Old Cold War sentiments are resurfacing, with eyes pointed to Russia, even though the country is quite capitalist these days. Recently, there was a bill presented to remove a part of the California Code that prevents Communist Party members from taking government office. Travis Allen, a republican from South California, is against this move, and took the floor to prove it, saying,
“To allow subversives and avowed communists to now work for the state of California,” he railed, “is a direct insult to the people of California who pay for that government.”
This aspect of the code is in place in several other states also. On the other side of things, the bill's sponsor, Democratic assemblyman Rob Bonta, announced last week that he would not push forward with the bill.
“I’ve been called a commie. I’ve been told to go back to China. I’ve had death threats,” Bonta told the Guardian. He described as “ironic and curious” the fact that one of his Republican opponents was “wrapping himself in the flag” while “supporting a law that blatantly violates our first amendment rights”, but said he respected the emotions that the issue had raised for refugees from communist regimes.
These type of bouts have been going on for quite a while. It's an ongoing debate whether or not to allow communists to have a place in the government. Both sides have valid and important arguments, so there really isn't a "right side", as is in many political situations. I personally see the health and harm in both outcomes, so I find it challenging to take a side.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/22/anti-communist-laws-california-trump-russia
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