diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000940.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000940.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1c1a8cfd --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000940.txt @@ -0,0 +1,284 @@ + + +GKY +Peter Cadogan + +What follows is an edited version of some moments in the political career +of an important player in the shadowy world of para-politics until hi= +s +death in 1990. In itself it is only a fragment, containing the views of +Peter Cadogan, a longtime English Dissident, himself active in variou= +s +people power projects over the years.1 As a fragment, it has its limi= +ts +and (tantalisingly) the height of GKYs formal poli tical influence - his +failed attempt to take over the Tory Monday Club in the early 1970s -= + is +absent as the diary entries only start in 1974. What the document does +give, though, is a hint of the ferment and excitement amongst the ruling +class around 1974, when in some circles a coup was discussed, and a +demonstration of the close affinity between the state's security apparatus +and the commerci al ruling class. There is one point on which it is +possible to take issue slightly with Peter Cadogan that is worthy of +remark - the assertion that there are people trying to hunt the wizard= + +of GKYand place him at the centre of a far Right conspiracy. In fact he +was onl y too happy to write his own obituary for Lobster. The extent= + to +which GKY was (or was not) a totalitarian is something which readers = +can +delve into elsewhere.2 However, Peter Cadogan is right when he observes +that GKY was "...incorrigibly interesting". - Larry O'Hara + +GKY and me + +personally got to know GKY in 1968 when, after reading his Finance and +World Power', I wrote to him. We had many working lunches over the next 16 +years. The argument of that book and the central tenet of his political +thought, was that the Establishment (wrongly) preferred escalating debt to +investment in the economy and improvements in productivity. In 1970 I +became the general secretary of the South Place Ethical Society at the +Conway Hall, Red Lion square (a centre of English dissent since 1793). GKY +was very interested and gave a series of lectures there throughout the +1970s. + +eorge K. Young (1911-90) was a man born out of his time and he raged +against it. He would have been happier as a zealous Scottish Covenanter in +the 17th century or like his fellow Scot, Livingstone, building the empire +in the bush, singlehanded. He was a journalist, a soldier, a senior civil +servant, a master-spy, a writer, a historian, a political conspirator, a +restless critic of weakness in high places, a ruthless man and a caring +man at the same time. He believed in ideas, values and loyalty and lived + by them. He never suffered fools gladly. He had a brilliant intellect. He +also had a blind spot. When he retired from Government service in 1961 he +was a Deputy Head of MI6. Within a year he had his first book out - +Masters of In-decision - a withering attack on the system he had serv= +ed +for so long, but written as much in sorrow as in anger. He saw + absolutely no alter-native to Conser-vatism and it therefore followed +that the Conservative cause had to be redeemed from within. He saw himself +as an arch-redeemer, a crusader more than a reformer. He is dead. These +lines are not written to hunt the wizard (there seems to be no shortage of +volunteers in that direction) but to try to tell the truth about him, or +at least that part of it that I saw for myself, knowing him personally and +enjoying his t rust, over the years 1968 to 1984. Being exceptionally +well-informed (he kept his hotline to Intelligence long after his +retirement) he had an angle on everything and everybody. He was, +therefore, incorrigibly interesting, regardless of whether he was right or +wrong, progressive or reactio nary. His interests centered on foreign +policy, defence and internal security. His book Who is my Liege? (197= +2) +was a textbook of Thatcherism par excellence but with values closer to +chivalry than Bentham: The collection and dispensing of revenue, the +running of courts of law, the equipment, direction and planning of the +armed forces - these three functions of central government are the only +ones for which a permanent corps of specialist officials is essen tial. So +the Conservative intention of hiving-off functions of state which they +consider are the responsibility of the private sector must be extended to +being a broad avenue of no-return... Unlike Mrs Thatcher though he +insisted on the moral under-pinning. Just as Mrs. Thatcher denied +society so he affirmed it. But that was the G.K.Young enigma - that h= +e +belived in truth, integrity, loyalty, action and he knew they came from +people, but wh en it came to the crunch he chose authority: The loyaltie= +s +of the people are there: they only await a new focus. No subsitute of +function, interest or contrived comm-unication can meet their need: the +restoration of emotional unity requires a new sense of communal action and +since our whole body of + ideas is involved, it is from above that new initiatives must come. And +who is to do it? Since Labours identity tags are tied to universalis= +t +ideas which have brought betrayal, and in our time treason bears a +Left-Wing label, only a Conservative Government can play this role. So +that is it. He felt he had no option but to make sense of the Conservative +Party. One gets the impression that he was feared, disliked, derided and +misunderstood by the common run of Tories; but he had hot lines to the +top. To him, that was what counte d. He had no sense of a new morality +and politics coming up from below. There were always two George Youngs - +the man of moral passion and the authoritarian. And the second had the +edge over the first. It just never occurred to him that people-power might +be + a possible option. + +The Journal + +From1974 I kept a journal, what follows is taken almost verbatim from +that journal. 25th July 1974. George K Young had lunch with me today in +the Library at Conway Hall. He tells me the Conservative Party has +collapsed in Scotland and Tories in general hardly know what they stand +for because they dont know what Heath stands for. He is working on +something I think he called plan B. Like me he expects the collapse of +central government, but we are working in utterly different ways from +opposite ends of the political spectrum. He, in company with about a dozen +others, has drawn up a + plan (and had it bound!) and discussed it with the Head of the Secret +Service and a top man in the Special Branch. It involves, or is intended +to involve Lord Lieutenants, Chief Constables and their kind. He is +looking for some kind of base in the Royal Society of St. George and the +Ratepayers Association to which, he says, some thirteen million people +have paid their 25p. Gerald Howarth, ex-Society of Individualists, is much +involved. He thinks the outcome of the present crisis will be violent but +we di dnt discuss it in detail. In my view the violence has only to be +marginal or we lose the day and end up with another authoritarian regime. +He takes the regional case but makes less of it than I do. He uses a +military formula for working things out: Objec ts, Factors, Courses, Plan. +He saw Enoch Powell last week for about an hour and a half but doesnt +think much of him. He ratted on his own party people and constituents in +the middle of an election build-up. He is making the mistake of getting +directly involved in Ulster politics (i n looking for a constituency +there), fatal in Georges view - and generally seems to have lost out. I +asked him about the Far Right. The Monday Club, he says, is virtually in a +state of self-destruction. What he said about Jonathan Guinness turned out +to be about right. But the Monday Club in the Midlands has developed a +life of its own and could be of consequence. Of the National Front it +seems that there is a chap called Roy3 who is a self-made millionaire and +who reckons to get rid of both John Tyndall and Martin Webster within two +years. George doubts if he will make it. It will take a good organiser to +beat Web ster to the draw! He is very frank with me and I am equally +straight with him. It is a strange relationship. He mentioned, in some +context or other, that he had previously been much involved in planning +the overthrow or the bolstering of Governments (presum-ably in the Mid dle +East) so that his present activity was not all that different! 29th July +1974. Todays Times carries quite a long report on the emergency +organisation that GKY described to me last week, but his name is kept out +of it. Now the climate will really begin to change... When the politicians +see others getting ready to do their job becaus e they have failed, there +will be some very interesting sequels from all directions! 5th December +1974. We had the working lunch for ten people today (at the Hall). My +guests were GKY, Michael Barnes, Alex Cox and Marion Boyars. James had +three guests including Tony Wilson of British Oxygen. Tomoko Sato acted as +co-host with me. The discussion was good but didnt seem to get very far; +but all felt it was worthwhile. At the very end George staggered them +(except me as privy to the news) by revealing that it was he who had drawn +up the plan that General Walker is now acting on. He told us that cadres +had been recruited, how an alternative communication system existed, how +contacts ranged from the Palace down! Shock all round the table! In 1975 +it seemed that some kind of change was imperative. This was the year in +which Thatcherism was invented and Mrs. Thatcher ousted Ted Heath. She had +been holding her Sunday evening discussions with her friends in her house +in Chelsea. General Walker , Sterling and George K Young were making their +extraordinary para-military plans to meet the contingency of a total +political breakdown. 15th July 1976 Today I had lunch with GKY at +St.Stephens Club near St.James Park. He told me that when he first had the +idea that is UNISON he saw General Templar about it. Templar was +interested but too old and sick to act and he suggested General Walker. +George then s aw General Walker and he, having read Georges draft, agree= +d +to take on the job. The form the thing now takes is that of an instant +communications network capable of acting at the highest level if the +established machinery of government and comm-unications breaks down. Key +contacts to be with Lord Lieutenants, G.O.C.s [heads of armed services], +Police, key M.P.s and key people in a list of associations. At the top is +Lord X ( I was told his name but it did not mean anything to me and I +forgot it), but he too is a sick man. The key man in the Commons is Sir +Frederick Bennet and with hi m are some twenty other M.P.s. The +communications network will function through the ham radio system and +another special system of communications has been established with some +help from the Home Office. UNISON will go public later this year. There +used to be, he said, an emergency system in this country based on the +counties (presumably a reference to the Regional Seats of Government set +up in the 20s after the experience of the General Strike and reactivated +in the 50s in the face of the pos sibility of nuclear war) but Heath +dismantled it as a reflection on his capacity to govern and Wilson, with +five Communists in his Cabinet, was in no position to revive it - Geo= +rge +is a little free with the use of the word Communist. He sees a Genera= +l +Election producing a minority Thatcher Government and no progress. When it +breaks down or threatens to do so, there will be a need for a new +initiative. He had set up a group of about a hundred Tory M.P.s who are +alerted to the possibili ty and will take suitable action. What action is +yet to be determined. 26th March 1981. A two hour lunch with GKY at the +Caledonian Club in Halkin Street. He tells me that the emergency +organisation UNISON was formed in 1967 and Tory Action subsequently. He +has been the Secretary and the moving force in Tory Action since his 70th +birthday. H e sees Peter Walker as a tory with a future and writes +Carrington and Prior off. 10th August 1982 Another lunch with GKY at the +Caledonian Club. He told me a bit more about himself. In 1941 he was an +Army Captain in Kenya and when the British Forces cleared the Italians out +of the Horn of Africa he was asked to take on the Intelligence job at +Addis Ab baba. He carried on in Intelligence after the war, with MI6, and +did a tour of SE Asia in 1959. He told me that the Head of the CIA in +Saigon, Richardson, urged no direct US intervention in Vietnam. He was +over-ruled from Washington where Helms was the boss. He + also said that the CIA was firmly against the form taken by the Bay of +Pigs invasion. They wanted an operation that would start and build up a +complex of guerrilla groups, but the Pentagon prevailed and made it a full +frontal thing leading to disaster. H e thinks that the CIA has had a bad +press. Before 1955 the Foreign Office had no proper means of studying +Soviet power centers. Violet Connolly was their authority on the SU but +the emphasis of specialists was on things like Soviet grain production +etc. He successfully urged that what No.10 needed + was a special advisory group following closely what was happening in and +around the Kremlin - and which General or 'top person' was on the up or +down. The need for this became apparent with Stalin's death. Nobody in the +FO had ever heard of Malenkov! So mething had to be done. At Georges +instigation a special group was set up headed by Malcolm McIntosh with +Nove and Schapiro (of LSE). The group is still functioning today and +McIntosh is still there. The House of Lords has a special all-party +defence group which has produced a paper on special operations and other +matters (edited by George) that will be considered at a meeting on October +27th by the PM. A good deal turns on that meeting. It seems that + many politicians, officials and officers have no idea of the importance +of 'special operations' and psychological warfare and both have been +greatly neglected in recent years. George thinks that Carver is a dead +loss because he can't see this point eithe r. George K. Youngs last book +Subversion and the British Riposte appeared in 1984, some three years +after it had been written. I was not a little shocked by it. It opens: +If leading spokesmen of the Western world are to be believed we face in +the 80s, a threat of subversion as great as that of nuclear destruction. +It is a favourite theme of the Prime Minister. The fact is that for year= +s +he had tried, not without some limited success, to sell this belief to +leading spokesmen, Mrs. Thatcher in particular. GKY, now aged 74, (to the +best of my knowledge we had no subsequent contact) fell silent. So many +things he g ot right, but his essential thesis involved a fundamental +misreading of his times. Over 16 years I had seen him change. His +original critique of the Establishment was brilliant; but his gathering +obsession with an ill-defined internal menace had always seemed to me to +be absurd. Who were the people who were going to bring the system to its +knees? They didnt exist. + +How does one explain George K. Young? + +He was a man of ideas and vast experience on the Right. In the view of the +Left this was impossible - the Right had interests, it did not and could +not have ideas. Churchill had opened up a breach but it closed again. +George K. Young and Sir Keith Joseph did it once more, but all it yielded +was self-limiting Thatcherism and a misreading of subversion. GKY had no +home intellectually and politically, nowhere to go. He had to invent homes +like Tory Action, UNISON and various ad hoc associations or move into + the Monday Club or the Society of Individualists and SPES. It didnt +work. He met very few people of his own demanding kind. It drove him +downwards into conspiracy, even into inventing conspiracy by others, as in +his last book. Today it might be differen t; there are Conservatives about +like Norman Stone (who looks, talks and sounds like GKY) and Edward +Pearce. They were not about in the 1960s. It is a pity that in the end he +willed himself to self-destruction and we parted company although never +explicit ly or formally so. He was a good man fallen among autocrats... + +Introduced and edited by Larry O'Hara, an independent researcher into the +far Right. Larry O'Hara has been the subject of vicious and unfounded +attacks in the pages of the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight after +criticising their research and their links + to the British 'secret state'. + For any readers who want to read in more detail how GKY interacted with +Cadogan's own political project the full text is available; 6 pages at +8p/page inc. postage. 1. Peter Cadogan's latest project is outlined in a +pamphlet "Values & Vision - Human Ecology and Community Politics"; +Telephone 071 328 3709. 2. The obituary of himself is in Lobster 19, May +1990, p. 15-19. Dorril & Ramsay 'Smear' discusses: - GKY in Tory Party, Ch +XXXII. - GKY & Unison, Ch XXXIX. Searchlight, June 1987, p. 10-11 repeats +the standard information about GKY. Searchlight 187, Jan. 1991 p. 3 +elaborates further, alleging he used the Searchlight 187, Jan. 1991 p. 3 +elaborates further, alleging he used the mysterious (and quite possibly +fictional) paramilitary Column 88 "as a smokescreen... for more criminal +plans." David Leigh 'The Wilson Plot" (Heinemann, London, 1988) also +reviews Young's career & views - p. 13-16, 57, 158-9, 213-4, 217, 221-3, +225. 3. Roy Painter was a colourful Tory who defected to the NF and went +on to help form the shortlived 'National Party' in 1975. He is now back in +the Tory Party. A vivid picture of him is in Martin Walker's 'The NF' +(Fonatana, 1977). + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000941.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000941.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e6f107d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000941.txt @@ -0,0 +1,191 @@ + +CIA drug-running and Clinton + +As the powerful Western countries grapple with the extradition of two +suspected bombers from Libya another extradition re-quest has gone almost +entirely without notice in the press. Costa Rica is attempting to bring +back a naturalised citizen of their cou ntry to face justice following a +governmental report into his activities. The man in question, John Hull, +is accused by Costa Rica of murder, drug trafficking and hostile acts +against Nicaragua in violation of their countrys neutrality. John Hull +was a major contra supporter during the U.S.s war against Nicaragua and +is believed to have engineered the bombing of the La Penca press +conference given by Eden Pastora, the only contra leader who had refused +to work under the C.I.A. Five were + killed in the explosion and twenty injured (though marginally higher and +lower figures have also been put for-ward). Hull was even accused by +Colombian drug kingpin Carlos Lehder on an ABC news program of pumping +about 30 tons of cocaine into the United + States a year from his ranch in Costa Rica. It included an airstrip: +just one link in the contra resupply network. Cocaine-funded covert +operations have a pedigree: the C.I.A. support for opium-growing Chinese +nationalists in the Golden Triangle set the scene for the 60s heroin +plague in the U.S. As far back as the 50s the C.I.A. had found it +expedient to ally with the Corsican syndicates smuggling drugs through +Marseilles who were able to break the power of the communist dockworkers +there. Further examples would include the Mujaheedin guerrillas, for +instance, and Manuel Noriega, who himself helped organise the rou ting of +drugs to the U.S. and guns to the contras. Since jumping bail in Costa +Rica, Hull has found sanctuary in the U.S., the country where he was born +and also a country professing zero tolerance for drug smugglers. And +even, we are told, a whole war on drugs along with its 'abhorrence of +terrorism' . Hull has told journalists that he will return to Costa Rica +to clear his name and has even been in touch with Amnesty Internation= +al +to protest about harassment. A number of U.S. Congressmen quickly got in +touch with the Costa Rican President to ask th at he handle Hull's case +"in a manner that will not complicate U.S.-Costa Rican relations." Can we +expect Hull to return to Costa Rica to prove his innocence soon? Not +according to Susie Morgan, a British journalist badly injured in the La +Penca blast: the C.I.A. cannot afford Hull taking the witness stand, +theyd have to kill him. She herself + gave up chasing Hull after four arduous years of investigation. Others +have tried too and faced blockages and death threats; one +insider-turned-informant was killed on Hulls ranch.=20 + + +The Christic Institute: under attack + +The one organisation which looked as if it might be able to put some +pressure on Hull was the Christic Institute - a liberal public interest +law firm which made Hull a defendant, along with twenty-eight others, in a +lawsuit brought by two of the American journalists injured in the La Penca +explosion. The lawsuit charges that a criminal racketeering enterprise +smuggled narcotics and arms through contra bases in Central America, +supplying much of the North American drug market. In the event the +Christic Institute was given the runaround by the judicial system, which +denied them a jury trial, and with the unprecedented - +politically-motivated - removal of their tax-exempt status looming as well +as awards of huge costs and fines totalling $1.7 million against them, +they may soon lie in financial ruins. Leonard Schroeter, chair of the +Association of Trial Lawyers of America, has called the various judicial +sanctions against the Christic Institute the single most unspeakable +attac k on dissent Ive ever seen... It was judicial tyranny. Schroete= +r, +like others, is terrified at the implications: Corporate America is +deter-mined to convert judges into ideo-logues, who follow the +corpor-ations agenda. And part of that agenda is minim ising peoples +capability to have access to justice. Corporate America wants to reduce +the number of lawsuits challenging their practices and abuses by the +federal government... If youre challenging something major, youre +subjecting yourself to severe r isk. The risk of personal bankruptcy. The +risk of being forced out of your profession. Thats the kind of terror +this case has created. Some sympathisers say that the Institute itself +may be partially to blame for casting its net too wide and bringing in so +much insufficiently well-prepared evidence along with superfluous and +sometimes unsourced conspiracy theory that their case became + too cumbersome. The Christic Institute has a praiseworthy record of +legal actions in the public interest: it helped with the successful Karen +Silkwood case against Kerr McGee Nuclear Corporation and with a number of +important civil rights cases in southern black communi ties. Now, however, +it may finally have bitten off more than it can chew: the White House, the +C.I.A. and even the Justice Department (who halted the F.B.I. +investigation of contra-linked heroin trafficking). It looks as if it may +fail to live up to the high hopes of its supporters - who include Jesse +Jackson and Bruce Springsteen - through a mixture of inexperience as well +as a generous dose of governmental maliciousness. Hull apparently remains +in hiding in the U.S. - still a free man. The Christic In stitute has +managed, until now at least, to survive after drastic cuts in staff and +activities and the selling-off of buildings, and even then only after a +large donation towards the $1.7 million in fines. There has still been no +direct refusal by the U.S. government to allow the extradition but neither +has there been any sign that Clinton favours extradition; his past +behaviour may give little cause for optimism.=20 + +Clinton's cocaine cover-up?=20 + +A small dirt airstrip at Mena, Arkansas, was a major North American focus +for the Contra drug and gun-running network, apparently handling a +night-flight every five minutes, without lights, at the height of the +activities. Democrat Congressman for Arkans as, Bill Alexander, has stated +that activities at Mena have been responsible for large volumes of drugs +coming into his state. In spite of mounting evidence, however, Clinton, as +Governor of the state, appears to have made no attempt to help with +investig ations by local prosecutors into the illegal activities there; he +may even have sat on important evidence which could have helped to bring +into the open these activities, as we shall see. In his defense Clinton +has claimed that he did in fact authorise $2 5,000 for an investigation, +but no trace of such a payment has yet been found. Clinton's behaviour has +led to suspicion in some quarters that he may even have been linked to the +C.I.A. in the past, perhaps receiving their help in obtaining his Rhodes +scholarship as has happened with others. One fellow scholar at the time, +Lt.Col. Ro bert Earl, curiously enough went on to become an assistant to +Oliver North. Clinton is well-known too for sending his state's National +Guard to Honduras for training in what amounted in effect to +Contra-supporting activities. He has honoured prominent con tras, like +Adolfo Calero and his brother as well as a notorious American supporter +Major-General John Singlaub, with "Arkansas Traveller" awards. Clinton had +also employed, in the Arkansas Development and Finance Administration, a +contra-supporter named L arry Nichols, who almost torpedoed his candidacy +later by exposing his affair with Gennifer Flowers during a court case +following Nichols' dismissal from his job. Clinton's brother - who has +been convicted of cocaine possession - is also involved, as a 'hanger-on' +of Barry Seal who was a major organiser of the contra resupply network and +one-time pilot for the Medellin cocaine cartel. An investigation in the +newsletter "Washington Report" concluded that "There is ample evidence +that Bush, Clinton, Pryo r (Senator David Pryor, Democrat-Arkansas), +Bumpers (Senator Dale Bumpers D-AR), Hammerschmidt, various U.S. +attorneys, Arkansas state officials and Arkansas financial institutions +knew plenty about the illegal activities at Mena but permitted these to pr +oceed."=20 + +The Deniable Link + +One episode which ought to have brought the Mena activites to the +attention of the public involves Arkansas resident and C.I.A. 'asset' +Terry Reed who found himself framed by Arkansas state officials, including +Clinton's state security chief, Buddy Young, + when he tried to end his role in assisting covert operations from Mena. +He is currently suing these police officials. Reed had once worked for +the C.I.A.'s 'Air America' and later, as a family man, still happily +became involved in helping the contra resupply network: he refitted planes +and trained contra pilots at the Mena airstrip. Later he became involved +with Oliver N orth who asked Reed to allow a small plane he owned to be +taken in a faked "theft" so that it could be used by the contra resupply +network. This scam of North's - named "Operation Donation" - enabled him +to circumvent Congressional clampdowns on aid to th e contras whilst plane +and boat-owners would claim the insurance money and lose nothing +themselves. Reed was unhappy about lending the plane, perhaps permanently, +as it was needed for his work and he declined to help. A few weeks later +it was stolen anywa y. Reed says it was a couple of years later, in 1985, +that a friend from his days with Air America - C.I.A. pilot William Cooper +- told him that the plane had actually been taken for Oliver North and +"Project Donation". In mid-1986 Reed accepted the C.I.A.'s offer of a +business opportunity in Mexico in exchange for further help in providing +cover for a Mexican leg of the resupply operation. However, several months +later Reed began to get cold feet after his old friend Wi lliam Cooper was +shot down and killed over Nicaragua. The sole survivor, cargo-kicker +Eugene Hasenfus, was propelled into the media spotlight sparking off the +Iran-Contra investigation. "I told them that this was a grandiose, fun +scheme but I am not going + to do this anymore... we don't want to hurt you - we just want out. (But) +once you've seen it, you're in", as Reed puts it. It is suggested that he +also stumbled upon a tonne of cocaine in a hanger he used. His bosses, +then including hardline anti-Castro Cuban Felix Rodriguez, were not +pleased by his refusal to continue his work in Mexico. Before he knew what +had hit him Reed found that his "stolen" plane had been secretly returned +to its hanger and a passin g private investigator just happened to be +walking by this hanger as the wind blew the door open to show the plane. +He soon found himself in court, along with his wife, charged with +insurance fraud. His F.B.I. file now inexplicably described him as "arme d +and dangerous". The initially skeptical Public Defenders appointed to the +case soon changed their minds when they and the Reeds suffered what under +normal circumstances would have been an inexplicable series of violent +incidents including break-ins, fir e-bombing and an apparently deliberate +hit-and-run attack when one of the Defenders' cars was rammed. In the +event Reed was aquitted of insurance fraud perhaps because he had +expressed his wish to sub-poena North and Rodriguez. Reports on the case +by Buddy Young, Clin-ton's security chief, had been dictated in 1988 and +backdated by a year; the Judge conclud-ed that Young and the private +investigator both had a "reckless dis-regard for the truth". Vital +evidence supporting Reed's + claims remained in Clinton's mansion way after it should have been handed +over to the court. Reed is currently prosecuting the Arkansas officials +who he believes tried - unsuccessfully - to frame him.=20 + +Pictures courtesy of Christic Institute: 8733 Venice Boulevard, Los +Angeles, CA 90034 Tel. 010 1 310 287 1556 SELECTED SOURCES: Covert Action +37, The Realist 122, Unclassified Vol. IV No. I, Christic Institute - +Convergence, Summer/Fall/Winter 1991.=20 + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000942.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000942.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f1dc57de --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000942.txt @@ -0,0 +1,122 @@ + +D-Notice +Moyra Grant + + +How free are the press and broadcasting media in Britain? The externa= +l +constraints are quite well known - though their range and scope may not +be. For example, the broadcasting laws allow the Home Secretary complete +control over all broadcasting content , which - without reference to +Parliament - has enabled the Home Office since 1988 to ban direct +reporting of Irish activists, including members of legal political parties +such as Sinn Fein. Other legislative constraints include the Official +Secrets Act, Prevention of Terrorism Act, Police and Criminal Evidence +Act, Contempt of Court Act, and laws relating to obscenity, libel, race +relations, sedition, incitement to disaffection and treason - amongst +others. To these can be added the many instances of direct Government +censorship - notably during the Falklands and Gulf conflicts - and the +informal but sometimes intense pressures of advertisers and distributors. +The most insidious form of political control on the media, however, is not +external constraint but self-censorship. I am not referring here to any +readiness by the media to check their own sometimes discreditable +behaviour, intrusions into privacy, missta tements of fact or +unwillingness to present diverse views and to foster democratic debate. +That (in the case of newspapers) is supposedly the job of the Press +Complaints Commission, which replaced the Press Council in 1990 as a +voluntary self-regulating b ody. The likes of Fergie and David Mellor +might be forgiven for regarding it as a watchdog without teeth. The most +institutionalised method of self-censorship is the D Notice system (short +for Defence Notices). They are a unique peacetime arrangement of voluntary +suppression of certain categories of information on the advice - not +orders - of the Government . The system was established in 1912 and +continues to this day. The justification for the system, as stated in the +official guidelines, is as follows: Hostile intelligence services draw o= +n +information from a variety of sources both overt and covert, and by +piecing it together can build up a composite picture of a sub ject. The +dissemination of sensitive information can make their task easier and put +national security at risk. It can also be of value to terrorist groups who +lack the resources to obtain it through their own efforts. For these +reasons there are dangers i nherent even in the publication of information +covered by D Notices which has already appeared elsewhere. It is strongly +requested that there should be no elaboration, nor confirmation or denial, +of the accuracy of items published elsewhere, without refer ence to the [D +Notice] Secretary. There are currently eight general D Notices (which, +incidentally, used to be secret information themselves, but were made +public in 1982): No.1:Defence plans, operational capability, state of +readiness and training No.2:Defence equipment No.3:Nuclear weapons and +equipment No.4:Radio and radar transmissions No.5:Cyphers and +comm-unications No.6: British security and intelligence services No.7:War +precautions and civil defence No.8:Photography etc. of defence +establishments and installations + +There is no direct relationship between the D Notice system and the +Official Secrets Act; the latter has legal force, the former does not. As +the official guidelines say, The D Notice system is entirely voluntary +and has no legal authority; the final res ponsibility for the decision +whether or not to publish lies solely with the editor or publisher +concerned. However, the guidelines also state pointedly that the D Notic= +e +system is a useful reminder of the legal sanctions which may be brought to +bear if a n editor or producer oversteps the mark. Moreover, pressure to +comply can be overwhelming. When in the early 1980s Granada TV made a +documentary about the Official Secrets Act, the D Notice Committee asked +them to exclude the address of the Governments C ommunications +Headquarters (GCHQ) at Cheltenham. Granada objected, because the address +was in Whitakers Almanac and other registers and was therefore pub= +lic +knowledge. However, the IBA - the body which then allocated broadcasting +franchises and monitor ed commercial programmes - intervened and ordered +Granada to cut the reference out of the programme. (The Governments +subsequent ban on trade union membership at GCHQ and the resulting +publicity, strikes and court cases, ironically, ensured that the exis +tence and location of GCHQ rapidly became household knowledge.) The +Notices are issued and amended on the authority of the Defence Press and +Broadcasting committee (DPBC), which is made up of officials from relevant +government departments (e.g. Defence, Foreign and Home Offices) together +with representatives of the pr ess and broadcasting organisations. It is +chaired by a senior MoD civil servant. The D Notices are sent out to +national and provincial newspaper editors, radio and TV companies, and to +some publishers of books and periodicals. When editors know that certa in +information falls under a particular D Notice they simply exclude it; when +they are uncertain, they may seek advice. The Secretary of the D Notice +Committee, Rear Admiral Higgins, receives on average one phone call a week +from editors seeking guidance on potentially sensitive material; he gives +positive advice not to publish about a dozen times a year. More often= +, +editors err on the side of caution and omit dubious information without +consulting anyone. On a whim, I telephoned Whitehall in search of +information about the D Notice system. I was put through almost at once to +Bill Higgins himself. When I told him that I was a Politics teacher he +replied jocularly, Well, Im sure I can safely assume that no ne of yo= +ur +students are anarchist subversives. I thought of the two who had been +arrested just the previous week for staging a sit-down demo in the middle +of Oxford Street, and maintained a discreet silence. He was, incidentally, +very open and informativ e. A day later the post brought a list of the D +Notices currently in force, together with an explanatory handout. There is +an annual review of the D Notices, which took place in October and made +some minor adjustments in the light of John Majors professed commitment +to more open government: for example, they incorporated the public +acknowledgement of MI5 and MI6, th e names of their chiefs and location of +their headquarters. A discussion group of media representatives (chaired +by Guardian editor Peter Preston) was held just prior to that review, to +ponder the whole existence of the D Notice system. There were isolated +calls for the system to be abolished and replaced by separ ate lists of +sensitive items and areas to be issued by each government department. +However, it was generally felt that this would be, at least, a recipe for +chaos and, at worst, would result in more rather than less secrecy. The D +Notice system therefor e lives on, but is of declining importance - likely +to wither on the vine, as Higgins put it - in comparison to the whole +panoply of Britains secret state. For civil libertarians, the main +targets of attack must still be the Official Secrets Act on t he one hand +and, on the other, those editors and producers who supinely collude in the +withholding of information from the public even when national security= + +is clearly not threatened. As Ernest Bevin once said in a Cabinet debate +on media censorship, " Why bother to muzzle sheep?" + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000944.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000944.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..273d3e05 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000944.txt @@ -0,0 +1,153 @@ + +Microwaves + +During the Second World War radar operators who felt a bit chilly would +nip out and warm themselves up with the radar frequency (rf) microwave +energy transmitted by the radar. The cooking ability of microwaves, +thermal effects, are well known, but the ope rators also reported they +could hear the radar - yet according to the laws of physics you can= +t +hear microwaves.=20 + +The Frey Effect In 1962 Allen Frey at Cornell University, New York +State, published a paper entitled Human auditory system response to +modulated electromagnetic energy. By using an rf microwave transmitter h= +e +found that: With appropriate modulation, the perception of various sound= +s +can be induced in clinically deaf, as well as normal, human subjects... +By changing the transmitter parameters such as pulse repetition rate and +pulse width he could create a range of sounds such as buzzing, clicking, +hissing, knocking etc. He also found that various physical sensations such +as the perception of severe buffe ting of the head and a +pins-and-needles sensation could be induced. Frey found that if there +was little environmental noise, such as at night, people could hear sounds +at average power levels so low that microwave detection equipment could +barely detec t them, i.e. at thousands of times less power than current +recommended safety limits. More recently Professor James Lin at the +University of Illinois has published a number of papers on the subject, +his book Electromagnetic Interactions with Biological Systems [Plenum +Press, NY 1989] deals with auditory effects. Also in 1989 the MOD issue d +a Guide to the Practical Aspects of the use of Radio Frequency Energy= +. +This notes: It is possible to hear the modulation frequency of pulsed +microwave transmissions. The mechanism for this phenomena is a small +localised temperature rise in the head causing a pressure wave that +reaches the cochlea which... gives rise to a sound sensatio n. In some +individuals this effect may be perceptible below 100mW-2 mean power +levels Thus it is possible to hear microwave energy at thousands o= +f +times below the government accepted safety limit (which in itself is +equivalent to standing a few feet in front of a leaky microwave oven) if +the beam is pulsed or amplitude modulated like mos t comm-unications and +radar equipment are.=20 + According to American scientist Bob Beck these sounds can be recorded on +ferrite tape. This possibly explains how Mr. Verney was able to record +non-sound sounds. Barry Fox at the New Scientist suggests that +background microwave pollution is to blame for the buzz/hum he and +thousands of people hear. Radio frequency microwave energy today pervades +our environment at levels that can create this hum - yet we, the publ ic, +know very little about the health effects it can cause. Why? =20 + + National Health or National Safety? American military security has been +built on a complex global system of C3I (Command, Control, Communications +and Intelligence) involving the widespread use of rf microwaves including, +missile tracking radar, surveillance radar (including radar to guard +against intruders at bases), secure communications links, and the huge +early warning radars. These are found at American bases around the world +(including the UK). The continuation of American military supremacy is +based upon the extensive use of radio fr equencies, and in particular, +microwave emitting equipment. A US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) +document obtained under a Freedom of Information request shows that for 18 +years the US military have known how dangerous even low powered rf +microwaves are. This and other official documents prove that the American +military have conducted research into health effects and known for years +that even low levels of rf radiation can be harmful. Nobel Prize nominee +Dr. Robert Becker has scathingly attacked the way in which the military +control research into this area. The US exposure standard of 10 milliwatts +(10mW/cm2) was based on wartime research aimed at ensuring the risks to +radar operators were balanced against wartime necessity. In the post-war +period fear of the Soviet Union led to the creation of a global security +system based on polluting radars and microwave communication networks; +which in turn necessitated the continuation of the ext remely lax safety +standards for nonionising radiation. Becker believes that the military was +well aware that its safety standard was expedient and conducted research +which quickly determined that even very low levels were extremely harmful. +With this know ledge they were forced to actively prevent critical +research into the area. Becker notes: ...evidence for nonthermal effects +was viewed as a threat to national security... This led to the position of +denying any nonthermal effects from ANY electromagnetic usage, whether +military or civilian. Nonthermal effects are changes to cells which +cannot be explained by the argument that microwaves excite water molecules +to create heat. The American safety standard is solely based on avoiding +burning or boiling people. The Soviet Union set standards whi ch are 1,000 +times more strict in recognition that nonionising radiation damages cells +in ways other than merely heating them, and at power levels which have no +heating effect. Understandably the American state has been keen to keep +these Russian standard s quiet, whilst noting in a DIA report [1976] for +example: Recently, US and other Western scientists have been quite +concerned with the vast difference between the two standards... Because +the scientific establishment depends for its funding on the state, the +military were able to exert their influence to ensure that only approved= + +projects received funding. Rebel scientists who questioned the safety of +microwave radiation were dea lt with in the usual manner - either +ridiculed or forced to adopt standards of proof that were so high the +expense made it impossible to continue. An example of this was work on +microwave damage to the Blood-Brain Barrier. In 1977 two army researchers +published a paper showing that power levels thousands of times below +safety limits damaged the brain. According to Dr. Steneck of the +University of Mi chigan this research and the debate it stimulated was +stopped by the Department of Defence. Dr. Koslov at Johns Hopkins +University attempted to restart work into this in 1986, but was unable to +get funding. A striking example of the need to cover up came in 1981 when +Army pathologist Dr. Fried-man published some preliminary findings of a +study into the large number of radar operators referred to him with a rare +blood disease. The Army refused to publish his + full report.=20 + The military were well aware of health effects and sought to cover up +deaths resulting from microwave exposure. The situation in the UK is no +different.=20 + +The Malvern 8 The British state operates a communications system that is +completely independent from the BT network. It ensures that the +government can control the country in the event of the collapse of its +authority by war (civil or other) or mass strike action. It is based on +the use of microwave communication links dotted around the country, with a +higher concentration in built-up areas. Naturally the government would not +want the existence of its lifeline questioned on health grounds. The +centre of research into developing a new super-secure microwave +communication network is the Defence Research Agency's Malvern branch +(formerly the Royal Signals & Radar Establishment). Since the mid-70s +eight scientists working there have died from b rain tumours. After the +death of one of the men, Dr. John Clark, his wife publicised the other +deaths and, according to the media, the program was halted in March 1989. +After experts from Universities had made bland statements about safety +limits being "b ased on present knowledge" public debate of the deaths +went away.=20 + +American Security - British Health Since, at the latest, 1976 the US +military have made a choice between national safety and health, and as +unanswerable champions of America's safety they prevented all public +debate about health. This they neatly summarise on page vii of a DIA +document: If the more advanced nations of the West are strict in the +enforcement of stringent exposure standards, there could be unfavourable +effects on industrial output and military functions. Especially in the +Post-Cold war era military expediency should no longer outweigh human +health. The populations of countries with American bases are suffering not +for their own security but for paranoias of the United States military.=20 + +Is there a Secret Weapon? It is clear from our research that the cover- up +of health effects also served to conceal a secret microwave weapons +development program. In Issue Three we look at these weapons and their +application in fighting Low Intensity Conflicts. One of our documen ts +notes that with these weapons: ... the ability of individuals to functio= +n +could be degraded to such a point that they would be rendered combat +ineffective In 1983-4 did someone try to render a retired couple comb= +at +ineffective? + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000945.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000945.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f2c9d5a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000945.txt @@ -0,0 +1,307 @@ + +Interview with Ken Livingstone + + +OE - Is it true that you would like to see a Europe-wide socialist party? +KL - Yes, because capitalism is now truly international. In the same way +that 200 years ago you actually had local trade unions and local +collections of radicals and so on who ended up forming national unions and +national political groupings, because that + was the only way to tackle British capitalism, now that capitalism is +international you've got to have much wider links with the Labour +movement. Now a step towards generally international working class +cooperation is in the first instance getting Europe an-wide trade union +and socialist parties to make certain we control what is the economic unit +of Europe. Capital is now operating on a European basis, labour must do so +as well. OE - And in the 3rd world? KL- Yes, I see it as a step towards +that but from where we're starting the first stage comes through Europe; +then making sure that the government of Europe, when we eventually have +it, is working properly with the Third World and not exploiting them. OE - +How do we avoid exploiting the Third World? KL - We should start by just +writing off Third World debt. That's the single most important thing, the= +n +you should actually allow the Third World to have free trade with the +West. At the moment we force Third World countries to buy our finished +goods on o ur terms and we don't allow them to sell the goods they can +produce on their terms, which is basically agriculture. We have huge +tariffs. So we have this nonsense that out of our taxes we pay vast sums +to farmers to produce food which we don't use which m eans we pay through +taxes to support farmers, we also pay for more expensive food and stop the +Third World from selling us that food. So we're actually paying to +increase starvation and destitution in the Third World. We shouldn't have +this barmy system.=20 + I mean you could act; if you had an economic unit the size of Europe +throwing its weight around behind these issues you'd get somewhere. +Britain on its own can achieve nothing. In a united Europe you could +actually start arguing for international control s on the environment and +working conditions. That means you get workers in the Third World and +workers in the first world co-operating so that what we end up with is +Third World workers being lifted up to the standard of the West rather +than the Western w orkers being dragged down to Third World standards +which is the more realistic prospect that we face at the moment: an +offensive by Capital. OE - Would you urge any controls on multinational +companies? K - It's not something I've done a study or any detailed wor= +k +on. I assume in all of these areas what we've got to get is +internationally recognised labour protection and health and safety and +environmental protection so that all these companies operate within +constraints, rather than pick on individual ones. If you tackle say +European multinationals and prevent them exploiting the Third World most +probably the American or Japanese would exploit them.=20 + OE - I recently read that one Latin American country had sold off the +future rights to its entire genetic material to an American company - do +you think this is a good or bad thing? Should they be worried?=20 + K - They could be, because early in the next century bioengineering, +genetic manipulation, will most probably be the second largest source of +global profits after information technology. And it's going to be a +tremendous concentration of power amongst th e small number of MNCs that +control genetic engineering and it will be a major struggle to see some +sort of democratic accountability about what they're doing. OE - So +there's no way to stop this thing rolling forward - controls limiting thi= +s +kind of genetic manipulation? KL - No, I'm in favour of it because then +you could breed out from the human race the tendency to produce people +like Hitler and Tebbit and Thatcher. (Laughs) I think with plants what +you're going to get is, instead of having nitrates added to the soils and +pesticides, we'll genetically engineer plant seeds so that they fix their +own nitrogen as they're growing and they're more resistant to disease. +That's t he lesser evil, saturating the world with chemicals or +genetically engineering a portion of the livestock and plant life that you +use. And then when you come to looking at ourselves I think once you've +developed the technique sufficiently - and for that we're talking well +into the next century - you face the prospect of being able to eliminate +diabetes and any other genetically-inherited diseases or problems. Given +that one child in twenty is born with a genetic defect, people are going +to pay to make sure the kids they produce haven't got that. OE - You're= + in +favour of the development of genetic health technology? KL - Mm, there is +no difference between doing that and people like Pasteur doing work that +eventually led to antibiotics. It's too late to say we should leave +ourselves in our natural state, we aren't in our natural state. We've +changed this world out of all recognition already through selective +breeding of plants and animals and changing the environment. It's not eve= +n +recent, the Aborigines transformed Australia 10,000 years ago. OE - That'= +s +a bit like arguing for a technological fix to cure us of all the ills +we've created in this society rather than actually tackling the +fundamental problems of an industrial society - getting rid of pollution, +reducing the impact of industry. KL - If you get rid of all the pollution +people would still inherit diabetes. We should now be able to lift +ourselves above being simply the creation of random chance and natural +selection. In one sense we've already done that, most people who had any +gen etic weaknesses would've died out in pre-civilisation but we've +stopped evolution working; we no longer actually allow people who have got +diabetes and one leg shorter than another to just simply fail in the +hunting of food and all of that, and die out. Y ou've now got to develop +the mechanisms which eliminate those negative genes otherwise humankind +will become a bigger and bigger reservoir of genetic defects. OE - +Doesn't this lock us into a high-tech industrial society? KL - What we're +talking about is some people carrying one gene which is defective which +opens up the way to disease A, B or C - it's just correcting that so that +they and their children no longer pass it on. I don't see it as a great +moral issue at all, i t's just a more complicated version of taking an +aspirin for a headache. OE - A lot of people think biotechnology is the +new version of agriculture's Green Revolution, but look what happened= +, +it just exacerbated problems of overeliance on agrochemicals, increased +pollution, and the concentration of wealth and power. KL - And this gives +us a chance to actually reduce these pollutions. There'll be problems wit= +h +it that we can't foresee but there is with every stage in progress. Peopl= +e +had exactly the same qualms about antibiotics when they started, they had +exactly the + same qualms about breeding selectively 100s of years ago. OE - Aren't we +seeing increases in preventable diseases as a consequence of our +drug-ridden industrial lifestyle; these wouldn't exist in a more 'natural' +state? KL - No, that's a consequence of having five billion people on the +face of the planet instead of 100 million. If you have 100 million people +on the planet in happy harmony with nature doing hunter-gathering - they +don't move around, they mix with the adja cent tribe so diseases don't = +get +around. You can only go back to the idyllic world you clearly hanker after +if you're prepared to eliminate 99% of life among humans. OE - So you +don't think the planet can sustain a population of 5 billion in a +less-industrialised system? KL - Nope, I don't, and I think the more +advanced we get the more chance we have of clearing up our earlier +mistakes. OE - Would you like to see some kind of reduction in +population? KL - Mm, most people when they have a choice want one or two +children or none. A few people want to have twelve but the majority of +people once they have the choice dramatically reduce the number of kids +they've got. So, as soon as you can actually lift u p Third World people +to some decent living conditions and education and medical help, the +population will start to stabilise and perhaps even decline. OE - What did +you think of the German Green Party's split between 'realos' and 'fundis' +- with the fundis against those who wanted to make a career in politics? +KL - I would not have been a fundamentalist and I think the use of the +term career' is derogatory and inaccurate. The fundamentalists assume +there's some route on their own. I think the realistic wing of the Green +party recognise that the way forward is a Green-Red coalition in which you +actually synthesise socialism and ecological consciousness. If the Greens +seek to create their own political party, which one day wins the majority +of votes that's fine, but the world would've been polluted to death bef= +o +re we got to that happy state. It took the Labour Party forty-five years +to get a majority in Parliament. It depresses me greatly that the Greens +are standing against me in Brent East and not against the rightwing Tory +in Brent North. You target the most reactionary, anti-environmental forces +in all parties, so you don't challenge those people who have got a good +record on environmental issues and then you aim to build a wider +coalition, and what I detect amongst my friends in the Greens is that +they're t aught party chauvinism: this terrible disease that means you +believe your party is the only answer not a broad coalition of interests. +OE - Do you think the Green Party needed its efficiency drive pushed +through by Green 2000? KL - I think they'd be better as a campaigning +group because they've got the chance and stood for Parliament, won seats +here and there but they had their chance and they threw it away. It might +be ten, twenty or thirty years before they get a chance to br eak through +again like they did at the Euro-elections, when they just weren't ready +for it. If they had the efficient party machine there in 1989 and a Tory +M.P. had dropped dead somewhere in the West Country and they could've +broken through and got their + first green M.P. then you've got to say that they got the chance to brea= +k +through and build up and get somewhere and that hasn't been done. They ar= +e +building a party machine so that they can get two percent of the vote in +every constituency in Britain, p erhaps eventually four or five, I mean, +that's a terrible waste of their time whereas actually putting the squeez= +e +on all existing politicians means you can achieve something. Don't forget +the early socialists; a lot of them didn't think in terms of a Lab our +party that would bring them socialism. I think it was the Webbs that +argued in terms of actually winning the Tory party to socialism. A logic +of planning and intervention, you should be able to reach everyone. I +think it's a bit optimistic thinking i n terms of winning the Tory vote t= +o +socialism, but that idea that the ideas are what's important not holding +office is the key one. Like the Labour party, you have your councils, you +have your M.P.s, balance of power, get more M.P.s, one day break through. +They're talking about committing themselves to a generation or two of wor= +k +before they see any realistic advance. It's going to be + too late. OE - Did you like the German greens' idea of having rotating +leadership positions? KL - Well, you have a theoretical attraction. All +that I found in any large powerful organisation is you'll be bloody lucky +if you've got enough to be able to hold down the jobs and do them well; +rotating them so that an idiot gets their turn doesn't nece ssarily carry +any force. When I was leader of the G.L.C. if someone had come up with the +idea - let's have a rotating leadership every two years - I would not hav= +e +been in favour of it because I didn't trust any of the other sods there t= +o +be as progressi ve as I was going to be. Fine if you've got so many peopl= +e +of such calibre all can do the job, rotating posts, then I'm all in favou= +r +of it, but I can't really see such an idealist state of affairs being +around. OE - At a meeting in Edinburgh a year or two back you said that in +1968 you were a sort of anarchist... KL - I was in a group called +Solidarity. I'm not certain, they might even still exist. [Yes: 123 +Lathom Road, London, E6] OE - You saw the movements more or less fail and +followed Rudi Dutschke's advice: "the long march through the +institutions". What do you say to the people at that meeting and elsewhere +that inevitably call this a sell out? KL - I say yah, boo, sucks, come +back and see me in twenty years when you're a merchant banker and I'm +still plugging away for socialism. This is the joy: I joined the Labour +party when I was twenty-two, I'm now forty-seven, half my life spent in +the Labo ur party, and in that time I've seen at least three waves of +young radicals appear on the scene, condemn me as a reactionary arsehole, +and then shoot out madly off to the right once they've got their degrees +and started working in the city and things li ke that you know. You get +great confidence in your ability not to be guilt-tripped by juvenile Trots +when you've sort of just seen wave after wave of this happen and you're +still there plugging away. I am a reformist and that's all you can achiev= +e +in these circumstances. I f these were pre-revolutionary times I'd most +probably be a revolutionary. You push through as much as you can get at +the present time. I'm not going to lie awake at night because some sloppy +Trot has condemned me when I know for a fact that in ten years I'll still +be fighting. Some Trots are pretty good, a lot of people in the S.W.P. +bang away and do what they can. OE - How much is the Labour party caught +between its traditional base and the newer more 'post-materialist' +concerns of the soft left such as the environment? KL - I think the Labour +party's a coalition between respectable working class conservatives with = +a +small c' and urban perverts like me and Labour wins when both these +groups are together. Now, much of the last fifteen years they've been at +loggerheads, b ut you can't win without both. A party that's just radic= +al +left, that doesn't understand workers fears, educate and carry them with +them ain't going to win. And equally a simple conservative working party +like John Smith's has a problem even holding a com manding lead in the +polls. In 1964/66 Wilson was the last leader to really galvanise both +strands well. The respectable working class believed he was going to make +changes. We haven't had a leader since then who's bridged both these +camps. John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy could do that in America. When +Robert Kennedy was assassinated the working class whites who'd been votin= +g +for him moved straight over and voted for Nixo n, they didn't go for the +other democrats, and so its not an easy thing to define and to articulate. +OE - The Labour party looks as if it is losing the less traditional votes +to the liberals, the Greens and people like that? KL - Yes, it's quite +interesting; there was an opinion poll in The Times the day I was kicked +off Labour's N.E.C. three years ago and they asked people who do you thin= +k +should be the leader of the Labour party and they went down a list and +there was somet hing like Kinnock, say thirty percent or forty percent, +perhaps even fifty, Hattersley about twenty percent, then Smith, Gould and +me with about ten and eight and seven percent. What was interesting was +when you look at the seven percent or whatever it wa s that wanted me to +be the leader of the Labour party, the majority of them weren't Labour +party voters. The majority of them were tories and liberals. I think there +is a desire for radical change which could easily vote for me in Brent +East or vote for P addy Ashdown in Yeovil or the Greens somewhere else. +These people, I feel, don't have a historic lifelong loyalty to one +political party; they look around. A lot of them made the mistake of +thinking Thatcher would bring change and what's interesting is th at when +the G.L.C. was at the height of its success the group which was most +dramatically swinging to Labour were the yuppies - the social class A, B, +C1. Young, white middle class people, well-off, who were attracted to the +G.L.C. I think as much to the style as anything because we seemed to be of +the future rather than old-fashioned and backward-looking and sadly +Kinnock took on board the glitz and the glamour, the advertising and the +polling methods of the G.L.C. but without the core policies which wer e +radical and forward-looking. OE - So Kinnock was the man for the +traditional groupings rather than the newer segments of support... KL - Or +urban perverts. I think that's the term that Mrs. Thatcher would perceive +us to be. We're the sort of people Mrs. Thatcher's parents warned her not +to talk to when she was a little girl; we enjoy ourselves and our bodies. +Mrs. Thatcher was brought + up in that great English tradition that happiness was a sin and we should +suffer in this life so that you could sit at God's right hand in the next +one and sing hymns - well I'd much rather be happy in this one thank you. +OE - Do you see anything positive in what she did? K - I liked her attack +on the barristers; I liked her attacks on the C.A.P. I have to say that +out of our twelve years in government I think those are the only two +things that I agreed with her on. Everything else - I think she was a +psychopath and needed + institutional care, not access to government. OE - Because you stand for +all these new and personal politics, would you like to see a new renamed +party, if one day you woke up and the Labour party wasn't there anymore? +KL - If you're going to ask me a hypothetical question why don't you sa= +y +wouldn't I like to create a new world - why stop at just creating a new +party? We are stuck with the world as it is, we start from here. The idea +of creating a new political party wh ich no doubt would be called the +'fruits and flakes', it's just not going to happen because you've actua= +lly +got to transform the Labour party and part of our task is educational. The +thing about Thatcher's style which was so impressive was that she never + stopped educating, she pushed her views down everyone's throats every +minute of the day and that's part of what politics is: pounding out your +message. So often Labour gets in government and dissappears behind the +chauffeur-driven cars and drinks cupboar ds. Someone like Wilson could've +had a great fight, it would've been far easier then than it is now, he'= +d +clearly understood what was wrong with the British economy - the +domination of the City of London and all that, the high military spending +- and he d id nothing about it. And he became like so many others - +committed to perambulating around like some international circus +pretending to be a statesperson, drinking his vintage brandies and not +actually tackling the dominant economic problems. Wilson went there to be +seduced by the machine. They forget they're only there because they've +actually made a case for change.=20 + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000946.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000946.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..217244c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000946.txt @@ -0,0 +1,136 @@ + +Natural Birth + +Ideally childbirth should be one of life's most precious moments; a time +when instincts can take their course, when intense bonding with the +newborn occurs, or so we think. The reality for most women is rather +different: birth has become a medical event in need of effective +management by the professionals of obstetrics. Women are made to lie +passively on a table - the physiologically most difficult position in +which to give + birth - whilst the experts decide which medical inter-ventions are +needed. These can include every-thing from sed-atives, intra-venous drips +delivering syn-thetic hormones, epidurals and other anaes-thetics, right +up to caesareans. According to childbirth expert Sheila Kitzinger the +'active manage-ment' of hi-tech births means taking drugs which will +tranquillise, stupefy, disorient, cause hallucinations, produce amnesia, +change the woman's body chemistry, and also deprive the the foetus of +oxygen, turning the newborn baby into a limp, sleepy little bundle with a +headache, instead of a wide-eyed, searching, learning creature. This +leads to a 'snowball effect': interfering in one way makes it necessary= + to +interfere in others too; an epidural anaesthetic, for instance, makes it +likely that forceps will have to be used in the delivery. In U.S. +hospitals this has meant that up to + 65% of mothers face the trauma of forceps delivery and risk the injury to +the baby which it occasionally results in. The typical delivery room in a +modern hospital is full of bright lights as well as the noise and bustle +of the obstetrician and a team of assistants. Electronic monitoring +machines and hospital antiseptic add to the oppressive atmosphere - little +wonder t hat many women find hospital birth depressing. Obstetricians have +by and large excluded mothers from their central role in childbirth, and +at the same time drained the experience of its sexuality. All this is done +in the misplaced hope that it will achiev e a painless effortless managed +birth, at a convenient time; fitted in with the obstetrician's game of +golf according to many critics!=20 + +The Birth of Obstetrics Historical studies tell a different story: +vertical positions for giving birth have been prevalent across the globe +for thousands of years. Aristotle was the first known advocate of a +recumbent - and passive - position. It was much later in 17th century +France where male doctors first assumed the midwives' role and required +their aristocratic women clients to lie on their backs so that the +recently-invented forceps could be used more easily. The fate of women was +sealed when Louis XIV had his mistress en dure this position so that he +could see the birth better from his hiding place behind a curtain on the +other side of the room. Later Queen Victoria was the first woman in +England to use a chloroform anaesthetic - which further en-trenched the +lying down p osition in defiance of the force of gravity. The practices of +confining a woman to bed for much of her labour and then the rise of the +obstetric table for deliveries soon followed and spread throughout the +Western world. Looking at the current situation in her latest book, "The +American Way of Birth", Jessica Mitford found that a powerful alliance of +medical societies, including the American Medical Association (A.M.A.), +and insurers had succeeded in making midwives into outlaws in many U.S. +states. She has even come across recent examples of midwives being +arrested at gunpoint and taken away handcuffed! The hospital births +favoured by the A.M.A. cost a minimum of ten times as much as home birth +with a midwife and can ea sily add up to far more.=20 + +Alternatives + +The trend has not all been one way: since 1962 the in-hospital maternity +unit at Pithiviers in France has been a notable centre of experimentation. +As he gradually gained the courage to return control over childbirth to +women, its chief obstetrician Miche l Odent found that women themselves +would instinctively choose the upright position for birth, and would also +choose to move around during labour. The delivery room there was small and +quiet with subdued lights. Machines and drugs were kept only for the few +real emergencies and forceps banished. The midwife, and the husband too, +were able to play a greater role - such as in helping to support the mo +ther in the squatting position which is commonly chosen for birth. Odent +began to realise, against the common wisdom, that women during childbirth +act most 'rationally' when they 'forget' themselves and follow their +instincts - deliveries became faster and easier. Both he and Sheila +Kitzinger agree that The right enviro nment for birth is exactly the sam= +e +as the environment in which to make love. Most labours should be +uncomplicated and do not need special equipment. They need not be seen as +a kind of illness needing treatment in an intensive care setting. As the +Pithiviers staff became more sure in trusting women's own instincts they +broke more and more of the accepted conventions of obstetrics: they +stopped wearing rubber gloves, they stopped speeding up delivery by +breaking waters which surround the unbo rn, they stopped prescribing +bedrest for the mother during pregnancy and after, and they allowed the +newborn to be with the mother from the moment of birth. Odent brought in a +warm pool where women could relax during the painful contractions of +labour and, to everyone's surprise, found that many seemed to develop an +affinity with the water and some would remain immersed to give birth, +which is perfectly safe.=20 + Some women who had previously claimed to dislike water even moved over +into the pool to give birth. As far as the clinical results are concerned +(mortality rates etc.), those at Pithiviers compare favourably with the +best in the world. The caesarean rate of 6-7% is far better than the 25% +in the U.S. ( a 400% increase in 20 years); postpartum depression + is also rare at Pithiviers. Those who come to Pithiviers to give birth +live mostly in the surrounding area and are not pre-screened in order to +avoid difficulties. Others who come from further afield - even from other +countries - have often had difficul t births or caesareans beforehand and +come in order to secure the best chance of having a rewarding vaginal +birth. Hammersmith hospital recently claimed credit for discovering that +close contact with both parents may be the best thing for a premature +baby, rather than an incubator. Instead of crossing the Channel to reach +Pithiviers, where this had long been common kn owledge, a research project +was carried out in Colombia to make these findings! Wishing for a similar +return of control over birth to the mothers, the 'Active Birth Movement= +' +was founded in Britain in April 1982 after one London hospital which had +initially encouraged upright positions changed its mind and banned them. A +small Birth rights Rally, planned as a 'squat-in' of the hospital= + foyer, +ended up as a rally of 6000 on Hampstead Heath; speakers including +Kitzinger and Odent helped reverse the decision. Odent has long questioned +his own role as a male obstetrician: The revolution so many of us are +seeking, he writes, will not be triggered by the professionals of +obstetrics, or even by the medical profession overall. He has since left +Pithiviers and n ow works in London with mothers giving birth at home +which he currently believes is the only place... where a woman has the +degree of privacy needed to allow maximal efficiency of the physiological +and hormonal responses. The strikingly good results at Pithiviers have +led to other maternity units being established along similar lines around +the world and other hospitals too have gradually been adjusting to women'= +s +demands to choose whatever position they find most comfortable throughout +labour and deliv ery: to change from passive patients to active +birth-givers.=20 + + +Adapted from: Birth Reborn - What Birth Can and Should Be, Michel Odent +(London: Souvenir Press, 1984); New Active Birth: A Concise Guide to +Natural Childbirth by Janet Balaskas (Thorsons, 1991) who is co-founder of +The International Active Birth Centre, 55 Dartmouth Park Road, London, NW +5 1SL Tel. 071 267 5368; also relevant: The Continuum Concept, Jean +Liedlof (Arkana, 2nd. ed, 1987); The American Way of Birth, Jessica +Mitford, (Gollancz, 1992) + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000947.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000947.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b537a708 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000947.txt @@ -0,0 +1,205 @@ + +South Africa +Chris Merritt + +President F W de Klerk is a man with an international media image as a +moderate democrat. However, while the world has reacted with the lifting +of boycotts and sanctions, violence aimed at disorganization of the +African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP), +and their trade union ally, the Congress of South African Trade Unions +(COSATU) has reached such proportions that it has been described as a +pre-emptive coup. Since February 1990 South Africa has experienced an +apparent freedom of expression unknown since the 1950s. In the initial +euphoria the situation was accepted by many as a genuine change of heart +on the part of the National Party government. It has since become clear +that this was a skilful public relations job. There is plenty of evidence +that the authorities are still employing methods developed during the +emergency years to suppress opposition. On assuming office, President de +Klerk abolished the National Security Management System (NSMS), a security +force shadow government which had underpinned the State of Emergency. The +Harms Commission set up to investigate the covert military action arm of +the NSMS, the Civil Cooperation Bureau (CCB) revealed a programme of +arson, intimidation, murder and sabotage, often using criminals, amounting +to a covert war against anti-apartheid organizations in terms of Low +Intensity Conflict theory. This was develo ped by the US army as a method +of fighting wars abroad where political sensitivity ruled out the use of +large numbers of American ground troops. In Southern Africa this method of +warfare has been used so often against the surrounding states as to make +it instinctive for the South African army to turn it upon its own +population once threatened at home. The NSMS in fact had merely been +replaced by the National Coordinating Mechanism (NCM), a new, almost +informal, system with a simplified chain of command avoiding the need for +a large bureaucracy. The NCM is the mechanism linking the top levels of +governm ent to what Nico Basson, an ex-Military Intelligence officer, +calls a Third Force. The nature of this army, which can be seen as the son +of the CCB, is of a diverse and seemingly out of control array of =D4bad +apples=D5 within the security services, ex-state security personnel, extrem= +e +right wingers, Inkatha, criminal gangs and mercenaries. These diverse +elements allow the State to distance itself from actions carried out by +groups which the State refuses to disarm. The new flexible structure by +its nature al lows the State to deny responsibility for actions carried +out by these groups. Thus the occasional operation directly controlled by +the NCM becomes lost amongst the arbitrary violence committed by agents +implicitly linked to the State let lose on the civilian population. During +1991, hit squads were responsible for 60 deaths and 45 people injured; +vigilantes for 2011 killed and 2604 injured; and right wingers for 21 +deaths and 178 injured (figures supplied by the Human Rights Comm-ission). +Politics can be manipulat-ed and enemies undermined behind a facade of +=D4democracy=D5 which replaced the more overt apparatus of the State of +Emergency. The state is weakening the ANC without being directly connected +with the agents who are fighting the war on its behalf. The atmosphere of +officially sanctioned lawlessness created by the 1985-90 Emergency has +become an integral part of the military's strategy in the new South +Africa. Naturally the agents the state uses in its dirty war are also +beneficiaries of the situation in their own right. Inkatha and the KwaZulu +government particularly so. Inkatha Inkatha has an ideology based on +ethnicity, reverence of and subservience to leaders, and collaboration +with the apartheid regime, although it has shrewdly held out against +'independent' status for KwaZulu. It has required oaths of loyalty from +public ser vants, employed a rhetoric of threatened violence, and +practised human rights abuses orchestrated by highly placed officials. Its +political objective is regional hegemony and recognition in the national +negotiation process. It is now clear that Inkatha has had a relationship +with Military Intelligence since the mid-1970s. During the +Pietermaritzburg civil war of March-April 1990 Inkatha was aided by acts +of commission and omission: large, well-armed bodies of men thousands +strong could hardly have operated without security force compliance. In +the South Coast region of Natal around Port Shepstone the security forces +in collusion with Inkatha have acted as if the ANC were still banned, and +routinely raided meetings or placed restrictions upon them. When the ANC +was launched in Northern Natal in February 1991 only the chairperson and +secretary were named: this is the slowest growing region in the country, +venues are hard to obtain, and activity is almost clandestine. In mid 1992 +the ANC in the Bulwer area of the Natal Midlands was obstructed b y +persistent denial of township venues. Inkatha is being openly described as +a potential South African Renamo (the Rhodesian organised terror group +used to destablise Mozam-bique). Apart from its military trained +operatives, it has a security police organization (commanded by Jac +Buchner, who, when he headed the security police in Pietermaritzburg +during the emergency, was reputed to be one of the government's experts on +the ANC) and the support of the KwaZulu Police, virtually a military wing +of Inkatha. The latter's potential for banditry res ts on its +ethnocentrism, devotion to a strong leader, lack of internal democracy, +absence of clear ideology and an increasingly marginal national role. The +'Third Force' Nico Basson and other commentators placed Military +Intelligence at the centre of township violence, either through its own +operatives or via conservative black groups funded, trained and directed +by shadowy official agencies such as Creed. Human rights mo nitors have +noted a pattern of increased violence whenever a significant point is +reached in the negotiations process. Inside information such as that from +Basson and Mbongeni Khumalo, former leader of the Inkatha Youth Brigade, +as well as evidence on the + ground, show that the State of Emergency continues in a new form. The +methods of the 'Third Force' vary from random slaughter on trains, to +targeted assassination. Chief Mhlabunzima Maphumulo, leader of the +ANC-aligned Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA), +and a man who had showed admirable even- handedness to people of different +political persuasions in the Table Mountain area, was assassinated in the +middle of Pietermaritzburg on the 25th February 1991. A tape recording of +the confession of the chief's killer, implicating the security forces, wa +s confiscated by police from The Natal Witness, Pieter-maritzburg's daily +newspaper. In March 1992 an inquest court found that Maphumulo was killed +by 'persons unknown', a throwback to standard verdicts passed down by +magistrates in the days of hardline a partheid. By this time (8th +February) Skhumbuzo Mbatha Ngwenya, an Imbali ANC official and a pacifist, +had been gunned down outside a Pietermaritzburg restaurant. On the 27th +October he was followed by Reggie Hadebe, ANC Natal Midlands deputy +chairperson assassinated as he was driving from Ixopo to Richmond after +peace talks. There is a consistent pattern: elimination of influential +anti-apartheid figures (including some from Inkatha) heavily involved in +the peace process. The police and security forces, ruthless in tracking +down cadres of the liberation movement in the 1980s, have proved +suspiciously inept at basic detective work in these cases. The George +Goch hostel near Johannesburg was named as Inkatha's operational base on +the Reef, a depot for arms channelled by the SADF from Mozambique. Those +present at assaults on vigils and trains noted that attackers spoke with +Natal accents. When thirt een people died at a vigil at Alexandra +(Johannesburg) on the 27th March 1991, amaSinyoras (members of a criminal +gang) from Durban were blamed. It is well known that they have close links +with the military and immunity from the police: one member was see n +wearing a SADF uniform. Disinformation. A state agency called COMOPS +(Combined Operations) was set up to channel funding to phantom groups and +run disinformation projects. Some of its suspected activities are the +boosting of Inkatha's image in the same way as the Democratic Turnhalle +Alliance + (DTA) had been assisted in Namibia; creation of bantustan parties (such +as Oupa Gqozo's African Democratic Movement in Ciskei); encouragement of +tribalism; and the launch of a 'moderate', multiparty front named the +Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA). The SA Special Forces. This is made +up of four SADF reconnaissance units, 32 (Buffalo) battalion, 44 parachute +battalion, Military Intelligence, the Police 'Askari' unit (of turned +Umkhonto we Sizwe fighters), and the ex-CCB. They have absorbed Koevoet, +the most vicious of the destabilizing units in Namibia; use mercenaries, +including some forcibly conscripted after abduction from Mozambique; and +have strong ex-Rhodesian and Renamo connections. A defector from 5 Recce, +Felix Ndimene, described how his unit was involved in one o f the +Johannesburg train massacres. Other Agents There is also overlap with the +ubiquitous and trigger happy private security industry which is teeming +with ex-Rhodesians of special forces origins. Recent evidence shows that +KwaZulu paramilitary forces numbering about 200 men were trained by +Military In telligence in the Caprivi Strip, and also in Israel during +1986, before being based at Mkuze in Northern Zululand. Vigilantes in the +Eastern Cape calling themselves Ama-Afrika were similarly trained. With +their deep involvement in the ivory trade and gun running, such groups are +specially active in the Eastern Transvaal and Northern Natal in +collaboration with Renamo. Africa Confidential has pointed out that these +units, characterised by lack of accou ntability, immunity from +prosecution, and increasingly embittered by the trend of national +political events, could get out of control. Renamo, after all, is a +classic example of a Rhodesian fashioned pseudo-terrorist operation which +ran amok. The Mozambic an government found great difficulty negotiating +with it, simply because it is a bandit organization with no discernible +political objectives. Overview At present extra-legal methods of political +control are gaining the ascendancy. Other forms nevertheless remain +extremely powerful. Apartheid legislation, educational inequalities, +security legislation, publications control, official secrecy, limitations +on journalists, and defamation law are significant restraints. The +'independent' bantustans have their own security and emergency legislation +which is wielded with gusto, as seen in spectacular fashion in Ciskei and +Bophuthatswana. The censorship of silence, traditional in South Africa, is +implicit in the ambience of the 'new' South Africa as recognised by the +writer Breyten Breytenbach: "...authority [is] now attempting to stifle +the needed debate on public ethics by pretending tha t apartheid was not, +and is not, the crime against humanity as experienced by the majority of +South Africans". In Hugo Young's celebrated phrase, President de Klerk and +his supporters "... have seen the light, not of righteousness but of +survival". The ri ght media images are thus crucial to them. So too, +apparently, is protection from prosecution for human rights crimes, +judging from the speed and ruthlessness with which a Further Indemnity +Bill was forced through the legislative system in October 1992 ag ainst +furious opposition from all parties to the left of the Nationalists. It is +all too probable that indemnity is required for current and past members +of de Klerk's government. When security legislation was amended in 1991, +the Democratic Party put forward ludicrous claims that South Africa had +embraced the rule of law and individual freedom, joining the ranks of free +nations. This sort of misrepresentation has earned South Afri ca a totally +unjustified liberal image, reinforced by the result of the referendum +which has virtually deified De Klerk. The latter and his supporters in the +business community and across the centre-right political spectrum have +adopted a new orthodoxy in + the 'new' South Africa. This argues that apartheid is dead, South +Africans must forget the past and pull together towards a glorious new +future in which private enterprise will swiftly iron out the inequities in +society. Those who challenge this amoral a nd ahistoric approach are +increasingly marginalised. The NCM mechanism creates outrages to provoke +splits in the ANC which cannot be traced back to the state. The Chris Hani +assassination was the perfect example of this, it greatly weakened the +ANC=D5s authority in the townships and was blamed on the far Righ t. The +outside world receives this image of =D4dark forces=D5 creating chaos and a= +n +image of the increasingly acceptable, white, South African state. These +are the unedifying tactics used by the National Party as it strives for +renewed power within a conserv ative coalition. Behind a facade of +'normality' a covert war is being waged against the ANC. Its leaders can +behave like national politicians at negotiations, but at grassroots level +destabilisation is having a serious effect on the movement's ability to +organise as a political party, attract members after thirty years as a +banned organization, and win an election. + +Christopher Merrett works at the University of Natal and has published on +a wide range of human rights issues; he was an activist with the local +Detainees Support Committee during the State of Emergency. He is presently +writing a book on the history of ce nsorship in South Africa. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000948.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000948.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2aa6127f --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000948.txt @@ -0,0 +1,88 @@ + anarchist activity in Brazil + + FREEDOM INTERNATIONAL SECTION 84B, WHITECHAPEL HIGH ST. + LONDON E1 + + Antimilitarists from eight countries in Latin America came + together for the Latin American Conference of Conscientious + Objectors from the 8th to 14th May in Paraguay. Brazil was + represented by SERPAJ. The meeting allowed participants to + exchange information and share experiences of the realities + in each country. It also allowed for the planning of joint + activities and concrete actions relating to the two major + themes of antimilitarism and conscientious objection. During + the five days various themes related to that of + conscientious objection were also discussed including + freedom, civil disobedience, social justice and solidarity. + + Since June 94 the Brazilian Anarchist Movement has organised + a national campaign for the liberation and against the + execution of the anarchist Katsuhisa Omori who has been + condemned to death by the Japanese state. Omori has been in + jail for 18 years now for a crime he did not commit. During + the first week of August letters, telegrams and a petition + with more than 4,000 signatures calling for Omori's + liberation were sent to the Japanese embassy in Brazil. In + addition some cities saw public demonstrations against + Japanese state terrorism. + + As the Brazilian elections came up various parts of the + country saw activities against politicians and the elections + in general. In Campinas (central Sao Paulo) some anarchists + burnt their ballot forms on the public square protesting + against the electoral farce and the system of compulsory + voting. + + From the 8th to the 17th July the Festival of Art and + Culture without Frontiers and Libertarian Education was held + in Florianopolis. Lectures, exhibitions, performances, films + and a workshop on computer networking were some of the + attractions at this important event which brought together + comrades from Portugal, Spain and Brazil. In addition to + this the second southern conference of anarchist groups and + individuals was held. The comrades who attended this + conference decided to come together for propaganda purposes + relating to common struggles and with the future objective + of forming an anarchist federation. + + To mark the 49th anniversary of the American bombing of + Hiroshima anarchist groups in Sao Paulo, Curitiba, Londrina + and Salvador came out onto the streets to protest against + military expenditure, war and the militarization of society. + The historian, film director and anarchist Valencio Xavier + recently produced his latest short film: Pao Negro - Um + Episodio da Colonia Cecilia. It was 40 minutes of emotion, + passion and anarchy. The film deals with the testimony of + descendants of the colony and the story of Rossi and two + colonies that were bought as pieces of land in Palmeira. A + book will soon also be published about Valencio and the + history of this anarchist experiment in Brazil. + + The University of Ceara saw anacho-punks from the north and + north-east come together for a conference (15th/17th July) + The meeting brought together individuals and groups from + five separate states to discuss various themes. + + The anarcha-feminist group in Sao Paulo (CAF) organised an + anti homophobia event in Espaco Vadiagem on 30th July. 10 + anarcho-punk groups performed to young audiences. The event + was marred by the infiltration of Nazi Skinheads who were + exposed and removed by some young libertarians. Since that + time some members of CAF have been the target of + intimidation by these troublemakers. + + At the university of Campinas - UNICAMP organised from 24th + to 26th August a seminar: 20 years of the Archives of Edgar + Leuenroth - one of the best libertarian archives in Latin + America. Workshops were organised on the history of the + left, the workers movement, industrialisation, human rights, + culture and politics. There was also an international + workshop discussing archives and social history. This was + accompanied by a photographic exhibition. The conference + closed with a talk by Professor Rudolf de Jong of the + International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam with + the title: The Spanish Civil War and the Anarchist + Revolution. Professor Martha Ackelsberg also gave a talk on + the women's liberation movement and the anarchist movement + in Spain. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000949.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000949.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8a20ff82 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000949.txt @@ -0,0 +1,142 @@ + OBITUARY: GUY DEBORD + + FREEDOM INTERNATIONAL SECTION 84B, WHITECHAPEL HIGH ST. + LONDON E1 + + THE AUTHOR OF SOCIETY OF THE SPECTACLE HAS KILLED HIMSELF + + Last Curtain Call for Guy Debord + + We don't know how he died and still less why. We only know + that Guy Debord, around evening time on Wednesday 30th + November, took his life; the life that in the last few years + he himself - perhaps the last of the Situationists still + partly faithful to his own image of the resolute enemy of + the society of the spectacle - helped to make more + mysterious, more evanescent more elsewhere. Paradoxically + one could say that in reality death has brought him back to + life, in the sense that it has re-established the human + reality (death being our common destiny) of a character + whose notoriety and uncompromising stance of refusal would + make of existence a long theatrical piece, in which he would + improvise up until the end. But who was Guy Debord? There + are several answers, but at the same time such answers would + preclude the understanding of his identity as indefinable. + Writer? Film director? Situationalist? 'Doctor in + nothing...' as he liked to define himself in one of his + latest books? Of course all those things, but simply because + they are 'things' - which comes down to things he did - they + certainly do not reveal the whole man. It isn't for nothing + that the numerous French dailies which reported the news of + his suicide, not only didn't say how or why he died, neither + did they say anything about him, limiting themselves to an + inventory of the things he did, the things he said, how he + did them, how he said them but forgetting to say who, Guy + Debord, was. In reality it was the self-imposed mystery + which created the impenetrable and adventurist aura, barely + available to the media and prone to violent argument; Guy + Debord liked to hide his true self behind a blanket of + gossip, speculation and even spite in his dealings with + others, and to never let it see daylight. For the rest, for + someone who wrote a book: The Society of the Spectacle, + where the world is seen as a spectacle - which is to say a + false image which the economic system produces of itself in + order to dominate society - visibility was to be totally + denied. Thus the rare photos which he consciously planned so + that they should be published in his lifetime - were the + most hazy in the world and to a fair degree made him look + younger than his real age. Certainly, invisibility was + imperative! + + It was not by chance that his first public work was a film + Hurlement en faveur de Sade (1952), in which there is no + picture and the spectator - truly stupefied by this purely + surrealist provocation - watched an alternated sequence of + white and then black screens, whilst listening to a mixture + of atonal dialogues involving numerous people leading up to + a silent, black screen for 24 minutes. This was the first + gauntlet against the spectacle thrown down by Guy Debord who + fought this battle throughout his life; a death sentence for + the cinema, at the time considered as the essence of the + artistic product of bourgeois society and for that reason + the extreme synthesis of its values in full decomposition, + since it expressed not the construction of a situation which + aimed to shed light on everyday life but rather a system of + falsification of reality in order to suppress it and + supplant it by means of a series of images aimed at cutting + the individual off from his daily existence and making of + him an illusory participant in the spectacle of consumer + society in his role as good/product of the spectacle. + + The setting up in 1957 of the Situationist International was + partly the logical consequence of these artistic + presuppositions. Coming out of the European cultural milieu + as the convergence of several artistic experiences (COBRA, + the Lettrist International, the Movement for Bauhaus Cinema, + the London Psychogeographical Society) the SI from day one + aimed to represent - above all via Debord who was the editor + of its statement of principles - a critique of art brought + into being by the necessity of superseding it by creating + liberated situations in which life can effectively + experience its own possibilities and not become enclosed in + the repetitive role models that the society of the spectacle + constructs in order to dominate and exploit. But already in + those early years the different heads of the SI quarrelled + amongst themselves and Debord - who alone amongst them + represented the most coherent position with his objective of + achieving a total critique of art and a whole culture + skewered towards the production of values separated from + everyday life (and for that reason incapable of achieving + its own radical transformation) - came out better from + confrontations with those who presupposed the replacement of + art as simply a repeat of the architectural and urban + argument which aimed to make works of art no longer on + canvas but in the physical space of a city. + + But the first years of the 60s saw a U turn in the politics + of the SI, and coincided with Debord's political phase, + which saw an achievement of sorts in making of the + organisation - now nearly purged of any artistic content - + the rallying point between the experience of the European + cultural avant guard and the experience of politico- + revolutionary groupings, in France represented by some + journals (Arguments and Socialisme et Barbarie) of a + revisionary Marxist leaning. These were the years when + Debord participated in the seminars of Lefebvre at Nanterre + and during which he developed his critique of daily life + which had already been expounded by this philosopher and + sociologist from Nanterre in the late 50s. The critique of + everyday life - the baby sister of theories of + alienation/separation produced by the spectacular society, + became the theoretical underpinnings of the SI and the theme + of his most famous book, already mentioned, in which the + theoretical and organisational experience of the workers + council ... represented the political and revolutionary + dnouement of the situationist theory. The Strasbourg scandal + and Paris 68 showed not so much that Debord and the SI were + gaining influence (as has always been claimed by the + historical hagiographer of the movement), but rather the + fortuitous meeting - and in many ways prospicious - between + the combative and revolutionary practice of the movement of + 68 and the necessity to find an outlet for situationist + theory. If there had been no May 68 in France, would the SI + have become what it seemed to be after the event (that is + the high point of modern revolution)? And would the work of + Debord have come to seem clairvoyant and prophetic, as was + claimed by numerous commentators who proclaim his books on + the social spectacle to be the only texts able to give a + sense - sorry: a vision - to what happened in the East as + well as the West? All these considerations lead back to the + unanswered question of who Guy Debord was; a man who, at the + age of 62, decided to put an end to his life and to + foreclose his real life story asking forgiveness for his own + mistakes. But the truth of his story will still have to be + reconstructed by reference to his work which he has left to + posterity with the intention of becoming the first invisible + personality of the society of the spectacle. Will we ever + know the truth? + + GIANFRANCO MARELLI FAI Milan Trans from Le Monde Libertaire + 21 Dec. 94 + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000950.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000950.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e5a91ef7 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000950.txt @@ -0,0 +1,249 @@ + EXPOSICION.... Translated version of Frank Harrison's + article on the Ex-USSR + + FREEDOM INTERNATIONAL SECTION 84B, WHITECHAPEL HIGH ST. + LONDON E1 + + The Disintegration of the State - Russian Perspectives + (Frank Harrison) + + In order to speak of politics in the modern era - an era + which began with the French Revolution - one must consider + the supremacy of the bureaucratic state. This era has seen + how all previous political unions have been replaced by the + state. The city dweller has become the base of all social + analysis. It is taken for granted that patriotism is a good + thing and the capacity of governments to mobilise their + citizens and resources has become the measure of their + efficiency, legitimacy and a form of self-justification. + + Such a model is to be found equally in the East as in the + West. Soviet and North American patriotism have become the + choice of their respective political elites. Kropotkin + pointed out that the new economic forms of political + organisation would become associated with a new economic + order brought into being by the industrial revolution. + + This Statist view has come to dominate the modern mind. This + naked and little questioned power - accepted as the norm - + is responsible for the crimes of colonialism, the domination + of the third world by the developed world. However, there is + some resistance to recognising this model of the State. + Inequality, class struggle, regional and linguistic + conflicts and indifference threaten the legitimacy of this + political sphere. Pluralism doesn't always function + smoothly, that is to say, when pluralism doesn't function + neither does the sate. The authority of the State is + rejected: Catholics in Northern Ireland, Kurds in Turkey, + Serbs in Bosnia etc. are starting to grasp for a new + political reality. This is the current crisis of the State. + The State is seen as the enemy in the ghettos of the USA, in + the Sik temples in India, on a Catholic street in Belfast + and when it appears in any place in the former Russian + Federation. + + Each State requires certain conditions to be fulfilled in + order to sustain its authority, these are: + + - a culture of obedience - a recognised source of authority + - Corporatism and a sense of commitment in the Civil and + Armed Services. - an ability to give privilege to the + interrelated elites (political, cultural, economic, + military...) - quasi governmental organisations who co- + ordinate necessities and expectations in such a way so that + the government can act as intermediary - an ability to + generate state interests which supersede local conflicts + (relating to, for example, religious/linguistic conflicts + and/or standard of living expectations) + + All these mechanisms taken together lay the foundations of + the psychological and organisational adhesion of any given + State. In the former USSR it was the Communist Party which + formed the nucleus of these integrated mechanisms until it + collapsed (over the last three years). + + The first question which arises for those who are pleased to + see the collapse of a State should be: Out of the Russian + Federation will there be formed a new federation of States + or is a new Russian imperialism a possibility? Will there be + a return to centralism in Russia or are there other options? + + The collapse of the State should be a cause of celebration + since we have been 'brainwashed' with the concept of the + State to the point that Yeltsin, having declared himself the + new Russian dictator, the West applauds and is pleased that + Russia is back on the road towards reunification. + Fortunately they are mistaken. + + Previous speakers have shown an interest/concern with + nationalism. I find myself in agreement with someone who in + the 1930s who was asked if he would betray the State or his + friend answered, 'I hope I would betray the State' because I + would never betray my friend. For me nationalism is the same + as tribalism. In my written work I claim that the modern + State is the product of the French Revolution. Kropotkin + wrote that the factor which characterised the dehumanisation + of society was the technical structure. However,. the State + dominates our consciousness, it is the 'norm' it is accepted + as the natural state of things. But the State exists by the + skin of its teeth. Wherever you will find a state you will + find it owing its existence to the lies of political + propaganda and the powers of its police. When the lying ends + the state collapses as it has done in Russia. It collapsed + in the former USSR but it has also collapsed in the Russia + of today; today Russia is neither a government nor a nation; + today it is made up of 89 governments. The capacity for + integration lies only in the Communist party. When the + Communist Party lost its legitimacy so did the State. Does + the Russian State have the power to reintegrate itself if it + doesn't exist? My answer is NO. The Russian State as the + Soviet State no longer exist and will not exist again. + However, the dominant factor is the remaining reunificatory + capacity within the old Soviet Union within contemporary + Russia. In this I feel we can see an example of the failure + of the modern State. I think and I hope that the elites of + all states are trembling. + + This cannot be seen as a victory for anarchism but rather + the end of the capacity of such politics to promote + integration. + + When we look towards Russia we see total institutional + confusion, Moscow and its politics are pure theatre; the + Supreme Court, the Presidency, Yeltsin etc... are mere + actors. They entertain us because they have no power. But + what of the future? I suggest five possibilities. + + The first is 'Military Fascism'; the military could come to + represent an active force for reunification, I don't think + this will happen. Today there are more officers that + soldiers in the armed forces and the youth are voting with + their feet. They will not enlist. Moreover the military are + very divided. Nor does the economy give them money for + equipment. Today these forces have neither the personnel, + the material nor the unity/solidarity that they need. Today + Military Fascism is not possible. + + Secondly 'Capitalism' as a system of recuperation didn't + work, doesn't work and will not work in Russia. It is not a + question of accepting or rejecting the capitalist ideology + which has indeed been culturally rejected. The 'free + enterprise economy' can only survive and grow if two + conditions are fulfilled: 1) Give the workers higher levels + of employment and remuneration 2) Have some comparative + advantage vis a vis the rest of the world - an advantage + used by the State to generate investment in the country and + sell outside of its frontiers within the framework of + monetary stability. + + But when the state industries are being shut down, + unemployment is reaching 20 million and savings are + annihilated by hyper inflation running at 1 000% pa economic + dislocation is the outcome and we come to realise that + capitalism is not the means for bringing about Russian + reunification. + + Thirdly 'Constitutional Federalism'; the fragmentation + caused in part by the economic decline has favoured the + appearance of an initiative aiming at a 'constitutional + solution' which consists in producing a document which + defines the sharing of power in equal parts between the + Centre and the Regions/Republics and also a Justice System + which would have the power to resolve the various disputes + between the factions and parties which make up the + organisation of the State. On the 12 July 93 the delegates + to the Constitutional Assembly gave their consent to such a + document and gave the President the power to dissolve + parliament and call elections. The Federal law took priority + over the laws of the various Republics and the vice- + presidency was abolished. However, the evidence suggests + that the Regions and the Republics have no intention to + subordinate themselves to Moscow; the leaders of the + Republics have rejected the priority of the federal law. + + There was a tendency for the Republics to declare themselves + independent. Amur, Vologda, Sverdlovsk, St. Petersburg and + Primorsky Krai this summer. + + But there is no tradition of independence of this kind in + Russia and the conflict between Yeltsin and the + Constitutional tribunal is a part of the 'theatre' which the + national Russian government is a part of today. + + Russia has collapsed and the new documents will not bring + back the old system nor will they bring into being a new + one. + + The political analysts indicate that Russia is in a pre- + party state. There do not exist national political groupings + and without these the state cannot resuscitate itself. + + In order for Yeltsin to win enough power he will have to + draw on institutions and persons and move towards a form of + power that we can call 'Civil Fascism' which is the fourth + possibility. When I wrote this (July 93) I suggested that + Yeltsin might attempt a 'coup d'etat', a constitutional + seizure of power calling on the forces of democracy in + Russia, but that this also would fail because such a + constitutional fascism was based on the belief that only a + minority was democratic. I believe that this plan is also + destined to fail due to the fact that local organisations in + Russia are not keen to collaborate with the 'actors' in + Moscow. There will be no massive mobilisation of support for + Yeltsin who, moreover, has never enjoyed majority support. + In the April referendum only 6 out of 10 voted and of these + only 6 out of 10 voted for Yeltsin. We are speaking of a man + whose popularity in April was not that of the majority and + whose popularity is currently in decline. + + The political logic of the old regime put the Communist + Party in a position of 'infallible doctrine' to justify + social and political authoritarianism. With the + disappearance of this not only is there a political vacuum + but also a distrust of secular ideologies. There is now the + possibility of a call to the myths of nationalism, race, + religion and blood especially if the situation deteriorates; + crime rises and life expectancy falls. + + Fascism could come about in Russia due to the absence of + politics. + + My conclusion as an anarchist is a positive one. I look + towards the fifth possibility which will be as envisaged by + Proudhon 'Decentralised Federalism'. Russia has this + capacity which could serve as an example to other states. I + am no expert on Spanish matters, but I understand that there + was a strong federal tradition in this country before the + dictatorship. The federalist capacity which exists in every + state also exists in Russia but there is no guarantee that + it will be successful. + + When a central regime admits its inability to control local + authorities the development of a federalist system could + prove the best solution for Russia in these times. The + system is characterised by a multiplicity of local + authorities and constant change in the political sphere at a + local level. Vaclav Havel, president of the Czech Republic + concluded that in this post-Leninist situation there exists + the remains of an 'evil' in a moral sense reflected in + racism, nationalism, aggression and crime. Havel is + confident that once this 'evil' is eliminated a new social + integration will come into being, I concur. I conclusion + when I think of the possibilities which inspire me I think, + not of Havel but of Bakunin and Proudhon. + + I suggest that we continue to focus on the ideals of the + French Revolution properly speaking that is to say liberty, + equality and fraternity. + + Bakunin said that he would not consider himself to be free + as long as one single person did not enjoy liberty: 'if + there is one person who is not free I am not free'. + + Perhaps we can say that the end of communism in Europe marks + the beginning of history. + + There exists the possibility of outcomes other than those + which prevail in Bosnia: an indication of the renovation of + the anarchist solution understood in the Proudhonian sense + of 'order without authority'. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000954.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000954.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c5af3bfa --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000954.txt @@ -0,0 +1,222 @@ + +Child Rearing And Danger by David Briars +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + +The trial of two environmentalists sued by the McDonald's corporation +in order to silence them has highlighted McDonalds' truly sinister +advertising strategy to control the minds of young children. Last +summer I saw one of these after-school commercials. It made me shiver +at the time, and it made reading about their 2-8 year old targeting +strategy fit right into place. I look over to my own TV with a feeling +of horror but also sadness. Just throwing away the television or +blowing it up etc.etc. is not a satisfactory answer. The TV is an +important tool as well as a dangerous weapon like a gun. We need a way +to raise our children to be able to coexist with TV rationally and +safely, without being seduced by it. Like any dangerous thing, the +proper time to introduce it to a child is when that child is mature +enough to be able to handle it. + +Child Rearing And TV + +Raising a child is a process of teaching self control and good sense +in a wide variety of dangerous situations. Early childhood is when we +most need the wisdom of generations to raise our children, Yet +television is bleeding our culture of its child rearing heritage. + +I recently saw a 6 month old baby placed directly in front of a 48 +inch TV to keep him quiet. I went up to the baby and tried to get his +attention by gently squeezing his feet and smiling and talking to him. +The baby remained absolutely transfixed on the gigantic face of Winona +Judd singing a song about some Peyton Place melodrama. What will that +child know about child rearing except how to carry his own living +child, glassy eyed to the foot of the robot giver-of-stimulation. +Television has been slowly taking over the child rearing process for +at least 2 generations. + +Child Rearing And Hysteria + +Hysteria, or irrational panic, takes many forms. Most of us have +looked down over a steep cliff or tall building and felt ourselves +being pulled over the edge. I would like to propose that this feeling +is an archetypal, elemental example of hysteria. It springs from a +Pavlovian experience of being screamed at for going near precipices. +The scream assumes that the child has no instinct of self +preservation, no mind, no self. Only DANGER in relation to PRECIPICE. + +Now this is a genuinely frightening part of child rearing. I don't +have all the answers, but I cannot forget the sight of a 3 year old +son of a rural Vermont saw mill owner being allowed to wander around +in the sawmill. Anyone who has seen the inside of a dark backwoods +sawmill with its giant deadly blade at floor level, sliding log +carrying table, deafening noise and greasy wet floor would be +astonished that even an adult would be allowed to wander there. But +this same child is now graduating from high-school. Somehow this child +was taught without panic to conduct himself rationally in a life +threatening environment. I'm not sure how, but it can be done. + +Danger is everywhere in our lives. Very few children born today will +go through life without confronting many dangerous situations, not +only sawmills, but guns, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and television. We +need calmness and care in teaching our children about these dangers-- +not just by screaming !NO! but by sharing the real human difficulties +of dealing with each. Too soon, each child will be meeting brand new +unthought-of dangers that they could not have been made !BAD! by +Pavlovian conditioning. They must meet them with reason grounded in +self confidence. + +Not long ago I came upon a flag-draped magazine designed by an +association of gun manufacturers to fight the anti-gun lobby in the +USA. It had a consistent, simple-minded, depressing theme: "Crime is +caused by not-enough-punishment and not-enough-guns". However, I was +not prepared for the last article: a very surprising and wonderful +essay called "A Parent's Guide To Children and Firearms". It has a +great deal to teach us about teaching children how to deal with +dangerous things. Substitute the terror of your choice for "firearms" +whether it is TV, drugs, tobacco, alcohol. The essay will still ring +true. + +-David Briars +(dbriars@world.std.com) +------------------------------------------------------------------- + +A Parent's Guide To Children and Firearms by John Aquilno + + +If you recently purchased your first firearm, or already own a firearm +and have children in your home, you must realize that teaching your +child to be safe around guns begins with you, the parent. It is your +decision to have guns in your home. You also decide when and to what +extent to teach your child about guns and gun safety. + +The trust your child has in you, and your advice will determine to a +great degree your success in raising your child to be safe with guns. +That trust is built through your ability to provide the things every +child needs: love, attention, discipline, values, respect, and ways to +deal with problems and emotions. + +A Parent's Challenge + +You help teach your child to make correct decisions. The guidelines +you set up will help your child lay out a path between right and +wrong. + +Discipline is extremely important for your children to learn how to +control his or her behavior. It helps develop your child's trust in +you and your advice. + +Loving, yet consistent application of rules and consequences makes it +likely that when you set the limits for your child's behavior around +guns, or anything, your child will know that "no" means "no", that you +mean exactly what you say. + +Teaching your child to use words to express his or her feelings of +happiness or frustration or jealousy or anger can go a long way in +reducing the likelihood he or she will instead respond with physical +harm to others. A child who has been respected, encouraged, and +praised by parents learns confidence and is secure. That child is less +likely to see a gun as an artificial means of acquiring power or self +importance. + +Growing up is every child's challenge. Through the example and limits +you set, your child will develop a sense of self-esteem, and his or +her love for you will grow. + +When to Teach + +Timing is extremely important to successful teaching. When your child +starts to ask questions or act out "gun play", the time is ripe. Use +your child's curiosity as an indicator. Seize the teachable moment. Be +prepared to discuss, demonstrate, and answer questions. Keep the +lesson simple. Emphasize the most important points and repeat, repeat, +repeat. Your child's attention may wander. Don't be discouraged. Be +Patient. +Teach Facts, Not Fear + +Versed in the facts of gun safety, your child is more likely to make +sound decisions around guns. Be open and honest about guns. If you've +raised a child to be confident and secure, that child will be more +resistant to peer pressure to "show off" in an unsafe manner and will +most likely avoid wrong behavior and be safe around guns, whether you +are present or not. + +Fantasy Vs. Reality + +An active imagination can be a very healthy trait, but the ability to +distinguish between reality and fantasy is very important. Action +thrillers on television or in the movies are fantasy. They are +entertainment. it is very important that your child knows this +seemingly simple fact. Actors on television use play guns. They +pretend to be wounded and die. After the show, they get up and appear +on other films or on other TV stations. Don't assume your child knows +the difference between a toy gun and a real gun. Guns are used on +television are toys. Guns such as BB guns and firearms--pistols, +rifles, and shotguns are not toys. They are real guns. They must never +be confused with toy guns. + +If you allow your child to play with toy guns, use them to demonstrate +safe and proper behavior with all guns. + + +Gun Safety (Drug Safety, Alcohol Safety, TV Safety, Tobacco Safety) + +Parent, gun safety begins with you. Use common sense with your guns. +Keep your guns and ammunition inaccessible to your child. Don't leave +them lying around where a toddler can stumble on them. Think from your +child's point of view. What drawers are within reach? Can they be +opened by a little one pulling himself or herself up? If so, those +places are *not* inaccessible. + +A point about ammunition should be noted: A cartridge or shotshell is +not something that should be played with by a child. Keep your +ammunition as safe as you would your gun. + +If you do not have a child or if your child has moved from home, these +precautions still apply. A child may come to visit. + +How best to secure your guns in your home and keep them from a child +is a question only you can answer. You know your home. You set the +"do's" and "don'ts" of your child's behavior. + +Set those guidelines. Insist that they be honored at all times, when +you are home and when you are away from home. + +The attitude toward guns and gun safety you instill in yourself and +your children is key. Don't make it a one-way street. Follow the same +rules you set for your child. Enlist your child as a scout for gun +safety to be on the alert whenever the rules are broken. + +Three Rules of Safe Gun Handling + +1. Once the decision is made, impress on your child to *always keep a +gun pointed in a safe direction*. Whether you are shooting or simply +handling your gun, never point the muzzle at yourself or others. +Common sense will dictate which is safest depending on your location +and various other conditions. Generally it is safest to point the gun +upward or at the ground. + +2. Insist that your child *keep his or her finger off the trigger*. +There is a natural tendency to place your finger on a trigger when +holding a gun. Avoid it. That's what the trigger guard is made for--to +enable you to hold the gun comfortably with your finger off the +trigger. + +3. Keep the action open and the gun unloaded until ready to use. +Whenever you pick up any gun, immediately open the action and check +(visually if possible) to see that the chamber is unloaded. If the gun +has a magazine, make sure it's empty. If you do not know how to open +the gun's action, leave it alone or get help from someone who does. + +Remember, any time you handle a gun your child may be watching and +learning from your behavior. + +Your Child Wants To Shoot + +You may wish to extend your child's knowledge of gun safety to safe +handling and use. If so, and if your child expresses an interest in +learning to shoot, you, better than anyone, can determine when and if +your child is ready. There is no magic age. A child's attitude and +physical and emotional development are better indicators. + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000955.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000955.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dca9c684 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000955.txt @@ -0,0 +1,300 @@ + +INTERNATIONAL MCLIBEL ROUND-UP JAN 1995 + +Since the McLibel Support Campaign was set up we have been hearing +reports from all around the globe about independent campaigns and +actions against McDonalds. The court case has attracted over 200 +articles in the press, as well as international TV and radio +coverage, and Helen and Dave were nominated a Role of Honour by +readers of Britain's The Guardian newspaper "for taking on the +most litigious and biggest food supplier in the world and +defending themselves in what is expected to be the longest libel +case in Britain" + +Here is a global round-up of some of the news and actions we have +heard about in the last year. Please send us news or press +cuttings for our next round-up. + +FRANCE - On 9 July 1994 sixty seven workers at a local McDonald's +in Massy, a suburb of North Paris, pulled a surprise strike, +closing the store down during its busiest period. They were +demanding "respect of their rights to engage in union activity, +paid vacations, the right to choose their own delegates and +recognition of their personal needs." Less than 24 hours after the +strike an agreement was signed between management and the General +Confederation of Workers (CGT) union representing the workers. A +few days later McDonald's workers in the town of Ulis walked out. +In Nantes, west France, McDonald's workers prepared a week of +action with CGT trade unionists. + +In France employees of companies of over 50 workers have the legal +right to elect "delegates" with various rights, such as checking +that overtime is paid and employment contracts are followed. But +in Lyons ten McDonald's managers were arrested, accused of +violating these rights by threatening that any employee voting for +union delegates would be sacked. Only 38 of 458 employees voted +in the first election. According to the union CFDT, employees +said they had been told that anyone voting for the union would be +sacked. Mr Hammache of the CFDT will be a witness for the defense +in the London McLibel trial in 1995. + +Leafleting also took place around Grenoble with the ultimate aim +of getting a trade union set up in the city's McDonald's. Contact: +CNT-SSE Grenoble, BP 385, 38015 Grenoble, Cedex 1, France. + +BELGIUM - Two gigs took place to raise money for the McLibel court +case in London. In previous years occupations and blockades have +taken place. + +GERMANY - A group campaigning against McDonalds in Dusseldorf +have received threats from the company. + +UK - In April 1994 the Kent branch of the trade union UNISON +unanimously passed a resolution saying "This branch recognizes the +poor working conditions at McDonald's and their hostility to Trade +Unionism, and supports: the right of their staff to organize and +take on industrial action; protests against the company's attempts +to suppress criticism, in particular the use of libel laws as +censorship, and resolves to back the McLibel Support Campaign in +its protests and the FREE SPEECH PLEDGE and to circulate +information about the case". We urge all union members to get +their branches to pass similar motions and to make a donation to +our campaign. During 1994 a McDonald's worker's support group was +set up by the Hackney Trade Union Support Group at 16a Bradbury +Street, London N16. + +On 1 October 1994 McDonald's executives held a celebration along +with a jazz band and clown at their Woolwich store to mark 20 +years since this first store opened in the UK. Twenty five London +Greenpeace and McLibel supporters gathered with a banner reading +"20 Years of McGarbage" and handed out 4000 "What's Wrong With +McDonald's" leaflets to passers-by. + +On 8 October, at the third national day of action in 1994, scores +of McDonald's stores all around the country were leafleted +including at least 35 in the London area alone plus Swindon, +Bristol, Bath, Chippenham, Nottingam, Manchester and Edinburgh. +The month of protest continued with an action at the UK McDonald's +headquarters where sackfuls of the company's litter picked up off +the streets were returned to McDonald's. A week later 500 people +attended the National March Against McDonald's through central +London to protest against the company's exploitation of people, +animals and the environment. + +In November 1994 at a Manchester Drive-In a pantomime cow and +clowns were removed forcibly and violently by police during a +demonstration organized by Manchester Earth First! On 17 December +1994 protesters outside Kingston McDonald's were threatened with +having their legs broken by a McDonald's manager - protests +continue. In some other towns such as Newcastle and Hastings +pickets are held fortnightly. + +In November local residents from Wandsworth in London protested at +further cuts in the borough's public spending budget. Anti +McDonald's protesters highlighted the #15,000 which the council +has given McDonald's to build an in-store creche when it +continues to cut back on public spending. + +A group of young people called Kids Against Big Mac have organized +pickets and are distributing their own leaflets. You can organize +a group in your town or contact: Kids Against BigMac, PO Box 287, +London NW6 5QU. + +SPAIN: 200 people protested outside McDonald's in Valencia on +World Food Day. A picket of a McDonald's in Madrid took place the +same day. + +Contact: McLibel Support Campaign, c/o Mike, El Lokal, C/ de la +Cera 1 Bis, 08001 Barcelona, Spain. + +NORWAY: An anti-McDonald's group will be set up in the new year. +Correspondence will be forwarded by The Mclibel Support Campaign +in London. + +NETHERLANDS - On 15 and 16 October Anti McDonald's Day was marked +with actions in Amsterdam, Groningen, Njmegen, Maastrict and +Vlissingen. + +DENMARK - On New Year's Day 1995, according to The Guardian (2 +January 1995) McDonald's in Copenhagen was broken into and smashed +up by hundreds of "left wing anarchists" because it "symbolizes +capitalism and money". Furniture was ripped out and burnt on a +bonfire. + +PORTUGAL - Protesters were beaten up and arrested by police after +a demonstration outside a Lisbon McDonald's where 80 demonstrators +voiced their opposition to the BigMac. Leafleting continues +across the country. + +IRELAND - This year there have been pickets of McDonald's stores +in Dublin, Belfast and other towns. Since March 1994 the Alliance +For Animal Rights [AFAR] in Galway have been harassed by the +police and threatened with arrest for displaying placards and +distributing information outside their local McDonald's. The +manager of McDonald's has taken photographs of protesters. Violent +threats and threats of libel action have been made to protesters +who believe that they have had quite an effect on McDonald's trade +in Galway. According to AFAR, Galway McDonald's is the only +branch in Europe which is losing money. Victory! + +Contact: McLibel Support Campaign will forward mail to AFAR in +Galway. + +ITALY + +On 26 February 1994 about 40 animal rights activists protested +outside McDonald's in Torino. There was widespread public support +for the protesters. + +ICELAND - Copies of the leaflet "What's wrong with McDonald's" are +circulating in Reykjavik. McDonald's moved into Iceland a year +ago amiss trade union protests. + +CZECH REPUBLIC - A McLibel supporter in the Czech Republic writes +"All people here, after the fall of socialism thought everything +would be better, but I have to say that it is even worse. Rapid +increase of racism, no one cares about the environment, our +country is flooded with Western capitalism..." + +There have been several actions against McDonald's in different +Czech cities. On 7 December 1993 in the Moravian city of Brno, a +McDonald's assistant manager sprayed tear gas in a photographer's +face during a protest at the opening of the county's seventh +McDonald's. After initially denying that the offender was a +McDonald's employee, the company issued a formal apology to the +Czech Press Agency photographer. The incident occurred when about +30 people, mainly from the environmental group Duha were pushed +and carried out of a McDonald's restaurant where they had been +eating vegetables in a peaceful protest. "Just taking up the space +is a form of violence" said McDonald's public relations manager +Drahomira Jirakova. The McDonald's employee was asked to pay a +small fine but is still working at McDonald's. At a demo in +Prague 200 people turned out and over $15000 of damage was caused +in battles with the police when bricks and paint were thrown. + +McDonald's are so worried about their image in the Czech republic +that in October 1994 they pulled a publicity stunt inviting +journalists and activists including animal rights group Animal SOS +to inspect stores and meat processing plants. + +Contact: Hnuti Duha Brno, Jakuska nam 7, 602 00 Brno, Czech +Republic and Hnuti Duha Plzen, Skolni 309, 330 08 Zruc, Czech +Republic. + +POLAND - Architectural professor, Stanislav Juchnowitz is amongst +campaigners and residents trying to stop McDonald's opening a new +store in Cracow, Poland. He said "The activities of this firm are +symbolic of mass industrial civilization and a superficial +cosmopolitan way of life". McDonald's already has 13 stores in +Poland, but so far have been refused permission to open the store +in Cracow's historic main square. [New York Times International 23 +May 1994]. Actions against McDonald's also took place in Warsaw, +Gdansk and Wroclaw on 4th July [US Independence Day]. McDonald's +are seen as a symbol and front runners for unwelcome Western +capitalism. + +Contact: Green Brigade in Poland regarding nationwide protest. + + +HUNGARY - Anti McDonald's articles appear regularly in green +publications, forcing correspondence from the chief manager of +McDonalds in Hungary. In the town of Pecs a group of young +anarchists are protesting against the building of two McDonald's +stores. + +CROATIA - A local group is being set up in Zagreb to organize +against three McDonald's which are opening in the city. McLibel +Support Campaign was told "You have really big support here +because people are against all multinational corporations, and +there are more and more vegetarians and vegans every day". + +Contact: All mail will be forwarded to our contact in Croatia. + + +AUSTRALIA - At the Townsville Eco Fiesta, Queensland, in July 1994 +singer Peter Garrett from rock band Midnight Oil gave an +anti-McDonald's speech and leaflets were handed out. + +Benefit gigs to raise funds for the court case in London have been +held in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide - a recorded tape +will be available soon to raise further funds. + +The Operation Send it Back campaign has been active in Australia +and there is a lively McLibel Support Campaign at PO Box 558, +South Birsbane, 4101, Australia. + +AOTEAROA [NEW ZEALAND] - McDonald's environmental image was +revealed to be a sham, and customers being conned when it was +discovered that rubbish which customers were asked to put into +separated recycling bins throughout New Zealand stores was sent to +the tip. A McDonald's head office spokeswoman said all regional +restaurants would install notices informing people that recycling +has ended. [Wellington Evening Post, 24 November 1994]. + +In June 1994 a McLibel Support Campaign was set up to organize +protests and raise money for the London court case. Protests +received widespread publicity. On 16 October, protests against +McDonald's took place in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and +Christchurch. + +Contact: McLibel Support Campaign, PO Box 14-156, Kilbirnie, +Wellington, Aotearoa/N.Z. They also have a contact in SINGAPORE +to whom they can forward mail. + +HONG KONG - Protests included fly posting on 16 October. + +ISRAEL - On 14 October leaflets in Hebrew were handed out by +animal rights organization Anonymous and the Anarchist Federation, +and twelve people were arrested for chaining themselves to the +entrance of McDonald's on the opening day of McDonald's in +Israel. + +INDIA + +The India branch of Beauty Without Cruelty have produced an anti +McDonald's leaflet and are trying to stop McDonald's entering +India. + +Contact: Beauty Without Cruelty, 4 Prince of Wales' Drive, +Wanowrie, Poona 411 010, India. + +CANADA - In Ontario during a long running trade union dispute, +McDonald's reacted using highly controversial methods including +getting employees to lie in the snow in the shape of the letters +"NO" (to trade unions). The main trade union activist working at +the store will be giving evidence at the London trial in 1995. + + +USA - On 4 March 1994 forty vegans held their 4th protest at the +Berkeley branch of McDonald's in San Francisco. + +In Philadelphia the Wages for Housework Campaign held a picket +outside McDonald's to show their support for the McLibel Two, and +had a "teach-in" about McDonald's and the London trial. + +There was leafleting in many cities on Anti McDonald's day including +New York City. + +Contacts: McLibel Support Campaign, PO Box 120, East Calais, VT +05650. + +Wages for Housework Campaign, PO Box 11795, Philadelphia, +Pennsylvania 19101. + +MEXICO - In Autumn 1994 in Mexico City 40 people, protesting at +California's new anti immigrant referendum caused considerable damage +to a McDonald's, seeing the company as a symbol of US imperialism. + +PHILIPPINES - A delegation of community activists attended the +picket of the London court in September. Letters of support have +been received from people concerned at the effects of McDonald's +on local culture, diet and economy. + +Campaign Statement: The McLibel Support Campaign was set up to +generate solidarity and financial backing for the McLibel +Defendants, who are not themselves responsible for Campaign +publicity. The Campaign is also supportive of, but independent +from, general, worldwide, grassroots anti-McDonalds activities and +protests. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000956.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000956.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..df54574d --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000956.txt @@ -0,0 +1,165 @@ + +McLIBEL SUPPORT CAMPAIGN + +c/o 5 Caledonian Road, London, N1 9DX. Tel/Fax 0171 713 1269 + + +January 1995 Supporters Mailout + +Dear friends, + +It's now 6 months since the trial began on June 28th last year. +It is now scheduled to continue until the end of 1995 (on course +for the longest libel trial in British history). It is proving to +be a detailed, complex, controversial case, and a highly +embarrassing experience for McDonald's. + +TRIAL RESTARTS WED 11th JAN 2pm - Join the picket 1-3pm outside +the High Court, Strand WC2. + +Part of the demonstration will be a caged battery chicken and a +chained McDonald's worker. + +Putting The Corporation On Trial - So far the spotlight has been +on the junk food giant's business practices, in particular the +effects of packaging, diet and ill-health and advertising. Helen +and Dave have questioned 29 witnesses so far, 18 for McDonald's +(including 8 executives/dept heads) and 11 for the Defense (mainly +experts). Only 150 more witnesses to go! The next major issues +are food poisoning and animal welfare, followed by over 60 +witnesses on McDonald's workers' rights and conditions. +McDonald's witnesses have tended to be evasive but many have made +admissions or ludicrous statements under questioning. The Defense +case seems to be going well. + +Publicity Increases - This is an exhausting legal battle for Helen +and Dave, but it's an excellent opportunity to step up the +pressure and publicity against McDonald's at a time when the +public are interested and concerned about the issues in the case. +The first week of the trial was widely reported by the +establishment media, but coverage since has been patchy. +(However, the case was recently described in the Daily Telegraph +as 'the best free entertainment in London', and readers of The +Guardian last week nominated Helen and Dave for a 1994 'Role of +Honour'!) Many alternative and left-wing papers have covered the +trial, and there has been growing publicity abroad. + +Support Spreads - A wide range of organizations and groups - +green, civil liberties, trades union, socialist, anarchist, animal +rights etc. - have agreed to back the campaign. But we mustn't +underestimate the power of McDonald's to swamp the country with +advertising and propaganda during and after the trial. For this +reason, it's essential TO CONTINUE TO CIRCULATE AND DISTRIBUTE THE +"What's Wrong With McDonald's" LEAFLETS WHATEVER THE VERDICT AT +THE END OF THE TRIAL (#12 per 1,000 from 0115 9585666) You can +help by getting it into group mailouts, conferences, marches and +meetings - as well as direct to the public on the streets. + +Defying Corporate Censorship - As always, local protests continue, +including abroad. In October, following two successful Days of +Action earlier in the year, there was a month of protest - at +McDonald's HQ (returning a mountain of their litter), at their +first UK store (spoiling their 20th Anniversary celebrations), at +100 local stores nationally and in many countries worldwide (on +Anti-McDonald's Day/Oct 16th), as well as a 500-strong march +through London. There have been specific McLibel Support +Campaigns activities in Spain, Australia, USA, New Zealand, +Croatia and Italy. + +Meanwhile, 3 major new initiatives were launched in 1994 (the +first two independently of the MSC): + +- McDonald's Workers Support Group - a network providing advice + and encouraging solidarity among their workers - c/o 16a Bradbury + St, London N16 (Tel. 0171 249 8086). + +- Kids Against Big Mac - all kids everywhere are encouraged to + set up their own local KABM groups - PO Box 287, London NW6. + +- Operation 'Send-It-Back' - to collect and send back company + litter to their HQ or in protests at local stores - c/o 180 + Mansfield Rd, Nottingham NG1 3HW (Tel. 0115 9585666). + +McDonald's has not only failed to shut their critics up, they've +made everyone angrier still! This April is the Corporation's 40th +ANNIVERSARY. Let's make it a highly memorable occasion for them. +Please support and prepare for worldwide protests. PLEASE COPY +AND CIRCULATE THE FLYER OVERLEAF. + +Every word in the available anti-McDonald's leaflet is true. We +must not tolerate the truth being silenced by censorship or legal +thuggery. In the face of mass defiance, McDonald's will be +helpless and their efforts will have totally backfired! Other +corporations will then get the message not to follow in their +footsteps, and it will be a victory for all movements for +justice. + +Best wishes from all of us. + +In solidarity, +McLibel Support Campaign + +------------------------------------------------------------------- +APPEAL APPEAL APPEAL The Campaign is almost out of funds. The +Defendants need thousands of pounds to pay the fares of their +witnesses (many from abroad). On top of this there are basic +photocopying and admin costs etc. We ask for collections, +standing orders, sponsor-a-witness, affiliations, benefits, +donations etc. (checks to: 'McLibel Support Campaign'). Thanks! + + +Stop Press: 'Undercurrents' - alternative news video, including +special McLibel piece. #5.50 from us. + +INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST McDONALD'S + +on the day of their 40th ANNIVERSARY + +PROTEST AGAINST 40 YEARS + +of Junk Food, and the Exploitation of People, Animals and the +Environment. + +EASTER SATURDAY + +APRIL 15th 1995 + +CELEBRATE 10 YEARS + +of Coordinated, International Protests, and Resistance by Workers, +Consumers, and Opposition Movements. + +On 15th April 1955, McDonald's opened their first store in Des +Plaines, Illinois, USA. Now they operate in over 70 countries and +have approximately 15,000 stores worldwide. They are constantly +expanding, particularly at the moment into Eastern Europe and the +Baltic States. McDonald's recently announced that they are to +open 50 more stores in the UK. The exploitation of people, +animals and the environment, which they are responsible for, +increases. But at the same time, opposition to McDonald's grows. +There is criticism and protest in every country in which they +operate. + +On 15th April 1995, their 40th anniversary, let's make it clear +that there are many people who are angry about the devastation of +the Earth, deaths of billions of animals, exploitation of workers, +and advertising and hype. At the same time, we will be +celebrating 10 years of international protests against McDonald's +and all they stand for. + +For a society based on + +health, ecology, human and animal liberation, real food and real +life. + +PICKET LOCAL McDONALD'S STORES EVERYWHERE + +Let's make this an Anniversary to remember. + +McLibel Support Campaign, 5 Caledonian Road, London, N1 9DX. +Tel/Fax 0171 713 1269 + + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000957.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000957.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..65867e6f --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000957.txt @@ -0,0 +1,466 @@ + + +US McLibel Support Campaign Press Office +c/o Vermonters Organized for Clean-up, Box 120, East Calais VT 05650 +802-472-6996 or 802-586-9628, dbriars@world.std.com +------------------------------------------------------------------------ +8th January, 1994 + +The Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth & Seventeenth Weeks Of The Trial +(14th November - 9th December 1994). + +CONTENTS: +The Mclibel Trial Continues +Background +Edward Oakley, For Mcdonald's, Purchasing Ractices And Policies + Fraudulent Recycling Scheme + 'Excess Waste Is A Benefit' + 'Nutrition Not Important' + Animals + Rainforest Beef And Soya + Political Influence? +Susan Dibb, For The Defendants, On Advertizing And Public Health + Requests Regulatory Action Against Child Ads + Pester Power + Toys And Gimicks + Use Of Characters In Ads + Government Attempts To Curb Child Advertizing +Terence Mallinson, For Mcdonalds, Use Of Forest Resources + Plantation Forestry +Casper Van Erp, For Mcdonalds, Packaging + Polystyrene And Paper +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +8th January, 1994 +The Mclibel Trial Continues + + After several years of pre-trial hearings, the McDonalds libel case +against two environmentalists - who were allegedly involved in distribution +in 1989/1990 of the London Greenpeace leaflet "What's Wrong With McDonalds" +- began at the end of June 1994. It is set to run until DECEMBER 1995. + +Background + + A total of approximately 180 UK and international witnesses will give +evidence in court about the effects of the company's advertising and the +impact of its operating practices and food products on the environment, on +millions of farmed animals, on human health, on the Third World, and on +McDonalds' own staff. They will include environmental and nutritional +experts, trade unionists, McDonald's employees, animal welfare experts and +top executives. + +McDonalds have claimed that wide-ranging criticisms of their operations, in +a leaflet produced by London Greenpeace, have defamed them, so they have +launched this libel action against two people (Dave Morris & Helen Steel) +involved with the group. + +Prior to the start of the case, McDonald's issued leaflets nationwide +calling their critics liars. So Helen and Dave themselves took out a +counterclaim for libel against McDonald's which will run concurrently with +McDonald's libel action. + +Helen and Dave were denied their right to a jury trial, at McDonalds' +request. And, with no right to Legal Aid in libel cases, they are forced +to conduct their own defense against McDonald's team of top libel lawyers. + +The trial is open to members of the press and public (Court 35, Royal +Courts of Justice, The Strand, London WC2) and is set to run until DECEMBER +1995. +-------------------------------------------------------------------- + +The Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth & Seventeenth Weeks Of The Trial (14th +November - 9th December 1994). + +Edward Oakley, For Mcdonald's, Purchasing Ractices And Policies + +Edward Oakley, Chief Purchasing Officer and Senior Vice-President of +McDonald's UK and Ireland, gave evidence about the company's purchasing +policies and practices. He is responsible for both the purchasing and +quality assurance departments, including for Northern Europe. + +Mr Oakley claimed that McDonald's have a consciousness of environmental +considerations and referred to the company's 'environmental task force' and +a corporate environmental policy. He stated he did not know when this +policy was published, but he had seen it 'on a wall' at their head office. +He said the policy 'had not had any direct effect on the Purchasing +Department', but 'it certainly did on the Communications [PR] Department'. + +Fraudulent Recycling Scheme + +When questioned about the company's so called "Environmental initiatives", +Mr Oakley denied that these were in the main a propaganda exercise. +However, one of their nationally available 'McFact' cards publicized a +scheme to recycle polystyrene waste from Nottingham stores, where customers +were asked to put polystyrene packaging into a separate bin, "for recycling +into such things as plant pots, coat hangers and insulation material for +use in homes, even fillings for duvets". Mr Oakley admitted that despite +the scheme continuing for several years, the company did not recycle any of +the waste, and in fact the polystyrene was 'dumped'. + +Mr Oakley denied that the production, transportation and disposal of +packaging was damaging to the environment. When asked why McDonald's +didn't make use of reusable plates and cutlery, Mr Oakley replied 'I do not +think it would be as safe' and asserted that disposable packaging was more +energy efficient and that 'you would certainly pollute the air through +cleaning and washing reusables. So, I think in balance take-away packaging +is better'. He admitted that the company had not seriously looked into +reusables in this country. + +In recent years, the company had moved to increase their use of recycled +paper in packaging. When asked 'to what extent was the move toward +recycled content a consequence of McDonald's desire to create for itself a +user-friendly image in the public mind', Mr Oakley said 'It was a +consideration without a doubt, it was not the prime mover'. The prime +mover was a 'commercial consideration', 'the more virgin paper you use the +less is available generally, if we all only ever used virgin paper, the +price would rocket'. + +Questioned about the environmental impact of paper versus polystyrene +packaging, Mr Oakley said it was six of one and half a dozen of the other. +He said McDonald's preferred to use polystyrene because they could recycle +it, but admitted that the only polystyrene being recycled was some of the +packaging from a scheme involving five stores in Manchester (the company +has over 550 stores in the UK). He claimed the company aimed to expand the +scheme, but agreed that the company 'had gone nowhere with that for the +last two years or so'. + +He admitted that when McDonald's UK introduced CFCs in their polystyrene +packaging in 1986 they were aware of the ozone damage caused by CFCs in +aerosols. Press reports revealed that in 1987 Friends of the Earth had +called for a boycott of McDonald's products over the use of CFCs. The +following year, the company abandoned CFC usage, but Mr Oakley denied that +the boycott was a consideration. + +'Excess Waste Is A Benefit' +In some countries, the company had abandoned or limited the use of +polystyrene packaging, in part because it was not biodegradable and took up +a lot of space in landfill sites. Mr Oakley stated that there was 'no +landfill problem in the UK'. When asked whether he believed that 'as long +as there is room in the dumps, there is no problem with dumping lots of +McDonald's waste in the ground?', Mr Oakley stated 'and everybody else's +waste, yes, that is true'. He said 'I can see [the dumping of waste] to be +a benefit, otherwise you will end up with lots of vast, empty gravel pits +all over the country'. Asked if he was 'asserting it is an environmental +benefit to dump waste in landfill sites', he stated 'It could be'.... 'yes, +it is certainly not a problem'. + +Mr Oakley admitted that, with the exception of the five Manchester stores, +all post-consumer waste in the UK either ends up as litter or gets dumped +in landfill sites. Defending McDonald's use of large quantities of +packaging, he said that the use of colorful cartons with company logos was +'to put the brand across directly to the customer'....'for image, brand +image'. + +'Nutrition Not Important' + +McDonald's was on the record as saying it supported the dietary +recommendations (to improve the population's health) in the 'Health of the +Nation'. Mr Oakley said that the company was moving 'to lower levels of +usage' of fat and salt in the company's products. He added that reducing +salt and sugar content was 'a responsible thing to do' as it would be +'healthier for the customers'. + +However, when quizzed about why McDonald's didn't oven bake its fruit pies +rather than deep frying them, Mr Oakley said that the cost of setting up +the ovens could not be justified as 'the baked apple pie does not sell any +more than the fried apple pie'.....'so why spend the money?'. When it was +suggested that the company install the ovens 'for concern for your +customers health', Mr Oakley said 'we do not see it as a concern'. He was +asked 'you do not see reducing the fat content as a concern?' and replied +'No. Why do we need to?'. + +When asked if the company had considered selling fruit as an initiative to +support the 'Health of the Nation', Mr Oakley stated 'We found it was not +very practical. We are not quite sure how we would serve it. It does not +really fit in with the way we do business'..... 'If you put a fruit bowl in +there, there could be mayhem at the front counter, frankly'. + +Mr Oakley said he had responsibility for the nutrition guides currently +available in McDonald's stores. When asked what 'nutritious' means in the +guide, he stated 'foods that contain nutrients'. Asked if there was any +food he knew of that is not nutritious, he said 'I do not know if you would +call it food or not, but you could put up an argument for black coffee or +black tea or mineral water'. Asked 'what about Coca Cola?', he said 'Coca +Cola has a good source of energy, no question of that'. He was then asked +if he thought it was nutritious, to which he replied 'yes, it can be'. + +Mr Oakley said McDonald's did not have a department responsible solely for +nutrition. He stated that 'it is not felt to be an important enough issue +to have a separate nutritional department like the company have marketing +or communications departments'. + +Animals + +As part of the Quality Assurance remit, Mr Oakley said he had a +responsibility for animal welfare. He claimed that the company 'had a very +real feeling that animals should be kept and slaughtered in the most humane +way possible' and so had published an animal welfare statement two years +ago. When questioned about this so-called policy, Mr Oakley admitted that +the 'animal welfare policy is, in fact, just a policy to comply with the +laws of the various countries in which McDonald's operate', and added 'we +do not go beyond what the law stipulates'. + +McDonald's eggs are supplied from battery units. Mr Oakley said the +company had thought about switching to free range eggs, but, not only were +battery eggs '50% cheaper', but, he claimed 'undoubtedly, hens kept in +batteries are better cared for, they are less open to predators, they +certainly are less open to rodents than on free range, and they are less +open to disease'. He said he thought battery cages were 'pretty +comfortable'. + +Rainforest Beef And Soya + +Mr Oakley said 10-20% of their UK beef supplies are from outside the UK. +He admitted that the company had purchased beef from Brazil (in 1983/4). +He claimed that it was for a relatively short period of time, but said he +was not sure how long exactly. A letter from the US Corporation to a +member of the public in the UK in 1982 stated "McDonald's has a long +standing policy of buying all of our products from suppliers in the host +country where we are doing business"......."as a result we can assure you +that the only Brazilian beef used by McDonald's is that purchased by the +six stores located in Brazil itself". Mr Oakley said he thought the letter +was referring to the finished products (hamburgers), it was not 'talking +about raw ingredients'. He denied that the purchase of Brazilian beef for +use in the UK was in breach of McDonald's policy saying 'No, it was not. +We still bought the hamburgers locally. We did not buy the ingredients +locally'. + +The Defendants referred to the controversy over Brazilian sources of soya +feed for cattle. Mr Oakley admitted that cattle from the UK and elsewhere +are fed with soya, and he claimed that McDonald's had 'no policy' on soya +feed - however, this was contradicted by a 1991 Corporation policy document +which Mr Oakley claimed he had never seen. + +Political Influence? + +Mr Oakley stated he had had dinners with government ministers 'from time to +time', for 'informational' purposes or, for example, to get 'advice' if +they had 'planning problems for new sites'. He also accepted that Margaret +Thatcher had opened the company's Headquarters, that her former election +agent is now Head of the Communications Department, and that her former +press secretary, Bernard Ingham, is now a non-executive Director. + +Susan Dibb, For The Defendants, On Advertizing And Public Health + +Susan Dibb, researcher and author of reports on food advertising to +children, gave expert evidence for the Defendants on the nature and effect +of such advertising. On behalf of the National Food Alliance (NFA), which +campaigns to protect and improve the public's health, she had examined the +impact of advertising on children's food preferences and choices and had +made submissions to the Independent Television Commission (ITC) for +restrictions on food advertising to children. She had found 'that the +majority of food and drink advertisements screened during children's TV +programming are for foods/drinks that are high in fat and/or sugars - the +kind of foods which are unlikely to promote healthier eating'. There were +virtually no ads for 'fruits and vegetables and other foods which we are +being encouraged to eat more of to improve the nation's health'. + +Requests Regulatory Action Against Child Ads + +She believed that in the debate over the future of food advertising 'public +health should be given priority' over the wishes of advertisers. The +National Food Alliance, backed by 50 national organizations, had called for +action by regulatory bodies to restrict the content and frequency of food +advertising to children. She felt the ITC did not enforce its existing +codes effectively and it failed to consider the cumulative effects of +advertisements. To protect children's health, the NFA had called on the +ITC to ban advertising of sugary and fatty foods at times when large +numbers of children were likely to be watching television. In her view, +'the cumulative effect of much food advertising does result in harm to +children, in the sense that it encourages inappropriate nutritional +practices which will have implications for children's health and their +health in later life'. + +Ms Dibb criticized McDonald's 'misleading' attempts to associate its +products with health, fitness and sport. She was also concerned about the +'underlying promotional message' in McDonald's links with schools, +dentists, etc, and in their increasing sponsorship activity, stating that +whilst it appeared to be altruistic it was 'advertising in a covert way'. + +Evidence showed, she said, that 'children are highly influenced by +advertising' (some research showed them to be three times more responsive +than adults) and there was a 'causal link between advertising and food +selection... the higher the viewing for particular advertisements, the +greater the children's requests for these products'. + +Pester Power + +Children, described by one marketing company as an "advertisers' dream", +were effectively encouraged to wield 'pester power' over their parents. In +a recent survey nearly half of the parents of children aged over 5 said +they often gave in to buying foods they would not otherwise buy as a result +of that pester power. Almost two thirds of those questioned felt there +should be tougher restrictions on advertising of food and soft drinks to +children. + +Toys And Gimicks + + Ms Dibb had attended a seminar organized by and for those in the +advertising industry entitled "Pester Power - how to reach kids in 1994", +which discussed the most effective techniques for advertising to children. +McDonald's, she said, use all such techniques in their ads - seeking to +'draw children into the McDonald's world'. One such technique, featuring +collectable toys in ads rather than the food products themselves, could be +considered a 'more insidious form of advertising' (this technique is banned +in Denmark). + +Use Of Characters In Ads + +Concerns have been raised about whether it is right to advertise at all to +young children who cannot fully understand the purpose of ads, but in any +event she said, 'understanding advertising's purpose is no defense against +its influence'. Use of characters (such as Ronald McDonald) was a major +trend in children's food and drink marketing and could be said to 'play on +children's affection and loyalty' to those characters and 'exploit their +emotions' (despite this being against the Independent Television +Commission's advertising code). Sections of McDonald's own operations +manual, said Ms Dibb, 'appeared to be a direct exhortation to managers to +use children's emotions and particularly their love for Ronald McDonald to +bring them into the store'. Asked if she had any concerns about this Ms +Dibb said 'I do not think it is ethical'. + +Government Attempts To Curb Child Advertizing + +In 1977, the UK Government's 'ANNAN' Committee recommended a ban on +advertising during children's programs, and other restrictions on child- +targeted products, because they were "concerned that advertisements +increased children's desire for products which their parents could not +afford". However, the ban did not come into effect because the TV +companies' "loss of revenue" took precedence. Similarly in the USA in +1979, the Federal Trade Commission proposed a ban on TV advertising to +under 8 year olds, but was defeated by fierce opposition from the +advertising industry. However, other countries, for example Norway and +Sweden, have severe restrictions on advertising to children, and in some +instances, outright bans. + +Finally, Ms Dibb stated that, if McDonald's claim to support public health +initiatives was to be believed, she would expect them to look at providing +'a more healthful range of products' and to 'positively promote good +nutrition'. + +Terence Mallinson, For Mcdonalds, Use Of Forest Resources + +Terence Mallinson gave evidence for McDonald's, as Chair of the 'Forests +Forever' campaign, an organization set up by the Timber Trade Federation +(of which Mr Mallinson was formerly President) to represent the interests +of the forestry and timber industries in environmental issues. + +Mr Mallinson defended McDonald's annual use of millions of kilos of paper +for their packaging. He asserted that forests were sustainably managed, +but admitted that until recently this had only meant in terms of a +'sustained yield' of timber. Following pressure from environmentalists +during the 1980's, it was now widely accepted, for the first time, that +forests 'should be sustainably managed to meet the social, economic, +ecological, cultural and spiritual needs of present and future +generations'. This included protection of biodiversity. Mr Mallinson said +that 'ecological sustainability was seldom, if ever, on the agenda of +either government or industrial organizations before the period of 1988/9'. + +Plantation Forestry + +McDonald's packaging is derived from forests in many countries, including +the UK, Canada, USA, Scandinavia (especially Finland), Germany, Italy, +France and the Czech Republic, mostly from managed forest monoculture +plantations. In the UK, Mr Mallinson agreed that approximately half of all +our natural woodland had been felled since 1945, and the forests planted +since were mostly coniferous monocultures until recently, when +environmental concerns and pressures led to some changes. He said that the +late 80's were a 'crossroads' worldwide regarding changing forestry +practices, with most European and Scandinavian countries now recognizing +the need to diversify forest cover. However, he agreed that cultivated +plantations 'cannot contain all the biological qualities and variations +that are to be found in natural forests'. + +Mr Mallinson admitted that there were particular problems with coniferous +trees, which could acidify water courses to 'a point where the fish can no +longer survive'. In the USA and Canada particularly, there had been +problems with soil erosion, in some cases leading to the silting up of +rivers + +Mr Mallinson had visited two pulp mills supplying McDonald's, using trees +from forests in Scotland and Finland. He admitted that in Finland (a major +source of McDonald's paper supplies), there had been government concern +over the hundreds of animal and plant species threatened by forest +management practices. There had also been environmentalist concern during +the 1980's about plantations in the Flow Country in northern Scotland, +following which further plantations in this area were halted as, he +admitted, they had 'disturbed the balance of nature'. + +In the UK, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers are used during the +establishment phase, in around one third of the planted areas. +Environmentalists were concerned about the leaching of these chemicals into +water courses and rivers. Mr Mallinson admitted that a significant amount +of these chemicals end up in the water table. In some European countries, +use of such chemicals was banned or heavily restricted. + +He said the forest industry recognized the environmental and political +pressure to increase the use of recycled paper. 'Environmental pressures', +he said, on companies like McDonald's had affected the industry and led to +a 'change in environmental attitudes'. + +Casper Van Erp, For Mcdonalds, Packaging + +Casper Van Erp, representing the European section of Perseco, which designs +and supplies most of McDonald's packaging worldwide, gave evidence. He +said that 'McDonald's had quite a bad name and image' in environmental +literature in the 1980's, but had 'succeeded... to move that around, that +image... to quite a positive one'. He described McDonald's concerns in +terms of a feel-good factor for customers. + +Polystyrene And Paper + +In comparing the production and disposal of the various types of McDonald's +packaging, he stated that both paper and polystyrene had a 'negative +impact' on the environment, requiring energy consumption to produce, and +creating, for example, water-borne waste, landfill problems, and +atmospheric emissions. In the case of paper clamshells, emissions of 'acid +gases which contribute to acid rain', and in the case of polystyrene, +hydrocarbons (which contribute to smog formation). + +When asked about waste disposal problems, he said that, for example in +Germany, 'people do not want new waste disposal sites or incineration sites +close to their place..... so they are running out of landfill space'. In +Germany, McDonald's has abandoned its polystyrene clamshell packaging, as +in several other countries including the USA. In some countries, penalties +have been imposed on companies for use of disposable packaging, and there +have been threats to outlaw such packaging. + +Overall, McDonald's paper packaging in Europe contained little recycled +content until the 1990's. Mr Van Erp said there was 'expected to be an +economic advantage' in continuing to increase the amount of recycled paper +used in the packaging. The recycled paper used was predominantly 'post- +industrial' paper waste rather than 'post-consumer'. In the USA, many +environmentalists opposed the use of the term 'recycled' to describe such +paper because it could deceive consumers. McDonald's in the USA now +recognized this. Due to its low 'post-consumer' content, most of the +European packaging would not qualify under McDonald's US guidelines as +'recycled'. + +Mr Van Erp agreed that it was not against the law to use recycled paper in +contact with food, contradicting McDonald's UK claims that they were unable +to increase the recycled content of their packaging because it would be +illegal. +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +All quotes are taken directly from the court transcripts. For further +details about any of the above, contact the McLibel Support Campaign. + +Campaign Statement: The McLibel Support Campaign was set up to generate +solidarity and financial backing for the McLibel Defendants, who are not +themselves responsible for Campaign publicity. The Campaign is also +supportive of, but independent from, general, worldwide, grassroots anti- +McDonalds activities and protests. + +-------------------------------------------------------------------- +U.S. McLibel Support Campaign +Press Office c/o Vermonters Organized for Clean-up +Box 120, East Calais VT 05650 Phone 802-568-9628 +----------------------------------------------------------------------------- +To subscribe to the "mclibel" listserve, send email + + To:majordomo@world.std.com +Subject: + Body: subscribe mclibel + +To unsubscribe, change the body to "unsubscribe mclibel" + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000958.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000958.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0176d52e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000958.txt @@ -0,0 +1,119 @@ + +DO YOU WORK FOR McDONALD'S? +ARE YOU SICK OF LOW WAGES? + +Would you prefer a decent pay rise, guaranteed hours, overtime pay +and an end to humiliating "performance reviews"? + +ARE YOU SICK OF SEEING PEOPLE INJURED? +Even McDonald's admit that burns, slips and falls etc are BIG +problems. + +ARE YOU SICK OF BEING BOSSED AROUND? +Do you want RIGHTS, and freedom from being constantly watched and +treated like being in the Army? Do you want an end to harassment +and unfair dismissals? + +ARE YOU SICK OF POOR WORKING CONDITIONS? +Do you want relief from continual pressures to work hard, to +'hustle', to cut corners with safety procedures? Do you want +decent breaks, and to smile when YOU feel like it? + +ARE YOU SICK OF McDONALD'S? +Are you fed up with all the crawling to bigwigs from Head Office, +the company's inane propaganda, and their processed food? + +DO YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ? +Did you know that McDonald's spends well over one billion dollars +worldwide every year on ads and promotions to boost their image - +yet they can't, for example, find a single penny to pay overtime. +The aim is: get profits UP, and wage costs DOWN. + +No wonder so many chuck the job in. But those who stay can fight +to improve things....See over for details of what you can do. + + +Phone 0171 249 8086 + +to contact the McDonald's Workers Support Group. + + +STANDING UP TO McDONALD'S + +There have been disputes and strikes in a number of countries, and +in some the company has been forced to accept trade unions and +workers' rights. In Canada last year a 16 year old crew member, +keeping it secret from management, single-handedly signed up over +half of the workers in her store into a trade union. + +Managers Arrested - at this moment in France, 5 Store Managers +are awaiting trial for refusing to recognize crew members' rights +and trade union elections in their stores. A strike has also taken +place there. + +McDonald's On Trial At The High Court - The company's business +practices are currently under the spotlight in a mammoth libel +trial at the High Court in London (set to continue till December +1995). Two supporters of London Greenpeace are defending leaflets +criticizing McDonald's, including a whole section criticizing crew +pay and conditions. + +35 ex-workers have come forward to help them by giving evidence of +what really goes on inside the stores. This will benefit all +McDonald's workers by forcing the company onto the defensive. So +now's the time to organize! + +"Its their right to join a Union if they so choose." + + - Paul Preston, McDonald's UK President, in the High Court, + 5.7.94 + + +WHAT YOU CAN DO + +Obviously you'll need to be careful. But you can: + +- copy these leaflets to give secretly to your mates, including at +other stores + +- find out and demand your legal rights, and use company grievance +procedures + +- anonymously tip off local press and others about in-store +conditions (including food quality and hygiene) + +- refuse to play the 'hustle' game + +- build up solidarity amongst staff by getting together in the +crew room, or better still by socializing together or organizing +meetings outside the store to talk about problems + +- secretly join a trade union and get others to do so as well. + + +HOW WE CAN HELP - We're trades unionists and low paid workers like +yourselves who've clubbed together to set up the McDonald's +Workers Support Group. We can provide information on your legal +rights - industrial tribunals, health and safety rights, +employment and anti-discrimination laws. + +We can send you more of these leaflets (free), plus more detailed +ones. Also general advice on standing up to McDonald's - we've had +the same sort of experiences as you have! Most importantly we're +building up a nationwide support network to provide information +and to promote solidarity for all McDonald's workers wanting to +fight for their rights. We know that people gain confidence and +strength when they have back-up. + +Some McDonald's workers have already contacted us about getting +involved. How about you and your workmates? For more details +contact us at the address/phone number below. Send us your ideas +or grievances! All info treated confidentially. + +McDonald's Workers Support Group - Phone 0171 249 8086 (24hrs). + +c/o Hackney Trade Union Support Unit, Colin Roach Centre, 10a +Bradbury St, London N16. + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000959.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000959.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2bfca618 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000959.txt @@ -0,0 +1,821 @@ +--------------------------------------------------------------------- + US McLibel Support Campaign, + c/o Vermonters Organized for Cleanup, Box 120, E.Calais VT 05640 + 802-586-9628 dbriars@world.std.com +--------------------------------------------------------------------- +6 Months' Summary of the McLibel Trial January 1995 + Nutrition + Expansion and Subversion + Just what do they mean by 'Nutritious' ? + Additives + Advertising + Destruction of Rainforests + Employees and Trade Unions + Packaging, Recycling, and Waste + Animals + Moving the Goalposts +--------------------------------------------------------------------- + +6 Months' Summary of the McLibel Trial January 1995 + + The High Court libel trial brought by the $24 billion a year McDonald's +Corporation against two unemployed London Greenpeace Supporters began in +June 1994 and is now expected to last until December 1995. It looks +certain to become one of the longest libel trials ever. + +The libel is alleged to have occurred in 1989/90. Approximately 170 +witnesses from the UK and around the world are giving evidence in court on +all the issues in the case, namely: + +The connection between multinational companies like McDonald's, cash crops +and starvation in the third world. + +The responsibility of corporations such as McDonald's for damage to the +environment, including destruction of rainforests. + +The wasteful and harmful effects of the mountains of packaging used by +McDonald's and other companies. + +McDonald's promotion and sale of food with a low fiber, high fat, saturated +fat, sodium and sugar content, and the links between a diet of this type +and the major degenerative diseases in western society, including heart +disease and cancer. + +McDonald's exploitation of children by its use of advertisements and +gimmicks to sell unhealthy products. + +The barbaric way that animals are reared and slaughtered to supply products +for McDonald's. + +The lousy conditions that workers in the catering industry are forced to +work under, and the low wages paid by McDonald's. + +McDonald's hostility towards trade unions. + +Here follows a summary of some of the evidence from the first 6 months of +the trial: + +NUTRITION + +"Kiss of Death" - The Defendants asked Dr Sydney Arnott (McDonald's expert +on cancer) his opinion of the following statement: "A diet high in fat, +sugar, animal products and salt and low in fiber, vitamins and minerals is +linked with cancer of the breast and bowel and heart disease". He replied: +"If it is being directed to the public then I would say it is a very +reasonable thing to say." The court was then informed that the statement +was an extract from the London Greenpeace Factsheet. This section had been +characterized at pre-trial hearings as the central and most "defamatory" +allegation, which if proven would be the "kiss of death"* for a fast-food +company like McDonald's. On the strength of the supposed scientific +complexities surrounding this issue the Defendants had been denied their +right to a jury. + +* Richard Rampton QC for McDonald's, Court of Appeal, 16th March 1994 + +McDonald's expert witness Professor Verner Wheelock, a consultant engaged +by the company since 1991, admitted that there is a considerable amount of +evidence that diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, +heart disease (which he said was the "number one health problem of the +nation"), stroke and some forms of cancer are related to a diet high in +fat, saturated fat salt and sugar and low in dietary fiber. He agreed that +"We have now reached the point where we can be very confident that diet is +the primary factor in the development of most of the degenerative diseases +in many industrialized countries" (including cancer). He also agreed with +government dietary recommendations based on such views. He admitted that a +typical McDonald's meal was high in fat, saturated fat and sodium content +(Paul Preston McDonald's UK President had earlier admitted that McDonald's +products were low in fiber) and would not come within dietary +recommendations and further that it was "not sensible" to encourage the +eating of foods high in fat, saturated fat, sugar and sodium (salt) and low +in fiber. He accepted that people were attracted to high levels of sugar +and salt and found it hard to give up the taste. + +McDonald's claims to support official 'Health of the Nation' dietary +initiatives to improve the population's health but John Hawkes, Chief +Marketing Officer, admitted this had had no effect on their marketing +department. McDonald's does not have a department responsible solely for +nutrition. Edward Oakley, Senior Vice President of McDonald's UK, admitted +that "it is not felt to be an important enough issue to have a separate +nutritional department like McDonald's have marketing or communications +departments". + +Geoffrey Cannon, Chairperson of the National Food Alliance of consumer +organizations, and scientific director of the World Cancer Research Fund, +was called by the Defendants as an expert on public health policy. He +stated that the US government, European Union, and World Health +Organization all recommended reducing consumption of fatty foods and +increasing consumption of fruit, vegetables and other foods containing +fiber in order to prevent a significant proportion of the large number of +deaths each year from heart disease (200,000 in the UK ) and cancer +(160,000 in the UK). + +The 1990 World Health Organization (WHO) Report stated "dietary factors are +now known to influence the development of...heart disease, various cancers, +hypertension...and diabetes. These conditions are the commonnest cause of +premature death in developed countries. ...The 'affluent' type of diet +that often accompanies economic development is energy dense. People +consuming these diets characteristically have a high intake of fat +(especially saturated fat) and free sugars and a relatively low intake of +complex carbohydrates (from starchy, fiber-containing foods). + +Mr Cannon agreed that for those seeking to improve the population's health +it was "not sensible or responsible to encourage people to eat foods +nutritionally worse than the dietary guidelines". Such food could "be +reasonably considered as being unhealthy" and a "negative contribution" to +the diet. + +Dr Neal Barnard, President of the US Physicians' Committee for Responsible +Medicine and an expert on nutrition and health, said on behalf of the +Defendants "many products sold at McDonald's are high in fat and +cholesterol, and low in fiber and certain vitamins", and as a result these +products "contribute to heart disease, certain forms of cancer and other +diseases" (including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension). The links +between diet and these now epidemic diseases are, he said, "established +beyond any reasonable doubt", and were causal in nature. During Dr +Barnard's evidence, Richard Rampton QC (for McDonald's) conceded that "we +would all agree" that there is a link between a high fat, low fiber diet +and cancer of the breast and colon. + +Dr Barnard pointed out that, in addition to the problem of consuming too +much fat and too little fiber in the diet, there is also increasing concern +in the US about the carcinogenic mutagens which form on the surface of +grilled and fried meat. + +Dr Barnard stated that "McDonald's products clearly contain significantly +more fat than government guidelines and health authorities recommend". +Evidence had shown that "fatty foods tend to be habituating" and "increase +the likelihood of continued high fat intake". "McDonald's food remains +part of the problem, rather than part of the solution". He quoted the +director of a major study into heart disease, Dr William Castelli who said +"When you see the Golden Arches you're probably on the road to the pearly +gates." + +Professor Michael Crawford, an expert on dietary fats and their relation to +human health, and a consultant to the World Health Organization gave +evidence for the Defendants. He emphasized the association between a high +fat diet and increased risk of cancers of the breast, colon and prostate +cancer. This is particularly evident from 'population studies' of +different countries with varied diets and disease rates, from 'migration' +studies (showing that immigrant populations soon adopted the diet and +disease rates of the country of settlement), and from the large increase of +heart disease and cancer in countries such as Japan where the modern +western diet is fast replacing traditional, healthier diets. He stated +that "not only are McDonald's encouraging the use of a style of food which +is closely associated with risk of cancer and heart disease whilst health +professionals are trying to reduce the risks to Western populations, but +they are actively promoting the same in cultures where at present these +diseases are not a problem". + +Expansion and Subversion + +Peter Cox, former marketing consultant, and also former Chief Executive of +the Vegetarian Society, gave evidence for the Defense as an expert on the +marketing of food. He quoted from 'Behind the Arches', a book authorized +by McDonald's in 1987, as evidence that McDonald's were engaged in 'a +strategy of subversion' by trying to alter the dietary preferences of whole +nations, 'very often for the worse'. Mr Cox read the following quotes from +'Behind the Arches': + +In Japan, McDonald's faced "a fundamental challenge of establishing beef as +a common food". Their President, Den Fujita, stated "the reason Japanese +people are so short and have yellow skins is because they have eaten +nothing but fish and rice for two thousand years"; "if we eat McDonald's +hamburgers and potatoes for a thousand years we will become taller, our +skin become white and our hair blonde". The book says that Fujita "aimed +virtually all his advertising at children and young families", and that he +stated "we could teach the children that the hamburger was something good". +The company also changed eating habits in Australia. Peter Ritchie +(McDonald's Australian president) said he "attributes that change to the +influence McDonald's has on children". The book concludes that rather than +adapt to local tastes and preferences "McDonald's foreign partners made +major changes in marketing in order to sell the American system". + +Professor Crawford explained how "modern beef production has become +distorted from the wild nature of food to which we are physiologically +adapted" in that modern cattle are intensively reared for fast weight gain, +resulting in unnaturally high levels of fat, particularly saturated fat. +Meat from modern domestic cattle was in excess of 25% carcass fat, compared +to 2-5% in wild animals. + +Dr Tim Lobstein, co-director of the Food Commission, a consumer +organization, gave evidence for the Defense as an expert on food policy +issues. On studying eight suggested typical McDonald's 'meal combinations', +he concluded that they are "generally imbalanced with regard to their +nutrient content". He said they are "excessively fatty and salty", and +correspondingly low in "nutrient density" of several essential nutrients +such as vitamins and minerals. A Food Commission survey in 1987 had found +that 31% of people questioned at fast food stores in Peckham ate fast food +every day, and that 9% of the total sample ate burgers every day. Dr +Lobstein concluded that there were sections of the population eating an +very unbalanced diet - this view was backed by reference to other surveys. +He was particularly concerned by the diets of school children, and also by +the expansion of McDonald's promotions in schools and hospitals. + +McDonald's line that their food can be eaten as part of a balanced diet +was, according to Dr Lobstein, "meaningless". He said "you could eat a +roll of cellophane tape as part of a balanced diet". Rather than using the +word 'balance', he would suggest greater consumption of healthy foods. +"McDonald's tends to take the basic food ingredients and add fat, salt and +sugar, so encouraging their customers to eat a worse diet." + +Peter Cox referred to a company document from 1985 (not available in +stores) which made it absolutely clear that the company was aware even then +of the links between diet and diseases - it specified heart disease, +cancer, diabetes and obesity. It was his opinion therefore that the effect +of the company's efforts to promote their products as 'good, nutritious +food' over the years was "to debase the concept of 'healthy eating' to no +more than a cynical sales promotional ploy". + +Mr Cox explained that the company's claim to be concerned about healthy +eating was not borne out by the products sold. Even their salads (still +only available in some stores) had a 'ludicrously high' fat content (over +50% calories from fat) He told how the company were now promoting their +newest menu item - the "Mega Mac" which comprises 4 meat patties and +contains huge amounts of fat and saturated fat. He said there was a huge +'credibility gap - the difference between the image portrayed...and the +reality of the food sold'. He believed that the few positive steps made +had been taken 'perhaps rather grudgingly' as a result of public pressure. + +Advertising Deceit + +Stephen Gardner, former Assistant Attorney General of Texas, gave evidence +for the Defense. He explained how in 1987 McDonald's began a major, but +deceptive, advertising campaign. The company claimed it was an +"informational" campaign about the content of their food. However, the +company's own internal magazine stated that the aim was " a long term +commitment beginning with a year long advertising schedule" .... "to +neutralize the junk food misconceptions about McDonald's good food." The +buzz words in almost all the ads were "nutrition", "balance" and +"McDonald's good food". After the series of ads hit the news-stands, the +Attorney General of Texas, in conjunction with the two other major states +wrote a letter to McDonald's on 24th April 1987 stating: + +"The Attorneys General of Texas, California and New York have concluded our +joint review of McDonald's recent advertising campaign which claims that +McDonald's food is nutritious. Our mutual conclusion is that this +advertising campaign is deceptive. We therefore request that McDonald's +immediately cease and desist further use of this advertising campaign. The +reason for this is simple: McDonald's food is, as a whole, not nutritious. +The intent and result of the current campaign is to deceive customers into +believing the opposite. Fast food customers often choose to go to +McDonald's because it is inexpensive and convenient. They should not be +fooled into eating there because you have told them it is also nutritious. +...The new campaign appears intended to pull the wool over the public's +eyes." + +The court heard that an internal company memo, reporting on a high level +meeting in March 1986 with public relations advisors prior to this +advertising campaign stated "McDonald's should attempt to deflect the basic +negative thrust of our critics.....How do we do this? By talking +'moderation and balance'. We can't really address or defend nutrition. We +don't sell nutrition and people don't come to McDonald's for nutrition". + +Mr Gardener also referred the court to some of the specific examples of +inaccuracies and distortions in the 16 individual advertisements. He +related how, after the three States had threatened legal action if the ads +were repeated, McDonald's promised to stop the ads. At the current trial +McDonald's claim that the ads were not dropped and were later printed +again. However, none of the four ads they said had been run after the +threats were the specific ads referred to in the complaints and none +mentioned "nutrition", "balance" or "McDonald's good food". + +Mr Gardner stated that to the average consumer the word nutritious "conveys +a sense of a healthy product that is not deleterious to one's physical +well-being. Specifically, a product that is nutritious is one that does +not contain excessive amounts of nutrients that should be avoided, such as +fats, sodium and the like" + +Just what do they mean by 'Nutritious' ? + +There seemed to be agreement amongst McDonald's representatives as to what +nutritious meant. Edward Oakley, Chief Purchasing Officer and Senior Vice- +President of McDonald's UK, is responsible for the nutrition guides +currently available in McDonald's stores. When asked what 'nutritious' +means in the guide he stated "foods that contain nutrients. Asked if there +was any food he knew of that is not nutritious he said "I do not know if +you would call it food or not, but you could put up an argument for black +coffee or black tea or mineral water". Asked "what about Coca Cola?", he +said "Coca Cola has a good source of energy, no question of that", he was +then asked if he thought it was nutritious, to which he stated "yes, it can +be". David Green, Senior Vice-President of Marketing (USA), had a similar +view on what nutritious meant. He also thought Coca Cola was nutritious, +he said that it was 'providing water, and I think that is part of a +balanced diet'. + +Even Professor Wheelock, McDonald's, consultant on nutrition, defined the +word nutritious to mean "contains nutrients". He then accepted that all +foods have nutrients. When asked to define 'junk food' he said it was +'whatever a person doesn't like' (in his case semolina). With disbelief +mounting in the courtroom, Richard Rampton (McDonald's Q.C.) intervened to +say that McDonald's was not objecting to the description of their food as +'junk food'! + +Additives + +Dr Erik Millstone, an expert on food additives raised concerns about the +safety of nine additives used by McDonald's. + +Sunset Yellow (E110) - a synthetic colorant, which can provoke allergic +reactions and hyperactivity; and increased incidence of tumors in animals; +banned in Norway. + +Amaranth(E123) - a synthetic colorant, which can provoke asthma, eczema and +hyperactivity; it caused birth defects and foetal deaths in some animal +tests, possibly also cancer; banned in the USA, Russia and at least 5 other +countries. + +Sodium Nitrite (E250) and Potassium Nitrate (E252) - preservatives and +color fixatives, which may provoke hyperactivity and other adverse +reactions; potentially carcinogenic; their use is severely restricted in +many countries. + +BHA (E320) & BHT (E321) - synthetic antioxidants, which may trigger +hyperactivity and other intolerances; serious concerns over carcinogenity; +BHA is banned in Japan; in 1958 & 1963 official committees of experts +recommended that BHT be banned in the UK, however due to industry pressure +it was not banned; McDonald's eliminated BHT from their US products by +1986. + +Carrageenan (E407) - stabilizer and thickening agent; linked to toxic +hazards, including ulcers and cancer; the most serious concerns relate to +degraded carrageenan, which is not a permitted additive. However, native +carrageenan, which is used, may become degraded in the gut. +Monosodium Glutamate (621) - flavor enhancer, which can cause intolerant +reactions and effect chemistry of the brain. + +Potassium Bromate (924) - used as flour improver, banned in 1989 as a +dangerous carcinogen; previously widely used in bread products, including +McDonald's buns. + +Dr Millstone said that as regulatory bodies judged the safety of additives, +and consequently their regulatory status largely by reference to tests on +animals, they should be consistent in interpreting results and any adverse +effects shown should be taken seriously. However in several cases where +additives had produced adverse effects (including cancer) in animals, the +additives were nonetheless permitted for use (including many of the 9 +additives in issue). In contrast if an additive did not produce adverse +effects in animals it was officially assumed it would be harmless to +humans. + +He believed that where there were doubts over the safety of additives the +benefit of the doubt should be given to the consumer, not to the compound +or the industry. He said "if the object of the exercise was the protection +of public health rather than helping companies negotiate their way through +regulatory hurdles" then the approach he advocated would be adopted. + +Dr Millstone's view was that the additives listed should be banned because +of doubts over their safety, but in the meantime it was essential for +additives to be properly labeled. He said he could see 'no particular +difficulty at all for McDonald's in providing comprehensive ingredient +listing' on the packaging. + +ADVERTISING + +McDonald's Annual Report records that in 1993 worldwide expenditure for +advertising and promotions totalled $1.4 billion, about 6% of sales. $870m +is spent annually in the USA alone. McDonald's UK spend approx #35m per +year. + +John Hawkes, McDonald's UK Chief Marketing Officer, said the purpose of +advertising is 'communication', and 'persuasion', to foster 'brand +awareness' and 'loyalty', in order to increase sales. 'You have to keep +your name in front of people's minds.' Without advertising, he said, 'you +might see the company decline completely'. He considered that advertising +was 'a key element of free speech in this country'. + +He said that McDonald's concentrate on TV as 'the most powerful advertising +medium'. In the UK the company advertises on TV to children, in particular +2 to 8 year olds, most weeks of the year. Mr Hawkes, hoped that teaching +them McDonald's songs would "keep the memory of McDonald's at the forefront +of their minds so they can again ask their parents if they can come to +McDonald's". The company didn't target 8 to 15 year olds so much, Mr +Hawkes said. 'At that age they do not pester their parents to go to +McDonald's. It does not work in the same way'. He stated that when +McDonald's was launched in a new region or country (this included Scotland +a few years ago), the company would at first advertise exclusively to +children. He said "one of the tactics is to reach families through +children". + +Incredibly, Paul Preston McDonald's UK President claimed that the character +Ronald McDonald was intended not to "sell food" to children, but to promote +the "McDonald's experience". However, he did agree that Ronald "is a +useful marketing tool". It was revealed in court that Geoffrey Guiliano, +the main Ronald McDonald actor in the 1980's had quit and publicly +apologized, stating "I brainwashed youngsters into doing wrong. I want to +say sorry to children everywhere for selling out to concerns who make +millions by murdering animals". +Extracts from the corporation's official and confidential 'Operations +Manual' were read out giving an insight into the company's strategy: +"Children are often the key decision-makers concerning where a family goes +to eat". Offering toys is "one of the best things..to make them loyal +supporters". Birthday parties are "an important way to generate added +sales and profits". Ronald McDonald "is a strong marketing tool". "Ronald +loves McDonald's and McDonald's food. And so do children, because they +love Ronald. Remember, children exert a phenomenal influence when it comes +to restaurant selection. This means that you should do everything you can +to appeal to children's love for Ronald and McDonald's." + +McDonald's internal code for their ads states that an aim is to make people +feel 'a warm empathy towards the commercial' and therefore, he agreed, +'feel an empathy towards the company'. David Green, McDonald's Senior Vice +President of Marketing in the USA denied this was 'manipulating people's +emotions'. He also denied 'brainwashing children with Ronald McDonald' or +having a 'hidden agenda' in the use of Ronald. However, he recognized that +McDonald's 'could change people's eating habits' and that children were +'virgin ground as far as marketing is concerned'. + +He agreed that community and charitable activity was 'a benefit to the +company' and 'good business' which gained 'free publicity', and he related +how 'educational' promotions in schools "generate better feelings" towards +McDonald's and lead to more 'patronage'. + + Mr Green stated that McDonald's didn't propose that people could sensibly +eat the company's food 'as part of a diet composed largely of that kind of +food'. He said 85-95% of Americans visit McDonald's, although a quarter of +their customers ('heavy users') made 75% of all visits. 11% of visits were +from 'Super Heavy Users', who ate there 4 or more times per week. Mr Green +said their marketing strategy was to target heavy users to increase their +frequency of visits. + +He denied there was a 'huge credibility gap' between the reality of +McDonald's food and the way they portrayed it. + +Alistair Fairgrieve, McDonald's UK Marketing Services Manager, stated "it +is our objective to dominate the communications area...because we are +competing for a share of the customer's mind". He outlined some of the +research undertaken by the company to discover what customers were thinking +and the effects of advertising. He explained that questions were asked +about seventeen 'functional' and 'emotional' attributes which were 'ranked +in terms of importance' to McDonald's. "At the top there are the ones by +which we stand or fall." At the bottom were four categories: 'Food is +Filling', 'Good Value For Money', 'Use Top Quality Ingredients', and +finally 'Nutritious Food'. + +During 1991, worried that customers were visiting less frequently, the +company conducted a survey. This revealed that such customers +characterized the company as being "loud, brash, American, successful, +complacent, uncaring, insensitive, disciplinarian, insincere, suspicious, +arrogant". + +Juliet Gellatley, former Director of Youth Education and Campaigns of the +Vegetarian Society, currently Director of VIVA (an educational charity), +gave evidence for the Defense about the effects on young people of +McDonald's advertising. As Director for Youth Education she gave talks to +about 30,000 children of all ages at 500 classroom debates, and also to +thousands of adults as well on vegetarianism and related issues. Following +the talks children discussed changing their diets. On many occasions, of +those interested in "going vegetarian" some felt they couldn't because they +would be the "odd one out" or "be laughed at" if they couldn't go to +McDonald's. They often indicated that this was "because of the hype" and +when questioned further they talked about McDonald's advertisements which +they had seen. She stated she had been surprised that "McDonald's was the +only burger chain specifically mentioned" in any of the talks, and that it +came up "so often". + +Ms Gellatley stated that McDonald's claim that they don't exploit children +because "children are never encouraged to ask their parents to bring them +to McDonald's" was "farcical". "Clearly the main purpose of advertising +aimed at 2 to 8 year olds is precisely to encourage children to ask their +parents to take them to McDonald's, otherwise what would be the point in +advertising directly to such young children". How could young children, she +said, "differentiate between what is real and what is not", "what is good +for them and what is bad", and "between being sold to and not being sold +to". "I think McDonald's play on that as much as they possibly can...this +is what I mean by exploiting children." She related how the younger kids +"kept mentioning...Ronald McDonald" who they "obviously looked up to" as +"just a pure and positive and fun character and something quite real to +them". She said, "younger children seem to think it did not matter how +much of McDonald's products they ate", it was "healthy and was good, +because Ronald McDonald told them that was so". + +Many of the adults Ms Gellatley had talked with had also mentioned the +influence their children had in getting them to take them to what they +termed "a junk food place like McDonald's", which advertising had succeeded +in portraying as a "treat". "A lot of parents think their children eat too +much junk food", she said. + + Sue Dibb, employed by the National Food Alliance to research the effects +of food advertising to children, gave expert evidence for the Defendants. +To protect children's health, the NFA had called for a ban on advertising +of sugary and fatty foods at times when large numbers of children were +likely to be watching television. (Other countries, for example Norway and +Sweden have severe restrictions on advertising to children and in some +instances, outright bans.) In her view, "the cumulative effect of much +food advertising does result in harm to children, in the sense that it +encourages inappropriate nutritional practices which will have implications +for children's health and their health in later life". She believed that +in the debate over the future of food advertising "public health should be +given priority" over the wishes of advertisers. + +Children, described by one marketing company as an 'advertisers dream', +were effectively encouraged to wield 'pester power' over their parents. In +a recent survey nearly half of the parents of children aged over 5 said +they often gave in to buying foods they would not otherwise buy as a result +of that pester power. Almost two thirds of those questioned felt there +should be tougher restrictions on advertising of food and soft drinks to +children. + + Ms Dibb had attended a seminar organized by and for those in the +advertising industry entitled "Pester Power - how to reach kids in 1994", +which discussed the most effective techniques for advertising to children. +McDonald's, she said, use all such techniques in their ads - seeking to +'draw children into the McDonald's world". Use of characters (such as +Ronald McDonald) was a major trend in children's food and drink marketing +and could be said to 'play on children's affection and loyalty' to those +characters and 'exploit their emotions' (despite this being against the +Independent Television Commission's (ITC) advertising code). Sections of +McDonald's own operations manual, said Ms Dibb, "appeared to be a direct +exhortation to managers to use children's emotions and particularly their +love for Ronald McDonald to bring them into the store". Asked if she had +concerns about this Ms Dibb said 'I do not think it is ethical'. + +Ms Dibb criticized McDonald's 'misleading' attempts to associate its +products with health, fitness and sport. She was also concerned about the +"underlying promotional message" in McDonald's links with schools, +dentists, etc, and in their increasing sponsorship activity, stating that +whilst it appeared to be altruistic it was "advertising in a covert way". + +DESTRUCTION OF RAINFORESTS + +The Rainforests section of the Trial is due to begin in July. However, +during the Defendants opening speeches, internal company documents were +read to the court in which McDonald's admitted the purchase in the UK in +1983 of beef imported from Brazil, a rainforest country - something which +the company had always denied. When the Defendants attempted to question a +witness from McDonald's about these documents, Mr Rampton QC made an +objection claiming that the documents could not be used in court because +they had been 'disclosed by mistake'. Two weeks later, after the witness +had left court, just before there was to be a legal argument over this, Mr +Rampton withdrew his objection!' + +Mr Oakley, Chief purchasing officer and Senior Vice President of McDonald's +UK and Ireland said he was aware that the company had purchased Brazilian +beef. He claimed it was for a relatively short period of time but said he +was not sure how long exactly. He said that McDonald's claimed policy of +not using beef which originated outside the EC Union was not brought in +until "around the mid-80's -- maybe 1986". + +A letter from the US Corporation to a member of the public in the UK in +1982 stated 'McDonald's has a long standing policy of buying all of our +products from suppliers in the host country where we are doing +business'.......'as a result we can assure you that the only Brazilian beef +used by McDonald's is that purchased by the six stores located in Brazil +itself'. Mr Oakley said he thought the letter was referring to the +finished products (hamburgers), it was not "talking about raw ingredients" +He denied that the purchase of Brazilian beef for use in the UK was in +breach of McDonald's policy saying "No, it was not. We still bought the +hamburgers locally. We did not buy the ingredients locally". + + Despite objections by the corporation's highly-paid barrister, during the +opening speeches an extract from the TV documentary 'Jungleburger' was +shown, in which McDonald's beef suppliers in Costa Rica, stated that they +also supplied beef for use by McDonald's in the USA. On top of this +McDonald's had admitted that in Costa Rica their stores used beef reared on +ex-rainforest land (deforested as recently as 10 years previously) contrary +to their own propaganda. + +EMPLOYEES AND TRADE UNIONS + +The Employment section of the Trial, probably the largest section, is due +to begin in March, but last July, Paul Preston, McDonald's UK President, +said he did not consider the current starting wage of #3.10 an hour for +crew members to be low pay. However, when asked, he refused to reveal his +own salary. When asked why the company couldn't pay higher wages to crew +members out of the $1 billion dollars profits it made last year, he claimed +that "people are paid a wage for the job they do", even though he had +earlier agreed that crew members worked hard and their job was more +physically demanding than his own. When asked if the company could use its +$1 billion advertising budget to pay higher wages he stated that without +advertising the company would have "no business". + +A taster of the abundant evidence to come on McDonald's attitude to trade +unions was provided by Robert Beavers, Senior Vice-President of the +corporation in the USA. He agreed that in the early 70's, at a time when +trade unions were trying to organize in McDonald's in the US, the company +set up a "flying squad" of experienced managers who were despatched to a +restaurant the same day that word came in of an attempt by workers to +unionize it. Unions made no headway in the company. + +Paul Preston said that if employees wanted to then "they should join" a +trade union. However, in two incidents in London in the 1980's when staff +had expressed an interest in joining trade unions, managers had called +McDonald's UK head of 'Human Resources' to the stores to "talk" to the +discontented staff. + + PACKAGING, RECYCLING & WASTE + +Paul Preston, McDonald's UK President, asserted that styrofoam packaging is +less environmentally damaging than using plates, knives and forks! He also +said that if one million customers each bought a soft drink, he would not +expect more than 150 cups to end up as litter. Photographs were then put +to Mr Preston, which showed 27 pieces of McDonald's litter in one stretch +of pavement alone (the company has over 550 stores in the UK and serves a +million customers each day). + +Edward Oakley, Chief purchasing officer and Senior Vice-President of +McDonald's UK, claimed that McDonald's have a consciousness of +environmental considerations and referred to the company's 'environmental +task force' and a corporate environmental policy. He stated he did not know +when this policy was published, but had seen it 'on a wall' at their head +office He said the policy "had not had any direct effect on the +purchasing department", but "it certainly did on the Communications [PR] +department". + +He denied that the company's so called "Environmental Initiatives" were, in +the main, a propaganda exercise. However, one of the company's nationally +available 'McFact' cards publicized a scheme to recycle polystyrene waste +from Nottingham stores, where customers were asked to put polystyrene +packaging into a separate bin, "for recycling into such things as plant +pots, coat hangers and insulation material for use in homes, even fillings +for duvets". Mr Oakley admitted that despite the scheme continuing for +several years, the company did not recycle any of the waste and in fact the +polystyrene was "dumped". (Note: Recent press reports from New Zealand +indicate that a similar scheme was in operation there, which was also +exposed as a sham). + +Questioned about the environmental impact of paper versus polystyrene +packaging Mr Oakley said it was six of one and half a dozen of the other. +He said McDonald's preferred to use polystyrene because they could recycle +it, but admitted that the only polystyrene being recycled was some of the +packaging from a scheme involving five stores in Manchester (the company +has over 550 stores in the UK). He claimed the company aimed to expand the +scheme, but agreed that the company "had gone nowhere with that for the +last two years or so". + +Dumping waste 'an environmental benefit'! + +In some countries the company had abandoned or limited the use of +polystyrene packaging, in part because it was not biodegradable and took up +a lot of space in landfill sites. Mr Oakley stated that there was "no +landfill problem in the UK" Questioned as to whether he believed that "as +long as there is room in the dumps, there is no problem with dumping lots +of McDonald's waste in the ground?" Mr Oakley said "and everybody else's +waste, yes, that is true". He said "I can see [the dumping of waste] to be +a benefit, otherwise you will end up with lots of vast, empty gravel pits +all over the country." Asked if he was "asserting it is an environmental +benefit to dump waste in landfill sites" he stated "It could be".... "yes, +it is certainly not a problem". + +Mr Oakley admitted that with the exception of the five Manchester stores +all post-consumer waste in the UK either ends up as litter or gets dumped +in landfill sites. He defended McDonald's use of large quantities of +packaging, and said that the use of colorful cartons with company logos was +"to put the brand across directly to the customer"...."for image, brand +image". + +Robert Langert, Director of Environmental Affairs of the McDonald's +Corporation, USA, admitted that very little recycled paper was used in +McDonald's packaging before 1990 He also accepted that CFCs (used in +McDonald's polystyrene foam food packaging) were banned by the US Congress +as an aerosol propellant in 1978, but he said that McDonald's was not aware +of CFC/ozone depletion as an issue until the mid-80's. Following worldwide +concern over CFCs, McDonald's had phased out use of CFCs and HCFCs. +However, the 'Environmental Affairs' Manager of Perseco (the sole supplier +of McDonald's packaging in over 60 countries), admitted that in 1989 these +were still being used in 29 countries, and that even now HCFCs are used in +the Philippines and Turkey. + + Professor Duxbury, expert witness for McDonald's, agreed that CFCs & HCFCs +caused damage to the ozone layer and that in 1988 McDonald's used +"significant" quantities of these chemicals. He further said that +McDonald's present UK blowing agent, pentane, contributes to smog formation +and the greenhouse effect. + +Mr Oakley admitted that when UK McDonald's introduced CFCs in their +polystyrene packaging in 1986 they were aware of the ozone damage caused by +CFCs in aerosols. He claimed the company was not aware of similar concerns +over the use of CFCs in packaging until later that year. It then took +until 1988 for McDonald's to cease using CFCs in this country. Press +reports revealed that in 1987 Friends of the Earth had called for a boycott +of McDonald's products over this issue, but Mr Oakley denied that this was +a consideration in the decision to cease use of CFCs. + +Defense expert witness from the USA, Brian Lipsett, explained how the +'McToxics' campaign galvanized thousands of protests and official bans and +forced McDonald's to withdraw their polystyrene foam food packaging in the +US. He identified the problems associated with styrofoam - toxic wastes, +damage to the ozone layer and smog pollution; the leaching of styrene from +the packaging into the foods packaged in the foam; and the serious disposal +problems - the sheer volume of the material and the lack of a suitable +method of disposal. McDonald's has continued to use styrofoam in many +countries, including the UK. + +Professor Walker, McDonald's toxicology expert, agreed that styrene can +migrate from polystyrene packaging into food (especially fatty foods). He +said that the International Agency for the Research on Cancer had +classified styrene as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Also styrene can be +metabolized in the body into styrene oxide, which he said appeared to be +much more hazardous to human health. + +ANIMALS + +The Trial is currently listening to evidence on this topic (until late +February). Edward Oakley stated that he was also responsible for the +Quality Assurance Department at McDonald's. As part of his remit he said +he had a responsibility for animal welfare. He claimed that the company +"had a very real feeling that animals should be kept and slaughtered in the +most humane way possible" and so had published an animal welfare statement +two years ago. When questioned about this so-called policy Mr Oakley +admitted that the "animal welfare policy is, in fact, just a policy to +comply with the laws of the various countries in which McDonald's operate", +and added "we do not go beyond what the law stipulates". + +Dr Neville Gregory, McDonald's expert witness on the rearing and slaughter +of animals, said that chickens used to make 'Chicken McNuggets' and +'McChicken sandwiches' were crammed into sheds, with less that the size of +an A4 sheet of paper per bird and no access to daylight. 44% of the +chickens had leg abnormalities and other health problems occurred. Chicks +rejected by the company were dumped into dustbin-sized containers and +gassed. + +At age 6-7 weeks birds were transported to the slaughterhouse, where they +were hung upside down before being electrically stunned in water. Up to +14% of the chickens received pre-stun shocks, which cause distress and can +be painful. 1% of birds (around 1350 per day) were decapitated without +being stunned, which Dr Gregory agreed could cause suffering. A further 1% +were not dead on entering the scalding tank. He agreed that the stunning +and killing methods used did not comply with the government's Codes of +Practice, and might lead to distress and pain for the birds. + +Mr Oakley claimed that the company "will not purchase from any supplier who +does not conform to the Codes of Practice of this Country". He said that +if it came to the company's attention that animals were not being properly +stunned before being slaughtered "we would discontinue purchasing from the +supplier". + +Dr Gregory said McDonald's egg suppliers kept chickens in battery cages, 5 +chickens to a cage with even less space per bird than the broiler chickens +and with no freedom of movement and no access to fresh air or sunshine. Mr +Oakley said McDonald's had thought about switching to free range eggs, but, +not only were battery eggs "50% cheaper", but, he claimed "hens kept in +batteries are better cared for". He said he thought battery cages were +"pretty comfortable". + +Dr Gregory related that at least 40% of piglets reared for McDonald's +products were raised in indoor breeding units. All pigs had their teeth +clipped and one in four had their tails docked. When they reached 40kg the +pigs were transferred to fattening units, where for the last part of their +lives there was only half a square meter of floor space per pig. + +Dr Gregory stated that abattoirs supplying McDonald's beef supplier used +mainly ex-dairy cows. He accepted that dairy cows were subjected to stress, +pain, exhaustion, and disease due to being forced to be almost constantly +pregnant and milked. When they became unproductive after only a few years +they were sent to be slaughtered for McDonald's burgers. Electric goads +were used to force the cows into stunning pens. Cattle were stunned with a +captive bolt pistol to the head. Dr Gregory stated that "the accuracy of +shooting was not particularly good". Half of the skulls examined showed an +inaccurate aim. Imperfect stunning was estimated at 3.7%. + +Dr Gregory said that suppliers in general felt that using more effective +(higher) stunning currents would affect meat quality, and also that slower +killing lines (allowing increased accuracy) would affect profits. He +accepted that during inspections slaughter rates are often slowed down +because "people are more careful about what they are doing when they are +being scrutinized". (Helen & Dave have been unable to independently verify +conditions as their expert witnesses have been denied access to the +relevant establishments.) + +MOVING THE GOALPOSTS + +After the destruction of McDonald's case on the links between diet and +cancer (see "Kiss of Death" above), McDonald's applied and were given +permission to amend their Statement of Claim (issued in September 1990) in +this area, despite vigorous protests by the Defendants. The Statement of +Claim is the basis of the action, so McDonald's have been able to move the +goalposts after most of the evidence in this area has been heard. The +Defendants may now have to prove the statement (not contained in the London +Greenpeace Factsheet) that "McDonald's sell meals which cause cancer and +heart disease in their customers". Helen and Dave may be forced to recall +some witnesses to be cross-examined again. In addition to the issue of +diet and cancer, McDonald's have changed their case on the Animals issue. +They are no longer objecting to the terms 'torture' and 'murder' being used +to describe the rearing and slaughter of animals to make McDonald's +burgers, but have widened the issues in dispute in this area of the case. + +Before the trial began, McDonald's did their utmost to avoid legal +obligations to disclose relevant company documents and answer the +Defendants' questions. This has been a continuing controversy during the +trial with McDonald's suddenly producing new documents half way through +their witnesses evidence, but also with numerous arguments to get further +documents which the company does not want to disclose. An important +document which, when disclosed, had been 95% blanked out by McDonald's QC, +was finally obtained complete after nearly a year of effort, but not until +after the relevant witnesses had given their evidence. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- +Campaign Statement: The McLibel Support Campaign was set up to generate solidarity and financial backing for the McLibel Defendants, who are not themselves responsible for Campaign publicity. The Campaign is also supportive of, but independent from, general, worldwide, grassroots anti-McDonald's activities and protests. + +-------------------------------------------------------------------- +U.S. McLibel Support Campaign +Press Office c/o Vermonters Organized for Clean-up +Box 120, East Calais VT 05650 Phone 802-568-9628 +----------------------------------------------------------------------------- +To subscribe to the "mclibel" listserve, send email + + To:majordomo@world.std.com +Subject: + Body: subscribe mclibel + +To unsubscribe, change the body to "unsubscribe mclibel" + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000960.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000960.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dd8f8d92 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000960.txt @@ -0,0 +1,73 @@ + + **************** McDONALDS QUOTES ***************** + +Quotes are taken from trial updates and various other named +sources. If you have a contribution for the quote list +please mail me at + + +"I brainwashed youngsters into doing wrong. I want to say sorry +to children everywhere for selling out to concerns who make +millions by murdering animals." +-Geoffrey Guiliano, the main Ronald McDonald actor in the + 1980's who quit and publicly apologised + + +"A diet high in fat, sugar, animal products and salt, and low in +fibre, vitamins and minerals,is linked with cancer of the breast +and bowel and heart disease." +-McLibel defendants quoting London Greenpeace Factsheet +"If it is being directed to the public then I would say it is a +very reasonable thing to say." +-Dr Sidney Arnott, McDonalds expert witness on cancer + + +"it is our objective to dominate the communications area ... +because we are competing for a share of the customer's mind". +-Alistair Fairgrieve, McDonalds UK Marketing Services Manager +-during the McLibel trial + + +"you could eat a roll of sellotape as part of a balanced diet" +-Dr Tim Lobstein, co-director of the Food Commission consumer +-organisation, giving evidence for the Defence, considering +-McDonalds line that their food "can be eaten as part of a +-balanced diet" + + +"the reason Japanese people are so short and have yellow skins +is because they have eaten nothing but fish and rice for two +thousand years"; "if we eat McDonald's hamburgers and potatoes +for a thousand years we will become taller, our skin become +white and our hair blonde". +McDonalds Japanese President, Den Fujita from the book, +"Behind the Arches," sanctioned by McDonalds. + + +"It was not her sex appeal but the obvious relish with which she +devoured the hamburger that made my pulse begin to hammer with +excitement". +Ray Kroc, McDonalds founder in his autobiography. +( can anyone confirm this, I haven't read the book ? ) + + +"On any given day, McDonalds serves less than one half of one +percent of the world's population. That's not enough. We're like +Oliver Twist, we want more" +Michael Quinlan, Chief Executive of McDonalds quoted in +'The Independent' on 27.4.94 + +-------------------------------------------------------------------- +U.S. McLibel Support Campaign +Press Office c/o Vermonters Organized for Clean-up +Box 120, East Calais VT 05650 Phone 802-568-9628 +----------------------------------------------------------------------------- +To subscribe to the "mclibel" listserve, send email + + To:majordomo@world.std.com +Subject: + Body: subscribe mclibel + +To unsubscribe, change the body to "unsubscribe mclibel" + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000961.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000961.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b1d25c06 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000961.txt @@ -0,0 +1,88 @@ + +JFK and the popular mind +Robin Ramsay. + +There are certain events in American history which serve as the focal +points of ideological struggle between left and right: the 1930s +depression, the entry of the USA into World War II, the guilt or innocence +of Alger Hiss - and the Kennedy assassination . Take the massive +Anglo-American media attention devoted to Edward J. Epstein's book Legend +in 1973. In that Epstein sought to re-establish the Warren Commission's +verdict that Lee Harvey Oswald alone did the dirty deed; but adding to it +the suggestion t hat he had been got at by the KGB. Oswald was still a +'lone nut' but somehow the KGB's 'lone nut'. In fact, despite spending a +great deal of Readers=D5 Digest research money, Epstein found no evidence +that Oswald was KGB, and his rehash of the Warren Comm-i ssion's version +of the shooting in Dallas was as inept as its progenitor. Why did he do +it? Epstein was by then the spokesman for James Jesus Angleton, the +paranoid former head of CIA Counter Intelligence who had been sacked in +1974. Angleton believed that Oswald was KGB because a KGB defector to the +CIA called Nosenko had sai d that he (Oswald) wasn=D5t KGB, and Angleton +believed that Nosenko was a false defector. Angleton had also been very +close to the Israeli government since the late 1940s and in 1978 the +Israeli government - and the Israeli lobby in the United States - were + enthusiastic supporters of the Second Cold War then being cranked up in +the United States. The logic of the position looked like this: Israel +needed continued U.S. support, and that support had been waning ever since +the OPEC oil price rise of 1973. Such support could best be ensured by +presenting Israel as the United States' most reliable, ant i-Soviet ally +in the Middle East. (There are the occasional hints that Israeli +intelligence had a hand in the Italian 'strategy of tension' simply to +help undermine U.S. confidence in Italy, Israel's main regional rival in +the Friends-of-the-USA contest.) + But the Israeli role was only plausible if there actually was a perceived +Soviet 'threat'. Epstein's repackaging of Oswald as KGB was a handy, +bite-sized piece of psychological warfare in that campaign. If we add the +final pieces; that the CIA seems to have had some kind of relationship +with the Reader's Digest - who funded Epstein's 'research' - since the +early years of the First Cold War; that Epstein's book appeared in time to +pre-empt the report of t he House Select Committee on Assassinations, then +you have the pieces in a puzzle to which only Epstein knows the solution. +Fourteen years and three disastrous terms of infantile rightwing +Republican government later, Oliver Stone reworks the shooting in Dallas +from a (vaguely) left perspective. And - to no-one's surprise - where +Epstein's version got oceans of sycophantic att ention in the +Anglo-American media, Stone gets hammered before the film has even been +shot. At the centre of the Stone movie are Jim Garrison, the New Orleans +DA, and Clay Shaw, the gay businessman Garrison charged with conspiracy to +kill the President. How things change. . . Two years ago issue 20 of +Lobster included a long analysis of the UK n ames in Clay Shaw's address +book. It evinced one letter, from a Daily Mirror journalist, who described +the piece as 'quintessential Lobster'- i.e. of interest to few, +fascinating nonetheless, and unlikely to find a publisher anywhere else. +When Stone's mo vie was released here he rang to ask if he could use the +Shaw material in a piece he thought he had sold to the Sunday Times. (The +story didn't appear, in the end.) But Shaw had gone from being +ultra-obscure to mainstream in about 3 months - thanks to JFK . When did a +cultural event change the climate so fast and so permanently in this +country? 'Cathy Come Home' in the mid sixties? I liked Stone's film, +despite its sentimentality, the soapy domestic scenes chez 'Garrison' and +the preposterous closing speech. It is a remarkable piece of mainstream +narrative cinema (with one dazzling cameo from Ed Asner as Guy Bannister). +My only mino r quibble would be that missing from Stone's narrative are +the people who published criticisms of the Warren Commission Report before +Jim Garrison began in 1967. Credit where credit is due: that the Warren +Commission didn't get away with their snow job ab out Oswald, is down to +the work of the assassination buffs. In 1964 virtually the entire U.S. +establishment - media, politicians, U.S. state authorities, CIA etc. - +agreed on the 'lone nut' solution. Against them were ranged a handful of +Americans - a goo dly proportion of them women, Mae Brussel and Sylvia +Meagher, for example - who knew they were being sold a pup and refused to +buy it. Facing massive hostility, ridicule and, in some cases, harassment +from the state authorities, the JFK assassination buff s persisted and +eventually overturned the official version of reality. This is a +remarkable achievement that Stone might just have nodded towards. Finally, +the impact of the film illustrates the problems for the security apparatus +of the nation state now represented by the global media. Twenty or thirty +years ago it was possible for the National Security apparatus to put out a +line to its agents of influence inside the mass media - as the CIA did +against Jim Garrison, Mark Lane and other critics of the Warren Commission +- and what was called 'the mighty Wurlitzer' of CIA propaganda would crank +into action. These days it is more difficult to rubbish a book or film out +of existence. The pre-release assaults on Stone in the U.S. media served +simply as global PR for the film. The U.S. government has not yet learned +the lesson the British state learned during its attempts to suppress Spy +Catcher.=20 + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000962.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000962.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7432de2e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000962.txt @@ -0,0 +1,270 @@ +Gilles Deleuze, "Postscript on the Societies of Control", from + _OCTOBER_ 59, Winter 1992, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, pp. + 3-7. + +OCTOBER (ISSN 0162-2870) (ISBN 0-262-75209-3) is published quarterly +(Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring) by the MIT Press, 55 Hayward Street, +Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142 and London, England. + +This essay, which first appeared in _L'Autre journal_, no. 1 (May +1990), is included in the forthcoming translation of _Pourparlers_ +(Paris: Editions Minuit, 1990), to be published by Columbia +University Press. + +--- +"Postscript on the Societies of Control" +Gilles Deleuze + + +1. Historical + + + Foucault located the _disciplinary societies_ in the +eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; they reach their height at the +outset of the twentieth. They initiate the organization of vast +spaces of enclosure. The individual never ceases passing from one +closed environment to another, each having its own laws: first the +family; then the school ("you are no longer in your family"); then +the barracks ("you are no longer at school"); then the factory; +from time to time the hospital; possibly the prison, the preeminent +instance of the enclosed environment. It's the prison that serves +as the analogical model: at the sight of some laborers, the heroine +of Rossellini's _Europa '51_ could exclaim, "I thought I was seeing +convicts." + + Foucault has brilliantly analyzed the ideal project of these +environments of enclosure, particularly visible within the factory: +to concentrate; to distribute in space; to order in time; to +compose a productive force within the dimension of space-time whose +effect will be greater than the sum of its component forces. But +what Foucault recognized as well was the transience of this model: +it succeeded that of the _societies of sovereignty_, the goal and +functions of which were something quite different (to tax rather +than to organize production, to rule on death rather than to +administer life); the transition took place over time, and Napoleon +seemed to effect the large-scale conversion from one society to the +other. But in their turn the disciplines underwent a crisis to the +benefit of new forces that were gradually instituted and which +accelerated after World War II: a disciplinary society was what we +already no longer were, what we had ceased to be. + + We are in a generalized crisis in relation to all the +environments of enclosure--prison, hospital, factory, school, +family. The family is an "interior," in crisis like all other +interiors--scholarly, professional, etc. The administrations in +charge never cease announcing supposedly necessary reforms: to +reform schools, to reform industries, hospitals, the armed forces, +prisons. But everyone knows that these institutions are finished, +whatever the length of their expiration periods. It's only a +matter of administering their last rites and of keeping people +employed until the installation of the new forces knocking at the +door. These are the _societies of control_, which are in the +process of replacing disciplinary societies. "Control" is the name +Burroughs proposes as a term for the new monster, one that Foucault +recognizes as our immediate future. Paul Virilio also is +continually analyzing the ultrarapid forms of free-floating control +that replaced the old disciplines operating in the time frame of a +closed system. There is no need to invoke the extraordinary +pharmaceutical productions, the molecular engineering, the genetic +manipulations, although these are slated to enter the new process. +There is no need to ask which is the toughest regime, for it's +within each of them that liberating and enslaving forces confront +one another. For example, in the crisis of the hospital as +environment of enclosure, neighborhood clinics, hospices, and day +care could at first express new freedom, but they could participate +as well in mechanisms of control that are equal to the harshest of +confinements. There is no need to fear or hope, but only to look +for new weapons. + + +2. Logic + + + The different internments of spaces of enclosure through which +the individual passes are independent variables: each time one us +supposed to start from zero, and although a common language for all +these places exists, it is _analogical_. One the other hand, the +different control mechanisms are inseparable variations, forming a +system of variable geometry the language of which is numerical +(which doesn't necessarily mean binary). Enclosures are _molds_, +distinct castings, but controls are a _modulation_, like a +self-deforming cast that will continuously change from one moment +to the other, or like a sieve whose mesh will transmute from point +to point. + + This is obvious in the matter of salaries: the factory was a +body that contained its internal forces at the level of +equilibrium, the highest possible in terms of production, the +lowest possible in terms of wages; but in a society of control, the +corporation has replaced the factory, and the corporation is a +spirit, a gas. Of course the factory was already familiar with the +system of bonuses, but the corporation works more deeply to impose +a modulation of each salary, in states of perpetual metastability +that operate through challenges, contests, and highly comic group +sessions. If the most idiotic television game shows are so +successful, it's because they express the corporate situation with +great precision. The factory constituted individuals as a single +body to the double advantage of the boss who surveyed each element +within the mass and the unions who mobilized a mass resistance; but +the corporation constantly presents the brashest rivalry as a +healthy form of emulation, an excellent motivational force that +opposes individuals against one another and runs through each, +dividing each within. The modulating principle of "salary +according to merit" has not failed to tempt national education +itself. Indeed, just as the corporation replaces the factory, +_perpetual training_ tends to replace the _school_, and continuous +control to replace the examination. Which is the surest way of +delivering the school over to the corporation. + + In the disciplinary societies one was always starting again +(from school to the barracks, from the barracks to the factory), +while in the societies of control one is never finished with +anything--the corporation, the educational system, the armed +services being metastable states coexisting in one and the same +modulation, like a universal system of deformation. In _The +Trial_, Kafka, who had already placed himself at the pivotal point +between two types of social formation, described the most fearsome +of judicial forms. The _apparent acquittal_ of the disciplinary +societies (between two incarcerations); and the _limitless +postponements_ of the societies of control (in continuous +variation) are two very different modes of juridicial life, and if +our law is hesitant, itself in crisis, it's because we are leaving +one in order to enter the other. The disciplinary societies have +two poles: the signature that designates the _individual_, and the +number or administrative numeration that indicates his or her +position within a _mass_. This is because the disciplines never +saw any incompatibility between these two, and because at the same +time power individualizes and masses together, that is, constitutes +those over whom it exercises power into a body and molds the +individuality of each member of that body. (Foucault saw the origin +of this double charge in the pastoral power of the priest--the +flock and each of its animals--but civil power moves in turn and by +other means to make itself lay "priest.") In the societies of +control, on the other hand, what is important is no longer either +a signature or a number, but a code: the code is a _password_, +while on the other hand disciplinary societies are regulated by +_watchwords_ (as much from the point of view of integration as from +that of resistance). The numerical language of control is made of +codes that mark access to information, or reject it. We no longer +find ourselves dealing with the mass/individual pair. Individuals +have become _"dividuals,"_ and masses, samples, data, markets, or +_"banks."_ Perhaps it is money that expresses the distinction +between the two societies best, since discipline always referred +back to minted money that locks gold as numerical standard, while +control relates to floating rates of exchange, modulated according +to a rate established by a set of standard currencies. The old +monetary mole is the animal of the space of enclosure, but the +serpent is that of the societies of control. We have passed from +one animal to the other, from the mole to the serpent, in the +system under which we live, but also in our manner of living and in +our relations with others. The disciplinary man was a +discontinuous producer of energy, but the man of control is +undulatory, in orbit, in a continuous network. Everywhere _surfing_ +has already replaced the older _sports_. + + Types of machines are easily matched with each type of +society--not that machines are determining, but because they +express those social forms capable of generating them and using +them. The old societies of sovereignty made use of simple +machines--levers, pulleys, clocks; but the recent disciplinary +societies equipped themselves with machines involving energy, with +the passive danger of entropy and the active danger of sabotage; +the societies of control operate with machines of a third type, +computers, whose passive danger is jamming and whose active one is +piracy or the introduction of viruses. This technological +evolution must be, even more profoundly, a mutation of capitalism, +an already well-known or familiar mutation that can be summed up as +follows: nineteenth-century capitalism is a capitalism of +concentration, for production and for property. It therefore +erects a factory as a space of enclosure, the capitalist being the +owner of the means of production but also, progressively, the owner +of other spaces conceived through analogy (the worker's familial +house, the school). As for markets, they are conquered sometimes +by specialization, sometimes by colonization, sometimes by lowering +the costs of production. But in the present situation, capitalism +is no longer involved in production, which it often relegates to +the Third World, even for the complex forms of textiles, +metallurgy, or oil production. It's a capitalism of higher-order +production. It no-longer buys raw materials and no longer sells the +finished products: it buys the finished products or assembles +parts. What it wants to sell is services but what it wants to buy +is stocks. This is no longer a capitalism for production but for +the product, which is to say, for being sold or marketed. Thus is +essentially dispersive, and the factory has given way to the +corporation. The family, the school, the army, the factory are no +longer the distinct analogical spaces that converge towards an +owner--state or private power--but coded figures--deformable and +transformable--of a single corporation that now has only +stockholders. Even art has left the spaces of enclosure in order to +enter into the open circuits of the bank. The conquests of the +market are made by grabbing control and no longer by disciplinary +training, by fixing the exchange rate much more than by lowering +costs, by transformation of the product more than by specialization +of production. Corruption thereby gains a new power. Marketing +has become the center or the "soul" of the corporation. We are +taught that corporations have a soul, which is the most terrifying +news in the world. The operation of markets is now the instrument +of social control and forms the impudent breed of our masters. +Control is short-term and of rapid rates of turnover, but also +continuous and without limit, while discipline was of long +duration, infinite and discontinuous. Man is no longer man +enclosed, but man in debt. It is true that capitalism has retained +as a constant the extreme poverty of three-quarters of humanity, +too poor for debt, too numerous for confinement: control will not +only have to deal with erosions of frontiers but with the +explosions within shanty towns or ghettos. + + +3. Program + + + The conception of a control mechanism, giving the position of +any element within an open environment at any given instant +(whether animal in a reserve or human in a corporation, as with an +electronic collar), is not necessarily one of science fiction. +F lix Guattari has imagined a city where one would be able to leave +one's apartment, one's street, one's neighborhood, thanks to one's +(dividual) electronic card that raises a given barrier; but the +card could just as easily be rejected on a given day or between +certain hours; what counts is not the barrier but the computer that +tracks each person's position--licit or illicit--and effects a +universal modulation. + + The socio-technological study of the mechanisms of control, +grasped at their inception, would have to be categorical and to +describe what is already in the process of substitution for the +disciplinary sites of enclosure, whose crisis is everywhere +proclaimed. It may be that older methods, borrowed from the former +societies of sovereignty, will return to the fore, but with the +necessary modifications. What counts is that we are at the +beginning of something. In the _prison system_: the attempt to +find penalties of "substitution," at least for petty crimes, and +the use of electronic collars that force the convicted person to +stay at home during certain hours. For the _school system_: +continuous forms of control, and the effect on the school of +perpetual training, the corresponding abandonment of all university +research, the introduction of the "corporation" at all levels of +schooling. For the _hospital system_: the new medicine "without +doctor or patient" that singles out potential sick people and +subjects at risk, which in no way attests to individuation--as they +say--but substitutes for the individual or numerical body the code +of a "dividual" material to be controlled. In the _corporate +system_: new ways of handling money, profits, and humans that no +longer pass through the old factory form. These are very small +examples, but ones that will allow for better understanding of what +is meant by the crisis of the institutions, which is to say, the +progressive and dispersed installation of a new system of +domination. One of the most important questions will concern the +ineptitude of the unions: tied to the whole of their history of +struggle against the disciplines or within the spaces of enclosure, +will they be able to adapt themselves or will they give way to new +forms of resistance against the societies of control? Can we +already grasp the rough outlines of the coming forms, capable of +threatening the joys of marketing? Many young people strangely +boast of being "motivated"; they re-request apprenticeships and +permanent training. It's up to them to discover what they're being +made to serve, just as their elders discovered, not without +difficulty, the telos of the disciplines. The coils of a serpent +are even more complex that the burrows of a molehill. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000963.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000963.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bd3d7ec9 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000963.txt @@ -0,0 +1,429 @@ + non serviam #13 + *************** + + +Contents: Editor's Word + S.E. Parker: Preface + John C. Smith: Last and First Words + Frank Jordan: In Praise of Max + Paul Rowlandson: Stirner, Youth and Tradition + +*********************************************************************** + +Editor's Word +_____________ + + This issue of Non Serviam is an end and a beginning. This issue +(#13), and issue 14, do together contain the last issue of Sid Parker's +"Ego", whose place in the world is now taken over by Non Serviam, and +it is also a proper demarcation of the establishing of Stirner in +Cyberspace. As you will see from Sid's preface below, this is the 150th +year that Der Einzige und Sein Eigentum has existed. It is also one of +the first years that the English version of the book is available +electronically [FTP etext.archive.umich.edu, and change directory to +/Pub/Politics/Non.Serviam]. + The texts below are invited "appreciations" of Stirner's book, +written for the commemorative issue of "Ego". If it appeals to you, +you might be interested in knowing that Sid Parker will not lay off +totally, but continue with some 1-2 A4 page "viewsletters", and will +send these to interested persons writing to him at 19 St. Stephen's +Gardens, London W2 5QU. + + + Svein Olav + +____________________________________________________________________ + +PREFACE + +S.E. Parker + + + Although the first edition of the Ego and His Own (Der Einzige und +Sein Eigenthum) bore the date 1845, it in fact appeared towards the end +of October 1844. This year is therefore the 150th anniversary of its +publication. + + Otto Wigand, its Leipzig Publisher, was well aware that such a work +might feel the weight of the disapproval of the Saxon Censorship Board +and resorted to a ruse which he hoped would enable the book to be +distributed even if the censors condemned it. As soon as the copy he +was legally obliged to deposit at the Government Office was receipted +Wigand set about delivering the remaining copies to booksellers so that +any confiscators would find his warehouse empty. To a large degree he +succeeded. Nonetheless, the censors still managed to seize 250 copies +of the 1000 printed. After a few days, however, the confiscation order +was withdrawn on the grounds that Stirner's book was "too absurd" to +warrant censorship. In other words, the censors could not understand +it! The Ego and His Own was also banned in Prussia, Kurkessen and +Mecklenburg Schwerin, but although these bans were never lifted, this +did not stop copies being obtained and read by anyone interested. + + Since then The Ego and His Own has been reprinted many times and +has been translated into many languages. Throughout its existence it +has provoked outrage and won admiration. All too often, however, both +the outraged and the admiring have tried to fit Stirner's views into +the conceptual imperatives of this or that ideology. He has been +labelled many things, ranging from anarchist to fascist. No doubt +passages can be found in his book that appear to lend support to each +of these extremes, but the more one understands what it is that Stirner +is _actually_ saying, the less these labels can be fixed. The contributors +to this commemoration fortunately do not indulge in such a futile game. +They are content to record their own reactions to The Ego and His Own +and its value for them. + +Contributors ... + +WM. FLYGARE: "This 1/5.6 billionth: Swedish-American. Boston '17-'46. +Chicago '46-'51. Kyoto '51-the end. BA & MA (philosophy and buddhism) +plus attempts at music and theatre to learn my inabilities. Drafted into +English teaching '51-'90. Some minor publications along the way. Highly +independent ... and dependent, enjoy being alone without loneliness, my +being remarried ('65), with two daughters (25 and 28), two cats, a +love-bird, and a plum-tree. Eclectic: atheist in fact, animist in +fancy, affinity for persons, allergic to people. Own house ('69 at +last) with a window overlooking 'rooves' onto green hills and a variety +of skies. Retired to studying, versing, digesting my haps, and being +glad for my failures-n-good fortune." + +FRANK JORDAN: "A life-loving, aesthetically minded outsider, passing +from a 'Nietzschean' into a fully conscious 'Stirnerite'." + +SVEIN OLAV NYBERG: "Born 1966; PhD student in mathematics; editor of +Non Serviam; almost as selfish as the two cats that own him; has been +interested in Stirner for the ten years he has known about him." + +S.E. PARKER: "Born 1929, Birmingham, England. Now retired after thirty +three years with British Rail. Has worked his way through the Young +Communist League (1944-1946), the British Federation of Young +Co-operators (1946-1947), and virtually all the different varieties of +anarchism (1947-1982), to emerge as his own man, the penny of conscious +egoism having finally dropped. Editor and publisher of Minus One/Ego/ +The Egoist/Ego 1963-1994." + +PAUL ROWLANDSON: "Currently earns a living as a lecturer in a pseudo- +academic subject at a University College on the North West Frontier of +the United Kingdom." + +JOHN C. SMITH: "Needs no introduction." + + +____________________________________________________________________ + + +LAST AND FIRST WORDS + +John C. Smith + + + The Ego and His Own didn't exactly take the world by storm when it +first appeared in 1844 and hasn't since. But its publication certainly +caused a stir among the Young Hegelian circle in which the author +moved. Karl Marx, for one, was so provoked by Stirner's book that he, +together with Engels, devoted some two thirds of their book, The German +Ideology, to vilifying Stirner, seeing him as a dangerous challenge to +their creed of social salvation. + + In this country it is hardly ever mentioned in polite society. Any +new edition is largely ignored by literary editors. Yet it is reprinted +regularly and never lacks readers. Some, like the anarchist Herbert +Read, for example, have to admit "One book in my youth I have never +wholly forgotten. To say that it had great influence on me would not be +correct, for influences are absorbed and become part of one's mind. +This book refused to be digested - to use our vivid English metaphor: +it stuck in the gizzard, and has been in that uncomfortable position +ever since. I refer to Max Stirner's Der Einzige und Sein Eigentum, The +Ego and His Own as it was called in the English translation, published +in 1913." (The Contrary Experience) + + The main religio-political ideologies, Christianity and Marxism, +have failed to provide an answer to the world's ills. The human self- +ishness they were meant to triumph over has triumphed over them. + + Christianity, which promised individual salvation (freedom from the +sin of selfishness) and brotherhood, has lost out to commerce. Shopping +has replaced going to church. New temples, indoor shopping malls which +are _usually_ ugly and unnecessary, have sprung up all over Britain. +The early Christian churches at least served a useful communal purpose +and were beautiful to look at. + + In the Soviet Union the very understandable desire for personal +reward undermined and eventually overthrew the state socialist system. +There have been the inevitable attempts to explain this away by Marxist +purists asserting, as did G.K. Chesterton about Christianity, that +Marxism has not failed because it has never been tried. But, of course, +it _was_ tried, the theories that were espoused in Russia before the +1917 Revolution being more or less the same as what these apologists +would call "real socialism." + + It need hardly be said that the lesser religions of anarchism and +national socialism have also failed to deliver the goods. Anarchism, +offering individual autonomy and group solidarity, is also concerned +with a perfect society free from the sin of selfishness. It is, +ostensibly, a morally purer religion than either Marxism or national +socialism since anarchists reject, in theory, involvement in existing +political and social structures. They also complicate matters by +insisting on self rule for the individual. This has ensured that +anarchism has never enjoyed a mass following. + + Except for the fact that national socialism originated as a scheme +for the salvation of white Europeans it is, as Roger Scruton has +pointed out, very similar to Marxist socialism. Its famous promoter, +Adolph Hitler, was more than a bit bonkers. This, along with a similar +obsession with a selfishness-free society, ensured that it has suffered +the same fate as that of Marxism. + + If the _collectivist_ panaceas have been tried and seriously found +wanting, what about the 'individualist' answers? Of these, +existentialism of the kind propounded by Jean-Paul Sartre in his +earlier, non-political phase appears to have the most in common with +Stirner's ideas. Sartre rejected the Christian God and the Hegelian +Absolute, his central doctrine being that man is what he makes of +himself and "an insistence on the actual _existence_ of the individual +as the basic and important fact instead of a reliance on theories and +abstractions." (Readers' Companion To World Literature) + + As Stirner himself was more concerned with the projectionist rather +than what was projected he would not have found too much to disagree +with in this, but a closer examination of Sartre's position reveals +that he and Stirner are worlds apart. For instance, Stirner confidently +abandoned God whereas Sartre found it "extremely embarrassing that God +does not exist ... man is in consequence forlorn, for he cannot find +anything to depend on either within or outside himself." +(Existentialism and Humanism) + + Sartre later sought to overcome this "embarrassing" forlornness by +committing himself to the collectivism of Marxism while still clinging +to the shell of his individualist existentialism. He hovered +uncertainly between the two for the rest of his life. Stirner never +made this mistake. He stubbornly, famously and usefully refused to be +anything other than himself. + + The fact is, as Stirner himself could have pointed out, all of the +foregoing answers are based on a flawed analysis - the lack of +understanding of the difference between "egoistic" and "egotistic". +Recently, Brian Walden observed that the utopian mentality reveals a +faulty perception of individuality. And more recently Matt Ridley +commented that most utopians are hopelessly naive about human nature: +"I believe that ... human beings are and always have been driven by +three cardinal ambitions - for wealth, for reputation and for status - +and that you ignore such facts at your peril. Look no further than +Russia for proof. Marxism fails precisely because it indulges a fantasy +that human beings will abandon these three and replace them with the +greatest good of the greatest number." + + Nevertheless, Ridley has left out something important. It is the +perennial appetite for self-delusion - to be other than what you are - +that mostly fuel these power drives. Most people, as Nigella Lawson +observes, "need to escape the resented meagreness of their own +existence ... They want magic and mysticism. They want to have others - +other worlds, other beings - dictate what is, what they are and not to +have any responsibility for themselves." Given these facts it is not +therefore surprising that Max Stirner's impassioned defence and +celebration of _his_ individuality is unique. Based as it is on the +revolutionary stance that self interest is the basis of _all_ human +endeavour The Ego and His Own may not be that last word on the subject +of human selfishness, but it contains some essential first words +without which we would be even more in the dark than we are. + + +____________________________________________________________________ + + +IN PRAISE OF MAX + +Frank Jordan + + + What is arguably the most iconoclastic work of philosophy ever +written was published in the year 1844. This work was entitled The Ego +and His Own (In original German: Der Einzige und Sein Eigenthum). The +author of this seminal work called himself Max Stirner, which was a +pseudonym of Johann Caspar Schmidt. Stirner was a member of the Young +Hegelians, but the ideas he put forward in Der Einzige, his one major +work, easily outstripped and went far beyond anything that his friends +and contemporaries had to say in their criticisms of the various +idealistic trends in society, as they understood it. + + Whether the subject be God, Spirit, Family, Morality, The People, +The State, and so on, all of these Stirner ruthlessly and logically +breaks down and shows they are nothing more than idealistic 'spooks,' +falsely created in substitution for the true needs of the ego, and +usually interpreted in altruistic fashion. Only Nietzsche, in his many +writings, approaches anywhere near the same 'dizzying' extremes and +idol-smashing that is a constant theme in Stirner's book. The main +difference between the two thinkers, I believe, is that Stirner's book +is a complete statement, consistent within itself, whereas Nietzsche's +insights have to be dug out from beneath his overall works, and they +are usually aphoristic in style and content. + + The impact of Stirner's book provoked a most virulent attack +against it by no less a thinker than Karl Marx, along with Engels. In +their massive work, The German Ideology, they devoted two thirds of it +to attacking line by line, and blow by blow, Stirner's book. They +constantly refer to him as 'Saint Max', 'Don Quixote', and other rather +absurd appellations, all to try to exorcise him and his book. But, in +the end, they fail miserably, after having tried every intellectual +trick they had in their mental store, hoping to promote Marxist +socialism and discredit Stirner's pure egoism. + + Various theorists have proven, quite consistently, that Marxism as +it eventually developed would not have been possible without Marx and +Engels psychologically reacting against the egoistic philosophy of +Stirner in the way that they did. As recent history shows, Marxism can +now be seen as a failed attempt at trying to mould the individual +psyche into a social-procrustrean bed of ideology. + + Beside the effect Stirner had on Marxism, various other thinkers +and theorists have tried to adapt the views expressed in Der Einzige to +bolster their own causes. For examples: anarchists, fascists +(especially the case of Mussolini), the situationists of the swinging +Sixties, surrealistic and dadaistic artists like Max Ernst, +psychologists like Erich Fromm. Even the very popular science fiction +trilogy of Wilson and Shea called Illuminatus acknowledges a great debt +to Stirner throughout the plot. And we must not forget the +existentialist tag Stirner has been given! + + Ultimately, of course, despite the diverse thinkers who are +attracted to, and 'turned on', by Stirner, the uniqueness of The Ego +and His Own stands like a lone mountain which cannot be levelled down +to fulfil some else's rather shallow and hollow-sounding ideals. + + As long as men can, and will, think and act for themselves there +will always be a place for Max Stirner's uplifting and stirring book. +His work speaks from the position of a _unique one_ to all other +receptive _unique ones_. + + I thank you, Max Stirner. + + +____________________________________________________________________ + + +STIRNER, YOUTH AND TRADITION + +Paul Rowlandson + + + Young people are subject to the psychological malady of 'militant +enthusiasm'. It strikes between the ages of 16 and 25, the time of life +when we are most keen to sacrifice our all for a Cause, the particular +cause being determined by the fashionable enthusiasms of the day. That +is why young men are useful in armies - they are easily fired up to go +over the top. They are useful too, in religious organizations, because +they will go out and proselytize in the rain, or sign away their lives +to religious orders. + + Stirner described this period, when the boy has become a youth: +"One must obey God rather than man ... from this high stand-point +everything 'earthly' recedes into contemptible remoteness; for the +stand-point is the heavenly." + + As a youth in the late 60s and early 70s I was influenced by the +passions of the time. + + As a child I was packed off to the fire and brimstone "washed in +the blood of the Lamb" Congregational church in Oak Vale, Liverpool, by +my parents, who themselves never went to a church except for weddings +and funerals. + + I remember a visiting preacher throttling a live chicken in the +pulpit to make a point I had long forgotten. It was a church parade day +and I was a member of the church scout troop, which I hated. Some of +the Church elders must have thought that the preacher had overdone it +because I remember we were asked by some of them what we thought of the +chicken-throttling. I can't remember being upset by it, which is +surprising. It was shortly after this incident that I was sent off to +the local Anglican church for some civilized religion. + + I wasted a lot of time during my school years by my involvement +with CND, the Young Communist League, the Syndicalist Workers +Federation, and other radical organisations. I took part in various +silly demonstrations, including the then obligatory Aldermaston marches +and some sort of anti-Vietnam war demo from Hyde Park to Trafalgar +Square. + + Most of my reading was of the radical sort - Marx, Alexander +Berkman, Proudhon, Anarchy magazine, Direct Action, Solidarity, and +such. I left school with two 'O' levels as a result. + + The young mind is bombarded by other people's thoughts. From +childhood to adolescence we absorb ideas and viewpoints from other +people, whether in person, through print, or through radio and +television. The selection of what goes in is more or less random, +within certain limits, varying according to time, culture and +geography. + + Christianity was perhaps the major ingredient in my case, as it was +(and still is, though less so) with most English youths. + + It is an easy thing for an uninformed mind to contrast the +"idealism" of Christianity with the "injustices" of the world. I +remember thinking how like Christianity Marxism was, and how +hypocritical of Christian society to deny us the benefits of communism. + + However, there was a growing realisation of a divergence of +interests, an awareness that I had reservations and doubts about the +activities and enthusiasms with which I was then engaged. For example, +as a teenager I was a pirate radio enthusiast, which I found hard to +reconcile with my anarcho-communist beliefs. There were several other +discrepancies. I was a strange sort of anarchist for I always had a +high regard for the Police, and frequently found myself uncomfortable +with my comrades' description of them as 'pigs'. + + I have always been an enthusiast for quirky or idiosyncratic +publications. As a youth I favoured the iconoclastic. As an older man I +now seek the reactionary, the traditional, the ultra conservative +publications. Revolutions pleased me then, Tradition pleases me now. + + The most unusual journal I ever came across was Minus One (the +precursor of Ego - Ed). I subscribed immediately. Here was something +different. + + I very soon thereafter acquired from Minus One a copy of the +Libertarian Book Club 1963 edition of The Ego and His Own. Even the +physical attributes of the book are extraordinary. It is a substantial +book, printed on high quality paper, bound in signatures, with a plain +thick green cover, and a plain typeface. It looks and feels a _serious_ +book. + + My reading of The Ego and His Own had a powerful and continuing +influence. Here was a mind I connected with straight away. Its effect +was that of a mental spring cleaning. The "wheels in the head", the +ideas and opinions which I had accumulated, lost their power, although, +as Stirner says, "Daily experience confirms the truth that the +understanding may have renounced a thing many years before the heart +has ceased to beat for it." Nevertheless, the effect was that I now +possessed the wheels in the head rather than them possessing me. + + Stirner takes no hostages. The demolition is thorough: "the Good +cause, God's cause, the cause of mankind, of truth, of freedom, of +humanity, of justice, my people, my prince, my fatherland, even the +cause of Mind, and a thousand other causes." + + For a time I was cause-less, but eventually started restocking. I +acquired some causes of my own, but this time they belonged to me. I +could run with them or discard them as I wished. + + It is probably as difficult to go without causes as it is to do +without interests. A cause is, after all, simply a compelling interest +grown large. But one of the benefits derived from reading Stirner is +the ability to prevent their possession of their owner. My final +authority is myself. + + There are occasions in life we think of as watersheds. Nothing is +ever quite the same again. My discovery of The Ego and His Own was such +an event. It became impossible to think again in the way I thought +before I read the book. There is no other book like it. + + Pope John Paul II once commented that the faithful have a right not +to be disturbed by the speculations of the so-called radical +theologians. Should the man or woman in the street be exposed to Max +Stirner? I think not. People will go to almost any lengths to avoid +thinking for themselves. The Ego and His Own would no doubt unhinge +many of them, which might make life more difficult for the rest of us. + + Fortunately there appears to be a small elite which can absorb and +benefit from Stirner without going off the rails - those who can see +through not just the Emperor's new clothes but the old ones as well. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000964.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000964.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4b8bf5b8 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000964.txt @@ -0,0 +1,326 @@ + non serviam #14 + *************** + + + +Contents: Wm. Flygare: "To My Sweetheart" + Svein Olav Nyberg: The Choice of a New Generation + +*********************************************************************** + + +"TO MY SWEETHEART" - With an Addition to Bartlett + +Wm. Flygare + + + On this 150th birthday of The Ego and His Own (1844, dated 1845), +what intrigues me is the dedication. What was Mary's contribution to +John-n-Mary's only issue - a book? + + Stirner (42.2; p358) speaks of using life up like a burning candle. +In the John-n-Mary romance - a roman candle - their wedded life +(1843-1846) ended in her long-life life-long rancour against a "sly" +man whom she "neither loved nor respected." In affairs of the heart, as +well as in practical affairs, both were losers, the woman more than the +philosopher who had two worlds to live in. + + It would seem, then, that the inspiring young Mary deserves a +gratitude that the older embittered one would be loath to accept, her +wound a secret she would not tell. + + The Ego and Hos Own appears a vast commentary to the Goethe poem +alluded to at the beginning and end. Its absence in publications of The +Ego is unfortunate. In Stirner's time this poem was "a favourite with +everyone" (Schopenhauer's Councels and Maxim #5) but it is little known +now. Like Smith, Stirner is "in love," certainly with the "tyranny of +words" (43.3; p.389). Unlike elsewhere in his work, there are poetic +parallels and flights, external pattern, redundance, etymological +word-play, elations, and hyperbole, his pen often shouting as if +against the loud-voiced among "The Free Ones". These features have made +the work most variously read and can detract. _Parler sans accent_. But +as to the diagnostic content: Stance is circumscribed by circumstance. +In their desperate drive for impossible certainty and acceptance, and +hope to qualify, the driven drive the driven, mental straight-jackets +nicely laced. In adolescence, the rarely curable brain-smudge received +in childhood festers into visions and conversions that lead to "normal" +madness and its "stealthy malice" (7.2; p.46). Now instead of talk +_about_ the prophylaxis and solace offered by The Ego and His Own, +Stirner himself: I have tried to ferret out his key observations in +sober and concise form as "an addition to Bartlett" since Bartlett's +"Familiar Quotations" is one of a number of well-known reference works +which neglect this exorcist of "spooks", some of whose phrases deserve +to be "familiar." Reference is to a yet unpublished paragraph-numbering +system and to pages in Reclam 3957(6), the only currently stable +publication: + + What have we gained, then, when for a variation we have transferred +into ourselves the divine outside us? Are we that which is in us? As +little as we are that which is outside us. I am as little my heart as I +am my sweetheart, this "other self" of mine. (4.20; p.34) + + ... out of confidence in our grandmothers' honesty we believe in +the existence of spirits. + +But had we no grandfathers then, and did they not shrug their shoulders +every time our grandmothers told about their ghosts? (5.1&2; p.36) + + ... over each minute of your existence a fresh minute of the future +beckons to you, and, developing yourself, you get away "from yourself," +that is, from the self that was at that moment. (5.13; p.39) + + Man, your head is haunted ... You imagine ... a spirit-realm to +which you suppose yourself to be called, an ideal that beckons to you. +You have a fixed idea! (7.1; p.46) + + ... it is only through the "flesh" that I can break tyranny of +mind; for it is only when a man hears his flesh along with the rest of +him that he hears himself wholly, and it is only when he wholly hears +himself that he is a hearing (vernehmend) or rational (vernunftig) +being. (10.12; p.68) + + Because the revolutionary priests or schoolmasters served Man, they +cut off the heads of men. (14.24; p.68) + + Many a man renounces morals, but with great difficulty the +conception, "morality." (15.12; p.96) + + ... every effort arrives at reaction ... a _new master_ set in the +old one's place, and the overturning is a - building up. (17.32&35; +pp.120&121) + + ... if a "tie" clasps you, you are something only _with another_, +and twelve of you make a dozen, thousands of you a people, millions of +you humanity ... I answer, only when you are single can you have +intercourse with each other as what you are. (21.34&36; p.148) + + I do not want to have or be anything especial above others, ... but +- I do not measure myself by others either, ... The equal, the same, +they can neither be nor have. (21.52; p.152) + + It is not thinking, but my thoughtlessness (lit., +thought-rid-ness), or I the unthinkable, incomprehensible, that frees +me from possession. (23.15; p.169) + + What the craving for freedom has always come to has been the desire +for a _particular_ freedom ... The craving for a _particular_ freedom +always includes the purpose of a new _dominion_. (24.13&14; p.176) + + But the habit of the religious way of thinking has biased our mind +so grievously that we are - terrified at _ourselves_ in our nakedness +and naturalness; it has degraded us so that we deem ourselves depraved +by nature, born devils. (24.21; p.178) + + I am present. (24.22; p.180) + + Thousands of years of civilization have obscured to you what you +are ... Shake that off! ... and let go your hypocritical endeavours, +your foolish mania to be something else than you are. (24.30; p.181) + + You want to be "in the right" as against the rest. That you cannot; +as against them you remain forever "in the wrong". (26.12; p.207) + + What is the ordinary criminal but one who has ... sought despicable +_alien_ goods? ... You do not know that an ego who is his own cannot +desist from being a criminal, that crime is his life. (28.6; p.221) + + Everything sacred is a tie, a fetter. (31.24; p.239) + + For only he who is alive is in the right. (31.24; p.239) + + I never believed in myself; I never believed in my present, I saw +myself only in the future ... a proper I ... a "citizen," a "free or +true man" ... an alien I ... An I that is neither an I nor a you, a +_fancied_ I, a spook. (31.5; p.247) + + But I love ... because love makes _me_ happy ... because loving is +natural to me, because it pleases me. I know no ''commandment of love." +(39.15; p.324) + + I sing because - I am a singer. But I _use_ (gebrauche) you for it +because I - need (gebrauche) ears. (39.37; p.331) + + That a society (such as the society of the State) diminishes my +_liberty_ offends me little. Why, I have to let my liberty be limited +by all sorts of powers and by every one who is stronger; nay, by every +fellow-man; and, were I the autocrat of all the R..... , I yet should +not enjoy absolute liberty. But _ownness_ I will not have taken from +me. And ownness is precisely what every society has designs on, +precisely what is to succumb to its power. (41.7; p.342f) + + We are equal _only in thoughts_, only when "we" are _thought_, not +as we really and bodily are. I am ego, and you are ego: but I am not +this thought-of ego; this ego in which we are all equal is only my +_thought_. I am man, and you are man: but "man" is only a thought, a +generality; neither I nor you are speakable, we are _unutterable_, +because only _thoughts_ are speakable and consist in speaking. (41.15; +p.348) + + Henceforth, the question runs, not how one can acquire life .. but +how one is to dissolve himself, to live himself out. (42.6; p.348) + + Possibility and reality always coincide. (42.3; p.368f) + + No sheep, no dog, exerts itself to become a "proper sheep, a proper +dog". (42.47; p.372) + + I receive with thanks what the centuries of culture have acquired +for me; I am not willing to throw away and give up anything of it ... +But I want still more. (42.53; p.372) + + All truth by itself is dead, a corpse; it is alive only in the same +way as my lungs are alive - to wit, in the measure of my own vitality. +[...] The truth is a - creature. (43.64; p.398-399) + + No idea has existence, for none is capable of corporeity. [...] +What, am I in the world to realize ideas? (45.5&13; pp.408&411) + +____________________________________________________________________ + + +THE EGO AND ITS OWN - The Choice of a New Generation + +Svein Olav Nyberg + + + "Knowledge must die, and rise again + as Will and create itself anew each + day as a free Person." + + The False Principle of Our Education + + + Those of us who have reached adulthood during the eighties have +not avoided noticing all the literature and the ideas about self- +love that has been around. Even the nursery-eyed girls with the +concerned looks sometimes stutter that they think you should be +allowed to love yourself as much as you love your neighbour. Most of +this literature and most of these ideas come from psychology. Wayne +Dwyer reasons that since loving your neighbour as yourself will not +amount to much love of the neighbour unless you love yourself first, +you should therefore love yourself. Psychologically, the link is +claimed that other-love is impossible without self-love. So we +should think we are at a magic time in history; the omni-present +Society gives us permission to love ourselves. + + But there are those of us who are not such well-bred rats +conditioned to do whatever we are told benefits our neighbour. We do +not love ourselves to please our abstract or concrete neighbours, +but just love ourselves, plain and simple. Our kind of people see +these trends as nothing other than the old hogwash in a new +disguise. Not only shall you sacrifice yourself to the good of your +neighbour, but you shall do so under the illusion that you do it for +yourself. We penetrate deeper, we go into philosophy. + + Philosophically, also, it has been a decade of praising the self. +Why, has not the notorious Ayn Rand sold more books and increased +her organized following more than ever? Has not the libertarian +community accepted selfishness as a rule? Again, ever more illusion! +Randian self-love is the love of Man your Essence within you, and +the hate of the Evil un-Man in you, lurking at the boundaries of the +Omni-Good Rational Thought. Libertarian ideas, furthermore, are in +this respect nothing more than the ghost of departed Objectivists. + + It is amidst all this confusion that a young man of today will +find himself as he picks up his first copy of The Ego and Its Own. +Usually, as in my case, he will have a background in libertarian +thought, and smile at the thought that "Here we have the guy who is +even more consistent than Rand. Wow, these ideas will be useful for +my libertarianism!" As the reading of the book proceeds, the young +libertarian will look at the pages in amazed horror; is not this +Stirner guy just picking libertarianism logically apart before his +very eyes? Oh horror! No, this must surely rest on a +misunderstanding. Stirner never knew modern libertarianism, did he? +So, he is really running loose on something else. Yes? But, no, +realisation dawns that libertarianism - after all a very logical and +aesthetic system which even works - given a faint "best of society" +premise - is without the foundation our young libertarian wants. +Rights are spooks, his head is haunted and his pride is hurt. + + There are now two possible lessons to learn; either to learn from +Stirner to speak to others about selfishness - universalize that we +are all (and implicitly _ought to be_) selfish, and to use this as a +new basis for libertarian idealism, or - to delve into oneself to +find one's _own_ cause. + + Now, what is not supposed to be my cause! From society we learn +that selfishness consists in filling your wallet and emptying your +balls as best as you can. From religion we learn that our _true_ +interest lies in the contemplation of ideas and renunciation of the +body. But these are both very one-sided goals, and do violence to +_me_. They are both follies of one and the same type - formal egoism. +Formal egoism is what arises when you conceive of yourself as an +object, a sum of predicates, and not as beyond predicates - as an +Einzige. Modern man hypostatizes - makes objects of - everything, +including himself. For a modern man the choice is only _which_ object +among the objects is to be chosen as the ultimate value. So why not +the object he knows as "me"? But when you serve the interests of an +object, you need a recipe, a guideline - some rules. These might be +explicit, or they might be, as for most people, implicit. The formal +egoist then serves the himself-object as best he can according to +the predications of what selfishness means - and, mind you, he might +even have so much success as to attain some predicated goals that he +thinks a selfish man should attain - but he never gets to the bottom +of _his_ interests. He is formally indistinguishable from the selfish +man, but in reality never attains anything more than being a boy- +scout at satisfying the himself-object. + + Stirner is a good teacher of lessons. In A Human Life he shows the +dialectical development towards a full understanding of one's own +cause. One starts out as a child who thinks that all that matters is +- matter. Thereafter the procession goes to the realm of the Mind - +ideas - where all importance and values are to be found in the +relation to the idea. Only thereafter does it dawn that there is +something beyond all the material and spiritual objects, yet more +immediate, namely _I_, myself. + + It is easy to come to the protest "Now _what_ is the I?" As Stirner +answers, I am not a "what" but a "who". Grasping this distinction, +and why Stirner emphasises it, is essential to understanding +Stirner, and is why The Ego and Its Own is so different from any +other book about selfishness. + + A question that seems to have puzzled both the older and the +younger generation is "If Stirner was such a self-loving man, why +did he bother to write a book that gave him so much trouble and so +little reward?" I do not propose to answer this question in +specifics, but instead look at how he has developed his theory of +relations to other people. + + Stirner has been described as a man who has taken the full +consequence of being-alone in the world, and sometimes even a +solipsist. I take these descriptions as coming from people not fully +knowledgeable about Stirner. Stirner does not advocate the life of +the Sole Ego on the hill, out of contact with other people. Rather, +he seems to derive much enjoyment from the company of his peers, and +even babies with their competent smiles. But it is easy to be +intoxicated by a book such as Stirner's, and fail to read what is +written. What Stirner actually writes about, is that there are +basically two (opposite) forms of interaction, namely that of +standing as an _I_ against a _You_, versus meeting one another qua +predicate-filled objects. The understanding of this demands that one +understands the difference between the Einzige that one is, and the +objects we are conditioned by culture to see ourselves as. + + The meeting of the I against the You actually comprises more than +half of Stirner's book. This, I propose, is the key to why he wrote +the book. All around him he saw, and met, people whose only mode of +interaction was qua object-to-object. He met "good citizens", +"Christians" and even "Humans", all playing out a social role +according to the predicate of the day. But meeting one another with +that veil of predicates removed was a scarcity, as it is today. + + Meeting Einzig to Einzig is scary. The you stand there all for and +by yourself with no predicate to hide behind. That is why people +continually choose to interact via predicates - object-to-object. +But this is nothing different from the mad-man at the asylum who is +unable to face the world as anyone but "Napoleon". We live, as +Stirner put it, in a mad-house among mad-men. + + This is why Stirner wrote his book: It is a therapy for all of us +who out of the fear of seeing ourselves as pure and nakedly +ourselves. A therapy so that he might speak and otherwise interact +with us as the Einzige we are, and not as a thousand "Napoleon"s. + + Do you dare accept the therapy offered by Stirner? + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000965.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000965.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..955e73e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000965.txt @@ -0,0 +1,332 @@ + non serviam #15 + *************** + + +Contents: Editor's Word + Dora Marsden: Thinking and Thought + S.E. Parker: Comment to Ken Knudson + +*********************************************************************** + +Editor's Word +_____________ + +I am delighted to include an essay by a female champion of egoism in +this issue of Non Serviam, made available electronically by another +egoist woman, Sunniva Morstad. It first appeared in "The Freewoman", +No. 5, Vol. 1, August 15th 1913. Like Stirner, she builds a case for +egoism through a criticism of the absoluteness of language - a thought +which should not be unfamiliar for the many on Non Serviam who have +adopted Korzybski=B4s "General Semantics" as a guideline. I personally +think this approach to egoism via a criticism of language deserves +more attention, and would therefore be very happy to receive articles +written from different points of view on this relation. +Since Non Serviam is now also going to go on paper to the unprivileged +without email access, I will include some longer good discussion posts +which would otherwise have been most fitting for the discussion list +Nonserv, in Non Serviam. The first such post is a comment by Sid Parker +to Ken Knudson=B4s serial [2] here in Non Serviam. + + +Svein Olav + +[1] Sidney Parker: "Archists, Anarchists and Egoists". Non Serviam #7 +[2] Ken Knudson: "A Critique of Communism and The Individualist + Alternative". Non Serviam #1-12 + +____________________________________________________________________ + +Dora Marsden: + Thinking and Thought + -------------------- + +It is strange to find searchers coming here seeking thoughts, followers +after truth seeking new lamps for old, right ideas for wrong. It seems +fruitless to affirm that our business is to annihilate thought, to +shatter the new lamps no less than the old, to dissolve ideas, the +"right" as well as the "wrong". "It is a new play of artistry , some +new paradox," they reflect, not comprehending that artistry and paradox +are left as the defences of power not yet strong enough to comprehend. +If a man has the power that comprehends, what uses has he left for +paradox? If he sees a thing as it is, why must he needs describe it in +terms of that which is not? Paradox is the refuge of the adventurous +guesser: the shield of the oracle whose answer is not ready. Searchers +should not bring their thoughts to us: we have no scruple in destroying +their choicest, and giving them none in return. They would be well able +to repair the depredations elsewhere, however, for nowhere else, save +here, are thoughts not held sacred and in honour. Everywhere, from all +sides, they press in thick upon men, suffocating life. All is thought +and no thinking. _We_ do the thinking: the rest of the world spin +thoughts. If from the operation of thinking one rises up only with +thoughts, not only has the thinking-process gone wrong: it has not +begun. To believe that it has is as though one should imagine the work +of digesting food satisfactorily carried through when the mouth has +been stuffed with sand. + +The process of thinking is meant to co-ordinate two things which are +real: the person who thinks and the rest of the phenomenal world, the +world of sense. Any part of the process which can be described in terms +unrelated to these two - and only two - real parties in the process is +redundant and pernicious, an unnecessary by-product which it would be +highly expedient to eliminate. Thoughts, the entire world of ideas and +concepts, are just these intruders and irrelevant excesses. Someone +says, apropos of some change without a difference in the social sphere, +"We are glad to note the triumph of progressive ideas." Another, "We +rejoice in the fact that we are again returning to the ideas of honour +and integrity of an earlier age." We say, leprosy or cholera for +choice. Idea, idea, always the idea. As though the supremacy of the +idea were not the subjection of men, slaves to the idea. Men need no +ideas. They have no use for them ( Unless indeed they are of the +literary breed - then they live upon them by their power to beguile the +simple). What men need is power of being, strength in themselves: and +intellect which in the thinking process goes out as a scout, comparing, +collating, putting like by like, or nearly like, is but the good +servant which the individual being sends afield that he may the better +protect, maintain and augment himself. Thinking, invaluable as it is in +the service of being, is, essentially a very intermittent process. It +works only between whiles. In the nadir and zenith of men's experience +it plays no part, when they are stupid and when they are passionate. +Descartes' maxim "Cogito ergo sum," carried the weight it did and does +merely because the longfelt influence of ideas had taken the virtue out +of men's souls. Stronger men would have met it, not with an argument, +but a laugh. It is philosophy turned turtle. The genesis of knowledge +is not in thinking but in being. Thinking widens the limits of +knowledge, but the base of the latter is in feeling. "I know" because +"I am." The first follows the second and not contrariwise. The base - +and highest reaches - of knowledge lie not in spurious thoughts, +fine-drawn, not yet in the humble and faithful collecting of +correspondences which is thinking, but in experienced emotion. What men +may be, their heights and depths, they can divine only in experienced +emotion. The vitally true things are all personally revealed, and they +are true primarily only for the one to whom they are revealed. For the +rest the revelation is hearsay. Each man is his own prophet. A man's +"god" ( a confusing term, since it has nothing to do with God, the +Absolute - a mere thought) is the utmost emotional reach of himself: +and is in common or rare use according to each individual nature. A +neighbour's "god" is of little use to any man. It represents a wrong +goal, a false direction. + +We are accused of "finesse-ing with terms." No accusation could be +wider off the mark. We are analysing terms; we believe, indeed, that +the next work for the lovers of men is just this analysis of naming. +It will go completely against the grain of civilisation, cut straight +across culture: that is why the pseudo-logicians loathe logic - indeed, +it will be a matter for surprise that one should have the temerity to +name the word. So great a fear have the cultured of the probing of +their claims that they are counselling the abandonment of this +necessary instrument. They would prefer to retain inaccurate thinking +which breeds thoughts, to accurate thinking which reveals facts and in +its bright light annihilates the shadows bred of dimness, which are +thoughts. Analysis of the process of naming: inquiry into the impudent +word-trick which goes by the name of "abstraction of qualities": +re-estimation of the form-value of the syllogism; challenging of the +slipshod methods of both induction and deduction; the breaking down of +closed systems of "classification" into what they should be - graded +descriptions; _these_ things are more urgently needed than thinkable in +the intellectual life of today. The settlement of the dispute of the +nominalist and realist schoolmen of the Middle Ages in favour of the +former rather than the latter would have been of infinitely greater +value to the growth of men than the discoveries of Columbus, Galileo +and Kepler. It would have enabled them to shunt off into nothingness +the mountain of culture which in the world of the West they have been +assiduously piling up since the time of the gentle father of lies and +deceit, Plato. It is very easy, however, to understand why the +conceptualists triumphed, and are still triumphing, despite the ravages +they have worked on every hand. The concept begets the idea, and every +idea installs its concrete authority. All who wield authority do it in +the name of an idea: equality, justice, love, right, duty, humanity, +God, the Church, the State. Small wonder, therefore, if those who sit +in the seats of authority look askance at any tampering with names and +ideas. It is a different matter from questioning the of _one_ idea. +Those who, in the name of one idea do battle against the power of +another, can rely upon some support. Indeed, changing new lamps for old +is the favourite form of intellectual excitement inasmuch as while it +is not too risky, is not a forlorn hope, it yet ranges combatants on +opposing sides with all the zest of a fight. But to question _all_ +ideas is to leave authoritarians without any foothold whatsoever. Even +opposing authorities will sink differences and combine to crush an +Ishmaelite who dares. Accordingly, after three quarters of a thousand +years, the nominalist position is where it was: nowhere, and all men +are in thrall to ideas - culture. They are still searching for the +Good, the Beautiful and the True. They are no nearer the realisation +that the Good in the actual never is a general term, but always a +specific, i.e. that which is "good for me" (or you, or anyone) varying +with time and person, in kind and substance; that the Beautiful is +likewise "beautiful for me" (or you, or anyone) varying with time and +person, in kind and substance, measured by a standard wholly +subjective; that the True is just that which corresponds: in +certainties, mere verified observation of fact; in doubt, opinion as to +fact and no more, a mere "I think it so" in place of "I find it so." As +specifics, they are real: as generalisations, they are thoughts, +spurious entities, verbiage representing nothing, and as such are +consequently in high repute. The work of purging language is likely to +be a slow one even after the battle of argument in its favour shall +have been won. It is observable that egoists, for instance, use +"should," "ought," and "must" quite regularly in the sense which bears +the implication of an existing underlying "Duty." Denying authority, +they use the language of authority. If the greatest possible +satisfaction of self ( which is a pleasure) is the motive in life, with +whose voice does "Duty" speak? Who or what for instance lays it down +that our actions must not be "invasive" of others? An effete god, +presumably, whose power has deserted him, since most of us would be +hard put to it to find action and attitudes which are not invasive. +Seizing land - the avenue of life - is invasive: loving is invasive, +and so is hating and most of the emotions. The emphasis accurately +belongs on "defence" and not on "invasion" and defence is +self-enjoined. + +No, Duty, like the rest, is a thought, powerless in itself, efficient +only when men give it recognition for what it is not and doff their own +power in deference, to set at an advantage those who come armed with +the authority of its name. And likewise with "Right." What is "right" +is what I prefer and what you and the rest prefer. Where these "rights" +overlap men fight is out; their _power_ becomes umpire, their might is +their right. Why keep mere words sacred? Since right is ever swallowed +up in might why speak of right? Why seek to acquire rights when each +right has to be matched by the might which first secures and then +retains it? When men acquire the ability to make and co-ordinate +accurate descriptions, that is, when they learn to think, the empire of +mere words, "thoughts", will be broken, the sacred pedestals shattered, +and the seats of authority cast down. The contests and achievements of +owners of "powers" will remain. + + +____________________________________________________________________ + +S.E. Parker: + + Comment to Ken Knudson + ---------------------- + + +K.K. prefers a "consumer' dicatorship" to a "producers' dictatorship" +on the grounds that "consumers are finicky people - they want the best +possible product at the lowest price. To achieve this end they will use +ruthless means." + +I do not know what consumers he is writing about, but they are +certainly not the ones I know. A few, certainly, will use "ruthless +means" to obtain the cheapest and best product. The majority, however, +seem to be quite content not only to buy expensive trash, but even +unwilling to look for shops where theycan get identical products at +cheaper prices. For example, we have two supermarkets where I live. +One, on average, charges higher prices than the other. They are about +three minutes walking time apart. Yet the higher pried one continues to +prosper because most of its customers are not prepared to go round the +corner to what the cheaper priced one is like. Not only this, but a +smaller shop in the neighbourhood, run by a company that are rip-off +merchants of the first order, not only flourishes, but has extended +opening times! So much for the "ruthless customer"! + +It is clear to me that K.K. has merely exchanged the idealized +"producer" for the idealized "customer", he has replaced the myth of +the socialist with the myth of the "free marketeer" - and is therefore +just as utopian as the anarcho-communist he criticizes so well. + +"The only way to realize anarchy is for a sufficient number of people +to be convinced that their own interests demand it." + +This statement does not show _why_ people will find anarchy in their +interests, it only shows that Ken Knudson _thinks_ they should find it +in their interests. (I am reminded of an observation about Ayn Rand +made by an American conservative to the effect that "Miss Rand believes +in people acting according to their self-interest so long as she can +define what that interest is.") + +KK claims that people are pragmatists and that until they can be made +to realize that "anarchy actually works for their benefit, it will +remain...anidle pipe-dream." As I understand it, pragmatism is +concerned with what _works_. If anarchy is still a "pipe-dream" it is +plainly _not_ working. So how does one show that it will work? By +convincing people that it will! But, if people are pragmatists, and +will only be convinced by something that "works", then one is in the +invidious position of trying to convince them that what is not working +now will work at some indefinite time in the future if only they will +be convinced that it will, despite the fact that, as pragmatists, they +are only to be convinced by seeing something that actually works! + +Methinks that here he has fallen right into the trap that Stirner +pointed out; the belief that because something is conceivable it is +therefore possible. + +KK looks to the founding of the mutual banks as a way to achieve his +ideal society, but how many of these have been established and worked +succesfully since Proudhon advocated them over a hundred years ago? If +they were in the interest of a "sufficient number of people" who have +grasped their value as a means to realize anarchy why hasn't that +"sufficient number" been forthcoming? Could it be that most of those +who have had them explained to them did _not_ find them in their +interests? What basis does he have for assuming that even if a large +number of people became consciously self-interested they will find +their interests coincide with those of anarchism? His faith I do not +doubt, but where is the evidense? + The power of the tyrant, KK writes, "comes from the abdicated power +of his subjects". The supposition that at some time or another these +subjects decided to "abdicate" their power to a tyrant smacks +suspiciously of the myth of the "social contract". In any case, he is +assuming that if these subjects had the power to grant to a tyrant and +that they were to repossess it they would then be as powerful as those +whom they granted it. Again, an act of faith. It is plain to me that +since individuals are genetically unequal, so their power - their +competence as Stirner called it - is also unequal. Even were they +tyrant - or democratic governments - thus rendered "powerless" this +inequality of power would soon be expressed in a new hierarchy - of +_function_ if not _formal_status_ - and the division between ruler and +ruled re-established. The "dominant five-percent", like the poor, we +always have with us. + +What Stirner wrote about idols is true. I know that, Ken Knudson knows +that, and so do a few others, but why does he believe that everyone +will cometo know that? This is the sort of belief called the "Everest +fallacy" - i.e. because _some_ people have climbed Everest, _all_ +people can climb it. + +"We egoists raise the banner of free competition." "We" egoists do +nothing of the kind. If I benefit from "unfree" competition why should +I renounce my egoistic satisfaction in that fact in favour of a system +from which I benefit less? Implicit in this kind of assertion is the +assumption that everyone's interest can be served by one way of going +on. If one accepts the Stirnerian concept of "the unique one" this is +manifest nonsense. + KK rejects "frontiers" as absurd. No doubt from a global _anarchist_ +perspective they are. But why suppose that an_egoist_ will reject +frontiers out of hand? Making one's "fatherland", "motherland" or +"homeland" _holy_ is, of course, so much spookery. Nonetheless, an +egoist might find the existence of frontiers something of use to him. +I, for example, live on an overcrowded island called Britain. Do I want +this country swamped by hordes of immigrants as the result of doing +away with frontiers? I do not. And if my support, pragmatic support, of +a barrier against such a horde steps on the intellectual/moral toes of +some liberal, libertarian or anarchist dreamers, that is their lookout. +It is _my_ egoism that concerns _me_, not some abstract "egoism" +pressed in the service of some universalistic fantasy. There are more +ways of viewing one's egoistic interests than are dreamed of by +anarchists.... + +There is more I could write on these topics, but I think I have put the +cat among enough pigeons for the moment. + + + Sid Parker + + +____________________________________________________________________ + +*********************************************************************** +* * +* "What is laid down, ordered, factual, is never * +* enough to embrace the whole truth: life always * +* spills over the rim of every cup." * +* * +* -- Boris Pasternak * +* * +*********************************************************************** + + + + + + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000970.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000970.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..834e9ab8 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000970.txt @@ -0,0 +1,74 @@ +Open Eye, PO Box 3069, London, SW9 8LU. +or Open Eye, BM Open Eye, London, WC1N 3XX + +Open Eye issue three is out now. + +It includes + +MI5 after cold war. +Noam Chomsky: Free Trade Myths +The treat from GATT: interviews with Tim Lang, author of 'The New +Protectionism', and Vandana Shiva, author of 'Staying Alive -Women, +Ecology and Development' +The bombing of Judi Bari: the US government campaign against Earth First! +What future for MI5? +Attila the Stockbroker's 'Zen Stalinist Manifesto' +In defence of Ecstasy +Reviews: ecosocialism, New Age and armageddon, ecology and industrialism +Winona LaDuke: American Indian activist interview +Columbus, American Indians and Progress +Mid Wales: green politics in power +Microwave weapons experiments + +and much more. + +Please send 1.70 pounds to Open Eye, PO Box 3069, London, SW9 8LU. +Cheques payable to Open Eye. + +Open Eye can be contacted by phone on 0956 250 654 + +Articles from issue two can be found in Spunk Press archive. + +Other Open Eye Publications include: + +The Inevitable War; strategic and ideological factors ensuring that Iraq +and US would fight for control of the Persion/ Arabian Gulf (80p). +by Open Eye + +Plunder and Blunder; the immediate ideological, economic and political +causes of war with Iraq (80p) +by Open Eye + +The Situationist International: Its Art, its Theory, its 'Practice' (96p) + +The Green movement: should it be human centred or nature centred? (56p) +by Open Eye + +Refutation of all judgements whether in praise or hostile which have up +till now been brought on the film "The Society of the Spectacle", by Guy +Debord (1.20 pounds) + +Secret Agenda of Falklands and Gulf Wars, by Joe Vialls (88p) + +Nagaland, Tears behind the blindfold by David Ward (56p) + +Riotous responses: The Media in Meadowell by Tom Jennings and Sue Brent(32p) + +Politics of Plutonium in UK, Lecture in Japan, Nov 91, by Dr David Lowry +(1.28) + +The Happy Retirement by Antony Verney. The full story of how an old +couple's idyllic retirement cottage was turned into a torture chamber, +and who might have been responsible (featured in Open Eye 2) (1.20) + +Postage included but please send a self addresses envelope. + +Open Eye, PO Box 3069, London, SW9 8LU. + +or + +Open Eye, BM Open Eye, London, WC1N 3XX + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000971.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000971.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d01a2d1e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000971.txt @@ -0,0 +1,208 @@ + +HANDS OFF OUR BABIES !!! + +Ministers and hospital managers have finally came clean. For +the first time, they've admitted publicly that they want to +tag babies with barcodes the moment they're born. Every +newspaper in the country has said what a wonderful idea this +is. So have politicians from all the main parties. Selected +babies have already been barcoded in Edinburgh's Royal +Infirmary. + +Both the Murdoch press and the few titles still owned by his +competitors have taken the same line. Some woman dressed as a +nurse stole a baby in Nottingham. Therefore all babies should +be tagged and coded. Otherwise it could happen again. + +At least one paper published a picture of a mother kissing the +barcoded foot of her day-old baby. The implication is that +mothers who don't allow their babies to be tagged like items +in a supermarket aren't good mothers. + +This kind of nonsense is, of course, the stock-in-trade of +advertisers, people trying to trick us into buying something +or voting for them. + +Let's be clear about two things. + +Firstly, tagging babies has been in the pipeline for months. + +It's not a response to anything which has happened in the past +few days. To say otherwise is to tell a complete lie. It is +being introduced now because the media have made it acceptable +now. + +The 'experiments' in Edinburgh (just who do these people think +they are, using our babies for experiments?) were planned some +time ago. Tagging babies was also mentioned in a conference in +Cambridge in April, where an American 'expert' also spoke of +keeping a register of babies' footprints. + +Secondly, tagging babies is not about stopping baby snatchers. + +If that were really the goal, it would make much more sense to +tag doctors, nurses, hospital porters, fathers, etc. Or they +could be given tags to carry in their pockets. Doors to +maternity wards and nurseries could be made to open only for +people carrying tags. + +Many government buildings use a similar system already. Who'd +expect the Ministry of Defence, for example, to let strangers +into the building, resting assured that no-one could take +anything because all secret documents had tags sellotaped on? +Obviously any whistleblower or spy could just cut the tag off. +And any serious baby snatcher could do exactly the same. + +You might argue that alarms could be set to sound as soon as +someone tried to cut off a tag. But if you still think these +people are doing it for our benefit, just ask yourself: + +WHY BARCODES? + +Surely snatching one baby is as bad as snatching any other +baby. Or is a nurse going to punch in the number of any baby +who's being taken home legitimately, so the alarm won't go off +when it's taken out by its real mother. Meanwhile a baby being +snatched, not having been checked through, would set all the +bells ringing. No, this isn't it: the nurse could just cut the +tag off herself when the baby's ready to go home, saving all +those costs on training, but with exactly the same effect. + +In that case, all tags could be the same, and there'd be no +need for individual barcodes. It seems we're just not being +told the truth...... + +Quite a few politicians have said 'No expense should be +spared' in guaranteeing baby security. That's the kind of +thing politicians like to say. You'd hardly expect them to say +'Baby snatching must be got down to an acceptable level.' + +On the other hand, a sceptic might think the whole point is +for the Tories to give some more money to their friends in the +private security industry. After all, they've given entire +prisons to firms like Group 4, in return for Italian-style +donations to party funds. + +But for once this doesn't seem to be it. A baby-tag costs +about 10p. Introducing them in a big hospital like Edinburgh's +Royal Infirmary will cost "thousands of pounds". For a +maternity hospital, or a security company, that's peanuts. + +And yet the authorities do seem very anxious to tag and +barcode our babies. + +WHY? + +Well let's just consider what else has been decided or +'considered' in the past year or so. + +1) After being dropped three years ago, electronic tagging of +offenders is coming back. Whereas in previous 'experiments' +tags had to be plugged into the phone, now they can send +messages to private security guards over the airwaves. + +In a move closely connected to rightwing Tory propaganda about +the 'underclass', The Sunday Times has called for the tagging +of "far fewer than 1% of the population" (i.e. less than half +a million people). A pilot scheme begins in Manchester in +January 1995. (In Tennessee, tags are already fitted to +truanting schoolchildren). + +2) Home Secretary Michael Howard has considered having +fingerprints taken from everyone. Another plan is to +fingerprint Britain's 32 million motorists and to include +prints on driving licences. The database would be run by a +private company. Police chiefs are confident the plan will be +in place by 1996. + +3) Transport Secretary John MacGregor has called for all cars +to be fitted with a 'black box.' Cars would be tracked by +satellite, and drivers would be charged according to which +roads they drive on and for how long. (A version of this +system is already in place in Oslo). + +Companies like GEC are hoping to employ technologies first +used to track tanks during the Gulf War of 1991. To sweeten +the pill, and to make more profit, motorists will be sold info +services at the same time. The system will be tested next +spring, and is due to come into force in 1998. + +4) Child benefit and pension books are due to be replaced by +swipe cards in 1997, and benefit books will disappear +altogether in 1999. Already pension books have been barcoded +in parts of London. + +It seems likely that eventually all benefits will be paid into +bank accounts. Post offices will be run in the interests of +private banks, and many will just be shut down. + +5) The police are increasingly using DNA testing and some +senior officers have called for the forcible testing of all +adult males. (No date on this one yet, but this year's +Criminal Justice Bill will allow DNA testing for all offenses +the police record). + +6) City shopping centres are now routinely scanned by 24-hour +video cameras. This information was first released to a wide +audience at the time of the James Bulger murder. The +implication was that anyone who objected to the general trend +didn't care about toddlers being butchered. + +7) Soon TV viewers may have to pay for each specific programme +they watch. They'll buy decoder cards for the Saturday match +during the week. Already people using cloned cards can have +their reception turned off individually by Sky. + +8) Britain's chief film censor, who thinks childhood is an +'outdated concept', wants compulsory ID cards to be issued to +all children. The pretext is to 'control access' to videos, +fireworks, alcohol, cigarettes, etc. + +Baby tagging fits very well into this list of developments. In +every case, the authorities tell us it's for our own good. + +We all know that the government only protects people to the +extent that it's good for Business. Health Department +officials are little more than agents of the huge drug +companies; and their colleagues in the Ministry of Defence are +little more than agents of the arms manufacturers. Transport +bureaucrats give millions to construction companies and +increasingly to security and electronics companies too. In +short, it's there to keep us in 'acceptable levels' of poverty +and disease, and to force most of us to work for the rich. +They don't care about our babies being stolen any more than +they care about our houses being broken into, or deaths caused +by tobacco. They like it when working class people turn on +each other and we live in fear. Nor would things be different +if any other party were in power. Even if everything were +nationalised we'd just be exploited directly by state +bureaucrats rather than by the directors and bankers who +currently tell them what to do. + +Recent calls to abolish benefits for single mothers show us +that the ruling parasites feel strong. They're on the march. +More and more information is being kept on more and more +people. + +The mass media discourage us from looking beyond the next few +months. But if we do, we see lines of information being +established which are increasingly two-way or +'interactive.'Surveillance, or keeping track of people,leads +directly to control. The reason they want to tag babies is +because it's easiest to start with them. It's got nothing to +do with stopping them being snatched. + +We'll say it straight. + +Over the next 5 to 15 years, the rulers hope to keep tabs on +us all by electromagnetic means. Corresponding types of direct +surveillance would be horrific.The only thing that can stop +this is Revolution. Against this World Society of +Exploitation. + +Published by Some Opponents of Technofascism, Central +Scotland, July, 1994 + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000972.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000972.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..85412b80 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000972.txt @@ -0,0 +1,120 @@ + +Computer Networks and Anarchy + +Communication using computers is possible because information may +be transferred between two computers using a variety of methods: +a physical wire, the telephone, or even radio waves. To get from +a computer in Glasgow to one in California, a message is sent +from one computer to another, then to a third, and so on, until +it reaches its destination (to cross the Atlantic Ocean, two +computers communicate via a satellite, or possibly a fibre optic +cable). The next time the computer at the destination is used, +the message from Glasgow is waiting and can be saved on the +computer's disk, printed out, or a reply sent. + +These "networks" of computers have proliferated in the past +twenty years; many of them are connected to form the biggest +network, called the Internet. The Internet connects at least ten +million people around the world. The growth and operation of +these networks act as one of the most significant examples of a +functioning anarchy. There is no centralised control; you join +the network by cooperating with the nearest computer site already +on it, which will forward all messages for you. Although +governments sponsor and indirectly run the parts of the Internet +which transfer a high volume of information, many networks are +completely independent. For instance, Fidonet is a worldwide +network of home computers run by computer hobbyists, and the +European Counter Network is a network of activists in Europe. + +One of the most popular ways to use the networks is to send +messages to a particular person or organisation; this is called +"electronic mail". An important point is that it costs no more +than a phone call to the nearest computer to do this, even though +the message could be destined for California. Also, the message +is sent after you have finished typing it, typically at a rate of +page a second, so slow typing doesn't cost you more. On the +Internet, such a message could take as little as half an hour to +reach California, allowing a reply within an hour. The message +could contain an article from a magazine produced by computer, +which could be printed out and distributed locally. There is +great potential for keeping in touch and working together. Many +organisations can be contacted by electronic mail: the IWW, WSA, +Love and Rage, the Autonome Forum, Infoshops, the Anarchist +Communist Federation, the German FAU, the SAC, and anarchists in +the U.S.A., Europe, Russia, Japan and elsewhere. + +Users of the computer networks maintain a strong tradition of the +free exchange of information. This can be traced to links +between the counterculture and those involved in the early +development of computers. There is a vast amount of information +available on a wide range of subjects - not only concerned with +computers. Much of this is generated by discussion groups +centred around "Bulletin Board Systems", or BBSes. With BBSes, +anyone who wishes can join a discussion group by sending messages +to a specific computer which sends the message to everyone else, +thus simulating a real discussion. The Internet currently has +several discussion groups on anarchism, anarchosyndicalism and +anarchist activism. + +The information available is stored on particular computers' +disks and can be accessed by several methods. Nowadays, text, +pictures and even sound can be transferred. There are several +computer archives of anarchist material, including the Fast +Breeder BBS in London, Love and Rage, and Spunk Press. The last +two can be contacted on the Internet. Love and Rage distribute +their bulletin as electronic messages. The Spunk Press archive +currently has over 400 articles from publications such as Here +and Now, Libertarian Labor Review, Counter Information, Wind +Chill Factor, Warrior, Mother Anarchy, works by Emma Goldman, +Bakunin, Kropotkin, and articles from the Glasgow group and +others around the world. A current project is to add back issues +of 'Anarchy, a Journal of Desire Armed' to the archive. Any +magazine produced by computer desktop publishing (DTP) on a PC or +Apple computer can be added to the archive without the effort of +retyping the contents. +Spunk Press is run by a collective of members in the U.S., U.K., +Sweden, Holland, Italy and elsewhere, using electronic mail to +discuss, coordinate and develop the archive. + +Is all this secure? It isn't difficult for governments to +monitor messages, though there is a vast amount of traffic and +methods of encrypting messages have been developed which make it +almost impossible for eavesdroppers to read them. + +There maybe someone in your group who has free access to the +Internet through work or study. In this case, they can act as +the Internet contact for the group. Otherwise, what do you need? +A computer, a modem - which is used to transmit messages via +telephone - and a 'service provider', an organisation that allows +you to connect to the Internet. The service provider usually +supplies you with the software for your computer and instructions +on how to connect and use the Internet. Computers are still not +as straightforward to use as they could be, though things are +improving, so it is best to find someone who has +already done this. How much does it cost? The service providers +should charge less than 10 pounds a month - shop around. +Telephone bills depend on how much you use the system, the speed +of your modem (the faster the cheaper) and whether your nearest +computer is local or long distance. You can continue to use your +computer for DTP and other purposes, too. + +Good books on computer networking include "The Whole Internet +User's Guide & Catalog," by Ed Krol, published by O'Reilly & +Associates, and "EcoLinking: Everyone's guide to online +environmental information," by Don Ritter, from PeachPit Press, +2414 Sixth St., Berkeley, CA 94710. There is lots of free +information about the Internet itself, once you are connected. If +you have material for Spunk Press, contact them c/o the Glasgow +Anarchists. Once you get on the Internet, send a message to Spunk +Press and the Glasgow group at their electronic mail addresses: +spunk.@lysator.liu.se and cllv13@ccsun.strath.ac.uk +respectively. + +Don't forget that computer communication is an addition to +meeting people, using the telephone and writing letters, not a +substitute! + + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000973.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000973.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f6da9411 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000973.txt @@ -0,0 +1,181 @@ + +Orwell's 1984. Glasgow's 1994? + +Closed Circuit Television in Glasgow + +What is it? + +By the end of this summer four square miles of the city centre +will be under constant 24 hour surveillance. An area from +Glasgow Cross to Charing Cross will be dotted with 32 cameras. +These will produce over 5000 hours of footage each week of +Glaswegians going about their everyday lives. The cameras will +be monitored by specially trained disabled civilians from a +bank of screens at Steward Street Police Station. + +What will it cost? + +The estimated cost of the project for installation and the +first three years of running costs is 1 million pounds. + +Who is funding it? + +Half of the money is coming from private businesses in the +city centre through voluntary donations. The rest is coming +from the public sector - Strathclyde Regional Council and +Glasgow District Council. + +What is it for? + +"The Cameras have been installed to protect valuable +businesses" +Glasgow Chief SuperIntendent Gordon Carmicheal. +Daily Record 14/1/94 + +"The Cameras are not there to spy on people but to protect +people" +Strathclyde Regional Councillor James Jennings +Scotsman 16/7/93 + +"The Cameras do not just make sense. It makes business sense." +Caroline Durkan Glasgow Development Agency (GDA). +Herald 9/12/93 + +Although there is confusion whether the cameras are to protect +property or people, the main stated aim of the project is to +deter crime in the city centre and to make it "a safer place +for shoppers and shop owners, families, women and other law +abiding citizens" Strathclyde Chief Constable Leslie Sharp +Herald 22/10/93 + +It will also be used to deter soliciting and to film kerb +crawlers (Glaswegian 19/8/93). + +It is clear that the police have complete power to use and +abuse the technology as they wish. The films could be used for +any purpose whatsoever, from filming public leafleting to +filming people on marches and demonstrations. Once the +technology is in place it can be used for whatever the police +want. + +How long will video footage be kept? + +According to Caroline Durkan of the Glasgow Development +Agency, "footage will be retained for one month then wiped +unless required for evidence of information" Herald 9/12/93 + +This is obviously vague and open to interpretation and abuse +by the police. + +Who will have access to and control of video footage? + +"Recorded tapes will be the property of the chief constable +and will be used only be Strathclyde Police to deter and +detect criminals" +Caroline Durkan (GDA) Herald 9/12/93 + +The above statement was enough to convince doubting +Strathclyde Regional Councillors that the video cameras would +not be an abuse of civil liberties. Such unlimited powers +should obviously because for concern, not confidence, in the +system. A U.S. Lawyer quoted in the Scotsman 31/8/93 states +"the person who controls the technology controls the use made +of it" + +Background + +Since the mid 1980's there has been a rapid growth in English +towns and cities installing closed circuit television systems. +In 1986 Bournemouth installed video cameras along its seafront +and claimed that in its first year of use the bill for +vandalism dropped from 220 000 to 36 000 pounds (Scotsman +31/8/93). + +Newcastle installed a 400 000 system and claimed there was a +13% reduction in crime in the first two months of operation +(Guardian 13/5/93). + +Hexham installed a video system and claimed there was a +"significant reduction in crime by 97% in areas covered by +cameras (Scotsman 30/11/93). + +Kings Lynn in the Midlands (of England) installed cameras and +claimed that thefts from cars dropped by 97% and car crimes in +general by 91% (Guardian 31/8/93). + +These statistics appear impressive and have led to many +Scottish towns installing or planning to install camera +systems. The most publicised case is Airdrie where it is +claimed crime fell by 75% in its first six months of operation +(Scotsman 31/8/93). + +Other Scottish towns such as East Kilbride, Bathgate and +Kirkcaldy have installed cameras and more schemes are being +planned from Dumfries to Inverness. It is against this +backdrop of a growing "camera culture" that Glasgow is +planning the biggest, most sophisticated and most expensive +system yet to be put into operation in any "British" town or +city. + +The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) say there are +around 200 000 closed circuit television systems in the +country and that the BSIA firms that supplied them did +business worth 57 million in 1992 (Guardian, 13/5/93). It is +now Big Business protecting Big Business in "Britain". It is +hardly surprising so much effort is being put into convincing +us video cameras are a cure all for crime. But are they +really? + +Arguments for and against Closed Circuit Television + +Deterrent + +The major argument used in favour of the cameras is that they +deter crime. They may deter certain categories of crime but +they do not deter neither the drunken nor the determined +"criminal". The person who commits a crime when drunk is +likely to do it anyway. A person determined to commit a crime +will just go to greater lengths to avoid being caught. Carole +Euart, from the Scottish Council of Civil Liberties (SCCL), +stated "people have been watched by cameras for many years in +banks and building societies, but armed robberies haven't +declined. This proves cameras are not necessarily a deterrent +- they won't change peoples fundamental behaviour" (Glaswegian +13/1/94). + +Detection + +Another argument used is that even if people do commit a crime +they are far more likely to be caught and therefore found +"guilty" and "punished". This is probably true, although +people determined to commit a crime are likely to adopt more +sophisticated methods to hide their identity in an area they +know is covered by cameras. However, unless every street in +every town has a camera they are more likely to go to an area +not covered by cameras. + +Displacement + +Figures show that crime does not simply disappear into thin +air. Instead it reappears somewhere else. In Airdrie although +crime fell in the town centre "the number of serious crimes +for the division as a whole went up from 113 to 135" (Scotland +on Sunday,12/12/93). In Hexham, although crime in the area +covered by the cameras fell by 17% elsewhere in Hexham it rose +by 12% (Scotsman,30/11/93). In the Herald (11/8/93) an editor +of a Glasgow community newspaper asks + +"Is it acceptable to the business community and municipal +mediocrities in George Square who have not built a house in 14 +years that as long as robbery and violence are confined to the +schemes then all is well?" + +The main argument against cameras whatever the statistics show +is that "people should not be observed by institutions of the +state as they go about their everyday business (Carole Euart, +SCCL, Glaswegian 13/1/94). This is the main objection that we +as anarchists should put across to other people. + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000974.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000974.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8f0aee0b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000974.txt @@ -0,0 +1,160 @@ + +Severely Dealt With: +Growing Up in Belfast and Glasgow. + +After years of devoting his efforts to assisting the cause of Guy +Aldred, with his United Socialist Movement, and "The Word", and +latterly keeping the memory of the unorthodox communist alive*, +John Taylor Caldwell has been persuaded to record his own life +story. + + This 'odyssey', an "intricate task of retracing intellectual +and philosophical development, as Bob Jones of Northern Herald +Books notes, met at first with a "typically self-effacing +response". Years of recording the lives of others had perhaps led +to an under-valuation of his own experience as testimony to f the +impact of the self in it's initial struggle to imprint it's will +on a hostile environment. + + Cushioned by a certain standard of welfare state and post- +war upbringing, it can be a shock when the squalor of industrial +life in the early 20th century is the backdrop for a comrade with +such a sensitive demeanor as John. We have been exposed to +numerous literary descriptions of "down and out" inner city +slums, and the degree of poverty described in Belfast and Glasgow +is captured with an intensity that is impressive. + + The book travels a route through the first stirrings of +consciousness, and gives a genuine account of the child's view of +the world. Punctuated by asides to explain the descent of the +family's fortunes, the historical period and it's esoteric +offshoots, the book records the consistent drive present within +his self from an early age to create his own philosophy. + +"nowadays it would be said that I had a hyperactive mind. It was +never still. It burned inside my head + llike a great flame in a little candle. It illuminated a +stream of hazy visions, colourful dreams and profound thoughts. " + +>From a "trancelike state in which insomniacs aver they are still +awake and observers declare that they have fallen asleep" he +"drifted into a visionary world beyond experience" in which he +now recognises that + + "this was the urge to return (which) is in all of us; the +yearning for the womb, or the tomb....native to non-being: life +is an interruption, an aberration, a wrench from the ineffable +reality - a pain, a sickness from which we constantly try to +escape in pretending to be someone else, somewhere else, in some +other time. That ios why escapism is such a major industry. No- +one dares be himself. To seek self is to brave reality, and that +could not be endured. All Art and Religion are struggles to +escape, sometimes from the nightmare of being and sometimes from +the truth +of its extinction" + +While embarked on such imagining, not all thought was so +philosophical but John refuses to divulge his "serialised +daydream...lest I set Freudians in a flurry"! + + The chapter 'Severely Dealt With' records the experience of +schooling, and the sheer brutality and regimentation afflicted on +working class children, "outcasts...herded into classrooms, not +just to be educated, but to be disciplined, to be tamed. Hence +order, silence, unquestioned obedience.....made to fear +authority". + + This was a time of change and potential upheavel, the end of +the first World War, the partition of Ulster and 'Bolshevism' and +the book records the subtle influences at work amongst the +different layers of the downtrodden class. His mother answered +his questions about riots spreading to his street in terms that +"respectable people..don't go in for that sort of thing". +However, such was the despotic influence of his own father, the +domestic violence, that such worldly events offerred a relief +from the hunger and beatings that pervaded everyday life. This +leads to the harrowing description of his own mother's death +through such violence and his older sister's estrangement from +the father who married to have sex, with ten unwanted chidren the +result: "the very thought of affection would have turned him +sour". + + John. now 14, travelled on the steamer to Glasgow 'to +keep house', his father having moved to escape debt rather than +the growing sectarian violence. The 'good old days' depicted was +of a + +"big city, where the people lived' up closes' which had stone +pipe-clayed stairs with a lavatory on each landing to do three or +four more houses. At night many of the closes were occupied by +the homeless, some of them addicted to a brew concocted of +methylated spirits and an injection of coal gas from the +stairhead lighting. +It was a tough city where many of the side-street dwellers wore +cloth caps with +razor blades sewn into the cap, and often carried cut-throat +razors in case tthe need arose tocut a few throats. The 'polis' +were to be feared: mostly big men who, like the Irish, spoke in +amusing malaprops (for instance 'Come on get off', 'If you want +to stand their you'd better move along') " + +One of the first incidents that stuck in John's mind was of a +hanging at nearby Duke St. prison, a youth called brought up on a +culture of violence. He imagined, + +"beneath the bell's great hammer, having the sentence of the +Court pounded + into his mind in a last stroke of retribution". + + As it happened, he got a job as a page-boy in "The Picture +House", for 2 years and this allowed further scope for his racing +imagination. Although occasionally sidetracked by cinematic +adventure, historical rather than romantic, the mind struggled +with a philosophy that emerged firstly by dealing with God +("thereness"), and moving on by chance encounters with orators +from subjectivist and 'marxist' pedigrees. One of these orators, +'Quinn', ironically committed suicide in a river he maintained +'did not exist'. Even today, a surly family organised as the +Glasgow Humane Society fishes bodies out of the Clyde. + + In the recent Book Launch for 'Severely Dealt With' organised +by the Glasgow Anarchists, the actor Kenny Grant read the chapter +"Never Again", in which 'Caldiie' recounts the anti-war mood +which typified Glasgow in the mid-20s. + +"On walls and rosadways were thick pipe-clay chalkings: +WAR IS MURDER, WAR IS HELL, NEVER AGAIN" + +The experience of the World War horror was an everyday reality. + + Notoriety came the way of the family when the 'Cruelty' came +to learn about the neglect of the children and their frequent +beatings and the case achieved press attention. The book breaks +off with the prospect of 'going to sea', but not before John +recounts the impact of sexual awakening, which his philosophical +contemplation had not prepared himself for, despite the callous +womanising of his father. After a panic, belkieving he had +contracted VD, he vowed to "keep strict control...clear of loose +women...and solitary practices". + + This is not a nostalgic trip through biography, but a +compelling journey of discovery achieved in the most difficult +circumstances. Recalling sectarian conflicts, and having lived a +lifetime of propagandising for communism, John let's slip that + +" it took me another sixty years to realise that mankind is +quite mad". + +But disappointment that capitalism continues, thriving on the +escape from self mass culture encourages, and the persistence of +anti-social tendencies, hasn't existinguished the author's hope +that the causes of war, exploitation and alienation are +identified and 'put to right' in a social revolution. + +(Severely Dealt With: Growing Up in Belfast and Glasgow, +Northern Herald Books, 5 Close Lea, Rastrick, Brighouse HD6 3AR +for z5.95 pounds or like 'Come Dungeons Dark' , (his account of +Aldred's life including his conscientoius objection) Luath Press +6.95 pounds from AK Distrib). + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000975.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000975.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d81fccdb --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000975.txt @@ -0,0 +1,104 @@ + +Born to be Wild! + +And so it begins.... + +Wimpey, finally, has started the rape of Pollok Estate in the +name of "progress" (read profits). But so has +the resistance! + +As soon as the tree choppers arrived on the 14th of February, +people went into action. Over 100 people, from all across Glasgow, +soon faced Wimpey employers across a line of over 100 police. Obviously +"protecting" a bunch of tree killers against non-violent protesters +is more important than stopping crime. Abuse was hurled, people +tried to D-lock themselves to trees, but the thin blue line held firm, making sure +that profit not people was on the agenda. + +Then, across the road bed, came help. Gathering like a storm, the +weans of Pollok exploded into the struggle, blowing the cops away and +the minds of the protesters. Soon the destruction halted as they +jumped on tree cutting equipment and reminded the workers of the +human costs of their work. + +"Have you got asthma? I've got asthma!" went the cries. Some of +the workers realised the results of their action and quit. 26 left +that day, many joining the protesters. z3 an hour (and that's +double time!) cannot buy an individual's humanity and feelings, no +matter how much Wimpey hope. Lets hope the rest of their +employees realise that "just following orders" impresses no one. + +The next day, Wimpey tried again. After initial success near Hagg's +Castle, protesters again brought work to a grinding halt. They +surrounded a landrover and stopped it in its tracks. The action +allowed protesters to talk with the workers, urging them to think +beyond money, to act against what they know is wrong, +destroying the environment and the health of people like +them. The cutting was stopped and they did not +reappear. + +Again, victory..... + +It says a lot for the Pollok Free State and Earth First! +that Wimpey is now running weeks behind schedule. They should +have started chopping trees at the start of January! They +finally got the bottle mid +February. + +And no wonder. You can feel it as soon as you enter the Free +State. History is being made. The very process of struggle is +creating a new community, a new vision of what should be +and what can be. A practical anarchy is being formed within +the system. A community of resistance, a commonwealth of +cooperation within humanity and within nature. + +This vision can be felt everywhere, from everyone. It is +liberating. You feel it, you know it. We can change +things by ourselves, we can win, we can create a better +society. We, by our actions, our decisions, our +feelings, our hopes, make history, create the future. +Its in our hands, its our lives.... + +This is why the Criminal Justice Act exists. It tries +to ban direct action, limit our freedom to protest and +party. Why? Partly because direct action is effective. +But direct action does more than get results. It +changes people. It produces communities, it creates a +new way of thinking and looking. What seemed +"normal" before becomes oppressive and unnecessary +after. + +The CJA is the latest in a long line of attacks on our +class. The latest attempt by the state to keep us +isolated. Isolated people are no threat to power. Isolated +people cannot challenge their authority or their +system. Isolated people cannot make history. + +That's what direct action changes. It breaks down +the barriers. It creates alternatives. That is why power +hates it. + +Pollok Free State shows what is possible. We need to fight +the whole culture that has been built up around +delegating activities and power to others. Anarchism is +trying to oppose this culture of dependency and +build a new kind of culture that is based on mutual +aid, self-activity, self-organisation, self-help and self- +liberation, as individuals and as a class. + +We must not think that the anti-M77 resistance is just +about motorways. No, its far more. Its about putting +life before profits. Its about how we live. Its about +why we live. We must create more examples of +practical anarchy, in our communities and workplaces. +Only by supporting and spreading this struggle can +we stop the motorway madness. The school revolt is just +one example. By working together we can enjoy +the freedom of protest and create a community of hope. By +resistance we can change the world. + +We have a new world in our hearts, its time we created it! + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000976.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000976.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0a832512 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000976.txt @@ -0,0 +1,70 @@ + +Fight The Power! +Party Hard! + + +The Criminal Justice Act is bad news. That's clear. The government +wants to make the rest of society as +boring as they are! It attacks our freedom to +party and protest. There's only one thing left for us to do. Kill +this act by partying and protesting! Its up +to us, no one else will do it for us. + +While claiming the C.J.A. is to protect us, its +clear that all it does is protect rich landowners, bosses and the +state against the few "civil liberties" remaining for +us. Most of the Act is concerned with criminalising all +direct action and unauthorised demonstrations, particularly +against pickets, hunt sabs and road protesters - +even hillwalkers. Its main aim is to give the police +even more power - the right to stop and search anyone, +an end to the right of silence, the introduction +of plea bargaining, exclusion zones, "aggravated trespass" +and paranoid "anti-terrorist" laws. The only +freedom it protects is the freedom of power to do +exactly what it wants.... + +We must recognise the C.J.A. for what it is, a piece +of class based legislation for and by the rich and +powerful. It was never just about targeting squatters, +hunts sabs and ravers. It's a direct attack on all +working class people. Liberal protest ain't going +to work. Only direct action gets the goods. Why +else is the C.J.A. trying to ban it? + +Remember this is just the latest in a long series +of attacks on our class. We need to link up all our +struggles and fight to win. By fighting isolated +struggles we can be picked off one by one. But by +uniting together we can win. Just look at the Poll Tax. + +Our fight so far has some great features in it. Unofficial +mass demos where we took over the streets and +made them ours. D.I.Y. gigs, raves and parties which +have raised lots of money and awareness for the fight +as well as providing many a good night. Excellent +pickets and solidarity marches. Over the country a +network of mutual aid and support is spreading, a +network of angry people who know how to party! + +We must organise and make all this stronger. By +doing this we can make this act unworkable. By mass +defiance, direct action and solidarity we can win. +So let's party and protest. We don't need boring speeches +to tell us what's wrong or what to do. Its OUR +lives, OUR liberties. We need to organise ourselves +to take the power back. No one else is going to do it. +No one else can. The only parties we need are the ones with +loud music. The ones we organise ourselves. The ones +that play OUR tunes. + +Let us experience the freedom of protest and party hard +until the C.J.A. lies along side the Poll Tax in the +dustbin of history. + +"If I can't dance then its not my revolution" +Emma Goldman, anarchist. + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000978.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000978.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4420e620 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000978.txt @@ -0,0 +1,103 @@ + +THE CLINTON VISION +Noam Chomsky +ISBN 1-873176-92-9 +CD 56 minutes +$12.98 +Orders to: +AK Press +POB 40682 +San Francisco, CA 94140-0682 +U.S.A. + +Contact Patrick Hughes +(415) 923-1429 + +For those among you who have had the pleasure of hearing Noam +Chomsky fire one of his critiques at the rule of capital, this CD +will give you the opportunity to enjoy and learn once again. For +those who haven't heard this anarcho-syndicalist Doctor Who of +the Academy, here's your chance to listen to him as he blows the +media smoke away from the Clinton Presidency, while he holds the +mirror of logic to the face of lesser evil. + +How does he do it? + +Being a world renowned expert in the field of linguistics helps. +But don't let that scare you. Chomsky is as easy to understand +as a clear blue sky. He follows his usual method here. By taking +quotes from the most "respectable" of sources--the "Wall Street +Journal", the "New York Times", U.N. statistical documents and +Bill Clinton's own speeches--he is able to expose the smell of +burnt human flesh underlying the cost-efficiency ethics of the +ruling class chefs--in this case their Chief Executive Officer in +the State apparatus. + +So, what is the Clinton Vision? + +Listen to this CD as Chomsky makes it stand up on its three hind +legs--the globalization of capital, the replacement of bourgeois +democracy with corporate totalitarianism, and the gulagization of +unproductive (of profit) members of the proletariat. + +The globalization of capital has and is being ratified in various +international trade agreements: NAFTA, GATT and the Asian +Pacific Agreement. Noam chooses to illustrate this by using +Clinton's visit to the Boeing complex to sign the APA. According +to the Clinton Vision, Boeing sets an example for the future of +U.S. capital in the New World Order. Boeing, a company whose +stockholders enjoy immense State subsidy in the form of research +and development costs via the military, is that hybrid of current +successful market competitiveness. Little did you know that when +you hopped that jet to Newark, you were riding in a modified +bomber design. The mingling of the State and capital is the +model of the Clinton Vision, whether it is Boeing, Cray Computer +or the nuclear power industry in the U.S.A.. That this model of +capital is being ratified in agreement after agreement on a world +scale shows that other ruling classes realize the same vision. +Needless to say, Chomsky makes it clear that their interests and +ours are not the same. + +Linked to this notion for the need to ratify corporate/State +capital's dominion over the world market by "agreement" is the +corollary need to distance control over political decision making +from the unwashed masses. As if the distance were not already +great enough, agreements like NAFTA, the APA and so on tend to +have clauses embedded in them which prohibit national entities +from passing laws which conflict with their "agreed" on +positions. Thus the governing model of the Clinton Vision is +more and more closely aligned with the totalitarian operating +structure of the modern corporation and less and less with the +republican form of government initiated by the American +revolutionaries of the 18th Century. + +Connected to both the international agreements and the increasing +attraction of the corporate power pyramid as a means of political +rule, is the answer to that age old capitalist question--"what to +do with the unemployed?". The Clinton Crime Bill and the billion +dollar prison construction plans are no accident of history. +We're not rebuilding the infrastructure here; we're constructing +the gulag of the future for those who, according to Chomsky, have +no value to the privileged elites of the U.S.A.. "Human beings +have value only in so far as they contribute to profit making." +Seems to be the prime directive of the modern bourgeois +"Enterprise". + +This lecture provides us with both a lesson in contemporary +political economy and an example of how to cut through the crap +of media mystification. The "Clinton Vision" demonstrates +conclusively that relying on the lesser evil is not the solution. +The hard truth is that we can only depend on ourselves, organized +as One Big Union. + +Mike Ballard + +This review is from the pages of the "Industrial Worker", newspaper +of the Wobblies. Send $15 for a 1 year sub to: +Industrial Worker +PO Box 2056 +Ann Arbor, MI 48106 +U.S.A. + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000982.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000982.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..089ad2a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000982.txt @@ -0,0 +1,439 @@ +***************************************************************** + We've got an attitude! -Bad Brains +================================================================= + + NEWS & VIEWS FROM (THE FORMER) SOVIETSKY SOYUZ + + No.3 February 1995 +================================================================= + Jahrbucher fur Psychoanalitik und Psychopatalogik + der Russischer Radikalbewegungs +***************************************************************** + + GENERAL COMPLAINTS + + Greetings from the weak link of the worldwide revolutionary + resistance! + +In spite of the word 'news' in the name of this bulletin it has +always been views that dominated it. Just as any other +publication from the former USSR, ours is very opinionated, not +to say sectarian (we haven't got a sect). Since, due to our +irregularity, we fail to deliver news that doesn't stink, we +always make reviewing some tendencies in the anarchist scene here +our main preoccupation. This time too, we offer you the following +general complaints. (Well, there will be some news and events.) + +The period since the previous issue of 'News & Views' (August +1993) was characterized by the more and more evident withering +away of the ideological federations (that is the Confederation of +Anarcho-Syndicalists (KAS) and the Federation of Revolutionary +Anarchists (FRAN).A third federation,the Association of Anarchist +Movements (ADA) never was an ideological federation and due to +its very informal character just can't die, because it was never +actually so much alive). This fact however shouldn't bother you +so much, since in places where there's enough will to continue +anarchist activities, they are still carried on - on a more +humane and non-sectarian basis. Unfortunately not everywhere it +is so and anarchist groups that actually do something can be +counted by numbers, plus, information exchange between different +groups is in fact falling apart due to the fact that almost all +the anarchist info-bulletins collapsed -the Petersburg-based "An- +Press" which was published by libertarian capitalists is now +defunct while its publishers finally did what they should have +done long ago - joined some liberal party. "KAS-Contact" that was +moved from Moscow to Tomsk 2 or 3 years ago finally collapsed, +too, and was moved to Irkutsk where it was being published very +irregularly due to lack of actual information and activities and +technical problems. The only bulletin that carried some +occasional news that was buried under heaps of gossip was Moscow +IREAN's "Novy Nestor", that many people were forced to read since +there was nothing else. (When I say the bulletin was filled with +gossip and not news, I present not my personal point of view, but +the position of the editors of the bulletin, who from the very +beginning looked at it as a joke. It's very ironic that they were +delivering crap ahead of schedule (about 30 or 40 issues were +published since the beginning of the last year), while they +failed to publish their paper with the same regularity - although +the latter only served the interests of anarchism in Russia since +the paper was filled with RAF communiques and salivating about +how IREAN loves them.) + + UKRANIAN ANARCHISTS RE-GROUP (WHAT ELSE CAN THEY DO?) + +In September-October last year some Ukranian anarchists, tired of +sectarian fights between KAS and FRAN and the absence of any +workable anarchist network in Ukraine itself, decided to launch +some kind of an all-Ukranian federation. Although not all the +Ukranian anarchist groups participated in the gathering, the +organizers (the Donetsk KAS group) got positive responses from +various groups and activists from Lvov, Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov, +Nikolayev and some smaller towns. As a result of discussion at +the conference they decided to put an end to sectarian debates +(that were mainly 'imported' from Russia anyway) and quit all +the federations they were part of - KAS, FRAN and ADA - and form +the Confederation of Revolutionary Anarcho-Syndicalists (KRAS). +(In fact the Donetsk KAS group proposed to create the +Confederation of Revolutionary Anarcho-Syndicalists with a more +traditional, IWA-type program at the last KAS gathering in +Moscow, but this proposal was declined partly because of the lack +of substantial reasoning behind it and some rather bureaucratic +proposals for how this new federation should be run.) The new +all-Ukranian federation adopted a traditional anarcho-syndicalist +program modelled on the one of the IWA. The latter seems to +arouse a lot of comradely interest for KRAS, although their +position on the possibilities of affiliation with the IWA is +different from that of the "Friends of the IWA" in Moscow - KRAS +feels that the question of affiliation is still not on the agenda +and it won't be in 1996 (the planned date of the next IWA +Congress) due to the obvious weakness of anarcho-syndicalists in +the former USSR and the absence of the "critical mass" for a +syndicalist union. And it's true - none of the syndicalist groups +in this country can be called a union, because of their miniscule +size. + +Although the anarchists of Donetsk region who were the motor +behind the creation of KRAS are rather optimistic about the +future of this organization, they obviously will face some +serious problems - like the one they had last year when the +officials warned them that they can't be an "anarchist +federation" and publish a paper of this "federation" since it is +not legally registered with the state. In case they will try to +violate this, they were promised to be charged several hundred +dollars worth of fines. This was one of the reasons why the +second issue of their "Anarchy" paper wasn't published (the other +reason was the primitive stage of capitalism in Ukraine and +virtual inavalability of accessible printing places). Anyway, +Ukranian anarchists didn't abandon their desire to continue their +publication. So far they launched a small internal discussion +bulletin that aims at creating a discussion about the activities +and principles of their organization. + + REVOLUTION OF THE SPECTACLE IN THE SOCIETY OF EVERYDAY LIFE + +The lack of appeal of 'radical' ideas and actions to the general +population forces 'radicals' to think of new ways to seek popular +support. The latest frenzy in the anarchist, communist and proto- +fascist circles is the concept of being 'cool' and presenting +your ideas and activities in the most spectacular way. The first +to dive into this marketing strategy was Edward Limonov, a +scandally-famous Russian writer, founder of the spectacular- +extremist National-Bolshevik Party. That Limonov, this re- +incarnation of Malcolm MacLaren, decided to gain some popularity +and money on the scandals surrounding his 'political' activities +was quite predictable. What was hard to predict was the recent +obsession of pretty traditional Young Communists (RKSM) with +creating a new image of communism, which is to be marketed to the +youth. + +I doubt that they would ever have arrived at such a 'modern' +concept, had they not been surrounded by some 'anarchists', who +were in fact the main orchestrants of this frenzy. Already a +while ago some people from IREAN headed to the Stalinist-lead +"Student Defence" "trade union", where some monarchists and other +miserable creatures were also involved. Anarchists wrote some +'cool' articles for the Young Communists' paper giving these +bores some brand new ideas and images - some class war, some +poorly-digested feminism, etc. "Student Defence" managed to +organize some 'cool' protest in April last year with some +occasional 'anti-capitalist actions', which were afterwards +disproportionally blown up in their papers. After that the +concept of 'spectacular revolution' was given final shape with +statements like "to make a revolution today... it is enough to +film the moment of rebellion and make a videoclip". + +On January 17, 1995 Young Communists organized a "theoretico- +practical conference on "New Revolutionary Communism", where they +talked a lot about the need for a new ideology. Also they spoke a +lot about the 'similarity' between the new left and new right and +the necessity of acting together on some concrete issues. The +reason for that was found in the 'numerous historical examples of +Communists acting together with {left} fascists'. However, the +reasons for such activities and their possible outcomes were not +analyzed at all - it seemed that analysis of any kind is out of +their reach. These tendencies were rather well articulated in the +papers of IREAN, RKSM and the National-Bolshevik Party recently +and thus it became possible for the Russian Section of the Last +International and the Clandestine Committee for the Eradication +of Professional Revolutionaries, Militants and their Sympathizers +to go to considerable lengths denouncing all these stupidities of +these self-proclaimed 'radicals'. The communique of these +organisations called "A Good Cure for Obsolete Communism: An +Appeal to the Victims of the Theoretico-practical Conference..." +attacked the superficial claims about putting the spectacle to +the service of revolution, the discovery of the similarity +between the new left and the new right that we should somehow +'use' and the general stupidity of the above-mentioned +tendencies. + + +================================================================= + CHRONICLE +================================================================= + +On December 7, 1994 about a dozen anarchists picketed the +Indonesian embassy in Moscow, protesting against the continuing +occupation of East Timor and the genocide of its population. A +couple of articles about the tragedy of East Timor was published +in some (almost mainstream) paper, thus putting an end to the 20- +year-old silence of Russian propaganda on this topic. Protesters +handed a letter to the ambassador. Unfortunately this time the +Moscow office of the BHP (a company extracting oil from East +Timor in spite of occupation and genocide there) wasn't +spraypainted and thrashed, but we'll sure do it next time. + +Protests against the war in Chechnya sparked some life into the +anarchist scene in Moscow. Anarchists participated in most of the +demonstrations and pickets against the war. On December 12, which +saw the biggest demonstration against the war (several thousand +people, ranging from Communists to liberals and the Chechen +community of Moscow), they tried to organize a small 'radical' +march on the Defence Ministry together with some young +Communists, Trots and radical liberals, but were stopped by the +police. Several people were arrested later in the evening. On +December 19 five activists of radical Democratic Union and +anarchists painted the Defence Ministry with anti-war slogans and +even 'bombed' it with fireworks. Some of them were reported to +the police and arrested, but the court set them free without any +fines. There was also some leafleting in Moscow metro (which is +now filled with policemen and military, looking for "Chechen +terrorists"), with a couple of people arrested and fined, and +some spraypainting around the city. On January 30 some Moscow +anarchists and radical liberals from the Democratic Union (DS) +spraypainted 13 military call-up stations with anti-war and anti- +imperialist slogans. They are also planning an active campaign +against the military call-up this spring. + +In Nizhny Novgorod (former Gorky) the local Anarchist Club, +Rainbow Keepers and the local Green Party launched a campaign +against the military institutions and the war in Chechnya. Local +call-up stations were spraypainted with slogans like "Russia +shouldn't be a gendarme!", "Turn your arms against those who send +you to kill!" and "Here are the headquarters of the fascist +army". This happened after the local authorities remained deaf to +the demands of protesters who were organizing pickets. Well, if +they still will be deaf, anarchists promised to go further than +words. + +Khabarovsk in the Far East is also bubbling - some anarchists +make a radio show "While Mommy Watches Santa-Barbara", bringing +some music and attitude to a young audience. Khabarovsk +anarchists also launched a campaign against bus controllers, +agitating for going without paying, collective obstructing of +controllers and damaging some bus equipment. This campaign is an +answer to another increase in the cost of public transport. Among +the other activities of these joyful Far Easterners are +continuing attempts to organize a rock club and a 'free +university' (regular seminars and discussions on different +topics). + +In Tver, a city located in the middle of the road between Moscow +and St.Petersburg, anarchists participate in a campaign against +the construction of a superhighway between the two capitals. +Construction of the superhighway, that will have a deep base is +likely to destroy the natural underground water system of the +region. + +On February 11 activists from various anarchist, ecological and +radical liberal groups held a discussion in Moscow. Originally, +the topic of the discussion was rather broad - from the +traditional ways of organizing in this country (and why they +can't help us achieve anything) to the role of family in +undermining broader communities to what we can do this spring. +However, people who have gathered for the discussion preferred to +discuss how it happened that radicalism lost even the tiny +grounds that it had in the emerging social movements of the +perestroika era (this discussion has been around for several +years already), but didn't pay attention to what was really wrong +with the existing forms of organizing (i.e. ideological groups). +Anyway, since recently we witnessed the creation of some down-to- +earth groups oriented on specific issues (mainly ecological), the +radical movement is moving in the right direction. It's a pity +that this is done in some unconscious fashion. As the discussion +proceeded, issues of cooperation between different groups were +discussed, namely around the anti-war and anti-draft campaign. It +was more or less agreed to hold regular meetings and stop inter- +personal and inter-group infights that were going on for several +years. The groups that decided to participate in the future +meetings included the Confederation of Anarcho-syndicalists, the +Group of Radical Anarcho-syndicalists (GRAS), Rainbow Keepers +(anarcho-ecological group), "A" Cultural Centre, "Cherepovets-95" +ecological group,the Democratic Union (radical liberals), The +Emma Goldman Dancing Brigade and some other activists that are +active in other groups. (All of these groups are rather or very +tiny.) + +----------------------------------------------------------------- + DON'T EAT YOUR REVOLUTION! MAKE IT! + +On November 7 all the Stalinists gathered on Oktyabrskaya Square +in Moscow under the still-standing huge Lenin. Later they headed +to Red Square, followed by some small groups of Trotskyists and +even some anarchists who successfully created an illusion that +"young people" were with them. While the latters' red-n-black +banners and dull papers were surely unable to destroy the +traditional way of celebrating the October revolution day, the +assault came from where nobody expected it. As the demonstrators +were going down their route they inevitably confronted a small +group of some vocal revolutionaries who were standing on the side +of the road under the banner of 'primitive communism' (made of +fake red fur) who were fearlessly banging their big drum. As the +crowd passed by them and tried to find out what they wanted to +say, the atmosphere was getting more and more tense. "The Blind" +(that is the name of an artistic group) announced that people who +gathered at the demo had nothing to do with revolution, that they +'ate' their revolution and shitted it out, that the only thing +they can do is ask the government for more money. Their poster +announced "Proletarians of all lands, enough eating!" Instead of +asking the government for money, The Blind announced, we should +make another revolution and realise the real - primitive - +communism. We should care less about material things and instead +turn our attention to people around us. After the demo passed and +the shouts "They are Jews, Zionists! Go back to Israel!" +addressed to The Blind finally dissolved in the air, the +'primitive communists' headed back home and were stopped by +police, who asked for their IDs. In spite of that, the affair +ended peacefully. + + STRANGE FRUIT + +On September 5 some Moscow anarchists and punks were trying to +defend their 'property rights' to a basement that was for some +time used as a non-commercial club named first after the infamous +sell-out Jerry Rubin and later after Ho Chi Min (due to the fact +that the club was situated not far from a square named after him +and a surreal monument to Ho). On New Year's Eve anarchists had +a rather nice party there after which the club finally moved out +- into nowhere. Since both the Jerry Rubin/Ho Chi Min Club and +the "A" Club which was run by anarchists were homeless, they +decided to join their forces. There are some reasons to believe +that this union will bring about not only a cheap club where kids +can hang out, but some constant place for radical meetings and +activities. So far we found a basement that was given to us and +now we are looking forward to cleaning it up and using it for +meetings and some kind of infoshop and anarchist library. + +----------------------------------------------------------------- + THE ABC OF LIBERTARIAN LENINISM + (this will be a comix) + +Characters: +Male announcer - a hero of some +comix, more or less like a Superman + +Comrade Lenin - the leader of +proletarian revolution, founder +of Leninism + +Male announcer: Contrary to what is usually believed, Leninism +too has strong libertarian potential. Unfortunately anarchists +tend to disregard it while they point out that only on one +occasion Lenin supposedly 'stole' their ideas when he wrote +"State and Revolution". If we dig a little deeper, we will +discover the unknown terrain of Leninism which is highlighted by +aphorisms, not less poetic than those of Bakunin, Marx and the +situationists. Please, comrade Lenin, give us just one example. + +Comrade Lenin (sitting on a chair, his arms on his knees, seems a +little depressed, announces in mechanic voice): You can't live in +society and be free from society. + +Male announcer: Brilliant, don't you think? For years and years +philisters exploited just one of the numerous creative methods +appropriated by Marx from Hegel, namely Marxist dialectical +double-speak. Here we find another creative tool for building a +critical social theory, the one that can be called critical +reductionism. Let us now take the same phrase, but this time +without the last word. Please, comrade Lenin! + +Comrade Lenin: You can't live in society and be free... + +Male announcer: Terrific! But we still haven't seen the rest of +the method. Let's take out some more words. Please, comrade +Lenin! + +Comrade Lenin: You can't live in society and be... + +Male announcer: Fantastic! Do you understand now what a great +potential libertarians missed when they claimed Leninism to be +inherently authoritarian? Contrary to this narrow opinion it is +as critical as, say, young Marx... Let's see, what will happen if +we take out some more. + +Comrade Lenin: You can't live in society... You can't live... +(Clenching his fists, angrily.) You can't, you can't, you +can't!!! + +Male announcer: Assistant, please! Can you take comrade Lenin and +provide him with another dose of morphine? His authoritarian +syndrome is back, we need to calm him down!.. + +================================================================= + some @narchist e-mail contacts in the former USSR: + +cube@glas.apc.org : +a little cell of cyberspace occupied by Laure Akai and Mikhail +Tsovma. The name comes from Cube Press, a project that they hope +to lift off the ground sometime. So far one pamphlet was +published - on Bakunin's philosophy and social ideas. The plan +for 1995 includes Daniel Guerin's "Anarchism", George Bradford's +"Triumph of Capital", Fredy Perlman's "The Continuing Appeal of +Nationalism" and probably a small anthology which we so far plan +to name "Mickey Mouse, Fuck Off! An introduction to critical +theory" (it will contain some articles from "Anarchy: A Journal +of Desire Armed", some Bob Black, Fredy Perlman, etc.) + +tretyput@glas.apc.org : +"Trety Put" (Third Way) anarcho-ecological magazine edited by +Sergei Fomichov, part of the rather loose network called Rainbow +Keepers that is organizing some ecological campaigns every year +since late 80's + +ecodefense@glas.apc.org : +Vladimir Slivyak in Kaliningrad/Konigsberg on Baltic Sea, also an +anarcho-ecologist + +nadia@glas.apc.org : +Nadezhda Shevchenko from Kiev, Ukraine, anarcho-ecologist + +volga@glas.apc.org : +Olga Pitsunova, anarcho-ecologist in Saratov + +rk@glas.apc.org : +Moscow group of Rainbow Keepers, still in the process of building +their technical base, that's why you might not get response if +you write to them + +Also available for GlasNet (Russian APC network) is a conference +glas.radical. We intend to keep it mainly Russian-language and +thus it is not networked to other APC networks (there's also a +problem with transfering/decoding cyrillic letters. + +================================================================= +COMING SOON: +In the next issue of News&Views I hope to give some materials +about: +- anarcho-ecological groups in Russia and their activities, both +in the recent years and the ones that they plan for the next +summer +- the activities and the current state of syndicalists groups in +projects +- "the wonderful world of ZAIBI", THE most interesting +(anti)music (anti)group and some of its ideas +================================================================= +Contact us: +via e-mail: cube@glas.apc.org +via regular mail: POB 500, 107061 Moscow, Russia + + Compiled by Mikhail Tsovma. + Long live the ANC (Absolutely No Copyright)! + +Materials published above reflect only the personal opinion(s) of + the author(s), but this doesn't mean they should be treated + differently from the positions of the so-called federations. +================================================================= + If I can't be a graphomaniac once a year, I'm not part of your +revolution! (Sorry for all the non-existent English words that I + put into this bulletin.) + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000983.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000983.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5ec2ca9c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000983.txt @@ -0,0 +1,88 @@ + [The following appeared in Insurrection, an anarchist magazine + from Britain of the late 80's. This is one kind of discussion + which we do not find so often in North America. In the next + week Autonomedia hopes to make several of these articles + available electronically.] + + + INTERNATIONALISM + + A restricted view of the struggle is doomed to failure. + If not in terms of immediate results (improved conditions, + growth of revolutionary consciousness, development of + the movement, etc) at least in the long term modifying of + power relations. + + The revolutionary struggle is "total". It involves the + possibility of life for the exploited in all the diffeent + parts of the world, hence the need for the "total" + intervention of the revolutionary even when operating in + a circumscribed and therefore "immediate" struggle. + + But this interest cannot limit itself to simply reading + the newspapers and keeping oneself informed on what is + happening in the world. It must go a little (or a lot) + further than that. + + Proletarian internationalism is an active intervention, + a participation in the struggles of the exploited that + extends everywhere. + + But there is a mistaken way of considering this basic + revolutionary perspective. It was applied by the + authoritarian parts of the movement in the seventies + with disastrous results. This mistake has mechanical + characteristics and consists of taking what one + considers to be the highest point of the clash + (ie the situation of the peoples in the third world) + where social and economic conflicts are more obvious, + and carrying them-as a strategic and methodological + propsal-to within the situation of the more advanced + countries (the so-called metropolitan situations). In + the past one heard of bringing Vietnam to Berlin or + London or Milan. The mistake was in sanctifying the + open armed clash unreservedly and in transferring these + aspects to situations which had, and still have very + different characteristics. + + But in practice it was not a question of real + proletarian internationalism. The far-off situation was + seen as an occasion for pushing the local situation. + The transferral en bloc was done with a view of obtaining + sympathy and propaganda on the wave of results that the + struggles of those far-off peoples were achieving. + + We feel that today more than ever real proletarian + internationalism can go towards one of two solutions. + Firstly, the classical one which is spoken about less and + less now and has come to be seen only through the + distorting lense of a now out-dated romanticism, is that + of direct participation through internationalist groups or + brigades. A lot could be said about the subject which we + shall put off until some future date where it can be gone + into in more detail among comrades. + + Alternatively there is the other aspect, that of real + "support" to the internationalist struggle. + + It should be said that this support cannot be reduced + to a simple subscription. Even if very useful, it is + certainly not the first thing that the exploited engaged + in a struggle expect. There is also the so-called + "political" support, ie counter-information, demonstrations, + picketing of consulates and embassies, letters of protest. + All very useful things. + + And then there is the attack against those responsible + for exploitation. Both internally and externally. Without + wanting to give this aspect priveledge over all the + others, we must say-very clearly-that to do only the first + renders such activity ineffective. It means reducing the + manifestation of thought and and opinion to a banal + exercise of democratic dissent. It means the transformation + of financial support into an act of charity which is mainly + an alibi for oneself. To do the two things together has a + more serious signifigance and corresponds to what we + consider to be true proletarian internationalism. + + a.m.b. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000985.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000985.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a3a00a36 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000985.txt @@ -0,0 +1,677 @@ + + Consent or Coercion + +An anarchist case for social transformation +and answers to questions about anarchism + + +"The State is a condition, a certain relationship between human beings, a +mode of human behavior; we destroy it by contracting other relationships, +by behaving differently." + + Gustav Landauer + + + Anarchism is the belief that people can voluntarily cooperate to +meet everyone's needs, without bosses or rulers, and without sacrificing +individual liberties. A common misunderstanding is that anarchism is the +total absence of order; that it is chaos, or nihilism. There are even +people who call themselves "anarchists" who have this misperception. +Anarchists are opposed to order arbitrarily imposed and maintained through +armed force or other forms of coercion. They struggle for the order that +results from the consensual interaction of individuals, from voluntary +association. If there is a need, anarchists believe that people are +capable of organizing themselves to see that it is met. + J. A. Andrews used the example of a group of friends going on a +camping trip. They plan their trip, and each person brings useful skills +and tools to share. They work together to set up tents, fish, cook, clean +up, with no one in a position of authority over anyone else. The group +organizes itself, chores are done, and everyone passes the time as they +please, alone or in groups with others. People discuss their concerns and +possible solutions are proposed. No one is bound to go along with the +group, but choosing to spend time together implies a willingness to at +least try to work out constructive solutions to the problems and frictions +that will inevitably arise. If no resolution is possible, the dissenting +individuals can form another grouping or leave without fear of persecution +by the rest of the group. + Compare this to the way most organizations function. A few +individuals make the important decisions, with or without the approval or +input of the rest of the group. Rules and bylaws are passed in the hope of +preventing undesirable activities on the part of members. The leadership +starts out by addressing legitimate concerns, but is soon corrupted by +power. It begins doing what it thinks is best, for itself and the +organization, even if it involves concealing its activities from the other +members or using deception. The elite attempts to entrench itself by +making it difficult for the members to oust it, and constantly works to +increase its power. The elite may ban criticism of its leadership and +policies, or it may attribute superhuman qualities to itself, far +surpassing those of "mere" members. Eventually the elite is no longer +under the control of the members, and cannot be challenged. It can run +amok with all of the power and resources of the organization, punishing +those who dare to defy it. Membership is no longer voluntary, but is +imposed on whoever falls within whatever the organization decides is its +jurisdiction. Laws and authority which were originally aimed at preventing +harm are turned into tools for inflicting harm on whoever is targeted by +the elite. + Another problem with laws and rules is that if you do not have +voluntary compliance, the unlawful behavior will still take place, whether +or not there is a law against it. The outlawed activity will be driven +underground or will be protected by the imprecise wording of the laws. +Having failed to win people's voluntary cooperation, through education or +persuasion, the government passes volumes and volumes of laws, in a +hopeless attempt to address and control every possible situation. +Sometimes the law is observed as if it were carved in stone, even when the +results are clearly ridiculous. An example is the case of the female +motorist who was stopped for speeding, and lectured by a police officer at +length as she sat there suffering labor pains. The officer thought she was +faking the pain of childbirth to escape a traffic ticket! Sometimes the +police fabricate charges against people they wish to punish, or they simply +beat people as an "attitude adjustment" (if you are not sufficiently +terrorized by the police, they consider it an attitude problem). It is +also not uncommon for the laws to be overly vague, or to be misapplied. In +my town, in obvious violation of their own laws, the police set up +roadblocks to stop all motorists, check their sobriety, and search their +vehicles for contraband if there is suspicion of any illegal activity after +questioning them. This is done under the guise of checking for valid +driver's licenses, which is clearly a ruse since there is no indication of +any wrongdoing when the people are stopped. But if anyone would refuse to +submit to such a search, they would likely be charged with interfering with +the duties of a police officer, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest, +plus whatever other charges the district attorney could dream up. If you +were to challenge the roadblocks in court, the judge would probably say +that the Constitution, the supreme law of the land, does not really mean +what it obviously says when it forbids unreasonable searches and seizures, +but that it has been interpreted to mean something entirely different. It +now means that the government has the power to decide what is or is not +reasonable, entirely voiding the purpose of the law. The law means +whatever those in power say it means. The courts have ruled, for example, +that conscription is not involuntary servitude, and that the government can +force you to choose between a military uniform and a prison uniform. And +the laws gradually become more and more restrictive, so that people +gradually become accustomed to having less and less freedom. Children are +assigned identification numbers at birth. Photos on driver's licenses are +stored electronically in computers, where they can be accessed at will by +law enforcement personnel. Employees must present specified forms of +identification to be eligible for employment. Residents of public housing +can have their apartments searched without a search warrant. What seems +outrageously intrusive today is tomorrow's legislation. + Anarchists do not wish to see traffic fatalities, rapes, or +murders. Quite the contrary. They feel the current combination of tyranny +and social chaos are responsible for much of the suffering in the world. +What anarchists fear is the corrupting influence of power and the +inevitable abuse of power. An individual can only do so much damage, but +the same person in a position of authority, or worse yet, an organized, +systematic application of corrupted power, can wreak horrible damage. +Governments have sent millions upon millions of people to their deaths, +through wars and persecutions, and have taken away the freedoms of billions +of others. And note that the police only prevent crimes in rare +situations, such as when a police officer just happens to be at the scene +of a crime in progress. The police almost always show up after the crime +has been committed. Most crimes go unsolved. Attempting to punish +offenders after they have committed their crimes is not a very effective +way to protect people. This false "cure" is just an attack on the symptoms +without treating the underlying problem - a society that is losing its +social consciousness. In other words, the individuals who make up the +society have stopped thinking of themselves as being members of a society. +If your neighbors are all strangers, and you feel powerless to improve +anything, you are not likely to feel that you have a relationship with +those around you. The police are not very effective against criminals, but +they are extremely effective at controlling the general public. A lone +individual has little hope of resisting the depredations of these heavily +armed paramilitary organizations. Even if a benign and uncorrupted +government was possible, many of us would prefer our freedom, with all of +its responsibilities, to being forced to live according to volumes of well +intentioned dictates written by others. Care to wear a crash helmet when +you drive your car? How about banning bare feet on beaches so no one steps +on a sharp rock? And absolutely no walking in remote areas or doing work +outside of your profession. + Fred Woodworth has pointed out that the claims of legitimacy made +by governments, the justifications used by those in power as to why they +have the right to order us about, would be laughable if the results were +not so tragic. Any claims to power made by a monarchy, constitutional +democracy, theocracy, nationalist fatherland or people's republic are +totally bogus since they govern without the consent of the governed. Any +constitution, contract or agreement that claims to bind everyone living in +the same geographic area, unborn generations, or anyone other that the +actual parties to it, are despicable falsehoods. Some governments rule +through fear and brute force, while others, as a result of intense pressure +from their subjects, have become dependent on winning the support of large +sectors of the public in elections in order to stay in power. Bourgeois +democracy, democracy controlled by the elite, is preferable to +dictatorship, but these republics also rely on coercion to achieve their +goals. The political party which wins, with the help of big money, +restrictive ballot access, and winner-take-all election laws, does not have +the right to inflict its will on those who do not support it. The state +machinery uses coercion to compel obedience from its subjects, regardless +of which party is at the controls. Democracy is often equated with +tolerance, but Hitler was a product of democracy, and slavery and apartheid +existed in the U.S. under democracy. Even in an ideal democracy, unwarped +by elite control, the majority may actually support the persecution of +people with unorthodox ideas. + The public is constantly bombarded with propaganda justifying the +existence of the government and explaining the necessity of the current +social system, in the schools, the media, and in its own propaganda. But +less than half of the eligible voters participate in elections in the U.S. +The government loudly proclaims its mandate anyway. + Most of the objections people have to anarchism as a social system +are based on the assumption that people are unreasonable and irresponsible. +If this were the case, no amount of police, judges and jails could conjure +order out of chaos. People would be routinely killing and robbing one +another, and taking advantage of any perceived weakness on the part of +others. We would all be certain we were much too clever to be caught. But +truly anti-social behavior on the part of individuals is the exception, +rather than the rule. Most of us are very well behaved. Much of the +destructive behavior we suffer from is committed by individuals who have +been raised in the most dire conditions, and who face very limited personal +choices due to the material and cultural poverty they were raised in. This +occurs across all ethnic groups and in all countries, but some societies +are wise enough to attack the conditions that foster destructive behavior +instead of merely punishing offenders after the acts have been committed. +This is a social problem which needs to be dealt with, not a given fact of +human nature. Human beings, and even animals, which are raised in an +environment of love, respect and security tend to be good natured and well +adjusted. But any creature raised in an environment of fear, cruelty or +deprivation will tend to exhibit anti-social behavior. Each society spawns +its own predatory individuals. In general, the more atomized and alienated +individuals are from their society, the more likely they are to engage in +destructive behavior, against others and against themselves. And people +cannot be blamed for not identifying with an unsympathetic, and even +predatory, society. Some anarchists argue that it is precisely because +people have become so maladjusted that no one can be trusted with power +over others. + A distinction must be made between socially destructive behavior +and behavior which is not coercive, but which is banned by the government +for other reasons. Besides the obvious examples of tax and draft evasion, +governments, by passing laws, create entire classes of criminals by +outlawing certain victimless or vice crimes. Certain activities may be +distasteful to some of us, but if they are not predatory or coercive in +nature then they are only crimes because the government says they are. But +once an activity is outlawed, professional criminals become involved +because these activities become highly profitable. This is why criminals +were active in the alcohol and gambling trades when they were outlawed, and +why they are still active in drugs, prostitution and immigration today. If +guns are outlawed, organized crime will have another lucrative trade to +pursue. The taxation of alcohol, cigarettes and gasoline has spawned +entire bootleg industries. + The for-profit nature of capitalism encourages other forms of +anti-social behavior, such as taking advantage of the disorganization of +workers by hiring them for as little as possible, working them as hard as +possible (sometimes until they break, physically or mentally), and making +them pay as much as possible for what they consume. Another example is +"externalization of costs", which means getting society to pay the costs +while private businesses get the profits, such as the education of workers +at public expense; mining, fishing, grazing and lumbering on public land +for token payments; government bailouts; strike breaking; and toxic waste +clean up. This officially protected form of destructive behavior, known as +corporate capitalism, creates a competitive, dog-eat-dog mentality that is +extremely disruptive to human solidarity. Some anarchists believe +capitalism is malignant by its very nature. Others argue that it is +government interference which has made capitalism malignant, by favoring +larger, established businesses and creating barriers for small businesses +and self-employed people. + Anarchists believe that people should be free to organize +themselves as they see fit, but are divided as to which methods are the +most just or desirable. Some anarchists claim that everyone has a right to +an equal share of the wealth, since it has been produced primarily by +generations of wage slaves living under the threat of dire poverty. They +see the functioning of society as a team effort. How could a small +fraction of the population have honestly gained such disproportional +control of the existing assets while the majority has become so totally +dependent? They simply couldn't have. As the saying goes, "it takes money +to make money," and most of our families did not start us off with large +sums of money. What business owners had was money to invest, and/or a +willingness to go deeply into debt, while most of us make our living +selling our labor power. Employees are treated like just another input +into the production process: their labor is "bought" when needed, at the +market price, and no longer "purchased" when the need has passed. But +since employees need to provide for themselves and their families, +regardless of the condition of the labor market or the treatment they +receive at the hands of their employers, they live in constant insecurity. +This insecurity is why employees form labor unions, or turn to laws and +government for protection. So most socialist anarchists argue that the +most just way to organize an economy is to treat it like one huge +cooperative, shared and operated by all, in the interests of all. +Anarchists favor a confederal form of organization, so that each locality +or industry would be autonomous, but would be closely coordinated with the +other units which make up a society. They believe that each unit will act +responsibly in relation to the other units, because cooperation and good +faith are in everyone's interest. + The other general category includes anarchists who feel that people +should be able to be independent of any organization if they so choose, +including economic organizations. They fear socialization of the economy +for the same reason they fear the government, because it puts the +individual at the mercy of others. They also feel that some individuals +are willing to work harder to achieve a higher standard of living than +others might be willing to work, and that the more industrious should not +be dragged down to the same level as those who choose to work less +intensively and live at a more basic standard of living. They feel that +the use to which one puts one's earnings is not the business of the rest of +society, as long as it does not cause obvious harm to others, and that they +should be free to pass their wealth on to others if they so choose. +Individuals should be free to be self-employed, or to employ or be employed +by others, as long as the arrangement is voluntarily. These +anarcho-capitalists argue that the best way to organize the economy is +through voluntary economic transactions of whatever type that people choose +to make, with everyone taking responsibility for their own well-being. +They claim that in a truly free market system, consumers would be able to +control the socially destructive activities of business owners by +boycotting their products and by buying from more socially conscious +competitors. + As different as these views are, it is possible to have an economy +that includes both options, plus others not mentioned or even thought of, +and to leave people free to choose whichever type of organization they +prefer. The economy would function through the voluntary interaction of a +multitude of differently organized groupings, each working out for itself +the best methods of organization. The socialistically inclined groups +could produce goods for their own consumption, and avoid market +relationships to whatever extent they feel necessary. Gustav Landauer +wrote, "We can establish a great number of crafts and industries to produce +goods for our own consumption. We can go much further in this than the +cooperatives have gone until now, for they still cannot get rid of the idea +of competing with capitalist managed enterprise."1 What is important is +that people have a choice, which most of us currently do not have. The +various groupings could interact whenever they chose to do so. One serious +barrier to cooperation among anarchists is the issue of property rights. +At one extreme are those with an almost feudalistic attachment to private, +for-profit ownership of the necessities of life, while at the other extreme +even the ownership of personal property is seen to be anti-social and +elitist. There is quite a bit of room to maneuver between these two +extremes, but the question of expropriation of the workplace is the major +issue dividing the movement. A communitarian approach would sidestep this +issue entirely. These intentional, self-organized communities could not +replace the existing system overnight, but eventually they could greatly +reduce our dependence on it. Many of the goods currently produced are +either unnecessary or are produced in excessive quantities. The use of +automobiles, for example, could be greatly reduced through the use of mass +transit, bike paths and better urban planning (and this would be a partial +solution to the problem of traffic fatalities). And what would +anarcho-socialists do with an expropriated cash register factory or mink +ranch anyway? If we can't get people to choose to meet their needs +cooperatively, buy buying or using cooperatively produced goods, they are +probably not sufficiently interested in radical social change. + What about those who argue "abolish work"? Like a perpetual motion +machine, or cold fusion, there is no scheme currently known that can +provide everyone with what they need which does not require anyone to +perform tasks which they find unpleasant. If everyone does only what they +enjoy, we would have a huge oversupply of performing artists and athletes, +and a serious shortage of dental hygienists and plumbers. Through job +sharing and the elimination of unproductive activities, the amount of +unpleasant work can be fairly shared and reduced to a minimum. Those who +wish to abstain from the consumption of work enhanced products could not +reasonably be expected to work. But it seems just as reasonable for those +who do a share of the work to deny access to those who voluntarily choose +not to work, in the absence of barriers to productive activity such as +unemployment, or harsh or dangerous working conditions. + At the present time, since there is not widespread agreement that +anarchism is the best form of social organization, it is up to us to spread +these ideas and to implement them as best we can among ourselves. It would +be impossible to compel people to participate in an anarchist project, +since anarchism relies on voluntary cooperation and self discipline to make +it work. Once large numbers of people agree that this is the way things +should be organized, not even a tyrant can stop them from reorganizing +themselves. As Elisee Reclus wrote, "When the miserable and disinherited +of the earth shall unite in their own interest, trade with trade, nation +with nation, race with race; when they shall fully awake to their +sufferings and their purpose... powerful as may be the Master of those +days, he will be weak before the starving masses leagued against him." 2 + + +Answers to frequently asked questions: + + +Q: How will people deal with crime, resolve disputes, reach agreements and +set standards if the government and laws are abolished? + +A: The main purpose of governments and laws are to keep most of us under +control so that we can be efficiently milked, like a herd of cows. With +the exception of a small proportion of anti-social people, most of us are +able to avoid harming others and resolve our disputes without resorting to +the authorities. The legal system we have now puts the full force of the +state behind the party that manages to win its favor. Many disputes are +already resolved through arbitration and mediation, outside of the courts +and the legal system. The laws are written and enforced in such a way that +the poor are always held accountable for petty crimes such as writing bad +checks to pay for groceries, while the authorities can literally get away +with murder. + If allowed to, people will always act to protect themselves from +violent criminals. This is an involuntary reflex, like raising your hand +to deflect a blow. People may decide to form special, recallable groups +who are firmly under community control to perform that task as the need +arises, or they may choose to do it on a neighborhood by neighborhood +basis. But the police, courts and government we currently have are only +accountable to the people in the most roundabout way, and they have clearly +become a threat to our freedom. They are literally out of control. Self +perpetuating elites have appointed themselves to perform our civic duties +in our behalf. The amount of crime should drop sharply as soon as +productive activity becomes less difficult and oppressive, and people begin +to have a sense of belonging to a social unit. To protect the rights of +unpopular individuals who are guilty of no real crime, it would be +necessary for the community to agree that only acts that cause actual harm +to others are subject to the justice of the community. Each community can +debate the issue of "actual harm" for itself, and people can relocate +according to their preference. People would need to work out a fair and +open procedure for resolving disputes and for treating predatory +individuals. There is the danger of a community oppressing its members, +who would lack recourse to existing laws designed to protect them. We +would hope that communities would incorporate respect for the rights of +individuals into their processes; we do not expect this important value to +mysteriously vanish from social consciousness. On the contrary, personal +freedom should actually be respected even more than it presently is if we +are successful in spreading our ideas more widely. It is hard to imagine +an autonomous community expending the same level of resources on coercion +that current governments do. There is an unavoidable tension between the +good of the community and individual rights, but anarchists do not feel +that one must be sacrificed to increase the other. + If written contracts prevented fraud, we would not have "fine +print" or a legal profession. In a free society it is of the utmost +importance that people show real compassion and fairness in their dealings +with others, or else it won't last very long. Living together in peaceful +cooperation is a powerful form of protest against government and police. + Concerning technical standards, these are best agreed upon by the +people who do the work and who use the products involved, instead of being +decided by corporate officers or government bureaucrats. Many standards +are already set by professional associations. If you've ever tried to +repair an automobile or link computers you understand how necessary, and +how lacking, industry-wide standards are. If a product lacks a trusted +"seal of approval" from consumer organizations, consumers can avoid it. +Educated consumers can influence what is produced and how it is produced if +they act together in large numbers. + + +Q: How will we defend ourselves from invasion by foreign governments +without a government? + +A: We could have a truly volunteer and community controlled military, +concerned strictly with defending our liberty and not with imposing our +will on people in foreign countries. If volunteers want to participate in +foreign wars, that would be up to them. We would soon find the world a +less dangerous place when other societies no longer fear being attacked by +our government and when we stop exporting arms for profit. The absence of +government does not mean the absence of organization. It means the absence +of coercion. + + Q: The situations in places like Lebanon, Somalia, and the former +Yugoslavia have often been referred to as "anarchy". Is this accurate? + +A: No, these are examples of competing elites struggling against one +another for power. The result is chaos. Anarchy is the absence of a +controlling elite. A government is the strongest gang of aggressors in a +particular area at a particular time. Civil war is what happens when the +dominant group is challenged. Anarchy has been a rare occurrence in recent +history, since there is usually an elite willing to impose itself whenever +it sees the opportunity. Emiliano Zapata, one of the major figures in the +Mexican Revolution of 1911-1918, was influenced by anarchist ideas, +especially those of the brothers Ricardo and Enrique Flores Magon. He +temporarily liberated large parts of Mexico with his army of indian +peasants. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, a mostly peasant, +anarchist army led by Nestor Makhno temporarily liberated various parts of +what is now Ukraine in battles against several different armies; White, +Red, Nationalist and foreign. Korean anarchists established an autonomous +zone in Shimin province in northern Manchuria between 1929 and 1931, but +were crushed by the Japanese army and Chinese/Russian Communists. During +the Spanish Civil War and Revolution of 1936, anarchists liberated areas of +Aragon, Catalonia and other parts of Spain. They entered into an uneasy, +anti-Nationalist alliance with the Republican government, but were +pressured and then forced to abandon their gains. They were then +persecuted by both Republicans and Nationalists. + + +Q: Are people really so good that they can live without government? + +A: Are people really so good that they can be trusted to direct a +government? Governments have killed far more people than all the +criminals, bandit gangs and mass murderers in history, who look like +hobbyists in comparison. Anarchists consider governments to be a very +powerful form of organized crime. Some governments are worse than others, +of course, but they all have the potential for committing atrocities. + + +Q: Don't anarchists advocate the violent overthrow of the existing authorities? + +A: Some anarchists do advocate this, in the hope that people will +spontaneously organize themselves once the power of the elite has been +broken. However, the contradiction between revolutionary social change and +the anarchist ideal of voluntary social relations has always been troubling +to some anarchists. In the absence of unanimous opposition to the elite, +revolutions always involve coercion against the supporters and sympathizers +of the elite, which may be a large proportion of a society. The most +coercion is required when a minority attempts to implement radical social +change on an unconvinced public. Not only does the old regime need to be +defeated without the support of the population, but the new elite must also +impose its program on society. The least coercion is required when a +revolution is the result of demands made by large sectors of the general +public. If the old elite resists, after a brief skirmish it can be pushed +aside. Even the government's own troops cannot be relied upon to suppress +a popular revolution, since the soldiers themselves come from the same +public. Revolutionary violence occurs when demands for change are ignored +or suppressed. But many elites are crafty enough to make concessions which +split the public and weaken people's resolve. Demands for change within +the structure of the existing system lead to compromise and ultimately to +broader political support for the system. Demands that the state reform +itself in a fundamental way are hopeless, because the very nature of the +state is to forever expand its power and its autonomy from its subjects. + Revolutionary anarchists argue that violence against tyranny is a +duty and that coercion in the name of a better world is justified. They +argue that it is very unlikely that many people, if given the choice, would +choose to remain slaves. But after the emancipation of the slaves in the +U.S. and of the peasants in Russia, many did just that, and instead of +fleeing their masters, remained employed on the same estates. This is why +some anarchists prefer a strategy of working to transform society +gradually, through education and self organization, so that people will be +less and less dependent on employers and the government, and more and more +able to organize themselves in non-coercive ways. This point of view sees +the current social system continuing mainly due to the absence of practical +alternatives and to the comfort of inertia. Most of us are compelled to +sell our labor to capitalist employers since workers' and consumers' +cooperatives aren't widely established. Likewise, if people hear someone +breaking into a neighbor's house, they call the police, since there are no +neighborhood based organizations to deal with crime. With an evolutionary +strategy, "the new society is built within the shell of the old," which +makes for a slow, but smooth, transition. The revolutionary strategy, +which promises quicker results, would leave a dangerous vacuum during the +period immediately following the revolution, when most revolutions are +defeated or else lapse back into a modified version of the old system. +Unless a large majority of the population actively supports anarchism, +coercion will likely be necessary to abolish the old social order, since +people would not yet be convinced that this is desirable. The political +struggle, convincing people of the need for change in an anarchist +direction, must be won before the old order can be successfully abolished. + Revolutionaries will argue that any significant gradual efforts +will be violently suppressed. Perhaps, but if the gradual efforts involve +no violence or coercion, it would be politically risky for the government +to suppress them. They would have to crack down on people's liberties to +such an extent that they would be illustrating to the public exactly the +point we are trying to make. We risk less by trying persuasion, including +our ideals. There are also practical reasons to avoid the use of violence +(with the possible exception of self-defense). The party that resorts to +violence first is almost always blamed by the public for causing the +conflict. A violent attack on the government would give it another excuse +to justify its own existence, the excuse it would need to eliminate us. +Armed struggle encourages the formation of a conspiratorial directing +elite, which may not be controlled by its supporters (as Fidel Castro said +recently, "Revolutionaries do not resign"). Successful armed struggle +relies on the use of treachery and violence, and these strategies may carry +over even after the original enemy is defeated. And victory does not go to +the most worthy, but to the most powerful. Some anarchists simply believe +that violence and coercion are morally wrong, and would not use these +means, even if there were hope of achieving the desired end. + Historically, violent revolution has achieved modest results at a +staggering cost in death and suffering. France, Mexico, the U.S., Russia, +China and Cuba have all experienced "successful" revolutions, yet these +societies are not substantially freer nor is the working class +substantially better off than in Great Britain, Sweden or Canada. But, you +may protest, these were not true social revolutions. Conceded. But true +social revolutions require the conscious, enthusiastic support of the +general public. This support can only be won on the political or +educational front and not on the military front. Once there is popular +support for anarchist ideas, the only force required will be to disband any +government forces which refuse to disperse. You can't win the public's +support militarily. You can only frighten people into passivity or rouse +them to lash out in a confused, unorganized manner. The case for +revolution directed by a vanguard group or party on behalf of the oppressed +requires us to argue that the public has either been brainwashed, that they +are too ignorant to understand their own self interest, or that they have +been beaten into passivity. If any combination of these are true, what +good will it do to use armed struggle on their behalf, if they do not +consciously support social change? They will either fight against us or +passively watch us die. Complex, voluntary, and cooperative social +arrangements are unlikely to appear spontaneously. As the anarchists in +Spain discovered during the social revolution and civil war there in the +1930's, you cannot direct society and not direct society at the same time. +If people do not organize themselves, they will either flounder in chaos +and be unable to resist the forces of reaction, or they will allow +themselves to be led by politicians. Significant numbers of workers did +organize themselves in Spain, but the working class as a whole was not able +to achieve the level of self organization necessary for it to do away with +the leadership of the revolutionary parties. There can be no revolutionary +government that serves anarchist purposes or which can lead to anarchy. +The only way to avoid the creation of a new elite is if the mass of society +is consciously aware of what it is trying to accomplish. + As the anonymous authors of "You Can't Blow Up a Social +Relationship" pointed out, "The total collapse of this society would +provide no guarantee about what replaced it. Unless a majority of people +had the ideas and organization sufficient for the creation of an +alternative society, we would see the old world reassert itself because it +is what people would be used to, what they believed in, what existed +unchallenged in their own personalities."3 Alexander Berkman wrote, "As +[people's] minds broaden and develop, as they advance to new ideas and lose +faith in their former beliefs, institutions begin to change and are +ultimately done away with. The people grow to understand that their former +views were false, and that they were not truth, but prejudice and +superstition.... The social revolution, therefore, is not an accident, not +a sudden happening. There is nothing sudden about it, for ideas don't +change suddenly. They grow slowly, gradually, like the plant or flower.... +It develops to the point when considerable numbers of people have embraced +the new ideas and are determined to put them into practice. When they +attempt to do so and meet with opposition, then the slow, quiet, and +peaceful social evolution becomes quick, militant, and violent. Evolution +becomes revolution. Bear in mind, then, that evolution and revolution are +not two separate and distinct things. Still less are they opposites as +some people wrongly believe. Revolution is merely the boiling point of +evolution. Because revolution is evolution at its boiling point you cannot +"make" a real revolution any more than you can hasten the boiling of a tea +kettle. It is the fire underneath that makes it boil: how quickly it will +come to the boiling point will depend on how strong the fire is. The +economic and political conditions of a country are the fire under the +evolutionary pot. The worse the oppression, the greater the +dissatisfaction of the people, the stronger the flame.... But pressure from +above, though hastening revolution, may also cause its failure, because +such a revolution is apt to break out before the evolutionary process has +been sufficiently advanced. Coming prematurely, as it were, it will fizzle +out in mere rebelling; that is, without clear, conscious aim and purpose."4 +The recent riots in Los Angeles are an example of mere rebelling, without +a conscious aim beyond venting anger and looting. The uprising in Chiapas, +Mexico is an example of a much more developed, but still premature, +rebellion. Both of these rebellions were quickly isolated and contained in +the absence of widespread popular support. We must work to build the +functioning parts of a new society, while maintaining a clear vision of our +alternatives. We must not be co-opted by the State on the one hand, nor +recklessly overestimate our support on the other. Through education, +interaction, and example we can work to gradually rid humanity of statism, +nationalism, deprivation, racism, sexism, violence, child and animal abuse, +and all the other evils humanity is afflicted with. But we have to get our +own act together if we expect people to take us seriously. + In the event that the existing order collapses on its own, people +would be free to organize themselves into groups regardless of what the +majority is doing. As long as a group is large enough to be economically +viable and to defend its autonomy, even relatively small groups could set +up new social relations. The issue of violence only arises because of the +ruthless suppression of secessionist movements by the world's governments. + + + + + Q: What if some people really do prefer having a government? + +A: As long as the relationships are strictly voluntary, and not enforced +by poverty or force, it would be hard for anarchists to justify suppressing +any voluntary association, just as it would be difficult to justify +suppressing religions, superstitions or vices. Under what conditions is +the use of force justified? Only in response to the prior use of force. +But governments, by definition, are institutions of coercion and control, +so only if a government supported itself through voluntary donations, or +enforced its will by merely asking for compliance, could it conceivably +function without coercion, in which case it would not really be a +government at all. + "Panarchy" is the name for a society made up of a multitude of +diverse but peacefully coexisting forms of social relations. The theory of +panarchy is that people have different ideas and preferences about how to +organize themselves. Instead of each group trying to achieve the power to +impose its ideas and preferences on everyone, each group organizes itself +and allows other groups to do likewise. One variant even has people +sharing the same geographic space, with each individual acting according to +his or her own conscience, in much the same way that different religions +coexist in societies that allow some religious freedom. The difference +would be the absence of a supreme authority setting rules that all must +obey. Of course this would require everyone to respect the choices of +others, and to refrain from using coercion or violence. Anarchists would +do their thing, and those who wanted to continue to voluntarily submit to a +particular type of government could do so. Why won't the statists allow us +this same freedom today? Panarchy should appeal to everyone, because as it +is now, no one really gets what they want. We all must live under a +mish-mash of strictly enforced rules that come out of battles fought on the +elite turf of the official political process. Panarchy is letting people +"do their own thing". + + + Q: How do you propose to achieve anarchist social relations? + +A: We argue that the proper course for the anarchist movement is to +concentrate its efforts on two tasks: educating the public and organizing +our own social relations here and now as much as possible. Our objective +should not be to overthrow the existing social relations, because those +social relations are not viewed as intolerable by most of the public. We +need to inform people about our ideas and demonstrate to them that +anarchist social relations can actually function. Gustav Landauer +suggested that when people saw functioning villages based on voluntary +cooperation, the public's envy would result in more and more villages being +formed. These voluntary organizations will eventually render the old, +coercive institutions useless, and they will be done away with or rendered +powerless, like the monarchy and the Church have been in the past. By +combining our efforts with other non-statists in a panarchist federation, +we could greatly hasten the pace of non-coercive social change. + + +Q: Is anarchy a goal that can actually be reached, or is it only an ideal +to be approximated? + +A: If you approximate your ideal well enough, eventually you reach your goal. + + +Footnotes + + The quote on the cover is from "Paths in Utopia" by Martin Buber, +p.46, 1988 Collier Books reprint of a book written in 1945 and first +published in English in 1949 by Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd. + 1. "For Socialism" by Gustav Landauer, p. 140, Telos Press, St. +Louis, 1978 (English translation). Originally published in 1911. + 2. "Evolution and Revolution" by Elisee Reclus, p. 16, Kropotkin's +Lighthouse Publications reprint of the 7th edition published by William +Reeves. No dates of publication or reprint given. + 3. "You Can't Blow Up a Social Relationship", p. 20, 1989 See +Sharp Press reprint of a pamphlet originally published by anonymous +Australian anarchists in 1979. + 4. "ABC of Anarchism" also known as "What is Communist Anarchism" +by Alexander Berkman, p. 36-38, 1977 Freedom Press reprint of a book first +published by the Vanguard Press in 1929. + + This pamphlet was published in early 1995. It was drafted by Ed +Stamm, with substantial help from Carl Bettis, Brendan Conley, Ed D'Angelo, +Greg Hall, David King, and Dick Martin, whose excellent suggestions were +usually, but not always, adopted. We borrowed extensively from the ideas +and expressions of many other anarchists and philosophers, living and dead. +Ed Stamm is ultimately responsible for the content and style of this +pamphlet. He would like to thank John Zube for broadening his perspective +by introducing him to the concept of panarchy. + + We request that this pamphlet not be reproduced for commercial purposes. + + This pamphlet is a project of the Affinity Group of Evolutionary +Anarchists, but does not presume to represent the personal opinions of its +members. More information about AGEA can be obtained by sending a +self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Ed Stamm, PO Box 1402, Lawrence KS, +660448402 USA. + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000986.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000986.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0ba72f8c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000986.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3757 @@ +This is an internet translation of the 1952 French film "Howlings in +favour of Sade" by Guy-Ernest Debord. Howlings was Debord's first +film, produced when he was 23 years old. +***Translators note >>> This film involves several periods of silence +during which the screen remains dark. In this internet version, 60 +carriage returns have been inserted for each minute of silence. This +will not consume the intended time for the viewer, but it will present +some sense of scale. +-gregor markowitz (December, 1994) + + + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- +Howlings in favour of Sade 1952 FILM LETTRISTES +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Voice 1 The film by Guy-Ernest Debord, Howlings in favour of Sade... + +Voice 2 Howlings in favour of Sade is dedicated to Gil J Wolman + +Voice 3 Atricle 115. When a person shall have ceased to appear at his + place of abode or home address for four years, and about whom + there has been no news whatsoever, the interested parties + shall be able to petition the lower court in order that his + or her absence be declared. + +Voice 1 Love is only worthwhile in a pre-revolutionary period. + +Voice 2 None of them love you, you liar! Art begins, grows and + disappears because frustrated men bypass the world of official + expression and the festivals of its poverty. + +Voice 4 (young girl) Say, did you sleep with Francoise? + + +Voice 1 What a time! Memorandum for a history of the cinima: + 1902 - Journey to the Moon. + 1920 - The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari. + 1924 - Entr'acte. + 1926 - Battleship Potemkin. + 1928 - Un Chien Andalou. + 1931 - City Lights + 1951 - Birth of Guy-Ernest Debord. + 1952 - The Anti-concept.--Howlings in favour of Sade. + +Voice 5 "Just as the film was about to start, Guy-Ernest Debord would + climb on stage to say a few words by way of introduction. + He'd say simply: 'There's no film. Cinema is dead. There can't + be film any more. If you want, let's have a discussion'." + +Voice 3 Article 516. All property is either movable or immovable. + +Voice 2 In order never to be alone again. + +Voice 1 She is ugliness and beauty. She is like everything that we love + today. + +Voice2 The art of the future will be the overturning of situations or + nothing. + +Voice 3 In the cafes of Saint-Germain-des-Pres! + +Voice 1 You know, I like you very much. + +Voice 3 An important Lettrist commando made up of some thirty members, + all donning the filthy uniform that is their only really + origional trademark, turned up at the Croisette with the firm + desire of indulging in some scandal capable of drawing + attention to themselves. + +Voice 1 Happiness is a new idea in Europe. + +Voice 5 "I only know about the actions of men, but in my eyes men are + transposed, one for the other. In the final analysis, works + alone differentiate us." + +Voice 1 And their revolts became conformisms. + +Voice 3 Article 488. The age of majority is fixed at twenty-one years; + at that age one is capable of all acts of civil life. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Voice 4 (young girl) His memory always rediscovered it, in a flash, as + if burnished by fireworks on contact with water. + +Voice 1 He knew quite well that nothing of his exploits remained in a + town that rotated with the Earth, as the Earth rotated in the + Galaxy, which is itself only a tiny part of a little island + which recedes away from us to infinity. + +Voice 2 All black, eyes closed to the excess of disaster. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Voice 1 A science of situations is to be created, which will borrow + elements from psychology, statistics, urbanism and ethics. + These elements have to run together to an absolutely new + conclusion: the concious creation of situations. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Voice 1 A few lines from a newspaper from 1950: "A leading young radio + actress threw herself into the River Isere, Grenoble. Young + Madeleine Reineri aged twelve and a half, who, under the + psuedonym of Pirouette, used to liven up the radio program + 'Happy Thursdays' on the Alpes-Grenoble station, threw herself + into the Isere on Friday afternoon having placed her satchel + on the river bank." + +Voice 2 My little sister, we are nothing to look at. The Isere and + la misere continue. We are powerless. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Voice 4 (young girl) But no-one's talking about Sade in this film. + +Voice 1 The cold interstellar space, thousands of degrees below + freezing point or absolute zero Fahrenheit or Centigrade; + the first indicators of dawn approaching. The hurried passage + of Jaques Vache through the clouds of war, that catastrophic + haste which destroyed him; the rude lashing of Arthur Craven, + himself swallowed up at that time in the Bay of Mexico... + +Voice 3 Article 1793. When an architect or a businessman is given a + contract for the construction of a building according to a + plan agreed to by the landowner, he cannot demand a higher + price either on account of an increase in the workforce or + materials, or due to any changes or additions made to the + plan, unless such changes, additions or increases have been + authorised in writing, and the price agreed with the landowner. + +Voice 2 The perfection of suicide is ambiguity. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Voice 2 What is a love that's unique? + +Voice 3 I will only answer in the presence of my lawyer. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Voice 1 Order reigns, it doesn't govern. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Voice 2 The first marvel is to come before her without knowing how to + talk to her. The hands of the female prisoners move no faster + than race horses filmed in slow-motion, as they touch her mouth + and her breast. In all innocence the ropes become water and we + flow together towards the day. + +Vioce 4 (young girl) I believe we'll never see each other again. + +Voice 2 Near a kiss, the llights of the winter street will end. + +Voice 4 (young girl) Paris was very nice thanks to the transport + strike. + +Voice 2 Jackk the Ripper was never caught. + +Voice 4 (young girl) It's funny, the telephone. + +Voice 2 What defiant love, as Madame de Segur used to say. + +Voice 4 (young girl) I will tell you some stories from my country which + are very frightening, but they have to be told at night in + order to be frightening. + +Voice 2 My dear Ivich, the Chinese neighborhoods are unfortunately less + populous than you think. You are 15 years old. One day the most + fashionable colours will no longer be worn. + +Voice 4 (young girl) I knew you already. + +Voice 2 The drift of the continents pushes you further apart every day. + The virgin forest has moved less than you. + +Voice 4 (young girl) Guy, another minute and it'll be tommorrow. + +Voice 2 The Demon of Arms. You remember. That's it. Nobody satisfies + us. All the same... The hail on the banners of glass. We will + remember it, that planet. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Voice 2 You will see that they will be famous later! I will never + accept the scandalous and scarcely credible fact if the + existence of a police force. Several cathedrals have been + erected to the memory of Serge Berna. Love is only worthwhile + in a pre-revolutionary period. I made this film while there + was still enough time left to talk about it. Jean-Isidore, in + order to get out of that transient crowd. On Gabriel-Pomerand + Square when we've grown old. The little skivers all had + glorious futures in the school and college systems. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Voice 2 There are still many people that morality makes neither laugh + nor cry. + +Voice 3 Article 489. The adult who is in a constant state of + imbecility, dementia, or mad rage must be detained even + though his state allows for intervals of lucidity. + +Voice 2 So close, so gently, I lose myself in the meaninglessness + of language. I push into you, you're wide open, it's easy. + It's like a hot stream. It's as smooth as a sea of oil. + It's like a forest fire. + +Voice 1 It's cinema! + +Voice 3 The Parisian police force is thirty thousand truncheons strong. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Voice 2 "The poetic worlds close up and forget by themselves." In a + corner ofthe night sailors are making war, and the ships in + bottles are for you who loved them. You lay yourself down on + the beach as hands more loving than the rain, the wind and + the thunder play under your dress every evening. Life is great + in Cannes in the summer. Rape, which is forbidden, becomes + banale in our memories. "When we were on the Shenandoah." + Yes. Of course. + +Voice 1 And these resigned faces, which once bore flashes of desire + like ink splattered on a wall, were like shooting stars. Let + gin, rum and brandy flow like the Great Armada. This for the + funeral oration. But all those people were so commonplace. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Voice 1 We've had a narrow escape. + +Voice 2 The most beautiful is still to come, otherwise death would + taste like a raw steak. And wet hair on the beach which is + too hot and which is our silence. + +Voice 1 But he's a Jew! + +Voice 2 We were ready to blow up all the bridges, but the bridges + let us down. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Voice 1 Young Madeleine Reineri, aged twelve and a half, who under the + psuedonym of Pirouette used to liven up the radio programme + 'Happy Thursday's' on the Alpes-Grenoble station, threw + herself into the Isere. + +Voice 2 Mademoiselle Reineri, in that quater of Europe, you will + always have your surprised face and that body, the best of + promised lands. Like neon light, words repeat their banal + truths. + +Voice 1 I love you. + +Voice 4 (young girl) It must be terrible to die. + +Voice 1 See you. + +Voice 4 (young girl) You drink far too much. + +Voice 1 What are childish love affairs? + +Voice 4 (young girl) I don't know what you're talking about. + +Voice 1 I knew it. And there was a time when I regretted it very much. + +Voice 4 (young girl) Do you want a orange? + +Voice 1 The beautiful tearing apart of the volcanic islands. + +Voice 4 (young girl) In the past. + +Voice 1 I've nothing more to say to you. + +Voice 2 After all the answers at the wrong time, and youth getting + older, night falls again from on high. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Voice 2 We live like lost children, our adventures incomplete. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +The end. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000987.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000987.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..af3c1e53 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000987.txt @@ -0,0 +1,144 @@ + +The following book review will appear in the April 1995 Industrial +Worker: + +Rebellion from the Roots: Indian Uprising in Chiapas, by John +Ross. Common Courage Press, 1994, $14.95. "When. on the +international level," the mysterious Subcomandante Marcos tells +us, "everyone was saying 'no' to armed struggle, the indigenous +farmers of Chiapas were saying "Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes.'" But that +assent to armed struggle was not lightly given, as author John +Ross, an old Mexico hand, assures us. While the Zapatistas may +have burst on the American media scene like the proverbial thunder +clap when they seized San Cristobal de las Casas on New Year's +Day, 1994, this first Third World uprising since the end of the +Cold War had been in the planning stage for over a year, agreed +upon in village after village. Indeed, serious trouble had been +brewing in Chiapas for nearly a decade. Amnesty International, +dismayed by a state penal code that officially sanctions the use +of torture to obtain confessions, had issued its first bulletins +on human rights abuses there in 1985, and the situation was not +improving. But the secret of the rebellion had been well kept. An +old friend of mine and a long-time resident in the area knew +nothing of the gathering storm. In a broader sense, of course, +the trouble in Chiapas dates back to the Spanish conquest, which +saw the Indians deprived of their land and reduced to peonage, a +condition the Mexican revolution against Spain did little to +improve. Throughout the 19th century, periodic Indian uprisings +took place as the natives, driven beyond endurance by the casual +cruelty of their overlords, took up arms. These revolts were put +down with even greater cruelty, but the grievances that gave rise +to them were never properly addressed until the revolution of +1910, when Emiliano Zapata, himself a Nahua Indian, demanded the +return of communal lands taken from the Indians, first by t he +Spaniards and later by Mexico's own ruling elite. He fought one +central government after another for nine years, until he was +treacherously slain at Chinameca in 1919. But the land issue did +not go away. At the heart of this conflict lie two mutually +exclusive concepts of land and its ownership. To the cattle +ranchers and the agribusinessmen who control most of the useful +land, land is a thing P a commodity like any other, to be owned, +bought, sold and exploited by whoever can pay for it. Having at +some time paid somebody something for the land, these +latifundistas recognize no other claims and view any complaints as +a demand for the expropriation of their lawfully acquired goods. +But to the Indians land is community property, not owned or even +ownable by any one person, and it cannot be bought or sold P only +properly used. Any individual attempting to buy or sell this +community property is a dangerous fool, and anyone who asserts he +has acquired this land for himself is a criminal. Article 27 of +the Mexican Constitution of 1917, as Ross relates, made an attempt +to redress this balance, recognize inalienable community property, +and provide for some redistribution of obviously stolen lands. The +opposition of the great landowners was formidable and there were +frequent land takeovers by the exasperated Indians, sometimes +ending in bloody clashes with the police and military. But +progress, slow everywhere, was nearly invisible in Chiapas, where +the Indians were driven farther and farther into the Lacandon +jungle in a land that produces one half of Mexico's electricity +but has electric light in only one third of its homes. The 1989 +collapse of the coffee market replaced grinding poverty with +abject misery. In 1992, Mexican President Salinas and his ruling +Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) pushed through a change in +Article 27 which provided for up to 40 years imprisonment for +anyone illegally occupying private land. 1994 was to bring NAFTA +and a flood of cheap American corn into Chiapas, spelling the end +for the small farmers and making their lands ripe for takeover by +the vast landed estates. The Indians of Chiapas decided they'd had +"Enough already!" or, as they inscribed on their banners, "ABasta +ya!" In describing the background and aftermath of the fighting a +year ago, Ross provides an invaluable guide through a veritable +alphabet soup of governmental and non-governmental agencies, +foreign and domestic, that became involved in Chiapas either in +conducting the war or trying to broker a peace. He does a fine job +of introducing the reader to a cast of characters ranging from the +Roman Catholic "red" Bishop Ruiz, still officially thought to be +the brains behind the uprising (as if the Indians were too stupid +to plan the rebellion themselves), to General Absalon Castellano +Dominguez, one of the more odious latifundistas, and on through +the masked Subcomandante Marcos against a political backdrop +resembling more than or Ancient Rome than a modern republic. To +his credit, Ross resists speculating at length on the identity of +the subcomandante but is quick to note the foolishness of the +government and the media in attempting to learn who is behind the +ski mask and manufacturing a modern myth in the process, making +the bandanna and the ski mask national symbols of dissent. If +there is any point at which Ross's narrative wanders, it is in the +chapter devoted tot he assassination of the PRI's Presidential +Candidate, Luis Colosio, in March of 1994. While the story is +fascinating, and Ross's investigative work is as good as could be +done in a country where freedom of the press is far from secure, +he is not able to connect the murder to the Chiapas situation by +any but the thinnest speculative threads. When he returns to the +jungle of Chiapas, however, Ross is obviously at home with his +subject and the concerns of those beyond its borders. He points +out that the Zapatistas are basically reformist in that they do +not seek to overthrow the government and take state power. Their +revolution is not modeled on Lenin's nor Mao's nor Ho Chi Minh's. +but on that of Zapata who sought not power but agricultural reform +and justice. "For everyone, everything," their motto proclaims, +"for us, nothing." Women, Ross informs us, make up about a third +of the guerrilla forces and many of the Zapatista senior officers, +and are treated with absolute equality. Among these young +warriors, romance is widespread, but contraception is virtually +mandatory since no one can be "indisposed" when there is fighting +to be done. Even the environment is to be spared in the Zapatista +program. Water pollution is to cease and deforested lands are to +be replanted. As this review is being written, the Mexican +government has opted once more for a military "solution" to what +is essentially a political problem. Mexican President Ernesto +Zedillo is now "standing tall," apparently having decided that the +latest collapse of the peso has made it financially impossible to +fulfill the commitments made to the rebels at the Cathedral +Conference in San Cristobal last year. The Zapatistas are once +again "transgressors" under the spell of the "red" bishop and +"outside agitators" from Guatemala and other mysterious lands +beyond the border. Now only punishment awaits them if they do not +give up their arms, surrender their leaders and throw themselves +on the mercy of the government. This posturing has played very +well with Mexico's rulers and with capitalist circles in the +United States, although those who still dream of democracy and +peace in that country have been less favorably impressed. But +President Zedillo would do well to read Ross's book before he +commits an army that has not fought a serious opponent in 75 years +and is made up largely of Indians to a protracted Vietnam-style +conflict with fairly well armed and very well-led fellow Indians +who have an excellent grasp of modern media and are fighting on +their own jungle turf for a cause they deeply believe in and are +ready to die for. The Mexican military has already barred the +press from the are and begun issuing triumphal bulletins. But the +real situation remains obscure at best, and the war, like the +insurgencies in Guatemala and El Salvador, could go on for years, +if not decades. There will undoubtedly be more news from Chiapas, +as casualties on both sides mount, and hapless civilians are slain +by the score. Rebellion from the Roots is ideal background for +understanding the reports coming from this desperate land. John +Gorman + +DO NOT REPRINT WITHOUT PERMISSION + +Subscriptions to the Industrial Worker are $15 per year. Write: +Industrial Workers of the World, 103 West Michigan Avenue, +Ypsilanti MI 48197 USA (313/483-3548). Industrial Worker bundles +are available at reasonable rates. Ask for details. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000988.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000988.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b99379e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000988.txt @@ -0,0 +1,353 @@ + CRIMINAL INJUSTICE + CRIME BILL + CRACKS DOWN ON DISSENT IN THE U.K. + + by Sarah Ferguson + + Last December, the United Kingdom's + Tory government passed the + Criminal Justice Act, + one of the most repressive measures + in recent British history. + Besides cracking down on squatters, + New Age travellers and ravers, + the CJA bans most forms of protest + and strips away the defendant's right + to silence. + Now housewives and schoolchildren + are joining vegans and crusty punks at + the barricades to challenge the law. + +LONDON -- "It's best to do it in pairs, or with cameras around. Otherwise +they'll torture you till they get you out," says Allison, a soft-spoken +22-year-old squatter with paint-splattered dreads. A veteran anti-roads +protestor, Allison was explaining the mechanics behind the "sleeping +dragon"--one of the many tactics that she and 350 other demonstrators used +to stave off police and wrecking crews during the 4 1/2-day siege on +Claremont Road in east London last December. + +For weeks, protestors had strategized to defend the block of 35 squatted +houses--declared the Independent Free Area of Claremont-- that was slated +for demolition to make way for a 3 1/2 mile extension of the M-11 link road. +They filled the ground floors with rubble, concealing an underground network +of tunnels and bunkers, where some buried themselves to create a living +barrier against the bulldozers. They built fortified treehouses and erected +a 100-foot scaffolding tower, then welded themselves inside a metal cage at +the top. They flung themselves on cargo netting strung up between houses and +nearby trees, dangling 20 feet in the air to escape the reach of bailiffs +sent to the rooftops to arrest them. + +And several, like Allison, cemented their arms into the road using "sleeping +dragons"--steel tubes embedded in concrete. Each tube has a metal rod in the +center so the protestor can slide her arm inside and clip on with a +carabiner (a hiking clip). "It's good to mix scrap metal in the concrete, so +they have to use both hacksaws and a jackhammer to cut you out," Allison +advises. Unless, of course, the cops resort to simple coercion. "They try to +wait till no one's looking then yank your arms. It can get pretty painful," +she added standing in the cluttered front room of the squatted flat that was +temporary headquarters of the anti-road campaign. On the wall behind her, +amid a flurry of newspaper clipping and fliers, a slogan was scrawled in +green magic marker: "The State will Wither As Green Rage Emerges" + +It took more than 700 riot police, 200 bailiffs, and hundred of private +security guards to evict the Claremont campaigners, at a cost of over 2 +million--the most expensive and lengthy eviction of squatter in post-war +British history. There were 47 arrests and several injuries as police tore +into the netting and dumped piles of rubble and urine down the bunker holes. +And it wasn't just hardened crusties and eco-savvy hippies at the +frontlines. Local housewives, high school and college students, a record +producer, even 93-year-old Dolly Watson, born and raised in one of the +homes, all took part in the campaign--outraged at the government's plan to +tear up a community for the sake of shortening the commute time to London by +seven minutes. + +The Battle of Claremont reflects the mounting opposition to the government's +20 billion road-building scheme, which would ultimately put a fifth of +Britain under tarmac. But it's also testament to the increasingly +militant--albeit non-violent--protest culture that has arisen with the +passage of the Criminal Justice Act last December. When it was first +proposed, Home Secretary Michael Howard touted the CJA as a "comprehensive +program of action against crime" that would restore social order to the +countryside. In fact, by taking on travellers, ravers, squatters, and +virtually all forms of protest, the government has unwittingly united a wide +range of single-issue groups into a growing movement of direct-action style +dissidents who feel increasingly emboldened to challenge the law. + +"This is pretty much a revolution going on. A non-violent revolution," says +Stevidge, a member of the Freedom Network, a broad coalition of activist +groups which formed last year to combat the CJA. One of the chief proponents +of DIY (Do It Yourself) culture, the network encompasses squatters, +environmentalists, housing and animal rights groups, even soccer fans--all +united under the credo "Deeds Not Words." "Everyone is doing what they can +to push the law, bend the law," Stevidge says. "They're rebelling all over +the place. But they've learned, this time--they're doing it a la Martin +Luther King or Gandhi." + +Last summer, as the law was being debated in Parliament, tens of thousands +of protesters took to the streets in a series of mass demos that rivalled +the popular uprisings against the Poll Tax in 1989. Protesters clashed with +police in Hyde Park, overtook Trafalgar Square with bicycle-powered sound +systems, and scaled the walls of Parliament. Since then, there have been a +series of mass trespasses at the homes of conservative ministers--including +the country estate of Prime Minister John Major. + +These mass actions were aimed at challenging the "public order" provisions +of the law which give the police vast discretionary powers to thwart +protest. The CJA creates a whole new category of offense called "trespassory +assemblies," which allows police to ban gatherings on both public and +private land which they "reasonably believe" might cause serious disruption. +Anyone that the police "reasonably believe" might be heading to such an +assembly can be turned away under threat of a three-month jail term or a +2,500 pound fine. In addition, individuals who go on land with the perceived +intention of intimidating others or disrupting lawful activity can be +arrested for "aggravated trespass." + +The government claims these provisions are aimed primarily at ravers who +take over empty property for all-night electro-pop bacchanals and hunt +saboteurs--animal rights crusaders who disrupt fox and hare hunting parties. +In fact, the CJA can be applied to a wide range of peaceful protests, +including trade union pickets, road actions, and anti-nuke demos. "In +effect, it criminalizes most forms of legitimate dissent," says Andrew +Puddephat, general secretary of Liberty, a civil rights lobby. + +During the mid-80s, the Thatcher government used very similar public order +laws to cripple the massive miners' strike by setting up road blocks and +arresting labor leaders. Courts later ruled that the government had acted +illegally. But now, police are allowed to stop and search persons and +vehicles if they reasonably suspect that "incidents involving serious +violence may take place" in a certain area--regardless of whether they +believe the persons intend to take part in such incidents. + +The CJA also explicitly targets raves, defined by the Act as 100 or more +people playing amplified music characterized by a "succession of repetitive +beats." If police suspect that as few as ten or more people are preparing to +set up a rave, they can be ordered to disperse and have their vehicles and +sound systems seized. Cars and individuals suspected of heading for a rave +can be turned back for up to five miles. Refusal to comply can bring up to +three months in prison or a 2,500--even if the event has full permission of +the landowner. As if to dampen the party mood even further, the CJA also +quintuples the fine for simple possession of marijuana and amphetamines, +from 500 pounds to 2,500 pounds. + +The rave crackdown may reflect more than just noise complaints. A report +released last year by the Henley Centre, a private think tank, estimated +that 1.8 million of young peoples' drinking money was being diverted +annually to raves--presumably for more than just vitamin-jolted smart-food +drinks. And Britain's giant brewing companies have long been some of the +Conservative Party's most generous financial donors. + +The restrictions on gathering and protest are part of an overall attack on +all forms of counterculture--anyone who bucks the nine-to-five role. Critics +say the CJA is tantamount to "cultural cleansing." Perhaps the most +dramatically affected by the law are gypsies and New Age Travellers, who +roam the country in vans and buses, working the land and setting up free +festivals. The CJA revokes the 1968 Caravan Sites Act, which required +localities to set aside sites with facilities to accommodate Romany gypsies +and Celtic tinkers. Now police can throw any gathering of six or more +vehicles off the land--even common or public land--and arrest the owners if +they don't comply. Smaller gatherings may also be evicted if "damage" (by +the cops' estimation) is done to the land. Police may also impound the +travellers' vehicles--confiscating or even destroying the travellers' homes +along with all their possessions and means of support. + +"There's been a constant trend of eviction," says Steve Staines, founder of +the Friends, Families, and Travellers' Support Group. "We get routine +reports that certain police forces are using the powers extensively." Last +year, as the passage of the CJA approached, attacks on travellers by both +police and local vigilantes, sometimes acting in concert, increased. +Travellers have had their homes petrol-bombed and blasted with shotguns, and +had their dogs maimed or blinded by angry farmers. With free festivals all +but banned, this itinerant culture is losing its economic livelihood. +Thousands of travellers have already migrated to Ireland, southern France, +Spain, and Portugal. Others are seeking housing or moving back into +squats--although there's not much security there. + +The CJA ends what had been a relatively tolerant policy towards the +estimated fifty thousand people living in abandoned and unauthorized +property in the UK. It's still actually legal in Britain to squat properties +not in use. But now, landlords may gain an eviction order without squatters +even knowing about the case; if the squatters don't disperse within 24 +hours, they may be jailed for up to six months. In addition, the CJA +authorizes owners and bailiffs to use "violent entry" to displace squatters. +Housing advocates fear the law will be used by unscrupulous landlords +against legal tenants and subletters, noting that the tenants will not be +allowed to present their side in court until after they are evicted. + +Taken as a whole, the CJA makes a profound attack on the notion of public +space. Stevidge of the Freedom Network compares it to the Enclosure Acts of +the 1760s, which forced the peasants off the common lands that they had +farmed for centuries, rendering them disenfranchised paupers. "From the +moment the bill became law, almost completely it became illegal to be +anywhere that you don't own or rent --even if you had permission to be +there." + +Just how draconian the CJA will be depends on largely on how police choose +to enforce it. As the Shadow goes to press, police guidelines for enacting +some of the new provisions have yet to be put in place. As of June, there +have been 296 arrests, mostly of hunt saboteurs. (151 hunt sabs, 50 +anti-roads protestors, 25 environmentalists, 11 travellers, 11 +tree-defenders, 3 animal rights campaigners, and surprisingly, 45 soccer +fans nabbed under the new rave restrictions.) Still, at many protests, +authorities have seemed reluctant to implement the new regs for fear of +exciting further unrest. This year, over 1000 people have been arrested +during protests against the export of live calves. But instead of busting +demonstrators under the CJA regs, police have charged the animal rights +campaigners using an older public order act. "I think it's because so many +of the animal rights people are middle class. It would make the [CJA] too +controversial," comments George of Justice, an anti-CJA clearinghouse in +Brighton. + +"A lot of the traveller sites and squats are starting to get evicted, but +the police are mostly going through the old laws--which just means they have +to go to court to get people out," George adds. In some parts of the +country, police forces have complained that they have neither the money nor +the manpower to take on such wide-ranging powers. Others have found its +easier to simply harass squatters and travellers than to actually arrest +them. + +That's likely to change this summer, warns Camilla Berens, a former Fleet +Street journalist who's now editor of POD, a pro-active journal of DIY +culture. "Police forces are waiting for the summer months to organize big +mobilizations to stop travellers, stop parties, stop squatters," Berens +says. "It's going to get very nasty in some areas, but the good things will +outweigh the bad. The spirit is so strong." + +Her prediction is echoed by Chief Constable David Wilmot of the Association +of Chief Police Officers, who warned in a recent article in the Police +Review Journal that "Unless the social problems which underpin the traveller +phenomena are tackled, the police and public could be caught yearly in a +summer pincer movement of urban and rural violence." + +The expanded police powers are particularly ominous given the CJA's +concerted attack on the rights of the accused. Under the CJA, the +defendant's right to silence would essentially be eliminated, allowing +judges and juries to infer guilt if a suspect declines to talk. Previously, +arresting officers were required to warn suspects "you do not have to say +anything unless you wish to do so, but what you say may be given in +evidence"--much like the Miranda rules in the U.S. Now, officers would no +longer be required to inform suspects of their right to silence. instead, +they would be warned that their refusal to talk could be used against them +in court. + +The CJA also extends police powers to forcibly take DNA samples from +suspects arrested for both violent and non-violent crimes, regardless of +whether the samples are needed to investigate the crime. Previously, police +were empowered to take so-called "intimate samples"-- blood, semen, urine, +pubic hair--only when investigating serious offenses such as murder or rape. +Now, persons charged with offenses as minor as shoplifting or resisting +arrest can have hairs plucked from their head or a swab of saliva taken from +their mouth, without consent. (The CJA also restricts a person's right to +have their fingerprints or samples destroyed, even if they are never charged +with or convicted of the offense.) + +The stated aim behind the expansion in DNA sampling is the creation of the +world's first national database of DNA profiles. In November, the government +announced that it was allocating 1 billion for a new police computer system +that would cross-reference DNA samples with criminal records. Authorities +expect to take 140,000 samples over the next year alone. + +Many will undoubtedly come from demonstrators. With the end of the Cold War +and the IRA ceasefire, British intelligence is increasingly using computer +surveillance to target domestic dissent. Last summer, the government +initiated Operation Snapshot to monitor and record the movements and +personal data of travellers and festival organizers. Since then, Scotland +Yard has directed the Special Branch--the agency responsible for gathering +intelligence on threats to nation security--to assemble computerized files +on activists--including animal rights groups, "environmental terrorists," +and members of the Freedom Network. + +The increase in surveillance and restrictions on right to silence have +provoked a storm of opposition from top magistrates and the leading law +societies. But like the Democrats in the U.S. with Clinton's Crime Bill, the +British Labor Party did not actively oppose the CJA for fear of seeming +"soft on crime." While a few progressive members campaigned against the +bill, the leadership chose to abstain. + +Liberty's Puddephat believes the CJA marks a trend in "punishment culture, +spreading from the U.S. to Britain and propelled by what he calls a "market +approach to crime." "Increasingly the crime debate is being shaped by the +interests of those who have something to sell in that environment--police, +the security industry, the media, etc." He points out that in Britain, just +as in the U.S., the expansion of police and judicial powers is coupled with +a move to privatize prisons. + +The CJA authorizes private firms to design and manage prisons, including new +"youth training centres" for juvenile offenders. The CJA also permits the +use of privately-run prison ships and allows the Home Secretary to declare +any building a prison if necessary. + +This trend toward for-profit incarceration goes along with a growing +tendency by the government to employ private security guards to police +demonstrations--particularly anti-road demos. The government has also begun +contracting private detective to identify activists so that the state can +bring criminal charges or sue for damages. The Department of Transport spent +over 400,000 on private detectives at Claremont Road alone. + +Underlying the CJA is a fundamental effort by the Tory Party to reassert +tradition values as a palliative to social unrest. Although the Tories like +to paint themselves as the party of law and order, they've presided over the +biggest increase in crime in this century. The addition of the CJA powers +has only polarized the public further. The clampdown on squatting and +travelling comes at a time of rising homelessness in Britain--particularly +among young people, who can no longer receive government assistance if +they're under 18 and leave home or drop out of school. The Tories are also +seeking to gut the Homeless Person's Act, which requires localities to +provide housing to homeless people. Worse still, new regs introduced by the +Department of Social Services would allow the government to deny public +assistance to anyone with "disheveled hair and clothing" or "the appearance +of an alternative lifestyle" (e.g. dreadlocks and piercings). + +"The Tories have made such a mess of the economy, they're trying to find a +common enemy. So they're focusing on travellers, squatters, ravers--those +people who represent an alternative lifestyle, " says Mark Chadwick, lead +singer of the Levellers, a rock group that takes its name from the 17th +century rebels who advocated the abolition of all private property in +Britain. + +But now, the government's scapegoats are biting back. Over the spring, the +country was rocked by increasingly violent protests by animal rights groups +intent on blocking the transport of live calves to Europe. Police are now +calling groups like the Animal Liberation Front the biggest threat to +security on the mainland since IRA laid down arms. And while the government +likes to portray the activists as "eco-terrorists" and "professional +agitators," many school governors and old age pensioners have also taken +part in the blockades. + +Now, instead of big demos against the CJA, activists have spread out to a +multitude of causes. There's a growing land rights campaign--last April, +several hundred people took part in a week-long campout to protest the +privatization of public lands. In May, 300 occupied the sacred stones of +Stonehenge to challenge the public restrictions on the site. In addition, +bicyclists have mobilized a burgeoning "Reclaim the Streets" movement to +protest "car culture." Bikers in cities across the country are orchestrating +"critical mass" bike rides--despite the angry response of motorists, who +have already smashed several bikes. (One in 7 kids in the U.K. suffers from +asthma, yet most of the country's cars still run on lead fuel.) + +"What we're really addressing is our social and environmental +decline--because they go hand in hand," says Berens. "There's no point in +pinning your hopes on any political party. Just focus on what's causing you +the most anger and take direct action, because that's the only way we're +going to get change. We've got nothing to lose." + +It's almost as if the government set out to give Britain's disparate +subcultures a cause to unite behind. What's significant is how the young +protestors have been able to transform their disenfranchisement into a +defiant, yet surprisingly celebratory resistance movement. Ross is a 24-year +old Scot who's been squatting and living on the road since his parents +kicked him out of the house when he was 16. "A few years ago, everybody was +just hanging out getting out of their heads," he told me, warming his hands +by a fire at an abandoned dairy where he and the other Claremont Road +demonstrators had retreated after the eviction. "Now everybody's getting +together and fighting. It's good. We've become one big family." + +A brawny kid with a tousle of ratty dreads sprouting from the top of his +shaved head, Ross seemed an unlikely convert to the ranks of non-violent +road protestors--or "fluffies," as the more militant punks like to call +them. While he defends those protestors who hurled bricks at police last +summer as acting in self-defense, he emphasizes something different. "We've +got to fight 'em," he says. "But it's got to be peaceful. Any other way and +you wind up with what they've got. And we don't want what they've got. They +want what we've got..." And what's that? I asked him. He paused, then +flashed me a gap-toothed smile. "Love." + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000989.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000989.