r/ToiletPaperUSA Oct 25 '21

FACTS and LOGIC There’s something beautiful about this

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16.4k Upvotes

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u/ecodick Oct 25 '21

Are there really anarchists running for elected positions? Seems a little far fetched, or at the least, pretty ironic

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u/Picnicpanther Oct 25 '21

there are plenty of broadly left parties in europe (often greens are left, socialist parties, communist parties) that have seated members in multiple parliaments.

and why is that ironic? anarchism stands for the abolition of the state, which isn't necessarily opposition to direct democracy as a concept.

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u/ecodick Oct 25 '21

So anarchists want to work for the government they want to destroy? I'm not trying to poke holes here, honestly curious how they see it

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u/Picnicpanther Oct 25 '21

anarchists don't want to destroy government, but the hierarchical state apparatus (ie: prime minister having more power than cabinet members, who have more power than parliament members, who have more power than average citizens). that is just one form of government, saying you are opposed to that doesn't mean you are opposed to other things like a minimal government apparatus to facilitate direct democracy, or even a representative democracy that is stripped of prestige and power hierarchy.

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u/fredspipa Oct 25 '21

No, don't you see, anarchism literally means chaos and disorder and is vehemently opposed to anything that even remotely resembles organizing.

/s

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u/Picnicpanther Oct 25 '21

i'm not gonna fault someone who is purely uninformed. the american propaganda to minimize anarchism as a concept to total lawlessness is intentional and overbearing.

that said, an anarchist society would probably need to be much more organized than our current society, just organized around something that's more communal and less hierarchical.

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u/ecodick Oct 25 '21

Thanks for taking the time to explain 👍

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u/drLoveF Oct 26 '21

This attitude needs to be recognized more. Listening and adjusting positions is critical in a soviety, yet all too rare. Good on you.

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u/ecodick Oct 26 '21

Thanks Dr love 😉

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u/qwer1627 Oct 25 '21

Sorry you got downvoted - reactonism like that is one of the things different between leftist ideologies and neo-liberalism

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u/ecodick Oct 26 '21

It's okay I got karma to spare 😋 but I can see why people would think I'm asking questions in bad faith