> This is a case of the government executing the will of the people at the time. How do you know that it was the will of the people of the time to persecute co

> This is a case of the government executing the will of the people at the time. How do you know that it was the will of the people of the time to persecute communists? There was no referendum. In any case there are important protections in the US system to prevent 'mob rule' and the persecution of people for ideological purposes. These override "the will of the people at the time". Also - "I thought i was doing the right thing" should (and generally does) not get you off the hook for any crime.