We have a small cancer growing in our midst that is starting to metastasize and needs to be removed, excoriated, before it threatens us all. A few weeks ago, in our hometown paper, a local Democrat came to the defense of socialism and the unwarranted fear of communism, under the pretext that this is a fledgling movement hardly worth recognizing and that we should go on our merry way. He went on to say that this is an irrational fear, a red herring, being used by Republicans merely to generate fear and votes in the midterm election. History says otherwise.
Never Doubt
The cultural anthropologist, Margaret Mead, correctly noted that:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
What Mead did not say was whether this change was positive or negative; was it a change that advanced society, did it free people, or enslave them? This is both a hopeful statement and a warning. In Mead’s time, this would have been taken as a positive, but times have changed.
The Freedom to be Free
Throughout my life, I have always read Mead’s statement as a motivational quote, a call to arms of sorts to get going and to influence others to make positive changes that will improve my life and theirs. For me, this is a spiritual, motivational, and political call. But as I age, I have come to recognize that this path has that meaning for some, not for all.
We have the privilege of living in the freest, most open society in human history. It is a privilege we take for granted because it is all we know. But worldwide, many do not share our experience. Even in Europe, where we often think freedom is comparable to ours, it is beginning to erode. I see that erosion growing from the European Union decision and the rise of unelected officials in Brussels. Usually, the news focuses on the economic impact of this change, but the constitutional challenges are far greater. Europe is a “soft” socialism experiment that has failed miserably.
Some criticize England for the BREXIT decision, but this, too, is an economic criticism. BREXIT, and the decision to maintain the British Pound, may very well have saved the United Kingdom.
Mead’s Wisdom, In Reverse
This “soft socialism” is coming out of Europe and poses a danger we have not seen before. It gives the more radical socialists and communists among us a point of reference, a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” to point to as an example. The EU is transforming European nations into weak subjects with little or no will to fight to remain free.
“There is no difference between communism and socialism, except in the means of achieving the same ultimate end: communism proposes to enslave men by force, socialism by vote.”
How long will Europe remain free with no personal weapons, no functional military, no immigration restrictions, no religion, and dependence on government for basic necessities?
NAZI Germany
Leading up to World War II, Adolph Hitler reshaped Germany and the world, foreshadowing Mead’s later observation. Hitler had many in his inner circle, but the core of that group was Joseph Goebbels, Martin Bormann, Hermann Goring, Rudolph Hess, Reinhard Heydrich, and Heinrich Himmler. These men engineered a takeover of the German government, commanded hundreds of thousands, executed millions of innocents, and became some of the most hated figures in modern history. They came close to conquering all of Europe and England.
“There is a difference between the theoretical knowledge of socialism and the practical life of socialism. People are not born socialists but must first be taught how to become them.”
This small group of dedicated individuals with a twisted view of the world killed as many as seventeen million people under the banner of National Socialism.
Soviet Russia
Similarly, in post-World War II Soviet Russia, Joseph Stalin had an inner circle of trusted associates. Vyacheslav Molotov, Lavrentiy Beria, Sergey Kirov, Kliment Voroshilov, Georgy Malenkov, and others helped Stalin conduct his purge of those opposing the Communist takeover. Yet these men were not shielded from Stalin, and many were killed or imprisoned.
“One death is a tragedy. One million is a statistic.”
“The goal of socialism is communism.”
It is estimated that Stalin is responsible for the deaths of as many as forty million of his countrymen. Stalin’s version of communism and socialism was blended with totalitarian rule and terrorism.
Communist China
Anyone who holds China up as an example of successful, modern communism and socialism needs to spend a little time with a history book. It does not need to be an ancient history book, just back to the end of World War II. Some believe that Mao Zedong, the leader of the Chinese “Cultural Revolution,” may have been responsible for the deaths of as many as eighty million people.
“All political power comes from the barrel of a gun. The communist party must command all the guns; that way, no guns can ever be used to command the party.”
Many, if not most, died of starvation during the implementation of socialist-style collectivism, when food production plummeted and as many as forty-five million people starved between 1949 and 1976. This is the lesson to draw from China and its accomplishments. The question is always “At what cost?” Mao had an inner circle, but they had no more confidence in their survival than the German or Russian confidants did in theirs.
But worse of all for Chinese state control came later under its One Child Policy. In the years of the One Child Policy, women had no fewer than 336 million abortions. This is more than the entire population of the United States. Parents who violated the policy were fined, forced to use contraception, have abortions, and, in some instances, forced to undergo sterilization.
