Edit: Thanks to @wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com for the most detailed correction I have ever received. Your response makes the word "pedantry" appear paltry in the presence of what you have presented before us. Thank you.
More a series of ongoing failures, whittling away of freedoms, vilification of the "other" (chosen targets periodically changing), and willful ignorance spread over decades. Just seems more focused these days and across more than the US.
They absolutely have real and useful applications. Just saw an ad show up a few times in short succession and felt compelled to make something of it. The commercial mostly just showed pro athletes rather than people needing them for various medical reasons.
I don't see saddam.