RE: The Strongest Evidence That Anarchy Works
Thank you for an interesting article. As much as I appreciate the intellectual ideal of an anarchist society (and believe me, I do), I just don't see in most people the required level of maturity and consciousness for such a reality to be able to function in a peaceful and prosperous way. After all, governments and corporations are theoretically independent institutions. Why is there such a promiscuity between them? Because many people occupying governmental and legislative roles let themselves be bought by corporate money to protect their interests. And why do easily corruptible people keep playing key roles in governance in representative democratic regimes? Well, probably because there is a lack of political initiative from more ethically concerned people; because most people end up giving in to the right kind and amount of incentive for corruption; and because the universe of voters is composed of an uninformed and disinterested mass of people. Ultimately, I think the biggest issue is not the regime or the institutions, but the understanding that people have of them and the relationship they choose to establish with them.
but they have the skill to elect competent people? Doesn't add up man
Basically by the time you ended your comment you disagreed with your first premise.
You are partially right, but my argument was not specifically in favor of current governance systems. Actuality, what I was trying to point out was that the same widespread personal attitudes and states of mind that undermine the performance of a representative democracy would also undermine a strictly anarchist social organization. I would probably only point out to the differences in the kinds of expectations regarding freedom, security and access that you could develop within the two forms of organization. I can image very dire scenarios in an anarchist society with a majority of unconscientious people.
I would not focus on further disrupting the system of government, but rather on raising awareness and participation among the general public in all political and social affairs. Your article has this dimension, and that is why I like it and find it useful and insightful.
agreed
we can do the same for democratic systems...
Yeap, the point I wanted to make was that anarchy works because the rules act on it. nothing will really change if more people acted on it.