The Curse of Minneapolis

Plus: The Left resurrects the accusation of "fascism."

Scandal continues to swirl in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after a Border Patrol shooting incident that left protester Alex Pretti dead. Pretti’s shooting has sparked national debate and caused renewed protests in the city’s streets—another point of vindication for my long-running thesis that the city is cursed.

What explains why endemic disorder seems to plague Minneapolis? My pet theory is that if you look at the history of Minneapolis and compare it to the histories of other American cities that have similarly become hotbeds of left-wing radicalism and anarchy—say, Seattle—there are real commonalities. Both cities have a long history of powerful organized labor movements, factions of communist sympathizers, and a tradition of industrial-frontier progressivism. Each city also has a high density of Scandinavians. There’s something about Scandinavian transplant cultures that simultaneously brings an over-empathizing element—bring in as many Somalis as you can, don’t ask any rude questions about what they might be up to—and also a more militant, socialistic, progressive, and activist element.

The shooting of Alex Pretti represents the tragic culmination of both elements. He is, in that sense, a victim of the curse of Minneapolis.

The Fascism Canard

There is a big essay in The Atlantic by the liberal journalist Jonathan Rauch, titled “Yes, It’s Fascism.” Normally, I don’t read The Atlantic, but I received a Google alert because I am named in the piece—and, therefore, feel a duty to respond.