I'm sure it existed back then to some extent (and to a large extent in specific periods, such as McCarthyism), but all that predates social media, which makes i

I'm sure it existed back then to some extent (and to a large extent in specific periods, such as McCarthyism), but all that predates social media, which makes it so much faster and easier to spread this information to everyone in your life. In those days, you'd have to have someone want to bring it forth to the police or government for anyone to bother, and most people won't know about it until it hits the newspaper, if it does. But now it's the court of public opinion with instant judgement and you can be fired from your job, unfriended or blocked by half your friends, and everyone publicly disavowing any association with you before you even find out about it or have a chance to defend yourself. Which, from what I've seen, rarely makes a difference. The damage is already done and doesn't usually ever get undone. Of course a bunch of people are going to keep their mouths shut on political views in this environment. They want to keep their career and friends.