[lbo-talk] The state

[Mike Ballard]

The motivations for the use of force are determined by
scarcity and the unevenness of wealth and development.
adx wrote:
The necessity for enforcement, in this sense,
presupposes class is a determining factor. In a
stateless society it would be left up to people to
determine in a genuinely democratic fashion how wealth
and social benefits are distributed.
**********

Mike B) wrote:
"A classless society would not have a State, but would
have all the self-governing structure it needed--perhaps an
'administration of things' by an 'association of producers'.  As long
as
some individuals can do some things better than others, there will be
hierarchies.  They need not be political, bureaucratic, power-over
hierarchies though--especially in a co-operative commonwealth."

These would not be hierarchies, but simple divisions
of labor, no?
--adx

************
The division of labour in class society leads to bureaucratic, top-down
political power.  There is a need for this kind of power to exist in
these kinds of societies so that they can maintain themselves as class
dominated, politically stratified social structures.  The political
power of one class over others is expressed and legitimised
governmentally by the State.  A classless society has no need for a
State, because it has no need to re-establish class political power on
a daily basis.  It does have a need for governing structures--an
administration of things.

A simple division of labour in a classless society does not lead to
situations where one group having mastery in some particular skill, to
be granted the political power to dominate other people because they do
not possess that skill. The totality of work in a communist society is
recognized as being necessary for the further functioning of
civilization--a doctor's work increases if the garbage remains
uncollected.  There is a hierarchy in the sense that everyone does not
have the same level of skill in any particular area.  Brain tumours are
best seen to by nerosurgeons, while muffler repair is best seen to by
auto mechanics.   

Regards,
Mike B)

****************************************************************** 
Live in harmony with the Earth.  Abolish the wages system.
http://profiles.yahoo.com/swillsqueal

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