The author of the article ‘Pamphleteering’ is Kim who is a member of the Trinity Group. This group was formed in response to a series of articles in UKIP Daily. The founding members had all commented on those articles and they were invited by the author to continue discussions.
Whatever the financial markets are doing there is money to be made. If the markets are falling, checking bond ratings, using exchange traded funds, bear funds or short selling can still work. Ingenuity and opportunism abounds in these complex markets.
Plants adapt to survive in harsh conditions making the best of available resources. For example the Himalayan Christolea himalayensis lives at up to 6300 meters above sea level. Or the Arabidopsis thaliana tolerates high levels of sodium. Plants survive in extremes of drought, heat and competition.
Entomophagy, or insect eating, takes advantage of a small but ubiquitous resource. Insects are full of protein and rich in essential micronutrients, and there are numerous added advantages. It is their numbers that make entomophagy an unlikely solution to an age old problem.
Picture a busy pub. The place is so alive with energy it is palpable. The buzz of enthusiasm and delight, of people enjoying each other’s company, exchanging ideas, experiences, the noise, the humour, the therapy, the inclusion and the involvement.
This pulsing of energy and purpose often sits behind our conscious perception, or somewhere on the periphery of our awareness, sometimes intangible but nevertheless very real. So much is possible with will and purpose.
The ability to use imagination to turn loss into profit, create advantage from adversity. To survive and overcome by adaptation and careful and ‘intelligent’ use of resources. To exploit numbers and allow ‘the many’ to become an effective solution. To use spirit, enthusiasm, energy with the spark of life, to create something that wasn’t there before. These are requisites for good Pamphleteering.
Why do rich people carry on making more money? Is it greed? The ability to win? Could it be purpose?
Why have religious zealots’ risked limb and life? Can purpose transcend all material considerations?
With all this marvel how can we ever consider failure?
To be successful in politics it is useful to try and understand the psychology of politics. Motivation, involvement, social attitudes and behaviour are important.
If people have a belief they generally want to inform discuss and persuade others. After all, aren’t we social animals?
Leafletting and pamphleteering appears to be the lowly relation of canvassing. Yet in reality this is the one method that blows everything else out of the water. If you don’t think so then maybe it isn’t being used properly. Sure, there is no one solution, but this is the unsolicited dissemination of information. We are fighting a mind war. The other side have a long start, no time to waste.
Imagination, pragmatic use of resources, a combined and focused effort and enthusiasm, these attributes are needed for pamphleteering.
We need to believe in something, to have a message to disseminate, to be involved and to have the opportunity to exercise that belief.
Look at the history of pamphleteering and consider the fervour and drive that was exhibited in the past to fight against corruption and for freedom.
The Marprelate Pamphlets were among the first to engage people, by asking questions and addressing the readers directly. The response from the Established Church of the 16th century was no match for the writer known as Martin Marprelate.
Thomas Paine wrote pamphlets encouraging people to stand up for themselves and seek independence from the British. His pamphlets were passionate, informative and persuasive. He made his points with a religious fervour and his pamphlet was called Common Sense.
His style and arguments struck a note in peoples’ hearts and that was highly effective. Paine took the people out of their mind-set. Again this could not be countered by his adversaries.
These are just two examples of many. Why were they successful? Because the writers were passionate. They believed in what they were doing, and belief taps into a vast reservoir of energy. Why were the responses ineffective? Because it is so hard living with a lie and ‘bearing false witness’.
It has been said ‘an army marches on its stomach’; the food of a political movement is information and a message that people can relate to.
Yes you are thinking, ‘why the hardship, when one has the internet?’ Never be led by the nose with technology. It is another tool. But deliver to every household, unsolicited, inclusive, persuasive information, containing your message.
Some argue that you have to knock on doors. This is not true! Presenting such a task only dulls the enthusiasm of otherwise passionate supporters. Let those advocates for knocking on doors do so, but allow the rest to get the message out without confrontation and argument. No more prevarication, no more procrastination, but pragmatic use of resources.
What do the academics say? Delivering lots of leaflets works
We complain and complain, about the Mainstream Media. We cannot refuse them their freedom and demand freedom for ourselves. Forget the MSM and go directly to the electorate. Read the second paragraph of 1.1 Page 7.
And they developed an independent sphere of ‘public opinion’ to which people could appeal.
The following examples are the front and back covers of four Pamphlets.
With no expensive printing and eight pages within the cover, these pamphlets are printed by the publisher. It is the message that matters and the message is in the words not glossy paper or bright colours.
Don’t do the same old thing, be original.
