Give credit where its due, ACORN builds its organization from the ground up, with old-school hard work and shoe leather. Its organizers are instructed to spend at least three hours a day going door-to-door in neighborhoods, recruiting members and–importantly member dues. ACORN even provides its organizers with a very illuminating and well-though-out manual on “doorknocking basics.” The document is below
The whole thing is definitely worth a read. We draw your attention, though, to two sections. The first explains what the organizer should do once a person is interested in ACORN:
3. POLARIZE: DIRECT THEIR ANGER AT A TARGETThis is where you politicize the issue. As Saul Alinsky wrote, it is every organizer’s duty to “rub raw the sores of discontent.” Questions can include:
- Don’t you think you pay enough taxes to get the lot cleaned?
- Does the mayor have vacant lots in his/her neighborhood?
- Why do you think they don’t care about this problem?
- Would rich folks put up with this in their neighborhood?
- What’s it gonna take to get the city to treat you with the dignity and respect you deserve?
Well, isn’t that charming? Just a few minutes into their introduction to ACORN and they’re already being radicalized. ACORN has probably found this is an effective way to get the person to sign up for membership and regular membership dues. The manual spends considerable time discussing how to get a commitment for dues. It even role-plays some scenarios:
Organizer: “So, our members pay their dues through the bank. Some pay $20 a month, some pay more, and some pay less. What can you do?”
Contact: “I don’t like to mess with my bank account.”
Organizer: “Yeah, I can understand that. Actually, it works really easy. You just fill this out, and the money is sent on the 5th of every month–and it shows up on your statement. Our members think it is very convenient.”
Contact: “No, I really don’t want to touch my bank account.”
Organizer: “Okay, no problem. So I’m sure you’d like to see the streets fixed in the neighborhood, right?”
Contact: “Yes!
Organizer: “Then there’s the $120 option. That’s a year in dues.”
Contact: “I couldn’t do it all at once. Maybe after I get paid.”
Organizer: “No problem. You can postdate the check!”
Contact: “No, I couldn’t do that.”
Organizer: “Well, I know you want to start your membership today, so you could do $60 for 6 months.”
Contact: “Yeah, could you come back at the end of the month?”
Organizer: “We’re going up against the city and it takes money to win. How about $30 for 3 months and we’ll start your membership right now.”
Contact: “Okay, I can do that.”
ACORN should train door-to-door salesmen.
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