point? A point when the moneyed interests get enough control that We The People wont have a chance? Their attack is so insidious that I think we passed the tipping point. We dont have the money to ensure fair elections and enough leverage to get Congress to reform itself.

merriam-webster.com

Fascism

1 often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2
: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control <early instances of army fascism and brutality — J. W. Aldridge>

Dictionary.com

fas·cism
? ?[fash-iz-uhm]
noun
1.
( sometimes initial capital letter ) a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.
2.
( sometimes initial capital letter ) the philosophy, principles, or methods of fascism.
3.
( initial capital letter ) a fascist movement, especially the one established by Mussolini in Italy 1922–43.
Origin:
1915–20; < Italian fascismo, equivalent to fasc ( io ) bundle, political group ( see fasces) + -ismo -ism

and linked to this piece. Scary, scary stuff. This disabled American has never felt vulnerable......until now. I'm careful about what I email because I have no doubt that progressives are the ones who get watched these days.....teabaggers seem to be safely coddled despite the true streak of violence that runs through those right-wingers that never runs through progressives, at least as far as I know.....yet it's progressives who've been repeatedly thrown under the bus through the 8 years of Bush & now through Obama's administration, too. How sad.

I'm with the school that says the fascists have already taken over. And frankly, if Obama wins and his second term is the same as his first, the fascists will continue to be in control. It might be accelerated under Romney & more overt, but both parties are owned by the corporatocracy these days. The Republicans may be more wholly owned and we still have Democrats who'll fight for regular Americans, but far too often policies these days end up favoring corporate America and screwing the 99%.

Background: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce decided to influence jurors to prevent plaintiffs from having a fair trial. They identified several "judicial hellholes," one of which is in my hometown where I practice law. It was not enough to restrict Plaintiff's (citizen's) rights by passing heavy handed tort reform under the guise of getting rid of frivolous lawsuits (98% of U.S. judges say they do not have a problem w/frivolous suits). They started newspapers in these "Hellholes." the 1st editions did not even have advertising. They later added ads to make it look like a real paper. They passed out their 1st edition (the paper is free at the courthouse) to waiting prospective jurors. The 1st edition had 2 stories on the front on frivolous asbestos cases and medical malpractice suits. Ironically, (not), the 2 trials starting that day were a mesothelioma case (horrible death by asbestos exposure), and a medical malpractice case. They have a "record newspaper" in West Virginia and in my town of Beaumont, Texas. Ours is www.southeasttexasrecord.com. Check it out and tell me that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has not had a long term, comprehensive plan to attack our Freedoms! I say, Fuck You! I for one will never stop fighting! America, take that ring out of your nose! We will not be led around any longer! The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a subversive organization! They are anti-American and treasonous. Thom is right, as usual!