File spoon-archives/anarchy-list.archive/anarchy-list_1999/anarchy-list.9912, message 255


Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 15:55:20 -0500
From: Chuck0 <chuck-AT-tao.ca>
Subject: Fwd: Another Marxist with his head up his ass


This one's really funny. :-)

Apologies to any anti-authoritarian Marxists on this list who have more
common sense than poor Sam.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [PEN-L:14247]  anarchism
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 10:37:44 -0800
From: Sam Pawlett <rsp-AT-uniserve.com>
Reply-To: lbo-talk-AT-lists.panix.com
To: pen-l-AT-galaxy.csuchico.edu
CC: lbo-talk-AT-lists.panix.com, marxism-AT-lists.panix.com
References: <384B0835.CF6ACF90-AT-pitt.edu>
<v03130300b47189920d88-AT-[140.254.113.159]>



Yoshie Furuhashi wrote:
> 
> How do anarchists respond politically and philosophically to the neoliberal
> agenda (less social investment by the government, less regulations of
> capitalists' freedoms, etc.)?  Chomsky, a self-identified anarchist, said
> that anti-statism in the era of neoliberal attacks upon the past gains of
> workers is idiotic, I recall.  What of other anarchists?
> 

 I was an anarchist for many years until I read Trotsky and Lenin, so
I'm used to defending it. Anarchist theory is impoverished compared to
Marx, Trotsky and Lenin. Most of the theory is ripped off from Marx.
This
impoverishment translates into impoverishment in action. Most anarchists
criticise Marx for being bourgeoise and Trotsky and Lenin for being
statists and authoritarians (statism and authoritarianism which saved
the revolution of course.) Anarchism has its own pied pipers like
"Prince" Kropotkin who supported WWI and opposed the Bolsheviks. Anyone
who has read E.H. Carr's biography of Bakunin will know B nothing but a
charlatan and a petty bourgeoise. Emma Goldman's autobio *Living My
Life* reveals an intense egocentric personality. Anarchism is often just
a rationalization of personal neuroses.
 
 In my experience, anarchists would hold no truck with neo-liberalism
and institutions like the WTO which seek to weaken the state where it
acts so as to regulate the behaviour of capitalists but strengthen the
repressive apparat of the state to oppress and curtail the freedom of
the working class and the poor.

 I don't read much about contemporary anarchists nor do I associate with
them much anymore. People like Zerzen strike me not so much as
anarchists but as nihilists same with the young people who follow him.
They want to obliterate all authority as well as all social norms
including science, philosophy, reason  and rationality. Its terrible
that the discontent of the youth is being funnelled into nihilistic
movements.
   I'm all for dialogue with anarchists and working with them where
possible. Unfortunately, there isn't much to dialogue about.

Sam Pawlett

   

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