The Problem with Anarchism

[Irona]

We aren't advocating sameness, just equality. Equality is a precondition to freedom.

Isn't equality a superfluous issue with anarchism?

I mean, aside from a legal perspective (wherein there's no laws, so everyone is equally lawless), not everyone will necessarily be equal. Person A might own a big farm and house for example, whereas Person B might only own a small house with a garden.

There are laws in an anarchy just no people with power over others. What your thinking of is anarco-capatalism which isn't really anarchism, capitalism is a form of hierarchical power over others (Employer over employee). In most forms of Anarchism you have redistribution of wealth among the community and common ownership.

[Sanctissima]

Isn't equality a superfluous issue with anarchism?

I mean, aside from a legal perspective (wherein there's no laws, so everyone is equally lawless), not everyone will necessarily be equal. Person A might own a big farm and house for example, whereas Person B might only own a small house with a garden.

There are laws in an anarchy just no people with power over others. What your thinking of is anarco-capatalism which isn't really anarchism, capitalism is a form of hierarchical power over others (Employer over employee). In most forms of Anarchism you have redistribution of wealth among the community and common ownership.

But wouldn't the enforcement of any redistribution measures make it inherently un-anarchistic?

I mean, at best, any collective efforts in an anarchist society would need to be voluntary (i.e: no centralized planning or control), which makes any redistribution efforts more complicated than basic looting quite unrealistic.

[Sociobiology]

Isn't equality a superfluous issue with anarchism?

I mean, aside from a legal perspective (wherein there's no laws, so everyone is equally lawless), not everyone will necessarily be equal. Person A might own a big farm and house for example, whereas Person B might only own a small house with a garden.

There are laws in an anarchy just no people with power over others.

so there are no laws, because the ability to arrest you fro breaking the law is power over you.

[United Marxist Nations]

I don't know if I have posted this in here yet, but, based on the experience of the Anarchists in Spain and the Ukraine, I would say that the methodology used therein consists of this:

1) Create a state
2) Claim it isn't a state

[England-Wales-France]

Anarcho-Primitivist and Anarcho-Capitalist make me laugh.
Thinking a world without any Technology is good and Unregulated Capitalism 'works'
AKA Stagnates.

[England-Wales-France]

There are laws in an anarchy just no people with power over others. What your thinking of is anarco-capatalism which isn't really anarchism, capitalism is a form of hierarchical power over others (Employer over employee). In most forms of Anarchism you have redistribution of wealth among the community and common ownership.

But wouldn't the enforcement of any redistribution measures make it inherently un-anarchistic?

I mean, at best, any collective efforts in an anarchist society would need to be voluntary (i.e: no centralized planning or control), which makes any redistribution efforts more complicated than basic looting quite unrealistic.

The Redistribution would like this

"Can you spare a dime"

To everyone becuase With Welfare it Technically isn't Anarchy.

[Internationalist Bastard]

I have come to the conclusion that anarchism can't work because nobody knows how the fuck it would actually work.

[Ndaku]

I have come to the conclusion that anarchism can't work because nobody knows how the fuck it would actually work.

Because order is key!

[Ioka and Laruba]

I have come to the conclusion that anarchism can't work because nobody knows how the fuck it would actually work.

Which they cannnot even address until theyve jumped the hurdles of contradiction inherent in their mostly self-centered positions regarding the replacement of "the system" with another system that most likely protects only their interests. Minarchism could get you that. Just look at the early US, but human powermongering is so pervasive and a cumulative that the decline into centralized oligarchy is all but inevitable. While I can sympathize with an anarchists frustration with that, I see no real resolution as long as human psychology is conditioned towards ruling over others versus ruling over ones self.

[Meryuma]

Anarchy on a global scale is impossible due to the nature of the human condition. Natural human condition, at least.

There is no static "human condition". For instance, the modern concept of race is only a few hundred years old, as is capitalism. The majority of human history took place in small, largely stateless communities.

In fairness, y'all realize that there are many NSGers who don't speak English as a first language, no? Let's not shit on the OP for something as silly as bad grammar, let's be more constructive.

Great job spreading... liberty and linguistics in this discussion.

Remember kids, prescriptivism is wack.

Can someone please define anarchy for me please. I'm afraid the uneducated soldier I am is to horribly confused to understand what the fuck is going on.

A society without power hierarchies.

never has worked, never will.

The Only Anarchist Nation(technically it isn't but the Gov't has No Power)
Somalia,Failed Miserably.

Somalia is not anarchist, it's an area contested between several governments. Was Bleeding Kansas an "anarchist nation"?

The closest thing we have an "anarchist nation" would be Kurdistan or the EZLN, actually.

And what stops a warlord from walking in with his buddies armed to the teeth from reestablishing a state?

Communal militias. It's not "every person for himself" -

[New England and Virginia]

If anarchism set upon society, those who were in control of former military bases and resources would offer protection to people...for a price.


And thus, we return to feudalism.

[Meryuma]

If anarchism set upon society, those who were in control of former military bases and resources would offer protection to people...for a price.


And thus, we return to feudalism.

Actually, the military would be overthrown or peacefully dismantled. That's kinda, y'know, the point of anarchy.

[New England and Virginia]

If anarchism set upon society, those who were in control of former military bases and resources would offer protection to people...for a price.


And thus, we return to feudalism.

Actually, the military would be overthrown or peacefully dismantled. That's kinda, y'know, the point of anarchy.

Unless you manage to destroy all military infrastructure (and the capacity to rebuild it), that will not happen.