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..49e9ab25 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000989.txt @@ -0,0 +1,265 @@ +McLibel Support Campaign +5 Caledonian Road +London N1 9DX UK +Tel/Fax +44-171-713 1269 + +A Year of Great McQuotes from the Witness Box + +McDonald's witnesses have often said ridiculous things in the +witness box in a vain attempt to conceal the truth or justify the +way McDonald's operates and the effect those operations have in +this country and around the world. Here is just a small +selection: + +NUTRITION AND ILL-HEALTH + +The Defendants asked Dr Sydney Arnott (McDonald's expert on +cancer) his opinion of the following statement: "A diet high in +fat, sugar, animal products and salt and low in fibre, vitamins +and minerals is linked with cancer of the breast and bowel and +heart disease". He replied: "If it is being directed to the +public then I would say it is a very reasonable thing to say." +The court was then informed that the statement was an extract from +the London Greenpeace Factsheet. This section had been +characterised by McDonald's lawyer at pre-trial hearings as the +central and most "defamatory" allegation, which if proven would be +the "kiss of death" for a fast-food company like McDonald's. On +the strength of the supposed scientific complexities surrounding +this issue the Defendants had been denied their right to a jury. + + +David Green, Senior Vice-President of Marketing (USA), stated +'McDonald's food is nutritious' and 'healthy'. When asked what +the company meant by 'nutritious' he said: 'provides nutrients and +can be a part of a healthy balanced diet'. He admitted this could +also apply to a packet of sweets [candy]. When asked if Coca Cola +is 'nutritious' he replied that it is 'providing water, and I +think that is part of a balanced diet'. He agreed that by his +definition Coke is nutritious. + +When asked to define 'junk food', Professor Wheelock (McDonald's +consultant on nutrition) said it was 'whatever a person doesn't +like' (in his case semolina). With disbelief mounting in the +courtroom, Richard Rampton (McDonald's QC) intervened to say that +McDonald's was not objecting to the description of their food as +'junk food'! + +Peter Cox, (a Defence marketing expert) quoted from 'Behind the +Arches', a book authorised by McDonald's in 1987, as evidence that +McDonald's were engaged in 'a strategy of subversion' by trying to +alter the dietary preferences of whole nations, 'very often for +the worse'. The book states that, in Japan, McDonald's faced "a +fundamental challenge of establishing beef as a common food". +Their President, Den Fujita, said "the reason Japanese people are +so short and have yellow skins is because they have eaten nothing +but fish and rice for two thousand years"; "if we eat McDonald's +hamburgers and potatoes for a thousand years we will become +taller, our skin become white and our hair blonde". + +McDonald's began a major advertising campaign in the USA in 1987 +which aimed "to neutralise the junk food misconceptions about +McDonald's good food". An internal company memo, reporting on a +high level meeting in March 1986 with public relations advisors +prior to the advertising campaign, was read out in court. It +states "McDonald's should attempt to deflect the basic negative +thrust of our critics.....How do we do this? By talking +'moderation and balance'. We can't really address or defend +nutrition. We don't sell nutrition and people don't come to +McDonald's for nutrition". + +The Effects of Advertising + +Incredibly, Paul Preston (McDonald's UK President) claimed that +the character Ronald McDonald is intended not to "sell food" to +children, but to promote the "McDonald's experience". But an +extract from the corporation's official and confidential +'Operations Manual' was read out: "Ronald loves McDonald's and +McDonald's food. And so do children, because they love Ronald. +Remember, children exert a phenomenal influence when it comes to +restaurant selection. This means you should do everything you can +to appeal to children's love for Ronald and McDonald's." +McDonald's annual advertising and promotions budget is $1.4 +billion. It was revealed in court that Geoffrey Guiliano, a +Ronald McDonald actor in the 1980's, had quit and publicly +apologised, stating "I brainwashed youngsters into doing wrong. I +want to say sorry to children everywhere for selling out to +concerns who make millions by murdering animals". + +The Effects of Packaging on the Environment + +McDonald's distributed 'McFact' cards nationwide for several years +publicising a scheme to recycle polystyrene waste from stores in +Nottingham, where customers were asked to put polystyrene +packaging into a separate bin, "for recycling into such things as +plant pots and coat hangers". Ed Oakley (Chief Purchasing Officer +for McDonald's UK) admitted that the company had not recycled any +of the waste and in fact the polystyrene was "dumped". + +Paul Preston, McDonald's UK President, said that if one million +customers each bought a soft drink, he would not expect more than +150 cups to end up as litter. Photographs were then put to him, +showing 27 pieces of McDonald's litter in one stretch of pavement +alone (the company has over 600 stores in the UK and serves over a +million customers each day). + +In some countries the company has abandoned or limited the use of +polystyrene packaging, in part because it is not biodegradable and +takes up a lot of space in landfill sites. Ed Oakley (McDonald's +UK) stated that there is "no landfill problem in the UK". +Questioned as to whether he believes that "as long as there is +room in the dumps, there is no problem with dumping lots of +McDonald's waste in the ground?" Mr Oakley said "and everybody +else's waste, yes, that is true". He said "I can see [the dumping +of waste] to be a benefit, otherwise you will end up with lots of +vast, empty gravel pits all over the country." Asked if he was +"asserting it is an environmental benefit to dump waste in +landfill sites" he stated "It could be"...."yes, it is certainly +not a problem". + +Destruction of Rainforests + +Internal company documents, mistakenly disclosed to the +Defendants, were read to the court in which McDonald's admitted +the purchase in the UK in 1983/4 of beef imported from Brazil, a +rainforest country. A letter from the McDonald's Corporation to a +member of the public in the UK in 1982 stated "we can assure you +that the only Brazilian beef used by McDonald's is that purchased +by the six stores located in Brazil itself". Ed Oakley (Chief +Purchasing Officer for McDonald's UK) denied that the purchase of +Brazilian beef for use in the UK was in breach of McDonald's +policy of not using beef which originated outside the European +Union, saying "No, it was not. We still bought the hamburgers +locally. We did not buy the ingredients locally". + +David Walker (the Chairman of McKey Foods, the sole supplier of +McDonald's UK hamburgers) admitted that he had personally +organised the direct import of the consignments of Brazilian beef +for McDonald's UK stores in 1983/4. A letter from Mr Walker at +the time was quoted in court. It revealed that the imports were a +matter of great controversy. The letter stated that Prince +Philip, the President of the World Wildlife Fund, had recently met +George Cohon, President of McDonald's Canada, and had said: " 'So +you are the people who are tearing down the Brazilian rainforests +and breeding cattle' to which the reply was: 'I think you are +mistaken', whereupon HRH said 'Rubbish' and stormed away". +Following this, the letter stated that Fred Turner, the Chairman +of the McDonald's Corporation, "issued a worldwide edict that no +McDonald's plant was to use Brazilian beef". The same letter +revealed that McDonald's UK had given Walker permission to use the +Brazilian beef imports. + +McDonald's claim that they do not use beef from cattle reared on +recently deforested land. However, in his statement (which has +been read out during the Trial, Ray Cesca (Director of Global +Purchasing of the McDonald's Corporation) admits that when they +opened stores in Costa Rica in 1970, they were using beef from +cattle raised on ex-rainforest land, deforested in the 1950's and +1960's. In other words, some of it had been cleared less than 10 +years earlier. McDonald's own definition of 'recently deforested' +is unclear and seems to fluctuate between 10 and 25 years or "from +the time that we arrive...in a country" (Gomez Gonzales, +International Meat Purchasing Manager of the McDonald's +Corporation). + +McDonald's claim that they only use US-produced beef in the USA. +However, during the Trial an extract from the TV documentary +'Jungleburger' was shown, in which McDonald's beef suppliers in +Costa Rica stated that they also supplied beef for use by +McDonald's in the USA. + +Employees and Trade Unions + +Robert Beavers (Senior Vice-President of the US Corporation) +agreed that in the early 70's, when trade unions were trying to +organise in McDonald's in the US, the company set up a "flying +squad" of experienced managers who were despatched to a store the +same day that word came in of an attempt by workers to unionise +it. Unions made no headway. + +Sid Nicholson, McDonald's UK Vice President, admitted that +McDonald's set their starting rates for crew employees for most of +the country "consistently either exactly the same as the minimum +rates of pay set by the Wages Council or just a few pence over +them". He agreed that for crew aged 21 or over the company +"couldn't actually pay any lower wages without falling foul of the +law". However, he said "I do not accept that McDonald's crew are +low paid". + +Mr Nicholson said the company was not anti-union and all staff had +a right to join one. Under questioning he admitted that any +McDonald's workers interested in union membership "would not be +allowed to collect subscriptions...put up notices...pass out any +leaflets...to organise a meeting for staff to discuss conditions +at the store on the premises...or to inform the union about +conditions inside the stores" (which would be deemed 'Gross +Misconduct' and as such a 'summary sackable offence'). In fact, +Mr Nicholson agreed, "they would not be allowed to carry out any +overt union activity on McDonald's premises". + +Jill Barnes, McDonald's UK Hygiene and Safety Officer, was +challenged over a previously confidential internal report into the +death by electrocution of Mark Hopkins in a Manchester store on +October 12th 1992. It had catalogued a number of company failures +and problems, and had made the damning conclusion: "Safety is not +seen as being important at store level". In addition, a Health & +Safety Executive report of 1992 concluded: "the application of +McDonald's hustle policy [ie. getting staff to work at speed] in +many restaurants was, in effect, putting the service of the +customer before the safety of employees". + +Animal Welfare + +Dr Neville Gregory (McDonald's expert witness) said McDonald's egg +suppliers keep chickens in battery cages, 5 chickens to a cage +with less than the size of an A4 sheet of paper per bird and with +no freedom of movement and no access to fresh air or sunshine. Ed +Oakley of McDonald's said the company had thought about switching +to free range eggs, but, not only are battery eggs "50% cheaper", +but, he claimed "hens kept in batteries are better cared for". He +said he thinks battery cages are "pretty comfortable"! + +Ed Oakley (Chief Purchasing Officer for McDonald's UK) claimed +that the company "had a very real feeling that animals should be +kept and slaughtered in the most humane way possible" and so had +published an animal welfare statement two years ago. When +questioned about this so-called policy Mr Oakley admitted that the +"animal welfare policy is, in fact, just a policy to comply with +the laws of the various countries in which McDonald's operate", +and added "we do not go beyond what the law stipulates". + +Food Safety + +A UK 'McFact' card states: "every consignment of beef arriving at +the [McKeys] meat plant is subject to a total of 36 quality +control checks, carried out by a team of qualified technologists. +If a consignment should fail on any one check, it will be rejected +by McDonald's." All the raw beef consignments are +microbiologically tested, and categorised as 'satisfactory', +'passable', and 'unsatisfactory'. David Walker (Chairman of +McKeys, the sole supplier of the company's UK hamburgers) stated +that 'unsatisfactory' relates to beef which has a total colony of +more than 10 million bacteria per gram. He then admitted that +such consignments are, in fact, not rejected and are used for +McDonald's burgers. + +McDonald's have refused to call their own expert witness on food +poisoning, Colin Clarke, who prepared a detailed report following +a visit he made to three company stores. The court heard that, +regarding the cooking of hamburgers (which he had tested), Mr +Clark in his statement "recommends that 73 deg C be the internal +minimum temperature of the final product, and that their +temperatures were not reaching that in all cases. The minimum +was, in fact, 70 deg C." + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +U.S. McLibel Support Campaign Press Office +PO Box 62 Phone/Fax 802-586-9628 +Craftsbury VT 05826-0062 Email dbriars@world.std.com +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +To subscribe to the "mclibel" listserve, send email + + To: majordomo@world.std.com +Subject: + Body: subscribe mclibel + +To unsubscribe, change the body to "unsubscribe mclibel" diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000991.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000991.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..89646e9b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000991.txt @@ -0,0 +1,142 @@ +Extract from PGP documentation +------------------------------ + + + + + Phil's Pretty Good Software + Presents + + ======= + PGP(tm) + ======= + + Pretty Good(tm) Privacy + Public Key Encryption for the Masses + + + -------------------------- + PGP(tm) User's Guide + Volume I: Essential Topics + -------------------------- + by Philip Zimmermann + Revised 11 October 94 + + + PGP Version 2.6.2 - 11 Oct 94 + Software by + Philip Zimmermann, and many others. + + + + +Synopsis: PGP(tm) uses public-key encryption to protect E-mail and +data files. Communicate securely with people you've never met, with +no secure channels needed for prior exchange of keys. PGP is well +featured and fast, with sophisticated key management, digital +signatures, data compression, and good ergonomic design. + + +Why Do You Need PGP? +==================== + +It's personal. It's private. And it's no one's business but yours. +You may be planning a political campaign, discussing your taxes, or +having an illicit affair. Or you may be doing something that you +feel shouldn't be illegal, but is. Whatever it is, you don't want +your private electronic mail (E-mail) or confidential documents read +by anyone else. There's nothing wrong with asserting your privacy. +Privacy is as apple-pie as the Constitution. + +Perhaps you think your E-mail is legitimate enough that encryption is +unwarranted. If you really are a law-abiding citizen with nothing to +hide, then why don't you always send your paper mail on postcards? +Why not submit to drug testing on demand? Why require a warrant for +police searches of your house? Are you trying to hide something? +You must be a subversive or a drug dealer if you hide your mail +inside envelopes. Or maybe a paranoid nut. Do law-abiding citizens +have any need to encrypt their E-mail? + +What if everyone believed that law-abiding citizens should use +postcards for their mail? If some brave soul tried to assert his +privacy by using an envelope for his mail, it would draw suspicion. +Perhaps the authorities would open his mail to see what he's hiding. +Fortunately, we don't live in that kind of world, because everyone +protects most of their mail with envelopes. So no one draws suspicion +by asserting their privacy with an envelope. There's safety in +numbers. Analogously, it would be nice if everyone routinely used +encryption for all their E-mail, innocent or not, so that no one drew +suspicion by asserting their E-mail privacy with encryption. Think +of it as a form of solidarity. + +Today, if the Government wants to violate the privacy of ordinary +citizens, it has to expend a certain amount of expense and labor to +intercept and steam open and read paper mail, and listen to and +possibly transcribe spoken telephone conversation. This kind of +labor-intensive monitoring is not practical on a large scale. This +is only done in important cases when it seems worthwhile. + +More and more of our private communications are being routed through +electronic channels. Electronic mail is gradually replacing +conventional paper mail. E-mail messages are just too easy to +intercept and scan for interesting keywords. This can be done +easily, routinely, automatically, and undetectably on a grand scale. +International cablegrams are already scanned this way on a large +scale by the NSA. + +We are moving toward a future when the nation will be crisscrossed +with high capacity fiber optic data networks linking together all our +increasingly ubiquitous personal computers. E-mail will be the norm +for everyone, not the novelty it is today. The Government will +protect our E-mail with Government-designed encryption protocols. +Probably most people will acquiesce to that. But perhaps some people +will prefer their own protective measures. + +Senate Bill 266, a 1991 omnibus anti-crime bill, had an unsettling +measure buried in it. If this non-binding resolution had become real +law, it would have forced manufacturers of secure communications +equipment to insert special "trap doors" in their products, so that +the Government can read anyone's encrypted messages. It reads: "It +is the sense of Congress that providers of electronic communications +services and manufacturers of electronic communications service +equipment shall insure that communications systems permit the +Government to obtain the plain text contents of voice, data, and +other communications when appropriately authorized by law." This +measure was defeated after rigorous protest from civil libertarians +and industry groups. + +In 1992, the FBI Digital Telephony wiretap proposal was introduced to +Congress. It would require all manufacturers of communications +equipment to build in special remote wiretap ports that would enable +the FBI to remotely wiretap all forms of electronic communication +from FBI offices. Although it never attracted any sponsors in +Congress in 1992 because of citizen opposition, it was reintroduced in +1994. + +Most alarming of all is the White House's bold new encryption policy +initiative, under development at NSA since the start of the Bush +administration, and unveiled April 16th, 1993. The centerpiece of +this initiative is a Government-built encryption device, called the +"Clipper" chip, containing a new classified NSA encryption +algorithm. The Government is encouraging private industry to design +it into all their secure communication products, like secure phones, +secure FAX, etc. AT&T is now putting the Clipper into their secure +voice products. The catch: At the time of manufacture, each Clipper +chip will be loaded with its own unique key, and the Government gets +to keep a copy, placed in escrow. Not to worry, though-- the +Government promises that they will use these keys to read your +traffic only when duly authorized by law. Of course, to make Clipper +completely effective, the next logical step would be to outlaw other +forms of cryptography. + +If privacy is outlawed, only outlaws will have privacy. Intelligence +agencies have access to good cryptographic technology. So do the big +arms and drug traffickers. So do defense contractors, oil companies, +and other corporate giants. But ordinary people and grassroots +political organizations mostly have not had access to affordable +"military grade" public-key cryptographic technology. Until now. + +PGP empowers people to take their privacy into their own hands. +There's a growing social need for it. That's why I wrote it. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000994.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000994.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..483279d2 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000994.txt @@ -0,0 +1,160 @@ +RADIO CONTRABANDA F.M. (BARCELONA) + + +The airwaves are to the free radio stations what paper is to +the journals. Without airwaves free radio couldn't broadcast +and of course, just by chance, this area has always been +completely monopolised by the State. The State has, in +every country of the world, seized exclusive control of this +area and has only just conceded, above all because of +private initiative within the business world, a part of this +exclusivity in the form of Users Licences. Not even the +governments of the left, who currently hold power, have +deigned to make of the radiophonic medium an area for +communication and not simply an area of information +dissemination and other things which has always typified its +very character. For this reasons the free stations apart from +demanding freedom of speech, something which we could +say to a degree we have achieved, also demand the freedom +to transmit, which entails of course prizing a few crumbs +from the exclusive control of the airwaves by the State. We +want a slice, a simple slice so that what the powers that be +call freedom of expression can become a real possibility. +The concept of free radio in itself, is already a blow against +this concept of sovereignty of the State over the air waves +and the free radios in fact have not demanded legalisation +but rather the simple recognition of a basic right: the release +of a section of space on the airwaves. + One might say that the free radios were born in Paris in +1978 when the International Federation of Free Radio +Stations was formed at a meeting of The Association for the +Liberation of the Airwaves (ALO) and the Federacione de +Radio Emitenti Democratiche (FRED) which ended up +being called ALFREDO 78. Many Spanish and Catalan +comrades were at the meeting which gave rise to the first +experiences of free Spanish radio in Catalunia in 1978 with +broadcasts by Ona Lliure first from Santa Maria de Corco +and since then in Barcelona currently from the Centre Civic +in the Calle de Blay en Poble Sec, Barcelona. Contrabanda, +the radio station I work with, has immersed itself in the +philosophy of free radio. Contrabanda is not a libertarian +radio station in the strictest sense of the term. At +Contrabanda there are libertarians but there are also others +who we might say are vaguely Marxist or people who +defend ideas of Catalan independence, ecology or feminism. +Personally I like it that way. I don't share the hangups of +others and it's a good thing that there should be a wide +variety of views on a free radio station like ours. + Contrabanda started running in September 1988 when in +the course of a meeting of people from differing ideological +backgrounds, professions and so on it was decided to set up +a legal Cultural Association with the express intention of +founding a free radio station. Our first move was to find +premises, get subscribers to help get some minimal income, +buy equipment and put into effect a variety of initiatives +from selling 'solidarity bonds' or outings with food that we +provided to help raise cash. Another problem from the word +go was the passing of legislation in December 1988 which +allowed the minister to go ahead with his plan for a +complete clean up of existing free stations and pirate +stations (which put out publicity). The last one to be closed +down was Radio Pica. After that it became extremely hard +to even contemplate trying to set something up despite the +fact that there had been calls from them not least from the +International Federations which were backing up calls for +free radio in Spain.. It was all in vain. The new legislation +simply ended up promoting the interests of the private +companies and the state sector including military +communications and so on. Contrabanda, or the group that +was trying to get it on the road at the time decided that +there was no point in trying to do things the hard way and +for that reason it started negotiating with the Generalitat +(Catalan local govt. trans) and groups within it that might +listen sympathetically to the demands for freedom to +broadcast. It was felt that without this softly, softly +approach it would be impossible to broadcast transmissions +with an acceptable degree of quality since the prohibition +was a kind of Damocles sword, ever threatening, and laying +down the risk of seizure of equipment as had happened to +Radio Pica and it would not be feasible to transmit at will. +These negotiations took a long time before giving rise to, +thanks to a collective petition put together by the radio +stations and the parliamentary group Esquerra Republicana, +the introduction in the Catalan parliament of a motion, not a +law, calling for the recognition of the existence or the right +to exist for the free stations and that as a result of this the +government of the Generalitat should set up legally this +right to exist. Curiously, or perhaps miraculously, this law +got through. And I say miraculously because in the Basque +Country a petition for a similar project which was put +before the Basque parliament by Euskadiko Ezquerra was +rejected. The Generalitat, seeing itself forced to legislate on +the matter decided to set up an experimental period for free +radios until the end of 1990 which was permissible within +the framework of existing legislation. This is not what the +free radio stations wanted but they decided to put up with it. +Anyway, the authorities identified three frequencies which +would be made available to and could be used by the free +stations. At the time there were six of us in the metropolitan +area we split up the allotted frequencies. In January 1991 +Contrabanda FM began transmissions along with Radio Pica +on 91.0 FM for 24 hours a day. Contrabanda from 3pm to +3am and Radio Pica the rest. This continued until Radio +Pica moved to 91.8. + Contrabanda is a self-managed radio station. We work by +assembly; the means are collective. The people who make +the programmes pay to sustain the collective and all those +who make programmes have a voice and a vote on the +assembly. As I said earlier Contrabanda is legally speaking a +Cultural Association and amongst other initiatives we have +recently set up a Counterinformation Agency. Our +philosophy could be defined as the cultural melting pot. On +the one hand we should make it clear that we broadcast in +Catalan. We believe our language has been monopolised by +certain sectors of the bourgeoisie which has allowed the two +to be mistaken for each other. We aim to use the language +differently not so pure not so grammatically correct but +giving it other strengths. So our language is Catalan and our +philosophy that of the free stations that is to say to give a +voice to those who have no other platform. A number of +collectives put the programmes together. Some 36 to 40 go +out 21 of which are internally produced, 9 by outside +collectives and 6 by individuals. News takes up 31% of +airtime, culture 14.6%. music programmes 27% and the +other 26% is non-stop music. The collectives involved are +indeed varied for example there is a Serbo Croat broadcast +another called Demanem la Paraula, African Hour - a +programme put out by women from Guinea - and also the +Alternative News Agency which is yet another libertarian +group working in the information field producing two +weekly slots and with whom Contrabanda works closely on +an alternative news project. Then their is 'Immigrant +Viewpoint' made by Magrebine collectives, The MOC +Programme (Conscientious Objectors), The Red Missile +(Gay). This is what Contrabanda puts together in order to +allow for an open space for those collectives and individuals +who otherwise would have no way of making themselves +heard. The financing as I have said is partly dealt with by +'solidarity bonds' paid for by those who are not necessarily +connected with making programmes. They pay some +500ptas per month. May I say that the best way to support +the free radios is to tune in and listen to them in order to +ensure that there is another means of communication. +Contrabanda hasn't even been going for three years. The +first years have been taken up, as is always the case, with +fine tuning our technical skills and we now consider +ourselves in good shape both internally and externally. +We've come out well... + In another field we've put together special programmes as +for example during the last general strike from 5am to 10pm +covering the developments from the doorstep of a +departmental store! The Working Woman's Day on 8th +March is another tradition. To finish I would simply like to +say that we call on you to help us in the ways we have +described. If we get this support from the people there is no +reason for us to lose this space we have found as has been +shown by the experiences of Radio Klara in Valencia and +others in the Basque Country. We hope one day to +celebrate our tenth anniversary. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000997.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000997.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..586894ea --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp000997.txt @@ -0,0 +1,133 @@ +Free Radio in France + +RADIO LIBERTAIRE + +It was the 1981 congress of the French Anarchist +Federation which signed the deeds which set Radio +Libertaire on the road.. After long and heated debate the +congress accepted, unanimously, the idea of launching a +radio station which would be the voice for the FAF. At that +time it had no name, no wavelength, no real goal, no +presenters and for its launch a budget of (wait for it) +15000F (=A3150)! No member of congress, at that moment +could have predicted the events which weree about to +unfold other than that by the autumn anarchy would once +again be on the airwaves. As in 1921, when the insurgents +in Kronstadt sent out radio messages; as in 1936 with Radio +CNT-FAI in Spain, or again the participation of anarchists +in the Free Radio movement at the end of the 70s, with, in +particular, Radio Trottoir (Toulon) and Radio-Alarme +whose producers were members of the FAF. + +It was on the 1st September 1981 (1) in a damp cellar on the +slopes of Montmartre that the radiophonic adventure began. +And in a very rudimentary fashion, in conditions that defied +the laws of broadcasting: a studio measuring 12 m2, with an +assortment of recuperated material and a mini-team of 6. +The first calls came in from our listeners, the first listeners +cards went out... and the jamming began! + Meanwhile old hands of the Free Radio movement were +putting together some very credible studios in order to go +for a slice of the cake represented by the FM band. The +spirit of the Free Radios was already beginning to agonise, +victims of the financial appetite of some of those who had +run the pirate stations. In August 1983 the socialists put an +end to 'the anarchy on the waves' by siezing a number of +transmitters including that of RL. On the 28th August at +5.45am the CRS appeared at the doors of RL. They broke +down the door and siezed all the equipment. The presenters +were beaten up and arrested, the antenna cable and pylon +were cut up into pieces. Neither the reinforced door, nor the +numerous listeners who were present, were able to prevent +our radio being siezed. The socialists, then in power with +their chums in the French Communist Party, had not +however reckoned with our determination and even less +with the solidarity which was shown to us by thousands of +listeners during the following two years. Two years during +which, day after day, links of friendship between RL and its +listeners were progressively strengthened. The reaction was +immediate. And Impressive. The most important part +translated itself on 3rd September 1983 into a +demonstration of 5000 and RL back on the waves. + +Moments of warmth and intensity were so many and the +happenings so frequent that one article cannot do them +justice (2): galas, jamming by the 'Cop-Radios', scuffles with +the authorities, the obtaining of legal dispensation - the +demonstrations... by enumerating these events we are +setting down the essentials of the history of RL. However, +in reality the most important can hardly be reported. This +was the daily and collective history of RL, which all of us, +listeners and producers, hold a part of. It's a history of tens +of thousands of hours of transmission, telephone calls which +brought with it letters, exchanges and meetings. Radio +Libertaire was born with the passage of time. Everyone laid +their own stone with their voice, their expertise, their ability +or their energy. RL is also the listener who brought in a +microphone ('You should be able to find some use for it'); +that other one who left their visiting card ('I'm an +electrician, if you need anything...') and the pensioner ('I'm +ill, and my pension isn't much... but come round for a bite +some day'), and the non-sighted person who, thanks to the +mutual aid small ads, managed to go off to the countryside +on a tandem with a young girl... and brought flowers back to +the radio station; it's all the letters that came in to 145, rue +Amelot to help, ask a question, encourage, suggest, inform, +criticise. It was when a zine, an association, an individual, a +union, the FAF had something to say, the telephone calls, +the meetings, the networks. + +The stations cultural identity also came with time. The first +producers brought their own records into the studio and +introduced thousands to music by artists such as +Debronckart, Fanon, Servat, Gribouille, Jonas, Utg=E9-Royo, +Aurenche, Capart and many others. In 1982 another kind of +music arrived naturally on the airwaves, another music that +they were listening to in the squats, on the edges of the +system: Alternative Rock. Then other styles found their +place: jazz, blues, folk, industrial music, rap, reggae. And +other artists found the radio station open to other formms of +expression: cartoons, the plastic arts, theatre, literature, +cinema... + +Though the radio of the FAF, RL nevertheless opened its +doors from the beginning to its friends: anarcho-syndicalists +from the CNT and other unions, Libre Pens=E9e, the Pacifist +Union, the Hopeful Ones, the League of the Rights of Man. +And it was there in this daily reality, in the struggles and the +meetings that forged itself, quite spontaneously, the links +between RL and the social movement: strikers, the +unemployed, shelterless, squatters, antiracists, ecologists, +conscientious objectors, refugees, ex-prisonners... Surviving +crises and the daily workload RL rose to the demands of the +times. It supported the student movement in 1986, and +became the radio of the street report movement, round table +discussion groups, an open station to report police brutality, +permanent agit-pop. When war broke out in the Gulf RL +was at the front announcing, hour by hour, demos, +meetings, regional committees whilst allowing for debates +and analysis. Just as naturally it was during these times of +crisis that RL really discovered its dimension as a 'radio for +struggle'. RL is also a thousand reasons for listeners to be +annoyed, rage and protest against the technical +imperfections or those aspects that were judged +incongruous, provocative, too reformist or too radical. But it +was above all, we hope, an opportunity to discover the +pleasures of debate, struggle and libertarian ideas. Shouting +matches... cries from the heart... all was there and all was +welcome! In a world of the market, the spectacle and +dehumanisation where triumphant capitalism crushes both +man and woman where thought, in the image of the +economy is uniform and globalised, RL, with its strenghths +and its weaknesses, its faults and its qualities does it not +seem to be simply human... quite simply human? + +LAURENT FOUILLARD + +(1) At the time RL was transmitting from 6pm to 10pm on +89.6Mhz + +(2) See Radio Libertaire, la voix sans ma=EEtre by Yves +Peyraut published by Monde Libertaire (50F). Obtainable +from the Monde Libertaire bookshop. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001000.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001000.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c5c618cd --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001000.txt @@ -0,0 +1,655 @@ +Cyberspace and "Ungovernability" + +This posting has been forwarded to you as a service of the Austin Comite +de Solidaridad con Chiapas y Mexico. + +NOTE BENE: The report that follows gives some of the ideas of a RAND +analyst who has been monitoring our work in cyberspace. This guy +contacted me last Spring after reading the piece I wrote on "The Chiapas +Uprising: The Future of Class Struggle in the New World Order". (Which +can be obtained via gopher eco.utexas.edu faculty/Cleaver/Cleaver +papers.) He pointed out the similarities between what I had written and +his own ideas. A collegue of his also contacted me and wanted to +collaborate in work on the activities of NGOs in Chiapas. I told him +that I didn't think the NGO's needed the information he wanted to gather, +that it would only be of use to people who might cause the NGOs trouble with +it. Needless to say I did NOT collaborate. + +This is an example of the kind of monitoring and studying of our activity +that I was talking about in a message I posted some time back. In case +you missed that posting I will attach it to the end of this article. + +That the other side is studying what we are doing, is only to be expected. +Let's make sure that WE study what we are doing and think about the +implications.(See my comments at the end of the three articles appended +below.) + +At the same time, we can do what they are doing, i.e., study the +opposition. In the case of the following article, for instance, we can +ask ourselves about the meaning of the assertion that our work might make +Mexico "ungovernable". We know that this term was bandied about in Mexico in +the period before the last elections. Various groups used the term to +evoke fear and galvanize their own organizational efforts. The term also +has a history in American policy circles. Remember the THE CRISIS OF +DEMOCRACY: Report on the Governability of Democracies (1975) published by +the Trilateral Commission. In the essay on the US by Samuel P. Huntington +(one of three, two others were on Europe and Japan), Huntington presented +an analysis of the crisis in the US as a situation in which the "balance" +between democracy and "governability" had been tipped toward democracy +and needed to be re-tipped in the opposite direction. In other words, the +"crisis of democracy" was that there was too much democracy. (Not of the +formal kind of course but of the grassroots sort, in which everyday +people were interfering in the usual governing of America.) + +So we know that for policy analysts the spector of "ungovernability" is a +nightmare, a possibility to be avoided at all costs. Many of us, on the +other hand, are fighting for just that: to make it impossible for those +who would "govern" to do so, and thus to open space for a recasting of +democracy in which there are not rulers and ruled, or governors and +governed, but rather self-governance of the people, by the people and for +the people. Hmmm have I heard that before somewhere??? + +The best examples I can think of from recent history in which countries +became "ungovernable" are all in Eastern/Central Europe during the +downfall of the Stalinist states of that area. In country after country a +massive movement of people made it impossible for the communist regimes +to "govern" and they collapsed, opening the way to new forms of politics +and new kinds of social relationships. Now, we may not like the way the +situation has evolved in those countries, but most would probably agree +that those revolutions were successful in removing undemocratic regimes +and opening the way to more fluid change. The usual spector raised by +policy makers, of course, is that ungovernerability quickly becomes +lawless chaos (of the sort depicted in Somalia and Ruwanda --or Road +Warrior for that matter). This has always been the ploy of rulers, to +present themselves as the only reasonable option, as the only way to +avoid the disintegration of civilized behavior. (I'm going to leave aside +for the moment the issue of the historical weight of the term +"civilization" and assume the usual commonplace meaning, i.e., the +ability of large numbers of people to live together with all their +differences and similarities without so much antagonism that +relationships dissolve into continuing violence and bloodshed.) + +But what about Mexico? "Ungovernability" today can only mean the +breakdown in the ability of the "government" (i.e., the PRI party-state) +to "govern" (i.e., maintain its power). This is exactly what the +Zapatistas have called for, and what so many in Mexico desire (as well as +many of us outside Mexico). + +Now, please note: the emphasis in the Rand analyst's work is on +"ungovernability" NOT on what might replace the PRI's ability to govern. +Yet in the situation he describes (and I have discussed elsewhere --the +article above and the introduction to ZAPATISTAS!DOCUMENTS OF THE NEW +MEXICAN REVOLUTION --at gopher lanic.utexas.edu Latin American/Mexico) +is something far more interesting: elements of +alternative ways of organizing Mexican political and social life. The +analyst sees that the grassroots movment that has been using cyberspace +as part of its self-organization "doesn't have the ability to take +power", but doesn't recognize how the new networks are increasingly made +up of people who do not WANT to "take power", of people who do not want +ANYBODY to "take power", of people who are working out conceptions of +politics where "power" is either abolished, or reconceptualized in new, +truly democractic ways. + +That their "lack of centralized authority makes them less susceptible +to cooptation or repression" doesn't strike him as also providing a model +for a more democratic society in which "repression" and "cooptation" are +made much more difficult through the organization of the polity. Yet, +that is exactly what we should be striving for within the organizational +fabrics we weave. That is exactly what all those who have fought against the +"centralized authority" of rulers/governors/state-bureaucrats have long +sought. The fabrics we weave today are complex things. They resonate with +some old models --say the direct democracy of some indigenous villages-- +but they are also woven within a completely new context: a global +capitalism in which communications makes it increasingly difficult for +the would-be rulers to divide (through ignorance) and conquer (via +repression or cooptation). Now those electronic communications are not +some neutral technology, even though it may seem that way at first +glance, as capitalists continue to maintain their very hierarchical power +structures using the same circuits that we use to undermine them and +construct alternative sets of relationships. Indeed, the original +network, ARPANET, was created by the Advanced Research Projects Agency to +facilitate the circulation of research for the Defense Department. But +out of that has grown not only the Internet but cyberspace in which +diverse and often conflicting goals are pursued, from commercial ventures +such as America Online or Compuserve to activist networks like PeaceNet +and EcoNet, from the reinforcement of capitalist power to systematic +attempts to undermine it. There is no longer a single "electronic +communication +technology" but rather the nets themselves with all their structures AND +contents constitute alternative technologies being elaborated within +diverse contexts for diverse purposes. Those of us who are using the nets +to fight for democracy are constructing the technology as we proceed, we +are not just "users" as the big companies would have us believe. + +So, we have to be very self-conscious about what we are constructing as +we go along. What are the politics of what we are constructing, both in +cyberspace and within the larger space within which we live and fight. If +it serves no other purpose, perusal of this report on RAND research, +should stimulate our collective thinking about how what we are doing can +contribute "in the doing" to the construction of new, alternative ways of +social being in which "governability" is put behind us, permanently. + +Harry + + ---------- Forwarded message ---------- +Date: Mon, 20 Mar 1995 11:26:27 -0500 (EST) +To: hmcleave@arrow.eco.utexas.edu +Subject: netwars? (fwd) +Content-Length: 7158 + + +COPYRIGHT PACIFIC NEWS SERVICE +450 Mission Street, Room 506 +San Francisco, CA 94105 +415-243-4364 + + + +NEWS ANALYSIS-665 WORDS + +NETWAR COULD MAKE MEXICO UNGOVERNABLE + +EDITOR'S NOTE: While media attention focuses on the turmoil +within Mexico's ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, another +destabilizing force, which Rand Corp. national security expert David F. +Ronfeldt dubs "netwar," is spreading. Netwar enables widely dispersed +and highly marginalized opposition groups to coordinate strategies +utilizing new information technologies. While their lack of central +authority makes it unlikely they could take power, they could make +Mexico ungovernable. PNS contributing editor Joel Simon reports +regularly from Mexico. + +BY JOEL SIMON, PACIFIC NEWS SERVICE + +MEXICO CITY -- While Mexico reels from the worst financial and +political crisis in decades, a low intensity "netwar" is also spreading +across the country. That's the conclusion of social scientist David F. +Ronfeldt of the Santa Monica-based Rand think tank who studies the +impact of new information technologies on national security. + +Ronfeldt and a colleague coined the term netwar to describe what +happens when loosely-affiliated networks -- social activists, terrorists, +or drug cartels -- use new information technologies to coordinate +action. Throughout the world, these networks are replacing +"hierarchies" as the primary form of political organization among +opponents of the state. + +Whatever the outcome of the current turmoil in the ruling +Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), and the gains scored by the +conservative National Action Party (PAN), Ronfeldt argues that +netwar will ultimately change the country's political equation by +giving even the most marginalized leftist opposition new clout. "The +risk for Mexico is not an old-fashioned civil war or another social +revolution," he notes. "The risk is social netwar." + +The impact of the netwarriors is already clear. In 1993, opponents of the +North American Free Trade Agreement used fax machines and the +Internet to coordinate strategy. During the August 1994 Presidential +elections, a watchdog group called Civic Alliance organized a network +of observers throughout the country who faxed reports on voting +irregularities back to Mexico City. + +Even the Zapatista Army of National Liberation is fighting a form of +netwar. The August 1994 National Democratic Convention brought +together hundreds of diverse groups in the rebels' jungle stronghold to +fashion a de-centralized opposition. That they succeeded was evidenced +last month when thousands marched in Mexico City to protest the +Zedillo Administration's arrest warrant for Subcomander Marcos, +chanting "We Are All Marcos." Rebel supporters around the world +followed developments by reading Zapatista communiques on the +Internet. + +Precisely because of their de-centralization, the netwarriors don't have +the ability to take national power. But, Ronfeldt predicts, they are a +growing political force which could make the country ungovernable. +And their lack of any central authority makes them far less vulnerable +to cooptation or repression. + +Who are the netwarriors? They are the traditional leftist opponents of +the PRI, groups fighting for democratic change, as well as an array of +special interests, from peasant organizations to gay rights groups. At a +time when the political and economic crisis has created widespread +disaffection, Ronfeldt theorizes that network-style organizing will +enable the opposition to overcome its traditional factionalism. The +greatest threat to the government could be hundreds or thousands of +independent groups united in their opposition but "accepting of each +other's autonomy." + +Ronfeldt argues the international non-government organizations +(NGOs) operating in Mexico provide a "multiplier effect" for +netwarriors. Electronic communication allows Mexican groups to stay +in touch with U.S. and Canadian organizations which share their goals +and can coordinate an international response in the event of a +government crackdown. These groups are media savvy in a way +Mexicans may not be; they also have access to the international media. +Global Exchange, a small humanitarian organization in San Francisco, +is one example. It began denouncing human rights abuses and +mobilizing protests in the U.S. only hours after government troops +dislodged Zapatista rebels from villages last December. + +Netwar is not unique to political groups, however. Terrorist +organizations and drug cartels are also becoming less hierarchical and +thus harder to control, says Ronfeldt. The Sicilian Mafia is losing +ground to less centralized drug cartels. + +Ronfeldt acknowledges that the potential for transnational netwar in +Mexico is limited by the deficiencies in the nation's phone system. +"Netwar doesn't work unless lots of different small groups can +coordinate...and that requires high band-width communication." +While fax machines have become ubiquitous in Mexico, electronic +communication is only starting to take hold. + +Still, Ronfeldt cautions that "The country that produced the prototype +social revolution of the 20th century may now be giving rise to the +prototype social netwar of the 21st century." If so, the Mexican +government will have its hands full. + +(03131995) **** END **** COPYRIGHT PNS + + +------- End of Article on Rand Research------- + +What follows is a reposting of earlier reflections on other examples of +being watched. + +>From hmcleave@mundoMon Mar 20 11:29:01 1995 +Date: Sun, 5 Mar 1995 11:09:51 -0600 (CST) +From: "Harry M. Cleaver" +Subject: Media Recognition: Opportunities and Dangers Mar.5 +To: Chiapas95 +Message-ID: +MIME-Version: 1.0 +Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII + + +Over the last 10 days or so, the mass media has begun to report on what +we are doing in and with cyberspace. The following 3 items are examples +of the kind of reporting on our work that is being done. Some comments +follow these three examples. + + +ITEM #1: Tod Robberson, "Mexican Rebels Using A High-Tech Weapon; +Internet Helps Rally Support" WASHINGTON POST, Feb. 20, 1995, pg. A1 +(complete article) + +SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, Mexico: They have waged war on the ground +with stick rifles and World War II vintage guns, but in fighting the +international propaganda war, the rebels of the +Zapatista National Liberation Army have invaded cyberspace. + + With help from peace activists and rebel support groups here in southern +Chiapas state, the Zapatista message is spreading around the world, literally +at lightning speed, thanks to telephone links to the Internet computer +network. + + Ever since the rebels, most of them peasant Indians, launched their uprising +here 13 months ago, Chiapas has become one of the hottest informational topics +on the Internet, with computer linkups enabling Zapatista leader Subcomandante +Marcos to circulate his communiques worldwide, at virtually the push of a +button, via Internet bulletin boards like PeaceNet, Chiapas-List, Mexpaz and +Mexico 94. + + A week ago, President Ernesto Zedillo became acquainted with the power at +Marcos's fingertips through the Internet when the president announced the +start of a military offensive aimed at capturing the ski-masked Zapatista leader +and bringing the rebellion to a decisive close. + + Within hours, "cyber-peaceniks" and human rights activists here and elsewhere +in Mexico had distributed the president's words verbatim via the Internet -- +along with a call for "urgent action" to press Zedillo into reversing course. +Included in their computer messages was the direct fax number to Zedillo's +office, as well as the fax line to Interior Minister Esteban Moctezuma. + + "I don't know how effective the campaign was, but I do know that Zedillo's +fax machine broke or was eventually turned off," said Mariclaire Acosta, +president of the Mexican Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human +Rights. She estimated hundreds of faxes were sent to the president, who +eventually changed tack and ordered his troops to halt their advance. + +[Ed.Note by the person who originally posted the story to the net: +Actually they did not halt their advance, but have continued deeper into + the jungle, and in a number of documented cases have been torturing and + killing locals to try and get more info.on the EZLN leaders.] + + The Chiapas rebels are only the latest group embroiled in conflict or +afflicted by disaster to use the Internet to disseminate information and +opinion around the globe -- and given the huge volume, apparently the most +successful in mobilizing international support. Peru and Ecuador have +used it in their border claims. Warring factions in Bosnia, separatists +in Chechnya and relief organizations in quake-striken Kobe, Japan all +circulated reports --some of which reached news organizations + + "The Internet is the best vehicle we have to spread information around. +Before, we used faxes and telephones, and it took forever," Acosta explained. +"Now the information arrives like this," she said, snapping her fingers. "The +feedback is instantaneous." + + It remains a matter of speculation whether Marcos, recently identified by the +government as Rafael Sebastian Guillen, or any other top Zapatista leader has +hooked into the Internet directly, although acquaintances say the rebel +leaders are no strangers to computers and high technology. When federal police +raided alleged Zapatista safe houses in Mexico City and the southern state of +Veracruz last week, they found as many computer diskettes as bullets. Reporters +were allowed to examine the captured rebel computer equipment at a press +conference in Mexico City. + + According to federal legislator Adolfo Aguilar Zinser, who met with Marcos at +a jungle hideout last year, the rebel leader typically would write his +voluminous communiques on a laptop computer, which he carried in a backpack and +plugged into the lighter socket of an old pickup truck he used when traveling +between the remote Zapatista strongholds of La Garrucha and Guadalupe Tepeyac. +Today, both villages are firmly under Mexican army control, while the +whereabouts of Marcos and his followers remains a mystery. + + Nevertheless, Marcos's communiques continue to flow unimpeded through +cyberspace, usually reaching readers in countries as distant as Italy, Germany +and Russia faster than they can be published by most Mexican newspapers. When +the communiques do reach the local press, they appear to have been formatted and +printed on a computer. + + If Marcos is equipped with a telephone modem and a cellular phone, it would +be possible for him to hook into the Internet even while on the run, as he +is now. + + "People have talked about trying to get Marcos online . . . but so far it +hasn't happened, at least as far as we know," said Harry Cleaver, a University +of Texas economics professor and frequent supplier of Chiapas -related news on +the Internet. + + Cleaver and other Internet users compiled a book last year, published in +the United States, drawn in part from information and essays about Chiapas +transmitted through the Internet. The translation and editing of the book, +"Zapatistas! Documents of the New Mexican Revolution," was coordinated through +the Internet, Cleaver said. + + The information exchange has drawn the attention of the Mexican government. +Among the government's targets for search and arrest warrants here last week was +the office of Jorge Santiago Santiago, a social worker and recipient of grants +from numerous international aid organizations, including Britain's Oxfam, who +was a frequent contributor to the Internet dialogue on Chiapas. Zedillo +accused him of being a Zapatista commander. Santiago is currently under arrest +on charges of treason. + + The Catholic Church's human rights office in San Cristobal, another heavy +contributor to Internet's Chiapas data, was so concerned about the possibility +of government interference that it refused to allow a reporter into its computer +room to observe employees working on line. + + "Our mission is strictly informative," said the Rev. Pablo Romo, head of the +church's Fray Bartolome Human Rights Center. "We use the Internet to inform +people abroad of what is happening here, but mainly to counter the government's +disinformation." + + For example, he said, "the government circulated a rumor through [the +official news agency] Notimex that I had been arrested. Without the Internet, +I would have had to spend days on the phone, . . . to tell everyone that it +wasn't true. Now, I just send a message to the bulletin board, and the word goes +out instantly." + + Acosta and other Internet users belonging to a confederation of +nongovernmental human rights organizations say their offices have been ransacked +and phone lines tampered with because of their computer communications. + + Critics charge that the Internet is being used by Zapatista +supporters to distort recent events. When the army began mobilizing, for +example, word went out on the Internet that San Cristobal was surrounded +by tanks and armored cars. While it was true that the army prsence had +increased throughout Chiapas, no tanks were to be found anywhere in the +state. + + One user group here sent out a report that airborne bombardments were +underway in several named mountain villages and urged an international +protest. They passed on rebel assertions that women were being raped and +children killed. But reporters who visited those areas and interviewed +scores of witnesses said they were unable to confirm even one such +incident. + + The self-declared rebel governor of Chiapas, Amado Avendano, used the + Internet to distribute an urgent plea to his North American supporters to +travel to Chiapas. "We know we can count on America's best men and women, who +will know how to . . . impede fratricide in our nation. There is an urgent need +for international observers to serve as witnesses to the events we are +denouncing," he wrote. + + Some users with access to Chiapas related computer bulletin +boards have posted messags urging measures to weed out +untruthful entries. Others aregue, however, that such proposals smack +of censorship. + + Nevertheless, the unsubstantiated assertions of army atrocities prompted +hundreds of Zapatista supporters to converge on San Cristobal from as far away +as San Francisco and Oregon in recent days. + +----end of article--- + +ITEM #2: Russell Watson et al, "When Words are the Best Weapon. +Revolution: Information can undermine dictatorships, and the faster it +flows, the more trouble they're in. How Rebels use the Internet and +satellite TV." NEWSWEEK, February 27, 1995, pp. 36-40. (excerpts) + + Here's how to wage a revolution in the Information Age: two weeks ago +Mexican government troops lunged into the rain forests of Chiapas state +in renewed pursuit of the Zapatista rebels. Wehn the federal soldiers +reached an insurgent stronghold at Guadalupe Tepeyac, the guerrillas +melted into the jungle, leaving behind a few trucks but taking with them +their most valuable equipment --fax machines and laptop computers. In +retreat, the Zapatistas faxed out a communique claiming that the army was +"killing children,beating and raping women . . . and bombing us." Soon +the government was taking another public relations beating. It stopped +the offensive and allowed reporters into the area. They found no signs +of atrocities or bombing. But the government attack had been thwarted, +and the rebels were free to fight on, with words as their best weapons. + + The Zapatistas' chief spokesman, Subcommandante Marcos (the government +says his name is Rafael Guillen), knows that he will never obtain +political power from the barrel of a gun. "What governments should really +fear," he told a NEWSWEEK reporter last summer, "is a communications +expert". Information technology has always been seen as a potentially +revolutionary weapon. Almost as soon as the printing press was invented, +governments and churches tried to control it, and the Ottoman Empire +shunned the technology for almost 300 years. The Amercian Revolution +was spurred on by Benjamin Franklin, a printer; Thomas Paine, a +pamphleteer, and Samuel Adams, a propagandist. In the modern era, +vulnerable governments have been challenged by proliferating means of +communication. Long-distance telephone service, for example, helped to +undermine the Soviet Union, connecting dissidents to each other and to +supporters outside the country. Other Communist regimes have been +weakened by radio and television signals [. . .] + +[. . . ] + + On a much more modest scale, the Internet also has become a platform +for the Zapatistas. One of the services offering information about the +movement is run from Mexico City by Barbara Pillsbury, a 24-year old +American who works for a development organization. She transmits +bulletins about the Zapatistas and communiques from Subcommandante +Marcos to subscribers around the world. (Her internet address: +pueblo@laneta.apc.org) She says interest in the Zapatistas helped +introduce many Mexicans to cyberspace. [. . .] + +[. . .] + + Even in less rigid dictatorships, communications technology cannot +make a revolution by itself. [. . .] But the flow of information helps to +undermine such regimes, and the faster it flows, the more trouble they're +in. Few states can afford to opt out of teh Information Age; they have +to keep up with at least some of the latest scientific, technical and +commercial developments. [. . .] If dictatorships want to play any part +in the modern world, they have to risk exposing themselves to ideas and +information that could inspire reform or spark a revolution" + +----end of article---- + +ITEM #3: TV Globo and CNN Sunday February 26, 1997 + + The New York producers of the Brazilian TV network TV Globo, +called me in my office as part of a story they were doing on the use of +cyberspace by the Zapatistas and those supporting the struggle for +democracy in Mexico. They wanted to know if the latest Zapatista +communiques were available on-line. While I e-mailed the communiques to +them, they filmed the texts on their computers sitting in their studio. +The report they put together combined images of Chiapas, pure audio, +images of the Zapatistas, images of computer screens scrolling through +the communiques, images of the White Guard attack on the cathedral and +its defenders in Chiapas. Over these images was an account of the way we +have been using cyberspace to spread information about what is happening +in Chiapas and to mobilize support to oppose the military crackdown. They +reported the overload of protest faxes to Zedillo and said as a result +"He ordered a retreat." --which overstated the case drastically. They +showed taping into the lanic files via gopher and noted the use of net by +human rights groups. The report ended with the reporter asking "I wonder +what would have happened if Karl Marx or Che Guevara had had access to +the Internet?" + +The report interested CNN enough for them to run it on their weekend +World Report Sunday, February 26th. + +Comments: + +We are watched. We are read. There are a number of issues here that it +would be useful for people to pay attention to. + +First, on the positive side, mass media reports +may facilitate our work by leading more people to be aware of what we are +doing and how we are doing it, such that they join in. As a result of +being named in the Washington Post article I have received several +letters asking for more information by people wanting to help. + +Second, the same publicity certainly makes our enemies more aware of what +we are doing and of its effectiveness. We have evidence of three kinds of +responses. We know that military consultants are studying what we are +doing and treating it as a kind of low-level insurgency. I was contacted +last Spring by two researchers at RAND Corporation --a think tank that does +much work for the state, including the military-- who had read a paper I +wrote last February dealing with (in part) the use of cyberspace in the +struggle. They wanted to share ideas and collaborate! I followed up +enough to read some of their stuff and discovered their views on these +issues. We also know that outside the state, the exteme right wing is +also monitoring our activities --including the LaRouche people. Such +proto-fascists can be extremely dangerous. I know of activists (in the +anti-nuclear power movment) who were attacked physically as a result of +their activities being monitored and reported by the LaRouche organization. +We know that they are already talking about infiltrating the peace +brigades being organized for Chiapas. Lastly, we know that there are +well-intentioned types within such capitalist policy making institutions +such as the World Bank who are passing on our information to attempt to +influence policy in more humane directions. + +Third, so far it is obvious that we are using the mass media as a source +of information far more than they are using our material. The information +we produce and circulate --what the Italians call "counterinformation"-- +is designed precisely to get the real story out, the story the press and +TV are not reporting, or not reporting accurately. So far, from what I +have seen, the big media have used our activities for stories, but not +our information, while we, on the other hand, continually monitor what +they do report while assessing its usefulness and accuracy. In the story +above Tod Robberson impunes the accuracy of our information with unnamed +sources and fails to report what we all know: namely that misinformation +gets queried and challenged and corrected here infinitely faster than it +does in the mainstream media --which prints corrections on back pages if +at all. + +Fourth, as a result of these phenomena I think we should make concerted +efforts to: + +1. keep track of and document the back and forth between our +work here in cyberspace and elsewhere, i.e., the paths by which our +information reaches and influences those who are not in cyberspace, the +feedback loops by which the activities spurred by those influences are +reflected in and have an impact on what we do here. For example, I think +it is very important for our own energy levels to consistently report on +protest activities prompted by or fueled by information we have provided. +One of the important lessons of every major protest movement in recent +decades has been that individuals have more energy to fight when they can +see how their own, limited individual efforts are part of a much wider +movement. + +2. We, or at least some of us, should keep a careful eye on the +activities and discussions of our enemies: HOW they are monitoring us, +WHO is monitoring us, what they are SAYING about what we are doing, what +COUNTERMEASURES they are taking against what we are doing. We need to do +these things because even if we do not want to view them as "enemies" +many of them DO view us as enemies and are proceeding accordingly. +Counterinsurgency professionals do this for a living and they believe it +it. Marcos got labeled a "professional of violence" by those who really +deserve the title! As far as those who are acting as intelligence +providers for institutions like the World Bank but do not think of +themselves as our enemies, perhaps even feel they are on our side, well, +we can certainly deal with them individually as well-intentioned persons, +but it is still important to recognize and watch how the institutions +they are trying to influence actually behaves in the light of the +information it is provided. The Bank in particular has demonstrated a +certain capacity for neutralizing some of its opponents by internalizing +them, i.e., giving them jobs as professional curmudgeons within the Bank. +We need to watch these things to understand what threatens us and how +best to deal with it. + +3. We really should mobilize the "Lies of Our Times"-type critics of the +distortions of the mass media to document the misrepresentations and lack +of reporting that has been going on. The greatest "unreported story of +1995", at least so far, is the story of the continuing push by the Army +--despite the Mexican governments denials-- and their brutal treatment of +campesinos and grassroots activists in Chiapas. + +4. At the same time, we need +to keep track of where and how we HAVE been successful at influencing +what the mass media has reported correctly. For example, when Ken +Silverstein and Alexander Cockburn published their story on the infamous +Chase Manhattan report calling for the elimination of the Zapatistas and +the stealing of the elections in Jalisco very few people read it in +COUNTERPUNCH simply because their newsletter has a very limited +readership. After we uploaded their story AND the report itself to the +nets, the situation changed dramatically. Not only were both items +reposted over and over again on a wide variety of lists and conferences, +but they were soon being discussed in the Mexican press and then the +American press and then in Europe etc. Partly, that success story was due +to the intrinsic drama of the report. But more important, I think, was +our ability to get that drama to so many places that it could not be +ignored and therefore wasn't. Now, it is also of interest to consider who +did what with it. I know that the Perot people, the Nader people and +other anti-NAFTA people used it for their purposes of condemning the +agreement they had been unable to block. Mexican nationalists used it to +object to Zedillo following the orders of Wall Street. Anti-capitalists +used it to demonstrate the perfidity of capitalism --once again. +Financial democracry types (those calling for the demoratization of the +Fed) used it to attack financial monopoly power. And so on. By +understanding the array of forces susceptible to use information we +provide, we are more likely to be effective. + +5. After surveying the material we have been providing on the nets, I am +struck by another thing: we are doing a better job at circulating news +and analysing it than at providing more indepth material. Yet there is no +reason why we cannot do this. Certainly some material is best provided in +bookform, indeed can only be provided that way due the need of authors +for copyrighted publications. However, the book Zapatistas:Documents of +the New Mexican Revolution mentioned in the Robberson story above is a +good counterexample. Not only was that book generated through the nets, +but it was posted at lanic.utexas.edu BEFORE it was published by +Autonomedia in Brooklyn. A certain number of more indepth pieces have +circulated but a great many that might have, or still should have, have +not. Some of us scurry around to get what we need from whatever source, +hard copy, e-text, NPR, TV clips, etc. But a great many people cannot do +that and it would be better if more material was at their fingertips and +easily accessible. Therefore, I would encourage the uploading of useful +material, including articles published elsewhere in hard print. The +authors can usually do this by retaining copyrights. Others can get +permission. A rapidly growing percentage of authors are crafting their +material on computers and therefore their material exists in e-text form. +It is just a matter of knowing it is there, seeing its usefulness and +uploading it. The same goes, obviously, for a variety of media that can +be made available on the World Wide Web --photos, speeches, reports, etc. + +Enough. All these comments are simply suggestions as to how we might do +what we are doing even better, and avoid some dangers. As we care on the +struggle to roll back the power of the Mexican state (and that of the US +government, the IMF, etc), we also need to develop the highest state of +self-awareness possible about what we are doing, how we are doing it, +what is most effective and what threatens that effectiveness. I would end +with a call for more frequent discussion of these issues as a part of +our ongoing work. + +Harry + + +--Boundary (ID C9QCvUWRtCGfxrNe37WbDg)-- + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001002.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001002.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f7e34322 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001002.txt @@ -0,0 +1,52 @@ +ON THE AIR (A) IN BRAZIL + +Curitiba is the capital of the state of Parana, +in the south of Brazil, located at about 350 +kms. to the South East of Sao Paulo with a +population of about one and a half million +and is thus the tenth largest city in +population terms in the country. There they +are living through a pioneering experience +for the Brazilian and Latin American +libertarian movement: the setting up of an +anarchist radio transmitor. It's called 'FM +107,9 Burro Brabo, Radio Libre Pirataria' +which came on air in the first half of 1995. + +The launching and running of this iniciative +was taken care of by groups who have been +active in the area for some time: +GR.A.VID.A (Direct Action Anarchist +Group and editors of the information sheet +DIRECT ACTION) and the collective of the +paper JORNAL DO BACACHERI. With an +effort which can only be described as +extraordinary, given the difficulties which +will always attend such a project in Latin +America, they managed to concretise the +idea and began to transmit music, protest, +humour, poetry and anarchism to the +listeners in some areas of the city. + +In correspondence we received in June these +enthusiastic friends tell us that shortly they +will be able to cover the whole of Curitiba +along with it's outskirts thanks to a new +aerial they have bought, this was an on- +going situation. They also sent us a call so +that sympathetic people from all over the +world send them support: publications, taped +music, poetry, info, suggestions and of +course any other form of help (if possible +economic). Since everything which arrives is +welcome and indespensable so that these +radical Don Quijotes can continue with their +marvellous project on their 'Burro Brabo' + +You can contact them at: GR.A.VID.A, +Caixa Postal 3395, CEP 80001-970; +Curitiba - PR; Brasil. + + (Colectivo Plum@ -Revista CORREO A; Venezuela) + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001005.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001005.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..97006163 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001005.txt @@ -0,0 +1,225 @@ +The Anarchist Computer Network - A Year Later -by Will Kemp +--------------------------------------------- + +A year ago, i wrote an article called "A Proposal To Set Up An Anarchist +Computer Network", which was originally published in the australian paper +"The Anarchist". I've recently discovered it was also reprinted by the +british paper "Freedom", the italian "Umanita Nova" and the french "Monde +Libertaire". As the net has now become a reality in Australia and my ideas +and knowledge have developed a long way beyond the point they were at a year +ago, i feel it's time to write a follow-up. + +The @NET really began in Melbourne, Australia's second biggest city, with an +anarchist BBS called "The Xchange". This started in early 1993 as a dial-in +bulletin board system (BBS), which allowed people with their own computers +and modems to call in via the telephone system to swap messages and read text +files. For a couple of years, it ran this way, with no network connections - +and not very many users. Late in 1994, we connected it up the to Internet, +giving the users access to international email which allows them to send and +receive electronic mail to and from other Internet users all round the world. +At this point, the number of users grew dramatically. + +A couple of months before The Xchange was connected to Internet, in about +November 1994, "Byteback" BBS began in Brisbane, two thousand kilometres to +the north of Melbourne, operating from Holus Bolus Anarchist Bookshop. It had +an Internet connection from the beginning and provided the same service as The +Xchange, allowing people to dial in from home with their own computers. +However, this bulletin board could also be used by coming into the shop and +this allowed people who didn't have computers to get access to the network. +Sadly, Holus Bolus closed down at the end of July this year, leaving Byteback +homeless and without its dial-in line. However, it's still running and is +available to the anarchist movement in Brisbane and hopefully one day it will +be fully operational again. + +During this period, things were happening in Sydney too. "The Media Room" +was established by an anarchist collective who were working towards setting +up an open access multi-media resource centre. They established Internet +links around the end of 1994 and by mid 1995 had their own BBS running, +called "Catalyst". Originally the Media Room was based at Jura Books, +but is now operating from Black Rose bookshop. Jura are now working on +setting up their own media group. + +In February 1995 an anarchist bookshop opened up in Melbourne, called +Barricade. Soon after opening, there was a public access computer terminal +in the shop, which was connected to Internet via The Xchange BBS. For the +few months between Barricade opening, and Holus Bolus closing, three of +the four anarchist bookshops in Australia had public access, internet-linked +computers. + +However, although the anarchist communities of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne +all have the possibility of constant cheap communication with each other, +this network doesn't seem to be used very much in that way yet. It's early +days in the development of such a resource and it obviously takes time for +people to find out how they can use it, as they've been so isolated from +each other for so long. But i feel sure that if i write a follow-up again +in another year, this situation will have changed completely. + +Strangely enough, access to this network seems to have developed and improved +international links much more rapidly than domestic ones. The most notable +example of this is the link between European Counter Network (ECN) in Italy +and The Xchange BBS in Melbourne. The Xchange now receives a constant flow +of news from the ECN BBS in Padova. The two BBSs also jointly produce a +regular English-language electronic newsletter which summarises these +postings, along with a full translation of one or two longer documents from +Italy's 'self-organised' left. + +There have also been links built with La Linea Lliure BBS in Barcelona in +Catalunya, Spunk Press - an international collective which maintains an +archive of anarchist literature on Internet - and several other anarchist +groups and individuals around the world. + +* * * + +At the time of the original article, i'd had no contact with Internet and +knew virtually nothing about it. Because of this, i made no mention of it +in that article. However, thanks to the guidance of a few anarchist friends +who knew more about these things than i did, i quickly came to realise that +the job of setting up an anarchist network would be made much easier and +cheaper - and more effective - if we used Internet as our means of +communication. Since that time too, general public knowledge and use of +Internet has grown at a fantastic pace. + +The original technology (known as Fidonet Protocol) which we'd envisoned +using for the net would have limited us in a lot of ways, due to the +fact that it would have been more expensive to operate and we wouldn't +have had the instant international access we now have with Internet. However, +it would have given us some short term advantages that we didn't get from +Internet. Firstly, it would have restricted our internal network +communication to other BBSs on our own network, which would probably have +meant there would by now be a lot more communication between the australian +cities. It would also have meant we could have had closer links with ECN in +Italy, as this is the type of network they have. La Linea Lliure in Barcelona +also operates this system and ECN in Germany have a similar network. + +However, Fido Protocol is not compatible with Internet and i believe that in +the long run, all these networks and BBSs will gradually change over to using +Internet as their communication medium. The reason for using Internet is +that it's become so much cheaper to operate than Fido (which has to be done +with long-distance phone calls) and that it gives you access to a vastly +wider network and one that's expanding at such a pace that the anarchist +movement can't afford not to have a voice there. Internet is undoubtedly +going to become one of the most important forms of media within a very short +time and i'd say it will eventually overtake television as the main form +of mass media in the world. Unlike television, however, we've got a chance +to have a significant voice in this medium, but we must get in there now +if we're going to get the chance to develop this influence. + +I'd like to see more anarchist groups around the world setting up their +own network links, as this will certainly help us communicate with each +other more easily and effectively. And with better communication, we can +only build a bigger and stronger global anarchist movement. The groups +with existing network links can provide help and advice for people and +collectives who want to set up their own computer systems. I've written +a book called: "Message Sticks In Cyberspace - an anarchist guide to +computer communication" ("message sticks" are traditional communication +mediums used by australian aboriginal people.) This book aims to take +people who know virtually nothing about computers and, with simple +explanations, get them to the point where they can set up a Bulletin Board +and run a network. So far this book is only available from Australia, but +hopefully there will soon be copies for sale in Europe. + +* * * + +Contacts +-------- + +The Xchange BBS +--------------- +P.O. Box 1052 +Preston +Victoria 3072 +Australia + +Tel (BBS): 03-388 0018 +Email: compcoll@xchange.apana.org.au + + +Catalyst BBS +------------ +Black Rose Anarchist Bookshop +583a King St +Newtown +New South Wales 2042 +Australia + +Email: cat@lyst.apana.org.au +WWW: http://www.usyd.edu.au/~cjmount/cat/ + + +Byteback BBS +------------ +Email: root@byteback.apana.org.au + + +En Linea Lliure BBS +------------------- +C/ de la Cera, 1 bis +08001 Barcelona +Catalunya + +Tel (BBS): ++34-3-3290783 +Fax: ++34-3-3290858 +Fidonet: 2:343/121.80 +Email: joanma + + +Indian BBS +---------- +(Tarragona) + +Tel (BBS): ++34-77-550485 +Fidonet: 2:343/302. +Email: c/o joanma + + +ECN Bologna (European Counter Network) +-------------------------------------- +Tel (BBS): 051-520986 +Email: fam0393@iperbole.bologna.it +WWW: http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/ecn/ecnbo.htm + + +Italian Anarchist Computer Book +------------------------------- +Digital Guerrilla -- guida all'uso alternativo di computer, modem e reti +telematiche. + +100 pages A5 (15 x 21 cm). + +10.000 lire (that is, about 6 US $, plus 2 $ for shipping and +handling outside italy) -- in italy you can get it in many squats, social +centres and infoshops. interested people in foreign countries can email + +lpaccagn@risc1.gelso.unitn.it + +An electronic html version of the book will be available on the +internet in a month or so. + + +Spunk Press +----------- +Electronic Anarchist Archive +Email: spunk-info-request@lysator.liu.se +WWW: http://www.cwi.nl/cwi/people/Jack.Jansen/spunk/Spunk_Home.html +Ftp: ftp://etext.archive.umich.edu/pub/Politics/Spunk/ + + +Message Sticks In Cyberspace +---------------------------- +by post from: +Black Rose Books +563a King Street +Newtown +N.S.W. 2042 +Australia + +$10 (australian) including post and package +international money orders only please. + + +The author of this article +-------------------------- +Email: will@desire.apana.org.au + + +END diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001011.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001011.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bc9e8255 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001011.txt @@ -0,0 +1,42 @@ + +The Criminal Justice Act + + The Internet invasion of the UK continues, and we have some e-mail + addresses where you can register your protest reason: The Criminal + Justice & Public Order Act of Britain effectively BANS the holding of + Rave parties in the UK and has revoked British Citizens' right to + assemble. Method: Use the Internet to register your protest and to + cast a global vote against this suspension of basic human rights! + 1. The web site www.open.gov.uk run by the UK governments computer + department has a feedback page. You can address a protest message + there. + 2. Although the ruling Conservative Party has not given out a public + adress, we do have the address of one MP, David Shaw e-mail: + David@dlshaw.demon.co.uk + 3. The UK opposition parties have done very little to stop the + Criminal Justice Act. Protest to their leaders. The Labour Party + leader's address is: + tony.blair@geo2.poptel.org.uk + The leader of the Liberal Party can be contacted at: + paddyashdown@cix.compulink.co.uk + 4. Another way to help is send your protest message to British + companies. + 5. Snail Mail: If you want to contact the British P.M and don't have + e-mail access then write a letter to Mr J Major, 10 Downing St, + London, SW1 2AA, United Kingdom + + This Bill which was recently passed by the British gov't and is an + insidious way to stop more than 10 people gathering on public land, + and threatens the development of democracy and human rights. In + Australia, we too have problems with finding decent venues and having + all night dance parties. However, no law yet prohibits the gathering + of people in order to congregate nor does the law impose a ban on + repetitive beats., i.e techno music. Spyfood knows that most ravers + wanna have fun, and its important to think about the plight of others + who are fighting for their right to rave. If you need to find out more + info on the Criminal Justice Act and its intentions. Check out the + World Wide Web site at the following URL + http://www.bath.ac.uk/~bs2ajs/CJ.Act.html + _________________________________________________________________ + + geekgirl contents page diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001015.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001015.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..37f3ef1d --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001015.txt @@ -0,0 +1,60 @@ +Welcome and introduction to SPS + +While there is a great deal of positive activist work going on many fronts, +there's a real need for improved communications among groups and, more +importantly, with sympathizers and independent and radical/progressive +writers and media. i have a modest proposal for all activists and groups +struggling for justice, liberation and the hearts and minds of our brothers +and sisters everywhere. + +Former Black Panther and political prisoner Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin, in a +manifesto he wrote while entombed in one of the most brutal prisons in the +USA, envisioned the creation an information bureau to network with +activists and supportive media to get liberation messages out to the +people. Put bluntly, the "mainstream" media, for all the right-wing howling +of liberalism and political correctness, very seldom documents, struggles +with and supports the efforts of people of color, the urban and rural poor +and radicals/progressives in their efforts for freedom and justice. +Instead, we're constantly treated to rightist talking heads distorting +reality and neo-Nazis being given free reign in "mainstream" media to +propagandize their opinions. What i am presenting is media on our own terms +through an idea i hope gets your support and participation. + +The Salazar-Parsons Service (christened after the late Chicano journalist +Rubeun Salazar, who was killed by the LA Police Department, and Black +anarchist Lucy Parsons) is designed as an electronic gathering point for +news and opinions of radical/progressive, liberationist and independent +viewpoints. The service stays alive through your support. Activists, +organizations and progressive writers should forward news, opinion, alerts +and anything you wish for publication to SPS at the electronic mail address +serve@hic.net. From here, SPS forwards material in weekly "packages" to +media who've expressed interest in publishing articles from the service as +well as a list of e-mail addresses for activists and groups who can spread +the word and offer aid. Various progressive and independent media are +always looking for help, articles and ideas too, and SPS will occasionally +send over an address of someone needing your input. SPS is brand-new and +electronically-based (and thus limited in some respects) but it can be a +good start to more networking and information exchange among activists and +with those writers and media sympathetic to our viewpoints and willing to +support us. This endeavor deserves your support. + +All correspondences (articles -- news, opinion, alerts, ideas, comments, +requests, etc.) should be forwarded to serve@hic.net. If you received this +message directly mailed to you, you're already a part of the network list; +if you don't wish to be included or want to recommend people to be, please +write serve@hic.net with e-mail addresses and such. Write if you've gotten +this message forwarded and want to join up. Those whose contributions can +receive credit if they wish. Please keep in mind that there's a need for +all kinds of articles -- analysis, news, alerts, activist reports, +commentaries and anything in between -- so everything is helpful. + +You'll see most articles prefixed with a word. Categories are as follows: +NEWS: news item or news feature on a given topic +OPINION: opinion piece or commentary on a given subject +ALERT: notice of a demonstration, street action or protests +ANNOUNCE: notice of a conference, social action or similar event +WORD: bit of information that fits no category + +This could be the beginning of a very positive project. Get involved! + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001016.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001016.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..14d5923c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001016.txt @@ -0,0 +1,149 @@ + Subject: CATTLE and RAINFORESTS + + Here's a chance to send the same message to three of my + favorite listservers: ANTHRO-L (anthropology), SANET-MG + (sustainable agriculture), and CHIAPAS-L. Allow me to + recommend you all to each other. While I am at it, I will + also send it to my very favorite list, HARP. I am harping + here in the more usual sense, not in the musical sense which + would come first to mind with my harper friends. + + I refer you to an article entitled "Animal Agriculture for the + Reforestation of Degraded Tropical Rainforests," by Ronald + Nigh. (CULTURE AND AGRICULTURE, the Bulletin of the Culture + and Agriculture Group of the American Anthropological + Association, Numbers 51-52, Spring-Summer 1995, pp. 2-6.) + + Nigh's institutional affiliation is Centro de Investigaciones + y Estudios Superiores en Antropologia Social del Sureste, San + Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. + + Instead of summarizing, I will give some quotes. + + "My view has moved from . . . seeing cattle as the principle + cause of tropical forest destruction . . . to the present + argument that livestock production is a key element in + tropical forest restoration!" (Author's own exclamation + point!) + + On traditional animal management: "(The) Maya . . . managed + secondary vegetation . . . to increase wild animal density. + The temporary, artificial creation of early successional + vegetation associations - fields, grasslands, or forage + brushlands, - may . . . provide the overall strategy for + animal production." + + On intensive grazing (citing Savory): " This method . . . has + allowed us to reduce the area of a ranch devoted to pasture to + one-third or even one-tenth of the area, while at the same + time increasing bioeconomic production in absolute terms. + This . . . has permitted the freeing up of lands, many of + which should never have been converted. . . ." + + Early observations on degraded pastures sown with African + exotics: "pastures respond (under controlled grazing) by + diversifying; especially, we note a welcome increase in some + native legumes. . . . (under a recent mild drought) our + pastures held up and recovered much better than our neighbors + with uncontrolled grazing or no grazing at all." + + On "enrichment planting" (citing Ramos and del Amo) and the + "natural ecosystem analogue approach" (citing Hart and + others): "It is possible both to speed the successional + process and to greatly increase the economic return at each + stage of succession, thus providing an important incentive for + forest regeneration. Production is achieved by substitution + of . . . more economically valuable species of the same + structure and behavior. . . ." Example: vanilla. + + On aquatic resources: "The restoration of the tropical + ecosystem and the elimination of the use of agrotoxics allows + the recovery of important aquatic resource zones that formerly + supplied a rich harvest of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, + reptiles, amphibians, turtles and birds. Some of these were + managed intensively in the past." + + Cattle production system: "Dual-purpose organic milk and meat + production is based on intensive, controlled grazing, + concentrated only on appropriate lands and combines the use of + cattle genetically selected for pasture-based tropical + systems." Specifically, the animal is "a Holstein Brahmin + (Sahiwal) F1 from New Zealand. . . adapted to a pure grazing + system . . . for organic milk production in the tropics." + + Closing paragraph: + + Tropical regions have been especially intractable to + modern technology. The complex ecology of the tropics + responds with particular vehemence to management methods + that view agriculture as an "industrial process" rather + than as a natural system. Organic methods, along with a + holistic approach to resource planning and marketing and + a respect for traditional knowledge provide a viable + strategy for the design of sustainable production systems + in tropical regions. + + + + Some personal remarks: + + Anthropologists: If you are not studying agriculture, you are + not leaving out the main thing. Contemporary culture IS + agriculture. Been that way for a long time. + + "SUSTAGGIES" (as tagged by Michele Gale-Sinex): US and MEXICAN + farmers have a lot in common. Please PAY ATTENTION to what is + happening in Mexico. + + To CHIAPAS-L: Thanks for being there, nursing the hopes of a + civil society. + + The challenge in Chiapas and elsewhere is not just political, + economic and social. It is also cultural, and specifically, + it is AGRIcultural. All the goals listed in question 1 of the + CONSULTA will be useless without a sustainable agriculture. + + THANKS TO RONALD NIGH, we have a fine piece of work which we + can discuss, dealing SPECIFICALLY with the agroecology of + Chiapas. Is there a Mexican or other agricultural scientist + who will come forward with an agroecological analysis of + extensive cattle production showing it to be technically + superior? Or an economist who will show that with all social + and environmental externalities taken into consideration, + intensive grazing is more costly (or less beneficial) than + extensive grazing? I'd like to see someone try. + + HARPING ON to a conclusion: + + The fabulous Latin American harper Alfredo Rolando Ortiz, + on his training cassette, plays two tunes, both very + charming, and then comments that the two tunes are + political symbols of two opposing parties. "So," he + says, "you must be careful to know who you are playing + for. So much for politics." + + But Alfredo never tells us which means what. + + So much for politics. + + + John Lozier + + Adjunct Associate Professor of Agricultural Education + College of Agriculture and Forestry + West Virginia University + Morgantown, WV + + AND + + Assistant Professor of Anthropology + California University of Pennsylvania + California, Pennsylvania + lozier@waldo.cup.edu + + AND + + ** _____________________________________ + ***// / Harping for Harmony + \/// / John Lozier +_____\/________________/______jlozier@wvnvm.wvnet.edu__________ diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001017.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001017.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1f38d96f --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001017.txt @@ -0,0 +1,668 @@ +McLibel Support Campaign +c/o 5 Caledonian Road +London N1 9DX UK +Tel/Fax +44-171 713 1269 + + Trial Summary Jan 95 to Sept 95, Part 1 + (Trial Summary up to January 95 is also available) + +Contents: +Part 1 + GENERAL + NUTRITION & ADVERTISING + DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT + PACKAGING - + LITTER - + FORESTS + RAINFORESTS + ANIMALS + CATTLE + CHICKENS + +Part 2 + FOOD SAFETY + EMPLOYEES AND TRADE UNIONS + + +--------------------------------------------------- +The High Court libel trial brought by the $26 billion a year +McDonald's Corporation against two unwaged London Greenpeace +supporters began in June 1994 and is now expected to last until +Spring 1996. It is already the longest libel trial in British +history and looks likely to become the longest civil trial ever. + + +The libel is alleged to have occurred in 1989/90. Approximately +180 witnesses from the UK and around the world are giving evidence +in court on all the issues in the case, namely: + +- The connection between multinational companies like McDonald's, +cash crops and starvation in the third world. + +- The responsibility of corporations such as McDonald's for damage +to the environment, including destruction of rainforests. + +- The wasteful and harmful effects of the mountains of packaging +used by McDonald's and other companies. + +- McDonald's promotion and sale of food with a low fibre, high +fat, saturated fat, sodium and sugar content, and the links +between a diet of this type and the major degenerative diseases in +western society, including heart disease and cancer. + +- McDonald's exploitation of children by its use of advertisements +and gimmicks to sell unhealthy products. + +- The barbaric way that animals are reared and slaughtered to +supply products for McDonald's. + +- The lousy conditions that workers in the catering industry are +forced to work under, and the low wages paid by McDonald's. + +- McDonald's hostility towards trade unions. + +Here follows a summary of some of the evidence from the trial +given between January & July 1995: + +GENERAL + +THE CASE - Despite being flown over as the Corporation's most +senior representative in order to give the background as to why +they brought this libel case, Robert Beavers did not know when the +action was begun or who made the decision or how it was made. He +believed that the UK President Paul Preston was responsible for +the initial decision. He claimed the factsheet "tarnished our +image, brand and reputation", but the Defendants asserted that +McDonald's "has a bad reputation in society". He accepted that +all the main 'defamatory' criticisms in the Factsheet had been +levelled at McDonald's by others in the past, in the USA and +elsewhere, and "are in the public domain in America to some +extent" but could not think of an example where they had sued +anyone for libel. The Defendants then stated that: "The reality +is the McDonald's Corporation could not sue anybody in the United +States for the text of this Factsheet. They are joining this +action in the UK because they want to use this court as a platform +all over the world." + +NUTRITION & ADVERTISING + +Robert Beavers, Senior Vice President and member of the Board of +Directors of the McDonald's Corporation since 1984, was challenged +with the London Greenpeace Factsheet extract which states that a +diet high in fat, sugar, animal products and salt, and low in +fibre, vitamins and minerals is linked with cancers of the breast +and bowel and heart disease (which has been characterised by +Richard Rampton QC as the most defamatory passage in the leaflet). +He was asked to compare it with an extract from McDonald's UK's +own pamphlet, written in 1984. He replied: "I can't spot any +difference". In fact, he later criticised their own extract, +mistaking it for the 'defamatory' London Greenpeace one! + +Mr Beavers explained that McDonald's have pioneered production +methods and "created an industry" which has "helped to expand the +eating out sector". Half of all meals in the USA are now eaten +outside of the home, he said - an increase from 1 in every 3 +around 15-20 years ago. He said this was a worldwide trend, that +"lifestyles are changing" and McDonald's have played a part in +that. In countries where there had previously been no hamburger +tradition, he said, advertising was 'part of the parcel' in +establishing company's influence on the diet. Their food was +advertised as 'nutritious' he said. + +Mr Beavers stated that, back in the 1960's, McDonald's were "the +trendsetters in the food industry, in particular the fast food +service industry, in utilising national television"... "It was at +that time that we introduced Ronald McDonald". He accepted that +"no other marketing factor has been more important in +distinguishing McDonald's as a leader in fast food than its early +decision to appeal to children through advertising." He agreed +that "in the early days [the company] probably did" spend more of +its advertising budget on children's ads, and stated "within a +short period of time Ronald was one of the most well known, +popular characters in America". + +DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT + +PACKAGING + +Robert Beavers (US Senior Vice-President) was +challenged on why McDonald's is still using ozone-damaging blowing +agents (HCFCs) in their packaging in the Philippines, Turkey and +Hong Kong, 15 years after the US Congress banned aerosol sprays +because of concerns about the ozone layer The Defendants referred +to a 1995 Corporation leaflet distributed in Hong Kong admitting +HCFC use by McDonald's H.K. under the heading "We Care About The +Ozone Layer"! + +Although Mr Beavers recognised the benefits of in-store customer +recycling of their packaging, and that the working of it "does not +cause difficulty", Mr Langert (a previous McDonald's witness) had +said "less than 10" stores out of 10,000 are doing this. + +LITTER + +Usama Siddique and Stacey Stump, the former and current +managers of McDonald's, Kings Road, London, gave evidence about +the problems of company litter. They recognised there had been +residents' complaints about litter over a number of years - +complaints to the store, McDonald's Head Office and to the local +Council. This had continued despite Mr Siddique laying on a +'candle-lit dinner' at the store for local residents in order to +try to have a 'good rapport'. A file of dozens of residents +associations' letters of complaint was shown to the court. One +series of complaints culminated in a letter from Government +Minister Nicholas Scott (local MP) to McDonald's President Paul +Preston. + +Approximately 1,500 sales a day were take-away custom - around 50% +of the store's business, rising to 60% in the summer. The store +was providing "something like 10,500 potential items of litter" +(such as bags, straws, cups and napkins etc) every day. Mr Stump +recognised that "there is a lot of McDonald's litter" and admitted +that there were "times when the volume of business is so great and +generates so much litter that [the store] cannot effectively deal +with it in the course of a day". He also said "I have seen +McDonald's litter in a lot of places, not just around my +restaurant". Both managers claimed that 'trash walks' (litter +patrols) to pick up all litter around a set route of nearby +streets were done approximately every 30 minutes. (They claimed +this had been done since the store opened, and happened at every +store). They agreed that much litter ended up far from the store, +or in local residents' basements, under cars or in bushes etc, +where it would not be picked up by a litter patrol. Mr Stump said +they were "trying to control the situation, not alleviate it 100%, +that would not be possible". + +Colin McIntyre, Press Officer of a local residents association and +former executive member of the National Union of Journalists gave +evidence for the Defendants. He explained that at the beginning +of the nineties, when McDonald's planned to open a store in Kings +Road, London, local residents opposed the plan (unsuccessfully), +in part because they predicted it would create litter problems. +He said the problem of litter had come up regularly at residents +association meetings. He said that since the McDonald's had +opened, rubbish in his street had got 'incredibly worse' and +stated "I would say approximately 70% of litter is McDonald's". +He produced photos that he had taken as evidence, showing +McDonald's litter in his street and the surrounding area. + +Initially the company carried out litter patrols two or three +times a day, but this did not last. As part of it's application +for a late opening licence, the company had assured the local +council that regular litter patrols were in operation. Mr +McIntyre said that "this was a blatant lie". He said that despite +continuous complaints to McDonald's, there had been no litter +patrol down his street for two and a half years. Apart from the +council, the only people he had seen picking up litter were his +neighbours. He added "I have seen one McDonald's litter cleaner, +it was enough of a joke we all made a note of it in our diaries". +Mr McIntyre told how local residents associations were also angry +about the store causing increased traffic, noise and cooking +smells and how they eventually set up an action group to consider +legal action. "I object to litter in front of my house and in my +basement" he said. "I do not really see why I should be condemned +to litter for the rest of my life". + +Professor Graham Ashworth, Director-General of the Tidy Britain +Group ('TBG'), witness for McDonald's, said that the TBG is an +agency which is recognised and funded by the government, but also +is part funded by company sponsorship. He said that McDonald's +were members of the TBG and had sponsored some of its activities. +This amounted to around 200,000 pounds per annum. They then got +the company logo on TBG leaflets. Companies such as McDonald's +became members of the TBG by invitation. Coca Cola were also +members, along with Shell, who Professor Ashworth agreed had been +convicted and fined more than once for pollution incidents. + +Professor Ashworth admitted that the Tidy Britain Group had +eventually changed its name from the Keep Britain Tidy Group after +"it had become apparent" in the late 1970's and early 80's that +Britain was no longer tidy. It was, he said "strange to have an +organisation talking about keeping a situation that did not +exist". He also admitted that "the rise of fast food business" +was "certainly a factor" (note: McDonald's UK was launched in +1974). He said that this was part of a "great increase in +packaging" in general. + +Professor Ashworth accepted that "when there are planning +applications for new fast food stores (including McDonald's), +litter is regularly a concern of objectors". He agreed that +McDonald's was in the "top 1 or 2%" of all companies whose +products end up as litter. He agreed that there were other +problems with litter apart from the fact that people don't like +looking at it. For example packaging, including polystyrene, "has +been swallowed by animals in mistake for food", causing the +wildlife to starve to death. Litter also ended up being blown +from the streets into rivers and the sea. + +Professor Ashworth agreed that "as much packaging waste as +possible" should be removed from the waste stream. He added that +it was "obvious common sense" that the order of priorities in +dealing with packaging and waste was (1) prevention, (2) re-use, +(3) recycling, (4) incineration (preferably with energy recovery), +and (5) landfill (note McDonald's consumer packaging ends up in +landfills or as litter). As a result of the Environmental +Protection Act 1990, local authorities were now able to issue +'Street Litter Control Notices' to force businesses to clean up +their litter within 'a reasonable distance' of their premises. In +Germany, local authorities have the power to levy a tax on +companies on the use of disposable packaging - Professor Ashworth +revealed that similar legislation is now being considered in the +UK. + +FORESTS + +Theo Hopkins, involved in forestry management and also +an independent researcher on the degradation and destruction of +temperate and boreal forests, gave evidence for the Defence on the +damaging effects of modern industrial forestry. This related to +McDonald's annual use of hundreds of thousands of tons of paper +packaging in Europe and the USA. In general, Mr Hopkins said, +large scale commercial forest exploitation has lead to the +progressive reduction of natural, 'old-growth' or ancient forests, +which are still being logged all over Europe, North America and +elsewhere. This has generally continued despite protests and +official 'protection' measures. He explained how monoculture +plantations have tended to replace natural forests, but could not +match such forests in their biodiversity, or in social, +ecological, cultural or spiritual value. Therefore, they could +not be described as 'sustainable' forests, even under official +international guidelines. + +The use by McDonald's of products utilising paper sourced from +such forests was, Mr Hopkins said, "self-evidently damaging to the +environment". Only since the late 1980's has the forest industry +publicly had to recognise these problems, faced with publicity and +pressure from the public. In particular, in contrast to the +ecologically rich natural forests, plantations have very few tree +species and less variety of insects, fungi, animals, plants and +birds. This is due not only to the character of commercial +plantations, but also to damaging techniques of forest management +- the effects of planting non-native species, age uniformity, +clear cutting, machine use, removing decaying trees, etc. Mr +Hopkins said that "in 1989/90, at the time of the alleged libel, +there was virtually no concern by government and forest industry +for ecological sustainability". Whilst some problems are now +being recognised, this has only just started to have some effect +on the 'forest floor'. + +Mr Hopkins outlined some particular environmental problems in +countries which provided the source for McDonald's packaging in +North America and Europe: USA & Canada - there is much logging +and clear cutting of natural forest; Czech Republic - forests are +being cut down faster than they can be regenerated; Finland & +Sweden - very little ancient forest remains; hundreds of species +dependent on forest ecosystems are endangered by modern forestry +methods; UK - since the Second World War, over 40% of what little +ancient woodland existed then has been felled, largely being +replaced by conifer plantations (which lead to acidification of +watercourses). + +Mr Hopkins quoted expert concerns over the scale of world pulp +production (which had "increased by 5 times over the last 40 +years", being "the major use of timber" from managed forests), and +the effects of pulp production "due to the highly polluting +milling processes". In order to protect forests, he said the +first priority is to reduce paper consumption, especially in rich +countries which consume vast quantities. He said that significant +quantities existed of alternative plant sources of paper fibre +(eg. kenaf, hemp, bagasse, cotton waste...), often of better +quality than wood pulp. + +RAINFORESTS + +David Walker, the Chairman and owner of McKey Foods, +gave evidence for McDonald's. McKeys, a former subsidiary of +McDonald's, has been the sole supplier since 1978 of the company's +UK hamburgers, now one million per day. Mr Walker admitted that +he had personally organised the direct import of 5 consignments of +Brazilian beef for McDonald's UK stores in 1983/4 - sold to them +by the Vestey's plant at Barretos, Brazil. A letter from Mr +Walker to the managing director of Weddels (a Vestey subsidiary) +was quoted in court. It revealed that the imports were a matter +of great controversy. Mr Walker confirmed that he had written the +letter, which stated that Prince Philip, the President of the +World Wildlife Fund, had recently met George Cohon, President of +McDonald's Canada, and had said (quoting from the Walker letter +17/5/83): " 'So you are the people who are tearing down the +Brazilian rainforests and breeding cattle' to which the reply was: +'I think you are mistaken', whereupon HRH said 'Rubbish' and +stormed away". Following this, the letter stated that Fred +Turner, the Chairman of the McDonald's Corporation, "issued a +worldwide edict that +no McDonald's plant was to use Brazilian beef". The same letter +revealed that Bob Rhea, then Managing Director of McDonald's UK, +had given Walker permission to use the Brazilian beef imports. +The imports went through, and were kept secret from Prince Philip, +from the World Wildlife Fund, from the BBC (who were sued the +following year) and from Friends of the Earth (in meetings in +1985). The whole scandal only came to light due to a handwritten +letter mistakenly disclosed by McDonald's solicitors in a bundle +of other documents to the McLibel Defendants last year. + +ANIMALS + +David Walker of McKey Foods admitted that "as a result of the meat +industry, the suffering of animals is inevitable". + +PIGS - Ashley Bowes, Director of GD Bowes Ltd (McDonald's pig meat +supplier), said that Bowes owns roughly 100,000 pigs. 40,000 were +reared on their own farms; the others were reared on a contract +system. The company also buys about 300,000 pigs each year from +approximately 80-100 other suppliers, to be slaughtered at the +company's abattoir. + +During his opening speech at the start of the trial, Mr Rampton QC +had claimed that the London Greenpeace Factsheet was libellous +because it stated that some of the animals reared for McDonald's +products - especially chickens and pigs - spend their lives in +factory farms with no access to the open air. He asserted that +"Whilst it is true that a lot of chickens live in large sheds, it +is not true of pigs. The pigs used for McDonald's food in this +country at least, live in the open air in fields." + +Dr Gregory (expert witness for McDonald's) had visited Bowes in +order to prepare his expert report for the court, but had only +been shown the outdoor system. When questioned by Richard Rampton +QC, Mr Bowes' testimony concentrated on the outdoor system of +rearing that the company used, rather than the indoor. But under +cross-examination by the Defendants, Mr Bowes admitted that there +were "two separate buying channels for pigs" (indoor and outdoor) +and that McDonald's bought indoor pork and would only get outdoor +pork if there was some left over. Asked if it was the case that +McDonald's were not willing to pay as much as other customers to +purchase 'free range' meat, Mr Bowes replied "I wish they would". + + +Sows bought for indoor breeding stock would have been born and +reared indoors for the 8-10 months before the company got them, Mr +Bowes admitted. He said his own company farms had never used dry +sow stalls. He said "I shall welcome it when they are banned +totally in this country" (in 1998) and said he was against the use +of them because of "the restriction on the sow... I personally +think it is not a good method of animal production for an animal +to be shut in the stall for all that time"... "It is not +comfortable". However, he admitted that about 12% of their +suppliers still used the dry sow stalls, and that about 7 years +ago up to 50% would have been using them. Dry sow stalls are +narrow metal barred stalls (about 2.1 metres by 0.6 metres) in +which the sow cannot turn around, and can only stand up or lie +down. The floor is concrete or slats or can be both. After +mating the sow is taken to the dry sow stall and remains there +until she goes to the farrowing crate (nearly 4 months). + +The company's own farm has 3 indoor breeding units. The sows are +kept in groups of 6 or 12 until two days before they are expected +to give birth, when they are moved to farrowing crates. The +crates are slightly wider than the sow and about 0.5 - 0.75 metres +longer. Mr Bowes admitted that it was impossible for the sows to +turn round. The sows endured 3= to 4 weeks in the crates, until +the piglets were weaned. Three days after weaning, the whole +breeding cycle was started again. Mr Bowes said the "sows have on +average 7 litters" before they were slaughtered at about 3-4 +years. + +Bowes weans piglets at 24 days. They are then reared in what he +called "indoor kennels", with roughly 20 weaners in each kennel, +until they reached 30kg. At least until a few years ago, Mr Bowes +was aware of some suppliers using the flat-deck system for rearing +weaners. The weaners would be kept "15 or 20" in an area "roughly +12 by 14 feet", normally on a metal or plastic mesh floor without +any bedding. At 30kg (around 9 or 10 weeks), the pigs were +transferred to indoor "finishing units", where for the last part +of their lives there was only 0.52 square metre of floor space per +pig, plus an enclosed and roofed dunging area. They remained in +the finishing units until they reached 90kg liveweight (at around +22 or 23 weeks old), when they were sent for slaughter. + +Pigs were slaughtered at a rate of 220-240 an hour at the +company's own slaughterhouse. They were stunned using "head only +stunning". When Dr Gregory (expert witness for McDonald's) had +visited the plant, he calculated that the current used to stun the +pigs was 0.45 amps. The Government's Codes of Practice state that +for head only stunning the current should be a minimum of 1.3 +amps, otherwise the pig "is unlikely to be stunned effectively". +Mr Bowes claimed that Dr Gregory's figure was wrong because he +hadn't taken into account the fact that Bowes sprayed the piglets +with water before stunning, which he said "improved the +conductivity". Dr Long, for the Defence stated that he had "a +great deal of concern" about this, because there was a danger that +"the current tracks round the conducting wet surface instead of +going through the more resistant part of the head", so the pig +"would not be properly stunned and would be stuck while it still +had a sense of feeling". Mr Bowes admitted that some pigs were +stunned with the tongs "on each side of the neck". The Codes of +Practice state "electrodes should not be applied behind the ears +or on each side of the neck, otherwise the animal may be paralysed +without being rendered unconscious and may suffer severe pain". + + +Mr Bowes said that his company had used growth promoters (such as +clenbuterol) until "about 5 years ago" when they were banned by +the EC. He admitted that until that time "it was fairly standard +practice in the industry". + +CATTLE + +Timothy Chambers, Quality Assurance Manager from Midland +Meat Packers Ltd (the largest of dozens of abattoirs supplying +beef for McDonald's hamburgers) said that 600 - 800 animals are +killed there daily. Cattle are transported there live "from all +over the country", sometimes hundreds of miles. His company, he +said, "care about the animals' welfare, for commercial reasons as +much as anything else", because if they are "subjected to stress" +prior to slaughter the meat can become dark and "aesthetically +unpleasing", and therefore "devalued quite considerably". They +supply ex-dairy cows for McDonald's use - the company's own expert +witness admitted in the witness box that such cows lived a life of +particular stress and hardship. The court had heard that McKey's +had calculated that McDonald's used beef from one in twelve (8%) +of all cattle slaughtered in the UK. + +Mr Chambers admitted his company did use electric shock goads to +move cattle around, contrary to claims by McDonald's that this +practice was banned by their suppliers. Company documents stated +that one of their concerns is to prevent "animals escaping". Mr +Kenny (McDonald's Senior Quality Assurance Supervisor) asserted +that McDonald's had a policy against the use of electric goads to +move cattle, but was unaware that their largest supplying +slaughterhouse was still using such goads. + +Dr Alan Long, an independent researcher for over 40 years, gave +evidence for the Defence. He had studied at first hand conditions +for cattle and pigs on farms, at markets, in transportation and +slaughterhouses. His evidence was that animals had been turned +into production 'machines', subject to stress and distress, +disease, abuse, and a short and totally unnatural life. Dairy +cattle (as used for McDonald's burgers) have a particularly +exploited existence based on continuous forced pregnancies and +almost constant lactation until exhausted, and then transported +under extreme stress to be 'burgered' at 5 or 6 years old. "Cows +kept without such stress have a life span of 25-35 years," he +said. Cows showed signs of great distress when their calves were +taken from them at a very young age, frequently mooing and +bellowing, sometimes for several days. A whole series of what are +termed 'production diseases' affected dairy cows - effectively +brought on by "excessive pressures of production". These included +mastitis (a painful udder condition) which affected about 35% of +dairy cows in Britain. Dr Long said output from a modern dairy +cow is approx. 5,500 litres a year, about twice what it was at the +end of the 1940's. Sometimes the strain on the udder caused it to +drop and then, in order to avoid kicking the udder, the cows would +walk in an unnatural way which caused lameness. + +In Dr Long's opinion, intensively reared pigs (which McDonald's +use) generally suffer a similarly unpleasant fate. At the end of +the 1980's, over 50% of sows spent nearly all their lives in +stalls and crates, with no freedom of movement, unable even to +turn round. He criticised animal slaughter practices stating that +noise and handling methods (including use of goads) led to high +levels of stress and even terror. He was also highly critical of +inefficient stunning methods. 'Humane killing' is a 'lie' he +said. He believed that 'consumption of such cruelly derived foods +is unnecessary' and that whilst he would welcome any improvements +in conditions for the animals, they had a right to a life of +dignity and freedom - to relax and to root in the open air, to +play, to socialise, and to rear their young. + +As an expert biochemist and nutritionist, Dr Long had further +concluded that "growth boosters and other 'performance enhancers' +may be masqueraded as animal health products". Diseases caused by +modern farming methods, and the drugs used to combat them not only +cause problems for the animals but also risks for human health too +(such as BSE). He shared concerns about the risks of eating meat +containing antibiotic, hormone, and pesticide residues. He also +said that modern livestock production causes much pollution (from +silage effluents and slurry), especially in the dairy, poultry and +pig industries. + +CHICKENS + +Mark Pattison, Group Technical Manager of Sun Valley +Poultry Ltd (a subsidiary of Cargill) ('SVP'), gave evidence for +McDonald's about the conditions under which chickens were reared +to produce the meat for chicken McNuggets and McChicken +sandwiches. 27 million chickens are reared every year in Europe +to supply meat to McDonald's. About 20% of SVP's turnover is +devoted to McDonald's custom. + +Dr Pattison said that SVP hatches chicks 4 days a week "in the +order of 200,000 chicks each day". Eggs that do not hatch out are +put through the macerator, which he agreed might include chickens +still alive in the eggs. The company kills an additional 200-300 +unwanted chicks each day, by gassing them with carbon dioxide. + + +Chicks are transported to the broiler units when they are a few +hours old. When they arrive, the chicks are routinely given +antibiotics in their feed for the first week of their lives in an +attempt to reduce infectious disease. Around 550 broiler sheds +are used by the company, approx. 110 were company owned and 440 +were run by contractors. Dr Pattison said "For broilers we +normally have 20-25,000 [birds] in a modern shed" of "14,500 +square feet". Broiler houses were generally stocked with roughly +twice as many males as females with a partition between them. +Females are taken out for slaughter at 42 days old, weighing +approx. 2kg. The males were slaughtered at 52 days, weighing +approx. 3kg. Throughout their lives there was never any +"opportunity to go outside" Dr Pattison admitted. He agreed that +'farmyard' chickens "can live up to 5 to 10 years". + +Despite his being on the committee of the Farm Animal Welfare +Council which produced the Report on the Welfare of Broiler +Chickens (for the Government), Dr Pattison accepted that SVP are +not complying with its recommendation that the 34kg per square +metre stocking density "should not be exceeded at any time during +the growing period". The stocking density at SVP is "about 36.5kg +per square metre". He accepted that the birds "have less space +each than an A4 sheet of paper", but said "I do not believe it is +cruel". Dr Pattison said "economics are a very important factor, +of course" in why the company had not reduced stocking density. +Dr Pattison said SVP "normally run our sheds at a lighting level +between 10 and 20 lux", with 20-30 minutes of darkness in any 24 +hour period. The FAWC report recommends a minimum of 20 lux with +at least 30 minutes of darkness every 24 hours. + +The average mortality rate to 52 days is around 6-6.5% he said. +30-50 birds "would be one day's mortality" for a shed. Ascites +disease was "one of the major causes of mortality" in flocks Dr +Pattison said, accounting for "10-15% of the total deaths". He +agreed it was caused as a result of the rapid growth of broilers +with the result that they were "too big for their lung size". He +said "this only occurs in broiler chickens". Dr Pattison also +admitted that from 1989-92 Gumboro disease was a common problem. +He said between 1989-91, Sun Valley "were losing 2.5% of all our +birds every week" "over and above the normal mortality". He +agreed that "broiler houses provide the ideal conditions for the +rapid spread of viral diseases like Gumboro". Chickens suffered +from other health problems including leg weaknesses (which Dr +Pattison admitted were often a consequence of breeding birds for +weight, and also lack of exercise) and hockburns (10% of chickens +are currently affected). From their arrival to 5 days before +slaughter, the bird's food contained growth promoters, Dr Pattison +said. "The ones normally used are Zinc Bacitracin, Virginia Mycin +or Avo Parcin" which are "antibiotic compounds". He agreed that +"there is a greater chance of leg problems the faster the chickens +grow". + +Birds were caught and loaded into crates in modules and +transported by lorry to the slaughter plant (an average distance +of 25-30 miles, sometimes up to 70 miles). Catchers were +instructed to carry up to 6 birds in one hand, holding them by one +leg. They were crammed 18-30 birds to a crate of approx. 3ft x +2ft x 10 inches. Dr Pattison said that the kinds of injuries +which birds may suffer in the process of catching included +dislocation of the hip joint (which may cause haemorrhage), broken +legs and crushed heads (if their head was caught between the crate +and the module when the drawers were being shut). Dr Pattison +claimed such injuries were not common. However, defence witness +John Bruton (a former catcher for Sun Valley) said that such +injuries were a regular occurrence as the catchers were not given +enough time to take care with the birds, despite voicing their +concerns to the company. This was particularly so after the +company reduced the number of catchers to cut costs. A team of 6 +catchers was expected to load a lorry with between 4-6000 birds, +about every 45 minutes. + +See Trial News 1 for report of Dr Gregory's evidence on the +problems he witnessed with slaughter methods at SVP. Dr Pattison +claimed SVP had since installed a new stun bath and had "virtually +eliminated the problem of pre-stunning shocks" which he said "used +to be a big problem in the old design of stunning baths". + +Keith Kenny claimed McDonald's was concerned about animal welfare +and would 'discontinue' any supplier not complying with official +Codes of Practice. However, their supplier Sun Valley Poultry's +practice of keeping chickens over the official maximum stocking +density didn't worry him. He said "in my opinion, the birds in +Sun Valley do not suffer". Eggs used by McDonald's are supplied +by Oasters Ltd, who keep chickens in battery cages. Mr Kenny said +he considered keeping chickens in battery cages with much less +space than an A4 sheet of paper to be "humane". He said he had +visited Oasters and "the birds seemed to be very happy". + +Clare Druce, researcher for the Farm Animal Welfare Network, +testified for the Defence that the "modern broiler chicken is a +genetic freak, the product of generations of selection for fast +growth. This selection has shown a marked lack of concern for the +birds' well-being." "Birds are frequently diseased, lifeless and +crippled," she added, and "suffer from painful and crippling leg +weaknesses" due to their unnatural weight, and also suffer from a +number of common diseases. Some of these diseases "may remain +sub-clinical yet cause serious diseases in humans eating +contaminated meat," especially in "the young, pregnant, old and +immuno-compromised". + +Ms Druce stated that the broilers' "living conditions are +unacceptable, being unsuited to the birds' needs and insanitary" +with "overcrowding, dim lighting, inadequate ventilation, and +filthy litter". The broilers' parent stock are made to suffer "a +state of acute hunger for extended periods" to get them to +reproduce satisfactorily. Additionally, she questioned the +effectiveness of electric stunning and neck cutting during chicken +slaughter, as well as all aspects of the rearing, transportation +and slaughter process imposed upon hundreds of millions of +chickens every day in this country. In her opinion "welfare +problems" were due to "thinking only of profit and quick growth, +with no regard whatsoever for the behavioural patterns or needs or +the feelings of the birds". + +As a result of her own research, including raising former battery +and broiler chickens, Ms Druce had concluded that chickens +"ancestral patterns are never, never outbred, never lost by +changes in habitat - they are still there, precisely the same". +This only served to underline the cruelty of modern systems and +the right of chickens to live a natural life. + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +U.S. McLibel Support Campaign Press Office +PO Box 62 Phone/Fax 802-586-9628 +Craftsbury VT 05826-0062 Email dbriars@world.std.com +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +To subscribe to the "mclibel" listserve, send email + + To: majordomo@world.std.com +Subject: + Body: subscribe mclibel + +To unsubscribe, change the body to "unsubscribe mclibel" diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001018.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001018.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dd299656 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001018.txt @@ -0,0 +1,558 @@ +From world.std.com!mclibel-approval Wed Sep 27 19:54:21 1995 remote from byteback +Received: by byteback.dircon.co.uk (1.65/waf) + via UUCP; Wed, 27 Sep 95 21:56:23 1 + for will +Received: from europe.std.com (europe.std.com [192.74.137.10]) by newsgate.dircon.co.uk (8.6.12/8.6.9) with ESMTP id TAA21115 for ; Wed, 27 Sep 1995 19:54:21 +0100 +Received: from world.std.com by europe.std.com (8.6.12/Spike-8-1.0) + id OAA01840; Wed, 27 Sep 1995 14:25:02 -0400 +Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) + id AA01186; Wed, 27 Sep 1995 14:24:35 -0400 +Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) + id AA01158; Wed, 27 Sep 1995 14:24:33 -0400 +Date: Wed, 27 Sep 1995 14:24:33 -0400 +From: dbriars@world.std.com +Message-Id: <199509271824.AA01158@world.std.com> +To: mclibel@world.std.com +Subject: Trial Summary Jan 95 to Sept 95, Part 2 +Sender: mclibel-approval@world.std.com +Precedence: bulk +Reply-To: mclibel@world.std.com + +Subject: Trial Summary Jan 95 to Sept 95, Part 2 +Date: Sept 27, 1995 +From: McLibel Support Campaign, London + +McLibel Support Campaign +c/o 5 Caledonian Road +London N1 9DX UK +Tel/Fax +44-171 713 1269 + + Trial Summary Jan 95 to Sept 95, Part 2 + (Trial Summary up to January 95 is also available) + +Contents: +Part 1 + GENERAL + NUTRITION & ADVERTISING + DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT + PACKAGING - + LITTER - + FORESTS + RAINFORESTS + ANIMALS + CATTLE + CHICKENS + +Part 2 + FOOD SAFETY + EMPLOYEES AND TRADE UNIONS + +--------------------------------------------------------------- +FOOD SAFETY + +Food poisoning - John Atherton (responsible for food and employee +safety in McDonald's UK) admitted that McDonald's receives between +1500-2750 customer complaints of food poisoning a year, maybe more +than that. The company also received complaints of 'foreign +bodies' in food sold. Mr Walker had estimated 800 complaints +regarding hamburgers, mostly concerning bits of plastic. Mr +Atherton stated it was 'slightly more' for chicken, mostly +concerning pieces of bone. + +The court heard that there had been several occasions when the +authorities had taken action against McDonald's for selling raw or +undercooked meat products including an incident in November 1994 +when a 3 year old girl was served undercooked Chicken McNuggets +containing salmonella. The McNuggets were tested by local health +officials and declared unfit for human consumption. + +The court also heard how the company now admitted responsibility +for a serious food poisoning outbreak in Preston in 1991, when +several customers were hospitalised as a result of eating +undercooked burgers contaminated by potentially deadly E.Coli +0157H bacteria. They also admitted responsibility for a similar +outbreak in 1982 caused by the same type of bacteria, which +affected 47 people in Oregon and Michigan, USA. + +NB: McDonald's have refused to call their own expert witness on +food poisoning, Colin Clarke, who prepared a detailed report +following a visit he made to three company stores. The court +heard that, regarding the cooking of hamburgers (which he had +tested), Mr Clark "recommends that 73 degrees Celsius be the +internal minimum temperature of the final product, and that their +temperatures were not reaching that in all cases. The minimum +was, in fact, 70 degrees Celsius." + +The Corporation's confidential Operations Manual for all stores +world-wide was quoted. It set a minimum internal temperature to +be reached of 64 degrees Celsius for a cooked burger. Robert +Beavers said the company was "maybe 99.8%" sure this temperature +was safe. But he believed it had been raised a degree or two +following the deaths of two customers of Jack-In-The-Box a couple +of years back, in a similar incident to the 1982 McDonald's one. +He admitted that this recent incident had "heightened the +awareness of everyone in the industry" and agreed that the US +Government "was concerned" about internal temperatures of cooked +burgers and was considering introducing regulations 'if +necessary'. + +Dr Pattison said that so far as chicken products are concerned, +the principal hazards to human health are campylobacter and +salmonella food poisoning organisms. Campylobacter was generally +found on 70% of raw poultry. Whilst, he claimed, salmonella was +now only found in 1% of chickens coming into the plant, 25% of +samples of their deboned meat contained salmonella organisms. He +said that particularly for the very young and very old, "a very +low number of organisms can cause food poisoning". The company +did not test raw chicken for listeria, but Dr Pattison accepted +that 60% of raw chickens were contaminated with listeria +monocytogenes, which can also cause illness in people. He said +that the bacteria would be killed when cooked, if the meat itself +reached 70 degrees Celsius for 2 minutes. + +Bacteriological Contamination of beef products - McDonald's are +supplied with beef from a large percentage of UK abattoirs. +Timothy Chambers (Quality Assurance Manager from Midland Meat +Packers Ltd) expressed his concern that the widespread use of +water sprays in abattoirs to 'clean' carcasses merely spread +bacterial contamination around. He said he would be concerned +about "health risks" from any batch of tested meat containing over +5 million bacteria per gram. + +David Walker of McKeys explained how all raw beef supplies to +McKey process plants were sampled, microbiologically tested, and +categorised as 'satisfactory', 'passable', and 'unsatisfactory'. +He stated that 'unsatisfactory' related to beef which had a total +colony of more than 10 million bacteria per gram. He then +admitted that such consignments were, in fact, not rejected and +were used for McDonald's hamburgers. On top of this, he claimed +that any raw meat supplies arriving at over 4 degrees Celsius +would receive 'a cast iron rejection'. But on being challenged +with McKeys own forms showing acceptance of beef arriving over 4 +degrees Celsius, he admitted this happened and explained that +instead "the quality control officer receiving the meat would make +a management decision which was right for the company". + +In January 1995, following months of effort by the Defendants to +compel McDonald's to hand over vital 1994 documents regarding the +bacterial content of their hamburgers, the court was told that a +small snag had just come to light. Richard Rampton QC, for +McDonald's, said that the documents had been held for safekeeping +by Group 4 security but had inadvertently been destroyed by them +in error. + +Growth promoters - McDonald's UK company documents state that +"McDonald's will not accept beef from cattle subjected growth +promoters or hormone treatment". Mr Kenny said it was "not +desirable" to have hormones or antibiotics in the food chain. He +believed that the concern with antibiotics was that "treatment +resistant strains of bacteria may develop in the human body". The +use of growth promoting hormones is illegal in the UK, but +McDonald's have acknowledged that they are widely used in the USA +and the company uses meat from animals subjected to growth +promoters. Mr Kenny also acknowledged 'public concerns' over +pesticide residues in food and stated that McDonald's "would not +want them in the food chain" because of health risks. The +Defendants referred to a 1987 US National Research Council major +report on pesticide residues which found that beef ranked second +of the list of foods with the greatest estimated 'oncogenic' +(carcinogenic) risk. Mr Kenny admitted that their lettuce +contained pesticide residues, although he believed the residue +levels were within government 'limits'. + +EMPLOYEES AND TRADE UNIONS + +Low Pay and No Guaranteed Hours - Sid Nicholson, McDonald's UK +Vice President, (who was Head of Personnel from 1984 - 1991, +combining this for most of the time with the job of Head of +Security) admitted that McDonald's set their starting rates for +crew employees for most of the country "consistently either +exactly the same as the minimum rates of pay set by the Wages +Council or just a few pence over them". He agreed that for crew +aged 21 or over the company "couldn't actually pay any lower wages +without falling foul of the law". He stated that when the Wages +Council abolished the legal protection of a minimum wage for +under-21s (in 1986) "I was quite content..because it simplified +things". However, he said "I do not accept that McDonald's crew +are low paid" and he denied that wages in the catering industry +were low compared to other industries. Robert Beavers (US Senior +Vice-President) admitted that McDonald's US workers started at the +legal minimum wage of $3.35 per hour. He agreed the company +"would not be allowed to pay less". "I do not consider it ($3 - +$4 p.h.) to be low pay. It is a fair wage for the work that is +expected" he stated. He refused to reveal his own salary. There +were "no hours guaranteed" and 80% of the jobs were part time. + + +Pay, Mr Nicholson admitted, "would be one of the things that is +often mentioned" when staff were asked what improvements they +would like at McDonald's, but, he said "you show me any working +man who feels he is getting enough pay"..."I do not feel I am +getting enough pay". He admitted that in 1993 McDonald's senior +management levels had salaries over 75,000 pounds p.a. plus +benefits and perks. At that time the starting rate for crew +members outside London was 3 pounds per hour for over 18's and +2.65 pounds per hour for 16 & 17 year olds. Mr Nicholson said +that these were the basic rates and that crew could increase their +pay rates by passing 'Performance Reviews'. Company documents +revealed that in order to obtain a 5p per hour rise the crew +member would have to score at least 76%, for a 10p per hour rise +87%, and for a 15p per hour rise 93.5%. The guideline for +attaining 87% or over was that employee "performance consistently +exceeds job requirements and expectations". + +About 80% of crew people are 'part-time', averaging about 20 hours +per week. Mr Nicholson admitted that employees do not have any +guaranteed hours or pay at McDonald's. He agreed that managers +have the power, while any crew person is working their scheduled +shift, to compulsorily cut or extend the hours being worked (the +crew handbook states: "On occasions you may be asked to continue +working past your normal finishing time. You will be released as +soon as the need for your service has passed"). Even breaks could +be cut. In any event, crew are not paid for meal breaks. + +McDonald's, Mr Nicholson admitted, has never paid overtime rates, +despite the Wages Council setting minimum overtime rates for all +hours worked over 39 hours in a week. He said overtime pay was +unnecessary because of company policy setting a maximum of 39 +hours a week for all crew. But the Defendants showed from +disclosed Payroll reports that at least 5% of hourly-paid staff in +London & the South worked over 39 hours each week. This, Mr +Nicholson claimed, showed it was a 'rare' occurrence. Payroll +records for one store indicated that 9 out of 53 employees worked +over + +78 hours in a fortnight (39 hrs p.w.). When asked if it would +concern him if 17% of employees were working more than 39 hours a +week, in breach of policy, he said "It would not concern me". He +also stated "it is only policy". Mr Beavers (McDonald's US) +agreed that in the US it would be illegal not to pay overtime to +employees working more than 40 hrs p.w. He said he thought this +was a "fair" law for the employees, but agreed that McDonald's +would only pay overtime if forced to by law. + +Mr Beavers admitted that Ray Kroc, McDonald's founder and Chair, +had made a $250,000 donation to the controversial 1972 +presidential campaign of Richard Nixon, a donation which was +'perhaps' a subject of investigation during the Watergate +corruption scandal. The Defendants referred to passages of the +'Behind The Arches' book (written with McDonald's backing and +assistance) which admitted that the donation came around the very +time that McDonald's franchisees were lobbying to prevent an +increase in the minimum wage, and to get legislation (dubbed 'The +McDonald's Bill') passed to be able to pay a sub-minimum wage to +some young workers. + +Exploiting Young Workers - Approximately two thirds of McDonald's +crew are under 21, and nearly one third are under 18. But Mr +Nicholson denied McDonald's "chose to employ a high percentage of +young workers so that they could exploit them for lower wages and +make greater profits". McDonald's UK has admitted that it was +convicted of 73 offences in relation to the employment of young +people in the early 1980's. Mr Nicholson said that "since that +time I have no knowledge of any infringements of the regulations". +He was quizzed by the Defendants about the statement of a +forthcoming company witness who admitted that under-18s had worked +illegal hours at Swindon McDonald's, but 'only' on 'one or two' +occasions. Additionally, time sheets obtained by the Defendants +revealed five breaches of the law relating to the employment of +young people in one week at Orpington in 1987. Other documents +revealed that as recently as 1993, on average 2-3 under 18's were +showing up on company records as working in excess of 96 hours in +a fortnight (48 hours a week) which until 1990 was illegal, and +was still, according to Mr Nicholson, against company policy. + +McDonald's, Mr Beavers accepted "depends for their profits (over +$1 billion p.a.) on the labour of young people." He agreed the +majority of people working for McDonald's in the USA were under 21 +and admitted they positively recruit youth. He admitted that in +1988/9, Pennsylvania authorities cited 466 violations of child +labour laws at 8 Philadelphia McDonald's stores (run by a +franchisee), but the owner/manager was not sacked. The Defendants +accused the Corporation of 'double standards' when comparing this +with crew members who can face summary dismissal for a single +'offence' against company rules. In fact, despite claiming +earlier that higher standards of 'honesty' and 'ethics' applied to +those in the Company's hierarchy, he could not think of a single +example of any officials being sacked for violating Company +policy. + +Pressure to Boost Profits - The Defendants showed a documentary +'One Every Mile', filmed with McDonald's permission inside two +London stores, which portrayed the reality of the high-pressure +working conditions for employees. Mr Nicholson agreed the +conditions shown were 'typical' of high volume stores. Crew were +filmed complaining about pay, of pay rises being delayed, about +'hours worked being under-recorded' and that the pressure of the +work 'does your brain in'. The documentary, made for Channel 4, +was never broadcast. Commenting on the fact that there was a +preponderance in the film of managers with an ex-military +background, the witness said that such people bring a "sense of +discipline" to McDonald's. + +Mr Nicholson admitted that store managers were under pressure from +higher up to keep labour costs down. Company documents revealed +that a former manager in Newcastle (and witness for the +Defendants) had been ordered amongst other things to get his +labour costs down "within targeted labour guidelines" (of between +14-16% of sales) or face dismissal. Internal company documents +showing profit and loss projections for 1992 revealed that the +company had planned to reduce the overall crew labour costs +nationally as a percentage of turnover (at about 15% of sales) +whilst increasing the management percentage. Meanwhile, in 1992, +the manager of another Newcastle store was jailed for 6 months for +inducing a crew member to phone through a hoax bomb threat to +nearby Burger King in order to boost sales at McDonald's. + +Each year a McDonald's 'Store of the Year' is chosen by the +company because of its "consistently high standards" in all areas, +including personnel matters. It is used as an example to others. +In 1987, Colchester was chosen. A statement of the company's own +witness - an Operations Manager at McDonald's with responsibility +for 20 stores - revealed that special clean-ups were ordered at +the Colchester store when senior management were due to visit, +some employees having to work through the night to complete the +clean-up. Further, breaks were sometimes shortened and hours +could be compulsorily cut or extended. The manager admitted that +crew sometimes worked up to 50 hours a week (which Mr Nicholson +said indicated the store was under-crewed), or did double shifts +(about which he commented "they would be exhausted"). When +challenged over these practices at their so-called 'exemplary' +store, Mr Nicholson stated that if they were happening in all +McDonald's stores in the country "it would not concern me". + +Employee safety - On October 12th 1992, Mark Hopkins, a McDonald's +worker in Manchester, was electrocuted on touching a 'fat +filtering unit' machine in the 'wash-up' area of the store. A +McDonald's memo from the north west region dated 17/2/92, was +quoted which revealed that "there have been several recent +instances in our restaurants where members of staff have received +severe shocks from faulty items of electrical equipment". +Following an investigation of the death, the Manchester +Environmental Health Department issued a Prohibition Order forcing +McDonald's to install 'Residual Current Devices' on all electrical +equipment in wash-up areas. In their view, accepted by Mr +Atherton, without such devices there was 'a risk of serious +personal injury'. The devices were fitted nationally following Mr +Hopkins' death. + +Jill Barnes (McDonald's UK Hygiene and Safety Officer) was +challenged over a previously confidential internal report into +Mark Hopkins' death. It had catalogued a number of company +failures and problems, and had made the damning conclusion: +"Safety is not seen as being important at store level". In +addition, a confidential Health & Safety Executive report of 1992 +made 23 recommendations for improvements. One of its conclusions +was "The application of McDonald's hustle policy [ie. getting +staff to work at speed] in many restaurants was, in effect, +putting the service of the customer before the safety of +employees". The Defendants referred to McDonald's Crew Training +Programme which stated "When do you use hustle? (All the time)". +Mr Beavers stated that the 'hustle' policy of fast working +emanated from the US and applied to their (over a million) workers +all over the world. But he was unaware that the 'hustle' policy +had been lambasted by the UK Health & Safety Executive. + +MANAGEMENT MANIPULATION + +McDonald's produces a bi-monthly +magazine - 'McNews' - which, Mr Nicholson said, is "targeted at +restaurant crew" "to portray a kind of corporate identity to the +crew". On their first day, all new crew people are shown an +official McDonald's 'orientation' video to, he said, 'inject' a +'family feeling'. He denied this was 'brainwashing' and said "If +they do not like it they do not need to stay". As part of the +performance reviews (needed to obtain a pay rise) crew were marked +on their "attitude" "towards store success" and their "desire to +progress". Crew people failing to have the right attitude "could +probably be terminated" he stated. + +Mr Beavers explained how management are trained to motivate staff +- "We introduced psychology in some of our personnel courses" he +said, (at their so-called Hamburger University). Asked if their +workers "are taught to identify with the goals of the company" he +replied "hopefully they do,". They are given an 'orientation' "so +that they understand how their work efforts fit into the big +picture". 'Discipline', he said, is one of their 'basic values'. +But he denied that McDonald's "wish to take advantage of a +vulnerable, inexperienced sector of society" or that what a young +worker is really taught "is to be a cog in a machine, to be +obedient, not to question the idiocy of the job which you are +doing, and to basically be a slave for the Company". + +Mr Nicholson accepted that despite working in a fast moving and +hot environment, workers had to get permission to have a drink. +Whilst management can change crew hours of work at will, and the +Crew Handbook lists dozens of examples where management can +direct, restrict or ban employees activity and behaviour (under +threat of disciplinary action and summary dismissal) Mr Nicholson +couldn't, when asked, think of a single right that workers had +except where there was statutory protection. In the US "no notice +is required" to "terminate" an employee, Mr Beavers said, and the +Company would "reserve the right to change any term or condition +of the employment without prior consultation or agreement". "They +have no guaranteed employment rights. They do not have guaranteed +employment or guaranteed conditions of employment" Beavers +stated. + +Company figures showed that in December 1989, annualised crew +turnover at McDonald's in both the UK and USA was approx 190%. +During 1986 it reached as high as 241% in the USA. Mr Beavers +admitted that "consistent and important" reasons given by +McDonald's workers for quitting their jobs included (as revealed +in the Company's Operations Manual): "poor treatment - lack of +recognition, poor people practices, dissatisfaction with pay, low +and/or infrequent raises", "no job enjoyment or satisfaction" and +"poor working conditions - faulty and missing equipment". Many +of these were + +"the by-products of understaffing". + +Anti-Union Practices - Mr Beavers agreed that in the early 1970's +McDonald's employed an official, John Cooke, who had a +responsibility "to keep the Unions out". The Defendants referred +to a quote by John Cooke in the book, 'Behind The Arches' (written +with McDonald's backing and assistance): "Unions are inimical to +what we stand for and how we operate. They peddle the line to +their members that the boss will be forevermore against their +interests." The book also stated that "of the 400 serious +organisation attempts in the early 1970's, none was successful", +and Mr Beavers admitted this was due to 'steps' taken by +McDonald's "to try to prevent trade union organisation...around +that time when it was actually a problem." + +Mr Beavers admitted that, in the 1970's, he and company managers +around the USA had used "lie detectors" (half-hour polygraph +tests) on current or potential employees. The practice only +ceased "when it was obvious that the law was going to be passed +making it illegal". Prior to this John Cooke had sent a memo to +top executives stating "I think the union was effective in terms +of reaching the public with the information that we do use +polygraph tests in a gestapo type manner" and suggesting stopping +their use. Mr Beavers admitted that in some cases, refusal to +take such a test would have led to dismissal. He claimed not to +know about a 1974 San Francisco Labor Board hearing at which +McDonald's workers testified that lie-detectors had been used to +ask about union sympathies, following which the company was +threatened with legal action. + +Stan Stein (McDonald's US Senior Vice-President, Head of Personnel +& Labour Relations) was questioned about the company's worldwide +hostility to trade unions (TUs). Mr Stein said that he had worked +for McDonald's since 1974 and during that time none of the +company's restaurants in the USA had been unionised. Whenever TUs +in any corner of the globe made serious attempts to organise +McDonald's workers, Mr Stein himself seems to have jetted into +town. The court heard about a number of disputes including: +Mexico 1985 - a union seized and occupied for 3 weeks the first +McDonald's store (which had opened with non-union labour). +McDonald's agreed to recognise a different union, and all +McDonald's stores are still unionised. Puerto Rico 1970's - up to +1974, McDonald's employees were unionised, but the company was +sold to a new franchisee. A dispute followed, closing all the +stores and McDonald's pulled out of Puerto Rico. They reopened in +1980 with non-union labour. Chicago 1978 - in one store, a +majority of McDonald's workers joined a union. The company then +took legal action to stop recognition for the union unless they +could get a majority in the 8 stores run by the franchisee. +Detroit 1980 - after workers in a store joined a union, the +company's organised a visit by a top baseball star, staff disco, +and 'McBingo' prior to elections for union representation +Arkansas, USA 1983 - the UFCW union, which was interested in +recruiting McDonald's workers, was involved in a union dispute at +a chicken processing plant supplying McDonald's. The union +launched a boycott of McDonald's 'McNuggets' and picketed many of +its stores. Mr Stein spent up to '80%' of a whole year fighting +the union's campaign. Ireland 1979 - a 7 month strike lead to +recognition of the ITGWU union. In 1985, two union activists won +a victory at a labour court after claiming victimisation and +unfair dismissal. Denmark 1980-90 - throughout the 1980's, unions +attempted to negotiate with McDonald's the standard 'collective +agreement' for food service companies. After protracted legal +disputes and boycotts, McDonald's recognised the union in 1989. +Germany 1979-90 - in 1979, a letter was sent from McDonald's +personnel office with instructions to store managers not to hire +any union sympathisers. In the 1980's, there were disputes with +the NGG union, and eventually the company signed a union agreement +in 1990. Philadelphia 1989 - McDonald's stores in Philadelphia +were independently surveyed and accused of having racist +differential wage rates between the inner-city stores (mostly +black workers) and the suburbs (mostly white workers). Mr Stein +had intervened and believed the campaign to be a front for a union +recruitment effort. Madrid 1986 - four workers who had called for +union elections were sacked by McDonald's. The company was forced +to reinstate the workers after the labour court ruled that the +dismissals were illegal. China 1993 - in Beijing, protest +leaflets were circulated about conditions Iceland 1993 - when +they opened their first store, McDonald's refused to negotiate +with TUs, but after a strike and boycott threat, the company +conceded. Canary Islands 1993 - McDonald's were fined 13 million +pesetas for falsely claiming state subsidies for 'staff training'. +Canada 1993/4 - workers in an Ontario store joined a union, but +the company managed to avoid recognition by ensuring victory in +Labour Board sponsored elections. Mr Stein was also questioned +about other disputes with Trade Unions in France, New Zealand, +Norway, Australia, and the Netherlands. + +Mr Nicholson said the company was not anti-union and all staff had +a right to join one. However, he said that the company was "very, +very much in support of performance related pay. Those who work +well are paid well. For that reason we would rather not deal with +Trade Unions." Under questioning he admitted that any McDonald's +workers interested in union membership "would not be allowed to +collect subscriptions...put up notices...pass out any +leaflets...to organise a meeting for staff to discuss conditions +at the store on the premises"...or "to inform the union about +conditions inside the stores" (which would be deemed 'Gross +Misconduct' and as such a 'summary sackable offence'). In fact, +Mr Nicholson agreed, "they would not be allowed to carry out any +overt union activity on McDonald's premises". + +Mr Nicholson appeared confused as to the what the company would do +if a majority of crew demanded union recognition, first stating +"If a majority of the staff of a restaurant had an election and +voted to be represented by a trade union, then they would be +represented by a trade union" but he later agreed that "if every +single member of crew in a particular restaurant joined a union +[McDonald's] would still not negotiate with the union". However, +he did recognise that "if of course there was a massive national +drive" and a "very large proportion of McDonald's employees joined +a union" and took industrial action, McDonald's "might be left +with no short alternative but to negotiate". + +On 3 occasions, in Hackney 1985, East Ham 1986 and Liverpool 1988, +Mr Nicholson was informed by store management that employees were +interested in union representation. Mr Nicholson said he then +visited the stores accompanied by other management or Security +officials to talk to the crew "to explain our point of view to +them". He denied that people could have felt intimidated by his +presence or that of management/security. (He said that he took an +Area Security Manager to Hackney only to help him find a place to +park his car). He denied that the company's refusal to negotiate +with Trade Unions was because "they would be more effective at +arguing for better wages and conditions than individual workers". +He claimed that company 'rap sessions' (meetings for workers to +give their views to a manager or supervisor) meant there was no +need for unions, and he denied any crew felt 'exploited', 'pushed +around' or felt they got 'low pay', because "no-one has said to me +they do". + +Mr Nicholson remembered banning a Union official from leafleting +or talking to staff inside a London store, even during their +breaks, but claimed he had 'no objection' to him leafleting or +recruiting outside - "We are quite used to people outside our +stores giving out leaflets". He stated "I want to know everything +that happens at a store. I want to know when members of London +Greenpeace stand outside of a store and distribute literature and +I want to know when they leave". + +All quotes are taken directly from the court transcripts. + +Campaign Statement: The McLibel Support Campaign was set up to +generate solidarity and financial backing for the McLibel +Defendants, who are not themselves responsible for Campaign +publicity. The Campaign is also supportive of, but independent +from, general, worldwide, grassroots anti-McDonald's activities +and protests. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001019.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001019.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f78d418d --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001019.txt @@ -0,0 +1,112 @@ +NEWS FROM MEXICO (Sept 95) + + +Last year, young anarchists members of a group called JAR +(Anti-authoritarian Revolutionary Youth) demonstrated in front of a +McDonalds, protesting against the anti-immigration campaign and in support +of hispanic +workers in the USA. The demo ended with the McDonalds grafittied and its +windows and machines broken. Some days later, some members of JAR were +arrested by +police. + +Last April anaction by transport union Sindicato Unico de Autotransportes +R-100 (SUTAUR) was declared illegal by the courts. The union, which has +links with various popular organisations amongst which would be included the +Movimiento +Proletario Independiente and which is listed by the government as 'radical', +gives legal support to its members and contested the action. Many workers +have been threatened, beaten up and +imprisoned. Of the 12,000 unionised workers, less than 1,000 have accepted +an out of court +settlements, the rest are holding out for more. + +In support of the workers at SUTAUR members of the 'radical' group within +the student union, +Consejo Estudiantil Universitario, siezed a number of lorries and kept them +under guard on +university campus. However, under pressure from the rector, police and other +student groupings +they were forced to return the vehicles a few days later. + +This years May day independent unions march, fronted by members of +SUTAUR, saw dozens of workers and students throwing rocks and sticks +at the police, who came to defend some of their undercover agents. 19 +people, some were minors, were imprisoned while trying to burn the +Govenment Building front door. Many of them were beaten up and some are still +in jail. Many anarchist organisations and colectives participated in the march. + +Anarchists painted the walls and broke the windows of the organization +called Pro-vida +(Pro-life), which openly speaks out against abortion and the use of +condoms. Pro-vida in known for being formed by many right-wing and +conservative groups. + +During June 17 campesinos were assasinated in Guerrero - they were members +of OCSS, an +organisation which was organising a peaceful protest in a nearby area. +According to the official +version at first it was claimed that the victims had been armed and had +attacked the police but +this was refuted by eye witnesses. The state govenor, Ruben Figueroa, held +talks both before +and after the massacre with a member of the opposition within the council. +These conversations, +according to the councilor, revealed that the govenor was fully aware of the +plans of the police. +The govenor told her: 'Some campesinos are going to demonstrate and will +have to be +stopped... they want war and they are going to get it' + +The government in Mexico City has implemented a social security plan in +which it states openly +that 'people who appear suspicious' are to be detained and there will be +stop checks on cars +and random raids. Popular human rights organisations, political opposition +parties and civil +groups have demonstrated against the plans. On July 1st plain clothes +policemen beat up and +detained a number of young people and on July 6th people were searched in +the red light area +and arrested if in possession of a condom on a charge of 'soliciting'. +Throughout the month of +July there were numerous complaints against the police for violence, threts, +robbery etc. Finally +on the 28th the police got an 80% pay rise. + +Friday 14th July saw the release of Gloria Benavides who had been acused of +membership of +the EZLN under the codename 'subcomandante Elisa'. Benavides was arrested on +February 8th +and thretened so that she might denounce various people and link them to the +Zapatistas. On +being released she called for the release of those other prisoners who were +being held accused +of membership of the EZLN. + +On July 28 the fifth stage of the peace talks between the EZLN and the +mexican government ended. There was no agreement. The government rejected a +zapatista proposal dealing with militar withdrawal and threatened to withdraw +their own proposal if the zapatistas didn't accept it. The EZLN complains +about the strongarm tactics and the threats of the government. Meanwhile, +hundreds +of people are gathering to organize the National Poll called for by the +EZLN, it's supposed to happen on August 27. The International Poll is taking +place right now and many organizations from all around the world have voted +already. + +Facts about the government of Zedillo: + +In the first seven months of Zedillos' administration, 97 oposition members +have been killed; 1,663 citizens have been imprisoned for their +incomformity; 75 people have been kidnapped; 254 social leaders have +detention orders against them; there has been 932 people injured in many +represive actions; 36 journalists have suffered attacks and 138 members +of democratic organizations have been threatened. + +Taken from: "Proceso" magazine, "La Jornada" newspaper, or seen with my own +eyes. + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001022.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001022.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6da14e5a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001022.txt @@ -0,0 +1,127 @@ +Police Violence At Reclaim The Streets Demo + +From: steve@demon.co.uk (Steve Cook - SPITE! Books) + + +The Legal Defence And Monitoring Group is a UK voluntary organisation who +provide legal monitors for demonstrations, actions and other events where +civil rights abuses may occur. Their job is to watch the police activity at +such events and try to gather information, witnesses and evidence to use in +defence of those arrested unnessecarily. This is their report of events at +Reclaim The Streets, a peaceful demo based in North London. + +Legal Defence & Monitoring Group c/o B.M. Box Haven, London, WC1N 3XX. + +Reclaim The Streets (II) - 23rd July 1995 + +Legal Defence & Monitoring Group Report On The Event - please +circulate as widely as +possible. + +On Sunday 23rd July from 2pm approximately 2000 people occupied Upp Street in +Islington, North London, demonstrating against society's dependence on the +motor car and the fact that it causes pollution and death. The demo, which +closed Upper Street and part of Liverpool road to traffic for the whole +afternoon and early evening, was more of a party with both live and recorded +music, food, stalls and a great kids area. + +At 8pm a number of uniformed police officers backed up by 10 riot v started +moving the demonstrators down Upper Street towards Angel tube station. At +this stage the demonstrators numbers had reduced to around 150. The officers +were spread across the road. Demonstrators were moving down towards the tube +station. The mood of the demonstrators (and the police) was still friendly. + +At approximately 8:15pm, for reasons known only to the police, a number of +officers from the Territorial Support Group (TSG or riot police) in full riot +gear started assisting the uniformed police. They were supported by at least +10 other vehicles, police in helicopters and video crews positioned on +buildings. The mood of the demonstrators was still peaceful. At least 18 +police vans full of TSG had been spotted some 50 minutes earlier in a back +street near Upper Street. It must be asked why so many officers in full riot +gear were on standby so early when the mood of the day had been so peaceful. + +The deployment of police in riot gear made the atmosphere a great d more +aggressive. A small bottle (ONLY ONE) was lobbed towards these riot police. +It was NOT aimed at the uniformed police who were some way in front of the +riot police at this stage. Within seconds of this happening, the TSG drew +their batons, pushed past the uniformed officers and started assaulting +demonstrators with shield and batons. Over approximately the next 90 minutes +the TSG violently pushed and beat demonstrators towards and past Angel tube +station and down Pentonville Road. At this stage there were some 200 officers +in full riot gear backed up by at least a further 100 officers in uniform. +There were under 100 demonstrators. + +The riot police pushed demonstrators down Pentonville Road. the wer asked on +numerous occasions by the LDMG where they were directing people and to 'calm +down'. Needless to say their answers were less than helpful. Eventually (at +approximately 9pm) demonstrators, whose numbers were now less than 50, were +moved into Northdown Street where all exits were blocked by police and riot +vans. Many people trying to leave this area were searched. The reason the +police gave when pressed was that there had been a public order incident, +missiles had been thrown and offensive weapons had been seen - so they were +checking if people had missiles or offensive weapons. + +From the moment the riot police took over from the uniformed police they were +indiscriminately and very heavy handedly arresting protesters. In total they +arrested 17 people. At least one demonstrator needed hospital attention (head +split open by a police truncheon) and two more were knocked unconscious by +the police. Every time a legal observer tried to get details of an arrested +person we were either threatened with arrest, were physically moved from the +scene of the arrest, or were assaulted. + +Although the actions of the riot police were totally out of control +throughout the whole episode, we feel a number of incidents deserve special +attention: * One particular officer in full riot gear was seen on at least +three occasions using his clenched fist to punch demonstrator in the head and +face - one of whom was knocked unconscious. * An articulated lorry was +moving through the crowd and the polic were violently pushing people past it +causing a number of them to lose balance. It was only luck that somebody did +not fall under the wheels of this vehicle. Police were asked to stop pushing +for a while by legal observers and told to "move or be nicked". * When one +demonstrator was knocked unconscious, legal observers protesters tried to see +if he was alright, but were viciously pushed and beaten by the police. +Although being advised by a person with medical knowledge that this person +should not be moved, the police continually tried to move him. + +As soon as arrests were made, the LDMG tried, with difficulty, to g +solicitors to all of those arrested and to find out some information about +them. We staffed our office throughout the night and next day, receiving +numerous calls asking the whereabouts of missing protesters. By 5am, we had +details of all protesters arrested. + +Charing Cross police station would only release 1 (who accepted a caution) of +the 10 arrestees. The rest were held overnight and appeared in Bow Street +Magistrates Court the following day, which we monitored. Two of those held +were refused bail and are presently on remand at Brixton Prison until 31st +July. We feel the decision to hold them overnight at the police station and +in prison was vindictive and excessive. Three of those arrested were for +possession of drugs and all three pleaded guilty. + +We have set up a defence campaign for the 13 still facing charges. Another +indication of the states attempt to brutalise and criminalise us is the +severity of these charges. Most are being charged with section 2,3 or 4 of +the Public Order Act 1986. Our aim now is to; get the two out of Brixton +Prison; prove all 13 innocent; look into actions against the officer who +punched demonstrators and; assist people to sue the police for false arrest. + +WE NEED LOADS OF HELP + +* We have set up a 'bust fund' to pay for expenses etc (we have already +* visited and got cash to the two on remand). We need money so please send +* cheques/Postal Orders to us as soon as possible - made payable to LDMG +* and sent to the above address. +* +* We need you to publicise what happened as widely as possible (articles, +* posters, word of mouth, internet etc) especially asking for witnesses to +* arrests to contact us ASAP. +* +* We need people to help out in loads of other ways as we are onl small +* group with limited resources both in terms of money and people. +* + +---------------------------- +Free The Prisoner +---------------------------- +prisoner@spitebk.demon.co.uk + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001025.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001025.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..66ef4491 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001025.txt @@ -0,0 +1,327 @@ +From article in Proceso, June 5, 1995. + + OIL IS BEHIND SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN + CHIAPAS + +[On May 24, 1995, the Jesuit Mardonio Morales, who has spent more +than 30 years working with the indigenous Tzeltal people, spoke at +a private study meeting on Mexican reality. His report dealt with +oil fields as a major factor in the current conflict in Chiapas.] + + It is difficult to discuss the internal situation in +Chiapas due to the complex spectrum of interrelated action. Since +the second attempted dialogue in San Andres it has become clear +that the character of the battles being waged between the two +sides is one of low intensity conflict. Big interests are at +stake. On the one hand is the very survival of the indigenous +communities, not only in Chiapas, but throughout the country; on +the other, unrestricted control of raw materials, which are the +lifeblood of the economic neoliberalism that is choking us and +that has farreaching international ramifications. + + My sole intention was to spend time with Tzeltal +communities in the municipalities of Sitala and parts of Ocosingo, +out of the San Bachajon Mission. In the process, I was able to +witness the growth and development of these forces that now +confront each other in a death struggle. + + I will focus on an important factor which I think is a +guiding principle the state government and which can explain its +present behavior, which may seem to us very obtuse and +closed-minded. This factor is oil. I am going to talk about what +I have seen. This is testimony, not a technical study. I will +follow these steps: oil discoveries; timber exploitation; +settlement; "cattlization;" infrastructure (roads, water, +electricity); oil exploration and exploitation. + +1. Discovery of oil + + In the early months of 1964 I toured for the first time +the Bachajon lowlands, in the municipality of Chilon, which were +then completely wild and very sparsely populated. I arrived at +the Sacun ravine, and there at a stream of the Sacunil River, in +Cubwits, I found a bronze Pemex plaque set in cement, indicating +the year 1961. When I came down the ravine, I was informed in +Alan Sacun that there were Pemex markers there, too. That was the +first bit of information that struck me. As early as 1961, in the +most remote regions of the jungle, oil had clearly been located. + + Moreover, along the main roads crossing the jungle from +the lowest area, towards Palenque, leading up to Ocosingo, I found +markings in red paint every 100 meters on the rocks and trunks of +tall trees along the roadway. They said EP and had a number. My +travel companions would tell me that occasionally "engineers" +would come by and make these measurements. + + In the ensuing years, on my subsequent work tours, I saw +how these measurements were extended to all the roads and +footpaths. In the highest mountain range, near Coquilteel, above +Chichi, I saw tar seeping from the cracks in the rocks during the +hot season. My travel companions remarked that tar was easily +found in many places, and that in the old days they would use it +for certain medicines. + + As the years went by I confirmed that the Pemex engineers +were stepping up their activities. They actually told me where +most of the oil deposits had been located, as in Jetha and along +the banks of the Paxilha River. During the Lopez Portillo +administration, at the time of the oil boom, these sites in Jetha +were reported on television. + +2. Timber exploitation. + + Concurrently with this exploratory work, ever since the +fifties there hd been an intensification of the exploitation of +mahogany and other hard and soft woods, all of them precious, +carried out by foreigners using the sawmill at Chancala and doing +business as companies that were Mexican in name only. + + The government's concession was that they could take +whatever timber they found within 500 meters along any road or +path they opened up. Naturally, they took whatever they pleased. +The jungle had been awe-inspiring. At first, I could walk for +entire days in the shade, and could see neither sky nor landscape; +everything was green. + + Once the timber exploitation was in full swing, the +settlement process began. Thus the timber company had to +establish a relationship with the new members of the ejidos, or +ejidatarios. As a result, a strange partnership was formed. +Since they were totally lacking in technical knowledge and +advisors, it was to the ejidatarios' advantage to have assistance +in clearing trees from the land the government was offering them +to plant corn. Moreover, the paths that the timber company made +were very helpful to the ejidatarios' internal communication. + + With modern machinery and the huge sawmill at Chancala, +the destruction of the jungle took giant steps forward, compounded +by the traditional slash and burn system that finished off the +remaining nonharvestable trees on the ejidos. + + I thus saw over ten years how the plunder progressed. +>From 1968 to 1978 the path was extended from Tulilha lands to the +Pico de Oro lands. It was some 200 kilometers long. Fifteen days +ago I got a ride from a huge trailer that was coming from Mazatlan +to get mahogany from Pico de Oro. Despite all the many formal +complaints were made by both institutions and individuals to +public opinion and government officials, this process of +destruction has continued on its course. + + The explanation is simple: existing timber resources are +utilized, ande terrain is made ready for the next phase, oil +exploration and exploitation. + +3. Settlement + + In the early sixties the government opened the "national +lands" to campesino/indigenous groups from the highlands and even +to campesinos from other places like Veracruz, Puebla and +Guerrero. Specialists in the field harshly criticized this +opening of the jungle to agriculture. The jungle is not land for +planting, but for forests. No attention was ever paid to this +argument. Instead, this land which was ill-suited to agriculture +was irresponsibly handed over to hundreds of ejidos. + + The strategic reason is now clear. On the one hand was +the need for cp labor; on the other, the need to finish preparing +the land for oil exploration and exploitation. Cheap labor was +required, meaning people who were controlled and controllable, who +would acquiesce to whatever was coming. That's why there was no +planning of how to organize the settlements that were forming. It +was a sociological time bomb. + + Each settlement consists of indigenous people and +campesinos from various places, who arrived hungry and anxious for +land. At first they were united by a common need; then different +interests, customs and needs began to appear. It is extremely +difficult to organize them, and there is always someone who is +willing to serve the interests of the powerful. That is what the +government needs: disorganized, controllable people. In addition +to this came the arrival, starting in 1975, of successive waves of +groups from sects that have been a major obstacle to any attempt +at organization. + +4. Cattlization + + The next step in consummating the total and final +destruction of the jue was to get the ejidos that were devoted to +corn to turn to cattle-raising. To that end, in the mid-sixties +the official and unofficial banks offered easy credit and abundant +technical advice. In this regard, the Ministry of Agrarian +Reform, which for years had been mercilessly exploiting the +ejidatarios, did indeed offer generous advice so that the greatest +possible number of ejidatarios converted to cattle-raising. + + Those who embarked on this business in the first four or +five years became wealthy cattle ranchers. This prompted those +who had not been drawn to cattle-raising to go to the banks in +droves seeking credit. + + But the second phase was counterproductive for the +ejidatarios. The credit was a trap so that the past due debts +would leave thousands of unsuspecting people firmly in the bank's +grasp. Now the objective had been achieved: whoever wants to see +the Lacandon jungle will now find only the gigantic Lacandon +cattle pasture. You have only to look at recent aerial +photographs of the Mexican-Guatemalan border along the Usumacinta +River. The Guatemalan jungle contrasts with the arid line of +Mexico across the river. + +5. Infrastructure + + Oil exploitation obviously requires a large +infrastructure: roads, electricity, water, populations to provide +cheap labor, food supply centers, towns that can be converted into +places where technicians and skilled workers can be concentrated. +I have seen how the first roads were begun, and how in a matter of +a few years the communications network has multiplied. + + One never ceases to be surprised at how incredible roads +are built while other regions that truly need to be connected +remain isolated. Wherever Petroleos Mexicanos waves its magic +wand, huge machines appear and make tortuous footpaths immediately +disappear. For example, everyone was surprised by the road that +was built at Chichi, near Bachajon, and by the construction of the +immense bridge that was built in order to cross the river and get +to the region where I saw tar on the very surface of the earth. + + The most surprising thing was that this construction +abruptly stopped, once the bridge was complete, and was not +resumed. Why? Of course no one was given any explanation. Soon +thereafter we learned that the machinery had gone to the other end +of the jungle, to Pico de Oro, where they had started drilling +wells in the area bordering Guatemala. + + No matter how much the government postures and tries to +portray this road-building as a social program, the reality of oil +provides us with a different explanation. Roads that are built +and left waiting for official use are left to deteriorate and be +destroyed until such time as the oil industry requires them. + + Potable water was a battle that went on for years and +years in the communities. The first fifteen years of my residency +were a constant search for external financing for pipes; the +communities themselves would do the work, because the State would +not respond to our requests. Then the settlements were suddenly +endowed with potable water, as if by magic. + + Conasupo's warehouses are strategically located to quickly +and efficiently supply the entire oil region. To find out whether +this phenomenon occurs in the Los Altos region, one has only to +see the reports of those who have gone to the conflict zone to +compare the government's social programs. Here in the jungle, +environmental destruction and manipulation of the local +population; there, neglect, hunger and disease. + + Noteworthy is the electricity network that has covered the +entire region over the course of ten years. This is undoubtedly +the clearest indicator of the rush to put in place the +infrastructure that is essential to quick and efficient oil +exploitation. + + All of us were surprised by the efficiency with which +telephone has been brought to the oil region. To those of us who +have struggled for years and years for the most essential +services, the government's strategy in the region is quite clear. +The very reform of Article 27 of the Constitution provides a +logical explanation that foreshadows what is in store for us in +the near term. + +6. Oil exploration + + About six years ago, along the sides of the highways of +the low region, we began to see temporary encampments of workers +of campesino origin. These encampments belonged to a foreign +company hired by Pemex to begin the oil exploration. The +encampments quickly multiplied, and I began to find them along the +roads. + + It is admirable: they drew straight lines starting from a +settlement ine low region to the city of Ocosingo. A meter wide, +the path ran through mountains, ravines and valleys, stopping for +no obstacle. This caused fatal accidents among the workers, +mostly Indians, which of course no one ever heard about. + + Every 20 meters they would dig a well, dynamite it, and +collect the information with devices that the workers carried on +their backs for days and months, until they reached Ocosingo. +That is how they marked off the jungle territory. Of course they +never asked for permission to enter ejidos or private property. +The explosions resulted in the loss of many water sources; at the +source of the Tulilha River, they killed all of the fish and +polluted the entire irrigation channel that ran some 80 +kilometers, resulting in serious problems for the ejidos that the +river ran through. The protests, compaints and demands of these +Chol and Tzeltal ejidos were to no avail. Along the highways the +subsoil was being measured. + + In the midst of this intense activity came January 1, +1994, and with it, the abrupt suspension of all exploratory +activity. Fifteen days ago, after the San Andres meeting, these +encampments began to reappear along the highway near Chancala. + +7. Oil exploitation + + In the region where I walk I have yet to see any wells +being drilled. But from the bus traveling on the road through San +Miguel to Ocosingo, I have seen drilling rigs and roads leading to +other rigs. And we know there has been a great deal of activity +in the Pico de Oro region. Of course everything has now come to a +halt. There's a reason why we have Army all over, even though we +are very far from the conflict zone. + + I believe that this testimony I am now giving about what I +have seen from 1964 to the present, and the discovery of the +relationship between oil, timber, settlement, cattlization, and +infrastructure, explains the government's hard-line, overbearing +attitude. + + If they are seeking oil and the riches that lie +underground, can an agreement ever be reached whereby the +indigenous people can have their autonomous territory? As long as +the indigenous are regarded as beasts of burden, can there be an +agreement to respect their dignity? + + By way of conclusion, I would like to complete the picture +with two more thoughts. + + First: we all want peace, and think it would be suicide +to go to war against the Army and government supported by imperial +foreign powers. We all know that the war against indigenous +people, environmental destruction, the subjugation of entire +peoples, hunger, disease and premature death are the lifeblood of +the wealth of the few, organized under neoliberal slogans backed +by armed force. + + We know that this is nothing new, that it has always been +this way. Tht is why the !Ya basta! of January 1, 1994, resonated +among us all. This past year and a half has only strengthened our +conviction and has proven that this is not something local, but +rather part of the structure of the system that punishes us all +equally. + + It is clearly a national matter. The demand for democracy +and for a structural change that will make real the slogan "all +for all" is penetrating the national consciousness. + + Second: Why in Chiapas and not in Veracruz or Tabasco? +Oil exploitatin in Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche has +destroyed jungles, torn apart towns, done away with the thriving +ecology of southeastern gulf rim. Why was it that we heard the +!Ya basta! in Chiapas? + + The answer has to do with the system's deep resentment +against the San Cristobal Diocese and don Samuel: 35 years of +consciousness-raising evangelization; 35 years of commitment to +those who are exploited, ignored, despised, dispossessed; 35 years +of searching for ways forward without fear of making a mistake, in +a constant attitude of conversion of those who have been +marginalized by the system; 35 years of evangelical practice in +search of dignity and respect for these millenary peoples. + + The best evidence of this faithfulness to oppressed people +is the violet reaction of slander and irrational abuse. + + + [Translation by David Mintz (dmintz@ix.netcom.com)] + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001026.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001026.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..97ccd246 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001026.txt @@ -0,0 +1,294 @@ +San Andres V- A "new" Solidarity +By Cecilia Rodriguez +National Center for Democracy, Liberty and Justice + +"We seek a new peace, not one of hunger, misery, submission, +and humiliation, but one of dignity and justice..and we are +willing to give up our lives in order to find it" +Comandante David +Ejercito Zapatista de Liberacion Nacional +July 24, 1995 + +CHRONOLOGY + THE GOVERNMENT on the subject of reduction of military +tensions--REJECTS EZLN proposal to move troops to positions +held before the February 9th assault in order that the EZLN +would return to the position held before January 1, 1994. +It PROPOSES a plan for "routes" occupied by both armed +forces, a plan similar to the one used to end the Salvadoran +conflict. The EZLN would occupy areas within government +troop lines. This proposal was referred to as "the plan for +reservations". + THE EZLN RESPONDS-- Immediately it counterproposes a +route to Guadalupe Tepeyac, the site of the historic +"Aguascalientes", but the government instantly rejects it. +Upon its return to the July 6th negotiations it proposes a +route from Ocosingo to San Quintin as a "trial" effort. + THE GOVERNMENT-- Again rejects the counteroffer +claiming it is "extemporaneous" and WITHDRAWS its route +proposal. It accuses the EZLN of using the proposal for +"propaganda" purposes. NO proposal remains on the table. + THE GOVERNMENT on the subject of the timeline for the +peace talks-Through Jorge Del Valle the government suggests +"profound and intense" negotiations by holding 20 days of +discussions for each theme on the agenda. According to +simple calculations this would consume 4 years and 11 +months, while the EZLN's proposal can have a potential +duration of 3 years and 1 month. + THE GOVERNMENT COMPLAINS--The EZLN is not serious about +the peace negotiations and is utilizing delay tactics. It +threatens to "move ahead to resolve the economic problems of +the area without the EZLN". + THE GOVERNMENT DECLARES in the words of Marco Antonio +Bernal, the coordinator of the government peace delegation, +"Why yes, we believe that the Zapatistas are liars who do +not want peace, but to buy time in order to continue to lie +and hide behind the mask and the mountains. WE also believe +they are insolent and foul-mouthed and other things after +what occurred this morning". + Comandante Tacho responds--"Your face is that of a good +person, but your heart is filled with hypocrisy." The +possibilities of substantive agreements were distant in this +5th encounter between the Mexican Government and the +Zapatista Army of National Liberacion. + +II-TWO + The 900 military policemen who surround the site of the +pace talks have, over time, acquired accouterments. Now +they sport white braids hung from their right shoulder, +spotless white shoelaces on shiny black boots and white +gloves. They march into formation each time they post guard. +With eyes shifting under low-brimmed helmets, they observe +as civilian participants, campesinos, and the residents of +San Andres conduct their business in the small, cluttered +plaza. In addition to their spiffier appearance, the +military has also deployed a new look-out post on a building +catty-corner to the site of the peace talks, radio towers, +and sundry undercover agents who seem to do little more than +look like agents and pull on the antennas of their cellular +phones. + There is clear evidence of the hardening of the +government line everywhere. Like a cauldron sitting on +glowing coals, Mexico simmers with the growing resistance of +its people. Weakened by its corruption and internal purges, +the government is cautious before a growing national and +international civilian movement which only gains in strength +each time the government opts for armed force. Yet its +strategy of low-intensity warfare against the Zapatistas +creeps forward much as its troops do in the Lacandon jungle. + In addition to the recent deportation of three priests +in Chiapas, the publication of a recent book by Carlos Tello +Diaz (a great grandson of Porfirio Diaz) is an expansion of +the government's effort to publicly discredit the EZLN. +Based largely on government intelligence reports, the book +clearly attempts to legitimize the official government line. +According to the book the EZLN is nothing more than a +"rabid " handful of old-line leftists who use indigenous +people to forward a socialist agenda, the CCRI holds no real +power and bishop Samuel Ruiz and his church are a central +spoke of the Zapatista movement. Tello's book received +front page treatment in may national publications as well as +a significant splash in the electronic media. It was +conveniently made public days before the peace talks. + The cauldron simmers in Mexico. The Zapatistas promote +a mobilization of peaceful civilian movements, the +organization of international solidarity efforts. They wage +a battle of ideas and words, of innovative proposals, of +calls to conscience and of an integral effort to fined a +peaceful solution. The government meanwhile continues to use +intimidation, starvation by occupation, selective +assassination, illegal detention and the blatant +manipulation of propaganda. + It will soon be 19 months since the Zapatistas burst +into the public eye. The initial outpouring of romanticism, +spontaneity and curiosity has ended. The difficult and +important task of building a peaceful national liberation +movement and maintaining the viability of a peaceful +transition remains. In addition to that the Zapatistas face +the formidable task of advancing history in Latin America. +The Zapatistas and their supporters struggle to overcome the +cannibalistic habits of the left and the clear failures of +socialist theory. They struggle to integrate the grassroots +as no other group in history has done. After spending ten +years educating, training, and building communities; the +Zapatistas are intent on avoiding the mistakes of other +armed struggles. At great military and political expense, +they have held off the war in the hopes that national and +international consciousness would develop and that moderate +and progressive forces could forge a unity capable of +harvesting the kind of social change as yet unknown to +history. + To that end, the Zapatista's latest innovation is the +national and international plebiscite. Mexico has had only +one other plebiscite in one hundred years of its history. +This one however has been requested by an armed and +clandestine group; it is the first in world history. It is +being organized by a non-governmental organization and +promoted by the Democratic National Convention, a civic +group that is a brainchild of the EZLN. In addition to the +difficulties that arise naturally with such a novel task, +the Plebiscite confronts the challenge of a lack of +resources, and the establishment of working relationships +among such disparate groups. Yet the civilian movement has +undertaken the task with such enthusiasm that major +ideological differences have been set aside. In its +insistent search for a democratic practice, the EZLN offers +the people of Mexico a moment in which to exercise it, to +find a voice for the will of the populace, something that +the present government of Mexico has been unable to do. + While some may claim that the innovations of the EZLN +have not been completely successful, no one can say that +they have not changed Mexico and world history forever. Yet +the change a t this moment is intangible and fragile. It is +manifest in the tiny steps which ordinary citizens take in +an effort to re-awaken or even give birth to a new kind of +democracy, a representative democracy whose base is civic +involvement. It struggles to survive in a cynical world +more prepared for despair than possibility. It challenges +all previously held concepts about how change takes place. +The Zapatistas depart from traditional leftist theory, +precisely in what the government refuses to acknowledge--- +their indigenous base. This is a clear departure from +traditional "guerrilla" theory, as is their open and frank +dialogue with the populace as well as their willingness to +allow others to take the lead, and to engage in debilitating +peace talks with a group of negotiators who appear to be +deaf. The Zapatistas do not negotiate from a machista +position of force--they use reason and the moral authority +that comes from the sacrifice of their lives to continue to +persuade people to seek a change in Mexico. + From the Mexicans and the Zapatistas we learn that the +ideals contained in the words "democracy, liberty and +justice" are expensive and difficult to achieve. They cost +lives, health egos and sacrifice. They require imagination, +flexibility, integrity, and the ability to take enormous +risks. "The plebiscite" said Comandante David "is very +important. It is a form by which to dialogue on a national +level, by which to break the silence and change the +attitudes of the government and of the powerful. It is a way +in which to give voice to the smallest ones, the voice of +the faceless, nameless ones without history, and a method of +work of those who want a just and dignified peace." + In the witless style of Chicken Little, the government +delegation commented that "the results of the plebiscite +would not be an obstacle" for the peace negotiations." It +then promptly concluded the 5th encounter arguing that the +EZLN was only buying time for the plebiscite. The EZLN +proposed the 6th peace talks be hold on August 20th. The +government prefers September 5th. +III- THREE + The civilians who post guard in the peace cordon at San +Andres Sacam'chen must stand for four hours each shift. +When they are lucky, the clouds crawl slowly down the green +mountains and the sun peeps out occasionally from behind +them. Then, the hours drift by in a silent dance of aching +feet. Most of the time though the rain pours and the +civilians carefully hold out the front of their ponchos, in +order to made a small circle of dry land at their feet. Or +the sun glares down mercilessly, and they shift their hats +in order to keep it from their eyes. Unable to hear or see +anything, they carefully study the enclosed building where +the Zapatistas and the government delegation are meeting. + Otherwise, one can sleep, read, converse with old +friends, wander from one end of the plaza to the other and +watch the children play. The unifying task is waiting. The +civilians stand at attention when the door suddenly opens .. +They clutter together at strategic points in order to catch +a glimpse of the unfolding events. + These are either brief narratives of agendas and the +always-moving communiqus of the Zapatistas. Long days +filled with waiting, and even longer damp nights filled with +silence and the unbearable desire to sit or gaze at +something new. The hundreds of people committed to the +vision of the Zapatistas at San Andres Sacam'chen however, +do not complain. They are proud and anxious to stand, happy +to give up the subsistence routine of their lives in order +to come to San Andres and wait, regardless of the hunger and +exhaustion. This is their grain of sand after all, to stand +through inclement weather, and use their bodies to protect +the Zapatistas. + And in the silent waiting of these indigenous +communities lays the most powerful lesson of all, more +powerful than all the weaponry assembled against the +Zapatistas, more powerful than the hundreds of television +hours now being used to discredit them. Resistance is the +ability to fight with whatever one has, in whatever way +possible. Resistance is collective. The campesinos together +meld in a long chain of humanity, indistinguishable one from +the other. + It will require significant financial, moral and +physical support in order for the national democracy +movement that the Zapatistas have helped to birth, to +succeed. Like everything else in its wake, its success will +require a "new solidarity". This solidarity can not be based +on a pedestal upon which we place a people struggling to +find a new way of doing things, and which we abandon when we +learn, that they are people just like us. It cannot be a +solidarity filled with rhetoric about "imperialism", "the +masses" or cluttered with perfectionism that will never +exist in the very human process of social change. + This new solidarity must take risks-- it must organize +in base communities. It must develop "unprecedented +proposals"--it must collaborate in ways it has not done +before and avoid becoming an expensive parasite which +absorbs all the resources and fails to accomplish its goals. +It must combine the financial donations which allow a people +to survive and struggle, with the political tenacity and +vision to complement the fierce determination of the Mexican +people. it must leave behind the armchair psychosis of the +left which glorifies armed struggle as the superior method +by which to resolve political conflict. It must leave behind +its self-righteous absorption with its own agenda, and be +willing to learn, to wait, and to engage. + Only then will this new solidarity be a fitting +companion to the new peace so eloquently expressed by +Comandante David. together they will overcome the +exhaustion of a world embittered by the failures of all +previous economic theory. Hand in hand, they will stand at +the threshold of a new international order based on +democracy, liberty and justice. +NUTS AND BOLTS + Given the critical nature of the struggle for a new +peace in Mexico, you can personally do the following almost +immediately; + 1. Send a substantial contribution to the Mexican +Commission for the National Plebiscite. The commission must +raise $100,000 in order to make the plebiscite happen. +Contributions should be sent to the Banco Inverlat SA +(branch #038), account # 910695-2, in the name of Esperanza +Ayar Macias. + 2. Support the humanitarian aid caravan being organized +by Pastors for Peace due to arrive in Chiapas on August +27th. For more information, please call Pastors for Peace +at (612) 378-0062 or for specific +information. The campesinos have been severely impacted by +the militarization of southern Mexico. Unless there is a +significant increase in humanitarian aid, the widespread +hunger and illness which already grips the area will +intensify. Will we allow hunger to be the only compensation +for a people who dared to stand for their dignity? + 3. Participate in the International Plebiscite by +personally filling out a ballot. Take a bunch to your +union, school, health club, church. Talk to people and +explain the importance of their participation. The +International Commission of the CND has authorized three +stages for the International Plebiscite to correspond with +national events. Participation in the International +Plebiscite is open to all peoples of the world. Please plan +other events and gather as many ballots as possible. + +JULY 31 - Deadline for the completion of the first stage. +AUGUST 20 - Completion of the second stage to coincide with +the National Plebiscite. +SEPTEMBER 13 - Completion of the third stage to coincide +with the completion of the National Student Plebiscite. + + 4. Participate in the peace camps located in many of +the villages which have been militarized. your presence and +hard work in these communities are an enormous moral +support, and a deterrent to continued military harassment +and intimidation. + For more information about "new" solidarity contact the +Center for Democracy, Liberty and Justice at (915) 532-8382 +or email at . + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001033.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001033.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5fcd0055 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001033.txt @@ -0,0 +1,364 @@ +Italian COUNTERINFO #12 (September 1995) + +************ +CONTENTS + +* Instead of an editorial + +* A summary of the recent debate within the ECN + +* ECN bologna E-zine n.0 agosto 95 + +* ECN Padova - News upgrade, 18 agosto 95 + +* ECN bologna E-zine n.01 agosto 95 + +* ECN bologna E-zine n.02 agosto 95 + +* Corsera - by Leoncavallo (E-Zine ECN) + +* Milano, 29 agosto 1995 - Comunicato stampa del centro sociale + Leoncavallo + +* ECN bologna E-zine n.03 settembre 95 + +* leaflet on FIAT by CSOA el paso (Torino) + +************ +Italian COUNTERINFO, a summary of recent postings from the Cybernet +and European Counter Network in Italy, is a cooperative venture +between the xchange BBS (Melbourne, Australia) and the Padova node of +the ECN. You can contact us at pmargin@xchange.apana.org.au or +hobo@freenet.hut.fi +************ +Check out the ECN's new home page at http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/ecn/ + +Zero! BBS, which is part of both the ECN and Cybernet, has a home page +at http://linux1.cisi.unito.it/zero!/bbs.html +************ + + +It's been a few months since our last issue - a situation which can be +explained partly by a trip to Italy during the northern summer, partly by +too much work upon our return, and partly by sheer *pigrizia*. + +The Bologna and Padova ECN collectives, however, has been working +hard, producing no less than 4 issues of an e-zine in the last month, as +well as a number of news releases. These are summarised below. + +In the past we have aimed - not always successfully - to mail the +original ECN news files to interested subscribers. We are very pleased +to announce that these files are now directly available by FTP, at the +following site: ftp://pcdigi.unibs.it/pub/ecn/ + +Finally, readers may be interested to know that there are plans afoot +for an electronic mailing list devoted specifically to the political +assessment of class composition and class struggle throughout the +global work-machine. We hope to make this a bi-lingual list accessible +to comrades who have some knowledge of either English or Italian. +Never having done anything like this before, we are more than open to +suggestions, offers of help etc. The organisers can be contacted care of +pmargin@xchange.apana.org.au +************ + - Profit Margin + + August 1995 saw an important debate within the Italian ECN +concerning the politics of computer networking. Much of the discussion +was actually between Marta Mackenzie of Torino and Sandrone of +Milano, although others did chime in now and then. I got to meet Marta +along with Luc Pac at the Radio Sherwood festa in Padova two months +ago, when I was staying there with Hobo. Luc and Marta have recently +produced a fine Italian language 'alternative guide' to computer +networking called *Digital Guerrilla* - inspired in part by the book +written by xchange BBS's own Will Kemp,(*Messagesticks in +Cyberspace*). Luc and Marta are also both involved in Italy's other +libertarian computer network, Cybernet. Sandrone is well known within +the Italian movement because of his association with the social centre +Leoncavallo, which has been very much in the Italian news these past +few years. + + One of the most important points of contention concerned the +purpose of the ECN. In an article he had written for the left daily *il +manifesto*, and then reproduced as part of the debate, Sandrone had +made two central points about the ECN. The first of these was that it +expressed 'the desire to create a forum [piazza] open to all', unlike the +regulated atmosphere which pervades Fidonet and similar systems. +Much more than this, however, the role that he and others had sought to +develop in Milano was that of 'a human interface' between various +social subjects - he cited a range of examples, from AIDS activists to +militant workers - who themselves showed little interest in using the +network. This notion of the network as 'a crossroads between subjects' +that 'first of all, connects realities outside' itself, was one that he +would return to again and again over the course of the month. + + Marta's position was rather different. More than a simple +interface between humans in the 'real' world, she stressed that +computer networks represent 'a new medium' fast becoming an +important place of 'struggle and resistance' in its own right. As a +consequence, attention had to be paid to 'the features peculiar to +[computer] networks - anonymity, the loss/construction of ascribed +relations and identity, socialisation, the possibilities of +experimentation', to see whether these might generate new ways of +destabilising power. In other words, it's not a matter of simply seeking +to use computer networks as a means to connect the struggles of social +subjects in the so-called real world, but rather of exploring the +subjects that are forming *within* the networks themselves. + + For his part, Sandrone's assessment of such subjects was less +than flattering. Taking as one example the level of discussion within +cyberspace, he told Marta: 'What you call debate I generally would call +chitchat. There is hardly ever a decent debate in either Cybernet or ECN. +There is almost always chitchat - some of it even interesting - +between those who play with computers'. Talk of the net culture's +potential for destabilisation was better suited for science fiction +novels; so far he had seen nothing to confirm such a view. 'The +networks are one field of struggle - but only one, however'. + + Part of the difference between these two positions seems to lie +with the legitimacy or otherwise bestowed upon communication +between individual as opposed to collective subjects. Again, in an +exchange with Ampex from ECN Brescia, Sandrone insisted +that discussing the politics of computer networks was something +separate from using the net as a means 'to feel good (a positive thing), +or to exchange ideas with friends (even more positive)... [or] to send +letters to a lover in Boston (better again)'. Marta's response to this +consisted of three parts. The first was that, by its nature, the network +had so far generated personal rather than collective users - 'so much so +that our brawling [scazziamo] is between you/sandrino/me/luc/ampex +rather than between groups of people...' Secondly, that while the level +of on-line discussion could be improved, it was better than that in +face-to-face meetings, such as those she remembered from the Murazzi +social centre in Torino, 'where the recognised "leader" spoke first and +last, a series of other people felt legimitated to intervene, and the +majority of the collective just sat and listened, or got bored, or else +rolled joints'. At least on the net, everyone could say their bit and +have +time to reflect when responding to others. Finally, in noting the failure +to date of periodic attempts to use computer networks as archives for +movement documents, she argued that the net concerns 'principally +communication' in the here and now. + + Another question which kept popping up was the perennial +technical battle just to keep the system functioning. It may hearten +fellow members of the xchange BBS to hear that we are not the only +ones whose bulletin board malfunctions on a regular basis - this seems +equally to be a problem in Milano. How to tackle this, someone asked? +Surely there must be some computer nerds involved in the Leoncavallo +social centre who would enjoy tinkering with machinery and code? Well +yes, perhaps there are, but according to Sandrino, who is also part of +the Milano ECN, such comrades like to spend 'their' free time doing +things at the social centre itself. Perhaps if the BBS was housed there... + +Two more themes that arose along the way. The first concerns who +actually uses these Italian BBS, and how. According to Marta, maybe +15-30 people call up the Torino board each day - 'not much traffic' by +her reckoning. They scan this and that, usually following their own +particular interest - software, spunk, news - but 'the majority don't +even look at the new files'. According to the Milanese comrades, a +certain amount of energy on any given day goes into clearing out +abusive messages from people hostile to the very project of the social +centres. Even when there was a radio program or station loosely +connected to the local ECN, there didn't seem to be much interplay +between the two. Finally, there was the question of sectarianism and +the network's 'purity'. Here Marta raised a couple of Turinese anecdotes +concerning certain intolerant autonomists and anarchists, who had +asked, amongst other things: how dare the ECN 'allow' people from the +'refoundation communist party' social centre to use their network? +[When I would have thought (Profit Margin concludes, editorialising +outrageously) that 'we' would be wanting to engage with, and even +contaminate people like that, rather than worry about protecting our +'pure' politics from them]. +************ + + +1) International Anarchist Demonstration - Sunday 6 August + +A brief notice publicising a Hiroshima Day demo at the border town of +Ventimiglia. + +2) Proposal for a National Mobilisation Against the Use of Tornado +Bombers and other Italian and NATO forces in the Balkan War - +Piacenza, luglio 1995 + +Today, as in the Gulf War, Italian jets are being used in a military +conflict. The Belfagor social centre calls both for debate and +organisational work within the social centres and the broader 'self- +organised' left, with the aim of a national mobilisation this September +or October. In particular, it calls for an opening to green and pacifist +circles as well as the traditional left, along with the development of +arguments to counter the growing interventionist mood within the +latter. + +3) RADIO ONDA D'URTO Festa at Brescia (20 August - 3 September) + +Food, drink, debates, film and plenty of 'antagonistic' information are +all promised at this year's festa. + +4) Statement of the Roman social centres following the 85 charges +made against some of their representatives. + +'The 85 charges for "delinquent association", stemming from incidents +provoked by the police opposing the occupation of the La Torre social +centre, represent the apex of an offensive - by the right, the fascists +of Alleanza Nazionale, sections of the courts and police - which aims +to isolate and criminalise Rome's social realities..." +************ + + +Debate on the upcoming conference of Social Centres at Arezzo + +One of the most important polemics within Italy's self-managed social +centres at present concerns their place within the evolving social +landscape. According to a number of comrades - for example, those +associated with the journal *Derive Approdi* - the social centres +represent a new form of productive organisation based upon +'immaterial', post-fordist labour. Thus Benedetto Vecchi has +characterised the CSOA as 'high points of capitalist development' based +upon 'knowledge, science and communicative action,... the most +contradictory phenomenon of a possible exodus of labour power from +capitalist society, through the constitution of a public sphere that +contemplates the synthesis between developed social cooperation and +political initiative' [B. Vecchi (1994) 'Frammenti di una diversa sfera +pubblica', in F. Adinolfi et al., *Comunit virtuali: I centri sociali in +Italia*. Manifestolibri, Rome, p.14]. Similar sentiments were recently +voiced in *il manifesto* by those promoting a conference on the social +centres to be held at Arezzo. The two postings summarised below beg +to differ. + +1) Centro Sociale Autogestito ex Emerson di Firenze: "Non siamo +un'impresa" + +In criticising the reading of the social centres as 'enterprises', this +piece rejects the assumption that market criteria are the most +appropriate terms through which to interpret the CSOA. Its authors also +reject a logic of social pacification which seeks to divide the 'good' +sections of the movement from those which the state deems to be +beyond the pale. Opposing all frameworks blind to power relations +within modern society, they point out that 'We have been within all +moments of class conflict... seeking to act [towards] its social +recomposition. This is our horizon. We are not prepared to accept, at +Arezzo or elsewhere, what sociologists, entrepreneurs or council +officials tell us we are and must become'. + +2) Impresa centro sociale? No grazie! (C.S.A. Garibaldi di Milano) + +A detailed critique of the premises informing the Arezzo conference, +the title of which is 'Metropolitan Social Space: Between the Risk of +Ghettoisation and a New Enterprise Horizon' [progettista imprenditore]. +Setting these premises within a discussion of Italy's changing place +within the global economy, the crisis of welfare and the emergence of +new forms of production, the author emphasises the thematic of social +and political mediation which permeates the conference proposal. +************ + + +1) Leoncavallo - Press release on the *Corriere della Sera* article + +A response to a scurrilous article in a Milano newspaper of 25 August +suggesting that the Leoncavallo social centre is a site for drug +trafficking. + +2) Leoncavallo - Press release on Riccione + +A statement of support for those in Riccione who physically defended +themselves from the police when threatened with arrest. Today, the social +centre notes, around 40% of people detained in Italian prisons are there on +so-called 'drug-related' charges. + +3) Brescia: Program of the Radio Onda d'Urto Festa + +A detailed account of the music, debates, films and food available at +the festival of this 'self-managed and self-financed' radio station. + +4) Parma: Solidaritay with the Taranto comrades + +The social centre XXII APRILE condemns the eviction of the CSOA Citta' +Vekkia in the Southern city of Taranto, and calls for a demonstration on +10 September. +************ + + +1) Leoncavallo - fax to Giorgio Bocca and the editors of *La + Repubblica* + +A sarcastic response to a piece that Bocca had written concerning 'A +ghetto called Leoncavallo'. + +2) Milano 27 August - BRILLIANT POLICE OPERATION AGAINST + LEONCAVALLO + +On the carabinieri raid which netted some 'extra-comunitari' activists +and tiny quantities of dope. 'Once again social questions become +problems of public order...' + +3) GABRIELLA IS FREE! The struggle continues!! + +After 18 months detention the charge of 'terrorism' against Gabriella +Guarino has fallen apart, and she has been released from a Peruvian +prison. +************ + + +A number of satirical articles sending up the Milanese daily *Corriere +della Sera*, following its campaign against the Leoncavallo social +centre and the latter's opposition to drug laws. +************ + + +In response to the authorities' decision to forbid Leoncavallo from +demonstrating in front of the *Corriere della Sera*'s offices, this +press release 'reconfirms' the social centre's original schedule, and +invites all and sundry to three days of mobilisation against the existing +legislation on drugs - 8-10 September at their Via Watteau premises. +It also condemns the 'Chilean-style' police raids which have hit the +local neighbourhood in recent times. +************ + + +1) TO ALL TELECOM WORKERS AND TO ALL UNION STRUCTURES + +The telecommunications section of the alternative union FLMU invites +all those who oppose the 'shameful deal' just signed by the official +unions to meet and organise a campaign of opposition. + +2) TORINO BRAVO E BRAVA : THE CITY OF COLOURS + +In the face of the glitzy razzamatazz 'celebrating' the launch of FIAT's +two new product lines, the CSOA Murazzi calls for a demonstration on +10 September by 'all those: the unemployed, young workers, part-timers +and casuals' opposed to Agnelli's 'City of Colours'. + +3) TOTALLY CONFUSED - OR JUST OUT-AND-OUT LIARS? + +More from the FLMU on the role of the official Telecom unions. + +4) ROSANDRA CROSSING: 5 days of self-financing for Radio Onda Libera + +Program details for the festa organised by this Trieste free radio +station. + +************ +Leaflet from the CSOA el paso (Torino) + +A flyer - rather different in tone to that issued by the CSOA Murazzi - +expressing opposition to FIAT's media hype. Calling for self-management and +the 'free association of individuals', it reminds us that there can be +'NO BOSSES WITHOUT SERVANTS'. + +************ +Italian COUNTERINFO, a summary of recent postings from the Cybernet +and European Counter Network in Italy, is a cooperative venture +between the xchange BBS (Melbourne, Australia) and the Padova node of +the ECN. You can contact us at pmargin@xchange.apana.org.au or +hobo@freenet.hut.fi +************ + + + + + + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001035.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001035.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1acc96de --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001035.txt @@ -0,0 +1,86 @@ +SURVEILLANCE * by Dimity + +How often do you look up while ambling around the city and see cameras +aimed at you? Walk on to a railway platform and become conscious of the +video pointing in your direction, go into a bank (often, unfortunately, an +unavoidable exercise) and be surrounded by the bloody things, happily +whirring away, getting a good look at your every profile, just in +case...Look up at certain high rise buildings throughout the city and smile +- there they are again. Why are we being watched and by whom? + +"Security" cameras and other paraphenalia are designed to intimidate. With +camera's trained on your every movement, it is hard enough to relax let +alone do anything anti-social. And if you are opposed to this society, one +which is white skin and wealth dominated, one in which women are still +subject to so much sexual abuse, a patriarchal society with no room for +dissent, then yuo probably have some anti social antics that thses cameras +happily snap. The constant activity of the police helicopter, also taking +photographs, serves this intimidatory function. An American police manual +states "The helicopter possesses and omnipresence which no other police +vehicle ever had before." It has been said so many times that these things +are necessary. + +"Security measures" is the offhand explanation and suprisingly the general +population accepts this. But I never feel comfortable when my every +movement is being watched and perhaps recorded by an unseen eye. To me +such measures have a sinister ring; the old "Big Brother is watching you" +fear leaps up every time. Imagine what the helicopter does to Vietnam +Vets. + +I have been told that as a women, video's spying on every train station, +post office, bank etc, is meant to make me feel a little safer. A little +less likely to face attack, rape or harassment. However I know this is not +the case. If sexually harassed on a train platform even if someone is +watching behind the cameras there is no guarantee of help or assistance. +Considering the amount of pornography and the extent to which the +television has distorted peoples ability to react to a situation right in +front of them, we can't guarentee that the man behind the camera isnt +getting off on the 'action'. The eye is definately male, the protecting +strong bucket of hormones ready to save the lady in distress. Problem is, +the distress of women is a multi million dollar industry and that's just +the explicit stuff. If vido evidence was produced at a court hearing +there is still no more likelihood that the justice system will be any more +sympathetic to the abuse facing women in our society every day because the +systematic violence aganist women is an integral facet of justice in this +system. So those cameras are not really there to help and protect us. The +eye is perverse enough to look, we can only imagine what the imagination of +the eye could be. + +A black American man is beaten to within an inch of his life by four white +cops "hitting a few home runs" on the streets of LA for a simple driving +offence. The entire event is filmed by another party and an American court +still can find these racist jerks "not guilty" + +There is a belief that the camera never lies, but who can guarentee the +viewer's internal or beuracratic editing device?? At AIDEX in Canberra last +year, hours and hours of video footage was shot by protesters and media +which depicted excessive and unecessary police violence and yet to get any +one in "authority" willing to view it and take on the obvious inquiry into +police methods at such demonstration, has been a monumental and ongoing +unsuccessful task. + +Surveillence is a power over other people. Early European prisons had +developed fairly unsophisticated methods of surveillence, but they still +allowed the prison officers to see into the prison quarters while not being +seen. Because they were never sure when they were being watched, the +prisoners did not have the freedom to carry out their most basic functions +in comfort. As films like Ghosts of the Civil Dead show, now we are the +prisoners, our every step observed, our words monitored, our freedom and +privacy encroached day in day out. And don't believe that it is only the +street level surveillence. Every telephone in the country is able to be +monitored. At the slightest suspicion of subersive activity, the police +can monitor your phone, record your conversations, stake out your +movements. The more subversive elements are documented the more +justification for increased money, powers and numbers the police have thus +it is in their interests to invite more to their bad taste party. + + Kerry Browning knows the far reaching lengths the powers that be will go +to to keep their blood shot eye on citizens, especially those who are +politically active, usually under the auspices of drug investigation. +Hours of audio and filmed footage of her movements and those of her +household were presented at the court case, even recordings from inside her +bedroom. Other events that were clearly innocent household activities like +chopping wood were turned into baby massacres by the police in court. + +Do not underestimate the paranoia of the "powerful". + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001036.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001036.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..da60192b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001036.txt @@ -0,0 +1,94 @@ +International Socialist Organisation * by Dimity + +Interventionist Revisionist Backsliders + +The International Socialist Organisation - what is it? Certainly an +organisation - they are organised in crowd manipulation and disruptive +methods of fucking up potentially good demo's. + +There is hardly a demonstration in recent months at which the ISO have not +been present. Due to the DSP falling out of many groups to concentrate on +the Green Left and other issues, the ISO seem to have a monopoly on the +hard line socialist front. Of course, there are exceptions: the most +recent one that comes to mind was Operation Big Mac, a protest against +McDonalds, whose environmental devastation, inhumane treatment of animals, +phenomenal amount of wast production, and its effect on the Third World +make it, year in, year out one of the Ten Worst Companies of the Year world +wide. A worthy protest certainly, so where were the ISO? Well it has been +said that the ISO believes McDonalds is a good thing because it is "working +class" - those comments came from several ISO members, straight from the +donkeys mouth. So, despite the havoc reaped upon the earth by McDonalds, +International Socialists (largely a group of middle class uni students bent +on glorifying and romantising history) seem comfortable justifying it by +saying "It's is for the good of the people - even the working class can +aford it ". Well frankly I hope they choke. + +We see the ISO at protests like AIDEX, attempting a coup on the +sensibilities of 2,000 protesters by dominating every meeting and urging +people to fling themselves against a wall of violent, fiery police. And +yet they put out a booklet entitled "The Lessons of AIDEX", in which they +ridicule anarchism and women in the most crude analytical and factually +incorrect manner. The editors of their paper did, to their credit, print a +long letter regarding the errors of this document, the lessons they seem to +find it so hard to learn. + +At the George Bush demo in Melbourne in January,l the ISO caused the most +incredible amount of irrational disruption. Protesters had claimed a road, +had succeeded in entirely blockading the area that the illustrious +president was meant to drive through until the ISO insisted (over the every +present mega phones) that the entire protest go for a march around the +city, thus losing the ground gained and clearing a drive way for the +president to saunter through, giving a two fingered salute and giggling at +how easy it is to pass by his admiring overseas public. The ISO voices +stated that anyone who stayed behind would be picked off by the police and +thus led people, motivated by fear, on the most embarassingly futile march +ever seen, rampaging through department stores and other city buildings in +the most ridiculous manner. + +Each year at the Reclaim the Night march men are asked to march silently +behind the women marchers in solidarity, respecting womens voices in this +domineering male society. Each year men from various groups including the +ISO get up the front and scream over their mega phones. + +Again, Dick Chaney comes to town, the ISO come to Collins street, loud +speakers in hand, rearing to make a mess of things again. If that is +indeed their object, they succeed with amazing prowess. While the ISO led +people on yet another futile march around the city, a nice big, black, +shiny limosine drove out from under the Hyatt, safely coureiring the elite +away. Was it Dick? Who knows. + +It is important to think before you follow along - who are you following? + +Any person who goes to a demonstration should ask themselves why. Is it +because some war mongering arsehole is in town shaking hands with brown +nosed politicians? Is it because you want to say to the government, hey +what the fuck are you doing with my AUSTUDY? Is it because there is an +arms fair happening and you want to close down the merchants of death? Or +is it to follow a bunch of megaphones, behind which are the philosophies of +socialism, but more that that, behind which there are very often undercover +cops and intelligence (sic) agents. + +There is a rumour circulating that the ISO was instigated in Australia by a +certain intelligence (???) agency ( the one that has that nasty habit of +taking your photo at protests to add to their albums) a number of years ago +so as to attract a more radical element and keep a finger on the pulse. +Even if that is just a convenient and suprisingly understandable rumour, it +would be so easy, so very easy for such organisations to be infiltrated. +We are extremely naieve if we don't take this for granted considering the +amount of money and individuals plowed into surveillance in this country. +To laugh off the idea as the work of the paranoid mind is to not only +ignore the consistent history of such activity but also subjects your +child like politics to an eventual nasty surprise. Its so obvious. Think +about it. It's a great way for the state to keep its eye on the radical +"ratbags" in our society especially if the masses obey their every order +expressed at a demonstration. + +If you need a catchy slogan to shout at the next protest you participate +in, try something relevant to any political action in our time something +like +"The ISO has got to go! +Hey hey, Ho ho! +ISO or ASIO? +Hey hey! Ho ho!" + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001062.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001062.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a719a02e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001062.txt @@ -0,0 +1,127 @@ +BOSNIA JUDY'S PUNCH * by Flick Ruby + +Making the World Safe for Patriarchal Capitalism + +The factors that inform and shape concepts of gender are; race, ethnicity, +locale, sexuality and nationality amongst others. As gender is not one +thing depending upon these variables, neither is war, so haw can we apply a +gender analysis to war and militarism? Cooke states in Gendering War Talk +that legitimised, psychotic violence depends upon a particular way of +constructing and maintaining gender identities. By placing gender at the +centre of an analysis of war, we begin to question the mythology : the +mystique of the masculinity of soldiering and of the essential femininity +of peace advocacy. After reproduction, war is perhaps the arena where +division of labour along gender lines has been the most obvious, and thus +where sexual difference has seemed the most absolute and natural.' + +I believe that it is in the interests of the military and the state to +maintain notions of a warlike masculinity and a peace like femininity, for +what better force maintains the status quo in international, domestic and +private politics? War has traditionally been considered the quintessential +proving ground for masculinity and femininity has been constructed in +relation to this notion of masculinity. I believe that ideas about +masculinity are validated and reproduced by militarism, that war experience +is constructed according to culturally distinct gender expectation, that +war is profoundly gendered and its violence is sexualised. This is not to +say that there are inherent qualities in men or women because masculinity +and femininity are not natural but socially constructed and can therefore +be changed. Isn't theory beautiful? + +Let me take you to a place where theories hit history, passion and pain +hits representations and politics and lives; the lounge room of my closest +friend who is Bosnian. The family sit every night watching the news in a +lounge room decorated with tapestries of bridges now bombed to smithereens. +They listen to the radio during the day and wait each night to watch the +ABC, the SBS, the CNN, the Derryn Hinch version of truth, the +disinformation, the news. In one room , in one family, sit Croation, +Bosnian, Catholic and Muslim, testament to the fallacy of the clear cut +splits between racial and religious groups advertised as the Bosnian +conflict. I sit with them sometimes, wincing pathetically, asking +questions that betray the luxury of ignorance, asking questions about the +Ottoman Empire and asking for theories to be answered through tears and +frustration. Slavenka Drakulic, a writer from Zagrab says 'When you are +forced to accept war as a fact, death becomes something you have to reckon +with, a harsh reality that mangles you life even if it leaves you +physically unharmed..war snaps your life in half, you you have to go on +living as if you are still a whole person.' + +Drakulic goes on 'This war doesn't have only two warring sides. It is many +sided, nasty and complex.' another Bosnian feminist says 'It seems +impossible to over emphasise the complexity of the multi-ethnic, +multinationality composition of the country and the intricacies involved..' +It is precisely because this conflict has no obvious good and bad guys +that the Western Hollywood enculturated mind cant grasp the realities. +Instead, the 'it's too far away' mentality reigns under the banner of +'religious historical madness'. What is not mentioned is that two insane +world wars have a lot to answer for here, what is not mentioned is that +this is what happens in war, the terror, horror, gore and rape. What is not +mentioned is that some people are profiting from this. + +Patriotic nationalism and militarism however are not far away at all. +Australia spends $26 Million PER DAY on the military and conducts and +participated in arms sales such as AIDEX and Aerospace. The complexity of +affluent 'first world' patriarchal-capitalist nations like Australia in +fuelling increasing global militarisation, in profiting from death and +destruction, implicates every one of us. It's not so far away after all, +when we realise that the relative freedom, the food and the secure well +being we suck through the straw of 'democracy' is refined from the juices +of the dying, the raped the tortured by profoundly gendered institutions - +the military and the government. Okay, so Bosnia is far away, you might +have to actually seek some information about the history, you might have to +have a shit detector on when you watch the news but this is simply another +event in the history of militarism. 'I used to think that war finally +reached you through fear, the terror that seizes your whole being; wild +heartbeats exploding, a wave of cold swear, when there is no longer any +division between mind and body, and no help. But war is more perverse. It +doesn't stop with the realisation of your victimisation, it goes deeper +than that. War pushes you to the painful point where you are forced to +realise and acknowledge the way you participate in it, become its +accomplice. It may be a seemingly ordinary situation that makes you aware +that you have become a collaborator.' from Bulkan Express, Drakulic. + +So what happens to women in war? Bodies are rendered passive and +penetrable by a stronger force. The strict lines that create binary +oppositions like women/man, nature/culture, irrationality/rationality, +peace/war are extended to an us/them mentality. Certain ideas, concerns, +interests, information, feelings and meanings are marked in national +security language as feminine and are devalued, others are masculinised and +are valued. 'Leave the soft life behind, join the army and become a real +man.' As in all war, not just this war, women are raped systematically, +used as a battle ground and defiled as the enemies property. This could be +seen as simply an extension of the normal patriarchal peace-time war +against women. Propaganda shows patriotic mothers and wives knitting socks +by the fire, not the images of women in pieces, or of rape, torture and +hunger; neither participation nor resistance is shown, just images of good +women doing good deeds for the good men protecting the good state. + +Women are used as labour and as symbolic objects that bolster the idea that +masculine, gallant men protect women from the enemy who are usually brutal +sexual. In propaganda you can see how war planners manipulate allegedly +private and sharply gendered relationships playing upon class interests, +racial fears and sexual norms in order to recruit women's bodies, services +and labour for military affairs. War and militarism distort the economy to +such an extent that social justice or welfare goals are almost impossible. +It is the services for women, if indeed they exist at all, that are the +first to go when governments spends more on weapons in peace or in war. +So war is not removed from women and children. If you are a 'third world' +woman you have a greater chance of dying because of war than any soldier +fighting in war machine. The 'soft targets' spoken of during the Gulf War +were the 200,000 civilians, women and children killed by technological +wizardry, the great wargasm. Military men give birth to wonderful +explosions. Klaus Theweliet in Male Fantasies states, 'Men are being +extended, transformed, reborn through the use of new technical media. The +bomb was a new medium, like T.V.; it has become the ultimate medium of +change through media - being (re) born without women. + +As one Bosnian feminist says 'these new nation states function over women's +bodies. They need their national body and women to reproduce them. They +are fed with hate, and with the saparation of women. They are based on +violence against Others, but everyone is a potential Other, neither the +'sacred nationality' nor the 'sacred gender' is guaranteed any more. +Nationalistic policy brought in the war, the death, the war rapes, the +refugees, then the punishment of the ordinary people with an economic +embargo' Feminist writers who spoke out against rape as a war crime +against women, have been viciously accused of betraying their nation. +Raped, murdered women will never be considered brave, except by us.' says +Lepa Mladjenovic and Vera Litricin (Feminist Review Autumn 1993) + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001064.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001064.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..15873ac4 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001064.txt @@ -0,0 +1,537 @@ +GEMERAL FEMINISM * by Flick Ruby + +The ultimate goal of feminism is to make feminism unnecessary. And that +makes feminism different from other political movements in this country. +1 +Women consititute half the worlds population, perform nearly two thirds of +the world's work, receive one tenth of the world's income and own less than +one hundreth of the worlds wealth UN decade of women 1975-85 findings. 2 + +Male Identificaion means internalising the values of the colonizer and +actively participating the carrying our the colonization of oneself and +one's sex., Male identification is the way whereby women place men above +women including themselves, in credibility status, and importance in most +situations regardless of the comparitive quality the women may bring to the +situation. 3 + +"My own journey has been from unawareness to assigning responsibility for +my world," she concluded. "by understanding that the forces that oppress me +have that power only because I cooperate with them. These forces seem +impenetrable - the Pentagon, the Multinationals. They seem to hate the +world parceled out and under control. But I challenge them because they +don't create justice. I take my cooperation away, and I encourage others +to do the same. We can make change when large numbers of us act in unity. +4 + +"Male language allows males to participate fully in it, while females can +do so only be abstracting themselves from their concrete identities as +females. 5 + +"She wrote as a woman, but as a woman who has forgotten that she is a +woman, so that her pages were full of that curious sexual quality which +comes only when sex is unconscious of itself" 6 + +Men describe the world from their own point of view which they confuse with +absolute truth 7 + +Mechaniam, as a metaphysics and an epistimelogy not nly spread from physics +to chemistry and biology, but also to physicology, psychology, religion, +poetry, ethics, political theory and art. 8 + +Heidi Hartmann defines patriarchy as: a set of social relations between +men, which have a material base, and which, though hierarchial, establish +or create interdependence and solitaridy among men that enable them to +dominate women. Though patriarchy is hierarchial and men of different +places in the patriarchy they, are also united in their shared relationship +of dominance over thier women, they are dependent on eachother to maintain +that domination...in the hierarchy of patriarchy, all men, whatever their +rank in the partriarchy are bought off by being able to control at least +some women. 9 + +Feminism for me is the desire to remove the necessity for women to turn off +to survive, to accept the situation which is unbearable because 'everyone +else does'. Feminism is having a big shit detector which can make an +entire day utterely miserable because feminists cannot hang their politics +up on a hook before they go "out". 10 + + Feminist NOTICE. Being a feminist means NOTICING being aware of the +details, seeing as meaningful what most see as incidental. For this we are +accused of paranoia. The mind's behind ASIO, CIA etc play on the word +paranoia for one is easliy dismissed if one is paraniod and again in the +cloak of a joke the truth slips by, not taken in, registered or even +contemplated. All people who ponder the possiibilities who notice the +connections who are cracking the code of the powers that be are labeled +paranoid. And when people that you think you know start revealing that +they are the enemy, start threatening you, messing with you car, playing +power games that involve ancient words and symbols, when people keep popping +up to the point where coincidence seems inconcievable , you can get +paraniod or you can laugh. 11 + +Our humor turns our anger into a fire . 12 + +Power which can only be expressed deviously, secretly or through +manipulation is always suspected of being dangerous or evil." 13 + +As feminsts, we inhabit the world in a new way. We see the world in a new +way. We threaten to turn it upside down and inside out . We intend to +change it so totally that someday the text of masculinsts writers will be +anthropological curiosities. What was that Mailer talking about, our +descendants will ask, should they come upon his work in some obscure +archive. And they will wonder - bewildered, sad, at the masculinist +glorification of war, the masculinist mystifications around killing maiming +violence and pain; the tortured masks of phallic heroism; the main +arrogance of phallic supremacy, the impoverished renderings of mothers and +daughters, and so of life iteself. They will ask did those people really +believe in those gods? 14 + +When she does utter the unutterable and name this schism he has created, he +will blame the messenger and call her the seperatist. 15 + +They the masculinists, have told us that they write about the human +condition, that their themes are the great themes - love, death, heroism, +suffering, history itself, They have told us that our themes - love, +death, heroism, suffering history itself are trivial because we are by our +nature - trivial. + +I renounce masculinist art. It is not art which illuminates the human +condition - it illuminates only and to men's final and ever lasting shame, +the masculinist world and as we look around us , that world is not one to +be proud of. Masculinist art, the art of centuries of men is not +universal, or the final explication of what being in the world is. It is, +in the end descriptive only of a world in which women are subjegated, +submissive, enslaved, robbed of full becoming, distinguished only by +carnality, demeaned. I say, my life is not trivial; my sensibility is nor +trivial, my struggle is not trivial. Nor was my mothers, or her mother's +before her. I renounce those who hate women, who have contempt for women +who ridicule and demean women, and when I do, I renounce most of the art, +masculinst are, ever made. 16 + +"But while the male half is termed all of culture, men have not forgotten +there is a female 'emotional half'. They live it on the sly., As the +result of their battle to reject the female in themselves, they are unable +to take love seriously as a cultural matter, but they can't do without it +altogether. Love is the underbelly of (male) culture just as love is the +weak spot of every man bent on proving his virility in that large male +world of travel and adventure. Women have always known that men need love, +and how they deny this need. Perhaps this explains the peculiar contempt +women so universally feel for men." 17 + +Talked to X yesterday and was slipping back into the old "well for a man he +has his thoughts together etc etc" and then you talk to the woman in his +life - Y- a bigger legend I'll go a long way to find and she said some +really hard things that bought me right back down to earth. 18 + +HE had no crippling doubts about his role nor about the function and value +of marriage. To him it was simply an economic arrangement to some selfish +benefit; one that would most easily satisfy his physical needs and +reproduce his heirs. His wife too, was clear about her duties and rewards: +ownership of herself and of her sexual psychological and housekeeping +services for a lifetime, in return for long term patronage and protection +by a member of the ruling class, and in her turn limited control over a +household and over her children until they reached a certain age. Today +this contract based on divided roles has been so disguised by sentiment +that it goes completely unrecognized by millions of newly weds, and even +most older married couples. 19 + +"Men are not oppressed as men, and hence not in a position to be liberated +as men. This dilema has prevented - thus far - the creation of a theory +(and a language) of liberation which speaks specifically to men. Everyday +language , with its false diachotomies of masculinity - feminity, +male-female, oscures the bonds of domnance of men over women, feminist +theory illuminated those bonds and the experience of women within +patriarchy but has little need to comprehend the experience of being male. +In the absence of such formulation, masculinity seems often to be a mere +negative quality, oppressive in its exercies to both men and women, +indistinguishable from oppression per se. What would a theory look like +which accounts for the many froms of being a man can take. An answer to +that question poses not a 'tragedy' by and opportunity" 20 + +"An aggrandisment in false apology is still an aggrandizement" 21 + +"The ruling classes of capitalist countries and their hired agents exault +bourgeois so called 'democracy' to the skies. But the fact remains that +under capitalism the great majority of women are inhumanly exploited and +they suffer from numerous disabilities, from restrictions of their rights in +public and political life, from degrading marriage and divorce laws, which +place women in humiliating and inferior position to men, from economic +dependence and household drudgery" 22 + +"To sell a brain is worse than to sell a body, for when the body seller has +sold her momentary pleasure, she takes good care that the matter shall end +there. But when a breainseller has sold her brain, its anaemic, vicious +and diseased progency, are let loose upon the world, to infect and corrupt +and sow the seed of disease in others" 23 + +The women say, you are really a slave if ever there was one. Men have make +what diferentiated them from you the sign of domination and possession. +They say, you will never be numerous enough to spit on their phallus, you +will never be suffieiencly determined to stop speaking their language, to +burn their currency theur effigied their works of art their symbols. They +say, men have foreseen everything, they have christened your revolt in +advance a slave revolt, a revolt against nature, they call it revolt when +you want to appropriate what tis their, the phallus. The women say, I +refuse henceforward to speak this language I refuse to mumble after them +the words lack of penis lack of money lack of insignia lack of name. I +refuse to pronounce the names of possession and non-possession, they say, +If I take over the world, let it be to dispossess myself of it +immediatesly, let it be to forge new links between myself and the world. +24 + +>From books films and experiences which afirmed that which we know from +books and films, we know what she/he wants . We act and react accordingly. +We react to his/her knowing what he/she wants. We count on that which we +know from books and films and experiences, indeed being accurate. +Samuel has make his way to my breasts. They remain lifeless. I still +don't love them. How dreadful that pleasure can arise even though I dont +love myself, even though love of self and love of another are detached from +one another, like talk and love, like work and love, like pleasure and +love. +He bows his head, at last he can rest it for a moment. I take him in. +Once again I look down on a man's head resting between my breasts. What is +he searching for. +I start running, Samuel disappears, the distance seperating us remains the +same. Is Samuel a mirage? Is my need to be nurtured a mirage? I would +like to put a stop to this at once, would like to move away from him, look +him in the eyes, talk to him, fall asleep with him. Is my vagina moist? +Is his penis hard? Have all the preperations been make for reuniting the +disunited? Vagina-Penis has become a surrogate unity, a substitute for all +severed relationships. 25 + +"Love requires a mutual vulnerability that is impossible to achieve in an +unequal power situation. Thus falling in love is no more that the process +of alteration of male vision - through idealisation, mystification, +glorification that renders void the womans class inferiority. 26 + +Men who want to support women in our struggle for freedom and justice +should undersand that it is not terrifically important to us that they +learn to cry; it is important to us that they stop the crimes of violence +against us . 27 + +The anger of the survivor is murderous. It is more dangerous to her than +to the one who hurt her. She does not believe in murder, even to save +herself. She does not believe in murder, even though it would be more +merciful punishment than he deserves. She wants him dead but will not kill +him. She never gives up wanting him dead. + +The clarity of the survivor is chilling. Once she breaks out of the prison +of terror and violence in which she has been nearly destroyed, a process +that takes years, it is very difficult to lie to her or to manipulate her. +She sees through the social strategies that have controlled her as a woman, +the sexual strategites that have reduced her to a shadow of her own native +possibilities. She knows that her life depends on never being taken in by +romantic illusions or sexual hallucination......So what have I learned? I +have learned not to believe in suffering. It is a form of death. If it is +severe enough it is a poison; it kills the emotions." She knows that some +of her own emotions have been killed and she mistrusts those who are +infactuated with suffering, as if it were a source of life, not death. In +her heart she is a mourner for those who have not survived. In her soul +she is a warrior for those who are now as she was then. In her life she is +both celebrant and proof of women's capacity and will to survive, to +become, to act, to change self and sociey. And each year she is stronger +and there are more of her. 28 + +"Yes I too have been very afraid of my anger. But I think that if we can +begin to free ourselves of the lie we've accepted about what it is to be an +angry woman-a gorgon-if we can begin to believe in our anger as a healing +force, then our own belief in it as that will cause men to begin to +experience it in a different way. And our danger from them will decrease. +In fact, I think the reason that men are so very violent is that they know, +deep in themselves, that they're acting out a lie, and so they're furious. +You can't be happy living a lie, and so they're furious at being caught up +in the lie. But they don't know how to break out of it, so they just go +further into it. 29 + +Sandra Boston saw a scene in a move once that made a lasting impression. +A man was picketing the White House in the middle of the night, caring a +placard about stopping war. Nobody was there to see him except a night +watchman who walked over to the man and said, "You know, you aren't going +to change the world." The protester kept on marching but said, "I'm trying +to keep the world from changing me." 30 + +"Val gazed at her sympathetically. 'I know. That's what makes things so +hard. And of course, our sort of radicalizm is the most threatening sort +ever to come down the pike. Not because we have guns and money. They +tried to laugh us out of existence, now they're trying to tokenize us out +of existence, the way they've done with blacks, not very successfully, I +think - but their refusal to take us seriously at all is a measure of their +terror. +31 +If pornography releases sexual frustration, why don't we send recipe books +to the starving? 32 + +The rebel sons wanted phallic power to be secular and "democratic" in the +male sense of the word; that is, they wanted to fuck at will, as a +birthright. With a princely arrogance that belied their egalitarian +pretensions, they wanted to wield penises, not guns, as emblems of manhood. +They did not repudiate the illegitimate power of the phallus: they +repudiated the authority of the father that put limits of law and +concention on their lust. They did not argue against the power of the +phallus; they argued for pleasure as the purest use to which it could to +put. 33 + +If I use contraceptives, I get sicker than I already am. In order to be +able to sleep with a man, I have to become a patient. 34 + +Nobody likes pain, anguish and fear; but Joanna Macy insits that we cant +act until we experience it. In her view, despair isn't craziness; it is an +appropriate respose to the daily news. It represents an understanding of +the unity of all life, and a sensitivity to the serious threat to that +life. When we drop our defenses and let grief and apprehension surface, +we are released from paralysis, and connected to all life. "Through our +despair," she writes "something more profound and pervasive comes to light. +It is our interconnectedness, our inter-existence. Beyond our pain and +because of our pain, we awaken into that ...Despair work, experienced in +this fashion, is consciousness-raising in the truest sense of that term. +It increases our awareness, not only of the perils that face us, but also +to the promise inherent in the human heart.." 35 + +The only way we can come out of hiding, break through our paralysing +defenses, is to know it all - the full extent of sexual violence and +domination of women. In knowing, in facing directly we can learn to chart +out course out of this oppression, by envisioning and creating a world +which will preclude female sexual slavery" 36 + +"Some days I feel dead, I feel like a robot, treading our time. Some days, +I feel terribly alive, with hair like wires and a knife in my hand. Once +in a while my mind slips and I think I am back in my dream and that I have +shut the door, the one without a handly on the inside. I imagine that +tommorrow I will be pounding and screaming to be let out, but no one will +hear, no one will come. Other times I think I have gone over the line, +like LiIly, like Val, and can no longer speak anything but truth... +Maybe I need a keeper. I don't want them to lock me up and give me +electric shock until I forget. Forget: lethe: the opposite of truth. +I have opened all the doors in my head. +I have opened all the pores in my body. +But only the tide rolls in. +Marylin French The Women's Room. +The smoke of the burned witches still hangs in our nostrils; most of all, +it reminds us to see ourselves as seperated, isolated units in copetition +with eachother, alienated, powerless, alone. 37 + +During the 16th and 17th centuries, Western society was undergoing massive +changes. THe witch hunts were an expression both of the weadening of +traditional restraints and of an increase in new pressures. It was a +relolutionary time, but the persecutions helped to undermine the possiblity +of a revolution that would benedit women. THe changes that occured +benefited the rising monied professional classes and made possible the +ruthless and extensive exploitation of women, working people and nature. +As paet of that change, the persecusiton of witches awas linked to 3 +interconnected processes; the expropriation of land and natural resources, +the expropriation of knowledge; and the war against the consciousness of +immanence which was embodied in women, sexuality and magic. 38 + +Their customs were the expression - in actions songs, costumes, +celebrations - of the organic unity of the human community and the oneness +of the peasant with the land and its gifts. 39 + + +And then he raised his eyes to her face and was sad. For sufficient +reasons he was very sensitive to the tragedies of women, and he knew it was +a tragedy that such a face should surmount such a body. For her body would +imprison her in soft places, she would be allowed no adventures other than +love, no achievements other than births. But her face was haggard, in +spite of its youth, with appetite for travel in the hard places of the +world, for the adventures and achievements that are the birth right of any +man. 40 + +"But it's hard for being punished just for what you are" 41 + +He stood, nodded, smiled, pointed to the seat, I sat, he gave me a +cigarette, I smoked, I drank coffee, he talked, I listened, he talked, I +built castles out of paper on table tops, he talked, oh I was so quiet, so +soft, all brazen thighs to the naked eye, to his dead and ugly eye, but +inside I wanted him to see inside I was all aquiver, all trembling and +dainty, all worried and afraid, nervy and a pale invalid, all pathetic +need contaminated by intellect that was like wild weeds, wild weeds, +massively killing the fragile gentle flower garden inside, those pruned and +fragile little flowers. This I conveyed by being quiet and tender and oh +so quiet, and I could see my insides all running with blood, all running +with knife cuts and big fuck bruises and he saw it too. 42 + +I am numb. I want to cry but I do not cry. I dont cry over rape anymore. +I burn but I don't cry. I shake but I don't cry. I get sick to my stomach +but I don't cry. I scream inside so that my silent shrieking drowns the +awful pounding of my heart but I don't cry. I am too weak to move but I +don't cry" +43 + +"I am underground, under water, eyes closed because of the bitter saltiness +of the water, wringing my hand in disbelief. X bashed Y up. My indierct +but very real pain hasn't screamed, just hummed quietly like the +electricity cables do. I feel like a big electircity monster and I want to +march up the highway, stalk my way leaving shrieks that haunt children into +their twenties and set fire to him. He said and did it all in just one +night. The betrayal, the hate, the shame stains my day RED. The red of +raw, the red of the blood that must have been shed. 44 + +Taoist China considered red a sacred color associated with women, blood, +sexual potency and creative power. White was the colour of men, semen, +negative influences, passsivity and death. This was the basic Tantric idea +of male and female essences. The male principle was seen as "passive" and +quiescent' the female principle as "active" and "creative" the reverse of +later patriarchial views." 45 + +"Do you promise me that behind that red curtain over ther the figure of Sir +Charles Biron is not concealed? We are all women you assure me? Then I may +tell you the very next words I read were these 'Chloe liked Olivia...' Do +not start. Do not blush. Let us admit in the privacy of our own society +that these things sometimes happen. Sometimes women do like women" 46 + +No movement has ever been more than an accumilaion of small motions of +people acting within their own sheres. In rearranging our lives, we +participate in rearranging the life of society. The qualities on which we +have depended for several millennia, which we have imagined kept us afloat +- power-in-the-world, possesssion, status, hierarchy, tradition - are in +fact sweeping us to ruin what is necessary to prevent that ruin are the +very qualities we have leared to trust - the flexible, fluid, transient +elements of affection and communality. + +The past had its moment; we have ours. After a moment all life dies and is +transformed, transubstantiated. The end of life is the continuation of +life, the means we use to attain that end is the mode in which we live it . +All of us, victors and victims, and we are all both, are transitory. Like +the world, we are passing. We are like soldier ants, moving from a +depleted area to seek food beyond, in an unexplored terrain. We have +encountered a river that sepatates us from sight of the future; we have a +choice only to die where we stand or to enter it . The ants always enter +and drown. They drown by the millions, and in their death add their bodies +to a bridge on which the survivors can cross over to what they hope will be +richer grounds, as the devoured terrain behind them regenerated itself. +All of us, members of transitory generations, help to create the bridge by +which the past continues its the future. But if our lives are filled with +self denial, self punishment, empty rewards, illusory goals, and the +mutilations of power and obedience, then neither our lives nor our legacy +is worth the pain. Only pleasure in the journey can make thejourney +worthwhile, and our pleasure in our journey is also a legacy to those who +follow. + +And if we fail? We fail: to turn the world of wicked Lady Macbeth to good +purpose. The goal - feminizing the world - is also the means - feminizing +our worlds. The end is the process: integrating ourselves and carrying +integration as far into the world as we can. There is no final end, there +is only the doing well, being what we want to be , doing what we want to +do, living in delight. The choice lies between a life lived through and a +life lived; between fragmentation and wholeness; between leaving behind us, +as generations before us have done, a legacy of bitterness, sacrafice, and +fear, and leaving behind us, if nothing more than this, a memory of our own +being and doing with pleasure, an image of a life our young will want to +emulate rather than avoid. The choice lied between servitude and freedom, +fragmentation and integration. The choice may be beween death and life. 47 + +New structures can emerge sucessfully only in resopnse to a new or +different set of ends. When we value pleasure - human well being - as much +as profit (power), new sturctures will seem to generate themselves. 48 + +It's taken women a long time to say why nuclear power is a women's issue. +We are the first affetcted by it, and that's why we have to take it real +personally. I speak a lot at anti-nuclear rallies - I get up ther eand I'm +(1) the only women and (2) the only non-white - they get two birds with one +stone! Women have got to demand that we speak, because men are dong all +the talking at the moment. We have a saying - Women are the backbone, and +men are the jawbone; and it's true in every society. I'm not saying that +we should be the jawbone, but that men be a little more of the backbone. 49 + +We must also demand that our politics serve our sexuality. To often, we +have asked secuality to serve politics instead. Ironically the same +movements that have criticised sexual repression and boring morality have +them selves too often tried to mould their sexual feelings to serve the +correct political theory. 50 + +Love, the strongest and deepsest element in all life, the harginger of hope +of joy, of ecstasy; love the defier of all laws, of all conventions; love +the freest, the most powerful moulder of human destiny; how can such an +all-compelling force be synonymous with that poor little State and Church +begotten weed, marriage?... + +Some day, some day men and women will rise, they will reach the mountain +peak, they will meet big and strong and free, ready to receive, to partake +and to bask in the golden rays of love. What fancy, what imagination, what +poetic genius can foresee even approximately the potentialities of such a +force in the life of men and women. If the world is ever to give birth to +true companionship and oneness, not marriage, but love will be the parent. +51 + +Salvation lies in an energetic march onward towards a brighter and clearer +future. We are in need of unhampered growth out of old traditions and +habits. The movement for womens emancipation has so far made but the first +step in that direction. It is to be hoped that it will gather strength to +make another. The right to vote, or equal civil rights, may be good +demands but true emancipation begins neither at the polls nor in the +courts. It begins in woman's soul. History tells us that every oppressed +class gained true liberation from its masters through its own efforts. It +is necessary that woman learn that lesson, that she realize that her +freedom will reach as far as her power to achieve her freedom reaches. It +is therefor, far more important for her to begin with her inner +regeneration, to cut loose from the weight of prejudices, traditions, and +customs. The demand for equial rights in every vocation of life is just and +fair; but after all, the most vital right is the right to love and be +loved. Indeed, if partial emancipation is to become a complete and true +emancipation of woman, it will have to do away with the ridiculous notion +that to be loved, to be sweetheart and mother, is synonymous with being +slave or subordinate. It will have to do away with the absurd notion of +the dualism of the sexes, or that man an woman represent two antagonistic +worlds. + +Pettiness seperates; breadth unites. Let us be broad and big. Let us not +overlook vital things because of the bulk of trifles confronting us. A +true conception of the relation of the sexes will not admit of conqueror +and conquerd. It knows of but one real thing. To give of one's self +boundlessly, in order to find ones self richer, deeper, better. That alone +can fill the emptiness, and transform the tragedy of womans emancipation +into joy, limitless joy." 52 + +1. Dworkin, Andrea Feminism an Agenda in Letters from the War Zone +2. UN Decade of Women findings +3. Adrienne Rich, Compulsory Heterosexuality and the Lesbian Experience +4. Powell &Cheatham This Way Daybreak Comes, New Soc. Press 1986 +5. Spender, Dale Man Made Language +6. Woolf, Virginia A Room of Ones Own +7. de Beauvoir, Simone The Second Sex +8. Morgan Robin, The Demon Lover Norton 1987 +9. This Way Daybreak COmes +10. Job Application, F. Ruby +11. ibid +12. +13.Olsen, Carl The Book of The Goddess +14. Dworkin, Andrea Our Blood +15. ibid +16. ibid +17. Firestone, SHulamith THe Dialectic of Sex +18. Diary +19. Firestone ibid +20. Sattle, Jack Men Inexpressiveness and Power +21. Spivak +22. Popora,N Women in Russia +23. Woolf V ibid +24. Wittig, Monique Les Guerillere +25. Stefan, Verena Shedding +26. Firestone ibid +27. Dworkin Andrea The Rape Atrocity and the BOy Next Door in Letters + from The War ZOne +28. Dworkin, Andrea A Battered Wife Survives in Letters From The War + Zone +29. Demming Barbara Reweaving the Web, New Soc. Press 1982 +30. This Way Daybreak Comes ibid +31. French Marylinb, The WOmens Room +32. Dworkin +33. Dworkin Why So-called Radical men lovea nd need Porn +34. Stefan, V ibid +35. This Way Daybreak Comes +36. Rich, Aidrienne ibid +37. French, Maryln. The WOmen's Room ibid +38 Starhawk, Dreaming the Dark, Beacon Press 1982 +39. ibid +40. West, Rebecca The Judge Virago +41. ibid +42. Dworkin Andrea, Fire and Ice +43. ibid +44. diary +45. Womens Book Of Myths and Secrets +46. Woolf ibid +47. French Marylin Beyond Power ibid +48. ibid +49. Interview with Winowa La Duke, Spare Rib Readerm Ruth Wallsgrove +50. Starhawk ibid +51. Goldman, Emma, Marriage and Love +52. Goldman, Emma Social Institutions + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001065.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001065.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3314bdf3 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001065.txt @@ -0,0 +1,91 @@ +ANGER LOVE RAVE * by Flick Ruby + +"Denied the airwaves, we trust in the wind to carry what we say + But sometimes we found ourselves shouting into the wind + When we should have been confiding in each other." CRASS + +As political activists we are motivated, inspired, guilt ridden, angry, +achieving, despair filled, joyous, argumentative, passionate, suspicious, +involved, connected, disconnected, worried, hopeful, harassed, +confrontative, prophetic, burnt out, dancing. We live out our politics on +a variety of levels and I feel that we don't spend enough time validating +and supporting each other through the sanity compromising emotional process +of activism. The ways we work and the language we permit ourselves in many +groups only serves to drain and not sustain action, does not recognise that +the most important political resource is us. Often the response to this is +"Yeah, but there isn't enough time to deal with people's psychological +shit, this isn't therapy group y'know, this is political." I suppose it +isn't it political that the largest growing organisation besides the ISO is +the Charcoal Club, that we have to keep reinventing the wheel because +people keep burning out and falling out of the movement like overripe fruit +from a tree, or they end up joining a hierarchal organisation because we +haven't got our shit together with regard to a number of issues one of +which is the respect we have for our psychological health while being so +very concerned about social global health. + +I agree with Robin Morgan when she says "Yet the basis of all ideology is +the experiential perspective. As a feminist, I know that the personal IS +political, and that an affirmation of subjectivity is the mark of an honest +and humane politics." One of the most successful movements that sprouted +from that politically out of it time of the late 60's and early 70's was +feminism and integral to the empowerment process was the shedding, with +others, of the psychological blankets we as women begin to acquire from +birth that suffocate us to death. Capo-patra imperialism really does get +in, inside us all, and not unlike sand paper, scrubs away at our soul. To +be aware is not necessarily to be immune and the contradictions we all +house clang around sometimes unbearable loudly. Our reactions under the +pressure of political work can sometimes serve to make activism most +unattractive to those `apathetic lazy bastards'. + + My argument is that depressed, stressed and abusive guilt slinging +activists screaming a litany of apocalyptic scenarios is no inspiration. +But surely I am only talking about individuals here and about the lessons +of finding your own limits and expectations, perhaps myself? Yes (and sorry +to all snapped at and eye rolled at people in meetings I often rendered +paralysed by my toxic anxiety), but I'm also talking about a problematic +pattern, a mode of political activism which continues to separate the +personal from the political and is not creative in the ways it operates. +Too often the needs of the individuals that are created by the work of the +group need to be addressed in some way. Often the problem is not able to +be pointed at, it is about power relations that are intangible, or +impatience or you are not confident to speak because you feel like your +solar plexus has been surgically removed. At these times the words "I +feel" may need to come into a political forum. EEEK!! But when people are +busy with the who is killing themselves fastest and best list, or who is +citing the most reasons for cynical defeatism, who's got time for some +dork's ideas about needing some support with all these new thoughts about +them being a white middle class rapist and that perhaps some discussion +rather than guilt releasing lists and envelope stuffing for the dorks could +help the effectiveness of the groups political message. "Sorry dork, no +time, we're busy duplicating the very structures were opposing." + +There needs to be some mechanism of self reflexivity in each and every +group. Feminism has taught that working through the shit of it all with +people is important. Too often those who can inspire and achieve change +have been separated via the mechanisms they need to know well in order to +smash; jealousy, fear of lack, violence, hate, rape, fear. The kind of +content I'm talking about is not necessarily heavy tissue boxes strapped to +the shoulder kind of stuff but is the courage to enter into the language of +the personal to the extent that is intersects with the political. +Specifically for men what I'm describing is terrifying. Being arrested at +an action is all very well and good but unless we are freed from the +permanent state of arrest in our own minds we are corruptible, cynical and +are obedient to the patriarchal father who couches heroism and politics in +terms of emotionlessness and revolution in terms of violence. + +What we need to dare is some shameless idealism which comes for me after I +am able to break the vibration of negativity and paralysation with +laughter. As the `sun never sets on the brotherhood,' neither could it +career its path without the exhaling breath of those laughing in real joy +and love, urging it on. My belief in the existence of that somewhere I +realise now is essential to my political and personal survival, although +often things are not all that amusing. My belief in love and the need to +create the environment, physical, psychological and psychic, in which to +unfold and curl into a love purified of the dis-ease it currently harbours +and is the excuse for, is my most radical belief. It is for me the source +of both extreme hope and despair which I feel are the parameters of +existence for the political activist which I would like to see validated +and the process of sanity, I believe, could be made not easier but less +lonely if we see all people as agents of incredibly bruised potential that +need nurturing. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001066.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001066.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d46651a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001066.txt @@ -0,0 +1,243 @@ +ANARCHA-FEMINISM * by Flick Ruby + +For too long anarchist feminists have been labeled as the ladies auxiliary +of male bomb throwers. The misconception and manipulation of both +feminists and anarchist principles and practice have resulted in the use of +sensationalist and ridiculing tactics by the state and its spokespeople. +This has not only polarised the general populace from potentially +liberation concepts but has also polarised anarchist from feminists. In +the past and more so recently there has been a uniting of these beliefs and +Peggy Korneggers article; 'Anarchism; the Feminist Connection' goes so far +as to say that the two genres of thought are inextricable tied although the +connection has not been consiously articulated by feminists very often. +Kornegger agrues that feminism "emphasis on the small group as a basic +organisational unit, on the personal and political, on anti- +authoritarianism and on spontanious direct action was essentially +anarchism. I believe that this puts women in a unique position of being +the bearers of a subsurface anarchist consiousness which if articulated and +concretised can take us further than any previous group toward the +achievement of total revolution. + +While anarchism has provided a frameword for the transformation required, +for far too long even this revolutionary ideology has been largely male +identified; male articulated, male targeted and male exclusive in both its +language and participation. It has therefore been unfortunately lacking in +vital analysis especially with regard to the psychological and physical +realities of oppression experienced by the majority of the human +population: women. As Emma Goldman said of the Spanish Revolution of 1936 +"Despite the impressive rhetoric, most frequently male anarchists retreated +to cultural orthodoxy in the personal relationships with women ...The vast +majority of Spanish comrades continued to expect their own "companions" to +provide the emotionally supportive and submissive relationships "necessary" +for the activism of the males". Anarchism has often duplicated the very +concpts of power it sought to obliterate . One of the basic tenants of +anarchist feminsm is that we are not prisoners of the past - + The past leads us if we force it to + Otherwise it contains us, + In its asylum with not gate + We make history or it makes us" + +As anarchist feminist we are not asking men to attone for the sins of the +forefathers, we are asking them to take responsibility for the masculinity +of the future, we are not asking women to be perpetually aware of their +opression but to emerge from it. Mostly we are not locating conflict with +certain people rather than the kind of behaviour that takes place between +them. + +Anarchist feminism addresses these notions of power, attempts to criticise, +envision and plan. Everything is involved in the question. However it is +from a consious understanding of the lessons of the past that presses us +into the future, however angry or embarrased. While it is not my intention +to analyse in depth the traditions of anarchism and feminism, discussion +of their union in the past and the barriers to this union may help to +inform both genres as I see them as both phenomenas of urgent relevance. + +Definitions of both anarchism and feminism are totally anathma as "freedom +is not something to be decreed and protected by laws or states. It is +something you shape for yourself and share however both have insisted "on +spontenaiety, on theoretical flexibility, on simplicity of living, on love +and anger as complementary and necessary compoents of society as well as +individual action." Anarchist feminist see the state as an insitution of +patriarchy, and seek to find a way out of the alienation of the +contemporary world and the impersonal narture of the state and its rituals +of economic, physical and psychological violence. + +The word anarchist comes from archon meaning a ruler and the addition of +the prefix "an" meaning "without" creates the terms for concieving not of +chaos not disorganisation, but of a situtaion in which there is +emancipation from authority. Ironically what consititutes anarchism is not +goal orientated post revolutionary bliss but is a set or organisational +principles which may redress the current obstacles to freedom. As Carlo +Pisacane, an Italian anarchist wrote "The propaganda of the idea is a +chimera. Ideas result from deeds, not the later from the former, and the +people will not be free when they are educated, but educated when they are +free." + +Most of the focus of anarchist discussion has been "around the governmental +source of most of societies troubles and the viable alternative forms of +voluntary organisation possible", but has paid little attention to the +manifestations of the state in our intimate relationships nor with the +invidivual psychological thought processes which affect our every +relationship while living under the tyranny of a power-over ideology. The +above quote came from George Woodcocks anthology called The Anarchist +Reader who should be forever embarrased for citing only one woman briefly +(Emma Goldman in the role of critic of the Russian Revolution). The quote +continues "and by further definition, the anarchist is the man who sets out +to create a society without government." + +Exactly. + +How is it that revolutionary libertarian fervour can exist so harmoniously +with machismo? It is far too easy in this instance to say that "It is hard +to locate our tormentor. It's so pervasive, so familiar, We have known it +all our lives. It is our culture." because although it is true the +essences of liberty so illustrously espoused by these people have not +extended their definition of freedom to ther sisters. Why not?? It is +often a problem of language used by idealists in their use of the term man +as generic, but what is also clear in so much of the rhetoric is that the +envisioned 'proletariat' is the male worker, the revolutionary is a person +entering into the struggle that is the seeking of a "legitimating" +expression of 'masculinity' in the political forum staked out by the +dominant male paradigm. Feminists are suspicious of logic and its rituals +and the auidence addressed by a ritual language, with reason. Consider the +folloving examples and if you are not a woman try to imagine the conflict +created by such wonderful ideas that deliberately and needlessly exclude +you from relevance or existance. + +"Our animal needs, it is well known, consist in food, clothing and shelter. +If justice means anything, nothing can be more unjust than that any man +lack them. But justice doesn't stop there." + +"the objection which anarchists have always sustained to fixed and +authoritarian forms of organisation does not mean that they deny +organisation as such. The anarchist is not an individualist in the extreme +sense of the word. He believes passionately in individual freedom, but he +also recognises that such freedom can only be safeguarded by a willingness +to co-operate by the reality of community" + +"An integral part of the collective existance, man feels his dignity at the +same time in himself and in others, and thus carries in his heart the +principle of morality superiour to himslef. This principle does not come +to him from outside, it is secreted within him, it is immanent. It +consititues his essence, the essence of society itself. It is the form of +the human spirit, a form which takes shape and grows towards perfection +only by the relationship that everyday gives birth to social life. Justice +in other works, exists in us like love, like notions of beauty of utility +of truth, like all our powers and faculties." + +"Chomsky argues that the basis of Humbolt's social and political thought is +his vision "of the end of man"...the highest and most harmonious develpment +of his powers to a complete and consistent whole. Freedom is the first and +indispensable conditions which the posasibility of such a development +presupposes." + +And as if bearing witness to the sucesses of the socialisaion process, +women too use this language as Voltairie de Clayre said "And when modern +revolution has thus been carried to the heart of the whole world if it ever +shall be, as I hope it will - then may we hope to see a ressurection of +that proud spirit of our fathers which put the simple dignity of Man above +the gauds of wealth and class and held that to be an American was greater +than to be a king. In that day there shall be neither kings nor Americans +- only men, over the whole earth MEN." + +Well save me from tommorrow! Sometimes you have to edit your reading with +so many (sic) (sic) (sick's) it renders the text unreadable. And so to +what extent than has revolutionary ideology created and spoken to women +when the language, the focus and the freedom offered is so often clearly +for men? The fact is that women have only so very recently acquired access +to education and also do not often have the opportunity for political +involvement, consider both the physical and psychological barriers. There +have always been a womans voice in political forums and feminism builds +upon these tradition, theories and courage to create a body of thought that +specifically addresses womens empowerment. + +As Robin Morgan points out in her book The Demon Lover, the left have been +dominated asnd led by a male system of violence which has created with +reactionary punctuality its "opposite" (duplicate) of action theory and +language. She argues that in the search for "legitimacy" that male +revolutionaries adopt the forums and language of violence and domination +that continue to oppress women but that because these fourms are seeminsly +the sole route for political transgression; that women are enticed and +engaged in the struggle that while purporting to be revolutionary it is +revolutionary on male terms and will use and betray her. So often feminist +have been abused by and asked by male revolutionaries to make ther claim +and focus subsurvient to "the wider struggle". From the women +Abolitionists jeered at when they gave a feminist understaning of the +problems of male drunkeness and its devestating effects on women, to the +suffragists accused of diverting attention from the war effort, to Zetkin, +Luxumbourg and Goldman all suffering the eye roll and brutality of both the +state that is and the state that would be. We see Alexandra Kollontai the +only women involved in the Russian cabinet after the 1917 Revolution being +exiled to Norway after all her references to the necessity of a feminist +component to revolution were edited and diluted. We are asked to stop +pursuing our cause and start defending it but to argue for the validity of +our cause that would imply we wanted "in". Even recently a once respected +friend said that "The womens meeting is on now, the real meeting will state +in half and hour." When questioned he added "the full meeting". The +fullness of the lack filling penile participation I supposed, lubricated +and made ready, as always in isolation. Ah but how can one quibble about +the sloppiness of language when it serves our purposes so well. Thankyou +Mirabeau for the following "Every party has its criminals and fools because +every party has its men." + +Entering into political circles with men is an exercise in the risk of +compromising and being obedient to this attitude or in confronting it. +Ridicule is the worst, tokenism is little better and so gloriously rare and +acute is our joy when the issues are taken seriously that we could be +mistaken for groaning clapping seals unless we are already cringingly +braced in anticipation of the backlash of men genuinely perplexed but +inarticulate except in the socialised male response; defensiveness. But +there must be some way in which to address the political nature of our +polarisiaion as sexes in political forums which involve men. There must be +some way to point to the coercive power structures that display a hidden +elite, invariable of men but also of women. I believe like Peggy Krogger +that feminism could be the connection that links anarchism to the future, +both add to eachothers struggle not to seize but to abolish power, but both +go further than the socialists and assert that people are not free becuse +they are surviving, or even economically comfortable. They are only free +when they have power over their own lives. Anaerchist feminist say that +the goal is not to fabricate the new and artificial social forms but to +find ways or articulating people so that out of their groupings, the +insitutions appropriate to a free society might evolve." + +Socialist organisations are popular with a lot of people who are flocking +to these groups because it is felt that one must be involved with a +revolutionary group,. Indeed. But their gender blind hierarchical +bludgenoning from the poduim organisations have a typical style of +interpreting feminist concerns and concrete grievances as irrelevant to or +symptomatic of the larger struggle. "They appeal to the women to suspend +their cause temporarily which inevitable leads to a dismissal of women's +issues as tangential, reducing them to subsidiary categories." + +Anarcha-feminist have said that often the "definitive body of theory which +is so often the comforting cushion for male reclining, such theoretical +over articulation gives one the illusion of responding to a critical +situaion, without ever really coming to grips with ones perception of it. +With capitalism and patriarchy so safely reduced to an explination, we +distance ourselves from the problem and the necessity to immediately +interact with it or respond to other people." So often revolutionaries +deal with concepts and not people. + +But while as anarcha-feminists we object to much of the politics of +socialist (as a friend of mine says "After your revolution we'll still be +us, but you'll be them, ) we also argue that liberation needs to happen in +small afinity groups so that people are not blugeoned into opinions and can +build up the personal relationshiop of trust that facilitates the grieving, +the sharing and the exorcisms of the psyhological though processes and +experiences that brought them to their politics.. This is often a sanity +compromising process or do we actually become sane through that difficult +time when we realise that the personal is political. + +"Those of us who have learnt to survive by dominating others, as well as +those of us who have learned to survive by accepting domination need to +socialise ourselves into being strong without playing dominance submission +games, into controlling what happens to us without controlling others." +"To this end anarchism must start with a solid feminist consiousness and +practise it or it is doomed to just as much internal contradiction and +failure as anarchists traditionally foresaw for hierarchical Marxism." + + + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001067.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001067.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..59d72af4 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001067.txt @@ -0,0 +1,73 @@ + + HAUDENOSAUNEE + + MOHAWK - ONEIDA - ONONDAGA - CAYUGA - SENECA - TUSCARORA + + Mohawk Nation Kahnawake Branch + Kanien'kehaka A'onakerahsera + via Box 645 + Kahnawake, PQ + Canada J0L 1B0 + + To: Jean Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada + Premier Mike Harcourt, British Columbia + Premier Mike Harris, Ontario + + Be advised this date, September 7, 1995, that: + + - Any further violence committed against our sovereign + Turtle Island Brothers and Sisters of the Shuswap + Nation, at Gustafsen Lake, British Columbia, or Stoney + Nation at Ipperwash Park, Ontario, will be answered in + kind. + + - Those directly and indirectly responsible for the + murders of our brothers (one a fifteen year old boy) at + Ipperwash, Ontario, will be identified and held + accountable for their actions. + + - Those directly and indirectly responsible for the + beatings of our women and children at Ipperwash, + Ontario, will be identified and held accountable for + their actions. + + We have remained silent for some time now in the hope + that your governments could finally come to terms + honorably with our rights to sovereign control of our + lands and destiny. You have always said that all you + needed was just a little more time - as if 500 years is + not enough. And what have you given to our people with + that little more time? You have given to us more guns, + more bullets, more violence, more threats, more empty + fascist rhetoric about your law and order, all at the + expense of justice for our people. + + Even your self-government packages and policing + agreements drip with the venomous intentions you have + towards our people and their sovereignty. They are not + silent on our rights. They scream out your intention to + extinguish us. They are Dr. Kevorkian's tools for assisted + suicide, that will kill us as surely as your guns and + bullets. + + And so, we remain silent no more. And so, we advise + you that we will not stand idly by while you continue to + brutalize our people. + + For the civilized record: First comes truth. Then comes + justice. Then comes the mutually nourishing strength + that leads to a living law and order. Only in a brutally + repressive fascist state does law and order stand alone - + like police state tanks and bullets. + + The latest victims of your fascist state are: + Dudley George, shot in the back; + Nicholas Cottrell, 15, unarmed, executed with a + bullet to the head. + + Rotiskenakateh + Mohawk Nation + Six Nation Confederacy + Kahnawake Territory + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001068.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001068.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dc1859b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001068.txt @@ -0,0 +1,363 @@ +Interview With Dhoruba Bin Wahad + +Interview by Bill Weinberg + + Veteran Black Panther and 19-year political prisoner Dhoruba +Bin Wahad (formerly Richard Moore) won his freedom in 1990 +after a New York State judge found that the FBI had suppressed +evidence that could have helped clear him of his 1971 attempted +double-cop murder charge. + Since his release, he has returned to outspoken political +activism, and has been particularly vocal against the War on +Drugs. With his newly-organized "Black Coalition on Drugs", he +advocates decriminalization and "harm reduction" strategies. + +After 19 years in prison - seven of them in solitary confinement +- Dhoruba Bin Wahad has no apologies and no regrets. He spoke +to us a week after speaking at the Cures Not Wars rally against the +Drug War in New York's Washington Square Park on May 6. +Photographer John Penley also participated in the interview. + +BW: Have you seen the flick Panther? What do you think of it? + +DBW: Yeah, I saw Panther. I mean, everybody hates the movie +who has some political consciousness. I see this movie in the +context of my own experience, rather than in the context of where +we're at now in 1995 in terms of the consciousness of African +American people and people in general about radical alternatives. +One of the things that people don't realize is how effectively +radical analysis has been removed from the debate around issues +that affect people's lives. There are very few radical or +revolutionary alternatives presented in debates around issues. + + This is a direct consequence, of course, of the +Counter-Intelligence Program. The FBI's Counter-Intelligence +Program effectively changed the political landscape of this +society. It delegitimized militancy, it delegitimized +revolutionary consciousness. And the way it delegitimized that +was by criminalizing revolutionaries and criminalizing the +movement. And the criminalization process is continuing today in +the African American community. + + For instance, you can talk about the War on Drugs. The face +of the War on Drugs in America is the face of African people, its +the face of Latinos. Its the face of people of color - that's the +face of the quote-unquote "criminals" who are the targets of this +War on Drugs. And this image, this illusion, is perpetrated by +the mass media, which plays upon people's emotions to gain +support for the War on Drugs. For instance, we have this new +term "narcoterrorist", which combines fear of a drug-ridden +society with the image of people who hate America and just want +to kill Americans. And the face of "terrorism" is usually Islamic +fundamentalists, or foreign revolutionaries. And of course the +ability of the state - and I think this is the bottom line - to +control the democratization of technology is directly contingent +upon its capacity to get the masses to subsidize and support +their own repression through the creation of foreign or domestic +enemies. + +BW: What do you mean by the "democratization of technology"? + +DBW: Because of the giant strides of technology, especially in +the realm of organizing information through computers and +electronic media, this technology is readily accessible to +anyone. You can buy a PC and CD ROM system and tune in to +some of the most sophisticated levels of organized information in +the world. You can tap into mainframe information banks. This +was unheard of as little as 20 years ago. As young people come up +in a society that's increasingly dependent upon information, if they +have this kind of access they could influence debates, they could +begin to think for themselves, they could begin to search out +other like-minded folks. + + This you see in its most bizarre form in the right wing's +use of the Internet. They were building bombs on the Internet! +but this same technology means that people all over the world can +exchange information and have access to the same type of +information. Information is intelligence, the ability to make +intelligent decisions. + + +BW: What has all this to do with movie Panther? + +DBW: The movie Panther - even though it is not an accurate +portrayal of the Black Panther Party - shows how the police were +very brutal and racist and functioned in a way that was above the +law because they had a mandate to terrorize the African American +community. And it shows that the way that we dealt with that was +to organize in our communities around those issues that related +to people's lives. And we showed that we were ready to stand fast +against that type of repression, and indeed, if necessary, kill +in our defense of these ideals. And three, that drugs - hard +drugs, heroin - were introduced into the African American +community for political reasons, to control, to misdirect and +ultimately to defuse the development of revolutionary +consciousness. These three messages come across clear in the +movie. And it is for those reasons that I appreciate the movie. + + What it didn't show was that the consequence of developing a +revolutionary consciousness would inevitably mean that you were +going to become the targets of the state. And once you became the +targets of the state, there were no holds barred. And the way +they went about doing that, of course, was to first demonize the +Black Panther Party in the minds of white people, so the police +would be seen as having a difficult time at best, and therefore +you couldn't be too critical of how they act. And that plays, of +course, off of the racist mentality that underlies this society, +especially among white males, in relationship to black people and +black males. + + For instance, when we something like Rodney King happen, +the jury can come back and acquit these individuals because they +rationalize, "Well, this was a big, black dude, you know, he just +wouldn't lay down, they had a hard job, so they had to do what +they did, how else were they gonna survive in that ghetto, so +what?" So once you realize that we are going to struggle against +these conditions by any means necessary, that means that there +are going to be those of you who are going to be framed, who are +going to be murdered, who are going to be forced into exile. + +BW: That's what happened to you. + +DBW: That's what happened to me, and that's what happened to +Mumia Abu Jamal. That's why Mumia Abu Jamal is on death row. +Which of course brings us to another issue - the death penalty in +this country. And if we really deal with the death penalty in +this country, and its administration and its purpose, we can only +conclude that the death penalty does not protect its citizens. In +fact, it legalizes the murder of citizens under the guise of +protection and law enforcement. In those states which have the +death penalty, homicide is not appreciably deteriorated. But the +new Omnibus Criminal statute significantly increases the crimes +that are punishable by death. And they make struggle by the +oppressed - when defined as terrorism - punishable by death as a +means of intimidating those who would stand up against tyranny. +This is what happens, you get electrocuted, you get a lethal +injection. + + +BW: You did 19 years in prison for attempted murder of two New +York City police. And in the interim, new evidence came to light +indicating that you had been framed. How did that new evidence +come to light, and what is your current legal status? + +DBW: It came to light as a consequence of a long struggle to +prove my innocence. In 1975, four years after I was captured. I +filed a suit in federal court, in the Southern District in New +York. At that time they had the Church Committee hearings on +government excess as a consequence of Watergate and all that +stuff, and it was revealed that the FBI had carried out this +massive Counter-Intelligence Program in the African American +community and especially against the Black Panther Party. So +when I heard this - knowing that I was innocent, of course - I +knew that the FBI must have information about my case and I filed +my suit. They danced around for five years, and then in 1980, the +federal judge ordered the FBI to turn over all of their documents +that they had on me and the Black Panther Party in New York. +And they turned over 300,000 pages. And when we went over +these documents we found material that indicated that they were +working with the New York City Police Department every step of +the way and that at major junctures in the investigation into the +shooting, they had been present, and that they had taken in the +same information. But, unlike the New York City Police +Department, they didn't make like they had lost theirs. Because +they needed their information to be accurate. So I got some of +these documents. They were heavily excised, heavily deleted. But +after fighting over each deletion, we got enough evidence to go +back into state court and overturn my conviction. That was +another three-year process. + + So in 1990, I was released as a consequence of this. I was +the first and only member of the Black Panther Party leadership +to overturn a conviction based on evidence received from the +Counter-Intelligence Program. + +BW: Is there going to be a retrial? + +DBW: No, they surrendered. + +BW: How's your case going? Are you still suing the FBI and the +New York State prison service? + +DBW: Well, yes. They're starting to surrender too. + +BW: You think they're going to settle? + +DBW: Yes, I do. + +BW: How did you survive 19 years in prison? + +DBW: Shawshank Redemption! [Laughs] + + +BW: I didn't see that one. + +DBW: Its actually quite a good movie. How did I survive? Doing +chin-ups, man. "Drink plenty of water and walk slow" - that's +what they say inside. Don't let it get you. I survived by +focussing my attention on the struggle, on the outside. + +BW: There's a scene in Panther where the Panthers raid a heroin +warehouse. You were involved in similar incidents. + +DBW: Yeah, there was a place that the police let operate in +Harlem; it operated with their knowledge, and their pay-offs. We, +the Black Liberation Army, the underground in the black +community, had a policy of anti-heroin interdiction. A lot of +these guys who I grew up with in the South Bronx who were +selling heroin - they knew that what they were doing was having +a debilitating effect on the black community. They knew it wasn't +right, but they were just in it for the money. So the only way +that you could deal with these individuals was to deal with them +on a level that they could understand. They understood violence. +They understood intimidation. They understood controlling +territory. So we had to wage that type of struggle with them. Of +course, they had the police on their side. + + So we would try to identify where they hung out, where their +processing places were, and we would knock them off. The most +heinous drug dealers, of course, we would have to try to make an +example out of. I can't go into that. + + But the police used the drug dealers as their network +against the black underground. They would tell them, look, you're +not dealing any drugs here unless you give us what we want. So +they would use their network of drug dealers and informants in +order to get information on the Black Liberation Army. + + This is not inconsistent with the government's relationship +to hard drugs and to heroin historically. We can look at the +Vietnam war, look at the secret wars in Cambodia and Laos, +where the U.S. subsidized the northern war lords, many of whom +were renegades from the Koumintang who were run out of China. +They brought their opium to the processing labs in Hong Kong and +trans-shipped that heroin to the United States and the African +community. And this was subsequent to the initial contacts with +Lucky Luciano and the Italian Mafia in World War II, in which +Luciano, in exchange for his freedom and carte blanche to +reorganize the Sicilian Mafia, promised the U.S. they would have +no labor problems with the longshoremen and that they would have +in place an underground network when they invaded Italy and +Sicily. And after the war, of course we all know that the mob got +lots of war surplus goods, they got fat off the Marshall Plan in +Italy, just like the old Nazi-collaborationist industrialists did +in Germany, the Krupps and the Farbens. So its not inconsistent +that the police worked hand-in-hand in the black community with +the heroin dealers. + +BW: So these actions against heroin dealers were carried out in +1971 by the Black Liberation Army. Did the BLA develop from +elements within the Black Panther Party here in New York City? + +DBW: This is true. It developed that way as a consequence of a +split within the Black Panther Party. It was an ideological +split, but it was also a split that was manufactured by the +Counter-Intelligence Program, and in certain respects by the +cocaine addiction of people like Huey Newton and David Hilliard. +The Counter-Intelligence Program was able to focus in on these +weaknesses in the leadership, and that led to a split in the +Party which, absent the government's involvement and absent a +certain amount of paranoia on the part of the leadership, could +have been resolved. But because these forces were there to make +sure these contradictions were never resolved, the Party was +split. And then the government really went after the most +militant faction, the so-called Eldridge Cleaver faction which +was mainly in the eastern United States. And this was the +beginning of the Black Liberation Army. + + On the other hand, the West Coast faction of the party went +more into electoral politics and, not ironically, into +gangsterism. When they went into straight electoral politics +without the revolutionary nationalist perspective that we had on +the East Coast, they resorted to gangsterism. Bobby Seale and +Elaine Brown ran for office, and that really set the stage for +the first election of a black mayor in Oakland. I'm not saying +that their involvement in electoral politics in the Bay Area +didn't have a significant empowering impact on the black +community there. I don't think that was ever the criticism. But +its not coincidental that at the same time that they did that, +they were into gangsterism. The Party lost all relationship to +the organization that I had joined - politically, ideologically, +morally. + +BW: Tell us about the work you're currently doing in Africa. + +DBW: I'm trying to set up a Database Institute for the +Development of Pan-African Policy. Which basically hopes to +embody Kwame Nkrumah's axiom that before Africa could achieve +economic unity it first must achieve political unity. And I think +that one of the keys to organizing the African American +community here is to organize Africans everywhere, +internationally, around a common vision and a common perception +of the African condition. So I'm trying to set up an institute that +will develop policies, programs, and ideas, and bring together +people from the African diaspora around the world. + + We have NGO status in Africa. We are trying to train +Africans in the diaspora and Africans on the continent into a +common language and a common organizational network, and +organizing information through the Internet. It'll be a database +institute much like the RAND Institute, much like any other +institution that studies problems and presents solutions and +analyses to heads of governments and people in positions to make +these policies into viable programs. For instance, we have a +center that studies the contemporary political, social and +geographical problems of Africa, and presents its findings to the +various governments in the Organization of African Unity. + +BW: Tell us about your current work here in the U.S.. + +DBW: I work with the Campaign to Free Black and New Afrikan +Political Prisoners in the U.S.. One of the things we are doing +now is raising petitions for Mumia. Right now we have about +2,000 signatures. We're going to present those names not only to +the governor of Pennsylvania, but also to the president of South +Africa, Nelson Mandela, who we have a relationship with, and +hopefully encourage him to speak out against the death penalty in +general and against Mumia's execution in particular. + + We also are currently starting to develop a mobilization of +young people around an independent political movement in this +city. Its still in its infant stages at this point. But there's a +considerable amount of potential. We think the time is right in +this city for an independent black political party. At the same +time, we feel the time is right for a coalition in this city that +transcends class and caste and gender. People in this city are +sorely oppressed, whether they're black, white, male, female, +gay, straight. We are all subjected to the Giuliani and Pataki +economic program, which is subsidies for the rich and subjection +for the poor. So I think that this city is ripe for a grassroots +political movement, ripe for an insurgency within rank-and-file +of organized labor. I think that all of these potentialities are +here, but many of us who claim to be activists are not willing to +come together and deal with them in any type of coherent fashion. + +BW: What would be the stance of this party towards the left wing +of the Democratic machine, Dennis Rivera, Ruth Messinger, et +etcera? + +DBW: Well, of course an independent political tendency in this +city would have to see the Democratic Party and the Republican +Party as part-and-parcel of the same thing. However, we realize +that there are progressive people in the Democratic Party who are +black, and who are white and who are Latino. And there may be +progressive people who have gotten into the Republican Party as +a means of organizing from within. That may well be. But we +think that if they are truly progressive, that they will support +within their own party the same kind of agenda that we support. +So the presence of an independent political party can only +strengthen their hand inside the Democratic or Republican party, +it can only enhance their position. So we don't see them as being +mutually exclusive. + + I think that black folks and poor people want results. And +they can't get results inside an institution that's ultimately +controlled by people like Stanley Hill and other opportunists who +pull $100,000 salaries, who have no relationship to the masses of +people. I don't think that the communities want that kind of +political representation anymore. + +(Source: "The Shadow" via Mediafilter's WWW pages: +) + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001072.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001072.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b70a4851 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001072.txt @@ -0,0 +1,82 @@ +THE ANARCHIST MOVEMENT IN THE NETHERLANDS + +There exists a national anarchist network in the Netherlands +who meetings are very poorly attended (about 15 people every +meeting). Its members don't do very much. They don't even +have a publication. This network is a kind of informal meeting +place for folk who call themselves anarchists and who don't +even have a political programme. The name of the network is +Landelijk Anarchistisch Samenwerkingsverband (National +Network of Anarchist Co-operation) or LAS. + +In the North of the country, there is a regional organisation, +the Noordelijk Gewest van Vrije Socialisten (Northern Region +of Libertarian Socialists) or NGVS. It's members organise, +every year over Easter an informal demonstration. It is a +tradition which goes back to the 20s. In those days the anti- +militarist movement was quite strong. In 1933 it's members +bought a plot of land as the authorities had banned their +meetings. Although there had been a law in favour of +conscientious objection dating back to 1923, many refused to +take advantage of it and were sentenced to 2 years +imprisonment. There was therefore a strong mobilisation out +of which was born the NGVS, but now most of its members +are of the older generation.. Their quarterly, Recht Voor Allen +Van Onderop (Justice for the Underdogs) is of very poor +quality. There is also a rival grouping in the North, the +Noordelijk Genootschap van Vrije Socialisten (Northern +Association of Libertarian Socialists) who also put out a +quarterly publication Recht Voor Allen (Justice for All). To +explain the rivalry between the groups would take a lot of ink +and I imagine that even those most closely involved probably +are unaware of its causes. The majority of those who are +members of these groups are real ageing anarchist working +class militants + +There are two other publications. These emanate from the +younger generation. There is the quarterly AS (anarcho- +socialist) which is published in Rotterdam. This is a +publication coming from an independent group of intellectuals. +Nearly all its editors are academics. The contents of this +publication are theoretical. Many of its editors are members of +a political party. Theirs is a fairly revisionist anarchism which +they call 'pragmatic'. They favour a... 'Libertarian State'! + +Then there is Buiten de Orde (Out of Order) the publication of +a formerly anarcho-syndicalist group. The group is called Vrije +Bond (Free Union). It's not an anarchist publication in the +strictest sense of the term but it's adherents publish articles on +anarchism. One of its editors puts forward a 'post-modernist +anarchism' that is to say he makes a distinction between +anarchism and anarchy. In his view anarchism as an ideology +is dated. In Amsterdam there is De Raaf (The Raven). This is +the quarterly of the group called the Anarchist Federation of +Amsterdam (FAA). Recently, our group Vrije Socialist has +been collaborating with this group. De Raaf publishes articles +coming from a wide range of anarchist groups and individuals. +In Amsterdam there is also a weekly alternative paper which +sometimes publishes articles on anarchism, NN (this means +nomen nescio, unknown suspect). The contents of these +articles are also post-modernist. + +PETER ZEGERS (Vrije Socialist - Amsterdam) + +Contacts + +* AS, BP 43, 2750 AA Moerkapelle. + +* Buiten de Orde, BP 1338, 3500 BH Utrecht. + +* De Raaf/FAA, BP 51217, 1007 EE Amsterdam. + +* LAS, BP 189, 7800 AD Emmen. + +* NGVS/Recht Voor Allen, BP 48, 8430 AA Oosterwolde. + +* NGVS/Recht Voor Allen van Onderop, BP 37, 8426 ZM Appelscha. + +* NN, Van Ostadestraat 233n, 1073 TN Amsterdam. + +* Vrije Bond, BP 61523, 2606 AM Den Haag. + +* Vrije Socialist, BP 713, 1000 AS Amsterdam. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001074.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001074.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..50e78dd9 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001074.txt @@ -0,0 +1,164 @@ +Tierra y Libertad - Film by Ken Loach + +One of the many merits of Ken Loach's +latest film Tierra y Libertad is that it +prompts a re-reading of Homage lO Cata@onia. +Much of the film is, in fact, a recreation of +scenes in Orwell's book: the "parade-ground +drill of the most antiquated, stupid kind" +(chapter 1 ) at the Lenin Barracks in +Barcelona, the trenches on the Aragon front, +the rifle that backfires, the May fighting in +Barcelona. + John Cornford, a communist, fought briefly +with the POUM (Partido Obrero de +Unificacion Marxista) before transferring to +the International Brigade. Orwell joined +because of his ILP connections. In Tierra y +Libertad David, an out-of-work communist +from Liverpool, joins the POUM because they +are the first people he meets. Stafford +Cottman, Orwell's friend in the POUM on +whom the character of David is based, was a +member of the Young Communist League. +When David finally realises, after the May +Days in Barcelona, that the Stalinists are +betraying the revolution, he tears up his party +card. Flnally, when the POUM is outlawed +(there is a glimpse of the infamous headline +that appeared in the Daily Worker on l9th +June 1937: Spanish Trotskyists with Franco) +David's militia is forcibly disbanded and its +commander arrested - surely to face, like Nin, +torture and death. + Orwell (chapter 5) provides a timely +reminder of who the POUM were: @the +POUM militiamen were mostly CNT +members". He adds: "During the first two +months of the war it was the Anarchists, more +than anyone else, who saved the situation, and +much later than this the Anarchist militia ... +were notoriously the best fighters among the +purely Spanish forces. From about February +1937 onwards the Anarchists and the POUM +could to some extent be lumped together." + One of the film's finest s@quences is the +taking of an insurgent-held village. The +hand-held carnera conveys all the emotion of +the street-fighting and the panic caused by a +priest firing from the church belfry. When +capture the priest denies it but his shoulder +bears the recoil bruises. He is hustled off to a +summary execution for this and for betraying +(breaking the secret of the confessional) the +hideout of four young anarchists, among +whose corpses he is shot. The terrible +revolutionary beauty of the sequence is as +stirring as anything in Potemkin or Malraux's +Espoir. + The first thing the peasants do after seeing +off the fascists is to burn religious images and +paintings (when Durruti's men started doing +this in the village of Pina they were turned on). +Next, the villagers and the POUM militia hold +an asamblea to discuss collectivisation, the +heart of the Spanish Revolution. As Loach +himself puts it: "one of the few moments in +the history of mankind in which the people are +seen taking control of their own lives". + Tierra y Libertad, a Spanlsn-British +co-production and one of Spain's entries at +Cannes, opened in Madrid on 7th April. It had +some unexpected pre-launch publicity @om +Santiago Carrillo, the erstwhile Communist +leader. He gave his @pinion of the film in an +article entitled 'El fascisimo, olvidado' +(Fascism, Forgotten) published in El Pais on +6th April. He criticised Loach for reducing the +heroism of the Republican fight against +Franco, in Carrillo's words "one of the +greatest epics of the fight for freedom this +century", to the differences between the +POUM and the Communists. The next day +Loach retorted that Carrillo had been one of +those who had regarded the POUM as +working for Franco. + It should not be forgotten that after Franco's +death the Communist Party would again +betray the Spanish workers by agreeing to the +amnesiac transition that pretended the +dictatorship had never existed and which left +assassins in peace (notorious police torturers +would be promoted under the Socialists). One +current Popular Party Euro MP was a minister +in the Franco Cabinet that carried out five +judicial murders by firing squad in September +1975. + It is no accident, of course, that Tie@ra y +Libertad opens and closes in contemporary +England. Like Hidden Agenda, RiJ@Ra@ and +Ladybird Ladybird, it is an attack on the +values of Conservative Britain. Elderly David +has a heart attack in his council flat in +Liverpool and dies in the amhulance. His +granddaughter, clearing up, finds his letters +from Spain to his girlfriend, later wife. Her +reading of these letters ushers in the +flashbacks. The film ends with David's burial, +at which the granddaughter reads some +moving lines by William Morris. They +emphasise the point that David was an English +worker who never gave up the fight to build +what Auden in his poem 'Spain' called "the +Just City". As David himself says after the +forcible disbandment of his militia, only +weeks before Lister's 11th Division was sent +to destroy the collectives in Aragon: "If we +had succeeded here, and we could have done +we would have changed the world". + Orwell's account of the POUM militias is a +poignant record (chapter 8) of what it was like +to be in Aragon, in "the only community of +any size in Western Europe where political +consciousness and disbelief in capitalism +were more normal than their opposites ... +Many of the normal motives of civilised life - +snobbishness, money-grubbing, fear of the +boss, etc. - had simply ceased to exist. The +ordinary class-division of society h@d +disappeared ... a community where hope was +more normal than apathy or cynicism, where +the word 'comrade' stood for comradeship +and not, as in most countries, for humbug ... +to the vast majority of people Socialismmeans +a classless society, or it means nothing at all +... the Spanish militias, while they lasted, were +a sort of microcosm of a classless society." + The greatness of Tierra y Libertad is that it +articulates this, keeping hope alive. The film +echoes the enthusiasm of Orwell +convalescing in Barcelona, in his letter to +Cyril Connolly (8th June 1937): "I have seen +wonderful things & at last really believe ir +Socialism, which I never did before". + The day before Orwell enlisted in the POUM +militia he met an Italian at the Lenin Barracks. +He never saw him again but he became for +Orwell a symbol of "the flower of the +European working class, harried by the police +of all countries, the people who fill the mass +graves of the Spanish battlefields" (Looking +Back on the Spanish War). The poem Orwell +wrote about him near the end of the Civil War +ends: + +"But the thing I saw in your face +No power can disinherit +No bomb that ever burst +Shatters the crystal spirit." + +The "crystal spirit" of Loach' s film shines out. + +FREEDOM 10TH JUNE 1995 + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001076.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001076.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2480cf68 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001076.txt @@ -0,0 +1,209 @@ +Stay Radikal! + +"It was never about illegality as such, rather the promotion of +free communication and the conveyance of radical political +content." + - Interview With A Radikal Group, 1989 + +Statement From Radikal + + On June 13, 1995, federal police in Germany carried out a +major coup against left-radical structures. At six in the +morning, around 50 homes and leftist projects all across Germany +were stormed. The mainstream media praised the action as a "blow +to terrorist groups", spewing forth the cops' line that the raids +were directed against the Anti-Imperialist Cell (AIZ), the group +K.O.M.I.T.E.E., and the illegal magazine 'Radikal'. The usual +stigma of "terrorist group" was attached, justified with +Paragraphs 129 and 129a. Standard pig procedure. It's a part of +German reality to have homes being stormed, children rousted from +their beds by masked cops with guns, weapons pointed at the heads +of individuals whose "only" crime was their work on a +left-radical newspaper. Even on the suspicion of simply +distributing Radikal, people were terrorized all over the +country, from Berlin to Hamburg to Cologne. This was the biggest +raid on the German left in years - the Kurds, of course, have +been subjected to such treatment on several occasions recently. + That night on the TV, there was little mention any more +about the AIZ or the K.O.M.I.T.E.E. Hell, we haven't enjoyed so +much publicity in a long time, as images were flashed of the +cops' Radikal archives, followed by a report of the arrest of 4 +people for "membership in a criminal organization", Radikal. +Investigations are continuing against 21 other individuals on the +same charge. So we felt this was reason enough for people to hear +from us between issues. Sorry it took so long for this to happen, +but these things take time, as anyone familiar with +inter-regional structures knows. + We won't try to make the intensity of this repression or our +status in the left-radical scene seem any greater than it really +is. We always knew such a raid would happen at some point. But it +is surprising that such a hard action against a publishing +project could be carried out without so much as a peep from the +"left- liberal public". It's characteristic of the continuity of +the repression against leftist structures, even in times when the +radical-left is weak. The BAW [federal prosecutor's office] had +just finished in their failed attempt to criminalize Gottingen's +Autonome Antifa (M) under Paragraph 129, and let's not forget the +cop raids and the banning of the Kurdistan Information Bureau in +Cologne because it published "pro-PKK" paper 'Kurdistan +Rundbrief', so now they decided to go against other organized +structures of the radical-left in Germany - on the same day as a +Nazi letterbomb terror attack on an SPD politician in Lubeck. + It's clear that these raids weren't just aimed at us. We +were just a convenient excuse. "The action was an aimed +preventive measure designed to deter the left-radical scene", +said interior minister and deportation specialist Kanther that +same evening. While right-wing terror grows worse and the +consensus of social democrats/greens/conservatives in Great +Germany is ready to send the Bundeswehr on its first foreign +mission, it seems clear that the real threat is still the left. +The message being sent is clear, and by lumping together the AIZ, +K.O.M.I.T.E.E., and Radikal, it is that much easier to +criminalize the entire left. + +Who We Are + + We produce and distribute a magazine. A magazine which, in a +time of state control and self-censorship, is a forum for a +discussion of street militancy and armed struggle. Of course, we +aren't "neutral" in this discussion. We fundamentally reject the +notion that the state has a monopoly on the legitimate use of +force. The existing social conditions can only be changed if +left-radical groups and associations build up their abilities and +structures so as to be able to counter some of these effects even +today. This, of course, includes militant and armed intervention, +but these would be empty gestures if there wasn't also some sort +of linkage or means of conveying their message. Of course, we are +very happy when militant anti-fascist initiatives disrupt Nazi +meetings. So we also see one of our functions as exposing fascist +structures so as to make both old and new Nazis attackable, and +we think this is one very important aspect of anti-fascist work. + Of course, it would have been awesome if the cover of our +next issue had had a big picture of the new deportation prison in +Berlin-Grunau reduced to rubble. All people who seek to intervene +and oppose Germany's refugee policies would have been overjoyed +at this disruption of the state's deportation machinery. A +radical-left which takes the past 25 years of its history +seriously must discuss the successes and failures of the various +armed and militant groups, such as the RAF, the 2nd of June +Movement, the Revolutionary Cells, and militant autonomist +groups, and it must draw consequences for the future from this +discussion. + In order that we don't just keep looking back at our +history, but rather so that we keep up to date with actual +developments, it's important that we be active in current +anti-fascist initiatives or, for example, discuss the politics of +the AIZ, of whom we are very critical. We must continually fight +for the necessary space to carry out such discussions and defend +ourselves from state attacks. Radikal tries to do jut that, no +more, no less. We try to make it possible for various structures +to have a means of being heard on a regular basis. It's seem like +we're stating the obvious when we say that the cop attacks on +Radikal are, at the same time, a criminalization of other leftist +structures which provide this necessary space, like infoshops and +other magazines for example. + The present attacks on us, however, are qualitatively +different than past repressive campaigns for two fundamental +reasons. Firstly, we have now been declared a "criminal +organization", and secondly, it has now been stated that Radikal +has "entirely criminal content". A look back at the last few +issues, therefore, will reveal what criminal means: new +anti-racist street names in Braunschweig, articles on nationalism +and the liberation struggle in Kurdistan, an analysis of the +history of patriarchal gender divisions, an appeal from +non-commercial radio stations, debates about leftist campaigns +surrounding the May 8th commemorations...that's criminal content? +Before, the authorities used to point out specific articles which +"supported a terrorist organization" so as to criminalize them,. +Now the cops don't want to go through all that trouble so they +have just called the entire project a "criminal organization", +therefore the content must be criminal, too. But it's the mixture +of theory and actual attacks, discussion and practical tips, +which makes Radikal so interesting to read for so many people. +And we value this mixture. Radikal aims to mobilize people to +oppose Nazis and to stop the Castor nuclear waste shipments, +while at the same time giving information about debates on +anti-nationalism or the background of the origins of capitalist +and patriarchal social structures. What's more, it should offer +space for people from even the most remote corners of Germany to +discuss their actions or their difficulties, things which have +been ignored for far too long by a jaded left fixated on the +metropoles. The federal police have called this mixture criminal. + If you listen to what the cops say about all of this, it +sounds like some sort of cheesy novel. We are supposedly +organized in a "highly conspiratorial manner" with "fixed +organizational structures". It seems that really banal things are +actually dangerous. Anyone who produces a magazine needs "fixed +organizational structures", they need to sit down together and +talk about what should go into the next issue and how to +distribute the magazine, mail out subscriptions, write articles, +answer letters from readers, and so on and so forth. The only +difference between us and normal, legal magazines is the fact +that we have removed ourselves from state control, out of the +reach of the censorship authorities. Over the years, we have +built up an organizational structure which allows us to +distribute a relatively high number of magazines nation-wide, by +radical-left standards that is. As with other groups who seek to +build up open or hidden structures, we are subject to state +repression. From their point of view, the BAW had good reason to +act now, since all their previous actions against us had been +fruitless. Radikal kept being published, and there was nothing +they could do about it. + In 1982, about 20 homes, bookstores, and printing shops were +raided in an attempt to prosecute Radikal for "supporting a +terrorist organization". In 1984, 2 supposed editors of the paper +were sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison, but they avoided going +to the slammer by getting elected to the European Parliament for +the Greens. In 1991, the federal prosecutor exchanged the jail +terms for a fine. The next step came in 1986, when Radikal was +already organized underground. Now, 100 homes and shops were +raided by the cops. Nearly 200 court cases were opened, and in +the end 5 people were given suspended sentences of 4-10 months. +The wave of repression in 1986 - in addition to the obvious aims +of scaring people and just being repressive - had one major aim, +namely to drive Radikal out of the public realm and to lessen its +effectiveness. But that didn't succeed. Despite the fact that +several book stores, most of which dated back to Radikal's legal +days, backed out on us and left us with heavy debts, work on +Radikal and its distribution became much more decentralized. A +network of groups and individuals took up responsibility for the +magazine, based on their conditions. In 1989, the state +authorities went into action one more time after ID-Verlag in +Amsterdam published an interview with us as a brochure. + The latest moves by the BAW have again made it clear that +claims by the mainstream media and left-liberals concerning armed +groups - "Your attacks make it possible for the state to turn the +screws of repression even tighter!" - are total crap. Even the +cease-fire from the guerrilla did not open up any "new levels of +social debate". The defenders of law and order are continuing to +act against left-radical groups, who are all equally defined as +dangerous, and these are attacked at the same high level. + 4 people are now in prison! We can't just forget that fact. +In any case, that's why we'd like to call for exchange and +communication with the solidarity groups. The charges against the +4 are as follows: They produced and distributed Radikal. But who +actually "produces" Radikal? Those people who send in reports of +antifa actions, or is it those people that take 10 copies and +give them to their friends to read, or maybe it's those people +that write a few articles and do some lay-out, or maybe it's the +people that see to it that a few copies get into the prisons? Or +maybe the BAW thinks it's those people that discuss for weeks on +end which articles should go in the next issue of Radikal? Or is +the ones who stand for long hours behind the printing presses? + We're not really sure who exactly the cops are referring to +when they talk about Radikal, but we know they really mean all of +us! All people who see the continued need for radical-left +structures for discussion and communication, away from state +control and the apparatus of repression. And all people who +recognize the need for women and men to become organized to avoid +being swallowed up by capitalist and patriarchal reality. That's +why it's the task for all of us to not accept this attack nor to +let it go unanswered. + +We need an uncontrollable resistance media! +Read, use, distribute, and stay Radikal! +Powerful greetings to Rainer, Ralf, Werner, and Andreas! +Free the prisoners! +The teeth will show whose mouth is open! + +some Radikal groups - Summer 1995 diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001080.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001080.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..15562b7b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001080.txt @@ -0,0 +1,89 @@ +Bonaventure School - an experiment in libertarian education + + Even though now it's been around for nearly two years, +the libertarian school Bonaventure d'Ol=E9ron had never +really reached the communes of the Northern Alps and +a fortiori nor did it reach Italy. So it seemed to us that +with a libertarian group in Maurienne, whose activities +stretched as far as Chamb=E9ry, a link to the FA +(Anarchist Federation of France) and a co- +organisational project with our comrades in Italy that +this was an area that should be dealt with. + The rounds were done between the 5th and the 11th +of March during which time we stopped off at the home +of some organic farmers in Ain, were the guests of the +FA group in Grenoble, and held public meetings in +Milan, Pinerollo, Turin, Chamb=E9ry and finally Saint- +Jean-de-Maurienne. A heavy week for the two +bonaventuriers, from whom we were able to verify the +energy of the anarchist movement and the Italian +revolutionaries who have, more quickly than here, seen +the abandonment and indeed the defeat of a mass +education system led and, up until recently, promoted +by the state. In effect, the government and big industry +foresee 'grave management difficulties' regarding the +administration of certain social services - one being +education - to justify their financial disengagement.=20 + A first move will be to empower local authorities to +forgo their legal obligation to provide a maternity +education service - we won't have to wait long for this +one. Large local companies, heavily in the red, will not +hesitate to shut the school gates in order to relieve their +budgets. + Within such a framework alternatives don't seem very +possible. Only the Roman Catholic church has the +means to take over 95% of these scholarly +establishments, according to our comrades in Italy. And +one can't deny that things have indeed worked out well +for the bourgeoisie whose natural ally, in the homeland +of Roman Catholicism (as indeed it is in France) is the +state with its helping hand. This can be explained in +several different ways but that of which we can be +certain is that the states of Europe need a church that +has never really lost its political footing and which, +moreover, is willing to play the 'charitable role' of the +state which today simply has to play at social politics +whilst, at the same time, preferring that this disregard +for the conditions of the poor should not provoke their +revolt. + The underlings therefore will get their diet of 'what +they need' - an education of suppression and the +necessities to survive - no more. Under such conditions +it is tempting for the Italian anarchists to take advantage +of this space and try out the idea of a libertarian school +- self-management here and now, an education of +revolt, for autonomy and individual harmony.. + Well of course the argument was heated between +those who argued that the state system offered the best +chance of offering space for the development of a +revolutionary libertarian education and those who +thought it impossible for any state institution to be +reformed and advantage gained from it. + The idea of the Bonaventure school came just in time +to rescue the latter's cause and our two bonaventuriers +were well questioned about educational matters and +also about the political experience they had had on the +Ile d'Ol=E9ron and it's region. In short we can say there's a +lot of interest on the other side of the Alps and we hope +to see one day (soon?) a libertarian education network +which wouldn't be a mean achievement. + On this side of the mountains the debate was +somewhat different (as are our situations) but we can +say that the interest generated in the single concrete +instance of libertarian education that we have was equal +to the Italian experience. + Considering together the twenty outsiders who came +to the Chamb=E9ry meeting (along with friends), when we +hadn't been to the town for three years, with a dozen +faces we came across in Sainte-Jeande-Maurienne and +a few lively debates - and finding a general consensus +view that social change is required one can say that +these initiatives in Savoy were successful. And a +success that was well covered by the local press. So we +will continue, for sure, with this project and others now +that we have proof that libertarian ideas and practices +can be popular. + +Translated from Le Monde Libertaire + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001081.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001081.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..acbb449c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001081.txt @@ -0,0 +1,158 @@ +Australian Trans-National Companies + +Australians like to think that "their" +corporations are somehow different to +other transnational corporations. They +like to believe that somehow they have +different moral and ethical standards to +foreign transnationals. Well the present +legal debate about the plight of the +Papuan New Guinea villagers who live +down stream of the Ok Tedi and Fly +River has torn major holes into this little +fantasy. It looks like the "Big Australian" +the flagship of Australia's transnational +corporations has used every trick in the +book to generate a tidy profit for its +shareholders. + +The "Big Australian" in conjunction with +the Papua New Guinea government (also +a shareholder in this joint venture) began +production at Ok Tedi in 1984. Initially +the company and the government had +planned to build a tailings dam (common +practice in any major mining venture in +Australia) to hold the by products of +mining. Unfortunately BHP and the +government seemed to have "forgotten" +that the Ok Tedi mine was situated in a +region that is prone to landslides and +earthquakes. In their wisdom they +decided that it was technic@lly impossible +to build a tailings dam. (In 1995 they still +keep saying they're working on it). + +Instead of waiting to find a technological +solution to the problem they decided that +it was important that mining began as +soon as possible. Well you understand +they had invested lots of money in the +project and they needed to generate a +profft for their shareholders. So in their +unfailing wisdom they decided that the +local inhabitants were the disposable +factor in their plans (well they and the +government needed the money didn't +they) and they began mining. Since 1984 +they have discharged over 80,000 tons of +tailings per day into the Ok Tedi and Fly +River. Over ten years down the track the +local inhabitants find that their gardens +and environment are devastated. People +who have lived in these areas for +generations now find that they are +strangers in their own land (an all too +familiar occurrence in many areas of the +world where mining occurs). + +As far as the Papuan New Guinea +government was concerned, the +dispossession of the local inhabitants was +the price that the country needed to pay in +order to have access to that all important +cargo cult manna - foreign currency. +Unfortunately nobody had told the local +inhabitants that they were the disposable +cog in this little equation. By 1994 the +local inhabitants realised that they would +, receive no justice or for that matter +compensation from their own +government, so they, in conjunction with +Slater and Gordon a major Melbourne law +firm decided to launch a four billion +dollar compensation claim in the +Victorian Supreme Court. They chose to +launch their legal action in Melbourne +Australia because BHP the "friendly +transnational" has its headquarters in +Melbourne. + +The launch of this legal action finally +prodded the "Big Australian" into taking +some action. In a move that highlights +the power transnational corporations have +over governments in developing nations, +B HP and the Papua New Guinea +government decided that the best way to ] +nip this little act of legal rebellion in the +bud was by the Papua New Guinea +government passing legislation that would +make it illegal to mount any court action +for compensation and make it illegal for +anyone to actually be involved in +investigations that could lead to a +compensation case. By this time the +proverbial shit had hit the fan because the +plight of the Ok Tedi and Fly River +people was not only known in Papua New +Guinea, but also in Australia and the +world. + +The Victorian Supreme Court in +Melbourne has found the "Big Australian" +in criminal contempt of the courts and in +its wisdom has decided that the local +inhabitants have a case to mount. In +manoeuvring's behind the scenes the +Victorian Attorney General is about the +appeal the Victorian Supreme Courts +decision that found BHP in criminal +contempt of the Supreme Court. It looks +like the Attorney General feels that the +courts may have overstepped their +jurisdiction. If this appeal is not +successful BHP will begin its own appeal +process. We all know how these people +and corporations who have access to large +sums of money seem to be able to +manipulate the legal system to their own +lo@g ermadvantage. + +As this saga continues, the OK Tedi mine +continues to pour 80,000 tons of tailings +into the OK Tedi and Fly River per day +and the local inhabitants have nowhere to +go (except possibly the sprawling urban +slums around Papua New Guinea towns). +It's amazing that BHP and the Papua +Guinea government have not learnt the +lesson of Bougainville. CRA and the +Papua New Guinea governments inability +to deal with the traditional landowners +grievances with the Bougainville mine led +to the closure of the mine, a rebellion +which is still going on and has led to the +deaths of over 3,000 people. It will be +interesting to note whether the local +people on the OK Tedi and Fly River will +receive any justice from the Australian +legal system. If they don't it's possible +that the Papua New Guinea governmen@ +and BHP will be faced with another +armed rebellion. Those Australians who +have shares in BHP (the gentle corpoMte +giant) and many do, now have to make a +very important moral, ethical and +economic decision. Do they continue to +support BHP and squirrel away their +profits or do they pull their money out +and reinvest it in ethically sound projects? + +ANARCHIST AGE WEEKLY REVIEW 168 +PO BOX 20, PARKVILLE, VIC 3052 +AUSTRALIA + +Monetary contributions welcome! + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001082.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001082.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fafbb1fa --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001082.txt @@ -0,0 +1,216 @@ +The Pacific and The Bomb + +(orig: Focus on... The Pacific.) + +The 'international community' has gone +into a frenzy of anti-French xenophobia +recently over M. Chirac's decision to go +ahead with 8 more nuclear tests at +Murora Atoll. But behind the noise is a +big stink of hypocrisy... + +M. Chirac is the new bogey man of the +international community we are told. The +papers are full every day of the international +condemnations which are coming from the +EU, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. +French wine is being poured down the drains +outside hotels and the London Guardian is +running the usual French hate articles (15th +July 1995). Indeed no less than the Japanese +finance minister is leading the way calling for +petitions, demonstrations and campaigns as +'great things to do' and heroically calling on +us to, 'grandly get on board a ship and stand +in the way. As a politician, I promise to take +the lead.' Very kind of him of course and I'm +sure there will be tea and biscuits but Mr +Takemura has missed the point. They all have. +Even those liberal heart throbs Greenpeace +are happily jumping on the anti-French-one- +big-issue-bandwagon. The real issue is the +economic and military reality of the Pacific +region or, dare I say it, colonialism. + +France used to carry out her nuclear tests in +the Sahara until those naughty Algerians +welshed on her. It was then that she diverted +her attentions down to Tahiti. But the region +is not just a nuclear playground. Susanna +Ounei, an activist in the Kanaky +independence movement (New Caledonia) +says, 'I am a little surprised that everyone is so +shocked about the French government's +decision to resume nuclear tests at Moruroa +atoll in Tahiti. Pacific islanders know there is +nothing new about French agencies doing +whatever they want, whenever they want. We +never asked the French to colonise our +countries. We never asked them to set up their +nuclear testing facilities. The main issue for +the people of the French colonies of the +Pacific remains independence'(1). Perhaps not +surprisingly also is the fact that the French +State is not too keen on the idea of +independence for its colonies in the region +knowing that for the islands in the region to +develop any degree of autonomy would be +the one sure way of ensuring the French state +can't do an Algerian and welsh in turn on any +climbdown Chancellor Kohl may extract from +them on this issue. The French State +recognises the importance of keeping the +locals in check by means of terror if +necessary. When, in May 1985, a small +demonstration against the visit of a French +nuclear submarine in the region went ahead in +Noumea the French military murdered in cold +blood an 18 year old protester. + +THE AUSTRALIAN CONNECTION + +The French capitalists know which side their +bread is buttered. The New Caledonia area is +the second largest exporter of nickel in the +world with about 33% of known reserves (the +sea may contain up to three times the mineral +wealth which has been found on land) not to +mention chrome and cobalt which are both +important for military purposes. And when +France wants uranium it's Australia who +obliges. As Ounei puts it, 'Australia is yelling +in front of everybody that the French nuclear +tests must stop, but behind the scenes they are +reinforcing the position of France by selling +them uranium. They are the best ally of and +the warranty for France, as the tests that will +poison the whole Pacific begin in Tahiti.' + +Australian military officers also recently +attended French military exercises in the +region as 'observers' in a 'regional conflict +scenario'. She may now be shedding crocodile +tears over M. Chirac's decision but she's at +one with him on the independence issue as +shown by her track record in Bougainville +and her opposition to any form of autonomy +for the people of East Timor. + +Australia with US backing - another major +player in the region - takes on the burden of +pursuing 'Western interests' in the region by +hosting US military bases and by her military +alliance with the US through the ANZUS +treaty. The US is of course an old hand in +things military. Here she maintains a +dangerous chemical weapons incinerator on +Johnston atoll in defiance of Pacific opinion. +US nuclear-powered and armed warships +cruise the Pacific. M. Chirac has played into +her hands on this issue as a short article in The +Age recently reveals saying that the US +military are considering the resumption of +nuclear testing in the light of M. Chirac's +move. It was explained by an official that +they have to make sure that they 'will work +properly on the day'. So forget about +deterrence and put it in your diary. + +Even when Australia pushed for what was +laughingly called the South Pacific Nuclear- +Free Zone Treaty in 1985 she didn't try to +stop nuclear ship visits, the presence of US +bases in the region or her Uranium exports. +However, even this weak brew could not be +stomached by the UK, US and France who +declined to give their autographs. + +THE OLD AMERICAN DISORDER HAS +ARRIVED + +Of course the military set-up compliments the +economic exploitation of the region. The +region systematically has its economies prized +open to the usual stories of the 'free' trade and +privatisation rather than dealing with the +needs of the people. Here the Australian +government proudly boasts that Australian +companies have 'enormous influence on the +economies of the Pacific' which is shorthand +for the fact that she exports five times more, +mainly manufactured and processed +foodstuffs, to the region than she imports, +primarily minerals and raw materials. + +The French also are in on the game with +7,000,000 square kilometres of the Pacific +inside her exclusive economic zones. Here +there are huge investments in the mining and +tourist industries. France has flooded its +Pacific possessions with migrants from France +to outnumber the local inhabitants. This +policy has been most thorough in Kanaky +(New Caledonia), where the proportion of +indigenous people in the island's population +has declined from 52% in 1951 to 44% +today. In Tahiti, 30,000 Europeans hold +down the best paying jobs, while the more +than 70,000 Maohi people are unemployed or +hold the lowest paying, unskilled jobs. In +Tahiti and Kanaky, there is an apartheid-like +gulf between the rich and poor. + +THE LIBERATORS SELL OUT + +It's not an unfamiliar story of course. Moves +by the local peoples to try to achieve some +degree of autonomy have largely failed due to +the fact that they went down the wrong route +on this issue. In Kanaky the Kanak Socialist +National Liberation Front (FLNKS) of the +1980s proved about as useful to the people as +it name suggests it would. After a particularly +unpleasant massacre of Kanaks by French +troops in the late 80s the FLNKS signed the +Matignon Accords with the French in 1988 +which included various empty promises. +Although some opposed the move from within +the movement many were happy to be +coopted into the French master plan in return +for a few crumbs of power and were drawn +into the administration of FLNKS-run areas. +Since then France has continued to allow the +arrival of immigrants, and new investment has +overwhelmingly favoured the southern +province where Europeans are concentrated. +So much for the 'liberation' movement. + +In the final analysis though some form of +independent development must be achieved +by the Pacific islanders if they are to avoid +what is otherwise an inevitable future. +Radicals in the West would do better to enjoy +their French wines (if they can afford them) +and listen carefully to M. Chirac when he +reiterates time and time again that the +international community cannot interfere with +what the French decide to do on their own +territory. Until the people in the Pacific +region manage to start setting up the +structures which may lead to some measure of +independent development they will not shake +off the colonial yoke. However, the future +looks bleak for them to say the least. + +(1) Much of the information for this article comes +from Green Left Weekly #188 contactable at +212-979-0471 (USA number) or +nyt@blythe.org + +----------------- +FREEDOM -Anarchist fortnightly Vol 56 No 15 +84b, Whitechapel High St., +London, +E1 7QX + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001086.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001086.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..604cfd0a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001086.txt @@ -0,0 +1,217 @@ +VENEZUELA - GOLD AND ECOCIDE + +With the enthusiastic complicity of the State and the +participation of Canadian, US, British and S African +transnational mining companies, Venezuela is seeing +the setting up of a project promoting the immediate +exploitation of a rich gold reserve which, according +to its promoters and beneficiaries, will turn out to be +the discovery of the famous El Dorado - sought after +so remorselessly in the 16th century by Europeans in +these lands. We are talking of between 8 and 12 +thousand tons of probable reserves which would +represent 10% of world stock with a current market +value of 140 thousand million dollars. And if that +were not all we are supposedly speaking of a high +quality mineral with extraction of 8, 12 or even 16 +grams of gold for every ton of processed material, +which compares very favourably with the production +from S African seams which give an average of 4 +grams per ton. So it is not strange that people have +noticed a certain 'gold fever' which has been fed with +the notion that the richness will prove a solution to +the grave economic difficulties that the country +experienced during the 1980s. + +Before 1991 gold extraction on a wide scale was +under the jurisdiction of the State which showed +little interest since oil was more profitable and it +maintained only modest production from the old +seams of El Callao which never went over 12 tons +p.a. and allowed for small scale mining by crafts +people to extract a small tonnage of alluvium gold. +But since then, inspired by the neo-liberal economic +programme a process was set up to give out big +contracts for gold exploitation which, up until 1994 +had contracted out 436 sites over a surface of +1,283,882 hectares, nearly 12,839 Kms2 with a +projected figure of 30,000 km2 (an area nearly the +size of Belgium or Catalunya and slightly bigger than +the Venezuelan Andean region). Official and private +voices speak of production figures for the year 2000 +of between 40 and 60 tons, turning the country into +one of the major world producers and giving jobs to +some 120,000 people and a national revenue of 250 +million dollars p.a. Activity at the first major mine +will begin in 1996 (Las Cristinas in the state of +Bolivar and run by the Canadian company Placer +Dome) and will yield 300,000 ounces of gold p.a. +i.e. 9,331 tons. + +But this promised bonanza poses an enormous +ecological problem: gold mining is only possible to +the South of the Orinoco river in the vast region of +Guayana, which, like the rest of the Amazon river +basin has unique biodiversity characteristics whose +preservation is vital and where human intervention +must be measured against the highest standards in +order not to upset the balance of this the greatest +example of natural complexity in the world and +which makes Venezuela the fourth country in the +world with regard to bio diversity. Guayana is made +up of 44% of Venezuelan territory but with only +5.5% of its population which is mainly concentrated +in a small area near Orinocco, the rest of the area +having remained relatively free from the predatory +intervention of the State and capitalism. The mining +potential of Guayana (gold, diamonds, bauxite, iron, +radioactive materials, titanium etc.) has been known +about and exploited for some time but the areas +where these activities have taken place, the methods +used to pursue them and their impact on the +ecosystem has scarcely affected this vast area +(although the environmental disasters caused by +small mines, state technocrats and landowners has +already caused some damage in certain areas). + +Now with the new dreams of gold the danger has +grown and what we are currently seeing confirms +this fear. We are now seeing the same process of +handing out contracts which, as one might expect of +the Venezuelan State has been accompanied by all +sorts of vice and corruption whose greatest +perpetrators have been the successive presidents of +the Venezuelan Corporation of Guayana and the +Energy ministers (especially the current Erwin +Arrieta, also general secretary of OPEC) accused of +being, either directly or through front men, the main +receivers of mining permits which they then sell on +to the TNCs in exchange for handsome commissions. +These corrupt handouts even include areas which +have been specifically excluded by legislation which +set up the Canaima National Park (where one can +see those extraordinary geographic formations +known as 'tepui' and the highest waterfall in the +world the Cherun Meru or Salto Angel) where 18 +contracts have been signed giving away about 5,000 +hectares in the North of the Park. Other natural +sanctuaries have been affected such as the Southern +Protected Zone of the State of Bolivar, from whence +spring the biggest rivers in the country and the Forest +Reserve of Imateca which suffers 40% of the mining +activities in the region despite the promises of the +bureaucracy which claims to protect it. With regard +to the Amazon State mining activity is proceeding +apace in order to render obsolete any attempt to put +a brake on its activities which in reality is becoming +more and more a *fait accompli* + + +* * * + + +The fatal impact represented by the mining 'boom' on +the indigenous population of Guayana is self- +evident. This group is made up of some 8,000 people +from Pemon, Yanomani, Piaroa, Guakibo, Yekwana +and another 17 ethnic groups (25% of the countries +aboriginal population and 80% of its auchtonomous +groups. For them, the occupants of history perfectly +integrated within this fragile environment, such +ecocide represents a direct genocidal attack which +dates back considerably but which has recently +become more acute due to the aggressive re- +emergence of those small mines (in Brazil called +'garimpeiros') who are the shock troops in the +territorial occupation and mineral exploitation +whose forthcoming benefactors will be more +powerful. It has been calculated that there are some +30,000 of these mines in the region and this +destructive activity ranges from the poisoning of +rivers and lands with mercury (in Curoni they are +mining 3,000 kg of this material p.a. which is highly +toxic and is used to separate gold from other +minerals) and including water contamination and +sediment disturbance (the river Curoni in 1982 had +an average content flow of 4,500 tons per day of +such water; in 1995 it has 10,500 per day) and +culminating in the murder and human rights +violations of large numbers of indigenous people. + +With calculated hypocrisy the defenders of the TNC +mining establishment maintain they are unmasking +the crude damage caused by the 'garimpeiros' arguing +that they are promoting a 'more rational and +ecologically more sustainable' exploitation. +However, there has been no previous experience of +an open cast mining system in tropical areas where +its introduction has not produced irreparable damage +nor is there a single scientific work published which +confirms what the mining companies are saying. In +fact the technology that will be used by Cristalex, +Yellow Jack, Monarch or Placer Dome is the same +which is used outside the tropics and will not be +challenged by the complacent attitude towards +environmental protection which the State will +undoubtedly assume in order 'not to upset foreign +investors' which shows clearly, that which we have +no hesitation in qualifying as, the greatest threat to +the ecology of the region. That this is no +exaggeration was confirmed on the 19th August +when one and a half million litres of cyanide waste +were poured into the Omai and Esequibo rivers near +Guayana causing the worst ecological disaster in this +country as a result of the activities of a gold +subsidiary owned by TNCs in the US and Canada. +Moreover the demands for profit which would allow +these companies to operate put such pressure on the +State so that it not only cedes to demands for lower +taxes, export of profit but also all kinds of 'indirect +advantages' (cheap energy, communications, various +public works etc.) not to mention the secret demands +relating to the over exploitation of the workforce +where its history in S. Africa, Brazil or the +Dominican Republic is a grave portent of what can +be expected by the workforce. It will be in this way +that the supposed wonders of the golden illusion +will disappear in a puff of smoke without +compensation for the great economic, ecological, +social and cultural costs that it will inflict. + +There has been a response to the situation, +emanating from ecological and pro Venezuelan +indigenous people's groups organised in 1995 and +forming the National Co-ordination against Mining +which by means of actions, documents and +declarations has attempted to bring attention to the +problem. Of course the lovers of power and the +wider media have attempted to minimise this voice of +dissent and imposed the agreement of the +'respectable' voice of the country which belongs to +the marvels of the mining companies and their +governmental cohorts. Despite this a level of +consciousness has been reached and some debate has +occurred relating to this issue between those who are +interested in the ecological and indigenous question +forcing Congress to deal with the issue which in turn +has frozen the process of contract signing since the +end of 1994 and so that the Procurator General , +very recently, declared the whole process illegal. We +do not believe that this means that the government of +Rafael Caldera has decided to give up on the neo- +liberal policies for the gold mining industry but +rather that these are simply manoeuvres to distract +and pacify potential opponents and to simply moor a +business which promises to be so profitable for its +beneficiaries and so catastrophic for the Amazonian +Venezuelans. However, we must keep up our vigil +and not give up in our opposition to that which is +being prepared for us. + +Note: To lend support to this campaign and to get +more up to date information write to:- Coordinadora +Nacional Contra la Mineria c/o GIDA; Apartado +Postal 47450; Caracas 1041-A; Venezuela. + +(Colectivo Plum@ - Revista CORREO A; +Venezuela) diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001088.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001088.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b73e8a1a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001088.txt @@ -0,0 +1,74 @@ + Hi Everyone, + Here`s a very quick report back of the Northern +anarchist Network conference, held in Leeds last weekend. Please note +this is a subjective viewpoint. + + The conference started off with a short plenary which set the tone of +the conference as decided at the last get together, i.e. it would be based +more on skill sharing and practical work than on theory, although the two +are relatively inseperable. + + The first workshop was on everday struggles and was introduced by +Albert Meltzer. The workshop covered the idea of solidarity centres which +anarchists should set up, where the community could have a place to +organise and get advice about their everday struggles in the workplace +and the community. The workshop then moved on to how to spread the +message of anarchism in the wider community. The need to link up single +issue struggles together to try and offer a more universal outlook was +covered as was the need to spread the anarchists message more widely and +to attempt to escape from the political ghetto. + + The second workshop was based around Anarchist Black Cross, and +supporting political prisoners. This took the form of addressing the +practicalities for supporting prisoners for people who may not have +written before i.e. what to say to break the ice, how not to jeprodise a +prisoners liberty, and basically a reminder to put the prisoner first and +to ask for what _they_ want. The workshop then moved on to what could be +acheived by the network in terms of joint protests in the region of +Northern England. The workshop also looked at the possibility of +organising coaches and mobilizing for national demonstrations. + + This workshop was then folowed by a short video of the women in the +EZLN, which provided a useful insight as to how political upheaval and +armed struggle has affected the women involved in the EZLN in Chiapas. +The women explained that if they had not joined the movement they would be +a lot less free, and would have much less equality to the amount they +have in the EZLN. + The video was followed by a short discussion introduced by a Workers +Solidarity Movment member from Dublin. The debate touched on the politcs +and organisation of the EZLN and recent developments in the struggle. It +also covered how this relates to anarchism, and whether people support the +EZLN or not. + + In the evening there was a social and an excellent quiz organised by + people from Leeds Anarchist Group. This was really good in my opinion, +as it had an imaginitive presentation, including an electronic +scoreboard, name that tune, question categories, silly costumes and even +dancing at the end!! + + The second day began with a discussion on developing the network. This +involved sorting out the details of future work, and discussed methods +that different anarchist groups in NAN could work together on. It was +also decided that the next conference would be held in January. + + After lunch there was a speaker from a local solicitors who have been +involved in a number of defence campaigns, as well as suing the police +etc. This covered legal rights (or lack of them) on demonstrations, what +tricks the cops like to pull and how to operate in custody. It then +covered examples of when it is possible to sue the police and the +likliehood of winning the case. + + The final session was a contraversial debate on Sexuality. Which looked +at sexuality and the role it plays in society, how the state restricts +and opresses it the state of sexual politics and the lack of rights that +stil exsist for a large number of people in society. + The role of the issue within the anarchist movement was then covered, +with a wide range of opinions. + + Althought the turn out was lower than expected, the people that did come +were serious class struggle activists and a lot of concrete plans and +suggestions came form the weekend. It would appear that the network is +truly beginning to take shape, with this conference hopefully being a new +start for anarchists up North to work together, aiming higher for bigger and +better actions. + Doug. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001089.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001089.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ffe9948a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001089.txt @@ -0,0 +1,903 @@ +*** *** *** EL ACRATADOR *** *** *** + +Counterinformative 'zine Issue 47 Sept '95 +English excerpts, translated from Castillian by Luis Prat (thanx!) + + +Ateneo Libertario +Apdo. 3141 +50080 ZARAGOZA +sPAIN + +Centro Social Autogestionado Angel Chueca +Coso, 186, bajos + +E-Mail: cual@maser.unizar.es +Tel: ++34-76-383673 +Fax: ++34-76-255298 + + +*** ACRATORIAL *** + + +For Jacques Chirac a question of patriotic honor, for other politicians an +embarrassing subject or some profitable declarations; for Greenpeace a +combination of self-advertisement and vindication; for the press a lode of +sensational news and for the planet, nuclear test number X. These short +phrases recap the whole set up surrounding the protests against the +resumption of nuklear tests in Mururoa. + +Unfortunately, with the sole exception of ecological groups, and not all at +that, there has been a lack of global vision of the root of the problem, as +is the existance of an enormous potential, in weaponry as well as in +industrial base, linked to nuclear energy and controlled by very few hands. +Another great miscalculation has been to diminish the importance of the +antinuclear struggle after its boom during the sixties and seventies. It is +revealing that it's precisely after these years that the definitive +expansion of the nuclear industry has taken place and that the existance and +development of clandestine nuclear programs in the hands of such dangerous +elements as the iranian ayatollahs and Sadam Hussein, in a permanent pre-war +state, has become known. + +It also seems that we try to forget that today in the USA and in the former +USSR there still exist areas banned to humans due to the nuclear testing +done 40 years ago and in spite of this the french government tries to sell +the idea that radioactivity is well under control. Ask, for example, the +Lapps who, living more than 2000 Kms away from Chernobyl, are beginning to +suffer alarming rates of cancer, or the Sioux tribes that live over the +terrain where "secure" nuclear tests, such as those of Mururoa, took place. + +We don't want to undervalue the positive aspects of the actions and +mobilizations carried out all over the world in which we've been able to see +the compromises taken by the forces traditionally reluctant to oppose the +state even while attempting to obtain political advantage. In addition, +these mobilizations have served as a platform from which to remember that +even today several european countries maintain imperialistic residues such +as France with its South Pacific territories, which forgotten by the +international community suffer exploitation, if not hushed extermination by +the West. + +All of this will be useless unless we do some serious reflections about the +reasons for the relaxation of the antinuclear fight these last few years, +when it's been more necessary. There's a lot to be done and it wouldn't be +bad, for starters, to stop the nuclear dump at Los Pintados, a little more +than 80 Kms from Zaragoza or not to forget that the spanish state keeps +eleven nuclear plants functioning and has a few more in the works. + + +*** LABOR *** + + +Boicott Tele-Pizza + +(CNT) Tele-Pizza is a junk food multinational that bills 12,000 million in +Spain and is a leader in the pizza delivery sector, but to get these hefty +profits it gives its employees a third-world treatment. Among such niceties +it withholds pay for part of the hours worked, there aren't any union rights +and it permanently keeps under threat of firing those employees that claim +them, and often employees lack the proper equipment to do their jobs or it +is in the worst of conditions (motorcycles, uniforms). + +To this we must add actions such as sex discrimination and junk contracts, +made possible by PSOE's labor reform, that withhold the right to collect +unemployment compensation. The CNT of Gijon, two of whose members have been +fired, has started a boicott. + +The campaign has given results and representatives of CNT-Asturias met with +company's representatives that came from Madrid. They've got improvements. +CNT-Asturias asks, for the moment, for the suspension of the boicott. For +more information: CNT Aptdo. 289 // 33280 Gijon (Asturias) + phone/FAX (98)5350368 + + +Asturian workers on trial + +(Llar)Jorge Mun~iz, secretary of the CGT-Asturias was tried in Oviedo, +accused of erecting a barricade on the expressway in conjunction with the +struggle at Duro-Felguera. Later there were two other trials against 3 and 4 +workers of this company accused of erecting barricades. + +Eight miners from Pozu Candin (Hunosa) have been tried for false testimony +in the case of Jose Primitivo, syndicalist miner that continues in jail (see +Acrat.#46). + +The district attorney asks for 18 months in prison for 6 workers fron +Ensidesa, accused of holding three executives of the company. The events +ocurred in April 1994 when one hundred workers helds the executives for 24 +hours as protest for the "readjustment". The civil guard intervened and +arrested 19 workers. + + + +Fishermen in the struggle. + +Galician fishermen have been out of work for several months due to the +failure of the administration to reach agreements with third countries. They +receive a minimum salary and they continue with strong mobilizations (Acrat.#46) + +In August they blocked a highway with barricades and jettisoned a junked car +from a bridge. In September hooded workers occupied two bank offices, in one +they got the postponement of payments, not so in the other which was +thrashed. On September 19 they continued with barricades, the burning of +abandoned cars and the car belonging to an indiscreet secret policeman. + + + +*** OF HYPOCRITES AND LIARS *** + +Those that criticize youth (mainly politicians and televangelists) for its +passivity, lack of ideals etc., are the same that criticize insumisos +(people who refuse to perform military service T.N.) for being insolidary, +the young people that go to antifascist demonstrations and squats for being +hooligans, provocateurs and I don't want to talk about what they say about +the radikal basque youth. + +Their latest is to attack Cadiz's youth arrested for taking part in the +mobilizations of the shipyard workers, alleging that they're "outsiders to +the company". These individuals with fat paychecks at the end of the month +don't understand neither the crisis that affect whole towns nor the +unemployed youth nor the students that struggle side by side with the workers. + +Paying attention to these blokes, if you don't work at AESA you can't go to +demonstrations in support of workers, if you eat everyday don't ask for the +0.7 for the poor, if you have two legs don't ask for the removal of +obstacles to the handicapped, if there's no war where you live don't ask for +peace, if you live with your parents or you rent don't go to squatters +demonstrations, if you're not an insumiso don't be antimilitary and if +you're not pregnant don't ask for the right of abortion. + +Then there are the "ex-progress" in power that easily call everything +"fascist" when they're the ones creating fascism with their GAL, their +corruption and their permanent kidnapping of democracy. They equalize, +shielded by tele-preachers, the violence of the shipyard workers and the +basque youth with that of the nazi skins or the louts of Mostoles (who +assaulted the town hall because of the suppression of a bullfighting act). A +weekly called these groups "the new terrorists". + +Whether this bunch of thugs likes it or not, we'll continue supporting all +the struggles that affect us directly or indirectly. + + + +*** ANTIFASCISM *** + + +Assaults in Zaragoza + +This summer the nazis haven't taken a vacation. In July, Jose Luis Baeta, +militant in the neonazi micro-group Thule, was arrested for attacking a +young chinese woman. On September 7 this jerk, together with his brother, +severely beat up a young man in San Pablo street. The man received 17 +stitches on his face. The police, alerted by some neighbors, arrived and the +bone-head declared that he had been the victim. The injured youth filed +charges and the following day Baeta was arrested and interned in prison. Two +days later he was set free by the well known ultra judge Lasala. The nazi +thug, very well known by antifascists and police has been arrested in +numerous occassions and has various charges for assault pending. But he +walks around as if nothing happened and boasts of his actions in the press +with the impunity (complicity?) that the police and the justice system grant +him. This past December Baeta's house was attacked, with Grupos +Antifascistas claiming responsibility. + +Besides this one, at least three other aggressions were made public. + + +Neonazi sect accuses + +The neonazi sect "Nueva Acropolis" accused the "director" of the Ateneu +Llibertari" of Tarragona y Barris for painting graffitti against the sect +and for causing damages to the local's door. When nobody form the Ateneu +showed up (logically, this colective does not have a "director"), they were +found innocent since there wasn't any evidence against them. + + +Another nazi murder? + +In 1993 a young woman, Susana Ruiz, was found dead in a field outside Madrid +and the case was closed for lack of evidence. An ex-nazi skin, whose +whereabouts have been unknown for months, left a recorded tape where he +tells of the assasination of Susana by nazi groups. The police gave low +credibility and spoke of "fantasies", but there was data on the deceased +that hadn't been made public and had been gathered in the autopsy. For now +the provincial court of Madrid has reopened the case. + + +Mysterious death + +Civil Guard Eduardo F. Garcia was assasinated July 25 in Barcelona. At first +his death was attributed to nazi skins. Later it was found that he was a +member of a neonazi gang.An anonimous announcement from the alleged neonazi +group blamed "antifascist goups". There was also talk of weapons and/or +drugs traffick. + + +Close nazi press + +The Civic Platform for Ana Frank Street asks for the closing of +press/bookstore Europa (of CEDADE) in Barcelona's Gracia neighborhood. This +press prints books and publications of national-socialist idealogy for the +whole of Europe. The Platform asks that that section of street be named Ana +Frank. In two months they have received the support of more than 6500 people +and 125 associations. + + +Nazi store burned + +(Molotov) An anonimous communique took responsibility for setting on fire +the neonazi and military materiel store Soldiers of Fernan Gonzalez street +in Madrid , on July 16. As a result of the attack, part of the display and +the interior were destroyed. The store had to close, the owners have tried +to conceal the damage as "reforms". The end of the deed was "to attack this +chain store to, at the same time we cause them the greatest possible +damage, bring to the fore their close relationship with the most violent +circles of the extreme right (Bases Autonomas, nazi skins ...)". The +communications media, in spite of knowing about it, turned silent on the action. + + +Arrested for pintadas (political graffitti T.N.) + +(Molotov) July 20 seven people that were painting antifascist and antiracist +graffitti, in Madrid's Salamanca neighborhood were arrested by the police. +Because of this simple deed they spent two days at the police station, +suffering the habitual treatment: insults, sleeping on the floor, five hours +not being able to urinate, they set the room's heat to the max,... They were +booked as "urban tribes" (Sharps, punkis and heavys). After being +transferred to the court's jurisdiccion they were set free. + + +Facist kkkop + +(Molotov) This past July 22, in Madrid, a group of people that were trying +to get into the Pub Graffitti were attacked by ten fascists. Among the +agressors was the Pub's doorman that turned out to be municipal police. They +went to the hospital where the doctor turned out to be a wee-bit fascist and +reported only concussions. Two days later, two of the victims, one of them +lawyer Endika Zulueta had to be hospitalized and underwent surgery for +facial fractures. When they went to file charges they learned that the +fascist cop had already filed against them for insults and because "they +were going to denounce him unjustly for assault". The trial has been +suspiciously slow, although when it was made public it speeded up. + +The trial against two squatters from Minuesa accused of assault and battery +(see Acrat.#46) was suspended as the attorney for the defense, Endika +Zulueta was hospitalized. + + +Short Antifas + +-September 2 ten nazis were arrested after thrashing a metro wagon in Madrid. + +-August 27 in Dixmunde (Belgium) police arrested and deported 200 neonazis +from France, Germany and Holland during an act of flemish nationalist +exaltation. + +-September 7 a young man was attacked by five nazis in Gijon because he wore +a Che Guevara T-shirt. + +-The nazi listing with 100 addresses of antifascists, red skins, anarchists, +punks, squatters, communists and independentists of various cities has +caused much attention in the mass media. Much of the data was inaccurate, +although we begin to see a coordination of nazi groups in different cities. +The antifascist movement also has its own secret information services, very +well trained by the KGB and the Stasi. + +-June 29, a demonstration by ultra Alianza por la Unidad Nacional (AUN), +Ynestrillas formation, passed in front of a movie house where an event by +the "Plataforma por la Autodeterminacion y la Solidaridad entre los Pueblos +del Estado Espan~ol" (Platform for the Self-determination and Solidarity +among the Peoples of the Spanish State) was taking place.There were minor +confrontations that were cut short by the police. After a while, there was a +bomb threat in the movie house and the police evacuated the place and held +60 people in custody. + + + +*** INSUMISION AND SO ON *** + + +(Insumision: (lit)Rebelliousness. The current usage refers to the act of +refusing to perform military service. Insumiso: a person who refuses to do +military service. N.T.) + + +Explanatory note + +Perhaps this antimilitarism/insumision section is a bit short in The +Acratador, we are sorry but the volume of news on this subject is such that +it would be impossible to make room for all so we publish only those items +relating to Zaragoza. For more information you can listen to our radio +programs or you can read the bulletin of CAMPI-Aragon, Guella Negra. + + +More Detentions + + +Around mid-July Martin Abril was arrested at his work place. Under search +and capture for about a month this insumiso was interned in the prison at +Torrero. The arrest was surprising and unexpected since it doesn't make any +sense to overload the already overcrowded Open Section of Torrero. Martin +got out on third degree August 14. + +In Gerona on September 9 Ronald, insumiso from CAMPI-Aragon in rebellion +several months for not showing up at his trial, was arrested. His trial will +take place October 18, we will keep you informed. + + +New stand + +This past September 10 Manolo Naudin, Sergio Callau and Javi Clarimon, +prisoners in Torrero, broke the penitentiary third degree by not coming to +sleep that night at the jail. In solidarity with them and with the slogan +"Unhook yourself from the army" several acts took place, among them the +March for demilitarization on the 15th, well attended, a display of banners +from Puente de Hierro and a concert with Colditz and Mallacan the following day. +After a demonstration against nuclear tests at Mururoa and accompanied by +hundreds of people they gave themselves up at the Civil Government in front +of a large contingent of anti-riots, where they were detained. + + +Figures + +Right now there are in Aragon 34 insumisos in jail. Alex Belasko is in +Daroca, dispersed in 2nd degree from Pamplona, there are 4 in 2nd degree and +29 in 3rd degree in Zaragoza. Two 3rd degree prisoners in Teruel were set +free in August and September. The state figures always hover around 250 and +300 insumisos in rebellion for not showing up at their trials or not showing +up to serve their sentences. + + +Caravan of insumision + +All summer long in different european countries a campaign to propagate +insumision throughout Europe, primarily composed of antimilitarists from +several colectives from Euzkadi, took place. + +Two buses took the insumisos through different european cities, beign thrown +out of many of them by the police. They staged concentrations at strategic +points of the EU such as the Brussels Parliament and The Hague Tribunal. The +most spectacular action was the okupation by 100 antimilitarists of the +central headquarters of NATO in Brussels, where they fooled the security +controls. The activity of the military center was paralized. Five trucks of +riot cops surrounded the building and arrested six basque insumisos that +were outside. They came to an agreement with the insumisos who left the NATO +headquarters when the six arrestees were set free. It is noteworthy that +several military personnel begged for ikurrin~as (basque flags N.T.) +alleging their simpathy for the "basque cause". + + +Regression of degree + +On September 7 third degree insumiso Nacho Contel Lopez was returned to the +interior of the prison. The excuse was sanctions that at the time of his +regression had not even been confirmed. We highlight the dictatorial +attitude on the part of the government's team towards jailed insumisos that +has caused tens of arbitrary sanctions, illegal body searches and three +degree regressions. The people mainly responsible for this situation are +Daniel Samperiz, director, and the subdirectors, particularly Jose Noguera +Clavet as well as the treatment subdirector "Don" Emilio. + + +Insumision in Holland + +In the country of the tulips there are also antimilitary campaigns of some +import and even insumisos that, like in the spanish state, refuse to perform +any type of substitute service. Because of this, since the beginning of July +insumiso A. Schreiner is in jail, sentenced to 7 months in prison. It so +happens that mandatory military service in Holland is scheduled to disappear +shortly, just like it's already history in Belgium, given its scant popularity. + + +Censored + +The publication "Ese Insumiso", bulletin of the third degree insumisos +jailed at Torrero, has been censored by the jail's directors and its +distribution within the prison prohibited. + + +Long live the Mayor + +The independent ex-mayor of Etxauri, Emilio Satrustegui was tried for +refusing to collaborate with the listing of young men for conscription +during his mandate. The D.A. asked for eight years of "inhabilitacion" (the +loss of certain rights such as not being able to work for the goverment) and +250,000 pts. fine. Luisa Fernanda, let's see if you learn!. The Superior +Court of Justice of the Basque Country annuled an agreement with the +municipality of Andoain by which he refused to collaborate with the spanish +armed forces, by not helping with the listing nor informing about objectors +and insumisos. + + +*** BRIEF NEWS *** + + +Anti Summit + +This past july 18 a spanish-german summit took place in Compostela with the +attendance of Kohl, Felipe Gonzalez and Fraga as a guest. Several +self-management, independentist and libertarian groups carried out a +campaign to protest the progressive empoverishment and discrimination that +the European Union has imposed on Galizia. There were pintadas (political +graffitti T.N.) and hundreds of posters were put up. Over 500 cops +controlled Compostela, particularly the concentration on the 18th when there +were 5 arrests, among them a photographer from _El Mundo_. + + +Women Assaulted + +The latest statistics show that even today only 10% of the women victims of +domestic violence in the Spanish State file charges, often when they get to +the extreme that the women's lives are in danger. + +In Aragon, from January to May 1995 there had been filed 127 cases, though a +much higher number is suspected. There are specific information programs you +can access at the Casa de la Mujer. + + +Rapes with impunity + +A feminist association from Pontevedra announced that in the galizian +locality of Tui there have been these past few years rapes which usually go +unpunished. Up to seven incidents have been filed to date, although several +more aggressions by a group of well identified local youths have been +confirmed. Major responsibility for the charges not being pressed falls on +the commander of the police, who has made it difficult for women that have +come forward with accusations by saying comments such as :"anyway this case +is not going very far ..." + + +International anarcho-syndicalism + +From the 31st of August to the 4th of September the IV Anarcho-Syndicalist +East-West Encounters took place in Fuzesgiyarmat (Hungary) with the +attendance of anarcho-syndicalists of both Europes, that some say don't +exist. In the eastern countries the intense anarchist movement that the +russian revolution destroyed is being reborn and we've received news of the +creation of a new AIT section in Bielorussia, that joins those already +existing in the Ukraine, Russia and other states of the former USSR. + + +Repression in Tarrega + +The Coordinator Against Abuses of Power of Barcelona undertook an +information campaign, together with many of those charged during the +incidents at the Theater Fair of Tarrega in 1991. Eighty-six people were +arrested, of which 21 spent time in jail and 62 are in judicial process. + +During the arrests they suffered all sorts of aggressions, vexations and ill +treatment, and the arrests, hours after the incidents, were made in an +arbitrary way ( by their looks). The district attorney asks for sentences of +2 to 5 years. The support of all collectives is sought. +Aptdo. 872 08.080 BARCELONA. + + +Day of Kaos + +From August 3 to 6 in Hanover (Germany) there were serious disturbances +during the so called days of kaos. Over 2500 youth, punks, autonomes and +anarchists fought hard with the police. The streets were taken over by +barricades, molotov cocktails, smoke cans and police charges. It all started +when police forces surrounded young squatters in an old factory, the +anarchopunks made strong fortifications in the building and responded to +police charges. Over 600 peoplewere arrested. The Greens and neighborhood +people accused the police of provoking the young people and of using +excessive force. + + +Descent of the Canal + +On Sunday, september 17 the people of Torrero performed the traditional +descent of the canal. Numerous craft took part in the event. This year the +demand to build a linear park on the banks of the river was joined by the +protest against the third belt of Zaragoza which would destroy Pinares de +Venecia, the only green zone in the neighborhood. + + +Water battle + +(Molotov) The popular Water Fair of Vallecas (Madrid), during which every 16 +of August since 13 years ago the neighbors, armed with any sort of container +throw water at each other, was interrupted by charges of the anti-riots. +Hundreds of people suffered the police onslaught and five participants were +arrested. + +Bastard priest + +(Zaragoza) A chaplain and his sister have been sentenced to 31 days in jail +and fined 50,000 pts for trespassing on a home. The priest had rented an +apartment, with an illegal contract, to a gambian family that paid the rent +punctually. One month they were several days late in paying and the priest +entered their home swinging his cane. The inmigrants paid and left in view +of the threats, leaving their furniture and belongings. With priests one +can't be too careful. + + +Thug civil guards + +This past 1st of August during the fair at Montan~ejos there was a fight +provoked by 4 civil guards that couldn't stand that several inhabitants of +the squatter-occupied Rodeche were having fun. The incident ended with the +squatters beat up, accused of assaulting the guards and imprisoned +unconditionally until the date of their trial. + + +Very brief + +-The 2nd and 3rd of september in Elgoibar the IV Gayakampada took place, +organized by the Gay Liberation Movement of Euskal Herria (EHGAM) + +-From the 7th to the 30th of July the interesting Jornadas Libertarias took +place in Alicante, organized by the Libertarian Youth (JJLL) of that city. +There were talks, movies, concerts and other activities. + +-July 15 in Escatron y Sastago the traditional Tour of the regional CNT of +Valderrobles in exile took place, with the attendance of the oldest +grandaddys of anarcho-syndicalism. + +-From June 20th to the 23rd in Sao Paulo (Brasil) the Anarcho-punk +Countercultural Days took place, inagurating the first archives of Punk +Culture, created in this city. It views punk as yet another way of fighting +for alternatives to this society. + +-The Popular Library "Jose Ingenieros" of Buenos Aires (Argentina) +celebrated its 60th anniversary on july 1st. From the begining it has been +linked to the libertarian and anarcho-syndicalist movement. Hundreds of +reunions, conferences and initiatives started in its midst. At different +times it was closed down by different governments but continued operating +clandestinely. Let's go for another 60 years. + +-The Ateneo Libertario of Cadiz organized Days of Animal Liberation in June, +with groups from everywhere in the Spanish State taking part. + +-From July 21st through the 28th took place in Launac (France) the XI +International Camp of Young Revolutionaries, organized by the trostkyist IV +International. To be highlighted is the participation of militants of other +currents of the alternative left: autonomes, libertarians, +non-dogmatic-communists, etc. Close to 1000 young people from different +countries took part in a busy week of debates, talks and festivities. Thank +the people from Rebel for the invitation. + +-August 6th CGT called a strike in Port Aventura, due to the draconian labor +conditions that workers put up with such as junk contracts to the max. In +spite of threats of firing and non-renewal, a third of the workers honored +the strike. + +-A kurdish woman that was on hunger strike in Germany died after being +beaten by the police in a demonstration. She was protesting the genocide in +Kurdistan by Turkey and its support of the EU. + +-The Gato Salvaje, an alternative distributor, has a new address: E. +Fernandez, Aptdo. 18.251 28.080 MADRID + +-CIJA (Ilicitan Collective of Burdened Youth) finally has a postal box: +CIJA Aptdo. 1.508 03200 Elche (Alicante). + +-We communicate that the P.O. Box (11.351 Mexico D.F.) of the Net and +publication Love and Rage (Amor y Rabia) in Mexico has been canceled in a +totally irregular manner, within the repressive campaign unleashed by the +mexican government. After the cancelation the mail arriving at the P.O. Box, +as well as that already there, has been confiscated by the police. Do not +send anything to that P.O. Box. + +-The inspector rsponsible for the shooting that wounded three people during +the events of EXPO '92 has had a disciplinary hearing. This month there will +be a reconstruction of the events with police, witnesses, lawyers and +victims being summoned. + + + +*** SQUATS *** + +Squats in Zaragoza + +Some time ago, several young zaragozan punks occupied a building on the left +bank of the Ebro property of RENFE (Spanish State railroad T.N.) and have +started to fix it up for living. For now they haven't been notified of +eviction. We've also received news that another group of young people +unsuccessfully occupied an abandoned school in the Oliver neighborhood from +which they were evicted because there was an order to buy the building. + + +Los Adoquines (The paving stones T.N.) + +On August 5 the Social Center Los Adoquines, of Santa Coloma de Gramanet was +occupied. After a few days the municipal police came and tried to evict them +without orders. At this time they are awaiting eviction and ask that protest +letters be sent to the Ayuntamiento de Santa Coloma (Dpt. de Registro)//Pca +de la Vila 1//08.921 - Sta. Coloma de Gramanet (Barcelona). + + +New Squats + +An old factory in Atarrabia was okkupied august 16. The Youth Assembly has +been asking city hall for a local for years. + +For several months now in Cordoba the Kasa Libertaria de los Ban~os has been +functioning, managed by Kolectivo Kordoba Okupa (okupa = squatter T.N.), it +was okkupied after the eviction from another house. + +The occupied house of Mallorca had its first birthday. + +Since July 7th an old school in Aviles (Asturias) has been okkupied. The +squatters have created the Social Center Gaviluetu. There are shops, rooms +for collectives and housing. + +The 2nd of June the Assembly of young okupas (AJO) of Valladolid okkupied an +abandoned villa to create a self-managed social center. At 6 AM the +following day the municipal police assaulted the building and arrested 20 +okupas that had spent the night. + + +Campol cleared out + +In August, without previous warning and taking advantage of the fact that +there was nobody in the village that day, Campol (village in the Huesca's +Pyrenees okkupied since November 1994) was cleared out. All belongings were +stolen and loaded onto trucks. All doors and windows were walled shut, all +structures, orchards and water tanks were destroyed. The rural okupas have +organized days of struggle in Campol for september 29,30 and october 1st. +They need your help, so inform yourself and be there. + + +Squatters' trial + +On June 12, 14 okupas were tried in Vigo, accused of coercion and +destruction during a squat 2 years ago. The private charges asked for 3 +months and 200,000 pts fine for each accused. The day of the trial the +private charges were retracted and finally they were sentenced to two days +of home arrest. + + +Giving back the union's heritage + +As we informed in the previous issue, one of the two flats, that of the +administration, that the CNT occupies for many years in Ave. San Jose is +going to be condemned. Because of this the anarcho-syndicalist center has +initiated a campaign claiming worthy premises to perform its union +activities. The CNT claims as the union's heritage a site in use today by +the administration. On August 1st, members of CNT-Zaragoza gathered inside +of the provincial delegation of the Ministry of Labor and held an interview +with the director. Further meetings with the government's delegation of +Aragon are planned. In case of denial by the administration there will be +mibilizations until the CNT gets proper quarters. + + +In danger of eviction + +Valencia's Kasal Popular is in danger of being evicted. In June they were +warned that on October 1st the construction of a health center would begin. +Does this sound familiar? For the moment they're still there, although they +could be evicted at any time. On June 16 800 people took part in a +demonstration in support of the squats protesting the eviction at Centelles +(movie housed okkupied to make a social center) and the threat to Kasal Popular. + + + +*** INFORMATION MANIPULATION *** + +Following the kidnapping of businessman Publio Cordon in Zaragoza by the +Grupos de Resistencia Antifascista Primero de Octubre (GRAPO), the press +lied again, and took advantage of the information given by the police to +heap garbage upon the libertarian movement. + +So, in the days following the kidnapping it was prominently published that +"the kidnapping of this businessman surely would not have been possible +without the colaboration of members of the anarchist milieu of the city" +(sic), while several people were investigated. Nobody bothered to ask us the +members of said milieu our opinion of the news, neither whether it was true. +There didn't seem to be any interest in publishing the clarifications of the +CNT and the Ateneo Libertario. HERALDO was the main spreader of these +falsehoods. + +This is a new campaign by the police, broadcast by the press, with the +intention of creating confusion and of criminalizing the libertarian +movement to be able to justify repressive campaigns, spreading lies. If +anarchist complicity in the events were true, the police would not have made +it public until after the solution of the case. Days later the police +discarded the hypothesis, but the damage had been done. + +The sensibility of the anarchists towards prisoners and their living +conditions is great, we've never doubted in supporting, and we'll continue +to do so, the political prisoners in the hard and difficult situation in +which they live. There are many cases of people who, because of mere +colaboration with armed bands confessed under torture, fully serve hard +time, while ultra thugs or members of the security forces with decades of +years of sentence quickly obtain penitentiary benefits. A very different +thing would be our ideological identification with an armed organization +such as GRAPO or ETA, whose means and objectives as well as their +principles, tactics and ends openly differ from ours. + + +*** MUMIA LIVES *** + +On August 7, ten days before the set date, the execution of the +afro-american newspaper reporter Mumia Abul Jamal (see Acratador #46) was +postponed. Judge Sabo, better known as "the hanging judge" who has the +sinister record of 31 death sentences, had to give in to the massive +inyternational campaign of denunciation and the thousands of letters sent +from the most remote corners of the planet. Demonstrations in several +cities, hunger strikes by political prisoners, the support of politicians, +hundreds of writers, movie stars, intellectuals, have saved, for now, the +life of Mumia. It must be decided whether Mumia has the right to a new trial +in more just conditions than the previous one, with rigged witnesses and +evidence. At the beginning of August he left the prison's death row and he +was told of the conmutation of his death sentence, planned for the 17th of +the month. Mumia declared through his attorneys "I am grateful to the tens +of thoussands of people, the majority of whom I don't even know that have +fought for me". + +In Zaragoza, in spite of the difficult times, 80 people gathered on July 7th +at the Plaza de Espan~a with several explanatory placards and staged a mock +execution. We have also had news of actions throughout the state which we +don't mention for being too long. + + +*** ECOLOGY *** + +Arrests in Somport + +Thirteen people were arrested by french police on August 13 at an act of +protest against the Somport Tunnel works. The act had been called by the +Coordinadora de Grupos Autonomos against the Somport Tunnel. A group of +people leafletted cars and another chained themselves to the works. One of +the workers attacked an ecologist with a spade and a truck ran over two +people that were part of a human barricade. Some of the arrestees were from +the aragonese coordinating group O Zapo. + + +Against Nuclear Tests + +On August 5th at the french consulate in Zaragoza there was a protest action +against nuclear tests. On August 27th a hundred people, summoned by +different ecological groups from Aragon, demonstrated at the boundary of the +Portalet against the tests at Mururoa. + +On september 14 there was a gathering at the Plaza de Espan~a and on th 17 +the main demonstartion to which more than 2000 people came, called by a +large platform of organizations (among them the Ateneo Libertario) which was +amply reported by the press. It ended at the french consulate and afterwards +it continued to the civil government where three insumisos that had violated +the penitentiary third degree gave themselves up. + + +More about nuclear + +In a place known as Los Pintados, in Cinco Villas, several enterprises, with +the support of some state organisms, are planning to install a nuclear dump. +Therefore, the affected towns have formed a coordinating body to try to +prevent the installation of this dump. + +The excuse given for such a henious project is the creation of jobs, even at +the expense of ruining a region which is predominantly agricultural. + + +Against Itoiz + +The collective Solidarios con Itoiz continues to carry out spectacular +actions against the construction of the reservoir. In August they went up a +mountain in Txintxurrenea, located in the area affected by the explosions of +the quarry, interrupting the work at the quarry the provides materials for +the construction of the dam. The action was repeted throughout several days, +finally the civil guard stopped them. This summer there has been a camp-in +in the area that will be swamped. + +On the other hand, two neighbors of the area have been sentenced to two and +three years in prison for taking part in the incidents, which it seems they +didn't even attend. The sentence, which has been appealed, is based +exclusively on the testimony of scabs and private mercenaries. + + +Chemical waste dump + +Whereas before we talked about a nuclear dump, now it is a toxic industrial +waste dump that's going to be built in the area of Gallur or Tauste. The +towns of the region have been mobilized and have called for a demonstration +to denounce the construction of this dump, their protest was based on how +damaging it will be, for the agriculture as well as for the quality of life +of the region. It seems that superior organisms want to turn Aragon into a +contaminated desert. This very same project was rejected before by the +epople of Escucha (Teruel). + + + +*** SHIPYARD STRUGGLE *** + +The national shipyard's (AESA) reconversion plan involves the lay-off of +5200 out of 10,000 workers. This restructuring affects shipyards in Sestao, +Cantabria, Puerto Real, Cadiz and Sevilla. + +Worker's mobilization has not waited long: strikes and 10,000 workers +demonstrating in several cities. In Cadiz and Sevilla, where shipyards are +scheduled to close, the actions have been hard hitting. Human chains in the +sea blocking access to harbors, destruction of company property, barricades +at the Junta de Andalucia, blockaded expressways. The most serious incidents +took place on september 14 and 15 in Cadiz where, after a demonstration, +PSOE's headquarters was assaulted and wrecked, with streetfights continuing +for two nights. The workers of Puerto Real blocked the bridge at Carranza +leading to Cadiz with burning barricades and confronted the police. + +This time the Puerto Real shipyard is less affected. In this shipyard the +CNT enjoys great status. In 1987 a reconversion was attempted and the +struggle by the CNT accomplished the acceptance of workers' and the +population's [conditions]. There were two months of mobilizations and fights +in the streets and from homes against the anti-riot police, on top of whose +vans were thrown washer machines and butane gas tanks. Finally the ministry +of industry was forced to meet and negotiate with the CNT and the +reconversion was stopped. + + +*** NEW PENAL CODE *** + +At the beginning of July it was submitted to the Senate for its definitive +implementation the new penal code that has already been named democracy's +penal code. For starters it is being sold to us as democratic and +progressive although, like all laws, it hides a multitude of loopholes and +many of its aspects make it a nominally "progressive" code, but reactionary +in its contents. Here go some of its goodies though we recommend a thorough +reading, it is very long and you'll surely find something to comment on. + +It continues to give undue weight to "crimes" that question the established +order and the pillars of the state, the clearest example being one that +affects us people of the libertarian persuasion, that of insumision. It +continues to consider insumision as a crime, ignoring the opinion of the +majority and it attempts to put another band-aid (the fifth so far) to stop +the antimilitary opposition to the army and the state. It discriminates +insumisos based on their whether their refusal is to military service or to +substitute service, keeping jail sentences for the former and severe +inhabilitation sentences for the latter. It also penalizes squats, even if +it is for living quarters, with punishments consisting of daily fines and in +case of non payment jail sentences. + +Otherwise it keeps intact laws such as the Corcuera law or the +anti-terrorist legislation that become the harshest in Europe, giving more +room for arbitrary detentions with law enforcement bodies whose performance +grows more unchecked, thanks to a Ministry of Interior and Justice that +houses both its own chiefs those that must judge them. + +Although the apparent changes that would be undertaken in regards to +penitentiary politics would lead one to believe that the duration of +sentences could be less in certain cases the truth is that they are going to +become much longer. The concept of redemption of sentence dissapears, it +used to allow for the shortening of sentences for some convicts in return +for work done for the prison. Instead, it will be handed down in especial +cases, thus directly fostering total submission of the inmate to the imposed +regime, snitching and more tense relations among inmates. Inside the prisons +the fairy tale of a redemptive penal code that would free thousands of +prisoners is being sold, with the goal of getting a peaceful period at the +same time that the penal structure is completely renovated with more cells, +harsher prisons of great capacity (the macroprison at Zuera). The prisoner +better be good since the law holds in its hands the serving of the complete +sentence. + +This hardening is in contrast to the benevolence granted to white collar +crimes such as corruption, trafficking of leverage etc. that have lower +penalties although it tries to give the impression that they're higher. As +an example, the amount that a high placed state worker has to steal to be +jailed increases. With this new law Mariano Rubio wouldn't have to go to jail. + +Now that a large part of the members of government and high state officials +have pending cases or are under suspicion of having committed crimes it +looks like the new penal code, tailor made, comes at the right moment to +spare them from going to prison and, at the same time, to lock up and +eliminate with impunity all those who don't want to be part of the sheep's herd. + + +*** COMMERCIALS *** + +Tune in to El Acratador +Radio Topo 102.5 FM * Thuersdays 20-21 hrs. +Radio La Granja 103.0 FM * Tuesdays 19-21 hrs * Phone 27-64-37 + +Subscribe yourself to El Acratador +10 issues = 500 pesetas +* Deposit to Caja Postal in the name of E. Gracia: c/c 00-19.860.916, send +receipt or copy thereof. +* Postage stamps 17 ptas denomination to Aptdo. 3141 / 50080 Zaragoza / sPAIN + + + + + Kike - C.S.A. Angel Chueca +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + cual@maser.unizar.es + Provisional URL: http://www.cps.unizar.es/ISF/revistas/acratador/ +---------------------------------------------------------------------- diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001092.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001092.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f6b9eb9b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001092.txt @@ -0,0 +1,172 @@ +INTERVIEW WITH NOAM CHOMSKY + +This interview has been translated from the French Le Monde +Libertaire. In turn it is taken from the Portuguese anarchist +paper A Batahla. We are unaware of any other English version. + +A Batalha: You are very critical of the American media and you +consider her European counterpart more democratic. What are the +essential differences - in democratic terms - between the American +and the European media? +Noam Chomsky: I don't think the European media are any more +democratic than the American, neither are they any more serious. +There's a greater variety, but in any case it is impossible to +make generalisations... +A Batalha: The Middle East is one of your main concerns. The US +and Israel have always opposed a diplomatic solution to the +problem. Why the recent change in attitude? Do you think they +are going to substitute military and political control of the +occupied lands with economic control? +Noam Chomsky: The US and Israel have always wanted a diplomatic +solution in the Middle East but under their terms. These weren't +accepted by the rest of the world. For nearly 20 years the US has +simply rejected any Palestinian right to self-determination. They +refused to accept UN resolution 242 in the terms chosen by International +opinion and - incidentally - the US between 1957 and 1971. The +resolution called for peace in response to a total evacuation with +minimal mutual adjustments. In order to achieve this the US had to +oppose Security Council decisions; vote, along with Israel, against +the resolutions of the General Assembly; block all diplomatic moves +after the Sadat initiative of February 1971 to reach an agreement +based on 242... Because of the power of US propaganda, the main import +of these facts were suppressed and the Europeans, so under US dominance +at the time, forgot to defend what they had defended in the past. + That situation continued until 1990. The last UN resolution (144-2) +which calls once again for a diplomatic solution was blocked by the US +in December 1990. After the war with Iraq, Europe handed the region over +to the US and took no independent position. The non-aligned nations found +themselves in a state of total confusion and Russia found itself more or +less in the US camp along with Great Britain. The US went into action in +the autumn of 1991, in Madrid, unilaterally imposing their plan for the +region.. This was accepted in 1993-94, this time with Norway's support. + The current agreement is based on the explicit presupposition that +Israel will not withdraw from the occupied territories until she wishes +to do so and under her own conditions.. Thus from the moment when the +Declaration of Principles was signed in September 93, the colonisation +and confiscation of land in the occupied area has increased with +financial support from the US. At the moment Israel controls nearly +75% of the Gaza strip, nearly 35% of the territory and probably all +its water.. In the Declaration of Principle not a word about +Palestinian self-determination because the US have never accepted +the idea... + I have written about this situation which has been going on for +25 years (see my recent book World Orders, Old and New) +A Batalha: What do you see as they main causes of the growth of +fundamentalist Islamic groups in the Arab world for example in +Algeria and Egypt? Do you think these movements have a local cause +or are due to religious fanaticism? +Noam Chomsky: I would be wary of the tern 'religious fanaticism' and ' +fundamentalism'. I think that one of the most fundamentalist countries +in the world is the US, perhaps on an even footing with Iran. The most +extreme Muslim fundamentalist country in the world is Saudi Arabia, an +intimate ally of the US and which is not considered a problem because +it obeys orders. Also one of the most extreme of the Muslim +fundamentalists is Gulbiddin Hekmatyar, who received, in the +1980s, from the US and Saudi Arabia, nearly $6 million and large +quantities of arms whilst he was in the process of transforming +Afghanistan into a huge drug producing centre, and who today is +blowing up what is left of that devastated country. In general +terms the US and its satellites have nothing against fundamentalism +Islamic or other. What they fear is the possibility of people acting +independently. This rule applies to the Roman Catholic Church. The +US are neither for or against here. Those elements of the church who +'side with the poor' must be objectively eliminated, if necessary by +means of terror and violence. Those who 'side with the rich' are fine. +The reason for the development of fundamentalist movements in the Arab +world is simple. The secular movements were either destroyed or +self-destructed. Only the Islamic fundamentalists have anything to +offer the population. When you live in the slums of Cairo and your +child is dying you can take it to a clinic run by Islamic +fundamentalists. The governments are too corrupt to offer +anything. These people offer a certain vision which takes into +account the needs of the people... + That is a rather simplistic analysis given limitations of space +but I think it covers the essentials... +A Batalha: What do you see as the main causes of the war in the +former Yugoslavia and what are the possible solutions? +Noam Chomsky: The Balkan wars have many causes. The main ones are +of an internal nature, but the actions of the outside powers have +done little to help the situation, to put matters mildly.. The +international recognition of Croatia failed to take into account +the fact that there was a lot of opposition to the move coming +from an important Serb minority. Bosnia was recognised despite +the fact that it was made up of three distinct parts and that +even if it had had strong multi-ethnic aspects this had little +impact on the Serb mountain community who were fearful of Muslim +domination. It is probable that all these factors added to the +behaviour of the Serb government led to war. Before it would +perhaps have been possible to ameliorate the problem. But it +is hard know to conceive of a solution which is not unthinkable. +I haven't seen any sensible solutions to the problem... +A Batalha: Over the last few years we have seen the rise of +fascist, nationalist and racist ideologies. Today this is not +limited to the activities of small isolated groups and with the +popular support of Zhironovski and Berlusconi perhaps we are +seeing signs that we are faced with a problem of a large dimension. +Do you think that the economic and social crisis is conducive to the +development of anti-democratic movements as happened in Germany after +WW1? +Noam Chomsky: For the last 20 years the world has seen society +dividing itself into two camps along the lines of the Third World +model with islands of great richness and privilege in a sea of +misery, with a growing superfluous population which has no rights + and doesn't contribute to profit creation. The proportions in a +rich country like the US or a poor country like Mexico are different +but the structures are very similar. The reasons are quite clear: +since the 70s there has been a growing move towards globalisation +with the enormous accumulation of power in the hands of transnational +corporations, which are incredibly totalitarian institutions. There +has also been an explosion of capital and a change in its composition. +In 1970, 90% of the capital on the international exchanges came from +trade and investment, from the real economy, and 10% from speculation. +In 1990 these figures have to be turned upside down. By 1994 speculative +capital is estimated to stand at 95% and its growth rate is the highest +ever recorded. Such an evolution was already apparent in the 1970s. In +1978, James Tobin, Nobel Prize for Economics Laureate, suggested a tax +aimed at reducing capital speculation which would lead to a world based +on low growth, low salaries and high profits. This is what has happened, + with the possibility of transferring production abroad, a powerful +weapon to be used against workers. The end of the cold war which means +that the Eastern countries have returned to their traditional Third World +status offers the western bosses class new arms to use against the +national population. In such a situation it is natural that power +should wish to eliminate that which threatens it: human rights, +liberty and democracy which had been gained by popular struggles +over the last century. This is what is happening in a sharpened +fashion in the US and Great Britain. For the vast majority it is +a disaster. For example in the US salaries have gone down since +the Reagan era. At the same time the review Fortune speaks of +spectacular profit making. All of this has been organised by +propaganda barrages which are quite impressive and which have +left people extremely confused, hopeless, frustrated and rebellious. +The liberal intellectuals and the press and also the 'left' have +contributed to all of this. It is a very dangerous situation which +could explode and bring about various horrors unless we see the +creation of alternatives which answer to the needs and preoccupations +of the people. +A Batalha: Many people used to think that with the collapse of the +USSR and socialist regimes that there would be a fresh interest in +anarchism. This hasn't happened. Do you think it is the anarchists +fault for having failed to present themselves in a good light? +Noam Chomsky: Who are the anarchists who have failed to present +themselves as an alternative? It's true that there are a few. For +example a lot was hoped of the CNT in Spain. But one must remember +that there are nearly no anarchist intellectuals for the simple +reason that anarchism does not offer intellectuals any position +of power or privilege. Anarchists also are responsible, since +anarchist feelings are too scattered. However, there are ways +of articulating them in a constructive way, and in the tradition +of the popular movements to put forward a libertarian character to +make anarchists look appealing. +A Batalha: What should anarchists and the anarchist press be doing +right now. +Noam Chomsky: Same as always: help people gain control of their +lives, to understand the world in which they live and to organise +themselves in order to destroy illegitimate authority... As has +always been the case. + +Le Monde Libertaire +145, Rue Amelot, +75011, Paris. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001093.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001093.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0b7c3777 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001093.txt @@ -0,0 +1,43 @@ +Richmond Secondary College * by Flick Ruby + +* Bashings, Blunders and Bloody Socialists + +Answering machines are pretty vile. I never have my rave all nice and +compact for them and end up getting cut off half way. During the Richmond +Secondary College campaign the telephone tree woke me up at 5.30 am so many +times I considered becoming a logger and setting up a protection society +against branch leaders. Whoever our branch leader was, they got to speak +to our newly inherited answering machine and heard Richard Nixon and a few +chicken squarking messages but they were not swayed. Unfortunately a few +friends up the road just kept ringing and singing so I would give them a +lift. + + I'm glad I went down because I really believe that the form and content of +education is the most insidious way of creating a uniform mentality of +conformity and passive, mute, obedient citizens. Education is one of the +first state institutions that people find themselves in at age 5. It's +like the first meat mincer we are forced into and we come out a bland kind +of hamburger mince at the end. Basically, the mind is colonised in the +present school system by the ideology of patriarchal capitalism with its +scientific death fetishes and its great 'objective' knowledge. While I'm +critical of the present system, what it is set up to achieve and what it +produces, I'm sure that learning could be different, much different. +Dawkin's great quantum leaps backwards in 1988 are being continued by +Kennett by reducing accessibility to education, by cutting socially +critical subjects and by making education a degree granting assembly line. +About 160 schools across Victoria have been closed down by Kennett, a +disguisting display of governmental priorities. Lots of people down at +Richmond became actively involved for the first time which is good. Others +saw it as a great oppportunity to further their careers as pyramid +newspaper sellers, some got a real ego preening out of the whole affair and +the state got to test out new and exciting ways to bash and spy on people. + +The campaign isn't over but it's over for me. I got pretty fucked off with +it all especially the repetitive ritual of being dragged away every morning +by cops who were politely allowed to cross the picket line en mass. I +think that's madness and part of the great "We can placate the police and +let's not alienate the public" line. I think some people woke up to this +one. At one stage I was standing linking arms with people in front of the +gates and a woman with a kindergarten teacher voice came up and said +'What's the key word? PASSIVE resistance'. She should have brought flash +cards. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001094.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001094.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fceaccb2 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001094.txt @@ -0,0 +1,26 @@ +Paranoia's Ok when they're really doing it to you. * by Flick Ruby + +Waking up to sirens and hiding paper, heart sinks fingers rise, the +helicopter again, with satelites they can see into your room even with the +windows boarded up. Alone in the house, I am never safe from men, even the +ones I love, they know where I live, will I ever see the faces of the +listeners? There's a narc somewhere here, what will they report and to +whom?, 786 ASIO assesments last year prompted mainly by the Gulf Crisis, +12,000 fine or two years for naming an agent, more police in Victoria than +the number sent to Vietnam, 10,000 uniformed trained in bias and obedience +police, there's some now, fuck the car's unroadworthy, they came at 5.30am +with axes, whe was pinned down wearing only a T-shirt, Blue Phoenix the +program where they give you drugs to make you forget, Orwell knew, they've +got more photos of me than my mother..... + +When do facts start to become paranoia? When does caution become +obsession? When does the word "paranioa" become an accusation that dilutes +your opinions to easily digestible human frailities? Who does that serve +and is it paranoia to notice? Suspicion eats away at you heart and mind at +times, yet as a tool of political survival, it is not to be dismissed. +The state spends more and more time and money thinking about expressions of +political dissent and how to dilute and moniter the "movement". It follows +that some of these resources would be spent infultrating the groups that +are active. Basically I think you're incredibly stupid if you don't take +this as an obvious fact, so I'm going to work on this premise. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001095.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001095.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0fef34f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001095.txt @@ -0,0 +1,106 @@ +The War on Women +A Feminist Perspective on Militarism * by Flick Ruby + +Stop the War on Women, the slogan for International Women's day this year +is appropriate considering that every three minutes a woman is beaten by +her male partner - a man who often claims to love her. Every five minutes +a women is raped, and they call that "making love" too. and every ten +minutes a girl is molested, sometimes by a relative, perhaps her own +father. The violence mounts. "Every few seconds in America, a woman is +slapped, slugged, punched, chopped, slashed, choked, kicked, raped, +sodomised, mutilated or murdered. She loses an eye, a kidney, a baby, a +life. That's a fact." writes Ann Jones in Take Back the Night. "And if +the statistics are any where near right, at least one of every four women +reading this paragraph will feel that fact through first hand experience." + +For women peace activists there is a paradox of seeing yourself at war, yet +calling yourself a peace woman. + +The battle field in the war against women is in the workplace on the +streets, in our homes, in our most intimate relationships. It is physical +and psychological, visited upon us by others and internalised within +ourselves. It crosses class and racial boundaries, compounding other +oppressions. It is manifestsed in atomc power development and economic +destruction. The mentality that builds nuclear wepons is the same one that +rapes women and destroys the natural envoronment. No political philosophy +or strategy for peace can be complete without addressing sexual politics. + +If the peace movement is to be successful in putting an end to war, it must +work to eliminate the sex role system which is killing us all by rewarding +dominating aggressive behavoiur in men. +If we are to be consistent in our opposition to violence, we must address +violence against women. +If we are truly committed to social justice, we must join the movement for +women's liberation. +If we wish to create social change and revolution we must commit ourselves +to overthrowing patriarchy. +The propaganda of war promotes national unity making it as priority which +can silence women critical of patriarchal practices and attitudes. Certain +'problems' (to do with the national interest ie economic and terratorial +concerns of the state) are given propority over all other concerns, +legitimising the use of violence and suppression of dissent to solve them. +What happens to women (indeed anyone not directly benefiting from these +aims) in the process is considered irrelevant by the war mongers. This +silencing of women needs to be stronlgy counteracted by the peace movement. +We need to intergrate a feminist perspective into all our anti-war +critiques and actions if we are not merely to duplicate the existing social +relation which lead to militarism in the first place. +Patriarchy is a set of social relations between men, which have a material +base, and through a hierarchy creates solidarity among men that enables +them to dominate women. +Feminism and the Peace Movement +Women have been of concern to the military as a threat to this male +solidarity an annoyance and intrusion (not suprisingly, the Defence forces +are still not sen as a women's place, although more recently women hace +been accomodated if they can fit in and act like men). More commonly, +women are a useful labour and sex resource for all men, particularly in the +military. War is seen by many men as even more of an exuse to rape and +kill women and children. +Women are also used as a symbol of justification foe war. Women need +protection as they are the nations most valuable possession, the principle +vehicle for transmitting the nations values, bearers of future generation +are most vulnerable to defilement and are most suceptible to assimilation. +The patriarchal military/industrial/bureaucratic/academic complex's need +for brain power, resources and authortiy so thoroughtly distorts the +economiy and the polity that no goals of social justice can ever really be +achieved. Women are most hurt when social programs are cut because they +are most reliable upon state welfare. In 1986 the world was spending +$A2.63 million on the military which means that about three or four years +of a persons working life is spent on war tax. The economic implications +of miltarisation are enormous but an economic analysis alone leaves +untouched some of the most powerful ideological and private processes that +perpetuate militarism. +The military play a large role in defining women as the concept of +masculinity promoted by the military only makes sense if supported by the +complementary concept of femininity. Feeling a menber of a superior group +is what men get from their treatment of women, what nation states get from +having an enemy. In the military, 24 hour masculine behaviour is expected. +Violence is not just a male practice but for men it is bound up with their +identity and the military is where this can be seen overtly. The military +is the government or it is a large section of the ruling class which lets +the government govern. The mliitary interprets "national security" in its +own interests to mean, not only protection of the state and its +hierarchies, but also the preservance of the existing male order. +Subjugaing someone becomes the necessary proof of manhood. The procatice +of rape is premeditated act during wartime as a way of humiliating the +enemy by violating his "property". Essentially women's bodies become a +battleground. + +The historical links between feminism and pacifism are counterbalanced when +women have exbraced revolution with hope and war with enthusiasm. There +has not been a consistent women's response to war but I argue that their +response has largely been constructed for them by the patriarchy. +Overwhelmingly women do not want war. + +Feminsim is a political position that accepts anger as part of its theory +and practice. By becoming angry we make ourselves equal to the persons we +judge and assert the validity of our own standards and views. For far too +long women have been forced to be submissive and supportive of men. +Indeeed it has in many ways been seen as awomen's role to stay at home +praying for peace, while the men go off to fight the 'important battles'. +Saying no to war should not be an act of sublimation. Our caring for life +on earth is not soft or sentimental. It is determined, realistic and +political. We are not just angry, but angry about...and the difference can +be crucial. +Women are angry about the patriarchal miltary complex and will be +demonstrating this at AIDEX. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001096.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001096.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..840e67b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001096.txt @@ -0,0 +1,94 @@ +operation rhubarb * by Flick Ruby + +L: To me OR is more than just a street theatre group because its so +intertwined with being political and I think that the effect that street +theatre has during demonstrations is to give some sort of focus for people +because people are often confused and disempowered and wondering what to do +and walking around bored. + +F: I started getting involved with OR during the Gulf War and for me OR was +a really empowering thing because I was able to unleash some of the drama +and terror that I felt internally in an external way and for me that was +the most appropriate response to what was happening. It was also a good +way to shock people and bring the message of blood home to the streets of +Melbourne. + +G: I also joined OR during the Gulf War when it first started. I was sick +of boring protests where there was one leader who was seen as the be all +and end all. I though than many messages were missing, one of them was +war=death and as part of OR I think we achieved that message by splattering +blood on the pavement. + +F: The thing for me that is most attractive about OR is its looseness of +definition. There is no meaning essentially to the term OR. We are not +screaming slogans or apocalyptic scenarios which is what is happening at a +lot of demos. We are begging questions, placing questions in people's +minds, we are not even asking a specific question, we are getting people to +ask their own questions, stimulating some kind of response in them. We +don't have a line or a message all the time. A lot of what we do is quite +obvious, at the George Bush demo, we carried around a coffin and had a +person personifying death and another personifying the corporate monsterism +and that is all easy to understand. At the same time there is scope there +for people to place their own meaning and that is an important act to me. + +L: Another good thing about OR is that we have no definate membership, +therefore a lot of people are able to join in and get involved on specific +issues that they are interested in and they don't have to be involved in +everyting we are inolved in and that means we have a variety of input at +different stages. + +F: Using mediums of humour is going to be more empowering to people at +demos than more empassioned speeches. I think you can say a lot more in +the cloak of a joke at the moment. I also think that laughter is what is +needed. We need to be at least appearing to be having fun while being +politically committed, feeling good about ourselves, being strong and +determined but not depressed and nagging all the time. + +L: One of the good things about OR is that things seem to come together +really easily and we don't get bogged down. We are also committed very +strongly to feminism. Womens voices are often lost in the arena of +politics which is dominated by men. The gender relations in OR are really +good and we work to keep them that way. + +G: I think one of the important things about OR is that we don't have a +definition so therefore it enables us to do a variety of things, one of +them was the stickers which we produced with slogans like 'stop racism', +'stop sexism', 'stop hetrosexism' and with our logo on it and the important +thing with that was to stick them up over offensive posters and stickers +and although the quality of the stickers was not that good the message was +there and hopefully the messatge got back to people like national action +with their revolting racist stickers. + +F: Turning up the Heat, OR's magazine is about giving voice to the +different groups in Melbourne that are working politically and creatively. +It is also to further the feminst and anarchist analysis of things that are +going on right now. We feel as though we have our own political +perspectives and encourage people to express theirs It will be a forum for +anarchist and feminst news and reviews. + +G: Turning up the Heat will replicate what OR is about, it is creative, it +is interesting, it is not a boring revolutionary magazine. + +G; Another thing with OR is that we don't wait for invitations. We attend +things like the Myer Christmas parade and we produce a message that is not +produced there, that is denies there ,like "CONSUMERISM KILLS", like +"WAR=DEATH" like "AIDEX KILLS" and they are images that mainstream +carnivials and mainstream media have denied access to. + +F: It is good media wise to be some sort of bridgeing gap between scuffles +and police lies to have images of people being creative in a symbolic sense +or talking about issues in a different way. + +F: I think it is high time that activists got into affinity groups and +actually did things that impowered them. So many times people are saying +'oh we need to join a big revolutionary organisation' and their whole +energy gets absorbed into that and they don't form their own actions where +they exhcange their reading into idea tools that can be taken into actions. +That is what OR is all about. It is a group of like minded people not +waiting around for the revolution. + L:The good thing about OR is that it sparks off other peoples imaginations +when they see us doing simple and efffective street theatre. We don't have +to have a lot of props, we don't have to spend a lot of time and money +putting energy into it and it is a really effective way of getting messages +across and also it encourages other people to do the same thing, acting up +in new ways. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001098.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001098.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e106d4f1 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001098.txt @@ -0,0 +1,211 @@ +LOUISE MICHELE * by Flick Ruby + +Revolution; beloved mother who devours us +Giving equality, take our broken destinies +And make of them a dawning. Make liberty +Fly above our cherished dead. When the bells +of ominous May ring out again, wake us +To your luminescent clarity. + Louise Michele Feb 1882 + +"The revolution is terrifying, but its purpose is to win happiness for +humanity. It has intrepid combatants, pitiless fighters, and it needs +them. The Revolution is pulling humanity from an ocean of mud and blood, +and ocean in which thousands of unknown persons serve as feasts for a few +sharks, and if the revolution has to cause pain to achieve its victory, it +is necessary. To pull a drowning person from the water, you do not choose +whether you are pulling them by the hair or in some way they find more +comfortable." Louise Michele, Memoirs + +As usual it is largely by accident, or by word of mouth that feminists +discover their heroines, barely mentioned in "real" political circles, +never mentioned in texts, they remain forgotten and their contribution to +events in history dies with them, leaving us without record of our +heritage, without inspiration and with the sensation of reinventing the +wheel. Feminists have spent a lot of time rewriting and rediscovering the +women that his-story has insulted, defiled and ommitted. George Sand a +screaming French feminst with some dubious ideas however she was prolific +fictional writer on the subject of women and was more popoular than Dickens +in her day, but as ever we study Hard Times at Bleak House in Two Cities. +Alexandra Kollontai, the only women involved in Lenin's cabinet who had the +radical feminist content of her writings edited out and was practically +exiled as embassador to Norway for the expression of her sexuality, is +unheard of and unread by the host of fucking macho gender blind socialists, +continuting in the great tradition of bumbling that she sought to address. +Along with the Spanish women during the 1936 revolution, there are many +French women who did absolutely nothing at all of any importance throughout +their incredibly rich history. + +Louise Michele was a brilliant inspiring and notorious French anarchist +feminist, very involved with the Paris Commune of 1871, for which she was +sent to New Caledonia where she participated in the Kanak uprising of 1878. +During the Commune she was on the Committee of Vigilance, was secretary of +Improvement of Working Women through their Work and on the central committe +of the Union of Women. She wrote boldly and prolifically on the subject of +women and revolution but she was by no stretch of the imagination an +academic theorist although she was a qualified teacher. She said "The +privilege of knowledge is worse than the privilege of wealth" also "prose +and verse and music disappeared because we felt so near the drama coming +from the street, the true drama, the drama of humanity". "Knowledge makes +you think; it is a bar to action, for it prevents you from surrendering +yourself gladly to the unknown." + +'The first thing we must change is the relations between the sexes....I +admit that man, too, suffers in this accursed society, but no sadness can +compare to a woman's. In the street she is merchandise. In the convents, +where she hides as if in a tomb, ignorance binds her, and rules take up in +their machine like gears and pulverise her heart and brain. In the world +she bends under mortification. In her home, her burdens crush her. And +men want to keep her that way. They do not want her to encroach upon +either their funcion or their titles." She noted this tendency also in the +movement; 'At the meetings of the Rights of Women group, and at other +meetings the most advanced men applauded the idea of equality. I noticed - +I had seen it before, and I saw it later - that men, their declartations +notwithstanding, although they appeared to help us, were always content +with just the appearance... convinved me that we women must simply take +our place without begging for it.' ' I salute all those brave women of the +vanguard who were drawn from group to group; The Committee of Vigilance, +the society for the Victims of the War, and later the League of Women. The +old world ought to fear the day when those women finally decide they have +had enough. Those women will not slack off. Strength finds refuge in +them. Beware of them...Beware of the women when they are sickened by all +that is around them and rise up against the old world. On that day a new +world will begin.' + + Her emphasis and experience was the spontaneous uprising which kept her +from, like other anarchist demanding the use of terror; "Tyrannicide is +practical only when a tryanny has a single head, or at most a small number +of heads. When it is a hydra, only a Revolution can kill it." She did +contemplate the assasination of certain men and was involved in the +attempted blowing up of a statue as well as the fighting behind baracades +during the commune. In one of her trials which are testiment to her humour +and courage she admits to publically approving of assasinations to spur on +revolutionary zeal. She refuses to defend herself in the trials she is +involved in, accepting responsibilty for all her actions which she boldly +admitted, proudly discussing the goals of social revolution and her +motivations. To capture her after the fall of the Commune the authorities +imprisoned her mother until she came out and faced trial. 'Since it seems +that any heart which beats for liberty has the right only to a small lum of +lead, I demand my share..If you are not cowards, kill me.' She even wrote +while on remand to the trials authority, General Appert "If you don't want +to go through the legal formalities, you already know enough about me to +shoot me. I'm ready and the plain of Satory is nearby. You and all you +accomplices know very well that if I get out of here alive I will avange +the martyrs. Long live the Commune!" Transcrpits of her trials appear in +her memoirs The Red Virgin published by University of Alabama Press +available through Jura Books. + + The Commune which lasted from March to May 1871 was voted in by 300,000 +French citizens, 35,000 of whom were slaughtered defending it and by June +1872 the "justice" system had processed another 32,905 persons for +participating, and Louise notices that they didn't sentence the boldest +women to death to save face. The Commune had been declared on October 31, +1870 at the Hotel de Ville with the word commune being hushed up by the +authorties in their reporting of the rising movement. For five months +before the commune Paris was under siege by the German army and Kropotkin +states that this meant citizens "had to draw upon their own vital +resources, and moral strength which they possessed", after realising the +incompetence of governments and the complicity of the governments in +increasing their chains of bondage. This encouraged the start of a new +idea which did not originate from one brain, a theory, but of the springing +of the heart of the whole community into action. "It was made by the people +themselves, it sprang spontaneousely from the midst of the mass, and it was +the idea of social revolution, vague certainly, perhaps unconscious, but +still the effort to obtain at last, after the struggle of many centuries, +true freedom, true equality for all." The commune came at a time of +political transition, the split in the International WorkingMENS Associaion +between the idea of the popular state and anarchy was rife and again +Kropotkin states 'the anarchist theory did need some short clear mode of +expresson, some formula at once simple and practical, to show plainly its +point of departure, and embody its conception,s to indicate how it was +supported by an actually existing tendency among the people.' The Paris +Commune's popular character began a new series of revolutions and a whole +new element for contemplation. + +The Paris Commune declared education free, abolished consription, abolished +the need and the proffitteer of prostitution, fixed the salaries of all +judicial and associated justice workers, freed all the prisoners on the +18th of March, suspended the payment of all rents for 6 months, destroyed +"monuments of barbarism, symbols of brute force and false glory, +affirmations of militarism, all negations of international right", +abolished professional and political oaths, severed any possible connection +to the church and converted all church property into national property, +excluded all religious symbols dogmas and prayers from schools, the +guillotine was publically burnt, factories were converted into co-opeative +societies, abolished night work, closed pawn shops, ordered the razing of +the Chapel of attonement built in expiation of the execution of Louis XVI. +The Commune did not execute one hostage, not one prisoner, not even spies - +they were simply arrested. + +Marx, in his address to the International WorkingMENS Association two days +after the fall of the commune (May 30th), also in The Civil War in France +gives us details celebrating its success under incredibly difficult +circumstances. He tells of the carnage committed against the communards +and also provides the exasperated anarchist with such beaudies as "...it +was a revolution against the State itself, of this supernaturalist abortion +of society, a resumption by the people, for the people of its own social +life. It was not a revolution to transfer it from one fraction of the +ruling class to the other, but a revolution to break down this horrid +machinery of class domination itself.....All revolutions thus only +perfected the State machinery instead of throwing off this deadening +incubus..the state, the centrelized and organized governmental power +usurping to be the master instead of the servant of society...All France +would be organized into self-working and self-governing Communes, the +standing army replaced by popular militias, the army of State parasites +removed, the clerical heirarchy displaced b ythe schoolmaster, the State +judge transformed into Communal organs, the suffrage for the national +representation not a matter of sleight of hand for an all-powerful +government but the deliberate expression of organized Communes, the State +functions reduced to a few function for general national purposes." + +At the time Louise Michele wrote 'Perhaps it would be better for the people +if all of us who lead the fight now should fall in battle, so that after +the victory there will be no more general staffs. Then the people could +understand that when everyone together shares power, then power is just and +splendid; but unshared it drives some people mad.' 'Who will record the +crimes that power commits, and the mostrous manner in which power +transforms men? Those crimes can be ended forever by spreading power out +to the entire human race. To spread the feeling of the homeland to the +entire world, to extend well being to all people..' In her memoirs she +states that the origins of her revolt was the tortures inflincted upon +animals. She longed for the animals revenge as she noted that 'the more +ferocious a man is toward animals, the more that man cringes before the +people who dominate him'. Her ideas of freedom therefore extend to all +beings. + +After returning from New Caledonia, from which she had attempted escape a +couple of times, she returns to Paris to a new political scene altogether. +She said 'Now people are enchained through having been made to believe that +they are free' under the self proclaimed republic. She resumed her +political activities almost at once after being greeted by thousands of +people. She embarked on a speaking tour through France, Belgium and +England. After her involvement in a demonstration which entailed her +carrying the black flag across Paris, she was sentenced to 6 years of +solitary confinement. She was pardoned after her mothers funeral which was +unbelievably huge, uniting many revolutionary groups. Her work tirelessly +continues until her death in 1905, travelling around raising funds and +addressing revolutionary groups. She is arrested a number of times and is +threatened with the asylum which was one of her only fears, so she fled to +England. + +"When we are crushed, it only removes the last obstacle to our being useful +in the revolutionary struggle. When we are beaten down, we become free. +When we are no longer suffering becuase of what happens to us , we are +invincable." "When the hour comes, which ferocious and stupid governments +are pushing forward, it will not be a boulevard that quivers under the +steps of a crowd. It will be the entire earth trembling under the March of +the Human race. In the meantime, the wider the river of blood flowing from +the scaffold where our people are being assasinated, the more crowded the +prisons, the greater the poverty, the more tyranical the governments, the +more quickly the hour will come and the more numerous the combatants will +be. How many wrathful people, young people, will be with us when the red +and black banners wave in the wind of anger.." + +"When the revolution comes, you and I and all humanity will be transformed. +Everything will be changed and better times will have joys that the people +of today arn't able to understand. Feeling for the arts and for liberty +will surely beocme greater, and the harvest of that development will be +marvellous. Beyond this cursed time will come a day when humanity, free +and consicous of its powers will no longer torture either man or beast. The +hope is worth all the suffering we undergo as we more through the horrors +of life." diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001099.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001099.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f4514c6f --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001099.txt @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +GOOD MORNING JAMES BOND * by Flick Ruby + +The body tenses, freezes and looks up, +Something buzzes in the distance, +chopping the concentration, +interrupting the moment, +piercing the angle that intersects with the pitch unbearable, +like a mosquito in the night. +The desire to slap one's own face, +crosses the mind, +as it crosses the sky, +to break the vibration of my soul. +The message is fear, 'We're up here again'. +Are there really that many escapees in Melbourne? +Does somebody with they were back in Vietnam? +How many people visit there again +at the sound of surveillance? +How many hungry people look up +watching a four thousand dollar morning scream by? +Is there an instrument to record the wave +that moves the seed closer to the surface? +"We can see you, we interrupt your day, +your contemplation of the universe +to tell you... +We're in it." diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001100.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001100.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..900b74cf --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001100.txt @@ -0,0 +1,82 @@ +MARY MAG * by Flick Ruby + +I stood in a hall of judgment, where men were being tried for their crimes +against women. I was dressed in scarlet, and so were all the women in the +hall. All of them were judges, and all of them were advocates, and so took +turns to read out the charges and to plead for the prosecution and the +defence. A single male figure, representing the whole of mankind, stood +slumped in the dock, his face hidden in his hands. Well might he feel +ashamed and terrified for his sex, for the litany of crimes was long, and +terrible, and the chanted indictments repeated certain words over and over +again. + +-You have raped us, countless times. You have raped strangers, in +peacetime and in war, to establish conquest of a territory whose nature you +fear, to continue your separation from the woman in yourself whom you have +lost and whom you hate. You have denied these rapes, saying that we have +deserved punishment, or you have called them acts of desire, saying that we +invited them. + +-You have raped your daughters inside their homes, and you have established +a taboo forbidding them to speak of it, and when they have spoken of it you +have reviled them and called them liars, or you have blamed their mothers. +You have established a dominion over their bodies, calling it Father-right, +and when they have escaped from you, you have called them whores who will +be raped by the men outside in the street. + +-You have raped your wives, and you have denied that there can be any such +crime as rape in marriage. Does not the woman's body belong to her +husband, and does not he have the right of access at all times? You call +this love, and you call us willing. + +-You have sold us in the marketplace as slaves and concubines, to be used +and discarded at your whim. You have defiled our image, creating false +idols of us as your naked playthings, your dolls. You have stripped us of +our clothes in public and humiliated us, and you have denied us our own +desire. + +- You have denied us souls. You call us brood mares and dangerous animals, +so much do you fear nature and seek to control it. + +-You have denied us independence and the right to choose our own lives. +You have seperated us from each other, and when we have broken free into +loving each other you have mocked and punished us. + + + + +- You have denied us an education that includes our history. You have +written all the official and learned books, and you have barred us from +your scheme of knowledge, at the same time insisting that you have done no +such thing. + +-You have lied to us over and over again. Your fear of difference, of the +dangerous Other you have invented, is so great that you mutilate us to fit +us to your pattern. You mutilate our bodies and cut out the part of us +which reminds you of yourself, or you mutilate our spirits, cutting out our +desire and our intelligence because you think those things are male. You +have taught our mothers to do this to us, as you have taught us to do this +to our daughters. + +- You have punished us when we have tried to rise. You have scorned us, or +imprisoned us, or removed our means of livelihood, or stolen our children. +You have called us evil and foolish and dangerous, and you have warned us +against each other. You have burned us, or called us possessed, and you +have tried to stamp out our power, our love, our life. + +-You have raped us. +-You have denied us. +-You have created God in your image alone, and you have spoken in the name +of God to name us Babylon, the harlot city who must be trampled and +overthrown. You have named us the false bride who betrays the commands of +God and who must be scourged and brought low in the dust. You have named +us the scarlet women who have blocked mens passage to salvation. +-You have raped us. +-You have denied us. + +-We are the scarlet women, oh Man, of your deepest nightmares, and we have +risen at last, and we shall oversee your downfdall, for this is the last +reckoning, and this is the judgement place. +-Can you understand now what you are capable of? Can you lean now? + From Michele Robert's, The Wild Girl, the gospel according to + Mary Magdalen diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001101.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001101.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..aeeb0635 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001101.txt @@ -0,0 +1,167 @@ +************ Class Struggle ************* + from Workers Solidarity No 31 + +WHY IS THE concept of class so important to +anarchists? Why are we constantly talking about +classes and class struggle? Some of our opponents +accuse us of living in the past, they claim the +working class is dying out. After all you don't see +too many workers wandering around in donkey +jackets, cloth caps and heavy boots. So that settles +the question, doesn't it? No, it doesn't, so let us get +away from silly caricatures and get down to +basics. + +The modern world, like the societies that preceded it, +does not consist of a single group of people who have +more in common than they have dividing them. Sadly +there is no single 'humanity', not yet. In every country +there is still a division of people into classes which have +conflicting interests. + +Classes are defined by their relationship to the means of +production; their relationship to the factories, machinery, +natural resources, etc. with which the wealth of society is +created. Although there are groups such as the self- +employed and the small farmers, the main classes are +the workers and the bosses. It is the labour of the +working class that creates the wealth. The bosses, +through their ownership and control of the means of +production, have legal ownership of this wealth and +decide how it is to be distributed. + +STOLEN WAGES + +Only a part of this wealth is returned. Some is paid as +wages, some as the "social wage" (hospitals, schools, +public services, and so on). The rest is creamed off as +profit. But labour creates all wealth. An apple on a +tree is worth nothing until someone picks it, coal in the +ground has no use until someone mines it. What is +known as surplus value or profit is stolen wages. + +The working class is the majority in Ireland today. All +who work for a wage, salary or commission are in its +ranks. It consists of all who have to sell their ability to +work to those in control. It makes no difference if you +work in a factory, office, school, hospital or shop. It +makes no difference if you work with your hands or your +brain, whether you wear overalls or a suit, whether you +earn 'good' or bad wages. + +WHAT ABOUT THE UNEMPLOYED? + +The unemployed also form part of the working class. +Social welfare payments are made to those who have +worked and those who may potentially provide some +employer with their labour power. It is a condition of +payment that a claimant is "available for and actively +seeking work". Needless to say, the partners and +children of workers are also part of the same class, as +are the retired. + +The interests of the working class (wages, working +conditions, jobs, useful public spending, etc.) are in +constant and inevitable conflict with those of the boss +class. They seek to maximise their profits and gain an +advantage over their competitors at the expense of the +workers. + +NONSENSE + +Anyone who talks about 'social partnership', about +labour and capital working together for the benefit of all +is talking nonsense. What rights we have and gains we +have made have been the result of long and often bitter +struggles. The bosses only give such rights and +concessions as they are forced to. In times of recession, +such as now, they try to make workers pay through job +losses, cuts in real wages, cuts in public spending, +productivity deals, etc. for the crisis that is a periodic and +inevitable product of capitalism. + +Although capitalism oppresses people on many different +levels, race and sex to name but two; it is the +exploitation of our labour that is fundamental to the +system. It is on this front that the fight for a new society +will be won or lost. If we can reclaim that aspect of our +lives, the system can be overturned and replaced with +something much better. + +TAKING OVER + +The working class are brought together in large towns +and cities. At work we co-operate with others. Each +person has to do their bit so that the person at the next +stage of production can do theirs. In the services it is the +same; in hospitals, schools and offices. This means that +the working class can be a force capable, not only of +rebelling against injustice but of taking over and +recreating society in its' own interests. + +As a class we have to think and act collectively. In a +strike you need the support of your workmates and of the +workers in supplier firms. Individual action won't get +you very far. We have to co-operate. The same applies +to the mammoth task of creating a new society. We +cannot divide up an office or factory between all the +workers there. We act as a group or not at all. This +collective nature that is part and parcel of our class +provides the basis for the solidarity and mutual aid we +will need to scrap the old order and build a truly free and +egalitarian society. + +POTENTIAL FOR CHANGE + +However just because someone is a worker it does not +always follow that he or she will think of themself as a +worker, or realise the potential for change that the +working class collectively possesses. We all know of +workers who sometimes identify with their boss, or +unemployed people who become demoralised and totally +isolated from any sense of belonging to the working class. +And there are plenty of ignorant academics running +around talking rubbish about a new 'sub class' and a +'natural conflict' between those with jobs and those +without. + +Class consciousness, an awareness of our common +interests and the potential we have for real change, +needs to be encouraged and strengthened. This is one of +the tasks of an anarchist organisation. + +The struggle between the classes will only come to an +end when the boss class and the state which protects +their privileged position are overthrown. Nationalisation +or state control of the means of production would not +mean an end to class society. It would simply mean the +replacement of individual capitalists by a bureaucratic +state capitalism. Like their predecessors they would be +in control and would have the final say about what +happens to the wealth we create. Whether they like it or +not this would be the logical outcome of the statist +politics of the Workers Party, Sinn Fein and the Labour +Left. + +THE WAY TO FREEDOM + +Only the direct control and management of production by +the working class themselves can end the class division. +A classless society is not possible without this. + +Everyone affected by a decision should have a say in +making that decision. Production in an anarchist society +would be managed by an elected workers' council in each +workplace. Planning on a higher level would be subject +to the agreement of delegates from the councils, delegates +who would be subject to a mandate from their members +and instantly recallable if they don't do the job they were +elected to do. In such a society the wealth would be +created and managed for the benefit of all. There would +be no elite of bosses or rulers. This is the vital +precondition for real freedom. + +Alan MacSimin + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001102.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001102.