Talk:Industrial Areas Foundation

Initial comments, October 2006

 * unknown user added comment in the article


 * THis organization was not created by that guy. Please fix.

CHANGE is an affiliate of the IAF, so I am removing this comment.
 * per IAF website, (http://www.industrialareasfoundation.org/iafaffiliates/iafaffiliatesso.htm)

Scarykitty 18:37, 30 October 2006 (UTC)

IAF needs is a parent training organization for a national network of independent affiliates groups. This needs to be reflected. Since they send trained associates to participate in organizing other groups nationally and Internationally. This is important because the since this relational power sharing group utilizes tactics and strategies which inject their members inside the Board of Directors and officers, and when they feel they have critical mass, they hold a meeting utilizing a modified delphi method meeting, which is designed to identify opponents and frustrate the most vocal into leaving the meeting, then when they feel there is no more major opposition, vote in a new set of bylaws that locks out direct voting by the membership then adopts a measure to only allow the Board to put forward Board candidates, This effectively taking over an organization. This creates a rift within the organization and the they then utilize any number of tactics to drive off those who are uncooperative to their new mission and maintain a low level of confrontation to create "teachable moments" where they try to add to their members. The "ends justifies the means" approach has created many unwitting victims and is a valid criticism which should be added as a comment area in the article. In addition the strategy shift to targeting non-profit organizations includes churches, foundations and schools. They continue to choose people in poverty, train them to become activists and repeat. This creates a vote building political machine. It also contradicts an organizations original Statement of Purpose which was approved by the Secretary of State in most cases - redirecting the resources of that organization as a parasitic takeover. It has the affect of creating a consolidation of power into a small handful of affiliates under a singular umbrella organization, this comprises all of the churches, and other non-profits Boards. It is this process which is why IAF was expelled in any number of organizations that were able to reclaim control. Recovery events are not common, but do happen and should be added to the entry of IAF. As should the list of critics and opponents whom they target. If you are worried about Scientology's approach to criticism of it's organization, IAF is not immune. Saul Alinsky trained and inspired tactics include harassment and should be highlighted, There is evidence of a major interruption event that led to it's web site redesign to counter their published material regarding it's motivations and resurfaced it's site along religious lines, even though that is only 1/3 of it's targets. This is a fundamental and serious element mission and should be sourced, developed and added to wiki. The effect is injecting liberal practices and beliefs into traditionally resistant and conservative groups - a political coup de ta.

IAF supplies the people who enact these rules, see rule 12..

"Rules for Radicals, or examining his work directly, they can be distinctly observed within every community he organized.

The rules[1]

“Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have.” Power is derived from 2 main sources – money and people. “Have-Nots” must build power from flesh and blood. “Never go outside the expertise of your people.” It results in confusion, fear and retreat. Feeling secure adds to the backbone of anyone. “Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy.” Look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety and uncertainty. “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.” If the rule is that every letter gets a reply, send 30,000 letters. You can kill them with this because no one can possibly obey all of their own rules. “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.” There is no defense. It’s irrational. It’s infuriating. It also works as a key pressure point to force the enemy into concessions. “A good tactic is one your people enjoy.” They’ll keep doing it without urging and come back to do more. They’re doing their thing, and will even suggest better ones. “A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.” Don’t become old news. “Keep the pressure on. Never let up.” Keep trying new things to keep the opposition off balance. As the opposition masters one approach, hit them from the flank with something new. “The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.” Imagination and ego can dream up many more consequences than any activist. “If you push a negative hard enough, it will push through and become a positive.” Violence from the other side can win the public to your side because the public sympathizes with the underdog. “The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.” Never let the enemy score points because you’re caught without a solution to the problem. “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions Criticisms[edit] Despite the effective nature of the lessons passed down in Rules for Radicals, Saul Alinsky has received some criticism for the methods and ideas he presented within his primer. First, it has been noted that much of his instruction has only been effective in urban, low-income areas.[7] This has led some social scientists, such as Robert Pruger and Harry Specht, to criticize his broad statement that Rules for Radicals is a tool for organizing all low-income people. Further, his use of artificially stimulated conflict has been criticized for its ineffectiveness in areas that thrive on unity.[7] In fact, in several Chicago areas in which he worked, his use of conflict backfired, and the community was unable to achieve the policy adjustments they were seeking.[2]

Much of the philosophy of community organization found in Rules for Radicals has also come under question as being overly ideological. Alinsky believed in allowing the community to determine its exact goal. He would produce an enemy for them to conflict with, but the purpose of the conflict was ultimately left up to the community. This idea has been criticized due to the conflicting opinions that can often be present within a group.[7] Alinsky’s belief that an organization can create a goal to accomplish is viewed as highly optimistic and contradictory to his creation of an external antagonist. By producing a common enemy, Alinsky is creating a goal for the community, the defeat of that enemy. To say that the community will create their own goal seems backwards considering Alinsky creates the goal of defeating the enemy. Thus, his belief can be seen as too ideological and contradictory because the organization may turn the goal of defeating the common enemy he produced into their main purpose.[7]

Rules for Radicals has received the same criticism often leveled at Communistic and Socialistic theory, that being, that it is a "movement without a moral".[citation needed] In that sense of amorality, his philosophy is pragmatic, akin to Legal realism and Utilitarianism." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2602:306:CE73:EA90:8F2:5CFC:1D22:9375 (talk) 02:56, 1 April 2015 (UTC)

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