Ican, a number of pages back gave us some insight into some of Saul Alinsky's thoughts about how we should... or how best to, well, make life better for...anywho here are some of my thoughts on the subject
Quote:According to Alinsky, we are not virtuous by not wanting power. We are really cowards for not wanting power, because power is good and powerlessness is evil.
Saul Alinsky is correct on this. I, as a conservative, want the power to make my own personal decisions and the power to direct my efforts to effect a better life for me and my own. However, Alinsky wants not only his own personal power but that of everyone else. Unlike Alinsky, and his ilk, Conservatives do not see this as a zero sum game. With a correctly constructed legal system and a strictly followed U.S. Constitution it doesn’t have to be. Alinsky’s view here is, at best, one of the patrician. Under his view a central authority knows what is best for everyone. Ideally, of course, that authority is, well, Saul Alinsky. Conservatives reject this idea. Freedom to conservatives is an individual thing because we recognize that individuals differ and will pursue their goals differently. To the Alinskys of the world those like myself who want to keep what they have earned and improve our and our families’ lives are then labeled selfish (Yes, I know one must pay a minimum of taxes for obligatory services). But this is a false moral judgment of those that have traditional American conservative views. It is a perversion that misrepresents our founders’ principle of the “pursuit of happiness”. This progressive corruption of conservative values is an attempt to convince the uninitiated that a man so involved in his personal “pursuit” is immoral and therefore is to be condemned and that all who so act are evil. This is a tactic that is used, similar to racism, as a weapon against those, who will have none of statism, to put them off balance, on the defense, and, generally, to change the course of the conversation if not just an effort to invalidate the conservative without addressing his arguments head on.
This progressive tactic, of course, is to be carried out under the guise of the philosopher king or the beneficent tyrant, the end being for the benefit of all, the "General Welfare", as it were. But, as Alinsky himself espouses, it is not about the “General Welfare” but more towards increasing the power of the Alinskys of the world. It is they who aspire to the throne of the Philosopher King. But this reign they seek will always devolve downward towards that of the malevolent dictator or a select few members of the politburo who feel they know better than those general masses. (Even this ruse will be happily abandoned at the point where there is no longer a choice for individuals) This to hide the conceit of those such as Alinsky, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and those newer models such as the Obama Administration and Congressional progressives who feel that those 'below' them are not intelligent enough to set their own goals and make their own decisions.
This disrespect for their fellow Americans’ opinion has been voiced by liberals in both soft and hard terms. Softly Obama blamed 'himself' for the failure of Obamacare by claiming (after delivering 29 speeches beseeching the public to accept it) that he hadn’t “explained it thoroughly enough”. But Bill Maher is more personally honest in his assessment of Americans in general. Regarding the Obama Administration’s KSM/Civilian court in Manhattan problem Maher says:
Quote:” What the Democrats never understand is that Americans don't really care what position you take. Just stick with one. Just be strong. They are not bright enough to really understand the issues, but like an animal they can sort of sense strength. “
http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/36563/
So Maher is a proponent of staying the course. But, perhaps, Maher’s findings better explain the mentality of those who enjoy his ‘jokes’ better then the generic mental acuity of American voters.
The result of Obama’s, Jackson’s, Sharpton’s, (But not Bill Cosby’s, Clarence Thomas’, nor Thomas Sowell’s) and well meaning old white guys like LBJ and Teddy of Chappaquiddick’s ‘good intentions' has been an ever growing list of Americans more dependent upon these false prophets and ‘government’ largess. Despite these progressive efforts, large groups in America now see the American dream receding further and further from their grasp. With Alinsky's minion’s ever tightening grip on their future these Americans find themselves ever dependent on the empty progressive promises of a statist utopia. But it still remains only that, a promise.
The question is: For how long? The figure of the amount of workers that actually pay taxes is now less than 50% (thru the EIC these Americans, along with those on welfare, actually get extra money from the American Taxpayer). Those in the lower rungs of the American financial classes now find themselves stewing in a welfare system that tends to promote unwedded births, unemployment fostered by liberal efforts that lead to minimum wage laws and proposals for tax increases (of all sorts) and a public education system, especially shameful in the inner cities, whose main claim to prosperity remains with the pay scale enjoyed by members of the teacher’s unions. This while legions of these sorely neglected American students “Axe” the question: Where is my promised education?
