At a couple of communes I visited, I heard a person or two speculate if someone there was an undercover something or the other. While I think it possible for private or governmental groups to snoop into this subculture, I had the thought that the speakers had an inflated view of their importance! Yea, in the 60's or 70's, the founder of Wackenhut and some of his rich buddies kept a private watch on, "the Left", as did the government. But, I see communes as a blip on the screen and unworthy of much attention. But here's my thought:

The folks I heard talk would see people who were moderate in views and appearance as the likeliest agents. But, I have read enough and talked to enough people to know that agencies train their folks to go in taking the most extreme tone and mimicking the groups dress and speech. Which means, the infiltrator isn't going to look like Mr. or Ms. Normal. And, they won't be a moderate in belief. They will be oh so cool! Dreds! Mannerisms, slang, all down pat. I wish more commune folk knew this!

Another facet: If a group is going to become cliquish, those with political and social power will ostracize the moderates. But, you know, moderates are the bridge to the mainstream. And, they're the bridge to reality. Turn those folks away and you're left with True Believers; ideologues, who care more about the group's cohesiveness than effectiveness in changing the world.

So, an agent wanting to disrupt a group could kill two birds with one stone by being an extremist. They would run off the moderates, thereby turning the group into an isolated bunch of ideologues, with no bridges to the mainstream. Mainstream folks would tune them out. They would recognize them as ideologues. Secondly, the agent would more easily PASS as an OK person. And, all those clean cut activists who were treated like aliens would go home.

Know this!