"Robert A. Heinlein - Take back your Government" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

notice a few things, but it does not wise her up to what she is doing; it simply
makes her utterly cynical about politics. She becomes convinced that the
shoddy business she has been associated with is the only brand of politics in
existence. Nothing will change her junior-size mind on the subject and she is
forever lost to your side.
So don't hire her and don't bother to try to convert her. The women
volunteers who work for you, free, can get ten votes to the one she can round
up for Slotmachine.
All through it she remains a good wife and mother and a respected
member of the P.T.A. You can't tell her from an authentic volunteer by sight
nor, very quickly, by conversation. There is however one simple touchstone
which works in nine cases out often. The sincere volunteers will look you up
in person and offer their services; the political prostitutes will telephone, offer
their services over the phone, and then ask you to come to see them. (I think
they believe it improves their bargaining position.)
The rule is not infallible, but it will help you to be on your guard. It won't
help you much when you encounter this particular bird of prey by chance, on
ringing a doorbell, and it won't help you at all when the opposition hires her
and then sends her to see you; nevertheless it will save you a lot of grief.
After a while you will acquire a sense of smell concerning this sisterhood. In
the meantime don't trust too far any volunteer previously unknown to you,
who has great enthusiasm for unpaid work but does not seem to grasp the
issues in the campaign. Don't put such a person to work in the headquarters;
let her (or him) distribute literature - and then make a spot check on its
distribution.
Still another breed of cat is the club woman politician. She organizes
women's political clubs. She may not be dishonest; she is usually ambitious
and stupid and she is almost never of any use in winning an election,
although she may help you lose one and her enmity is to be dreaded. Look,
ladies-don't be a woman politician, or a women's politician! Be a politician
who happens to be female.’ You are the equals of men-remember? Isn’t
necessary to go off and form little groups of your own; stay in the main event
and start swinging.
After the above nasty cracks about women in politics I am very happy to
be able to say that a sincere and enlightened female volunteer is the best
political worker you will find. She is a pearl beyond price, but, thank Heaven,
not too hard to find. She will average from twice to many times as useful as
the general run of sincere male volunteers. She is not nearly as choosy as
the men are about what kind of work she will do. She'll punch doorbells, and
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sweep the office, and type letters, and distribute newspapers, and watch the
count, and drive a car on election day.
She doesn't expect anything out of it but the satisfaction of serving.
Somebody told her once that a good citizen finds it a privilege to work for the
betterment of her country. She believed it and she still believes.
Bless her heart - she is the backbone and sinew of every honest political
organization in the country.
"Mother knows best, dear" or "Remember, Father is usually right."
It is standard practice for the elder generation to hurry the younger
generation with saws about "older and wiser heads." The youngsters resent