The left have a playbook, and we could read it.

Rules for Radicals, a pragmatic primer for realistic radicals was written in 1971. The short breakdown of these rules is quite simple:

“Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have.”

“Never go outside the expertise of your people.”

“Whenever possible go outside the expertise of the enemy.”

“Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.”

“Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. There is no defense. It is almost impossible to counterattack ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, who then react to your advantage.”

“A good tactic is one your people enjoy.”

“Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. “

The left have a very serious advantage: on the right we are urging people to be responsible, to lead lives accountable to others, and to contribute positively to society, by working hard, paying taxes, having children, and leaving a legacy of respectable success. The thing is- its hard to do that. It requires discipline and effort, investment in good manners and treating others with respect, even when you don’t really want too.

We’re asking people to do something hard, and we don’t advertise that there are rewards. Its personally satisfying to break things, tear things down, and lose control of your emotions. It feels good. You get to absolve yourself of wrongdoing by participating heavily in the rewards of in group bias.

You get all the fun, and none of the negatives- the left is asking people to harness the feelings that already want to be satisfied into a pleasurable activity- attacking others. Complementary to that, there is an entire new industry funding this. One of the women who called me a gender traitor last week has held women’s ambassador positions with Jasira… so I guess I really am the wrong kind of woman? But the point is, money is flowing into it.

Meanwhile, we, on the right are asking people to be disciplined, responsible, and work for it. Just some food for thought, but we have to work on our pitch.

Whenever you can stand together, do stand together. We can do better.