First, in the post Nixon era, the dwindling support for conservatives was addressed by changing the conservative message to cater to a specific market segment: fundamentalist/evangelical Christians. This was a brilliant stroke. The "fundevs" as a group are individuals that seek the "black and white" answer to the exclusion of "gray areas". In other words, a polarized world view without the burden of "questioning" these views.

To cater to this group, the neocons only had to co-opt a few key issues, such as gay marriage or abortion. (It's interesting to note that Bush Sr. was pro-choice, but adopted the anti-abortion issue for these political reasons). The fundev contingent makes an excellent partner for the neocons because of their willingness to accept the "black and white spin" of the neocon propaganda machine without question.

Second, the neocons have developed a very close relationship with the mass media. While Fox News is the blatantly obvious example of neocon owned propaganda, there are subtler examples as well. Beginning with the Reagan administration, there has been a systematic undermining of equal access broadcast law. In 1987 the fairness doctrine was repealed.

The fairness doctrine required broadcasters to use some of their airtime to discussing controversial matters of public interest, and to air contrasting views regarding those matters. This was a fair exchange for use of the public airwaves. Public broadcasters were using the airwaves, owned by the public, as trustees.

But no more.

Another important change is that of ownership limitation. Once upon a time, there were limits on how many stations any single entity could own. For instance, the same corporation could own no more than one AM, one FM and one TV station in any single market, and no more than 8 of each, nationwide. Now, you can own every broadcast station in a specific market - and indeed, in some cities every single AM, FM and TV station is owned by a single corporation. No competition, and no room for competing views, either.

No where is this more apparent than in the enormous nationwide conglomerates like Clear Channel and Sinclair Broadcasting. These enormous neocon broadcasters own so much of what Americans see and hear, there's hardly room for a single opposing view.

Third, the instillation of fear across the nation has had a galvanizing effect for the neocons. While parallels to the Reichstag Fire in 1933 can easily be made with our 9/11 tragedy, what's more important is to see how the neocon movement has used 9/11 to instill fear in the American public.

Magicians use a technique called "misdirection" to lead your attention away from the object of the "trick" so that when they spring the result on you, you're baffled. And right now, fear is being used as misdirection - misdirecting the attention of the American public as the neocons make sweeping changes to America's political and social landscape.

And it must be stopped. Right now Senator Ted Stevens and his committee on Commerce are considering a censorious House-passed "indecency" bill regulating radio and TV broadcasters--the Senator wants to extend its provisions, not just to cable TV, but to the internet.

It is censorship, no matter how you slice it. And it's repugnant - but it is just part of the neocon plans for the destruction of America.

The reality is that Americans are no more likely today to be the victim of a terrorist attack than they were before 9/11 - but Americans are already the victims of neocon policies. Policies that should strike terror in the hearts of any free thinking American.