Discussion on Anarchy?

true true... ideology is the main thing.

as for anarchy, the ideology isn't very well thought-out though. that is their dilemma. it is limited to anglo-saxon individualist interests, it is not for everyone, it does not take into consideration other peoples.

switch over to the left if you haven't already... they actually have real plans rather than the "i don't know but we'll figure it out when we get there" (as i've heard plenty anarchists say) anarchist 'ideology'.

the idea is to not eliminate structure. far from it. if anything, the status quo provides absolutely no security or transparency for the public to have a say in nuclear defense policy. anarchy is not about a lack of structure, it is about a lack authority. a common statement amongst anarchists is: "anarchy is about organizing" ... and it is true, hence the process-laden anarchist organizations out there.

Indeed, if you look at the anarchist model, it is about eleminating central, authoritarian rule and placing it in the hands of "syndicates" or "collectives". In other words, production is placed in the hands of the proletariat - basically a socialist economic model in the sense that property is abolished and resources are shared as equally as possible. There are many arguments as to how - but if you agree with the agenda, have the courage to align yourselve with those who realize that anarchism is the only ideology that enables the full realm of human potential by striving to provide each person with equal access to resources concomitant with the absence (this is the libertarian part of the "libertarian socialism" tag often given anarchists) of authoritarian dictates. Authoritarian control systems, e.g. nearly every government on earth right now, operate on behavioral if you do this we take this away principles. Anarchism believes this isn't necessary - just change the rewards structure of society and suddenly people will be working their ass off for complete opposite things. What if power was brokered through teachers instead of CEOs? What if the WTO had environmental experts, teachers, etc on its panel instead of just corporate lawyers?

Porkchop, your point about power is incisive, but the fact is, power is brokered through the authoritarian structure. One of the nice things about power is that it is a blank canvas. All it takes, as Martin and Malcolm both knew all to well, is to convert people like yourself over. Chomsky knows it too: the revolution can't happen until the intelligentsia come out of their indoctrinated (read: universities), well fed, segmented, ivory tower comas. Ask a poor person how the control system is working out for them. Authoritarian structures are endorsed by those who benefit from them, and the intelligentsia is the first and primary candidate for indoctrination (who actually believes the SATs measure aptitude?), and the primary focus of propaganda/marketing.

Emma Goldman, Bakunin, Chomsky, Daniel Guerin, Rudolf Rocker, and the link above, have all written excellent things on Anarchism. Any else have some good suggestions for readings on our beloved ideology?

There are tons of texts at the link below about anarchism and what it means for a future society. Absence of earthly authority does not imply
lack of structure or social organization.
There are many thriving and succesful anarchist organizations/businesses i.e.. coops in the world today.
At least study it for yourself before coming to hasty conclusions based on a few conversations.

http://flag.blackened.net