Author: Byron Kennard

Publisher: Independently Published

Published: 2020-10-02

Total Pages: 162

ISBN-13:

Byron Kennard is a retired community organizer who spent over half a century trying to get people to do the right thing. To his sorrow, Kennard learned that, by and large, most people are not inclined to do the right thing. They are too preoccupied with getting fed, getting laid, getting rich, and getting even with their enemies. So there's got to be another way to secure social progress and - hallelujah! - Kennard has found it. But it's a tricky business. The trick is not to bang on democracy's front door, demanding to be let in. At present, that entry is effectively barred. And so long as our democracy is severed by political polarization and crippled by corruption, that entry will remain barred.The trick is to sneak in through the back door.How to Trick People into Doing the Right Thing is a playful, entertaining book full of historical anecdotes about how astute political leaders in the past have employed deviousness to accomplish social progress.The premise of this book is not that people are no damn good. The premise is that enough people are no damn good enough of the time to screw everything up for us decent folk. Climate deniers, for example, constitute a distinct minority of the population, but they've fomented enough political polarization to make strong climate action by the government an impossibility. And we all suffer as a result. Similarly, Covid-19 deniers, also a minority of the population, are undermining efforts to control the virus, flying in the face of truth, science, and common sense. And here again we all suffer - mightily. What's to be done about these people? They can't be educated; they can't be persuaded to change their minds. Indeed, their minds are closed.They steadfastly refuse to hear what truth, science, and common sense has to say. So they are easy prey for demagogic politicians and faux populist zealots who will tell them whatever it is they want to hear.Meanwhile, the formal political system - established to protect and serve the common good - has been rendered largely inoperable by corruption, greed, and populist fury. Alas, when it comes to issues of overriding importance - most notably, climate and public health - the political system breaks down completely. Here a political consensus - necessary to support vigorous action - isn't even a dim possibility. Gee, wouldn't it be nice if there were some alternative universe where public-spirited political leaders sought genuine social progress and where upright, but savvy civic activists pursued ideals of social justice? Ah, just imagine it! Now - while we're fantasizing - let's assume that these noble souls are also wise in the wayward ways of the world, clear-eyed, tough-minded, and free of any illusions about the extent of humanity's wisdom and virtue. Moreover, let's assume they have experienced first-hand the anti-democratic machinations that make social progress well-nigh impossible.What if - despite all the monkey wrenches placed in the works - these noble souls were determined to get people to do the right thing, no matter what? Wouldn't that be something?! And what if - under the circumstances - they determined that the best way to do this was to trick people?Now for these tricks to succeed, much depends on the capacity of these leaders and activists to act deviously, to engage in prevarication, and to pretend that something is so when it is not. Of course, some nit-pickers might call this behavior dishonest, but I must stress here that the object is to get people to do the right thing, not the wrong. A benevolent outcome is the aim. That makes all the difference in the world, doesn't it? Finally, what if people, fell for these tricks - thereby unwittingly contributing to the cause of social progress? Wouldn't that be super-duper?! Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Well, rub your eyeballs and read on! Such a universe exists. This book proves it. - The Author