Quote:
Originally Posted by sg1987
nmap,
I respect your wisdom sir. Any thoughts or insight into what this may entail?
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Thank you for the kind words....
This is a subject I've been looking at for some time, beginning in June 2006 when I was admitted to the Educational Policy and Leadership program. The word "policy" is the key item here, and, if I may, I'm going to digress on it a bit. Please keep in mind, I'm in the very early stages of grasping some concepts.
As nearly as I can tell, most of us don't get exposed to much (or really anything) about
policy and how it's made. We see some law come up in the congress, we may make a call or send a letter, and then we watch as the various politicians act out their parts. But - where did that law come from? And why did it come up? Did some clerk in a congressman's office put it together in her spare time?
It turns out that creating policy is an entire field of study. The lobbyists, the political insiders, and all the rest are serious players. They may work diligently for years or even decades to make some new law or regulation happen. The rest of us are blissfully unaware of what's happening.
A second little event caught my attention some years later - early 2008, as I recall. There was a presentation of an academic paper that discussed some of the early efforts by Hispanics to change rules and policies in schools at the K-12 level back in the late 1950's (as I recall). Anyway, the paper discussed some of the various tactics used by the activists and how effective they were. I noticed that nothing has changed - the activists are using exactly the same methods and tactics. And why shouldn't they? Those tactics have worked!
So I think we face a two-part problem. Part is engagement in making policy. And part is activism. Perhaps you recall the opening scene in the film Patton, where General Patton defeats Rommel. Patton comments that he read Rommel's book. As in the film, we can read the other side's book.
So...
The first book I recommend was suggested to me by one of the smartest people I have ever met. He spent a lifetime studying and understanding such things. The title is:
Policy Studies for Educational Leaders: An Introduction (2nd Edition) (Hardcover) by Frances C. Fowler
It's pricey - about $100. So it might be best to get it through a library, perhaps through interlibrary loan. It's an easy read, and it gives step-by-step instructions to policy. Granted, it focuses on education - but it can be used in other areas too. Also, keep in mind that the local school board is the beginning rung of the elected power structure. So efforts at that level might be seen as a confidence building exercise.
The other side of the coin is activism. I have some issues with classic activism; it tends to involve behavior that ranges from rudeness to petty crime. But I think one must consider effectiveness, too. The advance of the left through use of these approaches is, in my opinion, something to reflect upon. Until we can come up with something better, we might do well to study their tactics.
I have not read the following books, but I think they would make a good start in understanding the problem. They are meant as guidebooks for activists, although the authors intend a strongly leftist orientation.
Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals, by Saul Alinsky
Anything by William Ayers would be worth studying.
The MoveOn.org site is filled with material. Take a look at the political action section, with training materials:
http://www.moveon.org/team/training/index.html
(Complete with how to organize).
Of less value, but perhaps worth investigating is
http://www.democraticunderground.com
At this juncture, I may well have written some things that are offensive to some good people. Please understand that I am not advocating the positions of the referenced authors. I am simply stating where the material that describes their methods and procedures can be found, with the intention of helping to oppose those tactics in a lawful manner.
At any rate, sg1987, I believe that's the starting point. It will take lots of dedicated people at least years - and probably decades - to make a difference.
MOO, YMMV...