- Capitalism and Alternatives -

*HUFF*

Posted by: Red Deathy ( Socialist Party, UK ) on April 18, 1999 at 16:29:13:

In Reply to: Anarchist FAQ, State 'Socialism' posted by Flint Jones on April 16, 1999 at 17:50:42:

: I think Anarchism is most useful as a standard to hold democracies too... "Is anyone being oppressed?" If the answer is yes, things can be improved. Perhaps a society completely without hierarchy is neither desirable or achievable... but the move towards it definately improves everyones lot. The revolution is a continual process, not a single event. Its the day to day struggle against oppression... and not the vanguard siezing control of the palace.

I think Chomsky is correct in the way he puts it- we have to operate a general suspicion *against* authority, or rather, it is guilty until proven innocent beyond reasonable doubt. At present, many people assume that we have to demonstrate the case *against* authority, with the prior assumtion that it works...William Morris (yes, I'm digging him out again) in his battles with the breed of anarchism that destroyed the Socialist League defended authority, by which he meant communal democracy, and again, I think he's right- Society is the real source of authority, except, King lear like, it keeps handing it to certain people, but, it can never fully give away its real authority, which it will use in revolution.


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