Has the "Left" Really Changed?

From Dr. Sanity:

What we have witnessed over the 30- 45 years since the Left ascended to dominate political thought in the mid 20th century, is its rapid and unprecedented decline into wholesale intellectual and moral bankruptcy. The noble values and ideals they once stood for have been abandoned; and almost as if a surreal cosmic joke was being played on them, they have—without even noticing!-- embraced the exact opposite of what they once stood for. 

Where once they stood for freedom; they now enable dictatorships and apologize for tyrants. Where once they sought to bring justice to the world; they now defend horrific acts of mass murder and enslavement. Where once they rightly demanded equal opportunity, they have embraced all kinds of racial quotas and discriminatory practices and demand equality of outcome. Where once they sought to empower the weak; they are now instrumental in maintaining and expanding their victimhood.

True enough about where they are now, not necessarily about where they were.  Depends on how you define the Left.  Many Progressives have historically defended fascist and other totalitarian collectivist regimes from the beginning of the movement.  Many Progressives have had historically condescending attitudes toward the "inferior races" and been guided by the institutional racism of the scientific elite at the beginning of the 20th century.