Cy on Nostr: All your requirements before someone can call themselves anarchist have been abused ...
All your requirements before someone can call themselves anarchist have been abused to reduce anarchy in the world. Remember when the anarchist Margaret Thatcher called for an end to government handouts? Remember when the anarchist Pinochet prevented the people of Argentina from voting to be represented by Isabel Peron? Doesn't seem like we're talking about anarchy here.
Anarchy is about making things fair, about how we're all equals, not lessers and betters, and no one needs to be given an advantage over others. If that means using the apparatus of the state to achieve it, so be it. Representatives can represent all they want, if it means their power will be distributed among local community councils who make the real decisions. My observation is that organized, direct action is more effective than voting, but the absence of voting invariably results in a vicious crackdown on organized, direct action, since they don't have to worry about being popular anymore. It's a song and dance, but eh... I don't blame anyone for wanting to live in a democracy.
Anarchy is about making things fair, about how we're all equals, not lessers and betters, and no one needs to be given an advantage over others. If that means using the apparatus of the state to achieve it, so be it. Representatives can represent all they want, if it means their power will be distributed among local community councils who make the real decisions. My observation is that organized, direct action is more effective than voting, but the absence of voting invariably results in a vicious crackdown on organized, direct action, since they don't have to worry about being popular anymore. It's a song and dance, but eh... I don't blame anyone for wanting to live in a democracy.