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..df7eb0b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001102.txt @@ -0,0 +1,867 @@ +2 articles +2nd is 'When the unemployed elected their own TD' + +********** Why Anarchists don't vote in Elections ********* + from Workers Solidarity No 32 + +IT'S LOCAL ELECTION time and as usual +politicians of all parties will be promising us +wonderful things. It's probable that this election +will also show an increased vote for the Labour +Party. Yet it is fair enough to ask "what difference +will it make". + +We are used to being promised the sun, moon and stars +in elections only to receive cuts, cuts and cuts. Is this +just because all politicians are liars or are there deeper +reasons? Abstention from elections has been an +anarchist tactic from the time of Bakunin. In this article +we look at some of the reasons anarchists advocate +abstention/spoilt votes. + +The right to the vote was part of the hard won struggles +of workers (and suffragettes!) over the last couple of +hundred years. Obviously it is preferable to live in a +parliamentary democracy rather than a dictatorship. +Even the most flawed democracies are forced to concede +rights that dictatorships do not, such as relative +independence for trade unions, the right to limited +demonstrations, a certain amount of free speech, etc. + +However it is clear that none of these are absolutes, as +anti-trade union legislation, Section 31 and the refusal +to allow nationalist marches into Belfast city centre +adequately demonstrate. The amount of freedom is set +by how much the bosses need to give to keep the system +flowing, plus the amount that is forced from them +through the struggle of workers. + +The real purpose of parliament is not to ensure the +country is run according to the wishes of all the people, +cherishing all their views equally. Parliament instead +provides a democratic facade beyond which the real +business of managing capitalism goes on. + +The Goodman affair and the bailing out of Insurance +Corporation of Ireland a few years back demonstrate +how the real decisions are made in the boardrooms of +the large industrial concerns. In the unlikely event of a +government being elected which goes "too far" in the eyes +of the bosses they are quick to use any means necessary +to remove it. + +BEHIND THE FACADE + +The best known example of this is perhaps the removal +of the democratically elected Allende government in Chile +in 1972. They had attempted to bring in a limited +package of reforms and nationalise some of the larger +American industries. The result was a military coup +backed by the CIA. + +The workers in Chile were politically disarmed by their +reliance on a small group of elected deputies to liberate +them. There was little organised resistance to the +military and in the immediate aftermath over 30,000 +militants were executed and 1,000,000 fled into exile. + +In practise however capitalism seldom finds need for +such methods, their complete control of the media and +the reliance of the political parties on big business for +funds is enough of a check. Organisations like the Irish +and British Labour Parties spend most of their time +trying to prove they can manage capitalism just as well +as the Tories or Fianna Fil. + +They argue their policies are a way of avoiding strikes +and any other form of class strife. They say their politics +of class collaboration are more efficient to capitalism +then a hard headed class strife approach of lock-outs +and union busting. + +To the bosses this is often a good argument, sometimes +it is worth handing out a few crumbs in return for +industrial peace. At other times when a serious crisis +necessitates a driving down of wages or living standards +they can always either force this government to +implement the cuts, precipitate a general election or - in +extreme cases - turn to a police states. + +P.E.S.P. LOGIC + +This sort of logic has nothing to do with socialism. +Indeed the current Fianna Fil/PD government has been +successfully pursuing the same logic through the +Programme for Economic and Social Progress and before +that the PNR. These deals mean the union bureaucrats +actively stopping and sabotaging strikes in return for +pay increases below the rate of inflation. So in a +comparative 'boom' period of the Irish economy when +company profits doubled Irish workers made real losses +with regards to wages and employment and lost ground +as regards the social wage (health care, education, etc). + +The Labour and Workers Parties may have objected to +parts of the PESP but they supported the idea of 'social +partnership' as it is part of their strategy for government +as well. + +There are times of course when more radical reformist +governments are elected (in other countries if not as yet +in Ireland). These included Spain in 1936 and the post +war British Labour government. The function of these +governments however was to lead the working class +away from the road to social revolution, to suggest the +same gains could be made through parliament. + +When put to the test however in the Spanish case by the +fascist coup the government preferred negotiation with +the fascists to arming the working class. In Spain the +initial resistance to fascism was carried out by the +militant workers of the anarchist C.N.T. who seized +arms or attacked fascist barracks with dynamite and +shotguns. + +A similar example is seen throughout Europe in the +immediate aftermath of the Russian revolution as the +reformists in one country after another stood on the +basis that electing them would prevent revolution. Vote +for us and save capitalism. Unfortunately at such times +such parties often gain mass support, this is why it is +vital anarchists take up the arguments around +reformism rather than assuming such ideas will just +fade away with the revolution. + +GOOD LEADERS? + +These arguments are common to most revolutionary +socialists, but anarchists have another and more +fundamental reason for opposing the parliamentary +process. This process involves the mass of the working +class relying on a few representatives to enter +parliament and do battle on their behalf. Their sole +involvement is one of voting every few years and perhaps +canvassing and supporting the party through paper +sales or whatever. A reliance on a physical leader or +leaders from Neil Kinnock to Mary Robinson to sort out +the situation for us. + +Anarchists do not belive any real socialist / anarchist +society can come about through the good actions of a few +individuals. From the beginnings of the anarchist +movement around the International Working Mens' (sic) +Association (better known as the 'First International') +over a century ago, we have argued that the liberation of +the working class can only be achieved through the +action of the working class. + +At the time this argument was with the Marxists, now +with the collapse of many major Marxist parties in the +wake of the collapse of Eastern Europe it is mainly with +reformists. The process of bringing about an anarchist +society will either be carried through by the mass of the +workers or it will not happen. + +This idea is obviously the complete opposite to the +parliamentary idea. We do not seek a few leaders, good, +bad or indifferent to sort out the mess that is +capitalism. Indeed we argue constantly against any +ideas that make it seem such elites are necessary. + +Parliamentary politics relies on voting for people because +they are going to do the job (or some of it) for you. Even +the best intentioned individual on receiving a position of +power finds a divergence of interests with those she/he +represents. This is as much true of revolutionaries and +union bureaucrats as it is of ministers and prime +ministers. + +MAKING THE ARGUMENTS + +This brings us to the question of how should anarchists +tackle the parliamentary system. How do we convince +everyone not to vote? Perhaps we should put all our +energy into anti-election campaigns. + +In fact this is not seen as a major activity by most +anarchists at all. Our aim is not to have elections where +only 10% vote, for such a thing would be meaningless in +itself. In the U.S.A. only about 30% vote in most +elections and it is possible that up to 50% of the +population is not even registered to vote. Only a fool +however would claim this meant the U.S. was more +anarchist then Ireland. If that 10% or 30% is still +electing the government it might as well be 99%. + +Our aim is to change society by winning the working +class to the ideas and tactics of anarchism. This will +involve the overthrow of the economic system +(capitalism) we live under and its replacement with +socialism under workers' self-management. Not voting +may just be a sign of despair ("What's the point"), we +want workers actively struggling for the alternative. + +Our anti-electoralism is designed to say two things. +Firstly that parliament is not the real seat of power in +society. Secondly that the task of bringing in anarchism +is for the working class, not some small group of TD's. + +We will gain support for anarchist ideas not just through +abstract propaganda but also by our involvement as +anarchists in workers' struggles and demonstrating +how anarchism provides the best tools for winning day +to day reforms. + +REFORMIST WORKERS + +Most of the active militants in the working class support +reformist parties, this is an obvious fact. This has led +many revolutionary groups to adopt slogans at election +times telling workers to "vote Labour with no illusions" +or "vote Labour but build a socialist alternative". We +don't. + +The problems with both these slogans are they still +reflect the idea that change should be brought about be +the small elites. They are normally defended by saying +this is putting the reformist parties to the test so that +they can be exposed to their supporters. This is a +nonsense, as a brief look at any of the Irish left reformist +organisations shows. + +The reformist organisations have failed the 'test' on +dozens of occasions. Workers vote for these +organisations not because they believe they will +introduce socialism but because they are seen to offer +the best of the bad deal that is capitalism. + +This is also presented as an argument for voting for the +reformist parties. Is it not ultra-left to refuse to support +these parties while they may be slightly better than +Fianna Fail or Fine Gael? Two answers exist to this. + +The first is that as the real decision making takes place +in industry and not in parliament these organisations +even in majority government can only do what +capitalism allows them. Their only argument is to +organise capitalism more "humanly". We want to +smash capitalism, not give it a human face. The sight of +a "socialist government" implementing cuts and +breaking strikes damages the credibility of socialism in +the eyes of workers, as did the existence of the "socialist" +police states of eastern Europe. + +Secondly, it is a question of energy. The sort of effort +that is spent supporting (critically or otherwise) +reformist organisation is energy taken away from the +struggles for improved working conditions, better wages +etc. Elections do not take place in a vacuum in which +nothing else takes place in society for a number of +months. + +A strike or demonstration of thousands of workers has +more chance of effecting real change then 20 Labour or +Workers party TD's. In times of mass unrest energy +pumped into reformist parties will be energy used to +undermine the revolution. As so many Chilean socialists +found, revolutionaries supporting such organisations are +likely to find the are literally digging their own grave. + +EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE + +There are occasions where anarchists might support +individuals standing in elections. This is when such +people stand on a single issue and abstensionist basis. +At times this may be an effective way of showing mass +support for something when faced with a massive hype +against it from the capitalist press. Other forms of +demonstrating support may be difficult due to large +scale intimidation, victimisation of activists, etc. + +One example of such an occasion in the Irish context was +the H-Block hunger strikes of 1981 for political status. +The election of Bobby Sands as MP for +Fermanagh/South Tyrone and the election of two more +H-Block prisoners as TD's south of the border +demonstrated a mass support for the hunger strikers. It +undermined government and press claims that they had +the support of only a tiny minority. + +Such support must be on the basis of giving workers the +confidence to openly come out and demonstrate, strike, +etc. It is a tactic towards such mobilisations not an end +in itself. + +Problems exist with this, commonly the individual +elected may take up her/his seat despite pre-election +promises of abstention if elected. Even in the hunger +strike case where those on hunger strikes could not take +up their seats the danger of such tactics is obvious. The +vote was seen by Sinn Fein as proof that a turn towards +electoral politics was the correct direction for anti- +imperialism to take. + +The potential of a mass campaign at the time of the +hunger strikes based on strikes North and South of the +border was thus lost. The decision to support a single +issue candidate would have to involve hard arguments +on the subsequent direction of the campaign and could +not be taken lightly. + +Another instance where anarchists would not urge a +abstention from the bosses electoral process is in the +case of referendums. The WSM was involved (and +indeed still is) in the Divorce Action Group. Despite the +severe limitations of the 1986 referendum we still +canvassed for a YES vote. + +In the 1983 anti-abortion referendum anarchists +advocated a NO vote. Of course we don't accept the +conclusions of either referendum as final. We still fight +for the right to divorce and a woman's right to control her +fertility up to and including free, safe abortion on +demand. Such things are democratic rights in +themselves, something no majority should have a veto +over. + +What do we say to people in the reformist parties? They +can not (and should not) be ignored. We say look at the +record of your party in government or to the Workers +Party when you supported the 1981 minority Fianna +Fail government. + +Look at what your party stands for. Look at the record +of your party in the trade union bureaucracy. Look at +the historical role reformist parties have played in other +countries. Reformism has had it's test and failed one +hundred times. Leave it, find out more about +anarchism and join the fight for working class self- +emancipation. + +Andrew Flood + +Andrew Flood +Conor McLoughlin +Andrew Blackmore +Alan MacSimin +Joe Black +Joe King +Aileen O'Carroll + + + +IT'S LOCAL ELECTION time and as usual politicians +of all parties will be promising us wonderful things. +It's probable that this election will also show an +increased vote for the Labour Party. Yet it is fair +enough to ask "what difference will it make". + +We are used to being promised the sun, moon and stars in +elections only to receive cuts, cuts and cuts. Is this just +because all politicians are liars or are there deeper reasons? +Abstention from elections has been an anarchist tactic from +the time of Bakunin. In this article we look at some of the +reasons anarchists advocate abstention/spoilt votes. + +The right to the vote was part of the hard won struggles of +workers (and suffragettes!) over the last couple of hundred +years. Obviously it is preferable to live in a parliamentary +democracy rather than a dictatorship. Even the most +flawed democracies are forced to concede rights that +dictatorships do not, such as relative independence for +trade unions, the right to limited demonstrations, a certain +amount of free speech, etc. + +However it is clear that none of these are absolutes, as +anti-trade union legislation, Section 31 and the refusal to +allow nationalist marches into Belfast city centre +adequately demonstrate. The amount of freedom is set by +how much the bosses need to give to keep the system +flowing, plus the amount that is forced from them through +the struggle of workers. + +The real purpose of parliament is not to ensure the country +is run according to the wishes of all the people, cherishing +all their views equally. Parliament instead provides a +democratic facade beyond which the real business of +managing capitalism goes on. + +The Goodman affair and the bailing out of Insurance +Corporation of Ireland a few years back demonstrate how +the real decisions are made in the boardrooms of the large +industrial concerns. In the unlikely event of a government +being elected which goes "too far" in the eyes of the bosses +they are quick to use any means necessary to remove it. + +BEHIND THE FACADE + +The best known example of this is perhaps the removal of +the democratically elected Allende government in Chile in +1972. They had attempted to bring in a limited package of +reforms and nationalise some of the larger American +industries. The result was a military coup backed by the +CIA. + +The workers in Chile were politically disarmed by their +reliance on a small group of elected deputies to liberate +them. There was little organised resistance to the military +and in the immediate aftermath over 30,000 militants were +executed and 1,000,000 fled into exile. + +In practise however capitalism seldom finds need for such +methods, their complete control of the media and the +reliance of the political parties on big business for funds is +enough of a check. Organisations like the Irish and British +Labour Parties spend most of their time trying to prove +they can manage capitalism just as well as the Tories or +Fianna Fil. + +They argue their policies are a way of avoiding strikes and +any other form of class strife. They say their politics of +class collaboration are more efficient to capitalism then a +hard headed class strife approach of lock-outs and union +busting. + +To the bosses this is often a good argument, sometimes it is +worth handing out a few crumbs in return for industrial +peace. At other times when a serious crisis necessitates a +driving down of wages or living standards they can always +either force this government to implement the cuts, +precipitate a general election or - in extreme cases - turn +to a police states. + +P.E.S.P. LOGIC + +This sort of logic has nothing to do with socialism. Indeed +the current Fianna Fil/PD government has been +successfully pursuing the same logic through the +Programme for Economic and Social Progress and before +that the PNR. These deals mean the union bureaucrats +actively stopping and sabotaging strikes in return for pay +increases below the rate of inflation. So in a comparative +'boom' period of the Irish economy when company profits +doubled Irish workers made real losses with regards to +wages and employment and lost ground as regards the social +wage (health care, education, etc). + +The Labour and Workers Parties may have objected to parts +of the PESP but they supported the idea of 'social +partnership' as it is part of their strategy for government as +well. + +There are times of course when more radical reformist +governments are elected (in other countries if not as yet in +Ireland). These included Spain in 1936 and the post war +British Labour government. The function of these +governments however was to lead the working class away +from the road to social revolution, to suggest the same +gains could be made through parliament. + +When put to the test however in the Spanish case by the +fascist coup the government preferred negotiation with the +fascists to arming the working class. In Spain the initial +resistance to fascism was carried out by the militant workers +of the anarchist C.N.T. who seized arms or attacked fascist +barracks with dynamite and shotguns. + +A similar example is seen throughout Europe in the +immediate aftermath of the Russian revolution as the +reformists in one country after another stood on the basis +that electing them would prevent revolution. Vote for us +and save capitalism. Unfortunately at such times such +parties often gain mass support, this is why it is vital +anarchists take up the arguments around reformism rather +than assuming such ideas will just fade away with the +revolution. + +GOOD LEADERS? + +These arguments are common to most revolutionary +socialists, but anarchists have another and more +fundamental reason for opposing the parliamentary process. +This process involves the mass of the working class relying +on a few representatives to enter parliament and do battle +on their behalf. Their sole involvement is one of voting +every few years and perhaps canvassing and supporting the +party through paper sales or whatever. A reliance on a +physical leader or leaders from Neil Kinnock to Mary +Robinson to sort out the situation for us. + +Anarchists do not belive any real socialist / anarchist +society can come about through the good actions of a few +individuals. From the beginnings of the anarchist +movement around the International Working Mens' (sic) +Association (better known as the 'First International') over +a century ago, we have argued that the liberation of the +working class can only be achieved through the action of +the working class. + +At the time this argument was with the Marxists, now with +the collapse of many major Marxist parties in the wake of +the collapse of Eastern Europe it is mainly with reformists. +The process of bringing about an anarchist society will +either be carried through by the mass of the workers or it +will not happen. + +This idea is obviously the complete opposite to the +parliamentary idea. We do not seek a few leaders, good, bad +or indifferent to sort out the mess that is capitalism. +Indeed we argue constantly against any ideas that make it +seem such elites are necessary. + +Parliamentary politics relies on voting for people because +they are going to do the job (or some of it) for you. Even +the best intentioned individual on receiving a position of +power finds a divergence of interests with those she/he +represents. This is as much true of revolutionaries and +union bureaucrats as it is of ministers and prime ministers. + +MAKING THE ARGUMENTS + +This brings us to the question of how should anarchists +tackle the parliamentary system. How do we convince +everyone not to vote? Perhaps we should put all our +energy into anti-election campaigns. + +In fact this is not seen as a major activity by most +anarchists at all. Our aim is not to have elections where +only 10% vote, for such a thing would be meaningless in +itself. In the U.S.A. only about 30% vote in most elections +and it is possible that up to 50% of the population is not +even registered to vote. Only a fool however would claim +this meant the U.S. was more anarchist then Ireland. If +that 10% or 30% is still electing the government it might as +well be 99%. + +Our aim is to change society by winning the working class +to the ideas and tactics of anarchism. This will involve the +overthrow of the economic system (capitalism) we live under +and its replacement with socialism under workers' self- +management. Not voting may just be a sign of despair +("What's the point"), we want workers actively struggling +for the alternative. + +Our anti-electoralism is designed to say two things. Firstly +that parliament is not the real seat of power in society. +Secondly that the task of bringing in anarchism is for the +working class, not some small group of TD's. + +We will gain support for anarchist ideas not just through +abstract propaganda but also by our involvement as +anarchists in workers' struggles and demonstrating how +anarchism provides the best tools for winning day to day +reforms. + +REFORMIST WORKERS + +Most of the active militants in the working class support +reformist parties, this is an obvious fact. This has led many +revolutionary groups to adopt slogans at election times +telling workers to "vote Labour with no illusions" or "vote +Labour but build a socialist alternative". We don't. + +The problems with both these slogans are they still reflect +the idea that change should be brought about be the small +elites. They are normally defended by saying this is putting +the reformist parties to the test so that they can be exposed +to their supporters. This is a nonsense, as a brief look at +any of the Irish left reformist organisations shows. + +The reformist organisations have failed the 'test' on dozens +of occasions. Workers vote for these organisations not +because they believe they will introduce socialism but +because they are seen to offer the best of the bad deal that +is capitalism. + +This is also presented as an argument for voting for the +reformist parties. Is it not ultra-left to refuse to support +these parties while they may be slightly better than Fianna +Fail or Fine Gael? Two answers exist to this. + +The first is that as the real decision making takes place in +industry and not in parliament these organisations even in +majority government can only do what capitalism allows +them. Their only argument is to organise capitalism more +"humanly". We want to smash capitalism, not give it a +human face. The sight of a "socialist government" +implementing cuts and breaking strikes damages the +credibility of socialism in the eyes of workers, as did the +existence of the "socialist" police states of eastern Europe. + +Secondly, it is a question of energy. The sort of effort that +is spent supporting (critically or otherwise) reformist +organisation is energy taken away from the struggles for +improved working conditions, better wages etc. Elections +do not take place in a vacuum in which nothing else takes +place in society for a number of months. + +A strike or demonstration of thousands of workers has more +chance of effecting real change then 20 Labour or Workers +party TD's. In times of mass unrest energy pumped into +reformist parties will be energy used to undermine the +revolution. As so many Chilean socialists found, +revolutionaries supporting such organisations are likely to +find the are literally digging their own grave. + +EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE + +There are occasions where anarchists might support +individuals standing in elections. This is when such people +stand on a single issue and abstensionist basis. At times +this may be an effective way of showing mass support for +something when faced with a massive hype against it from +the capitalist press. Other forms of demonstrating support +may be difficult due to large scale intimidation, +victimisation of activists, etc. + +One example of such an occasion in the Irish context was +the H-Block hunger strikes of 1981 for political status. The +election of Bobby Sands as MP for Fermanagh/South +Tyrone and the election of two more H-Block prisoners as +TD's south of the border demonstrated a mass support for +the hunger strikers. It undermined government and press +claims that they had the support of only a tiny minority. + +Such support must be on the basis of giving workers the +confidence to openly come out and demonstrate, strike, etc. +It is a tactic towards such mobilisations not an end in itself. + +Problems exist with this, commonly the individual elected +may take up her/his seat despite pre-election promises of +abstention if elected. Even in the hunger strike case +where those on hunger strikes could not take up their seats +the danger of such tactics is obvious. The vote was seen by +Sinn Fein as proof that a turn towards electoral politics was +the correct direction for anti-imperialism to take. + +The potential of a mass campaign at the time of the hunger +strikes based on strikes North and South of the border was +thus lost. The decision to support a single issue candidate +would have to involve hard arguments on the subsequent +direction of the campaign and could not be taken lightly. + +Another instance where anarchists would not urge a +abstention from the bosses electoral process is in the case of +referendums. The WSM was involved (and indeed still is) in +the Divorce Action Group. Despite the severe limitations of +the 1986 referendum we still canvassed for a YES vote. + +In the 1983 anti-abortion referendum anarchists advocated +a NO vote. Of course we don't accept the conclusions of +either referendum as final. We still fight for the right to +divorce and a woman's right to control her fertility up to +and including free, safe abortion on demand. Such things +are democratic rights in themselves, something no majority +should have a veto over. + +What do we say to people in the reformist parties? They +can not (and should not) be ignored. We say look at the +record of your party in government or to the Workers Party +when you supported the 1981 minority Fianna Fail +government. + +Look at what your party stands for. Look at the record of +your party in the trade union bureaucracy. Look at the +historical role reformist parties have played in other +countries. Reformism has had it's test and failed one +hundred times. Leave it, find out more about anarchism +and join the fight for working class self-emancipation. + +Andrew Flood + +******* When the unemployed elected their own TD ******* + from Workers Solidarity No 33 + +A SURVEY carried out by the Connolly +Unemployed Centre at three labour exchanges +in Dublin's South Inner City during the recent +local elections showed that 90% of respondents +would vote for an unemployed party if there +was one running. Is this a way forward in the +fight for decent jobs for all who want them? It +is worth taking a look at what happened in +1957 when an unemployed candidate made it +into the Dil. + +Ireland saw a massive rise in unemployment in the +1950s, ironically at a time when the rest of the +'western world' was booming. Emigration was to be +the safety valve. However not all those out of work +were prepared to uproot themselves and take the +boat. Some stayed to fight. + +Unemployment meant poverty. A couple with two +children on Unemployment Assistance were entitled +to just 1.90 a week. This bought very little, e.g. a +pound of butter cost 21p. People often lived on little +more than bread, margarine and tea. + +The Unemployed Protest Committee was launched +on January 12th 1957 when a chair was borrowed +from a local shop and a public meeting held outside +Dublin's Werburgh Street labour exchange. A +committee of about 16 men (no women were +involved nor does it appear that any serious attempt +was made to involve them) began to meet. Among +their number were Sam Nolan (today an official of +the builders' union UCATT and a member of the +Labour Party), Johnny Mooney, Jack Murphy and +William McGuinness. + +Almost immediately McGuinness pulled out saying +that the committee was dominated by the +Communist Party (then named the Irish Workers +League) and set up a rival Catholic Unemployed +Association. With the seemingly obligatory split out +of the way the UPC got down to business. + +Use of a room was provided by the Dublin Trades +Council and a march was arranged for January +16th. About one hundred men and a solitary woman +marched through the city under a banner inscribed +with "support us in our demand for work". It was a +tame beginning. Even the Catholic grouping was +looking for a 50% increase in social welfare +payments. + +Agitation was stepped up and more joined the ranks +of the UPC. Up to this point most had looked to the +Labour TDs to fight on behalf of the unemployed. +Sam Nolan summed it up at a UPC meeting at the +end of January, "surely it was the responsibility of the +Labour leaders and deputies to work out some +organised plan. After all they were supposed to +represent the working class". + +Most members quickly saw that the Labour Party +would contribute little more than empty platitudes. +When the government fell in February after San +McBride's Clann na Poblachta withdrew their +support Jack Murphy proposed that the UPC run a +candidate in the coming general election. This was +seen as a way of putting the need for jobs onto the +political agenda. + +Two names were put forward, Nolan and Murphy. +Both were unemployed building workers. Nolan was +a leading Communist. The Communists were divided +on running him. Some, including Nolan himself, were +unwilling to allow the UPC to be seen as a front for +their party. + +Murphy was a left republican who had been interned +in the 1940s and had been a militant shop steward. +He was selected to contest the election in Dublin +South Central. The 100 deposit was raised from +unlikely sources. 25 each came from Toddy +O'Sullivan, manager of the Gresham Hotel; Fr. +Counihane, a Jesuit priest; a Fianna Fil senator +called Mooney and Mr Digby, the owner of Pye Radio. + +After a vigorous campaign Murphy gathered 3,036 +votes and was elected. His seat was gained at the +expense of the Labour Party who had run James +Connolly's son Roddy. Murphy's success was +encouraging to unemployed activists and new +organisations were set up in Waterford and Cork. + +If the unemployed thought that having one of their +own in the Dil would force the government to take +their concerns more seriously they were in for a +shock. Murphy could not even get an answer to a +question about how much unemployment relief +money would be spent in Dublin. + +There was no problem, however, in providing an +answer to Fine Gael's Belton when he asked about +the "hardship imposed on cricket clubs because of the +cost of cricket balls". + +The new Fianna Fil government's budget provided +for the ending of food subsidies. This was going to hit +the unemployed and low paid workers very hard. +The response of the trade union leaders was +pathetic. The Provisional United Trade Union +Organisation (forerunner to the ICTU) had a lot in +common with today's leaders - an overwhelming +concern for industrial peace and the bosses' profits. + +It pointed out "that the removal of food subsidies was +neither necessary nor wise. While creating terrible +hardships for the unemployed it also created a +situation where claims for higher wages would be +made with the threat of widespread instability or +industrial strife". + +Jack Murphy and two other UPC members, Tommy +Kavanagh and Jimmy Byrne, went on hunger strike. +This was not a UPC stunt, in fact they learned of the +hunger strike through the newspapers. Murphy, as +'the elected representative of the unemployed', didn't +see why he should have to consult with the +committee. + +The hunger strike lasted for four days. Each evening +several thousand turned up to protest meetings at +the corner of Abbey Street and O'Connell Street. +Over 1,000 marched to Leinster House seeking a +meeting with the Minister for Industry and +Commerce, San Lemass - who sneaked out the +back gate. + +Resolutions began to come from trades councils and +union branches calling for a one day strike. There +was now a possibility of building the sort of +campaign that could force the government to back +down. + +This possibility quickly evaporated when Murphy fell +sick and with Byrne and Kavanagh called off the +hunger strike on day four. To save face the UPC +arranged for trade union leaders to appeal for its end +in order to save lives. It was wrong to rush into a +hunger strike, and the way it was called off caused +much confusion and demoralisation among the +unemployed. + +All that followed was a few delegations to plead with +Fianna Fil TDs and a meeting between Murphy and +Catholic Archbishop McQuaid. McQuaid made it +clear he would not interfere in political decisions +(which had not stopped him dictating to the previous +government over the Mother and Child Scheme). He +further warned Murphy of the danger of associating +with Communists. + +The last big demonstration was a 2,000 strong +march from San McDermott Street to the Dil. +Jack Murphy opposed the demonstration saying it +conflicted with his Dil work. In August he broke +with the UPC and the next year he resigned his Dil +seat. + +The unemployed movement was dead. The biggest +mistake they made was getting involved in +parliamentary politics. Far from building active +support for the UPC it made its supporters passive. +Why bother marching, going to meetings and seeking +trade union action if you have a TD to 'represent' +you? The election of Murphy was seen by most as +an end in itself. + +The key to winning on issues like extra jobs, higher +payments and lower food prices is a mass, active +movement. A movement that can and will fight +alongside those in work. This is incompatible with +electing figureheads to speak for us, to argue for us, +to make decisions for us. + +Real democracy is necessary. This means those +affected by decisions having the power to make +them. It does not mean handing that power over to +a few individuals, that only makes people passive. +No boss or government feels under pressure to make +concessions to the passive. + +Joe King + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001103.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001103.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9feab7d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001103.txt @@ -0,0 +1,136 @@ +******** What about human nature? ********* + from Workers Solidarity No 33 + +A WORLD without war, famine, poverty, +racism? A world where there are no bosses +ordering us around and living off our work? A +world where competition is replaced by co- +operation and individual freedom? + +Sounds nice. Who wouldn't like to see it? But it can +never happen, it runs against human nature. How +many times have you heard that line? How many +times have you been told that people are naturally +selfish, greedy, prone to violence and short-sighted? + +We are constantly being told that there will always +be leaders and led, rulers and ruled. These ideas are +powerful because they seem to make sense. We do +live in a nasty, competitive society. + +IT WOULD BE A MIRACLE + +Capitalism is based on competition. Countries +compete, companies compete. At work you are +encouraged to compete for promotion (or to avoid +being let go), in school you compete against other +students to get the best exam results. With so +much competition around it would be miraculous if +people were not competitive. + +The question is whether this is natural? The idea +that there is some eternally flawed human nature +that we can't do much about gets lots of support +from those with a stake in the existing set-up. +Anarchists reject this as self serving nonsense +churned out by those who are doing well out of +capitalism and don't want to see it got rid of. + +WHO DOESN'T CARE? + +Despite the odds stacked against it we can find just +as many examples of caring and co-operation as we +can of selfishness and competition. Solidarity +strikes are an obvious one. We even saw workers in +Dunnes Stores go on strike for months in support of +black workers in South Africa whom they had never +even met. + +Look at any working class neighbourhood and you +will find people caring for each other. They are +organising football teams for the teenagers, summer +projects for the younger children. This doesn't make +sense if greed is part of our human nature. + +WILLIE BERMINGHAM + +Greed and selfishness don't motivate people to carry +kidney donor cards or make them want to donate +blood to the transfusion service. Greed did not +inspire the late Willie Bermingham to start up +ALONE to care for the elderly living on their own. + +Selfishness does not lead people to give money to +charities. It does not explain why nurses volunteer +to work unpaid for Concern projects in the less +developed countries. + +But, we are told, there are those better suited to +ruling, that inequality is natural and inevitable. +Before capitalism the ruling class used the +argument that God had chosen them, the 'divine +right of kings'. With capitalism came a new +justification. We are told that our bosses and rulers +owe their position to superior talent. They 'merit' +their position. + +ARE THEY BETTER +THAN YOU? + +We are told that with intelligence and hard work +anyone can make it. The other side of the coin is +that those at the bottom of society are there +because of their own laziness or because they are +not as bright as the likes of Haughey or Ben Dunne. +Are we really expected to accept that Dan Quayle is +an intellectual giant? Are we to believe that the +child of a millionaire has only the same chances as +the rest of us? + +This is crap pushed at us to stop us questioning why +the many do all the work while the few make all the +important decisions and live off the fat of the land. + +The true story is that we are products both of the +environment we live in and of the changes we make +on it. We have no control over what sort of society +we are born into but we can change it. + +CHANGING VIEWS OF 'NATURAL' + +To law-abiding parents stopping the heroin dealers +was a job for the gardai. When the gardai were not +moving against the Larry Dunnes and Ma Bakers +those same law-abiding parents thought it quite +natural to organise into the CPAD and put the +pushers out of their areas - even though doing that +was illegal. + +To the conscripted American soldier in Vietnam +blindly obeying orders from officers seemed perfectly +natural. After years of slaughter and massacres, +desertion and even mutiny seemed natural. + +To most workers getting in to work each Monday +morning and taking orders from the boss seems +natural until they are forced to strike. They may +even challenge the right of the boss to control their +workplace by occupying it. + +WE CAN DO IT + +We have the power to change the world. The ruling +class know this and try to divide us. They split us +into Protestant and Catholic, gay and straight, +black and white, working class and so-called middle +class (white collar workers). + +But again and again the system throws us together +in struggle. It is in struggle that we we come to +depend on each other and co-operate for a common +goal. This is the first step towards building a society +where selfishness is replaced by co-operation, where +the dictate of the boss is replaced by freedom, where +we take control of our own lives and futures. + +Alan MacSimin diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001104.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001104.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9e62dc8b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001104.txt @@ -0,0 +1,562 @@ +2 articles +2nd is 'The campaign to seperate Church and state' + +************ Thinking about Anarchism ********** + Religion + from WS 45 (1995) + +The popular stereotype of anarchists' relationship +to religion is that we are all priest-killers and +church-burners. This is, as is usually the case +with mainstream representations of anarchism, +almost completely false. It is useful in the wake +of the clerical paedophile scandals and the general +stranglehold that the church exerts on Irish +society to give a truer explanation of our +position. + +Anarchists are materialists. We understand that +there is a real and concrete basis for the way +society is organised right now. Religion generally +sees society as god given and inevitable. Almost +all world religions claim that the poor will be +rewarded in the afterlife for passively accepting +their lot in this one. + +Religion is by its nature authoritarian, whether to +a greater of lesser extent. It is based on 'faith' +and obedience. The reality we face is of churches +that are involved in the repression of women, of +gay people and all of those who seek to change the +face of the traditional (nuclear) family. It is no +coincidence that fundamentalists of all religions, +from Ireland to Iran, seek to push back the +progress made by women in the workplace and the +sexual revolution. + +Church power in Ireland + +As anarchists we oppose this authoritarianism. We +are fighting to break the power of the church in +Ireland. This power is immense. As well as it's +direct wealth, they control over 3,000 out of the +3,500 primary schools in the 26 counties, despite +the fact that all the staff wages and 90% of +building costs are paid by the State. They also +control 67% of secondary schools and own Maynooth +College. They have a majority on the boards of +about half the hospitals. This allows them to veto +even legal operations such as sterilisations. + +However it is not enough just to oppose the +churches' power. As Anarchists we must offer a +real practical alternative analysis of society. +The stronghold that the church has is not simply a +result of historical circumstances, it offers +something that people want. It offers an +explanation of all sorts of natural and personal +disasters, by saying that they are "the will of +god". It offers hope in a world where misery, +poverty, ignorance, frustration and alienation are +endemic. + +To break this stranglehold we need a strategy that +unites our vision of a better world in the here and +now with struggles that bring people into conflict +with clerical power and show up religion as a prop +for the status quo, that stands in the way of their +needs and desires. In Ireland this means fighting +against clerical control of schools, hospitals, +etc. It also means fighting for separation of +church and state. + +Church and State + +The question that often arises is "surely as +Anarchists you are against the state as well?" The +simple answer is that we are but we are also for +fighting for improvements to people's lives in the +here and now. Breaking the stranglehold of the +church would ease the way for divorce, reproductive +rights including abortion, along with stopping +church control of schools. + +For us religion is a private matter. It should +enjoy no special privileges, tax reliefs etc. We +expect members to be involved in the struggle +against the power and control exercised by the +churches. Nonetheless members can hold religious +beliefs provided they fully accept this aspect. + +In short we fight religion by fighting its root +causes. The Workers Solidarity Movement is +fighting for an anarchist society where people will +come to realise that they have no need for religion +or other mystical ideas. We challenge religion in +a practical way by showing where it obstructs +social progress and by leading the challenge to it +at every opportunity. + +Louise Tierney + +***************** + + from Workers Solidarity No 32 + paper of the Irish anarchist + Workers Solidarity Movement + + Church and State + +THE CAMPAIGN to Separate Church and State have +been busy. They've being taking a court case against +the govern-ment for employing Chaplains in Vocational +schools. The 26 county Constitution prohibits the state +from "endowing" reli-gion. Though we wouldn't place +much faith in the courts or De Valera's Constitution +our-selves we got to admit that they've got a point, +paying for these 30 priests and ministers is costing the +taxpayer 800,000-1,000,000. However this is only the +tip of the iceberg! + +The Catholic church in Ireland has always been massively +supported by the State and allowed a huge say in the +running of the country. This article will attempt to cover +the facts of church power in Ireland and the long history of +State support beginning hundreds of years be-fore the +establishment of the 26 county state. + +RELIGIOUS BELIEF + +Firstly it must be made clear that we see religion as a +personal matter. Everyone should be free to worship as +they want and hold whatever beliefs they want. We +condemn totally any attacks on an individual's re-ligious +freedom. + +Equally we are opposed to any-one telling us how to run our +lives, including religious leaders. This article will hopefully +show how organised religion works with State and bosses to +oppress all whatever their per-sonal religious beliefs. +Within the Irish 26 counties we are referring of course to +the Catholic church ...and now a brief his-tory lesson. + +A BIT OF HISTORY + +In 1951 Noel Browne, Minister for Health in the "inter- +party" coalition government, intro-duced his "Mother and +Child Scheme". This was a proposal for free gynaecological +care for pregnant women and a compre-hensive health +programme for children up to 16. + +Following their Autumn meet-ing in Maynooth the Catholic +bishops sent a letter to the gov-ernment. + "The powers taken by the State in the proposed +Mother and Child health service are in direct +opposition to the rights of the family and of the +individual and are liable to very great abuse. Their +character is such that no assurance that they would be +used in moderation could justify their enactment. If +adopted they would constitute a ready-made instrument +for totalitarian aggression"(!) + +Such was the power of the bishops (helped by other +conserva-tives and with the strong support of many wealthy +doctors fear-ing for their practices) that this tripe was +sufficient to send Labour and Clann na Poblachta tripping +over each other to catch up with Fine Gael in the "No" +lobby. Noel Browne was forced to resign. + +THE CHURCH AS CAPITALISTS + +The church's fear of "totalitarian aggression" (i.e. +communism) is of little surprise when you consider it's +material base in society. Recently (1987) the church's total +assets in Dublin alone amounted to 100 million, with an +estimated income of 7.5 million per year. + +According to the Irish Independent (31/01/83) it owned 234 +churches, 713 schools, 473 houses and 100 community +centres in Dublin. In 1979 in the midst of appalling poverty +they spent 2.5 million on the pope's visit. + +Needless to say the ordinary members of this company (i.e. +the vast majority of Irish people) have no shares, and voting +rights lie in the hands of a non-elected board of +management: the Bishops. + +As well as it's direct wealth, it has a massive amount of +control in State institutions. They control 3,300 out of the +country's 3,500 primary schools despite the fact that all the +staff wages and 90% of building costs are paid by the State. +They also control 67% of secondary schools and own +Maynooth College. They have a majority on the boards of +most orphanages, 'reform schools' and hospitals. This allows +them to veto even legal operations such as sterilisations in +most hospitals. + +KEEPING IN WITH THE +IN-CROWD + +The Catholic church has always known which side it's bread +was buttered on. It worked hand in glove with British +imperial-ism (while engaging in a little nationalist posturing +to main-tain it's credibility with the masses) and after 1921 +worked to prop up the weak Irish ruling class. They opposed +the first stirring of radical democracy and egalitarian +republicanism of the United Irishmen at the end of the +Eighteenth century. + +In 1795 the English authorities began to recognise their +useful-ness and helped build Maynooth seminary to replace +the one in Paris destroyed by "Godless French +revolutionaries". The cornerstone laid by the Lord +Lieutenant in 1795 was the rock on which the clerical elite +was to build it's power over the next 200 years. + +In 1799 the bishops met at Maynooth to vote their support +for the Act of Union. In 1845 Robert Peel (the English +Prime Minister) trebled the annual grant for Maynooth and +gave them a large sum to expand the college. During the +famine Bishops hardly commented on the mass starvation +gripping the country while grain exports to England +continued to grow. + +KITTY O'SHEA + +They opposed the Fenians and even constitutional +nationalists like Parnell, whom they hounded out of politics +after his affair with Kitty O'Shea. The Catholic hierarchy +was in the front-line in condemning the locked-out workers +in 1913. Priests and lay Catholic activists physically +prevented children of the strik-ers being sent on holiday to +trade union families in "Godless" England during the +dispute. + +The 1916 proclamation repre-sented the views of the more +radical wing of the Irish bourgeoisie & intellectuals and had +a vague aspiration to "cherish all the children of the nation +equally". After 1921 the Free State government and the +weak Irish ruling class fell back into the arms of the church. +The bishops con-demned the anti-treaty side in the civil war, +recognised the "legitimate government" and attacked +republicans for "causing criminal damage". + +After the war both pro- (Cumann na Gael/Fine Gael) and +anti- (Fianna Fil) treaty sides were in the palm of it's hand. +In 1923 the Censorship of Films Act was passed, 1924 saw +the Intoxicating Liquor Act, in 1925 divorce was out-lawed +and in 1929 the Censorship of Publications Board was +established. + +In 1937 De Valera's Constitution was passed with the +bishops being consulted on every syllable. Among its +articles was: + "The State recognises the special position of the +Holy Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church as the +guardian of the faith professed by the majority of +citizens". (This was not repealed until 1972). + +Fine Gael did not allow them-selves to be outdone in abject +grovelling. In 1947 Costelloe, head of the new coalition +gov-ernment, wrote to the pope: + "on the occasion of our assumption of +office......my colleagues and myself desire to repose at +the feet of your holiness the assurance of our filial +loyalty and our devotion to your August person". + +A NEW IRELAND? + +The 1960s and 70s saw an upturn in the Irish economy with +international investment. This led to an increase in the +number of women working out-side the home, and combined +with the emergence of the Irish womens' movement, led to +a slight weakening of the church's position. In 1979 Fianna +Fil actually went against the hierarchy to bring in limited +availability of condoms. + +But the 1980s saw a series of defeats for liberal reforms. In +1980 Noel Browne, once again, got the thin end of the stick +when not one T.D. would support his divorce bill. In 1983 +the Constitution was amended to "uphold the right to life of +the unborn". In 1985 a "Lenten Pastoral" forbade Catholic +hospitals carrying out sterilisa-tions. In 1986 an amendment +to the Constitution allowing divorce in very limited circum- +stances was defeated. + +However there are some definite signs of a weakening of the +ideological power of the church in Ireland. There has been +a decrease in both church atten-dance and "vocations to the +priesthood" since the 1970s. For example there has been a +9% drop in Mass attendance between 1974 and 1989, +attendance at confession has declined from 47% to 18% +(according to a re-cent survey by Rev. Michael Mac Grail - +Irish Times 2/3/1991). The recent election of a "liberal" +woman President (Mary Robinson) and the Fianna Fil +attempt to widen the availability of condoms would also +seem to confirm this. + + +IS THERE A WAY OUT? + +Though we must acknowledge that liberals such as the +Campaign to Separate Church and State have the right +idea, we don't think that their methods will work. We stand +for the complete separation of Church and State. Yes, I +know some-body will point out that we oppose the State as +well. This is a tactical question, just as our opposition to +the wages system doesn't stop us looking for higher wages. + +In the short-term we have to fight against clerical control of +hospitals, schools, community centres and youth clubs. We +also fight against the laws which place restrictions on +peoples' personal lives. The WSM is in favour of +campaigning for the best possible secular laws in the areas +of divorce, contracep-tion, abortion, sterilisation, adoption +and gay & lesbian rights. + +We fully realise that there are limits to what can be +achieved under the present system, but that should stop +nobody seeking to win those limited goals that are +immediately possible. + +A victory in any one of these struggles exposes the wide +powers of the church and shows whose side it is on. It +creates the possibility of involving more people in future +struggles. The long-term alternative we offer of a new free, +self-managed world where people control their own lives +will be one in which the mystical and authoritarian ideas of +most religions will probably attract little support. + +Des McCarron + + + +THE CAMPAIGN to Separate Church and State +have been busy. They've being taking a court case +against the govern-ment for employing Chaplains +in Vocational schools. The 26 county Constitution +prohibits the state from "endowing" reli-gion. +Though we wouldn't place much faith in the courts +or De Valera's Constitution our-selves we got to +admit that they've got a point, paying for these 30 +priests and ministers is costing the taxpayer +800,000-1,000,000. However this is only the tip of +the iceberg! + +The Catholic church in Ireland has always been +massively supported by the State and allowed a huge +say in the running of the country. This article will +attempt to cover the facts of church power in Ireland and +the long history of State support beginning hundreds of +years be-fore the establishment of the 26 county state. + +RELIGIOUS BELIEF + +Firstly it must be made clear that we see religion as a +personal matter. Everyone should be free to worship as +they want and hold whatever beliefs they want. We +condemn totally any attacks on an individual's re-ligious +freedom. + +Equally we are opposed to any-one telling us how to run +our lives, including religious leaders. This article will +hopefully show how organised religion works with State +and bosses to oppress all whatever their per-sonal +religious beliefs. Within the Irish 26 counties we are +referring of course to the Catholic church ...and now a +brief his-tory lesson. + +A BIT OF HISTORY + +In 1951 Noel Browne, Minister for Health in the "inter- +party" coalition government, intro-duced his "Mother and +Child Scheme". This was a proposal for free +gynaecological care for pregnant women and a compre- +hensive health programme for children up to 16. + +Following their Autumn meet-ing in Maynooth the +Catholic bishops sent a letter to the gov-ernment. + "The powers taken by the State in the +proposed Mother and Child health service are in +direct opposition to the rights of the family and of +the individual and are liable to very great abuse. +Their character is such that no assurance that +they would be used in moderation could justify +their enactment. If adopted they would constitute a +ready-made instrument for totalitarian +aggression"(!) + +Such was the power of the bishops (helped by other +conserva-tives and with the strong support of many +wealthy doctors fear-ing for their practices) that this tripe +was sufficient to send Labour and Clann na Poblachta +tripping over each other to catch up with Fine Gael in the +"No" lobby. Noel Browne was forced to resign. + +THE CHURCH AS CAPITALISTS + +The church's fear of "totalitarian aggression" (i.e. +communism) is of little surprise when you consider it's +material base in society. Recently (1987) the church's +total assets in Dublin alone amounted to 100 million, +with an estimated income of 7.5 million per year. + +According to the Irish Independent (31/01/83) it owned +234 churches, 713 schools, 473 houses and 100 +community centres in Dublin. In 1979 in the midst of +appalling poverty they spent 2.5 million on the pope's +visit. + +Needless to say the ordinary members of this company +(i.e. the vast majority of Irish people) have no shares, +and voting rights lie in the hands of a non-elected board +of management: the Bishops. + +As well as it's direct wealth, it has a massive amount of +control in State institutions. They control 3,300 out of +the country's 3,500 primary schools despite the fact that +all the staff wages and 90% of building costs are paid by +the State. They also control 67% of secondary schools +and own Maynooth College. They have a majority on the +boards of most orphanages, 'reform schools' and +hospitals. This allows them to veto even legal +operations such as sterilisations in most hospitals. + +KEEPING IN WITH THE +IN-CROWD + +The Catholic church has always known which side it's +bread was buttered on. It worked hand in glove with +British imperial-ism (while engaging in a little nationalist +posturing to main-tain it's credibility with the masses) +and after 1921 worked to prop up the weak Irish ruling +class. They opposed the first stirring of radical +democracy and egalitarian republicanism of the United +Irishmen at the end of the Eighteenth century. + +In 1795 the English authorities began to recognise their +useful-ness and helped build Maynooth seminary to +replace the one in Paris destroyed by "Godless French +revolutionaries". The cornerstone laid by the Lord +Lieutenant in 1795 was the rock on which the clerical +elite was to build it's power over the next 200 years. + +In 1799 the bishops met at Maynooth to vote their +support for the Act of Union. In 1845 Robert Peel (the +English Prime Minister) trebled the annual grant for +Maynooth and gave them a large sum to expand the +college. During the famine Bishops hardly commented on +the mass starvation gripping the country while grain +exports to England continued to grow. + +KITTY O'SHEA + +They opposed the Fenians and even constitutional +nationalists like Parnell, whom they hounded out of +politics after his affair with Kitty O'Shea. The Catholic +hierarchy was in the front-line in condemning the locked- +out workers in 1913. Priests and lay Catholic activists +physically prevented children of the strik-ers being sent +on holiday to trade union families in "Godless" England +during the dispute. + +The 1916 proclamation repre-sented the views of the +more radical wing of the Irish bourgeoisie & intellectuals +and had a vague aspiration to "cherish all the children of +the nation equally". After 1921 the Free State +government and the weak Irish ruling class fell back into +the arms of the church. The bishops con-demned the +anti-treaty side in the civil war, recognised the +"legitimate government" and attacked republicans for +"causing criminal damage". + +After the war both pro- (Cumann na Gael/Fine Gael) and +anti- (Fianna Fil) treaty sides were in the palm of it's +hand. In 1923 the Censorship of Films Act was passed, +1924 saw the Intoxicating Liquor Act, in 1925 divorce +was out-lawed and in 1929 the Censorship of +Publications Board was established. + +In 1937 De Valera's Constitution was passed with the +bishops being consulted on every syllable. Among its +articles was: + "The State recognises the special position of +the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church as +the guardian of the faith professed by the majority +of citizens". (This was not repealed until 1972). + +Fine Gael did not allow them-selves to be outdone in +abject grovelling. In 1947 Costelloe, head of the new +coalition gov-ernment, wrote to the pope: + "on the occasion of our assumption of +office......my colleagues and myself desire to repose +at the feet of your holiness the assurance of our +filial loyalty and our devotion to your August +person". + +A NEW IRELAND? + +The 1960s and 70s saw an upturn in the Irish economy +with international investment. This led to an increase in +the number of women working out-side the home, and +combined with the emergence of the Irish womens' +movement, led to a slight weakening of the church's +position. In 1979 Fianna Fil actually went against the +hierarchy to bring in limited availability of condoms. + +But the 1980s saw a series of defeats for liberal reforms. +In 1980 Noel Browne, once again, got the thin end of the +stick when not one T.D. would support his divorce bill. +In 1983 the Constitution was amended to "uphold the +right to life of the unborn". In 1985 a "Lenten Pastoral" +forbade Catholic hospitals carrying out sterilisa-tions. In +1986 an amendment to the Constitution allowing divorce +in very limited circum-stances was defeated. + +However there are some definite signs of a weakening of +the ideological power of the church in Ireland. There has +been a decrease in both church atten-dance and +"vocations to the priesthood" since the 1970s. For +example there has been a 9% drop in Mass attendance +between 1974 and 1989, attendance at confession has +declined from 47% to 18% (according to a re-cent survey +by Rev. Michael Mac Grail - Irish Times 2/3/1991). The +recent election of a "liberal" woman President (Mary +Robinson) and the Fianna Fil attempt to widen the +availability of condoms would also seem to confirm this. + + +IS THERE A WAY OUT? + +Though we must acknowledge that liberals such as the +Campaign to Separate Church and State have the right +idea, we don't think that their methods will work. We +stand for the complete separation of Church and State. +Yes, I know some-body will point out that we oppose the +State as well. This is a tactical question, just as our +opposition to the wages system doesn't stop us looking +for higher wages. + +In the short-term we have to fight against clerical control +of hospitals, schools, community centres and youth clubs. +We also fight against the laws which place restrictions +on peoples' personal lives. The WSM is in favour of +campaigning for the best possible secular laws in the +areas of divorce, contracep-tion, abortion, sterilisation, +adoption and gay & lesbian rights. + +We fully realise that there are limits to what can be +achieved under the present system, but that should stop +nobody seeking to win those limited goals that are +immediately possible. + +A victory in any one of these struggles exposes the wide +powers of the church and shows whose side it is on. It +creates the possibility of involving more people in future +struggles. The long-term alternative we offer of a new +free, self-managed world where people control their own +lives will be one in which the mystical and authoritarian +ideas of most religions will probably attract little +support. + +Des McCarron diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001105.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001105.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2d0db8bc --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001105.txt @@ -0,0 +1,267 @@ + *********** REVOLUTION *********** + from Workers Solidarity No 32 + +ANARCHISTS SAY that capitalism can not be +reformed away. We say it must be overthrown +through a revolution. Many people however believe +that the failure of the Russian revolution of 1917 +shows revolutions just replace one set of rulers with +another. The failures of the revolutions in +Nicaragua, Iran and Cuba to fundamentally change +life for the workers of these countries seems to point +to the same thing. So why all this talk of revolution? + +A revolution essentially is a sudden upheaval in society +which fundamentally alters the way that society operates +or who that society is run by. It occurs when the mass of +the people desire change that their rulers are unwilling +or unable to grant. It can not be the result of the action +of a small group of plotters. + +History is full of revolutions. Capitalism gained +dominance over feudalism through revolutions, +particularly the French revolution of 1789. Revolutions +in countries like Cuba, Nicaragua and Iran since the +second world war have had major effects on a global scale. + +Of course none of these were anarchist revolutions. They +all resulted in the substitution of one ruling class for +another. They failed to bring about classless societies. + +MISSING FACTOR + +What was missing was an independent working class +fighting for its own class interests. Instead working class +militancy was harnessed by radical nationalists in a fight +for 'national liberation'. In power these radical +nationalists crushed the working class at home while +seeking terms with imperialism abroad. + +In the case of Nicaragua and Cuba at least the radical +nationalists in power used socialist jargon as a cover for +their policies. Cuba went so far as to nationalise the +economy. A successful socialist revolution however +involves more than nationalisation and left wing jargon. + +In the course of a revolution the working class +spontaneously throws up organs through which it tries to +re-organise society. These organs however are normally +made subservient to the new state within a short period +of time. Normally there is some resistance to this but +such resistance is brutally crushed. In 1917 the +Bolshevik state apparatus crushed the Soviets and factory +committees, in Iran the radical nationalists around +Khomeini performed the same function. + +SMASH THE STATE + +This could only occur because the vast majority of the +workers accepted the necessity of state rule. This is why +anarchists emphasise the importance of smashing the +state rather then using it's apparatus to introduce +socialism. There is no more utopian idea then the idea of +a minority introducing socialism through the state +apparatus. + +Anarchists believe that a successful revolution which +introduces socialism must for the first time in history +involve a huge subjective factor. This subjective factor is +a large proportion of the working class holding anarchist +politics. This does not mean the WSM must be the +largest faction or even that anarchist groups must be the +largest faction. It does mean that workers must see the +introduction of socialism as something that is their task, +and that the state has only a counter-revolutionary role +to play. + +BATTLE OF IDEAS + +This will not just happen spontaneously. Some +anarchists make the mistake of thinking politics will +become irrelevant once workers seize the factories. They +think that the various Leninist and reformist left +theories will become instantly irrelevant. In actual fact +this is the period when politics will become relevant as +never before. It is a period where millions of workers will +be looking for a political direction. + +In the past revolutions have been led to disaster because +the ideas that led the working class were reformist or +authoritarian. Once in power such parties brutally +crushed working class activity. This is as true of the +reformists in the German revolution of 1919 as it is of the +Bolsheviks in 1917-21. Anarchist organisation must be +capable of debating and defeating such ideas as they +arise. + +CRYSTAL BALL + +Not being crystal ball gazers we can not predict when the +next opportunity for revolution will occur. In Ireland at +least it would appear to be many years away. We do know +such opportunities will arise however, they are a product +of the inability of capitalism to meet the needs of all the +people. Capitalism may have changed and developed over +the years but this has not changed. + +This does not mean we do nothing until such an +opportunity arises. Now is the time for us to develop and +spread anarchist ideas. We need to build strong anarchist +organisation(s), not just in Ireland but internationally. +Indeed it is likely that revolution will arrive on the +agenda in Ireland due to the success of revolutions +elsewhere. We ensure the continued relevancy of our +ideas by involvement in the struggles of fellow workers +and demonstrating the usefulness of anarchist politics +and tactics. + +This is the purpose of the WSM. We are in the process of +building an organisation capable of asserting anarchist +ideas. We are developing these ideas while being +involved in struggles at all levels of society. We are +building international links with anarchists in other +countries. If you too wish to see this rotten system +smashed and replaced with anarchism then get in contact +and get involved. + +Joe Black + + + + + + + + +ANARCHISTS SAY that capitalism can not be +reformed away. We say it must be overthrown +through a revolution. Many people however +believe that the failure of the Russian revolution +of 1917 shows revolutions just replace one set of +rulers with another. The failures of the +revolutions in Nicaragua, Iran and Cuba to +fundamentally change life for the workers of +these countries seems to point to the same thing. +So why all this talk of revolution? + +A revolution essentially is a sudden upheaval in +society which fundamentally alters the way that +society operates or who that society is run by. It +occurs when the mass of the people desire change that +their rulers are unwilling or unable to grant. It can +not be the result of the action of a small group of +plotters. + +History is full of revolutions. Capitalism gained +dominance over feudalism through revolutions, +particularly the French revolution of 1789. +Revolutions in countries like Cuba, Nicaragua and +Iran since the second world war have had major effects +on a global scale. + +Of course none of these were anarchist revolutions. +They all resulted in the substitution of one ruling class +for another. They failed to bring about classless +societies. + +MISSING FACTOR + +What was missing was an independent working class +fighting for its own class interests. Instead working +class militancy was harnessed by radical nationalists +in a fight for 'national liberation'. In power these +radical nationalists crushed the working class at home +while seeking terms with imperialism abroad. + +In the case of Nicaragua and Cuba at least the radical +nationalists in power used socialist jargon as a cover +for their policies. Cuba went so far as to nationalise +the economy. A successful socialist revolution however +involves more than nationalisation and left wing +jargon. + +In the course of a revolution the working class +spontaneously throws up organs through which it tries +to re-organise society. These organs however are +normally made subservient to the new state within a +short period of time. Normally there is some +resistance to this but such resistance is brutally +crushed. In 1917 the Bolshevik state apparatus +crushed the Soviets and factory committees, in Iran +the radical nationalists around Khomeini performed +the same function. + +SMASH THE STATE + +This could only occur because the vast majority of the +workers accepted the necessity of state rule. This is +why anarchists emphasise the importance of smashing +the state rather then using it's apparatus to introduce +socialism. There is no more utopian idea then the +idea of a minority introducing socialism through the +state apparatus. + +Anarchists believe that a successful revolution which +introduces socialism must for the first time in history +involve a huge subjective factor. This subjective factor +is a large proportion of the working class holding +anarchist politics. This does not mean the WSM must +be the largest faction or even that anarchist groups +must be the largest faction. It does mean that +workers must see the introduction of socialism as +something that is their task, and that the state has +only a counter-revolutionary role to play. + +BATTLE OF IDEAS + +This will not just happen spontaneously. Some +anarchists make the mistake of thinking politics will +become irrelevant once workers seize the factories. +They think that the various Leninist and reformist left +theories will become instantly irrelevant. In actual +fact this is the period when politics will become +relevant as never before. It is a period where millions +of workers will be looking for a political direction. + +In the past revolutions have been led to disaster +because the ideas that led the working class were +reformist or author-itarian. Once in power such +parties brutally crushed working class activity. This is +as true of the reformists in the German revolution of +1919 as it is of the Bolsheviks in 1917-21. Anarchist +organisation must be capable of debating and +defeating such ideas as they arise. + +CRYSTAL BALL + +Not being crystal ball gazers we can not predict when +the next opportunity for revolution will occur. In +Ireland at least it would appear to be many years +away. We do know such opportunities will arise +however, they are a product of the inability of +capitalism to meet the needs of all the people. +Capitalism may have changed and developed over the +years but this has not changed. + +This does not mean we do nothing until such an +opportunity arises. Now is the time for us to develop +and spread anarchist ideas. We need to build strong +anarchist organisation(s), not just in Ireland but +internationally. Indeed it is likely that revolution will +arrive on the agenda in Ireland due to the success of +revolutions elsewhere. We ensure the continued +relevancy of our ideas by involvement in the struggles +of fellow workers and demonstrating the usefulness of +anarchist politics and tactics. + +This is the purpose of the WSM. We are in the process +of building an organisation capable of asserting +anarchist ideas. We are developing these ideas while +being involved in struggles at all levels of society. We +are building international links with anarchists in +other countries. If you too wish to see this rotten +system smashed and replaced with anarchism then +get in contact and get involved. + +Joe Black + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001106.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001106.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..460d5cee --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001106.txt @@ -0,0 +1,159 @@ + ************** The State ************** + from Workers Solidarity No 31 + +ONE OF THE best known catch phrases of +Anarchism has got to be "Smash the State". It's +also one that's easily open to misunderstanding. +Particularly in Ireland, where the 26 counties +once had the rather humorous title of "Free +State", many see state as meaning the +geographical area of a country. This slogan has +also been misrepresented by anarchism's +opponents as meaning opposition to all forms of +organisation and decision making. Obviously +neither of these is what anarchists mean, but +what exactly is the state and how do we smash +it? + +Anarchists see the state as a mechanism by which a +minority imposes its will on the majority of the +population. To maintain its hold of power the state +forms whatever armed forces and judicial apparatus +are deemed necessary to keep the level of dissent +manageable. This is different from how most +Marxists define the state, concentrating on the +mechanism by which the state stays in power (bodies +of armed men) rather then the function of the state. +It is the characteristic of minority rule which defines +the state for anarchists, the 'bodies of armed men' +serve to protect this minority rather then defining the +state in itself. This distinction has some important +consequences. + +The state apparatus cannot maintain a permanent +separation from the ruling economic power. In fact +most of the time its function is carrying out a crude +expression of the wishes of the ruling class. It +represents the limited ability of this class to control +and plan the economic life of a country. In advanced +capitalism the state is used to regulate the level of +exploitation of the workforce through various labour +laws. + +THE 'CARING' STATE + +At the outbreak of World War 1 Britain found that a +huge percentage of the working class had been so +exploited that they were unfit for military service. +Although the almost unhindered exploitation had +been good for individual bosses up to that time, in the +war when it came to using the working class to win +colonies and markets it turned out to be against their +collective interest. At the end of the war revolutions +and army mutinies swept across Europe. + +To defuse the level of class struggle and prepare for +the next war the bosses used the state apparatus to +impose limitations on themselves and the level of +exploitation they could use. It also started to use it to +divert part of every workers' wage to form a new +social wage which would be used for the education of +workers and limited social security. In this it hoped +to head off future periods of struggle. + +The state is the collective body through which the +bosses keep themselves in power. It's judiciary and +police force protect each boss from his own workers, +intervening where necessary to smash strikes, +criminalise activists and censor critics. This is its +most direct and obvious intervention but through its +control of the education system and its ability to +criminalise social behaviour which goes against the +bosses wishes it intervenes into every aspect of +workers lives. + +SCAPEGOATS & SAFE CHANNELS + +In it's scapegoating of single mothers, immigrants or +Travellers it directs the anger of workers away from +the real causes of their poverty. It ensures that much +of the care for the sick and the raising of new +generations of workers is kept cheap by keeping it in +the home. It therefore is hostile to non-family +relationships, or even family relations which might +challenge the prevalent ones and thus pose an +indirect threat. This is why the state is so opposed to +single parent families or families where both parents +are of the same sex. + +The state in modern capitalism provides safe +channels for dissent. By funding unemployed centres +it achieves a political veto on their activities, +effectively ensuring a concentration on services like +the production of CV's - with campaigning limited to +minor tinkering with the system. Through the use of +elections it creates a veneer of ordinary people being +in control while the decisions are being made +elsewhere. By pretending neutrality it can set up +and arbitrate on disputes between workers and +bosses through the use of bodies like the Labour +Court. All these are methods to defuse and control +social unrest. + +The state can also be the organ of transformation and +creation of a new ruling class. With positions in the +state hierarchy come powers over both people and +goods. Well placed individuals can make a fortune in +bribes. After the Russian revolution a minority, in +the shape of the Bolshevik party, came to control the +state. + +'STATE SOCIALISM' - A CONTRADICTION + +Their distrust in the ability of workers to run the +economy themselves was to result in armed force +being used against the very workers they claimed to +be liberating. From that point on the party attracted +power seekers, within a short period of time this +resulted in a new ruling elite. Socialism can not be +built through use of the state structure, the existence +of such a structure will lead to the development of a +new ruling elite. + +The anarchist rejection of the state as an organ for +the transformation of society is often deliberately +misrepresented. Leninists, for instance, typically try +to confuse undemocratic and unaccountable state +regimes like those of the Bolsheviks with democratic +bodies like workers councils or 'soviets'. In general it +is implied that anarchism is against all forms of +organisation. + +This says a lot about the people making such +arguments. Do they believe that the only form of +organisation that is feasible is one where the mass of +society are told what to do by a leadership? +Anarchists say socialism can only be created by mass +democracy, that why we define the state as being an +unaccountable leadership capable of forcing its will +on society. We explicitly reject any form of running +society that relies on such methods. + +Against the statists we propose; decision making at +the lowest possible level: election of recallable, +mandated delegates for decisions that cannot be +made by mass assemblies, and for all delegates to +remain part of the workforce where possible. Where +this takes them away from their workplaces their +positions should be held for short periods only, and +without any special privileges. This, a society based +on mass democracy, is our alternative to the state. +Its not just our aim to achieve such a society after the +revolution but also to use such methods now in our +struggle for such a society. We argue for such +methods in our unions, associations and campaigning +groups. + +Andrew Flood + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001107.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001107.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3edc4296 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001107.txt @@ -0,0 +1,740 @@ +4 articles +2nd is The IRA and its armed struggle; A Bloody Long War [WS35] +3rd is 'Should we get rid of articles 2 & 3 [WS38] +4th is Peace 93' [WS39] + + ********* Collaboration & Imperialism ************ + from Workers Solidarity No 34 + [1990] + +THE KILLING of the seven building workers in +January marks the most bloody episode in an IRA +campaign against those who work for the 'security +forces', a campaign which has been going on since +1985. There has been a massive wave of +condemnation from bishops, politicians and media +figures. + +Most of it is hypocritical cant. In all wars people who assist +or work for the enemy are targetted. During the War of +Independence the 'old IRA' shot people it suspected of +collaboration. Today it is a criminal offence to collaborate +with the IRA. Anyone allowing them to use their house or +car, anyone minding weapons or giving information can be +sentenced to long terms in jail. In the North their name may +be leaked to a loyalist death squad. + +The Workers Solidarity Movement, as an anarchist and anti- +imperialist organisation, agrees with the Provos that workers +should not collaborate with the forces of imperialism. It is not +in the interest of any worker to collaborate with imperialism, +in Ireland or anywhere else. + +This does not mean we agree with killing buiding workers. +We don't. The IRA threats to workers who service or deliver +to Army bases and RUC & UDR barracks tell us much about +the Provos. For all their left-wing slogans, they remain an +authoritarian nationalist movement. They decide what is +good for us, they decide what methods to use. The role of +everyone else is to passively cheer them on and preserve some +sort of nationalist solidarity. + +A genuinely socialist and revolutionary movement would have +appealed to workers to black these bases because it is in their +own interest to fight imperialism. It is undeniable that such +an appeal would have been ignored by most. However in +areas such as Newry, Derry and Strabane there was a very +good chance that it would have been heeded if worked for. A +campaign of this sort would consist of raising the issue within +the unions, holding meetings at depot gates, producing +leaflets, taking up the arguments and fighting for official +union backing for anyone disciplined or sacked for refusing to +help the state's war effort. + +It would be a start in bringing workers - as workers - to the +head of the anti-imperialist struggle. It has been done before. +At the time of the War of Independence there was an anti- +conscription strike, the "Limerick Soviet", the refusal of train +drivers to carry British troops or war materials. + +Activity like this can give workers a sense of the potential +power they possess. And by being based on the methods of +mass struggle it can give workers the confidence to start +getting involved in political activity themselves intead of +leaving it to a few rulers and would-be rulers. This is very +important if we are to build a real socialist society where +there is no division into rulers and ruled. + +We must also look at the objective result of the threats and +killings. It does not matter a lot what the intentions of the +Provos are, the fact is that killing labourers and other +workers drives Protestants of our class further into the arms +of bigots like Paisley. It is not enough to denounce such +workers as supporters of imperialism - the question is how to +win them away from that. Death threats certainly cannot do +it. Whether we like it or not many Protestants believe that +such workers are shot because they are Protestants and that +the Provos' stated reasons are not the real ones. Therefore +we call for the threats to be lifted and replaced by a workplace +campaign based on arguments about working class self- +interest. + +********** The IRA and its armed struggle *********** + A Bloody Long War + from Workers Solidarity No 35 + (1992) + +Gerry Adams is no longer an MP. The +politicians and media pundits are over the +moon with joy. In their eyes the +republicans have been denied the +international 'credibility' of having an +elected MP and denied their 'mandate for +violence' at home. + +In the immediate aftermath we were subjected to a barrage +of questions and comments about how this will effect the +respective strengths of the 'hawks' and 'doves' in the IRA. +Will there be an escalation of the armed struggle? Will +they hit back with ferocity? Will they decide that the +armed struggle is an impediment to their political +progress? Will there be a ceasefire? + +Much of what was said was unadulterated rubbish. Gerry +Adams and Sinn Fin held their vote in West Belfast. The +SDLP did not eat into it. Adams 16,826 was only 36 down on +the 1987 result and was 447 up on the original 1983 poll. +The SDLP did not eat into it. What lost him the seat were +the 3,000 loyalists who heeded the UDA's call vote SDLP in +order to deny the seat to Adams. The Shankill's walls were +covered with "A vote for Cobain is a vote for Sinn Fin" +refering to the fact that if loyalists continued to vote +for the Unionist, Sinn Fin would hold the seat. This was +certainly not a pro-SDLP vote, it was explicitly an anti- +Sinn Fin one. Supporters of the UDA/UFF hate the SDLP, +it's just that they hate Sinn Fin a lot more. + +Across the six counties, as a whole, Sinn Fin's vote did +drop... but only from 11% to 10%. They aren't going +anywhere, but they are not about to disappear either. +However it is true that a tentative debate has been going +on inside the IRA and Sinn Fin over the last two or three +years about the relative values of the armed struggle and +parliamentary politics. + +In February Gerry Adams told the 'Irish Times' 'Two or +three years ago, I would have seen it necessary to +personally state publicly that yes, there was the right of +the IRA to engage in armed struggle, and perhaps even at +times that armed struggle was a necessary ingredient in the +struggle. I don't feel the need to do that now. In fact, +I think that my role now, and I've seen this increasingly +over the last 18 months, is one of increasingly and +persistently saying there's a need to end all acts of +violence." This is interesting, not so much for what is +being said, but for the fact that this shows a slightly +more open attitude towards politics. It used to be that +anyone questioning the value of the military campaign was +shown the door pretty quickly. + +However it is not this debate that the establishment +politicians want to to take part in. Some of them almost +foam at the mouth when someone mentions republicans. They +have nothing but hatred for the Provos. North and South, +all the main parties have done their best to repress +republicanism. In the North it is shoot-to-kill +assassinations, beatings in RUC stations, censorship. In +the South it's extradition and more censorship. To be +thought a sympathiser of Sinn Fin is to invite Special +Branch attention and maybe a beating in a Garda station. + +According to Fianna Fil, Fine Gael, Labour, Official +Unionist, DUP and all the rest this is justified by the +need to oppose violence. What a neck! The people who +supported the Gulf War (and those who allowed the use of +Shannon airport to US bombers) are telling us about the +need to oppose violence! What was the slaughter of +retreating Iraqi soldiers and civilians on the road from +Kuwait to Basra if it was not an act of violence, of +terrorism? The death toll in that terrible few hours when +the Americans gleefully labelled it a "turkey shoot" was +far more than all the deaths ever caused by the IRA... and +far more than the IRA is ever likely to cause. + +The hypocrisy is evident. However the question remains: +should we call on the IRA to stop their campaign? To put +the question in such a way implies that the IRA are the +main problem, if only they would lay down their arms +everything would be o.k. We have to remember that the IRA +didn't start the 'troubles'. After the dismal failure of +their 1956-62 border campaign the guns were dumped. A new +force appeared, the Civil Rights Movement. Most of them +believed that peaceful reform within the six county state +was possible. + +When they took to the streets loyalist gangs (including +politicians, policemen and the notorious B Specials) +attacked them. Streets were burned out, a pogrom began. +Since the founding of the six county state every time the +Catholic working class rose from their knees (or more +frightening for the bosses, every time Catholic and +Protestant workers united) sectarianism was whipped up and +a state-led pogrom was unleashed. The 'liberal' 1960's +were no exception. + +The British Army were sent back in. At first they claimed +to be a 'disinterested' force standing between angry +Catholics and the Paisleyites and policemen who wanted to +invade Catholic areas and inflict a reign of terror. +Within a year it was clear to all that their real purpose +was to protect the Northern state and this would be done by +keeping down the Catholics. The Falls Road was placed +under a three day curfew in 1970 and three people shot dead +for venturing out of their homes. The IRA began to +reappear. + +The next year saw internment without trial and the year +after that the murder of 14 Civil Rights marchers by +British troops on Bloody Sunday. The IRA grew in size and +escalated its recently commenced campaign. It was clear to +many young Catholics that the struggle for change had +become a struggle against the state itself and the British +Army that was protecting it. + +Far from being the problem, the IRA is a product of it. +If the IRA declared a ceasefire the problem would remain. +If they completely vanished the problem would still be +glaringly obvious. And as long as that problem is there +there will be a response. Until imperialism is defeated +and sectarianism uprooted there will be resistance. + +The question to be asked is what sort of resistance do we +need? The armed struggle of the IRA has no chance of +achieving victory. A small minority (the IRA) based within +a minority (Northern Catholics) cannot defeat the state. +They are unable to break out of the confines of the +Northern Catholic ghettoes. Southern Irish workers are not +influenced by claims that British imperialism is the main +enemy, North and South. Southern capitalism is no longer +tied to the apron strings of London. Workers in the 26 +counties find themselves struggling against Irish and +multinational bosses. + +IRA bombings and shootings are a thorn in the side of the +ruling class, an unpleasant pain but nothing likely to +prove fatal. Neither side can win a military victory. +There is no way that a small guerrilla army can defeat the +combined might of the RUC, UDR and British Army. Equally, +there is no way that the state forces can wipe out militant +republicanism. As long as partition, with its resultant +sectarianism and repression, has existed there have been +those who will take up arms against it. + +While this continues there will be civilian casualties and +increased communalism and sectarian tension. Anarchists +oppose the republican armed struggle, it is not the way to +mobilise thousands upon thousands of working class people +against imperialism. It is not the way towards an anti- +sectarian working class unity. + +The armed struggle is not something that republicans took +up because they have a fascination with violence or some +innate love of armalite rifles, despite what some media +commentators would have us believe. IRA volunteers are +brave men and women who want to hit back at the forces that +have been sticking the boot into their community. They +risk jailing, torture and death. If bravery was enough the +British Army would have been defeated years ago. Clearly +bravery is not enough. + +To criticise the republicans' methods is not sufficient, +the methods flow from their politics. Nationalism sees the +main struggle as one between the 'Irish people' and British +imperialism. The class struggle within Ireland takes a +secondary place until the border is smashed. The mass of +ordinary people are kept passive. While a few hundred +courageous volunteers take up arms, the role of everyone +else doesn't add up to much more than joining the +occasional march or casting a vote for Sinn Fin. The few +fight and the rest stay at home and watch it on TV. + +Republicans see the working class only as victims of the +system and not as people with the potential power to +overthrow it. The bravery of the few becomes a substitute +for mass action. The IRA campaign becomes central. + +We do not like the romanticisation of violence. We do +enjoy seeing fathers bury their sons. We do not like part +of our country being a war zone. But it is not for these +reasons that we oppose the armed struggle. We are not +pacifists. At times it is necessary to use violence to +defend gains won in struggle. However we reject the idea +that a small grouping, with guns and bombs, can set us all +free. + +Only masses of people involved in struggle can +fundamentally change society. We have to want to be free. +Nobody can force freedom down our throats. Armed struggle +is a substitute (and a poor substitute at that) for mass +action. When was the ruling class most worried by events +in the last two decades? It was the big Civil Rights +marches and the no-go areas of Free Derry and Free Belfast +that set their teeth chattering. It was the huge protests +after the Bloody Sunday murders that saw the British +Embassy burnt in Dublin and Jack Lynch's government +declaring a national day of mourning after workers had made +it clear there was going to be a total closedown of +industry. + +It was this sort of militant mass action that forced +concessions from the British government. The B Specials +were disbanded, Unionist powers in local government were +limited. In 1972, after the Bloody Sunday protests, the +Stormont government was abolished. Of course many of these +concessions were clawed back when the mass movement was +eclipsed by the emergence of the IRA campaign and its +promise that 1973 (and '74 and '75!) would be the "year of +victory". The best example was the replacement of the B +Specials by the UDR. But the lesson remains, it was mass +action that won the concessions. + +So if the Workers Solidarity Movement are so opposed to the +armed struggle why don't we join the call for a ceasefire. +We won't line up with the right wing politicians and their +'Peace Train' supporters who seek to apportion all the +blame to the IRA for the 'troubles'. The IRA are a +response to a problem. The primary problem is partition, +sectarianism and the occupation by the British Army. We +refuse to join in the scapegoating of republicans. + +Equally, we refuse to mute our criticism of republicanism +and its armed struggle. We are opposed to their politics +as well as their methods. We stand for anarchism, for an +independent working class position. We want to break +working class people from the gombeen nationalism of Fianna +Fil, from the reactionary hatemongering of loyalism, from +the sub-reformism of Labour and Democratic Left, ...and +from the communalism of Sinn Fin. + +While opposing the presence of the British Army and the +continuing partition of the country, the working class must +also fight the Southern state. We have to oppose +imperialism and, at the same time, oppose the clerical +nationalist laws in the South which ban divorce and +abortion. We have to oppose Orange bigotry while at the +same time campaigning for the complete separation of Church +and State. + +We do not fight for a united capitalist Ireland, neither as +a 'step in the right direction' or as an end in itself. +Joining the six to the twenty six counties offers nothing +to working class people in either state. We have no +interest in re-dividing poverty on a more 'equitable' +basis. The only Ireland worth fighting for is a Workers +Republic where every working class person stands to gain. +The way towards such a new Ireland is the way of class +struggle and mass action, taking control of our own +struggles and doing it in our own class interests. This is +the road to freedom. + +Joe King + +********** Should we get rid of articles 2 & 3 ******** + from WS 38 + [1993?] + +Article 2: The National territory consists of the whole +island of Ireland, its' islands and its' territorial seas. + +Article 3: Pending the re-integration of the national +territory and without prejudice to the right of Parliament +and Government established by this constitution to exercise +jurisdiction over the whole of that territory, the laws +enacted by Parliament shall have the like area and extent +of application as the laws of Saorstat Eireann [26 +counties] and the like extra-territorial effect. + +Mention the conflict in the North and many people +will turn off. Not because they do not care about +what is going on but because they do not feel that +they can make any difference. Who wants to hear +about another death or another bombing? Most +people in Ireland were glad to see the release of +the Birmingham 6 and the Guildford 4, but in Dublin +last Summer only 300 marched against the +extradition of Angelo Fusco. The answer to the +problem is made out to lie with the British and +Irish governments in collaboration with the +Unionist leaders. Workers in the South do not see +themselves as having a part to play in the +solution. + +It is in this atmosphere of alienation that talks, and +talks about talks, can be portrayed as having an impact. +In fact they were just talks. The latest set wound up last +November with nothing decided. The banning of the UDA can +be portrayed as positive action against the loyalist death +squads. Even though they still exist, and are now killing +more people than the Provos. And this while it has come +out that Brian Nelson, a British mole actually took part in +over sixteen murders with official permission. + +The Unionists are able to claim that it is the Republic of +Ireland's 'claim' to the North in Articles 2 and 3 that is +the cause of the 'troubles'. Meanwhile the British State +is getting away with occupying the place and few people see +this as a problem. + +In an upcoming referendum anarchists will oppose the +deletion of Article 2. We do so, not because we support +the 26 county state over the 6 county one, but because we +are opposed to the partition of Ireland. The Article +recognises the partition of Ireland and we want to see a +united Ireland. For this we will oppose its deletion. + +We, however, won't get too excited about Article 3. To +support the claim of the Dublin government is to support +the authority of one set of bosses over another. We, who +want to get rid of the division into bosses and bossed, +won't do this. + +WHY IRELAND WAS DIVIDED + +Ireland was partitioned because of the conflicting economic +interests between capitalists in the North-East and those +in the rest of Ireland. Generally speaking the South was +less developed and wanted independence to defend its infant +economy from cheap British imports. + +The North-East was already relatively well developed with +thriving linen and shipbuilding industries, both of which +depended on Britain for export markets. The partition of +Ireland and the creation of the six county state was a +compromise between these conflicting interests. + +In order to win support for partition the bosses in the +North-East stirred up sectarian hatred against Catholics. +They made sure there was a material basis for such hatred. +Slightly better housing and jobs were given to Protestants +over Catholics. It was made clear that these privileges +would go if Protestant workers supported Irish +independence. + +On this basis the sectarian statelet of the six counties +was founded. It was built with Protestant working class +support on the grounds that they would remain better off +than Catholics. These conditions have existed right up to +the present day. Protestant workers may be more likely to +be unemployed and on lower wages than a worker in London or +Manchester. But they know that they are still only half as +likely to be unemployed as a Catholic living in the next +housing estate. + +The loyalist terror groups have their recruiting grounds in +Unionist working class areas. They feed off the fear that +Protestants will loose their slight privileges over the +Catholics. They encourage sectarian hatred by saying that +Catholics are the main enemy of the Protestants. That is +why Loyalists such as the Ulster Defence Association will +target any Catholics. They have been tricked into +believing that it is Catholics that are the main enemy and +they are all 'legitimate targets'. + +In reality the main enemy for both Catholic and Protestant +workers is the ruling class. They are the people who set +wages, hire and fire, and seek to control peoples' lives in +all areas. For socialists, the most important task is to +unite Catholic and Protestant workers and convince them to +fight together against the bosses. + +This has happened before, for example the Outdoor Relief +Strike in 1932 when Catholics from the Falls Road and +Protestants from the Shankill Road of Belfast fought +together for better conditions for the unemployed. And +more recently in the health service strikes and DSS strikes +against sectarian intimidation throughout the 1980s. + +Partition is not only bad because of the way that Northern +nationalists are treated. It also has an effect in the +South. As Connolly predicted partition led to "a carnival +of reaction, North and South". + +For most of the history of the state, politics in the South +has been dominated by Fianna Fil and Fine Gael. There is +hardly a political difference between the two. The +influence of the conservative Catholic Church has until +recently determined social legislation. In the South the +carnival is winding down, but in the North it is still +going at full belt. + +It is because of this that anarchists are opposed to the +deletion of Article 2. A socialist perspective needs to be +heard. The question of partition, and sectarian state must +be dealt with properly by socialists or it will not be +solved. + +NATIONALISTS + +Anarchists do not support the nationalist point of view. +This will be put forward by Sinn Fin, the Irish National +Congress, Neil Blaney and such like. They will be fighting +for a united capitalist Ireland. Socialists will not get +much chance to be heard. We will be told that, yet again, +'labour must wait'. + +We are not struggling for a united capitalist Ireland. In +any campaign we will be putting forward the socialist +perspective that we are against partition because it fans +the flames of sectarianism. In its place we want a +socialist 32 county Republic uniting both Protestant and +Catholic workers. + +Unfortunately at the moment anarchists cannot set the +political agenda. Our influence is far too small. Most of +the time we have to react to events as they occur. We +helped to win the referenda on travel and information last +year but we recognise that the main event that triggered +the referenda was government action. They injuncted the 14 +year old girl and caused the "X" case. It was people's +reaction to this issue that forced the changes in the +constitution. + +Likewise with a referendum to change Articles 2 and 3. +While we would prefer to be involved in widespread united +strike action of Protestants and Catholics, arguing for +socialism, we cannot do so at the moment. If there is to +be a referendum we will use it as an opportunity to argue a +socialist perspective. This is an opportunity to argue a +socialist answer and it should not be missed. + +Andrew Blackmore + + + ********** Peace '93 ******** + from Workers Solidarity No39 + [1993] + +DUBLIN SUNDAY MARCH 28TH. On a rainy +afternoon about 20,000 people (Irish Times +estimate) crowd O'Connell Street to protest +at the deaths of two children, Jonathan +Ball and Tim Parry. At the fringes of the +rally a small group carry pictures of some +other victims of violence. Fergal +Carahers's widow holds a placard saying +"also, remember, British soldiers killed my +husband". Others hold pictures of Majela +O'Hare, Aiden McAnespie, Seamus Duffy, +Karen Reilly and other victims of security +force violence in the North. + +A small section of the crowd reacts angrily and +begins to heckle them shouting "out, out, out!". +Gardai move in quickly to grab the offending +placards. In death as in life it seems that some +are more equal then others. + +The Peace 1993 movement was set-up after the +Warrington bombings as people reacted angrily to +the killing of innocent children. Their efforts +to distance themselves from politics have not +been entirely successful. Attempting to mould +the peace movement in their own image were New +Consensus and the Peace Train Organisation. + +These organisations are little more then fronts +for the Democratic Left, Workers Party and others +who see the IRA as the incarnation of all evil. +They are partly financed by the British +government, through the Northern Ireland Office +(see 'Peace train runs out of steam' Workers +Solidarity 33). The people involved in Peace +1993 events have the best of motives and are +sickened by the violence on all sides. +Unfortunately they are been used. + +GANGSTERS AND PSYCHOPATHS? + +Peace 1993 has started with the analysis we are +offered again and again by our rulers and the +media. Paramilitaries, especially republican +ones, are portrayed as gangsters and psychopaths +used and manipulated by cynical "godfather's of +crime". It is because of the IRA (we are told) +that "normal democratic politics" cannot proceed. +If they were to lay down their arms everything +would be Hunky-Dory. Unfortunately this is not +the case. Indeed the ceasefire of 1975 between +the British government and the IRA was broken +unilaterally by the British. They used the +opportunity to conduct raids and searches for +arms, and provoked the republicans in every way +possible. The ceasefire was not signed by the +loyalist gunmen who stepped up their sectarian +campaign. + +Sinn Fin's electoral support is 10% in total and +30% among Northern Ireland Catholics, +concentrated in the working class areas of West +Belfast and Derry and among small farmers in the +border counties. The IRA have no difficulty in +recruiting young Catholic workers and unemployed +and will continue to do so. They are not the +problem, they are a product of the real problem. + +This is the Northern Ireland State. There can be +no "normal politics" in Northern Ireland. This +is a State founded on blatant sectarianism and +the repression of the minority. Catholics are +still twice as likely to be unemployed as their +Protestant neighbours (according to the +government's own Fair Employment Agency). This +is combined with day-to-day harassment by the +security forces and the recent acceleration of +sectarian attacks. These are the conditions that +make it very unlikely that the IRA will just +disappear. + +POLITICS OR POND LIFE? + +The IRA are a response to a State that was a +model in sectarianism. The British State +succeeded in buying off Protestant workers with +marginal privileges. They created the +reactionary ideology of unionism. Normal +politics in Northern Ireland is illustrated +graphically by the activities of the Belfast city +council which recently took another giant step +into the dark ages when it renewed it's ban on +over 18s films on Sundays. The normal politics +of this council chamber was described as "more +like pond-life then politics" by one recently +resigned SDLP councillor. + +As long as the British occupation continues and +as long as unionism is propped up by them, so- +called normal politics in Northern Ireland +remains in the realm of sick humour. The IRA are +not to blame for the situation in the North. But +they will never be able to change it. + +The armed struggle over the last 20 or so years +has done little more then irritate the British +and Irish governments. A small guerrilla army +will never defeat the combined resources of the +British and Southern Irish States. Like all +small guerilla armies they are elitist and +unanswerable to those they claim to represent. +The only role they offer Catholic workers is to +cheer on from the sidelines. + +No group of this nature no matter, how brave or +well armed, will ever set us free. Ultimately +the armed struggle is no substitute for mass +action. The only way to fundamentally change +things is by uniting workers North and South of +all religions and none to defeat the bosses, +orange and green, and build a secular worker's +republic. + +WINNING SUPPORT ...FOR MORE REPRESSION? + +The so-called economic bombing campaign in +Britain is another reflection of the IRA's +political bankruptcy. Any serious socialist +anti-imperialist group would attempt to enlist +the support of British workers against their own +ruling class. The IRA's simplistic strategy is +that they can bomb them into submission by +causing massive economic damage. In fact it +alienates British workers and makes the +introduction of anti-Irish laws like The +Prevention of Terrorism Act that bit easier. + +And it has to be said that the IRA know well that +the authorities will occasionally ignore or delay +a bomb warning in order to whip up anger at the +Provos. With this knowledge it has to be said +that the IRA take a very cavalier attitude +towards the lives of ordinary people every time +they plant a bomb in a shopping mall or railway +station. It would not be unreasonable to ask if +their bombing of Warrington amounts to +manslaughter. + +The economic bombing campaign of the last 20 +years from the Birmingham pub bombs, through the +attacks on Downing Street, the stock exchange and +the recent massive attack on the Nat West tower +have not shaken the British government's resolve. +Despite the cost (the Damage from the Nat West +bomb is estimated at 3-500 million or about 1/10 +of the annual bill for running the North for a +year) they still hang on. + +MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN THE LEGION OF MARY! + +Anyone waiting eagerly to hear radical ideas from +the IRA's political wing, Sinn Fin after the +slight relaxation of Section 31 (of the +Broadcasting Act) forced on RTE can stop holding +their breath. Take womens' rights for example. +At this year's Ard Fheis a motion was put forward +committing them to support a woman's right to +choose abortion. One delegate (Daisy Mules from +Derry) in support of the motion said that "the +struggle for human rights and democracy must +include womens' rights which includes the right +to choose". + +The party's ruling Ard Chomhairle had different +ideas. Tom Hartley claimed that existing policy +was "the most progressive held by any political +party in the country" (Not true, of course, both +Democratic Left and the Worker's Party have gone +further in their limited support for abortion +rights). Gerry Adams claimed that to change +policy "would be the biggest mistake we could +make this weekend". The motion was defeated (An +Phoblacht/Republican News 25th February). + +Sinn Fin's politics continue to be based around +a desperate attempt to make friends with right +wing nationalist elements like Fianna Fil TD +Michael Noonan and the SDLP 'grassroots'. This +strategy has failed totally and their vote in the +South remains minute. + +The truth is that neither Peace 1993 nor the +republicans can change things. Their simplistic +solutions of "Lets all put down our guns and be +pals" (unless we happen to have uniforms) or that +of a united capitalist Ireland underline the lack +of ideas of both organisations. Not only have +they no solutions they haven't even begun to ask +the right questions. + +WORKERS' ACTION + +Our solution is not quite so simple. It is a +longer and more difficult route, but it is the +only one which will work. It involves uniting +workers in Ireland to fight for a united +anarchist republic. + +In the short-term this means supporting and +building, where possible, united action against +the bosses. Also where united struggles do take +place trying to make connections showing how the +only way to real unity against the bosses is to +oppose partition which is used to keep Protestant +and Catholic workers apart. In the long-term it +means fighting both British imperialist +occupation of Northern Ireland and our own native +bosses and Southern clericalist laws. The only +way to do this is through massive united class +struggle. There are no short-cuts on the road to +freedom. + +Des McCarron + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001108.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001108.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a3d1dc57 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001108.txt @@ -0,0 +1,635 @@ +5 articles + + ** Prisoners Out: Troops out: Talk about what? ** + from Workers Solidarity No 46 + +We welcome the cease-fire. The "peace process", +however, has little to recommend it. It represents +little more than arguments over who exactly will +administer capitalism in Ireland. On issues such as +the release of prisoners or the disbanding of the RUC +there is nothing to be discussed. Both these should +happen unconditionally. The debate over de- +commissioning of IRA weapons is meaningless. All that +the current negotiations are doing is establishing a +pecking order among the parties in the north. + +In 1962 the unionists accepted the IRA's word that Operation +Harvest [the Border Campaign] was over and released prisoners +without requiring decommissioning of arms. The opposition of +the mainstream unionists to a prisoner release now is based +on their opposition to the "peace process", and it's limited +threat of power sharing. Sinn Fein says that the armed +campaign was a political struggle but the British government +classes the prisoners as common prisoners, and so will not +release them now as that would be an admission that they are +really prisoners of war. + +Inhuman conditions + +The refusal to transfer prisoners in Britain to the +north means that many of them remain in grossly inhumane +conditions, in particular in the isolation unit of Wakefield. +Ten of these prisoners have now spent 20 years in British +jails, 20 years of severe hardship not only for them but also +for their families. Six of these ten were convicted of +charges less serious than murder. All the prisoners should +be released immediately and unconditionally. + +The continued unacceptability of the RUC - a sectarian +police force - was underlined by events around July 12th. +Earlier that week, in Belfast, a number of Catholics had +their houses petrol bombed after a loyalist march through the +Lower Ormeau Road was stopped. The RUC responded to this, +not by going after the loyalists responsible, but by putting +the Lower Ormeau under siege on the 12th to make sure the +loyalists (in the form of the Ballynafeigh District Orange +Lodge) would swagger through a nationalist area +uninterrupted. + +They acted as the paid thugs of loyalism. The RUC sealed off +the Lower Ormeau at 5am, using a force of nearly 150 armoured +jeeps and over 1,000 officers in riot gear. Five hundred +nationalist protesters who tried to reach the Ormeau bridge +were attacked by the RUC, hospitalising four. + +Victim's widow arrested + +On the Lower Ormeau itself the RUC went so far as to +arrest Rosaline McManus, widow of Willie McManus who was one +of five men killed by the UDA/UFF at the Graham's bookies' +shop massacre on the Ormeau Road in 1992. Her 'crime' was to +ask the RUC to ensure that no bands would be playing as the +Orangemen passed the shop. The dead man's sister, who was in +a wheelchair, was pushed down a nearby side street by the +RUC. Camera crews were kept out of the area for three hours. + +However the debate about creating an "acceptable" police +force is one anarchists have little interest in. The RUC +already has the harp on its cap badge. Creating a new police +force that contained many nationalists might get rid of some +of the sectarianism but this new force would still not be +acceptable. + +The problem with the RUC is not just its composition but also +the primary role it shares with every other police force. +This role is the protection of the property of the rich and +the maintenance of order for the government. The southern +Garda or the British police are not dominated by religious +bigots but this has never stopped them being used against +demonstrators or strikers. + +Ludicrous expectations + +Sinn Fein's radical rhetoric has been dropped, joining +any pretence at 'socialist' politics in the dustbin. Their +main demand at present is not for 'Troops Out', or even for +the release of Republican prisoners. Instead we are +requested to protest for 'All Party Talks'. Who can believe +now that Sinn Fein are somehow 'different' from other +political parties? And who still believes that any group of +would-be leaders is interested in real change? Sinn Fein +is calling for Gerry Adams, John Hume, Ian Paisley, John +Alderdice and James Molyneaux, along with a few other "good +men", to sit down and decide the future for the rest of us. + +It would be ludicrous to expect that anything capable of +dealing with the problems faced by ordinary people would +emerge from this cabal. In fact, no small bunch of leaders +can sort out our problems for us (and particularly not that +bunch!!). The problems shared by Catholic, Protestant and +atheist workers will only be solved when we come together, +recognise our common interests, and take over society +ourselves. + +********************************************************** + + ** One year on: Evaluating the Ceasefire ** + +THE IRA CEASEFIRE is approaching its first +anniversary. That year has been striking for two +things, on the one hand the success of the 'peace +process' in turning Sinn Fein from demonised pariahs +to lauded peace makers. On the other hand, the +failure of the process to produce any substantial +gains for the nationalist community. + +Although many British soldiers have been returned to +barracks, only about 800 have left Ireland. The RUC may have +exchanged their machine guns for pistols but they have also +moved into areas they previously feared to patrol. +Harassment of nationalists has continued. Sinn Fein's paper, +An Phoblacht/Republican News, now carries a Peace Monitor +instead of a War News column. + +Every week it reports on beatings, threats & +intimidation directed at nationalists by various sections of +the British war machine. Although prisoners have been +released early in the Republic, no such releases have +occurred in the six counties and, indeed, the number of +prisoners allowed compassionate temporary release has been +reduced. + +In this situation it's not surprising that a minority are +questioning the validity of the ceasefire strategy. Some +left republicans see the ceasefire as a sell-out of a +previous commitment to socialism and anti-imperialism. There +are other republicans who see the ceasefire as a cunning +strategy forced on the British government. They seem to +expect the Sinn Fein leadership to pull a united Ireland out +of the hat at a future stage despite obvious hints to the +contrary by the same leadership. This view fails to realise +that the peace process is a change in strategy rather then a +victory. + +Some things were meant to be + +When looked at in the context of the last twenty five +years the ceasefire not only makes sense but is inevitable. +All other strategies had been exhausted. Britain was not +militarily defeated in the 'years of victory' declared by the +IRA in early 1970s. Likewise, the economic bombing campaign +in Britain and the six counties failed to bring victory. + +The post Hunger-Strike turn to electoral and community +politics represented by Danny Morrison's 'ballot box and +armalite' strategy ground to a halt in the mid-80's. +Although Sinn Fein had a lot of support in the nationalist +ghetto's it was unable to break out of these and attract +significant votes from Catholic working class voters +elsewhere or the Catholic middle class. In the south, +outside of a few council seats it never had any success. + +Once this was realised it became not so much a question of +if, but when an IRA ceasefire would be declared. Talk of +fighting the British army to a standstill is all very well +but when translated into a yearly toll of harassment, deaths +and prisoners the need to move beyond the war of attrition +became dominant. + +Military stalemate + +This has been recognised by Danny Morrison (seen by many +as a hard-liner within the current republican leadership). +On his recent release from prison he told AP/RN "It was +obvious that something was going on, and it might appear +controversial, but it was tacitly understood by many people +that there was a military stalemate developing .... the IRA +had in 1992 exploded a bomb in the City of London followed by +the Bishopsgate bomb in 1993 and the Heathrow mortar attacks +early last year. Despite these prestigious attacks there was +a stalemate on the military front. + +So I think people were mature enough to understand +developments even though the announcement of the cessation +came as a severe shock and ran contrary to all our +instincts." + +The ceasefire was also inevitable in a broader setting. Wars +of 'national liberation' don't end with outright victory and +independence for the nationalist side. They involve a +negotiated settlement. In the Irish context this means one +acceptable to the British state. This has been the pattern +of the settlements in South Africa, El Salvador, Nicaragua +and Palestine in recent years. + +All together now? + +Sinn Fein's has long held a strategy of uniting the +nationalist family against Britain. In this context the +'peace process' has delivered more than any other strategy. +One year ago Sinn Fein were pariahs with virtually no +political allies nationally or internationally of any +stature. Today the man once known as John Unionist (Bruton) +is giving out about the British government stalling in +releasing prisoners. The much dreamed of pan-nationalist +alliance of Sinn Fein, SDLP, Fianna Fil and the Catholic +Church not only exists but seems to include Fine Gael, Labour +and even a somewhat hesitant Democratic Left! Eamonn Dunphy +has argued in the 'Sunday Independent' that it is dangerous +to continue to demonise Sinn Fein! A world turned upside +down, unimaginable twelve months ago. + +This national success has been matched internationally. +Gerry Adams has not only been allowed a visit to the US, but +with John Hume has sung a duet of "The town I knew so well" +for Bill Clinton. What's more both Bill Clinton and the icon +of sacrifice of the 1980's, Nelson Mandela, have publicly +given out to the British Government for dragging its heels. +All that's missing is a Noble peace prize for Adams (and he's +actually been awarded a lesser peace prize by Swiss +industrialists). + +Pan-nationalist alliance + +Unionism has become more fragmented and isolated. No +significant section of the Tories opposes the peace process +and no major loyalist mobilisations against the process have +been organised in the six counties. The British state has +not yet fulfilled Sinn Fein wishes, by becoming "persuading" +unionists to accept the inevitability of a united Ireland, +but they have pretty much said that as far as the peace +process goes the unionist veto is dead. + +So the peace process has achieved what the armed +struggle failed to. The pan-nationalist alliance exists, +with Gerry Adams at the head of it. Britain is +internationally isolated and seen to be dragging its heels. +Unionism is isolated to the point where small sections are +willing to consider direct talks with Sinn Fein. But even in +the most optimistic forecast of its dividends there are many +republicans who are wondering, is this it, is this all? The +answer from the Sinn Fein leadership would seem to be 'yes'. +To quote Morrison's' interview again "one thing is certain we +are not going to end up with a pre-1969 Stormont solution. It +is going to be much more radical than that." + +A mystic vision of a united Ireland is not what drives most +republican activists. They became activists because +circumstances which included constant harassment, high +unemployment and poor housing compel them to fight the +sectarian system that created these conditions. They are +activists because when at the end of the 60's they and others +took part in peaceful attempts to reform this system they +were first batoned and then shot off the streets. + +All has changed, or has it? + +But even if the peace process resulted in British +withdrawal tomorrow, few of these conditions would change. +Decent housing and decent jobs are no more likely in a 32 +county Ireland with Gerry Adams as Taoiseach. The 'success' +story of South Africa illustrates this point. The most +ambitious scheme of the post-apartheid government is to +provide fresh water to a sizeable percentage of squatter +towns by the year 2000. The reason cited for the lack of +ambition is lack of money. + +Yet in both South Africa and Ireland enough wealth +exists to make a massive difference to the way most of us +live. But it needs to be taken out of the hands of the +wealthy and put into the hands of the workers. Gerry Adams +may scoff at the Irish left but it is only a united working +class that can drive the British state out, and usher in a +better life for all. The all-singing, all dancing 'peace +process', sponsored by Donald Trump and Bill Clinton may look +good but at the end of the day what can it deliver? + +Even the basic demand of British withdrawal cannot be met by +the peace process or any other nationalist based strategy. +This can only be won in one of two circumstances. Firstly if +the British state decides it no longer has any interest in +staying and is satisfied that it can withdraw and leave +stability behind. It is unlikely to do this in the short +term, as most northern Protestants want it to stay, and it is +wary of the destabilisation they could cause in the event of +withdrawal. + +Telling lies + +It is also wary of withdrawal undermining its +credibility in Britain. In the course of its 25 year war it +lied to the British working class about what was going on. +Republicans were portrayed as psycho-gangsters, terrorising +even their own communities. To admit that it lied about +Ireland means that it will be less able to convince its own +population that sections of British society that dare to +fight back are common criminals. + +During the 1984 miners strikes Thatcher referred to the +striking miners as "the enemy within", and they received the +sort of media coverage familiar to Irish republicans. They +also received the attention of the SAS, often dressed in +police uniforms, although in this case they were content with +kicking the shit out of miners rather then killing them. The +anti-Poll Tax rioters were also portrayed as criminals by the +media. The rule of the British state in Britain as well as +Ireland is dependant on most of the population of Britain +trusting it. Admittance of the true facts of its Irish war +threaten this. + +The only other way the British state will leave Ireland +is when it is forced out. The IRA could not achieve this, it +was incapable of defeating the British army. Withdrawal will +only happen in the face of a united working class in Ireland, +supported by vast sections of the British working class. +Creating this unity requires an entirely different strategy +than anything Sinn Fein could pursue, it requires a break +with nationalist politics. + +Andrew Flood + +********************************************************* + + ** What's happening with Unionism? ** + +THE 12th OF JULY, always a high point of tension, was +used this year by the 'respectable' unionist parties +to try to provoke the IRA into breaking the ceasefire. +Nothing made this clearer than the events surrounding +the attempts of Orangemen in Portadown to march +through the Garvaghy Road nationalist estate. The +ceasefire was already under strain from the release of +Lee Clegg, and unionist politicians were quick to +seize on the confrontation there as an opportunity to +push republican patience to breaking point. + +Many people who tuned in to the news late on the evening of +July 10th to hear the wild rumours arising from of the +loyalist siege of Garvaghy Road must have thought they were +hearing the end of the ceasefire. It was said that a mob of +loyalists had broken through RUC lines and stormed the +estate. Unionist leaders were claiming that up to 200 +republicans, some of them armed, had come from Belfast to +protect the estate. In the event neither story proved to be +true. But it was a situation very much like this that +directly sparked the current struggle. + +Historical bigots + +David Trimble and Ian Paisley were at the head of the +mob trying to storm the estate. They were the voices behind +the rumours. Paisley was well aware of the consequences, he +encouraged similar attacks at the end of the 1960's which +prompted some nationalists to move from civil rights marches +to armed struggle. Hugh McLean, a member of UVF who took +part in the random killing of a Catholic in 1966, said to the +RUC when he was charged "I am terribly sorry I ever heard of +that man Paisley or decided to follow him". + +Paisley and Trimble are not alone, Ken Maginnis the once +'respectable' face of unionism has completely discredited +himself by predicting a definite end to the IRA ceasefire on +several occasions. The problem for the unionist politicians +is that, unlike the period of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, when +over a hundred thousand could be mobilised in demonstrations, +now they are unable to organise any significant opposition. +Even Sinn Fein's first visit to Stormont for talks with +British government representatives resulted in a protest of +only a dozen or so individuals. + +Wishing for war + +This failure is also seen in the North Down by-election +where "United Kingdom Unionist" Robert McCartney ran on the +basis of opposition to both the peace process and proposals +for closer ties with the South. He won (which means little +as it was a guaranteed unionist seat) but the turnout was +just 38.7 percent, the lowest in more than 20 years. When +the Unionist leaders talk of an imminent breakdown to the +ceasefire they are not expressing a fear, they are expressing +a wish. + +Not only are the unionists failing to mobilise mass +opposition to the peace process but the loyalist +paramilitaries, for once, are refusing to play along. In the +week after the 12th the political wings of the loyalist +paramilitaries were put to the test by the threat of a body +calling itself the 'Protestant Defence Force' to strike +against Catholics it thought responsible for arson attacks on +Orange halls. + +Far from playing along, both the PUP and UDP came out against +it. David Irving of the PUP warned against perpetuating the +cycle of sectarian violence, Gary McMicheal of the UDP +pointed out that the Combined Loyalist Military Command would +take a "dim view" of anyone breaking the ceasefire. + +The tail that wags the dog + +Parts of the left have got somewhat over excited by the +new prominence of the PUP and the UDP, seeing them either as +a cunning proto-fascist plot or a left-wing break with +unionism. Their emergence and willingness to talk with +nationalists and the left is significant. David Irving has +spoken at meetings with the Communist Party, Militant Labour, +and this year addressed the Dublin Council of Trade Unions. + +However there is a long tradition of working class loyalists +complaining about being sold out by ruling class unionism +without breaking from sectarianism in the course of doing so. +Given, in particular, the horrific killings carried out by +some of the prominent figures in the PUP/UDP it is correct to +be cautious but their current complaints provide evidence of +the growing tensions within unionism. + +Loyalty's reward + +Among working class loyalists there is growing awareness +that loyalty to the British crown has delivered less, in some +cases, than the armed rebellion of the republicans. The +biggest thing the British state gave in return for their +loyalty was guns to kill Catholics with. + +A Health Profile of the Greater Shankill Area, which was +published in June, showed + +-> Only one third of men in the district described their +health as good compared with 60% in Belfast overall. + +-> Male unemployment in the area is 40%, compared with a +Belfast average of 19%. The female rate is 35%, compared +with an average of 11% in the entire city. + +-> Over 80% of pupils in the Shankill left school without +any qualifications, compared with two thirds in Belfast +overall. + +-> Only 1 per cent were educated to degree level, +compared to 9% in the whole city. + +-> Just one in 12 children attended a grammar school compared +with an average of one in four in Belfast. + +Sinn Fein can't do it + +Sinn Fein, because of their nationalist politics, will +always be unable to attract support from significant numbers +of Protestant workers. The most they can do is call on them +to "see sense". Again, to quote Morrison on his release from +prison: "...part of our analysis is that the unionist +community is more in advance of the unionist leadership which +hasn't produced a De Klerk, someone who is imaginative and +courageous enough to say, 'we're going to have to deal here, +we're going to have to settle and accept that everyone is +going to have to compromise'." + +This pretty much paraphrases 1994 Ard Fheis speech by +Gerry Adams, in which he also called for a "Protestant De +Klerk". This represents the limits of republican thinking +towards the Protestant working class. They may be able to +recognise that Protestant workers have been tricked but they +are unable to appeal to them on the grounds of common +interest, as this would be a fundamental break with the +politics of nationalism. Such an appeal would also be +something that the nationalist bosses in Ireland and Bill +Clinton would not be keen on. + +There can not be a loyalist socialism. Loyalism means +loyalty to the ruling class of Britain and Northern Ireland. +For this reason it is wrong to see the PUP or UDP as +socialist, or even close to socialism. A socialist movement +requires support from all sections of the working class and a +break with orange and green politics. The ceasefires have +made it a little easier to put forward this viewpoint, it is +up to all of us to make the best use of this opportunity. + +Joe Black + +********************************************************* + + ** An Anarchist strategy ** + +WHILE WELCOMING the ceasefire we don't expect the +"peace process" to lead to much. Sinn Fein's politics +offer little more to Northern workers, as a class, +than the politics of the fringe loyalist groups. Both +aspire to getting a better deal for the poor and +oppressed in their communities but neither are capable +of delivering, as they are limited to rhetorical +appeals to the workers of the other side to "see +sense". Neither can offer a way forward because +neither can unite workers across the sectarian divide +in a common struggle. + +Anarchism, at the moment, is a very much smaller force +in Ireland then even the fringe loyalist groups, but it does +offer a way forward. We argue for working class self- +activity that appeals not to politicians or priests as allies +but to workers everywhere, in Ireland, in Britain and +internationally. But this unity cannot be based on just +'bread and butter issues'. In the past Catholic and +Protestant workers have united in common fights to get more +from the bosses. The largest and better known examples of +this are + +->1919 Engineering strike when the mostly Protestant +workforce of Harland and Wolff elected a strike committee +that happened to be mostly Catholic. + +->1932 Outdoor Relief strike when the unemployed of the +Falls and the Shankill rioted in support of each other, and +against the police. + +Both these were broken by the unionist bosses convincing +Protestant workers that it was all a 'Fenian' trick and that +their real interests lay in loyalism. Look at the poverty +figures for the Shankill road today and you can see who was +really tricking who. But the bosses' trick worked and +economic unity crumbled, to be replaced by a vicious pogrom +and the expulsion of Catholics and left-wing Protestants from +the shipyards in 1919 and sectarian rioting in 1933. + +For this reason, the idea we can wish the division of +the working class in the north away by simply talking about +wages and living conditions is a fantasy. More recently +there has been unity in support of the nurses' pay claim, +against health service cuts and against sectarian +intimidation in Housing Executive and Dept. of Social +Security offices. All of these instances are heartening. +Unfortunately little permanent unity has been built upon +these successes because of a failure to confront 'communal +politics'. + +Protestant workers have to reject loyalism and unionism as +ruling class ideologies. They have to see their allies as +being workers who happen to be Catholic, north and south, and +their enemies as the loyalist bosses and the British state. +This is no easy break to make but the big benefit of the +ceasefire is that it is now easier then it was a year ago. + +No to the bosses Orange or Green + +Catholic workers have a similar break to make. The +politics of both the SDLP and Sinn Fein are essentially about +extending the southern state northwards. This would have the +benefit of ending rule by sectarian bigots (although the +southern Garda are no more keen on the working class then +their northern counterparts) but that's about it. Many +workers in the South have spent a good part of the last +decade fighting the power of the Catholic church, from its +influence on the legal system to its covering up of child +abusing priests and enslavement of unmarried mothers in the +Magdalen laundries. + +Apart from that, the recent Dunnes Stores strike +demonstrates that the gobshite Southern bosses are every bit +as mean as their northern equivalents. It also demonstrates +they can be beaten, if workers stand together. + +Workers' unity against the bosses is required but the +form that unity takes is also vital. The unity must be +political as well as economic. The RUC, the border, clerical +control of schools and hospitals, and laws restricting +divorce, gay sex and access to abortion all need to be +opposed. + +We cannot rely on a few "good men" to sort out the +situation for us. That is the mistake most of the socialist +movement made this century and is the reason why we had +'socialist' dictatorships like the USSR and China on the one +hand, and 'socialist' sell-outs like the Labour Party or +Democratic Left on the other. There is, however, a different +current in socialism, based not on good leaders but on the +self-organisation of the working class. + +This self-organisation is what anarchism is all about. +We don't believe the way forward lies in finding the right +leader, whether it's Gerry Adams, Tony Blair or Lenin. +Instead we see the way forward lying with ordinary people; +taking control of our lives into our own hands, coming +together and starting to fight back. The role of anarchists +is not to assume the leadership of such a process but to +argue for self-activity, encourage it and seek to encourage +those fighting back to unite in an overall struggle against +capitalism and for a new society. + +And that's where you come in. Unlike other left papers, +we won't end every article by telling you the only way +forward is to join the party. What we do say is find out +more about anarchism and look at ways of encouraging self- +activity in the struggles you are involved in. If you decide +you like what we say then please do get in touch and help us +in saying (and doing) it. Above all recognise that the +answer is not getting 'our' leaders into talks but in taking +back control ourselves. + +**************************** + +CHARLIE AND BILL + +"Begrudgers, throwbacks and die hards". That is what +the media called anyone objecting to the official state +visit by Prince Charles. Their consensus had decided that +anyone who would object must be "living in the past". You +would think that the British ruling class had done nothing +at all to stir up the troubles, that Prince Charles +Parachute regiment had never murdered 14 civil rights +marchers on Bloody Sunday. And we were supposed to feel +privileged that a filthy rich parasite was condescending to +have a free holiday here at our expense. + +Not everyone swallowed this forelock touching +embarrassment, orchestrated by the politicians and their +Dublin 4 media friends. 2,000 republicans, socialists, +anarchists and anti-royalists took to the streets of Dublin +on May 31st. The Workers Solidarity Movement played its +part by giving out 5,000 leaflets urging support for the +march, and organising a lively contingent on the night. +Demonstrations like this play a useful role. They +remind us that there are rich and poor, workers and bosses, +rulers and ruled. To recognise this and object to it is not +begrudgery but realism! We know how things are now and we +are declaring we want something better. + +When Bill Clinton comes over on November 30th he should +not be able to live the high life without encountering a +protest or two. It will certainly give heart to dissident +Americans to know that in Ireland there are those who oppose +the US states intervention in other peoples countries and +support for dictatorships in the third world. One question +is whether Sinn Fin will be on the streets or at the +dinner? Will a handshake for Gerry Adams be more important +than taking a stand against injustice? + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001109.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001109.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..44fcb0ac --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001109.txt @@ -0,0 +1,111 @@ + ********** The Easter rising of 1916 ********** + from Workers Solidarity No 33? + [1991?] + +THIS YEAR marks the 75th anniversary of the Easter +Rising. There will be all sorts of commemorations +throughout the country, organised by forces ranging from +Fianna Fil to Sinn Fin. We will hear a lot of talk about +the "spirit of 1916", what does it mean today? + +The rising was heroic. Some would even say stupid. It had little +popular support. Most Irish people at the time believed that Irish men +should be off fighting the Germans. It was widely thought that in +return Home Rule would become a reality. The leaders of the rising +were not too worried about this. They believed that the blood sacrifice +was all that was needed to inspire future generations. + +NATIONALISTS + +The rising itself was led by middle class nationalists. Their one and only +objective was the liberation of the country from British rule. This has +not yet been achieved. Indeed all the major parties, including the +Workers Party, have given up on this. The Anglo-Irish Agreement was +only the most recent attempt to come to terms with partition. For all +the waffle about being the true inheritors of the Rising, not one +government of the Free State has implemented the limited demands of +the rebels. + +The Proclamation declared the following "The Republic guarantees +religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities for all its +citizens and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the +whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all the children of the nation +equally." + +EQUALITY + + +Here we see a general liberal desire for equality. But far from equality, +all we see around us in the Irish Republic is inequality. Workers are +thrown on the dole and expected to live on a pittance while the bosses +make enormous profits and eat in outrageously expensive restaurants. +There are plush new private hospitals while workers get second rate +health care. Women are denied the right to participate fully in society. +Their role as wives and childminders is enshrined in the Constitution. + +Far from cherishing all the children of the nation equally, working class +children are denied the right to attend third level education yet their +parents fork out a fortune in taxes to subsidise the children of the rich. + +NOT SOCIALIST + +Not that the leaders of the Rising were socialist or anything like it. +Their only concern was to get the British out. The new Ireland was +clearly going to be capitalist. The Proclamation calls on all Irish people +to unite, saying that all previous differences which "have divided a +minority from the majority" were "carefully fostered by an alien +government". So the only problem was British domination. + +It obviously was a problem but this perspective totally overlooks the +fact that only three years previously the Irish bosses led by William +Martin Murphy had locked out and starved thousands of Irish +workers. Were the workers now to forget all this and unite with their +enemies? + +JAMES CONNOLLY + +The presence of Connolly did not give the Rising a socialist tinge. +Connolly had clearly decided that socialism should be put in cold +storage. He believed that the World War was a great opportunity to +strike at Britain. Also the defeat in the 1913 Lockout had left the +working class demoralised. Rather than get stuck in and rebuild union +organisation and militancy, Connolly chose to go with the nationalists. +He was not fighting for socialism when he went into the G.P.O. + +The executions following the Rising (rather than the Rising itself) and +the British attempt to introduce conscription set the country alight. +British rule was totally undermined by 1919. The War of +Independence and the First Dil not only showed that the majority of +the people opposed the British, but also highlighted what Sinn Fin +was fighting for. + +IRISH "SOVIETS" + +In many parts of the country land was seized and "Soviets" were +established in many workplaces. These workers wanted more than a +united capitalist Ireland. They wanted the whole set-up changed. +They wanted real control over their lives. But this did not fit into the +policy of uniting all the Irish people. Sinn Fin land courts were +established and the land was handed back to its former owners. The +Countess Markiewicz, one of the heroines of the rising, warned against +the "dangers of social revolution". + +Today Sinn Fin claim, louder than anybody, to be the inheritors of +1916. Without a doubt they are. They carry on the tradition of armed +struggle and the blood sacrifice. Despite all the left wing posturing +they are still nationalists whose aim is to unite all the Irish people +against the British. As in 1916 there are not just "Irish people". There +are Irish workers and Irish bosses, and they have nothing in common. + +A WORKERS REPUBLIC + +The task remains to free the country from British domination. For +Anarchists this can only be done by taking up the struggle as part of +the fight for a Workers Republic. Workers' control and the smashing of +capitalism is our aim. Anything less is not worth fighting for. The real +heros and heroines of Irish history are the workers who fought for this. +The state will not hold commemorations for them. That might only +encourage workers today. + +Eddie Conlon + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001110.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001110.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..84bc6cde --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001110.txt @@ -0,0 +1,495 @@ +4 articles +2nd is Irish struggle for abortion rights (1983 - 1992) +3rd is The Censorship of Abortion Information Act, 1995 +4th is Freedom of choice + + +******** Abortion: A Woman's Right to Choose ********** + from Workers Solidarity No 34 + (1992) + +Anarchists believe that every woman has the +right to choose an abortion when faced with a +crisis pregnancy irrespective of the reasons for +the abortion. At least 40,000 Irish women have +abortions in England every year at present. +Women worldwide have always sought to control +their fertility through abortion no matter how +difficult it is for them to get access to abortion +and they probably always will. This is because it +is essential for women to be able to control their +own fertility and not to be reduced to the level of +their biological function as child-bearers only if +they are to achieve true equality and liberation. + +At present the Irish Constitution with the the Eight +Amendment reduces women to being equal only to a +completely dependent foetus and it tries to condemn women +to become unwilling incubators. To compare an adult +woman or teenage girl with responsibilities, social +relationships, personal plans, and so on to a completely +dependent foetus is unacceptable. The foetus has no +independent existence without the woman and the decision +about an abortion or a continuation of the pregnancy must +be the woman's decision and no one else's. + +Women choose to have abortions for all kinds of reasons: +poverty, bad health, too many other children, because of +rape or incest or simply because they do not want to have a +child at that point in their lives. We believe that all these +reasons are valid. Women should not have to answer to +anyone, not the church,not the state or even to doctors for +their decision. This raises the question of abortion on +demand. We oppose any kind of decision making process +involving ethics committees or doctors or other variations +on this. A woman must have the right to abortion on +demand. + +The question of free access is a very important one. At +present only those women who can afford both the travel +costs and the operation costs can get an abortion. Abortion +facilities must be made available here in Ireland and they +must be free as all medical services should be. + +Censorship of information on abortion is a totally insulting +attack on womens' most basic rights as thinking human +beings to know what all the options are when they are +faced with a crisis pregnancy. To deny women information, +to take books out of libraries, censor magazines containing +telephone numbers, all these actions treat women as +irresponsible children whose moral decisions need to be +policed by small groups of right wing bigots. + +The hypocrisy of allowing women to go to England for +abortions is no longer acceptable to many Irish people. +Apart from all other considerations, having to raise the +money for the travel and to go isolated and afraid to +another country adds untold trauma to what should be a +fairly simple medical procedure. Abortion facilities must be +made available in Ireland free and without restricted access. + +Anarchists believe that a woman's right to choose also +means the right to choose to have a child and to have +decent housin, child care and welfare facilities available in +order to raise that child in a reasonable way and in order +that her life is not totally given over to child care. At +present with the current housing crisis the almost total +lack of free child care and the lousy welfare payments this is +not a real choice. + +We are opposed to all forms of forced fertility control, +whether it is the state imposing limits on the number of +children a woman can have as in China or the denial of +proper contraceptive and abortion facilities as in this +country. The right to choose means the right to choose not +to have a child or to have a child in circumstances where +that means that neither mother nor child suffer materially +or socially for that decision. + +Anti-abortionists say that abortion is murder. We reject +this argument. The foetus is a potential life only - it is +not comparable to the life of a person of any age or ability +who interacts socially and functions independently. We +don't deny that abortion takes the life of a potential human +being. The right to choose means that it is the woman's +right to choose whether to bring that potential life to full +term or not given the circumstances of her life. As +anarchists we demand that right and we will be active in +the campaign for abortion rights in this country over the +coming months. + +Patricia McCarthy + +*** Irish struggle for abortion rights (1983 - 1992) *** + from Workers Solidarity No 35 + (1992) + +IN 1983 anti-choice campaigners pushed the government +into holding a referendum on abortion. The Eight +Amendment was then passed by 33% of the electorate (the +turn out was 54.6%). Abortion was already prohibited +under the 1861 Offences Against the Persons Act. The +Eight Amendment copperfastened this ban preventing any +reforming legislation. + +SPUC's next step was to take those clinics which +provided non-directive counseling to court. In the +Hamiliton Judgement of 1987 the High Court placed +injunctions on the Well Women Centre and on Open-Line +Counseling prohibiting them from operating non-directive +counseling services. The clinics failed in their appeal +to the Supreme Court. + +The ruling by Justice Finlay extended the Hamiliton +interpretation by declaring the imparting of any +information relating to the procurement of abortion to +be unlawful. It was this ruling that was then used to +take the Student Unions to court. The Well Woman Centre +and the Open-Line Counseling service then took their +case to the European Court of Human Rights. + +The Defend the Clinics Campaign attempted to get +liberal/left Irish politicians to raise the issue but +many like Emmet Stagg and Micheal D Higgins of the +Labour party refused to give even paper support, +frightened for their Dil seats. + +Student Unions +SPUC continued on the offensive, taking the Union of +Students in Ireland (USI), Trinity College and UCD +Student Union to court. SPUC lost the case initially on +very dubious grounds. There was a large amount of +publicity surrounding the case arising from student +demonstrations outside the courts. At the last moment +the Justice that was supposed to hear the case was +replaced by Irelands only female judge, Justice Mella +Carroll. + +She ruled that all the evidence against the students was +hearsay and so could not be used. This is in spite of +the fact that the students had widely said in newspapers +and interviews that they would provide abortion +information and had included it in Student Union guide +books. The judgement seemed to be a cop out for the +Irish ruling class who did not want to be seen to be +sending students to jail for contempt of court. + +This ruling was appealed by SPUC who won, a temporary +injunction being placed on the Student Unions. The +Students Unions are being brought back to court by SPUC +on July 19th this year in order to have this injunction +made permanent. + +The student union campaign took two turns. The +leadership within the Unions toned down the level of +campaigning on the issue, concentrating solely on +appealing to Europe. Those activists that argued that +the law should be publicly broken were told that we +would be jeopardising the case by angering the judges. +In the end the European Court found that the Students +Unions could not give out abortion information. + +It is still illegal to give out information on abortion. +Within the individual student unions, many anti-choice +groups held referenda aimed at overturning the Unions' +mandate to distribute information. These anti-choice +groups only succeeded in reversing a pro-information +policy in one of the universities, UCD. However they +were defeated in all but one of the Regional Technical +Colleges. Overall, more students voted for giving out +abortion information than against. + +While the Student Union leaders waited for Europe, the +Abortion Information groups in most universities ceased +to exist. Meanwhile the Censorship of Publications Act +was used to ban books and sections of magazines which +contained information on where to get an abortion. +Cosmopolitan and other British magazines now carry a +blank page where ads. for British abortion clinics +should be. Recently the Guardian newspaper was not +distributed because of an advertisement for the Mary +Stopes Clinic. + +In 1991 the Trinity College Right to Information Group +held a public meeting in order to launch a Dublin group. +Following from this the Dublin Abortion Information +Campaign (DAIC) began to meet regularly. Initially they +concentrated on defying the ban in in order to draw more +people into the campaign and to provide information. +More public meetings were held to highlight the issue +and information leaflets were distributed in O'Connell +Street. + +Dublin County Council voted to remove two health books +from the library which contained abortion information. +Though DAIC attempted to replace the book the issue got +very little coverage. DAIC decided to slow down to one +activity a month in order to try and maintain some +interest over a very bleak period. + +On Wednesday February 12th., some of the Irish papers +carried a short piece about an injunction being granted +against a 14 year old alleged rape victim to prevent her +traveling to Britain in order to obtain an abortion. +The case was not yet an issue. DAIC called a picket +for the following Monday and a rally the following +Saturday. Though furious about the case, given the +present climate and the lack of advertising many felt no +more than about 200 would turn up. However 1,000 +people ended up marching to the attorney generals +office. + +Many of those on the march had not been involved in the +campaigning since the 1983 referendum, and quickly +jostling took place as to who would 'in charge' of any +future campaigns. Secret meetings were called by +separate groups of feminists and liberals. Both groups +wanted to exclude the left as much as possible, when in +fact, it was mainly left wing activists who had being +attempting to keep the issue alive for the last 10 +years. + + Following the unexpectedly large turn out of the march, +the press and politicians started to speak out about the +case. One grouping held a silent vigil of the Dil. +DAIC realised that the turnout for the Saturday rally +would be big enough for a march. We hoped for 4,000. +It was this march that put the case right on top of the +political agenda. At least 10,000, mainly young people, +marched and chanted 'Right to Choose'. It was +noticeable that there were only five banners present, +indicating that many people had spontaneously come out. +People were angry. + +Pressure was kept on by almost continual protests the +following week. The first item on the news was reports +of scuffles at the Dil. The Government was coming +under huge pressure. On ThursdayFebruary 20th. the 14 +year old was granted her appeal. The injunction was +lifted and soon after she traveled to Britain in order +to get her abortion. + +These days it's not often that you have such a good +example of how far and how quickly public opinion can +change. A delegate from the Cork Abortion Information +Campaign commented at a recent conferences, that before +the "X" case had arisen, the Cork group met to consider +seeking another referendum on abortion information in +University College Cork. + +Two years earlier UCC, an extremely conservative +university had voted massively against giving out +information. The Cork group felt they would probably +loose but would attempt it anyhow. Then the 14 year old +case happened, and the UCC referendum was won with over +70% supporting abortion information. A week later, +Manooth, the university of the Irish Catholic Clergy +also overturned their policy and voted to distribute +abortion information. + +Similarly, its not often as an socialist involved in +campaigns that you can see how your actions are changing +society for the better. This case is one of the few +exceptions. DAIC consisted of a small group of +activists, perhaps 30 in all. Yet when things started +happening, when the case arose, we were there, ready and +capable of responding. Without DAIC, it is unlikely +that the march would have been organised or that the +protests would have continued for so long. Without that +pressure, its unlikely that the 14 year old would have +been able to travel to Britain. + +A section of the feminists called a conference in order +to launch the Repeal the Eight Amendment Campaign. +(R8AC). DAIC affiliated to it. The Conference itself +was jumbled and frustrating. Those calling it had a +fixed agenda and were very hostile to any democratic +attempt to amend it through motions. Many activists +found the actual conference demoralising and +antagonistic. It did however lead to the setting up of +a campaign, weakly based in the cities. + +Most of the co-ordinating committee of REAC wanted to +run a media campaigning and set about getting sponsors +and important speakers. They however ran into troubles. +Besides Democratic Left, no other political party would +come near it, expressing caution and wanting to wait and +see. + +Many of Ireland's womens organistations also refused to +get involved. Despite efforts the media refused to pick +up on press statements. At the moment the main weakness +of the campaign is that is still attempting to become an +'important' force at the expense of organising viable +local action groups. + +REAC needs to stop looking to the politicians and the +media to fight the campaign for us. Stunts and +theatrical events do have a place in a campaign but they +should be a backup to establishing a mass basis on the +ground throughout the 26 counties. REAC has failed to +draw in new forces in Dublin to campaign against +Maastracht. + +If we are to put repealing the 8th amendment on the +political agenda we need more then stunts. We need to +involve huge numbers of people through activity in the +unions and the community. We need to construct action +groups based around activities in all areas. This must +become the first priority of the campaign. We forced +the government to overturn the injunction when 10,000 +marched in Dublin. We need to get out similar numbers +if we are to have any hope of forcing the government to +hold a referendum scrapping the 8th amendment. + +*************** + +** The Censorship of Abortion Information Act, 1995 ** + from WS 45 (1995) + +In the autumn of 1992, the people of Ireland voted +to legalise abortion information. More than two +years later, the government has finally introduced +a Bill to 'regulate' this information. Ray +Cunningham examines it. + +Even though an clear majority (60%) voted in favour +of abortion information, the legal position on the +distribution of this information remained confused. +Counselling services and information groups, +fearful of being taken to court, erred on the side +of caution when it came to abortion, and so the +news that a Bill was being introduced was welcomed +in many quarters. At last, the threat of +injunction would be lifted. As the Bill was +published, however, it became clear that it was +more restrictive than many could have imagined. + +Conditions + +Some of the conditions were expected, and had been +part of Brendan Howlin's widely leaked draft Bill +in 1994. Bans on the advertising of abortion +services, and the distribution of unsolicited +information (eg., through posters and leaflets) +were predictable. Though often covered by other +laws, like the Litter Act, no political party wants +to be seen as 'soft' on abortion, and these bans +gave them some cover from the anti-abortion groups. +The Noonan Bill, however, goes much further. + +Doctors will be allowed to give women the addresses +and phone numbers of clinics in Britain, in the +context of counselling, but they will not be able +make an appointment or other arrangement for women +with these clinics. This means that important +medical information may not be directly passed on +from the doctor to the clinic, with possibly +dangerous consequences. This intrusion into the +doctor/patient relationship is backed up with +Garda powers of search and seizure and criminal +penalties for breaking the law (previously, only a +civil injunction could be used) in case any doctor +is foolish enough to think that the health and +welfare of his/her patients is more important than +Des Hanafin's Catholic morals. + +Appeasement + +The reasoning behind this legislative doublethink +is very simple - there aren't any votes in +abortion. Politicians know that, apart from the +relatively small groups at opposite ends of the +pro-choice/anti-abortion spectrum, few people +regard it as an important issue. Generally, all +that is required is that they be seen to be +neutral, and they will be praised for their +statesmanlike qualities. In reality, they are far +from neutral. The very publication of this Bill +was seen as a boost for the progressive agenda, but +its draconian measures received very little +coverage. + +Noonan is set to further appease right-wing +Catholics. It was pointed out that, outside of +Dublin, there are very few pregnancy counselling +services, but this is to be remedied. With the +only counselling requirement in the Bill being that +abortion is not advocated, funding is likely to be +approved for Cura, a Catholic anti-abortion +counselling service, to train their counsellors and +provide a national service. At least they have +plenty of practice in not advocating abortion! + +Democracy? + +Noonan shouldn't be singled out, though. All +politicians have become very skilled at not dealing +with things. Not dealing with divorce, not dealing +with contraception, not dealing, in fact, with +anything that might offend those fabled +'grassroots'. It has reached the point where Maire +Geogehan-Quinn is praised for her "courage" in +legalising homosexuality - 5 years after the +European Court ordered it! The wait for abortion +in Ireland will be even longer, at least if we wait +passively for the government to do anything. + +Since the 1992 Supreme Court ruling in the 'X' case +that, in certain circumstances, abortion was legal +in Ireland, the political parties have been praying +desperately that everyone will just forget about it +because they know that, on that issue at least, +they can't please everybody - either abortion is +legal, in whatever circumstances, or it isn't - +there is no middle ground to find. Of course, the +fact that in 1992, people voted against rolling +back the Supreme Court judgement, and said that the +threat of suicide was sufficient grounds to have an +abortion, gives us more than an inkling as to the +wishes of the people. Having a government that +respected the wishes of the people, though, is too +crazy a thought to be taken seriously. + +*********************************************** + + Freedom of choice + +IN 1992, the Supreme Court ruled that, in some +circumstances, women were allowed to have an +abortion in Ireland. Yet over 4,000 women a year +still have to travel to England for an abortion. +Again in 1992, we voted to allow freedom of +information about abortion, yet the Dil passes +laws that are extremely restrictive and intrusive, +in defiance of our wishes. Where is our freedom? + +Freedom + +The Workers Solidarity Movement has always +supported a woman's right to control her own body, +and have campaigned for this right as part of the +pro-choice movement. We believe that control over +one's fertility is an essential part of individual +freedom. + +Personal freedom is expressed in other ways - in +asserting your sexuality, heterosexual, bisexual, +lesbian, gay, whatever it may be - in asserting +your culture, when, like that of the Travellers, it +is ghettoised and stigmatised. The freedom to be +your own person, and take pride in yourself, is +often lacking in our society. + +Equality + +But freedom must have its limits. Freedom to have +sex doesn't mean freedom to rape - the freedom of +one must be balanced by the equal freedom of all. +Nowhere is this balance more obviously lacking than +in economics. Capitalism is based on the freedom +to acquire as much money as possible, but where +there is wealth there is also poverty. The +fortunes of the Smurfits, the Goodmans, the +Bransons, are balanced by the millions that go to +bed hungry each night, the millions more that die +every year as a direct result of poverty. + +Even in Ireland, part of the industrialised, +developed West, with the highest rate of economic +growth in the European Union, there is poverty. +How many people sleep rough on the streets of our +cities, how many barely scrape by from week to +week, how many thousands are unemployed? Too many. + +Anarchism + +Anarchism offers a way forward. Society organised +from below, not from the top down by obscenely rich +industrialists, self-serving politicians, or the +'benevolent' dictatorship of the party. Power +cannot be used against us if we keep it in our own +hands, and use it to create a society based, not on +the freedom to exploit others, nor on a forced +equality that destroys individuality, but on real +freedom, real socialism, real anarchism. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001111.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001111.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b6927bdf --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001111.txt @@ -0,0 +1,668 @@ +3 articles +2nd is 'Sex, Class & Womens oppression +3rd is 'Equality for some women' + +*************** Why Women are Oppressed *************** + from Workers Solidarity No 36 + +WE ARE NOW eight years from the year 2,000. +Approximately 14,000 years ago the first +agricultural communities, and with them human +civilisation, were founded. Humanity is 600 +generations old. + +We hold the position of 'most successful species' because +unlike animals we have been able to modify our +environment to suit our needs. To early humans nature +was a powerful and frightening force, the bringer of +plagues, storms and droughts. Nowadays we control our +environment to such an extent that nature is no longer a +demon spirit or an instrument of the wrath of god. In +much of the world nature is way down on our list of +worries, it is more likely to fear us. As the capability to +control the world around us has increased from the first +primitive farmers to the high-technology multinationals, +the way we perceive the world around us has also +changed. So has the way we perceive each other. + +One thing, however, that has remained constant +throughout this time is that in the majority of societies +half our species (women) has been held in an inferior +position to the other half (men). Why is this the case? +The answer to this question should explain two things. +It should explain why today with all our equal rights +legislation women are still second class citizens, and +secondly it should indicate the mechanisms and tactics we +have to use to achieve womens' liberation. If we know +what the problem is, we can find a solution. + +CIVILISATION DAWNS + +Early humans were hunter/gatherers living in nomadic +communities, living from hand to mouth. The discovery of +agriculture lead to huge changes in the organisation of +humanity. Agriculture was the point at which +civilisation began. This is because there are a number of +ways in which an agricultural community is different from +a hunter/gatherer clan. Communities remain in the same +spot. Agriculture can support more people than +hunting/gathering so communities get larger. Farming +leads to the development of new technology. New skills +lead to a greater division of labour. Individuals specialise +in certain types of work, be it tool making, leatherwork or +defence. + +However the key difference is that farmed land becomes a +valuable resource. Land provides a surplus, that is land +provides more food than is necessary for day to day +survival. More importantly, land will provide this +resource in the future, for the next generation. None of +this is true of the herd of wild animals persued by the +hunter-gatherer. The concept of ownership developed. + +So civilisation began when man began to acquire wealth +in the form of land, food and animals. If a rich man wants +to ensure that his offspring alone inherit his wealth, he +must be sure that his wife is only mating with him. Thus, +he has to be in a position of control over her. He needs +to portray this as part of the 'natural order'. To +accommodate this need society, through the use of +religion, developed a rationale to justify the inferior +position of woman. + +GOD"S CHOSEN RULERS + +Rulers have always been good at rationalising unfair +practices, take for example the idea of the 'divine right of +kings'. Popular for centuries, the church and state +argued that kings and queens were appointed by God. +The status quo was natural and good, any opposition to it +was evil and doomed to eternal hell. These days kings +don't have much power, which is why not many people +rush to describe Charles and Di as God's chosen rulers. + +In much the same way, it was necessary to have women +inferior to men to ensure inheritance rights. In order to +keep women in this position a whole mythology of women +as second class humans was developed. It was the +accumulation of a surplus and the desire of a minority to +monopolise it that lead to the class division of society and +to the oppression of women. + +Now we've established the motive and the cover story, +but of what relevance is the status of women in early +history to their status today. As capitalism evolved it +built on the existing model of the family, adapting it to +suit it's own interests. Assurance of inheritance rights +isn't as necessary today, however the family provides +other services which capitalism does require. Initially, +when the industrial revolution first began men, women +and children were drafted wholesale into the factories. + +DEATH IS NOT ALWAYS ECONOMIC + +Quickly, however, the bosses realised that this was not +the most economic way to run the system. The labour +force was weak and the children who were to be next +generation of workers were dying in the mills and mines. +The solution was was to be found in the family. + +Before the rise of capitalism society was based around a +system of slaves/serfs and kings or lords. The problem +with slaves or serfs is that the owner must provide food, +basic health care and subsistence in old age, i.e. maintain +the slave at a cost for those times when he or she is not +productive. A much more cost efficient way to keep a +workforce is through the nuclear family. In this scenario, +it is up to the family to provide itself with food, shelter, +healthcare, look after the elderly and young (who will +provide the next crop of workers). Within this family unit +it is normally the woman who fulfils the functions of +housekeeper, nurse, childminder and cook. + +There are two knock-on effects of women staying at home +minding the family. Firstly they are not financially +independent. They do not earn any money and are +dependant on income received from their partners. +Because nobody gets paid for rearing a family it's status +as an occupation is at the bottom of the ladder and +because women are financially dependant on their +husbands it means they, in the past, have had little input +into the major decisions affecting the family. + +ISOLATION + +This led to women having no input into the decisions +affecting society. A woman's place was in the home. A +second effect of women's position in the family is that +they are often isolated from each other and from society +in general. Unlike a paid worker they have little +opportunity of meeting and sharing experiences with +others in the same situation on a daily basis, and do +something about it. They, on their own, have little +power to change the conditions they find themselves in. + +Today the family is a trap for women as much as it was for +women at the beginning of the industrial revolution. +Women are paid on average 2/3 of the wage that men are +paid, so within any partnership it obviously makes more +sense for the woman to undertake responsibility for the +care of children. It is for this reason, common sense +rather than sexism, that that the vast majority of part- +time workers are women, juggling two jobs at the same +time. + +Having said that, why is it that women are among the +lower paid in society? Is it necessary for capitalism to +exploit women workers to this degree? The simple answer +to that is sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. The only +important difference between a male and female worker is +that the female has the potential to get pregnant, that is +the potential to want maternity leave and need creche +facilities. In other words they are slightly more +expensive to employ than men. So when women are +asked (illegally!) at job interviews if they intend to +marry, such discrimination has a material basis. An +employer isn't interested on the good of society at large +but in obtaining the cheapest most reliable workforce +possible. + +DISPOSABLE WORKERS + +Historically women have been encouraged to work and +have been accommodated when it suited capitalism. +When there was either a shortage of male labour due to +war as during the 1st and 2nd World Wars or an +expansion of industry as in the dawn of the industrial +revolution or the 1960s. When times are tough, when +recession sets in, women are encouraged back into the +family. + +The conclusion for most socialists is that women's' +liberation can only be lastingly obtained with the +overthrow of capitalism. This is not to say that reforms +should not be fought for at the moment, but to recognise +that some of the gains may be short-term ones which can +be withdrawn. + +This conclusion isn't accepted by everyone concerned with +womens' liberation, and certainly is rejected by large +sections of the feminist movement. A good example of the +alternative analysis can be seen in the following extract +from the British Survey of Social Attitudes (a survey +carried out regularly by an independent body). + +WHO MINDS THE CHILDREN + +It found that the provision of childcare was one of the +impediments preventing women from working. Their +conclusion was that "in the absence of changes in +mens' attitudes, or working hours outside the home +or in their contribution within the family it seems +unlikely that even a greater availability of childcare +outside the home would alter domestic arrangements +greatly. Without these changes, it is conceivable that +many useful forms of work flexibility - that might be +offered to women such as job sharing, career breaks, +special sick leave or term-time working - might +reinforce rather than mitigate the formidable level +of occupational segregation based on gender, to +women's longer-term disadvantage." + +The authors of the survey note that as long as +responsibility for childcare rests with the women they will +remain trapped in the family. They also point out that +concessions to women in the world of work often result in +women being pidgeon-holed into less well paid job. This +already happens in regard to part-time workers who are +paid a lower hourly wage than full-time workers. They +point out that men have to square up to their +responsibility as fathers. The key they emphasise is a +change in mens' attitudes. + +However what was not mentioned is that no matter how +attitudes change, men are as powerless as individuals in +regard to their working conditions as women are. With +all the good will in the world they cannot change their +employer/employee relationship, they cannot adjust their +working hours to suit childcare just as women cannot. A +more fundamental conclusion would be that society at the +moment, capitalism, does not want to accommodate any of +the problems of childcare preferring to leave it up to the +individual to make their own arrangements as best as +they can. + +CONTROL OF OUR BODIES + +It is for this reason that the issue of womens' ability to +control their own fertility is key in obtaining womens' +liberation. That is the fight for abortion rights, for freely +available contraceptives, for 24 hour quality childcare. + +Women will remain as second class citizens as long as they +are relegated to an inferior position in the work force. +They are now in that position because to the bosses they +are an unstable workforce, likely to want pregnancy +leave, likely to come in late if a child is sick, likely to +require a creche or want to work part time. It is because +men in society are seen as the breadwinners that they +have slightly more secure, slightly more dependable jobs. + +It's a vicious circle, because men are in reality better +paid, it makes more sense within the family to assign the +role of main earner to the male and the role of carer to +the female. The only way to permanently get out out of +this circle is to change the system. In a society organised +to make profits for a few, women loose out. In a society +organised to satisfy needs, womens' fertility would no +longer be a limiting factor. + +INTO THE MAINSTREAM + +Women can of course win gains at the moment. In +Ireland women are no longer forced to stop working upon +marriage (though lack of childcare can make it impossible +to continue). Attitudes have changed considerably in the +last thirty years. Most importantly, the position of +women is now an issue. Whereas before it was only +addressed by the few socialist or womens' groups, now it's +taken up in the mainstream media, in chat shows and +newspaper articles. However, any of our new freedoms +are very much dependant on the economic conditions of +the day. So, while in the booming sixties American +women won limited access to abortion, now in recession +those rights are being pushed back inch by inch. + +When the reality is weighed up equal education & job +opportunities and equal pay are limited without free 24 +hour nurseries and free contraception & abortion on +demand. While a small minority of women can buy control +of their own fertility, for the majority family and childcare +is still - as it has always been - the largest problem faced +by women workers. In this argument capitalism won't +concede, it must be defeated. + +Aileen O'Carroll + + ********** Sex, class & Womens oppression ********** + from Workers Solidarity No 36 + +Lavinia Kerwick showed great bravery when +she spoke out about being raped, thousands +took to the streets in support of "X" last +February. Violence and discrimination +against women are still very real. But for the +first time since the early 1980s large numbers +of women want to fight back. Aileen O'Carroll +looks at some of the issues that have arisen. +Can women of all classes share a common +goal? Should women organise separately? Is +there a connection between fighting sexism and +fighting capitalism? + +IT WAS NOT until the French Revolution in 1798, that +it began to be accepted that all men are equal. Until +then the concept was dismissed as irreligious and and +against the 'natural order'. Many of the morals, rules +and rights that society assumes as constant are +actually quite fluid. It is only in the last few decades +that the idea of equality has been extended to include +women. + +Although women still hold a secondary status, the idea of +women as second class citizens is beginning to lose ground. +Changing attitudes in itself are not going to lead to womens' +liberation (all men aren't in fact equal in today's society, though +there is no longer strong ideological opposition to the idea of +equality). However, the freeing of women from the chains of +sexism empowers us to fight for womens' liberation. + +However having said all this, why is it that women aren't more +active in politics, in community groups, in campaigning? What is +it that is holding them back? Anarchists believe that the core +problem facing women is class society. However overlying that +core is a layer of sexist ideas. This ideology serves to reinforce +and justify womens' inferior status. How does this operate? +How does it manage to do this? + +It's easy today to underestimate the effects of the conditioning +that takes place. Conditioning that tells us, that in the very +first place we doesn't have any right to compete on an equal +basis. There is ample proof that this occurs, for example the +findings of a recent survey on secondary school children +indicated that girls had a much lower self-image than boys of a +comparable age. Recent studies in American classrooms showed +that when girls answered out of turn they were more likely to +be told off, while boys were likely to be praised for showing +intelligence or initiative. Given this it was not surprising that +in later classes girls rarely spoke unless specifically asked a +question while boys often spoke out or chatted with the teacher. + +RAPE AND 'GUILT' + +Researchers into the area of sexual harassment have found that +people have difficulty in knowing what type of behaviour +amounts to harassment. Women feel unsure as to what are +their rights are, unsure as to how much hassle they are +expected by society to put up with. In a recent interview a +representative of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre indicated that in +her experiences all the women she saw felt guilt in some way, +right down to an old age pensioner raped in her own home. +Indeed, this is hardly surprising given the type of reporting of +trials such as the Kennedy rape trial this year. + +One in three of crimes against women arise from domestic +violence. Yet these problems are given low priority. Rape Crisis +Centres are constantly under threat of closure due to lack of +funding. In the first four months of 1990, the Gardai received +1,568 calls for help in domestic violence situations (and all the +experts accept that only a small number of such crimes are ever +reported). The Womens' Aid refuges, run by volunteers, have +only 16% of the space that is needed. + +Workers in a Dublin refuge reported that between four and +seven families are turned away on average, while approximately +another 60 women phone seeking advice each week. Our low +status in society is reflected not only by the level of violence +against us, but by the complete disregard that is shown for the +problem by the government and society at large. + +A CURFEW ON WOMEN + +Though most rapes are committed by somebody known by the +woman (92% of Irish rape victims knew their attackers), police +propaganda is still aimed at frightening women into maintaining +a self-imposed curfew at night. Even though the statistics +indicate she is probably in more danger at home! We are forced +to leave limited lives. We don't have freedom of movement even +within our own communities. We are denied control over our +own bodies. Worse of all, we are told how to look and how to +behave. + +Women are constantly given cues that they are in some way +inferior. This conditioning is a symptom of the position of +women in society, not the cause but a symptom with far reaching +affects. We learn what is the norm through what is seen as +acceptable behaviour in the world around us. The media, be it +TV, film industry or pop music occupy a very vocal and dominant +position. Next time you watch MTV or go to the cinema try and +count how many times you see women portrayed as individuals +in their own right, rather than as appendages. You won't need +more fingers to count on than you have on your own two hands. + +Most womens' magazines are still concerned with beauty, fashion +and home making. Articles about working women are almost +exclusively aimed at professionals and executives. They don't +reflect the the reality that most women experience. Company +magazine (June 1991) asks "Are you scared of success? Career +success can be dazzling and very exciting, yet it can go hand in +hand with tremendous fear". The article argues that if we just +didn't keep holding ourselves back, we could make it in the +career world. The truth for most of us is that it is lack of +childcare and job opportunities determines our position as low +paid workers, not our lack of confidence. + +GLOBAL FORUM OF EGOISTS AND BOSSES + +Unfortunately much of the womens' movement does exactly the +same thing. Dublin recently hosted the 1992 Global Forum of +Women. At 180 a head the forum was dedicated to "visions of +leadership". Those attending were all "political, artistic & +scientific leaders or prominent in the international leadership of +the womens' movement". The brochure advertising the +conference proclaimed "the president of Nicaragua is a women". + +So what! So is the Queen of England and Margaret Thatcher. I +don't see things being much better for our 'sisters' over the +water or for those in Nicaragua. The election of Mary Robinson +didn't make any noticeable difference for the 'sisters' at home +either. + +The conclusion of the conference, the message they are sending +to the low paid, the part-time workers and the unemployed is +that what is needed is 40% representation of women at all +levels. Overwhelmingly, the message to us was to get up on our +bikes, to seize the opportunities, that the only thing stopping us +was ourselves. Class didn't come into it. + +A gap exists between what women are meant to be like and what +we are, between what we are supposed to achieve and what it is +possible for us to achieve. Failure on our part to live up to an +ideal is attributed to some fault within us, rather than to the +type of society we live in. It is for these reasons that women +often find it more difficult to speak in public. We are often are +less confident because by standing up we are reacting against a +conditioning that tells us we should sit down. + +ORGANISING SEPARATELY? + +Women are constantly conditioned to believe that we do not +have a right to an opinion, to be politically active, to speak out. +Sometimes the first step against this conditioning is to organise +separately from men. Partly this is because it is felt that men +being more confident and more self-assured tend to dominate +discussions. Or even more simply some women feel that when +men are present they are more likely to take a silent role and +leave the arguing up to them. + +Under these conditions women organising together is an +exercise in empowerment. It's a positive response to the +conditioning of society. It's role should be to make it possible for +women to participate as equals with men. It should be seen as +a temporary but necesary step, not as an end in itself. + +However problems arise when this is taken further and when +women begin to campaign separately. This identifies men as the +root of the problem, which they aren't. It also isolates men from +the struggle, when it is obvious that in order to change society +we must work alongside them. + +Within many Unions and the British Labour Party there exist +women only conferences. A problem with this is that womens' +issues are often referred to these conferences as a as a way of +avoiding the issues and forgetting about them. Rape is a +womens' issue - refer it to the womens' conference, +contraception is a womens' issue - refer it to the womens' +conference, etc. + +In these instances men are rarely confronted with these issues, +rarely have to deal with them and are let off the hook. +Therefore while we defend the right of women to meet +separately we also think it vital in any organisation, in any +campaign, that women present their arguments to the entire +body of people and win those arguments and fight as a whole. +Tactically, this is the only way to widen and then win the fight +for womens' liberation. + +Things are better for us today. A lot of the institutionalised +oppression, such as marriage bars and property laws has been +removed. Often equal pay legislation and quota systems have +been put in their place. Yet while things may have changed on +paper, we are still left with class society. As long as this +remains, the majority of us will not have equal access to the +workplace or much else. As long as we are denyed economic +equality, society will continue making up morals and invent so +called 'natural laws', as a way of justifying it's treatment of us. +By tackling the symptom, sexism in society, we will be in a +better position to tackle the root cause. By tackling capitalism +we will be fighting for womens' liberation. + +Aileen O'Carroll + + ************* Equality for some Women *************** + from Workers Solidarity No35 + + +LAST SEPTEMBER the Bank of Ireland was, according +to the 'Irish Times', 'basking in an unadulterated glow +of approval' from the Employment Equality Agency, the +Council of Status for Women and the Joint Oireachteas +Committee on Womens Rights among others. What the +Bank of Ireland had so progressively managed to do was +to provide one creche which will cater for up to 45 +children. + +The Bank of Ireland employs 11,600 people. However, at 55 +a week the centre is obviously aimed at helping only a very +small section of the workforce. As Bertie Ahern said, it did +not make sense having highly and expensively qualified +women leaving the workforce because of lack of childcare +facilities. However, it does make sense, to industry, to +employ over 50% of the entire workforce having either low +pay or no security of employment (or both). + + It isn't sexism that holds us in the worse paid jobs but rather +the economic reality of the capitalism system. To survive in +the market place any company has to be competitive, to +maximise profits. With wages accounting for 80% of the +outgoings in most business, employing the cheapest labour +makes good sense. In todays society, creches and child-care +are a luxury that the profit motive can rarely afford. To +women who accept this system, the provision of expensive +inadequate child care is a victory, while the plight of ordinary +women workers isn't worth mentioning. + +But there is a general feeling that we are now living in a +post-feminist world. Women may not be quite equal to men, +but the principle of equality has been widely accepted and +liberation is only a matter of waiting. We are allowed to vote, +to drink in pubs and to work outside marriage. Our right to +an equal education system and an equal workplace is +enshrined in law. We have a women president. + +In Ireland there is now a wide acceptance that women have +the right to participate in society on an equal basis with men. +However, despite this change in hearts and minds, life on the +ground for most women today, is quite similar to those of forty +years ago. Though we may not, in general, have the same +sexist morality to put up with; economically we are still +second class citizens. + +For the majority of us, our right to choose the way of life we +wish to lead is as limited as it has always been. Rather than +being liberated, we are still tied, by virtue of our poor wage +earning abilities, to the home and family. A study recently +published in Fortune magazine indicated that the leading +occupations for women in 1990 weren't so different from the +top jobs for 1940 (see table). The average hourly earnings of +woman are still 68% of those of men. In hard cash terms, men +earn on average, 1.83 more per hour than women do. + +Fortune Magazine Table + 1990 1940 + 1. Secretary 1. Servant + 2. Cashier 2. Secretary + 3. Bookkeeper 3. Teacher + 4. Nurse 4. Clerical worker + 5. Nursing aide 5. Sales worker + 6. Teacher 6. Factory worker + 7. Waitress 7. Bookkeeper + 8. Sales Worker 8. Waitress + 9. Child care 9. Housekeeper + 10. Cook 10. Nurse + + +So, what are the problems facing women in the workforce? +The answer you'll get to that question, will depend very much +on who you are talking to. For the last six years, Social and +Community Planing Research, a non-profit making institute, +has been surveying British social attitudes to everything from +should revolutionaries be allowed to have public meetings +(only 48% said yes) to should the tax system be changed. +Looking at the recently published 1991 survey, it becomes +obvious that the key factor preventing women from working is +children; i.e. lack of nursery places, lack of creches at work +and "guilt at leaving the care of children to others". + +It noted that while 51% of those surveyed would have +thought a work-place nursery suitable for the care of their +children, none of the sample surveyed had access to such a +service. Overwhelmingly, children were cared for by a close +relative. + +On the other hand, the Financial Times, in a major article +on women managers cited the main problems for women going +into business as confidence, training and expertise, credibility +and networks. For women at these higher levels, childcare +provision is not a key problem, as they can afford to hire +other women to stay at home so they are freed to go out and +work. So when women managers seek to overcome sexism, +provision of free 24 hour childcare is not a priority. Women +may not be equal to men in today's society, but undoubtedly +some women are more equal than others. + +It is certainly true that there are very few women managers, +however this is just a symptom of the general situation of +women as a whole, not a cause. The installation of women at +the top of a profession won't change the basic ground rules by +which society is run. Those women at the top may suffer +sexism from their colleagues. They may be ostracised from the +old boys network and may find it more difficult to succeed. + +However, they also have an interest in seeing the system +continue. Their high incomes, standard of living and position +in society is dependant on them being on the top of the pile. +So while they may lobby on 'safe' issues that affect most +women, such as rape and domestic violence, when it comes to +issues that question the way society is run and thus threaten +their position, sisterhood quickly breaks down. + +How many of the Irish women TD's, who support abortion +information are willing to publicly say so? On the one hand +they may be members of the womens movement while on the +other protecting their seat is more important. Mary Robinson +may be a women, but she didn't show much sisterhood or +solidarity when she signed into law the new social welfare +regulations on cohabiting couples. This provision limits +couples to 80% of the benefit that two single people receive +Normally the women is the partner who receives the lower +income. + +Women will remain as second class citizens as long as they are +relegated to an inferior position in the work force. They are +now in that position because to the bosses they are an +unstable workforce, likely to want pregnancy leave, likely to +come in late if a child is sick, likely to require a creche or +want to work part time. It is because men in society are seen +as the breadwinner that they have more secure, more +dependable jobs. + +It's a vicious circle, because men are in reality better paid, it +makes more sense within the family to assign the role of main +earner to the male and housework to the female. The only +way to permanently get out out of the circle is to change the +system. In a society run for profit women loose out, in a +society run for need, womens fertility is no longer a limiting +factor. + +Women can of course win gains at the moment. In Ireland +women are no longer forced to stop working on marriage, +though lack of child care can make it impossible to continue. +Attitudes have changed considerably in the last thirty years. +Most importantly, the position of women is now an issue. + +Where as before it was only addressed by the few socialist or +womens groups, now it's taken up by the mainstream media, +by chat shows and newspaper articles. However, any of our +new freedoms are very much dependant on the economic +conditions of the day. So, while in the affluent 1960's British +women won limited access to abortion (used by thousands of +Irish women), now in recession those rights are being pushed +back inch by inch. + +When you come down to basics equal education and job +opportunities and equal pay amount to little without free 24 +hour nurseries and free contraception and abortion on +demand. While a small minority of women can buy control of +their own fertility, for the majority, family and child care is +still as it has always been the largest problem faced by women +workers. + +And as a small finishing thought, under capitalism most +managers are paid a hell of a lot more than most workers. +That's a situation women mangers won't want to change. +After all, Margaret Thatcher was the ultimate woman +manager, wasn't she? + +Aileen O'Carroll + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001112.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001112.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cccedcd4 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001112.txt @@ -0,0 +1,147 @@ +************ We Need Rights - not Charity ********* + +Andrew Blackmore takes a look at our continuing +reliance on charities to do essential services. + +IRELAND IS ONE of the thirty richest countries in +the world. At the same time, 20% of the population +live below the poverty line. The Combat Poverty +Agency says that "disparities are widening and will +continue to do so in the years ahead". Yet, instead +of providing money to deal adequately with the +problems of poverty, for example; drug addiction, +homelessness and unemployment, the State gives tax +amnesties to the rich, and puts up over 200 +million for Larry Goodman. + +The material desires of most people - for example a +job and a good standard of living, are not provided +for. We have no 'right' to these things. We are +given a welfare system which does not provide a +basic minimum for a decent lifestyle, and we have +to turn to charities to fill in the gaps. + +Charities + +And the gap between what people need and what they +get is big. There are over 3,700 charities in +Ireland, trying to deal with just about every +disadvantaged sector in society; from Health and +Education to Travellers, women, and children. They +all do essential and valuable work. But they are +only necessary because the state is not providing +these services itself. + +The ordinary citizen volunteers the time and money. +Most adults in Ireland give to charity more than +once a month, amounting to roughly 246 million +donated each year. And people devote large amounts +of time as well. + +Take carers, for example. According to the National +Carer's Association, there are roughly 100,000 +carers, looking after people who are severely sick +and helpless, but who are not given hospital beds. +A typical carer is a housewife looking after one of +her relatives, "in many cases, on call 24 hours a +day, 7 days a week". + +Insecurity and Competition + +The work that carers have to do in Ireland, with a +high physical and emotional burden, highlights one +problem of leaving the voluntary sector responsible +for doing vital social work. + +But aside from leaving individuals with large +responsibilities there are other problems. The +voluntary sector is by its nature insecure. It is +reliant on volunteers to put in the time and money. +If that time and money is not forthcoming, then the +charity folds. + +Even voluntary services which receive State +donations are not safe. The "Rape Crisis Centre" in +Dublin, has nearly collapsed on several occasions +due to lack of government funds. + +Competition is also a problem that charities have +to deal with. People have only so much to give, so +charities have to compete with each other for +donations. + +National Lottery + +Since the introduction of the National Lottery, +donations to charities have decreased. And the +National Lottery, which gives nearly 100 million +to various causes, has recently expressed fears +that the new British Lottery will take away some of +its customers in Northern Ireland. + +To quote John Hynes, the Chairman of the National +Lottery, "It is still too soon to determine what +long term effect the UK games will have on our +sales". Loss of customers means less money to the +charities which are dependent on its handouts. + +This has direct results. The National Lottery gives +one third of its takings to the Department of +Health and Welfare. It could mean fewer hospital +beds, less money to Women's Aid or less money to +the Irish Red Cross. Why should any of these causes +suffer at the whim of the consumer? The only way to +avoid it is by guaranteeing the right to funding +for these services. + +And it is 'rights' which is the crux of the whole +problem with charities. The existence of a charity +to provide a service, means that it is not a +'right' to receive such a service. The service is +not guaranteed, it could end due to lack of funds, +lack of support, or it could be out competed by +another, equally deserving cause. + +Rights not Charity + +When we say that organisations such as the Irish +Wheelchair Association or St Vincent de Paul have a +voluntary status, it is another way of saying that +we do not have the guaranteed right for such +services to exist. We should be lucky that they +exist. When the National Lottery gives money for +hospital building or a grant for Libraries, we are +expected to be grateful instead of regarding it as +a right. + +Is this the way the state should treat our +disadvantaged? Money should be spent on eliminating +poverty and providing decent jobs for all. The +reliance on the voluntary sector to provide +essential services should be eliminated. We deserve +rights not charity. + +Capitalism, with its "free market" and division of +society into exploiters and exploited, can not +guarantee such 'rights'. A combination of charity +and campaigning for more funding, at the expense of +the rich, can bring some small but very real +improvements in the lives of the poor. The +elimination of poverty, however, requires the +replacement of the present system by one where +production is organised to satisfy the needs of the +many instead of the profit lust of the few. Then +mutual; aid will do away with the need for charity. + +*********** + + The facts and nothing but the facts + +In 1960 the richest 20% of the world's population +owned 30% of the wealth, today they own 60%. The +annual income of the bottom 50% of the world's +population totals 815 billion. That is exactly +equal to the amount spent each year on arms, 86% of +which are supplied by Britain, the USA, France, +Germany and Russia. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001113.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001113.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1516cdeb --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001113.txt @@ -0,0 +1,128 @@ +**************** Review ***************** + TERRORIZING THE NEIGHBOURHOOD + by Noam Chomsky, + (AK Press). + from Workers Solidarity No 36 + +NOAM CHOMSKY is known to many on the left +as a leading US dissident. Fewer people +are aware that he is an anarchist. A +major part of his writings deal with +American foreign policy and this work is +of some importance as anarchism is often +criticised as having no analysis of +imperialism. + +Terrorizing the Neighbourhood is based around a speech +Chomsky made in January of 1990, shortly after the US +invasion of Panama. It seeks to map out what US foreign +policy meant in the Cold War and what its probable +direction will be in future. It also challenges some of +the established conceptions of what the Cold War meant +and as such should be read not just as an introduction to +US foreign policy but also by those on the left who find +now that their world view collapsed with the collapse of +the USSR. + +COLD WAR + +The general presentation of post-war history from Right +and Left alike was of a history dominated by clashes +between two superpowers. In fact the two superpowers +were never equal. The Soviet Union never approached the +US in terms of economic or military strength. The Cold +War was used by the rulers of both countries to maintain +a concensus at home, a concensus that kept them both in +power. For the most part the war meant war with its +satellites for the Soviet Union. For the US it meant war +on the third world. Both sides used the rhetoric of a +threat from the other to justify its actions and retain a +consensus at home in favour of intervention abroad. + +The power of this consensus is demonstrated in the US by +the fact that all the factions of the ruling class were +united behind the 'right' of the US to intervene anywhere +it liked. From liberals to conservatives this was +unchallenged, the arguments that occurred were over +tactics. During the Contra war in Nicaragua the US media +freely argued over the tactics of pulling Nicaragua into +line with US interests. Many did not see the Contra war +as the best option yet the "right" of the US to dictate +to Nicaragua went for the most part unquestioned. + +The end of the Cold War meant the end of the all-powerful +Soviet excuse. Panama was significant because it was the +first post war US invasion not defended by reference to a +Soviet 'threat'. Instead the drug war was invented as a +substitute. Since then a range of "would be Hitler's" +have been the excuse for US intervention. Perhaps the +most remarkable thing about these new threats has been +the willingness of the population to accept them as real. +The Soviet Union at least had real military power, ICBM's +and nuclear warheads. The new "threats" to world peace +seem to have little more than Uzi's and large quantities +of rusting, outdated Soviet tanks. + +DISCIPLINING THE THIRD WORLD + +Chomsky effectively exposes post-war US foreign policy. +It was not about countering the Soviet Union or even +halting the spread of "communism". Rather it was about +destroying any opposition to US interests throughout the +third world. US interests did not mean what was good for +people in the US but what was good for the $9 billion +invested by corporations in Latin America. Nationalist +governments like those of Nicaragua and Cuba which sought +to pursue an independent economic line threatened little +more than the profits of big business. The communists +the US was supposedly fighting included everything from +actual Communist parties to nationalists, priests and +community workers. + +These are the strengths of Chomsky's pamphlet, its +analysis of what US policy was about. There is little +discussion however about the next step, the struggle +against imperialism of whatever variety. Chomsky ends +with the hope that the introduction of rival imperialist +powers in the shape of Japan and Europe will create a +confusion that the "indigenous popular forces" will be +able to take advantage of. He sees solidarity movements +in the imperialist heartlands helping these movements +through their own efforts and by influencing 'their' +governments. + +Imperialism however is part and parcel of 20th century +capitalism. Its driving force is not so much in the +planning rooms of government offices but rather the +boards of thousands of corporations. Ruling classes may +decide their interests lie in a greater or lesser degree +of intervention but no long term gains can be made in +this way. Likewise nationalist regimes pursuing an +independent economic path will be dependant on whatever +policy the imperialists are providing at the time. +Improvements made one year will always be subject to +being carpet bombed the next. + +FROM BOSNIA TO BELFAST + +The defeat of imperialism on a permanent basis will +require a movement fighting not only in the fields and +towns of Latin America but also in the cities of the +United States. It must be a movement of workers, +controlled by workers. Our role as revolutionaries is +not only to understand the workings of imperialism but +also to start laying the foundations of such a movement. + +This should not be an excuse for inactivity now. Our +role is to argue for the defeat of the imperialists +wherever they intervene from northern Ireland to Iraq to +Yugoslavia. In Ireland we oppose any involvement in UN +or EC policing operations on behalf of imperialism while +starting to build a movement north and south with the aim +of forcing British withdrawal from the north and the +introduction of an anarchist society based on need and +not on greed. + +Andrew Flood + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001114.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001114.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..64e2b456 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001114.txt @@ -0,0 +1,126 @@ +*********** Columbus: whats behind the fuss? ********** + from Workers Solidarity No 35 + [1992] + +THIS YEAR sees the celebrations of the +'discovery' of America in 1492 by Columbus. +The celebrations have generated some +debate about the rights and wrongs of the +events which followed the discovery. In +Spain itself, Seville has seen riots as +marches protesting at the celebration have +been broken up by the police. + +America was not discovered, it was already populated +by many nations of people. Some of them were +composed of primitive communistic societies of hunter- +gathers. It was these peoples that the European +merchants first found and exploited to extermination. +In Mexico and Peru two military empires were in +existence, the Azetcs and the Inca's + +A TIME AND A PLACE + +America was 'discovered' at a time when Europe was +entering a period of rapid change. The merchants +were gaining more power and coming into conflict +with their feudal rulers. It would take 200 years for +the merchants to settle the conflict in the French +revolution of 1788 but the seeds were growing. Part +of this expansion of early capitalism was based on the +search for the source of the spices and metals that +international trade was based upon. The direct trade +roots having been cut by the Turkish empire. The +"discovery's" of this period were driven by this +historical process. + +When Columbus reached the Caribbean in 1492 he +had little interest in the new plants and animals of +this land. Instead he was confident that the Spanish +crown could make the Arawaks and Caribs collect and +give "what was needed". He established a system by +which the Arawaks were required to produce a certain +quantity of gold every three months or have their +hands cut off. The survivors of this period were +worked to death on the sugar plantations. + +The empires on the American mainland also fell before +the Spanish expansion. The Aztecs at the time ruled +over central Mexico but their empire was +overstreched and full of internal divisions. The +ruling class was divided along religious lines but in an +echo of the process occurring in Europe these was +also conflict between the Empire and the merchant +class. The Inca's ruled the length of the Andes, some +5000 kms but they too were internally divided. By +allying with the enemies of these two empires and +making use of these internal divisions the Spanish +were able to overthrow and enslave both nations with +comparatively few men. + +Both these empires were class societies whose +development was halted by their destruction at the +hands of the Spanish. The suffered a similar fate to +the primitive communist societies of the Caribbean. +Within a single generation 80% of the Aztec +population had been worked to death in the mines or +on the land. They had died of torture and because of +the destruction of the infrastructure that had +supported them. + +Throughout this period the Catholic church was +involved with the carnage, Colombus himself was +deeply religious and the slogan of the conquistadors +was "God, gold and glory". Forced conversions were a +policy of the time, commonly as a preliminary to +execution. One of the few to publicly argue against +the brutal treatment of the Americans was a priest +however he was rapidly shut up by the Vatican. The +church produced an ideology of conquest designed to +provide moral right to the brutal oppression of the +native people. + +SPANISH GOLD + +The wealth that was generated by the Spanish +conquests was enormous. This wealth and the trade +it generated within Europe was the backbone around +which capitalism was built. As the native populations +of the Americas were wiped out merchants made more +profits by kidnapping Africans and selling them to the +sugar plantations and mines of America as slaves. +This along with the earlier barbarities required +capitalism to develop a racist ideology as a +justification for its brutality. + +The Colombus debate is important because it exposes +the brutal basis on which capitalism was built. There +is however another argument that sees the pre- +Colombus societies as perfect societies which would +have remained so were it not for European +interference. Could these societies have developed +without going through all the horrors imposed on +them by the European bosses? + +History can not be re-played but we do know that +these societies were already going through a process +of change. Both the Azetcs and Inca's were military +empires based on conquest of other peoples. The +Aztecs also carried out ceremonial murders on a mass +scale, in 1486 for instance 20,000 captives had their +hearts cut out during a temple dedication. They were +societies with class and caste divisions. Those peoples +who still lived in primitive communist societies did so +because these societies were not capable of +generating any surplus for a minority to take. + +The 500th anniversary serves as a remainder of how +barbaric capitalism as an economic system is. It is not +Colombus who should be celebrated but rather those +millions of native Americans on whose lives modern +society was built. There is no finer monument that +can be raised to them then the creation of a society +based on satisfying need, not greed. + +Joe Black + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001115.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001115.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8b8225fe --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001115.txt @@ -0,0 +1,237 @@ + ******* Earth Summit ************ + from Workers Solidarity No 36 + (1992) + +THE EARTH SUMMIT took place in Rio last +June. In spite of the enormous cost +($123 million) and publicity (8,749 +media people.) the final results were +two weak treaties and the agreement of +some "principles" on the environment. +Even this was too much for America who +refused to sign the Bio-Diversity +Treaty, fearing for their bio-technology +industry. In Rio itself an estimated +700 "street children" have been murdered +since January (according to the Centre +for the Mobilisation of Marginalised +Populations) in an attempt to beautify +the city. + +Once again the capitalists proved unwilling to tackle +the problems of under-development and environmental +degradation. Given their past record this doesn't come +as much of a surprise. However there are serious +problems and it would be wrong for socialists and +anarchists to down-play them. For example, according to +the World Bank's World Development Report for 1992 well +over one billion people in the so-called developing +nations suffer from water-borne diseases and more then +3.5 million children a year die from diarrhoea alone. +Despite the collapse of Stalinism arms spending has +increased from $680 billion in 1972 to an estimated $800 +billion this year, the rainforests are been cut down at +a rate of 170,000 square kilometres per year with an +estimated loss of 50-100 forest species every day. + +THE EVE OF DESTRUCTION? + +Things are clearly pretty bad. Many would point to +pollution, soil degradation, de-forestation and species +loss and say we are experiencing a devastating crisis. +Some even say that the end is nigh. Are things really +this bad? + +Firstly, if you look back it is possible to see where +such doomsday pictures were painted in the past but we +survived. In the 1930s ten record warm years in a row +combined with increasing carbon-dioxide concentrations +led to fears of major global climate changes. Sound +familiar? The 1940s-1970s then proved on average to be +much cooler then expected. This is not to knock the +research of scientists like those on the Inter- +Governmental Panel on Climate Control who believe we are +experiencing a greenhouse effect. However it must be +borne in mind that climate and ecological systems are +extremely complex and to be wary of simple doomsday +scenarios. + +In 1972 a book was published by scientists in the 'Club +of Rome' called "Limits to Growth". In this they argued +that key resources such as lead, copper and aluminium +were about to run out. Of course they didn't. In the +recently published sequel "Beyond the Limits" the +scientists admit they were totally wrong. They admit +they should never have used the "if present trends +continue" type argument. The only thing that is certain +about trends is that they rarely do! We weren't on the +eve of destruction then. We aren't now, though we do +face serious problems. + +OVER-PRODUCTION? + +However the question is still raised by a lot people +concerned with the environment: are we over-developed +and over-producing? For example, at the "alternative" +Earth Summit in Rio a demand was issued for "a cut in +the North's consumption of resources and an immediate +transformation of technology to create ecological +sustainability in the North". Is the problem one of +over-production and consumption in the industrialised +countries? + +We would argue that there is a problem of over- +production in capitalism. But it is not real over- +production. Simply that it is an enormously wasteful +system of production geared purely towards competition +and profit. Huge amounts of goods are made to break as +soon as possible, rubbish is sold by advertising, new +inventions which threaten monopoly positions are bought +out as fast as possible to stop their production (the +oil companies are notorious for this). A lot of +production is geared purely to maintaining a competitive +advantage. + +Often more is produced then there is a market demand +for. Then the price collapses and recession follows. +This might not mean that too much had been produced for +peoples' needs. Oh, no! All it means is that more has +been produced then can be bought. + +So in America, one of the richest countries in the +world, 36 million people (15% of the population) were +living in poverty in 1991 according to Business Week. +Worldwide in 1991 there were 200 million tons of grain +hoarded to preserve prices. The charity Trocaire +estimated that 3 million tons could have eliminated +starvation in Africa for that year. + +ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT + +Imperialism is one of the ways the capitalists try to +eliminate some of the contradictions involved in +apparent over-production followed by recession. It is a +system were certain countries are kept at a very low +level of development by other well-developed capitalist +nations. During booms they can buy up labour and raw +materials cheaply. They can also off-load huge amounts +of generally inferior products onto these countries to +delay price collapse and recession. + +Imperialism is not a thing of the past. The Gulf War +proved that the imperialists will go to any lengths, +including massive use of force, to maintain their +power. At the Summit the so-called developing nations +of the South asked for $40 billion to implement the Bio- +Diversity Treaty. They received just $1 billion. Even +$40 billion is but a small fraction of their +indebtedness to Western banks and governments. + +These countries pay twice as much in debt re-payment as +they ever get from development 'aid'. Most so-called +'aid' usually has a cost: total compliance to the wishes +of the donor government. In fact most governmental +development aid is used as a tool to keep the +imperialised countries in line. 93% of the USA's aid +budget goes to Israel where it certainly isn't used for +humanitarian purposes! + +CHEMICAL PROSPECTING IN COSTA RICA + +When the West's rulers moan about the loss of bio- +diversity they are generally worried about potential +drugs and other new products they wish to extract, +refine and make a profit from. Costa Rica has already +signed "chemical-prospecting" agreements with Western +pharmaceutical companies. Malaysia tries to sell +hardwood products and, indeed, some renewable forest +products on the world market. The West charges massive +tariffs on finished products but virtually nothing on +raw materials which they can process themselves. Other +countries like Brazil are so massively burdened with +debt they are almost entirely committed to deforestation +and disastrous industrial and ranching projects to try +and earn foreign currency. + +Another example of how imperialism works is in the +locating of polluting industry. 12% of the total cost +of building a chemical plant in the USA is made up of +pollution controls, 6% in Ireland and presumably even +less in the third world. So industry that wouldn't be +tolerated in the West moves into third world countries. +For this reason, when fighting to prevent location in +countries like Ireland it is important to try to move +beyond the "not in our back-yard" syndrome. You have to +try to make links internationally. + +The basic point is that capitalism is not committed to +development. In fact it is based on arresting the +development of most of the world which in turn +contributes to environmental degradation. + +POSSIBLE WORLDS + +Progress and development are not the problem. Even +severely distorted and uneven (e.g. confined to the +West) as they are at present they still seem to point to +a better future. The possibility of freeing humanity +from poverty and drudgery exists. In the seventeenth +century average life expectancy in the West was 40 +years, now it's 75. Access to education, leisure time +and a generally better standard of living has been made +possible. + +Most people in the West like the improvement and +wouldn't wish their grandparents' or great grandparents' +lifestyle on anyone. Our aim must be to extend the +possibilities, to widen peoples' experiences and +expectations. Under capitalism we see the potential for +a better way of life but the system can't deliver. It +offers the promise of improvement with one hand but +snatches it away with the other. + + +THE ANARCHIST ALTERNATIVE: DROP THE PILOT + +The problems aren't due to unbridled development. In +fact in most of the world development is urgently +needed. We can't afford to go back but it is +impossible to move forward under capitalism. Therefore +we argue for the overthrow of capitalism. We make the +case for anarchism and workers' management of industry. +We need growth which is finely tuned, highly developed +and responds to peoples' needs. + +For now, we focus on immediate action by workers to +address the issue where it arises. Environmental +degradation is a class issue. The working class always +gets the worst effects, the bosses can retreat to the +air-conditioned penthouse or the golf-links. We support +action to reduce pollution from industrial plants or +even for their re-location while attempting to avoid +just making "not in our back-yard" arguments. + +In Britain it took industrial action by the National +Union of Seamen to stop nuclear dumping at sea, they +just refused to do it even when threatened with legal +action. Similarly dockers in Liverpool stopped the +importation of toxic chemicals from Canada. + +Workers can, in day-to-day struggle, make real gains in +forcing industry to clean up. They have also proved +capable of managing highly centralised and complex +industries in a democratic way. The experience of +Russia (1917-1921), Spain (1936-37), Hungary (1956) and +Portugal (1974) support this case. + +Workers can make industry something which can ensure a +better world and begin the massive task of development +that is needed worldwide. This is the only way that +resources can be used sustainably and the problems of +poverty and under-development tackled. Industry has to +be made work for people not profits. + +Conor McLoughlin + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001116.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001116.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4bd5e79e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001116.txt @@ -0,0 +1,232 @@ +4 articles +***************** For starters ********************* + +THE DUBLIN GOVERNMENT has finally agreed to pay +outstanding social welfare money owed to 70,000 +married women. An average 3,900 is to be paid to +each woman, 75% to be paid in August & December +with the remainder over the following eighteen +months. + +A European Community directive ordered that +discrimination in social welfare be ended by +December 1984. Up to then unemployed married women +got almost 5 less than men and their benefit ran +out out three months earlier. Married women were +also completely barred from claiming Unemployment +Assistance. + +The Womens Dole Campaign was set up to oppose this +inequality. More recently 'Married Women for +Equality' and the Free Legal Advice Centres carried +on the fight. More than a decade later the +government says it is going to pay its debts. +[Imagine if you tried to put off paying the rent or +mortgage for over 10 years!] + +********* + + GOVERNMENT SCHEMES TO HAMMER UNEMPLOYED + +Community Employment Schemes (CE) were introduced by the +Government last year and have replaced all the other +schemes, such as S.E.S. CE is better than the previous +schemes in some ways - you can keep your secondary +benefits, your rent allowance, medical card and fuel +allowance. It is much better for lone parents with +young children because a special child-minding allowance +was introduced. However, apart from these improvements +it is still a 'scheme', with all the problems associated +with that. + +There are over 39,000 people on CE throughout the 26 +counties. The scheme is only open to people over 21 who +are on the live register of unemployed or are lone +parents. There are now no schemes that take the 18-21 +age group, a strange omission when we think of all that +is said about youth unemployment. However they are +probably the lucky ones when we consider what people on +schemes have to put up with. + +Firstly, the extra money above the dole is very little +because the 79 a week for a single person is taxed. If +a couple are on welfare and one is on a scheme, they +only make about 10-15 a week more. CE is a work +scheme, not a training scheme, although lots of +community groups try to use it for training. There is a +200 per worker allowance for training and an extra 100 +each for personal development. A minority of schemes +provide good training, most provide very little. + +Taken in and tossed out again + +The community sector is using CE in a big way to run all +kinds of projects and services. Many of these projects +are very worthwhile in themselves such as resource +centres, drugs projects, community development schemes, +youth groups and so on. The problem is that all of this +work is being done on short-term schemes where the +workers are being exploited and have very little chance +of getting work in the project, even though they have +the experience. When their year on CE is over a new +group of scheme workers is taken on and have to be +trained in the work. + +The official purpose of these work schemes is to get the +long-term unemployed back into the workforce, give them +some skills and restore their confidence so that they +can then go out and get a job. The reality is very +different. A survey conducted by the Dublin Inner City +Partnership and the Scheme Workers Alliance this year +found that very few scheme graduates actually got jobs, +only about 17% according to F.A.S. itself. Of the rest, +5% became self-employed and 23% extended their schemes +while the remaining 55% had became unemployed, emigrated +or died. + +No jobs but lots of work + +These figures are hardly surprising. There simply are +not enough jobs out there even though there is plenty of +work to be done. This is the basic contradiction that +these schemes are showing up all the time. They exploit +peoples' desire to be working, especially in the +community sector where so much socially useful work +needs to be done. + +Even though schemes are supposed to be approved by trade +unions so that they are not replacing "real jobs", in +practise that is exactly what they are doing, especially +in the local authority sector. Maintenance of parks and +community facilities such as swimming pools is almost +all done on CE now. The situation has reached such a +stage of acceptance that the unions in Dublin +Corporation, who are still holding out against the use +of CE, found themselves the subject of vicious abuse by +councillors of all parties recently when the issue was +debated by the Corporation. + +CE workers are denied many of the legal rights and +entitlements which part-time workers have. There is no +entitlement to maternity leave on CE, for example, and +no holiday pay. The Scheme Workers Alliance is +demanding that scheme workers' conditions be improved. +The demands they list are: + +*Proper certified on-the-job training + +*Higher rates of pay, 100-150 a week + +*Full-time places in bigger schemes + +*All legal rights and entitlements of part-time workers. + +*All scheme workers to have the right to join the trade +union of their choice. + +Unionising the schemes + +This last point is very important. Although this issue +has been raised within the unions for the past five +years, none of the unions has shown any great interest +in organising scheme workers. Working in schemes is +here to stay for the foreseeable future so it is +essential that the unions get their act together and +organise these workers to fight for better wages and +conditions. + +The real reason for the growth in work schemes is the +Government's need to keep down the numbers on the live +register of unemployed. Hundreds, if not thousands, of +people have now been on several schemes and have done +several F.A.S. courses as well. Most of them are still +unemployed at the end of all that. Lots of schemes have +third level graduates working on them. There is often +competition to get a place. They have become a major +part of peoples' experience of low paid work. In fact +schemes really are no more than state organised low-paid +exploitative work. It is an indication of peoples' +desperation that so many end up working on them. + +Work schemes are the forerunner of workfare, a system +where you have to work for your dole. This is the +logical outcome of the schemes. At a time when there +are major attacks on welfare in the USA and Britain it +would be logical to expect the same to happen here +sooner or later. The massive rate of unemployment here +makes it a bit harder to just go out and cut thousands +of people off welfare in one go, as has happened in the +States. + +What next.. real jobs or workfare? + +Some community groups such as the Connolly Unemployed +Centre in Dublin are now arguing that because CE is +realistically the Government's only job creation +strategy, that full-time permanent jobs should be +created where a scheme has proved to be successful. Not +only should this be the case but full-time permanent +jobs should be created everywhere socially useful work +is being done on schemes. + +Work schemes such as CE need to be taken seriously by +the left. Organising campaigns around wages and +conditions is necessary. The involvement of the unions +is important. Up to now they have washed their hands of +these workers. 39,000 part-time workers should be +mobilised, not ignored. Apparently another new scheme +is in the pipeline. The chances are that it will take +us another step closer to workfare. Watch this space! + +Patricia McCarthy + +************ + + How Much Do You Earn? + +THE LATEST figures for how much people earn are for 1993 +and were released by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions +in March. Average male industrial earnings were 306 +for 42.8 hours (7.15 per hour), while women's wages +lag behind with 182 for 37.6 hours (4.84 per hour). + +***************************** + +77 Million Cut + +THE NEED FOR a real alternative was confirmed when +Labour and Democratic Left once again put the +bosses interests first. They have agreed to a +freeze on jobs in the public sector, a cut of 77 +million in government spending and further cuts next +year. + +This will mean longer hospital waiting lists, more +overcrowded classrooms, less jobs. This comes from the same +government which reduced the levy on massively profitable +banks by 36 million, reduced Corporation Tax by 2% at a +cost of about 57 million, and completely exempted some new +multinationals from paying any Corporation Tax at all. +Perhaps Employment Minister Richard Bruton best +conveyed the governments views when he welcomed the vote by +Packard workers to reluctantly accept 400 redundancies by +saying he was "delighted that our intervention has been +successfu" + +Of course these cuts dont effect the ruling class and +their pals. Matt Russell was removed from the Attorney +Generals office because of his behaviour during the Brendan +Smyth affair. Russell was either very lazy and inept, or he +was trying to cover up for a child abusing priest. Either +way, he got a golden handshake of 138,500 and a pension of +33,700 a year. + +And then there is Hugh Coveney. He was fired from his +job as Minister for Defence after he was caught trying to +use his office to get business for his firm of quantity +surveyors. Where did he end up? The Fine Gael/Labour/DL +government appointed him as Junior Minister at the Office of +Public Works. Of all the state agencies, the OPW probably +most uses the services of quantity surveyors! + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001117.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001117.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4e44c85c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001117.txt @@ -0,0 +1,123 @@ +********** Housing the homeless ********** + from Workers Solidarity No 35 + [1992?] + +A year ago this February the Irish Times +headlined an article "Housing plan aims to +provide 5,000 more homes for the poor". If +your one of the thousands rushing for the +evening press at 12.00 and then to the phone +you might well be wondering where these homes +are. If your now, living in a damp little +brown room that costs more than you can +afford it's probably small consolation to +know that your not alone. In 1989 it was +estimated that over 19,000 people needed housing. +Another assessment of housing needs was carried out +this year, but this time the government has decided +not to publish the findings of the review board. In +February, the government said that large scale +building by local authorities "would not now be +appropriate". It would seem Padraigh Flynn (Minister +for the environment) doesn't think shelter is +appropriate for the homeless. The same report in the +Irish Times stated that there will be 1,500 housing +starts this year, yet so far only 173 have been +approved for Dublin, Cork and Waterford, with less +than 1000 expected to be built over all. + +Instead of building houses? + +So if the government isn't going to actually build +more houses, what is it offering instead. The plan +had four main points; Firstly, where people are +living in substandard private housing (and lets face +it most of us are) local authorities will be allowed +to refurbish and extend these houses. However, before +you all rush out your local county council, remember +that in 1990 Dublin Corporation refurbished only 189 +of it's own properties never mind those in private +hands. +The second solution on offer it " a co-op ownership +scheme", the theory being that you buy 50% of a +private house and the Council buys the other 50%. +This plan would encourage the more lower income house +holders , well that's the theory, but it's never been +put into practice as not even one co-op schemes has +so far been authorised. +Thrown in for good measure is a $3,300 mortgage +subsidy to tenants of public housing if they buy a +private house, though at today's house prices buying a +lottery ticket might be a more realistic bet. + +A caring government???? + +Ninety per cent of the cost of housing unit provided +by voluntary organisations will be met by the +Exchequer. So, why you might ask, if the government +can fund 90% of housing needs, will it not fund the +full 100%. If did this it would be admitting it +had some responsibility to the homeless people, to the +old and one-parent families. By funding up to 90% +it'll be reported (as it was in the Irish +Times)Voluntary housing and co-operative housing will +get a boost under the plan, the Government is seen to +help the voluntary organisations out with their +problems, so the problem of homeless is laid at the +feet of the voluntary agencies not being able to cope, +rather than at the feet of the Government which has no +intention of doing anything about it. + +Padraig O'Flynn's idea of a joke + +Additionally, in February we were also promised a new +Housing Bill. At the moment this doesn't look much +like it's going to appear, but if it does there's all +sorts of things to look forward to. For instance, +it'll be mandatory for landlords to give rent books +who will become entitled to four weeks notice to quit +( at the moment your legally entitled to one week). +This is pretty much like the way it's illegal for +flats at the moment to be fire traps, and landlord are +meant to give deposits back. These rent book will +have to by law (now isn't that useful) +include a substantially amount of information about +the letting and minimum standards of accommodation. +Your landlord meanwhile can set the cost of building +new dwellings against tax liabilities, so at least +somebody will gain concretely from the government +plan. + +So what's it all about + +So what we have in effect is a lot of talk to disguise +the fact that no new houses are going to be built. In +the mid 1984 state expenditure on housing was over +207 million per year. By 1990 it had fallen to 48 +million. In February it was reported as if it was +some great concession that 28 million was going to +be spent on implementing the plan. 160 acres of city +centre land is derelict and could be used for public +housing. There are 5,000 actual homeless people +(living on the streets or in hostels) in the republic +of Ireland. + +Obviously a major local authority building plan is +needed at once. Threshold estimate that at least +1,000 new homes are needed per annum to stabilise the +situation in the Dublin area alone. Much of the +existing housing stock is in need of refurbishment. +However government policy at the moment has lead to +primarily office and commercial development, with +limited private residential development at the upper +range of the market ( how many people can afford 2 +bedroomed flats at $65,000?). In the final analysis +the "plan for Social Housing" is nothing more than an +attempt to side-step and avoid the problems of +homeless. Remember after food, shelter is one of the +most basic human needs, it's even guarantied by the UN +Human Rights Charter. But then when is comes to the +needs of the ordinary person that's capitalism, if +it's not going to turn a profit all you'll get is +talk. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001118.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001118.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bbf30fcf --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001118.txt @@ -0,0 +1,211 @@ +Suggested Title: Famine in Africa & Ireland +Two articles, 2nd is '150 years on: The Irish famine, why +one million died' [ws46]. + + ******** Why are people starving in Africa ******** + from Workers Solidarity No 33 + [1991?] + +It's hard to know how any one can consider +capitalism a viable system when looking at +the situation of the less developed countries. +After the millions raised by Live Aid, it seems +unreal that people are going hungry. A recent +UN report estimates that 30 million people +face starvation. Yet EC beef, butter and wine +mountains rot in European warehouses, +farmers are ploughing crops back into the +land, in US corn belt fields of wheat are +burnt. + +There's a bit of a modern myth that the problems +of Africa are either there own fault (over +population, wars) or beyond anyones control +(drought, desertification). Though it's true these +are contributary factors, many other countries +cope with these same problems without the huge +loss of life suffered by Africa (for example China, +even England has been through war and drought). + +The reasons cited by the UN for the deaths of +these people are as follows; lack of resources from +the international community, poor planning and +falling prices on the commodity markets +(especially for cocoa and coffee). Companies selling +to Africa have tightened up credit terms while +external debt levels continued to increase. + +COCOA AND COFFEE + +When Africa was first colonised, land was switched +from production of food to feed the local population +to the production of 'cash crops' such as cocoa, tea, +coffee and sugar. These crops were exported to +colonising countries at low prices. In a similar way +corn was grown in Ireland during the 1845 famine. +Today coffee and cocoa is still a major export of 15 +African countries as they need the cash provided to +keep up with debt repayments. Cocoa prices have +fallen to there lowest level in 15 years while coffee +is at similarity low level. + +DEBT + +In the early 1970's many African governments +borrowed heavily. About 40% of debt is owed +directly to other governments. In almost all cases +this money was lent on the condition that it be +used to purchase arms from the donor country or +that subsides be granted to multinationals based in +the donor country. In this way the third world +country is made to pay twice over. 25% of the debt +is owed to the IMF and the World Bank. Today +Africa's debt is estimated at 270 billion dollars. +Repayments consume 30 per cent of export +earnings. + +UNITED NATIONS + +It's obvious that the governments of the U.S., +China and Europe aren't really interested in +combating the crisis and these are the +governments that run the UN. The last program +of aid implemented by the United Nations +(according to their own report) in 1986 met with +little sucess. This was the plan the UN promised +would revive Africa's economies. Instead, in their +own words "By the end of 1990, it had become +evident that the African crisis had indeed +deepened...the average African continued to get +poorer and suffer a persistent fall in an already +meagre living standard". Now, five years later, +they add that even if their latest plan was fully +implemented (they call it ambitious) the average +income per head in sub-Saharan Africa would only +reach US$700 per annum in 25 years time. +Rather than offering the solution the governments +that make up the UN itself that are the problem. + +THE FUTURE + + So it doesn't look as if the situation will +fundamentally change. But then, why should the +Western governments want things any different? +Africa provides the bosses with markets for the +surplus goods we produce as well as cheap labour +and raw materials. Live Aid showed that workers +of the West are not willing to let Africa starve (as +some Greens would argue), however it also showed +that while the means of production and all the +resulting profits are in the hands of the bosses, +individual attempts at resolving the problems will +do little more than make a dent in the problem. +The type of massive development that Africa +requires will only come about when the resources of +this world are distributed according to need and not +according to profit. + +Aileen O'Carroll + + ************ Putting the record straight ************ + on the Irish Famine 1845-49 + Why 1,000,000 died + from WS 46 [1995] + +The Famine was not just a result of British +Government incompetence or the greed of a few +landlords. Andrew Blackmore explores what happens +when you have a system that puts profits for the +few above all else. + +The conditions for Irish peasants leading up to the +famine accentuated what was to be the worst +disaster in Europe in the 19th century. Before the +famine struck nearly half of rural families lived +in windowless, mud cabins of one room. They were +the lucky ones. The unemployed roamed the country, +begging and sleeping in ditches. + +With a population of 8 million, land was scarce, +and many families had to survive on half an acre of +land. They could only do this by growing potatoes +to feed them through the winter months. + +When the potato blight (a type of fungus) struck in +1845, mass starvation was inevitable. Families who +relied on the potato to keep them alive were left +with nothing. Even those who grew grain or barley +were faced with a stark choice; sell the food in +order to pay the rent, or eat the food and be +evicted. + +As the years went on, the blight continued. +Millions lost everything, their homes, their few +possessions, and of course, their lives. + +The rich too had to tighten their belts. But not as +much. In 1847, while the famine reached a peak of +death and despair, the Dublin 'season' continued as +before in a lively fashion. With the exception of a +few notable cases, the rich felt their only +obligation was to make a donation to charity. After +that they were free to hunt and party, as they +always had done. Lord Bessborough, the Lord +Lieutenant of Ireland, who died in that year +complained that what had made him poorly was not +the famine but too much 'balls and drawing rooms' + +These landlords continued to make valuable cash +through the export of foodstuffs such as grain, as +well as wool and flax. All through the famine they +were exporting food that could have kept people +alive. John Mitchell (who published the United +Irishman) claimed that for every ship that came to +Ireland with food, there were six ships sailing +out. + +As far as landlords were concerned they had the +right to do so. The right of the rich few to sell +food to the highest bidder, came before the needs +of the majority for food for survival. And the +right of the rich to collect rent came before the +right to housing. The British government supported +that 'right' by bringing in the 'Coercion Act' +enabling it to declare martial law, and a curfew +between sunset and sunrise wherever they wanted. + +The 'Coercion Act' and other previously existing +laws were used to evict tenants who could not pay +rent. The soldiers and constabulary were used to +protect food for export from the starving. + +In order to avoid mass revolt the government set up +public works schemes. Impoverished peasants were +asked to build roads that went from nowhere to +nowhere, for such low wages that they could hardly +buy enough food to live on. + +Even this work was not available for many people. +For example, in Mayo in 1846, 400,000 people +applied for 13,000 jobs. + +Along with such a pathetic response, the government +pushed much of the responsibility to feed the poor +onto the shoulders of charities. Soup kitchens were +set up, by religious groups and charities +throughout Ireland. In some cases the soup was so +watery that doctors would advise people not to +drink it! + +Even if the charities had been able to feed +everyone that was not the point. The right of +people to food and the right to life should have +come before everything else. + +The famine caused roughly 1,000,000 deaths and +1,500,000 emigrants. In the aftermath, the +population of Ireland was to halve to 4,000,000. It +is an example of a terrible tragedy, but one that +is inevitable only when the profit motive comes +before people. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001119.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001119.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..48356636 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001119.txt @@ -0,0 +1,224 @@ +********** Kuwait & Iraq : After the Gulf War ********** + from Workers Solidarity No 34 + [1991?] + +It's a proud day for America and, by God, we kicked the +Vietnam syndrome for once and for all" declared Bush. + +"In the hours after the ceasefire north of the +Iraqi border, it was impossible to drive on the +highway without running over parts of human +bodies. I watched wild dogs feasting on Iraqi +flesh and camera crews filmed all this. But +scarcely a frame reached television viewers. +Faced with the reality they supposedly craved, +nearly all television editors decided that 'good +taste' would restrict their reports now that +government officials were no longer there to +censor them. Having therefore offered viewers +war without responsibility, television ended the +Gulf conflict by giving them war without death." +Robert Fisk, Irish Times, January 19th. + +The imperialists' victory over Iraq was no surprise given +their massive technical and military capacity. What is +more interesting is the ready help given them by the +"free press". This article focuses on how the media +provided a "licence to kill" in the Gulf. + +LET'S EXAMINE a few of the myths that were +floating around in February 1991. Firstly was +this a war aimed only at liberating a small +independent country from a pitiless +aggressor? + +A Kuwaiti "exile" told Maggie O'Kane in the Irish +Times of the hardships they had endured due to the +invasion, "In my normal life I would have servants to do +everything in the house now I am ironing my own +clothes and I have only one servant". "Before the +invasion Kuwaiti citizens had the highest standard of +living in the world and enjoyed free education, health +care and social services. Sounds o.k. but only 15% of +the workforce are citizens! + +The remaining 85% are "guest workers" and enjoy the +most appalling conditions. Since the war ended 300,000 +of the 400,000 Palestinian guest workers have been +expelled. Only 60,000 propertied Kuwaiti males have +the vote - not that theres been an election in quite a +while. The al-Sabah ruling family returned promising +democracy and immediately began assassinating Kuwaiti +opposition figures. Kuwait was and is little more then +a rentier state. The Al-Sabahs were installed by +Britain in 1961 and still depend totally on the +imperialists. + +This doesn't justify Iraq's expansionism. Saddam, +despite playing "the Palestinian card", was no sort of +liberator. However the rush to "save" Kuwait while +ignoring Israel's grabbings over the years shows clearly +that the West "defends small nations" only when it +suits their geo-political schemes. + +Secondly, was Saddam the new Hitler? Saddam +Hussein is not a nice guy. In fact he's a pretty vicious +nationalist dictator. He was responsible for the +agonising death by (West German made) Cyanide and +mustard gas of 5,000 Kurds at Halabja. He killed +thousands of Shias during the uprisings in March and +continues to rule Iraq with an iron fist. + +However, much as he might relish the thought, Saddam +was not and certainly is not in the position of Adolf +Hitler in 1939. Nazi Germany was the second most +powerful industrial nation in the world, almost totally +self-sufficient with it's own massive arms industry. Iraq +is only self-sufficient in oil (which it can't fully process), +dates and some vegetables and was almost $ 80 billion +in debt at the start of the war. Despite the hype they +were actually years away from producing nuclear +weapons and had almost no native arms technology. Up +to August Saddam relied totally on the major powers. + +Thirdly Iraqi forces in Kuwait were accused of being a +gang of murderers. No war is ever "clean". In this war, +as in all others, there were horrible atrocities on both +sides. However given the balance of forces it comes as +no surprise that the coalition forces were the ones that +reaped the biggest harvest of death and destruction. +Only 137 coalition troops were killed (many by "friendly +fire") compared to at least 100,000 Iraqi troops. At +least 200,000 Iraqi civilians died in the bombing or as a +result of the starvation and disease that followed. + +While the press rabbited on about Western hostages, +millions of workers from third world countries were not +allowed to leave Saudi Arabia and other countries for +the duration of the war. Only 1 in 10 Palestinians in +the West Bank (were many of the Iraqi scuds +eventually landed) had gas masks in case of chemical or +biological attack. + +The Western media both "tabloid" and "quality" were +prepared to exaggerate, lie, accept rumours or just +publish any old rubbish that aided the war effort. We +were told that babies in Kuwait city had been ripped +out of incubators and left to die. Hospital officials +dismissed these as absurd - they didn't have enough +incubators to even hold the number supposedly ripped +out. + +An icerink in the city was said to hold thousands of +bodies - none were found. Up to 40,000 Kuwaitis were +alleged to be held hostage - they weren't. Airmen who +appeared in Iraqi TV were supposed to have been +beaten black and blue by the Iraqis but sustained their +injuries ejecting from their planes had high speeds. + +COLLATORAL DAMAGE + +The Iraqis couldn't, even if they wanted to, have come +close to the imperialist tallies. The Iraqi army of young +and mostly untrained recruits was annihilated in +Kuwait. Iraq itself was bombed back into the stone- +age. It wasn't so much a war as a turkey shoot. + +Between Kuwait and Basra a fleeing and deserting +army in every conceivable vehicle was exterminated. +They were attacked by British and American tanks and +from the air with rocket and cluster bombs. Tens of +thousands were wiped out and it didn't merit a +headline in many papers. They called it "the mother of +all easy target areas". + +A few journalists were revolted by what they saw. +Some did not to a lesser or greater extent take part in +the sanitised and censored coverage. They refused to +be involved in the censored military press briefings or +to be photographed in camouflage at the front "with +our boys". One British group, Media Workers Against +the War, had 800 people at their founding meeting. +They produced their own "War Report" which +contained much good factual reporting. + +Breaking the consensus carried its risks which tended +to increase nearer the front. DJ Miles Patterson of +Jazz FM in London played a few mildly anti-war tracks +and was fired. Bob Fisk who tried to prevent Kuwaitis +beating up Palestinians in Kuwait city was told by an +American soldier "You have a big mouth, this is +marshall law boy. Fuck off!" All things considered he +probably got off fairly lightly. + +KURDISH WORKERS' COUNCILS + +One possible reason for the massacre between Kuwait +city and Basra could have been the rebellious feelings +of many of the fleeing conscripts. Though the West +wanted rid of Saddam it would much prefer a palace +coup within the Ba'athists then a popular uprising. It +was possibly, also, for this reason that his elite imperial +guards were left fairly intact. On the 29th of March +one of the first tanks back into Basra destroyed a +poster of Saddam. A generalised uprising soon gripped +the area. + +The rising in the South was portrayed by the media as +exclusively Shia Muslim in character. However this +area of Iraq has always been strongly secular. Basra, +Nasariah and Hilah were traditional center of the Iraqi +Communist Party (effectively wiped out in the sixties). +Had the rebellion lasted longer there might have been +some appearance of socialist ideas on the agenda. + +In the North according to some sources1 quoting +participants in the Kurdish uprising there may have +been up to 100 'shoras' or workers councils. These were +active in the fight against the Ba'athists. They also +came into conflict with the nationalists of the Kurdish +Front (KF) and the Stalinists of the 'March of +Communism' (RAWT) group. + +The nationalist forces seem to have been extremely +unpopular in some areas. One witness said that Jalai +Talabani (who later signed a treaty with Saddam) was +not let into the town of Sulaymaniyah. Massoud +Barzani of the Kurdish Democratic Party had two body +guards killed by the people of Chamcharni. + +Shoras called for self-determination, bread, work and +freedom including freedom to strike, for a "shoras +government", for womens' equality and that people +should control their own economic and political destiny. +It would appear that a revolution which began as a +nationalist one was being taken further by workers +fighting for a social revolution. According to one +activist "a large part of the shoras movement didn't +acknowledge the KF's social authority". + +Of course the KF have since brokered an agreement +with Saddam which recognises his authority in return +for an autonomous region. The lessons of the Gulf +massacre and the Kurdish uprising seems to be that +nationalists have no answers. Neither Saddam, Yasser +Arafat, the KF or any bourgeois outfit have anything +to offer workers fighting imperialism in the Gulf region. + +All nationalists eventually find themselves in +collaboration with the imperialists and only step out of +line to pursue their own interests (as in Saddam's case). +The working class must assert it's interests. They must +break with nationalism and boot out all the Emirs, +Sheiks, petty dictators and imperialist stooges. + +Only in a revolutionary war against the imperialists +and their own rulers can the really defeat imperialism +as a force. Only through fighting for real socialism can +they take revenge for the crimes of the imperialists. + +1 The Kurdish Uprising and Kurdistan's nationalist shopfront +and it's negotiations with the Ba'athist/Fascist regime" +BM Blob + BM Combustion London WC1N 3XX, and the Autumn +1991 issue of "Wildcat". + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001120.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001120.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3a78f5e5 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001120.txt @@ -0,0 +1,188 @@ +*** Welcome to issue two of Red & Black Revolution. *** + +The idea of revolution is central to anarchism. In this +issue we look at just what a successful revolution requires +and in what conditions it is likely to occur. We bring +news of work being done now to build a new anarchist +movement in Russia and of the links being forged between +anarchist organisations in Europe. + +Anarchism however does not sit and wait for the revolution. +It fights today against all aspects of capitalist +oppression. This means working alongside people who do not +share our world view but who do wish to tackle some of the +worst aspects of capitalism. We look at the way broad +based projects, aimed at combating the worst elements of +capitalism can become part of the mechanism ensuring social +stability. + +Unions, community groups and unemployment centres all +represent at least in part peoples' desire to fight back. +Capitalism in recognising this has adopted two strategies. +The earlier one was of direct attack, attempts to smash +these organisations. As capitalist control mechanisms have +developed and the need for stability increased new methods +have been devised, ones that aim to incorporate activists +into the control mechanisms of capitalism itself. + +So we have unions that argue for competitiveness, +unemployed groups that argue for funding cuts and community +groups in partnerships with the same companies that are +devastating their communities. Anarchists involved in +fighting alongside fellow workers today have to be aware of +where these problems arise and how we can start to tackle +them. + + ********** Contents *********** + +Incorporation + +Why is it that many single issue campaigns and community +groups which start out with a radical program soon end up +as little more than service groups? Conor Mc Loughlin, an +activist of the now defunct Portobello Unemployed Action +Group investigates. + +The road to revolution + +A complete transformation of society, revolution, is the goal of anarchism. +Ray Cunningham looks at what is meant when anarchists talk about +revolution, and what can be done to bring it closer. + +Rebels at Ruesta + +In August 1995 an international gathering of libertarian +communists took place in Ruesta, Spain. A week of +discussions took place and at the end a declaration was +drawn up. We present here extracts from the WSM +delegates' report on the week and the agreed declaration. + +Russian Anarchism: After the fal + +Although many classical anarchist theorists and figures +came from Russia, the advent of the Soviet State +effectively crushed the movement. Now anarchism is reborn +in Russia. Laure Akai and Mikhail Tsovma write from Moscow +to tell us a little about the trials and tribulations of +the new Russian anarchist movement. + +Travellers fighting back + +Patricia McCarthy examines the history of Irish Travellers' +struggle for civil rights and ethnic recognition. Their +struggles have much in common with those of Indigenous +people worldwide and with the struggles of Native Americans +and Australian Aboriginals and also with the struggles of +Gypsies, Travellers and nomads against racism and +oppression. + +Chomsky on Anarchism + +Noam Chomsky is widely known for his critique of U.S. +foreign policy, and for his work as a linguist. In a +special interview with Red and Black Revolution, Chomsky +gives his views on anarchism and marxism, and the prospects +for socialism now. + +The two souls of the trade unions + +Union activists are facing new management attacks but the +trade union leadership speaks only of partnership with the +bosses. Des Derwin, member of the Executive of the Dublin +Council of Trade Unions and of the Dublin Private Sector +Regional Executive Committee of SIPTU gives his personal +view on the two souls of the unions. + +The IRA cease-fire and republican politics. + +The 'Irish peace process' is now well into its second year. +It has brought respectability for Sinn Fin but little of +consequence for the Irish working class - North or South. +Gregor Kerr, a member of the National Committee of the +Irish Anti Extradition Committee in the late 1980s, looks +at events leading up to the cease-fire and Sinn Fin's pan- +nationalist strategy. + + *********** About the WSM *********** + +The Workers Solidarity Movement was founded in Dublin, +Ireland in 1984 following discussions by a number of local +anarchist groups on the need for a national anarchist +organisation. At that time with unemployment and +inequality on the rise, there seemed every reason to argue +for anarchism and for a revolutionary change in Irish +society. This has not changed. + +Like most socialists we share a fundamental belief that +capitalism is the problem. We believe that as a system it +must be ended, that the wealth of society should be +commonly owned and that its resources should be used to +serve the needs of humanity as a whole and not those of a +small greedy minority. But, just as importantly, we see +this struggle against capitalism as also being a struggle +for freedom. We believe that socialism and freedom must go +together, that we cannot have one without the other. As +Mikhail Bakunin, the Russian anarchist said, "Socialism +without freedom is tyranny and brutality". + +Anarchism has always stood for individual freedom. But it +also stands for democracy. We believe in democratising the +workplace and in workers taking control of all industry. +We believe that this is the only real alternative to +capitalism with its on going reliance on hierarchy and +oppression and its depletion of the world's resources. + +In the years since our formation, we've been involved in a +wide range of struggles - our members are involved in their +trade unions; we've fought for abortion rights and against +the presence of the British state in Northern Ireland; +we've also been involved in campaigns in support of workers +from countries as far apart as Nepal, Peru and South +Africa. Alongside this, we have produced nearly fifty +issues of our paper Workers Solidarity, and a wide range of +pamphlets. In 1986, we organised a speaking tour of +Ireland by an anarchist veteran of the Spanish Civil War, +Ernesto Nadal, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the +revolution there. + +As anarchists we see ourselves as part of a long tradition +that has fought against all forms of authoritarianism and +exploitation, a tradition that strongly influenced one of +the most successful and far reaching revolutions in this +century - in Spain in 1936 - 37. The value of this +tradition cannot be underestimated today. With the fall of +the Soviet Union there is renewed interest in our ideas and +in the tradition of libertarian socialism generally. We +hope to encourage this interest with Red & Black +Revolution. We believe that anarchists and libertarian +socialists should debate and discuss their ideas, that they +should popularise their history and struggle, and help +point to a new way forward. If you are interested in +finding out more about anarchism or the WSM, contact us at +PO Box 1528, Dublin 8, Ireland. + + *********** Re-printing ********** + +Permission is given for revolutionary publications to +reprint any of the articles contained in this issue. But +please do two things + +-> Tell us you are re-printing and send us a copy of the +publication it appears in. +-> If you are also translating an article please send us a +copy of the translation on computer disk so we can add it +to our electronic archive.A complete transformation of +society, revolution, is the goal of anarchism. Ray +Cunningham looks at what is meant when anarchists talk +about revolution, and what can be done to bring it closer. + + *********** Submissions *********** + +Red & Black Revolution is published by the Workers +Solidarity Movement. The deadline for the next issue is +June, 1996. Submissions are welcome and should be sent +either as 'text only' files on Mac or PC format computer +disks or typed on plain white paper. Disks are preferred. +Letters are also welcome. All correspondence should be +sent to Red & Black Revolution, PO Box 1528, Dublin 8, +Ireland. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001121.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001121.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..73a20e25 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001121.txt @@ -0,0 +1,351 @@ + ********** Incorporation ************ + ******* A Spoonful of Sugar ********* + +There are many ways in which governments can prevent opposition. +Some are more open and obvious than others. When police attack +protests, when pickets are broken up, when opposition is imprisoned it is +clear what the State is up to. However there are subtler tactics, one is the +way in which opposition movements are 'incorporated' and made part of +the system. This article looks at some examples, mostly from Ireland, but +the same process can be seen at work internationally. + +So what is incorporation and how does it happen? It is the process by +which radical individuals or groups are integrated into the State structure +thus neutralising them as an effective opposition. Incorporation is integral +to the operation of most advanced Capitalist countries. It is a mechanism +by which, day to day, opposition can be diluted and disarmed. + +Incorporation is mediated through an organisation's needs for funding. +Whoever pays the piper calls the tune. This old saying is well understood +by the State and the bosses who are prepared to pay a limited amount in +order to ensure social stability. + +Basically an incorporated opposition group rather than fighting against the +State has become a quasi-independent arm of that State. They are the +spoonfuls of sugar which aid the medicine in its passage downwards. +Some are born incorporated, some become so. One example of an +organisation conceived and born as incorporated is the Irish National +Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU). + +The INOU is a federation of anti-unemployment groups and union +funded advice centres. They also have individual membership for any +unemployed person who wants to join. The INOU claims that it +represents the unemployed in the 32 counties. Hence the by-line in all +their publications; "the unemployed-speaking for ourselves, fighting for +our rights". In practice they answer mainly to their funders rather than to +their members. + +More directly the State may enter what the Irish government describe as +"social dialogue arrangements" in the PCW (Programme for +Competitiveness and Work.) This is the latest in a series of national wage +agreements signed between employers, unions and government in +Ireland that tie the unions into wage moderation and a promise of +industrial peace.1 These agreements have wider pretensions to bring +about a form of consensus politics selling the lie that we're all in the same +boat. It gives the bosses the stable conditions they need to keep raking in +the profits. + +In April 1995, the Irish Minister for Enterprise and Employment Richard +Bruton, announced a 15% cutback in Community Employment Schemes2. +There was no opposition from the parliamentary 'socialists' of Labour and +Democratic Left as both were part of the government that was +implementing the cuts! There was, of course, some opposition from +unions, church groups and community groups. One small group, the +Scheme Workers Alliance, even attempted to organise a scheme workers' +strike to coincide with the European week of action against +unemployment. + +Publicly the INOU were loud in their opposition to the cuts. But in their +April 1995 bulletin they published their more considered response. They +had carried out a survey among all their affiliates. The purpose of this was +to ask members how they thought the cutbacks should be implemented. + +The report found that there was a high degree of consensus among the +affiliated groups that responded. There was a preference for selective +cutbacks. They were in favour of eliminating some projects at the end of +their 12 month period and "targeting specific projects for protection +against any cutbacks". The survey showed + +"That there was a clear agreement that less effective projects should be +'weeded out', this method was seen to be in the interest of the participants +on the weak project and to the benefit of other projects". + +It should be said, in fairness, that not all groups went along with this. +Some felt that the approach was "divisive" and wanted no role in setting +criteria for cuts. + +As it happened, on this occasion, the government was just testing the +waters. As such they must have been delighted to see a group claiming to +represent the unemployed telling them how they should take their +medicine. The INOU and nearly all of its affiliates had proved to be classic +cases of incorporation in action. + +Partners in Progress? + +The Dublin Inner City Partnership is another such example. It is one result +of the PESP deal (see footnote 1) signed in 1991. It was established to "take +a fresh and radical approach to the issue of long-term unemployment"3 . +The stated aim was to bring together employers, government agencies and +community groups to co-operate on job creation. The real deal goes back +to the idea of social partnership and keeping areas of the inner city (where +generations of unemployment and deprivation could explode into anger) +stable and under control. + +The 'partnership' is part of the whole government strategy of agreement +and alliance between bosses and workers. This is the idea of social +partnership put forward in successive national agreements since 1987. In +the past real struggles have emerged from Dublin inner city, e.g. the +Corporation rent strike in the 1970s. The powers that be are prepared to be +generous or so it would appear. The partnership's programme for action +1992-1993 was hoping for 10 million 4. But addressing the real problems +would cost a hell of a lot more. For example, a massive programme of +State housing and a Corporation rent freeze would go some way towards +solving Dublin's housing crisis but it would cost many times this figure. + +The 'partnership' has incorporated potentially radical groups like the +Larkin Unemployed Centre, the Building Allied Trade Union and the +National Painters Union and companies like Guinness who have been +responsible for the loss of hundreds of jobs in the inner city. The State too +gets well represented with FAS, CERT (State training agency for catering) +and the Eastern Health Board on the board5. Everyone is supposed to +have a shared interest in helping the unemployed. + +As a policing exercise it has worked. Unions, unemployed groups and +community groups keep the peace in some of the most deprived areas of +Dublin. In some cases this policing aim was quite specifically laid out. A +community leadership course has been set up. The aims are given as: + +" To enhance the skills and expertise of local community activists and to +develop an effective response by local organisations to the growth of the +complex problems with which they are faced." + +Reading between the lines the desire is to take out effective, active +community leadership and re-educate them in the new realities of +'partnership'. While everyone was busy making friends unemployment +in the inner city has increased by 30% between the launch in 1991 and July +1994.6 + +Other groups do not start off incorporated. Community groups, tenants' +organisations, women's groups and other such groups are often founded +with an agenda for change. These groups result from people organising to +better their lives. They wish to educate and organise but usually arise +from people agitating around a particular issue. Those who want change +find themselves opposed by those who wish to keep the status quo. They +are drawn into struggle with existing power groups, especially the State. + +As these community based organisations grow and develop, their need for +funding often leads them away from their original goals. The funders, be +they the church, charities, the State or transnational funders like the +European Union begin to impose their ideas. The purse comes with +strings attached. This immediately leads to professionalisation. Funders +always like a manager, co-ordinator, administrator or some such leader +they can deal with. + +The groups become less democratic, also they begin to water down their +original aims. While lip service is still paid to the founding goals in +reality they become a dead letter. Anyone raising the original policy is +seen as utopian, out of touch or even as a danger to funding! Such groups +lose sight of the idea of social change. They often lose any sense of having +a long-term aim or direction. + +Incorporated groups become grant-addicted. Extra funding buys new +premises, computers, offices and workers. However then bills for rent, +electricity and wages and so on begin to mount up. A vicious spiral is +created where funding assumes top priority. This means, firstly, that more +time is wasted looking for funding. Secondly and most importantly the +funders get a veto over activity they don't like. Activity is dictated by +them and by what they will tolerate. + +This process of becoming incorporated is described very well in the book +"Community, Art and The State" 7 by Owen Kelly. This book describes the +development of the community arts movement in Britain. In the late +1960s and early 1970s many wished to involve ordinary people in art with +a view to using it to help effect social change. Increasingly they became +obsessed with funding especially from the British Arts Council. He +describes how + +"naively community artists thought they could take the money and run." + +This led to: + +"a progressive loss of control over the direction of the movement and its +ability to construct a programme to put its aims into practice." + +Any debate on ideas or long-term direction was seen as utopian. Later, +incorporated groups begin to worry about any debate seeing the danger of +public splits. They become terrified of scaring funders. + +Most funders (especially the state) are clever enough never to provide +anywhere near to the amount of funding asked for. The cash dosage is +kept deliberately low. This keeps the organisations constantly begging like +addicts who can't score enough to feed their habits. The funders drop and +take up groups according to the public profile of the group and the +trendiness of the issue. If it is international year of the disabled those +groups do well and so on. + +Destructive fights for funds may break out. In order to keep a good vein +open for supply members get on to funding committees themselves and +so get in on the game of dividing the cake. + +Incorporation in practice + +The INOU shows clearly how the mechanism of incorporation functions. +It is funded by FAS, the unions, church and State.8 It has two members +sitting on government committees doling out E.U. cash.9 It is registered as +a limited company. The main voices in the organisation are its full-time +paid officers and the full-time "co-ordinators" of advice centres. +According to figures on page 15 of its own 1991 report (see footnote 8) +"Almost half the associations (within the INOU) reported that their +development had been limited by restrictions placed on them by funders". + +The INOU is a good service provider. The advice supplied in the centres +is good and professional. As a campaigning organisation it is utterly +useless. It confines itself to ineffectual media stunts often bringing in +groups like Machnas (a professional arts group who put on shows for +campaigns like that for the release of the Birmingham 6) to put on a good +show "on behalf" of the unemployed. These are not seen as a group to be +mobilised in defence of their own rights but 'a deprived section of society' +to be helped by professional do-gooders. + +The consequences are seen in cases such as the proposed CE cutbacks. The +INOU did little to mobilise scheme workers. But on hearing of the +Scheme Workers Alliance's (SWA) attempt to organise a strike and march +they sprang into action. They told their co-ordinators to close the INOU +centres and organised a march an hour earlier than the SWA march. +They refused to co-ordinate with SWA and managed to disrupt and split a +potentially good protest. + +In another case a campaign was fought within the INOU in 1991 against +the then new national deal, the PESP (Programme for Economic and +Social Progress). According to an ex-member of its executive the INOU +were told, unofficially that if any anti-programme motions were passed +their centres would lose union funding. This is how incorporation +functions to police and stifles protest and dissent. + +Fighting back + +Incorporation by its nature is very difficult to fight. As anarchists we +know that it is not enough to be back seat drivers in the struggle for social +change. We know that we have to become involved in campaigns and +struggles; to test our anarchism in practice. This means becoming +involved in real campaigns and groups and pointing out and trying to +fight incorporation on the ground. + +This is not easy. Those within a group that feel it must be fought will find +themselves isolated and without funds. So they may have to fight a +double fight both for their rights as women, unemployed, Travellers or +whatever and against the 'professional core' of the group. + +There are some steps that new groups may take to fight or minimise +incorporation. It is important to be open, democratic and entirely +transparent (to members) in organisation. It is important that the group +reflect a real need and is set up and controlled by the people effected. +Nothing will come out of parachuting in activists to 'help' others. + +It is also vital that members know and understand fully the shared aims +and long-term direction of the group. A group must be fully democratic +and be open to continuous debate and education so that all members have +a say in where it's going. + +It is possible to distinguish two types of community organisation. One is +set up to provide services such as an unemployed centre or tenants' rights +advice centre. The other specifically to campaign to improve things. +Some groups claim to do both but there will be a clash and a choice must +be made. Any group which relies on money from institutions like the +State will, inevitably, be compromised in fighting against that State. +Genuine campaign groups cannot afford to accept this compromise. + +Any community group will have to face compromises in its day to day +operations. It is important that these are made with the consent and +understanding of all the members. Decisions on funding, taking on +Community Employment workers and other potential compromises must +be made in an open way and on a case by case basis. + +The main stumbling block will always be funding. One idea is a tithe. +This is a small voluntary subscription from members and supporters. +Basically this is how unions were originally built. Tithing means that the +money comes from within the group and is totally independent and it +gives members a sense of involvement. Campaign groups can sometimes +get money from unions. However it is important to appeal directly to +workers through their branches. Any approach to the bureaucracy would +be avoiding the chance to build genuine solidarity and probably doomed to +total failure anyway. + +Other fund-raising events such as concerts, pub-quizes, race nights etc. also +have the advantages of involving members directly in raising money and +deciding how it is spent. + +Usually and unfortunately, this won't raise enough money. For service +based groups external funding will have to be sought. This should not be +rushed into on a 'grab it where you can' basis. The funding with least +strings should be looked into first. Funding should be sought for +individual planned projects rather than becoming dependant on a regular +income. Where possible multiple funding for projects should be sought to +minimise the control of any one funder. + +This only applies to voluntary service groups. Genuine political or +campaign groups should never accept State money. + +Above all the group has to be clear in its aims and direction and know +when it is compromising and how far it can go. It must be prepared to +debate out compromises on a case by case basis. It must also be realised +that, short of a revolution, most long-term campaign and community +groups can only go so far and that isn't far enough. + + +Footnotes +1 The Programme for National Recovery (1987), Programme for Economic +and Social Progress (1991) and the Programme for Competitiveness and +Work(1993). +2 These schemes are government sponsored training where one works +for a sum roughly equivalent to the dole (similar schemes exist in England +and Northern Ireland and throughout Europe). Though they are +voluntary and not workfare as such the training is often quite limited and +they are usually a source of cheap labour and are often used to replace +full-time jobs . +3 Turning the Tide; A Review of Progress and Future Plans. (Dublin Inner +City Partnership 1994) +4 This included; 2,531,000 from the European Union (money from the +Global Grant, Community Reserve, Horizon, Euroform, N.O.W) and +6,922,000 through FAS and the VEC. Private Enterprise held its side of +the "partnership" with a measly 218,999. +SES = Social Employment Scheme (A former particular scheme now +grouped under the general Community Employment banner). +FAS = The Irish State Employment Service. +VEC = Vocational Education Committee. +NOW = New Opportunities for Women scheme. +It should be pointed out that these figures were expectations and proved +wildly optimistic. Also in fact a lot of this money was already committed +and would have gone in anyway regardless of the programme. At present +(according to a source within the partnership) they are budgeting for about +3.5 million over the next 4 years. +5 ibid. page 36. +6 ibid. page 1 +7 Co-Media, London 1984 +8 According to its own publication "Organising against Unemployment" +(Pat Mc Ginn and Michael Allen INOU Dublin 1991) the Projects of INOU +centres were funded as follows; +FAS/SES 29% +DED/ACE 3% +Trade unions 14% +Local authorities 9% +Irish American/Ireland funds 9% +Religious bodies 7% +Other government agencies 5% +Voluntary trusts 5% +European Community 3% +Combat Poverty Agency 3% +Other sources 12% +FAS is the Irish State Employment service. DED/ACE were the +employment schemes in the North when the report was published. +9 The total amount available through the EU is huge (though community +groups see very little of it). In 1993 the amount of social funds paid to +Ireland alone was 312 million along with Regional Development Funds +of 464 million. A grand total of 8 billion was promised between 1994 +and 1998. Other funders include; the Ireland Fund (set up after the Anglo- +Irish Agreement on Northern Ireland and mainly funded through +Irish/American business and the US government), the European +Investment Bank, the World Bank, funds realised under the Programme +for Competitiveness and Work and other direct grants from government +departments. +Thanks to Aileen O'Carroll for help in writing this article. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001122.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001122.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f0b90f77 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001122.txt @@ -0,0 +1,665 @@ +******* The Dunnes Strike & Managing Change ******* + -- the two souls of Irish trade unionism. + Guest Writer + +For three weeks, in June-July, nearly 6,000 mostly +young and part-time workers struck against Ireland's +largest private sector employer, the firmly anti-union +Dunnes Stores, over Sunday trading, zero-hours +contracts, the proportion of full-time jobs and other +issues. But the principal, and unstated, issues were +probably union recognition and the organisation of the +newly emergent semi-casual, part-time, young (and +mainly female) section of the labour force. The +result, while disappointing on the concrete 'economic' +issues, was generally greeted as something of a +breakthrough on the latter 'political' issues. + +Power in the darkness. + +The Dunnes Stores strike came upon a sickly, scared and +handcuffed trade union movement with the healing touch +of restoration. It stood in sharp contrast to the grim +series of industrial disputes that preceded it. +Previous disputes at Packard, TEAM Aer Lingus, Irish +Steel, Pat the Baker, Nolans resulted in demoralising +defeats which seemed to deliver further body blows to a +downwardly debilitating movement. + +Everybody in the labour movement seems to agree on the +positive significance of the Dunnes strike. The +Biennial Conference of the Irish Congress of Trade +Unions (ICTU) in Tralee, which overlapped last July +with the final week of the strike, was reportedly +overjoyed at the outcome. Peter Cassels, ICTU General +Secretary, congratulated the Labour Court on its +recommendation. + +At the other end of the spectrum responses were even +more enthusiastic if with a different focus. "The +Dunnes strike was a turning point", said Socialist +Worker1. Militant declared: "The Dunnes strike can be +the start of a general fight back by the working class" +and "In many ways it has an historic significance."2 + +The Dunnes strike revealed to all that not alone was +there still fight left in the trade union movement, but +it was present where it was widely unexpected, among +young, unorganised, part-time workers. It provided +almost the first example in the last three years of a +sucessful strike. Furthermore the Dunnes workers +received the almost universal support of the general +public, the media, the political parties, the Church, +the state (which paid them the dole!), celebrities +(even Boyzone!) and the trade union leadership. What +refreshment, after the pillorying of the Irish Steel +and TEAM craftworkers, the isolation of the Pat the +Baker and Nolans Transport strikers, the (varying) +sympathy for, but apparent helplessness of the Packard +Electric workers. + +Preceding elation was relief, on all sides of the +movement. The left dreaded another defeat.3 Even the +Congress leaders could see that a defeat for MANDATE4 +in Dunnes would be a devastating blow to trade union +strength and what place have generals without an army? +On top of that Dunnes would have scored this triumph +outside of the carefully built-up industrial relations +machinery to which officialdom is so committed.5 + +Why the Dunnes strike won + +Different sectors interpreted the victory in different +ways. Two remarkable features of the strike were the +professional public relations campaign of MANDATE and +the overwhelming support of shoppers in refusing to +enter the stores. Michael Foley, the Media +Corespondent of the Irish Times, under a sub-heading +stating, "the Dunnes Stores strike was fought and won +on television, radio and in the newspapers", wrote: +"The picket line in the Dunnes Stores dispute was not a +way of ensuring that the stores remained closed or a +method of convincing others not to trade with the +company, but a media event, a photo opportunity and an +opportunity for sound bites".6 + +On the same page it was reported, in relation to "the +success of the strike", that "senior members of the +ICTU took the opportunity of the organisation's +biennial conference in Tralee this week to hammer home +repeatedly to members the importance of using +industrial relations procedures to the maximum and the +necessity of mobilising public support, as well as +industrial muscle, if disputes were going to be fought +and won."7 + +Here the accidental is emphasised over the essential. +The Dunnes strike revolved around two issues. The +first is that MANDATE had the numbers and used them, +not least in legally dodgy mass pickets. The second is +that the refusal of the company to use the industrial +relations procedures underlined the irrelevance of any +mediating machinery to the workers without industrial +action. + +A more satisfying analysis was given by Dermot Connolly +writing in Militant as follows: "In contrast (to the +half-hearted conduct of previous disputes by the +unions) the Dunnes strike was superbly organised. They +(MANDATE's officials and executive) knew that Dunnes +were out to break the union and worked non-stop for six +weeks to prepare the membership and counter every +attempt by management to sow confusion and split the +ranks. A national shop stewards committee was formed +along with strike committees in the shops, mass +picketing was encouraged. ICTU was pressurised into +calling for a boycott of Dunnes and urging workers with +their suppliers not to pass pickets. They didn't hide +behind the need to call ballots before doing this as +they have claimed to be the case in other disputes. A +glimpse of the real potential power of the trade union +movement was shown, and at the same time the fact that +all the weaknesses of the unions to-day, the so-called +decline in solidarity,8the inability to organise +serious struggles comes from the top." 9 + +The emphasis here is on shop floor organisation, +militancy, industrial solidarity and the mass activity +of the members themselves (rather than token +picketlines) as the key essentials to the success of +the strike. + +Managing Change + +If the Dunnes strike was a 'turning point', there was +also another turning point (or rather, another turn of +the screw) at the same time. The Biennial Conference +of the ICTU showed the second of the two souls of Irish +trade unionism. The ICTU planted yet another milestone +in the road of 'partnership' and 'consensus' with the +adoption of the document Managing Change and Motion 19. + +Managing Change is the latest development of what Peter +Cassels, ICTU General Secretary, refers to as "the +trade union agenda for a new century".10 It follows a +long line of Congress documents including "New Forms of +Work Organisation" from the 1993 Conference. + +The 1993 paper advised a new co-operative or +participatory approach to such things as human resource +management, world class manufacturing and total quality +control: precisely the kind of new management +techniques that lay-activists had hitherto been warned +about as undermining trade union organisation. +Commenting on the paper Peter Cassels said, "to +innovate effectively... requires a high trust +environment with workers and their unions accepted by +companies as partners in the enterprises."11 + +Local consensus was taken some steps further at this +year's conference, where 1995's theme paper was +Managing Change. The Irish Times prcised its contents +thus: "Accepting that global markets and the speed of +technological change now make company restructuring an +almost constant process, Congress wants member-unions +to become pro-active in this situation. Traditionally +unions have resisted change and have focused on +defending members' rights. ICTU wants to reverse that +role."12 + +Plainly Congress has no problem with the logic of +redundancies and worsened conditions. As the trade +union leadership entered into a joint economic, social +and (on many issues) political strategy with the +government and the employers through the National +Programmes, embracing austerity in the '80s, it has now +accepted a consensus approach to new management +techniques and 'rationalisation', in the individual +firm, embracing competitiveness in the '90s. At both +levels the same strategy is applied: accommodation +rather than resistance. At both levels the same +justification is given: let us get in on it, in order +to influence it! + +Myth and Reality + +The reality of the workplace is remote from the myth +of cosy partnership. Relentlessly employers have +continued to 'rationalise' and 'restructure' with +redundancies, natural wastage, conversion to contract +labour, new 'yellowpack' starting rates, flexibility +and new work practices often gained by threats of +closure. It's not just at Packard that things thought +long-buried, like straight wage cuts or longer working +weeks, have returned from labour history. The very +unions themselves are being undermined by their +'social partners' through the dismantling of shop floor +organisation, 'no-strike' clauses, generosity to non- +union people and, of course, 'human resource' +techniques. + +Matt Merrigan, former President of Congress, says it in +his own inimitable style: "Trade unionists in the +workplace see no evidence of the shared duties, +responsibilities and decision-making that are inferred +in the texts of these programmes. Consensus and +partnership are not in the lexicon of individual +employers at plant level, rather it is: comply or +else."13 Perhaps the current President of Congress +might give us a lexicon of the companies with a "high +trust environment". Aer Lingus, Allied Irish +Banks....Zoe Developments? + +This year's model, Managing Change develops workplace +partnership from the general operation and development +of the firm into the specific area of 'change'. Thus +Congress addresses a current concern of the pundits of +capital: the globalisation of capital and the +consequent 'need' for rationalisation and 'downsizing' +as general and constant features rather than just in +the odd ailing company. It also addresses the +continuing restructuring, part privatisation and +exposure to competition of the semi-state sector - as +seen in the past at An Post, Irish Steel, TEAM and in +the coming year at the ESB14 and Telecom Eireann. + +A new world? + +The motif of 'competitiveness' running through +workplace partnership and the current union-employer- +government agreement (the Programme for Competitiveness +and Work) does not make a good match with trade +unionism, which one was led to believe arose as an +antidote to competition between companies and between +workers themselves.15 It blends well though with a +revamped world-view placing the trade union eggs in the +basket of the EU, the Maastricht Treaty, a strong +currency and the European Social Charter. A world view +that sees itself getting behind the perceived dawn of +new technology. A world views that seeks to sail with +a restructuring capitalism and the ascendancy of new +right ideology. One which compensates for the decline +in labour militancy by seeking to place trade union +relevance elsewhere than in the class struggle. This +results in a half- belief in the end of the working +class as an entity and the transformation of its +members into consumers. + +It is a political economy based on the OECD, the ESRI +and the NESC16. Once, and not so long ago, the +economic policies of trade union leaders was based +largely on state enterprise and the public sector. +This underlying doctrine has been replaced without +acknowledgement. A discredited statism has been +replaced by a fatalistic adoption of the market; a loss +of belief in any kind of 'socialist' alternative +replaced with a 'new realism' that contends there is no +basic alternative. + +This creeping conversion has to some extent been +fuelled latterly by the collapse of the 'Soviet' bloc, +towards which many union leaders and backroom gurus +sidewardly looked. 17 + +Just how far into the business ethos things have gone +is illustrated in the ICTU 1995 Pre-Budget Submission, +which declares: "Improved competitiveness is crucial +for economic growth and job creation and must be +protected from upward pressure on pay and inflation." +Once it was the employers and government ministers who +said that wage rises cause inflation and unemployment. +John O'Dowd, General Secretary of the Civil and Public +Services Union (CPSU), writing in the Sunday Tribune in +August about the need for confidence in the "change +process" in Telecom Eireann (i.e. the cutting of +several thousand jobs) said, "competition is here to +stay and Telecom staff depend on achieving, and +sustaining competitive advantage within this new +environment."18 + +As with much of the unions' thinking over the past +decade Managing Change is a legislation of existing +practice. There is nothing new about union officials +arguing for an employer's proposals - or a compromise +version of them - on the job. Congress brought this to +a high point in 1994, the centenary of its foundation, +by becoming the 'persuader' in Irish Steel and TEAM Aer +Lingus alongside employers, politicians and the media. +Actually, Managing Change and Motion 19 arose directly +out of a review group established by Congress to +investigate 'what went wrong' in these two cases (where +some workers were hard to persuade). + +Managing change - never had a policy a more apt title. +The system requires regular change, to ensure +competitiveness and profitability. There's a need for +an apparatus - complete with apparatchiks - for its +smooth operation. The rough edges of the employers' +proposals may have to be trimmed. The workforce will +be delivered up to accept the essence of the changes +all systematised through a prepared procedure. No more +cliff-side ballots, no more embarrassing blockades on +the Airport Road, no more 'workers vote for sucide' +newspaper articles, no (perish the thought) importation +of Air France-type direct action resistance. + +In the new schema, of course, it is the rank and file +who live with the changes, while the leaders enter the +corridors of power and increase their salaries. (The +three General Officers of SIPTU receive 7O,OOO per +annum, according to the Sunday Independent. 19 That's +before car and expenses.) + +Bureaucrats as policemen. + +Managing Change extends the domain of the persuader and +of the police officer within the industrial relations +process. Peter Cassels, answering criticism20 that the +ICTU might "whip the trade unions into line", said: +"And if that requires us telling a trade union they're +off-side we'll say they're off-side. And if it requires +telling union members they're off-side, then we'll tell +them they're off-side." 21 + +In defending the proposal for 'a pro-active approach to +changes in work-practices' he said: "We have a choice, +we can leave it to the employers to set the agenda and +do what trade unionists have been doing in other +countries and react. Or we can try and shape the +future." The Irish Times report continues: "He cited +the fight to save jobs at Waterford Crystal and the +Cost and Competitiveness Review in the ESB and Telecom +Eireann as situations in which unions have seized the +initiative in shaping change".22 + +These citations were unfortunate and upon them any +'traditionalist' can rest his or her case. The +instance at Waterford Crystal was a signal defeat, the +breaking of arguably the strongest and most class +conscious group of Irish workers at the time. The ESB +and Telecom reviews are all about the loss of thousands +of the best (and best-unionised) jobs in the country +and the unions' happy cooperation with same! + +Motion 19 puts Managing Change into specific points of +policy. And here alarm bells ring as Congress once +again ties the hands of its members. Motion 19 +proposed "the conclusion of a Framework Document with +employer bodies on how change in the workplace should +be negotiated."23 Congress not only want to "lead the +charge for change" (Peter Cassels again) but it wants a +centralised agreement to govern how it is approached. +The local element as a feature of workplace partnership +didn't get very far, did it? + +This codified procedure would, without doubt, lay down +how, when and where to negotiate and, above all, what +to negotiate. Any pre-cooked negotiation schedule would +have to give an assurance to the employers that the +unions would not rule out negotiation, at least, on any +proposal from local employers. Then the matter would go +to the Labour Relations Commission (as specified in +Motion 19) after which workers would be expected to +ballot (or the Editorials would want to know why not) +on a 'compromise' third-party recommendation. + +As the National Programmes have, since 1987, removed +the (offensive) power of workers to put claims to their +own employers, this new centralised departure would +remove, or severely undermine, the (defensive) power of +workers to reject adverse changes in their own +employment. Any 'framework agreement' that emerges +should go to a ballot and be campaigned against. + +Furthermore Motion 19 calls for a measure that you +might, if you were not up to speed with the charge to +the right of the ICTU, have expected union leaders to +denounce if IBEC, the employers' organisation, proposed +it. This is the introduction of mandatory use of third +party machinery in procedures and disputes24. The first +consideration is the fatal delay and sidetracking that +can be involved in processing urgently needed +industrial action through the labyrinth. The second is +the bias and the malleability of the Labour Relations +Commission and the Labour Court. + +Compulsory conciliation is, of course, well established +in Irish industrial relations: in SIPTU (in practice), +in the public service and legally for 'individual' +disputes under the 1990 Industrial Relations Act. What +Motion 19 would do is to extend and copperfasten it +into (here it comes again) national arrangements with +government and employer organisations. + +Finally, the Motion establishes aggregate ballots where +in certain situations Congress can insist on a single +vote on a change package. This is Congress' response +to the Irish Steel crisis in which the craftworkers +rejected the company's 'survival' plan which the +majority (mainly SIPTU) general workers accepted. +Congress and SIPTU supported the plan and will support +similar plans in future situations. So Managing Change +infers that the rejection of worsened conditions by an +independent section is perceived, not as an opportunity +upon which to build stronger opposition, but as a +problem to be overcome by the majority votes of the +already persuaded. This pseudodemocracy takes no +account of valid craft demarcations or cases where one +section are asked to take more odious changes than +another. + +Two Souls + +Overlapping as it was with the ICTU Conference, the +Dunnes Stores strike (and its resolution) provided a +special occasion to view the two souls of Irish trade +unionism together. Connections between the two were +real enough, and some others were made by Congress +leaders adopting the Dunnes experience and by +journalists juxtaposing two major industrial events. + +The Dunnes dispute was used specifically by Phil Flynn +as an example of the need for "mandatory third-party +reference of disputes".25 Through Dunnes-and their +refusal to even attend the LRC - the 'innovators' have +been able to portray mandatory mediation as a +constraint upon the employers while overlooking its +suffocating effect on workers' action. This portrayal +is easily achieved because third-party referral is now +almost automatic on the union side, because of the +unions' own dispute procedures and because of the +prevalent lack of confidence among workers about having +a straight fight. It's the employers who are perceived +to be beyond this due process and who need to be tied +into it through a tripartheid commitment. + +Commentators painted the strike as a watershed to which +the ICTU's Tralee agenda corresponded. Padraig Yeates, +Industry and Employment Correspondent of the Irish +Times first appeared to acknowledge the differences +between them: "ln many ways the Dunnes Stores strike is +a very traditional one, about defending basic workers' +rights rather than mediating change to meet the needs +of 'global' competition". This perception +notwithstanding he goes on, "yet delegates are keenly +aware that the Dunnes Stores dispute is just as +relevant to the ICTU's modern agenda." By way of +explanation for this relevance he continues: "It is the +first national strike involving a new generation of +part-time workers who are only just begining to join +unions." 26 This was precisely the strike's +significance, but not its relevance to the modern +agenda. + +Perhaps Padraig Yeates was reflecting the connection +which Congress thinkers make to justify the modern +agenda, as an adaption to the emergent generation of +casualised and unorganised young workers - through +consensus rather than struggle! In Towards A New +Century, a veritable manifesto of new unionism, Peter +Cassels writes: "Labour market changes are also +producing a 'new' and growing workforce of part-time, +temporary, casual, contract and home workers...The +changing composition of the workforce is changing the +content of the trade union agenda which in turn is +changing how we process that agenda." 27 + +The Dunnes strike has demonstrated that the road ahead, +in trade union terms, for this new generation is not +the 'new agenda'. A good old fashioned strike has more +claim to that (more but not all - some real tactical +head-scratching is needed, for example, in relation to +struggle at mobile multinationals). + +"The start of a general fightback" it could be, yet +even its own resolution was a steadying reminder that +the other soul (the consensus loving one) envelopes +even the great Dunnes strike with its deadening +presence. An outsider might conclude that MANDATE +halted the march just when they had Dunnes on the run. +One insider described it as, "Let's not lose, rather +than win".28 + +Of course the recommendation to call off the strike +after three weeks may have been prudent, rather than +weak-kneed, leadership: avoiding a long industrial +campaign with raw recruits. The same insider claims, +however, that "the general feeling of the activist +layer in MANDATE was against the Labour Court +recommendation"29 The Sunday Tribune quotes one shop +steward as saying, "we've been sold out."30 The +reccommendation was accepted by nearly four to one in +MANDATE. + +One way or the other, a great triumph of the strike was +that a powerful and determinedly anti-union employer, +employing a 'new' and casualised workforce, was forced +to grant de facto recognition to the union. But the +settlements on the particular issues upon which the +strike was fought represent rather modest gains and, in +some cases, could set unfavourable precedents in the +retail industry. + +The settlement + +Compulsory Sunday working was accepted and extended to +the previously exempt pre-October 1994 workers. It +seems a kind of mockery that European law and practice +is continually used to get workers to take changes and +comply with the norm while Ireland is the only state in +the EU where Sunday trading is permitted without any +regulation. + +The elimination of 'zero-hour' (on-call) contracts was +a major achievement. Under the settlement there's a +minimum of fifteen hours a week work for part-timers +and split shifts are abolished. + +Although the Labour Court recommend time-and-a-half for +Sunday working (as against Dunnes' demand for flat-rate +working for new workers) this sets up two pay rates for +the same work (senior workers keep double time) and is +below rates enjoyed in some other union stores. On the +ratio of full-time to part-time posts the settlement +(two hundred extra full-time posts) makes no +qualitative difference in a workforce of 6,000. + +Our 'insider' reflects as follows: "In drawing up a +balance sheet of the strike it would be wrong to say +that defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory, or +even that the outcome was a draw. From where this +dispute started, the gains won were greater than the +concessions made. Dunnes set out to break the union, +and achieved the opposite. The union is stronger than +at any time in the past. The members are more +confident and a new layer of militants will come into +activity."31 + +Perhaps the main achievement was the 'political' one of +the moderately successful arrival of this large sector +of atomised young workers - feared by some to be beyond +the pale of trade unionism - on the stage of organised +working class struggle. Plus, perhaps, the uplifting +impact of the strike on the consciousness of workers in +general. + +It might have been expected that in the aftermath of +the strike the official trade union milieu arrived at +some new conclusions on how to organise industrial +struggle. This certainly didn't happen immediately. +At the end of the same month, at another retail giant, +the Marks and Spencer stores in Dublin, there was +another three-week strike, this time by SIPTU warehouse +workers centring on changes in shift patterns. On +approaching the (Mary St) store it was evident that +while the usual amount of shoppers was down there was +still a good number inside. Where had the remarkable +support of shoppers gone in three weeks? A large part +of the answer was surely that the vast majority of the +workers, including the shop assistants who are MANDATE +members, were still working away! It seemed that the +Dunnes strike had made little impact on the official +world of SIPTU (who were absurdly asking shoppers not +to patronise Marks and Spencer where their fellow trade +unionists were quite clearly waiting to serve them). +Neither had MANDATE been greatly effected as they +seemed to have developed a sudden attack of +forgetfulness, thereby enabling the very thing they'd +feared a month earlier - the public passing the picket +and a staff there to meet them. + +A SIPTU picketer offered the information that they +didn't want to ask the MANDATE members to come out at +that stage. Some of the picketers did not maintain +this relaxed view of the picketline throughout, +expressing strong disagreement with large vehicles, +insisting on a relaxed approach of their own. Part of +the settlement of this strike was, incidentally, the +establishment of a joint participative review of the +warehouse operation which sounds awfully like an early +application of Managing Change. + +Padraig Yeates finished his thoughtful Irish Times +commentary with: "The Dunnes Stores dispute highlights +the crisis facing the trade union movement. It will be +up to the delegates (to the ICTU Conference) this week +to decide if Congress is coming up with the right +solutions."32 At the end of that week it would seem to +be confirmed that the (at least) moderate success of +the Dunnes strike, and the methods it employed, +militant, organised and imaginative, met the crisis, +and highlighted that Congress is coming up not with +solutions but with problems. + +Footnotes +1 Socialist Worker, 8-21 Jul. '95. +2 Militant, Jul.-Aug. '95. +3 Sporadic victories such as Blooms Hotel (Dublin), the +Eastern Health Board (IMPACT) and Knightingales (Dublin +store) had been stars too remote to lighten the +darkness. +4 MANDATE, the main striking union, representing most +Dunnes workers. +5 The ICTU's public intervention emphasised Dunnes' +refusal to co-operate with the Labour Relations +Commission. +6 Irish Times, 8-7-95. +7 Ibid. +8 The desert that was Dunnes answered, belatedly but +baldly, the comment of the General Secretary of SIPTU +(Ireland's largest union), Billy Attley, at a Union +conference, that the Pat the Baker strikers (1993) had +been beaten not by anything the unions did or didn't do +but by the "lack of solidarity" (by which he meant, +people bought the bread). +9 Militant, op.cit. +10 P. Cassels, Towards A New Century in Trade Union +Century, ed. D.Nevin (Mercier Press, 1994) p.427. +11 Sunday Tribune, 1-8-93 (my emphasis). +12 Padraig Yeates, Industrial and Employment +Corespondent, Irish Times, 3-7-95. +13 Matt Merrigan, Co-operation is a capitalist asset, +Irish Reporter No.17 (1995). +14 Electricity Supply Board. +15 Peter Cassels was this year appointed to the +Competitiveness Advisory Group of the European Union +(EU). +16 The last two are Irish economic think tanks. +17 Democratic Left are ex-stalinists currently in the +Irish governing coalition. An article in their +magazine Times Change (don't they just) on The Future +of Work by Sean Kelly ends: "In the global competitive +trade wars that are now being witnessed it appears that +the only source of job security for workers is +satisfied customers." +(Times Change, Autumn/Winter 1994.). +18 Sunday Tribune, 13-8-95. +19 Sunday Independent, 20-8-95. SIPTU (Services +Industrial Professional Technical Union) +20 from TEEU delegate Tim Lawless at Tralee +21 Irish Times 6-7-95. +22 Ibid. 6-7-95. +23 Ibid. 3-7-95. +24 The reporting of this clause as proposing +compulsory arbitration has sown confusion. Compulsory +arbitration is the compulsory acceptance of a third- +party decision while compulsory conciliation (the +Motion 19 proposal) is the compulsory referral to a +third party for recommendation. There's one hell of a +difference, and even I would not expect Congress to +suddenly call a complete ceasefire in the class war. +Apparently, it was 'clarified' at the Conference that +this section was not 'prescriptive' and there would be +'consultation' with unions further on. +25 Irish Times, 3-7-95. Phil Flynn, ICTU President, in +the same interview, says that Dunnes Stores "is not +anti-union, but non-union". +26 Ibid., 4-7-95 +27 Towards a new Century, P.Cassels, op.cit. p.425. +28 A 'prominent Mandate activist' (anonymous), Militant +op.cit. +29 Ibid.. +30 Sunday Tribune, 9-7-95. +31 Militant, op. cit. +32 Irish Times, 4-7-95. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001123.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001123.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..abb67c91 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001123.txt @@ -0,0 +1,467 @@ +****************** Which way to the revolution ********************* + +From the 1870's the world has been rocked by revolutions, but all +have gone down to defeat. Anarchists believe they understand why +previous revolutions have failed, but do we know how a successful +revolution can be made? Are there steps we can take today to prepare +and nurture such a revolution, or is it a question of waiting for the +ripening of time? + +The first thing to consider is the kind of revolution that we are +fighting for, because the ends we have in mind will, to a large extent, +determine the means we use. We are not interested in exchanging +one set of rulers for another; when we speak of revolution we do not +mean a coup d'tat. Anarchist revolution is a fundamental change in +the way society is ordered - we want to replace the dictatorship of a +minority, not with the dictatorship of another, but with freedom for +all. + +What we reject is political revolution. Whether they use the ballot +box or the Armalite, we know better than to trust our would-be +leaders. No matter how well-intentioned they may be, a minority +cannot deliver real change from above. Real socialism comes from +below, through mass participation. As Daniel Webster (American +revolutionary) said, "In every generation, there are those who want +to rule well - but they mean to rule. They promise to be good masters +- but they mean to be masters." + +A social revolution, on the other hand, is a much broader change in +society, involving a much greater number of people. An anarchist +revolution cannot happen without both this widespread mood for +change, and some idea of what change is necessary. The best example +of this is the revolution in Spain in 1936. + +What is striking about the Spanish Revolution, particularly in +Catalonia and Aragon, is how profoundly life was transformed. +Certainly, the economic changes were amazing enough, with most +industries in Barcelona being collectivised, run by the workers, as +well as many farms in Aragon. The revolution was not limited to +economic change, rather this went hand in hand with social change. +Of course, the revolution wasn't perfect, and in the end was defeated +by a combination of Stalinism, fascism, and the mistakes that were +made1. For a time though, living, breathing socialism could be seen , +and this in a spirit of liberty, with no need for, indeed sometimes +contrary to, orders from any central authority. + +Of course, the whole point of the Spanish Revolution was that it took +place from the ground up, and the same effects could never be +produced through seizing government in a political revolution (How +do you legislate for freedom?). But could a similarly far-reaching +change take place this way, introduced by a caring and progressive +party? The historical evidence would suggest not (not that we can +point to many examples where it's been tried). Why is that? To +understand that, we have to examine those factors that lead to a +revolution. + +What causes a revolution? + +The simple answer to that is, of course, capitalism. Capitalism, as an +economic system, and its chief weapon, the state, are dedicated to one +thing - maintaining the ascendancy of a minority over the majority. +It is the major cause of wars, of famines, of sexism, racism, poverty, +unemployment and too many other social ills to list, let alone +describe. All these things mean that most people have little stake in +keeping society from changing, indeed most would welcome change. +The problem is that people don't see any alternatives, or dismiss +those they are presented with as utopian and unreachable. + +Although this problem is exacerbated by the low level of struggle at +the moment, this does not mean that people's minds are totally +closed to radical ideas. Capitalism sows the seeds of its own +destruction. It brings workers together into workplaces, forcing them +to organise collectively, and the relentless drive for profit constantly +reminds workers that they have collective interests, diametrically +opposed to those of the ruling class. This means that, even when the +confidence of the class as a whole is at its lowest, there will still be +areas where people are fighting back. For example, in the past few +years, the WSM has been involved in struggles for union +recognition, for abortion rights, against racism, and against increasing +taxation of working class people. Even though these campaigns may +have started small (and some of them stayed small!), people got +involved because they knew that things had to change. This +recognition that there are problems in the way society is run, though +it may be focused on one issue initially, can lead people to realise that +tinkering with the system isn't enough, real improvement requires +real change - revolutionary change. + +In theoretical terms, the direct cause of a revolution is generally +expressed in terms of two sets of conditions - objective and subjective +factors. + +Objective Factors are the things outside your head, independent (at +least directly) from your thoughts and emotions. If you get laid off +work, if a war starts, if it rains on you on your way to the pub, you +can't change things by closing your eyes and wishing them away. Of +course, your thoughts may have an indirect effect, when they lead to +action, like joining a union or remembering your umbrella, but +generally you don't have much control over what happens in the +world. + +The objective factors in a revolution are events outside the control of +any individual or small group, such as a stock-market crash or an +invasion, which lead people to re-examine their society, and, possibly, +act to change it. For example, changes in British society at the end of +the second World War2 were triggered to a certain extent by the +hardships of war. In Russia, in 1917, rather than lead to renewed +optimism, the experience of war generated a deep anger directed +towards the Tsar and the system that was causing so much hardship. + +Subjective Factors, on the other hand, are the things inside your head +- your thoughts on life , the universe and everything, down to +whether you think it will start raining while you're on your way to +the pub (it will - bring your umbrella!). Since the subjective factors in +a revolution are those that depend on individual people, they are +obviously the ones that revolutionary groups try to change. Of +course, there can be no strict division between subjective and +objective factors - it is the thoughts in your head that decide whether +or not you will join a union, vote for a strike or pass a picket, which +side of the barricade you will be on. Equally, your decisions, and the +actions that result from them, will have an effect on the ideas of the +people around you. + +Opportunity for revolution only arises at particular times, when both +the subjective and objective conditions necessary for success are +present. In other words, some crisis occurs, and the level of +consciousness of the people is such that they choose revolution. +Even though tension is usually building for some time beforehand, +when the moment comes it can come with breathtaking speed, and +can be triggered by even the smallest events. + +For example, in France a massive increase in strikes in 1967 was +followed in 1968 by student demonstrations which grew into a +general strike that almost toppled DeGaulle's government. In +Budapest in 1956, it was a student march that started the Hungarian +Revolution, which saw, in the short weeks before it was crushed by +Soviet tanks, over twenty independent newspapers set up, and a +Parliament of Workers' Councils which proclaimed the right of the +workers themselves to manage their workplaces. + +Although these uprisings can sometimes look as if they come out of +nowhere, this is far from true. Rather it is as if a rising tide of +militancy reaches some critical point and breaks the dam - sudden, +yes, but not spontaneous. Before the Hungarian Revolution strikes +were widespread, before the October Revolution in Russia there was a +series of strikes and struggles, which themselves followed on from +the unsuccessful revolution in 1905. So with hindsight, every revolt +can be seen as part of a process, the continuation of previous +struggles. + +More Than Marking Time + +Anarchism is a very simple and very natural idea, but when you're +used to capitalism it can seem a little weird just because of this +simplicity. Although people may want change, nearly everybody +thinks, at first anyway, that all that's really needed are a few +adjustments to the system, and everything will be fine. Then when +you pass that stage, and realise that the whole world needs to be +'adjusted', it is easy to think that such a jump needs a vastly +complicated body of theory, and possibly a few great leaders, if it is to +succeed. + +On the other hand, when anarchism is put into practice, it works, and +it's always more convincing to point at a house than to point at a +blueprint. In Spain during the Revolution, huge numbers of +industries and farms were collectivised by their workers, and the +militias were run on anarchist lines. Would all of this have +happened if people had not already seen that anarchism worked? + +What role then does the revolutionary group have to play in the +build-up to a revolution? In general where there is no established +channel through which the desire for revolutionary change is +expressed, those that arise will tend to have a libertarian form3, but +sometimes there are established 'alternatives'. In France in '68, a +potentially revolutionary movement got side-tracked into voting for +the Communist Party, because they were seen as the only potential +alternative to capitalism. We must remember that vanguardist ideas +and organisations will not automatically become irrelevant. If people +have had little prior experience in politics, it can take time for them +to realise how manipulative and deceitful vanguardist groups are, by +which time it may be too late. + +Rather than waiting for the revolution to come, and then hoping that +people don't go down another initially promising dead-end, we have +to think about what kind of organisation we would like to see arise, +and then start laying the framework for it today. In Spain we had an +example of how things could work. For all our problems with +anarcho-syndicalism (see last issue), the fact that the CNT was +established as a revolutionary union long before 1936 meant that, +when people started looking for a different way of doing things, they +could see that anarchism wasn't just a nice idea, it actually worked. +Most people, in Catalonia and Aragon at least, would have had some +experience with the CNT, and so would have seen that things could +actually be run by the workers themselves. + +Our Role Today + +How we can provide examples of anarchism working today, and +prepare the ground for the development of forms of organisation that +could play a part in an anarchist revolution, is linked to the second +main role of an anarchist group, to spread the ideas of anarchism. + +Earlier in this article, we looked at the objective and subjective factors +that lead to a revolution, and said that the subjective factors were the +ideas people had, about contemporary society, and about other, +different societies. Also, we said that, in situations of potentially +revolutionary change, people can sometimes get drawn into groups +and organisations which will lead nowhere. These two are linked, in +that people are more likely to be drawn into dead-ends when they are +just looking for something that will change their society, but don't +know what kind of change they want, or what kind of society they +would rather live in. + +If our aim was just a political revolution, then we would be happy to +channel general discontent into equally general support, not for our +ideas, but for us. A social revolution, though, has to be a positive +revolution, directed towards some goal. Therefore, if we are to be +successful, we must start by informing people about what anarchism +means, about what an anarchist society would be like, so that, when +people think of revolution as a real possibility (which, at the +moment, most don't) they will know what there is to be fought for. +Producing papers, pamphlets and books is an important way of +achieving that, but when people don't see the relevancy of +revolution, they are hardly likely to be interested in reading about the +kind of society that a revolution should create. + +This is not always the case, though. When people are involved in +struggle, even for limited goals, this causes them to question wider +issues, and become more open to new and radical ideas. For +anarchists, involvement in these struggles means that, as well as +getting the chance to spread anarchist ideas, by putting forward +democratic methods of organisation, you also demonstrate how +anarchism works in practice. When anarchist forms of organisation +are shown to be effective, they are more likely to be used in other +struggles. + +We should always be ready to work in campaigns, to add our +experience and commitment to the struggle, but if people are always +looking to us to set up campaigns, and to provide the ideas, then we +are failing as anarchists. Self-activity is the key to anarchism, that is +the self-confidence to do what needs to be done without looking for +others to step in and take over. For this reason our role is to work +with people and not for people. It is important that others gain +experience in organising activities and so in the future will institute +campaigns themselves. Our aim should not be to organise +revolutionary activity, but to inspire it in others. + +It's not over yet + +In 1967, George Woodcock said that anarchism, though a good idea, +had missed its chance, and could now only serve as an aspiration, +never to be realised. A year later, the French government was +brought to its knees by a wave of strikes, riots and marches that were +definitely libertarian in their forms of organisation. Though +revolution may sometimes seem no more than a distant dream, we +would do well to remember how fast things can change, sometimes +when we least expect it. + +After all, anarchism is a good idea, and an anarchist society would +fulfil people's needs much more successfully than capitalist society +ever could. It's not as if we have to convince everybody that +capitalism is a bad system, it is continually creating and recreating the +conditions of its own downfall. Poverty, starvation, unemployment, +alienation - everybody's lives are lessened by capitalism, and at some +stage, people always think, 'There must be a better way'. + +At the same time, we are surrounded by examples of how life could +be, if we were to have the confidence to reach out and grab it. +Workers who know that they could run their workplaces much better +than their bosses, and have found that, when they stand together, +they are stronger. Volunteers who, in caring for others prove that +there are stronger motives than greed. Even any normal group of +friends, who show that we don't always have to be divided into +leaders and led, into rulers and ruled. + +There will always be revolts, but if they do not have any aims, or any +idea of how to get there, they will probably end up being bribed away +by reforms, or led into the blind alley of statism. What we can do +today, what we must do now, before things have already started and it +becomes too late, is to spread the ideas of anarchism, and, in our +campaigns, demonstrate how real democracy can be achieved, and +how well it can work. + +Society will change, but even if there were a million anarchists we +could not set a time and date for this change, we can only know that it +is coming. We don't want a revolution led by anarchists, the +revolution doesn't even have to call itself anarchist. What is +important, and what will happen, if we work now (and have a little +luck), is that it will be anarchist. + +Footnotes +1 For more details, see Anarchism in Action, a brief history of the +Spanish Revolution (available from the WSM Bookservice). +2 i.e. the introduction of the welfare state. +3 i.e. non-hierarchical, decentralised, controlled by all of those +involved rather than a select few. A contemporary example would be +the network of groups organising against the Criminal Justice Act in +Britain. More consciously anarchist, or directly revolutionary +examples could be given, but this should give you the idea. + + +[This article should be read with 'How can we get to +the revolution'] + + ****** The 1931 Barcelonia rent strike ****** + +The Barcelona Rent Strike of 1931 not only served to +reduce rent costs for working class families but was +also an education in self-organisation for thousands of +workers. It, along with other stuggles in those years, +created an organised working class that in 1936 made +the most succesful attempt yet to overthrow capitalism +and create libertarian communism. + +Shanties and Slums + +In the 15 years leading up to the strike Barcelona's +population had increased by 62%. The city was one of +the fastest growing in Europe. Inflation was running +rampant but wages had not risen. There had been rent +increases of up to 150%. Only 2,200 council houses +had been built. Barcelona was in the midst of a huge +housing crisis as shanty towns grew around the city. + +The CNT1 was an illegal organisation during the 1920's +and thus many members had been reduced to the role of +passive spectators as dedicated militants battled with +the police and pisteleros. The dictator, Primo de +Rivera, had fallen in 1930 and the new government (who +declared a republic in '31) let the CNT re-emerge. + +As anarchists, the CNT wished to widen the union into a +real participatory social movement. To do this they +had to broaden its realm of influence. They knew that +only via mass organisation, participation and struggle +could the foundations be laid so that people would +acquire the skills to construct a new society. + +The Idea + +In January 1931, Solidaridad Obrera2 published an +article calling for action around the housing crisis. +In April that year the CNT construction workers set up +the Economic Defence Commission {EDC} and said they +would study the "expense that corresponds to each +worker for the wage earned" in relation to rents. On +May 1st the EDC presented its first basic demand that +there should be a cut of 40% in rents. Three articles +quickly appeared in Solidaridad Obrera. The EDC +followed these up, demanding + +-> a 40% reduction in rents. + +-> that the unemployed enter the workplaces to demand +that the bosses hire 15% more men. + +-> that food prices would be agreed and local defence +groups would weed out speculators. + + + +After the publication of these demands individual +actions began to take place. Workers re-installed an +evicted family on May 4th. The EDC sought to encourage +this action by holding meetings in working class areas +of Barcelona and the surrounding towns. Many of these +meetings were held through June and into July. + +Large numbers of women attended and got involved as it +was usually left to them to pay the bills and rent. +Mass leafleting took place and a huge rally was built +for. On 23rd June an evicted family was re-housed by +the local people in Hospitalet and this caused great +discussion in that part of the city. + +The mass rally on July 5th declared the demands of the +campaign to be : + +-> For July the security (deposit) should be taken by +landlords for rent. + +-> From then on rent would only be paid at 40% of the +previous rate. + +-> That the unemployed should not have to pay rent. + +If the landlords refused to take the reduced rent then +they would get nothing as a rent strike was +recommended. + +No rents for Landlords. + +The EDC claimed that there were 45,000 strikers in July +growing to 100,000 in August3. Every working class +estate became organised so that the authorities did not +have enough guards to prevent evicted families from +being re-entered onto property. + +From the end of July onwards the repression of the +strikers grew with the Chamber of Catalonia (i.e. +Chamber of Commerce) ordering the arrest of all +organisers. The EDC rally and leafleting due to be +held on July 27th was banned. + +In early August the EDC began to publish a series of +articles exposing landlord tax-fraud, pointing out how +there was one law for the rich and another for the +poor. In turn the state arrested 53 members of the +CNT. This lead to a riot inside the prison and a +general strike outside. By October, the EDC were +forced to go underground after the CNT had been heavily +fined for not turning over the names of those involved. + +The strike was ending, however it never entirely ended +in many districts. What successfully broke it was the +practice of arresting tenants when they returned to +their homes. Some tenants put their hope in a Rent +Decree (December 1931) which depended on legal ways of +pursuing a claim for fair rent, but unsurprisingly it +proved completely useless. + +The Fruits of the Rent Strike + +It had taken major repression by the state to end the +strike but a valuable journey had begun. For many +young people this was the first time they had been +exposed to the ideas of anarchism and direct action. +They would go on to join the CNT and become the +revolutionaries of 1936. The rent strike was the +beginning of many campaigns which established anarchist +ideas and practices in the communities. People were +exposed to playing a vital part in fighting their own +oppression. They became fuelled with a belief in +challenging the way things were. All illusions in the +Republican government were quickly shattered. + +The lessons of mass action and self organisation would +later be put to use by the people who went on to make +history in 1936. + +When the fascist coup happened in 1936 in Spain, the +left there and in other countries called for the state +to put down the fascists. The more radical Marxist +groups called upon the state to 'arm the workers' +(earlier the same demand was heard when the fascists +took power in both Italy and Germany). Yet the +anarchists of the CNT got out onto the streets, took +the arms for themselves and immediately began to defeat +the fascists. + +Why did this happen? Anarchism has a proud tradition +of self-activity and mass participation. The +anarchists in Spain did not cry out for the state to +put down the fascists. In 1936 tens of thousands of +anarchists were ready to seize arms and fight the +fascists. No leaders, no calls on the state, just +people who knew what to do and went out and did it. +This self-organisation was in part the legacy of the +Barcelona rent strike of 1931. + +Dermot Sreenan + +Footnotes +1 National Federation of Labour, a union organised +along anarchist lines. +2 Solidaridad Obrera (The paper of the CNT) +3 Solidaridad Obrera (5th and 8th August 1931.) + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001124.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001124.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..194d0dd0 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001124.txt @@ -0,0 +1,697 @@ + ********* Noam Chomsky on Anarchism, ********* + Marxism & Hope for the Future + +Noam Chomsky is widely known for his critique of U.S +foreign policy, and for his work as a linguist. Less +well known is his ongoing support for libertarian +socialist objectives. In a special interview done for +Red and Black Revolution, Chomsky gives his views on +anarchism and marxism, and the prospects for socialism +now. The interview was conducted in May 1995 by Kevin +Doyle. + +RBR: First off, Noam, for quite a time now you've been +an advocate for the anarchist idea. Many people are +familiar with the introduction you wrote in 1970 to +Daniel Gurin's Anarchism, but more recently, for +instance in the film Manufacturing Consent, you took +the opportunity to highlight again the potential of +anarchism and the anarchist idea. What is it that +attracts you to anarchism? + +CHOMSKY: I was attracted to anarchism as a young +teenager, as soon as I began to think about the world +beyond a pretty narrow range, and haven't seen much +reason to revise those early attitudes since. I think +it only makes sense to seek out and identify structures +of authority, hierarchy, and domination in every aspect +of life, and to challenge them; unless a justification +for them can be given, they are illegitimate, and +should be dismantled, to increase the scope of human +freedom. That includes political power, ownership and +management, relations among men and women, parents and +children, our control over the fate of future +generations (the basic moral imperative behind the +environmental movement, in my view), and much else. +Naturally this means a challenge to the huge +institutions of coercion and control: the state, the +unaccountable private tyrannies that control most of +the domestic and international economy, and so on. But +not only these. That is what I have always understood +to be the essence of anarchism: the conviction that the +burden of proof has to be placed on authority, and that +it should be dismantled if that burden cannot be met. +Sometimes the burden can be met. If I'm taking a walk +with my grandchildren and they dart out into a busy +street, I will use not only authority but also physical +coercion to stop them. The act should be challenged, +but I think it can readily meet the challenge. And +there are other cases; life is a complex affair, we +understand very little about humans and society, and +grand pronouncements are generally more a source of +harm than of benefit. But the perspective is a valid +one, I think, and can lead us quite a long way. + +Beyond such generalities, we begin to look at cases, +which is where the questions of human interest and +concern arise. + +RBR: It's true to say that your ideas and critique are +now more widely known than ever before. It should also +be said that your views are widely respected. How do +you think your support for anarchism is received in +this context? In particular, I'm interested in the +response you receive from people who are getting +interested in politics for the first time and who may, +perhaps, have come across your views. Are such people +surprised by your support for anarchism? Are they +interested? + +CHOMSKY: The general intellectual culture, as you know, +associates 'anarchism' with chaos, violence, bombs, +disruption, and so on. So people are often surprised +when I speak positively of anarchism and identify +myself with leading traditions within it. But my +impression is that among the general public, the basic +ideas seem reasonable when the clouds are cleared away. +Of course, when we turn to specific matters - say, the +nature of families, or how an economy would work in a +society that is more free and just - questions and +controversy arise. But that is as it should be. +Physics can't really explain how water flows from the +tap in your sink. When we turn to vastly more complex +questions of human significance, understanding is very +thin, and there is plenty of room for disagreement, +experimentation, both intellectual and real-life +exploration of possibilities, to help us learn more. + +RBR: Perhaps, more than any other idea, anarchism has +suffered from the problem of misrepresentation. +Anarchism can mean many things to many people. Do you +often find yourself having to explain what it is that +you mean by anarchism? Does the misrepresentation of +anarchism bother you? + +CHOMSKY: All misrepresentation is a nuisance. Much of +it can be traced back to structures of power that have +an interest in preventing understanding, for pretty +obvious reasons. It's well to recall David Hume's +Principles of Government. He expressed surprise that +people ever submitted to their rulers. He concluded +that since "Force is always on the side of the +governed, the governors have nothing to support them +but opinion. 'Tis therefore, on opinion only that +government is founded; and this maxim extends to the +most despotic and most military governments, as well as +to the most free and most popular." Hume was very +astute - and incidentally, hardly a libertarian by the +standards of the day. He surely underestimates the +efficacy of force, but his observation seems to me +basically correct, and important, particularly in the +more free societies, where the art of controlling +opinion is therefore far more refined. +Misrepresentation and other forms of befuddlement are a +natural concomitant. + +So does misrepresentation bother me? Sure, but so does +rotten weather. It will exist as long as +concentrations of power engender a kind of commissar +class to defend them. Since they are usually not very +bright, or are bright enough to know that they'd better +avoid the arena of fact and argument, they'll turn to +misrepresentation, vilification, and other devices that +are available to those who know that they'll be +protected by the various means available to the +powerful. We should understand why all this occurs, +and unravel it as best we can. That's part of the +project of liberation - of ourselves and others, or +more reasonably, of people working together to achieve +these aims. + +Sounds simple-minded, and it is. But I have yet to +find much commentary on human life and society that is +not simple-minded, when absurdity and self-serving +posturing are cleared away. + +RBR: How about in more established left-wing circles, +where one might expect to find greater familiarity with +what anarchism actually stands for? Do you encounter +any surprise here at your views and support for +anarchism? + +CHOMSKY: If I understand what you mean by "established +left-wing circles," there is not too much surprise +about my views on anarchism, because very little is +known about my views on anything. These are not the +circles I deal with. You'll rarely find a reference to +anything I say or write. That's not completely true of +course. Thus in the US (but less commonly in the UK or +elsewhere), you'd find some familiarity with what I do +in certain of the more critical and independent sectors +of what might be called "established left-wing +circles," and I have personal friends and associates +scattered here and there. But have a look at the books +and journals, and you'll see what I mean. I don't +expect what I write and say to be any more welcome in +these circles than in the faculty club or editorial +board room - again, with exceptions. + +The question arises only marginally, so much so that +it's hard to answer. + +RBR: A number of people have noted that you use the +term 'libertarian socialist' in the same context as you +use the word 'anarchism'. Do you see these terms as +essentially similar? Is anarchism a type of socialism +to you? The description has been used before that +"anarchism is equivalent to socialism with freedom". +Would you agree with this basic equation? + +CHOMSKY: The introduction to Guerin's book that you +mentioned opens with a quote from an anarchist +sympathiser a century ago, who says that "anarchism has +a broad back," and "endures anything." One major +element has been what has traditionally been called +'libertarian socialism'. I've tried to explain there +and elsewhere what I mean by that, stressing that it's +hardly original; I'm taking the ideas from leading +figures in the anarchist movement whom I quote, and who +rather consistently describe themselves as socialists, +while harshly condemning the 'new class' of radical +intellectuals who seek to attain state power in the +course of popular struggle and to become the vicious +"Red bureaucracy" of which Bakunin warned; what's often +called 'socialism'. I rather agree with Rudolf +Rocker's perception that these (quite central) +tendencies in anarchism draw from the best of +Enlightenment and classical liberal thought, well +beyond what he described. In fact, as I've tried to +show they contrast sharply with Marxist-Leninist +doctrine and practice, the 'libertarian' doctrines that +are fashionable in the US and UK particularly, and +other contemporary ideologies, all of which seem to me +to reduce to advocacy of one or another form of +illegitimate authority, quite often real tyranny. + +The Spanish Revolution + +RBR: In the past, when you have spoken about anarchism, +you have often emphasised the example of the Spanish +Revolution. For you there would seem to be two aspects +to this example. On the one hand, the experience of +the Spanish Revolution is, you say, a good example of +'anarchism in action'. On the other, you have also +stressed that the Spanish revolution is a good example +of what workers can achieve through their own efforts +using participatory democracy. Are these two aspects - +anarchism in action and participatory democracy - one +and the same thing for you? Is anarchism a philosophy +for people's power? + +CHOMSKY: I'm reluctant to use fancy polysyllables like +"philosophy" to refer to what seems ordinary common +sense. And I'm also uncomfortable with slogans. The +achievements of Spanish workers and peasants, before +the revolution was crushed, were impressive in many +ways. The term 'participatory democracy' is a more +recent one, which developed in a different context, but +there surely are points of similarity. I'm sorry if +this seems evasive. It is, but that's because I don't +think either the concept of anarchism or of +participatory democracy is clear enough to be able to +answer the question whether they are the same. + +RBR: One of the main achievements of the Spanish +Revolution was the degree of grassroots democracy +established. In terms of people, it is estimated that +over 3 million were involved. Rural and urban +production was managed by workers themselves. Is it a +coincidence to your mind that anarchists, known for +their advocacy of individual freedom, succeeded in this +area of collective administration? + +CHOMSKY: No coincidence at all. The tendencies in +anarchism that I've always found most persuasive seek a +highly organised society, integrating many different +kinds of structures (workplace, community, and manifold +other forms of voluntary association), but controlled +by participants, not by those in a position to give +orders (except, again, when authority can be justified, +as is sometimes the case, in specific contingencies). + +Democracy + +RBR: Anarchists often expend a great deal of effort at +building up grassroots democracy. Indeed they are +often accused of "taking democracy to extremes". Yet, +despite this, many anarchists would not readily +identify democracy as a central component of anarchist +philosophy. Anarchists often describe their politics +as being about 'socialism' or being about 'the +individual'- they are less likely to say that anarchism +is about democracy. Would you agree that democratic +ideas are a central feature of anarchism? + +CHOMSKY: Criticism of 'democracy' among anarchists has +often been criticism of parliamentary democracy, as it +has arisen within societies with deeply repressive +features. Take the US, which has been as free as any, +since its origins. American democracy was founded on +the principle, stressed by James Madison in the +Constitutional Convention in 1787, that the primary +function of government is "to protect the minority of +the opulent from the majority." Thus he warned that in +England, the only quasi-democratic model of the day, if +the general population were allowed a say in public +affairs, they would implement agrarian reform or other +atrocities, and that the American system must be +carefully crafted to avoid such crimes against "the +rights of property," which must be defended (in fact, +must prevail). Parliamentary democracy within this +framework does merit sharp criticism by genuine +libertarians, and I've left out many other features +that are hardly subtle - slavery, to mention just one, +or the wage slavery that was bitterly condemned by +working people who had never heard of anarchism or +communism right through the 19th century, and beyond. + +Leninism + +RBR: The importance of grassroots democracy to any +meaningful change in society would seem to be self +evident. Yet the left has been ambiguous about this in +the past. I'm speaking generally, of social democracy, +but also of Bolshevism - traditions on the left that +would seem to have more in common with elitist thinking +than with strict democratic practice. Lenin, to use a +well-known example, was sceptical that workers could +develop anything more than "trade union consciousness"- +by which, I assume, he meant that workers could not see +far beyond their immediate predicament. Similarly, the +Fabian socialist, Beatrice Webb, who was very +influential in the Labour Party in England, had the +view that workers were only interested in "horse racing +odds"! Where does this elitism originate and what is +it doing on the left? + +CHOMSKY: I'm afraid it's hard for me to answer this. +If the left is understood to include 'Bolshevism,' then +I would flatly dissociate myself from the left. Lenin +was one of the greatest enemies of socialism, in my +opinion, for reasons I've discussed. The idea that +workers are only interested in horse-racing is an +absurdity that cannot withstand even a superficial look +at labour history or the lively and independent working +class press that flourished in many places, including +the manufacturing towns of New England not many miles +from where I'm writing - not to speak of the inspiring +record of the courageous struggles of persecuted and +oppressed people throughout history, until this very +moment. Take the most miserable corner of this +hemisphere, Haiti, regarded by the European conquerors +as a paradise and the source of no small part of +Europe's wealth, now devastated, perhaps beyond +recovery. In the past few years, under conditions so +miserable that few people in the rich countries can +imagine them, peasants and slum-dwellers constructed a +popular democratic movement based on grassroots +organisations that surpasses just about anything I know +of elsewhere; only deeply committed commissars could +fail to collapse with ridicule when they hear the +solemn pronouncements of American intellectuals and +political leaders about how the US has to teach +Haitians the lessons of democracy. Their achievements +were so substantial and frightening to the powerful +that they had to be subjected to yet another dose of +vicious terror, with considerably more US support than +is publicly acknowledged, and they still have not +surrendered. Are they interested only in horse-racing? + +I'd suggest some lines I've occasionally quoted from +Rousseau: "when I see multitudes of entirely naked +savages scorn European voluptuousness and endure +hunger, fire, the sword, and death to preserve only +their independence, I feel that it does not behoove +slaves to reason about freedom." + +RBR: Speaking generally again, your own work - +Deterring Democracy, Necessary Illusions, etc. - has +dealt consistently with the role and prevalence of +elitist ideas in societies such as our own. You have +argued that within 'Western' (or parliamentary) +democracy there is a deep antagonism to any real role +or input from the mass of people, lest it threaten the +uneven distribution in wealth which favours the rich. +Your work is quite convincing here, but, this aside, +some have been shocked by your assertions. For +instance, you compare the politics of President John +F. Kennedy with Lenin, more or less equating the two. +This, I might add, has shocked supporters of both +camps! Can you elaborate a little on the validity of +the comparison? + +CHOMSKY: I haven't actually "equated" the doctrines of +the liberal intellectuals of the Kennedy administration +with Leninists, but I have noted striking points of +similarity - rather as predicted by Bakunin a century +earlier in his perceptive commentary on the "new +class." For example, I quoted passages from McNamara on +the need to enhance managerial control if we are to be +truly "free," and about how the "undermanagement" that +is "the real threat to democracy" is an assault against +reason itself. Change a few words in these passages, +and we have standard Leninist doctrine. I've argued +that the roots are rather deep, in both cases. Without +further clarification about what people find +"shocking," I can't comment further. The comparisons +are specific, and I think both proper and properly +qualified. If not, that's an error, and I'd be +interested to be enlightened about it. + +Marxism + +RBR: Specifically, Leninism refers to a form of marxism +that developed with V.I. Lenin. Are you implicitly +distinguishing the works of Marx from the particular +criticism you have of Lenin when you use the term +'Leninism'? Do you see a continuity between Marx's +views and Lenin's later practices? + +CHOMSKY: Bakunin's warnings about the "Red bureaucracy" +that would institute "the worst of all despotic +governments" were long before Lenin, and were directed +against the followers of Mr. Marx. There were, in +fact, followers of many different kinds; Pannekoek, +Luxembourg, Mattick and others are very far from Lenin, +and their views often converge with elements of +anarcho-syndicalism. Korsch and others wrote +sympathetically of the anarchist revolution in Spain, +in fact. There are continuities from Marx to Lenin, +but there are also continuities to Marxists who were +harshly critical of Lenin and Bolshevism. Teodor +Shanin's work in the past years on Marx's later +attitudes towards peasant revolution is also relevant +here. I'm far from being a Marx scholar, and wouldn't +venture any serious judgement on which of these +continuities reflects the 'real Marx,' if there even +can be an answer to that question. + +RBR: Recently, we obtained a copy of your own Notes On +Anarchism (re-published last year by Discussion +Bulletin in the USA). In this you mention the views of +the "early Marx", in particular his development of the +idea of alienation under capitalism. Do you generally +agree with this division in Marx's life and work - a +young, more libertarian socialist but, in later years, +a firm authoritarian? + +CHOMSKY: The early Marx draws extensively from the +milieu in which he lived, and one finds many +similarities to the thinking that animated classical +liberalism, aspects of the Enlightenment and French and +German Romanticism. Again, I'm not enough of a Marx +scholar to pretend to an authoritative judgement. My +impression, for what it is worth, is that the early +Marx was very much a figure of the late Enlightenment, +and the later Marx was a highly authoritarian activist, +and a critical analyst of capitalism, who had little to +say about socialist alternatives. But those are +impressions. + +RBR: From my understanding, the core part of your +overall view is informed by your concept of human +nature. In the past the idea of human nature was seen, +perhaps, as something regressive, even limiting. For +instance, the unchanging aspect of human nature is +often used as an argument for why things can't be +changed fundamentally in the direction of anarchism. +You take a different view? Why? + +CHOMSKY: The core part of anyone's point of view is +some concept of human nature, however it may be remote +from awareness or lack articulation. At least, that is +true of people who consider themselves moral agents, +not monsters. Monsters aside, whether a person who +advocates reform or revolution, or stability or return +to earlier stages, or simply cultivating one's own +garden, takes stand on the grounds that it is 'good for +people.' But that judgement is based on some +conception of human nature, which a reasonable person +will try to make as clear as possible, if only so that +it can be evaluated. So in this respect I'm no +different from anyone else. + +You're right that human nature has been seen as +something 'regressive,' but that must be the result of +profound confusion. Is my granddaughter no different +from a rock, a salamander, a chicken, a monkey? A +person who dismisses this absurdity as absurd +recognises that there is a distinctive human nature. +We are left only with the question of what it is - a +highly nontrivial and fascinating question, with +enormous scientific interest and human significance. +We know a fair amount about certain aspects of it - not +those of major human significance. Beyond that, we are +left with our hopes and wishes, intuitions and +speculations. + +There is nothing "regressive" about the fact that a +human embryo is so constrained that it does not grow +wings, or that its visual system cannot function in the +manner of an insect, or that it lacks the homing +instinct of pigeons. The same factors that constrain +the organism's development also enable it to attain a +rich, complex, and highly articulated structure, +similar in fundamental ways to conspecifics, with rich +and remarkable capacities. An organism that lacked +such determinative intrinsic structure, which of course +radically limits the paths of development, would be +some kind of amoeboid creature, to be pitied (even if +it could survive somehow). The scope and limits of +development are logically related. + +Take language, one of the few distinctive human +capacities about which much is known. We have very +strong reasons to believe that all possible human +languages are very similar; a Martian scientist +observing humans might conclude that there is just a +single language, with minor variants. The reason is +that the particular aspect of human nature that +underlies the growth of language allows very restricted +options. Is this limiting? Of course. Is it +liberating? Also of course. It is these very +restrictions that make it possible for a rich and +intricate system of expression of thought to develop in +similar ways on the basis of very rudimentary, +scattered, and varied experience. + +What about the matter of biologically-determined human +differences? That these exist is surely true, and a +cause for joy, not fear or regret. Life among clones +would not be worth living, and a sane person will only +rejoice that others have abilities that they do not +share. That should be elementary. What is commonly +believed about these matters is strange indeed, in my +opinion. + +Is human nature, whatever it is, conducive to the +development of anarchist forms of life or a barrier to +them? We do not know enough to answer, one way or the +other. These are matters for experimentation and +discovery, not empty pronouncements. + +The future + +RBR: To begin finishing off, I'd like to ask you +briefly about some current issues on the left. I don't +know if the situation is similar in the USA but here, +with the fall of the Soviet Union, a certain +demoralisation has set in on the left. It isn't so +much that people were dear supporters of what existed +in the Soviet Union, but rather it's a general feeling +that with the demise of the Soviet Union the idea of +socialism has also been dragged down. Have you come +across this type of demoralisation? What's your +response to it? + +CHOMSKY: My response to the end of Soviet tyranny was +similar to my reaction to the defeat of Hitler and +Mussolini. In all cases, it is a victory for the human +spirit. It should have been particularly welcome to +socialists, since a great enemy of socialism had at +last collapsed. Like you, I was intrigued to see how +people - including people who had considered themselves +anti-Stalinist and anti-Leninist - were demoralised by +the collapse of the tyranny. What it reveals is that +they were more deeply committed to Leninism than they +believed. + +There are, however, other reasons to be concerned about +the elimination of this brutal and tyrannical system, +which was as much "socialist" as it was "democratic" +(recall that it claimed to be both, and that the latter +claim was ridiculed in the West, while the former was +eagerly accepted, as a weapon against socialism - one +of the many examples of the service of Western +intellectuals to power). One reason has to do with the +nature of the Cold War. In my view, it was in +significant measure a special case of the 'North-South +conflict,' to use the current euphemism for Europe's +conquest of much of the world. Eastern Europe had been +the original 'third world,' and the Cold War from 1917 +had no slight resemblance to the reaction of attempts +by other parts of the third world to pursue an +independent course, though in this case differences of +scale gave the conflict a life of its own. For this +reason, it was only reasonable to expect the region to +return pretty much to its earlier status: parts of the +West, like the Czech Republic or Western Poland, could +be expected to rejoin it, while others revert to the +traditional service role, the ex-Nomenklatura becoming +the standard third world elite (with the approval of +Western state-corporate power, which generally prefers +them to alternatives). That was not a pretty prospect, +and it has led to immense suffering. + +Another reason for concern has to do with the matter of +deterrence and non-alignment. Grotesque as the Soviet +empire was, its very existence offered a certain space +for non-alignment, and for perfectly cynical reasons, +it sometimes provided assistance to victims of Western +attack. Those options are gone, and the South is +suffering the consequences. + +A third reason has to do with what the business press +calls "the pampered Western workers" with their +"luxurious lifestyles." With much of Eastern Europe +returning to the fold, owners and managers have +powerful new weapons against the working classes and +the poor at home. GM and VW can not only transfer +production to Mexico and Brazil (or at least threaten +to, which often amounts to the same thing), but also to +Poland and Hungary, where they can find skilled and +trained workers at a fraction of the cost. They are +gloating about it, understandably, given the guiding +values. + +We can learn a lot about what the Cold War (or any +other conflict) was about by looking at who is cheering +and who is unhappy after it ends. By that criterion, +the victors in the Cold War include Western elites and +the ex-Nomenklatura, now rich beyond their wildest +dreams, and the losers include a substantial part of +the population of the East along with working people +and the poor in the West, as well as popular sectors in +the South that have sought an independent path. + +Such ideas tend to arouse near hysteria among Western +intellectuals, when they can even perceive them, which +is rare. That's easy to show. It's also +understandable. The observations are correct, and +subversive of power and privilege; hence hysteria. + +In general, the reactions of an honest person to the +end of the Cold War will be more complex than just +pleasure over the collapse of a brutal tyranny, and +prevailing reactions are suffused with extreme +hypocrisy, in my opinion. + +Capitalism + +RBR: In many ways the left today finds itself back at +its original starting point in the last century. Like +then, it now faces a form of capitalism that is in the +ascendancy. There would seem to be greater 'consensus' +today, more than at any other time in history, that +capitalism is the only valid form of economic +organisation possible, this despite the fact that +wealth inequality is widening. Against this backdrop, +one could argue that the left is unsure of how to go +forward. How do you look at the current period? Is it +a question of 'back to basics'? Should the effort now +be towards bringing out the libertarian tradition in +socialism and towards stressing democratic ideas? + +CHOMSKY: This is mostly propaganda, in my opinion. +What is called 'capitalism' is basically a system of +corporate mercantilism, with huge and largely +unaccountable private tyrannies exercising vast control +over the economy, political systems, and social and +cultural life, operating in close co-operation with +powerful states that intervene massively in the +domestic economy and international society. That is +dramatically true of the United States, contrary to +much illusion. The rich and privileged are no more +willing to face market discipline than they have been +in the past, though they consider it just fine for the +general population. Merely to cite a few +illustrations, the Reagan administration, which +revelled in free market rhetoric, also boasted to the +business community that it was the most protectionist +in post-war US history - actually more than all others +combined. Newt Gingrich, who leads the current +crusade, represents a superrich district that receives +more federal subsidies than any other suburban region +in the country, outside of the federal system itself. +The 'conservatives' who are calling for an end to +school lunches for hungry children are also demanding +an increase in the budget for the Pentagon, which was +established in the late 1940s in its current form +because - as the business press was kind enough to tell +us - high tech industry cannot survive in a "pure, +competitive, unsubsidized, 'free enterprise' economy," +and the government must be its "saviour." Without the +"saviour," Gingrich's constituents would be poor +working people (if they were lucky). There would be no +computers, electronics generally, aviation industry, +metallurgy, automation, etc., etc., right down the +list. Anarchists, of all people, should not be taken +in by these traditional frauds. + +More than ever, libertarian socialist ideas are +relevant, and the population is very much open to them. +Despite a huge mass of corporate propaganda, outside of +educated circles, people still maintain pretty much +their traditional attitudes. In the US, for example, +more than 80% of the population regard the economic +system as "inherently unfair" and the political system +as a fraud, which serves the "special interests," not +"the people." Overwhelming majorities think working +people have too little voice in public affairs (the +same is true in England), that the government has the +responsibility of assisting people in need, that +spending for education and health should take +precedence over budget-cutting and tax cuts, that the +current Republican proposals that are sailing through +Congress benefit the rich and harm the general +population, and so on. Intellectuals may tell a +different story, but it's not all that difficult to +find out the facts. + +RBR: To a point anarchist ideas have been vindicated by +the collapse of the Soviet Union - the predictions of +Bakunin have proven to be correct. Do you think that +anarchists should take heart from this general +development and from the perceptiveness of Bakunin's +analysis? Should anarchists look to the period ahead +with greater confidence in their ideas and history? + +CHOMSKY: I think - at least hope - that the answer is +implicit in the above. I think the current era has +ominous portent, and signs of great hope. Which result +ensues depends on what we make of the opportunities. + +RBR: Lastly, Noam, a different sort of question. We +have a pint of Guinness on order for you here. When +are you going to come and drink it? + +CHOMSKY: Keep the Guinness ready. I hope it won't be +too long. Less jocularly, I'd be there tomorrow if we +could. We (my wife came along with me, unusual for +these constant trips) had a marvellous time in Ireland, +and would love to come back. Why don't we? Won't bore +you with the sordid details, but demands are +extraordinary, and mounting - a reflection of the +conditions I've been trying to describe. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001125.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001125.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2dbb2c2f --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001125.txt @@ -0,0 +1,548 @@ + ******* Racism in Ireland ******** + TRAVELLERS FIGHTING BACK + +Irish Travellers are a very small minority group in +Ireland, constituting less than 1% of the population. +Their numbers currently stand at approx. 23,000 people +in the Republic and another 1,500 in the North. There +are also an estimated 15,000 Irish Travellers in +England, Scotland and Wales and 7,000 in the U.S.A. + +The population structure of the Traveller community +resembles that of a third world country, with large +numbers of children and very few in the older age +group. Poor health status, compounded by racist +policies and practices, and exclusion from mainstream +society are the causes of this situation. 50% of the +population is under 15 years. Some health statistics +revealed by the Health Status Report of the Health +Research Board in 1987 are worth quoting; + +-> Travellers have more than double the national rate +of stillbirths. + +-> Infant mortality rates are three times higher than +the national rate. + +-> Traveller women live, on average, 12 years less than +settled women. + +-> Traveller men live, on average, 10 years less than +settled men. + +-> Travellers' life expectancy is now at the level that +settled people reached in the 1940's. + +These are the statistics of racism, clearly +demonstrating that Travellers' lives are effected in +the most basic ways by their exclusion and +marginalisation. Statistics relating to their +educational levels reveal the same pariah status. Less +than 14% currently make it into post-primary education +and the number who have made it into third level can +still be counted on one hand. The majority of the +adults, 80%, are illiterate. + +Ethnicity & Cultural Identity + +Travellers constitute a distinct ethnic group within +Irish society. They fulfil all the criteria +internationally accepted as defining ethnicity: + +-> A long shared history of which the group is +conscious. + +-> A cultural tradition of its own including family and +social customs. + +-> Descent from common ancestors - you must be born +into the group. + +-> A common language. + +-> A common religion. + +-> Being a minority, or an oppressed or dominated +group, within a larger community. + +There has been strong resistance to acknowledging +Travellers' ethnicity even from people who admit that +they do not know what the term means. This attitude +stems from the endemic racism towards them which +rejects any idea that they could be anything other than +"failed settled people". There is a fear that if +Travellers' claim to separate ethnicity is conceded +that allegations of racism which are currently +dismissed out of hand in most circles, would have some +credence. + +The racism practised against Travellers in Ireland is +so all pervasive that it is not recognised as such +except by a small minority of progressive people. Most +left-wing groups either ignore the issue or contribute +to the racism themselves by adopting reactionary +positions. Travellers are marginalised and excluded +from all of the institutions and structures of Irish +society. The racism they experience operates at both +the individual and the institutional level. + +At an institutional level Travellers have to sign for +the dole and for welfare at separate times. In the +case of Dublin, Travellers claiming welfare from the +Health Board have to do so at a completely separate and +segregated clinic. Travellers have to use a separate, +segregated, social work service and they are often +segregated into separate classes in school. Socially, +they are excluded from almost every pub in the country. +They are routinely refused service in shops, cafes, +cinemas, laundrettes and every recreational and social +outlet. + +Over the past 18 months, there has been a substantial +increase in physical and ideological attacks on them. +Incidents recorded include an elderly couple attacked +on the beach in Bantry, Co.Cork, by hired thugs with +hurley sticks who left the woman with a broken nose. A +family was burned out of their caravan in Bray, Co. +Wicklow. Travellers were subjected to an organised +physical attack in Glenamaddy, Co. Galway, for having +the cheek to drink in one of the few pubs that served +them. This pub has since lost its licence as a warning +to other publicans not to serve Travellers. + +The list goes on and covers all parts of the country +and every situation where Travellers attempt to live +their lives. On an individual level, there is almost +total segregation between Travellers and the sedentary +population. Social contact is minimal because +Travellers have been excluded from such contact. + +The effects of this racism are not hard to find. Most +Travellers lack self-esteem. Pride in their cultural +identity is a very new experience and confined to the +minority who have had some adult education and +training. Self-destructive and even anti-social +behaviour arises out of this total experience of +racism. Less than 14% of Travellers currently make it +into post-primary education and the majority of the +adults are illiterate. Organising politically in this +situation is difficult but not impossible as this +article will demonstrate. + +Irish Travellers share strong cultural ties with other +nomadic people especially Gypsies and Travellers in +other countries. Within the E.U., Travellers and +Gypsies currently form a population of over one million +people. Another million live in Eastern Europe. + +These groups have faced, and still face, vicious +persecution and racism which reached its peak this +century with the murder of over a quarter of a million +Gypsies and Travellers by the Nazis. Gypsies and +Travellers in Eastern Europe are experiencing brutal +racist attacks at the moment. Anti-immigrant agitation +and attacks are specifically directed at them in +several European countries. + +Travellers' resistance + +Organised resistance to their oppression is almost +certain to have existed at several points in their +history. However, the recorded history of this +illiterate, nomadic, despised group scarcely existed +until the early 1960's in this country. An English +journalist, Grattan Puxon, arrived here to live and was +immediately struck by the situation of the Travellers. +Over the next five years he was involved in organising +the Irish Traveller Community, which organised protests +and resisted evictions all over the country. Puxon +produced a number of pamphlets, the best known of which +was titled The Victims. This protest movement quickly +gained momentum, especially around the tactic of +resisting evictions. Support grew both from Travellers +themselves, and from students and some left wing +activists. + +A large group of Travellers based at Cherry Orchard in +Dublin, where Puxon himself lived, built what was the +first Travellers' school on the site. Dublin +Corporation bulldozed it down within three weeks, +setting off a wave of protest marches and pickets. + +The movement for civil rights for Travellers was +gaining strength and confidence and alarming the +Government. The Irish Traveller Community held a large +public rally at Ballinasloe fair in 1963 at which a +committee was elected and plans made to organise +throughout the country. + +Around the same time, Gratton Puxon was arrested and +charged with possessing explosives. He was given the +choice of facing a lengthy jail sentence or leaving the +country. It was later revealed that the explosives had +been planted in his home by the police. Puxon left +Ireland in 1964. Dozens of Traveller families left +with him and went on to help form the Gypsy Council in +England, where they played a prominent role over the +next decade. + +In Ireland, however, a deal had been done to allow a +group of clerics and wealthy philanthropists to +represent Travellers' interests. Called the Itinerant +Settlement Committee, this group sidetracked +Travellers' struggles into endless lobbying and charity +work. Over the next twenty years they ensured there +was little or no Traveller input into the matters that +concerned them. + +The next sign of any independent resistance came in +1980 when a Traveller woman, Roselle McDonald, went to +court to try to stop the constant evictions from one +roadside camp to another which were a feature of +Travellers' lives. She won a ruling that Travellers +could not be evicted from local authority property +without being offered a suitable alternative. Although +it was hailed as a great victory at the time, in +practice it did not take the authorities long to find +ways around it. Usually this was achieved by simply +harassing the families through tactics like dumping +everything from rubbish to manure beside their +caravans. This left them with no option but to move. + +In 1981, Dublin County Council tried to open the new +Tallaght By-pass, home to over 100 Traveller families, +without offering them any alternative site. The events +which followed in Tallaght were to be repeated on a +smaller scale all over the country. Local residents, +with the active support of some local politicians, +including a Fianna Fil councillor, organised protest +marches. Vigilante type gangs patrolled around all +open space in the area in order to force Travellers out +of Tallaght. + +A small number of local activists joined with a small +number of Travellers to resist this racism and formed +the Travellers' Rights Committee. This committee +existed for almost two years until it gave way to the +first ever 'Traveller only' organisation, Minceir +Misli, set up in 1983. The Travellers Rights Committee +put up a Traveller candidate, Nan Joyce, in the general +election of 1982. She ran against the +straightforwardly racist 'community' candidate who +stood on a ticket of "Get the Knackers out of Tallaght" +. She got twice as many first preference votes. A few +weeks after the election Nan Joyce was arrested and +charged with theft of jewellery. This was widely +reported in the papers with headlines such as "Tinker +Queen arrested for theft". The charges were dropped +because of lack of evidence when it came to court. It +turned out that the stolen jewellery had been planted +in her caravan by the police themselves in an exact +repetition of the frame up they had done on Grattan +Puxon over twenty years previously. + +The protests against Travellers in Tallaght were +threatening and violent affairs. Leaflets were +distributed in the doors advising men to leave women +and children at home and to bring hurley sticks. No +Travellers were physically attacked on these protests, +mainly because of the small but highly visible and +determined pickets supporting the Travellers. + +Minceir Misli lasted almost two years. During this +time it organised protest marches, hunger strikes, +pickets, and spoke at numerous meetings around the +country to galvanise support for Travellers' demands. +They initiated contact with the trade unions and, in +some unions, got resolutions passed instructing members +not to take part in evictions. + +However, Minceir Misli was outside consensus politics +from the outset and as such could not get access to any +funding to carry out its work. In addition, almost all +its members were illiterate which made it extremely +difficult for them to function effectively. When it +folded, the Dublin Travellers' Education and +Development Group (DTEDG) was formed in 1984. However, +this group was not set up as an agitational one, so +there was a vacuum in Traveller resistance once again. +The Irish Travellers' Movement (ITM) was set up in 1990 +as a lobby and pressure group composed of both settled +people and Travellers. However, its interventions to +date have been characterised by extreme caution. There +is no group with a direct action focus at the moment, +even though the number of physical and racist attacks +have escalated over the past two years. + +There have been so many attacks over the past two years +that it would take many more pages to list them all. +It should be remembered that the Traveller population +is very small, so that the impact of this level of +physical attacks on such a small community is intense. +It generates fear within the whole group and causes +further isolation. The better known incidents include: + +Bray, Co. Wicklow: Traveller family burnt out of their +caravan parked on the edge of a housing estate. Their +van was then burnt. Protests prevented them from being +offered another site locally. This happened in February +1995. + +Glenamaddy, Co. Galway: In April 1994, Travellers were +subjected to an organised attack by local people armed +with hurley sticks and clubs. Travellers drinking in +the Four Roads pub were lined up by police and thrown +out to a 'lynch mob' of locals. Their vans were turned +over and wrecked. One Traveller woman described hiding +out in a field all night with her young daughter in +fear of being attacked. This episode was provoked by +the fact that the owner of this pub persisted in +serving Travellers despite police threats, which +eventually succeeded, that she would lose her licence. + +Most recently, in June 1995 a Traveller family housed +in Moate Co. Westmeath have been the focus of anti- +Traveller racism. Locals here held public meetings and +blocked the main Galway to Dublin road in protest +against the Council's decision to house the Travellers +a mile outside "their" town. Travellers were called +"inferior people". + +The only response from the establishment to this latest +outrage was an intervention by the Catholic Bishop (who +"understood" the bigots concerns). Anti-racist +activity was restricted to a spate of letters and +articles in the papers. A situation such as this +requires a direct action response but no group is +currently in a position to organise it. + +Why this increase in Racism? + +There has been some speculation in the papers (Fintan +O'Toole, Irish Times 16.6.95) about the increase in +anti-Traveller agitation over the past two years or so. +The fact is that such agitation and bigotry was always +there and has surfaced on numerous occasions. +Travellers housed in Rahoon in Galway twenty five years +ago were subjected to such harassment that the term +"Rahoonery" became part of the vocabulary for a time. +Travellers in other parts of the country had gunfire +directed at them and pig slurry thrown over their +caravans. + +There seems to have been an increase in racist attacks +but this could also be that they are being reported +more. The struggles of the various groups described in +the previous section for civil rights for Travellers +has undoubtedly increased awareness of these issues +among people generally. Over the past ten years the +emergence of a small number of articulate, politically +active Travellers has raised the issue higher on the +political agenda. The concepts of ethnic identity and +cultural difference have also raised the temperature of +the debate. Until fairly recently, Travellers and +their supporters were essentially fighting for little +more than an end to the worst forms of discrimination. +In many cases, especially where middle class do-gooders +and liberal clergy were involved, they were appealing +to a charity motivation. + +However the situation is now very different with +Traveller groups throughout the country asserting +their right to be treated with respect as an ethnic and +cultural minority with their own beliefs, customs and +values. By adopting this strategy, Travellers are +finally aligning themselves with the struggles of +nomadic and indigenous peoples everywhere. Apart from +their close affinity with Gypsies and Travellers +worldwide, their struggles now have much in common with +those of Native Americans, Aboriginal peoples in +Australia, and Maoris of New Zealand, as well as +indigenous people in South America. It is this new +and very unacceptable (to the bigots) demand for +respect as a cultural and ethnic minority that has +fuelled the latest outburst of racism against them. + +Over the past decade, these concepts gained credibility +with a wider range of people. Racist descriptions and +abuse in the media have been consistently challenged, +with the result that Travellers rights as a separate +minority group had begun to gain acceptance in wider +circles. Once it was no longer acceptable to define +them either as objects of charity or as failed settled +people in need of social work and rehabilitation, the +alternative was to accept them as different with all +the rights and appropriate services they require to +live decently in accordance with their cultural values. +That such a prospect has proved to be totally +unacceptable to many settled people is obvious. + +Fianna Fil Senator Marian McGennis, interviewed for a +recent survey stated that Martin Collins, a Traveller +activist closely associated with the concepts of +cultural and ethnic identity, was responsible for all +the anti-Traveller feeling and agitation in the country +because he insisted in demanding rights for Travellers! +Ridiculous though this statement is, it captures what +many settled people really feel. + +Ironically, settled society has always considered +Travellers to be both different and inferior. Now +that Travellers are asserting their right to be +different but not inferior, they have provoked outrage. + +Issues for Travellers + +The key issues for Travellers remain the standard ones +of civil rights campaigns: decent appropriate +accommodation, access to good quality appropriate +education - including adult education because so many +of them missed out completely on education as children, +appropriate easily accessible health care, and equality +of access to all public and private services on a non- +discriminatory basis. Central to all these demands is +the recognition and resourcing of their cultural +identity. + +Effective anti-racist and anti-discrimination +legislation is put forward as a solution to some of the +problems Travellers face but the history of legislation +such as the 1967 Race Relations Act in Britain shows +that this is no solution. Self-determination is +another key issue for Travellers and is complicated by +the fact that so many adult Travellers have little or +no formal education. The fact that they are such a tiny +minority also means that they need the support of other +more powerful forces in their struggle. + + Current Stratergies + +Strategies being pursued by the ITM and most of the +Traveller support groups are similar to those pursued +by all of the major movements for social change over +the past fifty years. Lobbying, influencing policy and +legislation, public awareness and education through the +media and through workshops and seminars aimed at +different groups within the community along with +consciousness raising and training for Travellers are +the main activities of these groups. There has been +some direct action too with pickets of insurance +companies who refuse to insure Travellers and several +protest marches against the continued lack of +accommodation and civil rights. + +However, these actions have been few, especially in +view of the recent blatant and vicious rise in racist +attacks. Whatever mood for radical and direct action +strategies there is among Travellers themselves has +been mostly neutralised by professional community +workers. A great deal of faith has been invested in +such activities as the Government's Task Force on the +Traveller community, which published its report this +summer after nearly two years deliberation. This is +despite the fact that there have been reports before, +as long ago as the 1963 "Report of the Commission on +Itinerancy" which produced nothing useful or effective. +A great deal of energy and time has been diverted into +this kind of tactic at the expense of building up a +strong, assertive direct action movement among +Travellers and their supporters. + +Throughout Europe there is some mobilisation taking +place among Gypsy and Traveller groups but most of this +is now of a defensive nature. Three Gypsies were +killed by a bomb thrown into their site in Austria +earlier this year by neo-nazis. Two of those killed +were survivors of the nazi death camps where a quarter +of a million Gypsies and Travellers were murdered. +This outrage did not even make the papers here. In most +countries Gypsies and Travellers are so despised that +events such as these are not reported even by the left +wing press. Racism against Travellers in Europe has +increased with the opening up of Eastern Europe where +there has always been a very large Gypsy and Traveller +population living in oppressed and poverty stricken +conditions. Thousands of these people are now trying +to move into Western Europe to achieve a better life. +They are the first of these immigrants to be harassed +and sent back and physically attacked and even killed +when they do manage to get into Germany or any other +western country. + +In France, Gypsies and Travellers cannot be citizens of +the state. They cannot have passports, only travel +papers which they must register with the police when +they want to travel outside France. Even within, +France they must register with the police when they +travel. In Austria, the Catholic Church set up a +special organisation called Pro Juventute to kidnap the +children of Gypsies and Travellers and gave them as +slave labour to Austrian farmers. This practice went +on into the 1970s and was justified by spokespeople for +the church even later. The Austrian Gypsy population +was almost wiped out by this practise with Gypsy +parents spending years vainly trying to find their +children whose names and identies had been changed. + +The situation of Irish Travellers is now one of crisis +on several fronts. Basic accommodation, education and +health needs are hopelessly inadequate despite the tiny +size of the Traveller population. But it is on the +ideological level that the real crisis is located with +the assertion of cultural and ethnic rights by +Travellers on the one hand and the total rejection of +the implications of these demands by much of settled +society. + +Travellers' struggle for civil rights should be seen in +the context of all the major social and political +movements of the past fifty years and not as something +separate or peculiar to Ireland or to Irish Travellers. +Their struggles bear remarkable resemblance to those of +Native Americans and indigenous peoples throughout the +world. + +These struggles have to be situated in a context of +racism, and the strategies devised must be equal to the +challenge of racism. The direct involvement of +Travellers themselves in determining specific +strategies and tactics is essential, both because +anarchists believe that all peoples should control the +decisions that effect them and because it is Travellers +who have to live with the consequences of such actions. +These consequences can include increased harassment and +attacks. + +Travellers need the active support of progressive +forces such as the organised labour movement if they +are to succeed in their struggle. Links need to be +made with the struggles of working class people and +their communities on a range of issues which effect +them both. Travellers are often used by local and +national politicians as a scapegoat and a distraction +away from real demands about conditions in working +class communities. + +This cynical strategy of deflecting working class anger +onto Travellers is unfortunately often successful as we +have seen in Tallaght, Blanchardstown and Navan in the +recent past. It needs to be challenged and exposed for +what it is - playing the racist card in local politics. +Traveller organisations need to take up the challenge +to engage in direct action strategies if real gains are +to be made. + +The history of social movements such as the Black +movement, the Women's movement and the Gay movement +shows that serious gains will not be won by lobbying +alone. The Traveller movement is no different and +these lessons need to taken on board by groups working +for Travellers' rights. What is needed now is a strong +Traveller-directed, direct action campaign to seriously +challenge the racism at the root of all Travellers' +inequalities. The WSM is committed to such a campaign +and urges others committed to the basic principle of +"Traveller control over the decisions made in such a +campaign" to become involved in this struggle. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001126.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001126.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e735c02b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001126.txt @@ -0,0 +1,278 @@ + ********* After the Fall ************* + A New Beginning for Russian Anarchism? + Guest Writer + +It was only natural that anarchism would reappear in +this country where the state has played such an +omnipresent role in social life. The role that the +state has played in usurping other forms of organisation +has led people growing up in this society and those who +visit it to contemplate the mechanisms of the state. +Negative judgements of these mechanisms are usually +formed, so of course some people would come to realise +that the state cannot be reformed. + +Even though a disproportionate amount of classical +anarchist theorists and figures came from Russia, the +movement lived a short life; the anarchist movement per +se only really started up shortly before the 1905 +revolution and was prematurely executed shortly after +the consolidation of Soviet power. After a few years of +Stalinism, by 1938 there were no signs of anarchist +activity to be found. Still, ideas die hard and the +spirit of anarchism was revived in at least a few +individuals and small groups after the Thaw1. The first +self-proclaimed anarcho-syndicalist group was created in +1958 but it was short-lived, due to the effective work +of the KGB. [see box]. Throughout the '60s, up until +the Perestroika period, various groups sprang up now and +again, but all were rather small and insignificant. + +As one can imagine, the beginning of Perestroika and +Glasnost signalled the start of a new era. A new type +of movement, referred to as 'the informal movement' +would grow and take the place of the dissidents. The +informals differed from the previous generation of +oppositionists in several vital regards. The dissidents +were very few in numbers and lived in their own ghetto, +with few supporters amongst the intelligentsia; the +informals were much larger in number and found more +support in the intelligentsia and elsewhere as political +ideas and cultural activity moved out of the dark +recesses of society. The informals also worked in a +wider range of activity than was possible for the +dissidents. They often operated through official +organisations, such as ideological, youth and cultural +groups and they tried to turn the language of socialist +ideology against the Soviet state. It was in the +informal movement where the modern Russian anarchist +movement took root. + +Many of the anarchists who came out of the informal +movement started off as critical Marxists. The first +members of the Moscow Obschina group met while working +in the clandestine Organizing Committee of the All-Union +Marxist Workers' Party. Many of these people were +historians and therefore had access to anarchist works +that normal people were forbidden to read. They started +to publish a samizdat magazine called Obschina (Commune) +and eventually established an organisation, the +Confederation of Anarcho-Syndicalists (KAS). + +The early post-Perestroika anarchist movement was rather +atypical in several aspects. First, it existed in a +time where there was an unusually high interest in +politics, due partially to the fact that everything was +new and that history was being reclaimed from the +Ministry of Truth2, and partially to the fact that +people were hoping for something better to be offered +for their future. Second, it was created by people who +had no experience of non-governmental organisation from +which to draw lessons. Third, it was able to attract a +rather substantial number of people in a short time; KAS +had up to 2,000 members at one point. All of these +things however contributed to what many people regard, +perhaps inappropriately, as the fall of the Russian +anarchist movement. + +Interest in politics has waned considerably in the past +decade. Partly this can be explained by the deep shock +of Dr. Gaidar's therapy and by the fact that happiness +is measured in terms of material acquisitions now more +than ever before. Also, the novelty of pluralism has +somewhat worn off, and no grassroots movement ever +managed to grow out of the informal movement, +essentially leaving the people as disenfranchised from +politics and as disillusioned as ever before. The +informal anarchists, not quite comprehending what +strategies they could work, thought only on a massive +scale; no doubt they imagined that the workers could +mobilise to take control of their factories on some +significant scale and some tried (and succeeded) to get +into office at a local level, hoping to effect some pro- +worker legislation no doubt. (As for taking control of +factories, it would have been a tall order in a country +where people are so used to being ruled but also, the +privatizers had something else in mind and apparently +their promises of future material wealth held out more +promise to workers.) + +It is hard to say exactly how many anarchists there are +in the former Soviet Union, particularly because there +have been too many people and groups that label +themselves anarchists but cannot be identified as such +by their politics. (Such gross mutant groups, like +anarcho- monarchists and anarcho-democrats have existed; +they obviously must be dismissed as quacks). Still one +can safely estimate the number of people who consciously +consider themselves anarchists and who have some +contacts with others as 200-300 people. + +The largest federations were FRAN (the Federation of +Revolutionary Anarchists) and KAS which accounted for +about 150 people. This however will probably change +since the creation of other organisations - +Confederation of Revolutionary Anarcho-Syndicalists +(KRAS), which wants to join the International Workers +Association (IWA).; the Ukrainian-based, Revolutionary +Confederation of Anarcho-Syndicalists (RKAS), which +considers affiliation with the IWA not to be on the +agenda right now and the Siberian Confederation of +Labour (SKT) which wants to concentrate on creating a +syndicalist union and is not interested in taking sides +in the conflicts between various sections of the +international syndicalist movement. Many smaller groups +exist inside and outside of these groups; a typical +group may have between 3 and 10 people and like +everywhere else, they are connected by their similar +ideas on what anarchism is and what needs to be done. +There are also a number of individuals around the +country who are quite active but belong to no group. + +If previously an anarchist could be considered to be a +person who read one of the journals, signed up and was a +warm body at meetings, nowadays anarchists are forced to +take a much more active role. Most of the self-styled +leaders who wrote programs and manifestos in the early +days of post-Perestroika anarchism are gone, and +although a few individuals have been more active than +others in propagandising their ideas, small groups must +meet and decide the eternal question: what is to be +done? In this regard they are not unlike small groups +in other parts of the world, particularly in isolated +places with no real contacts with any sort of radical +community. + +Projects + +Anarchists have started different projects, with varying +degrees of success. In Moscow some anarchists and other +sympathetic listeners gather every Thursday to give +lectures on various topics, including anarchism and +other philosophies. This is very important for people +as we lack good books on anarchism in Russian and people +need to understand it better. Still, the question then +becomes one of how is to conduct these lectures on a +larger scale and how to advertise them so that people +can show up and listen. And how to attract people when +so many are indifferent to politics? Some people wanted +to form a cultural centre but the person who found space +wants to run things herself. Instead of creating a +space for different collectives to use, the space has +become a hang out joint, sometimes visited by skinheads +and other idiots but occasionally host to some +discussion or concert as well. In Tver and Kharbarovsk, +concerts are sometimes held and in every city with some +anarchist presence you might find a picket now and +again. + +One thing where anarchists have been somewhat productive +is in creating zines3 and papers, although they are of +varied quality. Still this activity is limited as +printing costs are prohibitively high and typically +people cannot afford to buy them; the publications must +be subsidised if they are to have any distribution. At +least a dozen come out sporadically, ranging from +idiotic movement gossip sheets to larger zines with +several interesting articles. + +A number of groups have tried to make contact amongst +workers, most notably some Ukrainian anarchists now part +of RKAS (the Revolutionary Confederation of Anarcho- +Syndicalists, not to be confused with the Russian group +KRAS, the Confederation of Revolutionary Anarcho- +Syndicalists). Some people have formed 'unions', but +many of these are purely symbolic, usually consisting of +two or three people. Obviously, these people are at a +loss over what to do. There are no (and have not been) +any grassroots movements here, in years, and so +everything must be started from scratch. + +The anarchists face an uphill battle here. People are +very accustomed to having the state handle everything +for them and this attitude is antithetical to the +anarchists' principles of self organisation. The state +also did a good job of destroying most ties people had +with each other; community was to extend no further than +the nuclear family, a structure which dominates Soviet +life and creates various barriers to organisation. +(Although few people here realise this.) + +Isolated into their minute cubicles, many people have +retreated into the home, preferring it to the harsh new +world of capitalist Russia. There are no real leftist +events, depriving anarchists of one of their traditional +grounds for recruiting new people and there is little +alternative media so to speak of. (The exception being +in Kharbarovsk where local anarchists do a radio show.) + +Those problems could be expected and we imagine that +they plague people in other parts of the world as well. +There are many places in the world that have very weak +anarchist movements for much the same reasons; perhaps +only the fact that there was Bakunin, Kropotkin and +Makhno can explain why a small movement has grown in +Russia. There are also problems endemic to the Russian +scene. Most people are rather poor and it is difficult +to fund activities so some people became rather +dependent on fund raising from abroad, often creating +mythologies around their groups and engaging in +political prostitution. Also, due to the strange +alliance between 'left' authoritarian forces and 'right' +authoritarian forces, some people wishing to add warm +bodies to the count often hang out with not only +leftists but fascists. Naturally those people with half +a brain have been trying to disown these people from the +anarchist movement and the injustice they do to the +movement is probably far more grave than anything else. + +Slowly but surely a few dozen people are trying to +develop their ideas about anarchism and figure out how +to organise something. Personal politics are not an +issue as yet and this reflects their status in society +as a whole, but this will change. Gradually anarchist +texts will be translated into Russian and some native +works are bound to appear as well. The developmant of +an anarchist movement may dependent on what will happen +in the near future; threats of a return of wholesale +authoritarianism always loom on the horizon and it is +unclear whether or not material conditions will improve. +Still one thing is clear: we are now laying the +foundations for the future. + +Footnotes by R&BR +1 After Stalin died and Kruschev came to power, when +the penalties for oppositional activity and the level of +surveillance were reduced slightly. +2 An Orwellian reference (1984) to the fact that before +Glasnost history could only be written in a way that +vindicated the current leadership of the Communist party +and its past actions. History was a machine for +justifying the party. +3 In the west a zine is typically a small circulation, +crudely produced magazine distributed through personal +contacts and by post rather than through selling in +shops or other locations. We presume this is also the +meaning here. + + + ******* After Stalin Box ********* + +A group of people from the History Department of Moscow +State University began to gather in 1957 and discuss +different ideas, among them the ideas of workers' +councils and of Bakunin. They formed a clandestine +group in Oct. '58 and wrote a program. The group's +activities ended in Jan. 1959 when one of its founders, +Anatoly Mikhailovich Ivanov, was arrested in the History +Library for writing anti-Soviet literature and sent to a +psychiatric hospital. He was released in 1960 and +people began to gather again. (Some people were poets +and some political people so there were two tendencies +in their loose group.) Then in 1961, before the Party +Congress, three of them, Osipov, Ivanov and Kuznetsov, +were arrested for plotting to kill Kruschev. Apparently +they had seriously entertained this idea as they +believed he would start a large-scale war. None of the +three resumed anarchist activities afterwards. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001127.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001127.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f265eead --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001127.txt @@ -0,0 +1,305 @@ + ************ Rebels at Ruesta ********** + International Libertarian Meeting + +LAST SUMMER saw the red and black flag of anarchism +flying high in the mountains of Spain. Alternative +Libertaire of France organised an international meeting +for libertarian socialists, anarcho-syndicalists and +anarchists, which saw over 100 delegates gather at the +village of Ruesta in the Spanish Pyrnees. Unlike the +average holiday resort, this village is owned by an +anarcho-syndicalist trade union (the Spanish CGT). +Comprising two hostels, two bars, a restaurant, a +campsite, a lake, a church which has been turned into a +small hall for meetings, a shop and about twenty +buildings in need of major renovation, Ruesta is run as +a leisure centre for members of the CGT (and anyone +else who wants to visit). + + The majority of the delegates came from the CGT, +Alternative Libertaire (France), and the Libertarian +Socialist Organisation (Switzerland), Smaller numbers +came from Libertarian Alternative (Lebanon), the Polish +Anarchist Federation, the Italian Libertarian +Communism and the Workers Solidarity Movement, as well +as from two other anarcho-syndicalist unions: the SAC +of Sweden and the Spanish Solidaridad Obrera. + +France + +AL-F have about 150 members, many of them established +activists in trade union and campaigning work, which +includes a lot of work in DAL ('Right to Housing'). +France seemingly has more empty houses than homeless +people, which has given rise to a squatting movement +which takes in single people and families, native +French and immigrants. A number of AL members hold +national and local positions in DAL, which indicates +that they are active in the struggle and not just +talking about it. Another area of activity is AC! +('Against Unemployment'), which has recently won free +public transport for the unemployed in several cities. +Other struggles mentioned were abortion rights and +anti-nuclear. + +In the unions they also seem to be pretty busy, and +they say it was AL-F members who took the initiative to +form the radical independent SUD union in the Post +Office & Telecom, after the CFDT union bureaucracy +expelled a branch during a dispute. SUD is now the +second largest union in the Post Office. Similar +unions have been formed in the health service and tax +offices. + +On the negative side of things we were bothered by +their attitude that supporting candidates in +parliamentary elections is just a tactical question. +They do not see the massive contradiction that exists +between anarchism and involvement in electoral +politics. After all, we want to get rid of rulers, not +help to prop up the division into rulers and ruled. + +They see themselves as "libertarian communist" rather +than anarchist, in the sense that they wish to add +parts of other traditions to anarchism. They mentioned +Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Marx but didn't tell us which +bits they wanted, nor what they saw as the 'failings' +of anarchism (as opposed to wrong strategies or +tactics). + +Switzerland + +The politics and culture of the OSL appear to be very +similar to AL-F. With about 80 members they are active +in both the French and German speaking cantons of +Switzerland, though they seem to be much stronger in +the French speaking regions. They spoke about their +involvement in anti-militarism, squatting, anti-racism +and opposition to 'workfare' schemes. They said the +libertarian CRT trade union is primarily based on the +watchmakers of the Jura (the people who took the +anarchist side over 120 years ago in First +International!) and is small, but does have some +influence on other unions. + +We also had any notion that Switzerland is a reasonably +progressive country shattered when we learned that the +last canton to give the vote to women only did so in +1994! + +Lebanon + +Very much linked to the French AL, this is a relatively +new group. Their situation is one of working in a +country which endured 17 years of civil war, where +parts are occupied by Israel, where Syria is a force to +be reckoned with, where religious sectarianism is +institutionalised in law and repression of dissidents +is increasing. + +A handful of people operating in difficult +circumstances, they have just begun distribution of +their Arabic translation of Daniel Guerin's Anarchism, +from theory to practice (towards the production ofwhich +the WSM made a donation). They intend to distribute +2,000 copies in the Lebanon and another 2,000 to Arabic +speaking workers in France. + +Poland + +The Polish Federation are a looser body than the others +who attended. At a national level they have no common +political project, strategy or tactics. Their exact +membership is unknown, even to themselves, but they +have about 30 local affiliates which vary from 3 or 4 +people up to 30 in some cases. + +Activity has included big actions and ongoing campaigns +on the Russian invasion of Chechnya, pensions, anti- +racism/anti-fascism (four people were killed by nazi +skinheads last year) and anti-militarism. + +These comrades attended because they wanted more +contact with Western anarchists, rather than because of +any particular interest in Alternative Libertaire's +desire for an international federation of 'platformist' +and libertarian communist organisations. + +The revolutionary unions + +The people from the SAC, CGT and SO carried no mandates +but were an inspiration, a living proof that anarchists +can win workers in their tens of thousands. And they +are not being won by militant trade unionism alone. At +present the SAC is debating the future direction of +their union, centring on whether to spend money on more +ombudsmen (elected full-time officials who can be +called upon by branches if they need assistance) or to +improve the weekly SAC newspaper instead. Some members +feel that, essentially, this is about whether to be +primarily a union or primarily a libertarian political +organisation. Whatever we may think about the relative +merits of either proposition, it is a healthy sign that +members are debating like this. (Not the sort of +discussion you come across in SIPTU or IMPACT!) + +As well as participating in the debates, the WSM +delegates gave a formal presentation dealing with the +situation in Ireland. This covered the historical +weakness of 'left' politics; the problem of partition; +the historical attraction of radical nationalism for +rebellious youth, and the activities of the WSM. The +latter covered our work to explain and popularise +anarchism; and our activity in the trade unions and +campaigns for abortion rights and against the water +charges. + +Conference declaration + +A draft declaration was discussed, which was to be sent +to all the participating organisations for discussion. +Essentially this would commit the political +organisations (not the unions) to further discussion, +translation of texts, further meetings in 1996 and +1997, and a common protest at the G7 summit in Lyon +next year. The WSM have signed (see letter). + +Clearly many questions arise: How broad should this +project be/what is the minimum political agreement +required, what are the immediate objectives of co- +operation? What should be the relationship to the +revolutionary unions? The question of calling for the +building of specific anarchist-communist organisations +in Spain and Sweden? How will it be understood in the +broader anarchist movement? + +The bosses are well organised, we need to be better +organised than them. While there is much co-operation +across borders by anarchists, and some international +bodies (like the syndicalist International Workers +Association), the Ruesta meeting was a long overdue +event. It brought together anarchists and libertarians +who see themselves as coming from a tradition whose +points of reference include the Organisational +Platform, the Friends of Durruti, and the Manifesto of +Libertarian Communism; the current among anarchists +known as 'platformism' (which also needs a better +name!) Debate, discussion and joint work can only help +us move forward. + + +******** Declaration agreed at the end of the ********** + libertarian conference held in Ruesta (August 1995). + +This international meeting of libertarians held in +Ruesta allowed anarchists, militants, sympathisers, +libertarian socialists, libertarian communists, +anarcho-syndicalists and revolutionary syndicalists to +discuss our analyses of and methods of intervention in +the social movements (i.e. the struggles against +unemployment, sexism, imperialism, racism etc. and in +the unions). + +Discussions from different viewpoints also took place +around ex-Yugoslavia and the rebellion in Chiapas. The +debates showed there was a common wish to transform a +world now dominated by many forms of oppression +(Capitalism, imperialism & sexism). They also revealed +differences in how we analyse and fight these +oppressions. + +Exploring these differences opens up a way for +improving each group's understanding. It gave each +organisation a chance to reflect on its practice and +current position. The meeting was a small step forward +in the construction of a new international political +culture, one based on libertarian and revolutionary +values. One also determined to bring together the +oppressed to strengthen future revolts and struggles to +create a new society. + +This meeting is just a start. From it we drew up the +following proposals and commitments. + +1. In 1996 to hold a meeting to look at improving +international co-ordination and collectivise +discussions and interventions. + +2. To translate our political texts & publish them in +French, English and Spanish (at least). + +3. To co-ordinate a large mobilisation (to include a +counter-summit, demonstration and meeting) in Lyon, +France, in June 1996, as part of the week of activity +against the G71 summit. + +4. To co-ordinate anti-sexist struggles. In +particular to carry out solidarity actions with the +Irish comrades in relation to the fight for divorce and +abortion rights. To intervene in the fight of 3rd +world and immigrant women and to prepare a common +initiative for March 8th, 19962. + +5. To campaign against nuclear weapons and in +particular against the resumption of nuclear tests by +the French government and against nuclear tests in +China. + +6. To actively support the march against unemployment +planned for Autumn 1995 by parts of the Spanish union +movement and unemployed associations. + +7. Within two years to hold another libertarian +conference, like the one at Ruesta but larger and with +more ambitious objectives. + +Footnotes +1 Summit of the seven most powerful imperialist +countries. +2 International women's day. + + + + ***** Some comments by WSM on the declaration ***** +September 1995 + +The Workers Solidarity Movement recognises the need for +international co-operation among anarchists and +libertarian socialists. Capitalism is an international +system, organised on an international basis. + +To combat it anarchists need international +organisation. Such organisation would require +agreement on major issues such as the role of anarchist +organisations, activity within the trade unions and +relations with the anarcho-syndicalists, how to combat +racism and fascism, the type of struggle needed to +advance the movement for women's freedom, how to relate +to anti-imperialist conflicts. It would also need an +agreed international strategy, the capability of +fostering international debate among anarchists, and +the ability to give aid to weaker sections or to those +engaged in mass struggle. + +In order to move towards the building of such an +international organisation we welcome co-operation, +discussion and debate with other anarchists and +libertarians. + +We place ourselves within the historic anarchist +tradition. Anarchism has identified the goal we +desire: a classless society where production is +organised to satisfy needs and where people control +their own lives in a truly free society. We do not +wish to go 'beyond anarchism', there is no need. +Anarchists have, of course, made mistakes but that is +to be expected. The point is to learn from those +mistakes and avoid repeating them, to grow and mature +within the anarchist tradition. + +It is in the interests of furthering debate and +practical co-operation between anarchists and +libertarians that we sign the declaration of the +international libertarian conference, held at Ruesta in +August 1995. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001128.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001128.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..22a7c832 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001128.txt @@ -0,0 +1,846 @@ +********** Sinn Fin and the 'Peace Process' *********** + ARRIVING AT THE END OF THE ROAD TO NOWHERE + +Since the ending of the 'Cold War', many national +liberation struggles throughout the world have been +'settled'. In places as far apart as South Africa, El +Salvador, Nicaragua and Palestine these national +liberation struggles were led by groupings which were +often seen as having left leanings. However in all of +these cases the 'settlement' was far from socialist. +The current 'Irish peace process' is following exactly +the same lines and has nothing to offer the Irish +working class North or South + +The announcement of the Provisional IRA cease-fire on +August 31st 1994 was almost universally welcomed. In a +statement, the Workers Solidarity Movement (WSM) stated: + +"We welcome the IRA cease-fire. Over the last 25 years +over 3,000 people have been killed and 40,000 injured. +Thousands have been through or are still in prison. The +primary blame for these deaths and all the associated +suffering belongs with the British state..." (1) + +Our welcome for the cease-fire was based on our +recognition of the fact that the armed struggle was a +flawed tactic, one + +"...incapable of achieving a solution as it is incapable +of delivering a military victory and defeating the +British army..." and one which "...relies on the actions +of a few with the masses left in either a totally +passive role, or one limited to providing intelligence +and shelter to the few..." (2) + +However, while welcoming the cease-fire, we drew a very +clear distinction between this and the "peace process" - +a process which we saw as being inherently flawed + +"The 'peace process' as it is called, will not deliver a +united socialist Ireland, or significant improvements +apart from those associated with 'de-militarisation'. +In addition it represents a hardening of traditional +nationalism, and the goal of getting an alliance of all +the nationalists - Fianna Fail, SDLP, Sinn Fein and the +Catholic Church." (3) + +Sound of silence + +Over twelve months later, the cease-fire holds firm, the +people of the 6-Counties have enjoyed the 'sound of +silence' of the guns for over a year and a semblance of +normality has returned to the area after 25 years of +war. + +But, as the British government continues to drag its +heels even on the simple concessions which normally +follow the ending of conflict such as prisoner release +and round-table inclusive talks, and as the Sinn Fin +leadership appears to have totally capitulated on its +ultimate objective of a 32-County Socialist Republic and +subsumed itself into the Pan-Nationalist Alliance of +SDLP/Dublin and 'Irish-America', many republican +supporters are left floundering and asking themselves +exactly what is going on. + +Less than two short years ago Gerry Adams, Martin +McGuinness et al - as far as the media and mainstream +politicians were concerned - were "godfathers of +violence" for whom the English language did not contain +sufficient condemnatory terms. Now they are feted by +Bill Clinton in the White House, wined and dined at +$1,000-a-plate dinners and rub shoulders with captains +of industry. How has this come about? And, more +importantly, how does it square with their professed aim +of a Socialist Republic? How must those who believed in +the republicans' 'left turn' in the 1980s feel now? + +In order to answer these questions or even to begin to +understand the logic of the current republican position, +it is necessary to look back at the origins of the +Provisional movement and to study the politics on which +it was founded. + +Following the disastrous border campaign of 1956 - 1962, +the IRA was practically non-existent, retaining only a +handful of members and being regarded by most working- +class nationalists as a thing of the past. Meantime, +the nationalist middle-class had given up waiting for a +united Ireland and had instead begun to look for +equality of opportunity within the 6-County State. It +was from this layer that the Northern Ireland Civil +Rights Association (NICRA) was formed in 1967 with a +very moderate (in any state that even pretends to be +democratic) list of demands - one man (sic), one vote; +allocation of housing on a points system; redrawing of +gerrymandered electoral boundaries; repeal of the +Special Powers Act; abolition of the notorious B- +Specials; laws against discrimination in local +government. The issue of the border was not even +raised. + +However, because the Northern State had been founded on +discrimination, even these moderate demands could not be +acceded to. Nor could the bigots who controlled the +State allow dissension in the form of public protest. +When the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) attacked the +second Civil Rights march on October 5th 1968 in Derry, +the die was cast. + +The Peoples Democracy (PD) organised march from Belfast +to Derry in January 1969 was to be a key turning point. +When the 100 marchers were attacked by about 350 +loyalists throwing rocks and stones at Burntollet +Bridge, the RUC stood by and watched. + +The naked sectarianism and irreformability of the Orange +State had been dramatically exposed. Just seven months +later the British army were back on the streets when the +RUC found themselves incapable of restoring order +following what became known as the "Siege of Derry". + +British Guns + +Up to this stage the IRA were non-existent in terms of +military activity. The gun had been re-introduced to +Northern politics, not by a highly organised republican +movement determined to wreak havoc, but by the forces of +the British State. It is interesting to note that the +first death, the first dead soldier, the first dead +policeman, the first dead child and the first bombing +were all at the hands of British or Loyalist forces. +The lesson appeared clear - if even the modest demands +of the Civil Rights Movement were met with such massive +repression by the State, there was no alternative but to +meet force with force. Unfortunately the left at the +time failed to offer a coherent alternative and so 25 +painful years of war and bloodshed had begun. + +The Provisional movement was formed following a split in +the Republican movement in January 1970. When the Sinn +Fin Ard Fheis (Conference) of that month voted to end +the traditional policy of abstentionism from Stormont, +the Dail and Westminster, the dissidents walked out. +They established a provisional army council of the IRA +and a caretaker Sinn Fin executive. + +Their first public statements strongly attacked the +leftward trend in the organisation and were vehemently +anti-communist. In its Easter statement of 1970 the +Provisional IRA army council stated: + +"Irish freedom will not be won by involvement with an +international movement of extreme socialism." (4) + +But it would be wrong to see the split as simply being +along left-right lines. Many of the Officials (as the +other wing became known) had become reformists and were +in favour of a strategy of working through parliament to +effect change - even being willing to take their seats +in Stormont - the notorious symbol of oppression - if +elected. + +Because of the reformist nature of the Officials many of +the younger militants - especially in the North - joined +the Provisionals despite the fact that at the time they +were controlled by right-wing traditional nationalists +who wanted no truck with socialism. + +Throughout the early 1970s, the Provos engaged the +British in a hugely intensive war of attrition. Events +such as Bloody Sunday in Derry (when 13 civilians were +killed by the Parachute Regiment during a Civil Rights +March on Sunday 30th January 1972) brought floods of +recruits. When the British sent heavily-armed troops +into IRA no-go areas in Belfast and Derry in July 1972, +there were 95 deaths. In the previous four months there +had been 5,500 shooting incidents and hundreds of car +bombs had devastated the centres of many Northern towns. +(5) + +Throughout this time, the IRA remained heavily dependant +on the conservative American Noraid network for funding. +Joe Cahill had on the IRA's behalf promised Noraid that +they would deliver"...a republic without socialist or +communist ideas..." (6). General Army Order No. 8 +banned military activity in the 26-Counties and +political work in the South was confined to support for +the Northern IRA. + +Following a brief cease-fire in 1972 during which six +Provo leaders - including Gerry Adams and Martin +McGuinness - were flown to London for talks with British +government ministers, the IRA campaign resumed. At this +time too Loyalist paramilitary groups wreaked havoc with +a particularly vicious sectarian campaign of terror +aimed at the Catholic population. + +Flawed Strategy + +It was the Provisionals' cease-fire of 1974-1975 however +which was to show up for the first time one of the flaws +in a strategy which relied solely on a military campaign +- especially one with a purely nationalist base. +Speaking of this period 10 years later, in 1985, Gerry +Adams was to say + +"When the struggle was limited to armed struggle, the +prolongation of the truce meant that there was no +struggle at all. There was nothing but confusion, +frustration and demoralisation, arising directly from +what I call spectator politics" (7) + +By the 1978, Sinn Fein Ard Fheis disaffection with the +leadership's handling of the 1975 truce had begun to +assert itself and Adams was elected to the position of +Vice-President. A new leadership began to emerge based +around Adams, Tom Hartley, Joe Austin and Danny +Morrison. There was much talk - especially among the +prisoners - of socialism and of replacing the +reactionary nationalist outlook of the past. A new type +of community politics began to emerge with Republicans +being encouraged to involve themselves in community +groups, trade unions and cultural groups. + +It was the beginning of the 'blanket protest' following +the removal of the prisoners' 'special category status' +in March 1976 which was to lead eventually to the hunger +strikes of 1980 and 1981 and the highpoint of support +for the Republican cause throughout the 32-Counties. By +1980, with Margaret Thatcher in power, there were 380 +prisoners taking part in the 'no wash' protest and +preparations for a hunger strike were well under way. + +When the prison protests began in 1976, Sinn Fin as an +organisation seemed incapable of the sort of political +agitation necessary to highlight the prisoners' plight. +When a conference was held in Coalisland, Co. Tyrone in +January 1978 to discuss the building of a broad anti- +Unionist front which would campaign on the prisons +issue, Sinn Fin criticised the naivety of the +organisers and basically put forward the proposition +that only those who offered uncritical support for the +IRA's campaign were entitled to get involved. However +by October 1979 when a further Conference was held in +the Green Briar Hall in Andersonstown, the Sinn Fin +line had changed dramatically and Gerry Adams proposed +to the conference a list of 5 demands around which a +"Smash H-Block" campaign could be built. These demands +were: + +(1) To be exempt from wearing prison clothes. + +(2) To be exempt from prison work. + +(3) To have freedom of association with fellow political +prisoners. + +(4) The right to organise educational and recreational +facilities, to have one weekly visit, to receive and +send out one letter per week and to receive one parcel +per week. + +(5) Entitlement to full remission of sentence + +These demands were agreed by the Conference and became +the central plank of the National H- Block/Armagh +Committee. While this Committee worked to raise public +awareness and bring pressure on the British government +on the issue, Sinn Fin was involved in secret +negotiations with, among others, Cardinal Toms O'Fiach +- the head of the Irish Catholic Church - to try and +persuade him to intervene with the British on the +prisoners' behalf. + +Meanwhile pressure from inside the prisons was growing +and Sinn Fein began to come to the realisation that they +had to organise politically - especially in the 26- +Counties - if they were to make progress. + +Hunger Strike + +In October 1980, the prisoners in the H-Blocks decided +that their only hope of pressing home the issue of +prison status was to go on hunger strike. In a +communication sent in to Bobby Sands, Gerry Adams stated +that the leadership of the republican movement +was"...tactically, strategically, physically and morally +opposed to a hunger strike." (8) + +The prisoners however, were determined to press ahead +with their plans. The first hunger strike lasted for 53 +days and involved nearly 40 prisoners in the H-Blocks +and Armagh. There were pickets, marches and riots +throughout the 6-Counties. In Dublin, 12,000 people +marched in support of the prisoners in late October and +a further 2,000 picketed a summit meeting between +Thatcher and Taoiseach Charles Haughey on 8th December. +Republican strategists began to realise that political +agitation could be a strong weapon in their arsenal. + +On 18th December - with one of the hunger strikers, Sen +McKenna, fast approaching death - the British government +indicated that if the fast was called off some of their +demands would be met. The prisoners decided to end the +protest but discovered very quickly that the document +presented to them by the British fell far short of +meeting their demands. Almost immediately, preparations +began for another hunger strike. + +Again the Sinn Fin leadership attempted to dissuade the +prisoners from their proposed course of action + +"...in terms of the political priorities of the moment, +we did not want the hunger strike. We were just +beginning our attempts to remedy the political +underdevelopment of the movement, trying to develop the +organisation, engaging in a gradual build-up of new +forms of struggle and, in particular, we were working +out our strategy in relation to elections. We were well +aware that a hunger strike such as was proposed would +demand exclusive attention, would, in effect, hijack the +struggle, and this conflicted with our sense of the +political priorities of the moment." (9) + +Bobby Sands + +But the prisoners were determined. They felt they had +no alternative and plans went ahead. On 1st March 1981 +Bobby Sands was the first to refuse food. Over the +course of the next seven months, ten republican +prisoners - members of both the IRA and the INLA (Irish +National Liberation Army) - were to die on hunger +strike. The National H-Block/Armagh Committee - set up +on a humanitarian/ pan-nationalist axis - was to +organise protests, pickets, marches, riots and even some +strike action throughout the 32-Counties. It was a +period of mass action but also one of missed +opportunity. It was a period also which was to have +long-term effects on the direction of Sinn Fein's +developing political strategy: + +"The hunger strike did away with spectator politics. +When the only form of struggle being waged was armed +struggle, it only needed a small number of people to +engage in it. But, with the hunger strike, people could +play an active role which could be as limited or as +important as billposting, writing letters, or taking +part in numerous forms of protest." (10) + +The mass action was indeed impressive. In the week of +Bobby Sands' funeral, for example, over 10,000 marched +in Dublin, 5,000 in Limerick, 4,000 in Cork. There were +big marches in Waterford, Tralee, Killarney, Wexford, +Bray, Meath, Monaghan, Donegal and many other places. +In Belfast over 100,000 people attended the funeral. +There were work stoppages - some organised, some +spontaneous - all over the country, including Dublin +Corporation maintenance depots, Alcan's construction +site in Limerick (2,500 workers), Arigna mines in Co. +Leitrim, building sites in Dublin, factories and shops +in Limerick, Cork, Cobh, Tralee, Wexford, Bray, Sligo, +Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan. Trades Councils in places +such as Waterford, Dungarvan, Meath, Dundalk and +Drogheda called successful stoppages. (11) There were +daily pickets and protests in almost every town in +Ireland. + +While this was in many ways people power at its best, +the necessity to maintain friendly relations with the +'broad nationalist family' which included Southern +political parties, the Catholic Church and the GAA meant +that it had to be controlled. Thus the 100,000 people +who attended Sands' funeral were told to go home and +wait for the Republican movement to take its revenge. +Thus also the failure to make workplace and community +struggle the spearhead of the campaign. Ultimately the +period was to prove the acid test of Sinn Fin's +'socialism' - a test they were to fail miserably. + +The real lesson that Sinn Fin took from the H-Block +Campaign happened almost by chance. The sudden death of +Frank Maguire, independent MP for Fermanagh/South Tyrone +raised the possibility of a prisoner candidate standing +in the bye-election. Bobby Sands was duly nominated and +elected with 30,492 votes. Sands' election literature +sought to "borrow" the votes of the electorate. Voters +were told that by lending their votes they could help +save Sands' life. In the following election they could +go back to supporting their usual candidates. +Apparently it would have been expecting too much to hope +that people would vote for an IRA man because they +supported what the Republican Movement stood for. + +When Charles Haughey called a general election in the +26-Counties for 11th June, Republican prisoners stood as +candidates in 9 constituencies. Paddy Agnew (Louth) and +Kieran Doherty (Cavan/Monaghan) were elected. Kevin +Lynch missed a seat in Waterford by just 300 votes. The +electoral successes were to have two effects. Firstly, +the Dublin and London governments moved to marginalise +the Republican Movement through a process of extended +collaboration that lead to the Anglo-Irish Agreement of +1985 and the extradition legislation of 1987. For Sinn +Fin, the message they took from the period was that"Our +tentative moves towards adopting an electoral strategy +were rapidly concluded with the electoral success of +that year. The centrality of mass popular struggle +eventually found its place alongside the armed +struggle." (12) + +Buoyed by the prisoners' electoral successes many +Republicans began to believe that not only should an +electoral strategy become more central to the overall +struggle but that it was only a matter of putting up +candidates and winning seats. Thus the "armalite and +ballot box" tactic was developed and indeed it appeared +to meet with considerable success in the 6-County area. +In the 1982 elections to the newly-established "Northern +Assembly" Sinn Fin candidates got 64,191 first +preference votes and Adams (West Belfast), Jim McAlister +(Armagh), Martin McGuinness (Derry), Danny Morrison +(Mid-Ulster) and Owen Carron (Fermanagh/South Tyrone) +were all elected. In elections to Westminster in June +1983 the Sinn Fein vote increased to 13.4% and Gerry +Adams was elected MP for West Belfast. + +'Left Turn'? + +The first cracks began to appear in the traditional +policy of abstentionism at the 1983 Ard Fheis when a +decision was taken to contest the upcoming elections to +the European Parliament and to take seats if elected. +But it was the decision of this Ard Fheis to replace the +movement's commitment to "Christian principles" to +"Irish Republican Socialist principles" which was to +lead many to believe, over the subsequent decade, that +Sinn Fin had taken a 'left turn'. Ruairi O'Brdaigh +resigned as President and Adams was elected to the +position. + +When the Euro elections were held, the Sinn Fin vote in +the 6-Counties was down slightly to 13.3%. In the South +- where in the 1982 general election the SF vote in the +key constituencies of Louth and Cavan/Monaghan had +halved since the hunger strike election - their total +vote was only 2%. In the 1985 Northern local elections, +the Sinn Fin vote slipped further, to under 12% but +they had 59 Councillors elected. + +In the South the electoral breakthrough never came. As +one Sinn Fin activist put it: + +"...we were not going to get votes in Ballymun because +the Brits were battering down doors in Ballymurphy" +(13) + +The need to 'become relevant' to 26-County voters meant +that Sinn Fin activists were encouraged to become +involved in community and trade union activities. Much +good work was done by SF activists on the drugs issue in +Dublin, for example, over the next couple of years. +However, there was a glaring dichotomy. The strategy +being formulated by the leadership - that of developing +a 'Pan-Nationalist Alliance', an "...Irish Ireland +movement to offset, especially in the 26-Counties, the +neo-colonial and anti-national mentality that exists +there" (14), meant that direct conflict with the 26- +County government had to be avoided. Instead of +realising that the failure to make 'an electoral +breakthrough' in the 26-Counties was directly +attributable to the failure to offer a radical socialist +alternative, the leadership decided instead that the +problem was abstentionism. At the 1986 Ard-Fheis the +decision was taken to enter Leinster House if elected +and many of the "old guard" left to form Republican Sinn +Fin. + +Anarchists would of course argue that the decision to +use the tactic of participation in elections in the +first place would inevitably lead to reformism. The +decision to drop abstentionism was just one more step in +that process. True socialism cannot be achieved through +the parliamentary process. Participation in elections +has the dual effect of maintaining illusions in the +State apparatus and of taking away all possibility of +self-activity among the working-class and replacing it +with a reliance on voting for 'good representatives' +every couple of years. + +While Sinn Fin continued - and still continues - to +call itself a socialist party, the central policy became +one of creating the much talked about "Pan Nationalist +Alliance". Much of the leadership's thinking on this +issue was included in a document entitled "A Strategy +For Peace" given by Sinn Fin to the SDLP during a +series of meetings between the two parties in 1988. +These meetings had come about as a result of an +extensive series of contacts between Sinn Fin, +representatives of the Catholic Church and indirect +contact with Taoiseach Charles Haughey. In the +document, Sinn Fin called for a date for British +withdrawal, saying that, "Within the new situation +created by these measures [withdrawal], it is then a +matter of business-like negotiations between the +representatives of all the Irish parties, and this +includes those who represent today's loyalist voter, to +set the constitutional, economic, social and political +arrangements for a new Irish state.... the British +government needs to be met with a firm united and +unambiguous demand from all Irish Nationalist parties +for an end to the Unionist veto and a declaration of a +date for withdrawal...." + +One of the aims of the SF/SDLP talks was, according to +the document,"That Sinn Fin and the SDLP join forces to +impress on the Dublin government the need to launch an +international and diplomatic offensive to secure +national self-determination." + +It must be remembered that this proposal was made at a +time of unprecedented co-operation between the Dublin +and London governments in an attempt to marginalise and +smash the Republican Movement. The Anglo-Irish +Agreement of 1985, which Gerry Adams himself describes +as "...a coming together of the various British +strategies on an all-Ireland basis, with the Dublin +government acting as the new guarantor of partition" +(15) was already two years in place. Haughey was in the +process of extraditing republicans and tightening up +security co-operation with the British forces. And +workers and the unemployed in the 26-Counties were +facing a severe economic onslaught under the terms of +the government-union-employer deal, the "Programme for +National Recovery " (PNR). + +Socialism? + +So what of the 'left turn'? Adams still described +himself as a socialist so he must have seen some role +for socialists in the "Irish Ireland movement". And +indeed he did: + +"The true socialist will be an active supporter of the +republican character of the national independence +movement. She or he will realise that, unless this +character is maintained and unless the most radical +forces are in the leadership of the independence +struggle, then inevitably it must fail or compromise. +This classical view of the matter contrasts with the +ultra-left view, which counterpoises republicanism and +socialism and which breaks up the unity of the national +independence movement by putting forward 'socialist' +demands that have no possibility of being achieved until +real independence is won. " (16) [my emphasis]. + +In essence, it's the classic stages theory - national +independence first, then we can think about socialism. +A significant section of the 'nationalist' ruling class +- so the theory goes - can be drawn into the fight for a +united Ireland, if we don't frighten them off by +screaming too loudly about poverty, unemployment or the +ills of capitalism! + +This 'tread very carefully' philosophy was seen clearly +during the Anti-Extradition Campaign of the late 1980s. +Appeal after appeal was made to the 'grassroots' of +Fianna Fail (FF) and attempts were made, to quote from a +motion from the National Committee to one of its first +conferences,"...to play on the inherent contradictions +within the party [FF] between the old Dev'ites and the +newer monetarists.." + +At another Conference, a National Committee document +stated"A primary means of pressurising Fianna Fail is +through their own party structures." + +Because this remained a key focus of the campaign, event +after event was scaled down or cancelled entirely for +fear of alienating the couple of backbench TDs who it +was hoped would issue a statement against extradition. +Thus when the January 1988 Conference of the Irish Anti- +Extradition Committee (IAEC) took a decision to stage a +large demonstration outside the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis, +this decision was countermanded by Sinn Fin and only a +small picket took place. + +Indeed this situation reached farcical heights following +the extradition of Robert Russell in August, 1988. At +the first National Committee meeting of the IAEC +following Russell's extradition, Norah Comiskey, Richard +Greene and Jim Doyle (all FF members) with the support +of SF were still talking about organising meetings of FF +members against extradition and even seriously discussed +holding a press conference to call for the removal of +Haughey as leader of FF and his replacement by a "true +republican". + +The lessons of that period should have been clear. The +complete failure of the anti-extradition campaign to +make an impact should have taught Sinn Fin that any +alliance with bosses - even if in this case the alliance +was more illusory than real - is one dominated +politically by bosses. Instead, however, the drive to +create the "Pan-Nationalist Alliance" was intensified. + +By the early 1990s the "Irish Peace Process" (as Sinn +Fein was labelling it) was well under way and Sinn Fin +and the British government were in regular secret +contact. Northern Secretary Peter Brooke had publicly +acknowledged that he found it "...difficult to envisage +a military defeat of the IRA." (17) On the other side +of the coin, Republicans had realised that a military +victory for the IRA was not a possibility. + +The British were saying that they had no selfish +interest in staying in the 6-Counties, and Brooke was +involved in a series of 'talks about talks' with +Unionist parties and the SDLP. At Sinn Fein's Wolfe +Tone commemoration in June 1991, Adams stated + +"While Dublin and the SDLP refuse to stand up to the +British government it will continue to think it can do +exactly what it wants in Ireland......Dublin should seek +a change in Britain's current policy of maintaining the +union to one of ending it and handing over sovereignty +to an all-Ireland government, democratically elected and +accountable to the Irish nation. Dublin should use the +opportunity of these talks [Brooke talks] to persuade +the unionists that their future lies in this context and +to persuade the British to accept that they have a +responsibility to influence the unionist position. To +secure a national and international consensus on this +the Dublin government needs a strategy for unity and +independence. Such a strategy would involve winning +international support for the demand for Irish +independence and would require the full use of Irish +diplomatic skills and resources." (18) + +Nobody ever explained how a government which was +presiding over massive unemployment and poverty, which +had - over the previous 5 years - imposed severe +restrictions on the living standards of workers and the +unemployed through "National Programmes" +(government/employer/union deals) and which was quite +efficiently fulfilling its role as a junior partner in +the western capitalist system was likely to persuade the +unionists that life in a 32-County State was going to be +any better for them. The realpolitik of the Pan- +Nationalist Alliance meant that the need to smash both +states on the island and replace them with a Socialist +Republic was quietly shelved. Instead it was more +important to play footsie with Dublin and 'Irish- +America'. Such a policy was never likely to win +working-class Unionists over from the Orange bigots. + +Persuaders for Unity! + +Not alone did Sinn Fin now call on the Dublin +government to take up the banner of "Irish +Independence", but the call also went out to the British +government to"...join the ranks of the persuaders in +seeking to obtain the consent of all sections to the +constitutional, political and financial arrangements +needed to establish a united Ireland." (19) + +With the publication of the Sinn Fin document "Towards +a Lasting Peace in Ireland" in 1992, the strategy was +fully in place. The central thrust of the document was +that Britain must "join the persuaders" and Dublin must +"...persuade the British that partition has +failed,...persuade the unionists of the benefits of +Irish reunification, and....persuade the international +community that it should support a real peace process in +Ireland." (20) + +The first steps were now being taken to establish the +'Irish American' arm of the axis. "Americans for a New +Irish Agenda" was set up by, among others, a former U.S. +Congressman, Bruce Morrison. Adams and Hume went public +on the results of their discussions in April 1993. In +June - amidst great controversy - Mary Robinson, the 26- +County President, visited Belfast and shook hands with +Gerry Adams. It was to be the first of many famous +handshakes and the first public acknowledgement of Adams +the peace-maker. + +The Warrington bombing of March 1993 in which two +children were killed brought intense criticism of the +armed campaign from both inside and outside the +Republican Movement. The massive car bomb which was +exploded in the City of London in April, causing +millions of pounds worth of damage, reminded the British +government that the IRA was still a force to be reckoned +with. + +Realising that the initiative could not be left in the +hands of Sinn Fin, Dublin and London had meanwhile been +involved in drawing up their own set of proposals. The +Downing Street Declaration - launched in December - was +a classic fudge. In the House of Commons Prime Minister +John Major said that the Declaration did not contain +"...any suggestion that the British government should +join the ranks of the persuaders of the value or +legitimacy of a united Ireland...". Meantime in the +Dil Taoiseach Albert Reynolds was saying that "...for +the first time ever, the right to self-determination of +the people of Ireland is acknowledged...". + +Despite the fact that Downing St. contained nothing that +had not been in the Anglo-Irish Agreement, Sinn Fin +felt that its strategy was in place and that it was in a +stronger position than in 1985. Therefore, despite +nearly eight months of procrastination, it was only +going to be a matter of time until the IRA cease-fire +was declared. The rapidity with which the Sinn Fein +leadership was accepted into the arms of +'respectability' caught many by surprise. For Adams, +McGuinness et al it was, however, simply the culmination +of a strategy built up over many years. + +Sinn Fin now declares as its priority: + +"...to move the peace process forward...to build on the +gains which have been made and to move speedily forward +into all-party talks led by both the British and Irish +governments...to bring about an inclusive and negotiated +end to British jurisdiction in Ireland. We seek to +replace it with an agreed Irish jurisdiction."(21) + +If socialism had to wait throughout the seventies and +eighties, the realpolitik of the nineties means that the +word should not even be mentioned for fear of upsetting +John Bruton, John Hume or Bill Clinton. Republicans +might well be justified in asking if this is what Bobby +Sands died for. + +Multinationals + +Meanwhile, Sinn Fin has no difficulty in attending Bill +Clinton's "Investing in Ireland" Conference (Washington +24/5/95), attended by the chief executives of some of +the biggest multinationals in the world all looking to +see if Ireland can provide them with tax breaks and low +wages to extract even more profits. Their Northern +Chairperson Gearid O'Hara calls on the anti-union +multinational Seagate not to cease their exploitation of +Irish workers but to offer training schemes to +"...afford the youth of Derry the chance to become the +direction and decision-makers of industry in their own +country..." (22). In the course of a debate in the +U.S., the same Mr. O'Hara can declare that Sinn Fin +"...have no problem with capitalism." (23) + +The only surprising thing is that anybody should be +surprised. This is simply the logical consequence of +the type of 'nation-state' politics pursued by Sinn Fin +over the years. If "labour must wait" then labour will +always be left behind. This is not a uniquely Irish +phenomenon. It has happened and is happening throughout +the world, the most notable recent examples being the +ANC in South Africa and the PLO in Palestine. Because +the driving political force has been nationalist rather +than socialist in nature, compromise with and the +eventual acceptance of capitalism is inevitable even for +those who continue to call themselves socialists. + +This is not because - as some might claim - the SF +leadership have "sold out" on their socialism. The +entire direction of the 'Peace Process' shows instead +the bankruptcy of nationalist politics and the fact that +nationalist alliances have nothing of consequence to +offer the working-class. 'Socialism' is useful to the +Republicans at times as a slogan to show why they are +different, to mark them out from other members of the +"nationalist family". However the most important aim is +to develop and maintain unity among that nationalist +family. In order to do this the socialist slogans must +be left on the backburner, to be resurrected now and +again, usually at election time, when they are useful. +With time, the slogans become less and less useful and +will eventually be disposed of entirely. Nationalists +see their rightful role as being that of governing +"their" States and will do deals with almost anybody to +be allowed to fulfil that role. + +The question which remains is to ask what future there +is for Sinn Fin. In the absence of the military +campaign (which is extremely unlikely to re-commence +under the present leadership for a variety of reasons), +is there any real space for Sinn Fin's politics? One +thing is clear - Sinn Fin may describe itself as +"socialist", it may have as its objective a 32-County +Socialist Republic but it does not have the policies or +the ability to deliver on that objective. Already one +Sinn Fin activist has been quoted in a national Sunday +newspaper as saying that Sinn Fin could well be part of +the next government in the 26-Counties (if of course +they manage to get anyone elected!). As a nationalist +party, Sinn Fin has actually achieved one of its main +objectives of the last decade - the Pan-Nationalist +Alliance is firmly in place, even if the British +government is hardly shaking in its shoes at the sight +of it. With the demand for immediate unconditional +British withdrawal having been replaced by a plea for +"inclusive all-party talks", Sinn Fin look set to +become yet another moderate 'party of the centre'. +Without an armed campaign to support, their politics +differ little from those of the other mainstream Irish +political parties. Genuine socialists who are members +of Sinn Fin should be asking themselves why. + + +REFERENCES +(1) WORKERS SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT (WSM) statement 7/9/1994 +(2) WSM Position Paper: The National Question (adopted +January 1991) +(3) WSM statement 7/9/1994 +(4) AN PHOBLACHT Vol. 1, No. 3: quoted in FARRELL, +MICHAEL: Northern Ireland; The Orange State. Page 270 +(5) source: BOWYER BELL, J.: IRA Tactics and Targets. +Page 18 +(6) CLARKE, LIAM: Broadening the Battlefield; The H- +Blocks and the Rise of Sinn Fein. Page 13 +(7) Bobby Sands Memorial Lecture, 5/5/1985; quoted in +CLARKE, LIAM op. cit. Page 29 +(8) quoted in ibid. Page 121 +(9) ADAMS, GERRY: Free Ireland; Towards a Lasting Peace. +Page 79 +(10) ibid. Page 86 +(11) AN PHOBLACHT/REPUBLICAN NEWS (AP/RN) Sat. 9/5/1981 +(12) GIBNEY, JIM speaking on 10th anniversary of hunger +strikes, quoted in AP/RN 22/11/90 +(13) CLARKE, LIAM op. cit. Page 226 +(14) ADAMS, GERRY op.cit. Page 135 +(15) ibid. Page 108 +(16) ibid. Page 133 +(17) quoted in ibid. Page 199 +(18) AP/RN 27/6/91 +(19) ADAMS, GERRY op.cit. Page 203 +(20) ibid. Page 209 +(21) ADAMS, GERRY speaking to United Nations +Correspondents Association 5/5/95 +(22) DERRY JOURNAL 24/5/95 +(23) IRISH TIMES 10/5/95 + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001129.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001129.