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Progressive News & Views (since 1982)
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Well, I gently explained before that I think market capitalism can be
"repaired" to run in a way that many would think to be more upright. Even
those at the top have got to be required to make an earnest living, by
foregoing the blood soaked profits, and those from the worst of
exploitation.
I've spent some amount of time looking at (e.g.) Indymedia, where some sound
proud to be "anti-capitalist and anarchist." They didn't make the sale with
me, and the heart of it is this--
To be anti-capitalist would be to abolish private property.
To be anarchist would be to abolish hierarchical reporting structures in
society.
The former will never happen because the people who have something want to
keep it, understandably so, and private property was a fundamental essential
to the framers of the U.S. Constitution. Am I allowed to reach into your
closet and abscond with your favorite overcoat or leather jacket? --I don't
think so, and the mere suggestion should be offensive, if you have any
possessions you value, or if you value the right to own same in the future.
Your coat is private property, right?
The latter is flatly impossible, and a wishful dream (of some). It suggests
that every "org chart" must flatten. But, if some people want to "report to"
the Pope, or their favorite political or business leader -- who is anyone to
get in between them? The relation between a leader and his follower is
entirely their thing. Anyone else is external, and if they would try to
re-order that relationship, I would count them ignorant of human nature, and
totalitarian in their leanings. "Reporting structures," that is to say
hierarchy, arose in many lands long before America. As a world-wide
phenomenon, it can only be counted a part of human nature. Many times, it
even makes sense because a leader or a mentor may have experience and
resources that the follower would otherwise lack access to.
It is increasingly hard to be totalitarian in a digital society
characterized by an information explosion.
Yet, I feel that the suggestions of anti-capitalism and anarchy have beneath
the surface that current of totalitarianism. The suggestions are
unenforceable, save by the kind of intimidation, tyranny, and terror that
already accompanied communism in other lands. And so, from my part, I've
looked, and must report, "no sale."
/s./ John
>From: Hank Roth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [pnews-views] I'm no fan of the Chinese but I'm less of a fan of
>capitalism
>Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2006 10:02:05 -0400 (EDT)
>
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> / o o \
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> http://pnews.org/
>Progressive News & Views (since 1982)
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>
>---
>
>
>I'm less of a fan of capitalism with its very sordid history which is
>often ignored when extolling the virtues of owning that SUV and the big
>screen TV.
>
>I'm going to leave the rest of Patrick's commentary for others
>to address because I already too often monopolize what is written here. I
>hope others will take this as an invitation to join in the discussion
>which was initiated by Patrick (please post a link to the CNS site) and
>queried by Warren.
>
>I do have a few comments however about capitalism and Anarchists (just a
>few - for more on this and communism and socialism see
>http://pnews.org/archives/) but will start with anarchism who too many see
>as chaos rather than the worker's movement ideology which it is - and why
>May day began in America.
>
>May 1 is May Day and it is celebrated everywhere but where it began - in
>america. That seems ironic considering that it started here. In 1886-7
>four Chicago anarchists where executed and a 5th cheated the hangman by
>hanging himself in prison. Three more were to spend 6 years in prison
>until the governor of Illinois pardoned them saying the trial was
>characterized by a packed jury, hysteria and a biased judge. The state had
>put Anarchy on trial. The anarchists were trade union organizers and were
>framed by the police. And thus May day became a worker's holiday because
>it commemorates this frameup and what preceded it, the breakup of a labor
>strike and the police who violently broke it up in Haymarket Square - and
>then claiming the anarchists threw a bomb - which was never proven because
>it was a lie. The strike was a demand for an 8 hour week.
>
> Happy May Day!
>
>Hank Roth
>
>
>
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