{"id":5436,"date":"2014-05-01T02:45:20","date_gmt":"2014-05-01T06:45:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/?p=5436"},"modified":"2026-09-02T10:26:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T17:26:11","slug":"incremental-steps-to-dictatorship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/","title":{"rendered":"Are We Heading Towards Tyranny?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Maria Kneas<\/a>
\n<\/strong>
\nHistory shows us that as free nations become complacent, they become vulnerable to manipulation. Most dictatorships rise gradually\u2014a step at a time. Smooth-talking politicians make each incremental step seem reasonable, because the masses are blind to the tides of change.<\/p>\n

We have been warned over and over. But sadly, a time comes when the wisdom of the watchmen is no longer heeded:<\/p>\n

\u201cEternal vigilance is the price of liberty.\u201d (Wendell Phillips)<\/p>\n

\u201cGiving leaders enough power to create \u2018social justice\u2019 is giving them enough power to destroy all justice, all freedom, and all human dignity.\u201d (Thomas Sowell)<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who cannot remember the past are con\u00addemned to repeat it.\u201d (George Santayana)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.\u201d (Edmund Burke)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Austria illustrates the power of gradualism. In 1933, it was a free nation. In 1934, its government began to centralize its power and welcome the influence of Nazi sympathizers. By 1938, it had become a Nazi dictatorship.<\/p>\n

The downward slide began with one crisis after another. A third of the people were out of work, inflation rose to 25%, and political turmoil caused civil unrest. People longed for a leader to rescue them. Adolf Hitler cam\u00adpaigned in Austria, promising to solve their problems if they were annexed to Germany. A persuasive speaker, he gave them hope and won their hearts. The Austrian people voted him in.1<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

Why? How could the Austrians be so blind? The answer is simple: they faced hard times, so they chose to believe Hitler\u2019s promises. They didn\u2019t see him as we do\u2014brutal, arrogant, narcissistic and ruthlessly ambitious. That image came later, when it was too late to escape his grasp.<\/p>\n

In the beginning, Hitler appeared as a caring, charis\u00admatic, captivating visionary.2<\/sup><\/strong> His words brought hope of prosperity, and his public image was intentionally shaped with pictures of his smiles, benevolent deeds and warm encounters with children and babies.3<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

After Austria was annexed with Germany, then new government jobs were created, and order was restored. The people were encouraged and hopeful, and\u2014for a short while\u2014the nation prospered. Then it crashed. This trans\u00adformation is described by Kitty Werthmann, who lived in Austria when it was ruled by the Nazis:4<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cDictatorship did not happen overnight. It was a gradual process starting with national identification cards, which we had to carry with us at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Next came gun registration, followed by attacks on freedom of speech. There were so many informers that people became afraid to say anything political, even when they were in their own homes.<\/p>\n

Kitty Werthmann tells of other changes, including nationalization of education; indoctrination of children; socialized medicine; government control of businesses; and a lack of respect for human life. Before the annexation, most Austrian mothers stayed at home to take care of their children. Under Nazi rule, both parents had to work, so the children were sent to government\u2011run daycare centers.<\/p>\n

Gun control came in two stages. First there was gun registration, and then the people were required to give up their guns. Once the people were unarmed, then they had no way of defending themselves against the Nazis.<\/p>\n

After that, political correctness replaced freedom of speech. Taxes were increased to eighty percent (four fifths of income). The nation became filled with informers. Anybody who spoke against the government was arrested, and the people lived in constant fear.<\/p>\n

In Austria, the transformation from freedom to dictator\u00adship was incremental. No nation is immune to such things, including the United States. In fact, America seems to be following some of the same incremental steps toward totalitarianism.<\/p>\n

National Identification Cards<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2005, Congress passed the Real ID Act. This, in effect, would turn drivers\u2019 licenses into a national ID card. However, the law is controversial, and 17 states have passed legislation or resolutions opposing compliance with it. 5<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

Congress eventually repealed the law. However, there are ongoing attempts to do things that are similar, but not as comprehensive. According to an article dated March 28, 2013, Senators Chuck Schumer and Lindsey Graham are determined to get a biometric national ID card required for everybody who is employed. And this is so important that they met with President Obama to discuss the matter.6<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Nationalizing Education and Indoctrinating Young Children<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kitty Werthmann told us how Hitler nationalized the education system. Christian symbols were removed and prayer was banned. Through their government\u2011run child care program, the Nazis indoctrinated the children with politically correct ideology and absolute loyalty to Hitler. The daycare workers were trained in Marxist psychology, rather than motherly love, for Hitler was fascinated with communist methods of mind control.<\/p>\n

Hitler worship became part of the new structure. Children idolized Hitler and sang his praises.<\/p>\n