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2b2cc696 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001129.txt @@ -0,0 +1,214 @@ +**************** The European community ************* + & Maastricht treaty + from Workers Solidarity No 35 + (1992) + +On the 18th of June, we are going to be +asked to vote on a 234 page document +that most of us won't have seen, and +they call this democracy. If you've +been reading the papers about the +Maastricht Treaty you'll know it deals +with Economic Monetary Union and a +common defence policy. Maastricht is +about closer European integration. And +if you've been reading the papers, +that's about all you will know about the +referendum. Those three phrases keep +getting thrown up, with no explanation, +no elaboration and then an occasional +mention of 6 billion is chucked in to +clinch the argument. The impression +left in many minds is that Maastricht is +very important, very confusing and very +boring. + +Maastricht is the next step towards closer European +integration. Closer European integration is a code for +protectionism. If the rules of the 'free market' were +applied the EC would be out-competed by the US and +Japan. European capitalist economies are heavily +dependant on agriculture and traditional manufacturing +industries. Through CAP (the Common Agricultural +Policy) subsidies and guaranteed price levels Europe's +farmers are protected against US and Third World +competition. Similarly EC subsidies prop up the EC +coal, shipbuilding and steel industries. + +The main force driving the EC to Maastricht is the +decline of EC competitiveness on the world economy and +the need therefore for tougher measures to insulate the +EC from more dynamic capitalist economies. The +reduction in internal border controls, the +standardisation of VAT rates, and so on isn't occuring +in the interests of 'European harmony', but in the hope +that EC countries will increase trade among themselves. +They also hope that a unified Euro-economy would be +better able to withstand the worst effects of +competition from Japan and North America. + +Instinctively, many people support the idea of +integration, they see it as a move towards a world +community, a 'brotherhood of man'. However, the +European Community is in many ways a bit of a misnomer, +as the EC creates as many divisions as it dissolves. +Other economies, particularly those of the Japanese and +the Third World are seen as a threat. + +"Fortress Europe" seeks to unite the European bosses and +workers against the peoples of the rest of the world. +Integration means a tightening of immigration controls. +Euro-racism is not seen only in the far right parties +but also in the rhetoric of many European governments, a +la Edith Cresson (the ex-French prime minister who +suggested that planes should be chartered to fly +immigrants home). Add to this division the internal +conflicts within the EC as each country competes against +each other for European contracts and foreign investors. +Germany, the richest country is viewed with suspicion by +the others. Cheaper labour in Greece, Spain and +Southern Italy is blamed for loss of jobs in Britain and +the northern countries. + +Many of the EC's supporters in Ireland point to the +liberalisation of social attitudes that has occured +through membership. Part of the Maastricht treaty +prepares the way for European Monetary Union (EMU). +Before this can occur states have to bring their +spending, debt and inflation to common levels by cutting +public spending. The sugar coating to this bitter pill +is the EC Social Charter also contained in the treaty. +What is most notable about the Social Charter is that +unlike the economic and defence agreements it is mostly +optional. + +Industry (but not the workers) is protected by clauses +that state the Social Charter directives must avoid +imposing administrative, financial and legal burdens on +small and medium-sized enterprises in such a way as +would hold back their creation and development. So this +only applies if it costs little. As it won't be the +workers who decide if it's affordable, the Social +Charter amounts to little more than an aspiration, which +can be easily be ignored. + +Those arguing for a YES vote have being trying to do it +in such a way as to avoid discussing the mechanisms +behind the EC. The line is "if you're not in you can't +win". On the most basic level this is a +misrepresentation of the case. If any country votes +against the treaty, it falls for every country. On +another level this argument implies a level of unity or +consensus that simply does not exist. + +Most countries are looking for exceptions to different +bits, for example France and Luxembourg are unhappy +about the provision giving all EC citizens the right to +vote or stand as candidates in local and European +Community elections across the community. England is +split on the EMU and has opted out of the Social +Charter. More importantly, EMU is dependant on German +support, on a German government report due in 1996 on +the fitness of countries to enter union. The EC is more +like a cattle mart than one big happy family. + +On the 6 billion it should be noted that it is depended +on two things. Firstly, that on applying, we are +actually OKed to receive the money (which is quite +likely). Secondly, that the money is there in the first +place to give to us. The 6 billion depends on the EC +getting agreement on proposals, which involves +increasing the overall EC budget by a third, a proposal +already rejected by Britain. Finally, and most +importantly, its extremely unlikely that this carrot +will ever be given to workers. It will go on road +building, grants for rich businesspeople and probably to +some of their golf clubs - just as lottery money has. + +So what we are being asked is how best to run European +capitalism. This is a strange position for socialists +to be in. We are opposed to capitalism because it is +unfair, authoritarian, unproductive and prone to +continual crisis. It is a very uncaring and inefficient +way to run society. Yet within this framework we are +being asked which way the bosses should go. + +If this was all we were being asked, our response would +be to ignore the question as irrelevant to us. If +somebody is opposed to capital punishment, it is +meaningless to ask them should executions be carried out +by gun or guillotine. We support solidarity between the +international working class. We don't want to tell the +bosses how to run capitalism, we want to shut it down. + +However the Maastricht treaty in particular covers two +other things besides monetary union. It is these that +determine how we will vote. These are the questions of +European defence and the Protocol. + +Armies don't exist to defend populations but rather to +defend governments, to defend capital and to defend +markets. Wars have an economic base to them, the Gulf +War being the most recent example. That Kuwait was +involved was a handy coincidence as it helped sell the +war as liberation to the populations at home. Much the +same situation is occuring in Yugoslavia, with rival +armies invading neighbouring regions. + +Yet the UN isn't likely to invade because Yugoslavia +doesn't contain oil or any necessary commodity. We +oppose any country forming a military alliance because +we know from what we've seen before that military power +is used to protect markets, not a very good reason for +dying. Because we oppose any military alliances of +capitalist governments we will be voting NO to +Maastricht. + +The Protocol is an extra addition to the Maastricht +Treaty. It simply forbids Irish citizens to appeal to +Europe on issues surrounding the Eighth Amendment to the +Constitution. When the clinics and the student unions +were taken to court for providing abortion information +they both appealed to Europe in order to try to reverse +the decision that was made in Ireland. If this protocol +is passed the door to Europe will be closed to us on +anything to do with the Eighth Amendment. + +Remember it is the Eighth Amendment that bans +information on abortion. It is the Eighth Amendment +that was used to grant an injunction preventing a 14 +year old from travelling to Britain. It is because of +the Eighth Amendment that Dublin Corporation banned +Womens Health books from the libraries. It is because +of the Eighth Amendment that Cosmopolitan, Company and +other womens' magazines censor the ads. for abortion +clinics in their Irish editions. The Maastricht +Protocol ensures that none of these issues can be dealt +with by Europe. + +In a practical sense, this is little loss, as the EC in +the past tended not to solve our problems for us. An +appeal to Europe rarely results in a positive change for +the better on the ground here. The EC does not want to +rock the economic boat by enforcing extremely +contentious decisions on a conservative country. It is +very clear that if we are to win on the abortion issue, +we must win it in Ireland. However, that said, in moral +terms, the Maastricht Protocol is an addition to all the +defeats we have suffered in the last 10 years. It may +not be a very important addition, it's not a very major +defeat, but every time we loose it makes it more +difficult for people to keep on fighting to change +Irish society. For this reason we will be voting NO to +Maastricht. + +Of course, in many ways the most interesting things +about the Protocol is its existence at all. When the +treaty was first negotiated, no mention of this protocol +was made in the Irish media, no discussion, no nothing. +If the case of the 14 year old had not arisen it is +questionable whether we would be aware of it at all. +Yet this was negotiated 'in our interests' by a +government which was responding to pressure from +someone. And they call this democracy! + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001130.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001130.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..75f2ed0a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001130.txt @@ -0,0 +1,634 @@ +2 articles [2nd is 'Can the European fascists come to +power today?', WS 39] + +******** The fight against fascism to-day ********* + from Workers Solidarity No 37 + [1993] + +"What is Fascism, at bottom, but the direct product +of the failure to achieve socialism?" + +Daniel Guerin wrote the above words in 1945 when +the classic example of fascism had been defeated. +However unlike others he was not naive enough to +believe that fascism was defeated once and for all. +A certain fact remains true to today, that in a +period when capitalism is experiencing a crisis we +are once again observing a rise in fascist politics +across Europe. The politics are initially racist to +begin with but more recently we see that less and +less shame is being attached to waving Swastikas +or giving a fascist salute. + +This is mainly due to the revised History which is being +spewed out by people like David Irving. Irving, the +supposed historian, likes to espouse ideas that Hitler "an +ordinary, walking, talking human being" was unaware +of the systematic slaughter of nearly six million Jews. +Irving's output, coupled along with such views of history as +"Did Six Million Really Die" by Richard Verall, means +that the Nazi heritage can be revealed with less shame and +more perverse pride by the far-right in Germany. + +Nazi Germany in the 1930s and early 1940s demonstrated +the reality of fascism. Today the fascists re not on the way +to taking state power anywhere in the world. However this +does not mean that they can be safely ignored. Tapping +into widespread discontent, they are providing the +leadership and stimulus for growing racist hatred and terror. +They represent an immediate threat to immigrants and +minorities like lesbians and gays. Should they continue to +grow they will pose a major threat to all working class and +left-wing organisations. + +RACISM AND ROSTOCK + +The task in Europe is to combat racism, to oppose it in all its +manifestations. This is what the victims of racist oppression +need, and this is what can deny the fascists the possibility +of a mass base. Fighting the specifically fascist groups, and +stopping their activities and recruitment drives is necessary. +But the fight against racism, both institutional and +otherwise, is the main component of the struggle. + +The German town of Rostock recently became infamous as +we witnessed pictures of neo-nazi youth hurling petrol +bombs at the asylum hostel containing mostly Bulgarian and +Romanian refugees. One local activist in Germany reported +the following. "On Sunday night, a line of riot police +could not prevent a second night of attacks, this time by +nazi youths armed with molotov cocktails. It seemed +the nazis were very well organized. Christian Worch of +the far-right 'National List' party from Hamburg was +on hand to provide leadership, and neo-nazi cadres +with walky-talkies (and even police radios!) helped +provide organization. The obvious lack of police +intervention made it clear that at least some elements +within the police force were quietly sympathetic, or +may even have aided in preparations for the neo-nazi +attacks. This became clearer when 100 anti-fascists +were brutally dispersed as they arrived on the scene. +At least 60 local anti-fascists were arrested in Rostock +on Sunday night, many were placed in prison cells full +of neo-nazis. Obviously the cops wanted to see them get +the shit kicked out of them." + +However what was the reaction of the German politicians to +the events of Rostock, Ketzin and Leverkusen? The Social +Democrats dropped their opposition to a change in the right +of asylum for the politically persecuted. This now means +that Article 16(II)2 - which was included in the German +Basic Law out of responsibility for the many refugees who +fled from the Nazis in the 1930's - is likely to be fully +undermined. This seems a strange way to combat the rise of +the far-right and their racist attacks on refugees. + +FRANCE + +In France Le Pen's Front National received 13.9% of the +vote in elections in March. In 1984 (Orwellian irony) the +FN received 2,204,961 in the European elections. At this +present FN has a presence on every regional council in +France. Le Pen and his party have made very significant +gains from the time 10 years previously when he could not +muster the 500 signatures needed to run for the +presidential election. These gains have been made over the +last ten years when the 'Socialists' were in power in France. +Over this time racism has become an acceptable part of the +political culture. + +The so-called Socialist government talked of the "necessity" +of setting up detention centres in all ports and airports. +The mayor of Chavieu Chavagnon, near Lyons, buldozed a +local mosque with 12 worshippers inside in 1989. Mr +Dezenpte (the mayor) boasts that his efforts have more than +halved the local Moslem population. Yet, Dezenpte is not a +member of the FN, he is in the Gaullist RPR (who vote with +Fianna Fil in the EC parliament). He was re-elected +mayor, trouncing the local FN candidate, getting 66.7% of +the vote. + +This is just an example to indicate how racism has become +an endemic part of the established Parties' politics in +France. The racist agenda being set by the politicians has +lead to a broader acceptance of the policies advocated by the +Front National. Recent polls in France showed that 84% +"understand" racist reactions and 75% in one poll thought +that there was "too many Arabs in France". + +LE PEN'S PROGRAMME UNFOLDS + +It is on the back of such open and obvious hostility to +immigrants (e.g. 300 riot police storming a hostel and +arresting 168 people, deporting 19 of them within 24 hours. +This was under a 'Socialist' government) that Le Pen and +his mob can now raise more openly extremist politics. The +obvious growth of the FN in the polls can be related to the +racists rolling in behind them. However new FN policy +against the Veil law (legalised abortion) is shown in their +slogan "kill the infant and you kill France". + +They are also campaigning "against the right to strike". +In this campaign Le Pen said that "the strike is a weapon +against the workers". Here he is obviously trying to lead +his already racist flock down the murky path towards +fascism. It will be interesting to see if he loses some of his +support or if more of the disenfranchised join his ranks. In +France, as everywhere else, the Left has weakened. In a +country which was buoyant with hopes when the Socialists +took power in 1982 the people then went on to see the same +party propose Bernard Tappie (multi-millionare and owner of +Marsiellies Football Club) on the 'Socialist' ticket for +election. + +There has been large demonstrations against the Front +National on the streets of Paris, Nice, Brest, Lyon, Nancy +Djion and other cetres. The demonstrations may well have +been strong and morale-boosting for the participants. +However, the only real way to dispose of the FN is to erode +their support by combating their openly racist politics. You +have to expose their ideas as racist and unacceptable in +order to destroy the support which Le Pen and the FN now +have. + +BRITAIN + +In Britain where you have three anti-fascist organisations, +the Anti-Racist Alliance, the Anti-Nazi League and Anti- +Fascist Action, you only have one fair sized fascist party the +British National Party. The Anti-Nazi League has risen like +a phoenix from the flames. The reason for its resurrection +was to ensure "the growth of the far right in Europe +...does not give strength and confidence to Nazi +organisiations in this country". Unfortunately however, +with the recent poor showing of the BNP in the local +elections it would be rather more truthful to say that the +ANL were set up by the Socialist Workers Party as a focus +around which to rally and recruit new members during a +period of low levels of class struggle. + +The Anti-Racist Alliance is led by Black professionals with +the support of various liberals and former Stalinists. It sees +itself as a leadership and 'voice' for the victims of racism. It +places no particular importance on getting people involved +in activity. + +Anti-Fascist Action, unlike the other two organisations, is +committed to preventing the fascists openly recruiting. +They are prepared to physically oppose BNP and NF +meetings and marches. They also recognise that physical +confrontation is only part of the anti-fascist struggle, their +ideas must also be defeated. + +The threat of a growth of fascism in Britain seems very +small. In the recent local elections no single candidate +received more than 1,310 votes. Out of 13 BNP candidates, +only two received more than 2% of the vote in their +constituency. The National Front faired even worse with +the highest vote for one of their 14 candidates being 675. +What needs to be combated is the racism which is leads to a +higher number of race related attacks each year. Unless +energies are used in such a way as to make racism +unacceptable then anti-fascists will always be chasing the +same fascists around areas like Tower Hamlets or Bethnal +Green. + +The east German people have come through a period where +their hopes have been raised and dashed. The Berlin Wall +may have fallen but the unified Germany is fulfilling very +few dreams. The neo-Nazi movement taps into the despair of +people' lives and encourages the dislike of asylum seekers +and foreigners. They have turned this dislike into open +hostilities such as those witnessed in Rostock and +Leverkusen. The left in Germany have organised the +ANTIFA (Anti-Fascist Action) which is a broad based action +group of the far-left. This serves as a rallying point for the +divergent groups. The Left in Germany is experiencing a +dark time as all the ills of the GDR are blamed on "40 years +of Communism". The far-left is in a state of disarray. The +Anti-Fascist movements serve as a great focus for the far-left +but once again the ideological battle is being left on the +back burner. + +DASHED HOPES AND MISDIRECTED ANGER + +In an historical sense fascism has been portrayed as a +religion. During a crisis in capitalism people start to turn +towards extremes and, as Mussolini succinctly put it, "if +fascism were not a faith how could it give it's +adherents stoicism and courage". Fascism draws towards +it the unquestioning, those who seek a seemingly radical +solution to their problems. Fascism actively seeks the youth +by exalting them and saying they has a special role to play +in the upheaval against the "has-beens" of the world. For +some east Germans who have seen the horror of their old +state and had their hopes dashed in the newly unified +Germany, the far-right is seen by them as having the radical +solution. + +The growth of the ultra-right in Germany is demonstrated +in Universities by the right-wing fraternities known as +"Burschenschafen" which are enjoying a revival. These +fraternities were founded in the days of Bismark. With the +Left enduring a very unfashionable period on the campuses +these "Burschenschafen" are filling a vacuum with an +active membership of 6,000. They are fencing clubs who use +slogans such as "Honour, Freedom and Fatherland". + +They have also had David Irving as an invited guest +speaker. The Silesian German territories lost to Poland in +1945 are a hotly debated subject. One member, Christian +Paulwitz (23), said "What we keep calling east Germany +today is for me middle Germany". Given that conditions +in most of the universities are steadily deteriorating it is of +concer to see right-wing politics gain a strong grip on the +campuses. This could ultimately lead to a right-wing revolt +in the 1990s which may compare with the left-wing revolts +of the 1960s. Once again it seems that the Right are +recruiting the Left's loss. This is exactly what Guerin +meant when he said "What is Fascism, ...but a direct +product of the failure to achieve socialism". + +Many arguments have been made to suggest that fascism +needs a strong Left and labour movement, coupled with +funding by the big capitalists to grow. Well obviously the +first two are almost non-existent in the present period and +the final criteria is doubtful, but if we continue to only +chase these fascists/racists off the streets and fail to counter +their arguments ideologically then we truly run the risk of +watching the numbers of people we have to chase +increasing. The anti-authoritarian Left needs to organise, +develop its policies, get their message across to the working +class that real socialism has not failed them and that there +is a way out of this capitalist nightmare. We do not need +to delve into diabolical fascism to achieve this. + +Dermot Sreenan + +****** Can the European fascists come to power? **** + From WS 39 + [1993?] + +THE GROWTH of the far-right throughout Europe in the +last few years has alarmed many who thought fascism +died with Hitler. It also has given rise to a debate +on the left over the nature of fascism, one that has +spilled over into the letters pages of Workers +Solidarity. The debate continues with Andrew Flood +discussing some of the historical features of fascism +and the importance of racism as the central plank of +fascism to-day. + +In order to explain the rise of fascism to-day it is useful +to look at the rise of fascism historically. On the left, +fascism is often presented as something that arose to head +off imminent revolution. There is some truth in this as in +both Italy and Germany fascism appeared in a period of great +social upheaval. Germany saw workers' risings in 1918 and +1923. In Italy the years from the end of the war to the +early twenties were known as the Red Years and saw waves of +land and factory occupations. + +Although the prototypes of the fascist organisations came +into existence at this time they were not significant in +defeating these uprisings. They were defeated instead +through a combination of the conventional forces of the state +and the intervention of the social-democrats, turning protest +away from an attempt to fundamentally change society into one +of gaining a "fairer" version of capitalism. Significant +reforms were won including higher wages, the eight hour day +and breaking up of some of the larger landlords' estates. In +both Italy and Germany the workers had set up factory +councils. Rather then going for a head on confrontation with +these bodies the bosses legalised them and converted them +into toothless consultative bodies. + +The bosses were not altogether happy with this because such +reforms were paid for in part out of their profits. Heavy +industry in particular with its much heavier ratio of fixed +costs in the shape of machinery resented this. The state +however represented the interests of the capitalists as a +whole, and light industry preferred the stable conditions +created by the policy of class collaboration rather than a +confrontational approach. Therefore the state was unwilling +to launch the serious attacks on the workers' organisations +that heavy industry demanded. + +FASCISM AND BIG BUSINESS + +The heavy industrialists were the first to turn to fascism to +help them win back their profits. Initially this was by +financing and arming the variety of fascist gangs that had +arisen after the war. In Italy in particular the +industrialists funded an army of fascists composed of +alienated war veterans, adventurists and petty criminals that +would arrive in a particular locality and set about smashing +the local union organisation and whatever socialist +organisations existed. At the time only the anarchists were +willing to physically fight the fascists but the fascist +tactic of smashing the left on an area by area basis meant +they, on their own, lacked the strength to stop the fascists. +Armed anarchist resistance to fascism was to continue +throughout Europe until 1945. + +This fascist tactic of swamping areas was only possible +because these gangs were funded by the industrialists while +those fighting against them were workers who could not leave +their jobs for long periods of time to concentrate where ever +the fascists were. Later on the main unions would also, +sometimes, hold demonstrations against fascism but more often +then not these were broken up by fascists, sometimes even +though the fascists were heavily outnumbered. Most of the +left shied away from any physical confrontation, preferring +to relay on the social democrats and the liberals to protect +them through the state. + +The fascists served other purposes for heavy industry as +well. Their focus on "the nation" and rearming suited the +industrialists. Heavy industry was the main supplier for the +war industry and during re-armament massive profits were made +by the industrialists. Re-armament essentially served to +provide massive state subsidies and guaranteed profits for +the bosses. To achieve this goal and to drive down wages and +conditions heavy industry supported fascism in its drive for +power. The importance of this financial support was +explained by Hitler when in 1934 he invited his audience to +consider what it had meant in the elections for the Nazis to +have a thousand cars put at their disposal. + +Did the difference between heavy industry and light industry +mean that the light industrialists were natural anti- +fascists. Their business were not so capital intensive as +heavy industry so they did not have the same need to drive +down wages as recession could be controlled by laying off a +section of the workforce. They supported social partnership +with the social democrats and the trade unions. To a large +extent a militaristic expansion did not favour their needs +and because they would, at least in part, have to pay for it. + +WE NEED A REVOLUTION + +However as fascism grew and gained mass support it became +obvious it was going to come to power. The only thing that +could have stopped it would have been a revolution. The +light industrialists, when faced with a choice of losing +their power through a workers' revolution or the more minor +disadvantages of fascism, were obviously going to make one +choice. In any case fascism did promise them lower wages and +the destruction of workplace organisation. This went some +way towards making up for its potential disadvantages. + +Fascism's mass base was built around the middle class, which +in both Italy and Germany had been impoverished. After the +war very high inflation served both to drive down their +earnings and reduce drastically the real value of their +income. They lacked the organisation of the workers so it +was not unusual for them to be paid less than manual workers. +In this situation they could have been won over to socialism +but socialism has been very much discredited by the +combination of the degeneration of the Russian revolution +under Lenin and the repeated betrayals of the social +democrats in power. + +The same was true for the peasantry. Agricultural prices had +plummeted in the post war years. The left for the most part +made no attempt to influence the peasantry, influenced +primarily by the concept that peasants could play no +progressive role. Indeed the Russian revolution was attacked +at the Italian Socialist Party conference for having given +the land to the peasants. In these circumstances it was the +fascists rather than the socialists who gained support in +rural areas. In Germany the big landowners were able to use +fascism to get the peasants to form a block with them, +calling for higher food prices. + +Fascism also recruited from other sources but it was +singularly unsuccessful in recruiting any sort of working +class base. In the German factory council election of 1931 +the fascists achieved only 5% of the vote. In the partial +elections of 1933 they achieved only 3% and this with Hitler +in power. In Italy the fascist unions were only built by +waiting for the fascists gangs to arrive in an area and then +firing anyone who was not a member of the fascist union. The +gangs would fill the employers need for labour and smash any +resistance. Eventually the workers would be starved into +joining the fascist unions. Despite the odds against them it +would sometimes take months before a majority of the workers +would submit. + +FASCISM TODAY + +Today it would appear the far right are on the march again. +If election figures alone were anything to go by they are +2/3rds of the way to power in France and about 1/3 in Germany +(Hitler never got more than 33% of the vote). Is there +really an imminent threat of the Fascists taking power? In +fact these figures serve to highlight not only the real +danger of modern day fascism but also the differences between +the situation in the twenties and thirties and that which +exists today. + +Two different threats need to be distinguished when we talk +about fascism. The first threat is the threat to individuals +of being set upon and maimed or killed by fascist thugs. +This clearly exists today in almost every European country. +Since the early eighties an average of two racist murders +have occurred a week in France. Racist attacks in Germany +last year became a regular feature on all the worlds news +services. Attacks on leftists have also become far more +common throughout Europe in the last few years. + +The second threat is different, this is the threat of fascism +on the road to power, where the right wing attempts to smash +all opposition by physical means. European fascism has not +yet entered this phase. It does not have the backing of any +sizeable section of the ruling class. Its attacks to date +are designed by the leaders of the fascist organisations to +win it more support. The concentration on racism rather than +attacks on workplace organisation is not primarily due to the +fascists hiding their true colours. As yet big business has +not called upon the fascists to play their historic role of +smashing potential opposition to austerity measures. + +There are few reports of fascists attacking pickets or +breaking up the premises of unions. Direct attacks by +fascists on the left have increased but are still very much +fewer than the number of attacks on immigrants. This is not +to say there are none, the bomb attack on the office of the +Danish section of the International Socialists in which one +of their members was killed or the physical attacks by FN +supporters on anti-fascist demonstrations show such activity +is occurring. Leftists have been killed in Germany by +fascists and in Britain physical attacks on the left have +become more common. + +There was the recent daytime attack on the anarchist Freedom +Bookshop in London's Whitechapel by the neo-nazi C18 gang +(the 1 and 8 refers to the letters of the alphabet, A & H or +Adolph Hitler) and the attempt to burn down another anarchist +bookshop, the 121 Centre in Brixton. It is, however, a +secondary feature of the activities of fascists to-day. + +LONDON ARRESTS + +As yet there is little evidence for any substantial link +between the fascists and sections of the ruling class. This +is also the reason why the police can sometimes choose to +move in force against the fascists. The recent arrest of +some 300 fascists trying to attack the Bloody Sunday march in +London is a case in point. This is not to say the cops are +an ally in the fight against fascism, just that at the moment +the cops and the state have no great enthusiasm for the +fascist groups. The fascists have little support from any +section of the ruling class so any support they get from the +police is restricted to that engendered by a set of common +prejudices they share. + +There is no doubt though that the fascists in Germany have +the passive if not active support of the cops a lot of the +time. At Rostock the local police failed to do anything to +protect the immigrants or prevent fascists from arriving at +the town. Considerable numbers of anti-fascists were +arrested in Rostock however. + +Yet the German polices response when sections of the left use +physical force as a weapon is much more spectacular. In the +70's the terrorist Red Army Fraction (RAF) killed a much +smaller number of people than the fascists have killed in +Germany. This activity was enough for the German state to +ban members of left organisations from any state employment, +hounding tens of thousands out of their jobs. It saw waves +of arrests and torture in police custody. It saw the murder +of three of the leading members of the RAF in jail by the +state. The German far right has not received anything like +the same sort of treatment. They do have the support of at +least a small section of the ruling class. + +FASCISM OR RACISM? + +The concentration by the fascists on racism also explains why +their supporters include many workers this time around. When +all the mainstream political parties are blaming unemployment +and poor housing on immigration the fascists are able to say, +look we are fighting to get you jobs by driving out these +foreigners. This is why many on the left see the far-right +as being ultra-racists rather than fascists. At the moment +the fight against the manifestations of racism is more +important, but this can not be artificially divided from the +fight against the far-right parties. This separation also +comes out of a analysis of fascism that sees it as something +which can only arise in opposition to the existence of a +large militant socialist movement. Essentially in this +analysis fascism is a tool the bosses use only when there is +a working class movement heading in a revolutionary +direction. + +Before World War Two fascism did not arise to head off an +imminent revolution in either Germany or Italy. It arose +because the bosses needed to squeeze the working class a lot +harder than the democratic capitalist state was capable of. +Wage cuts were so savage under fascism that wages in Germany, +for instance, did not reach the 1931 level until 1956. +Including cuts in the social wage, new taxes and direct wage +cuts workers lost at least 50% of their pay. In fact a large +part of the German "economic miracle" after World War Two was +due to the fact that post-war German bosses were left both +with the physical legacy of the capital created under fascism +but also a level of wages and conditions much lower then the +rest of Europe. + +At the moment capitalism is in a deep crisis and it would +appear that neither social partnership as practised in +Ireland or the "free market" economics of the Thatcherites +can pull it out. This does not mean that the bosses will +necessarily turn to fascism in the near future, it does +however mean that it would be dangerous to rule out this +possibility. It has been argued that the unions are very +weak and the bosses would not need to resort to such measure +to drive down wages. As against this wages in most European +countries have not yet fallen in real terms. + +Attempts by the bosses to actually cut back wages have been +met with limited resistance like the metal workers' strike in +Germany or the miners' marches in Britain. Some workers, +like the tube workers in London, have taken action outside +the official structure of their unions. The actual level of +resistance to substantial real cuts is unmeasured, the bosses +could decide the current states are incapable of enforcing +their will. + +SOFT RACISTS + +The current status of the European far-right as a primarily +racist rather than fascist movement does effect the way we +fight it. It is the official racism of the governments and +opposition parties that has made the far right acceptable. +Yet many of their campaigns built by the left to-day have +sought to include soft racists in the fight against the hard +racists. This is a mistake for three reasons. Firstly it +means those sections of the population subject to racism will +just see the left as not offering any real alternative. +Secondly it makes the fascists' racist agenda itself more +acceptable although it aims to make their methods less so. +Thirdly, it's wrong to give any respectability or comfort to +racism. + +The racists have succeeded in creating a consensus throughout +Europe that runs from the far right to the soft left. +Immigration is identified as the key to the problem affecting +workers' conditions. The difference between the fascists +fire-bombing houses and the French Socialist Party deporting +immigrants is, in the final analysis, one of tactics and not +one of principle. The fascists may well lose support to the +more moderate racists if these 'moderates' succeed in slowing +immigration. This demonstrates how it is not the fascists +setting the terms of debate but rather the mainstream +parties. There is a need to win what remains of the +activists in social democratic parties to a more serious +anti-fascism but this can not be effectively done through +alliances with the leaderships of these organisations. + +All of the larger far left groupings in Europe do not seem to +be serious about fighting the rise of fascism. Many of the +anti-fascist organisations that have been set up are no more +than the crudest of recruiting fronts for various Leninist +parties. Some like the Anti-Nazi League and 'Youth against +Racism in Europe' do not even have a real branch structure or +meetings. They operate entirely as a wing of the Party, +propagating a somewhat watered down version of the full line +with the aim of identifying potential recruits. Outside +involvement is confined to big name speakers. + +This is very much a repeat of the tactics used by both the +Communist Parties and the social democrats in the early +thirties (albeit from a different political angle). They +tended to identify the other left groups as a more serious +threat to themselves then the fascists, the Communist Parties +going so far as to characterise the social democrats as +"social-fascists". Later when the depth of the threat had +been realised alliances with "progressive" elements of the +bourgeoisie were ranked as being more important than any +physical opposition to the fascists. Indeed it was feared +that any physical confrontation might drive away liberal +supporters. + +CONTROLLING THE ANTI-FASCISTS? + +What is needed is an open campaign that will fight against +fascism as part of a broader campaign against racism. +Physical confrontation, and physical defence and mobilisation +of their victims, will have to form a key part of this. What +we can expect is unfortunately somewhat different to this. +The bulk of the left is so demoralised by the events of the +last few years that all of the large organisations are afraid +of involving their members outside the immediate role of +paper sellers. + +It was the refusal of the left in the 20's and 30's to +recognise a common enemy and work against it that helped +fascism into power. The struggle for the control of the +anti-fascists became more important then the struggle against +fascism. Cute phrases about history repeating itself can not +sufficiently describe the horror that will come about if the +same mistake is made again. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001131.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001131.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ee1ea08f --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001131.txt @@ -0,0 +1,390 @@ +****************************************************** + + ** Who are the Travellers? ** + +ARE TRAVELLERS a distinct "ethnic" group with their own +traditions and customs? Very few people want to accept that +they are. This reflects the widespread racism towards them, +a racism which insists on seeing them as "failed settled +people". They are seen as "problems" rather than a people +who have been denied even the most basic rights. +Irish Travellers are a very small minority group, +constituting less than 1% of the population. Their numbers +currently stand at approximately 23,000 people in the 26 +counties and another 1,500 in the North. There are also an +estimated 15,000 Irish Travellers in Britain and 7,000 in +the U.S.A. + + The criteria internationally accepted as defining +ethnicity are: + +*A long shared history of which the group is aware. +*A cultural tradition of its own, including family and +social customs. +*Descent from common ancestors. +*A common language. +*A common religion. +*Being a minority within a larger community. + +Irish Travellers meet all these criteria. +Travellers are often segregated into separate classes +in school. They are banned from almost every pub in the +country. They are routinely refused service in shops, +cafes, cinemas, laundrettes and clubs. Social contact with +settled people is minimal because Travellers have been +denied such contact. + +The effects of this racism are not hard to find. Most +Travellers lack self-esteem. Pride in their cultural +identity is a very new experience and confined to the +minority who have had some adult education. For others, +self-destructive and even anti-social behaviour arises out +of this total experience of racism. Less than 14% of +Travellers currently make it into post-primary education and +80% of the adults are illiterate. + +Within the EU, Travellers and Gypsies currently form a +population of over one million people. Another million live +in Eastern Europe. These have faced, and still face, +vicious persecution and racism which reached its peak this +century with the murder of over a quarter of a million +Gypsies and Travellers by the Nazis. Today in Eastern +Europe they are experiencing brutal racist attacks. +Over the past decade we have seen the emergence of a +small number of articulate, politically active Travellers. +Until fairly recently, Travellers and their supporters were +essentially fighting for little more than an end to the very +worst forms of discrimination. + +However the situation is now very different with +Traveller groups throughout the country asserting their +right to be treated with respect as an ethnic and cultural +minority with their own beliefs, customs and values. By +adopting this strategy, Travellers are finally aligning +themselves with the struggles of nomadic and Indigenous +peoples everywhere. It is this new and very unacceptable +demand for respect as a cultural and ethnic minority that +has fuelled the latest outburst of racism against them. + +In recent years, these concepts have gained acceptance +from a growing number of people. Racist descriptions and +abuse on TV and in the newspapers have been challenged, with +the result that Travellers rights - as a separate minority +group - have begun to gain acceptance in wider circles. +Once it was no longer acceptable to define them either as +objects of charity or as failed settled people in need of +social work and rehabilitation, the alternative was to +accept them as different with all the rights and appropriate +services they require to live decently in accordance with +their cultural values. Such an idea really annoyed the +bigots. + +Ironically, settled society has always considered +Travellers to be different. Now that Travellers are +asserting their right to be different but not inferior, they +have provoked outrage. Travellers' struggles for civil +rights should be seen in the context of all the major social +and political movements of the past fifty years and not as +something separate or peculiar to Ireland or Irish +Travellers. Their struggles bear remarkable resemblence to +those of Native Americans and Indigenous peoples throughout +the world. + +Anarchists have no great interest in who belongs to +which ethnic group, except in so far as each tradition adds +to a rich cultural diversity. But we do understand that +there will be no real equality until racism is uprooted, and +all people are accorded the dignity they deserve. Equality +is certainly not about trying to make people deny their own +history and heritage. + +Patricia McCarthy + + +********** Anti-Traveller racism ************ + from Workers Solidarity No 39 + +ANTI-RACIST work is a major concern of the +left in Europe at the moment. Given the +rise of racist attacks in Germany and +France especially, this is important work. +However very few groups or individuals on +the left in Ireland understand that the +situation of Travellers is the most +explicit form of racism in this country. +Because Travellers are white, people have +difficulty applying the concept of racism +to them. However it takes no more than a +quick perusal of recent press clippings to +gather abundant evidence of the racism +faced by Travellers. A few examples are +as follows: +"A round the clock picket by protesting +residents continued today to prevent a temporary +site being set up for Travellers in Limerick". +Evening Herald. +"The residents of an estate outside Arklow who +are now to undertake a rent strike over the +council decision to house the family of +Travellers......" Wicklow People. + +"Residents of a housing estate in Rathfarnham +will this morning place a picket on the entrance +to land which is to be developed by Dublin +Corporation as a halting site for 20 itinerant +families'. Irish Press. +"A horrific attack involving the spraying of +foul smelling cattle slurry against caravans of +Traveller families has been criticised by a +priest... a Garda spokesman at Tullow described +it as a minor incident." Irish Independent. +The publican who barred 'Glenroe' actor Michael +Collins from his pub confirmed last night he did +so because he was a Traveller" Irish +Independent. +Recently in Clondalkin two Traveller families +have been intimidated out of their houses by +mobs. Traveller camps have been petrol bombed, +families have been physically attacked by +farmers in Galway, all in the very recent past. +Travellers are subjected to the most extreme +forms of social exclusion and segregation which +can only be described as apartheid. +They are refused service in pubs, cafes, many +shops, launderettes, hairdressers, discos, +hotels, cinemas and even some doctors refuse to +serve them. At an institutional level they are +forced to sign on at different times to the rest +of the population and in Dublin all Travellers +who claim Supplementary Welfare have to do so in +one separate health centre, Castle Street, +whether they live in Bray or Balbriggan. +Officially this is done to provide them with a +service that respects their nomadic culture. In +reality nothing could be further from the truth, +which is that it is done in order to +discriminate against them more efficiently. At +school many Traveller children are taught in +totally segregated classes which cater for +Traveller children of all ages in the one class. +Some notorious schools have gone so far as to +paint a white line down the middle of the +playground and Traveller children are not +allowed to cross over it. +Racism is a particular form of domination, +exploitation and exclusion. Racism against +Travellers and Gypsies is rooted in an ideology +of sedentarist superiority. This is the belief +that the settled person's way of life is the +modern norm and that nomadism is a throwback to +less civilised times. +Nomadic people also pose a threat to the values +of property ownership and the accumulation of +possessions. Racism involves power domination +by one group over the other. Because Travellers +are such a small minority of the population +(0.5% approx) they are totally at the mercy of +the settled population. The effects of this +racism and exclusion can be graphically seen in +the health statistics of the Traveller +population. +Traveller infants have three times the infant +mortality rate of the settled population. +Traveller women have a life expectancy that is +fifteen years less than their settled +counterparts and Traveller mens' life expectancy +is ten years less than settled mens'. They +don't fare any better educationally. In 1993 +only a handful of Traveller children, about 50 +nationwide, have made it into second level +education and there are still only three +Travellers nationwide who have completed a third +level course. +About 80% of the adult population are illiterate +and still only about 70% of the primary school +age children get to school. Schools still +refuse to take them as a school in Dn Laoghaire +did in March. These are the statistics of +racism... a group of the population whose health +and educational standards are at least 50 years +behind that of the rest of the population. But +the best is yet to come as the official response +to these kinds of statistics is to blame this +scandalous situation on Travellers themselves +and on their preferred nomadic lifestyle. +A recent official report from Dublin County +Council is a very good example of racist +thinking. In this report which went to all the +councillors in January, Travellers' lifestyle is +blamed for all the major social problems in the +county, including unemployment! The report +concludes that it is time to break the cycle of +Travellers' culture by discouraging them from +marrying each other and forcing them to adopt a +more responsible (i.e. settled) lifestyle by not +building halting sites. Given that there are +3,000 families already on the housing waiting +lists in Dublin alone it is not clear how +exactly this policy is going to improve anyones' +situation. +Even within liberal and left wing circles there +is a belief that there is nothing wrong with +promoting the idea of quotas when it comes to +Travellers. The idea that only ten families +should be accommodated in an area has been +promoted by everyone from the Labour party to +the 'Militant'. Of course this is an inherently +racist position to adopt. It would not be +acceptable to suggest that only ten black +families should be housed in any one community +and it is no more acceptable to suggest this for +Travellers. Likewise the idea of separate +segregated and inevitably inferior services must +be opposed. +Racism against Gypsies and Travellers goes back +to the time they started migrating from India +around the 11th century. It reached its height +with the extermination of a quarter of a million +Gypsies and Travellers by the Nazis. In Ireland +the racism against Travellers is so deep and so +all pervasive that few people even recognise it +for what it is. In the fight against this +racism Travellers themselves and their +organisations need to be centrally involved. +They must set the agenda, deciding on what +issues and how they want to fight. They need +the active support of the left, and especially +of the trade union movement because they have +very little muscle on their own. There have +been attempts over the past thirty years at +Traveller self-organisation but these +organisations were quickly smashed by the state. +In 1963 the Gardai planted explosives on Gratton +Puxon, the organiser of the Irish Traveller +Community which was becoming a force to be +reckoned with. Nearly twenty years later they +planted stolen jewellery on Nan Joyce, a leading +member of the Traveller-only organisation +Minceir Miscli. Nan ran against a racist +candidate in Tallaght in the General Election of +1982 and got twice the number of votes as he +did. Currently the Irish Traveller movement is +organising around the country. It remains to +be seen if it will become a fighting body or +confine itself to lobbying. For left wing +activists concerned about racism there is plenty +of it to fight in relation to Travellers. + +********************************************************** + + ** Moate mimics Mississippi ** + ** Stand up for Travellers Rights ** +WS 47 + +THE PROTESTS against the housing of a Traveller +family in Farnagh near Moate were racist. The +organisers deny this but then go on to say that +their main objection is that they "were not +consulted" by the Council about rehousing the family +of Alice and Joe Joyce. Do these same people expect +to be "consulted" everytime a settled family is +given a house? Of course not. + +One of the ringleaders, local priest Fr Liam Farrell, +even claimed that the protesters were concerned for the +family, worried about their transition from an urban to a +rural area! More honest was the one who told journalists +that he did not want "inferior people" in his town. +This gang of racists held their meetings in St +Patricks Hall (which is under the control of Fr Liam +Farrell, who also represented the racists at meetings with +Westmeath County Manager Jack Taaffe), and in a room +attached to the Auld Shebeen pub. Knowing full well they +were doing nothing to be proud of, they organised everything +anonymously. + +At their meetings they threatened to withdraw children +from the two national schools if any of the Joyce children +were admitted. Similar threats worked at nearby Clonbunny +recently when locals heard that Traveller children were to +be admitted. + +The mob blocked the main Dublin-Galway road for two +hours but, despite this being illegal, there was no garda +action. And given the way the ruling class treats +Travellers that was no surprise. + +Antagonism towards the Joyces was whipped up with +claims that "Travellers contribute nothing to society" and +"wherever there are Travellers there is trouble". Exactly +the same kind of hatemongering that was used against blacks +in the American deep south thirty years ago. + +Scapegoats are great for diverting attention away from +problems like unemployment, low wages and poor housing. +When you look closely you will usually find wealthy vested +interests behind racist agitation. + +Who was behind all the trouble in Moate? Who was on +the secret committee? Alongside the priest were stud farm +owner Michael Scott, shopkeeper Mary Flynn, Fine Gael +councillor Tom Flanagan, restaurant boss John Joe Claffey, +supermarket owner Seamus Dolan and farmer Mick Kelly. In +other words the type of people who live the good life at the +expense of both Travellers and working class people. + +Even middle class liberals get sucked into seeing +Travellers, rather than the discrimination they face, as the +"problem". Nell McCafferty writing in the Sunday Tribune on +June 11th said "there has been, equally, no official +acknowledgement from government about the way a national +social problem has been landed in dark of night - without +warning or attempt to prepare opinion - upon the people of +Moate". + +Would she have come out with the same crap if it was +another group of people who were being picked on by the +bigots, if it was Bosnian refugees, or Pakistanis or Jews? +Of course not. + +We can protest against racism in other countries (and +we should protest against it) but we also need to confront +it at home. It is not enough to decry the electoral success +of the fascist National Front in France or the murderous +anti-black attacks of the British National Party if we stand +aside and ignore the problem on our own doorsteps. + +Anti-racists have to take a stand in their own +communities when the racists and their politician pals try +to stir things up. In Ireland's wealthiest constituency it +is liberal Progressive Democrat TD Liz ODonnell who is +stirring up opposition to the temporary halting site in +Sandyford. In Navan it is Democratic Lefts Christy Gorman +who objected to the extension of the only official halting +site in County Meath, and labelled Travellers "brutal, +savage and threatening". + +It is well past the time when these bullies in suits +were told where to get off. In opposition to their bigotry +we have to publicly support Travellers rights to appropriate +housing and services, we have to recognise that they have a +cultural tradition that is as valid as any other. + +We start by taking a stand every time we witness +discrimination. If a shop, cinema, disco or pub refuses to +serve somebody because they are a Traveller we make sure the +management knows they wont get our custom and we walk out. +Inside the MANDATE and SIPTU trade unions we should fight to +commit our unions to defending any worker who refuses to +operate blanket bans on any group of customers because of +their race or ethnicity. In the local authority trade +unions we should work to get the same protection for workers +who refuse to be involved in evictions. + +Three decades of polite appeals to liberal +politicians have changed little for Travellers. It is up to +anti-racists, trade unionists and other ordinary working +class people to join with Travellers and deal a crushing +blow to the politics of discrimination. As Jim Larkin was +fond of saying, "an injury to one is the concern of all". + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001132.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001132.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8d0419b3 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001132.txt @@ -0,0 +1,79 @@ + + ** Stripping the mystery from the Money markets ** + +MOST PEOPLE ONLY worry about currency exchange rates +when they're changing money for a holiday, but over the +last few years, they have become increasingly hard to +ignore. Government ministers appear on TV to inform us +that interest rates will have to go up or down, or +reassure us that, having spent hundreds of millions of +pounds, our standing in the ERM is now safe. What are +they talking about? + +Part of the move towards European integration, +indeed, one of the main reasons for this move, is making +sure that the value of all the European currencies stays +at more or less the same level. If the pound today is +worth 5 francs, 100 pesetas, or 1,000 lira, then it +should always be worth about 5 francs, 100 pesetas, or +1,000 lira. This is because, if a business is exporting +stuff to Germany, it wants to be sure that the 10,000 +marks it gets paid is worth as much as when the price +was agreed, otherwise it could end up making huge +losses. + +Speculators + +The problem is that the value of a currency depends +ultimately on how much other people are willing to pay +for it, and that, in turn depends on millions of other +things, like the general strength of the economy, that +no-one can really control. When, as happened with +sterling, speculators (basically the big banks and +investment companies) think that the price is too high, +they start selling the currency - forcing its price +down. To try to keep the price up, governments will +increase interest rates, so investors will save their +money in that country, or buy as much of the currency as +they can. + +Naturally, we're the ones who have to pay for all +of this. If interest rates go up because of speculators +attacking a currency, our mortgages and bank loans +become more expensive. When governments use their +reserves to buy up currency, they then have to spend the +next few years building their reserves back up, which +means less public spending and more taxes. And no +matter how much of our money the government spends, they +still have little chance of fixing the value of the +currency. + +No-one's in charge + +The problem isn't simply one of having the wrong +government in power - no matter how 'socialist' the +ruling party, they will still be faced with the same +situation. If a price for the currency is not fixed, +then companies will go out of business, with the +attendant loss of jobs, through losses incurred as their +payments are changed from one currency to another. (Not +to mention the complications in terms of EU membership +raised by dropping out of the ERM) On the other hand, +because it is not the only player in this game, the +state simply isn't in a position to set the price of its +money. + +Just as manufacturers try to produce the most +profitable goods, investment companies and banks are +drawn to the most profitable markets. They speculate on +currencies because they are trying to make a profit for +their shareholders and investors, even if these are the +same people who end up losing if a currency is devalued. +Whatever happens, they are in the position of enforcers +for the 'iron law of the market', and until that 'law' +is challenged, we're going to keep going in the same old +circles. Capitalism, by its nature, is chaotic. A +rational economy requires a new system - anarchism. + +Ray Cunningham + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001133.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001133.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..17e533e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001133.txt @@ -0,0 +1,175 @@ +2 articles +******************************************************* + + ** Can we take on the multinationals? ** + +PACKARD HIGHLIGHTS the power of the multinationals. +Owned by the giant General Motors, they laid down the +law and got away with it. 38 people who had already +been laid off were made redundant, 400 more laid off +(and are not expecting to be called back), and the +remaining 450 are working a 41 hour week for 39 hours +pay. The firm is promising to pay retrospectively for +the extra two hours at some undefined later date. In +the meantime the unpaid hours have been used to finance +the redundancies. And ironically, as the laid off +workers left the plant on June 23rd, some of the +remaining staff were put on overtime. + +With 40% of the workforce in manufacturing industry +employed by multinationals a realistic strategy is +needed to stop them playing off workers in different +plants against each other. Without a strategy the +bosses can get away with wage and job cuts by +threatening to move production to other locations if +they don't get their way. + +Most negotiations between big multinational firms and +their workers are dealt with on either a plant-by-plant +or a national basis. However times do arise when the +head office decides to "draw a line in the sand" and +make no concessions. This can happen as part of a cost +cutting programme (to boost profits) or as a lesson to +their staff everywhere that management make the rules +and woe betide any worker who gets in their way. + +Employers (are) offensive + +For the past few years the employers have been on +the offensive against us. They want lower wage costs, +lower staffing levels, more casualisation, more mega- +profits. In 1993 the Financial Times spoke for many +bosses when it wrote that one of the good things it saw +going on in the "third world" was the pauperisation of +the workforce and a high level of unemployment. These +were offering new ways to undercut what they called the +"pampered Western European workers" with their +"luxurious lifestyles". + +So how do we deal with powerful multinational firms who +often have an international income greater than the +Irish government? If we end up having to strike they +can often pack their bags and move to another country; +where they will receive another round of tax breaks, +free workforce training and preferential treatment. +They can't always do this, especially if they have a lot +of investment tied up in the plant, but it is sometimes +a real threat. + +Give 'till it hurts + +And where there is no resistance to their demands +they will keep coming back to insist on more +concessions. So what can be done? In times when there +is a higher level of militancy and solidarity among +workers, action can be taken against their imports if +they threaten to shut down their Irish plants. + + This would entail winning the support of ferry +crews, dockers, airport staff and road haulage drivers. +Because this would run foul of both the Industrial +Relations Act and the British anti-union laws it will +not be organised by the union leaders. + +Not only have most of them bought into "social +partnership" politics but they also are afraid to risk +their unions' funds. They know that the state would +seek to financially cripple them as a warning to others. + +The last time such an approach was tried was almost +fifteen years ago during the Talbot Motors dispute. It +worked, with government forced to intervene and create +jobs for the workers. The key was not whether such +action was legal or illegal but how much support it +enjoyed from other trade unionists. + +Trusting the state? + +Another tactic that is suggested at regular +intervals is pressurising the government to save jobs. +This suggests that the state is some neutral body that +can be influenced to take the workers' side. It isn't +and it can't. While on rare occasions we can take +advantage of splits in government or impending elections +to make small gains, we should remember that the state +serves the interests of the bosses. It has been called +"the executive committee of the ruling class". + +It is the state which entices multinationals to +come here, which promotes Ireland as a country with low +wages, generous tax incentives and the promise of a +higher than average return on investment. It makes no +sense to expect this same state to turn around and +support workers against their bosses. + +As employers organise across borders, so should workers. +There are international trade union federations for most +industries (food, transport, chemicals, etc.). +Unfortunately these are of little use when big business +decides to play tough. These federations do a useful +job of collating information about health & safety +legislation, making submissions to international +conferences, and exchanging information about new work +practices, but that is about all they do that is useful +to rank & file union members. They are run by senior +union officials, members have little or no input into +them. The vast majority don't even know they exist. + +Break through the borders + +Real face-to-face links are needed with workers who +share the same bosses. Shop stewards meeting shop +stewards is the first step. We need to reach a +situation where if one plant is threatened the others in +the multinational refuse to take on their work. In most +unions the leadership will not help to build such links, +they are afraid of losing control over their members. +Rather than support for such sensible initiatives we +will be faced with condemnations of "unofficial" +activity. + +Yet workers in GEC, IBM, Ford and many other firms +have built links in the past. The best way to start is +for shop stewards to contact their counterparts in other +parts of the firm, and then arrange to visit them. A +small levy on union subscriptions or a couple of +shopfloor collections per year would pay for travel +expenses. From here we can work towards increasing co- +operation. This could take the form of sharing +information about what the firm is doing, what actions +have worked in winning claims and ensuring effective +blacking during disputes. + +From there we can move on to extending co-operation +and solidarity against the employers offensive. Such +organising should not be in opposition to the unions but +should be independent of the officials - workers' +organisation that is truly answerable to workers. + +Alan MacSimin + +*********** + + The Land of Opportunity + +US LABOUR Secretary, Robert Reich, recently told an +international gathering that sanctions should be +enforced against only the very worst violators of +workers rights. + +This means countries that rely on prison labour, +suppress independent unions, or use force to break +strikes. The US fails even this relaxed standard. +The economy increasingly uses prison labour (such as +making furniture, processing airline and hotel +reservations, and doing outsourced clerical work for +wages ranging from $1 to $10 a day). The government +routinely suppresses strikes (airline attendants, +railroad workers and teachers have all been ordered +back to work by government decree in recent months). +A growing number of US unions operate under court- +appointed "leaders". + +Source: Libertarian Labour Review + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001134.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001134.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9f592e04 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001134.txt @@ -0,0 +1,166 @@ +******************************************************* +from WS 45 + ** The "Voice of the Voiceless" on DEATH ROW. ** + +AMERICAN BLACK activist and journalist, Mumia Abu-Jamal, +was sentenced to die at 10pm on August 17th. Protests +which took place in over twenty countries forced the US +authorities to grant a stay of execution, just 11 days +before he was to be killed. He is still under sentence +of death. His supporters are still seeking justice for +him. + +Mumia has been the recipient of police attention +since his teenage years. At age 14 he was arrested for +taking part in a protest against the racist pro- +segregation Governor of Alabama, George Wallace. The +next year he joined the Black Panther Party and was +appointed its information officer in Philadelphia. + +In the 1970s he turned to journalism. His work in +this field saw him win awards and be elected President +of the Philadelphia chapter of the Association of Black +Journalists. His writings and radio programme +constantly ran items about racist practices in the +Mayor's office and brutality against black people by the +police department. As a constant thorn in the side of +the establishment, he became known as the "voice of the +voiceless". + +In the early hours of December 9th 1981 Mumia was +moonlighting as a taxi driver when he saw his brother +Billy being beaten by a policeman, Daniel Faulkner, on +Locust Street, in downtown Philadelphia. Mumia +approached and was shot in the stomach. He was found +bleeding on the kerb, from where he was arrested and +brought to Jefferson University Hospital. Faulkner was +dead. + +Evidence put forward which suggested Mumia was shot by +Faulkner as he approached the scene, and that a third +black male shot Faulkner and fled, was suppressed at the +trial. + +The witnesses + +In the original trial in 1982 only one witness +identified Jamal as the man with a gun in his hand. She +was Cynthia White, whom other witnesses said was not +present. One defence witness did, however, see her over +half a block away at the time of the shooting. Ms White +had three prositution charges pending against her. +Without explanation, these were dropped. And it was +disclosed at the trial that Ms White had been given +police protection and allowed to continue working as a +prostitute. + +The second witness said he did not see Officer +Faulkner shoot Mumia at any time, and then gave a +description of a man sounding nothing like Mumia. +Furthermore this witness, Robert Chobert, told an +arriving police captain that the shooter had run way. +At the trial Chobert retracted his testimony, saying he +had been mistaken and that Mumia was the shooter, +although he said he never saw a gun or gun flashes. +Chobert was, at that time, facing charges in an +unrelated case but the jury was not informed of his +motive to lie in hope of getting his sentence reduced. + +The third prosecution witness, Mark Scanlan, could +not identify Jamal. He later admitted that he had been +drinking and was "confused" about what he saw. + +One witness who was not called was William Singletary, +who said the shooter had run away. Following this he +was harassed by police officers and threatened at his +place of business until he finally shut down and moved +to another state. Singletary's story was kept from +Jamal & his defence at the time of his trial. + +The "shouted confession" + +The prosecution claimed that Mumia confessed as he +lay on the floor of the hospital emergency room. Yet +the doctor who was present, Dr Regina Cudemo, heard no +confession but did see an officer kick Mumia. The +doctor who made the initial examination, Dr. Anthony +Coletta, found Mumia to be barely conscious. + +Two additional prosecution witnesses claimed - over +eight weeks later - that Mumia was struggling violently +and shouted out a confession. These were Officer Garry +Bell, Faulkner's partner and best friend; and a hospital +security guard called Priscilla Durham who also knew +Faulkner. The supposed confession was only reported +after Internal Affairs detectives interviewed these two +in relation to a complaint made by Mumia that he had +been beaten up in the hospital. + +However police officer Gary Wakshul had stayed with +Mumia from the time of his arrest until doctors started +their treatment of his wounds. He noted in his report +that the prisoner made "no statements". Despite a 'no +vacation' notice on his personnel file he was sent away +on vacation until after the trial. Jamal's defence was +refused an adjournment until his return. + +The gun + +Mumia was carrying a legally registered gun, many +US taxi drivers do. No test was performed on Mumia's +hands to see if he had recently fired a gun, despite +this being normal practice. Nor did they test Mumia's +gun. Of if they did they suppressed their findings. + +A Mr Jackson, who stated he was not experienced and +did not want to take the case, was appointed Mumia's +lawyer against both his own wishes and those of the +accused. Jackson was later disbarred from legal +practice because of incompetancy in another case. + +There were just three black people on the jury for +the trial of a black man in a city that is 40% black. +Whipping up racist hysteria, Mumia's former membership +of the Black Panther Party, and his current support for +the MOVE grouping (a militant black grouping who call +for a "green revolution"), was admitted as "evidence" +to show he had planned to kill a cop for years and +should be given a death sentence! + +Of the 103 people under sentence of death in +Philadelphia only 12 are white. The trial judge has +sentenced 31 people to death, only two of whom were +white. Furthermore, Judge Sabo has a lifelong +association with the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of +Police, who have been running a high profile campaign to +have Mumia executed. + +Although blacks make up just 9% of the population of +Pennsylvania state they represent 56% of the population +on death row. Mumia is being railroaded to a premature +death, a state murder. The facts of this case give +every justification for condemning it as a racist +miscarriage of justice. + +Worldwide protests + +An international campaign for justice has been +growing over the last couple of months. In Germany +4,000 people marched through Berlin. The campaign is +also growing in South Africa, India, Italy, France, +Spain, Britain and many other countries. In Ireland +the Workers Solidarity Movement and Militant Labour +initiated the 'Justice for Abu-Jamal Campaign'. This +group has distributed thousands of leaflets about the +case, collected petitions and organised protests. +Activities have taken place in Belfast, Cork, Dublin and +Galway. + +Make no mistake. Mumia Abu-Jamal is on death row +because of his politics. Abu-Jamal's biggest crime was +to be born black and have the bravery to confront the +oppression which he was exposed to in America. Our +struggle is for freedom and justice. So is Abu-Jamal's, +and that struggle continues. + +Dermot Sreenan diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001135.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001135.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a7e5fbd1 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001135.txt @@ -0,0 +1,143 @@ + + + ******************** + + Roadblocks on the Super-Information Highway + from Workers Solidarity No 45 + (1995) + +In the last issue of Workers Solidarity we mentioned +the anarchist electronic library Spunk Press. Some of +our readers may have seen it mentioned since in the +Sunday Times (British) as part of a complicated +conspiracy theory which attempted to link it to +everything from drug making to school riots to bank- +robbing to "outlawed loyalist paramilitary groups"!! + +The same weekend a computer bulletin board was raided +in Italy and the administrators of it charged with +"association with intent to subvert the democratic +order". This is a charge which carries a penalty for +those convicted of 7 to 15 years imprisonment. More +recently articles in the US media and a paper +published by the Rand institute have warned of the +danger of the internet making Mexico ungovernable +through 'netwar'. Essentially this refers to the +posting of EZLN communiqus and the organisation of +anti-repression demonstrations through mailing lists. + +Anarchists are aware that capitalism will not allow +'freedom of information' in any real sense. The mass +media is all state owned or owned by wealthy +corporations. Its primary role is not to tell us +about the world we live in but rather to "manufacture +consent" (defining the limits of 'legitimate' debate). +As long as access to the internet was confined to a +narrow layer of academics and students, freedom of +expression was permitted. But now that it starts to +become a mass medium of communication the state is +seeking to impose limits on this expression. + +In order to do so, it is trying to label those it +wishes to silence as 'terrorists'. That is the +purpose of all the events listed above. A month after +the Italian raids the material seized was returned. +In a press release Luc Pac, one of those charged, +pointed out "The complete restitution of the material +seized suggests that nothing useful was found amongst +it that might confirm the charges laid out in the +authorities' original warrants. In any case, the three +magistrates who ordered the raids have been unable to +find the time to meet with us over the past 23 days; +similarly, the Carabinieri (Police) who actually +returned the seized goods refused to answer any +questions concerning the enquiry or its future +course." + +Effector on-line, a publication of the Electronic +Frontier Foundation [the EFF is a 'highly respected' +lobbying body supported by many parts of the computer +industry] describes the attacks on Spunk Press as +"replete with errors and remarkably +biased...Additionally it makes many wild and highly +unrealistic accusations of global anarchist +conspiracy. No relevant evidence or sources are +cited." Many of those involved with Spunk Press +suspect that the ultimate 'source' of this article is +MI5, desperately seeking a justification for their +funding now that the Cold War is over. + +What is being attacked is the threat of effective +opposition to state repression. The attacks on the +mailing lists carrying EZLN communiqus prompted a +debate on the internet as to whether it was really +that effective or was is just a lot of "alienated +bourgeois professors" talking to each other. The +lists played a key part in not only getting out the +information but also organising opposition to the +January invasion by the Mexican army within hours of +it happening. Demonstrations and occupations have +been reported on it from Italy, France, USA, Canada +and Ireland along with other countries. + +These lists gave activists not only detailed first +hand accounts of torture being used by the Mexican +state but also exposed the reasons for the invasion in +the form of a memo from Chase Bank saying that if the +government wanted to continue receiving loans it would +have to eliminate the Zapatista's. The liberal +mainstream media may be willing to cover events in the +third world from the point of view of "look what the +nasty tin pot dictator is doing". It is generally +unwilling to expose the involvement of western +companies and governments as the puppet masters behind +this repression. Eyewitness accounts circulated on +mailing lists have also revealed the use of US 'War on +Drugs' helicopters by the Mexican army in strafing +civilian targets. + +Although the importance of the Chiapas related mailing +lists should not be over estimated they have served as +a conduit through which the truth about what is really +going on in Mexico can flow. Normally it takes months +or years for these stories to emerge, now it is taking +days or hours. At the time of writing it has become +obvious that the Mexican army is pursuing a policy of +causing food shortages in Chiapas. Although they have +now left many of the villages they occupied they +destroyed all or most of the foodstuffs before +leaving. Reports such as this from Santa Elana are +typical "As in Ibarra, they returned to find their +corn, beans and coffee (constituting a six-month food +supply) scattered and eaten by animals, and their +houses ransacked." + +It is this sort of information that the state wants to +censor from the internet. The censorship will be +camouflaged by a mist of lies, hidden behind buzz +words like pornography, drugs and terrorism. The last +two months have seen the first shots in this battle +and have seen some liberals falling into line in this +new state offensive. According to the Sunday Times, +Chris Smith, Labour's Heritage spokesman, said the +findings of their article showed the need for +international agreements to ban groups preaching +violence from the information super-highway. + +The states job will not be easy however. The current +structure of the internet makes effectively censoring +it a very difficult prospect. And the crude attempts +to set activists up for persecution has already met a +heated response as thousands have e-mailed protest +letters to some of the publications involved. One +magazine was forced to publish a double page of +letters protesting its original article. Many of +these letters came from workers within the computer +industry, protesting against the attempt to victimise +fellow workers. A key factor in keeping the +information freely flowing will be how far workers +using and maintaining the net go along with or oppose +this censorship. + +Joe Black + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001136.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001136.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0b5d0a73 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001136.txt @@ -0,0 +1,513 @@ +2 articles +2nd is 'The Friends of Durruti' [WS 38] + +********* The Spanish Revolution of 1936 ********** + from Workers Solidarity No 36 + +Many people would agree that the anarchist +principle "from each according to their ability, +to each according to their needs" is a nice idea. +A self managed society with everyone having a +real say in how things were run is a lovely +ideal. They might nod along to the lyrics of +"Imagine" by John Lennon but then equally +shake their heads and tell you that such a thing +could never work "in the real world". You would +probably be told that people are just naturally +greedy and self-centred and such a thing would +end in chaos. + +However throughout the history of the 20th century +ordinary working people have succeeded in taking things +into their own hands and making a go of it. Nowhere, +however, has come closer to a fully self-managed +anarchist society then large areas of "republican" Spain +during the Spanish Civil War. + +Here, for a short space of a few years, both on the land +and in the factories workers and peasants demonstrated +that far from chaos anarchism was an efficient, desirable +and realisable method of running society. + +This account of the enormous social revolution in Spain +is mainly taken from Gaston Leval's "Collectives in the +Spanish Civil War". Leval was a French anarchist +exiled for resisting the World War I draft who spent +many years in exile in Spain and Latin America. + +He returned in 1936 just in time to document the +revolution in economic and social organisation as it +occurred. Rather then take off for the front he saw the +importance of these changes and attempted to make a +record of some sort for the future. + +The extent of collectivisation on the land was +unprecedented. Estimates of the numbers in collectives +range as high as 5-7 million directly or indirectly +involved (from Leval himself). Certainly millions took +part to some degree from periods of weeks to as long as +three years as fortunes fluctuated in the war. At the +height of collectivisation there were 400 collectives in +Aragon, 700 in the Levant and 300 in Castile. Of course +many just refuse to believe that so many people +(whether landless or with fairly large holdings) would +voluntarily collectivise. + +FORCED COLLECTIVISATION? + +One accusation which is repeated by almost all historians +of the Spanish civil war is that the columns of the +anarcho-syndicalist CNT union enforced collectivisation +at the point of a gun. Ironically enough this was first +put about by no less an authority the Spanish +Communist Party but it is still accepted as gospel by the +majority of historians of the civil war. + +Of course this doesn't stand up to even a glance at the +facts. The CNT was a mainly industrial union based in +Barcelona and Madrid. In many areas such as Castile +and Aragon their numbers were extremely low. For +example there were only 34,000 members of the CNT in +Aragon, Navarre and Rioja all areas where most of the +land was collectivised. + +The military columns of the CNT moved immediately to +the front and mostly took no further part in the +collectives. As Leval puts it, they "lived on the +fringes of the task of social transformation being +carried out". Some far sighted militants such as +Durutti realising their importance sent some members +back to the collectives. But these were skilled +organisers not armed troops. + +Finally in all the collectivsed areas there were many +"individualists" who were allowed to hang on to their +land. Far from been harassed to join they were often +allowed to avail of the many free services of the +collectives. Though their numbers declined with time in +many cases they remained a significant minority. This +couldn't have happened if collectivisation was forced. + +ARAGON + +Let's take a closer look at one region- Leval's first +example: Aragon. An estimated 69.5 % of Aragon's +430,000 inhabitants in the revolutionary zone took part +in collectives in total, with up to 400 collectives +established. When Leval arrived in February 1937 +there were 275 collective villages with 141,430 families +organised into 24 cantonal federations holding their +first conference in Caspe. Obviously over the seven +months since the Fascist coup in July this was a major +achievement . + +He visited the main collectives of seven of these +federations. Collectivisation occurred in a similar way in +most of them. After the major landowners had fled the +land an assembly was held. It was decided to seize all +land and machinery hold it in common . Teams were +formed to various jobs, each electing recallable delegates +to a village assembly. + +A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL + +To distribute the common stock of goods rationing or a +family wage was brought in. Given the low level of +Spanish agriculture and the demands of the war it +wasn't possible to jump immediately to communist +distribution (i.e. free goods for all) in Aragon (or most +other areas) . However there was a major increase in +living standards along with a greater say for everyone +and a huge range of free social services. + +In the village of Graus, for example, the family (which +persisted as the main social form) wage meant a 15% +increase in money going into households. All services +such as electricity and gas were free as well as free and +hugely improved medical, educational and entertainment +facilities. Overall this meant an increase in living +standards of 50-100%. + +There were many increases in productivity and +efficiency. In several areas huge new projects were made +possible by collectivisation. In Esplus there were four +new piggeries producing hundreds of animals and the +sheep herd increased from 600 to 2,000. In Mas de Las +Mantas a huge collective bakery handled all the baking +previously the exclusive task of women in the home. In +Alcorisa there had been a 50% increase in cultivated +land and centralisation of tailor's shops brought a 66% +increase in production. + +These are just a few examples where the landlord system +had held back the efficient use of land while peasants +and labours had faced starvation every year. + +At the February meeting of the cantonal federations +measures were been taken to set aside areas of land for +research into better seed production in each canton. It +had been suggested, for example, that virus free potatoes +could be raised in the mountains of upper Aragon These +type of innovations could never have been dreamed up +by the landlords who relied entirely on cheap labour +(without "wasting" money on machines) to keep them +well heeled while the majority starved. + +The Federation was also attempting to promote +exchanges between collectives with richer ones +distributing food and machinery to those in less well off +areas. The collectives also supplied the major cities +voluntarily (unlike the case in the Russian civil +war(1921) where forced grain seizures by the Bolsheviks +killed off any fellow feeling between rural and urban +workers). They also sent spare supplies to columns at +the front. + +INDIVIDUALISTS + +The conference also took an interesting attitude towards +'individualist' farmers which contrasted with Stalin's +murderous forced collectivisation in the 1930s. The +individualists were left to their own devices though the +collectives were under no obligation to give them any aid +(in practice most did). However they were totally +forbidden from employing workers and they lost +automatic inheritance rights. Many individualists did +eventually go over to the collectives and they were +usually won over by example and not forced. + +Aragon is only one of the regions covered. In some +other areas there was almost a fully communist system in +operation. For example in the Naval collective in +Huesca a system operated were you just went to the +collective store and took what you needed. +Contributions and withdrawals were recorded and all +was reduced to simple accounting. + +In most areas this just wasn't possible and rationing was +the order of the day. However the achievements are sill +impressive given the miserable state of Spanish +agriculture in the first place. + + +INDUSTRIAL COLLECTIVES + +The CNT was a mainly urban anarcho-syndicalist union +drawing much of its support from workers in Barcelona +and Madrid. For this reason it may seem surprising that +industrial collectivisation did not go as far as that on the +land. However it must be remembered that many of +these industries depended almost totally on countries +outside Spain for both markets and raw materials. +These were almost immediately cutoff by the European +governments on the grounds of "non-interference" in +Spain's internal affairs. Also most factories had to +retool for the war effort which made huge demands on +labour time. + +Even allowing for this, however, as Leval points out +there was not true socialisation in many cases "but a +worker's Neo-Capitalism". By this he meant that the +framework of capitalism was maintained with workers +running factories, selling goods and sharing the profits. + +CNT + +His loyalty to the CNT prevents him from pointing the +finger here. Their refusal to drive the revolution +through to it's logical conclusion, abolishing capitalism +and refusing to share power with the bourgeois in +government must be singled out as the decisive reason +why industry wasn't entirely self-managed. The CNT's +syndicalism left them uninterested in politics and +political power. They left the parliament and state +structure intact which gave the bourgeois a base from +which to rebuild. They should have destroyed the +government's political power entirely and used the arms +and gold reserves seized to further the revolution. + + +BARCELONA + +All things considered, the achievements in industrial +collectivisation were still amazing and surprised foreign +observers like George Orwell. 3000 enterprises in +Barcelona were collectivised. A council was elected by +an assembly of all the workers to run each workplace. +Each section elected to delegates to liaise with the +council on day to day matters. The council sent +recallable representatives to a council for each industry +which drew up general plans for that industry. + +All the major services were greatly improved. Equal +wages were paid to all grades and the general wage level +was increased for most workers. + +For example all the small electricity generators in +private hands were linked together and new dams and +generators built to give a more efficient system. The +water supply which had been erratic was improved with +supply going up to 150,000 cubic metres fairly quickly +(Leval explains, however that it couldn't be increased +much further as most existing natural catchments were +been used and, presumably, there wasn't time to build +reservoirs). + +Perhaps the most dramatic improvement was on the +trams, the major method of transport in Barcelona. Five +days after the fascists were beaten off the streets the +trams were running under workers' control. The fleet +had been increased from 600 to 700 by the repair of 100 +trams previously discarded as un-fixable. A new safety +and signal system was built. Track and roadway repaired +and improved, an automatic breakdown warning system +installed and many lines re-routed. Passengers carried +increase from 183,543,516 to 233,557,506 at a standard +class cheap fare. Tell that to anyone who maintains +workers are too ignorant to run things themselves! + +The Spanish revolution proved conclusively, if only +briefly, that given a chance workers and peasants can +run things themselves a lot better then the bosses. The +elimination of the profit motive and the undistorted +application of technology improved life greatly for those +involved. + +Workers' self-management and the agricultural +collectives didn't collapse due to some flaw in human +nature. They were smashed by fascist attacks from the +front and Communist tanks in the rear (for example a +division of tanks under the command of the Communist +general Lister was used to destroy most of the Aragon +collectives). Anarchism as a method of organising +society faced the test of history and passed with flying +colours. + +Des McCarron + + +********** The Friends of Durruti *************** + from Workers Solidarity No 34 + +THE WAR in Spain (1936-1939) has often been +portrayed as a simple struggle between Fascism +and democracy. In fact it was anything but. A +military coup launched in July 1936 was defeated +by worker's action in most parts of Spain. + +There then followed a wide ranging social +revolution (see Worker's Solidarity 33). As many +as 5-7 million were involved in the collectivisation +of agriculture and thousands in worker's control +of industry. About 2 million of these were also +members of the oldest union in Spain the anarcho- +syndicalist; CNT. + +As with all revolutions a counter-revolution +followed quickly on the Spanish revolution. This +was spearheaded by the Spanish Communist party. +These were faithful adherents to Stalin's foreign +policy of sucking up to France and England in the +hope of military and economic alliances. They +resisted the revolution at all stages and found +willing allies in the Spanish republican and +socialist forces. All took pains to convey to the +world a struggle between fascism and democracy. + +They also took steps to try and make it such a +struggle by smashing collectives and factory +committees and sabotaging the efforts of +revolutionary forces at the front. However even +more worrying is the fact that the "anarchists" of +the CNT made little attempt to combat these forces. +In fact four became government ministers. + +One tendency within the CNT; the Friends of +Durruti resisted the growing reformism within the +CNT. In this review of their pamphlet; "Towards a +Fresh Revolution" Conor Mc Loughlin outlines their +importance to modern anarchists. + +"We are not interested in medals or in general's +sashes, we want neither committees or ministers" +Bueneventura Durruti - Solidaridad Obrera Sept 12 1936 + +"The government has posthumously granted the +rank of Lieutenant Colonel to the illustrious +Libertarian leader Buenaventura Durruti on the +anniversary of his death"- Solidaridad Obrera April +30 1938 + +The friends of Durutti were setup in 1937 by rank and +file members of the CNT and memders of CNT columns +resisting militarisation. "Towards a fresh revolution" +was published in 1938 as "a message of hope and a +determination to renew the fight against an +internationalism." It's a short and relatively easy read +at 43 pages. It is obviously aimed at activists in the +CNT and it pulls no punches in it's attacks on the +Spanish bourgeoisie and "colaborationists" in the CNT. +However be warned it does assume a certain amount of +background knowledge of the history of the CNT and the +Spanish revolution. It would be useful to read in +conjunction with Vernon Richard's "Lessons of the +Spanish Revolution" + +JULY 19th 1936 + +The pamphlet begins by recalling the massive gains +made by Spanish workers in areas where they had +succeeded in beating the fascist coup. The coup had been +defeated by workers facing down the military often with +their bare hands. It had been defeated without any help +from the popular front government who refused to arm +the people. This was to be repeated throughout the +course of the "civil war". The workers confronted fascism +with revolution the government proved more afraid of +revolution then fascism (which is not to knock the many +genuine anti-fascists in some of the government parties.). + +The July events triggered a massive social revolution +throughout Spain. (see Workers Solidarity no. 33). +Workers took over in the factories and on the lands and +began the creation of a self-managed communist society. +Millions were involved in agricultural communes and +worker's self management in the factories. + +The pamphlet however poses the central question. Why, +when a clear majority supported and took part in the +building of a social revolution, wasn't this pushed +forward by the CNT; the massive anarcho-syndicalist +union. Their answer is brief: "what happened had to +happen" + +Why was this sellout inevitable as the FOD maintain? +Why did leading anarchists move on to become leading +ministers in the Spanish government? + +In explaining their apparently fatalistic view of the CNT +the FOD go on to show how the CNT was devoid of any +revolutionary theory or programme. They had "Lyricism +aplenty" and detailed plans had been laid down as to +how an anarchist Spain would operate at their national +conference in Saragosa in May 1936. But they couldn't +get from A to B, from bread and butter struggle to a +future libertarian society. + +For this reason they handed the revolution to the tender +mercies of the Socialists, republicans and Communists. +These forces which emerged without a shred of support +from the July events were not slow to rebuild. Instead of +destroying it they propped up the Spanish state in it's +hour of need. As the FOD put it: "It breathed a +lungfull of Oxygen into an anemic, terror stricken +bourgeoisie." + +Garcia Oliver one of the "leading militants" who was +shortly to enter the government without even consulting +the Union's members claimed he had avoided "an +anarchist dictatorship". This shows a complete and crass +lack of understanding of the essential tasks of an +anarchist organisation i.e. the smashing of the state and +the transfer of power to worker's and peasants. The +CNT and Spanish workers were to pay in blood for this +collaboration. + +We acknowledge the great work of the CNT in +propagandising anarchism and the struggle against +Franco. But we must stand with the FOD in absolute +condemnation of the deferring of revolutionary politics to +class collaboration. + +The FOD had a programme which could have won the +support of the Spanish masses and led them to +anarchism and the destruction of Fascism. However they +were too small and too late. The need for such a +programme as outlined in "How anarchists should +organise" in this issue has never been more pressing + +MAY 3 rd 1937 + +By this stage the counter-revolutionaries in the +"republican" camp felt confident enough to provoke a fight +with the Barcelona working class. Police under the +command of Rodriguez Salas, the public order commissar, +attacked the telephone exchange. They were strongly +resisted by CNT organised workers inside. + +Barricades soon sprang up all over the city. Fighting +broke out with the CNT and POUM (non-Stalinist +Marxists) quickly gaining the upper hand over +government and PSUC (Stalinist controlled Catalan +"Socialist" party). After an armed stand off the workers +were finally persuaded to lay down arms by the CNT +"leadership". + + The FOD strongly urged workers to remain put and were +in the thick of the fighting. They pointed out that the +workers had won and now controlled Barcelona (after a +steady erosion of their position since July 1936). They +insisted that workers stayed put. They issued a +manifesto calling for the disbanding of the army and +parties which had supported the coup and the +establishment of a revolutionary Junta to continue the +war. + +It is worth explaining exactly what they meant by this +Junta since the word has very bad associations. They +wanted the Junta to control only the war effort. It was to +be made up of elected, recallable delegates. The economy +was to be under the control of workers through their +syndicates. + +For issuing these demands they were attacked as +traitors and agent provocateurs. The CNT brokered peace +was an abandonment of the revolutionary Barcelona +workers. Several thousand troops arrived from Valencia. +There were mass arrests, executions and immediate +press censorship. The destruction of the POUM and CNT +by Stalin's CHEKA agents began. + +The May events were a vital turning point in the Spanish +revolution. The collectives were crushed throughout +republican areas soon afterwards. Worker's control was +smashed and militarisation completed. The "peoples +army" then suffered massive and bloody defeats at the +hands of the fascists. + +We would agree with almost all the FOD's positions +summarised at the end of the pamphlet. These include; + +1. That the war should have been a continuation of the +revolution with a democratic worker's army. + +2. All available arms and money should have been seized +by the workers. (The CNT spent most of the war +guarding the government's 2,259 pesatas in gold! This +money which could have aided the revolution was +exported to Russia to buy the arms that helped destroy +it.) + +3. No collaboration with the Spanish bourgeois + +4. Real worker's unity + +5. Total socialisation of the economy and food +distribution + +6. Equalisation of pay rates + +7. No armistice with Foreign imperialist powers. + +To this we could only add the immediate granting of +independence to remaining Spanish colonies. + +The FOD were armed with a revolutionary programme +that could have brought Spain towards anarchism and +crushed the Fascists. But they were too small and to late +to hope to win workers to it's implementation The need +for anarchists organised with such a programme has +never been more pressing. We are attempting to build +one. + +Conor McLoughlin diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001137.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001137.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ecb18945 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001137.txt @@ -0,0 +1,497 @@ +5 articles + +************ + + STRIKE VICTORY AT DUBLIN STORE + from Workers Solidarity No 45 + (1995) + + +At a time of increasing attacks on workers' rights and +conditions throughout both the public and private +sectors, it is refreshing to report a victory for a +group of workers who had the guts to stand up to their +boss's intimidatory tactics. On Friday February 17th, +following a 3-week strike in defence of a colleague who +had been unfairly dismissed, eight MANDATE members at +Knightingales store in Dublin's ILAC Centre returned to +work victorious. + +With management refusing to even talk to the union at +the outset of the strike, the workers faced an uphill +battle. However their determination and the tremendous +solidarity shown by other shopworkers in the city centre +and by the general public forced the re-instatement of +the sacked worker. In addition management was forced to +concede union recognition and to recognise that issues +such as working hours, conditions and low pay need to be +addressed. + +These workers have shown the way in which unscrupulous +bosses must be tackled. In the coming weeks and months +as they follow up this victory with negotiations to +improve their working conditions, they will need the +full backing of their union and of fellow trade +unionists. + +The strike at Knightingales has served yet again to +highlight the deplorable wages and conditions endured by +thousands of workers employed in the services sector. +Trade union leaders would be better employed backing +their members in a vigorous fight against such +exploitation instead of stitching up workers through +"rationalisation" plans, redundancy deals, national +programmes and the like - all of which are designed to +break union organisation and increase exploitation. + +The Workers Solidarity Movement wish to extend hearty +congratulations to the Knightingales strikers. + +Gregor Kerr + +************ + + Trinity College SIPTU + + Spy cameras, worthless pensions and censorship + +SPY CAMERAS and pensions that give you no money were on +the agenda when the SIPTU members in Trinity College met +for their annual general meeting in March. The college +management want to install eight 'security' cameras on +the campus, with a possible 24 more to be added in +future. + +Security guards fear that jobs will be replaced by +electronic surveillance. Management denials are not +believed given that six vacancies have been left +unfilled. Just 23 staff are expected to cover the city +centre campus around the clock. An additional fear is +that staff could be spied upon, as could student +protests. + +The local SIPTU are asking for a detailed statement of +who will have the right to monitor the cameras, who will +have access to the recordings, and on what terms. They +are looking for formal guarantees that the recordings +can not be used in any inquiry into staff or student +behaviour, where it is not directly concerned with a +crime. + +But, as the union newsletter says, "even with a lot of +written guarantees and procedures in place, there is no +getting away from the uncomfortable reality that the +cameras would mean that 'big brother' is watching you". + +PENSION ...LESS THAN A PITTANCE + +Full-time staff get a pension equal to two thirds of +salary. Part-time staff get nothing. A claim for the +same pension rights in proportion to the hours worked +has been on the table for years. Management, in keeping +with government policy, want to 'co-ordinate' pensions. +This means that the value of the social welfare old age +pension is subtracted from the workplace pension. For +part-time staff this will mean getting absolutely zero +from Trinity after a lifetime of work as a cleaner, +secretary or catering assistant. + +A one-day 'warning strike for part-time pension rights +last year was well supported, not only by SIPTU but also +by other unions and some non-union staff. If proper +pensions are not granted the mood is for a serious +fight. + +NO DEBATE WITHOUT PERMISSION + +A motion to the meeting condemning the Industrial +Relations Act and calling for a campaign to repeal it +was proposed by the local union President, Jim Larragy, +and seconded by WSM member Alan MacSimin. While +expressing his agreement with the spirit of the motion, +Education branch president Jack McGinley quoted rule 62 +of SIPTU which prevents a local section from even +discussing an issue not directly related to their +workplace unless they ask permission first! The meeting +was then asked to vote on whether to vote on the motion. +Amidst a lot of confusion the meeting narrowly voted to +obey the rule book's censorship. + +When SIPTU was formed through a merger of the ITGWU and +the FWUI we were stitched up when we were given a ready +made rule book that members had no input into. The only +choice we had was to accept it in its entirety or to +reject it, which would have made it impossible for the +union to function or even legally exist. + +A rules revision conference is planned for 1997. +Oppositionists within the union should start identifying +the worst rules and begin encouraging their branches to +discuss what rules we want in what is supposed to be our +union. + +********** + + SOME PEOPLE ARE DOING ALL RIGHT + +Bosses Get -> Highest Growth Rate + -> Highest Productivity +Workers Get -> Shortest Holidays + -> Second Longest Working Hours + and + -> Highest Long Term Unemployment + +IRISH WORKERS enjoy fewer holidays than anyone else in +the European Union, work longer hours than workers +anywhere else apart from Britain, and suffer the highest +rate of long term unemployment in the countries of the +Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development +(OECD). + +Total Annual & Public Holidays + +Germany 40 +Belgium 38.5 +Spain 38 +Luxemburg 37 +France 36.5 +Greece 35 +Denmark 35 +Portugal 35 +Italy 33.5 +Netherlands 32.5 +Britain 31 +Ireland 29 + +Source: Dept. of Enterprise & Employment, Holiday +Legislation Discussion Document + +Yet we are told that we must keep making sacrifices to +become more "competitive". We are expected to put up +with wage restraint, redundancies, de-skilling, and +worsening conditions. The more we give the bosses the +more they demand. Showing weakness only encourages a +bully. + +After all the sacrifices, all the years of wage +restraint/no-strike deals (PNR, PESP, PCW), all the +"rationalisations", all the cutbacks, the bosses should +be happy. Ireland has the fastest growing economy in +Europe, productivity shot up by a massive 50% between +1987 and 1993. Ireland broke all previous EU records +when industrial output in 1994 increased by 11.2%. + +Thanks, you're fired! + +And what about the workers? In payment we got nothing +unless you count yet more closures, threats and +management aggression like has happened at Silverlea, +Sunbeam, TEAM, Dunnes Stores and a multitude of other +employments. + +With 50% of the unemployed out of work for more than one +year (the official definition of long term +unemployment), Ireland has condemned a higher proportion +of its workers to a poverty line existence than any of +the other 23 countries in the OECD. At the same time +the economy is doing very well for most employers. + +Cut hours, not jobs + +In Ireland we work an average 53 hours longer in a year +than the EC average. Even if only those extra hours +worked by the 200,000 industrial employees were +distributed among the unemployed there would be +10,600,000 additional work hours available each year. +At the average 1,813 hours worked in the EU this would +mean almost 6,000 new jobs. + +Annual Working Hours + +Belgium 1,692.26 +Italy 1,744.05 +Denmark 1,746.00 +Germany 1,746.80 +Luxemburg 1,770.62 +France 1,774.59 +Netherlands 1,792.70 +Spain 1,802.64 +Greece 1,822.50 +Portugal 1,858.50 +Ireland 1,866.48 +Britain 1,987.72 + +Source: Eurostat 1/95, Working Time in the EU + +Irish workers produce all the country's wealth. We +should seek to win further reductions in the working +week, without any loss of pay. Ultimately, however, we +will be stuck with the contradiction of a rich economy +but a poor workforce until we get rid of the present +system and set about reorganising society in the +interests of the great majority. Anything less than +that combination of socialism, freedom and workers +control (what we call anarchism) will leave our living +standards at the mercy of employers and state +bureaucrats. The reality of capitalism is the best +argument for its abolition. + +************* + + Irish Building workers ripped off in Germany + +Thousands of Irish building workers have gone to work in +Germany over the last few years. As European +integration proceeds, German contractors are +increasingly turning to foreign workers. They want +foreign workers because they are cheaper, unorganised +and easier to push around. Some are beginning to fight +back. + +Spanish building workers at the 'Bonum-Immobilien' near +Berlin worked for several weeks without getting paid +before striking on August 3rd of last year. These +workers were employed by Levant, a Dutch temporary +employment agency, which rented them to contractor +Wolfgang Sturm. The workers signed contracts with +Levant for DM26 per hour (skilled German building +workers average DM65 per hour), which then sold their +services for DM40 per hour and kept the difference. +Agencies such as this do not pay social insurance or +taxes, claiming that the workers are "self-employed". + +Subbies skip out + +The strike ended when the company paid a portion of the +back wages. It refused to pay the balance on the +grounds that the customer was dissatisfied with the +work. The Spanish builders were left with just enough +money to pay for their digs. Such disputes are becoming +more common. + +The Portuguese firm SOMEC got a contract for the +Friedrichstadt-Passagan in Berlin's city centre. 200 +Portuguese worked twelve hours a day, six days a week. +SOMEC has 12,000 Portuguese workers on sites in Germany. +They get DM2500 for a six day week which includes many +hours overtime. A worker with a German passport would +get up to DM6,000. + +In September, twenty of these workers went on hunger +strike in Leipzig because they had not been paid. They +lived in miserable conditions, three to a container. +They worked a six day week, fifteen hours a day, for +DM20 per hour. Last July, Italian workers blocked a +crane in Pankow to demand payment of their wages. Three +months later, two more cranes were blocked by English +workers demanding payment of their wages. + +Cowboy agencies + +There are more than 6,000 Irish and English building +workers in Berlin at the moment. Many were hired +through Dutch agencies. Workers often are not paid, as +subcontractors disappear with their pay packets. The +workers thought they would be earning good money but +find they have to work 60 or 70 hours a week to get it. + +The employment agencies charge both the employer who +hires workers, and the workers who have to pay part of +their hourly wage as commission. Many agencies are not +registered and operate illegally or just refuse to pay +wages, leaving workers to survive on their own without +money. + +Many workers end up living out of their cars or the so- +called "cockroach" hotels. Every month between 100 and +200 Irish and British workers turn up at their +consulates without money or a return ticket home. This +is what the "free market" means, the bosses are free to +do whatever they can get away with. The way to stop +them is organisation, joining a trade union and creating +building workers' committees to stop the unions +backsliding and stop the job where bosses are ripping +people off. + +Sources: Industrial Worker and Building Workers +Newsletter + +****************************** + + PART TIME WORKERS IN NORTH SACKED BY TORIES + +TEMPORARY STAFF working for the Department of Employment +throughout the six counties are being thrown out of +their jobs. A leaked circular, publicised by Labour MP +Richard Burden, tells personnel managers to end workers' +contracts just before they qualify for their employment +rights. + +The document, entitled Dept. of Employment ES Personnel +Notice 5/95, states "all new temporary appointments in +the Employment Service will be limited to 51 weeks to +avoid workers qualifying for full employment rights". +The document, which was never intended to be made +public, goes on to say "if it is not checked, we might +later find that the individual has already worked for up +to two years and might now be in the position of having +enough service to qualify for a wide range of employment +rights". + +The Tories obsession with denying people job security +means they will sack good, proven staff rather than +allow them basic legal rights. Hurrah for free +enterprise! + +**************************************************** +From WS 46 + ** WE ALL WANT EARLY RETIREMENT ** + ** Teachers claim should be taken up by all! ** + +ON TUESDAY May 23rd, approximately 15,000 teachers +marched through Dublin as part of their campaign for +early retirement. The June 1995 issue of Tuarascail +(magazine of the Irish National Teachers +Organisation - INTO) said that this was "...merely +the initiation and not the culmination of a +campaign. The outstanding issues must be addressed +and resolved. They will not go away. Now is the +time to deal with the issues." Rather than +pledging further strike action however (INTO members +had voted by an 86% majority for limited industrial +action), Tuarascail went on to say that the teacher +unions "...are ready to re-open negotiations." + +By 13th July, the unions had called off any threat of +further action following agreement with the Department of +Education that talks on early retirement would resume in +September. The union leaderships have agreed that no more +than 300 teachers will be allowed to take early retirement +annually and that the overall cost of the early retirement +claim will be kept within the terms of the Programme for +Competitiveness and Work (PCW). The government agreed to +set up a commission to report on public service pensions, +examining in particular voluntary early retirement. This +commission is not expected to report until 1998. + +Show of submission + +Yet again the teachers' union leaders - with the +connivance of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) - +have managed to turn a show of strength into meek +submission. + +Talks on the teachers' claim have been going on since +early 1994. It was launched amid a barrage of statistics +from the Departments of Finance and Education which were +designed to prove that the productivity of Irish teachers +compared unfavourably with the educational systems of other +EU countries and that - by extension - the claim could not +be afforded. These statistics were blown out of the water +however by an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and +Development (OECD) report "Education at a Glance" published +in March of this year. + +Working Conditions + +This report (based on a survey carried out in 1992) +showed that Irish teachers are faced by the largest classes +in Europe. Of the countries surveyed, only Turkey with a +Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) of 29.3 exceeds the Irish ratio of +25.6. (The average PTR in EU countries was 18.5). Total +teaching hours in Irish primary schools (951 per annum) was +third highest in the survey, well above the EU average of +882. Finally, the survey showed that the Irish primary +education system is grossly underfunded with average +spending per pupil of only $1,770 compared to the EU average +of $2,902.* + +The teachers' claim for an early retirement scheme +which would help ease some of the stresses caused by having +to work in overcrowded and underfunded classrooms, and to +deal with the social effects of poverty and unemployment is +thus entirely justified. While the final outcome remains +unclear, their action has had the effect of placing the +issue of early retirement firmly on the agenda. + +Crazy anomaly + +It is one of the crazy anomalies in the capitalist +system that huge numbers of people (approximately half a +million on this small island) are placed under huge stress +by being without a job or adequate income while others are +stressed out through having to work harder and for longer +hours. The average worker spends roughly 90,000 hours of +his/her life at work - if he/she is "lucky" enough to have a +job. + +Over a hundred years ago, when the American Federation +of Labour issued its call for an eight-hour day (see +Anarchist Origins of May Day in Workers Solidarity no.45), +workers came together in large numbers to fight for the +right to spend more time with their families. Now is the +time for the trade union movement to raise the call for +shorter working hours, longer holidays and earlier +retirement - with of course no loss of pay. + +Why should we all have to wait until we are too old to +enjoy it before being allowed to retire? Why should we be +expected to work at least 39 hours per week (plus overtime +in may cases) in order to be able to survive? The +achievement of early retirement and a shorter working week +would have many benefits - reducing stress and pressures in +the workplace, giving workers more time for leisure +activities and creating work for those who are presently +written off by the system. + +Golden Handshakes + +Politicians and business leaders have no difficulty +funding huge salaries, "golden handshakes" and enhanced +pensions for themselves. In 1994, five executives at Allied +Irish Bank gave themselves an average wage increase of +162,500 per annum each. When Matt Russell - the legal +officer in the Attorney General's office who was responsible +for the delay in responding to extradition warrants for +child sex abuser Fr. Brendan Smyth - was forced to take +early retirement earlier this year he was given a golden +handshake of 138,000. Government ministers can qualify +for full pensions after only three years of service. +Teachers have nothing to apologise for in looking for +early retirement. It is an issue which should be taken up +by the trade union movement as a whole. +Gregor Kerr + +* All figures are taken from INTO magazine Tuarascail, +April/May 1995 and refer to the 26-County State. + + +******************************* + +THERE IS A new mood out there. It is demonstrated +by the magnificent support for the Dunnes Stores +strike, and the occupations at Sunbeam and the Irish +Press. As management push ahead with redundancies, +yellow pack jobs, contract working and +casualisation, workers are pushing back. When your +back is against the wall you have to push back or be +squashed. + +However this should not be confused with a fight for a +better life. For many, expectations of job security and a +decent standard of living are being shattered. And some are +determined not to take it lying down. +Not only do we all need to hang on to our jobs, wages, +promotional outlets and all the other things that we won +over the last twenty five years, we also need to rebuild the +solidarity and strength that allowed us to win these things +in the first place. + +Victories achieved in defensive battles will encourage +others to resist the bosses offensive. They will also +contribute to rebuilding the confidence needed to fight for +more of the good things in life. If you can not defend what +you already have, it is much harder to believe that you can +win improvements. But if you win on one issue, then you are +open to the idea that you can win a lot more. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001138.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001138.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f55d728b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001138.txt @@ -0,0 +1,329 @@ +4 articles + +From WS 45 (1995) +Perks Before People, DL Endorse Water Cut-Offs + +The formation of the "Rainbow Coalition" in +December led to a number of promises of change in +the double taxation service charges which have been +vigorously opposed by residents' and community +groups throughout the state since their inception. + +Legislation was promised to "delimit" the power of +County Councils to disconnect water supply for non- +payment of charges. Within hours of the +government's formation, newly-appointed Minister of +State Pat Rabbitte of Democratic Left was on RTE +television pledging that "there will be no more +disconnections" (or words to that effect). +Rabbitte's statement came at a particularly emotive +time. The previous three weeks had seen a massive +campaign where the power of local residents' groups +and the Federation of Dublin Anti-Water Charge +Campaigns had combined to defeat attempts by South +Dublin County Council to disconnect non-payers' +water supply. + +************* Empty promise ************* + +As we go to press however (early April) - over +three months into the government's life - the +government has just announced its proposed +legislation and it is clear that the pledges in the +Programme for Government represented no more than +the usual empty political promises. The +"delimiting" of the Councils' power to disconnect +water simply means that Council officials will have +to get a court order to allow them to do so. For +Democratic Left this involves a total capitulation. + +Having made the abolition of service charges one of +their main demands on entering the negotiations to +form a government and having met with stiff +resistance to this from both Labour and Fine Gael, +they opted for the social democrats' usual response +in sticky situations - fudge it, come up with a +formulation of words likely to keep everyone happy +for the time being. Thus the demand for complete +abolition of the charges was quietly shelved, +attention was focussed on disconnections and the +word "delimit" made its appearance. To DL it meant +that disconnections were finished. However to +Labour and Fine Gael (and according to the +dictionary) the meaning was somewhat different +(DELIMIT: to fix or mark the limit of - Chambers's +20th Century Dictionary). + +It didn't take long for the County Managers to spot +the loophole. With Councils throughout the State +experiencing a dramatic fall-off in revenue as PAYE +taxpayers took Pat Rabbitte at his word and joined +the non-payment campaign (e.g. Meath County +Council's income from charges fell from 122,000 in +January 1994 to 79,000 in January 1995) Council +officials launched an intensive lobby on government +ministers to maintain the right to disconnect. + +Far from sweet + +As reports emerged that the issue of water charges +and disconnections had led to several rows among +cabinet ministers and crisis meetings between the +leaders of the three government parties, it began +to appear that the fudge was far from sweet. And +when the legislation was finally announced - just +days before DL's Annual Delegate Conference - the +capitulation was complete. A party which had +started out from a position of complete opposition +to service charges had endorsed the right of +Councils to disconnect water supply to non-payers - +provided they got a court order first! + +The argument put forward - even by some DL +activists who had been involved in the fight +against service charges is that they are 'only a +small party', that the issue would not even be on +the agenda but for them and - of course - that it +is 'a step in the right direction'. They should +try telling that to the 900 people who had their +supply cut-off last year or to the hundreds now +likely to face court summonses. And while the DL +Conference did pass an amended motion criticising +the government for failing to call service charges +double taxation, they overwhelmingly rejected a +motion condemning the party leadership for not +gaining a government commitment to abolish the +charges. + +The lesson for anti-service charge campaigners - +and indeed for all members of the working class - +should be clear. Trust no-one but yourselves, the +only way to victory is through solidarity action +and through a continuation and intensification of +the campaign. Those who claim to use +"parliamentary democracy" to achieve change will +eventually compromise and fudge - usually in the +cause of something called "the national interest". + +We're not paying + +County Councils in Dublin and elsewhere know that +the vast majority of people are not going to pay +these charges in 1995 just as they refused to pay +them in 1994. They also know that the threat of +disconnections or court action doesn't worry us. +When they tried their intimidatory tactics before, +they were sent packing. Anti-service charge +campaigners should now have but one message for +those who would attempt to fudge the issue - stop +trying to fool us, we know that your mercs and +perks are more important to you than your +principles (if you have any left). + +Continue the campaign + +The Federation of Dublin Anti-Water Charge +Campaigns has outlined a strategy to render the new +regulations on disconnections unworkable. This +strategy will include + +*Every court case must be contested + +*No householder will be isolated and there will be +a coordinated approach to all court hearings + +*Legal advice and representation will be arranged + +*In the event of disconnection being ordered, this +will be resisted by peaceful protest + +*Where water is disconnected, reconnection will be +arranged + +*Appeals will be made to local authority workers +and their trade unions to continue to refuse to co- +operate with disconnections + +********************************************************* + + ** Water charge campaigners ready for action ** + +NEW THREAT OF CUT-OFFS +DO YOU REMEMBER Democratic Lefts election promises? The +party who contested the last election on an anti-service +charges platform have convinced their Fine Gael and Labour +partners to drag non-payers through the courts instead of +immediately cutting off their water. Hooray! Like all +professional politicians, DL see no reason to stand by their +election promises. According to their way of doing things, +voters are merely sheep who can be told anything to get +their votes and then promptly forgotten about. +Before the Act was even passed householders in Dn +Laoghaire/Rathdown and Fingal got letters threatening them +with instant court action if they didnt pay up without +delay. This scare tactic was intended to frighten people +into paying. It didnt work. 60% (70,000 households) are +refusing to pay in the three Dublin county areas. +Under the legislation two further letters have to be +sent, with at least two weeks between them. The third one +has to be delivered either by hand or by recorded post. +Only then can the county manager seek a court date. It +looks like September may see the start of court cases, South +Dublin Council having already sent out the first two letters +to non-payers. +The Federation of Dublin Anti-Water Charge Campaigns is +ready for action. Local meetings have been held throughout +the three Dublin council areas, some attracting over 100 +people. If enough people stick together we can follow the +hot summer with a hotter autumn. The courts cant defeat us +if we stay united, and we have already shown that the +Federation can turn disconnections into reconnections within +hours. +Keep up the refusal to pay, get more information, +contact the campaign at 494 7025 (Gregor Kerr) or 820 1753 +(Joe Higgins). + +NATIONAL CONFERENCE +Anti-Charges campaigners from Cork, Limerick, Dundalk, +Galway, Offaly, Monaghan and the three Dublin council areas +met in May. Over 80 activists shared information and +reaffirmed their intention to resist double taxation, +whether it be called service charges, rates, or +community development charges. +One particularly petty response to the campaign was +reported from Limerick where the County Council is now +charging people for waiver application forms. Waivers are +supposed to be for people who cannot afford to pay the +charges! Hopefully householders in the county area will +take a lesson from the those in the Corporation area whose +campaigning led to the abolition of service charges back in +1991. The Corporation had employed contractors to wreck +water pipes leading into the homes of 140 non-payers on a +Friday afternoon, the local campaign had every one of them +reconnected by noon the next day. After that the +politicians admitted defeat and abolished charges in their +area. + +OUTRAGEOUS ACCOUNTANTS AND OUTRAGED TAXPAYERS +When the government suggested that accountants be obliged to +report tax evasion by their clients they held a mass meeting +in Dublins RDS to protest at this "outrage". If some kid +robs a car radio these are the sort of people who scream for +harsher punishments and more garda on the streets. When +they are told to report major frauds involving millions of +pounds they are indignant. Finance Minister Ruairi Quinn +agrees with them. Section 153 of the Finance Act allows +them to overlook 5,000 in tax fraud. + Last year the average PAYE worker paid 34,115 in income +tax. Last year also saw a tax amnesty for rich tax didgers +and big business which wrote off at least 500 million. +This amount would have funded all the service charges in the +country for the next ten years. +They had hardly started their meeting when a dozen people +from anti-water charge groups took over the stage and hung +up big banner inscribed with "When big business cheats, PAYE +workers pay". The meeting was held up for half an hour +while the accountants were given a lecture about how little +tax the wealthy pay and how much is taken from working +people. They all had to sit and listen as some dopey +accountant had locked the door of the hall to stop more +protesters getting in and then couldnt open it again! + +******************************************************* + + ** Have I got news for you ** + +SUNDAY MAY 13th saw the first national conference of +anti-water charge campaigns from all around the +country. In Dublin a majority of eligible +householders are ignoring the law and refusing to +pay. Similar figures are available elsewhere. Yet +this conference received only one and a half column +inches in the Irish Times, and no mention in any +other paper. + +Meanwhile the Finance Minister, Ruairi Quinn, was bringing +in a new law which will require accountants to report any of +their clients who they discover are breaking the law by +trying to cheat on tax. The accountants protested by +holding meetings and issuing press statements. Their side +was covered in all sections of the media: radio, newspapers +and television. Special TV programmes were made about them, +and they even had an accountant on Questions & Answers to +plead their case. + +Biased reporting + +This is a good example of the way reporting is carried +out. TV, radio and newspapers publish very bland accounts +of what is going on. They may make a big deal, and give us +all a laugh, out of the so-called sexual scandals of the +British Tory party. We also see a lot of articles +criticising working class people such as "dole spongers" or +people claiming "too much" on their insurance. But serious +investigative journalism is usually avoided when it comes to +business or politics. In general, the mass media is pro- +business and pro-state. + +It is not a conspiracy + +This is not a conspiracy theory. We do not belive +there is a secret force controlling mainstream media +reporting, intent on bending the truth one way or another. +There are very good reasons why the media is as it is. +It costs a fortune own a newspaper or TV company. + +Anybody who does so, like Tony O'Reilly, Rupert Murdoch or +Conrad Black, is a millionaire. Media moguls are in the +same league as the rest of the rich. They hang pout in the +same clubs, they buy racehorses from each other and, more +importantly, they have similar economic interests. + +They all want a stable economy, friendly to capitalists +like themselves. They support each other in trying to lower +their employees' wages and breaking strikes. They all want +to see lower public spending on services like health, and +more tax breaks for the rich. While it is true that they +complete with each other for audiences and advertising, it +is also true that they have far more in common with each +other than with the rest of us. + +Power of advertising + +There is a more direct link that connects the ruling +class with media coverage. That is advertising and +shareholding. Most papers and broadcasting stations depend +on advertising to stay afloat. It costs thousands of pounds +to put even a short advert. on TV or in a national +newspaper. That is why most of it comes from +multinationals, banks, insurance firms, etc. +If one newspaper published articles slagging off the +Bank of Ireland, they would soon find the bank refusing to +buy advertising space from them. There are only so many big +advertisers. + +If a media outlet was to lose this advertising to a +competitor they would quickly find themselves in trouble. +Profits would fall, and the shareholders would threaten to +pull out. So no media company will be in hurry to publish +controversial news about a company that advertises with +them. Likewise, they are most unlikely to publish anything +controversial about people who own shares in their firm. +The process can be more subtle, harder to pinpoint. +Most media are dependent on advertising to be profitable, +and advertisers target certain groups in their campaigns +(e.g. people with high incomes). The paper or TV station, +then, will also have to target these groups if it is to +attract advertising, which further narrows the range of +opinions they are likely to broadcast. + +These factors help to ensure that little of a +controversial nature gets into the mainstream propaganda +networks. It makes simple economic sense. That is why a +massive, if passive, revolt can take place in the suburbs of +Ireland and the media are not interested. And that is why +it takes amateurs putting in voluntary time and energy to +publish alternative news and ideas. + +Andrew Blackmore + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001139.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001139.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..563dd39a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001139.txt @@ -0,0 +1,324 @@ + Thats Capitalism (WS 45) + +358 billionaires in the world have a net worth of +$760 billion, equal to the wealth of 45% of the +world's population. The 200 largest multinational +corporations control over 25% of the planet's +economic activity. Meanwhile, according to the +international Labour Organisation, 30% of the +planet's workforce - 820 million people - are +either underemployed or unemployed. + +***** + +Bernie Cahill, executive chairperson of Aer Lingus, +presided over job losses and wage freezes in the +national airline. He hammered his message home; +nobody should expect a steady job or a reasonable +wage. Of course such rules don't apply to him. As +well as his Aer Lingus job, he is the chairman of +Larry Goodman's massive Irish Food Processors and +has gone for the hatrick by also being chairman of +Greencore, the state sugar company. + +***** + +Right in the centre of the "free world" state +labour inspectors reported earlier this year that +they had found over 2,000 sweatshops in New York +City. Mostly exploiting non-English speaking and +illegal immigrant workers, the average pay was +1.67 per hour for a 12 hour day. No overtime is +paid, underage labour is common. Fire exits are +often padlocked and sprinkler systems unmaintained. +The authorities have no plans to add to the just 20 +inspectors employed to investigate, nor to increase +the maximum fines of 1,000 (first offence)/2,000 +(subsequent offences) for employing 'off-the-books' +workers in these near slavery conditions. + +***** + +Children in Dublin's Inner City have to wait up to +six years for some dental treatments, according to +the Inner City Teachers Group. They revealed that +one 12 year old found by the school dental service +to need braces was told that there is a six year +waiting list and that he would be 18 before he gets +them. The teachers group complained that there are +also six year waiting lists for children needing +treatment for cleft palates. + +***** + +The School of the Americas (SOA) is the unlikely +name given to a military training academy set up by +the US government in 1946 to "promote democracy in +the Americas". Since that time 'graduates' from +the academy have played brutal havoc with the human +rights of people throughout south and central +America. One example deserves mention. The UN +sponsored Truth Commission,which looked into +atrocities carried out in El Salvador during the +civil war there, found: + + Romero assassination: two of the three officers +cited as being ringleaders were graduates of SOA. + + El Mozote massacre of Salvadoran civilians: of +twelve officers cited, ten were from the SOA. + + Massacre of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper +and her daughter: of 27 officers cited, 19 were +from the SOA. + +***** + +Allied Irish Bank gave its five executive directors +a 35% pay increase. Each of them earned an average +of 626,000 last year. These are the people who +refused to pay bank staff their 6.5% claim three +years ago and tried to break their union, the Irish +Bank Officials Association. + +***** + +Raoul Cedras, formerly of Haiti, has moved to a +beach home in Panama courtesy of the US government. +The former dictator will have his rent paid by them +for the next year. After that Cedras will have to +fend for himself. But to make things easy, the US +government is freeing the assets he stole and +siphoned off to the USA during his period of power +in Haiti. Who says crime doesn't pay? + +***** + +No recession for the directors of Cement Roadstone, +which has recorded a pre-tax profit of 116 million +(up 52%). Last year they were paid an average +532,664 each, an increase of almost 48%. Of +course none of their staff got rises like that. +The people who do the work were limited to the 3% +PCW increase. + +***** + +Cholera is a disease caused by poverty and poor +sanitation. Get rid of poverty and cholera usually +disappears in turn. What is surprising, however, +is that it is making a comeback in countries where +it has been unknown for most of this century - like +the Ukraine, Romania and Albania. Recent reports +indicate that the disease is most widespread in +Romania, but in the Ukraine last October it killed +20 people and put another 800 into hospital. Most +commentators put the return of this deadly disease +down to the collapse of the health services in +those countries. With privatisation all the rage, +nobody wants to take over the 'unprofitable' +business of keeping people healthy through basic +sanitation. So much for the 'free market'. + +***** + +600 Northern Bank staff in the six counties are to +have their pay cut by up to 5,000 a year. The +IBOA has described the cuts as "outrageous at a +time when the bank is showing such strong +profitability" + +***** + +According to the Centre for Economic Investigation +for the Caribbean, the minimum cost of living for a +Dominican family of four in 1993 was $276 per +month. Westinghouse, one of the major US +multinationals operating in the Dominican +Republic's Free Trade Zone, was paying its workers +$99 per month during this period. During the +period 1980-92, real wages declined by 46% under +austerity programmes applied to the Dominican +Republic by the IMF and USAID (a branch of the US +government). + +***** + +The World Bank's 'World Development Report' for +1993, entitled Investing in Health, reports that +life expectancy in at least eleven African +countries has declined since 1986 when 'Structural +Adjustment Programmes' of the World Bank were first +applied. In Tanzania alone, female life expectancy +has dropped six years over the period of reform. + +***** + +Last year the slaughter in Rwanda hit the +headlines. But one aspect of the violence that +received less attention than might have been +expected was the involvement of the Catholic +Church. The United Nations Centre for Human Rights +in Kigali has indicated that there is "strong +evidence" that at least a dozen priests were +involved in murder. Two priests and two nuns are +already in prison. Other are accused of +"supervising" gangs of killers that marauded, +killing Tutsis. One Tutsi priest has been quoted +as saying that "the bishop and the archbishop could +have stopped the killing, but they didn't speak +out". + +*********************************************** + +That's capitalism [WS 46] + +Cholera is a disease caused by poverty and poor +sanitation. Get rid of poverty and cholera usually +disappears in turn. What is surprising, however, is +that it is making a comeback in countries where it has +been unknown for most of this century - like the +Ukraine, Romania and Albania. Recent reports indicate +that the disease is most widespread in Romania, but in +the Ukraine last October it killed 20 people and put +another 800 into hospital. Most commentators put the +return of this deadly disease down to the collapse of +the health services in those countries. With +privatisation all the rage, nobody wants to take over +the 'unprofitable' business of keeping people healthy +through basic sanitation. So much for the 'free +market'. + +***** + +In Ireland the rich are having a ball. In 1965 wealth +and property taxes represented 25% of the total tax +take. By 1990 this had shrunk to just 5%. Although the +European Union suggests 30% as a minimum figure for +corporation tax, firms here get away with paying a +maximum of 10%. And if the bosses don't want to pay +these minimal sums, no bother. Nobody has ever served a +jail sentence in Ireland for tax evasion. + +***** + +According to the Centre for Economic Investigation for +the Caribbean, the minimum cost of living for a +Dominican family of four in 1993 was $276 per month. +Westinghouse, one of the major US multinationals +operating in the Dominican Republic's Free Trade Zone, +was paying its workers $99 per month during this period. +During the period 1980-92, real wages declined by 46% +under austerity programmes applied to the Dominican +Republic by the IMF and USAID (a branch of the US +government). + +***** + +In the last tax year only 5,000 self-employed admitted +to incomes over 25,000 a year. There must be an awful +lot of poor shopkeepers, doctors, architects, dentists, +auctioneers and consultants out there. + +***** + +The World Bank's 'World Development Report' for 1993, +entitled Investing in Health, reports that life +expectancy in at least eleven African countries has +declined since 1986 when 'Structural Adjustment +Programmes' of the World Bank were first applied. In +Tanzania alone, female life expectancy has dropped six +years over the period of reform. + +***** + +Last year the 26 county economy grew by 7% (and the +government expects it to grow by 5% in 1995). This +level of growth is the highest in the Organisation for +Economic Co-operation & Development. Exports grew by +13.9% last year, while imports only rose by 11.9%. A +healthy picture? No, just for the rich. The government +expects official unemployment figures to also rise, to +278,400 this year. + +***** + +Last year the slaughter in Rwanda hit the headlines. +But one aspect of the violence that received less +attention than might have been expected was the +involvement of the Catholic Church. The United Nations +Centre for Human Rights in Kigali has indicated that +there is "strong evidence" that at least a dozen priests +were involved in murder. Two priests and two nuns are +already in prison. Other are accused of "supervising" +gangs of killers that marauded, killing Tutsis. One +Tutsi priest has been quoted as saying that "the bishop +and the archbishop could have stopped the killing, but +they didn't speak out". + +***** + +Allied Irish Banks, who tried to break the IBOA bank +workers union and get out of paying a 6.5% rise in 1992, +have just declared yet another increase in profits. In +the six months up to June 30th their profits jumped 10% +to 161.7 million. + +***** + +In Clinton's USA a white minor accused of drugs offences +has a 1 in 70 chance of being transferred to an adult +court (which can hand down a harsher sentence). A black +minor has a 1 in 18 chance. + +*************************************************** + + ** What a waste! ** + +We're commonly sold the lie that poverty and suffering +are the result of there not being enough resources to go +around. Yet the United States has spent $4 trillion on +its nuclear weapons program over the past 50 years, +according to a report "Atomic Audit: What the U.S. +Nuclear Arsenal Really Cost," published by 'The U.S. +Nuclear Weapons Cost Study Project'. + +The $4 trillion represents between one-quarter to +one-third of all 'defence' spending since World War II. +It includes most, but not all, of the program's direct, +indirect and overhead costs. + +Spending on the nuclear weapons program has dropped but +$25 billion annually is still being spent on nuclear +weapons and about $250 billion overall on war +preparations. + +******************************************************* + + ** Liars caught out ** + +EL SALVADOR A regional American newspaper, the Seattle +Post-Intelligencer, reported in June that U.S. Army +commandos killed 83 leftist guerrillas in El Salvador in +1985 in a secret raid. The report confirms what had +long been suspected: that U.S. military personnel were +actively engaged in combat operations during El +Salvador's long civil war. The newspaper said that it +based its report on interviews with an ex-Ranger who +took part in the raid, a former Army special operations +officer and a former government official involved in the +cover up. The US government has always denied that it +sent troops to help the Salvadorean dictatorship in its +terrorist campaign against the rebels. + +*************************************************** + + ** Looking after No.1 ** + +While the US authorities slash welfare payments to +single parents and their children, they are giving +enormous handouts to their rich pals. $10 billion was +spent last year on subsidies to people with mortgages in +excess of $250,000, what might be called a 'mansion +subsidy'. Another $200 million in subsidies went to big +farmers who have incomes over $5 million a year. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001140.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001140.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4d32492c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001140.txt @@ -0,0 +1,74 @@ +2 articles + +Mexican protest + +The saga of the Zapatistas took a new turn when a +major international bank called on the Mexican +government to wipe out the rebels before any more +loans are given. "The government will need to +eliminate the Zapatistas to demonstrate their +effective control of the national territory and of +security policy". This was the advice of Chase +Manhattan Bank on January 13th. + +Countries, such as Mexico, which depend on the +International Monetary Fund and international bank +loans, are continually being dictated to about +their public spending policies. But it is rare to +find such clear evidence about the control that is +exerted. + +Within two weeks the government had launched an +offensive against the EZLN rebels. It failed. All +it 'achieved' was a massive devaluation of the +peso, meaning a lower standard of living for the +working class and the poor. + +News came from Mexico that suspects were being +tortured. Amnesty International reported that it +had "documented widespread human rights violations +in the context of this conflict, including summary +execution of prisoners, extensive use of torture, +and 'disappearances' perpetrated by the Mexican +army". Despite this widespread use of torture, the +Group of Seven (G7) most powerful countries in the +world approved loans to Mexico of $47.8 billion +last February. + +All over the world protests were organised against +Chase Bank. In Dublin they have a branch in that +haven for tax evaders, the Financial Services +Centre. The local WSM organised an ad-hoc 'Stop +the Torture in Mexico Committee' to provide a +neutral banner under which a protest could be +organised. A lunchtime picket was placed on Chase +and staff were leafletted about their employers +support for repression. + +Murder in Chechnya + +In January Workers Solidarity Movement members also +responded to calls to protest against the assault +on Chechnya, when they got together with other +socialists and placed a picket on the Russian +embassy in Dublin's Orwell Road. About 25 braved +the rain to leave the Russian government's +representatives in no doubt about the way their +invasion of Chechnya and bombing attacks on +civilians are viewed here. + +The Moscow regime's lies had been exposed when they +claimed only "military targets" were being hit. +Reporters in Grozny described and filmed massive +civilian fatalities. A letter handed in to the +ambassador accused the Russian army of +"indiscriminate slaughter of the civilian +population" and expressed our solidarity with the +Russian army conscriptswho are refusing to fight +and are deserting from the army. + +We give no support to the former Chechen government +(a collection of gangsters every bit as bad as +Yeltsin's lot). Our support goes to the ordinary +people who have a burning desire to be free of +occupation forces, poverty and the horrors of war. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001141.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001141.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d9a562d5 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001141.txt @@ -0,0 +1,308 @@ +6 articles + +from WS 45 +THE ITALIAN JOB + +Florence has to be one of the most beautiful cites +in Italy if not in the world. Nestled in a Tuscan +valley it lies half way between Milan and Rome. +Thanks to the hospitality of some friends in the +Anarchist Movement of Florence (MAF) three members +of the Workers Solidarity Movement were recently +able to visit this city. During the week we spent +there we were able to be tourists by day and meet +with anarchists by night. + +On the Friday night that we were arrived in Florence +the MAF organised a meal and an informal question +and answer session in their headquarters. Apres the +beautiful food and some glasses of wine we learnt +more about each others' activities and current +situations. The questions we were asked ranged from +the Irish government's current relationship with +Sinn Fin to the possibilities for increased class +struggle with the cease-fire? We were also asked +for our views on the Internet and the attempts by +the US government to have some control over it. + +COBAS + +We found out about the Cobas, which is a loose +umbrella group of unofficial trade unions. They +grew from broad disaffection with the official trade +unions in 1987-88, initially in the railway, +education and health sectors. In 1991 they went on +to organise what by now has become a famous one day +general strike against the Gulf War. It was +fascinating to talk to someone who was involved in +this movement. The talks went on until the early +hours. A great deal of thanks must go to our tired +translators on that night. + +The Social Centres + +On Saturday night we were taken on a whirlwind tour +of the various social centres which exist in +Florence. These Centres are all in occupied +buildings and operated by various groups with +different political agendas. The local councils +have kicked out people from these squats but they do +not seem to do it with any great persistence. + +The first Social Centre I visited was the +'Autonomist', centre which had a famous rock group +playing. The gig itself was free although you were +asked to contribute some small amount of money at +the door. Outside it looked like a deserted factory +with some great graffiti on the walls. Inside you +had a bar serving draught beer, a great sound +system, a separate area for art, design and street +theatre props. The place was alive with about 300 +young people, loud music and about 12 dogs! + +Next up we went to a house/villa on the edge of the +public park which was used by the Greens, +anarchists, and people who campaign for the rights +of American Indians (as some Italian company is +trying to build an observatory over their lands). +There weren't as many people here but there was +still a live rap band, a gallery displaying some +interesting art and a lot of young people simply +drinking and inhaling. There were some political +books and pamphlets on display along with bootleg +tapes of concerts. + +The Blues Brothers, Che and me + +Finally, we went to a Leninist Social Centre in the +south of the city. Here a concert had just finished +and hugely loud rock music was being played by a +very lively DJ. There was a bar and, as in all the +Centres, the drink was cheap. Young people sat +around and shouted at each other to be heard while +one amorous couple got to know each other better. +On the walls there was the flag of Cuba, the hammer +and sickle (naturally) and posters for every anti- +imperialist struggle from Palestine to Guatemala. +Upon this scene of late night/early morning revelry +the handsome features of the Che Guevara, coupled +with the Blues Brothers looked down from the walls. +I wondered what Che would make of it all ? + +The Social Centres were a great experience to see in +operation. Coming from a country that brings the +law down on your head with furious vengeance should +you dare think of occupying unused buildings, I was +impressed at the new breath of life these places +had. I can think of many buildings in Dublin that +could be used in this way. The Centres provides a +place where young people can go and not be told how +to dress or be charged exorbitant money for drink. +Politics don't seem to get debated on Saturday +nights (if it gets debated at all, I cannot say). +Importantly, the Centres provide a place where you +know there exists a culture which is at least anti- +authoritarian. + +Anarchists in the unions + +On Sunday we met with anarchists active in the CGIL +(a major union federation) who are in official trade +union in Education. They see getting anarchists +elected as shop stewards as important in an attempt +to deal with the heavy bureaucracy which exists +within the official trade unions. They too are +faced with big unions who have a leadership +completely divorced from the issues affecting the +ordinary member. Their aim is to build a rank and +file movement . + +Gratzi, heres to the future + +So after a week of sunshine, art , culture and +politics we returned to Ireland. We were treated +with great hospitality and shown warm friendship, +especially by the comrades of the MAF. I returned +hopeful, knowing that the passion for true freedom +and anarchy burns not only in some Irish hearts but +also in the hearts of friends in Florence. + +Charlie Parker + +********* + + CGT Doubles vote in Union Elections + +THE ANARCHO-syndicalist union in Spain, +(Confederacion General de Trabajadores (CGT) + has doubled its vote in the +latest elections for union representatives to RENFE, +the State rail company. + +The way representatives are elected in Spain is to +allow the workers to vote for which union they would +like to support them, and the union then gets that +proportion of representatives. + +CGT is now the second largest union with 31% of the +vote, after CCOO (Comissiones Obreres), the +communist-dominated union. The rise of the anarchist +vote is due to its more militant stand compared to +other unions, in its fight to stop the privatisation +of RENFE and its demand to keep it as a single +company. + +The CGT has also increased its vote recently in the +SEAT factory in Martorell, Spain, from 7 to 12 +delegates, due to its superior strike support work. + +********** + + Australian Anarchism + +ABOUT 350 people turned up for the 'Visions of +Freedom' anarchist conference in Sydney, Australia, +last January. Workshops dealt with anarchist media, +workplace organising, womens struggles, +privatisation, and more. During the conference a +small computer centre connected to the Internet was +set up. The entire Spunk Press archive (which +includes articles, pamphlets and policy statements +from the WSM) was available to participants on +either computer disk or on paper. + +**************************************************** +from WS 46 + ** Anarchism in France ** + +The following piece is taken from a report sent by an +American member of the Industrial Workers of the World +(IWW) to their public mailing list on the internet +recently (IWW-NEWS@org.com). It provides a personal +snapshot of part of the French anarchist movement. + +The main 2 groups I encountered were the Federation +Anarchist Francaise (FAF) which is the oldest and +largest French anarchist group, and operates a +beautiful bookstore in the Bastille district, as well as +a real FM radio station (Radio Libertaire, 89.4 fm), +and a popular newspaper (Le Monde Libertaire); and I +also spent a lot of time with the French CNT*, which is +the second largest French anarchist group (even though +it's only really been around for about 5 years) . + +CNT has it's offices in a beautiful black and red +building on rue de Vignolles. It's opening new sections +in France almost every week, currently has about 500 +members in Paris, and about another 1000 across France, +though membership is growing rapidly. " + +*an anarchist-syndicalist organisation which hopes to +become a functioning revolutionary trade union + +**************************************************** + + ** The Spanish CNT and the struggle in Puerto Real ** + +(1.50 inc. p+p from the Solidarity Federation, PO Box +73, Norwich, NR3 1QD, England.) + +FOR ABOUT TWO years from July 1936 huge parts of +republican Spain were anarchist dominated. Millions +were involved in collectives in cities like Madrid and +Barcelona, on the land and in anarchist militias +fighting Franco at the front. Factories, bus companies, +hospitals, gas works and much more were taken over and +run by the workers. In 1939 the republic fell and the +movement was smashed. Anarchism, though a nice idea now +remains little more then a historical curiosity- +right??? Wrong!!!! + +Puerto Real + +In Spain there are two large syndicalist unions in +operation today, the CNT and the CGT. Between them they +organise tens of thousands of workers. Both unions have +organised highly successful strikes and demonstrations. +This pamphlet is based on a talk by Pepe Gomez of the +CNT's Puerto Real/Cadiz section given in London in +October 1993. It is based on the long running battle +between the CNT and the shipyard bosses. This struggle +has continued since 1978. + +Gomez places great emphasis on the way the struggle +has been broadened beyond just the shipyard workers. +Activities have been directed throughout by village +assemblies. These involved shipyard workers and workers +from a wide range of other industries, in fact most of +the local community; employed and unemployed, men, women +and children. + +This meant that the fight went beyond the shipyard +gates. Other issues around education, health services, +the campaign against a new golf course, against +privatisation of a local cemetery and local taxes. The +emphasis was on direct democracy and direct action. The +basic tenets of anarchism were used and to good effect. + +Juan Carlos not welcome here + +In 1987 a visit by the Spanish monarch became a major +focus for action. This involved occupations, sealing +off parts of the shipyards and barricading roads. The +state responded by drafting in police reinforcements. +The union and the community organised their own defence +with slings, stones and any handy missiles. Other +sections of this pamphlet deal with women's organisation +during the strike and relations with other unions, whose +members consistently supported the CNT in the +assemblies. + +Anarchism delivers + +This pamphlet is only a few pages long but a great +read. It provides proof positive that anarchism can +still be a powerful force and presents strategies that +can deliver the goods. For example, after the 1987 +flare-up the workers gained major concessions. Eight +new ships were brought in to be refitted, and an early +retirement scheme with a pension linked to salary +increases was conceded by the shipyard bosses. + +The other major point is to show the importance of +linking limited disputes with wider issues and involving +the whole community. + +Conor Mc Loughlin + +**************************************************** + + ** The Spanish anarchist unions ** + +After Franco died in 1975 the National Confederation of +Workers (CNT) began to blossom once more. Within a +matter of months its membership had increased from a few +hundred activists to 150,000. Unfortunately the union +split when a dispute arose over whether to sit on the +state regulated workplace committees which negotiate +with the bosses. + +Those who stood for election to the committees +formed the General Confederation of Workers (CGT). The +CNT refused to participate and remained affiliated to +the International Workers' Association (the anarcho- +syndicalist international). + +There are also unions which do not declare +themselves anarchist but whose policies and structures +show a major libertarian socialist influence. These +include the unions of the dockers (Co-ordinadora) and +the rural workers (SOC). + + It is important to note that in Spain many workers are +not union members. However almost all workers vote to +elect representatives onto workplace committees. +Anarchists form a majority on the committees in some +major workplaces, and a sizable minority in many more. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001143.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001143.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bd0933de --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001143.txt @@ -0,0 +1,94 @@ +2 articles + + +**************** George Woodcock **************** + from WS 45 + +GEORGE WOODCOCK, author of two well known and widely +available books on anarchism - Anarchism and The +Anarchist Reader - has died, aged 82. Born in +Winnipeg, Canada on May 8th, 1912 his life spanned +some of the highest and lowest moments of the +movement he came to chronicle. He first became +active in Anarchist politics in the 1930s when his +family returned to England from Canada to escape +poverty. For a long period he was editor of the +anti-war paper, War Commentary and the anarchist +newspaper, Freedom. + +His political involvement in the years leading up +the Second World War coincided with the great +achievements of the Spanish anarchist movement in +1936-37. Woodcock, like most of his contemporaries - +George Orwell and Herbert Read among others - sought +to raise awareness of the revolution in Spain and of +what was being achieved by the Spanish working class +against great odds. He was a firm believer in the +working class's ability to reorganise society along +fundamentally democratic and egalitarian lines. The +defeat of the Spanish anarchist movement came, +accordingly, as a bitter blow. + +Even so, Woodcock's own support for anarchism and +the anarchist idea continued. While his +contribution to other areas grew on his return to +Canada, most notably creative writing, he remained, +nonetheless, committed to encouraging a better +understanding of what anarchism stood for and its +continuing relevance to movements for social change. +For a long period his two best known books were the +only comprehensive guides widely available about +anarchism in the English language, and for this +reason alone he will be remembered. + +Anarchism, which was first published in 1962, has +been criticised, rightly, for it's emphasis on +anarchism as a movement of the past. Reflecting on +the period in which he had lived, Woodcock saw the +passing of anarchism as a mass working class force +as an irreversible feature of modern political life. +His later contributions impressed anarchism's +relevance on areas such as ecology and feminism. + +The Anarchist Reader, in contrast, is a book which +will stand the test of time. Emphasising the theory +and practice of anarchism, it draws on an array of +people associated with anarchism over the years, +giving a comprehensive and accessible introduction +to the breadth and relevance of anarchist ideas. +Noting the revival of interest in anarchism since +the 1960s, Woodcock wrote in his introduction +"Anarchism, in summary, is a phoenix in an awakening +desert, an idea that has revived for the only reason +ideas revive - that they respond to some need felt +deeply by people". George Woodcock died on January +28th, 1995 aged eighty two. + +Kevin Doyle + + +***************** Dr. Maire O'Shea ******************* + +DR.MAIRE O'SHEA, republican and socialist, died on +March 6th, aged 75. Despite our political +differences, Maire happily worked with anarchists +on several campaigns of common interest such as +abortion rights and 'Trade Unionists & Unemployed +Against the Programme'. Living in England for many +years, she was an eminent psychiatrist with the +Midlands Health Authority where she was a pioneer +of patient-centred psychotherapy instead of ECT and +drug treatments. She was also an active member of +her trade union, MSF. + +A brave woman, she campaigned in Birmingham for the +release of the Birmingham Six. In 1985 the English +police charged her, under the Prevention of +Terrorism Act, with conspiracy to cause explosions. +Gaining support from her union and from the Irish +and left wing communities, the police case +collapsed in court and she was acquitted. + +Generous to the last, she directed that after a +wake in her house that her body be donated to +medical research at UCD. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001144.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001144.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..176dd88c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001144.txt @@ -0,0 +1,135 @@ +* +INDIGENOUS PERSON FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA CLAIMED +IN US GOVERNMENT PATENT +* +"Another major step down the road to the commodification of life" +says Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) Director Pat Mooney. +* +RAFI moves to take the life patenting issue to the World Court. +* + +Patenting Indigenous People + +In an unprecedented move, the United States Government has issued itself a +patent on a foreign citizen. On March 14, 1995, an indigenous man of the +Hagahai people from Papua New Guinea's remote highlands ceased to own his +genetic material. While the rest of the world is seeking to protect the +knowledge and resources of indigenous people, the National Institutes of +Health (NIH) is patenting them. "This patent is another major step down +the road to the commodification of life. In the days of colonialism, +researchers went after indigenous people's resources and studied their +social organizations and customs. But now, in biocolonial times, they are +going after the people themsleves" says Pat Roy Mooney, RAFI's Executive +Director, who is at The Hague investigating prospects for a World Court +challenge to the patenting of human genetic material. + +The Hagahai, who number a scant 260 persons and only came into consistent +contact with the outside world in 1984, now find their genetic material - +the very core of their physical identity - the property of the United +States Government. The same patent application is pending in 19 other +countries. Though one of the "inventors,"resident in Papua New Guinea, +apparently signed an agreement giving a percentage of any royalties to the +Hagahai, the patent makes no concrete provision for the Hagahai to receive +any compensation for becoming the property of the US Government.. Indeed, +the Hagahai are likely to continue to suffer threats to their very survival +from disease and other health problems brought by outsiders. + +RAFI's Jean Christie has recently returned to Australia after consultations +with the governments of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands (one of +whose citizens is also subject to claims in a related US Government patent +application). On her return from Port Moresby and Honiara, Christie said +"This outrageous patent has provoked anger in the Pacific and is a matter +of deep concern worldwide." + +In response to 1993 investigations by the Government of the Solomon Islands +and RAFI, NIH's Jonathan Friedlander (Physical Anthropology Program +Director) wrote to the Solomon Islands Ambassador to the United Nations, +allaying their concerns by saying that the patent applications "will likely +be abandoned entirely or not allowed." Contrary to Friedlander's +indication, in the course of routine research prior to Christie's trip to +the Pacific RAFI discovered that the patent was issued 6 months ago. + +Linked to the "Vampire Project"? + +The first-ever patent of an indigenous person comes as an international +group of scientists are embarking on the Human Genome Diversity Project +(HGDP), which aims to draw blood and tissue samples from as many indigenous +groups in the world as possible. While the Hagahai are not specifically +mentioned in the draft "hit list" of the HGDP -- dubbed the "vampire +project" by its opponents worldwide -- it has targeted over 700 indigenous +groups, including 41 from Papua New Guinea, for "sampling" by researchers. +Friedlander, who wrote that the patent application would likely be +withdrawn, participated in the development of the HGDP and was among those +at its founding meeting. Within weeks of the patent's issue, Friedlander +returned the Pacific on business related to the collection of blood +samples. At the same time, indigenous people and NGOs from across the +Pacific are working on the implementation of a "Lifeforms Patent-Free +Pacific Treaty." + +As recently as last week's UNESCO Bioethics Committee meeting, HGDP +Director Dr. Luca Cavalli-Sforza claimed that the project did not support +the patenting of indigenous peoples' DNA. In contrast, at the Beijing +Women's Conference, Sami indigenous women from the Nordic countries added +their voice to the dozens of indigenous peoples' organizations that have +denounced the project as a violation of their rights. "The thin veneer of +the HGDP as an academic, non-commercial exercise has been shattered by the +US government patenting an indigenous person from Papua New Guinea," said +Edward Hammond, Program Officer with RAFI-USA in North Carolina. + +The Value of Human DNA: Mining Indigenous Communities for Raw Materials + +NIH's patent (US 5,397,696) claims a cell line containing the unmodified +Hagahai DNA and several methods for its use in detecting HTLV-1-related +retroviruses. The team that patented the cell line is headed by the 1976 +Nobel Laureate in Medicine, Dr. D.Carleton Gajdusek. Recent cases have +concretely demonstrated the economic value of human DNA from remote +populations in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and development of +vaccines. Blood samples drawn from the asthmatic inhabitants of the remote +South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha were sold by researchers to a +California-based company which in turn sold rights to its as yet unproved +technologies for asthma treatment to German giant Boehringer Ingelheim for +US $70 million. + +NIH patent claims on indigenous people's genetic material are pursued +abroad by the National Technical Information Service, a division of the US +Department of Commerce. Ronald Brown, the US Secretary of Commerce has +left no question as to his interpretation of the controversy, stating +"Under our laws... subject matter relating to human cells is patentable and +there is no provision for considerations relating to the source of the +cells that may be the subject of a patent application." The Hagahai, and +millions of other indigenous people, in other words, are raw material for +US business. + +RAFI believes that this is only the beginning of a dangerous trend toward +the commodification of humanity and the knowledge of indigenous people. +Whether human genetic material or medicinal plants are the target, there is +scarcely a remote rural group in the world that is not being visited by +predatory researchers. Indigenous people, whose unique identity is in part +reflected in their genes, are prime targets of gene hunters. Says Leonora +Zalabata of the Arhuaco people of Colombia: "This could be another form of +exploitation, only this time they are using us as raw materials." + +RAFI Challenges the Patenting of Human Beings + +RAFI has been closely following the patenting of indigenous people since +1993, when pressure from RAFI and the Guaymi General Congress led to the +withdrawal of a patent application by the US Secretary of Commerce on a +cell line from a Guaymi indigenous woman from Panama. RAFI is currently +investigating prospects to bring the issue of human patenting to the World +Court at the Hague as well as the Biodiversity Convention and relevant +multilateral bodies. + +CONTACTS: + +Pat Mooney, Executive Director Ottawa, ONT (Canada) (613) 567-6= +880 +Jean Christie, International Liaison Queensland, Australia +(61) 79 394-792 +Edward Hammond, Program Officer Pittsboro, NC (USA) +(919) 542-1396 + +DATE: 4 October 1995 + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001145.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001145.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bdb3ea1d --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001145.txt @@ -0,0 +1,565 @@ +GREENS ARE ANARCHISTS, OR SHOULD BE + +Gary Elkin + + +The Unabomber claims to be both an anarchist and a radical +environmentalist. This has prompted the media to start using the words +_green_, anarchist_, and _terrorist_ in the same breath -- a convenient way +to discredit both anarchists and greens. + +There _is_ a necessay connection between anarchism and the green movement, +but none between anarchism and terrorism. The image of anarchists as mad +bombers was largely concocted by the press in the late 19th and early 20th +centuries, when the anarchist movement was gaining popularity among +workers. As the capitalist elite began to worry about this development, +the press "coincidentally" began a smear campaign against anarchists. Like +today, there were a few bombing incidents by unbalanced people _calling_ +themselves anarchists, but most of the bombers had no clue about what +anarchism really is. Some of the bombings were carried out or instigated +by government agents provocateurs. + +History has a habit of repeating itself, particularly when it's a question +of stamping out unwanted leftist movements. So in this article I want to +set the record straight by showing the actual relationship between +anarchism and the green movement. + + +The Authoritarian Paradigm + + +The word "an-archy" means literally "without the principle of authority or +rulership." This "principle (referred to hereafter as the "authoritarian +paradigm") has been embodied in a number of different socioeconomic and +political systems during the past 5,000 years or so, clothing itself at +various times in theocratic, military-imperial, feudal, monarchical, +liberal-capitalist, Fascist, and Communist forms. But the basic model of +social organization is still authoritarian in all "civilized" societies, as +shown by the fact that the major institutions of both capitalist and +"communist" nations are in the form of _hierarchies_: oganizations that +concentrate power and authority at the apex of a pyramidal structure -- +e.g. factories, corporations, government bureaucracies, armies, political +parties, religious and educational establishments, etc. + +Investigation of the hierarchical form shows that the two primary values it +embodies are domination and exploitation, the latter being made possible by +the former. For example, in his study of the organization of the modern +factory, Steven Marglin (1974-75) found that the main function of its +hierarchical form was not greater productive efficiency but greater control +over workers, the purpose of such control being more effective +exploitation. + +Control in a hierarchy is accomplished by means of coercion -- that is, by +the use or threat of negative sanctions. Such control, including the +repression of dissent and rebellion, therefore implies centralization: a +set of power relations in which the greatest control, and hence the +greatest power of sanctions, is exercised by the head (or heads) of the +hierarchy, while those in the middle ranks have much less control and those +at the bottom have virtually none. + +Given these facts, it's fair to say that hierarchy is the institutional +embodiment of the authoritarian paradigm. Today, after 5,000 years of +"progress" under that paradigm, the result is a hierarchical world-system +whose component nation-states have reached the highest level of +centralization in history. Yet it's clear that this system has reached a +point of potential self-destruction. The ongoing modern crises of social +breakdown, ecological destruction, and proliferating weapons of mass +destruction are convincing evidence that this is so. + + +The Green Movement + + +The green movement arose in West Germany during the early eighties, soon +spreading to other European countries and then to the US. At first it was +an informal network of people concerned with six major and closely related +issues: ecology, peace, social justice, feminism, decentralization, and +participatory democracy. In due time it became a political party (Die +Grunen). However, as will be shown below, the agendas of these six green +"consitituencies," both separately and together, imply anarchist +socioeconomic and political principles. This conclusion suggests -- +although I won't argue it here -- that a parliamentary party dedicated to +achieving "green" objectives via the State is a contradiction in terms. + +One might think that this claim would need no proof to members of a +movement that advocates decentralization and participatory democracy -- two +key elements of anarchism. Unfortunately, however, this is not so. Many +greens seem to be unaware that the principles they profess imply anarchism, +as can be seen from the time and energy they've recently spent organizing a +political party, engaging in electioneering, and developing statist +legislative agendas. + +The claim that the green movement is essentially anarchist rests on the +argument that each of the six green constituencies needs to dismantle +hierarchical (and therefore authoritarian) institutions in order to achieve +its major aims. In the economic sphere, this argument implies the need for +a decentralized, participatory-democratic, worker-controlled economy. Thus +the shared need for workers' control -- an objective that has always +been the heart of anarchism -- is the glue that unites all six +constituencies of the green movement. + +The argument that green = anarchist proceeds by examining the relations of +mutual dependence that obtain between all possible pairs of green +constituencies, starting with: + + +Feminism and Ecology + + +It's becoming clear to most people that environmental damage has reached +alarming proportions. Many scientists now believe that there may be as +little as 50 years to act before vital ecosystems are irreparably damaged. +Without radical solutions now, the future of the human race, and perhaps of +the biosphere itself, is in doubt. + +A number of eco-feminist scholars have argued that the domination and +exploitation of nature has paralleled the domination and exploitation of +women, who have been identified with nature throughout history (Merchant +1980; Plumwood 1986). On this view, both women and nature are victims of +the obsession with control that characterizes the authoritarian +personality. Hence many ecologists and feminists recognize that the +authoritarian paradigm must be dismantled in order to achieve their aims. + +For feminists, this implies dismantling the hierarchical institutions in +which the patriarchal-authoritarian values of domination and exploitation +are embedded. Feminists, particularly eco-feminists and +anarcha-feminists, often refer to this as the "feminization of society," +since domination and exploitation are commonly regarded as "masculine" +values. "Feminization," to them, thus means means replacing "masculine" +values with those that are commonly regarded as "feminine:" e.g. +cooperation, sharing, mutual aid, compassion, respect for nature, etc. [1] + +That the main problems addressed by both feminists and ecologists are +rooted in the authoritarian paradigm can perhaps best be seen from the +economic standpoint. A number of ecologists have drawn attention to +capitalism's built-in need for a consistently high rate of economic growth. +Although rapid expansion is regarded as essential by virtually all +mainstream economists and politicians, it's becoming clear that such +expansion in a finite environment is leading to ecological catastrophe. + +Therefore some ecologists have called for the development of a +"steady-state economy": a system that is (a) based on alternative, +environment-friendly technologies and recycled or renewable raw materials, +and (b) not dependent on high levels of defense spending or rapid growth in +order to avoid disastrous collapses. So far, however, most ecologists +have focused entirely on (a), with little emphasis on the fact that +pressure for rapid growth and military Keynesianism necessarily arises from +the _predatory_ nature of capitalism -- i.e. from the competitive struggle +between individual capitalist enterprises and between political aggregates +of such enterprises (nation-states) pitted against each other for profits, +market shares, raw materials, and cheap labor. The few ecologists who do +recognize this fact would probably agree that a steady-state economy is +impossible _in principle_ unless the so-called "masculine" values of +domination and exploitation are overthrown and supplanted by the so-called +"feminine" values of cooperation, mutual aid, and an equitable sharing of +the world's wealth. In other words, a steady-state economy implies +"feminization." + +This is an abstract way of showing the interdependence of feminism and the +ecology movement. There is a more concrete way, however, which is based +on the argument that both movements require workers' control to succeed. + +Although most ecologists recognize the pernicious effects of the capitalist +grow-or-die philosophy, most of them fail to make the connection between +that philosophy and the _authoritarian form_ of the typical capitalist +corporation. This failure is odd, because there's a large body of evidence +showing that worker-owned and self-managed firms -- especially the type in +which profits are shared equally among all full-time members -- are under +far less pressure toward rapid expansion than the traditional capitalist +firm. + +The slower growth rate of worker cooperatives has been documented by +several scholars (e.g.Schweickhart 1980, 1993; Jackall and Levin 1984). +Their studies have shown that in the traditional capitalist firm, owners' +and executives' percentage share of profits greatly increases as more +employees are added to the payroll, and this because the corporate +hierarchy is designed to funnel the major portion of the "value added" from +labor to those at the top of the pyramid. Such a design gives ownership +and management a very strong incentive to expand, since, other things being +equal (e.g. no recession), their standard of living rises with every new +employee hired. Hence the authoritarian form of the corporation is one of +the main causes of runaway growth. + +By contrast, in an equal-share worker cooperative, the addition of more +members simply means more people with whom the pie will have to be equally +divided -- a situation that greatly reduces the incentive to expand. For +this reason, workers' control is one of the necessary ingredients of a +steady-state economy, and therefore essential to the success of the ecology +movement. + +But workers' control is also implied by the concept of "feminizing" +society. As noted, "feminization" refers to the subversion of the +authoritarian paradigm, and thus to the dismantling of hierarchies. +Economically, therefore, the feminist agenda implies a horizontally +structured, democratically run economic system to replace the current +system of corporate hierarchies. Thus feminists and ecologists are linked +through their shared need for workers' control. + +Moreover, for obvious reasons feminism depends on the success of the +ecology movement. If delicate ecosystems are irreparably damaged, thus +rendering the planet unfit for human habitation, it will be meaningless to +speak of the "success" of _any_ social movement. In what follows, then, +I'll assume that none of the other constituencies of the green movement can +attain their respective aims unless ecologists attain theirs. + + +Feminism and Peace + + +The peace movement is another natural ally of feminism. This is because +international disarmament, like the liberation of women, can never be +attained without widespread rejection of the authoritarian paradigm, and +specifically of its two central motive principles: domination and +exploitation. For, when pursued along gender, class, racial, ethnic, or +national lines, domination and exploitation produce resentment, hatred, and +hostility which often explode into violence and armed conflict. Therefore +peace depends on introducing into public policy "feminine" principles such +as cooperation, sharing, conciliation, mediation, negotiation, reverence +for life, etc. But this, of course, is "feminization." Consequently the +peace movement cannot attain its major objective unless feminists attain +theirs. + +Conversely, the success of feminism depends on that of the peace movement. +For there will be no "success" for anyone in an age of high-tech armaments +if international peace efforts fail, weapons of mass destruction continue +to spread, and the human race is eventually wiped out in a cataclysmic war. +In what follows, then, I'll assume that the success of every constituency +of the green movement presupposes that of the peace movement. + + +Feminism and Social Justice + + +Another ally of feminism is the social justice movement, which seeks fair +and compassionate solutions to problems such as poverty, unemployment, +economic exploitation, discrimination, poor housing, lack of health +insurance, wealth and income inequalities, and the like. + +That the major problems with which the social justice movement is concerned +can be traced back to the authoritarian paradigm is not difficult to show. +For, given the purpose of hierarchy, the highest priority of the ruling +elite is necessarily to maintain its own power and privilege, regardless of +the suffering involved for others. Today the US is reaping the grim +harvest of its leaders' single-minded dedication to this priority: armies +of the homeless wandering the streets; social welfare budgets slashed to +the bone as poverty, unemployment, and underemployment grow; sweatshops +mushrooming in the large metropoles; nearly 40 million Americans without +basic health insurance; obscene wealth inequalities; and so on. + +In short, social injustice is inherent in the dominative-exploitative +functions of the State, which are made possible by the authoritarian form +of State institutions and of the State-complex as a whole. Similarly, the +authoritarian corporation gives rise to social injustice in the form of +unfair income and wealth differentials between management and labor. Hence +the success of the social justice movement, like that of the feminist +movement, depends on dismantling the authoritarian paradigm in both its +state and corporate embodiments. Which is to say that these two movements +are related in such a way that it's impossible to conceive of one of them +achieving its goals in isolation from the other. + + +Ecology and Social Justice + + +The social justice movement, like feminism, is closely connected with the +ecology movement through the shared need of each for workers' control. + +The argument that social justice requires workers' control is simple: a +worker-controlled economy would tend to produce a more equitable overall +distribution of social wealth, which would help to eliminate poverty and +its attendant evils. Studies of worker cooperatives have shown that they +can provide more jobs, at the same level of capital investment, than +traditional capitalist enterprises, which means that a worker-controlled +economy would reduce unemployment (Levin 1984). Hence workers' control is +as important for the social justice movement as it is for the ecology +movement -- a fact that links the two groups in such a way that it's +impossible to conceive of either of them attaining their aims in isolation +from the other. + + +Peace and Social Justice + + +We've already noted that world peace cannot be attained so long as the +authoritarian paradigm, based on domination and exploitation, remains the +basic model of social organization. But these same authoritarian values +also underlie the State policies that produce poverty, inequality, +discrimination, unemployment, and the many other problems that concern +social-justice activists. Hence both peace and social justice depend on a +dismantling of the authoritarian paradigm, particularly as manifested in +corporate-State institutions. + +This point can be made more concretely in terms of a specific social +justice issue: labor rights. As Dimitrios Roussopoulos (1992) points out, +the production of advanced weapons systems is highly profitable for +capitalists, which is why more technologically complex and precise weapons +keep getting built. Now, it's arguably a basic human right to be able to +choose whether or not one will contribute to the production of +technologies that could lead to the extinction of the human race. Yet +because of the authoritarian form of the corporation, rank and file +workers have virtually no say in whether their companies will produce such +technologies. Hence the only way they can obtain this right is to control +the production process themselves, through self-management. For these +reasons, the peace and social justice movements, like the other movements +we've examined, are linked through their shared need for worker's control. + + +Participatory Democracy and Decentralization + + +Participatory democrats advocate horizontally structured political +organizations instead of the hierarchies of "representative" democracy. +They maintian that the latter is not working, first because so-called +representatives often use their power to enrich themselves, and second +because they're disproportionately influenced by wealthy business +interests. Hence participatory democrats favor local, grassroots +organizations (e.g. citizens' committees, popular assemblies, civic action +groups, etc.), the use of initiatives and referenda, and a return to +town-meeting style politics. They also support reforms to take the money +out of politics, restrict lobbying, etc. in order to lessen the undue +influence of wealthy special interests. And most advocates of workplace +democracy want it to be participatory rather representative. + +Decentralists emphasize the need to dissolve monolithic institutions into +smaller, more horizontally structured bodies. They point out that huge +bureaucracies tend to be unwieldy, out of touch with local problems, +dehumanizing, self-serving, self-perpetuating, and antidemocratic. Hence +they wish to disband federal bureaucracies and give more responsibility to +state and local agencies; divide up large and artificial administrative +units (like nation-states) into natural bioregions defined by shared +geographical and ecological features; curb the power of multinational +corporations in favor of more self-sufficient, smaller-scale local +enterprises, and so on. + +Obviously there's a close relationship between decentralization and +participatory democracy. Participatory democracy works best (and perhaps +only) in relatively small-scale, decentralized organizations and +administrative units (Balbus 1982, Ch. 10); moreover the very concept of +decentralization implies the diffusion of power represented by +participatory democracy. Thus communities and organizations based on +participatory-democratic principles set their basic policies by voting at +popular assemblies, renouncing a hierarchical structure and allowing +everyone access to all officials. And in large (e.g. regional) +organizations where mass participation is difficult or impossible, +participatory democrats favor the election of temporary, instantly +recallable, and unpaid delegates rather than professional representatives. + + +So participatory democracy and decentralization mutually imply each other, +which means that neither is workable or even understandable apart from the +other. + + +Feminism, Decentralization, and Participatory Democracy + + +The key feminist goal of feminizing society cannot be attained without both +decentralization and participatory democracy. This is because the +patriarchal values and traditions that feminists seek to overthrow are +embodied and reproduced in authoritarian hierarchies. This implies that +feminists must be decentralists, which in turn implies that they must be +participatory democrats as well. Many feminists have recognized this, as +reflected in their experiments with collective forms of feminist +organizations that eliminate hierarchical structure and competitive forms +of decision making. Some feminists have even argued that +participatory-democratic organizations are specifically female political +forms (Hartsock 1979: 56-77). + +Conversely, the success of both participatory democrats and decentralists +depends on the success of feminism. The US, despite the rhetoric about its +alleged "democracy," remains only superficially democratic. The majority +of Americans spend about half their waking hours under the thumb of +capitalist dictators (bosses) who allow them no voice in the crucial +economic decisions that affect their lives most profoundly. In this +situation, the psychological traits deemed most desirable for average +citizens to possess are efficiency, conformity, emotional detachment, +insensitivity, and unquestioning obedience to authority -- traits that +allow people to survive and even prosper as employees in corporate +hierarchies. + +But it is qualities like flexibility, creativity, sensitivity, +understanding, emotional honesty, directness, warmth, realism, and the +ability to mediate, communicate, negotiate, integrate, and cooperate which +are most essential for true democracy to work. These, however, are +commonly regarded as "feminine" qualities, which feminists seek to infuse +into society's institutions. Thus the success of both participatory +democrats and decentralists depends on the "feminization of society," which +would give the majority of citizens the psychological qualities necessary +to maintain a decentralized, participatory-democratic political system. + + +Ecology and Decentralization + + +We've noted that decentralists aim at dissolving monolithic bureaucratic +hierarchies. Because administrators who occupy the top positions in +government bureaucracies are especially susceptible to the influence of +environmentally irresponsible special interests, such bureaucracies are one +of the main hindrances to the success of the ecology movement. There's a +similar problem with highly centralized multinational corporations, which +owe their allegiance only to corporate headquarters and thus tend to be +less responsive to local environmental concerns than smaller-scale, +indigenous enterprises. Therefore the achievement of ecological aims +presupposes both political and economic decentralization. + +In addition, the alternative technologies advocated by ecologists are small +in scale and thus incompatible with large-scale societies and the +politico-economic centralization that accompanies them. For example, solar +devices, wind turbines, tidal generators, and heat pumps (so-called "soft +energy paths") produce relatively small quantities of electricity, and +scientists are not able to predict when, or even if, such technologies +would ever be able to produce enough current to power large megapolises +such as New York or Tokyo (Balbus 1981: 372). Organic methods of +agriculture similarly work best in small-scale operations. Hence the +arguments of ecologists for alternative technologies make sense only in the +context of a fundamentally decentralized society in which urban communities +are reduced in size and widely dispersed over the land (Bookchin 1971: +74-75). + + +Ecology and Participatory Democracy + + +Saving the biosphere will require that ordinary citizens be able to take +part at the grassroots level in decisions that affect their environment. +This is because such citizens are more likely to favor stringent +environmental safeguards than are the large, polluting special interests +that now dominate the representative system of government. Thus a solution +to the ecological crisis presupposes participatory democracy in the +political sphere. + +However, this goal can't be achieved by working within the representative +political system. For that system, by its hierarchical nature, not only +precludes mass participation in political decision making but also +necessarily functions to perpetuate itself. This is why Bakunin +continually emphasized that the "social revolutio"n must _precede_ the +"political revolution" (see Dolgoff 1980). But for anarchists like +Bakunin, "the social revolution" means _workers' control_. It makes sense +to say that workers' control must come first, for as we've seen, daily +experience of participatory-democracy in the workplace is needed to give +ordinary citizens the psychological qualities required to maintain a +genuinely democratic political order. + +So participatory-democratic restructuring of the political system +presupposes workers' control. But, as shown earlier, the success of the +ecology movement also presupposes workers' control. Hence ecologists and +participatory democrats are linked through their shared need for workers' +control. + + +Peace, Participatory Democracy, and Decentralization + + +We've seen that the possibility of peace depends on the permeation of +nonauthoritarian ("feminine") values into society's institutions. +Practically speaking, however, this permeation can only occur if (a) a +majority of people have a nonauthoritarian type of personality, and (b) the +influence of nonauthoritarian types on public policy is proportional to +their actual numbers in the general population. + +Now, condition (a) is already fulfilled: that is, most people already have +an essentially nonauthoritarian personality, which is to say that traits +such as cooperation and mutual aid are stronger than +dominative-exploitative traits. The latter are most important for success +as a capitalist manager, politician, or military leader, and hence are most +strongly developed in the relatively small capitalist class and its +politico-military and police entourage. In contrast, nonauthoritarian +traits are essential for success as an employee, and hence are most +strongly developed among the working class. Therefore, since the majority +of people are employees rather than capitalists, most people already have +an essentially nonauthoritarian personality. + +Condition (b), however -- the requirement that nonauthoritarian types exert +a proporitional influence on policy -- is not fulfilled. For the current +political system is hierarchical, which is to say that discrimination +against nonauthoritarian types is built into it. For authoritarian traits +are required to advance to top of any hierarchy, where the real power and +influence lies. This fact insures that nonauthoritarian types will have +very little influence on public policy. + +A decentralized, participatory-democratic political system would remedy +this situation, by allowing for the proportional influence of +nonauthoritarian types, thus eliminating domination and exploitation as the +main motive principles underlying public policy. And since the possibility +of peace depends on this kind of restructuring, it follows that the success +of the peace movement presupposes the success of both the participatory +democracy and decentralization movements. + + +Social Justice, Participatory Democracy, and Decentralization + + +Social justice, like peace, is only conceivable on the hypothesis that all +major institutions become permeated by nonauthoritarian values. For only +then could social policies be shaped according to the principles of +equality, fairness, and nonexploitation. But, as just shown, such a +permeation depends on participatory democracy and decentralization, which +are therefore also necessary for the social justice movement to succeed. + +Conversely, decentralization and participatory democracy cannot take place +unless society becomes more just. For as things now stand, members of the +ruling elite resist decentralization and participatory democracy because +they know that these developments would put an end to their own privileged +positions. Yet those privileged positions, _which in themselves constitute +social injustice_, are what enables this elite to resist the efforts of +decentralists and participatory democrats. In other words, social justice +and decentralization/participatory democracy are two sides of the same +coin, so that neither is conceivable by itself. + + * * * + + +The foregoing discussion shows that the concept of _interdependence_ is +relevant not just in describing ecological relationships but also the +relationships between each of the six constituencies of the green movement. +As these constituencies come to a deeper realization of their mutual +dependence, they should be able to work more effectively together toward +their common goal: dismantling hierarchies and creating a horizontally +structured, green anarchist society in its place. + + +Notes + +1. I don't know of any feminist who regards so-called "masculine" and +"feminine" values/traits as biologically determined. Rather, they are +regarded as being acquired by socialization in patricentric society. + + +References + + +Balbus, Isaac D. 1982. _Marxism and Domination_. Princeton, NJ: +Princeton University Press. + +Bookchin, Murray. 1971. _Post-Scarcity Anarchism_. Berkeley, CA: Ramparts +Press. + +Dolgoff, Sam. 1980. _Bakunin on Anarchism_. Montreal: Black Rose Books. + +Hartsock, Nancy. 1979. "Feminist Theory and the Development of +Revolutionary Strategy." In Eisenstein, Capitalist Patriarchy and the Case +for Socialist Feminism. + +Jackall, Robert, and Henry M. Levin, eds. 1984. _Worker Cooperatives in +America_. Berkely, CA: University of California Press. + +Levin, Henry M. 1984. "Employment and Productivity of Producer +Cooperatives." In Jackall and Levin, Worker Cooperatives in America. + +Marglin, Steven. 1974-75. "What do bosses do?" Review of Radical Political +Economics 6, 7. + +Merchant, Caroline. 1980. _The Death of Nature_. New York: Harper & Row. + +Plumwood, Val. 1986. "Ecofeminism: an overview and discussion of positions +and arguments." In Women and Philosophy, supplement to the Australiasian +Journal of Philosophy, vol. 64, June. + +Roussopoulos, Dimitrios I. 1992. _Dissidence_. Monreal and New York: +Black Rose Books. + +Schweickart, David. 1980. _Capitalism or Worker Control? An Ethical and +Economic Appraisal_. New York: Praeger. + +____. _Against Capitalism_. 1993. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001146.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001146.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9a0895a3 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001146.txt @@ -0,0 +1,130 @@ +THE ANTIOCH GATHERING +A NEW NETWORK +and (DIS)CONNECTION + +>From the Deja'vu again corner: The loose association of +anarchist and anti-authoritarian collectives and assorted +individuals who have been the usual participants in gatherings +over the last year and a half, engaged in a "What are we doing? +What next?" kind of discussion and recognized that the embryonic +structure of a network existed. It was proposed and decided (by +those attending this meeting) that this relationship be +formalized and thus a new network has been born. While the +official title of this network is still to be decided, it is +officially subtitled a "Network of Anarchist Collectives". There +was some disagreement over use of the word "anarchist", but this +was worked out under the condition that the network actively +endeavor to define its interpretation of anarchism. This +network's first project was to coordinate several speaking tours +and engagements, including one by Lorenzo Ervin, author of +"Anarchism and the Black Revolution" and co-founder of the +Federation of Black Community Partisans. . (Dis)Connection was +identified as a network project, having the specific role of an +internal networking/resource journal. + +Network collectives still have to determine the decision-making +structure and long term goals and strategies. Since this network +is the result of an organic evolution of events (gatherings, +proximity to one-another, etc.) it makes sense to start with +recognizing the ways in which we are networked now and work on +methods of strengthening them. + +To this and other ends, the A - Zone in Chicago (NOT Toledo!) +will hold a More Fun Than Santa winter shindig & gathering in +late december-early January , likely in Chicago (pack your +warmest skivvies!) This gathering's purpose is actually twofold: +To hammer out our network, including (Dis)Connection, and to +work on Active Resistance, the CounterConvention to the 96 +Democratic Convention in Chicago. You will be hearing more about +this soon! + +Things we need to think about for the Network: +--How can the Network meet the needs of local collectives? +--Mutual Aid Project? +--How will network decisions be made? By consensus? At +Gatherings? How do we have a structure that does not result in +collectives supporting the network instead of vice versa? +--How will this network relate to other networks, etc? LNR, Fed. +of BCP, AANCO, EF!, FNB, IWW, WSA, ABC, etc. +--How do we relate to (and involve?) collectives who do not +currently use the term "anarchist" but who fit in with the +working (evolving) definition? How do we define anarchism? How +do we get that out? How do we relate to non-anarchists? +--How is membership defined? By collectives? By dues? By +agreement with general principles? +--Our network is largely lacking strategy, or at least a stated +one. What is our strategy? Is it Dual Power? Is it the +development of a highly centralized vanguard? How do we +project/define this? + +Obviously this is going to take some time & thought to work out. +We propose that all y'all talk about these issues with your +collective and then bring an idea piece, a brainstorm, a +proposal, a manifesto, or even frantic notes scribbled on napkins +to the winter shindig so that we can all sit down at the start of +the discussions and have a Big Brainstorm and share our ideas and +generally get a feel of where we're at on it. Then we can set a +course on how to proceed. + + +RE: (DIS)Connection + +The problems in getting out a 3rd issue of (Dis)Co were raised by +Montreal folks and discussed by the network. Issues raised were +exposing dirty laundry, internal networking vs. outreach, size of +issue, amount of contributions, etc. What was decided was that +Disco is intended as an internal networking journal. Thus, the +size of an issue is not that important, and neither is the +quantity of copies per issue--1000 is probably fine. Other +collectives do need to get off their butts and contribute more. +It is also the responsibility of the collective publishing the +issue to proselytize, recruit, and otherwise wring articles out +of folks. Each issue is also intended to have a "local flavor" +that represents what the publishing group is up to, and so the +publishing collective needs to work on putting in articles too, +they are not merely a coordinating point. + +In Detroit, the birth place of (Dis)Connection, the collectives +and individuals present hoped that the journal would be published +at least four times a year. Obviously that hasn't happened. At +the winter gathering in Chicago, the publishing schedule and +rotation process will be discussed. It might be better, in terms +of getting the paper out more often and for receiving material +from contributors, if a collective adopted (Dis)Connection for a +one year term, similar to the Earth First! Journal. + +The Deja'vu part: In looking through old papers and chatting +with people who were active in the anarchist movement in the +eighties, this has been done before. There was a network. There +was a paper/newsletter, Mayday, that rotated among affinity +groups and served as clearinghouse/bulletin board for the +movement. The focal point for the participants was initially +fairly large, continental anarchist gatherings. The first, +Haymarket Remembered, occured in Chicago in 1986 (?) and the +final one, Without Borders, took place in San Francisco in 1989. +Following the SF international gathering and its aftermath, +organizers decided to back out of any more big gatherings for a +while and cancelled the one to take place in Mexico City in 1990. +Discussions in Mayday focussed instead on regional gatherings and +developing the movement in home communities. Most of these +organizers, for many reasons, retired or burned out, or became +part of Love and Rage (which has pursued its own direction...).. +However, a few years later, this Network of Anarchist Collectives +is developing in the manner tentatively approached by people who +for the most part we don't even know, even adopting the rotation +clearinghouse journal. Maybe we should try to find some of these +people and their publications and approach with the experience of +previous organizing. + + + +xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox + * * * AUTONOMOUS ZONE INFOSHOP + * * mail: 1573 N. Milwaukee #420, CHILL 60622 U$A + * /\ * street: 2045 W. North Ave., Chicago +* /__\ Z * phone: 312-278-0775 + * / \ * matrix: ugwiller@bgu.edu or chill@burn.ucsd.edu + * * COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY-ACTIVIST-RESOURCE CENTER + * * * *Element of the Network of Anarchist Collectives* +"A matter of meeting information authority with information disturbance..." + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001147.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001147.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0a89089b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001147.txt @@ -0,0 +1,69 @@ +A C T I V E R E S I S T A N C E + + A COUNTER-CONVENTION + + CHICAGO, AUGUST 21-31, 1996 + +ACTIVE RESISTANCE is both convention and gathering, bringing together +individuals and collectives to create sustainable communities of +resistance. This union will engage intensive work on long term goals, +high spirited activism, as well as share in the challenge and fun +involved in putting this all together. We hope to accomplish a +great deal. And we know we'll have fun. The Counter-Convention +is scheduled to take place in Chicago for 10 days -- before, during, +and after the 1996 Democratic National Convention. + +This is such a big project that organizing assistance from individuals +and organizations from outside of Chicago will be necessary (and greatly +appreciated). At a minimum we hope that you are intrigued enough to +spread the word, excited enough to be here. Even better, begin +participating in designing the process and structure now. + +The structure currently being discussed for the Counter-Convention +involves devising ad-hoc mini-collectives to meet daily and address +specific tasks and topics. We hope to define, produce, develop, +change, connect -- ultimately to realize the community to which +we aspire. + +We would therefore like for participating groups and individuals to +work out a set of projects, goals, tasks, some questions for us to +explore, and so forth for the Counter-Convention. For example, one +set of goals could include: developing tactics for confronting +gentrification, creating a network of communities combatting +gentrification, putting together resource manuals and determining +effective distribution for them. + +By the end of the gathering we should know each other and our community, +have a set of goals and a plan for achieving them, and have had a lot +of fun in the process. + +So send us feedback, criticisms, suggestions, and information about +your interest and willingness to participate. Also, let us know if +you can attend a planning conference this winter, probably between +Dec.28 and Jan.2 in Chicago. The focus topics will be organizing +the Counter-Convention, Developing the Network of Anarchist Collectives, +affinity group planning and direct action planning. You will be hearing +more about this soon. + +In addition, you can assist in putting together a large mailing and +contact list to use in announcing and planning for next summer. If +you have a list of your own which you would like to share with us, +we would greatly appreciate it. We will pass these lists on to a +collective in Philadelphia working to compile a new edition of the +Radical Address List, to be published and distributed by the time of the +Counter-Convention next August. If you send us names and addresses, +please indicate Individual, Group, Legal Assistance, Publication, +Community Space, and/or Store. Obviously an address can have more +than one classification. If you do not want a listing to be published +or shared beyond our planning efforts, please indicate with an X. + +xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox + * * * AUTONOMOUS ZONE INFOSHOP + * * mail: 1573 N. Milwaukee #420, CHILL 60622 U$A + * /\ * street: 2045 W. North Ave., Chicago +* /__\ Z * phone: 312-278-0775 + * / \ * matrix: ugwiller@bgu.edu or chill@burn.ucsd.edu + * * COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY-ACTIVIST-RESOURCE CENTER + * * * *Element of the Network of Anarchist Collectives* +"A matter of meeting information authority with information disturbance..." + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001149.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001149.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..66dff2f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001149.txt @@ -0,0 +1,86 @@ +COLOMBIA CALIDOSCOPIO + +The following article comes from the current edition of the +Colombian anarchist journal CORREO A + + Cali is the third biggest city in Colombia. A city which is +in the process of becoming a major metropolis, a process which +is at once aggressive, violent and dehumanising. It has a population +of 2,000,000 40% of whom live in absolute poverty (800,000 people). +Another 40% are poised on the edge between the middle and lower classes +whilst 20% have to work outside the area. 10% of those who can work +don't have any (the figure doubles when related to young people) and +50 % survive on the daily leftovers selling everything and consuming +dreams. + There were parliamentary elections followed by more local ones. Of +every one hundred people who were eligible to vote 70 didn't. Of the +other 30 one has to take into account the votes that were bought, those +that were stolen, those that were sold and those that were swindled, +those that were forced to vote and those deceased voters who still +registered their votes. Such are the miracles of Colombian democracy. + Here folk listen to salsa - good, bad and indifferent - at all hours +and in every place. The people are dark-skinned, fun-loving and dancers +who keep at it until they drop. The bursts of music mix with the bursts +of machine-gun fire. The average killing every weekend is between 30 and +50 - mainly the young and women. Here to be young and poor is to invite +death. Death squads stalk the streets shooting, kidnapping and +'disappearing' girls and boys. Nobody says anything, nobody knows +anything, nobody hears anything. Fear closes the eyes, the mouths +and the ears whilst the government washes its hands and promises +exhaustive investigations which generally come to nothing. The local +council in Cali recognised that in 1993 68% of the murders that took +place went unpunished. Nobody can explain how it is that these +murderous squads can pass along the streets which are full of armed +police, detectives, soldiers, secret police agents, ordinary police +agents and military barracks. Perhaps they don't see them? Or perhaps... + The blue sky is dotted with clouds of polluted air: from the west +come rivers and streams of pollution; the people are as warm as the +climate; football and frivolity gain the attention of thousands of +people every weekend; the population growth is intense and overwhelming... + urban chaos is on the way. + And so it is in Cali just like so many other places in Our America: +an inhuman product of the development policies of Big Capital. Cali is +a paradise for the TNCs who came in the 50s and 60s and seized the best +lands, the greatest riches... Standing beside them, hand in hand with +the powerful, are the drug traffickers who are simply another strain of +the bourgeoisie and who have contaminated the whole political and economic +environment. Much of the aforementioned violence has its roots in the + drugtrafficking world and its roots. A veritable narcotragedy. + But the consequences of the drug dealing are not just the bloody +ones. It is a whole subculture which proclaims easy riches, ostentation, +fiddles, machismo and frantic consumerism, dragging down with it into +the mud thousands and thousands, especially the young, with the approval +of the ruling classes shamefully enjoying the fruits of the drug trade. + The opportunities for living a life with dignity become fewer and +fewer. Industrial restructuring, privatisation and neoliberalism have +added to the increasing number of closures of factories and companies, +hyper commercialisation of education, health and recreation, the growing +numbers of women and children who work either in subhuman conditions and +for any salary they can get or fall into delinquency and prostitution. +Official figures show that 61% of those who commit crimes are under +the age of 21 many of whom are in prison for having tried to get a few +pesos to survive. Government statistics are eloquent: whilst a simple +diet costs in the region of US$300 per month the income of poor families +only comes to about US$90 if indeed they are lucky enough to have an +income. + Such a state of affairs has sharpened the peoples ability to survive +and resist. Here we call it 'the gleaning culture' - those strategies +that people adopt in order to live from day to day always looking for +ways to acquire the necessary pesos which will allow them to eat in the +daily struggle to survive: parks, traffic lights and the streets +themselves have become commercial areas where a small business can +be set up in order to cheat hunger. Thus there you will be able to +buy a hot dog, a coffee, a newspaper, a loaf of bread, a red rose or +a quick fix. + Although libertarian and alternative groupings are weak and marginal +there do exist thoughts, discussions and practices which are linked to +social projects which give rise to new ideas and new ways to live. Lack +of co-ordination is, however, one of the greatest weaknesses. +Nevertheless in the teeth of the neoliberal storm and the ferocity +of the regime, the building of a new society is making progress along +with setbacks and fears, threats and successes progress is being made, +slowly but surely as it advances hand in hand with hope.. + +WILI + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001154.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001154.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b9d08cc5 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001154.txt @@ -0,0 +1,214 @@ +Report From Chiapas +------------------- + +At the beginning of January, 1994, a new chapter began in the five +hundred years long struggle of Mexico's indigenous people against +colonization. Under more and more pressure - now mainly from U.S. +imperialism - the indigenous Zapatista National Liberation Army +(EZLN) rose up and succesfully created an autonomous zone in the +Lacondon Forest in the Mexican state of Chiapas. This zone covered a +large number of indigenous villages in what is one of the last +remnants of forest left in Mexico. (Like everywhere else in the +world, the imperialist agenda of total environmental destruction is +nearing completion here.) + +This autonomous zone existed and flourished all through 1994, giving +everyone living there equal control over the running of their +communities. But in February 1995, under extremely powerful economic +and political pressure frrom the U.S. goverment, the mexican army +was sent in to destroy it. Realizing that the high price of defending the +zone would be paid for in indigenous blood, which has been considered +cheap for far too long, the EZLN decided against a fight. + +The Mexican army took control of the area, using standard and +well-tested colonial techniques. With beatings, rape, torture and +murder, they drove the indigenes out of their villages and forced +them to seek refuge deeper in the forest. Then they completely +destroyed all the villages and poisoned the water supplies to +prevent them from returning. They also set up their own camps and +occupied the area themselves. + +In April, May and again in June, the government and delegates from +the EZLN held peace talks, which they call "dialogues", in the +Tzeltal indian village of San Andres Larrainzar (or San Andres +Sacamch'en), which is near San Cristobal de las Casas, a small city +over 2000 metres up in the Chiapas altiplano. A fourth dialoge there +is scheduled for the 4th of july. + +These dialogues are a complete farce, with the government +deliberately setting out to confuse the Zapatistas, whose first +lanugages are the local indigenous ones, rather than Spanish and to +buy time in which to increase the pressure on their communities. But +the EZLN has no choice except to try and get some positive results +from them. Their communities want them to talk. They don't want the +war which seems to be the only alternative. And whether or not they +really have any faith in a government which is just another force of +colonialism in a five hundred year long history of european +colonization, they seem to see it as the only solution. + +There might be better prospects for a positive outcome if it wasn't +for the U.S. government, like a hungry wolf panting at the border, +waiting for an opportunity to march in and exert military control in +addition to the economic power they already have. It's only 150 +years since the U.S. forcibly took over half of Mexico and +incorporated it into their country, and of course they're not happy +with just half, they want the whole bloody lot! + +The dialogue in San Andres Sacamch'en over the weekend of the 12th +to the 6th of May was a very strange event. It struck me as being +something that could probably only happen in Mexico. The talks took +place in a group of buildings on one side of the Zocalo, which is +the square in the centre of Mexican towns, including one building +specially built for the purpose on what used to be a basketball +court. Around this block, there were four cordons - the inside one +made up of Red Cross volunteers, the second of local indigenous +people, the third of other concerned members of the Mexican public +and the fourth cordon, on the outside, was of military police, armed +only with batons. + +The Red Cross were there as an internationally recognized body, +supposedly impartial, hoping to prevent any violent clashes between +the two sides. The indigenous and other Mexicans, making up what's +known as the "Cinturon de Paz", or "peace cordon", were there to +make sure the government forces didn't try any dirty tricks with the +EZLN delegates. And the army was there to protect the government +representatives and show that the government was in control of the +situation. The whole thing created a very wird atmosphere in the +town. + +I was one of a group of twenty or so international observers, who +were there to keep a less easily silenced eye on the conduct of the +government and the army. + +Around sunset on the first day, the EZLN delegates arrived, in two +groups of three and one group of two, in three separate convoys of +cars with red cross and civilians accompanying them to ensure their +safety. The first three were dressed entirely in black, with black +balaclavas covering their whole face except for their eyes. In a +bizarre contrast, they were wearing a local style of brightly +coloured hats which have multicoloured streamers hanging from the +brims. They were greeted by loud cheering and clapping as they drove +through they cordons and got out of their car. + +The second group arrived in the same manner. They were dressed +similarly, except they weren't wearing the coloured hats. The last +convoy to arrive came after dark and included the ony woman in the +group, Comandanta Trinidad, known as "Trini". She was the only one +dressed in normal clothes, although she had a scarf over her nose +and the lower part of her face, to disguise her features. + +It was a strange, but moving spectacle, watching the arrival of +these freedom fighters who have risked their lives - and even right +there and then were putting themselves at risk - to fight for land +rights and equality and against colonialism and genocide. At this +point in history, these people and the rest of their communities are +involved in what's probably the most important strugle for land +rights in terms of global politics. In fact it's possibly one of the +most politically important things happening in the world today, +although it's being heavily suppressed in the international media. +If the indigenous peoples of Chiapas win this struggle, it can't +fail to have a serious beneficial effect on land rights campaigns +and fights for indigenous survival elsewhere in North America and +all round the world. Which of course is why the U.S. government and +multinational companies are leaning so heavily on the Mexican +government. + +The dialogue went on from the Friday evening to late on Monday +night, with the cordons maintained continuously, in shifts for the +whole time. They gave the whole thing an atmosphere of a vigil, with +maybe more spiritual significance than political, encircling the +block motionless and silent, in the hot sun of the afternoon and the +cold mountain darkness of the night. + +In the early afternoon and late evening every day, somebody would +come out of the talks and give a report to the press, who were +assembled on a large, covered, stage-like structure in front of the +main building. The afternoon report was always made by someone from +the governent team and invariably consisted of rambling, +jargon-infested, anonymous nonsense, which said absolutely nothing +at all. This was repeated in the evenings too, but also at that time +there would be statements from some of the EZLN delegates, masked up +as usual and dressed in black. These were invariably clear, easy to +follow and personally expressive accounts of what was happening in +the dialogue - which was basically a frustrating, confusing +runaroud, with the government totally uninterested in making any +concessions at all. + +The pressures of tiredness and the strain of having to try and deal +with the nonsensical talking-machines representing the government +eventually became too much for the EZLN delegates and on Sunday +evening they stopped listening and left the conference room. At this +point, the government ordered in two more batallions of armed +soldiers who completely surrounded the village - presumably with the +intention of aresting or killing the Zapatistas on the pretext that +the talks had broken down. The soldiers in the cordon around the +talks moved away and gathered in large groups and the Red Cross +abandoned their cordon to congregate at the doors of the buildings. +All the indigenous people mobilized and grouped up and the stage was +set for what could easily have been the spark that would ignite a +civil war in Mexico. + +However, the intermediaries in the talks managed to smoothe things +over and get the two sides talking again and nothing came of it in +the end. But it had come very close that night, to a situation the +U.S. governent is undoubtedly hoping will go all the way very soon. + +The dialogue ended very late the next night and all the outsiders +and foreigners on the peace cordon were taken in, in small groups, +for a quick meeting with the Zapatistas. We moved quickly among +them, shaking hands and mumbling inconsequential words of support +and then left them to get ready for the long trips back to their +comrades and communities in the Lacondon forest. + +There were no agreements reached, partly because the EZLN delegates +have no power to agree to anyting without a mandate from their +communities. But there were a couple of small points for them to +take back for discussion before the next dialogue. + +This took place on the 7th of June and was very much the same as the +one before. There was one addition to the EZLN team - another woman, +Commandanta Andrea, who arrived dressed in black clothes and a black +balaclava. Apart from this, there seemed to be no significant +differences and no real advance in negotiations. At this point, it's +beginning to look like an endless series of dialogues stretching +well into the future. However, something's going to have to change +sooner or later. It's just a case of which side takes the initiative +and when... + +Meanwhile, the work of rebuilding the indigenous communities +destroyed by the army in February is well underway. Made possible by +the organization of encampments of foreigners and civilian Mexicans +who are keeping an eye on the army, all but one of the villages have +been reoccupied. However it's a massive task to recover from the +damage done. Rebuilding houses, planting crops and finding ways +around the problem of poisoned water supplies is enough in itself, +but the biggest problem is that they haven't got any food. Because +they were driven out of the villages, they've been unable to plant +crops and therefore there's no harvest to live off. There's a +disatrous level of malnutrition, with a lot of the children showing +bloated bellies as a result. + +However, from what i've heard these problems are being overcome +somewhow and the villages are being rebuilt, still along the +political lines of the old autonomous zone. There *is* hope, but +there's a great need for outside help. Support, both personally and +financially from independent overseas sympathizers will play an +important part in helping the indigenous people of Chiapas overcome +the latest in a long series of imperialist attacks. + +Anyone who is going to Mexico and wants to get information on the +current situation and ways to help should go to: + +Centro Fray Bartolome de Derechos Humanos, +Avenida 5 de Febrero, +San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas. + +If you want to go to a forest encampment, you'll have to be able to +speak reasonably good spanish. + +This report is my impression of the situation here in Chiapas. I've +only been in Mexico six weeks and it's possible i've misinterpreted +some aspects of the way things are. However it's entirely a personal +view and i make no claim to being impartial. + +Will Kemp, Chiapas, Mexico, June 1995. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001155.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001155.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c5100af9 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001155.txt @@ -0,0 +1,91 @@ + +Sierra Madre Peasants Armed To Repel Agressions +----------------------------------------------- + +(from Tiempo, Wed, 10th May, 1995.) + + +El Triunfo (AEI) - The armed peasants that operate in the Sierra +Madre mountains of Chiapas and are in control of a number of coffee +estates, are prepared to repel "any attacks action" on the part of +"white guards or police elements". + +They say they don't belong to the Zapatista National Liberation Army +(EZLN), although they cover their faces with scarves and balaclavas +so as not to be recognized. + +Taking refuge behind barricades built from sacks of sand and gravel +under huts of timber and corrugated iron, from which hang camouflage +trousers and shirts and army-style boots, the peasants, who don't +wear a uniform and say they belong to the Emiliano Zapata Peasant +Organization National Plan of Ayala Co-ordinating Committee +(OCEZ-CNPA), received a group of journalists to explain to them that +their struggle is for land, not political power. + +(Translator's note: the National Plan of Ayala was initiated by the +original Zapatistas and was a land reform program, giving the land +back to the peasants.) + +They explained that they are awaiting the dialogue on the 12th of +May, in San Andres Larrainzar, between the government and the EZLN +in order to decide what action to continue with. "We back the +civil resistance actions called by the EZLN, but we're not militants +of that group. If we were, we would be in the Lacandon forest." + +A committee of approximately thirty people - who didn't give their +names "because there are no leaders here" - with reservations +towards the correspondents, from whom they demanded clear +identification, with name, telephone number and address, said that +Abel, who the small landowners of the region and the civil +authorities refer to as Commandante Abel, isn't in the area. "He's +probably in Frontera Comalpa, San Cristobal or Las Nubes." + +Before arriving at the site of the interview, after a two and a half +hour journey through the depths of the Chiapan mountain range, we +came to a board with black writing on it: "No entry for trucks +between 9pm and 4am. EZLN", with a rifle painted below it. On the +other wall it said: "Respect to the taking of land" and the face of +subcommandante Marcos, to whom they offer their support. + +Since the 10th of April this group has been in possession of the +properties San Luis Andes and Buenos Aires, both owned by Mario +Garcia Trevino, who's also landlord of the Gavilancillo, Bandera +Argentina, El Recuerdo and La Fortuna estates. The peasants +announced that they will initiate the occupation of other estates if +their demands for agrarian reform are not listened to. + +From the top of a large rock, a lookout pointed out directions to +the local and national media representatives. Meanwhile, passing +along the road unmolested, there were trucks of the Conasupo +Solidaridad, which supply basic products to rural shops in San +Antonio Miramar and Hoja Blanca, in the Chiapan sierra. + +The peasants are accused of being Zapatista guerillas by the +propietor of the Las Nubes estate, Manuel Ferrara Gutierrez, who's +asking for the intervention of the Mexican army. Holding rifles, +shotguns and some sort of machine gun, the peasants are momentarily +agressive. They point out that they work in the civil resistance and +they "intend to take some coffee estates if the government will not +solve the agrarian problems by means of dialogue". + +A total of about 150 peasants, all armed, keep watch over the 500 +hectares which comprise the San Luis Los Andes and Buenos Aires +estates. They say they come from San Antonio Miramar, Jamaica +(a village, not the island - translator), San Joaquin, Caban~as and +other extremely poor communities in the municipalities of Escuintla, +Acacoyagua and Motozintla. + +At the site of the interview there was a white three ton truck with +the legend "This unit is property of the EZLN" on the sides. We were +refused access to a building constructed of material which stood out +among the huts. + +"Abel is one of us but he's not here now. They say he's the +commander of the group, but he's only one more comrade who's +struggling for land, dignity and justice for the peasants." + +Before saying goodbye, the men warned the press that they would come +looking for them if they didn't "tell the truth". + + + * * * \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001157.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001157.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0f0087ac --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001157.txt @@ -0,0 +1,265 @@ +Subject: Aspartame and Obesity, Clinical Effects +Date: Oct 14, 1995 +From: Betty Martini + + +(Note:McDonald's sells Diet coke, yogart and possibly other products +with aspartame DB) + + + With regard to obesity (obesity report surpressed in England), I +think this is due to aspartame sold as NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, +and no telling what since the patent expired, and its now in 5000 +products and climbing! In the Congressional Record, May 7, 1985 it +says: + +"Aspartame has been demonstrated to inhibit the carbohydrate induced +synthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin (Wurtman affidavit ). +Serotonin blunts the sensation of craving carbohydrates and thus is +part of the body's feedback system that helps limit consumption to +appropriate levels. Its inhibition by aspartame could lead to the +anomalous result of a diet product causing increased consumption of +carbohydrates." + +NutraSweet was never a diet product. It was discovered by a Searle +chemist while testing a peptic ulcer drug and was intended to be a +drug. Then the chemist got some on his finger and found out it was +sweet. Dr. Wurtman is a brilliant doctor at MIT but he changed sides +after writing about aspartame's hazards and became a consultant for +NutraSweet. The National Soft Drink Association wrote a 30 page +protest which is part of this congressional record stating they used +the wrong test (would not pick up aspartic acid), used the wrong +solution (tested in a buffered solution instead of beverage matrix, +did not test for breakdown products (a witches brew - methanol +converts to formaldehyde and then formic acid - ant sting poison, and +phenylalanine breaks down to DKP, a brain tumor agent), and didn't +test for temperature elevation (at 86 degrees aspartame liberates +methanol in the can - methanol is a severe metabolic poison!) + +These are the devastations of aspartame (masquerading as a sweetener): + +1. Devastation of the Nation's Health. There are 92 documented +medical reactions including seizures, blindness and death. + +2. Hazard to American Aviation. Pilots have reported grand mal +seizures in the cockpits of airliners. Many have lost their +medicals. Hazards reported in many aviation journals including those +of the Navy and Air Force. This Russian Roulette with 400 passenger +planeloads must stop. + +3. Infertility, birth defects and mental retardation in children. +Irreversible damage to the fetal brain and developing child. While +the NutraSweet company puts out ads saying its safe for the pregnant +woman to use aspartame, in reality she could lose her baby because +fetal tissue does not tolerate methanol. Dr. Louis Elsas (Pediatric +Professor at Emory University) said at a hearing before the U.S. +Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources (examining NutraSweet +health and safety concerns 11/3/87) "I have spent 25 years in the +biomedical sciences, trying to prevent mental retardation and birth +defects caused by excessive phenylalanine. And therein lies my basic +concern that aspartame is in fact a well-known neurotoxin and +teratogen (writer's note - something that causes birth defects), +which in some as yet unidentified dose will both reversibly in adult +and irreversibly in the developing child or fetal brain produce +adverse effects." He goes on to tell how phenylalanine concentrates +in the placenta and causes mental retardation. +4. Epilepsy and other seizure disorders. In an original study by +Searle, Dr. Harry Waisman was asked to study the effects of aspartame +on primates. Seven infant monkeys were fed the chemical in milk. +One died after 300 days. 5 others had Grand Mal Seizures. Searle +deleted these findings when they submitted his study to the FDA. +Monsanto bought Searle in 1985. Researchers at Massachusetts +Institute of Technology surveyed 80 people who suffered brain +seizures after eating or drinking products with Aspartame. Said the +Community Nutrition Institute: "These 80 cases meets the FDA's own +definition of an imminent hazard to the public health, which requires +the FDA to expeditiously remove a product from the market. + +It showed be noted that because Monsanto funds trade organizations +like the American Dietetic Assn., and American Diabetic Assn., etc. +physicians were never given the information on aspartame. They think +its just a safe sweetener. So when people have seizures they don't +associate it with aspartame. Dr. H. J. Roberts, author of books on +aspartame and the world expert, attended the American College of +Physicians Conference here in Atlanta and I went with him. In +Neurology, one professor said: "Please can somebody tell us where all +these seizures are coming from - no matter how off the wall it may +be." As Dr. Roberts says, patients spend huge sums of money for +diagnostic tests but get no results until they abstain from +aspartame. + +5. Connection with Persian Gulf Syndrome: A soldier told me they +could drink water and diet soda which sat in the Arabian sun up to 8 +weeks. Temperature inside the can was probably 150 degrees as it was +120 degrees there. He said the guys who drank the diet soda have the +syndrome. Symptoms are identical to NutraSweet Disease: Memory +loss, chronic fatigue (methanol breaks down the immune system), +headaches, insomnia, joint pain, vision and equilibrium loss, etc., +etc. On 60 Minutes a couple of weeks ago one soldier talked about +the burning tongue. A woman on Internet (Brandi J.) had just emailed +her story of how she had this burning, tingling reaction to drinking +Diet Pepsi. She said Pepsi said it was the "sweetness" breaking +down, and sent her a new case. Methanol (a human specific poison) is +what gives it the sweetness and when it breaks down to formaldehyde +it is bitter and burns the tongue. + +One lady I met made the caps for the Persian Gulf and they were told +only to send things that were sugarfree and thousands and thousands +of packets of Diet Kool-Aide were sent with the caps! These packets +mixing chemicals and aspartame like this and Slimfast are some of the +worst. They have caused a lot of bad reactions. + +6. Criminal violence, manic depression, anxiety and suicide. +Phenylalanine in aspartame lowers the seizure threshold in the brain +and blocks serotonin production. Today our nation is swept by a rage +of violence. Researchers attribute this in part to low brain +serotonin levels inducing depression, rage and paranoia. This is +what is causing all these panic attacks; they subside when we get the +person off of aspartame. + +7. The SIGHT of America. The methanol in aspartame converts to +formaldehyde in the retina of the eye (ASPARTAME; METHANOL AND THE +PUBLIC HEALTH, Dr. Woodrow Monte (Journal of Applied Nutrition, +Volume 36, Number 1, 1984). Many people are going blind. In +October, l986 Washington based Community Nutrition Institute filed a +petition with the FDA to ban aspartame because of blindness. This was +reported in the Chicago, Sun-Times, Friday, October 17, l986. One of +victims in the article was Joyce Wilson. In April, l984 he wrote +this article in a local Atlanta newspaper: + +"Aspartame killed my wife. No words can express the agony and horror +sweet Joyce endured. This poison destroyed her brain, ravaged all her +organs and blinded her. She died at age 46 in 1991. .. I'm a man +without a wife because the NutraSweet Company is a business without a +conscience." + +We are constantly getting people off aspartame and when we get them in +time their vision does come back but many times by the time they are +warned its too late like in this case. Dr. Roberts just wrote a paper +on Aspartame and the Eye that I have available on email. + +8. Sacrifice of the diabetics. How could anything be worse for a +diabetic than wood alcohol. This is what killed or blinded thousands +of skid row drunks during prohibition. Monsanto funds the American +Diabetic Assn., and the American Dietetic Assn. who recommend +NutraSweet for diabetics and pregnant women. What a crime. +Physicians seeing diabetics lose their vision think it is normal +diabetic retinopathy but in reality they are going blind. When the +methanol converts to formaldehyde and then formic acid the patient +has metabolic acidosis. Physicians think these are diabetic problems +when in reality its because they are consuming a chemical poison. It +is no wonder Dr. Roberts (diabetic specialist) calls this ASPARTAME +DISEASE. The pattern and the symptoms are predictable and you can +tell them what they are suffering from before you ask. Also, the +American Diabetic Assn. knows - this is premeditated because they +refused to publish Dr. Roberts' abstract of diabetic reactors to +aspartame, and he's been a member of the ADA for almost 40 years. It +was published in Clinical Research, Vol. 36, No. 3, 1988 489A. + +Last year on October 1 we exposed the ADA here in Atlanta by giving +out medical documentation on aspartame and its effect on diabetics at +their walk-a-thon (sponsored by NutraSweet, of course). We dedicated +the day to Joyce Wilson whose son had married a week or so before and +on her empty chair was one long stem rose. We gave our press packs +with black lace for mourning and a single long stem yellow rose in +her memory. + +This year the ADA did it again, Oct. 1, and we were there again giving +out packets for the diabetic and their physician - but this time there +was not as many people. We had gotten to so many last year. A few +days before we did the same thing at the Juvenile Diabetic walk-a- +thon where almost 2000 participated sponsored by Coca Cola. They had +a NutraSweet Dessert! In the ADA event 10/1 I snapped a picture of +such a toddler walking with a Diet Coke! + +9. Connection to Alzheimer's: Dr. Roberts has been researching +Alzheimers for 30 years and when aspartame was approved he noticed a +difference in his diabetic patients - they presented with memory loss +and confusion. He says the two amino acids in aspartame that are +neurotoxic, aspartic acid and phenylalanine without the other amino +acids in protein, and deteriorate the neurons of the brain. +Alzheimers, a 20th century disease, is now the 4th leading cause of +death, with 4 million victims, 250,000 new cases each year and +100,000 deaths. 50% of all patients in nursing homes are Alzheimer +patients including baby boomers. When Joyce Wilson died she was +just like an Alzheimer patient - with no memory. Dr. Roberts new +book: DEFENSE AGAINST ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE; A RATIONAL BLUEPRINT FOR +PREVENTION has already been nominated for a Pulitzer. (1 800 -814-- +9800 - you can also get his tapes on aspartame at this number). Dr. +Russell Blaylock, neurosurgeon, in his book EXCITOTOXINS: THE TASTE +THAT KILLS 1 800-814--9800, tells you that the ingredients in +NutraSweet literally stimulate the neurons of the brain to death. + +10. Multiple Sclerosis. People are being diagnosed with MS when in +reality it is methanol toxicity from aspartame. It does reverse if +you get them in time and we have seen some cases of vision return. +We at OPERATION MISSION POSSIBLE are a volunteer force in 50 states +distributing a warning flyer on NutraSweet worldwide. We hope that +this network can help us by getting the warning. This is the +greatest atrocity ever committed in the history of the FDA. A Board +of Inquiry convened by the FDA said not to approve aspartame because +of the seizures and the brain tumors it caused in lab animals. Dr. +Arthur Hull Hayes, head of the FDA, over-ruled his own Board of +Inquiry and approved aspartame. Then he went to work for Searle's +Public RElations firm and refused to speak to the press for 10 years. + +The FDA abuse email number is fdaabuse@hr.house.gov + +We hope you'll take advantage of it and report all cases. We also ask +all people to take the "no aspartame test" and send us their case +history by email or snail mail: + +MISSION POSSIBLE P. O. BOX 28098 Atlanta, Georgia 30358 + +We also ask all people to take anything with NutraSweet back to the +store. Remember they cannot sell it if its open. Also, they approved +this poison in baked goods even though aspartame cannot be heated +because of the breakdown products. + +You will run into this excuse from NutraSweet and the FDA: "But there +is more methanol in oranges than in aspartame". Don't be fooled +because in oranges there is always ethanol which is the classic +antidote to methanol toxicity. It is in the same journal: +ASPARTAME; METHANOL AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH: "Ethanol, the classic +antidote for methanol toxicity, is found in natural food sources of +methanol at concentrations 5 to 500,000 times that of the toxin. +Ethanol inhibits metabolism of methanol and allows the body time for +clearance of the toxin through the lungs and kidneys." + +I was contacted by the National Academy of Child Development and told +that learning disabilities are at 50%. Aspartame is frying their +brain. They said they would make 10,000 copies of a packet I sent +them to send to their l0,000 offices. A physician this last week +told me that only in America do you see the Attention Deficit +Disorder and Learning Disabilities. That's because there is so much +aspartame here in this country including over the counter drugs, +bakery products at the grocery and even antibiotics and prescription +drugs like Questran. As Dr. Roberts says: the aspartame is causing +what the drug is suppose to prevent. I have the doctors address. I +believe in other countries parents are probably more concerned about +their children not getting these products. Here its in too many +things to avoid. + +McDonalds sells Diet coke, yogart with aspartame and who knows what +else. We must save the children from whats happening. + +We hope McLibel Network can help. + + Betty Martini Operation Mission Possible + +P.S. Please take it back to the store! + +Betty Martini Domain: betty@pd.org UUCP: ...!emory!pd.org!betty + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +U.S. McLibel Support Campaign Press Office +PO Box 62 Phone/Fax 802-586-9628 +Craftsbury VT 05826-0062 Email dbriars@world.std.com +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +To subscribe to the "mclibel" listserve, send email + + To: majordomo@world.std.com +Subject: + Body: subscribe mclibel + +To unsubscribe, change the body to "unsubscribe mclibel" diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001158.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001158.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1231c179 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001158.txt @@ -0,0 +1,275 @@ +Why we hate McDonald's + +by Iain MacSaorsa + +********************************************************* +Talk given as part of a Scottish Federation of Anarchists +speaking tour April 1995 +********************************************************* + +I'm not hear to spill the beans on the Big Mac Empire, others can +do that far better. + +I'm here to place McDonalds in context, as a product of the +system we live under. McDOnalds did not develop in isolation. + +McDOnalds, with its empire, its advertising, its product, its +production methods, its workforce, is the classic example of +modern capitalism. Its methods, its "values" reflect those of the +system and are becoming the "norm", if you like. + +This process is typical of a market economy developing into a +market society, of the process where the society increasingly +reflects the economic basis on which it is built. + +This process could be called "capitalisation" but we will call it +McDonaldisation as this is more fitting with the times and feel +of the modern spectacle within which we live. + +McDonaldisation is the process by which the principles of the +fast-food restaurant are becoming the dominate more and more +parts of our society. + +Image, if you like, is replacing content. + +The key to understanding McDonaldisation is to understand that +it, like capitalism, requires that the "human factor" be removed +from process. It does this in 4 main ways :- + +Efficiency, calculability, predictability and control. + +Some examples will illustrate these four dimensions of +McDonaldisation. There are plenty more. In fact someone has +written a book on the subject "The McDonaldisation of Society". +This speech is plagiarising said book. But since plagiarism is by +its very nature creative, I hope you will think no less of it. + +Honesty is, I hope you agree, often the best bet! + +So, lets take efficiency first. + +Efficiency within a McDonaldised system means that the vast +potential of human life is controlled and narrowed in order to +ensure "efficiency" (which, in practice, means less cost). Ray +Kroc, the brain behind big Mac empire, emphasised this + +"there was inefficiency, waste and temperamental cooks, sloppy +service and food whose quality was never consistent. What was +needed was a simple product that moved from start to completion +in a streamlined path" + +To increase "efficiency" work was deskilled and turned into an +assembly line. The eating of food was turned into "finger food", +no need for knifes and forks, time was minimised. Consumption was +also made "efficient" with tables, chairs and environment +designed to ensure customers feel uncomfortable and want to more +on as quickly as possible. And as time means money under +capitalism, as "efficiently" as possible. + +The Egg McMuffin is a classic example of efficiency as it +combines an entire breakfast in one handy sandwich, making +breakfast far more efficient as all you have to do is stick it in +your mouth and chew! Instead of a wide range of options, the +menus are narrowly defined and we get to chose between the +options others have created. + +Media "sound bits" are another classic example of efficiency, +where complex issues are condensed into 30 minute slots on the +tv. The content is so summarised and distorted that issues cannot +be addressed nor people informed of the reality of the situation. +This ensures even more the elite domination of the news medium as +30 seconds is an impossible time to challenge accepted ideas. + +Whether this efficiency destroys all traces of human interaction +and quality of service or just most of them, I will leave to the +listener to decide. + +Efficiency is driven by calculability. In order to work out if +its efficient, we need to be about to measure it. Hence the need +to emphasis "quantity", not quality. The big Mac, the large fries +and so on. + +Great care is taken to ensure that the pre-grilled hamburger is +exactly 3.875 inches across and the roll it goes into is exactly +3.5 inches. Why? For the same reason that the French fries box +has been designed with strips, to give the illusion of size, the +image of "value for money". The "Big Mac" can appear to be +bursting out of the roll, a useful illusion. + +In addition, calculability ensures that what really matters is +maximised. Profits. A McDonaldised system is based on a system +called "scientific management" invented by Frederick Taylor at +the turn of the century. This was based on calculating the one +best way of doing something and getting workers to follow these +mind-less tasks, day in, day out. In the first workplace this was +introduced, it lead to 360% increase in production. The workers +got a 60% increase in their wages for the privilege of being turned +into "human robots". + +More nearer home, Burger King fries are sold at 400% of cost, +their drinks, 600%. Calculability does pay off, for some at +least. Of course, we can calculate the amount of rubbish they +produce! + +Being able to calculate something means you can make it +predictable, the third aspect of a McDonaldised system. + +We know that if we went into a McDonalds in Glasgow, in Moscow, +in Sidney, we'll get the same shit, in the same packaging with +the same inane smile. Everywhere you go, we see identical shops, +selling identical products - a standardised world filled with +clones. And McDonalds have the gall to claim on one of their +leaflets they place design their restaurant to fit into the local +culture! Aye, right! The local culture of McDonalds! + +In work, we go through standardised work routines, with mad, +pointless rules. On the bru, we fill in the same standard forms, +in the same standard bureaucracies. Objective rules, crushing the +subjective individual, turning them sad charactatures of their +work! + +In a system of competition, this is not unusual, competition +means putting like against like. Predictability is good for +business! + +Lastly, there is control. The replacement of human by non-human +technology. The great source of trouble in any form of +McDonaldised system is human uncertainty and unpredictability. In +other words, human individuality! + +This great evil to rationality, to calculability, to +predictability and to efficiency must be controlled and removed. +Hence people are replaced, controlled and processed by machines. +And working in such an environment soon results in massive +alienation, the feeling that who become the servants of machines, +of others. + +Not that such facts were unknown to the real founders of control, +the assembly line. Both Taylor and Henry Ford recognised the +horrible nature of repetitive, controlled work, but since they +considered the majority to be stupid and not "mentally alert and +intelligent" enough (to use Taylor's phrase) they considered the +system they were imposing to be for the "greater good". Needless +to say, reality proved them wrong. + +We have already mentioned a very useful by-product of such +control by technology, the increased profits of such a system. In +addition, technology deskills the worker, allowing wages to be +lowered, increasing the pool of labour, allowing each worker to +be replaceable and so not treated as individuals, but as +replaceable human machines. The mass worker replaces the unique +individual. That this process of McDonaldisation is widespread in +industry is seen from the name this type of employment is called +- the McJob! + +Here we have the crux of why we hate McDonalds, its not totally +because of what they do (although that's a big part of it) but +because of what they represent, the cutting edge of capitalism. A +veggie McDonalds would still be a hell hole, an affront to +individuality and humanity. + +Such a system soon produces the "irrationality of rationality", +where the living, feeling, thinking individual is crushed under +the dead weight of the past, of capital, of authority and +hierarchy. + +The effects of McDonaldisation as felt everywhere, in all our +social relationships. The market economy becomes the market +society, commodity replaces community. In a McDonaldised system, +people are not encouraged to feel emotions. "Emotional" people +are to be considered strange, freaks. Only the efficient, +calculable "emotions" of "have a nice day" count, to be doled as +and when the boss required. + +Which is, of course, the golden rule. Those with the gold make +the rules. William Blake once said, "A Tyrant is the worst +disease and the Cause of all others". Social hierarchy, economic +and political power in the hands of the few, is the real source +of social problems and so ecological ones. McDonaldisation would +never develop in a self-managed system based on co-operation +within humanity and with nature. McDonaldisation may be the +"natural" result of capitalism, but its not the natural result of +human life. Only when human life is placed under the control of +"official" authority, with "natural" authorities of self- +management ignored (to use Bakunin's terms for a moment) does +profit replace humanity. + +Capitalism needs to enforce "official" authority on us in order +to keep the "quantifiable" system it needs to extract profit from +us, to keep going. The present destruction of the planet in the +name of progress is no accident. Its not a product of some sort +of abstract "humanity", but of a system which places accumulation +and growth above all else, which thinks that 5 is better than 2, +that money now is better than rainforest latter. + +A green capitalism is impossible simply because it has to grow, +it has to accumulate. Eco-systems cannot expand, but the economy +must! Capitalism can never be green, it needs to grow, to expand. +That is why short-termism rules, why wilderness is being +destroyed, why the environment is being scarified. Its the +system, it has to do it in order to survive. + +A Japanese anarchist writing in the 1920's said that every social +system has its belief system. Under feudalism, its the church. +Under capitalism, its science. It has to be able to measure and +quantify everything inorder to sell it. And its faith is +reflected in its politics and economics, were quantity is more +important than quality, where exchange value is better than use +value, where 5 votes are better than 2 votes, where $5 is +better than $2. + +Like all religions, capitalism needs sacrifice. It sacrifices +individuality, humanity and ecology for the power and profits for +the elite few, the ones who make the golden rules, the ones that +enforce McDonaldisation in the name of "freedom". The ones that +have the power while we have the pollution! + +We need to resist the system, create new values, values based on +quality, not quantity. We must put the human factor back into +society, otherwise our alienated society will alienate itself off +the planet. + +We must change our values, our "belief" system, if you like while +changing the system. The "belief" system of anarchy is quality +over quantity. The Japanese anarchist said this would be equivalent +to geography, or in more up to date language, ecology. People +living in harmony with nature because they live in harmony with +themselves both as individuals and with each other, placing human +values above all else. + +We can only do that by reclaiming our individuality, organising +together and change things by our own efforts and based on our own +ideas of right and wrong. That always goes on, that's why the +human factor is so hated by the system. Where there is +oppression, there is resistance. And resistance is the sign of +humanity and it needs to be encouraged and developed to such a +point that the current system can be replaced and the world +renewed in the bright light of freedom, equality and solidarity. + +That's what the Scottish Federation of Anarchists aims to do, +but we cannot do it alone. + +As one Zapatista said "how are you going to construct something +new, if you keep doing the same old things?" We have to learn the +mistakes of the past and build the new world in the shell of the +old. In the Chiapas, in Mexico, the Zapatistas are learning these +lessons, as are all people in struggle like the anti-roads +protesters in Pollok, the people organising the centre in +Edinburgh. All across the world, the anarchist message is being +heard and being applied. Its a message whose time has come. + +Its a message that strikes at the heart of the system which +McDonalds represents and its so-called values. + +We need to act. Just saying "I object" is not enough. It implies +acceptance of the status quo. You have to *do* something. + +McDonalds is being resisted across the globe. From Mexico to +Denmark, McDonalds stores get trashed. Such actions show that +the message is getting through. But while attacking the symbols +of capitalism is a fun experience, it is not enough. We have to +challenge and change the content of the system while trashing and +subverting its images. + +The future is in your hands. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001159.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001159.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..435d95e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001159.txt @@ -0,0 +1,321 @@ +Subject: McLibel perspective from Permaculture International Journal #56 +Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 16:31:39 +1000 +From: Steve Payne + +Please find following the feature article "Who Us on Trial? Fast +food under the grill" which appears in the latest issue of the +Permaculture International Journal (PIJ). It is published by +Permaculture International, a community-based, non-profit company +committed to people care and earth repair. Each quarterly issue of +the PIJ looks at appropriate technologies, self-sufficiency, +organic gardening and sustainable agriculture, and is distributed +in over 70 countries. Anyone requiring further information about +PIJ can contact: The Editor, PO Box 6039 South Lismore NSW +Australia 2480. Tel: int+ (0)66 220020 Fax: (0)66 220579. E-mail: +pcjournal@peg.apc.org + +Editorial - Permaculture International Journal #56 + +Fast food. Fast lives. Fast deaths. Fresh food. Observant lives. +A fighting chance. Jude and Michel Fanton of the Seed Savers +Network say there are many things we are losing in this world +because of fast food chains like McDonalds. One is diversity of +food and heritage crops. Another is the simple act of sharing our +food. Instead we have one burger, one serve of chips, one drink. + +In the PIJ we have often written about the difference our +individual actions make in the wider scheme of the world. Eating +is another. It is not just that buying junk food is helping wipe +out diversity, it's the effect on our own bodies, how this makes +us feel and act day-to-day. By covering the McDonalds story in +this issue, in which two British activists have been taken to +court for libel by the fast food giant, we wanted to play our part +in fighting against the standardisation of food. On television, +the Australian version of 60 Minutes covered the McLibel case, +although completely missing the bigger picture. Interviewed on the +program was well-known legal eagle Geoffrey Robertson who said he +ate McDonalds food and liked it. + +We want to make it socially +unacceptable for people to rely on fast foods - at least until the +food chains make a significant change. We want to wake them up! We +want to question their ethics and guide them in a new direction. +Permaculture does not want beef-lot meat or monoculture wheat. +Instead, organic grains, fresh juices - food that means something. +Our story on the Seikatsu Club shows there is another way. Imagine +the effect on a mass scale if McDonalds or any other mega fast +food chain took a major step towards healthy food and put the +interests of the environment and humans well ahead of profits. The +world's richest man, Microsoft king Bill Gates, is known for +eating McDonalds burgers. What if he stopped, and then told the +world why? + +Steve Payne - Editor for the PIJ team + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + Who's on Trial? Fast food under the grill. + by Efrem Lloyd + +Two London protestors gave fast food clown Ronald McDonald a kick +and ended up before quite a different wig. The McLibel trial, as +it has become known, is detailing the case against fast food +multinationals in London's High Court. It will culminate some time +next year in Helen Steel and David Morris telling the world there +is a better way. It's permaculture of course. + +UK environmental activist, Helen Steel has had to leave the farm +and doesn't get much time to dig in her London allotment anymore. +Dave Morris has a garden in the backyard of his London house but +he, too, doesn't get much time to spend there. Instead, Steel and +Morris turn up each day to London's High Court to face a barrage +of the world's highest paid lawyers and Queen's Counsel to defend +themselves in what has become one of the world's longest running +libel trials. + +Steel and Morris are defendants in an action +brought against them by McDonald's, the world-wide hamburger +empire which took grave offence at a pamphlet handed out by London +Greenpeace critical of its food quality and general corporate +operations. This may be just another case of environmental +radicalism and, in the view of permaculture founder Bill Mollison, +a rerun of old evidence. But this time the evidence has got legs +- the so-called McLibel trial has already been going more than 12 +months and is expected to last another six months at least - and +it is reaching groups not known for their environmental savvy. It +is highlighting the fact that in choosing which food we buy we are +casting a vote for or against sustainable production. The Wall +Street Journal, the international business newspaper, has run a +front page feature on it. Mainstream union organisations have +pledged their support to Morris and Steel and the $24 billion a +year McDonald's corporation must be wondering what it has got +itself into. + +This is good news for permaculture. It is focussing +mainstream attention on the value of healthy food, the threat of +monocultures on genetic diversity and presenting an avenue to +publicise an alternative view. A fact that has been overlooked in +much of the reporting of the McLibel trial to date is that the +message in the pamphlet which so upset McDonald's was that there +is another way to go. "There are loads of cheap, tasty and +nutritious alternatives to a diet based on the decomposing flesh +of dead animals," the brochure said. "Fresh fruit of all kinds, a +huge variety of local and exotic vegetables, cereals, pulses, +beans, rice, nuts, wholegrain foods, soya drinks etc." It said a +vegan Britain would be self-sufficient on only 25 per cent of the +agricultural land presently available and encouraged people to get +together with friends and grow their own vegetables. "There are +over 700,000 allotments in Britain - and countless gardens. "The +pleasure of preparing healthy food and sharing good meals has a +political importance too," it said. "It is a vital part of the +process of ordinary people taking control of their lives to create +a better society, instead of leaving their futures in the cynical, +greedy hands of multinational corporations." + +Somewhere towards the +end of the marathon libel trial Morris and Steel will get their +chance to tell the London High Court about their alternatives. In +the meantime they face total bankruptcy unless they can prove to +the sitting judge the claims made in the London Greenpeace +factsheet. + +In an interview, Morris told the Permaculture +International Journal the whole trial was about suppressing the +criticism so the alternatives don't come forward. "If there are +alternatives they are alternative to something that is destructive +or damaging or undesirable," he said. "They [McDon-ald's] are +trying to suppress McDon-ald's as being thought to be an +undesirable way of doing things in the hope that people don't +start looking for alternatives." Steel and Morris are defending +themselves in the trial. At McDonald's request they were denied +their right to a jury trial because, the company argued, the +issues were "too complex" to allow their assessment by a jury. +The Trial During the course of the trial approximately 180 +witnesses from the UK and around the world are giving evidence in +court. They include environmental and nutritional experts, trade +unionists, former McDonald's employees, animal welfare experts and +top executives. Among those already called have been the former +Assistant Attorney General of Texas who, in 1987, threatened legal +action against McDonald's to prevent them claiming in their +adverts that their food was RnutritiousS. The issues at the heart +of the trial for Steel and Morris are: + +% The connection between multinational companies, cash crops and +starvation in the third world. + +% The responsibility of corporations like McDonald's for damage to +the environment, including rainforests. + +% The wasteful and harmful effects of the mountains of packaging +used by McDonald's and other companies. + +% McDonald's promotion and sale of food with a low fibre, high +fat, saturated fat, sodium and sugar content, and the links +between a diet of this type and the major degenerative diseases in +western society, including heart disease and cancer. + +% The exploitation of children through the use of advertisements +and gimmicks to sell products. + +% The treatment of animals, working conditions and hostility to +trade unions. + +Morris said he had so far been very encouraged by +the amount of information that he and Steel had been able to +extract revealing the inner workings of a corporation. Equally +impressive had been the admissions made by McDonald's executives +and expert witnesses. Admissions like that from Professor +Wheelock, McDonald's consultant on nutrition. Professor Wheelock +defined the word nutritious to mean "contains nutrients". He then +accepted that all foods have nutrients. When asked to define "junk +food" he said it was "whatever a person doesn't like" (in his case +semolina). McDonald's QC then intervened to say that McDonald's +was not objecting to the description of their food as junk food. + +Other evidence so far has included that of Dr Neal Barnard, +President of the US Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine +and an expert on nutrition and health that "many products sold at +McDonald's are high in fat and cholesterol, and low in fibre and +certain vitamins". During Dr Barnard's evidence, Richard Rampton, +for McDonald's said "we would all agree" that there is a link +between a high fat, low fibre diet and cancer of the breast and +colon". + +Further evidence was given about McDonald's targeting of +children through advertising because of the pressure they could +apply on parents. McDonald's UK President told the court however +that the character Ronald McDonald was intended not to "sell food" +to children, but to promote the "McDonald's experience". It was +also revealed in court that Geoffrey Guiliano, the main Ronald +McDonald actor in the 1980's had quit and publicly apologised +stating, "I brainwashed youngsters into doing wrong. I want to say +sorry to children everywhere for selling out to concerns who make +millions by murdering animals." + +So concerned has McDonald's been +about the dissemination of information from the court case around +the world, it withdrew an earlier agreement to provide the +defendants with a copy of the daily court transcripts. The +original agreement was that McDonald's would provide transcripts +for all parties including the judge. After the McDonald's decision +to withhold transcripts the sitting judge refused to accept copies +unless they were also given to Morris and Steel. Morris and Steel +launched a public appeal to raise the 35,000 pounds they needed to +purchase daily transcripts for the remainder of the trial. Those +transcripts will be necessary to help spread the alternative +message and continue to provoke debate about what impact the +multinational fast food industry generally is having on the world +which goes well beyond nutrition. + +Eating Without Sharing + +Michel and Jude Fanton from the Seed Savers Network in Australia have a +particular problem with the industry's reliance on uniformity. +"McDonald's is the icon of the fast food system and its hallmark +is sameness," they say. "It is not just the uniforms worn by the +staff, but the very sameness of product over the whole globe. Only +predictable ingredients are used. "Genetically hybrid seeds are +planted by the square kilometre. Taste and nutrition are not on +the list of priorities. Anything bearing a hint of difference does +not stand a chance. "No room for fantasy here. The tomatoes have +to be the same colour, have the same solids content, and be the +right shape to fit into a hamburger which itself fits into uniform +packaging." + +The Fanton's claim one of the biggest dangers of the +fast food industry is the impact it has on genetic diversity. +"The number of species available or used as food is a good +indication of the genetic diversity left in our fields. Processed +foods typically make up 90 per cent of what developed countries +consume and comes from an abysmally narrow range of plants. "Out +of 1200 species of food that are available, only 30 make up the +bulk of our diet. "When we buy from a supermarket or from fast +food chains, we know that we sponsor the politics of uniformity. +This endangers the genetic diversity of tomorrow's food. It is a +genetic downward spiral. The more uniform food we eat today, the +more it will be in the future." Furthermore, the cost +effectiveness of fast food relies on monopoly so that 90 per cent +of all chickens are produced on 10 per cent of all poultry farms +and 75 per cent of grains come from eight per cent of the cereal +farms. + +Of the varieties of plants and animals, a handful of +homogeneous hybrids have largely replaced the cornucopia of the +past. But Michel and Jude say their greatest objection to +McDonald's is that it feeds the worst of our Western habits, +eating without sharing. + +Eating Up the Earth + +The Fanton's concern +about loss of plant diversity is shared by the American +organisation Mothers & Others for a Livable Planet.In a recent +issue of its Green Guide newsletter, Mothers and Others said in +choosing food we are casting a vote for or against sustainable +food production. It quotes writer/farmer Wendell Berry as saying: +"How we eat determines to a considerable extent how the world is +used." The industrialisation of food production has left powerful +global food conglomerates now making most of the critical +decisions about what foods to produce, where and how they are +grown, treated and handled. Indeed, four multinational food +companies now control the production and marketing of over 40 per +cent of four basic commodities: corn, soybeans, wheat and rice. +Treated as commodities to be bought and sold at a profit, foods +are bred to maximise production. Industrial traits are preferred, +such as a plant's ability to withstand the battery of heavy +machinery or regular assault by toxic pesticides, uniformity in +ripening, tensile strength for shipping, and cosmetic appearance. + +While traditional agriculture depended on 80,000 species of +plants, industrial agriculture now provides most of the food on +our planet from just 150 varieties. The National Academy of +Sciences (NAS) in the United States has found that "nearly all +plant-breeding programs in the US emphasise yield, uniformity, +market acceptability and pest resistance, but not nutritional +quality." "Indeed,S Green Guide said, "breeding plants for the +characteristics desirable for industrial production and marketing +often lowers the plants nutritional values." + +Working With the Enemy + +But while London Greenpeace has chosen confrontation to +get its message across about fast food, GreenLife Society Finland, +the Finnish branch of GreenLife Society International, has taken +the advice of Gandhi; "Hate sin, not the sinner" and "Love your +enemy". The group decided not to work against McDonald's or +anything else but to work for sustainable and responsible fast +food. Instead of opposing the companies and making their workers +afraid of losing their jobs, they presented a vision of +sustainable fast food. "We have better chances to affect the +companies when we say that we, too, are trying to develop their +business further," GreenLife spokesperson Oras Tynkkynen said. +"We don't want to harm their business, but make it sustainable. +They can't dismiss us saying the usual thing ("they are a bunch of +anarchist opposing everything"). "If they are not willing to +change, people will start to question why. Why are they against +environmental protection and animal rights? "I think the approach +we have been using means avoiding needless juxtapositions. Through +dialogue it tries to make friends among the Renemies". "But first +and foremost it means understanding that there are no good and +bad people, no black and white, just different shades of grey - +or should I say green." Note: McDonald's Australia, when contacted +by the Permaculture International Journal, declined to discuss +anything associated with the trial. + +Anyone wishing to respond to this article can contact the PIJ: +The Editor, PO Box 6039 South Lismore NSW Australia 2480. Tel: +int+ 61 + (0)66 220020 Fax: Int + 61 + (0)66 220579. E-mail: +pcjournal@peg.apc.org + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +U.S. McLibel Support Campaign Press Office +PO Box 62 Phone/Fax 802-586-9628 +Craftsbury VT 05826-0062 Email dbriars@world.std.com +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +To subscribe to the "mclibel" listserve, send email + + To: majordomo@world.std.com +Subject: + Body: subscribe mclibel + +To unsubscribe, change the body to "unsubscribe mclibel" diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001161.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001161.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d744f701 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001161.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1144 @@ +PREAMBLE AND CONSTITUTION +of the +INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD + + +PREAMBLE + + The working class and the employing class have nothing in common. +There can be no peace so long as hunger and want are found among millions +of the working people and the few, who make up the employing class, have all +the good things of life. + Between these two classes a struggle must go on until the workers of +the world organize as a class, take possession of the means of production, +abolish the wage system, and live in harmony with the Earth. + We find that the centering of the management of industries into fewer +and fewer hands makes the trade unions unable to cope with the ever- +growing power of the employing class. The trade unions foster a state of +affairs which allows one set of workers to be pitted against another set +of workers in the same industry, thereby helping defeat one another in wage +wars. Moreover, the trade unions aid the employing class to mislead the +workers into the belief that the working class have interests in common with +their employers. + These conditions can be changed and the interest of the working class +upheld only by an organization formed in such a way that all its members in +any one industry, or in all industries if necessary, cease work whenever a +strike or lockout is on in any department thereof, thus making an injury to +one an injury to all. + Instead of the conservative motto, "A fair day's wage for a fair day's +work," we must inscribe on our banner the revolutionary watchword, +"Abolition of the wage system." + It is the historic mission of the working class to do away with +capitalism. The army of production must be organized, not only for everyday +struggle with capitalists, but also to carry on production when capitalism +shall have been overthrown. By organizing industrially we are forming the +structure of the new society within the shell of the old. + Knowing, therefore, that such an organization is absolutely necessary +for emancipation, we unite under the following constitution: + +ARTICLE I +Name and Structure + + Section 1. This organization shall be known as THE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS +OF THE WORLD. + Sec. 2. The Industrial Workers of the World shall be composed of +actual wage workers brought together in an organization embodying Job +Branches, Industrial Union Branches, General Membership Branches, +Industrial Unions, and Industrial Departments. + +Departments + + Sec. 3(a). An Industrial Department shall be composed of Industrial +Unions in closely kindred industries appropriate for representation in the +departmental administration, and assigned thereto by the General Executive +Board of the Industrial Workers of the World. + (b). An Industrial Department shall consist of two or more Industrial +Unions aggregating a membership of not less than 20,000 members. The +Departments shall have supervision over the affairs of the Industrial +Unions composing same, provided that all matters concerning the entire +membership of the IWW shall be settled by a referendum. + (c). The Departments shall be designated as follows: + 1 - Department of Agriculture, Land, Fisheries, and Water + Products. + 2 - Department of Mining. + 3 - Department of Construction. + 4 - Department of Manufacturing and General Production. + 5 - Department of Transportation and Communication. + 6 - Department of Public Service. + +Industrial Unions + + Sec. 4(a). Whenever a membership of 25 has been attained in any +industry, they shall be issued an Industrial Union charter upon request. + (b). Industrial Unions shall be composed of actual wage workers in a +given industry welded together as the particular requirements of said +industry may render necessary. + Sec. 5. Component parts of the IWW may set up such coordinating +bodies as they wish, provided their cost shall be defrayed by the sections +setting them up, and further provided that they shall not void rank and +file control. + Sec. 6. No legislation conflicting with the constitution of the IWW +shall be passed by any subordinate body. + Sec. 7. All charters of local bodies shall be issued by the GEB. In +industries where the IWW includes a functioning Industrial Union, charters +shall be issued only on recommendation of its General Organizing Committee. +In other industries it shall be permissible for local General Membership +Branches to organize and administer local bodies of workers in any industry +until they apply for and are granted Industrial Union Branch charters. In +localities where there is one or more Industrial Union Branch(es) and a +General Membership Branch, it shall be locally optional either to set up a +delegate council to handle matters of common concern (such as educational, +defense, and social activities) or to leave these to the General Membership +Branch, with the sharing of financial obligations to be arranged between +them. Where no General Membership Branch is chartered, it is expected of all +members of the IWW to arrange for occasional meetings at which any and all +members, whether they are members of Industrial Union Branches or not, may +meet together to plan local joint activities. Charters shall be issued to +GMBs or to IUBs only if the GEB finds it feasible for their members to meet +together. More than one GMB in the same city or area shall be chartered +only when the GEB finds language, transportation, or other practical +reasons warrant it. + +ARTICLE II +Membership + + Section 1(a). It is the aim of the IWW to build world-wide working- +class solidarity. No wage or salaried worker shall be excluded because of +race, sex, nationality, creed, color or sexual preference. Membership is open +only to wage or salaried workers except as provided in section 1b. +Membership can be denied to those wage and salaried workers whose +employment is incompatible with the aims of this union. + (b). No unemployed or retired worker, no working class student, +apprentice, homemaker, or prisoner shall be excluded from membership on the +grounds that s/he is not currently receiving wages. Such workers may take +membership in the Industrial Union for the industry in which they last +worked, or for which they are now training, or at which they work part- +time, or in the case of students and homemakers in Educational Workers I.U. +620 or Household Service Workers I.U. 680 respectively as may seem most +practical, provided that no person under 18 is initiated on any basis other +than industrial employment as a wage worker. This provision shall not deny +to any Industrial Union or Industrial Union Branch the right to limit vote +on strictly industrial matters to those actively engaged in their industry. + Workers employed in co-operatives democratically run by their +employees are welcome to membership. Members who become temporarily self- +employed may retain their membership or apply for withdrawal cards, which +are issuable also to those who must withdraw when they become employers. + (c). No member of the Industrial Workers of the World shall be an +officer of a trade or craft union or political party. + Branches may allow IWW members to become officers of trade or craft +unions as long as these exceptions are reported to the General +Administration and no IWW member receives significant pay (more than dues +rebate and expenses) as a result of being an officer or official in a union +that does not call for abolition of the wage system. + Exceptions may be made by the branches to allow unpaid officers of +political parties to become members. + Sec. 2. All applicants shall agree to abide by the Constitution and +regulations of the IWW and diligently study its principles and make +themselves acquainted with its purpose. This obligation shall be printed +on the application blank. + +Job Branches + + Sec. 3. Whenever there are five or more members on the job, they +shall constitute themselves a shop or a job branch, and elect a shop +committee and a job delegate to attend to urgent matters between business +meetings. No member should serve permanently on a committee. At each +meeting a new committee should be elected. All members should take their +turns at serving on committees. + +Quorums + + Sec. 4(a). Not less than five members, not including the paid Branch +Secretary, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. + (b). No paid official of any part of the Industrial Workers of the World +shall be permitted to vote in Branch meetings. + +ARTICLE III +General Officers + + Section 1. The General Administration shall consist of the General +Secretary-Treasurer and the General Executive Board. + Sec. 2(a). The term of office shall be for 1 year and the same shall +commence on January 1. Officials, after having served their first term of +office shall be eligible for two more terms only, except as specified in +Section 3 (c) and (d). + (b). The General Executive Board shall set the wages of all general +organization employees and organizers. + +ELECTIONS +General Administration + + Sec. 3(a). The General Secretary-Treasurer shall be a member for 3 +years, and 18 months in continuous good standing immediately prior to +nomination. The General Executive Board shall consist of seven members, all +of whom have been members for 18 months, and 12 months in continuous good +standing, immediately prior to nomination. + In the event that no nominee for General Secretary-Treasurer meeting +the 3 year membership requirement can be found, then the 3 year +requirement shall be reduced to one of 2 years membership with 18 months +in continuous good standing prior to nomination. + A person elected to office must remain in continuous good standing +until assuming that office or forfeit the right to hold the office. + (b). Nominations for General Secretary-Treasurer and members of the +General Executive Board shall be made at the General Assembly of the IWW +or through the mail with nominations closed by the adjournment of the +General Assembly. In either event, election shall be by general referendum +ballot as provided for in Article IX, Sec. 2. The ballot shall include space +for write-in candidates. Either a verbal acceptance on the floor of the +Assembly or a written acceptance addressed to the General Secretary- +Treasurer must be received from each candidate whose name is placed on the +ballot. No member shall be a candidate for or be permitted to hold more than +one General Administration office at a time. + (c). The three candidates receiving the highest number of nominations +for General Secretary-Treasurer shall have their names placed on the +ballot. Members who have served three or more consecutive terms as General +Secretary-Treasurer shall not have their names placed on the ballot, +except in the event that three qualified nominees cannot otherwise be +secured. When this is the case, the names of the nominees who have served +three or more consecutive terms may be placed on the ballot, but the ballot +shall clearly state the number of terms in succession previously served by +such a candidate. All write-in candidates who meet the requirements of +Article III, Section 3(a) are considered qualified nominees. The one receiving +the highest number of votes on referendum being elected. + (d). The 21 candidates receiving the highest number of nominations for +General Executive Board member shall have their names placed on the ballot. +Members who have served three or more consecutive terms on the General +Executive Board shall not have their names placed on the ballot, except in +the event that 15 qualified nominees cannot otherwise be secured. When this +is the case, the names of the nominees who have served three or more +consecutive terms may be placed on the ballot, but the ballot shall clearly +state the number of terms in succession previously served by such a +nominee. A write-in candidate must receive a minimum number of votes equal +to 5% of the IWW members in good standing. All write-in candidates who +receive the minimum number of votes and meet the requirements of Article +III, Section 3(a), are considered qualified nominees. The seven nominees +receiving the highest number of votes on the referendum shall constitute +the General Executive Board. + (e). The General Executive Board Chairperson shall be the alternate +to the General Secretary-Treasurer. Alternates to the General Executive +Board shall be the remaining nominees in the order of votes received. + In the event of a vacancy on the General Executive Board, with all +duly elected members or alternates already serving or being unavailable, +the General Secretary and the GEB Chairperson shall appoint a board member +until another shall be elected by referendum. + (f). No official of the General Administration shall be permitted to +hold other office in, or become a paid employee of any Industrial Union of +the Industrial Workers of the World. + +Duties of the General Secretary-Treasurer + + Sec. 4(a). The duties of the General Secretary-Treasurer shall be to +take charge of all books, papers and effects of the office. S/he shall +conduct the correspondence pertaining to his/her office. S/he shall be the +custodian of the seal of the organization, and shall attach same to all +official documents over his/her official signature. S/he shall furnish the +committee on credentials, at each General Assembly, a statement of the +financial standing of each Industrial Union. S/he shall have a voice, but no +vote, in the governing bodies of the organization. + The General Secretary-Treasurer shall close his or her accounts for +the fiscal year on the last day of June. S/he shall make a monthly report +to the General Executive Board and the general membership. S/he shall also +make a complete itemized report of financial and other affairs of his or her +office to each General Assembly. + S/he shall prepare and sign all charters issued by the General +Executive Board. S/he shall receive all moneys for charters from Industrial +Unions and Industrial Departments. S/he shall receipt for same, care for +and deposit all moneys as instructed by the General Executive Board, in +some solvent bank or banks, which shall be drawn out only to pay +indebtedness arising out of due conduct of the business of the +organization, and then only if bills have first been duly presented by the +creditors when a check shall be drawn by him/her in payment thereof. + S/he shall employ such assistants as are necessary to conduct the +affairs of his/her office, remuneration for such employees to be fixed by +the General Executive Board. + (b). S/he shall publish a monthly General Organization Bulletin +containing his/her monthly report as well as that of the General Executive +Board; together with official notices, referendum ballots, monthly and +annual financial reports, and other organization business. The Bulletin shall +also include letters from IWW members on current referenda and elections, +organizing campaigns, and other union business. The GST shall publish all +submissions received by the published monthly deadline, deleting only +epithets and/or personal attacks against other members (except that +members shall have complete freedom to criticize the conduct of union +officials without censorship subject to the provisions of By-Laws Article +III Section 6a). + +Duties of the General Executive Board + + Sec. 5(a). The General Executive Board shall elect its own chairperson +from its own number. + The General Executive Board shall have general supervision over all +affairs of the organization between conventions, and shall watch vigilantly +over the interests throughout its jurisdiction. It shall be assisted by the +officers and members of all organizations subordinate to the Industrial +Workers of the World. It shall appoint such organizers as the conditions of +the organization may justify. + (b). The General Executive Board shall not appoint or cause to be +appointed any delegate or organizer against the protest of, and without +first notifying, the General Organizing Committee of the Industrial Union +which has jurisdiction in the territory in which the delegate or organizer +is to operate. + All organizers so appointed shall at all times work under the +instruction of the General Executive Board. All organizers and General +Executive Board members, while in the employ of the Industrial Workers of +the World, shall report to the Chairperson of the General Executive Board +in writing, on blanks provided for that purpose, at least once each week. + (c). The General Executive Board shall have full power to issue +charters to Industrial Departments, Industrial Unions, Branches, and +Industrial District Councils. + (d). The General Executive Board shall have full power and authority +over all IWW publications and guide their policy. + (e). The members of the General Executive Board shall have power to +visit any subordinate body of the IWW and have full authority to examine and +audit all accounts of such body; and also to enforce the use of the uniform +system of bookkeeping as adopted by the Assembly of the IWW from time to +time. + (f). The General Executive Board shall meet on the call of the +Chairperson or majority vote of the General Executive Board. + (g). All matters pertaining to organization shall be settled by the +entire General Executive Board by mail or wire when absent from +headquarters. It shall take a majority vote to settle any question. + (h). The General Executive Board shall have power to appoint a +Secretary of the General Defense Committee whenever they deem it +necessary. + (i). The General Executive Board shall issue a monthly report of their +activities. + +Charges Against General Officers + + Sec. 7(a). Charges against any of the General Officers shall be filed +in writing with the G.E.B. or the General Assembly, at the option of the +person filing charges. Also, in the case where a member of the Union who is +not a General Officer is accused of exercising the authority of the GEB or +GST without their approval, such charges shall be filed in writing with the +GEB or the General Assembly, at the option of the person filing charges. + If the charges are filed before the G.E.B., they shall at once have a +copy of the charges sent to the accused, together with the notice of the +date of the hearing of the charges. Charges filed before the General +Assembly must be sent to the General Secretary at least 30 days prior to +the date of the convening of the assembly. + On receipt of the charges the General Secretary will forward a copy +of the same to the accused and notice to appear at the convention for +trial. + (b). Any decision of the G.E.B. on charges tried by them shall be +subject to appeal to the next General Assembly and from the General +Assembly to the general membership. The decision of the General Assembly +on charges can be appealed to the general membership. This appeal must be +filed with the General Administration within ninety (90) days from the +adjournment of the General Assembly. + The cost of appealing to the general membership shall be borne by the +party taking the appeal. If the vote on appeal results in the favor of the +party taking the appeal then the General Organization shall refund the cost +of the appeal. + +ARTICLE IV +Clearing House + + Section 1(a). The General Headquarters of the Industrial Workers of +the World shall function as a Clearing House that will automatically settle +all debts between Industrial Unions and General Headquarters. + (b). All credentials authorizing members to initiate members or to +collect dues shall be issued by the General Secretary-Treasurer. He or she +shall issue such credentials on his or her discretion, on the recommendation +of the local or industrial union officers, and must do so on the instruction +of the General Executive Board. Those so credentialed shall have been +members for 6 months, except that newly organized groups may elect one of +their members to serve in that capacity. All such credentials shall bear a +distinguishing number, and shall empower the bearer to initiate members or +collect dues in all industries. + (c). All job delegates or others bearing such credentials shall record +all fees, dues, assessments, etc., collected on the forms provided by the +General Secretary and shall identify receipt both on the page of the dues +book and on top of the stamps with their credential number and date, and +shall report at least monthly to the General Secretary by submitting this +record together with all signed applications for membership, and all fees +and dues money received; provided, any Industrial Union or Industrial Union +Branch, or General Membership Branch, through which the delegate operates +may require that this report be transmitted through it, to record the +information in its own files and to retain such portion of moneys as this +constitution and pertinent by-laws permit. + (d). The Chairperson of the General Executive Board shall countersign +all checks issued by the General Secretary-Treasurer. At the same time as +the General Executive Board selects its chair, it shall also select a non- +board member to be designated check co-signer. The co-signer will have the +same eligibility requirements as a Board member. + (e). Job delegates working out of the general office shall remit all of +initiation fees and dues, whether for employed or unemployed members. +Secretaries of chartered branches shall remit one-half of same to the +general office and retain the other half in the branch treasury. + (f). The General Secretary-Treasurer shall be the custodian of the +funds of a General Membership or Industrial Union Branch only upon its +request, but s/he shall be the custodian of the funds of each Industrial +Union, except operating funds for which the organizers or officers are, in +accordance with the by-laws, held responsible. The General Administration +cannot use the funds so entrusted to it without the consent of the +Industrial Unions or other bodies owning such a fund, so long as these +bodies continue. + (g). Supplies issued delegates and branch secretaries on behalf of +Industrial Unions shall be charged to the Industrial Union. + (h). Reports with remittance for dues, etc., paid during the month +shall be sent to the General Secretary not later than the 10th day of the +following month. Should any branch or Industrial Union fail to do so, further +supplies to it shall be withheld until these reports are received. + +ARTICLE V +Duties of Branch Secretaries and Delegates + + Section 1. Except as provided otherwise in Branch or Industrial Union +by-laws, branch secretaries shall be the responsible custodians of all +branch records, funds and supplies; shall issue such supplies to delegates +in their branch and receive reports from them; shall maintain such records +of these transactions as by-laws or organizing programs require; shall +report all such business to the General Secretary-Treasurer at least +monthly; shall also transmit to the General Secretary copies of all minutes +of meetings and of his or her own monthly financial report to his or her +branch; shall endeavor to keep all members in good standing and aware of all +referenda. S/he shall also report at least monthly to the General Secretary +on the activities and prospects of his or her branch. + +ARTICLE VI +Assemblies + + Section 1(a). Each year the IWW shall hold a General Assembly of the +Union, the date and venue of the next Assembly to be set by the Assembly +in session before its adjournment. + (b). The General Assembly of the IWW shall not remain in session over +10 days. Prior to the General Assembly the General Executive Board shall +issue an agenda to the delegates to the General Assembly specifying the +time limit on each question. All resolutions, wherever possible, shall be in +the hands of the G.E.B. 10 days before the opening of the General Assembly. +Copies of all resolutions shall be furnished to all delegates. + Sec. 2. The General Assembly of the IWW is the legislative body of the +union and has the power to expel any member for violation of the IWW +constitution, by-laws, or principles. The Assembly's enactments are of legal +force, provided they are approved by general referendum. Referenda to +approve assembly motions shall be issued according to the provisions of +Article IX, sec. 2. + +Representation + + Sec. 3(a). Representation at the General Assembly of the IWW shall be +mass membership and delegate on the basis of one member one vote. + (b). Delegates can have more than one vote only on issues on which +they carry written instructions from the member or body that instructed +them. + (c). When two or more delegates are representing an Industrial Union +in the Assembly, the vote of such Industrial Union shall be equally divided +between the delegates. + (d). The expenses of delegates to the General Assembly, including +their mileage, shall be borne by the body they represent. + +Credentials + + Sec. 4(a). On or before July 1 of each year the General Secretary- +Treasurer shall send to the Chairperson of the General Organization +Committee of each Industrial Union credentials in duplicate for the number +of delegates and alternates they are entitled to in the convention. + (b). The Chairperson of the General Organization Committee of the +Industrial Union shall properly fill out the blank credentials received from +the General Secretary-Treasurer and return one copy to the General Office +not later than August 15. The other copy shall be presented by the delegate +to the Committee on Credentials when the convention assembles. + +Temporary Session + + Sec. 5. The General Executive Board shall draw up a list of delegates +against whom no contest has been filed at the General Office. The General +Secretary-Treasurer shall call the convention to order and read the +aforesaid list. The delegates on the said list shall proceed to form a +temporary organization by electing a temporary Chairperson and a Committee +on Credentials. + +Delegates' Eligibility + + Sec. 6(a). Delegates to the General Assembly from the Industrial +Unions must be members of the IWW for 1 year and in continuous good +standing for 60 days immediately prior to nomination. + (b). The general administration officials shall be delegates at large, +with voice but no vote. All paid officials and employees must be off the +payroll 90 days prior to the convening of the General Assembly to become +eligible as delegates. Any member who has not been on the payroll 10 +consecutive days in the 3 months immediately prior to the convening of the +Assembly, shall be eligible as a delegate. No delegate shall cast more than +one vote when voting on the seating of a contested delegate or delegates. +No delegate shall have more than one vote on the expulsion of a member. + (c). Delegates to the General Assembly shall not serve for two +consecutive terms. + +Records of Delegates + + (d). The Clearing House shall forward a complete record of each +delegate elected to the General Assembly of the IWW to the Chairperson of +the G.E.B., and to the Secretary-Treasurer in order to facilitate the work +of the Credentials Committee of the General Assembly. + +Joint Delegates + + Sec. 7. Two or more unions, with a total membership of 500 or less, +may jointly send a delegate to the Assembly, and the vote of said delegate +shall be based on the representation hereinbefore provided for. + +Indebtedness + + Sec. 8. Industrial Unions that are indebted to the official organs or +the publishing bureau controlled by the organization, having sufficient +funds to pay their indebtedness, shall not be entitled to representation +in the General Assembly. + +Auditing Committee + + Sec. 9. A general membership meeting shall be advertised and called +in Chicago 30 days prior to the General Assembly for the purpose of +electing an Auditing Committee from the floor of said meeting, to audit +headquarters' books and supplies. Any member who has not been out of office +for 90 days will not be eligible for Auditing Committee. + +Resolutions + + Sec. 10. Resolutions for the General Assembly shall be acted upon by +their Industrial Union convention, and if the Industrial Union has no +convention, then the branches acting on same must send them to their +Industrial Union G.E.B. or G.O.C. Chairperson to be segregated; and each +resolution shall be on a separate sheet of paper and duplicated. No +resolution sent in by an individual shall be considered by the General +Assembly. + +ARTICLE VII + +Label + + Section 1. There shall be a Universal Label for the entire +organization. It shall be of a crimson color and always the same in design. +The use of the Universal Label shall never be delegated to employers, but +shall be vested entirely in our organization. Except on stickers, circulars, +and literature proclaiming the merits of the Industrial Workers of the +World, and emanating from the General Offices of the Industrial Workers of +the World, the Universal Label shall be printed only as evidence of work +done by IWW members. + When the label is so printed it shall be done by the authority of our +organization, without the intervention of any employer. + Whenever the Universal Label is placed upon a commodity as evidence +of work done by Industrial Workers, it shall be accompanied by an inscription +underneath the label stating what the work is that Industrial Workers have +done, giving the name of Industrial Department to which they belong and the +number or numbers of their unions; and the Universal Label shall never be +printed as evidence of work done without this inscription. + +Seal + + Sec. 2. Each Union and Branch shall be provided with a seal by the +General Secretary-Treasurer, which shall bear the number of the Union, and +all official papers from the union or branch must bear an imprint of this +seal, and none will be legal without this impression. + +ARTICLE VIII + +Revenue + + Section 1. The revenue of the organization shall be derived as +follows: Charter fees from Industrial Departments shall be $25.00 and for +Industrial Unions $10.00. Industrial Union Branches shall pay $2.00 for seal +and charter. + +Initiation Fees & Dues + + Sec. 2(a). The Industrial Unions shall have autonomous right to set +their own initiation fees, dues and assessments, other than General +Organizational assessments. It is the policy of the IWW to put no financial +barrier to prevent any worker from joining. Accordingly, initiations shall +not exceed $12.00 nor monthly dues exceed $12.00. All Industrial Unions shall +charge sufficient dues to meet their obligations. No part of the initiation +fee or dues mentioned above shall be used as a sick or death benefit, but +shall be held in the treasury as a general fund to defray the legitimate +expenses. + (b). The G.E.B. is authorized at its discretion to waive initiation fee +or reduce it to a nominal fee when incorporating previously organized +workers or in organizing campaigns among especially distressed workers. The +G.E.B. is further authorized to waive dues payments in the event of a strike +or lockout. + (c). All dues stamps for all Industrial Unions must be of the same +design without the price printed on them. + (d). A page shall be provided in the credentials fully stating the +initiating fee and the dues charged by every Industrial Union for the +information of delegates and branch secretaries. + (e). For members in North America the initiation fee shall be $5 for +workers earning less than $800 per month, $9 for workers earning between +$800 and $1700 per month, and $12 for workers earning more than $1700 per +month provided that 50 cents shall be used to defray the cost of providing +each member with a copy of the One Big Union pamphlet. Dues shall be $5 per +month for workers earning less than $800 per month, $9 per month for +workers earning between $800 and $1700 per month, and $12 per month for +workers earning more than $1700 per month. Sub-minimum dues of $3 per +month may be paid by members in poor economic circumstances. Dues of +members in the subminimum category who belong to organized branches shall +be apportioned as follows: $2 to the General Administration, $1 to the +branch. + In Great Britain, initiation shall be 50 pence and dues shall be 50 +pence per month. + (f). For areas outside of North America (including Guam), the British +GOC, and the Scandinavian Organizing Committee, the initiation fee shall be +$1.00, and monthly dues $1.00 (rounded off to the nearest convenient amount +in local currency), until such time as General Organizing Committees with +authority to set their own dues rates are constituted in those areas. + (g). The General Executive Board is authorized at its discretion to +allow 50% of the dues and initiations collected to be retained by those +involved in an organizing campaign provided the delegates involved report +on the progress of such campaigns to the General Executive Board monthly, +and account for all money received and spent. + (h). Service fees collected in shops where the IWW has a contract that +includes an agency shop clause shall be split between the branch and the +General Administration on a 50-50 basis. + +ARTICLE IX +Amendments, Etc. + + Section 1(a). All proposed amendments to the Constitution and By- +Laws shall clearly state the article, section and paragraph to which the +amendment applies. New articles and sections shall be so stated. Each +clause to be amended shall be on a separate sheet. + +Conflicting Parts + + (b). All parts of the Constitution conflicting with amendments ratified +by a referendum vote are hereby declared null and void. + +Referendums + + Sec. 2(a). A referendum on any organization question, including +constitutional amendments, may be initiated by the General Executive Board, +or by a petition of 15 members in good standing. + (b). Referendums shall take place three times yearly, as close as +possible to the following schedule: Notification of the referendums shall be +made to the members in the first G.O.B. on or after September 30, January +31, and May 31, respectively. Notification on a measure may not be given +unless the motion or petition is printed in a prior or concurrent G.O.B. +Ballots will be mailed first class on or as soon as possible after November +1, March 1, and July 1, provided that at least one G.O.B. has appeared since +notification. Ballots will be due within 30 days from the date of mailing. +Ballots to members outside the U.S. will be sent via air mail. Election of +officers and resolutions of the General Assembly that must be sustained by +referendum will be included with the November ballot. If for any reason a +properly initiated referendum question misses the notification deadline or +the appropriate ballot it will automatically be carried over to the next +scheduled referendum. + (d). The returns of the referendum shall remain in General +Headquarters in sealed envelopes until the ballot committee meets. The +ballot committee shall meet immediately on expiration of time set for return +of ballots. The General Secretary-Treasurer shall notify Industrial Union +or body initiating referendum of date set for count of ballots. + (e). The ballot committee to count the votes on the referendum shall +be composed as follows: Three members in continuous good standing for 1 +year prior to their election on committee shall be elected by the Industrial +Unions in the city in which Headquarters is located. In reporting through +the monthly bulletin the returns of referendums and elections, the General +Secretary-Treasurer shall give the names of the ballot committee together +with their card numbers and the Industrial Union of which they are members. + (f). The Industrial Union or body initiating a referendum shall pay the +expenses of its own delegates on ballot committee unless the referendum is +carried, in which event the expenses shall be borne by the general +organization. + (g). Referendum returns from any Industrial Union cannot exceed its +paid up membership for the 3 months prior to the vote on the referendum in +question. + (h). Ballots shall be prepared in such a way as to assure complete +secrecy in voting and shall be in duplicate form to allow the member to +retain a record of his or her vote. To ensure complete secrecy, all IWW +referenda will use the two-envelope system. The ballot will be enclosed in +the inner envelope and will contain no information identifying the ballot +with the member who sent it. All information pertaining to the member's name +and standing will be enclosed in the outer envelope. Once the ballot is +approved by the ballot committee, the innner envelope will remain sealed and +be secured separately from the member's identifying information. All ballots +must be numbered. Ballots not numbered, not sealed, or from members in bad +standing will not be considered valid ballots. Any members whose ballots +have been invalidated shall be notified by first-class mail within seven (7) +days of the decision by the Ballot Committee, explaining the reason his or +her ballot was invalidated. + (i). All constitutional changes ratified by a general referendum ballot +shall take effect January 1, unless otherwise decided by the General +Assembly. + (j). Any part of this General constitution may be suspended or set +aside for 1 year if so approved by a general referendum, initiated as +provided for in Section 2(a) of this Article. + +Recall + + Section 3. The General Administration Officials shall be subject to +recall upon a referendum, initiated as provided for in Section 2(a), Article +IX. They shall continue in office during the recall referendum. + +ARTICLE X +Transfers, Craft Cards, Etc. + + Section 1. There shall be a free interchange of cards between all +organizations subordinate to the Industrial Workers of the World, and any +Industrial Union shall accept, in lieu of initiation fee, the paid up +membership card of any recognized labor union. + Sec. 2(a). Members of an Industrial Union who cease work in that +industry and are working in another industry for 30 days or more, must +transfer to the proper Industrial Union. No member is allowed to transfer +unless actually working in the industry s/he wishes to transfer to. + (b). Any member of chartered unions when working in another Industrial +Union over 30 days and who fails to transfer shall be considered a member +in bad standing. + Sec. 3. Members in arrears in dues and assessments cannot transfer +from one Industrial Union to another. Delinquent delegates cannot transfer. + Sec. 4(a). All delegates upon transferring a member from one +Industrial Union to another shall immediately send the record of transfer +to the Clearing House. + (b). Any member of the IWW who has attended any I.U. Conference or +convention, with voice and vote 90 days prior to the convening of the +General Assembly, at which action was taken on resolutions to be presented +to the General Assembly, or at which delegates to the General Assembly +were elected, shall not have voice and vote at any other I.U. Convention or +Conference prior to the General Assembly. + +Withdrawal of Cards + + Sec. 5. On application, members who cease to be wage workers shall +send their cards to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Clearing House who +shall enter date of withdrawal on transfer page of membership book, +together with his or her official signature, and return same to the +withdrawing member. + Sec. 6. Any member in continuous good standing for 10 years, and +found, after proper investigation by the Branch of the Industrial Union to +which s/he belongs, to be incapacitated for life, the Industrial Union shall +issue him/her a special membership card carrying the privilege of having a +voice under "Good and Welfare," but with no voice on the business of the +Branch. + +ARTICLE XI +Charters + + Section 1. The number of signers required on an application for a +Charter shall not be less than 10. + Sec. 2. The charter of a union or branch shall be surrendered when +membership falls below 5. + Sec. 3. Upon a union surrendering its charter, the General Executive +Board shall appoint a representative of the Industrial Workers of the World +to take charge of the charter, supplies and property and funds of said +union. Members or officers of said union refusing to deliver charter, +supplies, property or funds of union surrendering its charter to the +authorized representatives of the Industrial Workers of the World shall +be expelled from the organization. + +ARTICLE XII +Unemployed members + + Section 1. Except where Industrial Unions provide otherwise, any +member whose income for the preceding month has been less than $800.00 +shall be entitled to pay dues for that month at the minimum rate of three +dollars per month, this to include students working part-time. If a member +pays more than one month in advance and later the member's income changes +to above $800, that member must pay the difference in dues with respect to +the new income beginning with the month that it changed. Special minimum- +income stamps shall be issued by the Clearing House, and shall be entered +separately in all accounts. + Sec. 2. Members with minimum income dues stamps are entitled to full +rights and privileges; representation at Assemblies shall in no way +discriminate between the two types of dues; except as otherwise provided +those paying minimum income dues shall be required to pay all assessments +due from employed members. + +* * * + +GENERAL BY-LAWS +ARTICLE I + + Section 1. Unions shall have the power to enact such laws for their +government as they may deem necessary, providing they do not conflict with +the Constitution and By-Laws of the Industrial Workers of the World. + Sec. 2. A majority vote cast shall rule in the general organization +and its subordinate parts. + +ARTICLE II +Defense + + Section 1. The General Defense Committee shall be composed of the +members of the G.E.B. and Secretary-Treasurer, and they shall be empowered +to hire any help necessary. All local defense committees shall submit +monthly financial reports to the General Defense Committee. + Sec. 2. General Defense Locals may be organized within counties, +cities, municipal subdivisions, college campuses, or wherever a sufficient +community of interest prevails. Membership in General Defense Locals shall +be open to non-members of the Industrial Workers of the World who +subscribe to the principles of the Industrial Workers of the World and of +the General Defense Committee. A General Defense Committee Local shall +consist of five or more members in good standing. + Sec. 3. No expelled member of the IWW shall be eligible to membership +in any of the General Defense Committee Locals. + Sec. 4. The General Defense Committee shall be known as the General +Defense Committee of the IWW and shall be so stated on membership cards, +literature and letterheads. + Sec. 5. Initiation fees for membership in the General Defense +Committee shall be $1.00 and dues shall be $1.00 per quarter. Members of +General Defense Locals shall have the same rights of transfer and +withdrawal as specified in Article X of the Constitution of the Industrial +Workers of the World. + Sec. 6. General Defense Committee Locals may retain 50% of dues and +initiations collected for defense work. + Sec. 7. The membership of the General Defense Committee may +requisition funds from the central General Defense Committee treasury by +means of a general referendum of the entire General Defense Committee +membership, said referendum to be called by a petition of 15 GDC members in +good standing; or by a chartered local making official petition; and balloting +to be conducted by the office of the General Secretary-Treasurer. Funds +also may be requisitioned by a majority of the chartered GDC locals. + Sec. 8. The General Executive Board shall conduct an election of the +GDC membership - including ex-officio members and dues-paying GDC members +- to select a chairperson to serve a one-year term commencing on January +first. + Sec. 9. There shall be three levels of GDC support. The first level +shall entail publicity in the Industrial Worker and other IWW publications. +GEB approval is not required for such support. The second level entails +statements of support, fund-raising, organized support activity, and the +issuance of literature. Such support requires approval of either the GEB +or Assembly. The third level of support, where the GDC acts as primary +defense committee, is restricted to members of the IWW and GDC. Assembly +or GEB approval is required for such support. + + +ARTICLE III +Charges + + Section 1. Whenever charges are filed by a member of one Industrial +Union against a member of the same Industrial Union, they shall be in +writing, setting forth the facts, together with the names of witnesses and +their statements regarding the offenses with which the accused member is +charged. + The charges shall be read in the Industrial Union Branch at the next +regular meeting, at which time five members shall be elected from the floor +of the meeting to act as a charges committee. The accuser and the accused +shall have no voice in the election of the charges committee, nor can either +of them act on same. + The committee shall furnish the accused with a true copy of the +charges either by registered mail or by personal delivery in the presence +of a witness. The charges committee shall set a date for a hearing and shall +collect all evidence both for and against the accused, and at the end of +their hearing they shall submit their findings together with the charges and +evidence to the next regular meeting of the branch, at which time the +membership will accept or reject their findings. + If the findings are accepted by both parties the decision shall at once +be sent by registered mail to the headquarters of the Industrial Union. If +either party so desires, an appeal may be taken within 30 days to the +Convention of the Industrial Union, and to the general membership of the +Industrial Union for referendum. + Sec. 2. Whenever charges are filed against a member of another +Industrial Union the member preferring the charges shall present same to +the branch of which the accused is a member if there is a branch in the city +or industrial district where the alleged offense was committed. If charges +are preferred against a member of another Industrial Union for an alleged +offense in a city or industrial district where there is no branch of the +Industrial Union of which the accused is a member then the charges may be +tried by any IWW branch in the city, provided, however, if there are two or +more IWW branches in the city the trial branch shall not be the one to which +the accused belongs. + Sec. 3. It shall be optional for each Industrial Union to make by- +laws permitting the filing of charges direct with the Industrial Union +Convention. + Sec. 4. Appeal may be taken from the Industrial Union Convention to +the General Assembly by either side. + Sec. 5(a). No member's card shall be taken up without the action of a +regular business meeting, conference or convention. + (b). No publicity shall be given in our papers on any suspension until +same has been acted upon by the I.U. Convention or General Assembly. The +I.U. Convention or General Assembly shall then order whatever publicity is +necessary on the case. + Sec. 6(a). The circulation of accusations by one member against +another, unless substantiated by charges filed according to these +provisions, shall be grounds for expulsion of member circulating such +matters. + (b). No member of the IWW shall be suspended for more than 90 days. +All charges must be finally disposed of, and members so charged either +expelled or reinstated within that time. + Sec. 7. When the member charged does not belong to an IUB or GMB that +can provide for his/her trial, the GEB shall provide arrangements for a fair +trial, and shall seek agreement between the charged and charging parties on +these arrangements. + +ARTICLE IV +Employees + + Section 1. All employees hired by the IWW shall be members of the IWW +when possible. + +Expelled Members + + Sec. 2. The general organization and Industrial Unions shall be +prohibited from employing expelled members until such members have been +reinstated and placed in good standing by the union or unions from which +they were expelled. + +ARTICLE V +Delinquency + + Section 1. Monthly dues are payable the first of each month. Members +whose dues are 60 days in arrears (60 days from the first of the month +when dues were payable), shall be in bad standing and shall not be entitled +to any rights or benefits in the IWW until such dues have been paid. After +6 months in bad standing members cannot take part in business meetings. + Sec. 2. Delinquent delegates are members in bad standing. Delinquency +of delegates shall be defined by the Industrial Union to which the delegate +belongs. + Sec. 3. All G.O.C. travelling delegates and branch secretaries when +issuing credentials shall mark in delegate's membership card the number of +the credentials issued with the date,and by whom issued; and when a +delegate's account is cleared, the Clearing House shall issue her or him a +clearance stamp to be affixed on his or her membership card. + +ARTICLE VI +Supplies, Etc. + + All subordinate organizations of the Industrial Workers of the World +must procure and use such supplies as dues books, dues stamps, official +buttons, labels and badges from the General Secretary Treasurer. All such +supplies are to be of a uniform design. + + ARTICLE VII + Speakers and Organizers + + Sec. 1. No members of the IWW shall represent the organization before +a body of wage earners without first having been authorized by the General +Executive Board or a subordinate part of the IWW. + + Sec. 2. No organizer for the IWW while on the platform for this +organization shall advocate any political party platform. + +ARTICLE VIII +Intoxication + +Repealed + + +ARTICLE IX +Declinations + + Any member who accepts nomination for an official position and +declines after his or her name has been placed on the ballot, shall not be +eligible for any office for 2 years, unless good cause is given such as +sickness or being in jail. + +ARTICLE X + + No publication that is entirely controlled by the IWW shall accept paid +advertisement in any form. + +ARTICLE XI + + Section 1. Each Industrial Union shall have power to make rules +relating to agreements between its job branches and the employers. + Sec. 2. No agreement made by any component part of the IWW shall +provide for a checkoff of union dues by the employer, or obligate the +members of the union to do work that would aid in breaking any strike. + +ARTICLE XII + + No clause of the General By-Laws in the General Constitution shall be +considered valid unless carried by referendum vote and inserted in the +General Constitution and By-Laws. + +ARTICLE XIII + + No officer or member of the Union may seek a private interview with +an employer in the event of a strike or during contract negotiations. + +* * * + +SELECTED RESOLUTIONS +Political Parties & Discipline + + Whereas, the primary object of the Industrial Workers of the World is +to unite the workers on the industrial battlefield; and + Whereas, Organization in any sense implies discipline through the +subordination of parts to the whole and of the individual member to the +body of which he or she is a part; therefore be it + Resolved, That to the end of promoting industrial unity and of +securing necessary discipline within the organization, the IWW refuses all +alliances, direct and indirect, with existing political parties or anti- +political sects, and disclaims responsibility for any individual opinion or +act which may be at variance with the purposes herein expressed. + +Cooperatives + + Resolved: That non-wage earners in producer cooperatives may join +the Industrial Workers of the world, provided that those co-ops are not +exploitative and do not undermine wages. + +Organizing Campaigns + + Resolved: That the following policy be adopted on organizing campaigns: + 1. Delegates attached to General Membership Branches shall obtain the +approval of the Branch before beginning an organizing campaign. The Branch +will be held responsible for seeing that the campaign is carried through as +effectively as possible. + 2. Delegates not attached to a GMB shall obtain the approval of the +appropriate regional General Organizing Committee, or the General Executive +Board, before beginning an organizing campaign. They will be expected to: (a) +Have knowledge of the job and industry in which they plan to organize; (b) Be +able to guarantee, beyond a reasonable doubt, that they will be able to +remain in the area until the campaign is concluded; (c) Have a workable plan +for financing the expenses of the campaign; (d) Report regularly to the +Regional Organizing Committee or the GEB on the progress of the campaign. + + FUNDING FOR ORGANIZING + + 1(a). Any IWW Branch, Job Shop, Group, or Delegate may request funds +for organizing by submitting a clearly written proposal to the +Clearinghouse. This proposal shall include, but will not necessarily be +limited to, the following information; person or group requesting funds; +budget request (including stipends, phone costs, supplies, travel, etc.). This +budget request shall also include a proposed monthly disbursement schedule; +description of organizing drive; timetable for organizing drive. + (b). The Clearinghouse, upon receipt of the proposal, will send copies +of the proposal to General Executive Board members immediately. + (c). The GEB shall have a maximum of 45 days (from the postmark on the +proposal) to vote on the proposal. If the person(s) submitting the proposal +requests a phone vote for expediency, the GEB must vote by phone. A +proposal can only be accepted by a majority vote of the GEB. + 2(a). Immediately after a proposal is approved, funds will be +distributed on a monthly basis to the delegate, group, job shop, or branch +requesting the funds. + (b). Monthly reports shall be sent to the Clearinghouse explaining the +progress of the organizing drive. These reports shall include a financial +report and appropriate receipts. Funds will not be disbursed without +monthly reports. + (c). Funds can be suspended at any time by a majority vote of the GEB. +If this occurs, the balance of funds not yet spent must be returned to the +Clearinghouse promptly. + 3. Any GEB decision can be appealed to the general membership via a +referendum (see Article IX of the Constitution). + + TRANSLATIONS + + The GST may authorize the expenditure of organizing funds necessary +to translate and reproduce IWW literature for organizing purposes, into any +language requested by a GMB, Job Shop, IWW Group, or Delegate. + + RESOLUTIONS + + Resolutions to be voted upon at General Assembly must be presented +to the membership through the GOB at least two months before the Assembly +convenes to allow proxy votes to be gathered on the issues involved. +Resolutions submitted to the Assembly that have not been published in the +GOB as described above must only be voted on if the convention body +determines through majority vote that their content is of such an +emergency nature that it would effect the operation of the union. + + EXPENDITURES + + Expenditures exceeding $5,000 can be authorized only by member +referendum. + + + LIST OF INDUSTRIAL UNIONS +To Be Used for the Information of Delegates in Initiating New Members + +DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES No. 100 + Agricultural workers IU 110: All workers on farms, ranches, orchards, +and plantations. + Lumber Workers IU 120: All workers in forests. All workers engaged in +logging operations, in saw and shingle mills, and in preparing wood for fuel +and manufacturing purposes. Bark and sap collection. + Fishery Workers IU 130: All workers in fishing pursuits on oceans, +lakes and rivers. Oyster and clam bed keepers. Workers engaged in collecting +pearls, corals, and sponges. Workers in fish hatcheries. + Floriculture Workers IU 140: All workers in nurseries, flower gardens, +green- and hot-houses. Cultivation of silk. Distribution of floral products. + +DEPARTMENT OF MINING AND MINERALS No. 200 + Metal Mine Workers IU 210: All workers engaged in mining all metals and +minerals. All workers in refineries, smelters, mills, and other reduction +works. All workers in stone and other quarries. + Coal Mine Workers IU 220: All workers engaged in coal mining and the +production of coke and briquets. + Oil Workers IU 230: All workers in oil and gas fields, refineries and +processing facilities. All workers engaged in distribution of the products. + +DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL CONSTRUCTION No. 300 + General Construction Workers IU 310: All workers engaged in +construction of docks, railroads, highways, streets, bridges, sewers, +subways, tunnels, canals, viaducts, irrigation canals and pipelines. + Ship Builders IU 320: All workers engaged in building and repairing +ships, boats, and small harbor craft. All drydock workers. + Building construction Workers IU 330: All workers engaged in erection +and construction of houses and buildings, and in delivery of materials. + +DEPARTMENT OF MANUFACTURE AND GENERAL PRODUCTION No. 400 + Textile and Clothing Workers IU 410: All workers engaged in producing +cloth from natural or synthetic fibers. All workers engaged in manufacturing +wearing apparel. + Furniture Workers IU 420: All workers in planing mills and furniture +factories. All workers engaged in producing wooden containers. + Chemical Workers IU 430: all workers engaged in producing drugs, +paint, rubber, explosives, medicines, chemicals, plastics, synthetic fibers, +and other chemically-based products. + Metal and Machinery Workers IU 440: All workers in blast furnaces, +steel mills, aluminum plants, etc. All workers engaged in producing +agricultural machinery, cars, locomotives, engines, automobiles, bicycles, +air craft, and various instruments. Tool makers, jewellery and watchmakers. + Printing and Publishing House Workers IU 450: All workers engaged in +producing printed matter. + Foodstuff Workers IU 460: All workers except agricultural and +fishery workers, engaged in producing and processing food, beverages, and +tobacco products. + Leather Workers IU 470: All workers in tanneries and factories +producing leather goods, luggage, boots, and shoes. + Glass and Pottery Workers IU 480: All workers producing glass, +chinaware, pottery, tile and bricks. + Pulp and Paper Mill workers IU 490: All workers in pulp and paper mills +engaged in making pulp, paper and paper containers. + +DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION No. 500 + Marine Transport Workers IU 510: All workers engaged in marine +transportation. All workers on docks and in terminals. + Railroad Workers IU 520: All workers engaged in long distance railway +freight and passenger transportation. All workers in locomotive, car, and +repair shops. All workers in and around passenger and freight terminals. + Motor Transport Workers IU 530: All workers engaged in hauling +freight and passengers by truck, bus, and cab. All workers in and around +motor freight sheds, and bus passenger stations. + Municipal Transportation Workers IU 540: All workers engaged in +municipal, short distance transportation service. + Air Transport Workers IU 550: All workers employed in air service and +maintenance. + Communications Workers IU 560: All workers engaged in telephone, +telegraph, wireless, radio and television operation. + Data Storage and Retrieval Workers IU 570: All workers engaged in +electronic communication. + +DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE No. 600 + Health Service Workers IU 610: All workers employed in hospitals and +health restoration services. + Educational Workers Iu 620: All workers in educational institutions. + Recreational Workers IU 630: All workers in playgrounds and places +of amusement and recreation. All professional entertainers. + Restaurant, Hotel, and Building Service Workers IU 640: All workers +in facilities for public accommodation. All building service workers. + Park and Highway Maintenance Workers IU 650: All workers in +cemeteries and all workers engaged in street and highway maintenance. + General Distribution workers IU 660: All workers in general +distribution facilities, wholesale and retail. + Public Service Workers IU 670: All workers engaged in public supply +services and other institutional services. + Household Service Workers IU 680: All workers engaged in performing +services in the home. + Sex Trade Workers IU 690: All workers employed as dancers and models, +telephone sex workers, actors and other workers who use sexuality as the +primary tool of their trade (excluding all agents of the boss class able to +hire or fire, or possessing equivalent coercive or punitive power). + + + ORDER OF BUSINESS +1. Opening and Calling Meeting to Order. +2. Reading of Minutes. +3. Reading of Applications for Membership. +4. Reports of committees, Standing and Special. +5. Reports of Delegates and Officers. +6. Reading of communications and Bills. +7. Monthly Report of financial Secretary, including reading of receipts and +expenses. +8. Unfinished Business. +9. New Business. +10. Nominations, Elections, and Installations. +11. Good and Welfare. +12. Adjournment. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001162.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001162.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..46a0ea61 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001162.txt @@ -0,0 +1,796 @@ +Organizing Communities +by Tom Knoche + +>From Social Anarchism Journal, 1993 + + Many anarchists probably cringe at the notion of any person +or group being "organized" and believe that the very idea is +manipulative. They point to countless community organization +leaders who ended up on government payrolls. They can't see how +winning traffic lights and playgrounds does any more than help +the system appear pluralistic and effective. + Such skepticism makes sense. Community organizing has +always been practiced in many different ways to accomplish many +different things. In reviewing the history of neighborhood +organizing, Robert Fisher summed it up this way: + + While neighborhood organizing is a political act, it is + neither inherently reactionary, conservative, liberal or + radical, nor is it inherently democratic and inclusive or + authoritarian and parochial. It is above all a political + method, an approach used by various segments of the + population to achieve specific goals, serve certain + interests, and advance clear or ill-defined political + perspectives. (Fisher, 1984; p. 158) + + If we just look at some of the progressive strains of +community organizing thought, we still face a lot of confusion +about what it is and how it is used. Saul Alinsky, a key figure +in the development of community organizing as we know it today, +wrote: + + We are concerned about how to create mass organizations to + seize power and give it to the people; to realize the + democratic dream of equality, justice, peace, cooperation, + equal and full opportunities for education, full and useful + employment, health and the creation of those circumstances + in which man can have the chance to live by the values that + give meaning to life. We are talking about a mass power + organization that will change the world. (Alinsky, 1971, p. + 3) + + The Midwest Academy, a training institute for community +organizers founded by some ex-civil rights and SDS leaders, +asserts that: + + More and more people are finding that what is needed is a + permanent, professionally staffed community membership + organization which can not only win real improvements for + its members, but which can actually alter the relations of + power at the city and state level. These groups [citizen + groups] are keeping government open to the people and are + keeping our democratic rights intact. (Max, 1977; p. 2) + + A senior member of ACORN (Association of Community +Organizations for Reform Now), a national association of mostly +urban community organizations, describes the goal of organizing +as strengthening people's collective capacities to bring about +social change (Staples, 1984; p. 1). ACORN organized local +communities, then employed its constituency at the national +level, attempting to move the Democratic Party to the left. + Finally, a participant in a workshop on community organizing +I conducted a number of years ago characterized community +organizing as "manipulating people to do trivial things." + In this article, I will focus on how community organizing +can be useful in advancing an anarchist vision of social change. +Community organizations that build on an anarchist vision of +social change are different from other community organizations +because of the purposes they have, the criteria they have for +success, the issues they work on, the way they operate and the +tactics they use. + My experience with community organizing spans a 16-year +period including four years in Baltimore, Maryland and twelve in +Camden, New Jersey. I have primarily worked with very low income +people on a wide range of issues. I will draw heavily on my +personal experience in this article. I use the term "community +organizing" to refer to social change efforts which are based in +local geographically defined areas where people live. This is +the key distinction between community organizing and other forms +of organizing for social change which may be based in workplaces +or universities, involving people where they work or study +instead of where they live. Some issue-oriented organizations +are considered community organizations if their constituency is +local. + +Goals of Anarchist Organizing + + Anarchist community organizing must be dedicated to changing +what we can do today and undoing the socialization process that +has depoliticized so many of us. We can use it to build the +infrastructure that can respond and make greater advances when +our political and economic systems are in crisis and are +vulnerable to change. + The following purposes illustrate this concept. + 1. Helping people experiment with decentralized, collective +and cooperative forms of organization. + We have to build our American model of social change out of +our own experience; we can't borrow revolutionary theory in total +from that developed in another historical and/or cultural +context. Community organizations can help people log that +experience and analyze it. Because of our culture's grounding in +defense of personal liberty and democracy, social change +engineered by a vanguard or administered by a strong central +state will not work here. + David Bouchier is on the right track when he says, "For +citizen radicals evolution is better than revolution because +evolution works" (Bouchier, 1987; p. 139). We must learn new +values and practice cooperation rather than competition. +Community organizations can provide a vehicle for this +"retailing." "This means that a cultural revolution, a +revolution of ideas and values and understanding, is the +essential prelude to any radical change in the power arrangement +of modern society. The purpose of radical citizenship is to take +the initiative in this process" (Bouchier, p. 148). + Any kind of alternative institution (see Ehrlich, et al., +Reinventing Anarchy, p. 346), including cooperatives, worker +managed businesses, etc., that offers a chance to learn and +practice community control and worker self-management, is +important. We must experience together how institutions can be +different and better. These alternative institutions should be +nonprofit, controlled by the people who benefit from their +existence. Most charities and social service agencies do not +qualify as alternative institutions because they are staffed and +controlled by people who usually are not part of the community +they serve; they therefore foster dependence. + The recent proliferation of community land trusts in this +country is an exciting example of community-based, cooperative +and decentralized organizations. Through these organizations, +people are taking land and housing off the private market and +putting them in their collective control. + I have been a board member of North Camden Land Trust in +Camden, New Jersey since its inception in 1984. The land trust +now controls about thirty properties. A group of thirty low +income homeowners who previously were tenants without much hope +of home ownership now collectively make decisions concerning this +property. The development of the land trust embodies many of the +elements that describe community organizing grounded in a social +anarchist vision for society. + 2. Increasing the control that people have over actions that +affect them, and increasing local self-reliance. + This involves taking some measure of control away from large +institutions like government, corporations and social service +conglomerates and giving it to the people most affected by their +actions. David Bouchier describes this function as attaining +"positive freedoms." Positive freedoms are rights of self- +government that are not dependent on or limited by higher powers +(Bouchier, p.9). + In the neighborhood where I live and work, residents are +starting to demand control over land use decisions. They stopped +the state and local governments' plan to build a second state +prison on the waterfront in their neighborhood. Instead of +stopping there, the residents, through a series of block meetings +and a neighborhood coalition, have developed a "Peoples' Plan" +for that waterfront site. Control of land use has traditionally +rested with local government (and state and federal government to +a much more limited extent), guided by professional planners and +consultants. Neighborhood residents believe they should control +land use in their neighborhood, since they are the ones most +directly affected by it. + The concept of self-reliant communities described by David +Morris (1987) also helps us understand the shift in power we are +talking about. Self-reliant communities organize to assert +authority over capital investment, hiring, bank lending, etc.-- +all areas where decision making traditionally has been in the +hands of government or private enterprise. + 3. Building a counterculture that uses all forms of +communication to resist illegitimate authority, racism, sexism, +and capitalism. In low-income neighborhoods, it is also +important that this counterculture become an alternative to the +dominant culture which has resulted from welfare and drugs. + The Populist movement can teach us a lot about building a +counterculture. That movement used the press, person-to-person +contact via roving rallies and educational lectures, an extensive +network of farm cooperatives and an alternative vision of +agricultural economics to do this (Goodwyn, 1976; 1981). + Every movement organization has to use the media to advance +its ideas and values. Educational events, film, community-based +newspapers, etc., are all important. The local community +advocacy organization in North Camden has done a good job of +combining fundraising with the development of counterculture. +They have sponsored alternative theater which has explored the +issues of battered women, homelessness and sexism. After each +play, the theater group conducted an open discussion with the +audience about these issues. These were powerful experiences for +those who attended. + The question of confronting the dominant culture in very low +income neighborhoods is one of the greatest challenges facing +community organizations. Many families have now experienced +welfare dependence for four generations, a phenomenon which has +radically altered many peoples' value systems in a negative way. +People must worry about survival constantly, and believe that +anything they can get to survive they are entitled to, regardless +of the effect on others. It has not fostered a cooperative +spirit. The response of low-income people to long-term welfare +dependency is not irrational, but it is a serious obstacle to +functioning in a system of decentralized, cooperative work and +services. + One experience in this regard is relevant. A soup kitchen +called Leavenhouse has operated in Camden for 10 years, during +nine of which it was open to anyone who came. A year ago, the +soup kitchen changed into a feeding cooperative on weekdays. +Guests now have to either work a few hours in the kitchen or +purchase a ticket for five dollars which is good for the entire +month. Daily average attendance has dropped from 200 to about +20. The idea of cooperating to provide some of the resources +necessary to sustain the service is outside the value system of +many people who previously used the kitchen. Leavenhouse +realizes now that it must address the reasons why people have not +responded to the co-op, and is planning a community outreach +program designed to build some understanding, trust and +acceptance of the idea of cooperative feeding. + The 20 people who have joined the co-op have responded +favorably. They appreciate the more tranquil eating environment +and feel good about their role in it. The co-op members now make +decisions about the operation of their co-op. Friendships and +information sharing (primarily about jobs) have been facilitated. +Fewer people are being served, but meaningful political +objectives are now being realized. + 4. Strengthening the "social fabric" of neighborhood units - +- that network of informal associations, support services, and +contacts that enable people to survive and hold on to their +sanity in spite of, rather than because of, the influence of +government and social service bureaucracies in their lives. + John McKnight (1987) has done a good job of exposing the +failure of traditional social service agencies and government in +meeting people's needs for a support structure. They operate to +control people. Informal associations ("community of +associations"), on the other hand, operate on the basis of +consent. They allow for creative solutions, quick response, +interpersonal caring, and foster a broad base of participation. + A good example of fulfilling this purpose is the bartering +network that some community organizations have developed. The +organization simply prints a listing of people and services they +need along with a parallel list of people and services they are +willing to offer. This strengthens intraneighborhood +communication. In poor neighborhoods, this is especially +effective because it allows people to get things done without +money, and to get a return on their work which is not taxable. +Concerned Citizens of North Camden (CCNC) has supported the +development of a Camden "Center for Independent Living" -- an +organization that brings handicapped and disabled people in the +city together to collectively solve the problems they face. +Twelve step groups are another example of informal, +nonprofessional associations that work for people. + +Criteria for Success + + Many community organizations measure success by "winning." +The tangible result is all that matters. In fact, many +organizations evaluate the issues they take on by whether or not +they are "winnable." The real significance of what is won and +how it is won are of less concern. + For organizations that embrace an anarchist vision, the +process and the intangible results are at least as important as +any tangible results. Increasing any one organization' size and +influence is not a concern. The success of community organizing +can be measured by the extent to which the following mandates are +realized. + 1. People learn skills needed to analyze issues and confront +those who exert control over their lives; + 2. People learn to interact, make decisions and get things +done collectively--rotating tasks, sharing skills, confronting +racism, sexism and hierarchy; + 3. Community residents realize some direct benefit or some +resolution of problems they personally face through the +organizing work; + 4. Existing institutions change their priorities or way of +doing things so that the authority of government, corporations +and large institutions is replaced by extensions of +decentralized, grassroots authority; and + 5. Community residents feel stronger and better about +themselves because of their participation in the collective +effort. + +Picking Issues + + Much of the literature about community organizing suggests +that issues should be selected which are: 1) winnable; 2) involve +advocacy, not service; and 3) build the organization's +constituency, power and resources. "Good issue campaigns should +have the twin goals of winning a victory and producing +organizational mileage while doing so" (Staples, 1984; p.53). + These guidelines have always bothered me, and my experience +suggests that they are off the mark. Issues should be picked +primarily because the organization's members believe they are +important and because they are consistent with one of more of the +purposes listed above. Let me offer a few guidelines which are a +bit different. + 1. Service and advocacy work must go hand in hand, +especially in very needy communities. + People get involved with groups because they present an +opportunity for them to gain something they want. It may be +tangible or intangible, but the motivation to get involved comes +with an expectation of relatively short-term gratification. The +job of community organizations is to facilitate a process where +groups of people with similar needs or problems learn to work +together for the benefit of all. Through this process, people +learn to work cooperatively and learn that their informal +association can usually solve problems more effectively and +quickly than established organizations. + I will offer an example to illustrate this point. When +Concerned Citizens of North Camden (CCNC) organized a squatter +campaign in 1981, the folks who squatted and took all of the +risks did so because they wanted a house, and because they +believed squatting was the best way to get one. Each one of the +original 13 squatter families benefited because they got title to +their house. The advocacy purpose was served because a program +resulted that allowed 150 other families to get a house and some +funds to fix it up over the subsequent five years. Because CCNC +has stayed involved with each family and facilitated a support +network with them (up to the present), 142 of the houses are +still occupied by low-income families. + The government bureaucracy tried to undermine this program +on numerous occasions, but without success. Participants +willingly rallied in each crisis because they benefited in a way +they valued deeply. The squatter movement allowed them to win +something that they knew they would never realistically be able +to win through any traditional home ownership programs. The +squatters were poor, most had no credit histories and most were +Hispanic. Official discredit, for whatever reasons, was +meaningless because people knew the effort had worked for them. + In my experience, I have never been a part of a more +exciting and politically meaningful effort than the CCNC +squatting effort in 1981. The initial squatting with 13 families +was followed by five years of taking over abandoned houses which +the City reluctantly sanctioned because of the strength and +persistence of the movement. + 2. Issues that pit one segment of the community against +another--for example, issues which favor homeowners over renters, +blacks over Puerto Ricans, etc.--should be avoided. + Most issues can be addressed in ways that unify neighborhood +residents rather than divide them. + 3. An informal involvement in broad political issues should +be maintained on a consistent basis. + While I believe the kind of decentralized associations which +form the basis for any anarchist vision of social change are most +easily formed and nurtured at the local level (neighborhood or +citywide), people must also connect in some way with broader +social change issues. Social change cannot just happen in +isolated places; we must build a large and diverse movement. + We need to integrate actions against militarism, +imperialism, nuclear power, apartheid, etc., with action on local +issues. They often can and should be tied together. This +requires getting people to regional and national political events +from time to time, and supporting local activities which help +people to connect with these broader issues. + 4. Avoid the pitfalls of electoral politics. + This is a very controversial area of concern for community +organizations. The organizations I have worked with in Camden +have vacillated in their stance vis-a-vis electoral politics. + The danger of cooptation through involvement in this arena +is severe. Whenever a group of people start getting things done +and build a credible reputation in the community, politicians +will try to use the organization or its members to their +advantage. + I have yet to witness any candidate for public office who +maintained any kind of issue integrity. Once in the limelight, +people bend toward the local interests that have the resources +necessary to finance political campaigns. They want to win more +than they want to advance any particular platform on the issues. +We delude ourselves if we believe any politicians will support +the progressive agenda of a minority constituency when their +political future depends on them abandoning it. + I have participated in organizing campaigns where +politicians were exploited because of vulnerability and where one +politician was successfully played off against another. It is +much easier for a community organization to use politicians to +advance a cause if neither the organization nor its members are +loyal to any officeholder. My experience says that any organized +and militant community-based organization can successfully +confront elected officials--regardless of whether they are +friends or enemies. + + +Operation + + For organizations committed to the long term process of +radical social change, the way they operate is more important +than any short-term victories that might be realized. The +discipline, habits and values that are developed and nurtured +through an organization's day-to-day life are an important part +of the revolutionary process. Some guidelines for operation +follow. + 1. Have a political analysis and provide political +education. + + Lower-class and working class neighborhood organizations + must develop long-range goals which address imbalances in a + class society, an alternative vision of what people are + fighting for, a context for all activity, whether pressuring + for a stop sign or an eviction blockage. Otherwise, as has + repeatedly happened, victories that win services or rewards + will undermine the organization by "proving" that the + existing system is responsive to poor and working people and + therefore, in no need of fundamental change. (Fisher, 1984; + p.162) + + Any organization which is serious about social change and +committed to democratic control of neighborhoods and workplaces +devote considerable energy to self-development--building +individual skills and self-confidence and providing basic +political education. The role of the state in maintaining +inequality and destroying self-worth must be exposed. + This is particularly necessary in low income and minority +neighborhoods where people have been most consistently socialized +to believe that they are inferior, that the problems they face +are individual ones rather than systemic ones, and where poor +education has left people without the basic skills necessary to +understand what goes on around them. Self-esteem is low, yet +social change work requires people who are self-confident and +assertive. + This dilemma is another of the major challenges in community +organizing. The socialization process that strips people of +their self-esteem is not easily or quickly reversed. This +problem mandates that all tasks be performed in groups (for +support and skill-sharing), and that training and preparation for +all activities be thorough. + 2. Be collectively and flexibly organized; decentralize as +much as possible. + Radical organizations must always try to set an example of +how organizations can be better than the institutions we +criticize. All meetings and financial records should be open and +leadership responsibilities rotated. Active men and women must +work in all aspects of the organization--office work, +fundraising, decision making, financial management, outreach, +housekeeeping, etc. + Teams of people should work on different projects, with +coordination provided by an elected council. Pyramidal hierarchy +with committees subordinate to and constrained by a strong +central board should be avoided. The organization must remain +flexible so that it can respond quickly to needs as they arise. + 3. Maintain independence. + This is extremely important and extremely difficult. No +organization committed to radical social change can allow itself +to become financially dependent on the government or +corporations. This does not mean that we can't use funds from +government or private institutions for needed projects, but we +can't get ourselves in a position where we owe any allegiance to +the funders. + In 1983, the Farm Labor Organizing Committee was involved in +a march from Toledo, Ohio to the Campbell's Soup headquarters in +Camden, New Jersey. They were demanding three-party collective +bargaining between Campbell's, the farmers it buys from, and the +farm laborers who pick for the farmers. A coalition of groups in +Camden worked to coordinate the final leg of the march through +Camden. Many community-based organizations in Camden, however, +refused to participate because they were dependent on donations +of food or money from Campbell's Soup. + The bankruptcy of such behavior was driven home last year +when Campbell's closed their Camden plant and laid off 1,000 +workers. They made no special effort to soften the impact on the +workers or the community. + All resources come at a price--even donations. We simply +cannot accept funds from individuals or groups who condition +their use in ways that constrain our work, or we must ignore the +conditions and remain prepared to deal with the consequences +later. + Alternative funding sources are providing a badly needed +service in this regard. In Philadelphia, the Bread and Roses +Community Fund raises money for distribution to social change +organizations. In 1983, it spun off the Delaware Valley +Community Reinvestment Fund, an alternative lending institution +which provides credit for community-based housing and community +development projects. Social change organizations in the +Philadelphia/Camden area are extremely indebted to these two +support organizations. They play a vital role in helping +organizations to maintain their independence. + 4. Reach out to avoid isolation, but keep the focus local. + Community-based organizations must maintain loose ties with +other grassroots groups. Progressive groups should be able to +easily coalesce when that makes sense. We can always benefit +from ideas and constructive criticism from supportive people who +are not wrapped up in the day to day activity of our own +organization. + This is another way in which left-wing +fundraising/grantmaking groups like the Bread and Roses Community +Fund in the Philadelphia area play an important role. They +identify and bring together those groups in the region with a +similar political agenda. Through Bread and Roses, the community +advocacy organization in North Camden (CCNC) has maintained a +very loose but productive relationship with the Kensington Joint +Action Council (KJAC) in Philadelphia. KJAC squatted first, and +helped CCNC plan its squatter campaign. CCNC spun off a land +trust first and assisted KJAC in the development of their own +land trust, Manos Unidas. Some ideas they developed for their +land trust in terms of building comraderie among members are now +being considered by North Camden Land Trust. + Statewide and national organizations try very hard to pull +in active local organizations and get leaders involved in issues +at the state level. Be wary of the drain this can place on the +local work. Cloward and Piven, in their Poor People's Movements, +do a wonderful job of illustrating this danger in their +discussion of welfare rights organizing. Successes are won via +direct action, not via formal organization. + 5. Do not foster cross-class ties. + This applies especially to community organizing in low +income areas where the local resources are extremely scarce. +Many well-to-do "do-gooder" organizations like to have a ghetto +project. It makes them feel good. Community organizations do +not exist to alleviate ruling class guilt. Dependency on upper- +class skills and money is a problem. Poor and working people +must wage their own struggle. + An illustration of this is provided by the soup kitchen in +North Camden. Suburban church folks, once they heard about +Leavenhouse, were more than willing to send in volunteers each +day to prepare and serve the meal. Leavenhouse told them not to +bother, except perhaps occasionally with two or three people at a +time. This allows the soup kitchen to develop local ownership, +and for neighborhood residents to feel good about taking care of +each other. It avoids the traditional social service model where +one group comes into the city and delivers a service to another +group of people who live there and takes it. + Leavenhouse does accept money and food donations from +outside the neighborhood, but its basis operating costs are +covered with the rent of the community members who actually live +at Leavenhouse. The outside income is extra; without it +Leavenhouse will not shut down. + 6. Have a cultural and social dimension. + Cultural and social events not only help to build a +counterculture, but they help people feel good about who they are +and where they came from. This is an important dynamic in +overcoming powerlessness. Political music and film are +especially effective in building class unity and strength, and in +providing basis political education. + 7. Staff the organization, to the greatest extent possible, +with local workers and volunteers. + This seems obvious enough, but many community organizations +draw on outsiders to perform the bulk their work. + In Camden, nonprofit community organizations which provide +affordable housing do it in three different ways. One +organization matches suburban church groups with vacant houses. +The church groups then purchase materials and provide volunteer +labor to do the rehabilitation work. Another group relies on +contractors to perform the work, few of which are in Camden. A +third group has hired and trained neighborhood residents to do +all rehabilitation work. The workers are paid a decent wage for +what they do. The latter approach develops skills in the +neighborhood, allows neighborhood residents to feel good about +improving their community, and fosters cooperative work habits +which the construction crew members will carry into other +organizations in the community. + Since the crew employed by the third organization is paid a +decent wage, the first organization mentioned above rehabilitates +more houses for less money. Again, when the commitment is to +social change, the short-term tangible results are not the most +important measures of success. + +Tactics + + A considerable body of literature has been written about +tactics in organizing and political work. I do not want to +rehash all of that here, so I'll offer just a few guidelines +about tactics that have consistently proven themselves. The +discussion here is relevant to advocacy campaigns designed to +take some measure of authority from government or private +interest and put it in community control, or to force a +reallocation of resources (public or private) in the interest of +the community. + 1. Be disruptive. + The tendency today is for community organizations to be less +militant and confrontational, working through established +community and political leaders to "engineer" the changes they +want. No tendency could be more dangerous to the future of +community organizing. The historical record and my experience +say the opposite. We must be disruptive. No guideline is more +important in the consideration of tactics. We can't move the +system by testifying at hearings, negotiating at meetings and +lobbying elected officials. + We must defy the rules of the system that fails to meet our +needs. We must use guerilla tactics that harass, confront, +embarrass and expose that system and its functionaries. + 2. Clear, precise and measurable demands are the cornerstone +of any organizing campaign. + A group must know exactly what they want before they begin +to confront the opposition. + 3. Gradually escalate the militancy of your tactics. + The tactics in a campaign should gradually escalate in +militancy, so that people new to political struggle are not +intimidated. Let the militancy of the tactics increase at about +the same pace as the intensity of the anger. + 4. Address different targets simultaneously. + The tactics should be simultaneously directed at different +parts of the system that are responsible for the injustice or +grievance that needs to be resolved. + In the campaign to stop construction of a second State +prison in their neighborhood, North Camden residents directed +tactics at the Commissioner of Corrections, the private landowner +who was willing to sell the waterfront land to the state for the +prison, local politicians, the governor and the two gubernatorial +candidates. + 5. Avoid legal tactics. + Legal challenges are difficult. They take a lot of energy +and money, people who aren't trained in the law have a very +difficult time understanding the process, and they are easy to +lose. I have never experienced success with a legal challenge. + When North Camden residents opposed construction of the +first State prison in their neighborhood, they sued the state on +environmental and land use grounds because the state planned to +use valuable waterfront land for the prison. After a year of +preparations, the case was heard before an Administrative Law +judge. He threw the case out on a technicality. Understand that +he was appointed by a governor who had made a public commitment +to construct 4,000 more prison beds during his term in office. + Our legal system is set up to protect the interests of +private property. Using it to dismantle the institutions that +thrive on private property is obviously problematic. + 6. Use direct action. + Direct actions are those that take the shortest route toward +realization of the ends desired, without depending on +intermediaries. A simple example might help to clarify. If a +group of tenants is having a problem with a landlord refusing to +make needed repairs, they can respond in several ways. They +could take the landlord to court. They could get the housing and +health inspectors to issue violations and pressure the landlord +to make repairs. Or they could withhold rent from the landlord +themselves, and use the money withheld to pay for the repairs. +Along the same vein, they might picket the landlord's nice +suburban home and leaflet all of his neighbors with information +about how he treats people. The first two options put +responsibility for getting something done in the hands of a +government agency or law enforcement official. The latter course +of actions keeps the tenants in control of what happens. + At a major state-funded construction project in Camden, +residents wanted to make sure that city residents and minorities +got construction jobs. Following the lead of some militant +construction workers in New York City, they organized people who +were ready for work, and blocked the gate to the job site at +starting time. Their position was simple; they would move when +local people were hired. The group got talked into negotiating +and supporting an affirmative action program that would force the +contractor to hire local people whenever the union hall couldn't +provide a minority or city resident to fill an opening. The +enforcement of that program was so mired in red tape that only a +handful of local workers got hired. The group would have fared +much better if they had stuck with their original tactic--the +most direct one. + 7. Have fun. + The tactics used should be fun for the participants. This +isn't always possible, but often is. Street theater can often be +used to challenge a routine action into a fun one. Let me +provide a few examples. + When Concerned Citizens of North Camden (CCNC) ran its +homeowner program (the program which resulted from the squatting +in 1981), the City tried various mechanisms to discredit it. On +one occasion when they threatened to cut some of the public fund +involved in it, CCNC conducted a funeral march with about 100 +people and carried a coffin from North Camden to City Hall where +a hearing was being held on the Community Development Block Grant +funds. Right in the middle of the hearing, a squatter came out +from inside the coffin and told the crowd how the people's +movement could not be silenced and make a mockery of the whole +hearing. The effect was spectacular, as was the press coverage +the next day. + When trying to stop the second prison, residents circulated +a special issue of the community newspaper that made fun of the +land owner, the mayor and the Commissioner of Corrections. The +front page of the paper included photos of the three, captioned +with the names of the Three Stooges (the resemblance was +striking). The text on the front page made fun of each person's +role in the project. We circulated the paper at a big public +meeting which all three of these individuals attended. It helped +give people courage and set the atmosphere for people to freely +speak their minds. When people talk about the prison campaign, +they laugh and remember "the three stooges." + Finally, when the homeless problem started to escalate in +Camden (1983), we learned that people were being turned away from +available shelters because there was not enough space. +Leavenhouse, a local soup kitchen, then started to serve its +meals on the steps of City Hall one day each week. This created +a party atmosphere; a couple hundred people would gather to eat +and hang out every Wednesday at noon. As the weather got colder +it because less fun, but the persistence was important. Three +months after we started, in December, the City agreed to make a +public building available as a shelter and agreed to adopt a +policy that no homeless person would be denied shelter in Camden. +The good aspect of this action was that homeless people were able +to participate and help make it happen. It was a concrete way +that they could have fund and feel good about helping to improve +their own situation. + +Concluding Comments + + The kind of community described here is not easy or +straightforward. It can be extremely frustrating, with many +pitfalls, temptations and diversions pushing it off the track and +allowing it to assume a more liberal posture. This article +described some of the main challenges: overcoming the +welfare/drugs culture; maintaining independence; and working with +people with few skills and low self-esteem. One other deserves +mention--mobility. + In our society, mobility is expected. People are supposed +to move to take a better job, to find a better house, etc. It is +acceptable to displace people to build new expressways and +universities. The average American moves once every five years. +This mobility attests to the stability of community +organizations. Leaders and workers may get trained, get involved +and then leave before they have been able to give much back to +the organization. The drug traffic in many low-income +neighborhoods exacerbates the stability problem; families face +crises on a regular basis which take priority over community +involvement. + The revolutionary work of community organizations, would be +enhance with more population stability. Why aren't jobs created +for people where they are? Why aren't a mix of housing types and +sizes available within all communities? Why isn't displacement +avoided at all cost? We need to address these questions if our +communities are going to be more fertile areas for community +organizing. + Community organizing from an anarchist perspective +acknowledges that no revolution will be meaningful unless many +Americans develop new values and behavior. This will require a +history of work in cooperative, decentralized, revolutionary +organizations in communities, workplaces and schools. The task +before us is to build and nurture these organizations wherever we +can. There are no shortcuts. + +Works Cited + +Alinsky, Saul D. Rules for Radicals. New York: Ransom House, +1971. + +Baldelli, Giovanni. Social Anarchism. New York: Aldine- +Atherton, 1971. + +Bouchier, David. Radical Citizenship. New York: Schocken Books, +1987. + +Boyte, Harry. Community is Possible. New York: Harper & Row, +1984. + +Cawley, Kaye, Mayo and Thompson (eds.). Community or Class +Struggle? London: Stage 1, 1977. + +Ehrlich, Ehrlich, DeLeon and Morris (eds.). Reinventing Anarchy. + Boston: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1979. + +Fisher, Robert. Let the People Decide: Neighborhood Organizing +in America. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1984. + +Fisher, Robert and Romanofsky, Peter (eds.). Community +Organizing for Urban Social Change. Westport: Greenwood Press, +1981. + +Foner, Phillip S. (ed.). The Life and Writings of Frederick +Douglass. New York: International Publishers, 1975. + +Goodwyn, Lawrence. The Populist Movement. New York: Oxford +University Press, 1981. + +Goodwyn, Lawrence. Democratic Promise: The Populist Movement in +America. New York: Oxford University Press, 1981. + +Piven, Frances Fox and Cloward, Richard A. Poor People's +Movements. New York: Vintage Books, 1979. + +Kahn, Si. Organizing. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1982. + +Lamb, Curt. Political Power in Poor Neighborhoods. New York: +John Wiley and Sons, 1975. + +Max, Steve. "Why Organize?" Chicago: Steve Max and the Midwest +Academy, 1977. + +McKnight, John. "Regenerating Community," in Social Policy, +Winter 1987, pp. 54-58. + +Morris, David. "A Globe of Villages: Self-Reliant Community +Development," in Building Economic Alternatives, Winter 1987, pp. +7-14. + +Robinson, Chris. Plotting Directions: An Activist's Guide. +Philadelphia: Recon Publications, 1982. + +Roussonpoulos, Dimitrios (ed.). The City and Radical Social +Change. Montreal: Black Rose Books, 1982. + +Schecter, Stephen. The Politics of Urban Liberation. Montreal: +Black Rose Books, 1978. + +Speeter, Greg. Power: A Repossession Manual. Amherst: +University of Massachusetts, Citizens Involvement Training +Project, 1978. + +Staples, Lee. Roots to Power. New York: Praeger, 1984. + +Ward, Colin. Anarchy in Action. New York: Harper & Row, 1973. + +xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox + * * * AUTONOMOUS ZONE INFOSHOP + * * mail: 1573 N. Milwaukee #420, CHILL 60622 U$A + * /\ * street: 2045 W. North Ave., Chicago +* /__\ Z * phone: 312-278-0775 + * / \ * matrix: ugwiller@bgu.edu or chill@burn.ucsd.edu + * * COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY-ACTIVIST-RESOURCE CENTER + * * * *Element of the Network of Anarchist Collectives* +"A matter of meeting information authority with information disturbance..." + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001163.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001163.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..844691c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001163.txt @@ -0,0 +1,623 @@ + + IDENTITY CARDS: SOME BRIEF OBJECTIONS + by Sean Gabb + + +INTRODUCTION + +Aside from Eire, ours is the only country in the European +Union not to have some kind of identity card scheme. +Elsewhere, it has long been common for people to carry, and be +required to produce, identification. Here, by law and custom, +there is no need for people to identify themselves, unless +they are seeking some positive benefit or have been arrested. + +This difference is under attack. The Prime Minister, the Home +Secretary, a former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, and the +Editor of The Sunday Express - to name just a few - have +called for the introduction of identity cards.1 With the +present balance of votes in the House of Commons, it seems +likely that these particular calls will come to nothing. Even +so, the issue is not one that will go away. With this in +mind, I offer the following objections. They are condensed +from an earlier piece written for the Libertarian Alliance, +which, whatever its merits, has the defect of being too long +for general circulation. Readers are advised to buy a copy if +they want more information than I have room to give here.2 + + +ONE: THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME + +The commonest argument in favour of identity cards is that +they will help in the fight against crime. After all, it +sounds reasonable to claim that if we all have to identify +ourselves on demand, the opportunities for breaking the law +will be diminished. + +Reasonable as this sounds, however, it is not wholly supported +by the evidence. Let us consider some of the leading claims: + + +Claim One + +According to Fred Broughton, Chairman of the Police +Federation: + + In relation to crime, terrorism and any + investigation, [an identity card scheme] would be a + great advantage. It would make the police more + efficient because sometimes people lie about their + identification, which can be very time consuming.3 + +Reply - According to Dr Michael Levi, Reader in Criminology at +the University of Wales: + + In ordinary policing terms, the value of ID cards is + hard to discern. + + Many police officers to whom I speak tell me that + they know, or believe they know, who the offenders + are in their neighbourhood. The problem is proving + it, given that they don't have the resources to + conduct surveillance. In this situation, identity + cards are an irrelevance, a tough soundbite that has + no practical effect. + + I cannot imagine how the chances of detection or + conviction will be improved significantly by this + measure in any form....4 + + +Claim Two + +According to Roy Hattersley: + + [Identity cards would make it] more difficult for + conmen to talk their way into pensioners' + bungalows....5 + +Reply - This is a bizarre claim. Telephone engineers, police +officers, and all the other people whom conmen impersonate +already have identification documents. Their victims suffer +by not asking to see these documents. I fail to see how +providing everyone with an identity card will change matters. + + +Claim Three + +Mr Hattersley again: + + [They would] also prevent teenagers renting + pornographic videos....6 + +Reply - Another bizarre claim. There are no pornographic +videos legally available in this country. And here, as with +drugs and prostitution, illegal suppliers are more interested +in how rich their clients are than how old. + + +Claim Three + +According to the Editor of The Sunday Express: + + Illegal immigrants and dole scroungers would find it + impossible to dip their sticky fingers into the + welfare pot.7 + +Reply - Not so. According to Peter Lilley, the Secretary of +State for Social Security, identity cards would do little to +curb benefit fraud, which at the moment is far more a matter +of hidden earnings from the black economy than of +impersonation.8 + +As for illegal immigrants - according to a Peter Lloyd, a +former Minister at the Home Office, "the main problem faced by +the immigration officers at Dover is fake French ID cards".9 + + +Other Claims + +There are similar claims about bank fraud, impersonation at +elections and in driving tests, about people who lie in job +applications about their age and qualifications, and so forth. +But I will not continue making specific reply to specific +claims. I will instead observe that they all rest eventually +on three assumptions that are, and will for the foreseeable +future remain, unlikely: that everyone will carry the right +identification; that the information to which identity cards +give access will be entirely correct; that the costs of an +identity card scheme can be precisely known. Consider again: + +First, all experience suggests that any document the +authorities can produce can be reproduced by criminals. This +has long been the case with coins, banknotes, passports, +ration coupons, postage stamps, and any other thing of nominal +value. In the United States, where official identification +has become far more important than it is yet here, one can buy +a green card, a social security card and a driving licence for +as little as $120. All passable forgeries, they can be ready +within the hour.10 These are for illegal immigrants needing to +work and get their children educated, or for teenagers wanting +to drink without official harassment. Doubtless, for +criminals or terrorists, much better is available. + +To suppose that digital technology can change things is to +know nothing of computers, and nothing of criminal ability. +We can have identity cards with a photograph, a thumbprint, +and a full retina pattern - and forgeries would be on the +streets within a month. In Singapore, a country not famous +for high levels of crime, perfect copies of the most +elaborately bank cards presently issued are available as +blanks for a few pounds.11 + + +Second, the official information held on us is riddled with +errors more or less serious. According to a National Audit +Office report, 35 per cent of the 12.2 million driver records, +and 25 per cent of the nine million vehicle records, held by +the Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Authority contain at least +one error.12 Such levels of inaccuracy would soon wreck an +identity card scheme. There would be wrong names on the +cards, and wrong photographs. People would suffer perpetual +inconvenience from the use of incorrect data. + +There is also the certainty of malicious hacking. There is +nothing mysterious about hacking. Nor is it difficult. The +newspapers are full of stories about information altered, +destroyed, or illegally retrieved. Recently in south London, +for example, someone broke into the local Health Authority +computer, and altered a standard letter that was sent out to +5,000 women before anyone noticed that a request to attend for +a cervical smear had been altered to an invitation to drop in +and "have your fanny examined".13 + + +Third, The Home Office has estimated that a compulsory scheme +using a plastic card, with photograph, fingerprints, date of +birth and signature, would cost GBP500 million to establish, +plus GBP100 million per year to maintain thereafter.14 These +costings we can dismiss unconsidered. Bearing in mind that +the civil servants can be expected to buy the wrong computers, +and that about five per cent of people each year will lose or +damage their cards, the final cost - as with Concorde, and the +Humber Bridge, and many other public works - is anyone's +guess.15 + + +So far as law-enforcement is concerned, the immediate effects +of identity cards would be a slight increase in the +preparation costs of committing certain kinds of crime, and an +expansion of forgery. For the rest of us, they would mean a +multiplication of bureaucracy and yet another waste of public +money. + + +TWO: THE DESTRUCTION OF LIBERTY + +The objections raised above are important. They are the sort +of thing that can worry "right wing" Ministers and the more +respectable think tanks. As such, it is useful to raise them +as often as possible. But they are not the most important +objections, and they may not always be valid. Experience and +better software will eventually reduce forgery and +inaccuracies; and the accessibility of more information will +diminish the opportunities for fraud. The primary objection +is the very existence of most accessible information. And so +far as the secondary objections can be overcome, so this one +is magnified. + +Until recently, the amount of information that identity cards +could make available was limited. There could be a +photograph, name, address, and a few other details. For +anything else, it was necessary to look through various paper +archives - a process so slow and expensive, it was not worth +even considering for everyone all the time. Electronic +databases remove this limitation. They ensure that +information, once gathered, can be stored at almost zero cost, +and retrieved at once in any permutation. They are also +ensuring that the range and depth of information gathered and +stored can be greatly expanded. + +Already, MI5 is connecting all the government databases, to +give access, "for reasons other than national security" to +"personal information held on tens of millions of people, from +tax files to criminal convictions".16 To this single database +the Home Secretary wants to add the DNA records of all +suspected criminals - that is, of anyone arrested for any +offence.17 + +Then there is the information gathered and held by private +organisations. Since 1979, financial confidentiality has been +abolished in this country. A series of laws, culminating in +the incorporation of the Money Laundering Directive, gives the +authorities open access to our banking and other financial +records. For the moment, these records are stored in +databases outside the public network; and the authorities must +still ask for them to be produced. But this is too great an +inconvenience to be allowed in the long term. + +The same will soon be true for our shopping records. My +weekly receipt from Asda gives an itemised breakdown of all +that I buy there. It also carries my credit card account +number. I have receipts from other shops that do the same. A +few years more of falling hardware prices, and someone need +only think it useful, and there will be no more shopping +secrecy. Some of us, no doubt, will start paying in cash - +especially for more personal items. But this will not long +remain an alternative. The panic about money laundering is +too strong: and there is too much talk about the smart card +"e-purses" now being tested in America. + +Looking ahead, there are developments that can only now be +imagined. At the moment, many of us must wear identity cards +in our places of work. This helps the security staff. I have +no doubt that someone will think it equally helpful for us to +do the same in public. It will then be possible for digital +video cameras to monitor and record identities from the +wearers of interactive identity cards. Moving somewhat +further ahead, it will be possible to match the faces of +people caught on video to digital images stored centrally - +thereby dispensing with much of the need for identity cards. +This again is a matter of no more than storage space and +processing speed. + +I see the progressive integration of every record ever opened +on us - from our first weighing in the maternity ward to our +assessed susceptibility to dying of heart disease. In this +new order of things, an identity card must be seen not as a +thing in itself, but as the key that each of us must carry to +a vast electronic filing cabinet of information. + + +Nothing to Hide, Nothing to Fear + +Now, I hear the mantra endlessly chanted against this sort of +argument: "Those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear". +We do not live in a police state, but in a democracy. We have +independent courts and a free media. And I must admit that +the present and likely extensions of surveillance are not the +result of some evil conspiracy. Each extension can be +justified by reference to some benefit. Once again, consider: + +* If I fall under a bus and am rushed to hospital, to + imagine the value of a card that will give instant access + to my blood group, my allergies, any other medical + conditions that I may have, and my next of kin; + +* If some non-invasive way is discovered of verifying DNA + against details centrally recorded, how it will save + billions in credit card and social security fraud; + +* If a terrorist bomb explodes, to think how the police + computers might scan the street videos for the past six + months, identify everyone there and check for previous + convictions, or anything suspicious in any other + records - the purchase, perhaps, of garden fertiliser; + +* If a woman is raped and left for dead in a park, how it + will be possible, even if the rapist wore a condom and + left no other body fluids, to profile the population - to + see who has a taste for violent images, as recorded by + the book and video shops, who is shown by evidence from + other sources to have a tendency to violence, and who + lives within easy distance of the park, or whose + movements took him close to there; and who, therefore, is + likely to have committed the crime, and should be pulled + in for questioning. + +Agreed, these are benefits. But everything has a cost. And I +can think of two very plain costs involved in this scheme of +total surveillance. + +First - Any government that is able to know so much about its +subjects is able to single them out for persecution. Even +paper identity cards have been repeatedly used for purposes +that range between the vexatious and the murderous. Without +details of religion stamped on their papers, the Jews of +Central Europe would not have been so easily herded into the +concentration camps. The same is true of the massacres in +Rwanda: it was the word Tutu or Hutsi on identity cards that +let the murderers find their victims. I am not suggesting +that the British Government will turn this nasty. But there +are other, gentler forms of persecution. At the moment, for +example, smokers are sometimes being denied medical treatment +on the NHS.18 There are suggestions for the licensing of +childbirth, to bring an end to "irresponsible" procreation.19 +For the moment, we can lie when the doctors ask if we smoke. +We can put on suits and smile at the social workers, and hope +they will not guess what substances we once consumed, or what +we still do in bed. But identity cards will make that harder +where not impossible. + +Anyone who is happy to have every last detail of his life +known to the Government is gambling on the future. We are all +members of some minority: and there is nothing that we are +and nothing that we do that is not unpopular with someone who +is, or may one day be, in authority. + +"Those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear"? Well, this +is fine enough for those who can believe that something about +them presently innocuous will not one day be used against +them, or their children or grandchildren. But who can +infallibly believe this? + +Second - even if governments refrain from these mild +persecutions, identity cards will tend to establish a +despotism. This will not be openly horrible. It will in its +outward appearance be gentle and reasonable. It will remain +democratic, in the sense of allowing elections to office and +the discussion of authorised topics. Its uses of power will +be more or less in accord with public opinion. But it will +allow no individuality. + +Even without other punishment, to be watched is often to be +deterred. Most of us, after all, are quite timid. We do not +pick our noses in public, or scratch our bottoms, or cast +openly lustful glances, for fear of how we shall be regarded +by the world. Shame is a natural, indeed a necessary feeling. +But to let shame act as a restraint in all our doings means a +return to the minute surveillance of village life from which +our ancestors so gladly escaped. We are looking at a future +world in which there will be no privacy, no anonymity, no +harmless deception, in which we shall all live as if on a +stage under the watchful eye of authority. + +This homogenising pressure will be reinforced by economic +policy. The state I am imagining will not be socialist in the +old sense, of central planning. There will be enough of a +market to ensure minimal coordination. But this will not be +enough to lift the economy from permanent recession, with high +unemployment and periodic bursts of inflation - and, most +importantly, few prospects of personal independence. + +Until quite recently, it was possible for many people to say +and do almost as they pleased, free from any need to court or +keep the good opinion of others. I think of Edward Gibbon. I +think of Charles Darwin. I think even of Friedrich Engles. +These were men who outraged the dominant opinion of their age, +but whose independent means placed them beyond the effects of +this outrage. Today, most incomes are earned, and all are +heavily taxed. Few of us have time for dissenting +speculation; and then we must take care not to upset our +employers or customers beyond an often narrow limit. + +The combined effect of surveillance and economic dependence +will be an invisible but effective control. There will be no +definite formulation of what we must not do, no Act or article +in a code against which protest might be made. Instead, +people will come to realise that safety lies in trying to +behave and to think exactly alike. The exposure consequent on +doing otherwise will be too awful if vague to contemplate. +There will, of course, be some exhibitionists, willing - and +perhaps happy - to expose their lives to the interested +scrutiny of others. But I will not think much of a world in +which such people have become the only individuals. + +And the death of individuality will mean the end of progress. +The causes of the mass-enrichments of the past three centuries +are difficult to separate and weigh. But it is obvious that +much is owed to individual genius. Think of the steam engine, +the telephone, the aeroplane - even the computer: these have +been much improved and cheapened by common ingenuity; but they +all came in the first instance from the mind of some inspired +individual or sequence of individuals who were often denounced +in their own time as cranks or monsters, where not physically +attacked. Cut down that tree of individuality - or, as I am +now discussing, merely starve its roots - and it will blossom +no more. The lack of overt regulation in this future state +may delight the standard Thatcherites. But with an economy +less formally hampered than the one in which the Internet has +emerged, our descendants may sit as stagnant and self- +satisfied as the Chinese were when the Jesuit missionaries +first arrived. + + +THREE: POSSIBLE RESTRAINTS + +For many, this will seem wildly pessimistic. I have entirely +neglected the possibility of a legal and institutional +framework in which the dangers of identity cards will be +restrained. Roy Hattersley, for example, believes that the +corrupt or domineering use of + + information - who was where, when - [c]ould be made + a criminal offence.20 + +Otherwise, we can have a privacy law, to let us say "no" to +many demands for information, and give us legal redress +against damaging uses of what information we must make +available. + +It is, however, wishful thinking to suppose that the sinister +potential of identity cards can be abolished by a few changes +in the law. It is possible to establish a scheme in which +information collected for one purpose cannot be used for +another - so that a doctor could have access to medical but +not shopping or tax records, and a Policeman access to details +of criminal convictions but not of a sex-change operation. It +is possible to make laws against the passing of information, +or the means of obtaining information, to unauthorised +persons. + +But the value of a unified database is that the information on +it can be shared very widely. We can start with all manner of +good intentions about limiting access. In practice, these +will soon become a dead letter - at the insistence of those +now calling for identity cards, and perhaps of those who now +talk about restraints. Why should a hospital not have access +to a patient's immigration status? Why not to his sexual +inclinations? Why should the Police not be able to check what +books a suspect has borrowed from the library, or what bus +journeys he makes? Why should a Social Security official not +have access to a claimant's tax and banking records, and +details of spouse and children? Why should an insurance +company not have access to a customer's medical records, to +see what predisposition he may have to an expensive illness or +early death? Why not to his shopping records, to see if he +has filled out his lifestyle questionnaire truthfully? Why +should a senior manager, in a "national champion" company not +have access to the full range of a subordinate's private +life - to see if he is drinking too much, or smoking, or +taking bribes from a foreign rival, or putting on a wig to +pick up sailors on a Friday night? + +I do not need to ask what pretence will be made for each +specific knocking down of the original barriers. But, once +the principle of identity cards has been conceded, it is a +matter of time alone before everyone with a right to inspect +part of the information to which they give access will have +claimed and obtained a right to inspect the rest. And all +else will follow from that. + + +CONCLUSION + +As said, the present calls for an identity card scheme are +unlikely to succeed. Too many Conservative MPs have promised +to oppose them on principle - and have promised too vehemently +for even politicians to back smoothly away. To others who +have no principled objection, but who still cannot think of +the poll tax without shuddering, cost may be a safe excuse for +opposition. + +But only for the moment - not in the long term. On present +trends, identity cards must come. That we do not yet have +them is an aberration. It is like an area of the beach still +dry long after the incoming tide has soaked all around it. +The central database exists, and it is rapidly filling with +new information. The full evil of surveillance will require +identity cards, so that we and the information held on us can +be conveniently matched. But there is evil enough now without +them; and more will inevitably follow. + +The only real salvation lies in recognising this fact. The +great majority of those who are currently against identity +cards take it for granted that a government large enough to +impose and use them is a good thing. They like the welfare +state, and have nothing against a large bureaucracy. But this +consensus must change. The one sure means of emptying the +database is to bring about a permanent reduction in the size +and power of the State. The welfare state must go. The war +against drugs must be conceded. The snoops and regulators +must be sent looking elsewhere for jobs. + +Of course, what I am asking is that everyone who dislikes +identity cards should endorse and start calling for the full +Libertarian Alliance agenda. I cannot imagine that this will +ever happen. But I can still hope. + + +NOTES + +1. George Jones, "Major backs ID cards to fight crime", The +Daily Telegraph, London, 8th June 1994; The Right Honourable +Michael Howard QC MP, Home Secretary, "Speech to the 111th +Conservative Party Conference, Thursday 13th October 1994", +Conservative Party News Release 759/94, p.15; Roy Hattersley, +"How Britain can solve its identity crisis", The Daily Mail, +London, 10th August 1994; Brian Hitchen, "ID cards for all", +The Sunday Express, London, 16th October 1994. + +2. Sean Gabb, A Libertarian Conservative Case Against +Identity Cards, Political Notes No. 98, the Libertarian +Alliance, London, 1994, GBP2.40. + +3. Source: "National identity card high on Tories' agenda", +The Independent, London, 10th September 1994. + +4. Speech in Birmingham to the Council of Mortgage Lenders; +Source: Christopher Elliott, "ID cards 'will not reduce +crime", The Guardian, London and Manchester, 15th October +1994. + +5. Hattersley, op. cit.. + +6. Ibid.. + +7. Hitchen, op. cit.. + +8. Charles Reiss, "Cabinet clash over ID cards hits Howard", +The Evening Standard, London, 11th October 1994. + +9. Source: Alan Travis, "Conservatives at Bournemouth: +'Rubbish' cries greet Howard's ID card plan", The Guardian, +London and Manchester, 14th October 1994. + +10. Sean Mac Carthaigh, "Californians ponder cost of a +proposition they didn't refuse", The Times, London, 2nd +December 1994. + +11. Simon Davies, "Please may I see your identity card, +Sir?", The Daily Telegraph, London, 13th October 1994. + +12. See Dr Edgar Whitley, "Too many errors on the cards", +Letters to the Editor, The Daily Telegraph, London, 12th +August 1994. The National Audit Office report mentioned was +reported in ibid., 22nd December 1993. + +13. Source: "Hacker hunt after smear campaign", Computer +Weekly, London, 20th October 1994. + +According to the Audit Commission, hacking and other computer +fraud are endemic. There are almost no controls on access to +sensitive data, and few intrusions are noticed until after +harm has been suffered: see the Audit Commision, Opportunity +Makes a Thief - An Analysis of Computer Abuse, Her Majesty's +Stationery Office, London, 1994. + +14. Source: Richard Ford, "Ministers facing a minefield", +The Times, London, 14th October 1994. + +15. The figure of five per cent was estimated by the +Australian Government in 1988, when it was considering an +identity card scheme. See Simon Davies, "Please may I see +your identity card, Sir", The Daily Telegraph, London, 13th +October 1994. + +16. David Hencke and Richard Norton Taylor, "MI5 hacks its +way into privacy row", The Guardian, London and Manchester, +19th October 1994. + +17. Howard, op. cit., p.13. + +18. For details, see Petr Skrabanek, The Death of Humane +Medicine and the Rise of Coercive Healthism, The Social +Affairs Unit, London, 1994, p.123 et passim. + +19. See Judy Jones, "Top doctor urges legal controls on +parenthood", The Observer, London, 7th August 1994. See also +Skrabanek, op. cit., pp. 158-59. + +20. Hattersley, op. cit.. + + + E N D O F A R T I C L E +====================================================================== + $$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$$ $$ $$ $$$$$$ $$$$$$ + $$ $$ $ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ + $$ $$ $ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ + $$$$ $$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$ $$ $$$$ $$$$ + $$ $$ $ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ + $$ $$ $ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ + $$ $$ $ $$$$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$$ $$ $$ $$$$$$ + + A Journal of Classical Liberal and Libertarian Thought + + Production: Editorial: + c/o the Libertarian Alliance 123a Victoria Way + 25 Chapter Chambers Charlton + London SW1P 4NN London SE7 7NX + +Tel: **181 858 0841 Fax: **171 834 2031 E-mail: cea01sig@gold.ac.uk + + EDITOR OF FREE LIFE: SEAN GABB +______________________________________________________________________ + +How to subscribe: Send cheque for GBP10 or US$20 made out to the + Libertarian Alliance. +====================================================================== + FOR LIFE, LIBERTY AND PROPERTY +====================================================================== + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001164.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001164.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..53c98299 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001164.txt @@ -0,0 +1,248 @@ +BUILDING A COHESIVE VISION FOR INFOSHOPS + +or "What the fuck are we doing anyway?" + + +We recently had a(nother) collective meeting in Chicago to +discuss the "focus" of our infoshop. After some discussion, i +felt frustrated because our direction was still ambigous. Our +present day paths were not being defined in the context of our +future goals. This was because as a group we had not yet had a +discussion of what our long term aspirations were, how to get +there, and what that meant we should be doing now. + +I felt a lack of long term goals was also present at the Detroit +gathering. We had absolutely ZERO discussion on WHY we were +doing infoshops, what our ideas of "the revolution" were, and +what role infoshops play in achieving them. Not to slag off the +gathering, it was definitely positive in many ways and served as +a necessary point for us to meet, share experiences, trade +knowledge & advice, and get inspired. But now that we've gotten +the ball rolling, so to speak, we need to figure out what game +we're playing, and what the best strategy is. + +You may be asking, "Why is this necessary?" Well, i have found +"lack of vision" detrimental in many ways. In terms of internal +dynamics, i have noticed that those with a clear concept of their +"political" aspirations have pretty definite ideas of what +projects they want to be doing now, while those without definite +long term goals are more likely to get involved with projects +that feel good, and rarely start new ones themselves. This leads +to informal hierarchies, and also to disparities in terms of +taking on workloads and responsibilities, as some are more +"driven" than others. Such imbalances then lead to problems +inside groups on personal and political levels, etc... In terms +of our infoshop network, political near-sightedness is dangerous, +because without our own direction we can become easily +manipulated into projects that aren't necessarily in alignment +with our unclear goals. Thus issue-based politics get pursued +instead of more revolutionary politics, or we get sucked into +time-consuming spectacular politics like national days of action, +which have little actual effect, and fall far clear of the impact +of say, community organizing. There are plenty of ways to be an +"activist" and do absolutely nothing effective at all (but hey +you might look good and will definitely feel "active"), and if we +don't have some theory-action praxis going, we are in danger of +falling into such powerless protest modes. Not having +revolutionary goals and ideas of how to get there also mean that +we are selling ourselves and "the movement" short, by not living +up to our full potential, and we will pose no real organized +threat to the status quo. Having a lackadaisical attitude about +politics, "the revolution", etc. puts us right alongside wishy +washy leftists and liberals who, by their inaction and near- +sightedness, end up supporting the status quo with no clear +critiques or alternatives to offer. + +I feel very strongly that we need to start having more discussion +and political advancement as a movement. I'm not saying that we +need to define our political line as a collective entity +(although working out some collective goals would be great!), but +that we need to start bouncing more ideas off each other and +thinking realistically about how we're going to go about changing +this world. This means discussing our concepts of revolution, +what kind of "movement" we need, what roles infoshops (and other +counter-institutions) play in that movement, and how they relate +to the projects we are doing/should be doing now. I'm raising +these vision issues now because i want to see them discussed in +the pages of this zine, over the aaa-web, and everywhere else. +I'm also interested in seeing political discussion and +advancement be an equal focus to networking and skill-sharing at +our next conference. + +We've started to have some of these discussions in Chicago. They +have in fact helped us to somewhat define our present day focus +for the A-Zone; and a major part of that focus is having a space +open for people to pass on ideas & experiences, interact & +debate, teach & learn & be inspired. We want to increase the +amount of "political education" in our communities so that +everyone can develop their own vision of what revolution is, how +to get there, and therefore what to do now. While many people +have a vision of their ideal society, and some are anti- +authoritarians because of it, many also don't have practical +ideas of how to reach that society, and so they are missing +crucial theory-practice and present-future dialectics in their +politics (oops, sorry if that was too marxist for ya!). + +This also raises the question of making our informal network more +of a formal network. Do we want/need to, or should we just be +doing MORE nethworking, MORE THINGS with our network? + +I can see there being some resistance to having these discussions +because the potential for conflict and alienation is high. We've +all been conditioned by society to see politics as stupid, +pointless, and not empowering, and it's hard enough just "making +a living", right? Also, looking at the groups that compose are +informal network, it's clear that their nature makes it a de +facto radical anti-authoritarian network. So there is going to +be some minimum political definition, whether we like it or not. +That will inevitably exclude and alienate some groups and people +from the network who aren't necessarily going in the same +direction (this can be good and bad). Obviously, we want to +avoid doing what Love & Rage just did (narrowing the politics and +organization to further a specific anarchist tendency). We do, +however, need to start discussing and developing theory and +variety and differences are important for this so that real +debate can occur. It is also important to network with groups +that are outside our network, that may not necessarily be going +in the same direction, but that we can work with, share ideas +with, and learn from, as well as influencing them ourselves. + + +Not to be all talk, and at great risk to myself, i will now throw +out some of my personal ideas and thoughts concerning these +issues. Basically, i want to encourage some open discussion, so +feel free to critique and/or support what i have to say. + +Seeing as how we are a network of counter-institutions, i feel +pretty safe saying we likely all see revolution more as a process +than an event; and that process starts now with everyone one of +us in our hearts and heads, killing the cops inside. Now i feel +that revolution must include all people (altho we will doubtless +have enemies and opposition), and the movement to overthrow the +status quo and establish a new society must be popular and be +working to establish that new society now, both in terms of +personal dynamics and political praxis. + +I see counter-instutions as playing a crucial role in this +movement because of the concept of dual power: challenging the +power of state and capital while also working against the +insidious forms of hierarchy and domination that have worked +themselves into every conceivable relationship, both in our +movement and in society. I envision a strategy of self- +organized, informed communities creating direct democratic, +collective counter-institutions that fulfill people's needs (and +take away their reliance on state institutions), while working +together and confederating as needed to create a popular +counterpower to the existing corporate and military structure. + +I also feel that a distinct situation exists in the U$ in terms +of its oppressed internal colonies (black, latino, indigenous +nations, etc.), and that the strongest leash keeping white people +from being revolutionary is white privilege, and so i feel it is +the responsibility of white people to refuse and destroy that +privilege and the social construct of race it props up, while +providing solidarity and support to self-determined struggles of +the internal colonies. So as a "white" autonomist, i am +interested in developing counter-institutions, and especially +infoshops, to be an information and support resource for +communities for developing counter-institutions, while beginning +the struggle against personal-social power dynamics, especially +those of white privilege and "whiteness". + +Ideally these counter-institutions will work to create +"situations" that deconstruct the spectacle and affect people's +consciences, as people are moved towards change most by direct +experience. I am also interested in creating non-hierarchical +ties of support and solidarity with counter-institutions +developed by the colonized nations. I think a good start is +developing a counter-institutional network to discuss these +issues, provide mutual aid (see ad in this issue), and provide +info and resources to other self-organized groups. + +Well, that's a basic general overview. Trying to cram my +politics into one bloody paragraph is kinda ridiculous, but what +the hell. I should explain that i feel there is no "true theory" +about the practice of revolution, but that there is a dialectic +interrelation among theory & practice: "theory only advances as +the support of the struggle, the practice only advances when it +is backed by a theoretical construction". This is merely where +i'm at right now, hopefully it will continually change!. Go at +it. + +I do feel there's a few particular questions that merit +discussion in terms of infoshop focus. Primary is whether +infoshops should function more as a resource for the movement or +more as a resource for and organizing our +neighborhoods/communities. In Chicago, we made the mistake of +trying to be both when we weren't really prepared or skilled in +being a community resource. One might point to the European +Infoshop network and how they are primarily for movement support, +as they provide space for meetings and events, distribute +literature, and have a fairly sophisticated info-sharing system +inluding 'zines and computer networks. Yet that could also be +looked at as detrimental because they ignored their communities +as they isolated themselves from valuable support. In the U$, +many of our groups are primarily white yet operate in non-white +gentrifying neighborhoods, so the community role clearly cannot +be ignored! + +These are just a few off the top of my head. Others are +developing an anti-colonial/race traitor perspective, security, +ghettoization, etc etc etc . We have so much to discuss and +figure out, and if we are serious revolutionaries, we should +start doing so now! + +So that's my rant, i'm going to end it with a list of some good +reading material to spark ideas & discussion, and a list of +questions we used at a recent Autonomous Zone meeting. Later. + +Sprite + +thanks to mckay, kate, lee, and purple bruise for the feedback! + + +Some good reading: + +--Defining the Autonomous Struggle (article in Wind Chill Factor +#9) +--Settlers: Mythology of the White Proletariat, by J. Sakai +--False Nationalism, False Internationalism +--Nightvision: Illuminating War & Class on the neo-colonial +terrain +--Race Traitor: A journal of the New Abolitionism +(the 2nd issue of The Blast! has a good article on this) +--situationist theory on the spectacle and creating situations +--Revolutionary Self Theory: A Beginner's Manual +--Anti-Mass Methods of Organization for Collectives +--Building United Judgement: A Handbook for Consensus Decision +Making +--The Dispossessed, by Ursula LeGuin (good sci-fi depicting an +anarchist society) +--From Riot to Insurrection +--Post Scarcity Anarchism, by Murray Bookchin +--The Irrational In Politics, by Maurice Brinton + + +Questions we recently discussed at the Autonomous Zone: + +--What is our/your vision of revolution and the society it will +produce (realistically & practically)? How do we get there? +What role will the infoshop play in that movement activity? What +does this mean we should be doing now? +--What do we see the A-Zone looking like and doing 6 months, 1 +year, 5 years from now? +--What is our current role in the neighborhood community and how +do we see it changing? +--What is our current role in the activist community and how do +we see it changing? +--How do we encourage other collectives and counter-institutions +to form outside the A-Zone? +--How does the A-Zone operate internally? +--What makes people feel good about being involveds here? + + mail: Box 420, 1573 N. Milwaukee, CHILL 60622 U$A + * / \ * phone: 312-278-0775, fax: 312-252-8269 + * * matrix: thak@midway.uchicago.edu + * * * +"If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention!" + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001165.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001165.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fb0f9ac1 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001165.txt @@ -0,0 +1,168 @@ +From: habermas@iserver.onyx-pharm.com + +Dear (Dis)Connection Issue #2 staff (especially Sprite): + + I read issue #1 a few days ago and thought it was REALLY REALLY good. +Rarely do I read something cover to cover, but I read this one all the way +through. I was glad to see a note up in the Infoshop saying the article +deadline had been extended until Oct. 20. I was going to make a +submission. But then I ended writing this whole long thing, and it doesn't +look like I'll have time to write anything. Maybe I try to do a short +"scene report" about the Long Haul Infoshop at the end of this letter, in +case you don't have one from someone else in the collective. + + I noticed that there was nothing from "our" Infoshop in issue #1 (that is, +from the Long Haul/Infoshop in Berkeley.) Maybe that is because we are all +too busy or whatever. Only a few of us were able to go to the gathering. +Reading the zine really made me want to travel around, see some of the +other projects and meet other folks. Unfortunately, real life kind of has +me trapped with full time work and school (not to mention the Infoshop) for +a while. I am hoping I can find some time to travel after I finish school +this next summer. + + If Sprite is reading this, check out the article I wrote for Slingshot +issue #52 on page 8 called "What Now? Why we need a vision and a +contribution to the discussion." I was really surprised that we seemed to +have a lot of similar ideas on "the problem" despite distance, different +scenes, experiences, etc. If you ask me, this is the single most important +thing to talk about right now. How many of us have been activists for +YEARS and have seen nothing really happen, and in fact have the sinking +feeling that nothing IS happening, expect things getting worse with the +rise of the right? We can put in all the long hours we want, donate all +our time and energy, but if we don't have any idea of a plan or where we +are trying to go in a large, "Long Haul" sense, we are just moving for the +sense of motion. + + Having said that, I have a few comments and constructive criticism of your +article going to overall tactics. + +1. On page 2, column 2 you state that we are in danger of being "put +alongside wishy washy leftists and liberals." I agree that is the danger +and that neither group (especially the liberals) have any vision at all. +(The leftists, at least some of the older ones and most of the ideological +ones, have a vision but it is some variant of a strict Marxist vision which +just isn't going anywhere. Their problem is too much vision--they allow +their ideology to control how they interpret facts in the world, rather +than trying to always shape and reshape an idea of "what to do" based on +the facts in the world.) + + The problem with this kind of statement and this kind of idea is that it +further limits and isolates us as a movement. We need to somehow think of +ways to change liberals and leftists around to our way of seeing the world +(once we know what it is, of course) instead of seeing them as just more +people who are "part of the problem." In order to do anything more than +political masturbation (and I'm not against masturbation as such) we +somehow need to build a movement beyond a few dozen people in each city, +into a movement that involves MILLIONS of people. Some of those millions +might be white punkish 20 somethings; the rest are going to have to be +"normal folks" or anyone we can get. We need to avoid the temptation to +create artificial divisions between us and other people in the society +unless such a division is absolutely necessary. Most leftists and a lot of +liberals are a hell of a lot closer to holding the kind of ideas we might +hold, and being willing to put their lives on the line to move them +forward, than a lot of other people in the society I can think of. I guess +I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, but I really think we need to be +positive, put forward our own plan that will be irresistible to leftists, +liberals and normal folks and that will clearly be way better than +capitalism/the status quo, etc. If we have a good plan--a direction to +move in--a lot of folks will WANT to support it if we don't exclude them +from the get-go. + +2. I really like what you say about "thinking realistically." I hear way +too much kind of idealistic talk that people should know is just slogans. +We have all learned how hard it is to actually do even simple things (like +keeping an Infoshop open.) And yet I still hear people talk casually about +"revolution" all the time. This word does mean something but we are pretty +far from it. We might not always be, but thinking realistically means +realizing you can't go from here to there just with language. If we can +organize 20 Infoshops nationally, that is a pretty impressive start and +shows that when we work together and hard, we can actually DO something. +Realism to me is starting from step one and going through all 100 steps +until you reach something of really drastic change, not just in frustration +skipping the steps because they are too big to comprehend. + +3. Counter-institutions IS the way to go, I think. Both to keep ourselves +alive now, to provide a model for the future, to learn and sharpen our +ideas of how to actually run things, etc. + +4. I really agree with the point made in the 3rd full paragraph on the +left column of page 24. Our Infoshop, I think at least, has never really +discussed this stuff because of fear of internal conflict. I LOVE and work +well with a lot of the other folks that make up our cluster of collectives, +but I know we have serious internal disagreements. Just about the only +time I've ever seen debates actually come out into the open is during +Slingshot production, when we have to make really final decisions based on +ideas: does it go in or not. The Infoshop, by contrast, found we had a +hard enough time deciding what color to paint the room and what kind of +"look" we wanted. We just couldn't deal with more division after these +early debates. Those debates did touch people's vision and politics, I +thought at the time, but it was kind of safe. + + The divisions are sometimes tied to lifestyle (paying rent vs. squatting, +having jobs vs. unemployment, personal rebellion vs. trying to appeal to +"normals.") We have had debates about violence: whether it is a good +tactic now, what it does, etc. The emphasis to put on issues of race comes +up a lot and especially how we ought to deal with this whole issue. + + The fact is, even though these discussions are "dangerous" and risk +splitting us up some, I think we really should have them. Maybe it is good +that we have learned to work together, so that that will provide a "glue" +to keep us working together even when we discover that our politics differ. + But even if it does cause a split, we need to have the discussions because +we can't really go forward unless we work something out and move in one +direction. + +5. I just re-read your specific thoughts on pages 24 and 25 and I pretty +much agree with them. Actually I agree more than I expected to agree. I +think the way you deal with the race question is ideal: we network, +support, provide solidarity, try to work with and work on our own shit. As +a practical matter, this seems a lot better than just complaining "oh, +there aren't any _____ people here at this meeting. Oh boy, we're so +guilty." We need to want to work with other people but if it doesn't +happen right away, that might just be because people of color are working +on developing alternatives in their own communities and for them, +revolution is NOT working with a bunch of white leftists. This is one of +the hardest issues we have. I personally think we need to try to work on +campaigns with self-organized colonized groups, and we should also continue +working on campaigns that seem important to us that may not apply to those +other activists, or at least not in obvious ways just at first. We need to +avoid either/or guilt decisions. A good start would be making sure we know +the non-white organizations that are doing radical work. + + Clearly Infoshops are just the most simple, preliminary type of +"counter-institution." The real fun starts when we start "fulfilling +people's needs" in a dramatically different way. There is a question of +how much we are going to get involved with the current society in order to +make these alternatives, and that is a crucial question. For instance, +buying land in a way is the most traditional thing we can do, confirming +property relations and contributing our money to the oppressive machine +society. On the other hand, if we really want to build an alternative that +lasts, squatting a factory, say, might not really be an effective strategy +over the "Long Haul." These are the hard decisions and I hope we are able +to make them rather than running from them. In my opinion, what may in the +short term seem "pure" may be unrealistic and self-defeating in terms of +really making alternatives work in the long term. + + 6. If you want to add a good reading to your list of readings, add +"Getting By With a Little Help from our Friends" By Barbara and Al Haber. +I think that is the title. I haven't read if for a while but I remember +thinking it was highly relevant to some of these discussions. It is also +good to have perspectives from past major activists. + +SEE ATTACHED MESSAGE #2 FOR THE SCENE REPORT--THEY WOULDN'T FIT IN 1 EMAIL +MESSAGE + + + + + +from the cyberdecks of: + * * * + * * AUTONOMOUS ZONE INFOSHOP + * /\ * street: 2045 W. North Ave., CHILL 60647 U$A +* /__\ Z * mail: Box 420, 1573 N. Milwaukee, CHILL 60622 U$A + * / \ * phone: 312-278-0775, fax: 312-252-8269 + * * matrix: thak@midway.uchicago.edu + * * * +"If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention!" + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001168.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001168.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c1efdc7d --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001168.txt @@ -0,0 +1,432 @@ +Title: Ten Anarchist Principles + +Author: Peter Kakol + +Date: May, 1995 + +Description: + A personal manifesto and definition of anarchist theory and praxis +intended for both anarchists and non-anarchists alike. + +Keywords: Anarchism. + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +TEN ANARCHIST PRINCIPLES + +by Peter Kakol + +Anarchism is greatly misunderstood in the English speaking world where, +due to a successful and long-standing propaganda campaign by the wealthy +and their servants, anarchism is equated with irrational violence, +terrorism, lawlessness, and the misdefinition of the word 'anarchy' to +make it synonymous with 'chaos'. But anyone who knows Greek will know +that 'anarchy' means 'no rulers'; so an anarchist society is a society +without rulers, not a chaotic society. Hierarchical order imposed from +above is not the only kind of order, as anyone who believes in democracy +would readily admit, for there can also be non-hierarchical order that +arises from co-operation between people. A similar idea was held by the +liberal John Locke, who said that social order would remain intact even if +political order were to be dissolved, for individuals are able to organise +themselves for mutual aid without the need of an authoritarian structure. +The recent science of 'chaos theory' (which is badly named) has discovered +a similar tendency in nature - the ability of systems of order to arise +from chaos due to an internal principle of self-organisation, in the +absence of an external (physical) influence. Of course, for those who +believe that nothing can exist unless it be brought into existence by a +God who is the Cosmic King, will not believe in the possibility of +democratic self-organisation, and their political theory will most +probably reflect their understanding of the universal state of affairs - +that is, a hierarchy. + Being aware of the massive propaganda campaign that is the mass media +- which is merely the instrument of the multinational corporations - to +restrict public debate and political opinion between the narrow confines +of the two-party system (the good-cop/bad-cop routine that rips off the +poor) and to cover up the true workings and crimes of the +State-as-the-protector-of-the-rich, anarchists find it necessary to +'rectify the names', to call a spade a spade, and to lift the veil of +delusion from the eyes of the deceived masses. This job is admirably done +by the anarchist Noam Chomsky in his many books that expose imperialist US +foreign policy and the mass media. But this is only the first step, for it +is not enough to merely criticise the status quo; it is also necessary to +'speak the truth to power' and show people that there is no need to be +pessimistic, for there is a viable alternative to the present system: +anarchism. It is for this reason that I write these ten principles. Each +one derives from the moral principle: 'treat others as you would want to +be treated; that is, as ends and not means'. + But it is necessary to point out that these ten principles are just +one person's opinion of what anarchism is, for there is no 'official +anarchism'. Anarchism is not an ideology or club that one can belong to. +Anarchism is a form of adventurous skepticism that expects the unexpected +with a child-like sense of wonder. There are no anarchist organisations, +because anarchists are not exclusivists. We work together with anyone who +shares our interests of liberty, equality, and justice, forming together +with them temporarily for particular purposes, to fight for certain +issues. This is our practice; but in our theory (which is a private thing +- an opinion, not a school of thought or mutual admiration society) we +formulate our idea of the ideal society and the principles we stand for. +Anarchism is a dynamic process, a way of life in the making; not a fixed +dogmatic system that already exists in theory and merely awaits to be put +into practice. Anarchism is practice itself - for it, the path and the +goal are one. + +The Two Primary Principles 1. *Equal access to political decision-making +for all.* All those who are affected by a particular decision should be +able to participate in the making of that decision. This requires direct +democracy, where people (and not just their 'representatives') vote on +issues and policies. This would be based, not on majority-rule, but on +consensus-and-dissensus; that is, the first goal will be to arrive at a +consensus, but if this fails the people 'agree to disagree' by splitting +the decision and allocating resources to both the majority and minority +decisions proportional to their percentages. + The problem with modernity is that all governments, whether they be +totalitarian or democratic, are, as Plato correctly observed, based on the +principle 'might is right', and thus unjust. We can see how a dictator or +an oligarchy rule according to this principle, but even a 'democracy', in +the sense of 'majoritarianism' is based on strength of numbers and the +tyranny of the majority over the minority. This kind of democracy is +nothing but 'the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people', +as Oscar Wilde put it. But a society that is based upon +consensus-and-dissensus (which presupposes the need for discussion and +debate) escapes this dilemma since no one is coerced against their will, +and so we have the rule of wisdom rather than the rule of force or +numbers. This is the only way of doing away with the ruler/ruled dualism +and replacing it with a system in which each person is a philosopher-king +(or -queen). + +2. *Equal access to society's common wealth for all.* But it is also +necessary to dissolve the dualism of employer and employee, for if there +is a disparity of wealth then the first principle of decentralisation of +power will remain a pipe dream. Because those who have more wealth will +have more influence over the political system than those poorer than them +(via donations to political parties, use of advertising to influence the +media, use of capital flight to put pressure on governments to change +their policies, etc.), and in the sphere of justice those who have the +money can afford the best legal advice. + The only way of overturning the present dualistic state of affairs is +by extending the democratic principle (of participation, not +representation) to *all* institutions in society, including corporations +which at present resemble fascist states in which all decisions are +decided at the top of a hierarchy. Possession of the wealth of society +should be needs-based rather than profit-based: 'to each according to +their needs, from each according to their ability'. This is the principle +of 'common storehouse economics' in which the people have control of the +means of production, distribution and exchange; where people take what +they want in times of plenty and what they need in times of scarcity. + There is absolutely no reason why some people ought to consume +significantly more than others. People should not be rewarded for luck or +genetic endowment, for it would be unjust to become rich at the expense of +others' misfortunes or to become richer than someone simply because you +were lucky enough to be born strong whereas someone who is weak and +disabled (who put in the same amount of effort as you but could not +produce as much) is penalised for this. Note, however, that equal access +to wealth is not the same as the equal distribution of wealth for it is +unjust to give someone who is small the same amount as to someone who is +large and has greater needs; hence the principle 'to each according to +their needs'. Also, it must be realised that true equality is compatible +with diversity and complementarity, and has nothing to do with enforcing +Procrustean uniformity and sameness. + +Anarchist Theory +3. *The four alternatives.* Anarchism is the fourth +alternative: libertarian socialism (as opposed to authoritarian +socialism, authoritarian capitalism, and libertarian capitalism, which are +the other three). Those on the Right believe that privatisation and the +free market are the solutions to all our problems, whereas Leftists say +that State ownership and nationalisation are the answers. Both the Right +and the Left seem to agree that freedom and equality are incompatible, but +the Right sides with freedom and thus seeks to decentralise political +power and centralise wealth, whereas the Left favours equality and desires +to decentralise wealth and centralise power. + But anarchists do not see freedom and equality as incompatible. +Indeed, we say that the two are *interdependent* as you cannot have true +freedom unless all people have equal access to society's wealth, or else, +as is the case in capitalist countries, those with more wealth will end up +with more power and thus be 'more free'. The American philosopher John +Dewey understood this when he said that 'the State is the shadow cast over +society by big business'. The big businesses know that free market +(libertarian) capitalism is unworkable and only for the poor countries, so +they depend on a strong government (fascism) for protection and subsidies. +And in the former communist countries, those who had more power became +corrupt, 'for power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely', as +the saying goes. And this of course lead to an inequality of wealth +distribution in those countries. This interdependence of wealth and power +means that both the 'salvation via market forces' of the Right and the +'salvation via the State' of the Left are impossible oxymorons. No wonder +Nazi Germany, the USSR, and the United States all turned out to be fairly +similar, in the sense that they all tended in varying degrees towards the +centralisation of both wealth and power; that is, fascism. + Now, there are only two ways of escaping these three positions +(fascism, communism, and free market capitalism). One, is by staying +within the system and on the Left/Right spectrum by proposing some kind of +'democratic socialism' as a central position between centralisation and +decentralisation of both wealth and power. But why compromise between two +bad extremes, when there is another alternative, which is the only truly +just alternative, being a Middle Way that takes the good and discards the +bad from both sides? Libertarian socialism (anarchism), which is the +decentralisation of both wealth and power, is this other alternative. +Instead of State or private ownership and State or private power, we +should have people's ownership and people's power. + +4. *Libertarian Socialism.* The abolition of the State, paternalism, and +authority is necessary if we are to have a truly 'natural socialism' based +on voluntary association, as opposed to artificial socialism imposed upon +an unwilling populace by the State. Self-sufficiency and self-rule is +better than government from the top-down. We should not be like children +dependent on the State, but grow up and become self-masters who can +organise themselves without the need of order imposed from above. In a +fully functional Stateless society everyone helps and protects everyone +else and does not need the State's fatherly protection. All anarchists +hate the State, that 'cold monster' that speaks the lie: 'I, the state, am +the people', as Nietzsche describes it, for it removes all individuality +and reduces the people to a herd. This is true, whether it is a +totalitarian or 'democratic' State. + The US president Thomas Jefferson said 'that government is best that +governs least'; but anarchists take this logic one step further and say, +in the words of Henry David Thoreau, 'that government is best that governs +not at all'. There is nothing radical about this; it is merely the true +definition of 'democracy' as 'government by the people', which is a form +of non-government in the sense that there is no authority over and above +the people who are (self) governed. As the *Tao Te Ching* says: 'The best +way to run the world is to let it take its course - and to get out of the +way of it!' (ch.48). What is needed is a redefinition of authority as +prophetic leadership and rational persuasion. The only legitimate +authority is that of the prophet, who leads by example and rational +persuasion; rather than the illegitimate authority of the priest, who +rules with an iron sceptre and force. True authority is internal, not +external; for the true leader awakens the truth in others so that they +can become self-masters who rule themselves. For we are all kings and +queens, whose domain is the Universe. + +5. *Social Individualism,* based on the realisation that we are social +animals that need to cooperate, and that the full development of each +person's individuality and freedom is dependent on equality and +cooperation. This is a truth that is not realised by most today due to the +prevalent belief that individuality, the desire to be separate from +others, is incompatible with collectivism, the desire to merge with others +in social togetherness. But we must acknowledge that these two desires do +exist within us, each one struggling to become dominant. What is needed is +a Middle Way between these two, a balance that comes when we realise that +all things, including people, are interdependent and cannot exist +separately; for there is only unity-in-diversity and diversity-in-unity, +both the One and the Many being of equal importance. The pre-modernists, +such as Aristotle, understood that we a 'social animals' that require one +another. Is not the individual less free when alone in the world and more +free when joined with a society in which cooperation and mutual aid lead +to more freedom for all? And in a society an individual has more freedom +to develop his or her full potential as a human being, due to the division +of labour and the time saved thereby. As life evolves into more complex +forms, three things increase: society, individuality, and freedom, as can +be seen if we compare lower life-forms, which have less individuality, +society, and freedom, to humans, who have these three to a much greater +degree. Thus, anarchists advocate 'social individualism'. + Yet the individual is more important than society, for although +society can neither be a mere collection of atomised individuals nor a +monolithic totality in which individuals are merged into a herd-like +conformity, nevertheless, the individual is the beginning and end of our +endeavours, while society is merely the means to this end; for society is +an abstraction - it is the individual that is the concrete reality. The +aim of each individual is self-mastery: the development of his or her full +potentiality, to unfold and blossom forth in full flower; but this can +only happen if the perfect nurturing environment exists, one in which all +people cooperate socially such that no one rises above any other, but all +develop equally, yet in different individual directions spontaneously and +naturally without hindrance. For we can only unfold our full potential +naturally, without being hindered by others and artificial barriers such +as interfering laws, which cause stagnation. It is the belief of +anarchists that both capitalism and Statism retard such growth and +development of people's characters, and thus must be replaced with +Stateless socialism. For capitalism and the State create a parasitic +society in which only the lucky few are allowed to develop full +individuality at the expense of the many, which is not in accord with +justice. We can see how this principle of 'social individualism' is +interdependent with the previous principle of libertarianism, for +individuality is dependent on 'letting alone', or non-government. For, as +Oscar Wilde says, 'individualism exercises no compulsion over man. One the +contrary, it says to man that he should suffer no compulsion to be +exercised over him. It does not try to force people to be good. It knows +that people are good when they are let alone'. + +6. *Self-government and federation.* This is the principle of direct +democracy and self-government in all institutions, including corporations +(workplace democracy) and federation from the bottom-up. + It is only the indivisible parts, the individuals, that have true +reality in this Universe, as societies are abstractions. Only one society, +the Universe, is organic and non-abstract; but this is because each +individual is the Universe, as each contains the whole. Thus, all social +structures should be organised from the bottom up, democratically, rather +than from the top down in an authoritarian hierarchy, as found even in our +so-called 'democracies'. Individuals may voluntarily form into small +communities in which wealth and power are shared equally. This should +apply to all institutions, all situations where people come together for a +common purpose. Then, these communities may choose to unite together with +other communities, for some mutually beneficial reason, in a federation in +which each provides delegates who are recallable and answerable to their +communities. The sole purpose of a delegate is coordination, so s/he must +go back to the community for ratification of any agreement; never should +a delegate be given the power to make decisions without the consent of the +community. As Rousseau has correctly observed, the people's + +'Sovereignty cannot be represented, for the same reason that it cannot be +alienated; its essence is the general will, and will cannot be represented +- either it is the general will or it is something else; there is no +intermediate possibility. Thus the people's deputies are not, and could +not be, its representatives; they are merely its agents; and they cannot +decide anything finally. Any law which the people has not ratified in +person is void; it is not law at all.' + +And each ederation may federate with other federations, and so on, all the +way up to the global level if they so choose, but always the individuals +in each community must govern each level directly with the aid of +delegates. + +Anarchist Practice 7. *Skeptical attitude.* Anarchism is a non-dogmatic +philosophy de-emphasising theory and emphasising praxis, based on a +healthy skepticism, tolerance, and the relativity of all points of view. +In a pluralist and relative world where all things are interdependent and +people are finite and limited, it is impossible to expect anyone to have +the whole truth, so it is necessary to assume that all worldviews and +theories have some truth and some error in them. Rather than being a +handicap, this can lead to an attitude of healthy skepticism that +questions all ideologies and dogmatic positions, and an understanding that +the encounter between divergent beliefs is not an either/or confrontation, +but an opportunity for mutual enrichment and creative transformation, +leading to clearer and less distorted theories that are closer to the +truth on both sides. This skeptical attitude will also lead to more +liberal ideas regarding freedom of speech, for if no one has the whole +truth then, as J.S. Mill has said, 'the only way in which a human being +can make some approach to knowing the whole of a subject, is by hearing +what can be said about it by persons of every variety of opinion, and +studying all modes in which it can be looked at by every character of +mind.' + It is true that many skeptics have argued for conservative positions, +believing that if you can never be absolutely certain of the rightness or +wrongness of any particular action, then it is best to be safe and +preserve the status quo, or be pragmatic and proceed hesitantly one step +at a time. But this is not the case for, as Simone Weil says, 'blind men +[sic] such as we are in these days have only the choice between surrender +and adventure'. Rashness and foolhardiness are wrong, but so is cowardice +and procrastination; what is needed is a Middle Way, a way of courage and +bravery in the face of danger that is willing to be adventurous in ideas +and actions. The skeptical anarchist is such a scientifically-minded +person, someone who is not so much interested in theory as in practice and +experiment. + +8. *Follow the natural law within.* Anarchists believe in the abolition of +all human-devised laws, which are artificial and externally-imposed +hindrances; instead, we should follow the everlasting natural law within +our hearts. Rather than make laws, the people (being judges) should +interpret the natural law, which is our true constitution, the 'absolute +horizon' or context for freedom. According to William Gowdin, the only +just law is the law of Reason: 'Her decrees are irrevocable and uniform. +The functions of society extend, not to the making, but to the +interpreting of law; it cannot decree, it can only declare that which the +nature of things has already decreed'. And this requires discussion and +debate as a preliminary to decision-making, for natural law can only be +discovered by reason. If we like, we may call this natural law 'God', or +just 'Reason'; but we must recognise that its authority does not come from +overwhelming force and coercion, such as the false authority of earthly +dictators, but from the persuasive power of Reason and Grace, which are +compatible with freedom. Anarchists have enough faith in the power of +Reason and Truth to transform society without the aid of coercive laws and +enforcement (that is, the State), for the Truth can stand up on its own +feet and will be victorious in the end. And the transformation of society +is dependent on the moral transformation (a moral revolution) within each +individual, who, being persuaded by Reason, sees the Truth and acts +accordingly. + For surely it is better to have a society in which all people treat +each other justly and compassionately out of an intuitive conviction of +conscience that this is the right thing to do, than to have a society in +which everyone acts *as if* they treated each other justly and kindly out +of fear of punishment from a State system of terror, laws, and +enforcement. A society in which individuals act morally out of a habit +that has arisen from conscience (internal law) is far better than a +society in which the moral habit has been enforced and maintained with +external laws. There is no doubt that a society in which 'law is king' is +better than one in which the king is above the law, but the law we appeal +to is not any temporal tradition or convention that has arisen in the +world, but the primordial natural law of Reason found within us as the +voice of conscience and Truth. + +9. *Pacifism as means to end.* Our means must agree with our ends: if our +means are violent, then we will end up creating a violent society. So we +must be pacifists and use direct action of a non-violent kind (civil +disobedience), if we want a world in which there is peace, freedom and +justice for all. + At all times we must be guided by the rational/compassionate +principle of treating others as we would want to be treated - as ends and +never as means. This means that we should never use force, coercion, or +violence (which are all the same thing) as a means or method to further +our end of a peaceful society. The problem with Marxists was that they +wanted to use force to take State power for themselves and set up a +proletarian dictatorship whose job it would be to steer society towards +the end of Stateless socialism in the hazy and distant future. But this +never eventuated, for they did not realise that power corrupts and that +the means we use warp our ends. As C.S. Lewis observed: 'Of all tyrannies +a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most +oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under +omnipotent moral busybodies.' Meaning well is not enough; we must have the +wisdom to use the correct method, and the only method that works is the +method of treating others as ends, which leads to pacifism, non-violent +resistance, and civil disobedience. The way of the Marxists was the +priestly method of seizing power; the way of the anarchists is the +prophetic method of working persuasively for social justice and the +empowerment of all. + So the fundamental principle here is the interdependence and +interaction of means and ends, so that the way in which one struggles for +freedom and equality will condition the kind of society that one ends up +establishing. The word for the struggle should be the same word used to +describe the end - and that word is 'anarchy' (no rulers), which is both +the method and the goal. + +10. *Plant the seeds now.* Rather than reforming the system from within +(mere 'pragmatic' tinkering around at the edges, achieving nothing) or +rising up in a violent revolution to change the system from without, we +should merely act NOW in setting up the ideal society within the dying +shell of the old to act as a leaven and example to others. We must sow the +seeds first and wait for them to grow. + If we cannot use violence and coercion to attain our end, does this +mean that we must work within the present system and use the State and its +laws to reform present society so that it approximates more and more the +utopia of our dreams? No, for we must realise again that means and ends +are interdependent, so we cannot use the State and laws - which is after +all a system of coercion and violent enforcement - as a means to the end +of a Stateless society without coercive laws. So we seem to be in a +dilemma: if we can neither attain our end of changing society from +without, through the means of violent revolution, nor from within, by +means of reforms and taking part in the parliamentary farce, then how do +we change society? The answer is that the dualism of within/without or +external/internal is misleading, for it is not a case of either/or but +both/neither. The answer is that we must work now to plant the seeds, to +nurture and create the right conditions to make society ripe for peaceful +change, by spreading the good news of the anarchist philosophy and setting +up little utopias - collectives, co-ops, mutual aid societies, etc. - as +little experiments and examples to others, so that when these +non-hierarchical bottom-up societies grow, they will overtake the State +and its top-down institutions and cause them to become redundant and +wither away. By planting the seeds now, we will not have to resort to +violence later. As the *Tao Te Ching* says, 'Take on the largest things +when they're still small, Start the hardest things while they're still +easy' (ch.63). + The anarchist thinker Rudolf Rocker once wrote that + +'Political rights do not originate in parliaments; they are rather forced +upon them from without ... They do not exist because they have been +legally set down on a piece of paper, but only when they have become the +ingrown habit of a people, and when any attempt to impair them will meet +with the violent resistance of the populace.' + +Apart from the bit about *violent* resistance (there can be other forms), +I agree with this as it sums up what anarchists are all about - the +creation of a free and just society that is not granted to us from above, +but won through the people's own hard struggle and direct action, so that +it has become a habit to be free. We admit that the struggle against +oppression and injustice will never end and that we can never set up a +utopia, but this is no reason for pessimism and the abandonment of the +struggle, for, as Oscar Wilde has put it: + +'A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even +glancing at, for it leaves out the one country at which Humanity is always +landing. And when Humanity lands there, it looks out, and seeing a better +country, sets sail. Progress is the realisation of Utopias.' + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001169.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001169.