Continuity and consistency, keep delivering, regardless of elections!
Build up a rapport with the electorate.
If your literature is catchy enough, or bold enough, they may read it.
If the subjects and ideas are interesting, they may start collecting them.
If they agree, they may become distributors themselves.
That is how it will work!
And work it will! If properly done.
You know we need a revolution! You know it won’t happen sitting at your computer! You know we have to arm ourselves with ‘paper bullets’ and inform like we have never informed before!
The longer it is left the harder it will become!
Join a distribution network today!
Become a pamphleteer!
Your country needs you.
A good cartoon is with you for life.
My views on leafleting are very similar, but primarly for commercial reasons………they are. 1. No point in wasting money if they are thrown away. Only give them to those who may read them ….so 2.No letterbox nonsense. 3.Stand at ease in or near places where people have leisure to read them. Cafes, Tube or Railway or bus stations. or town centres . Or even outside specsavers with the appropriate comments. But not supermarkets, unless there are people sitting on benches outside waiting fo taxis. 4. Perceived value makes people more interested and so more inclined to read. Anythig to get… Read more »
Personally I know what I do with pamphlets – immediate transport to the blue bin. Although for the referendum I was a keen advocate of saturation leafletting and whether that was the total reason for the great result or not, I am sure it was a major contribution, but it was also carried out with a market place stall campaign where we doled out leaflets, but we also majored on “stickers” and they certainly stuck to busts, bums, brief cases, handlebars of scooters, wheel chairs, hats, wrists, books, handbags, I know ours is a fairly small town, but we grew… Read more »
PS…Stickers, badges, and similar say to the viewer ” YOU ARE NOT ALONE “…… I am told that balloons cannot be given out,Which is a pity, ’cause they cheer every one up, particularly mums and grannies. Try anyway. Labour do…………. Flags with fun. The George Cross flag, as with the words ” UnitedKingdom ” and UK are divisive and meant to be.
Yup,keep it simple…
How about a pamphlet which has the referendum voting slip on it,with a X in the Leave box,then with a big red stamp saying ” DENIED”…. with the slogan “ever been betrayed”
Then underneath ” Your country needs you to join/ vote UKIP
Have you thought of going down the cartoon route, Kim?
A clever cartoon imprints a message, paints a picture in even a lazy mind.
Uses less paper, and if catchy enough, can make the person want to pass it on to someone else….have you seen this..
A thought that just occurred, after reading your piece above.
There is definitely a need for some way to spread a message.
Yes, yes, yes Dee. Why not get some fizz into this!
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”
Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955) Physicist & Nobel Laureate
I’m sure there are other quotes. Can’t remember the obvious one.
There are too many people doing nothing, not because it is there fault, but because they are not being led and utilized. Not being facilitated!
Our language is being corrupted young people have no direction leadership.
Wake up everyone this is it!
Thank you for your comment.
In principle they are a good idea, in practice they end up in the bin mostly unread as did the Dave Cameron ‘glossy’ delivered to every household in the U.K prior to the referendum. Advertisers who do use them , report a very very poor return. How many people remember the ‘headline’ or front cover page of their local ‘free delivered’ newspaper, let alone read it? People will agree or not agree with you if you happen to meet while delivering one and then suffer amnesia in the voting booth. There are better ways of getting the message across these… Read more »
I have always found public meetings a waste of time. The only people who attend them are voters committed to the party; I have never had a non-Kipper at any public meeting I’ve held, and of course, there’s the cost of hiring the venue.
Even door-knocking can be disheartening, and you always get abuse and accusations of racism at street stalls. And letters to the paper rarely get published, even locally.
Perhaps social media is the answer, or as everyone has a mobile phone, maybe there’s something we could do on that front.
Totally agree, have having had more than enough experience of both! You-tube video, email, alternative news media and so on all have a part to play these days, However the ‘message’ needs to be targeted and timely, a broad brush approach just won’t work, you just end up talking to the converted. a start needs to be made now though to take advantage of the renewed interest in UKIP and the anger being generated by the LibLabCon empire. The main stream media must not be allowed to drive the narrative, thank goodness people are at last starting to wake up.
Hi Norman
If I’m elected to the NEC I shall make sure we get advice on all the things you suggest.
Debbie
On a point of order, we find that letters to our local press almost invariably do get published! I guess it depends on where you live (If they publish my latest then that will be proof positive that they do strive to reflect all opinion!). So do try this a few times (ideally with a short closely argued evidence-based letter that shows you have done your home-work), don’t give up at the first attempt and don’t try to make more than one point in one letter – there’s always another day.