Some American children have been taught to do the same for Obama. I have seen videos of young children singing Obama\u2019s praises with adoration, and teenagers singing his praises quite militantly. I have also seen a video of a young boy praying to Obama. (Once such videos become controver\u00adsial then they tend to disappear from YouTube, so you might have difficulty finding them.)<\/p>\n

America is also a nation where prayer is no longer allowed in school, and daycare is common. Obama is centralizing the public schools. His administration is completing a process begun in the nineties during the first Bush administration. A national curriculum with national standards, national tests, and a national database is fast becoming a reality. The goal is to provide \u201ccradle\u2011to\u2011career education for all of America\u2019s children.\u201d The federal government is encouraging the states to provide children with \u201cearly learning experiences from birth through kindergarten entry.\u201d\u00a07<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

By imposing government education at such a young age, this un\u2011American system exposes Christian children to the worldviews of secular humanism, neo\u2011paganism, and countless other beliefs that clash with home\u2011taught values. It subjects them to anti\u2011Christian peer pressure, and to teachers who are determined to undermine their faith. No wonder children raised in Christian homes from coast to coast are fast rejecting our God and His ways. Meanwhile, churches and youth leaders are bending over backwards to conform to the new values and wants of our youth.<\/p>\n

Government schools and the judicial system are working hand\u2011in\u2011hand to undermine the faith of Christian children. For example, Amanda is a ten\u2011year\u2011old Christian homeschooler. She is \u201cwell liked, social and interactive with her peers, academically promising and intellectually at or superior to grade level.\u201d Her homeschool curriculum meets all state standards. Yet, a judge has ordered her to attend public school because of her \u201cvigorous defense of her religious beliefs.\u201d The judge wants her to consider \u201cdifferent points of view at a time when she must begin to critically evaluate multiple systems of belief.\u201d\u00a08<\/sup><\/strong> In other words, the judge is forcing Amanda into government education in order to challenge her Christian faith.<\/p>\n

Buried inside Obama\u2019s Health Care law is a provision that gives the federal government control over all student loans. As a result, the government can now decide which students are able to go to college. It can also refuse loans for students who want to attend colleges that the government doesn\u2019t approve of, thus putting financial pressure on colleges to be politically correct.9<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

New federal regulations would enable the federal government to control the accreditation of all U.S. colleges. According to former U.S. Senator Bill Armstrong, \u201cthe Department of Education is attempting to subject every college and university in America\u2014public and private\u2014to political supervision.\u201d\u00a010<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Government Control of Health Care and Businesses<\/strong><\/p>\n

Obama\u2019s massive Health Care law established government control of health care, which is one sixth of the nation\u2019s economy. Its regulation will have a devastating effect on the medical profession. Why would bright students want to invest in medical school when the pay would be minimal and medical \u201cmurder\u201d would be mandated?<\/p>\n

My foot doctor told me, \u201cObama wants to make me retire early.\u201d My general practitioner told me, \u201cLet me take care of you while I still can.\u201d<\/p>\n

The federal government is wielding an increasing degree of control over busi\u00adnesses, both directly and through regula\u00adtions. Obama\u2019s destructive control over Chrysler has been called \u201canother extraordinary intervention into private in\u00addustry by the federal government.\u201d As a result, many car dealerships were closed.11<\/sup><\/strong> According to an attorney who represents some of those dealers, Chrysler closed them because it was \u201cunder enor\u00admous pressure from the President\u2019s automotive task force.\u201d\u00a012<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

Treating People Like Livestock<\/strong><\/p>\n

Farmers can kill animals that are born sickly or become too old to be productive. Likewise, Hitler talked about getting rid of \u201cuseless eaters.\u201d In modern America, some \u201cexperts\u201d want to dispose of people with a poor \u201cquality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kitty Werthmann told how the Nazis killed the mentally retarded people in her village. That was a result of Hitler\u2019s eugenics program. He was following the unconscionable Darwinian ideals of an evolving, purified human race, and he wanted to produce a Master Race of strong, intelligent Aryans. People he considered to be inferior (including Jews and the mentally retarded) had to be eliminated.13<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

Because of the Holocaust, eugenics was discredited. However, euthanasia (both voluntary and involuntary) is spreading. Voluntary euthanasia is a form of suicide, where patients choose to die\u2014usually with a physician\u2019s help. This is legal in Oregon and Washington.14<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

Involuntary euthanasia is based on new, convenient medical standards. In Holland, where thousands of patients have been killed against their will, some elderly people are afraid to go to the hospital.15<\/sup><\/strong> A concerned Belgian citizen warned Western nations to guard themselves against \u201cthe encroaching euthanasia agenda.\u201d\u00a016<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

An influential bioethicist in the Obama administration actively promotes health care rationing.17<\/sup><\/strong> Obama\u2019s health care law includes \u201cdeath panels\u201d with authority to deny life\u2011saving medical care.18<\/sup><\/strong> Once such care has been denied, it becomes unavailable even to patients who would pay the cost themselves.<\/p>\n

