Objectivism: Simple Tactics to Get Started with Online Activism
Today we heard an excellent talk from Yaron Brook about the importance of defending capitalism, and he ended his speech with a rousing call to action for the audience. "I'm willing to put it all on the line, are you?"
People stood and clapped, but I left the room wondering whether they realize this isn't just something that a small set of us need to do. Activism, in small and large ways, is something all of us can help with. As much as I wish there were enough people who held the right ideas where I could hide behind "division of labor" as my argument, and just go on building businesses and being productive, here is the harsh reality: if you want to see the world change in your lifetime, you have to live in the future today.
In the most basic terms: it's time for each of us to do SOMETHING. I've been relaxing at the pool today with Trey Givens, Earl Parson, and Mark Wickens and I asked them to help me brainstorm some ways you can get involved. If you've been helping advocate Objectivism for awhile, this might seem self-evident but please take a look and see if there is anything here you can add to your own playbook.
Activism in...
5 Minutes
vote up news stories and bog posts you like on Digg.com
add Objectivism and/or capitalism to your online profiles (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN, etc.)
republish content that you think is good (e.g. link to an ARI op-ed from your Facebook back)
make yourself or your car a moving billboard for Objectivism (with a shirt, bumper stickets, etc.)
check out out the free articles on The Objective Standard (or subscribe!) and follow them on Twitter
10 Minutes
comment on items posted on Facebook, blog posts, etc. - encourage people to keep blogging
donate money to ARI
contact ARI about donating money to buy books for your local high school campus club
comment on items posted on Facebook, blog posts, etc. - encourage people to keep blogging
comment on news stories, or even blog a full response to a news story
30 Minutes
subscribe to other blogs that forward ideas you agree with
call into radio shows, or television shows (or at least email them)
write a letter to the editor
write a letter to local or national government etc.
More Time & Other Ideas
distribute the Undercurrent to your local schools
share your values with non-Objectivists -- for example, art at the Cordair Gallery (not just Atlas Shrugged, the Fountainhead)
start your own blog (lot's of good free platforms out there)
donate money to the Undercurrent, to your local campus club
join local organizers that you're interested in, and influence the outcomes of their decisions
telling stories about your own success or people that you know - about how Objectivism has helped you
meet up with people in real life to reinforce your ideas, sharing your values, finding people you can relate to, learning new things
join groups like Toastmasters, where you can speak about your ideas to a captive audience
More check out post from Burgess Laughlin about "in-line activism" -about being an activist within your profession