Wednesday, August 28, 2013

On Getting Thrown In Jail as a Method of Political Protest

I have never been a big fan of getting thrown in jail as a means of  political protest. Murray Rothbard and Ludwig von Mises never ended up in jail and they have probably done more in recent decades to advance libertarian thinking than almost anyone else.

Which is why I found commentary by Saul Alinsky about getting thrown in jail quite interesting.

Alinsky was a very skilled major league lefty rabble rouser, who influenced both President Obama and Hillary Clinton. In his book, Rules for Radicals, he was always calculating, even when it came to protests that could put you in jail. He wrote:
At the same time, the revolutionary leaders should make certain their publicized violations of are  so selected that their jail terms are relatively brief, from one day to two months. The trouble with a long sentence is that (a) a revolutionary is removed from action for such an extended period of time that he loses touch, and (b) if you are gone long enough everybody forgets about you.
I think he is correct, though I would advance the point and say that any time in jail because of a protest is wasted time.
 
Be careful out there. Don't take yourself out of the game. The idea is to make things difficult for the coercers, not the other way around.


7 comments:

  1. "The idea is to make things difficult for the coercers, not the other way around."

    I thought the idea was to be free? - thus inevitably being put in jail for doing what is your right to do.

    The shame game works only so long as people can't be tricked into giving up more of their (and your) liberties.

    What will your strategy be when they are able to convince people that those of your particular ideological bent need to be liquidated?

    This strategy of shame only means that it will take a bit longer to erode your liberties.

    I wasn't told that Mises went to jail in America for his views, but he sure was about to be put in jail in Austria, for his views.

    You know what he did? He resisted the government.

    What happens when America becomes that bad:

    Dept of Defense training document labels founding fathers ‘extremist’
    http://iroots.org/2013/08/25/dept-of-defense-training-document-labels-founding-fathers-extremist/

    Your shame game won't work; And in the meantime your liberties are being systematically taken from you.

    Besides, I don't want to "Alinsky" my way into people's minds, like a worm. Who cares if you're ashamed or not about taking people's liberties, if you don't understand WHY what you're doing is wrong?

    It's just going to keep happening, and they understand that all they have to do to get you to comply is threaten you with jail.

    If a burglar tries to steal from you, you have every right to forcefully defend yourself and your property, whether or not they are ashamed.

    It's the same thing if a government enforcer does it.

    Please stop poo-poo'ing the idea that people SHOULD demand that others not violate their liberties.

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    1. "I wasn't told that Mises went to jail in America for his views, but he sure was about to be put in jail in Austria, for his views.

      You know what he did? He resisted the government."

      He fled the government. He resisted by writing, but not by protesting in Austria. He fled Austria before the Germans arrived and we should all be grateful. Because of his flight, we have the great book "Human Action." If had stayed protesting in Austria protesting, he would have ended up in a gas chamber and the rest of us wouldn't have has "Human Action," as a guide.

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    2. Right on Wenzel. You can't fight the power of an evil world empire like the US government by physically resisting it. This battle can be won ONLY through ideas. The US empire will eventually collapse under its own weight.

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  2. When you say make things difficult for the state its very hard. The only way to do that is intellectually/ideas. Unfortunate most of us don't have the time with full time jobs/family also the media is a lap dog of the state. The state through direct taxes takes 40% of my salary. Its safe to say they are beating me down

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    1. Do what you can. Talk to people. Costs nothing. Just keep your message upbeat if that means being morbidly upbeat. Even diehard patriots don't like paying for the boneheaded decisions of DC. Start with your family.

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  3. I don't think you can make a blanket statement like that. It may be true in some situations, but not in others. Exhibit A: Gandhi. Exhibit B: Nelson Mandela.

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    1. Alinsky actually discusses Gandhi and why he used the method of protest he did, but still came to the conclusion, don't get yourself locked up for long periods.

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