Enough of this technical junk. Sure, the JBS may have been a little extreme, but your continued attacks on that little, outdated organization as your entire Reason for Being on this site have made me a little suspicious of your intentions. You do know that Freerepublic is a site devoted to promoting the values of American conservatism, Democracy, and capitalism, right?
I've sent you a private post about this, but here it is point blank. Just answer *ONE* question for me, and I'll leave you be.
What was in the 50's, and today remains, the greater threat to the security of America's freedom: Communism or Anti-communism?
Do answer that as directly as possible. I don't need one of your patented 1000-letter posts.
1. Facts matter
2. Accurate history matters
3. Mistaken ideas usually have undesirable consequences.
Perhaps you consider the 3 points above "technical junk" but I don't.
I would be interested in learning what you mean by your comment that the JBS may have been "a little extreme".
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION:
It is very difficult to answer your question in the manner in which it is posed. However, I prefer to associate myself with the conclusions reached by the FBI (and other security agencies). To keep my answer brief, as you requested, I will quote J. Edgar Hoover:
"The Communist Party in this country has attempted to infiltrate and subvert every segment of our society, but its continuing efforts have not achieved success of any substance. Too many self-styled experts on communism, without valid credentials and without any access whatsoever to classified factual data regarding the inner workings of the conspiracy, have engaged in rumor-mongering and hurling false and wholly unsubstantiated allegations against persons whose views differ from their own. This is dangerous business. It is divisive and unintelligent and makes more difficult the task of the professional investigator."
I believe (as Hoover did) that JBS was an organization that harmed the anti-Communist movement and, in the process, the JBS defamed good and decent Americans.
Hope that answers your question.
Now I have ONE question for you.
If, as a result of my research, I had discovered that senior FBI officials...
* AGREED with the John Birch Society's scheme of things and
* APPROVED of JBS "educational" efforts, then...
(1) WOULD YOU STILL OBJECT TO ME POSTING MESSAGES ON FR which discussed that agreement and approval?
(2) Would you be "suspicious" of my "intentions"?
Isn't it significant that while the JBS purports to be an "educational" organization and "an army fighting with facts", nevertheless both the JBS and its sympathizers express outright hostility toward anyone who does historical research to determine factual information?