It’s everywhere. From mobs of Millennials chanting accusations against “the rich” to the snarky thumb-in-the-eye slogan on the back of a Prius, there’s no respite from this uncivil discourse in the United States. Their 17th Century ideas were repudiated in the 18th Century, raised from the dead in the 19th, radicalized in the 20th, and have finally been reimposed in the 21st. Each passing generation of leftists rationalizing away the flaws revealed by their predecessors. Now those same 17th Century ideas dominate with the implicit promise that, this time, they will work.

Targeting the young and the foolish, the left instills their cultish political ideology, demanding total philosophical and intellectual devotion. Every political and social issue is painted into cartoon black and white, with no room for any dissent or disagreement. Slogans replace debate, and “We are the 99%!”, “The Science is Settled!”, and “Black Lives Matter!” become the only accepted speech, let alone ideology.

This trite 140 character limit bumper sticker political discourse threatens to undermine thousands of years of cultural heritage of western societies. Hashtags and slogans are replacing debate and civility. In this new land of political correctness and cultural progressivism, the reasonable man is insane, and the dissenting man is criminal. And as social media, text messages, and comedians masquerading as newsmen crush every thought and political message into an never ending incoherent feedback loop, the American public becomes not only less interested in discourse, they become less able to even comprehend it.

Microsoft recently published a study that indicates the average adult in western societies now has an attention span shorter than a goldfish, which means many adults lack the attention span to even reach the end of this paragraph. Yes, it is really that bad. And if this disquiets you, realize that these people can vote.

“With the thoughts I’d be thinkin’
I could be another Lincoln
If I only had a brain.”
– The Scarecrow, The Wizard of Oz –

How can we, as conservatives, counter the ceaseless drumbeat of fanatical inanity, especially when many of our political opponents literally have the attention span of a gnat? We start by following the oldest rule of warfare: Know your enemy. We must realize as a political movement that we are, whether we recognize it or not, the designated opposition of the left. We must also realize that the noxious and unrelenting rhetoric employed by the left since the mid-1970’s is not by accident.

In 1971, Saul Alinsky wrote “Rules for Radicals”, effectively Americanizing leftist socialist propaganda. In many ways, The “Rules” militarized leftist political discourse and ignited the ongoing Culture War in the American public by instituting guerrilla tactics employed by communist terrorists around the globe. Whether they have read the book or not, it is the underlying philosophy of the American left and informs the political discourse in America.

The centerpiece of Saul Alinsky’s book are the “13 Rules” themselves:

1. “Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have.”
Power is derived from 2 main sources – money and people. “Have-Nots” must build power from flesh and blood.

2. “Never go outside the expertise of your people.”
It results in confusion, fear and retreat. Feeling secure adds to the backbone of anyone.

3. “Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy.”
Look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety and uncertainty.

4. “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.”
If the rule is that every letter gets a reply, send 30,000 letters. You can kill them with this because no one can possibly obey all of their own rules.

5. “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.”
There is no defense. It’s irrational. It’s infuriating. It also works as a key pressure point to force the enemy into concessions.

6. “A good tactic is one your people enjoy.”
They’ll keep doing it without urging and come back to do more. They’re doing their thing, and will even suggest better ones.

7. “A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.”
Don’t become old news.

8. “Keep the pressure on. Never let up.”
Keep trying new things to keep the opposition off balance. As the opposition masters one approach, hit them from the flank with something new.

9. “The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.”
Imagination and ego can dream up many more consequences than any activist.

10. “The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition.”
It is this unceasing pressure that results in the reactions from the opposition that are essential for the success of the campaign.

11. “If you push a negative hard enough, it will push through and become a positive.”
Violence from the other side can win the public to your side because the public sympathizes with the underdog.

12. “The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.”
Never let the enemy score points because you’re caught without a solution to the problem.

13. “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.”
Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions.

These rules have allowed the left to dominate the political discourse for over thirty years. It’s how their political insurgency become the cultural narrative. The left owns the mouths of the media elite. They run the halls of government. They infest the White House. They surround us on all sides.

“Those poor bastards.
They’ve got us right where we want them.“
– Marine Col. Lewis B. Puller, 1st Marines –

Fortunately, this works in favor of the conservative movement. The left can no longer hide behind the mask of young idealists fighting against a cruel and unsympathetic government. They are the government and have been for decades. We conservatives are now the underdog insurgency, fighting to restore the values of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

The left even provided us a playbook, requiring only a few modifications, on how to fight them.

PRACTICAL RULES FOR CONSERVATIVES

1. “Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have.”
Political power is an illusion! The only true political power is the will of the People. We are all equals, so no group, no matter how large, has any right to abridge the free speech of an individual. If a tyrant wannabe wants to silence you, make them work for it.

2. “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.”
Don’t give respect, especially where it is clearly not due! A civil society depends on an expectation of politeness, but it is not absolute. Do not suffer pretense or political correctness. If someone steps out of line, let them have it. Never ever let the left outrun their shame!

3. “Never go outside the expertise of your people.”
Credentials matter! Never assume your political opponent’s credibility. Make them prove it. If they are credible, then engage them only in so much as you are qualified to do so. If they have no credibility, see Rule #2.

4. “Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy.”
Don’t let your opponent ever change the subject! You must know what you are talking about, and be certain that you understand the context of your argument. The first thing a leftist will try is change the context of an argument. Call them on it, then argue them until they concede. If they continue to try to change the subject, then refer to Rule #2.

5. “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.”
Make them own their record! The left’s rules have been that there are no rules, so instead of focusing on procedure, we have hold their feet to the fire of the results of their policies and empty promises. Remember Rule #2.

6. “A good tactic is one your people enjoy.”
Get your popcorn and taunt your enemy! Everyone is an individual, so get out there and raise Cain. Find like minded individuals, then build together and keep innovating. Stay fresh.

7. “A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.”
Like every good war strategy, the goal is to stay fluid! Don’t get surrounded. Keep growing, keep changing, bring in new blood.

8. “Keep the pressure on. Never let up.”
Never, ever, ever let the left run away from their shame! Keep looking for that perfect shame that breaks our opponent’s back. For John Kerry, it was waffling. For Howard Dean, it was screaming. Never let them live it down. Remember Rule #2.

9. “The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.”
The perfect day will be when every leftist dreads opening up their social media! Chase them into their Safe Spaces, then taunt them for going there. Never let them outrun their shame. See Rule #2.

10. “The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition.”
Test their resolve! Make them philosophically suffer for their beliefs. More importantly, make them realize that they will always suffer while they hold to their beliefs. See Rule #2.

11. “If you push a negative hard enough, it will push through and become a positive.”
Deny them the high ground! Deny them moral superiority! Deny them credibility! Expose them for the whining, foolish children that they are, and eventually society will tire of being manipulated by children masquerading as adults.

12. “The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.”
Be prepared to point to solutions that you believe in! Many are on this very site, but also include as part of your solution the neutering of the left’s propaganda.

13. “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.”
Never allow another conservative to stand alone! Like the Minutemen, we must be ready to come to the aid of fellow patriots. Even if they are winning stand with them. Remember Rule #2.

14. “Always seek peace in the things that you love and believe.”
This struggle is not our lives! Remember to keep things in perspective and that our Creator has a plan, no matter what happens. Be at peace as much as you need.

Embrace freedom!

 

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Liberty is For The Win!