During his recent trip to Paris, our favorite doctor happens upon an “anti-fascist” rally attended by the usual assortment of disgruntled, aimless, black-clad leftist youth, as well as the notorious French riot police, dispatched to keep order among the would-be revolutionaries.

Still, however justified or effective the presence, it is not pleasant or reassuring to see such a force on the streets. It means that the social compact essential to a free society, namely that people will contain their political passion within certain bounds, is breaking down, not only in France but throughout the west. There are no prizes for guessing who is mostly responsible.