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Entry: Rules for Radicals Link: http://www.takimag.com/blogs/article/rules_for_radicals#32365 Post contents: @Kevin I'm the first Ryan who posted the MLK story, not the second one above. "Progress is building activists and the campus Right is building politicians and politicos." I've been involved with both type of groups you described, with YAF and a left wing group that I actually agreed with on one issue. I hate to say it, but the leftists were more fun, organized and more importantly, actually accomplished something-- a rather sizable demonstration. At the end of the YAF (1979) event I got a questionnaire that I wish I still had. The person who read it was so impressed with my observations about the YAF event and other YAF activities that he sent me a reply. The YAF event was boring without any social activities like drinking beer. My criticisms about other activities were concerned with not being more aggressive in not putting up with disrupters at speaker events, etc. The one thing I remember was the way it ended. "When this train pulls out of the station some people are going to be aboard, others will be left standing there and some will be tied to the tracks. Judging by the detailed way he addressed my questionnaire I got the distinct impression that I was going to one of the people tied to the tracks. The Leftists, on the other hand, proved to be much more receptive and when a number of them wanted to bring in side issues like "no nukes", etc., (this being 1980) I pointed out that this was a single issue group and if they wanted to get any support from anyone the outside they should avoid this other stuff that might turn folks off. They adopted my recommendation. "The young Right has more to learn from the upstarts at Campus Progress than the other way around." I couldn't agree with you more. Good luck with your endeavor, I know exactly where you are coming from. Sent at: 2008 12 01