Gun Control<\/strong><\/p>\n

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has a long record of supporting gun control. In a 2008 brief to the Supreme Court, Holder claimed that the Second Amendment does not pose any obstacle to banning guns.19<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

Since the shooting at Sandy Hook, the attempts at gun control have increased in both variety and intensity.<\/p>\n

Obama has initiated a back\u2011door approach to gun control by means of an international treaty known as CIFTA. President Clinton signed this treaty in 1997 but the Senate refused to ratify it. Now President Obama is promoting it. According to John Bolton (former U.S. representative of the United Nations):<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026there\u2019s no doubt\u2014as was the case over a decade ago\u2014that the real agenda is the control of domestic arms.\u201d\u00a020<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

Enforcing Political Correctness<\/strong><\/p>\n

President Obama has co\u2011sponsored a United Nations resolu\u00adtion that calls on countries to criminalize \u201cany advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.\u201d Since the President of the United States is backing the resolution, then Americans will be expected to abide by it. As a result, this U.N. resolu\u00adtion would take priority over our constitutional right to free speech. In addition, as Robert Spencer said:<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Incitement\u2019 and \u2018hatred\u2019 are in the eye of the beholder\u2014or more precisely, in the eye of those who make such determinations.\u201d\u00a021<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

As a result, people in power can silence those who disagree with them by classifying their statements as \u201chate speech.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2008, a Commissioner of the Federal Communi\u00adcations Commission warned that the FCC is likely to imple\u00adment regulations that will give the federal government control over the content of radio, TV, and the Internet.22<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2009, a high\u2011ranking official in the FCC called for a \u201cconfrontational movement\u201d to increase federal control of the media.23<\/sup><\/strong> He openly expressed admiration for Hugo Chavez\u2019 efforts to stifle criticism by seizing control of Venezuela\u2019s media.24<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Chairman of the FCC is \u201cpoised to add the Internet to its portfolio of regulated industries.\u201d\u00a025<\/sup><\/strong> In other words, the media must be controlled by the government:<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Genachowski suggested that government red tape will increase the \u2018freedom\u2019 of online services that have flourished because bureaucratic busy\u00adbodies have been blocked from tinkering with the Web.\u201d\u00a025<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

An FCC Commissioner named Michael Copps has proposed a plan: a \u201cpublic value test\u201d for media. Who will pass that government test? Those who don\u2019t will not get their licenses renewed.<\/p>\n

\u201cCopps declared FCC adoption of his Public Values Test would provide an antidote to the current state of affairs by requiring: more diversity\u2026 enhanced dis\u00adclosure of information\u201d 26<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

This reminds me of the difference between Russian Communism and Hitler\u2019s National Socialism. Stalin ended up with a very poor country. Hitler\u2019s socialism allowed for government controlled \u201cfree\u201d enterprise, and at first it seemed to succeed. The difference between the two forms of tyrannical socialism was that Stalin\u2019s government owned everything, while Hitler controlled everything.<\/p>\n

Informers<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2002, the federal government attempted to recruit four percent of the population as informers. These spies were to include people with access to homes and businesses, such as mailmen, meter readers, cable installers, and telephone repairmen.27<\/sup><\/strong> There was a public outcry, and this plan was abandoned. However, the attempt to have informants throughout the country is not new. It has continued in various ways, for years.28<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

As part of President Clinton\u2019s war on \u201chate crimes,\u201d the Justice Department had a website that encouraged children to report relatives who made a \u201cderogatory comment.\u201d\u00a029<\/sup><\/strong> Now that Congress has passed the \u201cHate Crimes\u201d bill, we need to be alert to similar attempts to turn children into informers.<\/p>\n

A \u201csmartphone\u201d is a wireless, pocket\u2011sized computer that also functions as a cell phone.30<\/sup><\/strong> It can take pictures. 31<\/sup><\/strong> The iPhone is a line of Internet smartphones produced by Apple Computer. People can get \u201capplications\u201d (\u201capps\u201d) for it, enabling them to do a wide variety of things, including GPS navigation and social networking.32<\/sup><\/strong> A person could use their iPhone to take a picture, get the precise location of the place (via GPS), and send the picture and location information to somebody via email, or post it on the Internet.<\/p>\n

A new \u201capp\u201d for iPhones enables citizens to spy on one another and report directly to several federal agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Justice.33<\/sup><\/strong> Although this \u201capp\u201d is promoted as a means of preventing terrorism, these spying citizens are also encouraged to report on things such as \u201cenvironmental negligence\u201d and \u201cdiscrimination.\u201d\u00a034<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Ability to Arrest People at Will<\/strong><\/p>\n

The President can legally declare a state of national emer\u00adgency on his own authority without the approval of Congress. There is no legal accountability. Once a national emergency has been declared, the President can \u201ctake over all govern\u00adment functions\u201d and \u201cdirect all private sector activities\u201d until he declares that the national emergency is over.35<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

