Permanently Deleted

  • NeverGoOutside [any]
    ·
    3 years ago

    Capital is power, and capital concentrated into the hands of a state that serves its people is much different than capital/power concentrated in the hands of private entities or states that serve private capital.

    In the perspective of world systems theory, capitalism used as power to fend off imperialism is much more beneficial for the working people of the world than capital used as power BY imperialists. It’s as simple as that.

    • Nagarjuna [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      I agree, it is more humane capitalism. Russia challenges western hegemony and Norway does capitalism more humanly. Both are capitalist states and I don't see a point in using a different name for them.

      It is better that Cuba exists as a communist controlled state than as a capitalist controlled state.

      That's not the core of my argument. It's that we should be against bad things, even when they're for the greater good.

      • Nakoichi [they/them]M
        ·
        edit-2
        3 years ago

        Is punching Nazis authoritarian or anti-authoritarian?

        I know this is reductive but that's the point we have to get to the bottom of this issue.

        • Nagarjuna [he/him]
          ·
          3 years ago

          Punching nazis is what you do when you can't deradicalize them. It's an unpleasant act and in my experience anti fa demos are traumatizing. But when there's immanent harm, you do what you must.

          Like I said, anarchism is anti violence, not pacifist

          • Nakoichi [they/them]M
            ·
            3 years ago

            The issue is that we don't have the luxury of denouncing violence as a blanket position given the reality we face.

            • Nagarjuna [he/him]
              ·
              3 years ago

              We do have the luxury. We need to tell stories that affirm our values and ends, which means opposing violence. We also need to oppose imperialism. We can do both.

              Obvs we need to be careful about what stories we tell where, but we still need those stories.

              • Nakoichi [they/them]M
                ·
                3 years ago

                Telling stories will totally stop violent neo-nazis from attacking our comrades.

                  • Nakoichi [they/them]M
                    ·
                    edit-2
                    3 years ago

                    We need to tell stories that affirm our values and ends

                    Telling stories is not a viable method of resisting imperial violence.

                      • Nakoichi [they/them]M
                        ·
                        edit-2
                        3 years ago

                        So punching nazis is good, therefore some forms of organized resistance against reactionaries is also good?

        • infuziSporg [e/em/eir]
          ·
          edit-2
          3 years ago

          If you punch them in the street, it is neither. If you punch them while they're locked in a jail cell, it is unnecessary.

          WRT capitalists and counter-revolutionaries, if someone is poised to repress you, you fight them, disarming and expropriating them. Once they're expropriated, and don't pose a material threat, do you still need to kick them while they're down?

      • NeverGoOutside [any]
        ·
        edit-2
        3 years ago

        Being against bad things outside of the recognition of the context of the reality of global geopolitics is not really being against bad things if the outcomes turn out worse. Look at the USSR collapsing: anarchists like myself usually argued that the USSR was just state capitalism and as bad as the USA. But that collapse has been a disaster for the working class both in Russia and globally. I’d rather fight the worst imperialistic capitalist hegemon and work our way toward fixing the bad things in less-bad countries. To do otherwise is to strengthen the hegemon.

        In the past, as an anarchist, i once celebrated any resistance by anarchists or working class people against any oppression no matter what. But having seen that rebellion be used seamlessly by the global capitalist hegemon over and over to tighten its grip globally on control and power, thereby making things worse overall for the global working class, I have changed my mind and think there are irresponsible ways of rebellion that actually strengthen global capitalism even when they sometimes overthrow a local node of oppression. The only path to anarchism is through state communism that builds power against the capitalist network of world power until it can crush it. It’s literally the only way.

        • Nagarjuna [he/him]
          ·
          3 years ago

          Which is why I've been qualifying it this whole time, we agree lol