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My Concept Of Anarchy

Latest post Sat, May 10 2008 2:00 AM by Nitroadict. 195 replies.
  • Thu, May 8 2008 2:20 AM In reply to

    • Ego
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    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy

    Don't allow leftists to play games with definitions! Some of the libertarian-leaning leftists at this forum will try to redefine "left-wing" back to its original defition (Third Estate, limited government, free-markets, laissez-faire reforms, etc.). Fine! We non-leftists can't stop them from using their own personal definitions; they can use whatever labels they want to describe any concept they want.

    However, they have the audacity to then use their personal definition of "left-wing" (remember, the original definition, which is no longer valid) to prove that modern leftists are more libertarian than modern rightists! They will say that libertarianism is "inherently leftist" (again, using the original, no longer valid definition), and use that to insist that we should prefer and side with modern leftists over modern rightists.

    Question their motives.

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  • Thu, May 8 2008 2:23 AM In reply to

    • minorgrey
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    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy

    Ego:

    Yeah great, I saw that.  Which one are you reading?  All of them?

     

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  • Thu, May 8 2008 2:26 AM In reply to

    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy

    This is the perspective that I'm advocating in this thread: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchism_without_adjectives

    Anarchism without adjectives (from the Spanish "anarquismo sin adjetivos"), in the words of historian George Richard Esenwein, "referred to an unhyphenated form of anarchism, that is, a doctrine without any qualifying labels such as communist, collectivist, mutualist, or individualist. For others, ... [it] was simply understood as an attitude that tolerated the coexistence of different anarchist schools."

    Anarchism without adjectives was an attempt to show greater tolerance between anarchist tendencies and to be clear that anarchists should not impose a preconceived economic plan on anyone—even in theory. Anarchists without adjectives tended either to reject all particular anarchist economic models as faulty, or take a pluralist position of embracing them all to a limited degree in order that they may keep one another in check. Regardless, to these anarchists the economic preferences are considered to be of "secondary importance" to abolishing all authority, with free experimentation the one rule of a free society.

    The term anarchism has been adopted as a self-description by movements with different ideological origins; examples of such movements include anarcho-communism, anarcho-syndicalism, anarcho-capitalism, eco-anarchism and crypto-anarchism.

    Fred Woodworth describes his anarchism as being without adjectives, saying: "I have no prefix or adjective for my anarchism. I think syndicalism can work, as can free-market anarcho-capitalism, anarcho-communism, even anarcho-hermits, depending on the situation."[7]

    Some anarchists who do not subscribe to "anarchism without adjectives" oppose toleration of anarcho-capitalism by "anarchists without adjectives." For example, the author(s) of An Anarchist FAQ who identify themselves as social anarchists, argues that the tolerance associated with "anarchism without adjectives" should not extend to anarcho-capitalism.Music Conversely, the web site Anarchism.net aims at promoting tolerance and partnership between various strains of anarchism, including anarcho-capitalism. [9] Market anarchist anarchist Roderick T. Long has argued that the difference between mutualists, which An Anarchist FAQ accepts as legitimate anarchists, and anarcho-capitalists is so small as to yield "no defensible grounds for accepting any dichotomy between" them.

    I agree with Long!

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  • Thu, May 8 2008 2:27 AM In reply to

    • Ego
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    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy

    All of them.

    Don't allow leftists to play games with definitions! Some of the libertarian-leaning leftists at this forum will try to redefine "left-wing" back to its original defition (Third Estate, limited government, free-markets, laissez-faire reforms, etc.). Fine! We non-leftists can't stop them from using their own personal definitions; they can use whatever labels they want to describe any concept they want.

    However, they have the audacity to then use their personal definition of "left-wing" (remember, the original definition, which is no longer valid) to prove that modern leftists are more libertarian than modern rightists! They will say that libertarianism is "inherently leftist" (again, using the original, no longer valid definition), and use that to insist that we should prefer and side with modern leftists over modern rightists.