A Master Arrest Warrant enables the U.S. Attorney General to have people arrested if he personally considers them to be \u201cdangerous to the public peace and safety.\u201d He can keep these people incarcerated indefinitely without legal accountability.36<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

According to a U.S. Congressman, former Rep. Henry Gonzalez, there are detention camps in America. He said that, in the name of stopping terrorism, the President could evoke the military and arrest American citizens and put them in these camps.37<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

If American troops are unwilling or unable to carry out such arrests, then the President can use Canadian troops, thanks to a military agreement called the Civil Assistance Plan.38<\/sup><\/strong> The President can also use troops from the United Nations.39<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2009, a bill in Congress (H.R. 645) required the Department of Homeland Security to establish at least six more detention camps on military installations. It also appears to further expand the president\u2019s emergency power.40<\/sup><\/strong> Jerome Corsi observes:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are talking about a slippery slope: camps being prepared to be used in emergencies can easily be used to imprison dissenters.\u201d\u00a041<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

The bill failed to pass. However, it was introduced again on January 23, 2013 as H.R. 390. It failed to pass, but I suspect that they will try again. Also it might be possible to bypass Congress and do it by means of an executive order.<\/p>\n

Further Increasing Federal Power<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Obama administration\u2019s Financial Reform Bill was signed into law on July 21, 2010. It establishes an Office of Financial Research which would have \u201cunprecedented, real\u2011time access to a wealth of personal and corporate financial data.\u201d\u00a042<\/sup><\/strong> This new agency would not have to be accountable to anyone. In addition, it could use coercion to get information.43<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Senate has a bill which would give the federal government much more control over our food supply. It threatens to increase food prices and drive many small local suppliers out of business.44<\/sup><\/strong> Even without this new law, Federal agents have already harassed small farms. In April 2010, they invaded a private dairy that doesn\u2019t sell to the public.45<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Com\u00admunications Commission are discussing ways to regulate what Americans are able to read and hear. These proposed regulations \u201cwould apply across the board to print media, radio and television, and the internet.\u201d\u00a046<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

In July 2, 2008, presidential candidate Obama said that the military is not sufficient for our national security. He said:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to have a civilian national security force that\u2019s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.\u201d\u00a047<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

In March 2009, President Obama again discussed the need for a Civilian National Security Force.48<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

One approach to this is via Obama\u2019s Health Care law. It establishes a Ready Reserve Corps that would be subject to \u201cinvoluntary calls to active duty during national emergencies and public health crises.\u201d 49<\/sup><\/strong> An article giving details about this corps is titled \u201cObama Just Got His Private Army.\u201d\u00a050<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

Another approach is the Universal National Service Act. If passed, this bill would require every American (including young mothers) from ages 18 to 42 to spend two years either serving in the military or doing national service as defined by the President.51<\/sup><\/strong> The bill contains some provisions that could be used to promote a globalist agenda.52<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

A National Security Letter (NSL) enables the FBI and other federal agencies to require people to give them information without \u201cprobable cause\u201d or judicial oversight. Under the Patriot Act, the NSL includes a \u201cgag order.\u201d\u00a053<\/sup><\/strong> According to Judge Andrew Napolitano, this makes it a crime for people to speak the truth. He said:<\/p>\n

\u201cIf an FBI agent shows up at your house with a self\u2011written search warrant, the agent will tell you, you may not tell anyone about this.\u201d\u00a054<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

According to Judge Napolitano, if a person whose home was searched in this way was questioned in court about it, under oath, he would not be able to answer truthfully without violating the Patriot Act. In other words, he would have to either commit perjury or else violate the Patriot Act.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bypassing Congress and Ruling by Executive Regulations<\/strong><\/p>\n

On December 23, 2010, the Department of Interior issued a Secretarial Order giving itself the authority to designate public lands as \u201cWild Lands.\u201d On the same day, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it will impose carbon emission regulations on power plants and oil refineries. This is \u201canother power grab effectively enacting what Congress had firmly rejected when presented as cap\u2011and\u2011trade legislation.\u201d\u00a055<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Washington Post<\/em> wrote an article about these executive power grabs. It said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe move\u2026 demonstrated that the Obama admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion is prepared to push its environmental agenda through regulation where it has failed on Capitol Hill.\u201d\u00a056<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

Accuracy in Media called The Washington Post\u2019s<\/em> article \u201cmatter\u2011of\u2011fact reporting about lawlessness by the federal government.\u201d It called this a reflection of the sad state of American journalism, saying:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere was no hint that this approach is illegal or unconstitutional. The account simply assumes that the Obama Administration can do what it wants, no matter what Congress or the law says.\u201d\u00a057<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

These administrative power grabs reflect the advice given in a recent report written by the Center for American Progress, which is funded by George Soros. The report is titled \u201cThe Power of the President: Recommendations to Advance Progressive Change.\u201d\u00a058<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