Role Models All
When you have Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Mao Zedong as role models, what could go wrong?
“It darkens the heart to call dark deeds 'good.' It gives a place for evil to thrive inside us.”
Those who would overthrow us from within know that our schools and school systems are often staffed by the most liberal among us. These people are often disillusioned with 1960s ideology, or they are the children and grandchildren of the disillusioned. They have worked for three generations to destroy Western Civilization from within, and we must push back on their rhetoric and agenda with facts that raise America to its rightful position among free nations.
The Communists Among Us
There is no doubt that we now have communists and socialists operating within our borders and within our government. Joseph McCarthy would have a field day with our modern government officials. Just a decade ago, no one in the federal government would have admitted to being a socialist or communist. Today, these people openly express allegiance to ideologies antithetical to our way of life. McCarthy would not need to look for them; they are proudly proclaiming their intentions.
Just this past week, the more radical (I hesitate to say most radical because I keep being surprised) among the Democrats brought forward their “manifesto.” They clearly spelled out how they would change America. In their “Workers Deserve More!” platform, here is a synopsis of their proposals.
- Replace the Constitution with a new one built around a single legislature.
- Do away with the Senate.
- Limit or remove the Supreme Court Review and have the Supreme Court report to the new legislature.
- Abolish capitalism and replace it eventually with communism.
- Government ownership and control of all major corporations, transportation, energy, and natural resources.
- A 32-hour work week with no reduction in pay.
- Higher taxes on the wealthy, corporations, individuals, inheritances, and private universities.
- Free education for all.
- Medicare for all.
- Universal amnesty for all illegal immigrants, and voting rights for all non-citizens.
- Abolish ICE, and change policing.
- End support for Israel.
All of this in pursuit of a Marxist-Leninist revolutionary world. We do not need to guess what they stand for and want; they want to destroy America. This is the modern and morphing Democratic Party.
How would they implement this? According to their manifesto, they start with local elections and work their way up.
What to do?
It is not a foregone conclusion that this takeover will happen if we stop, think, and learn from history.
First and foremost, we must recognize socialism and communism for what they are, and that they represent a way of life that would destroy our freedoms.
Second, whenever possible, we must stand tall and strong and educate our youth so that they can do the same.
Third, we need to set aside our personal feelings about Democrats, even if they are friends, neighbors, or family. They have become disillusioned about America and our fight to save the nation. Their embracing of socialism and communism makes them the enemy. Democrats are no longer just the opposition with slightly different views.
Fourth, vote for Republicans and get others to vote to move things back to our founding principles.
I have become convinced that the Democratic Party of my youth and my parents’ generation is gone. It is dead and buried under the weight of their unquenchable thirst for power and the energy of the Democratic Socialist wing of the party. They have opened the door to socialism and communism for personal gain, and it is unlikely that it will ever return to the party of President Kennedy.
They have become a small group of dedicated individuals, intent on ending your freedoms and our Republic. They are the “Evil That Does Not Sleep,” and if we fail to confront them, then our nation is on a path to destruction.
We are in a battle for the survival of our nation!
Resources and Further Reading
Death and Repression Under Mao, Facts and Details, factsanddetails.com, August 2021.
Hitler’s Inner Circle- The infamous men of Nazi Germany by Alex Pembroke, Museum Facts, museumfacts.co.uk, Last accessed July 16, 2026.
Inside Hitler‘s Inner Circle: The Men Who Shaped the Nazi Regime, by History Tools, History Tools, historytools.org, May 26, 2024.
Quote Origin: Never Doubt That a Small Group of Thoughtful, Committed Citizens Can Change the World; Indeed, It’s the Only Thing That Ever Has, by Quoteresearch, Quote Investigator, quoteinvestigator.com, November 12, 2017.
Stalin’s Satellites: A Look at Stalin’s Inner Circle by Sue Minot, HubPages, discover.hubpages.com, March 25, 2016.
The Five Deadliest Figures in History, by Tobey, Factum Abscura, factumobscura.com, Last accessed July 15, 2026.
The Stalin Era (1928 – 53), by Edward Louis Keenan, Encyclopedia Britannica, britannica.com, July 17, 2026.
What Specific Proposals Are in the DSA’s ‘Workers Deserve More!’ Platform and How Would They Be Implemented? by Staff, factually, factually.com, July 15, 2026, Last accessed July 17, 2026.
What The Democratic Socialists Of America Want, by Drew Robinson, The Dallas Express, Yahoo, yahoo.com, July 14, 2026.
