I think this portrayal of anarchism/libertarianism as being hyper- individualist is largely a strawman construction erected those who feel threatened by it. If you actually look at the history of anarchism, it has been a tremendously well-organized movement.
On Oct 20, 2008, at 11:25 AM, Sean Andrews wrote:
>>>> Sean Andrews <cultstud76 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> To take my argument further, perhaps too far for this list:
>>>
>>> "too far"...as if...do you read this list?
>
> On Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 9:53 AM, shag <shag at cleandraws.com> wrote:
>> Sandy is a long time list member ...
>
> It was more of a rhetorical question. There are plenty of anarchists
> on the list and there is generally little sympathy for the state in
> general so it is strange to see a longtime list member act like this
> kind of thought is somehow beyond the pale--or that being exposed to
> it would suddenly enlighten us.
>
>> (Sandy's a big open source software guy)
>
> I'm always intrigued by this combination: libertarian AND open source.
> Radically individial yet committed to the collective production and
> availability of value. I know there are all kinds of articulations
> which can round out the pegs for the holes, and maybe he's just being
> provocative: consider me provoked.
>
>> the funny thing is, if memory serves, Sandy used to get ridiculed
>> for his
>> "lefty" positions on one of those lists. :)
>
> I guess this depends on what you mean by "lefty." Marcuse was sort of
> a lefty, but he was all about the libertarian standpoint, a
> combination Woj likes to remind us of often.
>
>> To my knowledge, there are about a dozen folks here, generally
>> lurkers,
>> who aren't necessarily leftists who read the list nonetheless.
>
> I know, but shouldn't that mean that they are familiar with it? What
> was so unique about this interjection? That he talked about the
> contingent nature of the idea of rights? The coercive function of the
> state? Broke some puritanical barrier by talking about the sex trade?
> None of this seems unusual. I'd be interested to know how he would
> characterize the list, but, in any case, it was more of a rhetorical
> question/observation.
>
> s
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