This is precisely what is happening in America today, as Bush and Cheney are being sucker punched by Osama bin Laden. Authoritarianism is everywhere in the federal government, not because Bush and Cheney do not realize what they are doing, but because they are authoritarians, and they are doing what authoritarians do. In the process they have weakened the fabric of democracy, discredited the American government as never before in the eyes of the world, caused people to wonder if terrorists have a legitimate complaint, and taken the United States far from the moral high ground in refusing to abide by basic international law.

This actually isn't the main thrust of Dean's book. It is more of a scholarly document dealing with authoritarianism in general, and then looking at it as a possible explanation for what has been happening in this country. The case is both convincing and damning. What is happening now is worse than Nixon at his absolute worst, and goes into not just what is happening, but what makes it possible and why there are parts of the public that agree with it.

If you have a brain capable of critical thinking, read this book. Buy it, go to the library and borrow it, find a friend who has a copy, steal it if you have to, but read it.