Americans tend to write off the machinations of foreign dictator types as just examples of how every country but America functions. When the recently reelected Vladimir Putin cracked down on his political opposition by drastically increasing fines for taking part in unlicensed protests, it's obvious to us that Putin is corrupt and is using the power of the state to silence his critics.

We seldom stop to think that politicians in our own country not only have the same means available to them, but they've used them. (Unless of course, a Republican resorted to dirty tricks, as Richard Nixon did. Then we never hear the end of it.)

Earlier this year, Tea Party groups across the country received letters from the IRS demanding that they deAmericans tend to write off the machinations of foreign dictator types as just examples of how every country but America functions. When the recently reelected Vladimir Putin cracked down on his political opposition by drastically increasing fines for taking part in unlicensed protests, it's obvious to us that Putin is corrupt and is using the power of the state to silence his critics.

We seldom stop to think that politicians in our own country not only have the same means available to them, but they've used them. (Unless of course, a Republican resorted to dirty tricks, as Richard Nixon did. Then we never hear the end of it.)

Earlier this year, Tea Party groups across the country received letters from the IRS demanding that they detail their operations, down to what speeches are delivered at their rallies. If this happened in Russia, we'd see it as a clear example of political intimidation. When it happens here, the media ignores it. Not surprisingly, many Occupy groups weren't required to carry the proper permits to demonstrate, an advantage that wasn't often granted to Tea Partiers.

It's nothing new--Bill Clinton apparently was fond of sicking the IRS on his political enemies. Bill O'Reilly said he was audited several years in a row, joining, according to Judicial Watch:

The National Rifle Association, The Heritage Foundation, The National Review, The American Spectator, Freedom Alliance, National Center for Public Policy Research, American Policy Center, American Cause, Citizens Against Government Waste, Citizens for Honest Government, Progress and Freedom Foundation, Concerned Women for America and the San Diego Chapter of Christian Coalition.

A corrupt administration can also vigorously pursue its enemies with the Justice Department .Just ask Newscorp, the parent company of Fox News. The British phone hacking scandal opened the door for the Obama Administration to investigate the only non-liberal major TV news outlet.

A big bureaucracy aids public officials in persecuting opponents. The government has the power to grant or withhold permits as it sees fit. Get on the wrong side of some politicians, and your venture may be delayed or destroyed. When the government runs an auto company, it has an incentive to investigate companies that it finds itself in competition with. Remember the overblown Toyota acceleration scandal? When the government props up banks, the banks have an incentive to drop customers its handlers find offensive, like ammo-producer McMillan. That company was told by Bank of America, which received $20 billion in bailout money, that the bank had reached a politically motivated decision to terminate their relationship.

Big government means big opportunities to abuse power. It's not something that just happens overseas. And those opportunities are not going to waste.tail their operations, down to what speeches are delivered at their rallies. If this happened in Russia, we'd see it as a clear example of political intimidation. When it happens here, the media ignores it. Not surprisingly, many Occupy groups weren't required to carry the proper permits to demonstrate, an advantage that wasn't often granted to Tea Partiers.

It's nothing new--Bill Clinton apparently was fond of sicking the IRS on his political enemies. Bill O'Reilly said he was audited several years in a row, joining, according to Judicial Watch:

The National Rifle Association, The Heritage Foundation, The National Review, The American Spectator, Freedom Alliance, National Center for Public Policy Research, American Policy Center, American Cause, Citizens Against Government Waste, Citizens for Honest Government, Progress and Freedom Foundation, Concerned Women for America and the San Diego Chapter of Christian Coalition.

A corrupt administration can also vigorously pursue its enemies with the Justice Department .Just ask Newscorp, the parent company of Fox News. The British phone hacking scandal opened the door for the Obama Administration to investigate the only non-liberal major TV news outlet.

A big bureaucracy aids public officials in persecuting opponents. The government has the power to grant or withhold permits as it sees fit. Get on the wrong side of some politicians, and your venture may be delayed or destroyed. When the government runs an auto company, it has an incentive to investigate companies that it finds itself in competition with. Remember the overblown Toyota acceleration scandal? When the government props up banks, the banks have an incentive to drop customers its handlers find offensive, like ammo-producer McMillan. That company was told by Bank of America, which received $20 billion in bailout money, that the bank had reached a politically motivated decision to terminate their relationship.

Big government means big opportunities to abuse power. It's not something that just happens overseas. And those opportunities are not going to waste.