By: Saul Alinsky Publisher: Vintage Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Vintage Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 224 Publication Date: October 23, 1989 Release Date: October 23, 1989
If you want to understand Democrats - and Obama If you want to understand Barack Obama - and Democrats in general - READ THIS BOOK.
In September of 2008, Democrat were repeating the same phrase in the media: "Jesus was a community organizer, Pontius Pilate was a Governor"
This was intended to imply, to voters, that Obama, a former community organizer, was akin to Jesus, and Governor Sarah Palin was akin to his crucifier.
Well, the role of the community organizer was developed by Saul Alinsky.
Alinsky was a radical Chicago activist who, by the time he died in 1972, had had a profound influence on the highest levels of the Democratic party.
Thirteen years after Alinsky died, some of his former students hired Barack Obama to a $13,000 a year job as a community organizer in South Chicago.
In a few years he became very proficient in the Alinsky Method of community organizing and became an instructor and teacher of the Alinsky Method to other community organizers.
Alinsky was a `transformational Marxist' in the mould of Antonio Gramsci, who promoted the strategy of a `long march through the institutions' by capturing the culture and turning it inside out as the most effective means of overturning western society.
The dedication of Alinsky's book for community organizers - "Rules for Radicals" - says:
"Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical: from all our legends, mythology, and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins -- or which is which), the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom -- Lucifer"
Rules For Radicals Since when has Marxism disguised itself as "Social Change"? Shall we also desribe Commissar as "Community Organizer".
Very few books have caused such a profound change in social activism as "Rules for Radicals". The intense yearning to alleviate human suffering at the hands other humans, will it seems cause yet more intense suffering by the hands of those yearning to stop it.
My copy is a hot commodity these days and I'll no doubt have to replace it along with several other Alinsky titles I once owned. I do recommend this title if only to understand how arguments for these actions are formulated by such an erudite mind.
BTW: What happened to the dedication to LUCIFER in the forward of the book? Certainly censorship was not forced.
Insight into Obama and Hillary Hillary Clinton wrote a grauduate school thesis on Saul Alinksy's views ... Obama studied and utilized Saul Alinksy's theory in his community organizing days. This book offers (separate) insights into Obama and Clinton's beliefs and practices which are socialist in nature. Very interesting, but SHOULD be frightening to any patriotic American considering the socialist nature of the philosophy described.
how to effect change This book describes the model of community organizing practiced by successful leaders such as Barack Obama and Cesar Chavez. Very effective but difficult to practice.
Prompt and in great condition. I am impressed at the speed at which Radicals arrived. The book was also in fantastic condition.
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