Governments and mafias are in the same line of work. The current system is a fusion of the post-Capone Syndicate mafia, the robber barons, and the original republic. This is only a couple generations later.

"It's an emergency!" "There's a war on!" All bullshit excuses to strip rights. But the issue is bigger than that, and smaller. Have you ever met your so-called representatives? Seriously. Do you not know what they're up to? Who they are? What they want? Does that seem right to you?