If you have any doubts about whether a minority of radicals can consume a movement to the degree that it drives the bus, and drives it over its own moderates, you could look at history. Islam, the National Socialist (NAZI) Party in Germany, the Bolsheviks. Cuba right before Castro, China before Mao, and the American Democrat Party before 2026.
There are no half measures when it comes to tyranny, and every revolution that included people hoping for a peaceful transition and a general acceptance of debate with the ruling framework discovered the unpleasant truth. Human nature, combined with any form of socialism, ends in violence and misery for everyone who isn't in the ruling class.
Leftism doesn't do half-measures well, and the Democrat party that tried is probably dead. What remains of its so-called moderates are under fire from the radicals it "trained," under the false assumption that it would be able to keep them on a leash. [It's making the exact same mistake with Islam, if you care].
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Merrimack Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.