<HTML><HTML> From: Jon Johanning It strikes me that this approach may be part of the reason for the dismal results of radical organizing in the U.S. for the last decade or two. ^^^^^^ CB: What would explain the dismal results of non-radical left organizing  ? ^^^^^^ Starting by cocooning oneself with people who agree with one's ideas may lead to a state in mind in which one feels one has the God-given Truth, which has not been subjected to vigorous debate and counter-argument to winnow the real truth in it from the untruth (cf. John Stuart Mill, _On Liberty_). Equally dangerous, one has not sufficiently studied the way the general public's mind works, so that when one eventually wants to proceed to steps (3) and (4), one cannot speak persuasively to the public, or even connect with ways in which the public already agrees with one. </HTML>