[Meryuma]

Actually, the military would be overthrown or peacefully dismantled. That's kinda, y'know, the point of anarchy.

Unless you manage to destroy all military infrastructure (and the capacity to rebuild it), that will not happen.

Does one need to destroy all castles to abolish monarchy?

[Atomic Utopia]

If anarchism set upon society, those who were in control of former military bases and resources would offer protection to people...for a price.


And thus, we return to feudalism.

Actually, the military would be overthrown or peacefully dismantled. That's kinda, y'know, the point of anarchy.

So, according to you such a society would function and be more efficient than a non anarchy and hold that for most of hunan history society was an anarchy.

Now, how did society involving states appear assuming your anarchy is so much more efficient and as you stated, "melitiaa would form to stop warlords"?

[Kubra]

If anarchism set upon society, those who were in control of former military bases and resources would offer protection to people...for a price.


And thus, we return to feudalism.

oh yeah cuz the conditions for anarchy are obama standing up and saying "i delcare there to be no government, peace ya'll"

[Zottistan]

If anarchism set upon society, those who were in control of former military bases and resources would offer protection to people...for a price.


And thus, we return to feudalism.

Actually, the military would be overthrown or peacefully dismantled. That's kinda, y'know, the point of anarchy.

Without a military body in service of the community, how exactly are you supposed to stop a group from establishing one of their own and using it for oppression?

[New England and Virginia]

Actually, the military would be overthrown or peacefully dismantled. That's kinda, y'know, the point of anarchy.

Without a military body in service of the community, how exactly are you supposed to stop a group from establishing one of their own and using it for oppression?

Or how do you stop the existing military from just taking over when they're the ones with all the guns?

[England-Wales-France]

Actually, the military would be overthrown or peacefully dismantled. That's kinda, y'know, the point of anarchy.

Without a military body in service of the community, how exactly are you supposed to stop a group from establishing one of their own and using it for oppression?

And even if there is a 'Communal militia' who is gonna fight back if THEY want Power?

[Jute]

I have come to the conclusion that anarchism can't work because nobody knows how the fuck it would actually work.

Or you could actually read famous anarchistic writers like Kropotkin or Proudhon instead of thinking that because some people here don't understand it because they never read up about it no one ever has.

[Jute]

Isn't equality a superfluous issue with anarchism?

I mean, aside from a legal perspective (wherein there's no laws, so everyone is equally lawless), not everyone will necessarily be equal. Person A might own a big farm and house for example, whereas Person B might only own a small house with a garden.

Then Person A uses those better resources to hire people to take Person B's stuff.

And Person C, D, E ... will take issue with this and oppose B for this transgression.

[Jute]

The problem with anarchism is that if there is no government, there would just be riots, gang wars, and supply shortages.

This is why I don't like it.

The least you could have done is to look up the Wikipedia article instead of just resorting to prejudices.

[No Serfdom]

"Anarchism could lead to injustice" isn't really a valid objection. We have to weigh hypothetical future injustices against very real injustices going on right now.

I don't believe Rape and Murder should go unaddressed. Crime must be dealt with, but this includes crimes perpetrated by the state.

[Behinaye]

To:Anarchist in General
Anarchy,the Lack of the State,allows Murder,Rape,Kiddnapping,Robbery,Extortion and Other Heinous crimes to go Unpunished?Why?Becuase since there is no State,their is no Police,if there are Police,their is a state,large or Small.and since Courts can't Exist without a State,Criminals can't Even Turn themselves in and Get a Trial.I acknowledge that Anarchist don't want this,but it simply Will Happen.Another Thing that Will happen in Anarchism is products won't Have something Regulating if their safe or not,Products could literally Be Designed to Kill you because their isn't something like a FDA to Regulate it,once again if their was it wouldn't be a Anarchy.
Anarchy Also would allow Trade of Weapons and Dangerous Drugs,I'm fine if you distribute Harmless Drugs or Helpful Drugs as long as You got Something from the Goverment saying you can.But since once Again their isn't a Police force or Court System to Bring down Drug Lords and Black Market Weapons,Drug lords and Black Market Traders will get rich of these Disgusting practices.And since there is no Court System,Hostpitals could refuse to treat patients and go unpunished,murderes could kill thousands and not be brung to justice.another of Anarchisms many flaws is that CEO's could Force people to work under threat of death for no pay and Under terrible conditions.Another Flaw(this is getting Redundant,isn't it?) Is that Child labor could happen and no one would bring the Criminals to Justice.Another Flaw is that Private Education Systems could be Forcing Lies like 'Homosexuality is Unnatural' and Have no court for Gay people Offended By this to sue.Another flaw(FUCK!THIS IS REDUNDANT)is that The health of Residents is Disregarded as the Poor die of Disease while the Rich live Long lives while Contributing almost nothing to society.Yet another Flaw is 'Charities' could just steal the Donations and line the Owners pockets while poor people get nothing.Another flaw is that Lots of Knowlege could be Destroyed and No one Brought to justice because their is not Court or Police.Another flaw is that other people could force their Religion down Others throats by threatening to kill them if they don't Convert.Another flaw is that entire Cities could be Burnt Down and No one Brought to Justice because Once again there is not police or Court to bring the Criminals to justice.Another flaw is That Companies could sell products that don't Work as Advertised Becuase their is no Body that Could Determine whether their Products are what they say or are Scams.Another Flaw is that Discrimination would go Unpunished becuase their is Not Police force or Court to stop Discrimination.

The problem with LGBT rights