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fcdc6ff8 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001169.txt @@ -0,0 +1,108 @@ +Anarchists, Bolsheviks, and Serge + +From Daniel Guerin's _Anarchism_ (Monthly Review Press) (reprinted +with permission): + +During the revolutionary days that brought Kerensky's bourgeois republic +to an end, the anarchists were in the forefront of the military struggle, +expecially in the Dvinsk regiment commanded by old libertarians like +Grachoff and Fedotoff. This force dislodged the counter-revolutionary +"cadets." Aided by his detachment, the anarchist Gelezniakov disbanded +the Constituent Assembly: the Bolsheviks only ratified the accomplished +fact. Many partisan detachments were formed or led by anarchists... and +fouch unremittingly against the white armies between 1918 and 1920. + +Scarcely a major city was without an anarchist or anarcho-syndicalist +group, spreading a relatively large amount of printed matter--papers, +periodicals, leaflets, pamphlets, and books. There were two weeklies +in Petrograd and a daily in Moscow, each appearing in 25,000 copies. +Anarchist sympathizers increased as the Revolution deepened and then +moved away from the masses. The French captain Jacques Sadoul, on a +mission in Russia, wrote in a report dated April 6, 1918: "The anarchist +party is the most active, the most militant of the opposition groups and +probably the most popular.... The Bolsheviks are anxious." At the end +of 1918, according to Voline [the premier historian of the anarchists +during the revolution, as well as an active participant in the events +described--cf], "this influence became so great that the Bolsheviks, +who could not accept criticism, still less opposition, became seriously +disturbed." Voline reports that for the Bolshevik authorities "it was +equivalent... to suicide to tolerate anarchist propaganda. They did +their best first to prevent, and then to forbid, any manifestation of +libertarian ideas and finally suppressed them by brute force." + +The Bolshevik government "began by forcibly closing the offices of +libertarian organizations, and forbidding the anarchists from taking part +in any propaganda or activity." In Moscow, on the night of April 12, +1918, detachments of Red Guards, armed to the teeth, took over by +surprise twenty-five houses occupied by the anarchists. The latter, +thinking that they were being attacked by White Guards, replied with +gunfire. According to Voline, the authorities soon went on to "more +violent measures: imprisonment, outlawing, and execution." "For four +years this conflict was to keep the Bolshevik authorities on their +toes... until the libertarian trend was finally crushed by military +measures (at the end of 1921)." + +The liquidation of the anarchists was all the easier since they had +divided into two factions, one of which refused to be tamed while the +other allowed itself to be domesticated. The latter regarded "historical +necessity" as justification for making a gesture of loyalty to the +regime and, at least temporarily, approving its dictatorial actions. +They considered a victorious end to the civil war and the crushing of the +counter-revolution to be the first necessities. + +The more intransigent anarchists regarded this as a short-sighted +tactic. For the counter-revolutionary movements were being fed by the +bureaucratic impotence of the government apparatus and the disillusion- +ment and discontent of the people. Moreover, the authorities ended up +by making no distinction between the active wing of the libertarian +revolution which was disputing its methods of control, and the criminal +activities of its right-wing adversaries. To accept dictatorship and +terror was a suicidal policy for the anarchists who were themselves +to become its victims. Finally, the conversion of the so-called soviet +anarchists made the crushing of those other, irreconcilable, ones +easier, for they were treated as "false" anarchists, irresponsible and +unrealistic dreamers, stupid muddlers, madmen, sowers of division, and, +finally, counter-revolutionary bandits. + +Victor Serge was the most brilliant, and therefore considered the most +authoritative, of the converted anarchists. He worked for the regime +and published a pamphlet in French which attempted to defend it against +anarchist criticism. The book he wrote later, _L'An 1 de la Re'volution +Russe_ [_Year One of the Russian Revolution_--cf], is largely a justifi- +cation of the liquidation of the soviets by Bolshevism. The Party--or +rather its elite leadership--is presented as the brains of the working +class. It is up to the duly selected leaders of the vanguard to discover +what the proletariat can and must do. Without them, the masses organized +in soviets would be no more than "a sprinkling of men with confused +aspirations shot thorugh with gleams of intelligence." + +Victor Serge was certainly too clear-minded to have any illusions about +the real nature of the central Soviet power. But this power was still +haloed with the prestige of the first victorious proletarian revolution; +it was loathed by world counter-revolution; and that was one of the +reasons--the most honorable--why Serge and many other revolutionaries +saw fit to put a padlock on their tongues. In the summer of 1921 the +anarchist Gaston Leval came to Moscow in the Spanish delegation to the +Third Congress of the Communist International. In private, Serge confided +to him that "the Communist Party no longer practices the dictatorship +of the proletariat but dictatorship *over* the proletariat." Returning +to France, Leval published articles in "Le Libertaire," using well- +documented facts, and placing side by side what Victor Serge had told +him confidentially and his public statements, which he described as +"conscious lies." In _Livining My Life_, the great American anarchist +Emma Goldman was no kinder to Victor Serge, whom she had seen in action +in Moscow. + +=========================================================================== +For more information on Guerin's _Anarchism_, which, by the way, takes +more of a libertarian socialist position than that of what might be +called traditionally anarchist, contact Monthly Review at +. + +Chris +-- +======================================================================== +"Free thought, necessarily involving freedom of speech and press, I may +tersely define thus: no opinion a law--no opinion a crime." --Alexander +Berkman*********************************************cfaatz@teleport.com + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001173.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001173.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..87aca986 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001173.txt @@ -0,0 +1,442 @@ +THE +CAPITALIST +SYSTEM +by Michael Bakunin + +This pamphlet is an excerpt from The Knouto-Germanic Empire and the Social +Revolution and included in The Complete Works of Michael Bakunin under the +title ``Fragment.'' Parts of the text were originally translated into +English by G.P. Maximoff for his anthology of Bakunin's writings, with +missing paragraphs translated by Jeff Stein from the Spanish edition, +Diego Abad de Santillan, trans. (Buenos Aires 1926) vol. III, pp. 181-196. + +Is it necessary to repeat here the irrefutable arguments of Socialism +which no bourgeois economist has yet succeeded in disproving? What is +property, what is capital in their present form? For the capitalist and +the property owner they mean the power and the right, guaranteed by the +State, to live without working. And since neither property nor capital +produces anything when not fertilized by labor - that means the power and +the right to live by exploiting the work of someone else, the right to +exploit the work of those who possess neither property nor capital and who +thus are forced to sell their productive power to the lucky owners of both. +Note that I have left out of account altogether the following question: In +what way did property and capital ever fall into the hands of their +present owners? This is a question which, when envisaged from the points +of view of history, logic, and justice, cannot be answered in any other +way but one which would serve as an indictment against the present owners. +I shall therefore confine myself here to the statement that property +owners and capitalists, inasmuch as they live not by their own productive +labor but by getting land rent, house rent, interest upon their capital, +or by speculation on land, buildings, and capital, or by the commercial +and industrial exploitation of the manual labor of the proletariat, all +live at the expense of the proletariat. (Speculation and exploitation no +doubt also constitute a sort of labor, but altogether non-productive +labor.) +I know only too well that this mode of life is highly esteemed in all +civilized countries, that it is expressly and tenderly protected by all +the States, and that the States, religions, and all the juridical laws, +both criminal and civil, and all the political governments, monarchies and +republican - with their immense judicial and police apparatuses and their +standing armies - have no other mission but to consecrate and protect such +practices. In the presence of these powerful and respectable authorities I +cannot even permit myself to ask whether this mode of life is legitimate +from the point of view of human justice, liberty, human equality, and +fraternity. I simply ask myself: Under such conditions, are fraternity and +equality possible between the exploiter and the exploited, are justice and +freedom possible for the exploited? +Let us even suppose, as it is being maintained by the bourgeois economists +and with them all the lawyers, all the worshippers and believers in the +juridical right, all the priests of the civil and criminal code - let us +suppose that this economic relationship between the exploiter and the +exploited is altogether legitimate, that it is the inevitable consequence, +the product of an eternal, indestructible social law, yet still it will +always be true that exploitation precludes brotherhood and equality. +It goes without saying that it precludes economic equality. Suppose I am +your worker and you are my employer. If I offer my labor at the lowest +price, if I consent to have you live off my labor, it is certainly not +because of devotion or brotherly love for you. And no bourgeois economist +would dare to say that it was, however idyllic and naive their reasoning +becomes when they begin to speak about reciprocal affections and mutual +relations which should exist between employers and employees. No, I do it +because my family and I would starve to death if I did not work for an +employer. Thus I am forced to sell you my labor at the lowest possible +price, and I am forced to do it by the threat of hunger. +But - the economists tell us - the property owners, the capitalists, the +employers, are likewise forced to seek out and purchase the labor of the +proletariat. Yes, it is true, they are forced to do it, but not in the +same measure. Had there been equality between those who offer their labor +and those who purchase it, between the necessity of selling one's labor +and the necessity of buying it, the slavery and misery of the proletariat +would not exist. But then there would be neither capitalists, nor property +owners, nor the proletariat, nor rich, nor poor: there would only be +workers. It is precisely because such equality does not exist that we have +and are bound to have exploiters. +This equality does not exist because in modern society where wealth is +produced by the intervention of capital paying wages to labor, the growth +of the population outstrips the growth of production, which results in the +supply of labor necessarily surpassing the demand and leading to a +relative sinking of the level of wages. Production thus constituted, +monopolized, exploited by bourgeois capital, is pushed on the one hand by +the mutual competition of the capitalists to concentrate evermore in the +hands of an ever diminishing number of powerful capitalists, or in the +hands of joint-stock companies which, owing to the merging of their +capital, are more powerful than the biggest isolated capitalists. (And the +small and medium-sized capitalists, not being able to produce at the same +price as the big capitalists, naturally succumb in the deadly struggle.) +On the other hand, all enterprises are forced by the same competition to +sell their products at the lowest possible price. It [capitalist monopoly] +can attain this two-fold result only by forcing out an ever-growing number +of small or medium-sized capitalists, speculators, merchants, or +industrialists, from the world of exploiters into the world of the +exploited proletariat, and at the same time squeezing out ever greater +savings from the wages of the same proletariat. + On the other hand, the mass of the proletariat, growing as a result of +the general increase of the population - which, as we know, not even +poverty can stop effectively - and through the increasing +proletarianization of the petty-bourgeoisie, ex-owners, capitalists, +merchants, and industrialists - growing, as I have said, at a much more +rapid rate than the productive capacities of an economy that is exploited +by bourgeois capital - this growing mass of the proletariat is placed in a +condition wherein the workers are forced into disastrous competition +against one another. +For since they possess no other means of existence but their own manual +labor, they are driven, by the fear of seeing themselves replaced by +others, to sell it at the lowest price. This tendency of the workers, or +rather the necessity to which they are condemned by their own poverty, +combined with the tendency of the employers to sell the products of their +workers, and consequently buy their labor, at the lowest price, constantly +reproduces and consolidates the poverty of the proletariat. Since he finds +himself in a state of poverty, the worker is compelled to sell his labor +for almost nothing, and because he sells that product for almost nothing, +he sinks into ever greater poverty. +Yes, greater misery, indeed! For in this galley-slave labor the productive +force of the workers, abused, ruthlessly exploited, excessively wasted and +underfed, is rapidly used up. And once used up, what can be its value on +the market, of what worth is this sole commodity which he possesses and +upon the daily sale of which he depends for a livelihood? Nothing! And +then? Then nothing is left for the worker but to die. +What, in a given country, is the lowest possible wage? It is the price of +that which is considered by the proletarians of that country as absolutely +necessary to keep oneself alive. All the bourgeois economists are in +agreement on this point. Turgot, who saw fit to call himself the `virtuous +minister' of Louis XVI, and really was an honest man, said: +``The simple worker who owns nothing more than his hands, has nothing else +to sell than his labor. He sells it more or less expensively; but its +price whether high or low, does not depend on him alone: it depends on an +agreement with whoever will pay for his labor. The employer pays as little +as possible; when given the choice between a great number of workers, the +employer prefers the one who works cheap. The workers are, then, forced to +lower their price in competition each against the other. In all types of +labor, it necessarily follows that the salary of the worker is limited to +what is necessary for survival.'' (Reflexions sur la formation et la +distribution des richesses) +J.B. Say, the true father of bourgeois economists in France also said: +``Wages are much higher when more demand exists for labor and less if +offered, and are lowered accordingly when more labor is offered and less +demanded. It is the relation between supply and demand which regulates the +price of this merchandise called the workers' labor, as are regulated all +other public services. When wages rise a little higher than the price +necessary for the workers' families to maintain themselves, their children +multiply and a larger supply soon develops in proportion with the greater +demand. When, on the contrary, the demand for workers is less than the +quantity of people offering to work, their gains decline back to the price +necessary for the class to maintain itself at the same number. The +families more burdened with children disappear; from them forward the +supply of labor declines, and with less labor being offered, the price +rises... In such a way it is difficult for the wages of the laborer to +rise above or fall below the price necessary to maintain the class (the +workers, the proletariat) in the number required.'' (Cours complet d' +economie politique) +After citing Turgot and J.B. Say, Proudhon cries: ``The price, as compared +to the value (in real social economy) is something essentially mobile, +consequently, essentially variable, and that in its variations, it is not +regulated more than by the concurrence, concurrence, let us not forget, +that as Turgot and Say agree, has the necessary effect not to give to +wages to the worker more than enough to barely prevent death by +starvation, and maintain the class in the numbers needed.''1 +The current price of primary necessities constitutes the prevailing +constant level above which workers' wages can never rise for a very long +time, but beneath which they drop very often, which constantly results in +inanition, sickness, and death, until a sufficient number of workers +disappear to equalize again the supply of and demand for labor. What the +economists call equalized supply and demand does not constitute real +equality between those who offer their labor for sale and those who +purchase it. Suppose that I, a manufacturer, need a hundred workers and +that exactly a hundred workers present themselves in the market - only one +hundred, for if more came, the supply would exceed demand, resulting in +lowered wages. But since only one hundred appear, and since I, the +manufacturer, need only that number - neither more nor less - it would +seem at first that complete equality was established; that supply and +demand being equal in number, they should likewise be equal in other +respects. Does it follow that the workers can demand from me a wage and +conditions of work assuring them of a truly free, dignified, and human +existence? Not at all! If I grant them those conditions and those wages, +I, the capitalist, shall not gain thereby any more than they will. But +then, why should I have to plague myself and become ruined by offering +them the profits of my capital? If I want to work myself as workers do, I +will invest my capital somewhere else, wherever I can get the highest +interest, and will offer my labor for sale to some capitalist just as my +workers do. +If, profiting by the powerful initiative afforded me by my capital, I ask +those hundred workers to fertilize that capital with their labor, it is +not because of my sympathy for their sufferings, nor because of a spirit +of justice, nor because of love for humanity. The capitalists are by no +means philanthropists; they would be ruined if they practiced +philanthropy. It is because I hope to draw from the labor of the workers +sufficient profit to be able to live comfortably, even richly, while at +the same time increasing my capital - and all that without having to work +myself. Of course I shall work too, but my work will be of an altogether +different kind and I will be remunerated at a much higher rate than the +workers. It will not be the work of production but that of administration +and exploitation. +But isn't administrative work also productive work? No doubt it is, for +lacking a good and an intelligent administration, manual labor will not +produce anything or it will produce very little and very badly. But from +the point of view of justice and the needs of production itself, it is not +at all necessary that this work should be monopolized in my hands, nor, +above all, that I should be compensated at a rate so much higher than +manual labor. The co-operative associations already have proven that +workers are quite capable of administering industrial enterprises, that it +can be done by workers elected from their midst and who receive the same +wage. Therefore if I concentrate in my hands the administrative power, it +is not because the interests of production demand it, but in order to +serve my own ends, the ends of exploitation. As the absolute boss of my +establishment I get for my labor ten or twenty times more than my workers +get for theirs, and this is true despite the fact that my labor is +incomparably less painful than theirs. +But the capitalist, the business owner, runs risks, they say, while the +worker risks nothing. This is not true, because when seen from his side, +all the disadvantages are on the part of the worker. The business owner +can conduct his affairs poorly, he can be wiped out in a bad deal, or be a +victim of a commercial crisis, or by an unforeseen catastrophe; in a word +he can ruin himself. This is true. But does ruin mean from the bourgeois +point of view to be reduced to the same level of misery as those who die +of hunger, or to be forced among the ranks of the common laborers? This so +rarely happens, that we might as well say never. Afterwards it is rare +that the capitalist does not retain something, despite the appearance of +ruin. Nowadays all bankruptcies are more or less fraudulent. But if +absolutely nothing is saved, there are always family ties, and social +relations, who, with help from the business skills learned which they pass +to their children, permit them to get positions for themselves and their +children in the higher ranks of labor, in management; to be a state +functionary, to be an executive in a commercial or industrial business, to +end up, although dependent, with an income superior to what they paid +their former workers. +The risks of the worker are infinitely greater. After all, if the +establishment in which he is employed goes bankrupt, he must go several +days and sometimes several weeks without work, and for him it is more than +ruin, it is death; because he eats everyday what he earns. The savings of +workers are fairy tales invented by bourgeois economists to lull their +weak sentiment of justice, the remorse that is awakened by chance in the +bosom of their class. This ridiculous and hateful myth will never soothe +the anguish of the worker. He knows the expense of satisfying the daily +needs of his large family. If he had savings, he would not send his poor +children, from the age of six, to wither away, to grow weak, to be +murdered physically and morally in the factories, where they are forced to +work night and day, a working day of twelve and fourteen hours. +If it happens sometimes that the worker makes a small savings, it is +quickly consumed by the inevitable periods of unemployment which often +cruelly interrupt his work, as well as by the unforeseen accidents and +illnesses which befall his family. The accidents and illnesses that can +overtake him constitute a risk that makes all the risks of the employer +nothing in comparison: because for the worker debilitating illness can +destroy his productive ability, his labor power. Over all, prolonged +illness is the most terrible bankruptcy, a bankruptcy that means for him +and his children, hunger and death. +I know full well that under these conditions that if I were a capitalist, +who needs a hundred workers to fertilize my capital, that on employing +these workers, all the advantages are for me, all the disadvantages for +them. I propose nothing more nor less than to exploit them, and if you +wish me to be sincere about it, and promise to guard me well, I will tell +them: +``Look, my children, I have some capital which by itself cannot produce +anything, because a dead thing cannot produce anything. I have nothing +productive without labor. As it goes, I cannot benefit from consuming it +unproductively, since having consumed it, I would be left with nothing. +But thanks to the social and political institutions which rule over us and +are all in my favor, in the existing economy my capital is supposed to be +a producer as well: it earns me interest. From whom this interest must be +taken - and it must be from someone, since in reality by itself it +produces absolutely nothing - this does not concern you. It is enough for +you to know that it renders interest. Alone this interest is insufficient +to cover my expenses. I am not an ordinary man as you. I cannot be, nor do +I want to be, content with little. I want to live, to inhabit a beautiful +house, to eat and drink well, to ride in a carriage, to maintain a good +appearance, in short, to have all the good things in life. I also want to +give a good education to my children, to make them into gentlemen, and +send them away to study, and afterwards, having become much more educated +than you, they can dominate you one day as I dominate you today. And as +education alone is not enough, I want to give them a grand inheritance, so +that divided between them they will be left almost as rich as I. +Consequently, besides all the good things in life I want to give myself, I +also want to increase my capital. How will I achieve this goal? Armed with +this capital I propose to exploit you, and I propose that you permit me to +exploit you. You will work and I will collect and appropriate and sell for +my own behalf the product of your labor, without giving you more than a +portion which is absolutely necessary to keep you from dying of hunger +today, so that at the end of tomorrow you will still work for me in the +same conditions; and when you have been exhausted, I will throw you out, +and replace you with others. Know it well, I will pay you a salary as +small, and impose on you a working day as long, working conditions as +severe, as despotic, as harsh as possible; not from wickedness - not from +a motive of hatred towards you, nor an intent to do you harm - but from +the love of wealth and to get rich quick; because the less I pay you and +the more you work, the more I will gain.'' +This is what is said implicitly by every capitalist, every industrialist, +every business owner, every employer who demands the labor power of the +workers they hire. +But since supply and demand are equal, why do the workers accept the +conditions laid down by the employer? If the capitalist stands in just as +great a need of employing the workers as the one hundred workers do of +being employed by him, does it not follow that both sides are in an equal +position? Do not both meet at the market as two equal merchants - from the +juridical point of view at least - one bringing a commodity called a daily +wage, to be exchanged for the daily labor of the worker on the basis of so +many hours per day; and the other bringing his own labor as his commodity +to be exchanged for the wage offered by the capitalist? Since, in our +supposition, the demand is for a hundred workers and the supply is +likewise that of a hundred persons, it may seem that both sides are in an +equal position. +Of course nothing of the kind is true. What is it that brings the +capitalist to the market? It is the urge to get rich, to increase his +capital, to gratify his ambitions and social vanities, to be able to +indulge in all conceivable pleasures. And what brings the worker to the +market? Hunger, the necessity of eating today and tomorrow. Thus, while +being equal from the point of juridical fiction, the capitalist and the +worker are anything but equal from the point of view of the economic +situation, which is the real situation. The capitalist is not threatened +with hunger when he comes to the market; he knows very well that if he +does not find today the workers for whom he is looking, he will still have +enough to eat for quite a long time, owing to the capital of which he is +the happy possessor. If the workers whom he meets in the market present +demands which seem excessive to him, because, far from enabling him to +increase his wealth and improve even more his economic position, those +proposals and conditions might, I do not say equalize, but bring the +economic position of the workers somewhat close to his own - what does he +do in that case? He turns down those proposals and waits. After all, he +was not impelled by an urgent necessity, but by a desire to improve his +position, which, compared to that of the workers, is already quite +comfortable, and so he can wait. And he will wait, for his business +experience has taught him that the resistance of workers who, possessing +neither capital, nor comfort, nor any savings to speak of, are pressed by +a relentless necessity, by hunger, that this resistance cannot last very +long, and that finally he will be able to find the hundred workers for +whom he is looking - for they will be forced to accept the conditions +which he finds it profitable to impose upon them. If they refuse, others +will come who will be only too happy to accept such conditions. That is +how things are done daily with the knowledge and in full view of everyone. +If, as a consequence of the particular circumstances that constantly +influence the market, the branch of industry in which he planned at first +to employ his capital does not offer all the advantages that he had hoped, +then he will shift his capital elsewhere; thus the bourgeois capitalist is +not tied by nature to any specific industry, but tends to invest (as it is +called by the economists - exploit is what we say) indifferently in all +possible industries. Let's suppose, finally, that learning of some +industrial incapacity or misfortune, he decides not to invest in any +industry; well, he will buy stocks and annuities; and if the interest and +dividends seem insufficient, then he will engage in some occupation, or +shall we say, sell his labor for a time, but in conditions much more +lucrative than he had offered to his own workers. +The capitalist then comes to the market in the capacity, if not of an +absolutely free agent, at least that of an infinitely freer agent than the +worker. What happens in the market is a meeting between a drive for lucre +and starvation, between master and slave. Juridically they are both equal; +but economically the worker is the serf of the capitalist, even before the +market transaction has been concluded whereby the worker sells his person +and his liberty for a given time. The worker is in the position of a serf +because this terrible threat of starvation which daily hangs over his head +and over his family, will force him to accept any conditions imposed by +the gainful calculations of the capitalist, the industrialist, the +employer. +And once the contract has been negotiated, the serfdom of the workers is +doubly increased; or to put it better, before the contract has been +negotiated, goaded by hunger, he is only potentially a serf; after it is +negotiated he becomes a serf in fact. Because what merchandise has he sold +to his employer? It is his labor, his personal services, the productive +forces of his body, mind, and spirit that are found in him and are +inseparable from his person - it is therefore himself. From then on, the +employer will watch over him, either directly or by means of overseers; +everyday during working hours and under controlled conditions, the +employer will be the owner of his actions and movements. When he is told: +``Do this,'' the worker is obligated to do it; or he is told: ``Go there,'' +he must go. Is this not what is called a serf? +M. Karl Marx, the illustrious leader of German Communism, justly observed +in his magnificent work Das Kapital2 that if the contract freely entered +into by the vendors of money -in the form of wages - and the vendors of +their own labor -that is, between the employer and the workers - were +concluded not for a definite and limited term only, but for one's whole +life, it would constitute real slavery. Concluded for a term only and +reserving to the worker the right to quit his employer, this contract +constitutes a sort of voluntary and transitory serfdom. Yes, transitory +and voluntary from the juridical point of view, but nowise from the point +of view of economic possibility. The worker always has the right to leave +his employer, but has he the means to do so? And if he does quit him, is +it in order to lead a free existence, in which he will have no master but +himself? No, he does it in order to sell himself to another employer. He +is driven to it by the same hunger which forced him to sell himself to the +first employer. Thus the worker's liberty, so much exalted by the +economists, jurists, and bourgeois republicans, is only a theoretical +freedom, lacking any means for its possible realization, and consequently +it is only a fictitious liberty, an utter falsehood. The truth is that the +whole life of the worker is simply a continuous and dismaying succession +of terms of serfdom -voluntary from the juridical point of view but +compulsory in the economic sense - broken up by momentarily brief +interludes of freedom accompanied by starvation; in other words, it is +real slavery. +This slavery manifests itself daily in all kinds of ways. Apart from the +vexations and oppressive conditions of the contract which turn the worker +into a subordinate, a passive and obedient servant, and the employer into +a nearly absolute master - apart from all that, it is well known that +there is hardly an industrial enterprise wherein the owner, impelled on +the one hand by the two-fold instinct of an unappeasable lust for profits +and absolute power, and on the other hand, profiting by the economic +dependence of the worker, does not set aside the terms stipulated in the +contract and wring some additional concessions in his own favor. Now he +will demand more hours of work, that is, over and above those stipulated +in the contract; now he will cut down wages on some pretext; now he will +impose arbitrary fines, or he will treat the workers harshly, rudely, and +insolently. +But, one may say, in that case the worker can quit. Easier said than done. +At times the worker receives part of his wages in advance, or his wife or +children may be sick, or perhaps his work is poorly paid throughout this +particular industry. Other employers may be paying even less than his own +employer, and after quitting this job he may not even be able to find +another one. And to remain without a job spells death for him and his +family. In addition, there is an understanding among all employers, and +all of them resemble one another. All are almost equally irritating, +unjust, and harsh. +Is this calumny? No, it is in the nature of things, and in the logical +necessity of the relationship existing between the employers and their +workers. + +NOTES: +1. Not having to hand the works mentioned, I took these quotes from la +Histoire de la Revolution de 1848, by Louis Blanc. Mr. Blanc continues +with these words: ``We have been well alerted. Now we know, without room +for doubt, that according to all the doctrines of the old political +economy, wages cannot have any other basis than the regulation between +supply and demand, although the result is that the remuneration of labor +is reduced to what is strictly necessary to not perish by starvation. +Very well, and let us do no more than repeat the words inadvertently +spoken in sincerity by Adam Smith, the head of this school: It is small +consolation for individuals who have no other means for existence than +their labor.'' (Bakunin) +2. Das Kapital, Kritik der politischen Oekonomie, by Karl Marx; Erster +Band. This work will need to be translated into French, because nothing, +that I know of, contains an analysis so profound, so luminous, so +scientific, so decisive, and if I can express it thus, so merciless an +expose of the formation of bourgeois capital and the systematic and cruel +exploitation that capital continues exercising over the work of the +proletariat. The only defect of this work... positivist in direction, +based on a profound study of economic works, without admitting any logic +other than the logic of the facts - the only defect, say, is that it has +been written, in part, but only in part, in a style excessively +metaphysical and abstract... which makes it difficult to explain and +nearly unapproachable for the majority of workers, and it is principally +the workers who must read it nevertheless. The bourgeois will never read +it or, if they read it, they will never want to comprehend it, and if they +comprehend it they will never say anything about it; this work being +nothing other than a sentence of death, scientifically motivated and +irrevocably pronounced, not against them as individuals, but against their +class. (Bakunin) + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001174.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001174.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..03aab137 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001174.txt @@ -0,0 +1,88 @@ +NEITHER VICTIMS NOR EXECUTIONERS by Albert Camus + +Yes, we must raise our voices. Up to this point, I have refrained from +appealing to emotion. We are being torn apart by a logic of history which +we have elaborated in every detail--a net which threatens to strangle us. +It is not emotion which can cut through the web of a logic which has +gone to irrational lengths, but only reason which can meet logic on its +own ground. But I should not want to leave the impression... that any +program for the future can get along without our powers of love and +indignation. I am well aware that it takes a powerful prime mover to get +men into motion and that it is hard to throw one's self into a struggle +whose objectives are so modest and where hope has only a rational basis-- +and hardly even that. But the problem is not how to carry men away; it is +essential, on the contrary, that they not be carried away but rather that +they be made to understand clearly what they are doing. + +To save what can be saved so as to open up some kind of future--that is +the prime mover, the passion and the sacrifice that is required. It +demands only that we reflect and then decide, clearly, whether humanity's +lot must be made still more miserable in order to achieve far-off and +shadowy ends, whether we should accept a world bristling with arms where +brother kills brother; or whether, on the contrary, we should avoid +bloodshed and misery as much as possible so that we give a chance for +survival to later generations better equipped than we are. + +For my part, I am fairly sure that I have made the choice. And, having +chosen, I think that I must speak out, that I must state that I will +never again be one of those, whoever they be, who compromise with murder, +and that I must take the consequences of such a decision. The thing is +done, and that is as far as I can go at present.... However, I want to +make clear the spirit in which this article is written. + +We are asked to love or to hate such and such a country and such and +such a people. But some of us feel too strongly our common humanity to +make such a choice. Those who really love the Russian people, in +gratitude for what they have never ceased to be--that world leaven which +Tolstoy and Gorky speak of--do not wish for them success in power politics, +but rather want to spare them, after the ordeals of the past, a new and +even more terrible bloodletting. So, too, with the American people, and +with the peoples of unhappy Europe. This is the kind of elementary truth +we are likely to forget amidst the furious passions of our time. + +Yes, it is fear and silence and the spiritual isolation they cause that +must be fought today. And it is sociability and the universal inter- +communication of men that must be defended. Slavery, injustice, and lies +destroy this intercourse and forbid this sociability; and so we must +reject them. But these evils are today the very stuff of history, so +that many consider them necessary evils. It is true that we cannot +"escape history," since we are in it up to our necks. But one may propose +to fight within history to preserve from history that part of man which +is not its proper province. That is all I have to say here. The "point" +of this article may be summed up as follows: + +Modern nations are driven by powerful forces along the roads of power +and domination. I will not say that these forces should be furthered +or that they should be obstructed. They hardly need our help and, for +the moment, they laugh at attempts to hinder them. They will, then, +continue. But I will ask only this simple question: What if these +forces wind up in a dead end, what if that logic of history on which +so many now rely turns out to be a will o' the wisp? What if, despite +two or three world wars, despite the sacrifice of several generations +and a whole system of values, our grandchildren--supposing they survive-- +find themselves no closer to a world society? It may well be that the +survivors of such an experience will be too weak to understand their +own sufferings. Since these forces are working themselves out and since +it is inevitable that they continue to do so,there is no reason why +some of us should not take on the job of keeping alive, through the +apocalyptic historical vista that stretches before us, a modest +thoughtfulness which, without pretending to solve everything, will +constantly be prepared to give some human meaning to everyday life. +The essential thing is that people should carefully weight the price +they must pay.... + +All I ask is that, in the midst of a murderous world, we agree to reflect +on murder and to make a choice. After that, we can distinguish those +who accept the consequences of being murderers themselves or the +accomplices of murderers, and those who refuse to do so with all their +force and being. Since this terrible dividing line does actually exist, +it will be a gain if it be clearly marked. Over the expanse of five +continents throughout the coming years an endless strugle is going to +be pursued between violence and friendly persuasion, a struggle in +which, granted, the former has a thousand times the chances of success +than that of the latter. But I have always held that, if he who bases his +hopes on human nature is a fool, he who gives up in the face of circum- +stances is a coward. And henceforth, the only honorable course will be +to stake everything on a formidable gamble: that words are more powerful +than munitions. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001176.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001176.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..203e5d63 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001176.txt @@ -0,0 +1,148 @@ +Title: Anarchist Propoganda + +Author: Errico Malatesta + +Date: various + +Description: + Collection of writings on anarchist propoganda scanned + from "Malatesta: Life and Ideas" Freedom Press 1966. + + + ANARCHIST PROPAGANDA + +IT MUST BE ADMITTED THAT WE ANARCHISTS, IN OUTLINING what we would like the +future society to be a society without bosses and without gendarmes have, +in general, made everything look a bit too easy. +While on the one hand we reproach our adversaries for being unable to +think beyond present conditions and of finding communism and anarchy +unattainable, because they imagine that man must remain as he is today, +with all his meanness, his vices and his fears, even when their causes +have been eliminated, on the other hand we skate over the difficulties +and the doubts, assuming that the morally positive effects which will +result from the abolition of economic privilege and the triumph of +liberty have already been achieved. + So, when we are told that some people won't want to work, we +immediately have a string of excellent reasons to show that work, that +is the exercise of our faculties and the pleasure to produce, is at the +root of man's well-being, and that it is therefore ridiculous to +think that healthy people would wish to withdraw from the need to +produce for the community when work would not be oppressive, +exploited and despised, as it is today. + And if they bring up the inclinations to, or the anti-social, +criminal ways of, a section, however small, of the population, +we reply that, except in rare and questionable cases of +congenital sickness which it is the task of alienists to +deal with, crimes are of social origin and would change +with a change of institutions. + Perhaps this exaggerated optimism, this simplification of the +problems had its raison d'etre when anarchism was a beautiful +dream, a hurried anticipation, and what was needed was to push +forward to the highest ideal and inspire enthusiasm by stressing +the contrast between the present hell and the desired paradise of +tomorrow. + But times have changed. Statal and capitalist society is in a +state of crisis, of dissolution or reconstruction depending on whether +revolutionaries are able, and know how, to influence with their concepts +and their strength, and perhaps we are on the eve of the first attempts +at realization. + It is necessary therefore to leave a little on one side the idyllic +descriptions and visions of future and distant perfection and face things +as they are today and as they will be in what one can assume to be the +foreseeable future. When anarchist ideas were a novelty which amazed and +shocked, and it was only possible to make propaganda for a distant future +(and even the attempts at insurrection, and the prosecutions we freely +invited and accepted, only served the purpose of drawing the public's +attention to our propaganda), it could be enough to criticize existing +society and present an exposition of the ideal to which we aspire. Even +the questions of tactics were, in fact, simply questions of deciding +which were the best ways of propagating one's ideas and preparing +individuals and masses for the desired social transformation. + But today the situation is more mature, circumstances have changed +. . . and we must be able to show not only that we have more reason on +our side than have the parties because of the nobility of our ideal of +freedom, but also that our ideas and methods are the most practical for +the achievement of the greatest measure of freedom and well-being that +is possible in the present state of our civilization. Our task is that +of "pushing" the people to demand and to seize all the freedom they can +and to make themselves responsible for providing their own needs without +waiting for orders from any kind of authority. Our task is that of +demonstrating the uselessness and harmfulness of government, provoking +and encouraging by propaganda and action, all kinds of individual and +collective initiatives. + It is in fact a question of education for freedom, of making +people who are accustomed to obedience and passivity consciously aware +of their real power and capabilities. One must encourage people to do +things for themselves, or to think they are doing so by their own +initiative and inspiration even when in fact their actions have been +suggested by others, just as the good school teacher when he sets a +problem his pupil cannot solve immediately, helps him in such a way +that the pupil imagines that he has found the solution unaided, thus +acquiring courage and confidence in his own abilities. + This is what we should do in our propaganda. If our critic has +ever made propaganda among those who we, with too much disdain, call +politically " unconscious," it will have occurred to him to find himself +making an effort not to appear to be expounding and forcing on them a +well-known and universally accepted truth; he will have tried to stimulate +their thought and get them to arrive with their own reason at conclusions +which he could have served up ready-made, much more easily so far as he +was concerned, but with less profit for the " beginner " in politics. +And if he ever found himself in a position of having to act as leader +or teacher in some action or in propaganda, when the others were passive +he would have tried to avoid making the situation obvious so as to +stimulate them to think, to take the initiative and gain confidence in +themselves. + The daily paper Umanita Nova is but one of our means of action. +If instead of awakening new forces, and encouraging more ambitions and +enthusiastic activity, it were to absorb all our forces and stifle all +other initiatives, it would be a misfortune rather than an affirmation +of vigor, and witness to our strength, vitality and boldness. Furthermore +there are activities which cannot by definition, by carried out by the +paper or by the press. Since the paper has to address itself to the public +it must of necessity speak in the presence of the enemy, and there are +situations in which the enemy must not be informed. The comrades must +make other arrangements for these situations . . .elsewhere ! + +Must organization be secret or public? + In general terms the answer is obviously that one must carry out +in public what it is convenient that everybody should know and in secret +what it is agreed should be withheld from the public at large. + It is obvious that for us who carry on our propaganda to raise +the moral level of the masses and induce them to win their emancipation +by their own efforts and who have no personal or sectarian ambitions to +dominate, it is an advantage where possible to give our activities a +maximum of publicity to thereby reach and influence with our propaganda +as many people as we can. + But this does not depend only on our wishes; it is clear that if, +for example, a government were to prohibit us from speaking, publishing, +or meeting and we had not the strength openly defy the ban, we should +seek to do all these things clandestinely. + One must, however, always aim to act in the full light of day, +and struggle to win our freedoms, bearing in mind that the best way to +obtain a freedom is that of taking it, facing necessary risks; whereas +very often a freedom is lost, through one's own fault, either through +not exercising it or using it timidly, giving the impression that one +has not the right to be doing what one is doing. + Therefore, as a general rule we prefer always to act publicly +. . . also because the revolutionaries of today have qualities, some +good and others bad, which reduce their conspiratorial capacities in +which the revolutionaries of fifty or a hundred years ago excelled. +But certainly there can be circumstances and actions which demand +secrecy, and in which case one must act accordingly. + In any case, let us be wary of those " secret " affairs which +everybody knows about, and first among them, the police. + Isolated, sporadic propaganda which is often a way of easing +a troubled conscience or is simply an outlet for someone who has a +passion for argument, serves little or no purpose. In the conditions +of unawareness and misery in which the masses live, and with so many +forces against us, such propaganda is forgotten and lost before its +effect can grow and bear fruit. The soil is too ungrateful for seeds +sown haphazardly to germinate and make roots. + What is needed is continuity of effort, patience, coordination and +adaptability to different surroundings and circumstances. + Each one of us must be able to count on the cooperation of +everybody else; and that wherever a seed is sown it will not lack +the loving care of the cultivator, who tends it and protects it +until it has become a plant capable of looking after itself, and +in its turn, of sowing new, fruitful, seeds. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001177.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001177.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a6ede84e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001177.txt @@ -0,0 +1,124 @@ +Subject: Militant Farmers Rekindle Anti-Transnationals Campaign +Date: Sept 7, 1995 +From: Rich Winkel + (by way of Vegetarian Resource Center ) + + India-Economy: Militant Farmers Rekindle Anti-Transnationals Campaign + by Mahesh Uniyal + +New Delhi, Aug 3 (IPS) - India's activist campaign against +transnationals has been energised again by a well known militant +farmers' group serving notice on a fast food subsidiary of the +U.S.based Pepsi corporation. + +The Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha ,which uses physical force in +its campaign to drive out agribusiness transnationals from India, +has given Pepsi affiliate Kentucky Fried Chicken a week's time to +close shop in the country. + +Kentucky Fried Chicken opened the first of its 30 planned Indian +outlets a month ago in Bangalore, the capital of Southern +Karnataka state and the country's fastest growing metropolis. + +However, Kentucky Fried Chicken denies the threat publicised by +media reports from Bangalore where the The Karnataka Rajya Raita +Sangha is based. the farmers' outfit made news in recent years +by twice ransacking the Bangalore-based office of the U.S. seed +firm Cargill. + +Two years ago, Cargill abandoned a salt making venture on India's +western India coast, citing business reasons. but it was widely +seen as a surrender to activist threats. + +"Kentucky Fried Chicken has not received any such notice from The +Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha so we are not commenting on it," +said a Kentucky Fried Chicken spokesperson in Delhi. She +dismissed as baseless the charges levelled against Kentucky Fried +Chicken by the farmers' organisation and other activists. + +In recent months, Kentucky Fried Chicken, along with +international burger giant McDonald's has been targeted by +activists who include prominent political leaders. + +Agitated members of Indian parliament shot off a letter to prime +minister P.V. Narasimha Rao two months ago, accusing the +government of buckling under pressure from transnationals. They +urged the government to learn from China's tough stand against +McDonald's. + +"If China can stand up to the pressure, what is it that India +lacks in saying no to the American junk food sellers?," They +asked in their letter which ended with an appeal to cancel the +clearance given to Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and +McDonald's. + +A driving force behind the campaign is former Indian environment +minister Maneka Gandhi. The The Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha has +repeated Gandhi's well-publicised charges against the fast food +transnational chains. + +"I am against all meat junk foods," says Gandhi who has attacked +Pepsi and McDonald's for promoting unhealthy eating habits, +damaging ecology and reducing job opportunities for locals. +She cites scientific studies in the west, including a U.S. Senate +probe which found that every seven seconds a U.S. citizen gets +cancer from overindulging in junk foods. + +Gandhi has also charged that the Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets +will use 100,000 poultry birds a day while McDonald's will buy an +equal number of goats a week. She fears the spread of poultry +disease among the birds which will be reared on a diet laced with +size and weight- enhancing drugs. + +Activists argue that large scale livestock farming necessary to +feed the fast food industry will lead to overgrazing and +increased soil erosion of already degraded lands. they also +ridicule the claim by the transnationals that their ventures will +create jobs for Indians. + +However, Kentucky Fried Chicken rebuts the charges. "Kentucky +Fried Chicken is not doing any of the things that they are saying +it is going to do," says the food chain's spokesperson. + +Kentucky Fried Chicken will open its remaining outlets in other +big Indian cities over the next seven years. the biggest planned +outlet, like the one in Bangalore, where 200 people can eat, will +not use more than 200 birds daily, she claims. + +Not all Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets will be of this size and +Kentucky Fried Chicken expects to use about 1,500 poultry birds a +day when all its shops in India start working, she says. The +company has tied up with Venkateshwar Hatcheries for the supply +of chicken and will ensure the highest quality standards, she +adds. + +"The allegation that the birds will be diseased does not make +sense. Kentucky Fried Chicken has 9,400 outlets worldwide and +strict quality control measures are followed," the Kentucky Fried +Chicken spokesperson says. + +Each Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet will employ 50 people. and for +every person hired directly, 10 indirect jobs will be created, +she claims. + +Kentucky Fried Chicken also denies charges that its joints will +use beef as a filling. Under the terms of the clearance given by +India's foreign investment promotion board, Kentucky Fried +Chicken cannot use beef at all in the Hindu majority nation. +(end/ips/mu/mv/95) + + origin: new Delhi/India-economy/ +------------------------------------------------------------------------ +[c] 1994, Inter Press Third World News Agency (IPS) - all rights +reserved. This information is for personal use only. It may not be +reproduced, reprinted, resent or posted to any system without +specific permission from IPS. For information about this copyright, +e-mail to ips-info@igc.apc.org. + +IPS is the developing world's largest news agency. In the United +States, it is availabe from PeaceNet. The entire IPS feed is available +at *no addition charge* to users of PeaceNet and EcoNet (e-mail to +peancenet-info@igc.apc.org for more information). You can also have +IPS delivered to your e-mail box every day. For information on that +service, e-mail to pwn-info@igc.apc.org. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001178.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001178.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..226f36fa --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001178.txt @@ -0,0 +1,86 @@ +Chomsky on Gun Control + +From "Secrets, Lies and Democracy" - Noam Chomsky Interviewed by David +Barsamian. Published by donian Press, Tucson AZ, 1994. + + +Gun control + +Q: Advocates of free access to arms cite the Second Amendment. Do you believe +that it permits unrestricted, uncontrolled possession of guns? + + +It's pretty clear that, taken literally, the Second Amendment doesn't permit +people to have guns. But laws are never taken literally, including amendments +to the Constitution or constitutional rights. Laws permit what the tenor of +the times interprets them as permitting. + + But underlying the controversy over guns are some serious questions. There's +a feeling in the country that people are under attack. I think they're +misidentifying the source of the attack, but they do feel under attack. + + The government is the only power structure that's even partially accountable +to the population, so naturally the business sectors want to make that the +enemy--not the corporate system, which is totally unaccountable. After decades +of intensive business propaganda, people feel that the government is some +kind of enemy and that they have to defend themselves from it. + + It's not that that doesn't have its justifications. The government is +authoritarian and commonly hostile to much of the population. But it's +partially influenceable--and potentially very influenceable--by the general +population. + + Many people who advocate keeping guns have fear of the government in the +back of their minds. But that's a crazy response to a real problem. + + +Do the media foster the feeling people have that they're under attack? + + +At the deepest level, the media contribute to the sense that the government +is the enemy, and they suppress the sources of real power in the society, +which lie in the totalitarian institutions--the corporations, now international +in scale--that control the economy and much of our social life. In fact, the +corporations set the conditions within which the government operates, and +control it to a large extent. + + The picture presented in the media is constant, day after day. People simply +have no awareness of the system of power under which they're suffering. As a +result--as intended--they turn their attention against the government. + + People have all kinds of motivations for opposing gun control, but there's +definitely a sector of the population that considers itself threatened by big +forces, ranging from the Federal Reserve to the Council on Foreign Relations +to big government to who knows what, and they're calling for guns to protect +themselves. + + +Radio listener: On the issue of gun control, I believe that the US is becoming +much more like a Third World country, and nothing is necessarily going to put +a stop to it. I look around and see a lot of Third World countries where, if +the citizens had weapons, they wouldn't have the government they've got. So- +I think that maybe people are being a little shortsighted in arguing for gun +control and at the same time realizing that the government they've got is not +exactly a benign one. + + +Your point illustrates exactly what I think is a major fallacy. The government +is far from benign--that's true. On the other hand, it's at least partially +accountable, and it can become as benign as we make it. + + What's not benign (what's extremely harmful, in fact) is something you didn't +mention--business power, which is highly concentrated and, by now, largely +transnational. Business power is very far from benign and it's completely +unaccountable. It's a totalitarian system that has an enormous effect on our +lives. It's also the main reason why the government isn't benign. + + As for guns being the way to respond to this, that's outlandish. First of +all, this is not a weak Third World country. If people have pistols, the +government has tanks. If people get tanks, the government has atomic weapons. +There's no way to deal with these issues by violent force, even if you think +that that's morally legitimate. + + Guns in the hands of American citizens are not going to make the country more +benign. They're going to make it more brutal, ruthless and destructive. So +while one can recognize the motivation that lies behind some of the opposition +to gun control, I think it's sadly misguided. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001181.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001181.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7e4bdc7c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001181.txt @@ -0,0 +1,40 @@ +SELAR NATURE + +Opposition to the 880 acre opencast mine proposed for Selar Nature +Reserve in South Wales, UK is still going strong. +The watermeadows have largely been destroyed by Celtic Energy, the +mining company responsible but they now face the task of removing a +growing number of people from several hundred mature oak trees. +At least 30 tree houses have been constructed in the trees and a +massive network of aerial walkways, designed to allow rapid access +to any tree under threat has been constructed. +Numbers of people at the camp vary between 5 and about 200, +depending largely on the weather and whether or not there is a party on at +the weekend! Local support is also going well with a local residents +support group being set up to ensure adequate supplies of food and +materials. Most of the long term tree dwellers now have "foster +parents" in the village (Cwymgrach) who invite them round for tea and +a bath! + +Having dug into the site and prepared for potential eviction, thoughts +are now turning to a more pro-active approach. Getting out and +"lobbying" Celtic Energy, rather than waiting for them to come to us. + Actions against some of there working opencast sites are being +planned. + +A camp on another proposed site has been established 10 miles from the present +one. Walkways and baracading of derelict farm houses has occured but +numbers are presently low. Active people are desperately needed to +help establish the camp. + +The camp mobile phone is presently out of action at Selar, but should +soon be working again. At present for further info contact Cardiff +Earth First! 01222 383363. However, it is hoped that a camp office +will soon be set up. + +As an elderly local woman at the camp said to me last week, " They've +been destroying this beautiful land for too long. Now our children +are rising up to stop it. Mother Nature is striking back." + +(august 1995) + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001182.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001182.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5f6a69e0 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001182.txt @@ -0,0 +1,447 @@ +THE MASS PSYCHOLOGY OF MISERY - John Zerzan + +Taken from "Future Primitive and Other Essays", published by Autonomedia +in conjunction with Anarchy: A Journal of Desire Armed. +ISBN: 1-57027-000-7 +Anti-Copyright 1994: may be freely pirated and quoted. The author and +publishers, however, would like to be informed at: + +Autonomedia, +POB 568 Williamsburgh Station, +Brooklyn, New York 11211-0568, +USA +------------------------------------------ + + +Quite a while ago, just before the upheavals of the '60s-shifts that +have not ceased, but have been forced in less direct, less public +directions-Marcuse in his One-Dimensional Man, described a populace +characterized by flattened personality, satisfied and content. With the +pervasive anguish of today, who could be so described? Therein lies a +deep, if inchoate critique. + +Much theorizing has announced the erosion of individuality's last +remnants; but if this were so, if society now consists of the thoroughly +homogenized and domesticated, how can there remain the enduring tension +which must account for such levels of pain and loss? More and more +people I have known have cracked up. It's going on to a staggering +degree, in a context of generalized, severe emotional disease-ease. + +Marx predicted, erroneously, that a deepening material immiseration +would lead to revolt and to capital's downfall. Might it not be that an +increasing psychic suffering is itself leading to the reopening of +revolt-indeed, that this may even be the last hope of resistance? + +And yet it is obvious that "mere" suffering is no guarantee of anything. +"Desire does not 'want' revolution, it is revolutionary in its own +right," as Deleuze and Guattari pointed out, while further on in +Anti-Oedipus, remembering fascism, noting that people have desired +against their own interests, and that tolerance of humiliation and +enslavement remains widespread. + +We know that behind psychic repression and avoidance stands social +repression, even as massive denial shows at least some signs of giving +way to a necessary confrontation with reality in all of its dimensions. +Awareness of the social must not mean ignoring the personal, for that +would only repeat, in its own terms, the main error of psychology. If in +the nightmare of today each of us has his or her fears and limitations, +there is no liberating route that forgets the primacy of the whole, +including how that whole exists in each of us. + +Stress, loneliness, depression, boredom-the madness of everyday life. +Ever-greater levels of sadness, implying a recognition, on the visceral +level at least, that things could be different. How much joy is there +left in the technological society, this field of alienation and anxiety? +Mental health epidemiologists suspect that no more than twenty percent +of us are free of psychopathological symptoms. Thus we act out a +"pathology of normalcy" marked by the chronic psychic impoverishment of +a qualitatively unhealthy society. + +Arthur Barsky's Worried Sick (1988) diagnoses an American condition +where, despite all the medical "advances," the population has never felt +such a "constant need for medical care." The crisis of the family and of +personal life in general sees to it that the pursuit of health, and +emotional health in particular, has reached truly industrial +proportions. A work-life increasingly toxic, in every sense of the word, +joins with the disintegration of the family to fuel the soaring growth +of the corporate industrial health machine. But for a public in its +misery dramatically more interested in health care than ever before, the +dominant model of medical care is clearly only part of the problem, not +its solution. Thus Thomas Bittker writes of "The Industrialization of +American Psychiatry" (American Journal of Psychiatry, February 1985) and +Gina Kolata discusses how much distrust of doctors exists, as medicine +is seen as just another business (New York Times, February 20, 1990). + +The mental disorder of going along with things as they are is now +treated almost entirely by biochemicals, to reduce the individual's +consciousness of socially induced anguish, Tranquilizers are now the +world's most widely prescribed drugs, and anti-depressants set record +sales as well. Temporary relief-despite side-effects and addictive +properties-is easily obtained, while we are all ground down a little +more. The burden of simply getting by is "Why All Those People Feel They +Never Have Any Time," according to Trish Hall (New York Times, January +2, 1988), who concluded that 'everybody just seems to feel worn out" by +it all. + +An October '89 Gallup poll found that stress-related illness is becoming +the leading hazard in the nation's workplaces, and a month later an +almost five-fold increase in California stress-related disability claims +was reported to have occurred between 1982 and 1986. More recent figures +estimate that almost two-thirds of new cases in employee assistance +programs represent psychiatric or stress symptoms. In his Modern Madness +(1986), Douglas La Bier asked, "What is it about work today that can +cause such harm?" + +Part of the answer is found in a growing literature that reveals the +Information Age "office of tomorrow" to be no better than the sweatshop +of yesteryear. In fact, computerization introduces a neo-Taylorist +monitoring of work that surpasses all earlier management control +techniques. The "technological whip" now increasingly held over +white-collar workers prompted Curt Supplee, in a January '90 Washington +Post article, to judge, "We have seen the future, and it hurts." A few +months earlier Sue Miller wrote in the Baltimore Evening Sun of another +part of the job burnout picture, referring to a national clinical +psychology study that determined that no less than a staggering 93 +percent of American women "are caught up in a blues epidemic." + +Meanwhile, the suicide and homicide rates are rising in the U.S. and +eighty percent of the populace admit to having at least thought of +suicide. Teenage suicide has risen enormously in the past three decades, +and the number of teens locked up in mental wards has soared since 1970. +So very many ways to gauge the pain: serious obesity among children has +increased more than fifty percent in the last fifteen to twenty years; +severe eating disorders (bulimia and anorexia) among college women are +now relatively common; sexual dysfunction is widespread; the incidence +of panic and anxiety attacks is rising to the point of possibly +overtaking depression as our most general psychological malady; +isolation and a sense of meaninglessness continue to make even absurd +cults and IV evangelism seem attractive to many. + +The litany of cultural symptomatics is virtually endless. Despite its +generally escapist function, even much of contemporary film reflects the +malaise; see Robert Phillip Kolker's A Cinema of Loneliness: Penn, +Kubrick, Scorsese. Spielberg, Altman, for example. And many recent +novels are even more unflinching in their depiction of the desolation +_and degradation of society, and the burnout of youth in particular, +e.g. Bret Easton Ellis' Less Than Zero, Fred Pfail's Goodman 2020, and +The Knockout Artist by Harry Crews, to mention just a few. + +In this context of immiseration, what is happening to prevailing values +and mores is of signal interest in further situating our "mass +psychology" and its significance. There are plenty of signs that the +demand for "instant gratification" is more and more insistent, bringing +with it outraged lamentations from both left and right and a further +corrosion of the structure of repression. + +Credit card fraud, chiefly the deliberate running up of bills, reached +the billion-and-a-half-dollar level in 1988 as the personal bankruptcy +solution to debt, which doubled between 1980 and 1990. Defaults on +federal student loans more than quadrupled from 1983 to 1989. + +In November '89, in a totally unprecedented action, the U.S. Navy was +forced to suspend operations world-wide for 48 hours owing to a rash of +accidents involving deaths and injuries over the preceding three weeks. +A total safety review was involved in the moratorium, which renewed +discussion of drug abuse, absenteeism, unqualified personnel, and other +problems threatening the Navy's very capacity to function. + +Meanwhile, levels of employee theft reach ever higher levels. In 1989 +the Dallas Police Department reported a 29 percent increase in retail +shrinkage over the previous five years, and a national survey conducted +by London House said 62 percent of fast-food employees admitted stealing +from employers. In early 1990 the FBI disclosed that shoplifting was up +35 percent since 1984, cutting heavily into retail profits. + +November 1988 broke a forty-year mark for low voter turnout, continuing +a downward direction in electoral participation that has plagued +presidential elections since 1960. Average college entrance exam (SAT) +scores declined throughout the '70s and early '80s, then rebounded very +slightly, and in 1988 continued to fall. At the beginning of the '80s +Arthur Levin's portrait of college students, When Dreams and Heroes +Died, recounted "a generalized cynicism and lack of trust," while at the +end of the decade Robert Nisbet's The Present Age: Progress and Anarchy +in North America decried the disastrous effects that the younger +generation's attitude of "hanging loose" was having on the system. +George F. Will, for his part, reminded us all that social arrangements, +including the authority of the government, rest "on a willingness of the +public to believe in them," and Harvard economist Harvey Liebenstein's +Inside the Firm echoed him in stressing that companies must depend on +the kind of work their employees want to do. + +The nation's high schools now graduate barely seventy percent of +students who enter as freshman, despite massive focus on the dropout +rate problem. As Michael de Courcy Hinds put it (New York Times, +February 17, 1990), "U.S. educators are trying almost anything to keep +children in school," while an even more fundamental phenomenon is the +rising number of people of all ages unwilling to learn to read and +write. David Harman (Illiteracy: A National Dilemma, 1987) gave voice to +how baffling the situation is, asking why has the acquisition of such +skills, "seemingly so simple, been so evasive?" + +The answer may be that illiteracy, like schooling, is increasingly seen +to be valued merely for its contribution to the workplace. The refusal +of literacy is but another sign of a deep turn-off from the system, part +of the spreading disaffection. In mid-1988 a Hooper survey indicated +that work now ranks eighth out of ten on a scale of important +satisfactions in life, and 1989 showed the lowest annual productivity +growth since the 1981-83 recession. The drug "epidemic," which cost the +government almost $25 billion to combat in the '80s, threatens society +most acutely at the level of the refusal of work and sacrifice. There is +no "war on drugs" that can touch the situation while at the same time +defending this landscape of pain and false values. The need for escape +grows stronger and the sick social order feels consequent desertion, the +steady corrosion of all that holds it up. + +Unfortunately, the biggest "escape" of all is one that serves, in the +main, to preserve the distorted present: what Sennett has called "the +increasing importance of psychology in bourgeois life." This includes +the extraordinary proliferation of new kinds of therapy since the '60s, +and behind this phenomenon the rise of psychology as the predominant +religion. In the Psychological Society the individual sees himself as a +problem. This ideology constitutes a pre-eminent social imprisonment, +because it denies the social; psychology refuses to consider that +society as a whole shares fundamental responsibility for the conditions +produced in every human being. + +The ramifications of this ideology can be seen on all sides For +instance, the advice to those besieged by work stress to "take a deep +breath, laugh, walk it off," etc. Or the moralizing exhortations to +recycle, as if a personal ethics of consumption is a real answer to the +global eco-crisis caused by industrial production. Or the 1990 +California Task Force to Promote Self-Esteem as a solution to the major +social breakdown in that state. + +At the very center of contemporary life, this outlook legitimates +alienation, loneliness, despair, and anxiety. because it cannot see the +context for our malaise. It privatizes distress, and suggests that only +non-social responses are attainable. This "bottomless fraud of mere +inwardness," in Adorno's words, pervades every aspect of American life, +mystifying experience and thus perpetuating oppression. + +The widespread allegiance to a therapeutic world view constitutes a +culture tyrannized by the therapeutic in which, in the name of mental +health, we are getting mental disease. With the expanding influence of +behavioral experts, powerlessness and estrangement expand as well; +modern life must be interpreted for us by the new expertise and its +popularizers. + +Gail Sheehy's Passages (1977), for example, considers life developments +without reference to any social or historical context, thereby vitiating +her concern for the "free and autonomous self." Arlie Russell +Hochschild's Managed Heart (1983) focuses on the "commercialization of +human feelings" in an increasingly service-sector economy, and manages +to avoid any questioning of the totality by remaining ignorant of the +fact of class society and the unhappiness it produces. When Society +Becomes an Addict (1987) is Anne Wilson Schaef's completely incoherent +attempt to deny, despite the title, the existence of society, by dealing +strictly with the interpersonal. And these books are among the least +escapist of the avalanche of "how-to" therapy books inundating the +bookstores and supermarkets. + +It is clear that psychology is part of the absence of community or +solidarity, and of the accelerating social disintegration. The emphasis +is on changing one's personality, and avoiding at all costs the facts of +bureaucratic consumer capitalism and its meaning to our lives and +consciousness. Consider Samuel Klarreich's Stress Solution (1988): "...1 +believe that we can largely determine what will be stressful. and how +much it will interfere with our lives, by the views we uphold +irrespective of what goes on in the workplace." Under the sign of +productivity, the citizen is now trained as a lifelong inmate of an +industrial world, a condition, as Ivan Illich noted, not unrelated to +the fact that everyone tends toward the condition of therapy's patient, +or at least tends to accept its world-view. + +In the Psychological Society, social conflicts of all kinds are +automatically shifted to the level of psychic problems, in order that +they can be charged to individuals as private matters. Schooling +produces near-universal resistance, which is classified, for example, as +"hyperkinesis" and dealt with by drugs and/or psychiatric ideology. +Rather than recognize the child's protest, his or her life is invaded +still further, to ensure that no one eludes the therapeutic net. + +It is clear that a retreat from the social, based largely on the +experience of defeat and consequent resignation, promotes the personal +as the only possible terrain of authenticity. A desperate denizen of the +"singles world" is quoted by Louise Banikow: "My ambition is wholly +personal now. All I want to do is fall in love." But the demand for +fulfilment, however circumscribed by psychology, is that of a ravening +hunger and a level of suffering that threaten to burst the bonds of the +prescribed inner world. As noted above, indifference to authority, +distrust of institutions, and a spreading nihilism mean that the +therapeutic can neither satisfy the individual nor ultimately safeguard +the social order. Toynbee noted that a decadent culture furthers the +rise of a new church that extends hope to the proletariat while +servicing only the needs of the ruling class. Perhaps sooner than later +People will begin to realize that psychology is this Church, Which may +be the reason why so many voices of therapy now Counsel their flocks +against "unrealistic expectations" of what life could be. + +For over half a century the regulative, hierarchical needs of a +bureaucratic-consumerist system have sought modern means of control and +prediction. The same consolatory ideology of the psychological outlook, +in which the self is the over-arching form of reality, has served these +control needs and owes most of its assumptions to Sigmund Freud. + +For Freud and his Wagnerian theory of warring instincts and the +arbitrary division of the self into id, ego and superego, the passions +of the individual were primordial and dangerous. The work of +civilization was to check and harness them. The whole edifice of +psychoanalysis, Freud said, is based upon the theory of necessary +repression; domination is obviously assisted by this view. That human +culture is established only by means of suffering, that constant +renunciation of desire is inevitable for continuance of civilization, +that work is sustained by the energy of stifled love-all this is +required by the "natural aggressiveness" of "human nature," the latter +an eternal and universal fact, of course. + +Understanding fully the deforming force of all this repression, Freud +considered it likely that neurosis has come to characterize all of +humanity. Despite his growing fear of fascism after World War 1, he +nonetheless contributed to its growth by justifying the renunciation of +happiness. Reich referred to Freud and Hitler with some bitterness, +observing that "a few years later, a pathological genius-making the best +of ignorance and fear of happiness-brought Europe to the verge of +destruction with the slogan of 'heroic renunciation'." + +With the Oedipus complex, inescapable source of guilt and repression, we +see Freud again as the consummate Hobbesian. This universal condition is +the vehicle whereby self-imposed taboos are learned via the (male) +childhood' experience of fear of the father and lust for the mother. It +is based on Freud's reactionary fairy tale of a primal horde dominated +by a powerful father who possessed all available women and who was +killed and devoured by his sons. This was ludicrous anthropology even +when penned, and fully exhibits one of Freud's most basic errors, that +of equating society with civilization. There is now convincing evidence +that precivilized life was a time of non-dominance and equality, +certainly not the bizarre patriarchy Freud provided as origin of most of +our sense of guilt and shame. He remained convinced of the +inescapability of the Oedipal background, and the central validity of +both the Oedipal complex and of guilt itself for the interests of +culture. + +Freud considered psychic life as shut in on itself, uninfluenced by +society. This premise leads to a deterministic view of childhood and +even infancy, along with such judgements as "the fear of becoming poor +is derived from regressive anal eroticism, Consider his Psychopathology +of Everyday Life, and its ten editions between 1904 and 1924 to which +new examples of "slips," or unintended revelatory usages of words, were +continually added. We do not find a single instance, despite the +upheavals of many of those years in and near Austria, of Freud detecting +a "slip" that related to fear of revolution on the part of this +bourgeois subjects, or even of any day-to-day social fears, such as +related to strikes, insubordination, or the like. It seems more than +likely that unrepressed slips concerning such matters were simple +screened Out as unimportant to his universalist, ahistorical views. + +Also worth noting is Freud's "discovery" of the death instinct In his +deepening pessimism, he countered Eros, the life instinct with Thanatos, +a craving for death and destruction, as fundamental and ineradicable a +part of the species as Striving for life. The aim of all life is death," +simply put (1920). While it may be pedestrian to note that this +discovery was accompanied by the mass carnage of World War 1, an +increasingly unhappy marriage, and the onset of cancer of the jaw, there +is no mistaking the service this dystopian metaphysics performs in +justifying authority. The assumption of the death instinct-that +aggression, hatred, and fear will always be with us-militates against +the idea that liberation is possible. In later decades, the death +instinct-oriented work of Melanie Klein flourished in English ruling +circles precisely because of its emphasis on social restraints in +limiting aggressiveness. Today's leading neo-Freudian, Lacan, also seems +to see suffering and domination as inevitable; specifically, he holds +that patriarchy is a law of nature. + +Marcuse, Norman O. Brown and others have re-theorized Freud in a radical +direction by taking his ideas as descriptive rather than prescriptive, +and there is a limited plausibility to an orientation that takes his +dark views as valid only with respect to alienated life, rather than to +any and all imaginable social worlds. There are even many Freudian +feminists; their efforts to apply psychoanalytic dogma to the oppression +of women, however, appear even more contrived. + +Freud did identify the "female principle" as closer to nature, less +sublimated, less diffused through repression than that of the male. But +true to his overall values, he located an essential advance in +civilization in the victory of male intellectuality over womanly +sensuality. What is saddest about the various attempts to reappropriate +Freud is the absence of a critique of civilization: his entire work is +predicated on the acceptance of civilization as highest value. And basic +in a methodological sense, regarding those who would merely reorient the +Freudian edifice, is Foucault's warning that the will to any system "is +to extend our participation in the present system." + +In the area of gender difference, Freud straightforwardly affirmed the +basic inferiority of the female. His view of women as castrated men is a +case of biological determinism: anatomically they are simply less, and +condemned by this to masochism and penis envy. + +I make no pretense to completeness or depth in this brief look at Freud, +but it should be already obvious how false was his disclaimer (New +Introductory Lectures, 1933) that Freudianism posits any values beyond +those inherent in "objective" science. And to this fundamental failing +could be added the arbitrary nature of virtually all of his philosophy. +Divorced as it pointedly is from gross social reality-further examples +are legion, but seduction theory comes to mind, in which he declared +that sexual abuse is, most importantly, fantasy-one Freudian inference +could just as plausibly be replaced by a different one. Overall, we +encounter, in the summary of Frederick Crews, "a doctrine plagued by +mechanism, reification, and arbitrary universalism." + +On the level of treatment, by his own accounts, Freud never was able to +permanently cure a single patient, and psychoanalysis has proven no more +effective since. In 1984 the National Institute of Mental Health +estimated that over forty million Americans are mentally ill, while a +study by Regier, Boyd et al. (Archives of General Psychiatry, November +1988) showed that fifteen percent of the adult population had a +"psychiatric disorder." One obvious dimension of this worsening +situation, in Joel Kovel's words, is the contemporary family, which "has +fallen into a morass of permanent crisis, as indicated by the endless +stream of emotionally disabled individuals it turns over to the mental +health industry. + +If alienation is the essence of all psychiatric conditions, Psychology +is the study of the alienated, but lacks the awareness that this is so. +The effect of the total society, in which the individual can no longer +recognize himself or herself, by the canons of Freud and the +Psychological Society, is seen as irrelevant to diagnosis and treatment. +Thus psychiatry appropriates disabling pain and frustration, redefines +them as illnesses and, in some cases, is able to suppress the symptoms. +Meanwhile, a morbid world continues its estranging technological +rationality that excludes any continuously spontaneous, affective life: +the person is subjected to a discipline designed, at the expense of the +sensuous, to make him or her an instrument of production. + +Mental illness is primarily an unconscious escape from this design, a +form of passive resistance. R.D. Laing spoke of schizophrenia as a +psychic numbing which feigns a kind of death to preserve something of +one's inner aliveness. The representative schizophrenic is around 20, at +the point of culmination of the long period of socialization which has +prepared him to take up his role in the workplace. He is not "adequate" +to this destiny. Historically, it is noteworthy that schizophrenia is +very closely related to industrialism, as Torrey shows convincingly in +his Schizophrenia and Civilization (1980). + +In recent years Szasz, Foucault, Goffman, and others have called +attention to the ideological preconceptions through which "mental +illness" is seen. "Objective" language cloaks cultural biases, as in the +case, for instance, of sexual "disorders": in the 19th century +masturbation was treated as a disease, and it has only been within the +past twenty years that the psychological establishment declassified +homosexuality as illness. + +And it has long been transparent that there is a class component to the +origins and treatment of mental illness. Not only is what is called +"eccentric" among the rich often termed psychiatric disorder-and treated +quite differently among the poor, but many studies since Hollingshead +and Redlich's Social Class and Mental Illness (1958) have demonstrated +how much more likely are the poor to become emotionally disabled. Roy +Porter observed that because it imagines power, madness is both +impotence and omnipotence, which serves as a reminder that due to the +influence of alienation, powerlessness, and poverty, women are more +often driven to breakdown than men. Society makes us all feel +manipulated and thus mistrustful: "paranoid," and who could not be +depressed? The gap between the alleged neutrality and wisdom of the +medical model and the rising levels of pain and disease is widening, the +credibility of the former visibly corroding. + + +-------------------------END OF PART ONE-------------------- diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001183.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001183.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3eb98081 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001183.txt @@ -0,0 +1,373 @@ +The Mass Psychology Of Misery * (1994) * Part 2 +by John Zerzan + +It has been the failure of earlier forms of social control that has +given psychological medicine, with its inherently expansionist aims, its +upward trajectory in the past three decades. The therapeutic model of +authority (and the supposedly value-free professional power that backs +it up) is increasingly intertwined with state power, and has mounted an +invasion of the self much more far reaching than earlier efforts, "There +are no limits to the ambition of psychoanalytic control; if it had its +way, nothing would escape it," according to Guattari. + +In terms of the medicalization of deviant behavior, a great deal more is +included, than, say, the psychiatric sanctions on Soviet dissidents or +the rise of a battery of mind control techniques, including behavior +modification, in U.S. Prisons Punishment has come to include treatment +and treatment new powers of punishment; medicine, psychology, education +and social work take over more and more aspects of control and +discipline while the legal machinery grows more medical, psychological, +pedagogical. But the new arrangements, relying chiefly on fear and +necessitating more and more co-operation by the ruled in order to +function, are no guarantee of civic harmony. In fact, with their overall +failure, class society is running out of tactics and excuses, and the +new encroachments have created new pockets of resistance. + +The setup now usually referred to as "community mental health" can be +legitimately traced to the establishment of the Mental Hygiene Movement +in 1908. In the context of the Taylorist degradation of work called +Scientific Management and a challenging tide of worker militancy, the +new psychological offensive was based on the dictum that "individual +unrest to a large degree means bad mental hygiene." Community psychiatry +represents a later, nationalized form of this industrial psychology, +developed to deflect radical currents away from social transformation +objectives and back under the yoke of the dominating logic of +productivity. By the 1920s, the workers had become the objects of social +science professionals to an even greater degree, with the work of Elton +Mayo and others, at a time when the promotion of consumption as a way of +life came to be seen as itself a means of easing unrest, collective and +individual. And b the end of the 1930s, industrial psychology had +"already developed many of the central innovations which now +characterize community psychology," according to Diana Ralph's Work and +Madness (1983), such as mass psychological testing, the mental health +team, auxiliary non-professional counselors, family and out-patient +therapy, and psychiatric counseling to businesses. + +The million-plus men rejected by the armed forces during World War 11 +for "mental unfitness" and the steady rise. observable since the +mid-'50s, in stress-related illnesses. called attention to the immensely +crippling nature of modern industrial alienation. Government funding was +called for, and was provided by the 1963 federal Community Mental Health +Center legislation. Armed with the relatively new tranquilizing drugs to +anaesthetize the poor as well as the unemployed, a state presence was +initiated in urban areas hitherto beyond the reach of the therapeutic +ethos. Small wonder that some black militants saw the new mental health +services as basically refined police pacification and surveillance +systems for the ghettos. The concerns of the dominant order, ever +anxious about the masses, are chiefly served, however, here as +elsewhere, by the strength of the image of what science has shown to be +normal, healthy, and productive. Authority's best friend is relentless +self-inspection according to the ruling canons of repressive normalcy in +the Psychological Society. + +The nuclear family once provided the psychic underpinning of what Norman +O. Brown called "the nightmare of infinitely expanding technological +progress." Thought by some to be a bastion against the outer world, it +has always served as transmission belt for the reigning ideology, more +specifically as the place in which the interiorizing psychology of women +is produced the social and economic exploitation of women is legitimated +and the artificial scarcity of sexuality is guarded. + +Meanwhile, the state's concern with delinquent, uneducable and +unsocializable children, as studied by Donzelot and others, is but one +aspect of its overshadowing of the family. Behind the medicalized image +of the good, the state advances and the family steadily loses its +functions. Rothbaum and Weisz, in Child Psychopathology and the Quest +for Control (1989), discuss the very rapid rise of their subject while +Castel, Castel and Lovell's earlier The Psychiatric Society (1982) could +glimpse the nearing day hen childhood will be totally regimented by +medicine and psychology Some facets of this trend are no longer in the +realm of conjecture; James R. Schiffman, for instance, wrote of one +by-product of the battered family in his "Teen-Agers End Up in +Psychiatric Hospitals in Alarming Numbers" (Wall Street Journal, Feb. 3, +1989). + +Therapy is a key ritual of our prevailing psychological religion and a +vigorously growing one. The American Psychiatric Association's +membership jumped from 27,355 in 1983 to 36,223 by the end of the '80s, +and in 1989 a record 22 million visited psychiatrists or other +therapists covered to at least some extent by health insurance plans. +Considering that only a small minority of those who practice the +estimated 500 varieties of psychotherapy are psychiatrists or otherwise +health insurance-recognized, even these figures do not capture the +magnitude of therapy's shadow world. + +Philip Rieff termed psychoanalysis "yet another method of learning how +to endure the loneliness produced by culture," which is a good enough +way to introduce the artificial situation and relationship of therapy, a +peculiarly distanced. circumscribed and asymmetrical affair. Most of the +time, one person talks and the other listens. The client almost always +talks about himself and the therapist almost never does. The therapist +scrupulously eschews social contact with clients. another reminder to +the latter that they have not been talking to a friend, along with the +strict time limits enclosing a space divorced from everyday reality. +Similarly, the purely contractual nature of the therapeutic connection +in itself guarantees that all therapy inevitably reproduces alienated +society. To deal with alienation via a relationship paid for b the hour +is to overlook the congruence of therapist and prostitute as regards the +traits just enumerated. + +Gramsci defined "intellectual" as the "functionary in charge of +consent," a formulation which also fits the role of therapist. By +leading others to concentrate their 'desiring energy outside the social +territory," as Guattari put it, he thereby manipulates them into +accepting the constraints of society. By failing to challenge the social +categories within which clients have organized their experiences, the +therapist strengthens the hold of those categories. He tries, typically, +to focus clients away from stories about work and into the so-called +"real" areas-personal life and childhood. + +Psychological health, as a function of therapy, is largely an +educational procedure. The project is that of a shared system: the +client is led to acceptance of the therapist's basic assumptions and +metaphysics. Francois Roustang, in Psychoanalysis Never Lets Go (1983), +wondered why a therapeutic method whose "explicit aim is the liberation +of forces with a view toward being capable 'of enjoyment and efficiency' +(Freud) so often ends in alienation either...because the treatment turns +out to be interminable, or...(the client) adopts the manner of speech +and thought, the theses as well as the prejudices of psychoanalysis." + +Ever since Hans Lysenko's short but famous article of 1952, "The Effects +of Psychotherapy," countless other studies have validated his finding: +"Persons given intensive and prolonged psychotherapy are no better off +than those in matched control groups given no treatment over the same +time interval." On the other hand, there is no doubt that therapy or +counseling does make many people feel better, regardless of specific +results. This anomaly must be due to the fact that consumers of therapy +believe they have been cared for, comforted, listened to. In a society +growing ever Colder, this is no small thing. It is also true that the +Psychological Society conditions its subjects into blaming themselves +and that those who most feel they need therapy tend to be those most +easily exploited: the loneliest, most insecure nervous, depressed, etc. +It is easy to state the old dictum, "Natura sanat, medicus curat" +(Nature heals, doctors/counselors/therapists treat); but where is the +natural in the hyper-estranged world of pain and isolation we find +ourselves in? And yet there is no getting around the imperative to +remake the world. If therapy is to heal, make whole, what other +possibility is there but to transform this world, which would of course +also constitute a de-therapizing of society. It is clearly in this +spirit that the Situationist International declared in 1963, "Sooner or +later the S.I. must define itself as a therapeutic." + +Unfortunately, the great communal causes later in the decade acquired a +specifically therapeutic cast mainly in their degeneration, in the +splintering of the '60's thrust into smaller, more idiosyncratic +efforts. "The personal is the political" gave way to the merely +personal, as defeat and disillusion overtook naive activism. + +Conceived out of critical responses to Freudian psychoanalysis, which +has shifted its sights toward ever-earlier phases of development in +childhood and infancy, the Human Potential Movement began in the mid-60s +and acquired its characteristic features by the early '70s. With a +post-Freudian emphasis on the conscious ego and its actualization, Human +Potential set forth a smorgasbord of therapies, including varieties or +amalgams of personal growth seminars, body awareness techniques, and +Eastern spiritual disciplines. Almost buried in the welter of partial +solutions lies a subversive potential: the notion that, as Adelaide Bry +put it, life "can be a time of infinite and joyous possibility." The +demand for instant relief from psychic immiseration underlined an +increasing concern for the dignity and fulfillment of individuals, and +Daniel Yankelovich (New Rules, 1981) saw the cultural centrality of this +quest, concluding that by the end of the '70s, some eighty percent of +Americans had become interested in this therapeutic search for +transformation. + +But the privatized approaches of the Human Potential Movement, +high-water mark of contemporary Psychological Society, were obviously +unable to deliver on their promises to provide any lasting, non-illusory +breakthroughs. Arthur Janov recognized that "everyone in this society is +in a lot of pain," but expressed no awareness at all of the repressive +society generating it. His Primal Scream technique qualifies as the most +ludicrous cure-all of the '70s. Scientology's promise of empowerment +consisted mainly of bioelectronic feedback technologies aimed at +socializing people to an authoritarian enterprise and world view. The +popularity of cult groups like the Moonies reminds one of a time-tested +process for the uninitiated: isolation, deprivation, anticipation, and +suggestion; brainwashing and the shamanic visionquest both use it. + +Werner Erhard's EST, speaking of intensive psychological manipulation +was one of the most popular and, in some ways, most characteristic Human +Potential phenomena. Its founder became very wealthy by helping Erhard +Seminars Training adepts "choose to become what they are." In a classic +case of blaming the victim, EST brought large numbers to a +near-religious embrace of one of the system's basic lies: its graduates +are obediently conformist because they "accept responsibility" for +having created things as they are. Transcendental Meditation actually +marketed itself in terms of the passive incorporation into society it +helped its students achieve. TM's alleged usefulness for adjustment to +the varied "excesses and stresses" of modern society was a major selling +point to corporations, for example. + +Trapped in a highly rationalized and technological world, Human +Potential seekers naturally wanted personal development, emotional +immediacy, and above all, a sense of having some control over their +lives. Self-help best-sellers of the '70s, including Power, Your +Erroneous Zones, How to Take Charge of Your Life, Self-Creation, Looking +Out for #1, and Pulling Your Own Strings, focus on the issue of control. +Preaching the gospel of reality as a personal construct, however, meant +that control had to be narrowly defined. Once again acceptance of social +reality as a given meant, for example, that "sensitivity training" would +likely mean continued insensitivity to most of reality, an openness to +more of the same alienation-more ignorance, more suffering. + +The Human Potential Movement did at least raise publicly and widely the +notion of an end to disease, however much it failed to make good on that +claim. As more and more of everyday life has come under medical dominion +and supervision, the almost bewildering array of new therapies was part +of an undercutting of the older, mainly Freudian, "scientific" model for +behavior. In the shift of therapeutic expectations, a radical hope +appeared, which went beyond merely positive-thinking or empty +confessionalist aspects and is different from quiescence. + +A current form of self-help which clearly represents a step forward from +both traditional therapy, commodified and under the direction of +expertise, and the mass-marketed seminar-introduction sort of training +is the very popular "support group." Non-commercial and based on +peer-group equality. support groups for many types of emotional distress +have quadrupled in number in the past ten years. Where these groups do +not enforce the 12-step ideology of "anonymous" groups (e.g. Alcoholics +Anonymous) based on the individual's subjection to a "Higher Power" +(read: all constituted authority and most of them do not-they provide a +great source of solidarity, and work against the depoliticizing force of +illness or distress experienced in an isolated state. + +If the Human Potential Movement thought it possible to re-create +personality and thus transform life, New Ageism goes it one better with +its central slogan, "Create your own reality." Considering the +advancing, invasive desolation, an alternative reality seems +desirable-the eternal consolation of religion. For the New Age, booming +since the mid-1980s, is essentially a religious turning away from +reality by people who are overloaded by feelings of helplessness and +powerlessness, a more definitive turning away than that of the +prevailing psychologistic evasion. Religion invents a realm of +non-alienation to compensate for the actual one; New Age philosophy +announces a coming new era of harmony and peace, obviously inverting the +present, unacceptable state. An undemanding, eclectic, materialistic +substitute religion where any balm, any occult nonsense-channeling, +crystal healing, reincarnation, rescue by UFOs, etc.-goes. "It's true if +you believe it." + +Anything goes, so long as it goes along with what authority has +ordained: anger is "unhealthy," "negativity" a condition to be avoided +at all costs. Feminism and ecology are supposedly "roots" of the New Age +scene, but likewise were militant workers a "root" of the Nazi movement +(National Socialist German Workers Party, remember). Which brings to +mind the chief New Age influence, Carl Jung. It is unknown or irrelevant +to "non judgmental" bliss-seekers that in his attempt to resurrect all +the old faiths and myths, Jung was less a psychologist than a figure of +theology and reaction Further, as president of the International Society +for Psychotherapy from 1933 to 1939, he presided over its Nazified +German section and co-edited the Zentralblattfur Psychotherapie (with +M.H. Goring, cousin of the Reichsmarshall of the same name). + +Still gathering steam, apparently, since the appearance of Otto +Kernberg's Borderline Conditions and pathological Narcissism (1975) and +The Culture of Narcissism by Christopher Lasch (1978), is the idea that +"narcissistic personality disorders" are the epitome of what is +happening to all of us, and represent the "underlying character +structure" of our age Narcissus, the image of self-love and a growing +demand for fulfillment, has replaced Oedipus, with its components of +guilt and repression, as the myth of our time-a shift proclaimed and +adopted far beyond the Freudian community. + +In passing, it is noteworthy that this change, underway since the '60s, +seems to connect more with the Human Potential search for +self-development than with New Age whose devotees take their desires +less seriously. Common New Age nostrums, e.g. "You are infinitely +creative," "You have unlimited potential," smack of a vague +wish-fulfillment sanitized against anger, by those who doubt their o n +capacities for change and growth. Though the concept o narcissism is +somewhat elusive, clinically and socially, it is often expressed in a +demanding, aggressive way that frightens various partisans of +traditional authority. The Human Potential preoccupation with "getting +in touch with one's feelings," it must be added, was not nearly as +strongly self affirming as narcissism is, where feelings-chiefly anger- +are more powerful than those that need to be searched for. + +Lasch's Culture of Narcissism remains extremely influential as a social +analysis of the transition from Oedipus to Narcissus, given great +currency and publicity by those who lament this turning away from +internalized sacrifice am respect for authority. The "new leftist" Lasch +proved himself a strict Freudian, and an overtly conservative one at +that, looking back nostalgically at the days of the authoritarian +conscience based on strong parental and social discipline There is no +trace of refusal in Lasch's work, which embraces the existing repressive +order as the only available morality. Similar to his sour rejection of +the "impulse-ridden" narcissistic personality is Neil Postman's Amusing +Ourselves to Death (1985). Postman moralizes about the decline of +political discourse, no longer "serious" but "shriveled and absurd," a +condition caused by the widespread attitude that "amusement and +pleasure" take precedence over "serious public involvement." Sennett and +Bookchin can be mentioned as two other erstwhile radicals who see the +narcissistic withdrawal from the present political framework as anything +but positive or subversive. But even an orthodox Freudian like Russell +Jacoby (Telos, Summer 1980) recognized that in the corrosion of +sacrifice, "narcissism harbors a protest in the name of individual +health and happiness," and Gilles Lipovetsky considered narcissism in +France to have been born during the May, '68 uprisings. + +Thus narcissism is more than just the location of desire in the self, or +the equally ubiquitous necessity to maintain feelings of self-identity +and self-esteem. There are more and more "narcissistically troubled" +people, products of the lovelessness and extreme alienation of modern +divided society, and its cultural and spiritual impoverishment. Deep +feelings of emptiness characterize the narcissist, coupled with a +boundless rage, often just under the surface, at the sense of +dependency felt because of dominated life, and the hollowness of one +starved by a deficient reality. + +Freudian theory attributes the common trait of defiance to an immature +"clinging to anal eroticism," while ignoring Society just as Lasch +expresses his fear of narcissistic resentment and insubordination" in a +parallel defense of oppressive existence. The angry longing for autonomy +and self-worth brings to mind another clash of values that relates to +value itself. In each of us lives a narcissist who wants to be loved for +himself or herself and not for his or her abilities, or even qualities. +Value per se, intrinsic-a dangerously anti-instrumental, anti-capital +orientation. To a Freudian therapist like Arnold Rothstein, this +"expectation that the world should gratify him just because he wishes +it" is repugnant. He prescribes lengthy psychoanalysis which will +ultimately permit an acceptance of "the relative passivity, +helplessness, and vulnerability implicit in the human condition." + +Others have seen in narcissism the hunger for a qualitatively different +world. Norman O. Brown referred to its project of "loving union with the +world," while the feminist Stephanie Engel has argued that "the call +back to the memory of original narcissistic bliss pushes us toward a +dream of the future." Marcuse saw narcissism as an essential element of +utopian thought, a mythic structure celebrating and yearning for +completeness. + +The Psychological Society offers, of course, every variety of commodity, +from clothes and cars to books and therapies. for every life-style, in a +vain effort to assuage the prevailing appetite for authenticity. Debord +was right in his counsel that the more we capitulate to a recognition of +self in the dominant images of need, the less we understand our own +existence and desires. The images society provides do not permit us to +find ourselves at home there, and one sees instead a ravening, +infuriating sense of denial and loss, which nominates "narcissism" as a +subversive configuration of misery. + +Two centuries ago Schiller spoke of the "wound" civilization has +inflicted on modern humanity-division of labor. In announcing the age of +"psychological man," Philip Rieff discerned a culture "in which technics +is invading and conquering the last enemy-man's inner life, the psyche +itself." In the specialist culture of our bureaucratic-industrial age, +the reliance on experts to interpret and evaluate inner life is in +itself the most malignant and invasive reach of division of labor. As we +have become more alien from our own experiences, which are processed, +standardized, labeled, and subjected to hierarchical control, technology +emerges as the power behind our misery and the main form of ideological +domination. In fact, technology comes to replace ideology. The force +deforming us stands increasingly revealed, while illusions are ground +away by the process of immiseration. + +Lasch and others may resent and try to discount the demanding nature of +the contemporary "psychological" spirit, but what is contested has +clearly widened for a great many, even if the outcome is equally +unclear. Thus the Psychological Society may be failing to deflect or +even defer conflict by means of its favorite question, "Can one change?" +The real question is whether the +world-that-enforces-our-inability-to-change can be forced to change, and +beyond recognition. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001184.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001184.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1f034cf4 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001184.txt @@ -0,0 +1,84 @@ + +Technology + +Tech-nol-o-gy n. According to Webster's: industrial or applied science. +In reality: the ensemble of division of labor/production/industrialism +and its impact on us and on nature. Technology is the sum of mediations +between us and the natural world and the sum of those separations +mediating us from each other. it is all the drudgery and toxicity +required to produce and reproduce the stage of hyper-alienation we live +in. It is the texture and the form of domination at any given stage of +hierarchy and commodification. + +Those who still say that technology is "neutral," "merely a tool," have +not yet begun to consider what is involved. Junger, Adorno and +Horkheimer, Ellul and a few others over the past decades - not to +mention the crushing, all but unavoidable truth of technology in its +global and personal toll - have led to a deeper approach to the topic. +Thirty-five years ago the esteemed philosopher Jaspers wrote that +"Technology is only a means, in itself neither good nor evil. Everything +depends upon what man makes of it, for what purpose it serves him, under +what conditions he places it." The archaic sexism aside, such +superficial faith in specialization and technical progress is +increasingly seen as ludicrous. Infinitely more on target was Marcuse +when he suggested in 1964 that "the very concept of technical reason is +perhaps ideological. Not only the application of technology, but +technology itself is domination... methodical, ascientific, calculated, +calculating control." Today we experience that control as a steady +reduction of our contact with the living world, a speeded-up Information +Age emptyness drained by computerization and poisoned by the dead, +domesticating imperialism of high-tech method. Never before have people +been so infantalized, made so dependant on the machine for everything; +as the earth rapidly approaches its extinction due to technology, our +souls are shrunk and flattened by its pervasive rule. Any sense of +wholeness and freedom can only return by the undoing of the massive +division of labour at the heart of technological progress. This is the +liberatory project in all its depth. + +Of course, the popular literature does not yet reflect a critical +awareness of what technology is. Some works completely embrace the +direction we are being taken, such as McCorduck's 'Machines Who Think' +and Simons' 'Are Computers Alive?', to mention a couple of the more +horrendous. Other, even more recent books seem to offer a judgement that +finally flies in the face of mass pro-tech propaganda, but fail +dismally as they reach their conclusions. Murphy, Mickunas and Pilotta +edited 'The Underside of High-Tech: Technology and the Deformation of +Human Sensibilities' , who's ferocious title is completely undercut by +an ending that technology will become human as soon as we change our +assumptions about it! Very similar is Siegel and Markoff's 'The High +Cost of High Tech'; after chapters detailing the various levels of +technological debilitation, we once again learn that its all just a +question of attitude: "We must, as a society, understand the full impact +of high technology if we are to shape it into a tool for enhancing human +comfort, freedom and peace." This kind of cowardice and/or dishonesty +owes only in part to the fact that major publishing corporations do not +wish to publicize fundamentally radical ideas. + +The above-remarked flight into idealism is not a new tactic of +avoidance. Martin Heidegger, considered by some the most original and +deep thinker of this century, saw the individual becoming only so much +raw material for the limitless expansion of industrial technology. +Incredibly, his solution was to find in the Nazi movement the essential +"encounter between global technology and modern man." Behind the +rhetoric of National Socialism, unfortunately, was only an acceleration +of technique, even into the sphere of genocide as a problem of +industrial production. For the Nazis and the gullible, it was, again a +question of how technology is understood ideally, not as it really is. +In 1940, the General Inspector for the German Road System put it this +way: "Concrete and stone are material things. Man gives them form and +spirit. National Socialist technology possesses in all material +achievement ideal content." + +The bizarre case of Heidegger should be a reminder to all that good +intentions can go wildly astray without a willingness to face technology +and its systematic nature as part of practical social reality. Heidegger +feared the political consequences of really looking at technology +critically; his apolitical theorizing thus constituted a part of the +most monstrous development of modernity, despite his intention. + +EarthFirst! claims to put nature first, to be above all petty +"politics." But it could well be that behind the macho swagger of a Dave +Foreman (and the "deep ecology" theorists who also warn against +radicals) is a failure of nerve like Heidegger's, and the consequence, +conceivably could be similar. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001185.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001185.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6f8b237d --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001185.txt @@ -0,0 +1,45 @@ +NICEISM + + Nice-ism n. tendency, more or less socially codified, to approach +reality in terms of whether others behave cordially; tyranny of decorum +which disallows thinking or actingfor oneself; mode of interaction based +upon the above absence of critical judgement or autonomy. + +All of us prefer what is friendly, sincere, pleasant-nice. But in an +immiserated world of pervasive and real crisis, which should be causing +all of us to radically reassess everything, the nice can be the false. + +The face of domination is often a smiling one, a cultured one. Auschwitz +comes to mind, with its managers who enjoyed their Goethe and Mozart. +Similarly, it was not evil-looking monsters who built the A-bomb but +nice liberal intellectuals. Ditto regarding those who are computerizing +life and those who in other ways are the mainstays of participation in +this rotting order, just as it is the nice businessperson (self-managed +or otherwise) who is the backbone of a cruel work-and-shop existence by +concealing it's real horrors. + +Cases of niceism include the peaceniks, whose ethic of niceness puts +them-again and again and again-in stupid ritualized, no-win situations, +those Earth First!ers who refuse to confront the thorouhly reprehensible +ideology at the top of "their" organization, and Fifth Estate, whose +highly important contributions now seem to be in danger of an eclipse by +liberalism. All the single-issue causes, from ecologism to feminism, and +all the militancy in their service, are only ways of evading the +necessity of a qualitative break with more than just the excesses of the +system. + +The nice as the perfect enemy of tactical or analytical thinking: Be +agreeable; don't let having radical ideas make waves in your personal +behavior. Accept the pre-packaged methods and limits of the daily +strangulation. Ingrained deference, the conditioned response to "play by +the rules"-authority's rules-this is the real Fifth Column, the one +within us. + +In the context of a mauled social life that demands the drastic as a +minimum response toward health, niceism becomes more and more infantile, +conformist and dangerous. It cannot grant joy, only more routine and +isolation. The pleasure of authenticity exists only against the grain of +society. Niceism keeps us all in our places, confusedly reproducing all +that we supposedly abhor. Let's stop being nice to this nightmare and +all who would keep us in it. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001186.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001186.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6fb17571 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001186.txt @@ -0,0 +1,65 @@ +CULTURE + +Cul-ture n. commonly rendered as the sum of the customs, ideas, arts, +patterns, etc. of a given society. Civilization is often given as a +synonym, reminding us that cultivation - as in domestication - is right +in there, too. The Situationists, in 1960, had it that "culture can be +defined as the ensemble of means through which society thinks of itself +and shows itself to itself." Getting warmer, Barthes remarked that it is +" a machine to showing you desire. To desire, always to desire but never +to understand." + + +Culture was more respected once, seemingly, something to "live up to." +Now, instead of concern for how we fail culture, the emphasis is on how +culture has failed us. Definitely something at work that thwarts us, +does not satisfy and this makes itself more evident as we face globally +and within us the death of nature. Culture, as the opposite of nature, +grows discordant, sours, fades as we strangle in the thinner and thinner +air of symbolic activity. High culture or low, palace or hovel, it's the +same prisonhouse of consciousness; the symbolic as the repressive. + + It is inseparable from the birth and continuation of alienation +surviving, as ever, as compensation, a trade of the real for its +objectifcation. Culture embodies the split betveen wholeness and the +parts of the whole turning into domination. Time, language, number, +art-cultural impositions that have come to dominate us with lives of +their own. + +Magazines and journals now teem with articles lamenting the spread of +cultural illiteracy and historical amnesia, two conditions that +underline a basic dis-ease in society. In our postmodern epoch the faces +of fashion range from blank to sullen, as hard drug use, suicide, and +emotional disability rates continue to soar. About a year ago I got a +ride from Berkeley to Oregon with a U.C. senior and somewhere along the +drive I asked her, after talking about the '60s, among other things, to +describe her own generation. She spoke of her co-students in terms of +loveless sex, increasing heroin use, and "a sense of despair masked by +consumerism." + +Meanwhile, massive denial continues. In a recent collection of essays on +culture, DJ. Enright offers the sage counsel that "the more commonly +personal misery and discontent are aired, the more firmly these ills +tighten their grip on us." Since anxiety first sought deliverance via +cultural form and expression, in the symbolic approach to authenticity, +our condition has probably not been this transparently bankrupt. Robert +Harbison's "Deliberate Regression" is another work displaying complete +ignorance regarding the fundamental emptiness of culture: "the story of +how enthusiasm for the primitive and the belief that salvation lies in +unlearning came to be a force in almost every held of thought is +exceedingly strange." + +Certainly the ruins are there for everyone to see. From exhausted art in +the form of the recycled mish-mash of postmodernism, to the +poststructuralist technocrats like Lyotard, who finds in data banks "the +Encyclopedia of tomorrow...'nature' for postmodern man," including such +utterly impotent forms of "opposition" as 'micropoliticS' and +"schizopolitics," there is little but the obvious symptoms of a general +fragmentation and despair. Peter Sloterdijk (Critique of Cynical Reason) +points out that cynicism is the cardinal, pervasive outlook, for now the +best that negation has to offer. + +But the myth of culture will manage to survive as long as our +immiseration fails to force us to confront it, and so cynicism will +remain as long as we allow culture to remain in lieu of unmediated life. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001187.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001187.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3302a806 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001187.txt @@ -0,0 +1,80 @@ +FERAL + +Fer-al adj. wild, or existing in a state of nature, as freely occurring +animals or plants; having reverted to the wild state from domestication. + +We exist in a landscape of absence wherein real life is steadily being +drained out by debased work, the hollow cycle of consumerism and the +mediated emptiness of high-tech dependency. Today it is not only the +stereotypical yuppie workaholic who tries to cheat despair via activity, +preferring not to contemplate a fate no less sterile than that of the +planet and (domesticated) subjectivity in general. We are confronted, +nonetheless, by the ruins of nature and the ruin of our own nature, the +sheer enormity of the meaninglessness and the inauthentic amounting to a +weight of lies. It's still drudgery and toxicity for the vast majority, +while a poverty more absolute than financial renders more vacant the +universal Dead Zone of civilization. "Empowered" by computerization? +Infantilized, more like. An Information Age characterized by increased +communication? No, that would presuppose experience worth communicating. +A time of unprecedented respect for the individual? Translation: +wage-slavery needs the strategy of worker self-management at the point +of production to stave off the continuing productivity crisis, and +market research must target each "life-style" in the interest of a +maximized consumer culture. + +In the upside-down society the solution to massive alienation-induced +drug use is a media barrage, with results as embarrassing as the +hundreds of millions futilely spent against declining voter turnout. +Meanwhile, TV, voice and soul of the modern world, dreams vainly of +arresting the growth of illiteracy and what is left of emotional health +by means of propaganda spots of thirty seconds or less. In the +industrialized culture of irreversible depression, isolation, and +cynicism, the spirit will die first, the death of the planet an +afterthought. That is, unless we erase this rotting order, all of its +categories and dynamics. + +Meanwhile, the parade of partial (and for that reason false) oppositions +proceeds on its usual routes. There are the Greens and their like who +try to extend the life of the racket of electoralism, based on the lie +that there is validity in any person representing another; these types +would perpetuate just one more home for protest, in lieu of the real +thing. The peace "movement" exhibits, in its every (uniformly pathetic) +gesture, that it is the best friend of authority, property and +passivity. One illustration will suffice: in May 1989, on the 20th +anniversary of Berkeley's People's Park battle, a thousand people rose +up admirably, looting 28 businesses and injuring 15 cops; declared +peace-creep spokesperson Julia Talley, "These riots have no place in the +peace movement." Which brings to mind the fatally misguided students in +Tiananmen Square, after the June 3 massacre had begun, trying to prevent +workers from fighting the government troops. And the general truth that +the university is the number one source of that slow strangulation known +as reform, the refusal of a qualitative break with degradation. Earth +First! recognizes that domestication is the fundamental issue (e.g. that +agriculture itself is malignant) but many of its partisans cannot see +that our species could become wild. + +Radical environmentalists appreciate that the turning of national +forests into tree farms is merely a part of the overall project that +also seeks their own suppression. But they will have to seek the wild +everywhere rather than merely in wilderness as a separate preserve. + +Freud saw that there is no civilization without the forcible +renunciation of instincts, without monumental coercion. But, because the +masses are basically "lazy and unintelligent," civilization is +justified, he reasoned. This model or prescription was based on the idea +that pre-civilized life was brutal and deprived-a notion that has been, +amazingly, reversed in the past 20 years. Prior to agriculture, in other +words, humanity existed in a state of grace, ease and communion with +nature that we can barely comprehend today. + +The vista of authenticity emerges as no less than a wholesale +dissolution of civilization's edifice of repression. which Freud, by the +way, described as "something which was imposed on a resisting majority +by a minority which understood how to obtain possession of the means to +power and coercion." We can either passively continue on the road to +utter domestication and destruction or turn in the direction of joyful +upheaval, passionate and feral embrace of wildness and life that aims at +dancing on the ruins of clocks, computers and that failure of +imagination and will called work. Can we justify our lives by anything +less than such a politics of rage and dreams? + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001188.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001188.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ec1460e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001188.txt @@ -0,0 +1,65 @@ +COMMUNITY + +Com-mu-ni-ty n. 1. a body of people having the same interests. 2. +IEcol.] an aggregate of organisms with mutual relations. 3. a concept +invoked to establish solidarity, often when the basis for such +affiliation is absent or when the actual content of that affiliation +contradicts the stated political goal of solidarity. + +Community, by which one obviously means more than, say, neighborhood, is +a very elusive term but a continuing touchstone of radical value. In +fact, all manner of folks resort to it, from the pacifist encampments +near nuclear test sites to "serve the people" leftists with their +sacrifice-plus-manipulation approach to the proto-fascist Afrikaaner +settlers. It is invoked for a variety of purposes or goals, but as a +liberatory notion is a fiction. Everyone feels the absence of community, +because human fellowship must struggle, to even remotely exist, against +what "community" is in reality. The nuclear family, religion, +nationality, work, school, property, the specialism of roles-some +combination of these seems to comprise every surviving community since +the imposition of civilization. So we are dealing with an illusion, and +to argue that some qualitatively higher form of community is allowed to +exist within civilization is to affirm civilization. Positivity furthers +the lie that the authentically social can co-exist with domestication. +In this regard, what really accompanies domination, as community, is at +best middle-class, respect-the-system protest. + +Fifth Estate, for example, undercuts its (partial) critique of +civilization by upholding community and ties to it in its every other +sentence. At times it seems that the occasional Hollywood film (e.g. +Emerald Forest, Dances With Wolves) outdoes our anti-authoritarian +journals in showing that a liberatory solidarity springs from +non-civilization and its combat with the "community" of industrial +modernity. + +Jacques Camatte discussed capital's movement from the stage of formal +domination to that of real domination. But there appear to be +significant grounds from which to project the continuing erosion of +support for existing community and a desire for genuine solidarity and +freedom. As Fredy Perlman put it, near the end of his exceptional +Against His-Story, Against Leviathan!: "What is known is that Leviathan, +the great artifice, single and world-embracing for the first time, in +His-story, is decomposing...lt is a good time for people to let go of +its sanity, its masks and armors, and go mad, for they are already being +ejected from its pretty polis." + +The refusal of community might be termed a self defeating isolation but +it appears preferable, healthier, than declaring our allegiance to the +daily fabric of an increasingly self-destructive world. Magnified +alienation is not a condition chosen by those who insist on the truly +social over the falsely communal. It is present in any case, due to the +content of community. Opposition to the estrangement of civilized, +pacified existence should at least amount to naming that estrangement +instead of celebrating it by calling it community. + +The defense of community is a conservative gesture that faces away from +the radical break required. Why defend that to which we are held +hostage? + +In truth, there is no community. And only by abandoning what is passed +off in its name can we move on to redeem a vision of communion and +vibrant connectedness in a world that bears no resemblance to this one. +Only a negative "community," based explicitly on contempt for the +categories of existent community, is legitimate and appropriate to our +aims. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001189.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001189.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..73a0fa93 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001189.txt @@ -0,0 +1,99 @@ +DIVISION OF LABOR + +Di-vi-sion of la-bor n. 1. the breakdown into specific, circumscribed +tasks for maximum efficiency of output which constitutes manufacture; +cardinal aspect of production. 2. the fragmenting or reduction of human +activity into separated toil that is the practical root of alienation; +that basic specialization which makes civilization appear and develop. + +The relative wholeness of pre-civilized life was first and foremost an +absence of the narrowing, confining separation of people into +differentiated roles and functions. The foundation of our shrinkage of +experience and powerlessness in the face of the reign of expertise, felt +so acutely today, is the division of labor. It is hardly accidental that +key ideologues of civilization have striven mightily to valorize it. In +Plato's "Republic", for example, we are instructed that the origin of +the state lies in that "natural" inequality of humanity that is embodied +in the division of labor. Durkheim celebrated a fractionated, unequal +world by divining that the touchstone of "human solidarity," its +essential moral value is-you guessed it. Before him, according to Franz +Borkenau, it was a great increase in division of labor occurring around +1600 that introduced the abstract category of work, which may be said to +underlie, in turn, the whole modern, Cartesian notion that our bodily +existence is merely an object of our (abstract) consciousness. + +In the first sentence of "The Wealth of Nations" (1776), Adam Smith +foresaw the essence of industrialism by determining that division of +labor represents a qualitative increase in productivity. Twenty years +later Schiller recognized that division of labor was producing a society +in which its members were unable to develop their humanity. Marx could +see both sides: "as a result of division of labor," the worker is +"reduced to the condition of a machine." But decisive was Marx's worship +of the fullness of production as essential to human liberation. The +immiseration of humanity along the road of capital's development he saw +as a necessary evil. + +Marxism cannot escape the determining imprint of this decision in favor +of division of labor, and its major voices certainly reflect this +acceptance. Lukacs, for instance, chose to ignore it, seeing only the +"reifying effects of the dominant commodity form" in his attention to +the problem of proletarian consciousness. E.P. Thompson realized that +with the factory system, "the character-structure of the rebellious +pre-industrial labourer or artisan was violently recast into that of the +submissive individual worker." But he devoted amazingly little attention +to division of labor, the central mechanism by which this transformation +was achieved. Marcuse tried to conceptualize a civilization without +repression, while amply demonstrating the incompatibility of the two. In +bowing to the "naturalness" inherent in division of labor, he judged +that the "rational exercise of authority" and the "advancement of the +whole" depend upon it-while a few pages later (in Eros and Civilization) +granting that one's "labor becomes the more alien the more specialized +the division of labor becomes." + +Ellul understood how "the sharp knife of specialization has passed like +a razor into the living flesh," how division of labor causes the +ignorance of a "closed universe" cutting off the subject from others and +from nature. Similarly did Horkheimer sum up the debilitation: "thus, +for all their activity individuals are becoming more passive; for all +their power over nature they are becoming more powerless in relation to +society and themselves." Along these lines, Foucault emphasized +productivity as the fundamental contemporary repression. + +But recent Marxian thought continues in the trap of having, ultimately, +to elevate division of labor for the sake of technological progress. +Braverman's in many ways excellent Labor and Monopoly Capital explores +the degradation of work, but sees it as mainly a problem of loss of +"will and ambition to wrest control of production from capitalist +hands." And Schwabbe's Psychosocial Consequences of Natural and +Alienated Labor is dedicated to the ending of all domination in +production and projects a self-management of production. The reason, +obviously, that he ignores division of labor is that it is inherent in +production; he does not see that it is nonsense to speak of liberation +and production in the same breath. + +The tendency of division of labor has always been the forced labor of +the interchangeable cog in an increasingly autonomous, +impervious-to-desire apparatus. The barbarism of modern times is still +the enslavement to technology, that is to say, to division of labor. +"Specialization," wrote Giedion, "goes on without respite," and today +more than ever can we see and feel the barren, de-eroticized world it +has brought us to. Robinson Jeffers decided, "I don't think industrial +civilization is worth the distortion of human nature, and the meanness +and loss of contact with the earth, that it entails. + +Meanwhile, the continuing myths of the "neutrality" and "inevitability" +of technological development are crucial to fitting everyone to the yoke +of division of labor. Those who oppose domination while defending its +core principle are the perpetuators of our captivity. Consider Guattari, +that radical post-structuralist, who finds that desire and dreams are +quite possible "even in a society with highly developed industry and +highly developed public information services, etc." Our advanced French +opponent of alienation scoffs at the naive who detect the "essential +wickedness of industrial societies," but does offer the prescription +that "the whole attitude of specialists needs questioning." Not the +existence of specialists, of course, merely their "attitudes." + +To the question, "How much division of labor should we jettison?" +returns, I believe, the answer, "How much wholeness for ourselves and +the planet do we want?" + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001190.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001190.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e623fd02 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001190.txt @@ -0,0 +1,84 @@ +PROGRESS + +Prog-ress n. 1.[archaic] official journey, as of a ruler. 2. historical +development, in the sense of advance or improvement. 3. forward course +of history or civilization, as in horror show or death-trip. + +Perhaps no single idea in Western civilization has been as important as +the notion of progress. It is also true that, as Robert Nisbet has put +it, "Everything now suggests that Western faith in the dogma of progress +is waning rapidiy in all levels and spheres in this final part of the +twentieth century." + +In the anti-authoritarian milieu, too, progress has fallen on hard +times. There was a time when the syndicalist blockheads, like their +close Marxist relatives, could more or less successfully harangue as +marginal and insignifcant those disinterested in organizing their +alienation via unions, councils and the like. Instead of the old respect +for productivity and production (the pillars of progress), a Luddite +prescription for the factories is ascendant and anti-work a cardinal +starting point of radical dialog. We even see certain ageing leopards +trying to change their spots: the Industrial Workers of the World, +embarrassed by the first word of their name may yet move toward refusing +the second (though certainly not as an organization). + +The eco-crisis is clearly one factor in the discrediting of progress, +but how it remained an article of faith for so many for so long is a +vexing question. For what has progress meant, after all? Its promise +began to realize itself, in many ways, from history's very beginning. +With the emergence of agriculture and civilization commenced, for +instance, the progressive destruction of nature; large regions of the +Near East, Africa and Greece were rather quickly rendered desert +wastelands. + +In terms of violence, the transformation from a mainly pacific and +egalitarian gatherer-hunter mode to the violence of +agriculture/civilization was rapid. "Revenge, feuds, warfare, and battle +seem to emerge among, and to be typical of, domesticated peoples," +according to Peter Wilson. And violence certainly has made progress +along the way, needless to say, from state weapons of mega-death to the +recent rise in outburst murders and serial killers. + +Disease itself is very nearly an invention of civilized life; every +known degenerative illness is part of the toll of historical betterment. +From the wholeness and sensual vitality of pre-history, to the present +vista of endemic ill-health and mass psychic misery-more progress. + +The pinnacle of progress is today's Information Age. which embodies a +progression in division of labor, from an earlier time of the greater +possibility of unmediated understanding, to the stage where knowledge +becomes merely an instrument of the repressive totality, to the current +cybernetic era where data is all that's really left. Progress has put +meaning itself to flight. + +Science, the model of progress, has imprisoned and interrogated nature, +while technology has sentenced it (and humanity) to forced labor. From +the original dividing of the self that is civilization, to Descartes' +splitting of the mind from the rest of objects (including the body), to +our arid, high-tech present-a movement indeed wondrous. Two centuries +ago the first inventors of industrial machinery were spat on by the +English textile workers subiected to it and thought villainous by just +about everyone but their capitalist paymasters. The designers of today's +computerized slavery are lionized as cultural heroes, though opposition +is beginning to mount. + +In the absence of greater resistance, the inner logic of class society's +development will culminate in a totally technicized life as its final +stage. The equivalence of the progress of society and that of technology +is becoming ever more apparent by the fact of their immanent +convergence. "Theses on the Philosophy of History", Walter Benjamin's +last and best work, contains this lyrically expressed insight: + +"A Klee painting named 'Angelus Novus' shows an angel looking as though +he is about to move away from something he is fixedly contemplating. His +eyes are staring, his mouth is open, his wings are spread. This is how +one pictures the angel of history. His face is turned toward the past. +Where we perceive a chain of events, he sees one single catastrophe +which keeps piling wreckage upon wreckage and hurls it in front of his +feet. The angel would like to stay, awaken the dead, and make whole what +has been smashed. But a storm is blowing from Paradise; it has got +caught in his wings with such violence that the angel can no longer +close them. This storm irresistibly propels him into the future to which +his back is turned, while the pile of debris before him grows skyward. +This storm is what we call progress." + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001191.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001191.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6ac54623 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001191.txt @@ -0,0 +1,92 @@ +SOCIETY + +So-ci-e-ty n. from L. socius, companion. 1. an organized aggregate of +interrelated individuals and groups. 2. totalizing racket, advancing at +the expense of the individual, nature and human solidarity. + +Society everywhere is now driven by the treadmill of work and +consumption. This harnessed movement, so very far from a state of +companionship, does not take place without agony and disaffection. +Having more never compensates for being less, as witness rampant +addiction to drugs, work, exercise, sex, etc. Virtually anything can be +and is overused in the desire for satisfaction in a society whose +hallmark is denial of satisfaction. But such excess at least gives +evidence of the hunger for fulfillment, that is, an immense +dissatisfaction with what is before us. + +Hucksters purvey every kind of dodge, for example. New Age panaceas, +disgusting materialistic mysticism on a mass scale: sickly and +self-absorbed, apparently incapable of looking at any part of reality +with courage or honesty. For New Age practitioners, psychology is +nothing short of an ideology and society is irrelevant. + +Meanwhile, Bush, surveying "generations born numbly into despair," was +predictably loathsome enough to blame the victimized by citing their +"moral emptiness." The depth of immiseration might best be summed up by +the federal survey of high schoolers released 9/19/91, which found that +27 percent of them "thought seriously" about suicide in the preceding +year. + +It could be that the social, with its growing testimony to +alienation-mass depression, the refusal of literacy, the rise of panic +disorders, etc.-may finally be registering politically. Such phenomena +as continually declining voter turnout and deep distrust of government +led the Kettering Foundation in June '91 to conclude that "the +legitimacy of our political institutions is more at issue than our +leaders imagine," and an October study of three states (as reported by +columnist Tom Wicker, 10/14/91) to discern "a dangerously broad gulf +between the governors and the governed." + +The longing for nonmutilated life and a nonmutilated world in which to +live it collides with one chilling fact: underlying the progress of +modern society is capital's insatiable need for growth and expansion. +The collapse of state capitalism in Eastern Europe and the USSR leaves +only the 'triumphant' regular variety, in command but now confronted +insistently with far more basic contradictions than the ones it +allegedly overcame in its pseudo-struggle with 'socialism'. Of course, +Soviet industrialism was not qualitatively different from any other +variant of capitalism, and far more importantly, no system of production +(division of labor, domination of nature, and work-and-pay slavery in +more or less equal doses) can allow for either human happiness or +ecological survival. + +We can now see an approaching vista of all the world as a toxic, +ozone-less deadness. Where once most people looked to technology as a +promise, now we know for certain that it will kill us. Computerization, +with its congealed tedium and concealed poisons, expresses the +trajectory of society, engineered sleekly away from sensuous existence +and finding its current apotheosis in Vrtual Reality. + +The escapism of VR is not the issue, for which of us could get by +without escapes? Likewise, it is not so much a diversion from +consciousness as it is itself a consciousness of complete estrangement +from the natural world. Virtual Reality testifies to a deep pathology, +reminiscent of the Baroque canvases of Rubens that depict armored +knights mingling with but separated from naked women. Here the +'alternative' technojunkies of Whole Earth Review, pioneer promoters of +VR, show their true colors. A fetish of 'tools', and a total lack of +interest in critique of society's direction, lead to glorification of +the artificial paradise of VR. + +The consumerist void of high tech simulation and manipulation owes its +dominance to two increasing tendencies in society, specialization of +labor and the isolation of individuals. From this context emerges the +most terrifying aspect of evil: it tends to be committed by people who +are not particularly evil. Society, which in no way could survive a +conscious inspection is arranged to prevent that very inspection. + +The dominant, oppressive ideas do not permeate the whole of society, +rather their success is assured by the fragmented nature of opposition +to them. Meanwhile, what society dreads most are precisely the lies it +suspects it is built upon. This dread or avoidance is obviously not the +same as beginning to subject a deadening force of circumstances to the +force of events. + +Adorno noted in the '60s that society is growing more and more +entrapping and disabling. He predicted that eventually talk of causation +within society would become meaningless: society itself is the cause. +The struggle toward a society-if it could still be called that-of the +face-to-face, in and of the natural world, must be based on an +understanding of societv today as a monolithic, all-encompassing death +march. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001192.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001192.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bccec81c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001192.txt @@ -0,0 +1,474 @@ +The Anarchives Volume 2 Issue 2.1 + The Anarchives Published By + The Anarchives The Anarchy Organization + The Anarchives tao@lglobal.com + + Send your e-mail address to get on the list + Spread The Word Pass This On... + + --/\-- Canadian + / / \ \ Student + ---|--/----\--|--- Strike + \/ \/ + /\______/\ + +Strike For Student Rights + +University for the individual can be a time of conflict and +confrontation. Often for the first time, the truth, or at least +the closest thing, is presented to the post-secondary student. + +The truth of a global exploitative system that wreaks its havoc +on all forms of humanity. Through various disciplines and +courses, the complexity and expansiveness of this system is +presented to students. For perhaps the first time in their lives +they are confronted with perhaps a less than perfect picture of +our so-called liberal democracy. + +Here the student is faced with three main options. + +The first and seemingly most common choice is to attempt to +altogether ignore the horrible truth being presented. This is +often accomplished through large consumption of beer, booze, and +many other recreational drugs, along of course with the generous +aid of television. + +The second option, is to simply accept the truth as it is. +Accept that it is just a process of human development, and +communism has failed so what are you supposed to do. From this +standpoint it becomes easier to compete for a spot among the +elite, or their supporting class. Gotta get those good grades to +get a good job. + +The third choice, really the only viable one, is to accept the +truth, while at the same time rejecting its implications. A +rejection of what is being taught, and the beginning or +continuation of the struggle for alternatives. The desire to +stand up in class and say, "This is shit! We gotta do something +about this!" + +This third choice leads to the struggle for Student Rights... + + + +Every person has the right to a decent, free education. The +pricing of education is an integral part of the commoditization +of human labour and subsequently humanity itself. We are always +learning from birth to death. Or at least we should be, free +education can help ensure this. + +Every person has the right to learn what they want, how they +want it, and when they want it. This would include not just +choosing courses, but the curriculum and evaluations of the +course. + + + +Education should be a process of empowerment rather than +submission to authority. Professors should be guiding students +towards the exploration and development of their studies. +Equipping them with the tools needed to find the truth/answers +to their problems. Students leading the class, the professors +provide the fuel. Instead of enforcing their views and +conclusions upon the class, professors should help create an +environment that encourages original and critical thinking. + + + +Education should be a never ending process. We must escape from +the formal institution of education. It is our job to build an +environment that supports a continual learning process. Real +life as education. + + + +Strike. Study. strike. study, will someone out there stop +studying and start striking, break down doors and throw some +MP's furniture out the window. This chance for protest doesn't +not just consider student tuition but rather the entire social +service industry. Unions might be self interested beaurocracies +but the reality of a capitalist system automatically calls for +either sacrifice or welfare. With the present liberal budget, +people previously dependant on government assistance will make +up a new lower labour class willing to work for under minimum +wage with less financial security. It is what Chomsky calls the +third world within the first world. The liberal budget is +following a fascist approach left behind by Reagan, Bush, +Thatcher, and Mulrooney, among others. If you render your rights +to an oligarchy and find yourself trapped in a cold institution, +one way of warming it is to burn it down. + + + +A lot of schools across Canada have declined the opportunity to +strike on Jan. 25 1995. What the fuck's up with this?! A strike +is an excellent activity for class consciousness. Students need +to realize the power they have in numbers, not to mention desire +for change. I'm striking every time I skip a class. I've been +complaining about schools and the education system since +kindergarten. I wanna see lots o' changes in education. Rising +tuition is not one of them. Prices are going up, and active +student participation is going down. We gotta get our shit +together. + + + +With the absence of a powerful "grassroots" student +organization, the onus for resistance and revolution lays on the +individual. It becomes the responsibility for student activists +to 'cause shit wherever and whenever they can. The most +effective often comes within the classroom. Professors authority +should be challenged at all points, as well as the authority of +those being studied. + +Until a large collective of autonomous groups can rise up and +demand what is rightfully theirs, individuals must take the +weight of fighting back. Large student groups that wish to +compete with the government by forming large hierarchical +organizations, are doomed to pragmatic self-interested actions +rather than radical change of the education system. Change must +come from the bottom up, not dictated from the top down. + +We've all gotta do our share to take our freedom... + +Jesse Hirsh + + + + + + + +Don't Call Students When the Revolution Comes + +by Jay Terpstra + +jterpstra@trentu.ca + + + +There is a story about public education mirroring the assembly +line patterns of modern industrialization, creating a surplus of +information-glutton automatons. A university is run by +pre-determined laws and curricula. The danger is the end of +anything fresh. Neil Postman called the act of modern day +education to be an exercise in ventriliquilization and Malcolm X +called it miseducation. Meanwhile, minds continue to rot and +robotize and the castles still stand. + +Sitting in the principles office, the spit of the principles +declarations started to burn my cries of defence. I would either +crack under the weight of his towering suited frame and broad +desk shoulders or I would be so shocked by his skits of faked +disappointed toughness and so unimpressed by his desperate +attempts to coerce admission of my crimes carefully categorized +and moralized to fit guilt and shame that I would start to +laugh. The awful realization that I was being sucked into a game +of rank and rule pissed me off to the point where I'd be sent +off to a higher course of punishment. + +In university the forces of beaurocracy are more subtle. +Students, like children have little effect on education past +paying the ticket price at the door. Just like members of an +industrial factory students have to put their hands in the lines +of standardized knowledge without pulling any of the wrong +screws. That infinite amounts of text are routinely recited is +not in itself a problem until a blindness to any alternatives +(often the realistic ones) occurs. Narrow education emerges with +the over examination of the specifics of a past theory such as +in politics; the structure of style as in english, the +rationalization of everything such as in sciences. It's often +impossible to keep an original opinion against previously set +guidelines and significant data. For the professors to be able +to grade people they must have predetermined parameters. At the +outset of a course the professor already knows the purpose and +point of the course and just like a minister their job is to +sell the point, whatever the truth is that they profess. +Professors are only roles of a wide structure that has failed +to influence much more than shit packing. + + Noam Chomsky points out, "Those whom we call intellectuals +have tended to see the state as the avenue to power, prestige, +and influence". University is a place of mass imitation of the +status quo. This is bound to happen in a place that masks live +experience behind sacred text. Memorization and mathematical +categorization is valued over individual creations and +open-ended questions. It's easy to kill dissension when most +students are too busy figuring out guidelines, grades and +graduation. Paul Goodman suggested that high school and post +secondary education be replaced with on-site direct education. +He goes on to say that university "should be reserved for adults +who already know something about which to philosophise. +Otherwise, as Plato pointed out, such 'education' is just mere +verbalizing". Instead of sections of people in standardized +departments, students should have the unconditional right to +pursue an entirely independent curriculum. Taking interest and +ambition into assumption this could be the most efficient means +to a meaningful education. Goodman points out that instead of +supporting costly institutions, the government could fund +individual students directly . Yet many would nevertheless sink +to the fear that students wouldn't acquire the essential +theories and prerequisites necessary for academically accepted +interpretation. The schools consider students to be the same +rather than interconnected, a group of successful and less +successful people rather than as individuals with unique +abilities and interests. + + The legendary founder of free schools, Francisco Ferrer +believed the true educator to be someone who "does not impose +his own ideas and will on the child, but appeals to its own +energies" . Almost a hundred years after Ferrer was shot by the +government for being too radical, his common sense vision of +education is still not a reality. After years of imposition, +students learn to insert their energies into ready-made roles. +Emma Goldman's critique of university education and liberal +capitalism is still a potent cry for the freedom and +deinstitutionalization of education: + +The ideal of the average pedagogist is not a complete, +well-rounded, original being; rather does he seek that the +result of his art or pedagogy shall be autonomous of flesh and +blood, to best fit into the treadmill of society and the +emptiness and dullness of our lives. Every home, school, college +and university stands for dry, cold utilitarianism, +overflooding the brain of the pupil with a tremendous amount of +ideas, handed down from generations past. 'Facts and data,' as +they are called, constitute a lot of information, well enough +perhaps to maintain every form of authority and to create much +awe for the importance of possession, but only a great handicap +to a true understanding of the human soul and its place in the +world. + + The castles made of sand still standing. + +ANARCHISM + +by: Lior Stecklov + +ai797@freenet.victoria.bc.ca + +"In the battle for freedom, as Ibsen has so well pointed out, it +is the struggle for, not so much the attainment of, liberty, +that develops all that is strongest, sturdiest and finest in +human character." + +These words of Emma Goldmann may best sum up what anarchism +means to me. Although I often think that I would like to present +a comprehensive theory of anarchism, I do not believe that there +is one. How can there be a theory to explain the yearning of the +soul for freedom, human dignity, the shame of repression ? the +spark of spirit that seeks new and daring worlds ? There +are some basic ideas underlying anarchism but they do not +constitute a dogma, scientific or otherwise. The first idea is +that people are inherently good, that human nature does not need +to be coerced for society to function. Human beings live in +society from the moment they are born to the moment they die. To +conceive of a person without society is an absurdity: thought, +language, belief, sexuality and love are what we give and take +with others and are what define the deepest aspects of life. +Yet we are born into a society which is hostile to free thought, +which uses language as a means of control, which trivializes +beliefs and replaces them with dogma, which denigrates sexuality +to the level of a function and raises love to the level of an +ideal. Whenever we question these perversions, rationalizations +are riveted into place and the cold steel hull of the ship of +social "order" is cast off into the ocean of historical +illusions. But in a world where the multiplicity of human +interactions makes for unlimited spontaneity, the certainty of +social order creates a paradox which both poets and economists +must know. A society based on illusions fostered by social +order cannot cope with reality, and the needs of the people will +assert themselves through revolution while the needs of Nature +will assert themselves as we continue to destroy the +environment. Underlying the fear of human nature is the +great mass of repression and fear of change which characterizes +modern society. The fear of human nature is what keeps the +systems in place, it is the excuse given by most people who know +injustice but are afraid of change, it is the justification +given for every savage repression by the ruling elites. Yet +whatever systems are proposed are bound to fail because they are +resistant to change, the essence of humanity and nature. The +very idea that there is an ultimate system that will run human +affairs is a product of the type of thinking arising from +hierarchical society, where individuals are alienated from +community, from real contact with each other and are simply +considered as abstract "agents" to be manipulated. Hierarchical +society is a society where every person or group has power of +coercion over another: relationships are conceived through power +structures. Sound strange or weird ? Open the T.V. or +newspaper, look around your workplace or classroom with new +eyes, look at your family. It is so close to us that we can't +see it or believe it. Our thinking has been appropriated by it. +It is not just the words: it is what you don't read in your +newspaper, it is the tone of the announcer as the news is read; +it is the rightness of your boss or prof, it is the emptiness +found at home. + +"Freedom without socialism is privilege and +injustice...Socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality." + Mikael Bakunin + +The same hierarchical relations apply to political systems which + are a product of hierarchical thinking, of the belief that +something can be "over" people. This is as much the failure of +Marxism as of liberal capitalism or fascism. The Marxist +system, which is supposed to be theoretically imposed by history +and practically by the proletariat has failed as revolution. +Anarchism split off from the Marxist dominated revolutionary +movement in 1872 because anarchists such as Mikael Bakunin +believed that Marxist ideology would lead to a totalitarian +state. This is exactly what has happened in the Soviet Union, +Cuba, China and so on. And while Marxism has many important +contributions to revolutionary ideology, its subsumption into a +type of religion and its esoteric philosophical concepts have +done much to hurt the cause of true revolution. + +" A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth + even glancing at, for it leaves out the one country at which +Humanity is always landing. And when Humanity lands there, it +looks out, and seeing a better country, sets sail. Progress is +the realization of Utopias." Oscar Wilde + + Of course, this does not mean that anarchism stands for riot +and mayhem and that Anarchists do not believe in thought. +Certainly, a dialectic of revolution is called for, but this +dialectic must be true to its origins: any dialectic that +presumes to know the answers it will find, that knows its +ultimate end must be called into question. As with philosophy, +as with real life. Any social movement which sets up an end +point and imposes it cannot be a truly revolutionary movement. +Revolution is never ending, it starts from one point, moves to +another, and again to another. Change is the rule, not the +exception. Anarchism's "end point" is the point where society +can accept change without destroying human life or the +environment. If this is the Utopia, let it be. Anarchists +are often charged with being utopian dreamers yet it is +Anarchism which destroys the illusion that power can solve human +problems. Power, and by this we mean the power to coerce, never +solves more problems than it creates ! Power is antihuman: a +being who relates through power will always dehumanize the +other. What Anarchists demand is a solution to social problems +without using power, and this is a lot harder than anything else +because it demands a human response, a spontaneous response, a +direct, personal, real, unmediated response ! Anarchism demands +that you think for yourself, never retreating into dogma, +useless and endless causality (henceforth called mind-fucking), +abstruse mysticism, bourgeois decadence and pettiness. Freedom +from compulsion allows the development of all that is beautiful +in human existence. "Breath, breath in the air, don't be afraid +to care.." goes the Pink Floyd song. Without coercion, people +can reach out to each other and solve problems through +community. At the workplace, community will replace the power +games and enmity between the labourers and the managers. The +land will be given back to the People, and small, self-reliant +communities will spring up which practice sustainable +agriculture and resource use. Small communities will be able to +harness renewable energy and the exploitation of fossil fuels +will be minimized. Work will become play: instead of the torpid +monotony and stress that most people find in work there will be +diversity and personal growth. Urban lands that were once set +aside for cars and for the rich will be turned into +horticultural gardens where food is grown. + +Listen to your inner voice, Which you've sold under stress: +Contractual agreement on emptiness The mouth not yours now the +lips slightly taught, the jaw set: A wind stirs they begin to +shake the breath too Anger, joy and even fear, form into sound, +into thought and word, whispered in love, embraced as life, +spoken by toil, screamed through struggle Freedom ! Freedom ! + +History teaches that there are two opposing forces that shape +political destiny: revolution and reaction. Revolution, the +force for change, the new, the creative; Reaction, the +opposition of change, keeping things the same, keeping things +"stable" in the doublespeak of the Bourgeoisie. Everything that +is happening in the world today is a product of history and the +dialectic of opposites formed by revolution and reaction. This +dialectic forms the basis of revolutionary thought, both Marxist +and anarchist. The word dialectic simply means reasoning through +the synthesis of two opposites. Once we see the revolutionary +dialectic, we can understand the necessity of revolution and +nurture it rather than pervert it into totalitarianism. This +situation is especially urgent in the tension between the +"North" and "South" which is actually a tension between reaction +and revolution. The wealthy powerful world are using every means +to keep the majority of the world oppressed and poor. The +rebellion in Chiapas is a good example of this trend and we must +support the rebels in every way possible. Next issue I will +expand on the dialectic of revolution and discuss the meaning of +Statism, Capitalism and the international imbalance. + +GOOD BOOKS + +Shulman, Alix Kates. 1972. Red Emma Speaks. Random House: New +York. Bookchin, Murray. Post-Scarcity Anarchism Morris, +Brian. Bakunin: the philosophy of freedom Marshal, Peter. +Demanding the Impossible : A History of Anarchism. Kropotkin, +Peter. The Conquest of Bread. + +FREEDOM IS FREE + +by J.V. Kiss-An + +The word freedom can't explain fully what it stands for. freedom +is an inherent property and not a temporary state of being. +Freedom can't be partial. Freedom is the essential component for +a healthy and peaceful society Freedom provides the energy for +the physical and mental body to properly function Freedom is not +a commodity to fight over or trade. Freedom belongs to +everybody: It is not a privilege Freedom leads one to wisdom. +Wisdom is not an intellectual property to be copyrighted or +patented. Freedom is not a compensation or reward for a trick +performed. Because of its abstract nature, freedom has +manifested itself in different forms. Anarchy is probably the +purest form so far. Freedom stays a dead word under capitalist +ideology. If you are activated by the spirit of freedom it only +shows you are a normal human being This quality needs nurturing +and will produce positive thinking in a world full of +negativity. Remove the price tag put on freedom by the greedy +who have sought to own the priceless It does not take a genius +to figure out that we live in a sick society where food, water +and air have price tags put on them. It's time we learned the +art of giving, an easy way to achieve freedom. + +Anarchy + +by Darrell Lake + +Anarchy is aiming to destroy corporate capitalism. There are no +other political motivations to follow, just individuals leading +by example; to inspire people to practice anarchy themselves. + +Anarchy in the sense of defining one's own politics. Defining +one's own lifestyle with a social consciousness. Fighting +capitalism by escaping it and building alternatives. + +By following the examples of other individuals this anarchy will +not be promoting chaos or trying to exterminate all rational +thought. Instead it attempts further environmental awareness on +several different levels by making the individual more +intelligent and independent of the flaws of the society they +live in. + +We're not looking at big and wasteful political awareness +campaigns advertising in the same corporate backed mediums it +wishes to destroy. Anarchy has to be kept on an individual, +community level, promoting amateurism rather than +professionalism. This is the only way to take power from the +specialist corporate model. + +To be an amateur means there are no systematic campaigns. +Anarchy comes from the methods and practices offered by all +individuals. + +There is chaos in the wide array of differences that will +emerge, but these differences are united in a common struggle. A +struggle for freedom, with capitalism as a major obstacle. + +Anarchy is a human expression for freedom. It's time we all +start expressing ourselves with a bit more volume. + +Ed Note: Darrell Lake is the author of the infamous biography of +Mr. Fuck You Man. It is available through The Anarchy +Organization. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001194.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001194.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ce3dc3ca --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001194.txt @@ -0,0 +1,427 @@ + BIG BROTHER LIVES!! +The Anarchives Volume 2 Issue 3 + The Anarchives Published By + The Anarchives The Anarchy Organization + The Anarchives tao@lglobal.com + + Send your e-mail address to get on the list + Spread The Word Pass This On... + + --/\-- The Information Revolution + / / \ \ Power & Oligarchy + ---|--/----\--|--- McLuhan's Global Village + \/ \/ + /\______/\ by Jesse Hirsh + + + +"The extensions of human consciousness are projecting themselves +into the total world environment via electronics, forcing +humankind into a robotic future."1 + + The information revolution is here; transforming the globe; we +witness the information age. This is the second +industrial revolution; a change in the means of production; +accompanied by volatile frontier capitalism. Vast amounts of +wealth are being created and centralized as large information +based corporations explore and expand the electronic frontier. +The proliferation of information technology has and will +continue to have profound effects upon society, changing the +industrialized world into a fully integrated information economy. + The information revolution creates global information +institutions that harness all the effects and benefits of +globalization, and create the global corporate state. The +individuals in control of these institutions form a political +elite, whose strength grows as its numbers diminish. The iron +law of oligarchy continues as global organization yields global +rule, and a global elite. Among the ranks of this elite are the +owners of the technology, supported by subservient classes of a +corporate and technical elite. This essay examines these issues, +then begins to present options for resistance towards this +global power move. + Marshall McLuhan in The Global Village illustrates the +transformative and oligarchic natures of the emerging media. It +is in this work that McLuhan identifies the trend in +communications that he terms "Global Robotism". This term +describes a method of social organization that accompanies the +proliferation of electronic media such as computers, satellites, +global networks, and multi-way video communication. Humanity +extends itself into the electronic environment, lending itself +to electronic organization. We witness the emergence of a global +machine, a global computer that is alive with a developing +global consciousness, derived from the collective efforts of +millions of human participants. GAIA rises from the +industrialized world. + +"As man succeeds in translating his central nervous system into +electronic circuitry, he stands on the threshold of outering his +consciousness into the computer."2 + + This essay also takes into consideration the work of C. Wright +Mills, and Robert Michels in order to understand the potential +role of the new power structure that emerges in the wake of the +information revolution. Their works are concerned with the roles +of elites in mass organization, they illustrate the present and +potential roles of an elite within the burgeoning information +age. + +"As the institutional means of power and the means of +communications that tie them together have become steadily more +efficient, those now in command of them have come into command +of instruments of rule quite unsurpassed in the history of +mankind."3 + +The information revolution creates a new institution that +enhances existing ones, while creating a new and unique global +entity. The proliferation of computers and advanced +communication technology throughout society provide the medium +that is revolutionizing the means of production. Converging +media create the potential for a unified electronic environment +in which mass media are homogenized into a standardized mosaic +of human communication. Decentralization on the micro level +yields massive centralization on the macro scale. Multimedia and +interactive technologies become the central modes of +communication, and a new environment is created in which +everything is considered data; the user merges with the data +base as the system becomes so total that exclusion is a +technical impossibility. The earth reduces itself to binary code +to form an institution of global power. + +"More and more people will enter the market of information +exchange, lose their private identities in the process, but +emerge with the ability to interact with any person on the face +of the globe. Mass, spontaneous electronic referendums will +sweep across continents. The concept of nationalism will fade +and regional governments will fall as the political implications +of spaceship earth create a world government."4 + + The people in control of this emerging global governance, wield +power unsurpassed by previous regimes or empires; the hegemony +of information power. The information media penetrates into our +lives, transforming us: the media is the message. + +"There are no more passengers, only crew. Such a grasp of +totality suggests the possibility of control not only of the +planet but of change itself."5 + + The information revolution is a bourgeois corporate revolution, +of the highest magnitude. Enacted by large conglomerates, it is +fueled by their continued investment and research & development. +The corporate world benefits the most from the success of the +information revolution. This is true for the simple reason that +they own, operate, and create the revolution. Through its +enactment the corporate sector is experiencing its greatest +empowerment ever, gross profits at the highest levels and the +expansion of the corporate state. + This empowerment is accompanied by the emergence of a corporate +elite. An elite that integrates itself into the foundation, or +backbone of the information society. Their infiltration if not +creation of the emerging environment of human communication +places them at centre-ground; everywhere and yet seemingly +nowhere at all times. + +"The multi-carrier media corporation has the peculiar ability to +be a media orchestrator, to link all video-related technologies, +whether satellite, earth station, microwave, date base, or +computer into a resonating whole."6 + + The two corporate giants, American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) +and International Business Machines (IBM), are built upon information +technology, and through the information revolution are increasing their +global dominance. Through centralized government-military-industrial +spending and their own monopolistic practices they are among the largest +corporations in the world. Together they hold the copyrights and patents +on most of the technology of the past, present, and future.7 Now through +deregulation these American centred organizations are able to wield and +develop their power on a global scale. Their presence within the global +arena places them as competitors for global power. + ....... + ue$$$$""""$$$$$$"""*$Nc + z$# 3$$$$$ 4$$$$$ $$$$$N. + d$E '$$$$$ 4$$$$$ $$$$F ^$r + .$$$$$ $$$$$F 4$$$$$ .$$$$ $ + dF$$$$$b *$$$$$ $$$$$ 4$$$$ $ + $ 3$$$$$ '$$$$$ $$$$$ 4$$$$ 4F + $r $$$$$L $$$$$ $$$$$ 4$$$$ $ + '$ 4$$$$$ $$$$$F $$$$$ 4$$$$ $ + 3$ $$$$$F 4$$$$F $$$$$ 4$$$F $ + $L 4$$$$$ $$$$$ 4$$$$ 4$$$F $ + $. $$$$$ $$$$$ 4$$$$r 4$$$F 4F + 3$ '$$$$k 3$$$$ $$$$F 4$$$F 4F + $r $$$$$ 4$$$$ **6CL..J?"*" 4F + 4$ ^$$$$r Ce$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$F + $r $*)d$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$9$$$F + 4$ u$$$$$$$$$$$$"^$$$$$$$$*** **$F + $$$"$$$$$$$$$*" z$$$$$$b @$F .. + 9$$ ^$$"$$$$$$r '$$$$$$$$ :L $$b .z$$@$JF + '$* :$$$$$$$.@$$Nd$$$$$$u$$$$c$$e$B@# dWF + .ue$$$***********************$$CBW*#" dS$" + z$*2e*#""" ^".Cue$****""""$ .dl$" + .@#z# .ue@**")zc. .$z$$P + 4$:P .e$ed*"*$#" 4F $ C*c?$$c4r @#$)6F$" + '$$ :$P@F z*h.P J$" ^*$$$" .$$$**$$" + '*Im. $d`CW **" @z" . ueP*$- $4E$$Nc$ $c. + '"**$"4$*" .e2P ^9F"**=*) $ $*$+*3z$W" + . .*r .F$'3F9P """ u $"" 'L" + :P$*JF3$F* $$ @.. $ 3r $ + :e$6@":$$b.'$ zS$c "*r ^L :$ + '$$$**"$"b$.4$ *$$N$$PF $$ $ .$$ + "$$ku#J$ .# @@FF`u $ '" $N@F'$$" + $$u ?$'N /$> d :" $ $ r $P + ^$$F $$*"$$. ** $ '" F $ + ^$b@)5F4N $$@P $" .$ ^""#"\ $ + '##$$/$ 4$$$ ^F'* ..(@6*$" 4$ + z$ "$F ?$$$L F z" "^$$JF + d?$ "b 4$$$e b:d $$ + .$ 3$$. ^*6 '#NJ 'k9 3 ^Nf$ + JP eN*$$k '"*eu*NJNF'$$'r '$3$ + :$".ek '$$$L ^b "$\ :F k $b. + u$$.kEF $$$$u '* P@ d F$$$$bu + u@$$$$f` $k .*$$$$c . 4$F "F $'$$$$$$F + u$$$$$$$$$ .P "d" #$$$$$NJ$$$d$J F ^k *$$$$$ + .dB$$$$$$$$$$$r "*h ?L ^$$$$$$$$$$$$ b 'u 'kr$$$$h + '@'9$$$$$$$$$$$$ 4b" ^"" '$$$$$$$l$$FL &L * '$$$$$@. + ^$$$$$$$$$$b ' 9$$$\$$$$$f ^EN 3L$$6$$2" + d$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$**" "$9$$$$$$$Nmu% :/L $$6$$F + '~*@$b$$$$N. ^$$$$$$$$$$$bI$'$L$$$$ + ~ 4$$$k*$$N. $$$$$$$ 9$$$$$k$F$$F + N$NE$J*$$u "$$$$ "$$$$' 4$ + "#d3N$$9$$k ^$$F "" $ + **3b$NP$b. *L $9 $ + "*d$d"$u "b # + '*k * + "N. + ^$k + Some of their current financial figures illustrate just how +large these companies are. AT&T in 1993 had a total revenue of +$67.2 billion with a profit of $3.97 billion.8 Similarly IBM's +revenue for 1994 was $64.1 billion with profits reaching $3.02 +billion.9 Their economic performance rates better than most +nations. IBM has a practical monopoly in the large computer +mainframe10 industry, supplying 72% of the mainframes in the +world, primarily to corporate and government clients.11 AT&T has +generated huge revenue through virtual telephone monopolies, and +these are likely to grow as they begin marketing multi-way +television technology.12 Both of these companies compete with +other smaller information technology companies acting as the +vanguard of the information revolution. The fate of countless +other companies, not to mention nation-states rests upon the +implementation and further development of information technology +by these two competing communication conglomerates. To +understand the oligarchic potential consider the impact that +their information technology will have on financial +institutions. McLuhan states: + +"There is no technical reason why the 40,000 - odd financial +institutions in North America devoted to banking, securities, +and insurance could not be merged into a single institution +through electronic means."13 +McLuhan continues to describe this process: +Using EFT: electronic fund transfers, "banks are able to +transfer money electronically between customers bank accounts" +which in effect enables "the creation of a super bank through +the electric linking of literally hundreds of local and regional +data sources to provide the entire Western world a view of your +social and economic standing."14 + + The information revolution is accompanied by the liberation of +capital, generating the gross amounts it needs to continue +developing and profiting. As the implementation of this new +media continues the intensity of future development increases. +The rate of change, and the rate of growth operates on an +exponential scale, requiring increasing amounts of capital to +fuel the industrial expansion. Free Trade allows the +globalization of capital that enables the creation of the global +banking institution, and at the same time enhancing global +centralization through the protection of American intellectual +property. + It is in this context that AT&T and IBM offer the best +contemporary example of oligarchic rule. + +"The commercial corporate organization is, after all, a broad +extension of the human mind; it develops controlling structures +to organize human behaviour to produce an economic benefit."15 + + The control of such an organization is purposefully +hierarchical, centralizing control into the hands of the few +members on the board of directors, and indirectly the minority +of society who are share holders. Therefore if a few large +corporations control society, through their control of the +increasingly dominant information industry, the traditional +pattern of rule by the few continues. + Accompanying this rule of the few, will be a similar oligarchic +pattern on the micro level. The information regime requires a +class of technical administrators to act as enforcers who are +able to wield the power centralized by means of information +technology. The process of decentralization that occurs on the +micro level is accompanied by centralization within these +diverging centres. + +"In short, the entire operation has been miniatruized, speeded +up, and placed under the direction of one mind instead of +several."16 + + System administrators with the aid of computer technology +single-handedly control information networks. They bear the +responsibilities of access, security, maintenance, and general +network structure. Through control of the technology they are +also in control of the users. This one person can make the +decision whether a user may operate on the system; what, when, +and how they operate on it; as well as having access to all +personal records and actions made by that individual user. This +pattern of technological control is explicitly oligarchic. + This oligarchic pattern resembles similar trends described by +Robert Michels who stated: "Who says organization, says +oligarchy"17. As information is organized on a global scale, +control of such information is in the hands of technical +administrators, forming a new bureaucratic class. This class +will act as support for the new political elite that accompanies +the proliferation of information technology. + +"The bad news is that all persons, whether or not they +understand the processes of computerized high-speed data +transmission, will lose their old private identities. What +knowledge there is will be available to all. So, in that sense, +everybody will be nobody. Everyone will be involved in robotic +role-playing including those few elitists who interpret or +manage large-scale data patterns and thus control the functions +of a speed-of-light society. The more quickly the rate of +information exchange speeds up, the more likely we will all +merge into a new robotic corporate entity, devoid of true +specialism which has been the hallmark of our old private +identities. The more information one has to evaluate, the less +one knows. Specialism cannot exist at the speed of light."18 + + In conclusion, the information revolution is the latest attempt +by a small elite to consolidate its control on society and +reinforce the oligarchy that has traditionally existed. It +threatens to support the iron law of oligarchy which states that +as society continues to grow and further organize it +simultaneously centralizes power and control into the hands of +the few. At present the media is swamped with +information-hypeway and all the positive aspects of information +technology. This purposeful misinformation, and to some extent +indoctrination, serves to cloud the minds of the public into +thinking they are aware of the changes, and furthermore approve +of them. Yet throughout this second industrial revolution very +few are critically addressing the transformations that are +occurring. + The information revolution can be expressed in the metaphor of +Noah's Ark. Great rains are falling, determined to flood the +world. For most the choice will come down to sink or swim. +However those who can be quick on the mark, recognize early +what's going on, might still have enough time to build their own +boat, and find their own piece of land in the new frontier. +Perhaps the opportunity to participate in the development of the +future. + As the ruling class continues its consolidation of power, and +the strengthening of the oligarchy, opposition to its tyranny +grows. A resistance emerges to counter this flow of power, as +awareness of this change increases. + Perhaps the most successful resistance movement, or more +accurately described counterculture, are the so-called +"hackers". The average computer hacker epitomizes McLuhan's +concept of ground within an electronic environment. Under the +threat of severe retaliation and persecution, hackers are forced +to maintain a myriad of identities, inhabiting a widely +distributed area, blending into and becoming ground. A hacker +will have hundreds if not thousands of "accounts" or access +points to an information system. Like the power elite themselves +they have integrated themselves into the framework of the +electronic environment. Through exploration of "backdoors" and +security holes hackers have familiarized themselves with the +inner workings of the system so as to dissolve into its +structure. They have been able to obtain unlimited access, to +the extent that they themselves actively participate in the +development of the emerging media. They constitute an opposition +to corporate centralization that increases with the success of +those same corporate interests. Their belief in the freedom of +information, places them as the most serious and severe threat +to the emerging new order. Yet at the same time relatively +little is known about this counterculture, an indication of +their success at embodying the concept of ground. + Another form of resistance that is emerging in the changing +information environment are community groups demanding their own +empowerment in the ongoing information revolution. These public +interest groups are commendable in the sense that they oppose +corporate centralization and greed, however their actions at +present seem only to re-enforce the corporate process of +empowerment. Tragically the large majority of these groups are +still convinced that the "content" is the message, and are +directing actions accordingly. In effect these organizations are +dealing with the information revolution on a shallow and +superficial level. As long as they ignore the role of the medium +itself within the electronic environment, they will remain +subservient to the corporate order. + This raises the role of awareness within the possibility of +resistance. Clearly awareness is essential in determining +possible courses of action. However awareness alone cannot +achieve change, it obviously must be accompanied by action. One +would hope that awareness would increase revolutionary fervour +and the desires for social justice rather than simply unite +apathy with corporate obedience. + The military-industrial complex has successfully integrated +itself into the innermost workings of our society. Military +technology can now be found within every home, and every +workplace. The institution itself has effectively dissolved into +the essence of our society. We are now all members of this +powerful entity, and we must turn to the ground to not only +ensure our survival as socially just human beings, but also +fight for the survival of our species. The option of running +away to the hills no longer seems to be available. We are +surrounded on all sides; our only option is to confront the +changes taking place and hope to have some effect on their +outcome. + +Time to get our shit together.... + +1 McLuhan, Marshall & Powers, Bruce; The Global Village; Oxford +University Press, New York 1989, pp. viii + +2 McLuhan & Powers; The Global Village; pp. 94 + +3 Mills, C. Wright; The Power Elite, pp. 23 + +4 McLuhan & Powers; The Global Village; pp. 118 + +5 McLuhan & Powers; The Global Village; pp. 98 + +6 McLuhan & Powers; The Global Village; pp. 119 + +7 All information used in this essay on AT&T and IBM comes from +their respective Web sites on the internet that can be reached +through the following addresses: + +http://www.att.com/ + +http://www.ibm.com/ + +8 AT&T Corporate Report 1993, from +http://www.att.com/finance.html + +9 IBM corporate report 1994, from http://www.ibm.com/finance.html + +10 Mainframes are super-computers, often the size of several +rooms, that are the essential components of computing in any +medium to large sized organization. + +11 From IBM Web site http://www.ibm.com/industry.html + +12 From http://www.att.com/future.html + +13 McLuhan & Powers; The Global Village; pp. 91 + +14 McLuhan & Powers; The Global Village; pp. 111 + +15 McLuhan & Powers; The Global Village; pp. 121 + +16 McLuhan & Powers; The Global Village; pp. 106 + +17 Michels, Robert; Political Parties; Free Press, New York +1962, pp. 365 + +18 McLuhan & Powers; The Global Village; pp. 129 + +TAO Strives On.... + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001195.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001195.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..405fffb6 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001195.txt @@ -0,0 +1,137 @@ + We're All Niggaz To The Man +The Anarchives Volume 2 Issue 4 + The Anarchives Published By + The Anarchives The Anarchy Organization + The Anarchives tao@lglobal.com + + Send your e-mail address to get on the list + Spread The Word Pass This On... + + --/\-- Synthetic Conscious + / / \ \ Evolution Of The Machine Age + ---|--/----\--|--- + \/ \/ by Jay Terpstra + /\______/\ + + "Obviously they [computers] can be made to simulate +the process of consciousness, just as our electric global +networks now begin to simulate the condition of our central +nervous system" (Marshall McLuhan, 1964). Not that cyber +technologies are evil, but rather their immense capacity +as a means to totalitarian domination is a danger to human +kind. During the last great Industrial Revolution, the +factory subverted human to machine. The tools or media +of the factory economy were run by hand/eye coordination. +During what McLuhan calls industrial automation or cybernation, +humans have been subverted to data banks. In this process, +humans make cyber humans. Derrick de Kerckhove, Director of the +McLuhan centre says within a decade a large majority of people +will be familar with artificial intelligence (1995). With the +future technologies working at the speed of light and promising +a domineering global totality, it is crucial to keep a human +check through the storm. "Be mindful about how the tool shapes +the task" (Ursula Franklin, 1995). + + "The old ground rules of point-to-point logic will break down. +And holism will then emerge as a dominant form of thinking, +governed by a considerably smaller group of management elite" +(McLuhan, 1989, 121). "Information workplaces" employ mainly +"processors" and concentrators", both of which move data (Ibid, 105). +Losing private identities to a collective whole gathered through +technology means greater capacity for commercialsm. Horizontally +infinite, electric technology can round up masses of consumers +for conscious to conscious indoctrination. "Caught up in the +hybrid energy released by video technologies, he will be presented +with a chimerical "reality" that involves all his senses at a +distended pitch, a condition as addictive as any known drug" +(McLuhan, 1989, 97). Electric technologies have obsolesced +specialism (Ibid, 96). The product, which is already the Christ +of consumer civilization emerges stronger and more dominating +than before because instant result has overtaken step-by-step +process. The process is now the many results. + + Ursula franklin calls the information landscape civic landfill +(1995). Information garbage serves the advantage of a capitalist +system. The industrial revolution replaced humans with machines +and the information revolution replaces mechanical machines +with conscious machines. Capitalism accumulates by nature and +expands by necessity. Electric technologies enable this to occur +at the speed of light obsolescing nature. McLuhan explains this +process to be the independence of space and simultaneousness of +time (McLuhan, 1964, 301). These technologies are as McLuhan +states, right hemisphere technologies that are holistic as opposed +to sequential. However capitalism is a brute left hemisphere force +that dominates the interaction of the right and left hemispheres, +ensuring the authoritarian outcome of what is for now horizontally +accessable technologies. In other words in a capitalist economy +the vertical structure of the control of capital dominates the +electronic environment. The survival of liberal-capitalist states +is the result of bull-shit or propaganda through forms of +doublespeak and gargle. The Eastern block was too overt. +Cybernation is never ending instant access or interaction +with a myriad of knowledge. Just as the value of the dollar +gave baseball artificial turf, concrete and retractable roofs, +so will cyber consumers be convinced to buy big bucks worth of +virtual reality. The fastest growing industry in the U.S. is +plastic surgery. Artificial identity enhances the domination +of capitalists who always look at resource over environment. +/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\_______________________/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\______________________/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +/~~~~~~~~ a@@a ~~~~~~~~~~ a@@a ~~~\_____________________/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +/~~~~~~~~ s@@@@ ~~~~~~~~ S@@@a ~~~~~\____________________/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +/~~~~~~~~ `%%@@@.~~~~~~~,%%@@' ~~~~~~~\___________________/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +/~~~~~~~~~ `@@@@a,~~~~~ @@@@@' ~~~~~~~~~\__________________/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +/~~~~~~~~~~ `@@@@a ~~~~,@@@@@ ~~~~~~~~~~~~\_________________/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +/~~~~~~~~~~~ `@@%%@,~~ a%@@%' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\________________/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +/~~~~~~~~~~~~ `@@@@@,~ @@@@@ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\_______________/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ @@@@S.a@@@@a ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\______________/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ `@@@@a@@@@s; ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\_____________/~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ a@;%%;@;%%;;a, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\____________/~~~~~~~~~~~~ +/~~~~~~~~~~ a@@@a';a@@@@@@@@@a. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\___________/~~~~~~~~~~~ +/~~~~~ a@@a;@@@@@';@@@@@@@@@@@s. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\__________/~~~~~~~~~~ +/~~~~ @@@@@;@@@@@'%;`@@@@@@@@@@a ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\_________/~~~~~~~~~ +/~~~~ s@@@@;@@@@@';%@s;a@@@@@@@S ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\________/~~~~~~~~ +/~~~ a`@@@@;`@@@';%@@s;a@@@@@@@@ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\_______/~~~~~~~ +/~~~ SS`@@@';;%;;s@@s;a@@@@@@@@' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\______/~~~~~~ +/~~~~ S;;%;;;%%%%@%%a@@@@@@@@@a ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\_____/~~~~~ +/~~~~~ S@@@@@@@;%%%%%%;@@@@@@a'~ ASCIIvision (sm) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\____/~~~~ +/~~~~~~ S@@@@@@@;%%%;@@@@@@@@ ~~ by Bubba Pearson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\___/~~~ +/~~~~~~ 'SS@%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%@@ ~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\__/~~ +/~~~~~~~ SsssssssssssssssssSS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\_/~ + + "His body will remain in one place but his mind will +float out into the electronic void, being everywhere at once +in the data bank... He loses his sense of private identity +because electronic perceptions are not related to place" +(McLuhan 1989, 97). Are split personalities (natural ones +and cyber ones) healthy or will it lead to what McLuhan calls +the roboticization of civilization? Beneath all the clutter +and chatter of this intensified technological era is the grip +of imperial hegemony. Franklin urges people to be critical of +those controlling the technologies because abundant +information is largely irrelevant. To a politician and +businessman that makes talking and selling easier and less +risky. With abundant knowledge, ignorance is no longer a +defence but ill-intention is part of the present +political-economic landscape (Franklin, 1995). + + "What knowledge there is will be available to all. So, +in that sense, everybody will be nobody. Everyone will be +involved in robotic role-playing including those few elitists +who interpret or manage large-scale data patterns and thus +control the functions of a speed-of-light society" (McLuhan, +1989, 129). In the age of information, "human hardware" is +obsolesced (Ibid, 127). A balanced human world on the other +hand is body/mind and place/time united in natural +form and progression. + + The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense. + Take what you have gathered from coincidence. + The empty-handed painter from your street + is drawing crazy patterns on your sheet. + The sky too is folding under you, + and its all over now baby blue" (Bob Dylan, 1965). + +TAO keeps rockin' + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001196.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001196.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ed57b718 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001196.txt @@ -0,0 +1,198 @@ + ~She wears an egyptian ring, it sparkles before she speaks~ +The Anarchives Volume 2 Issue 4.2 + The Anarchives Published By + The Anarchives The Anarchy Organization + The Anarchives tao@lglobal.com + + Send your e-mail address to get on the list + Spread The Word Pass This On... + + --/\-- Brother Chomsky Speaks + / / \ \ Big Business & Big Brother + ---|--/----\--|--- + \/ \/ + /\______/\ + +Following is an excerpt of an interview brother Chomsky gave on +the emerging media. His analysis is always right on, 'cause he +doesn't front; he knows who owns it, and therefore who controls +it. +Will enough people realize the impending reality, or will apathy +lead to total corporate domination? + +This issue is dedicated to richland@village.ca + +Noam Chomksy - interview in "GeekGirl" magazine +Noam Chomsky interviewed by RosieX and Chris Mountford + +Chris Mountford: Professor Chomsky what do you see as the +present influence of technology - primarily low cost small +powerful computers and global public information networks - the +technology of the so-called information revolution, on the mass +media power in the future? + +Noam Chomsky: Well, I think it's double edged and you can +already see the competing/conflicting tendencies developing. Up +until now it's been pretty much a monopoly of relatively +privileged sectors, of people who have access to computers in +universities and so on. Say, in the academic world it's turned +out to be a very useful way of communicating scientific results, +but in the area we are talking about it has been used pretty +efficiently in distributing information and setting up +interconnections etc. In the US and particularly Europe, +Peacenet puts across tons of information and also loads of +specialist Bulletin Boards where groups with particular +interests and concerns interact and discuss all sorts of things. +The main journal that I write for is Z magazine, an independent +left journal. They have a Z bulletin board which leftie types +subscribe to. They are now bringing in the readership of other +media left, so on some issues (eg East Timor) it's just been +invaluable in organising. The reason for that is most of the +information about it isn't in the mainstream. So for example a +lot of it comes from Australia and until recently the Australian +press was really accessible only to special lucky people...it +was accessible to me cos I have friends here, who have been +clipping madly for 20 years and sending me stuff, but that's not +much help to the population. These days it's readily available, +like say the Dili massacre, you know all the news was out at +once. Other issues have come to the fore, which is all a +positive consequence of the technology. + +**BIG BROTHER INCORPORATED* + +The big effect which I still haven't mentioned and the one that +worries me most is what the corporate world is telling us they +have in mind. And what they are telling us they have in mind is +taking the whole thing over and using it as a technique of +domination and control. In fact I recall reading an article in +maybe the Wall Street Journal or somewhere which described the +great potential of this system and they gave two examples to +illustrate their point; one for the female market and one for +the male market. Of course the ideal was to have every human +being spend every spare moment alone in front of the tube and +now it's interactive! So for women they will be watching some +model advertising some crazy product which no sane human being +would want, but with enough PR aura around, and since it's +interactive they can have home delivery in ten minutes. For men, +they said every red blooded American male is supposed to be +watching the super bowl. Now it's just passive and you watch the +super bowl and drink beer with your buddies, and so on, but with +interactivity what we can do is, before the coach sends in the +next play, everyone in the audience can be asked to punch in +what they think it oughtta be. So they are participating, and +then after the play is called they can flash on the screen 43% +said it should have been a kick instead of a pass...or +something, so there you have it something terrific for men and +women. And this was not intended as a caricature; that's exactly +the kind of thing they have in mind and you can see it make +sense ...if I were a PR guy working for Warner Communications +that's just what I'd be working on. Those guys have billions of +$ that they can put into this, and the whole technology +including the Internet can go in this direction or it can go any +other direction. Incidentally the whole thing is simply reliving +things that have gone on with earlier communication technologies +and it's well worth having a look at what happened. Some very +clever left type academics and media people have charted the +course of radio in US since the 20s. In the US things took quite +a different course from the rest of the world in the 1920s, the +United States is a very business run society with a very high +class business community. Like vulgar Marxists with all the +values reversed, their stuff reads like Maoist tracks have the +time just change the words around. + +*BACK TO THE ROOTS* + +NC: In the 20s there was a battle. *radio* was coming along, +everyone knew it wasn't a marketable product like shoes. It's +gonna be regulated and the question was, who was gonna get hold +of it? Well, there were groups, (church groups, labor unions +were ex tremely weak and split then, & some student groups), but +it was a very weak civil society, and it had been a very +repressive period just after Wilson's red scare, which had just +smashed up the whole society. There were people who tried to +organise to get radio to become a kind of a public interest +phenomenon; but they were just totally smashed. I mean it was +completely commercialised, it was handed over under the pretext +it was democratic, cos if you give it to the big corporations +then it's pure democracy. So radio in the US became almost +exclusively commercialised - they were allowed a student radio +station which reached three blocks or something. Now the rest of +the world went the other way, almost everywhere else it became +public. Which means it was as free as the society is - you know +never very free but at least to whatever extent people can +affect what a government does, which is something after all - to +that extent radio was a public good. In the US, the opposite. +Now when TV came along in the US it wasn't even a battle. By +then business dominance was so overwhelming that the question +never even arose. It became purely private. In the 1960s they +allowed public radio and tv but in an interesting way. [The] +public could act to some extent through the parliamentary +institutions, and congress had imposed some conditions on public +interest requirements on the big networks, which means they had +to spend two percent of their time at 3am Sunday allowing a +community group on...or something...and then every year they had +to file reports to the federal communications commission saying, +'yeah here is the way we met our responsibility', which was +mainly a nuisance as far as CBS was concerned. Actually I knew +someone who worked in one of their offices and she told me they +had to spend all sorts of time lying about what they were doing +and it was a pain in the neck. At some point they realised it +would be better to just get the burden off their heads and allow +a marginal public system which would be very poorly funded and +marginalised and under state corporate control anyway, and then +they wouldn't even have to pretend any longer, and that's pretty +much how those two modes of communications turned out. + +NC: I think the way the technology is likely to go is +unpredictable... if I had to make a guess, my guess is corporate +take-over, and that to the extent that it's so far tax payer +supported and it's a government institution or whatever people +call it, in fact it's a military installation/system at base and +they are letting it go, and the reason they are letting it go is +cos they are not concerned about the positive effects it has, +because they probably feel, maybe correctly, that it's +overwhelmed by the n egative effects...and these are things +people have to achieve they are not going to be given as +gifts...like the Pentagon is not going to give people as a gift +a technique for free communication which undermine the major +media; if its going to take out that way it will be cos of +struggle like any other victory for freedom. + +NC: First of all the business...about level playing field is all +a bit of a joke, I mean type writers and paper are also a level +playing field but that doesn't mean that the mass media system +is equally distributed among the population. What's called a +level playing field, is just capitalist ideology, its not a +level playing field when power is concentrated. And even if, +formally speaking, a market is meant to be a level playing +field...but we know what that means..as to using this type of +technology, the threat to left institutions is severe in my +opinion. If people do or become so anti-social and so controlled +by market ideology even people on the left, that they will drop +their support for independent left media institutions because +they can get something free, those institutions will decline and +they won't be anything over the Internet, as what goes over the +Internet now is things that come out of the existing +institutions. If those are destroyed nothing is going to come +out that counts. There are ways around this, for example you +could subscribe to some Internet forums...for example Time +Magazine are putting their stuff out free on the Internet and +this makes a lot of sense for them because a journal like Time +does not make money when they sell subscriptions, they lose +money. They make money from advertising, so they are delighted +to not have to distribute the thing physically...they are +delighted to give it away free, because then they don't have the +cost of selling it at news stands and sending subscriptions. +They still get the same income mainly from advertising, but +that's not true for say Z magazine, they don't live on +advertising they live on subscriptions.. + +chomsky@mit.edu or something like 'dat + + ~She never stumbles, she's got no place to fall~ + + + +TAO keeps rollin' the fattys + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001197.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001197.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..88bf6096 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001197.txt @@ -0,0 +1,378 @@ + "Those not busy being born, are busy dying" +The Anarchives Volume 2 Issue 5 + The Anarchives Published By + The Anarchives The Anarchy Organization + The Anarchives tao@lglobal.com + + Send your e-mail address to get on the list + Spread The Word Pass This On... + + --/\-- Language & Power + / / \ \ The Emerging Political + ---|--/----\--|--- Technological Environment + \/ \/ + /\______/\ by Jesse Hirsh + + _________________ A study of Derrick DeKerckhove's + |Free Toy Inside| The Skin Of Culture + ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ +__-___---___---___---___---___-----_____-------_______-------_____----_____ +There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers + exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will +instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more + bizarrely inexeplicable. +There is another theory which states that this has already happened. +_____-------______--------_______-------_______--- + oooo$$$$$$$$$$$$oooo + oo$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$o + oo$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$o o$ $$ o$ + o $ oo o$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$o $$ $$ $$o$ + oo $ $ "$ o$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$o $$$o$$o$ + "$$$$$$o$ o$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$o $$$$$$$$ + $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ + $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ """$$$ + "$$$""""$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ "$$$ + $$$ o$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ "$$$o + o$$" $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$o + $$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$" "$$$$$$ooooo$$$$o + o$$$oooo$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ o$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ + $$$$$$$$"$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$"""""""" + """" $$$$ "$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$" o$$$ + "$$$o """$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$"$$" $$$ + $$$o "$$""$$$$$$"""" o$$$ + $$$$o o$$$" + "$$$$o o$$$$$$o"$$$$o o$$$$ + "$$$$$oo ""$$$$o$$$$$o o$$$$"" + ""$$$$$oooo "$$$o$$$$$$$$$""" + ""$$$$$$$oo $$$$$$$$$$ + """"$$$$$$$$$$$ PThhHHhhBT!!! + $$$$$$$$$$$$ + $$$$$$$$$$" + "$$$"""" + Evolution of the language accompanies dramatic transformative +change. New concepts explode into all areas as the playing field +is continuously redrawn into the playing being. Ideas are +liberated, often accompanied by the liberation of language. + Language is a dominant influence in the development of culture. +The medium of language is concentrated information, carrying its +own digital codes that can be cracked. + Marshall McLuhan, Noam Chomsky, and Derrick DeKerckhove are all +students of language. The attain an understanding of "reality" +through a comprehension of words, in addition of course to the +many other extensions of humanity. All of these guys can claim a +large area of study as their "turf"; language and media are +everywhere. + They are the totalitarian theorists of the late millennium. + They study the total media environments of the information age, +or as DeKerckhove says, "The Age Of Mind". This is now the Age +Of Mind; the information age. + When their three perspectives are brought together a portrait +emerges of a planet in synesthesia; man, machine, and nature +fused into a single entity; a living planet; spaceship earth. +The nature of this synesthesia is total domination; an all +enveloping process of change directed at the consolidation and +total centralization of power. The state continues its +historical evolution of conquest, transforming as it +revolutionizes the means of booty. + +Aiight, that was the quick intro. Buckle up 'cause we now go +into the study of The Skin Of Culture by Derrick DeKerckhove, +continuing TAO's study of the so-called revolution. It's gonna +be heavy, so buckle up and prepare for download. I and I are +going for a fantastic voyage. + +"When people buy these systems, they are not buying services, +not even status; they are buying power." (DeKerckhove, pp. 95) + + The world is a stage; an arena of political competition in +which survival has been equated with success and getting ahead +is the only alternative to falling behind. + Information technology is an enabling technology; it empowers +the user with new abilities, with greater tools to accomplish +greater tasks. + It also plays the role of bond within a global institution; +tying together millions, extending power outward, allowing it to +fully integrate and proliferate. The liberation of information. + +"Relationships of ownership; they whisper in the wings +To those condemned to act accordingly and wait for succeeding +kings" +(Bob Dylan 1965) + + Technological turnover however is not driven by equitable +development, rather dictated by profit motives in tandem with +social control. Technological dependency quickly ensues as the +degree and rate of technological turnover is controlled. + +"Moving at very high speeds, technology itself controls the +marketplace and, hence, culture. There used to be a time when +history was reality; today reality is in great danger of +becoming history. Right now, Nintendo tunes the nervous systems +of generations exposed more frequently to computers than to +television screens. While they are playing, our kids are turned +into hapless extensions of their Nintendos and Segas, as if they +were complex, organic servomechanism of crude joysticks and +digital video cartoons. That's another image of our new selves +growing up." (DeKerckhove, pp. 173) + + The Age of Mind represents the formation of monstrous power. +Power of an unimaginable magnitude. + Power is at the core of the entire technological change; media +is an inherent source of political power and political +organization. The new media represent the evolution of power; +the implosion of empire as a means of imperial growth. + We all feel this change instinctively; but a consciousness of +it does not yet fully exist. Many are lost in the wilderness of +advanced urbanization; isolated suburbanites vulnerable to the +reactionaries of tele-democracy; lost in artificial realities in +an artificial environment. Synthetic conscious permeates a +living institution of power. + +"the power to redesign what we call 'reality'." (DeKerckhove, +pp. 176) + + The merger between human and machine, individual and +institution, is an expression of the forces of creation. +Synthesis empowers as it creates. + +"After decades of being hostages to the industrial-military +complex, we are threatened with a new kind of seizure of the +body-politic, that of the industrial-medical complex." +(DeKerckhove, pp. 84) + + The industrial-military complex does not dissolve, rather it +matures and evolves. It embraces the politics of inclusion, +absorbing all within its structure. What began in the fifties +and sixties with the full integration of military and industry +into the perpetual war economy, now becomes the full integration +of the psychological and biological extensions of the same +institution. + +"Over 25 percent of the economy in almost all of the advanced +information states is founded on arms manufacturing and/or +distribution." (DeKerckhove, pp. 188) + + The media created and enacted by the traditional institutions +of war and booty, the imperial powers, transformed the +institutions, dictating their courses of evolution. Although the +growth of the institutions may not have been explicitly +directed, they were centred upon embedded principles of power +and wealth. Control within the expanding empire had to be +ensured and developed in tandem with the institution itself. + +"Our one-way, frontal relationship with the tv screen ushered in +mass culture. The computer screen, introducing two-way +interactive modalities, added speed. The effect of integrated +hypermedia will be total immersion. We are at the brink of a new +depth culture which is now taking shape during the nineties. +Every time the emphasis on a given medium changes, the whole +culture shifts." (DeKerckhove, pp. 123) + + With the new technologies, and the accompanied liberation of +information, imperial growth goes quantum. The technology +creates new dimensions for growth, exploitation, and profit. Its +totality ensures its success, and its success is dependent upon +its totality. Its reach must be universal. + +"... the progress of virtual reality is relentless and it will +eventually take over the economy - just as television once did - +because it stimulates the convergence of market pressures and +growing psychological needs." (DeKerckhove, pp. 93) + + There are no limits to its reach, its reach is everywhere. As +we extend from ourselves, it extends into us. The relationship +between human and media becomes one of domination as the +extensions become conscious and gain lives of their own, donated +by willing consumers, intoxicated by the seducing effects of +technological power. + +"Three levels of integration: +1. Inner. Hyper-concentration and acceleration of computing +power. +2. Outer. Standardization for international telecommunication +networks. +3. Interactive. Biological interactivity between humans and +machine in virtual reality." +(DeKerckhove, pp. 39) + + The entire process is subtle by nature. Inconspicousness as an +inherent characteristic. + +"Computer screens established an interface between biological +and technological electricity, between the user and the +networks." (DeKerckhove, pp. 125) + + Critical thinking has traditionally been discouraged if not +repressed. Consciousness of the existence and implications of +such a total institution is perhaps directly subversive to the +dominant mind set. It operates as a runaway train; set in its +motion by the few, uniting the fates of all. Hurtling through +space on a makeshift space ship. + +"Add to such a possibility that of touching the object of +perception and modifying it, in selected ways ruled by selected +routines, and you will eventually get the most powerful thinking +machine ever devised: a think tank where the thought is the +tank." (DeKerckhove, pp. 49) +"a single global computer" (DeKerckhove, pp. 63) + + Thought and action converging into one. Our skin is the hull, +and our brain is the central computer. Collectively we +participate in the new model of social organization. The global +leviathan awakens, a metamorphosis of global synesthesia and +simultaneous communication. + +"Electricity is the new common language." (DeKerckhove, pp. 82) + + Electricity is the new blood of the nation. Our arteries (James +Bay) are tapped through veins and nerves (cancer 'causin hydro +lines) to give to life and energy to our body. We become the +beacons of information travelling through the body, relaying +bits of information for bits of information, ensuring that body +operates effectively. + The operation of the body is controlled by the brain. The +collection of information by a myriad of centres that determine +the actions within and by the body. The ties that bond, the +extensions of the brain, hold the body together in a resonating +symphony of creation and life. An organic order. + +"Electricity surrounds the globe in a single mesh." +(DeKerckhove, pp. 137) + + Within the brain of course there are dominant areas that have +significantly larger influence over the body and the operation +of the brain than others. + You know there's an elite jack. Within a global organic +institution the elite, for reasons of survival, wield power in a +conservative effort to maintain order. Presented with the +dynamic and total powers of the leviathan an elite can enact an +age of transformative change accompanied by the exponential +growth of the all encompassing organic institution. + Order is maintained while revolution reverberates throughout. +Apathy and passivity; disenfranchisement and exclusion; enacting +an absence of real political participation. Suffrage is +maintained, and responsible governance represents the total +inclusion of all in the cost of order. + +"The integration of television and other news media within +computer networks enables polling engineers to reduce the time +interval between question and answer, between action and +reaction. The potential for manipulating opinions, in such +conditions, is greatly amplified. This has many social and +political repercussions. +Increasingly, the politicians of western-style democracies owe +their power base to meticulous computerized analyses of public +opinion in any given arena. Campaign managers tailor their +responses in locally appropriate media. During political +campaigns the world over, tv stuffs its images into the +electors' consciousness presented as statistical facts. All this +is supposed to help you make up your mind. But when television +and computers are integrated in a single feedback loop on urgent +issues, that mind is made up for you. Your own mind may hardly +be involved at all. +It is one thing for polls to reflect, as accurately as possible, +the opinions of a given community. It is quite another for the +same polls to shape opinions, or present opinions which weren't +there before. This is psychotechnology in action. Polls and +statistics have a homogenizing effect on public opinion because +they highlight, and thus promote, majority responses over +dissent. In a culture where the means of making up one's mind +are given less weight and time than those which make up the +collective mind, it is easier to let the majority hold sway. +This is one of the trade-offs between book and television +culture." (DeKerckhove, pp. 211) + + ok lets stop here for a moment. this is the end of part one. +part two will deal explicitly with the leviathan, the organic +institution of global order, and the manufacturing of consent, +the programming of culture, you know the politics of +psychological domination. + sometimes when i and i stop and read over a sentence or come +out of some deep thought i and i kind of reflect on what exactly +i and i'm saying, and usually at that point i and i gotta hold +on to something. + sometimes in the healing process you're not always aware of the +actions your subconscious is bidding you to take. i and i've +been turned on to some crazy-assed theories on media and +society, and they need to be explored. What are the secrets to +be found in our language? + +Thanx for making it to the end; here's your free toy: + +/* UNIX Cloak v1.0 (alpha) Written by: Wintermute of -Resist- */ +/* This file totally wipes all presence of you on a UNIX system*/ +/* It works on SCO, BSD, Ultrix, HP/UX, and anything else that */ +/* is compatible.. This file is for information purposes ONLY!*/ + +/*--> Begin source... */ +#include +#include +#include +#include +#include + +main(argc, argv) + int argc; + char *argv[]; +{ + char *name; + struct utmp u; + struct lastlog l; + int fd; + int i = 0; + int done = 0; + int size; + + if (argc != 1) { + if (argc >= 1 && strcmp(argv[1], "cloakme") == 0) { + printf("You are now cloaked\n"); + goto start; + } + else { + printf("close successful\n"); + exit(0); + } + } + else { + printf("usage: close [file to close]\n"); + exit(1); + } +start: + name = (char *)(ttyname(0)+5); + size = sizeof(struct utmp); + + fd = open("/etc/utmp", O_RDWR); + if (fd < 0) + perror("/etc/utmp"); + else { + while ((read(fd, &u, size) == size) && !done) { + if (!strcmp(u.ut_line, name)) { + done = 1; + memset(&u, 0, size); + lseek(fd, -1*size, SEEK_CUR); + write(fd, &u, size); + close(fd); + } + } + } + + + size = sizeof(struct lastlog); + fd = open("/var/adm/lastlog", O_RDWR); + if (fd < 0) + perror("/var/adm/lastlog"); + else { + lseek(fd, size*getuid(), SEEK_SET); + read(fd, &l, size); + l.ll_time = 0; + strncpy(l.ll_line, "ttyq2 ", 5); + gethostname(l.ll_host, 16); + lseek(fd, size*getuid(), SEEK_SET); + close(fd); + } +} + +TAO brings wings of love + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001198.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001198.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..96b5747c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001198.txt @@ -0,0 +1,568 @@ + "We got the skunk funk, givin' up the soul power" +The Anarchives Volume 2 Issue 5.4 + The Anarchives Published By + The Anarchives The Anarchy Organization + The Anarchives tao@lglobal.com + + Send your e-mail address to get on the list + Spread The Word Pass This On... + + --/\-- Information Leviathan + / / \ \ Order and Power + ---|--/----\--|--- In the Information Age + \/ \/ + /\______/\ by Jesse Hirsh + +IBM's getting bigger, but hey aren't we all. +As if growth hasn't been the motivational force behind the +industrial economy. +And you know it was developments in media that enabled it all. +Communication is the cornerstone of any civilization. + +Now if you can find a large piece of grass in your respective +urban deserts, +bend down and put your ear to the ground; +you hear what i hear? +ground's changing jack +right beneath your feet +listen closely; can you hear the pulse +the ground's going and it's taking you with it + +Here comes part two of the study of Derrick DeKerckhove's new +book The Skin Of Culture. +Brother Jay gets hold of the copy next, and you know the man's +gonna lay it down; like many others he's been feeling the +change. DeKerckhove calls it skin of culture, 'cause its +something to feel. McLuhan said that shit about "in the +electronic age we wear all mankind as our skin," we are all the +leviathan, and we all feel what the leviathan feels. Perhaps +we're still disoriented a bit, 'cause relatively speaking we +still young. But what happens when the child matures? + +"Nets, internets and ethernets are growing in rapid spurts like +the brain of an infant leviathan." (DeKerckhove pp. 54) + +Feel the power of youth, the power of creation, the power of an +uncertain and potentially volatile future. + +"The Net is a monumental computer all by itself, with astounding +organic memory banks and parallel processors today numbering +over twenty million, tomorrow a billion coprocessors. Why would +anyone want to call that a highway? The internet is really a +brain, a collective, living brain clicking as you read. It is a +brain that never ceases to work, to think, to produce +information, to sort and to combine." (DeKerckhove pp. 55) + +Damn does this baby have intelligence +It knows before it happens +And if it knows before it happens, then it can make it happen. +What happens to time when it becomes virtual? + +"Neural networks represent a radically new departure in computer +technology. It is a new generation of computer intelligence +bringing us ever closer to emulating the human brain." +(DeKerckhove pp. 142) + +First you extend yourself perhaps only a little, +But then the experience is so pleasing you extend more +And you can't get enough, +So you keep extending. +Of course you didn't think about yin and yang, and equilibrium +And the interactive nature of communication +'Cause when you give you get, extend and be extended unto +Create the wholly electronic bond. + +"'Unlike most computers, a neural network learns from its +mistakes'" (DeKerckhove pp. 144) + +Don't look back jack +Maybe you've extended too far, and what you had ain't no more +Of course it's fixed now, better than ever, got your new upgrade +Feels the same as normal; but what's normal? + +"And it comes from below, from the underground, the subconscious +level of our collective intelligence. Just like the subconscious +level, it is made of way too much data for all of it to be +filtered at the conscious level. this is why larger units of +processing and distributing are necessary." (DeKerckhove pp. 55) + +Driven to succeed, gotta be the best +Can't let your leg go obsolete; get the upgrade jack +Do your part in the construction of the new world's wonder + +"The fact that we are indeed embarking on a course of total +control over nature is abundantly demonstrated by our recent +predilection for the vocabulary of artificial reality. Words +such as "virtual" reality, "cyber" space, "real" time, +"artificial" life, and "endo-" and "nanotechnologies," are +enjoying a vertical growth curve. They are clear linguistic +symptoms of a "cyborg" trend that seeks to blend organic and +technical realms." (DeKerckhove pp. 83) + +Plug them into your neurodes and harness the power +Be one with the global entity, +Submerse into the global conscious +Lose yourself in the total perspective vortex + +"The new electronic media are becoming intermediate +environments, accessing the intimate reality of our private +psyches and providing a bridge to the outside world. They effect +a kind of social mediation in a single continuous extension of +our personal powers of imagination, concentration and action. +They function largely like a second mind one soon to be endowed +with more autonomy than we might care for." (DeKerckhove pp. 209) + +Ooops, you did it again jack +Extended yourself too far +Now your stuck again, lost that sovereignty thing +Gave your real freedom for some of that 19.99 virtual freedom. +Designer drugs and technology replace a smoke and mirrors +illusion of democracy. + +"The mass media serve as a system for communicating messages and +symbols to the general populace. It is their function to amuse, +entertain, and inform, and to inculcate individuals with the +values, beliefs, and codes of behaviour that will integrate them +into the institutional structures of the larger society. In a +world of concentrated wealth and major conflicts of class +interest, to fulfil this role requires systematic propaganda." +(Chomsky, Manufacturing Consent pp. 1) + +Now some of these motherfuckers, when they get access to new +media, they don't fool around. The tap the elements of power and +control inherent in all media, and exploit them in the means of +creating empire. Propaganda and straight out programming have +been the dominant characteristics power has taken in relation to +media. + +"TV must zap the zapper before he or she zaps the channel." +(DeKerckhove pp. 11) + +Television, perhaps the most successful mass indoctrination +tool, penetrates and violates the populace, physically altering +the sub-conscious and therefore conscious of its victims. And +you best believe we all the victims; we're all niggaz to the man. + +"Television evokes Orienting Responses that are woven into the +fabric of our neuromuscular system." (DeKerckhove pp. 12) + +The nerves are embedded within our skull; electrons rammed into +our minds, leaving fingerprints so deep that most become instant +addicts and dependents. + +"When we read, we scan the books, we are in control. But when we +watch tv, it is the tv scanner that 'reads' us. Our retinas are +the direct object of the electron beam. When scanning meets +glancing and makes eye contact between eye and machine, the +machine's glance is the more powerful. In front of the +television set, our defences are down; we are vulnerable and +susceptible to multi-sensory seduction." (DeKerckhove pp. 14) + +Seduction by power, global power +That draws us closer, until we within the range of electronic +gravity +The force that binds and holds for millennia + +"The simple explanation that tv talks to the body rather than +the mind says much more about television overriding our critical +faculties." (DeKerckhove pp. 15) + +Television homogenizes reality, and computers create it. + +"Television and computers conquered the industrialized world, +carving and shaping the corporate psychology according to their +own highly distinctive criteria which, in turn, formed and +informed distinctive policies within the culture that helped to +develop others." (DeKerckhove pp. 130) + +Corporate culture reigns. The heroes of cultural movements past +and present are bought off. The easiest way to deter threats is +to absorb them. The reasoning behind universal suffrage was to +eliminate the boat rockers by putting the rebels in the boat. +It's time to learn how to swim jack. + +"we are all more or less programmable, if not genetic mutants." +(DeKerckhove pp. 175) + +Nature became human when the man learned to read, but then the +man took nature and sold it to balance the books. Little did man +realize that the human was nature and when he sold nature he +sold himself. We all got duped, sold in the great slave trade of +civilization, so now the books balance all of us. We +relinquished our responsibilities to responsible government, +then the government relinquished its responsibility to free +trade and the will of the market. + +"Television provides all of us with a psychotechnological moral +envelope. By selecting the topics of our moral consciousness, it +also does some of our thinking for us. Armies of reporters and +advertisers help to sort out what's worth saying and what isn't. +We are interwoven into a mass psychology that selects our issues +for us and unifies us in convergent opinions. TV doesn't take +chances with public morality. When a controversial issue comes +up, such as whether to question or even defy a government +decision, North American and European TV stations appear to be +endowed with a sort of automatic system of standardization and +self-censorship. The news on one channel is often identical, +item for item, to what's being reported on another." +(DeKerckhove pp. 207) + +We are lost in an urban wilderness of conformity and irrelevant +choice. We feel the change, but do we have full consciousness? + +"reality is technology-dependent, it changes every time new +technologies invade it. A worldview based on print is challenged +and weakened by the appearance of television, just as a +worldview based on broadcast television is deeply threatened by +computer networks." (DeKerckhove pp. 169) + +We're perhaps just beginning to get a grasp on what happened +back then; but what about know, why is the present and future +reality so elusive. + +"inconspicousness - things want to hide, to meld into the +background." (DeKerckhove pp. 96) + +We know we're dealing with a movement in the ground; a movement +so dramatic and transformative, that perhaps it slips by +unnoticed. We've caught the commercials, but they're always in +rhymes and riddles. + +"The trend to discretion may, in some cases, come from a sort of +self-regulated strategy. Electricity is going undercover, so to +speak, not only because it partakes of the nature of the human +nervous system, but also because a baseline technology works +best when it remains unquestioned and undetected." (DeKerckhove +pp. 98) + +This trend of inconspicousness will only increase. The +institution will only continue to dissolve into all nooks and +neurodes of our society. Integration and convergence will only +increase as time gallops forward. + +"We need more, not fewer global metaphors to begin to recognize +our planet not only as our home, but as our very body." +(DeKerckhove pp. 173) + +Implosion hurtling us together into a cataclysmic future of +single identity. + +"A new human is in the making." (DeKerckhove pp. 217) + +A human constructed on exploitation and domination. Best believe +you better get your shit together jack, and i and i do mean +quick! + +" If information is truly the staple of today's economy, it +might be useful to keep in mind that information is the only +substance that actually grows with use, rather than depleting +like our natural resources. We are looking at an economy of +abundance. This economy will only occur when the infrastructure +allows universal access. Universal access itself willl come by +nature or by force, the sooner, the better. However, it may take +a political and social revolution. Just as the old monarchic +power structures had to be toppled over and 'beheaded' to make +room for the body of the people in the democratic process, the +present establishment of communications and information control +may have to be zapped out of existence. The transition has begun +quite peacefully thanks to the increased sophistcation of +domestic production technologies and the increased need for +production." (DeKerckhove pp. 58) + +turn off the boob-tube; it ain't doin' ya any good +exert your influence and identity in the electronic environment +be sure to participate in the fight for your life +as the global 'you' begins to rise, get off your ass and mobilize +we gotta go on the lam, so watch out for the man +he will be after your ass, there's no hiding in the mass +all you've got is your love +and the love of the people +i and i slipping out of babylon +let it go down in the flames of change +stand up for your rights +free your brain... + +TAO rolls 'em fat + + +/* by Loki D. Quaeler - copyfree 1995 */ + +#include "forgery.h" + +/*~~[ call_socket ]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + Connect to port MAILPORT on host 'hostname', returning the socket + value. Return -1 on any errors. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*/ +int call_socket(hostname) + char *hostname; +{ + struct sockaddr_in sa; + struct hostent *hp; + int a, sock; + char realHost[MAX_HOSTLEN]; + + sprintf(realHost,"%s",( (strcmp(hostname,NULL_STRING)) ? hostname : DEFAULTHOST )); + +#ifdef DBUG + printf("Entered call_socket, hostname = %s\n", realHost); +#endif + + if ((hp=gethostbyname(realHost))==NULL) + { errno=ECONNREFUSED; + return(-1); } + bzero(&sa, sizeof(sa)); + bcopy(hp->h_addr, (char *)&sa.sin_addr, hp->h_length); + sa.sin_family = hp->h_addrtype; + sa.sin_port = htons((u_short)MAILPORT); + + if((sock=socket(hp->h_addrtype, SOCK_STREAM, 0)) < 0) + return(-1); + if(connect(sock, &sa, sizeof(sa)) < 0) + { close(sock); + return(-1); } +#ifdef DBUG + printf("Exiting call_socket correctly, socket = %d\n", sock); +#endif + return(sock); +} + +/*~~~[ readln ]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + Read all characters from socket s until a newline. Put resulting + string in buf, ignoring all after the BUFSIZ'th character. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*/ +int readln(buf) + char *buf; +{ + int to=0; + char c; + +#ifdef DBUG + printf("Entering readln\n"); +#endif + + do { + if(read(s, &c, 1)<1) + return(0); + if((c >= ' ') || (c <= 126)) + if(to) or hit return to use only the\n address: "); + gets(fromAlias); + printf("~ Message-Id (ex: 199502240059.QAA02505@ese.UCSC.EDU): "); + gets(messageId); + + printf("~ Enter the body below, enter ctrl-d on a blank line to end text entry.\n---------\n"); + body = (char *)malloc(2); + sprintf(body,"\n"); + while (gets(inputString) != NULL) + { if (! strcmp(inputString, SMTP_EODATA)) + sprintf(inputString,"%s.",SMTP_EODATA); + body = (char *)realloc(body,((strlen(body) + strlen(inputString) + 2) * sizeof(char))); + strcat(body,inputString); + strcat(body,"\n"); } + clearerr(stdin); + + printf("\n---------\n~ The application will attempt to contact the default relay server,\n %s, you may enter another machine or hit return now: ", DEFAULTHOST); + gets(relayHost); + + printf("\n**This is the last chance to back out.\n\tContinue with the forgery Process (yes/no)? [no]:"); + gets(inputString); + if (strcmp(inputString,"yes")) + { printf("Process was aborted.\n"); + exit(0); } + + printf("-----\nContinuing...\n"); + + /* build data body chunk */ + + printf(" Building data body...\n"); + + if (! strcmp(dateString,NULL_STRING)) + { time_t dummyT; + + dummyT = time(NULL); + strftime(inputString,BUFSIZ,"Date: %a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S\n",localtime(&dummyT)); } + else + sprintf(inputString,"%s %s\n",DATE,dateString); + + dataBody = (char *)malloc(sizeof(char)*(strlen(inputString) + 1)); + strcat(dataBody,inputString); + + if (! strcmp(fromAlias,NULL_STRING)) + sprintf(inputString,"%s %s\n",BODYFROM,posedClient); + else + sprintf(inputString,"%s %s <%s>\n",BODYFROM,fromAlias,posedClient); + + dataBody = (char*)realloc(dataBody,(strlen(dataBody) + strlen(inputString) + 1) * sizeof(char)); + strcat(dataBody,inputString); + + sprintf(inputString,"%s %s\n",SUBJECT,subjectLine); + dataBody = (char*)realloc(dataBody,(strlen(dataBody) + strlen(inputString) + 1) * sizeof(char)); + strcat(dataBody,inputString); + + sprintf(inputString,"%s %s\n",BODYTO,recipient); + dataBody = (char*)realloc(dataBody,(strlen(dataBody) + strlen(inputString) + 1) * sizeof(char)); + strcat(dataBody,inputString); + + sprintf(inputString,"%s <%s>\n",MSGID,messageId); + dataBody = (char*)realloc(dataBody,(strlen(dataBody) + strlen(inputString) + 1) * sizeof(char)); + strcat(dataBody,inputString); + + dataBody = (char*)realloc(dataBody,(strlen(dataBody) + strlen(body) + 1) * sizeof(char)); + strcat(dataBody,body); + + printf(" Attempting to contact mail relay...\n"); + + if (! contact_relay()) + { printf(" Not able to connect to relay host.. Process halted.\n"); + exit(0); } + else + printf(" Relay contacted, connection accepted...\n"); + + /* speak that protocol slang */ + + printf(" Exchanging protocol slang...\n"); + + sprintf(buf,"\n"); + writeln(buf); + + readln(outputString); + + sprintf(buf,"%s %s\n",SMTP_OPENING,primaryHost); + writeln(buf); + + readln(outputString); /* don't error check hello - inconsequential, and + may throw a 500 if it is smtp friendly due to + extraneous socket junk left over from handshake */ + + sprintf(buf,"%s<%s>\n",SMTP_FROM,posedClient); + writeln(buf); + + readln(outputString); + if (strstr(outputString,BAD_NEWS)) + printf("\t ~~ Unrecognized command at %s\n", SMTP_FROM); + + sprintf(buf,"%s<%s>\n",SMTP_TO,recipient); + writeln(buf); + + readln(outputString); + if (strstr(outputString,BAD_NEWS)) + printf("\t ~~ Unrecognized command at %s\n", SMTP_TO); + + sprintf(buf,"%s\n",SMTP_DATA); + writeln(buf); + + readln(outputString); + if (strstr(outputString,BAD_NEWS)) + printf("\t ~~ Unrecognized command at %s\n", SMTP_DATA); + + /* monitor force feed of body into buf.... */ + + printf(" Passing the body of mail...\n"); + + writeln(dataBody); + + sprintf(buf,"\n%s\n", SMTP_EODATA); + writeln(buf); + + readln(outputString); + if (strstr(outputString,BAD_NEWS)) + printf("\t ~~ Unrecognized command at end of data send.\n"); + + printf(" Closing connection...\n"); + + sprintf(buf,"%s\n", SMTP_CLOSE); + writeln(buf); + + readln(outputString); + if (strstr(outputString,BAD_NEWS)) + printf("\t ~~ Unrecognized command at end of data send.\n"); + else + printf("Received good acknowldegment\n"); + + close(s); + + printf("------\nFinished... copy of sent message follows\n------\n%s\n------\n",dataBody); + + exit(0); +} + +int contact_relay() +{ + char serverSpew[BUFSIZ]; + int i; + + if ((s=call_socket(relayHost))==-1) + return 0; + + do { + readln(serverSpew); + } while ((! strstr(serverSpew,GOOD_CONNECT_STR)) && (! strstr(serverSpew, ALT_GOOD_CONNECT))); + + + return 1; +} + + + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001199.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001199.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9c2ce3aa --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001199.txt @@ -0,0 +1,158 @@ + "Freedom is a road seldom travelled by the multitudes." +The Anarchives Volume 2 Issue 6 + The Anarchives Published By + The Anarchives The Anarchy Organization + The Anarchives tao@lglobal.com + + Send your e-mail address to get on the list + Spread The Word Pass This On... + + --/\-- Raping The Media Messenger + / / \ \ McLuhan is Transformed + ---|--/----\--|--- By the Information Age + \/ \/ + /\______/\ by Jesse Hirsh + jesse@lglobal.com + +Today, Saturday July 22 The Globe And Mail, Canada's elite newspaper +published an article on the front page of the arts section on Marshall +McLuhan. The title of the article by Robert Everett-Green + was called "Resurrecting the media +messiah", but in actuallity what is described in the article is the +raping of a media mind. McLuhan was not a messiah, he hasn't saved anyone +from anything. Rather he enlightens us all with some of the secrets of +language and the way in which in we communicate. + +As with countless other ideas in our society, McLuhan's are being raped; +transformed to meet popular conceptions of an emerging electronic +envrionment. + +As McLuhan is brought from the grave he is laid out over his tombstone +and fucked up the ass with a big corporate penis. Digital technology not +only enables this to happen, but transposes a smile upon the dead man's face. + +Let's take a journey thourgh part of this article and see if we can +discern exactly how this violation is being carried out. + +McLuhan in the subhead is described as: + +"not just as a footnote or thesis subject, but as an icon of our times." + +As an icon the figure of McLuhan is robbed of all substance and meaining. +The image of the guy becomes a figure of consumption, and dissolves into +the barren nothingness of our consuming culture. He is an icon to sell +CD-Roms and corporate technological development. + +"Opinion is divided as to what he might have thought about the new +gadgets, but there's no doubt he would have savoured his present role as +the prophet who turned out to be right." + +McLuhan feared the changes he prophesized, so much so that he always +retained his devout faith, even as he preached aspects of the +secularization of our society, or even further the emergence of new gods. +McLuhan was motivated by the horror he foresaw our society heading +towards. He tried to explain this horror in the hopes that knowledge and +awareness of these changes may affect their outcomes. + +"The question today, even among his admirers, is whether there is any +further point in reading him." + +Exactly, why read him when he can be packaged for easy consumption. Why +try to understand what he was saying when you pay someone else to do it +for you. Let the real message fade into the oblivion of the individual +mindset, and allow the collective corporate mindset dictate the real +meaning of McLuhan. + + + +"'Nobody reads McLuhan, because he was right,' says Kevin Kelly +, executive editor of Wired. 'He was +right in that we're not a book culture any more. If you're getting your +information about McLuhan from books, you're not getting it.'" + +This might explain why that rag Wired is 85% adds. They have nothing to +say outside of selling image. They sell the medium of technology without +having to justify the message that medium brings. As the book is defeated +and turfed out of our corporate culture, so goes with it the ability for +individual thought, and critical independent analysis. + +"it makes sense that he should have tried to wake the sleepers though a +medium that was literally obsolescent (books) but that at least did not +undermine his message." + +McLuhan did not spend his time trying to communicate through the medium +of books or the printed word, but rather his focus was on the medium of +language. Language in many forms, in many mediums; that was where McLuhan +did his jig of media prophesy. He was an English Prof, not a book publisher. + +"That's part of the reason postmoderns, like the staff at Wired, dig +McLuhan but don't want to read him, at least not in book-length form." + +This is an example of the lack of substance, or dillution of the message +in the medium. +With television people are exposed to a fraction of the real picture, and +then collectively, with the rest of the electronically drugged out masses +assume that they know the whole story. +The post-modern-dummies at Wired get a bit of McLuhan with their morning +coffee and think that they all embody McLuhan. Meanwhile his dead body is +brought to the exec-editors office for a little +alt.binaries.up.his.white.ass. + +"'Reading McLuhan continously is not a good idea,' says Derrick +DeKerckhove, director of the McLuhan Program for Culture and +Communications at the University of Toronto. 'It's better to jump in, +take a peek, and then go somewhere with it.'" + +I'm sorry to see Derrick (derrick@epas.utoronto.ca) mentioned in this +plunder of McLuhan, I've wanted to think that maybe he is not in league +with the corporate rapists, but like any mortal he too seems to bend in +the face of global power. +At his book release party Derrick talked about the book and the act of +reading in the context of clarification and comprehension in the +speeded-up electronic age. I was joyed to see a guru of the electronic +age promote the act of reading. +But maybe now he too is being raped, while still alive, to be quoted out +of context, supporting the McLuhan soundbite, and the McLuhan corporate +run-away train. + +"So maybe we don't need to read McLuhan cover to cover, but only in +probe-length bits, while savouring the stinging effects of these viruses +of the mind. Perhaps McLuhan has joined the small elite of pivotal +thinkers whose lessons have entered general consciousness. It seems a +part of common sense to ask what impact any new technology is going to +have on the cultural environment. The internet had scarcely hit the +headlines before people began debating the effect this new medium might +have on the culture at large. To that extent the sleepers are at least +half awake, and McLuhan's work was not in vain." + +People are not contemplating what the message of these new media are. It +is fashionable to assume that it will affect us, even dramatically, but +very few are actually stopping to think how it is actually changing us. +And furthermore even fewer are examining what McLuhan is saying about all +of this shit. +On the picture of the article there was a statement to the effect of +"propaganda ends where dialogue begins". +This was trying to imply that when the current broadcasting model of +communications subsides to the multi-way format of electonic +communications, propaganda also subsides. +What a crock of shit. +Propaganda will exist as long as power exists. +Today's Globe And Mail was an example of power and an example of +propaganda. The entire section was a tirade against writing, reading, and +the methods of communication that encourage critical independent thougt. +I was able to write this critique today because I have read McLuhan, sat +down and spent prolonged hours reading what the guy had to say. I also +sat down and read the article in the globe. +I'm sure the large majority of Globe readers read the head line, +sub-head, looked at the picture, figured they knew the story anyway and +went on to read more of the bullshit. +Exploitation and domination run our civilization. +I and I are being drowned in a substance-less sea of information. +Those brave enough to try and figure out what the fuck is going on end up +becoming isolated because their ideas no longer fit within the artificial +consciousness of corporate tv culutre. +Those who do not consent willingly get raped anyway. +What the fuck are you supposed to do? + +TAO keeps burnin' + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001200.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001200.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e1ae9fd7 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001200.txt @@ -0,0 +1,239 @@ + "The Ontario Hydro Harvest" +The Anarchives Volume 2 Issue 7 + The Anarchives Published By + The Anarchives The Anarchy Organization + The Anarchives tao@lglobal.com + + Send your e-mail address to get on the list + Spread The Word Pass This On... + + --/\-- + / / \ \ + ---|--/----\--|--- + \/ \/ + /\______/\ by Jesse Hirsh + +__-___---___---___---___---___-----_____-------_______-------_____----_____ +b33n busy lately. web site is almost up. ftp site is in experimental +phase. mass mailer is starting to work right. shit's coming together... +__-___---___---___---___---___-----_____-------_______-------_____----_____ +this piece examines an article from THIS magazine +, a pseudo-radical mag +out of toronto, that tries to put the 'net into political context. it was +written by a guy who's on the anarchives list. so +clive feel free to respond to this piece to tao@lglobal.com and it will +go back out to the list. +the transcript from the mCluHan talk last wednesday will shortly follow +this one. +sorry for the confusion of last with the list. ;) +__-___---___---___---___---___-----_____-------_______-------_____----_____ +>From THIS Magazine August 1995 "Cyber Screamers" by Clive Thompson + + +Flying through words and ideas, +playing with the language of the collective conscious and unconscious. + +Putting together a picture of the world that is consistent with both the +shared realities of collective media and the material reality within +continual technological change. + +Issues of mind and media; the dominating role of the corporate mind +within the collective unconscious; the manufacturing of consent and +synthetic conscious. + +All in the aim to be: + +"way more wired" + +as stated in the subhead of Clive Thompson's article "In Cyberspace +Everyone Can Hear You Scream". +I'm still not sure what to make of this article. It is supposed to be a +compartive analysis of the left and right presence on the Internet. But +it consistently fails to dig into substance and rather like most +mainstream media skates on shallow cliches. +Clive's analysis of left and right is limited to cliches such as: + +"Republicans vs. Democrats" + +And comparisons of: + +"But the political skew struck me most clearly when I noticed that all +the conservative e-mail newsletters I'd subscribed to were flourishing, +while the liberal ones were in advanced stages of dry rot." + +And this from a guy from Toronto, the 'market' no less! What's this about +Republicans vs. Democrats, like there's a difference. Or even worse +liberals and conservatives, where does THIS see themselves in this +comparative context. Clive then proposes: + +"Cyberspace, it seems, has tilted quite heavily to the right." + +By using the "has tilted" Clive is insinuating that it was once tilted to +the left, which considering how right the military is i don't see that as +possible. This begins the first of many instances within the article that +the language is loose, almost striving to be among the double-speak of +mainstream media outlets. Watch as the language of the article reveals a +duplicity weaving among the subject matter. + +"In a McLuhanesque way, it makes perfect sense. The net is a classic case +of the medium being loaded with a message - it's custom-built for a +fiercely free-market outlook. Multinational, anarchically free, and +laughably beyond the grasp of any government, cyberspace is an elegant +metaphor for the new right's way of doing business." + +It's tragic to read a piece and immediately see that the author's sources +are so clearly out of whack. Firstly the message of the medium inherently +goes beyond political structures, it's primary effect is psychological, +any political arangement stems from the psychological transformations. +Drop the net=anarchy dance, it gets tiring. There are authorities in +cyberspace, and these authorities are only getting stronger. By +definition this eliminates the possibility of anarchy which refers to a +system with no authorities. +Finally it is not beyond the reach of any government, partly because the +Internet itself is part of the emerging governance. The term +government is not limited to the aging institutions we call Parliament +and Congress. Corporate governance has been rising for decades (if not +centuries), and yet few acknowledge the dominant role corporate +governance actually plays. Who am i kidding, corporations own Parliament +and Congress. They're dismantling the older institutions as a means of +shedding the "dead wood" better know as the welfare class, while +jockeying for spots among the emerging global hegemony. +The information hegemony. + +"I think these weird cyberspatial emotions spring from our subconscious +grasp of the Net's politcs, which are rooted in its global nature. With +the Net, we have access to the first piece of technology that is beyond +the power of any state. It is fundamentally anti-government." + +The net is beyond the power of the nation-state, not the corporate-state. +It is fundamentally pro-corporate-government. It's the Amerikkkan dream +run rampant; remembering of course that the dream includes an immense +cast of extras who are killed, raped, whipped, dominated, and exploited +just to make the dream that much more possible. + +"The Net smells like conservative spirit: it's pure free-market, making +everyone seem equal, as if there were no black or white, no rich or poor." + +Virtual reality can be an effective shield against real reality. Cut a +large portion of society out of the picture and you may be able to get +increased efficiency from all the "bleeding-heart" liberals who would have +cared if they would have known. + +The real issue of the "Information Highway" or the "Politics of +Cyberspace" is not a petty debate between right and left, but rather a +saga of power. In cyberspace we are witnessing the rise of a new +global power, often referred to it as a global entity. +At times it seems as if Clive touches on this subject, but still retains +his pattern of skate on the surface journalism. + +"Without power, their tremendous lack of style is vaguely insurgent +against the social order" + +Clive presents the Internet as geekland; a place where the underdog is at +welcome and at home. Furthermore Clive draws upon the potential of the +geek as subversive. Notice however the use of the word power, it begins +to emerge from the background and in this case becomes the focus. + +"But give a geek any sort of social power, and you've got a +self-obsessed, screw-you conservative of the first degree." + +The transformative effects of power... perhaps self-explanatory, but +where does the empowering effects of the Internet come to play in this +pradigm. The new media bring new power, both are transformative. + +"In cyberspace, we've seen the exact thing happen to hackers... they +seemed entirely counter-cultural... Then came the sellout. As computer +culture became big business, the hackers crashed in on their skills and +went fully maninstream." + +The term would be co-optation, similar to the metaphor of "Amerikkka +eating its young". Power is the ultimate force of consumption, it either +consumes and/or destroys. But to condone Hackers as sell-outs is to be +just as stereotypical as any other mainstream media outlet. As with +anyone else, hackers are individuals and prone to do what they want. + +As to the role of power, well, it's interests are usually quite obvious. + +"But it still hasn't lost that hip image of being the last bastion of +freedom, a bold new frontier." + +Of course no mention of the economic origins of this last statement. When +I first typed this quote in I misspelled freedom as "greedom" which is +perhaps more apt at describing the present situation. Take for example +the mast head of information greed and consumption: + +"Wired magazine has built its cultural status by combining the same mix +of cyberculture chic, free-market worship and contempt for government." + +Succumbing to the new global power, the race to join the new global power +class, or for "Mosca" the new political class to support the new political +regime. + +So tell us Clive, what of the supposed left in all this power playing: + +"Part of the reason for progressives' Net-dread is that, unlike +conservatives, they haven't been aggressively looking for a new medium. +They've been content with their dominance in city weeklies and small +magazines like THIS." + +We are offered descriptions of the left's domination of media, almost as +an imitation of the opposing powers. I'm not going to touch this one, only +ask: +Why is the left "dominating" media, why is the left even dominating at all? + +Clive goes on discussing the left: + +"What it tells us is that the left is scared of freedom. It's scared of +the challenge that the Net poses, where you can't shut somebody up if you +don't like what they say and where you can't dismiss them by pointing to +their identity - because you don't even know their identity." + +What are you talking about? Identities can be placed to words on the net. +That's the whole idea; desensitizing information so as to make it globally +accessible allows much easier intelligence gathering, and similar +identification of who's who. The left should be scared to go on-line 'cause +it's as if they were holding clandestine meetings on the pentagon's own +irc channel. + +"Particularly, you have to get used to the unrestarained freedom of the +Net. And that freedom has produced considerable uneasiness, especially +when it comes to hate and porn." + +Is the "left" scared of dialogue and the real world? +They're certainly being presented as such, although I would like to hope +otherwise. + +When I first received a copy of Clive's article I was immediately drawn +to writing a critique. It seemed as if there was so much that he had left +out, and so much that seemed to qualify as necessary illusions. + +The images Clive used were drawn directly from what I and I try to describe +as the corporate consciousness, or the collective consciousness that is +dominated by corporate imagery and symbolism. +So from the get-go the article could not have accomplished anything besides +perpetuation of the corporate joke, the mirage of approaching liberation +and freedom. + +Clive quotes the founder of the Toronto FreeNet referring to the Internet: + +"It's partially transformative. People will soften on their positions. It +almost requires you to listen and reflect." + +What is this guy talking about? The net is entirely transformative and +demands that you listen and reflect. Furthermore it is a process of +change driven by incredible forces of power. + +This is of course the story we are not seeing in the mainstream press, +except of course in the Report On Business or other journals of pure +double-speak where the stories of mergers and markets dictates a +reality in sharp contrast of the capitalist utopia painted by WIRED. + +It's tough to breathe when you're swamped with a constant flow of +rubbish and misinformation intended to keep you from seeing the truth +and seeing the reality of what is actually transpiring. + +Take some time to think about it, +then take some time to do something about it. + +TAO begins to get that second wind ;) + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001201.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001201.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8b9698e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001201.txt @@ -0,0 +1,369 @@ + "Freedom Isn't Given It's Taken" +The Anarchives Volume 2 Issue 8 + The Anarchives Published By + The Anarchives The Anarchy Organization + The Anarchives tao@lglobal.com + + Send your e-mail address to get on the list + Spread The Word Pass This On... + + --/\-- Unauthorized + / / \ \ Access Of + ---|--/----\--|--- A Computer + \/ \/ + /\______/\ by Jesse Hirsh + + +In early march of 1995 I was arrested for "Unauthorized Use Of A Computer". + +Three large, white, plain-clothes detectives from 52 division in downtown +toronto came to my house, promptly arrested me, took me to a holding +cell, and conducted a strip search (looking for codes I guess). I was +held in custody for four hours (7:30 pm to 11:30 pm), and released as a +result of substantial protest made by friends and family at the sergeants +desk. + +I was being accused of breaking into the computer systems at the +University Of Toronto for the purpose of publishing "Anarchist +newsletters". + +The sysadmin of ecf.utoronto.ca, one Professor Jack Gorrie +, saw someone on his system publishing Anarchist +materials, assumed I was a malicious "hacker", turned over all records of +my email, news posts, key strokes, you name it, to the police at 52 +division. The police realizing how dangerous these "hacker anarchist" +types are, had to come to my house to cuff me, bring me down, and strip +search me. + +All because I was using my brother and his friends' account. I was new to +the Internet, and naively felt I had freedom of speech. + +Turns out that freedom, like freedom in the real world, must be +authorized. Although my brother and his friend had no problem with my +using the account, they of course are not the recognized "authorities". +Only Jack Gorrie , the system administrator, has +system authority. And good ole Jack, like many engineers, doens't like +Anarchists. + +Instantly I learned the total lack of privacy (without encryption that +is) on the Internet, and the simplicity of complete electronic surveillance. + +All my actions were turned over to the police, a stack of papers six +inches thick. And of course this was their copy to keep. ;) + +I was to face trial for a possible six months in prison, just for +exercising my democratic rights and responsibilities. + +Of course the end result was that the charges were dropped, although this +was not until several months later (sept 7, 95), after several +appearances in court, and after my agreeing to pay $400 to the skule. + +But nevertheless, this incident was indicative of a lot of emerging +trends in our so-called information-highway: + +1. What right do Sysadmins have in turning our shit over to the cops? + +2. If there are "authorities" on the Internet, then clearly it's not an +example of anarchy, which of course implies no authorities. + +3. Where does the role of democracy fall within the practice of +electronic surveillance? Did I have any rights in the first place? + +4. Who enforces University regulations; the University? or the cops? + +I could have raised a lot of shit by dropping this publicly months ago +when it was all going on, but to be honest I was scared shitless. +I didn't want to be a guinea-pig for a law that had yet to make it to a +court of law. +My life had been thrusted into the public realm, and I was desperate to +get it back. + +Fortunately I have good friends and family, who knew a good activist +lawyer who was dedicated to keeping my ass clean. + +It's also worth noting that my brother, who at the time was completing +his master's degree at an amerikkkan engineering lab was investigated by +the FBI, upon prompting by the Toronto police. The FBI obviously found +nothing wrong, but again, hastle where it should not have been. + +I could go on ranting about many of the other socio-political +implications of these actions, but the purpose of this piece is merely to +inform. + +Included in this message is a legal-summary of the case etc., written by +friends of mine in LoGIC (Legal group for the Internet in Canada). Any +other enquiries or what have you can be directed to me at jesse@lglobal.com + +Any complaints, flames, or random rantings can be sent to +gorrie@ecf.utoronto.ca ;) + +_______________________________________________________________________ +* * * * * * * * L o G I S T I C S * * * * * * * * + ----------------- +Vol. 01 No. 01 September 1995 danshap@io.org + A Publication of LoGIC: The Legal Group for the Internet in Canada + LoGISTICS: danshap@io.org (Daniel Shap) + LoGIC e-mail: sherlock@io.org (Dov Wisebrod) + Mailing List: logic-l@io.org + WWW (under construction): http://www.io.org/~logic/ +_______________________________________________________________________ +In This Issue: +============== +2. The Jesse Hirsh Case +3. What YOU Can Do! + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +2. The Jesse Hirsh Case +======================== + +On Thursday, September 7, 1995, at 10am in Courtroom 126 of Toronto's Old +City Hall, Jesse Hirsh was scheduled to go on trial. He was charged with +"unauthorized use of a computer system" contrary to section 342.1 of the +Criminal Code of Canada. + +Jesse had been caught using his step-brother's university computer +account, as well as the account of another friend, to publish an +anarchist newsletter to the Internet. Upon his arrest, Jesse assured the +police that he had been given permission to use the accounts. However, +the prosecution adopted the position that, since the university had a +strict policy against allowing its users to share computer accounts, +Jesse's step-brother and friend had not been permitted to give Jesse the +necessary authorization to make use of their accounts. In other words, +it didn't make any difference that his step-brother and friend knew that +he was using the accounts, all that mattered was that he had actually +used them. + +Jesse quickly set about hiring himself a good lawyer (Bob Kellerman) and +prepared to confront the case against him. After many months of anxious +waiting, Jesse's day in court finally arrived. On the morning of the +trial -- mere minutes before the Court was called into session -- the +prosection suddenly withdrew the charges. Jesse agreed to pay to the +University of Toronto the sum of $400.00 as a token in satisfaction of +the cost of using its computers. (The University had claimed $1600.00!) He +was free to go. + +For Jesse, the prosecution's withdrawal signified the end of a long and +harrowing journey. After countless sleepless nights, lying awake and +worrying about the possibility of a criminal record -- or worse still, a +jail sentence -- he could finally rest easy. But for Canadians +everywhere, Jesse's story raises the ominous spectre of more cases like +it in the future. + +Section 342.1 +------------- + +(1) Every one who, fraudulently and without colour of right, + (a) obtains, directly or indirectly, any computer service, + (b) by means of an electro-magnetic, acoustic, mechanical or other + device, intercepts or causes to be intercepted, directly or + indirectly, any function of a computer system, or + (c) uses or causes to be used, directly or indirectly, a computer + system with intent to commit an offence under paragraph (a) or + (b) or an offence under section 430 in relation to data or a + computer system + is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a + term not exceeding ten years, or is guilty of an offence punishable on + summary conviction. + +Section 342.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada is part of a series of new +"high tech" crimes that were introduced a few years ago as Bill C-34. The +law was also amended to expand the definition of "mischief" (see section +430) to include anyone who wilfully obstructs, interrupts, interferes, +alters or destroys data. + +The purpose of 342.1 was, among other things, to prohibit anyone from +making use of a computer system "fraudulently and without colour of +right". In other words, if Jesse knew that his step-brother and friend +were not permitted to grant him permission to access their accounts, but +he used them anyway, then he would probably be guilty of a crime. On the +other hand, if Jesse genuinely believed that his brother and friend could +grant him permission to make use of the accounts, then he would likely +possess the necessary "colour of right" to avoid a conviction. + +In creating a new category of crime which prohibits the unauthorized use of +a computer system, the Canadian legislature was, presumably, trying to +pass a law which would allow the police to control computer hackers. The +term "hacker" is generally held to mean one of two different things: (1) +anyone who likes to fiddle around (a technical term) with computers and +their software; or (2) a person who breaks into computer systems. From +the university's perspective, Jesse "broke in" to its computer because +the university never authorized him to use those accounts. On the other +hand, Jesse wasn't really a "hacker" in the true sense of the word +because his step-brother and friend gave him the passwords. + +Unfortunately, the Criminal Code doesn't draw such a fine distinction. +According to the law, if you use a computer system that you weren't +suppose to, and you know it, then you're guilty of an offence and could +be liable to imprisonment "for a term not exceeding ten years". But the +law's clear-cut distinction between authorized and unauthorized use may +have some very serious implications for Canadians everywhere. That's +because many of the service contracts that Canadians enter into every day +contain language which limits their right to transfer or assign the use +of the service to any other person. + +For example, if you have an inter-branch banking card, the kind that you +use to withdraw money from an automatic teller machine (ATM), then you've +probably already signed an agreement with the bank that reads something +like this: + + This card belongs to the bank and is not the personal property of + the card holder. The card holder agrees not to give this card or + the password to anyone and the card holder will notify the bank as + soon as possible if and when it is discovered that someone other + than the card holder knows or may know the password... + +Accordingly, if you give your bank card to a friend (or spouse, or family +member) so that he or she can pay your bills or make a withdrawal for +you, your friend could be charged under section 342.1 of the Criminal +Code. + +The same type of restrictions may apply to your telephone answering +service (arguably a computer system) and to your Prodigy or Compuserve +accounts. In each case, the account and password are intended "for your +eyes only". + +"But would anyone actually prosecute these cases?" you might ask. +Wouldn't banks and phone companies rather deal with these issues +privately, rather than drag them through the courts and risk all the +publicity and possible embarrassment associated with a trial? The answer, +in most cases, is "Yes." Banks do prefer to deal with these types of +cases privately. In fact, one Toronto bank manager told me that even +though Canadian banks are facing a growing number of cases in which +people are caught using their friend's banking cards, the banks prefer to +deal with the matter privately. + +On the other hand, universities and employers are two groups of computer +owners who actually welcome the publicity and exposure associated with +criminal trials. Universities administer gigantic computer systems which +are used by thousands of staff and students on a daily basis. The people +who are hired to run these computers have a tremendous responsibility +and, generally speaking, not enough resources to do their jobs properly. +As a result, the universities prefer to see unauthorized users prosecuted +under the criminal law, since it provides a powerful form of deterrence +against future abuses. The rationale is that if people know that they're +likely to face criminal charges if they're caught misusing a university +computer, maybe they'll think twice before they abuse their own, or +someone else's, account. + +The Policy Problem +------------------ + +The idea that universities or employers can rely on the criminal law to +protect their computer systems (and their telephone systems - see section +326 of the Criminal Code, which prohibits the theft of a +telecommunication service) raises the following important question: to +what extent should the criminal law be used to enforce private +agreements? + +It's an interesting question and one that deserves further looking into +(see "What YOU Can Do!" below) On the one hand, anyone who gives their +password to a friend is an accomplice to a crime and could be prosecuted +as such under section 21 of the Criminal Code. On the other hand, +giving your password to someone is merely a breach of your contractual +agreement with the owner of the computer system. Should you be liable for +criminal sanctions for the mere breach of a contract? And if you +shouldn't be liable, why should the person who you gave the password be +liable? The easy answer is, of course, that the person to whom you gave +the password hasn't entered into a contractual arrangement with the owner +of the computer. But imagine for a moment that the person you gave the +password to has entered into an agreement with the computer owner (e.g. +another university student). If you give the password to that person, can +the computer owner still try to go outside the terms of the private +agreement that binds you and seek criminal sanctions? + +Another interesting question is whether the password has to be given to +anyone at all in order to constitute an offence under section 342.1. Say, +for example, that you are a university student with a computer account. +The university has informed you that the account can be used only for the +purposes of your course work and e-mail, but not for reading Usenet news. +After diligently using your account for the sole purposes of calculating +integrals and sending e-mail to your Aunt May in Alberta, you finally +submit to the overwhelming temptation to read alt.sex.walter_mathau. +After several months, and countless computer cycles later, you are +informed by the university's computing staff that they have been +"monitoring your activities" and that you have made "unauthorized use of +a computer" system. Should the university be restricted to the terms of +its contract with you, or can it go outside the contract and request +criminal sanctions? + +If it seems far-fetched that the university would press charges in the +circumstances just described, try to imagine this scenario. A private +detective needs to get the criminal record of a person she's +investigating to see if she can dig up any smut. She calls up her +policeman friend, who happens to work in the records department, and asks +him to pull the file. He sits down at his computer terminal and calls up +the record, then he prints it and gives it to the his detective friend. +Section 342.1(c) states the everyone who, fraudulently and without colour +of right "uses or causes to be used, directly or indirectly, a computer +system" is guilty of an offence. While it's true in this example that the +private detective doesn't have a contract with the police department to +shield her from criminal prosecution, the police officer who actually +used the computer does. Should the police officer be charged with the +unauthorized use of a computer system or should his employer be +restricted to the terms of the employment contract? + +In the final analysis, Canadians have to ask themselves if they are +satisfied with the existing laws, like s. 342.1, designed to protect +society against the unlawful use of computer systems. Ultimately, it will +be left to all Canadians to decide if they feel that the existing laws +are too broad or too narrow. Some people may argue that the law is fine as +it stands and that it's only a question of degree and willingness to +enforce the law. As one criminal law teacher put it, "it's a crime to +steal pencils from your office, but it's never enforced." Well, hardly +ever. + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +3. What YOU Can Do! +==================== + +LoGIC would like to prepare a cogent, persuasive and ultimately useful +commentary for the Canadian Department of Justice on several of the +provisions in the Criminal Code of Canada. As part of the commentary, we +would like to address some of the issues de alt with above concerning +sections 326 and 342.1. If you, or any paralegals, law students, +associates, partners or plain 'ol concerned citizens, would like to write +a paper on this (or any other) topic, please do! Then send it to LoGIC +c/o sherlock@io.org or danshap@io.org. + +If you don't want to write a paper (or even if you do) and you have some +extra research time on your hands :) please consider examining the +following points and writing to us with a brief description of your +findings: + +1) Any cases which cite 326, 327, 342. 1 and 430 (re: data). To date we +know of the following: + + R. v. Brais (1972), 7 C.C.C. (2d) 301 + R. v. Renz (1974), 18 C.C.C. (2d) 492 + R. v. McLaughlin (1980), 53 C.C.C. (2d) 417 + R. v. Miller and Miller (1984), 12 C.C.C. (3d) 466 + R. v. Lefave (1984), 15 C.C.C. (3d) 287 + R. v. Fulop (1988), 46 C.C.C. (3d) 427 + R. v. Duck (1985) 21 C.C.C. (3d) 529 + +2) If anyone could provide us with digital versions of the above cited +cases for our collection, we would also be grateful. + +3) A summary of the distinction between "obtaining" and "using" a +service, as set out in the case of R. v. Miller and Miller, cited above. + +4) All Canadian cases dealing with the public forum doctrine. This +doctrine, which allows for protests in public places, may be applicable +to computer environments. + +_______________________________________________________________________ + +* * * * * * * * L o G I S T I C S * * * * * * * * + ----------------- + +Vol. 01 No. 01 September 1995 danshap@io.org +_______________________________________________________________________ + +To subscribe to the Anarchives send a message to majordomo@lglobal.com + +subscribe anarchives + +Check out the TAO web pages: + +http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/ + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001202.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001202.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e78ded59 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001202.txt @@ -0,0 +1,93 @@ +"We delude ourselves if we believe that we participate in a democratic +polity, except in the Orwellian sense of educated discourse" -Chomsky + + The Anarchives Volume 2 Issue 9 + The Anarchives Published By + The Anarchives The Anarchy Organization + The Anarchives tao@lglobal.com + + Send your e-mail address to get on the list + Spread The Word Pass This On... + + --/\-- AT&T + / / \ \ Centre Of Empire + ---|--/----\--|--- In the Information Age + \/ \/ + /\______/\ by Jesse Hirsh + +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + +On Thursday (Sept 21/95) of this week there was a significant if not +paramount historical event. + +Amerikkkan Telephone & Telegraph, in a time of mergers and consolidation, +announced a three-way split. + +This should be viewed as a substantial power move of a global nature. + +AT&T is the leading corporate power. They embody corporate governance, +and the rise of fascism. + +Metaphorically speaking this breakup was the equivalent of the brain +detaching itself from a cumbersome body. + +The core of the break-up resides in the corporation that will retain the +AT&T name. This corporation will compose of AT&T's phone networks, +cellular networks, and capital corporation; in addition of course to Bell +Labs, perhaps the most advanced research & development organization in +the world. + +Please note that the networks that will remain AT&T, compromise the +backbone of what emerges as the electronic conscious. The phone networks +are a in part a monopoly of long distance networks, combined with +extensive fiber networks with global reach. The cellular networks, +formerly McCaw Communications, are what will soon become the +infrastructure of multi-way television, and the 9 Billion dollar, Bill +Gates - AT&T, Teledesic Corp which is attempting to launch 900 +"low-altitude" satelites to carry a larger cellular network. +AT&T capital of course owns all the rest. The two companies that will +break off from the old mammoth of AT&T will still be owned by AT&T +Capital, much like the rest of the capital world. +Bell Labs of course is responsible for most of the technology that exists +today. They make kazillions just on licensing fees, and are perhaps the +leading force in the development of so-called "future" technologies. + +I like to keep my eye on AT&T for the simple reason that they have their +eyes on us. ;) + +Just to slip in a little history on AT&T; they have traditionaly been an +integral part of what has been commonly termed the "military-industrial" +complex. They have developed a large majority of amerikkkan military +technologies, and have become grossly rich as a result. They still +command a virtual monopoly on military and large corporate +telecommunication business. These muuhfukkas are straight up evil. + +Look to them to be an emerging fascist power, silently becoming the +backbone of the world consciousness that mcluhanites are all harping +about. + +With this breakup AT&T becomes much more flexible in being able to +dominate the global market, and in essence become the very fabric that +this new market is being built upon. + +On Thursday when all this happened almost 12 Billion dollars was injected +into AT&T after they announced this move. Clearly capital approved this +strategic move, and AT&T has been given their mandate for global domination. + +And yet the large majority refuse to recognize or even begin to consider +the possibility of corporate governance. + +The power AT&T have now, at the dawn of the information age, is +staggering, and I would argue, uncomprehensible. + +This power will grow exponentially, accellerating an already accelerated +rate of change after the announcement of this break-up. + +Liberal democracy depends upon the incospicuousness of AT&T, and the +ignorance of corporate governance. + +If the true role of AT&T were to be laid out on the table, the farce of +democracy would dissolve, as clearly AT&T is not a democratic +institution, and yet it dominates the world... + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001203.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001203.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..454dc154 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001203.txt @@ -0,0 +1,363 @@ + "She's nobody's child, the law can't touch her at all..." +The Anarchives Volume 2 Issue 10 + The Anarchives Published By + The Anarchives The Anarchy Organization + The Anarchives tao@lglobal.com + + Send your e-mail address to get on the list + Spread The Word Pass This On... + + --/\-- Buckfast & Soda Bread + / / \ \ The Ireland Poems + ---|--/----\--|--- + \/ \/ + /\______/\ by Taj + +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +Finally able to spruce up this list with a small hiatus away from the +political discourse. We're going to start putting out some of Ella's +poetry. Noteing of course that tao@lglobal.com is always open to +submissions. The more voices the clearer the struggle. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + +Buckfast & Soda Bread: the Ireland Poems + +By Taj + +* The picture, taken by my mother, +is of Ambrose and Auntie Margaret. +I can see her even now, coaxing +them into her sights, the shutter wide, waiting. +Just their faces, wary. Smiling maybe, +squinting at least, in the way of the sun. + +Ambrose is young, the skin pulled tight +across his cheeks. The bones there are high and smooth. +The hair that grows from him +is almost all grey. It hides +the motions of his mouth, still +he looks a little surprised, covetous even. +It comes from the eyes. +He's schizophrenic. + +Margaret is in her eighties. Her face is full, deep lined. +Eyes leaky, blue. Spidered translucent +in the pockets beneath, her brows +yolk-white. Save for the slight +beard, slightly turned eyes, +she's an older version of my grandmother. + +They live together, well +Margaret lives in the house and he +stays in one of the trailer homes in the yard. +He visits for tea, marmite, cold cuts, and they sit. +Just listening to the radio, the odd car as it passes, +kicking up dirt, guessing who is it this time. +Newborn kittens in the barn. + +The paved puddle in back overfilled +the goldfish muddy, spitting water as they rub. +The hulk of the trailer that burned still there, +though the tenant has flown. +It smells like fire, spent wool. Steeping like curse between +the other two: Ambrose's, and the guest trailer where I slept, +cold, but the windows wide and the sagging bed. +The curtains water stained, stitched with tiny flowers. + +Margaret would visit, come all the way +from the house, down the white paved walk +to the unlocked door. She would sit with my mother, +laughing, the little scabrous dog in her lap. +Less comfortable when the others were around. +Matthew, my eight year old brother, and I +checking her out, the shared sidelong gaze as we strained to see +any trace of what provoked the rumours. + +This one we'd heard +from my mother, who'd heard it from my +grandmother who'd heard it from Auntie Noni, +who lives in England, but she should know. + +It's said that Ambrose sat in his trailer (a lone bulb, +scrapped paper, the odd +furtive glance at the back of Margaret's head +as she watched t.v., or read) and wrote +her obituary, planned +to kill her first, with an axe, then +submit his piece to the Mallow Times. + +We never knew how he was found out, or why. +Just that horrible, secret thrill of the thing, +and more, the inscrutability of them +as they wait, possibly even out of sympathy, +for the collapse of the shutter. My mother's elated, +guilty look, half-suspected in the act of dispossession. + +Hers, like mine, is a grubby disclosure +of the perceived strangeness of those who stayed. +A little like "Brother's Keeper". + +_____________________________________________________________________ + +* Margaret writes. Accounts of what it was like, growing up +in the Mallow orphanage, after their mother died +in childbirth, wrapped in infected sheets. The war was on. +She remembers being at home when the men came. +The family of 12 running amok in the yard, the road. +She was given a box of crayons, and told by her father, +"Go in and draw on the wall or something". +That's when she knew. + +The girls were taken to the nuns, +the boys were kept at home I suppose. +Some died later, in the war. +Margaret describes the brutality of those nuns. +I read things my grandmother neglected to tell, +though I had known of the marble baths, which fit 15 to 20 girls at a time, +cloaked in wet white gowns to hide their bodies. The water cold, and gray. +I've seen pictures, of the tubs, taken by my grandmother when she returned +some 45 years later. I've heard that she ran away when she was 15. +Took her baby sister, and worked as a housekeeper, until she met a boy. +They planned to marry, but then he died too, and she became a nurse, +in a hospital in Cork, where she met my grandfather, an x-ray technician from the States. +They moved here. + +When in Ireland my stepfather wanted to keep Margaret's biography, +get it published when he got home. Margaret was shy, though I think she agreed. +But my grandmother was upset, claiming that Margaret's account was inaccurate. +So, she's decided to tape her own impression, to right things a bit. + +__________________________________________________________________________________________________ + +* Fleeing Dingle. Found myself at 7 a.m., tiptoeing, trying not to rouse the hostel, just +my brother, so we could shake the bad dreams of freefall - the beds did +that, being +so high and narrow, with no siderails. And the others, dreams all twisted, +foreign-tongued. These as a result of the proximity of the next traveler's head, you +know, +magnetic field interference and all. + +Peeled back the towels that hung from the upper bunk as insulation from the strange +bodies. Poked him once, then twice again, anxious and envious of his sleep. He grabbed +me by the throat, and whispered hard, with open eyes, +"Do that again and die". +Claimed he couldn't remember a thing later, when awake. + +My pack half-stuffed, balanced away from the piss-puddled floor. My clothes +moldering, dusted with spat muesli leaking from the dented little box. +There was no room in that sodden fridge down the hall to store milk in anyhow. + +Our memories, our bags slung across our backs. Walked past the field from the day +before, where we spent five minutes, a veritable eternity, on a hill, +overlooking the squat town, the sheep +before us, spray-painted with big X's of ownership. + +They began to bitch, aimless but hostile somehow. Hundreds of them, the cry emanating +to us, in waves. The foremost, the bull, +eldest and nappiest of the flock, oddly reminiscent of that archaic, toothless Dread +croaking primordial Rasta vibes in Peter Tosh's "Stepping Razor Red X". +It began to rain. + +Passed the greasy pub from the night before, picked up our pace, laughing a little, +thinking on drinking Guinness until the badass crew tramped through the door and +plucked up instruments from the sideboard, and sang. Unchallenged by the bartender, +who turned up the radio, and avoided eye contact, +radiated disgust. + +Vowed we would walk all day, all night, just to be free of the forsaken town +(home of Fungie the friendly dolphin). +Discouraged, but still flashing thumbs at oncoming cars, for hours. Shoulders +threatening to separate from the weight of it all. + +Scratching out a path along the Inch Strand, living proof of Chaos theory. How a +measured distance expands in size with each successive frame of reference, how +suddenly a mile or two explodes into infinity. How time stalls. + +_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ + +* The first time we tried to make it to the Cliffs of Moher, +we weren't prepared. Began too late +and ran out of breath, still talking the same talk as before. +No hope of compromise, our words as weighted, as the sweaters we wore, +saturated and fated. + +Arms crossed, not quite looking, the other's face +too self-similar to bear. +Dropping frustration, dripping spite. + +Believed ourselves at some nether reaches of precipice at least, +and not here, with just the gradual slope +all the way to the beach. Paced out, pulled taut by the hand-piled fences +linked like fingers except where broken away, +belying the bonds of marriage and debt. + +Grasping, finally, the settling sun, +the length of our trek, and wanting only +to lose him, not to have to listen anymore. +I walked into the field. Walked further over the breast of the hill, +and further still, feeling soaked, so bitter. + +The wind yawned wide then. Its wingspread +flatted out the grasses, and it gathered to bruise against my forehead, +pull tears from me. Its whistle through the chinks in the fences +more like the resonances from some disemboweled singing bowl +than anything else. Uncanny. + +My brother's voice, teasing, worried, rushing +to me, then away, the muscles at his mouth working like fear, like prank. + +The wind stopped for me, let the words drop to me, +"Taj! Taj! Oh God, Taj, the bull!" +His mouth was long shut by the time the words winded to me, +and he had only to watch, the mechanism set in motion. + +My eyes (by all accounts) as big as plates, +my head twisting for sight of either bull or shelter, +and when none were found, the ridiculous bent stance, sort of 50-50 karate style, +only the hands splayed out to the sides. The sorry feet tangled in too-tall grass. +Fight or flight, baby. +My brother almost split with pain, with laughter. +Said he wished he had a camera. + +_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ + +* My brother and I, two farmers, a cow, and its lame calf. +The leg above its hoof cut to the bone +dragging limp, roadrashed. +The broken part knuckled under +the body's weight ponderous +the eyes wide seeing only +the road's turns, the stones +in its path. The pasture gate +a notion suspended barely beyond the caul of pain. + +The blood too fresh, +just spat from blue into air, +rubbing deep into the dirt, and the flies +blackflies fat like fists +clotted into bouquets, frenzied, blind with smell. + +The farmers walking slow, swatting random +at the swarm, making little head-shaking gestures, +tongues involved in a slow suck +against the teeth. Kissing their teeth like that +and shaking their heads +speaking remorse, out of synch +with one another, or the delicate arc +of the shears used to cut away the wire, +dangling from dirty fingers. +Calf blood on a pantleg. Walking slow. + +My brother and I crippled too, bikes folded +into our sides, spokes cartwheeling sunlight, +treads smearing +through puddles, tracking +our procession along this crooking road +between nettled shoulders. +Only the sky, the road home at our backs. + +The cow faking a rush at us, dug-heavy +and grim, warning us to stay slow, +as if we could run. +Her desperation plodding like that, thick. + +I think I made retching noises +the whole time, +and when the one farmer +walked ahead, still slow, so as +not to spook the calf, who paused, broken, +while the farmer pulled away the gate, +the other stayed to turn at me, +and laughing bitter, said, +"You'd never survive as a farmer, you know, with a stomach weak like that." + +Or something very much to the same effect + +_________________________________________________________________________________________________ + +* Sweet on Buckfast tonic wine, talking South Africa. Rubber bullet scars and boxing +stars. Kagiso and my brother and I. + +And old Tom, stumbling apology. Tripping, almost, into our laps. Drunk, demanding +change, or just one sip to smear along his soured breath. + +He's pausing to gather himself into stance. Half-atrophied, the rest flaccid, flexing still. +Looking yellow, bruised and wall eyed. Smells like turf. + +Knuckles congealed. Blunt fingertips feel over Kagiso's ring as he holds his lighter to +the borrowed fag. + +The ring, a gift, is piled in brass. Scratchy, it describes two lovers stretching to kiss. +Turns his finger green. + +Only Old Tom is blinded like Quixote with visions of gold. He fumbles, persistent, +considers applying a tooth to loosen the damn thing. + +Kagiso all the while cocking his finger so the ring, worn loose, won't slip. He's working +at tight-lipped negotiation, incomprehensible in other side, Salthill dialect, low and +threatening. + +Challenging blows, he stands and my brother and I follow, curses thrown +at our backs. Old Tom's too incoherent to ball a fist anyhow. + +Careens instead toward the others, cooing belligerence on their perch: the foot of the +statue. + +J.F.K. memorial park, Galway + +______________________________________________________________________________________________________ + +* Losing my drugs, +the ones I'd taken all the time +to sew so carefully into the waistband +of my karate pants, wrapped in plastic, not foil, +Thank God for foresight, else +I would have been shamed, maimed, busted +at Lester B. Pearson +with my baby brother in my arms +and the whole damn family in tow. + +I had been warned, by friends, to mind myself. +One in particular had suggested that I find an empty film canister, +fill it with chlorinated water. +That way, when and if caught, I could whip it out +and throw the hits in, trusting they would disassemble, +and prove ineffective when tested. +But Goddamn! Consider the dynamics of the scene... + +Anyhow, I ended up giving them away, +thinking I had no need for them there. +But my brother tripped, once +on that trek through the Burren. +Now I see that if ever there was a time, that was it. +Just the sky, the rubble. Druid burial sights. +What he must have known just then. +I could almost cry for loss now, lost sight of eternity. The clouds. + +I gave the last two away, to the crusties jamming in the park. +Quadriceps, the very very finest acid money can buy. +So clean, and I told him so, yet I doubt +he did them, had he had his wits. + +We met Andrew the next night, and he was appalled, absolutely appalled +that I'd given pure trips away, to them. +It all culminated in our search for a sodden mike, which we paid a full $10 for. +Pure poison, and Andrew nearly got beat for it too. + +Rented a boat and headed to the Norman castle just down the canal, +taking turns, the 3 meager lines divvied up on my passport, +one rowing, one holding the Buckfast (rumoured to make you fuck fast) +under water to keep it cold while the third crouched, +holding a five pound note up to the nostril, snorting. + +The wind was so clean, the sun as it shined +on our ritual. Just the three of us, lucky to be. +So improbable, landed there, my brother and I +and Andrew, 'Kagiso' in Bantu, +moved from South Africa when he was 12. +Fly in the buttermilk. + +Smiling. Dousing ourselves with strychnine. Feeling so genuine. + +____________________________________________________________________________________________________ + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001204.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001204.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..98f93524 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001204.txt @@ -0,0 +1,140 @@ + "Relationships of ownership they whisper in the wings" +The Anarchives Volume 2 Issue 11 + The Anarchives Published By + The Anarchives The Anarchy Organization + The Anarchives tao@lglobal.com + + Send your e-mail address to get on the list + Spread The Word Pass This On... + + --/\-- Power + / / \ \ And The Internet Domain + ---|--/----\--|--- + \/ \/ + /\______/\ by Jesse Hirsh + +@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@ + +This story is almost too easy to believe. + +Turns out (no surprise really) that the Internet domain registration +monopoly (internic.net) is indeed owned by the +military-industrial-biological complex. For once it's as if the +double-speak vanishes and the truth is as open as a web page. + +Now Internet domain registration will begin to be priced according to +user-fees starting at $50 annually. One source, one collecter of fees. +One databank with all Internet registration... + +Scientific Applications International Corp. + +To quote web reviews (emag): + +"The company, with over 20,000 employees and 450 locations around the +world, reported $1.9 billion in gross revenues in 1994. Over 90% of its +income was generated by government contracts - more than half of that +from defense, intelligence, and federal law enforcement contracts." + +They are a large military technology corporation. Check out some of the +projects that are listed in the corporate report: + +- National Security: "Our advanced technology for the Army Global Command +and Control System will allow quick response deployment and tracking of +troops in simulated or actual evetns." + +- Informaiton Management: "SAIC is supporting Department of Defence's +renovation of the 52-year-old Pentagon, one of the largest buildings in the world and +workplace for nearly 25,000 people. Under U.S. Army direction, our staff +are creating an evolving building-wide "enterprise network" of shared +communications and computing services. We are designing the network to +operate more efficiently than today's disparate systems, yet require less +human and fiscal resources to operate and maintain." + +- Military Technology: "Our contribution to the U.S. Navy/Defense Nuclear +Agency Electro-Thermal Chemical Gun illustrates this new focus." + +WAIT A MINUTE, READ THAT SENTENCE AGAIN... + +- Military Technology: "Our contribution to the U.S. Navy/Defense Nuclear +Agency Electro-Thermal Chemical Gun illustrates this new focus." + +CAN SOMEONE PLEASE DECIPHER THIS? + +- Law Enforcement: "A new SAIC system will give federal, state and local +law enforcement agencies fast, on-line access to criminal histories." + +- Environment: "SAIC supports the decontamination and decommissioning of +defense plants and military facilities." + +These guys are some bad dudes. + +To quote web review (emag): + +"In 1990 SAIC was indicted by the Justice Department on 10 felony counts +for fraud in its management of a Superfund toxic cleanup site. (SAIC +pleaded guilty.) +In 1993 the Justice Department sued SAIC, accusing it of civil fraud on +an F15 fighter contract. +In May 1995, the same month SAIC purchased NSI, the company settled a +suit that charged it had lied about security system tests it conducted +for a Treasury Department currency plant in Fort Worth, TX. (The company +paid the government $125,000 to cover the cost of the investigation as +part of that settlement.)" + +So why is this coming up now? + +SAIC with the purchase of NSI, which owns Internic.net, now controls all +Internet domain registration. A monopoly that now wants to charge $50 +annually for every domain name. Turn the funnels of money on. + +For those who don't know internic.net is the "central" (catch that one), +registration point for the Internet. Operated in conjunction with AT&T, +internic.net is the biggest reference source on the net. Every time you +send an email with an address like "lglobal.com", that name is referenced +to internic.net and converted to an I.P. address such as 210.50.120.2 +which denotes network topography. + +So again the military controls the maps and the bureacracy. + +You've got to go see their board of directors page. It's incredible. + +As an expression of global empire, SAIC is as naked as an oligarchy can be. +Their board of directors, 23 white men, 1 white woman, and 1 perhaps +southern european woman. Two generals, one admiral, vice-chairman of bank +of america. + +>From: Wes Thomas +> +>The press recently reported that the National Science Foundation>has turned +>over Internet Domain Name registration to Network>Solutions, Inc. (NSI) of +>Herndon, VA. The press failed to note some interesting connections. +> +>Tomorrow morning (Sept. 26), Web Review, a biweekly online magazine +>(see >Special Report at http://gnn.com/wr/) will reveal that NSI +>was purchased in May by Scientific Applications International +>Corporation (SAIC) of San Diego. SAIC is a $2 billion company +>indicted by the Justice Department on ten felony counts for fraud +>in managing a Superfund toxic cleanup site (SAIC pleaded guilty) +>and sued by the Justice Department for civil fraud on an F-15 +>fighter contract. +> +>SAIC's board members include Admiral Bobby Inman, former NSA head +>and deputy director of the CIA; Melvin Laird, Nixon's defense +>secretary; and retired General Max Thurman, commander of the Panama +>Invasion. Recently departed board members include Robert Gates, +>former CIA director; William Perry, current Secretary of Defense; +>and John Deutch, the current CIA director. Current SAIC government +>contracts include re-engineering information systems at the +>Pentagon, automation of the FBI's computerized fingerprint +>identification system, and building a national criminal history +>information system. + +goto http://www.saic.com/ and pick the corporate report. + +it's some crazy pages, almost wonder if they're real... + +power comes in many forms, +but there is only one power, +many faces. +and there is no freedom in the face of power. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001205.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001205.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5f906793 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001205.txt @@ -0,0 +1,173 @@ + "is the revolution on monday?" +The Anarchives Volume 2 Issue 12 + The Anarchives Published By + The Anarchives The Anarchy Organization + The Anarchives tao@lglobal.com + + Send your e-mail address to get on the list + Spread The Word Pass This On... + + --/\-- + / / \ \ the leaves are changing + ---|--/----\--|--- what are you going to do + \/ \/ + /\______/\ by Jesse Hirsh + +time and space are aligning into the crosshairs of history. + +peter is off to washington, to join millions of blacks and march on the +us government. monday oct 16 will be the largest black uprising in the +history of the american empire. + +and it's organized by fascists. + +but the masses are showing up anyway. + +oj's going. his lawyers going. everybody's going. + +-=\-=\-=\-=\-=\-=\-=\-=\-=\-=\-=\-=\-=\-=\-=\-=\-=\-\=-\=-=\-=\-=\-=\ + +on thursday i was in copenhagen, amsterdam, and toronto. + +three audiences of maybe 90 people sharing an artificial environment. + +linked via two-way television and ISDN lines + +presence + +the organization of networks + +dynamic feeling of shared sensations + +-~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ + +"man it's like the haitian revolution. millions of niggas pissed off +about 500 years of shit. in 64 it was peaceful and with a message of +integration. in 95 it's 2 maybe 3 million, pissed off, militant, and +relatively spontaneous. anything could set stuff off. everyone's going to +be there." + +"yeah but what about the government, they've got the baddest weapons, and +this would be an assault on fucking washington dc! they'd have the legal +right to use them all." + +"but it will all be on cnn. and if it sparks the niggas from all round +will goto dc. they'll all come down." + +"will it blow up?" + +"this is farakahn, he's a crazy muhfuka. he's not below pulling some shit. +what if there was an internal agenda to the march. there'd be three +million crazy niggas there. it could go off." + +$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$=$ + +at&t, the network of networks, once classified "dominant carrier" under +american federal regulation, has recently been reclassified as "common +carrier" by the fcc (federal communications commission). + +this change in regulation enables at&t to operate as a fully competing +entity in a free market of competitors. all irregardless to the fact that +at&t has a virtual monopoly on american long-distance markets (government +and corporate markets), they are leaders in communications r&d, there are +spearheading the $8billion dollor teledesic two-way television network. + +they are invading international networks with increasing speed, and they +have profits in the billions. + +they are the network. + +@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ + + +after a long seduction into the space of telepresnece + +a voice and face appeared on the wall. + +the first of which belonging to an arnarchist in amsterdam who organizes +desk.nl, an internet collective out of holland. + +then a young man was telling me that the computers are taking over. that the +governments are collecting massive databases on information about all +aspects of our lives. that they were using network analysis to study our +behaviour. + +i made a comment to the guy after some others discussed an issue, and he +responded to what i said, and he saw me and he heard me and i saw him and +i heard him and we co-existed in an artificial environment. + +and while we discussed the horrors of the rising powers, we were +simultaneously hypnotized through the medium, struck numb by it's +penetrating effects. + +& & & & && & & & & & & & & & & & && & & & & & & + +there was this mass exodus in early 1917, all the radicals converging on +the hot spot that was st.petersburg, getting ready for a revolution. + +shit lit up and the world changed drasticly. + +the elites are abandoning the nation state. capital and power has gone +global. change is not inconceivable, it is the current in our media +environment. + +2 or even 3 million blacks are converging onto washington dc. rallies are +being held all over the continent, maybe world. + +louis farakahn, head of the naiton of islam, a militant, fascist, +pro-black, pseudo-islamic, cult/religious organization, called this march +just after the announcement of oj's acquital. + +everybody's going to be there. the left, the right, the government, the +blacks, the fascists, the peaceniks. even oprah winfrey. + +all converging on the capital. + +the world will not be the same. + +`' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' '` `' `' '` '` `' `'' `' `' + +a man in a classroom in copenhagen stands up and says: + +"the real question should be do we live in a democracy?" + +which he abrubptly answered "NO!" + +others followed him and danced around the question, flirting with it but +not addressing it. + +i leaned forward to contribute to the space: + +"we do not live in a democracy when the media are owned by a small +elite. organs such as the industries of advertising create profits for +narrow vested interests. we do not live in a democracy when our +subconscious is continously bombarded by propaganda from the corporate +state." + +"now if you want to know how to get a democracy, i might suggest a +sensible first step: + +make the corporations democratic, 'cause right now they are the +oligarchic institutions upholding an oligarchic if not totalitarian regime" + +and i could see that the audience had heard what i said, and it had +registered thought amoung this linked consciousness. + +i thanked derrick in an impulsive feeling of gratitude. like i had +experienced something that had changed me completely. i was chasing after +my unconscious trying to figure out where it was taking me. + +the right side of my head was in a lot of pain, and remained so for the +rest of the night. + +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + +on monday see if you can feel it. + +the large bodies within the fledgling whole are coming to terms. + +the reverberations of which are unpredictable. + +be ready for monday... + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001207.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001207.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6e7160ab --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001207.txt @@ -0,0 +1,165 @@ + "the sky too is folding under you..." +The Anarchives Volume 2 Issue 14 + The Anarchives Published By + The Anarchives The Anarchy Organization + The Anarchives tao@lglobal.com + + Send your e-mail address to get on the list + Spread The Word Pass This On... + + --/\-- language + / / \ \ governance + ---|--/----\--|--- and the information highway + \/ \/ + /\______/\ by Jesse Hirsh + + +-~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ -~ + +our language struggles to keep abreast of the change we are undergoing. +confronted on all sides we see a social re-engineering, a distinct change +in societal processes. + +the electronic media accelerate the devleopment of language to a hybrid +energy of unified consciousness. + +as the fabric of modern governance, language traditionaly plays a rudimentary +role in the structure of a society. + +with the advent of electronic media and the development of the +worldwide information organism, traditional institutions, based on +the control of language scurry to catch the wave of progress. + +the information highway has become the metaphor for public debate. +it has become the symbol for the public's perception of an information +environment, and subsequently a reaction in governance. + +as a 'public' metaphor, the information highway is a debateable concept. +often the issues presented are indicative of the interest presenting. + +the 'popular' conceptions of the information highway are dangerously +misled. the changes that accompany such an implementation of social +organization will have a dramatic and permanent effect on the society. + +dipping your head into a global synapse, submerging yourself into the +global consciousness is a transformative experience. your mind gets +that kick of electricity, generating more neurons and connections. + +what is the 'order' on the net? + +imagination as commodity. + +with the liberation of information we approach 'total visibility'. +we all reach the metaphor of electron, zipping across the globe +winding the trail of our language into the linked minds of humanity. +we become aware of levels of access. access castes. + +with television 'it doesn't matter what you think it's what you feel.' +the globs of the television decades, consolidated the homogeniety of the +mass market. + +the liberation of information that accompanies a higher level of access, +the false sense of expressive freedom that is internaly projected, +we feel the change and express it through mutual experience. + +an inherent dependence begins to accelerate with time as space is +rendered obsolete by increasing telepresence. + +convergence and synthesis depict an implosion, the revolution is +televised and we watch with seduced apathy. + +but the 'people want to be information', +they scream 'Access', we want 'Access' + +and the private sector says, +"it's an Internet christmas" + +the public unites into a coalition. + +and the private sector co-opts all as consumers. + +the matrix and brain of information, +becomes a stream of information, +enacting a change that may otherwise +go midunderstood, if not undetected. + +the pay-per-bit system may change the image of the multicast center +in everyhome, to a super-duper remote control for everyone in tvland. + +while other levels of access are used to conduct 'network analysis', +maintain 'usefull databases', and perform operations such as +'opticall character recognition' in maintaining a state of 'total +visibility'. + +the total media environment we live in is defined differently depending +upon what information we access. + +the present state of relatively loose access restrictions, coupled with +the jevunile level of maturity, presents an opportunistic emerging +electronic environment. + +the language of the new mind still does not represent the emerging +realities. information overload has saturated the language, creating +a hazed vision of the present in relation to the near future. + +an active approach to the reclaiming of the language, to the creation +of a new dialect of media comprehension. + +the public interest hinges on the words of the governance, the language +given by the interests of public control, ready to influence the definition +of the public application of the "information highway" + +the IHAC (Information Highway Advisory Council) report's language was all +encompassing, entirely inclusive, playing all bases defensively and +comprehensively. + +similarly the private sector is all inclusive, and considers all to be +a part of their growing information networks. co-optation becomes the +agent of consolidation as the flagship sector of the economy will continue +to steer as it sees fit, by the guidance of the market, and the fuel +of profit. + +no-one even suspects corporate governance as the white men at the +board table dictate, delegate, and organize self-regulation. + +do we know the future we are impulsively sliding towards? +or has it been chosen for us, our consent manufactured, +and our tastes met with the emotional appeasement of a seductive +consumer product... + +we require an active approach towards the language, engaging it and +discovering the root message of the medium itself. + +"The professed concern for freedom of the press in the West is not very +persuasive in the light of the easy dismissal of even extreme violations +of the right of free expression in U.S. client states, and the actual +performance of the media in serving the powerful and privileged as an +agency of manipulation, indoctrination, and control. A 'democratic +communications policy,' in contrast, would seek to develop means of +expression and interaction that reflect the intersts and concerns of the +general population, and to encourage their self-education and their +individual and collective action. A policy conceived in tehse terms would +be a desideratum, though there are pitfalls and dangers that should not +be overlookded. But the issue is largely academic, when viewed in +isolation from the genral social scene. The prospects for a democratic +communications policy are invevitably constrained by the distribution of +effective power to determine the course and functioning of major social +instititutions. Hence the goal can be approached only as an integral part +of the further democratization of the social order. This central +component, with an indespensable contribution to make. Serious steps +towards more meaningful democracy would aim to dissolve the concentration +of decision-making power, which in our socieities resides primarily in a +state-corporate nexus. Such a conception of democracy, though so familiar +from early years that it might even merit the much-abused term +'conservative,' is remote from those that dominate public +discourse hardly a surprise, given its threat to estalished privilege. + Human beings are the only species with a history. Whether they +also have a future is not sobovious. The answer will lie in the prospects +for popular movements, with firm roots among all sectors to the margins +withing the existing social and political order: community, solidarity, +concern for a fragile environment that will have to sustain future +generations, creative work under voluntary control, independent thought, +and true democratic participation in varied aspects of life." (Noam +Chomsky, Necessary Illusions, pp. 135-6) + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001208.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001208.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8c1864dd --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001208.txt @@ -0,0 +1,72 @@ +Just like a ball and chain... + +Introducing the electronic ball & chain... A little black box +attached to the ankle or wrist marks the start of new curfew laws +in Britain. Home Secretary Michael Howard has announced trials +of electronic tagging of 'offenders' which he believes will +eventually become the principal community sentence with up to +20,000 orders imposed a year. People will be confined to their +homes for between two and 12 hours a day for up to six months. If +they move out of the range of a designated telephone the black +box will transmit a signal down to a central monitoring centre. + +Securicor have 'won' the z1.4 million contract for the trials in +Manchester, Reading and Norfolk to begin in June of this year. +They will be required to consider all violations of a curfew +order and take appropriate action. Serious violations would +include "being absent from home for more than 24 hours without a +reasonable excuse" which would trigger immediate court action - +supervised by Securicor. Other violations include "interference +to the monitoring system caused by the actions of others such as +pets, children or other householders. Examples could be the +disconnection of the power supply or telephone link; the phone +repeatedly left off the hook or repeated minor tamperings". + +Not only do Securicor have no experience of dealing with +offenders, they face huge practical problems. For a kick off, +"suppliers" must first attempt to install a telephone if one is +not already available but their staff have no legal right of +entry to the offender's home and can only visit with consent. +Secondly the tags have got to be difficult to remove - it was +tried in Nottingham four years ago and was "a complete farce" +with people simply removing the box undetected. In the US, where +electronic tagging is already in force, 'correction staff' only +discovered one woman under a curfew order was dead after two +weeks. In addition people with jobs could not be tagged during +working hours. + +Court action supervised by Securicor means that for the first +time in the history of British criminal justice private security +companies are to be given powers to prosecute offenders as well +as organise and supervise their sentences. + +The departure is now just part of the Government's plans for the +electronic tagging of offenders but it could soon be vastly +widened to cover a range of police roles. Group 4 has already +made representations to take over running what they term "police +custody suites" (in reality: police cells) although they are +understood not to be interested in street patrolling. + +There is no accountable regulation of private security industry +which now has more personnel (167,000) operating in the UK than +police officers (127,328) and which includes firms who already +possess dire reputations. + +Is this the end of the police as we know it? A review by chief +constables of police functions which could be taken over by +private security companies is in the pipe-line. Are some police +functions going to be privatised? Will the polis be up for +competitive tendering in the near future? + +One thing is sure, rent-a-cops are still cops. + +Also coming soon in Britain 1995 : + +ID CARDS (Green Paper); NATIONAL DNA DATABASE (FORCED MOUTH +SWABS) (Section 59, CJA); ARBITRARY STOP & SEARCH ('SUS' LAWS) +(Section 60, CJA); CHILDREN'S PRISONS (Part I, CJA); BUILDING +PRISON SHIPS (Section 100, CJA); BLANKET SPY CAMERAS (incl. +Section 163, CJA); MORE FORCED MEDICATION FOR MENTALLY ILL +(Supervised Discharge Orders, Mental Health Act amendment); +ABOLITION OF RIGHT TO SILENCE (Section 34-38, CJA) ..... + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001209.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001209.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bf1dd64c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001209.txt @@ -0,0 +1,537 @@ +Capitalism is losing its Barings? + +by Pearl + +To lose z75 pounds on the horses is unfortunate. To lose z750 +million poundsis slightly different. When Nick Leeson lost 750 million +on the Tokyo futures market in February, it should have raised more +than eyebrows or smiles from anarchists. It should have raised +questions. + +Barings "misfortunes" have highlighted the issue of economic +power and the fundamental changes in the nature of capitalism +which we have all had the unpleasant pleasure of experiencing +since the 1970's. These changes have important implications for +us, our activities and our lives and so must be understood. + +As should be obvious to any anarchist, capitalist companies and +corporations, by their economic power, control political power, +namely the state and in particular Parliament and the executive +(i.e. the government). Political power is often powerless in the +face of opposition from economic power. + +As Noam Chomsky notes, "In capitalist democracy, the interests +that must be satisfied are those of capitalists; otherwise, there +is no investment, no production, no work, no resources to be +devoted, however marginally, to the needs of the general +population" (Turning the Tide, Pluto, 1985, page 233). + +Faced with a government aiming to implement "radical" policies +(ie anything that will get up the noses of capital) and "deliver +for the needs of working class people" capital would use its +economic power to stop or undermine these reforms. How? Simply by +moving capital to more profitable countries. Its this economic +power that the recent changes within capitalism has increased. + +The tendency within capital is for it to become increasingly +global in its operations. Transnational Companies are, perhaps, +the most well known representatives of this process. +Globalisation became noticeable in the early 1970's, partly as a +response to popular revolt (the "crisis in democracy" to use the +elites term) and partly as the natural evolution of the system. +As would be imagined, the political reactions to this process +took similar forms in different countries as the underlying +economic causes were similar. + +The U.S. eliminated many capital controls, the controls having +been, as John Eatwell the Cambridge economist put it, "challenged +as 'inefficient' and 'against the national interest' and +'unmarketlike' - and the infrastructure of speculation was +rapidly expanded" meaning that "opportunities for profit +proliferated" by allowing capital formally invested in high +labour cost industries in the U.S.A. to move to states with lower +costs (John Eatwell, "The Global Money Trap", American +Prospects, Winter 1993). In Britain, "Heath... had relaxed many +of the controls on the banks in the U.K." (Robin Ramsay, page 2). +Both countries floated their currencies (Nixon first, closely +followed by Heath). This meant the end of the Bretton Wood +system. + +The end, in other words, of the post-war economic system. + +The long term effect of this has been the reversal of the ratio +between foreign exchange transactions of a speculative nature and +those for the finance of trade and long term investment. In 1971, +the former was about 10%, the latter about 90%. By 1993, +speculative transactions stood at 90% of the total. (Eatwell, op +cit) + +In Britain, the immediate effect was that between December 1971 +and December 1974, the total assets of British Banks rose by z48 +339 million, or 131%. "'Printing money' with a vengeance"(Robin +Ramsay, page 2). This resulted in inflation reaching 20% just +before Heath left power.[1] + +The reasons for this have been indicated above, but the +subjective factor, namely popular revolt, without doubt +accelerated the evolution to globalisation (as it had the +evolution to "national" capitalism, or the post war Keysianism +consensus of limited state intervention [2]). The major problem +of the post-war consensus was that "with the full employment +policy [this system implied]... it commits the state to +bolstering the power of labour. While it helps increase total +demand, its fatal characteristic from the business point of view +is that it keeps the reserve army of the unemployed low, thereby +protecting wage levels and strengthening labour's bargaining +power" [Herman, page 93]. + +This resulted in a extended period of capitalist expansion, in +which both productivity and wages could increase hand in hand. +Unfortunately for capitalism it is in periods of "boom" that the +working class is at its strongest. This is the key to +understanding the traditional "business cycle" of capitalism. If +an industry or country experiences high unemployment workers will +put up with longer hours, worse conditions and new technology in +order to remain in work [see "The New Slavery", Scotland on +Sunday, 9/1/95, for example]. This allows capital to extract a +higher level of profit from those workers, which, in turn signals +other capitalists to invest in that area. As investment +increases, unemployment falls so workers are in a better position +and so resist capital's agenda, even going so far as to propose +their own (see, for example, the calls for workers control in +that late 60's and early 70's). As workers power increases, +profit rates decrease and capital moves, seeking more profitable +pastures, causing unemployment. And so the cycle continues. + +Hence, after the extended period of boom caused by Keysianism, +working class struggle had invoked a capitalist crisis as the +rate of profit fell.[3] Inflation, as indicated above, was the +first response to this crisis as it "reduced the real wages of +workers... [which] directly benefits employers... [as] prices +rise faster than wages, income that would have gone to workers +goes to business instead" [Brecher and Costello, page 120]. +Working class revolt accelerated the process of globalisation and +inflation produced the correct climate for the "deregulation" era +of Thatcher and Reagan to be on the agenda. + +This era was marked by a move away from the "nanny state" (for +the working class at least, not for the ruling class) to "free" +markets as part of a "neoliberal revolution". The new consensus +not only represented a policy change away from the defunct social +democratic one, it also represented a structural change +corresponding to the globalisation of capitalism. A process which +has benefited capitalism immensely, increasing its size, power +and mobility. + +The figures speak for themselves. + +>From 1986 to 1990, foreign exchange transactions rose from under +$300 billion to $700 billion daily and are expected to exceed +$1.3 trillion in 1994. The World Bank estimates that the total +resources of international financial institutions at about $14 +trillion. To put some kind of perspective on these figures, the +Balse based Bank for International Settlement estimated that the +aggregate daily turnover in the foreign exchange markets at +nearly $900 billion in April 1992, equal to 13 times the Gross +Domestic Product of the OECD group of countries on an annualized +basis [Financial Times, 23/9/93]. Closer to home, some $200-300 +billion a day flows through London's foreign exchange markets. +This the equivalent of the UK's annual Gross National Product in +two or three days.[4] + +The tele-communications revolution aided this "globalisation" of +capital as the "revolution in technology and production is +fuelling and being fuelled by globalisation... it means national +boundaries and habits are becoming less relevant to business +decisions as investment flows and production facilities move in +quest of the highest possible returns or market share" according +to the Financial Times [Financial Times, 23/9/94]. + +"A level of poverty is sound monetarist policy" +(John Pilger) + +No wonder this Financial Times special supplement on the I.M.F. +stated that "Wise governments realise that the only intelligent +response to the challenge of globalisation is to make their +economies more acceptable". More acceptable to business, not the +population.[5] This has seen, and will increasingly see, what +could be called a free market in states, with capital moving to +states which offer the best deals to investors and transnational +companies, such as tax breaks, union busting, no pollution +controls and so forth. The "globalisation" of capital aids this +process immensely by increasing the mobility of capital and +allowing it to play one work force against another. + +For example, General Motors plans to close two dozen plants in +the United States and Canada but it has become the largest +employer in Mexico. Why? Because an "economic miracle" as driven +wages down. Labour's share of personal income in Mexico has +"declined from 36 percent in the mid-1970's to 23 percent by +1992". Elsewhere, General Motors opened a $690 million assembly +plant in the former East Germany. Why? Because there workers are +willing to "work longer hours than their pampered colleagues in +western Germany" (as the Financial Times put it) at 40% of the +wage and with few benefits. [Noam Chomsky, World Orders, Old and +New, page 160] + +According to Business Week (February 15, 1993), Europe must +"hammer away at high wages and corporate taxes, shorter working +hours, labour immobility, and luxurious social programmes". This +is exactly the sort of thing contained in any leftist programme +you care to mention (for example, see Issue 6 of "Liberation" and +its "draft statement for a shorter working week"). Exactly the +sort of thing capital does not require. Exactly the sort of thing +that the globalisation of capital helps put an end to. + +The globalisation of capitalism has already adversely affected +whole populations, but the next stage of global free trade (as +represented by GATT) will make things far worse. Global free +trade, as the economist Sir James Goldsmith notes, will "shatter +the way in which value-added is shared between capital and +labour" ("value-added" being the "increase of value obtained when +you convert raw materials into a manufactured product") as it +will result in a "massive increase in supply [which] will reduce +the value of labour". This also mean that management power will +increase for when organised labour ask for concessions "the +answer will be: If you put too much pressure on us, we will move +offshore where we can get much cheaper labour, which does not +seek [improvements such as] job protection, long holidays...". + +All of which, needless to say, will result in bigger and better +profits for the few as we, the real "wealth creators", get a +reduced slice of the value we create. As wealth pours up from the +working class to the ruling class, the drops from the rich will +"increase" (as 10% of 200 is more than 15% of 100). This is the +real meaning of the "trickle down" theory so loved by the Tories. + +Free Market, Centralised State + +Implied in and paralleling this rise of global capital, we see +the emergence of what have been called "superblocks", such as the +EU and NAFTA, needed to create "more efficient" regional markets. +This regionalisation of markets requires increased political +centralisation and further limitations in the power of ordinary +people. Taking the EC, for example, we find that the "mechanism +for decision-making between EC states leaves power in the hands +of officials (from Interior ministries, police, immigration, +customs and security services) through a myriad of working +groups. Senior officials.... play a critical role in ensuring +agreements between the different state officials. The EC Summit +meetings, comprising the 12 Prime Ministers, simply rubber-stamp +the conclusions agreed by the Interior and Justice Ministers. It +is only then, in this inter-governmental process, that +parliaments and people are informed (and them only with the +barest details)" [Tony Bunyon, Statewatching the New Europe, +1994, page 39] + +However, such centralisation does make it easier for some to +influence the political process. Namely, big business. For +example, the European Round Table (ERT) [6] makes much use of the +EC. As two researchers on this body note, the ERT "is adept at +lobbying... so that many ERT proposals and "visions" are +mysteriously regurgitated in Commission summit documents". Of +particular interest here is that the ERT "claims that the labour +market should be more "flexible", arguing for more flexible +hours, seasonal contracts, job sharing and part time work. In +December 1993, seven years after the ERT made its suggestions +[and after most states had agreed to the Maastricht Treaty and +its "social chapter"], the European Commission published a white +paper... [proposing] making labour markets in Europe more +flexible" (Doherty and Hoedeman, "Knights of the Road", New +Statesman, 4/11/94, page 27) + +What the state giveth, the state can taketh away. The Tories may +soon not have had to bother about the social chapter of the +Maastricht Treaty after all. + +But surely a "radical" government could resist the forces that be +and introduce reforms? Well, firstly, there is a difference +between the state and government. The state is the permanent +collection of institutions that have entrenched power structures +and interests. The government is made up of various politicians. +It's the institutions that have power in the state due to their +permanence, not the representatives who come and go. We cannot +expect a different group of politicians to react in different +ways to the same institutional influences and interests. Its no +coincidence that the Australian Labour Party and the Spanish +Socialist Party introduced "Thatcherite" policies at the same +time as the "Iron Lady" introduced them here.[7] The New Zealand +Labour government is a case in point, where "within a few months +of re-election [in 1984], finance minister Roger Douglas set out +a programme of economic 'reforms' that made Thatcher and Reagan +look like wimps.... almost everything was privatised and the +consequences explained away in marketspeak. Division of wealth +that had been unknown in New Zealand suddenly appeared, along +with unemployment, poverty and crime" [John Pilger, "Breaking +the one party state", New Statesman, 16/12/94] + +Electoral attempts at change are limited. In order for a +parliament to "deliver" reforms that benefited working class +people capital would have to be controlled. This would have one +of two effects. Either capital would disinvest, so forcing the +government to back down in the face of economic collapse. Or the +government in question would control capital leaving the country +and so would soon be isolated from new investment and its +currency would become worthless. Either way, the economy would be +severely damaged and the promised "reforms" would be dead +letters. In addition, this economic failure would soon result in +popular revolt which in turn would lead to a more authoritarian +state as "democracy" was protected from the people. + +Far fetched? No, not really. In January, 1974, the FT Index for +the London Stock Exchange stood at 500 points. In February, the +Miner's went on strike, forcing Heath to hold (and lose) a +general election. The new Labour government (which included many +left-wingers in its cabinet) talked about nationalising the banks +and much heavy industry. In August, 74, Tony Benn announced Plans +to nationalise the ship building industry. By December, the FT +index had fallen to 150 points. By 1976 the Treasury was spending +$100 million a day buying back of its own money to support the +pound [The Times, 10/6/76]. + +"The further decline in the value of the pound has occurred +despite the high level of interest rates... dealers said that +selling pressure against the pound was not heavy or persistent, +but there was an almost total lack of interest amongst buyers. +The drop in the pound is extremely surprising in view of the +unanimous opinion of bankers, politicians and officials that the +currency is undervalued" [The Times, 27/5/76] + +The Labour government faced with the power of international +capital ended up having to receive a temporary "bailing out" by +the I.M.F. who imposed a package of cuts and controls which +translated to Labour saying "We'll do anything you say", in the +words of one economist [Peter Donaldson, A Question of +Economics, Penguin Books, 1985, page 89]. We all are aware of +the social costs of these policies. And lets not forget that they +"cut expenditure by twice the amount the I.M.F. were promised" +[Donaldson, op cit]. + +Capital will not invest in a country which does not meet its +approval. In 1977, the Bank of England failed to get the Labour +government to abolish its exchange controls. Between 1979 and +1982 the Tories abolished them and ended restrictions on lending +for banks and building societies. The result was obvious, "the +result of the abolition of exchange controls was visible almost +immediately : capital hitherto invested in the U.K. began going +abroad. In the Guardian of 21 September, 1981, Victor Keegan +noted that 'Figures published last week by the Bank of England +show that pension funds are now investing 25% of their money +abroad (compared with almost nothing a few years ago) and their +has been no investment at all (net) by unit trusts in the UK +since exchange controls were abolished'" (Ramsay, page 3) + +Why? What so bad about the U.K.? Simply, the working class were +too militant, the trade unions were not "shackled by law and +subdued" (as The Economist, February 27, 1993, recently put it) +and the welfare state would be lived on. The partial gains from +previous struggles still existed and so created "inflexibility" +in the labour market. + +This happened 20 years ago, when globalisation was in its early +stages. Think of the power of capital now, with access to +electronic mail, the internet, artificial intelligence and multi- +media. + +So, governments are constrained by the agenda of big business, +multi-nationals and banks. But they are also constrained by the +state itself. This is clear from the experiences of the last +Labour government. Tony Benn has often written of the battles he +fought (and lost) against the civil service and the state +apparatus when he held ministerial office and of the +disinformation fed to him by his "advisors" in Whitehall. + +As Clive Ponting (an ex-civil servant himself) indicates "the +function of a political system in any country... is to regulate, +but not to alter radically, the existing economic structure and +its linked power relationships. The great illusion of politics is +that politicians have the ability to make whatever changes they +like..."[quoted in Alternatives, no.5, page 19]. + +Back to the Future? + +As can be seen from the last Labour government, Bill Clinton, New +Zealand or Tony Blair, the "lessor" evil is still an evil. They +cannot challenge, nevermind change, the fundamentals of the +system (assuming, for the moment, that is what they actually want +to do). The task for anarchists is to create a real alternative +so that we have more options than picking between "evils", so +that we can create our own alternatives, by our own efforts and +which reflect our ideas of right and wrong. + +That means, in part, recovering the rich tradition of socialist +ideas buried after the "success" of the Russian Revolution. The +ideas of libertarian, as opposed to state, socialism. These ideas +take many names, anarchism, anarchosyndicalism, guild socialism, +antiparliamentarian communism to name just a few, but they all +share the common ideas of working class direct action, +solidarity, self-help, self-reliance and self-liberation. + +To meet the globalisation of capitalism, we need to forge +international links between countries. Existing organisations, +such as the anarchosyndicalist IWA and IWW, while not perfect, +have their role to play and should be supported. As capital is +"dead labour", part of the surplus value extracted from our +labour by the bosses, its clear that by organising with our +fellow workers across the globe we can strike fundamental blows +to the system and its logic. We have a common interest to do so. + +We cannot, however, limit ourselves to workplace organisation, +essential as that is. We need to work within our communities as +well, as we face the evils associated with capitalism in all +aspects of our lives. We need to act locally. Unless we do that +any international organisation or activity is hollow. The global +solidarity of our class is the flower that grows from the soil of +our local self-activity and direct action. + +This self-activity will need to build links with like-mined +people, in our communities and in our workplaces (via Industrial +Networks, as suggested by the Solidarity Federation, for +example). Confederations of communal and workplace assemblies, +local solidarity centres, cooperatives and credit unions are +essential in order to generate a strong backbone of self-managed +alternatives which can support and win the class struggle. + +In other words, we have to build the new world in the shell of +the old. But beyond all this, we need a vision of the future and +ideas on how to get there. We need political content to our +activity in order to rise above the reality of capitalism and not +sink into reformism. Political ideas which spring from, learn +from and develop with working class struggle and self-activity. +Therefore we need a strong and effective anarchist organisation +to help spread the idea we can change things by our own actions +and that will encourage the spirit of revolt. That such an +organisation must transcend national boundaries goes without +saying, but like the society we aim for it must be based on local +autonomy and free federation. The Scottish Federation of +Anarchists hope to be part of such a global confederation. + +It has never been the case that capitalism is becoming a more +socialistic system by its growth. Its steady increase in size +means that popular control of its institutions has become +impossible. They have to broken up, with power decentralised +back to where it belongs, to local communities and workplaces +united in a free confederation. + +"Without big banks socialism would be impossible" claimed Lenin. +Like with so many other things, he was wrong. To make the +economic institutions of capitalism "even bigger" runs against +making them "even more [sic] democratic", for obvious reasons +[Collected Works, Vol. 26, page 110]. Luckily the Bolshevik myth +is less strong than it used to be in left wing circles, as is the +related idea that nationalisation equals socialism. [8] The +ideals of socialism may yet be saved from the statist hole it has +dug itself into. + +The inherent tendency towards centralisation within capitalism +runs against tendencies to socialism. As Alexander Berkman said +over 60 years ago, and what the Barings farce highlights clearly +today, the "role of industrial decentralisation in the revolution +is unfortunately too little appreciated... in a system of +centralisation the administration of industry becomes constantly +merged in fewer hands, producing a powerful bureaucracy of +industrial overlords. It would be the sheerest irony if the +revolution were to aim at such a result. It would mean the +creation of a new master class" (ABC of Anarchism, page 79-80). + +References and Further Reading + +Jeremy Brecher and Tim Costello, Common Sense for hard times, +Black Rose Books, 2nd Ed, 1979. + +Noam Chomsky, World Orders, Old and New, Pluto, 1994. + +Takis Fotopoulos, "The Nation-State and the Market", Society and +Nature, Vol. 2, No.2, pages 37 to 80. + +Edward Herman, Beyond Hypocrisy, South End Press, 1992. + +Robin Ramsay, "Thatcher, North Sea Oil and the hegemony of the +City", Lobster 27, pages 2 to 9. + +Vernon Richards (Editor), Neither Nationalisation nor +Privatisation - Selections from Freedom 1945-1950, Freedom +Press, 1989. + +Notes + +1. This fact is often ignored in the histories of the period, +which are rewritten to imply that Labour Governments and workers +struggle cause inflation. As two US writers have indicated from +the 1970's, facts are often "obscured by a barrage of propaganda +designed to persuade the public that rising wages are the cause +of rising prices.... The truth is quite the opposite. Every +general increase in labour costs in recent years has followed, +rather than preceded, an increase in consumer prices. Wage +increases have been the result of workers' efforts to catch up +after their incomes had already been eroded by inflation.... The +attempt to blame inflation on worker's wage increases is hardly +more than a justification for those who want to increase profits +by decreasing real wages." (Jeremy Brecher and Tim Costello, page +120). + +2. The nationalisation of roughly 20% of economy (the most +unprofitable sections of it as well) in 1945 was the direct +result of ruling class fear. As Quintin Hogg, a Tory M.P. at the +time, said, "If you don't give the people social reforms they are +going to give you social revolution". Memories of the near +revolutions across Europe after the first war were obviously in +many minds, on both sides. Not that nationalisation was +particularly feared as "socialism". As anarchists at the time +noted "the real opinions of capitalists can be seen from Stock +Exchange conditions and statements of industrialists than the +Tory Front bench... [and from these we] see that the owning class +is not at all displeased with the record and tendency of the +Labour Party" (Richards, page 9). + +3. Actual post-tax real wages and productivity in advanced +capitalist countries increased at about the same rate from 1960 +to 1968 (4%) but between 1968 to 1973, the former increased by an +average of 4.5% compared to a productivity rise of 3.4%. As a +result, the share of profits in business output fell by about 15% +in that period. See Fotopoulos, page 63. + +4. This should make any Scottish Nationalist wonder how +"independent" Scotland would be in face of such financial power. +And for them to ask the questions, independence for who? For +what? If independence for ordinary Scots, then how can this be +achieved within a capitalist system, dominated by business, +politicians and bosses? + +5. Such an "acceptable" business climate was created in Britain, +where "market forces have deprived workers of rights in the name +of competition" (Scotland on Sunday, 9/1/95) and the number of +people with less than half the average income rose from 9% of the +population in 1979 to 25% in 1993. The share of national wealth +held by the poorer half of the population has fallen from one +third to one quarter. However, as would be expected, the number +of millionaires has increased as has the welfare state for the +rich, with our tax money being used to enrich the few via +military Keysianism, privatisation and funding for Research and +Development. Like any religion, the market is marked by the +hypocrisy of those at the top and the sacrifices required from +those at the bottom. + +6. The ERT is "an elite lobby group of... chairmen or chief +executives of large multi-nationals based mainly in the EU... +[with] 11 of the 20 largest European companies [with] combined +sales [in 1991]... exceeding $500 billion... approximately 60 per +cent of EU industrial production". (Doherty and Hoedeman, page +27). + +7. Not that she was that "Iron" when it came to the real sources +of power in society, namely capital. Robin Ramsay has done us all +a great favour in documenting how "the first big interest group +Mrs Thatcher took on was the City - and she lost" (Robin Ramsay, +page 4) + +8. At the height of Labour's nationalisations, anarchists were +pointing out its anti-socialist nature. Nationalisation was +"really consolidating the old individual capitalist class into a +new and efficient class of managers to run... state capitalism" +by "installing the really creative industrialists in dictatorial +managerial positions" (Richards, page 10). + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001210.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001210.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..413b9b90 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001210.txt @@ -0,0 +1,395 @@ +EDINBURGH'S OTHER TATTOO + +by Ellis D. Hayes + +COUNCILLORS were unable to nod off at the year's first meeting of +Lothian Region on February 1. The walls of their plush chamber, +like the square outside, reverberated to the rhythms of massed +drums, beating out rebellion, paradiddling protest, rapping out a +tattoo of rage at the violent eviction of the Council-owned +Edinburgh Unemployed Workers Centre last December, during which +23 unemployed activists were arrested and charged. + +As the drumming reached a crescendo the councillors could hardly +hear themselves lie. + +The blood-stirring primal rhythms were laid on by the Sativa +Drummers and the Women's Drumming Collective, a must at any good +demo. Both outfits were involved in the occupation of the +Centre. + +Scores of angry protesters accompanied the beat with whistles and +yells of "Give us back our Centre !" + +For 6 months the Broughton Street Centre had been occupied, as +both a protest against the corrupt actions of Lothian Region and +their lackeys and as a display of determination to keep the +self-managed and unfunded community space open. A stone's throw +from the centre of Edinburgh, which is now Europe's fourth +business capital, unemployed and homeless activists barricaded +themselves in and continued to run a cheap cafe, offer benefits +advice, operate a crche, and maintain a wide variety of groups +and workshops, while the Labour Council seethed with anger. +Their eviction notice had been torn to confetti. + +(For the full story of the fight for the Centre and its history +see the last issue of Scottish Anarchist) + +GET BACK TO THE GUTTERS, YOU SCUM + +At dawn on December 1st the sleeping occupation nightshift was +yanked from its slumbers by the sounds of the Centre's back doors +being smashed in. The Emergency Phone Tree was activated before +the nightshift was flung out by the invading bailiffs and pigs. +Within half an hour Centre activists and supporters were tackling +the police. A sympathetic Herald journalist takes up the story : + +"Police and sheriff officers acting on the instructions of +Labour-controlled Lothian Regional Council smashed their way +into an unemployed workers' centre which was being used as a +soup kitchen and shelter for the homeless. + +The dawn action involved the ejection of four of the +activists, who have been occupying the former school building +in Broughton Street, Edinburgh, since last June when the +council terminated their lease. + +They have used the building 24 hours a day since then, as a +cheap, vegetarian cafe during the day, a meeting place for +community and political groups, and by night many of those who +kept the occupation going were homeless people who would +otherwise have been on the streets. + +One of those present when sheriff officers and police arrived +yesterday was a homeless man, who gave his name as Graham. +"They came in about 7.30," he said. "They couldn't get in +through the front door but at the same time they were breaking +in at the back. They caught us on the hop. + +"There were only four of us here. One guy spoke and there +were two others in plain clothes plus several police." + +Campaigns against the poll tax, Criminal Justice Bill, and VAT +on fuel were operated from the building, causing resentment +among regional councillors.... + +Ironically, one of the users of the building was the Beltane +Fire Society, which will be involved in the council-sponsored +Hogmanay celebrations. Other users included a women's +drumming workshop, members of which gathered around the +building yesterday to beat out their protest. + +"The Centre has so much support that the only way they could +evict us was to bring in the police," said one of the +organising committee, Mr Michael Stevenson.... + +A police spokesman said they always back sheriff officers if +they were advised that a disturbance is likely. + +Councillor Keith Geddes, the leader of the ruling Labour group +on Lothian Regional Council, dismissed criticism that a Labour +authority should not be acting in this way. + +He said: "We took a decision some time ago to terminate the +lease. Since then, they have continued to occupy the premises +and we felt it was time to restore the premises to council +use." + +He rebuffed the suggestion that it was wrong for a Labour +authority to shut down a building which provided cheap food +for the poor and shelter for the homeless. + +Calling the occupiers "unrepresentative", he said: +"Superficially, it might well appear ironic but, in the long +term, we believe we will use the building far more +effectively."" + +23 protesters were arrested and charged for taking part in the +6-hour struggle against 70 police officers, and hauled off to St. +Leonard's police cells. The Labour Council had hoped for a swift +and easy dawn eviction. They must have been disappointed. + +NOR IRON BARS A CAGE + +In the stuffy soundproofed single cells of St. Leonard's the +struggle continued. The stainless-steel cludgies proved to be +excellent drums and the rhythm of resistance rang around the +copshop, made more effective by a 'scream-in' in the women's +wing, while the big-gutted turnkeys fretted and yelled threats of +dire retribution. + +By 1am all the arrested demonstrators had been released. +Coincidentally, the blacksmith's van which had turned up to lock +the Centre Collective out was discovered near the police station +with its windows done in. + +The Crown Office dropped the charges against all but three of +those arrested. Ten days after the eviction hundreds rallied +outside the locked-up Centre to protest its closure while the +drums rapped out their tattoo. And on February 1st they were +back outside the Council chambers, deafening the toadying +wretches within. + +As the demo broke up and drifted away some folk were heard to ask +"Who was the wee guy with the old-fashioned drum?" Others +said that they'd seen no such person, that it must've been a +ghost. + +Indeed it was. Your reporter, who knows something of such arcane +matters, can now inform that it was no less than the rebellious +spirit of Bowed Joseph Smith, back from the grave with his drum, +to haunt the Council. + +BOWED JOSEPH'S DRUM + +Around the year 1760 the Edinburgh Town Council and its +well-heeled allies found themselves faced with a formidable +opponent in the shape of Joseph Smith who was a frequent, if +unwelcome, visitor to the Council Chamber. This was described by +a contemporary as 'a low-roofed room, very dark and very dirty, +with some small dens off it for clerks. Within this Pandemonium +sat the Council, omnipotent, corrupt, impenetrable. Nothing was +beyond its grasp, no variety of opinion disturbed its unanimity.' +Some things never change. + +Joseph Smith was a cobbler who lived in the Cowgate, an area of +squalid tenemented poverty in the shadow of the Castle Rock. +Deformed from birth - hence the 'bowed' - Joseph was possessed of +'great muscular strength in the arms' and an equal strength of +character in the face of oppression which led to his becoming +Auld Reekie's foremost and best-respected grassroots organiser. +Chambers, in his Traditions of Edinburgh, says that after Joseph +'had figured for a few years as an active partisan of the people, +his name waxed of such account with them that it is said that he +could, in the course of an hour, collect a crowd of not fewer +than 10,000 persons.....' To rally a spontaneous demo Joseph +Smith 'employed a drum...and, never, surely, had the fiery cross +of the Highland chief such an effect upon the warlike devotion of +his clan as Bowed Joseph's drum had upon the spirit of the +Edinburgh rabble.' + +Rabble? At the time the city's entire population was less than +80,000 and considering that the beat of Bowed Joseph's drum could +muster 10,000 in an hour, that's quite a rabble. Robert Chambers +was a respectable businessman whose brother later became Lord +Provost so his bias is understandable. But even he admits that +Joseph Smith 'was never known to act in a bad cause, or in any +way to go against the principles of natural justice... it was +apparent that almost everything he did was for the sake of what +he designated fair-play. Fair play indeed was his constant +object, whether in insulting the constituted authorities, sacking +the granary of a monopolist, or besieging the Town Council in +their Chamber.' + +OMNIPOTENT, CORRUPT, IMPENETRABLE.... + +When word of council corruption or decisions adversely affecting +the poor folk of Edinburgh leaked out it wasn't long before Bowed +Joseph's drum could be heard beating out its tattoo of resistance +beneath the town's towering 'lands' and up and down its fetid +closes, while the townsfolk rallied to its call and besieged the +Council chamber. + +Bowed Joseph and a delegation would be invited in to the chamber +for consultations. 'With one hand stuck carelessly into his +side, and another slapped resolutely down upon the table - with a +majestic toss of the head... he would stand before the anxious +and feeble council pleading the just cause of his compeers, and +suggesting the best means of assuaging their just fury. He was +generally dispatched with a promise of amendment and a hogshead +of good ale...' The ale was shared around. Direct action gets +the goods. + +But Joseph was no ego-tripping, careerist politician riding on +the backs of the people. When the demo was over, and the cause +won, Joseph would return to his Cowgate cobbling. He never +sought any office or financial gain. He was a focus, a +rallying-point of popular protest, nothing more. Nor did he need +a crowd with him to make a point. When the High Court made a +notoriously unjust decision, Bowed Joseph stopped the Lord Chief +Justice's sedan-chair in the street and demanded of him, +Scotland's highest judge, that he explain the justice of his +decision. Later, when the House of Lords reversed the court's +decision, Joseph dressed 15 scarecrows in rags and wigs, +'representing the judicial attire', one dummy for each of the +Scottish Law Lords, and paraded them around the High Street on +the backs of asses. There's an idea! + +Nor was it only Establishment figures who earned Bowed Joseph's +scorn. When the Guild of Shoemakers (which Joseph, as a +shoe-repairer wasn't able to join) held their annual parade, +Joseph met them at the city gates. Wearing a tin crown and +carrying a wooden ruler like a mace, he stooped before the +elitist guildsmen and apologised profusely for being only a mere +cobbler. The onlookers loved it. The proto-trades unionists +were deflated. + +But there were more serious issues to contend with. + +CLASS WAR IN THE CLOSES + +The news filtered down to Joseph's dank den in the Cowgate. 'A +poor man in the Pleasance, having been a little deficient in his +rent, and in the country on business,' writes Chambers, returned +to find that 'his landlord had seized and rouped (poinded) his +household furniture, turning out the family to the street. On +the poor man's return, finding the house desolate, and his family +in misery, he went to a neighbouring stable and hanged himself. +Bowed Joseph did not long remain ignorant of the case; and as +soon as it was generally known in the city, he shouldered on his +drum, and after beating it through the streets for half an hour, +found himself followed by several thousand persons, inflamed with +resentment at the landlord's cruelty.' The city guard, popularly +known as the Town Rats, never interfered. They 'peeped forth +like cautious snails on hearing his drum' then 'drew in their +horns... and shut their door as he approached.' + +The irate crowd rallied in a local park and decided on revenge. +They marched to the landlord's house. He had already fled so +they removed every article from the premises, heaped it up in a +pile, and set fire to it 'while the crowd rent the air with their +acclamations. Some money and banknotes perished in the blaze - +besides an eight-day clock which, sensible to the last, calmly +struck ten as it was consigned to the flames.' It is noteworthy +that none of these poverty-stricken townsfolk thought of keeping +the money, the clock or anything else for themselves. + +On another occasion, during a food-scarcity, the Edinburgh slum +dwellers, with Joseph and his drum to the fore, had forced all +the meal-dealers to sell their stocks at a low price, or have +their shops closed down. 'One of them, whose place of business +was in the Grassmarket, agreed to sell his meal at the fixed +price, for the good of the poor, as he said, and he did so under +the superintendence of Joseph, who stationed a party at the +shop-door to preserve the peace and good order, till the whole +stock was disposed of...' The crowd gave three cheers then +dispersed with their much-needed foodstuffs. + +Next day the merchant boasted to his friends that he had used +dodgy weights and short-measured the folk of a quarter of what +they had paid for. His boastful words leaked back to the hungry +townsfolk. Bowed Joseph set about 'collecting a party of his +troops, beset the meal dealer before he was awake and compelled +him to pay back a fourth of the price of every peck of meal sold; +then giving their victim a hearty drubbing, they sacked his shop, +and quietly dispersed as before.' Justice was done. + +THE END OF BOWED JOSEPH + +For twenty years the poor of Edinburgh used Joseph's drum as a +rallying call to fight back against oppression and corruption in +the Council Chambers. Landlords, monopolists and councillors +shuddered at his name. The police could do nothing in the face +of such massive popular resistance. Neither could the +magistrates who 'patronised him rather from fear than respect.' +It is a shining example of people power. + +In 1780, while returning from the Leith Races, an annual gala +beside the sea and a holiday for the Edinburgh folk, Bowed +Joseph, drunk as a Lord, fell from the top of a coach and died. +The powers-that-be exacted a subtle revenge. Joseph's twisted +skeleton was displayed in the city's medical museum. + +Bowed Joseph never exploited his popularity, never ran for office +or took money. He never sold out. If the Auld Reekie +establishment thought that Joseph's death would mean an end to +popular resistance, then they were in for a shock. Four years +after his death there were massive food riots in the city. +Joseph had been only a rallier, but an exceptionally good one. +There have been many like him, men and women, who have +disappeared into the mists of time, as Joseph would have had not +Robert Chambers written of him. 'History' is the lie of rulers, +kings and emperors and their lackeys. The full chronicle of +popular resistance in Edinburgh remains to be told, from the tale +of the Blue Blanket right up to modern-day accounts of the 70's +council-rent strikes, the 80's occupations of council chambers +during the DHSS strike which successfully forced the Council to +issue food vouchers, to the demos and occupations against the +Labour Council's passive acceptance of the Poll Tax - right up to +the 6 month occupation of the Unemployed Workers Centre and its +smashing by Labour-run Lothian Regional Council. + +That fight isn't over yet. + +THE BEGGAR'S BIBLE + +As February's drumbeats boomed around that den of thieves called +the Council Chamber, councillor Brian 'Killer' Cavanagh announced +that the council had donated z2,000 towards the cost of a booklet +called A Guide to Surviving on the Streets of Edinburgh. +Cavanagh, the Labour chair of the social work committee and one +of those most responsible for the smashing of the Centre, had +reached the pinnacle of cynical hypocrisy. z2,000 towards +telling people how to live on the streets? Bastard. The police +recently admitted that the eviction of the Centre, which was +unfunded and self-supporting, cost Lothian taxpayers z5,300. A +recent request to the Region from the New Town, Broughton and +Pilrig Community Council, who had supported the Centre, asking +how much it had cost to guard the evicted centre day and night +with a private security firm, was answered with 'this will be the +subject of a future report'. Bastards. These politicians are +the real beggars, morally, ethically and socially. + +Four months after the violent eviction, the once-thriving Centre +building remains locked and bolted, degenerating into graffittied +dilapidation, a symbol of politicians' determination to deny +ordinary people a space to autonomously organise outside Party +and Trade Union control. + +The Council may have taken back the building - for now - but they +have been forced to spend a small fortune to stop it being +re-occupied, and have been unable to make good their promises +that it will be used for council-approved community uses. The +Centre collective's appeals for solidarity from other voluntary +organisations have been widely reported in the press. The Herald +and Post wrote: + +'The Centre spokesman said.... +"Basically the Regional council is either going to have to +keep the Broughton Street building locked and guarded...or +rent it back to the community."... +"We are appealing to all charities and voluntary organisations +that might be approached to use the building to refuse. If +they accepted they would be co-operating with the Region in +closing down the centre." +And he warned that if any group did try and use the building, +campaigners would take "peaceful direct action" to stop them.' + +The eviction hasn't stopped the everyday resistance practised by +the Centre activists. Subversion continues from an unlikely +temporary home in the basement of a church hall. Advice and +solidarity on benefits hassles and poll/council tax arrears, +leafleting dole offices, benefit gigs including an extravaganza +for International Women's Day, regular minibus excursions to the +direct action against the M77 in Glasgow, alternative literature +distribution - all are contributing to a continuing culture of +resistance. So enraged are the authorities that the iron fist +hasn't crushed the Centre that the police have waged a campaign +of intimidation against the church where the Centre is based, +threatening dire consequences if the Centre is not removed from +the church premises. + +Now the Centre collective plans a new initiative. The hunt is on +for a cheap shopfront which can be rented and provide space for +an info-shop, small cafe, meetings, and a general gathering point +for the dispossessed. + +THE BEAT OF THE DRUM + +We look forward to the coming day when the beat of the drum will +summon in half an hour 10,000 of those who are currently +telly-hypnotised and mortgage-ridden onto the streets to fight +for a better life, free from politicians and all of capitalism's +stagemanagers. Better, of course, if it were 100,000. Better +still, a million, or more. Bowed Joseph lives. + +*********************** + +The Centre hopes to move to new premises this May or June. In +the meantime make contact through the permanent postal address : +The Centre, c/o Peace and Justice Centre, St. Johns, Princes St., +Edinburgh (mail only), or ring 0131 557 0427. + + +************************* + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001211.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001211.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..36960c4b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001211.txt @@ -0,0 +1,86 @@ +D.N.A. - Do Not Accept + +by Graham Henderson + +The new Criminal (In)Justice Act gives the police powers to take +DNA samples. The outcome of this will be a U.K. wide DNA +database. + +The police will have powers to trawl through this database in a +random search for suspects of crime. Michael Howard, at the Tory +Party Conference last year, hailed the introduction of this DNA +database saying that it would reduce crime and that anyone that +had a DNA sample taken would "from that point on know that they +were a marked man". + +Don't be fooled by Tory lies or science, DNA will not be a solve +all for crime. + +Is Your DNA Sample Unique? + +The biggest database of DNA to date is that of the F.B.I. in the +USA. In this database there were three identical matches of DNA +that could not be accounted for as errors or multiple entries +from the same person. They were simply removed from the list. +Research based on this new database was then published in +influential science journals worldwide, stating that no multiple +matches of DNA sample existed in the F.B.I. database and so DNA +was unique to the individual. However as the F.B.I. files were +fiddled with, it is clear that two people can have identical DNA. + +Further proof of this came when samples were taken from small +numbers of people from two isolated groups of tribal peoples +thousands of miles apart. In this small scale study, identical +DNA samples were taken from people in these two separate groups. +Random matches between individuals do happen. Your DNA is +therefore not necessarily unique to you. + +Testing of DNA + +The inventor of the DNA test, Sir Alec Jeffrey, says that the +result of DNA testing is "guaranteed foolproof from a good +quality sample". DNA is therefore not guaranteed foolproof if +the people conducting the tests are not working from a good +quality sample. + +The tests are being conducted and copyrighted by private firms +such as Cellmark Diagnostics, a subsidiary of I.C.I. In their +promotional material they perpetuate the lie that their tests +will "identify one human being with absolute certainty from all +others". The reality was different when put into practice by the +company. + +In a blind testing to see how proficient Cellmark were, they made +7 errors from 50 samples. This gave false positives, i.e. a match +between two samples where none actually existed. The people +running the test them met with Cellmark who were asked to look +again at these samples basically giving them an opportunity to +rewrite their answers. + +Can we trust the firms, nevermind the technology, when conducting +real tests which could lead to real criminal convictions? + +A Real Case + +After a rape in Largs in 1987, Cellmark were employed to do DNA +tests on a suspect. On the strength of the information from the +DNA test conducted by them, Brian Kelly was convicted and +sentenced to six years in Barlinnie. This was inspite of the mass +of other evidence, such as a reliable alibi, to show he was +actually innocent. The "foolproof", "scientific" evidence was +accepted at face value. Brian Kelly was released in 1993 after +serving all of his sentence on the basis of DNA "evidence" alone. +There are serious doubts as to whether the tests were conducted +properly. + +Whether due to laboratory error leading to cross-contamination of +samples or human error of judgement, a person has served a six +year sentence for a crime he did not commit. In Brian Kelly's +words "DNA has wrecked my life totally". + +Do Not Accept + +We must campaign against DNA sampling. We must fight the lie that +DNA is foolproof. Don't be blinded by science. Science does not +equal truth. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001212.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001212.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fca2e023 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001212.txt @@ -0,0 +1,78 @@ +Direct Action: 14 ways to improve your job + +1. Workers run the world. Everything would stop without our +labour. Withdrawing our labour is our weapon, and the right to +run things is our demand. + +2. At the same time, most work is a bore. As it is organized in +our society, most labour kills the spirit and body of the worker, +not to mention the mind. But to simply call for a four-hour day +at eight hours pay is not enough. Who will benefit from the +automation that could realize such a demand? Who should control +technology's introduction and integration into the economy? +Potentially, we can. + +3. Collective action is the source of our strength as workers. +Many of the direct actions described below can be done by +individuals, but they are far more effective when done +collectively. This should not be mistaken for unionism. If +collective action and union activity are simultaneous, fine. But +collective action is not limited to unionism. Friendships and +common grievances on the shop floor are enough to carry out most +of the actions below. + +4. Slow down. Your job is killing you anyway. When your boss +tries to speed things up, drag your feet. + +5. Work to rule. Follow every regulation and order down to the +last detail, no matter how stupid they are. If you get absurd +instructions, carry them out to the letter to demonstrate how +absurd they are. + +6. Ask questions. Pick apart your boss' instructions with +questions about everything, even about the most mundane details. +Plead your ignorance and make your boss show his or hers. + +7. Strike through good work. If, as in a service-industry job, +your strike would hurt other people more than your boss, strike +by giving the public better or cheaper service, at your boss' +expense naturally. Bus drivers can give cheap or free fares, +restaurant workers can give heaping servings, hospital nurses and +clerks can refuse to process billings or charge for services, +etc. + +8. Pass the buck. Ask your boss to make every decision and every +judgement on the job. You can bury your boss under a load of +petty decisions. + +9. Don't forget the power of sit-down strikes and wildcat walk- +outs. Well-timed collective action can win a demand or grievance +in minutes. + +10. Practice deliberate inefficiency (aka "sabotage"). If working +conditions are unsafe or brutal, a single loose bolt or missing +part might bring things quickly to a halt. + +11. Report on poor working conditions and fradulent practice. +Whistle-blowers, especially in consumer industries such as +restaurants and hospitals, can be very effective. Call the fire +brigade if there's a fire hazard. Call in the health and safety +officiers. Call the tax man on your boss's dodgey bookkeeping. + +12. Everybody call in sick on the same day or days. The sick-in +can cripple your workplace in a morning. + +13. Take what is rightfully yours. If your boss refuses to give +you breaks or longer lunches, get everybody on the job to take +them anyway. + +14. All of this is the day-to-day preparation for more dramatic +forms of action such as a strike in one industry, the general +strike of all workers in the economy, and the creation of organs +of power and workers' self-emancipation (assemblies or councils) +to run society. These forms of direct action, though far more +organized, build from the simple direct actions described above. + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001213.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001213.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a44a6bb5 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001213.txt @@ -0,0 +1,86 @@ +Editorial + +"How are you going to construct something new, if you do the +same old things?" - Major Moises (EZLN) To the Democratic +National Convention, October 1994 + +All across the globe, working class people are rediscovering the +relevance of anarchist ideas to their everyday lives and +struggles. From the uprising in the Chiapas, to the anti-roads +campaign in Glasgow, more and more people are seeing the need for +direct action, decentralised organisations and solidarity from +the bottom up. + +The first issue of Scottish Anarchist helped to put analysis and +facts behind the anger against the system. This issue continues +that tradition with an analysis of the globalisation of +capitalism, the other side of DNA testing and how the use of +networks and the internet by activists is causing social elites +great worry. In addition, we have reports on struggles across +Scotland as well as the concluding parts of our articles on the +history of anarchism in Glasgow and Spain. + +It is only by reclaiming our history, the history of social +struggle and working class revolt, can we place any analysis of +current events into context and, more importantly, remind us that +a better society is possible. + +Tom Paine once wrote, "a long habit of not thinking a thing +wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right". +Today those words take on a meaning which Paine could never have +imagined. + +Its hard to believe sometimes that capitalism has not been the +only social system on this planet. Its presence is so widespread. +It gets into every space of our lives. The market economy has +become the market society. Human feelings are being replaced by +market jargon, corrupting our most hallowed ethical and spiritual +expressions and relationships. Community is being replaced by +commodity. The social breakdown this implies can be seen all +around us - poverty, crime, alienation, unhappiness. + +However, the seeds of hope still exist. Regardless of what the +system tries to do, we are still human beings, with innate +emotions, feelings of empathy and solidarity and, most +importantly, the ability to think, to learn and the will to +rebel. + +No one can do it for us. All magazines like Scottish Anarchist +can do is prompt thinking and encourage rebellion. The SFA does +not want followers, we are not leaders. We want everyone to +become a leader. We realise our activities are only really +effective when we join in union with our equals. Isolated +individuals cannot make history. But a union is only as effective +as the individuals that comprise it. A "union" of sheep can +bleat, but a union of individuals can discuss, enrich each other +by our diversity and change the world! + +A cooperative commonwealth can only be made up of thinking, +acting, feeling individuals. Community can only be created when +we reclaim our individuality and end the self-sacrifice of our +beings which is required for capitalism to exist. + +The future is in your hands. + +Iain MacSaorsa + +"It is only those who do nothing who make no mistakes" +Peter Kropotkin + +We would like to thank all those who sent in articles and +apologise to all whose work did not appear this issue. Again, we +welcome articles, letters, graphics, whatever, from any source. + +Send letters to, or ask for more information about the SFA from: + +Scottish Anarchist +c/o GAG +PO Box 1008 +Glasgow +G42 8AA + +Hotline - Solidarity Centre, Glasgow : 0141 226 5066 + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001214.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001214.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d302380e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001214.txt @@ -0,0 +1,419 @@ +Anarchism in Glasgow + +Part 2 Charlie Baird Snr, Mollie Baird, John Taylor Caldwell, +Babs Raeside, Jimmy Raeside, 14/8/87 + +In August 1987 the Raesides, who had been living in Australia for +many years, returned to Glasgow for a visit. This provided a rare +opportunity to bring together some surviving members of anarchist +groups in Glasgow during the 1940s for a public discussion on the +history of that movement and the lesson which can be learned. + +JTC: What did you think of Eddie Shaw as a speaker? + +CB: Well, I didn't agree with his type of propaganda. He could +draw a crowd; he could hold a meeting, but you always got the +feeling that Eddie was speaking for Eddie and his distinctive +propaganda was different from Jimmy's. Jimmy was a very capable +speaker The difference was that Shaw's type of propaganda and +perspective was that Shaw pandered to an audience, he +commiserated to them in their misery and all the rest of it. You +could see blokes bring their wives up to hear him. Raeside sent +them away thinking - this was the difference. I didn't agree with +Shaw - I told him that at the time. + +MB: The apprentices strike: now, we had about a dozen +apprentices at the time... + +Q: When was this, Mollie, '44? + +MB: '45 I would say. + +JR: They started coming in before that - Roy Johnston and that - +that was before... + +MB: That's right. They were holding meetings down at Clydeside, +like at... + +JR: John Browns Yarrows, right along the Clydeside... + +MB: ...and these young apprentices were getting interested. Then +the apprentices strike - and we had about a dozen young +apprentices coming in - Bobby Lynn was one of them, and a big +fellow - Willie Johnston - not that he was much of an anarchist, +he stood for Lord Provost of Clydebank before he finished up. The +boys were really keen, Spain had just finished and they were +still interested in Spain. Johnston had a conference that Sunday +and, just to give you an insight into Shaw: if you could have got +Chic Murray, the comedian, he would have been just about as good. +Charlie got this boy Johnston to go up on the platform, he was +doing quite well, he said: well, I'm not a speaker, but Charlie +said: We'll help you if you get into difficulties. The boy had a +marvellous meeting and the other apprentices were asking +questions, and he even did quite well in answering these +questions. The boy was holding their attention, but Eddie said: +You know, they're only holding on waiting for me. The man's head +was that size! + +JTC: He was a forerunner of Billy Connolly. + +MB: Eddie was in America for a few years - he was a +fender-bender. He wouldn't work for a boss, he would only do for +the different garages which would employ him. His wife used to +say, come on in Eddie when he was standing watching the suckers +(and he said "suckers" from the platform!) putting in the hours. +Now you know you've got to do something to get money but... + +CB: That was the debit side of Eddie Shaw, but there's another +side of him. He was an asset of the movement, I recognised that. +I didn't agree completely with the type of propaganda - he was +comical, funny, entertaining, a carefree type of person. There +was a place in the movement for him, he was an asset. Mollie gave +you another side of him, but then we could live with that, it +wasn't doing the movement any harm. Except that he was a +personality with most of the other members, and this is one of +the lessons to learn from anarchist groups who broke up and +disappeared. We have to ask ourselves the question: why? what +happened? If we don't learn from them, it's worse. I'd suggest to +young anarchists today to consider these aspects of the problem. +I'd say the responsibility to prevent these splits is to be +vigilant about personalities and see that no-one constructs power +from the group; once that happens that's the beginning of the end +for the group. We may have mentioned certain comrades, but you +have to understand I still liked Shaw, in spite of all the thing +we've said about him. Leech I couldn't like - some people excused +him by saying he was naive - he was naive but he was dangerous. +He contributed most to the split within the group by his +activities. + +During the war + +Q: What may amaze many people sitting here is that this was all +happening in the middle of the Second World War, which was meant +to be mass united patriotism united everyone against the common +foe. Here we're getting a picture that in Glasgow it was a bit +different. Maybe we haven't talked about the industrial front, as +well, the opposition to the CP collaborating with the bosses. + +MB: Yes, that certainly did happen. + +JR: I understand that at that time when the CP in New York were +discussing it, one bloke went to the toilet and when he came back +the position of the group had changed! + +JTC: One I can tell you intimately about was that Harry McShane +was due to go down to Brunswick St to speak on a Sunday morning. +He got his orders to change completely and call the war a +people's war, a patriotic war, a war against fascism, and he +didn't know where he was - he had to read it. He only spoke about +20 minutes, so that he could report back to the party that he had +held the meeting as directed. They did such a somersault. But +then he (CB) was going into more theoretical stuff... The +difficulty is that in the anarchist movement there's always lack +of definition: get 3 anarchists together and they'll give you 30 +definitions of what anarchism is, because by its very nature it's +indefinable because it's without authority. Therefore you have +different kinds of anarchism. Talking of personalities and +clashes within the movement: Bakunin and Marx destroyed the 1st +International between them and although Proudhon was dead, his +influence was so great that Marx moved the centre of the +International movement from France to Germany, in which it became +connected with Kautsky and took on Social Democratic character, +which was later reflected in the ILP and the Labour Party... + +The movement has been riddled with dissention the whole time, +with personalities - we've just got to contend against that, try +to clear your way through that and see what you can find solid. +Now there's many different schools of anarchism. Guy used to say +there were 7, but two which seem to come to the fore now and +again were anarchism and egotism, that is Max Stirner's "Ego and +His Own" in which an anarchist was an individual and a +multiplicity of anarchists were a concourse of individuals, and +these individuals had to find some common denominator in running +society, but these individuals were all persons in their own +right. Now, the Kropotkinite anarchists were anarchist-communists +- in simplistic terms, an ego is not a person bounded by his skin +from head to toe, an ego is a ramification of all his +associations... and his associations go back beyond his present +time, beyond your 20 years away back into the past, so that we +inherit much of our ego, much of our responsibility. Therefore a +centre of our egoism should be a concept of the community. He +tried to prove this was a predominating feature in biology from +the beginning of time and one of the causes of evolution - not +"nature red in tooth and claw" as Darwin had said and the +capitalists were now using... That's two different clashes you +had. You can, when you join a movement, have at the back of your +head "I am but an integral part of a community. What I do has to +be related to the advantage of a community. Mixed with other +people I can develop what's inside myself, my own personality, +that's my anarchy"... You do not accept standardised authority +for its own sake... + +That's two different types of anarchism. Bakunin had a slightly +different one... + +Egoism and Mutual Aid + +Q: Can we explore the situation in the 1940s with these three +different movements: Guy Aldred's USM, the Anarchist Group, +Willie MacDougall's group. Did people get on? Was there mutual +aid in relation to the anti-war movement, etc? + +JTC: No, there wasn't mutual aid. + +JR: There was indeed, there was a great deal of mutual aid. + +JTC: Well, we both look from different aspects. + +CB: As a matter of fact, in the Glasgow group, it was split too. +This didn't contribute to the ultimate split, but the group was +split over the question of mutual aid and the ego. Eddie Shaw was +an egoist; he was a Max Stirner man, and it was a bible with him, +he carried it in his pocket every day and crusaded with it. On +the other hand there was Jimmy Dick who was a Kropotkin man It +became so tedious that we had a debate on it. So Shaw and Jimmy +Dick put their cases and we were still split. In fact from my own +point of view and others too, mutual aid and the ego weren't +antagonistic at all, they were complementary. First of all take +the ego: a herd of buffalo - why do they herd together? For the +maximum of safety - that's mutual aid. It comes from the self, +the ego, the individual. So there's no conflict between the ego +and mutual aid in that respect, and that was pointed out to Jimmy +Dick and Eddie Shaw and we heard no more about it. + +JTC: George Woodcock in his study of anarchism refers to the +Glasgow anarchists as a small group who are still Stirnerites, +believing in Egoism. Now, I know that Eddie Shaw believed that, +he once had quite a long talk with me, but he was a crude +Stirnerite. He said to me "I believe in Number One - Get what you +can out of it" And he said of fixing his cars: You see the one +that's going to give you the most, and hang on to him. That was +his concept. + +CB: He didn't relate it to the group. Conscious Stirnerites, +through self-interest, would identify their safety in numbers and +that we can achieve more in numbers than as an individual... + +JR: One point regarding that, this attitude towards the ego. I +believe (with Bertrand Russell) that the most we can hope from +the individual in our society is intelligent self-interest, and +if he is intelligent he'll see that cooperation is going to be a +great deal better than confrontation. + +JTC: That's asking too much. The intelligent self-interest of +most people means getting themselves and their family on... + +JR: Well, it's hardly very intelligent then, is it? + +JTC: Mrs Thatcher in one of her last speeches (you must listen +to Mrs Thatcher, she's a genius of mediocrity) said that a person +should do the best for themselves and get the best they could out +of society and pass it on to their son. She said that is the +deepest morality. That's not the deepest morality. + +JR: I believe literally in what you just said she said. Because +I don't think she meant it the way you meant it. That you should +screw everyone else - that's hardly intelligent self-interest. I +think the norm of intelligence doesn't vary very much and we're +all products of our environment, which includes even our +parentage and our upbringing. + +JTC: No, I'd say the fact of economism, trade unionism gathers +strength in countries before anarchism does proves that people re +out for what they can get. That has been the bugbear of +socialism. + +JR: The people who make a living from trade-unionism are very +much to the fore in persuading people to accept that outlook. + +JTC: Very few strikes are entirely idealistic. They're about 3p +more because the labourers got a rise: they're differentials. + +Strikes + +Q: What about the strikes in 1944: the apprentices, the strikes +in Lanarkshire, etc? + +MB: What was the apprentices strike about in 1944? + +CB: Wages. + +JTC: They were still getting 8/- a week and with the war there +was inflation of wages, but the boys weren't getting it. + +Q: And fighting for their rights? + +MB: Plus the fact that boys who were not fully-fledged +journeymen were doing men's work... + +JTC: That's true. They were making the fourth year apprentices +do men's work. + +MB: And sending an apprentice along with an apprentice. + +Q: What about the printing press question? You've talked about +the problems with Freedom Press in London. Guy Aldred had his own +printing press, but it was the one time there was a really +strong anarchist group in Glasgow - did you never think of doing +your own paper? + +MB: We did. + +CB: After the split we did produce a paper, "Direct Action" but +it was mostly industrial. + +JTC: Willie MacDougall did a paper? Who produced "Advance" and +"Solidarity"? + +MB: Willie MacDougall did his own "Solidarity" but "Direct +Action" was another wee printer, an alternative to... + +CB: While that issue was going on about more industrial news in +"War Commentary", I suggested to the Glasgow Group, that we had +the money and could produce an organ of our own, quite a +substantial thing too, but, of course, Shaw and Leech sabotaged +that too. But with the benefit of hindsight, as Mollie said +earlier on, the majority weren't anarchists, just camp-followers +suffering from a leadership complex. + +MB: We had one good wee Irish guy, wee Reilly, he had a huge +meeting one Sunday in Princes St, and was doing quite well and +got very excited and said "If you want a leader I'll lead you!" +The majority did require a leader. + +JTC: What was the name of the old fleapit cinema you (JR) used +to fill every Sunday in Partick? + +JR: No, the only one was the Cosmo in Rose St. + +MB: Oh, the Grove. + +Q: Did the women play a distinctive role in those days? + +MB: No, women play a part, they're merely a part. I'm against +all this gay movements and black movements and womens movements. +If you're an anarchist, you're an anarchist and it doesn't matter +what section of them you are. If you start splitting them into +groups you're going to have less. + +JR: Babs was minutes secretary... + +BR: And also made tea! + +Social Life + +Q: What social events were organised besides the business +meetings? + +MB: Well, they had dances, we had groups playing... + +CB: Drinking sprees... + +MB: Even in Guy's... + +JTC: You look at "The Spur" and you'll see adverts for days in +the Waverley, the paddle-steamer. It cost about 2/6 for the whole +day. We did a lot of these things. Then you had fighting things +too... Other socialist groups, the cycling club... + +MB: The Clarion Club, that did a marvellous job, but the +Communists bust that up. The Clarion rooms were up in Wellington +St. You didn't have to be in a group at all; they had tea rooms, +all these things... + +JTC: Snooker... + +MB: That's right and social evenings, which all helped to defray +expenses. The Clarion Club covered a long period. And they had +camping facilities out in Carbeth. The CP went in and started to +run it too. By the time they were done, there was no group. + +JTC: But also the deterioration in social standards helped. The +Clarion had a place in Queens Crescent, that was their club, but +in no time the billiard balls were pinched the tablecloths were +ripped - all sorts of things which never happened before the war. +Things were sabotaged, graffiti on the lavatory walls; that never +happened before the war. + +MB: Even during the war. + +JTC: A general deterioration of social standards which happened +at the end of the war, because the war broke down inhibitions. +Young fellows of 18 or 19 were smashing windows in Germany and +pinching things, they carried that back with them. They didn't +break them down in a revolutionary sense, where you did things +because you were an anarchist or because you were showing you +were opposed to authority, you did it for sheer irresponsibility. +All the framework of society had been shattered and that's how it +started and it helped destroy the Clarion. + +MB: They didn't have a watch committee as such. But it was +yours, so everyone looked after it. It was a workers' thing.. +Parents could let very young children go cycling with them, +because the strongest waited for the weaker... there was none of +this out-to-win. In the rooms it was the same, you just saw that +the rooms were looked after. + +JTC: They also had caravans pulled by horses from village to +village... + +Q: Were the socialist sunday schools connected to the Clarion +Clubs? + +MB: No. I was taken very young to the APCF, I knew about the +rooms in Clarenden St, and also about Bakunin House. Tom Anderson +ran a Socialist Sunday School. They met.. + +JTC: They met in Methven St in Govan but there may have been +other places... + +MB: Originally in Bakunin House, merely a let. That was my +first visit, I was 5 or 6 at the time. They moved away then, and +it was too far for us to travel from the north of Glasgow. The +College Sunday School was predominantly ILP, not because the ILP +ran it. There was a bond between even-pink revolutionaries at +that time, that you gathered together. We went to the College +Socialist Sunday School. It started down at College St and went +from that. Again, it burst up - there's no socialist Sunday +School. + +Q: What do you think caused the lull in anarchism after the +Second World War? And what do you think of the upsurge in +militant anarchism? + +CB: There's always been a continuation of splits. Anarchist +movements have drifted away and disappeared, but there's always +another crops up again. Right from the beginning of the anarchist +movement, as Caldy described. There will always be an anarchist +movement in Britain now. We've got to try to assess just what +happened to those movements which disappeared. They didn't die a +natural death. That's what I was trying to get at tonight. As +long as we allow people to dominate within groups there will be +splits. And if we are anarchists, we shouldn't allow them, +because that's one of the principles of anarchism. + +JTC: I must have been at thousands of group meetings and always +a personality appears, and when it comes to voting, they want to +see how he's going to vote, and you get the votes swung by a +person who has the power of speech rather than by pure logic. + +CB: I can recognise that Raeside was a great speaker and can +hold an audience for hours; I can recognise that Guy was a great +speaker, but I never looked up to them, never treated them as +personalities, though they had charisma or anything like that. If +I did, I'd know I was suffering from an inferiority complex. No +anarchist should suffer from something like that. + +[Tape ends here] + +Transcribed in November 1993 from a not-always-clear cassette +tape. + +Audio copies can be obtained by contacting Scottish Anarchist + +Part 1 of this interview is contained in issue 1 of Scottish +Anarchist. + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001215.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001215.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7d4099be --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001215.txt @@ -0,0 +1,41 @@ +Anarchy on the Internet + +The following world wide web sites are recommended to readers who +are fortunate enough to have access to the internet, either +through work, study or ownership. + +Spunk Press Archive + +http://www.cwi.nl/cwi/people/Jack.Jansen/spunk/Spunk_Home.html + +The Seed + +http://web.cs.city.ac.uk/homes/louise/seed2.html + +Portland Anarchist Web Page + +http://www.ee.pdx.edu/~jason/ + +Noam Chomsky Archive + +http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu:/usr/tp0x/chomsky.htm + +The McLibel Case + +http://anthfirst.san.ed.ac.uk/McLibelTopPage.html + +Zapataistas (EZLN) + +http://lanic.utexas.edu/ + +The following e-mail based lists are also of interest. If you +want to join, send a message saying "subscribe " :- + +anarchy-list (anarchism) - anarchy-list@cwi.nl + +one-union (syndicalism) - 1-union@lever.com + +iww-news (Industrial Workers of the World) -Majordomo@igc.apc.org + +mclibel (McLibel Case) - majordomo@world.std.com + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001216.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001216.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a851e8dd --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001216.txt @@ -0,0 +1,45 @@ +Health Con International + +With the Health Care International fiasco rumbling on in +Clydebank, it is time to ask just what is happening to our +hospitals and health services. + +At the same time as millions of pounds worth of subsidies have +gone into profiteering for the wealthy at Clydebank, Greater +Glasgow Health Board have chosen to make across board savings of +z56 million by cutbacks in services. Whole hospitals, such as the +Western Infirmary and Rutherglen Maternity are to be completely +closed (The Courier, 23/12/94). + +This leaves many people having to travel further to be admitted +to hospital and the obvious dangers this creates. It leaves +friends and relatives isolated miles away from hospitals, causing +practical and financial difficulties and making many reliant on +inadequate public transport to visit people in hospital or be an +out patient. + +Far from condemning this situation, Labour M.P. Sam Galbraith is +quoted as saying "Greater Glasgow Health Board are to be +congratulated on this sensible proposal" (Courier, 24/12/94). +With so little opposition, it is will be hardly surprising if the +Scottish Office rubber stamp the plans. The Scottish Office, +while happy to see z17.6 million of public money "written off" +after the HCI failure and another z4.4 million offered as a +"sweetener" to business interests (The Herald, 16/1/95), may find +money too tight to mention when it comes to health care for need, +not profit. + +Of course, other expenditures do not meet the same criteria. The +Eurofighter, designed to combat a nonexistent soviet threat, will +cost z13 billion (probably double that) and the National Audit +office has discovered that z800 million has been "lost" in +putting up huge sheds for Trident. Not forgetting the z23 million +owned in corporation tax or the z1600 million owned in unpaid +VAT. + +We have one option, ordinary people must make their voices heard, +resist the cuts and the corrupt system that goes with them. + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001217.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001217.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c33e4813 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001217.txt @@ -0,0 +1,111 @@ +McDonalds, McProfits, McLibel + +Conceived 40 years ago, trash food giant McDonalds has achieved a +notoriety previously reserved for international tobacco, oil, +mining, pharmaceutical and weapons manufacturers. + +As annual turnover exceeds $28 million, the corporation +ruthlessly maximises profits despite widespread concern about the +effects of the company's advertising and the impact of its +operating practices and food products on the environment, on +millions of farmed animals, on human health, on the Third World +and on the burger chain's own staff. + +With this corporate culture it will come as no surprise that Mrs +Thatcher chose to open McDonald's British Headquarters. Not that +her former election agent is on charge of the Communications +Department and that her former press secretary, Sir Bernard +Ingham, is a non-executive Director. + +McDonald's have claimed that the wide-ranging criticisms of their +operations contained in a leaflet produced by London Greenpeace +have defamed them. So they launched a libel action against two +people involved in this group, Dave Morris and Helen Steel. + +Just before the start of the case, McDonald's issued a leaflet +calling their critics liars. Helen and Dave took out a counter +claim for libel against McDonald's and this will run concurrently +with McDonald's libel action. + +Helen and Dave have been denied a jury trial, at McDonald's +request. They also have no right to Legal Aid and so are forced +to conduct their own defense against the corporation's team of +expert libel lawyers. + +McQuotes + +The following quotes, most from the McLibel trial transcripts, +indicate the extent of the cynical deception practised at +McDonalds. + +"I can see [the dumping of waste] to be an environmental +benefit, otherwise you will end up with lots of vast, empty +gravel pits all over the country" - Edward Oakley, Chief +Purchasing Officer and Senior Vice President of McDonalds UK and +Ireland. + +"Foods that contain nutrients", Edward Oakley when asked what +"nutritious" meant in the "nutrition guides" he is responsible +for and which are currently available in McDonald stores. + +"Provides nutrients and can be part of a healthy balanced +diet" Mr David Green, the corporation's Senior Vice President of +Marketing when asked the same question. He admitted this could +also apply to a "a packet of sweets". + +"McDonald's line that their food can be eaten as part of a +balanced diet is meaningless. You can eat a roll of sellotape +as part of a balanced diet." Dr. Tim Lobstein, co-director of +the Food Commission. + +"McDonald's should attempt to deflect the basic negative +thrust of our critics... How do we do this? By talking +'moderation and balance'. We can't really address or defend +nutrition. We can't sell nutrition and people don't come to +McDonalds for nutrition." Internal Company Memo, March 1986. + +"A diet high in fat, sugar, animal products, salt, and low in +fibre, vitamins, and minerals, is linked with cancer of the +breast and bowel and heart disease." McLibel defendants quoting +the London Greenpeace Fact Sheet on McDonald's. + +"If it is being directed to the public than I would say it is +a very reasonable statement." Dr. Sydney Arnott, McDonalds +Expert witness on cancer. + +"When you see the Golden Arches, you're probably on the road +to the Pearly Gates." Dr. William Castelli, director of a major +work on heart disease. + +"It is our objective to dominate the communications area... +because we are competing for a share of the customers mind." +Alistair Fairgrieve, McDonald's UK Marketing Services Manager. + +"On any given day, McDonald's serves less than one half of one +per cent of the world's population. That's not enough. We're +like Oliver Twist, we want more." Michael Quinlan, Chief +Executive of McDonald's quoted in "The Independent" (27/4/94). + +"One of our tactics is to reach families through children." +John Hawkes, McDonald's UK Chief Marketing Officer. + +"Children are often the key decision-makers concerning where a +family goes to eat." Offering toys is "one of the best +things... to make them loyal supporters." Birthday parties are +"an important way to generate added sales and profits". +"Ronald loves McDonald's and McDonald's food. And so do +children, because they love Ronald. Remember, children exert a +phenomenal influence when it comes to restaurant selection. +This means that you should do everything you can to appeal to +children's love for Ronald and McDonald's." Extracts from the +corporation's official and confidential "Operations Manual". + +"I brainwashed youngsters into doing wrong. I want to say +sorry to children everywhere for selling out to concerns who +make millions by murdering animals." Geoffrey Guiliano, the +main Ronald McDonald actor in the in 1980's who quit and publicly +apologised. + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001218.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001218.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..17503e35 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001218.txt @@ -0,0 +1,173 @@ +Have we the right to condemn? + +by 'Black Sheep' + +He has been jailed for refusing to pay fines, arising from the +occupation and vandalising of Sheriff Officers premises. + +He has been arrested on numerous occasions, the most recent being +during the attack on the 'Pollok Free State' camp against the M77 +by police and Wimpey employees on the 22nd March. + +He is the first socialist outwith the Labour Party to achieve +instant public recognition since the days of John McLean, and is +a proven communicator, whether on TV or Radio, or in speaking +with working class people. + +He doesn't drink or smoke, his reputation is intact. + +So why does he incur such wrath amongst anarchists and other +revolutionaries ? + +The answer is simple: the Trafalgar Square Riot. + +So, why is the Riot so important to the anarchists and why do +anarchists south of the border know so little of Tommy Sheridan +since that one glorious sunny day 5 years ago? + +The story of the riot is well documented in the Acab Press +pamphlet, "Poll Tax Riot, 10 hours that shook Trafalgar +Square". Militant members, the stewards of huge marches that day +in Glasgow and London were appalled at what they saw as the +degeneration of the massive London march, and the media's +spotlight on the battle in the square at the expense of news +featuring 100,000 demonstrating in London and 20,000 in Glasgow. + +Tommy Sheridan was flown down to appear at the end of the London +rally and as the 'leader' of the All Britain Anti Poll Tax +Federation was pitched into the controversy surrounding the +police attack on demonstrators. Sheridan and Steve Nally, the +Militant London activist who was the Secretary of 'the Fed.' were +instructed by the Militant leadership, then led by Peter Taffe +and the ailing Ted Grant that the riot was a 'godsend' to the +Tories and would 'alienate' activists from the anti poll tax +movement. The script was that "200 to 250 of these individuals +intent on causing trouble" had sabotaged the march (Tommy +Sheridan BBC 31-3-90). + +Urged by the 'consensus conspiracy' that passes for news +coverage, Tommy declared "we condemn it totally" and both he and +Nally came out with the statement that "our Federation is going +to be conducting an internal inquiry to try and root out the +troublemakers" (Sheridan, LWT News 1st April) "...which will go +public and if necessary name names" (Nally, ITN 1st April). + +In the months to come there was uproar in the APTF, both at +federation level and in the local Anti-poll tax groups. Dozens of +houses in Hackney and elsewhere were raided by riot police. The +media conducted their populist witch-hunt to identify the +'ringleaders'. Eventually the clamour died down. Instead of +resistance to the poll tax disintegrating it was Thatcher's +government which was rocked and a salutary lesson was learned as +to 'who your friends were'. The so-called internal inquiry never +got beyond the drawing board, such was the level of outrage that +basic solidarity with the marchers attacked by the police, +imprisoned and in some cases jailed, had been breached. + +A year later Militant Labour was formed in Scotland, most of +their members having been expelled from their beloved Labour +Party. Militant Labour elsewhere took longer to make an impact, +which in Scotland, especially clydeside, was helped by Tommy +Sheridan's second place to Labour in the Parliamentary Election +of 1992, closely followed by his and another victory in the +Pollok ward in the District Elections of the same year. + +In Scotland, the media spotlight has continued, as Tommy can +always provide "rent a quote", especially during the protests +against water privatisation and a continued guerrilla war against +the dreaded Sheriff Officers. Recently the attention has dimmed, +especially with the emergence of the eloquent Lynsey Keenan of +Earth First connected to the M77 issue. Outside Glasgow, Scottish +Militant Labour has not made much of an impact with the partial +exception of Dundee, and the political arena is still dominated +by Labour with the Scottish Nationalists trying to muscle in. +Elsewhere in Britain, Militant has not achieved the impact or +benefits from the organisational stranglehold on the late +lamented anti poll tax movement, and they are just another +trotskyite marginalised sect along with the SWP and all the +others, too numerous and unworthy of mention. + +Recently in mid February, the Glasgow Anarchists were host to a +visit by 20 comrades from Tyneside, kindred spirits from a +similar working class city: Newcastle. As with previous sorties +by english and welsh anarchists north there is a culture shock, +and this was shown in their reaction to Tommy Sheridan up on the +platform in George Square at the start of the M77/ Criminal +Justice Act Demo. It is hardly surprising that Tommy Sheridan is +viewed in the same light as Nally and the other Militant Labour +leaders. In "10 hours" the quotes taken from videos of the +Trafalgar Sq. riot is followed by the assertion that Militant is +"an organisation that is opposed to the working class fighting +back". This may be true in England & Wales, Scottish anarchists +reserve judgement on this subject. For Scottish Militant, it +simply appears false. + +The reason being is that Militant strategy has changed +considerably from their days as an entrist Tendency. It is +certainly true that few anarchists can match the Militant members +from Pollok and elsewhere for their dedication to direct action. +Nor are they disarmed by the ethic of pacifism, with many arrests +associated with 'fighting back' literally, or failing to respect +the property of Sheriff Officers* and their sub-species. Part of +this stems from their recuitment of young people from the housing +schemes and the everyday common sense of direct action if you +have nothing to lose. As mentioned Tommy Sheridan has led by +example, even after elected to the Council, and faced a jail +sentence and countless arrests. + +Of course the appeal of direct action to Scottish Militant Labour +has to be understood. There have been examples in history where +Communist Party members took part in such actions, and even the +SWP at times have to show their 'mettle'. The difference is that +Militant now places community struggles at the centre of their +strategy, no longer giving it second billing to workplace +disputes and confrontation is part of the way people can see +through the role of Labourism, as defenders of the status quo. +Even as far as 'controlling' actions, a level of sophistication +appears to have been adopted. The Alliance Against the Criminal +Justice Bill, rechristined the Defiance Alliance is a case in +point. Unlike the front organisation character of the Scottish +SWP's "Coalition", the Alliance involves ravers, animal libbers, +anarchists and - especially Earth First. Such was the +structureless nature of the Alliance, the Scottish Federation of +Anarchists tried to bring up the formal structure of the +organisation at the February Alliance conference. Yes, Militant +are dominant, but such the poor record (outside demonstrations) +of anarchist involvement it could be a case of - by default. + +This begs the question. We have a right to be lazy, but have we +revelled in it for too long. Many anarchists drop out because +they've 'done their bit', had their youthful rebellion, got +wasted and waken up to the reality of exploitation from such a +dreamstate, and in the process collective action goes out the +window. We have lacked the sophistication to realise that +politics isn't stuck in a mould, and that we have no right to +patent direct action as our idea. Possibly, of course, Glasgow +Militants are a special case, and the charismatic Tommy has +skills rarely seen in the revolutionary mindset. No doubt, taken +the longer view, old Bakunin will be proved right again. Lenin's +teachings are still followed by Sheridan, down to his assertion +in his recent book that there are working class anarcho- +syndicalists who understand struggles and the majority are an +infantile rabble prone to sectarianism and manipulation by the +State, and he believes all English Anarchists belong to the +latter camp! + +Our criticism of Militant will only stand up if we** have a +voluntary commitment to meet the dedication that their Party +demands. Anarchist strategy and organisation will have to develop +- the formation of the Scottish Federation of Anarchists is a +small step, but isn't enough. Questions will have to answered +about who anarchism appeals to, why, and why we let ourselves be +marginalised or out manoeuvred time & time again, by the State +and by statist revolutionaries. Let's put aside the nonsensical +assessment that Sheridan is scarred for life due to Trafalgar +Square, respect his and Glasgow Militant's commitment to direct +action, match it by our own and, after eating some 'humble pie', +rediscover a purpose beyond 'playing hard to get' away from the +theatre of demonstrations. + +* Baliffs south of the border +** This criticism may apply to Glasgow Anarchists more than some +of their English counterparts! + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001219.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001219.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..54c7c7e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001219.txt @@ -0,0 +1,482 @@ +"Netwars" and Activists Power on the Internet + +by Jason Wehling + +Since the so-called Republican victory in the last U.S. election, +the political Left in America has been sent reeling. In many +places including the major media, we have been told that this +victory spells a new revolution, a revolution for the Right with +a massive 17% of the potential electorate voting republican. +Regardless of the truth of these claims, many there have felt +that their activist work has been for not and that it has been +largely ineffectual. Interestingly a Rand corporation researcher, +David Ronfeldt, argues that contrary to the impotence felt by +many social activists, they have become an important and powerful +force fuelled by the advent of the information revolution. +Through computer and communication networks, especially via the +world-wide Internet, grassroots campaigns have flourished, and +the most importantly, social elites have taken notice. + +Ronfeldt specializes in issues of national security, especially +in the areas of Latin American and the impact of new +informational technologies. Ronfeldt and another colleague coined +the term "netwar" a couple years ago in a Rand document entitled +"Cyberwar is Coming!". "Netwars" are actions by autonomous +groups -- in the context of this article, especially social +movements -- that use informational networks to coordinate action +to influence, change or fight government policy. + +Ronfeldt's work became a flurry of discussion on the Internet in +mid-March when Pacific News Service corespondent Joel Simon wrote +an article about Ronfeldt's opinions on the influence of netwars +on the political situation in Mexico. According to Simon, +Ronfeldt holds that the work of social activists on the Internet +has had a large influence -- helping to coordinate the large +demonstrations in Mexico City in support of the Zapatistas and +the proliferation of EZLN communiques across the world via +computer networks. These actions, Ronfeldt argues, have allowed a +network of groups that support the EZLN to muster an +international response, often within hours of actions by +Zedillo's government. In effect, this has forced the Mexican +government to maintain the facade of negotiations with the EZLN +and has on many occasions, actually stopped the army from just +going in to Chiapas and brutally massacring the Zapatistas. + +Ronfeldt's position has many implications. First, Ronfeldt is not +independent researcher. He is an employee of the notorious Rand +corporation. Rand is, and has been since it's creation in 1948, a +private appendage of the U.S. military industrial complex. Paul +Dickson, author of the book "Think Tanks", described Rand as the +"first military think tank... undoubtedly the most powerful +research organization associated with the American military." The +famous "Pentagon Papers" that were leaked to the press in June +of 1971 that detailed the horrible U.S. involvement in Vietnam +was produced by Rand. + +Ronfeldt himself has authored many research papers for Rand, but +his ties to the military do not end there. Ronfeldt has also +written papers directly for the U.S. military on Military +Communication and more interestingly, for the Central +Intelligence Agency on leadership analysis. No, Ronfeldt's +opinions were not written for aiding activists. It is obvious +that the U.S. government and it's military and intelligence wings +are very interested in what the Left is doing on the Internet. + +Netwars: the Dissolution of Hierarchy and the Emergence of +Networks + +Ronfeldt argues that "the information revolution... disrupts and +erodes the hierarchies around which institutions are normally +designed. It diffuses and redistributes power, often to the +benefit of what may be considered weaker, smaller actors". +Continuing, "multi-organizational networks consist of (often +small) organizations or parts of institutions that have linked +together to act jointly... making it possible for diverse, +dispersed actors to communicate, consult, coordinate, and operate +together across greater distances, and on the basis of more and +better information than ever." + +Ronfeldt emphasizes that "some of the heaviest users of the new +communications networks and technologies are progressive, +centre-left, and social activists... [who work on] human rights, +peace, environmental, consumer, labour, immigration, racial and +gender-based issues." In other words, social activists are on the +cutting edge of the new and powerful "network" system of +organizing. + +All governments, especially the U.S. government, have been +extremely antagonistic to this idea of effective use of +information, especially from the political Left. This position is +best stated by Samuel Huntington, Harvard Political Science +professor and author of the U.S. section of the Trilateral +Commission's book-length study, "The Crisis of Democracy". +Basically writing in reaction to the mobilization of people +normally isolated from the political process in the 1960's, +Huntington argued in 1975 that "some of the problems of +governance in the United States today stem from an excess of +democracy... Needed, instead, is a greater degree of moderation +of democracy." + +Huntington blatantly maintained that "the effective operation of +a democratic political system usually requires some measure of +apathy and non-involvement on the part of some individuals and +groups... this marginality on the part of some groups is +inherently undemocratic but it is also one of the factors which +has enabled democracy to function effectively." In other words, +major U.S. policy makers feel democracies are acceptable if they +are limited and not very democratic. + +To stop this increase in public participation, this "excess of +democracy", Huntington argued that limits should exist on the +media. "There is also the need to assure government the right to +withhold information at the source... Journalists should develop +their own standards of professionalism and create mechanisms, +such as press councils, for enforcing these standards on +themselves. The alternative could well be regulation by +government." Obviously the government is interested in the +control of information. If private institutions like the major +media need regulation, be it self-regulation or directed by the +government, the idea of free, uncontrolled flow of information on +the Internet must mean that a new "crisis of democracy" has +re-emerged in the eyes of government (and other) elites. + +To fight this, Ronfeldt maintains that the lesson is clear: +"institutions can be defeated by networks, and it may take +networks to counter networks." He argues that if the U.S. +government and/or military is to fight this ideological war +properly with the intent of winning -- and he does specifically +mention ideology -- it must completely reorganize itself, +scrapping hierarchical organization for a more autonomous and +decentralized system: a network. In this way, he states, "we +expect that... netwar may be uniquely suited to fighting +non-state actors". + +Ronfeldt's research and opinion should be flattering for the +political Left. He is basically arguing that the efforts of +activists on computers not only has been very effective or at +least has that potential, but more importantly, argues that the +only way to counter this work is to follow the lead of social +activists. Ronfeldt emphasized in a personal correspondence that +the "information revolution is also strengthening civil-society +actors in many positive ways, and moreover that netwar is not +necessarily a 'bad' thing that necessarily is a 'threat' to U.S. +or other interests. It depends." At the same time, anarchists +should understand the important implications of Ronfeldt's work: +government elites are not only watching these actions (big +surprise), but are also attempting to work against them. + +The Attack Has Already Begun + +The U.S. government's antagonism to political activism is not +new. During the late 1960's and early 1970's, the Federal Bureau +of Investigation began what is now known as COINTELPRO, or +Counter Intelligence Programs. These programs sought to "expose, +disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize" various +political groups, such as the Black Panthers, AIM (the American +Indian Movement), ecological, anti-war, and women's rights +groups. Many feel that these FBI activists have not stopped, +pointing to the disruption and harassment of Earth First! in the +mid- to late-1980's. + +Because of the very nature of the Internet and these growing +communication networks, the issues are inherently international +and transcend traditional national boundaries. For these reasons +it is important to watch for attacks on these networks wherever +they occur. And occur they have. Since the beginning of this +year, a number of computer networks, so far confined to Europe, +have been attacked or completely shut down. + +In Italy on February 28, members of the Carabinieri Anti-Crime +Special Operations Group raided the homes of a number of +activists -- many active in the anarchist movement. They +confiscated journals, magazines, pamphlets, diaries, and video +tapes. They also took their personal computers, one of which +hosted "BITS Against the Empire", a node of Cybernet and +Fidonet networks. The warrant ridiculously charged them for +"association with intent to subvert the democratic order", +carrying a penalty of 7 to 15 years imprisonment for a +conviction. + +Closer to home, a number of computer networks have recently been +attacked in Britain. The Terminal Boredom bulletin board system +(BBS) in Fife was shutdown by police after the arrest of a hacker +who was affiliated with the BBS. Spunk Press, the largest +anarchist archive of published material catalogued on computer +networks has faced a media barrage which has falsely accused them +of working with known terrorists like the Red Army Faction of +Germany, of providing recipes for making bombs and of +coordinating the "disruption of schools, looting of shops and +attacks on multinational firms." Articles by the computer trade +magazine, Computing, and even the Sunday Times, entitled +"Anarchism Runs Riot on the Superhighway" and "Anarchists Use +Computer Highway For Subversion" respectively, nearly lead one +of the organizers of Spunk Press to loose his job after the +smears were published. He has asked that his name not be +mentioned. According to the book "Turning up the Heat: MI5 +after the cold war" by Larry O'Hara, one of the journalists who +wrote the Sunday Times article has contacts with MI5. + +It is not coincidence that this attack has started first against +anarchists and libertarian-socialists. Anarchists are currently +one of the most organized political grouping on the Internet. +Even Simon Hill, editor of Computing magazine, admits that "we +have been amazed at the level of organization of these... groups +who have appeared on the Internet in a short amount of time". +According to Ronfeldt's thesis, this makes perfect sense. Who +best can exploit a system that "erodes hierarchy" and requires +the coordination of decentralized, autonomous groups in +cooperative actions than anarchists and libertarian-socialists? + +These attacks may not be confined to anarchists for long. In the +U.S. where the use of the internet is far more widespread, a +number of bills are before Congress that would affect a large +number of political views. One is S390 (and HR896), which aims to +change the FBI charter so that it can investigate political +groups. It has bipartisan support from members in both parties. +This bill would effectively legalize COINTELPRO operations +against political freedom. + +But even more sinister as far as computer networks are concerned, +is S314. This bill would prohibit not only individual speech that +is "obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, or indecent", but would +prohibit any provider of telecommunications service (such as an +Internet provider) from carrying such traffic, under threat of +stiff penalties: $100,000 or two years in prison. According to +the Centre for Democracy and Technology, "the bill would compel +service providers to chose between severely restricting the +activities of their subscribers or completely shutting down their +Email, Internet access and conferencing services under the threat +of criminal liability." In other words, one option before the +U.S. government is to just close down the Internet. + +The U.S. government is not the only institution to notice the +power of the Internet in the hands of activists. The Washington +Post ("Mexican Rebels Using a High-Tech Weapon; Internet Helps +Rally Support", by Tod Robberson), Newsweek ("When Words are the +Best Weapon: How the Rebels Use the Internet and Satellite TV", +by Russell Watson) and even CNN (Sunday, February 26) have done +stories about the importance of the Internet and network +communication organization with respect to the Zapatistas. + +It is important to point out that the mainstream media is not +interested in the information that circulates across the +Internet. No, they are interested in sensationalising the +activity, even demonizing it, though they correctly see that the +"rebels" possess an incredibly powerful tool. + +Netwars Are Effective + +A good example of the use of this powerful tool is the incredible +speed and range at which information travels the Internet about +events concerning Mexico and the Zapatistas. When Alexander +Cockburn wrote an article exposing a Chase Manhattan Bank memo +about Chiapas and the Zapatistas in Counterpunch, only a small +number of people read it because it is only a newsletter with a +limited readership. The memo, written by Riordan Roett, was very +important because it argued that "the [Mexican] government will +need to eliminate the Zapatistas to demonstrate their effective +control of the national territory and of security policy". In +other words, if the Mexican government wants investment from +Chase or elsewhere, it will have to crush the Zapatistas in order +to gain "investor confidence". This information was relatively +ineffective when just confined to print. But when it was uploaded +to the Internet (via a large number of List-servers and the +USENET), it suddenly reached a very large number of people. These +people in turn coordinated a protest against the U.S and Mexican +governments and especially Chase Manhattan. Chase was eventually +forced to attempt to distance itself from the Roett memo that it +commissioned. + +Anarchists and the Zapatistas is just the tip of the proverbial +iceberg. Currently there are a myriad of social activist +campaigns on the Internet. From local issues like the +anti-Proposition 187 movement in California to "nation-wide" +campaigns like the anti-roads activity in Britain, the network +system of activism is not only working -- and working well as +Ronfeldt admits -- but is growing. It is growing rapidly in +numbers of people involved and growing in political and social +effectiveness. There are many parallels between the current +situation in Chiapas and the drawn out civil war in Guatemala, +yet the Guatemalan military has been able to nearly kill without +impunity while the Mexican military received a coordinated, +international attack literally hours after they mobilize their +troops. The reason is netwars are effective as Ronfeldt concedes, +and when they are used to coordinate activity and spread +information they have been very influential and effective. + +What Are Their Options? + +According to Ronfeldt's thesis, extreme measures such a S314 will +not be the answer to the problems of that elites, especially +people like Huntington, foresee. Certainly the government sees +this free information network as an annoying problem and will +likely work to change the current trends. Actually destroying the +Internet is not likely for a number of reasons. The opposition to +such an undertaking would be too great and the potential profits +for companies from the internet too large for such an option. + +A glimpse at the problem emerged when the government attempted +last year to introduce the now infamous "Clipper Chip." This chip +was to become the standard encryption for the U.S. The +interesting part of the plan was that, while individuals, groups +and corporations could send information across networks without +fear of unwanted eyes peering into their documents, the +government "Clipper Chip" would have a "backdoor" for +intelligence agencies like the FBI. In other words, it was safe +to all except the U.S. government, which would be able to read +any message it wanted to. Basically the Clinton administration +had little support, aside from the FBI, CIA, National Security +Agency (NSA) and AT&T, who was contracted to manufacture the +chip. While the opposition included a wide variety of the +political spectrum from the far-Left to the far-Right. Apparently +the Clinton administration didn't like the odds and proposed that +the Clipper Chip would be a standard within the government only. + +According to Ronfeldt's thesis, the idea of dismantling the +Internet is not even an option. The internet and "netwars" are +here to stay, maintains Ronfeldt. The trick is to be better at it +than groups the U.S. government opposes. As has been stated +above, that means creating government networks that can be more +effective than those networks that have been created and +maintained by social activists. Of course, this has inherent +problems of its own. How will U.S. military leaders react when +they hear that the military must "erode" it's system of hierarchy +to evolve into a decentralized and autonomous network of smaller +parts? Certainly there is a paradox in Ronfeldt's arguments. + +Much more likely, at least for the time being is Huntington's +notion of regulation of information. Currently, the question of +how laws should be applied to the Internet and other computer +networks is vague and undefined. + +In the U.S.A. it could fall into one of three related areas. +First is print media, which is largely protected by the First +amendment. Second is common carriers, such as the telephone and +the U.S postal system -- they are governed by principles of +"universal service" and "fair access." Lastly is broadcasting, +which is highly regulated, primarily by the Federal +Communications Commission (FCC). + +One scenario is that the Internet would be subjected to FCC +regulation. This might solve the problem voiced by Huntington -- +where the government could create barriers and/or limit the free +flow of information to better suit it's wishes. Obviously for +social activists in the U.S. and elsewhere, a much better +scenario is that the Internet, as well as all other computer +networks, would be placed in the category of "common carriers," +where universal access is assured. + +This placement has yet to be resolved, but the battle lines are +already being drawn. Under the guise of saving children from +pedophiles, there is now a media campaign that pushes for +regulation against pornography and other "obscenity" on the +Internet. Last year, Carnegie-Mellon University attempted to +restrict campus users from assess to X-rated photographs on the +Internet. Of course if this comes to pass this would be just the +beginning -- the placement into the category of FCC regulation +would be complete. On the other side is a large number of civil +rights organizations and the Electronic Freedom Foundation argue +for the "common carrier" approach. + +What is happening in the U.S.A. will have obvious implications +for here. Already in Britain, the Criminal (In)Justice Act has +already outlawed "computer porn", again showing that these +actions are not isolated events. As the internet becomes more +widely reported in the media and its use continues to grow we can +expect to see similar developments. + +Another scenario is control, not via the government, but from +private industry. Many people use the "highway" or "superhighway" +analogy when describing the Internet. But a new analogy has +emerged: the railroad or "super-railroad" if you will. Each one +has very important connotations: the highway is based on free +public access, the railroad is not. The problem springs from the +growing pains that the Internet is currently experiencing. It is +growing a very rapid pace. So rapid, that the "backbone" of the +Net, the high-speed data transmission line over which information +travels is becoming out dated. + +One proposal from ANS, a joint venture between IBM and MCI is to +privatise the Internet "backbone," thus creating "toll-roads" for +the Internet. In other words, they lay the new cables, they own +them and users will have to "pay as they go." Currently the +Internet works on cooperation between the computers (nodes) that +make-up the Internet. As information travels from here to there, +all the computers inbetween cooperate by allowing and helping the +information pass through to its destination. With a "pay as you +go" system, the cost of communication would rise and would +effectively limit the ability for social activists and many other +groups from participating in these "netwars" or even using the +internet. + +This may be the long term solution, paralleling the fate of last +century's new form of popular communication, the newspaper. Faced +with the same problem, a cheap and accessible medium for +expressing ideas available to the general population, the initial +response was to enforce laws limiting its use (eg censorship laws +and taxation). However, coercion is an ineffective means of +social control and was soon abandoned in the face of better +forces, forces implicit in the development of any commodity under +capitalism, namely the increased concentration of capital +required to produce said commodity for a profit. + +As capital costs increased, the laws were revoked as market +forces ensured that only those with access to vast amounts of +money could start even a weekly newspaper. In addition, the need +for advertising to run a paper ensured business control over its +content. Hence, for example, we could see mainstream journals +having free access web sites (funded entirely by advertising) +while dissident publications (who do not desire advertising nor +the control of editorial decisions this implies) will have to +charge in order for their web sites to exist and pay their way. + +Under these conditions, a "pay as you go" backbone, sites and +publications subsidised by advertising and high initial capital +costs, the need for laws to control the information super highway +are limited. This, however, is still some way into the future. At +present this option is not available. + +What Might We Do? + +It is clear than Rand, and possibly other wings of the +establishment, are not only interested in what activists are +doing on the Internet, but they think it is working. It is also +clear that they are studying our activities and analyzing our +potential power. We should do the same, but obviously not from +the perspective of inhibiting our work, but opposite: how to +further facilitate it. + +Also, we should turn the tables as it were. They are studying our +behaviour and actions -- we should study theirs. As was outlined +above, we should analyze their movements and attempt to +anticipate attacks as much as possible. + +As Ronfeldt argues repeatedly, the potential is there for us to +be more effective. Information is getting out as is abundantly +clear. But we can do better than just a coordination of raw +information, which has been the majority of the "networking" so +far on the Internet. To improve on the work that is being done, +we should attempt to provide more -- especially in the area of +indepth analysis. Not just what we are doing and what the +establishment is doing, but more to the point, we should attempt +to coordinate the dissemination of solid analysis of important +events. In this way members of the activist network will not only +have the advantage of up-to-date information of events, but also +a good background analysis of what each event means, politically, +socially and/or economically as the case may be. + +The Flower as a Gift of Thanks + +In a recent communique from the Zapatistas, written on March +17th, Subcommandate Marcos reiterated the importance of this +network coordination. It is obvious from his words that these +networks are making a real difference. He said, "and we learned +that there were marches and songs and movies and other things +that were not war in Chiapas, which is the part of Mexico where +we live and die. And we learned that these things happened, and +that "NO TO WAR!" was said in Spain and in France and in Italy +and in Germany and in Russia and in England and in Japan and in +Korea and in Canada and in the United States and in Argentina and +in Uruguay and in Chile and in Venezuela and in Brazil and in +other parts where it wasn't said but it was thought. And so we +saw that there are good people in many parts of the world...". + +Marcos obviously was touched by the fact that people have +laboured all over the world for the Zapatista cause. So he closed +the communique with a personal thank you: "And we want to say to +you, to everyone, thank you. And that if we had a flower we would +give it to you... and when they are old, then they can talk with +the children and young people of their country that, 'I struggled +for Mexico at the end of the 20th century, and from over here I +was there with them and I only know that they wanted what all +human beings want, for it is not to be forgotten that they are +human beings and for it to be remembered what democracy, liberty +and justice are, and I did not know their faces but I did know +their hearts and it was the same as ours'... Goodbye. Health and +a promised flower: a green stem, a white flower, red leaves, and +don't worry about the serpent, this that flaps its wings is an +eagle which is in charge of it, you will see..." + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001220.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001220.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..216c5792 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001220.txt @@ -0,0 +1,86 @@ +TOP TEN WARNING SIGNS OF WHAT IS CALLED "NORMAL" + +by Janet Foner +Support Coalition co-coordinator & psychiatric survivor + +10. COOL: You're cool, you hold everything in and always put "a +good face on it" -- you never cry or laugh much, or show emotion +in any way, certainly not in public. Your psychiatric label is +"tearlessnicity." + +9. SERIOUS: You always do the proper thing -- never anything +unusual, playful, spontaneous, "different," wild, or creative, if +you can help it. You believe playing and being silly is beneath +your dignity and only for children. You have a psychiatric label +of "stiff upper lippity." + +8. NICE: You always act nice even if you can't stand the person +to whom you're talking. You never say what you're really +thinking. Your diagnosis: "inappropriate smiling." + +7. ALWAYS RIGHT: You always do everything right -- wear the +"right clothes," say the "right thing," associate only with the +"right people"-- you know there is only one right way, and it's +your way. You are diagnosed as "conformity prone." + +6. BORING: Your conversations, life and living space are dull +and boring, and your lawn is always manicured no matter what. In +the more advanced stages you have much inner "lifelessness" and +"flat affect" -- in other words, you are one of the "walking +dead." Your psychiatric label is "hyperinactivity." + +5. OBEDIENT: You always try not to offend anyone, especially +those in authority -- your security seems to depend on that. So +therefore you are willing to put expediency ahead of principles. +Your psychiatric label is "adjustment prone/adjustment reaction." + +4. GULLIBLE: You believe that the doctor always knows best, that +the media is telling the truth (major newspapers always print the +facts, right?), and that the medical model of "mental illness" +has been proven scientifically. Your diagnosis is "normal naivete +disorder." + +3. AVOID FEELINGS: You are out of touch with yourself, with the +natural world, and with what is going on with other people. It +has become too hard to face how others are being oppressed, so +you choose a more comfortable path. TV starts to look very, very +good. You are labelled with "severe blinderitis." + +2. DON'T TRUST YOURSELF: You learned in school that it's +important to always pay attention to those in charge and not to +trust your own thinking. You learned to "play the game," and you +are still doing that. You believe your own lies. You have an +advanced case of "schoolmania," which, if not stopped in its +early stages can lead to severe overwork and, in advanced stages, +"corporate asskissingitis." + +1. INDOORISM: You lost touch with the wildness in nature. You do +not rebel against ecological destruction. Label: "Tame." + +DON'T PANIC! + +If you have two or more of these signs, within any lunar cycle, +you probably only have "residual normality." No case of 100% +normality has ever been discovered. So it's not too late! Join +SCI, read Dendron News, support one another, get out into nature, +and especially take action to stop psychiatric oppression before +serious persistent "normality" sets in. + +Heal Normality Naturally! + +Join the Heal Normality campaign! SUBSCRIBE to the free HEALNORM +mailing list. Here's how: + +Send e-mail to "majordomo@efn.org" with just the words "subscribe +HEALNORM" in the message body. + +Snail-mail: Support Coalition / POB 11284 / Eugene, OR 97440-3484 +U.S.A. Membership is at least $15. Sample $2. Add extra if +outside U.S.A. + +NORMALS ARE DESTROYING EARTH! + + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001221.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001221.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4264a6e6 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001221.txt @@ -0,0 +1,97 @@ +POLLOK FREE STATE lives wild and free! + +by faol-chu + +Despite recent national press reports Pollok Free State lives on. +The struggle to stop the environmental disaster that is the M77 +has moved on to a new offensive phase for which both Wimpey and +Strathclyde Regional council are ill prepared. The tree felling +operation has taken over 8 weeks putting the road behind schedule +and eating into Wimpey's' profits. + +The last major action on the Barrhead Road site was on Wednesday +22, March. It took Wimpey and Strathclyde police 12 hours to cut +down 36 trees but not before they had to arrest 16 people (2 +women 13 men and 1 juvenile taken by the social services). They +didn't get all the trees they require for the route with Jack, a +gentlemen in his 50's, remaining in a Scots pine for the whole +day. Strathclyde had deployed the 'infamous' V squad who really +weren't much good and had to resort to 'snatch squads' as the day +drew to a close. + +The children from the local communities were locked in their +schools all day preventing them from coming to the free state and +taking action to save their future. This shows how scared the +state is of people taking an interest in their future and +standing up for their rights. But with the school holidays fast +approaching the children of Pollok will have ample opportunity to +take control of their own destiny again. + +Wimpey now has a compound beside the free state, extending onto +the road bed and sadly Carhenge. This has provided Pollok with +its first zoo. The main exhibit being 'The Spineless Yellow Back' +(Securitus gardus ) who like nothing better than a Golden Shower +and a mouldy cabbage tossed from on high in the beeches. + +Visitors and new residents are always very welcome as are +donations of: Money, clothing, tools camping equipment, water +proofs, ropes, chains, locks, new faces and energy. But please +don't feed the animals. + +Wimpey makes most of its money from building houses so Earth +First! are now targeting Wimpey show homes across the globe. If +you find yourself with nothing to do one afternoon please +photocopy our handy cut out and keep leaflet, get a few friends +and visit your nearest Wimpey show home, see below for locations. + +Recently Earth First! were the first visitors to Wimpey's' new +show home complex in Old Kilpatrick. The complex had to close +down as soon as it opened and Wimpey failed to sell a single home +that weekend, failing to meet their target of 3 sales and wasting +a 4 figure sum on radio advertising! + +Wimpey actively encourages the public to visit their show homes +so you have every right to be there. After a while they may call +the police, if you don't wish arrest it's best to leave the home +if you are occupying it but you can continue to leaflet the +public outside and express your views on Wimpey's environmental +record. Happy home hunting! + +Starting in May the campaign is planning Operation Roadblock, +where each day a group of 50 protesters will stage an action to +stop construction of the M77. This will send the security costs +through the roof and could very well be the beginning of the end +for Wimpey's planet killing aspirations. So we are currently +looking for volunteers and ideas for Operation Roadblock. Prizes +will be given for the most original and entertaining action +ideas. If you wish to get involved in Operation Roadblock or wish +to tell us of your home hunting antics please contact us. + +Live wild or die! + +Wimpey Show Homes + +Wimpey advertises in the property pages of local and national +press giving the locations and phone numbers of developments in +your area, isn't that nice of them! You could also try their +helpful Hotlines. + +West 0141 772 6406East 0131 317 2345 + +No M77 Contacts + +Glasgow Earth First! +PO Box 180 +Glasgow +G4 9AB + +Pollok Free State +Barrhead Road +Pollok +Glasgow +G53 5AE + +Contacts 0141 636 1924 or 0141 946 2700 + +Pollok Free State mobile 0860 728 244 + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001223.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001223.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..90362d6d --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001223.txt @@ -0,0 +1,233 @@ +Scottish Federation of Anarchists + +As We See it + +We encourage and assist resistance to all oppression. This +includes economic and environmental exploitation and all forms of +state and social oppression, such as racism and sexism. + +Mass direct action is the most effective and liberating form of +struggle. + +Our aim is for mass struggles to develop into a revolutionary +transformation, in which people seize control of the world's +resources and fundamentally re-organise society. + +This can only be achieved by the self-organisation of the vast +majority, the working class. We oppose all hierarchies and +political parties. + +We want a free, stateless world, with social wealth owned and +controlled by society. Production will be to meet human need and +all relationships based on equality and mutual respect. + + +As We See It + +Capitalism + + Under the present system we have no real say in the +decisions that affect us, our communities or workplaces. Instead +a minority has this power. This due to their ownership and +control of social wealth and the means to create it. In Scotland, +7% of the population own 84% of the wealth. It's the interests of +this elite that must be satisfied within "democracy", otherwise +there is no investment, no production and no work. This is true +for the rest of the capitalist world as it is for the few +remaining "Communist" Party regimes. + + Economically, capitalism results in power and privilege for +the few, sacrifices and alienation for the rest of us. +Continually we see the world we live in being destroyed, +standardised and packaged so that this elite can make a few more +pounds. Capitalism has turned every feeling and desire we have +into an object to be bought and sold. Humanity and community have +been replaced by price tags and commercials. + + Politically, we live in a highly centralised state, over +which we have little meaningful control. Every five years we get +the chance to vote for a politician, a puppet for faceless +bureaucrats and big business. A cross on a bit of paper for a +state which treats us like children, telling us what we can and +cannot do. A state that claims to know what's best for us +regardless of what we actually think or want and which uses OUR +money to subsidise capitalist firms and control us. A state that +sends us to fight its wars for more power against its competing +rivals. A state which increasingly grants itself more repressive +powers in order to control dissent. + + Not all working class people are oppressed in the same way. +Black people are subjected to systematic racism from the state, +from fascists and from individual racists. Women are oppressed by +a system of attitudes, ways of living and institutions based on +their domination by men. Lesbians and gay men suffer from bigotry +and repressive laws. All such restrictive roles repress all +involved. + + Discrimination and hierarchical and authoritarian +relationships exist throughout society and must be resisted. +These social oppressions are only useful to our rulers, as they +divide us, getting us to blame other working class people for the +problems we all face. They divert our anger away from the system +and those who run it. + + Every individual, group or people has the right to be itself +and to self-determination. But capitalism results in the +standardisation of cultures. Individuality, cultural diversity +nor popular self-determination can withstand market forces, the +power of multi-national companies or the conformity created by +state centralisation. + + We are against all forms of imperialism, where one country +imposes its wishes and values upon another by economic or +political means. Such domination can only be resisted by class +struggle, not nationalism. Nationalism, like all cross class +movements, means only a change in rulers. There are no common +interests between the classes. Our lives will be no better under +Scottish bosses and politicians. We can only be free in a free +world, a world without capitalism and states. + +Resistance + + Meaningful change can only happen when ordinary people +struggle together to resist power. In countries like Scotland, +the vast majority who are excluded from power are the working +class. This includes white and blue collar workers, workers in +the service industry, the unemployed and other claimants and +people doing domestic work at home. + + These struggles take many forms, such as resistance to wage +cuts, poverty, sexism, racism, ecological destruction, militarism +and so forth. They are fought throughout society, in workplaces, +in communities, in the health service, in benefit offices, in +prisons. + + We in the Scottish Federation of Anarchists are involved in +such struggles and aim to encourage tendencies in this resistance +towards + + -Self-organisation and equality, with people controlling +their own struggles and organisations, rather than dependence +on and control by leaders. + + -Collective direct action, rather than ineffectual +lobbying or letter writing. + + -Combining workplace and community struggles and +organisation rather than their division into different +"single-issue" campaigns. + + -The revolution of everyday life, not the poverty of +consumerism or the boredom of left-wing politics. + + -Changing the fundamental aspects of capitalism, rather +than tinkering with minor changes. + + -revolution, not reformism, the working class and ruling +class have nothing in common. + + Struggles must be controlled by meetings of all those +involved, with elected committees to carry out day to day tasks. +Anyone elected to such a position of responsibility must carry +out the wishes of the meetings or be answerable to those +involved and subject to instant recall. Alternative forms of +organisation must be created. + + Resistance should be spread, with links created to +workplaces and the community. Such links must be of a federal +nature, with power resting firmly at the bottom in the hands of +those involved. By organising in this manner we ensure that there +is active participation in activity and decision making by all +involved. Any organisation not based on these principles, such as +the trade unions, are part of the problem. + + We reject the dead end of electioneering. We must organise +and fight where we have real power, in our communities and +workplaces. From there we can impose by direct action that which +politicians can never get in Parliament. Only this can create the +spirit of revolt needed to resist oppression and get improvements +in the here and now, as well as creating a new world. + +Revolution + + This new world is not for the distant future. It exists now, +in our hearts. By organising ourselves, using direct action and +showing solidarity we create the ideas and structures of this new +world within the present one. Only this will allow us to organise +as a class and take-over our workplaces and communities, so +winning the class war. Without this take-over we will struggle +within the system, but never replace it. + + A free society can only be created and run from below, by +and for everyone. No political party acting or seizing power on +our behalf can do it for us. We reject the "would-be" rulers of +left-wing parties and their politics. A free society can never +come through Parliament or any other state. Parliament is +organised to protect privilege and oppression, it cannot be +reformed. States, by their structure and internal workings, +create bureaucracy, with its own interests, power and privileges. +They can never be used to abolish inequality and injustice. + +The New Society + + Society can be organised in a better way, one that meets the +needs of all and the environment. This society is anarchy (or +libertarian communism/socialism). + + Anarchism comes from our needs and desires for freedom, +equality and solidarity. It is the means by which we, the working +class, can win the class war and create the sort of world we want +and need. + + Anarchism is based on the free federation of autonomous +groups, directly controlled from the bottom up by their members. +In an anarchist society, self-management replaces government and +bosses. This decentralisation ensures that we take control of our +own fates, without leaders and led. + + Our goal is the creation of a global community where + + -The world's resources are held in common and shared. + + -People manage their own lives, work and communities. + -All have an equal say in decision making through +decentralised forms of organisation. + + -Relationships in all areas of life are based on liberty, +equality and mutual respect, regardless of gender, age, +colour, sexual orientation, disability or culture. + + -People live in harmony with nature. + + -Work no longer consists of boring and repetitive tasks +but instead becomes a mean of self-expression and fulfilment. + + -Education is integrated with daily life to produce free +individuals who think for themselves. + + -Goods and services are produced directly for human needs +in the widest sense. + + -The market, exchange and money no longer exist and goods +and services are provided free. + +The Scottish Federation of Anarchists + + The Scottish Federation of Anarchists is a federation of +autonomous groups and individuals, co-operating without any +central governing body. We reject centralisation, hierarchy and +bureaucracy. We believe in organising ourselves so that we +reflect the kind of society we want to see. + + While our immediate focus is Scotland, we are committed +internationalists and wish to develop links and joint activity +with revolutionaries world-wide. + + The S.F.A. welcomes the involvement of all those in basic +agreement with these principles, regardless of whether they +describe themselves as anarchists, autonomists, libertarian +socialists/communists or whatever. + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001224.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001224.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f5503f3d --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001224.txt @@ -0,0 +1,402 @@ +Spain and its Relevance Today + +by Iain MacSaorsa + +Lessons from the Spanish Revolution + +"To organise a [libertarian] communist society on a large +scale it would be necessary to transform all economic life +radically, such as methods of production, of exchange and +consumption; and all this could not be achieved other than +gradually, as the objective circumstances permitted and to the +extent that the masses understood what advantages could be +gained and were able to act for themselves" Errico Malatesta, +Life and Ideas, page 36 + +In part one, we indicated the social revolution that occurred +after Franco's military coup was defeated in the streets. We also +said that this revolution was undermined by the state and could +not develop fully and that this was caused (in part) by the +actions of the C.N.T. and F.A.I. committees. The issue now is +what lessons for our struggles and times can be learned from the +anarchist movement in Spain and the 1936 revolution? + +We should not rush to condemn the C.N.T. out of hand. We should +search for an explanation of what happened. The fact that +anarchists joined a government should prompt the question, was +the defeat in Spain a defeat of anarchist theory and tactics OR a +failure of anarchists to apply their theory and tactics? + +It is clear from the actions of, for example, the Makhnovists in +the Ukraine during the Russian Revolution that anarchism is a +valid approach to social struggle and revolution. So what made +Spain "special"? + +Firstly, as discussed in part one, the question of antifascist +unity. The C.N.T. leaders were totally blinded by this, leading +them to support a "democratic" state against a "fascist" one. +While the bases of a new world was being created, inspiring the +fight against fascism, the C.N.T. leaders collaborated with the +system that spawns fascism, As the Friends of Durruti make clear, +"Democracy defeated the Spanish people, not Fascism" (Class War +on the Home Front, page 30). + +The false dilemma of "anarchist dictatorship" or "collaboration" +was a fundamentally wrong. It was never a case of banning +parties, etc under an anarchist system, far from it. Full rights +of free speech, organisation and so on should have existed for +all but the parties would only have as much influence as they +exerted in union/workplace/community/ militia/etc assemblies, as +should be the case! "Collaboration" yes, but within the rank and +file and within organisations organised in an anarchist manner. +Anarchism does not respect the "freedom" to be a boss or +politician. + +Instead of this "collaboration" from the bottom up, the C.N.T. +and F.A.I. committees favoured "collaboration" from the top down. +This, as indicated in part 1, only favoured the state and the +(political and economic) bosses. For example, Gaston Leval +indicates that the collectivisation decree of October 1936 +"legalising collectivisation", "distorted everything right from +the start" (Collectives in the Spanish Revolution, page 227) +and did not allow the collectives to develop beyond a self- +managed semi-socialist condition into full socialism.