Check out this site about the stimulus package! Sign the petition, and check out my comments on the stimulus package!
NoStimulus.com
As a young college student studying Public Policy, I am outraged at this unprecedented expansion of the role of government. Exploiting the fear and desperation of the American people in this financial crisis in order to further leftist agenda is disgusting and despicable. The threat to the future prosperity of our nation through hyperinflation is terrifying, not to mention the astronomical amount of debt that is being left to future generations to pay off. This stimulus package is one step closer to socialism, and may prove to be the downfall of our nation.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
The Modern Conservative
I had a random dream the other night. In it, some friends and I were attending a "Young Conservatives of California" conference, and I decided to participate in the "Combatting the Liberal Media" workshop.
After walking in and settling down, the man up front asked what the future identity of the Conservative movement ought to be. Some young punk stood up and said,
"We need to step away from the black and white issues, and turn solidly to the land of grey. By moving to the center in our ideology, we will pick up more swing voters and centrist Republicans. That is the key to survival. No more hard-core stances on issues like abortion, gay marriage, and the like. Grey is the way to go."
Livid, I jumped out of my chair and confronted him.
"Isn't that exactly what got us into this predicament in the first place? We just faced an astounding loss in the last election. The american people are disgusted with us as a party. When we had control of the house, we accomplished little other than an increase in pork, earmarks, and taxes! What the American people do NOT need is more centralist mentality! What they need is for us to be bold! No more being wishy washy with our stance. We have not lost yet. A good majority of the American populace are still conservative on issues like abortion, gay marriage, and illeagal immigration. What we need is to inspire their confidence once more. Take back the Republicans-turned-independents. Make Conservatism propular again. The younger generation flocked to Obama because he was stylish. We need to make Conservatism cool. The answer is not to return to grey, but to paint with bold colors!"
Of course, in my dreams, my pretty little speech roused a chorus of cheers and I was promptly asked to join a Conservative news station, but that is beside the point.
The point is that this is exactly the crisis that the Conservatice movement is currently in. We are facing a crossroads, and we must chose which way we are to go. I only hope we make the right choice, because if we don't, we might not make it back again.
After walking in and settling down, the man up front asked what the future identity of the Conservative movement ought to be. Some young punk stood up and said,
"We need to step away from the black and white issues, and turn solidly to the land of grey. By moving to the center in our ideology, we will pick up more swing voters and centrist Republicans. That is the key to survival. No more hard-core stances on issues like abortion, gay marriage, and the like. Grey is the way to go."
Livid, I jumped out of my chair and confronted him.
"Isn't that exactly what got us into this predicament in the first place? We just faced an astounding loss in the last election. The american people are disgusted with us as a party. When we had control of the house, we accomplished little other than an increase in pork, earmarks, and taxes! What the American people do NOT need is more centralist mentality! What they need is for us to be bold! No more being wishy washy with our stance. We have not lost yet. A good majority of the American populace are still conservative on issues like abortion, gay marriage, and illeagal immigration. What we need is to inspire their confidence once more. Take back the Republicans-turned-independents. Make Conservatism propular again. The younger generation flocked to Obama because he was stylish. We need to make Conservatism cool. The answer is not to return to grey, but to paint with bold colors!"
Of course, in my dreams, my pretty little speech roused a chorus of cheers and I was promptly asked to join a Conservative news station, but that is beside the point.
The point is that this is exactly the crisis that the Conservatice movement is currently in. We are facing a crossroads, and we must chose which way we are to go. I only hope we make the right choice, because if we don't, we might not make it back again.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tricks I Learned From Alinksy- Rules for Radicals
I recently completed a philosophical analysis on the political theory of Saul Alinksy for one of my Public Policy classes. Although I do not agree with his complete and utter lack of moral and ethical considerations, I do feel that he has some great advice for those trying to succeed in the political arena.
His power tactics were utilized by President Elect Obama when he was fresh out of college and beginning the first step in his career as a community organizer. Hillary Clinton interviewed Alinsky four times while writing her senior thesis in college. Both of these Alinsky disciples have climbed to the top in the political realm, and it would be wise to note the power tactics that enabled their success.
"Tactics are those conscious deliberate acts by which human beings live with each other and deal with the world around them," Alinsky said. "Here our concern is with the tactic of taking; how the Have-Nots can take power away from the Haves (126).
The first rule of power tactics is "Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have" (127). This is excellent advice. Whether it be funds or manpower, it is always a good idea for one's enemy to believe that one has more support than one actually possess. The enemy will be intimidated and think twice about attacking if they think they will be outnumbered and fail.
The second rule is "Never go outside the experience of your people. When an action or tactic is outside the experience of the people, the result is confusion, fear, and retreat. It also means a collapse of communication..." (127). This is true. When change occurs, people are naturally wary. By making one's supporters feel secure, it will strengthen the backbone of one's revolution.
