I have a money-making idea. It will make me A LOT of money. It’s a checklist. Every adult in the US will want one on their wall.

Some will use it to track progress, because this is what they voted for. Others will use it sort of like a calendar, where you put an X by the things that come to pass, whether you like them or not.

The reason I know it will be a hit is because a number of the items on it have already come to pass. Instant gratification!

It’s called “Steps to Authoritarian Takeover.”

Here’s a sneak peek.

Politicize independent institutions.
Aggrandize/extend executive power.
Quash dissent.
Scapegoat vulnerable communities.
Corrupt elections.
Stoke violence. 
Repress individual freedom of thought and action.
Eliminate any established mechanism for the transfer of executive power.
Dissolve civil liberties and political rights for citizens.
Concentrate power into the hands of a single leader or a small group.
Capture elite support and, when needed, demonize (the elites) as well.
Appeal to populism and nationalism. 
Control information at home.
Misinform abroad.
Extend the model and influence internationally.
Cripple the opposition.
Perform covert election manipulation.
Play the emergency card (ex. states of emergency).
Control all communications.
Punish critics.
Impose an ideology.
Attack the ideal of pluralist democracy.
Block most cross-border flows of people and information.
Use intimidation and fear.
Weaken democratic institutions. (Dictators often begin by undermining the separation of powers and concentrating executive authority. They might also attack and attempt to capture institutions that operate independently, like law enforcement or election administrations.) 
Suppress dissent and control information. (Dictators actively silence opposition and restrict access to information that might challenge their authority. This can involve censorship of media, spreading disinformation (propagating and amplifying falsehoods), and repressing protests.)
Consolidate power through various means.
Co-opt elites. (Dictators might secure the loyalty of key figures by offering rewards or privileges, or punishing those who oppose them.)
Control the military and internal security. (Dictators might create paramilitary forces loyal to them, manipulate promotions within the armed forces, and purge or remove potential rivals.)
Promote a cult of personality. (Dictators might create an image of themselves as indispensable and wise leaders helps solidify their grip on power and makes it harder for others to challenge them.)
Use economic dynamics to their advantage. (Dictators might use economic measures to reward loyalists and repress opponents. For example, they might use financial repression to track and punish dissidents.)
Expand power base. (Dictators might utilize nepotism and corruption to build a loyal circle.)
Create a monopoly on force. (Dictators might curb public protest by disarming the people and gaining military support.)
Utilize incremental control. (Dictators might use “salami tactics” to systematically dismantle democratic institutions. This includes politicizing independent institutions, spreading disinformation, and corrupting elections.)
Target vulnerable communities. (Dictators might weaponize fear to mobilize support and deflect attention from failures. This tactic is used to create scapegoats for societal problems.)

One blogger added these steps. You can take ’em or leave ’em.

They will claim they have a “mandate” from the people.
They will create chaos and maintain a constant sense of conflict and danger.
They will distort the truth, deny facts and blatantly lie.
They will incite and then leak fake superficial “scandals.”
They will propose shocking laws to provoke outrage.
They will focus on taking rights away from women, foreigners, immigrants, and racial and sexual minorities.
They will distort the language. (Calling people who disagree traitors, for ex.)
They will take over your national symbols.
They will try to rewrite history to suit their needs.
They will alienate foreign allies and partners.

And finally, according to The Center for American Progress, democracy does not collapse overnight. It erodes gradually–and then suddenly–with the normalization of undemocratic practices.

Now here’s the problem with trying to market the checklist. People will say it’s hogwash, that these things could never happen. 

There goes my money-making idea.

For more information, see carnegie.org, britannica.com, protectdemocracy.org, the conversation.com, insight.bibliotech.us. Google “authoritarian checklist.” Reference any high school history book (but hurry).