Michelle Rhee, Chancellor of Education in Washington DC, has had some successes, but liberals have been a constant obstruction to her efforts to reform by constantly backing the teacher’s union over the students. Further and recently, Obama, his Secretary of Education, and Democratic Sen. Durbin killed the successful scholarship voucher program for poor kids in D.C. schools. When will these Americans realize that liberals do not have their best interests at heart? They have Alinskian morals. So they practice deceit.
Quote:” Alinsky's most basic principle for radicals is: lie to opponents and disarm them by pretending to be moderates and liberals.”
This is right from the Communist's and Iran’s Islamic Republican negotiating handbook.
Quote:Alinsky stated, " the issue is never the issue. The issue is always the revolution." The stated cause is never the real cause, but only an occasion to advance the real cause which is accumulation of power to make the revolution.
For an example of such good faith progressive negotiating see P. Noonan’s thoughtful take on the Feb 25th “Health Care Summit” @
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704479404575087902935784456.html
But, what about Capitalism? Is this whipping boy of do good socialists the enemy of “The Revolution”? Capitalism, never experienced in its pure form in historical memory, is less a ‘system’ and more a ‘fact of life’. We do not choose capitalism; it is forced upon us because we live in a world of finite resources (supply and demand). None can escape this fact, not even the mighty U.S.S.R. At the height of their industrial power the soviets could not escape their choice of more rockets and armored divisions resulting in less toilet paper and only a few auto windshield wipers. In soviet Russia outlawed capitalism showed up anyway in the form of a black market for toilet paper and wipers.
So, if the whole Alinskian point is to advance the revolution we must ask: Against what? It doesn’t seem to matter, you see, because the revolution is what’s important because it’s what keeps Alinsky and his perverts gainfully employed, that is, empowered. But Alinsky’s “gains” or power does not come from himself nor from his efforts (Alinskians consider themselves the “elite” so they have little time for actual productive work). Those gains are not only the fruits of productive individuals and institutions of our society they are also Alinsky’s and progressives’ meal ticket. This is the reason why socialist systems must always exist within the context of a capitalistic system (even if this system is distorted by government regulation and subsidies like that of Western Europe and even ours).
Simply put, Alinsky is a parasite. He and his kind are the tapeworms in the gut of productive society. But they steal more than physical sustenance from their victims. They also visit upon society the permanent mental and moral infestation of the Trichinotic cysts of mental sloth and physical dependence on the American spirit through their encouraging a government whose main core attribute is that whatever it giveth it may also take away (remember the Liberal Dem/Obama proposal to cut half a trillion dollars from Medicare?).
Further the parasitic “share the wealth” Alinskian society, at best, promotes mediocrity (Cue the progressive cries of selfishness here). Left to such progressive designs we would see an America where the biggest incentive to become a Thoracic Surgeon rather than a General Practioner would be a larger apartment in a 40 year old run down government building, but then again that would be capitalism too, and/or the pursuit of (a little) happiness. But if this happened in America, where in the world would you go to learn how to be the best surgeon possible? Well, at least we wouldn’t be bothered by those pesky Canadians coming here for the best care or, for that matter, urgently needed timely care. An example:
http://blogs.ajc.com/bob-barr-blog/2010/02/10/canadian-premier-comes-to-us-for-heart-surgery/
Let’s face it, the Left has been thoroughly delegitimized, at least to those paying attention. Through the fall of Marxism, Environmentalism and now its efforts to rule our lives manifest in Cap and Trade, Healthcare ‘Reform’ and, even, Card Check (The left covets the revenue stream of Union Dues) the Left’s true motives are exposed. What Obama’s and Rahm Emanuel’s efforts to use the financial crisis has harvested is everyday citizens like the dreaded Tea Partiers attending study groups examining the likes of The Federalist, Ayn Rand, and ‘Gasp’ the U.S. Constitution itself. Now those students are beginning to realize how far America has strayed from its essence. All that’s left for the Left is to attack such people and try to discredit anyone with any conservative ideas…and they will. Look for it below the fold.
JM
