After this's all over, I hope the U.S. gov't bills Trump for the damage he's done to our reputation

[snipelfritz]

Also, do you think it's a cop out for the NYT to endorse Kasich?

I mean, honestly, he has no chance of winning the GOP nomination.

Yeah, but he's the most decent Republican in a while.

Fuck, I'll probably end up voting for Hillary(in the general), because stupid party-line shit.

I mean, I'm more for Bernie...but I have my side.

I'm kinda digging local politics more lately...at least until Abele wins the primary on his fat bankrolls next week.

[Invisible Man]

But all that said, maybe all authority is illegitimate? I don't know. weird world we live in, where autonomy and mutual respect are considered evil, fringe left ideas that will destroy the fabric of society.

Say more?

[Chankgeez]

Yeah, but he's the most decent Republican in a while.

I don't disagree with you, but it's almost like throwing away an endorsement.

[morange]

[D.o.S.]

[psychic vampire.]

But all that said, maybe all authority is illegitimate? I don't know. weird world we live in, where autonomy and mutual respect are considered evil, fringe left ideas that will destroy the fabric of society.

Say more?

No clue, what to say. Internet is a weird, bad place to try to discuss these ideas, I believe all authorities should be destroyed?

[Iommic Pope]

The bottom line is anarchy in its truest sense would not work.
But democracy sure as hell doesn't.

[Chankgeez]

So, how about Anarcho-Democracy?

[ChetMagongalo]

I believe all authorities should be destroyed?

fuck yea, gotta sig this

[psychic vampire.]

The bottom line is anarchy in its truest sense would not work.
But democracy sure as hell doesn't.

W/r/t anarchy, that both isand isn't true. The parts of the world that haven't been domesticated or pulled into the folds of capitalism and civilization decrease every day - and are basically non-existant at this point, but they have happened. And yadda yadda the commons, whatever. But I don't believe there will be some peaceful dismantling of government or authority which results in some back to the land communalist dream. On the other hand, I don't believe I have to posit a better solution to acknowledge something is wrong. Democracy has yet to adequately represent the actual interests or needs of most, let alone all, of the people it claims to represent.

I am bad at being eloquent on the internet and coud much better explain these beliefs face to face. Something about the written word and the anonymity if the internet makes it too easy to go full wingnut.

[psychic vampire.]

I believe all authorities should be destroyed?

fuck yea, gotta sig this

Oh and thank you!

[Faldoe]

Yes. There won't be some peaceful transition to anything.

Bertrand Russell wrote any interesting book examining Socialism, Anarchism and Syndicalism called: "Roads to Freedom: Socialism, Anarchism, Syndicalism." It was written in 1918, so certainly a lot has changed, but his examining of the pros and cons of each, I think, is still valid.

The book: http://www.zpub.com/notes/rfree10.html


A lot of people on the Left, further left, seem to have these responses of like "democracy doesn't work" or "doesn't exist," "we need to destroy/bring down the system."

It's certainly true we have some limited form of democracy, at least currently exercised, where people occasionally pull the levers every couple years and go back and forth in with political parties.

Though this isn't ideal, or a good thing, I don't think we should throw the baby out with the bathwater. The way people seem to act - apathetic, or distracted by personal pursuits - one of the genius aspects of capitalism (in a negative sense) - doesn't necessarily mean that is how society or democracy always will be or has been.

Regarding authority. I was having a discussion with an acquaintance who was adamant about communism as a viable alternative to capitalism and he also had a pretty contemptuous view of the police. He lumped them all together as a group/class serving those in power.

I certainly agree police can be corrupt, racist, abusive, etc. but I don't think all cops are bad, nor that every protestor is innocent/non-provoking and law-abiding.

Thinking we will have a society without cops is a little ridiculous. It's easy to muse about in some idealist sense and say "if only X, things we be ok." There are some fucked up people out there - yes, you can argue that includes cops, and it's true - we have to have some kind of force that can handle those that seek to do others harm. Of course when the harm is switching water supplies for a city and causing people to die of lead poisoning, those people seem to be immune from punishment.

I don't trust the dissolution of police forces and leaving "the people" to dispense judgment - even if we still have a constitution. People seem to easily fall into fascistic thinking and behavior.

[Iommic Pope]

The bottom line is anarchy in its truest sense would not work.
But democracy sure as hell doesn't.

W/r/t anarchy, that both isand isn't true. The parts of the world that haven't been domesticated or pulled into the folds of capitalism and civilization decrease every day - and are basically non-existant at this point, but they have happened. And yadda yadda the commons, whatever. But I don't believe there will be some peaceful dismantling of government or authority which results in some back to the land communalist dream. On the other hand, I don't believe I have to posit a better solution to acknowledge something is wrong. Democracy has yet to adequately represent the actual interests or needs of most, let alone all, of the people it claims to represent.

I am bad at being eloquent on the internet and coud much better explain these beliefs face to face. Something about the written word and the anonymity if the internet makes it too easy to go full wingnut.

I think you and I agree wholeheartedly, but this medium is not the most suitable for the adequate/eloquent exchanges of thought.
I understand.
Capitalism is not the answer, but there is no Socialist Paradise either. And don't stress about positing a solution, I can't either, mostly because the problem is people. At some point, when given power and/or authority over others, they inevitably will become corrupt.
Until we can solve that this thing goes nowhere.

Faldoe: definitely don't want to ditch baby here. What we have in the West is A LOT of privelige and comparible control over our situation, despite the fact we all get jaded and synical and treat that like it's an illusion. Even if it were, we ARE at liberty to at least dicuss that and even publicly demonstrate if need be, vote, consume, etc. I know these are all "soft" approaches, but compared to other places, I would definitely rather take this deal.
At least there's the opportunity for growth and improvement....some day.

[snipelfritz]

I'm for mandatory voting. At worst, we end up with a bunch of hilarious joke candidates.

[echoraven]

I'm for mandatory voting. At worst, we end up with a bunch of hilarious joke candidates.

While intriguing; I think there should be a test like there is for citizenship that measures knowledge, intelligence.

Saw a video about university students that did not know who won the civil war or who the VP is. Imbecile like them is who the majority of campaign ads are targeted to; "vote for Joe McSausage because he is for the children".... bunch of damn idiots.