"Heinlein, Robert A - Take Back Your Government" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

If we can tighten up democracy to meet the challenge of the super-sonic speeds of the fast new world we may yet be spared the silent death from the sky. If not-
It's up to you, Mrs. Blodgett and Mr. Harrison and Mr. Weinstein and Mrs. deary. You, too, Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Berzowski and Mr. Lorenzo - Mr. Smith and Mrs. Jones and Miss Kelly-and up to me. I'll see you in the caucus and at the polls.
Good luck to you! Good luck to all of us.
The End

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL CHAPTERS
CHAPTER II How to Start
Look up your party in the telephone book. Join your local organization. Stick with it for several months, doing any volunteer work that is offered. Then let your conscience be your guide-but don't accept pay!
CHAPTER III Wheat & Chaff
A man's religion is an important political fact about him which you are entitled to consider.
Church groups are frequently a cause of corruption and confusion in politics. Don't expect any real help from them.
Women, as a group, are less politically enlightened and less politically honest than men. Test them before you trust them.
Elderly people, as a group, are politically selfish and socially irresponsible. Avoid organized groups of the old folks.
Reliable volunteer political workers are found most frequently among young people. However, the very best political volunteers are found in the three groups mentioned above.
Machine politicians are about as honest as the general run of people, and more honest about oral promises.
Machine politicians are friendly, warm-hearted, and will take pains to help people. An amateur who expects to compete must emulate these virtues.
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A government should not be run like a business; a business should not be run like a government. They are very different
Compromising is an honest process indispensable to free men governing themselves.
"Civil Service" is frequendy a mask for a shameless spoils system. Patronage is a political liability to the politician who has to dispense k.
Public Office is usually scandalously underpaid; this is the fault of the public and a frequent cause of corruption in public life. Nevertheless, most officials are too honest and too patriotic to succumb to the temptations placed before them. For that reason we have better government than the people deserve.
It is both virtuous and efficient to be partisan and party regular, but it requires both moral courage and clear thinking to accomplish it
CHAPTER IV Field and Club Organization
Four Thumb Rules:
1. Your purpose is to win elections, not arguments.
2. Elections are won with votes and the votes are in the precincts.
3. You win by persuading your own voters to register and vote.
4. Don't waste time trying to convert a man who has already made up his mind.
The above four rules are applied successfully through organized field activity based on personal calls and begun long before the election.
Doorbell-busking: Always work from a list. Don't be aggressive. Cut the visit short. Record all information on a file case for follow-up.
Political clubs contain very few votes but they are indispensable (a) for organization and liaison of precinct workers (b) to keep up the morale of precinct workers by
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giving a "team" feeling. They also constitute seminars in democratic government.
How and When to Form a Club: Your party needs a club in any area that does not have one, but you should not found one unless you are prepared to do the working of leading it
Leadership comes to him who works - the tedious, routine work of organization is the only "secret."
The easiest way to make people like you is to like them-and say so!
To associate names with faces, ask the owner, on being introduced, to pronounce and spell the name - then use it immediately.
You don't have to be perfect in parliamentary law to handle the gavel successfully. A moderate knowledge of Roberts' Rules of Order, common sense, and fairness will get you by with the aid of this rule: The assembly itself is the final judge of the rules; make your rulings prompdy and inform anyone you overrule of his right to appeal to the house. If he appeals, take a vote on the appeal without debate.
Use your power as chairman to divert matters of personal bitterness into committee where you can arbitrate them in private.
A motion to adjourn is always in order and is not debatable - but, as chairman, you may remind the house of any pertinent fact before calling for a vote.
Your new dub must have a chairman who can keep the business moving without antagonizing people. It is better to be floor leader than chairman, but you may have to take the gavel if you can't find such a person.
Learn to be a penny-pincher with club funds. Votes, not dollars, win elections.
Note: The word "precinct" is used throughout to indicate an area which one person can campaign successfully, say from 100 to 400 registered voters depending on population density.
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CHATTER V Club Meetings and Speech Making
The First Meeting of a New Club:
(a) To get a crowd use personal invitations primarily, plus cheap methods of local publicity.
(b) Use a small hall and fill it with loud music, card tables, not too many chairs. Start with group singing. Have a dynamic speaker and some entertainment. Limit business to plans for next meeting and discussion of purpose of club. Serve simple refreshments afterwards and let the kids dance.