Paul said, “But every single day we have prior restraint on everything we do in the marketplace. Every market transaction, every labor transaction, every dollar transaction, every property transaction is done only with the permission of the government.

So we now have moved a major step in the direction of socialism, and they talk about nationalism and nationalizing the banks, well the name isn’t as important as the control. We’re closer to a fascist system where the government has total control of our lives and our economy, and that is what has to be stopped.”

He didn't say that we are fascist or socialist, he said that we are moving in that direction and we need to stop it.

Notice that all comments to date disagree with you to some extent? I've noticed that you have not attempted to offer defensive counter points. Is that an indication that you've changed your mind???

Ron was not talking hitler 2, he was merely using a word in it's correct context… basically about moving toward total central control. Control being in the form of control of the money and control of our liberty or restriction I should say.

I guess the making of complex subjects toned down to simple explanation doesn't work on you well. Perhaps cross checking the most simple of details might help before writing an entire article on your “informed” opinion.

Hey, but your on the “moderate” voice… so we'll give you that one, keep staying moderate on things while everything falls around you, I'll consider you one of the sheep that helped to go along with all of this mess.

Fascism: a radical, authoritarian nationalist ideology focused on solving economic, political, and social problems that its supporters see as causing national decline. Fascists aim to create a single-party state [RepubliCrats] in which the government is led by a dictator [misuse of executive orders] who seeks unity by requiring individuals to subordinate self-interest to the collective interest of the nation. Fascist movements promote violence between nations [our foreign policy]

Fascist governments permanently forbid and suppress all criticism and opposition to the government [Fairness Doctrine, Patriot Act, etc] and the fascist movement. Fascist movements oppose any ideology or political system that gives direct political power to people as individuals rather than as a collective nation or race (democracy, individualism, liberalism); that is deemed detrimental to national identity and unity (internationalism, communism, class conflict, laissez-faire capitalism); that oppose major changes to institutions and cultural values that it proposes (conservatism) and that undermine the military strength and military ambitions of the nation.

The term facism is out of favor because it evokes images of Italy and Spain during the WWII era and is not politically correct to use when referring to the USA. But I think the comparisons are only a matter of degree. I see the same expanding facism as Ron Paul – however, unless I'm surrounded by like minded individuals I keep it to myself. Facist is probably a term that will be used by future historians when reflecting on the state of the US now and in coming years.

Ron Paul really does believe we're on the road to fascism. The idea that wow, he could really build a movement if he'd just drop some of the nutty stuff is silly; the nutty stuff is what got him all those online supporters. Yes, it capped his upside, but let's face it, a congressman who is two years older than John McCain was not going to get the nomination anyway.