Dave’s £9million waste of taxpayers money? (craftily sent out just before expense accounting began) Mostly binned? No, loads were sent to Nr10! My husband addressed ours to ‘Mr D Cameron, Rear Entrance,’ etc. Pic of the envelope went down very well on Twitter
I sent my copy of Dave’s dodge dossier page by page to Freepost RSBB-XRZT-ZTXE, The Conservative Party Foundation, 30 Millbank, London SW1P 4 DP and printed ‘Donation inside ‘ on the envelope. Much to my surprise the Western Morning News printed my letter encouraging folk to do likewise.
I love the idea of the pamphlet (not the leaflet) but the cost and the wastage must be gigantic, even if it’s a 2 notebook-sized sheet, 1 staple production. I think there’s a place for them as kind-of confirmation souvenirs, if you can write something tailored to an event and hand them out on the day. It’s not that I’ve ever done this, and it would be preaching to the converted, but theoretically.. This does assume that people have some folk memory somewhere that the political pamphlet / broadside is a thing with an effective political history – the medium… Read more »
I love it. Thank you Chris#2 yes so many things are art forms! The essence of a revolution is change. Why shouldn’t we produce an art form? Open your minds and have some fun. Someone said ‘hard work’, just to remind hard work does not kill, stress kills and frustration is stress. Go out and exercise delivering Pamphlets. To your ability of course but the secret is that you would be doing something!! With regards cost. https://www.cheapestprintonline.co.uk/Gloss%20Flyers/A5%20Double/130gsm%20Gloss/5day-nodesign.php This is a supplier online. If UKIP are paying more than this they are wasting members money! Of course if you have your… Read more »
Leafleting is hard work. However it is delivered to people who maybe do not use social media etc, and is therefore still relevant.
The third leaflet states:
“We do not wish to influence how you vote.”
I do not really see the point of it if the voter is not expected to act in response to the leaflet. Have I missed the point?
Thanks Hugo. The examples were not made to add to a UD article so they are slightly out of context in this case. But thanks for looking at them. By the way they are just front and back cover, the real fun is inside.
Yes. Inform and educate, Give them to people who will read them eg..Commuters, Coffee seekers, dozers on benches,Saturday morning shoppers. Leave em on tables in cafes. .people in queues……………..Pushing them thru doors..?….Do me a favour……UKIP is in a genuinly unique position, we’re selling a good unique and urgently wanted product. Only complete almost unique incompetence has made this difficult.
We’ve managed to produce a country of typists who think they’re creative.
Your ideas for distribution are good and thank you for your kind post earlier. We can all be creative, even plebs like me, and that is good too! But the purpose of this article was about giving people the opportunity to express their purpose and apply themselves. One of the main reasons I left UKIP was inactivity when there should have been no let-up in our effort; as well as some bad judgement calls! Would objectors of doing something that may work, object also of doing nothing? I am not a big fan of colourful, glossy Leaflets, but that is… Read more »
Yes! Good stuff. Ignore the technozealots who will say they are of no use. At least one Ukip leaflet for every household and delivered soon after the election (general or by-) is called. This is a clear message that UKIP ARE IN THE RACE! While it is true that a lot of leaflets go straight into the house-hold rubbish bin, during the journey between the gate/door and bin the person will have registered that fact. A word of advice, some branches may try and deliver other pamphlets at the same time. Generally not a good idea, best keep it simple.… Read more »
Don’t forget to attract the “technozealots” by putting your website, Facebook and Twitter addresses on the pamphlet.
Thank you, I agree he was worth mentioning and he was not liked by many for his influence. A Pamphlet was brought out by the Loyalists to counter his work, it was called ‘Plain Truth’. Already in the title it doesn’t quite do it. But you are right by and large they underestimated this communication as they did the colonists effectiveness in battle. Also Paine advocated that all men should be allowed to vote even if they did not own property, something that John Adams, one of the Founding Fathers, called ‘crapuluos mass’. So the man was ahead of his… Read more »
Absolutely perfect.
Thanks. Do they meet imprint regulations, though? https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/166225/fs-imprints-npc.pdf
No, thank you it is a very relevant point. When I submitted this article I made sure the word count was exactly 1000 words with internet address strings counting as one word each. I did this for two reasons, to show that I would ‘stick to the rules’ and also to demonstrate the versatility of the English language. I have read the Electoral Commissions Factsheet and found it as vague and ambiguous as their operation, which If I could dream of power would immediately sack the top echelons. However as you say as political outlaws to the establishment we must… Read more »