I dont think we are yet to the level of the pre-war Syrian regime.

But each decade, we take a big leap in that direction. Without a drastic change in direction, we will arrive there in one, maybe two decades.

One day students of history are going to look back on a people filled with such hubris that they honestly thought there was nothing untoward about politicians and govt apparatchiks that simultaneously worked to build unaccountable "security" institutions and disarm the lay citizenry. And much facepalming will be had by said students.

For who could be free when every other man's humour might domineer over him? - John Locke (2nd Treatise, sect 57)