Date: Mon, 16 Sep 96 16:45:13 GMT
Subject: Re: the state (fwd)



In reply to Pablo Gilabert
( forwarded from Spoons at 15 Sep 96 19:39:40 -0300 ) :

"The state" == "armed bodies of men".

A state is only necessary when only armed force can resolve
conflicts.

The argument is not that differences cease to exist in a fully
communist society. It is that these differences are not of a
fundamental nature, and that therefore there will be no need for
armed force to resolve them.

The conflicts will not be over important issues like "do we 
execute the leaders of the counter revolution we have just 
captured ?" , "shall we allocate resources to the first
world or the first world" or "how do we deal with rapists ?".
These questions can only arise in the immediately post revolutionary
period, variously described as "socialism", the "lower stage of
socialism", the "dictatorship of the proletariat", etc etc.
In this stage of society, the majority will dictate to the minority,
( for the first time ever in history ) if neccessary by using armed
force.

The conflicts in a fully communist society will be over issues as
important as "shall we paint our new community brain surgery blue
with white spots or pink with grey stripes ?". And how future generations
resolve such questions is up to them - and there is not much point us
speculating about it.

Adam.



Adam Rose
SWP
Manchester
UK


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