[Friedrich Hayek]

Albee had his target set on the Red Scares, the long series of anti-communist and anti-socialist hysterias that had swept up mnay Americans since the 1880's or so. And in particular what was to become the watershed mark of that long series of mass hysterias, the McCarthy hearings and the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

Well, I suppose you could compare the Amirault trial to the "Red Scares" except that, you know, the Communists were actually guilty.

[bvw]

The communists had "infiltrated" our government it is true. However so have Republicans and Democrats.

The Constitution is very clear on what a traitor is. No communist was a traitor, not the Rosenbergs -- even though Julius passed secrets to the Russians. Why? Because the Russians, the Soviets, were our *allies* not our enemies.

We never did get to officially declaring them an enemy, now, did we? And in World War II they were our ally.

The Red Scares were indeed a witch hunt. As *American* as John Adams' Alien and Sedition Acts.