In the intellectual capitals of Western Europe following WWII, particularly after Stalin’s 1953 death, the tide turned against Communism. The Marxist-Leninist ideology which had been so popular on the Left began to bleed adherents, especially after Khruschev’s secret speech, in which he denounced Stalin (Feb. 25, 1956). This put the seal of approval on the anti-Stalinist movement, but also proved to be an advance obituary for the Soviet Union itself, which collapsed in 1991.

Some voters still haven’t forgiven Gavin Newsom for his opposition to Proposition 36, which passed by a landslide (68.4%) in the 2024 California general election. It was a “tougher-on-crime” initiative that increased penalties for drug and retail theft crimes and elevated some misdemeanors to felonies.

Yascha Mounk’s 2023 book “The Identity Trap” traces the development and spread of woke identity politics from about fifteen or twenty years ago until today. By “identity politics” he means the progressive left’s demand that “society…be profoundly defined by its division into distinct identity groups.” Among these groupings the more notable are by ethnicity, skin color, sexual orientation, and religious identity.

Unless I’m wrong (which I hope I am), there will be violence today or tonight in Oakland, despite (or because of) the Juneteenth holiday. Of course, when and if there is violence, the usual city apologists will scramble before the TV cameras to say, “This is not what Oakland is about.”

So I was coming home from shopping at KP Asian Market yesterday when I decided to have a cappuccino and read a book at Equator Coffee, just down the block from my home. I’d been sitting there peacefully, enjoying the mild weather, for about 45 minutes, when a Black guy started screaming at me.