    Question their motives.

    • Post Points: 5
  • Thu, May 8 2008 2:38 AM In reply to

    • Paul
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    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy

    Niccolò:

    Statements like these make me thankful that there is a God who does judge the hearts and minds of men.

    There isn't

    μὴ παραχώρει τοῖς κακος ἀλλ' εὐτολμώτερον ἀντιβάδιζε.

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  • Thu, May 8 2008 2:41 AM In reply to

    • Paul
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    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy

    Brainpolice:

    Why do you keep falling back on the political left-right dichotomy? It's gotten rather silly.

    It is silly...but you're (one of) the one(s) who keeps calling yourself a leftist.

    μὴ παραχώρει τοῖς κακος ἀλλ' εὐτολμώτερον ἀντιβάδιζε.

    • Post Points: 20
  • Thu, May 8 2008 2:48 AM In reply to

    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy

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  • Thu, May 8 2008 2:50 AM In reply to

    • Paul
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    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy

    Brainpolice:

    Actually for the past few hours you've basically been argueing that the entirety of the "anarchist left" aren't voluntaryists and that they support random violence. The entire point of the OP is that any personal preferance for economic organization is compatible with anarchism so long as it is persued through free association and competition.

    But a good portion of the "left" doesn't believe in private property.  E.g., they don't believe that converting your property is theft or force or anything other than voluntarism.  It isn't just a matter of "tolerance for different forms of organization".  If they want to set up communes within a regime of private property, they're "anarcho-capitalists" (whether you like the term or not), and not a problem.  But propertarians and anti-propertarians must come into conflict.

    μὴ παραχώρει τοῖς κακος ἀλλ' εὐτολμώτερον ἀντιβάδιζε.

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  • Thu, May 8 2008 3:08 AM In reply to

    • Nitroadict
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    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy

    Brainpolice:

    The entire point of the OP is that any personal preference for economic organization is compatible with anarchism so long as it is pursued through free association and competition.


    Ego:

    "...anyone who wants to shrink the state"



    Ego, shrinking the state (minarchism) is in direct conflict with what BP mentioned earlier (free association):

    "In an atmosphere of free association, noone may legitimately impose their preferential form of organization on anyone else, either directly (through rulership itself) or indirectly (through democracy)."

    Shrinking the state is not going to get rid of the state, hence, not getting rid of democracy, hence, the conflict with a shrunken state existing because it still imposes coercion over those who live within the state with it's presence & nature.


    Honestly Ego, it really just seems you're flopping around in punditry for the hell of it, either intentionally or unintentionally.  At this point it sounds like you endorse warfare over welfare simply because welfare is "leftist", and warfare is not "leftist"; I just don't know.

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  • Thu, May 8 2008 5:39 AM In reply to

    • Niccolò
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    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy

    Paul:

    Niccolò:

    Statements like these make me thankful that there is a God who does judge the hearts and minds of men.

    There isn't

    Oh yeah... You're right...

     

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  • Thu, May 8 2008 6:41 AM In reply to

    • banned
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    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy

    Niccolò:

    Ego:

    I'd rather have rampant warfare over rampant welfare.

     

    Statements like these make me thankful that there is a God who does judge the hearts and minds of men.

     

    Aren't all sins equal in the eyes of god, since to sin is, at root, to actively deny gods authority? So the theivery of the state would most probably be judged the same as the genocide it perpetuates?

    "Libertarians" Seeking Candidature - The Right at Work:

    "Even as libertarians, the one fundamental function of government ... is to ... protect the nation, protect the sovereignty of the nation."

    "The first Gulf War was one of those examples where we had to go in to protect Kuwait and the oil supply"

    "Using Ronald Regan's National interest benchmark, I think [the War in Afghanistan] was something in our National Interest"

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  • Thu, May 8 2008 7:18 AM In reply to

    • Paul
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    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy

    Niccolò:

    Wow, that's a really convincing tale...(I especially liked the part where the blood type is the same as in the shroud of Turin; a particularly well known fake)

    (Hey, I know, someone take a sample of that blood to one of those clone-your-dead-pet companies!!)

