[lbo-talk] Anarchism, was Cuba

[John Thornton]

Chuck wrote:
> But people are attacking me here for not being unrealistic when I adhere 
> to standard anarchist positions.
>   

If they are unrealistic it matters not whether they are anarchist, 
fascist, socialist, etc. principles.
I move within the real world and so I move within it accordingly. (JT)

> Anarchists are better off fighting for more radical social change on all 
> of these issues, as well as for the big picture of "revolution" or 
> whatever you want to call it. I don't get why people are attacking 
> anarchists for being anarchists. If we wanted to be reformists and work 
> within the system, we'd be social democrats. The whole point of being an 
> anarchist is to fight for something more radical.
>
> Chuck

It isn't an either/or scenario.
I person can work to abolish the state and still vote for a 
Congressional Rep. or Senator who favors Universal Health Care or some 
other incremental change that will help millions of peoples real lives.
It isn't as if voting takes so much time that one just cannot fit it 
into busy schedule.
We frivolously waste more time per year than anyone actually spends 
voting in this country.
The idea that not voting is some principled stance is BS.
That doesn't mean voting in every election but refusing to vote in any 
is childish, not principled.

When Chuck writes "If anarchists go out and engage in direct action on 
the health care issue, we're more likely to help more mainstream 
reformers than we would with voting." he demonstrates some strange 
binary thinking.
Why must it be one or the other? Why can't you engage in whatever direct 
action you want and still go vote for a candidate who favors UHC?

What do you do that doesn't violate your list of three reasons you cite 
for not voting?

1) is completely against their 
2) supports the statist system
3) is opposed by most non-anarchists.


Where do you buy clothes that doesn't support the state and corporate 
structure you oppose?
Where do you buy food that doesn't?
Why is voting so different?

You're mistaken when you write "Most Americans don't vote. They clearly 
reject the current political system and see through it."
They don't see through anything, they are apathetic because they feel 
disaffected and powerless. They feel that way because the system 
encourages them to. If they saw through that they would be more, not 
less, inclined to vote.
Most non-voters aren't not voting as some principled stance as you claim 
to be.

John Thornton