SEEING THE RULE

A common complaint by students who are being attacked on their campus on the basis of “political correctness” is that “they just won’t leave me alone.” This is Alinsky’s Rule #8 in action. A passionate opponent will not let up but will even try to create an increasing number of opportunities to drive their point home.

Sometimes, when others have organized to push their viewpoints on you, you have to push back by organizing a group with counter-activities. If you don’t start occupying your opponent with counter-actions, they will stay busy occupying your time with their agenda.

USING THE RULE

When your group sits down to plan at the start, keep Rule #8 in mind. Plan for things to be constantly active. Don’t allow for what the radio jocks call “dead air.” Alinsky claimed that this tactic compels the opposition to feel besieged. Once one action is over, another comes at them from a different direction, demanding different responses and actions on their part. If you want to create change, you must be willing to challenge the status quo over and over.

The end part of this rule is key as well: Use every opportunity to your advantage. If Homecoming is next week, figure that campus event into your actions. How can you piggyback onto that event? Information is key to this rule. You must know what is going on around campus. Pay attention to your opponent’s responses and reactions to your tactics and be ready to adjust – but keep the pressure on.

On the flip side of this rule, when your opponent is putting pressure on you, it is your job to anticipate and prepare. Don’t get lazy. If you believe in your cause and believe it “has all the angels on its side,” then you should press home victory with unrelenting intensity, not to “kill” the opponent, but to win them over for the Good. Here’s an example from Clarion University in Pennsylvania:

“Keep the pressure on, with different tactics and actions, and utilize all events of the period for your purpose.”