The third rule is "Whenever possible go outside of the experience of the enemy" (127). This is also an excellent suggestion. One's enemy will be caught completely unaware and their lack of knowledge will be spotlighted, enabling one to showcase one's own mastery of the subject. This is an excellent tactic that is often used in political campaigns. One must always point out the enemy's weaknesses and highlight one's own strengths.
` The fourth rule is "Make the enemy live up to their own book of rules" (128). This is a very serious rule, but is ultimately extremely effective. It is impossible for a person to live up to all of their own personal rules and standards. Test them, and prove that they are a hypocrite, and their reputation and credibility will be in shambles. Rudy Giuliani utilized this tactic in the presidential primaries for the republican nomination when he attacked Mitt Romney for employing an illegal alien to clean his house when one of the main thrusts of Romney's campaign platform was illegal immigration reform and harsher punishment for employers who employed illegal workers. This power tactic is harsh, but is ultimately very effective.
The fifth rule is "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon" (128). This statement is absolutely cruel, but it works. One's enemy is completely infuriated, but is incapable of lashing out for fear of looking like a jerk. Irrational pressure points make the enemy incapable of defending himself. An excellent example of this was the Ose vs. McClintock campaign for the fourth district representative seat. At the debate held at William Jessup University between the two candidates, Doug Ose continually ridiculed Tom McClintock again and again, his voice dripping with contempt, disdain, and sarcasm with every jab against the California state senator. The audience watched as McClintock's face flushed an angry shade of red, and while he made attempts to defend himself, the damage had already been done. Ridicule is an excellent, albeit cheap, weapon.
The sixth rule is "A good tactic is one that your people enjoy" (128). This is true not only for radicals, but for everyone. People will continue to do something that brings them pleasure, enjoyment, and amusement. When someone is passionate about what they are doing, they will be much more effective and much more likely to commit to it.
The seventh rule is "A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag" (128). This is also a statement that is applicable to everyone. People have short attention spans and are bored easily. The successful radical will keep his followers excited and involved. It is vital to continually develop new strategies and not become "old news," or one might lose momentum and the cause will fail.
The eighth rule of power tactics is "Keep the pressure on" (128). This is an effective tactic, even if it is ruthless. Never give up. Never allow the reeling enemy to rest, regroup, rethink, or re-strategize. By constantly keeping one's enemy on their toes, one will create fear, anger, and confusion, allowing one the chance to further one's cause. This was a tactic used in the recent presidential election against vice president hopeful, Sarah Palin. The power tactic of "Keep the pressure on" is cruel, rude, and mean, but it does ultimately provide excellent results.
The ninth rule of power tactics is "The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself" (129). The mere threat of action may be enough to frighten and intimidate one's enemy into retreat. Imagining the worst case scenario, the enemy may just give up rather than risk the fight.
The tenth rule of power tactics is "The major premise for tactics is development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition" (129). Unceasing pressure on the enemy results in reaction. It is a continual process, a cycle of pressure and reaction by the enemy that is necessary in order maintain action. The successful radical will keep the process going.
The eleventh rule is "If you push a negative hard and deep enough it will break through into its counterside" (129). In this case, a negative can become a positive. Violent or underhanded dealings from the enemy can be used against them, because the public loves to support the underdog.
The twelfth rule of power tactics is "The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative" (130). The successful radical will never be caught without a solution to the problem. If the enemy caves in, be prepared to solve the issue at hand.
The thirteenth rule is "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it" (130). There is no point to tactics unless one has a target upon which to center the attacks. Pick a target, and isolate the enemy. Make it personal; do not attack a company or organization, attack its president. Polarize the issue and force others to pick a side. Alinksy used Christ as an example when he said, "If you are not for me, then you are against me." This last tactic is probably the most famous of Alinsy's rules, and it is by far the most cruel and the most ruthless.
Alinsky’s message of stripping power away from the Haves and giving it to the Have-Nots has caught the attention of many political hopefuls over the years, including two of the top Democratic presidential candidates, one of whom is now the current president elect. Upon analysis of Alinksy's political theories and philosophies, one learns that his tactics are completely ruthless, callous, and cruel, but they are extremely effective. The astute radical would be wise to carefully consider the moral and ethical costs of employing such means to obtain power to determine if they are ultimately worth it.
His power tactics were utilized by President Elect Obama when he was fresh out of college and beginning the first step in his career as a community organizer. Hillary Clinton interviewed Alinsky four times while writing her senior thesis in college. Both of these Alinsky disciples have climbed to the top in the political realm, and it would be wise to note the power tactics that enabled their success.
"Tactics are those conscious deliberate acts by which human beings live with each other and deal with the world around them," Alinsky said. "Here our concern is with the tactic of taking; how the Have-Nots can take power away from the Haves (126).
