The nature of anarchism (Lefty Despair etc.)

[Gordon Fitch]

> >> You can't impose barbarism and poverty on humanity in the name--so
> >> called--of freedom.

G*rd*n:
> >Nothing is going to be imposed by anarchists; unlike democracy,
> >so-called, anarchy can't be imposed.

Justin Schwartz:
> Nor can democracy, not a credible version.

Then the democratic State is an oxymoron.  But does the _nor_
mean that you have now abandoned the view that anarchy is
imposed on possibly unwilling populations like liberalism or
fascism?  This erroneous idea seems to be widely held and
evidently it's my job to straighten everyone out about it.

G*rd*n:
> >By the way, I did not sign on to your, or anyone else's,
> >Hobbesian view that the State is the only alternative to
> >barbarism and poverty.  It may be, but that has not been
> >proved.

Justin Schwartz:
> I just said you didn't dispute it. I would like to hear how public goods 
> are provided for under anarchy.

I could spin any number of fantasies about how provision of
public goods could take place in an anarchy.  The crux of the
matter is whether coercion is necessary to produce public
goods.  This closely resembles the contention that high
technology can be produced only through coercion; some people
seem to take it as an article of faith.  The specific mechanism
remains very, very mysterious, however.  Too bad -- I want to
know what it is about weapons, military units and discipline,
cops, courts and jails and class in general that produces
either computer chips or the post office.


-- Gordon