“We’ll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgment of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song
I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me….”

Surprisingly, these song lyrics are not from 2010, but from 1971.  Won’t Get Fooled Again was The Who’s anthem for youth rebellion which aptly characterized the times. President Nixon signed into law the 26th Amendment officially lowering the voting age to 18; colleges burned with the anger of Viet Nam protests; the Weather Underground Organization detonated a bomb in a restroom of the United States Capital in Washington D.C.; and Archie Bunker debuted bringing ridicule to “established old-fashioned” ways of thinking.  This was the year a former activist from the 1910s named Saul Alinsky released his book; Rules for Radicals written specifically to organize all of those disgruntled, anti-establishment types who desired to find a way to gain power.  The book was barely noticed at that time.  In fact, it does not even show on the 100 Most Popular Books Published in 1971 list from www.goodreads.com.   The Marx-Engels Reader by Karl Marx made the list, but not Alinsky.

Nevertheless, since Barack Obama began his candidacy, Rules for Radicals is one of the most mentioned books on the political scene.  It headlines the National Education Association (NEA) recommended reading list.  The NEA states of the book: “An inspiration to anyone contemplating action in their community! And to every organizer!” Also, if a young adult would like to intern for President Obama’s “Organizing for America”, they are asked to read this book.
The book begins with a quote from Alinsky, “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.”

The book is worth a read in order to understand our current administration and even some members of the media (MSNBC’s Chris Matthews calls Alinsky a hero).  This is where we learn that in community organization where the goal is to take power from the haves and give it to the have-nots, the end justifies the means….ethics is doing what is best for the most….ethical standards must be elastic to stretch with the times….every tactic is acceptable for the good of mankind….corrupt means are justifiable and he who fears corruption, fears life…and, finally, win at all costs.

There is far too much in the book to cover here, but it is currently taught in colleges and lived out in Washington D.C.  This isn’t the first we have seen of Saul Alinsky nor will it be the last. I encourage you to get educated on what is taught within these pages, because this philosophy is being pedaled on many fronts for “the good of all mankind.”  At least one line from the Who’s song should ring true for all parents, “And I’ll get on my knees and pray, we don’t get fooled again.”