The first rule of power tactics is "Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have" (127). This is excellent advice. Whether it be funds or manpower, it is always a good idea for one's enemy to believe that one has more support than one actually possess. The enemy will be intimidated and think twice about attacking if they think they will be outnumbered and fail.
The second rule is "Never go outside the experience of your people. When an action or tactic is outside the experience of the people, the result is confusion, fear, and retreat. It also means a collapse of communication..." (127). This is true. When change occurs, people are naturally wary. By making one's supporters feel secure, it will strengthen the backbone of one's revolution.
The third rule is "Whenever possible go outside of the experience of the enemy" (127). This is also an excellent suggestion. One's enemy will be caught completely unaware and their lack of knowledge will be spotlighted, enabling one to showcase one's own mastery of the subject. This is an excellent tactic that is often used in political campaigns. One must always point out the enemy's weaknesses and highlight one's own strengths.
` The fourth rule is "Make the enemy live up to their own book of rules" (128). This is a very serious rule, but is ultimately extremely effective. It is impossible for a person to live up to all of their own personal rules and standards. Test them, and prove that they are a hypocrite, and their reputation and credibility will be in shambles. Rudy Giuliani utilized this tactic in the presidential primaries for the republican nomination when he attacked Mitt Romney for employing an illegal alien to clean his house when one of the main thrusts of Romney's campaign platform was illegal immigration reform and harsher punishment for employers who employed illegal workers. This power tactic is harsh, but is ultimately very effective.
The fifth rule is "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon" (128). This statement is absolutely cruel, but it works. One's enemy is completely infuriated, but is incapable of lashing out for fear of looking like a jerk. Irrational pressure points make the enemy incapable of defending himself. An excellent example of this was the Ose vs. McClintock campaign for the fourth district representative seat. At the debate held at William Jessup University between the two candidates, Doug Ose continually ridiculed Tom McClintock again and again, his voice dripping with contempt, disdain, and sarcasm with every jab against the California state senator. The audience watched as McClintock's face flushed an angry shade of red, and while he made attempts to defend himself, the damage had already been done. Ridicule is an excellent, albeit cheap, weapon.
The sixth rule is "A good tactic is one that your people enjoy" (128). This is true not only for radicals, but for everyone. People will continue to do something that brings them pleasure, enjoyment, and amusement. When someone is passionate about what they are doing, they will be much more effective and much more likely to commit to it.
The seventh rule is "A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag" (128). This is also a statement that is applicable to everyone. People have short attention spans and are bored easily. The successful radical will keep his followers excited and involved. It is vital to continually develop new strategies and not become "old news," or one might lose momentum and the cause will fail.
The eighth rule of power tactics is "Keep the pressure on" (128). This is an effective tactic, even if it is ruthless. Never give up. Never allow the reeling enemy to rest, regroup, rethink, or re-strategize. By constantly keeping one's enemy on their toes, one will create fear, anger, and confusion, allowing one the chance to further one's cause. This was a tactic used in the recent presidential election against vice president hopeful, Sarah Palin. The power tactic of "Keep the pressure on" is cruel, rude, and mean, but it does ultimately provide excellent results.
The ninth rule of power tactics is "The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself" (129). The mere threat of action may be enough to frighten and intimidate one's enemy into retreat. Imagining the worst case scenario, the enemy may just give up rather than risk the fight.
The tenth rule of power tactics is "The major premise for tactics is development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition" (129). Unceasing pressure on the enemy results in reaction. It is a continual process, a cycle of pressure and reaction by the enemy that is necessary in order maintain action. The successful radical will keep the process going.
The eleventh rule is "If you push a negative hard and deep enough it will break through into its counterside" (129). In this case, a negative can become a positive. Violent or underhanded dealings from the enemy can be used against them, because the public loves to support the underdog.
The twelfth rule of power tactics is "The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative" (130). The successful radical will never be caught without a solution to the problem. If the enemy caves in, be prepared to solve the issue at hand.
The thirteenth rule is "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it" (130). There is no point to tactics unless one has a target upon which to center the attacks. Pick a target, and isolate the enemy. Make it personal; do not attack a company or organization, attack its president. Polarize the issue and force others to pick a side. Alinksy used Christ as an example when he said, "If you are not for me, then you are against me." This last tactic is probably the most famous of Alinsy's rules, and it is by far the most cruel and the most ruthless.
Alinsky’s message of stripping power away from the Haves and giving it to the Have-Nots has caught the attention of many political hopefuls over the years, including two of the top Democratic presidential candidates, one of whom is now the current president elect. Upon analysis of Alinksy's political theories and philosophies, one learns that his tactics are completely ruthless, callous, and cruel, but they are extremely effective. The astute radical would be wise to carefully consider the moral and ethical costs of employing such means to obtain power to determine if they are ultimately worth it.
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