[1] + +Anarchosyndicalism + +The centralisation which occurred within the C.N.T. after 19th +July did not "just happen". There are institutional reasons why +it occurred. These come from anarchosyndicalist practice. + +The fusion of anarchism and the union movement ("syndicalism") is +the basic idea of anarchosyndicalism. The unions are enough in +themselves and, through the daily struggle for reforms, can lead +to socialism. In practice, this does not quite work +(unfortunately). + +Anarchosyndicalist unions must operate within the same basic +situation as normal unions, therefore they come under the same +pressures and influences. These pressures of working within the +capitalist system (in a unionist manner) produces in all unions +the following tendencies: + +1. They become bureaucratic/hierarchical, ie to generate +"leaders" or union bosses separated from the rank and file. In +order to get reforms, the union must negotiate and be prepared to +compromise (which in practice means to get their members back to +work). This results in the union committees, sooner or later, +trying to control their own rank and file. This process of +negotiation leads to a leader/led divide. + +2. To concentrate on short term economic issues. This is due to +the need to attract and keep a large union membership. + +It is clear from its history that the C.N.T. was not immune to +these tendencies. For example, the F.A.I. was formed explicitly +to combat reformism within the C.N.T. (see Peirats, page 238-9, +and Juan Gomaz Casas, page 100, for example). The actions of the +C.N.T. during the revolution had historical precedents. +Consistently committees had represented plenums with fait +accomplis and acted without mandates (sometimes in ways contrary +to C.N.T. policy). However, it must be pointed out this was +minimised by the nature of the C.N.T. although it did happen. + +While anarchosyndicalism sees these dangers and tries to combat +them, it is clear that it can only partially do so in practice. + +In addition, the idea that by controlling the economy +automatically means destroying the state is false. This comes +from French Revolutionary Syndicalism and not Anarchism. In +effect, it means ignoring the state. And ignoring something does +not make it go away. This idea can be seen from some aspects of +the Spanish Revolution, ie the working class took over the +economy but left the state intact. The C.N.T. leadership +collaborated with the state (had they become so used to +negotiating that they could not see beyond it?) and the rest is +history. + +However, without the C.N.T. the revolution would not have +happened in the first place. The fact that the revolution +occurred at all is a glowing testimony to the independence and +militancy of ordinary C.N.T. members. An independence and +militancy which the C.N.T. structure unlike marxist unions +encouraged and not crushed through centralism. + +The very structure and practice of the C.N.T. did produce a +revolutionary working class the likes of which the world has +rarely seen. As Jose Peirats states, "above the union level, the +CNT was an eminently political organisation..., a social and +revolutionary organisation for agitation and insurrection" (Jose +Peirats, Anarchists in the Spanish Revolution, page 239). + +Lessons + +The following positive points can be gathered from the C.N.T. and +the Spanish anarchist movement : + +1. Its structure encouraged the politicisation, initiative and +organisational skills of its members. It was a federal, +decentralised body, based on direct discussion and decision +making from the bottom up. "The CNT tradition was to discuss and +examine everything", according to one militant. As Bakunin said +"the International [ie the union movement] must be a people's +movement, organised from the bottom up by the free spontaneous +action of the masses. There must be no secret, governmentalism, +the masses must be informed of everything... All affairs of the +International must be thoroughly and openly discussed without +evasions and circumlations" (Bakunin on Anarchism, edited by Sam +Dolgoff, page 408). + +The C.N.T. rejected full-time officials. Instead union officials +were part-timers who did union work either after work hours or, +if they had to miss work, they were paid their normal wage. Hence +they were in touch with the union members and shared their +experiences and needs as they continued to be workers. This +reduced the tendency for union bureaucracies to develop or for +officials to become an (unofficial) governing caste within the +organisations. + +This created a viable and practical example of an alternative +method by which society could be organised. A method which was +based on the ability of ordinary people to direct society +themselves and which showed in practice that special ruling +authorities are undesirable and unnecessary. + +It also proves that anarchist organisation is more revolutionary +that "socialist" (i.e. Marxist) forms (which are, at best, more +"democratic" forms of capitalist/statist structures). + +2. The C.N.T. was organised, primarily, on a local basis. The +industrial union federations (ie union federations for one +industry) were weak. The real base of the C.N.T. was the +regional/local federation of all industrial unions in an area. +Hence class wide issues could be fought, industrial divides +overcome and solidarity action spread across industry. + +The C.N.T., because of this, fought in and out of the factory for +social issues, helping to reduce the tendency towards +concentrating only on economics as "the demands of the CNT went +much further than those of any social democrat: with its emphasis +on true equality, autogestion [self-management] and working class +dignity, anarchosyndicalism made demands on the capitalist system +could not possibly grant to the workers" (J. Romero Maura, The +Spanish case, page 79, from Anarchism Today, edited by James +Joll et al. This short essay is very good summary of the history +and practice of the C.N.T. up to 1936 (although I feel that it +gets certain aspects of Bakunin's ideas on "syndicalism" wrong)). + +This is not to ignore the importance of industry wide federations +of unions, of course. It just indicates that such forms of +industrial unionism can, and do, concentrate on partial aspects +of the class struggle and do not generate the same class and +social awareness as regionally based organisations. + +3. Direct action was used in every case. This raised the +consciousness and militancy of the working class better than any +election campaign. The benefits of "Doing it Yourself" was seen +in practice. This, combined with anarchist organisation, resulted +in a movement in which people could transform their assumptions +about what was possible, necessary and desirable. + +4. The role of anarchists, as anarchists. Without the actions and +ideas of anarchists, the C.N.T. would have soon become the same +as any other union. The anarchists raised the "moral tone" of the +unions and ensured they did not degenerate into reformism. This +had been pointed out by many people before hand, for example +Malatesta wrote: "Trade unions are by their very nature reformist +and never revolutionary. The revolutionary spirit must be +introduced, developed and maintained by the constant actions of +revolutionaries who work within their ranks as well as outside, +but it cannot be the normal definition of the union function. On +the contrary" (Errico Malatesta, Life and Ideas, page 117). [2] + +The actions of our comrades did make the C.N.T. a revolutionary +organisation, did make it operate in an anarchist manner. +However, the tactics they used over time changed. In the late 20s +and early 30s, the F.A.I. started to fight reformism by be +elected to every union post they could. In the short term it +worked, but in the longer term it meant that "if the FAI +influenced the CNT, the opposite was also true... anarchism lost +much of its special character when anarchists tried to lead the +anarchosyndicalist federation. In fact, the anarchists were run +by the union..." and "blinkered by participation in union +committees, the FAI became incapable of a wider vision" +(Anarchists in the Spanish Revolution, Jose Peirats, page 239). + +This proved to by the undoing of the anarchist movement as the +reality of being a union official resulted in militants becoming +syndicalists first, anarchists second. As the rank and file +militants left for the front, the "moral tone" of the +organisation fell. The rank and file were too busy constructing +collectives and fighting to effectively control the committees. +In this situation, the actions of the committees could not be +effectively stopped by the normal C.N.T. procedures (plenums, +etc) and by the time anything could be done to stop the +consequences of the initial betrayal of the 20th of July, it was +too late. + +This problem of "officialdom" was seen by many anarchists. As +Durruti noted "no anarchists in the union committees unless at +ground level. In these committees, in the case of conflict with +the boss, the militant is forced to compromise to arrive at an +agreement. The contacts and activities which come from being in +this position, push the militant towards bureaucracy. Conscious +of this risk, we do not wish to run it. Our role is to analyse +from the bottom the dangers which beset an union organisation +like ours. No militant should prolong his (sic) job in +committees, beyond the time allotted to him (sic). No permanent +and indispensable people" (Durruti The People Armed, page 216) +[3]. + +However, the dangers of bureaucracy could not be defeated by the +tactics of the F.A.I. in the 30's nor by those anarchists who +considered themselves as syndicalists first. + +5. As noted earlier, for anarchism to succeed the state must not +be ignored but smashed and "replaced" by a libertarian +structure(s) to coordinate activity. In his history of the FAI, +Juan Gomaz Casas (an active Faista in 1936) makes this clear: + +"How else could libertarian communism be brought about? It would +always signify dissolution of the old parties dedicated to the +idea of power, or at least make it impossible for them to pursue +their politics aimed at seizure of power. There will always be +pockets of opposition to new experiences and therefore resistance +to joining 'the spontaneity of the unanimous masses'. In +addition, the masses would have complete freedom of expression in +the unions as well as...their political organisations in the +district and communities" (Anarchist Organisation: the History +of the FAI, page 188). + +As the Friends of Durruti said "A revolution requires the +absolute domination of the workers organisations". (The Friends +of Durruti accuse, from Class War on the Home Front, page 34). + +Only this, the creation of viable anarchist organisations can +ensure that the state and capitalism can be destroyed and +replaced with a just system based on liberty, equality and +solidarity. + +By way of a conclusion + +Anarchism must be relevant to working class people. We must +advocate anarchist tactics and organisation in all struggles. It +is clear that to organise anarchists is not enough. We must +encourage the organisation of the working class, otherwise +"revolutionary" ideas are only the domain of professional +revolutionaries. People, under these circumstances, cannot +formulate and apply their own agenda and so remain passive tools +in the hands of leaders. By permanent libertarian social +organisation, people can control their own struggles and so, +eventually, their own lives. It accustoms people, through +practice, to self-management and so anarchism. The experience of +the C.N.T. shows this. + + +This was the great strength of the Spanish Anarchist movement. It +was a movement "that, in addition to possessing a revolutionary +idealogy [sic], was also capable of mobilising action around +objectives firmly rooted in the life and conditions of the +working class.... It was this ability periodically to identify +and express widely felt needs and feelings that, together with +its presence at community level, formed the basis of the strength +of radical anarchism, and enabled it to build a mass base of +support" (Nick Rider, The practice of direct action: the +Barcelona rent strike of 1931, page 99, from For Anarchism, +pages 79-105). + +As Malatesta made clear, "to encourage popular organisations of +all kinds is the logical consequence of our basic ideas, and +should therefore be an integral part of our programme... +anarchists do not want to emancipate the people; we want the +people to emancipate themselves... we want the new way of life to +emerge from the body of the people and correspond to the state of +their development and advance as they advance" (Life and Ideas, +page 90). + +This can only occur via popular self-organisation. Bearing this +in mind, we must also be aware of the dangers in +anarchosyndicalism. The anarchist movement must not be (con)fused +with the mass organisations of the working class ("unions"). The +"union" (by which I mean any social organisation organised in a +libertarian manner, within and without workplaces, and definitely +not STUC trade unions) movement and anarchism follow different, +but related paths. These "unions" should be encouraged by +anarchists and be as anarchistic as possible in their operation +and practice, but they must never replace the anarchist movement +(ie certain aspects of anarchosyndicalism as tactics, not +principles). + +In building the new world we must destroy the old one. +Revolutions are authoritarian by their very nature, but only in +respect to structures and social relations which promote +injustice, hierarchy and inequality. It is not "authoritarian" to +destroy authority! Revolutions, above all else, must be +libertarian in respect to the oppressed. That is, they must +develop structures that involve the great majority of the +population, who have previously been excluded from decision +making about social and economic issues. + +When it comes to mass movements (and a revolution is the ultimate +mass movement), the role of anarchists is clear: encourage direct +action, decentralised, federal delegate organisations based on +direct discussion and direct decision making and destroy the +state. Not to do so is to repeat the mistakes of all previous +revolutions and which were the undoing of the largest anarchist +movement in the world. + +Notes :- + +1. As Bakunin wrote 60 years earlier "In a free community, +collectivism can only come about through the pressure of +circumstances, not by imposition from above but by a free +spontaneous movement from below" (Bakunin on Anarchism, page +200). For where else could the impetus for a libertarian social +revolution come from unless from "below"? + +Its no coincidence that collectivisation was more socialistic in +rural collectives as the state was effectively destroyed in many +areas (like Aragon) by federations of collectives. As one +militant describes the process of collectivisation had to be +based on free federation "from the bottom up" :- + +"There were, of course, those who didn't want to share and who +said that each collective should take care of itself. But they +were usually convinced in the assemblies. We would try to speak +to them in terms they understood. We'd ask, "Did you think it was +fair when the cacique [local boss] let people starve if there +wasn't enough work?" and they said, "Of course not". They would +eventually come around. Don't forget, there were three hundred +thousand collectivists [in Aragon], but only ten thousand of us +had been members of the C.N.T.. We had a lot of educating to do". +Felix Carrasquer, quoted in Free Women of Spain, page 79. + +An anarchist society cannot be created "overnight", to assume so +would be to imagine that we could enforce our ideas on a pliable +population. Socialism can only be created from below, by people +who want it and understand it, organising and liberating +themselves. The lessons of Russia should have cleared any such +illusions about "socialist" states long ago. The lesson from +every revolution is that the mistakes made in the process of +liberation by people themselves are always minor compared to the +results of creating authorities which eliminate such "ideological +errors" by destroying the freedom to make mistakes. This only +destroys freedom as such, the only real basis for socialism. + +2. Such ideas would, now, only be appropriate to rank and file +organisations created in and by struggle in opposition to the +Trade Unions. The STUC cannot be reformed, so why try? The last +70 years have contained enough proof of this. + +3. As an aside, Durruti is echoing Bakunin who said "The purpose +of the Alliance [ie anarchist federation] is to promote the +Revolution... it will combat all ambition to dominate the +revolutionary movement of the people, either by cliques or +individuals. The Alliance will promote the Revolution only +through the NATURAL BUT NEVER OFFICIAL INFLUENCE of all members +of the Alliance" (Bakunin on Anarchism, edited by Sam Dolgoff, +page 387). + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001225.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001225.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9952617a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001225.txt @@ -0,0 +1,80 @@ +SEKHMET - MAGAZINE OF THE ANARCHA-FEMINIST FEDERATION OF AOTEAROA + +HOW WE STARTED +At the Anarchist Conference in 1991 anarcha-feminism was discussed. From +the discussion two groups were established, one in Auckland and one in +Wellington. + +Here finally is issue 8 of Sekhmet - for all those who contacted us from +overseas requesting an email copy thankyou! It certainly is a new +development for us being able to get in touch with heaps of new contacts +from around the world. If you don't want issue 9 please contact us, hey but +don't hold your breath for it cause they tend to come out quite +spasmodically. Also please note the following is not Sekhmet in it's +entireity, we've cut a bit out especially basic stuff like definitions of +anarchy etc. + + SEKHMET +Sekhmet is the magazine of the Anarcha-feminist Federation. The name of +our zine Sekhmet, is taken from Egyptian theology. Sekhmet being an +Egyptian war goddess, we see Sekhmet as a good name for a magazine making +war with hierarchies. Articles in Sekhmet do not necessarily reflect +views of the collective. + [continues in the original] + +EDITORIAL +Kia ora! Were in the middle of a Wellington southerly storm. Despite the +icy rain its been an exciting week - the events at Wanganui totally +eclipsed more routine things! Nonetheless, Sekhmet VIII will be off the +photocopiers soon (we hope). We also nearly had a computer disaster. On +March 8, the Michelangelo virus wiped the hard drive of our computer! The +main casualty was our mailing list. This stuffed up our distribution, so +sorry a million times if you should have received this zine, and didnt. +And please send us your address! + +The Katipo Collective is still sharing an office with the Committee for the +Establishment of Civilization. Its on the second floor of the Blue Star +(formerly Sharp) building, so, if youre passing, check us out at 264 Cuba +St.! There is now an anarchist bookshop, too! This is at 272 Cuba St., +sharing space with the NORML shop, which has been totally refurbished. It +will stock lots of groovy anarcha-feminist books and pamphlets, along with +anarchist ones. + +The biggest thing we organized this year so far has been the Third Annual +Anarcha-feminist Conference, and this issue reflects this in being a +Conference Special! Were really interested in having more feedback from +wimmin on how the Conference went for them, so we can work out what we did +O.K., and what we could have done better. So have a rant, and send us your +letters! + +Also happening is the Womens Book Collective a group set up to put +together a book which documents some of the radical feminist thoughts and +actions happening in Aotearoa/New Zealand today. The Collective was +motivated to compile the book to combat the myth that feminism is becoming +a thing of the past. Yeah we think that is crap too so the Katipo +Collective responded to the questionnaire which forms the basis of the +book. Groups and individual women who are involved in working for change +are encouraged to be part of the book, so if you want to be included or +want more information ring Rozy Tunnicliffe on (04) 2928828, or Maria +McMillan (06) 350 4505 (work) (06) 3595279 (home).For those who would +like to receive any information contact the Katipo Collective. Our postal +address is P.O. Box 14-156, Kilbirnie, Wellington. The Katipo also meets +every Tuesday at the Sharp Building, 1st Floor, 264 Cuba Street, +Wellington. Contact us on (04) 389-1231. ! + +*********************************************************************************** + + SEKHMET +P.O BoX 14-156, Kilbirnie, +Wellington, New Zealand +E-mail : aaa@nubm.wgtn.planet.co.nz + +Sekhmet is produced by theKatipo Collective, an independent, autonomous +collective based in Wellington. + +Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent the views +of the collective. + +Contributions of articles and pictures are always welcome. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001226.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001226.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8d20efdf --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001226.txt @@ -0,0 +1,162 @@ +THE PREMENSTRUAL RAG-Keeping You Up With The Latest + +Otautahi (ChCh) Anarcha-Feminist Group to be formed in May + +An Anarcha-fem group is to be formed very soon (yeah). No longer will the +Katipo Collective be the only AF group in NZ,Contact Gaye ph (03) 3749171 + + -------------------------------------------------- + +Spiders on the Moon - Katipo Collective Out and About + +November 25, 1994 Reclaim the Night March - Marking International Day +Against Violence Against Women. + +The March and the Rally afterwards was everything one could want and more. +About 300 women participated but it wasnt the numbers that mattered. It +was the general buzz, the stiltwalkers, the noise and the hype. Women met +at the Cenotaph. They bought the ir friends, children and banners. Jac +Lynch inspired and fired us up by giving us a demo on self-defense. Then +we marched down suit straight, Lambton Quay to Civic Square. In the Square +we lit candles and listened to speakers. The finale to the night was a set +by the HAGS who danced in lycra bags and spun fire sticks. The March was +organised by a group of individuals who met over about 3 months prior to +the march. All aspects apart from the posters were donated. Money to pay +for the posters was ge nerated by a bucket collection during the march. + + -------------------------------------------------- + +March 3.1995 Delegation to the Mexican Embassy + +10 people (3 anarcha-feminists!)concerned about the recent army crackdown +on the people of Chiapas, Southern Mexico, visited the Mexican Embassy +hoping to present our concerns to the Ambassador. We were told that we +really should have made an appointment cos hes a really busy man. We +voiced an opinion that collective experience had shown, that often (lame) +excuses are made if one tries to go through that channel. However a meeting +was made for the Friday when 3 people presented the Ambassador with Amnest +y International documents as well as email directly from the Zapatista +National Liberation. + + -------------------------------------------------- + +March 17 1995 Ofelia Lopez speaks in Wgtn + +El Salvadoran feminist community worker spoke about El Salvador. Among +other things she spoke about grassroots education programmes and the cult +of Machismo. While the situation for women is different here in A otearoa +what she had to say spoke volumes for the effectiveness of woman centred +collectives and a common feminist vision. + + -------------------------------------------------- + +March 18 1995 Gay and Lesbian Fair in Newtown,Wellington. + +A sunny autumn day and great bargains. Val and Rozy sold lots of +gingerbread dykes. Johanna got to sell some A.F. literature too. + + -------------------------------------------------- + +March 20 1995 Womens Loan Fund Dinner Wellington + +The women of the fund spoke about the uniqueness of the concept - a womans +Angel bank, although technically theyre not supposed to call themselves +a bank. The big boys get annoyed. Some success stories were also shared. + + -------------------------------------------------- + +Those Filthy Hags + +Devotion the Wellington Lesbian and Gay Pride Week , included many events +as well the more prominent Devotion Parade and the Devotion Party. It was +as glamourous and 'out' as ever. This year Lesbians and Bisexuals from +'Those Filthy Hags' - the Anarcha-fe minist group, flaunted their woman +loving selves. They were grungey, spangley and gorgeous, the epitomy of +your average modern day progressive green tongued woman. Their message was +loud and proud, they were "women who just love women". + + +The Party + +Devotion dance party '95 was held at the town hall - a very high profile +venue for such a queer event. Now that dykes, gays and bisexuals are +somewhat more socially acceptable I guess they thought they'd let us! But +remember this celebration of queerness is for straights too. One problem +that arose from this was that the space became less safe. Lesbians were +sexually harassed by het men. It seems really horrid to me that we can't +enjoy safety in our own (limited) spaces. Not being aware of this going on +o n the night I had a great night dancing, flaunting and gaping at the +amazing array of dazzling costumes (eat your heart out Priscilla). A great +way to celebrate our varied selves and raise money for our queer +communities. + + +NION- Not in our Name - Tau-Iwi group against the fiscal envelope +Honouring the Treaty ? + +Do you ever feel like you support the concept but do little on the action +side of things ? Let's face it, it's easy as a Pakeha to verbally agree +with Treaty rights but challenging white racism and taking responsibility +as inheritor s of Treaty promises is another step. Anarcha-feminists raised +the issue of how anarcha-feminists can support Maori sovereignty at the +'95 Anarcha-Feminist Conference. Shortly afterwards the first meeting of +non-Maori against the fiscal envelope happened giving us a chance to be +active in a group wotking specifically on this issue. We decided to call +ourselves Not In Our Name (N.I.O.N) - A coalition of Tau-iwi (non-Maori) +against the fiscal envelope and for honouring the Treaty. + + The aims of NION are: +1. To take responsibility for Treaty of Waitangi promises as Tauiwi +inheritors of these promises. + +2. To actively challenge all levels of Government legislation and policies +which breach or fail to honour Treaty promises. + +3. To voice our view that the Government or any other representative body +is not acting in our name unless it gives effect to the Treaty. + +4. To educate Tauiwi about the revelance of the Treaty to us. + +5. To challenge Tauiwi to make an active ongoing commitment to the Treaty. + +6. To be accountable to Iwi/Maori as appropriate and to minimise any +negative impacts our actions on Maori. + +So far NION has held two protests. The first was focussed on the fiscal +envelope and held outside the "justice" department . A statement was given +to the Race Relations office to explain our position. The second was a +symbolic 'occupation' of Midland Park in support of Whanganui Maori at +Moutoa Gardens. Information about our group and the Whanganui occupation +was handed out to the lunchtime congregation of suits and lots of money was +raised to take up to Paakaitore Marae. + +NION meets weekly at the People's Resource Centre in Wellington on +Thursdays at 5.30pm. New members are welcome . + + -------------------------------------------------- + +A plug for equality and Justice for all-Over-load Bureaucratic channels + +If you're going to write into any government department this year, make +sure the one issue you do act on is the Fiscal Envelope. Writing a +submission is easy. Head the page with "The following is a submission on +the Fiscal Envelope".then underneath write all your views... yeah!. +Official instructions for making a submission is that one should, cite the +specific proposals booklet there are two, and to "restrict your comments to +the booklets and related issues". ( the booklets can be obtained free of +charge from Te Puni Kokiri regional offices) However if your not into +obtaining the offending booklets inform yourself through old newspapers and +looking up Maori media sources. It is an interesting indicator that the +round of hui, up and down the country did n ot run smoothly. At one +location local Maori refused to take part claiming that the government had +already made up it's mind. The hui scheduled for Lower Hutt was postponed +because the government sensed that there would be p! roblems with Maori +activists (isn't feedback, radical or otherwise, is what the government is +trying to promote thru the hui round??!) The government has conceded that +more time is needed for people to get their submissions in, the deadline is +now 31st A ugust (not the 19th of May). + +So think about it and send your submission into : Office of Treaty Settlements, Department of Justice, Private Bag 180, Wellington. + + -------------------------------------------------- + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001227.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001227.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6e1310c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001227.txt @@ -0,0 +1,506 @@ +NATIONWIDE DEMO FOR JUSTICE FOR WOMEN + +On the 14th of March there were simultaneous demos outside High Courts in +Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton and Dunedin as well as outside the Appeal +Court in Wellington. The day marked the day on which Gay Oake's lawyers +were appealing her case in the A ppeal Court. The day was not only about +Gay and her case but about highlighting the inequities in the 'Justice(sic) +System'. Like how can it be that when a man kills his partner he can plead +provocation and get off on man-slaughter or less but when a wo men kills +her partner, a partner who may have been severely beating her up over +decades, she can be separated from her children and get convicted of +murder. The justice system is obviously warped!. In addition when a man +pleads provocation the victim, th e dead woman can't speak out and say if +he was provoked, yet in the woman's case there is often solid evidence +through police records etc that abuse was going on, yet the murder sentence +is still past down!. + +Women for Justice for Women a group set up to address the inequities in the +justice system, believes that the Gay Oake's appeal raises some important +issues of gender bias. + the extent to which the effects of long term abuse +on women must be taken into account when deciding guilt or innocence, + the +tendency of the criminal justice system to blame women for its failure to +protect women, + women's and children's right to saf ety, + the right of a +woman to a fair and non-discriminatory trial. + +The legal ins and outs of Gay's case are that when her case was initially +heard her lawyer somehow tried to use 'self-defence' and 'provocation' +arguments. Both of these fell short of an argument called +'self-preservation' which has not been set into la w, yet. Basically, the +'self-preservation' argument states that anyone has a right to protect +themselves from perceived imminent attack. 'Self-preservation' may take +into account such things as 'the battered woman's syndrome' or at the very +least consid er the reality, the terror, of a woman frozen into a long time +abusive relationship. + +Appeal cases don't reopen the facts of a case they review points of law. +In Gay's case how the judge behaved was being reviewed. He may have led +the jury by understating the situation of battered women in general. The +appeal court has come out with a "reserved judgement" on Gay's case, it +will continue at a later date. + +Points of law, facts of the case or legal arguments, it doesn't really +matter! Simply, justice wasn't done or didn't work well for Gay before Doug +Gardener died, Gay appealed to the Police, got out non-molestation orders +and did everything she could. Yet after Doug Gardener died the justice +system worked particularly fast, wosh down on Gay. Down on a woman who +once rang the police for assistance and was told they couldn't come out +because some diplomat was in town. + +Write to Women for Justice for Women, Suzanne Berry, Law Faculty, +Canterbury University, Private Bag, CHRISTCHURCH or Gay Oakes, Paparoa +Women's Prison, CHRISTCHURCH + + -------------------------------------------------- + +1 9 9 5 Anarcha-Feminist Conference + +The Katipo Collective organised a Third Annual Anarcha-feminist Conference +on February 17-19th 1995. It was held at Makahika Lodge, east of Levin. The +Katipo Collective is made up of about fifteen women and is a Wellington +based group which has been meeting regularly over the past four years. + +Our conferences which are annual events are organised because they are +effective in bringing together Anarcha-feminists, one time during the year +to share ideas, discuss Anarcha-feminist issues and develop a feelingof +sisterhood. Anarcha-feminist conferences are a good opportunity to +socialise with other women from around the country. This year women got +together at workshops and discussed a variety of topics which were: +Introduction to Anarcha-femi nism, Advanced Anarcha-feminism,Communit +Justice for Rapists and Abusers, Collective Decision Making, Reunification +of Germany -(German Feminist Perspective), Introduction to Massage, +Ecofeminism, Sexuality, The Fiscal Envelope Celibacy, Class, Educating Our +Children, as well as a Weed Walk and a talk on Bicycle Maintenance. + +On Friday night up to fifty women arrived from around the country. Women +came from Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Takaka, Nelson, Levin, +Wellington as well as from Canada, Germany, and England. Saturday morning +started off with Defensercise (a mix of Self-defence and Jazzerobics). That +was followed with a hearty breakfast, an introduction session and then into +the first lot of workshops. + +Introductory Anarcha-Feminism and a more in depth Anarch-Feminist workshop +were the first two workshops of the day. In the introductory +Anarcha-feminist workshop, anarchism was explained as well as its history. +The discussion then went into Anarcha-femin ism, how it was different from +other feminisms and a bit of Anarcha-feminist history. The in depth +Anarcha-feminist workshop were for those women who felt they already knew +what Anarcha-feminism was. It was to discuss our own doubts about +Anarcha-feminism , why we think women may not want to be involved. It was a +very positive approach which highlightedareas we have not been +addressing.On Saturday there were four session of workshops with a big +lunch break which gave women an opportunity to relax and to go and swim in +the nearby waterhole. By the end of the day we were both stimulated by the +workshops and tired! Later that night we had a collective banquet dinner +then a Performance Show led by some members of the Random Trollops, an +Anarcha-feminist performance troupe. + +On Sunday we had more of the same, with an intensive schedule of workshops, +two slots in the morning, one in the afternoon and a caucusdiscussion on +how the conference went, and Future Directions. The Katipo Collective got +a lot of positive feedback on the conference during the final caucus +session. It was said that, As Education is getting more and more expensive +events like the Anarcha-feminist conference are an oppertunityto educate +women about things they might not come into contact otherwise and that +The Conference was about women educating each other. + +There is a conference planned for 1996 although who will be organising it, +where it will be held and when the exact dates are, is yet to be decided. +Look out for information about this in future issues of Sekhmet. + + -------------------------------------------------- + +Introduction to Anarcha-feminism Workshop + +The introduction to Anarcha-feminism workshop was taken by Lou and Lyn. +The first half of the workshop which Lyn took, is a general talk on +anarchism, anarchist history and anarchist movements around the world. This +article doesn't cover what was discussed by women in the workshop. + +Going back to its Greek roots the word anarchy comes from the word archon, +meaning power. Words like monarchy and patriarchy have the same root. But +with the prefix 'an', anarchy comes to mean the absence of such power. + +Today anarchism is a theory for social change. The essential anarchist +belief is that no person has the right to have power over another person. +When you accept that notion that every person has there own personal +sovereignty, it becomes apparent, that the present social structure does +not allow people equal footing. It does not allow us control over our own +lives. + +This is why anarchists actively oppose those things which we see inhibit +our own personal freedom and inhibit a more beneficial social order from +developing. + +Anarchists have traditionally opposed all hierarchies including monarchies, +governments, fascism, sexism, and racism. And anarchists oppose the violent +methods power uses to protect its own interests such as police and armies. + +Anarchists believe that we don't need the government to look after us, and +that in fact people would be a lot better off looking after themselves. + +Instead of organising in hierarchies with some people like bosses and +politicians telling everyone else what to do; people could work in smaller +groups, in collectives where there is no boss and decisions can be made by +every member of the collective. + +A society without government is a heavy concept when you first think about +it. Of course we have all been well socialised into believing that +government is necessary and that really people can't be trusted with +themselves. + +Anarchist thought about how a society without coercion would work has led +to specifically anarchists methods of working. + +Anarchists believe that no one should own property. All land in the +'anarchist' vision would be held in common. Anarchists believe also that +work would be quite different in an anarchist society. Because everyone +would have access to work. The unemployed, disabled and elderly wouldn't be +kept from meaningful work like they are now. There would be no need for +those that do real productive labour to work so excessively hard to support +the people that aren't allowed to work and the people that do useless wor k +like politicians. + +A crucial part of anarchism is that the means you utilise will determine +the end result. So if you want an equal society you don't work in a +hierarchy to get it and you use direct action grass roots methods instead +of relying on the government for reforms . To sum up means define the ends. + +Right onto some anarchist history! The Free Spirit was probably the world's +first major anarchist movement that I know of, flourishing throughout the +Middle Ages in virtually every part of Europe. It began in 1200AD among +Paris intellectuals as a rebellio n against the overwhelming power of the +church. + +Although the central group was swiftly executed by the church for 'heresy', +their ideas spread from town to town, especially along trade routes. Women +and weavers (such as the weavers of Antwerp) were particularly receptive. +All renounced property, power, and privilege. + +In 1259 they were excommunicated, the Church being especially horrified by +the many Free Spirit women living in communal households - in Cologne they +numbered 2000. According to the Bishops their chief sin was their +independence from men; they were "idle gossiping vagabonds who refuse +obedience to men under the pretext that God is best served in freedom". +Everything about them was banned by the church and refusing to purchase +absolution many were burnt or drowned for their belief in freedom. Forced +underg round they became mobile spreading into many countries. Their vivid +message was carried by word of mouth but their propaganda also included the +written word. Although Marguerite Porete was burned at the stake in 1310, +her Mirror of Simple souls, was cover tly distributed across Europe for +several centuries. Other anarchist movements in pre-industrial revolution +Europe included the Ranters in Diggers. + +In the second half of the 19th century people actually started calling +themselves anarchists this is the heyday of men with beards - Bakunin, +Kropotkin, Poudhon, Reclus etc. all writing long books. About the same time +the Paris Commune of 1871 was the fir st great urban go at it. The commune +gave priority to education - one child in three would otherwise have had no +schooling at all. An all women committee, including the anarchist Louise +Michel, organised classes for women, and organised schools and day nu +rseries near the factories. 43 factories were collectively run. Eventually +the commune was squashed and Louise Michel and others got exiled to New +Caledonia as prisoners, and once there they ended up joining the 1878 Kanak +uprising against the French colo nialists. + +Asia also has a widespread anarchist movement. In Korea in 1800 there was +the Yeon Jeon System and in the 1860's Choi Jae Woo came up with the Dong +Hak theory. A peasant army rose up, influenced by Dong Hak, against the +ruling class. The numbers of the ar my snowballed as it crossed the +country. The peasant army occupied 53 counties which produced half the +grain of the country. All farms collectivised, abolishing feudal +discrimination, redividing land etc. When the government despatched troops +to reinforce their army it had been reduced to half by the time they got +there because of desertions. In the end the Korean ruling class invited the +Japanese imperialists in to restore 'order'. + +The modern anarchist movement in Korea before 1945 spent most of their +energy trying to expel Japan from their country. During this time they had +contact with other anarchists in Japan, China, Vietnam, Taiwan and others. +In 1928 the Korean Anarchists orga nised the Eastern Anarchist Federation +composed of anarchists from all these countries, and published a bulletin +called 'Dong Bang'. + +Latin America also had a strong anarchist movement with huge anarchist +unions. Mexican Indians were influenced by anarchist ideas especially the +Zapatistas. + +Anarchism is at the centre of Cuba's long history struggle for freedom and +independence. Anarchists drafted the Cuban Independence Resolution at the +first workers conference in 1892 and the anarchist general workers league +led the first General strike. Ma ny anarchists also fought in the 1895 +insurrection against Spanish rule. Anarchists were also central with the +200,000 strong co-operative movement. + +I don't know about the history of anarchism on the African continent except +that there is a large movement in Nigeria and they are currently working on +a book about African anarchist history. + +The two most inspiring points of anarchist history for me is Russia in 1917 +with the Makhnovists etc. and the other being the Spanish Revolution in +1936 which involved one and a half million anarchists. (I told the women in +the workshop that I couldn't do either of these the justice with time we +had but recommended that women find out more about them, and that if they +asked me afterwards I could recommend some books. As well as plugging the +video we had at the conference 'All of Our Lives' which is an i nterview +with some anarchist women who were active during the Spanish Revolution.) + +Since Spain there have been uprisings in Hungary in 1956, France in 1968 +though not necessarily anarchist were definitely very anarchist in flavour. + + (From here the workshop was passed onto Lou). + +By Lyn +With loads of help from Sam's notes and various books. + +The second half of the workshop which was facilitated by Lou. She compared +Anarcha-feminism with other feminisms. She also outlined some herstory of +Anarcha-feminism around the world. What follows is a brief summary about +the ideas put forward, some contentious points and some general group +agreements. + +Liberal and Conservative feminism (neither myself who had done research on +both feminisms, nor women in the group could actually see much of a +difference between Liberal and Conservative feminism as neither directly +challenge the existence and legitimacy of present power structures. There +was a general agreemeent that both address women's issues within the status +quo political structure. On reflection I think I see where the difference +lies (although as an anarchist, it makes little difference to what I think +about them both). Conservative feminism, positions women's rights and +feminist issues under the hierarchal mainstream agenda. For example it +is acceptable, according to conservative feminist beliefs, for women to +have equal opportunities in the workplace but not to question the male +defined arrangement of the workplace. Liberal feminism appears to be +somewhat more challenging within the existing social, political and +economic frameworks. For example a reordering! of the workplace may be +acceptable within liberal feminism. Again though, this is not extended to +a wider critique of institutions which order our lives: government, the +legal system and capitalism. + +Socialist and Marxist feminism was discussed without too much controversy. +However, a discussion of these feminisms introduced a very important +problem to the group , the question of whether society based on +anarchist-feminist principles is practically possible. Is a lack of +government and legal structures, feasible? Could anarchist communities +function? Obviously to many of us who were familiar with anarchist ideas +prior to the conference this was an issue that may have already been dealt +with and accepted - to varying degrees. For those who were unaware of +anarchy as an everyday reality, I gave some examples of anarchist +communities, such as those which existed in Spain in the 1930's. + +Socialist and Marxist feminism was critiqued as a challenge to the existing +capitalist order, but limiting because of it's acceptance of the state. +The anarcha-feminist idea, that a centralised and patriarchal institution +cannot and should not ensure the liberation of women and other oppressed +and marginalised groups, gave some group members good fodder to mull over. + +Lesbian and radical feminism were looked at and it was generally recognised +that there are strong links between these and Anarcha-feminism. In fact it +was suggested that all three accommodated each other within their special +agendas. All of them reject existing male power superstructures and called +for a radical reshaping of society and community. They are pro-collectives +and reject hierarchal organisations and activities. For example, the early +conscious-raising groups in the 'second-wave' of feminism operated +anarchistically with no 'leaders' or bureaucracy, and it was only when the +woman's movement as a whole began to aim to please government and so on +that the initial equality was lost. Early 'second-wave' ideas read very +similarly to Anarcha-fem ideas. + +Herstory +By the time we had thrashed out all of the above, there was very little +time for anything but a tragically inadequate summary of the international +herstory of Anarchist feminism. I would have liked to have touched on +Anarcha fems in Asia, especially key Chinese Anarcha feminists, but alas it +was not to be. Key figures in European Anarcha-fem herstory were +mentioned, including Emma Goldman, Mollie Steimer and Voltairine De Cleyre. +The Spanish group Mujeres Libres was talked about in brief. + +If you want to become further aquainted with the history of +Anarcha-feminism and Anarcha-feminist figures contact back issues of +Sekhmet and books which can be obtained through the Katipo Collective or +the Anarchist bookshop in Wellington. Some libraries particularly +university libraries, may gave one or two relevant books on the topic. +Relevant books are: Anarchist Women by Margaret S Marsh, Quiet Rumours: +Anarcha-feminism in the 1970's and 1980's by Oak Star Publishing +Collective, Mujeres Libres: Organising Women during the Spanish Revolution +by Martha Acklesberg, Anarchism and Feminism by Kyka Kursh and Peggy +Kornegger, and Fighters for Anarchism by Mollie Steimer and Senya Fleshin + + -------------------------------------------------- + +Bringing up our children + +As an Anarcha-feminist, how do you educate kids? Is education itself +coercive? State schools certainly are! However, kids naturally like +learning - the important thing is that they learn what they want, when they +want. What about the history of an anarchist thought on this? Lots of +famous anarchist dudes have ranted about education. + +History +In 18th century England, William Godwin declared "education is the basis of +freedom". Later, in Spain, Francis Ferrer was into "rational education". +Groups of kids would decide what they wanted to learn, then organise a +teacher. There'd be no homework, discipline or hierarchy (ie no teachers' +desk). Emma Goldman railed against the US state school system. She +supported free expression and sex education, and set up anarchist schools +in New York. Zeb Koryanska, a contemporary English anarchist, is into home +schooling. Its less competitive, and work and play can be integrated. If +you don't like schools, "Teach your own" she says. + +We also discussed actual schools a bit. In 1901, Ferrer set up the Escuela +Moderna in Barcelona. Classes were optional co-educational, and without +prizes, marks, or exams. Nearly fifty schools were set up - partly funded +by anarchist bank robberies! These inspired the Modern Schools Movement in +the USA. From 1910 twenty two schools were set up. Hours were flexible +and attendance optional. In one case the teachers got US$6.50 a week, +which they spent on buying the kids ice-cream and taking them to the +movies. Once, when the "Star Spangled Banner" was played in a movie, the +kids refused to stand up, and the class has a big argument with the +manager. Unfortunately both, lack of funding and disagreements between +parents and teachers were big problems and the last school closed in 1960. + +Approach +So how does an Anarcha-feminist today approach the subject of education? +Feminist efforts in education are more often concerned with women educating +each other within universities women teach and learn about woman's history, +the history of feminism and feminist thought. Outside universities +feminists run workshops on topics like self-defence, anger management and +self-esteem. + +But what about education of children. Probably the biggest concern of +feminist educationalists is gender socialisation of children. To a large +extent children learn the play passive, active roles. Education must be +partly responsible. + +Anarchists acknowledge many faults of the state education system. I will +not attempt to cover them all. A primary fault is state schools aim to +prepare pupils for the job market and a place in the hierarchy. School +children are not taught to use their initiative or imagination, instead +they are taught diligence and obedience. Another fault of state education +is its inefficiency. Because of schools limited aims and high student to +teacher ratio kids spend hours and hours at school with very little to show +for it. + +The conference discussion acknowledged that there are alternatives to state +education. Women focused on the parenting aspect of education. We also +talked about the advantages of co-parenting and what constitutes a family. +Not addressed were important questions like, what are the educational needs +of children in Aotearoa, and is education itself coercive? + +Hopefully the topic of Anarchist education will continue to promote thought +and discussion. + +Luv Catherine and Billie + + -------------------------------------------------- + +Coming out and homophobia in Aotearoa + +Coming out and homophobia are two of the most difficult issues for lesbian +and bisexual women. Our workshop was primarily aimed at giving +understanding the 'coming out' process and where homophobia comes from and +the effect these have on lesbian and bisexual women. The issue of sexual +orientation has to be important to all feminists, if we stand up for +women's rights we stand up for all women's rights. It is in the interest +of all women to protect women's choice of sexual orientation as a basic +human right (now unable to be discriminated against under the Human Rights +Bill of Aotearoa). Homophobia should also concern feminists, whatever their +sexual orientation because it controls women's lives, eliminates women's +choices and suppresses women's sexuality. There is also an important +connection between homophobia and anti-feminist attitudes, like being +called a lesbian just because your a feminist, which has often been used to +undermine women's movements and divide women on the basis of sexual +orientation. + +Homophobia seems to be yet another patriarchal devise to control women that +has evolved from many different socially prescribed norms and gender roles. +These norms effect how women's sexuality is defined, especially the myth of +'compulsory' heterosexuality which defines women's sexuality as passive +heterosexuality. Lesbian and bisexual women challenge this notion of +women's sexuality by not following these norms. + +In reality this means it can be difficult for women to assess when it is +O.K. to be 'out' and open or, to gauge the level of homophobia around them. +This effects whether a woman for example openly: identifies as a lesbian; +promotes bisexual politics; tells you she has a girlfriend; talks about her +live-in woman partner. + +We are socialised to be heterosexual and discouraged to be anything else. +There is a lot of fear caused mainly by ignorance and suspicion of people +who are not heterosexual. Many lesbian and bisexual women many also fear +rejection, abuse and violence because of their sexual identity. Ways to +overcome homophobia include looking at our own backgrounds/socialisation to +see where these feelings come from and why. Women may also benefit from +joining a local 'coming out group' for women who are lesbian or bisexual . +It is important to challenge homophobia in ourselves and others (that +includes straight and bendy women). + +'Coming out' is often an important time in a women's life. Coming out can +be a personal process of realising that you are bisexual or lesbian, this +might mean challenging the homophobe within. It is also about telling other +people your sexual identity. Coming out is going to be different for +everybody, we have to respect the way our friends, family and co-workers +come out, who they come out to and how they do it. It is not save to assume +women are 'out' to everybody, or that they are 'out' to their parents +(giving it away may cause a premature crisis for your friend). Remember +also that coming out may be a very private time (lots to think about) , so +don't be offended people need some space. For many bisexual women coming +out can be difficult, many women feel they have nothing to come out into, +no community and not much of an identity. + +I hope this has covered the important aspects of 'coming out' and +homophobia and been an accurate reflection on our workshop. I felt it was a +safe, honest and open space to discuss these issues and women's personal +experiences. So that we could find understanding, pride and healing about +the way sexual identity, homophobia and 'coming out' effected our lives. +Johanna and Billie + + -------------------------------------------------- + +Consensus and Chrysantheneums + +Consensus? It's harder than it sounds. It's important, though, because +decision-making is power. You can't separate means and ends - the process +can be as important as the decision itself. It's like gardening. + +There are heaps of difficulties. People can be left out due to race, +culture, age, class, gender, or disability. New members often feel left +out, while a couple of dudes dominate so no-one feels they've got the +authority to speak. Sometimes structures which supposedly let everyone +have their say (circles, rounds etc/, can actually be threatening, wimmen +feeling 'put on the spot'. In the end , people feel frustrated and +ignored, and the decision is weaker because it doesn't include everyone's +experience. + +Rotating Chair Method This is the idea that the current speaker is +responsible for "chairing" the meeting while she's speaking. When she's +finished, she passes the "chair" onto the next woman. Woman show they want +to speak by eye contact, hand symbols etc. This goes on till no-one else +wants to speak - it's a bit like marae protocol. At the end, a decision is +put together that includes everyone's opinion. If a decision can't be +reached, the issue is left open. However, if it's urgent, the group has to +focus on quickly reaching a decision everyone can live with. + +Roles Starhawk is more into using "roles" which rotate among the members +of the group. First, there's the Facilitator., who keeps everything +focussed and zooming along . The Vibeswatcher (great name) keeps and eye +on the feeling of the meeting. The Peacekeeper helps calm people and deal +with crises - both meetings and political actions. The Co-ordinator keeps +track of what's doing and who's doing it! + +There are also roles which people can find themselves doing without +realizing - and may wish to change. The SELF-HATER gets uptight that other +people don't do as much as she does. The STAR talks a lot and shows off. +The Rock does all the grotty tasks and get burnt out. The FILLER just sits +there without saying much. + +These methods can take a lot of time and are usually more effective when +the group is fairly small and is really committed to the same goals. Each +group will need to devise its own processes - and share them with other +people. The anarcha-feminst future we create (whatever that might be!), +depends on how we make decisions today. Happy gardening! + +Two cool books: (i) Starhawk - Dreaming the Dark (ii) Charlene Eldredge +Wheeler - Peace and Power, a handbook of feminist process. Catherine + + -------------------------------------------------- diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001228.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001228.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4505723e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001228.txt @@ -0,0 +1,157 @@ +An Anarcha-feminist Profile - Mollie Steimer + +Mollie Steimer died of a heart attack on July 23, 1980 at her home in +Cuernavaca. Mexico. Mollie was 82 years old, and throughout her long life +she was consumed with a passion to work for the good of the people. Born on +November 21, 1897, in southwestern Russia, Mollie emigrated to the United +States in 1913 with her family. She immediately went to work in a garment +factory to help support her family. She came across radical literature +including the works of Bakun in, Kropotkin, and Emma Goldman. By 1917 +Mollie had become an anarchist, to which she dedicated her life. + +With the outbreak of the Russian Revolution, she plunged into agitational +activity. She joined a young group of anarchists called Frayhart which +contained a dozen or so young women and men, all of them workers of +East-European Jewish origin. + +The Frayhart collective, edited and distributed their newspaper (also +called Frayhart) which was outlawed by the federal government for its +opposition to the American War effort. It also had anti-capitalist, +pro-revolutionary, and pro soviet content. On August 23, 1918 Mollie was +arrested for distributing leaflets against the landing of American troops +in Soviet Russia, along with several other members of her group. + +The Abrams case as it became known, constitutes a landmark in the +repression of civil liberties in the United States. It was the first +important prosecution under the Espionage Act. It has been cited in all +standard histories, as one of the most flagrant violations of +constitutional rights during the Red Scare hysteria that followed the First +World War. The trial which lasted two weeks, opened on October, 1918, at +the Federal Court House in New York. The defendants were Abrams, Steimer, +Schwartz, Lachows ky, and Lipman. Schwartz, however, never appeared in +court. Having been severely beaten by the police, he was removed to +hospital, where he died on October 14. + +The judge who tried the case grilled the defendants about their "free love" +activity. They were mocked and humiliated by the judge. Before the +conclusion of the trial, Mollie Steimer delivered a powerful speech in +which she explained her political belief s. "By anarchism," she declared, +"I understand a new social order, where no group of people shall be in +power, no group of people shall be governed by another group of people. +Individual freedom shall prevail in the full sense of the word. Private +owner ship shall be abolished. Every person will have an equal opportunity +to develop himself well, both mentally and physically. We shall not have to +struggle for our daily existence as we do now. No one shall live on the +product of others. Every person shall produce as much as he can , and enjoy +as much as he needs - receive according to his need. Instead of striving to +get money, we shall strive towards education, towards knowledge. While at +present the people of the world are ! divided into various groups, calling +themselves nations, while one defies another - in most cases considers the +others as competitive - we, the workers of the world, shall stretch out our +hands towards each other with brotherly love. To the fulfilment of this +idea I shall devote all my energy, and if necessary, render my life for it." + +The jury found all the defendants guilty. The Judge sentenced the three men +to the maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and a $1000 fine, while +Mollie received fifteen years and a $500 fine. The barbarity of the +sentenced for the mere distribution o f leaflets shocked liberals and +radicals alike. + +However the four were temporarily released on bail to await the results of +their appeal. Mollie immediately resumed her political activities. As a +result, she was continually hounded by the authorities. Over the next +eleven years she was arrested no less than eight times, kept in the station +house for brief periods, released then rearrested, sometimes without +charges being preferred against her. On March 11, 1919, she was arrested at +the Russian People's House on the East 15th Street during a raid by the +federal and local police which netted 164 radicals. Charged with inciting +to riot, Mollie was held for eight days in the notorious Tombs prison +before being released on $1000 bail, only to be arrested again and taken to +Ellis Island for deportation. Lock ed up for twenty hours a day, denied +exercise and fresh air and the right to mingle with other political +prisoners, she went on a hunger strike until the authorities met her +demands. "the entire machinery of the United State! s government was being +employed to crush this slip of a girl weighing no less than eighty pounds," +Emma Goldman complained. + +The government however, was not yet ready to deport the 21 year old, +prisoner whose case remained before the courts. Released from Ellis Island, +Mollie was kept under constant surveillance. In the fall of 1919, when Emma +Goldman returned to New York (af ter completing a two year prison +sentence) Mollie took the opportunity to call on her. It was the beginning +of a lasting friendship. Mollie reminded Emma of the Russian women +revolutionaries under the Tsar, earnest, ascetic, and idealistic, "who +sacrifice d their lives before they had scarcely begun to live ." In Emma's +description, Mollie was "diminutive and quaint looking, altogether Japanese +in features and stature". she was a wonderful girl Emma added, " with an +iron will and a tender heart," but "fear fully set in her ideas." "A sort +of Alexander Berkman in skirts", she jested to her niece Stella Ballantine. +Soon after her meeting with Emma Goldman, Mollie was again arrested. She +was imprisoned for six months. Locked up in a filthy cell, isolated once +more from her fellow prisoners, and barred from all contact with the +outside world. During, this period, word came that the Supreme Court had +upheld the conviction of Mollie and her friends. + +In April 1920 she was transferred from Blackwell's Island to Jefferson +City, Missouri, (where Emma Goldman had been confined before deportation +with Berkman in December 1919) for eighteen months. Her lawyer, meanwhile, +with the support of the Political Prisoners Defence Committee, had been +trying to secure release for his clients on the condition of their +deportation to Russia. In due course, an agreement was concluded, and +Weinberger obtained the release of the four , with the stipulation that +they would leave for Russia at their own expense and never return to the +United states. + +On November 24, 1921, Mollie Steimer sailed for Soviet Russia. Victims of +the Red Scare in America they soon became the victims of the red Terror in +Russia. Arriving in Moscow on December 15, 1921, they found that Emma +Goldman and Alexander Berkman had a lready departed for the West, +disillusioned by the turn the revolution had taken. Kropotkin had died in +Feb., and the Kronstadt rebellion had been suppressed in March. Makhno's +insurgent army had been dispersed, hundreds of anarchists languished in +prison. Amid the gloom, however, there were some bright spots. In Moscow, +Mollie met Senya Fleshin, who became her lifelong companion. + +Mollie and Senya organised a Society to Help Anarchist Prisoners, +travelling about the country to assist their incarcerated comrades. On +November 1, 1992, they were arrested by the GPU on charges of aiding +criminal elements in Russia and maintaining ties with anarchists abroad. +Sentenced to two years' exile in Siberia, they declared a hunger strike on +November 17 in their Petrograd jail, and ended up being released. They +were forbidden to leave the city and were ordered to report to the +authorities every 48 hours. However Mollie and Senya resumed their efforts +on behalf of prisoned comrades. They were arrested again. Protests to +Trotsky by foreign Anarcho Syndicalist delegates soon brought about their +release. This time they were expelled from Russia and placed aboard a ship +bound for Germany. + +In Berlin, and afterwards in Paris, Mollie and Senya resumed their relief +work which had led to their deportation. In 1927 they formed the Mutual Aid +Group of Paris to assist fellow anarchists exiles, not only from Russia, +but also from Italy , Spain, Potugal, and Bulgaria, even though they were +penniless, without legal documents, and in constant danger of deportation. + +Mollie assisted Senya in professional photography him until 1933 when +Hitler's rise to power forced them to return to Paris. In the early months +of the Second World War they were not molested but before long their Jewish +origins and anarchist convictions caught up with them. On May 18, 1940, +Mollie was placed in an internment camp, while Senya, aided by French +friends, managed to escape to the occupied sector of the country. Somehow, +Mollie secured her release. The pair reunited then crossed the Atlantic and +settled in Mexico City. + +They arrived half starved and penniless and without a permanent passport. +For the next 25 years they lived as "Nansen" citizens (i.e people without a +passport), anarchists without a country, until they acquired Mexican +citizenship in 1948. When deported from the United States, Mollie had +vowed to stay true to her beliefs. In Russia, in Germany, in France, and +now in Mexico, she remained faithful to her vow. Fluent in Russian, +Yiddish, English, German, French, and Spanish, she corresponded with +comrades and kept up with the anarchist press around the world. In early +1980 she was filmed by the Pacific Street Collective of New York, to whom +she spoke of her beloved anarchism. In her last years, Mollie felt worn and +tired. To the end, however, her revolutionary passion burned with an +undiminished flame. + + -------------------------------------------------- + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001229.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001229.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e0998b65 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001229.txt @@ -0,0 +1,83 @@ +Anarcha-feminism and Animal Liberation + +"Meat is like pornography - before it was someone's' fun, it was someone's +life" Melinda Vales + +Lots of anarchists find the idea of animal rights quite dodgy. +Quaranteeing "legal" rights to animals sounds pretty useless given the +amount of notice the state takes of human rights. Intellectual dudes like +Peter Singer focus more on allowing moral considerations to animals, based +on their similarity to humans. But what about the bigger picture? +Anarcha-feminists who are into animal liberation link male domination and +exploitation of animals with the male domination and exploitation of women. +It's about breaking down the divisions - male/female, rich/poor, +black/white ... animal/human. We want the self-determination of both +animals and humans. + +Hunting and eating animals is traditionally done by the boys. Dead animals +and women are objectified in similar ways. TV, magazines, and video fames +sell us funky fantasy images of happy cartoon chickens (like the one at Big +Fresh) and airbrushed anorexic women, targeted at male consumers. Women are +called cows, chicks, birds, vixen - domestic and game animals. If men are +compared to animals they are wolves, bears or stallions. Lots of women +are kept in suburban homes like battery hens or pigs - continually +pregnant, bored, depressed. + +As well as being a massive torture industry, vivisection is another way of +objectifying animals. Lots of experiments, such as the Draize test destroy +the animals' eyes, turning them into objects who can't return the male +gaze. Women and animals are experimented on without their consent by male +doctors. Caesarean section is the standard way lab animals give birth, as +it used to be for women. + +Lots of pornography portrays women as animals. Look at "Adult +Entertainment" (ironically next to "Pets and Livestock") in the Evening +Post - ads like "Cuddly bunny especially for you". Meat-based recipes are +also advertised in sexual terms "Hot Stuff". The whips and chains of +bondage imagery is based on gear for breaking in horses. Lots of men who +abuse women start off abusing pet animals. + +Is there a problem in supporting both animal rights and pro-choice? I feel +these movements have a lot in common: 1) both focus on life and +self-determination of the individual woman and animals 2) both women and +farm animals are forced into unwanted pregnancies 3) the anti-abortion +movement romanticises motherhood in just the same way that the meat +industry romanticises farm animals. Abortion in early pregnancy isn't +murder in the same case killing animals is - medical evidence suggests +foetuses can't feel pain before the seventh month of gestation. + +Does animal liberation ignore race and class issues? It's true that most +of the Animal Rights movement is a whiter shade of pale. However, +indigenous peoples tend to be objectified as animals to be consumed in just +the same way women are. People of col our and animals are both overworked, +marginalised, and economically exploited. The same power structures +oppress both. Defending animals and fighting racism is part of the same +struggle. + +I want to mention possums because they cause a lot of damage in Aotearoa. +Do we need to murder possums to save indigenous trees and birds? This has +worried me quiet a lot. However, Pakeha bought possums into Aotearoa - +this is a Pakeha problem, not a possum problem. It is up to pakeha to find +a solution that doesn't oppress possums. The destruction of bush by +possums is minimal compared to that destroyed by Pakeha for farmland or +timber. Rather than murdering possums, we need to focus on stopping +further bush being cleared for profit, and on keeping existing possum-free +areas of bush possum-free. + +It's interesting that both anarcha-feminism and the animal rights movement +are based around direct action tactics. Both aim to destroy the existing +systems and practices rather than reform them -ie. no veal calves rather +than better conditions for veal calves - no laws rather than better laws. +The liberation and self-determination of animals and people is thus +inseparable -"Merely by ceasing to eat meat, merely by practising restraint +we have the power to end a painful industry"- Roberta Katechofsky + +I'd really recommend the following books: + +(i)Carol J Adams "Neither man nor Beast: feminism and the defense of +animals" + +(ii)Vandana Shiva and Maria Miles "Ecofeminism" + + -------------------------------------------------- + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001230.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001230.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b74646a8 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001230.txt @@ -0,0 +1,55 @@ +All of Sea-Operation Thumbelina + +On February 7th of this year I took part in a Greenpeace New Zealand whale +rescue operation. + +Greenpeace New Zealand had learned that a Japanese whaling vessel, the +Toshi Maru no. 18, was to come into the Wellington harbour to pick up food +supplies and to drop off a crew member ('scientist') for treatment of an +injured thumb. While not aiming to prevent the crew member from receiving +medical attention, it was decided that here was an opportunity to expose to +the public the dire functions of the vessel and of the New Zealand +Governments' compliance with the slaughter of the rare minke whale by +allowing the ship into its' waters and by providing it with goods and +services. + +Two Greenpeace zodiacs chased the whaler out to sea, avoiding the police +vessels which had been sent out to protect the whaler and to prevent +actions of protest taking place. We finally caught up with the whaling +ship, got alongside and prepared for six of us to board and to chain +ourselves to the vessel. It would most likely have been possible to do so +had the New Zealand Government not kindly provided the ship with, among +other things, police officers on board the whaler who violently prevented +all but two of us from staying on the ship. Boarding demonstrators were +kicked, punched and some were thrown into the sea. This was extremely +dangerous as we got roughly 50km out at sea in turbulent waters and could +have been drowned or sucked under the ship quite easily. Lives need not +have been put at such risk in that situation but police chose to do so. +They also chose to mash the face of one activist who managed to get on +board, cause another to suffer a dislocated shoulder, ! and bruises all +round. + +However, despite injuries and despite the fact we didn't manage to hold up +Toshi Maru no. 18 as we had planned, we came out of the action pleased with +what we had achieved. Once we realised that the police were onto us and +that they had boarded before us, we knew our original plans were not as +easily attainable as we had envisioned. But we kept at it and got a lot of +media coverage in the process both here and in New Zealand and in Japan, +the United Kingdom and the U.S.A. The New Zealand Government was put into +the embarrassing position of being exposed as having helped to undermine an +international moratorium on whaling in this part of the world when in fact +it had itself voted for the moratorium prior to this event. Whalers are +also given the message that their whaling operations were unacceptable and +that they would be hassled everytime they tried to come here. + +As an Anarcha-feminist I am against the exploitation of people and animals +and the earth. I am against violence against people, animals, and the +earth. The slaughtering of minke whales sickens me. The attitude that we as +humans can take what we want, do what we please with little or no +consideration of when and what we effect in the process sickens me. The +violence and alienation of State controlled society which supports such +attitudes, I reject. Therefore I will continue to act to undermine the +State and to protect the freedom of the earths' inhabitants, human and non +human, for the preservation of our world. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001231.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001231.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c6363e0a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001231.txt @@ -0,0 +1,56 @@ + Setting up and keeping going Anarcha-feminist groups + +Why set up an anarcha-fem group? +* Promotes community +* Gets you support for what are often considered strange beliefs +* Good way to get actions going +* A place to talk through ideas you have +* An easier way to get things done than on your own + +Different ways to set up groups +* Advertise in Sekhmet +* Advertise in your local paper +* Distribute leaflets to cafes and places +* Talk on community radio +* Use student networks - paper and radio + +How to maintain a group and keep it going + +The main thing is having stuff to do and getting everyone involved in it. +Have a focus, even if it is short term, like organising one stall at one +event. Doing one action may show a group where it wants to put its energy +for future actions. For instance in the case of one stall, maybe having +stalls at another location, or having regular stalls. The action may +trigger off an action which is completely different for instance,a stall - +to a rally or fundraiser. Whatever circumstances, actions promote a sense +of achievement for groups whether they are new or establised. + +There are many different types of action, 1) activism: rallys, marches, +vigils and other forms of direct action- some which could involve handy +hints with bricks, 2) street theatre, 3) getting information out eg +stalls, leaflets, articles, letters to the editor and posters 4) social +evenings, 5) fundraisers, eg sausage sizzles or garage sales, 6) networking +with other womens groups + + +Important things about meetings and group process + +* Firstly it is important to have a regular meeting time and meeting place. Phone trees are a good way of reminding women about meetings especially if they dont happen weekly. Ensure that new members are put on the phone tree. + +* Ask people what they would like to get out of the group, what they would + like to do. + +* Make sure that everyone has had an oppertunity to speak without forcing + anyone to speak. Ensure that everyone has acutally agreed to decisions. + +* Keep a minute book. They are invaluable because individuals can refer + back to them to see what they agreed to do in the meeting. Its + important to keep track of intentions and aims from meeting to meeting. + +* Be prepared for influx of new people. Maybe have a prepared + introduction kit. Take time to tell newcomers what you have been doing in + the last few weeks. Perhaps orgainse a social evening for newcomers so + that they get to know everyone and feel more c onfident in participating + in meetings. + + -------------------------------------------------- diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001232.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001232.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d9e7ebf8 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001232.txt @@ -0,0 +1,103 @@ +Letters + +Dear Sekhmet, +Hello and thankyou to the organisers of the 3rd Annual Anarcha-Fem +Conference. I had a relatively foul time at the Conference by it wasn't +your fault. In fact if everything had been as nice as the organisation I +would have had 48 hours of blissdom and rejoicement. + +A friend and I agreed that aspects of the conference in fact resembled +less of a meeting of progressive radicals and more of our first few days +at high school. + +As women who don't meet mainstream expectations of femaleness, (ie we are +active rather than passive) we all cop a lot of shit. We reap few of the +benefits allotted to those who conform and comply. Given this, and given +anarchy and feminism's commitment to creating alternatives communities, +why the hell some people had to put up with put-downs and more ridicule +and alienation, in what should have been a safe environment for all +women, I don't understand. + +Some bigot-boy comedians I once had the misfortune of having a +conversation with, told me, when I complained about their +homophobic/racist/sexist jokes, that all humour offended somebody. I +couldn't be bothered pursuing that issue, they'd heard my point of view +and they didn't matter that much to me. But when I see humour used by +women as a tool to make themselves feel important and loved ( I do think +we can and should find other ways to feel this), and has the dastardly +but very real side effect of making other people feel stink, at a +conference with should be challenging cretinous behaivour not giving it +space, it matters. + +To all women and to all the moments when women weren't too cool, (and/or +were feeling strong enough) to meet new people, have new conversations, +to laugh at themselves and to make an effort to ensure other people were +feeling happy and safe, thankyou. + +Maria +Palmerston North +p.s (q) What do you do if you're + driving along and see a space-man? + (a) You park in it man!Letters + +Thank you for your comments, the collective felt it was important to +reply to some of your serious concerns. We would like to emphasise +though that there were many good things that came out of the conference +and difficult issues like the ones you describe. We hope in future that +with better organisation, more time, more emphasis on bonding and +building trust that these issues can be overcome next time. So that we +can maintain the high level of emotional satisfaction and support we +women expect from each other. + + + +Dear Sekhmet, +It was great to be at the 95 Anarcha-feminist conference at Makahika +Lodge in February. Its bloody cool to have an annual get together which +is women only space. I found on the whole women respectful of others +talking space and listening well and spouting interesting ideas too. The +workshops were diverse and practical and to look at areas where anarchism +has fallen short was good too. Like talking about how to support te tino +rangatiratanga in this land in practical instead of just token ways. +Another new thing was lesbian workshops which I thought was really +important considering the good lesbian turnout. I also want to say thanks +to Lou for her skills in food mastery or mistressy I should say. + +What changes would I like to see next year? Well more time when women are +less tired for getting to know each other. More of a chance to talk about +what we would like out of the weekend, and the kind of respect we would +like from others. But I must say it was a fab time for exploring ideas, +common interests and differences and yeah lets do it again. If youve got +any ideas for next year send them to us + +Bye bye +Caitlin +Wellington + + + +Dear Sekhmet, +Today I witnessed a truly horrendous sight. I was up at Victoria +University using the Sutherland Room which is for students with +disabilities. Interestingly enough I had been reading on the subject of +Images of Women for a womens studies course. I look up to see this *!:*! +man wearing a T-shirt with the words Shut up stupid bitch splattered +across his chest. I felt so fucken pissed off my first reaction was to +pull out a gun and put a gaping hole right through the middle of his +macho puke torso. Why not? Hothead Piscean would have had his guts for +garters. However that is fantasy and that option was out. My next idea +was to throw paint t him - still impractical given the circumstances. +What should I do? Tell him what I think of his taste in shirts, well +isnt that what he wanted, feminist backlash? + +I left the room having done nothing but fume (damn - no smoke came out my +ears) and decided to ask my anarch-fem mates for ideas. So let me know +what you think of this one and other sexist slap in your face situations. +What youve done, would like to do. + +Write to SEKHMET but dont call our 0800 number coz we aint got one. +See ya +Caitlin +Wellington + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001257.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001257.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bb423383 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001257.txt @@ -0,0 +1,424 @@ +- ------------------------------------------ +the following paper came up ca. January 1995 +- ------------------------------------------ + + +WHAT THE HELL ARE CHAOS DAYS? + +- - a question you possibly ask. But WHERE THE HELL did YOU have your eyes +and ears, when the CHAOS DAYS of '94 made headlines everywhere!? When +stupid punk rockers met in Hannover, terrorized old people and innocent +babies and left a whole town in ashes! +Perhaps some of you start to remember now, and, too, start to LIKE it! +We also had much fun on this because most of the events described by the +media NEVER happened - only in the heads of some so-called ~journalists~ +and police officers. +We assume that some of you REALLY want to know what's going on at CHAOS +DAYS, and so we will tell you... +CHAOS DAYS are no invention of the 90's but have a long tradition! Yes, +folks, we won't sell you Punk as the next hot wave, because it's a real +IDEA, and, from the early beginning, because of this German punks always +liked to meet in the public. We had some big meetings from '80-82' in +DUISBURG and WUPPERTAL where every month hundreds of punks made a big +party in the shopping area of the city. Of course, police and business +people did not like these "punk conventions", and again and again they +tried to prevent the meetings, often with the well-known police +brutality. +However, in 1982 punks did their first CHAOS DAY in Hannover, where more +than 1000 came to protest against a card index especially for punks, +which was a nice idea of the police to get control over the scene but +only initialized the history of CHAOS DAYS... +Also many skins joined the meeting, and so the CHAOS DAYS of 1983 were +intended as a big UNIFICATION of Punks & Skins. This time more than 1500 +punks and skins came and made headlines, but a big group of Nazi skins +managed to divide the groups. +The next year, nobody wanted to know anything of a big "unification", +but, of course, the CHAOS DAYS took place again in Hannover, and that +time it was a real EUROPEAN meeting instead of a German one. More than +2000 punks & friends made the biggest CHAOS DAYS until then - you could +meet punks from almost every west European country. +However, it ended with big resignation because in the evening and the +whole following night there was a big battle between police and punks at +a youth center where most of the punks went to see a punk concert. It +was a stupid fight between a brutal police and a crowd of drunken and +brainless punks who also started to destroy the youth center. During the +whole night, more than 1000 punks could not leave the place, were +encircled by the police, imprisoned this way - some say in a modern +German concentration camp... +That was the end of the CHAOS DAYS and also the begin of the decay of +German punk. Many punks left the scene, and a part of them put their +ideas into the involving hardcore scene. +But all over the years until today the idea of CHAOS DAYS never died +finally. Every year there were small CHAOS DAYS, mostly in small +villages and towns, with 50-100 punks. Not dead but also not alive, and +nobody ever imagined to see a big meeting as the ones of the eighties +again, now called "legendary"... +Nobody knows how it came together, but in the beginning of 1994 sheets +and flyers came up, and this time it was not any Chaos Days, it was T H +E CHAOS DAYS OF HANNOVER again. It had a little smell of a big revival +of "Woodstock for punk rockers", but it never happened this way +The CHAOS DAYS have never been anything where anybody could make money +or something. It is no meeting of record collectors or all-time +protesters, not organized in any way, but a meeting where you can find +MANY street punks - the guys who keep punk alive not in the record +stores but on the streeets, in the public! +So the jokes some people made about the new CHAOS DAYS could not prevent +that more than 1000 punks met in Hannover last year, and also the media +COULD NOT BELIEVE IT but saw it with their own eyes, cried: WE SAY THAT +PUNK IS DEAD FOR ALL THE TIME! YOU MUST NOT EXIST! WHERE THE HELL DO YOU +COME FROM? WHY DO YOU START TO DISTURB OUR LIFE AGAIN????? +Yes, the CHAOS DAYS are BACK WITH A BANG, and the hysterical media are +the guarantee that they will happen AGAIN EVERY YEAR! And because they +made it known to EVERYONE, this year we expect more than 5000 punks and +friends from all Europe. +Now the CHAOS DAY virus has reached America where will be the CHAOS DAYS +OF SAN FRANCISCO! Hey, where are the CHAOS DAYS ASIA/TOKYO, CHAOS DAYS +AUSTRALIA/MELBOURNE and CHAOS DAYS AFRICA/NAIROBI? Not to forget CHAOS +DAYS ANTARCTICI Who knows? +However, we hope to have the biggest punk meeting ever, hope to meet YOU +there! Come with your band, fanzine and all your ideas to make a CHAOS +the way WE understand it. They can't prohibit PUNK - and also not our +CHAOS! + +COME TO HANNOVER! COME TO SAN FRANCISCO! CHAOS DAYS AUG. 4th-6th, 1995 + + + +- -------------------------------------- +CHAOS DAYS NEWS (Date: 06/30/95) +- -------------------------------------- +Some CHAOS DAYS News: Some people saw the bands NO FX and TERRORGRUPPE +wearing CD-shirts on some of their gigs. Seems that they made the shirts +on their own...///// BAD RELIGION told the press guys about CD in some +interviews and did a CD shirt for their ongoing tour ///// some weeks +ago a newspaper from Hannover printed a story about CD, and there you +could see very well what these blood-wanting arseholes have in their +mind: they say punks want to have the "biggest streetbattle of the last +10 year", and that their parole is "Kill all cops!". Of course, they +DON'T say that these words are from a FUN paper that is meant as a +parody of last year's headlines and is marked with the words +"falsifikate!" ///// July issue of MAXIMUM ROCKROLL will have a 5 page +story about CD ///// In its July issue, the Germany Music Magazine +VISIONS did a big editorial about CHAOS DAYS ///// 3000 Punks came to +see the last game of the German Soccer Club ST. PAULI. Also there the +new ST. PAULI Fan-Magazine was sold, including several CHAOS DAYS flyers +///// Now also CHAOS DAYS Flyers from the German Rap scene are +circulating ///// US punk band TOTAL CHAOS announced its "personal +appearance on Chaos Days" (ahem). Seems that they will also play +somewhere near or in Hannover ///// Also italian punk band DEROZER is +trying to prepare a gig at CHAOS DAYS ///// A documentation is out with +a collection of 90 (NINETY!!!!) different flyers for CHAOS DAYS. Flyers +from Italy, Lithuania, Russia, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, +France and, of course, Germany. If you want to have a copy of the +documetation, or if you want to contribute your own flyer, contact Karl +Nagel 100605.2242@compuserve.com ///// The same weekend with CHAOS DAYS +in Hannover and San Francisco, english punkswill start their PUNK PICNIC +in Edinbourough (Aug. 4-13). Seems that the first weekend in Augsut will +becomee a real worldwide punk weekend! ///// Also the German +Skinhead/OI!-scene is spreading flyers and calls for CHAOS DAYS ///// +Everyone here in Germany expects the German mass media to start with +lies and ugly stories about punks and Chaos Days with the end of July. +Perhaps some of it will switch over the borders to your newspapers. +Don't believe a word about "German Nazi punks" and punks who come to +Hannover to rape old housewifes...! + + + +- ------------------------------------------ +the following paper came up ca. September 1994 +- ------------------------------------------ + +THE CHAOS DAY CHAIN LETTER! AUG. 4th-6th 1995 CHAOS DAYS IN +HANNOVER/GERMANY! + +After 10 years of deep sleep the biggest Punk-meeting lives again! With +a Big Bang, Punk found its way back into the media. More than 1000 +punks and friends made clear that the next year's CHAOS DAYS will be THE +cult event! Supported by the hardworking media: They had totally gone +mad and spread their stupid lies. However, everyone had fun reading news +like "Nazi-Punks came to destroy Hannover", because it has NOTHING to do +with reality! Perhaps it's THEIR reality, but WE are preparing the next +CHAOS DAYS. And it will be Anti-Nazi as alwaysl +Now that one half of the world knows the CHAOS DAYS 95 will break every +record, we care to make the other half know. From Alaska to Uganda +everyone must know: +From August 4th-6th 1995 in Hannover/Germany there will be the biggest +punk-party ever! 5 000-10 000 punks, Skins & friends from the +Netherlands, England, Poland, Italia, France, Scandinavia, Germany etc. +(sorry, but it's impossible to name every country of the world...) will +transform the shopping area of Hannover into a punk paradise. +So let's start TODAY to tell it to your own scene: Translate this letter +into your own language, make your own flyers and let your own ideas grow +to make the CHAOS DAYS an event nobody will ever forget! + +IF THE GERMAN POLICE DOESN T LIKE OUR IDEA: . +At the CHAOS DAYS 94 the police was shocked so hard by the amount of +punks, so they tried to get everyone who looked like a punk into their +dirty fingers and forced them to leave Hannover. But the most of us +found ways to get into the city... + +THAT'S WHY THE POLICE WILL TRY TO TRICK US OUT IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY... +Some examples: +VERSION 1: A prohibition of the meeting! Just don't care, because we +don't meet to demonstrate for this or that it just a CHAOS DAY! The day, +punks like to visit Hannover as a normal tourist. And of course, they +can't prevent to see other punks in the city, just because they're +there... +VERSION 2: They try to fool us! +Someone could make big posters and preparations for a big concert with +the best punk bands in the world, admission free... And, of course, it +takes place outskirts of the +town! They would hope the people would go to this place instead of the +city. Don't let them fool you! And every band that cooperates with them: +Fuck you!! At the CHAOS DAYS concerts have to happen in the city or at a +green space near the inner city! VERSION 3: +Prevention! The cops could check the trains to Hannover and could force +you to leave the trains. Who cares? You can use the tickets FOUR DAYS, +so you can interrupt your travel as often as you like. So just take the +next train and you're again on your way to Hannover! It's absolutely +legal ! Besides, don't tell the cops you're on the way to the CHAOS +DAYS! You're just a normal tourist, nothing else! But you should know +that it is better NOT to leave the train at the Main Railway Station of +Hannover. It's better to do this at some suburbs and take one of the +many busses or trams. And if the police tries to force you to leave +Hannover, resist! After that, it could happen that they arrest you, but +you have done no crime! They just bring you to the other punks they have +arrested, and | that's a nice travel to the biggest mass arresting after +World War II! A mass arresting we will transform into a big jail party! +That s our idea: If the police starts with arresting people just for +being punk we'll encourage them to take everyone of us! Just consider: +this will have NO CONSEQUENCES because the German law just allows them +to take you to "prevent crimes". But because you have done nothing, they +also can't judge you!!! So we will do our party in a football stadium or +in a camp they have to build. So don't fear, but help us to FOOL THEM! +And consider again: To plan it this way makes the police consider NOT to +do these mass arrestings. They know the bad memories they would wake +upagain this way... +VERSION 4: Suckers! Some hippies or political activists could come and +tell their sympathies for the poor punks, who are badly persecuted by +the gouvernment etc. blabla... Suddenly there are 20.000 other monkeys +and start to "organize" it, founding comitees and little parliaments, +doing press conferences and the Big Speech, fighting for the "rights of +the Punks~. Now THEY are the CHAOS DAYS, and every punk who doesn't like +to do what they have in mind, would be closed out. The Result: The CHAOS +DAYS in the strong hands of some polit-professionals, somewhere on a big +green +place, the total shit! Hey, suckers, we tell you: If you just TRY to get +our meeting into your slimy fingers, we will kick your asses! Get off! +Your politics make us sick! + +HOW COULD THE CHOAS DAYS TAKE PLACE? +As you know, it is impossible to lock a whole town - so you should try +to get into the city in a tricky and inconspicious way - and in time! +Try to be invisible before the meeting itself starts! The cops should +not be able to prevent our meeting, so the first meeting takes place +Friday, 4.8. 4.00 p.m. PUNCTUALLY. It should be our goal to let the +meeting happens exclusively in the shopping area of the city itself, +not in other areas of the city! REMEMBER: AT THE CHAOS DAYS 95 WE WILL +OCCUPY THE INNER CITY OF HANNOVER! There's our meeting, nowhere else! +!! Here we are protected well against brutal police attacks because +there are thousands other citizens, and of course journalists and TV +teams to report of the craziest punk-party ever! +If the police starts to arrest people for no real reason, remember: WE +WILL NOT LEAVE THE CITY, AND WILL WlLL NOT MEET IN OTHER PARTS OF THE +CITY! +Remember also: Everyone who fears to be arrested because of this +behaviour shouldn't care: You can be sure that this will NOT bring you +to the court because you're arrested only because of your outlook! + +SOME OTHER IDEAS TO MAKE THE CHAOS DAYS BIGGER: +FANZINE WRITERS: Tell your readers about the CHAOS DAYS! Use your +contacts to bands and other people to spread the idea! What do you think +of the idea to do a big international meeting of fanzine publishers? +BANDS: Write on your posters, records and tapes, that there will be THE +BIGGEST PUNK +MEETING OF ALL THE TIMES! Tell it to your audiencel Consider +possibilities to make your own gig at the CHAOS DAYS. The German band +WIZO did it in 94 from a big van! +EVERYONE: Spread this chain letter around the whole world. Create your +own flyers and posters, prepare your own activities! Tell everyone +about it - at gigs, on the streets etc.! + +1000 ACTIVITIES AND 1000 DIFFERENT FLYERS F\R THE CHAOS DAYS 951 +THE MOST GIGANTIC PUNK PARTY EVER - IN THE HEART OF HANNOVER! OR IN A +STADIUM. +TRANSSCRIBE, TRANSLATE & COPY! SPREAD IT AROUND THE WHOLE WORLD! +TRANSCRIBE, TRANSLATE & COPY! SPREAD IT AROUND THE WHOLE WORLD! + + +- ------------------------------------------ +the following paper came up ca. February 1995 +- ------------------------------------------ + + +"THE 2nd CHAOS DAY CHAIN LETTER" + +"Transcibe, translate and copy! Spread it around the world!" + +It's halftime! Six months have passed since the Chaos Days 94, and an +enourmous number of fanzines with reports of the CHAOS DAYS have been +published. Now we shouldn't talk about the PAST any longer - there's +something to do for the FUTURE! After all, it has spread like a +wildfire, that MANY punks want to make it a REAL BANG in 95! +Everything what we know today seems to make clear that we can expect +5.000 - 10.000 punks & friends from all of Europe, and some sensation +sucking media freaks already sweat the whole time. We expect HUNDREDS of +these lunatics running thru the city to get their story. They will start +to sweat a lot more when they will know that the +CHAOS DAYS in HANNOVER/GERMANY +will take place the same time with the +CHAOS DAYS in SAN FRANCISCO! + 8/4 - 8/6 95 + +THIS IS NO JOKE! The American punks too, have been infected by the CHAOS +DAY fever. They already spread flyers and appeals for the CD Kalifornia, +to invite punks from all of America (North & Sounth) to San Francisco." +That means that on the first weekend in August 95 the BIGGEST PUNK +EXPLOSION OF HISTORY will happen! On two continents at the same time, +punks will meet in a number nobody EVER seen before! If you start to +save money now you can live BOTH meetings. Just fly from Hannover +Airport at Saturday evening to San Francisco and because of the time +change you will arrive there without a time loss... +For US it should mean that now we must take finally to make ALL European +punks get knowledge of the CHAOS DAYS and also COME TO HANNOVER! +And even it is still 6 months till then, we don't have all the time in +the world. It takes some time for the flyers to reach the last village +and because we know of some guys who wanted to make their own sheets and +translations, but never did (you lazies...), you should consider the +following: We only can make the CD 95 a PUNK EXPLOSION, if YOU don't +wait that "someone" "something" "sometime" does. "Somebody" does +NOTHING, and it will not work without YOU, and also not in the last +moment! The CD are no TV program somebody puts into your hands that you +only have to use your remote control!" +Okay, a nice evening with a Coke and a hamburger is not that hard work - +we are all lazy dogs, we know. But exactly NOW is the right time for you +to make YOUR OWN flyer, to write many letters to all your friends in +every country, to tell it to the people at a local gig. Don't start to +do this in three months but TODAY or NEXT WEEK to make the news run on +it's own, faster and faster! +Make new flyers again and again, in every language you eventually +master. Spread your OWN ideas for the CD, write about it in your +fanzine. That's the way we can make clear that punk lives from the BASIC +and not because any "big" guy" tells the people what to think and where +to go! +It's the punk of IDEAS and INITIATIVES, the punk of the STREETS - not +the one MTV tries to sell us only to make us record buyers and +consumers!" +Some words to the BANDS: Your records are travelling over the whole +world, and you're doing gigs, some in foreign countries. YOU are the +ones to reach people who never read a fanzine, who live outside of +information structures of the punk scene. You are the ONLY ONES to tell +these people of the CD, to make it known in MUCH MORE places and +countries! +Did you ever think about doing your own show at the CD, the same way the +german band WIZO did in 94? Just come with your van, unload your mini-PA +and instruments at any place and start to play! There should take place +as many gigs as possible, to make the CD an unforgettable event. And +again, it won't work without YOU! +And to all the others: Speak to the bands who maybe never get this +chainletter into their hands, to give them a chance to join the +wildfire! +Besides, that would be a good chance also for dome "big" bands with +punk-roots (Bad Religion, Green Day etc.) to show they did not forget +these roots - amongst all these record promotions, tours and +interviews... + +FUCK THE CHAOS DAYS! +Perhaps some of you are a little sceptical, because, on the one hand you +don't like to run through the city in a big crowd, and, on the other +hand don't want to get in trouble with police. That's no problem: It's +not the intention of the CD to make a big "demonstration" or to involve +you in a never ending bloody battle with the police. Just come to +Hannover to make YOUR punk, however it may look like! Just grab yourself +a nice Greek punkboy, look in the eyes of a russian girl - and then go +to one of the many green parks of Hannover and let yourself be told of +the secrets of punkrock... +Do anything else, but come to Hannover, because noone will force you to +join anything you don't like. Its just important to see as many punks as +possible in Hannover - the way you want and the place you choose! + +THEY CANN NOT STOPS US! +Perhaps others ask themselves, if it's possible at least to reach +Hannover, because it could be impossible to cross the borders. NO! THEY +CAN NOT MANAGE THIS! At last we live in the European Community, with +OPEN BORDERS! This means if you're in ONE country of the E.C. you can +cross the borders without control. Even if they TRY to control the +borders, they don't have the personnel to do this perfectly! If you +really WANT to come to Germany, you can manage it! And if you have +problems at one border station, take another one!! +The same way you should behave at the rest of your way to Hannover. +Don't start too late, and you don't have to take the biggest roads! +Hannover itself is, if you see the traffic net, a real open town. You'll +find uncountable roads to Hannover! +If you come by train, read this: If the police takes ou out of the +train, don't lose your faith: You can use your tickets 4 DAYS, and you +can interrupt your travel as often as you like! Just take the next train +and you will reach Hannover! Your destination should NOT be the main +railway station of Hannover - take a train to the suburbs and take one +of the many busses and trams! +Nevertheless, if some cops try to stop your way, just be a very friendly +and understanding person. Say YES to everything they want, but DO the +things you WANT to do! That worked perfectly at the CD 94, and will work +again in 95! For all our foreign guests it also means: Of course you +don't understand neither German nor English... +If the police don't let you fool them as an exceptiojn, don't let them +make you travel home, even if the police says "Go home or go to jail!"! +Our parole is "Go camp", because it's better to make a big jail party +with thousands of punks instead of watching everything at home on a TV +screen! You should know that your behaviour will have NO LEGAL +CONSEQUENCES, because you'll have done NOTHING! They only can take you +in to "prevent crimes"... +It will be IMPOSSIBLE for the police to make Hannover a locked fortress, +and they KNOW that. So we think you will have no real problems to reach +Hannover. The only exception would be a total media terror, followed by +an exclamation of state of emergency, with tanks and troops and barbed +wire. You know what to thik about such an idea..." +If we talk about MEDIA TERROR: Again the media will spread uncountable +lies and fairy tales against the CD. You will know that punks eat little +kids and always like to smash up every weak grandmother. We can not do +ANYTHING against it, because the media are in THEIR hands. But we CAN do +something to make them cry the way WE WANT! As an example, some people +want to take rubble and ashes to Hannover and spread it over the city, +because in 94 the police and media told the people we intended to "leave +Hannover in ashes". After the desruction of Grosny/Chetchnia and the +earthquake in Japanwe should demonstrate OUR version of that police +lie... Join this initiative, so we REALLY will leave Hannover in ashes +this time! +Some words aboutto the CD itself and it's "organization"! +As mentioned earlier, we DON'T intend to make a big mass performance +(like a Michael Jackson concert...), with people running through the +city led by a "central command", doing the things the "organizers" want +them to do. There will be NOTHING organized! WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE A BIG +CONCERT. but would like to see 1000 small gigs on every possible street +corner! There will be many people following their own ideas, and you, +too, should not not come with an expectation to find any "program" or +"offers". It will happen what must happen, because it's the CD! +The same things we have to tell the "other side", to tell all the guys +and groups who believe they can use us for THEIR targets. CD are NO big +demonstration or an appeal to start the "big fight" against this or +that, but just an INVITATION to Hannover to make everyone who comes +there do his/her OWN thing! A whole city as get-together to meet people +that NEVER would cross your ways otherwise. It's a start for +initiatives, may they be political or absolutely not, accompanied by +music or screams, beer or mineral water. +You see: To make the CD an unforgettable event you must do something ON +YOUR OWN! Get out of the your cinema place and turn on your fantasy! And +that's much more political as EVERYTHING they try to feed us with or +want to make us pray. Against ALL REGIMENTATION, from which side ever! +The last item: The experiences from all CD up to now made clear that it +is very stupid to let the big meeting take place in other parts than the +inner city! We EXCLUSIVELY meet in the city, near the main railway +station, and NO BIGGER ACTION should take place in parts of Hannover +where people LIVE! Besides, these are the places where most of the CD +guests will sleep! It is YOUR responsibility to care for the keeping of +this settlement, that EVERYONE does! +So it's YOUR turn to make the CD great! If you're still sleeping, we +never want to hear you talking about "good old times" and "nothing +happens". + +"There IS something happening - THE BIGGEST BANG OF PUNK ROCK! PAROLE: +GO CAMP! THE MOST GIGANTIC PARTY EVER!" + +"CHAOS DAYS EVERY YEAR: 8/2-8/4 96 8/1-8/3 97 7/31-8/2 98 8/6-8/8 99 +8/4-8/6 2000!!!" + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001258.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001258.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..926d91e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001258.txt @@ -0,0 +1,89 @@ +Who's The Foreigner? -by Will Kemp +-------------------- + +I heard this woman today, sitting on the beach outside my bungalow +on the Thai island of Koh Pha Ngan. A beautiful red sunset had just +passed and the full moon was rising over the coconut palms. She was +among a small group of British tourists who were celebrating the +birthday of one of them. She was a Geordie and she had a loud mouth. + +But what got my back up was that she was complaining about how black +people in Hackney have got a chip on their shoulders. She started +almost every sentence with "I'm not racist, but..." I listened as +long as i could stand it and when it came to the point where i'd +soon have to go down and have a go at her, i went somewhere else. +It's not easy to confront a group of strangers and verbally attack +one of them. Sometimes i'll do it and other times it doesn't seem +worth the effort. + +It's a few hours later and i'm still angry, so i'm putting in +writing what i probably should have said face to face. + +She was complaining about the hostility she's experienced from black +people in Hackney. At the same time, she was talking in a +patronizing way about how she likes black people! She was saying how +they're not really british even though they might have been born +there and she was indignant about the fact that she felt they were +racist towards her. + +Firstly she should consider how come she's rich enough to take a +holiday on a beautiful tropical island in south east Asia, when most +people in the world are lucky to get the odd day off from struggling +to *feed* themselves and their families. The wealth that she's +getting the benefit of was never created by her. She probably +wouldn't know how to produce as much as a tomato, let alone any of +the incredible ammount of other resources she consumes without +thinking every day. The wealth she's living on and the wealth +Britain is just coming, painfully, to the end of, was produced in a +significant part by West Indian slaves. It was also plundered from +Africa, India, Australia, America and south east Asia. + +If she even gave this a passing thought, she might begin to see +things a little differently. It takes more than a few generations to +forget the rapes, murders, beatings, imprisonment and slavery that +the british government and its agents used to ease the pillage of +the empire. It takes much, much longer - in fact it never seems to +happen. Some of Britain's class problems today have their roots in +the subjugation of the Kelts by the Romans - two thousand years ago! + +Secondly, in her thoughts about whether blacks are really british, +has she ever considered where *her* ancestors came from? As Marcus +Garvey said, "a people without a knowledge of their past history, +origin and culture is like a tree without roots." And like a tree +without roots, this foolish and sadly typical british person is easy +to push over. + +If you listen to the way Geordies speak, you might notice that it +sounds very similar to Danish. This is because they are, in a large +part, descendents of the Vikings, who came from Denmark, robbing, +murdering and raping, and who controlled that part of Britain and +much of the rest of the east coast for many years. She's very likely +got more scandinavian blood than british blood (whatever that is)! + +The other important point, of course, is that she doesn't come from +Hackney, only recently having moved into the area - unlike the +majority of the people she's whining about. She complained about +black people not assimilating into british culture. Unfortunately +their hostility is probably a sign that they've assimilated only too +well! I've travelled a fair bit, in four continents, and i've yet to +find a more unfriendly and hostile bunch of people than the British! +When i was a kid in Essex, we moved *one* mile down the road and we +were considered "foreigners" for years! She's come from the other +end of the country, just another colonizer to the few Hackney people +that haven't been driven out by the flood of provincial british +migrants swarming into the place over the last fifteen years. She's +racist - and anyone who's subjected to racism every day can spot it +on first eye contact. And she obviously hasn't got a clue what's +really going on in the borough. + +She should develop a bit of sensitivity, learn to be less arrogant +and take the time to develop an understanding of her new home - like +all non-british migrants to Hackney invariably do. When she's been +there ten years, or even five maybe, then she might have earned a +small right to be critical of the people who were born there. +Hopefully by then she will have come to understand why they are the +way they are. + +The writer of this article is white, british and has lived in +the London Borough of Hackney on and off since 1979. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001259.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001259.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1bccd1c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001259.txt @@ -0,0 +1,96 @@ +Is It Anarchy on the Internet? + +In a word, no. Considering that it was founded by branches of the +U.S. government, and today is funded mostly by commercial +companies, public and private schools, and the government, it seems +like kind of a stupid question. But since countless pundits, some of +whom even claim to be anarchists, have maintained that it is, I'd like +to state why I think that the Internet does not fit any definition of +`anarchism' that I am comfortable with. + +The media seem to have adopted the practice of using the word +`anarchy' to describe what happens when a government fucks up +more than usual--the civil war in Somalia being one of the more +recent examples. Anarchists, on the other hand, use it to describe a +system of social organization where people and communities take +responsibility for their own lives and actions instead of depending on +a government to do so for them. Anarchists, in other words, are +describing a positive, proactive alternative to the current political +system, whereas the popular press are describing the lack or failure +of certain acts of the current system. So it's not surprising to see +some of the various services of the Internet, which have pretty much +had ``anything goes'' usage policies and have remained quite free +from government control since their inception, described by the +press as ``anarchic.'' What is surprising is that I occasionally see self- +proclaimed ``anarchists'' who seem to agree with this! + +The thinking seems to go like this: +* From a user's point of view, most Internet services are truly +decentralized. Outside of any given site, there is no central +administration, and what hierarchies there are tend not to be rigidly +``enforced.'' +* Whereas, for instance, it is a crime to send certain items through +the U.S. Mail, the internation and open nature of, and the enormous +volume of information carried on, the Internet makes such +restrictions on content difficult (though not impossible) to enforce. +* In many areas, if you look hard enough, you can find a way to +access the Internet for free, although you often need to own a +computer to do so. + + +In other words, this philosophy seems to define the Internet in terms +of what it isn't [not (usually) centralized, not (usually) censored, not +(usually) expensive]. You'll notice that this fits very neatly into the +``media'' definition of `anarchism,' but says nothing about the need +for a positive alternative to government-dependent lifestyles, as +required by the ``anarchist's definition'' of the word. + +The Internet is a very useful tool. It's both faster and, for most +people, cheaper than the U.S. Postal Service. It's far cheaper than the +telephone, and usually just as fast. It's also the easiest way I know of +to get a message out to a large group of people at once. I also find +that I get much more personal feedback from email messages than I +get from zines, and sometimes even personal letters, probably +because it's so much easier to do. But there are several downsides +that we must keep in mind: +* Any computer network or bulletin board is fundamentally classist, +because most people simply don't have access to it. Whereas nearly +anyone can receive paper mail or a telephone call, whether or not +they have a permanent address, you must have access to both a +computer and an appropriate account to use the Internet. +Recognising this, groups in many cities are forming ``Freenets,'' which +offer (usually) free accounts with Internet email access, and often +provide public-access terminals. But today, at least, the majority of +people do not have access to these services. +* While personal email can be quite useful, few if any of the services +meant for large groups of peole to use simultaneously, such as +mailing lists (like the aaa-web) and Usenet (an enormous ``bulletin +board'' system) end up being consistently constructive (if, indeed, +they are ever constructive at all!). Most are like a meeting where the +person who shouts the loudest gets to be heard, and where those +who aren't into screaming tend to eventually leave. Spy writer Chip +Rowe asked, ``How much would you pay to spend your evenings and +weekends with a room full of con artists, misogynists, computer +geeks, snooty academics, rude teenagers, pushy salesmen, Iowa +housewives, bad poets, Nazi sympathizers, certified morons, +corporate suits, Elvis fans, recovering alcoholics, aging hippies, +pockmarked pornographers, and overzealous FBI agents?'' +* There's nothing available on the Internet that isn't also served by +other means, like letters and zines, albeit not quite as well, in some +instances. None of the services that it offers add to our efforts; they +simply make them a little more convenient. In other words, truly +autonomous communities are no more likely to arise given the use of +the Internet. + + +So while Internet services can be a great way to get the word out +about the real, constructive projects that you and your community +are doing, please don't fall into the trap of mistaking use of the net +itself as something of any real value to the creation of an +autonomous society. + +-Craig + +Any comments on this article? Send email to the address below! ?? +Return to home page +Craig (stuntz@rhic.physics.wayne.edu) diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001262.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001262.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f2cdfe61 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001262.txt @@ -0,0 +1,72 @@ +THIS IS GREEN ANARCHISM +======================= + +CIVILISATION IS EXPLOITATION + +Mass society is too complex to work without specialisation. +Specialised division of labour alienates us from each other +and creates a hierarchy needed to co-ordinate production. +Hierarchy divides society into the powerful and powerless. +The powerless are treated as objects to be exploited. +Exploitation on grounds of class, gender, ethnicity and +sexual preference is intrinsic to mass society. Mass society +cannot be reformed. It must be replaced. + +SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL + +Mass society must be replaced with communities small enough +for each person in them to be respected as an autonomous +individual. In small communities, self-determination would +replace hierarchy. You can't fight mass with mass. If our +means and ends are to be consistent, we must organise in +networks of autonomous small groups to replace mass society. + +LAND OR DEATH + +Mass society alienates people from the Earth. By controlling +the Earth's resources, the State controls society. We must +end our dependence on the State by taking back the land and +living self-sufficiently. By re-establishing our relationship +with the Earth, we undermine the hierarchical thinking that +is destroying it. + +REVOLUTION ON THE PERIPHERY + +Mass society needs resources from across the planet to survive. +Those most exploited by it are those that work the land in the +Third World, only to have the fruits of their labour exported +to profit the rich. They have nothing to lose by taking back +the land at the expense of mass society. As less resources are +imported from the Third World, mass society won't be able to +come up with the goods in this country. Self-governing, self- +sufficient small communities will be more needed and easier to +establish as the State loses control of the rest of the planet. + +AUTONOMY NOW + +We must support the revolution on the periphery by making our +own here. We must share the skills needed to survive without +the State, create a culture of resistance to free us from the +alienation of mass society, live free of exploitation by +boycotting banks and multinationals, building an alternative +green and black economy and defending ourselves and the Earth +by taking direct action against military bases and labs, +developers and industry, exploitation and bigotry. + +Green Anarchist, BCM 1715, LONDON, WC1N 3XX + +*SECURITY* + +If you want to get in touch with us green anarchists, remember +that the State thinks we're subversives and regularly monitors +our mail. +YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SECURITY +When writing to us, use a false name or your forename only, +and a PO box or c/o address if you want a reply. Payment by +postal order or cash is safer than poxy cheques. This is not a +free country, so be warned - carelessness over security can get +you blacklisted or worse! + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001263.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001263.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9eb7ba87 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001263.txt @@ -0,0 +1,74 @@ +ROAD ALERT! BULLETIN - No 57, Thurs 26 October 1995 +Here we go again.....contact RA! at PO Box 5544, NEWBURY, Berks. RG14 5FB; +Tel 01635 521770; Tel / Fax 01635 521660; e-mail + +OPENCAST EVICTION ALERT! - The eviction of Brynhenllys opencast protest site +in South Wales began on Monday and is still going! Protesters have +re-squatted houses evicted earlier....M11 security guards have been spotted, +plus chainsaw-operators and climbers from the M65 Stanworth eviction in May. +The beautiful Selar protest camp, in the Neath valley, is expected to be +evicted next. Get up there as soon as possible to help stop the eviction! +INFO - 01685 873993 + +A299 THANET WAY, KENT - An activist, Iggy, has been remanded in prison until +3 Nov whilst waiting for a Probation Report. According to the courts this +is for "his own protection"! Please send letters of support to: David +Hilton (LW 0848), HM Prison, 46 Longport, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1PJ. . +Please support a demo at the court on Fri 3 Nov (anniversary of the CJA!), +when he is sentenced; meet 9am, Westgate Gardens, Canterbury. There will +also be a 2 days of national action on Weds & Thurs 15-16 Nov. +Accommodation available at the camp and squat. INFO - 01227 463368 + +A34, NEWBURY - The shit is getting closer to the fan! It looks very much +like trashing work could to start round about 6-8 Nov. Put it in your diary +now! Regional direct action training for Newbury is available; ring 01508 +531636. There are now 6 camps protecting the most precious parts of the +route. There will be a walk of the southern part of the route on Sun 29 +Oct. A national telephone tree is being set up; ring and get on it NOW. +INFO - 01635 45544 / 45545 + +M66, GREATER MANCHESTER - Rumours that the road will fall victim to Budget +cuts persist....add to the pressure at the national day of action on Fri 3 +Nov. INFO - 0161 627 4862 / 628 4727 / 371 5433 + +A30 EXETER-HONITON, DEVON - The DBFO private finance contract may be awarded +before the end of the year....which fools will take it on? Meanwhile, +tunnel-digging continues, and treehouses are being made good for the winter. +All support welcome. INFO - 01404 815729 + +M11 LINK PRISONERS - Jim Chambers (PV 2504) has been moved to : HMP Camp +Hill, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5PB. He will be out in 20 days! Stuart +Edwards (PB 1864) is still in HMP Pentonville, Caledonian Road, London, N7 +8TT, but will be moved to a nick in Kent soon. INFO - 0181 527 4896 + +M74, GLASGOW - There are many buildings in need of squatting....INFO - 0141 +424 1797 / 423 0278 + +A39, WELLS, SOMERSET - Activists are bailed off site, and in court on 22 +Jan. INFO - 01749 880639 + +M65, LANCS - The Stanworth eviction cases have been adjourned until 22 Jan. +INFO - 0161 273 8338 + +WHATLEY QUARRY - Don't forget the big EF! quarry action on 3-4 Dec. INFO - +01935 825074. There will be a bike ride from Newbury to the quarry in +Frome, Somerset, on 3 Dec. INFO - 0171 249 3779 + +HOLTSFIELD - The planned eviction of this community didn't happen as 300 +people showed off the bailiffs. People power works! They are still, +however, on eviction alert. INFO - 01792 234027 / 233596 + +RECLAIM THE STREETS - SMASH THE MOTOR SHOW! There have been actions in +London against this mad palaver all week; this weekend they move up a gear +(ho ho) with a massive Critical Mass bike ride to surround the show on Fri +27 Oct (meet southern end of Waterloo Bridge 5:45 pm), and a climactic demo +on Sun 29 Oct at the show (meet Paddington Station 10am). INFO - 0171 713 5874 + +ODDS 'N' SODS - DIY gathering in London on 4-5 Nov. INFO - 0171 582 3474 * +Youth CND actions against Chirac at Chequers on 29 Oct and Foreign Office on +30 Oct. INFO - 0171 700 2393 * Direct action Conference in Brighton on 9 +Dec. INFO - 01273 685913 * The Skye Bridge opened amidst protests on 17 Oct +with 30 arrests, and civil disobedience against bridge tolls planned. INFO +- via RA! + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001265.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001265.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8dab17c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001265.txt @@ -0,0 +1,256 @@ +ANARCHYINALBION? - Frater Nexhagus XXIII - part 1 of 4 + +Since the 23rd of May 5994 AM, the I.O.D and a varied assortment +of other associates commenced conducting detailed research and +documenting data concerning the cornucopia of coincidental +connections and conspiracies involving the events surrounding the +(then forthcoming) first ever ANARCHY IN THE U.K. festival in +order to make the proposed week of @NARCHY, an unforgettable +success for all the participants involved. On this very same day +a campaign to recognise the existence of UFOs was presented to +Parliament. This month is also the Month of The Goddess being so +very sacred to FreeMasons - May`s Sons. Between this period and +the 23rd of October 5995 AM, a now discontinued series of five +bulletins were dispatched outlining various disinformation +concerning prank paradigms designed for the disorganisors of this +proposed initial anarcho-fest. [The 23rd is a has been noted by +many as being a notorious day for UFO visitations (especially on +ley-lines), and the chosen date for the 'levitation' came as no +surprise to many UFOlogists as they somehow believed that the +Space Brothers would arrive to aid in the ritual). The plain +truth was that nobody at all knew what exactly would really take +place at Westminster's sinister Palace!?! + +The `Levitation of Parliament' was just one of the many instances +of illuminated insurrection scheduled to take place, and one in +which the I.O.D were thought to be the Prime Movers in concerning +its inception and involvement and initiation. This may (or may +not) be true, but many still believe that we were involved up to +the hilt in this cunning conspiracy of chaos and confusion. + +The Palace of Westminster is a well-known building of +bureaucracy, and thereby, of course, is a sacred Discordian +shrine, because the Byzantine bureaucracy enshrined there helps +to illustrate so wonderfully the basic Discordian sociological +law enunciated in `The Gospel according to Fred`: "Imposition of +Order = Escalation of Chaos". [All Members of Parliament also +just happen to be honorary Discordian Saints, belonging to the +Order of Order Order, also known as the Knights of the Yea & Nay. +But, that forms the basis of an even longer topic which we won`t +go into here...] An equally notorious building of bureaucracy is +the highly controversial Canary Wharf Tower, a prize monument to +nineteen eighties designer fascism and another holy-shrine to +Discordians worldwide. A chaotic bureaucratic place constructed +out of financial & business corruption of the highest disorder.) + +It was predicted by some that Parliament would be levitated 500ft +into the polluted Capital City`s air (the Yippies only wanted to +achieve 300ft, but an extra 200ft was believed to serve +sufficient to reach the all-important figure of 500ft (to +complete Adam Weishaupt`s Law of Fives and the Discordian 23 +enigma). [Ideally, this extra amount of levitation space should +have been 223ft, purely in order to reach the far more important +cabbalistic/synchronistic number of 523. And to further fulfil +and furthur the true Discordian legacy that is attached to that +important figure of divine destiny - Please refer to the +autobiography of Carl Gustav Jung or the musings of avant-garde +art-director extraordinaire Ken Campbell for more information on +this particular instance of perplexing phenomena]. + +Since these `Serious` buildings are purpose built propaganda for +order and occupy sacred spaces we are left with no other options +but to negate their conspiratorial control. The I.O.D realize +that modern-day Britain is in a constant state of flux and aim to +disconnect the closed-circuit of control that the holy trinity of +architects, builders and inhabitants have possessed under their +powers. + +The I.O.D continued to be at the centre of a storm of controversy +during the months leading up to the 'levitation'. It appeared +that some individuals misunderstood our motivations for +participation in the events during the so-called Autumn of +Anarchy and claimed certain unfair allegations against us. These +persons have now been correctly informed concerning our +participation and intentions. Although, in some cases, certain +individuals did decide not to participate in the `levitation' (or +not to be involved with anything to do with the Anarchy in the +U.K. festival at all). We must state however that our intentions +were not politically motivated.(e.g. The proposed secondary +target of `levitation' at Canary Wharf Tower was just as valid as +the action that took place at The Palace of Westminster. If that +alternative event should have occured at the time, it may well +have been much easier to levitate as (like the Pentagon) it is a +Five-sided figure (which always stands for evil in most world +religions) and such figures can be easily made to `float` if +surrounded by a circle of people (as demonstrated by the Yippies +back in 1967). + +[It has also been suggested by a Discordian agent living in the +shadow of the evil Five-sided pyramid`s powerful presence, that +if an attempt to levitate this structure is made, the building +may very well shoot up into space like a large rocket. Although, +we can not confirm this, it should be noted that Canary Wharf +Tower will be an ideal secondary choice for a number of reasons. +{Apart from the odd occult football fact that Pele also has a +plaque placed here, and the I.O.D acronym could also possibly +stand for the `Isle Of Dogs`!?!}] + +The comments levelled in certain quarters that the `levitation' +and the whole `Anarchy in the U.K.' event was to be a +"spectacle". This was an obvious understatement. The I.O.D aim to +immanentize the illusion of everyday life and via such +revolutionary actions the control processes that attempts to bind +our daily lives together is shown up as the sham that it really +is. In the initial disinformation concerning the proposed events +which were dispatched over a year previous to the `Anarchy in the +U.K.' events it was clearly stated that the festival was in fact, +to be a SPECTACLE! This matter did not bother the I.O.D (or +apparently the actual disorganisers of the Anarchy in the UK +event) in the slightest, for even if it was purported to be a +`Joke Jihad`, `Convergence of Chaoists" or conveniently filed +away under any other irrelevant intellectual label... "the whole +purpose of the charade is [was] to drown intelligent thought in a +sea of empty slogans". This should have come as no surprise to +anyone, and we will always be eternally thankful to all those who +aim to publicise our intentions via their own popular brand of +propaganda. + +It also came to our attention early on in the proceedings of the +preparations that the `anarchist' group mentioned in a newspaper +clipping in one of the levitation updates was in fact a publicity +stunt by the Jeremy Beadle Fan Club (based in Bristol). This was +to draw attention to the current run of the arch prankster's +popular TV shows and had no connection whatsoever with the +Anarchy in the U.K. event. Furthermore, the JBFC President +(J.S.Coventry) informed us to point out that they also have at no +time had any affiliations with the Neoist Alliance or the London +Psychogeographical Association). + +However, the I.O.D do not hold any grudges or malice against +these individuals, but hold out our hands in friendship for +future collaborations yet to come. The I.O.D are neither left nor +right, but above (as below) and beyond. We dismiss all ideology & +dogma and criticize all religious and political beliefs. Nothing +is sacred. Abolish Everything! + +1. Abolition of monarchies and all ordered government. +2. Abolition of private property and inheritances. +3. Abolition of patriotism and nationalism. +4. Abolition of family life and the institution of marriage. +5. Abolition of all religion. + +In order to carry out this ritual of ridicule and to participate +in other assorted activities connected with O.M, we inevitably +stumbled into the shadowy arena of politics and media both +backwards and blindfolded. By monkey-wrenching the media to our +own advantage, and never ever missing a chance to infiltrate (or +infuriate) the mass media-machine with unfounded rumours, +sensationalised scandalous stories, tremendously tall tales, and +ludicrous lies we successfully managed to bypass their bullshit +detectors and suprise them by actually going ahead and doing +something that others usually only dream or imagine of +accomplishing. + +We have all been lied to by the mass media. We have been told +that the media friendly concepts of hippie, yippie and punk are +dead. In reality what has happened is that the `flower children` +have grown thorns! This movement has no name, it cannot be +categorised (even though THEY will try), the sole aim and slogan +of this imaginative grouping of diverse individuals will be to +"SUBVERTTHEDOMINANTPARADIGM!" + +Many people have considered the idea that the 90`s are the 60`s +upside down, and this analogy is not too far away from the truth. +It is also widely known that the influential book that describes +a fascist dominated society in `1984` written by George Orwell in +1948 (which gained its title from a reversal of the year in which +it was written) is much more prophetic when you realise the +reversal of the year it was published is 1949 (=1994). Big +Brother is now with us, as part of the Masonic Brotherhood`s +Conspiracy). + +Instead of being a pale carbon copy of the Yippies` Pentagon +Levitation, it was necessary to plagiarise and erase certain +aspects of that first powerful ritual held during the summer of +love. Perhaps, the date chosen was the most appropriate time to +re-enact and deconstruct this important symbolic act of +Discordian dissent: + +5967AM = 1967 = 1+9+6+7 = 23 = Thee Summer Ov L-Ov-E +5976AM = 1976 = 1+9+7+6 = 23 = Thee Summer Ov Anarchy +5994AM = 1994 = 1+9+9+4 = 23 = Thee Autumn Ov Anarchy + +The Illuminati calendar is based on five seasons (due to Adam +Weishaupt`s `Law of Fives`). The final of these fifth seasons, +Grummet (Season of Aftermath) starts on the 20th of October and +ends on the 31st of December. The age of Grummet begins with an +upsurge of magickians, hoaxers, Yippies, Kabouters, shamans, +clowns, and other Eristic forces. After the age of Grummet has +passed, all authority has collapsed entirely. The calendar`s +cycle then repeats itself... + +Everything is dated from year 1 AM (Anno Mung), which is 4000 B.C +in the Xtian calendar - the year that Hung Mung first perceived +the Sacred Chao and achieved illumination. Thus Hassan I Sabbah +founded the Sect of Hashishim in 5776 AM, Weishaupt reformed the +Illuminati in 5776 AM, and therefore 1994 in the Xtian calendar +is, to the Illuminati, 5994 AM, just as it is in the calendar +used by Royal Arch masons. + +The Illuminati date for anything is always a higher number than +that in any other calendar, since the Jews (and, oddly, the +Scotch Rite masons) date everything from 240AM, Confucians from +312AM, Xtians from 4000AM, Moslems from 4580AM, etc. Only Bishop +Usher, who dated everything from 4004 B.C (or -4 AM) produced an +older starting point than the Illuminati. [According to The +Chronologia Sacra (Oxford 1650) the 17th Century Archbishop James +Usher of Armagh, Ireland, stated, "The world was created on the +23rd October, 4004 B.C at 6 O'clock in the evening." However, +some sources indicate that creation commenced on a Sunday morning +at 9am on 23/10/4004 B.C. It is currently thought that Eris was +personally responsible for this confusion! [It`s also +Chulalongkorn day in Thailand. "Happy Chulalongkorn!"] + +THE CONSPIRACY BEHIND THE CONSPIRACY. +The Conspiracy (in this particular instance the corrupt +controlling powers that attempt to affect us all via the Mother +of all Parliaments) was temporarily averted by the highly +symbolic action scheduled to take place at the Palace of +Westminster on the 23/10/5994 AM (forming a part of the ongoing +long-term Discordian project known as "Operation Mindfuck"). The +prime objective of this powerful ritual (entitled "The Great +Mother versus The Great Mother Fucker") was intended to initiate +the immanentization of the Eschaton. According to our chaotic +calculations the fragile polarization of the political framework +of the Disunited Queendom started to falter and crumble shortly +after the ritual had taken place. [N.B The Tory Sleaze Campaign +that occured during this period of time was entirely down to us!] + +The agitational actions employed during the festival were +particularly effective by highlighting well-deserving +subjects/objects of ridicule and additionally represented both +the current cultural conspiracies and political alternatives to +capitalist and fascist domination. + +Representatives of the Neoist Alliance, the I.O.D and T.O.P.Y +London carried out a clandestine meeting shortly after the +Autumnal Vernal Equinox (23/9/5994 A.M) at a mystery location in +the Capital where a powerful blessing ritual took place. This +followed a preparatory planning meeting held at 2:30pm that day +in which The Five met to conspire. The results of this congress +have yet to be fully revealed... + +[Following the publication of the penultimate bulletin dispatched +by the I.O.D on the 17th of October 5994AM, agents of the I.O.D +(together with other occult officials of the O.O.O and members of +T.O.P.Y LONDON) took part in a re-enaction ritual during which a +replica of the intended target was appropriately charged using +occult means. This then set forth the required energies enabled +to confront the evil edifice. The structure was surveyed and a +mock model of Parliament was constructed to be `experimented` +with. This was then be ceremonially burnt as an effigy, and the +the ashes sprinkled on the site of the intended 'levitation' +ritual in an act of sympathetic magick. This ritual was +accomplished on the 17th of October in order to fit in with the +correlation of the 17/23 enigma.] + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001266.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001266.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fac1ebfd --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001266.txt @@ -0,0 +1,252 @@ +ANARCHYINALBION? - Frater Nexhagus XXIII - part 2 of 4 + +The I.O.D helped to herald in the Season of Grummet (Season of +Aftermath) which started on the 20th of October 5994AM and ended +on the 31st of December 5994AM. As already stated the age of +Grummet always begins with an upsurge of magickians, hoaxers, +Yippies, Kabouters, shamans, clowns, and other Eristic forces. +After the age of Grummet has passed, all authority collapses +entirely, but then the calendar`s cycle repeats itself... unless +it can be bypassed via the current ov Chaos. + +[Therefore, the first magickal action to prevent this from +occurring was initiated by the I.O.D on the 1st of January 1995 +(1st of Chaos 5995AM) when in conjunction with the K FOUNDATION +and other unknown forces they organised a celebratory rave at +Buckingham Palace.] + +The morning before the 23rd the clocks shifted one hour precisely +according to the Greenwich Meridian. The great bell known as `Big +Ben' which is housed in the Albert Tower at the North West face +of The Palace of Westminster was adjusted to accommodate this +annual event to mark the Autumnal Equinox, thereby marking the +end of British Summer Time. [Unnerving time-shifting experiences +at Westminster on this date have already been reported - see +HX!#4]. Greenwich Mean Time (which dictates the regulation of the +principal clocks in London at the Stock Exchange and Big Ben) and +also Universal Time (dispensed from Greenwich until fairly +recently, when it was decided to send the time signal direct from +France!?!) Domestic time-signals in Britain are still dominated +by the `Six-Pips' (originally `Five-Pips') which replaced the +familiar chimes of Big Ben when first introduced to signal the +end of 1923. GMT the standard single prime meridian for all +nations was adopted on the 22/10/1884 at Washington D.C (a city +whose structure is built on a Masonic framework). Based on a +solar day, it was gradually replaced by Universal Time; the basis +of the time employed for both domestic and scientific purposes +all over the world. 177 years earlier on the same day, the task +of `finding the longitude' was sought after a disastrous accident +at sea in the Scilly Isles on the 22/10/1707 when 3 ships +containing 1,200 men sank, leaving only one body that could be +retrieved (which now lies in one of the largest and ugliest tombs +in Westminster Abbey). Two other ships also struck rocks there +that day, but managed to sail away. However, later one of them +became badly holed and sank, leaving only 23 survivors. No +records of the Board of Longitude has survived, the earliest +meeting for which minutes exist being 23 years after its +establishment. + +An astounding body of research work has already been conducted by +the London Psychogeographical Association, who have disclosed +information regarding the ley-line links to the Royal Observatory +at Greenwich and the formation of the Isle of dogs into being the +Omphalos of the British Empire. A multitude of other persons have +also realized the significance of this area, such as The Temple +of Isis, who attempted to turn Canary Wharf into a Temple. +Needless to say, the Establishment quickly turned down their +offers and thwarted any other occult groups from taking control +over the metropolis from this prime location. At the present time +the British Nationalist Party have been attempting to use their +amateur Nazi mind-control techniques in order to impose order and +rule Britannia. However, compared to the powerful Adepts who run +the British Establishment, the more they proceed with their +occult nightmare of ritualistic sadism, the more they become +victims of Masonic mind-control. Due to the evil experiments of +these misguided descendents of the Freemasonic Fraternity, the +Island is being used as a crucible of sadistic social +engineering. The role of race riots as a tool to support the +decadent Masonic system is already in force. Across the river, +Greenwich now holds the record for the highest number of racist +attacks in Britain. And by the end of September 5994 A.M, a total +of eight national newspapers were being produced from the Canary +Wharf Tower situated in London`s decaying and decrepit Docklands. +Totalling over 1,000 journalists ensconced the tower. [Further +information regarding the occult history of Canary Wharf can be +found in the Newsletters of the LPA (available from Box 15, 138 +Kingsland High Street, London. E8 2NS) + +WHY INCORPORATE ALEVITATIONINTO THISRITUAL? +A levitation is connected with `the number of coincidence` as +Isaac Newton was 23 years old and a student at Cambridge (where +the LPA also have a unit) when he witnessed an orblike apple fall +down to the earth (probably thrown by Eris). Albert Tower where +the great bell Big Ben is housed also has a clock face 23ft in +diameter. (The huge wooden beam from which this bell hangs comes +from the Welsh town of Aberhonddu - one of the last places in +Britain to be converted to Greenwich Mean Time). Also it is +highly significant that an anagram of ERIS = RISE. (No more than +23 different words can be constructed from the combination of +these letters... SIRE!) + +[Newton`s mathematics provided a wealth of data from which +Astronomers at Greenwich based their calculations concerning the +cosmos. Edmond Halley (who discovered the comet) when holding the +title of Astronomer Royal at Greenwich in 1723 discovered that +every 18 years 11.3 days, the so-called eclipse or Saros cycle of +223 lunations (intervals between New Moons), the motions of the +Moon relative to those of the Sun repeat themselves. Therefore, +for the next 18 years he measured these 223 lunations in order to +predict the Moon`s positions at Longitude Zero.] + +On the 23/10/1882 the American state Department dispatched a +circular letter to all their representatives abroad asking for +their opinions on an international conference to discuss the +foundation of a common Prime Meridian for time and longitude +throughout the world. Just under two years later, on 22/10/1884, +Greenwich was chosen due to having the highest percentage of +ships passing by using its calculations. The proposal for the +adoption of an universal day resulted in the resolution being +accepted by 23 to nil, Germany and San Domingo abstaining. +(Alternative suggestions for siting the Prime Meridian were the +Great Pyramid and the Temple of Jerusalem). A global time-zone +system (International/Universal Time) with Greenwich as its +centre began in 1884. [Previously, the difference between London +(St. Paul`s) and Greenwich time was 23 seconds (slow) before GMT +came into existence.] Britain`s time-signals now no longer +emanate from Greenwich, but from Paris (the Eiffel Tower began +the regular transmission of time-signals on 23/5/1910). + +A significant shift in the bourgeoisie`s organisation of Time & +Space was expected to occur shortly after the ritual. The full +ramifications of this magickal manipulation have yet to be fully +realised, but it is likely that the intended effects (and +possible side-effects) will soon start to affect us all by the +onset of the Millennium. + +Many events are historically connected with the date of the +levitation. Many of these significant dates relate to battles; +the Battle of Edgehill, Warwickshire 23/10/1643, and 300 years +later to the day, the Battle of El Alamein occurred. On this day +in 1707, the first Parliament of Great Britain (excluding +Ireland) sat in Westminster. The new Parliament incorporated +Scotland for the first time. [To those interested in +Football/Occult theories it is also interesting to note that +Pele, the Brazilian footballer was born on this date in 1940 and +was also involved in a war-film `Escape to Victory` which brings +us to an interesting strange-loop concerning occult battles +connected with this date.] + +The government ended their recess and commenced parliamentary +proceedings on the 17/10/94. Although this then meant that it was +too late to disrupt the annual ceremonial opening, it also meant +that the usual heavy presence of security forces was caught +totally unawares and were unable to prevent the levitation from +taking place. + +A year previous to the `levitation' at Westminster, an act of +levitation by the Neoist Alliance in Brighton, was almost +thwarted by members of Thee Temple Ov Psychick Youth, who +employed a secret anti-levitational technique. At the time it was +feared that the Neoists might have created a negative vortex +which would create serious damage to the ozone layer. [The I.O.D +were also concerned that the Ozone layer might be irreparably +damaged should the baroque building of political pollution rise +into the putrefied air and took sufficient precautions to prevent +the occurence of these poisons contaminating the populace]. In +fact, many reports suggested that chairs inside the auditorium +were visibly shaken by the experience and started to rise, even +if the building stayed on terra firma. T.O.P.Y warned the public +in a leaflet entitled "Keeping Buildings On The Ground (and not +floating above our heads)" and threatened in no uncertain terms +that if the Neoists had their way it could be YOUR house next. +The I.O.D find it most appropriate that they then proposed to +levitate the most common house of all... The House of Commons. +The ritual which was employed at Parliament was a variation on +this theme and has also proven to be extremely successful when +unhindered by counter-psychic-attack. In a recent letter from +Temple Press, some T.O.P.Y affiliates confirmed that the +levitation of the House of Commons would be harder - to stop, +that is! All this being due to the high quotient of hot air +trapped inside. But then, perhaps T.O.P.Y are always crying wolf? + +Information regarding ley-lines on the axis that were affected by +this time-change have yet to be fully researched. [A diagram and +a wealth of further information regarding some of these London +ley-lines was presented on pages 69-73 in HX!#4. Such as the +revelation that a large majority of pubs and toilets also fall +along these legendary ancient lines]. + +The ley-lines in the surrounding area were dramatically affected +by this time-change and the powerful magickal ceremony that +occurred. The Llandin - Bryn Gwyn Ley which terminates at the +Hermitage, and forms a psychic triangle wielding tremendous +magickal power was the recipient of a massive amount of psychic +activity around this time. (NB. all triangles are capable of +being energised with excessive amounts of power, hence the +Illuminati`s use of the `Eye in the Triangle` sigil.) The +triangle of leys consists of the aforementioned Llandin ley (at +Parliament Hill) which runs to Bryn Gwyn (situated at The White +Mound of the Tower of London). The axis then runs to Tothill +(based at Westminster itself) which then carries on at another +axis to terminate back at The Llandin once more. + +Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, one of the original architects +associated with designing the building died insane in the year +that it was completed (1852). This was due to possession of evil +spirits. There is strong evidence that suggests that the building +houses many devious demons who have corrupted the powers based +there (both political & spiritual). Such beings include Choronzon +and Yog-Sothoth... + +If one stands on the bottom step of the Albert Tower, there are +333 steps to be climbed. This number is linked to Choronzon, the +Guardian and "Dweller in the Abyss" (Demon of Dispersion) = 333 +(Noznoroch). Aleister Crowley called him "the first and deadliest +of all the powers of Evil", sole inhabitant of the Abyss, capable +of assuming any shape, the very Lord of Chaos. In 1909 Crowley +and Victor Neuberg did battle with him on a mountain-top in +Algiers, thus making Neuberg a "secret chief". The reason he is +so deadly is that his force is the opposite of Magick and he is +therefore a special threat for the Magickian who has to grapple +with him on his own. Choronzon`s open sesame to Hell is: "Zazas, +Zazas, Nasatanada, Zazas!" + +An exercise of exorcism to expel the Demon, Yog-Sothoth (Avatar +of the Great Lie) will commence by chanting, the words, "Out, +Demon, out!" These words will start out as an inaudible whisper +and slowly develop into a chaotic crescendo of speaking in +tongues, ritual chanting, etc. [In the mythos of The +Necronomicon, this is the most repellent of all of the semi- +entities which haunt the infamous 11th Pathway. H.P Lovecraft +aptly referred to him as "the noxious Yog-Sothoth who froths as +primordial slime in nuclear chaos beyond the nethermost outposts +of space and time." Yog-Sothoth is the key and guardian of the +gate. Past, present, future, all are one in Yog-Sothoth. The +Magickian Kenneth Grant describes his colour as a gangrenous +shade of green and has drawn a parallel between the entity +Choronzon and Yog-Sothoth. The "soul-eater", Yog-Sut-Thoth, +Kenneth Grant believes, is the Ibis of the Yesodic lunar Abyss, +the sentinel of the between-worlds Doorway, the very portal +itself, in fact, and the link between the Firmaments, above and +below. He has no upper skull at all, merely a bloated and foetid +mess that is his maggot-festering, naked brain. A madly gazing, +giant`s "Cyclops" eye beringed by octopoidal palpi stares out of +a face slimy and writhing with entrails over fierce shark teeth +below. His gross, warty body rises tyrannosaurus-like out of the +primordial muck. His nauseating undulations suggest a monotonous +and blasphemous coitus, he is in fact the "Aeon" or "Yuga", i.e., +the monstrous, forbidden union of Set and Thoth. Further sexual +intercourse between Choronzon & Set forms a doorway between our +world and the Hell of the Demons. Yog-Sut-Thoth (333) and +Choronzon (also 333), moreover, are summoned by the same voice, +for they are reciprocal aspects of one another. Locked together +in an embrace of sodomy, the two form The Beast, 666. The "Beast" +is really an historical occurrence, rather than a mere entity. It +is a counter-swirl in the Ether, following in the wake of +positive creation, that allows atavistic manifestations by +default. Yog-Sothoth is clearly linked by H.P Lovecraft to places +of power, and it may well be the case that Yog-Sothoth is a +`guide` entity enabling sorcerers to access intense states of +consciousness.] + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001267.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001267.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..eb1a919a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001267.txt @@ -0,0 +1,257 @@ +ANARCHYINALBION? - Frater Nexhagus XXIII - part 3 of 4 + +From: John.C.S.Quel + +It is an established fact that the Occult Establishment have been +indoctrinated into accepting the `Beast` system (one of the ways +of immanentizing the New World Order). This has been perpetuated +by their fascistic process of domination and control (information +pertaining to the `Beast` system being incorporated into barcodes +can be obtained from the previously mentioned issue four of HOAX! +magazine.) Two of the most important sigils that are used to +support this system of control and order are said to be the +number 666 and the `Swastika` symbol. + +The swastika is an ancient symbol that has been around for +thousands of years as either a religious sign or as a decorative +emblem. It has been found in Ancient Egypt, India, China, and Mu +and is thought by some scholars to have been first used as a +representation of the sun (and additionally represents the cyclic +nature of the seasons). It appears on ancient Greek coins, on +artefacts of early Roman Xtians and in Celtic and Scandinavian +settlements. The swastika has also been found among native +peoples of North and South America, where it was used to +represent infinity (and was also used to ward off evil spirits. +The name swastika comes from the Sanskrit Svasti, meaning `well- +being' or `good luck'. Contrary to popular belief, the direction +in which the arms of the sign point holds no significance for +black magick. The symbol used by the Nazis was the same as that +used by Hindus or Buddhists (The anti-clockwise variety is used +in the worship of the goddess Kali). If shown in a clock-wise +motion it symbolizes life and fertility, while in an anti- +clockwise motion it denotes death and decay. Hitler`s interest in +the occult therefore made the clock-wise swastika his chosen +symbol in the hope that this would provide beneficial powerful +influences. The Nazis adopted the swastika as their symbol +through the mistaken belief that it represented their ideal of +Aryanism, a link with earlier Scandinavian and Germanic peoples +and the idea of racial superiority. + +The swastika ultimately represents an enigmatic and evocative +powerful divine energy. There are few symbolic marks so widely +distributed over the Earth. It is a primal symbol which denotes +the centre of the universe, a symbol of being and +creation/destruction. + +"In the swastika we see the Victory of the idea of our creative +work." - Adolf Hitler. + +"The leftward-spinning swastikas spin into the unconscious; the +rightward-spinning ones spin out of the unconscious chaos." - +Carl Gustav Jung. + +At dawn on the Summer Solstice of 1914 (the beginning of World +War I) Dr. George Watson MacGregor-Reid was head of the Druid +Order. Although he had previously stood for Parliament as one of +the first Labour Party candidates, he was also an advanced +Magickian. It is frequently cited that the Sect of the Druids +were responsible for conducting human-sacrifices, but this fact +pales into insignificance when in the same year a huge, mad, +ritualistic blood sacrifice swept Europe. Dr. MacGregor-Reid, the +`Anointed Chosen Chief`, sternly defended the tradition of a +Druidic ceremonial rite at Stonehenge on Midsummer morning, and +declined all requests by the authorities to desist in carrying +out the ancient ceremony. He was then forcibly ejected from the +sacred site (as have many others since). It can be clearly seen +from the photo provided that Dr. MacGregor-Reid wore a sigil of a +Swastika whilst at Stonehenge (due to it`s solar aspects and in +no way connected to it`s later Occult use as adopted by the +Nazis). Dr. MacGregor-Reid is in fact the great-uncle of +anarchist artist Jamie Reid. Jamie Reid, punk plagiarist and arch +anarchist artist designed the popular punk band `The Sex Pistols` +graphics and produced the original `Anarchy in the U.K.` artwork. +In his autobiography "UP THEY RISE: The Incomplete Works Of Jamie +Reid" his poignant picture of Parliamentary power incorporates +potent imagery of Swastikas instead of a clock-face on Albert +Tower. (This artwork has also appeared on the back-cover of VAGUE +#21 and the front-cover of Heartbreak Hotel #4). Perhaps, this is +an unintentional subconsciously inherited aspect of his +ancestor`s past coming back to haunt him as prophecy? + +[Yet another prophetic `coincidence` connected to the levitation +is that of a picture of the Albert Tower being in flight over the +Thames as shown on the back-cover of Nocturnal Emissions `Songs +of Love & Revolution` album. This recording also features the +vocals of Ian Bone (a prime mover in instigating `Anarchy in the +U.K.`) on the track "We Are Everywhere". When Nigel Ayers of the +group was approached for a copy of this intriguing artwork, the +original had mysteriously (suspiciously?) disappeared... ] + +Discordians possess a myriad of mystic signs (just like the +Masons and everybody else). One of them has been blandly lifted +from good old Tory warmonger Winston Churchill; it was the V-for- +Victory motif that Winnie had used throughout World War II. To +the Discordians it has many special meanings: the V, being the +Roman numeral for 5, illustrates the Law of Fives. The way the +sign is made, with 2 fingers up and 3 bent down, exemplifies the +hidden 23 within the Law of Fives. The fact that this sign is +also used by Catholic priests in blessing and by Satanists in +invoking the devil illustrates the essential ambiguity of all +symbolism, or the Cosmic Giggle Factor. [It has also been +suggested that this gesture was a powerful cabalistic sign +intended to dilute the lethal potency of the ancient swastika, +which had been adopted by the Nazis. Churchill is said to have +decided upon this particular retaliation after secret +consultations with the magickian Aleister Crowley.] + +The V-sign has subliminally infiltrated the whole counter-culture +via prolonged exposure to sacred Discordian texts, such as, the +Principia Discordia. Therefore, at the Parliament demonstration +it should be no surprise to witness hundreds of thousands of +protesters utilizing this potent hand-signal. The odd part will +be that virtually nobody using this gesture will probably be +aware of its significance. + +The V-sign reversed and used as an insult, originates back to the +battle of Agincourt. This potent hand-signal is formed by raising +the hand in front of the body, with the palm turned towards the +gesturer`s face. The forefinger and middle finger are extended to +form a V shape. The remaining fingers are fully bent. The hand is +then jerked upwards in the air two or three times (five maximum). + +The dominant meaning for this gesture is `victory`, although, +it`s older role was initially interpreted as an obscene insult. +The true origin has been the subject of much debate. Even today +its primary derivation is still in doubt, this being due to the +strong taboo associated with the gesture (its public use has +often been heavily penalized). The idea of the Churchillian +Victory sign, introduced during the Second World War, was +deliberately reversed (a magickal technique which Crowley was +very fond of), so creating an insult. As the Churchill version is +performed with the palm facing outward, away from the face of the +gesturer. By rotating the hand through 180 degrees, it has been +suggested that it was possible to create an insulting distortion +of the original message. In other words, the reversal of the hand +posture reversed the original meaning of the sign - from victory +to defeat. Instead of saying "I wish you Victory", the gesture +now said "I wish you defeat:, rather in the way that K.O is the +opposite, both in form and meaning, of O.K. + +The modern usage of this hand-signal was initiated by a Belgian +lawyer named Victor De Lavelaye (inspired perhaps by his own +forename?) on January 14th 1941. De Lavelaye was unhappy about +the use of the letters R.A.F as a resistance graffito (this being +before those letters re-emergence as the logo for resistance +fighters the Red Army Faction in the heady Seventies). These +initials were being scrawled on walls in Belgium by the +underground, as a method of insulting the Nazis, but in a foreign +language they lacked clarity and he was looking for something +simpler which could be more universally understood. The idea of V +for Victory not only exploited the English word (and paid homage +to his own name), but also fitted the Flemish vrijheid and the +French victoire. After his initial broadcast, proposing the V, +the BBC mounted a highly successful propaganda campaign employing +the morse code symbol for V (dot-dot-dot-dash) and the opening +bars of Beethoven`s Fifth Symphony (Weishaupt`s Law of Fives +again, due to Beethoven`s connections with the Illuminati). It +was after this that Churchill adopted the sign and used it +publicly at every opportunity. Nazi propagandists became so +alarmed at the success of the symbol, that they started their own +counter-project, V for Viktoria, but it was too late. The Allied +V-sign had already swept occupied Europe, and was indelibly +associated with the anti-Nazi movement. + +The earliest record of the insult V comes from the 16th Century +writings of Francois Rabelais. In 1532 he described a gestural +`duel` in which an explicit copulation sign is made by a +stretched out forefinger and middle finger held asunder and +thrust upwards. In 1611, George Chapman, in his comedy May Day, +has the following line: "As often as he turns his back to me, I +shall be here V with him." This passage is quoted in late +Victorian times to illustrate that `to make V`, as it was called, +was a `derisive` gesture. + +Coming nearer the present day, the insult V was used by the crowd +at football matches to a marked degree, before the advent of the +first World War. Further evidence shows that the insulting +version is the original version and the Victory version is a very +late arrival. There is much evidence that indicates that +Churchill was unaware of the existence of the rude, palm-back +form, and he originally used this version in error on certain +occasions. There is early film of him unwittingly making the rude +V-sign at his troops and thereby inadvertently telling them to +`get stuffed`, instead of wishing them victory in battle. Since +all later film records show him performing the gesture palm-out, +it seems certain that someone must have taken him on one side and +gently explained the problem, so that the final and surviving +form of the Victory sign became fixed and distinct from its +unsavoury predecessor. (Even today, however, not all politicians +have learnt this lesson. Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher +was frequently photographed making a palm-back V-sign at moments +of electorial triumph, whilst under the mistaken assumption that +it was the V-for-Victory sign. + +Other theories postulate the V-sign being a variation of the +Cuckold sign (with the forked fingers representing the highly +symbolic Cuckold`s horns); an altered version of the ancient +Roman phallic finger-jerk insult, digitus impudicus (now known as +the middle-finger jerk, done with that digit alone erect. e.g. +"Sit on this!"); a slight variation of the last theory, but the +two forked fingers representing, not one enlarged penis, but two +separate penises (e.g. `one penis for her vagina and one for her +anus.`); representing the fingers themselves inserted into the +vagina during sexual foreplay (the spreading of the forefinger +and middle finger into the V shape then represents an attempt to +provide maximum vaginal stimulation by stretching the passage as +widely as possible.); another interpretation indicates the +female`s legs (or the genital`s labia) spread wide, ready to +engage in copulation; an eye poking gesture; and the Hippies +`Peace Sign` which was used as an covert insult by being +sufficiently ambiguous to prevent the authorities taking any +action, as it could be continually rotated, thus giving a veiled +form of the phallic finger "Up Yours!" gesture. [The symbol `V' +in the ancient inscriptions of MU, the Motherland (Empire of the +Sun), stood for "The Eye Closed By Force, Forced Down".] The +ancient & archetypal V-sign has been reckoned to be too salacious +by the dominant patriarchal male-god worshipping society who have +decided that it should be suppressed because of its strong +undercurrent of Goddess symbolism. + +The ritual was scheduled to commence at approximately 2.00 PM. At +this precise time all the participants had already gathered +around the assembly point at Jubilee Gardens and started to march +towards the intended target. All preparations, conjurations and +incantations took place at the Palace of Westminster, with the +desired climactic result occurring between 2:23 -> 2:30 (It +should also be noted that Parliament meets during the week at +2.30 PM.) + +An exercise of exorcism to expel these spiritual squatters +commenced at 2:23 PM. The invocational words "Out, Demon, out!" +were chanted, starting out as an inaudible whisper and slowly +developing into a chaotic crescendo of speaking in tongues, +ritual chanting, etc. The ritual was then followed by an +appropriate banishing ritual (by employing the magickal act of +using an emotional device such as laughter to prevent the evil +spirits causing more chaos than that which it was hoped would be +conjured during the invocation). The expected outcome of this +auspicious occasion successfully kick-started a karmic domino +effect in the cosmic game of life. + +The ritual act of `levitation' was almost thwarted at one point +by some specially deployed masonic police officers who tried to +employ a secret anti-levitational technique. There was no +absolutely no fear of creating a negative vortex which might have +caused serious damage to the ozone layer (as was suspected might +happen when the Neoist Alliance carried out their levitation in +Brighton in 1993). + +Many reports neglected to mention that the levitation actually +took place at all (before, during, or after) and suppression of +these facts will now result in an I.O.D magickal action directed +against these mass media manipulators. Some reports even +suggested that the building did not even start to rise and stayed +fixed on terra firma. + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001268.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001268.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..60fbfa69 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001268.txt @@ -0,0 +1,263 @@ +ANARCHYINALBION? - Frater Nexhagus XXIII - part 4 of 4 + + +The irony involved in all of this is that the I.O.D never ever +stated that the `levitation' was a straight-forward levitation. +Although, the building did rise to a considerable degree, we were +far more interested in attempting to `sink' it. Our prophecy that +if the levitation were to go wrong, The Albert Tower could end up +being an unique tourist attraction (like the leaning Tower of +Pisa!) was proved to be entirely correct and confirmed only a few +days after the event. This method successfully worked to our +advantage as reports eventually leaked out a week later that the +buliding had in fact sunk (but was somehow mysteriously +attributed to a newly developed Austrian tunnelling method that +was also deemed responsible for the collapse of a tunnel being +built at Heathrow Airport on the day of the `levitation'). + +[The proposed secondary target of levitation at Canary Wharf +Tower will be one of our many future objectives in our on-going +campaign against The Conspiracy provided that we are unhindered +by further counter-psychic-attack attempts by the Masonic Mass +Media Mind-Controllers based within that structure. - See the +article "The Hoax HOAX! Bomb Hoax Hoax!" in the third issue of +GROUNDLEVEL magazine which chronicles one of these instances). + +The combined psychic powers of all those present at The Palace of +Westminster was redirected in order to exorcise the demons. +(Obviously, this then meant that the psychic charge that could +easily raise the building was more usefully made to intiate the +immanentization of the Eschaton.) Although, some may think that +it was rather underhanded of us to (ab)use the psychic energies +of `innocent' others in order to cause chaos to corrupt the +control process, at least it was all in a good cause! It would +have been unwise of us to reveal our actual occult intentions to +everyone, as then it would almost be certain that no-one would +have wanted to participate in the `levitation`. Such tried and +tested techniques of psychic deception are legion in occult +matters, and even the noted magickian Dion Fortune in her tome +`Psychick Self-Defence` commented that "To find one has been +successfully hoaxed by a lunatic is a humiliating experience." +This is not to say that the I.O.D are lunatics (even though we +are all affected by certain aspects of the lunar cycle); we are +simply following on in the grand traditions of a long-line of +psychic charlatans, sham shamans, and magickal tricksters. + +Don`t let THEM immanentize the Eschaton! + +This ritual of ridicule was a psychic attack on the Mother of all +Parliaments. Unlike many of our contemporaries we did not treat +the `levitation` of Parliament as a `joke'. [The problem with +political jokes is that they sometimes get elected!] And as +Ambrose Bierce succinctly put it (before mysteriously +disappearing); "The idiots are always the largest and most +influential political party in any society." + +Into the Belly of the Beast, an unruly revolution of ridicule +culminated in a holy communion of Chaos at the House of Commons +to taunt and taint authority. There were no leaders, heroes, or +organisers. Everyone was warned prior to the event that they +should beware of all structure-freaks. "Don`t let anyone lead +you, but yourself!" + +A parade took place prior to the ritual. All manner of +provocative costumes were worn (nudity was also acceptable): John +Major clones, Cosmic Clowns (with water pistols filled with LSD), +Salman Rushdie, psuedo Policemen, Martians, Bugs Bunny, Daleks, +Skyclad Witch-Queens, Elvis look-a-likes, esoterrorists, Neoists, +Pearly Kings, Drag Queens, etc, etc... + +Various large banners were unfurled proclaiming many sentiments +to mark the occassion: "Total Disarmament Now!", "KILL THE BILL", +"FUCK C*NS*RSH*P!", "We demand the freedom to stand around and do +nothing", "Never mind the theory, here`s the slogans!", "It`s not +just taxes that are going to be raised this autumn!", etc. + +The area surrounding Parliament - which sits like a cancerous +tumour on the bank of the tortured Thames, The Citadel and nerve +centre of the blighted British Empire - was reclaimed and +declared a Temporary Autonomous Zone (for more details of this +phenomena read Hakim Bey`s book of the same acronym). Mind- +blowing incense drifted up to fill the Ozone layer. A cosmic +consummation of divine union ensued between the Sky God and the +Earth Mother and a supreme act of consecrated conjugal coitus +commenced. Many chants were repeated over and over again, until +they metamorphosed into an amazing magickal mantra. + +"Ring a Ringo aroundo Parliamento, + A pocket fullo Prankos, + Twenty-three MPos, + Deserve none of our thankos, + All the evil spiritos + Start to tumble outo, + Now democracy`s overo, + We all begin to shouto!" + +This was `backed-up` by a strong presence of ritual drummers and +specially invited guest-speakers with megaphones from that day`s +"Speaker`s Corner" held at Hyde Park Corner who helped to +entertain and prepare the crowds for the ritual proceedings. We +had investigated the possibility of having the legendary Fortean +drunkard and wizened wizard Tony `Doc' Shiels to be one of the +many Masters of Ceremonies at the invokation. He had confirmed +that he would try his very best to rise to the occasion and be in +attendance on the 23rd. The good Doctor stated that "The Magick +has begun. I hope that you understand that I (plus certain +trusted members of the Nnidnid Cabal) are on the case. That is to +say, the great game is afoot and we are detecting in a shamanic- +Sherlockian sense. Sometimes soapings happen..." [We were also +hoping to get Guinness breweries to sponsor Doc`s trip over from +the Faerie Isle, but then again we thought that they would most +probably tell us to Puck off!] But, as the Great Hare (aka the +Spooky Pooka) once said in a Warner Brothers Cartoon, "What`s UP +Doc!?!" (Obviously, a veiled prophetic reference to his +predestined calling to be at the levitation?) To this day it is +still uncertain whether Doc Sheils was actually there... many +unconfirmed sightings were given, but no definite evidence has +been forthcoming as of yet! + +It also came to our attention that the acid-rock band Hawkwind +would (probably!?!) be in attendance to play (perhaps, "I`ve got +levitation" by the 13th Floor Elevators!?!) on the day... They +didn't!!! + +Since it was almost impossible to form a circle of people around +Parliament in order to counteract its malign influence, or to +even get access to the evil edifice at all, it was deemed +neccesary to inform a number of authoritarian bodies by warning +them that ths sacred symbol would be held under siege. +Applications for permits were sent to the mandatory governing +bodies in order for the ritual to be carried out at Sinister +Westminster. Heathrow Airport even wrote a terse missive to the +`Anarchy in the U.K.' HQ warning all concerned not to infringe +their airspace, as they were unprepared to postpone any flights +on the day. [An action which they no doubt later regretted with +hindsight when they discovered that part of their main terminal +building had `unexpectedly' collapased into a partially completed +transport tunnel!] + +At which point it was suggested that the `sacramental gesture` of +urinating on Parliament would take place. This noble act would +signify all of the times that Parliament has pissed all over the +people it controls under it's territories. To take advantage of +ludicrous loop-holes in the urinating laws, it sounded fairly +feasible to be able to pour bottles of urine on Parliament (and +get away with it!) This method also suited those people who +wished to "piss on Parliament" but were unable to do so, due to +such reasons as bladder retention, gender restrictions, or an +unwillingness to parade their privates in wintry weather (It was +also feared that representatives from Thee Temple Ov Psychick +Youth that had genital piercings might also suffer from the +notorious `sprayback effect` which would also affect their aim). +Therefore, it was recommended that plastic bottles containing +urine were to be used (or containing a potion of `OV` in TOPY`s +case!) By doing so, if the authorities were to get pissed off by +our `pissing` (or rather, pouring) on Parliament, we could +exploit the loophole in the law by claiming that we had not +actually physically urinated in the street (but instead offered a +libation to the Gods and Goddesses!) + +[It should also be noted here that urine is not bad, it is good. +Recently, this fact was brilliantly pointed out by the liberated +sex siren and perverted pop queen Madonna who remarked to shocked +American audiences on David Letterman`s live talk-show, "Did you +know it`s good if you pee in the shower? Peeing in the shower is +good, it fights athlete`s foot. I`m serious. Urine is like an +antiseptic. It all has to do with the enzymes in your body." +Typically, this was treated by a mainstream Amerikan audience as +yet another example of crude lewdness by the first lady of lust, +but by golly she was right! It is also fitting that urine was to +be used in this ritual as not only does it provide a nice +metaphor and prevent nasty fungal infections, but originally it +was nature`s very own territorial mark which was used by man +before he learnt how to denote territory by the mark of the +secretions of ink from a pen on paper, and then tied the boundary +up with an impassable barrier of red tape. At least now we can +reverse the territory by devolving them to their original state +and also cleanse the area with an antiseptic solution!] + +We were fully aware that the Government were not going to let us +defy the law of gravity because they will not let us defy any of +the other several million Draconian laws of this corrupted +country. The enemies of Enlightenment are always vigilant, but +historically Chaos always reigns. Chaos will always corrupt +control. + +Previous attempts to tamper with the government have made +history. Although Guy Fawkes is sometimes credited with being the +only person to enter Parliament with the right intentions, it was +in fact Christine Keeler`s pussy that brought down the government +more effectively. (It is also interesting to note that the +cunning callgirl called Christine was paid 23,000 by the News of +the World for her disclosures concerning the John Profumo +scandal.) + +The Media Machine needs a Who-What-When-Where-and-Why scenario in +order to go about its business of devious diversions and +distortions. By placing a banana skin in the works of its +corrupted cogs and turning the machine on overload we can +sabotage the system. Even if we put truth serum in the reporters` +drinks it is still inevitable that they will not "tell the whole +truth and nothing but the truth". Everyone is liable to be a +hostage to the hostile press. Such activities that propagate as +many peculiar paradigms as propagandada (as [im]possible) will +attract/distract the attention of the media. We can use and abuse +this privilege by providing as many true lies as possible in +order to create as much media mayhem and chaos as possible. Who`s +conspiracy is it anyway!?! + +This day may well have been one of our very last chances to +present the general public with a proclamation of political +parody against the MotherFucker of all Parliaments. + +As anarchs of the new paradigm, the I.O.D hoped that this +Eschatological event in the `Autumn of Anarchy` would help to +prove that the Discordian version of surrealism is truly becoming +a new apolitical reality. + +The barricades of the mass media can always be effectively +ramraided by generating sufficient advanced publicity (free of +charge - by word of mouth, or by whatever means at hand... The +development of media outrage and coverage are actively encouraged +can be fully exploited. Anonymous tip-offs, "loose-talk", etc. +can be combined with ancient concepts such as the likes of +Chinese Whispers to prove to be one of the greatest assets +available to a disinformationist's disposal and a +Propagandadaist`s dream. (e.g.. A rabbit will be ritually +sacrificed at Parliament... When in fact the only rabbit taking +place in the ritual will be a trained occultist participant +dressed in a rabbit costume.) + +The acts of insurgent festivity that took place included +subversive intervention of "official" (serious) culture, public +events and (cyber & territorial) space, pranks combining +agitational propaganda, ontological anarchy, contagious play, and +involve schizoversive transgression of behavioural codes and +dogma. Intense spontaneity is inherently unpredictable. Trust and +good communication can conjure up challenging unforgettable +adventures. the "logic of the game" into commercial and corporate +space, introducing satirical and surrealistic strategies as +seditious salacious surprises. A single symbolic act can cause +chaotic ripples on a once still pool of `normality'. Pranks, like +Magick are a pure form of experimental art. The universal nature +and scope of pranks defy simple (or logical) explanations. Chaos +cannot be known, it can only be experienced. By fusing our dreams +with reality we can dissect the separation of art and life. + +Those who desire further disinformation concerning any of the +many activities planned by the I.O.D and other assorted occult +occurances are advised to contact the following address (with a +S.A.E and suitable donation where applicable):- + +THE I..O..D, BM INDEFINITE, LONDON, WC1N 3XX. + +This dissertation compiled on 23/5/5995 A.M. by Frater Nexhagus +XXIII, and ably assisted by Aderyn Fawr, Paul 777, James Eden, +Pope Nai Enob, Karen Eliot, Soror Scoobie Doo O and various +other unknown allies ov thee I.O.D. +EWIGE BLUMENKRAFT! +FNORDS? Prffft! IO CHAOS!! OM!!! -><- KALLISTI! +Hail Eris!! All Hail Discordia!!! + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001269.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001269.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3264428c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001269.txt @@ -0,0 +1,97 @@ +Appeal for International Solidarity + +In the aftermath of the June 4th commemoration, the April Fifth Action, Hong +Kong, would like to make an appeal to the international community to +denounce the assaults made by the Chinese Government against political +activists, especially the workers, in China. + +The activists in China have put up a heroic fight in the last couple of +months. There have been workers protests, petitions and press conferences. +These are signs that the Chinese Democracy Movement has made important +progress since the June 4th crackdown six years ago. + +Because of this, the Chinese Government has stepped up its repression, for +fear that the Movement might present a serious threat when social discontent +and unrest have been building up for the last two to three years. Dozens of +organisers have already been arrested in the past few months, among whom are +Wei Jin-sang, Wong Dan, Lau Nin-chun and Chan Chi-ming, just to name a few +prominent ones. + +The Chinese Government has been especially brutal to workers who organise +union activities. Three workers in ShengZeng, just across the border of Hong +Kong, were arrested last year for organising unions and distributing +handbills. Unconfirmed reports said that they were sentenced to long prison +terms. + +**************************************************************************** +************ + +We appeal to you all to send protest messages to the Chinese Governmnet to +demand for the release of these activists who had done nothing but to +exercise the freedom of speech and the right to associate. + +Please send protest letters or messages to the Standing Committee, National +Peoples' Congress, Beijing, China. + +We would very much appreciate if you can pass the message to other labour +organisations. + +**************************************************************************** +************ + +Here are some information about the 3 organizers arrested in ShengZeng: + +1. Lee Man-ming and Kwong Lok-cheong, Male, Han race, both from Hunan +Province (in the middle of China, along the Yangtze River), about 27 years old. + +2. Lee was trained at a Hunan technical college (not sure which department). +In his school years, he had already participated in the local student +movement. After his graduation, he was assigned to a factory to work. In +1991, he resigned and went to Shencheng and got a job as the public relation +officer of the magazine "Youth of Shengcheng". At the end of 92, he went to +Beijing University to study and associated with democracy activists there. + +3. Kwong Lok-cheong studied in the Shanghai Transport University and was +active in the student movement, bding a student leader of the university +during the 86-87 student unrest. In a meeting with the then Shanghai Mayor, +Jiang Zemin (now the President of china), Kwong critized Jiang harshly and +thus won the respect of the students. When the student unrest was over, he +was dismissed and went back to the countryside. In 1993, Lee Man-ming +invited him to go to Shengcheng to do organizing work. + +4. In June, 1993, Lee and Kwong initiated a program to educate the workers +about the poor labour conditions in the numerous factories in Shengcheng. In +August, they started a Workers' Evening School, which attracted hundreds of +workers to attend the courses. Then they planned to establish an independent +trade union called the "Union of Labourers". (In China, independent trade +unions are not allowed. There is only one union-the Official Trade Union +controlled by the CCP). + +5. In September, 1993, the Shengcheng Public Security Bureau took away some +documents from their office. In October, under pressure from the PSB, they +fled to Beijing. Then at the beginning of 94, both of them came back to +start again.. + +6. In April, 1994, the PSB arrested them. To date, they are still detained +incommunicado, with no charges pressed against them. + +7. There are about a dozen core activists involved in the project. Two of +them are Kwok Po-sing, a student of the Chinese Poeple's University +(Beijing) and Lee Ming-Ki of Beijing University. Both were dismissed for +political reasons (that means they deviated from the party line and +harboured 'libral' ideas). Kwok was arrested at the same time with Lee and +Kwong while Lee Ming-ki's whereabout has been unknown from then. + + +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +email: tllau5@hkein.ie.cuhk.hk + +April Fifth Action +Front Portion, 2nd Floor, +103, Argle Street, +Mongkok, +Hong Kong. +Tel: (852) 2397 6337 +Fax: (852) 2394 4383 +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001274.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001274.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..27c43285 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001274.txt @@ -0,0 +1,260 @@ +From _The Rebel Girl: An Autobiography My First Life (1906-1926)_, + + by Elizabeth Gurley Flynn + +Centralia, 1919 + + After the war ended, lawless force and violence came back, +led by ex-soldiers, fomented by stay-at-home patriots, employers +and their hirelings. Many violent scenes had occurred in 1918 and +1919. The Rand School in New York City was attacked by a mob of soldiers +and sailors who tore down the American flag flying from the building. +The Socialist daily paper, the New York _Call_, was raided and +wrecked. Employees were driven out and beaten as they were forced +to run the gauntlet of armed men. + On Memorial Day, in 1918, the IWW hall was raided by paraders +in Centralia, Washington, its records and literature burned in the +street, its furniture wrecked or stolen. All who were found in the +hall were beaten, arrested and driven out of town. The governor, +the mayor, the chief of police and a company of National Guard were +in the parade. The mob action was led by the president of the +Employers Association. The hall looked like a war ruin. But the +undaunted IWW opened another hall. They determined to defend +themselves and their headquarters from further lawless attacks. + Many attempts had been made to smash the Lumber Workers +Industrial Union of the IWW, especially during and after the great +strike of 1917 for the eight-hour day. Men had been beaten and +jailed in Yakima, Ellensburg and other lumber towns. Rope, tar and +feathers, and clubs were used time and time again. The Eastern +Railway and Lumber Company controlled much of the lumber land, +sawmills, railways and banks around Centralia. The head of this +outfit, F. B. Hubbard, was also president of the Employer's +Association. The American Legion had been organized in Centralia +after the war and was in the forefront of the campaign to smash the +IWW and imprison its members. + A blind man, Tom Lassiter, made his living at a newsstand in +Centralia. Among the papers he sold were the Seattle _Union Record_ +and the IWW paper, _The Industrial Worker_. In June 1919 the +newsstand was broken into and everything taken out and burned. He +was warned to leave town in a note signed "U.S. Soldiers, Sailors +and Marines." Later, when he refused to leave town, he was seized, +beaten and dropped in a ditch across the county line. When he +returned to Centralia, he was arrested under the criminal +syndicalist law. All attempts of his lawyer, Elmer Smith, failed to +bring the perpetrators of these outrages to justice, which +emboldened the lawless elements in Centralia. + The Employers Association continually incited its members to +action by regular bulletins, proclaiming such slogans as "active +prosecution of the IWW; hang the Bolsheviks; deport Russians from +this community; deport the radicals or use the rope in Centralia," +and similar sentiments. A Citizen's Protective League was organized +which called meetings to discuss how to handle "the IWW problem." +The police, the Elks and the Legion participated in these discussions. +A secret committee, similar to the vigilante committees of the old +West, was set up. The news leaked out that a raid was being planned +on the IWW hall, and was discussed by Lewis County Trades Council. +Some members from there warned the IWW of the threats. The IWW issued a +leaflet, "To the Citizens of Centralia We Must Appeal," in which +they recited the threats and accusations against them. It concluded +by saying: "Our only crime is solidarity, loyalty to the working +class, and justice for the oppressed." + At a Legion meeting on November 6, the line of march for the +Armistice parade was changed to pass the IWW hall and it was agreed +that they would halt in front of it, make a swift attack and +proceed with the parade. They voted also to wear their uniforms. +The line of march was publicized. Walter Grimms, in charge of the +Legion, replaced Commander William Scales who did not favor raiding +the hall. Grimms was a veteran of the Siberian Expedition of the +American army. He had attacked "the American Bolsheveki-the IWW" in +a Labor Day Speech. Elmer Smith, the IWW's lawyer, advised his +clients: "Defend the hall if you choose to do so-the law gives you +the right." For this remark he was subsequently charged with +murder. + Armistice Day, November 11, 1919, was the day of the parade. +Some of the marchers carried coils of rope. At the words, "Let's +Go" the Centralia Legionnaires raided the hall, led by Grimms. +Shots were fired from inside the hall as the invaders smashed doors +and windows. Shots came also from a nearby hillside. Grimms was +shot, at the head of the invaders. He died later in the hospital. +A Centralia druggist, Arthur McElfresh, was killed. Wesley Everest, +an IWW and a veteran of World War I, had done the shooting. Five of +the IWWs left in the hall took refuge in an unused icebox at the +rear, where they remained until they were arrested. + Everest escaped from the back door, chased by the mob. He +fired again as they closed in on them and killed Dan Hubbard, a +veteran and nephew of the lumber baron who had instigated the plot +and then planned "to let the men in uniform do it". Everest was +kicked and beaten, a rope was put around his neck, and he was +dragged senseless to the jail. In the night he was taken out and +castrated and lynched, his swinging body used as a target for shot +after shot. The next day the body was brought back to the jail and +thrown in among the prisoners, then taken out and surreptitiously +buried in an unknown grave-so the IWW could not take pictures of +it, the authorities said. The men in jail were tortured and third- +degreed to make them "confess." One, Lorens Robert was driven +insane as a result. + Lumber trust lawyers appeared as special prosecutors at the +trial in Montesano, seat of Gray's Harbor County. A change of venue +had been granted but it made little difference. Threats were made +that the defendants would never get out of that county alive-if +they were acquitted. The men on trial were ably defended by labor +lawyer George W. Vanderveer. Two of the defendants, Elmer Smith and +Mike Sheehan, were acquitted. Loren Roberts was declared insane. +Britt Smith, O.C. Bland, James McInery, Bert Bland, Ray Becker, +Eugene Barnett and John Lamb were found guilty of second degree +murder. They were sentenced to from 25 to 40 years in Walla +penitentiary. Not one of the mob who raided the hall, murdered +Wesley Everest, or drove Roberts insane was ever punished. A +"labor jury" of six workingmen of AFL unions from Tacoma, +Washington met on March 15, 1920, at the Labor Temple there and +gave their verdict. It was that the defendants were not guilty; +that there was a conspiracy to raid the hall on the part of the +business interests of Centralia; that the hall had been unlawfully +raided and that Warren Grimms had participated in that raid. + During the trial, the courthouse was surrounded by soldiers +who camped on the lawn, and jurors admitted later they were +intimidated by the atmosphere. The court was full of Legionnaires +in uniform from all the surrounding towns. Two years later, six +jurors gave affidavits to Elmer Smith, who worked on the case until +his death in the early 30's, stating their fears and asserting that +if they had known the full story of the raid they would have voted +to acquit the defendants. As it was, the jury recommended leniency, +which the judge ignored. + Some of the law-abiding elements in the Legion spoke out. +Edward Bassett, an overseas veteran and commander of the Butte, +Montana, post issued a statement before the trial, stating that +the IWW were justified in defending their hall and that the +Legionnaires disgraced themselves by becoming party to a mob. +Ten years later, in 1929, the Centralia Publicity Committee issued +a four-page leaflet called "The Centralia Case" by an American +Legionnaire of the Hoquiam, Washington, post of the Legion-a former +U.S. Army captain Edward Patrick Hall-urging people to "rectify a +great wrong" by writing to the governor to release the innocent +workers beginning their tenth year of imprisonment." He said, "A +short resume of the Centralia case shows that the Centralia +Legionnaires were used by local business interests to eject the +IWW. On Armistice Day, 1919, the workers' hall was raided before a +shot was fired in self-defense. A gigantic frame-up followed, and +the trial at Montesano bears all the earmarks of being an attempt +at a `lynching'." + Meetings were held on behalf of the Centralia victims for +years. Leaflets were issued in 1919 by our Workers Defense Union in +New York City and funds issued to the Centralia defense. One +donation of $500 came from the Joint Board of the Amalgamated +Clothing Workers. I spoke with Elmer Smith in March 1929 at the +Seattle Civic Auditorium. I recall saying :"If the IWW had raided +a Legion Hall, imagine what heroes the Legion would be to shoot +them down!" Elmer Smith died of cancer shortly afterward. +The legal struggle was taken over by Attorney Irwin Goodman +of Portland, a valiant civil liberties lawyer. Five men were +paroled in 1936, after 17 years unjust imprisonment, and the +others, who refused parole, were released a short time later. The +Legion defiantly erected a statue to Grimms but the truth has +prevailed, and the events in Centralia are now known as the murder +of Wesley Everest and the frame-up of seven innocent +workingmen. + +-- + +Date: Fri, 1 Sep 1995 14:12:09 -0400 +Sender: Progressive News & Views List +Subject: Centralia 1919 II +From: mark.dickson@dafbbs.com + + + At a Legion meeting on November 6, the line of march for the +Armistice parade was changed to pass the IWW hall and it was agreed +that they would halt in front of it, make a swift attack and +proceed with the parade. They voted also to wear their uniforms. +The line of march was publicized. Walter Grimms, in charge of the +Legion, replaced Commander William Scales who did not favor raiding +the hall. Grimms was a veteran of the Siberian Expedition of the +American army. He had attacked "the American Bolsheveki-the IWW" in +a Labor Day Speech. Elmer Smith, the IWW's lawyer, advised his +clients: "Defend the hall if you choose to do so-the law gives you +the right." For this remark he was subsequently charged with +murder. + Armistice Day, November 11, 1919, was the day of the parade. +Some of the marchers carried coils of rope. At the words, "Let's +Go" the Centralia Legionnaires raided the hall, led by Grimms. +Shots were fired from inside the hall as the invaders smashed doors +and windows. Shots came also from a nearby hillside. Grimms was +shot, at the head of the invaders. He died later in the hospital. +A Centralia druggist, Arthur McElfresh, was killed. Wesley Everest, +an IWW and a veteran of World War I, had done the shooting. Five of +the IWWs left in the hall took refuge in an unused icebox at the +rear, where they remained until they were arrested. + Everest escaped from the back door, chased by the mob. He +fired again as they closed in on them and killed Dan Hubbard, a +veteran and nephew of the lumber baron who had instigated the plot +and then planned "to let the men in uniform do it". Everest was +kicked and beaten, a rope was put around his neck, and he was +dragged senseless to the jail. In the night he was taken out and +castrated and lynched, his swinging body used as a target for shot +after shot. The next day the body was brought back to the jail and +thrown in among the prisoners, then taken out and surreptitiously +buried in an unknown grave-so the IWW could not take pictures of +it, the authorities said. The men in jail were tortured and third- +degreed to make them "confess." One, Lorens Robert was driven +insane as a result. + Lumber trust lawyers appeared as special prosecutors at the +trial in Montesano, seat of Gray's Harbor County. A change of venue +had been granted but it made little difference. Threats were made +that the defendants would never get out of that county alive-if +they were acquitted. The men on trial were ably defended by labor +lawyer George W. Vanderveer. Two of the defendants, Elmer Smith and +Mike Sheehan, were acquitted. Loren Roberts was declared insane. +Britt Smith, O.C. Bland, James McInery, Bert Bland, Ray Becker, +Eugene Barnett and John Lamb were found guilty of second degree +murder. They were sentenced to from 25 to 40 years in Walla +penitentiary. Not one of the mob who raided the hall, murdered +Wesley Everest, or drove Roberts insane was ever punished. A +"labor jury" of six workingmen of AFL unions from Tacoma, +Washington met on March 15, 1920, at the Labor Temple there and +gave their verdict. It was that the defendants were not guilty; +that there was a conspiracy to raid the hall on the part of the +business interests of Centralia; that the hall had been unlawfully +raided and that Warren Grimms had participated in that raid. + During the trial, the courthouse was surrounded by soldiers +who camped on the lawn, and jurors admitted later they were +intimidated by the atmosphere. The court was full of Legionnaires +in uniform from all the surrounding towns. Two years later, six +jurors gave affidavits to Elmer Smith, who worked on the case until +his death in the early 30's, stating their fears and asserting that +if they had known the full story of the raid they would have voted +to acquit the defendants. As it was, the jury recommended leniency, +which the judge ignored. + Some of the law-abiding elements in the Legion spoke out. +Edward Bassett, an overseas veteran and commander of the Butte, +Montana, post issued a statement before the trial, stating that +the IWW were justified in defending their hall and that the +Legionnaires disgraced themselves by becoming party to a mob. +Ten years later, in 1929, the Centralia Publicity Committee issued +a four-page leaflet called "The Centralia Case" by an American +Legionnaire of the Hoquiam, Washington, post of the Legion-a former +U.S. Army captain Edward Patrick Hall-urging people to rectify a +great wrong by writing to the governor to release the innocent +workrs beginning their tenth year of imprisonment." He said, "A +short resume of the Centralia case shows that the Centralia +Legionaires were used by local business interests to eject the IWW. +On Armistice Day, 1919, the workers' hall was raided before a shot +was fired in self-defense. A gigantic frame-up followed, and the +trial at Montesano bears all the earmarks of being an attempt at a +`lynching'." + Meetings were held on behalf of the Centralia victims for +years. Leaflets were issued in 1919 by our Workers Defense Union in +New York City and funds issued to the Centralia defense. One +donation of $500 came from the Joint Board of the Amalgamated +Clothing Workers. I spoke with Elmer Smith in March 1929 at the +Seattle Civic Auditorium. I recall saying :"If the IWW had raided +a Legion Hall, imagine what heroes the Legion would be to shoot +them down!" Elmer Smith died of cancer shortly afterward. +The legal struggle was taken over by Attorney Irwin Goodman +of Portland, a valiant civil liberties lawyer. Five men were +patroled in 1936, after 17 years unjust imprisonment, and the +others, who refused parole, were released a short time later. The +Legion defiantly erected a statue to Grimms but the truth has +prevailed, and the events in Centralia are now known as the murder +of Wesley Everest and the frame-up of seven innocent +workingmen. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001276.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001276.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dcd35ad7 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001276.txt @@ -0,0 +1,442 @@ +The Myths of "Libertarian" economics. + +* What determines price within capitalism? + +Both "libertarian" and "anarcho" capitalists support the subjectivist theory +of value (STV), as explained by the Austrian School of economics. Economists +from this school included Ludwig Von Mises, Frederick Hayek and Murray +Rothbard. + +In a nutshell, the subjective theory of value states that the price of a +commodity is determined by its marginal utility to the consumer. This is the +point, on an individual's scale of satisfaction, at which the desire of a good +is satisfied. Hence price is the result of individual, subjective evaluations +within the market place. For anyone interested in individual freedom, the +appeal of this can easily be seen. + +However, the subjective theory of value is a myth. Like most myths, it does +has an element of truth within it, but as an explanation of the price of a +commodity it has serious flaws. + +The element of truth which the theory contains is that, indeed, individuals, +groups, companies, etc do value goods and consume them. This consumption is +based on the use-value of goods to the users (although this is modified by +price and income considerations). The use-value of a good is a highly +subjective evaluation and so varies from case to case, depending on the +individual's taste and needs. As such it has an *effect* on the price, as +we will see. But as the means to *determine* a product's price it ignores +the reality of production under capitalism. + +The first problem within marginal utility is that it leads to circular +reasoning. Prices are supposed to measure the "marginal utility" of the +commodity. However, prices are required by the consumer in order to make the +evaluations on how best to maximise their satisfaction. Hence subjective value +"obviously rested on circular reasoning. Although it tries to explain prices, +prices were necessary to explain marginal utility" [Paul Mattick, Economics, +Politics and the Age of Inflation, p.58] + +In addition, it ignores the differences in purchasing power between +individuals and assumes the legal fiction that corporations are individual +persons. If, as many Libertarians say, capitalism is "one dollar, one vote" +its obvious whose values are going to be reflected in the market. + +So, if the subjectivist theory of value is flawed, what does determine prices? +Obviously, in the short term, prices are heavily influenced by supply and +demand. If demand exceeds supply, the price rises and vice versa. This truism, +however, does not answer the question. The key to understanding prices lies +understanding the nature of capitalism, profit production. + +Capitalism is based on production of profit. Once this and its implications +are understood, the determination of price is simple. The price of a +capitalist commodity will tend towards its production price in a free market, +production price being cost price plus average profit rates. + +Consumers, when shopping, are confronted by given prices and a given supply. +The price determines the demand, based on the use-value of the product to the +consumer and their money situation. If supply exceeds demand, supply is +reduced until average profit rates are generated. If the given price generates +above average profits, then capital will move from profit-poor areas into this +profit-rich area, increasing supply and competition and so reducing the price +until average profits are again produced. If the price results in demand +exceeding supply, this causes a short term price increase and these extra +profits indicate to other capitalists to move to this market. The supply of +the commodity will stabilise at whatever level is demanded at this price +which produces average profit rates. Any change from this level in the +long term depends on changes on the production price of the good +(lower production prices means higher profits and so indicates that +the market could be profitable for new investment from other capitalists). + +Thus production price determines the price of a commodity, not supply and +demand, in the long term. In fact, price determines demand as consumers +face prices as (usually) an already given objective value when they shop +and make decisions based on these prices. The production price for a +commodity is a given and so only profit levels indicate whether a +given product is "valued" enough by consumers to warrant increased +production. This means that "capital moves from relatively stagnating +into rapidly developing industries... The extra profit, in excess +of the average profit, won at a given price level disappears again, +however, with the influx of capital from profit-poor into profit-rich +industries" so increasing supply and reducing prices, and so profits. +[Paul Mattick, Economic Crisis and Crisis Theory, p.49] + +As can be seen, this theory (the labour theory of value) does not deny that +consumers subjectivity evaluate goods and that this can have a short term +effect on price (which determines supply and demand). However, it explains why +a certain commodity sells at a certain price and not another, something which +the subjective theory cannot do. It develops its ideas from a consideration of +reality (namely prices exist before subjective evaluations can take place and +the nature of capitalist production). + +In the end, the STV just states that "prices are determined marginal utility; +marginal utility is measured by prices. Prices... are nothing more or less +than prices. Marginalists, having begun their search in the field of +subjectivity, proceeded to walk in circle". [Allan Engler, Apostle's of +Greed, page 27] + +In reality, the price of a capitalist commodity is, in the long term, equal to +its production price, which in turn determines supply and demand. If demand +changes, which it of course can and does as consumer values change, this will +have a short term effect on prices but the average production price is the +price around which a capitalist commodity sells for. + +* Where do profits come from? + +As can be seen, profits are the driving force of capitalism. If a profit +cannot be made, a good is not produced, regardless of how many people +"subjectively value" it. But where do profits come from? + +In order to make more money, money must be transformed into capital, ie +worplaces, machinery and other "capital goods". However, by itself, +capital (like money) produces nothing. Capital only becomes +productive in the labour process, when workers use capital. Under +capitalism, labour not only creates sufficient value (ie produced +commodities) to maintain existing capital and themselves, it also +produces a surplus. The surplus expresses itself as a surplus of +goods, ie an excess of commodities. The price of all produced goods is +greater than the money value represented by the workers wages when +they were produced. The labour contained in these "surplus-products" +is the source of profit, which has to be realised on the market +(in practice, of course, the value represented by these surplus-products +is distributed throughout all the commodities produced in the form of +profit - the difference between the cost price and the market price). + +This surplus is then used by the owners of capital for (a) investment, (b) +to pay themselves dividends on their stock, if any, and (c) to pay their +wage-slave drivers (i.e. executives and managers, who are sometimes +identical with owners) much higher salaries than workers. The surplus, +like the labour used to reproduce existing capital, is embodied in +the finished commodity and is realised once it is sold. This means that +workers do not receive the full value of their labour, since the surplus +appropriated by owners for investment, etc., represents value added by +labour; hence capitalism is based on exploitation. It is this +appropriation of wealth from the worker by the owner which +differentiates capitalism from the simple commodity production of +artisan and peasant economies. + +It is the nature of capitalism for this monopolisation of the worker's +product by others to exist. It is enshrined in "property rights" enforced +by either public or private states. A workers wage will always be less +than the wealth he or she produces. This unpaid labour is the source +of profits, which are used to increase capital, which in turn is used +to increase profits. + +At any given time, there is a given amount of unpaid labour in +circulation (ie available profits). This is either in the form of +unpaid goods or services. Each company tries to maximise its share of the +available total and if a company does realise an above average +share it means that some other companies recieve less than average. +The larger the company, the more likely that it will recieve +a larger share of the available surplus. The reasons for this will +be highlighted later, in the section on why the market becomes +dominated by big business. The important thing to note here +is that there is, at any given time, a given surplus of unpaid +labour (ie the available pool of profits) and that companies +compete to realise their share of it on the market. However, the +*source* of these profits do not lie in market, but in production. +You cannot buy what does not exist. + +As indicated above, production prices determine market prices. In any +company, wages determine a large percentage of the costs. Looking at +other costs (such as raw materials), again wages play a large role +in determining their price. Obviously the division of a commodity's +price into costs and profits is not fixed, which mean that prices +are the result of a complex interaction of wage levels and productivity. +The class struggle determines, within the limits of a given +situation, the degree of exploitation within a workplace and +industry and so the relative amount of money which goes to labour +(ie wages) and the company (profits). Therefore an increase +in wages may not drive up prices as it may reduce profits or +be tied to productivity, but this will have more widespread effects +as capital will move to other industries and countries in order to +improve profit rates, if this is required. Usually wage increases lag +behind productivity, (for example, during Thatcher's reign of freer markets, +productivity rose by 4.2%, 1.4% higher than the increase in real +earnings between 1980-88. Under Reagan, productivity increased by +3.3%, accompanied by a fall of 0.8% in real earnings. Remember, +though, these are averages and ignore often the massive differences +in wages between employees, eg the CEO of McDonalds and one of its +cleaners). + +The effects of increased capital investment is discussed below. + +* Why does the market become dominated by big business? + +The "free" market becomes dominated by a few firms, which results in +oligarchic competition and higher profits for the companies in question. This +is due to the ability to enter the market being reduced, as only other +established firms can afford the large capital investments needed to compete. +For people with little or no capital, entering competition is limited to new +markets, with low capital costs. Sadly, however, due to competition, these +markets become dominated by a few big firms as some fail and capital costs +increase. "Each time capital completes its cycle, the individual grows smaller +in proportion to it" [Josephine Guerts, Anarchy 41, page 48] + +Therefore, due to the nature of the market, certain firms receive +a bigger share of the available surplus value in the economy due to +their size. However, "it should not be concluded that oligopolies can +set prices as high as they like. If prices are set too high, dominant +firms from other industries would be tempted to move in and gain a +share of the exceptional returns. Small producers - using more expensive +materials or out-dated technologies - would be able to increase their +share of the market and make the competitive rate of profit or better." +[Elgar, op. cit., page 53] + +This form of competition results in big business having an unfair slice of +available profits, leading many small businessmen and member of the middle- +class to hate them (while trying to replace them!) and embracing idealogies +which promise to wipe them out. Hence we see that both idealogies of the +"radical" middle-class, libertarianism and fascism, attack big business +(either as "the socialism of big business" of "Libertarianism" or the +"International Plutocracy" of fascism). + +However, the tendency of markets to become dominated by a few big firms is an +obvious side effect of capitalism. In their drive to expand (which they must +do in order to survive) capitalists invest in new machinery in order to reduce +production costs (and so increase profits). This increases the productivity of +labour, so allowing wages to be also increased (but not by the same amount). +With the increasing ratio of capital to worker, the costs in starting a rival +firm prohibit all but other large firms from so doing. + +This would be the case under "anarcho" capitalism, with the other obvious +result that the market for private "defense" firms would also soon be run +by a few large companies, which however no one would be allowed to call +a "state" without being fired even though that's what it would be. + +* What causes the capitalist business cycle? + +Increased capital results in the individual worker being reduced to a small +cog in a big wheel. As indicated in section b.3 (Is capitalism based on +freedom?) increased capital investment results in increased control of the +worker by capital *plus* the transformation of the individual into "the mass +worker" who can be fired and replaced with little or no hassle. + +But where there is oppression, there is resistance; where there is authority, +there is the will to freedom. This means that capitalism is marked by a +continuous struggle between worker and boss at the point of production. It is +this struggle that determines wages, and so the prices of commodities on the +market. + +The common "Libertarian" myth which flows from the STV is that free market +capitalism will result in continuous boom as it is state control of credit and +money which is the problem. Let us assume, for a moment, that this is the case +(it is, in fact, not the case as will be highlighted). In the "boom economy" +of Libertarian dreams, there will be full employment. But in periods of full +employment, workers are in a very strong position as the "reserve army" of the +unemployed is low, thereby protecting wage levels and strengthening labour's +bargaining power. + +As Errico Malatesta said, if workers "succeed in getting what they demand, +they will be better off: they will earn more, work fewer hours and will have +more time and energy to reflect on things that matter to them, and will +immediately make greater demands and have greater needs... there exists no +natural law (law of wages) which determines what part of a worker's labour +should go to him [or her]... Wages, hours and other conditions of employment +are the result of the struggle between bosses and workers... Through struggle, +by resistance against the bosses, therefore, workers can up to a certain +point, prevent a worsening of their conditions as well as obtaining real +improvement" [Life and Ideas, p. 191-2]. + +If an industry or country experiences high unemployment workers will put up +with longer hours, worse conditions and new technology in order to remain in +work. This allows capital to extract a higher level of profit from those +workers, which, in turn signals other capitalists to invest in that area. As +investment increases, unemployment falls so workers are in a better position +and so resist capital's agenda, even going so far as to propose their own. As +workers power increases, profit rates decrease and capital moves, seeking more +profitable pastures, causing unemployment. And so the cycle continues. + +For an example, look at the crisis which ended post-war Keynesianism in the +early 1970's and paved the way for the "supply side" revolutions of Thatcher +and Reagan. This period was marked by calls for workers control while actual +post-tax real wages and productivity in advanced capitalist countries +increased at about the same rate from 1960 to 1968 (4%) but between 1968 to +1973, the former increased by an average of 4.5% compared to a productivity +rise of 3.4%. As a result, the share of profits in business output fell by +about 15% in that period. Every slump within capitalism has occurred when +workers have seen their living standards improve, not a coincidence. + +The Philips Curve, which indicates that inflation rises as employment falls is +also a strong indication of this relationship. Inflation is the result of +having more money in circulation than is needed for the sale of the various +commodities on the market. The reason *why* there is too much money in +circulation is that inflation is "an expression of inadequate profits +that must be offset by price and money policies... Under any +circumstances inflation spells the need for higher profits..."[Paul +Mattick, Economic Crisis and Crisis Theory, p.19]. It does this by making +labour cheaper as it reduces "the real wages of workers... [which] directly +benefits employers... [as] prices rise faster than wages, income that would +have gone to workers goes to business instead" [Brecher and Costello, Common +Sense for hard times, page 120]. + +Hence, from a consideration of the authority relations implicit in capitalism +and the nature of profit generation, a continual "boom" economy is an +impossibility simply because capitalism is driven by profit considerations. +With full employment, capital is weak, labour strong and working class +people are in a stronger position to fight for economic freedom - +self-management in the workplace and the community. + +However, even assuming that individuals can be totally happy in a capitalist +economy, willing to sell their freedom and creativity for a few extra pounds, +capitalism does have objective limits to its development. These limits are +discussed now. + +* Is state control of credit the cause of the business cycle? + +The rise of productivity means that profit is spread over an increasing number +of commodities, and still needs to be realised on the market. As wages lag +behind productivity, the demand for goods cannot meet the supply and so a glut +occurs on the market. This is caused by the fact that labour is not productive +enough to satisfy the profit needs of capital accumulation (which is the point +of production). Because not *enough* has been produced, capital cannot expand +at a rate which would allow full realisation of what *has been* produced. +As the profit rates fall, this leads to cost cutting in an attempt to +realise more profits. Production is cut back and workers laid off, which +leads to declining demand which makes it harder to realise profit on +the market, leading to more cost cutting until such time as profit levels +stablise at an acceptable level. The social costs of such cost cutting +is yet another "externality", to be bothered with only if it threatens +capitalist power and wealth. + +Hence, capitalism will suffer from a boom and bust cycle due to its nature as +capitalist profit production, even if we ignore the subjective revolt +against authority by workers explained before. It is this two way pressure +on profit rates, the subjective and objective, which cause the business +cycle and such economic problems as "stagflation". The question of state +manipulation of credit is of far lessor effect, being more related to +indirect profit generating activity such as ensuring a "natural" level +of unemployment to keep profits up, an acceptable level of inflation to +ensure increased profits and so forth. + +It is a fact, of course, that all crises have been preceded by a +speculatively-enhanced expansion of production and credit. This does not mean, +however, that overproduction results from speculation and the expansion of +credit. The expansion and contraction of credit is a mere symptom of the +periodic changes in the business cycle as the decline of profitability +contracts credit just as an increase enlarges it. But Libertarians confuse the +symptons for the disease. + +Where there is no profit to be had, credit will not be sought. While extension +of the credit system "can be a factor deferring crisis, the actual outbreak of +crisis makes it into an aggravating factor because of the larger amount of +capital that must be devalued" [Mattick, op cit, p.138]. But this is a problem +facing private companies, using the gold standard as "the expansion of +production or trade unaccompanied by an increase in the amount of money must +cause a fall in the price level... Token money was developed at an early date +to shelter trade from the enforced defaltions that accompanied the use of +specie when the volume of business swelled.... Specie is an inadequate money +just because it is a commodity and its amount cannot be increased at will. The +amount of gold available... [cannot be increased] by as many dozen [per cent] +within a few weeks, as might be required to carry out a sudden expansion of +transactions" [Polyani, The Great Transformation, p. 193]. + +Hence token money would increase and decrease in line with capitalist +profitablity, as predicted in Libertarian economic theory. But this could not +affect the business cycle which has its roots within production for capital +and capitalist authority relations and which the credit supply would obviously +be tied, and not vice versa. + +* Would laissez-faire reduce unemployment, as right libertarians claim? + +The right libertarian argument is that if workers are allowed to compete +'freely' among themselves for jobs then wages would increase and unemployment +would fall. State intervention (eg minimum wage laws, legal rights to +organise, etc.) according to this theory is the cause of unemployment, as +this forces wages above their market level, thus increasing production +costs and `forcing` employers to "let people go". According to neoliberal +economic theory, firms adjust production to bring the marginal cost of +their products (the cost of producing one more item) into equality with +the product's market-determined price. So a drop in costs theoretically +leads to an expansion in production, producing jobs for the "temporarily" +unemployed and moving the economy toward full-employment equilibrium. + +However, as David Schweickhart points out in _Against Capitalism_ +(Cambridge Univ. Press, 1993, pp. 106-107), this argument ignores the fact +that when wages decline, so does workers' purchasing power; and if this is +not offset by an increase in spending elsewhere, total demand will decline. + +The traditional neoliberal reply is that investment spending will increase +because lower costs will mean greater profits, leading to greater savings, +leading to greater investment. + +But lower costs will mean greater profits only if the products are sold, +which they might not be if demand is adversely affected. Moreover, as +Keynes pointed out long ago, the forces and motivations governing saving +are quite distinct from those governing investment. Hence there is no +necessity for the two quantities always to coincide. So firms that have +reduced wages may not be able to sell as much as before, let alone more. +In that case they will cut production, adding to unemployment and further +lowering demand. This can set off a vicious downward spiral of falling +demand and falling production leading to recession. + +As Schweickhart notes, such considerations undercut the neoliberal +contention that labor unions and minimum-wage laws are responsible for +unemployment. To the contrary, insofar as labor unions, mimimum-wage laws, +and various welfare provisions prevent demand from falling as low as it +might otherwise go during a slump, they apply a brake to the downward +spiral. Far from being responsible for unemployment, they actually +mitigate it. This is obvious as wages may be costs for some firms, but they +are revenue for even more. Taking the example of the USA, if miminum +wages caused unemployment, then why did the South Eastern states (with +a *lower* mimimum wage and weaker unions) have a *higher* unemployment +rate than North Western states? + +Moreover, it should be obvious merely from a glance at the history of +capitalism during its laissez-faire heyday in the 19th century that free +competition among workers for jobs does not lead to full employment. As +indicated above, full employment *cannot* be a fixed feature of capitalism +due to its authoritarian nature. + +* Will "free market" capitalism benefit everyone, *especially* the poor? + +Murray Rothbard and a host of other free marketeers make this claim. Again, it +does contain an element of truth. As capitalism is a "grow or die" economy, +obviously the amount of wealth available to society increases for *all*. So +the poor will be better *absolutely* in any growth economy. This was the case +under soviet state capitalism as well, the poorest worker in the 1980's was +obviously far better off economically than one in the 1920's. + +However, what counts is *relative* differences between classes and periods +within a growth economy. Given the thesis that free market capitalism will +benefit the poor *especially*, we have to ask the question, can all other +classes benefit as well? + +As noted above, wages are dependent on productivity, with increases in the +former lagging behind increases in the latter. If in a free market, the poor +"especially" benefit then we would have to see wages increase *faster* than +productivity if the worker is to see an increased share in social wealth. +However, if this was the case, the amount of profit going to the upper classes +would be proportionally smaller. Hence if capitalism especially benefits the +poor, it cannot do the same for those who life off the profit generated by the +worker. + +But, as indicated above, productivity *must* rise faster than wages, so +workers produce more profits for the company by producing more goods than they +would receive back in wages. Otherwise, profits fall and capital dis-invests. +To claim that all would benefit from a free market ignores the fact that +capitalism is a profit driven system and that for profits to exist, workers +cannot receive the full fruits of their labour. As Spooner noted over 100 +years ago, "almost all fortunes are made out of the capital and labour of +other men than those who realize them. Indeed, large fortunes could rarely be +made at all by one individual, except by his sponging capital and labour from +others" [Poverty: Its Illegal Cases and Legal Cure] + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001277.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001277.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7408674d --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001277.txt @@ -0,0 +1,231 @@ +Is "anarcho" capitalism against the state? + +by Iain MacSaorsa + +"Anarcho"-capitalism implies a class division of society into +bosses and workers, due to its support of private property. Any +such division will require a state to maintain it. However, it +need not be the same state as exists now. In so far as this goes, +"anarcho" capitalism plainly states that "defence associations" +would exist to protect property. For the "anarcho" capitalist, +these companies are not states. According to Rothbard [Nomos +XIX], a state must have one or both of the following +characteristics :- + +1) The ability to tax those who live within it. + +2) It asserts and usually obtains a coerced monopoly of the +provision of defence over a given area. + +Instead of this, the "anarcho"-capitalist thinks that people +should be able to select their own defense companies, which would +provide police, courts, etc. These associations would "all... +would have to abide by the basic law code" [op cit, p.206]. Thus +a "general libertarian law code" would govern the actions of +these companies. Like anything else under capitalism, this "law +code" would reflect supply and demand, particularly if "judges... +will prosper on the market in proportion to their reputation for +efficiency and impartiality" [Rothbard, op cit, p. 204]. + +It does not take much imagination to think who's interests +"prosperous" judges and defense companies would defend. Their +own, as well as those who pay their wages, other members of the +rich elite. If the system is based on $1, one vote, its easy to +see whose values the "law" would defend. The terms of ``free +agreements'' under such a law system would be titled in favour of +lenders over debtors, landlords over tenants, employers over +employees, in a way which is identical to the current system. As +would be expected in a system based on "absolute" property rights +and the free market. How the laws would actually be selected is +anyone's guess, although I would imagine most "anarcho"- +capitalists support the myth of "natural law", the authoritarian +implications of which are discussed in section X.X.X. In any +event, it would not be based on one person, one vote and so the +"general law" code would reflect invested interests and be very +hard to change, and so would not develop as society develops. + +In a free market, supply and demand would soon result in a legal +system which favoured the rich over the poor. As rights would be +like everything else, a commodity, they would soon reflect the +interest of the rich. + +However, some "anarcho" capitalists claim that just as cheaper +cars were developed to meet demand, so would defense associations +for the poor. This forgets a few key points, the general +"libertarian" law code would be applicable to all associations, +so they would have to operate within a system determined by the +power of money. Secondly, in a race between a jaguar and a mini, +who do you think will win? And lastly, as with any business, the +free market would soon result in a few companies dominating the +market as capital costs increase as the result of profit making +and competition. With obvious implications for "justice". + +The "anarcho" capitalist imagines that they will be police +agencies, "defence associations", courts and appeal courts all +organised on a free market basis and available for hire. As David +Wieck notes however, the major problems with such a system is not +the corruption of "private" courts and police forces (although +this is a problem) :- + +"There is something more serious than the "Mafia danger", and +this other problem concerns the role of such "defense" +institutions in a given social and economic context. + +"[The] context.... is one of a free-market economy with no +restraints upon accumulation of property. Now, we had an American +experience, roughly from the end of the Civil War to the 1930's, +in what were in effect private courts, private police, indeed +private governments. We had the experience of the (private) +Pinkerton police which, by its spies, by its *agents +provocateurs*, and by methods that included violence and +kidnapping, was one of the lost powerful tools of large +corporations and an instrument of oppression of working people. +We had the experience as well of the police forces established to +the same end, within corporations, by numerous companies... (The +automobile companies drew upon additional covert instruments of a +private nature, usually termed vigilante, such as the Black +Legion). These were in effect, and as such they were sometimes +described, private armies. The territories owned by coal +companies, which frequently included entire towns and their +environs, the stores the miners were obliged by economic coercion +to patronize, the houses they lived in, were commonly policed by +the private police of the United States Steel Corporation or +whatever company owned the properties. The chief practical +function of these police was, of course, to prevent labour +organisation and preserve a certain balance of "bargaining"." + +"These complexes were a law unto themselves, powerful enough to +ignore, when they did not purchase, the governments of various +jurisdictions of the American federal system. This industrial +system was, at the time, often characterised as feudalism....." + +Here we have one of the closest examples to the "ideal" of +"anarcho" capitalism, limited state intervention, free reign for +property owners, etc. What happened? The rich reduced the working +class to a serf-like existence, capitalist production undermined +what forms of independent producers that existed (much to the +annoyance of individualist anarchists at the time) and basically +produced the corporate america most "anarcho" capitalists say +they are against. + +The rise of Corporations within America indicates exactly how a +"general libertarian law code" would reflect the interests of the +rich and powerful. The laws recognising corporations were *not* a +product of "the state" but of the law system, something which +Rothbard has no problem with. As Howard Zinn notes, "the American +Bar Association, organised by lawyers accustomed to serving the +wealthy, began a national campaign of education to reverse the +[Supreme] Court decision [that companies could not be considered +as a person]... By 1886... the Supreme Court had accepted the +argument that corporations were "persons" and their money was +property protected by the process clause of the Fourteenth +Amendment... The justices of the Supreme Court were not simply +interpreters of the Constitution. They were men of certain +backgrounds, of certain [class] interests" [A People's History of +the United States, p. 255]. + +This would be the obvious result for "when private wealth is +uncontrolled, then a police-judicial complex enjoying a clientele +of wealthy corporations whose motto is self-interest is hardly an +innocuous social force controllable by the possibility of forming +or affiliating with competing "companies" [Weick, op cit, p225]. +Particularly if these companies are themselves Big Business, and +so with a large impact on the laws they are enforcing. + +Wieck's sums up by saying "any judicial system is going to exist +in the context of economic institutions. If there are gross +inequalities of power in the economic and social domains, one has +to imagine society as strangely compartmentalised in order to +believe that those inequalities will fail to reflect themselves +in the judicial and legal domain, and that the economically +powerful will be unable to manipulate the legal and judicial +system to their advantage. To abstract from such influences of +context, and then consider the merits of an abstract judicial +system... is to follow a method that is not likely to take us +far. This, by the way, is a criticism that applies ... to any +theory that relies on a rule of law to overrider the tendencies +inherent in a given social and economic system."[Weick, op cit] + +In evaluating "anarcho" capitalism's claim to be a form of +anarchism, Peter Marshall notes that "private protection agencies +would merely serve the interests of their paymasters" [Demanding +the Impossible, p. 653]. With the increase in private "defense +associations" under "really existing capitalism" which many +"anarcho" capitalists point to as examples of their ideas, we see +that this is the case. There have been many documented +experiences of protesters being badly beaten by private "security +guards". As far as market theory goes, the companies are only +supplying what the buyer is demanding. The rights of others is +*not a factor* (yet more externalities, obviously) . With the +reversion to "a general libertarian law code" enforced by private +companies, this form of "defense" of "absolute" property rights +can only increase, to levels which we have indicated above in +American history. + +It is clear from considering section C.1 (what is the state), +that the "anarcho"-capitalist defense associations meet the +criteria of state-hood. They defend property and authority +relationships, they exercise coercion and they are hierarchical +institutions which govern those under them for those who employ +them both. + +As far as even meeting its own definitions, "anarcho"-capitalism +runs into trouble. Under capitalism, most people send a large +part of their day on other people's property - namely they work +and/or live in rented accommodation. Hence, if property owners +select a "defense association", would this not appear as a +"coerced monopoly of the provision of defence over a given area"? +Even considering the "common law code", could this not be +considered a monopoly? Particularly if ordinary people have no +real means of affecting it (either it is market driven, and so +would be money determined, or it will be "natural" law and so +unchangeable by mere mortals). In addition, the costs for these +associations will be deducted from the wealth created by those +who use, but do not own, the property. Hence workers would pay +for the agencies that enforce their employers authority over +them, taxation in a different form. + +In effect, "anarcho"-capitalism has a *different* sort of state, +one in which bosses can fire the policeman. As Peter Sabatini +notes [Libertarianism: Bogus Anarchy], "Within Libertarianism, +Rothbard represents a minority perspective that actually argues +for the total elimination of the state. However Rothbard's claim +as an anarchist is quickly voided when it is shown that he only +wants an end to the public state. In its place he allows +countless private states, with each person supplying their own +police force, army, and law, or else purchasing these services +from capitalist vendors.[Murray N. Rothbard, "Society Without A +State", in Pennock and Chapman, eds., p. 192.] Rothbard has no +problem whatsoever with the amassing of wealth, therefore those +with more capital will inevitably have greater coercive force at +their disposal, just as they do now." + +As Peter Marshall again notes, "anarcho" capitalists "claim that +all would benefit from a free exchange on the market, it is by no +means certain; any unfettered market system would most likely +sponsor a reversion to an unequal society with defense +associations perpetuating exploitation and privilege" [Demanding +the Impossible, p. 565]. + +So it appears that "anarcho" capitalism would have laws, police, +armies and so forth. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? However, there +is one slight difference. Property owners would be able to select +between competing companies for their "services". Hence, +"anarcho" capitalism does not get rid of the state, it only +privatises it. + +Far from wanting to abolish the state, "anarcho" capitalists only +desire to privatise it. Their "companies" perform the same +service, for the same people, in the same manner. By being +employed by the boss, they only reinforce the totalitarian nature +of the capitalist firm by having the police being not even +slightly accountable to ordinary people. + +Therefore, far from being anarchists, "anarcho"-capitalism are +just capitalists who desire to see private states develop, states +which are strictly accountable to their pay masters without even +the sham of democracy we have today. Therefore, a far better name +for "anarcho"-capitalism would be "private state" capitalism, at +least that way you get a fairer idea of what they are trying to +sell you. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001278.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001278.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e1c56e19 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001278.txt @@ -0,0 +1,237 @@ +The Ideas of Lysander Spooner - Libertarian or libertarian socialist? + +by Iain MacSaorsa + +This article analyses Lysander Spooner's ideas and their +relationship to Libertarian capitalist ideas and libertarian +socialist (ie anarchist) ideas. It is partly based on my own +research and an article I found on a newsgroup. The article +included in this essay was originally posted by +an154754@anon.penet.fi. It ends with +the anonymous author asking :- + +"One wonders whether Spooner has written much on the +industrial revolution, already well under way during +his youth. In particular, what are his views on wage +labor and the employer-employee relationship?" + +In part answer to the question, Spooner was opposed to wage labour, +wanting that social relationship destroyed by turning capital +over to those who work in it, as associated producers and not +as wage slaves. Hence Spooner was *anti-capitalist*, prefering +to see a society of self-employed farmers, artisans and +cooperating workers, not a society of wage slaves and capitalists. +This can be clearly seen from the following quote :- + +"All the great establishments, of every kind, now in the hands of +a few proprietors, but employing a great number of wage laborers, would +be broken up; for few or no persons, who could hire capital and do +business for themselves would consent to labour for wages for another." +- Letter to Cleveland + +This shows that Spooner was opposed to capitalism, prefering an +artisan system based on simple commodity production, with capitalists +and wage slaves no more, being replaced by self-employed workers. + +Further highlighting his anti-capitalist ideas, is this quote +where he notes that under capitalism the labourer does not receive +"all the fruits of his own labour" as the capitalist lives off of +the workers "honest industry". + +"...almost all fortunes are made out of the capital and labour of other men +than those who realize them. Indeed, large fortunes could rarely be made +at all by one individual, except by his sponging capital and labor +from others." +- Poverty: Its illegal cases and legal cure. + +Thus Spooner believed that every person was entitled to "all the fruits +of his own labour" and so called for the end of wage labour (ie capitalism) +by ensuring workers owned their own means of production. This analysis +is backed up by various books that address Spooners ideas :- + +"Spooner envisioned a society of pre-industrial times in which small +property owners gathered together voluntarily and were assured by their +mutual honesty of full payment of their labour" +- The Black Flag of Anarchy, Corinne Jackson, p. 87 + +Spooner considered that "it was necessary that every man be his own +employer or work for himself in a direct way, since working for +another resulted in a portion being diverted to the employer. To +be one's own employer, it was necessary for one to have access to +one's own capital." +- Men Against the state, James J. Martin, p 173 + +Spooner "recommends that every man should be his own employer, and +he depicts an ideal society of independent farmers and entrepreneurs +who have access to easy credit. If every person received the fruits +of his own laboor, the just and equal distribution of wealth would +result" +- Demanding the Impossible, Peter Marshall, p 389. + +Hences its pretty clear that Spooner was against wage labour, and +so was no capitalist. I can but agree with Marshall who indicates +that Spooner was a *left* libertarian, with ideas very close to +Proudhon and mutualism. Whether these ideas are relevent now, +with the capital needed to start companies in established +sectors of the economy is another question. As is whether +a "free market" in credit would actually in practice lead +to near zero interest on loans as the banks would require +to make profits in order to compete and survive in the market +(ie get investment, survive competition, increase services, etc). + +But, as can be seen, Spooner was *anti* capitalist. Here is the +original article, where this theme is explored in greater depth. + + **** **** **** + + Having often heard numerous references to Lysander Spooner on the net +(but having never read him) it was with considerable interest that I read +Tim Starr's posting of Spooner's essay "No Treason", curiously labeled as +Part I, II, and IV (no Part III?.) + + Spooner has frequently been referred to as a Libertarian, an anarcho- +capitalist and a propertarian anarchist. I was thus interested in comparing +Spooner's ideas with those currently espoused on the net. + + Since the motivation for Spooner's essay was the Civil War (and +Spooner's particular outrage at the forced prevention of the Southern +Secession) much of the essay is thus devoted to the question of legitimacy +of government and the definition of treason. + + In fact, Spooner does not claim that governments are inherently +illegitimate but only that legitimate governments must be based on the +consent of every individual contributing to the maintenance of the +government. He thus demands that taxation be voluntary. From such a +position Spooner would seem to assume a minarchist viewpoint more akin +to the Libertarian than the anarcho-capitalist. + + Spooner makes frequent mention of the right of private property. In +addition, as a lawyer, Spooner naturally places considerable stock in +legalisms such as binding contracts. Indeed, Spooner devotes considerable +discussion to the concept of the Constitution as a contract. Spooner argues +that the Constitution may be considered a contract, but that it may only be +considered as binding upon those who actually demonstrated their consent +to its authority. He definitively rejects the legitimacy of the Constitution +as a contract binding on the *descendents* of the original signers: + +"Inasmuch as the Constitution was never signed, nor agreed to, by anybody, as +a contract, and therefore never bound anybody, and is now binding upon +nobody; and is, moreover, such an one as no people can ever hereafter be +expected to consent to, except as they may be forced to do so at the point of +the bayonet, it is perhaps of no importance what its true legal meaning, as a +contract, is. Nevertheless, the writer thinks it proper to say that, in his +opinion, the Constitution is no such instrument as it has generally been +assumed to be; but that by false interpretations, and naked usurpations, the +government has been made in practice a very widely, and almost wholly, +different thing from what the Constitution itself purports to authorize." + + In the above Spooner reads more or less like a Libertarian. What is +more interesting is his departures from the Libertarian position, and +these are rather radical. + + Spooner first seems to view the profit motive with considerably more +skepticism than modern Libertarians. Bankers, particularly the Rothschilds, +evoke scathing criticism. Spooner writes: + + "The Rothschilds, and that class of money-lenders of whom they are the +representatives and agents -- men who never think of lending a shilling to +their next-door neighbors, for purposes of honest industry, unless upon the +most ample security, and at the highest rate of interest -- stand ready, at +all times, to lend money in unlimited amounts to those robbers and murderers, +who call themselves governments ... The question of making these loans is, +with these lenders, a mere question of pecuniary profit. They lend money to +be expended in robbing, enslaving, and murdering their fellow men, solely +because, on the whole, such loans pay better than any others." + + Spooner seems to suggest that the promotion of "honest industry" and not +mere "pecuniary profit" should be the underlying principle of money lending +(and, presumably, of all economic activity.) Evidently *how* one makes money +matters to Spooner. Such consideration is not necessary in Libertarian +ideology since all economic activity is viewed as wealth-creating and as +an inherently positive-sum game. + + Spooner also seems to place a good deal of emphasis on the importance +of human relations in economic decision making, suggesting that loans to +one's "next-door neighbors" should be on more generous terms. This *social* +context for economic decision making seems foreign to current Libertarian +ideology. + + Spooner's further criticisms of the Rothschilds depart even more strongly +from most Libertarian positions. In particular, Spooner believes that sheer +wealth has intrinsic power. Even to such an extent as to force governments +to behave at the behest of the wealthy, e.g., + +"Thus it is evident that all these men, who call themselves by the high-sounding +names of Emperors, Kings, Sovereigns, ... are intrinsically not only the +merest miscreants and wretches, engaged solely in plundering, enslaving, and +murdering their fellow men, but that they are also the merest hangers on, the +servile, obsequious, fawning dependents and tools of these blood-money +loan-mongers, on whom they rely for the means to carry on their crimes. These +loan-mongers, like the Rothschilds, laugh in their sleeves, and say to +themselves: These despicable creatures, who call themselves emperors, and +kings, and majesties, ... all these miscreants and imposters know that we make +them, and use them; that in us they live, move, and have their being; that +we require them (as the price of their positions) to take upon themselves all +the labor, all the danger, and all the odium of all the crimes they commit +for our profit; and that we will unmake them, strip them of their gewgaws, +and send them out into the world as beggars, or give them over to the +vengeance of the people they have enslaved, the moment they refuse to commit +any crime we require of them, or to pay over to us such share of the proceeds +of their robberies as we see fit to demand." + + The concept of government as the servant of the wealthy is not a common +one among Libertarians. If one admits that wealth has power and may be used +in such a Machiavellian manner as Spooner claims, then simple opposition to +the State is not sufficient. Logically, any ideology claiming to promote +liberty should then also seek to limit or abolish the institutions from +which the innate power of wealth derives. This is one of the fundamental +differences between Libertarian and Socialist programs of political action. + + Spooner's criticism of money lenders is not limited to the Rothschilds nor +his criticism of government to the crowned heads of Europe. He applies the +same to the US: + + "Perhaps the facts were never made more evident, in any country on the globe, +than in our own, that these soulless blood-money loan-mongers are the real +rulers; that they rule from the most sordid and mercenary motives; that the +ostensible government, the presidents, senators, and representatives, so +called, are merely their tools; and that no ideas of, or regard for, justice +or liberty had anything to do in inducing them to lend their money for the +war [i.e, the Civil War]." + + Spooner then continues with an analysis of the motives of the Civil War. +Spooner claims that the motives for the War were control of Southern markets +with slavery a mere pretext. Here Spooner's commentary closely parallels +modern critics of economic imperialism, e.g. Noam Chomsky. + +"In short, the North said to the slave-holders: If you will not pay us our +price (give us control of your markets) for our assistance against your slaves, +we will secure the same price (keep control of your markets) by helping your +slaves against you, and using them as our tools for maintaining dominion over +you; for the control of your markets we will have, whether the tools we use +for that purpose be black or white, and be the cost, in blood and money, what +it may." + + In general, Spooner seems to view militarism in a highly unfavorable manner: + + "When these emperors and kings, so-called, have obtained their loans, they +proceed to hire and train immense numbers of professional murderers, called +soldiers, and employ them in shooting down all who resist their demands for +money." + + By referring to soldiers as "murderers" Spooner would seem to call into +question the legitimacy of coercive force itself. Not simply insofar as it's +used by a government. Spooner seems leery of the potential of a military +force to behave in an oppressive fashion. The following comment makes one +wonder how Spooner would regard anarcho-capitalist protection firms: + + "Any number of scoundrels, having money enough to start with, can +establish themselves as a "government"; because, with money, they can hire +soldiers, and with soldiers extort more money; and also compel general +obedience to their will." + + In summary, Spooner's ideas seem to fall somewhere between those of +modern Libertarians and Socialists. One wonders whether Spooner has +written much on the industrial revolution, already well under way during +his youth. In particular, what are his views on wage labor and the +employer-employee relationship? diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001279.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001279.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0e5c0ce8 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001279.txt @@ -0,0 +1,156 @@ +Ecology or "anarcho" capitalism + +by + +Iain MacSaorsa + +* Can "absolute" private property rights protect the environment? + +According to Libertarians, only private property can protect the +environment. Rothbard claims that "if private firms were able to +own the rivers and lakes... anyone dumping garbage... would +promptly be sued in the courts for their aggression against +private property... Thus, only private property rights will insure +an end to pollution-invasion of resources" [Rothbard, For a New +Liberty, page 256]. + +This ignores one major point, why *would* the private owner be +interested in keeping it clean? Why not just assume that the +company makes more money turing the lakes and rivers into a +dumping site, or trees into junk mail. Its no less plausible, +in fact more likely to happen in many cases. Its just another +example of Libertarianism's attempt to give the reader what +he or she whats to hear. + +But, of course, the Libertarian will jump in and say that if +dumping was allowed, this would cause pollution which would +affect others, who would sue the owner in question. Maybe, is +the answer to that. What if the locals are slum dwellers +and cannot afford to sue, or if they are afraid that their +land-lords will evict them if they do so (particularly if +they also own the polluting property in question)? + +But, beyond these points lies the most important one. Namely, +is the option to sue about pollution *really* available in the +free market? Rothbard thinks it is. Taking the case of factory +smoke in the 19th Century, he notes that it and "many of its bad +effects have been known since the Industrial Revolution, known +to the extent that the American courts, during the... nineteenth +century made the deliberate decision to allow property rights +to be violated by industrial smoke. To do so, the courts had +to -and did- systematically change and weaken the defences +of property rights embedded in Anglo-Saxon common law... +the courts systematically altered the law of negligence and +the law of nuisance to *permit* any air pollution which +was not unusually greater than any similar manufacturing firm" +[Rothbard, op cit, page 257]. + +In this remarkably self-contradictory passage, we are invited to +draw the conclusion that private property *must* provide the +solution to the pollution problem from an account of how it +clearly did *not* do so! If the nineteenth century USA - which +for many Libertarian's is a kind of "golden era" of free market +capitalism - saw a move from an initial situation of well +defended property rights to a later situation were greater +pollution was tolerated, as Rothbard claims, then property +rights cannot provide a solution to the pollution problem. + +It is, of course, likely that Rothbard and other "Libertarians" +will claim that the system was not pure enough, that the +courts were motivated to act under pressure from the state +(which in turn was pressured by powerful industrialists). But +can it be purified by just removing the government and placing +courts into a free market? The pressure from the industrialists +remains, if not increases, on the privately-owned courts trying +to make a living on the market. + +The characteristically Libertarian argument that if X was +privately owned, Y would almost certainly occur, is just +wishful thinking. + + +From cllv13@ccsun.strath.ac.uk Thu Oct 19 15:28:23 1995 +Return-Path: +Delivery-Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 15:28:22 +0100 +Received: from ness.cc.strath.ac.uk by harris.cc.strath.ac.uk with SMTP (PP); + Thu, 19 Oct 1995 15:26:37 +0100 +Received: by ness.cc.strath.ac.uk (5.x) id AA05393; + Thu, 19 Oct 1995 15:25:15 +0100 +Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 15:25:15 +0100 +From: cllv13 +Message-Id: <9510191425.AA05393@ness.cc.strath.ac.uk> +To: cllv13@ccsun.strath.ac.uk, anflood@macollamh.ucd.ie, + jamal@bronze.lcs.mit.edu, z429701@cts.com, mhuben@world.std.com +Subject: RLF - more pollution stuff +X-Sun-Charset: US-ASCII +Content-Length: 3307 +X-Lines: 67 +Status: RO + +Hi all + +this is an addition to my early post on libertarianism +and pollution. It indicates why sueing to defend "absolute" +property rights may not be a viable option in "economic +freedom" and is highly unlikely to stop pollution. + +Feel free to make suggestions, change bits + +bcnu + +Iain + + +* Does economic power affect pollution controls? + +The last section notes that wealth can affect how environmental +and other externalities are delt with in a capitalist system. This +critique, however, ignores other important factors in society, such as +the mobility of capital and economic power. These are important weapons +in ensuring that the agenda of business is untroubled by social +concerns, such as pollution. + +Let us assume that a company is polluting a local area. It is usually +the case that capitalist owners rarely live near to the workplaces +they own, unlike workers and their families. This means that +the decision makers do not have to live with the consequences +of their decisions. The right libertarian argument would be that +those affected by the pollution would sue the company. We will assume +that concentrations of wealth have little or no effect on the social +system (which is a *highly* unlikely assumption, but nevermind). +Surely, if local people did sue, the company would be harmed +economically - directly, in terms of costs, indirectly in terms +of new, eco-friendly processes. Hence the company would be handicapped +in competition and this would have obvious knock-on effects for the +local (and wider) economy. + +Also, if the company was sued, it could just up and move to an +area which would tolerate the pollution. Not only would existing +capital move, but fresh capital would not invest in an area +where people stand up for their rights. This, the natural result +of economic power, would be a "big stick" over the heads of the +local community and when combined with the costs and difficulties +in taking a large company to court would make sueing an unlikely +option for most people. That this would happen can be seen +from history, where multi-national have moved production to countries +with little or no polluation laws and court cases take years, if +not decades, to process. + +Of course, in a "libertarian" society companies which gather lists +of known "trouble-makers" would be given free reign. These "black-lists" +of people who could cause companies "trouble" (ie by union organising +or sueing employers over "property rights" issues) would often ensure +employee "loyality", particularly if new jobs need references. Under +wage labour, if you cause your employer "problems", your position +can become difficult - being black-listed will mean no job, no wages, +and little chance of being re-employed. Continually sueing in defense +of your "absolute" property rights would soon fall into this +category (assuming, of course, you could afford the time and +money). Hence a working class person would be a weak position to +defend their "absolute" rights in "libertarian" capitalism due +to the power of employers within and without the workplace. + +All these are strong incentives *not* to rock the boat, particularly if +employees have signed a contract which ensured that they would be +fired if they discussed company business with others (e.g. lawyers, unions). + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001280.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001280.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a1823ea5 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001280.txt @@ -0,0 +1,113 @@ +Chile, capitalism and liberty for the rich + +by Iain MacSaorsa + +* Doesn't Chile prove that the free market benefits everyone? + +This is a common Libertarian argument. Milton Friedman stated that +Pinochet "has supported a fully free-market economy as a matter of +principle. Chile is an economic miracle" [Newsweek, Jan, 1982]. +We will ignore the obvious contradiction, ie why it always takes +authoritarian/fascistic states to introduce "economic liberty", +and concentrate on the economics facts of the free market capitalism +imposed on the Chilean people. + +Working on the believe in the efficiency and fairness of the free +market, Pinochet desired to put the laws of supply and demand back +to work, and set out to reduce the role of the state and also cut back +inflation. He, and "the Chicago Boys" - a group of free market economists- +thought what had restricted Chile's growth was government intervention +in the economy -- which reduced competition, artificially increased +wages, and led to inflation. The ultimation goal, Pinochet once said, +was to make Chile `a nation of entrepreneurs'. + +The actual results were far less than the "miracle" claimed by Friedman +and a host of other "Libertarians". In per capita terms, the GDP only +increased by 1.5% per year between 1974-80. This was considerable less +than the 2.3% achieved in the 1960's. The average growth in GDP was +1.5% per year, which was lower than the average Latin American growth +rate of 4.3% and lower than the 4.5% of Chile in the 1960's. Between +1970 and 1980, per capita GDP grew by only 8%, while for Latin America, +it increased by 40%. [Not so Free to Choose, Elton Rayack] By the end +of 1986 Gross Domestic Product per capita barely equaled that of 1970. +[The Pinochet Regime (pages 137-138, "Modern Latin America", +Second Edition, by Thomas Skidmore and Peter Smith, +Oxford University Press, 1989)] + +The Pinochet regime *did* reduce inflation, from around 500% at the +time of the coup, to 10% by 1982. From 1983 to 87, it fluctuated +between 20 and 31%. The advent of the "free market" lead to +reduced barriers to imports "on the ground the quotas and tariffs +protected inefficient industries and kept prices artificially high. +The result was that many local firms lost out to multinational +corporations. The Chilean business community, which strongly +supported the coup in 1973, was badly affected." +[The Pinochet Regime, op. cit.] + +Which was part of the reasonm why Pinochet had to go. However, by +far the hardest group hit was the working class, particularly the +urban working class. By 1976, the third year of Junta rule, real +wages had fallen to 35% below their 1970 level. It was only by +1981 that they has risen to 97.3% of the 1970 level, only to +fall again to 86.7% by 1983. Unemployment, excluding those on +state make-work programmes, was 14.8% in 1976, falling to 11.8% +by 1980 (this is still double the average 1960's level) only +to rise to 20.3% by 1982. [Rayack, op cit]. Unemployment (including +those on government make-work programs) had risen to a third of the +labor force by mid-1983. By 1986, per capita consumption was +actually 11% lower than the 1970 level. [The Pinochet regime, op. cit.] + +The decline of domestic industry had cost thousands of better paying +jobs. The ready police repression made strikes both impractical and +dangerous. + +One consequence of these neoliberal monetarist policies "was a +contraction of demand, since workers and their families could afford +to purchase fewer goods. The reduction in the market further threatened +the business community, which started producing more goods for export +and less for local consumption. This posed yet another obstacle to +economic growth and led to increased concentration of income and +wealth in the hands of a small elite." [The Pinochet regime, op. cit.] + +The number of poor under Allende was million, by 1992, it was +seven million. + +For all but the small elite at the top, the Pinochet regime of +"economic liberty" was a nightmare. Economic "liberty" only +seemed to benefit one group in society, an obvious "miracle". +The ironic thing is that many "libertarians" point to it as +an example of the benefits of the free market. + +* But didn't Pinochet's Chile prove that "economic freedom is an +indispensable means toward the achievement of political freedom"? + +Pincohet did introduce free market capitalism, but this is only +real liberty for the rich. For the working class, "economic liberty" +did not exist as they did not manage their own work nor control +their workplaces and lived under a fascist state. + +As far as political liberty goes, it was only re-introduced once +it was certain that it was not usable by ordinary people. As +Cathy Scheider notes, "economic liberty" resulted in most +Chileans having "little contact with other workers or with their +neighbours, and only limited time with their family. Their +exposure to political or labour organisations is minimal... they +lack either political the resources or the disposition to confront +the state. The fragmentation of opposition communities has +accomplished what brute military repression could not. It has +transformed Chile, both culturally and politically, from a +country of active participatory grassroots communities, to a +land of disconnected, apolitical individuals. The cumulative +impact of this change is usch that we are unlikely to see any +concerted challenge to the current idealogy in the near future". +[Report on the Americas (NACLA) XXVI, 4/4/93] + +In such circumstances, political liberty can be re-introduced +as on one is in a position to effectively use it. In addition, +the fact that challenging the state in the past resulted in +a fascist dictatorship which murdered 30 000 people as well as +repeated and persistent violations of human rights by the juta, +would also have a strong negative impact for people using political +liberty to actually *change* the status quo in ways that the +military and economic elites did not approve of. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001281.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001281.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e9605e16 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001281.txt @@ -0,0 +1,86 @@ +Benjamin Tucker - Anarchist or capitalist? + +by Gary Elkin + +Benjamin Tucker was against "capitalism" in the sense of a State-supported +monopoly of productive tools and equipment which allows owners to avoid +paying workers the full value of their labor. This stance puts him +squarely in the libertarian socialist tradition. + +Indeed, Tucker referred to himself many times as a socialist. It's true +that he sometimes railed against "socialism," but in those cases it is +clear that he was referring to *State* socialism. He also made it clear +that he is against private property and so supported Proudhon's idea +of "property is theft" and even translated Proudhon's "What is Property?" +where that phrase originated. Tucker advocated *possession* but not +private property, believing that empty land, houses, etc. should be squatted. +He considered private property in land use (which he called the "land +monopoly") as one of the four great evils of capitalism. According to +Tucker, "the land monopoly... consists in the enforcement by government +of land titles which do not rest upon personal occupacy and cultivation... +the individual should no longer be protected by their fellows in anything +but personal occupation and cultivation of land" [the anarchist reader, p150]. +In this his views are directly opposed to those of right libertarians like +Murray Rothbard, who advocate "absolute" property rights which are protected +by laws enforced either by a "nightwatchman State" or private security forces. + +Tucker believed that bankers' monopoly of the power to create credit and +currency is the lynchpin of capitalism Although he thought that all forms +of monopoly are detrimental to society, he maintained that the banking +monopoly is the worst form since it is the root from which both the +industrial-capitalist and landlordist monopolies grow and without which +they would wither and die. For if credit were not monopolized, its price +(i.e. interest rates) would be much lower, which in turn would drastically +lower the price of capital goods, land, and buildings -- expensive items +that generally cannot be purchased without access to credit. The freedom +to squat empty land and buildings would, in the absence of a State to +protect titles, complete the process of reducing rents toward zero. + +Following Proudhon, Tucker argued that if any group of people could legally +form a "mutual bank" and issue credit based on any form of collateral they +saw fit to accept, the price of credit would fall to the labor cost of the +paperwork involved in issuing and keeping track of it. He claimed that +banking statistics show this cost to be less than one percent of principal, +and hence, that a one-time service fee which covers this cost and no more +is the only _non-usurious_ charge a bank can make for extending credit. +This charge should not be called "interest," since it is non-exploitative. + +Tucker believed that under mutual banking, capitalists' ability to extact +exorbitant fees from workers for the use of expensive tools and equipment +would be eliminated, because workers would be able to obtain zero-interest +credit and use it to buy their own tools and equipment instead of "renting" +them from capitalists. Easy access to mutual credit would result in a +huge increase in the purchase of capital goods, creating a huge demand for +labor which in turn would greatly increase employees' bargaining power and +thus raise their wages toward equivalence with the value-added produced by +their labor. + +Tucker's ideal society is therefore one of small entrepreneurs and +independent contractors. Between those who possess capital equipment and +those with whom they contract to use the equipment, he envisions a +non-exploitative relationship in which value-added would be equitably +distributed between them. + +It's important to note that because of Tucker's proposal to increase the +bargaining power of workers through access to mutual credit, his so-called +Individualist anarchism is not only compatible with workers' control but +would in fact promote it. For if access to mutual credit were to increase +the bargaining power of workers to the extent that Tucker claimed it would, +they would then be able to (1) demand and get workplace democracy, and (2) +pool their credit buy and own companies collectively. This would +eliminate the top-down structure of the firm and the ability of owners to +pay themselves unfairly large salaries. Thus the logical consequence of +Tucker's proposals would be a system functionally equivalent in most +respects to the kind of system advocated by left libertarians. + +Tucker's system does retain some features of capitalism, such as +competition between firms in a "free market." However, markets are only a +necessary condition of capitalism, not a sufficient condition. There can +also be a "free market" under socialism, though it would be of a different +nature. The fundamental anarchist objection to capitalism is not that it +involves markets but that it involves private property and wage slavery. +Tucker's system would eliminate both, which is why he called himself a +socialist. Thus Tucker is clearly a left libertarian rather than a +forefather of right libertarianism. In this he comes close to what today +would be called a "market socialist," albeit a non-statist variety. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001282.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001282.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7c5c1e39 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001282.txt @@ -0,0 +1,73 @@ +Capitalism, Right Libertarianism and the problem of "externalities?" + +by Gary Elkin + +Right libertarians have great difficulty in dealing with the problem of +"externalities": that is, harmful environmental effects (e.g. pollution, +global warming, ozone depletion, destruction of wildlife habitat) not +counted as "costs of production" in standard methods of accounting. Such +costs must be born by everyone in the society who is affected by them, and +not only by the capitalists who produce them; hence it is possible for +capitalist to ignore such effects when planning future production. But +this means that such effects *will* be ignored, since competition forces +firms to cut as many costs as possible and concentrate on short-term +profits. + +Right libertarians typically address the problem of externalities by +calling for public education which will raise people's awareness of +ecological problems to the point where there will be enough demand for +environment-friendly technologies and products that they will be +profitable. + +This argument, however, ignores two crucially important facts: (1) that +environment-friendly technologies and products *by themselves* are not +enough to avert ecological disaster so long as capitalism retains its need +for high growth rates (which it will retain because this need is inherent +in the system); and (2) that in a right-libertarian world in which private +property is protected by a "night-watchman State" or private security +forces, a wealthy capitalist elite will still control education, as it does +now -- and this because education is an essential indoctrination tool of +the capitalist elite, needed to promote capitalist values and train a large +population of future wage-slaves in proper habits of obedience to +authority. For this reason, capitalists cannot afford to lose control of +the educational system, no matter how much it costs them to maintain +competitive schools. And this means that such schools will not teach +students what is really necessary to avoid ecological disaster: namely, +the dismantling of capitalism itself. + +Another ecological problem that right libertarians cannot deal with +satisfactorily is that capitalist firms *must* be committed to short-term +profitability rather than long-term environmental responsibility in order +to survive economically in the competitive market . + +Here's an example: Suppose there are 3 automobile companies, X, Y, and Z, +which are competitive (not conspiring to fix prices) and which exist in a +right-libertarian society where there is no democratic community control +over the economy. Then suppose that company X invests in the project of +developing a non-polluting car within ten years. At the same time its +competitors, Y and Z, will be putting their resources into increasing +profits and market share in the coming days and months and over the next +year. During that period, company X will be out of luck, for it will not +be able to attract enough capital from investors to carry out its plans, +since investment will flock to the companies that are most immediately +profitable. + +The right libertarian may respond by arguing that business leaders are as +able to see long-term negative environmental effects as the rest of us. +But this is to misunderstand the nature of the objection. It is not that +business leaders *as individuals* are any less able to see what's happening +to the environment. It is that if they want to keep their jobs they have +to do what the system requires, which is to concentrate on what is most +profitable in the short term. Thus if the president of company X has a +mystical experience of oneness with nature and starts diverting profits +into pollution control while the presidents of Y and Z continue with +business as usual, the stockholders of company X will get a new president +who is willing to focus on short-term profits like Y and Z. + +In general, then, if one company tries to devote resources to develop +products or processes that will save the environment, they will simply be +undercut by other companies which are not doing so, and hence they won't be +competitive in the market. In other words, capitalism has a built-in bias +toward short-term gain, and this bias -- along with a built-in need for +rapid growth -- means the planet will continue its free-fall toward +ecological disaster so long as capitalism remains in place. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001284.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001284.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..728fd7ea --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001284.txt @@ -0,0 +1,78 @@ +Liberals are Scared of Revolution +by Sunfrog +(all apologies to The Last Poets) + +Liberals are scared of revolution +But liberals wish they were revolutionary +Because revolution is all about change +And liberalism likes to change +Liberals vote Democrat to change the system +They change from Pepsi to Coke, Bush to Clinton, +warfare to welfare, right to life to abortion rights +Liberals change the face in power but power +still dominates even if white folks sing +``Fight the Power'' or +``The Times They-Are-A-Changin''' +like some Bob Dylan flashback +When it comes to truly radical change +Liberals are scared of revolution + +Liberals are liars & Woodstock tie-dyers +Liberals lie & cry when someone dies +Liberals loved Martin & Bob Kennedy +Donate to charity, think they're a rarity +But when it comes time to donate to revolution +Liberals say ``I gave at the office'' +They like co-ops with bosses +Liberals are scared of revolution + +Liberals are hypocritical, hyper-critical +only like revolt when it's hypothetical +Liberals love politics, liberals love politicians +Liberals love to lobby, write their congressman, +sign petitions, wear a t-shirt, buy a bumper sticker, +let their candle flicker +Liberals love democracy, Liberals love politics +But when we talk about the politics of everyday life +the politics of desire, the politics of liberation +Liberals say ``Don't be so political'' +Liberals are scared of revolution + +Liberals protest, Liberals carry a sign, +love to complain, drive to D.C., say ``listen to me'' +Liberals protest war by shouting ``We Support Our Troops'' +Liberals protest the homophobic military by partying on battleships +& insisting that queers are qualified to kill the enemies of the empire +Liberals march to remember the drag queens of Stonewall but +excluded bisexuals & transgendered people from the name on the +banner +Stonewall was a riot but liberals want a riotous good time +assimilating & selling out +Liberals are scared of revolution + +Liberals are givers; Liberals love to give +Liberals give money to the ACLU, NAACP, NOW, Greenpeace & the +Sierra Club +Liberals give speeches, liberals give their kids trips to the beaches +Liberals love to give you a piece of their mind +Liberals love to give advice +Liberals give lip service to workers & poor +but when it comes to give spare change to revolution +Liberals are scared of revolution + +Liberals are leaders are leaders are leaders +They love to lead the sing-a-long +But they'll never join the throng +Liberals love to hear Tracy Chapman +sing ``Talkin' about a Revolution'' +But they don't love revolution +Yet I was born a Liberal +Liberals are me +I love the libertartian impulse in Liberals +as they talk about the concept of freedom +But there is one thing about liberals I do not love: +Liberals are scared of revolution ? + +Editor's Note: If you liked this poem then you'll want to check out +Babyfish ...Lost Its Momma , which contains other work by the same +author. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001290.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001290.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2bd329ec --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001290.txt @@ -0,0 +1,181 @@ +@NET UPDATE +----------- + +31st July, 1995. + + +Hi! + +It's been a good few months since i've done an @net Update. I did a couple +towards the end of last year, but there hasn't been anything since then. +I think it's about time to circulate a bit of information around about what's +going on at the moment as there doesn't seem to be any effective way for it +to happen of its own accord. + +I'm circulating this initially to individuals and groups around the world +who i've had personal contact with, who are working together or independently +on building a network of public access anarchist BBSs and who have internet +email addresses. I see a distinction between working on the "virtual" +network, which exists within the internet and includes things like Spunk +press, the Anarchy-list etc and working on a publicly accessible network, +which may or may not use Internet for its internal communication. By +"publicly accessible", i mean accessible to people who don't already have +internet access and maybe don't even have computers of their own. + +I thought about emailing everyone involved and asking for reports, but that +would take a while and while i'm at it i might as well spread a bit of +information. If anyone wants to mail me a report of what's happening in +their part of the world for consumption by other people working on the same +thing, please do and i'll circulate it. At the moment, i'm working on +organizing an internet mailing list which will make this exchange of +information easier and get me out of the situation of being in the middle. +Then everyone involved and interested can keep each other up to date with +what they're doing and we can work together towards a larger anarchist +computer network. However, as that's not happening right now, here's what i +know of what's going on so far. + +* * * + +The @net started in Melbourne, Australia, with an anarchist BBS called +"The Xchange". This began as a dial-in bbs with no network links, in early +1993. It eventually developed rather dodgy networking with a fido protocol +feed from a neighbouring BBS. Late last year, it became an internet email +and usenet node, xchange.apana.org.au, with a UUCP feed from APANA, the +Australian Public Access Network Association, using Waffle bbs software. At +the moment, it has no Fido networking happening and may never have again. + +Contact: compcoll@xchange.apana.org.au + +A couple of months before the Xchange got internet linked, in about September +1994, Byteback BBS began in Brisbane, Australia, operating from Holus Bolus +Anarchist Bookshop. It had a dial-in line and could be also be used by people +coming into the shop. It also used Waffle and had a UUCP feed from APANA. Its +address is byteback.apana.org.au . Sadly, Holus Bolus closed down at the end +of July, leaving Byteback homeless and without its dial-in line. However, +it's still running and is available to the anarchist movement in Brisbane. +It's also being upgraded to run Linux software, which should make it much +better. + +contact: sysop@byteback.apana.org.au + +Sometime in 1995, The Media Room started up in Sydney, Australia. This is +an anarchist collective, working on various aspects of media and originally +based at the back of Jura Anarchist Bookshop. They eventually developed +internet links and are now running their own node, lyst.apana.org.au , using +Waffle for their UUCP feed from Apana. They have moved from Jura and are now +based at Black Rose anarchist bookshop. + +contact: cat@lyst.apana.org.au + +Jura books have started up their own project called Jura Media and have their +own node: chaos.apana.org.au . + +* * * + +In Italy, ECN (European Counter Network) are developing internet links with +their fido-protocol bbs network. Here's the text of their World-Wide Web +homepage. + + + + http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/ecn + + + + _________________________________________________________________ + + EUROPEAN COUNTER NETWORK + + + _________________________________________________________________ + + [IMAGE] + _________________________________________________________________ + + The European Counter Network has nine nodes in Italy, based in the + following cities: Asti, Bologna, Brescia, Florence, Milan, Monselice, + Padova, and Rome. + + A non-profit network dedicated first and foremost to broadening + political debate and providing counter-information, the E.C.N. has + file and conference areas devoted to a number of important social + themes, including gender politics, AIDS, drugs, current struggles, the + centri sociali and workplace politics. The network's most important + facet is its NEWS file area, which in recent years has become a + central source for information about the activities and debates + amongst the various strands of Italy's 'self-organized' left. + + The E.C.N. was born in 1989 as a Europe-wide project involving + Italian, British, German and Dutch comrades. Since that time, + financial difficulties have had the unfortunate effect of loosening + these international links, leaving the network to develop primarily + within each of the countries concerned. + Today, with the Internet becoming easily accessible to more and more + people, less haphazard links between the various European components + of the ECN (e.g. the ECN-UK) are once again on the agenda. + + In the meantime, the Italian ECN has established close links with the + xchange BBS in Melbourne, Australia. Part of that country's small + but growing anarchist computer network (@net), xchange mirrors most + of the public messages broadcast on the Padova node. The two BBS also + jointly produce a regular English-language electronic newsletter which + summarises these postings, along with a full translation of one or two + longer documents from Italy's 'self-organised' left. The latest + edition of Italian COUNTERINFO can be found at the Mid-Atlantic + Infoshop Home Page (for a free subscription to this e-zine, contact: + pmargin@xchange.apana.org.au). + + The E.C.N.'s Internet connection is currently in an experimental + phase, testing out basic services such as the distribution of + documents through a listserver, and a number of simple WWW info-pages + like this one. Any comments or suggestions can be forwarded to + hobo@freenet.hut.fi. + +* * * + +and here's a bit of information. + +>------------------------------------------------------------------------- +>ECN Bologna (European Counter Network) +>modem 051-520986 - Controinformazione +>da centri sociali - bbs e reti telematiche antagoniste +>- radio libere - riviste - giornali - centri di documentazione +>- cani sciolti - in linea 24/h/giorno +>e-mail fam0393@iperbole.bologna.it +>http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/ecn/ecnbo.htm +>------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +* * * + +In Catalunya, El Lokal in Barcelona have started up a bbs called LLIURE, +i'm afraid i've mislaid (in other words, accidentally deleted!) the +information i had about this. Lliure is a fido-protocol bbs, with a lot +of text files and some communications software available. They don't as +yet have internet links, but can be contacted at ellokal@pangea.upc.es . + + +* * * + +ECN London, who produce the paper Contraflow, are currently working on +setting up an internet link of some sort. Hopefully this will be working +within a few weeks. + +contact: for the time being, i can pass on msgs. + +Fast Breeder anarchist bbs, which used to operate in London has unfortunately +folded due mainly to only having one person running it. + +* * * + +In Sweden there's an anarchist bbs with a UUCP connection to internet +called IBKOM (Information Bureau BBS). As far as i know, so far there hasn't +been any formal connections with the other bbss i'm in touch with. + +* * * + +Well, that's about it for now. I hope i haven't left anything important +out. Sorry this is in english only. + +seeyas +will + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001291.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001291.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cc995fdb --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001291.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1190 @@ +SCUM MANIFESTO -by Valerie Solanas +-------------- + + +Life in this society being, at best, an utter bore and no aspect of +society being at all relevant to women, there remains to +civic-minded, responsible, thrill-seeking females only to overthrow +the government, eliminate the money system, institute complete +automation and destroy the male sex. + +It is now technically possible to reproduce without the aid of males +(or, for that matter, females) and to produce only females. We must +begin immediately to do so. Retaining the male has not even the +dubious purpose of reproduction. The male is a biological accident: +the y(male) gene is an incomplete x(female) gene, that is, has an +incomplete set of chromosomes. In other words, the male is an +incomplete female, a walking abortion, aborted at the gene stage. To +be male is to be deficient, emotionally limited; maleness is a +deficiency disease and males are emotional cripples. + +The male is completely egocentric, trapped inside himself,incapable +of empathizing or identifying with others, of love, friendship, +affection or tenderness. He is a completely isolated unit, incapable +of rapport with anyone. His responses are entirely visceral, not +cerebral; his intelligence is a mere tool in the service of his +drives and needs; he is incapable ofmental passion, mental +interaction; he can't relate to anything other than his own physical +sensations. He is a half dead, unresponsive lump, incapable of +giving or receiving pleasure or happiness; consequently, he is at +best an utter bore, an inoffensive blob, since only those capable of +absorption in others can be charming. He is trapped in a twilight +zone halfway between humans and apes,he is capable of a large array +of negative feelings - hate, jealousy, contempt, disgust, guilt, +shame, doubt- and moreover he is *aware* of what he is and isn't. + +Although completely physical, the male is unfit even for stud +service. Even assuming mechanical proficiency, which few men have, +he is first of all, incapable of zestfully, lustfully, tearing off a +piiece, but is instead eaten up with guilt, shame, fear and +insecurity, feelings rooted in male nature, which the most +enlightened training can only minimize; second, the physical feeling +he attains is next to nothing; and, third, he is not empathizing +with his partner, but is obsessed with how he's doing, turning in an +A performance, doing a good plumbing job. To call a man an animal is +to flatter him; he's a machine, a walking dildo. It's often said that +men use women. Use them for what? Surely not pleasure. + +Eaten up with guilt, shame, fears and insecurities and obtaining, if +he's lucky, a barely perceptible physical feeling, the male is +nontheless, obsessed with screwing; he'll swim a river of snot, wade +nostril-deep through a mile of vomit, if he thinks there'll be a +friendly pussy awaiting him. He'll screw a woman he despises, any +snaggle-toothed hag, and, furthermore, pay for the opportunity. Why? +Relieving physical tension isn't the answer, as masturbation +suffices for that. It's not ego satisfaction; that doesn't explain +screwing corpses and babies. + +Completely egocentric, unable to relate, empathize or identify, and +filled with a vast, pervasive, diffuse sexuality, the male is +psychically passive. He hates his passivity, so he projects it onto +women, defines the male as active, then sets out to prove that he +is ("prove he's a man"). His main means of attempting to prove it +is screwing (Big Man with a Big Dick tearing of a Big Piece). since +he's attempting to prove an error, he must "prove" it again and +again. Screwing, then, is a desperate, compulsive attempt to prove +he's not passive, not a woman; But he *is* passive and *does* want +to be a woman. + +Being an incomplete female, the male spends his life attempting to +complete himself, to become female. He attempts to do this by +constantly seeking out, fraternizing with and trying to live +through and fuse with the female, and by claiming as his own all +female characteristics - emotional strength and independence, +forcefulness, dynamism, decisiveness, coolness objectivity, +assertiveness, courage, integrity, vitality, intensity, depth of +character, grooviness, etc. - and projecting onto women all male +traits - vanity, frivolity, triviality, weakness, etc. It should be +said though, that the male has one glaring area of superiority over +the female - public relations. (He has done a brilliant job of +convincing millions of women that men are women and women are men.) +The male claim that females find fulfillment through motherhood and +sexuality reflects what males think they'd find fulfilling if they +were female. + +Women, in other words, don't have penis envy; men have pussy envy. +When the male accepts his passivity, defines himself as a woman +(males as well as females think men are women and women are men), +and becomes a transvestite he loses his desire to screw (or to do +anything else, for that matter; he fulfills himself as a drag queen) +and gets his cock chopped off. He then achieves a continuous diffuse +sexual feeling from "being a woman". Screwing is, for a man, a +defense against his desire to be female. Sex is itself a sublimation. + +The male, because of his obsession to compensate for not being +female combined with his inability to relate and to feel compassion, +has made of the world a shitpile. He is responsible for: + +*War*: The male's normal method of compensation for not being +female, namely, getting his Big Gun off, is grossly inadequate, as +he can get it off only a very limited number of times; so he gets it +off on a really massive scale, and proves to the entire world that +he's a "Man". Since he has no compassion or ability to empathize or +identify, proving his manhood is worth an endless number of lives, +including his own - his own life being worthless, he would rather go +out in a blaze of glory than plod grimly on for fifty more years. + +*Niceness*, *Politeness* and "*Dignity*": Every man, deep down, +knows he's a worthless piece of shit. Overwhelmed by a sense of +animalism and deeply ashamed of it; wanting, not to express himself, +but to hide from others his total physicality, total egocentricity, +the hate and contempt he feels for other men, and to hide from +himself the hate and contempt he suspects other men feel for him; +having a crudely constructed nervous system that is easily upset by +the least display of emotion or feeling, the male tries to enforce a +"social" code that ensures a perfect blandness, unsullied by the +slightest trace of feeling or upsetting opinion. He uses terms like +"copulate", "sexual congress", "have relations with" (to men, +"*sexual* relations" is a redundancy), overlaid with stilted +manners; the suit on the chimp. + +*Money*, *Marriage and Prostitution*, *Work and Prevention of an +Automated Society*: There is no human reason for money or for anyone +to work more than two or three hours a week at the very most. All +non-creative jobs (practically all jobs now being done) could have +been automated long ago, and in a moneyless society everyone can +have as much of the best of everything as she wants. But there are +non-human, male reasons for maintaining the money-work system: + +1. Pussy. Despising his highly inadequate self, overcome with +intense anxiety and a deep, profound loneliness when by his empty +self, desperate to attach himself to any female in the dim hopes of +completing himself, in the mystical belief that by touching gold +he'll turn to gold, the male craves the continuous companionship of +women. The company of the lowest female is preferable to his own or +that of other men, who serve only to remind him of his repulsiveness. +But females, unless very young or very sick, must be coerced or +bribed into male company. + +2. Supply the non-relating male with the delusion of usefulness, +and enable him to try to justify his existence by digging holes and +filling them up. Leisure time horrifies the male, who will have +nothing to do but contemplate his grotesque self. Unable to relate +or to love, the male must work. Females crave absorbing, emotionally +satisfying, meaningful activity, but lacking the opportnity or +ability for this, they prefer to idle and waste away their time in +ways of their own choosing - sleeping, shopping, bowling, shooting +pool, playing cards and other games, breeding, reading, walking +around, daydreaming, eating, playing with themselves, popping pills, +going to the movies, getting analyzed, traveling, raising dogs and +cats, lolling on the beach, swimming, watching T.V., listening to +music, decorating their houses, gardening, sewing, nightclubbing, +dancing, visiting, "improving their minds" (taking courses), and +absorbing "culture" (lectures, plays, concerts, "arty" movies). +Therefore, many females would, even assuming complete economic +equality between the sexes, prefer living with males or peddling +their asses on the street thus having most of their time for +themselves, to spending many hours of their days doing boring, +stultifying, non-creative work for somebody else, functioning as +less than animals, as machines, or, at best, - if able to get a +"good" job - co-managing the shitpile. What will liberate women, +therefore, from male control is the total elimination of the +money-work system, not the attainment of economic equality with men +within it. + +3. Power and control. Unmasterful in his personal relations with +women, the male attains to general masterfulness by the manipulation +of money and of everything and everybody controlled by money, in +other words, of everything and everybody. + +4. Love substitute. Unable to give love or affection, the male gives +money. It makes him fell motherly. The mother gives milk; he gives +bread. He is the Breadwinner. + +5. Provides the male with a goal. Incapable of enjoying the moment, +the male needs something to look forward to, and money provides him +with an eternal, never-ending goal: Just think what you could do +with 80 trillion dollars - Invest it! And in three years time you'd +have 300 trillion dollars!!! + +6. Provides the basis for the male's major opportunity to control +and manipulate - fatherhood. + +*Fatherhood and Mental Illness (fear, cowardice, timidity, humility, +insecurity, passivity)*: Mother wants what's best for her kids; Daddy +only wants what's best for Daddy, that is peace and quiet, pandering +to his delusion of dignity ("respect"), a good reflection on himself +(status) and the opportunity to control and manipulate, or, if he's +an "enlightened" father, to "give guidance". His daughter, in +addition, he wants sexually - he gives her *hand* in marriage; the +other part is for him. Daddy, unlike Mother, can never give in to +his kids, as he must, at all costs, preserve his delusion of +decisiveness, forcefulness, always-rightness and strength. Never +getting one's way leads to a lack of self-confidence in one's +ability to cope with the world and to a passive acceptance of the +status quo. Mother loves her kids, although she sometimes gets +angry, but anger blows over quickly and even while it exists, +doesn't preclude love and basic acceptance. Emotionally diseased +Daddy doesn't love his kids; he approves of them - if they're +"good", that is, if they're nice, "respectful", obedient, +subservient to his will, quiet and not given to unseemly displays of +temper that would be most upsetting to Daddy's easily disturbed male +nervous system - in other words, if they're passive vegetables. If +they're not "good", he doesn't get angry - not if he's a modern +"civilized" father (the old-fashioned ranting, raving brute is +preferable, as he is so ridiculous he can be easily despised) - but +rather expresses disapproval, a state that, unlike anger, endures +and precludes a basic acceptance, leaving the kid with a feeling of +worthlessness and a lifelong obsession with being approved of; the +result is fear of independent thought, as this leads to +unconventional, disapproved of opinions and way of life. + +For the kid to want Daddy's approval it must respect Daddy, and, +being garbage, Daddy can make sure that he is respected only by +remaining aloof, by distantness, by acting on the precept +"familiarity breeds contempt", which is, of course, true, if one is +contemptible. By being distant and aloof, he is able to remain +unknown, mysterious, and, thereby, to inspire fear ("respect"). + +Disapproval of emotional "scenes" leads to fear of strong emotion, +fear of one's own anger and hatred, and to a fear of facing +reality, as facing it leads at first to anger and hatred. Fear of +anger and hatred combined with a lack of self-confidence in one's +ability to cope with and change the world, or even to affect in the +slightest way one's own destiny, leads to a mindless belief that the +world and most people in it are nice and that the most banal, +trivial amusements are great fun and deeply pleasurable. + +The effect of fatherhood on males, specifically, is to make them +"Men", that is, highly defensive of all impulses to passivity, +faggotry, and of desires to be female Every boy wants to imitate his +mother, be her, fuse with her, but Daddy forbids this; *he* is the +mother; *he* gets to fuse with her. So he tells the boy, sometimes +directly, sometimes indirectly, to not be a sissy, to act like a +"Man". The boy, scared shitless of and "respecting" his father, +complies, and becomes just like Daddy, that the model of "Man"-hood, +the all-American ideal - the well-behaved heterosexual dullard. + +The effect of fatherhood on females is to make them male - +dependent, passive, domestic, animalistic, nice, insecure, approval +and security seekers, cowardly, humble, "respectful" of authorities +and men, closed, not fully responsive, half dead, trivial, dull, +conventional, flattened out and thoroughly contemptible. Daddy's +Girl, always tense and fearful, uncool, unanalytical, lacking +objectivity, appraises Daddy, and thereafter, other men, against a +background of fear ("respect") and is not only unable to see the +empty shell behind the aloof facade, but accepts the male definition +of himself as superior, as a female, and of herself, as inferior, as +a male, which, thanks to Daddy, she really is. + +It is the increase of father hood, resulting from the increased and +widespread affluence that fatherhood needs in order to thrive, that +has caused the general increase of mindlessness and the decline of +women in the United States since the 1920s. Thhe close association +of affluence with father hood has led, for the most part, to only +the wrong girls, namely, the "privileged" middle-class girls, getting +"educated". + +The effect of fathers, in sum, has been to corrode the world with +maleness. The male has a negative Midas tough - everything he +touches turns to shit. + +*Suppression of Individuality, Animalism (domesticity and +motherhood) and Functionalism*: The male is just a bundle of +conditioned reflexes, incapable of a mentally free response; he is +tied to his early conditioning, determined completely by his past +experiences. His earliest experiences are with his mother, and he is +throughout his life tied to her. It never becomes completely clear +to the male that he is not part of his mother, that he is he and she +is she. + +His greatest need is to be guided, sheltered, protected and admired +by Mama (men expect women to adore what men shrink from in horror - +themselves) and, being completely physical, he yearns to spend his +time (that's not spent "out in the world" grimly defending against +his passivity) wallowing in basic animal activities - eating, +sleeping relaxing and being soothed by Mama. Passive, rattle-headed +Daddy's Girl, ever eager for approval, for a pat on the head, for +the "respect" of any passing piece of garbage is easily reduced to +Mama, mindless ministrator to physical needs, soother of the weary, +apey brow, booster of the puny ego, appreciator of the contemptible, +a hot water bottle with tits. + +The reduction to animals of the women of the most backward segment +of society - the "privileged, educated" middle-class, the backwash +of humanity - where Daddy reigns supreme, has been so thorough that +they try to groove on labor pains and lie around in the most +advanced nation in the world in the middle of the twentieth century +with babies chomping away on their tits. It's not for the kids' +sake, though, that the "experts" tell women that Mama should stay at +home and grovel in animalism, but for Daddy's; the tit's for Daddy +to hang onto; the labour pains for Daddy to vicariously groove on +(half dead, he needs awfully strong stimuli to make him respond). + +Reducing the female to an animal, to Mama, to a male, is necessary +for psychological as well as practical reasons: the male is a mere +member of the species, interchangeable with every other male. He has +no deep-seated individuality, which stems from what intrigues you, +what outside yourself absorbs you, what you're in relation to. +Completely self-absorbed, capable of being in relation only to their +bodies and physical sensations, males differ from each other only to +the degree and in the ways they attempt to defend themselves against +their passivity and their desire to be female. + +The female's individuality, which he is acutely aware of, but which +he doesn't comprehend and isn't capable of relating to or grasping +emotionally, frightens and upsets him and fills him with envy. So he +denies it in her and proceeds to define everyone in terms of his or +her function or use, assigning to himself, of course, the most +important functions - doctor, president, scientist - thereby +providing himself with an identity, if not individuality, and tries +to convince himself and women (he's succeeded best at convincing +women) that the female function is to bear and raise children and to +relax, comfort and boost the ego of the male; that her function is +such as to make her interchangeable with every other female. In +actual fact, the female function is to relate, groove, love and be +herself, irreplaceable by anyone else; the male funciton is to +produce sperm. We now have sperm banks. + +In actual fact the female function is to explore, discover, invent, +solve problems, crack jokes, make music - all with love. In other +words, create a magic world. + +*Prevention of Privacy*: Although the male, being ashamed of what he +is and of almost everything he does, insists on privacy and secrecy +in all aspects of his life, he has no real *regard* for privacy. +Being empty, not being a complete, separate being, having no self to +groove on and needing to be constantly in female company, he sees +nothing at all wrong in intruding himself on any woman's thoughts, +even a total stranger's, anywhere at any time, but rather feels +indignant and insulted when put down for doing so, as well as +confused - he can't, for the life of him, understand why anyone would +prefer so much as one minute of solitude to the company of any creep +around. Wanting to become a woman, he strives to be constantly +around females, which is the closest he can get to becoming one, so +he created a "society" based on the family - a male-female couple +and their kids (the excuse for the family's existence), who live +virtually on top of one another, unscrupulously violating the +females' rights, privacy and sanity. + +*Isolation, Suburbs and Prevention of Community*. Our society is +not a community, but merely a collection of isolated family units. +desperately insecure, fearing his woman will leave him if she is +exposed to other men or to anything remotely resembling life, the +male seeks to isolate her from other men and from what little +civilization there is, so he moves her out to the suburbs, a collection +of self-absorbed couples and their kids. Isolation enables him to try to +maintain his pretense of being an individual by becoming a "rugged +individualist", a loner, equating non-co-operation and solitariness +with individuality. + +There is yet another reason for the male to isolate himself: every +man is an island. Trapped inside himself, emotionally isolated, unable +to relate, the male has a horror of civilization, people, cities, situations +requiring an ability to understand and relate to people. So, like a +scared rabbit, he scurries off, dragging Daddy's little asshole along +with him to the wilderness, the suburbs, or, in the case of the "hippie" +- he's way out, Man! - all the way out to the cow pasture where he +can fuck and breed undisturbed and mess around with his beads and +flute. + +The "hippie", whose desire to be a "Man", a "rugged indindualist", +isn't quite as strong as the average man's, and who, in addition, is +excited by the thought of having lots of women accessible him, +rebels against the harshness of a Breadwinner's life and the +monotony of one woman. In the name of sharing and co-operation, he +forms the commune or tribe, which, for all its togetherness and +partly because of it (the commune, being an extended family, is an +extended violation of the females' rights, privacy and sanity) is no +more a community than normal "society". + +A true community consists of individuals-not mere species members, +not couples-respecting each other's individuality and privacy, at +the same time interacting with each other mentally and +emotionally-free spirits in free relation to each other-and co- +perating with each other to achieve common ends. Traditionalists say +the basic unit of "society" is the family; "hippies" say the tribe; +no one says the individual. + +The "hippie" babbles on about individuality, but has no more +conception of it than any other man. He desires to get back to Nature +back to the wilderness, back to the home of the furry animals that +he's one of, away from the city, where there is at least a trace, a +bare beginning of civilization, to live at the species level, his +time taken up with simple, non-intellectual activities - farming, +fucking, bead stringing. The most important activity of the commune, +the one on which it is based, is gangbanging. The "hippie" is +enticed to the commune mainly by the prospect of all the free +pussy - the main commodity to be shared, to be had just for the asking +but, blinded by greed, he fails to anticipate all the other men he +has to share with, or the jealousies and possessiveness of the +pussies themselves. + +Men cannot co-operate to achieve a common end, because each man's +end is all the pussy for himself. The commune, therefore, is doomed +to failure: each "hippie" will, in panic, grab the first simpleton +who digs him and whisk her off to the suburbs as fast as he can. The +male cannot progress socially, but merely swings back and forth from +isolation to gangbanging. + +*Conformity*: Although he wants to be an individual, the male is +scared of anything in himself that is the slightest bit different +from other men; it causes him to suspect that he's not really a +"Man", that he's passive and totally sexual, a highly upsetting +suspicion. If other men are A and he's not, he must not be a man; he +must be a fag. So he tries to affirm his "Manhood" by being like all +the other men. differentness in other men, as well as in himself, +threatens him; it means they're fags whom he must at all costs +avoid, so he tries to make sure that all other men conform. + +The male dares to be different to the degree that he accepts his +passivity and his desire to be female, his fagginess. The farthest +out male is the drag queen, but he, although different from most +men, is exactly like all other drag queens; like the functionalist, +he has an identity - he is a female. He tries to define all his +troubles away - but still no individuality. Not completely convinced +that he's a woman, highly insecure about being sufficiently female, +he conforms compulsively to the man-made feminine stereotype, ending +up as nothing but a bundle of stilted mannerisms. + +To be sure he's a "Man", the male must see to it that the female be +clearly a "Woman", the opposite of a "Man", that is, the female must +act like a faggot. And Daddy's Girl, all of whose female instincts +were wrenched out of her when little, easily and obligingly adapts +herself to the role. + +*Authority and Government*: Having no sense of right or wrong, no +conscience, which can only stem from an ability to empathize with +others....having no faith in his non-existent self, being necessarily +competitive and, by nature, unable to co-operate, the male feels a +need for external guidance and control. So he created authorities - +priests, experts, bosses, leaders, etc. - and govemment. Wanting the +female (Mama) to guide him, but unable to accept this fact (he is, +after all, a MAN), wanting to play Woman, to usurp her function as +Guider and Protector, he sees to it that all authorities are male. + +There's no reason why a society consisting of rational beings +capable of empathizing with each other, complete and having no +natural reason to compete, should have a government, laws or leaders. + +*Philosophy, Religion and Morality Based on Sex*: The male's +inability to relate to anybody or anything makes his life pointlcss and +meaningless (the ultimate male insight is that life is absurd), so he +invented philosophy and religion. Being empty, he looks outward, not +only for guidance and control, but for salvation and for the meaning +of life. Happiness being for him impossible on this earth, he invented +Heaven. + +For a man, having no ability to empathise with others and being +totally sexual, "wrong" is sexual "licence" and engaging in "deviant" +("unmanly") sexual practices, that is, not defending against his +passivity and total sexuality which, if indulged, would destroy +"civilization", since "civilization" is based entirely on the male +need to defend himself against these characteristics. For a woman +(according to men), "wrong" is any behaviour that would entice men +into sexual "license" - that is, not placing male needs above her own +and not being a faggot. + +Religion not only provides men with a goal (Heaven) and helps keep +women tied to men, but offers rituals through which he can try to +expiate the guilt and shame he feels at not defending himself enough +against his sexual impulses; in essence, that guilt and shame he +feels at being a male. + +Most men, utterly cowardly, project their inherent weaknesses onto +women, label them female weaknesses and believe themselves to have +female strengths; most philosophers, not quite so cowardly, face the +fact that male lacks exist in men, but still can't face the fact that +they exist in men only. So they label the male condition the Human +Condition, pose their nothingness problem, which horrifies them, as a +philosophical dilemma, thereby giving stature to their animalism, +grandiloquently label their nothingness their "Identity Problem", and +proceed to prattle on pompously about the "Crisis of the Individual", +the "Essence of Being", "Existence Preceding Essence", "Existential +Modes of Being", etc., etc. + +A woman not only takes her identity and individuality for granted, +but knows instinctively that the only wrong is to hurt others, and +that the meaning of life is love. + +*Prejudice (racial, ethnic, religious, etc.)*: The male needs +scapegoats onto whom he can project his failings and inadequacies +and upon whom he can vent his frustration at not being female. And +the various discriminations have the practical advantage of +substantially increasing the pussy pool available to the men on top. + +*Competition, Prestige, Status, Formal Education, Ignorance and +Social and Economic Classes*: Having an obsessive desire to be +admired by women, but no intrinsic worth, the male constructs a +highly artificial society enabling him to appropriate the appearance +of worth through money, prestige, "high" social class, degrees, +professional position and knowledge and, by pushing as many other +men as possible down professionally, socially, economically, and +educationally. + +The purpose of "higher" education is not to educate but to exclude +as many as possible from the various professions. + +The male, totally physical, incapable of mental rapport, although +able to understand and use knowledge and ideas, is unable to relate +to them, to grasp them emotionally; he does not value knowledge and +ideas for their own sake (they're just means to ends) and, +consequently, feels no need for mental companions, no need to +cultivate the intellectual potentialities of others. On the +contrary, the male has a vested interest in ignorance; it gives the +few knowledgeable men a decided edge on the unknowledgeable ones +and, besides, the male knows that an enlightened, aware female +population will mean the end of him. The healthy, conceited female +wants the company of equals whom she can respect and groove on; the +male and the sick, insecure, unself-confident male female crave the +company of worms. + +No genuine social revolution can be accomplished by the male, as the +male on top wants the status quo, and all the male on the bottom +wants is to be the male on top. The male "rebel" is a farce; this is +the male's "society", made by him to satisfy his needs. He's never +satisfied, because he's not capable of being satisfied. Ultimately, +what the male "rebel" is rebelling against is being male. The male +changes only when forced to do so by technology, when he has no +choice, when "society" reaches the stage where he must change or +die. We're at that stage now; if women don't get their asses in gear +fast, we may very well all die. + +*Prevention of Conversation*: Being completely self-centered and +unable to relate to anything outside himself, the male's +"conversation", when not about himself, is an impersonal droning on, +removed from anything of human value. Male "intellectual +conversation" is a strained, compulsive attempt to impress the +female. + +Daddy's Girl, passive, adaptable, respectful of and in awe of the +male, allows him to impose his hideously dull chattcr on her. This is +not too difficult for her, as the tension and anxiety, the lack of +cool, the insecurity and self-doubt, the unsureness of her own +feelings and sensations that Daddy instilled in her make her +perceptions superficial and render her unable to see that the male's +babble is a babble; like the aesthete "appreciating" the blob that's +labeled "Great Art", she believes she's grooving on what bores the +shit out of her. Not only does she permit his babble to dominate, +she adapts her own "conversation" accordingly. + +Trained from early childhood in niceness, politeness and "dignity", +in pandering to the male need to disguise his animalism she +obligingly reduces her "conversation" to small talk, a bland +insipid avoidance of any topic beyond the utterly trivial - or, if +"educated" to "intellectual" discusssion, that is, impersonal +discoursing on irrelevant abstractions - the Gross National Product +the Common Market, the influence of Rimbaud on symbolist painting. +So adept is she at pandering that it eventually becomes second +nature and she continues to pander to men even when in the company +of other females only. + +Apart from pandering, her "conversation" is further limited by her +insecurity about expressing deviant, original opinions and the +self-absorption based on insecurity and that prevents her +conversation from being charming. Niceness, politeness, "dignity", +insecurity and self-absorption are hardly conducive to intensity and +wit, qualities a conversation must have to be worthy of the name. +Such conversation is hardly rampant, as only completely +self-confident, arrogant, outgoing, proud, tough-minded females are +capable of intense, bitchy, witty conversation. + +*Prevention of Friendship (Love)*: Men have contempt for themselves, +for all other men whom they contemplate more than casually and whom +they do not think are females, (for example, "sympathetic" analysts +and "Great Artists") or agents of God and for all women who respect +and pander to them; the insecure, approval-seeking, pandering male +females have contempt for themselves and for all women like them; +the self-confident, swinging, thrill-seeking female females have +contempt for men and for the pandering male females. In short, +contempt is the order of the day. + +Love is not dependency or sex, but friendship, and, therefore, love +can't exist between two males, between a male and a female or +between two females, one or both of whom is a mindless, insecure, +pandering male; like conversation, love can exist only between two +secure, free-wheeling, independent, groovy female females, since +friendship is based on respect, not contempt. + +Even among groovy females deep friendships seldom occur in +adulthood, as almost all of them are either tied up with men in order +to survive economically, or bogged down in hacking their way through +the jungle and in trying to keep their heads above the amorphous +mass. Love can't flourish in a society based on money and +meaningless work; it requires complete economic as well as personal +freedom, leisure time and the opportunity to engage in intensely +absorbing, emotionally satisfying activities which, when shared with +those you respect, lead to deep friendship. Our "society" provides +practically no opportunity to engage in such activities. + +Having stripped the world of conversation, friendship and love, the +male offers us these paltry substitutes: + +*"Great Art" and "Culture"*: The male "artist" attempts to solve his +dilemma of not being able to live, of not being female, by +constructing a highly artificial world in which the male is heroized, +that is, displays female traits, and the female is reduced to highly +limited, insipid subordinate roles, that is, to being male. + +The male "artistic" aim being, not to communicate (having nothing +inside him, he has nothing to say), but to disguise his animalism, +he resorts to symbolism and obscurity ("deep stuff"). The vast +majority of people, particularly the "educated" ones, lacking faith +in their own judgement, humble, respectful of authority ("Daddy +knows best" is translated into adult language as "Critic knows best", +"Writer knows best", "Ph.D knows best"), are easily conned into +believing that obscurity, evasiveness, incomprehensibility, +indirectness, ambiguity and boredom are marks of depth and +brilliance. + +"Great Art" proves that men are superior to women, that men are +women, being labeled "Great Art", almost all of which, as the anti- +feminists are fond of reminding us, was created by men. We know that +"Great Art" is great because male authorities have told us so, and +we can't claim otherwise, as only those with exquisite sensitivities +far superior to ours can perceive and appreciate the greatness, the +proof of their superior sensitivity being that they appreciate the +slop that they appreciate. Appreciating is the sole diversion of the +"cultivated"; passive and incompetent, lacking imagination and wit, +they must try to make do with that; unable to create their own +diversions, to create a little world of their own, to affect in the +smallest way their environments, they must accept what's given; +unable to create or relate, they spectate. Absorbing "culture" is a +desperate, frantic attempt to groove in an ungroovy world, to escape +the horror of a sterile, mindless existence. "Culture" provides a +sop to the egos of the incompetent, a means of rationalizing passive +spectating; they can pride themselves on their ability to appreciate +the "finer" things, to see a jewel where there is only a turd (they +want to be admired for admiring). Lacking faith in their ability to +change anything, resigned to the status quo, they have to see beauty +in turds because, so far as they can see, turds are all they'll ever +have. + +The veneration of "Art" and "Culture" - besides leading many women +into boring, passive activity that distracts from more important and +rewarding activities, from cultivating active abilities and leads to +the constant intrusion on our sensibilities of pompous dissertations +on the deep beauty of this and that turd. This allows the "artist" +to be set up as one possessing superior feelings, perceptions, +insights and judgments, thereby undermining the faith of insecure +women in the value and validity of their own feelings, perceptions, +insights and judgments, + +The male, having a very limited range of feelings and, consequently, +very limited perceptions, insights and judgments, needs the "artist" +to guide him, to tell him what life is all about. But the male +"artist", being totally sexual, unable to relate to anything beyond +his own physical sensations, having nothing to express beyond the +insight that for the male life is meaningless and absurd, cannot be +an artist. How can he who is not capable of life tell us what life +is all about? A "male artist" is a contradiction in terms. A +degenerate can only produce degenerate "art". The true artist is +every self-confident, healthy female, and in a female society the +only Art, the only Culture, will be conceited, kookie, funky females +grooving on each other and on everything else in the universe. + +*Sexuality*: Sex is not part of a relationship; on the contrary, it +is a solitary experience, non-creative, a gross waste of time. The +female can easily - far more easily than she may think - condition away +her sex drive, leaving her completely cool and cerebral and free to +pursue truly worthy relationships and activities; but the male, who +seems to dig women sexually and who seeks constantly to arouse them, +stimulates the highly-sexed female to frenzies of lust, throwing her +into a sex bag from which few women ever escape. The lecherous male +excited the lustful female; he has to - when the female transcends her +body, rises above animalism, the male, whose ego consists of his +cock, will disappear. + +Sex is the refuge of the mindless. And the more mindless the woman, +the more deeply embedded in the male "culture", in short, the nicer +she is, the more sexual she is. The nicest women in our "society" +are raving sex maniacs. But being just awfully, awfully nice they +don't, of course, descend to fucking-that's uncouth-rather they make +love, commune by means of their bodies and establish sensual +rapport; the literary ones are attuned to the throb of Eros and +attain a clutch upon the Universe; the religious have spiritual +communion with the Divine Sensualism; the mystics merge with the +Erotic Principle and blend with the Cosmos, and thc acid heads +contact their erotic cells. + +On the other hand, those females least embedded in the male +"Culture", the least nice, those crass and simple souls who reduce +fucking to fucking, who are too childish for the grown-up world of +suburbs, mortgages, mops and baby shit, too selfish to raise kids and +husbands, too uncivilized to give a shit for anyone's opinion of +them, too arrogant to respect Daddy, the "Greats" or the deep wisdom +of the Ancients, who trust only their animal, gutter instincts, who +equate Culture with chicks, whose sole diversion is prowling for +emotional thrills and excitement, who are given to disgusting, +nasty, upsetting "scenes", hateful, violent bitches given to +slamming those who unduly irritate them in the teeth, who'd sink a +shiv into a man's chest or ram an icepick up his asshole as soon as +look at him, if they knew they could get away with it, in short, +those who, by the standards of our "culture" are SCUM....these +females are cool and relatively cerebral and skirting asexuality. + +Unhampered by propriety, niceness, discretion, public opinion, +"morals", the "respect" of assholes, always funky, dirty, low-down +SCUM gets around....and around and around....they've seen the whole +show - every bit of it - the fucking scene, the sucking scene, the dyke +scene - they've covered the whole waterfront, been under every dock +and pier - the peter pier, the pussy pier....you've got to go through +a lot of sex to get to anti-sex, and SCUM's been through it all, and +they're now ready for a new show; they want to crawl out from under +the dock, move, take off, sink out. But SCUM doesn't yet prevail; +SCUM's still in the gutter of our "society", which, if it's not +deflected from its present course and if the Bomb doesn't drop on it, +will hump itself to death. + +*Boredom*: Life in a "society" made by and for creatures who, when +they are not grim and depressing are utter bores, can only be, when +not grim and depressing, an utter bore. + +*Secrecy, Censorship, Suppression of Knowledge and Ideas, and +Expose's*: Every male's deep-seated, secret, most hideous fear is +the fear of being discovered to be not a female, but a male, a +subhuman animal. Although niceness, politeness and "dignity" suffice +to prevent is exposure on a personal level, in order to prevent the +general exposure of the male sex as a whole and to maintain his +unnatural dominant position in "society", the male must resort to: + + l. Censorship. Responding reflexly to isolated words and phrases +rather than cerebrally to overall meanings, the male attempts to +prevent the arousal and discovery of his animalism by censoring not +only "pornography", but any work containing "dirty" words, no +matter in what context they are used. + + 2. Suppression of all ideas and knowledge that might expose him +or threaten his dominant position in "society". Much biological and +psychological data is suppressed, because it is proof of the male's +gross inferiority to the female. Also, the problem of mental illness +will never be solved while the male maintains control, because first, +men have a vested interest in it-only females who have very few of +their marbles will allow males the slightest bit of control over +anything, and second, the male cannot admit to lhe role that +fatherhood plays in causing mental illncss. + + 3. Expose's. The male's chief delight in life - insofar as the +dense, grim male can ever be said to delight in anything - is in +exposing others. It doesn't much matter what they're exposed as, so +long as they're exposed; it distracts attention from himself. Exposing +others as enemy agents (Communists and Socialists) is one of his +favorite pastimes, as it removes the source of the threat to him not +only from himself, but from the country and the Western world. The +bugs up his ass aren't in him; they're in Russia. + +*Distrust*: Unable to empathize or feel affection or loyalty, being +exclusively out for himself, the male has no sense of fair play; +cowardly, needing constantly to pander to the female to win her +approval, that he is helpless without, always on edge lest his +animalism, his maleness be discovered, always needing to cover up, +he must lie constantly; being empty, he has no honor or integrity - +he doesn't know what those words mean. The male, in short, is +treacherous, and the only appropriate attitude in a male "society" is +cynicism and distrust. + +*Ugliness*: Being totally sexual, incapable of cerebral or aesthetic +responses, totally materialistic and greedy, the male, besides +inflicting on the world "Great Art", has decorated his unlandscaped +cities with ugly buildings (both inside and out), ugly decors, +billboards, highways, cars, garbage trucks and, most notably, his +own putrid self. + +*Hate and Violence*: The male is eaten up with tension, with +frustration at not being female, at not being capable of ever +achieving satisfaction or pleasure of any kind; eaten up with +hate - not rational hate that is directed against those who abuse or +insult you - but irrational, indiscriminate hate....hatred, at bottom, +of his own worthless self. + +Gratuitous violence, besides "proving" he is a "Man", serves as an +outlet for his hate and, in addition - the male being capable only of +sexual responses and needing very strong stimuli to stimulate his +half-dead self - provides him with a little sexual thrill. + +*Disease and Death*: All diseases are curable, and the aging process +and death are due to disease; it is possible, therefore, never to +age and to live forever. In fact, the problems of aging and death +could be solved within a few years, if an all-out, massive +scientific assault were made on the problem. This, however, will not +occur within the male establishment, because: + + 1. The many male scientists who shy away from biological +research, terrified of the discovery males are females, and show +marked preference for virile, "manly" war and death programs. + + 2. The discouragement of many potential scientists from +scientific careers by the rigidity, boringness, expensiveness, +time-consumingness and unfair exclusivity of our "higher" educational +system. + + 3. Propaganda disseminated by insecure male professionals, who +jealously guard their positions, so that only a highly select few can +comprehend abstract scientific concepts. + + 4. Widespread lack of self-confidence brought about by the father +system that discourages many talented girls from becoming scientists. + + 5. Lack of automation. There now exists a wealth of data which, +if sorted out and correlated, would reveal the cure for cancer and +several other diseases and possibly the key to life itself. But the data +is so massive it requires high speed computers to correlate it all. The +institution of computers will be delayed interminably under the male +control system, since the male has a horror of being replaced by +machines. + + 6. The money system's insatiable need for new products. Most of +the few scientists around who aren't working on death programs are +tied up doing research for corporations. + + 7. The male likes death - it excitees him sexually and, already +dead inside, he wants to die. + + 8. The bias of the money system for the least creative +scientists. Most scientists come from at least relatively affluent +families where Daddy reigns supreme. + +Incapable of a positive state of happiness, which is the only thing +that can justify one's existence, the male is, at best, relaxed, +comfortable, neutral, and this condition is extremely short-lived, +as boredom, a negative state, soon sets in; he is, therefore, doomed +to an existence of suffering relieved only by occasional, fleeting +stretches of restfulness, which state he can achieve only at the +expense of some female. The male is, by his very nature, a leech, an +emotional parasite and, therefore, not ethically entitled to live, +as no one has the right to live at someone else's expense. + +Just as humans have a prior right to existence over dogs by virtue +of being more highly evolved and having a superior consciousness so +women have a prior right to existence over men. The elimination of +any male is, therefore, a righteous and good act, an act highly +beneficial to women as well as an act of mercy. + +However, this moral issue will eventually be rendered academic by +the fact that the male is gradually eliminating himself. In addition +to engaging in the time-honored and classical wars and race-riots, +men are more and more either becoming fags or are obliterating +themselves through drugs. The female, whether she likes it or not, +will eventually take complete charge, if for no other reason than +that he will have to - the male, for practical purposes, won't exist. + +Accelerating this trend is the fact that more and more males are +acquiring enlightened self-interest; they're realizing more and more +that the female interest is their interest, that they can live only +through the female and that the more the female is encouraged to +live, to fulfill herself, to be a female and not a male, the more +nearly he lives; he's coming to see that it's easier and more +satisfactory to live through her than to try to become her and usurp +her qualities, claim them as his own, push the female down and claim +she's a male. The fag, who accepts his maleness, that is, his +passivily and total sexuality, his femininity, is also best served +by women being truly female, as it would then be easier for him to +be male, feminine. If men were wise they would seek to become really +female, would do intensive biological research that would lead to +men, by means of operations on the brain and nervous system, being +able to be transformed in psyche, as well as body, into women. + +Whether to continue to use females for reproduction or to reproduce +in the laboratory will also become academic: what will happen when +every female, twelve and over, is routinely taking the Pill and +there are no longer any accidents? How many women will deliberately +get or (if an accident) remain pregnant? No, Virginia, women don't +just adore being brood mares, despite what the mass of robot, +brainwashed women will say. When society consists of only the fully +conscious the answer will be none. Should a certain percentage of +women be set aside by force to serve as brood mares for the species? +Obviously this will not do. The answer is laboratory production of +babies. + +As for the issue of whether or not to continue to reproduce males, +it doesn't follow that because the male, like (disease, has always +existed among us that he should continue to exist. When genetic +control is possible - and it soon will be - it goes without saying that +we should produce only whole, complete beings, not physical defects +or deficiencies, including emotional deficiencies, such as maleness. +Just as the deliberate production of blind people would be highly +immoral, so would be the deliberale production of emotional cripples. + +Why produce even females? Why should there be future generations? +What is their purpose? When aging and death are eliminated, why +continue to reproduce? Why should we care what happens when we're +dead? Why should we care that there is no younger generation to +succeed us? + +Eventually the natural course of events, of social evolution, will +lead to total female control of the world and, subsequently, to the +cessation of the production of males and, ultimately, to the +cessation of the production of females. + +But SCUM is impatient; SCUM is not consoled by the thought that +future generations will thrive; SCUM wants to grab some thrilling +living for itself. And, if a large majority of women were SCUM, +they could acquire complete control of this country within a few +weeks simply by withdrawing from the labor force, thereby paralyzing +the entire nation. Additional measures, any one of which would be +sufficient to completely disrupt the economy and everything else, +would be for women to declare themselves off the money system, stop +buying, just loot and simply refuse to obey all laws they don't care +to obey. The police force, National Guard, Army, Navy and Marines +combined couldn't squelch a rebellion of over half the population, +particularly when it's made up of people they are utterly helpless +without. + +If all women simply left men, refused to have anything to do with +any of them - ever, all men, the government, and the national economy +would collapse completely. Even without leaving men, women who are +aware of the extent of their superiority to and power over men, +could acquire complete control over everything within a few weeks, +could effect a total submission of males to females. In a sane +society the male would trot along obediently after the female. The +male is docile and easily led, easily subjected to the domination of +any female who cares to dominate him. The male, in fact, wants +desperately to be led by females, wants Mama in charge, wants to +abandon himself to her care. But this is not a sane society, and most +women are not even dimly aware of where they're at in relation to +men + +The conflict, therefore, is not between females and males, but +between SCUM - dominant, secure, self-confident, nasty, violent, +selfish, independent, proud, thrill-seeking, free-wheeling, arrogant +females, who consider themselves fit to rule the universe, who have +free-wheeled to the limits of this "society" and are ready to wheel +on to something far beyond what it has to offer - and nice, passive, +accepting, "cultivated", polite, dignified, subdued, dependent, +scared, mindless, insecure, approval-seeking Daddy's Girls, who +can't cope with the unknown, who want to continue to wallow in the +sewer that is, at least, familiar, who want to hang back with the +apes, who feel secure only with Big Daddy standing by, with a big, +strong man to lean on and with a fat, hairy face in the White House, +who are too cowardly to face up to the hideous reality of what a man +is, what Daddy is, who have cast their lot with the swine, who have +adapted themselves to animalism, feel superficially comfortable with +it and know no other way of "life", who have reduced their minds, +thoughts and sights to the male level, who, lacking sense, +imagination and wit can have value only in a male "society", who can +have a place in the sun, or, rather, in the slime, only as soothers, +ego boosters, relaxers and breeders, who are dismissed as +inconsequents by other females, who project their deficiencies, +their maleness, onto all females and see the female as a worm. + +But SCUM is too impatient to hope and wait for the de-brainwashing +of millions of assholes. Why should the swinging females continue to +plod dismally along with the dull male ones? Why should the fates of +the groovy and the creepy be intertwined? Why should the active and +imaginative consult the passive and dull on social policy? Why +should the independent be confined to the sewer along with the +dependent who need Daddy to cling to? + +A small handful of SCUM can take over the country within a year by +systematically fucking up the system, selectively destroying +property, and murder: + +SCUM will become members of the unwork force, the fuck-up force; +they will get jobs of various kinds and unwork. For example, SCUM +salesgirls will not charge for merchandise; SCUM telephone operators +will not charge for calls; SCUM office and factory workers in +addition to fucking up their work, will secretly destroy equipment. +SCUM will unwork at a job until fired, then get a new job to unwork +at. + +SCUM will forcibly relieve bus drivers, cab drivers and subway token +sellers of their jobs and run buses and cabs and dispense free tokens +to the public. + +SCUM will destroy all useless and harmful objects - cars, store +windows, "Great Art", etc. + +Eventually SCUM will take over the air-waves - radio and TV +networks - by forcibly relieving of their jobs all radio and TV +employees who would impede SCUM's entry into the broadcasting +studios. + +SCUM will couple-bust - barge into mixed (male-female) +couples, wherever they are, and bust them up. + +SCUM will kill all men who are not in the Men's Auxiliary of SCUM. +Men in the Men's Auxiliary are those men who are working diligently +to eliminate themselves, men who, regardless of their motives, do +good, men who are playing ball with SCUM. A few examples of the men +in the Men's Auxiliary are: men who kill men; biological scientists +who are working on constructive programs, as opposed to biological +warfare; journalists, writers, editors, publishers and producers who +disseminate and promote ideas that will lead to the achievement of +SCUM's goals; faggots who, by their shimmering, flaming example, +encourage other men to de-man themselves and thereby make themselves +relatively inoffensive; men who consistently give things away - money, +things, services; men who tell it like it is (so far not one ever +has), who put women straight, who reveal the truth about themselves, +who give the mindless male females correct sentences to parrot, who +tell them a woman's primary goal in life should be to squash the +male sex (to aid men in this endeavor SCUM will conduct Turd +Sessions, at which every male present will give a speech beginning +with the sentence:" I am a turd, a lowly, abject turd," then proceed +to list all the ways in which he. His reward for so doing will be +the opportunity to fraternize after the session for a whole, solid +hour with the SCUM who will be present. Nice, clean-living male +women will be invited to the sessions to help clarify any doubts and +misunderstandings they may have about the male sex); makers and +promoters of sex books and movies, etc, who are hastening the day +when all that will be shown on the screen will be Suck and Fuck +(males, like the rats following the Pied Piper, will be lured by +Pussy to their doom, will be overcome and submerged by and will +eventually drown in the passive flesh that they are); drug pushers +and advocates, who are hastening the dropping out of men. + +Being in the Men's Auxiliary is a nccessary but not a sufficient +condition for making SCUM's escape list; it's not enough to do good; +to save their worthless asses men must must also avoid evil. A few +examples of the most obnoxious or harmful types are: rapists, +politicians and all who are in their service (campaigners, members of +political parties, etc.); lousy singers and musicians; Chairmen of +Boards; Breadwinners; landlords; owners of greasy spoons and +restaurants that play Musak; "Great Artists"; cheap pikers and +welchers; cops, tycoons; scientists working on death and destruction +programs or for private industry (practically all scientists); liars +and phonies; disc jockeys; men who intrude themselves in the +slightest way on any strange female; real estate men; stock brokers; +men who speak when they have nothing to say; men who loiter idly on +the street and mar the landscape with their presence; double +dealers; flim-flam artists; litterbugs; plagiarizers; men who in +the slightest way harm any female; all men in the advertising +industry; psychiatrists and clinical psychologists; dishonest +writers, journalists, editors, publishers, etc.; censors on both the +public and private levels; all members of the armed forces, +including draftees (LBJ and McNamara give orders, but service men +carry them out) and particularly pilots (if the bomb drops, LBJ +won't drop it; a pilot will). In the case of a man whose behavior +falls into both the good and bad categories, an overall subjective +evaluation of him will be made to determine if his behavior is, in +the balance, good or bad. + +It is most tempting to pick off the female "Great Artists", liars +and phonies, etc. along with the men, but that would be inexpedient, +as it would not be clear to most of the public that the female killed +was a male. All women have a fink streak in them, to a great or +lesser degree, but it stems from a lifetime of living among men. +Eliminate men and women will shape up. Women are improvable; men are +not, although their behavior is. When SCUM gets hot on their asses +it'll shape up fast. + +Simultaneously with the fucking-up, looting, couple-busting, +destroying and killing, SCUM will recruit. SCUM, then, will consist +of recruiters; the elite corps - the hard core activists (the +fuck-ups, looters and destroyers) and the elite of the elite - the +killers. + +Dropping out is not the answer; fucking-up is. Most women are +already dropped out; they were never in. Dropping out gives control +to those few who don't drop out; dropping out is exactly what the +establishment leaders want; it plays into the hands of the enemy; it +strengthens the system instead of undermining it, since it is based +entirely on the non-participation, passivity, apathy and +non-involvement of the mass of women. Dropping out, however, is an +excellent policy for men and SCUM will enthusiastically encourage +it. + +Looking inside yourself for salvation, contemplating your navel, is +not, as the Drop Out people would have you believe, the answer. +Happiness lies outside yourself, is achieved through interacting with +others. Self-forgetfulness should be one's goal, not self-absorption. +The male, capable of only the latter, makes a virtue of an +irremediable fault and sets up self-absorption, not only as a good +but as a Philosophical Good, and thus gets credit for being deep. + +SCUM will not picket, demonstrate, march or strike to attempt to +achieve its ends. Such tactics are for nice, genteel ladies who +scrupulously take only such action as is guaranteed to be +ineffective. In addition, only decent, clean-living, male women, +highly trained in submerging themselves in the species, act on a mob +basis. SCUM consists of individuals; SCUM is not a mob, a blob. Only +as many SCUM will do a job as are needed for the job. Also, SCUM, +being cool and selfish, will not subject itself to getting rapped on +the head with billy clubs; that's for the nice, "privileged, +educated", middle-class ladies with a high regard for the touching +faith in the essential goodness of Daddy and policemen. If SCUM ever +marches, it will be over the President's stupid, sickening face; if +SCUM ever strikes, it will be in the dark with a six-inch blade. + +SCUM will always operate on a criminal as opposed to a civil +disobedience basis, that is, as opposed to openly violaling the law +and going to jail in order to draw attention to an injustice. Such +tactics acknowledge the rightness of the overall system and are used +only to modify it slightly, change specific laws. SCUM is against +the entire system, the very idea of law and government. SCUM is out +to destroy the system, not attain certain rights within it. Also, +SCUM - always selfish, always cool - will always aim to avoid +detection and punishment. SCUM will always be furtive, sneaky, +underhanded (although SCUM murders will always be known to be such). + +Both destruction and killing will be selective and discriminate. +SCUM is against half-crazed, indiscriminate riots, with no clear +objective in mind, and in which many of your own kind are picked +off. SCUM will never instigate, encourage or participate in riots of +any kind or any other form of indiscriminate destruction. SCUM will +coolly, furtively, stalk its prey and quietly move in for the kill. +Destruction will never be such as to block off routes needed for the +transportation of food and other essential supplies, contaminate or +cut off the water supply, block streets and traffic to the extent +that ambulances can't get through or impede the functioning of +hospitals. + +SCUM will keep on destroying, looting, fucking-up and killing until +the money-work system no longer exists and automation is completely +instituted or until enough women co-operate with SCUM to make +violence unnecessary to achieve these goals, that is, until enough +women either unwork or quit work, start looting, leave men and +refuse to obey all laws inappropriate to a truly civilized society. +Many women will fall into line, but many others, who surrendered +long ago to the enemy, who are so adapted to animalism, to maleness, +that they like restrictions and restraints, don't know what to do +with freedom, will continue to be toadies and doormats, just as +peasants in rice paddies remain peasants in rice paddies as one +regime topples another. A few of the more volatile will whimper and +sulk and throw their toys and dishrags on the floor, but SCUM will +continue to steamroller over them. + +A completely automated society can be accomplished very simply and +quickly once there is a public demand for it. The blueprints for it +are already in existence, and its construction will only take a few +weeks with millions of people working at it. Even though off the +money system, everyone will be most happy to pitch in and get the +automated society built; it will mark the beginning of a fantastic +new era, and there will be a celebration atmosphere accompanying the +construction. The elimination of money and the complete institution +of automation are basic to all other SCUM reforms; without these two +the others can't take place; with them the others will take place +very rapidly. The government will automatically collapse. With +complete automation it will be possible for every woman to vote +directly on every issue by means of an electronic voting machine in +her house. Since the government is occupied almost entirely with +regulating economic affairs and legislating against purely private +matters, the elimination of money and with it the elimination of +males who wish to legislate "morality" will mean that there will be +practically no issues to vote on. + +After the elimination of money there will be no further need to kill +men; they will be stripped of the only power they have over +psychologically independent females. They will be able to impose +themselves only on the doormats, who like to be imposed on. The rest +of the women will be busy solving the few remaining unsolved +problems before planning their agenda for eternity and Utopia - +completely revamping educational programs so that millions of women +can be trained within a few months for high level intellectual work +that now requires years of training (this can be done very easily +once our educational goal is to educate and not to perpetuate an +academic and intellectual elite); solving the problems of disease and +old age and death and completely redesigning our cities and living +quarters. Many women will for a while continue to think they dig +men, but as they become accustomed to female society and as they +become absorbed in their projects, they will evcntually come to see +the utter uselessness and banality of the male. + +The few remaining men can exist out their puny days dropped out on +drugs or strutting around in drag or passively watching the +high-powered female in action, fulfilling themselves as spectators, +vicarious livers (*) or breeding in the cow pasture with the toadies, +or they can go off to the nearest friendly suicide center where they +will be quietly, quickly and painlessly gassed to death. + +------------------------------------------------------------------- +(*) It will be electronically possible for him to tune in to any +specific female he wants to and follow in detail her every movement. +The females will kindly, obligingly consent to this, as it won't +hurt them in the slightest and it is a marvelously kind and humane +way to treat their unfortunate, handicapped fellow beings. +------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Prior to the institution of automation, to the replacement of males +by machines, the male should be of use to the female, wait on her, +cater to her slightest whim, obey her every command, be totally +subservient to her, exist in perfect obedience to her will, as +opposed to the completely warped, degenerate situation we have now +of men, not only not existing at all, cluttering up the world with +their ignominious presence, but being pandered to and groveled +before by the mass of females, millions of women piously worshipping +before the Golden Calf, the dog leading the master on the leash, +when in fact the male, short of being a drag queen, is least +miserable when his dogginess is recognised - no unrealistic emotional +demands are made of him and the completely together female is +calling the shots. Rational men want to be squashed, stepped on, +crushed and crunched, treated as the curs, the filth that they are, +have their repulsiveness confirmed. + +The sick, irrational men, those who attempt to defend themselves +against their disgustingness, when they see SCUM barreling down on +them, will cling in terror to Big Mama with her Big Bouncy Boobies, +but Boobies won't protect them against SCUM; Big Mama will be +clinging to Big Daddy, who will be in the corner shitting in his +forceful, dynamic pants. Men who are rational, however, won't kick +or struggle or raise a distressing fuss, but will just sit back, +relax, enjoy the show and ride the waves to their demise. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001293.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001293.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d440640b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001293.txt @@ -0,0 +1,429 @@ +THE REAL PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENTS, AN EXTRACT FROM "THE NATURE OF THE STATE." +by Derrick A Pike + +Freely distributable, but please quote source + + +5 WHY WE CHOOSE THE STATE AND HOW WE CAN DISCOVER ITS TRUE PURPOSE + +The state is simply one way that people can organise and live together. +There are many other ways to do this, but always people have only two +choices. If they believe that humans are innately good, they will choose a +society where they cooperate with one another of their own free will; but +if they believe that humans are innately evil, they will choose a society +where everyone is forced to cooperate with one another by violence. If +people choose the former, they will be free; but if they choose the latter +, they will not.=20 + +=09Unfortunately, because people believe that some of us are innately +evil (not themselves, of course) and because they know of no alternative, +they choose violence to protect themselves from the enemies that exist at +home and abroad. (The enemies exist, but only because our present social +pattern creates them.) Then, when people have accepted violence, they must +accept a separate group - a government - to organise it. They also accept +a government because they believe that people are incapable of controlli +ng their own affairs and so must be directed by others. People accept the +state.=20 + +=09Once people choose a government to direct affairs and be in charge +of violent forces to protect them, it must have absolute power to make +them obey its commands. It would be ineffectual if people did not obey. It +must also have complete power to overcome any violent opposition to its +rule. But because a government has absolute power it can rule in any way +it wishes. And this it does. As a result, it has a purpose that is very +different from the one that was used to justify its existence. As will be +prove d, governments rule in their own interests, in the interests of +those they wish to favour, and in the interests of those whose support +they have to buy.=20 + +=09Because governments are in charge, and since people obey the laws +they enforce, it is possible to discover the real purpose of governments. +It is important to do this because once their true purpose is recognised, +all socioeconomic details, all history, and all government morality can be +explained. It will be understood why even the most benign ruler behaves +like an ardent reactionary, why no political party is substantially +different from any other, and why even a change of political system (from +or to: democratic, fascist, socialist, communist, etc.) does not produce +any change in social conditions. Once the true purpose of governments is +understood, and once an alternative to the state is seen to be practical +then, hopefully, people will create a free + and ideal society. + +=09The purpose of governments is revealed by the way they behave and +by the kind of society they produce as the result of their rule. The real +purpose of governments can also be discovered by examining the +construction of the state because the way they control the people will +confirm their true purpose. By these means we can discover whether +governments exist to serve all the people or only some of them.=20 + +6 THE GOVERNMENTS' MAIN PURPOSE IS TO DISTRIBUTE WEALTH UNEQUALLY + +The outstanding characteristic of every state is the massive inequality of +wealth that exists within it. There are a few extremely rich individuals +who have wealth worth billions of pounds, a relatively small number who +have a reasonable amount of wealth, and a mass of people who have little +or nothing. There are those own everything they want and those who do not +have their next meal or the money to buy it. Ten per cent of the people +living in the industrial countries own 80 per cent of all the wealth in +the world. Generally, women are much poorer than men. It is the same with +income. Some individuals have a huge income; others have very little or +none at all.=20 + +=09The contrast between the rich and poor in the first and third +worlds is obscene. According to the World Bank First Development Report +more than a billion people were living in poverty "a condition of life so +characterised by malnutrition, illiteracy, disease, squalid surroundings, +high infant mortality, and low life expectancy as to be beneath any +reasonable definition of human decency." In 1990 it added, "Being poor +means being unable to maintain a minimal standard of living . . . it means +low life expe ctancies, high death rates among infants and children, and +few opportunities to obtain even a basic education." So in the third world +millions and millions starve, while in the first world many have their own +camcorders, televisions, videos, and every other luxury. In the developed +countries, the middle and upper classes dress in a variety of clothes to +attend horse races, fashion shows, plays, operas, dances, concerts, and +all the other enchanting diversions.=20 + +=09The inequalities in the world are always increasing. In 1960, the +richest 20 per cent of the world's population received 70.2 per cent of +the total annual income, and the poorest 20 per cent received 2.3 per cent +of it. By 1989, the richest 20 per cent received 82.7 per cent of the +total annual income and the poorest 20 per cent received 1.4 per cent of +it.=20 + +7 POVERTY AND INEQUALITY IN THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES + +Unfortunately, even in the first world, a great many people do not have +the luxuries or even the necessities. Fewer than two-thirds of the people +in the so-called rich countries can maintain even a modest standard of +living, and many do not have enough to eat, so that they become hungry. +There are areas of unbelievable squalor where people live without hope. +According to official statistics, there were, in the early 1980s, more +than thirty million people in Europe who were chronically poor. The figure +wor sened in the early nineties. Some parents were so poor that they had +to abandon their children. Teenagers had to live on the streets, stealing, +and sleeping rough. In Britain, nearly one family in three with children +was living in poverty. One sixth of th e population was on income support. +In America, people died because they could not afford medical attention, +and many unemployed had to queue for food vouchers.=20 + +=09In Britain, in the 1980s, over a quarter of the total income went +to the top ten per cent of the people, while less than a quarter of the +total income went to the bottom 50 per cent. A quarter of all wealth was +owned by 1 per cent of the adult population and 59 per cent of all wealth +was owned by 10 per cent of it. Nearly two-thirds of the land was owned by +only 2 per cent of the people - more than half of the land was owned by +only 1 per cent.=20 + +=09The inequality of wealth does not even remain stable for while the +poor get poorer the rich get richer. Those with a high income always +receive large pay rises. These are the senior civil servants, the judges, +the high ranking military officers, the Civil Service 'mandrins'', and +the directors of companies. Amid the slump around 1990, while teachers, +nurses, and social workers had rises of only a few per cent, these people +had rises of more than 20 per cent. For example, in 1992, the TSB chief +executive had a 25 per cent rise, bringing his salary to =A3230,000. The +directors of MFI got =A31.3m as a bonus when their company returned to the +stock market. This cash was on top of salaries ranging from =A3100,000 to +=A3275,000 a year. A report published in the British Journal of Industrial +Relations showed that top bosses enjoyed pay rises out of all proportion +to their companies' performance during the recession. During the worst +years, from 1989 to 1991, their salaries increased by 14 per cent per +year. During each year since 1983, their average salary increase was 20 +per cent. Many company directors were paid around one million pounds a +year. Britain's highest paid tycoon had a remuneration of =A318m in 1993. +Most of this took place while company dividends, interest + on the shares, and general performances were nosediving. + +=09Always the inequality of wealth and income is maintained or +increased. In the latter part of 1993, the bottom 10 per cent of the +population survived on =A354 per week, while the directors of the top 100 +firms earned on average =A310,000 a week. It is not sur prising the number +of millionaires in Britain became greater than ever and that some people +were immensely rich. David Sainsbury shares were worth =A31.89bn; Lord +Sainsbury's, =A3262.2m; and Lord Rothermere's, =A3249.3m. In contrast, in +Britain, as in all countries, there are beggars who can exist only by +living off the charity of the public. The police move on about 100 beggars +every day in the Central London stations.=20 + +=09Official statistics confirm that the wealth inequality increases. +In June 1993, the Social Security Department issued a report concerning +the income of people between the years 1979 and 1991-92. It showed that +during those years there was a dramatic fall in the share of income for +the poorer 10 per cent of households. Although average incomes rose 35 per +cent in real terms from 1979 the incomes of the bottom 10 per cent fell by +17 per cent. At the same time the income of the richest 10 per cent rose +by 62 per cent. The Financial Secretary to the Treasury later showed that +even during the first two years of the recession, between 1989 and 1991, +the income of Britain's highest earners increased enormously while the +income of the poorest in work was cut. =09In 1994, Tom White, the chief +executive of the National Children's Home charity, said, "It is appalling, +as we approach the year 2000, that even an 1876 workhouse diet is too +expensive for the families of one in four of our children."=20 + +=09As people get poorer, their working conditions also deteriorate. +Now there is less full-time pensionable employment and more insecure +part-time and contract work.=20 + +=09In America, between the years 1988 and 1992, the wealth inequality +rose sharply. Real wages rose rapidly for 20 per cent of males, held +constantly for another 20 per cent, and fell for the remaining 60 per +cent.=20 + +=09In the state there is an inequality not only of material wealth +but also of social service. The rich can afford to pay others to look +after them; the poor cannot.=20 + +=09Since those who are rich have money to buy anything, they need do +no work, and although a great number may continue to work, the majority do +not. So within the state there is not only an unequal distribution of +wealth and service but also an unequal distribution of labour and leisure.= +=20 + +=09Because all of this inequality is the result of the governments' +rule, we must conclude that it is their purpose to produce it. The true +purpose of governments must be to serve themselves, and certain +individuals and groups.=20 + +8 GOVERNMENTS DO NOT EXIST THE SERVE THE PEOPLE + +By observing what governments do, we have discovered their true purpose. +They control the production and distribution of wealth with partiality. We +can confirm that this is indeed their purpose by observing what they do +not do.=20 + +=09It is not the governments' purpose to provide even adequate living +conditions. On the contrary, as we shall see, to achieve their true +purpose, they must see to it that most people remain poor and deprived.=20 + +=09Governments do not arrange the efficient production and +distribution of food, and because of this there is no state where everyone +has enough to eat. In the third world, millions starve and die, and even +in the developed countries there are thousands who are often hungry.=20 +Equally shameful, much of the food produced is unhealthy and downright +poisonous. Dr Richard Lacey, professor of microbiology at Leeds +University, said local studies have shown food poisoning cases were up +from 200 a year in 1988 to 800 a year in 1992. He said, "That equates to a +real figure of 200,000 across the country, and the exact total could be as +high as two million." During the year ending May 1993, there were 16,664 +cases of food poisoning. Many people who understand that they should eat +healthy food have no money to buy it.=20 + +=09Governments fail to provide water. Some people have adequate +supplies but most have not. Two-thirds of the people in the world have to +fetch water from outside their homes. In the third world, governments make +no serious attempt to organise water supplie s. Even when there is no +drought, many people have to walk miles for their daily supply. In +Britain, a supposedly developed country, not enough water is stored for +the people or industry, so often it has to be rationed. Millions drink +water contaminated b y harmful sewage, fertilisers, pesticides, and lead. +Raw sewage is discharged into the sea on the holiday coasts.=20 + +=09In the third world, millions are unhealthy because they have no +money to buy medical attention and because governments do not arrange to +give it to them. Epidemics occur because there are famines, mass +migrations, revolutions, and wars. Humanity's greatest killer, +tuberculosis, is out of control in many parts of the world, although the +disease is preventable and treatable. Aids is infecting 5,000 people a +day; 40 million worldwide will be affected by the year 2000. Of the 42 +million blind people in the w orld, 30 million could see if they had a +simple operation. Even in the developed countries people are not as fit as +they should be. Not only do they eat and drink unhealthy food and water +but they also breathe polluted air, swim in dirty seas, and absorb deadly +human-made radiations. As always, only the rich are cared for. It is they +who can buy adequate and immediate medical attention. Once the government +of Britain took regular amounts of money so that it could provide medical +care for everybody at no e xtra charge. In the eighties, however, the +government reverted to type and the National Health Service started to +deteriorate. Charges were made for some services, and hospitals had to +refuse patients for lack of money. By June 1993, more than a million p +eople were waiting for hospital treatment, even though thousands of beds +were closed down. Needless to say, there was no reduction, only an +increase, in the regular payments made by the public. The death rate in +Glasgow and Sheffield confirms the inequali ty of health care. In the +deprived parts of these cities the poor can expect to die eight years +earlier than people in the affluent areas. According to a report issued by +the British Medical Journal, in April 1994, the growth of poverty and the +widening d ifference between the rich and poor in Britain over the last +fifty years meant that the latter had a mortality rate four times higher +than the former.=20 + +=09People would be healthier if they were always protected against +the elements. Unfortunately, in the state societies, the very poor have +little or no protections. It is they who are killed, often in their tens +of thousands, by earthquakes and floods becau se they are compelled to +live in disaster areas and in poor housing. Further, not everyone has +adequate clothing. It is only the well-off who can dress in any way they +desire. Many of the poor in the third world are only just adequately +covered. People su ffer from the cold and have accidents, even in the +developed countries, because they cannot afford to buy fuel and +electricity.=20 + +=09Many people are unhealthy because they are unemployed. The suffer +not only economically but also psychologically as they feel they have no +place in society or purpose in life. Unemployment and poverty are often +responsible for family breakdown, social di stress, and crime. The suicide +rate among the unemployed is much greater than the average, and their +expectation of life is shorter.=20 + +=09A number of people are unprotected because they have no place to +live. Governments have never provided enough houses. In Britain, in the +third quarter of 1992, local councils accepted that 35,550 families were +homeless. Although 1,500,000 families receiv ed temporary accommodation, +there was none available for many others. The organisation Shelter +calculated that there were 1.7 million "unofficially homeless". These were +the squatters and the people in temporary private lodgings and hostels. +Such people h ave a death rate that is three times the normal. An +estimated 8,600 people sleep rough every night - in cardboard boxes, shop +doorways, car parks, abandoned buildings, parks, and hedgerows. More than +600 people died on the streets of England and Wales in 1992. Yet while the +poor have nowhere to live, the rich live in splendid houses and mansions. +Many have more than one residence.=20 + +=09If governments do not provide enough food and shelter, one would +hardly expect them to provide a good education for everybody. Nor do they. +In Britain, for example, there are about nine million adults who have +difficulties with reading, writing, spelling , and basic mathematics. In +some state schools, the parents have to provide books and pencils. Many +schools have not been redecorated or maintained properly for decades. The +Government, even after nearly a century, cannot decide how the pupils +should be t aught the basic subjects. In the entire world, half the people +cannot read or write, and in Africa and Asia only one in ten can do so.=20 + +=09The deficiencies and inequalities extend to every part of life. +Most people in the world, for example, have no transport, but others have +fine cars, ships, and aeroplanes. Some are inconvenienced by transport +strikes, others are not.=20 + +=09The true purpose of governments has now been confirmed by showing +what they do not do. They do not provide all the essentials of life. Those +who are rich have them, but the majority do not. They do not because it is +not the function of governments to pro vide them.=20 + +=09Despite our increased scientific and technical knowledge, despite +all the possibilities of computer control and automatic machinery, and in +spite of all the modern means of producing food and other forms of wealth, +under government rule the standard of living drops. It drops when, with +the advance of science and technology, it should be rising and rising with +great rapidity. Yet Mr J. Callaghan, when Prime Minister, said, "I say +with all the force I can command that it is not possible to have an +increase d standard of life at present."=20 + +9 THE STARVATION IN THE WORLD IS DUE TO GOVERNMENT RULE, NOT OVERPOPULATION + +Other than their wars, the worse failure of governments is their total +inability to organise the production and distribution of food. In the +third world, a child dies of hunger, or a hunger related illness, every +2.4 seconds. This tragedy is horrifying. A ll of us would think so if we +were the next to die. In Somalia alone, in 1992, a million people were on +the brink of death. A thousand died every day and the entire population +was in danger of being wiped out. In sub-Saharan Africa, according to The +Food and Agriculture Organisation, 40 million people were threatened with +hunger.=20 + +=09Well-meaning people, who have not done their homework, say that +the world is overpopulated, and so it is impossible to provide for all. +The resources of the world, they say, are not enough to feed so many +people. They point out that every minute there ar e three hundred extra +people to feed, as if the rest of the population were obliged to feed them +while they did no work themselves. With every new mouth there is also a +new pair of hands and with those hands more wealth can be created. Nobody +has to feed more people; they will feed themselves. Each new pair of hands +can create enough wealth to feed at least fifty people. It is simply not +true that the world is overpopulated. It would appear so because +governments are incapable of organising society so tha t everyone has +enough to eat.=20 + +=09The starvation in the world is due entirely to the way governments +organise our social life. It is not due to overpopulation, inadequate +resources, or insufficient food production. The world is not a food larder +with contents so limited that there is not enough for everyone. The world +is a food larder that - even with governments - produces 2.4 pounds of +grain as well as beans, potatoes, fruit, and vegetables every day for +every person. Even now, there is 50 per cent more food produced than is +necessary to feed everyone. Much, much more could be produced. As Dr H. +Kissinger said, as long ago as 1976, "For the first time we have the +technical capacity to free mankind from the scourge of hunger."=20 + +=09The starvation in the third world could be lessened if the +governments there bought food in the world market. It cannot be said that +they do not have the money because, as is evident, there is always enough +to maintain large numbers of well-equipped arme d forces and often to +develop atom bombs.=20 + +=09People starve in some sections of the world because food is stored +without being used, deliberately destroyed, unequally distributed, and +used for political bargaining. Food is managed in this way because it is +used as a source of privilege, profit, and world power. Starvation is +produced by drought, civil war, war, and ecological collapse. It is +increased because some governments export food while their own people +starve. The use of money makes all this possible.=20 + +=09So today people starve not because they have no food but because +they have no money. During 1992, in Somalia, people starved on the +outskirts of towns where the markets were full of food. Rich people never +starve. If there is no food, it is soon created when there is a market for +it - that is, if people can sell it at a profit to those who have money. +It is the poor who starve. It is those with power in North America and +Europe who increase the poverty in the third world. They decide that low +prices shal l be paid for third world products, that national debts shall +not be cancelled, and that corrupt and evil regimes shall be supported.=20 + +=09Those worried about the birth rate must remember that it is +reduced when people have a decent standard of living. For the very poor, +children are a form of wealth. They are the means of providing for old +age.=20 + +10 GOVERNMENTS DO NOT PROTECT THE PEOPLE OR THEIR PROPERTY + +=09In the state there is a massive amount of violence by individuals +who use it for themselves and for their government. This causes untold +suffering. Consequently, neither property nor person is protected. An +immense amount of personal property is stolen a nd vandalised by +individuals, and a greater amount is destroyed when governments make war. +It + +=09Children are bullied in school and attacked in their homes. +Nurses, teachers, police, and women in their homes are attacked. People +are robbed and murdered. Women and children are raped in their homes; +children are raped while in governmental care. It is dangerous for +children to be alone day or night and for women to be alone in isolated +areas. The number raped by the sexual psychopaths, however, is nothing +compared with number raped during the wars. There were 30,000 raped in +Bosnia in 1993. Rape is part of the spoils of war, the officers get the +paintings and jewellery, and the lower ranks get the women.=20 + +=09People are kidnapped by criminals for ransom, and a far greater +number by governments for punishment (in prisons) and for fighting (in +war).=20 + +=09It is during the wars and the civil wars that people are in most +danger from living in the state societies. Criminals murder people every +day, but when governments murder, they do it on a massive scale. When +governments fought one another in Rwanda, in 1 994, more than a million +people were massacred and half the population, emaciated and famished, +spread in terror accross borders. Wars and civil wars produce millions of +refugees and displaced people. Since 1945, there were 6m from Afghanistan, +4m from Y ugoslavia, 1.4m from Kurdistan, and 3m from Rwanda. Those from +Rwanda died from starvation and disease at the rate of one a minute. The +size of the governments' battles during a war is also incrediable. In 1943 +German forces were engaged in Hitler's Opera tion Zitadelle on the Kursk +salient. The ensuing battle involved 2.7 million men and over 6,000 tanks, +34,000 guns and 4,000 aircraft. The governments' air raids are even more +violent. On 13 February 1945, the allies dropped 1,223 bombs on Dresden, a +city of little strategic importance. As a result, 35,000 people were +killed and 15 square kilometres of the city were destroyed. When the +American forces dropped the atom bomb on Hiroshima they killed 80,000 +people at the time and an untold number who have di ed since. There were +about 56 million people killed in World War 2, and another 22 million died +as the result of it up to the year 1992. More have died since. Millions of +people are killed in wars, mostly civilians. Now, with their atomic +bombs, governme nts have the means to kill the whole human race many times +over. Only the rich can buy physical protection, and even they may not be +able to do so in a nuclear war.=20 + +=09With all the facts available, those who believe that governments +exist to serve the whole country and not just a part of it must believe in +fairies. Governments rule with partiality and no part of society can be +explained unless this is understood.=20 + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001294.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001294.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1386323a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001294.txt @@ -0,0 +1,183 @@ +WEALTH AND THE STATE, AN EXTRACT FROM "THE NATURE OF THE STATE" +by Derrick A Pike +Freely distributable, but please quote source + + + +1 WEALTH (GOODS AND SERVICES) + +As a way of organising society, the state fails in every aspect of life. +It is true the privileged have more than enough material wealth, but even +they have no satisfactory purpose in life and little opportunity to +develop as human beings. The power structure inhibits originality, +restricts change, and forces the many to serve the few. As a result, the +physical needs of most people are unsatisfied and many suffer and die. To +understand why humankind is in this pitiful condition, we must understand +how governments fulfil their purpose. And since their purpose is +intimately connected with wealth, we must know exactly what that is. + + We are born with a desire to live and to do this we have to eat, +sleep, and protect ourselves from the elements. This means that we cannot +exist unless we help one another. Even in the most friendly environment +where food can be gathered without any effort, people need help, if only +during the years when they are young. We certainly need help if we are to +live in reasonable comfort because then we have to cooperate to produce +our food, clothes, and shelter. All of us must produce more than these +items if we are to live well and with happiness. We need the means to +travel and carry goods over the land and sea and through the air. We need +musical instruments, computers, radio and television equipment, and a +myriad of other articles. And we need more than t he material objects that +we manufacture and grow. Because our bodies sometimes get sick and in +danger, we need assistance from others. We need a service. To have all +things in life, we need the help of other people. + + The way we organise to help one another decides the nature of our +society. How we organise our work to produce goods and give a service, and +how we distribute both, is our economy. Since there are billions of people +who lack the essentials of life, we know that we are organising our +society very badly. The state is an economic failure. + + To prove the disadvantages of the state and its economy, it is +unnecessary to define the many technical terms used by the apologists for +our society. Some of my definitions, however, must be given. The goods we +produce and the services we give, I call we wealth. In common parlance, the +word 'wealth' also means money, but here it does not. + + There are two kinds of wealth, the useful and the useless. The +products of our labour that we need to live and enjoy are useful. Houses, +food, clothes, and cars are useful. The products of our labour that are +harmful and of no use are useless. Atom bombs , cigarettes, gambling +tables, and guns are useless. What we do to help others is useful. It is +useful to create and distribute the wealth we all need, to teach others, +and to cure the sick. What we do to harm others, or to produce no useful +result, is us useless. It is useless to work as bureaucrats, to take part in +government, or to fight in wars. Useful labour produces useful wealth and +service, and useless labour produces useless wealth and service. + + Wealth can be a necessity or a luxury. Necessities are adequate +water, beverages, food, clothes, and housing. Luxuries are the extra +items, such as televisions, fine clothes, comfortable transport, and +objects of art. Both necessities and luxuries are us useful wealth, although +no one should have the latter until everyone has the former. + +2 HOW OUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WEALTH PRODUCTION HAS INCREASED + +Most people imagine that it would take an impossible utopia to give +everyone the necessities of life. Recently, however, a factor has been +added to society that makes it possible. The very factor that has got +humans into trouble can now get them out of it . That factor is our great +knowledge that enables us to control our material environment. Humankind +has made three giant steps in the acquisition of knowledge concerning the +production of wealth, and this knowledge has released us from the burden +of labou r. The last step was made only a few decades ago, and it ensures +that the utopian society is within our grasp. + + Early in our history, when our numbers were few, we could obtain +all our food by gathering it from natural vegetation while living a +nomadic life. We needed to work only about three hours a day to have all +the necessities of life and even some luxuries. Some people believe that +during this period we also hunted for food. As our numbers increased, more +food was required, and it became necessary for us to be farmers, +cultivating plants and raising domestic animals. During this time, our +workload for each p erson increased. Then, by about 8000 BC, our workload +was greatly reduced by two genetic accidents that transformed the wheat +that was not much more than wild grass into wheat with ears full of grain. +This modern wheat could be propagated only by ourselves, but we knew how +to do it. We made the first step towards the easy production of wealth. + + The second step was the discovery of machinery. Early in the +eighteenth century the seed drill and other farming machinery were +invented, so fewer people were required to produce food. Then when steam +and electricity were harnessed much of the need to work with our muscles +was gone for ever. + + The third and final step was made when we invented devices that +would do the work of our brains. We now have computers that will do +calculations, display information and designs in graphical form, store and +sort information, transmit information to any p art of the world, teach, +listen and speak on different subjects, and do much else. More than this, +and perhaps even more vital, we have servomechanisms that enable the +computers to control our mechanical power. We now have robots that +manufacture, or help manufacture, any article from a pin to an aeroplane, +and robots that control the speed and direction of any object or vehicle. +Seeing, feeling, and touching robots operated by computers, can take over +some work completely. Fifth-generation computers will have an artificial +intelligence so that they can do the work of doctors, lawyers, teachers, +journalists, designers, and other professionals. + + Obviously, if we have machines that will create and handle power +and devices that will think and control them, then the two together will +do nearly all our work for us. Because we have machines that will do the +work of our brains and our muscles there is little left for us to do - +except to organise our society. That's the hard part! + +3 WE CAN NOW PRODUCE WEALTH EASILY + +Even now, without a properly organised society, the ease with which we +produce wealth is remarkable. Because we possess a vast technical and +scientific knowledge, all forms of wealth can be manufactured in great +quantities. To give a few examples: In Britain, one blast furnace +produces enough iron for the whole country, and a single manufacturer +produces enough shoes to give everyone a new pair four times a year. In +Japan, one factory makes nearly 30,000 radios a day, and in America +another makes nearly three million ball pens in the same time. In 1986 a +factory was built where only 95 people, working in three shifts, can +produce 300,000 vehicles a year. During the twenties, it took eight men +and seven horses to farm 250 acres of land. Now one man can do it. Less +than four per cent of the American population work on the land and yet +they produce three-quarters of the world's grain. And as with the +necessities of life, so it is with the luxuries. + + Of all the work done in the world, only half is done to produce +and prepare food. In the industrial countries, only about one person in +ten is so engaged. It has been estimated that even now, when our technical +knowledge is not put to proper use, only about 5 per cent of the +population can provide the rest of us with all the food, clothing, +shelter, and fuel we need. + + The curse of laborious work has been lifted from us but, as with +all things, this is a blessing that may be used for good or evil. In a +rational society, it will be used for good, but in our present society, it +is used for evil. + +4 WHY WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE STATE SOCIETY + +Since it is now possible to produce wealth with hardly any effort, we have +to ask why we do not have plenty of it. Why do we not all live like kings? +There can be only one answer. We do not because we organise our society +ineffectively. Our labour is not used to produce useful wealth +efficiently, and it is wasted producing useless wealth. Even worse, what +is produced is distributed unfairly and is often wasted or destroyed. +Today our economy is capitalism and our social organisation is the state. +Both are ineffectual, dangerous, and irreformable, and we must understand why. + + Obviously, we must understand capitalism if we are to understand +our present way of producing and distributing wealth. Not so obvious is +the fact that we must understand the state in order to understand our +economy. Most standard textbooks explain - or try to explain - our economy +without any reference to the state society. This is like trying to explain +why a car moves along the road without first explaining the petrol engine. + + We have to understand the states because within them there are +governments, and it is governments who decide how society shall be +organised. The society we have is the result of following their +instructions. If your government says that your economic system must be +capitalism, then capitalism it is. If it says that it must be Fascism or +Communism, then Fascism or Communism it is. The kind of society and +economy we have is always the result of government rule. Governments force +us to use their economic system, but whatever the system they choose, it +always involves the way wealth is created and distributed. Governments +interfere with and control the economy in many ways, and they are also a +part of it. In 1993, 40 per cent of all spending in Britain was by the +Government. Therefore, we must understand how governments control the +economy and why they do it. + + We want to eliminate not only our economic evils but also all +social evils; not only inflation, slumps and poverty but also crime, +terrorism, and war. Therefore, if we are to eliminate these social evils +we must understand our present society that produces them. If we are to +dismantle our present society and replace it with a better one, we must +first understand its nature and the reason it produces so much poverty and +violence. There is no other social pattern for us to study because the +states cover the world. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001296.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001296.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0e6a688d --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001296.txt @@ -0,0 +1,156 @@ +LIVING IN THE STATE SOCIETY, VARIOUS ESSAYS +by Derrick A Pike + +Freely distributable, but please quote source + +THE MOST DANGEROUS FEATURE OF THE STATE + +To live in a state is to live in continuous danger for it produces massive +poverty and, in many countries, disease, riots, revolutions and +'conventional' wars. Besides this continuous danger there is the threat of +a greater one that hangs over our heads like the proverbial Sword of +Damocles. To understand why this danger exists, we must understand how +power is distributed in the state. + + There are massive inequalities of wealth and leisure in the state, +and so people have to be induced by propaganda, enticed by rewards, and +forced by violence to live together in such an unjust way. One or more +rulers exert this control in government. Although a government has all +the power, it delegates its authority to manage day-to-day affairs. Those +immediately below the government have less power than the maximum, those +below again still less, and so on, to some extent, down through society. +Most people in society have no power at all. The state is hierarchical. +Those at the top of the power structure direct the power of all those +below them so that they have complete control of everyone. If there is +more than one ruler at the top of the power hierarchy, the power is +diluted and the excesses of any individual curbed, but if there is only +one ruler, his or her power is unrestricted. + + There is an ever-present danger in the state because any +individual at the top of the power structure may have the opportunity to +seize all of it. That individual then becomes a dictator, and he or she +can control all the country. People become dictators by being born in the +right bed, by being elected in a democratic parliament, and by seizing +power during a coup. They do not need to be mentally well or moral to +become dictators. Just the reverse, so that most are mad with power and +wicked. Examples are Idi Amin and Pol Pot. + + At the end of January this year there were memorial services held +to remind us of the terrible deaths that took place in the concentration +camps of Auschwitz and other German towns fifty years ago. These generated +several articles stating that we must be vigilant so that the horror was +not repeated. Some people wanted to know if it were possible for the +horror to happen again. Unfortunately, the power structure of the state +society makes it possible to happen anytime. So the answer to the +question, "Coul d there be another holocaust?" is "Yes, and most likely, +there will be." Hitler could destroy one and a half million people in the +most horrible way because he could use the state pattern of society. + + Because dictators and governments can control everyone, they will +behave in a very wicked way if it suits them. To retain their power, they +have brutal and repressive regimes that imprison without trial, torture, +and kill dissidents. If they want to exterminate a particular race or +religious group, they will do it. No government of any kind has any +compunction about killing millions of people. In Britain, as in other +countries, we do not know our real rulers, but they have, without our +consent agreed to the development of the atomic bomb and made war against +the Germans, the Faulklanders, and the Iranians. They decide whether we +shall arm, with what, and by how much. Millions of us may have to suffer +and die in an atomic war or in a holocaust of one kind or another. + + We can protect ourselves from our continuous danger and from +periods of special danger only by creating a free society where people +cooperate with one another of their own free will. We cannot change the +behaviour of governments and so we must protect ourselves by discarding +them. + +GOVERNMENTS CREATE THE SOCIAL EVILS, NOT US + +According to governments, the people themselves are responsible for all +the social evils. Governments design their propaganda to give the +impression that they are standing apart from society, like a benevolent +father, always ready to give help when we get ourselves into trouble. + + That is why we hear that children are not being educated properly +because the teachers do not know their job and because they waste their +time spreading liberal ideas. We hear that when people are poor and +unemployed it is because they are lazy and do not look for work. And we +are given to understand that there are crime and violence because some +people are wicked and because parents spoil their children by not giving +them enough discipline. Governments then appear to be dealing with these +evils by changing the National Curriculum, by giving us social security +money, and by putting criminals in prison. They perform this massive con +trick, safe in the knowledge that most people will not realise that +children are not educated properly because the school funding is too low +and the National Curriculum badly designed. People will not see that they +are poor because the economy of the state and capitalism are inefficient +and money is wasted on the state and on giving the privileged riches they +do not deserve. Everyone will accept that there is crime because people +are wicked and not because the state gives us no real purpose in life and +no fair distribution of wealth. + + Governments blame the people for the starvation and poverty that +exists in the Third World. According to them, people starve because they +breed too quickly. There are too many people to feed on the world's +limited resources. They say that unless they enforce birth control, people +would suffer more than ever. This is a lie. People starve because they are +forced to make war and because they are exploited by the capitalists and +the World Bank. They starve because governments cannot organise any +venture that serves the people. They cannot organise the fair production +and distribution of food. + + The idea of their remoteness is never more firmly instilled by +governments than in time of war. How often are we told that Churchill +saved us and lead us to victory in World War 2? Saved us indeed! We would +never have been in trouble were it not for Churchill and his ilk. + + We will never rid ourselves of poverty and war unless we realised +that we have these social conditions because we have governments. +Governments are in charge. They make the laws and they enforce them with +the violence of their police, so the society we have is the result of +their rule. Governments cannot evade responsibility by saying the social +evils are our own fault, although they will do so as long as we allow them +to exist and be in control. Left alone we shall not produce the social +evils and so we must see to it that there are no governments to interfere +with us. We must see to it that we rule ourselves. + + + +LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WASTE + +While suffering a long and painful illness (and probably getting older!), +I realised more than ever that life is short. I had not felt the presence +of the Grim Reaper, but one evening I caught a glimpse of the shadow cast +by his scythe. It was enough to make me assess the value of my life. + + Because I place happiness above wealth, I had not made much money, +but my life so far had been very interesting with several different +occupations and certain successes. As a designer, I had helped develop an +object that stayed in use for many years; I h ad started a viable +business; I had taught subjects that interested me; and I had done much +else. But looking back I realised that, apart from my personal life, +nothing seemed satisfying, purposeful, or of lasting value - except - +well, more than once, I did save a life. There was nothing especially to +my credit in this because it is comparatively easy for a large, muscular, +six foot man to rescue a struggling teenager from a river or lift a woman +from danger. And the other events were equally mundane. Nonetheless, it +did mean that but for me some people were alive who would otherwise be +dead. Then I remembered that as a young man, during WW2, I had refused to +stay in a reserved occupation because I would have been helping to kill my +fellow human beings. The memory gave me extreme satisfaction. + + I realised that no one who has created life, who has saved a life, +or who has refused to take a life has lived his or her life in vain. + + We cannot all be a mother producing children, and not all of us +are fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time to save +someone from a fatal accident, but all of us can refuse to kill or help +kill. + +So because life is short (your own and others), young men and women should +realise that if they do not want to waste the time they have, they should +become conscientious objectors. Conscientious objectors do not kill or +injure for the state and because they do not, they help destroy it. They +help destroy the state which is the cause of all suffering. When they grow +older they will realise that it was the best thing they ever did. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001297.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001297.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..795720d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001297.txt @@ -0,0 +1,948 @@ +The Last Of The Hippies - An Hysterical Romance +by Penny Rimbaud of CRASS, a British anarchist punk band + +In this cell that is ours, there is no pity, no sunrise on the cold plain +that is our soul, no beckoning to a warm horizon. + +All beauty eludes us and we wait. + +'No answer is in itself an answer. ' +Oriental proverb. + +On the third of September 1975, Phil Russell, alias Phil Hope, alias Wally +Hope, alias Wally, choked to death on his own vomit; blackberry, custard, +bile, lodged finally and tragically in the windpipe. Blackberry, custard, +bile, running from his gaping mouth onto the delicate patterns of the +ornamental carpet. + +He died a frightened, weak and tired man; six months earlier he had been +determine, happy and exceptionally healthy; it had taken only that, short +time for Her Majesty's Government's Heath Department to reduce Phil to a puke +covered corpse. + +'The first dream that I remember is of myself holding the hand of an older +man, looking over a beautiful and peaceful valley - suddenly a fox broke +cover followed by hounds and strong horses ridden by red-coated huntsmen. The +man pointed into the valley and said, "That, my son, is where you're heading. +"I soon found that out, I am the fox!' + +Phil Russell. 1974. + +Phil's death marked, for us, the end of an era. Along +with him died the last grain of trust that we, naively, had had in the +'system', the last seeds of hope that, if we lived a decent life based on +respect rather than abuse, our example might be followed by those in +authority. Of course it was a dream, but reality is based on a thousand +dreams of the past; was it so silly that we should want to add ours to the +future? If the power or protest had dwindled, the power of rock was showing +no such faint heart. By the mid sixties, rock'n' roll ruled and no party +conference was going to bring it down. Youth had found its voice and +increasingly was demanding that it should be heard. + +Loud within that voice was one that promised a new world, new colours, new +dimensions, new time and new space. Instant karma, and all at the drop of an +acid tab. + +'My advice to people today is as follows: If you take the game of life +seriously if you take your nervous system seriously. you'll take your sense +organs seriously if you take the energy process seriously you must turn on +tune in and drop out. + +Acid prophet, Timothy Leary. + +Society was shocked, desperate parents backed off as their little darlings +'tripped' over the ornamental carpets. Hysterical reports that acid caused +everything from heart- burn to total collapse of decent society appeared +almost daily in the press. Sociologists invented the 'generation gap' and +when the long haired weirdo flashed a V-sign at them they got that all wrong +as well, it was really a peace sign, but, either way around it meant 'fuck +off'. In the grey corner we had 'normal society', and in the rainbow comer +sex'n'drugs'n'rock'n'roll, at least that's how the media saw it. The CND +symbol was adopted as an emblem by the ever growing legions of rock-fans +whose message of love and peace spread, like a prairie-fire, world-wide. The +media, in its desperate need to label and thus contain anything that +threatens to outdo its control, named this phenomenon 'Hippy' and the system, +to which the media is number one tool in the fight against change, set about +in its transparent, but none-the less effective way, to discredit this new +vision. + +By the late sixties, straight society was beginning to feel threatened by +what its youth was up to; it didn't want its grey towns painted rainbow, the +psychedelic revolution was looking a little bit too real and it had to be +stopped. + +Books were banned, bookshops closed down. Offices and social centres were +broken into and their files were removed, doubtless to be fed into the police +computers. Underground papers and magazines collapsed under the weight of +official pressure, galleries and cinemas had whole shows confiscated. +Artists, writers, musicians and countless unidentified hippies got dragged +through the courts to answer trumped-up charges of corruption, obscenity, +drug- abuse, anything that might silence their voice; but nothing could, it +all mattered too much. + +As oppression became increasingly heavy, public servant bobby' became known +as public enemy 'piggy'; war had been declared on the peace generation, but +love wasn't going to give in without a fight. + +We are a generation of obscenities. The most oppressed people in this country +are not the blacks not the poor, but the middle class. They don't have +anything to rise up against and fight against. We will have to invent new +laws to break . . . the first part of the yippy program is to kill your +parents... until your prepared to kill your parents you're not ready to +change this country. Our parents are our first oppressors.' + +Jerry Rubin, leader of the Yippies (militant hippies), speaking at Kent State +University, USA. + +Within a month of Rubin's speech, the university was in uproar. The mostly +white, middle class students, to show their objection to the way in which +both their campus and their country were being run, had staged innumerable +demonstrations and burnt down part of the university. The authorities called +in the army to 'restore peace', which they did in true military fashion =A5 +by shooting dead four students. + +'After the shooting stopped, I heard screams and turned and saw a guy +kneeling holding a girl's head to his hands. The guy was getting hysterical, +crying, yelling, shouting, "Those fucking pigs, they shot you". ' A Kent +State student after the shootings. + +The system had got in first. What Rubin hadn't accounted for, although past +history should have been a lesson to him, was that parents would be prepared +to kill their children rather than accept change. + +'Mother, "Anyone who appears on the streets of a city like Kent with long +hair, dirty clothes or barefooted deserves to be shot. " + +Question; "Is long hair a justification for shooting someone?" + +Mother; "Yes We have got to clean up this nation, and we'll start with the +long-hairs. " + +Question- "Would you permit one of your sons to be shot simply because he +went barefooted ?" + +Mother; "Yes". ' + +A mother speaks after the shootings at Kent. The days of flower power were +over; the piggies were out grazing in the meadows + +'I'm very proud to be called a pig It stands for pride, integrity and guts. ' +Ronald Reagan + +By the end of the sixties, throughout the western world, the 'people' had +returned to the streets. The dream was cross-fading with the nightmare. In +France, the government was almost overthrown by anarchist students; in +Holland, the Provos made a laughing stock of conventional politics; in +Germany Baader-Meinhof revenged itself on a state still run by ageing Nazis; +in America, peace became a bigger issue than war; in Northern Ireland, the +Catholics demonstrated in demand for civil rights; in England, colleges and +universities were 'occupied', embassies stormed. People everywhere were +calling for a life without fear, a world without war and were demanding a +freedom from the authorities who for years they had dismissed as almost +non-existent. The system, for far too long, had had it all its own way. +Amongst the people themselves, however, a long standing animosity was +becoming evident =A5 the conflicting interests of anarchism and socialism. + +Disagreements aside, the movement for change continued. Anarchist, socialist, +activist, pacifist, working class, middle class, black, white - one thing at +least united them all, a common cause, a universal factor, a shared flag - +good old rock'n' roll + +In the late sixties, Woodstock in America, and Glastonbury in Britain, +created a tradition in rock music that has now become part of our way of life +- the free festival. Free music, free space, free mind; at least that, like +'once upon a time', is how the fairy story goes. + +Many of the clashes between the authorities and the youth movement in the +late sixties and early seventies were, broadly speaking, of a political +nature, leftist platforms for social discontent, rather than anarchic demands +by individuals for the right to live their own lives The free festivals were +anarchist celebrations of freedom, as opposed to socialist demonstrations +against oppression and, as such, presented the authorities with a new problem +how do you stop people having fun? Their answer was predictable - stamp on +them. + +Windsor Park is one of Her Majesty's many back-gardens and when the hippies +decided that it was an ideal site for a free festival, she was 'not amused'. +The first Windsor Free had been a reasonably quiet affair and the authorities +had kept a low profile. Next year things were different and the Queen's +unwanted guests were forcibly removed by the police and the royal corgis +were, no doubt, suitably relieved, free once more to wander undisturbed. At +the front of the clashing forces that year, dressed variously in nothing, or +a pair of faded jeans and a brightly embroidered shirt emblazoned with the +simple message 'Hope', was one Phil Russell He danced amongst the rows of +police asking, "What kind of gentle-men are you?", or mocking, "What kind and +gentle men you are." The boys in blue were probably men, but they were +neither kind nor gentle. Phil came away from Windsor disturbed; he hated +violence and was sickened by what he had seen. Love? Peace? Hope? It was +shortly after this that we first met. + +For many years we had been running an open house, we had space and felt we +should share it. We had wanted a place where people could get together to +work and Live in a creative atmosphere rather than the stifling, inward +looking family environments in which we had all been brought up. It was +inevitable that someone Like Phil would eventually pass our way + +Phil Hope was a smiling, bronzed, hippy warrior. His eyes were the colour of +the blue skies that he loved, his neatly cut hair was the gold of the sun +that he worshipped He was proud and upright, anarchistic and wild, pensive +and poetic. His ideas were a strange mixture of the thinkings of the people +whom he admired and amongst whom he had lived. The dancing Arabs The peasant +Cypriots The noble lasai The silent and sad North American Indians for whom +he felt a real closeness of spirit. Phil had travelled the world and had met +fellow thinkers in every place that he had stopped, but always he returned to +England. Perhaps it was his love of the mythical past, King Arthur and His +Knights, that brought him back, or perhaps he felt as we do, that real change +can only be effected in the place that you most understand home. + +Phil could talk and talk and talk. Half of what he spoke of seemed like pure +fantasy, the other half like pure poetry. He was gifted with a strange kind +of magic. One day in our garden, it was early summer, he conjured up a +snowstorm, huge white flakes falling amongst the daisies on the lawn. Another +time he created a multi-rainbowed sky- it was as if he had cut up a rainbow +and thrown the pieces into the air where they hung in strange random +patterns. Looking back on it now it seems unbelievable but, all the same, I +can remember both occasions vividly. + +On our first meeting he described Windsor Free; we had always avoided +festivals, so our knowledge of them was very limited. Phil outlined the +histories and then went on to detail his ideas for the future. He proceeded +to unfold what was, to us, a ludicrous plan. He wanted to claim back +Stonehenge (a place that he regarded as sacred to the people and stolen by +the government) and make it: a site for free festivals, free music, free +space free mind; at least that, like 'happily ever after', is how the fairy +story goes. + +It is sad that none of that 'freedom' was evident when we attempted to play +at the Stonehenge Festival ten years later. Since Phil's death, it had been a +dream that one day we would play the festival as a kind of memorial to him. +In 1980 we had the band and the opportunity to do it. + +Our presence at Stonehenge attracted several hundred punks to whom the +festival scene was a novelty, they, in turn, attracted interest from various +factions to whom punk was equally new. The atmosphere seemed relaxed and as +dusk fell, thousands of people gathered around the stage to listen to the +night's music. suddenly, for no apparent reason, a group of bikers stormed +the stage saying that they were not going to tolerate punks at Their +festival'. What followed was one of the most violent and frightening +experiences of our lives. Bikers armed with bottles, chains and clubs, +stalked around the site viciously attacking any punk that they set eyes on. +There was nowhere to hide, nowhere to escape to; all night we attempted to +protect ourselves and other terrified punks from their mindless violence. +there were screams of terror as people were dragged off into the darkness to +be given lessons on peace and love; it was hopeless trying to save anyone +because, in the blackness of the night, they were impossible to find. +Meanwhile, the predominantly hippy gathering, lost in the soft blur of their +stoned reality, remained oblivious to our fate. + +Weeks later a hippy newsheet defended the bikers, saying that they were an +anarchist group who had misunderstood our motives some misunderstanding! Some +anarchists! + +If Phil and the first Stonehenge festivals were our first flirtations with +'real' hippy culture, this was probably our last. + +Dream filled hippies were a phenomenon of the early seventies, lost souls +whose brains were governed more by dope and acid than by common-sense. They +were generally a bore, waffling on about how things were 'going to be' in +about as realistic a way as snow describing how it will survive the summer's +sun. For all his strange ideas, Phil seemed different. Drugs, to him, were +not something to 'drop out' with, but a communion with a reality of colour +and hope that he actively brought back into the world of greyness and +despair. He used drugs carefully and creatively, not for 'escape', but to +help realise 'a means of escape'. + +In many respects we could never have been described as hippies. After the +usual small amount of experimentation we had rejected the use of drugs +because we felt that they confused thought and generally interfered with +relationships rather than contributing to them. + +We had opened up our house at a time when many others were doing the same. +The so called 'commune movement' was the natural result of people like +ourselves wishing to create lives of co-operation, understanding and sharing. +Individual housing is one of the most obvious causes for the- desperate +shortage of homes, communal living is a practical solution to the problem. If +we could learn to share our homes, maybe we could Learn to share our world +and that is the first step towards a state of sanity. + +The house has never been somewhere where people 'drop out', we wanted +somewhere where people could 'drop in' and realise that given their own time +and space they could create their own purposes and reasons and, most +importantly, their own lives. We wanted to offer a place where people could +be something that the system never allows them to be themselves. In many +respects we were closer to anarchist traditions than to hippy ones but, +inevitably, there was an interaction. + +We shared Phil's disgust with 'straight' society, a society that puts more +value on property than on people, that respects wealth more than it does +wisdom. We supported his vision of a world where the people took back from +the state what the state had stolen from the people. Squatting as a political +statement has its roots in that way of thought. Why should we have to pay for +what is rightfully ours? Whose world is this? + +Maybe squatting Stonehenge wasn't such a bad idea. Phil kept coming back to +the house with new plans. His enthusiasm was infectious and finally we agreed +to help him organise the first Stonehenge Festival, Summer Solstice, June 74. + +'Then called King Arther with loud voice "Where here before U5 the heathen +hound who slew our ancestors now march we to them . . . and when we come to +them myself foremost of all the fight I will begin.' 'Brut' Layamon + +By the beginning of 1974 we had printed thousands of hand-outs and posters +for the festival and Phil had sent out hundreds of invitations to such varied +celebrities as the Pope, the Duke of Edinburgh, The Beatles, the British +Airways air hostesses and the Hippies of Katmandu. Needless to say, not many +of the invitees turned up on the appointed date, but Phil was happy that a +motley crew of a few hundred hippies had. + +For nine weeks Phil and those who were prepared to brave the increasingly wet +summer, held fort at the old stone monument, watched in growing confusion by +the old stone-faced monument keepers. + +Wood-smoke drew into the damp night air, grey smoke against grey stones. +Leaping flames illuminated the story- tellers who sat, rainbow splashes in +the plain landscape, telling tales of how it was that this fire was lit in +this place, at this time, on our earth. + +'Our generation is the best mass movement in history - experimenting with +anything in now search for love and peace. Knowledge kicks religion life but +even if it leads us to our death at least we're all trying together Our +temple is sound we fight our battles with music drums like thunder cymbals +like lighting banks of electronic equipment like nuclear missiles of sound. +We have guitars instead of tommy-guns' Phil Russell, 1974. + +Rock 'n roll revolution, day in, day out, the talk went on, the rain came +down and if this year there'd only been a battered old cassette player to +pump out the sounds, next year they'd do better. + +Eventually, the Department of the Environment, keepers of the old stone-faced +monument keepers, served the 'Wallies of Stonehenge' notice to withdraw from +government property. The various inhabitants of the fort had agreed that, +should the authorities intervene, they would answer only to the name of +Wally; the name originated from a lost dog, much sought after at the Isle of +Wight Festival of many years back. The ludicrous summonses against Phil +Wally, Sid Wally, Chris Wally etc. did much to set the scene for the absurd +trial that followed in London's High Courts. + +Government enquiries are frequently used to lead the public into thinking +that something positive is being done about situations where the system has +been seen to step out of line. These token gestures allow the authorities to +commit atrocious crimes against the people while suffering no real fear of +reprisal The tactic has been employed in cases of military and police +violations in Belfast, Brixton etc.; environmental violations such as deadly +radiation leaks from power stations like Wind scale in Cumbria; compulsory +purchase orders, official theft, on land for motor ways, airports and more +nuclear plants, all of which are more likely to be a part of government plans +for the event of nuclear war than to be for the convenience of the public; +other 'mistakes' such as corruption by government officials, the maltreatment +of inmates in prisons and mental homes, violence by teachers in schools, +whenever, in fact, the authorities need a cover-up for their activities. + +Those in government are perfectly aware that they and the authorities to whom +they have been given power, daily commit crimes against the public and yet, +unless they are exposed by that same public, who rightly might fear for their +own well-being, nothing is done. + +In cases where the public do become aware of inexcusable behaviour by the +authorities, the government sets up its own enquiry to 'investigate' the +issue. Something 'appears' to be happening and the gullible, silent, violent +majority are satisfied that 'justice has been done'. The crude fact however, +is that the government will have done nothing at all except to have produced +and printed a few White Papers that hardly anyone will read and no one will +take any notice of. Meanwhile the 'official crimes continue, un hindered . + +Wally Hope came away from Windsor bruised and depressed. Once again he had +danced amongst the boys in blue in a vain attempt to calm them with his +humour and his love - he had been beaten up for his efforts. + +'I saw the police d ragging away a young boy punching and kicking him I saw a +pregnant woman being kicked in the belly and a little boy being punched in +the face. An around the police were just laying into people. I went to one +policeman who had just knocked out a woman's teeth and asked him why he'd +done it he told me to fuck off or I'd get the same. Later on I did. ' Fleet +Street loved it, there hadn't been any suitably unpleasant murders, rapes, +wars or 'natural' disasters, so the Wallies, with their leader Phil Wally +Hope, became this week's 'disposable' stars. The grinning heroes appeared +daily in the pages of the papers, flashing peace-signs and preaching the +power of love, next to that day's tits 'n bums an old message in a new +setting. + +Having lost the case and been ordered to immediately vacate the land, Wally +Hope jubilantly left the courtroom to face waiting reporters announcing, "We +have won, we have won Everybody loves us, we have won," Everybody was, if not +in love with, certainly confused by Wally and his disposable statement. All +the same, for a day or two, the Wallies had been good copy. In a way they had +won, they had moved on, but there's always a next year and a tradition had +been born. In a way they had won, but the system doesn't like being made a +fool of; the tradition has now become one of the only yearly major free +festivals. So, in a way they had won, but Wally Hope had pushed a thorn in +the side of the system and the system wasn't going to let him get away with +it again. + +From Stonehenge the retreating Wallies moved to Windsor. This year the +festival had attracted the biggest gathering ever. Tens of thousands of +people had come to ensure that Her Royal Majesty remained unamused and she, +in turn, was waiting in the guise of a massive police presence. Tension +between the two factions existed from the start and eventually things +exploded when the police staged a vicious early morning attack on the +sleeping festival goers. Hundreds of people were hurt as the police randomly +and brutally laid into anyone unlucky enough to be in their way. People were +dragged from their tents to be treated to a breakfast of boot and abuse. +Protesting hippies were pulled away to waiting Black Marias to be insulted, +intimidated, beaten up and charged. + +The media pretended to be shocked and the government ordered a public +enquiry, neither of which did much to improve the condition of the hundreds +of injured people. + +Wally Hope, after the party was over. Bit by bit, we were learning. The days +of flower-power were over, the pigs were out grazing in the meadows. Our +parents, at least their public servants, are our first oppressors. The +daisies w... being eaten. The nightmare was becoming reality. + +'Where today are the many powerful tribes of our people? They have vanished +before the greed and oppression or the White Man, as snow before the summer's +sun, ' + +Indian Chief. + +Things don't seem to change much. We should have known. Bit by bit, we were +learning. + +In the winter of that year Wally started work on the second Stonehenge +Festival; posters, hand-outs, invites. This time round he had the +questionable success of the first festival to point to, so the job was +easier. Word of mouth has always been a powerful tool of the underground and +already people were talking about what they would do to make it work. + +Wally spent much of the first two months of 75 handing out leaflets in and +around London. Dressed in his 'combat uniform', a bizarre mixture of +middle-eastern army gear and Scottish tartans and driving his rainbow striped +car complete with a full sized Indian tepee, a large multipoled tent, +strapped to the roof, he was a noticeable and colourful sight, a sight that +those greyer than himself, in appearance and thought, would certainly not +have missed. In May, he left our house for Cornwall; we had done all that we +could to prepare for the festival and Wally wanted to rest up in his tepee +until it began. The day of his departure was brilliantly hot; we sat in the +garden drinking tea as Wally, glorifying the golden sun, serenaded us and it, +with a wild performance on his tribal drums. He was healthy, happy and +confident that this time round he'd win again. + +As the rainbow coloured car drew away from our house, Wally leant through its +window and let out an enormous shout, something in between an Indian warcry +and the words 'freedom and peace', he was too far away to be properly heard. +The next time that we saw him, about a month later, he had lost a stone in +weight, his skin was white and un- pleasantly puffy, he was fail, nervous and +almost incapable of speech He sat with his head hung on his chest, his tongue +ran across his lips as if it were searching out the face to which it had once +belonged. His tear filled eyes had sunk, dull and dead, into his skull like +some strange Halloween mask. His hands shook constantly in the way that old +men's do on a cold winter's day. The sun which he worshipped had darkened for +him, he was unable to bear its light or its heat. Every so often he would +take pained, involuntary glances around the walled garden in which we sat. +Occasionally our eyes would follow his and always they were met with other +more sinister eyes watching us from across the perfect lines of the neatly +cut green lawns. Wally Hope was a prisoner in one of Her Majesty's +Psychiatric Hospitals, a man with no future but theirs. This time round he +was not winning + +A couple of days after Wally had left us he had been arrested for possession +of three acid tablets. The police had mounted a raid on the house at which he +had stopped for the night claiming that they were looking for an army +deserter. It just so happened that while they were looking for the deserter +they decided, for no reason at all, to look through Wally's coat pocket. Of +course they hadn't noticed the rainbow coloured car parked outside, nor were +they aware of the fact that the owner of that coat was the laughing hippy +anarchist who had made such an arsehole of the courts only a year before, or +that he was the same colourful character that had been handing out leaflets +about Stonehenge 2 in the streets of London just a few days ago. The police +don't notice things like that; their job, after all, is to catch fictitious +army deserters. + +Whereas most people would have been given a large waggle from the +trigger-finger and a small fine, Wally was refused bail and kept in prison on +remand. He was refused the use of the phone or of letter writing materials, +so he had no way of letting people or the outside know what had happened to +him. The people from the house in which he was arrested did nothing to help, +presumably because they feared similar treatment by the authorities. He was +alone and hopelessly ill-equipped for what was going to happen to him. + +After several days in jail, he appeared on parade wearing pyjamas claiming +that the prison clothing, which he was obliged to wear, was giving him +rashes. Rather than suggesting the simple remedy of allowing him to wear his +own clothes, the warden, clearly an expert in medical matters, sent him to +see the prison doctor who, in his infinite wisdom, had no trouble at all in +diagnosing the problem as 'schizophrenia'. + +'Just because they say that you're paranoid, it doesn't mean that you're not +being followed. ' Unknown hippy wit. + +Since the beginning of time, mental illness has been a powerful political +weapon against those seeking, or operating, social change. A lot of the +definitions of 'madness' are bogus inventions by which those in authority are +able to dismiss those who dare to question their reality. Terms like +schizophrenia, neurotic and paranoid, mean little more than what any +particular, or not so particular, individual chooses them to mean. There are +no physical proofs for any of these 'conditions'; the definitions vary from +psychiatrist to psychiatrist and depending on which is considered undesirable +or subversive, are totally different from one country to another. Because of +these different standards, the chances of being diagnosed schizophrenic in +America are far higher than they are in Britain and this led one psychiatrist +to suggest that the best cure for many American mental patients would be to +catch a flight to Britain. The label of 'mental illness' is a method of +dealing with individuals, from unwanted relatives to social critics, who, +through not accepting the conditions that are imposed upon them by outsiders, +are seen as 'nuisances' and 'trouble makers'. + +The works of psychologists, notably Freud, Jung, and the school of perverts +who follow their teachings, have, by isolating 'states of mind' and defining +some of them as 'states of madness', excluded all sorts of possible +developments in the way in which we see, or could see, our reality. By +allowing people to learn from the experience of their so called 'madness', +rather than punishing them for it, new radical ways of thought could be +realised, new perspectives created and new horizons reached. How else has the +human mind grown and developed? Nearly all the major advances in society have +been made by people who are criticised, ridiculed, and often punished in +their own time, only to be celebrated as 'great thinkers' years after their +deaths. As mental and physical health becomes increasingly control- able with +drugs and surgery, we come even closer to a world of hacked about and +chemically processed Mr. and Mrs. Normals whose only purpose in life with be +to mindlessly serve the system; progress will cease and the mind-fuckers will +have won their battle against the human spirit. + +Once labelled 'mad', a patient may be subjected to a whole range of hideous +tortures politely referred to by The Notional Health Service as 'cures'. They +are bound up in belts and harnesses, strait jackets, so that their bodies +becomes bruised and their spirits beaten. They are locked up in silent padded +cells so that the sound of their own heartbeat and the smell of their own +shit breaks them down into passive animals. They are forced to take drugs +that make them into robot-like zombies. One common side effect of long term +treatment with these drugs is severe swelling of the tongue; the only +effective cure is surgical - the tongue is cut out - what better way to +silence the prophet? They are given electric shocks in the head that cause +disorientation and loss of memory. ECT, electro- compulsive therapy, is an +idea adopted from the slaughter- house where, before having their throats cut +open, pigs are stunned with an identical form of treatment- ECT is a +primitive form of punishment that owes more to the traditions of the witch +hunters than it does to the tradition of science. The ultimate 'cure', tour +de force of the psychiatric profession, is lobotomy. Victims of this obscene +practical joke have knives stuck into their heads that are randomly waggled +about so that part of the brain is reduced to mince-meat. + +Surgeons performing this operation have no precise idea what they are doing; +the brain is an incredibly delicate object about which very little is known, +yet these butchers feel qualified to poke knives into people's heads in the +belief that they are performing 'scientific services'. Patients who are given +this treatment frequently die from it; those who don't can never hope to +recover from the state of mindlessness that has been deliberately imposed +upon them. + +Disgusting experiments are daily performed on both animals and humans in the +name of 'medical advance'; there is no way of telling what horrific new forms +of treatment are at this moment being devised for us in the thousands of +laboratories throughout the country. In Nazi Germany, the inmates of the +death camps were used by drug companies as 'guinea-pigs' for new products. +Nowadays the companies, some of which are the very same ones, use prisoners +in jails and hospitals for the same purposes. + +Mental patients are constantly subjected to the ignorance of both the state +and the general public and, as such, are perhaps the most oppressed people in +the world. In every society there are thousands upon thousands of people +locked away in asylums for doing nothing more than question imposed values; +dissidents dismissed by the label of madness and silenced, often for ever, by +the cure. + +Wally was prescribed massive doses of a drug called Largactil which he was +physically and often violently forced to take. Drugs like Largactil are +widely used not only in mental hospitals, but also in jails where +'officially' their use is not permitted. The prison doctor's 'treatment' for +'schizophrenia' reduced Wally to a state of helplessness and by the time he +was dragged into the courts again he was so physically and mentally bound up +in a drug induced strait jacket that he was totally incapable of +understanding what was going on, let alone of offering any kind of defence +for himself. + +When finally we did hear from Wally, an almost incomprehensible letter that +looked as if it had been written by a five year old child, he had been taken +from the jail, herded through the courts where he was 'sectioned' under the +Mental Health Act of 1959, and committed, for an indefinite time, to a mental +hospital + +Sectioning, compulsory hospitalisation, is a method by which the authorities +can imprison anyone who two doctors are prepared to diagnose as 'mad'. It is +not difficult, naturally, to find willing doctors, since prison hospitals are +riddled with dangerous hacks who, having sunk to the bottom of their +profession, are willing to oblige. + +Once sectioned, the patient loses all 'normal' human rights, can be treated +in any way that the doctors see fit and, because appeal against the court +decision is almost impossible, stands no chance of release until certified +'cured' by those same doctors. + +Recently Britain was forced by the European Court of Human Rights to allow +patients, prisoners, the right to appeal against compulsory hospitalisation. +Although this might appear to be an improvement on what existed in Wally's +time, patients still have to wait six months before the appeal will be heard, +by which time, like Wally, they are liable to be so incapacitated by the +treatment that they have received, that the appeal procedure would be +impossible for them to handle. + +Sectioning enables the state to take anyone off the streets and imprison +them, indefinitely, without any crime having been committed; it enables the +state, within he letter of the law, to torture and maim prisoners and suffer +no fear of exposure. + +Compulsory hospitalisation is the ultimate weapon of our oppressive state, a +grim reminder of the lengths to which the system will go to control the +individual Whereas the bomb is a communal threat, sectioning violates +concepts of 'human rights' in its direct threat to the freedom of personal +thought and action. + +When we heard of Wally's fate, we were convinced that the experience would +destroy him; some of us indeed, were convinced that the authorities intended +to destroy him. Inevitably, we were assured by liberal acquaintances that we +were 'just being paranoid about the intentions of the state'; those same +liberals say the same about any of the horrors of modern technological +society, from the bomb to computer systems, that they are afraid to confront +within that society and themselves. Paranoid or not, we made efforts, firstly +legally, then, illegally, to secure Wally's release. All of our attempts +failed. + +We spent days on the phone contacting people whom we thought might be able to +help or advise us. The most useful and compassionate help came from +organisations like Release and BIT, underground groups, some of which still +operate today helping people over all sorts of problems, from housing to +arrest. Critics of the 'hippy generation' would do well to remember that the +majority of such organisations, plus alternative bookshops, printing presses, +food shops, cafes, gig venues etc., are still run, for the benefit of us all, +by those same hippies; old maybe but, because of the enormous efforts many of +them have made 'to give hope a chance', not boring. + +We found that appeal was as good as impossible and realised, in any case, +that to follow 'normal' procedures could take months and by then we thought +it would be too late. We employed a lawyer to act on Wally's behalf, but the +hospital made it impossible for him to contact Wally; letters never got +through and telephone calls proved point- less. The 'patient' was always +'resting' and messages were incorrectly relayed to him. + +When we attempted to visit Wally in hospital we were informed that no one but +his close relatives could see him. His father had died and his mother and +sister, neither of whom would have anything to do with him, were abroad. +Gambling on the chance that the staff knew little about his family +background, one of us, posing as Wally's sister, finally gained access to the +hospital The aim of the visit, apart from simply wanting to see Wally, was to +plan a means Or kidnapping him so that It could be taken somewhere where he +could recover from his ordeal + +On our second visit, two of us were able to see him without arousing +suspicion. We had hoped to finalise the kidnap plan, but we found him in such +a bad state that we decided it could be damaging to him to have to deal with +the kind of movements we had planned. + +What none of us realised at the time, was that his condition was the direct +result of the 'treatment' that he was being given rather than the 'symptoms' +of mental illness. The sad shuffling half-people that can be seen through the +railings of any mental hospital are like that not because of the illness that +they supposedly have, but because of the cures that they are being subjected +to. The social stereotype of the grey-raincoated loony is a tasteless twist +more worthy of a B movie than a civilised society. The stereotype is one that +is forced, surgically or chemically, by an uncaring system, onto the +'patient' whose 'moronic and lifeless appearance' is used, by that same +system, to 'prove' the patient's illness'. + +Since his admission into hospital, Wally had been receiving pills to 'cure +his illness' and injections to counter-act the side effects of the pills. +Naturally, he had been slipping the pills under his tongue and spitting them +out later. The injections were unavoidable, the hospital nurses were mostly +male and considerably stronger than Wally, so polite refusals weren't much +use, but in any case, as they were to cure the side-effects, they didn't +really matter. What neither he nor we knew was that the hospital staff had +deliberately lied to him about which medicine' was which The result was that +the injections, of a drug called Modecate, of which he was receiving doses +massively above those recommended by the manufacturers, were creating +increasingly serious side effects that were not being treated. It should have +been obvious to the staff that something was going amiss, they must have +realised that Wally was gobbing out the pills, but that, after all, was part +of their 'cure' - he was being made into a mindless moron + +Meanwhile, Stonehenge 2 took place. This year thousands of people turned up +and for over two weeks the authorities were unable to stop the festivities. +Wood-fires, tents and tepees, free food stalls, stages and bands, music and +magic. Flags flew and kites soared. Naked children played in the woodlands, +miniature Robin Hoods celebrating their material poverty Dogs formed woofing +packs that excitedly stole sticks from the innumerable wood piles and then +scrapped over them in tumbling, rolling bundles of fur. Two gentle horses +were tethered to a tree and silently watched the festivities through the +dappled Light that danced across their bodies Old bearded men squatted on +tree stumps muttering prayers to their personal gods. Small groups of people +tended puffing fires upon which saucepans bubbled and bread baked, the many +rich smells blending across the warm air. Parties of muscular people set out +in search of wood and water accompanied always by a line of laughing, +mimicking children. Everywhere there was singing and dancing. Indian flutes +wove strange patterns of sound around the ever present bird song. The beat of +drums echoed the hollow thud of axe on wood. Old friends met new, hands +touched, bodies entwined, minds expanded and, in one tiny spot on our earth, +love and peace had become a reality. Just ten miles down the road, Wally +Hope, the man whose vision and hard work had made that reality possible, was +being pumped full of poisons in the darkness of a hospital cell. + +A couple of days after the last person had left the festival site. Wally was, +without warning, set free. The great- I..en hau lept the smiling, bronzed, +hippy warrior from his festival and now, having effected their cure, ejected +a nervous gibbering wreck onto their grey streets. + +It took Wally two days to drive his rainbow coloured car from the hospital to +our home. Seventy miles in two days, two days of terror. He found himself +incapable of driving for any length of time and had to stop for hours on end +to regain his confidence. No one knew of his release and, maybe to restore +some kind of dignity for himself, he was determined to do it alone. When he +finally arrived at our house he was in worse condition than when we had seen +him at the hospital; he was barely able to walk and even the most simple of +tasks was impossible for him It is hard to believe that he was able to drive +those seventy miles at all This pale shadow of the person who we had once +known now found it agony to sit in the sun, his face and hands would swell up +into a distorted mess The sun that he worshipped was now all darkness for +him. At night he would lay in his bed and cry; quiet, desperate sobs that +would go on until dawn, when he would finally go to sleep. Nothing seemed to +help his pathetic condition. We tried to teach him to walk properly again, +but he was unable to co-ordinate and his left arm would swing forward with +his left leg, his right with his right. Sometimes we were able to laugh about +it, but the laughter always gave way to tears. We couldn't understand and we +were afraid. + +Finally, in desperation, we got Wally to a doctor friend who diagnosed his +condition as being 'chronic dyskinesia', a disease brought about through +overdoses of Modecate and similar drugs. Wally had been made into a cabbage +and worse, an incurable one. + +Bit by bit the realisation that he was doomed to live in a half-world of drug +induced idiocy made its way into what was left of Wally's brain. On the third +of September 1975, unable to face another day, perhaps hoping that death +might offer more to him than what was left in life, Wally Hope overdosed on +sleeping pills and choked to death on the vomit that they induced. + +In the relatively short time that we have on this earth we probably have +contact with thousands of people with whom we share little more than half +smiles and polite conversation. We are lucky if amongst those thousands of +faces one actually responds to us with more than predictable formalities. +Real friends are rare, true understanding between people is difficult to +achieve and when it is achieved it is the most precious of all human +experiences. + +I have been lucky in that I am part of a group of people who I regard as +friends and with whom I can share a sense of reality and work towards a +shared vision of the future. I have met many people whose only aim, because +of their own cynicism and lack of purpose, appears to be to prevent people +like ourselves from expressing our own sense of our own life; I see people +like that as the dark shadows that have made our world so colourless. + +Wally was a genius, I can't pretend to have completely liked him, he was far +too demanding to be liked, but I did love him. He was the most colourful +character that I have ever met, a person who had a deep sense of destiny and +no fear whatsoever in pursuing it. If friends are rare, people like Wally are +very very rare indeed. I don't suppose I shall ever meet someone like him +again; he was a magical, mystical, visionary who demonstrated more to me +about the meaning of life than all the grey nobodies that have ever existed +could ever hope to do. Wally was an individual, pure energy, a great big +silver light that shone in the darkness, who because he was kind, gentle and +loving, was seen, by those grey people, as a threat, a threat that they felt +should be destroyed. + +Wally was not mad, not a crazy, not a nut, he was a human being who didn't +want to have to accept the grey world that we are told is all we should +expect in Life. He wanted more and set out to get it. He didn't see why we +should have to live as enemies to each other. He believed as do many +anarchists, that people are basically kind and good and that it is the +restrictions and Limitations that are forced upon them, often violently, by +uncaring systems, that creates evil + +'What evil but good tortured by its own hunger and thirst ' Phil Russell 1974. + +Wally Hope had both the strength and the courage of his own convictions, but +like ourselves had been hopelessly ill-informed about the workings of the +state. He demanded the right to live his own life and was met with savage +resistance. He was killed by a system that believes that 'it knows best'. It +is that system and hundreds Like it, that oppress millions of people +throughout the world. Left-wing oppression in Poland, or right-wing +oppression in Northern Ireland, what's the difference? + +The prisons and mental hospitals of the world are full of people who did +nothing but to disagree with the accepted 'norms' of the state in which they +lived. Russian dissidents are American heroes, American dissidents are +Russian heroes; the kettle simply gets blacker. To defeat the oppres- sor, we +must learn its ways, otherwise we are doomed, like Wally, to be silenced by +its fist. + +Wally sought peace and creativity as an alternative to war and destruction. +He was an anarchist, a pacifist and, above all, an individualist, but because +of the times in which he naively lived, and innocently died, he was labelled +a 'hippy'. + +In the coroner's court, the police officer responsible for investigating +Wally's death dismissed him in one sarcastic sentence, "He thought he was +Jesus Christ, didn't he" Wally certainly did not think of himself in that +light, but judging by the way in which the state dealt with him, they did. +The same inspector claimed to have thoroughly interviewed everyone who had +had contact with Wally from the time of his arrest to the time of his death. +Although we had twice visited Wally in hospital and he had later stayed with +us for around two weeks, this guardian of the law had not once been in touch +with us. The few witnesses that were called had obviously been carefully +selected to 'toe the official line'. Amongst them was one of the doctors who +had been responsible for Wally's treatment. Throughout his statement he told +lie after lie and then, rather than being subjected to the possible +embarrassment of cross- examination, was reminded by the coroner that he +mustn't miss his train nod nod, wink wink. + +The court passed a verdict of suicide with no reference at all to the +appalling treatment that had been the direct cause of it. We loudly protested +from the back of the courtroom the grey men simply met our objections with +mocking smiles. + +Wally's death and the deceitful way in which the authorities dealt with it, +led us to spend the next year making our own investigations into exactly what +had happened since he left us that hot day in May. Our enquiries convinced us +that what had happened was not an accident. The state had intended to destroy +Wally's spirit, if not his life, because he was a threat, a fearless threat +who they hoped they could destroy without much risk of embarrassment. + +The story was a nightmare web of deception, corruption and cruelty. Wally had +been treated with complete contempt by the police who arrested him, the +courts that sentenced him and the prison and hospital that held him prisoner. +Our enquiries led us far from Wally's case; as we tried to get to the truth +of any one situation, we would be presented with innumerable new leads and +directions to follow. We got drawn deeper and deeper into a world of lies, +violence, greed and fear. None of us were prepared for what we discovered, +the world started to feel like a very small, dark place. + +We found evidence of murder cover-ups, of police and gangland tie-ups, of +wrongful arrest and imprisonment on trumped up charges and false evidence. We +learnt of the horrific abuse, both physical and mental, of prisoners in jails +and mental; hospitals, doctors who knowingly prescribed what amounted to +poison, who were unable to see the bruises inflicted, by courtesy of Her +Majesty's officials, on an inmate's body wardens and interrogating police are +requested to punch below the head, where the bruises won't be seen by +visiting relatives. We learnt of wardens who, to while the day away, set +inmates against each other and did 'good turns' in return for material, and +sexual favours. We learnt of nurses in mental hospitals who deliberately +administered the wrong drugs to patients 'just to see what happened'; who, +for kicks, tied patients to their beds and then tormented them. The official +line, that the purpose of prisons is 'reform' and of mental hospitals is +'cure', is total deception - the purpose is 'punishment'; crude, cruel and +simple - punishment. + +Beyond the world of police, courts, jails and asylums, we were faced with the +perhaps even more sickening outside world. Within this world, respectable +people, smart and secure, work, day in, day out, to maintain the lie. They +know about the abuse and cruelty, they know about the dishonesty and +corruption, they know about the complete falsity of the reality in which they +live, but they daren't turn against it because, having invested so much of +their lives in it, they would be turning against themselves, so they remain +silent - the silent, violent, majority. + +Beneath the glossy surfaces of neatly combed hair and straightened nylons, of +polished cars and sponged-down cookers, of pub on Friday and occasional +church on Sunday, of well planned family and better planned future, of wealth +and security, of power and glory, are the 'real' fascists. They know, but +they remain silent. + +'First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a +Jew. Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out - because I +was not a communist. Then they came for the trade Unionists - and I did not +speak out - because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me - and +there was no one left to speak out for me ' Pastor Niemoeller, victim of the +Nazis. + +They remain silent when the windows of the house across the street are +smashed in, the walls daubed with racist abuse. Silent when they hear the +footsteps at night and the beating of doors and the sobbing of those inside. +Now, perhaps, a whisper, the quietest whisper, 'They're Jews you know' - or +Catholics, West Indians, Pakistanis, Indians, Arabs, Chinese, Irish, Gypsies, +gays, cripples, or any minority group, in any society, anywhere - they only +whisper it once before the warmth of the duck-down continental quilt soothes +away their almost accidental guilt. Silent again as they hear them led away +into the darkness. Silent, as through the cold mist of morning, they hear the +cattletrucks roll by. And when they hear of the death-pits, of the racks, of +the ovens, of the thousands dead and thousands dying - they remain silent. +Because security is their god and compliance is his mistress, they remain +silent. Against all the evidence, against all that they know, they remain +silent, because convention decrees that they should. Silence, security, +compliance and convention - the roots of fascism. Their silence is their part +in the violence, a huge and powerful, silent voice of approval - the voice of +fascism. + +It is not the National Front or the British Movement that represents the +right-wing threat; they, like the dinosaur, are all body and no brain and +because of that will become extinct. It is the 'general public in their +willingness to bow down to authority, who pose the 'real' fascist threat. +Fascism is as much in the hearts of the people as in the minds of their +potential leaders. + +The voices of silence, at times, made our investigations almost impossible. +The respectable majority were too concerned about their own security to want +to risk upsetting the authorities by telling us what they knew. They did know +and we knew that they knew, but it made no difference - they remained silent. + +From the enormous file of documentation that our enquiries produced, we +compiled a lengthy book on the life and death of Wally Hope. During the +enquiries we had received death-threats from various sources and were visited +several times by the police who let us know that they knew what we knew and +that they wanted us. . . to remain silent. + +We felt alone and vulnerable. Finally our nerve gave out and one fine Spring +morning, one and a half years after Wally's death, we threw the book and +almost all the documentation onto a bonfire and watched the flames leap into +the perfect blue sky. Phil Russel was dead. + +As nearly all the documentation that we had on Phil was burnt, this article +has been written largely from memory As a result, some of the fine details +exact periods of time etc., may be slightly incorrect. The rest of the story +is both true and accurate. + +Throughout the 'hippy era we had championed the cause of peace, some of us +had been on the first CND marches and, with sadness, had watched the movement +being eroded by political greed. Throughout the 'drop out and cop out' period +we hung on to the belief that 'real' change can only come about through +personal example, because of this we rejected much of hippy culture, notably +the emphasis on drugs, as being nothing but escapism. It is sad that many +punks appear to be resorting to the same means of escape while in their blind +hypocrisy they accuse hippies of never having 'got it together' - neither +will these new prophets of the pipe dream. + +We had hoped that through a practical demonstration of peace and love, we +would be able to paint the grey world in new colours; it is strange that it +took a man called Hope the only 'real' hippy with whom we ever directly +became creatively involved, to show us that that particular form of hope was +a dream. The experiences to which our short friendship led made us realise +that it was time to have a rethink about the way in which we should pursue +our vision of peace. Wally's death showed us that we could not afford to 'sit +by and let it happen again'. In part, his death was our responsibility and +although we did everything that we could. it was not enough. + +Desire for change had to be coupled with the desire to work for it, if it was +worth opposing the system, it was worth opposing it totally. It was no longer +good enough to take what we wanted and to reject the rest, it was time to get +back into the streets and attack, to got back and share our experiences and +learn from the experiences of others. + +A year after Wally's death, the Pistols released 'Anarchy in the UK', maybe +they didn't really mean it ma'am, but to us it was a battle cry. When Rotten +proclaimed that there was 'no future', we saw it as a challenge to our +creativity - we knew that there was a future if we were prepared to work for +it. + +It is our world, it is ours and it has been stolen from us We set out to +demand it back, only this time round they didn't call us 'hippies', they +called us 'punks'. + +Penny Rimbaud, London, jan/Mar., '82. + +This was scanned in from a copy of this essay printed by DS4A, it originally +appeared in booklet that came with album 'Christ the Album' by CRASS + +For the complete crass catalogue and thousands of other subversive records, +tapes. Cd's. Books, zines, videos, badges, patches, shirts etc. Send an sae +($1 outside uk) to DS4@ / Box 8 / 82 colston st. / Bristol / Avon / UK + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001298.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001298.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..43815ea2 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001298.txt @@ -0,0 +1,292 @@ +DRUGS - JUST SAY N! + +We are living in a time when disillusioned punters are selling each +other fake E to beat the recession. Who are the victims and who are +the survivors in this latest stage of chemical warfare? If there +weren't enough risks with drugs already, now you don't actually know +what you're taking. The chances of finding an unadulterated E (pure +MDMA) is like trying to locate the proverbial needle in a haystack. In +recent years the drugs market has mushroomed (no pun intended), +bringing with it the inevitable problems of supplying the larger +demand. With more and more people wanting to buy, one large police +bust is all it takes to create a drug-drought, resulting in cash- +hungry dealers and manufacturers spreading them a little thinner by +inserting or substituting other substances. It's easy and cheap to +mess with a capsule. It's easier and cheaper to sell someone an +aspirin. Pills have been sold as Ecstasy containing caffeine, brick & +chalk dust, lactose (milk sugar), and talcum powder mixed in amongst +their diluted contents. Indoor fish tank oxygenating tablets, dog +worming pills, and American Excedrin headache pills (which have a +large E inscribed upon them) have also duped unsuspecting ravers. 