In the 1950’s, I became alarmed at the rise in the belief of nonsensical conspiracy theories. Phrases like “the enemies within,” “radical socialist Marxist communists,” defending Nazis and Klansmen as “very fine people, on both sides,” and quoting from a copy of Mein Kampf he kept on his nightstand, Joseph McCarthy was an extraordinary bigot, racist, and homophobe who destroyed American lives and families and plunged the United States into 10 years of utter hell as he wielded power as a US Senator desirous of the presidency. Yes, we’ve seen this all before, and it never entirely went away. These people are still among us, and many who are eager to revive these dark times were alive in that period, with a particularly notable one now occupying a throne of power. We must not allow this to continue. It is worth noting that what ultimately saved America in the 1950s from far worse was that McCarthy passed away at the age of 49 from cirrhosis of the liver. McCarthy’s followers forced Eisenhower to continue some of the demonization of Americans that McCarthy had begun and, like the premature ending of the Reconstruction, we are paying the price for not fully addressing the rise of blind and maniacal hatred of our fellow citizens based on flimsy conspiracy theories or outright lies. Basta! Enough!