The original health care bill contained mandatory end\u2011of\u2011life counseling. Many saw this as being a slippery slope that could lead to \u201cdeath panels.\u201d Because of the controversy, Congress removed the provision from the bill. But now end\u2011of\u2011life counseling has crept back in through a new Medicare regulation.59<\/sup><\/strong> Once again, the Obama adminis\u00adtration has used regulatory fiat to bypass the will of Congress and the American people. Charles Krauthammer said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThese regulatory power plays make political sense\u2026 How better to impose a liberal agenda on a center-right nation than regulatory stealth?\u201d\u00a060<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

Inceasing Militarization of the Police<\/strong><\/p>\n

Policemen used to be \u201cpeace officers\u201d who served and protected the public. However, the new trend is to become increasingly militarized, including using SWAT teams for minor offenses, and traumatizing families in the process. For example, in 2008, a SWAT team with semi\u2011automatic rifles raided a rural home and food co\u2011op, holding the family (including small children) at gunpoint for hours.61<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

These days, some policemen dress and act like soldiers, complete with military-looking vehicles. You can read about the extent of what is going on, and how this trend developed, in Radley Balko\u2019s book Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America\u2019s Police Forces<\/em>, which was published in July 2013.<\/p>\n

From Maria’s book, Perilous Times & Biblical Comfort (Used with permission)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Endnotes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. \u201cSocialism vs. Freedom.\u201d (Video of a talk by Kitty Werthmann)<\/p>\n

www.sdfamily.org\/Kitty+Wetrthmann<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. \u201cAdolf Hitler and Charismatic Leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n

http:\/\/eeuropeanhistory.suite101.com\/article.cfm\/adolf_hitler_and_<\/p>\n

charmismatic_leadership<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. Hitler with a little girl.<\/p>\n

www.fpp.co.uk\/Hitler\/images\/children\/Inge_Terboven_on_Hitler.jpg<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hitler with a baby.<\/p>\n

www.golivewire.com\/forums\/img.cgi?i=62823<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

4. \u201cDon\u2019t Let Freedom Slip Away: Sobering Steps from Freedom to Fascism.\u201d (Kitty Werthmann)<\/p>\n

www.crossroad.to\/articles2\/010\/fascism.htm<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

5. \u201cNational ID: Another Step to Totalitarianism.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.wnd.com\/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=45536<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

6. \u201cBiometric National ID Card Could Be Mandated on All American Workers,\u201d March 28, 2013.<\/p>\n

www.naturalnews.com\/039683_biometric_national_id_card_<\/p>\n

mandatory.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

7. \u201cCradle-to-Career Plan by Obama and Duncan.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.crossroad.to\/articles2\/010\/edwatch\/garner\/1-cradle-to-grave.htm<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

8.\u00a0\u201cCourt Orders Christian Child into Government Education: 10-Year-Old\u2019s \u2018Vigorous\u2019 Defense of Her Faith Condemned by Judge.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.wnd.com\/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=108084<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

9. \u201cWhere\u2019s the Outrage Over What Just Happened to Student Loans?\u201d<\/p>\n

www.foxnews.com\/opinion\/2010\/03\/26\/dana-perino-student-loans-health-care-sen-kent-conrad-democrats-students\/<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

10. \u201cEye-Popping Power Grab: Licensing of U.S. Colleges: Federal Scheme Poses \u2018Greatest Threat to Academic Freedom in our Lifetime.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

www.wnd.com\/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=209589<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

11. \u201cChrysler Files to Seek Bankruptcy Protection.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.nytimes.com\/2009\/05\/01\/business\/01auto.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

12. \u201cPlan to Ax Dealers Not Chrysler\u2019s Decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.reuters.com\/article\/idUSN2632731920090526<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

13. \u201cEugenics and the Nazis\u2014the California Connection.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.waragainsttheweak.com\/offSiteArchive\/www.sfgate.com<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

14. \u201c5 People Die under New Washington Physician-Assisted Suicide Law.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.ama-assn.org\/amednews\/2009\/07\/06\/prsc0706.htm\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

15. \u201cHave Researched Euthanasia Speak Out.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.hospicepatients.org\/euth-experts-speak.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

16.\u00a0\u201c\u2018The Weekend Cleanup: The Gruesome Aftermath of Legalized Euthanasia in Belgium.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.lifesitenews.com\/ldn\/2009\/jun\/09060109.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

17. \u201cObama\u2019s Health Rationer-in-Chief: White House Health-Care Adviser Ezekiel Emanuel Blames the Hippocratic Oath for the \u2018Overuse\u2019 of Medical Care.\u201d<\/p>\n

http:\/\/online.wsj.com\/article\/<\/p>\n

SB10001424052970203706604574374463280098676.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

