Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Everyone believes what he or she believes because he or she believes it the best to believe. Thus, everyone believes that anyone who believes differently is believing something not as good. The question in most people's minds then becomes, "Can we afford to have those other, inferior beliefs be put into action?" That is the fundamental concept of justice, the ultimate source of all law: Certain beliefs (such as premeditation and decision to commit murder) are considered too dangerous to society to allow to be placed into action; even the beliefs themselves (such as conspiracy to commit murder) may be outlawed.

In short, there is a "tolerance level" that society places on beliefs and actions spurred by those beliefs. For most people, in most cases, the deciding factor governing this tolerance level is "Will someone be (necessarily) harmed?" In instances such as the Schiavo case or abortion rights cases, the Religious Right focuses on the perceived harm to the life of "an innocent 'person'"; whereas the Civil Rights Left focuses on the perceived (actual) harm to the rights of another party (or perhaps the same party, if Ms. Schiavo had indeed not wanted to "live" as she has).

In America, the motto is supposed to be "Give me liberty or give me death"; i.e., liberty is supposed to be more precious than life itself: ironically, most of the people opposing right-to-die and abortion liberties are supporting mass killing and dying (by others) in the name of "liberty" in Iraq.

Hitler was insane enough to (most likely) confuse these priorities in his own mind and talented enough as a politician to exploit such confusion among the masses. The fact that our President is not perceived to be very smart intellectually but is very accomplished politically only strengthens the chilling comparison [in the article] of the ascendant Neo-Cons to the ascending Nazis in my own mind.

When Faith trumps Reason, there are no constraints on where the "tolerance level", defining justice, in a society will be set: ironically, in the name of God, the Devil can reign. Then again, that should come as no surprise: The Prince of Evil is also known as The Great Deceiver.