Writing for The Hill, Nancy Jacobson observes the extreme left and extreme right pursuing similar “burn it down” goals, using similar means, while at the same time hating each other.
Both have espoused antisemitic views, are hostile to free speech, and are adverse to free enterprise. Both believe the U.S. is a malignant force in the world. Both encourage an endless cycle of politicized retribution and persecution.
This combination of extreme forces was most famously seen in the Weimar era of Germany, after losing World War I and before the Nazis controlled the country. Organized gangs of bullies on both sides roamed the streets dealing out lawless violence to chosen targets (and each other).
We are mostly still in the talking stage, which is bad enough. Antifa has on occasion gone farther and recent events in Minneapolis suggest the left is mobilizing.
Allowed to continue, at some point the citizenry becomes disgusted with the violence and the government’s weak response. History suggests a strong man surfaces promising to quell the unrest. No, Trump is not that man.
However, if the situation gets worse, one of his successors might be. This is not a path down which we need to travel, it doesn’t end well.
