Two comments:
1. It is possible that the regime might act that way, but against 5 million people who continue protesting for days outside the White House and Congress, the iron fist is powerless. Major bloodshed could suppress dissent or, more likely, would inflame others to join the protest (that depends on whether Americans have as much cojones as the Poles and the Egyptians, of course).
2. Perhaps you are right -- perhaps Americans have sold their souls for a good standard of living, but I would like to think not.
It won't be five million and even if the Remnant mustered a million and marched - if you think such a protest renders an iron fist powerless, you do not understand the people who now rule us.
YEARS of demonizing Christian Conservatives was done for the purpose of getting the majority to see us as domestic terrorists. Even Mitch McConnell labelled us as such and the GOP Establishment views Conservatives in this way.
The sad truth is that WE who would do something about this tyranny are a minority in this country. The majority of the country considers us to be racist/homophobic/evil/polluting/wealthy rich fat cats that they would applaud watching be put down by brutal force.
Major bloodshed could suppress dissent or, more likely, would inflame others to join the protest
You do not understand those who now rule us or the mentality of the majority of the people who now willingly cower and accept subjugation so they can keep what they have. When the shelves are bare and people are freezing to death - the people who have already been blamed for all the woe - are you and I. When a people are miserable, they will do ANYTHING for the mere promise of bread.
We should not be ignorant of reality or the Devil's devices. I've seen nothing to cause me to think that this people will rise up and do what must be done. Instead I keep reading and hearing that we should just 'elect more republicans' - or perhaps if we get reaaaaaallllly angry - go march in a protest. Normalcy Bias on display.
We are under Judgment - which is why we suffer this tyranny. We caused it. The coup we suffered is a reflection of the coup our culture has suffered due our indifference of the cancers of evil that have infected it.