Neocon Infiltration – Danger or Opportunity?
I’ve seen a couple of these articles floating around, most feigning surprise that the political class would try to “take over” the tea party movement. Some observations:
1) If you define “neo con” as being pro-war or pro-interventionist foreign policy then you need to realize that most Republicans hold those views. 57% of all citizens think we are doing the right thing in Iraq and Afghanistan. 71% of the GOP is all in favor of invading anyone we think is a threat. (The Democratic Party is split 47/46). There shouldn’t be any surprise that most people showing up at a tea party are all in favor of blowing up anyone who gets in America’s way. (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30346.html)
2) Do you really not expect politicians not to act in self defense? They manipulate events, twist words and lie. Of course they are going to take over the tea party.
3) Why do you assume that a “bottoms up” or “grassroots” organization is beyond being taken over? These organizations are the most vulnerable to takeover. If you want to be informal, not incorporated and allow everyone to participate – then “everyone” including politicians will.
I remember a taxpayer’s group in Newton Iowa that was actually being effective. It was deliberately set up as a “citizens group” with no formal structure. Well at one meeting, everyone from local government showed up at the meeting, and took it over and killed it.
MORAL: Always better to make your group “formal” and attract a following with your issues and actions. Or, you can naively think that your group is different, and you can ignore history, try to prove me wrong. But if you are being effective, expect to be taken over.
On the opportunity side –
1) If you think our current foreign policy is wrong, recognize the reality going in and try to pursue those who don’t agree with you, don’t smash into them head on – you won’t get far with this crowd. However, you can assume that most of this crowd is going to understand the principles of limited/constitutional government, so use that common frame of reference.
2) Predict the attempted takeovers, and use it as proof of the movement’s success.
3) Embrace the fact that you owe it to your ideas and issues that you need to run your organization like a business – because ultimately it is. You can’t hide from the laws of economics.