18. \u201cPalin Firestorm Brings Fresh Scrutiny to ObamaCare \u2018Death Panels.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

www.lifesitenews.com\/ldn\/2009\/aug\/09081109.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

19. \u201cEric Holder: Gun Grabber.\u201d<\/p>\n

http:\/\/97.74.65.51\/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=33694<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

20. \u201cObama, the U.N., and the Right to Bear Arms.\u201d<\/p>\n

http:\/\/canadafreepress.com\/index.php\/article\/18882<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

21. \u201cObama Declares War on Free Speech.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.humanevents.com\/article.php?print=yes&id=33869<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

22. \u201cFCC Commissioner: Return of Fairness Doctrine Could Control Web Content.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.businessandmedia.org\/printer\/2008\/20080812160747.aspx<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

23.\u00a0\u201cInspired by Saul Alinsky, FCC \u2018Diversity\u2019 Chief Calls for \u2018Confronta\u00adtional Movement\u2019 to Give Public Broadcasting Dominant Role in Commu\u00adnications.\u201d<\/p>\n

http:\/\/cnsnews.com\/news\/article\/53055<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

24. \u201cFCC \u2018Diversity\u2019 Czar on Chavez\u2019s Venezuela: \u2018Incredible Demo\u00adcratic Revolution.\u2019\u201d (This article includes a video of Mark Lloyd\u2019s statement.)<\/p>\n

http:\/\/newsbusters.org\/blogs\/seton-motley\/2009\/08\/28\/video-fcc-diversity-czar-chavezs-venezuela-incredible-democratic-revol<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

25. \u201cWave Goodbye to Internet Freedom: FCC Crosses the Rubicon into Online Regulation.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.washingtontimes.com\/news\/2010\/dec\/2\/<\/p>\n

wave-goodbye-to-internet-freedom<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

26. \u201cFCC Commissioner Copps Proposes \u2018Public Value Test.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

www.heartland.org\/infotech-news.org\/article\/28940\/FCC_<\/p>\n

Commissioner_Copps_Proposes_Public_Value_Test.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

27. \u201cUS Planning to Recruit One in 24 Americans as Citizen Spies.\u201d www.smh.com.au\/articles\/2002\/07\/14\/1026185141232.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

28. \u201cYour Friendly Community Spies.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.crossroad.to\/articles2\/2002\/spy.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

29. \u201cThe War on Hate Bans Christian Values.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.crossroad.to\/text\/articles\/cwhbcv3-98.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

30. \u201cSmartphone.\u201d<\/p>\n

http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Smartphone<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

31. \u201cHow to Take Better Pictures with Your Smartphone\u2019s Camera.\u201d<\/p>\n

http:\/\/lifehacker.com\/5662812\/how-to-take-better-pictures-with-your-smartphones-camera<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

32. \u201ciPhone.\u201d<\/p>\n

http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/IPhone<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

33. \u201cI Spy: Controversial PatriotApp Lets Citizens Alert the Feds.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.livescience.com\/technology\/patriot-app-iphone-101214.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

34. \u201cMobilizing the Globe\u201d [PatriotApp].<\/p>\n

http:\/\/patriotapps.com\/PatriotApp.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

35. \u201cBush Makes Power Grab.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.wnd.com\/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=41728<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

36. \u201cHidden Threats\u2014Part I.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.wnd.com\/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=6111<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

37. \u201cDetention Camps on American Soil.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.rutherford.org\/articles_db\/commentary.asp?record_id=400<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

38. \u201cNorth American Army Created without OK by Congress: U.S., Canada Ink Deal to Fight Domestic Emergencies.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.wnd.com\/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=57228<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

39. \u201cA UN Militia in Your Community?\u201d<\/p>\n

www.crossroad.to\/text\/articles\/rapid-reaction99.htm<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

40. \u201cBill Creates Detention Camps in U.S. for \u2018Emergencies\u2019: Sweeping, Undefined Purpose Raises Worries about Military Police State.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.wnd.com\/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=87757<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

41. \u201cIs the US Government Preparing to Send Dissenters to Prison Camps?\u201d<\/p>\n

www.newswithviews.com\/NWV-News\/news123.htm<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

42. \u201cBig Brother Loves \u2018Financial Reform.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

www.washingtontimes.com\/news\/2010\/apr\/30\/big-brother-loves-<\/p>\n

financial-reform\/print\/<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

43. \u201cFinancial Regulatory Windfall.\u201d<\/p>\n

http:\/\/spectator.org\/archives\/2010\/04\/30\/financial-regulatory-<\/p>\n

windfall\/print<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

44. \u201cNew \u2018Safety Plan\u2019 Would Control What You Eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.wnd.com\/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=146957<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

45. \u201cFederal Agents Invade Farm for 5 a.m. Milk Inspection.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.wnd.com\/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=144557<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

46. \u201cFuture of the News.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.americanthinker.com\/2010\/07\/future_of_the_news.html<\/p>\n

