So, none of the Hollywood writers who were blacklisted were rich? And none of them donated time or money to Communist causes? The intolerance is almost exactly the same.

No one dislikes Trump more than me. But you can't divorce 40% of the country.

I don't have a problem with a private company, such as YC or a production company, firing someone for publicly donating a massive amount of money to a political candidate.

McCarthyism was different because:

1. Many of the people who were fired, blacklisted, or persecuted were only suspected communists.

2. Somewhat related: if any of the blacklisted people were rich enough to do so, they didn't publicly donate their day's equivalent of $1.25M to any communist cause.

3. There is no threat of violence, prison, or losing his livelihood for Thiel in this case.

>McCarthyism was different because ...

... you really really dislike Trump and/or the GOP. That's the difference here.

> "Many of the people who were fired, blacklisted, or persecuted were only suspected communists"

would it have been OK to fire, blacklist, or persecute them if they had been actual communists, then?

It would have been OK with me to fire (and only fire) them if they were actual communists. Political beliefs are not a protected class in the United States.

It sure as heck had to do with your political beliefs.