Okay, fair enough. But we’re not as far from that as you may think. Just look at NAZI Germany or Fascist Italy. They went from freedom to fascism in a matter of a few years. And from fascism to war within a few more. I mention those two examples because their transitions were quasi-legal at the time. No massive civil war. They just seized power with little pushback and all the while many undoubtedly were saying “what’s the big deal”?
Given the prevalent apathy of many American voters and their minimal following of politics I concur it could indeed happen.
Most Americans do not follow political events as they are busy worrying about other things...i.e. fuel costs, food prices, and so on. Their political exposure is from mass media and from conversations with their friends. And given the divisiveness we see that means they may only get a viewpoint that validates their own perceptions of events. Witness the conversations that occur here. There is no middle ground on much of anything. And even suggesting a moderate idea elicits a highly negative response. Even if in the real world it might be a starting point to solve a problem that all could agree exists.
The highly partisan nature of our perspectives on issues almost ensure we will never solve a problem or develop a strategy to counter what we all might believe to be wrong insofar as to the laws or regulations we live under. My way or the highway never seems to fix anything. Yet here we are.