Above the surface a gigantic propaganda and agitation campaign is in progress, a campaign that depends for success upon the support of noncommunists. Basic communist strategy dictates that noncommunist hands, knowingly or unknowingly, under communist guidance, must further the influence of the communist world. To understand communist strategy and tactics, as designed to destroy American democracy, we must first observe _above-ground_ communist operations: mass-agitation campaigns, infiltration techniques, and Party fronts; then in Part VI we will consider the _underground_ organization. 15. _Mass Agitation_ As stated in Chapter 10, the Party’s attack is geared to the wide variety of American life. Communism has something to sell to everybody. And, following this principle, it is the function of mass agitation to exploit all the grievances, hopes, aspirations, prejudices, fears, and ideals of all the special groups that make up our society, social, religious, economic, racial, political. Stir them up. Set one against the other. Divide and conquer. That’s the way to soften up a democracy. Here is the advice of a top leader giving instruction on how to spread the Party’s influence: Study your friends. See what they spontaneously talk about. What problems interest them? —is he an unemployed worker, skilled in his craft but without work?; —a storekeeper? Maybe business isn’t so good; —a trade-union man or a dairy farmer? What are their problems?; —a young man just out of school? Looking for a job?; —a member of a minority group?; —a young mother worrying about sending her child to kindergarten? “... unless each one of us grasps the meaning of this individual approach to every one of our friends and acquaintances, we are in danger” of being ineffective. Agitation must be carried on in specialized fields: among women, among youth, among veterans, among racial and nationality groups, farmers, trade unions. That’s the responsibility of the Party commissions. Consider youth, a prime target of communist attack. Communists start out with this major premise: American imperialism aims to create a corrupt, completely militarized youth—a “gagged,” “scared” generation. This theme is expounded by word of mouth, in forums, in literature, in cartoons, hoping to exploit the lofty dreams of youth. The approach always has two sides: (1) _the deceptive line designed for public consumption_, and (2) _the real Party line designed to advance communism_. Consider this _deceptive line_ for youth: 1. Increase trade with all countries, including the communist bloc, to provide “hundreds of thousands of new jobs for young people.” 2. Outlaw all mass destruction weapons (atomic bomb). 3. Promote universal disarmament and peace. 4. Reduce military expenditures and repeal the draft. 5. Repeal all “repressive legislation” and “restore the Bill of Rights.”