It HAS happened here

[Joseph Tracy]

One of the things Hedges talks about and many who try to understand US politics don’t get is the active crushing of the radical reformist movements that have existed as major forces in US politics since WW1 . The major tactic by both parties and even the major unions was to label these activists as communists and end individual carreers and networks of support. This was sweeping and effective and the purge lasted for decades attacking, framing, and sometimes killing movement leaders. 
Also, anytime a major leader begins to question our imperialist wars they go unsupported and often vilified by their party or get killed in questionable circumstances. Whether or not this violence is the result of CIA, FBI etc. or is just weirdly circumstantial is irrelevant to the result of empowering the corporate corruption of politics and the ever growing bi partisan support for wars that put the country deep in debt to banks, are riddled with war crimes and are massive failures in bringng peace or stability.