Dr. O' Nothing wrote:2007, the USA:

Racism...check
Rights abuses...check
gov. secrecy...hypercheck
rogue cops...check
violent crime...check
poverty,etc....check
lack of health care...check

Don't forget:

The merger of government and big business, especially military contractors... superhypermegacheck.

That's a major characteristic of historic fascist states.

The entire administrative process and economic structure of this country have been reorganized for the benefit of giant energy concerns and weapons/military contractors. This administration and its cronies have been obscenely wasteful with US tax dollars, using the mantle of the 'War On Terror' to basically write a blank check lavishing hundreds of billions of dollars on just a few corporations which thrive at the expense of our own national economy and the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians abroad, as well as several thousand American soldiers.

There is a large amount of crossover between the personnel at the top executive levels of these companies and the highest-level appointees of the Bush administration. Many Bush appointees to high-level positions in the White House and Pentagon have been hand-picked directly from top energy and defense corporations. By the same token, many Bush cronies who have resigned or been 'relieved of duty' amidst political scandal and allegations of corruption have been welcomed by the energy firms, 'security' companies and defense contractors. The companies hire them on as high-level executives and liaisons to government, where their connections can ensure lucrative government contracts.

This giant circle-jerk is a windfall for the rich guys who deal in death, but the rest of us are struggling to hold onto our jobs and pay our bills with our $600 "economic stimulus package".