15 +is a lot to pay when you don't know whether it's an E or a Lemsip that +you're swallowing. + +The sense of unity reminiscent of the revamped summer of love has been +dissipated by the recession. Instead of joining hands, people are +ripping each other off. Club-goers are forced to sell each other fake +drugs in order to pay for their nights out. Ecstasy is not the love +drug it once was... + +The media and government seriously need to change their attitude. They +delight in telling people that they're going to die from taking one +tab of Ecstasy, whilst they should be recognising drug abuse in a more +realistic manner. In this day and age, most people are aware that the +lethal dose of cannabis is a 5 kilo block dropped on your head from +the 23rd floor of a high-rise building, and does not lead to a reefer +madness induced addiction to Heroin. + +The "War on Drugs" campaign (as any conspiracy theorist will tell you) +is obviously a total sham. Public announcements on TV which promote an +anti-drugs stance are immediately followed by advertisments for drug +companies. It is not in the government's economic interest or true +political persuasion. + +However, most of these agencies have been taken in by as much drug +disinformation as they have generated themselves. Parents, Doctors, +and school officials have been duped by a nationwide hoax perpetuated +by copying and circulating letters falsely accredited to a police and +health departments, warning of a new drug problem in the form of +tattoos impregnated with LSD (sometimes laced with Strychnine). + +Described as having blue stars, red pyramids, cartoon characters, +clowns, and other brightly coloured motifs to entice unsuspecting +young children, it is claimed that they are hazardous even to touch +and could send a child on a "fatal trip". The reference to dependency +clearly shows that the instigators of this hoax know nothing about the +properties of LSD since the drug is not addictive. + +Although no drug enforcement agency has ever seen a LSD transfer, +these chain letters describe horrific side-effects and fatal trips +that pose a constant threat to children. Like a virus they spread +throughout schools, health authorities and the police, as soon as +someone is duped by the false warning. + +The alleged worldwide distribution of LSD stick-on tattoos has now +been around for two decades, or more. Such psychedelic disinformation +has existed ever since Dr Hofmann inadvertently discovered the drug, +and Dr Tim Leary expoused on it's virtues. Hence, we have apocryphal +horror stories appearing in the press from time to time. In stark +reality however, drugged students don't stare at the sun until they go +blind, and stoned babysitters don't put small infants trussed up like +chickens into microwaves. In fact LSD doesn't necessarily deaden the +senses or your sensibilities. You're more likely to feel sad for the +chicken and become a vegetarian. + +The origins of this hoax seem to have surfaced in Canada and have +survived in much-xeroxed myth ever since. Scare letters and bogus +posters seem to have continually survived official denials and +debunking by the major press, resulting in it being firmly placed in +the public's consensus along with other contemporary fairytales such +as the Satanic Child Abuse Myth (or SCAM for short). + +LSD - LBJ - FBI - CIA : lyric from the musical HAIR, 1968 + +The CIA waged a similar systematic assault on the human psyche +experimenting with drugs, hypnosis and a host of other behaviour +modification techniques in a bizarre series of tests on the +unsuspecting public. These methods had enormous implications for the +whole of society. + +HASSAN I SABBAH + +The first unintentional spiking of a drug could possibly be attributed +to the discoverer of LSD-25, Dr Albert Hofmann on April 16, 1943 when +he accidentally gave himself a large dose of the substance. The most +fascinating thing about LSD was that such minute quantities had such a +terrific effect. Dr Hofmann had gone off into another world after +ingesting less than 1/000,000 of an ounce (250 micrograms). He had no +way of knowing that because of LSD's potency, he had already taken +several times what would later be termed an ordinary dose. + +Scientists had known about the mind-altering qualities of drugs like +Mescaline since the 19th century, but LSD was several thousand times +more potent. Hashish had been around for millenia, but LSD was roughly +a million times stronger (by weight). A suitcase could hold enough LSD +to turn on every man, woman, and child in the United States. Having +said that, the possibilities that the Yippies envisioned by their +spiking of the water-supply in major cities could not be accomplished +due to the sheer amount of dilution involved. + +Inducing psychosis on unsuspecting people via exotic methods to take +possession of their minds dates back to the ancient desire to control +enemies through magickal spells and potions. + +Mescaline tests held by SS doctors at Dachau were administered +covertly by spiking the prisoner's drinks. The subjects had no idea +that a drug was causing their extreme disorientation. Many must have +feared that they had gone stark raving mad all on their own. All in +the name of advancing science and helping their country gain advantage +in war... + +Dr Harris Isbell kept 7 men on LSD for 77 consecutive days. Such an +experiment is chilling as it is astonishing - both to lovers and +haters of LSD. Sometimes giving triple and quadruple doses to the +subjects, who were nearly all black drug addicts. Isbell finally +decided "In all probability, this behaviour is to be expected with +patients of this type." These participants have long since scattered +and no one apparently has measured the after effects of these extreme +experiments on them. + +LSD was not thought of as something that might enhance creativity or +cause transcendental experiences. Those notions would not come along +for years. They were testing a weapon; for their purposes, they might +as well have been in a ballistics lab. + +If a drug showed promise, they felt no qualms about trying it +operationally before all the test results came in. In 1953 LSD was +slipped to a speaker at a political rally, presumably to see if it +would make a fool of him. Their insatiable need to try every +possibility led them to test hundreds of other substances, including +all the drugs that would later be called psychedelic. Their legacy of +unorthodox warfare continued by using the sacred mushroom of Mexican +Indians' religious ceremonies. Soon the legend of the Aztec holy +communion was forgotten as these plunderers lost track of the age-old +rites, thinking only of its use as a truth drug. The magic mushroom +never became a good spy weapon. It made people behave strangely but no +one could predict where their trips would take them. Agency officials +craved certainty. + +It is ironic that law-enforcement officers frequently violate the law +themselves. The systematic use of LSD on "outsiders" who had no idea +they had received the drug took place. These victims simply felt their +moorings slip away in the midst of an ordinary day, for no apparent +reason, and no one really knew how they would react. In retrospect, it +seems bizarre that CIA officials, men responsible for the nation's +intelligence and alertness were sneaking LSD into each other's coffee +cups and thereby subjecting themselves to the unknown realm of +experimental drugs. + +Sometimes they occasionally lost an unwitting victim in a crowd - +thereby sending a stranger off alone with a head full of bad acid. In +a larger sense, all the test victims would become lost. As a matter of +policy no records were kept, and those that did exist, were destroyed. +Along with the CIA's experiments with sex, men were enticed with +prostitutes. An unsuspecting john would think he had bought a night of +pleasure, go back to a strange apartment, and wind up zonked. + +The CIA also made extensive use of practical joke novelties such as +stink bombs, itching and sneezing powders, and diarrhoea inducers. +"Harrassment substances" like these and delivery systems that +mechanically launched a foul-smelling object 100 yards, glass ampules +that could be stepped on in a crowd to release practically anything +that came to mind. Fine hypodermic needles were used to inject drugs +through the cork in a wine bottle, or to place a concentrated form of +marijuana in packs of cigarettes which would then be resealed. + +Strangers were invited to parties where LSD would be sprayed from +aerosol cans and drinks served with drug-coated swizzle sticks, but +thankfully most of these plans never came to fruition. This approach +turned the public perception of a deadly serious program into a kind +of practical joke carried out badly by a bunch of bumblers operating +on the edge of madness. + +The illegal, irresponsible and downright dangerous prescriptions to +unsuspecting guinea pigs still continues in most stratas of society, +and can backfire in unexpected ways. + +The influence of hallucinogenic drugs on The Beatles caused a marked +change in their music and outlook. Although no strangers to illicit +substances (they smoked dope in the toilets at Buckingham Palace +before collecting, and then returning their MBEs on the 23/11/69) +their first encounter with LSD was at a dinner party held by a dentist +friend of George Harrison's. Unknown to the fab four, he had spiked +their coffee with acid, then advised them not to leave. As he was +basically a middle-class London swinger, they assumed he was about to +suggest an orgy and left. By the time the drug took effect they were +in a nightclub and became convinced, due to the multi-coloured +lighting, that the place was on fire. Eventually they realised they +had taken something - maybe opium, Lennon thought (having read about +it) - and Harrison somehow managed to drive them home. One of the +results was a picture drawn by Lennon of them in what seemed to be +just like a submarine...a Yellow Submarine? (All you Discordians, +please take note!) + +Perhaps the best example of "spiking" emanates from Ken Kesey and the +Merry Pranksters' Kool-Aid acid tests of the mid-sixties. Begun in +August 1965, the tests continued until LSD was declared illegal on the +6th of October 1966. By this time, it was estimated that ten thousand +had ingested the drug in sugar lumps, punch, coffee or cookies. Part +prank, part gesture, they were a natural culmination of their +experiments. Acts of sheer inspiration and generosity, turning on the +whole world through love, fun, and understanding. + +The Merry Pranksters planned to perform "The Acid Test Graduation" on +Halloween, 31/10/1966 at Winterland. This involved a "happening" where +all the doors, walls, chairs, and water system would be impregnated +with LSD. The following night it was scheduled that the entire +Democratic Party of California would be attending a big rally at the +very same venue and would get turned on, zonked out of their apples. + +Eight thousand emphysematous fatback Senators, Assemblymen, National +Committeemen, Congressmen, and the Governer himself would be wailing +like Banshees, flopping around, gurgling and spitting and frying like +a pile of insane pancakes. Unfortunately, they never managed to pull +off this debacle, which would've made Jonestown look like a school +picnic. If this sounds irresponsible, you might like to consider that +the CIA at one time seriously proposed dosing an entire American +subway with LSD, just as a little experiment mind you! + +The only dope worth shooting is Richard Nixon - An Old Yipster +saying. + +The Golden Rule (if any) about drug use (or misuse) must be that you +are ultimately responsible for your own actions. Give very careful +thought and consideration, no one wants a brain-damaged corpse on +their conscience. Most people take drugs - whether it's a cup of tea, +a joint, a glass of whisky or an aspirin. + +There are many alternative ways to benefit your head and alter other's +realities without recourse to chemical means. You don't have to risk +your health, a large fine, or prison sentence to get high. + +Anything that can be accomplished by chemical means can be +accomplished by other means. + - William S. Burroughs + +Apart from the drug dealers who will run off with your money, or +alternatively, substitute oregano, parsley, catnip, an Oxo cube, or +camel shit for hash, there are those who are trying to readdress the +balance without unethical involuntarily spiking. The CIA originally +wanted LSD to be a control mechanism and it backfired. Instead, people +used it as a catalyst to deprogram themselves from everyday culture +and reprogram themselves into their own value system. + +In New York on St Valentine's Day 1969, the Yippies mailed over 30,000 +freshly rolled marijuana joints to people picked randomly out of the +phone book, with instructions provided on their use. The enclosed +disarming manifesto stated "Hi! Happy Valentine's Day! In case you +ever wondered what pot was like, here it is - go on try it!" The text +continued with directions on how to smoke, etc, and ended with, "Oh, +by the way, just holding this joint qualifies you for five years in +prison in this state." (Which isn't as bad as some states which give +forty years). + +A group in Los Angeles placed over 2000 joints in library books and +then advised kids to smoke a book during National Library Week. + +More underhanded (or slightly easier) ways to dose people such as +baking hash-cakes/biscuits, or using marijuana leaves instead of tea- +leaves have also been known to have been used from time to time. + +In October 1968, Federal authorities were hunting an itinerant hippie +who was scattering marijuana seeds on land throughout the Midwest. +Sowing his seeds on abandoned farms, he posted a regular map showing +the latest pot plantings to fellow smokers. + +Planting drugs (aside from growing them) has also been a favourite +occupation of both sides of the law. Even if it's as simple as +grinding up an aspirin into a plastic bag, placing it in someone's +pocket, and framing them. + +Judge Pickle's clarion call to legalize dope may have already been +taken to heart by West Midland's Drug Squad. DC Crump recently refused +to prosecute a Stourbridge McDonalds when 5 pot plants (as in +Marijuana pot plants!) were found growing in its window boxes. He said +they'd been "planted". Obviously, they couldn't have just flown there. +Could they?!?!? + +Finally, should we conclude that all pranks involving drugs are +dangerous? In fact, is electricity dangerous? Like everything else, +the danger lies not so much in the drug itself as in how it is used... + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001299.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001299.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d0df8ab5 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001299.txt @@ -0,0 +1,550 @@ +Anarchy in the Here and Now! +by Joe Average + +There is an old saying that if you put 3 anarchists in a room together +you will have 4 definitions of anarchy! In fact, every anarchist has +her own way of explaining what anarchy is all about. At the same +time, anarchists share some very basic assumptions about the ways +in which the world works and what kind of life would be better. This +pamphlet presents one personUs view--my own-- of anarchy, one +that shares certain ideas with all other anarchists and also highlights +a variety of personal opinions about the nature of society and the +process of social change. Of course, you need not take my word for it, +and you need not adopt my view as your own. One of the most +important messages of anarchy is RThink For Yourself!S Read! Talk! +Find out about anarchist history and see what anarchists are saying +and doing today. I have included a list of resources at the end of this +essay which covers a variety of publications: books, magazines, +journals, pamphlets, and so on. Each presents a particular view or +take on anarchy and social transformation; some I agree with, some I +do not. It is up to you to determine their differences and similarities, +to find out what unites anarchists and what differences we have in +our ideas, goals, and strategies. + +What is anarchy and why should I care? + +Governments and corporations are out of control, and we no longer +feel connected enough to one another to oppose them. Many people +do not even want to oppose these powerful elites, as they benefit in +certain ways from supporting their programs. But the vast majority +of us do not benefit, or the costs drastically outweigh any rewards. +We find ourselves isolated, alienated, disconnected. We have +problems with the system, but we can not articulate them, nor can +we even begin by ourselves to fathom what Rthe systemS entails. It +is so vast. We know it has failed miserably in its promise of +RhappinessS and Rdomestic tranquility,S that it just doesnUt work, +but we arenUt sure what we should replace it with. +Many if not most of us hate work and school. We yearn for +something different but we donUt know what. We harbor vague +notions of finding a job that doesnUt drain us or that we might even +like, or of Rjust plugging awayS through school for that diploma or +degree. Many of us wish we had more to eat, and we have to rely on +the government to feed us, but we feel like shit because of it. Still +more people hardly eat at all. They die of starvation and +malnutrition, slowly, subtly, but definitely. This is not from lack of +food in the world: we watch on the television as they burn tons and +tons of grain to keep market prices up. We see a culture so rich in +food and resources that it can afford to waste vast amounts every +day. Food goes into the landfill instead of our bellies, and grain is +grown to feed cattle rather than humans. Millions of people donUt +have a roof over their head, even though we know that there are +enough buildings to house everyone. We know. And we all know that +a small group of people control the vast majorityJof wealth and +resources in our society, to the detriment of us all. Deep down, we +have some idea that this system creates our hunger and our +malnutrition, our homelessness and poverty, our anxiety and despair, +our isolation from one another. +We are aware in our daily life that we spectate more than we +participate. We spend hours and hours watching television when our +grandparents would have spent the time talking with neighbors on +the stoop or raising a barn down the road. Of course, just because we +watch television doesnUt mean we donUt think, but it does isolate us +from one another and prevents us from making meaningful +associations and actively participating in public life. And where +people once came together for speeches and picnics and rallies so +that they could discuss the political affairs of their communities, we +are now subjected to the glaring spectacle of electronic elections +where the choice between Democrat and Republican grows more and +more meaningless. In fact, daily we become more and more aware of +the real lack of choices in our lives. +Of course we do make choices, but from what range of options, and +what kind of choices are we allowed to make? Our employers might +poll us on our opinion about a new sculpture in the company plaza or +about how to make production more efficient, but they will not ask +us how we feel our jobs and work life can be improved, or if we feel +we make enough money to live on. That is not their concern. Bosses +want obedient workers, not active participants. The same is true of +officials in government, who are so contemptuous and distrusting of +the people that they present only the barest illusion of choice in the +conduct of state affairs. Congress squandors resources while raising +its pay, presidents and advisors conduct secret wars and arms deals +with our tax dollars, and policy makers work hand-in-hand with +public relations specialists to control the terms of debate and to limit +public input in decisions. Mainstream corporate media, interested +purely in profit, actively self-censors news and information to +conform to a narrow range of options. A commentator might say +Rhomelessness is badS but would NEVER say Rthe system itself is +bad because it puts property and profit before human needs.S Thus, +our range of options is severely limited by elites in government, big +business, and corporate media because they are frightful of the +prospect of real public input. Instead of participating, we spectate +while the RexpertsS make choices for us. In fact, we are never asked +to participate in any meaningful way in the decisions that truly +shape and affect our lives. +Thus, if you take as a starting premise that true democracy is a +condition in which people in a community gather together to +participate in the decision-making process, then one way to view +anarchy is as the logical conclusion of democratic life. It is to say that +you and I, working together, can shape the affairs of our +communities far more effectively than can remote politicians and +bureaucrats, and that their authority-- backed by force and coercion- +-is an arbitrary authority unworthy of our support. Instead, in a true +democracy, we would replace authority with merit, coercion with +cooperation, and force with voluntary participation. +From this we can conclude that democracy as it is practiced today is +not true democracy, but is rather a great big joke. It is a system +where a small number of people wield the power to shape public life +and opinion, to make laws and extract obedience from the majority +of the population either by direct force or by more subtle means +such as propaganda and misinformation. We do not participate in this +system in any meaningful way: once in awhile we are RallowedS to +RvoteS in the shams called elections, and we vote for people who tell +us that they represent our best interests. In the end, though, nobody +can truly represent our interests on such a grand scale, and we do +not have the power to enter the political sphere so as to have a say +in how our taxes are spent or how our government behaves. Most of +us would like to see our tax dollars--if they are to be collected at all- +-going toward social spending rather than military spending, but our +leaders tell us that we RneedS to build weapons of destruction. They +tell us that it is more important to spend money on tracking down, +prosecuting, and incarcerating non-violent drug users than it is to +educate our children or feed hungry people. When we do attempt to +enter the political arena in a meaningful way, such as in large-scale +protests over the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf Slaughter, or in +citizen-based initiatives to freeze the nuclear build-up or to curb the +deadly policies toward Latin America, our leaders ignore us or attack +us. This proves that we are not meant to actively participate in +political life, and that we are supposed to be obedient and +acquiescent and let the RexpertsS handle all the decisions. +The same is true in the workplace, where we are even more +brutalized and alienated. The difference there is that bosses never +even had a pretense of democracy and participation. You shut up and +do what you are told or you are fired! Period! Bosses exploit our +labor and return small crumbs to us. Corporations destroy the +environment to produce commodities for our consumption, and +advertisers make us think we need all the crap that they produce. In +the end, they make off stinking rich and we work our lives into an +early grave for shit. The poorer we are the less chance we have in +getting our fair share of the wealth that we deserve, and the less +power we have to oppose bosses and the ways in which they use us +as factory fodder. The poorer we are the less chance we have in +opposing corporations and their constant dumping of toxic wastes in +our communities. They have the economic power to do as they +please, with few constraints by the government. Together, the +government and big business form a powerful organization that +clearly acts contrary to the interests of the vast majority of people. +We work in their offices and factories and then, when they find an +enemy overseas, we die in their wars, or we watch as they send our +sons and daughters, brothers and sisters and lovers to die. For what +thanks?-- A pitiful wage and a cheap concrete memorial on the +courthouse lawn. THANKS BUT NO THANKS! +As an anarchist, I oppose the power of all bosses, whether they rule +in the state or in the workplace. In fact, as an anarchist I oppose ALL +forms of coercion, oppression, domination, and hierarchy. This +includes not just one individual dominating another, but also +SYSTEMS of oppression such as capitalism, racism, sexism, and +homophobia. At root, I practice the principle that an individual +should have the freedom to do what she wants so long as it does not +harm another individual, and that one should never be brutalized for +oneUs skin color or sexuality or gender or way of dressing and eating +and living. Anarchy is about creating an environment wherein the +individual can develop her creative potential and exercise her liberty +to the greatest extent possible in the absence of coercion, laws, +regulations, and arbitrary authority. Does this mean, then, that I am +opposed to all forms of organization and order? +Of course not. Anarchy does not mean Rwithout orderS or Rwithout +organization.S It is not chaos. To myJmind, what we have today is +chaos, with governments brutalizing and terrorizing populations, +making war on us, regulating us, constraining us, strafing villages +and cities with bombs, napalm, agent orange, poison gas the world +round--ALL governments have at one time or another been guilty of +such atrocities. Some, of course, are worse than others in the amount +of suffering and destruction they cause. Formerly RCommunistS +Soviet Union and presently RCapitalistS United States are both guilty +of a long list of dirty deeds, including invasions, covert actions and +intervention in other countries, brutalization of domestic populations +both at home and abroad. But they are not without rivals: the +governments of Indonesia, China, Iraq, United Kingdom, Spain, Iran, +Turkey, El Salvador, Romania, Guatemala, Germany, and countless +others have been guilty at one time or another of great crimes +against humanity. This to me is not order: it is chaos. +Chaos is the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund using +economic coercion and the threat of violence to force people in so- +called RdevelopingS nations to give up subsistence farming and vast +tracts of land to Multinational Corporations who then engage in +export agribusiness, using the formerly self-sufficient peoples as +wage-slaves in their fields. These economic agencies--like the +governments and corporations who lend them authority and, when +necessary, military force--need obey no moral codes. They are bound +by no standards of ethics and sensibility, save their own, and they +call what they do the protection of RinterestsS and the maintenance +of Rorder.S Of course, it is obvious that it is not our interests they are +protecting, but those of rich bosses and corporations. To me, their +RorderS is deadly. It is not the kind of world in whichJI want to live! +Anarchy opposes this RorderS not with chaos, but with a DIFFERENT +KIND OF ORDER! It is a better order, a way of setting up a society in +the most reasonable and non-coercive way possible. The challenge +for me as an anarchist is to find the best KIND of social organization, +one in which the individual can grow and develop to her greatest +potential, uninhibited by lack of food or shelter or a fair share of the +resources required to live. To me, anarchy is the attempt to create +this kind of society, one without leaders and without coercive +authority, without wars and without deprivation. + +How Anarchy? + +How do we go about building this kind of world? Some people feel +that it must be done by gaining control of the state machinery, either +through the so-called RdemocraticS process--as with Labor and +Socialist and Libertarian parties--or by Revolution. Many +Revolutionaries--such as Communists and Marxists--foresee a period +where a small RvanguardS of radical intellectuals would act Rin +behalf ofS the Rworking classS in order to seize control of the +distribution and allocation of resources. Communists believe that in +order to create a just society, RrepresentativesS of the working class +must act in their interests by seizing state power and instituting a +dictatorship. +As an anarchist, I feel that these methods are flawed and doomed. +Acting within the system through lobbying and voting and +politicking CAN be a good tactic for increasing the responsiveness of +institutions to the needs of greater numbers of people, but in the end +nothing really changes. It is the system itself which is so flawed as to +make any small gains within seem incremental at best. Acting +through RRevolutionS in the classical sense of the word is even more +useless to my thinking, as you just replace one set of bosses with the +other. These new bosses claim to represent the interests of the +Rworking classS but, as we have seen in the Soviet Union, large-scale +Revolutions degenerate into static bureaucracies at best, and +totalitarian dungeons at worst. The main problem with this brand of +Revolution is that it tries to force changes from the top down onto a +society that is not ready for the shock of transformation. The changes +are dictated from above, from a national- level state machinery, +rather than emerging from the needs of people in their communities. +Moreover, Marxist-style Revolutions focus only on economic aspects +and ignore the ways in which power is exercised in society, whether +it be the Communist bureaucrat dictating the life of the farmer and +factory worker, men oppressing women, or one ethnic group +dominating another. Finally, talk of Revolution today is not so much +arrogant as it is irrelevant: increasingly the professional +Revolutionaries are out of touch with basic needs and desires felt by +people in daily life, and their sloganeering is elitist and boring. They +are more interested in recruiting members, garnering dues, and +hocking their papers than they are in working with people in a +community to affect real changes. +To be fair, much anarchist thought and action in the past and present +is equally useless. Many anarchists used to feel that it was enough to +just rise up and destroy the state, afterwards instituting +RspontaneousS social organizations to co-ordinate work life and civic +life. To me, this is an absurd idea for todayUs political and social +situation. To begin with, the state is too powerful at this time for +people to overthrow directly and militantly. This is by no means to +say that militant confrontation with authorities is to be ruled out: in +fact, it is crucial that we DO confront authorities when the need arises +so that they are always aware that we are here and that we oppose +their brutality and oppression. But to imagine that we could topple +all the powerful institutions such as the police and army, the FBI and +the CIA, schools and the IRS with militant street fighting alone is an +exercise in futility. +Rather, I believe we should couple our work in confrontation--from +within the system and from without--with a broad-based attempt to +create alternative social relations and economic networks which help +us to minimize our reliance on the state and on corporations, and +which emphasize reliance upon ourselves and those in our +communities. We need to constantly work to decentralize power, to +create institutions which are responsive to our needs and that are +inclusive of a diversity of peoples and opinions, and to build +organizations from the ground up--the Rgrass rootsS--which do the +work of social maintenance without the coercion of government and +corporate power. Call it what you will: community control, workplace +democracy, DIY (Do-It-Yourself) cultural innovation--the bottom line +is voluntary participation and direct access for all individuals in +shaping the processes of society. +This kind of social transformation could cover a lot of ground, +encompassing areas such as but not limited to: +Food: localized agricultural support networks which connect rural +and urban people into networks of exchange so that a community can +strive for self-sufficiency: re-greening of cities and towns using +available spaces as commons for growing food: learning how to grow +food and teaching others: networks of community kitchens where +neighbors and friends can come together to share food and cooking +tasks and skills +Housing: co-operative housing arrangements both within a house and +between neighbors who could share such tasks as gardening, child +care, maintenance, and so on: squatting and squatter support for +housing the homeless! +Economics: starting locally-based co-operative and anti-profit +businesses, encouraging barter and exchange networks, realizing the +power of your own community to produce a variety of necessities as +well as desired luxuries: shift from reliance on a capitalist system to +an economy where people share all wealth and resources equitably: +taking away the profit motive and doing business in order to support +yourself and your partners so as to do away with the need to expand +into industrial modes: educate yourself and others about how the +consumer choices they make affect people in other parts of the +world, and encourage people to alter their habits accordingly... +Work: many of us believe that we spend way too much time working +for others. Shifting economic emphases would help us become less +and less dependent upon the shit wages they pay us, and allow us to +work less. In fact, we should be able to produce as much as we need +if everyone pitched in just a few hours a day...it requires +commitment and participation, but the results are worth the effort! +Anything we can do in our communities to ease our dependence +upon Rthe manS and his wages is worthwhile. At the same time, +explore ways in which your industry or workplace might become +more responsive to workersU needs, and better yet how might you +band together to gain ownership of the company! +Ecology: drastically decreasing consumption of packaged corporate +goods is a lot easier than it seems. It is fine and well to attack +corporations for their pollution and waste and exploitation, but in the +end capitalism demands that consumer market needs be met, and if +we can reduce our market needs in a sustained way, we can truly +cripple the rich bosses who profit from our consumption and labor! +This includes growing your food or buying it from local sources and +in bulk, brewing your own beer and rolling your own cigarettes and +encouraging others to do the same, cutting out certain luxuries you +can do without...living by example can be very powerful! In order to +drastically reduce water use and to free up land for re-greening, help +promote widespread practice of vegetarianism (see resource guide in +the back of this pamphlet!) +School: organized revolt in school is well nigh impossible. The system +is too powerful. But learning is a value in itself and furthermore can +be very beneficial. If you want to do certain things within the +system, stay in school and see what you can do in the meantime to +spread awareness about how fucked up schools are, and how you and +your classmates might make some changes. If you can not stomach +one more day of school past the age of 16 but you love learning, drop +out and spend your life with books from the library (the public +library is a very good institution, and would hopefully exist in ANY +society--especially an anarchist society!) Find others who are drop +outs and start study groups where you read things together and +discuss them. Organize alternative schools, home-school co- +operatives, and so on. DonUt let them indoctrinate you: schools are +the place where that happens most dramatically! Avoid it! Help +others to do the same! +Family: re-define family to include a multitude of possibilities, such +as gay and lesbian parents, multiple parenting and collective child- +rearing, friendship networks and extended kin ties and so on. Share +responsibilities fairly and equally and make decisions democratically +with as much participation as possible. Adopt children who need +homes, raise children without gender or racial or sexual stereotypes. +Culture: find ways to integrate work and pleasure, aesthetics and +pragmatics. Start DIY spaces, hostleries for nomads, artist co-ops, +public art movements with murals and junk sculpture and mass +public participation (everyone is creative--help others realize their +own creativity)...Provide people on the streets with colored chalk, +disrupt daily life, graduate to spray paint and stencils, brushes and +paints, transform your environment and make it fun and beautiful! + +None of this takes the place of working actively to limit the excesses +of our government and its penchant for wars and subversion and +oppression of people in other countries and at home. Starting a food +co-op will not compel the state to pull its resources out of the +military system and its weapons and influence out of other nations. +We need sustained and protracted activism to challenge state and +economic power at all levels, from the courtrooms and congressional +chambers to the streets and barricades. +But a housing co-op multiplied thousands of times WILL make a +huge difference: it will alter and shape the ways in which we engage +in social relations, and it will increase our participation in the +decisions that effect our lives. In the same vein, civic groups and +citizens councils that attempt to take over tasks previously delegated +by local governments will herald a truly democratic public life and a +system within which individuals feel they can act and be heard. DIY +music clubs and magazines and pirate radio stations can form a loose +network of alternative media which present a range of opinions and +options not found or even possible in mainstream corporate media. +Moves for workplace democracy and ownership, or the founding of +alternative anti-profit businesses and co-operatives will go a long +way toward a society based on sharing and cooperation and freedom +rather than on greed and competition and deprivation. +We may never fully rid ourselves of deprivation, or of conflict and +violence, but we can certainly work toward social organizations +which minimize the conditions in which these arise. By working to +reduce, minimize, or eliminate coercion, competition, exploitation, +and oppression, we lay the groundwork for a different kind of social +world. At the same time, then, we must also encourage co-operation, +sharing, mutual aid and support, and respect so as to create a +community and a public life in which individuals feel connected to +one another rather than isolated, and where we each feel free to do +as we please so long as it does not oppress or coerce another. We +need to foster both personal and social relationships that respect and +tolerate difference, wherein a variety of groups and individuals can +come together as they see fit for the creation of community and the +equitable sharing of resources. Groups can form and function as they +need, or live separately as they desire. The important thing is that no +one group or individual should hold coercive power over another, +and that we all have the freedom to make choices. This is what +anarchy is about: creating the conditions in which we DO have REAL +choices about the ways in which we live our lives. + +When anarchy? + +It need not be a distant Revolution or a Great Cataclysm. It is +happening now. Anarchist societies are there, lurking below the +legacy of greed and violence and war and hunger and oppression. +Whenever we engage in an act of mutual aid, whenever people come +together voluntarily to share food and fun or to perform a task or get +a job done, that is anarchy in action. What the anarchist wants to do, +then, is to recognize these situations and turn them into more or less +permanent networks that individuals can move in and out of as they +need. +When neighbors co-operate to do repairs on the streets in their area, +or to grow food on a common land, or to fix up abandoned houses for +low-income and homeless people, they are in their own way de- +legitimizing the government or corporate power and taking matters +into their own hands. Of course, it is fine and well to petition the +government to spend the money it extorts from us for such things-- +after all, it IS OUR WEALTH! But we should not expect the +government to be responsive to the real needs of people, as the state +exists to protect the rights of the rich and privileged, not the poor +and the underemployed or even the middle class. Rather, we should +come together and figure out how we can get all the things done +DESPITE the state, eventually making its existence irrelevant. +Perhaps more and more people working to increase citizen power +and participation will find that many of the taxes they pay are +unjust, and they only want taxes to go toward schools and libraries +and road repair, not toward business incentives or building new +super highways or financing the military. Then from the networks of +support they are developing, they can create grass roots political +initiatives which would alter the ways in which the decisions are +made on government spending and greatly increase citizen input. +Perhaps eventually people will come to find that the old systems of +governing are inadequate and they need and desire more localized +and direct control over their lives. This is what community power is +all about: an attempt to involve everyone, black and white and latino +and asian, women and men, young and old, gay and straight, +Christian/Jew/Muslim/Hindu/Atheist, in the decision making +processes of the community. And for the anarchist, it is about +equalizing this involvement so that power, as well as resources and +wealth, be shared in common. Finally, as an anarchist I see equality +and cooperation as the only way to organize a society wherein the +individual can develop her potential and exercise her liberty to the +greatest extent possible. +We can begin this transformation here and now by highlighting what +is already good and existent in human relations, and by +simultaneously developing new kinds of networks. We donUt have to +build Revolutionary Parties or high-powered Congressional Lobby +Organizations to do the work of social change. It takes groups of +people committed to the idea and benefits of anarchy, community +power, worker control, respect and tolerance, and true democracy +who can get together and get things done, all the while sharing their +successes and failures honestly with other groups who are trying +similar things elsewhere. It means collaborating with those who are +different in some way or another from you, and respecting those +differences and learning something from them in the process. It +means supporting and learning from groups who have long resisted +the powers of the state, such as Native Americans and Afrikan +Americans who face state-directed brutality and economic coercion +on a daily basis in the inner cities and on the reservations of the U.S. +It requires an international perspective so that we connect our +struggles with those of groups in other parts of the world who are +fighting tyranny, coercion, death squads, oppression, poverty, +hunger, and disease. And finally it takes a sane mixture of rage and +patience, as either sensibility alone dooms us to failure and futility. + + + +List of Resources + +Practical Anarchy +Quarterly magazine produced by a vegetarian librarian that stresses +clear writing and the sharing of practical information. Recent +topical issues: Anarchy & Voting, Women & Anarchy. + +Wind Chill Factor PO Box 81961 Chicago, IL 60681 +Militant Do-It-Yourself urban anarchist magazine. Generally packed +with articles and graphics. Topics include: gentrification, +Native American issues, Anarchist Black Cross work ( political +prisoner support), reports on demonstrations and protests, and much +more. These folks also distribute pamphlets and records, so write to +them for a list of available materials! + +Anarchy! A Journal of Desire Armed c/o CAL PO Box 1466 Columbia, +MO 65205-1466 +Provacative quarterly journal that spans both anarchist theory and +practice. One of the best sources of news and information on +international anarchist activity today. Features lengthy articles as +well as rants, essays, book and magazine reviews, cartoons, and + the famed collage work +of Baer, Being, and Keohnline. + +Love and Rage ( Amor y Rabia) Box 3 Prince St Station NYNY 10012 +Revolutionary anarchist tabloid of the Love & Rage network. + Plenty +of news and information on anarchist activity as well as business of +the +L&R net. + +Profane Existence PO Box 8722 Minneapolis, MN 55408 +RMaking punk a threat againS is the (hopeful) subtitle of this tabloid. +This collective endeavor attempts to wed the subcultural expressions +of punk to the political ideas and goals of anarchy, with +some success. Always an interesting read for getting a feel for the +politicized wing of punk culture. + +Dumpster Times PO Box 80044 Akron, OH 44308 +Produced by the incomprable (and indominable) Wendy Duke, this +publication is always thought-provoking, with lots of writing from + the +heart. Never petty, boring, or sectarian, Wendy assembles + articles and +cartoons that are at times light and humorous, and just as often +serious +and urgent. + +dreamtime village c/o xexoxial endarchy 1341 Williamson Madison, +WI 53703 +An intentional community in rural Wisconson devoted to the practice +of anarchist-style cooperative living, and the creation of small-scale +sustainable life and culture. Write them to get on theri mailing list +for information on their activities. + +Perennial Books PO Box B14 Montague, MA 01351 +Distributor of a variety of new and used books of interest to +anarchists and anti-authoritarians. Write for their catalogue. + +The Shadow PO Box 20296 NYNY 10009 +Anarchist squatter tabloid from the Lower East Side of NYC. Good for +familiarizing yourself with the housing struggles in that community. + +The Match c/o Fred Woodworth PO Box 3488 Tuscon, AZ 85722 +Fred is a real character, and he produces a high-quality journal using +offset press technology. Strong in the area of fiction and personable +essays (FredUs personality always shines through.) + +Anarchist Youth Federation PO Box 365 Canal St Station NYNY 10013- +0365 +The AYF is a loosely affiliated network of chapters around the +country which generally serves the needs of the young and young + at heart. +Basically a good contact for sharing resources and building youth +solidarity accross the continent. Write to find out how you can start +an AYF chapter in your town. + +The Web Collective PO Box 40890 San Francisco, CA 94110 +A group of Bay Area anti-authoritarian activists currently working +on a Direct Action Manual, among other things. + +BAD Brigade PO Box 1323 Cambridge, MA 02238 +This organization produces numerous pamphlets and broadsides on a +great variety of topics, such as war, pornography, electoral politics, +and so on. + +This is just a small sampling of what is out there--and here I focused +on projects within the US alone! Through any and all of these +publications and organizations you will be introduced to many +others, spanning the vibrant international anarchist scene. Good luck, +and feel free to contact the Bloomington Anarchist Union for more +information! If you donUt contact us, feel free anyway.... + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001301.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001301.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f995d95c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001301.txt @@ -0,0 +1,34 @@ +Practical Anarchy Suggestions +[from Practical Anarchy #7] + +@ Tired of Rush rooms? Anarchists can mix lunch and politics too! =20 +Set up a regularly scheduled breakfast, lunch, or dinner for the=20 +anarchists at your college, office, in your town, city, neighborhood or=20 +whereever. +@ Support your local food co-ops and farmers. +@ Just say no to corporations. Turn their dumb ads into=20 +subvertisements and post them around your town. +@ Take those customer surveys that you get from corporations or=20 +that you get when you buy a product and fill in misleading=20 +information so it fucks up their marketing schemes. +@ Tired of junk mail? Take those handy =D2business reply=D3 envelopes=20 +that you get in the mail, stuff them full of anarchist propaganda, and=20 +send them back so that some office grunt will have something=20 +interesting to read when they are supposed to be doing something=20 +else. +@ Set up a Food Not Bombs group in your town +@ Bitch about all that welfare that corporations and the Pentagon=20 +gets. +@ Organize a Critical Mass group in your city. Critical Mass is a=20 +leaderless movement that started in San Francisco that focuses on=20 +reclaiming the streets for bicyclists. They get together weekly and=20 +ride their bikes through downtown streets. Recently, over 1000=20 +people have turned out for these actions. +@ Protest U.S. intervention in Somalia +@ Stop censorship! Speak up and oppose those who would control=20 +what we can listen to, read, view, or watch. Censorship comes from=20 +many places. It doesn=D5t just come from religious evangelists or the=20 +=D2traditional values=D3 crowd, but can also be found where African- +American parents try to block Huck Finn, Catherine MacKinnon and=20 +friends try to outlaw porn, or even political liberals, radicals, and=20 +progressives who try to outlaw various forms of speech. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001303.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001303.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e085d40e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001303.txt @@ -0,0 +1,765 @@ +SOME THOUGHTS ON ORGANIZATION * by Henri Simon + + + + + All quotations and references have been deliberately +excluded in this article. I have no doubt that many ideas +expressed here have already been expressed by many others +and there will be repetitions, some made on purpose, some not. +I have also deliberately tried as far as possible to get away +from traditional language. Certain words, certain names +produce a mental block in this or that person's thinking +shutting out a whole part of their thought processes. This + article's aim is to try to make people think about +experience: their own and what they know of others'. I've no +doubt this aim will only be imperfectly satisfied and this +for two reasons. The first, and least important, is that there +are those who will still insist on putting labels on all this +and on exorcising this or that proposition that they suspect of +heresy because their own beliefs cannot tolerate them. The +second, more essential, is that the article will say finally +that our own beliefs are hardly ever swept away solely by the +shock impact of other ideas, but by the shock of the clash of +our ideas with social reality. + Can we possibly lead ourselves out of the citadel of our +own system of thought towards a simple consideration of +facts? And not just any facts, but those which belong to our +experience as "militants" or "non-militants." Experience, +furthermore which is not just isolated in our own individual +world, but to be put back into the context of our social +relations , i.e. what we have been able to experience or what we +live now in a totally capitalist world (from one end of the +planet to the other). And yet this experience and what we can +know of other experiences brings us but a partial knowledge. +This is already evident for a given moment. It is even more +evident when seen in a historical perspective. Even if we try to +generalize experiences, observations, and reflections and to +integrate them into a vaster whole, we will not necessarily +widen our field of vision. It is a wholly justifiable pretension +to generalize: we do it all the time, whether we know it or not. + We make connections, compare and draw from these more general +notions, which we either integrate into already established +generalizations, or use to change such generalizations, or to +create a new generalization. A generalization can serve as an +opening, because of the curiosity it gives to look for other +facts with which to fill it out. It can serve as a closing, a +blocking process, because it can lead to the ignoring or +eliminating of everything which would challenge such a +generalization. + +PARTIAL KNOWLEDGE OF SOCIAL LIFE + + Our knowledge is always partial because inevitably at +the beginning we belong to a generation, a family a milieu, a +class, a state etc., a tiny fraction of a world of hundreds +of millions of inhabitants. And it's not so easy, except when +the capitalist system itself takes this in hand, to widen the +restricted field of "Life which has been given to us" . +Nevertheless this fractional knowledge is not so partial these +days if we look a bit closer. The accelerated uniforming +process of social conditions and lifestyles in the capitalist +explosion of the last 30 years has created a certain uniformity +of experiences. Even if technical, economic and political +conditions still vary to a considerable extent today, the +elementary, and less elementary foundations of the capitalist +system are really identical and inviolable whatever the regime +in which they operate. And so our experiences and their + particularisms have sometimes but a short distance to run in +order to accede to that more general knowledge which emerges +in measuring our experiences against those of others. + + Very often our experience has already found its own +justification only by the meeting with identical +experiences, before contact with other different experiences. + And very often these experiences are synthesized by the +milieu itself in systems of thought raising these + particularisms to the level of ideologies. The path of more +general knowledge which is made by the measurement of +experience with that of others is then obstructed by the +obstacle of these ideologies. Apart from moments of violent, +often heart-rending, breaks, this situation leaves us stranded +in mid-path with a system of ideas which can only translate +imperfect concrete and practical knowledge of social life in all +its forms. Violent, tearing breaks with the past are not the +result of our reflection or knowledge which causes us to change +our previous ideas: they are what our "social position" leads us +to do at certain moments, ( and these moments are always +arriving) when our experience suddenly and sharply becomes +linked and is confronted with different experiences. This +situation liberates us from all screens and ideological +obstacles and makes us act, sometimes unbeknown to our ideas, + as a result of the elementary foundations of the capitalist +system referred to above, i.e. to act in according to our class +interests. It is clear that, according to our position in the +capitalist system, action leads us on one side or the other, in +a direction which may agree with our former ideas, but which +often has very little to do with them. + +WILLED VS. SPONTANEOUS ORGANIZATION + + The "problem of organization" is precisely one of those +very questions which is most marked by preconceived ideas on +what some people call "necessities." In relation with what has + been said, two poles can be distinguished: + + --Willed (Voluntary organization) + + -- Spontaneous organization + + Willed organization is that which we wish to operate (in +joining or creating it) in relation to certain pre- +established ideas coming from our belonging to a milieu, for +the permanent defense of what we think is our interest. To do +this we get together with a limited (often very limited) +number of people having the same pre-occupation. The nature +of this organization is, in its aim defined by those who work +thus together, for themselves and for others, that of +permanence, in which is inscribed a system of references from +which one can deduce the practical modes of operating. In +other words, a certain body of ideas leads to certain +determined forms of action: more often than not a limited + collectivity speaks to and acts towards a larger one, in a +direction which is inevitably that of people who "know" ( or +think they know) towards those "who do not know" ( or know +imperfectly) and who must be persuaded. + + Spontaneous organization is that which arises from the +action of the whole of the members of a collectivity at a +given moment, an action of defense of their immediate and +concrete interests at a precise moment in time. The forms and +modes of operation of that organization are those of the action +itself, as a response to the practical necessities of a +situation. Such situations are not only the result of concrete +conditions which lead to the perception of what the interests +one must defend are, but also of the relationship which we can +have at that moment with all the voluntary (willed) +organizations which are at work in the collectivity. + Spontaneous organization is therefore the common action of the + totality of a defined social group, not by its own choice but +by the social insertion of each individual at that very moment. +We will see later that such organization has no goal to reach, +but on the contrary, initial goals which can change very +rapidly. We will also see that it is the same thing for the +forms of action themselves. The initial collectivity which +began the action can also change itself very quickly precisely +at the time and concomitant with changes in goals and forms of +action. + + From this distinction between willed and spontaneous +organization, we could possibly multiply definitions and + differences. Anyone is free to do this. But I must underline +that I am talking about "poles" . Between these two extremes +we can find all sorts of hybrids whose complexity of nature +and interaction are those of social life itself. +Particularly, starting from a voluntary organization, we can +finish by a series of "slidings" to arrive at an +identification with a spontaneous organization. One could +even say that is the aim- avowed or hidden- of all +organizations to make us believe (it is only a question of self- +persuasion or propaganda) or to try to arrive at (this is the +myth of Sisyphus) that very identification with the spontaneous +organization of a determined collectivity. At the opposite +end, a form of spontaneous organization which has arisen can +transform itself into a willed or voluntary organization when +the social forces which have created it turn towards other +forms of organization and the former organization tries to +survive by the will alone of the minority, then stuck in a +rigid framework of references. + +DEFINING SPONTANEITY + + There have already been lots of arguments about the term +"spontaneous" (like the word "autonomous" which has become a +political word in the bad sense of the term). "Spontaneous" +in no way means straight "out of the clear blue sky" , a sort +of spontaneous generation in which one sees rising from +nothingness structures adequate for any kind of struggle. We +are all inevitably social beings, i.e. we are plunged by +force into a social organization to which we inevitably +oppose another organization, that of our own life. Contrary +to what is normally supposed, this organization of our own +life is not fundamentally a form against the dominant social +organization. This organization of our own life is above all +"for itself" . It is only "against" as a consequence of our own +self activity. There is a very precise feeling in each of us of +what the interests of our life are and of what prevents us self +organizing our own lives. ( I am not using the word "conscious" +here on purpose because for too many this word either has the +sense of moral consciousness or, which is only a variant of the +same thing, "political" consciousness. For the self organization +of our own lives as for its self defense, the capitalist system +is the best agent of education. Increasingly it is putting into +our hands a host of instruments which permit this self +organization and its passage from individual to collective +forms. Increasing by its constantly refined forms of +repression, including all previous forms of struggle in +spontaneous organizations, it is posing for this individual or +collective self-organization the absolute need to find +"something else" to survive. What one has acquired from former +struggle is not known through examples or discussions but +through the shock impact of experiences that I spoke of earlier +in this article. Spontaneous' means in the end only the +surfacing of an organization woven into day to day life which in +precise circumstances, and for its defence, must pass on to +another stage of organization and action, ready to return to a +previous level later, or to pass on to another stage, different +from the first two ( the term "balance of forces" is to be +located in the same area, but only describes the situation +without defining anything about its contents, and about the +action and organization of said forces). + +VARIABLE TERMS AND INTERESTS + + "Spontaneous" also refers to another aspect of action +and organization. I touched upon it when stressing, in the +definition of spontaneous organization, that it had no goals, +no pre-established forms and that these could be quickly +transformed by a change in the collectivity involved. +"Spontaneous" is opposed to a moving tactic which serves as a +strategy directed towards a well defined goal (inside +secondary goals defining successive stages to be reached). + Collectivity, action and organization constitute variable +terms in the defense of interests which are also variable. At +every moment these variable interests seem to be just as +immediate as the action and organization to achieve the +provisional and passing goals in question seem necessary. If +all this can happen suddenly and the process evolve very +quickly, this spontaneity is nevertheless, and this has been +stressed, this prolongation of a previous self-organization +and its confrontation with a changed situation. + + The vicissitudes of voluntary organization are not +interesting in themselves, even when, as they so often do, +they weigh down discussions about the "problem of +organization" . We all know the type of organization meant only +too well, above all among those we usually call "militants" . + However, it would be possible to discuss these critically in a +form which remains purely ideological, masking the essential +problem. The history of organization and of "organization" in +relation to technical, economic and social movement remains to +be written. + +THE FUNCTION OF WILLED GROUPS + + It is not the purpose of this article to write this +history, even though the article will note from place to +place the distance between the theory of these groups and +their real practice or simply between what they claim to do +and what they do in reality, between their "vocation" to +universality and their derisory real insertion into society. +In passing I can only underline certain possible axes of +reflections such as: + + 1) The function of willed or voluntary groups. What do +they fulfill in present day capitalist society in imitation +of political parties and trade unions ( the great models of +this type of organization), and that independent of the +political school to which they refer (including the most +"modern"), whatever their radicalism? ( Radicalism is never an +end in itself, but often a different way of achieving the +same end as in other more legal organizations.) + + 2) The behavior of such a voluntary organization. It is +independent of its general or particular aim and of its +practice ( authoritarian or "autonomous"). The capitalist +world inevitably defines its function for it ( in relation to +the aims and the practice it has chosen for itself). This +same relationship to a capitalist world imposes upon it a +separation which a partisan of such willed or voluntary +organization would define "despite himself" as follows :** +"the problem of how to relate and activity which is intended +to be conscious to actual history and the problem of the +relationship between revolutionaries and masses both remain +total:" + + 3) The impossibility of voluntary organizations to develop +themselves, even when the daily practice of struggle +illustrates the very ideas they put forward. More than this, +the development of spontaneous organization leads to the +rejection of willed organizations or their destruction, in +such circumstances, even when these voluntary organizations +assign themselves a role. The consequence is that these +voluntary organizations are increasingly rejected and pushed + towards reformist or capitalist areas and forced to have a +practice which is increasingly in contradiction with their +avowed principles. Just as the above quotation above shows, +it becomes more and more difficult for such organizations + which thus assign a function for themselves to identify with +spontaneous organization and action. Some strive to "revise" +certain parts of their action while keeping others ( +theory, violence, exemplary acts, the practice of one's +theory etc.). And yet it isn't a question of revision, but of a +complete challenging by the movement itself of all the +"revolutionary" notions trundled around for decades, even for +over a century now. It is not details which are in question, +but fundamental ideas. + +IDEA OF COLLECTIVITY ESSENTIAL + + In the distinction which has been made between willed +and spontaneous organization, the idea of collectivity seems +essential. What collectivity are we talking about and what +are the interests around which action and organization are +ordered? + + A collectivity can be itself defined as such by those +voluntarily forming it; they make explicit their common +interests, goals to achieve and the means in the collectivity, +not in actions but as preparation to action. Whatever the +dimensions and character of such a collectivity, this feature +characterizes perfectly all voluntary organization. More than +those to whom this behavior is addressed, the collectivity +can only concern itself with (1) the interests of its +participants alone (2) or either defend interests supposedly +common to members and non-members alike (3) or either defend the +interests of its members by domination of non-members, which +immediately creates a community of opposite interests among the +latter ). According to the situation, we would then have for +example, a living community (1) like a commune for example; +a trade union type movement or political party (2) ( many groups +would come under this heading); or a capitalist enterprise (3) ( +a producers' co-operative would also come under this heading +for even if it remains exempt from the internal domination of a +minority, it would be forced, in order to function, to have +recourse to the mediation of the market, which supposes a +relationship of domination with the consumers). Forms of +voluntary or willed organization, apparently very different one +from another are in reality all marked by this type of + voluntarist initiative, which is concretely expressed by a +certain type of relation. The consequence of this situation is +that all self willed organizations must , in one way or +another, conform to the imperatives of capitalist society in +which it lives and operates. This is accepted by some, fully +assumed by others, but rejected by yet others who think they can +escape it or simply not think about it. In certain crucial +situations, capitalist enterprise has no other choice, if it +wants to survive, but to do what the movement of capital imposes +upon it. From the moment that it exists as an organization, its +only choice is death or capitalist survival. In other forms, but +in the same inexorable way, all self-willed organization is +tied up in the same binding sheath of imperatives. The +forgetting of, or hiding of this situation or the refusal to +look it in the face creates violent internal conflicts. These + are often hidden behind conflicts of personality or ideology. + For a time they can also be dissimulated behind a facade of +"unity" , which one can always hear being offered, for reasons +of propaganda, to non-members ( from here springs the rule that +inside such organizations internal conflicts are always settled +inside the organization and never in public). + + It is possible that such a self-willed collectivity has +derived from a spontaneous organization. This is a frequent +situation following a struggle. Voluntarism here either +consists in seeking to perpetuate either the formal organisms +that the struggle created or keeping up a type of liaison + which the struggle had developed with a specific action in +mind. Such origins in no way preserve the organization thus +developing the characteristics of a self-willed organization. +On the contrary, this origin can make a powerful contribution +in giving the self-willed voluntary organization the +ideological facade necessary for its later actions. The +construction of a new union after a strike is a good example +of this type of thing. + + In opposition to the collectivity which defines itself, +the collectivity to which, despite oneself, one belongs, + is defined by others, by the different forms which the real +or formal domination of capital imposes upon us. We belong +not as a result of choice, but by the obligation (constraint) +of the condition in which we find ourselves. Each person is +thus subjugated, enclosed in one (or several) institutional +frameworks where repression is exercised. He escapes, if he +seeks to escape, only to be put in another institutional cage +( prison for example). Even if he leaves his class and the +special framework of that class, it is only to enter another +class where he becomes subject to the special marshalling and +caging of that class. Inside these structures a certain + number of individuals see themselves imposing the same rules +and the same constraints. Cohesion, action, organization come +from the fact that it is impossible to build one's own life, to +self-organize. Everyone whatever his orientations, comes up +against the stumbling block of the same limits, the same walls. + The responses, i.e. the appearance of a precise common +interest, depends on the force and the violence of that +repression, but they are in no way voluntary. They are the +translation of necessity. The obstacles met and the +possibilities offered lead to action in one form of organization +or another. It is this activity itself which produces ideas +about what ought or ought not to be done. Such organization +does not mean formal concerting together or consultation and the +adoption of a defined form of organization. It would be +difficult to describe in terms of structure the generalization +of the May 68 strike in France, the collective action of British +miners in the 1974 strike, the looting of shops in New York in +the more recent power blackout, the extent of absenteeism or +work the day after a national holiday, etc. However, these, +among others, are actions which carry a weight much greater +than many "organized" forms of struggle called into existence by + self-willed organizations. Spontaneous organization can be very +real-it always exists in this non-structured form and apparently +according to the usual criteria, it doesn't "exist" . This +spontaneous organization, in the course of action and according +to the necessities of this action, can give itself well-defined +forms (always transitory). They are but the prolongation of +informal organization which existed before and which can +return afterwards, when the circumstances which led to the +birth of the organization have disappeared. + + In the self-willed organization, each participant needs to +know in advance if all the other participants in the + collectivity have the same position as himself. Formal +decisions must be taken to know at any moment if what we are +going to do is in agreement with ground principles and the +aims of the organization. Nothing like this happens in a +spontaneous organization. Action, which is a common procedure +without formal concentration, is woven together across close +links, by a type of communication, more often than not with-out +talk ( it would often be impossible considering the rapidity +of the change of objectives and forms of action ). +Spontaneously, naturally, action directs itself towards +necessary objectives to attain a common point, which a common +oppression assigns to everyone, because it touches each one in +the same way. The same is true for specific organisms which +can arise for precise tasks in the course of this action for +its necessity. The unity of thought and action is the essential +feature of this organization; it is this which during the +action gives rise to other ideas, other objectives, other forms + which perhaps one person or some people formulate, but which +have the same instant enthusiastic approbation of all in the +immediate initiation of action. Often the idea is not +formulated but is understood by all in the form of an +initiation of action in another direction than previously +followed. Often also this initiation of action rises up from +many places translating at the same time the unity of thought +and action in the face of the same repression applied to +identical interests. + + While the self-willed organization is either directly or +indirectly submitted to the pressure of the capitalist system + which imposes upon it a line rather than a choice, spontaneous +organization only reveals its action and its apparent forms +openly to everyone, if repression makes necessary defense and +attack over and above that of its daily functioning. Action and +forms will be all the more visible the greater the impact of +these upon society and capital. The place of the collectivity +acting in such a way in the production process will be +determinant. + +NO FORMULA FOR STRUGGLE + + Any struggle which tries to snatch from capitalism what +it does not want to give has that much more importance in +that it forces capital to cede a part of its surplus value and +reduce its profits. One could think that such a formula would +privilege struggles in firms and factories where there is in +effect a permanent spontaneous organization which arises +directly with its own laws at the heart of the system-the +place of exploitation- taking on then its most open and +clearest forms. But in an age when the redistribution of +revenue plays an important role in the functioning of the +system and its survival, in an age of the real domination of +capital, struggles express the spontaneous organization of + collectivities in places other than factories, shops and +offices resulting in the same final consequences for the system. + Their pathways could be very different and confrontations less +direct but their importance is not less. The insurrection of +East Berlin workers in 1953 was at the beginning a spontaneous +movement against the increasing of work norms. The spontaneous +organization which grew out of this moved the collectivity +involved, a group of building workers, away to a collectivity +of all the workers of East Germany. and the simple +demonstration of a handful of workers away to the attack on +official buildings, the objectives of a simple annulling of a +decree away to the fall of a regime, grass-roots self- +organization away to workers' councils; all this in the space of +two days. The Polish insurrection of June 1976 was only a +protest against price rises; but in two points, the necessity to +show their force on two occasions led in a few hours to the +spontaneous organization of workers to occupy Ursus and block +all communications-a pre-insurrection situation, to set on fire +Party headquarters and to the looting at Radom. The government +immediately gave in and straight away the spontaneous +organization fell back to its former positions. The blackout of +electricity plunged New York into darkness revealing suddenly +the spontaneous organization of a collectivity of "frustrated +consumers" who immediately gave themselves up to looting, but +disappeared once the light was restored. The problem of +absenteeism has already been mentioned. That large groups of +people working at a place have recourse to absenteeism in such +a way that repression becomes impossible, reveals a spontaneous +organization in which the possibilities of each person are +defined by the common perception of a situation, by the +possibilities of each other person. This cohesion will reveal +itself suddenly if the management try to sanction these +practices, through the appearance of a perfectly organized, open +spontaneous struggle. We could cite many, many examples of +similar events in the appearance of wildcat strikes over +anything concerning work speeds and productivity, especially in +Great Britain. + + In the examples just quoted spontaneous organization is +entirely self-organization of a collectivity without any +conscious voluntary organization interfering. In looking at them +closer we can see how the constant flux and reflux of action +takes place, from the organization to the aims in the way +described above. But in many other struggles where spontaneous +organization plays an important role, self-willed organization +can co-exist with it, which seems to go in the same direction as +the spontaneous organization. More often than not they do so to +play a repressive role in respect of this organization, which +the normally adequate structures of the capitalist system cannot +assume. This last strike lasting two months by 57.000 Ford auto +workers apparently revealed no form of organization outside the +strike itself. On the contrary, a superficial examination would +make one say that conscious voluntary organization like trade +unions, the shop stewards organizations, even some political +groups played an essential role in the strike. However, this in +no way explains how the strike spontaneously began at Halewood +or the remarkable cohesion of 57,000 workers, or the effective +solidarity of transport workers which led to a total blockage +of all Ford products. The explanation is in the spontaneous +organization of struggle which, if it found expression in +nothing formal and apparent, constantly imposed its presence +and efficacy on all capitalist structures and above all, on the +unions. In the case of Ford, the spontaneous organization was +not seen in particular actions except, and it was singularly +effective in this situation, by absence without fail from the + workplace. In the miners strike of 1974, we find the same +cohesion in a strike also covered by the union, but if it had +stayed there the effectiveness of their struggle would +nevertheless have been reduced because of the existence of +stocks of substitute energy. The offensive action around the +organization of flying pickets across the country revealed a +spontaneous self-organization, even if this self-organization +benefitted from the help of self-willed organization. Without +the effective, spontaneous organization of the miners +themselves, this support would have been reduced to precious +little. In an identical domain, coal mines, we saw a similar +self-organization on the part of American miners last summer +during the U.S. miners' strike. + + On the other hand, in a different situation, the 4,000 +miners of the iron mines of Kiruna in Sweden went out on +total strike from December 1969 to the end of February 1970. +Their spontaneous organization found expression in a strike +committee elected by the rank and file and excluding all union +representatives. The end of the strike could only be achieved +after the destruction of this committee and the return to forms +of self-organization prior to the struggle itself. The LIP +strike in France in 1973 had an enormous echo among other +workers because 1,200 people dared do an unusual thing: steal +the firms' products and material to pay their wages during the +strike. This was only possible by spontaneous organization of +struggle; but this spontaneous organization was entirely masked +by an internal conscious, voluntary organization ( the Inter- +Union Committee) and external ones (the many committees of +support). In the course of the last years, spontaneous +organization has been little by little brought out, often at the +price of very harsh tensions between two organizations, in the +institutional framework of Capital-one organization formal, the +other informal, except at rare moments. In another dimension, +May 68 in France also saw the arrival of several types of +organization. Much has been said about the self-willed +movement, the 22nd of March Movement, the action committees, +neighborhood committees, worker-student committees etc. Much +less has been said of the informal self-organization of the +struggle which was very strong in the extension of the strike +in a few days, but which folded back on itself just as quickly +without expressing itself in specific organizations or actions, +thus leaving the way free to various conscious voluntary +organizations, for the most part unions or parties. + + Italy from 1968 until today and Spain between 1976-77, +saw similar situations developing to those of May 68 in +France, with the co-existence of spontaneous organizations +not only in the face of traditional conscious organizations, +but also concise voluntary organizations of a new type, in a +form adapted to the situation created by the spontaneous +movement. Movements can develop spontaneously in social +categories subject to the same conditions, without all of them + being involved at first, but without being self-willed +organizations for all that. They are the embryo of a greater +spontaneous movement which according to circumstance will +remain at the day to day level or give rise to a formal +organization when it spreads on a much wider scale. Mutinies in +the British, French, German and Russian armies in the 1914-18 +war had these characteristics and had very different +consequences. The movement of desertion and resistance to the +Vietnam War in the U.S. Army was something else which became +in the end one of the most powerful agents for the end of that +war. Everyone can try in this way in all movements of struggle +to determine the part played by spontaneous organization and +that played by self-willed organization. It is only a rigorous +delimitation, by no means easy, which allows us to understand +the dynamics of the internal conflicts and struggles carried out +therein. And so the sentence I quoted further back evincing an +unresolved "problem" between "revolutionaries and the masses" +takes on its whole meaning ( certainly not the one the author +intended). The problem is that of a permanent conflict between +"revolutionaries and the masses" , i.e. between self-willed +and spontaneous organization. + + Of course this conflict expresses a relationship which +does not the less exist because it is very different from +that which such conscious voluntary organizations would want +it to be. The conflict is maintained to a great extent in the +fact that when, in a struggle, the voluntary organizations +would wish it to be. the conflict is maintained to a great +extent in the fact that when, in a struggle, the voluntary +and the spontaneous organizations co-exist, the relationship +is not the same in both directions. For the spontaneous +organization, the conscious voluntary one can be a temporary +instrument in a stage of action. It only needs the +affirmations of the voluntary organization not to be +resolutely opposed to what the spontaneous one wants for this +to be the case and in such a way that ambiguity exists. It is +often so with a delegate of a union or of various committees +created parallel to spontaneous organization around an idea +or aim. If the spontaneous organization does not find such +an instrument it creates its own temporary organisms to reach +the goal of the moment. If the instrument either refuses the +function the spontaneous organization assigns to it, or +becomes inadequate because the struggle has shifted its +ground and requires other instruments, the voluntary +organization is abandoned. It is the same thing for the defined +form of a specific moment of a spontaneous organization. + +MASSES AS SUBJECT/OBJECT + + For the self-willed organization, the "masses" , i.e. the +spontaneous organization, including its defined temporary forms, +is an object. That's why they try to achieve in order to apply +it to the role that they have defined themselves. When a +spontaneous organization uses a conscious voluntary one, the +latter tries to maintain the basic ambiguity as long as +possible, while at the same time trying to bend the spontaneous +organization towards its own ideology and objectives. When the +spontaneous organization is abandoned it will try by all the +means in its possession to bring it under its own wing. The +methods used will certainly vary according to the importance of +the voluntary organization and the power it holds in the +capitalist system. Between the barrage of propaganda of certain +organizations and the U.S. union commandos which attack +strikers, for example, there is only this difference of size. + This dimension is even more tragic when the spontaneous +organization creates its own organisms of struggle whose +existence means the death of the conscious voluntary one and the +entire capitalist system along with it. From Social Democratic +Germany to Bolshevik Russia, to the Barcelona of the Anarchist +ministers come the smashing of the workers councils, Kronstadt +and the days of May 1937. Between assemblies, strike +committees, councils and collectivities on the one hand and +self-willed organizations on the other, the frontiers are well +drawn in the same way as those between voluntary and spontaneous +organization itself. + The very creation of spontaneous organization can know +the same fate as the self-willed organization. The +circumstances of a struggle nearly always lead the movement +of spontaneous organization to fold on itself, to return to +more underground forms, more primitive forms one could say, +even though these underground forms would be as rich and as +useful as the others. Here we are often tempted to trace a +hierarchy between various forms of organization when they are +only the relay, one to the other, of the constant adaption to +situation, i.e. to pressure and repression). The shifting of +spontaneous organization leaves behind on the sand without any +life the definite forms they have created. If they don't die + all together and seek to survive by the voluntary action of +certain people, they find themselves exactly in the same +positions as other self-willed organizations. They can even +possibly make a sizeable development in this direction because +they can then constitute a form of voluntary organization, if +the latter has reached a dangerous level for the capitalist +system. + +NO RECIPE FROM PAST + + In this sense there is no recipe from the past in the +creation of spontaneous organization for its future +manifestation. We cannot say in advance what definite form of +spontaneous organization will borrow temporarily to achieve +its objectives at the moment. At its different levels of +existence and manifestation, spontaneous organization has a + dialectical relationship with all that finds itself submitted +to the rules of the system ( all that which tries to survive +in the system ) and ends up sooner or later by being opposed +to it-including opposition to voluntary self-willed +organizations created to work in its own interests, and +organizations which have sprung from spontaneous +organizations which in the capitalist system build themselves +up into permanent organisms. + + To put a conclusion to these few considerations on +organization lead one to believe that a real look at the +problem had been made and that a provisional or definitive + termination could be made. I leave it to the conscious +voluntary organizations to do that. Like the spontaneous +movement of struggle itself, the discussion about it has no +defined frontiers and no conclusions. + +CRISIS OF TRADITIONAL ORGANIZATION + + It would also be a contradiction of the spontaneous +movement to consider that the necessary schematism of +analysis contains a judgement of any sort of the value of +ideas and a condemnation of the action of self-willed +voluntary organization. Individuals involved in such +organizations are there because the system of ideas offered +corresponds to the level of the relationship between their +experiences and those of the people who surround them and those +of which they could have knowledge. The only issue in question +is to situate their place in such an organization, the place of +that organization in capitalist society, the function of this in +events in which the organization may be involved. These are +precisely the circumstances which through the shock impact of +experiences leads one person to do what his dominant interest +dictates at a given moment. In order to better situate the +question, let us look at the crises of "big" voluntary +organizations because they are well known and badly camouflaged +( and always recurring ); for example in the French Communist +Party. In the last few years internal crises have been +caused in the French C.P. by the explosion of spontaneous +organizations in such events as the Hungarian insurrection +(1956), the struggle against the Algerian War (1956-62) and May +68. + + Spontaneous organization does not affirm itself all at +once, in a way which could be judged according to the +traditional schema of conscious voluntary organization. It + remoulds itself endlessly and, according to the necessities of +struggle, seems to disappear here, in order to reappear there +in another form. This uncertain and fleeting character is at + one and the same time a mark of the strength of repression +(the strength of capitalism) and of a period of affirmation + which has existed for decades and which may be very long. In +such an intermediary period uncertainties find expression in +the limited experiences of each of us, the parceling up of ideas +and actions, and the temptation is to maintain an "acquisition" +of struggle. The same uncertainty is often interpreted as a +weakness leading to the necessity to find ourselves with others +having the same limited experience of self-willed voluntary +organizations. But such organizations do nevertheless differ a +lot from those of the past. When looking at what were the +"great" voluntary organizations of half a century ago and more, +some people regret the dispersion and atomization of such +organizations. But they only express, however, the decline of +the conscious voluntary organization and the rising of the +spontaneous organization, -a transitional stage where the two +forms of organization rub shoulders and confront each other in a + dialectical relationship. + + It is for each person to place himself, if he can and when +he can, in the relationship of this process, trying to +understand that his disillusions are the riches of a world to +come and his failures are the victory of something else much +greater than what he must abandon ( and which has little to +do with the temporary "victory of the class enemy" ). Here +the conclusion is the beginning of a much greater debate + which is that of the idea of revolution and of the +revolutionary process itself, a debate which is in effect +never posed as a preamble to spontaneous organization, but + which arises, as action, as a condition and an end of action +in action itself. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001304.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001304.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..42d2fa05 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001304.txt @@ -0,0 +1,805 @@ +ANTI-MASS METHODS OF ORGANIZATION FOR COLLECTIVES. + +The Difference Between Mass and Class + + Why is it important to know the difference between mass and class? + The chances are that there can be no conscious revolutionary practice +without making this distinction. We are not playing around with words. +Look. We are living in a mass society. We didn't get that way by +accident. The mass is a specific form of organization. The reason is +clear. Consumption is organized by the corporations. Their products +define the mass. The mass is not a cliche - 'the masses' - but a routine +which dominates your daily life. Understanding the structure of the mass +market is the first step toward understanding what happened to the class +struggle. + What is the mass? Most people think of the mass in terms of +numbers - like a crowded street or stadium. But it is actually structure +which determines its character. The mass is an aggregate of couples who +are separate, detached and anonymous. They live in cities physically +close yet socially apart. Their lives are privatized and depraved. +Coca-Cola and loneliness. The social existence of the mass - its rules +and regulations, the structuring of its status, roles and leadership - are +organized through consumption (the mass market). They are all products of +a specific social organization. Ours. + Of course, no one sees themselves as part of the mass. It's +always others who are the masses. The trouble is that it is not only the +corporations which organize us into the mass. The 'movement' itself +behaves as a mass and its organizers reproduce the hierarchy of the mass. + Really, how do you fight fire? With water, of course. The same +goes for revolution. We don't fight the mass (market) with a mass +(movement). We fight mass with class. Our aim should be not to create a +mass movement but a class force. + What is a class? A class is a consciously organized social force. + For example, the ruling class is conscious and acts collectively to +organize not only itself, but also the people (mass) that it rules. The +corporation is the self-conscious collective power of the ruling class. +We are not saying that class relations do not exist in the rest of +society. But they remain passive so long as they are shaped solely by +objective conditions (i.e. work situations). What is necessary is the +active (subjective) participation of the class itself. Class prejudice is +not class consciousness. The class is conscious of its social existence +because it seeks to organize itself. Th + The moral of the story is: the mass is a mass because it is +organized as a mass. Don't be fooled by the brand name. Mass is thinking +with your ass. + + +Primacy of the Collective + + The small group is the coming together of people who feel the need +for collectivity. Its function is often to break out of the mass - +specifically from the isolation of daily life and the mass structure of +the movement. The problem is that frequently the group cannot create an +independent existence and an identity of its own because it continues to +define itself negatively, i.e. in opposition. So long as its point of +reference lies outside of it, the group's politics tend to be superimposed +on it by events and crises. + The small group can be a stage in the development of the +collective, if it develops a critique of the frustrations stemming from +its external orientation. The formation of a collective begins when +people not only have the same politics, but agree on the method of struggle. + Why should the collective be the primary focus of organization? +The collective is an alternative to the existing structure of society. +Changing social relations is a process rather than a product of +revolution. In other words, you make the revolution by actually changing +social relations. You must consciously create the contradictions in history. + Concretely, this means: organize yourselves, not somebody else. +The collective is the organizational nucleus of a classless society. As a +formal organization, it negates all forms of hierarchy. The answer to +alienation is to make yourself the subject, not the object, of history. + One of the crucial obstacles to the formation of collectives is +the transitional period - when the collective must survive side by side +with a disintegrating movement and a mass society. The disintegration of +the movement is not an isolated phenomenon but reflects the weakening of +the major institutions in American society responsible for our alienation. + Many people are demoralized by this process and find it bewildering +because they actually depend subconsciously on the continued existence of +these institutions. We are witnessing the break-up and transformation of +an institution integral to society - the mass market. The mass market is +corporate structure which few + These contradictions make it imperative that any people who decide +to create a collective know exactly who they are and what they are doing. +That is why you must consider your collective as primary. Because, if you +don't believe in the legitimacy of this form of organization, you can't +have a practical analysis of what is happening. Don't kid yourself. The +struggle for the creation and survival of collectives at this moment in +history is going to be very difficult. + The dominant issue will be how collectives can become part of +history - how they can become a social force. There is no guarantee and +we should promise no easy victories. The uniqueness of developing +collectives is their definitive break with all hierarchic forms of +organization and the reconstructing of a classless society. + The thinking of radical organizers is frozen in the concept of the +mass movement. This form of struggle, no matter how radical its demands, +never threatens the basic structure - the mass itself. + Under these circumstances it takes great effort to imagine new +forms of existence. Space must be created before we can think of these +things and be able to establish the legitimacy of acting upon them. + The form of the collective is its practice. The collective is +opposed to the mass. It contradicts the structure of the mass. The +collective is anti-mass. + +Size of the Collective + + The aim of any organization is to make it as simple as possible, +or as Marshall McLuhan puts it, "high in participation, low in +definition." The tendency is just the opposite. Our reflex is to create +administrative structures to deal with political problems. + Most people cannot discuss intelligently the subject of size. +There is an unspoken feeling either that the problem should not exist or +that it is beneath us to talk about it. Let's get it out in the open. +Size is a question of politics and social relations, not administration. +Do you wonder why the subject is shunted aside at large meetings? Because +it fundamentally challenges the repressive nature of large organizations. +Small groups that function as appendages to larger bodies will never feel +like small groups. + The collective should not be larger than a band - no orchestras or +chamber music please. The basic idea is to reproduce the collective, not +expand it. The strength of a collective lies in its social organization, +not its numbers. Once you think in terms of recruiting, you might as well +join the Army. The difference between expansion and reproduction is the +difference between adding and multiplying. The first bases its strength +on numbers and the second on relationships between people. + Why should there be a limit to size? Because we are neither +supermen nor slaves. Beyond a certain point, the group becomes a meeting +and before you know it you have to raise your hand to speak. The +collective is a recognition of the practical limits of conversation. This +simple fact is the basis for a new social experience. + Relations of inequality can be seen more clearly within a +collective and dealt with more effectively. "Whatever the nature of +authority in the large organization, it is inherent in the simple +organization unit." (Chester Barnard, The Function of Executives, 1938). +A small group with a 'leader' is the nucleus of a class society. Small +size restricts the area which any single individual can dominate. This is +true both internally and in relation to other groups. + Today, the mode of struggle requires a durable and resilient form +of organization which will enable us to cope both with the attrition of +daily life and the likelihood of repression. Unless we can begin to solve +problems at this level collectively, we are certainly not fit to create a +new society. Contrary to what people are led to think, i.e. united we +stand, united we fall, it will be harder to destroy a multitude of +collectives than the largest organizations with centralized control. + Size is a key to security. But its real importance lies in the +fact that the collective reproduces new social relations - the advantage +being that the process can begin now. + The limitation on size raises a difficult problem. What do you +say to someone who asks, "Can I join your collective?" This question is +ultimately at the root of much hostility (often unconscious) toward the +collective form of organization. You can't separate size from the +collective because it must be small in order to exist. The collective has +a right to exclude individuals because it offers them the alternative of +starting a new collective, i.e. sharing the responsibility for +organization. This is the basic answer to the question above. + Of course, people will put down the collective as being exclusive. + That is not the point. The size of a collective is essentially a +limitation on its authority. By contrast, large organizations, while +having open membership, are exclusive in terms of who shapes the politics +and actively participates in the structuring of activities. The choice is +between joining the mass of creating the class. The revolutionary project +is to do it yourself. Remember, Alexandra Kollontal warned in 1920, "The +essence of bureaucracy is when some third person decides your fate." + + +The Difference Between Mass and Class + + Why is it important to know the difference between mass and class? + The chances are that there can be no conscious revolutionary practice +without making this distinction. We are not playing around with words. +Look. We are living in a mass society. We didn't get that way by +accident. The mass is a specific form of organization. The reason is +clear. Consumption is organized by the corporations. Their products +define the mass. The mass is not a cliche - 'the masses' - but a routine +which dominates your daily life. Understanding the structure of the mass +market is the first step toward understanding what happened to the class +struggle. + What is the mass? Most people think of the mass in terms of +numbers - like a crowded street or stadium. But it is actually structure +which determines its character. The mass is an aggregate of couples who +are separate, detached and anonymous. They live in cities physically +close yet socially apart. Their lives are privatized and depraved. +Coca-Cola and loneliness. The social existence of the mass - its rules +and regulations, the structuring of its status, roles and leadership - are +organized through consumption (the mass market). They are all products of +a specific social organization. Ours. + Of course, no one sees themselves as part of the mass. It's +always others who are the masses. The trouble is that it is not only the +corporations which organize us into the mass. The 'movement' itself +behaves as a mass and its organizers reproduce the hierarchy of the mass. + Really, how do you fight fire? With water, of course. The same +goes for revolution. We don't fight the mass (market) with a mass +(movement). We fight mass with class. Our aim should be not to create a +mass movement but a class force. + What is a class? A class is a consciously organized social force. + For example, the ruling class is conscious and acts collectively to +organize not only itself, but also the people (mass) that it rules. The +corporation is the self-conscious collective power of the ruling class. +We are not saying that class relations do not exist in the rest of +society. But they remain passive so long as they are shaped solely by +objective conditions (i.e. work situations). What is necessary is the +active (subjective) participation of the class itself. Class prejudice is +not class consciousness. The class is conscious of its social existence +because it seeks to organize itself. Th + The moral of the story is: the mass is a mass because it is +organized as a mass. Don't be fooled by the brand name. Mass is thinking +with your ass. + + +Primacy of the Collective + + The small group is the coming together of people who feel the need +for collectivity. Its function is often to break out of the mass - +specifically from the isolation of daily life and the mass structure of +the movement. The problem is that frequently the group cannot create an +independent existence and an identity of its own because it continues to +define itself negatively, i.e. in opposition. So long as its point of +reference lies outside of it, the group's politics tend to be superimposed +on it by events and crises. + The small group can be a stage in the development of the +collective, if it develops a critique of the frustrations stemming from +its external orientation. The formation of a collective begins when +people not only have the same politics, but agree on the method of struggle. + Why should the collective be the primary focus of organization? +The collective is an alternative to the existing structure of society. +Changing social relations is a process rather than a product of +revolution. In other words, you make the revolution by actually changing +social relations. You must consciously create the contradictions in history. + Concretely, this means: organize yourselves, not somebody else. +The collective is the organizational nucleus of a classless society. As a +formal organization, it negates all forms of hierarchy. The answer to +alienation is to make yourself the subject, not the object, of history. + One of the crucial obstacles to the formation of collectives is +the transitional period - when the collective must survive side by side +with a disintegrating movement and a mass society. The disintegration of +the movement is not an isolated phenomenon but reflects the weakening of +the major institutions in American society responsible for our alienation. + Many people are demoralized by this process and find it bewildering +because they actually depend subconsciously on the continued existence of +these institutions. We are witnessing the break-up and transformation of +an institution integral to society - the mass market. The mass market is +corporate structure which few + These contradictions make it imperative that any people who decide +to create a collective know exactly who they are and what they are doing. +That is why you must consider your collective as primary. Because, if you +don't believe in the legitimacy of this form of organization, you can't +have a practical analysis of what is happening. Don't kid yourself. The +struggle for the creation and survival of collectives at this moment in +history is going to be very difficult. + The dominant issue will be how collectives can become part of +history - how they can become a social force. There is no guarantee and +we should promise no easy victories. The uniqueness of developing +collectives is their definitive break with all hierarchic forms of +organization and the reconstructing of a classless society. + The thinking of radical organizers is frozen in the concept of the +mass movement. This form of struggle, no matter how radical its demands, +never threatens the basic structure - the mass itself. + Under these circumstances it takes great effort to imagine new +forms of existence. Space must be created before we can think of these +things and be able to establish the legitimacy of acting upon them. + The form of the collective is its practice. The collective is +opposed to the mass. It contradicts the structure of the mass. The +collective is anti-mass. + +Size of the Collective + + The aim of any organization is to make it as simple as possible, +or as Marshall McLuhan puts it, "high in participation, low in +definition." The tendency is just the opposite. Our reflex is to create +administrative structures to deal with political problems. + Most people cannot discuss intelligently the subject of size. +There is an unspoken feeling either that the problem should not exist or +that it is beneath us to talk about it. Let's get it out in the open. +Size is a question of politics and social relations, not administration. +Do you wonder why the subject is shunted aside at large meetings? Because +it fundamentally challenges the repressive nature of large organizations. +Small groups that function as appendages to larger bodies will never feel +like small groups. + The collective should not be larger than a band - no orchestras or +chamber music please. The basic idea is to reproduce the collective, not +expand it. The strength of a collective lies in its social organization, +not its numbers. Once you think in terms of recruiting, you might as well +join the Army. The difference between expansion and reproduction is the +difference between adding and multiplying. The first bases its strength +on numbers and the second on relationships between people. + Why should there be a limit to size? Because we are neither +supermen nor slaves. Beyond a certain point, the group becomes a meeting +and before you know it you have to raise your hand to speak. The +collective is a recognition of the practical limits of conversation. This +simple fact is the basis for a new social experience. + Relations of inequality can be seen more clearly within a +collective and dealt with more effectively. "Whatever the nature of +authority in the large organization, it is inherent in the simple +organization unit." (Chester Barnard, The Function of Executives, 1938). +A small group with a 'leader' is the nucleus of a class society. Small +size restricts the area which any single individual can dominate. This is +true both internally and in relation to other groups. + Today, the mode of struggle requires a durable and resilient form +of organization which will enable us to cope both with the attrition of +daily life and the likelihood of repression. Unless we can begin to solve +problems at this level collectively, we are certainly not fit to create a +new society. Contrary to what people are led to think, i.e. united we +stand, united we fall, it will be harder to destroy a multitude of +collectives than the largest organizations with centralized control. + Size is a key to security. But its real importance lies in the +fact that the collective reproduces new social relations - the advantage +being that the process can begin now. + The limitation on size raises a difficult problem. What do you +say to someone who asks, "Can I join your collective?" This question is +ultimately at the root of much hostility (often unconscious) toward the +collective form of organization. You can't separate size from the +collective because it must be small in order to exist. The collective has +a right to exclude individuals because it offers them the alternative of +starting a new collective, i.e. sharing the responsibility for +organization. This is the basic answer to the question above. + Of course, people will put down the collective as being exclusive. + That is not the point. The size of a collective is essentially a +limitation on its authority. By contrast, large organizations, while +having open membership, are exclusive in terms of who shapes the politics +and actively participates in the structuring of activities. The choice is +between joining the mass of creating the class. The revolutionary project +is to do it yourself. Remember, Alexandra Kollontal warned in 1920, "The +essence of bureaucracy is when some third person decides your fate." + +Contact Between Collectives + + The collective does not communicate with the mass. It makes +contact with other collectives. What if other collectives do not exist? +Well, it should take to itself until the day they do. Yes. By all means, +the collective also communicates with other people, but it never views +them as a mass - as a constituency or audience. The collective +communicates with individuals in order to encourage self-organization. It +assumes that people are capable of self-organization, and given that +alternative, they will choose it over mass participation. The collective +knows that it takes time to create new forms of organization. It simply +seeks to hasten the crumbling of the mass. + Much of the problem of 'communication' these days is that people +think they have got to communicate all the time. You find people setting +up administrative functions to deal with information flows before they +have any idea what they want to say. The collective is not obsessed with +'communicating' or 'relating' to the movement. What concerns it is the +amount of noise - incessant phone calls, form letters, announcements of +meetings, etc. - that passes for communication. It is time we gave more +thought to what we say and how we say it. + What exactly do we mean by contact? We want to begin by taking +the bureaucracy out of communication. The idea is to begin modestly. +Contact is a touching on all sides. The essential thing is about its +directness and reliability. Eyeball to eyeball. + Other forms of communication - telephone, letters, documents, etc. +- should never be used as substitutes for direct contact. In fact, they +should serve primarily to prepare contacts. + Why is it so important to have direct contact? Because it is the +simplest form of communication. Moreover, it is physical and involves all +the senses - most of all the sense of smell. For this reason, it is +reliable. It also takes account of the real need for security. Those who +talk about repression continue to pass around sheets of paper asking for +names, addresses, and telephone numbers. + There are already a number of gatherings which appear to involve +contact but in reality are grotesque facsimiles. The worst of these and +the one most people flock to is the conference. This is a hotel of the +mind which turns is all into tourists and spectators. A lower form of +existence is the endless meeting - the one held every night. Not to +mention the committees formed expressly to arrange meetings. + The basic principle of contact between collectives is: you only +meet when you have something to say to each other. This means two things. + First, that you have a concrete idea what it is you want to say. +Secondly, that you must prepare it in advance. These principles help to +ensure that communication does not become an administrative problem. + The new forms of contact have yet to be created. We can think of +single examples. A member of one collective can attend the meeting of +another collective or there may be a joint meeting of the groups as a +whole. The first of these appears to be the more practical, however, the +drawback is that not everyone is involved. There are undoubtedly other +forms of contact which are likely to develop. The main thing is to invent +them. + + +Priority of Local Action + + The collective gives priority to local action. It rejects the +mass politics of the white nationalists with their national committees, +organizers, and the superstars. Definitely, the collective is out of the +mainstream and what is more it feels no regrets. The aim of the +collective is to feel new thoughts and act new ideas - in a word to create +its own space. And that, more than any program, is what is intolerable to +all the xerox radicals trying to reproduce their own images. + The collective is the hindquarters of the revolution. It makes no +pretence whatsoever in regard to the role of the vanguard. Expect nothing +from them. They are not your leaders. Leave them alone. The collective +knows it will be the last to enter the new world. + The doubts people have about local action reveal how dependent +they are on the glamour of mass politics. Everyone wants to project +themselves on the screen of revolution - as Yippies or White Panthers. +Having internalized the mass, they ask themselves questions whose answers +seem logical in its context. How can we accomplish anything without mass +action? If we don't go to meetings and demonstrations, will we be +forgotten? Who will take us seriously if we don't join the rank and file? + Slowly you realize that you have become a spectator, an object. +Your politics take place on a stage and your social relations consist of +sitting in an audience or marching in a crowd. The fragmentation of your +everyday experience contrasts with the spectacular unity of the mass. + By contrast, the priority of local action is an attempt to unify +everyday life and fragment the mass. This level of consciousness is a +result of rejecting the laws of mass behavior based on Leninism and TV +ideology. It makes possible an enema of the brain which everyone so +desperately needs. You will be relieved to discover that you can create a +situation by localizing your struggle. + How can we prevent local action from becoming provincial? Whether +or not it does so depends on our overall strategy. Provincialism is +simply the consequences or not knowing what is happening. A commune, for +example, is provincial because its strategy is based on petty farming and +glorification of the extended family. What they have is astrology, not a +strategy. + Local action should be based on the global structure of modern +society. There can be no collective action without collectives. But the +creation of a collective should not be mistaken for victory nor should it +become an end in itself. The great danger the collective faces +historically is that of being cut off (or cutting itself off) from the +outside world. The issue ultimately will be what action to take and when. + Whether collectives become a social force depends on their analysis of +history and their course of action. + In fact, the 'provinces' today are moving ahead of the centers in +political consciousness and motivation. From Minnesota to the Mekong +Delta, the revolt is gaining coherence. The centers are trying to +decipher what is happening, to catch up and contain it. For this purpose +they must create centralized forms of organization - or 'co-ordination' - +as the modernists call it. + The first principle of local action is to denationalize your +thinking. Take the country out of Salem. Get out of Marlboro country. +Become conscious of how your life is managed from the national centers. +Lifestyles are roles designed to give you the illusion of movement while +keeping you in your place. "Style is mass chasing class, and class +escaping mass." (W. Rauschenbush, "The Idiot God Fashion," Woman's Coming +of Age, eds Schmalhausen and Calvert, 1931). + Local action gives you the initiative by enabling you to define +the situation. That is the practice of knowing you are the subject. +Marat says: "The most important thing is to pull yourself up by your own +hair, to turn yourself inside out and see the whole world with fresh +eyes." The collective turns itself inside out and sees reality. + + +The Dream of Unity + + The principle of unity is based on the proposition that everyone +is a unit (a fragment). Unity means one multiplied by itself. We are not +going to say it straight - in so far as unity has suppressed real +political differences - class, racial, sexual - it is a form of tyranny. +The dream of unity is in reality a nightmare of compromise and suppressed +desires. We are not equal and unity perpetuates inequality. + The collective will be subject constantly to pressure from outside +groups demanding support in one form or another. Everyone is always in a +crisis. Given these circumstances, a group can have the illusion of being +permanently mobilized and active without having politics of its own. +Calls for unity channel the political energies of collectives into support +politics. So, as a precaution, the collective must take time to work out +its own politics and plan of action. Above all, it should try to foresee +crisis situations and their 'rent-a-crowd' militancy. + You will be accused of factionalism. Don't waste time thinking +about this age old problem. A collective is not a faction. Responding to +Pavlov's bell puts you in the position of a salivating dog. There will be +no end to your hunger when who you are is determined by someone else. + You will also be accused of elitism. This is a risky business and +should not be dismissed lightly. A collective must first know what is +meant by elitism. Instead of wondering whether it refers to leadership or +personalities, you should first anchor the issue in a class context. Know +where your ideas come from and what their relation is to the dominant +ideology. You should ask the same questions about those who make the +accusations. What is their class background and class interest? So far +many people have reacted defensively to the charge of elitism and, thus, +have avoided dealing with the issue head on. That in itself is a class +reaction. + The internal is the mirror of the external. The best way to avoid +behaving like an elite is to prevent the formation of elitism within the +collective itself. Often when charges of elitism are true, they reflect +the same class relations internally. + The ways of undermining the autonomy of a collective are many and +insidious. The call for unity can no longer be responded to +automatically. The time has come to question the motives and +effectiveness of such actions - and to feel good (i.e. correct) in doing +so. Jargon is pigeon talk and is meant to make us feel stupid and +powerless. Because collective action is not organized as a mass, it does +not have to rely on the call of unity in order to act. + "Does 'one divide into two' or 'two fuse into one'? This question +is a subject of debate in China and now here. This debate is a struggle +between two conceptions of the world. One believes in struggle, the other +in unity. The two sides have drawn a clear line between them and their +arguments are diametrically opposed. Thus, you can wee why one divides +into two." (Free translation from the Red Flag, Peking, September 21, 1964). + +The Function of Analysis + + Not only can there be no revolution without revolutionary theory, +there can be no strategy without analysis. Strategy is knowing ahead of +time what you are going to do. This is what analysis makes possible. +When you begin, you may not know anything. The purpose of analysis is not +to know everything, but to know what you do know and know it good - that +is collectively. The heart of thinking analytically is to learn over and +over again that the process is as important as the product. Developing an +analysis requires new ways of thinking. Without new ways of thinking we +are doomed to old ways of acting. + The question of what we are going to do is the hardest to answer +and the one that ultimately will determine whether a collective will +continue to exist. The difficulty of the question makes analysis all the +more necessary. We can no longer afford to be propelled by the crudest +forms of advertisement - slogans and rhetoric. The function of analysis +is to reveal a plan of action. + Why is there relatively little practical analysis of what is +happening today? Some people refuse to analyze anything which they cannot +immediately comprehend. Basically they have a feeling of inadequacy. +This is partly because they have never had the opportunity to do it before +and, therefore, don't know they are capable of it. On the other hand, +many activists put down analysis as being 'intellectual' - which is more a +commentary on their own kind of thinking than anything else. Finally, +there are those who feel no need to think and become very uncomfortable +when somebody does want to. This often reflects their class disposition. +The general constipation of the movement is a product of all these forces. + One reason for this sad state of affairs is that analysis gives so +little satisfaction. This is another way of saying that it is not +practical. What has happened to all thinking can best be seen in the +degeneration of class analysis into stereotyped, obese definitions. There +is little difference between the theory-mongers of high abstraction and +the sloganeers of crude abstraction. Theory is becoming the dialect of +robots, and slogans the mass production of the mind. But just because +ideas have become so mechanical does not mean we should abandon thought. + Most people are willing to face the fact that they are living in a +society that has yet to be explained. Any attempt to probe those areas +which are unfamiliar is met with a general hostility of fear. People seem +afraid to look at themselves analytically. Part of the problem of not +knowing what to do reveals itself in our not knowing who we are. The +motivation to look at yourself critically and to explain society comes +from the desire to change both. The heart of the problem is that we do +not concretely imagine winning, except perhaps, by accident. + Analysis is the arming of the brain. We're being stifled by those +who tell us analysis is intellectual when in reality it is the tool of the +imagination. Just as you can't tolerate intellectualism, so you cannot +act from raw anger - not if you want to win. You must teach your stomach +how to think and your brain how to feel. Analysis should help us to +express anger intelligently. Learning how to think, i.e. analysis, is the +first step toward conscious activity. + No doubt you feel yourself tightening up because you think it +sounds heavy. Really, the problem is that you think much bigger than you +act. Be modest. Start with what you already know and want to know more +about. Analysis begins with what interests you. Political thinking +should be part of everyday life, not a class privilege. To be practical, +analysis must give you an understanding of what to do and how to do it. + Thinking should help to distinguish between what is important and +what is not. It should break down complex forces so that we can +understand them. Break everything down. In the process of analyzing +something you will discover that there are different ways of acting which +were not apparent when you began. This is the pleasure of analysis. To +investigate a problem is to begin to solve it. + + +The Need for New Formats + + The need for new formats grows out of the oppressiveness of print. + We must learn the techniques of advertisement. They consist of short, +clear, non-rhetorical statements. The ad words. The ad represents a +break with the college education and the diarrhea of words. The ad is a +concentrated formula for communication. Its information power has already +outmoded the school system. The secret is to gain as much pleasure in +creating the form as in expressing the idea. + How do we defend adopting the style of advertising when its +function is so oppressive? As a medium we think it represents a +revolutionary mode of production. Rejecting it has resulted in the +stagnation of our minds and a crude romanticism in political culture. +Those who turn up their noses at ads think in a language that is decrepit. + Using the ad technique transforms the person who does it. It makes +writing a pleasure for anyone because it strives in orality in print. + What we mean by the use of ad technique is to physically use it. +Most of the time we are unconscious of ads and, if we do become conscious, +we don't act upon them - don't subvert them. Ads are based on repetition. + If you affect one of them, you affect all of them. Know the environment +of the ad. The most effective way to subvert an ad is to make the +contradiction in it visible. Advertise it. The vulnerability of ads lies +in the possibility of turning them against the exploiters. + Jerry Rubin says you should use the media all the time. At least +he goes all the way. This is better than the toe-dipping approach that +seems so common these days. Of course, there are groups who say don't use +it at all and they don't. They will probably outlast Jerry since the +basic technique of mass media is over-exposure. That is why Jerry has +already written his memoirs. The Situationists say: "The revolt is +contained by over-exposure. We are given it to contemplate so that we +shall forget to participate." + We are not talking about the packaging of politics. Ramparts is +the Playboy of the Left. On the other hand, the underground press is +pornographic and redundant. Newsreel's projector is running backwards. +And why in the era of Cosmopolitan magazine must we suffer the stodginess +of Leviathan? We much prefer reading Fortune - the magazine for 'the men +in charge of change' - for our analysis of capitalism. + There is no getting around it - we need new formats, entirely new +formats. Otherwise we will never sharpen our wits. To break out of the +spell of print requires a conscious effort to think a new language. We +should no longer be immobilized by other people's words. Don't wait for +the news to tell you what is happening. Make you headlines with +presstype. Cut up your favorite magazine and put it together again. Cut +big words in half and make little words out of them - like ENVIRON MENTAL +CRISIS. All you need is a good pair of scissors and rubber cement. Abuse +the enemy's images. Turn the Man from Glad into a Frankenstein. Making +comic strips out of great art. Don't let anything interfere with your +pleasure. + Don't read any more books - at least not straight through. As +G.B. Kay from Blackpool once said (quoting somebody else), "Reading rots +the mind." Pamphlets are so much more fun. Read randomly, write on the +margins and go back to comics. You might try the Silver Surfer for a start. + + +Self-Activity + + Bad work habits and sloppy behavior undermine any attempt to +construct collectively. Casual, sloppy behavior means that we don't care +deeply about what we are doing or who we are doing it with. This may come +as a surprise to a lot of people. The fact remains: we talk revolution +but act reactionary at elementary levels. + There are two basic things underlying these unfortunate +circumstances: 1) people's idea of how something (like revolution) will +happen shapes our work habits; 2) their class background gives them a +casual view of politics. + There is no doubt that the Pepsi generation is more politically +alive. But this new energy is being channelled by organizers into boring +meetings which reproduce the hierarchy of class society. After a while, +critical thinking is eroded and people lose their curiosity. Meetings +become a routine like everything else in life. + A lot of problems which collectives will have can be traced to the +work habits acquired in the (mass) movement. People perpetuate the +passive roles they have become accustomed to in large meetings. The +emphasis on mass participation means that all you have to do is show up. +Rarely, do people prepare themselves for a meeting, nor do they feel the +need to. Often this situation does not become evident precisely because +the few people who do work (those who run the meeting) create the illusion +of group achievement. + Because people see themselves essentially as objects and not as +subjects, political activity is defined as an event outside them and in +the future. No one sees themselves making the revolution and, therefore, +they don't understand how it will be accomplished. + The short span of attention is one tell tale symptom of instant +politics. The emphasis on responding to crisis seems to contract the span +of attention - in fact there is often no time dimension at all. This +timelessness is experienced as the syncopation of over-commitment. Many +people say they will do things without really thinking out carefully +whether they have the time to do them. Having time ultimately means +defining what you really want to do. Over-commitment is when you want to +do everything but end up doing nothing. + The numerous other symptoms of casual politics - lack of +preparation, being late, getting bored at difficult moments, etc. are all +signs of a political attitude which is destructive to the collective. The +important thing is recognizing the existence of these problems and knowing +what causes them. They are not personal problems but historically +determined attitudes. + Many people confuse the revolt against alienated labor in its +specific historical form with work activity itself. This revolt is +expressed in an anti-work attitude. + Attitudes toward work are shaped by out relations to production, +i.e. class. Class is a product of hierarchic divisions of labor +(including forms other than wage labor). There are three basic relations +which can produce anti-work attitudes. The working class expressed its +anti-work attitude as a rebellion against routinized labor. For the +middle class, the anti-work attitude comes out of the ideology of consumer +society and revolves around leisure. The stereotype of the 'lazy native' +or 'physically weak woman' is a third anti-work attitude which is applied +to those excluded from wage labor. + The dream of automation (i.e. no work) reinforces class prejudice. + The middle class is the one that has the dream since it seeks to expand +its leisure-oriented activities. To the working class, automation means a +loss of their job, preoccupation with unemployment, which is the opposite +of leisure. For the excluded, automation doesn't mean anything because it +will not be applied to their forms of work. + The automation of the working class has become the ideology of +post-scarcity radicals - from the anarchists at Anarchos to SDS's new +working class. Technological change has rescued them from the dilemma of +a class analysis they were never able to make. With the elimination of +working class struggle by automation (the automation of the working class) +the radicals have become advocates of leisure society and touristic +lifestyles. This anti-work attitude leads to a utopian outlook and +removes us from the realm of history. It prevents the construction of +collectivity and self-activity. The issue of how to transform work into +self-activity is central to the elimination of class and the +reorganization of society. + Self-activity is the reconstruction of the consciousness +(wholeness) of one's individual life activity. The collective is what +makes the reconstruction possible because it defines individuality not as +a private experience but as a social relation. What is important to see +is that work is the creating of conscious activity within the structure of +the collective. + One of the best ways to discover and correct anti-work attitudes +is through self-criticism. This provides an objective framework which +allows people the space to be criticized and to be critical. +Self-criticism is the opposite of self-consciousness because its aim is +not to isolate you but to free repressed abilities. Self-criticism is a +method for dealing with piggish behavior and developing consciousness. + To root out the society within us and to redefine our work +relations a collective must develop a sense of its own history. One of +the hardest things to do is to see the closest relations - those within +the collective - in political terms. The tendency is to be sloppy, or +what Mao calls 'liberal,' about relations between friends. Rules can no +longer be the framework of discipline. It must be based on political +understanding. One of the functions of analysis is that it be applied +internally. + Preparation is another part of the process which creates +continuity between meetings and insures that our own thinking does not +become a part-time activity. It also combats the tendency to talk off the +top of one's head and pick ideas out of the air. Whenever meetings tend +to be abstract and random it means the ideas put forward are not connected +by thought (i.e. analysis). There is seldom serious investigation behind +what is said. + What does it mean to prepare for a meeting? It means not coming +empty-handed or empty-headed. Mao says, "No investigation, no right to +speak." Assuming a group has decided what it wants to do, the first step +is for everyone to investigate. This means taking the time to actually +look into the matter, sort out the relevant materials and be able to make +them accessible to everyone in the collective. The motive underlying all +the preparation should be the construction of a coherent analysis. "We +must substitute the sweat of self-criticism for the tears of crocodiles," +according to a new Chinese proverb. + + +Struggle on Many Levels + + Struggle has many faces. But no two faces look alike. Like the +cubists, we must look at things from many sides. The problem is to find +ways of creating space for ourselves. The tendency now is toward +two-sidedness which is embedded in every aspect of our lives. Our +language poses questions by making us choose between opposites. The +imperialist creates the anti-imperialist. Before 'cool' there was hot and +cold. 'Cool' was the first attempt to break out of two-sidedness. +Two-sidedness always minimizes the dimensions of struggle by narrowly +defining the situation. We end up with a one dimensional view of the +enemy and of ourselves. + Learn to be shrewd. Our first impulse is always to define our +position. Why do we feel the need to tell them? We create space by not +appearing to be what we really are. + Shrewdness is not simply a defensive tactic. The essence of +shrewdness is learning to take advantage of the enemy's weaknesses. +Otherwise you can never win. The rule is: be honest among yourselves, +but deceive the enemy. + There are at least three ways of dealing with a situation. You +can neutralize, activate, or destroy. Neutralize is to create space. +Activate is to gain support. Destroy is to win. What's more, it is +essential to learn how to use all three simultaneously. + Struggle on many levels begins with the activation of all the +senses. We must be able to conceive of more than one mode of acting for a +given situation. The response, i.e. method of struggle, should contain +three elements: 1) a means of survival; 2) a method of exploiting splits +in the enemy camp; 3) an underground strategy. + The fundamental tendency of corporate liberalism is to identify +with social change while trying to contain it. Wouldn't it be ironic (and +even a relief) if we could turn the threat of co-option into a means of +survival? + The fear of co-option often leads people to shun the challenge of +corporate liberals. Some of the purest revolutionaries prefer not to +think about using the co-opter for their own purposes. Too often the +mentality of the 'job' obscures the potential for subversion. + The existence of corporate liberalism demands that we not be +sloppy in our own thinking and response. The strength of the position is +that it forces us to acknowledge our own weaknesses - even before we +engage in struggle against it. The worst mistake is to pretend that this +enemy does not exist. + Urban struggle requires a subversive strategy. Concretely, +working 'within the system' should become for us a source of money, +information, and anonymity. This is what Mao means when he says, "Move at +night." The routine of daily life is night-time for the enemy - when he +cannot see us. The process of co-option should become an increasingly +disquieting exercise for them. + Exploiting splits within the enemy camp does not mean helping one +segment defeat another. The basic aim is to maintain the splits. There +are significant differences among the oppressors. These have the effect +of weakening them. Under certain circumstances these splits may provide a +margin of maneuverability which may be strategic for us. The main thing +is not to view the enemy monolithically. Monolithic thinking condemns you +to one way of acting. + There is a tendency to see the most degenerate forms of reaction +as the primary enemy. The corporations are consciously pandering to such +ideas through films like Easy Rider which also attempts to identify with +young males. The function of analysis is to break down and specify the +different forces within the enemy camp. + The spaces created by these splits are of crucial importance to +the preparation of a long range strategy. It will be increasingly +difficult to survive with the visibility that we are accustomed to. The +lifestyles which declare our opposition are also the ones which make us +easy targets. We must not mistake the level of appearances for new +cultures. The whole point is not to make a fetish of our lifestyles. In +the psychedelic atmosphere of repression, square is cool. + Always keep part of your strategy underground. Just as analysis +helps to differentiate the enemy so it should provide you with different +levels of attack. Mao says: "Flexibility is a concrete expression of +initiative." + Going underground should not mean dropping heroically out of +sight. There will be few places to hide in the electronic environment of +the future. The most dangerous kind of underground will be one that is +like an iceberg. The roles created to replace our identities in everyday +life must become the disguise of the underground. + An underground strategy puts the impulse of confrontation into +perspective. We must fight against the planned obsolescence of +confrontations which lock us into the time-span of instant revolution. +Going underground means having a long range strategy - something which +plans for 2004. The iceberg strategy keeps us cool. It trains us to +control our reflexes and calculate our responses. + The underground strategy is also necessary to maintain autonomy. +Autonomy preserves the organizational form of the collective, which is +critical to the sharpening of its politics. Nothing will be achieved by +submerging ourselves in a chaos of revolutionary fronts. The principle +strategy of the counterfeit Left will be to smear over differences with +appeals to a class unity that no longer exists. An underground strategy +without a revolutionary from of organization can only emerge as a new +class society. To destroy the system of oppression is not enough. We +must create the organization of a free society. When the underground +emerges, the collective will be that society. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001313.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001313.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7c6c14ae --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001313.txt @@ -0,0 +1,116 @@ + + + +What does sexual deviancy mean? Is it better than "normal" sex? +What if I'm content with "normal" sex -- am I not radical then? +Should I keep quiet about my desires if they might shock you ? If I +think about it enough, will it make me want to do it? Are fantasies +based on desire? Is a fantasy ever "wrong"? Are my desires my own +or have they been fed to me -- am I sexually brainwashed? Does the +expressed acceptable sexual imagery around me sum up my desires? +How much of my life is eroticisedAre male and female fantasies and +desires the same? A world apart? If they are a world apart can I +ever have a truely connected and satisfying heterosexual sexual +relationship? Are sex and emotion connected? Seperate? Is sex +love? Solo sex - only a substitute for "real" sex, or "real" sex in +and of itself? Is it to share with my partner, or only appropriate +when I'm not in a relationship? Sex in a relationship -- better +than sex 'no strings attached'? The other way around? Are orgasms +the beall and endall? Can I take them further? Make them better? +Is it possible for me to de-emphasize them in my sexual encounters? +Hetero, homo, bi-? Omni-sexual or just SEXUAL? Can I be one one +day, another the next and yet another ten years from now? Will you +let me without giving me shit? Am I sexually open and free? Will I +ever be sexually liberated? What is sexual lliberation? Does +capitalism set the pace for the sexual revolution? If I love and +kiss, play and fuck too much, will I forget about the class +struggle? Why are some sex radicals I see so politically +conservative? How do others from my class and from other classes +experience their sexuality differently and similarly as me? Why are +riots so erotic? Can I still be a feminist and have desires of +submission and fantasies of rape? Will these disappear come +revolucion glorioso? Will sexual play with power disappear in an +anarchist society? What will sex look like in anarchy? Why is sex +so facinating? Why do we always seek it? Is it worth all the +energy, time and thought put into it? Is it worth all this??? + +* That was the sidebar text of the publicity leaflet produced for +the contraFLOW benifit cafe we held on the 28th May at the sex +parlour surroundings of the famous 121 Anarchist Centre in Brixton. +In case you don't know, we have a benefit every last Sunday of the +month there, each one with acts and food and videos based around a +different theme. Anyway, May's cafe (trumpets sound!!!) the SEX CAFE +was basically our attempt to out some anarchist sexual desire and +perversion, get a little confessional thing going on, admit to some +serious stuff, you know. + +Early on, we dedcided that we were dead against the Sex Cafe +re-inforcing traditional definitions and labels of sexuality, those +descriptions of our sex lives or our rigid politicial lifestyles +that limit, mentally and physically, what exciting and weird sex +antics we want to enjoy. It's important to us to understand that +today we may enjoy fucking with men, with women another year, back +to men on Monday, masturbating with our pillowns all next year and +then maybe giving it all up for stamp collecting of something. To +aid this, we got together a bunch of videos and acts that talked it +like they walked it. Sex is there, they said, most of us do it and +most of us enjoy it, so why don't we ever loosen up and talk about +it. If we're not getting any and that's driving us nuts then +shouldn't we chat about that too? Just being able to spend six hours +in a place where you were encouraged to let it all hang out, +verbally or literally, is such a refreshing change. For once, we +could talk openly about our sexy desires and realities and not be +embarrassed or feel politically wrong or judged by our 'scene' and +that's a time spent feeling empowered, temporarily free form the +gossips, the rumour-mongers the be-littlers who seem to have a +problem with our self-expression. + +Watching the comfort levels of people dealing with our in-your-face +style was fascinating. Some people just handled the "contraFLOW +Benefit Hand-Jobs...only 5 quid" sign, others were a bit disturbed. +Some people sniggered a lot, others got into the spirit of it all. +In the end, no one rung the bell for a session so we didn't have to +bluff our way through that and no-one paid 50p for a peep at our +contraFLOW members live sex act despite it really happening in a +discrete silk-lined booth below the stairs. You blew it folks, and +so did we!! Other contraFLOW members got to consider a change of +career too with their sterling performance as the Anarko-Dales, the +lithe young anarchist dance troupe that whipped the crowd up into a +virtual sneeze with their sexy strip show. Masked-up anarchist boys +may never seem sexy again. Wah! A load of people sat quite happily +through the hour long video of male genital massage or the Betty +Dodson art of female masturbation film. Annie Sprinkle's "Sluts And +Goddesses" movie with its six minute orgasms, female ejaculation and +polysexual perversity went down well too. Another contraFLOW member +sung a song about inadequacy, some poets diid some...er, poems and +some folks did sexy readings too. We even had a couple fo serious +wrkshops, one for men and one for women. The men ummed and ahhed +around the question of "love, sex and emotions - what do mehn really +want and is that alright?", trying to hide the issues in a cloud of +class anaylisis (but that was stamped on after half an hour!) whilst +the women's discussion on "fakin' it, wanking it and other secrets" +remained fairly reserved, some saying they had a difficult time +opening up to stranges about such personal issues. Two self-defined +feminist women discussed tehir experience of rape fantasy role play, +and whether it contradicted their feminist attack on patriarchy or +their anarchist critique of power. + +The lack of interesting confessions garnered in our sex survey that +we hassled every attendee to anonymously fill in was disappointing +although we had fun reading out some of the answers as a final +'entertainment'. Who indeed borrowed a certain Abba LP when they +were young just so they could masturbate over the girls in the +band's picture (They admitted they never even played the record)? +Who was it that scored at a out-of-doors political event, blissfully +fucking under the moon and the stars? and who amongst us concluded +that a "revolution" is all that is necessary to sort out our sexual +problems? + +Anyway, it was a challenge to organise and we had a lot of fun. It +didn't get too bogged down in detail or too 'shock horror....aren't +we so cool' either. We wanted the cafe and the questions above to +kick in a little something to our weirdlyu represed society and +'scene' to free up a little time and space inour heads about our +desires and fetishes and to jug around with the things that +'revolutionary' debates around sexuality don't usually encompass. If +you missed it, you missed a good effort. Thanks to those that came. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001316.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001316.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1cc8f41b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001316.txt @@ -0,0 +1,77 @@ +WOMEN FIGHTBACK + +is the contraFLOW column dedicated to true stories of personal +heroic 'fightback' experiences by women. Send in your victories +against a misoqynist boss, fucked political comrade or abusive +scumbag for inclusion in a future issue c/o K.M at contraFLOW. You +can be phoned if you'd rather just tell your story rather than +write it out. Keep on fighting back. + +Emily's Story + +"I was visiting some friends in Los Angeles and decided to go for a +jog. It was getting near dusk and I found my way to a park that my +friends had warned me against, saying it was a dangerous, +gang-banger hell. I totally hate feeling restricted from any place +and especially hate letting fear control me so I went anyway. (I +still hate letting fear control me.) The park was all overgrown and +covered with semingly hundreds of little paths leading to +who-knows-where. I guess a lot of homeless people made their homes +in the bushes and nooks and crannies. At the time I started my jog +though, I didn't really see any peole. It felt prety abandoned. + +At some point while running down one of these overgrown trails I got +this creepy sensation about me. ("Trust your instincts" self-defense +classes teach.) I thought, "If I were to ever get raped, here..." I +came to a dead end and swung around to head back and at that moment +a guy jumped out of some brush about 50 meters in front of me, stood +in the narrow path, hands on hips and stared straight at me. +Something inside me clicked and I knew t-h-i-s w-a-s i-t. I had +nowhere else to run so I rean straight toward him hoping when I got +there he'd move and let me pass, all the while my mind was thinking +a hundred things at once. "Stare him in the eyes, don't let him know +you're scared. Fight!" + +I got up to him, really terrified but overcome by a survival +instinct and when he reached out and grabbed me I knew I had to +resist. It was beyond frightening, him trying to wrestle me to the +ground and me kicking and hitting him in all the places self-defense +instructors say don't work. (But the main thing self-defence +instructors push is that resisting *at all* is vital, that rapists +look for victims they think will be easy, non-resisting.) He wasn't +saying anything but seemed surprised by my reaction, and he started +hitting me back but seemed confused by it. I wanted to scream but +absolutely could not. At some moment, about the same time I was +finally remembering some flickers of self-defence moves (but still +not being able to enact them) my voice kicked in and I just started +screaming "I'm going to kill you motherfucker!" and things like +that. I think that scared him because it might have attracted +attention if anyone was around to hear it and he finally let me go +and backed off, hands above his head in a show of surrender. + +I ran off and was in a completely freaked out state, not believing +that that had just happened to me and not knowing what I should do +about it. In my fucking oh-so-political way, I decided not to call +the cops because *I don't believe in that system of 'justice'*, and +because it might have meant the end of a lot of people's homes in +their shanties or whatever in the park with the guy probably not +getting caught anyway. In the end I felt satisfied that I had fought +him off and thought that might have scared him enough to try +attacking another woman again. He truly looked more terrified by my +response in the end than I think I even felt. I only wish I had got +it together to make warning fliers to other women to post around the +park, but I didn't. + +On a final note, as a matter of mental self-preservation, about an +hour later after I had calmed down a bit five of my friends and I +went back to the park and exact spot of the attack (it was dark by +now), me with a baseball bat and a stance that said "I will maim you +bad if you are here." I didn't think he'd be there but I just needed +to be back there to reclaim my space I think. It made me feel +strong. The not-good bit was the reaction I got from so many friends +and family when I told them about it, lots of folks saying "You +shouldn't have been running alone in such a place." (I should do +whatever I want to.) This reaction even came from anarchos and +feminists, people who should have known better. This made me feel +super crap, was the only cause of any of the tears I shed over it. I +wish folks could figure it out." diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001317.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001317.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e89416af --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001317.txt @@ -0,0 +1,139 @@ +WORLDWIDE DAY OF ACTION AGAINST McDONALD'S 16th October, 1995 + +October 16th 1995 was the 11th annual Worldwide Day of Action +Against McDonald's (also UN 'World Food Day'). Many people around +the world handed out the "What's Wrong With McDonald's" or similar +leaflets, or protested against McDonald's in some other way on or +around that day. + +UK - HALF OF McDONALD'S UK STORES LEAFLETTED + +There was leafletting and protests outside of approx. half of the +600 McDonald's UK stores. In addition to leafletting the public +with "What's Wrong With McDonald's" leaflets, at many stores +McDonald's workers were handed special leaflets expressing +opposition to low pay and exploitation, and offering solidarity +and encouragement to organise for their rights. 1.5 million +"What's Wrong With McDonald's" leaflets have so far been handed +out on the streets in the UK since the writs were served on the +Mclibel Two. McDonald's attempt to suppress freedom of speech has +completely backfired. + +McDonald's European Headquarters, London - This was recently the +scene of a residents' victory: McDonald's failed in their attempt +to obtain planning permission for an outlet at the HQ following +fierce local opposition to their plans. At the demonstration on +16th, the 30 protesters included a person dressed in a 'litter +suit' made from discarded items of McDonald's packaging, and a +person dressed as a McDonald's worker, who was chained to a large +mock-up burger, symbolising McDonald's exploitation of workers. +Bags full of McDonald's litter were returned to the company to +highlight the problems of waste, pollution and litter caused by +the company's excessive packaging. + +Greater Manchester - 20 to 25 of the 30 stores in Greater +Manchester were leafletted. Some people cycled from one store to +another, and in Bolton an effigy of Ronald McDonald was hanged. + + +West Midlands - at least 15 of the 30 stores in the Black Country +were leafletted over 3 days. In Wolverhampton town centre, people +flocked to a stall where activists were giving out free veggie +burgers, each one wrapped in a "What's Wrong With McDonald's" +leaflet. + +Greater London - approx. 75 of the 150 stores were leafletted. + + +Scotland - there were pickets in Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh (a 40 +strong demonstration), and Stirling. + +USA & CANADA + +There were several protests that we know of across North America: +in Chicago, State College (Pennsylvannia), Montreal, Denver and +Boulder (Colorado), Huntington Beach (California), Guelph +(Ontario), Ashedille (North Carolina) and Keaau (Hawaii) + +Rock 'N' Roll McDonald's, Chicago - the demonstrators were +demanding that the life-size statues of the Beatles in this outlet +be removed on the grounds that Paul & Linda McCartney have donated +money to the McLibel Campaign, and that both Paul McCartney and +George Harrison are vegetarians. + +Guelph, Ontario - trade unionists, environmentalists and animal +rights activists (including ex-McDonald's workers) distributed +anti-McD flyers, information for the workers, and info on +vegetarianism for 3 hours outside a store. The protesters lowered +the Canadian and McDonald's flags to half-mast to mark the third +anniversary of the death of Mark Hopkins and in memory of the +millions of animals slaughtered by the fast food giant every +year. + +AOTEAROA (NEW ZEALAND) Dunedin - 12 protesters made their +presence felt at the Dunedin store, and found support from +McDonald's customers and staff. They passed out leaflets critical +of McDonald's global operations and called attention to the impact +of its operations in Dunedin, soon to be expanded with two new +outlets. + +There were also protests in Auckland. + +NORWAY Oslo - 15 people demonstrated on 14th outside McDonald's +and handed out 4,000 leaflets. + +Trondheim - On the opening day of the second store in Trondheim +(October 10th), 17 activists blocked the drive-thru with a big +banners saying "Boycott McDonald's" and "McDollars". On 14th +October, a demo was held at Trondheim's other store. A person +dressed as Ronald McDonald with a big "McProfit" poster on his +back. He handed balloons painted with "McMurder", "McDollars", +"Boycott McDonald's" etc. to children, and flyers with information +about McDonald's to passersby. There was also a protest in +Bergen. + +FRANCE Champs Elysees, Paris - 16 people picketted the Champs +Elysees McDonald's for 3 hours on 13th Oct with banners +highlighting the links between meat eating and starvation in the +third world, and the company's exploitation of workers. The +managers were so incensed that they called the Chief Executive of +McDonald's France and threatened to sue the protesters! They +handed out over 1,000 leaflets. McDonald's are now planning to +erect fences around the store! + +IRELAND Dublin - 7,000 leaflets were handed out by activists +wearing "McGarbage" T-shirts outside the two main stores in the +city centre on 16th. Local radio stations broadcast details of +the demonstration throughout the day. + +AUSTRALIA There were benefit concerts and protests in various +cities, including Sydney and Brisbane. + +Other demonstrations that we know of occurred in: + +Italy (Turin), Brazil (Sao Paulo), Portugal (Lisbon, Oporto, +Aveiro), Germany (Stuttgart, Munich), Netherlands (8 actions in +Amsterdam, Njmegan, Utrecht, Omlow), Greece (Athens), Belgium, +Denmark (Copenhagen), Spain (Madrid, Malaga, Valencia), Finland, +and various countries in Eastern Europe. + +If you know of any further protests against McDonald's in October +(or at any other time), we would be grateful if you could let us +know about them. + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +U.S. McLibel Support Campaign Press Office +PO Box 62 Phone/Fax 802-586-9628 +Craftsbury VT 05826-0062 Email dbriars@world.std.com +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +http://www.interlog.com/eye/Misc/McLibel +http://student.uq.edu.au:80/~s002434/mcl.html +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +To subscribe to the "mclibel" listserve, send email + +To: majordomo@world.std.com +Subject: +Body: subscribe mclibel + +To unsubscribe, change the body to "unsubscribe mclibel" + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001319.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001319.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7fbfa034 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001319.txt @@ -0,0 +1,146 @@ +PRACTICAL ANARCHY +EAST MIDLANDS ANARCHIST BULLETIN +NOVEMBER 1995 + +If one of the basic ideas of Anarchism is +that of people taking back control over +their own lives, then examples of local and +individual control of Housing, Food +Production and other essentials of life, are +much needed evidence of the practicality +of the Anarchist ideal. +Two ongoing examples of such endeavours, +indeed of Anarchy in Action, carried out +by non-anarchists, are the allotments at +Tarporley, Cheshire, and the self built +'Yurt' of Bob, Jules and Amber in North +Nottinghamshire. +The Tarporley Allotment site differs from +many Municipal sites insofar as the +ground of the site, donated in past years +by a local benevolent landowner, is owned +by the local community, and managed on +its behalf by a local body with a large, +voluntary membership, albeit the British +Legion. The land is approximately 3-3/4 +acres in extent, and has around 15 good +sized allotments. Unlike many municipal +allotment sites there are usually no vacant +plots. The site is of light, salldy soil and +slopes slightly to the south west. +The full range of garden produce is grown. +Everything from potatoes to leeks, cabbage, +peas, beans artichokes, apples, pears, +tomatos, courgettes, marrows, sweetcorn. +strawberries raspberries. Walking around +the allotments this September bore ample +witness to the practicality of Kropotkins +vision of a largely self-sufficient and +economically Autarchic Anarchist Society. +There were racks of onions and shallots +drying in the sun, runnerbean plants still +laden with beans. On those allotments +with trees apples and pears were ripening. +In the Greenhouses tomatos were turning +red on the plants. On one allotment there +were Italian Plum Tomatos, Cherry +Tomatos and 'ordinary' tomatos. On +another there were onions the size of +melons. Main crop potatoes were being +harvested, as they were needed. +Many of the allotment holders had shown +great improvisation in recycling materials +to build sheds, coldframes and +greenhouses. One such greenhouse was +constructed out of old double glazing +panels salvaged by a worker from a +windows installation firm. Most sheds had +gutters and barrels to collect and save +rainwater. Most had good sized compost +heaps. +The quality and freshness of food grown +on such allotments far surpasses that +available in supermarkets. Among the +allotment holders there is much practical +mutual aid. Manure is bulk purchased +from a local farmer and delivered in piles +around the site. Seeds are swapped. +Surplus produce exchanged or given away, +neighbour' s allotments watered when they +are ill or on holiday. +There are now vast tracts of derelict land +in urban and inner city Britain, there are +also vast acres of ' set-aside' in the rural +areas. It would be a real step towards +'Practical Anarchy' if people were to +demand the right to use this land for +allotments or low impact homes, and +Anarchists become active in local +campaigns to achieve such ends. +One example of such a 'low-impact' +home is that self built by Bob and Jules. +After a difficult time in their lives when +they had to give up their city based flat +and live for a year in a van, literally on +the road, they decided they wanted a +better living space. After much planning +and research into 'Yurts' the mobile Tent +/ Hut / Shed of asiatic nomads, they +took the first step in March 1995.They +started by pollarding Willows at Lowden +to make poles for the lattice work of the +walls and the roof poles. This entailed +hours of laborious work stripping bark, +steaming the poles and bending them to +shape, sanding the poles smooth, building +the lattice work. The beautiful polished +wooden floor of the ' Yurt' was +constructed from wood salvaged from a +Police Station, the Wooden door was +constructed from salvaged weather boards +from the same building. They carried out +much of the carpentry work, including the +making of the central 'crown', this being +a strong circle of wood into which slot all +the roof poles, while living in their van +parked behind the rented workshop. +Having thus 'prefabricated' all the +different elements of the ' Yurt': lattice +frame, roof poles, crown, canvas covering, +blanket lining, flooring, they took two +days to construct the Yurt on site. The +result is a beautiful and comfortable home. +Cool in Summer, and warm in winter. +Sturdy enough to survive the worst winds +of winter. With its own box stove for heat, +water supply near at hand. The interior is +a round, domed room, with chimney and +stove in the centre, with a polished wood +floor. The willow lattice work is backed by +overlapping blankets for insulation. The +lattice work provides anchorage for small +shelves and to hang up all the tools and +implements of a practical life. The ' Yurt' +is capable of being dismantled and +reassembled on other sites so enabling Bob +to move from job to job. He hopes to be +able to make a living by hedging, ditching +and tree nursery work. He also has plans +to document and publish a book / +pamphlet on how to build a 'Yurt'. Jules +hopes to be sufficiently settled to allow +Amber to attend School, though she feels +their lifestyle will give Amber a more +balanced view of life than other children +experience. +Neither Bob nor Jules are Anarchists, Bob +is a Buddhist, but their life of practical +self reliance, their vision of 'living lightly +on the earth' is one which many +Anarchists share, and which many would +want to follow if they had the courage. + JPS + +BOX EMAB, 88, ABBEY STREET, DERBY, UK + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001320.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001320.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a644eb92 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001320.txt @@ -0,0 +1,213 @@ + +SEVEN DAYS THAT SHOOK THE CORPORATION + +McLibel Support Campaign +c/o 5 Caledonian Road +London N1 9DX UK +Tel/fax +44-171-713 1269 + +SEVEN DAYS THAT SHOOK THE CORPORATION--12th - 18th OCTOBER, 1995 + + 12th October 1995, the third anniversary of the death by + electrocution of a McDonald's worker, was a DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH + McDONALD'S WORKERS in the UK. + + On 16th October, there were + INTERNATIONAL PROTESTS to mark the 11th annual WORLDWIDE DAY OF + ACTION AGAINST McDONALD'S. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH McDONALD'S WORKERS + +12th October, 1995 + +Protests and leafletting at over 15 regional locations around the +UK took place on the third anniversary of the death of Mark +Hopkins, a worker electrocuted at McDonald's Arndale store in +Manchester. During the McLibel Trial, Jill Barnes (McDonald's UK +Safety Officer) was challenged by the Defendants over a previously +confidential internal Report into Mark's death. The Report had +not been disclosed at Mark's inquest and was only disclosed by +McDonald's to the Defendants days before Jill Barnes took the +stand. The inquest had decided that Mark's death was an +'accident'. But the McDonald's Report had catalogued a number of +company failures and problems, and had made the damning +conclusion: "Safety is not seen as being important at store +level". + +Parents of Electrocuted Worker Demand New Inquest + +Maureen Hopkins (Mark's mother) organised a picket at the Arndale +Centre store which 40 people attended. The discovery of the +Report and other documents also not shown to the inquest jury has +lead the Hopkins' family to DEMAND THAT A NEW INQUEST BE HELD. +Legal action is now being prepared. + +"I think the Report should have been put before the inquest. It +may have made a difference. It was horrendous to go to the +Arndale McDonald's but I needed to do it in Mark's memory. I've +always known there was something wrong with the outcome of the +inquest into my son's death. We haven't got peace of mind and +Mark can't rest in peace while this new evidence, which has come +to light during the libel trial, has not been seriously +investigated. I won't give up. We want a new inquest. We're not +bitter against the company but we want justice for our son and I +won't rest until we get it." - Maureen Hopkins + +Over 25 people joined a picket in Central London, organised by the +Support Network for McDonald's Workers. The Network is run by a +group of trade unionists in Hackney, aiming to provide advice and +information, and to promote solidarity for all McDonald's workers +wanting to fight for their rights. In addition, many other stores +across the country, and as far afield as Canada, were leafletted +with information about employment rights (particularly concerning +health and safety) by trade unionists and labour movement +activists and supporters. + +"I want every McDonald's worker to stand up for their rights, +which is why I am backing this support campaign 100%. In this +way, Mark's death will not have been in vain." - Maureen Hopkins + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +WORLDWIDE DAY OF ACTION AGAINST McDONALD'S 16th October, 1995 + +October 16th 1995 was the 11th annual Worldwide Day of Action +Against McDonald's (also UN 'World Food Day'). Many people around +the world handed out the "What's Wrong With McDonald's" or similar +leaflets, or protested against McDonald's in some other way on or +around that day. + +UK - HALF OF McDONALD'S UK STORES LEAFLETTED + +There was leafletting and protests outside of approx. half of the +600 McDonald's UK stores. In addition to leafletting the public +with "What's Wrong With McDonald's" leaflets, at many stores +McDonald's workers were handed special leaflets expressing +opposition to low pay and exploitation, and offering solidarity +and encouragement to organise for their rights. 1.5 million +"What's Wrong With McDonald's" leaflets have so far been handed +out on the streets in the UK since the writs were served on the +Mclibel Two. McDonald's attempt to suppress freedom of speech has +completely backfired. + +McDonald's European Headquarters, London - This was recently the +scene of a residents' victory: McDonald's failed in their attempt +to obtain planning permission for an outlet at the HQ following +fierce local opposition to their plans. At the demonstration on +16th, the 30 protesters included a person dressed in a 'litter +suit' made from discarded items of McDonald's packaging, and a +person dressed as a McDonald's worker, who was chained to a large +mock-up burger, symbolising McDonald's exploitation of workers. +Bags full of McDonald's litter were returned to the company to +highlight the problems of waste, pollution and litter caused by +the company's excessive packaging. + +Greater Manchester - 20 to 25 of the 30 stores in Greater +Manchester were leafletted. Some people cycled from one store to +another, and in Bolton an effigy of Ronald McDonald was hanged. + + +West Midlands - at least 15 of the 30 stores in the Black Country +were leafletted over 3 days. In Wolverhampton town centre, people +flocked to a stall where activists were giving out free veggie +burgers, each one wrapped in a "What's Wrong With McDonald's" +leaflet. + +Greater London - approx. 75 of the 150 stores were leafletted. + + +Scotland - there were pickets in Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh (a 40 +strong demonstration), and Stirling. + +USA & CANADA + +There were several protests that we know of across North America: +in Chicago, State College (Pennsylvannia), Montreal, Denver and +Boulder (Colorado), Huntington Beach (California), Guelph +(Ontario), Ashedille (North Carolina) and Keaau (Hawaii) + +Rock 'N' Roll McDonald's, Chicago - the demonstrators were +demanding that the life-size statues of the Beatles in this outlet +be removed on the grounds that Paul & Linda McCartney have donated +money to the McLibel Campaign, and that both Paul McCartney and +George Harrison are vegetarians. + +Guelph, Ontario - trade unionists, environmentalists and animal +rights activists (including ex-McDonald's workers) distributed +anti-McD flyers, information for the workers, and info on +vegetarianism for 3 hours outside a store. The protesters lowered +the Canadian and McDonald's flags to half-mast to mark the third +anniversary of the death of Mark Hopkins and in memory of the +millions of animals slaughtered by the fast food giant every +year. + +AOTEAROA (NEW ZEALAND) Dunedin - 12 protesters made their +presence felt at the Dunedin store, and found support from +McDonald's customers and staff. They passed out leaflets critical +of McDonald's global operations and called attention to the impact +of its operations in Dunedin, soon to be expanded with two new +outlets. + +There were also protests in Auckland. + +NORWAY Oslo - 15 people demonstrated on 14th outside McDonald's +and handed out 4,000 leaflets. + +Trondheim - On the opening day of the second store in Trondheim +(October 10th), 17 activists blocked the drive-thru with a big +banners saying "Boycott McDonald's" and "McDollars". On 14th +October, a demo was held at Trondheim's other store. A person +dressed as Ronald McDonald with a big "McProfit" poster on his +back. He handed balloons painted with "McMurder", "McDollars", +"Boycott McDonald's" etc. to children, and flyers with information +about McDonald's to passersby. There was also a protest in +Bergen. + +FRANCE Champs Elysees, Paris - 16 people picketted the Champs +Elysees McDonald's for 3 hours on 13th Oct with banners +highlighting the links between meat eating and starvation in the +third world, and the company's exploitation of workers. The +managers were so incensed that they called the Chief Executive of +McDonald's France and threatened to sue the protesters! They +handed out over 1,000 leaflets. McDonald's are now planning to +erect fences around the store! + +IRELAND Dublin - 7,000 leaflets were handed out by activists +wearing "McGarbage" T-shirts outside the two main stores in the +city centre on 16th. Local radio stations broadcast details of +the demonstration throughout the day. + +AUSTRALIA There were benefit concerts and protests in various +cities, including Sydney and Brisbane. + +Other demonstrations that we know of occurred in: + +Italy (Turin), Brazil (Sao Paulo), Portugal (Lisbon, Oporto, +Aveiro), Germany (Stuttgart, Munich), Netherlands (8 actions in +Amsterdam, Njmegan, Utrecht, Omlow), Greece (Athens), Belgium, +Denmark (Copenhagen), Spain (Madrid, Malaga, Valencia), Finland, +and various countries in Eastern Europe. + +If you know of any further protests against McDonald's in October +(or at any other time), we would be grateful if you could let us +know about them. + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +U.S. McLibel Support Campaign Press Office +PO Box 62 Phone/Fax 802-586-9628 +Craftsbury VT 05826-0062 Email dbriars@world.std.com +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +http://www.interlog.com/eye/Misc/McLibel +http://student.uq.edu.au:80/~s002434/mcl.html +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +To subscribe to the "mclibel" listserve, send email + + To: majordomo@world.std.com +Subject: + Body: subscribe mclibel + +To unsubscribe, change the body to "unsubscribe mclibel" + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001321.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001321.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6323750b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001321.txt @@ -0,0 +1,428 @@ + +Climbing Mountains + +In their relentless drive to stamp out all dissent, the McDonald's +Corporation appear to have issued one libel writ too many. So what's it +like to be a David and watch Goliath get seriously worried? + + +Jim Carey Talks to the Heretics. +------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +"I'll be over the moon when I get my life back," says Helen Steel. "It's +not like I haven't got a life now but there's things I'd rather be doing." + +Talk to Helen about her life and you can see her point. Prior to the +attention of the McDonald's Corporation, she was happily digging her +allotment. She worked for a time as a gardener and did both voluntary and +paid work chauffeuring kids, pensioners, play-groups and people with +disabilities around the north London borough of Haringey. She also worked +with the civil rights and environmental group London Greenpeace: "It was +all about people getting involved with their community and taking action +for themselves rather than just writing off to politicians and asking them +to take action for us." + +One of those actions was to distribute an A5 leaflet critical of the +conduct of the McDonald's Corporation. Should the reader have wanted more +information, the leaflet suggested sending off for a 'Factsheet' called +'What's wrong with McDonald's?'. It is this second leaflet over which the +McDonald's Corporation has since issued libel writs. + +According to Helen, the decision to run a campaign critical of the +McDonald's Corporation was made because of a perceived imbalance between +the reality of the Corporation's conduct and the friendly mask presented to +increase its sales. + +"They were continually promoting this image of being an all-caring company +and people felt there was a need to counter the endless stream of +propaganda. At the time I was more involved in a campaign against the World +Bank. I supported the McDonald's Campaign but I didn't have a big grudge +against McDonald's." + +Five years after the campaign had started, five members of London +Greenpeace were issued with writs by the McDonald's Corporation, who +demanded both a retraction and an apology for their involvement in +distributing the 'What's wrong with McDonald's?' 'Factsheet'. As libel +cases do not qualify for legal aid, three of the five decided to avoid a +long legal struggle with McDonald's and formally apologised. + +"The legal advice we were given was that we faced a completely uphill +battle because the laws are so complex," recalls Helen. "We were told that +we'd end up spending a lot of money we didn't have and at least a couple of +years trying to fight the case. We were told we'd be better off just +backing down and saving our money and energy for some other campaign." + +But for Helen Steel's threshold of retreat, this was not an option. + +"The only way we could get out of the court case was to apologise and I +just felt they've got a big cheek even daring to ask us to apologise to +them. They try and portray it that we chose to fight this case but I don't +really see it as much of a choice to apologise for something that doesn't +deserve an apology. To me it's just really offensive and there's no way I'd +do it. Didn't really have an option - had to fight it." + +As a result, Helen committed herself to standing against the McDonald's +Corporation whether or not anyone else would stand with her. The fifth +member of London Greenpeace under threat was Dave Morris, an ex-postman. +When McDonald's issued their threat, Morris was more than busy looking +after both his partner at the time, who was recovering from a serious +accident, and their one year old son Charlie. + +"Dave had loads of problems to sort out on the home front," recalls Helen. +"When the other three said they were going to apologise, Dave said he would +go with the flow because he knew he would not be able to take it on his +own. But then Dave said that if I wanted to fight it, he would come in with +me." + +Ironically, Dave Morris considered that London Greenpeace had done enough +to initiate the leaflet campaign against McDonald's and was in favour of +moving on to other issues. That was before a McDonald's agent walked up to +him in the street one day and handed him a libel writ. + +"Politics is not a luxury, it's an essential - it's part of life," says +Dave. "I did have substantial domestic problems at that time but it doesn't +matter what else is happening in your life, you've got to do what you've +got to do. You've still got to go to the toilet, you've still got to eat +and you've still got to fight the system. You just have to fit it all in +the best you can." + +The two defendants took their case to the European Court of Human Rights +asking for legal aid to be reinstated for libel cases or a simplification +of the legal process. Unbelievably, before their case received a full +hearing in the European Court it was ruled that the "tenacious defence" put +up by the defendants so far showed that they were not being denied access +to justice by the current UK libel laws. + +"It was Catch 22," comments Dave. "You've no chance if you can't fight the +case and you're penalised if you do." + +"By that stage we'd been through so many pre-trial court hearings where +judges had just ignored everything we'd said and yet listened to everything +McDonald's had said," recalls Helen. "They had treated us in a really +contemptuous way and I was getting sick of bashing my head against a brick +wall." + +McDonald's must have been surprised that two individuals had decided to +take them on at all. A previous history of proliferating libel threats had +only ever brought them retractions and apologies. + +"For the first two years McDonald's seemed to drag their feet as if they +were hoping we'd just get fed up with the cumbersome legal procedure," +recalls Helen Steel. + +After five years involvement with London Greenpeace, Helen moved to +Yorkshire, determined to get away from London and spend more time working +on the land. + +"We didn't know whether the case was ever going to happen and if it did +happen, no-one had ever said it would last longer than a few weeks," she +says. However, her aspiration to spend more time with the soil was soon +nipped in the bud when the world's largest fast-food corporation decided to +change gear. + +Once it became obvious that Helen Steel and Dave Morris were determined to +see it through, McDonald's legal department went straight on the +offensive, pushing huge quantities of legal work on the two inexperienced +libel defendants. + +"The case expanded massively, so I had to move back to London," says Helen. + +The legal pace of the pre-trial procedures picked up dramatically. + +"We were under continual stress from the winter of 92/93," says Dave. "We +actually didn't know what was going on half the time because it was all new +to us." + +Indeed the stress of being plunged into to a full scale legal head to head +with a transnational corporation took an initial toll on Helen: + +"I developed eczema and felt like my health was deteriorating. If it didn't +improve pretty soon I felt like I was gonna have to pull out. I would never +have apologised to them. Effectively they would have got an injunction +without a trial and could then have had us jailed if we handed out +leaflets. At the time I felt like that couldn't be as stressful as the huge +amounts of legal work and court procedures we were having to endure." + +One of McDonald's most aggressive legal manoeuvres was to persuade the +judge to issue an order demanding that the defendants produce witness +statements to back up all areas of their defence within three weeks. Due to +the extensive subject range of the allegedly libellous 'Factsheet', this +was a huge task. Nutrition, employment, rainforest destruction, animal +welfare, advertising techniques, diet and disease are all massive subjects +in their own right and the 'Factsheet' contained information on all these. +Under British libel laws every accusation had to be proven with primary +evidence, such as witness statements. + +It was then that Dave really clenched the bit between his teeth, collating +65 signed witness statements from around the world, all within the three +week allotted time period. Both the judge and McDonald's legal +representatives were visibly surprised when the defendants managed to meet +the strict deadline. + +"A few friends helped out and I got some statements, but most of it was +down to Dave being pushy with people," recalls Helen. "I felt better after +that and things picked up. "I'm just good on the phone," offers Dave by way +of explanation. "It was a mountain to climb but people climb mountains." + +"The next day we had a hearing in front of another judge who was slightly +more human than the others," recalls Helen. "He actually listened to what +we said. McDonald's were pushing for an early trial cos they knew we hadn't +finished preparing and were hoping to steamroller the case through without +giving us all the documents we were entitled to. The judge agreed to put +the trial date back. That and managing to get the 65 witness statements +were enough to keep me going." + +Soon after that came the summer recess and a chance to breathe again after +the initial onslaught. If the first rounds of the contest had been tough, +the legal battles were due to get tougher, with McDonald's successfully +arguing in court that the evidence to be presented in the case was too +complex for a jury to understand. Thus the trial would be conducted without +one, to the disadvantage of the defendants. + +"McDonald's were insulting the intelligence of the public," says Dave +Morris. "In reality, a jury would have been outraged that this case was +ever allowed to brought at all. However, the public are now in effect the +jury and they can draw their own conclusions based upon the evidence that +has come out." + +McDonald's next move was to make an attempt to nullify the defendants' +collation of witness statements, asking the judge to strike out some parts +of Helen and Dave's defence on the basis that witness statements had not +been obtained to substantiate all the allegations made in the 'Factsheet'. +This mainly involved international issues such as trade union disputes and +rainforests, subjects on which it had obviously been harder for the +defendants to obtain statements on within the three week period. Once again +the judge agreed with the Corporation. However, in a landmark ruling, the +Court of Appeal reinstated the whole defence, saying the defendants were +entitled to rely on the cross-examination of witnesses during the course of +trial to strengthen their case. Significantly, this meant that McDonald's +were now required to disclose all relevant company documents on the +reinstated issues, an obligation they had resisted so far. For Helen and +Dave this was their first legal triumph. + +Realising that the court case was going to be more substantial than it had +originally thought, the McDonald's Corporation replaced its barrister and +hired top British libel lawyer, Richard Rampton QC at the cost of #2000 a +day. His briefing fee for the introduction to the case is estimated at +around #1/2 million. + +"It is really stressful having to be in court everyday and doing all the +preparations, especially with Rampton hurling insults at us," says Helen. + +Anyone who has attended what the national press have referred to as "the +best free entertainment in town", will have heard the idiosyncratic Richard +Rampton QC grunt and snort his way throughout the entire course of the +proceedings. Just before the summer recess this year, McDonald's decided to +withdraw an agreement by which they passed copies of the costly official +court transcripts to both the judge and the defendants. The reasons given +by McDonald's for this turnaround was that they objected to the McLibel +Support Campaign's use of the transcripts in its media briefings. Rampton +said in court that the consequential extra note-taking the defendants would +have to do, would be "hard work", suggesting that the unwaged defendants +would be "resistant to that". The defendants say this is just one of many +cross-court comments made by Rampton to ruffle their confidence in court. + +"He doesn't miss an opportunity to say something nasty and it's completely +unnecessary," says Helen. + +"I think its pathetic," adds Dave. "Looking at it from his point of view, +he's just sitting there week after week with us putting McDonald's on +trial. He's the prosecutor, the great QC, but in reality he's been +sidelined. I think he feels left out." + + Despite Rampton's conduct in court, the defendants still found that the +unspoken rules of the court process worked in his favour. + +"Judges assume that because lawyers are lawyers they are going to be +honest, know what they're talking about and wouldn't mislead the judge. +Everything they say is a kind of gospel," observes Helen. + +One primary example of this came over the disclosure of documents +pertaining to an advertising campaign conducted by McDonald's in the United +States. As a result of the campaign, the Corporation had received a +reprimand from three American State Attorney Generals for "pulling the wool +over the public's eyes". + +"McDonald's had to hand us a document about the advertising campaign but it +had loads blanked out," recalls Helen. "Rampton argued that the blanked out +parts were not relevant. We argued that since the memo was all about the +different ads that had been run in the campaign, how could any part of it +not be relevant? However, the Judge said 'Well I have to take Mr Rampton's +word - if he says something's not relevant then I have to assume that is +the case'." + +It is part of the code of court that no legal representative should mislead +the judge and, based on that assumption, the judge accepted Rampton's +argument. The only way round this situation is to directly prove that the +blanked out document is relevant, which of course is difficult if you are +unable to ascertain what has been blanked out. + +Nevertheless, circumstance provided the defendants with a rare opportunity. + +"Eventually we did get that document - it was quite funny," recalls Helen. +"Rampton happened to go out of the court room just at the moment Dave was +about to start questioning the witness about what was in this document. If +Rampton had been there he would probably have objected to the questions. We +got enough information out of the witness [David Green - Head of McDonald's +Marketing] to show that the blanked out parts of the document were relevant +and so the judge ordered that it should be disclosed." + +It was a victory but one which was still difficult to capitalise upon. + +"By the time the document was disclosed, the witness had left the witness +box so we couldn't ask him questions about the information in it," says +Helen. + +The McLibel Support Campaign, set up in 1990 to back up the defendants +stance, has played a major part in the co-ordination and dissemination of +information exposed by the trial. The group is small in number but has +acted as a focal point for sympathisers from all over the world. "It's the +thousands of activists all round the world standing up to McDonald's and +all that they stand for, that is what this campaign is all about," says +Dave. + +The McLibel Support Group also plays an essential part in collecting +donations to pay for the running costs of the trial such as photocopying, +telephone bills and witnesses fares. The office from which the Support +Group is run is situated in a 15' by 10' spare room in central London, the +floor of which also doubles up as the bed for the central co-ordinator, Dan +Mills. + +"It's really amazing what Dan is doing - the way he's kept it all together +is a vital part of the work," says Helen. "If we didn't have Dan working in +the office then I really think the whole thing might have collapsed." + +Mills is a qualified solicitor having spent two years working for the +solicitor's firm of Lovell White Durrant. Up until March last year, he had +been stationed out in Lovell's New York office where he had used his spare +time to write a 'Vegan Guide to New York'. + +"I'd heard about two people being sued by McDonald's before going to New +York," recalls Mills. "I thought good luck to them but I didn't think they +had a hope in hell of getting anywhere with it." + +The last six months of his stint with Lovell's was spent back in London, +working in the shipping litigation department, a subject that hardly +engaged his interest. "I was definitely the odd one out," he chuckles. + +During his last few months with the firm, Dan Mills became increasingly +interested in the legal stance taken by the McLibel defendants. "I used to +go to the McLibel office during my lunch breaks, go back to work for the +afternoon and then return again in the evenings," he recalls. + +After emerging as a newly qualified solicitor in September 1994, he joined +the McLibel Support team full time. + +"It was a once in a lifetime opportunity," says Mills. "I wanted to get +involved in the animal rights movement and to get away from being a +corporate lawyer and at the time what was needed was for someone to set up +and co-ordinate the McLibel office." + +Since making the decision to lend his support, Mills has found himself +learning more than he ever expected. + +"I came into it on an animal rights interest but since then I've had my +eyes opened to so many other issues - advertising, nutrition, employment +practices - the lot. + +"The fact that they would take two unwaged people to court to try and stop +them distributing a leaflet which really wasn't going to make great inroads +into their business provokes a reaction from people. McDonald's advertising +seems to be particularly insidious. They have this clown figure Ronald +McDonald who is aimed towards children giving over this +loving/caring/happy/fun/circus image, when the reality is totally +different. What goes on behind closed doors is pretty horrific." + +The lifestyle turnaround for Mills couldn't have been more dramatic. As a +working solicitor he had helped represent major banks, large landlords and +huge shipping firms. Now he finds himself sleeping on the floor of a small +office with international faxes regularly bulging out of the machine at +four in the morning. + +"It can be a bit much sometimes, living and working in the same place. I +have very few possessions here - I've kept my clothes to a minimum because +it has to be an office principally. It doesn't really bother me that I have +to bring in my mattress and make up a bed, although sometimes I feel like I +want to have space to myself." + +However, for Dan Mills, there are certainly no regrets. + +"I get great motivation from being involved in this campaign. McDonald's +are really not coming out of this very well at all and there's a great +energy that comes from that. We're very much hand to mouth most of the time +here, relying on donations coming in all the time, but it's definitely +making waves." + +Despite the legal mountain the defendants have been forced to climb, the +journey has only persuaded them that they are on the right track. According +to Helen, the opportunity to quiz a corporation's top executives is one not +to be missed. + +"Although it's been tedious being in court every day for the last year and +a couple of months, it has produced a great amount of information about the +inner workings of the company - things you don't normally get to hear. It's +been great to cross-examine executives because normally if you do a protest +outside the company's gates or you go up to head office, they just give you +the brush off or a prepared statement; they can deflect any questions you +have. In the witness box they can't turn around, walk away, ignore your +questions and avoid telling you what's going on. They do try and do that in +the witness box but if you're persistent you can force them to give an +answer. We're quite lucky to have that opportunity." + +McDonald's application to have the trial conducted without a jury, as well +as their decision to withhold the court transcripts from the defendants, +seems to run contrary to the Corporation's assertion that they have nothing +to hide. "Those taking part in the action should look at the facts and be +aware of the truth," asserts Mike Love, Communications Director for +McDonald's UK. + +But the 'truth' is something both the defendants constantly refer to as +their main driving force. + +"People should ask themselves how we've managed to come this far in the +case," says Helen. "If we weren't defending the truth, we wouldn't have +lasted a week against such a massive multi-national with a top legal team +and limitless financial resources at its disposal." + +So is truth without finance bigger than lies with economic backing? + +"The truth is always stronger in the end if people stand up and fight for +it," observes Helen. + +"It's dominated our lives but it's worth it," affirms Dave. "I get more +determined every week. The main thing has got to be their success in +promoting themselves - totally fanatical, egocentric and idiotic promotion +of their completely non-descript company. They have forced their way into +our streets, our living rooms and our minds. It's not just McDonald's that +our case is about, its about telling the truth and fighting back against an +oppressive and destructive economic system. McDonald's happen to be a +bubble waiting to burst and we are determined that the truth behind the +glossy image comes out." + +Meanwhile, the defendants, having climbed several legal mountains, prepare +themselves to climb yet more when the case recommences on September 25th. + +"We spend virtually our whole time on this case, it's exhausting and does +get a bit much from time to time," says Helen. "You have to get out and go +for a walk or visit friends every now and again, otherwise you would just +go mad." + +In an attempt to keep herself "sane and effective", Helen recently took her +bicycle to Scotland. + +"Everytime I thought about McDonald's, I said to myself 'stop, don't think +about them'," she laughs. "But I climbed up Ben Lomond one day and I was +only up there a few minutes and this guy strolls up wearing a flintstones +McDonald's t-shirt. On the design it said 'McDonald's - 90 billion people +served'. I just so happened to have a couple of leaflets in my bag so I +gave him one, I thought it was quite funny in a way. But I dunno, climb a +bloody mountain and there's still a reminder of them. " + +Best regards, +David Briars + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +U.S. McLibel Support Campaign Press Office +PO Box 62 Phone/Fax 802-586-9628 +Craftsbury VT 05826-0062 Email dbriars@world.std.com + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001322.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001322.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7a53111b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001322.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ + +The plane landed at San Francisco International Airport and after the seat +belt sign was turned off, the passengers filed out front hatch. Meanwhile, +the anxious immigrants who had been on board were taken to the INS office. +As a matter of course, each was to be interviewed by uniformed agents of the +State. The first man was asked whether he believed "in overthrowing the +government of the United States by force or violence?" and he replied after +some hesitation, "violence." + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001334.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001334.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2856998a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001334.txt @@ -0,0 +1,765 @@ +Voltairine de Cleyre (1866-1912) was an American anarchist / +feminist writer and theorist active at the time of the Haymarket +riot. She is the person who, in response to U.S. Senator Joseph +R. Hawley's offer of one thousand dollars to have a shot at an +anarchist, said: + + "You may, by merely paying your carfare to my home, shoot at + me for nothing - but if payment of the $1000 is a necessary + part of your proposition, then when I have given you the + shot, I will give the money to the propaganda of the idea of + a free society in which there shall be neither assassins nor + presidents, beggars nor senators." + + + +@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ + +DIRECT ACTION + +By Voltairine de Cleyre + + + + From the standpoint of one who thinks himself capable of +discerning an undeviating route for human progress to pursue, if +it is to be progress at all, who, having such a route on his +mind's map, has endeavored to point it out to others; to make +them see it as he sees it; who in so doing has chosen what +appeared to him clear and simple expressions to convey his +thoughts to others, -- to such a one it appears matter for regret +and confusion of spirit that the phrase "Direct Action" has +suddenly acquired in the general mind a circumscribed meaning, +not at all implied in the words themselves, and certainly never +attached to it by himself or his co-thinkers. + + However, this is one of the common jests which Progress +plays on those who think themselves able to set metes and bounds +for it. Over and over again, names, phrases, mottoes, +watchwords, have been turned inside out, and upside down, and +hindside before, and sideways, by occurrences out of the control +of those who used the expressions in their proper sense; and +still, those who sturdily held their ground, and insisted on +being heard, have in the end found that the period of +misunderstanding and prejudice has been but the prelude to wider +inquiry and understanding. + + I rather think this will be the case with the present +misconception of the term Direct Action, which through the +misapprehension, or else the deliberate misrepresentation, of +certain journalists in Los Angeles, at the time the McNamaras +pleaded guilty, suddenly acquired in the popular mind the +interpretation, "Forcible Attacks on Life and Property." This +was either very ignorant or very dishonest of the journalists; +but it has had the effect of making a good many people curious to +know all about Direct Action. + + As a matter of fact, those who are so lustily and so +inordinately condemning it, will find on examination that they +themselves have on many occasion practised direct action, and +will do so again. + + Every person who ever thought he had a right to assert, and +went boldly and asserted it, himself, or jointly with others that +shared his convictions, was a direct actionist. Some thirty +years ago I recall that the Salvation Army was vigorously +practising direct action in the maintenance of the freedom of its +members to speak, assemble, and pray. Over and over they were +arrested, fined, and imprisoned; but they kept right on singing, +praying, and marching, till they finally compelled their +persecutors to let them alone. The Industrial Workers are now +conducting the same fight, and have, in a number of cases, +compelled the officials to let them alone by the same direct +tactics. + + Every person who ever had a plan to do anything, and went +and did it, or who laid his plan before others, and won their +co-operation to do it with him, without going to external +authorities to please do the thing for them, was a direct +actionist. All co-operative experiments are essentially direct +action. + + Every person who ever in his life had a difference with +anyone to settle, and went straight to the other persons involved +to settle it, either by a peaceable plan or otherwise, was a +direct actionist. Examples of such action are strikes and +boycotts; many persons will recall the action of the housewives +of New York who boycotted the butchers, and lowered the price of +meat; at the present moment a butter boycott seems looming up, as +a direct reply to the price-makers for butter. + + These actions are generally not due to any one's reasoning +overmuch on the respective merits of directness or indirectness, +but are the spontaneous retorts of those who feel oppresses by a +situation. In other words, all people are, most of the time, +believers in the principle of direct action, and practices of it. +However, most people are also indirect or political actionists. +And they are both these things at the same time, without making +much of an analysis of either. There are only a limited number +of persons who eschew political action under any and all +circumstances; but there is nobody, nobody at all, who has ever +been so "impossible" as to eschew direct action altogether. + + The majority of thinking people are really opportunist, +leaning, some perhaps more to directness, some more to +indirectness as a general thing, but ready to use either means +when opportunity calls for it. That is to say, there are those +who hold that balloting governors into power is essentially a +wrong and foolish thing; but who nevertheless under stress of +special circumstances, might consider it the wisest thing to do, +to vote some individual into office at that particular time. Or +there are those who believe that in general the wisest way for +people to get what they want is by the indirect method of voting +into power some one who will make what they want legal; yet who +all the same will occasionally under exceptional conditions +advise a strike; and a strike, as I have said, is direct action. +Or they may do as the Socialist Party agitators (who are mostly +declaiming now against direct action) did last summer, when the +police were holding up their meetings. They went in force to the +meeting-places, prepared to speak whether-or-no, and they made +the police back down. And while that was not logical on their +part, thus to oppose the legal executors of the majority's will, +it was a fine, successful piece of direct action. + + Those who, by the essence of their belief, are committed to +Direct Action only are -- just who? Why, the non-resistants; +precisely those who do not believe in violence at all! Now do +not make the mistake of inferring that I say direct action means +non-resistance; not by any means. Direct action may be the +extreme of violence, or it may be as peaceful as the waters of +the Brook of Shiloa that go softly. What I say is, that the real +non-resistants can believe in direct action only, never in +political action. For the basis of all political action is +coercion; even when the State does good things, it finally rests +on a club, a gun, or a prison, for its power to carry them +through. + + Now every school child in the United States has had the +direct action of certain non-resistants brought to his notice by +his school history. The case which everyone instantly recalls is +that of the early Quakers who came to Massachusetts. The +Puritans had accused the Quakers of "troubling the world by +preaching peace to it." They refused to pay church taxes; they +refused to bear arms; they refused to swear allegiance to any +government. (In so doing they were direct actionists, what we +may call negative direct actionists.) So the Puritans, being +political actionists, passed laws to keep them out, to deport, to +fine, to imprison, to mutilate, and finally, to hang them. And +the Quakers just kept on coming (which was positive direct +action); and history records that after the hanging of four +Quakers, and the flogging of Margaret Brewster at the cart's tail +through the streets of Boston, "the Puritans gave up trying to +silence the new missionaries"; that "Quaker persistence and +Quaker non-resistance had won the day." + + Another example of direct action in early colonial history, +but this time by no means of the peaceable sort, was the affair +known as Bacon's Rebellion. All our historians certainly defend +the action of the rebels in that matter, for they were right. +And yet it was a case of violent direct action against lawfully +constituted authority. For the benefit of those who have +forgotten the details, let me briefly remind them that the +Virginia planters were in fear of a general attack by the +Indians; with reason. Being political actionists, they asked, or +Bacon as their leader asked, that the governor grant him a +commission to raise volunteers in their own defense. The +governor feared that such a company of armed men would be a +threat to him; also with reason. He refused the commission. +Whereupon the planters resorted to direct action. They raised +volunteers without the commission, and successfully fought off +the Indians. Bacon was pronounced a traitor by the governor; but +the people being with him, the governor was afraid to proceed +against him. In the end, however, it came so far that the rebels +burned Jamestown; and but for the untimely death of Bacon, much +more might have been done. Of course the reaction was very +dreadful, as it usually is where a rebellion collapses or is +crushed. Yet even during the brief period of success, it had +corrected a good many abuses. I am quite sure that the +political-action-at-all-costs advocates of those times, after the +reaction came back into power, must have said: "See to what evils +direct action brings us! Behold, the progress of the colony has +been set back twenty-five years;" forgetting that if the +colonists had not resorted to direct action, their scalps would +have been taken by the Indians a year sooner, instead of a number +of them being hanged by the governor a year later. + + In the period of agitation and excitement preceding the +revolution, there were all sorts and kinds of direct action from +the most peaceable to the most violent; and I believe that almost +everybody who studies United States history finds the account of +these performances the most interesting part of the story, the +part which dents into the memory most easily. + + Among the peaceable moves made, were the non-importation +agreements, the leagues for wearing homespun clothing and the +"committees of correspondence." As the inevitable growth of +hostility progressed, violent direct action developed; e.g., in +the matter of destroying the revenue stamps, or the action +concerning the tea-ships, either by not permitting the tea to be +landed, or by putting it in damp storage, or by throwing it into +the harbor, as in Boston, or by compelling a tea-ship owner to +set fire to his own ship, as at Annapolis. These are all actions +which our commonest textbooks record, certainly not in a +condemnatory way, not even in an apologetic way, though they are +all cases of direct action against legally constituted authority +and property rights. If I draw attention to them, and others of +like nature, it is to prove to unreflecting repeaters of words +that _direct action has always been used, and has the historical +sanction of the very people now reprobating it_. + + George Washington is said to have been the leader of the +Virginia planters' non-importation league; he would now be +"enjoined," probably by a court, from forming any such league; +and if he persisted, he would be fined for contempt. + + When the great quarrel between the North and the South was +waxing hot and hotter, it was again direct action which preceded +and precipitated political action. And I may remark here that +political action is never taken, nor even contemplated, until +slumbering minds have first been aroused by direct acts of +protest against existing conditions. + + The history of the anti-slavery movement and the Civil War +is one of the greatest of paradoxes, although history is a chain +of paradoxes. Politically speaking, it was the slave-holding +States that stood for greater political freedom, for the autonomy +of the single State against the interference of the United +States; politically speaking, it was the non-slave-holding States +that stood for a strong centralized government, which, +Secessionists said and said truly, was bound progressively to +develop into more and more tyrannical forms. Which happened. +>From the close of the Civil War one, there has been continual +encroachment of the federal power upon what was formerly the +concern of the States individually. The wage-slavers, in their +struggles of today, are continually thrown into conflict with +that centralized power against which the slave-holder protested +(with liberty on his lips by tyranny in his heart). Ethically +speaking, it was the non-slave-holding States that in a general +way stood for greater human liberty, while the Secessionists +stood for race-slavery. In a general way only; that is, the +majority of northerners, not being accustomed to the actual +presence of negro slavery about them, thought it was probably a +mistake; yet they were in no great ferment of anxiety to have it +abolished. The Abolitionists only, and they were relatively few, +were the genuine ethicals, to whom slavery itself -- not +secession or union -- was the main question. In fact, so +paramount was it with them, that a considerable number of them +were themselves for the dissolution of the union, advocating that +the North take the initiative in the matter of dissolving, in +order that the northern people might shake off the blame of +holding negroes in chains. + + Of course, there were all sorts of people with all sorts of +temperaments among those who advocated the abolition of slavery. +There were Quakers like Whittier (indeed it was the peace-at-all- +costs Quakers who had advocated abolition even in early colonial +days); there were moderate political actionists, who were for +buying off the slaves, as the cheapest way; and there were +extremely violent people, who believed and did all sorts of +violent things. + + As to what the politicians did, it is one long record of +"hoe-not-to-to-it," a record of thirty years of compromising, and +dickering, and trying to keep what was as it was, and to hand +sops to both sides when new conditions demanded that something be +done, or be pretended to be done. But "the stars in their +courses fought against Sisera;" the system was breaking down from +within, and the direct actionists from without as well were +widening the cracks remorselessly. + + Among the various expressions of direct rebellion was the +organization of the "underground railroad." Most of the people +who belonged to it believed in both sorts of action; but however +much they theoretically subscribed to the right of the majority +to enact and enforce laws, they didn't believe in it on that +point. My grandfather was a member of the "underground;" many a +fugitive slave he helped on his way to Canada. He was a very +patient, law-abiding man in most respects, though I have often +thought that he respected it because he didn't have much to do +with it; always leading a pioneer life, law was generally far + +from him, and direct action imperative. Be that as it may, and +law-respecting as he was, he had no respect whatever for slave +laws, no matter if made by ten times of a majority; and he +conscientiously broke every one that came in his way to be +broken. + + There were times when in the operation of the "underground" +that violence was required, and was used. I recollect one old +friend relating to me how she and her mother kept watch all night +at the door, while a slave for whom a posse was searching hid in +the cellar; and though they were of Quaker descent and +sympathies, there was a shotgun on the table. Fortunately it did +not have to be used that night. + + When the fugitive slave law was passed with the help of the +political actionists of the North who wanted to offer a new sop +to the slave-holders, the direct actionists took to rescuing +recaptured fugitives. There was the "rescue of Shadrach," and +the "rescue of Jerry," the latter rescuers being led by the +famous Gerrit Smith; and a good many more successful and +unsuccessful attempts. Still the politicals kept on pottering +and trying to smooth things over, and the Abolitionists were +denounced and decried by the ultra-law-abiding pacificators, +pretty much as Wm. D. Haywood and Frank Bohn are being denounced +by their own party now. + + The other day I read a communication in the Chicago _Daily +Socialist_ from the secretary of the Louisville local Socialist +Party to the national secretary, requesting that some safe and +sane speaker be substituted for Bohn, who had been announced to +speak there. In explaining why, Mr. Dobbs makes this quotation +from Bohn's lecture: "Had the McNamaras been successful in +defending the interests of the working class, they would have +been right, just as John Brown would have been right, had he been +successful in freeing the slaves. Ignorance was the only crime +of John Brown, and ignorance was the only crime of the +McNamaras." + + Upon this Mr. Dobbs comments as follows: "We dispute +emphatically the statements here made. The attempt to draw a +parallel between the open -- if mistaken -- revolt of John Brown +on the one hand, and the secret and murderous methods of the +McNamaras on the other, is not only indicative of shallow +reasoning, but highly mischievous in the logical conclusions +which may be drawn from such statements." + + Evidently Mr.Dobbs is very ignorant of the life and work of +John Brown. John Brown was a man of violence; he would have +scorned anybody's attempt to make him out anything else. And +once a person is a believer in violence, it is with him only a +question of the most effective way of applying it, which can be +determined only by a knowledge of conditions and means at his +disposal. John Brown did not shrink at all from conspiratorial +methods. Those who have read the autobiography of Frederick +Douglas and the Reminiscences of Lucy Colman, will recall that +one of the plans laid by John Brown was to organize a chain of +armed camps in the mountains of West Virginia, North Carolina, +and Tennessee, send secret emissaries among the slaves inciting +them to flee to these camps, and there concert such measures as +times and conditions made possible for further arousing revolt +among the negroes. That this plan failed was due to the weakness +of the desire for liberty among the slaves themselves, more than +anything else. + + Later on, when the politicians in their infinite deviousness +contrived a fresh proposition of how-not-to-do-it, known as the +Kansas-Nebraska Act, which left the question of slavery to be +determined by the settlers, the direct actionists on both sides +sent bogus settlers into the territory, who proceeded to fight it +out. The pro-slavery men, who got in first, made a constitution +recognizing slavery and a law punishing with death any one who +aided a slave to escape; but the Free Soilers, who were a little +longer in arriving since they came from more distant States, made +a second constitution, and refused to recognize the other party's +laws at all. And John Brown was there, mixing in all the +violence, conspiratorial or open; he was "a horse-thief and a +murderer," in the eyes of decent, peaceable, political +actionists. And there is no doubt that he stole horses, sending +no notice in advance of his intention to steal them, and that he +killed pro-slavery men. He struck and got away a good many times +before his final attempt on Harper's Ferry. If he did not use +dynamite, it was because dynamite had not yet appeared as a +practical weapon. He made a great many more intentional attacks +on life than the two brothers Secretary Dobbs condemns for their +"murderous methods." And yet history has not failed to +understand John Brown. Mankind knows that though he was a +violent man, with human blood upon his hands, who was guilty of +high treason and hanged for it, yet his soul was a great, strong, +unselfish soul, unable to bear the frightful crime which kept +4,000,000 people like dumb beasts, and thought that making war +against it was a sacred, a God-called duty, (for John Brown was a +very religious man -- a Presbyterian). + + It is by and because of the direct acts of the forerunners +of social change, whether they be of peaceful or warlike nature, +that the Human Conscience, the conscience of the mass, becomes +aroused to the need for change. It would be very stupid to say +that no good results are ever brought about by political action; +sometimes good things do come about that way. But never until +individual rebellion, followed by mass rebellion, has forced it. +Direct action is always the clamorer, the initiator, through +which the great sum of indifferentists become aware that +oppression is getting intolerable. + + We have now and oppression in the land -- and not only in +this land, but throughout all those parts of the world which +enjoy the very mixed blessings of Civilization. And just as in +the question of chattel slavery, so this form of slavery has been +begetting both direct action and political action. A certain +percent of our population (probably a much smaller percent than +politicians are in the habit of assigning at mass meetings) is +producing the material wealth upon which all the rest of us live; +just as it was 4,000,000 chattel Blacks who supported all the +crowd of parasites above them. These are the _land workers_ and +the _industrial workers_. + + Through the unprophesied and unprophesiable operation of +institutions which no individual of us created, but found in +existence when he came here, these workers, the most absolutely +necessary part of the whole social structure, without whose +services none can either eat, or clothe, or shelter himself, are +just the ones who get the least to eat, to wear, and to be housed +withal -- to say nothing of their share of the other social +benefits which the rest of us are supposed to furnish, such as +education and artistic gratification. + + These workers have, in one form or another, mutually joined +their forces to see what betterment of their condition they could +get; primarily by direct action, secondarily by political action. +We have had the Grange, the Farmer's Alliance, Co-operative +Associations, Colonization Experiments, Knights of Labor, Trade +Unions, and Industrial Workers of the World. All of them have +been organized for the purpose of wringing from the masters in +the economic field a little better price, a little better +conditions, a little shorter hours; or on the other hand to +resist a reduction in price, worse conditions, or longer hours. +None of them has attempted a final solution of the social war. +None of them, except the Industrial Workers, has recognized that +there is a social war, inevitable so long as present legal- +social conditions endure. They accepted property institutions as +they found them. They were made up of average men, with average +desires, and they undertook to do what appeared to them possible +and very reasonable things. They were not committed to any +particular political policy when they were organized, but were +associated for direct action of their own initiation, either +positive or defensive. + + Undoubtably there were and are among all these +organizations, members who looked beyond immediate demands; who +did see that the continuous development of forces now in +operation was bound to bring about conditions to which it is +impossible that life continue to submit, and against which, +therefore, it will protest, and violently protest; that it will +have no choice but to do so; that it must do so or tamely die; +and since it is not the nature of life to surrender without +struggle, it will not tamely die. Twenty-two years ago I met +Farmer's Alliance people who said so, Knights of Labor who said +so, Trade Unionists who said so. They wanted larger aims than +those to which their organizations were looking; but they had to +accept their fellow members as they were, and try to stir them to +work for such things as it was possible to make them see. And +what they could see was better prices, better wages, less +dangerous or tyrannical conditions, shorter hours. At the stage +of development when these movements were initiated, the land +workers could not see that their struggle had anything to do with +the struggle of those engaged in the manufacturing or +transporting service; nor could these latter see that theirs had +anything to do with the movement of the farmers. For that matter +very few of them see it yet. They have yet to learn that there +is one common struggle against those who have appropriated the +earth, the money, and the machines. + + Unfortunately the great organizations of the farmers +frittered itself away in a stupid chase after political power. +It was quite successful in getting the power in certain States; +but the courts pronounced its laws unconstitutional, and there +was the burial hole of all its political conquests. Its original +program was to build its own elevators, and store the products +therein, holding these from the market till they could escape the +speculator. Also, to organize labor exchanges, issuing credit +notes upon products deposited for exchange. Had it adhered to +this program of direct mutual aid, it would, to some extent, for +a time at least, have afforded an illustration of how mankind may +free itself from the parasitism of the bankers and the middlemen. +Of course, it would have been overthrown in the end, unless it +had so revolutionized men's minds by the example as to force the +overthrow of the legal monopoly of land and money; but at least +it would have served a great educational purpose. As it was, it +"went after the red herring" and disintegrated merely from its +futility. + + The Knights of Labor subsided into comparative +insignificance, not because of failure to use direct action, nor +because of its tampering with politics, which was small, but +chiefly because it was a heterogenous mass of workers who could +not associate their efforts effectively. + + The Trade Unions grew strong as the Knights of Labor +subsided, and have continued slowly but persistently to increase +in power. It is true the increase has fluctuated; that there +have been set-backs; that great single organizations have been +formed and again dispersed. But on the whole trade unions have +been a growing power. They have been so because, poor as they +are, they have been a means whereby a certain section of the +workers have been able to bring their united force to bear +directly upon their masters, and so get for themselves some +portion of what they wanted -- of what their conditions dictated +to them they must try to get. The strike is their natural +weapon, that which they themselves have forged. It is the direct +blow of the strike which nine times out of ten the boss is afraid +of. (Of course there are occasions when he is glad of one, but +that's unusual.) And the reason he dreads a strike is not so +much because he thinks he cannot win out against it, but simply +and solely because he does not want an interruption of his +business. The ordinary boss isn't in much dread of a "class- +conscious vote;" there are plenty of shops where you can talk +Socialism or any other political program all day long; but if you +begin to talk Unionism you may forthwith expect to be discharged +or at best warned to shut up. Why? Not because the boss is so +wise as to know that political action is a swamp in which the +workingman gets mired, or because he understands that political +Socialism is fast becoming a middle-class movement; not at all. +He thinks Socialism is a very bad thing; but it's a good way off! +But he knows that if his shop is unionized, he will have trouble +right away. His hands will be rebellious, he will be put to +expense to improve his factory conditions, he will have to keep +workingmen that he doesn't like, and in case of strike he may +expect injury to his machinery or his buildings. + + It is often said, and parrot-like repeated, that the bosses +are "class-conscious," that they stick together for their class +interest, and are willing to undergo any sort of personal loss +rather than be false to those interests. It isn't so at all. +The majority of business people are just like the majority of +workingmen; they care a whole lot more about their individual +loss or gain than about the gain or loss of their class. And it +is his individual loss the boss sees, when threatened by a union. + + Now everybody knows that a strike of any size means +violence. No matter what any one's ethical preference for peace +may be, he knows it will not be peaceful. If it's a telegraph +strike, it means cutting wires and poles, and getting fake scabs +in to spoil the instruments. If it is a steel rolling mill +strike, it means beating up the scabs, breaking the windows, +setting the gauges wrong, and ruining the expensive rollers +together with tons and tons of material. IF it's a miners' +strike, it means destroying tracks and bridges, and blowing up +mills. If it is a garment workers' strike, it means having an +unaccountable fire, getting a volley of stones through an +apparently inaccessible window, or possibly a brickbat on the +manufacturer's own head. If it's a street-car strike, it means +tracks torn up or barricaded with the contents of ash-carts and +slop-carts, with overturned wagons or stolen fences, it means +smashed or incinerated cars and turned switches. If it is a +system federation strike, it means "dead" engines, wild engines, +derailed freights, and stalled trains. If it is a building +trades strike, it means dynamited structures. And always, +everywhere, all the time, fights between strike-breakers and +scabs against strikers and strike-sympathizers, between People +and Police. + + On the side of the bosses, it means search-lights, electric +wires, stockades, bull-pens, detectives and provocative agents, +violent kidnapping and deportation, and every device they can +conceive for direct protection, besides the ultimate invocation +of police, militia, State constabulary, and federal troops. + + Everybody knows this; everybody smiles when union officials +protest their organizations to be peaceable and law-abiding, +because everybody knows they are lying. They know that violence +is used, both secretly and openly; and they know it is used +because the strikers cannot do any other way, without giving up +the fight at once. Nor to they mistake those who thus resort to +violence under stress for destructive miscreants who do what +they do out of innate cussedness. The people in general +understand that they do these things through the harsh logic of a +situation which they did not create, but which forces them to +these attacks in order to make good in their struggle to live or +else go down the bottomless descent into poverty, that lets Death +find them in the poorhouse hospital, the city street, or the +river-slime. This is the awful alternative that the workers are +facing; and this is what makes the most kindly disposed human +beings -- men who would go out of their way to help a wounded +dog, or bring home a stray kitten and nurse it, or step aside to +avoid walking on a worm -- resort to violence against their +fellow men. They know, for the facts have taught them, that this +is the only way to win, if they can win at all. And it has +always appeared to me one of the most utterly ludicrous, +absolutely irrelevant things that a person can do or say, when +approached for relief or assistance by a striker who is dealing +with an immediate situation, to respond with "Vote yourself into +power!" when the next election is six months, a year, or two +years away. + + Unfortunately the people who know best how violence is used +in union warfare cannot come forward and say: "On such a day, at +such a place, such and such specific action was done, and as a +result such and such concession was made, or such and such boss +capitulated." To do so would imperil their liberty and their +power to go on fighting. Therefore those that know best must +keep silent and sneer in their sleeves, while those that know +little prate. Events, not tongues, must make their position +clear. + + And there has been a very great deal of prating these last +few weeks. Speakers and writers, honestly convinced I believe +that political action and political action only can win the +workers' battle, have been denouncing what they are pleased to +call "direct action" (what they really mean is conspiratorial +violence) as the author of mischief incalculable. One Oscar +Ameringer, as an example, recently said at a meeting in Chicago +that the Haymarket bomb of '86 had set back the eight-hour +movement twenty-five years, arguing that the movement would have +succeeded but for the bomb. It's a great mistake. No one can +exactly measure in years or months the effect of a forward push +or a reaction. No one can demonstrate that the eight-hour +movement could have been won twenty-five years ago. We know that +the eight-hour day was put on the statute books of Illinois in +1871 by political action, and has remained a dead letter. That +the direct action of the workers could have won it, then, cannot +be proved; but it can be shown that many more potent factors than +the Haymarket bomb worked against it. On the other hand, if the +reactive influence of the bomb was really so powerful, we should +naturally expect labor and union conditions to be worse in +Chicago than in the cities where no such thing happened. On the +contrary, bad as they are, the general conditions of labor are +better in Chicago than in most other large cities, and the power +of the unions is more developed there than in any other American +city except San Francisco. So if we are to conclude anything for +the influence of the Haymarket bomb, keep these facts in mind. +Personally I do not think its influence on the labor movement, as +such, was so very great. + + It will be the same with the present furore about violence. +Nothing fundamental has been altered. Two men have been +imprisoned for what they did (twenty-four years ago they were +hanged for what they did not do); some few more may yet be +imprisoned. But the forces of life will continue to revolt +against their economic chains. There will be no cessation in +that revolt, no matter what ticket men vote or fail to vote, +until the chains are broken. + + How will the chains be broken? + + Political actionists tell us it will be only by means of +working-class party action at the polls; by voting themselves +into possession of the sources of life and the tools; by voting +that those who now command forests, mines, ranches, waterways, +mills, and factories, and likewise command the military power to +defend them, shall hand over their dominion to the people. + + And meanwhile? + + Meanwhile, be peaceable, industrious, law-abiding, patient, +and frugal (as Madero told the Mexican peons to be, after he sold +them to Wall Street)! Even if some of you are disenfranchised, +don't rise up even against that, for it might "set back the +party." + + Well, I have already stated that some good is occasionally +accomplished by political action -- not necessarily working-class +party action either. But I am abundantly convinced that the +occasional good accomplished is more than counterbalanced by the +evil; just as I am convinced that though there are occasional +evils resulting through direct action, they are more than +counterbalanced by the good. + + Nearly all the laws which were originally framed with the +intention of benefitting the workers, have either turned into +weapons in their enemies' hands, or become dead letters unless +the workers through their organizations have directly enforced +their observance. So that in the end, it is direct action that +has to be relied on anyway. As an example of getting the tarred +end of a law, glance at the anti-trust law, which was supposed to +benefit the people in general and the working class in +particular. About two weeks since, some 250 union leaders were +cited to answer to the charge of being trust formers, as the +answer of the Illinois Central to its strikers. + + But the evil of pinning faith to indirect action is far +greater than any such minor results. The main evil is that it +destroys initiative, quenches the individual rebellious spirit, +teaches people to rely on someone else to do for them what they +should do for themselves; finally renders organic the anomalous +idea that by massing supineness together until a majority is +acquired, then through the peculiar magic of that majority, this +supineness is to be transformed into energy. That is, people who +have lost the habit of striking for themselves as individuals, +who have submitted to every injustice while waiting for the +majority to grow, are going to become metamorphosed into human +high-explosives by a mere process of packing! + + I quite agree that the sources of life, and all the natural +wealth of the earth, and the tools necessary to co-operative +production, must become freely accessible to all. It is a +positive certainty to me that unionism must widen and deepen its +purposes, or it will go under; and I feel sure that the logic of +the situation will gradually force them to see it. They must +learn that the workers' problem can never be solved by beating up +scabs, so long as their own policy of limiting their membership +by high initiation fees and other restrictions helps to make +scabs. They must learn that the course of growth is not so much +along the line of higher wages, but shorter hours, which will +enable them to increase membership, to take in everybody who is +willing to come into the union. They must learn that if they +want to win battles, all allied workers must act together, act +quickly (serving no notice on bosses), and retain their freedom +to do so at all times. And finally they must learn that even +then (when they have a complete organization) they can win +nothing permanent unless they strike for everything -- not for a +wage, not for a minor improvement, but for the whole natural +wealth of the earth. And proceed to the direct expropriation of +it all! + + They must learn that their power does not lie in their +voting strength, that their power lies in their ability to stop +production. It is a great mistake to suppose that the wage- +earners constitute a majority of the voters. Wage-earners are +here today and there tomorrow, and that hinders a large number +from voting; a great percentage of them in this country are +foreigners without a voting right. The most patent proof that +Socialist leaders know this is so, is that they are compromising +their propaganda at every point to win the support of the +business class, the small investor. Their campaign papers +proclaimed that their interviewers had been assured by Wall +Street bond purchasers that they would be just as ready to buy +Los Angeles bonds from a socialist as a capitalist administrator; +that the present Milwaukee administration has been a boon to the +small investor; their reading notices assure their readers in +this city that we need not go to the great department stores to +buy -- buy rather of So-and-so on Milwaukee Avenue, who will +satisfy us quite as well as a "big business" institution. In +short, they are making every desperate effort to win the support +and to prolong the life of that middle-class which socialist +economy says must be ground to pieces, because they know they +cannot get a majority without them. + + The most that a working-class party could do, even if its +politicians remained honest, would be to form a strong faction in +the legislatures which might, by combining its vote with one side +or another, win certain political or economic palliatives. + + But what the working-class can do, when once they grow into +a solidified organization, is to show the possessing class, +through a sudden cessation of all work, that the whole social +structure rests on them; that the possessions of the others are +absolutely worthless to them without the workers' activity; that +such protests, such strikes, are inherent in the system of +property and will continually recur until the whole thing is +abolished -- and having shown that effectively, proceed to +expropriate. + + "But the military power," says the political actionist; "we +must get political power, or the military will be used against +us!" + + Against a real General Strike, the military can do nothing. +Oh, true, if you have a Socialist Briand in power, he may declare +the workers "public officials" and try to make them serve against +themselves! But against the solid wall of an immobile working- +mass, even a Briand would be broken. + + Meanwhile, until this international awakening, the war will +go on as it had been going, in spite of all the hysteria which +well-meaning people who do not understand life and its +necessities may manifest; in spite of all the shivering that +timid leaders have done; in spite of all the reactionary revenges +that may be taken; in spite of all the capital that politicians +make out of the situation. It will go on because Life cries to +live, and Property denies its freedom to live; and Life will not +submit. + + And should not submit. + + It will go on until that day when a self-freed Humanity is +able to chant Swinburne's Hymn of Man" + + "Glory to Man in the highest, + For Man is the master of Things." + + +-end- + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001342.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001342.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6d518208 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001342.txt @@ -0,0 +1,140 @@ +The Only Hope of Ireland +by Alexander Berkman + +[Originally published in The Blast! vol.1, no.13, page 2; May 15, 1916] + +Most Irishmen, in and out of Ireland, seem unanimous in condemning the brutality +of the British government toward the leaders of the unsuccessful revolt. + +There is no need to recite here the atrocious measures of repression practiced +by England toward her subject races. The arrogant and irresponsible tyranny +of the British government in this relation is a matter of history. The point of +interest just now is, what did the Irish people, or at least the Sinn Feiners, +expect England to do in the given circumstances? + +I am not interested in the weak-kneed editors of Irish-American papers +who bemoan, with all due decorum, Great Britain's "lack of generosity" +in dealing with the captured Sinn Feiners, or who hide their cowardice +by arguments about the "mistake" the British government has committed by +its harsh methods. + +It is disgusting to hear such rot. As a matter of fact, it is entirely in keeping +with the character and traditions of the British government to show no +quarter to rebels. Those familiar with the colonial history of Great Britain +know that the English government and its representatives have systematically +practised the most heinous brutality and repression to stifle the least +sign of discontent, in Ireland, in India, Egypt, South Africa--wherever +British rapacity found a source of aggrandizement. Burning villages, +destroying whole districts, shooting rebels by the wholesale, aye, even +resorting to the most inhuman torture of suspects, as in the Southwestern +Punjab and other parts of India--these have always been the methods +of the British government. + +"The measures taken by us," said Sir Michael O'Dwyer, Governor of +the province of Punjab, in his Budget speech in the Punjab Legislative +Council, April 22, 1915, "have proven that the arm of the Sirkar (British +government) is long enough to reach and strong enough to strike those +who defy the law." The nature of this "long and strong arm" is clearly +characterized by Lord James Bryce: "The English govern India on absolute +principles. There is in British India no room for popular initiative or +popular interference with the acts of the rulers, from the Viceroy down +to the district official. Society in India is not an ordinary civil +society. It is a military society, military first and foremost. The +traveler feels himself, except perhaps in Bombay, surrounded by an +atmosphere of gunpowder all the time he stays in India." + +The Irish rebels and their sympathizers know all this. But what they +don't know, or refuse to admit, is that these methods of suppressing +discontent are not merely colonial policy. They have also been practiced +by the English government at home, against its native sons, the English +workers. Just now the iron hand of conscription is driving thousands of +Great Britain's toilers into involuntary military servitude. Long terms +of imprisonment are meted out to everyone having conscientious scruples +against murder, to every anti-militarist protestant, and many have been +driven to suicide rather than turn murderers of their fellowmen. The +Irish people, like everyone else, ought to know that the claim of the +English government of "protecting weaker nations and fighting for +democracy" is the most disgusting hypocrisy ever dished up to a +muttonhead public. Nor is the British government in this respect any +better or worse than the governments of Kaiser, Czar or President. +Government is but the shadow the ruling class of a country casts upon +the political life of a given nation. And the priests of Mammon are +always the ruling class, whatever the temporary label of the exploiters +of the people. + +We don't fool anyone by paroting that it was "a mistake" on the part of the +British government to use the sternest methods against the Sinn Fein leaders. +It was *not* a mistake. To the English government, to *any* government, the +only safe rebel is a dead rebel. The ruthless shooting down of the +insurrection leaders, the barbourous execution of James Connolly, who was +severely wounded in the Dublin fighting and had to be propped with pillows that +the soldiers could take good aim at him -- all this may serve to embitter the +Irish people. But unless that bitterness express itself in action, in +reprisals -- individual or collective -- against the British government, the +latter will have no cause to regret its severity. It is dangerous to let +rebels live, If the Irish at home have no more spirit than the Irish in +America, the English government has nothing to fear. The Irish-Americans +are easily the most powerful influence in American political life. What have +these Irish-Americans done to stop the atrocities of Great Britain? They have +held mass meetings here and there to "protest" against the continuing +executions of Sinn Feiners. They have sufficient political power in the +country to cause President Wilson to call a halt to British atrocities, to +force the English government to treat the Sinn Feiners as prisoners of war, +which they are. But the Irish-American priests of Church and State would not +dream of such drastic measures: politicians don't do that. + + More effective yet it would have been if some member or members of the +numerous Irish societies had captured a few representatives of the British +government in this country as hostages for the Irish rebels awaiting execution. +A British Consul ornamenting a lamppost in San Francisco or New York would +quickly secure the respectful attention of the British lion. The British +Ambassador, in the hands of Washington Irishmen, would more effectively +petition his Majesty, King Edward, for the lives of the Irish rebel leaders than +all the resolutions passed at mass meetings. + + After all, it is the Redmonds and the Carsons who are chiefly responsible +for the failure of the rebellion in Ireland. They were the first to condemn +the "rash step" of a people for centuries enslaved and oppressed to the verge +of utter poverty and degradation. Thus they in the very beginning alienated the +support that the uprising might have received in and out of Ireland. It was +this treacherous and cowardly attitude of the Irish home rule politicians that +encouraged the English government to use the most drastic measures in +suppressing the revolt. + + May outraged Ireland soon learn that its official leaders are like unto all +labor politicians: the lackeys of the rulers, and the very first to cry +Crucify! + + The hope of Ireland lies not in home rule, nor its leaders. It is not +circumscribed by the boundaries of the Emerald Isle. The precious blood shed +in the unsuccessful revolution will not have been in vain if the tears of their +great tragedy will clarify the vision o fthe sons ad daughters of Erin and make +them see beyond the empty shell of national aspirations toward the rising sun +of the international brotherhood of the exploited in all countries and climes +combined in a solidaric struggle for emancipation from every form of slavery, +political *and* economic + ALEXANDER BERKMAN + + +REVOLUTION +Friedrich Nietzsche + +There the gallows, rope and hooks + And the hangman's beard is red; +People 'round and poisoned looks, + Nothing new and nothing dread! + +Know it well - from fifty sources + Laughing in you face I cry: +Would you hang me? Save your forces! + Why hang me who cannot die! + +Beggars ye! who hate the tougher + Man who holds the envied lot; +True I suffer, true I suffer + As to you - ye rot, ye rot! + +I am breath, dew, all resources, + After fifty hangings, Why! +Would you hang me? Save your forces! + Would you kill me who cannot die! diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001343.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001343.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2475756e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001343.txt @@ -0,0 +1,172 @@ +Anti-Fascist Action + +10 Years On + + Ten years ago 300 people met in a Central London hall to discuss + +setting up a new anti-fascist organisation. The result was the + +formation of Anti-Fascist Action, "to oppose racism and fascism + +physically on the streets and ideologically." + + Since the Anti-Nazi League was closed down by the Socialist + +Workers Party in 1981, there was no national organisation to co- + +ordinate anti-fascist opposition, despite the increasing number of + +racist attacks and on-going targeting of left-wing activities. + +There were small groups of anti-fascists around the country, but + +they were isolated and coming under increasing pressure from the + +police. AFA was formed to end the isolation and draw in larger + +numbers to the anti-fascist movement. Initially the alliance of + +'liberals' and 'militants' in AFA achieved results, certainly anti- + +fascism was put back on the public agenda, and victories over the + +NF at Stockport (1985) and Bury St Edmunds (1986), followed by the + +successful campaign to finish of the NF Remembrance Day parades in + +Central London, showed our ability to disrupt the fascists and gave + +anti-fascists increasing confidence. + + One thing that AFA has learnt is that effective anti-fascism + +doesn't mean rigidly applying a set formula; tactics and strategies + +need to adapt to changing circumstances. By 1989 AFA started to + +define itself as the militant wing of the anti-fascist movement. We + +moved away from protest actions and calls for the government and + +police to lead the fight against fascism. We made it clear that we + +were not fighting fascism to defend the status quo but because + +fascism is reactionary, ultra-conservative, and anti-working class. + + AFA's objective was to clear the fascists out of working class + +areas and create the space for a progressive alternative to be + +built. Armed with this new strategy AFA started to grow rapidly, + +and the successful campaign against the BNP's "Rights for Whites" + +campaign in East London (1990-91) Was soon followed by significant + +victories in the North West of England, Scotland, and then the + +Midlands. + + Once AFA had defined itself as 'militant anti-fascist' it was + +important to give the militants an independent voice. The AFA + +magazine, Fighting Talk, was launched to do this (1991) and the + +hard-hitting AFA video, also called Fighting Talk, was shown on + +BBC's Open Space in 1992, clearly showing the class nature of + +fascism and the need for militant opposition. + + However 1992 also saw the arrival of 'the Left' into the anti- + +fascist arena, with the launch of the ANL, YRE, and ARA. Despite + +having abandoned anti-fascism for over 10 years, these groups now + +decided they would 'lead' the movement. Their access to large + +amounts of money, and sections of the media, allowed them to 'flood + +the market' for a while, but in traditional 'left wing' style, once + +the money and recruits dry up, they jump onto another bandwagon. + +They have done considerable damage, though, for where AFA + +challenged the traditional 'left wing' stereotype (both politically + +and physically) they have simply presented soft targets and soft + +politics. Their support for Labour' in places like East London + +where Labour has presided over the area's decline for years, while + +not promoting any challenge from the Left, has merely helped the + +BNP present themselves as the 'radical' alternative. + + The inability of the BNP to stage public events without severe + +disruption - from Burnley (1993) to Bloxwich (1994), St Andrews Day + +(Glasgow 1991) to St George's Day (Birmingham 1994) - has led them + +to declare that there would be "... no more marches, meetings, + +punch-ups..." (1994 Spearhead). This change of tactics by the BNP + +has presented AFA with a new challenge, for if the fascists have + +withdrawn from the physical arena, new forces need to be created to + +challenge them politically. The space that AFA has made hasn't been + +filled, and if it isn't filled by the Left, it will be filled by + +the Right. + + While the BNP adopt a low-key electoral strategy at present, the + +threat of fascist violence has been taken up by C18. The exact + +nature of this threat remains to be seen, but they have recently + +taken control of the nazi music organisation Blood and Honour. + +Blood and Honour tried to operate openly but were smashed by AFA at + +Hyde Park Corner (1989) and the famous Battle of Waterloo (1992), + +and so now their gigs are highly secretive and therefore less + +effective. AFA has also used music to spread the anti-fascist + +message, initially with Cable St. Beat, the Unity Carnivals (1991- + +93), and more recently the club-based Freedom of Movement. + + C18 is also involved in recruiting at football, and this + +challenge is being met by AFA, with supporters at Celtic, and then + +Man. Utd., giving a lead. European links are growing with the + +Hamburg club St. Pauli and Athletico Bilbau. AFA had developed + +international contacts with many groups, especially in Europe and + +North America, and is actively involved in ending the isolation of + +militant anti-fascist groups - this task being more urgent since + +the German state's attempts to criminalise and destroy the + +militants from Gottingen. + + AFA is well organised, has experience and ambition, and above all + +a plan. Join us. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001345.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001345.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..800522d5 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001345.txt @@ -0,0 +1,328 @@ + AFA CONTACTS + + -------------- + + In the fight against fascism in Britain, Anti-Fascist Action has + +a record that is second to none. Our unique combination of physical + +confrontation and ideological struggle has produced results time + +and time again. + + We say no platform to fascists - no meetings, no marches, no + +paper sales, no leafleting - and we mean it, as the fascists know + +only too well. Our aim is to cause the maximum disruption to + +fascist activities. + + But that doesn't mean that AFA only needs street-fighters. Far + +from it. Everyone has a role to play in AFA, wether they feel + +confident in physical confrontations or not. + + None of our successes in physically confronting the fascists + +would have been possible without the contribution of non- + +combatants. From legal observers to scouts, from leafleters to + +people who can write articles or speak at meetings, AFA needs + +people with a whole range of skills if it is to continue to + +succeed. + + There's a lot to do, so don't wait around. Join today. + + + +Midlands and Wales + +------------------- + +Cardiff AFA + +c/o Wolverhampton AFA + + + +Birmingham / Wolverhampton AFA + +PO Box 3311 + +Birmingham B13 + +e-mail: an494290@anon.penet.fi + + + +Leicester AFA + +PO Box 320 + +Leicester LE1 5WS + + + + + +Northern Network + +----------------- + +Bolton AFA + +c/o Manchester AFA + + + +Huddersfield AFA + +PO Box 310 + +Huddersfield HD1 3YL + + + +Lancaster AFA + +PO Box 63 + +Lancaster LA1 3GP + + + +Leeds AFA + +PO Box 127 + +Leeds LS3 1TS + + + +Liverpool AFA + +PO Box 110 + +Liverpool L69 8DP + + + +Manchester AFA + +PO Box 83, South West PDO + +Manchester M15 5NJ + + + +Preston AFA + +PO Box 172 + +Preston PR1 7BE + + + +Teeside AFA + +PO Box ITA + +Newcastle NE99 1TA + + + +Sheffield AFA + +c/o Black Star + +PO Box 446 + +Sheffield + + + +Tyne & Wear AFA + +4, The Cloth Market + +Newcastle upon Tyne + +NE1 1EA + + + +Wigan AFA + +c/o Manchester AFA + + + +York AFA + +PO Box 306 + +York YO3 7GH + + + + + +Scotland + +--------- + +Edinburgh AFA + +PO Box 421 + +Edinburgh EH11 1QD + + + +Fife AFA + +c/o Edinburgh AFA + + + +Glasgow AFA + +PO Box 797 + +Glasgow G1 5JF + + + + + +The South + +---------- + +Bath AFA + +PO Box 426 + +Bath BA2 2ZD + + + +Brighton AFA + +c/o London AFA + + + +Bristol AFA + +Box 44, c/o Greenleaf Bookshop + +82 Colston St + +Bristol + + + +Colchester AFA + +PO Box 2457 + +Colchester CO4 4NQ + + + +Exeter AFA + +c/o The Flying Post + +PO Box 185 + +Exeter EX4 4EW + + + +Gloucester AFA + +c/o Bath AFA + + + +Herts AFA + +PO Box 245 + +St Albans + +Herts + + + +London AFA + +BM 1734 + +London WC1N 3XX + + + +Norwich AFA + +PO Box 73 + +Norwich NR3 1QD + + + +Oxford AFA + +BCM Box 1715 + +London WC1N 3XX + + + +Plymouth AFA + +Kent AFA + +Portsmouth AFA + +Southampton AFA + +Surrey AFA + +c/o London AFA + + + + + +International + +-------------- + +AFA (Ireland) + +PO Box 3355 + +Dublin 7 + +Ireland + + + +Autonome Antifa (M) + +Buchladen Rote Strasse + +Rote Strasse 10 + +37073 Gottingen + +Germany + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001346.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001346.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1d12b1ef --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001346.txt @@ -0,0 +1,92 @@ +What is anarchism? + +Anarchism as a concept comes from the Greek words 'an arche' which mean +without government or without rulers. Anarchism is an ideology which +believes in the ability of members of a community to live in co-operation +without hierarchical rule, voluntarily without the control of the +machinery of bureaucracy. + Anarchism does not mean disorder or chaos, even though the +prevailing system has tried to label it as such. It means that people are +making the rules and changing them when needed by themselves. We are +talking about direct democracy, about being able to influence from the +individual level to the upper levels of society. + The prevailing system is based on the dominance of the state and on +violence, educational discipline and surveillance. The purpose of the +state is to protect the elite in power and their property. + An independent state has never ment freedom for people. When the +politicians talk about freedom, brotherhood or equality they are just +trying to justify the prevailing inequality. + The state is not an everlasting nor divine system. Its birth is +closely related to the birth of capitalism. The state is anyhow seeing +its own existence as a self-evident fact. That way it is trying to +silence all the alternative ideas. + Anarchism means the demolition of the prevailing, state centric +system. The anarchist alternative means a humane and community centric +way of life where the environment and people are what count - not only +tools in the capitalist mass production and wage slavery system or a part +of a humiliating machinery. + We will not stand being treated as machines! We are trying to destroy +the prevailing organisations, institutions and ways of thinking based on +exploitation, oppression and subjection. These are sexism, racism and +nationalism as well as wage labor and twisted parliamentarism as well as +the education system and the church. + + +What do you want from your life? + +The theory of anarchism is not able to say what the anarchist society in +future will be like. Decisions made in advance tend to lead to a dead end +where social openness and change are impossible. In such a case pluralism +has already been suffocated and the first steps towards totalitarism has +been taken. + As anarchists we are not striving for a world where everything is +set in front of us and is perfectly in harmony, we are striving for a +meaningful life. What does meaningful life mean, then? At least it does +not mean submission to the despotism of politicians, employers, +capitalists or even one's spouse. A meaningful life is created by +ourselves. It cannot be based on exploitation of human beings or nature. + The decision making will be in your own hands. Delegates in +different decision making bodies of society will still be necessary but +the delegate selected by you and your community to represent you will not +have any decision making power her/himself. You have already made your +own decision, the delegate can only represent you and if he or she +exceeds his or her powers by acting against your will or the will of the +community, you/your community has any time the right to repel his power +to represent you. + The parliamentary 'democracy' is not working this way. Haven't we +learned anything from the broken promises given by the professional +politicians or the mistakes made by the delegates? + People should organise freely according to the principles of direct +democracy on every field of life: workplaces, schools, areas of +residence, different organization etc. + +Finnish Anarchist Federation (SAL) + + The prevailing system with its mechanisms of domination enables the +pauperization of many while few are getting richer and richer. It enables +structural violence creating artificial conflicts as well between people +as between people and nature. + We don't want violence into our home town. Instead we want to live +in a fair and lively town where equality and solidarity are not just +words; in a society where the laws are not passed and the orders are not +given arbitrately from above without any other possibility but to obey. + Autonomy in matters that concern one's own life is the fundamental +condition for meaningful life. That is the reason why we say NO to the +prevailing system. SAL is a network of different groups of people but +even though that we are working together with each other as a +group/network that does not make any person less important. Actually it +makes him/her stronger as an activist and - even more so - as an +idividual. + Anarchism is not a religion but as-fresh-as-possible and radical +social theory combined with uncompromising direct action... It is a +process of creating new and denying the hidebound prevalent. + SAL was founded in 1987 to work for free and equal society. We fight +against the state, capitalism, and other forms of oppression. We believe +that direct action and organising according to the principles of direct +democracy will lead us to an anarchist society. We are not trying to gain +power, we are trying to destroy it! + + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001359.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001359.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cd0e010e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001359.txt @@ -0,0 +1,118 @@ +South African Anarchists Organise + +In 1989 one of the first anarchist organisations in modern +African history came into existence. This was the +Awareness League of Nigeria. The AL had a membership +of over 1000 people at the time of its formation and, +despite the severe repression in that country, it has +continued to function as one of the organisations fighting +the military dictatorship there. +Now a further organisation has begun to work for the +objective of anarchism in Africa - this is the Workers +Solidarity Federation (WSF) of South Africa. The WSF +was formed in 1994 and it publishes a newspaper called +Workers Solidarity. + +APARTHEID +The first issue of this paper contains major articles on +Anarchism, the Student Struggles in South Africa, the +current situation in Nigeria and the recent local elections +in South Africa. In a short article on the 1994 General +Election the WSF note that the election - and the formal +ending of apartheid - was a massive advance for the +struggle in South Africa allowing for freedom of +association and speech for the right to strike and protest. +Further on, however, they warn that the legacy of +apartheid is still with us. 2.3 million South Africans +suffer from malnutrition. Only 45% live in houses. Only +2 out of every 10 Africans finish school At the same time, +5% of the population own 80% of the wealth. The WSF +notes that the ANC government has set itself very +limited goals to redress this. +The WSF is, at this stage, a very young organisation. Yet, +its very existence at this time in South Africa is proof +positive that anarchist ideas are growing again as an +important force on the left. Anarchists and socialists +everywhere will wish them the very best. The WSF can +be contacted at PO Box 1717, Rosettenville, Joburg 2130, +South Africa. Please send a donation if you want a copy +of their paper, Workers Solidarity. + +Anarchist students win in Australian NUS election + +Reports from Australia indicate that an anarchist influenced +student initiative called the Non-Aligned-Left has been +elected to almost all the regional National Union of +Students officer ships and is the largest faction on the +national officer ships. The NUS represents some 450,000 +students. It is the first time the Australian Labour Party has +lost control of any state NUS branch and the first time non- +Labour factions have had a majority on the national +executive. + +According to NAL activist Marcus Westbury "The NAL has +existed for only 2 years. They have grown from a handful of +delegates to the second largest NUS faction primarily +because of their commitment to participatory decision +making, a non hierachial structure, and their non binding +nature." + +Czech anarchists mobilise against fascists + +According to a local correspondent, there was a day of +action against "racism, fascism and police terror" in +Brno in the Czech Republic on December 9th 1995 +organised by the Czech Anarchist Federation and Czech +Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP). There +has been a rise in both paramilitary fascist groups and +'respectable' parliamentary ones in recent years +growing out of both anti-Gypsy and anti-immigration +racism. Some 60% of Czechs, according to polls, are +hostile to Gypsies. + +A number of people have been killed in recent years by +fascists but the police ignored the fact that these killings +have been carried out by fascists. A previous but +smaller anti-fascist march in 1992 was attacked by a big +group of fascists but this time the larger march spotted, +attacked and drove off a gang of fascists despite the +police attempting to protect the fascists. Three people, +all anti-fascists, were arrested after this incident. + +513 anarchists arrested in Greece + +On November 18th this year after an overnight battle +with police and fascist gangs on one side and Greek +anarchists on the other riot police stormed Athens +Polytechnic and arrested 513 of the 2000 mostly +anarchist occupiers. + +The occupation of the polytechnic is an annual +demonstration to commemorate the massacre of +students carried out there in 1973 by the brutal military +junta which then ruled the country. The media +attempted to portray the occupation as the work of a +handful of teenage hooligans and went as far as using +'live' footage which was actually from riots last year. In +actual fact of those arrested only 40 were under 18. + +One eyewitness reported how "one man was caught by +the police in the evening. He was brutally beaten up by +25 police officers. He was taken behind a police car and +kicked on the head by high-rank police officers, he was +already unconscious. He was then delivered to the +hospital. Reporters' videos' of that scene were taken +away by the police. Other reporters helped wipe the +blood of the street." + +In the course of the attack and defence of the building +some 2.5 million dollars of damage was done to the +building. Not surprisingly the anarchists were charged +not only for this damage but also with 'invading the +Polytechnic', and 'destroying a national symbol' by +burning Greek flags. Over 100 have now been +sentenced to jail terms of between 4 and 40 months. +This is the latest of an apparent wave of repression +directed at Greek anarchists which has included bizarre +accusations like blaming them for the forest fire that +swept a suburb of Athens this year. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001360.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001360.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..05166c56 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001360.txt @@ -0,0 +1,252 @@ +DON'T ARMS THE WORLD FEED IT! + +ARMS DECOMMISSIONING is in the news. The IRA +is being asked to give up its weapons. So +are the Loyalist hit squads. The ways and +means commission, chaired by the US senator +George Mitchell met to investigate the thorny +issue of paramilitary arms decommissioning. +As it did so, both the US and British +governments were continuing with their long- +standing plans to upgrade and expand their +own armed forces. This year alone the +British Government will spend #6.3 billion on +the procurement of new weaponry, either as +replacements or as additions to its present +force. Meanwhile, the US government is set to spend +nearly #40 billion in a similar drive. + +These figures seem very large and they are. +Britain, for instance, has increased its spending on +weapons by nearly 10% on the previous year, 1994. +In July alone it put in an order to buy 67 Apache +Attack helicopters from the USA. This might sound +unbelievable but it is just the tip of the iceberg. + +Apart from buying arms, British and US firms +(along with the French) are the only ones to have +registered a massive increase in arms sales in the +past few years. This, it must be emphasised, is +since the end of the Cold War. Between 1985 and +1989, the USA supplied 30% of the world's arms; now +it supplies just under 48%. Similarly with Britain. +Between 1985 and 1989 it supplied just over 10% of +the world's arms; now it supplies just under 15%! + +This situation is rarely reported on and, if one +looks closer, it is easy to see why. In both the +USA and in Britain, some of the top companies in the +economy are arms manufacturers: British Aerospace, +Boeing, Lockheed, General Electric and Westington +House to name but a few. Many of these companies +make massive profits from arms. Take the firm, +British Aerospace (BA). According to its financial +records, 64% of all the money BA handles comes from +defence contracts - in total just over #5 billion. +If this company didn't sell arms, its shares would +plummet as would the shares of many other companies +across Europe and the USA. + +What countries are the arms being sold to? +Firstly, a considerable amount of armaments are +traded between rich countries. For instance, +Britain will buy its Apache Attack helicopters from +the USA. Alternatively, it could have bought the +new fighter-helicopter under development in Europe +know as The Tiger. Similarly, the USA buys a certain +amount of its arms from Europe. + +Secondly, and most importantly, arms are sold +to what are called poor countries. For instance +Pakistan spent 110 times more on weapons in 1990-91 +than it did on education and health together. +Similarly with Myanmar (210 times), Angola (200 +times) or Nigeria (40 times) - to name but a few. +Together with France, China and Russia, Britain and +the USA supplied 86% of all weaponry sold to poor +countries in the period 1988-92. Most scandalous of +all, perhaps, is the fact that many of these +countries sold their weapons on as part of their aid +for development. + +It is often said that poor countries need these arms +for self-defence. But even a routine analysis shows +this to be untrue. The United Nations Development +Report counted 82 armed conflicts in the world +between 1989 and 1992 (only wars where 1000 or more +are killed are counted!) Of these 82, nearly 79 +took place within borders - two examples being +India's war in Kashmir and the civil war in +Afghanistan. The reality is that most arms are +turned on ordinary people by forces in the +government or close to it. Rwanda is a case in +point. Right up to and after the slaughter began, +both South Africa and France were selling weapons +into the conflict - everything from small arms to +mortars to light artillery! It was largely +civilians who were killed in that conflict. + +There is huge money to be made in weapons - +that is the basic fact about arms manufacturing. In +1994 alone, the developing world spent close to #90 +billion on weapons. Yet the United Nations has +estimated that just #11 billion of this money would +pay for all the primary health care needs in all +countries that are considered to be developing +countries today. This includes catering for all the +immunisation requirements in these countries and for +the removal of all serious malnutrition, as well as +providing safe, clean drinking water for everyone. + +Apart from high profit margins, defence +manufacturing is also highly subsidised and +protected by individual governments. Across Europe +today a huge number of projects are up and running. +Some involve co-operation between private defence +companies and various governments. Others involve +joint work between different governments. For +instance, at present France is working on almost 40 +joint projects with Germany in relation to common +defence programmes These have the approval of both +governments and may, in time, be run as part of the +Western European Alliance - which Ireland is being +invited to join. Last July, France launched the +iHelios 1ai photo-reconnaissance satellite. Plans +are currently under way for a joint consortium to +build Europe's first independent spy capability. +This project alone will cost #3.5 billion! + +When did Europe ever vote for this? Do you +remember voting for an independent spy capability +for Europe? Who are we going to be spying on? Why? +Towards what end? While huge money is being +wasted, these issues are being decided on by the +very people who will gain financially from these +projects - business. More than ever the real +terrorists need to be identified: Major, Clinton and +Chirac. + +Decommission the arms! + +Uncle Sam's Torture Trade + +>From September 1991-December 1993, the U.S. +Commerce Department approved over 350 export +licenses, worth more than $27 million, for torture and +police equipment under "commodity category 0A82C". +According to the Export Administration Regulations, +this broad-ranging category includes: "saps, +thumbcuffs, thumbscrews, leg irons, shackles, and +handcuffs; specially designed implements of torture; +strait jackets, plastic handcuffs, police helmets and +shields; and parts and accessories." + +Another export category, 0A84C, combines electric +shock batons and cattle prods with shotguns and shells. +Over 2,000 licenses were granted for these items. This +information was obtained under a Freedom of +Information Act request for data on gun exports. + +By lumping controversial items (like thumbscrews) +together with non-controversial ones (like helmets) +into broad general categories, the U.S. authorities hope +to hide their squalid little deals with torturers. This +makes many suspect the worst, especially when these +commodities are licensed for export to governments +with well-documented records of human rights abuse. +For example, Commerce approved $10.5 million to +Saudi Arabia, where government officials "continued +to torture and otherwise abuse detainees, including +citizens and foreigners," according to the State +Department's latest human rights report. + +Source: Federation of American Scientists Fund + +That's Capitalism + +According to the International Labour Organisation +women's hourly wages in Ireland are still only 68% of +men's. This shows how little has changed over the last +ten years, in 1985 the figure was also 68%. Women are +being kept in lower paid jobs. Among the countries +with a better record than Ireland are Paraguay, Sri Lanka +and Turkey. + +***** + +Politicians are full of hot air. It's official. After +complaints by deputies who were feeling ill the Israel's +parliament was found to have high concentrations of +carbon dioxide. This is the gas people exhale when +breathing - or speaking. + +***** + +Smith Kline Beecham, the drug company with a +manufacturing plant near Ringaskiddy, in Cork, made +profits of #6.94 billion in the year ending 1995 - an +increase of 7% on profits from the previous year. +However, while share dividends are set to increase by +8%, the Cork plant could only 'afford' to give its +workers the PCW wage increase this year - 2.8%. + +***** + +The death penalty is under review in the USA. But this +has nothing to do with the fact that it is a fundamental +breach of human rights. Rather, the problem is money: +executions are just too expensive. California alone +spends $100 million on executions each year. But, worst +of all, a recent assessment of the costs involved found +that the price of one execution is equivalent to keeping +three prisoners in a maximum security prison for 40 +years. + +***** + +Drinks firm, Cantrell & Cochran reported a 26% +increase in sales and a 28% increase in profits in their +last six monthly report. The reward promised for their +staff is "job losses at the Dublin plant". + +***** + +A recent report into the operations of the European +Union found that, of the top 300 jobs, all but four are +held by men. + +***** +Politicians are usually willing to make any wild +promise and tell any lie to get elected. Harbi Bdeir, +standing in Gaza for a seat in the Palestinian Authority, +will try anything. He promised to make the area a new +centre for the international airline meals business. A +neat trick, as Gaza has no airport. + +***** + +Among America's crazier laws are a ban on whistling +under water in Vermont and the offence of riding an +"ugly" horse on the streets of Wilbur in Washington +state. + +***** + +Profits are booming everywhere. Fortune 500 magazine +has already declared the financial year ending in 1995 as +'one of the most profitable ever' for business. Here's +why: + Hoechst Chemicals(Germany) - 104 percent +increase in profits on 1994 + ICI(UK) - 126 percent increase on 1994 + Rhone-Poulenc(France) - 65 percent increase on +1994 + Dow Chemicals (USA) - 158 percent increase on +1994 +As a group of companies, the Fortune 500 companies +had an overall average increase of 54% in profits on the +previous year (1994). The famous magazine said of the +year to date in conclusion: 'Even an anxious Broadway +producer couldn't hope for a better opening.' + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001361.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001361.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2e8c76cb --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001361.txt @@ -0,0 +1,169 @@ +Church power weakened + +IRELAND VOTES FOR DIVORCE + +AT LAST, the ban on divorce is gone. In the past few +years, issues concerning the family and the place of +women have been at the centre of Irish politics - in part +because Catholic church thinking has long dominated +these areas of life in Ireland. Things first began to +change for the better in the early 1970s when women +began to fight back against Church rule. Contraception +was demanded and won. + +Later access to information on abortion, and abortion +facilities in England, was fought for and won - though +in a very restricted context. (Let us not forget that as +many as 6,000 Irish women travel to England every year +to have an abortion because it remains illegal in the 26 +counties.) Now, with the recent Divorce Referendum, a +restricted form of divorce will be allowed. Another +blow has been struck against the Catholic church that +fought its hardest to prevent any change occurring. + + The 'yes' campaign won by the narrowest of margins - +by less than half of one per cent of all the votes cast. +The turnout of the electorate was approximately 61%. +Even up to the very end the result was in doubt and a +full re-count of all votes cast was necessary in order to +confirm the result. Nevertheless, the majority was +clearly for 'yes' and clearly for divorce. + +Across the twenty-six counties the changes since 1986 - +when the last referendum on divorce was held - were +definite, and in some places dramatic. Swings to the +'yes' side varied between 10% and 20%, the highest +being recorded in the working-class constituency of +Dublin Central. In all 16 constituencies voted 'yes' and +25 voted 'no'. + +Even predominantly rural constituencies such as Kerry +South held respectable swings to the 'yes' campaign, +this despite the complete lack of a 'yes' campaign in +many of these areas. Two constituencies that +eventually voted 'no' - Waterford and Wexford - still +recorded two of the largest swings to the 'yes' side. This +is one of the better aspects of the referendum compared +with the vote in 1986. This time around those +supporting divorce were not just concentrated in +Dublin. This indicates a broader and more substantial +move away from Catholic Church control in Ireland +than in previous times. + +FREEDOM + +The Divorce Referendum, though conservative in +terms of what it proposed, was from the very beginning +about much more. As the 'yes' and 'no' campaigns +heated up in the weeks before the vote, two clear views +about the way Irish society should be became apparent. +Those supporting the 'no' side were intent on retaining +control over the individual and what the individual +does. Those who supported the 'yes' campaign wanted +the arena of individual freedom enlarged. This is why +we, as anarchists, were involved in the referendum. + +Perhaps no one understood the issues in such a clear +light as those who were behind the 'no' campaign - the +Catholic Right. They were well organised, they had +plenty of money (including American money) and they +weren't afraid of the issues. They believe in +authoritarian solutions to the problems in Irish society +and they believe in forcing things down people's +throats. + +Arguing that the 'common good' must come first, they +excused away the reality of marriage breakdown in +Ireland with a total disregard for the individuals +involved - be they women, men or children. Their +attitude was 'Put Up or Shut Up'- and it was this +approach that was eventually rejected by the 'yes' +victory. The campaign fought by the Catholic Right was +committed and forceful. A response that was in sharp +contrast to that of the Government. + +If ever there was a liability for the 'no' campaign, it was +having the Government on its side. The Government +led the 'yes' campaign, they controlled the money, they +even tried to set the agenda of debate - in the end they +nearly lost it for everyone. By their very presence they +stymied initiative. The 'yes' campaign got off the +ground late, it lacked any initial willingness to tackle +Catholic Church hypocrisy and it pussy-footed around +all the main issues - the 'cost of divorce', the alleged +effects on children, etc. + +Worst of all, and perhaps this is their lasting legacy, the +Government have lumbered the people with the +disgraceful provision - now enshrined in the +Constitution! - that one must separate for at least four +years before you can entertain the idea of a divorce. +This, we have argued, is an affront to every person who +goes through the trauma of a broken marriage. + +COMPASSION + +The 'yes' campaign was very broad, and it stood for +different things at different times. Some of the +arguments that it used were good - the arguments for +'divorce as a civil right' for instance, or the argument +for the separation of Church and State'. Yet there were +other ideas in the 'yes' campaign that we, as anarchists, +had no truck with. We did not participate in the +campaign for divorce so as 'to strengthen the institution +of marriage'. Many of the political parties argued for +divorce along these lines - quite illogically in our +opinion. + +The Workers Solidarity Movement said straight out +that divorce will weaken the institution of marriage, +and that this is a good thing. We are for choice in life, +and for respect for the individual. We believe that +people, on the whole, act carefully and responsibly with +their lives. Most of all we do not believe that you need +a law to keep you in a relationship with another person +- we think the idea is actually absurd. Our partners in +this life are our own business and the 'yes' victory was +one small step towards bringing this a little closer. That +is why we fought hard for a 'yes' vote. + +The big loser in this referendum was the Catholic +Church. They have, especially in times past, wielded +great power in the twenty-six county state. They have +wielded it disgracefully - punishing people who don't +hold with Church views, encouraging chauvinism and +intolerance of the worst kind. Despite their Christian +rhetoric, they have rarely shown an iota of +'compassion' for anyone. For this reason alone victory +is sweet. + +CONTROL + +But the Catholic Church continues to be a very +powerful force in Ireland. This should not be forgotten. +It still retains huge influence in schools, hospitals and +in the local community. It also retains huge support +among the main political parties - Fianna Fail, Fine +Gael and Labour. The campaign to remove the Catholic +Church from Irish society, where they survive at the tax +payers' expense, still has a long way to go. + +The successful 'yes' vote did show however that we can +win - most importantly against superior forces, with +greater resources. It is a victory for all those who did the +merest bit to encourage a 'yes' vote. But there is also a +warning in the narrowness of the victory. + +The Catholic Right is now a force in Irish society. And +they are organising in a more political direction. They +are committed and strong and they have money. They +want to bring Ireland back to an era when no one +questioned anything, when women stayed at home +because they were forced to. From now on the Catholic +Right will fight tooth and nail on every issue of +importance to them. There is still a long struggle ahead +to beat them once and for all. + +Kevin Doyle + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001362.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001362.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6255c32c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001362.txt @@ -0,0 +1,174 @@ +Anarchism's Greatest Hits NO.1 +Mikhail Bakunin + +The anarchist movement throws up many men and +women, who become famous because of their actions, ideas +and writings. Perhaps the best known of them all was a +Russian, Mikhail Bakunin. +Anarchists do not have god-like leaders, nor all-knowing +prophets. Nobody gets it right all the time and nobody is +above criticism. Whoever does not make mistakes is either +(a) not human, or (b) someone who never does anything at +all. It is possible to take inspiration from the actions and +ideas of others without falling into the trap of uncritical +hero-worship. + +First steps to freedom +Born in 1814 in Tsarist Russia, Bakunin quickly developed a +burning hatred of injustice. At age 21, after a couple of years +in uniform, he resigned from the army and began to mix in +democratic circles. Nine years later he met up with radicals +like Proudhon and Marx in Paris. By this stage he had +formulated a theory which saw freedom being achieved by a +general rising, linked to revolutions in the subject nations. +His passionate campaigning for democracy and anti- +colonialism made him 'public enemy number one' in the +eyes of most European monarchies. In 1848 he was expelled +from France for making a speech in support of +independence for Poland. His passion for liberty and +equality, and his condemnations of privilege and injustice +gave him an enormous appeal in the radical movement of +the day. +The following year Bakunin rushed to Dresden where he +played a leading role in the May insurrection. This led to his +arrest and he was sentenced to death. The Austrian +monarchy also wanted him, so he was extradited and again +sentenced to death. But before the hangman could put the +noose around his neck, Russia demanded his extradition +and he spent the following six years jailed without trial in +the Peter and Paul Fortress. Release from jail was followed +by exile in Siberia. + +Escape from Siberia +In 1861 he made a dramatic escape and returned to Europe by +way of Japan, the Panama Canal and San Francisco! For the +next three years he threw himself into the struggle for Polish +independence. Then he began to rethink his ideas. Would +national independence, in itself, lead to liberty for working +people? This took him away from nationalism and towards +anarchism. +In 1868 he joined the International Working Men's +Association (also known as the First International), a +federation of radical and trade union organisations with +sections in most European countries. Very rapidly his ideas +developed and he became a famous exponent of anarchism. +While agreeing with much of Marx's economic theory, he +rejected his authoritarian politics and the major division +within the International was between the anarchists and the +Marxists. +While Marx believed that socialism could be built by taking +over the state, Bakunin looked forward to its destruction +and the creation of a new society based on free federations of +free workers. This soon became the policy of the +International in Italy and Spain, and grew in popularity in +Switzerland, Belgium and France. After failing to defeat the +anarchist idea, Marx and his followers resorted to a +campaign of smears and lies against Bakunin. + +A movement is born +A committee set up to investigate the charges found, by a +majority, Bakunin guilty and voted to expel him. The Swiss +section called a further congress, where the charges were +found to be false. An international conference also +vindicated Bakunin, and went on to adopt the anarchist +position of rejecting any rule by a minority. +Defeated, Marx and his followers moved the General +Council of the International to New York where it faded +into irrelevance. The ideas developed by Bakunin in the last +decade of his life went on to form the basis of the modern +anarchist movement. Worn out by a lifetime of struggle, +Bakunin died in Switzerland on July 1st 1876. +His legacy is enormous. Although he wrote manifestos, +articles and books he never finished a single sizable work. +Being primarily an activist he would stop, sometimes +literally in mid-sentence, to play his part in struggles, strikes +and rebellions. What he left to posterity is a collection of +fragments. Even so, his writings are full of insights that are +as relevant today as they were in his time. + +The danger of dictatorship +While understanding that ideas and intellectuals have an +important role to play in the revolution, a role of education +and articulating peoples' needs and desires, he issued a +warning. He cautioned them against trying to take power +and create a "dictatorship of the proletariat". The notion +that a small group of people, no matter how well meaning, +could execute a coup d'etat for the benefit of the majority +was a "heresy against common sense". Long before the +Russian revolution he warned that a new class of +intellectuals and semi-intellectuals might seek to step into +the shoes of the landlords and bosses, and deny working +people their freedom. +In 1873 he foretold, with great accuracy, that under the +"dictatorship of the proletariat" of the Marxists the party +leaders would "concentrate the reins of government in a +strong hand" and "divide the the masses into two great +armies - industrial and agricultural - under the direct +command of state engineers who will constitute a new +privileged scientific and political class". +Bakunin understood that government is the means by +which a minority rules. In so far as 'political power' means +the concentration of authority in a few hands, he declared, it +must be abolished. Instead there must be a 'social +revolution' which will change the relationship between +people and place power in the hands of the masses through +their own federation of voluntary organisations. +"It is necessary to abolish completely and in principle and in +practice, everything that may be called political power, for as +long as political power exists there will always be rulers and +ruled, masters and slaves, exploiters and exploited". +Who now can say he was not right? + +Joe King + +A selection of books from the revolutionary with a beard + +Bakunin on Anarchy (edited by Sam Dolgoff) + +A huge and comprehensive anthology of his writings. By far +the best collection available in the English language. + +Basic Bakunin (edited by Robert M Cutler) + +Writings from his time in the International Workingmens' +Association; covering revolutionary socialism, the general +strike, co-operation, all-round education, and more. Only +one of these articles has previously appeared in a complete +English translation. + +and a few pamphlets... + +God and the State by Michael Bakunin + +Cheap version of his book; which combines an introduction +to anarchism, a manifesto of atheism and a summing up of +his thoughts. + +Marxism, Freedom and the State by Michael Bakunin + +In the more than a century since these passages were written +the worship of the state has become a religion over a very +large part of the globe, and we have seen in practice the +fulfilment of Bakunin's gloomy forbodings on the +destination of Marxist socialism. History itself has shown +the relevance of his arguments. + +The Paris Commune and the Idea of the State by Michael +Bakunin + +For a few weeks in 1871 the workers of Paris took control of +their city. + +On Violence by Michael Bakunin + +His letter to Sergei Nechaev (infamous Russian terrorist) +where he tackles the subject by expressing his faith in +humanity and in the process rejecting the option of +terrorism + +Bakunin and Nechaev by Paul Avrich +What exactly was the relationship between Bakunin and +Nechaev? Are Marxists correct to say Bakunin was an +advocate of terrorism? + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001363.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001363.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8c427352 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001363.txt @@ -0,0 +1,305 @@ +the DRUGS debate + +DUBLIN COMMUNITIES ORGANISE + +The heroin epidemic in Dublin is causing major +problems for addicts and for the communities where +they live. Oddly enough you would not get any +inkling of this crisis from the bourgeois press. That is +because the epidemic and its effects are confined to the +inner city and the working class suburbs like Ballymun, +Tallaght, Clondalkin and Blanchardstown. The +politicians and the powers that be don't give a damn +about the people who live in these communities or +about the problems they face. So, starting last summer, +these communities began to organise their own +response to the drugs crisis. + +ICON, the Inner City Organisations Network, based on +the northside, took an initiative. It started a series of +meetings, open to the community, in the North Star +Hotel to discuss ways to tackle the problem. These +meetings were well attended by local people who talked +about their experiences with sons and daughters, +brothers and sisters and partners who are addicts and +who can't get on to the treatment programmes because +the waiting lists are so long. + +There are now upwards of five hundred addicts waiting +to get on methadone treatment programmes in Dublin. +Some of these are in their early teens. Some are very +sick with the HIV virus and even Aids. Yet the main +response of the government announced in the summer +was a law and order one concentrated on security and +policing. These kinds of responses have been tried in +practically every country experiencing the same drugs +crisis without success. + +ICON soon saw the need to spread out the campaign to +other communities. A series of city wide meetings +were held in Liberty Hall which were attended by +people from the Liberties, Blanchardstown, Tallaght, +Ballymun and other areas. A series of demands were +drawn up and sub-groups set up to deal with the +different aspects of the problem. A big increase in the +availability of treatment for addicts both in locally based +clinics, under community control, and from local G.Ps +are central demands. + +Other issues are the lack of methadone maintenance +programmes in the prisons, the lack of success by the +police in catching the big dealers, and the desperate +social and economic conditions in the communities +which cause the drug addiction in the first place. + +Unlike the community response in the 1980s, there has +been little enthusiasm for a return to the tactics of the +Concerned Parents Against Drugs. CPAD had taken a +direct action approach to dealers and those suspected of +dealing, and forced them out of the communities. +Although some people within the campaign do still +favour this approach, most don't because of the totally +changed situation on the ground now. Now most +families involved in the campaign have a close relative +who is an addict, they may even have a close relative +who has died at a young age from a drug related illness. +Many addicts are also small time dealers in order to +support their habit. + +The drug problem is so closely intertwined with the +fabric of the community now ,especially in the inner +city areas, that it is no longer possible or desirable to +adopt the tactics of CPAD because people would be +targeting members of their own families. Another +reason is that there is now a clearer realisation that +there is nothing to be gained by just pushing the +problem and the addicts from one area to another. + +There are other issues to be tackled too, such as the fact +that methadone itself is highly addictive and some +experts argue that it is better to prescribe heroin. The +whole issue of legalisation and decriminalisation of +hard and soft drugs is also up for debate. Resistance +from communities to drug treatment clinics in their +areas also has to be tackled head on. On the other hand +there are examples from Tallaght of working class +communities getting together to set up their own +treatment programmes with the support of one or two +G.Ps when the Eastern Health Board refused to deal +with the problem. + + The reluctance of G.Ps to treat addicts is basically a +financial one. If the Dept. of Health would agree to pay +them more to treat addicts, many more would willingly +do so. Strangely enough this is exactly the same line of +argument they use about treating Travellers! + +The state is not putting in the resources to tackle the +problem in any effective way. Their response is +primarily a policing one. As long as the heroin +problem stays in the working class communities - +where it creates havoc with people lives - the state will +not bother to respond in a serious manner unless it is +forced to do so. This is what the ICON led campaign +has been set up to do. It has the direct support and +involvement of local people from working class +communities and is democratically run. It remains to +be seen if it can be effective against the indifference and +self-interest of the ruling class. + +Patricia McCarthy + +"Direct Action Against Drugs" +Murder and Thuggery + +MEN SHOT DEAD, many more beaten up. Attacks in +Armagh, Belfast, Derry, Dublin, Dundalk and Kerry. In +most cases the reason given was that the people being +punished were ecstasy dealers. The murders in the six +counties were claimed by Direct Action Against Drugs. +This organisation does not exist in any real sense, it is +widely believed to be nothing more than a cover name +for the IRA. That is why the Sinn Fein "does not +condone" the killings but "will not condemn" them +either. + +Ecstasy use, like using any drug , is not to be encouraged. +It is dangerous. But there has been a lot of nonsense +talked about 'E'. It is a lot less likely to kill regular users +than tobacco. Just as many smoked dope in the 1970s, +the 1990s generation takes ecstasy. When asked by the +'Sunday Tribune' (January 7th) why the IRA was not +doing anything about tobacco or alcohol abuse Noel +Sheridan, a Sinn Fein councillor in Armagh, replied +that they were "not illegal". So now you know, +republicans' primary concern is for upholding the law! + +The biggest - though not the only - risks come from +cutting the drug with dangerous substances, from there +being no way of knowing the strength of an illegal drug, +and from club owners turning off taps to force +dehydrated dancers to buy bottled water. + +So why did the IRA start to kill alleged ecstasy dealer +when they didn't kill heroin bosses like Larry Dunne +and Ma Baker a decade ago? The IRA may have a +concern that overconfident criminals might eventually +start dealing in hard drugs, or that "criminal gangs will +dominate working class communities" ('AP/RN' +editorial, January 11th). + +More likely is that it was a way of demonstrating, to the +Mitchell Commission and the British government, that +an armed campaign can be resumed; that the IRA has +not gone away. By targeting alleged drug dealers at a +time of great concern and a lot of media hype about +drug abuse there was far less chance of a public outcry. +More importantly, they can not be accused of breaking +the ceasefire as they are not shooting RUC or soldiers. + +The campaign of murders and beatings is authoritarian +thuggery. The IRA/DADD have no mandate to make +the rules about drug use and abuse. They certainly have +no right to set themselves up as judge, jury and +executioner. What would the IRA's reaction be if the +RUC went around executing alleged drug dealers? Or +have they already forgotten all they used to say about +torture, non-jury courts and shoot-to-kill? + +Editorial Collective + + +the DRUGS debate +bans or legalisation + +SINCE THE DAYS of Concerned Parents Against Drugs +(CPAD), the growth of the heroin problem in inner-city +Dublin has largely gone without comment. In the last +few months, two factors have pushed it back into the +spotlight - the government's declaration of a 'War on +Drugs', and the emergence of the city-wide campaign +against heroin which has been set up by Inner City +Organisations Network. In this article, we look at these +campaigns, and how we, as anarchists, would deal with +the problem of drug-abuse. + +Not War, But Containment +It's not a coincidence that the heroin problem is +concentrated in communities with the highest rates of +unemployment, worst housing, etc. The inner-cities +have been written-off already, it doesn't make political +sense to spend money on people who are poor, +unemployed, and probably don't vote anyway. Besides +which, everyone knows that as long as these areas +remain run-down unemployment black-spots, people +are going to keep turning to drugs, if only because +there's nothing else to turn to. +Instead, the government is concentrating on soft drugs, +cannabis and Ecstasy mainly, because these are the drugs +which have broken out of the ghetto. Even the most +paranoid suburban parent is unlikely to think that their +teenage son or daughter is developing a smack habit, it's +much easier to picture them smoking a joint or taking +an E at a rave. These parents are the swing voters, the +people that political parties must win over to get +elected, so they are the ones at whom the publicity +campaign must be targeted. The proof of this is in the +number of customs seizures of heroin as opposed to +those of hash or E. + +Easy Targets +There are few, if any, grounds for criminalising +cannabis. Countless studies have shown it to be a drug +that is not addictive and has next to no adverse physical +effects, especially compared to alcohol and nicotine, +Ireland's drugs of choice. Ecstasy, though dangerous in +large quantities (as with most drugs, legal or illegal), is +safe at its normal dosage provided basic guidelines are +followed1, drinking enough water if dancing, etc. The +two main health risks associated with using Ecstasy are +of allergic reaction - a small percentage of people can be +killed by a bee sting, a similar number of people may +have an equally dangerous reaction to E - and the fact +that not everything sold as Ecstasy is in fact MDMA. +Lack of testing facilities means that people are at risk +from unscrupulous dealers. +Because neither of these drugs is addictive, it is +(relatively) easy to control their usage. Heroin is a +different matter. The physical craving for heroin, and +the side-effects of withdrawal, prove unbearable for +many, and ensure that there is a steady demand, even if +the price is driven up by raids or seizures at customs. It +requires a lot of resources to deal with the problem of +heroin in any meaningful way. Needle exchanges are +essential to stop the spread of disease through dirty +needles. Helping someone get off heroin means +supplying them with other drugs to lessen the +withdrawal symptoms, providing them with support +facilities so that they do actually clean up rather than +just develop another addiction, and finally, making +sure that there is an alternative waiting for them so that +they don't get hooked again six months after detoxing. + +Anti-Social Drugs +The absence of this support means that heroin is likely +to remain a problem in Dublin for some time. But it is +important to realise exactly what the problem is. Too +often, analysis goes no further than 'Drugs are bad, +heroin is a drug, therefore heroin is bad'. Given that +most of the people reading this article will have used +some illegal drug - acid, E, speed, almost certainly +cannabis - this is hardly a very credible argument. The +difference with heroin (the most common 'hard' drug +in Ireland) is that it is highly addictive. +Smack is an expensive habit, and since most drug users +(like most smokers, heavy drinkers, and Lottery +'players') come from poor backgrounds, they have to +turn to crime. Addiction to something as demanding as +heroin means that most users cannot afford a sense of +social responsibility. This is the destructive side of +drugs, this is why it is not mere moralism to describe +heroin as a problem. When so much of crime is related +to a particular drug, that drug is obviously a problem. + +Solutions? +So what can we do? The first step is to stop treating +drugs as one undifferentiated mass, and to distinguish +between those that are physically dangerous and those +that are not, between those that are addictive and those +that are not. If we allow people to smoke cigarettes, why +not allow people equal access to other recreational +drugs, perhaps with the same age restrictions as apply to +alcohol consumption. Legalisation would allow +regulation, which in turn allows testing, so that people +won't be poisoned by dealers ripping them off. +For more serious drugs, there are a number of options. +At the very least, the current type of support +programme needs to be properly funded. More sensible +approaches could also be tried. For example, a doctor in +England used to supply all of his addicted patients with +medical heroin, which was both safer for them, as it +removed the risks involved with using heroin +available on the street - often cut with other drugs and +of varying strengths - and better for those around them, +as it allowed them to live a relatively normal life. +The fundamental question is of freedom. People must +be free to do what they like with their own bodies, but +the freedom of others must not be restricted. Where a +drug effects only the user, like cannabis or LSD, there +can be no excuse for preventing a mature adult from +using it. If a drug effects others, like heroin, alcohol +(indirectly responsible for how many road deaths and +assaults per year?), or nicotine (cigarette smoke is bad +for everyone who breathes it in, not just the smoker), +then we can justify restricting its use to situations where +bystanders are not harmed. In short, then, we call for +the decriminalisation of drugs, to allow people to make +up their own minds on what they will use, and to make +the circumstances under which they make that choice as +safe as possible. + +Ray Cunningham + +1 Though there are very few studies on the effects of +long-term usage. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001364.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001364.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..886fbbe2 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001364.txt @@ -0,0 +1,123 @@ +For Starters + +WE ALL MADE a difference. As the opinion polls +showed support for divorce slipping some feared that +this basic civil right would be defeated again. Then +Patricia McKenna won her High Court case to stop the +government funding the 'yes' side. Meanwhile the +anti-divorce groups were pulling in big money to fund +their propaganda. + +Instead of fatally damaging the 'yes' side, her case had +an unforeseen result. A lot of people who had not +intended to do anything got worried, and then got +stuck in. In the end the good guys won by a whisker. +But, however small the majority, we did win. And +every single person who put leaflets into their +neighbours' letter boxes, stuck up a few posters, talked +to their family & friends... everybody who worked for a +'yes' victory made a difference. Every vote was needed. +So, the next time you wonder if there is any point in +getting involved in campaigns or struggles for change +think of the divorce referendum. Every person has a +contribution to make, and sometimes an extra one or +two people can, literally, make all the difference. + +The fight in our neighbourhoods +WSM members have been involved in the anti-water +charges campaign since its inception. We have helped +organise local meetings, protests at Labour & DL +conferences, pickets of court cases. We have worked to +win trade union support, and assisted in the building a +movement which, in Dublin alone, now has over 8,500 +paid-up members. We have written about it in our +paper and produced a special edition of our Anarchist +News bulletin. Why so much effort? + +Because it is about working class people saying we +refuse to continually foot the bill for everything while +the rich avail of tax amnesties. Because it is about +people taking direct action: getting organised and +refusing to pay the double tax instead of naively relying +on the empty promises of politicians. Because it offers +an opportunity for rebuilding class consciousness and +confidence. That's why! + +As councils move to cut-off the water supply of non- +payers the heat will be turned up as the campaign +protests, obstructs and reconnects. The state will +probably take a more aggressive stance than they have +up to now. One immediate task is to set up local +groups and involve more non-payers in them. Just as +trusting politicians won't win anything, neither will +relying on a relatively small number of activists to +organise events. + +Instead of leaders and followers, we need involvement +- working class people managing their own struggle. +We can turn more supporters into activists, build +strong local groups, and defeat the water tax. Let's do it. + +Another anarchist magazine + +Readers looking for more detailed information and +ideas than we have space for in this paper should get +hold of the Workers Solidarity Movement's magazine, +Red & Black Revolution. Issue no.2, which appeared +recently, carries an exclusive interview with Noam +Chomsky. Here he gives his views on anarchism and +Marxism, and the prospects for socialism. + +Other articles look at Sinn Fein's pan-nationalist +strategy (by Gregor Kerr, a former National Committee +member of the Irish Anti-Extradition Committee), Irish +Travellers' struggles for civil rights and ethnic +recognition (by Travellers' rights activist Patricia +McCarthy), management attacks and union leaders +love of partnership (by SIPTU Regional Committee +member Des Derwin), how single issue campaigns can +get sucked into the system they were set up to oppose +(by former unemployed activist Conor McLoughlin), +what anarchists mean by revolution, the trials and +tribulations of the modern Russian anarchist +movement, and a report from the European libertarian +gathering in Spain last summer. + +Copies can be obtained from shops like Bookworm in +Derry, The Other Place in Cork, Books Upstairs in +Dublin, or direct from the WSM for #1.50 (#2.00 inc. +post & packing). + +Irish anarchist papers + +As well as the WSM's Workers Solidarity, Red & Black +Revolution and Anarchist News, there are two other +anarchist papers being produced in Ireland at present. +These reflect the wider international growth of interest +in anarchism. + +Ainriail +30p+postage from TFC, P.O. Box 102, Galway. + +>From Galway, this aggressive little paper is produced by +The Frontline Collective. This new anarchist group +seems to be making an impact around the city. They +introduced their first issue last year with "if you're one +of those people who've swallowed all the crap about +there being 'no such thing as working class anymore' +or that 'we live in a classless society' then this is the +time to stop reading". + +Organise! (The Voice of Anarcho-Syndicalism) +60p+postage from Organise!, P.O. Box 505, Belfast BT11 +9EE. + +This Belfast-based anarchist-syndicalist bulletin now +appears as a magazine. Vol.2 no.3 includes articles on +whether there can be a left wing loyalism, the 'peace +process', water privatisation, the French government's +nuclear tests, and a review of Ken Loach's film 'Land +and Freedom'. The group producing the magazine +seek to build an alternative to the existing trade +unions, a revolutionary union like the CNT in Spain. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001366.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001366.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..57de5edb --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001366.txt @@ -0,0 +1,134 @@ +Thinking About Anarchism: + +Democracy + +ANARCHISM is about individual freedom. But it is also +about building a society that has a fair system of wealth +distribution. For this reason, anarchists consider themselves +to be democrats. As anarchists we don't believe that other +people can bring about the changes that we need - we believe +that we must do it for ourselves. This means putting in +place a type of decision making system in which all people +can participate in - this is the best way to ensure equality. + +Take one example - work. Under anarchism, the workplace +would be democratic. Unlike now, workers would decide on +the main matters in their own workplace: What type of +work should be done? Where and how? Under what type +of working conditions? Where should the profits from +work go? + +In today's world, it is done the opposite way. Most decisions +about any place of work are taken by the management. +These management's, in turn, are usually appointed by +shareholders - people who do not work. This situation +would not be tolerated in an anarchist society. Matters +concerned with the workplace are for the workers alone to +decide on. Under anarchism it will the workers' assembly +and not the (elected) manager who will be the supreme +authority in any workplace. This will be one of the major +contrasts between today's world and a future anarchist +society. + +Simple + +For some people, this general emphasis on democracy +sounds like a tall order. Many people agree that anarchism +is a good idea, but a fair proportion don't accept that it is a +practical option in today's world. Some people argue that +society is getting more complex all the time. Consequently +the problems facing society are too large - and getting larger - +for your ordinary person on the street to understand, let +alone solve. Anarchist style democracy simply wouldn't +work, it is argued. + +Anarchists recognise these criticisms. While being advocates +of democracy, we are not blind to the problems of human +society, or to the fact that a new society will bring with it new +problems. Our belief in human capacity is very strong, but +we would be the first to accept that a revolutionary society +will have some problems similar to now - competition +between different individuals, or between factories or, even, +between localities over the allocation of supplies. These +differences will have to be accommodated and sorted out, +most importantly, in a peaceful manner. + +Another problem is that lots of people and areas must co- +operate to provide some of the basic services that we depend +on today. For instance, a modern health service relies on +hospital workers, on the ambulance service and on nurses +and doctors. But, also, it relies generally on drugs and +equipment that come from outside the immediate locality. +A revolutionary society will have to provide these services +too. In many ways it will have to provide them in a better +way than they are provided now - given the general +problems of inequality and poverty that cut access to services +under capitalism. How then do anarchists propose to solve +such issues? + +Revolution + +We can learn a lot from past experience. Already, in the last +one hundred years, there has been a good number of +revolutions and near revolutions. Workers have had to face +problems such as these before. Past experience tells us this: + +The operation of most industrial enterprises or social +services is generally understood by the vast majority of its +constituent work force. For instance, the operation of a city +wide transportation service is known to the drivers, +mechanics, etc. who drive and maintain the service. There +is nothing particularly complicated about it. Workers +operate them now and, as is often the case, they have plenty +of ideas on how improve these services further. Moreover, +past experience shows that revolutions usually release a +great deal of human ability and talent that capitalism mostly +shuts out or doesn't bother to avail of. This can be a major +bonus in a revolutionary society. + +A problem area concerns matters traditionally covered by +management under capitalism: co-ordination of work, +future planning, financial budgeting, etc. Under capitalism, +workers are often excluded from these important areas. This +can be a major problem in a revolutionary society - +particularly so in the early, transition period when it is +important to provide the essentials of life. + +The Best Place + +So, there are two problems. The first one is running the +service, whatever that may be. The second is running it in a +democratic way. After the revolution, more people will be +involved in decision making, more people will have a say. +Consequently more interests will have to be taken on board +when decisions are taken. It will no longer be case of saying: +This is the way things are going to be done and you're fired if +you don't agree. Those days will be over for good - +thankfully. + +What do anarchists propose? Our solution to inexperience +is to try and get as much experience as possible - confidence +in one's ability can only be built in that way. This is why +anarchists are such strong advocates of democracy in the +here and now. The best place to gain experience about +organisations and organising is along the road to change. +Here there will be plenty of opportunities to learn. + +In past times this is exactly what has been done - by workers, +by students and by all those fighting back. Building unions, +building for strikes, organising community groups or +building for campaigns is all about working with people and +taking decisions - the very areas that we need to get +experience in. This work requires planning, administration, +budgeting, etc. in abundance. For reasons of experience +alone we should conduct them in a democratic way. That is +what anarchists say. + +Not all problems, of course, can be ironed out on this side of +a revolution, but this is one area in which we can make +inroads now. Just as importantly, it raises the issue of +democracy and what democracy should be about in a world +that mostly ignores it. + +Peter Sullivan + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001367.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001367.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..342f1d53 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001367.txt @@ -0,0 +1,77 @@ +Irish delegation visits Mexican rebels + +AS AN IRISH DELEGATION visits Mexico to better its +knowledge of the struggle there and to express solidarity with +the Zapatista EZLN rebels, Shane O'Curry of the Irish Mexico +Group reminds us that the struggle continues. + +"As representatives from Ireland took part in celebrations on +the second anniversary of the uprising in Chiapas, the EZLN +went in for more talks with the government. Elected +delegates from Zapatista communities have been +participating in the 'National Dialogue'. This dialogue with +the delegates was agreed to by the government after it failed +to crush the uprising in February 1994. + +"The February offensive had proved too costly in terms of +publicity because of the litany of human rights abuses +committed by the federal army. The ruling elite, conscious of +the damage this was doing to Mexico's image as an investor- +friendly market, opted for the softly softly approach. + +"This is not to say that human rights abuses have stopped in +Mexico. In October 1995 Cecilia Rodrigues, an American +national working to co-ordinate international solidarity with +the rebellion, was kidnapped and subjected to multiple rape. +Despite a press conference subsequently held by her in the +United States, this drew little attention from the world's +press. This stresses the importance of public interest and +agitation to stop the situation from sliding back into +unrestrained repression. + +"Despite the repression the Zapatistas remain unequivocal in +their opposition to NAFTA and the US dominated neo- +liberal economic order. NAFTA, they remind us, is a death +sentence for the poor and indigenous of Chiapas and all of +Mexico. Opening the economic floodgates to US and +Canadian capital will wash away what precious little land +they have left. + +"The rebel army which draws its numbers from the very +poorest is ill-equipped and receives no outside financial help. +This is in sharp contrast to the 40,000 American-equipped +federal troops still deployed in the region. But the Zapatistas +have on their side the terrain and the support of their +communities. They also have the support of the millions of +Mexicans tired of electoral fraud, government corruption and +of paying the price of the economic crisis created by the +country's rich. + +"The Zapatistas' strength also lies in their absolute +commitment to grassroots democracy. This is what allowed +them to successfully and credibly hold a National +Convention for Democracy (CND) in rebel-held territory last +year. This was attended by thousands (the 'official' figure +cited by spokesperson Marcos at his inaugural speech was +"one fuck of a lot of people") representing peasants, trade +unions, churches, Non-Governmental Organisations, and so +on. + +"Although the Zapatistas' political programme calls for land, +justice and democracy, at the CND they refrained from +making political demands, preferring to let the forces +attending the conference determine the agenda. This is in +line with their stated belief that the revolution must be +social, not one that can be determined alone by the outcome +of an armed insurrection. + +"They share this anti-elitist view with Anarchists; not +surprising perhaps considering the Zapatista tradition is +influenced by the writings of Mexican Anarchist Ricardo +Flores Magon. As an Anarchist he believed in the right of +the oppressed to defend themselves and their gains through +violence if necessary, but stressed the importance of the social +revolution involving the participation of all, if real change is +to be achieved. The Zapatistas' commitment to the will of +the people may prove to be their only ace as they go in for +this round of talks." diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001368.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001368.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..87052a8c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001368.txt @@ -0,0 +1,141 @@ +Fighting for union rights & better pay +Strike at the Early Learning Centre + +WORKERS AT the Early Learning Centre Toy Shop, in Cork, +have been on strike since early December. Management at +the Cork store, have refused to recognise the workers' union, +Mandate, or to negotiate on pay and conditions. So far the +strikers, all women, have been able to maintain a highly +effective picket on the shop. Workers Solidarity spoke to the +workers in January as the sales got underway. The shop was, +once again, empty of customers. + +-> Over the busy Christmas and New Year period, you have +had a big effect. Few people seem to have passed the picket +line? + +It has been massive. Yeah. We reckon that there has been +over a quarter of a million in losses at the shop, for the sake +of #150 divided by six workers, a week. We're out nearly five +weeks now and it's possible that something will be +happening in the Labour Court. Hopefully they'll do +something in our favour, and that it won't be just for the +employer. + +-> That's the problems with the Labour Court. + +lt's a problem getting anything there. It's a challenge. + +-> How many of you are out on strike? + +Well, there's six of us that work all the time in there, +permanently, but two of the staff that were taken on for the +Christmas came out also, because they wouldn't pass a +picket. + +-> What are you looking for? + +Our main crib, really, is that in six years we've got on +average only 10p per year rise on our hourly rate. If you +came into this job tomorrow, even with no qualifications +and with no experience in retailing, you would get the same +money as any of us. Even those of us who are here for six +years. As well as this, we're two pounds an hour underpaid +to the trade rate in Cork, that's the union rate. We joined +the union in May, and the company won't recognise us. +They refuse to recognise the union. +Basically, there is to be no pay increase this year, and we've +been told by our own manager, inside, that we won't be +getting the next one until 1997. More than likely that will be +under ten pence an hour again. On top of this, we're doing a +lot more than we should as shop assistants. +They expect us to unload the articulated lorries that pull up +with supplies. There could be anything between seven and +ten pallets a week. That stuff has to be taken upstairs. We +have to clean the place and also do the lock-up and security. +We're asked to read course books - distance learning books - +also, once a month. There's nothing extra for any of that. + +-> There's also the issue of pensions? + +All the British workers are in their pension scheme. We're +here six years. They say it's very hard for an Irish pension +company to take us on and that the tax system here is a bit +different to theirs. Excuses. Being fobbed off again. +Also, everything is set by sales targets and they're set +artificially. They've opened shops in Limerick and +Waterford recently, lets say, on both sides of us here in Cork. +So in Cork, obviously, we've lost customers to both +Waterford and Limerick - people that would previously +have shopped here. But, then, they keep upping the targets +for this store here, which means you can't achieve them. +You don't get a bonus, you don't get a wage increase, because +you're not making this target all the time. But the target has +never actually come down, even though they've opened +these other stores. No allowance is made for that. That kind +of thing. + +-> Who is setting these targets? Is it management in the +shop in Cork? + +Personnel management within the stores itself. It would +actually be set from Swindon in England, at Head Office. +They set them for each individual store. Each shop gets a +budget every year to work through. That's being kept down +all the time. Bonuses come from that. You get nothing as a +result. +I got one bonus - #8 for a year's work, and my next one was +#32 for another year's work, before tax and PRSI! You get +nothing at Christmas, just one card between everybody in +the shop. A mass-produced card. Your name isn't even +mentioned on it. + +-> And what about The Early Learning Centre Toy Shops? Is +it a big company? + +There's two hundred and nine shops in the chain. They are +a multinational. + +-> You mentioned they had other shops in Ireland? + +They have a massive problem with staff turnover +everywhere. It got so bad in England that they had to an +'Exit' interview - which means you have to give your +reasons for why you are leaving. They know there is a +problem. But they don't want to listen either. Look at the +reasons we have here. We're here six years. The job +situation here is different to in England. You can walk out +more easily there. It doesn't work like that in this country. +You just have one job. + +-> The picket has been well supported by the public. What +other support have you got? + +It was a very bad time to go out. Christmas is a very rushed +time of the year. And, in fairness, people from Marks & +Spencer came over to us with collections and things like +that, and we really appreciate that. Dunnes Stores and +Roches Stores staff also held collections at Christmas for us. +We appreciate that. We also like to thank the people from +Socialist Worker, who've been great bringing coffee and tea. +And even a few people in the street - it may only be a pound +or two - but they say, here get a cup of coffee. Fantastic. It +was worth a million pounds to us. + +You are forbidden to join the picket + +SHORTLY AFTER the strike began at the Early +Learning Centre, workers at the nearby Marks & +Spencer (M&S) branch, on Patrick's Street in Cork, +said they would join the picket during their lunch +break to show their support for the strikers. +Management at the Early Learning Centre found out +about this. They contacted their own Head Office in +Swindon, who, in turn, contacted M&S's Head Office, +also in England. M&S in England then sent a memo +to the M&S shop in Cork ordering the workers there +not to join the picket at the Early Learning Centre. +Who says the bosses don't stand together? The M&S +workers, in Cork, told their own management where +to get off - they joined the picket! + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001369.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001369.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e663e92e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001369.txt @@ -0,0 +1,191 @@ +The Spanish Revolution + +A new world in their hearts + +"You feel that, had there been a documentary crew on the +battlefields of Spain in the thirties this is what they would +have brought back" + +So said 'Hot Press' about Ken Loach's excellent film "Land +and Freedom". Yet the version of the conflict in Spain +peddled by the school history books bears no resemblance to +this 'documentary'. The revolution in Spain is portrayed +simply as a civil war fought between democracy and +fascism. + +"Land and Freedom" goes some way towards redressing +this, but even here you have to look hard to see any +evidence that there were anarchists in Spain at the time. In +fact, the Anarcho-Syndicalist Confederation Nacional de +Trabajo or CNT had almost two million members, and they +had a profound influence on the Spanish social revolution. + +Anarchism had (and still has) a long tradition in Spain. +This goes right back to the middle of the last century, 1869 +to be precise, when the anarchist ideas of Michael Bakunin +were first brought to Spain by the Italian Guiseppe Fanelli. +Anarchism developed rapidly in the harsh economic +conditions prevailing in Spain at the time. + +1911 saw the formation of the CNT. This was an Anarcho- +Syndicalist union. They hoped to organise all workers into +one big union and bring about anarchism through a +revolutionary general strike. In its day to day activity the +union put into action the anarchist principles of direct +action and direct democracy. All delegates and +representatives weresubject to being mandated and recalled +if they did not carry through their mandates. + +Strikes and repression + +The CNT experienced rapid growth. Its strongholds were in +Catalonia (especially Barcelona) and Andalucia. It also had +a large following in the Asturias, Levant, Saragossa and +Madrid. It organised militant strikes and protests including +several city wide and national strikes. For most of its +history it was subject to vicious government repression, not +only under the semi-dictatorship in power until 1931, but +also under the republican and popular front governments +which followed. This included the 1936 popular front +government. + +Franco's coup began in July 1936. The government had +been warned that a military uprising was about to occur but +refused to take the warnings seriously. The Prime Minister +Casares Quiroga reportedly replied to one such warning + +"By which you mean you are sure that the military will +rise? Very well then, but for my part, I am going to have a +lie down.." + +This rather pathetic attempt at humour sums up the +attitude of the government. The parties of the popular +front reacted in a similarly complacent fashion. The +communist and socialist parties issued this joint note + +"The moment is a difficult one. The government is sure +that it possesses sufficient means to crush this criminal +attempt." + +Taking arms + +The government refused to arm the workers. Workers +armed themselves. The CNT broke out its own arms (that +it had been saving for just such a rainy day) and organised +detachments to seize barracks and arsenals before the +military could link up and consolidate. Over most of +northern and central Spain they beat the fascists and the +army with whatever arms came to hand. + +There is absolutely no doubt that the initial response to +Franco's coup was due to the deep implantation of +anarchist ideas among Spanish workers. There was no +waiting around for the government to act (and just as well +too). Workers beat the coup and moved to take control. + +Anarchist influence was everywhere from the formation of +the militias and the expropriation and collectivisation of +land to the seizures in industry. The smashing of the +military coup was like the bursting of a dam, releasing a +surging human tide of imagination and creativity. + +Throughout "republican" Spain anarchist ideas inspired a +transformation. This transformation would take a far +longer article then this to describe and, indeed, has been the +subject of several large books. However a few examples +will at least give a flavour of the times. + +On the Land + +In the short space of a few years the small peasants and +agricultural labourers demonstrated that, far from chaos, +anarchism was an efficient, desirable and realisable method +of running things. There were unprecedented levels of +voluntary collectivisation throughout the land on the anti- +fascist side. Gaston Level (in his book "Collectives in the +Spanish Civil War") puts the numbers involved as high as +5-7 million people. + +Collectivisation occurred much as described in "Land and +Freedom". After the major landowners had split, a village +assembly was held. If a decision to collectivise was taken all +individually owned land and machinery was brought +together for the use of the entire collective. Teams were +formed to look after various areas of work and each elected +recallable delegates to a village assembly. Individuals were, +however, able to remain outside the collective and keep +their own property if they wished, though they were +forbidden from hiring labourers to work their land. Most +of these people eventually joined, their reservations +disappearing in the face of the visible successes of the +collectives. + +To distribute the common stock of goods, rationing or a +family wage was brought in. Given the low level of +production at the time it was impossible to go straight to +communist distribution (i.e. free goods for all). But there +was a major increase in living standards with more of a say +for everyone and many free services. + +A Tale of Seven Hundred Trams + +Industrial collectivisation was extensive especially in the +anarchist stronghold, Barcelona. As George Orwell put it in +"Homage to Catalonia" + +"It was the first time that I had ever been in a town where +the working class was in the saddle." + +About 3000 enterprises in the city were collectivised. The +tram system provides a shining example of just how much +better we can run things when we do struggle up into that +saddle. + +On July 24th, five days after the rising was crushed, the +tram crews got together and decided to run the whole +system themselves. A committee was elected. They quickly +introduced many changes. Within another 5 days 700 +trams were in service. 100 trams had been patched up and +rushed into service. The major reason for the quick repair +job was the re-employment of 657 laid off tram-men. + +Putting people first + +With the profit motive gone, safety became more +important and the number of accidents was reduced. A +new automatic safety and signalling system was introduced. +Sections of track were repaired and re-laid. + +The old fares had varied from 0.1 to 0.4 pesetas. A new +standard fare of 0.2 pesetas was introduced. Yet more +money was made (and ploughed back in) and an extra 50 +million passengers were carried. Wages were equalised for +all workers (which meant an increase for most) and there +was free medical care for all workers in the city. + +Perhaps the most amazing fact is that over the two years of +collectivisation there were only 6 cases of workers caught +stealing from the workshop. + +What went wrong? + +The factors involved in the defeat of the revolution would +take an article in themselves to explain, ranging from the +military power of the fascists (and their outside aid) to the +betrayals by the communists and social democrats, and this +is not my purpose here. What is important is that the +social revolution did not collapse due to internal problems +or flaws in human nature. It was defeated from without. +Anarchism had not failed. Anarchists had proved that +ideas which look good in the pages of theory books look +even better on the canvas of life. + + + +Conor McLoughlin + + + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001370.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001370.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1b0490c2 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001370.txt @@ -0,0 +1,80 @@ +TRAVELLERS NO TO SHANTY SITES AND BULLY- +BOY COUNCILS + +Travellers and their supporters held a protest on +December 10th last year. The march was against the +Dublin local authorities' policy of herding Travellers +into primitive temporary sites and forced removal of +Travellers into these officially constructed shanty +towns. Temporary sites have no electricity, no showers +or baths, no fire precautions or public phones and are +all situated in isolated areas or beside motorways, +surrounded by high walls or mounds of earth. The +following report was issued by the Dublin +Accommodation Coalition with Travellers: + +"Local Authorities are responsible for bringing many +Travellers to an early grave by forcing them into +"temporary sites" that lack the most basic facilities. +These officially planned and sanctioned shanty towns +contribute to the third world nature of Travellers' +health profile. Only two out of every hundred +Travellers live to see 65 years of age. The infant +mortality rate is three times the national average. + +Local authorities are charged with the provision of +decent healthy accommodation and they have failed +miserably, and not only have they failed to provide it, +they are deliberately sanctioning these "temporary" site +death traps and then herding, bullying, intimidating +and evicting Travellers to force them into them. In the +most heavy handed way, they are reneging on the spirit +if not the letter of many court judgements using tactics +that the Ku Klux Klan would be proud of, arriving at +dawn to bulldoze Traveller men, women and children +out of camps." + +Thus spoke Thomas McCann at the protest march +which was organised by the Dublin Accommodation +Coalition for Travellers in Dublin city centre to mark +the U.N. International Day for Human Rights. The +march culminated outside the Dail with Santa +delivering ten small white coffins, representing the +temporary sites in the Dublin area, to the seat of power +and responsibility. + +"In 1986 the ESRI said that 'the living circumstances of +Irish travellers are intolerable. No humane and decent +society, once made aware of these circumstances, would +allow them to persist.' It's 1995 and not only do they +persist, they're getting worse," said Gearoid O Riain. +"What does this tell us about Irish society? John Bruton +and his government colleagues were all stressing +recently, in another debate, the need to respect +minorities in Ireland and the need to provide for +minorities. We couldn't have said it better ourselves, +John. Now let's start seeing some of this respect for +Travellers." + +"Christmas is a time for peace and solidarity, a time for +children and families, a time for reunions and +celebrations. And it's time to focus on the living +circumstances of one of Ireland's most excluded groups +- Travellers. For many Travellers it's a miserable time, +a time when the sense of not being wanted is most +obvious. 1,200 Traveller families are living in +appalling conditions, lacking basic facilities such as +clean water and toilets. + +It's time to stop evictions. It's time for residents' +associations to live and let live. It's time for the +government to set about achieving its own target of +providing enough sites by the year 2000. It's time to +speed up implementation of the recommendations in +the Task Force report. It's time to stop herding +Travellers into large "temporary" sites which are unfit +for human living. It's time for all decent citizens to +show solidarity and support for Travellers' rights," said +John O'Connell. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001371.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001371.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d273275c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001371.txt @@ -0,0 +1,167 @@ +Stuff the Water Charges + +1995 WILL BE seen as the beginning of the end for the +hated double taxation water charges in Dublin and +throughout the country. For the first time in almost a +decade, the year closed without a single water +disconnection for non-payment in the entire country. +This fact is a tremendous tribute to the hundreds of +campaign activists who have been busy fighting the +charges for almost two years in Dublin and for much +longer in many other areas. As the campaign faces into +the new year, much remains to be done but great heart +can be taken from the successes of the last number of +months. + +When the first summonses for non-payment of the +charges dropped through letterboxes in Firhouse, +Rathfarnham and Templeogue in late October/early +November, it was exactly what campaigners had been +waiting for. Since the formation of the current +government (December '94) and certainly since the +passing of legislation "delimiting" the power of County +Councils to disconnect water (in early June '95), anti- +water charge campaigners had known that these court +cases were on the way. + +Over the summer months and into early autumn, the +campaign had established an office in the centre of +Dublin (in a room given by the Amalgamated +Transport and General Workers Union - a true example +of solidarity in action), had installed a 24-hour +emergency hotline number and had launched a +membership drive to finance a Legal Defence Fund. + +Tremendous response + +The campaign pledge to resist the Councils' attempts to +browbeat people into paying, to defend non-payers in +court and to prevent disconnections if any were ordered +met with a tremendous response from the residents of +the 3 County Council areas. By the time the first +summonses arrived, almost 6,000 households had paid +their #2 membership and this figure was to rise to over +8,000 by the end of the year. As 1996 begins, the +membership will continue to be built in new areas and +among new contacts. Without a doubt this is the +biggest campaign to have happened in Dublin for many +many years. + +The first batch of summonses were for a court +appearance at Rathfarnham courthouse on Thursday +November 16th. Within minutes of the first of these +being received the campaign hotline was buzzing and +the resistance was under way. In the two weeks prior to +this first court hearing, public meetings were held +throughout South Dublin, Fingal and Dun +Laoghaire/Rathdown - some of them attended by over +200 people, many by at least 100. At these meetings, +local campaign groups and residents' associations +pledged their support for those who had been +summonsed, and organised delegations of local people +to travel to the protest outside the court on November +16th. + +The atmosphere outside the court on 16th November +was electric. The 40+ campaign members who were +due to have their cases heard were represented by the +campaign legal team and were supported by a 500 strong +crowd of noisy protesters. Banners and placards on +display showed that people had travelled from places as +far apart as Swords and Dun Laoghaire. + +Representatives of the anti-service charge campaign in +Waterford were present to demonstrate their solidarity +and messages of support were received from Clonmel, +Cork, Galway, Limerick and many other places where +double taxation service charges have been fought for +nearly a decade. Banners representing the Dublin +Council of Trade Unions, the ATGWU, printers, +bricklayers, and other unions were also visible, as were +representatives of the Association of Combined +Residents Associations (ACRA) and the National +Association of Tenants Organisations (NATO). + +Following lengthy legal arguments during which the +chanting and singing protesters could be clearly heard +in the courtroom, the judge decided to adjourn the +cases to the following week to consider the legal points +raised. Already the campaign had had a victory. South +Dublin County Council had expected to have almost 50 +disconnection orders issued against non-paying +households, instead they had witnessed a much bigger +protest than they had thought the campaign was +capable of organising and the subsequent publicity in +the national and local media would obviously be seen +as a setback for their attempts to enforce the charges. + +A week later Rathfarnham courthouse saw an equally +big protest. As protesters were interviewed live on the +Gay Byrne Show for RTE Radio, all of the cases which +had been adjourned from the previous week were +thrown out of court when the Council found +themselves tied up in legal knots with regard to +proving who owned the houses and who consumed +the water. It was a tremendous victory for the +campaign and a demonstration of the fact that people +power, in terms of the huge demonstrations on both +occasions, did have an effect. A further 100 cases called +by South Dublin County Council for November 23rd +and 30th were adjourned to mid-January as Council +officials found their strategy in disarray. + +Meanwhile Fingal and Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown +County Councils tried their hand as summonses +arrived for court appearances in Swords, Balbriggan and +Dun Laoghaire. Again the campaign organised support, +and again the response from members and supporters +was brilliant. Unfortunately a small number of those +summoned to Balbriggan and to Dun Laoghaire failed +to either contact the campaign or show up in court. As +a result disconnection orders were made against these +people. These orders have however since been +appealed to the Circuit Court. + +On Wednesday January 10th, the campaign received a +further boost when Judge Peter Smithwick ruled in +Dun Laoghaire court that in cases of joint ownership +the Council must notify both parties of their intention +to seek a disconnection order. The logical consequence +of this is that both parties should also be billed ,and be +sent all warning and reminder notices. This could yet +turn into a bureaucratic nightmare for the Councils! + +As the campaign faces into the coming phase, care must +be taken not to allow court appearances to consume all +of our time and resources. While it is obviously +important that non-payers are defended in court, we +must remember that the courts are there to protect the +interests of the state. We must also bear in mind the +fact that even if we do get a lucky break in terms of a +favourable court judgement, it is very easy for the +politicians to change the relevant piece of legislation. +Such a "lucky break" is therefore likely to be of a very +temporary nature. + +It is extremely important that over the next couple of +months the campaign is strengthened at local level, +that local action groups are established in all areas and +that local activists are in constant contact with one +another. This is necessary in order to build the sort of +on-the-ground solidarity which will be absolutely vital +if disconnections are to be resisted. The water charges +will not be defeated from an office in central Dublin. +Nor will they be defeated by frantic activism on the part +of a few. Victory will come from community solidarity +and self-activity on the part of local campaigners. + +The campaign's immediate task must be the +establishment of these local action groups. Without +them the victory which can be ours will be more +difficult to achieve. + +Gregor Kerr + +Contact the Federation of Dublin Anti Water Charge +Campaigns by ringing Gregor Kerr at 4947025 or Joe +Higgins at 8201753. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001372.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001372.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d39fc1c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001372.txt @@ -0,0 +1,407 @@ +Title: DIVORCE..Undermining the family? + +Published: Workers Solidarity Movement + +Published : 1986, 1995 + +Six years ago, on June 3rd 1980, Noel Browne TD introduced a +bill into the Dail for a referendum on divorce. when it came +to a vote only one TD stood up - Noel Browne. All the +`liberals' of Labour and Fine Gael behaved as if they were +stuck to their seats with superglue. Despite having paper +policies in favour of divorce hidden away in a back office +somewhere they were scared to actually do anything. The +bishops were watching them! + +Marriages were breaking down, at that time 8,000 women +were receiving deserted wives benefit. And that was only the +tip of the iceberg. Many more men and women were stuck in +relationships that had collapsed but felt unable to make a +final break because of social attitudes and the fact that they +didn't have enough money to live without the support of a +`breadwinner'. + +Because thousands of couples have now openly declared their +position, because support for access to divorce has become +increasingly visible the politicians have had a rethink. Maybe +there are more votes in supporting a change than they had +first thought. Maybe the bishops' power is not as strong as it +was. And anyway the Coalition parties can hardly fight the +next election on their economic record, so try a pinch of born- +again liberalism. + +Anarchists support those who want the freedom to legally +end their marriages. We have no time for those mealy +mouthed liberals who would allow divorce but only under +strict conditions. Why should anyone have to prove to a +court that they have been separated for at least five years? +Marriage is entered into by signing a book in a church or +registry office. Ending it should be just as simple. We +support divorce at the request of one partner. + +We are told this is out of the question as the children will +suffer. This argument is an insult to those of even the +meanest intelligence. Are we really to believe that children +are better off in a situation of unhappiness, tension and +sometimes downright cruelty? Would they not be better off +with one loving parent than with two who find themselves +in a situation of ongoing conflict. + +The next argument thrown up by the Right is that it will +weaken the family. It would be dishonest to deny this. The +concept of "till death us do part" will be weakened, and with +each weakening more people will ask a question much larger +than "why divorce?!- that question will be "why marriage?" + +Marriage means asking the church or the state to make your +relationship "official", why should we feel it necessary to get +the sanction of a priest or a civil servant - are we not capable +of ordering our own lives in a responsible manner? + +We say that people should he able to live with whoever they +wish without any fear of discrimination or secondary status. +The only social obligation there should be on couples is to +exercise responsibility and show love to any children they +bring into the world. + +This pamphlet does not attempt to put forward all the +arguments for allowing divorce. That has been done +elsewhere It sets out to address two issues that have emerged +in the debate. Firstly, is getting the ban out of the constitution +and enacting a law allowing divorce enough to allow an +escape for those women whose marriages have died? +Secondly, what is the "family" the Right have mobilised to +defend? Are we tampering with a "natural institution" or are +they wrong? + +1. Escape + +We all have the right to travel to India, the right to own an +expensive yacht, the right to drive a Rolls Royce. Of course +most of us will never go to India for our holidays, sail around +the bay in a yacht or drive over to see friends in a Rolls Royce. +But we have the right to do so. There is no law saying we +can't. + +We can't exercise these `rights' because we are not rich. They +are meaningless. You might as well tell a starving man that +he has the right to life because there' is no law ordering him +to die. + +So what will the right to divorce mean? Apart from having +to wait at least five years there is the question of money. The +cost will not be so great as to stop anyone going to court, after +all they will have half a decade to save for it. But there is +another cost. + +Many women whose marriages are effectively finished stay +with their husbands because they have no other alternative. +They have to depend on him to provide rent, clothes, food for +themselves and their children. Living for any length of time +on social welfare payments is a living death. The money will +get you by in terms of food and minor expenses. The +problems start when the bigger bills come in or you have to +buy dearer items like furniture. The payments are not +enough. + +If the woman can find a job it will usually be a low paid one. +Unless she lives close to her mother or friends who are +willing to mind her children while she goes out to work, she +will end up paying a large chunk of her wages for child care. +Back to square one, + +OF course some women will have to make the break no +matter what the cost. Others will be able to build a new life +for themselves. But nobody can deny that there are many +women who have no choice but to stay where they are. These +women will not come in large numbers from Foxrock or +Montonotte. Legislation, like anything else, reflects the class +division in society. That is why there is no mention of +providing the conditions whereby working class women can +freely choose. + +But what about alimony? Having the Courts grant a share of +a #60,00O income is grand....but your ex-husband would have +to be a businessman or a professional. What will alimony +mean for the ex-wife of a worker on #130 a week or the ex- +wife of unemployed man? Those who are doing alight at the +moment will be looked after to at least some extent. But most +working class women will be relegated to an existence on the +poverty line. + +Should we call for alimony payments anyway? Men should +have to take some of the responsibility for their children but +that is not what we are talking about. Alimony is not a +payment towards looking after children. It is based on the +notion that a woman must always be provided for by a man, +it only ends when or if the woman remarries. It ends when +the woman becomes the responsibility of another man, we +reject this backward and sexist thinking. + +Women should have the right to an independent life, they +should not be forced into dependence. That is why the fight +to make divorce a real option has to be connected to the fight +for decent welfare payments, for an end to the barriers that +prevent women working outside the home, for good child +care facilities, for an end to all discrimination. + +At the end of the day it is only in a society of equality that +there can be a meaningful choice. Any change short of this, +while very welcome, is only a half-measure. + +2. The Family + +Divorce which is a source of much hope to women who are +unhappy in their married life, simultaneously frightens other +women, particularly those who have been accustomed to +considering their husband as the `provider', the sole support +in life. + +It is generally thought that the family is a `natural' and +unchanging institution. Many people believe that the love, +warmth and security family life provides are sufficient +compensation for any disadvantages. It is often said that a bad +family is better than a good institution. + +This opinion has had great influence on the ruling class what +passes for a Welfare State has been even more reluctant -3 +provide good institutions than to provide help for families +who need support. It is, of course, nonsense. + +Nobody knows how many battered wives there are but we do +know that the number of places in womens' aid refuges +cannot satisfy the needs we do know about. Over half of all +women murder victims in Britain are killed by the men they +live with, we have no reason to suppose it is not the same +here. Ask the ISPCC about child battering, ask the Rape crisis +Centres about the recently uncovered incidence of incest. + +The small family household can be a boiling cauldron of +intense emotions focused on a few people. Hate as well as +love, selfishness as well as caring, competition as well as +sharing. And the lid is screwed down ever more tightly by the +modern notions of privacy. As we have smaller households, +less contact with other relatives and neighbours, and more +indoor entertainment's, it is no wonder that family +explosions can be so terrible. + +This is not to say that all or even most families are teetering +on the brink of self-destruction but it does raise the question +of can we do better? + +First of all let us be very clear that there is no `natural law' +governing the family, nothing to say that things cannot +change. Human history shows that, as the means of +production and social order change, so does the way we relate +to each other. The modern nuclear family is a relatively new +relationship. + +In primitive societies the level of technology was low and +there was no surplus product to be taken by a non working +section of society. There was an elementary division of +labour. The men went out hunting while the women +worked in the fields and looked after the children. In large +part this seems to be due to the impossibility of leaving +behind babies being breastfed or of bringing them on hunting +expeditions. + +In these societies "group marriage" was common. As a result +it was difficult or impossible to know the father of any +particular child. Such societies are called 'matriarchal' +because the line of descent was acknowledged in terms of the +mother. + +With improvements in technology (the discovery of copper +and bronze, the manufacture of tools, the development of +new methods of raising crops and rearing cattle) it soon +became possible for "two arms to produce more than one +mouth could consume". War and the capture of slaves +became possible and worthwhile. + +The economic role of the men in the tribe changed to a degree +that it was no longer in keeping with their equal social status. +As wealth increased it gave the man a more important status +than the woman and it encouraged him to use this +strengthened position to overthrow the traditional system of +inheritance in favour of his children. But this was impossible +as long as descent in terms of mothers prevailed. + +A profound `change took place, probably spread over many +centuries. The men gradually became the dominant sex, both +economically and socially. Women became a commodity to +be exchanged for weapons or cattle. With further changes in +production, a very definite surplus was being produced. +Those who had access to this, the ruling group among the +men, sought to institutionalise their right to it as their +`private property' and to leave part of it to their descendants. + +But before they could do this they had to know who their +descendants were. Hence the appearance of the first family, of +monogamous marriage and of a sexual morality that stressed +female chastity and which demanded virginity before +marriage and faithfulness during it. Female adultery become +a crime punishable by death because it allows doubts to arise +as to the legitimacy of the descendants. + +A whole philosophy and set of social customs then emerged +to justify this and portray it as natural. The sacred texts of the +Hindus limit womens access to freedom and to material +belongings. Pythagoras reflected the view of ancient Greece +when he said "a good principle created good, order and man - +and a bad principle created darkness, chaos and woman". The +fathers of the Christian church soon put down the early hopes +for emancipation that had led many women to martyrdom. +Saint Paul states that "man was not created for woman, but +woman for man " Saint John Chrysostome proclaims that +"among all wild beasts, none are as dangerous as women ". +According to Saint Thomas Aquinas "woman is destined to +live under man's domination and has no authority of her +own right". + +These attitudes were perpetuated by the dominant ideology of +the Middle Ages and even into recent times. The poet Milton +in `Paradise Lost' wrote that "man was made for God and +woman was made for man". Nietzsche calls her the +"warriors' pastime". Kaiser Wilhelm II defined a role for +women (later echoed by the Nazis) as "Kirche, Kuche, +Kinder" (Church, Kitchen, Children), + +So we see that the origin of the family lies in the +appropriation of the means of creating wealth by a small +minority of rulers, and their need to pass it on to their +descendants so that this wealth didn't become too dispersed. +As in all societies the ideas of the dominant class became the +dominant ideas in society as a whole. + +Therefore there is no need for us to be afraid of the idea of +change. The family is changing. There are more single +parent families. For some this is a deliberate choice but for +others it is anything but. Most single mothers are young +women who, faced with no future apart from the dole, find +that having a baby is the only adult occupation open to them. +Because of social attitudes and financial pressures they find +themselves worse off than married mothers, and many marry +later as the only way to improve their position. + +More couples live together without getting married than ever +before, though this is not a new idea. For all the changes +occurring the family survives. It continues to exist because it +is the most convenient way of reproducing and caring for the +workforce in a capitalist society. No government is going to +spend millions on alternative care - community restaurants, +laundries, nurseries, etc. - and if they did we can be sure they +would be miserable and regimented institutions because they +were planned from above for cost cutting and maintaining +state control. + +The family continues to exist for two main reasons. The first +is that it's the way `private property' is transmitted within the +ruling class. In Western capitalism it is done through +inheritance. In state capitalist countries like Russia the +privileges of the ruling bureaucracy are passed on to their +children through better education and job opportunities. East +or West we are told that you get where you are by individual +effort but in each case the family reinforces existing class +divisions. + +Secondly, for all its faults, family life is a haven from a harsh +world. It offers a sense of belonging, of security. + +How can we live in way that is freeer and more equal? The +family can only disappear when people choose to live +differently. There can no question of banning it or +`abolishing' it. We say this not because we believe this to be +impossible (which it would be) but because if the alternative +is better people will take it up, if it isn't they won't. We do +not set ourselves up as dictators who will decide what is good +for everyone else. Our task is to offer an alternative which +can stand on its own merits. + +Only an anarchist society, with its socialist plan of production, +workers control and love of freedom, can offer a better way of +life because it would respond to human needs instead of the +race for profits. + +Some people already feel they are happier outside a +conventional marriage/family situation, and think that if +enough other people followed their example a new lifestyle +would replace the old one. That is alight for those who can +afford it. It is much easier for people with well-paid +professional jobs to run their lives differently, to pay for child +care, to arrange their home life in a more satisfying way, and +even afford to eat out more often rather than slave over a hot +cooker. (It is also possible for people on the dole to do some +of these things..if they don't have children and don't mind +the limits set on what they can do by a lack of money). For +the vast majority of working class people these alternatives +are just not available. + +That is why most of us can't opt out and try something new. +That is why we say that a real choice is only possible within +the context of an anarchist/socialist society. + +And it is a choice that we propose. Those who wish to carry +on in the old way will be free to do so, those who wish a +change will have that possibility and those, probably the +majority, who want a mix of the old and new will be able to +avail of just that. + +So what are these alternatives? We are not in the business of +drawing up blueprints for the future, what actually happens +will be decided by people in the post-revolutionary situation. +But we cannot either make no proposals. We are not +incapable of seeing possibilities. + +At present the wives of the rich are free from household +duties. Why should all women not enjoy the same freedom? +There could be free, pleasant restaurants in every locality. +This does not mean drab canteens serving steamed food at +every meal, it means good food in nice surroundings. This +would mean that cooking at home becomes just another +option, something you do if you want to, and not a ritual +chore. + +Play groups and creches for children would be provided. +Bright, fun filled places staffed by workers who have chosen +to do that work because they enjoy it. Instead of mothers and +children being cooped up in the house all the day, children +can be with others of their own age in happy and safe +surroundings. Mothers will have time to get out of the house +and live their own lives. This would relieve much of the +tension that exists in the home. today. + +Women will be free to work outside the home without +having to pay through the nose for babysitters and without +having to constantly worry if their children are alright. + +Does this mean that children will be forcibly taken away from +their mothers? Of course not. what it does mean is that +society will guarantee a decent life for all parents and child. It +will offer all the facilities required for the well-being of both. +But if a mother chooses to stay at home 24 hours a day with +her child, society will also grant whatever support she needs. +The same would apply to a father who wishes to take such a +role in raising his child. + +Because society will refuse to swallow the line that the +individual family must be left isolated to manage as best it +can without anymore than the most minimal outside aid, +everything can change. Women will no longer fear being left +without support if their husband deserts. There will be no +more anxiety about the fate of the children. + +Couples who decide to live together will no longer be +governed by worry about social attitudes or money +calculations This free union will be based only on love and +the desire to make each other happy. + +Anarchism stands for a new relationship between the sexes. +In place of legal marriage based on the secondary status of +women we shall see the free union of two individuals, equal +in their rights and obligations fortified by love and mutual +respect. This new way for people to relate to each other will +give to humanity, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, +all the joys of so-called free love, joys which under capitalism +rarely exist outside the covers of the story book. + +WSM, PO Box 1528, Dublin 8, Ireland diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001373.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001373.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4688099a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001373.txt @@ -0,0 +1,197 @@ +Title: Emma Goldman + +Based on talk given by Kathleen O'Kelly to Workers +Solidarity Movement branch meeting in 1994. + +Emma Goldman was born in 1869 in a Jewish ghetto in +Russia where her family ran a small inn. When she was 13 +the family moved to St Petersburg. It was just after the +assassination of Alexander II and so was a time of political +repression. The Jewish community suffered a wave of +pogroms. The severe economic hardship of the time meant +that Emma Goldman had to leave school after six months in +St Petersburg and work in a factory. + +It was here that Goldman secured a copy of Cherychevsky's +'What is to be done' in which the heroine Vera is converted +to nihilism and lives in a world of equality between sexes +and co-operative work. The book offered an embryonic +sketch of Goldman's later anarchism and also strengthened +her determination to live her life in her own way. + +At 15 her father tried to marry her off but she refused. It was +eventually agreed that the rebellious child should go to +America with a half sister to join another sister in Rochester. +Goldman quickly realised that for a Jewish immigrant, +America was not the land of opportunity that had been +promised. America, for Goldman meant slums and +sweatshops where she earned her living as a seamstress. + +What initially drew Goldman to anarchism was the outcry +that followed the Haymarket Square tragedy in 1886 in +Chicago. After a bomb had been thrown into a crowd of +police during a workers' rally for the 8 hour day. Four +anarchists were eventually hanged. Convicted on the +flimsiest evidence; the judge at the trial openly declared; +"Not because you caused the Haymarket bomb, but because +you are Anarchists, you are on trial." + +Emma Goldman had followed the event intensely and as the +day on the day of the hanging she decided to become a +revolutionary. By this time Goldman was 20 and had been +married for 10 months to a Russian immigrant. The +marriage had not worked out so she divorced him and +moved to New York. + +Here, she befriended Johann Most, the editor of a German +language anarchist paper. He quickly decided to make +Goldman his protege and sent her on a speaking tour. Most +instructed Goldman to condemn the in adequacy of a +campaign for the eight hour day. Rather he argued we must +demand the complete overthrow of capitalism. Campaigns +for the eight hour day were merely a diversion. Goldman +duly conveyed this message at her public meetings. +However, in Buffalo, she was challenged by an old worker +who asked "What were man of his age to do? They were not +likely to see the ultimate overthrow of the capitalist system. +Were they also to forego the release of perhaps two hours a +day form the hated work ? " + +>From this encounter Goldman realised that specific efforts +for improvement such as higher wages and shorter hours, +far from being a diversion were part of the revolutionary +transformation of society. + +Goldman began to distance herself from Most and became +more interested in a rival German anarchist journal 'Die +Autonomie' Here she was introduced to the writings of +Kropotkin. She sought to balance the inclination of human +beings towards the socialsability and mutual aid which Peter +Kropotkin stressed with her own strong belief in the +Freedom of the individual. This belief in personal freedom +is highlighted in the story where Goldman was taken aside at +a dance by a young revolutionary and told it did not become +an agitator to dance. Goldman wrote "I insisted that our +cause could not expect me to behave as a nun and that the +movement should not be turned into a cloister. If it meant +that, I did not want it. I want freedom, the right to self +expression, everybody's right to beautiful, radiant things." + +In the early days Goldman supported the idea of propaganda +by deed. In 1892, together with Alexander Berkman she +planned the assassination of Henry Clay Finch, who has +suppressed strikes in the Homestead Pennsylvania factory +with armed guards. She even tried unsuccessfully to work as +a prostitute to raise money for the gun. They believed that +by killing a tyrant, a representative of a cruel system, the +consciousness of the people would be aroused. This didn't +happen. + +Berkman only managed to injure Finch and was sentenced +to 22 years in prison. Goldman tried to explain and justify +the attempted assassination insisting that true morality deals +with the motives not the consequences. Her time in post- +revolutionary Russian meant that she re-assessed this belief +that the end justifies the means but I'll come to that later. + +Her defence of Berkman made Goldman a marked woman +and her lectures were regularly disrupted by the authorities. +In 1893 she was arrested for allegedly urging the unemployed +to take bread 'by force' and was given a year in Blackwells +Island penitentiary. + +She was imprisoned a second time for distributing birth +control literature , but her longest sentence resulted from her +involvement in setting up 'No Conscription' leagues and +organising rallies against the first world war. Goldman and +Berkman were arrested in 1917 for conspiring to obstruct the +draft and given two years. Afterwards they were stripped of +their citizenship and deported along with other undesirable +'Reds' to Russia. J. Edgar Hoover, who directed her +deportation hearing called her "one of the most dangerous +women in America." + +The plus side to deportation meant that Goldman got a free +ticket to Russia where she was able to witness the Russian +Revolution at first hand. Goldman had been prepared to +bury the hatchet of mans conflict with anarchism in the 1st +international and support the Bolsheviks . However, in 1919 +as Goldman and Berkman travelled thoughout the country +they were horrified by the increased bureaucracy, political +persecution and forced labour they found. The breaking +point came in 1921 when the Kronstadt sailors and soldiers +rebelled against the Bolsheviks and sided with the workers +on strike. They were attacked and crushed by Trotsky and +the Red Army. On leaving Russia in December 1921, +Goldman set down her findings on Russia in two works - +'My Disillusionment in Russia' and 'My Further +Disillusionment in Russia'. She argued that 'never before in +all history has authority , government, the state, proved so +inherently static, reactionary, and even counter- +revolutionary. In short, the very antithesis of revolution. + +Her time in Russia led her to reassess her earlier belief that +the end justifies the means. Goldman accepted that violence +as a necessary evil in the process of social transformation. +However, her experience in Russia forced a distinction. She +wrote "I know that in the past every great political and social +change, necessitated violence....Yet it is one thing to employ +violence in combat as a means of defence. It is quiet another +thing to make a principle of terrorism, to institutionalise it +to assign it the most vital place in the social struggle. Such +terrorism begets counter-revolution and in turn itself +becomes counter-revolutionary." + +These views were unpopular among radicals as most still +wanted to believe that the Russian Revolution was a success. +When Goldman moved to Britain in 1921 she was virtually +alone on the left in condemning the Bolsheviks and her +lectures were poorly attended. On hearing that she might be +deported in 1925, a Welsh miner offered to marry her in +order to give her British Nationality. With a British +passport, she was the able to travel to France and Canada. In +1934, she was even allowed to give a lecture tour in the +States. + +In 1936 Berkman committed suicide, months before the +outbreak of the Spanish Revolution. At the age of 67, +Goldman went to Spain to join in the struggle. She told a +rally of libertarian youth "Your Revolution will destroy +forever [the notion] that anarchism stands for chaos." She +disagreed with the participation of the CNT-FAI in the +coalition government of 1937 and the concessions they made +to the increasingly powerful communist for the sake of the +war effort. However she refused to condemn the anarchists +for joining the government and accepting militarisation as +she felt the alternative at the time was communist +dictatorship. + +Goldman died in 1940 and was buried in Chicago not far +from the Haymarket Martyrs whose fate had changed the +course of her life. + +Emma Goldman has left behind her a number of important +contributions to anarchist thought. In particular she is +remembered for incorporating the area of sexual politics into +anarchism which had only been hinted at by earlier +anarchists. Goldman campaigned and went to prison for the +right of women to practice birth control. She argued that a +political solution was not enough to get rid of the unequal +and repressive relations between the sexes. There had to be +massive transformation of values and most importantly in +womens themselves . She argued that women could do this. + +"First, by asserting herself as a personalities and not as a sex +commodity. Second, by refusing the right to anyone over +her body; by refusing to bear children unless she wants them; +by refusing to be a servant to God, the state, society, the +husband, the family etc, by making her life simpler, but +deeper and richer. That is, by trying to learn the meaning +and substance of life in all its complexities, by freeing herself +from fear of public opinion and public condemnation. Only +anarchist revolution and not the ballot , will set woman free, +will make her a force hither to unknown in the World, a +force of divine fire, of giving a creation of free men and +women." + +WSM PO Box 1528, Dublin 8, Ireland diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001377.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001377.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a0a9aa6a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001377.txt @@ -0,0 +1,445 @@ +Anarchy: a journal of desire armed. #36, Spring 1993 + anticopyright - Anarchy may be reprinted at will for + non-profit purposes, except in the case of individual + copyrighted contributions. + +ESSAYS + +@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ + The Fall of Communism, + the Society of the Spectacle + and Prostitution + + By Peter S. Barker + + ``Considered in its own terms, the spectacle is the affirmation +of appearance and affirmation of all human life, namely social +life, as mere appearance. But the critique which reaches the truth +of the spectacle exposes it as the visible negation of life, as a +negation of life which has become visible.'' -Guy Debord, Society +of the Spectacle + + January, 1992: + +The Devil's Dictionary defines the state of being free as one in +which the price is concealed. For millions of Russians who woke on +New Year's morning of 1992 to discover the price of even the most +basic foodstuffs had tripled or quadrupled under the market system, +the hidden costs of socialist freedom, the freedom of the workers +to direct their own economy, were revealed in the concrete reality +of bread and cheese. Socialist freedom had been based on a lie +which had forced party bureaucrats to dress up as workers and play +the role of the proletariat directing a socialist revolution. With +the advent of capitalism, the old freedoms were momentarily exposed +as a massive theatrical performance. + + A Russian widow interviewed by CNN reporters remarked that nothing +had changed. If she had formerly waited in line for days to buy a +piece of sausage from the bare shelves of the staterun butcher +shop, she would now wait at home until she had saved enough to buy +the same piece of sausage from a privately-owned shop. The queues +are gone and it is necessity - instead of bureaucratic +indifference - that keeps her waiting. But the reality of waiting +to be fed remains. She misses the conversations she had with her +neighbors while standing in line. + + As presented by the western media, the Russian trauma took on the +character of a giant morality play or a modernized version of +Israelite historiography. The Russians had strayed to alien gods, +to Lenin and Stalin, and were suffering the wrath of Yahweh for +their apostasy. The mighty are fallen. The offices of the KGB are +ransacked by common citizens seeking the truth. Tearful mothers +wait in line for milk they can no longer afford and cry out against +the men who had their way with them and left them destitute with +hungry mouths to feed. The unemployed march on the streets +demanding bread. + + To make these momentous events more accessible to the dull-witted +capitalist masses, the complexities of social change in Russia were +given a Manichean cast. Seth, the god of socialism, is cast down by +Amon-Ra, the god of capitalism. After an eclipse of eighty-five +years Ra's light shines again on the Russian Republic. During the +subsequent victory parade, the atrocities of the former regime are +paraded across the television screens of all nations. + + The voice of the Russian widow is lost among the hoots and +whistles of western news commentators. The anomaly of her waiting +to be fed, regardless of the political system that holds sway in +Russia, inspires no analysis. + + + ``The attitude which it demands in principle is passive acceptance +which in fact it already obtained by its manner of appearing +without reply, by its monopoly of appearance.'' -Guy Debord + + February, 1992: + +In the month following, I rode to work on the streetcar watching +out the window at the Sherbourne stop as scruffy men trooped out of +the Salvation Army hostel each morning to line up at a temporary +employment agency in the hope of receiving work and cash at the end +of the day. Around the corner, both sexes wait in front of a church +offering free food and clothing. Their resemblance to the queues +for food in the Russian Republic is only superficial, I am told. +But it is near enough to leave me with the vague sense of dj vu +experienced while watching an old movie forgotten some twenty years +after the original viewing. The scenes are familiar, but I can't +remember how the story ends. + + I am not disturbed by the content of the CNN report, but by my +readiness to accept the image of reality it presents and exclude +the evidence of my own senses. The knowledge that the CNN report is +being watched by thousands of other North Americans implies some +sort of consensus on its version of events. Was anyone but myself +bothered by the report? No one I knew raised a challenge to the +interpretations of CNN commentators. All the news sounded as if it +had been written by the same committee of ten. In the light of the +apparent consensus, my qualms about curiosities like the comments +of the Russian widow or the queues for food and work in Canada must +have been private, matters of merely personal opinion, having no +bearing on the objectivity of CNN's reporting. + + The sense of dj vu persists, though, colored by Marshall +McLuhan's observation that freedom of speech, in a society where +the means of access to public opinion is in the hands of the few, +is a fool's freedom. It is the freedom to say whatever you like +within the confines of your own home but, in the public realm, it +amounts to no more than ``the freedom to put up and shut up.'' The +individual who relies upon his experience for knowledge about the +world knows that the odds are against him. Without thought or +analysis, he resigns himself unconsciously. Even the revelation of +deliberate campaigns of disinformation, such as that perpetrated by +the military during the Gulf War, does not alter his confidence in +the basic objectivity of the media. Hadn't the media honestly +reported that the truths they had been repeating throughout the war +had turned out, on closer examination, to be a pack of lies? +Lacking the means to compare reality and fiction, substance and +myth, true and false, the viewer has no choice but to accept an +occasional falsification as the price of freedom from the responsi- +bility of finding out for himself. + + Where the spectator's personal experience provides no point of +comparison against which the validity of televised news can be +measured, the distinction between public information and public +entertainment vanishes like a coin in the hands of a conjurer. News +of the far-away and exotic, unlikely to affect any but the few, +is as significant as coverage of local events having a direct +bearing upon the life of each citizen. Clowns, geeks, dwarves, +bearded ladies, strongmen and other sideshow marvels flicker +across the screen while the machinations of entrepreneurial +bureaucrats enlarging their domains or the card tricks of +financial wizards flensing a company of assets needed for a plant +expansion go unreported. Throughout, the public assumes the +character, in the words of McLuhan, ``of a kept woman whose role +is expected to be one of submission and luxurious passivity.'' + + The recasting of public information as sideshow diversion is so +complete in the end that the selection of items for the network +news is made by the entertainment director. On a night when a +made-for-TV movie about child abuse is being aired, the number of +reports of child abuse shown on the evening news triples. The +blurring of the line between fiction and reality befuddles the +more stupid politicians. The Vice-President accuses television +character Murphy Brown of contributing to the Los Angeles riots. +Meanwhile, the program's heroine issues fictional news reports +about an imaginary Vice-President of the United States named Dan +Quayle. No dissenting voice, no merely private experience, +disturbs the spectacle of public debate long enough to initiate +a critical review of intelligence from the front. + + + + ``The spectacle, grasped in its totality, is both the result and +the project of the existing mode of production. It is not a +supplement to the real world, and additional decoration. It is the +heart of the unrealism of the real society.'' -Guy Debord + April, 1992: + +The condition of chronic spectatorship develops when social +reality is accepted as a given rather than as the end result of +the efforts of particular social actors. Television viewers take +it as a given that `news' will not be information relevant to +their immediate lives - oblivious to the censorship imposed by +elite control of the media. Singles take their isolation from +meaningful human relationships for granted - unaware of their +power to change the situation. In both cases, the impulse towards +action is redirected, by the ostensible inflexibility of the +social world, into the realm of the imagination. + + The feature which most differentiates the contemporary society +of the spectacle from human societies of the past is the margin- +alization of man the creator, and his idealization, God the +Creator, in the social drama. His place at center stage is usurped +by the narcissistic spectator, while God is withdrawn from the +play entirely and sits in the wings trying to pare his fingernails +out of existence. + + The drama being enacted for the spectators gives the illusion +that the events of the drama have a life of their own. The autono- +mous economy expands and contracts, inflates and deflates, moves +form manufacture to services and back again, out of all control +of the workers, consumers and investors whose decisions it +represents. The autonomous political process sees voters select +one political party after another which, once in power, make the +same speeches about restraint and the need to stimulate investment +as their predecessors. All attempts of the electorate, every four +or eight years, to veto the process by switching to another party, +fail. The endless game of musical chairs played by the candidates +is shown on television year after year, while on the streets of +the nation, nothing changes. + + As the spectacle invades the lives of all citizens in a democ- +racy, it melts their former rights and freedoms into air and +brings them face-to-face with their real powerlessness in relation +to their own kind. Freedom of speech and freedom of information +are made meaningless by the citizen's lack of access to the public +and by the absence of information relevant to the public's needs. +Freedom of choice in the marketplace is spurious when the consumer +is manipulated by advertising and limited to choosing between +fifty different brands of breakfast cereals, but not between the +production of breakfast cereal and the creation of housing for the +homeless. Freedom of association cannot be exercised in an +intellectual climate dominated by an ideology that discourages +anything but the individual pursuit of gain, an economy that +disrupts freely-associating communities and a morality that +provides no illustration of the principles which, at other times +in history, bound individuals together. The decline of unionism in +those industries, like the Post Office, where management has +deliberately moved the factory away from the neighborhoods and the +drinking establishments in which their workers congregate, is one +of countless examples of the calculated demolition of freely- +associating groups occurring throughout society. + + A corollary to the undermining of individual freedoms is the +concentration of all power in the hands of those who alone claim +the right to wear the costume of the common citizen and play the +role of the people directing a free society. As Alexis de Tocque- +ville predicted, unrestrained individualism and passion for +equality has led to an administrative despotism of those who +govern on the strength of real or imagined political or economic +mandates. Whether appointed to their posts to carry out the will +of the people, or raised to them by the economic vote of consumers +in a free market, the professional administrators of state and +corporate bureaucracy have taken charge of all significant social +activity. + + Market researchers and advertising executives manage consumer +demand and public opinion, human relations specialists direct the +lives of workers on and off the worksite, social welfare agencies +negotiate rights and duties within the family, the state allocates +jobs according to quotas set by interest groups, and urban +planners and developers turn public thoroughfares into shopping +malls the better to control - through floor layout and security +regulations - the movements of the public in public places. + + When his own powers have been alienated and are represented back +to him as belonging to an autonomous spectacle, the individual has +no choice, if he is to retain his dignity, but to resign himself +and slip into interior monologue and fantasy. The tendency of +individual citizens to assert their desire for respect exclusively +in the realm of the imagination has made public image the main +commodity produced by the autonomous economy. Lifestyle +advertising has replaced usefulness, as a determinant of a +product's value, with signification. The value of a pair of jeans +or a bottle of shampoo is measured, on a ratio of ten-to-one, by +the designer label, or the elaborate packaging, over the product's +applicability to the task of covering the buyer's ass or washing +his hair. The preference for a million-dollar home or a Porsche +has little to do with anything but a desperate desire to possess +the respect normally accorded to images alone. Under these +conditions, the real consumer of products, or political policies, +is a consumer of images and illusion rather than one whose needs +are met by the goods being delivered. + + In the society of the spectacle, daily life takes on the +character of an immense operatic performance. The audience takes +part by singing from a script in a foreign language none of them +understands. They are ignorant of the purpose of the performance +and have lost the directions that would have told them how to +return to the real world. They wander the stage aimlessly, +overhearing snatches of the arias sung by other characters in the +play. They exchange scripts only to find that the story line of +each character is much the same. A choir of workers with hammers +keeps the economic tempo of the performance going, while prima +donnas dressed in business suits or the polka-dot pants of +politicians shriek the lyric line over the heads of other singers. +All voices unite in a chorus of pathos and inevitability. + + The occasional phrase heard in the cacophony of voices hints at +the sense of unreality being felt by all the actors. A traveller +at the Holiday Inn remarks, ``This is the life, eh?'' - more in +doubt than as an expression of enjoyment. The survivors of a plane +crash are interviewed on television telling how ``it was just like +in the movies.'' They know no other reference point to bring home +the reality of their personal tragedy but that provided by a +Hollywood film. For a moment, private life is revealed to be more +unreal than the life described in fiction. Somewhere, the audience +knows, hidden in the orchestra pit, or disguised as one of the +performers, lies the evil director who dreamt up this melodrama, +but to find him is more difficult than ridding the Beirut streets +of terrorists or the American Senate of adulterers. The crowd +accuses first one person and then another, and still the +performance continues as before, its tempo unabated. + + + ``The spectacle does not realize philosophy, it philosophizes +reality. The concrete life of everyone has been degraded into a +speculative universe.'' +-Guy Debord + May, 1992: + +During the summer, I put the news on the back burner. My immediate +concern was for Cheryl, a streetkid who had returned home after +an absence of four months. Since she was fourteen, Cheryl had been +using my apartment, off and on, as a safe haven from pimps and +others to whom she owes money. + + I dread her visits because of the demands she puts upon me. She +ties up the telephone, rarely picks up after herself and has +friends over at inconvenient hours. On her side of the fence, I +know, she would not be putting up with the constant nagging unless +the alternatives, offered by the Children's Aid Society or by her +pimps, were worse. Most adults with whom she has contact do not +tolerate her independence. She has made it fairly clear, though, +by repeatedly running from her mother or from the group homes in +which the C.A.S. regularly places her, that she values her +freedom. If she is to be influenced by an adult at all, it will +have to be by example and through the strengthening of her ability +to make rational choices of her own. She sees no point in obeying +rules simply because they are there. + + We talk about her future. She would like to have her own +apartment and be able to travel. She has been promised these +things often enough by pimps who know more than her about travel +agencies, shuttle buses and allied subjects and who are old enough +to sign the leases. I point out that many people would be willing +to help her if she would only save her money long enough to pay +the rent at the end of the month. When I relate her failure to +save her own money to the fact she is leaving herself open to +manipulation by those doing the saving for her, she remembers +there is a program on television she wants to watch and cuts the +conversation short. To have survived on the street for years, she +had to be self-sufficient and tough and this reminder of her +dependent status tells her she is not tough enough. I'm glad she +is embarrassed, though, and wants to avoid the topic of her +boyfriends. In the past, she would simply have denied giving money +to anyone, or reasserted her illusion that these men really do +love her and mean to keep their promises. The frankness means I +have gained her respect. + + She has quite a few bad habits: She is slovenly. She runs up the +telephone bill. She refuses to look for work or go to school. She +parties at after-hours clubs until six in the morning with hooker +friends. She borrows money without returning it and ruins my +sweaters or trades them with her girlfriends for other clothes. +Her male friends steal things from my home. + + I am not paid to be a social worker and do not consider myself +terribly good at it. I suffer the aggravation of neighbors angry +at the noise, visits form the police and being met by strangers +when I come to the door - to say nothing of financial losses. My +friends think my actions are self-destructive or lunatic. They +worry about my `self-esteem'. Co-workers suspect me of sleeping +with the girl. + + My neighbors, on the other hand, are more forgiving. The practice +of deferring immediate gain in order to achieve a higher quality +of community life comes more naturally. They ignore prices and +patronize local merchants, frequently personal friends, over the +chain stores downtown because the local merchants contribute to +their children's sports teams. They habitually pick up litter +found lying on the ground in local parks. They know the names of +their children's classmates and their parents. They take an +interest in local gossip and read the local weekly to find out +what acquaintances met at the bar are doing. They adhere to an +unspoken code of behavior, and idea, that holds the community +together but ostracizes those who consistently break it. Helping +out streetkids, even when it brings a dubious, and potentially +`criminal', element into their neighborhood, does not violate the +code. + + I shouldn't make too much of small deviations from the general +rule, but I am encouraged that the community in which I live has +begun to extricate itself from the society of the spectacle. The +accessibility of the local paper and of gossip in neighborhood +pubs gives each one of its members access to a larger public than +that provided to those who rely on the established media for their +information. A tendency to take into account factors other than +price when shopping, such as benefits derived from keeping money +in the community, has generated a somewhat independent local +economy. With this support from their neighbors, local artists and +artisans make a living producing unconventional goods. A +cartoonist with a shop on the main street sketches greeting cards +for residents, paints signs for local businesses, makes wall +decorations and sells T-shirts in the local clothing outlets. In +any other part of the city, he would have to get a `real' job. + + The critique that reaches the truth of the society of the +spectacle aligns itself, with Sir Philip Sidney and John Milton, +firmly on the side of man the artist. As artist, all his cre- +ations, from his tools to his relations with his kind, are +contrived. Man's unnaturalness arises from his ability to shape +the world in which he lives, from a vision of what could be and +should be, instead of surrendering to the natural would of +instinct and necessity. + + The critique that reaches the heart of the spectacle rejects +fatality and the utilitarian view of man, rejects expediency and +economic efficiency, and reveals that no other power, but the +willingness of people to blindly follow their instincts and let +others make rational decisions for them, enslaves the citizenry of +the modern state. Such a critique recognizes that the +contemplation of images, illusions and ideologies alienates the +individual from his own powers when these are separated from +social action and human relationships. Nothing more is needed for +the individual to win back his freedom than a willingness to stop +trying to discover self-respect in images and objects and start +undertaking the creative action which gives man his dignity. +Failing to do so, the modern individual is nothing more than a +sophisticated rat in the behavioralist's maze. Unable to fend for +himself, reassured that he is free of the responsibility of making +his own decisions, taught to squeak in unison with the others, +``I'm an individual, yes I am,'' the trained rat is lead through +the social mazes created by his own stupidity on the promise of +a bit of cheese if he reaches his goal. In the light of his +voluntary compliance with the maze-maker's specifications, there +is little the social critic can say that will liberate him. Words +are not enough. + + + ``To effectively destroy the society of the spectacle, what is +needed is men putting a practical force into action.'' +-Guy Debord + June-August, 1992: + +In total, Cheryl stayed with me for three more months, until her +eighteenth birthday. During that time, she continued much as +before, but took advantage of an offer by her mother of airfare +for a visit to the east coast where the mother had moved. It was +the first time in four years that she and her mother got along. +In Toronto, a month later, she was working the streets again. She +seemed more confident of herself than she had been in the past. +Her boyfriends were different. For one thing, they were not the +pimps with whom she usually went out. She had given up believing +in their phoney promises. + + She asked me to save her money for her. Every night, at one or +two in the morning, I would meet her downtown and take the night's +earnings before her friends started pressuring her to buy them +drinks or loan them money. I could tell from the amount of police +surveillance I was attracting that I was coming perilously close +to being mistaken for a pimp myself. By the end of the month, she +had enough for her own apartment. + + Cheryl shares the apartment with a girlfriend from her school +days. Because she is attractive and articulate, she found it +fairly easy to get a job as a receptionist in the east end of the +city. When I visit her, we talk about what she can do to free +herself from dependence on her employer and the rut of a nine-to- +five job. Her plan is to open a used furniture store to recycle +the furniture her boyfriend keeps bringing home on trash nights. +She may have to go back on the streets for a while to raise the +capital. Stupidly, on hearing this, I offered to lend her as much +as I could. + + I just know I'm going to lose my shirt on this deal. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001378.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001378.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cd0ce09a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001378.txt @@ -0,0 +1,511 @@ +Subject: Re: ajoda #36 - Gonzalez article - retry + +Anarchy: a journal of desire armed. #36, Spring 1993 + anticopyright - Anarchy may be reprinted at will for + non-profit purposes, except in the case of individual + copyrighted contributions. + +ESSAYS + +@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ +THE POLITICS OF BETRAYAL: Part Two of Life in Revolutionary +Barcelona + +By Manolo Gonzalez + +Although the events in May had rattled the nerves of the FAI-CNT (1), +the movement toward the collectivization of the economy of +Catalonia and Aragon continued to develop in 1937. It was the +result of many years of study, indoctrination and the power of the +people in arms. The Republic since 1931 had done very little to +transform Spain into a modern society. The Communists' most +immediate concern was to uphold the interests of the Soviet Union. +The Comintern line of the Popular Front had some electoral suc- +cesses in Spain, France, Chile and, in a minor role, in the U.S.A. +But as a force for social and political change it was obvious: the +Comintern was nothing more than an extension of the foreign policy +of the USSR. A shocking revelation was Stalin's support for the +hoodlums of Chiang Kai-shek and his mafia in the Kuomintang, al- +though there were among the International Brigades several Chinese +volunteers, recruited in France. As fate would have it, at this +same moment in history Mao and his Liberation Army were in the +middle of the Long March. + + At my age, though, I was more interested in the military +operations in Spain than in world politics and economic dynamics. +I hung two maps on the wall of my room. One of Spain and another of +Catalonia-Aragon. Pins with miniature red +and black flags covered ``our territory.'' +The fascists were yellow arrows. All the +south of Spain was yellow. + + My mother was still grieving the murder of Federico Garca Lorca +in Granada. During the early years of ``La Carreta,'' the roving +theater company organized by Lorca, she had worked as a stage hand +and a puppeteer. + + My father visited us whenever he had a furlough, or when called +back into Barcelona by the FAI-CNT. ``Ah! it is so good to be +here,'' he used to exclaim. ``There is still the joy of an +equalitarian society, and optimistic vision of the future. In +Madrid all is salutes, militarism, intrigues and politics. +Goddammed politicians! Even some anarchists who should know better +are in the Cabinet now!'' He was referring to the inclusion in the +Catalonian government of a CNT trio, Francisco Isgleas, Diego +Santillan, and Pedro Herrera. The participation of the CNT people +was severely criticized among the FAI cadres. The POUM (2) was +excluded from any position in the government. + + Of course my father's indignation was rather disingenuous. The CNT +had compromised its integrity by participating in the Republican +government of Premier Largo Caballero, the so-called ``Lenin of +Spain.'' Juan Lopez, Juan Peir, Federica Montseny and Juan Garcia +Oliver, people of long libertarian tradition, succumbed to the +imperatives of the civil war. They got a bitter disappointment when +they realized that Largo Caballero's inclusion of the CNT in his +cabinet was a ploy to cover up the cowardly and precipitous escape +of the Republican government from Madrid to Valencia. The +Republicans, experts in political ambushes and chicanery, used the +presence of the CNT to prevent the creation of a federalist +libertarian republic they though might be installed in retaliation +for their embarrassing galloping. Later the Communists manipulated +the resignation of the CNT. And of course they kicked out Largo +Caballero and brought in Negrn. + +THE COLLECTIVE ECONOMY + + My father's feelings about the climate of solidarity and the +temporary abolition of class animosity was due to the energetic +implementation of the anarchists' program for the collective +economy. Many industrialists decided to stay in their enterprises +and continue production under the workers' control. Many years +later, historians like Hugh Thomas and Ronald Frazer would note +that the industrial output of Catalonia lost very few hours of +production under the collectivized system. + + But where the collectivization was most successful and created a +true climate for social justice was in the agriculture of Catalonia +and Aragon. Ironically, to the later chagrin of the Communists the +decree of October 7 of 1936 issued by Communist Minister of Agri- +culture Vicente Uribe gave legal basis for the peasant unions of +the CNT and UGT (3) to expropriate the land. Literally hundreds of +years of exploitation and misery were erased by the insurgency of +the peasants in arms. Dozens of small towns and villages were in +control of committees of share-croppers and itinerant farm workers. +Once the priests and the landowners were expelled or executed all +kind of experiments started, blueprints for a new society. +Marriages were recorded by the husbands and wives themselves. The +mayor and civil register clerk as representative of the State were +eliminated. Money was abolished and in many cases there were a +large number of vouchers, local ``people's Pesetas,'' that were +accepted for all the essentials of everyday life. A friend of mine, +a young refugee from Zaragoza, had a handful of ``proletarian +money.'' We decided to try it in a cooperative shop to buy molasses +and stalks of sugar cane. To my surprise it was gladly accepted. +The shopkeeper had business with the village that issued the +revolutionary currency. But we were politely turned down when we +offered to pay for our cinema tickets with the symbol of the rural +revolution. + + Although salaries still were basically the only income of the +Catalonian working class, their standard of living went beyond +their income. New benefits were implemented like free education, +health insurance, and for the first time in Spain a system to +compensate for industrial accidents, including death benefits for +widows and orphans. + +A VALLEY IN SPAIN CALLED JARAMA + + On November the 7th of 1936 the frontal assault of the fascists +to capture Madrid was defeated. I moved my red and black flags a +few inches away from Madrid. The Republic decided to counterattack +to avoid cutting off the capitol from the rest of Spain, especially +from Valencia where the government had moved. + + The arrival of arms from the Soviet Union, the formation of the +International Brigades and the highly motivated militias of the UGT +and the CNT made up a powerful military force that would be used by +the council of defense of Madrid. Two professional army men, Rojo +and Miaja, gave the necessary technical advice to the People's +Army. + + Although the fascists had been repelled in the streets of Madrid, +the capitol was still in danger. Franco's artillery reached most of +the city, and of course the Nazi and Italian planes bombed the +civilian population almost daily. + + It was decided to attack the fascists in the area near the +Valencia highway. Battalions were assigned to specific objectives +near Casa de Campo and Jarama. At that time the volunteers of many +nations were positioned in ways to strengthen the young Spaniard +recruits and the rather green workers' militias. The Europeans had +military experience, especially the Austrians, Poles and Germans. +But the Americans were still in training. They called themselves +the Lincoln Battalion, under the command of Robert Merriman, a +young professor from the University of California at Berkeley. + + On February 17th Merriman was alerted to be ready to go into +battle. He had time only to train his men in the use of their +rifles. The weather was miserable; rain pelted the young volun- +teers. It was freezing cold. The Americans were moved closer to the +front in trucks. Slowly they moved near enough to hear the din of +combat. The Americans together with the British and Canadians were +assigned to the counterattack of the Loyalists. In charge of +planning the operation were General Gal and Colonel Vladimir Copi, +a couple of Soviet mercenaries. Merriman was told his attack would +be supported by artillery, tanks and the 24th Brigade of the +regular Spanish Army. But behind the military plan, was one of +those Byzantine plots, probably concocted by Andr Marty, the +paranoid head of the International Brigades, a soul brother of +Stalin. ``Copi disliked Bob,'' remembered Marion Merriman, wife of +the American Commander, ``Copi was arrogant, stubborn and +politically immature. I disliked him intensely. He was a prima +donna of a soldier. He strutted around in high polished boots, wore +a pistol on his hip, carried map and binocular cases.'' Besides the +animosity of Marty, and probably Stalin, toward the Americans, +Merriman was not a Communist. Commander Bob Merriman would later +disappear on the Aragon front, under strange circumstances. + + The battle had been going on for ten days when the Americans were +ordered to move. The promised support never arrived. Copi insisted +on the attack; Merriman was awaiting the support of planes and +tanks. He had serious doubts about the military expertise of Gal +and Copi, but was pushed by the presence of several British +officers with direct instructions to proceed with the attack. Amid +contradictory orders the Americans were sent to the battlefield. + + Several months later my father related the disaster to a group of +Catalonians. I was reading Catalunya a newspaper in Catalan. +Castillian was still hard for me. ``Palitos, come here you have to +learn this,'' said my father while narrating the plot against the +Americans. ``And to the attack they went. Oh! the gallant boys. +They attacked the enemy. They charged with bayonets and grenades. +They confronted death singing songs of freedom, and died with their +fists high in a last gesture of defiance, certain of the final +victory.'' My father knew the price of all that gallantry. Of about +450 Americans, 160 were killed. Bob Merriman was wounded. Gal and +Copi escaped behind the lines. In a final irony, they were +recalled to Moscow and shot. After World War Two Marty was expelled +from the French Communist party. + + A few years later in France I found a collection of songs from the +Spanish Civil War. Among them there was a remembrance of Jarama. + + ``There's a valley in Spain called Jarama + It's a place we all know too well + For 'twas there that we wasted our manhood, + And most of our old age as well'' + +The music was ``Red River,'' an old ``old west'' American tune. + + In March of 1937 a new offensive on Madrid was initiated by the +Italian fascists. They based the attack in Guadalajara, about 25 +miles from the Capital. This time the fascists confronted the 14th +division, along with other shock troops of the Republic. Cipriano +Mera was the CNT commander of the central forces. A great +organizer, disdainful of the military `experts' and wise to the +tricks of the Communists, he announced that his troops would decide +the moment of attack, He wanted to avoid another carnage like +Jarama. When Mera saw the Russian tanks advancing and Lister and El +Campesino launching their attacks, the anarchists in an irre- +sistible charge terrorized the Italians. + + Many anti-fascist Italians, anarchists and socialists, fought in +Guadalajara, among them Pietro Nenni, future Prime Minister of +Italy. + +REPRESSION AND COUNTERREVOLUTION + + By June of 1937 the NKVDpredecessor of the Russian KGBhad moved +in force into Barcelona. June 16 Andrs Nin was arrested and moved +to a secret jail in Madrid. On instructions of Stalin he was asked +to `confess' crimes and to be a fascist agent. Tortured to death, +his body was never found. After Nin most of the leadership of the +POUM was jailed, executed or forced into exile. + + George Orwell, a member of the POUM militia, barely escaped arrest +and had to leave Spain. His book Homage to Catalonia was one of the +first to denounce the Communists' role in the betrayal of the +Spanish revolution. + + Among my parents' friends and the FAI-CNT a wave of indignation +helped mobilize militias, the press and international public +opinion against the crimes in Catalonia. I heard about the murder +of Camillo Berneri, an Italian anarchist philosopher; he was +arrested in a hotel, taken to the subway near Lacayetana and gunned +down. A few days later in the Urquinaoa Square a boy, grandson of +the anarchist educator Francisco Ferrer, was murdered. A friend of +my father, Domingo Ascaso, brother of Paco, a Commander in the +Madrid front, was killed in jail. The most terrible crime of those +days was the execution of about thirty members of the Libertarian +Youth. They were shot at the Moncada cemetery, and left in an open +grave. + + The central government in Valencia not only wanted to stop the +collectivization, but also to comply with the directives of Stalin +to annihilate the Trotskyites. It was part of the price exacted +from Spain for the military aid. The gold reserves of the country +went to the Soviet Union. + + The militias were abolished and many battalions incorporated into +the People's Army. Women were not permitted on the battlefield. My +mother stayed at home now; she hid her rifle, pistol and +ammunition. + + The government moved to Barcelona at the end of 1937. In March of +1938, Barcelona was bombed by German and Italian planes. + + By the middle of 1938 a negotiated peace agreement, in which the +Republic could either save territory or be part of a transition +government, was the most we could hope for. The animosity between +the central government and autonomous regions of Catalonia and +Aragon was deepening, mostly on the issue of a strategy to end the +war. + + The western democracies, already alarmed by the presence of the +Red Army in Spain, were now repelled by the repression and the +assassinations of the leaders of the POUM. + + Still all during 1937-38 the Republic confronted the superior +forces of Franco, the Moroccan mercenaries and its other allies, +the Nazis and Italian fascists, in a series of battles: Brunete, +Belchite, Teruel in which the flower of the Spanish working class +was decimated. All Republican offensives had to stop due to the +lack of ammunition, planes and tanks. The Soviet Union doled out +its military aid on the exaction of political payment: atrocities +against the opposition to Stalin. + + The last offensive in the Ebro cost the lives of about 18,000 +Loyalists. The battle was fought between July and September 1938. +It too failed for lack of war materiel. + + The trials of the old Bolsheviks had started in Moscow. Hitler and +Stalin were soon to seal their friendship in a pact. Negrn decided +to appease the western democracies by removing the International +Brigades from Spain. He hoped this would pressure the Nazis and +Italian fascists to stop their intervention. Barcelona gave an +emotional farewell to the Internationalists. On November 15 of +1938, in a last parade through the streets of Barcelona, under the +colors of many nations the volunteers left Spain. But not all. +About 6,000 Germans, Austrian, Czechs and other men without a +country to return to stayed to ``die in Barcelona.'' I made an +entry in my diary. ``Went to say good bye to the I.B.'s. Threw +geraniums. I went with Libertad.'' + + Libertad was my friend. We shared a passion for cinema and +American jazz. We satisfied our addictions with French movies and +the radio transmissions of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and +Django Reinhardt. We also managed to collect phonograph records. +Eventually we accumulated about a hundred 78s. My parents' tastes +were toward Stravinsky and Flamenco, and they frequently demanded +I tone down the record player. + +INTO EXILE + + I lost all interest in the conflict when I realized we had lost +the war and the revolution, just as my father had predicted. I +folded my maps and replaced them with photos of jazzmen and +Libertad and me in the Ramblas, on the beach and in the May 1st +parade. + + The childcare center had now become a refuge for many adults who +were disgusted by the repression in Barcelona and who wanted to +dedicate time and effort to their families. My mother was seriously +involved in the theatrical activities of the center. My father was +moved to the front of Aragon, a rather quiet area but soon to +explode in the final offensive of General Yage, the fanatical +Catholic ally of Franco. Barcelona, my city, would fall to the +fascists at the end of January of 1939. The revenge on Catalonia +was horrific. In the first week of occupation the fascists executed +over 10,000 men and women. Mostly anarchists. + + Quietly my parents decided to go into exile in France and then to +Latin America where we had relatives. Other anarchists, writers and +intellectuals, already on the death list of Franco and the +Communists, agreed to a plan to escape. + + But before leaving, the people in the childcare collective decided +to offer a program never to be forgotten. For a couple of weeks, +while our curiosity reached a rare level of expectation, my mother +and other puppeteers were rehearsing, writing and trying voices. A +finely handcrafted array of puppets was created out of vats of +papier-mch. Collections of miniature weapons, lances and swords +were accumulated. + + On a certain Saturday a neatly printed program announced the +presentation of a four-act production of Hamlet. The program +included a summary of the plot, and notes about the lights and +stage. The stage was new and the technical accomplishments were an +achievement of great pride. + + About two in the afternoon people started to arrive. All the +puppeteers and voices were already out of sight. We children were +given the front rows. We could almost touch the mystery and +excitement. After a short musical introduction, performed on two +guitars and a drum, the hall was darkened and simultaneously the +stage was illuminated, provoking exclamations. Soft white lights, +subtle colors and contrasting shadows enhanced the proscenium. + + And very slowly, as though moved by a breeze, the curtains opened +to reveal the castle of Elsinore. The audience was mesmerized when +amid the thinnest of bluish veils the ghost of Hamlet's father +appeared above the esplanade. We were caught up in the illusion of +the supernatural. Hamlet, that solemn, neurotic Prince of Denmark, +revealed himself a revolutionary hero, a defender of the people, a +challenger of hedonistic and venal rulers. But this Hamlet too +gradually convinced us of his love for Ophelia and we were drawn +into the inexorable perfidy of the politicians who would betray +both of them. + + Gertrude the Queen, sensual of voice, elegant of movement and so +fascinatingly ambivalent, so enraging to Hamlet. The King, never a +doubt in him, lustful, crude, voracious for wine and food. We +children relished his jokes and jeered at Hamlet's brattish +ripostes. + + Every nuance and sarcasm was enhanced to our intense delight. In +Polonious, idiotic, sentimental, senile we recognized the delusions +of the European middle classes: the same platitudes, the same +wisdom of selfish individualism we had been brought up to despise. +When Hamlet is asked by Polonious ``What are you reading, my +lord.'' He answers: ``Words, words, words.'' We roared and screamed +with pleasure. ``My lord'' was one of the many nicknames given to +the President of the Republic, Azaa, an erudite, but pompous and +overblown orator. ``Words, words, words'' was how we ridiculed his +speeches. The casual killing of Polonious symbolized our contempt +for the bourgeoisie. + + The puppets were magically alive. Such ease, such individuality. +The soliloquy was recited as the inner metaphysics of anarchism, +our contradictions and concerns with moral issues. We children and +adults alike were immersed in the anguish of this hero puppet, +dressed in black, a fragile reminder of our own pain at the +threshold of exile. For all of us in that moment it was our truth: +``...to be or not to be?'' We all had our answer. I, too. I wanted +to be. I wanted to love. + + The tension grew unbearable. Then, surprise, there was an +intermission. The children ran to get snacks of bread and molasses. +I had to look behind the stage. My mother was exhausted. She waved +and threw me a kiss. + + We rushed back to our seats. This time my friend Libertad was next +to me. Now we were back in the conspiracy, the malevolence, the +deals. But Hamlet, the good tribune, noble, generous, proclaimed +justice and revolution. Horatio cried out the moral conscience of +the people. Now we hated the King, he had to die. + + When the final duel came, we screamed ferociously for Hamlet. The +clash of the swords was real, sparks jumped between the duelists. +The voices were excited, full of power. + + A cry of horror arose when Hamlet was stabbed with the poisoned +sword. ``Treason...treason,'' we shouted. ``He's faking...he has to +get up...come on!... fight back, kill the bastards!'' Slowly Hamlet +died in the arms of Horatio, although he had time to exhort every- +body to the barricades and overthrow the monarchy. + + Our little puppets. How passionately they had loved. How nobly +they had died, even as their little bodies convulsed with pain. + + The final scene mobilized the people. Union banners, miniature +cannons, signs proclaiming workers' unity, a contingent of FAI-CNT +and, finally, Hamlet, covered by a red and black flag. We children +stood up, we raised our arms and clenched our fists high above our +heads. It was a furious, solemn homage to the hero of the people. + + In December 1937 the childcare closed. The ex-nuns, through the +influence of the Quakers, were given asylum in England. Many +children were sent to Sweden. Nobody in our center wanted to send +their sons and daughters to the Soviet Union. My parents told me, +``We stay together. To the end. We live or die, but we stay +together!'' + + The ``fifth column,'' automobiles with armed fascists, started to +roam Barcelona, shooting people, attacking unions and offices of +the leftist press. Priests again were seen lurking here and there +around Barcelona. + + I invited Libertad to tea in my house. She came with a jar of plum +jam. My mother made us tea and served some cakes made of rice +flour. Then we played records. We sang along to Ellington lyrics +and cried to ``Solitude.'' When Armstrong sang ``I can't give you +anything but love,'' we held hands and knew much about love. +Rataplan, my cat came to play with us, and bestowed his favors with +unusual impartiality. We went out to the patio. The weather was +already cold. My plants were ready for hibernation. Some swallows, +flying low, made passes over our heads. Night was coming and we +knew we had only a little while to say good-bye. + + Libertad's father arrived to escort her home. The streets were +dangerous now. He had a pistol under his arm in a sling like a +gangster and a revolver in the pocket of his jacket. + + For a last few moments my friend and I were alone together in a +corner of the house. ``Palitos, don't look so gloomy,'' she told +me. ``We are alive, we will survive.'' Then she kissed me. First on +my cheek, then on my lips. I responded the best I could. Her father +came to help her with her coat. ``See you in France, Palitos,'' +Libertad turned and gave a little wave as she walked out the door. + + In the middle of January of 1939 my parents and some other friends +managed to capture two G.M. trucks. Everybody carried a weapon. My +mother carried her old pistol. We left Barcelona in the dark, at a +furious speed. Far away we could hear the rumble of artillery. At +every turn of the road we found people moving toward France. The +trucks climbed the Pyrenees slowly and with great difficulty. The +road was icy, slippery. We walked the final trek to the border with +France. The French had stationed Senegalese troops to control the +refugees. I liked the guards with their black faces and red +colonial kepis. An entry in by diary ready: ``January 29. We +crossed the border. Cold but sunny. Can't walk much, frostbite.'' +Spain was behind us now. + + After W.W.II I came back to France to attend university. I met +Libertad again. We had survived. + + In July of 1986 I returned to Catalonia. It was the 50th +anniversary of the Civil War. Barcelona had changed. The infamous +Mayor Josep Maria de Porcioles, a Franco favorite who probably +hated Catalonia, had destroyed the most interesting views in the +city and left developers from Madrid free to construct modernistic +buildings without character or elegance, just simple greed. +Industrial slums, blocks of apartments like the sad, grey projects +of Moscow, had been erected in a period of twenty years. Franco had +managed to degrade Barcelona. So now a plan to restore the old +neighborhoods was in full swing. Our house was still more or less +intact, but the street was full of porno shops and `American' +bars. Cars were parked in chaotic clusters everywhere on the +sidewalks. + + The veterans of the Lincoln Battalion visited some battlefields. +I met Steve Nelson, the Commander of the right wing in the attack +on Brunete. We took an air conditioned bus looking for the town. +It was a hot, dry summer day. Brunete had a new highway, and auto- +mobiles of European tourists speeded through at full blast. Steve +guided me to the streets where the battle had been the worst, +where hundreds of men fell in hand to hand combat. Steve pointed +out a field near an old wall. ``There is where Oliver Law died.'' +He was the Captain of the Battalion, the first Afro-American to +lead white men into battle. + + Seated in an open cafe we had French sodas, bread and chorizos. +We talked about America, when suddenly Steve said: ``You guys,'' +meaning the anarchists, ``were so full of fire, so full of +passion. You had such a rare nobility. It took me a couple of +years in an American jail, the confessions of Kruschev and a bro- +ken heart before I finally left the Communist Party. Ah!, but +Spain...Barcelona...the FAI-CNT...that was life. The romance of my +youth. Nothing has ever touched it. I would not have missed it for +anything in the world.'' + + Notes + +1. The FAI-CNT was the Iberian Anarchist Federation in alliance with the +anarcho-syndicalist National Confederation of Workers. + +2. The POUM was the Workers Party of Marxist Unification, a small +revolutionary anti-Bolshevik party allied with the revolutionary anarchists. + +3. The UGT was the Socialist-controlled General Union of Workers, a non- +libertarian and less radical rival of the anarcho-syndicalist CNT. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001390.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001390.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8c0a8998 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001390.txt @@ -0,0 +1,256 @@ +A SEED Europe leaflet on TENs + +Dear friends, +Here is the text of the campaign leaflet that you received by mail a +few weeks ago. It would be great if you could forward it to all the +transport activists you know. + +Many thanks +Elisa Peter and Olivier Hoedema +########################################################### + +A SEED EUROPE PRESENTS +TRANS-EUROPEAN NETWORKS - +ROADS TO NOWHERE! + +European campaign against unsustainable transport policies + +Trans-European Networks - largest transport investments ever +planned + +More than 15.000 kilometres of new roads, thousands of kilometres +of high-speed train links and a few traditional rail links, +numerous airport expansions, and a handful of waterways. These +dizzying plans are the core of the Trans-European Networks +(TENs), the infrastructure plans promoted by the European Union +(EU). Such massive investments in unsustainable modes of +transport are in sharp contrast to the EUs own official environ- +mental goals. TENs in the current shape will destroy nature areas +all over Europe and make it virtually impossible to reduce +emissions of greenhouse gases. + +No wonder that the resistance against the many TENs projects is +growing. Campaigns all over Europe, especially in France and the +UK, have already shown the potential impact of non-violent direct +actions. The TENs campaign aims to build a strong network of +action groups fighting unsustainable transport schemes. Main +activities in the coming months include a seminar for transport +activists (December 1995, in Spain) and a Europe-wide TENs action +day (March 1996). In the meantime, action is urgently needed to +influence the European Parliament (EP) during its second and +final reading on TENs, this autumn. + + +The European Parliament can prevent a TENs disaster + +In May 1995, the EP debated the Trans-European Networks. The +Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) decided to add a long +list of environmentally unfriendly projects (motorways, highspeed +trains, etc.), but also voted for much stricter environmental +criteria. However, a few months later, the Council of Ministers +rejected the main environmental improvements proposed by the +MEPs! + + +Action needed + +Fortunately, the MEPs have the right to a so-called "second +reading". A lot of pressure is needed to make them stick to the +environmentally-friendly amendments. Letters and faxes coming +from groups all over Europe could play a crucial role. Your +letter/fax should be as personal as possible, preferably hand- +written, and give examples of TENs projects under construction +in your country to back up the arguments against TENs as a whole. +Actions (like blocking the garage of MEPs opposing the environ- +mental improvements) are also an essential part of the strategy, +for instance as a way of getting media attention. + +TENGO, the coalition of international NGOs campaigning for +greener TENs, was successful in lobbying the MEPs this spring. +The TENGO partners (ALARM UK, A SEED Europe, Greenpeace, WWF, +T&E, Birdlife and Friends of the Earth) will continue their joint +efforts this autumn. + + +Action Day + +A Europe-wide Action Day against TENs projects will take place +on March 30, 1996. We hope that local action groups campaigning +against TENs projects will all participate in this day of +protest. It will be a decentralised event, with a common theme +and common activities. It is up to you to decide in which way you +want to get involved. Road blockades using bulldozers (or lighter +material!), peaceful demonstrations, public information forums, +bike or skate tours, activist exchanges between groups, or any +other bright ideas are very welcome. +If you have a brilliant idea but no money for your action, it +might be worthwhile to get in touch with the A SEED Europe +Office. + + + transport vs. environment + +The transport sector is a major threat to the environment. It is +causing irreversible disasters all over Europe. Vehicle exhaust +emissions (CO2, CO, NOx, SOx, VOCs, particulates, and so forth) +are the main contributors to air pollution and climate change. +Forecasts predict that the share of CO2 emissions coming from +transport will increase from the current 25% to over 50% by 2010. +Transport also causes acid rain (which destroys forest areas), +chronic health diseases, the creation of tropospheric ozone and +photochemical smog. Moreover, the construction of infrastructure +generates other kinds of damage, which are as harmful to humans +and the environment as the traffic itself: destruction of wild +nature areas, imperilment of valuable habitats and loss of +biological diversity, water and land pollution, noise, etc. + + +TENs Hot Spots + +The Somport tunnel and the accompanying road scheme through the +Vallee d'Aspe in the French Pyrenees is probably the most +wellknown Trans-European Road Network project, but this is only +one of more than 140 new motorways in TENs. The long list of +controversial projects include the OEresund bridge (between +Denmark and Sweden), the motorway through the Nevia valley in +Galicia (Spain), the Malpensa airport near Milano, the highspeed +train link from Amsterdam to Brussels, and many more. + + +TENs are also a financial disaster. The EU claims that investing +billions of tax payers' ECUs in transport infrastructure is a +good way of creating jobs. However, it has failed to produce +convincing studies to support this assumption. In fact, there is +extensive literature indicating that the effects might be the +opposite. In numerous cases new infrastructure for highspeed +transport has lead to centralised production damaging local +markets and causing the loss of local jobs. + + +Concrete Action + +Concrete Action is the newsletter for activists fighting +unsustainable infrastructure projects. It comes out every second +month and aims to improve communication between groups working +on apparently isolated campaigns that are in fact part of a wider +European plan. For this purpose, Concrete Action brings updates +on planning in the European Union, follows campaigns in various +countries, gives background information and serves as a letter- +box for contacts and discussions on strategy. You'd better +subscribe right now if you are looking for the latest valuable +news on TENs! Also, your contribution (articles, news, views and +ideas, etc.) is very welcome. + + +Seminar for transport activists: don't miss it! + +An international seminar for activists campaigning against TENs +projects will be held from 7-11 December in Basque Country +(Spain). During the days, we will discuss: transport infrastru- +cture -- why they want it, why we might not need it; transport +and economy (do TENs create jobs and boost regional economies? +What are the alternatives?); strategies for resistance and much +more (media training, camcorder training, email training, country +studies, etc.). + +After the seminar, everybody is warmly invited to the Alternative +Forum taking place in Madrid parallel to the EU Summit (11-16 +December). A perfect opportunity to show the EU leaders that +their transport plans are heading down a dead end road. + + +European anti-roads video & campaign handbook + +Another element in the TENs campaign is to publish a campaign +handbook full of original ideas for transport actions. But we +need your help: please send us your success stories (and +educative failures!). +Another tool in campaigning against TENs projects will be a video +compiling European anti-road actions. So please send us video +material from your site of resistance! + + +Climate Change: it's Time for Action + +The TENs campaign is part of a common campaign of the 3 European +environmental youth networks (A SEED Europe, EYFA and YEE) to +combat the causes of climate change. The campaign also includes +the bimonthly campaign magazine CLIMAX, subcampaigns on urban +ecology and alternative economies, the Sustainable Europe bus +Tour (that will visit local groups all over Europe during the +summer of 1996), as well as the 4th annual Climate Action Day, +which will take place on May 15th. + + +FILL IN AND SEND TO: +A SEED Europe Office +P.O. Box 92066 +1090 AB Amsterdam +Netherlands +tel. 31-20-6682236 +fax. 31-20-6650166 +email aseedeur@antenna.nl + +YES, I want to receive: + +Concrete Action +TEN-pack (essential articles on TENs) +regular updates and action alerts on the EU's decision making on + TENs +addresses of MEPs in my country + +more information about: + the transport activist seminar + the TENs action day + the campaign handbook + the video project + the climate campaign + A SEED Europe + +Name: +Organisation: +Address: +Telephone: +Fax: +E-mail: + + +What is A SEED? + +A SEED (Action for Solidarity, Equality, Environment and +Development) Europe is the European branch of a worldwide network +of committed young people who feel an urgent need for change. We +are active in environmental movements, in solidarity groups, and +in the youth and student movement. We work at the local, national +and regional level, against domination and exploitation of people +and of nature. Fundamentally, A SEED exists to facilitate co- +ordinated actions among young organisers in all parts of the +world that address the global environment and development crisis. + +A SEED Europe is an open network that can be used as a vehicle +for co-operation among groups. It does not have a hierarchical +structure, so participating in A SEED Europe does not mean +compromising your identity or your ideas. + +Within A SEED Europe, there are several working groups co- +ordinating the actions of people around Europe working on the +following issues: Multilateral Development Banks; the European +Union and the European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT); +Inform me about that Multinational, Please! (IMPs); Climate +Change; using the media; gender. + +So whether you are working on Third World debt, pollution, +transnational corporations, human rights issues, or protesting +against a local road-building plan, participating in A SEED +Europe can connect you up with others around Europe working on +the same issue, provide useful resources and contacts, and +benefit your work in many ways... + +A SEED is open to any group or individual so why not find out +more? +| +|Please always reply to: aseedeur@antenna.nl !!!! +| + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001391.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001391.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ed02c6f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001391.txt @@ -0,0 +1,351 @@ +[B>O>O>M bulletin for 10/31/95] + +New York / Oct. 31, 95 + +Dear readers, + + Thank you so much for all of your support. Your response means a +tremendous amount to us. Your appreciation is our best motivation. The fact +that so many people are involved in the protesting against France is +encouraging for all of us. + + We want to continue to bring you up to date information that interests you +and that you can use. In response to some readers we have decided to scale +down our posts and perhaps increase their frequency. This means that we will +not be sending you all the news stories that we get, but we will make our +library available to you upon request. + + Once again, much thanks and keep in touch. + +Cheers, +Beau Tardy / Media Chief +B>O>O>M / BOMBS OUT OF MURUROA +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +-------- + +B>O>O>M / BULLETIN FOR 10/31/95 +BOMBS OUT OF MURUROA//fax: usa+212-974-0297// NETFEED@aol.com +News materials are copyright Reuters unless otherwise noted. Contents may +have been abridged. + + + + +***THIRD TEST / WORLD REACTIONS *** + + PARIS (Reuter) - France has staged its third nuclear test in the South +Pacific in defiant fulfilment of President Jacques Chirac's vow to conduct a +final series of checks on its nuclear arms before ending tests forever. + + Reaction in Japan, Australia and New Zealand was swift and emotional +Saturday in what has become almost a ritual of widespread condemnation +followed by concerted French defense of its nuclear program. + + In Tokyo, protesters outside the French Embassy stamped on photographs of +Chirac and one demonstrator solemnly cradled the carcass of a dead dove in +what organizers said was a symbol of the threat French testing posed to world +peace. + + The mayors of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, the only cities to suffer an atomic +bombing, issued statements denouncing the blast as an ``outrage.'' + + In Japan, Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama termed the test ``extremely +regrettable,'' adding that Tokyo had ``repeatedly protested (against) the +testing ... and we will again demand that the testing be stopped.'' + + But Chirac says France will probably stage another three tests before it +signs an international treaty, expected next year, banning all future tests +and turns to computer simulations to verify the effectiveness of its nuclear +weapons. + + The Defense Ministry said the latest test, carried out at 2200 GMT (6 +p.m. EDT) Friday, was of an explosive force under 60 kilotonnes, or 60,000 +tonnes of TNT. + + ``The test was aimed at guaranteeing the future security and reliability +of the (nuclear) weapons,'' an army spokesman said. + + No further details were given, apparently following a new low profile +that Paris has adopted after concluding that its initial policy of openness +had only encouraged testing critics. + + As in the case of France's two earlier tests Sept. 5 and Oct.r 2, the +strongest denunciations came from the Pacific rim nations geographically +closest to the remote Mururoa atoll in French Polynesia where the test was +carried out. + + + New Zealand Prime Minister Jim Bolger told Radio New Zealand he was +frustrated and disappointed by the latest test. + + Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating said France ``continues to +seriously damage its international reputation by its actions in the face of +world opinion.'' + + Russia added its voice to a chorus of global criticism. ``The French +leadership is well aware of Russia's position on this,'' Itar-Tass news +agency quoted foreign ministry spokesman Grigory Karasin as saying. + + Karasin said Russia noted the test ``with regret.'' + + Chirac's decision, disclosed just a week ago, to probably conduct only +six tests and try to end them as soon as possible was widely ascribed to +worldwide outrage which had taken Paris by surprise. + +Reut10:03 10-28-95 + + +In Nagasaki, dozens of people staged a protest sit-in at the city's main +park. + + ``They don't understand at all the suffering of the atomic bomb victims. +We really feel helpless,'' Nagasaki protester Sakue Shimohira, a 60-year-old +atom bomb survivor, told reporters. + + ``I want (French) President Jacques Chirac to visit Hiroshima and +Nagasaki to understand what happens as a result of nuclear damage,'' she +said. + + Haruo Kurosaki, 60, a photographer who has been documenting the fate of +Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors since 1968, said the test demonstrated ``the +egoism of the nuclear powers.'' + + Nagasaki Mayor Itcho Ito said the test was a ``totally unpermissible +outrage,'' + + He said setting off the blast now was a challenge to world opinion. Ito +and Hiroshima mayor Takashi Hiraoka are scheduled to appear on Monday before +the International Court of Justice in The Hague at a hearing on the legality +of nuclear weapons. + + ``Conducting a test directly before the proceedings start is nothing but +challenging the worldwide trend against nuclear weapons,'' Ito said. REUTER + 280850 GMT oct 95 ( + +Reut08:06 10-28-95 + + + + + BRUSSELS, Oct 28 (Reuter) - Belgium on Saturday lent its voice to the +chorus of criticism of France's third nuclear test in the South Pacific, +noting world opinion was moving in favour of a total ban on nuclear tests. + + ``The Belgian government notes with great regret the third French nuclear +test in the Pacific,'' the foreign ministry said in a statement. + + The statement added that Belgium supported an appeal launched by the +President of the EU Commission Jacques Santer in favout of ``determined +action by the European Union.'' + + Meanwhile, the Belgium-based environmental group Mother Earth called for +all consumers and business to join an international boycott of French +products and services ``to show their disagreement with the policy of +President (Jacques) Chirac.'' REUTER 281316 GMT oct 95 ( + +Reut11:42 10-28-95 + + + LONDON (Reuter) - Hundreds of people protesting French nuclear testing +invaded the grounds of Prime Minister John Major's official country home +Sunday as Major prepared to greet French President Jacques Chirac. + + The demonstration, by members of the environmental pressure group +Greenpeace and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, occurred about an hour +before Chirac arrived for a two-day bilateral summit. + + Greenpeace said in a statement that dozens of police, some on horseback, +had failed to prevent the invasion by more than 500 protesters who carried +French flags with radiation symbols painted on them and blew whistles and +claxons. + + Police said they made a number of arrests. They were unable to confirm +the organizers' estimate of the number of invaders. + + Sky Television, an independent satellite channel, said some protesters +made it to within 100 yards of Chequers, a former stately home northwest of +London which for many years has served as a country retreat for British prime +ministers. Chirac had not reached the estate at the time of the protest. + + Chirac's visit follows the third in a series of French nuclear tests in +the remote Mururoa atoll in French Polynesia which was carried out Friday. + + Chirac's meeting with Major is one of a series of annual summits between +leaders of the two countries, the only ones in Western Europe with nuclear +arsenals. + + British sources said the accent on this meeting would be on defense, +alongside the search for common ground ahead of next year's +inter-governmental conference on the future of the European Union, and +bilateral ties on a range of issues. + + Major faces more criticism of his handling of the French nuclear testing +issue when he goes to a Commonwealth heads of government summit in New +Zealand from Nov. 10 to 13. + + Former members of the British empire in the Pacific region, including New +Zealand and Australia, have been outraged at the tests, which they say could +result in leaks of radioactivity. + +Reut13:17 10-29-95 + + + ROME (Reuter) - Italy said Wednesday it had summoned a senior French +official for an urgent explanation of why French commandos boarded a boat +belonging to the environmental group Greenpeace in its waters. + + The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the French charge +d'affaires had been summoned to explain why some 20 commandos from the French +destroyer Dupleix raided the Greenpeace boat Altair in the southern port of +Brindisi. + + ``The Italian government awaits a full and satisfactory clarification of +the behavior of the Dupleix crew during the disagreeable incident,'' the +statement said. + + Greenpeace, protesting against French nuclear testing, had earlier called +the boarding an ``act of war.'' + + ``French commandos wearing gas masks boarded our boat, broke the glass of +the windows in the bridge and threw in six tear gas grenades,'' said Giuseppe +Onufrio, a Greenpeace activist who was on board the Altair at the time. + + Witnesses said the crew of the Altair, which was floating free in +Brindisi Harbor, seemed to lose control of the boat for about 10 minutes +after the commandos climbed aboard. + + Greenpeace protestors in inflatable dinghies had pulled alongside the +Dupleix, which was docked in Brindisi, and painted slogans across the side of +it condemning France's recent resumption of nuclear testing in the South +Pacific. + +Reut20:55 10-25-95 + + + + PAPEETE, French Polynesia, Oct 25 (Reuter) - France could transfer its +South Pacific military command from Papeete to New Caledonia after ending +nuclear tests in French Polynesia next year, according to a Tahiti newspaper + + The report, to be published on Thursday by La Depeche de Tahiti, said the +COMSUP command could move to Noumea. + + The move would only affect a few dozen officers but would be symbolic if +it took place just after the end of France's controversial nuclear testing +campaign, scheduled for next May. + + French Polynesia President Gaston Flosse told reporters on Wednesday +plans to move COMSUP were being studied but no decision had been taken. + + COMSUP watches over a huge area of French Polynesia, including nuclear +testing sites at Mururoa and Fangataufa atolls, New Caledonia and Wallis and +Futuna. + + It was responsible for the operation which foiled plans by the +environmental group Greenpeace to stop the nuclear tests. + +Reut04:35 10-26-95 + + + + PARIS, Oct 25 (Reuter) - Most French people would give up the country's +nuclear strike force if drastic budget cuts were needed, an opinion poll said +on Wednesday. + + The IFOP poll published in the news magazine L'Express said 53 percent of +French voters would accept abandoning the nuclear force, while 46 percent +would not. + + The survey was published as the government embarked on an austerity drive +to cut state deficits in order to comply with the Maastricht Treaty criteria +for adoption of a single European currency in 1999. + + Previous polls have found a majority of voters oppose France's +controversial nuclear testing campaign that President Jacques Chirac launched +in September to ensure the credibility of the strike force. + +Reut11:11 10-25-95 + + + + By Abigail Schmelz + + STOCKHOLM, Oct 26 (Reuter) - Sales of French wines in Sweden have halved +in recent weeks as Swedes protested against nuclear testing and turned to +Spanish Riojas or Italian Frascatis, the state liquor distributor said on +Thursday. + + Sales of lower-priced wines -- ranging from 40 to 50 crowns ($6.00 to +$7.50) -- per bottle have been hit hardest, a spokesman at the state-run +alcohol monopoly Systembolaget said. + + Finding a bottle of French wine in a Swedish restaurant is becoming a +tough task as restaurateurs remove them from wine lists and replace them with +other, mainly European, wines. + + A group of fashionable central Stockholm restaurants agreed between +themselves not to serve French wines after France's first nuclear test in +September. + + ``We don't have French wines on the menu, but we have them in stock,'' +said Nico Hasselstrom, manager at Sturehof Inn. + + ``We've managed to replace everything quite easily,'' said Guy Taylor, +part owner of Rolf's Kitchen restaurant in central Stockholm. ``The problem +arises when a person wants Calvados (French apple brandy). There is nothing +quite like it.'' + + South African wines and brandies, once shunned in the Swedish capital, +are now a mainstay at the hip Rolf's Kitchen. ``At first no one would touch +them, and suddenly they've become really trendy,'' Taylor said. + + Sweden, like France a member of the European Union, has been the toughest +European critic of France's nuclear test programme on the remote South +Pacific atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa. + + France postponed a visit to Paris by Swedish Prime Minister Ingvar +Carlsson last month because of the vehemence of Swedish protests. + + Critics of the Swedish boycott are quick to point out that Swedes have +not snubbed Chinese restaurants with the same fervour although China has +tested nuclear weapons this year. + + ``The French farmers are being lynched. Less than five percent of the +population in France are farmers, and they are not dealing at all with +nuclear tests,'' said Francois Aillet, Agricultural Attache at the French +Embassy in Stockholm. + + French cheese is also falling victim to the boycott. Claes Melin, a +cheese importer, says he has lost about 50 percent of orders. + + Melin said Swedish firms had promoted the boycott of French cheese and +wines by cancelling orders for corporate events. + + Melin said Swedish carmaker Volvo cancelled a French cheese order worth +about 24,000 crowns ($3,600) for a company banquet because an official +decided he did not want the French product. A Volvo spokesman said he was +unaware of the lost order. + + Nordic neighbours in Norway and Finland have not responded to the call to +arms against the French with the same passion. + + ``It's because Sweden is very collective. It's the Swedish mentality,'' +Melin said. + + Sales of French wine in Norway have actually increased, recent statistics +show. + + In Finland, state alcohol monopoly Alko had to destroy 400,000 bottles of +French wine after it received a threat in September saying five bottles had +been laced with cyanide. + +Reut09:12 10-26-95"" + + +_end_ + +B>O>O>M// BOMBS OUT OF MURUROA// fax: usa+212-974-0297// NETFEED@aol.com + +***BOYCOTT THE BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU*** + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001394.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001394.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2cb67f3c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001394.txt @@ -0,0 +1,41 @@ +NIGERIA'S CRIMES TO CONTINUE +The people suffer as Shell goes for the 'business as usual' policy +------------------------------- + +According to judicial sources in Port Harcourt a further 19 Ogonis have been +charged with complicity in the killings which resulted in the murder of nine +Ogonis a fortnight ago. If convicted when they appear in January before the +same tribunal which arrived at the previous sentence they also will probably +be murdered by the Nigerian state. The regional military administrator in +Ogoniland, Colonel Dauda Musa Komo, also confirmed that many more people are +expected to be tried and murdered by the Nigerian regime. + +Major Obi Abel Umahi - who effectively rules Ogoniland - aims is to +eradicate the memory of those nine who have already been murdered. Public +expression of grief is not allowed. Umahi says: 'Unnecessary sentiment and +emotionalism has been built into this. People who are not well informed are +vulnerable to all this propaganda. It will not do them good to dwell on it'. +Anyone wearing black is beaten up for making a political statement and if +people are found in possession of documents - for example newspapers - which +mention the names of the nine who have already been murdered they are +whipped. Priests have been warned that their sermons are being monitored and +that it is an offence to mention the names of those who have been murdered. +Teachers have received similar warnings. + +The regime feels it has successfully crushed the people in the area: 'To the +best of our knowledge there's no Mosop here,' says Umahi, 'They do not +operate any more because people blame them for their problems'. + +The Ogonis say otherwise. One person living in the area said, 'We Ogoni are +not happy... They arrest us, beat us, harass us. We cannot say we are for +Mosop anymore or the police attack us'. Apart from the police the Ogoni also +blame other parties: 'Shell is still rich. But what of us?' They say +speaking of the company whose pipelines cover the area. The wealth of the +area seeps out via these pipelines on a daily basis. The people receive +nothing in return. + +Based on information from The Guardian 25/11/95 + +FREEDOM PRESS +http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/Freedom + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001399.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001399.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f3069e07 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001399.txt @@ -0,0 +1,500 @@ +Z A G I N F L A T C H # 6, +a unique and interesting newsletter from the territory inhabited by southern +Slavs + +PETITION FOR FREE ABORTION +Organized by several women's organizations, a petition to enable Croatian +women easier access to abortion was signed over 8000 during the first few +days it went out. This in a time when the Croatian Population ,Movement is +pushing hard for government demographic programs to repopulate Croatia with +Croatians. The breeding enthusiasts are pushing for unnatural and unhealthy +population growth. Beyond the state's demographic programs, they are +attempting to push through legislation against "Violent Breaking of Pregancy" +as the law is now called. The law would obligate women to pass several tests +and talks with pyschologists , doctors , social workers and clergy before +being legally able to undertake an abortion. Also the legal 15 weeks after +conception during which abortion is legal would be down to 10. Women are +portrayed by state propaganda to be violent and murderers, which has a +strong impact on the way women are treated by society, pushing many into +illegal and dangerous ba! +ck alley style abortions. Killings of newborn children have increased in this +atmosphere. A strange and eerie example of this sort of maniacal power of +breeders could be made of a 12 year old girl who recently gave birth to a +child under close surveillance by state media who happily wrote her up as +shining example for other young women to take after. The Croatian Population +Movement other than being completely unecological, manipulative and +reminiscent of similar programs pushed by Hitler is rapidly posing a bigger +and bigger threat to women's control of their bodies and should be fought. +Contact B.a.b.e (Be Active Be Emancipated)Petreticev Trg 3, 10000 Zagreb +Croatia, e-mail : babe_zg@zamir-zg.ztn.apc.org + + + +PROJECT PAKRAC is interested in collecting volunteers for work. Volunteers +would stay in Pakrac for three weeks and work on social and other +reconstruction. Most important are local volunteers who can speak some +english. Pakrac is a city which was badly destroyed by the war. It was split +in half with Croatians on one side and Serbians on the other until the recent +action dubbed "Flash" by the Croatian Army to regain territory in Western +Slavonia. 16.000 Serbs had lived in this region during Serbian military +occupation; during which time not many Croatians lived there. During the +first two days after "Flash" 12500 Serbs fled , 2500 chose UNPROFOR's (United +Nation Protection Force) advice to stay of which 100 - 150 of these are +leaving weekly. Presently somewhere between 1000 and 1500 are left in Western +Slavonia. 13000 Croats are registered to return to their previous homes which +they fled from during Serb occupation. Project Pakrac is being checked out by +Financial Police whic! +h possibly might not go so well. Get in touch: Project Pakrac, Hrv. Velikana +11, 43550 Pakrac, Croatia, tel/fax: + 385 43 83435. E-mail: +Pakrac_DA@Zamir-zg.ztn.apc.org For more info contact: +goran.bozicevic@Zamir-zg.ztn.apc.org + + + +SOROS FOUNDATION have been kicked out of Serbia. Their expulsion is +apparently based on accusations of working against Serbia. In Croatia, Soros +is also in bad standing with state officials in Croatia for helping fund free +press as well as many projects, organizations and individuals going against +the grain. Recently Soros put down the money for a record project "Over the +Walls of Nationalism and War" featuring bands from Serbia and Croatia. + + + +MOBILIZATION IN SERBIA AND CROATIA +Serbs with connections to Croatia or BIH (Bosnia) in their papers have been +taken off the streets and checked to verify whether they can prove residency +in Serbia. Refugees or people having fled their home territories since the +war are mobilized to join Serb forces on the front lines in Krajina where +Serbian military is excepting Croatian attacks. + + In Croatia was mobilised more then 100.000 people in a few days. Usualy +military pigs are caming into houses in 4 AM. They gives 10 minutes for pick +up the things. Lots of people are sleeping into another places. There was +also lots of searching into the streets and apartments. Many of people +expecting a court punishment for they didn't bean at apartments when soldiers +are came. + + +ACTION WITH GREEN ACTION +In the first joint meeting with Green Action and ZAP, an action was planned +against the removal of several trees in a square in central Zagreb. We +decided to act fast, Green Action talked with the rest of their group and the +action went down beinning Saturday morning , May 21. After invading the +square between bulldozers digging up rubble, banners were hung between and on +trees with pictures and messages demanding the trees stay. A petition was +started revieving 700 signatures the first day, an info table set up and we +recieved much positive reaction from passer bys. Many people upon seing our +table were skeptical, appreciating our efforts but with the attitude that +"they'll cut them down anyway". We also were somewhat sceptical about the +results, but after more and more signatures and encouragement, a feeling of +success overcame us. We decided to climb the trees and squat them when the +tree killers showed up. Another day more people turned up, some bringing +trumpet, guitars a! +nd drums. The party had started. Some participants sectioned off the area +with paper bands marking it as a free zone for the endangered trees. All the +trees were given names. The protest went on for four days after which the +petition was handed in to the city now with 7000 signatures all collected at +one table. The city succumbed to our enormous pressure, changing the plans +for the square, only cutting down two sick trees, removing some saplings and +leaving the rest. +ZAP wants to build a better structure to mobilize people for similar actions +. We want to find people who will come to actions or demonstrations. To get +on our phone list for actions write ZAP or call 422 -495. +Last news: Bastards kill the trees after few months anyway. There was +response of the angry people who are permanently sabotage the equipment, +putting the sand into the fuel tanks, cut the electric instlations from the +bulldozer. + + + +ANGRY PEOPLE BURN FERAL TRIBUNE +June 26th on Split's People's square unidentified people furiously burned +copies of Feral Tribune, a satyrical weekly critical of politics. Paper's +were stolen from Kiosks and snatched out of the hands of street vendors and +burnt in a ritual fashion. The day before it happened again , but in smaller +quantities. Police didn't react to the mailcious thievery, but the media +responded dutifully to the calls of the paper burners. Feral Tribune had +gotten tips that their paper was about to be shut down, already having been +subject to a ridiculous porn tax, a draft notice/hassle for the editor and +sevral court cases. + + + +FIRST DIY NON PROFIT ANARCHO PUNK RECORD IN CROATIA +The bands Nula and Bijes Zdravog Razuma split LP and tape + booklet +First DIY independent vinyl release in this area. Musically , 46 minutes of +fast punk hardcore with hard riffs and yeah, sometimes it's melodic. Includes +a 32 (that's 23 backwards) page booklet including lyrics, thoughts, graphics +and photos. Get it from ZAP for $10 for the LP , the tape is $3 postage paid +outside of Croatia. (Inside Croataia they run 30 kuna LP, tape is 15 kuna + +postage) or from the band directly: Vedran Meniga, V. Ruzdijaka 8, 41000 +Zagreb, Croatia + + + +ACTION AGAINST CIRCUS EUROPA +Recently a Circus came to town with colorful clowns, circus tents and over +200 animals. Shortly before the Circus came to town, posters were sabotaged +with "CANCELLED" messages pasted over them. Also a flyer circulated titled +CIRCUS EUROPA - THE REAL TRUTH which condemned the use of imprisoned animals +for he use of entertainment using exceprts of the Jack London book Michael - +Jerry's Brother which discusses the cruelty involved in training circus +animals; also the leaflet encourages people to boycott Circuses and to +explain the cruelty animals suffer to children. + + + +HOURS OF CHAOS IN VRAPCE June 10 +A group of people broke into an empty restaurant, turned on the electricity +held a concert on the terrace to a turnout of about 70 people. A table with +fanzines was present. Bands who played included Zagreb's 5 Minutes to Steve, +Verbalni Delikt, and SKZ who had their first song interrupted by a sudden pig +presence. The police, however were cleverly convinced the organizers had the +necessary permits , permission for the show to continue till 11 was granted +and they took off thereafter. next played Javna Bruka, DobriCine and followed +by a chaotic spontaneous jam session. By 11.30PM people left contentedly. + + + +BOSNIA IN BLOOD +Tragedy in Tuzla 25 of May - A shell hit the city of Tuzla and killed 70 +young people, mostly celebrating the ex-Jugoslav Day of Youth also Tito's +birthday. Tuzla is surrounded by Serb forces , though it's possible to enter +and leave. +SARAJEVO - For over a thousand days Sarajevo has been under siege. Over +30,000 Muslim and Croatian soldiers have undergone maneuvers to break the +grip by Serb forces. Sarajevo is inhabited by around 400,000 people. +Humanitarian Aid has been blocked by Serb forces for around a few months now. +The city is shelled frequently. 