     

    Oh, FWIW, I'm currently running an experiment.  I put a piece of bread on the desk in front of me, and I'm currently doubting that it will spontaneously turn into a lump of human heart meat, just like the monk in the story.  So far, it's still bread, but I'll give it a few minutes...if God wants to convince me, it won't be difficult!

    μὴ παραχώρει τοῖς κακος ἀλλ' εὐτολμώτερον ἀντιβάδιζε.

    • Post Points: 5
  • Thu, May 8 2008 10:19 AM In reply to

    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy

    Niccolò:

    ThorsMitersaw:

    or hope Sad

     

    Indeed, one or the other seems to be most likely. Unfortunately, Rothbard was too eager for success in his lifetime for his own good. He played the game of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" and got burnt for it. Even more unfortunate, his example of opportunism and impatience seem to breathe into the movement of modern libertarianism.

     

    I agree with SEK3 entirely. We're strict Rothbardians, even more Rothbardian than Rothbard!

    I totally agree!

    I only did not know how best to word it

    The state is a disease and Liberty is the both the victim and the only means to a lasting cure.

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  • Thu, May 8 2008 11:56 AM In reply to

    • Ego
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    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy



    Shrinking the state is not going to get rid of the state, hence, not getting rid of democracy, hence, the conflict with a shrunken state existing because it still imposes coercion over those who live within the state with it's presence & nature.

    We first have to start moving the whole system in our direction; even moderate miniarchists want to do that.

    Don't allow leftists to play games with definitions! Some of the libertarian-leaning leftists at this forum will try to redefine "left-wing" back to its original defition (Third Estate, limited government, free-markets, laissez-faire reforms, etc.). Fine! We non-leftists can't stop them from using their own personal definitions; they can use whatever labels they want to describe any concept they want.

    However, they have the audacity to then use their personal definition of "left-wing" (remember, the original definition, which is no longer valid) to prove that modern leftists are more libertarian than modern rightists! They will say that libertarianism is "inherently leftist" (again, using the original, no longer valid definition), and use that to insist that we should prefer and side with modern leftists over modern rightists.

    Question their motives.

    • Post Points: 5
  • Thu, May 8 2008 12:26 PM In reply to

    • Len Budney
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    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy

    Niccolò:
    Paul:
    Niccolò:
    Statements like these make me thankful that there is a God who does judge the hearts and minds of men.

    There isn't

    Oh yeah... You're right...

    It always makes me antsy when we confuse Catholicism with Christianity--not to mention confusing either one with the question of God's existence. But if you insist on discussing Roman miracles...

    --Len

     

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  • Thu, May 8 2008 12:41 PM In reply to

    • Ego
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    Re: My Concept Of Anarchy

    I've tried writing this from a thousand different angles; I'll settle upon this. Why do I support "rampant warfare" over "rampant welfare" when dealing with democratic systems?

    There is nothing inherently wrong with warfare and there is nothing inherently wrong with welfare. What is inherently wrong is stealing money from others in order to pay for it.

    In a democratic system, the money stolen in order to fund a welfare system goes right into the pockets of millions of potential voters (and gives comfort to those on the edge who now feel safe incase they lose their jobs); this buys more votes and causes more poverty, which causes more people to get on welfare, which buys more votes and causes more poverty, etc. In a democratic system, the money stolen in order to fund a war goes into fewer, richer pockets. Don't even think about counting soldiers; many soldiers don't particularly enjoy losing limbs in wars, so fighting wars does not buy soldiers' votes!

    In other words, neither warfare nor welfare are at all immoral; it's just their current method of funding that needs to go. Democratic welfare systems always grow because by definition they buy votes; in democratic systems, wars don't have the same effect (they have the opposite effect, actually)!

    Of course, this