The role of the state

[William S. Lear]

On Thu, October 8, 1998 at 10:03:11 (PDT) Alex LoCascio writes:
>I think it was Justin Schwartz who pointed out on the old Spoons Marxism 
>list that Chomsky's "anarchism" is a pretense.  In fact, a lot of 
>Anarchists have taken to attacking Chomsky for being a liberal 
>reformist, like in a recent issue of Anarchy (a miserable little 
>self-indulgent journal that I wouldn't push on my worst enemy).  Some 
>critics suggest that Chomsky is actually a left-Marxist, whether he 
>admits it or not.  There's an interesting essay dealing with this at 
>www.neutral.com/lip/sa_anarc.html  

This is absurd.  Anarchists come in a variety of stripes, from those
who prefer free associations and a minimal state to those who froth at
the mouth at any mention of social organization.  Simply because a few
self-proclaimed anarchists have attacked Chomsky as a liberal
reformist shows only how limited their understanding of his thought
is.

I transcribed Chomsky's famous "Notes on Anarchism" several years ago
and placed it in the public domain with Chomsky's permission.
You can find it at:

    http://www.worldmedia.com/archive/other/notes-on-anarchism.html

along with an interview with Chomsky on anarchism:

    http://www.worldmedia.com/archive/interviews/9612-anarchism.html

and an interview in which Chomsky touches on Marxism:

    http://www.worldmedia.com/archive/interviews/9505-anarchism.html

Once you peruse the above, you should be convinced that Justin
Schwartz is absolutely clueless.

Bill