This is how it really got going.
9\11 was the lynchpin. Whether you believe it was an outside act of terrorism, or an inside job, it brought us The Patriot Act, TSA, Homeland Security, etc.
We (this is going to take the three of me) will present to you now the term "Invisible Fascism". Stay tuned (pun intended) for updates.
Take some time to mull it over.