I'm not so sure about optimism but I think we're in the later part of stage 2. Maybe a few aspects of stage 3.
IMO, when stage 3 arrives, stage 4 & 5 will come pretty rapidly afterward.
STAGE 4. The Grab for Power
We’re now in a Marxist dominated Oligarchy. The American “Nomenclatura” is in place.
{George Bush could have exposed 0bama and prevented him from being elected. Bush had all the inteligence on the evil bastard but did nothing and now we have an avowed enemy of the United States in our White House.}
Yes, we’re living under an Oligarchy.
One could very well make a case for Stage 5. Look at the record:
1st Amendment - if 0bambi gets his way, religious liberty is gone. We don’t have a free press anymore.
2nd Amendment - constantly under attack.
3rd Amendment - Not yet; probably the last one to go.
4th Amendment - TSA
5th Amendment - see Kelo decided by SCOTUS
6th Amendment - the recent defense bill killed this one.
7th Amendment - judges rule by fiat.
8th Amendment - the current regime constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment”.
9th Amendment - it’s ajoke, right?
10th Amendment - now 0bambi is telling the states how to spend money.
It certainly is a sorry picture. BUT IT IS OUR OWN FAULT FOR LETTING THIS GO SO FAR.