47. \u201cObama\u2019s \u2018Big Brother\u2019 Vanishes from Speech: \u2018Civilian Security Force\u2019 Missing from \u2018Call to Service\u2019 Transcript.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.wnd.com\/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId =69784<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[NOTE: This article has an embedded video of the speech. Obama\u2019s call for a Civilian Security Force was omitted from the transcript of the speech, as published by the media.]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

48. \u201cCivilian Security Force on Agenda Again.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.wnd.com\/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=92109<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

49. \u201cObamacare Prescription: \u2018Emergency Health Army.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

www.wnd.com\/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=132001<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

50. \u201cObama Just Got His Private Army.\u201d<\/p>\n

http:\/\/frontpage.americandaughter.com\/?p=3549<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

51.\u201dDemocrat: Let\u2019s Have Mandatory National Service.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.wnd.com\/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=184325<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

52. Rep. Rangel proposed this same bill in 2006 and 2007. Its provi\u00adsions are discussed in \u201cThe Draft is Back\u2014Again! \u2018Universal National Service Act of 2006.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

www.crossroad.to\/articles2\/006\/draft.htm<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

53. National Security Letter.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Security_Letter<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

54. Judge Andrew Napolitano, Natural Rights Patriot Act\u2014Part 3 of 3.<\/p>\n

www.youtube.com\/watch_popup?v=7n2m-X7OIuY<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[NOTE: The information begins at 2:01 minutes, starting with the sentence, \u201cDo you know that the Congress has used the Commerce Clause to make it a crime for you to speak the truth?\u201d]<\/p>\n

55. Charles Krauthammer, \u201cGovernment by Regulation,\u201d December 31, 2010.<\/p>\n

www.nationalreview.com\/articles\/256104\/<\/p>\n

government-regulation-charles-krauthammer<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

56. \u201cWhite House Presses for New Climate, Wilderness Protections,\u201d The Washington Post, December 24, 2010.<\/p>\n

www.washingtonpost.com\/wp-dyn\/content\/article\/<\/p>\n

2010\/12\/23\/AR2010122305643.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

57. \u201cMedia Excuse Obama\u2019s Power Grab,\u201d December 26, 2010.<\/p>\n

www.aim.org\/aim-column\/media-excuse-obama%e2%80%99s-<\/p>\n

power-grab\/<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[NOTE: Because of the strange codes used for the apostrophe in the Internet address, the easiest way to find this article is to search for the title plus \u201caim.org\u201d]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

58. Center for American Progress, \u201cThe Power of the President: Recommendations to Advance Progressive Change,\u201d November 16, 2010.<\/p>\n

www.americanprogress.org\/issues\/2010\/11\/executive_orders.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

59. \u201cMedicare Regulation Revives End-of-Life Planning,\u201d December 25, 2010.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/politics\/2010\/12\/medicare-<\/p>\n

regulation-revives-end-life-planning<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

60. Charles Krauthammer, \u201cGovernment by Regulation,\u201d December 31, 2010.<\/p>\n

www.nationalreview.com\/articles\/256104\/<\/p>\n

government-regulation-charles-krauthammer<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

