the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury)

• Searching and seizing American’s properties without warrant or probably cause is a direct and blatant violation of Amendment IV (guaranteeing security of person and property unless probably cause is established)

• Because the Patriot Act supersedes rights guaranteed by the US Constitution it also violates Amendment X which was supposed to be a safeguard against the state abusing its power to manipulate the rights of its citizens.

George Bush’s legacy is one of fear and totalitarianism and his successor, Barrack Obama has continued that trend, albeit, more tactfully. In 2013 Edward Snowden leaked highly classified NSA information demonstrating that the American government was spying on not only its own residents but the residents of its allies. He was immediately categorized by Obama and his administration as a traitor and a security risk for informing the citizens of the United States of the NSA’s unchecked, unhindered surveillance of their private lives. The NSA’s astoundingly expansive efforts included the PRISM program which mandated that large US based companies provide personal data on all of their clients. From passive internet and phone monitoring to aggressive, malicious spyware planting – all aspects of technological civil liberties were violated on a daily basis.

Obama responded to Snowden’s allegations by admonishing the NSA and publicly declaring that what they had done was unconstitutional and un-American. The public courts declared the NSA guilty of illegal intelligence gathering and exceeding any acceptable boundaries of government organizations. Obama (having just slapped the NSA on the wrist only weeks before) asked the secret FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance) Court to ignore the public’s decision and allow the NSA to continue their illegal data collection.

What Bush and Obama have done to our country is the beginning of a totalitarian nightmare that is climaxing in the frothing mouth of the vitriolic Donald Trump. The business magnate is somehow at the forefront of the Republican Party despite wanting to build a wall dividing the continental United States from Mexico, ridiculing a war hero and supporting violent acts against a dissenter at one of his rallies. Recently, “The Donald” suggested we ban Muslims from entering the country and even though he was met with vocal opposition, he was also met with boisterous support. What many of his supporters forget is that the last first world nation to ban a religion was Germany – in the late 1930s. At the time, the Nazi regime was in power… with Hitler at its helm.

As the current presidential race continues, Trump’s Orwellian ideals have repeatedly surfaced and been praised by a public used to being subjugated and controlled. The Republican Party has been hesitant to criticize his rabid nationalism, or extreme right wing policies and the Democratic Party’s leading candidate is, herself, a magnet for scrutiny that has repeatedly obstructed justice and acted as if she were above the law.

I am running as an independent because neither am I weak or interested in continuing this trend towards a fascist state. Voting for Art Drew is voting for democracy. I implore you, America, don’t let yourself be controlled anymore.