Rules For Radicals by Saul Alinsky

I finally got around to reading this and it doesn't seem to support Marxism or any brand of communism that I can tell. Revolution without resolution seems to be the purpose here. Constant "radical" change, both beneficial and harmful, with no other purpose than to continually destabilize and (one would assume) hasten social evolution.

My main question is, "Haven't the socialist democrats read this?" I thought this was their guide book since the Clinton administration.

If the liberal socialist democrats believe the following quote, how can they justify doing the wrong things for the "right reasons" with all the dirty politics, new laws and executive orders?

"In this world laws are written for the lofty aim of 'the common good' and then acted out in life on the basis of the common greed. In this world irrationality clings to man like his shadow so that the right things are done for the wrong reasons—afterwards, we dredge up the right reasons for justification." from "Rules For Radicals" by Saul D. Alinsky

Rules For Radicals PDF

a reply to: MichiganSwampBuck

"Haven't the socialist democrats read this?"

No they have not unless they're dyslexic and took this:

People cannot be free unless they are willing to sacrifice some of their
interests to guarantee the freedom of other

To read like:

'People cannot be free unless they are willing to sacrifice their freedom to guarantee the emotionally driven interests of others.'

I tried to read it years ago, it just seemed like mindless drivel wrote by a madman and I lost interest in it pretty quick.

I could see how it called for radical measures to institute change, but overall, I think you would have to be of a pretty simple mind to buy into the ideas or methods it proposes.

I might have seen that once in a book store. It had lots of big pictures and a box of crayons to color them with. I remember something about it being a democrat special edition. I put it back on the clearance table.

a reply to: MichiganSwampBuck
This book is the game plan for them as how to carry out the radical changes the weather underground started. This book has the guidelines to follow inorder to win at everything u do no matter how false or how much u cheat or ruin another person for your gain regardless if what u say is totally made up or is true because the ends are what matters and alinsky tells them how to do it..

Ruin you oppeneny because then his ideas will never be listened to

Don't argue on merit attack either the author or attack a part of argument that can be twisted to fit your refutation.

A couple of the things I've gleaned from rules for radicals. Now watch political debate or "news" and see how often those points just made come up.

Don't like voter I'd? Say it's racist to attack the law and say those backing it are racist regardless of how much it makes sense because you assassinated the character of the person bring it up.

a reply to: htxhardheads

Yeah, the ends justify the means came through pretty good from my brief run through of the material. Also, the truth is irrelevant to these guys. The thing is that there is no real point to all this except how to disrupt and destroy the current system in order to create change. There is no real end game but the constant struggle of change for change's sake and how to organize to take action to that end. It's not even about any personal gain of power or to create some dystopian communist paradise, just creating chaos it seems.

"In this world laws are written for the lofty aim of 'the common good' and then acted out in life on the basis of the common greed. In this world irrationality clings to man like his shadow so that the right things are done for the wrong reasons—afterwards, we dredge up the right reasons for justification." from "Rules For Radicals" by Saul D. Alinsky

So the Left does the "wrong" things for the "wrong" reasons, with the goal of a "wrong" outcome.

Then, they just lie about the "wrong".

Yea, they've refined it a bit. LOL

I need to really read this stuff and try to understand the "why". Even though communism isn't the claimed goal necessarily, this handbook sure seems like a communist tool for a Marxist take over of the U.S.

It's ideology is centered on obtaining power though the organization of the public masses to force change against the current establishment based on ideals like liberty, equality, and individual rights and to do so "by any means necessary" (to quote Hillary Clinton). Even though the message claims that the "ends justify the means", what happens in the end is irrelevant apparently as long as you effect radical changes to society.

originally posted by: MichiganSwampBuck
I need to really read this stuff and try to understand the "why". Even though communism isn't the claimed goal necessarily, this handbook sure seems like a communist tool for a Marxist take over of the U.S.

It's ideology is centered on obtaining power though the organization of the public masses to force change against the current establishment based on ideals like liberty, equality, and individual rights and to do so "by any means necessary" (to quote Hillary Clinton). Even though the message claims that the "ends justify the means", what happens in the end is irrelevant apparently as long as you effect radical changes to society.

I think you nailed it.

It's a mechanism for driving change. Whatever that change may be is irrelevant, that comes later.

Also, very effective, so far.

The last paragraph in Communist Manifesto, Marx wrote:

"The Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes
tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win."

Wrong post..

originally posted by: AutomateThis1
The last paragraph in Communist Manifesto, Marx wrote:

"The Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes
tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win."

Actually, it's more like the proletarians have everything to lose and will be putting new chains on, stronger, heavier chains. They will then have lost a world they may never win back.