The Crimes of Empire?

Joe R. Golowka joeg at ieee.org
Fri Sep 6 17:30:42 PDT 2002


Carrol Cox wrote:
> Chomsky's "forms of modern totalitarianism" points to my point of
> departure. Fascism, precisely, was _A_ form of authoritarianism: and
> there will be other forms, and a focus on fascism (a dead form) disarms
> us in the face of whatever form authoritarianism takes _next_ in world.

"Authoritarian State" is a redundant term.


> I think Chomsky is in error in using the word "totalitarianism." It's a
> term that obscures more than it illuminates. And I think it is unuseful
> to place "Stalinism" and fascism in the same genre.

Why not? They seem pretty similar to me.

> Chomsky's
> "anarchist" tendencies (and his misunderstanding of Luxemburg) do show
> through often. His work is still invaluable for understanding the world
> we live in.

Yeah, he does oppose murderous dictators like Lenin. I don't see anything wrong with that. Chomsky doesn't just have anarchist tendencies; he identifies as an anarchist.

-- Joe R. Golowka JoeG at ieee.org Anarchist FAQ -- http://www.anarchyfaq.org

"PATRIOTISM, n. 1) The inability to distinguish between the government and one's "country"; 2) A highly praiseworthy virtue characterized by the desire to dominate and kill; 3) A feeling of exultation experienced when contemplating heaps of charred "enemy" corpses; 4) The first, last, and perennial refuge of scoundrels.

PATRIOT, n. A dangerous tool of the powers that be. A herd member who compensates for lack of self-respect by indentifying with an abstraction. An enemy of individual freedom. A fancier of the rich, satisfying flavor of boot leather." -- from The American Heretic's Dictionary



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