I thought the same in my youth, that the communist infiltration bit was way overdone, and thought the loyalty oaths I was required to sign to get jobs were silly.
I still think loyalty oaths are silly, but the Verona information from the 1990's after the fall of the Soviet Union indicated that the commies and their sympathizers were running rampant in our government just like the "Chicken Littles" had tried to warn us.
Now I think you are the one who is a bit naive not to realize how dedicated the lefties are to their cause of supplanting the U.S. with a socialist/communist government.
I recommend you read Radical Son by David Horowitz and Reagan's War by Peter Schweizer to get a more sober view of what has been going on.
And this would be different from the 'righties' doing the same how again? It wasn't a Democratic Congress nor President that passed NCLB or the Prescription drug plan. It wasn't a Democratic Congress nor President that passed the 'patriot' act. No, the Republicans (at least the establishment ones) are just as bad as Democrats. And I have read Horowitz's ramblings in the past. The absolute leaps of logic in his portrayal of foreign policy is disturbing. I suppose that's why he had to remove so many colleges from his 'nationwide' tour listing huh?