61. \u201cSWAT Team Conducts Food Raid in Rural Ohio.\u201d<\/p>\n

www.crossroad.to\/articles2\/08\/swat-team.htm<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Maria Kneas History shows…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":32725,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[614,4363,4683,248,46,385,4839,45],"tags":[1633,1978,2056,2352,40,48,59,2920,173,498,542,1036,1302,1315],"class_list":["post-5436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-in-crisis","category-marxism-socialism","category-environment-climate-change","category-hate-crime-laws","category-politics","category-freedom-signs-of-the-times","category-cultural-issues","category-signs-of-the-times","tag-obamacare","tag-holocaust","tag-nazis","tag-national-id-cards","tag-hitler","tag-obama","tag-america","tag-politics","tag-freedom","tag-health","tag-socialism","tag-germany","tag-maria-kneas","tag-tyranny","wpcat-614-id","wpcat-4363-id","wpcat-4683-id","wpcat-248-id","wpcat-46-id","wpcat-385-id","wpcat-4839-id","wpcat-45-id"],"yoast_head":"\nAre We Heading Towards Tyranny? - From the Lighthouse<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Are We Heading Towards Tyranny?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Maria Kneas History shows...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"From the Lighthouse\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LighthouseTrailsResearch\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2014-05-01T06:45:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-02T17:26:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/fb-riots-portland-2020-e1788369964685.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"250\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Maria Kneas\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@LTrails\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@LTrails\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Maria Kneas\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"20 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Maria Kneas\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f49ebee670ecdfaa6841a1deb854fa0b\"},\"headline\":\"Are We Heading Towards Tyranny?\",\"datePublished\":\"2014-05-01T06:45:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-02T17:26:11+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":4752,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/07\\\/fb-riots-portland-2020-e1788807605967.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"obamacare\",\"holocaust\",\"nazis\",\"national id cards\",\"Hitler\",\"Obama\",\"America\",\"Politics\",\"freedom\",\"health\",\"socialism\",\"germany\",\"maria kneas\",\"tyranny\"],\"articleSection\":[\"World in Crisis\",\"Marxism\\\/Socialism\",\"Environment\\\/Climate Change\",\"Hate Crime Laws\",\"Politics\",\"Freedom\",\"CULTURAL ISSUES\",\"SIGNS OF THE TIMES\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\\\/\",\"name\":\"Are We Heading Towards Tyranny? - From the Lighthouse\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/07\\\/fb-riots-portland-2020-e1788807605967.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2014-05-01T06:45:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-02T17:26:11+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f49ebee670ecdfaa6841a1deb854fa0b\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/07\\\/fb-riots-portland-2020-e1788807605967.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/07\\\/fb-riots-portland-2020-e1788807605967.jpg\",\"width\":400,\"height\":250},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Are We Heading Towards Tyranny?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"From the Lighthouse\",\"description\":\""A Light Shining in the Darkness"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f49ebee670ecdfaa6841a1deb854fa0b\",\"name\":\"Maria Kneas\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4e396a0f6fb89c3c4c4712f0d8b7f9357438211afd8619c0b972cc762e28803c?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4e396a0f6fb89c3c4c4712f0d8b7f9357438211afd8619c0b972cc762e28803c?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4e396a0f6fb89c3c4c4712f0d8b7f9357438211afd8619c0b972cc762e28803c?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Maria Kneas\"},\"description\":\"Maria Kneas writes from experience, from a lifetime of needing God\u2019s strength for the many challenges she has faced. As a result of these difficult times, Maria has paid close attention when preachers or authors or friends shared insights about receiving God\u2019s strength, comfort, and encouragement. Through prayer and careful study of God\u2019s Word, she has confirmed those things which are in accordance of the Scriptures.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/maria-kneas\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Are We Heading Towards Tyranny? - From the Lighthouse","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Are We Heading Towards Tyranny?","og_description":"By Maria Kneas History shows...","og_url":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/","og_site_name":"From the Lighthouse","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LighthouseTrailsResearch","article_published_time":"2014-05-01T06:45:20+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-09-02T17:26:11+00:00","og_image":[{"width":400,"height":250,"url":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/fb-riots-portland-2020-e1788369964685.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Maria Kneas","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@LTrails","twitter_site":"@LTrails","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Maria Kneas","Est. reading time":"20 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/"},"author":{"name":"Maria Kneas","@id":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f49ebee670ecdfaa6841a1deb854fa0b"},"headline":"Are We Heading Towards Tyranny?","datePublished":"2014-05-01T06:45:20+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-02T17:26:11+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/"},"wordCount":4752,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/fb-riots-portland-2020-e1788807605967.jpg","keywords":["obamacare","holocaust","nazis","national id cards","Hitler","Obama","America","Politics","freedom","health","socialism","germany","maria kneas","tyranny"],"articleSection":["World in Crisis","Marxism\/Socialism","Environment\/Climate Change","Hate Crime Laws","Politics","Freedom","CULTURAL ISSUES","SIGNS OF THE TIMES"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/","url":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/","name":"Are We Heading Towards Tyranny? - From the Lighthouse","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/fb-riots-portland-2020-e1788807605967.jpg","datePublished":"2014-05-01T06:45:20+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-02T17:26:11+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f49ebee670ecdfaa6841a1deb854fa0b"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/fb-riots-portland-2020-e1788807605967.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/fb-riots-portland-2020-e1788807605967.jpg","width":400,"height":250},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/incremental-steps-to-dictatorship\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Are We Heading Towards Tyranny?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/","name":"From the Lighthouse","description":""A Light Shining in the Darkness"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f49ebee670ecdfaa6841a1deb854fa0b","name":"Maria Kneas","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4e396a0f6fb89c3c4c4712f0d8b7f9357438211afd8619c0b972cc762e28803c?s=96&d=blank&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4e396a0f6fb89c3c4c4712f0d8b7f9357438211afd8619c0b972cc762e28803c?s=96&d=blank&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4e396a0f6fb89c3c4c4712f0d8b7f9357438211afd8619c0b972cc762e28803c?s=96&d=blank&r=g","caption":"Maria Kneas"},"description":"Maria Kneas writes from experience, from a lifetime of needing God\u2019s strength for the many challenges she has faced. As a result of these difficult times, Maria has paid close attention when preachers or authors or friends shared insights about receiving God\u2019s strength, comfort, and encouragement. Through prayer and careful study of God\u2019s Word, she has confirmed those things which are in accordance of the Scriptures.","url":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/author\/maria-kneas\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5436","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5436"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5436\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42296,"href":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5436\/revisions\/42296"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32725"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5436"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5436"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}