Neither Masters Nor Slaves

If anarchists as a group don't engage in some kind of direct action, how do they think they're going to dismantle the military/capitalist machine they despise? How can that be done with love and peace? If/when taking direct action it should be carefully targeted for maximum impact on the banking industry instead of frightening people on the street.... that's just bad public relations. Can't they see that?

 

This should apply to ones thoughts even if he/she knows they wont be alive later. You should always work, and sometimes fight, to necessary anarchy.

You can't just have love and peace, life doesn't work that way. You have to go through some bad, fighting for your roots, to achieve the good and overall plan.

If we have to fight the military and police force around to stop the tax system? Well, you get the water hot enough and it will scream, get enough people together and we will be heard. It will be war. Their doesn't need to be bloodshed, but chances are their will be.

 

Hey thanks for answering broony....

So what types of direct action (besides that already mentioned) is being carried out at present.... who comes up with it and organizes it? Rougue individuals? Small isolated groups?

 

The more you try to understand anarchy, you will learn more what role you might you play. Just do your research.

 

Well.... thanks for that invaluable information.

 

Not really sure about playing a role.... but you're right about the research, there's a good overview with links at Wikipedia (I wasn't using the right search terms).

 

Shoveling the snow off your neighbors porch because they are too old, or sick or whatever.

Becoming a mentor for a kid at a school.

Help carry food for those in need during panic.

Prepare to be independent in new ways.

Don't think about it if you know its the right thing, act on it.

Try and live in a self sufficient life style.

Live a life where you don't depend on the tech world.

Learn about GMO, MSG, Aspartame and Artificial foods.

Grow your own food.

Protect yourself with a means of weapon. Learn it, study it.

Only spread the truth when you know its true.

 

Common sense.... and the banks/corporations? What can be done about the banks/corporations? Do anarchists realize they can't stop them? Is all the window breaking and property destruction just a form of letting off steam?

Somethng else I noticed.... Anarchists seem to function most effectively as individuals or in small groups (open to correction). Is it that just because anarchists are extremely individualistic or because the danger of infiltration increases with the size of the group? Some combination maybe? Either way, they don't seem to be able to coordinate any large scale well choreographed direct actions that could have a significant impact on the bottom line of the banks/corporations or the puppet politicians enabling them. If it's true that anarchists can't function or cooperate to achieve their singular goal of a rulerless society, won't they just continue to exist as a fragmented ideology made up of various splinter groups scattered around the country/world?

 

Everything else in the first post of this thread.

As far as banks go, keep your self out of debt, dont buy something with interest on it. Then take your money out of the bank. Don't use credit cards as companies like your local grocery store has to pay 3% or whatever it is based off each amount sold. So paying cash helps local business and hurts big banks.

 

I'm an "anarchist" and my point of view evolves each day concerning politics. I don't participate in social things because to me society has programmed everyone into acting certain ways. There's like 8 main types in society. Think along the lines of jock, goth, prep, nerd. It's something that has enlightened me and allowed me to realize that everyone of us is a victim of divide and conquer. I'll write more on this if anyone wants to hear it my philosophy is strange to say the least and it questions every little thing from common phrases to laughter to anything.

 

Hi SunDweller....

So, are you saying that you find it useful as a personal philosophy but otherwise have resigned yourself to a "that's just the way it is" point of view? Is there no unity possible.... the divided and conquered cannot unite and resist due to excessive diversity/expression of purpose?

 

Start a new thread if you wish to discuss that. This is a huge forum with philosophy section. This thread is for anarchy.

 

What do you think I'm discussing? I'm asking questions about anarchy in a thread about anarchy. Where am I off topic? What's the problem?

 

So, moving on....

If anarchists as a group don't engage in some kind of direct action, how do they think they're going to dismantle the military/capitalist machine they despise?

What types of direct action (besides that already mentioned, breaking windows, starting fires etc.) is being carried out at present.... who comes up with it and organizes it? Rougue individuals? Small isolated groups?

What can really be done about the banks/corporations? Do anarchists realize they can't stop them? Is all the window breaking and property destruction just a form of letting off steam?

Isn't anarchy really only useful as a sort of "feel good" personal philosophy/ideology for those who have resigned themselves to a "that's just the way it is" point of view?

If no unity is possible on the kind of scale that would really have any significant impact.... how can the divided and conquered ever successfully unite and resist?

How could infrastructure (roads, electrical power, schools, social services, etc.) be maintained among a large number of small anarchist settlements in an area, say, the size of Oregon?

Would there be a common army to defend against invasion or would it just be up to each settlement to defend its own territory?

Finally, what's the point of all the activism without the answers to these questions? Logically, wouldn't one want to have the alternative arrangement worked out before attacking or destroying the current one?

 

should be followed the instruction of religion.there have no discrimination between the men. anarchy never be arisen if the rules of religion are employed upon all living being...

 

Hey broony....

So forget about all the other stuff I asked.... we can talk about that later if you want (or not). As far as the advice you've given me, my path, from what I've read so far, is nearly indistinguishable from the anarchist path as you describe it so you needn't council me further in that respect. What I'm really interested in at this point I guess is direct action and the various forms it takes.

You strike me as being more knowledgable about anarchy than others I've spoken with about it, so, what in your opinion (anyone else is welcome to comment too) has been the single most effective and far reaching form of direct action carried out so far that doesn't physically harm anyone in terms of real impact?

 

Easy, don't feed them! They need your labor and money to keep existing, so don't give it to them and they'll collapse sooner or later.

- Don't get any loan or credit card, even better don't even have a bank account.
- Don't work on a job.
- Buy as few things as possible.

These are radical and non-violent actions that can go a long way.

 

Hey Bassline514....

Bassline514 "Easy, don't feed them! They need your labor and money to keep existing, so don't give it to them and they'll collapse sooner or later.

- Don't get any loan or credit card, even better don't even have a bank account.
- Don't work on a job.
- Buy as few things as possible.

These are radical and non-violent actions that can go a long way."

I get that, and essentially that's how I've lived all my life (the last thirty-eight years). I'm 54 now and since the age of about sixteen I've lived a minimalist, even austere life style and have never really owned anything. I’ve never had a drivers license or owned a car, a home, or any of the other things that most people in the United States would take for granted. I’ve never purchased any gasoline for any reason, no electronics of any kind (this computer was salvaged), or any product that hurts the environment during its production, use or disposal as part of a broad general "do no harm" philosophy (excepting necessities of course). I briefly had a bank account once a long time ago, but never a credit card. I have never voted, paid taxes (kept my income below that where paying taxes was required) or performed military service.... I feel good about that.

I guess what I'm thinking of (strictly hypothetically of course) would be a sort of "David and Goliath" scenario.... something an individual or very small group of people could do often/anytime that would paralyze/disrupt commerce over a relatively wide area for a time as a form of protest/leverage without actually harming anyone physically, yet would still strongly encourage the needed/demanded reforms we all (anarchists and non-anarchists alike) know must take place.

I know the internet has been used to cause "denial of service" to customers of targeted banks/corporatons but that seems pretty labor intensive for the limited time it's effective and only affects one bank/corporation at a time.

It's an interesting problem.