So. I think I'm an anarchist

[josephadel_3]

Ron Paul's movement really woke me up to libertarian and traditional limited government conservatism. Now, however, I feel like even a libertarian government is too much. Why? Because it will only grow after it's downsized. I know anarchists don't believe in capitalism and that is probably the one glaring difference that I am struggling with. On one hand, I agree with it. On the other, I think it is something that easily turns into corporatism, fascism, socialism etc.

 

[dude58677]

Anarchists are the most capitalistic. It is known as anarcho-capitalism which is realy the belief that everything should be privatized:

http://www.perbylund.com

 

[josephadel_3]

anarcho-capitalism is different from most anarchisms in that it supports capitalism.

 

[BarryDonegan]

Ron Paul's movement really woke me up to libertarian and traditional limited government conservatism. Now, however, I feel like even a libertarian government is too much. Why? Because it will only grow after it's downsized. I know anarchists don't believe in capitalism and that is probably the one glaring difference that I am struggling with. On one hand, I agree with it. On the other, I think it is something that easily turns into corporatism, fascism, socialism etc.

anarchism will just be REPLACED by despotism and fascism instantly.

 

[RonPaulVolunteer]

In anarchy, someone will rise to be leader and dictator MUCH faster than a limited govt with checks and balances. As Jefferson said though, the tree of liberty must sometimes be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

 

[gls]

Anarchists don't believe in capitalism? Maybe not the radical left-wing "anarchists" you see on TV smashing stuff at WTO protests. I've always thought of anarchists as supporting a true free market, complete with protections for private property rights. I'm not really sure though...I haven't studied the subject too closely.

I still consider myself a libertarian. I understand your concerns about it being a slippery slope but I think as long as one always adheres to the non-agression principle, then it is difficult to do much harm.

 

[powerofreason]

anarchism will just be REPLACED by despotism and fascism instantly.

no

 

[Sic Semper Tyrannis]

There is no "Utopia".

"Government is a NECESSARY evil."
-Thomas Paine

The best thing we can come up with is limited government. The only problem with limited government is that most people don't realize the need for a little revolution now and then. Until people realize this we will never have a true system of checks and balances.

 

[FrankRep]

Dictatorships rise out of Anarchy.

Learn about the different forms of Government -

Overview of America
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6732659166933078950

 

[Sic Semper Tyrannis]

no

How will it not? The only way you can prevent something like this is to organize some form of defense. Which is government.

 

[powerofreason]

Once a defense market is established, after private police and courts it would be very difficult for a new regime to take hold. I imagine a gradual abolition of government. If the abolition were immediate, then yes, I think its highly likely that a dictatorship would arise.

 

[UnReconstructed]

you statists do not understand anarchy.

it is simply the voluntary interaction between people.

EDIT: Government is not defense. It is force. What has government ever defended against? When has government ever defended anything?

 

[tremendoustie]

Actually, I never understood what anarchism really means, as distinct from libertarianism. Those who support it seem to accept the idea that some organizations will arise naturally, and say that they would support and pay into systems that treat people justly and protect people's rights. What's the difference between that and small government?

I mean, in a certain sense, isn't every country anarchistic, and we just happen to have a big, powerful group that arose to run everything now?

Can someone explain what's the key difference between a libertarian government, and what anarchists hope would arise naturally anyway?

(of course, I mean the reasonable kind of anarchist here, who believes in freedom, not someone who believes in chaos or violence).

 

[MGreen]

If you already knew of anarcho-capitalism, why did you still say you were an anarchist, despite believing in capitalism?

I've also come from a libertarian to a market anarchist over the past year. I doubt I'll ever be able to defend the existence of government again.

 

[josephadel_3]

Dictatorships rises out of Anarchy.

Learn about the different forms of Government -

Overview of America
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6732659166933078950

I've seen it. I don't really think anarchy has been tested as much as socialism and mercantilism.

 

[josephadel_3]

If you already knew of anarcho-capitalism, why did you still say you were an anarchist, despite believing in capitalism?

I've also come from a libertarian to a market anarchist over the past year. I doubt I'll ever be able to defend the existence of government again.

I don't believe or disbelieve in capitalism right now. You can see what I wrote. I said I was struggling with it because it diminishes so quickly into corporatism and fascism and other non-desireable forms of government.

 

[FrankRep]

I've seen it. I don't really think anarchy has been tested as much as socialism and mercantilism.

How will you ensure that Anarchy will sustain?

The criminal gangs and neo-Barbarians will rule the streets and the guy with the biggest stick will be the leader.

 

[tremendoustie]

I don't believe or disbelieve in capitalism right now. You can see what I wrote. I said I was struggling with it because it diminishes so quickly into corporatism and fascism and other non-desireable forms of government.

What's the distinction here? What is the alternative to capitalism? I assume that you believe people should be free to interact as they choose -- so then, why must you choose a monetary or economic system for them? If people want to be capitalists, they will be, if not, they won't.

Unless we're discussing your own personal economic choices in a free society, in support or opposition to capitalism, I don't understand the distinction.

 

[powerofreason]

Some people seem to think that in the absence of government we would all become cannibals and murder each other. Kind of like the proponents of the drug war say we would all be snorting coke while driving on our way to work if there weren't laws in place against it. I don't think its too hard to imagine different groups of the (disbanded) government military forming competing defense agencies to protect us in the case of foreign attack. If you want to try to convince me of the necessity of government, go for it. I keep an open mind.

 

[muzzled dogg]

"Government is a NECESSARY evil."
-Thomas Paine“

ANARCHY is the radical notion that
other people are not your property.