You're certainly right about the hyperbole of the title, but I think that the point of the article is to identify these kinds of oppressive judicial and law enf

You're certainly right about the hyperbole of the title, but I think that the point of the article is to identify these kinds of oppressive judicial and law enforcement patterns while they are in their germination stages, before they begin affecting millions of people and severely threatening civil liberties. In that sense, it seems like a good idea to be on the lookout for the next incarnation of the war on drugs/war on terror/red scare/etc. so we can do something about it before it gains momentum. Hyperbole may not be the best tactic to accomplish this, but I suppose it beats being ignored by everyone when you have an important point to make.