I hear you but, the Patriot act was the gateway. View it as a spectrum from then and how the Administration is now, and suddenly what the Donald is doing doesn't even seem bad: it seems on par for the dystopian road-map laid out long ago (I can't speak for before 9/11)

It is BOTH bad AND par for the course.

I mean encryption was considered arms when the internet first came about so it's not exactly a new power or means of welding it.