I can hear in my mind’s eye young folks, particularly, saying “but being a Democrat is the only way I can belong”.
The Communist tactic is to destroy what somebody called “intermediate institutions”, of family, of community, of church, of social organization, and create a situation where they are the only rallying point, the only commonality, the only community, the only social resource, the only game in town for tribalistic descendants (perhaps) of primates.
Where can you go, out in that hot sun, alone? Especially if you are not that clever, not particularly individuated, not mature, not sure of yourself? Nowhere.
AND THAT IS THE GOAL.
Logically, and I think I saw this without seeing it, the way to reverse all this is to rebuild intermediate institutions, places people can belong, can learn to be themselves, to inhabit their own lives, without guilt or shame or judgement.
This is and has been my plan. It works intellectually, but I am not yet the person I need to be to pull it off practically.