It has been observed (see references) that, in retrospect, there are Red Flag transitions during which an awareness reached the mainstream that a government had made a shift without which a later power grab by extremists would not have been possible. This research topic requires (and I invite you to help supply): 1) a brief overview of reliable sources demonstrating this pattern in the formation of what would become the WWII Axis Powers, as well as in other parts of the world which have initiated police states since the 20th century; 2) a list of contemporary shifts in the United States which need to be considered when deciding whether or not to fundamentally step up individual and collective efforts to restore a stable balance between security/fear-based structures and identity themes like liberty, freedom, and humanism. This is important because, while both national and geopolitical dynamics are complex, the criteria for discerning a Red Flag moment involves a straightforward application of The Golden rule and is attached to a moral imperative to act politically. If, given a reversal in circumstances, you would not feel treated like a human being in their proverbial shoes, then you must act.