Most people assume there is only one road to political influence: the personal path to power. They believe that if you’re not holding an official title or rubbing elbows with those who do, you have little say in how your government operates. But the truth is, there’s a more powerful, indirect path that often goes overlooked.
The Foundation for Applied Conservative Leadership (FACL) calls this indirect path “controlling the environment.” Instead of trying to wield power from within government, you shape the environment around elected officials in a way they can’t ignore. This might mean uniting a group of like-minded people, organizing events, or simply talking to neighbors about how policies affect daily life. By doing so, you create the kind of pressure that politicians must heed if they wish to remain in office.
If you’re curious about how this works in practice—and why an engaged citizenry can be so effective—take a moment to watch the “Real Nature of Politics” video from FACL, featuring Mike Rothfeld. It dives deeper into these ideas and shows how real grassroots action can shift the balance of power away from career politicians and back into the hands of regular citizens. After all, you don’t need a title to make your voice heard—you just need the willingness to get involved and stand up for your principles.