10 people were killed while waiting in line +for water ne day, the next day 6 people in the same line were killed, next +day 6 continuing day by day. 29.08. from serbs granate 37 people was killed +and more then 80 are seriously wounded on the market-palce. One year before +on the same market-place were more than 60 people are kiled. Parts of the +town are under control by Serb forces matched with sniper fire from all +sides. Serb forces have the distinct advantage over Muslim forces wreapon +wise , having recently retaken their weapons previously under UN control. The +safety zone around sarajevo no longer exists. NATO has bombed Serb positions +several times. Serb! + forces have captured 300 UNPROFOR soldiers who they use as human shields, +placing soldiers on possible NATO targets. UN , very worried about their +soldiers and America , very worried about an American pilot shot down. +Western propaganda has put these 300 UN soldiers and 1 American pilot in +front of hundreds of thousands of civilian women childrfen and men whjo die +daily and are constantly struggling to survive. Well fed UN soldiers are the +only "victims" which the west are worried about. +So far Sarajevo has seen 10,000 people dead of which 2000 are children. +Sarajevo has been under Siege for three and a half years (1200 days). A one +kilometer long and 1.5 meter high tunnel under the airport makes entering and +leaving the city occasionally posibble , providing you have the appropriate +papers and can afford the fees. +Other cities in Bosnia which are under total Siege include Srebrenica (pop. +40,000), Zepa (20,000), Gorazde(60,000), Bihac/Cazin western Bosnia +(200,000). Prices in these places are several times higher than western +Europe. In Bihac , for example, 50 kilos of flour costs 500 DM, 1 kilo of +sugar runs 22DM , 1 liter of cooking oil 45DM. A few days ago a few people +died of starvation, 1 of which is a three year old child weighing only 7 +kilos. The Bihac needs 2000 tons of food a month to survive , but UNHCR (UN +High Commission for Refugees) can only provide a meager ten procent of this. +In Sarajevo cultural life has not died. The festival Sarajevska Zima +(Sarajevan Winter) is continuing despite the war. The alternative independent +radio station Zid (Wall) also is continuing and helps many young bands. +Bands play around , but there are many problems obtaining equipment. Bands +active in Sarajevo : Sikter Band(rap core) , Beastly Stroke, Bed Bag, Protest +(HC), Grafit (alternative rock), Ornamenti, DNK, Moron Brothers, Green +Cheese, Cvrkut Lesinara, AP Sound(techno), Blago Ludima Blago Gluhima, Gnu +(punk rock), Pessimistic Lines(HC) and noise veterans SCH and Lezi Majmune. +Concerts are organized in fallout shelters. A compilation CD titled "ROCK +UNDER THE SIEGE" was put out January 95. Aside from ZID the station ISV works +on the paper LIBERO (an independent paper in the style of ARKzin) . The +International Peace Center is another group from Sarajevo who publish +Dialogue, the Publication for Philosophical Questions, as well as the English +language human rights ma! +gazine WHY. (fax: 387 71 663 626) +IN TUZLA , March of 94 a concert took place to a crowd featuring various +local hard core, metal and punk rock bands. +(new: both these two cities have fallen to Serb military since the starting +the translation of this article. There was a mass exodus to Tuzla from +Srebrenica which led through areas of fighting. Many were raped and-or killed +during this. From Zepa civilians and soldiers fled for cover of the nearby +hills. Currently there is a heated battle over Bihac which very possibly +could cause the war to erupt through all of Croatia) +RADIO SAIGON radio_saigon@zamir-tz.ztn.apc.org +Last from Bosnia - Srebrenica and Zepa are in serbian army hands. There is a +possibility of mass killing of people. Bihac area are not under the siege +anymore. + +PONIKVE CONCERT July 15 +An open air concert took place in a field outside of Zagreb. The event +started with a clean up action of the surrounding forest at noon during which +two large trucks were filled to the brim with trash. When the show itself was +to begin rain interfered , delaying and adding much confusion, also fucking +up the vegan food which was being prepared for bands and concertgoers. A +number of bands from around Croatia and Slovenia eventually played late into +the night. T-shirts , zines and tapes were sold. + + + +NEW RELIGION AND ETHICS CLASSES IN HIGH SCHOOLS +Another success of the clergy since the Pope came to town and the +popularisation of church and church promoted laws are the new Ethics and +Religion classes which have become part of the high school curriculum. The +HDZ , the Christian Democratic oriented ruling party, has the parliament +majority and therefore the power to push through legislation which suits +their politics. Since the "moral" priorities have come to focus on wartime +atrocities and killing, a climate has been created which makes the creation +of these laws a relatively uncontroversial thing. When people are being +killed in war , how can one put their energy into fighting small things like +this, goes official and popular sentiment. + + + +MCDONALDS +The Multi national burger vendor now has two new restaurants in the planning +stages. Besides Zagreb. now Split andVarazdin are looking at new restaurants +to be opened soon. + +In Ljubliana Nazi skinheads attacked +American basketball players who were in town playing against a Slovene teams. +While walking through Ljubliana's main square the basketball players were +confronted by boneheads shouting racist abuse. One of them was hit in the +head by a skin during the confrontation. When the police intervened the +boneheads were checked for identification and released without hassles. The +American team broke off their tour of Slovenia. + + +AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL +The Croatian AI chapter have been collecting petitions , one against the +visit of the Indonesian President to Croatia (apparently both countries are +quite good friends). Banners and posters denounced Indonesia's massacres in +East Timor. Although the action was refused a permit by police, AI went +ahead with it , but were driven away by pigs after a few hours. In the past , +AI has organized press conferences, shown videos , organized forums , +collected petitions and put out lots of written material on political +prisoners around the world. email: AMNESTYH_ZG@ZAMIR-ZG.ZTN.APC.ORG , or +snail mail c/o ARK + + + +NEW FROM THE CROATIAN FANZINE MARKETPLACE +BOLAN #2 I MINORITY#1 (split fanzin) Jadranko Kerekovic, VeslaCka 14 b, +FECAL FORCES #4 & WARHEAD# 13(split fanzin) Goc i Kukac +I DON'T THINK SO #6/7, Dejan JeliCic, Vukovrska 1, 41312 Klostar Ivanic; +PIGVINOVE RUKE NA FOTOAPARATU#1,#2, Josip Mickovic, Krajiska 8, 10000 +Zgb;P.S. NOTHING #3, Ivan MuCnjak, MarkusevCka 157, 10000 Zagreb; SPARK #3; +Aleksandar Hadzi-Veljkovic, Drziceva 64, 10000 Zagreb; P.S.NOTHING + SPARK, +#4 split zine; LUNATIC #1 + tape (No Coment, Why Stakla, Sumski, Zoambo Zoet +...); 20 kn + pp; Darko Prolic, VinkovaCka 53, 58000 Split. PINGVIN JE BIO +FRAJER #1 april 95, Romanijska 7/7, 18000 Nis, YU; KLAUSTROFOBIJA#3 Darko +Slivar,GotovCeva 8,58000 +Split; IN MEDIAS RES #7, and INFINIT ONION and IN MEDIAS RES split fanzin; +Marko Strpic Rakusina 3, 10000 Zagreb + + + +MOSTAR +We recieved a long fax from Mostar , a city split between Muslims and Croats +detailing the situation there. The Muslim side is completely devastated while +the Croatian side is nicely rebuilt with electricity and nice cars. Although +it's technically possible to visit either side , it's made difficult , both +sides being separated by a river with no bridge left standing. A copy of the +Croatian language fax is available upon request. It will appear in a future +issue of Comunitas. + + +E-MAIL SCHOOL +E mail has been a good source to communicate with areas in Serbia and Bosnia, +Serbia has no telephone connections with Croatia and mail is problematic. +Bosnia has a phone link to Croatia , though mail is equally a problem at +times. Local human rights computer nerds held a sort of succeful training +session for cybernewcomers. + +COMUNITAS +Finally after two fucking years a new issue of Comunitas is out. Feel free to +send articles for future issues. Comunitas is a Croatian language magazine +published by ZAP with what one might call an anarchist slant. Also out is +Infinite Onion issue 11 which is a now traveling English language zine but is +also available from ZAP permanently. + + + +MONTE PARADISO 28th and 29th of July in Pola is the name for the best +PunkRock concert which can be seen on this area. It goes every year, this was +the third time. Monteparadiso is a big castle with lots of space for +sleeping, infoshop, koncerts etc. People in Pola editing also zine, tapes and +video from and about this gathering. + + + + +YOUTH CLUB SHUT DOWN IN SIBENIK +The autonomous youth club MZ in Sibenik on the Croatian coast was shut down +by police . Shows can go on till 11.30PM and the club was fined for violating +this law. Once? How about 20 times, and to our knowledge not paid the +bastards once. + + + +SHORT PREVIEW OF THE SERBIAN SCENE + + +Kraljevo: +MORTUUS/Death-grind-core: Mikric Nikola, TopliCka 12, 36000 Kraljevo,YU.; +TOTALNI PROMASAJ/UK-C: Kasabasic Milan (Sime), Mkedonska 13, 36000 Kraljevo, +YU; +SEDATIV/punk-core: Cirovic Goran, Mila Marica7/4, 36000 KV; +SMUDOS, HOCU? NECU!: co Popadic, Rada Vilotijevica I/6, 36000 KV; +RADiO SUFFER/Jevremovic Miladin, Skopljanska 33,36000 KV + +Smederevo: +ANARHIST/zine: Milan Djuric, Milosa Velikog 12/10,11300 Smederevo; +SKatezINE: Jeremic Mihajlo, Vuka Kradzica 6/12, 11300 SD, tel. 00 +981-26-222-768; +RESUME TAPES/INNER StrUGGLe/Hol-C: Lazic Miroslav, Kradjordjeva 34/28, 11300 +SD, 00 981-26-226-018 + +LuCani : +HARD TO THE CORE/zine: Jankovic Dejan, JNA 14/12,32240 LUCANI; +APOLONIA/hard-rock: Spasojevic Radovan, JNA bb, 32240 LuC; +SUNBURN/hc : Glisovic Zoran, Omladinska 2/a, 32240 LuC. +U.K. (Ubudjali Klitoris)/noise-fun; +ODJEK/anarchist group (discussion, communication and small actions); +BUDI SVOJ (MEJNSTRIM)/ zine: Mijailovic Milan Omladinska 2/c, 32240 LuCani + +Kragujevac: +JOHANBEEN/alter-noise : Kita, tel.00-981-11-339-693, 00-981-34-216-104; +BOMBASKI PROCES/HC: Marko, 00-981-34-212-408; +ALAN FORD/punk: Karis, 00-981-34-510-306; +BONG/garage: Gotivac, 00-981-34-65-782; +PROPAGANDA/alter; +DEAD JOKER/death: Miki, 00-981-34-211-687; +ZVONCEKOVE BILJEZNICE; TRULA KOALICIJA: kontakt Vuja; +KBO/punk-HC Cesnjak/rec. studio, Vujic Sasa - Vuja, Svetozara Markovica 47, +34000 Kg. tel. 00-981-34-47-979 + +Sombor: +SEX COMPLEX after PSIHOFONIJA/punk-HC; +OGINO KNAUS/punk; +IGRA MLADOSTI/alter; +PROVOKATOR/grind, fuck-shit noise; +TORMENT/death; +ANTI-TALENTI/punk; +NEM' POJMA/punk; +AGITATOR/hc; +FANTESTIC KISELI BEND/jazz-alter; +SUBHUMANS/zine; +A in YU/zine; +FORMALIN/zine- +kontakt VujCic Ljubomir, Prizrenska 20, 25000 Sombor + + + +Macedonian Anarchist Federation has organized grafiti, pamphlets . They've +established contacts with underground radio station Kanal 103. Also produced +2 shows (Dosie and Gerilla) aired on 2 independent television stations. They +can air just about anything without risk of censorship and are in need of +materials to air. They also produce the fanzine Terorist (Bartling Andrej, +Ul. Volgogradska 2/4-7, 91000 Skopje , Macedonia) in English as well Factory +Smog Is A Sign Of Progress (Cvetkoski Ile , Ul. Egejska Br. 40 , 97500 Prilep +, Macedonia). Bands in Macedonia include New Police State (NPS, Kostovski +BorCe , Ul. Borkatalevski 603/4, 91000 Skopje, Macedonia) ,Brigade OD (Darko +Blazo OrlandiC , 4 B 91000 Skopje) and Morbid Joker (no address). + +Prison Riot in Macedonia +Around 400 prisoners built barricades, liberating one part of the prison. +Holding out for four days without food or water, the prisoners hung banners +demanding better conditions in the old and detriorating prison. Approximately +1000 special police units attacked unarmed prisoners and beat many heavily in +front of TV cameras. Little is known about this here , though foreign +stations broadcast coverage of the brutality. Lots of them were wounded, some +hospitalized and one prisoner had their spine broken by pigs. + + + + +Ethnic cleaning with the "STORM" +Statement from Anti-war campaign concerning military action "storm" + +The chance of peaceful reintegration involving the inhabitants of former +"Krajina" has been lost. The concept of an ethnically clean state, whit which +the conquest of some parts of Croatia was heralded, is now turned into a +completed reality from the Croatian side, through military action the +Croatian Army has estabilished an ethnically cleansed stste on nearly the +whole of the territory. This military action "Storm" formed the preconditions +for the return of a few hundert thousands displaced Croats to their homes, +their four years long suffering nearing an end. The action however included +Croatian citizens of Serbian nationality only in the sens of securing their +evacuation. From 1991 till now more then 70% of Serbs have left Croatia. +As the last Serbs are leaving "Krajina" the counter brunt has already begun - +the expulsion of Croats from Vojvodina and Bosnia - 30.000 are expected to +leave during the next months. The expulsion of Serbs from Croatia is +inseparably linked to the expulsion of Muslims and Croats from Bosnia. +Because of the four years of war in Bosnia and Croatia hundreds of thousands +of people have been killed, 4 million have been expelled, material and +cultural wealth has been destroyed and the feling of security whithin our +multinational community has been shattered.The war conducted here,has taught +people that there is no other solution save flight.We are standing at a +decisive point in the war.After the military success by Croatia the +establishment of other ethnically cleansed states wiill follow.This does not +help create a lasting and just peace, but contributes to greater political +instability. +Even if they do not share responsibility for the beginning of the war, all +the sides involved in the conflict share responsibility for its results - +ethnic cleansing.This includes the so called mediators - the international +institutions and world powers.As usual world powers stand on the side of the +more powerful.When Serbia was stronger they supported their actions.When +Croatia is stronger they support theirs. +Croatian citizens have to accept shared responsibility for the tragedy.All of +us have the responsibitiy to ensure for everybody in this country security +and human rights,in order to prevent the formation of an ethnically +"cleansed" and intolerant state.We do not want to be privileged because we +are born as Croats. +That is why during the "victory celebration" we want to give the reminder +that in the past the record of this state is that it has not even been able +to control its armed representatives from comitting violence and violating +the rights of citizens in peaceful times. +We protest that during the action in "Krajina" representatives of +international institutions, media and observers had their freedom of movement +restricted.Croatian authorities therefore can not be freed from the suspicion +that they tolerated or did nothing to prevent the looting and burning of +houses of fleeing civilians. +The declared will of Croatian authorities in accepting Croatian citizens of +Serbian nationality from "Krajina" will be taken seriously only if programs +for the return of refugees are presented and implemented, as was promised in +Western Slavonia. +It is both necessary and an obligation for the Croatian authorities and +international organisations to ensure the permanent presence of international +institutions as monitors and active creators - in planning, financing and +implementing return programs and following the human rights situation in all +parts of Croatia. +Peace organisations gathered in the Antiwar Campaign Croatia will continue +contributing to social and material reconstruction, supporting the return of +displaced people and refugees and the establishing of international and +intereligious tolerance in the republic of Croatia and in the wider Balkan +region. + +Antiwar Campaign Croatia, The netvork of pece nd womens organization, humn +rights protection grups, civic iniciatives and projects. + + +We still need your help in distributing and coping tis newsletter-we are not +that rich to do it on our own. There's no need to send any money for this but +please make copies and spred it or use informations from it for your +publictions.Thanks! + +July/August 1995. + +ZAGINFLATCH / NECEMO I NEDAMO +TkalCiceva 38, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. +E-mail ZAP_ZG@zamir-zg.ztn.apc.org + +tel. +385 1/ 422-495, fax +385 1/ 271-143, +385 1/ 335 230 + + +*************************************** + Anarhija je Sloboda +Z A P / Zagrebacki Anarhisticki Pokret + / Zagreb Anarchist Movement +Tkalciceva 38, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. +tel ++385 01 422495, +fax ++385 01 271143. +**************************************** diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001401.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001401.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..67c5bf2a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001401.txt @@ -0,0 +1,315 @@ +Bakunn on Education II +[deals with natural ability etc, good for the +old lib-caps] + +We have shown how, as long as there are two or +more degrees of instruction for the various +strata of society, there must, of necessity, be +classes, that is, economic and political +privilege for a small number of the contented +and slavery and misery for the lot of the +generality of men. + +As members of the International Working Men's +Association (IWMA/AIT), we seek equality and, +because we seek it, we must also seek integral +education, the same education for everyone. + +But if everyone is schooled who will want to +work? we hear someone ask. Our answer to that +is a simple one: everyone must work and +everyone must receive education. To this, it +is very often objected that this mixing of +industrial with intellectual labour cannot be, +except one or the other suffer by it. The +manual workers will make poor scholars, and the +scholars will never be more than quite pathetic +workers. True, in the society of today where +manual labour and intellectual labour are +equally distorted by the quite artificial +isolation in which both are kept. But we are +quite persuaded that in the rounded human +being, each of these pursuits, the muscular and +the nervous, must be developed in equal measure +and that far from being inimical each must lean +upon, enhance and reinforce the other. The +science of the sage will become more fruitful, +more useful and more expansive when the sage is +no longer a stranger to manual labour, and the +labours of the workmen, when he is educated, +will be more intelligent and thus more +productive than those of an ignorant workman. +From which it follows that, for work's sake as +much as for the sake of science, there must no +longer be this division into workers and +scholars and henceforth there must be only men. + +The result of this is that those men who are +today, on account of their superior intellects, +caught up in the ivory towers of science and +who, once they have established themselves in +this world, yield to the need for a thoroughly +bourgeois position and bend their every +invention to the exclusive use of the +privileged class to which they themselves +belong. These men, I say, once they become +truly the fellows of everyone, fellows not just +in their imagination nor just in their speech +but in fact, in their work, will just as +necessarily convert their inventions and +applications of their learning to the benefit +of all, and especially apply themselves to the +task of making work (the basis, the only real +and rightful basis of human society) lighter +and more dignified. + +It is quite possible and, indeed, likely that +during the period of fairly lengthy transition +which will, naturally, succeed the great crisis +of society, the loftiest sciences will fall +considerably below their current levels. +Equally, it is not to be doubted that luxury +and everything constituting the refinements of +life will have to disappear from the social +scene for quite a long time and will not be +able to reappear as the exclusive amusements of +a few, but will have to return as ways of +dignifying life for everybody, and then only +once society has conquered need in all of us. +But would this temporary eclipse of the lofty +sciences be such a misfortune? Whatever science +may lose in terms of sublime elevation, will it +not win through the extension of its base? +Doubtless there will be fewer illustrious +sages, but at the same time there will be fewer +ignoramuses too. There will be no more of +these men who can touch the skies, but, on the +other hand, millions of men who may be degraded +and crushed today will be able to tread the +earth as human beings: no demigods, but no +slaves either. Both the slave and the demigods +will achieve human-ness, the one by rising a +lot, the other by stooping a little. Thus no +longer will there be a place for deification, +nor for contumely. Everyone will shake hands +with his neighbour and, once reunited, we shall +all march with a new spring in our steps, +onwards to new conquests, in the realm of +science as in the realm of life itself. + +So, far from having any misgivings about that +eclipse of science - which will be in any case +only a fleeting one we ought to call for it +with all our powers since its effect will be to +humanise both scholar and manual labourer and +to reconcile science and life. And we are +convinced that, once we have achieved this new +foundation, the progress of mankind, in the +realm of science as elsewhere in life, will +very quickly outstrip everything that we have +seen and everything we might conjure up in our +imaginations today. But here another question +crops up: will every individual have an equal +capacity for absorbing education to the same +degree? Let us imagine a society organised +along the most egalitarian lines, a society in +which children will, from birth onwards, start +out with the same circumstances economically, +socially and politically, which is to say the +same upkeep, the same education, the same +instruction: among these thousands of tiny +individuals will there not be an infinite +variety of enthusiasms, natural inclinations +and aptitudes? + +Such is the big argument advanced by our +adversaries, the bourgeois pure and simple, and +the bourgeois socialists as well. They imagine +it to be unanswerable. So let us try to prove +the opposite. Well, to begin with, by what +right do they make their stand for the +principle of individual capabilities? Is there +room for the development of capabilities in +society as at present constituted? Can there be +room for that development in a society which +continues to have the right of inheritance as +its foundation? Self-evidently not; for, from +the moment that the right of inheritance +applies, the career of children will never be +determined by their individual gifts and +application: it will be determined primarily by +their economic circumstances, by the wealth or +poverty of their families. Wealthy but empty- +headed heirs will receive a superior education; +the most intelligent children of the +proletariat will receive ignorance as their +inheritance, just as happens at present. So, +is it not hypocritical, when speaking not only +of society as it is today but even of a +reformed society which would still have as its +fundaments private property ownership and the +right of inheritance - Is it not sordid +sophistry to talk about individual rights based +on individual capabilities? There is such a lot +of talk today of individual liberty, yet what +prevails is not the individual person, nor the +individual in general, but the individual upon +whom privilege is conferred by his social +position. Thus what counts is position and +class. Just let one intelligent individual +from the ranks of the bourgeoisie dare to take +a stand against the economic privileges of that +respectable class and you will see how much +these good bourgeois, forever prattling about +individual liberty today, respect his liberty +as an individual Don't talk to us about +individual abilities! Is it not an everyday +thing for us to see the greatest abilities of +working men and bourgeois forced to give way +and even to kowtow before the crass stupidity +of the heirs to the golden calf? Individual +liberty - not privileged liberty but human +liberty, and the real potential of individuals +- will only be able to enjoy full expansion in +a regime of complete equality. When there +exists an equality of origins for all men on +this earth then, and only then (with +safeguards, of course, for the superior calls +of fellowship or solidarity, which is and ever +shall remain the greatest producer of all +social phenomena, from human intelligence to +material wealth) only then will one be able to +say, with more reason than one can today, that +every individual is a self-made man. Hence our +conclusion is that, if individual talents are +to prosper and no longer be thwarted in +bringing forth their full fruits, the first +precondition is that all individual privileges, +economic as well as political, must disappear, +which is to say that all class distinctions +must be abolished. That requires that private +property rights and the rights of inheritance +must go, and equality must triumph +economically, politically and socially. + +But once equality has triumphed and is well +established, will there be no lonaer any +difference in the talents and degree of +application of the various individuals? There +will be a difference, not so many as exist +today, perhaps, but there will always be +differences. Of that there can be no doubt. +This is a proverbial truth which will probably +never cease to be true - that no tree ever +brings forth two leaves that are exactly +identical. How much more will this be true of +men, men being much more complicated creatures +than leaves. But such diversity, far from +constituting an affliction is, as the German +philosopher Feuerbach has forcefully noted, one +of the assets of mankind. Thanks to it, the +human race is a collective whole wherein each +human being complements the rest and has need +of them; so that this infinite variation in +human beings is the very cause and chief basis +of their solidarity - an important argument in +favour of equality. + +Basically, even in todays society, if one +excepts two categories of men - men of genius +and idiots - and provided one abstracts +conjured up artificially through the influence +of a thousand social factors such as education, +instruction, economic and political status +which create differences not merely within each +social stratum, but in almost every family +unit, one will concede that from the point of +view of intellectual gifts and moral energy the +vast majority of men are very much alike or, at +least, are worth about the same - weakness in +one regard being almost always counterbalanced +by an equivalent strength in another, so that +it becomes impossible to say whether one man +chosen from this mass is much the superior or +the inferior of his neighbour. The vast +majority of men are not identical but +equivalent and thus equal. + +Which means that the line of argument pursued +by our adversaries is left with nothing but the +geniuses and the idiots. + +As we know, idiocy is a psychological and +social affliction. Thus, it should be treated +not in the schools but in the hospitals and one +is entitled to expect that a more rational +system of social hygiene - above all, one that +cares more for the physical and moral well- +being of the individual than the current system +- will some day be introduced and that together +with a new society organised along egalitarian +lines it will eventually eradicate from the +surface of the earth this affliction of idiocy, +such a humiliation to the human race. As for +the men of genius, one should note first of all +that, happily or unhappily, according to one's +main point of view, such men have not featured +in the history of mankind except as the +extremely rare exceptions to all of the rules +known to us and one cannot organise to cater +for exceptions. Even so, it is our hope that +the society of the future will be able to +discover, through a truly practical popular +organisation of its collective assets the means +by which to render such geniuses less +necessary, less intimidating and more truly the +benefactors of us all. For we must never lose +sight of Voltaire's great dictum: 'There is +someone with more wit than the greatest +geniuses, and that is everyone'. So it is +merely a question of organising this everyone +for the sake of the fullest liberty rooted in +the most complete economic, political and +social equality, and one need no longer fear +the dictatorial ambitions and despotic +inclinations of the men of genius. + +As for turning out such men of genius through +education, one ought to banish the thought from +one's mind. Moreover, of all the men of genius +we have known thus far, none or almost none +ever displayed their genius while yet in their +childhood, nor in their adolescence nor yet in +their early youth. Only in their mature years +did they ever reveal themselves geniuses and +several were not recognised as such until after +their death whereas many supposedly great men +having had their praises sung while youths by +better men have finished their careers in the +most absolute obscurity. So it is never in the +childhood years, nor even in the adolescent +years that one can discern and determine the +comparative excellencies and shortcomings of +men, nor the extent of their talents, nor their +inborn aptitudes. All of these things only +become obvious and are governed by the +development of the individual person and, just +as there are some natures precocious and some +very slow - although the latter are by no means +inferior and, indeed, are often superior - so +no schoolmaster will ever be in a position to +specify in advance the career or nature of the +occupations which his charges will choose once +they attain the age when they have the freedom +to choose. + +>From which it follows that society, +disregarding any real or imagined differences +in aptitudes or abilities and possessed of no +means of determining these in any event and of +no right to allot the future career of children +owes them all, without a single exception, an +absolutely equal education and instruction. + +[Egalite, 14 August 1869] + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001403.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001403.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1d8217fe --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001403.txt @@ -0,0 +1,141 @@ +Bougainville! +============= +The war over Bougainville is escalating. Members of the Bougainville +Revolutionary Army (BRA) have been waging a war of independence for 7 years. +They want independence from the rest of Papua New Guinea (PNG). At the end +of June, the war took a new turn. PNG troops invaded the neighbouring +Solomons to search out rebel soldiers of the BRA. They claim the Solomons +government are harbouring revolutionary soldiers. This latest action has +earned condemnation internationally. The New Zealand government has offered +to mediate. + +Class Struggle backgrounds the conflict as a problem created by imperialism +which imperialism cannot solve . It is necessasry to fight for an +international workers solution. + + Solomons Proximity +If the Solomons are involved, it puts in question the claim that the +Bougainville conflict is a civil war inside PNG.There is strong sympathy in +the Solomons for the rebels. The BRA have an office in Honiara, capital of +the Solomons. This time the PNG government forces have taken action against +the Solomons. In 1992 they blew up a tank on Shortland Island. +Geographically, Bougainville is part of an archipelago, the northernmost +island in the Solomons chain. The culture, language and physical +characteristics of Bougainvillians are closer to Solomon Islanders than +either Papuans or New Guineans. Suggestions that Bougainville be made part +of the Solomons have re-surfaced during this latest skirmish. +But the Bougainvillians want independence. They do not ask imperialists to +allocate them another `protector'. Their close relationship to the Solomons +is a support for their primary aim - self determination. + +Imperialist Creation +The attachment of Bougainville to PNG was an outcome of European imperialism +in the Pacific. Germany colonised PNG and Bougainville, while Britain +colonised the Solomons. This arbitrary carve up cut through historic +connections between Bougainville and the Solomons in pre-European times. +After the defeat of Germany in World War 1, the League of Nations gave New +Guinea, including Bougainville, to Australia to administer, while Britain +kept the Solomons. (New Zealand got trusteeship of Western Samoa at the same +time.) This has meant that the fate of Bougainville continues to be tied to +the machinations of imperialism, now to mini-Imperialist Australia. +After the next world war, political independence was on the agenda. +Australia granted PNG independence in 1975. But Bougainville demonstrated +its unwillingness to be tied in to PNG, declaring itself independent 15 days +before the mainland. + +This act of independence could not be tolerated. Prime Minister of PNG, +Michael Somare, claimed this independence was at risk from the exploitation +of the Australian company that ran the big copper mine in Bougainville, +Conzinc Riotinto Australia (CRA). Bougainvillians submitted to Somare when +he claimed he was rescuing them from CRA. + +Profit First; mining giant CRA +Bougainville regretted their compliance as Somare showed himself to be on +the side of multi-national capital, the mining company CRA, and the +Australian government. + +The CRA and Australian governments have worked in collusion. Initially CRA +established itself in Bougainville with the support of the Australian +colonial police in a paramilitary operation to subdue locals. The copper +mine at Pangua made an enormous hole in the middle of Bougainville. CRA made +billions from it. They gave generous donations to the Australian Labour +Party election campaigns. Australian PM Goff Whitlam, in granting +independence to PNG, was not about to make life precarious for CRA. His +lackey, Somare, protected them. + +Somare's independent PNG was still economically dependent on Australian +capital.. Big Australian companies like Burns Phillip ran the local economy. +The CRA copper mine was a particularly massive earner of foreign exchange +for PNG, an essential part of the new PNG state. Somare misled +Bourgainvillians into believing that he was protecting them from CRA, when +it was CRA he was protecting. + +It was in Somare's interests to protect CRA. He and his mates operated as a +comprador elite, working to serve imperialism, ensuring CRA and other +companies ran unrestricted plunder for Australian capital in PNG. In return +Somare's clique made personal fortunes while the local economy flagged. Even +the World Bank noted this `excess spending' into the pockets of the +bureaucratic elite was endemic in a corrupt administration. + +Independence from mining +Although Somare brought in the troops to quell striking miners at Pangua, +jailing 800 workers just before PNG independence, it was troubles at the +mine after independence, that triggered the strongest reaction. + +Locals demanded compensation for the damage to the environment that the `big +hole' CRA mine was causing. CRA have expropriated land by force. Waste from +the mine polluted rivers and destroyed fishing. It polluted the land the +locals depend on for their livelihood. + +After 24 years of fruitlessly pursuing legal channels for compensation, +locals began a guerilla campaign of sabotage against the mine. PNG reacted +with an armed blitz. Despite official Australian non-involvement, PNG forces +were engineered by Australia. They continue to be backed by Australian +military hardware and personnel. Australian helicopters and mortar shells +have not defeated Bougainvillians. + +The mine closed in 1989, followed by a declaration of independence from BRA. +The war continues. + +Peasants not workers +Although the Bougainville revolt has erupted over mining, its real purpose +is secession. The Revolutionary Army want to end the exploitation of the +CRA. They want to reclaim their traditional lifestyle, and end the +connection to PNG. + +The BRA are the military wing of the Panguan people, small farmers who are +fighting against the loss or damage of their land by CRA. They support +traditional Melanesian socialism based on land tenure. They do not see the +exploitation of mine workers as their reason for struggle. They reject workin +g class struggle. They do not want to be part of the working class. They are +not revolutionaries against capitalism. + +Their support in NZ comes from church groups who recognise the justice of +their fight for human rights.But as their fight involves a challenge to a +multi-national company, they are confronting imperialism, the spread of +capitalism internationally. We know that it is impossible for oppressed nation +s to free themselves from imperialism short of a socialist revolution. That +is why it is important for workers to support their fight. Only the +organised working class can defeat the capitalist system that nurtures +companies like CRA. + +We can do this by campaigning in our unions to put bans on CRA and the other +companies ripping off Bougainville. We can mobilise workers aid for their +military struggle, and we can oppose the NZ government deploying its armed +forces in Bourgainville, as back-up forces for the Australian military, +or posing as "peace-brokers. Only by supporting their right to +self-determination can the Bougainville freedom fighters be won to the +struggle for international working class revolution. + +[This article is extracted from the latest edition of the Zine - Cockroach. +Complete copies are available on request from Robert Malecki - +malecki@algonet.se] + + + + + + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001404.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001404.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..92d6ce46 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001404.txt @@ -0,0 +1,764 @@ +conference list - in chronological order (by the starting date of the event). + +This list contains information on upcoming political conferences, +gatherings, and demonstrations, as well as information on music festivals +and some tattoo conventions. the listing is not limited to the US or to +North America. Please email me at angel+@osu.edu or reply to this message +to contribute information to this list. This message will be posted every +two weeks or so to these newsgroups and lists: + +alt. punk, alt. music independent, alt.music.hardcore, alt.music.ska, +alt.society.anarchy, alt.zines, rec.arts.bodyart, the punklist, the +aaa-web, and the anarchy list. + +If you would like to receive it regularly through email please contact me. +I appologize about the lateness of this posting. This list is also on the +web! You can reach it at http://www.ECNet.Net/users/uaadams/gather.html, +maintained by Tony Atoms. + +* I need information for any organzing around the Republican National +Convention, an animal rights thing in DC, and rumored gatherings/fests in +San Diego, BC, Winnipeg, Minneapolis, and Indianapolis. + + this list was last updated 5/15/96 +____________ +contents: + +Events without dates/rumored events: + +Republican Nat. Convention in San Diego, California +Northern California tattoo convention +Greenfields Music Festival in Saskatoon, SK Canada +Anarchist "Summer School": Glasgow Scotland + +Chronological order: + +May 23-29: Wilmington NC : WE Festival +May 24-25 : Philadelphia Punk Fest CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE +May 25-26: Columbus, OH: Artistry in Ink Tattoo Convention +June 5-8: Tulsa OK: Music Festival +June 6-9: Madrid Spain: Conference on Cyberspace +June 9 1996 : Greenport NY : Poetry Fest 96 +June 15th: Chicago IL : Punk Picnic +*June 18-24: Washington DC: World ANimal Awareness Week +June 19-24: Earth First! Gathering (tentative dates) +*June 20-23 : San Francisco : Queercore Festival +June 26-30 : Eugene, Oregon : Punk gathering/ fest +June 28-29 : Minneapolis MN : Nedfest (music) +* July 3-4 : Philadelphia PA: freedom rally +July 3-5: Long Beach CA: SoCal Peace Fest +July 5-7 : Seattle : Girl Convention +July 5-7 : Columbus OH : Hardcore Fest +July 13-14 : Nelson, BC Canada : "political arts event" +July 18th-Aug. 4th : Atlanta, Georgia : + Olympics / Food Not Bombs int'l gathering +July 19-23: Goleta CA : Hardcore Festival +August 2-4: Philadelphia : Riot Grrrl Conference +August 9-10 : Cleveland Ohio : Hardcore Fest +August 11: vancouver, BC Canada : political arts fest +August 21-24: Tulsa OK: Music Festival +August 21-31: chicago IL : Active Resistance/ + Democratic National Convention +Labor Day weekend: Louisa VA: conference on communal living +*September 5-8: Wisconsin Sister Subverter DIY Women's Gathering +*September 28- Oct 5: Negril, Jamaica : Tattoo Convention +October 19: London UK : Int'l Anarchist Bookfair +*October 25-27: Pittsburgh PA : Meeting of the Marked Tattoo Convention + +where to get more information / announcements + +* New or updated information +-------------- +Details: +-------------- +Repubican National convention in San Diego +Dates : ?? + +The group organizing various and sundry protests against the Repulsive +convention here in San Diego is called "Voices." They can probably be +hunted up through the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bi Center located on Normal +st, phone: 619/692-2077. There is also another group in San Diego called +the "Rainbow Congress," someone at the center might know about them, too +(they are not a gay group). +____________ +Northern CA tattoo convention. +Dates: ?? + +Don't have any information except that it's in may andyou can look it up at: +http://www.tsware.com/C3/NewCreation/extravaganza96.html +____________ +Greenfieds Festival +Saskatoon, SK, CAnada +Dates: ?? + +Last year there were 38 bands and over 1000 people, it lasted three days. +For info email dnb180@mail.usask.ca or call 306-241-7006. Shoud be sometime +in August. +____________ +Anarchist SUmmer School +Glasgow Scotland +Dates: ?? + +The last summerr school was in 1993 and had about 200 participants from +England, Ireland, and Italy as well as Scotland. +_________________ +WE Festival +May 23 - 29, 1996 +Wilmington NC +"Come Wreck Our Town" + + Join an eclectic gathering of people who do cool stuff at the WE Festival +in Wilmington, NC, Thursday, May 23 - Wednesday, May 29. It's a seven day +smorgasbord of cool stuff: over 50 bands from around the world, a plethora +of independent / underground films, tons of zines, and an unhealthy dose of +microbrewed beer, will be featured during this seven day romp through our +own private wonderland. + + The Wilmington Exchange is a cooperative organization that encourages +independent thought and creativity. The purpose of the WE Festival is to +present an environment where people can come together, interact, and be +inspired; promoting a sense of community by nurturing artists' careers, +rather than exploiting them. Helping them find the tools to do the work +they love without compromise. + + WE Festival attendees will get in to all participating venues and receive +a We Guide(to help them navigate the new frontier). Plus, they'll receive +access to the Wilmington Exchange Center, where they can bring a bigass bag +and fill it with whatever they desire, since tons of free swag will be +theirs for the taking. The cost to attend the week-long WE Festival is only +$15.00. The cost for anyone attending as a representative of any corporate +conglomerate is $1500.00(that is not a joke). + +If you have any questions, email us at WEFestival@aol.com, call Rick at +(910) 256-7867 or Kenyata at (910) 256-3791. Web pages coming soon + +Send submissions to WE Fest, P.O. Box 2071, Wilmington, NC +28402-2071 USA. +______________ +Artistry in Ink '96 +Columbus OH +May 25/26 +Veterans Memorial, 300 W Broad St. + +For special hotel rates call 614.885.7300. To pre-register for tattoo +competition, call John at 818.889.8740 ext 331. +____________ +June 5-8 +Music Festival +Tulsa Okahoma + +We're booking not one, but two! festivals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. mostly just +music but if someone wants to organize any other events here that might be +cool. the first fest is June 5-8th. The second is August 21-24. the +only dates that are set in stone as of now are Pez on June 7th, Whitekaps +on Aug 22nd, and Blanks 77 on Aug. 24th. Other bands that WILL play but +we don't know what days yet are: Brother Inferior, the Droids, Remission, +Welfare, N.O.T.A., Bob of Tribes, Rash of Beatings, Distrust, Implied +Consent, 30footFall, the Krumbs. + -We need bands to play! we need people to come! Shows will be held +at the 401 club (Archer and Boulder in Tulsa) unless we need to move to the +skatepark. We're also looking at getting a permit to hold outdoor events. + + For any info at all on These two festivals, E-mail Dave Thompson at +GDTF36A@PRODIGY.COM, call at (918)585-5601, or write at 10305 S. 197th E. +Ave, Broken Arrow, OK 74014. Thanks. +_____________ + Fifth International Conference on Cyberspace +June 6th to 9th, 1996 +Madrid, Spain + +5CYBERCONF is an international conference that addresses the social, +political and cultural implications of cyberspace from a critical +standpoint and encourages discussion between theoreticians and +practitioners. Hosted for the first time in Europe, this fifth edition of +CYBERCONF considers computer-human interface breakthroughs, our fascination +and weariness with disobedient technology, the role of synthetic behaviour +in virtual design, and the increasing importance of cross-cultural +contributions to the electronic community. + +5CYBERCONF is scheduled to start on Thursday afternoon, June 6th and take +place over three and a half days. There will be 7 keynote speakers, 18 +plenary sessions, special events, a videoconference link-up and a banquet +dinner on Sunday June 9th. All sessions are designed to foster discussion. +Presentations will be in English and Spanish with simultaneous translation. +The six themes are: + INTER-FACE LIFT + CYBER SICK-AND-TIRED + TECHNOLOGY GOOD, PEOPLE BAD (Virtual Perversions) + DIGITAL THIRD WORLDS + CRASH TECHNOLOGY + SYNTHETIC BEHAVIOUR (Recombinart) + +* FEES & REGISTRATION * +The registration fee for attending 5CYBERCONF is US$200. The registration +form can be found on-line at our web site, or by contacting Susie Ramsay at +5cyberconf@ceai.telefonica.es. Please note that registration is on a first +come, first serve basis and attendance is limited to 140. The deadline for +registration is May 1, 1996 + +* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION * +5CYBERCONF, Fundacion Arte y Tecnologia, Gran Via, 28. 2 planta, 28013 +Madrid, Spain +Tel. 34-1-542-9380 Fax. 34-1-521-0041 +Email 5cyberconf@ceai.telefonica.es Contingency Email 100705.140@compuserve.com +http://www.telefonica.es/fat/ + +_________________ +June 9 1996 +Poetry Fest 96 +Greenport, NY June 9 all day and night - hundreds of poets and publishers + +This is the first national Poetry Fest and anyone in the poetry scene, +either as a poet or a small press/litmag publisher, is encouraged to +attend. This will be publicized throughout the New York Metro area and +southern New England and will attract hundreds of those interested in +buying/swapping zines. + +What I'm arranging for is guest speakers and topics will include +self-publishing, free speech, e-zines and e-poetry, the value of the zine +to the poet, what is modern poetry? the future of poetry and the art of the +zine. Also, there will be tons of readings, so bring some poems. + +Tables, $30. Half-table, $18. (You should easily make this money back) + +Too, my wife manages a motel in Greenport (a one block walk from the +festivities). She can arrange for double occupancy rooms for $55. That's +$27.50 if you're willing to split it with someone else. + +Please publish the facts of this release in your zine as soon as possible. +All zine and literary publishers are welcome to Poetry Fest 96, whether you +publish poetry or not. + +Darren Johnson, Coordinator PO Box 672 Water Mill, NY 11976 RocketUSA@delphi.com +_____________ +June 15th + +Chicago Punk Picnic, with a lot of bands and socializing. On Cricket Hill +in Chicago, set up by Mike and Matt of The Wrench Collective. +___________ +June 18-24 +World Animal Awareness Week +Washington DC + +18th - Press Conference +20-22 - The World Congress for Animals +21-22 - World Expo for Animals +22 - Celebrity Gala +23 - March for the Animals +24 - National Lobby Day for Animals + +It's being put on by the National Alliance for Animals (NAA) and endorsed +by every Animal Rights (AR) group that I've ever heard of. Contact NAA for +a brosure. + +The National Alliance for Animals +PO Box 77196 +Washington, DC, 20013-7196 +703-810-1085 (Fax 703-810-1089) +_________________ +Tentative Dates: June 19-24 +Earth First Gathering +No location Yet + +From: Earth First + +What is it Robin? Can it be true? + +Well holy tree stumps Batman, they want to have an Earth First! Gathering! + +But how can that be? Surely they aren't able to organise one without a +large office and international financing? And any way, they're not wearing +tights. How can they save the world without tights? + +I can't believe it Batman - it looks like they're going to try and ask for +help.This is too much. If people start taking control of their own lives +they'll stop leaving it up to us to fight the bad guys. Then what'll +happen? It'll be anarchy - the death of super heroes as we know them! + +..... we interrupt this program to bring you an announcement. A lone +individual by the name of Luke is proposing that there is an Earth First! +gathering over the Summer Solstice and would like to hear your opinions. We +are now going live to his house for this exclusive interview. + +"Hello my name's Luke and I help put the Earth First! Action Update +together. I'm sending this message to a few people I thought might be +interested and you are one of them! As most of you will know, Earth First! +has 'national' gatherings about every 6 months. Normally about 80 people +turn up and there are talks by different campaign groups, discussions on a +range of issues and generally a good party where we all chill out together. +At the last gathering in Lancashire I agreed, along with 2 others to sort +out the next one for Easter. However, Easter is rapidly approaching and the +other 2 are rapped up at Newbury. Having talked to a few other people +about this we arrived at the decision that maybe we should put on a really +sorted summer gathering rather than a half sorted Easter one. South +Somerset EF! proposed holding the gathering over the summer solstice. They +proposed that the site should be the single most important priority and +that it should be in a beautiful area, away from development and +preferably with a stone circle or hill fort. I've also talked the idea over +with Reclaim the Streets and A30 Action along with several other active +people. + +What I'd like to know is -What do you think? Would you like to be involved +and what do you think is needed? (Please note that Earth First! is a doing +word. It is not an exclusive club. All ideas are welcome) + +I propose that the gathering is much larger than normal and is geared up +not only as a meeting point for people in the movement, but also as a good +introduction and training for people new to direct action campaigning. +There could be: presentations on ALL direct action campaigns (Roads, Shell, +JSA); a full training in all aspects of direct action campaigning (from +building tree houses to writing press releases); a debate/ speakers forum +(covering any topics people wish to raise from splits in the movement to +life on mars!) ; and also a full range of introductions to positive +alternatives to mass consumerism and generally staying chilled out in a +hectic world (yoga, permaculture, spiritualism etc). These 4 areas could be +placed in 4 separate marquees/large benders and be running continuously +over the length of the gathering. We could also have a lot of drummers, +theatre groups, entertainers for the evenings to ensure it's one hell of a +party! + +I'm basically looking for ideas from people and offers of help. There are a +lot of things that could be done with this gathering, especially as it is +not until June. However, I won't keep ranting on about all the ideas I've +got as for it to work really well it needs to be thought about be a lot of +people (get that morphic resonance going!) - we could get someone to give a +talk on that as well. + +Firstly I need to know whether people think it is a good idea. How about +the 19th to the 24th of June?If people are intoit, the second area needing +to be sorted is a site. We need a friendly land owner who will let around +300 people camp on her/his land for 5 days. We'll also need running water +and the site needs to be at least football pitch size with space for +vehicles to park away from the tents/tepees etc. Does anyone know the owner +of the site for the Big Green Gathering? That has a stone circle as well. +Or maybe someone knows the owner of Glastonbury and we could get a field +there? Do you know of anywhere we could have? What area of the country +should it be in? + +If I get a positive response to this mailing then I'll put a flier out +about it with the next Earth First! Action Update, giving a clearer idea of +the options and what help will be required to get it off the ground. As +with most Earth First! events it will probably be put together in a weird +sort of organised chaos sort of way - but when they come together they're +the best (witness the Whatley Quarry Action). Like I said, if people think +it is a good idea and a few people start offering to help out then I'll set +a meeting for early March and those interested can then start thrashing out +how to get it sorted. + +All comments / offers of help to Luke on 01222 383363 or email +'actionupdate@gn.apc.org' or write to PO BOX 7,Cardiff CF2 4XX. Please note +that I'm not 'in charge' ofthe gathering, although I'm prepared to put a +lot of work into ensuring it happens. If the gathering idea gets a good +response then I'll ensure we get a team of people together to make sure it +happens. Anyone is welcome to be part of that team. Enthusiasm is much +more important than experience. Burnt out experts should help out on a +consultation basis only!" + +We now return you to your regularly scheduled viewing... +____________ +June 20-23 +Dirtybird: A Queercore Festival +San Francsico + +4 workshops/3 music shows/2 film events/1 women's spoken word night/and a +closing night dance party + +ENTERTAINMENT +Behead the Prophet No Lord Shall Live * Cypher in the Snow *Dirt Bike +Gang * Dyke Van Dick * Sue P. Fox * The KG's *Juliana Luecking * The +Need * Potatomen * Sleater-Kinney *Sparkmarker * Sta-Prest * Team Dresch * +Third Sex *Tribe 8 [Bands Subject to Change] + +VENUES +ATA Gallery * 924 Gilman St., Berkeley * SF Women's Building * more TBA + +WORKSHOPS curently being planned: +On your own issues * Fat issues * Racism in a Subculture issues * 'Zines + +Housing line: (415) 522-8732 (Call if you can offer housing, or if you need it) + +All events are all ages. Some events may sell out. No advance tickets. + +We have filled all the shows with bands, so must regretfuly tell aspiring +bands to try for next time. In addition, bands should know that Q-TIP +(Queers Together in Punkness) sponsors a monthly show in San Francisco. +Bands who might be interested in playing a QTIP show some time can contact +joelqpunk@aol.com + +mailing address: Dirty Bird, POB 170501, San Francisco, CA 94117 + +Because 10% is not enough! +_________________ +June 26-30 +Resist and Exist +Eugene, Oregon + +WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT: Resist and Exist is intended to be a large, +eclectic gathering of punks and activists from all different "scenes" and +walks of life. the focus of this gathering is on unifying the punk +community for positive change through music, cooperation, and activism. + +BANDS CONFIRMED AS OF 4/1/1996:(my "official" list was lost in the flood, +so this list is not complete, but rather what I can pull off the top of my +head. If you are playing and are not on the list, pounce on me so I can add +you....sorry...) + +Hilt(tx), Absence(mi), Apeface(ca), Terminal Disgust(tx), Orange 42(wa), +Flux of Disorder(co), Brother Inferior(ok), Submission Hold(Vancouver BC), +Defiance(or), Dystopia(ca), Whorehouse of Reps(wa), Resist and Exist(ca), +Divisia(ca), Bristle(wa), Decay(mi), working stiffs(ca),Lowdowns(ca), +Filthy drunks(ca), Rash of Beatings(ar), Free verse(ks), +Carsgetcrushed(ca), 4Q(or), The Fanatics(co), PayNeuter(az), +Christdriver(wa), ungrateful(ky), Pawn(oh), The Skandals(or), No Class(wa), +The Impossibles(az), Mickey and the Bigmouths(ca), Coathangerkids(?), Fury +66(ca), SKAVEN(ca), Armistice(ca), Subject Mad(az), Not My SON(tx&wa), +LeadfootBroadcast(ca), Reform Control(co), Shitbastard(az), Laughing +Stock(ca), The Obliterated(or), Heckle(?), Black Label(ca), The +Readymen(or), Bob of Tribes(ok), and there are probably 15 more I spaced, +but you get the basic jist of it. + +We also have workshops planned on subjects like Central american +Solidarity, Prison support, scams, EARTH FIRST!, The Chiapas Rebellion, +pressing records, silkscreening, stenciling, Food Not Bombs, pirate radio, +active resistance, veganism, copwatch, bike repair, internet literacy, and +a bunch more tenative ones.In addition, there will be daily picnics, +women's groups, and anarchist discussion forums, and other fun things like +soccer games, store takeovers, barter fairs, and the like. + +As for food and lodging, we at FNB Eugene are planning to do massive +servings twice a day, and there should be enough organized dumpster raids +to fill the gaps. Food stamps are super easy to get here(3days) and are +pretty much legal tender everywhere in town. Although housing is in rather +short supply, there is ample camping, tons of cheap motels, and a tent +city planned to protest the matrix progrmas springing up all over the +place. The weather is sunny and nice here in the summer, so not having a +place to crash isn't such a big deal. + +The gathering itself is totally free, although many of the shows will have +door prices to cover expenses(never more than $5, usually $2) and it is +entirely all ages. + +HOW TO GET HERE:Eugene is right on I-5, smack dab an hour from the Pacific +and an hour from the mountains, easily accessible by car, bus, train, or +plane. + +For more info call the Antipathy Collective/Eugene Food not Bombs @(541) +302-1838 +or write: POB 11703 Eugene, or 97440 tac@efn.org +--------- +June 28-29 +NedFest +Minneapolis MN + +NEDFEST is going to be the weekend of the 28-29 of june. in the mpls. +area. hopefully at the new club (all ages, all punk DIY, all collective +run) or a specific venue just for that weekend. so far, it seems as though +the majority of bands being contacted are straightedge hardcore +genre-oriented. flex and i are working on others such as aus rotten, los +crudos, our friends back east (your and mine) in the albany area, drop +dead, any other bands of this nature, though not strictly confined to +it.other than this there are no solid details yet. we just need bands who +can deinately play to make up guidelines and times and how long the thing +will last, etc. if anyone needs a voice to talk to about this or wants a +show before this or after they can call me at 612-641-0450. + +I assume this is the same fest, i saw this posting somewhere (-j): +fri 28, 29-MPLS PUNK FEST w/ anasarca, pressgang, serpico, boris the +sprinkler,abnegation, mk ultra, fifteen...plus local acts and a bunch of +other touring bands (at least 21 total, stay posted). +_________________ +July 3 and 4 +PHiladelphia + +We will be protesting on "freedom" avenue to inform people that the city of +Philly has nothing to do with freedom and the constitution, it is all about +murdering innocent people, such as Mumia and MOVE members. + +from +_________________ +July 3-5 1996. +SoCal Peace fest + +This is a gathering set up by some of the legendary OC PEACE PUNX. There +should be lots of bands(including Active Minds and the Varukers), +workshops, protests and other fun stuff. Frank from AGC is setting it up. +Write him c/o AGC @POB 90084, Long Beach, Ca 90809-0084 or give him a ring +at (310) 692-0266 +______ +July 5-7 +More Than Music Fest +Columbus Ohio + + Hardcore Fest in the works. Call for more info: Cliff (614) 688-1038. +bands already scheduled: +Anasarca, Armstrongs Secret Nine, Boy sets fire, Braid, En Dive, +Franklin,Guyver one, Inquisition, Jenny Piccolo, Julia, Khai, Locust, +Mainspring, Promise Ring, Resin, Remingtin, Sideshow, Spirit Assembly The +Great Unraveling, Wallside, Broken Hearts are Blue, Harriet The Spy + +------ +July 5-7, 1996 +Girl Convention +Seattle WA + +hi, a few other girls and I are planning a girl convention for next summer. +It is going to be in Seattle on July 5/6/7 that's a friday/saturday/sunday +and it will be a kicking blast so every girl in the whole entire world +should come. There will be radical workshops where you can learn how to +silkscreen (oooohhhh!!!), how to fix yr leaky faucet so so you don't have +to hire some buttrock guy who charges you a bajillion bucks, self-defense, +etc., discussions about classism, sexism, racism, otherisms and there will +be good rock shows too with all your favorite girl rockers and zine trading +and an art show and if we can figure it out, there might be a skating +party, too, so don't forget your roller skates or your skateboard! It will +be really fun. And two weeks beforehand there will be a similar thing in +Santa Barbara and one week beforehand there will be a similar thing in +Portland so you could turn it into a big adventure and go to all 3. And +if you or anyone you know wants to lead a workshop or discussion or +something, that would be rad. my address is -- Ann McNally/Xavier +Hall/1110 E. Spring/Seattle, WA 98122 and my phone number is 206-220-8592 +but e-mail is easiest. And you can tell everyone about this! / +anngirl@seattleu.edu +_________________ +July 13-14, 1996 +UNDER THE VOLCANO - KOOTENAYS +Nelson, BC Canada + +A mountainous location, 3.5 hours north of Spokane, WA, this political arts +event will be slightly smaller, but follow the same format as UNDER THE +VOLCANO August 11, 1996 in Vancouver. Bands please contact: UNDER THE +VOLCANO, Box 957, Nelson, BC, V1L 6A5 Canada / Phone/fax 604.355.2327 +Email: grizzly@worldtel.com +_________ +july 18th-aug. 4th +Atlanta, Georgia + +fnb international gathering +"building an alternative to transnational corporate greed" +contact: 770 ormewood ave. atlanta, GA 30312 - [404] 622-5859 (bob) +1-800-884-1136 + +For olympics information: +Sara Zia Ebrahimi: sazF95@hamp.hampshire.edu If you'd prefer to snail her, +that's Hampshire Coll Box 0429, PO Box 5001, Amherst, MA 01002. +________________ +July 19 through 22nd +Goleta Hardcore Festival 1996 +Goleta California + +Reprinted from Heart AttaCk: +"This summer we're hosting a four-day hardcore festival here in Goleta. +It will start Friday night with five or six bands. Saturday morning and +afternoon there will be some sort of non-musical activity, followed by +another six or seven bands that night. Sunday there will be a longer +show with maybe nine or ten bands. And then on Monday afternoon we're +planning a trip up to the mountains to lay around, eat, swim, jump off +rocks, and hang out. Hopefully everyone left in town on Monday will be +able to go. The only bands confirmed to play at this time are Seein' Red +and Torches To Rome. In the next issue we'll print the complete list of +bands as well as any other pertinent information." +_________________ +August 2-4 +Riot Grrrl Conference +Philadelphia + +contact: mccool@brick.purchase.edu for more information +_____________ +August 9-10 1996 +Cleveland Ohio +Hardcore Fest + +justin 216-984-3213 OR shauna 216-646-1403 +send demos/7"s to: 1370 Iroquios Ave Mayfield Hts, OH 44124 +_________________ +UNDER THE VOLCANO +7th Annual Festival of Art & Social Change +August 11, 1996 Cates Park, North Vancouver, BC + +Each year 8,000 people gather for the largest political arts festival in +the Northwest featuring music, speakers, workshops, theatre, children's +programs. With a special emphasis on showcasing radical groups from the +Vancouver region, organizers also present native sovereigntists from +various First Nations. The one day event lasts from 11am to 11pm, is +outdoors, no ticket price, and features punk rock, hip hop, folk, and +traditional and contemporary music from various cultures. + +BANDS/SPEAKERS for more information: Box 21552, 1850 Commercial Drive, +Vancouver, BC, V5N 4A0 Canada Email: grizzly@worldtel.com ATTN: Irwin +Oostindie +_______________ +August 21-24 +Music Festival +Tulsa Okahoma + +We're booking not one, but two! festivals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. mostly just +music but if someone wants to organize any other events here that might be +cool. the first fest is June 5-8th. The second is August 21-24. the +only dates that are set in stone as of now are Pez on June 7th, Whitekaps +on Aug 22nd, and Blanks 77 on Aug. 24th. Other bands that WILL play but +we don't know what days yet are: Brother Inferior, the Droids, Remission, +Welfare, N.O.T.A., Bob of Tribes, Rash of Beatings, Distrust, Implied +Consent, 30footFall, the Krumbs. + -We need bands to play! we need people to come! Shows will be held +at the 401 club (Archer and Boulder in Tulsa) unless we need to move to the +skatepark. We're also looking at getting a permit to hold outdoor events. + + For any info at all on These two festivals, E-mail Dave Thompson at +GDTF36A@PRODIGY.COM, call at (918)585-5601, or write at 10305 S. 197th E. +Ave, Broken Arrow, OK 74014. Thanks. +__________ +A C T I V E R E S I S T A N C E : A COUNTER-CONVENTION +AUGUST 21-31, 1996 +CHICAGO, IL + +ACTIVE RESISTANCE is both a convention and a gathering, bringing together +individuals and collectives to create sustainable communities of +resistance. This union will engage intensive work on long term goals, high +spirited activism, as well as share in the challenge and fun involved in +putting this all together. We hope to accomplish a great deal. And we +know we'll have fun. The Counter-Convention is scheduled to take place in +Chicago for 10 days -- before, during, and after the 1996 Democratic +National Convention. For more information email the AUtonomous Zone at +ugwiller@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu or 1573 N Milwaukee #420 Chicago IL 60622 +__________ +Labor Day Weekend: +Twin Oaks Community conference on communal living +LLouisa VA + +Every year on Labor Day Weekend, Twin Oaks hosts a conference on communal +living. It draws around 150 people. Food not Bombs folks and Earth First! +people are regular attendees. Nonviolent types only. +Nexus at: twinoaks@mcimail.com +____________ +SISTER SUBVERTER DIY RADICAL WOMEN'S GATHERING +Wisconsin +September 5-8 + +EVERYTHING YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW: + +VISION: This originally started with two of us talking about women's music +festivals and our non-hierarchical, create n' subvert, politics/lives. We +wanted to be able to create the fabulous experience of women-only-ness with +the fluidity of more anarchistic gatherings. We imagined no seperation +between workers, attendees, performers and producers; no lifestyle caste +system (all women welcome); minimal cost; fresh air; play; skill sharing; +networking; lots of space for women to share what's really going on in our +lives; and lots of active participation from everyone involved (ie. YOU). +This is political only in the most personal sense and it's all open to +interpretation. . . . + +PLACE: Daughters Of The Earth (D.O.E) farm is 80 acres of cooperatively +run women's land in wisconsin. Ther'e a big barn, a sauna, fire circles, +a lodge, outhouses, trails and all the nature you really need. There's +plenty of camping space, some trailers, and a few rooms in the lodge. It's +super important for us to respect D.O.E. These are some of their +considerations: Drug use of all kinds (except maybe sugar and coffee) is +limited to certain parts of the land. Pets should only be brought if +you're willing to be super responsible for them. General respect for the +land like using trails and good manners when dealing with folks in the +surronding area will also be expected. W'ell send maps and directions at a +later date. + +MONEY: D.O.E. farm requests $16 to $30 for each woman who is camping. $6 +extra per night will be requested for those who would like to stay in the +lodge and an extra dollar or two would be appreciated for women who want to +use the shower in the lodge. There is oppurtunity for work exchange. All +money goes directly to D.O.E. farm and you need not give anything to Sister +Subverter in order to attend the event. We could, however, use any +donations you could give. Any day now, we'll have T-shirts and patches +with Sister Subverter logos on them, so send us $1-$2 if you want patches, +$8 for t-shirts (let us know if you need more specifics). All this money +will go towards compensating bands and other expenses. + +FOOD: Vegan meals will be provided, well, with everyone's help. Everyone +should bring vegan ingredients (veggies, grains, soy products, fruit, etc), +about enough quantity-wise to cover one person. If you're not sure what +to bring, ask us (or kick in some money instead). + +THE SHOW SO FAR: We are planning workshops and discussions on: women's +land & rural collectives; women working in radical/anarchist networks; +d.i.y. radical sex; and (hopefully) self defense. There will also be a +dance in the barn, play space, play fighting, sauna, fire. Bands are still +T.B.A. + +DIY: This means Do It Yourself, which means everyone is encouraged to +contribute her visions, talents, resources, and efforts. We (Sacha, Mat +and Amara) are not producers; we're just getting things rolling and doing +our best to coordinate everyone's efforts. Let us know if you want to form +a committee, facilitate a workshop or discussion, plan an event, or share a +skill or resource. If you're in an all girl band that would like to +perform, or if you do performances, make films, are a good organizer, can +get free copies, know about PA systems, have access to food or non profit +status. . . LET US KNOW! + +CONTACT US: We'lll put you on our mailing list, answer questions, and +organize the info. you send us about how you'd like to get involved. +KMat/Sister Subverter c/o Autonomous zone, 1573 N. Milwaukee #420, +ChicagoIL 60622. (312) 252-8054. abaumg@artic.edu +___________ +HEDONISM II: 2ND ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF BODY ART + SEPTEMBER 28TH - OCTOBER 5TH 1996 +NEGRIL, JAMAICA +This convention was a great success last year, and all those that I have +talked to from that trip said that they would definitely be going back. +Hedonism II is a lush paradise situated on some of the nicest beaches in +Jamaica. Truly worthy of the title "paradise"!!! + +Peaked your curiosity? Pick up the 50th issue of Tattoo Revue magazine and +look for the feature on last year's convention. Jeannie Vodnik is the lady +to call for info. Her number is at the end of the article. Tell her Dean +from Hamilton sent ya!! + +If you don't have access to the magazine, Please e-mail: +dean@freenet.hamilton.on.ca for much more detailed info including +packages, flight ideas, costs, etc.. +_______ +15th Annual International Anarchist Bookfair +Saturday 19th October, 1996 +London. UK + +Conway Hall, Red Lion Square Further details from m.peacock@unl.ac.uk, or +for contact information write: '84b Whitechapel High Street, Angel Alley, +London E.1. England +______________ +October 25, 26, 27th, 1996 +Meeting of the Marked Tattoo Convention +Pittsburgh, PA + +Meeting of the Marked is the Tri-State Areas premiere tattoo event. Now in +it's fourth year, this celebration of tattoo arts includes 40 booths with +artists, piercers and vendors from across the US and around the globe. +Attendance usually averages over 3,000 for the three day event. Ten +different contest categories, no entry fee for contests, hand crafted +trophies for 1st place in each category (made by Rob Billings, Booty +Metals, Chicago, IL). Lot's of tattoo photography and tattoo related +exhibits. Coverage by national tattoo magazines (see March Issue of Skin & +Ink)! + +Al Monzo's Palace Inn / 24 Hour Info- 412-531-5319 or e-mail tim at +Amazinger@aol.com / +http://tattoos.com/marked.htm +------------- +Other information : + +A listing of Tattoo Conventions/events is available at: +http://tattoos.com/convent.html + +ADVANCE, a Comprehensive listing of animal rights, animal welfare, +vegetarian & environmental events. Meetings, protests, expos, dinners, +lectures, symposia, conventions, rallies, demonstrations, & lots more. +Published & updated monthly. For free sample, send mailing address (snail +mail) to: mkoplow@ix.netcom.com or visit web site: +http://www.southwind.net/~ebase/Get/Adv/Adv.html + +>From Eugene fols: +Hey, we are working on organizing a car pool type thing here on the West +Coast to get from event to event. If you or anyone you know is interested, +please e-mail us or call (541) 302-1838. + We are also looking for a few more people to do workshops at Resist +and Exist 1996 here in Eugene. Call, write, or e-mail if you can help. +THanx +mike POB 11703 eugene, or 97440 / tac@efn.org + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001406.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001406.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2176b59b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001406.txt @@ -0,0 +1,77 @@ + ^^^^^^^^ RECLAIM THE VALLEYS ^^^^^^^^^^ + +CELTIC ENERGY (The open-cast mining giants) are one of +South Wales' biggest environmental enemies. They intend to carve a +huge hole out of South Wales' valleys, effectively destroying local +communities, their environment and causing devestating damage to +richly diverse ecosystems. In 30 years time the beautiful lush green +valleys of South Wales which inspired all which inspired the likes of +Dylan Thomas to harp on and on about the lush green valleys that +are part of Welsh heritage will be nothing more than a slag heap, with +a thin token veneer of monoculture. + + WALES IS IN DANGER AND MUST BE DEFENDED !! + +CELTIC ENERGY owns a considerable wedge of the land, stretching +from the South west Coast to the boarder of the Brecon National +Park near Merthyr Tydfil (check a map - Its a big wedge!). They are +cuurently waiting on planning permission, but apparently only as a +result of the Welsh office overturning local decisions that went +against CELTIC ENERGY'S plans. You may have already heard of +SELAR and BRYNHENLLYS, both these sites which were established +early last summer have been evicted at considerable cost. There is +now a new site being set up at NANT GYRLAIS, which is still in the +planning stage with strong local opposition (Similar to Selar & +Brynhenllys). +CELTIC ENERGY is a private company that still needs to float shares +on the stock market. It is rumoured that they are struggling +financially. + +Open-Cast mining, most agree is environmentally devestating, seeing +it first hand in the Neath valley, nearly a decade after coal +extraction, the land remains barren and desert-like. +Open-Casting produces no new jobs for the local communities, +where youth unemployment is higher than most places in the country +Instead, it promises clouds of coal dust which has been demonstrated +in past cases to increase the incidence of asthma (especially in +kids). Raising rich marsh and woodland to dusty scars across +the landscape. The environmental and sociological effects of +CELTIC ENERGY's intended programme of coal extraction could +be profoundly disturbing life in The Valleys. + + THIS DESTRUCTION CAN BE STOPPED + +From May 27th-30th, we are having a national Reclaim the Valleys +week, when we will reclaim some (or all!) of CELTIC ENEMIES land. +Please come along with a positive attitude to have some excellent fun +in a beautiful place !! Bring anything you need to survive, and tell +anyone you know about this bid to save a threatened environment. + +For further information please call 0385 711364 or 01404 815729 +(A30 Office) or 0171 281 4621 (Reclaim the Streets) + +The week directly before, there will be an infoline on 01792 649071 + +At the time, head down the M4 to Swansea and give us a call! + +******************************************************** + PRINT-OFF AND PASS THIS ON. + +If you can bring cameras of any form to document the activities of +this week of action, please do. + +Our persistance in this matter can and eventually will prevent CELTIC +ENERGY and their shortsighted selfish agenda from destroying what +is still a green and pleasent land. + +******************************************************** +We look forward to seeing you, + + " There'll be a welcome in the hillside ... ..." + + RECLAIM THE VALLEYS + + See ya + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001407.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001407.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..df869d2b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001407.txt @@ -0,0 +1,148 @@ +RESIST AND EXIST 1996 + June 26-30 1996 + Eugene, Oregon + +WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT: Resist and Exist is intended to be a large, +eclectic gathering of punks and activists from all different "scenes" and +walks of life. The focus of this gathering is on unifying the punk and +anarchist +community for positive change through music, cooperation, and activism. + +THIS IS NOT A DRUNKEN CHAOS FEST!!!!! + +As with any other anarchist/anti-authoritarian functions, the law is going +to be breathing down our necks and going out of their way to find the +smallest justification for shutting us down. Please be respectful and +keep your alcohol, drugs, and violence away from our activities. + + +BANDS CONFIRMED AS OF 5/1/1996:(my "official" list was lost in the flood, +so this list is not complete, but rather what I can pull off the top of +my head. If you are playing and are not on the list, pounce on me so I +can add you....sorry...) +Naked Angels(nc), The Rickets(or and wa), Deface(ca), Republic of Freedom +Fighters(bc), Riff Raff(ca), Pummeljerk(id), anti-man(tx), Portrait of +Poverty(wa), +Hilt(tx), Absence(mi), Apeface(ca), Terminal Disgust(tx), Orange 42(wa), +Flux of Disorder(co), Brother Inferior(ok), Submission Hold(Vancouver +BC), Defiance(or), Dystopia(ca), Whorehouse of Reps(wa), Resist and +Exist(ca), Divisia(ca), Bristle(wa), Decay(mi), working stiffs(ca), +Lowdowns(ca), Filthy drunks(ca), Rash of Beatings(ar), Free verse(ks), +Carsgetcrushed(ca), 4Q(or), The Fanatics(co), PayNeuter(az), +Christdriver(wa), ungrateful(ky), Pawn(oh), The Skandals(or), No +Class(wa), The Impossibles(az), Mickey and the Bigmouths(ca), +The Coathangerkids(ca), Fury 66(ca), SKAVEN(ca), Armistice(ca), Subject +Mad(az), Not My SON(tx&wa), LeadfootBroadcast(ca), Reform Control(co), +Shitbastard(az), Laughing Stock(ca), The Obliterated(or), Heckle(?), +Black Label(ca), The Readymen(or), Bob of Tribes(ok), Subincision(ca), +Static(ca), The Whatnots(ca), Subincision(ca) and Atomkinder(?) +there are probably 15 more I spaced, but you get the basic jist of it. + +We also have workshops planned on subjects like Central american +Solidarity, Prison support, scams, EARTH FIRST!, The Chiapas Rebellion, +pressing records, silkscreening, stenciling, Food Not Bombs, pirate +radio, active resistance, veganism, copwatch, bike repair, internet +literacy, first aid, cultural defense, squatting, cheap travel, radical +resistance, homebrewing, and whatever else anyone wants to bring up at +the time... + + +There will also be men's and women's groups, as well as daily anarchist +discussion groups. Of course there will also be mass "shopping sprees", +punk soccer games, picnics, swimming, parties, and other fun things to do. + + +The gathering itself is totally free, although many of the shows will +have door prices to cover expenses(never more than $5, usually $2) and it +is entirely all ages. + + +We are suggesting that interested folks apply for food stamps here. +Besides needing only two pieces of id, you can get them in three days. +They are legal tender most everywhere in the city and come highly +reccomended by the locals. + +Because of the size of Resist and Exist in relation to the city, housing +for everyone will be next to impossible to provide for everyone. However, +cheap motels and good places to camp abound, and, in addition, there +should be a tent city/@-zone established by the time R and E actually +rolls around. also, one of the wings of Eugene FNB has a big farm out in +the woods 30 miles south of town and they are more than willing to let +people stay out there. + +WHAT TO BRING: Sleeping bag, other camping stuff you may want, records, +zines, patches, a bowl and spoon, t-shirts to screen on, your friends, +stencils, spray paint, a good attitude, screens, a big smile, books,and +whatever else you think you might possibly need. We are also in desperate +need of additional foodstuffs(rice, beans, produce, grains, etc) to feed +everyone, so any donations would be much appreciated. + +HOW TO GET HERE:Eugene is right on I-5, smack dab an hour from the +Pacific and an hour from the mountains, easily accessible by car, bus, +train, or plane. Take exit 194-B off the 5. Then exit at Exit two, +following the signs to "downtown/U of O". Then exit at the 99W exit(which +will say "downtown/hult center". This will be 6th Ave. Take 6th about 13 +blocks down to Blair Blvd and take a right(there's a 7-11 on the corner +of 6th and Blair). Three blocks down Blair on your left is Icky's +Teahouse, the central venue for the gathering. If you get lost, call +345-3019 for directions + +OTHER THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW: + +Oregon is one of the biggest environmental hotspots in the country, and +consequently, we have a very well developed Earth First! that would be +more than happy to have more people involved in their direct actions +against big corporations' attempts to rape the last stands of old growth +we have in this nation. If hanging out in the woods and smashing the +state and corporate rule sounds fun, there are daily shuttles up to the +action. + +Please be respectful to the locals. Most of the people in the +neighborhood where this is gonna be held are poor, working class, and +generally super nice. If you want to get drunk and smash shit, do it +somewhere else(any local can point you in the right direction). + +Please keep booze well away from our shows, 'cause one beer inside or in +the parking lot can get our venues shut down permanently. We will not +tolerate irresponsibility that threatens the viability of this gathering. + +Please be nice and respectful to the people around you, 'cause we're all +here for the same reasons. If you wanna be a macho drunk fuck, +Lollapalloza is only a few hours away. + + +We always need help cooking, serving, and cleaning for Food Not Bombs. +Just ask us at the servings what you can do... + +Hope to see you all in June!!! + + + +For more info call the Antipathy Collective/Eugene Food not Bombs +@(541) 302-1838 + +or write: + +POB 11703 +Eugene, or 97440 +tac@efn.org + + + +Orange County/LA Peace Fest. July 3-7 in LA + +Lots of bands and workshops and stuff. Should be fun. Call Frank @AGC +(213) 721-7395 + +RAinbow gathering in the Ozarks somewhere in Arkansas July 1-7. I haven't +a clue who to call 'bout this one, but tons of punks go to these... + +Food Not Bombs int'l gathering in Atlanta July 19-Aug 4. lots of fun +stuff all centered around the olympics. e-mail for more info + +Active Resistance Counter Convention Aug 21-31 call 312 278-0775 + + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001410.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001410.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f9d9d7bc --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001410.txt @@ -0,0 +1,779 @@ +From: Collective Action Notes + +COLLECTIVE ACTION NOTES #9 JAN-MAR. 1996 +POB 22962 +BALTO., MD 21203 +USA +E-MAIL: cansv@igc.apc.org +FAX: (410) 685-9008 + +STRIKE AND STRUGGLE CHRONOLOGY - U.S.A. MAY- JULY 1995 + + +UNITED STATES + +EARLY MAY: A strike by several thousand mostly Latino immigrant +framers shuts down 80-90% of home and apartment construction in +four of California's most populous counties. Framers build the +wooden infrastructure of residential housing. Strikers have +organized flying pickets traveling from construction site to +construction site, pulling out other framers in solidarity. +Immigration officials have isolated and picked-off through +individual arrests under immigration laws several organizers +traveling in their private cars. In response, workers turned to +using a school bus donated by the Carpenters Union to travel +collectively to organize work sites. + +MAY 5: Hundreds of supermarket workers and community supporters +rally outside of Ultra grocery store in Washington Heights section +of Manhattan protesting the company's firing of 80 workers for +signing union cards. Store shuts down mid-day as a result of noisy +protests. Many of the workers were illegal immigrants working 72 +hours a week for less than minimum wage. + +MAY 8: Oregon public workers begin a state-wide strike demanding +a 6.5% pay raise. Strike ends May 14 when State officials agree to +open talks on reaching a "compromise". + +MAY 15: Several hundred predominately Guatemalan workers at the +Case Farms chicken processing plant in Morgantown, North Carolina +walk out protesting poor working conditions. + +MAY 19: Striking Bridgestone/Firestone workers in five midwest +locals including Decatur, Illinois end their ten month strike in +defeat by offering to return to work "unconditionally." The United +Rubber Workers union stated it had to cave in out of fear that +company would use scabs to decertify union; only 60 out of nearly +700 workers are being called back to work. + +MAY 19: Division. of Motor Vehicles workers in New Jersey walk-off +job to protest lay-offs due to state's policy of privatization and +sweeping tax cuts. In the process, they defied both a court +injunction and a no-strike clause. + +MAY 23: Thirty mostly Latino workers at Valley Manufacturing Homes +(makers of mobile homes) plant in Sunnyside, Washington walk out +protesting management's refusal to discuss working conditions and +wages. The next day, 120 other workers join picket line, citing +speedup and racist treatment. Police have arrested several workers +for blocking plant entrance and have used pepper gas to disperse +strikers. + +MAY 25: Over 1,000 high school students at Lane Tech High School +in Chicago stage a walk-out to protest school budget cuts, the +Contract on America, and Proposition 187. + +MAY 26: Wildcat strike in form of a 24 hour unofficial "sick- out" +shuts down most of Long Island Railroad, the nation's largest and +busiest commuter line, stranding thousands of commuters. + +MAY 30: Militarizing the on-going battles with squatters, New York +police use an armed personnel carrier to evict squatters from East +Village in New York. + +JUNE 2: Migrant farm workers at Moorehouse Strawberry Farm in +Mollara, Oregon strike over demands for an increase in the +existing piece rate. + +JUNE 10: Washington Gas Light Co. locks out half its workforce +after union turns down company's final contract offer. The company +wanted contract provisions allowing more "flexibility" in work +rules and assignments. State of Virginia steps in on company's +side by denying unemployment benefits to strikers, although the +District of Columbia had awarded unemployment benefits to workers +living in Washington, D.C. + +JUNE 18: Hundreds of mostly immigrant garment workers hold rally +in Brooklyn demanding an end to sweat-shop conditions and the +enforcement of wage laws, which are widely skirted in the +industry. + +JUNE 19: Four hundred clerical and sales workers at U.S. West +Direct in Albuquerque, New Mexico return to work after a five week +strike over company contract violations and unfair labor +practices. + +JUNE 21: First year anniversary of national Caterpillar strike +(the second strike in four years.) Union (U.A.W) has accused +company of using convict labor in two plants in an attempt to keep +production going. + +JUNE 21: Seven hundred Teamsters ( drivers, warehouse and +production workers) strike Pepsi in Los Angeles area over company +refusal to liberalize early retirement benefits. Shortly +afterward, three other locals in Southern California begin +honoring picket lines. + +JUNE 23: Thirteen hundred inmates at Lorton Prison in Washington, +D.C. held a four day work stoppage to protest deteriorating work +and prison conditions. + +JUNE 25: Second anniversary strike support march occurs in +Decatur, Illinois "War Zone". Between four and seven thousand +union members and supporters rallied on behalf of striking A.S. +Staley and Caterpillar workers. Despite the verbal support and +physical presence of several AFL-CIO big-wigs - a first since the +strikes began - march is about the same size as the previous +year's as AFL fails to widely mobilize it's rank and file to turn +out for the march and rally. In contrast to last years event, not +even a token civil disobedience action is held this year + +JULY 1: Mostly Third World hotel workers at the ritzy Drake +Swissotel in New York City strike over management attempts to +undermine job rules and working conditions and contract out to +temporary firms. + +JULY 3: Turnpike and parkway toll takers in New Jersey strike +immediately before the busy Fourth of July holiday. A sick-in on +July 4th - the heaviest traveled holiday on New Jersey highways - +lasted two shifts until the State obtained a court injunction +forcing workers back to work. Sick-in had mixed effect; many of +toll booths are automated and the Highway Authority brought in +temps and part-time workers to staff the remaining. Union is +protesting "union-busting" stance of the State. + +JULY 9: According to a study conducted by the Cambridge Human +Resources Group, the U.S. economy lost $27.6 billion in worker +productivity as a result of the first six months of the O.J. +Simpson trial as workers spent a conservative estimate of 5 +minutes a day on company time discussing, listening to or watching +the trial. Researchers warn productivity will drop even more as +the trial drags forward towards a verdict. + +JULY 11: Detroit public transit bus drivers stage a sick-in, +forcing the entire system to shut down for 24 hours. Drivers were +protesting working conditions (mandatory overtime, unsafe buses +and a management history of harassment and suspensions) and a 10% +pay cut imposed on June 10. + +JULY 13: Twenty-five hundred workers represented by six different +unions strike the two Detroit daily papers after management +repeatedly stalled negotiations in an attempt to force through +concessions, wage freezes and job cuts. In the first few days of +the strike, the strike quickly turned "ugly" in the words of the +New York Times as12 union members were arrested for blocking +scabs from entering premises, several strikers separated scab +carriers from their bundles of papers and companies brought in +beefed-up security forces in an attempt to intimidate strikers. +Observers claim strike was provoked by management as an excuse to +close one of the daily papers, which are run as a joint management +exercise between two former rivals. On July 17, two thousand +turned out to a strike support rally. + +JULY 25: Thousands of county workers and supporters take to the +streets in Los Angeles to protest sweeping budget cuts which +threaten to gut Los Angeles County's health care system and other +essential services in poor and working class neighborhoods. Police +in riot gear were stationed through out the march route. If cuts +go through, over 18,000 county workers will lose their jobs and +the county's largest hospital (the biggest in the country) will +close along with dozens of satellite clinics serving predominately +low-income communities. + +JULY 27: Protesting the police beating of a Black youth, riots +break out in Indianapolis for two nights. Bricks and bottles were +hurled at police, shop windows smashed and stores looted before +order was restored. On the same night, across the country, masked +youth in the predominately black Coconut Grove area of Miami set +up barricades, threw concrete blocks at cars and set trash cans on +fire to protest the police shooting of a 17 year old July 18. The +rioters wore pillow cases over their heads and some were estimated +by neighborhood observers to be as young as 12 years old. + +JULY 28: Cabdrivers in Prince Georges County ( Maryland suburbs of +Washington, D.C.) return to work after a six day strike. During +the strike, cabbies blocked highways and repeatedly demonstrated +outside of county offices, citing huge cab insurance increases and +profiteering by cab companies as causes of the strike action. + +END OF JULY: More than two hundred clerical workers at the Detroit +regional Red Cross strike after contract negotiations break down. +Workers accuse the company of trying to union bust and impose +unnecessary concessions. + +_ + +SOME THOUGHTS ON THE CURRENT SITUATION IN THE US: + + A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD - BUT TO WHERE? + +Perhaps at no time in the past several decades has American +society been so palpably polarized and ripe for social +explosions.True, social conflict has yet to erupt on any +significant scale but the preconditions are increasing and showing +no signs of diminishing any time soon. + + So far, much of this simmering tension and frustration has been + tentatively diffused, recuperated and otherwise fragmented into + either safely controlled scapegoating channels (for the time + being at least) or else directed out of sheer necessity into + privatized individual survival strategies. + + As an example of the first tendency, the ruling class has largely + (but not completely) succeeded in making welfare recipients and + immigrants in particular 'responsible' for the decline of living + standards by portraying welfare recipients as freeloaders and + work-shy. Current welfare 'reform' will effectively translate + into a post-prosperity capitalist militarization of labor policy + designed to impose the norms of work discipline and force the + poorest sectors into the labor market at any cost, where they + will be in direct competition with unionized workers particularly + public sector workers. + + For example, aalready in several major states welfare recipients + have been driven into so-called workfare programs which are used + by municipal governments as a way to cut costs by supplanting + decently paid workers with a cheap replaceable source of labor. + Along with this use of welfare-waged labor, state and city + governments have also increasingly turned to temporary and + contractual workers to break strikes and work actions. This past + summer, for example the governor of New Jersey broke a strike by + turnpike toll collectors on a busy holiday weekend by bringing in + with brutal swiftness contractual replacements to man the + tollbooths thus effectively forcing the union to its knees. + +Far from being exceptions, this sort of treatment is being +increasingly doled out as a first resort by bosses in the private +sector as well. The gentleman's accord of ritualized strike action +followed by negotiations, cemented by several decades of labor +peace, is being swept away, with employers in even previously safe +sectors going for the jugular. + +Even the Wall Street Journal noted earlier this year that +provoking strikes has increasingly become the employer's weapons +in the present period to impose changes in work rules, getting rid +of "inflexible" workers, etc. + + THE OLD WORKERS MOVEMENT + +The old workers movement, represented by the AFL-CIO is in serious +decline, a decline and disarray that probably will not be +reversed by the election of Sweeney to the head of the AFL. Even +what is being hailed as a new commitment to militance is limited +to token and often symbolic law-breaking i.e. blocking traffic and +courting arrests as a form of carefully orchestrated pressure +politics. But significantly, such tactics do not extend to +mobilizing for wider, more generalized disruptions of production, +which in any case the existing union bureaucracy would be +absolutely incapable of organizing. + +But perhaps of even more significance is the erosion and +accelerating break-up of what passed for worker's culture and +community in the United States. With some important exceptions, +most serious strikes in the past decade and a half have broken out +in outlying areas relatively far removed from major urban +concentrations. We refer here to Phelps-Dodge, Austin, the +Pittston miners strike, Bath shipyards in Maine, etc. and today, +the ongoing Decatur struggles. These hard fought and bitter +strikes, most of which went down to defeat were often waged in +what amounted to single industry towns. + +The era of tightly constructed working class communities organized +around industry, in which people lived and worked in communities +often linked in close proximity to the workplace, a set of +circumstances which permitted a distinct worker's identity +specific to this long boom phase of capitalist development to +emerge has all but disappeared, probably forever. Particularly in +the large cities. + +Traditional working class institutions, such as the corner bars +are steadily eroding, casualties of the increased privatization of +leisure, which in itself was both a measure of technological +development (i.e. VCR's being both widely accessible and +relatively cheap, at least if you were working) and changing +standards of entertainment. You no longer go down to the corner +bar and discuss problems over a beer - instead you stay at home +and pop in a video in the isolated privacy of your living room. +And hope you don't get shot looking out your living room window. + +This has created a nostalgic longing for a return to an idyllic +"community" that would replace Capital's relentless march into +colonizing more and more of every day life. This nostalgia is +being cynically exploited by the State, who, as we noted in +previous issues of CAN , would love to transfer as many social +welfare functions as possible to the beloved "community." + +Perhaps no where has this been taken to such absurd extremes as in +the Fairfield section of Baltimore, which is now a designated +federal "empowerment" - once again, that magical word! - zone. +Here, less than a couple miles from the glittering array of +yuppified shops (or, excuse us- "shoppes", as they are now +properly called) and tourist attractions of the Inner Harbor lies +what is arguably the most developed post-industrial ghost town in +the United States. Fairfield makes similar decommodified urban +war-zones such as East St. Louis, Detroit, and Camden, New Jersey +look positively gentrified in comparison. + +The juxtaposition is startling. Once a prosperous, bustling +industrial area with a smattering of residences in between the +chemical factories and storage tanks, the area is now practically +empty of both industry and people. Miles of abandoned +infrastructure (including a whole public housing project now +overgrown with weeds) stretch in eerie silence. One expects a +sagebrush to come tumbling down the deserted streets. + + Even at the height of prosperity, Fairfield - a Black majority + town -was woefully underdeveloped. The sidewalks were unpaved and + many of the houses lacked basic sewage facilities. Today, the + area has been gutted and scattered among the ruins remain a few + surviving mostly elderly homeowners. But as a result of it's + empowerment zone status, small outside armies of social workers + and urban planners have now descended on an area empty of people + to "recreate community", starting with the setting up of a + "village center" to prepare Fairfield for it's new economic role: +recycling toxic industrial waste. What a future! + +But to return to our original point, it is more than just working +class leisure and "community' that is being affected. Indeed, it +is a contradictory curiosity that at the same time the work ethic +is being eroded - by capitalism itself (i.e. what we mean is pride +in one's work being rewarded by a decent pay scale, with periodic +increases and a long term, if not life-long commitment on the +employer's part to hire you), its ideological virtues are being +trumpeted so loudly, much in the same pathological way that a +fever often rises right before it is ready to break. And this will +be the source of future contradictions. + +Since people's consciousness often lags behind changed reality, it +may take a little while for this sets in fully. But the +traditional bond is gone with even once formerly stable life-long +employers such as IBM and ATT throwing workers away like so many +discarded tissues these days. And the delinking of the work ethic +is a two way street with important ramifications lost in the +usually one-sided coverage of corporate downsizing. + +It is impossible to accurate judge how widespread some of the +social indicators for this new worker refusal are. Absenteeism, +theft, sabotage broadly defined, drug use on the job; actions +which are usually narrowly dismissed as being individualistic and +not signs of class consciousness are usually ignored by both +traditional leftists and right-wing industrial sociologists alike. + + +Typically, what few articles have appeared on the subject in the +management and "human resources" press have generally focused on +upper echelon white collar employees and not on blue collar or the +more exploited sectors of the white collar and service +proletariat. But the indicators are that such behavior is on the +upswing. + +One of the rare exceptions to this general neglect that openly +tackled the question of employee disaffiliation was a survey +conducted by Kepner-Tregoe, a management consulting firm who +interviewed more than 1500 workers and managers. The results so +startled the firm that they brought in yet another set of +pollsters to double-check the findings. According to the president +of Kepnoe-Tregoe, "The vitriolic response was amazing. . .Workers +don't like their companies and there is a very fundamental social +change going on in this country regarding workplace relations. . +.The workers hear the verbiage about how 'our people are the most +important assets we have' and they want to throw up." In almost +every single category, ranging from overall job satisfaction to +opinions on the new team assignments, an overwhelming majority of +the workers interviewed clearly rejected management views on the +new 'empowerment' i.e. polite words disguising ruthless downsizing +and increased exploitation through over-work. + +If at present such views are becoming widespread, they still are +at the level of individual discontent and have yet to find +collective expression. But as we have noted before, the line +between privatized despair and collective mass action is a very +fine one indeed. And the U.S. working class in particular has a +history of sudden upsurges after periods of seeming calm. +Certainly, the growing alienation at the workplace is a necessary +precondition for future contestation.. + +THE ROLE OF IMMIGRANT LABOR IN POST-PROSPERITY US CAPITALISM: + + +Concentrated in most larger US cities are growing numbers of +foreign -born workers mainly of Latino and Asian descent who +occupy the lowest rungs of the labor force and have brought their +own traditional ways of struggle with them. In some ways, they +have been much more militant than native-born workers. For +example, we heard anecdotally of a 1991 strike in Los Angeles at +American Racing Equipment where all the striking workers were +former teachers from a particular impoverished area of Mexico who +had immigrated to the States. Their strike, which was won in 5 +days, evidently drew on militant labor traditions they had learned +in Mexico. + +At the same time it is important not to overestimate such +developments - or set-up some particular sector of workers as a +"vanguard." As one L.A. reader noted: ". . with the Janitor For +Justice militants (and there are hundreds), their leaders are +using their mass actions - which can be very effective disrupting +production to negotiate deals with corporate bosses which give the +workers peanuts! E.g.: their latest contract said many janitors +would see their pay rise from something like $5.25 to $6.80 an +hour over the next few years. But the older janitors making $6.80 +an hour plus already would see their pay virtually frozen! The +Duranzo 'progressive' leadership of SEIU Local 399 and their +'left' apologists hailed this as showing how 'workers would make +sacrifices for their fellow workers.' What about the bloated +capitalists making 'sacrifices'? Also expanded health care was +negotiated though there may be work hour extensions to 'qualify' +for it." + +THE MILLION MAN MARCH + + To understand some of the contradictions of the March, you have + to first understand the oceans of pain that convulse the Black + community.. For nearly twenty years as a result of + deindustrialization, there is an atmosphere of nihilistic and + fratricidal warfare in the ghetto; an implosion of anger and + frustration compounded by the visible success of a growing + minority of the black middle class who are used as an example + that America has indeed overcome racism and if you haven't gotten + ahead it is your fault and not the system's. It is impossible to + convey the frightening and senseless violence that occurs as a + result of this hopelessness turned inwards. The only comparison + is that of a war zone, although the enemy is not external but the + person next to you. For example, the numbers of people killed in + Baltimore alone since 1970 surpass the numbers in Northern + Ireland dead in the same period due to the civil war there. So + the vague call for "atonement" struck a real chord with ordinary +Black people. + +But is equally true that most American cities with large Black and +Latino populations are potential tinderboxes, any one of which +could spontaneously explode into a Los Angeles - as witnessed by +the mini-riots that have broken out this year alone in Paterson, +New Jersey, Indianapolis, Miami and Lexington, Kentucky, among +other, smaller localized outbursts. + +Having said that, it was quite interesting to observe how the +media essentially built the Million Man March. Even six weeks +before the March, it appeared that there was very little +grassroots infrastructure anywhere in place. Unlike any other +national demonstrations on any issue, which are always ignored and +downplayed both before and after they occur, the Million Man March +was given surprisingly positive media coverage. This could be due +to two factors. One, the demands of the March were considered +non-threatening and thus safe to promote. Two, the media loves to +exaggerate and sensationalize the growing and real racial divide +(which of course, was compounded by the Simpson circus) so the +March may have been viewed as a symptom of this gulf between Black +and white America and thus focused on from this angle. Whatever +their purpose for doing so, the sensationalistic media promotion +had the effect - probably unintended - of turning the event into a +spontaneous referendum on Black pride, which increased the +turn-out all out of proportion to any actual organizing efforts. + + It is undeniable true that the participants appeared to be + disproportionately better-off . Just the cost of traveling to + D.C. would have excluded the poorest sector of the Black + population. We personally witnessed a homeless man in Baltimore + calling the local march organizers and inquiring if any free + buses were being provided. He was told if he had really wanted to + go, he would have saved up the money in advance since publicity + for the march had been circulating for a couple months! Needless + to say, he didn't participate. Nor, probably for the same reason + did many others. + +The role of Louis Farrakan must be placed in perspective. He is +widely viewed as a doctor who can make an excellent diagnosis but +no one is going to line up to take the cure. In other words, +thousands of people will turn out to hear him denounce racism, +which alone among Black national figures he clearly denounces in a +no-holds barred, fiery manner. However, very few people join the +Nation of Islam or even become among it's periphery afterwards. +The Nation is still a tiny group, with only an estimated 10-15,000 +actual members. So for now. it's publicity is all out of +proportion to it's actual membership. + +In the past few years, Farrakhan has subtly shifted from +attempting to recruit from among the Black lumpen proletariat, +which had previously composed the base for much of the NOI's +support (ex-convicts, etc.) and focused instead on the Black +middle class (students and the college educated professionals. His +prominent role in the March is an example of one more attempt to +shift himself into this strata and position himself to be a player +for the interests of the Black petty bourgeoisie. + + Having said all of that, there is no denying that Farrakhan is + potentially a very sinister and reactionary figure whose long + term role could be that of an American version of Buthelezi in + South Africa. + + Surprisingly few observers, either pro- or con-, point to + Farrakhan's dependence on government money. The NOI gets millions + of dollars in contracts to provide security services in the + inner-city housing projects. Contrast this generous so-called + "neutral" support with that accorded to the Panthers, Malcolm X + and even Martin Luther King ! So whatever they may say publicly, + the rulers clearly see this demagogue as someone worth supplying + with an economic base. And needless to say, this umbilical cord + of dollars will be very useful in ensuring Farrakhan also plays a + role useful to them in return at some future point as well as + feeding into Farrakhan's attempted metamprhosis into a power + broker for the masses of Black people. It is not unfeasible to + see Farrakhan providing the shock troops to put down future riots + in the inner city for example. + +As for the long term effects of the Million Man March, it is too +soon to tell, what if any these may be. Because it had a soft +message which anyone could claim a vindication for their own +political perspective, this will remain a clouded issue. The fact +that the speakers on the podium included Black elected officials +who have been the most responsible for administering budget cuts, +layoffs and service cut backs in some of the largest cities - all +of which have disproportionately fallen on the Black working class +and poor - suggests that the conflict in class interests can +perhaps be papered over for a one day March but not for a long +range coalition. + +And whatever the self-blaming content of the self-help official +message of the Million Man March, it is clear too that the March, +despite itself, was perhaps the first and largest implicit protest +so far against the Contract on America; a fact that the +Republicans have been forced to acknowledge even as they +uncomfortably scramble to find some comforting common ground with +the overall theme of "self-reliance". + +What all these admittedly partial observations suggest is that the +old post-WW2 institutional framework which governed class conflict +in the United States is steadily being frayed and whittled away - +a process which has led to a shake-up in old allegiances and a +process which only stands to continue accelerating in the +foreseeable future. No new reforms, in the time old American +tradition of buying off mass discontent through sectional +concessions, are anywhere on the horizon. Instead the immediate +choice looming is merely between how severe the cuts in living +standards are going to be. As the L.A. Rebellion amply +demonstrated, where in stark contrast to the urban rebellions of +the 60's, no new cooling-off money in the form of poverty +programs and other such measures trickled down to the streets. + +Ironically, what were once considered "ultra-left" tactics during +the long boom of prosperity and thus confined to the largely +ignored hopes of tiny and insignificant groups, tactics such as +factory occupations, objectively are now suddenly very practical +and realistic measures. Much in the same way that during the +Depression era, sit-downs in the factories sprung-up as a +common-sense response to the growing numbers of unemployed outside +the plant gates whose desperation would have been used as a +battering ram to smash traditional strikes. + +Today, and for the first time in decades, it is all the old +reformist solutions (reliance on leaders, the Democrats, partial +demands, etc.) which appear hopelessly utopian. Of course, these +reformist solutions were not the result of "false consciousness" +but the result of periods of relative prosperity where it was +possible to force the capitalists to cough up the goods, at least +in the short run. And in the short run, they indeed worked. But +for all intent and purposes, now these tactics are dead as a +doornail. There are no new crumbs to dispense anyone's way as the +previously existing objective conditions for most partial reforms +have been wiped out. When struggles break out, they will +eventually be forced to confront this fact, especially if people +are to avoid going down to defeat, as the recent debacle of the +Bridgestone/Firestone rubber workers strike and now Caterpillar +painfully demonstrate the exhaustion of all factions of the +traditional labor movement. And in this transition period to what +hopefully could signify the small beginnings of a new worker's +movement, over time, lessons will have to be learned and +conclusions drawn in the course of the struggle itself. + +Some Recent Publications Containing Useful Material On Different +Aspects of the US + +RACE TRAITOR # 5 (Winter 96): An editorial on the militias with +which we agree with wholeheartedly. Available for $5 from: POB +603, Cambridge, MA..,02140-0005 + +PROLETARIAN REVOLUTION #50 (Fall 1995): Good articles on Colin +Powell and the Million Man March. Still, too wedded to the +procrustean bed of orthodox Trotskyism. Available for $1 from: +LRP, POB 3573, New York, NY 10008-3573 + +CHICAGO WORKER'S VOICE # 8 (October 1995): Articles on Sweeney +and Labor Party Advocates. Available for $4 from: POB 11542, +Chicago, IL, 60611. + +TRADE UNION POLITICS: AMERICAN UNIONS AND ECONOMIC CHANGE 1960S- +1990S. Edited by Kent Worcester and Glen Perusek. Humanities +Press. $17.50 Excellent collection of essays on the U.S. labor +movement in the past several decades. Highly recommended. + +WORLD-WIDE WEB RESOURCES: + +IWW: http://iww.org./ + +A-Infos: http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/A-Infos + +French Students and Workers On Strike: +http://www.cs.utah.edu/~galt/france/ + +Anarchist Archives: http://www.miyazaki-mic.ac.jp/faculty/dwar + +E-MAIL LISTS + +RIOT-L + +This is quite a good list of material gleaned from Reuters using a +range of search words (strikes, riots, etc. ) and then +automatically reposted to subscribers. Subscriptions are free. + +To subscribe, send as message as follows: + +To: clyde@burn.uscd.edu Subject: sub riot-l Message Body: Type +your e-mail address + +A-INFOS + +This is the international list of A-Infos, a world-wide network of +anarchist groups and individuals who post information, mostly on +current events and struggles, to recipients. + +To subscribe, send a message as follows: + +To: majordomo@global.com Subject: (Leave blank) Message Body: +subscribe a-infos + +BOOK REVIEW + +RE-SHAPING WORK Edited By Christopher Schenk and John Anderson +Published by the Ontario Federation of Labour and the +Technological Adjustment Research Program + +The editors of the essays which comprise re-Shaping Work +perceptively state in the introduction to this book that they +believe we in the labour movement have to "devote as much time to +battling the issues of technological change and work organization +as we do on the front of free trade and economic restructuring." +Consistent with this the book's authors analyze many of the +profound changes in w3ork organization which are taking place and +attempt to come to grips with them. The result is a potentially +groundbreaking book for the labour movement in Canada. + +Re-Shaping Work is potentially groundbreaking because it is the +first major work produced by the Canadian labour movement which +takes a serious, in0depth look at the issue of work organization. +This is a truly noticeable development because prior to this +book's publication the issue of work organization had been sorely +neglected by most of the labour movement despite its claims to be +seriously challenging the corporate agenda. Indeed, the movement's +failure to adequately address the issue of work organization has +epitomized the shallowness of its opposition to the global +corporate agenda. + +This said it is not surprising that the authors fail to map out a +visionary strategy for dealing with the changes being made to the +way work is organized. The strategies they do present are little +more than prescriptions for coping with and trying to mitigate the +adverse effects of work re-organization. What we need but do not +get is a truly comprehensive multi-faceted strategy of resistance +to work re-organization which thoroughly recognizes that it is +integral to capitalism. + +One must ask why the authors did not dare to attempt to map out +such a strategy? Is it because they fully understand the radical +implications of seriously challenging the global corporate agenda +(i.e. capitalism)? Or is it because the book's editors were +carefully selective about what to include in a book funded by the +previous Ontario government? + +Whatever the case there is a real danger that this significant +book and the important analytical work included within it will +soon be forgotten like so many other documents produced by the +labour movement. But hopefully this won't be the case. Hopefully +Re-shaping work will be widely read by workers and, despite its +weaknesses, encourage the long overdue publication of a multitude +of material on the subject of work organization. In short, it +remains to be seen whether the appearance of Re-Shaping Work will +mark a real turning point for labour in Canada or prove to be just +one more non-event. + +Bruce Allen is a Shop Committeeperson and member of CAW Local 199 + + +PRIVATE PRISON FACTORIES + +By D.A. Shelton + +Fred Gaines, a former factory worker of the Wackenhut Corporation, +was recently laid off from his job as an assembler of computer +circuit boards. He is 52, with two small children, a wife to +support and a $40,000 mortgage owed on his house. The corporation +denied Gaines ' request for severance pay, despite 10 years of +loyal service. Given his 10th grade education and lack of +employment opportunities, this family of four will surely +experience hard times in the near future. + +A Wackenhut official explained, "Due to budgetary constraints, +downsizing was appropriate if we are to stay competitive in the +computer assembly market." Yet a few months later, Wackenhut +announced that its former assembly operation was being transferred +to the Lockhard Work Program Facility in Lockhart, Texas. Lockhard +is a private prison managed by a subsidiary of Wackenhut. + +It was never mentioned that the inmate workers at this private +prison are paid drastically lower wages than the former employees +at Wackenhut - about 10% lower. Fred Gaines is but one of many +victims affected in the last decade as U.S companies increasingly +tap into the lucrative multibillion dollar prison industry. + +As prison populations across the nation explode, the growth of +private prisons has expanded by 500% between 1985 and 1995. +Eighteen companies have constructed or rehabbed 93 private prison +facilities, thus creating space for 51,000 prisoners incarcerated +in an already overburdened criminal justice system. + +For these companies to compete, they are required to bid on +federal, state and local grants. Once a grant is awarded, company +officials examine exploitable, cost-cutting measures to maximize +their profits. + +Last June, Esmore Correctional Services Inc., which operates four +brutal private prisons in the U.S. discovered the consequences of +its actions when over 300 immigrants at the INS Processing Center +in Elizabeth, N.J. rebelled against inhumane conditions. these men +and women immigrant prisoners were stored in a converted warehouse +where they were underfed, sexually mistreated and subjected to +daily brutality and abuse. + +After a six hour riot, the prisoners were quickly transferred to +county jails and INS facilities in New York, Pennsylvania and +Maryland. Shortly thereafter the Elizabeth facility was closed +down. + +This incident is an example of what to expect in the future, as +this new "Fortune 500" industry grows. + +Reprinted from "News And Letters" Dec. 1995 WORLD-WIDE WEB +RESOURCES: + +IWW: http://iww.org./ + +A-Infos: http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/A-Infos + +French Students and Workers On Strike: +http://www.cs.utah.edu/~galt/france/ + +Anarchist Archives: http://www.miyazaki-mic.ac.jp/faculty/dwar + +E-MAIL LISTS + +RIOT-L + +This is quite a good list of material gleaned from Reuters using a +range of search words (strikes, riots, etc. ) and then +automatically reposted to subscribers. Subscriptions are free. + +To subscribe, send as message as follows: + +To: clyde@burn.uscd.edu Subject: sub riot-l Message Body: Type +your e-mail address + +A-INFOS + +This is the international list of A-Infos, a world-wide network of +anarchist groups and individuals who post information, mostly on +current events and struggles, to recipients. + +To subscribe, send a message as follows: + +To: majordomo@global.com Subject: (Leave blank) Message Body: +subscribe a-infos + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001411.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001411.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..76dcfbb3 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001411.txt @@ -0,0 +1,245 @@ +The following is the introduction and conclusion of a far longer article +which will appear in the _New Labor Review_ sometime in 1996. The following +will be published in FREEDOM again sometime in 1996. +------------------------------------------------------------ + + +The Mondragon Co-operative Federation: A model for our times? +by Mike Long + + The Mondragon Co-operative Federation (MCF) is a community of +economically highly successful worker-owned, worker-controlled +production and consumption co-operatives centred around Mondragon, a +town in the Basque region of northern Spain, and now spreading +throughout the Basque provinces and beyond. The MCF is an experiment +in participatory economic democracy rooted in a powerful grassroots +movement for Basque cultural revival and autonomy, but inclusive of non- +Basques . + The MCF began quietly on a tiny scale with one co-op and 12 workers +nearly 40 years ago under the fascist Franco dictatorship. The original +members were educated but poor and had to borrow money from +sympathetic community members to get started. By 1994, the MCF had +become the fifteenth biggest business group in Spain, comprising some 170 +co-ops and over 25,000 worker members and their families, with vast +assets, large financial reserves, and annual sales of around three billion US +dollars. + Studies have shown that the co-ops have consistently outperformed +surrounding capitalist industry on all the usual measures, and while +unemployment in Spain has hovered around 20% for many years, full +employment has been maintained within the Federation. All this has been +achieved with a level of internal democracy and concern for social justice +undreamt of by most workers struggling under exploitative state systems, +whether capitalist or authoritarian socialist. + Not surprisingly, international interest in the MCF has grown over the +past 20 years, especially now that so many governments are unable to +provide even for basic human needs food, shelter, education, healthcare, art +and recreation - and are increasingly recognised as uninterested in doing so. +(As anarchists have long pointed out, that is not what governments are for, +after all.) There is a sizeable literature in several languages on Mondragon. +Harvard business students study management within the Mondragon co- +ops. Stanford law students learn about the legal obstacles to setting up +such entities in the USA Enlightened Australian trade unionists consider +whether using union funds to start "mini-Mondragons" for their +unemployed members might be more effective than filling politicians' +pockets in the vain hope of slowing corporate job export to non-union, +low-wage, third world countries. And some anarchists wonder if the MCF +is a test, or even a vindication, of their ideas. + This article has three aims. The first is to sketch the historical context +for the MCF, including the wide-scale experimentation with worker- +controlled industry and agriculture that took place during the early months +of the Spanish Civil War. + There are similarities, ignored by many professional MCF observers, +although not by all, between the internal structure and day-to-day +functioning of the CNT/UGT collectives in 1936 and 1937 and the MCF +co-operatives since 1956. This is so despite the undeniable compromises +which today's worker-owners have made (or as most of them see it, have +been forced to make) in order to stay afloat in the hostile capitalist sea in +which they operate, and despite the fact that the debt appears to go +unrecognised by many of the co-operators themselves, few of whom +consider themselves anarchists. The second aim is to provide a brief +overview of the Federation's development, structure and functioning. The +third is to evaluate its significance for anarcho-syndicalists. + The last is especially problematic, for anarchists differ on economics. +Some believe in collectivism, as envisaged, e.g. by Proudhon, Bakunin or +Malatesta, whereby the means of production belong to the community, and +people collaborate in collectively owned farms, shops and factories, which +trade with one another via a union-run system, and at the individual level +receive goods in exchange for work - from each according to their abilities, +unto each according to their deeds. The prosperity of a collective, of its +union, and of the individual workers within it in principle depends on how +hard they work and how skilled and creative they are, but in practice +sometimes also on how well they trade, on their starting assets and on the +demand for their products or services. The system discourages slackers +and freeloaders, that is, but can have the additional effect of promoting +survival of the strongest and fittest. Others aspire to the more idealistic +"honour system" of anarchist communism, favoured, e.g. by Godwin, +Winstanley, Morris and Kropotkin, whereby money, exchange systems and +the market are abolished, property is publicly owned, and people cooperate +within and across loosely federated groups to receive food, goods and +services without reference to work done or other contributions - from each +according to their abilities, unto each according to their needs. Such a +system is more open to abuse, but it offers protection for non-producers, +such as the weak, the sick, and the unemployed. Still others (like many non- +anarchists) advocate everything from LETS schemes, through local +currencies, to gift economies. As Holmstrom (1993) noted, however, how +best to organise economically in the new society, and how to get from here +to there: + +"is not just a problem for anarchists or Spaniards. It has been a concern +for the left everywhere, especially where ideas of workers' control were +taken seriously: how to balance the interests of self-managing groups of +workers against those of consumers and of social justice." (Holstrom, +1993, 25) + + A third major option, one which attempts to capture the strengths, but +avoid the perceived (potential) weaknesses of pure collectivism or anarcho- +communism is anarcho-syndicalism as propounded, among many others, +by Rocker, Monatte, Cornelissen, Pouget, Grave, Yvetot, Pelloutier, +Pataud, Flores Magon, Ascaso, Durruti, Mann, Brown and Chomsky. +Anarcho-syndicalists propose a central role for inclusive, egalitarian +industrial unions (as opposed to elitist and divisive trade, or craft unions) as +the central mechanism by which working people can organise towards three +ends: (1) to eradicate wage slavery, whether capitalist or state socialist, (2) +to operate the new stateless society, including its economy, education and +social programs, peaceably and justly, and (3) to protect that society +against threats from traditional enemies, such as racists, fascists, +capitalists, +Stalinists and bureaucrats. The union is not everything, however. Contrary +to the pathetic charicature portrayed by Bookchin (1993 and elsewhere), +both the theory and historical practice of anarcho-syndicalism stress the +interdependence of union and community. Workers and their families are +obviously members of both, after all. Anarcho-syndicalists support +community organisations of all kinds, not just organisation in the +workplace, critically important though that is. These range from workers' +education, literacy and recreation centres, through schools and co- +operatives, sports teams and "mixed local" union halls, to women's centres, +day-care centres and holiday clubs. Through the strength and resources of +its unions and union federations, anarcho-syndicalism provides options for +achieving and protecting anarchist goals (and for masses of working +people, not just small privileged elites) which are unavailable to or from +small, local communities alone - a problem which "social ecologists" like +Bookchin simply ignore. + Industrial unions are not only the means to an end, for anarcho- +syndicalists, however. They also offer a mechanism for the rational co- +ordination of the production and distribution of goods and services in the +new society on a scale demanded by its modern size and complexity - a +scale that is difficult, perhaps impossible, for either pure anarcho- +communism or collectivism to manage. To illustrate, union and industry- +wide councils can preempt the potential for selfish competition inherent +(although not inevitable of course) in collectivism, with its retention of +assets and property ownership by collective members. They can do this, +for example, by sheltering one collectively owned farm, factory or service +from a more successful one, or by researching planning and funding the +initial implementation of new unionfunded ventures, such as co-operatives, +ensuring that they will be useful, economically viable, and will not duplicate +services offered elsewhere. Their size and strength also allow industrial +unions to guarantee protection for sick, weak or temporarily unproductive +community members, rather than leaving them to depend on what is +essentially the charity of others, as pure collectivism tends to do. Finally, as +evidenced by the historical record, and contrary to Bookchin's +unsupported assertions, anarcho-syndicalism has long been recognised as +relevant to their needs by far more than "just" blue-collar smokestack +operators, appealing instead to workers of all kinds: to sailors, dockers, +miners, lumberjacks, bakers, cobblers, barbers, needleworkers, educators, +postal workers, flight attendants and computer operators, to white-collar +providers of numerous other goods and services, and to collectivism, with +its retention of millions of landless peasants. + In addition to all these options and variants in anarchist economics, +there are disagreements within the various camps about how to get from +here to there. Anarchists have long argued over whether, as one collectivist, +Proudhon, believed, it is possible to evolve gradually and peacefully +towards one or the other system, or whether, as another collectivist, +Bakunin, asserted, what they aspire to can only be achieved by revolution +and expropriation of the existing means of production, forcibly if +necessary. Not surprisingly, therefore, anarchists' attitudes towards +Mondragon vary, too, ranging from enthusiastic (e.g. Benello, 1986/1992) +to dismissive (e.g. Chomsky, 1994). What follows is based on my reading +of English, and some Spanish, literature on the MCF, coupled with a week- +long visit to Arrasate (the Basque name for Mondragon) in June, 1994, with +fellow Wobbly, Charlene "Charlie" Sato (we visited as individuals, not as +representatives of any organisation). Our stay in Arrasate included an +intensive series of pre-arranged interviews, informal group discussions, and +site visits, as well as enjoyable and equally informative evenings spent +socialising with co-op members over bottles of the MCF's excellent Rioja +wines. +(...................) +main article +(...................) + +A model for our times? + + The generalizability of the Mondragon model may be considered in at +least two ways: in terms of its practical viability and its ideological +acceptability. Much has been written about the former, with some debate +about the relative contributions to the MCF's economic success of the +following factors, and various combinations thereof: Basque nationalism; +co-operative values; a strong sense of (Basque or any other) ethnic, +linguistic and cultural identity among the participants; the foresight and +leadership of Father Arizmendiarrieta; the compatibility of MCF values with +Basque traditions, such as co-operative farming practices and the relatively +equitable land distribution among Basque families compared, for instance, +with the hacienda system of southern Spain; the rapid expansion of the +Spanish economy after the Civil War, with a heavy demand for household +goods and other early MCF products; the political and economic history of +Spain, with its strong anarchist and anarcho- +syndicalist traditions and lengthy prior experience with agricultural, fishing, +and industrial production co-ops; Mondragon's strategic location, with easy +access to large ports like Bilbao, and short distances to major export +markets; the scope and diversity of the MCF's high technology products; +the use of crucial second degree co-ops; early establishment of the CLP; +the centrality of the industrial co-ops; the relatively low cost of land for the +agricultural sector; the availability of a highly educated work force with +relevant skills; and the felt need to look to a self-help model, given the +Basque people's long history of state oppression. + Also widely considered crucial is the MCF co-ops' internal worker- +member economic structure. My own view is that perhaps all, of the above +factors were differentially important at various times in the MCF's history, it +is in their internal structure and functioning that the co-ops' main ingredient +for success lies - and in this domain, too, that they come closest to +anarchist principles and values. I believe that (a) the motivation and +commitment needed to buy or work one's way into a co-op; (b) the initial +extra capitalisation provided by retention of a portion of members' income +in their internal capital accounts; (c) the equality and mutual respect +produced by the one person, one share, one vote, system; and (d) the +stability and freedom from external control guaranteed by the impossibility +of members selling shares to each other or to outsiders, have made for a +system of worker ownership and (with some dilution in the interests of +operational size and efficiency) worker control.(14) The pride and security +this brings the MCF members, the feeling of control over their own lives, +the visible economic success of their efforts, the decent standard of living +they have achieved for themselves and their families, and the positive +impact all this has on the communities to which they return after work each +day, have had a liberating effect on the workers of Mondragon, just as +anarchist theory would predict. + If this analysis is accurate, or even close to it, variants of the model +adapted for local conditions must be of interest to like-minded individuals +or whole communities elsewhere. In fact, co-ops on something like the +Mondragon model are already operating in several countries, including +Germany and the USA. Many writers have discussed the MCF or similar +projects positively, and several have provided practical information on how +to go about setting up new co-ops. + Whether worker or union-owned and/or controlled, and no doubt +accompanied by militant union organising in existing workplaces, it is clear +that something like Mondragon-style co-op federations, and federations of +federations, are urgently needed in many countries today. Quite apart from +the human misery and environmental devastation it causes, capitalism +simply does not work even judged by its own execrable standards. The +desperate plight of growing millions of unemployed and never-to-be- +employed workers in the inner city ruins of so many "advanced" +industrialised countries attests to this. So does the poverty, disease and +starvation that is the lot of millions of capitalism's third world victims. +These people are viewed by "their" governments merely as the inevitable +statistical fall-out from multinational corporate "restructuring" and increased +"efficiency". Politicians, states and the capitalist system have nothing to +offer them. Radical industrial unions, like the CNT, the SAC and the IWW +have something. Ultimately, however, their future lies in their own hands, +just as it did the oppressed citizens of the small town of Arrasate some fifty +years ago. + + +FREEDOM PRESS +http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/Freedom + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001413.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001413.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..61c8a01e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001413.txt @@ -0,0 +1,246 @@ +WAR DATABASE + +by Ronald Bleier (rbleier@igc.apc.org) + +I'd like invite contributions from the on-line community +to this compilation of ongoing and incipient wars, war +related situations and war related information. + +I have seen the statistic that there are about 30 ongoing +wars and I have managed to come up with a list of about 20 +so far. Please feel free to supply missing information, +and to make corrections and additions. If you email me +information I will include it in periodic updates. + +Also, readers are invited to share their knowledge of +sites on-line where relevant information is available. + +*** + +ONGOING WARS + +EUROPE + +1. Former Yugoslavia; 200,000+ deaths, 1 million+ +refugees, began in summer 1991 and heated up in March +1992. Siege of Sarajevo begins April 1992. Successful +September 1995 Croatian attack on Krajina has led to a new +wave of 150,000 to 200,000 refugees (WarReport, Sept 95). +10,000 dead in Sarajevo (NYT, by Kit R. Roane, 11.2.95). + +SOUTH ASIA + +2. Kashmir -- Indian government vs. Muslim separatist rebel +group, Al Faran. + +3. Sri Lanka -- Tamils vs Sinhalese; fighting began in +1983; 36,000+ deaths. Head of state: President Chandrika +Bandaran aike Kumaratunga. Population 17.6 million; nearly +three-quarters Sinhalese and Buddhist. Guerrilla +organization led by Vellupillai Prabhakaran claims to +represent 2.2 million mostly Hindu Tamils in north and +east. (from NYT, 27 October 95, by Barbara Crossette) + +NORTH AFRICA AND MIDDLE EAST + +4. Algeria --civil war; 40,000 killed since government +annulled elections in 1992 that Muslim militants were +poised to win. Algeria achieved independence in 1962. At +that time nearly 2 million descen dants of Fr. settlers +("pieds noirs") returned to France as did 700,000 +Algerians. Today there are about 5 million Muslims (of 75 +million French population) living in France. France is +providing abo ut $1 billion to Algeria in loans and grants +and importing about $1 billion worth of natural gas. (NYT, +25 Oct. 95, by Craig R. Whitney) + +5. Egypt -- civil war with Islamist militants + +6. Afghanistan -- civil war. Began with Russian +intervention of 1979; Soviets left in April 92. Tens of +thousands killed; hundreds of thousands of refugees. + +Siege of Kabul (pop. 750,000) began in Jan 94 by Taliban +forces, mostly Pushtuns, the majority ethnic group that has traditionally provided Afghanistan's rulers. Kabul govt is dominated by ethnic Taj +iks, a minority in Afghanistan. (NYT, 16 Oct. 95; by John +Burns) + +7. Turkey vs. Kurds -- hostilities began in 1984. 18,000 +killed, 2,000 Kurdish villages razed, hundreds of +thousands displaced; a cost of an estimated $7 billion/yr. +U.S. provides billions in militar y aid to Turkey -- $5.1 +billion over last decade and about $120 million a year in +economic aid. (Covert Action Quarterly, Fall '95 and NYT, +29 Oct. 95, by Celestine Bohlen.) + +8. Kurds vs. Iraqis and Iranians + +9. Shiites in Southern Iraq vs Iraqis + +10. Israel in South Lebanon. Party of God guerillas +(Hezbollah: Arabic for Party of God). Earliest Israeli +interventions go back to 1975. Major interventions in +1978 and 1982. Since 1982 Israel has occupied at least a +portion of South Lebanon. Tens of thousands killed; +hundreds of thousands of refugees. The U.S. provides +Israel with about $6 billion a year in economic and +military aid and loa n guarantees and arms transfers. + +AFRICA + +11. Sudan civil war between Muslim north and African +south; began in 1983; 100,000 refugees in Zaire and +Central African Republic; (IPS, October '95) + +12. Sierra Leone; civil war; guerrilla movement began in +1991 to overthrow a dictatorship. Population 4 million; +more than half are refugees; 1.2 million internal +refugees; tens of thousands of casualties; currently +severe malnutrition; countryside empty because of lack of +security. South African mercenaries help military +Government fight bush insurgency. + +13. Shahel Pastoralists (Moors and Tauregs) vs. Black +Africans + +14. Somalia -- Civil war; began in 1991. + +CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA + +15. Mexico - Rebellion in Mexican state of Chiapas by Mayan +rebels, known as Zapatistas; began in January 1994. + +16. Guatemala; war began in 1961 vs. leftist guerillas, +the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unit; 100,000 dead; +40,000 missing; (NYT, 27 August 95; story by Larry +Rohter). CIA coup against democratic government led to +military dictatorship in 1954. + +EX-SOVIET UNION AND CHINA + +17. Russia vs. Chechen rebels began in December 1994; +thousands killed, tens of thousands displaced. Head of +State: Boris Yeltsin. Population: 148 million. + +18. Armenia - Azerbaijan -- undeclared war began in 1988 +prompted an exodus that has reduced Armenia's population +of 3.5 million by 20 to 30 percent (Steve LeVine, NYT, 24 +Oct. '95) + +19. Georgia (ex Soviet Republic); war with Abkhazian +rebels began in 1993. Thousands died and hundreds of +thousands displaced. Population of Georgia: 5.5 million. +(NYT, 19 Oct. '95) + +SOUTH ASIA + +20. Philippines -- guerrilla insurgency; head of state: +Fidel V. Ramos. Population: 67 million. + +MILITARY OCCUPATIONS + +1. China in Tibet + +2. Israel in the former Palestine and South Lebanon + +3. Serbian occupation of Kosovo -- Albanians make up 90% of +the population. + +4. East Timor invaded December 7, 1975 by Indonesia; +estimated 200,000 killed, about a third of the population. +Population transfer program began in the 90s. U.S. gave +green light for 1975 invasion a nd has supported the +Suharto government with military and economic aid. The +Clinton administration has expressed its willingness to +sell General Suharto 20 F-16's and approve $60 million in +weapons sales. + +SIMMERING + +1. Rwanda -- April 6, 1994: date of plane crash +precipitating 1994 war between Hutus and Tutsis: 1 million +dead; 2 million refugees. 57,000 prisoners in Rwandan +jails; built to hold 12,000; prison po pulation has gone up +from 53,000 to 57,000 in less than a month. Some 2,300 +inmates have died from disease over the past 15 months +NYT, Reuters, Oct 29, '95) + +2. Burundi + +3. Liberia -- by the time of the shaky cease-fire of +August 1995, 150,000 Liberians killed in war by 5 warring +factions. 3/4 of Liberia's population (2.7 million, 1991 +estimated) are refugees. 60,000 -80,000 armed soldiers in +Fall 95. + +4. Cambodia -- Pol Pot controls about 50% of Cambodia (The +Nation, October 2, '95) + +5. Cyprus -- + +6. China and Taiwan + +7. India and Pakistan + +8. Northern Ireland + +9. Angola + +10. Myanamar (Burma); currently under military rule. +Population 45 million. Hundreds killed by military in +1988. Ayn San Sue Kye released from house arrest in summer +1995. + +11. Suriname (pop. 400,000) rainforests under attack by +foreign investors. 6 year civil war between indigenous +Indian peoples and Maroons broken by an unsteady peace in +1992. Ongoing skirmishes bet ween settlers and native +peoples. + +COLD WAR + +1. Israel and Syria + +2. U.S. vs. Cuba + +3. North and South Korea + +OPPRESSION OF MINORITIES OR WEAKER MEMBERS + (If not listed previously) + +1. Gypsies (Roma) in Romania, Germany, Albania, Czech +Republic, Bulgaria, ex-Yugoslavia, Poland. 8 million +Gypsies in Europe; 12 million in world. + +2. Latvia -- One third of the country's 2.5 million people +are ethnic Russians live under restrictive laws which make +them ineligible for citizenship; nor can they vote. + +3. Nigeria -- Muslim government of General Sani Abacha is +criticized for oppression of minority tribes including the +5 million Ogoni peoples. In October 95, several leaders of +Ogonis were sentenced to death on charges of murder. + +PEACE TALKS/NEGOTIATIONS ONGOING + +1. Bosnia + +2. Angola + +3. Mexico vs. rebels in Chiapas + +4. Israelis and Palestinians + +5. North and South Korea + +6. Northern Ireland/England + +7. Guatemala -- Rebels announce unilateral cease-fire to +coincide with Nov. 12, 1995 elections due to progress in +the peace talks. + +THE END + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001414.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001414.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1c762e03 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001414.txt @@ -0,0 +1,89 @@ +Dear Spunk, +I hope this is something like you want, and I hope it gets there too! +I`m only a beginner, however. I interviewed the British anarchist +band, Chumbawamba (via e-mail), and here are the results! +[A.R.Grange ] + + "WE'VE COME FOR YOUR CHILDREN!" +A tecnologically advanced interview with anarchist agit-pop band, +Chumbawamba, following their recent gig at Sheffield university! + + 1) So, do you see your music as propaganda? + Our music is propaganda in the sense that we're political people by +> nature and we always side with the underdog. we use the inroads we get into +> the media (through music) to push ideas/information. there's a big +> difference between information and education. when you give people +> information you are asking them to decide for themselves; education usually +> comes complete with opinions laid out on a plate. we're not interested in +> trying to tell people WHAT to think. +> + +2) Chumbawamba say in their web page: "We want to create some sort of context around Chumbawamba, +which is bigger than the band itself, bigger than the music." What do +you mean by `context` here, and how do you think you can achieve it? + We mean that we're more interested in using pop and media time to push +> ideas (usually anarchist and other people's) than we are in promoting +> chumbawamba. we'd hate to think that we were using the media to push just +> music and individual egos. but it's funny because we play the personality +> game, but justify it because it's a way to get subversive ideas into the +> mainstream. it sounds pseudy but chumbawamba is our revolutionary cell +> rather than a career move. revolutionary politics have to be rephrased so +> that they don't sound odd to people's ears in a mostly right-wing culture. +> we do it with pop culture - and generally have a good time while we're +> about it. +> +> 3) What inspires the messages behind your music? + We only write about things which touch us and which we understand. we +> don't see ourselves as the mother theresa's of the pop industry - saving +> the poor unfortunates is best left to live aid. we wouldn't patronise the +> underdog because we still see ourselves as, and empathise with, the +> underdog. +> +> 4) How important do you think you, as a band, are at fighting such +issues as racism, sexism and homophobia? + Can't say. you push ideas out but you've no way of knowing how people +> respond to them. after we released homophobia we got loads of letters from +> people who said they felt isolated, they said that the song 'homophobia' +> had made them feel that they wouldn't be isolated on the grounds of +> sexuality forever. if chumbawamba sometimes provides reassurance that the +> entire world isn't bigoted, i can quite happily live with that. +> +> 5 You seem to have been on the musical / political scene now for +nearly fifteen years - do you think you`ve changed anything? + Changed ourselves. we're no longer satisfied with being subversive in a +> lefty ghetto. +> +> 6) Where do you think the revolutionary left, eg, the SWP, are +going at the moment - and where would you place yourself as regards +to this? + I fucking hate the SWP because they're not honest about the fact that +> they jump on every band wagon to push a party line. most people don't +> realise that the anti nazi league is a front/recruitment tactic for the SWP +> or that SWP stewards have handed people over to the police in riot +> situations. i particularly hate organisations which think that working +> class people are too stupid to lead themselves. the SWP and the RCP + both call themselves a 'vanguard'. i have been known to threaten paper sellers. +> +> 7 You seem to have had some unfavourable reviews recently (that +you`ve had the sense of humour to publish in your web page.) What is +your reaction to people who describe you as such things as a "one +legged man at an arse-kicking party"?)they should guard their first born child well! + They should guard their first-born child well!> + +> 8) In a review of your gig at Sheffield University earlier this +year, the NME said: "there`s nowt anarchistic about playing +subsidised universities". Do you have any control over where you play +anymore - what is your opinion of this? + We can pick and choose venues - i choose to play venues with decent +> women's toilets and no ice on the insides of the window pane. the NME is +> full of pale middle class boys who think that anarchy has to mean chaos +> (actually they rarely think) we're anarchists who believe in organisation. +> +> 9) And finally, the question on everyone`s lips - what the fuck +does Chumbawamba mean? + It means 'we've come for your children!' +> +> +> +> +> diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001499.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001499.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c7ae738e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001499.txt @@ -0,0 +1,50 @@ +THE RAVEN - FUTURE PLANS + +It has always been Freedom Press's policy to draw much of its +energy and dynamism from its readership. It might help therefore +to draw your attention to some of our future plans for The Raven. +The latest edition (on Communication) is now airborn and is to be +followed by an edition on Anarchy and Art. We have also started +work on a follow up to the current edition: Communication and +Language. Whereas the first part looked, almost exclusively, at +radio and the internet this edition already leans more towards +language(s). One outstanding non-appearance is television as a +media and we would very much welcome an article relating to this +subject. There are more omissions: language in a social context +(sexism, racism and other hidden/overt agendas), semiotics, +Newspeak (post 1984) or how about an article on the +communication gap between the generations - Aldermaston and +the Internet - or a rant on how anarchists are (or are not) using the +cinema as a medium. + +Looking further ahead, next year, we want to publish editions +entitled: + +(Anti) Militarism and (Non) Violence + +This would give a four pronged approach to an important subject. +Here we already have interesting suggestions regarding The +Shadows Project (Hiroshima and Nagasaki), information on +SERPAJ (the Concientious Objectors Movement in Latin +America) and also the International Project for Peace based in +Nicaragua. But this area could extend from Ghandi to British +Aerospace and from Indonesia to Ireland via the more reflective +routes of strategy and principle. + +Anarchism and the Americas. + +Here we hope already to receive articles on the social structures of +some of the Amer-indian tribes, the history of the IWW (and related +groupings) since World War II and an article on the anarchism of +Benjamin Tucker. This is such a wide field it is hard to know +where to start: Emerson, The Sixties, Alexander Berkman, +Thoreau, the failures of Neo-Liberalism in Chile... indeed if we +stick (for no better reason) with an alphabetical theme we can +come up with Cuba, Chomsky, Colombia, Canada, Clinton, +Colonialism, *the* Constitution, Czolgosz... and more. +---------------------------- + +for further details/enquiries please 'e' mail: lingvoj@lds.co.uk + +FREEDOM PRESS +http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/Freedom diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001510.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001510.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f3203fda --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001510.txt @@ -0,0 +1,392 @@ +Control Unit Prisons in Maryland + +Dear prison activists, + +As some of you may know, the Baltimore Anarchist Black Cross has been +investigating conditions at Maryland's two control units/super maximum +prisons--the Maryland Correctional Adjustment Center (MCAC) and the +Maryland House of Corrections Annex (MHCX)--and working in local +coalitions, as well as with the National Campaign to Stop Control Unit +Prisons, to put an end to them as part of our overall abolitionist work. +The MCAC, opened in 1989, is notorious among prisoners, prisoners' families +and activists, and has been describedby some prisoners--who know--as worse +than the infamous Pelican Bay in California. + +Last year we requested that the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) send us a +copy of their letter of findings as soon as they had prepared it for +Maryland's governor, Parris Glendening. They obliged last week. Some of the +findings as stated therein are quite damning for a polite letter from a +federal bureaucracy to a state one. Excerpts from the 13-page +letter/report follow. I have omitted the litany of statutes and case law +that forms the introduction, as well as some of the general descriptions of +the "facilities" at the MCAC and the list of recommendations (which are +obvious). I have indicated omissions with three asterisks (* * +*). + +For each of the violations of civil liberties cited in the letter the DoJ +has made remedial recommendations. The Governor has 49 days from the issue +of the letter (May 1) to respond to the recommendations. After this 49-day +grace period the DoJ may initiate a law suit, pursuant to the Civil Rights +of Institutionalized Persons Act. + +You may request a complete copy o the letter of findings from the Baltimore +ABC, or from the Department of Justice (Civil Rights Division, Main +Building, Washington, D.C. 20530). Our address is + +Baltimore ABC +P.O. Box 22203 +Baltimore, MD 21203-4203 + +Internet barrenador@nothingness.org +Worldwide web: http://www.charm.net/~gbarren/abc + +*Copies of the Baltimore ABC's investigations and analysis, entitled "Total +Control in the Free State" are available from us. An abbreviated version is +to be found at our web site: http://www.charm.net/~gbarren/abc/cu.html* + +If you wish to register a protest or request information on the Governor's +response to the letter of findings, we suggest that you contact + +Governor Parris Glendening +Governor's Mansion +Annapolis, MD 21401 +Tel. 410.974.3901 + +Stuart Nathan +Assistant Attorney General +Department of Public Safety +6776 Reisterstown Rd, Suite 312 +Baltimore, MD 21215-2341 +Tel. 410.764.4070 + +We hope that you will use this report as a tool to rally people against the +inhumane, racist, classist imprisonment binge in this country. + +*Please forward this to other prison abolitionist and prison reform +organizations.* + +Power to freedom, + +Gusano Barrenador +Baltimore Anarchist Black Cross + +================================================================== + +U.S. Department of Justice + + + +Civil Rights Division +__________________________________________________________________ +Office of the Assistant Attorney General Washington, D.C. 20530 + + +May 1, 1996 + +The Honorable Parris N. Glendening +Governor, State of Maryland +State House +Annapolis, Maryland 21401 + + Re: Notice of Findings of Investigation: + _Maryland_Correctional_Adjustment Center_ + +Dear Governor Glendening, + + I am writing in reference to our investigation into conditions +withing the Maryland Correctional Adjustment Center ("Supermax") in +Baltimore, Maryland. As you know, we notified your predecessor in +December 1994 of our intent to investigate Supermax pursuant to the Civil +Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act ("CRIPA"), 43 U.S.C. [sect.] 1997 +_et seq_, to determine whether there exist any violations of the federal +constitutional rights of inmates housed at this facility. + + Despite intial resistance to our on-site investigation, in May and +June 1995, we finally toured Supermax with consultants in the fields of +medical care, mental health care, and general penological issues. +Unfortunately, our investigation continued to be met with resistance, +causing one of our consultants to note that the tour was unique in terms of +its adversarial and confrontational nature. * * * Although +our access to certain information was restricted by state officials, +consistent with the statutory requirements of CRIPA, we now write to advise +your of the findings of our investigation. + + Based on our investigation, we believe that certain conditions at +Supermax violate the constitutional rights of the inmates. The facts and +law supporting our determination of constitutional violations are set forth +below. + +* * * + +II. FACTUAL SUMMARY + + The following factual summary is derived from the reports of our +consultants, inspections of the prison, interviews with inmates, and the +documents provided by the facility. + + A. _General_Conditions_ + + Inmates at Supermax are subjected to extreme social isolation. +Inmates are confined to single person cells 24 hours a day, except for a +brief period (less than an hour0 every two to three days when they are +permitted, one at a time, our of their cells to shower and walk around the +dayroom area [fn. Inmates are also allowed out of their cells to see +visitors and, as indicated, to see medical staff.]. Inmates are not +premitted outdoors due to staff shortages. Inmates eat all of their meals +in their cells. Food trays are passed through a narrow food port in a cell +door, solid except for a vision window. Inmates are not allowed to +participate in any prison job opportunities or any other prison +recreational or educational programs. No recreational equipment is +provided. Inmates in adjoining cells can hear but not see each other. The +sole opportunity for socialization occurs during the out-of-cell time, +when the inmate release from his cell may socialize with other inmates on +his block, who are locked behind their cell doors. + +[The use of the third-person, singular masculine pronoun and possessive +above is not sexist language; all the inmatescurrently at the MCAC are +men.--GB] + + Although Supermax has a capacity of 288, in June 1995, the census +was only 205. In the five month period before the Justice Department was +finally allowed access to the Supermax, the census dropped by 44. + +[Prisoners reported to the Baltimore ABC that the prisoners were shipped +out of the MCAC so that it would appear to be in compliance with the +law.--GB] + +* * * + + Food served to the prisoners at Supermax is prepared at the +penitentiary across the street and brought to Supermax in bulk. At +Supermax, the food is placed into individual compartmentalized thermal +trays for distribution to the prisoners in their cells. Food placed in the +trays is not promptly covered; trays brought to the housing units are not +promptly served. As a result, food is served lukewarm or cold. Food must +be served at temperatures that conform to accepted health standards. + + B. _Medical_and_Mental_Health_Care_ + + 1. Medical Care + + Access to meaningful sick call is not adequate. For routine +medical problems, Supermax inmates obtain sick call requests from +correctional officers, fill them out, and return them to the officers. +Supermax is thus failing to follow Department of Corrections policy that +"submission and collection of sick call request will be conducted by +medical personnel only." This policy is consistent with the standard in +the field and recognizes the importance of free access to medical care, +without the interposition of custody staff between patient and medical +provider. + + For most medical problems, meaningful sick call includes an +opportunity for a medical provider to make full visual assessment and some +hands-on examination. Supermax, at the time of the consultant's visit, did +not record where a sick call encounter takes place. To the extent that +physician assistant encounters are occurring while inmates are behind the +cell doors * * *, for most encounters, this is inadequate +access to meaningful sick call. For msot encounters, the inmate should be +brought at leat to the sergeant's room for the visit by the physician +assistant. + + Since January 1, 1995 (following the Department of Justice's notice +to Maryland that it was initiating an investigation of Supermax), Supermax +policy requires physician assistants to make rounds for sick call seven +days a week on each housing unit. Medical staff at the facility report +that such sick call only occurs five days a week; a few inmates in the +general housing units report that in person sick call only occurs twice a +week. + + Access to health care at Supermax may also may also be impeded by +the fee system. Significantly, although Supermax inmates have no +opportunity for prison jobs, they are held responsible for medical +co-payments for each inmate-initiated medical encounter and for each +non-psychiatric prescription resulting from such and encounter unless the +inmate is indigent. Inmates are being charged for encounters where no real +medical service is rendered. There was a significant decrease in the +number of visits made by inmates to physicians' assistants and the number +of non-psychiatric prescriptions filled between the fourth quarter of 1994 +an dthe first quarter of 1995 at Supermax. The medical co-payment +requirement became effective January 1, 1995. Although a payment system is +not illegal _per_se_, it is imperative that all inmates receive adequate +medical treatment, regardless of their ability to pay. + + The full-time medical staff at Supermax consists of one registered +nurse and one physician assistant. A physician comes to Supermax as +needed, which may only be every other week. This is inadequate. A +physician should work on-site at Supermax at least once a week, at least to +supervise the physician assistant. + + Upon arrival at Supermax, a nurse screens the inmate's medical +record and schedules a medical visit if indicated. No face-to-face +receiving screening occurs. This is contrary to the standard in the field, +which requires a face-to-face intake screening. + + 2. Mental Health Care + + Maryland has created a prison which, given its mission and +environment, results in extensive demand for mental health services. The +conditions at Supermax require close psychiatric monitoring and substantial +psychiatric services. Yet, systematic deficiencies renfer Supermax's +mental health care system incapable of satisfying minimum constitutional +standards. Given current conditions and lack of treatment services, +inmates with serious mental illnesses will likely experience no improvement +in their condition, or worse, will experience further mental deterioration. +Furthermore, because of the prison's inadequate screening and treatment +services, inmates with mental problems are at risk of developing serious +mental illnesses. + + The mental health services at Supermax are grossly deficient. +First, Supermax is not adequately screening inmates for the presence of +mental illnesses, either upon admission or during incarceration at the +prison. As shown by a prison-wide screening completed just before the +Justice Department was given access to Supermax, Supermax can reasonably +successfully screen its populationfor the presence of mental illness. +However, the serious fact that the ad hoc screening resulted in 20 inmates +with serious mental illnesses being transferred out to a facility equipped +to provide mental health services and an additional 35 inmate being +identified as needing mental health services is evidence that routine +screenings are inadequate. In addition, Supermax's special purpose +screening was not completely successful because inmates demonstrating +active psychotic symptoms remained at Supermax during tours by the Justice +Department. + + The problems with Supermax's inadequate screenings are compounded +by two other facts. One, Supermax fails to provide confidential +psychological evaluations without adequate penological justification. +Because some inmates have masturbated in the presence of Supermax's female +psychologist during evaluations, _all_evaluations are now done in the +presence of correctional officers. It is inappropriate to generalize in +this specific remedy to all inmates requiring mental health intervention. +Inmates have reported that certain correctional officers have been verbally +provocative concerning issues relevant to their mental illness. And two, +mental health staff do not make rounds, relying instead on referrals for +mental health services from correctional staff or from the inmates +themselves. It is critical that mental health staff closely monitorall +inmates to detect the presence of mental illness and effectively identify +those inmate in need of mental health services, both upon their arrival and +during their confinement. Mentally ill prisoners may not seek mental +health services because of the nature of their mental illness makes them +unable to recognize their illness or ask for assistance. Further, custody +staff should not be making medical judgments that should be reserved for +clinicians. Rounds by mental health staff would help identify mental +health problems before they become serious mental illnesses. + + The second major problem with Supermax's grossly deficient mental +health care services, and futher reason why seriously mentally ill +prisoners cannot be treated at Supermax, is that treatment for mental +health is essentially limited to medication management. Adequate +programming and psychotherapy are not available to inmates with serious +mental illnesses. The prison is simply not staffed to provide any +inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment. + + Third, although required by facility policies and procedures, +inmates place in isolation are not being routinely evaluated by mental +health staff within 12 hours of their placement in isolation. Supermax +must ensure that anyone place in isolation receives a psychological +evaluation withing twelve hours of such confinement. + +[It is absurd to see "isolation" referred to as a special category in the +context of control units!--GB] + + Fourth, quality assurance is considered standard practice in +virtually every health care facility in the country and is considered a +fundamental part of a health care operation. Supermax, however, has not +quality assurance system for its mental health services. + + Fifth, the mental health records at Supermax are poorly organized, +fail to contain essential information such as past psychiatric history or +blood test results, and contain significant discrepancies concering +diagnoses. + + Sixth, inmates are receiving lithium with inadquate assessments, +placing them at risk for significant medical problems. + + C. _Exercise_ + + By Maryland Divsion of Correction policy, which is consistent with +professional standards, each inmate is entitled to receive one hourof +out-of-cell time daily. However, due to insufficient staffing, inmates +generally have less than an hour of indoor out-of-cell time every second of +third day. Futhermore, again due to insufficient staffing, inmates never +go outdoors and never receive exposure to natural light of fresh air. A +number of inmates have alleged that incidents of inmates throwing feces at +staff has increased substantially when the outdoor yards were closed. +Supermax's failure to provide sufficient out-of-cell time on a daily basis +as wellas its failure to provide any opportunity to fo outdoors is +unconstitutional, especially given the highly restrictice regimen of daily +life at Maryland Supermax. + + D. _Indefinite_Segregation_ + + Supermax uses Maryland Division of Correction's objective +classification point system to make decisions regarding transfers out of +Supermax. However, the system, which may be working well in other penal +institutions in Maryland, is not working at Supermax. Under Maryland's +point system, an inmate must amass 24 points to qualify for transfer. +However, at most, a Supermax inmate may only amass 21 points thorugh good +behavior. The remaining three points must be amassed through +classification elements beyond the inmate's control, mainly relating to the +crime committed by the inmate or the sentence imposed. Because many of the +inmates at Supermax have committed serious crimes, they can only get one +point in this category. As our consultant pointed out, Supermax inmates +are "quite literally caught in a 'Catch 22' situation, which leaves them +perpetually 2 points short of qualifying for transfer." + + For all practical purposes, there is no objective means for earning +a transfer out of Supermax. Instead, decisions about who will transfer out +of Supermax turn virtually exclusively on the subjective judgments of +staff. Staff state that between 90 and 99% of all transfers out of +Supermax have been through such subjective judgments. * * * + + Although the average length of time spent at Supermax is 548 days, +a number of inmates have been incarcerated at Supermax virtually from the +facility's opening in January 1989. Other inmates are being held at +Supermax although they hav been infraction-free for long periods of time. +For instance, our consultant reviewed the record of an inmate who had had +not misconduct reports at Supermax since December 18, 1991. + + E. _Abuse_ + + Supermax use its "pink room" for isolation purposes until right +before the Justice Department tours last spring. When we toured in May and +June, according to Supermax officials, the pink room had just been closed +and would not be used in the future. + + The pink room was an unheated strip cell inappropriately located in +the medical unit where an inmate was held in isolation for punishment. The +cell was made of concrete and contained no furniture or mattress. Inmates +remained in the pink room, sometimes as long as four days, wearing only +underwear and a three piece restraint (leg irons, handcuffs, and a waist +chain connected to the handcuffs and holding the hands very close the +body). Inmates used a hole in the floor as a toilet. The cell was filthy, +covered with old feces and urine. Because hands were chained to waists, +inmates were usually forced to urinate or defecate on themselves. Inmates +in the pink room could not feed themselves with their hands due to the +restraints. There was no running water in the pink room. + +[A. This makes no mention of inmates' tesitmony that the air conditioning +in the pink room was often deliberately turned up to full blast, often +leaving the inmate naked and freezing for days. B. We have only the DoC +word that the pink room will not be used again, when and if the DoJ lays +off their investigation. We need to keep the pressure up.--GB] + + The pink room has been replaced by cadre cells, which are normal +cells in an isolated area, for disciplinary purposes. The doors to the +cadre rooms have large metal closers on the inside of the doors which +present a suicide risk. + + Our consultant was unable to find evidence of a pattern of physical +abuse by Supermax staff against inmates. However, we feel an obligation to +bring to your attentions that we have received and continue to receive a +substantial number of inmate allegations that staff at Supermax are using +excessive force against the inmates out of the range of Supermax cameras. + +* * * + +[END] + + + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001514.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001514.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..068d00d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001514.txt @@ -0,0 +1,348 @@ + + @@@@@ IIII II II IIII III III + @@@ @ @@@ II II II II II II II I + @@ @ @ @@ II III II II II II II + @ @ @ @ II II III III II II II + @ @ @ @ II II II II II II II + @ @@@@@@@@@ @ II II II II II II II + @@ @@ II II II II II II II + @@@ @@@ II II II II II II I II + @@@@@ IIII II II II III III + + - The alternative newsservice - + http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/ainfos.html + +A-Infos +News from Poland +Nr. 1 - August '96 +This paper is FREE! + +A-Infos is a bulletin of informations produced by anarchists groups or +individuals (members of an organization or not). Those who produce it are +committed to sum-up political, social, ... and anarchist current events of their +country, in the form of brief news (which can be easily translated) so as to +take contacts easier and spread information better. +A-Infos is meant for being published in anarchist papers, magazines... People +involved in producing A-Infos meet once yearly. + +[List of A-Infos contacts left out - see my other mail / Robert who is typing +this for the internet list] + +This bulletin is presenting the situation of anarchist groups in Poland. It was +prepared by Collective "Social-Activity" - Polish Anarchist Federation +Information Office in co-operation with Anarchist Collective "Black Wave" and +"RED RAT". Our adresses: Anarchist Collective "Black Wave", P.O. Box 21, 81-040 +Gdynia 25, Poland; "RED RAT", P.O. Box 39, 65-182 Zielona Gora 5, Poland. + +------ + +Hi! After two years of pause we decided to publish a bulletin of Polish +Anarchist Federation (FAP) again. It will contain news about anarchist activity +in Poland. Int the next issue we will show the situation of polish anarchist +movement, in this one there are some latest news. This issue is being sent to +A-Infos adresses, to ABC and to all anarchist groups we know. Because of the +financial problems we ask You for marking if you want to receive our bulletin. +We also ask you for help in distributing the bulletins ideas and news contained +in it. This paper is free, but if you can send us IRC (or SASE) stamps, we would +be very glad. Please, send us your publications which could be kept in our +anarchist library. + +What is the FAP? +================ + +Federacja Anarchistyczna (FA, the Anarchist Federation) is an eclectic movement, +a federation of various anarchist groups and individuals from all Poland. There +are both individuals and collectivist, both eco-anarchist and +anarcho-syndicalists, both "right-wing" and "left-wing" anarchists in the FAP. +Last May, the XIVth Congress of the FAP took place in Slupsk. + +INFO +==== + +1. May 1996 +The all-polish demonstration against system took place in Poznan. 800 people +came to demo. Tens anarchist transparents were showed, more than 3000 leaflets +were given to people. Anarchists and other people went to monument of bloody +victims of workers' rebellion (June 1956), flowers for all people who died in +fight with communist regime were put down. + +11 - 12 May 1996 +The XIVth Conference of Polish Anarchist Federation was organised in these days +in Slupsk. Representatives of 29 groups appeared on the conference. In the first +day all groups had to introduce themselves. After that we discussed problems +connected with good relation to media. Next subject was green anarchism. We also +spent a lot of time talking about Anarchist Black Cross which has just been +brought to being. Than we resolved the anti-Communist Manifesto in which we +decided not to co-operate with communist party and Marxist groups. On the +conference we also discussed equipmental and financial problems of Polish +Anarchist Federation. The next day we were talking about voting "NO" to +prognosticated constitute referendum. Also an idea of making the network of +anarchist newspapers for youth was being discussed. We had a talk about +boycotting planned for the next years pope visit and Eucharist Congress in +Wroclaw. Next FAP congress will take place in October in Poznan. The adress of +FAP inquiry office has been changed; Collective "Social Activity" from Slupsk is +responsible for inquiry office's work. Anarchist Collective "Black Wave" from +Gydnia is responsible for contacts with abroad (English language) and "RED RAT" +from Zielona Gora is responsible for contacts with abroad (German language). + +25 May 1996 +The first meeting connected with all-polish help to prisoners took place in +Cracow. The statute was held down, printing bulletins, problems with base for +organisation and financial problems were being discussed. Anarchist Black Cross +was brought to being (however we were making campaigns to free two anarchists +using ABC's name earlier). We are asking all ABC groups to contact us to quote +experiences and information. +ABC-Poland-Information Office +ul. Gontyna 1/2, 30-203 Krakow + +8 June 1996 +FAP from Rzeszow made a manifestation in Lancut. There was a meeting of 9 +presidents of Middle-East-Europe countries (for example: Italy, Austria, Czech, +Ukraine) 20 people were manifesting: "NO for EU, YES for international +solidarity". Information about this action appeared in official media. UOP +(political police) was used after manifestation (they were afraid of +journalists). 5 anarchists were arrested. After some hour, after beating and +fools they were allowed to go home. They will probably have to pay a lot of +money. + +19 June 1996 +We made "RIVERS DAY" actions in many cities in Poland against building 7 dams on +Wisla river. These actions are in some way the continuation of manifestations in +Czorsztyn. Many people agreed with us. + +13 - 14 July +Anarchists from Olsztyn decided to stop the Cormorants Race. These car races are +always being planned accross cormorants areas. Such acts destroy environment and +it cause bird's death. Last year the action appeared to be very nice. We hope +the situation will be the same this year. + +Anarchists from Poland help Chechenias +For two years Polish anarchists are organising help for fighters from Chechenia. +Two convoys organised in help with Anarchist Federation were the only ones which +reached the place of fights and gave meal, clothes and medicine to people. All +other convois organised by UN are stopped by Russians and things are being sent +to the "black market". Now the third convoi is organised by FA. Polish +Anarchists are supporting Chechenians who want to be independant, we are +organising manifestations at Russian consulates in Poland, informing actions. We +are also gathering signs under the petition to imperialist government in Russia. + +Against Military Service +For some years Anarchist Federation makes actions gaainst obligated military +service and violence in army. Now there are many places where one can expect +help in receiving the replace service; many demonstrations are taking place. + +Discussion List +The Anarchist Workers Initiative (AIR) from Warsaw started with anarchist +discussion list. Its adress: Anarchistyczna Inicjatywa Robotnicza, PO Box 71, +O1-125 Waszawa 102, E-Mail: michaelk@plearn.edu.pl + +Adresses of FAP groups and individuals +====================================== + +Green Anarchist +PO Box 21 +15-661 Bialystok 26 +Poland + +Anarchist Federation - section Bogatynia +c/o Arkadiusz Lipin +ul. Chopina 16/15 +59-920 Bogatynia +Poland + +Anarchist Federation - section Ciechanowiec +c/o Dariusz Kupis +ul. Ralkowa 19 +18-230 Ciechanowiec +Poland + +Anarchist Federation - Czestochowa +c/o Tomasz Radecki +PO Box 1441 +42-200 Czestochowa 9 +Poland + +Anarchist Federation - Section Trojmiasto (FAST) +c/o Jany Waluszko +ul. Stare Domki 6/9 +80-857 Gdansk +Poland + +Anarchist Collective Black Wave +PO Box 21 +81-040 Gdynia 25 +Poland + +Association AN ARCHE +PO Box 639 +40-958 Katowice 2 +Poland +E-Mail: jaceks@silesia.ternet.pl + +Collective Social Initiative +PO Box 27 +66-470 Kostrzyn n. Odra +Poland + +Anarchist Black Cross +ul. Gontyna 1/2 +30-203 Krakow +Poland + +Anarchist Federation - section Krakow +c/o Marek Kurzyniec +ul. Mlynska 4/97 +31-469 Krakow +Poland + +Anarchist Federation - section Kielce +c/o Maciej Wytrych +PO Box 1107 +25-520 Kielce 21 +Poland + + Black Banner +PO Box 40 +90-965 Lodz +Poland + +Association Social Initiatives Group +PO Box 1457 +45-716 Opole 7 +Poland + +Collective ROZBRAT +PO Box 5 +61-966 Poznan 31 +Poland + +Anarchist Federation - section Rzeszow +c/o Pawel Janda +ul. Podwislocze 2/56 +35-310 Rzeszow +Poland + +Polish Anarchist Federation Information Office +Collective "Social Activity" +PO Box 65 +76-200 Slupsk 12 +Poland + +Publication AKUKU +PO Box 20 +96-500 Sochaczew +Poland + +Collective Samodzielnosc +PO Box 417 +81-705 Sopot 5 +Poland + +MAC PARIADKA - Monthly Anarchist Magazine +PO Box 67 +81-806 Sopot 6 +Poland + + Group Social Activity +PO Box 43 +41-219 Sosnowiec +Poland + +Polish Anarchist Federation in Germany +Freidenker +Siederstr. 3 +59457 Werl +Germany + +Anarchist Federation - section Wroclaw +c/o Piotr Zuk +ul. Niklowa 7/13 +53-435 Wroclaw +Poland + +Anarchist Federation - section Zielona Gora + RED RAT +PO Box 39 +65-182 Zielona Gora 5 +Poland + +THE COMMON STATEMENT OF POLISH ANARCHIST FEDERATION +=================================================== + +Elites +Politicans like arranging somebodys life, every moment they are devising a new +plan to save manking (it means to fill their pockets and satisfy their +ambitions). +There is no end of their craving for power. Social resistance is the only thing +that can prevent a government from totalitarianism. Authorities always tend to +have a monopoly, to control the whole social life. +It is clearly visible in Poland, where we have had a state-mafia system since a +long, long time (so called "connections"). Because of passiveness and naivity of +people, elites are still unpunished. Even if they do a harm to the country and +the citizens they can be considered national heroes. +Every authority is born of our passiveness when instead of doing some work +ourselves, we leave it to the others who mediate between us and the rest of the +world. They are priests, capitalists, policemen, bureaucrats or soldiers. We +have to maintain them, in exchange. They can live without working so they try to +be even more needed. For instance: a soldier multiples wars not peace, a priest +tangles the truth, a richman takes over our common goods. They pretend to +relieve us from some duties, for example a soldier defends us against our enemy +but who will defend us against the soldier? + +Minorities +In our opinion, freedom and democracy are not administration of majority. In a +free, open society, where everybody cares for himself, minority groups should +also have a right to take decisions about their lifes. If they respect a common +law not trying to impose something on the others, it is inadmissable to impose +something on them. If we accept discrimination against minorities now, in future +we may become some minority. The policeman used against a Jewish man or an +anarchist may be used against "an honest citizen" as well. We cannot demand from +people from minorities to pay for school or TV, if it is majority who take +decisions about programmes, not taking account of other people. That is the +reason why we should make a participation in common undertaking totally free, +including the right to refuse a participation and choose the other way. + +Methos of Activity +There are many ways of tearing ourselves away from under state restraint: +boycotts, straiks, demonstrations, paying no taxes, an objection to military +service. It is also creating new mechanisms instead of authorities based on +constraints, what gives a society new possibilities to work in an effective way. +Every sign of social ativity beyond state structure is one step to free society. +In a situation right now, we declare non-violent struggle, but we do not exclude +the right to self-defence. + +POLES DENOUNCE NATIONALISM +========================== +In every country there is a group of people interested in the propagation of +nationalistic tendencies. In the period between the two wars, Polish merchants +were very anti-Semitic because they feared Jewish competition. The talk about +the Polish nation was just a way of maximizing profits. +The slogan "Let all power be in the hands of the Poles" is the slogan of those +who are greedy for power and argue that their supposed racial purity gives them +the right ot be the leaders. This is obviously an absurdity. A government isn't +good because it is made of Poles. Anarchists don't give a damn about the race of +their rulers and neither do they care if they are circumcised. We don't want +Poles or Eskimos to rule us and to steal from us. +It has lately become fashionable among youth to be a nationalist. It is really +pathetic that such such an ideal of lobotomized freedom should have so much +influence on young people who ought to be expressing their independance more +than anybody else. To be a nationalist is to take part in the dirty game of +politicians trying to control the population. When you add to this the violence +displyed by by skinheads, you have a genuine kind of fascism, which certainly +doesn't serve the nation, but totalitarian power. Anarchist is the struggle +against authority in the name of individual and collective freedom + +-------------------------------------------------- + --/\-- A-Infos A-Infos + / / \ \ A-Infos A-Infos + ---|--/----\--|--- A-Infos A-Infos + \/ \/ + /\______/\ http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/ainfos.html + + To Subscribe to a-infos + Send a message to majordomo@lglobal.com + With the message in the body: + subscribe a-infos + To Unsubscribe send: + unsubscribe a-infos +-------------------------------------------------- diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001515.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001515.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d176f7de --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001515.txt @@ -0,0 +1,127 @@ +Repression Against The Anarchist Movement In Italy + + On the morning of September 17, 1996, around 300 members of +the Carabinieri special squads carried out raids and arrests +against anarchists across Italy. + This act of repression is part of a campaign orchestrated by +the Roman judge Antonio Marini and the prosecutors Ionta and +Vigna, a campaign which seeks to prove the existence of a +mythical subversive anarchist paramilitary organisation. The +first wave of raids occurred in February 1995, but at that time +the authorities found neither weapons nor bankrolls nor hideouts +nor documents concerning the 'gang', which lacked indeed even a +name. + The actions of Tuesday, September 17 were carried out by +masked and armed Carabinieri. The results were very serious: 29 +arrest warrants and dozens of people that have been officially +informed to be under investigation. Some of the accused were +arrested and immediately taken to the Rebibbia prison to await +judge Marini's pleasure; others are currently in hiding. It is +still not known exactly how many or who has been arrested - the +latter have been denied the right to see anyone, and have not +even been able to talk to their own lawyers. + The charges are very serious and range from subversive +association to robbery, the manufacture of weapons and homicide. +In practice this means accusing the anarchist movement of all the +unsolved crimes of recent years, without any proof being offered. +An indication of the climate of persecution surrounding the +arrests is the judge's statement that "I want to arrest a gang of +terrorists before I retire". + Another very disturbing matter is the press release issued +by the Carabinieri, which talks of a non-existent subversive +organisation structured on two levels: the first, hidden and +illegal, is said to be protected by a more visible "second +level", ideal for "camouflaging itself in the social milieu and +interacting with other subversive cells in a dangerous, criminal +brotherhood". It's clear that this notion of a "second level" is +intended to strike at all those situations of widespread +sociality and solidarity (like El Paso in Turin and other +occupied places throughout Italy) which have furnished and +continue to furnish support to all those who will not submit to +the repressive apparatuses of the State. The theorem of the +"second level" is the mechanism through which a very violent +attack could be carried out against many situations of the +movement in the near future. + More news and communiques will be posted in the days to +come. + +(Source: A-Infos List) + +----- + +News From The Mainstream Media: + +Police Crackdown On Anarchist Organization + +Rome, Italy (ANSA - September 17, 1996) A force of 300 special +branch Carabinieri policemen arrested ten people and conducted a +series of searches in six Italian regions on 29 warrants signed +by Rome prosecutors in a crackdown on an anarchist organization +allegedly led by Alfredo Maria Bonanno, 59. + The charges named in the warrants, issued by prosecutors +Antonio Marini and Franco Ionta, were subversive association, +association for purposes of terrorism and subversion, forming an +armed band, kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms and +explosives. + The alleged head of the anarchists targeted by the police is +a journalist who lived in the Sicilian city of Catania until he +moved to Florence two years ago, where he started up the +publication of a daily 'Cane Nero' (Black Dog) in 1994 to flank +his sheet entitled, 'Anarchismo'. + The Rome magistrates said Bonanno was arrested in 1989 and +charged with the robbery of a jewelry store, with an alleged +fellow anarchist, Giuseppe Steri of Palermo. At the time, Bonanno +said he carried out robberies to finance his publication +activities. + Also his former wife, Jean Helene Weir, 52, from Scotland, +was described as an anarchist. Ms Weir is now serving time for +the robbery, with five accomplices, of a bank in Serravalle +all'Adige, near the northern Italian city of Trento. + In 1991, Bonanno's name was added to a list of anarchists to +keep under police surveillance. + The police searches carried out at dawn by Carabinieri and +Criminalpol police in eastern Sicily, Lazio, Umbria, Emilia +Romagna, Rome and the northern Piedmont and Lombardy regions +yielded a number of illegal firearms, said police sources. + +Rome Police Arrest Group For Terrorism + +Rome, Italy (AP - September 17, 1996) Police arrested 12 people +Tuesday on charges of terrorism and homicide in a 20-year spree +of armed robberies, kidnappings and bombings throughout Italy. + Authorities are still looking for another nine members of +the group, which is suspected of placing car bombs outside +military facilities in Rome and Florence the past year, police +spokesman Capt. Vittorio Pagliccia said. + The group, called the Revolutionary Anarchic Insurrectionist +Organization, has claimed responsibility for some of the crimes, +which date back to the mid-1970s. They are also charged with two +murders, Pagliccia added. + Prosecutors are also seeking the indictment of another 68 +people allegedly connected to the crimes. + + ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++ + ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++ + ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++ + +----------------------------------------------------------------- +Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information +collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide +variety of material, including political prisoners, national +liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, +the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our +writings, research, and translation materials in our magazine and +bulletins called Arm The Spirit. For more information, contact: + +Arm The Spirit +P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A +Toronto, Ontario +M5W 1P7 Canada + +E-mail: ats@etext.org +WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats +FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit +ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~archive/ats-l +----------------------------------------------------------------- + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001516.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001516.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d2e3499b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001516.txt @@ -0,0 +1,121 @@ + + @@@@@ IIII II II IIII III III + @@@ @ @@@ II II II II II II II I + @@ @ @ @@ II III II II II II II + @ @ @ @ II II III III II II II + @ @ @ @ II II II II II II II + @ @@@@@@@@@ @ II II II II II II II + @@ @@ II II II II II II II + @@@ @@@ II II II II II II I II + @@@@@ IIII II II II III III + + - The alternative newsservice - + http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/ainfos.html + +Just a short note: The two adresses mentioned at the +bottom of this message are those of two small anarchist +publications in Germany. + +Robert +(for A-Infos Germany) + +---------- Forwarded Message ---------- + +From: Arm The Spirit, INTERNET:ats@locust.cic.net +To: Multiple recipients of list, INTERNET:ATS-L@BURN.UCSD.EDU +Date: 19.09.1996 13:30 + +Subject:Repression Against Anarchists In Italy + + +Statement From 'Geist der Freiheit' + +(Translated by Arm The Spirit) + +Urgent! + +Increasing Repression Against Anarchists In Italy + +In the night of September 16/17, 1996, there was a series of 50 house raids +against the anarchist scene in Italy. Charges were filed against 20 people +and they were arrested; charges were also filed against 9 people already in +custody. + +The charges are membership in a subversive organization and the even more +ridiculous notion of "bombings directed against persons". + +Earlier this year, 4 anarchists were jailed for two bank robberies, which +they did not commit, based on the testimony of a state witness. The friends +of these persons were also affected by this latest wave of repression. The +husband of prisoner Jean Weir, Alfredo Bonano as well as the partner of +prisoner Antonio Budini were arrested. + +On November 7, 1996 in Trient, proceedings will begin into the two bank +robberies. Many of those people affected by this recent wave of repression +were involved in solidarity work around this trial. The anarchist-hating +state prosecutor Marini, in addition to "normal" means of increasing +repression, wants to see to it that hardly any people are able to attend +the trial in Trient. + +Publish this information! Come to the trial in Trient! +Anarchy and Freedom! For a world without prisons! + +---- +For more information on the charges against Jean Weir, Christos +Stragopulos, Antonion Budini, and Carlos Terresi, contact: + +Die Lunte +Haus 33 +Dogmagstr. 33 +80807 Munich +GERMANY + +For more information on the repression against anarchists in Italy, contact: + +Geist der Freiheit +c/o IL Moskito +Alte Bergheimer Str. 7a +69115 Heidelberg +GERMANY + + ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++ + ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++ + ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++ + +----------------------------------------------------------------- +Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information +collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide +variety of material, including political prisoners, national +liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, +the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our +writings, research, and translation materials in our magazine and +bulletins called Arm The Spirit. For more information, contact: + +Arm The Spirit +P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A +Toronto, Ontario +M5W 1P7 Canada + +E-mail: ats@etext.org +WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats +FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit +ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~archive/ats-l +----------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +-------------------------------------------------- + --/\-- A-Infos A-Infos + / / \ \ A-Infos A-Infos + ---|--/----\--|--- A-Infos A-Infos + \/ \/ + /\______/\ http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/ainfos.html + + To Subscribe to a-infos + Send a message to majordomo@lglobal.com + With the message in the body: + subscribe a-infos + To Unsubscribe send: + unsubscribe a-infos +-------------------------------------------------- diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001565.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001565.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..03982a31 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001565.txt @@ -0,0 +1,148 @@ +Live Animal Export Protest In Britain - by Juliet Maxam +------------------------------------- + +THIS year the small Essex town of Brightlingsea has become +famous. On January 16 the once sleepy riverside town became a +centre for live animal exports. The world's Press made its way +to the town, and images of pensioners, mothers and children +clashing with police were beamed around the world on television +screens, in newspapers and magazines. + + The first week of protests saw hopes raised and dashed, +promises made and broken, the seeds of disillusionment sewn, and +bitter confrontation. And all of it was captured in print, on +video and radio. + + On the third day Essex Police deployed in riot gear - hard +helmets with visors, protective shin, arm and body pads, +gauntlets and boots. Astonished protesters, largely locals, +mainly pensioners and middle class women with children were +physically removed from the path of the animal lorries. Police +were quickly accused of heavy handed tactics. + + Hundreds of complaints were logged at Essex Police +headquarters. The Police Complaints Authority was called in to +supervise an investigation into police tactics during the first +week, to be conducted by Commander Bernard Luckhurst of the +Metropolitan Police. The findings of the investigation were +revealed last month. Commander Luckhurst blamed the Press for +the breakdown in relations between Essex Police and the +Brightlingsea protesters. He said some video producers were +willing to manipulate available material and there was evidence +of "extremely subtle editing". My newspaper, the East Anglian +Daily Times, was criticised for using a photograph of a +policeman with his foot raised above a protester sitting in the +road. Mr Luckhurst said subsequent photographs clearly showed +the policeman was stepping over protesters. Commentary on GMTV +describing a photograph used in The Guardian as portraying a +sole protester surrounded by police was also attacked. + + Justifying his tirade against the media in what was +supposed to be an investigation into police tactics, Mr +Luckhurst said that most complaints received by Essex Police +were from people who had not been at the demonstrations, but had +seen them on television or in newspapers. He did concede that +some police officers had been a "little too zealous" and that +officers on the ground should have acted sooner to deal with +problems such as constables not displaying their numbers and +covering their faces with balaclavas. + + I have been reporting the demonstrations in Brightlingsea +since day one. Nine months later, the protests still continue, +once a day, five days a week, as long as there is a shipment. +Nine months later I am still there reporting the issue. + + Reporting the Brightlingsea demonstrations has been the most +difficult, exciting, exasperating job I have faced in my three +years as a reporter. Monday to Friday, once a day, for the last +nine months, with only a few exceptions, a convoy of sheep and +calves has been shipped from Brightlingsea. For every convoy +there has been a demonstration - once or twice up to 2,000 +people, often about 300, more usually nearer 100 protesters. + + The story has more twists and turns than a roller coaster. In +January, wharf owner Ernest Oliver declared the wharf was for +sale and the Town Council launched an appeal to buy it. In +April, Assistant Chief Constable Geoffrey Markham sent a letter +to everyone in Brightlingsea telling them he intended to use the +Public Order Act to police the demonstrations, so Brightlingsea +Against Live Exports disbanded rather than risk being jailed for +organising the protests. In June, a group of "eco-cowboys" +chained themselves to a beat-up old bus at the entrance to the +wharf. In August, the livestock exporter behind the +Brightlingsea trade, Roger Mills, issued writs against 14 +protesters, and sought injunctions to stop them from protesting. +Most recently, one of the Brightlingsea 14, Derrick Day, +collapsed after venting his spleen at the meeting between the +PCA and protesters and died later in hospital. Court cases +abound, with defendants including Mr Markham, Mr Mills, various +protesters, haulage companies and a Press photographer. + + Throughout the nine months of reporting Brightlingsea I have +tried to sit firmly on the fence, but have been charged with +bias by all three sides. I have been accused of not telling the +truth - by protesters, of barefaced lies - by the exporter, and +of fuelling the protests - by the police. I feel like piggy in +the middle, a feeling the police claim for themselves, although +they use different terminology. + + All three sides want to use me to bolster their image and +cause. Accounts of anything in the least bit controversial or +damaging to one of the sides inevitably leads to complaints. +After Pc Pat Lane was taken to hospital with a puncture wound +following a demonstration in August, I was harangued for days +afterwards by protesters complaining because I reported that Pc +Lane had been stabbed. I was even advised by my news editor not +to show my face in Brightlingsea for a few days. + + Each tip off and fact has to be carefully checked, not only +with the three main players, but with Essex County Council +trading standards department and the Ministry of Agriculture, +Fisheries and Food. Some of the rumours I have tried to stand up +seem ridiculous now, but it would have been a good story if a +convoy of sheep had been radioactive, or a dead sheep had been +thrown off the livestock ship and washed up at Frinton. It would +have been excellent to meet an ex-Beatle if the rumour about +Paul McCartney visiting the protesters had actually been true. +Once I even hung around waiting for Jurgen Klinsman, who was +also supposed to be on his way to offer his support to +protesters. One late night phone call led to a wild goose chase +around the Essex countryside looking for sheep lorries allegedly +parked in a lay-by - we found them, unloaded, at a lairage. + + I have learned some amazing facts during the continuing saga. +Did you know, for instance, that sheep do not get seasick +because they have two stomachs? A Belgian ministry of +agriculture vet told me that while I was waiting for the +Brightlingsea livestock ship, MV Caroline, to dock at +Nieuwpoort, Belgium, in freezing rain and wind. And I have been +put off salami for life after a protester told me some countries +in Europe make it out of donkey meat. + + Physically, reporting demonstrations has been difficult. For +the first few days I was getting down to Brightlingsea by 6.30am +and not getting home until 11pm. In three seasons I have had to +contend with icy winds, rain, hot sun and a plague of thunder +bugs, while jotting notes in my pad. In addition, I have had to +avoid getting arrested and crushed. Skills I can now boast +include judging crowd numbers, knowing where the action will be +and avoiding being trapped behind a police line. + + During the last nine months, my patience has been tested to +extremes. I have had to endure hysterical protesters heckling me +in the heat of a demonstration, snide comments and abuse from +all sides, and have even been blamed for the continuing protests +by residents of Brightlingsea not involved in the issue. But I +was undoubtedly pushed closest to breaking point when Commander +Luckhurst blamed the media for damaging the relations between +police and protesters - to me that was the most unfair +accusation of the whole nine months. + + I am proud of the job I have done in Brightlingsea. It has +been tough and frustrating. At times it has been exhilarating, +at times it has been tedious. It has been a lesson in using the +power of the Press responsibly. + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001566.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001566.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..35e40d0a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001566.txt @@ -0,0 +1,63 @@ +Brightlingsea Animal Exports Protest Diary +------------------------------------------ + +January 10 1995: first news of possible live exports from +Brightlingsea is met by outrage from residents. + +16: Protesters claim victory as the first lorry is turned back. + +18: Police in full riot gear are deployed. Local people claim +their actions are "totally over the top". + +February 3: Carla Lane joins Brightlingsea protest. + +11: First shipment of veal calves reaches the port successfully. + +20: Children's demonstration leads to arrest of 13-year-old. + +March 15: Local MP Bernard Jenkin introduces a bill aimed at +banning live exports, but it is blocked by the government. + +16: 78-year-old protester is arrested for using abusive language. + +22: Billy Bragg attends the demonstration and is nearly arrested. + +April 18: Police invoke 1986 Public Order Act to restrict +demonstrations. BALE disbands to avoid possible imprisonment for +organizing the protests. This broadened the issue to include +civil as well as animal rights. + +20: Paint-filled eggs thrown at police. + +June 13: Mass demonstration marks 100th day of live exports from +Brightlingsea. 65 people are arrested. + +August 23: Exporter Roger Mills begins proceedings against the +"Brightlingsea 14" + +September 25: Police Complaints Authority report blames media +for manipulating images etc rather than police actions for the +hundreds of complaints about police received during the first week. + +2 October: Police & PCA & police authority presented report at +community centre. Angry scenes. Derrick Day collapsed, later +died. (Monday). On Wednesday and Thursday evening, darkness +protests were violent because protesters were angry about Day +and report. Windows of lorries, Roger Mills's car and Trading +Standards officers' car smashed. Following week after violent +demo Wed & Thurs, on Thurs vandals broke into wharf through 6ft +wire fence smashed storage shed windows crane windows and cab of +other crane smashed electricity power supply cutting off +electricity to half the wharf & sprayed graffiti abusing Mills, +Ernest Oliver (wharf owner, 74 years old), Markham, Essex Police, & +Oliver's Daughter. Oliver said since start of protests over 80-90000 +pounds worth of damage at wharf. + +Early October: Mills in court on RSPCA charge of causing suffering to sheep. + +November 4: The exports have stopped from Brightlingsea. The exporter +is moving his operations to Dover, claiming it's cheaper there. However, +the protesters claim that this is due to the fact that the lorry drivers +refuse to come to Brightlingsea any more. + +-- diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001567.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001567.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..807b27ad --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001567.txt @@ -0,0 +1,165 @@ +Brightlingsea Animal Export Protest - by Rob Kemp +----------------------------------- + +(taken from Park Life, Essex University Paper) + + +It was a chilly January evening when the first sheep lorry +passed along the winding road to Brightlingsea. What thoughts +were going through the driver's mind as he negotiated the +junction at Thorrington Cross, as he passed the church that +marks the boundary of the small Essex port, as he came to the +first few houses? Did he think that the fury and determination +of the people of Brightlingsea would have faded during their +long day's vigil? + + Many of the 1000 people who faced him on that first +evening had been on the streets since before dawn, resolved to give +the exporters no chance to elude their vigilance. Many were +pensioners, many were children, most had never before ventured +out to protest about anything at all. + + As the lorry edged towards the wharf it was clear that the +protesters had plenty of fighting spirit in reserve, even after +all these hours of waiting. Eggs and nails flew at the lorry, +someone tried to break the cab window, others lay in the road. A +disabled man threw himself in front of the lorry's wheels. That +was enough for the police; they told the driver to turn back. + + As the 11 o'clock deadline approached, after which no +lorries could legally enter the road leading to the wharf, a senior +police officer gave his word that the sheep lorry would not be +allowed to return that day, and the crowd finally dispersed, +claiming a significant victory. + + But had it all been too easy? Perhaps the first consignment +was never meant to get as far as the wharf. This lone lorry with its +bleating cargo may have been meant as a trial run, to test the +resolve of the protesters. If the blockade was successful on the +first day, the exporters may have reasoned, numbers might +gradually drop off as people became complacent about their +victory. + + If that really was their hope, the events of that first day +must have prepared them for disappointment. Gales stopped the +shipment the next day, but the day after, Wednesday, saw the +most extraordinary scenes the sleepy riverside community had +ever witnessed off their television screens. Hundreds of police +wearing full riot gear literally threw people out of the way of +a rather more purposeful four-lorry convoy. There were more than +200 complaints about police behaviour on that day alone. "We +have seen mothers being pulled away by their hair with their +children still clinging to them, by the people we tell our +children to go to for protection," one resident said. + + From that point on things started, as they inevitably would, +to go the exporters' way. Their trade is still legal, and it is +incumbent on the police to protect it -- even if it means, as it +has in Brightlingsea, that relations between the police and the +local population slump to an all-time low. + + Just days after promising at a public meeting that no lorries +would be allowed to break the law by driving to the wharf after +11pm, the Assistant Chief Constable, Geoffrey Markham, gave his +permission for one convoy to do exactly that. This action is now +being questioned in the courts, but it is typical of what many +in Brightlingsea see as the police's lack of fairness in dealing +with the live export protests. + + Other factors have strained relations between the police +and protesters almost to breaking point. In April, the police +invoked the 1986 Public Order Act to restrict demonstrations -- +effectively stopping protests from blocking the road. Calling on +this piece of legislation broadened the issue in many people's +eyes to include civil as well as animal rights, because of its +restrictive effect on the way people were allowed to demonstrate. + + The police, however, view the matter more as a problem of +keeping the peace and protecting the public. A spokesman said: +"We aim to be fair to both sides: the exporter has the legal +right to trade in the town and to pass his lorries through the +town. It is a legal trade. + + "At the same time, protesters have the right to demonstrate +peacefully, but lawfully. The two coming together, there will be +confrontations, and the majority of the restrictions that we +imposed were for public safety reasons." + + But arguably the most serious breakdown in relations with +the police followed the publication in September of a Police +Complaints Authority report dealing with complaints relating to +the first week of protests. If Brightlingsea residents expected +some kind of acknowledgement from the police that they may have +overstepped the mark in the early days of the protest, they were +disappointed. Instead much of the blame was laid at the doors of +the media, whose reporting was criticized as irresponsible and +deceitful. In early October a meeting to present this report to +the people of Brightlingsea ended in angry scenes as protesters +vented their frustration. One man, Derrick Day, collapsed +following a particularly vehement outburst and subsequently died. + + The protests later that week saw a resurgence of violence, +attributed to mounting anger over the report and its tragic +sequel, the death of Mr Day. Lorry windows were smashed, and +cars belonging to the chief exporter and to Trading Standards +officers were also damaged. + + In mid-October vandals broke down a 6ft fence to enter the +wharf and wreaked havoc, smashing windows and spraying graffiti +directed at the exporter, the wharf owner and Essex Police. The +wharf owner has estimated that since the start of the live +export protests #80-90,000 worth of damage has been done to his +property. + + The ten months during which animals have been exported +through Brightlingsea have seen many reversals of fortune for both +sides. There have been acrimonious exchanges between protesters +and exporters -- one livestock exporter, Richard Otley, was +bounced around in his Range Rover by protesters just for showing +his face in the town. Television images at the time had a +disturbing resonance with the last pictures of the two soldiers +whose car strayed into the path of an IRA funeral. No such fate +befell Mr Otley, but he was lucky he managed to keep his doors +shut. + + Since then, relations between the two sides have hardly +improved. In August exporter Roger Mills began legal proceedings +against the so-called "Brightlingsea 14" for damage to his +business, and also sought injunctions to stop them from +protesting. + + In the most recent development, Roger Mills himself +appeared in court last week on a charge brought by the RSPCA of +causing suffering to sheep. + + Since the early days of the protests a small but determined +contingent of students has supported the Brightlingsea +residents. Some have been arrested -- including Louisa Newell, +currently chair of the university's Animal Rights Society. +Another, Simon Brunner, a second-year history student, recalls +his own contact with the police: "It took six of them to get me +off the road, and I got hit in the stomach a couple of times." + + A number of prominent people and celebrities have visited +the protests since they began, including Labour MP Tony Banks, +writer Carla Lane and pop star Billy Bragg, who narrowly avoided +arrest after sitting down in the path of the lorries. Such +events have given a welcome boost to the solid core of +protesters who return week after week. But what hope is there +that their cause will ultimately succeed? + + Local Tory MP Bernard Jenkin attempted in March to +introduce legislation to ban live exports, but his bill was blocked by +the government. The Labour party has pledged to ban the trade if it +comes to power, but that may be a long way off. While exports +continue, there is little doubt that the police will do +everything they have to to protect the exporters' rights. For +the moment, it appears that an uneasy stalemate has come about: +the exporters admit that their trade is being damaged by the +protests, but seem determined to exercise their right to carry +on with it. The overwhelming mass of public opinion may be +against them, but the law is on their side. + +(ENDS) + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001604.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001604.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dd457d2e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001604.txt @@ -0,0 +1,98 @@ + +--------------------------------------------------------------- + CONTRE INFOS + EUROPEAN COUNTER NETWORK + PARIS / FRANCE +--------------------------------------------------------------- + 24 December 1995 / N- 04 +-------------------------------------------------------------- + Ecn c/o Reflex - 21 ter, rue Voltaire, 75011 Paris (France) +--------------------------------------------------------------- + Counter@dialup.francenet.fr + http://www.anet.fr/~aris/ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + + + 1) STATE OF EMMERGENCY IN FIGURES + + 2) VIGIPIRATE, ENOUGH ! + +_______________________________________________________ + +THE STATE OF EMMERGENCY IN FIGURES +------------------------------------------------------- + +The 'Vigipirate' Plan - we are talking 42,000 police officers and mobile +military personnel + +>> IN FRANCE + +Vigipirate mobilises, over the whole of the territory: 12,059 police +officers, 15,085 armed police and 15,000 other military personnel. That's a +total of 42,000. Taking into account non-working days and holiays that gives +us a figure of 32,000 on the ground. + +>> ON THE PARIS UNDERGROUND + +The Metro Protection and Security Servvice (SPSM) includes about 500 police +officers, of which about 100 are plain clothes attatched to the Parisian +police force. In addition the SPSM also currently manages two squadrons of +armed police, one squadron from the Republican Guard, a company of riot +police and 600 soldiers - some 1,400 men in all. + +>> COST + +214 millions francs will be taken out of the national budget in 1996 simply +to pay for the excess demanded by the CRS (TN riot police) + +>> AIMS + +Paris, 29th October. The Home Secretary states publicly his wish to give +more financial resources to the police in the suburbs. The police will have +faster cars, will be protecte by bullet-proof vests and armed with +'flash-ball' guns which fire rubber bullets (source, Le Monde 31st October 1995) + +---------------------------------------------- + +VIGIPIRATE, ENOUGH! +--------------------------------------------- + +So, you take the metro. Cops everywhere. You take the train. Cops +everywhere. You get around by car or moped. Again cops everywhere. You take +to walking. Cops, cops, cops! With soldiers armed with machine guns +following on behind. That is what they call 'vigipirate'. You have been told +on TV that it's to stop terrorism.. to reassure you. + +Reassure? It makes you think of Coluche (TN French 'comedian') who used to +say: 'When you see a cop on the street it means all is safe. If there was +any danger the cop wouldn't be there'. Who are they controlling these cops? +As always the young, the poor, the suburbanites and anyone else who can't +afford the aspirins (...) + +Stopping terrorists? How many have these patrols stopped since July? None. +But not coz the cops are stupid - throughout France they have stopped +millions and tens of thousands of car drivers. Official statements claim +that petty crime has gone down as has tarif avoidance on the underground +and, thanks to all that, several hundred foreigners 'in irregular +situations' have been expelled. And of course you know that 'irregular +situations' isn't referring to those cretins who put bombs on the +underground rather it's the guys who sell peanuts or roses in the cafes or +perhaps a student who has missed his UV or someone or other who is 24 hours +late with the paperwork. + +So what is the point of Vigipirate? Of course they let the cat out of the +bag when they tried to implement it openly on the tramlines against young +people in Stasbourg, when they used it against demonstrators in Tahiti, when +they use it to stop people handing out leaflets or when they talk of +creating a 'vigibanlieue' (TN Vigisuburbs). + +Vigipirate aims to frighten people - you, me, everyone. It makes us look at +each other especially the other like watch dogs. It serves permanent control +- it is the corollary of videosurveillance and Pasqua's laws. It sows the +seeds of ethnic hatred. We've had enough of it! + + + + - November 95 + Un Refractaires Sans Frontieres parmis d'autres... + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001605.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001605.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..91f649dd --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001605.txt @@ -0,0 +1,394 @@ + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + CONTRE INFOS + EUROPEAN COUNTER NETWORK + PARIS / FRANCE +--------------------------------------------------------------- + English edition #2 +-------------------------------------------------------------- + Ecn c/o Reflex - 21 ter, rue Voltaire, 75011 Paris (France) +--------------------------------------------------------------- + eMail : Counter@dialup.francenet.fr + Samizdat : http://www.anet.fr/~aris/ +_______________________________________________________ + +THE PARISIAN ATMOSPHERE + +So, Saturday evening I'm on my way home down the Boulevard Voltaire... +sirens are wailing and 8 wagons of riot cops are on their way, pell mell, +down to Nation.. On the Place Poltaire they were setting up a water canon... +just like the crowd buster in 'Soleil Vert' + +I run back home, grab my two cameras fill them with a cartridge, empty my +pockets of anything awkward and I'm on my way down to Nation... + +The demo isn't over coz there are still swathes coming down the Bd Diderot. +I go through a CRS (TN riot cops) cordon on the rue de faubourg st Antoine +and get through... fairly good humoured I was expecting some more aggro.. + +Sausage, pancake and waffles... some folk dancing ... + +Folk having a cool time... + +The last bunch of demonstators goes through.. a cordon of riot police +behind... I talk to someone, and i turn my head... THE SQUARE IS EMPTY!!! A +small group around a fire are warming there hands... + +'We are cowards...' 'Noone is supporting the movement... where are the 5 +million on poverty's doorstep... where is DAL, where are the unemployed? + +'Look at all them dickheads demostrating' they are all saying in front of +their TVs. + +The CRS didn't even ask us to disburse... we did it ourselves + +'Shit this ain't no party. We ain't here to dance...' + +On Saturday night in the Place Nation the dustbins were being emptied... +half an hour after the demo had finished... no more slogans, no more red +flags, no more smiles on folks faces... + +Lets stay in the streets... lets avoid TF1 (TN national TV)... lets stay in +the street... let's not be cowards + +nomad@creanet.fr + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +SURVIVE OR LIVE + +Speech of the Seattle Indian Chief (*) to millions of men and women marching +for a better future (December 1995) + +How can you agree to sell your strength to chiefs who despise you and treat +you like slaves? The idea seems strange to me. How can you give your enemy +the duty of feeding those you love? + +How can one teach dignity to children by imposing absurd laws on them and by +offering them each day the spectacle of renunciation and submission? I +really do not understand. Maybe it is because the red man is a savage. + +Today, in your millions, you are answering the call to rebellion. The +railway line is deserted; nobody is taking messages from one region to +another; many young people are refusing to sit down to listen to the hollow +speeches of their masters; as for those men who are extracting the burning +rock from the soil, they have fought against the soldiers. The whole life of +your people has been changed. + +However, you seem ashamed of your strength. You feel a need to justify every +gesture of your anger by a fault in your adversaries. You seem to fear that +they will suspect you of wishing to destroy this world where money and +material goods are more important than that which is human! I do not +understand: is it not the only thing to do, if you do not wish to see +disappear once and for all what remains of the pure water, the forests, the +wild animals and even the towns from whence the poor have been chased as my +people have been chased from their lands? + +Can you believe that a change of chief, a signature at the foot of a treaty +will suffice to create a future for your children? + +My people have fought and we have learnt the meaning of the word treason. It +is the chiefs in Washington who have taught us and many of our people have +died from the bullets of the military or have been vanquished by cold and +hunger in the reservations where they have been parked. It seems people are +still dying of cold and hunger in our towns! What crimes have they commited +those you have allowed to be banished whilst every one of your masters +lives in luxury and goes around driven by five horses? + +You also have your ancestors, who fought for their freedom and for yours. +Those who today would put you on your guard against revolutionnary hope are +the same who, 200 years ago were happy to replace the nobility with the +bourgeoisie, dukes with lawyers whilst the people remained slaves! Can you +not be worthy of what your ancestors dreamt of, as you yourselves dream of +creating a better future for your children in the next millenium? + +The sons and daughters of the earth live upright. They only lie down to +sleep and make love. I know no other way of living. If this was good for +savages then that is what I am! + +There is one other thing I don't understand: some of you, most often the +young, show great courage and anger when facing the soldiers. Given their +age perhaps it is temerity, but what of it! Perhaps they use their +impetuosity against false targets - the aims of life do not shine in the +cages of glass, but what of it! How can you abandon to their fate their +outstretched hands? Do you wish to smash the dreams they have? + +See what you have already done and learn what you are capable of! You can +stop in its steps this world which destroys man in the way you stop trains. +In the struggle forgotten fraternity is reborn, the smile of shared hope, +the courage to want. + +The end of survivval and the beginning of life. + +(*) In 1854 in Seattle the Chief of the Dwamish tribe on the North West +coast of America replied to the Washington government which was promising +them a reservation in exchange for the 'purchase' of land from its people in +a text that was translated into French by the title The end of life and the +beginning of Survival. + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +LETTER FROM ROUEN + +On Tuesday, almost all the personel of public service is on strike, +the 'uprising' started in ROUEN (Yo, it's our town, in ~Normandie~) +with a strike of the student (Yo, most of us are students in Rouen, +and union activists on the campus, but not me, I am unemployed and +living thanx to state Welfare). The strike was stopped +when UNEF-ID(a trade union,if the word apply to students) and so-called +COMMUNISTES-REVOLUTIONAIRES were happy to have the gov renounce to +lower the budget of 12,000,000 but finally lower it of 6,000,000 Francs. +Before we even heard of the budget cut, we wanted to fight for a raise!!! +And the UNEF-ID an friends considered a 6,000,000 cut a VICTORY and +had a "fiesta" ! +It was an obvious manipulation from the Juppe's GOV, but it had a +'pervert' effect, other universities got on strike to have +what the gov. called "a constructive negociation", so did the +workers from SNCF (railroad). +At the same time Alain Juppe had presented a reform of National Health +(~Securite Sociale~) and the raise of the contributions for the retirement +pensions. +The opposition (~parti Socialiste~) did not protest !!! +Only the little ~parti Communiste~ protested. The First time a +president and a gov. is so unpopular, there is almost no opposition +in parliament ! Something rotten in the Republic of France... +All left-wing Unions, sometimes against their leaders, asked the +withdrawal of the whole Juppe's Project and the guarantee that +telecommunications and other services won't be privatised. +At this very moment, even the FASP (main Police Union) joined the +~mouvement. +If the government doesn't renounce, not only the ~Service Public~ but +all the workers could take strike action (even the unemployed persons +as they are joining unions and associations are involved). +And president Chirac, direct from Cotonou, Benin (A French +African "~colonie" ) tells us : "be confident...", hu hu. + +I hope u have understood at least half of that ^^^^ +Anyway, are their any students on this list? +Do u intend to have trike action (or what?) in your countries? +F..K the Labour Party, F..K the ~Parti Socialiste~ this french party +that discredited the LEFT during 14 long years and made the RIGHTISTS +so strong, and the people of France so ignorant. + +Raul Menfou /'De Gauche Et Je T'Emmerde' association. Rouen, France. + + +PS: Because of the strike of public transport : we had 560 km of trafic jam +in Paris, on monday morning. Not so good for environment :) + +PS bis: The uprising here seems serious, but it could stop tomorrow... + the morning of the big evening hasn't come yet (or whatever you + say in your barbaric language for ~"Le matin du Grand Soir n'est pas + encore arrive"~ ;) ) + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +"We are a social movement not a student movement" + +Nantes, as we know, was proud and terrible in March 1994 when it was +fighting against the CIP (1). The collective actions of libertarian groups, +Virus Mutinerie and SCALP, had allowed for the emergence in the heart of the +student population and further afield a new practice and a new theory. New +questions were being raised: what are the aims of education (should they be +profitable?), an end to the primacy of work, the sharing of wealth, +North-South global relations, racist laws etc. + +The struggle in Nantes today. + +It has its own characteristics which were evident two years ago and also +others new or more strongly asserted. It also shows certains defects old and +new.=20 + +As in March 1994, the struggle which is taking place on campus affirms its +autonomy (UNEF-ID is dead, UNEF is divided), its plurality (free and +accepted political expression for groups and individuals), and its direct +democracy (sovereign General Assembly, absence of hierarchy and +delegation...) It is also characterised by its openess to all be they +students, unemployed, workers, the excluded etc., its violence (2), its +parties. By its motions that have been passed and in the way it functions +the Nantes movement shows itself to be anti-capitalist, social - 'we are a +social movement, not a student movement' (1st December 1995) - +anti-hierarchical. What is more recent is its solidarity, really wanted and +organised alongside the struggling workers, in particular the workers of the +SNCF (TN French rail network): jointly organised demonstrations, concerted +action to get money for the strike funds... + +By being aware of its own self identity the movement has considered full +self management for the university and has proposed a change in the +curriculum (permanent critic of knowledge and not simply its consumption), +its form (end of the paternalistic relation between students and teaching +staff) by puting an end to class divisions - opening the university to one +and all, ending the 'slavery' of the IATOSS personnel. This has not been +tried but it will be soon. That's a promise. But also there are various +faults which are becoming apparent. By putting in place a structure which +tries to exclude manipulation or political backlashes, the movement +sometimes gets bogged down in practical formalities which limit initiative. +The worst defect of the movement, but one which must also be considered its +greatest success, is its high degree of politisisation. By becoming aware of +the global nature of things, of their difficulties andd by wishing to +confront them head on the movement realises that it has no real critical and +liberating thought. + +If critical elements exist, they are still weak and insuffisiant. That is +why many feel they have grasped the nettle but don't know by which end to +hold it. In order to solve the problem a day was dedicated to Marx and the +setting up of a liberation movement. 300 people took part and the outcome +was a belief in the the necessity to dispense with hierarchical, mass and +authoritarian organisations (such as PC, LCR, PO, LO) (...) + +Also it is necessary to reread various revolutionnary ideologies - marxism, +anarchism, dadaism, situationalism... In Nantes the movement is not yet +revolutionnary but in a state of revolution. + +Ballou (Scalp-Nantes) + + +(1) One can learn a lot by reading the pamphlet 'On a toujours raison de se +revolter' published in 1994 by the RESEAU No Pasaran. Available from Paris. +(2) The movement believes in direct action and has no hesitation in breaking +down the doors of those places it wishes to occupy. It is equally +disrespectful of the authorities - insulting, setiing up 'trials' of members +of the administrative council +in their presense during the occupation of the univerity presidents +residence (Friday 24th Nov), the spraying of President Jayez and other +academics with red wine. It accepts by a large majority street violence +against the police because it knows that the 'real troublemakers' are those +who by economic and political decisions smash up the lives of millions of +individuals: unemployment, exclusion, racism etc. It also will not hesitate +to make fun of journalistsbecause of their commitment to the system. For +example the media substituted in their report a light injury for a serious +one during the riots of Thursday 31st November in order to dramatise the +situation or else by never reporting (or nearly never) the political +decisions of the General Assembly in order to give the impression we are +still only demanding pencils and rubbers. + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +FOR AN EDUCATION WHICH FILLS US WITH HUMANITY NOT CONSUMERISM + +Today's society does not look at man as a thinking being but rather as the +raw material destined to be consumed by an economy that enslaves him and +looks upon him simply as a means for it to increase wealth. + +This situation is largely held up by our education system which begins at a +very early age. We are forced to learn a code of good conduct. This code +does not give us rules of citizenship but rather a code for underlings. The +education system errases invividuality and the questioning mind. The first +diploma in good conduct is achieved at the end of secondary school and is +known as the baccalaureat. This diploma is also the means of entry to the +famous university system. + +As for other people, they are 'parked' in technical training projects which +most often lead directly to unemployment or insecurity in jobs with neither +status nor rights. + +Until very recently - the 1950s - university was a separate world where folk +lived out their separation. It enjoyed this pretentiousness. Those were +times when politics implied criticism, the critical mind. Today's elite +doesn't need to know how to think but rather how to manage, make money. Thus +the elite is formed in the specialised schools: HEC (High Finance School), +Ecoles Superieures de Commerce, ENA, private universities etc. In this +strange factory which never lacks funding some strange types are formed: the +technocrats. + +The university has become the training ground for the middle classes and no +longer that of the elite and students, if they are lucky because both the +failure rate and graduate unemployment rate are high, will get small +managerial jobs above all in the state education system. The current +economic and social crisis explains the university crisis. It is no longer +possible or even necessary for the global capitalist system to guarantee the +future of 2 million students. That is why the funds have dried up which +would allow students to study in reasonable conditions. This is nothing +other than the outcome of the logic of liberalism and regional management. + +And if the universities are in crisis the knowledge we receive is dead +already decomposing. The lecturer has become a small time trader and his +students undemanding consumers. They acquire a knowledge they cannot use. +Nothing is more important to the student than to acquire a vague learning +which he will then sell, if he can, on the labour market. + +'Take notes', 'learn by heart' and 'regurgitate' these are the three +elements which define knowledge today. + +Let us make of school - from primary to university level - a place of +blossoming, enrichment, criticism and action. This is one of our demands. + +Emancipation as opposed to submission. +------------- +To have a university or technical training no longer protects you from +unemployment. Universities are simple there to massage the unemployment +figures where you can wat before taking on an insecure job. The capitalist +production system has no room for people who think for themselves. It +prefers managers, money makers, good leaders and docile workers. To talk of +training problems, adapting education to the needs of business in order to +deal with the economic and social crisis is pure demagogy in a world where +mutations and evolutions allow for the production on mass of use value goods +which could be redistributed with equality and solidarity amongst +individuals and the peoples of the North and South allowing all to live with +dignity. It is for us to create the new future which will ensure that our +living conditions are satisfactory with or without work + +(Extract from 'No Pasaran' special edition 14th December 1995) + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +Strikes drag on in French city of Marseille + + PARIS, Dec 20 (Reuter) - Transport problems dragged on in +the Mediterranean city of Marseille on Wednesday as striking +workers were slow to return to work but service was nearly +normal in the rest of France, officials said. + Train, commuter bus and tram drivers were returning to work +gradually in Marseille, however, and a first high-speed TGV +train left the city for Avignon and Paris to the north a little +over an hour late and with 200 passengers on board. + ``At this point, it's a problem of restoring service in the +Marseille region and no longer a problem with strikes still +going on,'' a spokesman for the SNCF state rail firm said. +Unions had voted to end the strike, but some workers were still +absent. + He said trains were running normally or at near-normal +levels on most of the rest of France's high-speed and intercity +lines. + The recovery was just in time to carry hundreds of thousands +of Christmas holidaymakers after more than three weeks of +crippling stoppages, triggered by government plans to overhaul +the welfare system and trim civil service retirement benefits. + Apart from Marseille, the sole major problem area for the +SNCF was high-speed Eurostar service between Paris and Brussels, +where just two round-trips were planned on Wednesday -- this +time because of a strike by Belgian rather than French rail +workers. + In Paris, Metro underground and suburban RER lines were also +restored to near-normal levels. + About 80 percent of the capital area's buses would run on +Wednesday, the RATP regional transport authority said. + All rides were free on Wednesday for the third straight day. + Rejecting drivers' pleas, RATP president Jean-Paul Bailly +said drivers would not be paid for the days they did not work +but he said a system would be worked out to lessen the pain to +strikers. + He said in an interview with Europe 1 radio that the pay for +days not worked would be deducted from paychecks gradually and +that strikers would be able to exchange overtime or time owed +them for the lost pay. + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +English version by +FREEDOM PRESS +http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/Freedom + +a-infos news list +http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/A-Infos + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001606.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001606.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..abcbac5c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001606.txt @@ -0,0 +1,499 @@ + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + CONTRE INFOS + EUROPEAN COUNTER NETWORK + PARIS / FRANCE +--------------------------------------------------------------- + English edition #1 +-------------------------------------------------------------- + Ecn c/o Reflex - 21 ter, rue Voltaire, 75011 Paris (France) +--------------------------------------------------------------- + eMail : Counter@dialup.francenet.fr + Samizdat : http://www.anet.fr/~aris/ +_______________________________________________________ + +THEIR RESERVES AREN'T BIG ENOUGH... FOR THE DEPTHS OF OUR DESIRE + +Throughout France students are mobilising... + +All around us: 3.5 million unemployed, a growing mass of workers whose jobs +are on the line across the planet, the growing impoverishment of whole +continents whilst the wealth of the world never ceases to grow... + +Here, even in Perpignan (TN: SW France) there are loads of us who live in +shit, unemployment, on a minimum income, grabbing a free ride on the +transport and tax system often not knowing where to sleep and what to eat. + +Are our actions apolitical? Ridiculous question! It's unbelievable... as if +the wish to jeopardise the whole of society wasn't a political decision +aiming to provide a compliant and obediant workforce on demand. We are +opposing this set-up however naive we may be! We haven't understood at all! +Paying people as little as possible is the only way to be competitive +within a neo-liberal framework and to oppose restraints is to oppose the +logic of the market... In other words our action is as political as that +which would take the taxpayers money to Mururoa instead of investing it in +education... + +All around us despite the false pretences of the media the flood of +repression and exclusion is growing... Our future is being pawned, the +present brings its own impoverishments. There is the right to be layed off, +the right to despair or anger, there is the humiliation of immigrant +workers, there are the expulsions and the extraditions, there is the return +to moral, sexist and religious order, there is selection in our +universities and the employment exchanges, there is the teachers crisis, +there is the restructuring of the social security system. There is nothing +but the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. Then there's the +police and wage slavery which beckons. There's the take-over of education +by the bosses and +Pasqua's schemes paid for out of public funds and there is racism. + +20% of the population own 68% of its wealth whilst 60% make do with 12%. We +face the end of education for pleasure, we face Chernobyl and the hole in +the ozone, we face work which crushes us and unemployment which kills, we +face a growth in public begging - now forbidden as it was in Perpignan this +summmer, we face the fall of the APL, we face the right which attacks and +the left which lies, the unions in a state of crisis, we face a miserable +income and an income of misery, overcrowded prisons, housing crises, +boredom, a dead end future. We have had enough! + +- Students on strike. + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +SCALP-NANTES + +MISERY... IT'S ALWAYS THE POOR YOU ATTACK THE MOST. + +For more than 20 years the various austerity programmes continue. From that +of the socialists in 1983 to that of Juppe' they all have in common the aim +of building a liberal Europe (Maastricht Treaty) which imposes the need for +squeezing public expenditure (reducing the budget deficit). This +anti-social Europe is being built to make the old continent a competitive +economic pole in the world market. The aim is to bring down the cost of +labour by giving free reign to business interests but not workers (paying +off public debt) (...) This is why the state is making political decisions +as to which budgets to cut: education, health, ASSEDIC, social security... +whilst leaving alone, of course, armaments and the political gravy train +(6% rise) + +Must we continue to submit our health, education and the rest of our living +conditions to the laws of competition? The globalisation of the market +economy is synonimous with insecurity and poverty in the countries of the +North and intense misery in those to the South. Everywhere we can see the +installation of a real social apartheid between rich and poor regions, +prosperous urban centres and the rotting suburbs, health for the rich and +minimla security for the rest, schools and universities abandoned and +starved of funds... This divided development depends on people being +willing to take it (...) + +It's well known: the thinner the carrot the bigger the stick. In order to +maintain this unequal social order the state announces repressive measures: +community policing since 1981, neighbourhood watch, a new penal code, +increassed police powers, video surveillance, repression of social +movements, Schengen agreements etc. Scapegoats must be found. Today France +is an openly racist country with racist laws. Finally there is the +principle of divide and rule: oppose the French and foreigners, workers and +the unemployed, the haves and the have nots, women and men... + +The pillage and exploitation of the countries to the East as well as the +South is tearing apart social structures and on top of capitalist barbarity +we have religious and nationalist obscuranticism. + +Our revolt against the logic of liberalism manifests itself by a refusal of +all authoritarian systems and a call for solidarity between individuals and +nations based on free exchange. We desire a share of wealth rather than +simply misery. With or without work we must aquire the means to live with +dignity. When we think of the profits linked to financial speculation and +also the fiscal fraud linked to it which in France, every year, is equal to +the budgetary deficit (230 billion francs) we no longer want them to speak +to us of sacrifice. + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +RIOTS - JUSSIEU + +30/11/95 (during the riot) + +* Demonstration of about 20,000 people better than the previous one (30,000 +but that was before the transport strike) + +* Students, school attenders but also the unemployed showed more determination. + +* During the demo there were confrontations with the riot police but it is +hard to tell if this was the work of agents provocateurs or demonstrators + +* The demonstrators moved on to Jussieu (as part of a national +co-ordination) and perhaps a thousand were there throughout the night. + +* Attempts were made to form barricades (cars were overturned) but with +little success up until now. Only the ordinary police were called out. + +* There were many arrests + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +A NIGHT OF DEMONSTRATING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF JUSSIEU SETS THE STUDENT +DELEGATES RUNNING + +On the devastated forecourt of Jussieu, where a few fires are burninng, the +lights from the campus university pierces the night at the foot of tower +43. Broken open by metal bars a little after 10 pm, the bookshop is witness +to a continuous procession of 'customers' who leave, loaded down with +plastic bags on which you can read 'Les Librairies du SAVOIR' (TN publicity +slogan). + +Inside books are strewn over the floor. 'Help yourself!' shouts a big type, +who is destroying the computer data behind the counter. Amidst the sound of +broken glass, and the frantic activities of the demonstrators, students are +doing their shopping. Two worlds meet without recognising each other. + +Dressed in a pullover and a duffle coat one young man asks his neighbour, +who is filling a bag with stationary, where the chemistry papers are. From +the mouth of a student of Art History the wordds pour out, 'It's crazy what +they are doing, you can't approve but at the same time it's too late, best +take advantage of the situation. I can never buy myself any books, the +feeling of power at being able to help yourself without paying... it's +unbelievably exciting'. + +This was the scene on November 21st - the end of a demonstration marked by +incidents (...) threatening to start again throughout the night with ten +times the violence. Shortly before 7 pm, Thursday, there were incidents +around the university of Jussieu. Three cars were overturned by groups of +young people. A fistful of molotov cocktails were thrown at the riot police +at place Jussieu. Behind the university gates was set up a type of +barricade with tables, chairs, rubbish bins... + +'If the riot cops come into the uni there will be big trouble', a small +well-organised group w earing sweatshirts with white hoods, began to sack +the campus. Smashed up with sledgehammers, the concrete of the forecourt +was transformed into projectiles which came raining down on the roofs of +the cars parked outside. + +'We are hungry', shouted voices from the cafeteria at the entrance to the +university. 'Can't we get the keys?' asked one studdent. At about 7.45 the +cafeterias windows were smashed in with metal bars. A crowd of +demonstrators and students piled inside. Drink and food vending machines +were quickly destroyed and theircontents consumed. 'There's enough for +everyone'. The hungry got behind the fast food counter and set up an +improvised restaurant service. + +Meanwhile in amphitheatre 44, the national co-ordinating body was having a +meeting. Militants from UNF and UNEF-ID were in attendance but also many +grassroots delegates who had come in from outside the city elected by +general assemblies. At the entrance to the amphitheatre a roll call was +made of the various towns one by one. Sandwiches are eaten annd folk warm +up to the idea of the '4 billion franc reserve fund' of the university +presidents. + +Some expressed their concerns quickly blaming the anarchists alone for the +disorder some meters away. Members of the CNT (National Confereration of +Labour), dressed in black leather, with scarves and flags under their arms +deny it. + +GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEFERRED + +The tension was mounting with constant attempts to gain entry from the very +excited young people. Well organised they fell back and came on again and +again. Whenn finally most of the delegates from Paris and other cities had +got in those on the doors gave up unnder the pressure. It was chaotic. The +group which could have formed the coordinating committee made off to the +Arab World Institute. + +The General Assembly was finally ajourned until 8.30 the following morning +to take place at Censier. In amphitheatre 45 a wild General Assembly took +place infiltrated by some of the go-to-the-limits militants of Paris 8 +Saint Denis along with a postal worker calling for a general strike and +some railway workers. Drinks and food from dispensers, half consumed, were +strewn everywhere. Standing on a table someone was waving a huge black flag +with a red star. One young person was clutching bags from the bookshop +whilst being pushed by one of his friends, 'Drop it you'll get done as you +go out... the riot cops are everywhere' Bags fall to the ground. 'We've got +to have a discussion' shouted someone who nobody was listening to. A vote +was taken in complete disorder on a motion from Saint +Denis saying, 'no to the false negotiators'. Free public transport, +reduction in working hours, an end to the nuclear programme, a general and +unlimited strike - all was demanded... in chaotic scenes. Suddenly the +lights were turned off - by whom wasn't clear. The 'votes' unable to be +taken by a show of hands took place on sound volume but darkness soon +discouraged these last combattants. + +Beatrice Gurrey +(Le Monde 3rd December 1995) + +Note - Despite some journalistic glosses this article seems to come the +nearest to what actually happened according to comrades who were present at +Jussieu. + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +TESTIMONY REGARDING POLICE INTERVENTION AND JUDICIAL REPRESSION + +After the student demo of 21st November, seven students know as 'rioting +demnstrators' were arrested, and judged at Paris' 23rd Correctional +Chamber, that same evening between 8.30 pm and 1.30 am. Six of them are +contesting the evidence brought against them and the police statements +claiming they contain numerous contradictions. Today we must demand the +release of these students condemned 'as an example' and with no real +evidence. Vincent, a student at Paris VII - Jussieu, who was one of the +condemned demonstrators tells us about that particular evening. + +_ How were you arrested? + +Vincent - At the end of the demo there was some rioting on the Boulevard St +Michel near the shop known as the Vieux Campeur. Five or six policemen in +civilian clothes had taken refuge in the shop because some of the 'rioters' +were attacking them. I was there, and I saw what happened: there were some +'rioters', true, but mainly just emonstrators. Firstly the cops carried +out a preliminary charge, taking some demonstrators into the Vieux Campeur. +Then they charged a second time. At that moment I turned my back on them, +someone +shouted a warning and I began to run. I was knocked down twice, I got up +but the third time a cop stopped me by twisting my arm. I had such bad +bruising that a doctor told me not to work for 12 days... The cop +handcuffed me and took me back into the shop; he pushed me to the ground +and covered my face with my jacket saying, 'I don't want to look at your +mug'. He kicked me in the stomach, the other demonstrators received the +same treatment. + +Once in the black maria he gave me a kick in the face. At the 13th +arrondissement police station there wasn't much violence apart from one +truncheoning. However in that police station I saw GUD stickers on the +typewritters and 'Present' on the tables... then we were taken to the +police depot and transfered in security vans to the court. + +_ What happened during the trial? + +Vincent - Seven of us were charged with 'rioting'; more precisely I was +accused of smashing a car window, attempting to steal a duvet from it and +rebellion: I deny everything, except rebellion (even in their way of using +the word). One cop also says he saw a box of fountain pens fall out of my +pocket during my arrest: I am therefore asking for finger print tests given +that I have never touched the! I am accused of rebellion which is to say I +kneed, kicked and punched them and insulted them even though there were +three of them. The prosecution described me as a very dangerous individual +who had nothing to do with the students demands and who simply came along +to +riot. The court was very harsh with every one and I was given a prison sentence. + +In fact the trial was a farce, based simply on police evidence. The police +went to see the shop owner who had been looted, Duriez, and he gave an +exact description of me; however, later on in the trial, he said, 'I wasn't +there so I can't describe any of the rioters'. A journalist from the +newspaper Liberation was also told by one of the shop assistants that she +couldn't identify any of the rioters and couldn't describe me. + +There were other unbelievable cases: one student from Paris VIII, who was +trying to stop the riot and climbed onto a car calling on people to stop, +was given a five month suspended sentence for stealing newspapers. Or the +student who was acused of hitting a police officer with a board and was +arrested one and a half hours after the event because he had paint on his +shoes... + +I will therefore file a formal complaint for injuries and false evidence. +On Wednesday I will give an explanation to the General Assembly and I +believe I will receive the support of the students. I fact I don't +understand what has happened to me: I was simply watching and suddenly +found myself defenceless at the police station + +Interviewed by Nora Venitia + +('Rouge' number 1662 30th Nov 1995) + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +THE SOCIAL STRUGGLES ARE EXPANDING + THEY REINFORCE THE STUGGLE AGAINST THE NATIONAL FRONT + +Some people believe or would have us believe that the social movement which +is currently developping could favour the development of the ideas of the +National Front. Nothing could be further from the truth! + +If it is true that the strikes are disrupting everyday life throughout +France this is not synonomous with disorder. On the contrary they prove +that the workers have managed to go beyond their individualism and +corporatism to organise their struggle collectively. + +The latest spate of elections prove it: the National Front failed to +achieve the vote it had anticipated despite vigourous campaigns on the +ground (Essonne, Seine-Maritime...) + +It is the mobilisations which are taking place and the depth of debate +which allow us to combat the simplistic ideas of the National Front.: + +- NO, immigrants are not the cause of the failings of the social security +system! + +- NO, a system of private insurance is not a solution for the workers. + +- NO, putting national interests first cannot be a solution to the social +misery. + +- NO, sending women back into their homes will not solve the problem of +unemployment. + +Today our demands and straightforward. They are openly opposed to the +liberal logic. That is why the National Front can find no political or +social room to propagate its hatred. + +Thus it is not surprising that they seek to organise at the business level +by means of pseudo associations which pretend to defend everything and +nothing: bosses, users... + +The struggle against the National Front has everything to gain from a +united, strong and campaigning union movement. That is why we, the militant +anti-racists, call for support of todays social movement. + +Let us be vigilant and let us stregthn the struggle against the ideas of +hatred and exclusion which are the essence of the National Front. + +Comite' Ras l'front de Paris XIIIe +6/11/95 + +(Pamphlet distributed by militant anti-fascists on the pavements of the +13th arrondissement) + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +Politicise your worries and worry the politicians. + +IF YOU MOVE, IF WE MOVE TOGETHER THEN... ALL IS POSSIBLE + +The social confrontation is spreading like wildfire! The 'Juppe' Plan' is +the last staw which will break the camels back. After the students, the +railway workers, the RATP workers (TN regional transport system) and the +postal workers come the medical workers, Air France and Air Inter workers, +lorry drivers, teachers and many others... they all come to danse. + +By wanting to submit social seecurity and pensions to the laws of profit, +under the pretext of needed 'reforms', the government is not only attacking +'sectional interests', it is calling into question fundamental social +rights which concern us all... that is to say the growth of social +inequalities at every level. + +Today the 'Juppe' Plan' is simply the perfection of a generalised process +of rendering our existential conditions ever more insecure: an attack on +salaries (rise in VAT, new social security contributions, wage freezes, +higher taxes on income, reductions in unemployment benefit) the development +of forms of under paid under employment (after school and community work +it's 'business'), sectoral reconstruction plans (sackings, mobility, +flexibility, relocalisation), growth in inequality of access to public +services (rise in the cost of using the RATP, the closure of maternal and +junior protection centres, rise in medical costs etc)... + +Some would have us believe that this is a revolt of the 'well off'. Good +joke. The workers in the public sector are being reproached for not +accepting that which has been imposed of the private sector: the +lengthening of the number of years of pension contributions from 37 and a +half to 40 years, the degradation of working conditions, the loss of jobs, +reduced workforces and fiscal raids on income... Simply not to go under +becomes a 'pivilege'. + +On the contrary, the strikers of these last few weeks have opened a breach +in the consensus of passivity and resignation. Beyond the evident need to +squash the 'Juppe' Plan', and those problems specific at every level, the +demands which are coming to light today in the movement go well beyond +those 'categories' into which they would place us: they express a need to +defend not only what we have won but also to grab back a minimum quality of +life. + +- The right to a guaranteed income, in particular for the unemployed and +those in unstable positions. + +- A huge reduction in working hours so we can all work... less,= +differently... + +- Effective equality of access to social services such as health. + +- The repeal of repressive and racist laws and regulations such as the +infamous 'Pasqua Laws' (TN Pasqua was a former Hoem Secretary to the right +of the right). + +At the grass roots it is not only support for the strikers which is +necessary, but also our participation in the general movement: we are +neither 'spectators' nor simple 'users' but workers (public and private), +the insecure, the unemployed, students, school attenders; some are on +strike some aren't but we have the same problems we are all in the same +boat, we are victims of the same social regression. + +Do the laws of economy condemn us? Let's burn the statute book! To +struggle, to achieve dialogue, to imagine and build other ways of living +together it is, now more than ever, the time for our rage, our anger, our +needs and our desires so that this generalised disatisfaction should become +a movement of +generalised social confrontation, so that Chirac and Juppe' should step +aside and that we grab the maximum... + +Our arms are occupation, requisition, expropriation, direct democracy, +autonomy, resistance, general strike... + +Our goals are equality, justice, solidarity, mutual aid and Freedom + +Collectif '18e Parallele' (Paris) +Collectif 'Vendedi 12' (Paris) +Scalp 20e / Ennemi public Numero 20 (Paris) +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +Nantes - 12th December 1995 + +At least 50000 marched calmly. There was an impressive libertarian presence +(between 1000 and 2000 people) seeing as the school attenders had been +drawn in.... + +We were able to hear slogans such as, 'stop the police! stop the +dictatorship!' In effect once again Nantes is under a state of seige where +the security forces have taken over the town centre. Riot police patrol at +will. There have already been arrests at the Place Royale and there is a +student hunt going on (there have been acts of police violence). + +We should note that a wonderful toy has made a reappearance at Nantaise +Square: 'Lancelot', or at least his twin, a superb water cannon belonging +to the national police (all in white with stripes of red and blue). Let's +hope that once again the westerly wind will blow its flow onto the somewhat +overheated cops. + +On the university side, despite the strike yesterday a number of classes +are now taking place and we will certainly have to put the picket lines in +place again. + +Nantes: where the strike is radical but hard work... + +Later + +Lacenaire + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +THE 'WITHOUT RIGHTS' ARE OCCUPYING 'BEAUBOURG' +(THE CENTRE POMPIDOU) + +As of 2.30 pm several hundred of the unemployed, homeless, paperless and +incomeless have been occupyingg the Beauburg cultural centre with the aim +of launching a real and permanent forum for debate concerning exclusion and +for convergence with the social movement. + +This occupation, renewable every evening is non-violent and will respect +the cultural activities of the site (...) Pour a fair distribution of +wealth and a massive reduction in working hours, so that everyone, French +or immigrant can have a job the wherewithall to live and to regain their +rights. + +Calling on the AC, APEIS, The committee for the homeless, CADAC, CIMADE, +DAL, Droits devant + +Contact: Droits devant: 45 44 35 22 + +_______________________________________________________ +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +English version by +FREEDOM PRESS +http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/Freedom diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001607.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001607.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4a97076c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001607.txt @@ -0,0 +1,133 @@ +Fire In The Rote Flora - But We Go On + + In the early hours of Tuesday morning, November 28, 1995, a +fire broke out in the archive of the squatted community and +political centre of Hamburg, the Rote Flora. The fire-brigade +managed to control the blaze after an intense four-hour struggle +with three fire-engines, but the fire was not extinguished until +11.00 a.m. In the fire-fighting process the whole roof of the +building, had to be removed. The whole of the first floor has been +completely burnt out, the rest of the building, namely the ground +floor and cellar has been severely damaged by water. At first the +cause was assigned to a technical defect in the archives but +evidence has since arisen that might point to arson. + Two access doors to the building had been broken open. A hole +had been smashed in the wall of the archives where a security door +was fitted; according to the first fire-fighters on the scene, who +enlarged this hole to gain entry, the stones had fallen inwards and +could not be ascribed to the fire. The archivists have assured us +that they left no electronic instruments running - copier, fax and +computer were all off. Furthermore, the movement-activated alarm in +the archive was set off twice, but not taken seriously due to +frequent false alarms. This is all the information we have at the +moment. Speculation should not be let run wild. + The Flora was occupied in 1989 on November 1st as a response +to the continuing gentrification of the Sternschanze district, +culminating in the demolition of the old Flora theatre and the +building of a new concert hall for a long-standing production of +"Phantom of the Opera". The Phantom had to go elsewhere and the +Flora has continued since then as a self-administered, self- +determined political and cultural centre. Originally there was a +dump adjoining the building which the Florists cleared and turned +into a park. In 1992 the park was brutally evicted. + Over the past 6 years the centre has had to fight continually +for its survival. During this time a fairly strong position has +been reached. It has functioned as a local cultural centre for +concerts, cafe and Vokue [roughly translates as a "people's +kitchen" for the community - ed.], exhibitions, theatre, radio, +bicycle and motorbike self-help groups, sport rooms and as an open +space where the widest variety of groups could exercise their +projects in a hierarchy-free environment. That means: no sexism, no +racism and no capitalism. On a local political level it is the +place from where non-parliamentary left-wing opposition is often +coordinated. Demos were prepared, and campaigns directed with the +Flora as focal point. Benefit actions for national and +international causes were held here. Congresses and other events +networking the North German left were often conducted here. + Furthermore, the "Archive of social movements" was housed in +the Flora, a unique collection of material documenting the history +of the Left since 1945 in Germany and internationally. All but 5% +of the material has been completely destroyed. That can never be +replaced. The photo-archive and its collection was also destroyed. + The fire could not have hit at a worse time. Right in the +middle of a solidarity action week for the banned newspaper +"Radikal" and the prisoners of the June 13 raids directed against +the paper and various other groups. Just when 2 of those prisoners +have been transferred, and demos around the prisons have been +banned. Just when 3 Kurds in a Hamburg deportation prison have gone +on hunger-strike. + One thing is clear. The Flora must go on. We cannot allow the +politicians to use this as an excuse to demolish the building. +According to surveyors from both the city and from our side the +material substance of the building is still intact and there is no +danger of collapse. We have entered the building, which was at +first cordoned off, and begun with a massive cleaning operation. +This weekend (December 2) we shall attempt to erect a provisional +roof with a large canvas sheet. The electrical wiring must all be +relaid. The whole of the first floor has to be re-built inside the +outer walls. The roof of the ground floor has to be newly shored +up. The water damage is extensive but not beyond repair. + Our first objective is to ensure that some kind of restricted +activity returns to the place. We are holding night watches and a +caravan has been installed as a co-ordination and information +point. The erection of a tent to replace some of the Flora's +functions in a limited and provisional form has also been planned. +The repair work must be done as quickly as possible. It has been +heard that the senate wishes to use this opportunity to find a +definitive solution to the Flora problem. + Given that we have nothing to expect from the city except +obstacles and attempts to restrict our self-determination, it is +likely that we shall be completely dependent on donations. Despite +the destruction of almost all its material, the Archive also plans +to continue. They need donations too, both in the form of money and +of old newspapers, pamphlets, leaflets etc., to rebuild their +collection. + We hope that groups from other countries can show their +solidarity with us, organise benefit events, whatever. If this +place goes under a vital node in the network of North German left- +wing organisation will have been lost, and our structures will have +been severely weakened. Donations of whatever kind can be sent to +the following addresses: + +Money transfers: + +Spendekonto Flora e.V. +Postgiroamt Hamburg +BLZ: 20010020 (Bank Sort Code = BLZ) +Ktonr.: 29492/202 (= account nr.) + +International Money Orders, etc. + +Rote Flora +Schulterblatt 71 +20357 Hamburg +Germany +Phone: 040/4395413 + +The above address can also be used to contact the archives. + + ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++ + ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++ + ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++ + ++++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++== +Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist collective based +in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide variety of +material, including political prisoners, national liberation +struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, the fight +against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our writings, +research, and translation materials in our magazine and bulletins +called Arm The Spirit. For more information, contact: + +Arm The Spirit +P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A +Toronto, Ontario +M5W 1P7 Canada + +E-mail: ats@etext.org +WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats +FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit ++++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++== + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001609.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001609.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d0466128 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001609.txt @@ -0,0 +1,61 @@ +[F.O.B.U. Federation of Occupation Based Unions] + +'Seize the Moment' Congress Report + +On the weekend of 14th/15th September 30 to 40 anarchists met in Melbourne +to discuss setting up a "federation of occupation based unions." The +meeting was called by the Libertarian Workers (who put out the "Anarchist +Age"), and its immediate stimulus was projected industrial legislation of +the Liberal Govt. which some thought might inadvertenly create new +opportunities for anarchist workplace activism. + +The "F.O.B.U." was duly set up consisting initially of three groups: +health, community and agriculture. Some people are also interested in +setting up manufacturing, and education groups. The idea of an +"occupation-based union" is the same as an industrial union in that all +workers in a given industry regardless if trade or profession may join; +unemployed, retired and self-employed workers associated with a given +industry and students, may also join. The "community" group (social +workers, etc) and the "agriculture" group are also open to anyone +interested in these areas, at least at this stage. The groups have yet to +work out detailed principles of organisation; it is not clear, for example +whether or not the traditional syndicalist prohibition against members with +the power to "hire or fire" will apply. + +The most organised so far of the groups, the "health" group which plans to +have a publication out in 4-6 weeks, a public meeting in 8 weeks, and a +congress in 12 months. A member of the group commented that health was a +"largely non-unionised" field; and also that due to the number of self +employed "health workers" who needed to hire for example a secretary, it +was possibly impractical to apply the "no hiring or firing" rule. + +My own impression is that the "F.O.B.U." is unlikely to develop into an +anarcho-syndicalist organisation; but in spite of that it should attract +the friendly interest of anarcho-syndicalists. Anarcho-syndicalists seek to +build organisations of wage-workers dedicated first of all to their +collective self-interest and broadening out from there into wresting +control of their industry from the bosses and ultimately into building a +free society, the "collective self interest" of humanity. + +The F.O.B.U. group seem to start from a different angle, based not upon the +wage workers need to resist oppression but upon society's need for certain +types of work to be done. The ethos of the F.O.B.U. has more in common with +the ethos (in theory) of medieval guilds or present day middle class +professional associations than with working class unions. Possibly this is +simply due to the nature of the occupational groups. But I don't think so; +I think the F.O.B.U. will take shape as a federation of anarchists and +anarchist sympathisers interested in the various socially necessary tasks. +As such its appearance should be welcomed and its development encouraged +without mistaking it for an anarcho-syndicalist organisation. + +F.O.B.U. "National Co-ordinator's" address is P.O. Box 6, Alpington. 3078. +Melbourne. Australia + +Yikes; I'm not sure of that PO Box,above. It may be 5006, or +6 ... I'll confirm. + +The next Congress is set for Feb.2nd 1997, at Ross House in Melbourne. + +Jeremy + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001610.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001610.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3d830587 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001610.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1756 @@ + + ANIMAL INGREDIENTS A TO Z + First Edition + + + Compiled By The E.G. Smith Collective + + First Printing 300 2/95 + 2nd Printing 300 7/95 + + E.G. Smith Press + P.O. Box 82026 + Columbus, Ohio, 43202 + + Printed Edition $2.50 + .78 S/H From + E.G. Smith Press + + COD ORDERS: egsmith@infinet.com + CATALOG REQUESTS: bshaffer@freenet.columbus.oh.us + WWW: http://www.infinet.com/~egsmith/ + + +--------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + ANIMAL INGREDIENTS A TO Z + First Edition + + + Compiled By The E.G. Smith Collective + + INTRODUCTION + ------------ + + The purpose of this pamphlet isn't to preach about why you shouldn't + eat animals and how animals are tortured because of societies + consumption of them. It has been compiled as a working reference for + those who are most likely vegan, and who wonder if Dihydroxyethyl + Soyamine Dioleate in their favorite potato chips is vegan (which it + isn't). + + This pamphlet is comprised of several different articles from all + over the country. There where a lot of things that we had collected + that we wanted to include but due to the space constraints we where + forced to carefully select articles that stayed consistent with the + original goal we had set out to accomplish. + + The Possible Animal Derived List in this pamphlet requires some + explanation. This is a myriad of ingredients that fit into two + categories. The first, are ingredients that are most likely + animal-derived, but no confirmation has been given by the + manufacture(s). The other are ingredients that in some cases are + animal-derived, but not always. Usually it is best to use you're + best judgement. Lecithin for example will say Soy-Lecithin if it is + not derived from animals, on the other hand some ingredients offer no + clue to their origins. It is usually best to avoid most of the + products listed in this section, just to be safe. + + The booklet focuses mainly on food, but it also extends somewhat into + shampoos and other products that even people of the meat-eating + culture wouldn't normally eat. We have tried to be as thorough and + correct as possible, all the information contained in this + publication is from reliable sources, all of which are documented at + the end, and most have been double checked with our own resources. + If you find any additions or corrections please direct them to E.G. + Smith Press, P.O. Box 02026, Columbus, Ohio, 43202 -- please include + sources and explanations. + + E.G. Smith Press Collective + + + + NUTREIENTS + ---------- + + + CALCIUM is for the development and growth of bones and teeth, normal + clotting of blood and functioning of muscles: watercress; rhubarb; + beets; parsley; spinach; broccoli; Chinese cabbage; raw onions; raw + celery; akra; chives; raw cabbage; cucumbers; turnips; zucchini; + green beans; squash; artichokes + + CARBOHYDRATES are for energy, heat and to assist in the absorption of + fat soluble vitamins & calcium: cereals; bread & flour products; + dried fruits; dried peas & beans; bananas; sugar; potatoes + + Protein, fat and carbohydrate combine to form calories _ which supply + heat and energy + + COPPER can be found in: nuts & beans; dried peas; wheat bran; whole + wheat; molasses; mushrooms; avocados; broccoli + + ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS limit the formation of excess cholesterol in + the blood. They are sources of the prostaglandins which regulate + processes in the smooth muscles: vegetable oils; peanuts; sesame; + sunflower & safflower seeds + + FATS are necessary for energy, heat and to assist in the absorption + of fat soluble vitamins and calcium: vegetable oils; nuts & nut + creams; cooking fats; nut butters; margarine; vegan white fats + + FIBRE keeps vascular system in good tone, i.e. prevents troubles in + the intestines, veins and arteries: unrefined foods (especially + cereals) + FOLIC ACID prevents certain kinds of anemia, assists growth: all + green vegetables; yeast extracts + + IODINE is for healthy growth and development: dried beans; asparagus; + green veggies; pineapple + + IRON is for proper formation of red blood cells and regulation of + body processes: whole grain cereals; black treacle; raisins; nuts; + sesame seeds; soya flour; pulses; cocoa; curry powder + + MANGANESE is necessary for the proper functioning of muscle and + nervous tissue: alfalfa; chlorophyll; wheat germ; whole grains + + NICOTINAMIDE is for healthy digestion, good skin condition, and + growth: soya; peanuts; flour & bread; yeast; rice; pulses; beer + + PROTEIN helps growth and the repair of body tissues, and for energy + their physical properties may be changed by cooking and food + preparation generally: soya grits; gluten flour; bakers yeast; + brewers yeast; soy flour; soy beans; soy milk; pine nuts; peanuts; + wheat germ; lentils + + TRACE ELEMENTS are essential accessories to vital processes and to + action of other nutrients: carrots; watercress; dried apricots; + prunes; tomatoes; cabbage; green peas; all green vegetables and + margarine + + VITAMIN A is for growth in children, plays a part in the way the eyes + receive light, and protects moist surface tissues (bronchial tubes, + etc.): peppers parsley; carrots; sweet potatoes; apricots; spinach; + mangoes; chives; squash + + VITAMIN B1 (Thiamine) is for growth, appetite, digestion, and the + nervous system: bread and wheat products; pulses; yeast (brewers is + best); Brazils and peanuts (uncooked); wheat germ + + VITAMIN B2 (Riboflavin) is for vitality, healthy skin, growth and + good sight: yeast; lentils; rye; mushrooms; parsley; broccoli tops; + green vegetables + + VITAMIN B12 aids growth of nerve cells and the prevention of certain + kinds of anemia: brewers yeast; bakers yeast; rice bran; wheat germ; + sunflower seeds; cornflakes; pinon ; nuts; soy milk; sesame seeds; + brazil nuts; peanuts + + VITAMIN C is famous for healing wounds, prevention of scurvy, + maintaining stamina, strong blood vessels, resistance to infection: + bell peppers; guavas; peppers; broccoli; watercress; parsley; + radishes; asparagus; brussel sprouts; chives; strawberries; papayas; + canteloupes; oranges; grapefruit + + VITAMIN D builds bones & Teeth. Growth: mild exposure to sunlight; + sunflower seeds; mushrooms + + VITAMIN E is for growth, muscle tissues, normal reproduction. + Possibly retards ageing: wheat & rice germ; whole wheat grains; leafy + greens; nuts & seeds; legumes + + VITAMIN K regulates clotting of blood: green leafy vegetables + + ZINC aids in fighting infections: nuts & seeds; wheat germ; brewers + yeast; whole grains; yellow & green veggies; yellow fruits + + + MYTHS + ----- + + MAPLE SYRUP: Yes, rumours abound about maple syrup containing pork + fat. The US vegan society has checked all known sources and found + that they are all suitable for vegans. + + CHEWING GUM: Some chewing gums contain glycerine. Wrigleys gum + contains a vegetarian source of glycerine. + + POSTAGE STAMPS: These do not contain an animal or fish glue. + + ENVELOPES: Apparently most envelopes have a synthetic glue on them, + not an animal or fish based glue. + + + DEFINITIVE + ---------- + ADRENALINE: From the adrenals of hogs, cattle and sheep. In + medicines. Alternatives: synthetics + + ALIPHATIC ALCOHOL: See Vitamin A. + + ALLANTOIN: A uric acid from cows, most mammals. Also in many plants + (especially comfrey). In cosmetics, Especially creams & lotions, and + used in the treatment of wounds and skin ulcers. + + AMBERGRIS: From sperm whale intestines. Used as a fixative in + perfumes and as a flavoring in foods and beverages. (Federal + regulation currently prohibit the use of ingredients derived from + marine mammals.) Alternatives: synthetic and vegetable fixatives. + + AMINO ACIDS: Animal or plant sources. In cosmetics, vitamins, + supplements, shampoos, etc. + + AMYLASE: An enzyme prepared from the pancreas of hogs. In cosmetics + and medicines + + ANIMAL OILS AND FATS: In foods, cosmetics, etc. Highly allergenic. + Plan derivatives are superior. Alternatives: Olive oil, wheat germ + oil, coconut oil, almond oil, safflower oil, etc. + + ARACHIDONIC ACID: A liquid unsaturated fatty acid occurring in the + liver, brain, glands, and fat of animals. Generally isolated from the + liver. In skin creams and lotions to soothe eczema and rashes. + + ASPARTIC ACID: DL and L forms. Aminosuccinate Acid. Can be animal or + plan (e.g. Molasses) source. In Creams and ointments. Sometimes + synthesized for commercial purposes. + + BEE PRODUCTS: From bees. For bees. Bees are selectively bred. Culls + are killed. A Cheap sugar is substituted for their stolen honey and + millions die as a result. Their legs are often torn off by + pollen-collecting trap doors. + + BEE POLLEN: Collected from the legs of bees. Causes allergic + reactions in some people. In supplements, shampoos, toothpastes, + deodorants. Too concentrated for human use. + + BEESWAX: Obtained from the honeycomb of bees. Very cheap and + traditional but harmful to the skin. Some companies won't use beeswax + as it doesn't permit the skin to breathe. In lipsticks and many other + cosmetics, especially face creams, lotions, mascaras, eye creams and + shadows, makeup bases, nail whiteners, etc. Used in making candles, + crayons and polishes. Alternatives: Paraffin; vegetable oils and + fats; ceresin, made from the mineral ozokerite (replaces beeswax in + candle making); carnauba wax from the Brazilian palm tree (used in + many cosmetics and in the manufacture of rubber, phonograph records, + in waterproofing and writing inks); Japan was, from the fruit of a + tree grown in Japan and China; synthetic beeswax. + + BENZOIC ACID: In almost all vertebrates and in berries. In + mouthwashes, deodorants, creams, aftershave lotions, perfumes, foods, + beverages. Alternatives: gum benzoin (tincture) from the aromatic + balsamic resin from trees grown in china, Sumatra, Thailand and + Cambodia. + + BIOTIN: Vitamin H. Vitamin B Factor. In every living cell and in + larger amounts in milk and yeast. Used in cosmetics, shampoos, + creams. Alternatives: plant sources. + + + BLOOD: This should be obvious but if it isn't.... From any + slaughtered animal. Used in cheese making, foam rubber, intravenous + feedings, medicines and as adhesive in plywood. Possibly in foods as + lecithin (see). Alternatives: synthetics, plant sources. + + BOAR BRISTLES: Hair from wild or captive hogs. In "natural" + toothbrushes, hairbrushes, bath brushes, cosmetic brushes and shaving + brushes. Alternatives: vegetable fibers, nylon. + + BONE ASH: Bone earth. The ash of burned bones, used as a fertilizer, + in making ceramics and in cleaning and polishing compounds. + + BONEBLACK: Bone charcoal. A black pigment containing about 10% + charcoal made by roasting bones in an airtight container. Used in + aquarium filters and in refining cane sugar. In eye shadows, + polishes. + + BONE MEAL: Animal bones. In some fertilizers, some vitamins and + supplements as a source of calcium, toothpastes. Alternatives: plant + mulch, vegetable compost, dolomite, clay, vegetarian vitamins. + + CAPRYLIC ACID: Can come from cow or goat milk. Also from palm and + coconut oil, other plant oils. In perfumes, soaps. + + CARMINE: Cochineal. Carminic Acid. Red pigment from the crushed + female cochineal insect. Reportedly 70,000 beetles may be killed to + produce one pound of this red dye. Used in cosmetics, shampoos, red + apple sauce and other foods. May cause allergic reactions. + Alternatives: beet juice, no known toxicity (used in powders, + roughes, shampoos); alkanet root, from the root of an herblike tree, + no known toxicity (used as a red dye for inks, wines, lip balms, etc. + and can be combined to make a copper or blue coloring). + + CAROTENE. Provitamin A. Beta Carotene. Found in many animal tissues + and in all plants. Used as a coloring in cosmetics and in the + manufacture of Vitamin A. + + CASEIN. Caseinogen. Milk protein. In "non-dairy" creamers, many + cosmetics , hair preparations, beauty masks. Alternatives: soy + protein, vegetable milks. + + CASTOREUM: Castor. From muskrat and beaver genitals. Used in + perfumes and incense. Alternatives: synthetics, plant sources. + Castor oil comes from the castor bean and is used in many cosmetics. + + CATGUT: Tough cord or thread made from the intestines of sheep, + horses, etc. Used for surgical sutures and for stringing tennis + rackets and musical instruments, etc. Alternatives: nylon & other + man-made fibers. + + CETYL ALCOHOL: Cetyl Lactate. Cetyl Myristate. Cetyl Palmitate. + Ceteth-1, 02, etc. Wax found in spermaceti (see) from sperm whales or + dolphins. Used in lipsticks, mascaras, nail polish removers, hand + lotions, cream roughs and many other cosmetics, shampoos, hair + lacquers and other hair products, deodorants, antiperspirants + (Federal regulations currently prohibit the use of ingredients + derived from marine mammals.) Alternatives: vegetable cetyl alcohol + (e.g., coconut) synthetic spermaceti. + + CHOLESTERIN: Cholesterol. A steroid alcohol, especially in all + animal fats and oils, nerve tissue, egg yolk and blood. Can be + derived from lanolin (see). In cosmetics, eye creams, shampoos, etc. + Alternatives: plant sources, synthetics. + + CIVET: Obtained from the civet, a small mammal, by stimulating it, + usually through torture. Civets are kept captive in cages in horrible + conditions. Used in perfumes as a fixative. + + COLLAGEN: A fibrous protein in vertebrates. Usually derived from + animal tissue. In cosmetics. Can't affect the skin's own collagen. + Alternatives: soy protein, almond oil, amla oil (from Indian tree's + fruit). + + CORTISONE: Cortico Steroid. Hormone from cattle liver. Widely used in + medicine. Alternatives: synthetics. + + CYSTEINE, L-Form. CYSTINE: Two amino acids which can come from + animals. Used in hair products and creams, in some bakery products + and wound healing formulations. Alternatives: Plant sources. + + DOWN: Good or duck insulating feathers. Often from slaughtered or + cruelly exploited geese. Used in pillows and as an insulator in + quilts, parkas, sleeping bags. Bad in cold, wet weather as it packs + down. Alternatives: many polyester and man-made substitutes, + superior in many ways; kapok (silky fibers from the seeds of some + tropical trees); milkweed seed pod fibers. + + DUODENUM SUBSTANCES: From the digestive tracts of cattle and swine. + In some vitamins and medicines. Alternatives: vegetarian vitamins, + synthetics. + + EGG ALBUMIN: Albumen. In eggs, milk, muscles, blood and in many + vegetable tissues and fluids. In cosmetics, albumin is usually + derived from egg whites. May cause allergic reactions. In cakes, + cookies, candies, other foods. Egg whites sometimes used in + "clearing" wines. + EGG PROTEIN: In shampoos, skin preparations, etc. Alternatives: plant + proteins. + + ELASTIN: Found in the neck ligaments and aorta of cattle (bovine). + Similar to collagen Can't affect the skin's own elasticity. + Alternatives: synthetics, proteins from plant tissues. + + ESTROGEN: Estrone. Estradiol. From cow ovaries and pregnant mares' + urine. Considered a drug. Can have harmful systemic effects if used + by children. Used for reproductive problems and in birth control + pills. In creams and lotions. Has no effect in the creams as a + "nourishing" factor and simple vegetable source creams are considered + better. Alternatives: Oral contraceptives marketed today are usually + based on synthetic steroids. Phytoestrogens (from plants) are being + researched currently. + + FATTY ACIDS: Can be one or any mixture of liquid and solid acids, + caprylic, myristic , oleic, palmitic, stearic (see all), behenic. + Used in bubble baths, lipsticks, soaps, detergents, cosmetics, + shampoos, foods. Alternatives: vegetable-derived acids, soya + lecithin, safflower oil, bitter almond oil, sunflower oil, etc. + + FEATHERS: Generally from exploited and/or slaughtered birds. Can be + used as ornaments in whole or can be ground up in shampoos, etc. See + Down. See Keratin. + + FISH LIVER OIL: Cod-Liver Oil. Fish livers. Used in Lubricating + creams and lotions, vitamins and supplements. In milk fortified with + Vitamin D. Alternatives: vegetable oils, yeast extract ergosterol, + sunshine. + + FISH OIL: See Marine Oil. Fish oil can be from marine mammals. Used + in skin ointments, soap making, etc. (Federal regulations currently + prohibit the use of ingredients derived from the marine mammals.) + + FISH SCALES: Used in shimmery makeups (eye, etc.). Garbage cans full + of scales are sold to manufacturers. Alternatives: mica, rayon. + + FLETAN OIL: Rare ingredient derived from fish liver which includes + lecithin, Vitamin A and Vitamin D (see all). + + FUR: Hopefully speaks for itself. + + GELATIN: Gel. Protein obtained by boiling skin, tendons, ligaments or + bones with water, From cattle and hogs. Used in shampoos, face masks, + other cosmetics. Used as a thickener for fruit gelatins and puddings + ("Jello"). In candies, marshmallows, cakes, ice cream, yogurts. On + photographic film as a coating and in vitamins as capsules. + Sometimes used to assist in "clearing" wines. Alternatives: algae and + seaweed (carrageen [Irish moss], algin, agar-agar, kelp), used in + jellies, plastics, medicines; pectin from fruit; dextrins; locust + bean gum cotton gum. Marshmallows were originally made from the + root of the marshmallow plant. + + GLUTAMIC ACID: An amino acid found widely in plant and animal tissue. + Used as food seasoning and as an antioxidant in cosmetics. + + GLYCERIDES: Monoglycerides. Diglycerides. From animal fat. In + margarines, cake mixes, confectioneries, foods, cosmetics, etc. See + Glycerin. Alternatives: vegetable monoglycerides and diglycerides, + synthetics. + + GLYCERIN: Glycerol. Polyglycerol. Polytethylene Glycol (PEG). A + by-product of soap manufacture (normally used animal fat). In + cosmetics, foods, mouthwashes, toothpastes, soaps, ointments, + medicines, lubricants, transmission and brake fluids, plastics. + Alternatives: Vegetable or vegetable glycerin, a by-product of + vegetable oil soap; derivatives of seaweed, petroleum. + + GUANINE: Pearl essence. Obtained from scales of fish. Constituent of + ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid and is found in all animal + and plant tissues. In shampoos, nail polish, other cosmetics. + Alternatives: leguminous plants, synthetics. + + HIDE GLUE: Same as gelatin but of a cruder, impure form. + Alternatives: Dextrins and synthetic petrochemical-based adhesives. + + HONEY: Food for bees, made by bees. Still a sugar, too concentrated + for humans. Contains toxins harmful to humans. Can cause allergic + reactions. In cosmetics, foods. Alternatives: Maple syrup, Date + sugar, syrups made from grains. + + HORSEHAIR AND OTHER ANIMAL HAIR: In some blankets mattresses, + brushes, furniture, etc. Alternatives: vegetable and man-made fibers. + + HYDROLYZED ANIMAL PROTEIN: In cosmetics, especially shampoos and hair + treatments. Alternatives: soy protein, other vegetable proteins, + amla oil (from an Indian tree's fruit). + + INSULIN: From the pancreas of hogs and oxen. Used by millions of + diabetics daily. Alternatives: synthetics, human insulin grown in a + lab, diet when possible. + + ISINGLASS: A form of gelatin prepared from the internal membranes of + fish bladders. In foods and sometimes used in "clearing" wines. + Alternatives: bentonite clay, "Japanese isinglass"; see Alternatives + for Gelatin. Isinglass is also a mineral, mica, used in cosmetics. + + KERATIN: From the ground-up horns, hoofs, feathers, quills and hair + of various creatures. In hair rinses, shampoos, permanent wave + solutions. Alternatives: almond oil, soy protein, amla oil, (from an + Indian tree's fruit), rosemary, nettle. Rosemary and nettle give body + and stand strength to hair. + + LACTIC ACID: L-Lactic Acid (a by-product of the slaughterhouse). + Produced by the fermentation of lactose when milk sours or from + sucrose and some other carbohydrates by the action of certain + microorganism. Can be found in blood and muscle tissue. In skin + fresheners, adhesives, plasticizers, pharmaceuticals, sour milk, + beer, sauerkraut, pickles and other food products made by bacterial + fermentation. Used in foods and beverages as an acidulant, flavoring + and preservative. + + LACTOSE: Milk sugar. Milk of mammals. In eye lotions, foods, tablets, + cosmetics, baked goods, medicines, Alternatives: plant milk sugars. + + LANOLIN: Lanolin Acid. Lanolin Alcohols (sterol, Triterpene Alcohol, + Aliphatic Alcohol). Wool Fat. Laneth-5, -10, etc. Lanogene. + Lanosterol. Isopropyl Lanolate. A product of the oil glands of sheep, + extracted from their wool. In many skin care products and cosmetics + and in medicines. Some cosmetic companies won't use it because it + commonly causes allergic contact skin rashes, and also they consider + it to be a cheap filler. Vegetable sources are thought to be better + moisturizers- lanolin is too greasy, waterproof and sealing. Skin + can't breathe. See Wool for cruelty to sheep. + + LARD: Fat from hog abdomens. In shaving creams , soaps, cosmetics, + baked goods and other foods. Hard to digest. Alternatives: vegetable + fats or oils. + + LEATHER: Suede. Calfskin. Sheepskin. Alligator. Kid. Euphemism for + animal skin. The use of and sale of it subsidizes the meat industry + . Used to make wallets, handbags, belts, furniture, and car + upholstery, shoes, coats, etc. Alternatives: natural materials such + as cotton, canvas, etc.; man-made materials such as nylon, vinyl. + + LECITHIN: Choline Bitartrate. In all living organism. Frequently + obtained for commercial purposes from eggs and soybeans (when stated + SOY lecithin). Also from nerve tissue , blood, milk, corn. Choline + bitartrate, the basic constituent of lecithin, is in many animal and + plant tissues or prepared synthetically. Lecithin can be in eye + creams, lipsticks, liquid powders, hand creams, lotions, soaps, + shampoos, other cosmetics, candies and other foods, medicines. + + LINOLEIC ACID: An essential fatty acid (see). In cosmetics vitamins. + + + LIPASE: Enzyme from the stomachs and tongue glands of calves, kids + and lambs. Probably in some vitamins. Alternatives: vegetable + enzymes. + + LIPOIDS/LIPIDS: Fat and fatlike substances which occur in animals and + plants. + + LUNA SPONGE: Sea Sponge., A plantlike animal that lives in the sea + and is becoming scarce. Alternatives: man-made sponges. + + MARINE OIL: Fish Oil. From fish or marine mammals (including + porpoises). Used in soap making, candles, lubricants, paints and as + a shortening (especially in some margarines). (Federal regulations + currently prohibit the use of ingredients derived from marine + mammals.) + + METHIONINE: An essential amino acid found in various proteins. Used + as a texturizer in creams. + + MILK PROTEIN: Hydrolyzed Milk Protein. From milk (cows). In + cosmetics, shampoos, moisturizers, conditioners, etc. Alteratives: + soy protein, other plant proteins. + + MINK OIL: From minks. In cosmetics, creams, etc. Alternatives: + vegetable oils and emollients (e.g., avocado, almond oil, jojoba, + etc.) + + MUSK: Obtained from the genitals of the Northern Asian small hornless + deer. In perfumes and food flavorings. Can cause allergic + reactions. Alternatives: labdanum (oil which comes from various + rockrose shrubs), no known toxicity. Other plants have a musky scent + also. + + MYRISTIC ACID: Isopropyl myristate. Myristyl. Etc. In most animal + and vegetable fats. In Butter acids. Used in shampoos, creams, + cosmetics, food flavorings. Alternatives: nut butters, oil of + lovage, coconut oil, extract from seed kernels of nutmeg, etc. + + + + "NATURAL SOURCE.": Can mean animal, vegetable or mineral source. Most + often in the health food industry, it means an animal source, + especially in cosmetics (e.g., animal elastin [see], animal glands, + fat, protein , oil, etc.) . Be wary of this term. Find out exact + source. + + NUCLEIC ACID: In the nucleus of all living cells. Used in cosmetics, + shampoos, conditioners, vitamins, supplements, etc. Alternatives: + plant sources. + + OCTYL DODECANOL: Mixture of solid waxy alcohols. Primarily from + stearyl alcohol (see). + + OLEIC ACID: Oleth-2, -3, -20, etc. Oleyl Alcohol. Oleamine. Oleyl + Betaine. Obtained from various animal and vegetable fats and oils. + Is usually obtained commercially from inedible tallow (see). In + foods, soft soaps, bar soaps, permanent wave solutions, shampoos, + creams, nail polish, lips ticks, liquid makeups, many other skin + preparations. Alternatives: coconut oil; see alternatives for Animal + Oils and Fats. + + OX BILE: Oxgall. From castrated bovines. In creams. + + PALMITIC ACID: Palmitate. Fatty Acids. From fats, oils (see Fatty + Acids) mixed with stearic acid (see). Occurs in many animal fats and + plant oils. In shampoos, shaving soaps, creams. Alternatives: palm + oil and other vegetable sources. + + PANTHENOL: Depanthenol. Vitamin B Complex Factor. Provitamin B5. + Can come from animal or plant sources or synthetics. In shampoos, + foods, supplements, emollients, etc. + + PEPSIN: Obtained from the stomachs or hogs. A clotting agent. In + some cheeses and vitamins. Same uses and alternatives as rennet + (see). + + PLACENTA: Placenta Polypeptides Protein. Afterbirth. Contains waste + matter eliminated by the fetus. Derived from the uterus of + slaughtered animals. Animal placenta is widely used in skin creams, + shampoos, masks, etc. Doesn't remove wrinkles. Alternatives: kelp, + vegetable oils. + + POLYPEPTIDES: Obtained from slaughterhouse wastes. See RNA/DNA. + Alternatives: plant proteins and enzymes. + + PROPOLIS: A resinous substance collected from various plants by bees + and used in the construction of their hives. In toothpastes, + shampoos, deodorants, supplements, etc. + + POLYSORBATES: Derivatives of fatty acids (see). In cosmetics, foods. + + PRISTANE: Obtained from the liver oil of sharks and from whale + ambergris (see). See Squalene. Used as a lubricant and anticorrosive + agent. In cosmetics. (Federal regulations currently prohibit the use + of ingredients derived from marine mammals.) Alternatives: plant + oils, synthetics. + + PROGESTERONE: A steroid hormone (see) used in face creams. Can have + adverse systemic effects. Alternatives: synthetics. + + RENNET: Rennin. From calves' stomachs. Used in cheesemaking, + rennet custard (junket) and in many coagulated dairy products. + Alternatives: microbial coagulating agents, bacteria culture, lemon + juice. + + RNA/DNA: Ribonucleic Acid. Deoxyribonucleic Acid. Polypeptides. + Obtained from slaughterhouse wastes. In all living cells. Used in + many protein shampoos and cosmetics. Alternatives: plant cells. + + ROYAL JELLY: Secretion of the throat glands of the honeybee workers + that is fed to the larvae in a colony and to all queens larvae. No + proven value in cosmetic preparations. Alternatives: aloe vera, + comfrey, other plant derivatives. + + SABLE BRUSHES: From the fur of sables (weasel-like mammals). Used to + make cosmetic brushes. Alternatives: synthetic furs and fibers. + + SILK: Shiny fiber made by silkworms to form their cocoons. Boiled or + roasted in their cocoons to get the silk. Used in cloth and silk + screening. Alternatives: milkweed seed pod fibers, nylon, + silk-cotton tree and ceiba tree filaments (kapok), rayon, man-made + silks. Other fine cloth can be and is used for silk screening. + Taffeta can be made from silk or nylon. + + SILK POWDER: Obtained from the secretion of the silkworm. Used as a + coloring agent in face powders, soaps, etc. Causes severe allergic + reactions; systemic reactions if inhaled or ingested. + + SNAILS: Crushed. In some cosmetics. + + SPERMACETI: Cetyl Palmitate. Sperm Oil. Waxy oil derived from the + sperm whale's head or from dolphins. In skin creams, ointments, + shampoos, candles, many margarines. Used in the leather industry. + May become rancid and cause irritations (Federal regulations + currently prohibit the use of ingredients derived from marine + mammals.) Alternatives: Synthetic spermaceti, jojobas oil and other + vegetable emollients. + + SQUALANE: Obtained from shark liver oil. Lubricant and perfume + fixative. Alternatives: synthetics. + + SQUALENE: From shark liver oil or vegetable oil. An emollient from a + "natural source" (see). A precursor of cholesterol in biosynthesis. + In cosmetics, moisturizers, hair dyes. Alternatives: vegetable + emollients (olive oil, wheat germ oil, rice bran oil, etc.). + + STEARIC ACID: Tallow (see). Stearamide. Stearate. Quaternium 27. + Stearin. Fat from cows, sheep, etc. (could be dogs and cats from + shelters). Most often refers to a fatty substance taken from the + stomachs of pigs. Can be harsh, irritating. Used in cosmetics, + soaps, lubricants, candles, hairsprays, conditioners, deodorants, + creams. Alternatives: can be found in many vegetable fats, e.g., + coconut. + + STEARYL ALCOHOL: Stenol. A mixture of solid alcohols; can be + prepared from sperm whale oil. In medicines, creams, rinses, + shampoos, etc. (Federal regulations currently prohibit the use of + ingredients derived from marine mammals.) Alternatives: plant + tissues, synthetics. + + STEROID: Sterol. From various animal glands or from plant tissues. + Steroids include sterols. Sterols are alcohols from animals or + plants (e.g., cholesterol). Used in hormone preparations. In + creams, lotions, hair conditioners, fragrances, etc. Alternatives: + plant tissues, synthetics. + + TALLOW: Tallowate. Tallow Fatty Alcohol. Stearic Acid (see). + Rendered beef or sheep fat. May cause eczema and blackheads. In wax + paper, crayons, margarines, paints, rubber, lubricants, candles, + soaps, shampoos, lipsticks, shaving creams, other cosmetics. + Alternatives: vegetable tallow (animal tallow usually used + commercially), Japan tallow, paraffin, ceresin (see alternatives for + Beeswax). + + TURTLE OIL: Sea Turtle Oil. From the muscles and genitals of giant + sea turtles. In soaps, skin creams, nail creams, other cosmetics. + Alternatives: Vegetable emollients (see Alternatives for Animal Oils + and Fats). + + UREA: Carbamide. Imidazolidinyl Urea. Uric Acid. Found in urine + and other body fluids. Also produced synthetically. In deodorants, + ammoniated dentifrices, mouthwashes, hair colorings, hand creams, + lotions, shampoos, etc. Used to "brown" baked goods such as + pretzels. + + VITAMIN A: Retinol. Acetate and Palmitate (see Palmitic Acid). An + aliphatic alcohol. Can come from fish-liver oil (e.g., shark-liver + oil), egg yolks, butter, lemongrass, wheat germ oil, carotene in + carrots, etc., synthetics. In cosmetics, creams, perfumes, hair + dyes, vitamins, supplements. + + VITAMIN B12: Usually from an animal source. Some vegetarian B12 + fortified yeasts and analogs available. Some vegetarian B12 vitamins + are in a stomach base. Plant algae discovered containing B12, now in + supplement form (spirulina). Also, B12 is produced in a healthy + body. + + VITAMIN D: Ergocalciferol (Vitamin D2, Ergosterol, provitamin D2, + Calciferool). Vitamin D3. Vitamin D can come from fish-liver oil, + eggs, milk, butter. Vitamin D2 is made by irradiating ergosterol, a + provitamin from plants or yeast. Vitamin D3 is from fish-liver oil. + In creams, lotions, other cosmetics, vitamins. Alternatives + sunshine, plant sources, synthetics. + + OTHER VITAMINS: (Choline, Biotin [see], Inositol, Riboflavin, etc.). + Many other vitamins can come from animal sources. Alternatives: + vegetarian vitamins, plant and mineral sources. + + WHEY: From milk. Usually in cakes, cookies, candies, cheese. + Alternatives: soybean whey. + + WOOL: From sheep (in the U.S., mostly from slaughtered ones). Used + in clothing, including blends. Ram lambs and old "wool" sheep are + slaughtered for their meat and last shearing. Sheep are transported + without food or water in extreme heat and cold. Legs are broken, + eyes injured, etc. Sheep are bred to be unnaturally woolly. + Inferior sheep are killed. Shearing DOES hurt the sheep. They are + pinned down violently, sheared roughly. Their skin is cut up. Every + year, hundreds of thousands of shorn sheep die from exposure to cold. + Natural predators of sheep (wolves, coyotes, eagles, etc.) are + poisoned, trapped and shot. In the USA, overgrazing by cattle and + sheep is turning more than 150 million acres of land into desert. + "Natural" wool raising uses enormous amounts of resources and energy + (to breed, raise, feed, shear, transport, slaughter, etc. the sheep). + Many people are allergic to wool. Alternatives: cotton, cotton + flannel, linen, man made fibers, etc. + + + INGREDIENTS + ----------- + INGREDIENTS DERIVED FROM ANIMALS: + + A + Acetylated Hydrogenated Lard Glyceride + Acetylated Lanolin + Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol + Acetylated Lanolin Ricinoleate + Acetylated Tallow + Albumen + Albumin + "Amerachol"(TM) + Ammonium Hydrolyzed Protein + Amniotic Fluid + AMPD Isoteric Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Amylase + Animal Collagen Amino Acids + Animal Keratin Amino Acids + Animal Protein Derivative + Animal Tissue Extract _ Epiderm Oil R + Arachidonic Acid + + B + Batyl Alcohol + Batyl Isostearate + Beeswax + Benzyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Brain Extract + Buttermilk + + C + C30-46 Piscine Oil + Calfskin Extract + Cantharides Tincture _ Spanish Fly + Catharidin + Carmine _ Cochineal + Carminic Acid _ Natural Red No. 4 + Casein + Castor _ Castoreum (not Castor Oil) + Ceteth-2 _ Poltethylene (2) Cetyl Ether + Ceteth-2, -4, -6, -10, -30 + Cholesterol + Civet + Cochineal + Cod-Liver Oil + Coleth-24 + Collagen + Cysteine, -L-Form + Cystine (or Cysteine) + + D + Dea-Oleth-10 Phosphate + Desamido Animal Collagen + Desamidocollagen + Dicapryloyl Cystine + Diethylene Tricaseinamide + Dihydrocholesterol + Dihydrocholesterol Octyledecanoate + Dihydrocholeth-15 + Dihydrocholeth-30 + Dihydrogenated Tallow Benzylmoniumchloride + Dihydrogenated Tallow Methylamine + Dihydrogenated Tallow Phthalate + Dihydroxyethyl Tallow Amine Oxide + Dimethyl Hydrogenated Tallowamine + Dimethyl Tallowamine + Disodium Hydrogenated TallowGlutamate + Disodium Tallamido Mea-Sulfosuccinate + Disodium Tallowaminodipropionate + Ditallowdimonium Chloride + Dried Buttermilk + Dried Egg Yolk + + E + Egg + Egg Oil + Egg Powder + Egg Yolk + Egg Yolk Extract + Elastin + Embryo Extract + Estradiol + Estradiol Benzoate + Estrogen + Estrone + Ethyl Arachidonate + Ethyl Ester of Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Ethyl Morrhuate _ Lipineate + Ethylene Dehydrogenated Tallowamide + + F + Fish Glycerides + Fish Oil + + G + Gelatin (not Gel) + Glucuronic Acid + Glyceryl Lanolate + Glycogen + Guanine _ Pearl Essence + + H + Heptylundecanol + Honey + Human Placental Protein + Human Umbilical Extract + Hyaluronic Acid + Hydrogenated Animal Glyceride + Hydrogenated Ditallow Amine + Hydrogenated Honey + Hydrogenated Laneth-5, -20, -25 + Hydrogenated Lanolin + Hydrogenated Lanolin Alcohol + Hydrogenated Lard Glyceride + Hydrogenated Shark-Liver Oil + Hydrogenated Tallow Acid + Hydrogenated Tallow Betaine + Hydrogenated Tallow Glyceride + Hydrolyzed Animal Elastin + Hydrolyzed Animal Keratin + Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Hydrolyzed Casein + Hydrolyzed Elastin + Hydrlyzed Human Placental Protein + Hydrolyzed Keratin + Hydrolyzed Silk + Hydroxylated Lanolin + + I + Isobutylated Lanolin + Isopropyl Lanolate + Isopropyl Tallowatelsopropyl Lanolate + Isostearic Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + + K + Keratin + Keratin Amino Acids + + L + Lactic Yeasts + Lactose _ Milk Sugar + Laneth-5 through -40 + Laneth-9 and -10 Acetate + Lanolin _ Wool Fat; Wool Wax + Lanolin Acid + Lanolin Alcohols _ Sterols; Triterpene Alcohols; Aliphatic + Alcohols + Lanolin Linoleate + Lanolin Oil + Lanolin Ricinoleate + Lanolin Wax + Lanoinamide DEA + Lanosteral + Lard + Lard Glyceride + Lauroylhydrolyzed Animal Protein + Leucine + Liver Extract + Lysine + + M + Magnesium Lanolate + Magnesium Tallowate + Mammarian Extract + Mayonnaise + MEA-Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Menhaden Oil _ Pogy Oil; Mossbunker Oil + Milk + Mink Oil + Minkamidopropyl Diethylamine + Muscle Extract + Musk + Musk Ambrette + Myristoyl Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + + N + Neat's-Foot Oil + + O + Oleamidopropyl Dimethylamine Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Oleostearine + Oleoyl Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Oleth-2, and 3 + Oleth-5, and 10 + Oleth-10 + Oleth-25 and 50 + Oleyl Alcohol + Oleyl Arachidate + Oleyl Imidazoline + Oleyl Lanolate + Ovarian Extract + + P + Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Milk Protein + PEG-28 Glyceryl Tallowate + PEG-8 Hydrogenated Fish Glycerides + PEG-5 through -70 Hydrogenated Lanolin + PEG-13 Hydrogenated Tallow Amide + PEG-5 to -20 Lanolate + PEG-5 through -100 Lanolin + PEG-75 Lanolin Oil and Wax + PEG-2 Milk Solids + PEG-6, -8, -20 Sorbitan Beeswax + PEG-40, -75, or -80 Sorbitan Lanolate + PEG-3, -10, or -15 Tallow Aminopropylamine + PEG-15 Tallow Polyamine + PEG-20 Tallowate + Pentahydrosqualene + Perhydrosqualene + Pigskin Extract + Placental Enzymes, Lipids and Proteins + Placental Extract + Placental Protein + Polyglyceryl-2 Lanolin Alcohol Ether + Potassium Caseinate + Potassium Tallowate + Potassium Undecylenoyl Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + PPG-12-PEG-50 Lanolin + PPG-2, -5, -10. -20, -30 Lanolin Alcohol Ethers + PPG-30 Lanolin Ether + Pregnenolone Acetate + Pristane + Progesterone + Purcelline Oil Syn + + R + Royal Jelly + Rennet + + S + Saccharide Hydrolysate + Saccharide Isomerate + Serum Albumin + Serum Proteins + Shark-Liver Oil + Shellac + Shellac Wax + Silk Amino Acids + Silk Powder + Sodium Caseinate + Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate + Sodium Coco-Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Sodium Hydrogenated Tallow Glutamate + Sodium Laneth Sulfate + Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate + Sodium n-Mythyl-n-Oleyl Taurtate + Sodium Soya Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Sodium TAllow Sulfate + Sodium Tallowate + Sodium / TEA-Lauroyl Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Sodium / TEA-Undecylenoyl Hydrolyzed Ani mal Protein + Sodium Undecylenate + Soluble (Animal) Collagen + Soya Hydroxyethyl Imidazoline + Spleen Extract + Squalene + Stearyl Alcohol _ Stenol + + T + Tallow + Tallow Acid + Tallow Amide + Tallow Amidopropylamine Oxide + Tallow Amine + Tallow Amine Oxide + Tallow Glycerides + Tallow Hydroxyethal Imidazoline + Tallow Imidazoline + Tallowmide DEA and MEA + Tallowmidopropyl Hydroxysultaine + Tallowminopropylamine + Tallowmphoacete + Talloweth-6 + Tallow Trimonium Chloride _ Tallow + Tea-Abietoyl Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Tea-Coco Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Tea-Lauroyl Animal Collagen + Amino Acids + Tea-Lauroyl Animal Keratin Amino Acids + Tea-Myristol Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Tea-Undecylenoyl Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Testicular Extract + Threonine + Triethonium Hydrolyzed Animal Protein Ethosulfate + Trilaneth-4 Phosphate + + W + Wood Fat + Wool Wax Alcohols + + Y + Yogurt + + Z + Zinc Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + + + ALCOHOL + ------- + + In the January/February 1995 issue of Animal Times-PETA's bimonthly + magazine there is a list of "cruelty-free beers." The following is + direct quotation: "The following brewing companies have assured PETA + in writing that all their various beers are made without + animal-derived ingredients, additives, or processing agents: + + Anderson Valley + Anheuser-Busch + Barley's + Beach + Beck's + Big Dog's Hospitality Group + Blue Ridge + Brick + Carlsberg-Tetley + Columbus + Courage + Dallas County + Dempsey's + Deschutes + Dock Street + Dubuque + Eddie McStiff's + Fremont + Fullers + Golden Pacific + Grant's Yakima (but Grant's Apple Honey Ale uses honey) + Greene King + Grolsch + G. Heileman + Irons + James Page + Jones Street + Lakefront + Latrobe (Rolling Rock) + Les Brasseurs du Nord + Lost Coast + Mad River + Manhattan Beach + Masters Brewpub & Brasserie + Miller + Miracle + Nelson + Nevada City + North Coast + Nouveaux Brasseurs-Bar L'Inox + Odell + Onalaska + Oranjeboom + Otter Creek + Otto Brothers' + Pacific Hop Exchange + Pennsylvania + Pete's + Pyramid Ales + Ragtime Tavern + Rainier + Richbrau + Roslyn + Samuel Smith + San Andreas + Scottish & Newcastle + Shan Sui + Sharky's + Shepherd Neame + Sierra Nevada + Silo + Sleeman + Sonoma (Dempsey's) + Spinnakers Brewpub + Sprecher + Star + Steelhead + Table Rock + Telluride + Thames Valley + Treaty Grounds + Triple Rock + Truckee + Umpqua + Upper Canada + Vaux Brewery + Weeping Radish + Whistler + Whitbread Beer + Woodstock + Young & Co. + + All German beers are winners, because all are vegan. Bavarian purity + laws limitthem to 4 ingredients only: water, grain, hops and yeast." + + Also: "Among the breweries making vegan nonalcoholic beer are Miller + (Sharp's), Heileman (Kingsbury), and Anheuser-Busch (O'Doul's Premium + Non-Alcoholic Brew)." + + + POSSIBLE + -------- + + INGREDIENTS THAT ARE USUALLY ANIMAL-DERIVED: + *See Introduction + A + Acetaldehyde _ Ethanal + Acetic Acid + Acetic Anhydride _ Acetyl Oxide; Acetic Oxide + Acetoin _ Acetyl Methyl Carbinol + Acetylated Sucrose Distearte + Acetylmethylcarbinol + Alanine + Alcloxa _ Aluminum Chlorohydroxy Allantoinate + Aldol + Allantoin + Allantoin Acetyl Methionine + Allantoin Ascorbate + Allantoin Biotin + Allantoin Calcium Pantothenate + Allantoin Galacturonic Acid + Allantoin Glycyrrhetinic Acid + Allantoin Polygalacturonic Acid + Allantoinate + Aluminum Acetate _ Burow's Solution + Aluminum Chorhydroxy Allantoinate + Aluminum Distearate + Aluminum Isostearates/Laurates/Stearates + Aluminum Isostearates/Myristates + Aluminum Isostearates/Palmitates + Aluminum Lactate + Aluminum Myristates/Palmitates + Aluminum Salts (Aluminum Acetate, Alumi num Lanolate, Aluminum + Stearate, + Aluminum Tristearate) + Aluminum Stearates + Aluminum Tripalmitate/Triisostearate + Aluminum Tristearate + Ammonium C12-15 Pareth Sulfate _ Pareth-25-3 Sulfate + Ammonium Isostearate + Ammonium Myristyl Sulfate + Ammonium Oleate + Ammonium Stearate _ Stearic Acid; Ammonium Salt + Amphoteric + Amphoteric-2 + Ascorbyl Stearate + Asparagine + Aspartic-Acid _ DL & L Forms; Aminosuccinate Acid + + B + Basic Voilet 10 + Beheneth-5, -10, -20, -30 + Behenic Acid _ Docosanoic Acid + Behenic Acid _ Docosanol + Beta-Carotene _ Provitamin A; Beta Carotene + Betaine + Biotin _ Vitamin H; Vitamin B Factor + Brilliantines + Burow's Solution + Butyl Acetate _ Acetic Acid; Butyl Ester + Butyl Glycolate + Butyl Oleate + Butyl Palmitate + Butyl Phrhaly Butyl Glycolate + Butylrolactone _ Butanolide + + C + C18-36 Acid + C29-70 Acid _ C29-70 Carboxylic Acids + C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester + C18-36 Acid Triglyceride + C9-11 Alcohols + C12-16 Alcohols + C14-15 Alcohols + C12-15 Alcohols Benzoate + C12-15 Alcohols Lactate + C21 Dicarboxylic Acid + C15-18 Glycol + C18-20 Glycol Palmitate + C8-9, C9-11, C9-13, C9-14, C10-11, C10- 13, C11-12, C11-13, + C12-14, C13-14, C13-16, and C20-40 + IsoParaffins + C11-15 Pareth-12 Stearate + C11-15 Pareth-40 + C12-13 Pareth 3-7 + C14-15 Pareth-7, -11, -13 + C10-18 Triglycerieds + Calcium Stearate + Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate + Caproamphoacetate + Caproamhodiacetate + Capryl Betaine + Caprylamine Oxide + Caprylic / Capric / Stearic Triglyceride + Caprylic Acid + Caprylamphoacetate + Capryloamphodiacetate + Carbamide + Cetearalkonium Bromide + Ceteareth-3 _ Cetyl/Stearyl Ether + Ceteareth-4, -6, -8, -10, -12, -15, -17, -20, - 27, -30 + Ceteareth-5 + Cetaryl Alcohol + Ceteth-1 + Cetyl- + Cetyl Alcohol + Cetyl Ammonium + Cetyl Arachidate + Cetyl Betaine + Cetyl Esters + Cetyl Lactate + Cetyl Myristate + Cetyl Octanoate + Cetyl Palmitate + Cetyl Phosphate + Cetyl Ricinoleate + Cetyl Stearate + Cetyl Stearyl Glycol + Cetylarachidol + Cetylpyridinium Chloride + Cetyltrymethylammonium BromideChitin + Cloflucarbon + + D + Deceth-7-Carboxylic Acid + Decyl Betaine + Diacetyl + Diazo- + Diazolidinyl Urea _ Germall II (TM) + Dicetyl Adipate + Dicetyl Thiodipropionate + Diethyl Asparate + Diethyl Palmitoyl Apartate + Diethyl Sebacate + Diethylaminoethyl Stearamide + Diethylaminoethyl Stearate + Diglyceryl Stearate Malate + Dihydroxyethyl Soyamine Dioleate + Dihydroxyethyl Stearamine Oxide + Dihydroxyethyl Stearyl Glycinate + Dimethyl Behenamine + Dimethyl Lauramine Oleate + Dimethyl Myristamine + Dimethyl Palmitamine + Dimethyl Stearamine + Dimethylaminopropyl Oleamide + Dimethylaminopropyl Stearamide + Dimethylol Urea + Dimyristyl Thiodipropionate + Dioleth-8-Phosphate + Direct Black 51 + Direct Red 23 _ Fast Scarlet 4BSA + Direct Red 80 + Direct Violet 48 + Direct Yellow 12 _ Chrysophenine G + Disodium Cetaeryl Sulfosuccinate + Disodium Isostearamino Mea- Sulfosuccinate + Disodium Monooleamidosulfosuccinate + Disodium Monoricinoleamido Mea- Sulfosuccinate + Disodium Oleamido MIPA-Sulfosuccinate + Disodium Oleamido PEG-2 Sulfosuccinate + Disodium Oleyl Sulfosuccinate + Disodium Stearmido MEA-Sulfosuccinate + Disodium Stearminodipionate + Disodium Stearyl Sulfosuccinate + Distearyl Thiodipropionate + DI-TEA-Palmitoyl Asparate + Dodecanedionic Acid; Cetearyl Alcohol; Gly col Copolymer + Dodecyltetradecanol + + E + Enfleurage + Enzyme + Ethyl Aspartate + Ethyl Oleate + Ethyl Palmitate + Ethyl Serinate + Ethyl Stearate + Ethyl Urocanate + Ethylene Dioleamide + Ethylene Distearamide + Ethylene Urea + Ethylhexyl Palmitate + + F + Fatty Alcohols _ Cetyl; Stearyl; Lauryl; Myristyl + Folic Acid + Fructose + + G + Gel (not Silica gel) + Glucose Glutamate + Glyceryl Caprate + Glyceryl Caprylate + Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate + Glyceryl Dioleate + Glyceryl Distearate + Glyceryl Hydrostearate + Glyceryl Hydrostearate + Glyceryl Hydroxystearate + Glyceryl Isostearate + Glyceryl Monostearate + Glyceryl Myristate + Glyceryl Oleate + Glyceryl Palmitate Lactate + Glyceryl Stearate SE + Glyceryl Trimyristate + Glycol Stearate SE + Glycyrrhetinyl Stearate + Guanidine Carbonate + Guanosine + + H + Hexanediol Distearate + Histidine + Hydrogenated Fatty Oils + Hydroxylated Lecithin + Hydroxyoctacosanyl Hydroxyastearate + Hydroxystearmide MEA + Hydroxystearic Acid + + I + Imidazlidinyl Urea + Indole + Isobutyl Myristate + Isobutyl Palmitate + Isobutyl Stearate + Isoceteth-10, -20, -30 + Isocetyl Alcohol + Isocetyl Isodecanoate + Isocetyl Palmitate + Isocetyl Stearate + Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate + Isoceteth-10 Stearate + Isodecyl hydroxystearate + Isodecyl Myristate + Isodecyl Oleate + Isodecyl Palmitate + Isohyxyl Palmitate + Isopropyl Acetate + Isopropyl Isostearate + Isopropyl Myristate + Isopropyl Palmitate + Isopropyl Stearate + Isostearamidopropalkonium Chloride + Isostearamidopropyl Betaine + Isostearamidopropyl + Dimethylamine Glycolate + Isostearamidopropyl Dimethylamine Lactate + Isostearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate + Isostearamidopropyl Morpholine Lactate + Isostearamidoporopylamine Oxide + Isosteareth-2 through -20 + Isostearic Acid + Isostearoamphoglycinate + Isostearoamphopropionate + Isostearyl Alcohol + Isostearyl Benzylimidonium Chloride + Isostearyl Diglyceryl Succinate + Isostearyl Erucate + Isostearyl Ethylimidonium Ethosulfate + Isostearyl Hydroxyethyl Imidazoline + Isostearyl Imidazoline + Isostearyl Isostearate + Isostearyl Lactate + Isostearyl Neopentanoate + Isostearyl Palmitate + Isostearyl Stearoyl STearate + + L + Lactic Acid + Lauroyl Sarcosine + Lauryl Isostearate + Lauryl Palmitate + Lauryl Stearate + Lauryl Suntaine + Lithium Stearate + + + M + Magnesium Myristate Magnesium Oleate + Magnesium Stearate + Methyl Gluceth-10 or -20 + Methyl Glucet-20 Sesquistereate _ Glucamate + Methyl Glucose Sesquioleate + Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate + Methyl Hydroxystearate + Methyl Lactate + Methyl Myristate + Methyl Oleate + Methyl Palmitate + Mixed Isopropanolamines + Myristate + Morpholine Stearate + Myreth-3 + Myreth-3 Caprate _ Myristic Ethoxy Caprate + Myreth-3 Laurate + Myreth-3 Myristate + Myreth-4 + Myristamide DEA _ Myristic Diethanolamide + Myristamide MIPA + Myristamidopropyl Betaine + Myristamidopropyl Diethylamine + Myristamidopropylamine Oxide + Myristamine Oxide + Myristaminopropionic Acid + Myristate + Myristic Acid + Myristimide MEA + Myristoamphoacetate + Myristoyl Sarcosine + Myristyl Alcohol + Myristyl Betaine + Myristyl Hydroxyethyl Imidazoline + Myristyl Isostearate + Myristyl Lactate + Myristyl Myristate + Myristyl Neopentanoate _ Ceraphyl + Myristyl Propionate + Myristyl Stearate + Myristyleicosanol + Myristyleicosyl Stearate + Myristyloctadecanol + + N + Nonyl Acetate + + O + Octododecanol-2 _ Octyl Dodecanol + Octododeceth-20, -25 + Octododecyl Myristate + Octoxyglyceryl Behenate + Octyl Acetoxystearate + Octyl Hydroxystearate + Octyl Palmitate + Octyl Stearate + Octyldocecanol + Octyldodecyl Stearate + Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate + Oleamide _ Oleylamide + Oleamide DEA _ Oleic Diethanolamide + Oleamide MIPA + Oleamine Oxide + Oleic Acid + Oleoyl Sarcosine + Oleth-3 Phosphate + Oleth 20 + Oleth-20 Phosphate + Oleyl Betaine + Oleyl Myristate + Oleyl Oleate + Oleyl Stearate + Orotic Acid _ Pyrimidecarboxylic Acid + + P + Palmamamidopropyl Betaine + Palmitamide DEA, MEA + Palmitamidopropyl Betaine + Palmitamindopropyl Diethylamine + Palmitamine + Palmitamine Oxide _ Palmityl Dimethylamine Oxide + Palmitate + Palmitic Acid + Panthenyl Ethyl Etheracetate + Pareth-25- 12 + PEG-9 Caprylate + PEG-8 Caprylate / Caprate + PEG-6 Caprylic / Capric Glycerides + PEG-6 to -150 Dioleate + PEG-3 Dipalmitate + PEG-2 through -175 Distearate + PEG-5 through -120 Glyceryl Stearate + PEG-25 Glyceryl Trioleate + PEG-6 or -12 Isostearate + PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate + PEG-4 Octanoate + PEG-2 through -9 Oleamide + PEG-2 through -30 Oleamide + PEG-12, -20, or -30 Oleate + PEG-3 through -150 Oleate + PEG-6 through -20 Palmitate + PEG-25 through -125 Propylene Glycol Stearate + PEG-8 Sesquioleate + PEG-5 or -20 Sorbitan Isostearate + PEG-3 or -6 Sorbitan Oleate + PEG-80 Sorbitan Palmitate + PEG-40 Sorbitan Peroleate + PEG-3 or -40 Sorbitan Stearate + PEG-30, -40, or -60 Sorbitan Tetraoleate + PEG-60 Sorbitan Tetrastearate + PEG-2 through -150 Stearate + PEG-66 or -200 Tryhydroxystearin + Pentaerythrityl Tetraoctanoate + Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate and Calcium Stearate + Phospholipids _ Phosphatides + Polyglycerol + Polyglycerol-4 Cocoate + Polyglycerol-10 Decalinoleate + Polyglycerol-2 Diisostearate + Polyglycerol-6 Dioleate + Polyglycerol-6 Distearate + Polyglycerol-3 Hydroxylauryl Ether + Polyglycerol-4 Isostearate + Polyglycerol-3, -4 or -8 Oleate + Polyglycerol-2 or -4 Oleyl Ether + Polyglycerol-2 PEG-4 Stearate + Polyglycerol-2 Sesquiisostearate + Polyglycerol-2 Sesquioleate + Polyglycerol-3, -4 or -8 Stearate + Polyglycerol-10 Tertraoleate + Polyglycerol-2 Tetrastearate + Polysorbate 60 and Polysorbate 80 + Potassium Apartate + Potassium Coco-Hydrolyzed Protein + Potassium DNA + Potassium Oleate-Oleic Acid + Potassium Salt + Potassium Myristate + Potassium Palmitate + Potassium Stearate _ Stearic Acid Potas sium Salt + PPG-3-Myreth-11 + PPG-4-Ceteareth-12 + PPG-4-Ceteth-1, -5 or -10 + PPG-4 Myristyl Ether + PPG-5-Ceteth- 10 Phosphate + PPG-6-C12-18 Pareth + PPG-8-Ceteth, -5, -10, or -20 + PPG-9-Steareth-3 + PPG-10-Ceteareth-20 + PPG-10 Cetyl Ether leyl Ether + PPG-11 or -15 Stearyl Ether + PPG-26 Oleate _ Polyxypropylene 2000 Monooleate; Carbowax + PPG-28 Cetyl Ether + PPG-30 Cetyl Ether + PPG-30, -50, Oleyl Ether + PPG-36 Oleate _ Polyoxypropylene (36) Monooleate + PPG-Isocetyl Ether PPG-3- Isosteareth-9 + Proline + Propylene Glycol Myristate + Protein Fatty Acid Condensates + Proteins + Pyridium Compounds + Pyroligneous Acid + + R + Retinyl Palmitate + Ribonucleic Acid _ RNA + + S + Sarcosines + S-Carboxy Methyl Cysteine + Sebactic Acid _ Decanedioic Acid + Serine + Skatole + Sodium Aluminum Chloroydroxyl Lactate + Sodium C12-15 Pareth-7 Carboxylate + Sodium C12-15 Pareth-Sulfate + Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate + Sodium Cetyl Sulfate + Sodium Cocyl Sarcosinate + Sodium DNA + Sodium Glyceryl Oleate Phosphate + Sodium Isosteareth-6 Carboxylate + Sodium Isosteroyl LacrylatE + Sodium Myreth Sulfate + Sodium Myristate + Sodium Myristoyl Isethionate + Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate + Sodium Myristyl Sulfate + Sodium Oleth-7 or -8 Phosphate + Sodium Palmitate + Sodium Pareth- 15-7 or 25-7 Carboxylate + Sodium Pareth-23 or -25 Sulfate + Sodium PCA + Sodium PCA Methysilanol + Sodium Ribonucleic Acid _ SRNA + Sodium Sarcosinate + Sodium Soap + Sodium Stearate + Sodium Steroyl Lactylate + Sodium Urocanate + Sorbeth-6 Hexastearate + Sorbitan Diisoseate + Sorbitan Dioleate + Sorbitan Fatty Acid Esters + Sorbitan Isostearate + Sorbitan Oleate _ Sorbitan Monooleate + Sorbitan Palmitate _ Span 40 (TM) + Sorbitan Sesquioleate + Sorbitan Sequistearate + Sorbitan Triisostearate + Sorbitan Tristearate + Spermaceti _ Cetyl Palmitate + Stearalkonium Bentonite + Stearalkonium Chloride + Stearalkonium Hectorite + Stearamide + Stearamide DEA _ Stearic Acid Diethanolamide + Stearamide DIBA Stearate + Stearamide MIPA Stearate + Stearamide MIPA + Stearamide Oxide + Stearmidopropalkonium Chloride + Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine + Stearamine + Stearamine Oxide + Stearates + Steareth-2 + Steareth-4 through -100 + Stearic Acid + Stearic Hydrazide + Stearmidoethyl Diethylamine + Stearoamphoacetate + Stearoamphocarboxyglycinate + Stearoamphodiacetate + Stearoamphohydroxypropysulfonate + Stearoamphopropionate + Stearone + Stearoxy Dimethicone + Stearoxytrimethylsilane + Stearoyl Lactylic Acid + Stearoyl Sarcosine + Steartrimonium Chloride + Steartrimonium Hydrolyzed Animal Protein + Stearyl Acetate + Stearyl Betaine + Stearyl Caprylate + Stearyl Citrate + Stearyl Erucamide + Stearyl Erucate + Stearyl Ghycyrrhetinate + Stearyl Heptanoate + Stearyl Hydroxyethyl Imidazoline + Stearyl Lactate + Stearyl Octanoate + Stearyl Stearate + Stearyl Stearoyl Stearate + Stearyldimethyl Amine + Stearylvinyl Ether/Maleic Anhydride Copoly mer + Steriods (sic) (could be misspelling for ste roids) + Sterol + Sucrose Distearate + Sucrose Laurate + Sucrose Stearate + Synthetic Spermaceti + + T + TEA-Lauroyl Sarcosinate + TEA-Myristate + TEA-Oleate _ Triethanolamine Oleate + TEA-Palm-Kernel Sarcosinate + TEA-Stearate + Terpinyl Acetate + Tetramethyl Decynediol + TIPA-Stearate + Tridecyl Stearate + Tryhydroxy Stearin + Triisostearin + Trimethylopropane Triisostearate + Trimyristin-Glyceryl Trimyristate + Trioleth-8 Phosphate + Trioleyl Phosphate + Tristearin + Tristearyl Citrate + Tryptophan + Tyrosine + + U + Undecylpentadecanol + Urea _ Carbamide + Urease + + V + Valine + + W + Waxes + + Z + Zinc Stearate _ Zinc Soap + + + SOURCES + ------- + + Sources And Where to Find + More Information + + Vegan Nutreints: "Soy Not Oi " + "Minimax" Dr. David Phillips + "Vegan Delights" Eva Batt + "Bantam Medical Dictionary" + + Definitive + Listings: "Animal Ingredients and Their Alternatives" + "The American Heritage Dictionary" + "Animal Factories" Mason Jim + Product Labels + "Slaughter Of The Innocent" Ruesch, Hans + "List Of Animal Products and Their Alternatives" + Cardillo, Jon + "Animal Liberation" Singer, Peter + "Websters 11th Collegate Dictionary" + "A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients" + Winter, Ruth + From The Internet: "rec.food.veg.faq" and + "rec.food.ar.faq" + + Vegan Beer "Cruelty-Free beers." Animal-Times Jan/Feb 1995 + This list is not intended to be exhaustive, and + inclusion on the list is not an endorsement of the + producer or manufacturer. PETA makes no claim + regarding these companies' environmental, business, + or advertising practices." (uhh, nor does E.G. + Smith Press) + *Coors intentionally deleted from list. + + Animal Derived + Ingredient List: "Personal Care with Principle," National + Anti-Vivisection Society, Spring, 1992 + + Possible Animal + Derived: Ibid + + Myths: From The Internet "rec.food.veg.faq" + + + + + + + + + + + **END OF DOCUMENT** diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001611.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001611.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..06a608f1 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001611.txt @@ -0,0 +1,603 @@ + I. What is a Supermax prison? + + "Supermax" is short for "super-maximum security." It is a +place designed to house violent prisoners or prisoners who might +threaten the security of the guards or other prisoners. Some +prisons that are not designed as supermax prisons have "control +units" in which conditions are similar. The theory is that +solitary confinement and sensory deprivation will bring about +"behavior modification." + + In general. Supermax prisoners are locked into small cells +for approximately 23 hours a day. They have almost no contact +with other human beings. + There are no group activities: no work, no educational +opportunities, no eating together, no sports, no getting together +with other people for religious services, and no attempts at +rehabilitation. + There are no contact visits: prisoners sit behind a +plexiglass window. Phone calls and visitation privileges are +strictly limited. Books and magazines may be denied and pens +restricted. TV and radios may be prohibited or, if allowed, are +controlled by guards. + Prisoners have little or no personal privacy. Guards +monitor the inmates' movements by video cameras. Communication +between prisoners and control booth officers is mostly through +speakers and microphones. An officer at a control center may be +able to monitor cells and corridors and control all doors +electronically. + Typically, the cells have no windows. Lights are controlled +by guards who may leave them on night and day. For exercise +there is usually only a room with high concrete walls and a chin-up bar. Showers may be limited to three per week for not more +than ten minutes. + "Prisoners are confined to a concrete world in which they +never see a blade of grass, earth, trees or any part of the +natural world." + There are complaints that inmates who misbehave while in +supermax or control units are put into "strip cells" (sometimes +at temperatures near 50 degrees with only boxer shorts to wear +and no bedding), or are chained spread-eagle and naked to +concrete beds. Other complaints include denial of medical care, +interference with mail, arbitrary beatings, "hog-tying" +(intertwining handcuffs and ankle-cuffs), "cock fights" (double +celling inmates who are likely to attack each other), and injury +to inmates during "cell extractions." + John Perotti, writing after having spent 10 out of 12 years +in control units, says: "Every aspect of life in the Control +Unit is meant to debase and degrade a prisoner's very soul the +purpose being that when released to general population where +conditions are somewhat improved, the prisoner causes no problems +. . . for fear of being sent back to the Control Unit." + + Plans for Youngstown supermax. Announcing the +groundbreaking of Ohio's new $65 million 500-bed supermax prison +to be built in Youngstown, the state's prison chief, Reginald A. +Wilkinson, is reported to have said this prison will be where +"the worst of the worst of the worst" will be confined in near +isolation. + "Prisoners will spend 23 hours most days in 8-by-10-foot cells where the televisions will be tuned primarily to + institutional programs or religious services. . . . There + will be no group prisoner movement. + "Inmates will have no outside recreation. Inside + recreation will consist of a visit to a larger nearby cell, + equipped only with a chin-up bar and a shower. One at a + time, they will spend one hour a day there." + + The "prototype", Colorado State Penitentiary. The +"prototype" or model for the Youngstown supermax is the Colorado +State Penitentiary (CSP). Each cell has a lidless, stainless-steel toilet, a bed, a stool bolted to the floor, built-in +shelves, and a TV with no controls. The indoor recreation room +has a slit in the wall to let in fresh air. + One difference between the Colorado State Penitentiary and +the Youngstown supermax is that the housing units system in +Colorado is fully air conditioned and the proposed Ohio facility +is not. + At the Colorado State Penitentiary, inmates enter at Level I +and are expected to proceed through Level II to Level III. Level +I inmates have no privileges. Prisoners at Level II have +television but programs are determined by the prison's own +station. Prisoners at Levels I and II must wear handcuffs, +belly chains and leg shackles, and must be escorted by two guards +whenever they leave their cells. At Level III, prisoners have +more personal freedoms and more spending money. Level III +prisoners are "allowed to walk the fifty feet to the shower or +exercise room or telephone without escort. Prisoners at the +different levels are mixed together in each unit, so that the +privileges of those in Level III are visible to all." + + II. Who gets put into supermax prisons and control units? + + Who are "the worst of the worst" prisoners? Supermax +prisons are justified by prison officials as necessary to control +violent prisoners and other troublemakers. + Different terms are used to define criteria for assignment +to control units: administrative control or administrative +segregation; disciplinary control; local control (defined as an +inmate having demonstrated chronic inability to adjust to the +general population or presence will disrupt the orderly operation +of the prison); protective control; security control; etc. + In the Federal Penitentiary at Marion, Illinois, officials +state, less than 9 percent of the inmates came directly into the +control unit because they were involved in organized crime, +terrorist activities, drug cartels or similar crimes, and are +believed to have "special security needs." The remaining 91 +percent were determined to have been highly assaultive or escape-prone: "25 percent were involved in prison murders or attempted +murders, 48 percent in escape or attempted escape and more than +70 percent have a history of assaultive behavior while in prison. +[Citation omitted.] Many inmates fall into several of these +categories." + Supermax inmates include the mentally ill, people who file +lawsuits against the prison system, and prisoners suspected of +belonging to gangs. They are disproportionately black or Latino, +even in comparison with the general prison population. A pervasive criticism of supermax or control units is +that placement in them is arbitrary, not based on pre-established +standards and procedures. John Perotti writes: "Placement is +made on the vague concept that one's mere presence constitutes a +threat to the security of the operation of a prison, or suspected +gang ties or affiliations. Once the label or stigma is attached +by prisoncrats, it's very hard to be removed. It is not unusual +for prisoners in this day or age to spend years and even decades +in a control unit." + There is evidence that the inmates most likely to be placed +in such units are there for non-violent or otherwise petty verbal +responses to guards. According to a survey of prisoners, prison +guards and prisoners' visitors and families in 41 states, the +leading behaviors which resulted in severe disciplinary actions +were prisoners being verbally hostile to guards and prisoners +refusing to follow orders. + The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Human Rights +Watch and the International Human Rights Law Group, report that +non-violent prisoners of color are being wrongly identified as +gang members and are being held indefinitely in supermax +housing. Here are some excerpts from a summary submitted to +Secretary of State Warren Christopher: + "Prison authorities have near-complete discretion to + assign any inmate to super-maximum security housing on the + flimsiest of suspicions, with no due-process for the inmates + assigned and no independent oversight or judicial review. + Many prisoners report to human rights organizations that + they were remanded to maxi-maxi housing units on trumped-up + charges of gang affiliation in retaliation for filing + complaints, providing jailhouse lawyer services, or simply + to coerce information from them about other prisoners. + ". . . [P]risoners are accused of gang membership for + merely being in the presence of other prisoners who are + alleged to be gang members. + ". . . [In New Jersey], prisoners' use of Afrocentric + symbols, Swahili words, and red and green maps of Africa are + all considered 'paramilitary' by prison officials. A + lawsuit filed in 1992 accuses New Jersey State Prison of + violating the Fourteenth Amendment guarantee of equal + protection because of its regular practice of placing + African Americans who hold Afrocentric views in isolated + housing called the Management Control Unit (herein MCU). + The New Jersey State Prison MCU holds seventy five inmates + who are considered a 'threat to institutional security.' + The regulations list no single act which might constitute + evidence of such a threat. Indeed, there is a separate unit + within the prison altogether for those who have actually + committed disciplinary offenses. MCU is reserved for those + who might pose a threat. And those identified for this + amorphous category are overwhelmingly (95 percent) African-American in a prison where the overall African American + population is 64 percent. None have been accused of taking + part in any violent act nor of breaking a prison rule." + + The following statement is from one of the fourteen women in +Colorado's control unit prison (CSP): + "I don't belong locked up in this room by myself. . . . I + didn't assault anyone. I was being carried to an isolation + cell for yelling and I had a seizure and kicked an officer + in the groin. He had hold of my feet. I came out of the + seizure cuffed to a bed. Even the social worker testified + for me at my classification hearing saying I did not need + CSP. This place not only takes your freedom it also takes + your very being. Your entire personality is forced to + change to the conditions such as loneliness, frustration, + and depression. You know you have so much potential and you + want to rehabilitate but you are not allowed." + + III. What are the effects on inmates? + + Anecdotes. Here is what some inmates have to say about the +effects of being confined under supermax conditions at the +Colorado State Penitentiary. + + ". . . People come in here with a few problems and will + leave sociopaths. Isolation causes people to become bitter, + angry and disassociated from reality. They become worse + people." + + "Check out any caged animal and you will see what happens in + CSP. I've seen people just crack and either scream for + hours on end or cry, people become very depressed, anti-social and want revenge on society for building it. In + short CSP creates monsters and they are trying to keep + people here for five to ten years." + + "I have noticed a sense of total hopelessness. I don't + think I will ever leave. Plus my anger has gone to the + point of a silent rage. It's like they want to build a + killer. I don't know. It's hard to explain[.] I am + beginning to really hate people." + + "I also feel that I have some mental problems and so do + they, but the medication really does nothing but slow me + down physically and it only prolongs a problem until I get + out. But what then? I want to make it out there. . . ." + + ". . . They impose a variety of petty little rules and play + petty little games to try to break a person down mentally. + The DOC [Department of Corrections] realizes if they control + you mentally, it is easier to control you physically. And + mental abuse leaves no evidence behind as does physical + abuse." + + Psychological studies. Longterm confinement under supermax +conditions is likely to have psychological consequences. +"Studies of the psychological effects of solitary confinement +have found it can produce symptoms of paranoia, hypersensitivity +to noise, panic attacks, hallucinations and even episodes of +amnesia. One article by Harvard psychiatrist Stuart Grassian +reported 'the emergence of primitive, aggressive fantasies of +revenge, torture, and mutilation of the prison guards' among +solitary inmates in Massachusetts." + People need other human beings as a reality check. Most +people want to know the reactions of other people to what they +are thinking and feeling. You can't do that when you are in +total isolation from other people. Dr. Craig Haney, who is an +expert on the psychological effects of living and working in +maximum security prisons, puts it this way: + "[W]hen our reality is not grounded in social context, the + internal stimuli and beliefs that we generate are impossible + to test against the reactions of others. For this reason, + the first step in any program of extreme social influence--ranging from police interrogation to indoctrination and + 'brainwashing'--is to isolate the intended targets from + others, and to create a context in which social reality + testing is controlled by those who would shape their + thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and behavior. Most people are + so disoriented by the loss of social context that they + become highly malleable, unnaturally sensitive, and + vulnerable to the influence of those who control the + environment around them. Indeed, this may be its very + purpose." + Dr. Haney describes several different reactions. In a +supermax, he says, the institution is in total control. Many +supermax inmates become totally dependent upon the structure and +routines of the institution to control their behavior. Some +become unable to set limits for themselves; they lose a sense of +how to behave without a tight external structure and enforced +restrictions. Others lose the ability to initiate behavior or to +organize their lives around any activity and purpose; their minds +wander, they cannot concentrate or focus their attention. "In +extreme cases, a sense of profound despair and hopelessness is +created." + Another reaction to social isolation is social withdrawal. +They may discourage visits from family members or friends and +stop corresponding with the outside world. "They move from being +starved for social contact to being frightened by it." + Some prisoners act out, even if the reaction they get from +the guards is hostile. Dr. Haney suggests, they are "proving to +themselves that they still exist, that they are still alive and +capable of eliciting a human response . . ." + For some inmates, the supermax environment is so painful +that they create their own reality and "live in a world of +fantasy instead of the world of control, surveillance, and +inhumanity that has been imposed upon them . . . ." + Other inmates react with intolerable levels of frustration, +which can lead to outright anger and then to rage. + Occasionally, supermax inmates are put in double cells with +another inmate. But this is experienced as intense and +intrusive, not normal social contact, and it may become a source +of conflict and pain. + "They are thrust into intimate, constant co-living with + another person--typically a total stranger--whose entire + existence is similarly and unavoidably co-mingled with their + own. Such pressurized contact can become the occasion for + explosive violence. It also fails to provide any semblance + of social 'reality testing' that is intrinsic to human + social existence." + The supermax environment, Dr. Haney concludes, can be +psychologically destructive for anyone who endures it for a +significant period of time. But those with pre-existing +psychiatric disorders suffer more acutely. Dr. Haney talked with +prisoners who reported being suicidal or self-mutilating. A +number of them showed him scars on their arms and necks where +they had attempted to cut themselves. + Another expert, referring to women in the Canadian federal +prisons, says that "women are not generally a risk to others; +however many do present a risk to themselves. Research suggests +that a punitive environment exacerbates and may contribute to +women's self-directed violence. . . . Punitive responses, such as +segregation, are inappropriate." + + Court decision. A federal court in California has +considered the relationship between mental illness and +confinement under supermax conditions. A summary of the court's +opinion says, the court + "noted that a prison designed for particularly violent and + problematic prisoners will inevitably end up with a + disproportionate number of the mentally ill, since they + often violate rules and cause management problems. + Moreover, for some inmates, the severity of conditions in + the SHU [Security Housing Unit] exacerbates previously + existing mental illnesses or results in the development of + psychiatric symptoms that had not been previously + observed." +The court found that mental health staff had no input into +housing decisions even when removal was necessary to effective +mental health treatment. + The court concluded that extreme isolation in the Security +Housing Unit at Pelican Bay was not unconstitutional as applied +to all prisoners. But if segregation conditions "inflict a +serious mental illness, greatly exacerbate mental illness, or +deprive inmates of their sanity, then defendants have deprived +inmates of a basic necessity of human existence--indeed, they +have crossed into the realm of psychological torture." + + IV. What are the effects on guards? + + Anecdotes. Here are a few glimpses of the guards as seen by +inmates of control units in Colorado and Ohio. + + "The officers have the power to do whatever they choose to + do to an inmate in here simply because he's who he is and + holds that position, and the inmate is who he or she is. + And nothing is done about it as long as nobody is killed or + attention is not brought on the institution or the + administration. . . . These guards have prisoners in a total + control situation and environment, which nobody on the + outside knows . . ." + + "The staff here thinks they can do anything they want and + get away with it! They talk shit to all the inmates and + then when you say something back, they take your level, + write you up to strip your cell...They change the rules + anytime they want to and there's nothing you can do about + it. . . . If the staff thinks you're kicking or banging your + door, they will take away your level. Even if you weren't + doing nothing, maybe one of your neighbors were. They just + treat us like we are animals, not prisoners. They love it + because they get away with everything they want to. . . ." + + "Some guards tell you they are racist." + + "I've seen guys get handcuffed behind their backs and beat + up by eight or nine police over here for refusing a direct + order. Nowhere in my code of penal discipline handbook does + it say that for refusing a direct order, an inmate shall be + handcuffed behind their back and beat up by eight or nine + police officers here. There are other ways of disciplining + the inmates of this facility and also I would like to tell + you how the police change all of their rules to manipulate + the prisoners to their satisfaction. . . ." + + "To argue a point with them can get you a ticket ranging + from 'disrespect' to 'inciting a riot' depending on how + angry they are." + + "There is a lot of fear on the behalf of the inmates from + reprisals by the staff here if we even mention [Lucasville]. + We aren't allowed to talk about what took place there + [Lucasville] or as one of the staff here put it to me, 'You + know what will happen to any individuals who start bringing + up Lucasville don't you?' This was said to me as a threat + after I said something about it in passing and was over + heard by staff. I know first hand what happens to + individuals who mention it because of a friend of mine that + did. He was blackballed by the CO's [commanding officers]. + First and second shift CO's would come in everyday and tear + up his cell and lockerbox. He was threatened for taking the + problem of being harassed to the inspector. His letters + started getting 'lost'. His phone access became denied. He + was taken to have his head shaved in the middle of winter + cause his hair was to 'long'. . . ." + + "They just try to keep us in fear. It doesn't work. It + just makes the majority hate the system even more. . . . + When you've seen every rule twisted to meet a corrupt + administration and being beaten, abused and tortured for + control reasons[,] attitudes get bad." + + The Director of Public Information at Colorado State +Penitentiary told visitors from the Rocky Mountain Peace Center, +"We want them (the prisoners) to hate this place." + + Why do guards act this way? One explanation is that the +guards are isolated and lack normal human contact with the +prisoners in control units. Discussing the supermax at Pelican +Bay, Dr. Haney says: + "I believe that the existence of such brutality can be + attributed in part to the psychology of oppression that has + been created in and around this prison. Correctional staff, + themselves isolated from more diverse and conflicting points + of view that they might encounter in more urban or + cosmopolitan environments, have been encouraged to create + their own unique worldview at Pelican Bay. Nothing counters + the prefabricated ideology into which they step at Pelican + Bay, a prison that was designated as a place for the 'worst + of the worst' even before the first prisoners ever arrived. + They work daily in an environment whose very structure + powerfully conveys the message that these prisoners are not + human beings. There is no reciprocity to their perverse and + limited interactions with prisoners--who are always in cages + or chains, seen through screens or windows or television + cameras or protective helmets--and who are given no + opportunities to act like human beings. Pelican Bay has + become a massive self-fulfilling prophecy. Violence is one + mechanism with which to accommodate to the fear inevitably + generated on both sides of the bars." + + At least some of the guards' conduct is encouraged by +official policy. Here is a summary of the California Department +of Corrections cell extraction procedure: + + "Once a decision has been made to 'extract' a prisoner from + his cell, this is how the five-man cell extraction team + proceeds: the first member of the team is to enter the cell + carrying a large shield, which is used to push the prisoner + back into a corner of the cell; the second member follows + closely, wielding a special cell extraction baton, which is + used to strike the inmate on the upper part of his body so + that he will raise his arms in self-protection; thus + unsteadied, the inmate is pulled off balance by another + member of the team whose job is to place leg irons around + his ankles; once downed, a fourth member of the team places + him in handcuffs; the fifth member stands ready to fire a + taser gun or rifle that shoots wooden or rubber bullets at + the resistant inmate." + + The misuse of force by staff was the major issue in the +Pelican Bay litigation. Forcible cell extractions were conducted +when there was no imminent security risk and often with an +extremely high degree of force. Written policies were +incomplete and inconsistently followed. Investigations into the +use of force were described as "counterfeit investigation[s] +pursued with one outcome in mind: to avoid finding officer +misconduct as often as possible. . . [N]ot only are all +presumptions in favor of the officer, but evidence is routinely +strained, twisted or ignored to reach the desired result." + The court found "the undeniable presence of a 'code of +silence' at Pelican Bay. . . [T]his unwritten but widely +understood code is designed to encourage prison employees to +remain silent regarding the improper behavior of their fellow +employees, particularly where excessive force has been alleged. +Those who defy the code risk retaliation and harassment." + + V. What are the effects on the community? + + What happens when prisoners who have been in control units +for a long time are released either to the general prison +population or to the community? + Jerome G. Miller, president of the National Center on +Institutions and Alternatives, says such prisons "don't have any +shot of making these guys less dangerous. . . . They come out +very, very dangerous, much more dangerous than they were when +they went in. There's no evidence this reduces recidivism. They +sit and simmer." + Inmates are unprepared for release. The Rocky Mountain +Peace Center reports that isolation of prisoners from their +families and friends makes it much harder for prisoners to +integrate into society when they are released. "People who have +been placed in isolation often suffer from Post Traumatic Stress +Disorder after they are released. . . . Isolation at CSP will +have long term effects, will result in loss of social skills, +ability to relate and in ability of inmates to form +relationships. CSP is creating long-term negative psychological +and social problems in prisoners." + The Rocky Mountain Peace Center recommends: "Communications +with families and friends should be encouraged, so that prisoners +have a community to go back to when they get out. This includes +access to regular contact visits and phone calls." + People are being put on the street from CSP without any +help, training, or money. Like other prisoners, they may come +out embittered and unemployable. But those who have experienced +prolonged social deprivation under supermax conditions may never +recover the ability to be of use to themselves or anyone else. + The effects of solitary confinement have been known for more +than a century. The following is a quotation from an opinion by +the U.S. Supreme Court in 1890: "[E]xperience demonstrated that +there were serious objections to [solitary confinement]. A +considerable number of the prisoners fell, after even a short +confinement, into a semi-fatuous condition, from which it was +next to impossible to arouse them, and others became violently +insane; others still, committed suicide; while those who stood +the ordeal better were not generally reformed, and in most cases +did not recover sufficient mental activity to be of any +subsequent service. . . ." + + Conclusions + + There are many recommendations as to what should be changed +in the administration of control units and supermax prisons, such +as that only the truly violent prisoners should be put there; +people with mental illness should be moved to a facility that +meets their needs; there should be hearings before confinement in +a control unit for more than 30 days, with regular and fair +review hearings, placement and exit criteria; taunting and +retaliation by guards should be prohibited; prisoners should have +access to 3 hours per day of sunlight and outdoor activity; there +should be congregate religious services, educational and training +programs; children should be allowed contact visits with parents; +citizen oversight groups should have access to information, etc. + Those proposals for improvements take for granted that +supermax prisons exist--maybe even should exist--and are here to +stay. But supermax prisons are not the only way to deal with +prison violence. + In Scotland, the Barlinnie Special Unit (BSU) was +established in 1973 after the death penalty was abolished and +there was a rash of assaults against prison officers. The chief +evaluator gave this description of the BSU: + "[O]fficer-prisoner relationships were modified to resemble + nurse-patient relationships; prisoners were given a + significant role in decision-making; they were held + responsible for their own behavior and that of their peers; + and they were taught to verbalize their aggressive feelings. + . . . On entry to the unit, prisoners gain relative + autonomy; they become responsible for forming their own + daily routine; together with others, they become responsible + for the day-to-day running of the community. In such a + setting a prisoner is less able to display anti-authority + feelings because he can have some influence in decision-making. As control is less overt, it is less likely to + stimulate resistance." +Assaultive behavior was dramatically reduced and behavioral +changes were observed almost from the point of entry to the +unit. + We, too, must find a better way. + + +Compiled by Alice Lynd +March 1996 + APPENDIX + + Excerpts from Madrid v. Gomez + No. C90-3094-TEH (N.D.Cal., January 10, 1995) + Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order + + Prison officials are "entitled to design and operate the SHU +[Security Housing Unit] consistent with the penal philosophy of +their choosing, absent constitutional violations. [Citation +omitted.] They may impose conditions that are "'restrictive and +even harsh'" [citations omitted]; they may emphasize idleness, +deterrence, and deprivation over rehabilitation. This is not a +matter for judicial review or concern unless the evidence +demonstrates that conditions are so extreme as to violate basic +concepts of humanity and deprive inmates of a minimal level of +life's basic necessities. [Citation omitted.] . . ." + In this case, the conditions at issue primarily affect three +inmate populations: (1) those who are being disciplined for +committing serious rules violations, (2) those who the CDC has +determined are affiliated with a prison gang, and (3) those who +are otherwise considered security risks because of disruptive or +assaultive behavior. The severe restrictions on social +interaction further defendants' legitimate interest in precluding +opportunities for disruptive or gang related activity and +assaults on other inmates or staff. [Footnote omitted.] For +those serving short-term disciplinary terms, they also serve a +punitive function. Other aspects of the conditions in the SHU, +however, appear tenuously related to legitimate penological +interests, at least with respect to those inmates that are +segregated in the SHU not as a disciplinary measure, but for +other reasons. For example, it is not clear how the lack of an +outside view, the extreme sterility of the environment, and the +refusal to provide any recreational equipment in the exercise pen +(even a handball) furthers any interest other than punishment, +and the defendants have not advanced one. . . ." + . . . "The Eighth Amendment [against cruel and unusual +punishment] simply does not guarantee that inmates will not +suffer some psychological effects from incarceration or +segretation. [Citation omitted.] However, if the particular +conditions of segregation being challenged are such that they +inflict a serious mental illness, greatly exacerbate mental +illness, or deprive inmates of their sanity, then defendants have +deprived inmates of a basic necessity of human existence -- +indeed, they have crossed into the realm of psychological +torture." + "Here, the record demonstrates that the conditions of +extreme social isolation and reduced environmental stimulation +found in the Pelican Bay SHU will likely inflict some degree of +psychological trauma upon most inmates confined there for more +than brief periods. . . . [W]e are not persuaded . . . that the +risk of developing an injury to mental health of sufficiently +serious magnitude due to current conditions in the SHU is high +enough for the SHU population as a whole, to find that current +conditions in the SHU are per se violative of the Eighth +Amendment with respect to all potential inmates. + "We can not, however, say the same for certain categories of +inmates: those who the record demonstrates are at a particularly +high risk for suffering very serious or severe injury to their +mental health, including over paranoia, psychotic breaks with +reality, or massive exacerbations of existing mental illness as a +result of the conditions in the SHU. Such inmates consist of the +already mentally ill, as well as persons with borderline +personality disorders, brain damage or mental retardation, +impulse-ridden personalities, or a history of prior psychiatric +problems or chronic depression. For these inmates, placing them +in the SHU is the mental equivalent of putting an asthmatic in a +place with little air to breathe. . . . + ". . . [S]ubjecting individuals to conditions that are 'very +likely' to render them psychotic or otherwise inflict a serious +mental illness or seriously exacerbate an existing mental illness +can not be squared with evolving standards of humanity or +decency, especially when certain aspects of those conditions +appear to bear little relation to security concerns. A risk this +grave -- this shocking and indecent--simply has no place in +civilized society. . . ." \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001613.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001613.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..01453d8b --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001613.txt @@ -0,0 +1,260 @@ +For Humanity and Against Neoliberalism : Chiapas 1996 + +Zapatista action! + An International of hope? + + 4,000 people meet in Chiapas + 'for humanity and against neo-liberalism' + +In July of 1994 people from Ireland travelled to an +international conference called by the Zapatistas in +Chiapas. This is a report on the conference from + one of the Irish delegates. A much longer version +of this report with pictures and documents from the +encounter can be found at + http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3102/ + +>From their emergence on New Years Day, 1994 the EZLN +have talked about wanting to open up a space in which +civil society could meet and discuss Mexico's problems. +They have put this forward as their alternative to seizing +power. + +The EZLN's alternative of the 'political space' was at first +unclear but has been clarified in action over the past few +years. The indigenous communities have put huge +amounts of resources into constructing conference centres +in the jungle and mountains and inviting Mexican 'civil +society' to come to these centres and find ways of changing +Mexican society. They have been called Aguascalientes in +reference to the town where Zapata and others met in 1914 +to draw up the Mexican constitution. + +The solution to Mexico's problems cannot just be on the +Mexican level. The US has showed itself to be opposed to +even the most moderate of reforms and willing to use or +sponsor armed force in order to prevent those advocating +reform coming to power. There is no need here to go into +the history of Latin America, of intervention in Chile, +Cuba, El Salvador or Nicaragua here. + +The EZLN have created these spaces therefore not just for +Mexican civil society but also for the indigenous people of +the continent of America and indeed everyone on the +continent. In the "First Declaration of Realidad" this was +carried to the next logical step with an invite to everyone +in the world. + +Unlike many previous liberation movements that saw +liberation in national terms alone the EZLN have +identified the enemy they face as not just unjust local +rulers and their imperialist master but the entire ideology +and system of global capitalism. In Latin American and +many other areas of the world this has been called 'neo-- +liberalism' but in Ireland it would probably be most +familiar under the name of 'Thatcherism'. + +The first declaration described this system in universal +terms + +"Instead of humanity, it offers us stock market value +indexes, instead of dignity it offers us globalization of +misery, instead of hope it offers us an emptiness, instead of +life it offers us the international of terror." + +and called people together so + +"Against the international of terror representing +neoliberalism, we must raise the international of hope. +Hope, above borders, languages, colors, cultures, sexes, +strategies, and thoughts, of all those who prefer humanity +alive." + +It was proposed to hold an 'Intercontinental Gathering for +Humanity and against Neo-liberalism' in Chiapas in July +of 1996 to start the process of constructing this +'international of hope'. This was obviously very +ambitious and apparently there was considerable debate +within the communities over whether this was a good use +of resources. Was it reasonable to suppose that any +number of people would go through the difficulty and +expense of travelling from their own countries to Mexico +and then down to Mexico's most isolated state. + +In Ireland only a small number of people around the Irish +Mexico Group heard this call. We met with very limited +interest in this project, but there was a small gathering +which produced a statement defining what neo-liberalism +meant in the Irish context. There was also sufficent +interest to motivate a couple of people to go to the +European gathering in Berlin and the Intercontinental +gathering in Chiapas. + +It only became clear that considerable numbers were likely +to turn up with the holding of the continental gatherings. +Just under 1,000 people turned up in Berlin to discuss what +neo-liberalism meant in Europe. Although mostly +composed of people involved around various Mexican +solidarity groups people also turned up from outside these +circles. + +In July the Irish delegation travelled to Mexico city via +Madrid and then by plane and car to San Cristo'bel the +largest of the towns seized in 1994 and the gathering point +for people to be accredited and transported to the various +sites. It was hard to get firm number of who was there but +it appears between 3,000 and 4,000 people travelled to +Chiapas from Italy, Brazil, Britain, Paraguay, Chile, +Philippines, Germany, Peru, Argentina, Austria, Uruguay, +Guatemala, Belgium, Venezuela, Iran, Denmark, +Nicaragua, Zaire, France, Haiti, Ecuador, Greece, Japan, +Kurdistan, Ireland, Costa Rica, Cuba, Sweden, The +Netherlands, South Africa, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, +The United States, The Basque Country, Turkey, Canada, +Puerto Rico, Bolivia, Australia, Mauritania, Mexico, +Norway, Colombia. + +One of the largest delegations was from France, about 300 +people for the strike wave of December 1995 against the +French states implementation of neo-liberalism played a +considerable role in motivating people to come. The +actual meeting were held in five different venues marking +out the edges of Zapatista territory, each beside an +indigenous community which had built and would service +the site. Getting to them involved long bus rides, through +day and night on jungle and mountain roads. There was a +certain low level of police and military harassment, one +convoy was held up for three hours at a migration police +checkpoint but for the most part they kept away or +contented themselves with silly stunts like flying planes at +tree top level over some of the meeting places. + +Each Aguascalientes consisted of a central stadium +surrounded by sleeping huts, toilets, eaten and cooking +facilities, showers, information and medical centres and +the equivalent of school tuck shops selling biscuits, coke +and cigarettes. The indigenous people staffed all these +facilities and the EZLN militia posted lookouts on the +perimeter, the gates and surrounding countryside. There +commitment to this vague project of building an +'international of hope' was all the more impressive when +you considered these host communities lived in desperate +poverty on a diet of beans, tortilla and rice for every meal. +We had of course paid for our accommodation and +transport but obviously the construction and purchase of +provisions for the week had to be carried out before they +knew whether anyone would actually turn up. + +In the event we came and after opening welcoming +ceremonies settled down in our respective sites to +discussion. There were five sites each discussing a +different theme of neo-liberalism (e.g. economics) and each +of these sites in turn divided into four or five tables. Many +people had come with prepared pieces and these and the +discussions around them were used to draft statements +form each of the tables. + +Coming from 43 countries the range of issues covered were +as you might imagine vast. Sometimes we were talking +about being at different stages of the same neo-liberal +process, for instance the hard drug trade which commonly +mean's virtual enslavement for those growing the crops in +one place, the militarisation and corruption of those +whose countries they are transported through in another +and the death and destruction in the communities where +they are sold. From Bolivia, through Mexico to the inner +cities of America and Dublin neo-liberalism had created a +common thread of misery. + +We heard how the problems cause by attacks on social +spending ran from, Chile to Japan, from Mexico to France, +from Ireland to Australia. But we also heard of how these +attacks, the attempts to write off whole communities as +uneconomic were being resisted. We began to feel we were +part of a global struggle but one on which we had yet to +recognise each other. + +Alongside this identification of problems was an +exploration of why previous attempts at getting rid of +capitalism had failed. Those coming to the conference had +many different political backgrounds but common themes +came to be identified. In particular the way in which many +previous opposition movements had become obsessed +with seizing power as a means of transforming society. + +In talking about constructing a new international of hope +we began to think of ways that we could fight for change +that would not end up dependant on a new state to enforce +them. An interesting discussion took place around how +economic control could be taken out of the hands of the +multi-nationals and regained at a local level without this +being mediated through a state. Other discussions +followed about the inability of parliamentary democracy to +represent people. + +Definite conclusions were hard to come by. In general we +identified the need for each community to determine its +own struggle and for these struggles to form national and +an international network from below. For the most part +the EZLN stayed out of the discussion but between two or +four Zapatistas from the Indigenous Revolutionary +Clandestine Committee sat in on each session and it would +appear reported back and discussed what was happening in +each one. In any case at the end of the conference the +EZLN were able to present an overall declaration which +took many of the core ideas from each of the table +discussions. This is the "2nd declaration of La Realidad". + +The core section of the declaration was a proposed consulta +that each national group would carry out in their country +in the first weeks of December. The consulta declares +opposition to neo-liberalism and its effects and the +intention to create two networks, the first a network of +struggles in resistance to neo-liberalism. The second a +network of communication that will carry the news of +these struggles to each other. + +The rest of the document pointed out that the state could +not isolate us and stop us talking despite the barriers that it +had created in our way. That we were not abut creating +another pretend international organisation but rather that +the network if it arose would not be declared into being by +those at the meeting but rather would be created by many +people in the aftermath of it. + +For those of us in Ireland implementation of the ideas in +the consulta is a difficult task. There is almost no tradition +of politics from below in this country, almost all +opposition movements have based themselves on the +need for a strong party or individual leader to show the +way forwards. There is little concept of changing society on +the basis of communities and workplaces determining +their own future. So our first barrier is to get out the idea +that this is a possibility. + +There are major movements involving thousands of +people around what are called 'single issues', most notable +at the time of writing the anti-water charges campaign and +the anti-heroin campaign. Both these involve thousands +of people in Dublin and there are other examples +throughout the country but there is very little belief in the +possibility of a complete transformation of society. We +cannot create such a belief but what we can do is encourage +the national formation of networks which are the +equivalent of the international networks talked about in +the "2nd declaration of La Realidad". + +A much longer version +of this report with pictures and documents from the +encounter can be found at + http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3102/ +This report is from Mexico Bullitin No 1 + +-- ++-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ + Find out about the Revolution in Mexico + http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3102/ + + This summer 4,000 people from 43 countries met + "for Humanity and against neoliberalism" there +http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3849/gatherdx.html diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001615.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001615.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b6c6629d --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001615.txt @@ -0,0 +1,67 @@ +Virtual March on Mexico City + +Folks: + +It is now extremely easy for all of you with access to the WWW to +participate in the Marcha Virtual in support of the EZLN trip to +Mexico +City and against the Mexican government's efforts to stop it. + +All you have to do is go to the following web page, URL = +http://www.utexas.edu/ftp/student/nave/marcha.html + +There you will find an explanation of the protest, and, more +importantly, +a hotlink which will allow you to send the same message to all the +intended recipients at once. You click on the hotlink and up pops a +ready +to send blank message already addressed! Just fill in and click to +send. + +The page also contain a hotlink to sign-in, letting the organizers +know +that you have sent the message of support. Moreover, you can also see +all +the names of everyone (yourself included) who has already +participated. +Once you sign-in your name appears instantly. Very immediate +gratification! + +So..... get on the stick and punch in the above URL. Providing support +for +the Zapatistas and sending a message to the State has never been +easier. + +Harry + +PS: If you don't have access to the WWW you can send the same message +to +the following addresses. CC's are almost as easy.... + + +PRESIDENCY OF THE MEXICAN REPUBLIC + webadmon@op.presidencia.gob.mx + + HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS + AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL + amnestyis@amnesty.org + CENTRO DE DERECHOS HUMANOS FRAY BARTOLOME DE LAS CASAS + cdhbcasas@laneta.apc.org + + MEDIA + LA JORNADA + jornada@condor.dgsca.unam.mx + PROCESO + proceso@spin.com.mx + + CONTROL MAIL + chiapas@planet.com.mx + +-- ++-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ + Find out about the Revolution in Mexico + http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3102/ + + This summer 4,000 people from 43 countries met + "for Humanity and against neoliberalism" there +http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3849/gatherdx.html diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001616.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001616.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ec78e495 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001616.txt @@ -0,0 +1,260 @@ +Zapatistas going to visit Mexico City + +Summary: The Zapatistas (EZLN) having pulled out of the +peace talks with the Mexican government have declared +their intention to travel from the jungle of Chiapas to +Mexico City to have a national dialogue. In this event it +is likely the state will try to arrest/kill the delegates +as the peace treaty does not allow 'guarantee' their +safety outside Chiapas. + +The documents below outline the reasons for pulling out of +the peace talks and asks national and international 'civil +society' to help protect the EZLN delegates from the +government. Further details of the current Red Alert and +background information about the rebellion in Chiapas can +be found at http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3102/ + +*********** Text begins *************** + +Mexico City, September 24, 1996 + +FOR A TRUE NATIONAL DIALOGUE WITH THE ZAPATISTAS IN MEXICO +CITY! + +To national and international civic society; To the +committees, collectives, organizations and solidarity +groups with the Zapatista struggle; To the participants to +the first Intercontinental Encounter for Humanity and +against Neoliberalism: + +As is generaly known, last August 29th as a result of the +consultation with its communities, the Indigenous +Revolutionary Clandestine Committee-General Command of the +Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) decided to +suspend its participation in the Dialogue at San Andres +Sacam'chen de los Pobres, in view of the fact that the +government had made the dialogue into a farce. + +The principal reasons for the suspension of the dialogue +were explained in a communique of the CCRI-CG of the EZLN +on that date, of which we extract the following; + +In regards to the Dialogue at San Andres: + +In regards to Theme I, "Indigenous Rights and Culture": +"The EZLN accepted the agreements with the objective of +demonstrating to indigenous communities, the Mexican +national and international public opinion, that the +government does not want to solve in a profound way the +national indigenous situation. The government manifests a +disposition to do it, but in no way is it willing to +radically modify the relation between the nation and +indigenous Mexicans." + +" The Verification and Implementation Commission, +fundamental base for the completion of the agreements +continues to be non existent." + +In regards to Table 2, "Democracy and Justice": "During +all the development of the so-called "Table 2 of Democracy +and Justice" the government delegation based its +negotiation strategy on intransigence and obstinacy. +Committed to the failure of the negotiation of this theme, +the government looks to reduce the table on Democracy and +Justice, first to local questions, and then to abstract +declarations...By ratifying its intransigence without even +discussion of any fundamental themes of the political life +of the country...the government ratified its actual +politics in terms of indigenous people: omnipotence, +racism and intolerance." + +In regards to the alleged Zapatista prisoners; "With the +sentence to the alleged Zapatistas in Yanga [Veracruz, as +well as prisoners in REclusorio Norte of Mexico City], the +federal government insists upon treating the EZLN as +though it were a band of delinquents which is being +entertained at a negotiations process at the same time +that it is being hit and that terror is seeded among all +those who have anything to do with Zapatismo." + +In regards to the "state of law" in Chiapas; "In the +northern part of the state, a de facto power which has +nothing to do with a "state of legality" functions. It is +not a power of the federal or state government, of the +military, or of the EZLN; in the northern part of Chiapas +the brutality of a civil war which can no longer remain +hidden governs...the real governors of Chiapas (the +military) follow their plans of annihilating not only +Zapatistas, but any person who rebels and has dignity in +these lands of the southeast...it has increased troop +presence and its technical quality has improved as has the +composition of its soldiers...The rumors of an imminent +action against the Zapatistas are uncontrollable...as a +response to the actions of the EPR." + +The Zapatistas have stated the minimal conditions +necessary in order to return to the Dialogue to the +government; + +-Until conditions exist which guarantee the will of the +government for an inclusive, serious and political +solution. + +-Liberation of all the alleged Zapatistas now imprisoned +and of the Zapatista support bases which have been +detained in the northern part of Chiapas. + +-A government delegation which has the capacity to make +decisions and the political will to negotiate respectfully +with the Zapatista delegation. + +-The installation of a Verification and Implementation +Commission and the implementation of the first agreements +made in the table of "Indigenous Rights and Culture". + +-Serious and concrete proposals of agreement for the table +of "democracy and justice" and a commitment to achieve +agreements with this theme. + +-An end to the climate of military and police persecution +against the indigenous people of Chiapas and the +disappearance of the white guards (or a law which gives +them institutional recognition and uniforms so that they +cannot operate with impunity). + +The response of the Mexican government to this action of +Zapatismo, as well as to the increased expression of +social discontent which spreads throught the nation, has +been an increase in repressive measures of which the most +salient and serious are; the militarization of large areas +of the nation, the persecution and jailing of the leaders +and political and social militants, and the closing of the +spaces for dialogue and negotiation. + +In this context the efforts of different popular and +democratic organizations develop in order to impede +militarization and to avoid the imposition of war. In the +next weeks, these efforts should focus upon two actions +which will take place in Mexico City in which the presence +of the EZLN should be won and guaranteed by all of us. + +>From October 8-12 the Indigenous National Congress will +take place; among the organizers of this Congress is the +EZLN; the right of a Zapatista delegation to attend in +Mexico City should be respected by the government. +Following the Congress in Mexico City as well there will +be a National Dialogue for Peace in Mexico, in which it is +expected all the political and social actors may +participate in strengthening the political option in the +struggle for peace in a transition to democracy which +includes the Zapatistas. + +In order that the EZLN delegates may attend these events, +international and national civic society should organize a +peace cordon which will protect our Zapatista brothers and +which will allow them to travel from their positions in +the mountains of the jungle to the city of Mexico. + +Their travel to the capital of the country will begin on +October 5th. Before, during and after their stay in +Mexico City, there are various tasks and support which we +will need in order to guarantee the security of the +Zapatista delegation. Among the important ones are; + +-Public events and pronouncements of support as well as +signature campaigns in support of a true national dialogue +with the participation of the EZLN, in Mexico City (text +is attached). + +-The presence of observers from national and international +organizations during the trip of the EZLN delgation to +Mexico City, during their stay in the city and their +return to their communities. + +-Participation in the peace cordon which will surround and +protect the Zapatista delegation at all times. + +-Financial support for the expenses of all these actions, +through donations which can be deposited in account number +6746497, Banamex, branch 0532, in the name of Miguel Angel +Lopez Diaz. + +To register for the peace cordon and for more information +about other ways of participating please call: + +The Special Promotion Commission of the Zapatista Front of +National Liberation, Calle Zapotecos 7 bis, Colonia +Obrera, CP 68000, Mexico, DF: Telephone and fax: 761 42 +36. flores@spin.com.mx. +Home page: http://spin.com.mx/~floresu/FZLN/ + +International Commission of the Special Promotional +Commission of the FZLN: email: 74174.1671@compuserve.com. +Telephone and fax: 606 14 34 and 515 85 25. + +Basic text for public declarations and signature +campaigns: + +FOR A TRUE NATIONAL DIALOGUE, WE INVITE THE EZLN TO MEXICO +CITY + +Under the slogan "Never a Mexico without us", the National +Indigenous Congress will take place in Mexico City on +October 8-12 of 1996. The organizers have already extended +a public invitation to the Indigenous Revolutionary +Clandestine Committee-General Command of the Zapatista +Army of National Liberation in order that a delegation +from the EZLN be present at the Congress. + +The organizations and people signed below manifest our +support to the realization of the National Indigenous +Congress and we inform national and international public +opinion that we have already begun the tasks necessary to +make possible the presence of an EZLN delgation in Mexico +City. + +In view of the government simulation which caused the +suspension of the Dialogue at San Andres and the worsening +of the conflicts in Chiapas; before the absence of +authentic and effective space for dialogue as means of +solution for the problems of the country; before the +continuity of a political economy which continues the +militarization and the repression, while the transition to +democracy is postponed and sabotaged, the presence of the +Zapatista delegation will give an opportunity to reclaim +the reflection which was initiated in the Special forum +for the Reform of the State in San Cristobal de las Casas +and begin a true National Dialogue in the capital of the +country, with the participation of the principal social +and political actors from all the corners of the country; +it will signify a new opportunity to mobilize the +conscience and the energy of civil society so it may open +a different path to the militarization and the +hopelessness in which Mexico is sinking, before it is too +late. + +We call upon the Mexican government to listen to the +demands for a true dialogue and to respect the guarantees +of free transit established in the Mexican Constitution +and in the Law of Concordance and Pacification. + +Above all we call upon social organizations, both civil +and political, upon workers, farmers, indigenous people, +housewives, students, intellectuals and artists, men and +women, the old and the young, to support the National +Indigenous Congress and to join the invitation to the EZLN +to go to the city of Mexico and help with the task of the +protection of its delegation. + +Translated by: National Center for Democracy, Liberty and +Justice. +-- ++-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ + Find out about the Revolution in Mexico + http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3102/ + + This summer 4,000 people from 43 countries met + "for Humanity and against neoliberalism" there +http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3849/gatherdx.html diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001617.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001617.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6001a3eb --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001617.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1157 @@ +* * * * EL ACRATADOR * * * * + +Counter-information bulletin #52 April - May 1996 + + +ATENEO LIBERTARIO +Apdo. 3141 +50080 Zaragoza +Spanish State/ Spain + +Centro Social Libertario +Coso #186, bajos + +E-mail cual@maser.unizar.es + +Phone +34-(9)76-383673 +Fax +34-(9)76-255298 + +El Acratador (periodical publication) D.L.:Z-174-93 Issues: 2500 +AntiC We recommend its loaning and total or partial reproduction citing the +source. This publication only compiles information and articles gathered +from different sources. The editorial staff does not necessarily identify +with the contents nor are they responsible for the same. + + +1- Acratorial +2- Zaragoza City +3- Worker's struggle +4- Brutal Insumision +5- From Germany ... +6- Haunted houses ... +7- Fascism? No thanks +8- Civil Society? +9- Briefs +10- With Itoiz, against the dam +11- Announcements + + + +*** ARATORIAL *** + +INTOLERANT MANIFESTO + +New hordes of enraged young people have come out of the depths of villages +and cities. We're fed up with the prevailing stupidity, with putting up with +those who step over us, those who molest and oppress us, and tired of +turning the other cheek. We call on you to join our struggle. +We are very intolerant of: fascism and ultra right wing neonazi gangs, +corrupt politicians, the jet-set, the new and old rich, worldly aristocracy +and the royal families. We're intransigent with: the JASP, yuppies, JASPs +and yuppies disguised as progressives in the subsidized NGOs, the priest and +nun apprentices that naively beg Big Brother for the 0.7 when the banks are +full of money, the "tolerant ones" who call intolerants all those who that +do not think like them and on top they sick their cops on them to get +pounded on. Those who condemn violence from one side only, those that wear +the blue ribbon and forget the imprisoned insumisos. +We deeply hate Nieves Herrero, Lina Morgan, Ana Obregon, Encarna Sanchez +(even after death), Carrascal, Olga Viza, Ussia, Pedro J., Jimenez Losantos, +Jesulin de Ubrique, Rociito and the cop, Luis M. Anson, Chiquito de la +Calzada, Sanchez Drago, Raffaela Carra, Lobaton, Emilio Romero, Victoria +Prego, Victor Manuel y Ana Belen, Luis del Olmo, Jose Ma Garcia, Bertin +Osborne, El Padre Mundina, Alfredo Landa, Elias Yanes, Sex Pistols +(reunified), Mario Conde, Concha Velasco, Emilio Aragon, Javier Alvarez, +Ruiz Mateos, Jesus Gil and other shitty vaudeville that comprise the +alienating "establishment" of x-panish society. +We do not have the slightest respect for those who wear LIBERTO thinking of +liberty, the rebelliousness of Radical (Fruit), Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Max, for +the two dozen "creators of opinion" that appear at every hour and always in +the same newspapers, radio and TV programs and tell us how millions of +stupified good citizens must think. +We don't tolerate the habitual excesses of the security forces, temporary +work companies, the junk contracts, savage entrepeneurs, neoliberal politics +that condemn us to misery and those who destroy nature without the least +scruples for a handful of dollars. If you equally hate black Spain and +"positive" Spain, Take That, the tunas and those who beat the drums in +religious parades - you are one of us. +Against the dictatorship of mediocrity, against the boring empire of +tediousness, against the culture of condominiums and the game show "Enough +bullfights and football" use your brain, move your grey matter in a way +independent of the dictatorship of the Society of the Spectacle. Self +defense against the cretin state. The right to leisure, work or dole, the +right to drink, to fuck, to think and to dream. Join Intolerant Youth. + + +*** ZARAGOZA CITY *** + + +MARCH 8TH + +This past March 8th had better attendance than in previous years: some 1500 +women and plenty of men seconded the gathering which was not very lively, +but at least served to demonstrate that the feminist movement is not as dead +as it appears in our city. After the demo there was a party until the wee +hours of the night. + + +CAMPING AGAINST THE BELT + +On March 22, 23 and 24 there was a camping against the Third Belt, +celebrated on a field next to Colegio L'Estonnac in Torrero, with more than +100 tents and attended by hundreds of people. +During the camping there was a concert in wich 10 groups played for free and +also a rehearsal of the defense of the pine grove, preparing for the day +when the big machines come to cut down the trees. +At the same time the Coordinadora Vecinal is carrying out a campaign to +godfather 5000 trees that will be cut down to build this road, and which +will happen without the mayor having the courtesy of receiving the neighbors +to ask for their opinion. + + +POPULAR EATERY + +A new alternative space has been inagurated at 3 Ave. America: a vegeterian +popular eatery where at a very low price you can enjoy two dishes and +dessert every sunday morning. We recommend it since it is an alternative +form of self-employment as well as a newly liberated space. + + +TO HIDE THE POVERTY + +It looks like Zaragoza's City Hall doesn't like to display poverty, even +though it exists in good measure in our city. This is why one of the latest +orders from the mayor is to remove musicians and peddlers off our streets, +in charge of which is the municipal police. The traditional flea markets are +also under threat of dissappearance, as usual due to pressure from +Zaragoza's merchants. This measure, like the previous one, only achieves the +sharpening of poverty and marginalization, particularly for minorities such +as the gypsies that don't have any other sources of income, or the hundreds +of people who make a living thus. + + +NEW COLLECTIVE + +The Committee of Solidarity with Euskalherria has been formed in Zaragoza to +present a different image of basque reality than the habitually manipulated +one that we get. For now the publication of propaganda material has started, +as well as periodic meetings showing the other side of what the official +media tell us. + + +LIBERTARIAN CAMPING + +The 16th Libertarian Camping took place in Villalagua, as usual organized by +the Comite Regional de Aragon of the CNT, with the attendance of close to +200 people from different parts of the state who enjoyed several days of +anarcholiving together. + + +PABLO SERRANO + +Libertarian political prisoner Pablo Serrano enjoyed his second three-day +furlough from prison, though it should have been 6 days, from March 22 to +the 25. At the moment we're waiting for a third furlough, although he should +by now be placed in third degree, so that he only has to go to the prison to +sleep. + + +SOCIAL CENTER ACTIVITIES + +Our place, Centro Social Libertario, is going well at last.Right now it's +open everyday from 18 to 21 hours at least and every saturday we open the +bar. The counter-info cafe is already working, with a wall covered with +alternative publications that you may peruse, a small library and video +shows every saturday at 17 hours. We've also started to work the issue of +alternative distribution, with the self-production of tee shirts made by the +comrades from FIJL, books, magazines and music. +During the months of March and April there have been two concerts with Dirty +Youth from Burgos and a crust festival with Proyecto Terror from Zaragoza, +OBNI and Uprising from Barna, besides several parties, a dinner in support +of Radio Topo and a gore film marathon. + + +*** WORKER'S STRUGGLE *** + + +BUS KIDNAPPED + +Members of the unemployed collective Eraiki kidnapped an urban +transportation bus in Donostia on February 29. The action was in protest +against the extra hours worked in the municipal transportation company. +Between 20 and 30 unemployed people took the bus at the start of the route. +There were no passengers, and the driver was force to head for City Hall. +There the unemployed tried to meet with the councilman in charge of traffic. + + +HISTORICAL MEMORY: VITORIA 76 + +March 3rd 1976, in the midst of a strong popular worker's movement of a +self-managed assemblary character, thousends of workers held a gathering in +Vitoria during a general strike inside a church. The police threw smoke +canisters thru the church windows and as the workers ran out they fired with +anti-riot ordnance and real fire. Five workers were assassinated by machine +gun fire. The ultimate responsible was Manuel Fraga, then minister of +interior of franquism and a while later PP (Partido Popular - right wing +party T.N.) mentor (which 20 years to the date has been the political party +with most votes). +The Plataforma Electoral 3 de Marzo called for a demonstration in memory of +the five workers killed with the slogan "March 3rd 1976-1996 the same +reasons to fight for". 3000 people took part in the demonstration, among +them many workers who lived directly those tragic events of our recent +history, often silenced or forgotten. + + +FASCIST FOREMAN + +(Llar) On February 29 the trial of Manuel Rodriguez, foreman at Hunosa and +founder of Fuerza Nueva in Asturies, took place. He was charged with sending +anonimous threats against Primitivo and his family. A report from the +forensic brigade of Madrid Police recognized the handwriting of the threats +as that of the accussed. The judge took into consideration the testimony of +two expert witnesses for the defense and suspended the trial until a report +from the Guardia Civil is made. +More than 100 people gathered at the courthouse in Oviedo in support of +Primitivo. The prosecution asked for 8 months and 100,000 ptas fine. Note +that this is the same judge that had no qualms in sentencing Primitivo to +jail despite the testimony of 12 miners who said they were working with +Primitivo when the attack took place. +Jose Primitivo is a syndicalist miner from Corriente Sindical de Izquierdas +(CSI) that was sentenced to 4 years in proson accussed of assaulting an +engineer, spent several months in jail and at the moment is in conditional +freedom awaiting an appeal to the Constitutional Tribunal. + + +TRIAL OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN SOLIDARITY + +(Llar) Three young people have been sentenced to 6 months accussed of taking +part in the mobilizations of the Naval workers from Gijon. The sentence for +attempted assault to the forces of law and order was rigged. There was a +gathering of workers and friends in support of the defendants. During the +incidents (May 95) the reactionary press in Asturies criminalized the young +men that fought alongside the workers, connecting them with JARRAI and +alleged urban guerrilla training camps. + + +LIKE UNDER FRANCO + +This past April 12 the judge at courthouse #28 in Madrid showed up at the +headquarters of the National Committee of the CNT in Magdalena St (Madrid) +to demand a copy of a communique sent to the press in 1993. As the present +syndicalists asked for an explanation the judge ordered the anti-riots in +the purest franquist style to attack the union local, which they did +arresting the 12 people that were in the premises at the time, among them +the whole National Committe of the union. +The arrestees were released the next day and the CNT has started a campaign +to denounce and protest and they ask to send letters to the President of the +Government, Complejo Moncloa, to the Ministry of Justice at 62 San Bernardo +St. and the ministry of labor at 4 Agustin Bethencourt St, all in Madrid. + +*** BRUTAL INSUMISION *** + + +ILL TREATMENT + +Insumiso Javier Aguado suffered a new degree regression in March, being put +back inside the prison by an officer nickmaned "Mejillon", who tried to +force him to strip, as Javi refused the first thing this thug did was hit +him in the stomach, and in the presence of another three officers hit him +against the wall and threatened him repeatedly. After this he was taken to +isolation where he was forced to do flexions naked and on top he has +received a disciplinary sanction. +This human garbage has already performed other actions against insumisos +whom he seems to particularly hate, and he is well known for his enjoyment +of inflicting ill treatment and for habitually carrying a gun, a clear +signal of how peaceful his conscience is. We ask you to write letters in +support of Javi and to be ready for a response campaign. +On the positive side Luis Merin was finally released in conditional freedom +from the first gallery where he was in second degree. + + +INSUMISO ENCOUNTERS + +The V Days of Total Insumision took place in Barcelona, organized by CAMPI +with the participation of antimilitary collectives from all over the state. +>From April 5th to the 7th there were wide ranging debates about how much +insumision has at stake during the next few months with the change in the +Penal Code, the consolidation of Prestacion Social Sustitutoria and the new +models of defense and the army imposed by the international situation. +New strategies were also outlined and there was talk about the message to be +sent and the different situations that the new Penal Code will generate. To +read the depositions presented by CAMPI-Aragon come by our place (Coso 186) +and those collectives interested in more information may write to CAMPI, +Aptdo 6129, 50080 Zaragoza. + + +INSUMISO ASSEMBLY + +We are beginning to reactivate insumiso assemblies throughout Aragon, as a +way of empowering the Insumision Movement and at the same time to avoid +insumisos from not belonging to any collective and remain isolated and to +get to know each other a little better and help ourselves when faced with +the possible problems and doubts that may arise. To establish contact you +may come by any Antimilitary Collective or the information service about +conscientious objector of the Consejo de la Juventud de Zaragoza, Po. +Pamplona 17. + + +INSUMISOS ARRESTED + +Insumiso under search and capture Kike Mur was arested in Zaragoza while he +was in a boarding house, since they give their lists of clients to the +police. Kike remained over a month in preventive imprisonment until his +trial, which took place on April 15, as a personal revenge by the (female) +judge who has had several insumisos not report to their trial. +On the other hand, two insumisos from Bilbo under search and capture chained +themselves on monday march 12 to the door of Bilbo's courthouse to provoke +their arrest and consequent jailing. Two other people chained themselves +together with the insumisos and thus impeded a lot of people's access to the +building. Right away four ertzainas (basque police) appeared and cut the +chains and after identifying the antimilitarists arrested the two insumisos. +One of them, Ricardo Barriuso, after being taken to the police station he +was transfered to Basauri prison. The other insumiso, Alvaro H. Perez, +"Tuti" was set free by order of the judge. + + +INSUMISO'S FAST + +Insumisos imprisoned in 2nd degree at Irun~a prison fasted again from march +7th to the 9th to protest against dispersion and prison in general. +The Pamplona insumisos stage a protest on the 8th of every month after the +8th of September 1994 when eight imprisoned anitimilitarists were transfered +to different prisons throughout the spanish state. In this ocassion the +jailed insumisos wanted to relate their protest to Working Woman's Day. They +also denounced the situation in which Navarra's female prisoners live, all +of them being forced to serve their sentences away from their places of origin. + + +ATTEMPT AGAINST EUROFOR + +An explosive device was deactivated when the fuse was aligth on March 7th in +front of the barracks at Florence (Italy) which is the headquarters of +Eurofor, an inmediate response force for the Mediterranean comprising Spain, +Italy, France and Portugal. The attempt was vindicated by radio with a "Long +Live Anarchy", they also claimed responsibility for the attempt on February +28th in front of the Ministry of Aeronautics in Rome and denied the claim by +the Nucleos Comunistas Combatientes. + + + +*** FROM GERMANY *** + + +DEMOSTRATION IN BERLIN + +On January 14th over 10,000 people demonstrated in East Berlin in homage to +Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Liebkeneck, outstanding fighters in the revolution +of 1919 and assassinated by the army. This demonstration attended by a +motley crew of all ages takes place without incidents and ends with a +placing of flowers in the cemetery where they rest. This year the police +charged several times against the demonstration, venting their fury on the +antifascist block and the turkish and kurd groups. They arrested several +people and once at the cemetery everything was peaceful again, but the +police charged again and tried to arrest more people, with new clashes and +incredible police violence. + + +MASSIVE RAIDS + +The indiscriminate and massive raids and searches in homes, locals, okupied +houses belonging to the antifascist, autonome and libertarian movements +continue in Germany. Two people have been arrested and charged with +belonging to Antiimperialist Cells, an armed organization that never before +had suffered arrests until now. + + +RACIST STATE + +(Llar) Germany's Federal Police tore away two children, 2 and 6 years old, +from their parents arms at Stuggart airport on January 2nd. The parents, +kurdish political refugees, had spent all their savings to pay for their +children's trip. The police, by virtue of a law that does not authorize +family reunions, returned the children to Turkey. + + +1,300 KURDS ARRESTED + +The kurdish community living in Germany organized, on March 16, a gathering +for the peaceful resolution of the kurdish problem. The demonstration, +previously authorized, was declared illegal hours befor its start. The +police stopped more than 50 chartered buses from different cities in roads +and expressways. In spite of this many kurds evaded the police controls and +arrived at Dormunt. There were incidents and over 1,300 arrests. There were +clashes in the expressways with the kurds travelling in the buses. A police +car was incinerated. Two weeks before in Bonn the police charged against a +kurd demonstration due to the display of PKK (Kurdistan Worker's Party) +flags and the 2,000 demonstrators answered the police aggression with stones +and potatoes. The PKK initiated, over ten years ago in Kurdistan, the armed +struggle against the genocide by Turkey that they suffer. Germany +collaborates by selling weapons to the turkish government which are used to +massacre kurdish villages. The large kurdish community residing in Germany +has almost 50,000 PKK militants. Germany's justice system outlawed the PKK +in 1993, and now Germany's justice does not consider the PKK a "clandestine +organization" but a "terrorist group". On the other hand a group of european +politicians, among them a senator from the PNV (Basque Nationalist Party +T.N.) that were trying to visit Kurdistan were arrested by the turkish +police who did not allow them to visit the area. + + + +*** HAUNTED HOUSES *** + + +SOS C.S. DAVID CASTILLA + +Social Center David Castilla, okupied since December 1993 in Madrid's Tetuan +neighborhood is currently one of the most active projects in Madrid. They do +many activities (theater, library, gym, dining room, flamenco, labor +advisory...) and is a place of reference for different collectives. At the +moment they're under threat from the owners (a well know especulating +enterprise) that demands 3,000,000 ptas to start a judicial proccess that +will allow the social center to remain alive for two more years. The +attorney for the social center thinks it's possible to lower the bond to +500,000 ptas. They urgently ask for support from all the collectives, it's a +matter of days, any help in any amount is welcomed. Deposit in : Cajamadrid +2038.1093.8 F.M. Martinez c/c 3003156248. For more information C.S. David +Castilla 46 Villamil St.28.039 Madrid. + + +SEARCH AND CAPTURE + +Two okupas from Casal la Murtra in Barcelona, evicted and demolished in 1994 +have been tried by a judge. He sent the summonses to the vacant lot where +the house used to be and this meant imprisonment for a female defendant and +search and capture with preventive imprisonment for the other defendant +until the trial takes place. + + +FASCIST HARRASSMENT + +On February 10th an attempt to okupy a house in Santa Coloma resulted in +the arrest of two okupas. On the 15th it was reokupied, hours later +boneheads and fascist neighbors showed up armed with clubs. 25 nazi-skins +threatened to burn down the house. Later 60 people came up in defense of the +okupas and the nazis dissappeared. The police came and the house was evicted. + + +GAVILUETU IN THE STRUGGLE + +(Llar) Social Center Gaviluetu of Aviles (Asturies) has problems with the +Town Hall. On February 23rd municipal workers and municipal police entered +the okupied house without permission and removed 50 meters of electrical +wiring and two lampposts (belonging to the fishermen's brotherhood). The +mayor in person showed up during the cut off of electrical energy. A +municipal police car remains in front of the house 24 hours a day +controlling the okupas and preventing them from reconnecting the +electricity. That same afternoon 500 people took part in a demonstration of +protest in front of the Town Hall and the PP's headquarters. On February +28th several members of the okupa assembly took over the stairs inside the +Town Hall, while a gathering in support was taking place outside. The +municipal police kicked out the okupas and one of them was arrested and +beaten in a room. They confiscated a banner which read :"If there are +evictions there will be disturbances". On March 2nd in the asturian +municipality of La Felguera a house belonging to Iberdrola was okupied. + + +SQUATS IN NAFARROA + +On saturday March 9th a house belonging to the archbishop, located in +Etxarri-Aranaz (Nafarroa), was okupied by the Gazte Asanblada. The house had +been abandoned for four years and to date there haven't been any problematic +visitors. +In addition, during the festivities in Tudela the recently created +pro-gaztetxe assembly of that town okupied a large house where alternative +parties were quickly organized and during which a good sum of money was +collected for their activities. +Unfortunately, shortly after the festivities ended the house was evicted, +but this has not diminished their spirits to continue moving forward. +At the last minute we've received news of the okupation of an abandoned +factory in Portugalete (Bizkaia) by a large group of young people on April +13. The goal of the okupation is the creation of a social center, due to +repeated refusals from City Hall to give them a place. + + +SQUATS IN FRANCE + +On January 20th in Paris a hundred people okupied an apartment building at +37 Rue Bonnet (Moskowa district). The initiative came from the neighbors, +with the support of many groups. The building, in good condition, was to be +demolished, but now it will be inhabited by the poor people of the neighborhood. +Since February a political squat has been opened in Nantes. Named Le +Courtois, it's a few steps from the well known City of Congresses. Their +goal is to demonstrate that an antiauthoritarian collective can help a group +of individuals claim ownership of an empty house in the center of the city +and to reject the charity system. In Nantes, the ancient worker's +neighborhoods are being destroyed, displacing the inhabitants to the +outskirts. The okupas are already preparing activities: language courses, +self-defense, a vegeterian restaurant, concerts. +Le Courtois is located at 10 Rue de Bitche. Another squat, Le Local is at 16 +Rue Sanlecque. + + +DID YOU KNOW THAT ...? + +According to a report on the urban situation by the United Nations the +spanish state is the european country with the most empty houses. 500,000 +houses are empty and are perfectly inhabitable. + +*** FASCISM? NO, THANKS *** + + +ANTIFAS TRIALS + +This past March 20th two trials against two antifascists took place. In the +first one the prosecution asked for several days in jail against a young man +accused of administering a blow with a mug to a fascist. Finally he was +acquitted and it was clear that the arrest had been done at random by the +secret police, as usual. +That same morning another trial took place with the prosecution asking for 3 +years for another antifa accused of attacking Miguel Angel Gutierrez "Moro", +a well known nazi from Zaragoza, as he rode his motorcycle in March 1995. +The identification of the accused antifas, one of them insumiso in rebellion +that wasn't even in Zaragoza and who didn't show up at the trial, was done +with name, address and a previous knowledge of their ideology and without +them having taken part in the attack. +Several well known Zaragoza neonazis attended the trial: "Karrakas" +(rent-a-cop at the University), Cesar Gil Carreras (implicated in attacks +against homeless poeple), Francisco Javier Bueno, Jonathan Abizanda, a +certain Valera (close friend of Baeta), "Stuka", etc. +Finally the only defendant present has been sentenced to a year in jail +although at the trial it was clear the intent to implicate the antifascist +in the events no matter what, given that the declarations of the nazis were +totally contradictory and they put their hooves in their mouths several +times even as to the date when the attack took place. Another wholly unjust +sentence which demonstrates the fickleness of justice that punishes nazis +with a month's arrest with more evidence and for more serious aggressions +while the antifas are judged with a different yardstick. + + +AGGRESSIONS IN ZARAGOZA + += After the demonstration of March 8th, a young man was assaulted by nazi +Manuel Navarro, aka "El Rubio". In answer to the attack a group of people +attending the demo administered a corrective to that element and he has +accused without evidence a member of P.A.Z. based in a photographic +identification with illegal police records. History repeats itself: baseless +accusations supported by the police, with the goal of neutralizing the +emerging antifascist movement in Zaragoza. + += A member of JJLL (Libertarian Youth T.N.) was attacked by a group of nazis +the night of March 16th in the Leon XIII district, receiving a brutal +beating that sent him to the hospital, where they had to sew several +stitches and administer other emergency care. The young man has filed +charges, which we hope will stick. + += A young man coming out of an assembly of Colectivo Delicias received a +blow with a chain, he managed to escape in time. + += During the weekend of March 29-31 there were several aggressions among +which we note the stoning of El Arrebato, headquarters of the Rebel +Collective, where the bartender was injured in his eye and others suffered +less serious injuries. + += That same weekend several antifas stoned Bar La Croqueta again as well as +an all-terrain (vehicle) in which several nazis were making their rounds +controlling antifascist people, which was destroyed with the nazis inside. + + +AGGRESSIONS IN THE STATE + +A young man of brasilian nationality was stabbed twice in the chest in +Barcelona this past March 21st by a group of nazis. As he tried to escape +crossing the street he was run over by a car resulting seriously injured. He +was hospitalized and had to have surgery and is still recovering from his +wounds. + + +NAZIS SENTENCED + +The five nazis that killed Guillem Agullo, SHARP member assasinated in +Montanejos in September 1994 have received sentences that go from 25 to 28 +years. The sentences, though pretty harsh, fall short since Valencia's +fascist organization came out clean during the trial, as we anticipated in +our bulletin #49 and some of the media have portrayed the case as a "tribal +fight" with a tragic end. We must clarify that four of the nazis are members +of the ultra soccer club Yomus and had contact with Accion Radical. They had +attended a concert for the race organized by A.R., they wore fascist emblems +and after assassinating Guillem they left the area singing "cara al sol" +(fascist anthem T.N.). In spite of all this the judge has not found any +relation between the defendants and fascist groups. +During the trial the private accusation made by the catalanist association +Maulets was fined 100,000 ptas for attempting to clarify the common +responsibility of Valencia's fascists as a whole and as a protest there was +a gathering and other actions. +On the other hand, Valencia's court condemned nazi Juan Jose R.E. to 13 +years in prison for attempted homicide, injuries and damages for the +stabbing of four young people on November 18th 1994 and 10 days in jail for +an accomplice. + + +DOWN WITH CULTURE ! + +This phrase by Foreign Legion founder Millan Astray could very well apply to +his legionnair gentlemen who, after the murder of one of them at the hands +of a reserve soldier, came out to "avenge the affront" attacking the +magrebhi population of Ceuta +as well as the businesses they run. The image of the benevolent blue helmets +that help the unfortunate bosnians crumbles when confronted with the reality +of an armed force such as the Legion with a XIX century colonial mentality +and the appalling racism that is fostered within its ranks. + + +YNESTRILLAS IN CATALUNYA + +The presence of ultra-right-wing Ricardo Saenz de Ynestrillas in Catalunya +to inagurate two headquarters of the extreme right wing Alianza por la +Unidad Nacional (AUN) in Barcelona and Vendrell caused serious protests. On +February 25th the ateneos libertarios and antifascist groups of different +Tarragona towns organized a concentration in El Vendrell (Tarragona) where +Ynestrillas was opening up the headquarters. 400 people took part in the +antifascist demonstration. The only people that attended Ynestrilla's +meeting numbered 50, more than half of them neonazi skin heads. A large +deployment of anti-riot Guardia Civil protected their comrade Ricardito, who +had to leave the meeting by a side door. The naziskins came out marching +with their arm raised. Two of AUN promoters in El Vendrell will be tried on +April 2nd for attacking an insumiso from Reus at the end of an +antimilitarist demonstration. + + +NAZI BIKERS + +In Barcelona the police disbanded the Centuriones gang, motorcycle buffs +linked to drug traffic, possession of weapons, contract beatings, illicit +association and other crimes. They had front businesses and even a yatch. +Their mafioso criminality and organized delinquency is flavored by neonazi +ideology and symbology. 34 people were arrsted, 25 of whom will come under +the court's jurisdiction, of whom 14 went to prison and the rest are in +provisional freedom. In Zaragoza a similar body called Templarios is active, +in october '95 their members assaulted a bar patronized by alternative +people causing one serious injury. + + +BURNED ALIVE + +Two beggars that slept in the streets of Paris and another city in northern +France were sprayed with flammable liquids and burned alive making this one +of the most worrisome fascist murders in the last few years in the +neighboring state because of its cruelty and because there haven't been any +arrests to date. +The increase in ultra right wing crimes in France is very high due primarily +to the tacit support that the perpetrators of all kinds of ultra aggressions +get from the state through the ultra right wingers "democratically elected" +from Le Pen's National Front. + + +NAZI PSYCHOPATHS + +In Merano (Italy), on March 1st a germanophile racist sheperd that had +assassinated five people died in a gun fight with the police. A policeman +killed in the shooting becomes the sixth victim. The racist man was a member +of a radical seccesionist group of german speaking italians. The motive for +the crimes was racism, since the victims spoke italian. According to +investigations the sheperd was mentally ill. +Another crazy nazi is Thomas, 27 years old who killed five people in Renania +(Germany) obeying orders from god Odin, nordic divinity of war enshrined by +the nazis. He killed a nazi ex-colleague, a young female worker, an african +inmigrant, a young lady wearing an antifascist patch died of 91 knife +wounds. The murderer is well known in ultra-right-wing circles for his +militancy in different neonazi groups. +These two cases are not exceptions, many nazis not well in the head (you +can't be too sane to be a nazi) commit horrible crimes. Remember last year a +french adolescent, worshipper of Hitler who killed 14 people in his village, +among them all his family, or two nazi brothers in the USA that killed +several people among them their parents. All of this without mentioning the +Oklahoma bombing, the work of ultra rightists linked to the Michigan Militia +that caused near 200 deaths. Since a large part of psycopaths arrested for +multiple assassinations profess ultra right ideas it's fitting to ask +whether to be a nazi one must first be a psychopath, or whether to be a +psychopath one must first be a nazi. + + +FASCIST SECTS + + +A new case of members of an ultra right wing sect that barricaded themselves +happened between March and April. A sect who calls itself "Free Men" +bunkered down in a Montana ranch, after the arrest of two of their leaders, +armed to the teeth and remained under siege by the FBI for more than two +weeks until they were arrested. The members of the sect were very well +armed, declared themselves racist and did not recognize the US government. +The incident, besides not being the first one, is not an isolated one. In +the USA this type of openly ultra right group proliferates, combining at the +same time religious fanaticism and enjoying a certain tolerance on the part +of the authorities and the police, some of whom are self-confessed members +of these organizations. + + +BRIEF ANTIFAS + +- March 5th 500 people demonstrated in Langreo (Asturies) to protest the +threats sent by fascists against high school students. + +- In March, the well known nazi Baeta, suffering from a terrible +degenerative mental desease, went back to Daroca jail for two weeks. + +- The Supreme Court has confirmed the 52 year sentence for Civil Guard Luis +Merino and 24 years for his other three accomplices for the murder of +dominican inmigrant Lucrecia Perez. The nazis pretended to lower the +sentence alleging manslaughter. The court ruled it was murder. + +- Sergio Soto and Sergio Duran are two nazis that have been tried in +Barcelona for making the apology of genocide after making fascist, racist +and xenophobic declarations in TV. The prosecutor asked for three years for +this pile of shit. + +- On february 21st a bomb exploded at the headquarters of the National Front +in Marseilles. The place suffered much material damage. That day was the +first anniversary of the assassination of an inmigrant by members of the +National Front. + +*** CIVIL SOCIETY? *** + + +Lately from different pulpits, tribunes and communications media the current +party system (partyocracy) is being critiziced for kidnapping democracy, for +the lack of citizen's participation etc. They talk of regenerating democracy +and the participation by civil society in the decision making proccess. +>From a libertarian point of view we would have nothing to object to these +claims and even from a more possibilist point of view we could even make +common cause in defense of direct democracy. But beware! behind these +beautiful words there's a poison pill. +Those who speak of a civil society do not talk about an organizing and +associative movement, social movements, unions, neighborhood and worker's +associations, consumer associations etc. They don't want the performance by +the man on the street, rather that the new directors be "independent" well +known figures. The civil society they want to sell us is that of the +oligarchies that are outside the political power: televangelists, bankers, +judges, academics, tycoons that faced with the wearing out of the political +party system want to take the reins of power. Civil society are the +Trevijano, Pedro J, Conde, Gil y Gil, Ruiz Mateos ... in the USA opposite +the bipartisan system this type of civil society is represented by +archmillionaire Ross Perot. +Some candidatures have these claims in their agendas (democratic +regeneration, citizen's participation, open lists, civil society, cut back +on the parties' power ...). One of them is Foro Democratico, headed by +ex-centrist E. Punset and financed by someone as honest and philanthropic as +Mario Conde. A similar program is proposed by Plataforma de los +Independientes de Espan~a (PIE). In the latest municipal elections the +candidature from this group in Madrid was headed by Matanzo, in Huesca it +was a franquist ex-councilman. Both ex-councilmen from PP (Partido Popular - +right wing party T.N.) had been expelled from this party for being ultra +reactionary. In Vilaseca (Tarragona) the candidature was composed of people +close to the well known catalonian ultra rightist Gomez Rovira. +Then there is Iniciativa por la Sociedad Civil (ISC) that publishes a paper +Iniciativa por la Libertad de Expresion (ILE) that tries to make a dent +especially in the Universities. Although they have very progressive +articles, it is financed by businessmen linked to Opus Dei and carries +advertisements for major multinational corporations. In Zaragoza this group +was coordinated by a Law professor that quickly went from being a habitual +presence in the November 20th (Franco's death) celebrations to being a +progressive. This group, among whose more visible heads you'll find Javier +Esteban (linked to Bases Autonomas - another right wing party T.N.) has +organized talks by republican Trevijano throughout the state. In one of +their issues they noted the italian Francesco Cossiga (Minister of the +Interior during the bloody repression of the "lead years" in the 70s, with +more than 10,000 political prisoners) as an example of honest and +incorruptible politician. +Related to this theme is the ultraliberal current that claims the title +"libertarian" (in english the words liberal and libertarian have similar +meaning) for example the Libertarian Party in the USA goes against the power +of the state and wants the smallest state possible, total abolishment of +taxation, total privatization of the public sector and total absence of +social aid and services (health, unemployment, retirement ...). The goal of +these "libertarians" of the right is to destroy the state to install a +savage capitalism. In Europe this current is testimonial, but both +conservatives and social democrats apply economic policies more and more +liberal. +Watch out for these "desinterested" defenders of civil society and the +"right wing libertarians" since they only lead to personalism, +follow-the-leader-ism and populism. They're all recycled forms of +neofascism. If they fight against the power of the political parties is +because they don't want grass roots organizations, the system, the +bureaucracy that might control or limit the excessive personal power that +these self-nominated leaders of civil society want. + + + +*** BRIEFS - BTRIEFS - BRIEFS - BRIEFS *** + + + +RAPIST POLICEMEN + +The prosecutor of Oviedo's court has asked for 73 years in prison for a +civil guard accused of sexually assaulting and raping 7 women. +A brasilian woman charged that she was raped in a Bilbo police station by 4 +policemen after being illegaly arrested. + + +PRO-LIFE PUNKIES + +The feminist collective Mujeres Castellanas de Burgos asked for a boicott of +a group called Derrame Zerebral that spread anti abortion themes and label +the women that have abortions as "selfish assassins". Curious coincidence +with the most integrist catholicism. + + +PROBLEMS WITH H.B. + +Bilbo's Libertarian Youth (JJLL) has sent us a long letter to inform us of +the problems they are having with members of Herri Batasuna (basque party +T.N.) over the elections of March 3rd. JJLL-Bilbo pasted posters in favor of +abstention with the visible heads of the main political parties. The poster +team of H.B. covered these posters one by one, the libertarians were +insulted, threatened, endured anonimous phone calls and graffitti in their +local. JJLL remind us that in 1993 they took part, together with JARRAI and +HB, in a platform for the freedom of expression, denouncing the "idea +cleansing" practiced by the municipal street cleaning brigade who covered up +graffitti, posters and billboards. + + +GIL'S MARBELLA + +In Marbella not everything is super rich people roasting in the sun, luxury +yatchs and a fascist and mafioso mayor. Recently a social center has been +created in this city and they tell us of the gathering they had this past +march against Gil's policies and the abuses perpetrated by the police in +Marbella, attended by over 200 people, although according to Gil there +weren't more than 12 from Marbella, a few from a nearby town (where his +party does not hold the mayor's office) and a gang of kids between 14 and 15 +years old. +More than 100 charges of torture and ill treatment have been awarded to +Gil's police in only 5 years. The accusations are in large part from people +that have been stopped for simple traffic violations or for surfing outside +of the allowed hours and who have been beaten to a pulp, arrested, +threatened or vexed. This level of accusations for these circumstances is +much greater than that of the majority of the cities in the state and it is +assumed that they're only a part of the abuses carried out by a police force +that, according to Gil's very own words will be rewarded every time the +prosecutor initiates investigations against them for these reasons. Gil has +also prohibited the dissemination of pamphlets or leaflets and has dedicated +insults to the left and Marbella's young people such as slimy and lice-ridden. + + +ANTI BULLFIGHT ACTIVISTS ARRESTED + +On February 15 there was an antibullfight gathering in front of a portable +bullring in Elche (Alicante) where a bullfight took place. The police acted +without consideration against the peaceful act organized by +Comite-Antitauri, made up of people from several collectives, the people +gathered limited themselves to carrying two banners and singing +antibullfight slogans. The police charged against the demonstrators and +arrested two of them. Four activists had to be treated at the hospital and +have pressed charges. The police's performance has originated a great +polemic in the city and numerous associations, unions and parties (even +Socialist Youth) have denounced the events and have called for a clarification. + + +ILL-FATED ANNIVERSARY + +This month of April marks the 10th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear +disaster. To this date the exact number of people that died during the first +days is unknown and it's estimated at over 60,000 the number of liquidators +(people that worked in isolating the reactor and putting out the fire) that +have already died as a result of radioactivity. Another 100,000 could die in +the next few years and the rate of carcinogenic diseases among the +population that was near the plant at the moment the dome broke up is almost +50%. Even the grandchildren of the so called "Chernobyl children" could +continue to suffer the effects of radiation. +In spite of it, three of the plant's reactors continue to function and many +people have returned to the area and cultivate the land with concentrations +of radioactive strontium and iodine much higher than tolerable. Where will +the next "unfortunate accident" occur? Perhaps in Garon~a. This plant, like +the majority around the state, has a completely obsolete technology and is +located in an area of high population density right next to the Ebro river, +from where it takes water for its cooling, only 200 Km away from Zaragoza. +On saturday March 23rd 2,000 people demonstrated in Burgos against Garon~a +nuclear plant, on the 20th anniversary of its inaguration. + + +FUCKING ERTZAINAS + +(UPA) In Oiartzun (Guipuzkoa), in answer to the arrest of several youths, on +February 28th several objects were thrown against the Batzoki (bar and +meeting place of the basque nationalist party PNV). At that moment several +vans of the Beltzas, anti-riot division of the ertzainas (basque police +T.N.), arrived with antiriot gear and entered a bar, harrassing and beating +the customers and throwing them out in the street to identify them. Once in +the street some clients asked for explanations and the badge number of the +Beltzas and as an answer they received blows with helmet-clad heads, blows +with clubs and kicks in the testicles. A municipal guard came to ask for an +explanation, getting the same treatment as the others, in addition to +insults such as "asshole, you're nothing, fucking little cop" directed at +the force he belongs to such as the major and other members of the municipal +government. +At last they arrested the municipal guard and insumiso Xolomo Sorondo, who +was under search and capture, being then taken to their base in Orereta and +later to the emergency room to obtain medical assistance. On February 29th +Xolomo went to prison and the guard was released. There was a gathering in +Oiartzun which was disbanded by the police and Oiartzun Town Hall and its +workers filed charges at the ertzaina and at the courthouse against these +performances and there was a strike and lock-in at the Town Hall. + + +SERIOUS CHARGES + +Three castillian youths, members of UPC and JRC have been released after +declaring on April 15th in the National Court. The three were charged with a +crime of "collaborating with an armed band" for the possession of several +letters from different political prisoners that were addressed to the +magazine _Castilla Libre_. The letters didn't have any criminal content but +were a denounciation of the prisoner's situation. In addition two others +from JRC had to declare in the National Court for alleged "injuries to the +king" as they were considered responsible for a poster in memory of the last +people executed in Burgos in which they reminded the world that Juan Carlos +I was a king imposed by Franco. You can no longer say the truth. + + +THREE YEAR SENTENCE + +(UPA) Madrid's provincial court has ruled against the defense appeal in the +case of two young people sentenced in connection with incidents against the +municipal police in the summer of 1991 during a campaign of protest against +the eviction of the then okupied Centro Social Minuesa (see Acrat #49). +Pedro Luis Perez had been sentenced in a first trial in July 1995 to 1 year +in jail for attempts against authority and Luis Moles to 1 year for attempts +against authority and 2 years, 4 months and 1 day for injuries. +The ruling by the Provincial Court upholds the sentences of 1 year for +attempt for Pedro and Luis but reduces Luis' sentence for injuries to 1 year. +The events go back to august 1991 when three people complained of having +been beaten by the police when they were hanging a banner in Puerta de +Toledo. Hours later the municipal police went to C.S. Minuesa, beating +people who were distributing leaflets and arresting Pedro and Luis. At the +beginning the trial was for misdemeanors and was suspended several times as +the police did not show up. In another trial, four municipals were sentenced +to 5 days and 100,000 ptas in damages to one of the arrestees for +aggressions. Two and a half years later in a new hearing a municipal +policeman appears with a medical report that says he lost 10 teeth when a +bench was hurled at him. The court reassesed the facts and it became a +felony. The court has to decide whether the defendants have to go to prison +or get conditional liberty. + + + +FIES ON STRIKE + +Since March 4th, inmates of the special departments in several prisons are +on courtyard strike. The FIES (Ficheros Internos de Especial Seguimiento) +collective demands the inmediate application of article 60 (the release of +the seriously ill) to all prisoners with AIDS and other incurable diseases, +mental illness, cancer, paralysis and better medical assistance and food for +the HIV positive. Also the creation of establishments to house sick inmates +and respect for the dignity of men and women about to die on the part of the +administration. The FIES are prisoners subjected to extremely harsh living +conditions many times because of their fighting attitude against injustices +in the prisons. + + +SUICIDE + +Several prisoners have filed complaints in court about the beatings, +vexations and humiliations received by Juan Luis Sanchez, 22 years old drug +addict, by the prison officials in Jaen jail the 20, 21 and 22 of november +1995. He was found hanging in his cell on the 29th. +Several social groups have organized a campaign, made difficult by hermitism +and fact-hiding. Why wasn't any action taken about the allegations submitted +on the 20, 21 and 22?. These associations had to make contact with the +deceased's relatives in an extraofficial way. Instituciones Penitenciarias +refused to provide the family's address and neither did it inform the family +about their right to appear at the procedures. Several human rights +associations have appeared in Jaen's Court to press charges. + + +CONTRABANDA SILENCED + +This past January 19 Barcelona's free radio station Contrabanda FM was +literally swept off the dial by Barcelona Radio, a new municipal +broadcaster. This silencing happens after five years of uninterrupted +broadcasting on 91.0 FM, covering the whole city and part of the +metropolitan area. Most significant is that it isn't completely clear that +this other radio station has a license, but it so happens that it has a lot +to do with certain elements of P$OE. +At the moment Contrabanda FM transmits provisionally on 91.3 FM and is in +the midst of a campaign to recover their slot. The station has the public +support of collectives, unions (even the news people's) and they're sending +letters to collectives from different places that have or have had relations +with free radio stations. + + +CLARIFICATIONS + +In the previous issue we informed of the censoring of El Acratador on the +Internet. There were some inaccurate facts that could lead to confusion. +The Red Iris is not only an Internet site but also the organism that +administers the university's electronic network connected to Internet in the +spanish state. The University of Zaragoza had nothing to do with the closing +of SPIE, the order came directly from Red Iris. Accusations by fascist +Manuel Morillo didn't have a direct bearing on the closing of the SPIE +server. Red Iris forced the closing of the site granted by the University of +Zaragoza to the SPIE (Servidor Popular de Informacion Electronica) project, +dedicated to NGO's and alternative groups. This site was used as a server by +this bulletin and other alternative collectives of this city. Red Iris, due +to economic reasons, or perhaps because of censorship, only allows the +Universities use of the Internet connection for matters exclusively related +to research. + + +POKED FULL OF BULLET HOLES + +Jose Berges, better known as doctor death, was the victim, on April 5th in +Argentina, of an attempt by ORP (organizacion Revolucionaria del Pueblo). +Berges has 20 bullet holes but for the moment is alive. Two hospitals +refused to assist the wounded man. A few days after the attempt the hospital +where he is suffered another attempt, the ORP claiming responsibility. +Berges, the "Argentinian Mengele" was a torturer during the military +dictatorship. He was in charge of setting the pace of the torture sessions +to make them more painful, always with his face uncovered and enjoying it, +in a sadistic and refined fashion. He would steal children born to women +political prisoners in concentration camps and give them to military +personnel without children, later the mothers were murdered. The total was +500 children. Berges was sentenced in 1986 to six years for torture and +child stealing. He was released in 1987. The ORP has announced new actions +against the impunity enjoyed by torturers and genocides that live in freedom. + + +ENCOUNTER AT AYMARE + +Aymare (France) was a self-managed collective that received men and women +exiled after the Civil War, many of whom continued to fight fascism during +WWII. The collective lasted until the beginning of the 60's. Many french +young people who didn't know Aymare want to remember and pay homage to the +spanish anarchists and their ideas of antifascist solidarity, fraternity and +mutual support. The Aymare encounter (El Lot) will take place on June 15. +For information and registration: C.I.R.A.S. 61 Rue Pauly. 33130 Begles +(France) phone 56.49.46.48. + + +SUPER BRIEFS + +* Action at the Italian Consulate at Pamplona-Irun~ea, on February 28th a +group of people gathered and put up a poster against the trial of four +italian anarchists (see Acrat #51). + +* Libertarian Days-Segovia Resists. They took place march 19-24 with talks, +videos, food, rock. These days are another example of the continued growth +of libertarian groups in different areas of the spanish state, even small +villages and cities. For more info: Asamblea Insumision-Alternativa +Libertaria . Apdo 324 // 48080 Segovia. + +* Boletin Unidad. Deals with reviews and contacts, bimonthly and free. Their +object is to serve as a channel for contacts for people and fanzines, +distributors, groups etc... It is sent by mail just for the asking. J.I.H.A. +Apdo: 41.019 28080 Madrid. + +* Cultural Association Eliseo Reclus has been created, formed by people +linked to the libertarian movement, they have deep knowledge and give talks +about biological agriculture, renewable energy and naturopathy. Contact +Apdo: 1226 02.0890 Albacete. + +* In March, 9 Civil Guards were tried in Bilbo accused of tortures that took +place in 1980. Despite having taken 16 years for the allegations to bring +the defendants to the bench, they used a legal trick to suspend the trial on +a technicality. + +* The publishing of Jake Libertario, organ of the FIJL (Frente Iberico de +Juventudes Libertarias) goes to the group Sense Reverencies de Castello. +Apdo: 560 // 12080 Castellon. + +* Zarata Irriata is a free radio from Pamplona that returns to the air after +6 months without broadcasting due to reestructuring. They ask for +collaboration and information. Zarata Irriata Apdo: 3272 // 31080 Pamplona. +Phone/FAX (948)277900. + +* Tabloid Cepas Resistentes calls for a proposal on multimedia art about the +theme "the fallacy of the call to electoral participation" and is soliciting +articles (doesn't matter if they're in spanish) and all kinds of formats of +visual work before June 20th to David Thorne, P.O. Box 153b, Glover VT 05839 +USA. + +* To hell with a certain elemnt from Hamburg that says his name is Oliver +who stole money in the Ateneu Llibertari Estel Negre from Mallorca taking +advantage of the natural anarchist kindness. + +* On March 3rd in Brussels thousands of students and professors took part in +a mobilization against an education decree that would mean the loss of 3000 +jobs. In the European Union's capital there were violent street clashes +between the police and the demonstrators. + + + +*** WITH ITOIZ, AGAINST THE DAM *** + +On April 6th, around 7AM a group of 8 people, after subdueing a security +guard, climbed up the cables that transport the concrete carts for the +construction of Itoiz Dam and proceeded to hacksaw them, letting the load +fall to the ground. +The sabotage was done with machinery rented from one of the enterprises +that are building the controversial dam and caused losses valued between 900 +and 1500 million ptas, according to estimates, besides provoking a stoppage +that will delay the works 5 to 6 months. +The authors of the sabotage, done without any violence, except against +machinery, taped it and gave it to the police who arrested them and beat +them repeatedly besides making them lie down on the ground handcuffed. +Later they were taken to the Agoitz courthouse where they could not make +declarations since there were no esukera translators so they were jailed +until tuesday when they finally were able to give their declaration and went +to pr6ison again to this date. They all have filed charges for ill treatment +including the dam's security guards. +The press and the official establishment got busy since the day of the +action by the Solidarity with Itoiz hurling lots of accusations against the +ecologists in the habitual line: close to HB, destroyers of jobs, violent +people ... The acting minister Perez Rubalcaba went as far as to say in +public declarations that Itoiz would be built above all and we've heard the +most barbarous things. +What hasn't been said so much is that the macrodam at Itoiz, which tried to +flood one of the valleys with most ecological riches in all Euskadi, had +been reduced by order of the Supreme Court to a simple lake of 9.7 cubic +Hms capacity instead of the planned 418. The court ruled that it's not clear +what the usefulness of that amount of water would be. +That is to say, these works so strongly supported were illegal since March, +in spite of which more than 300 workers were kept at the site. Workers that +in addition had to be recruited in other areas since the locals refused to +work in them. Taking into account the dam's illegality, the jobs were not +absolutely guaranteed (they only had to wait for the application of the +ruling) and besides it's fitting to ask what's more important: a few months +of work for 300 people or the change in living conditions of thousands of +people, besides the destruccion of dozens of hectares of forest. +The Coordinadora de Itoiz has claimed for a long time that the only reason +for the dam is the personal enrichment of certain UPN and P$OE officials, +since it was doubtful that the irrigation of 57,000 Has was possible, and +that land is at the moment producing an excess that can't even be sold. +For the moment the main promoters of the dam, councilmen Urralburu and +Aragon are in jail accused of corruption and illicit profiteering which +makes the dam clearly illegal. +As protest for the treatment given the arrested ecologists and to demand +their freedom and a stop to the works at Itoiz there have been dozens of +actions throughout the state and principally in Euskalherria, among which we +must note the gathering that took place in Zaragoza on tuesday April 16 at +Plaza Espan~a with a large attendance. +Now we can only wait for a judicial resolution minimally just for some +people that have acted in a non-violent manner in defense of everybody's +interest and against the murky Itoiz project, that only benefits the great +corporations and Navarra's local oligarchy of bosses. +Bank account to support: Caja Laboral account # 05811015383, Pamplona. + + +***ANNOUNCEMENTS *** + +Come and meet us +Centro Social Libertario +Coso 186, local +Everyday from 18 to 21 hrs. +Library, videos, talks, concerts, distributors + + +SUBSCRIBE TO EL ACRATADOR +500 ptas = 10 issues +-Deposit in Caja Postal c/c 00-19.860.916 payable to E. Gracia and send a +copy of the recipt. +- In mail postage, 11 ptas denomination (Apdo. 3.1414) + +HELP US WITH YOUR DONATION ! + + +Listen to El Acratador +Radio Topo 102.5 FM - thursdays 20-21 hrs - phone 29-13-98 +Radio La Granja 103.0 FM - tuesdays 19-21 hrs - phone 38-43-09 + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001706.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001706.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..207bcc3f --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001706.txt @@ -0,0 +1,119 @@ +INSUMISION IN THE QUARTERS + + The Insumision in the quarters is a new civil disobedience +campaign against the army, put under way on the whole Spanish state to +evidence the conflict that exists between society and army, and to o pen +the devate about the way of operation we have ( defense model, delegation +on leaders, passivity in solving problems, etc...). + + The difference with the previous Insumision campaign is that, if +we were not answering to the military service call before, now we do, so, +as once we have the military condition, as once we are "sol diers", (what +takes about two or three days), leave the quarter and do a public +presentation of our disobedient condition. + + This disobedience is punished with jail ( from 2 years, 4 months +and 1 day, to 6 years). Having the military condition, all the process +follows the military course: detention by the military police, + council of war, and military jail at the end ( there is just one, in +Alcala de Henares, Madrid). + + This step forward has been taken because of several reasons, the +main one is to restate the devate about our objective : "the military". +They are the ones who call us, and when we disobey their rule s, they are +the ones who arrest us, who judge us and who enclose us. With this new +campaign there is no place for confusion, and it shows much more clearly +(no matter how much they attempt to adorn it ), what "military" is, and +which is our alternative to it. + + The army is suffering several changes in its functions: we can see +that internal control and peace guarantee are tasks that have been +completely assumed by police corps, on the other hand, we also see, that +the country and national territory defense argument is not valid anymore, +most of all since the soviet block ( the East) fallen, who was supposed to +be West main enemy. + + Now " the power" (the authorities), based their army social +legitimization speech, in concepts like World order, international +commitments or humanitarian help..... and, of course, always in order to +defend poor people and peace. + + But, since when the army is a peace protecting, but cemeteries +peace?, When hasn`t the army been beneath politic or economic power?, What +kind of humanity can a group of fanatics with weapons, defen d?, fanatics +who are always ready to kill if they are told to do it?. In fact, What is +hidden behind the World order, what has the army got to do with all of +this?. + + The change is not as sharp as it could seem. The army is going to +keep defending politic, and most of all, and each time more and more +clearly, economic power. But now international markets and tech nology +development make more easy quick capital moves all around the planet, so +the military structure that defense this capital, has to be able to act as +quick as it, and with efficiency in a dang er state. + + And replacement soldiers are not good for this purpose. + + Western professional military structures trend is obvious. Not +even the authorities deny that with a professional army we get more +available troops to send them to the other side of the world to solve any +conflict, with a sure personal risk and with the rapidity and the +efficiency that they are demanded to have. This is the way we could also +avoid the social rejection that would cause sending replacement soldiers +to a far war, that nobody feels as own. + + However, the purpose of this change is not so clear. The +authorities talk to us about the unavoidable need of an international +force to defend the weak people against possible aggressions or abuses. + Words that sound very well but "smell" very bad. + + + + The truth is that they are looking just for economic or prestige +benefits. There are many "unpleasant" examples about the "care" the +pacifying and humanitarian soldiers take above the people they are +presumably defending. + + But each thing has its name, and in spite of legitimization +attempts, an army will be always an army, and about its function and +performance, we all have lots of examples all along the history. + + As antimilitary people, we can not accept this domination, +injustice and death situations. We are against the army, but we know this +is just part of the deep social transformation needed to reach the peace. + + But peace is not just the conflicts absence, but daily practice of +social justice. Therefore we believe that a change towards a demilitarized +society goes through a social transformation in all areas of life: from +personal life to international relationships. We believe in social +justice, straight relationship, in equality between sexes, races and +nationalities, etc.... We also deny everything that has something to do +with militarism, states, any kind of hierarchies, dominance, control, +inequality, etc.... + + The list would be very long, but for sure you have already +understood us. + + And because the list is very long, we think we have something to +say, and we take the reins of our own life. Therefore we do not delegate +in anybody, therefore we face the problem, here and now. The refore we +practice civil disobedience, because we do not want to collaborate with +this situation and because we want you to think seriously about all this. + + We request you to divulge this in your local newspapers. + + + + If you want more information on the topic, you can ask for it at: + +IZAR BELTZA (Talde Anarkista) +PK 1188 +E-31080-Iruinea/Pamplona +Spain + +BABYLONIA e.V. Cuvrystr. 20 D-10997 Berlin +49306116089 +babylon@berlin.snafu.de + + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001760.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001760.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..66b8c6a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001760.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7890 @@ +Section I - What would an anarchist society look like? + +I.1 Isn't libertarian socialism an oxymoron? + + I.1.1 Didn't Ludwig von Mises' "calculation argument" prove that + socialism can't work? + I.1.2 Does Mises' argument mean libertarian communism is impossible? + I.1.3 What is wrong with markets anyway? + I.1.4 If capitalism is exploitative, then isn't socialism as well? + +I.2 Is this a blueprint for an anarchist society? + + I.2.1 Why discuss what an anarchist society would be like at all? + I.2.2 Will it be possible to go straight to an anarchist society + from capitalism? + +I.3 What could the economic structure of an anarchist society look like? + + I.3.1 What is a "syndicate"? + I.3.2 What is workers' self-management? + I.3.3 What role do collectives play in the "economy"? + I.3.4 What relations exist between individual syndicates? + I.3.5 What would confederations of syndicates do? + I.3.6 What about competition between syndicates? + I.3.7 What about people who do not want to join a syndicate? + +I.4 How would an anarchist economy function? + + I.4.1 What is the point of economic activity? + I.4.2 Why do anarchists desire to abolish work? + I.4.3 How do anarchists intend to abolish work? + I.4.4 What economic decision making criteria could be + used in anarchy? + I.4.5 What about "supply and demand"? + I.4.6 Surely anarchist-communism would just lead to demand + exceeding supply? + I.4.7 What are the criteria for investment decisions? + I.4.8 What about funding for basic research? + I.4.9 Should technological advance be seen as anti-anarchistic? + I.4.10 What would be the advantage of a wide basis of surplus + distribution? + I.4.11 If libertarian socialism eliminates the profit motive, won't + creativity suffer? + I.4.12 Won't there be a tendency for capitalist enterprise to reappear + in any socialist society? + I.4.13 Who will do the dirty or unpleasant work? + I.4.14 What about the person who will not work? + I.4.15 What will the workplace of tomorrow look like?
+ +I.5 What would the social structure of anarchy look like? + + I.5.1 What are participatory communities and why are they needed? + I.5.2 Why are confederations of participatory communities needed? + I.5.3 What will be the scales and levels of confederation? + I.5.4 How will anything ever be decided by all those confederal + conferences? + I.5.5 Are participatory communities and confederations not just + new states? + I.5.6 Won't there be a danger of a "tyranny of the majority" under + libertarian socialism? + I.5.7 What if I don't want to join a commune? + I.5.8 What about crime? + I.5.9 What about Freedom of Speach under Anarchism? + I.5.10 What about Political Parties? + I.5.11 What about interest groups and other associations? + +I.6 What about the "Tragedy of the Commons" and all that? Surely communal + ownership will lead to overuse and environmental destruction? + + I.6.1 But anarchists cannot explain how the use of property 'owned by + everyone in the world' will be decided? + I.6.2 Doesn't any form of communal ownership involve restricting + individual liberty? + +I.7 Won't Libertarian Socialism destroy individuality? + + I.7.1 Do "Primative" cultures indicate that communalism defends + individuality? + I.7.2 Is this not worshipping the past or the "noble savage"? + I.7.3 Is the law required to protect individual rights? + I.7.4 Does capitalism protect individuality? + +I.8 Does revolutionary Spain show that libertarian socialism can work in + practice? + + I.8.1 Wasn't the Spanish Revolution primarily a rural phenomenon and + therefore inapplicable as a model for modern industrialized + states? + I.8.2 How were the anarchists able to obtain mass popular support in + Spain? + I.8.3 How were Spanish industrial collectives organized? + I.8.4 How were the Spanish industrial collectives coordinated? + I.8.5 How were the Spanish agricultural cooperatives organized and + coordinated? + I.8.6 What did the agricultural collectives accomplish? + I.8.7 I've heard that the rural collectives were created by force. + Is this true? + I.8.8 But did the Spanish collectives innovate? + I.8.9 Why, if it was so good, did it not survive? + I.8.10 What political lessons were learned from the revolution? + I.8.11 What economic lessons were learned from the revolution? + +Section I - What would an anarchist society look like? + +So far this FAQ has been largely critical, focusing on capitalism, the +state, and the problems to which they have led, as well as refuting some +bogus "solutions" that have been offered by authoritarians of both the +right and the left. It is now time to examine the constructive side of +anarchism -- the libertarian-socialist society that anarchists envision. + +Therefore, in this section of the FAQ we will give a short outline of what +an anarchist society might look like. To quote Glenn Albrecht, anarchists +"lay great stress on the free unfolding of a spontaneous order without the +use of external force or authority" ["Ethics, Anarchy and Sustainable +Development", _Anarchist Studies_ vol.2, no.2, pp. 110]. This type of +development implies that anarchist society would be organised from the +simple to the complex, from the individual upwards to the community, the +bioregion and, ultimately, the planet. The resulting complex and diverse +order, which would be the outcome of nature freely unfolding toward +greater diversity and complexity, is ethically preferable to any other +sort of order simply because it allows for the *highest* degree of organic +unity and freedom. As Kropotkin argued, "[w]e forsee millions and millions of +groups freely constituting themselves for the the satisfaction of all the +varied needs of human beings. . . All these will be composed of human beings +who will combine freely. . .'Take pebbles,' said Fourier, 'put them in a +box and shake them, and they will arrange themselves in a mosaic that you +could never get by instructing to anyone the work of arranging them +harmonimously.'" [_The Place of Anarchism in Socialistic Evolution_, +p. 11-12] Anarchist opposition to hierarchy is an essential part +of a "spontaneously ordered" society, for authority stops the free +development and growth of the individual. As Proudhon argued, "liberty +is the mother of order, not its daughter." + +As the individual does not exist in a social vacuum, appropriate social +conditions are required for individual freedom (and so subjectivity, or +thought) to develop and blossom according to its full potential. The +theory of anarchism is built around the central assertion that individuals +and their organisations *cannot* be considered in isolation from each +other. As Carole Pateman points out, there is "the argument that there is +an interrelationship between the authority structures of institutions and +the psychological qualities and attitudes of individuals, and. . .the +related argument that the major function of participation is an educative +one" [_Participation and Democratic Theory_, p. 27]. In other words, +freedom is only sustained and protected by activity under conditions of +freedom, namely self-government. Freedom is the only precondition for +acquiring the maturity for continued freedom. + +Thus, a system which encourages individuality must be decentralised and +participatory in order for people to develop a psychology that allows +them to accept the responsibilities of self-management. Living under +capitalism produces a servile character, as the individual is constantly +placed under hierarchical authority. Such a situation cannot promote +freedom. For under wage labour, people sell their creative energy and +control over their activity for a given period. The boss does not just +take surplus value from the time employees sell, but the time itself -- +their ability to make their own decisions, express themselves through work +and with their fellow workers. Anarchism is about changing that, putting +life before the soul-destroying "efficiency" needed to survive under +capitalism; for the anarchist "takes his stand on his positive right to +life and all its pleasures, both intellectual, moral and physical. He +loves life, and intends to enjoy it to the full." [Mikhail Bakunin, quoted +in _Bakunin: The Philosophy of Freedom_, p. 118] + +Anarchists think that the essential social values are human values, and +that society is a complex of associations held together by the wills of +their members, whose well-being is its purpose. They consider that it is +not enough that the forms of association should have the passive or +"implied" consent of their members, but that the society and the +individuals who make it up will be healthy only if it is in the full sense +libertarian, i.e. self-governing, self-managed, and directly democratic. +This implies not only that all the citizens should have a "right" to +influence its policy if they so desire, but that the greatest possible +opportunity should be afforded for every citizen to exercise this right. +Anarchism involves an active, not merely passive, citizenship on the part +of society's members and holds that this principle is not only applied to +some "special" sphere of social action called "politics" but to any and +every form of social action, including economic activity. + +So, as will be seen, the key concept underlying both the social/political +and the economic structure of libertarian socialism is "self-management," +a term that implies not only workers control of their workplaces but +also citizens' control of their communities (where it becomes +"self-government"), through direct democracy and voluntary federation. +Thus self-management is the positive implication of anarchism's "negative" +principle of opposition to hierarchical authority. For through +self-management, hierarchical authority is dissolved, as self-managing +workers' councils and community assemblies are decentralized, "horizontal" +organizations in which each participant has an equal voice in the +decisions that affect his or her life, instead of merely following orders +and being governed by others. Self-management, therefore, is the essential +condition for a world in which individuals will be free to follow their +own dreams, in their own ways, cooperating together as equals without +interference from any form of authoritarian power (such as government +or boss). + +Perhaps needless to say, this section is intended as a heuristic device +only, as a way of helping readers envision how anarchist principles might +be embodied in practice, but not as a definitive statement of how they +*must* be embodied. The idea that a few people could determine exactly +what a free society would look like is contrary to the anarchist principles +of free growth and thought, and is far from our intention. Here we simply +try to indicate some of the structures that an anarchist society may +contain, based on the few examples of anarchy in action that have existed +and our critical evaluation of their limitations and successes. Of +course, as such a society will not be created overnight or without links +to the past, and so it will initially include structures created in social +struggle and will be marked with the ideas that inspired and developed +within that struggle. For example, the anarchist collectives in Spain +were organised in a bottom-up manner, similar to the way the CNT (the +anarcho-syndicalist labor union) was organised before the revolution. + +This means that how an anarchist society would look like and work is not +independent of the means used to create it. In other words, an anarchist +society will reflect the social struggle which preceded it and the ideas +which existed within that struggle as modified by the practical needs of +any given situation. Therefore the vision of a free society indicated in +this section of the FAQ is not some sort of abstraction which will be +created overnight. If anarchists did think that then they would rightly +be called utopian. No, an anarchist society is the outcome of activity and +social struggle, struggle which helps to create a mass movement which +contains individuals who can think for themselves and are willing and able +to take responsibility for their own lifes (see section J - "What do +anarchists do?"). + +So, when reading this section please remember that this is not a blueprint +but only one possible suggestion of what anarchy would look like. It is +designed to provoke thought and indicate that an anarchist society is +possible and that such a society is the product of our activity in the +here and now. + +I.1 Isn't libertarian socialism an oxymoron? + +No. As discussed in section A.1.3, the word "libertarian" has been used +by anarchist socialists for far longer than the pro-free market right have +been using it. This in itself does not, of course, prove that the term is +free of contradiction. However, as we will show below, the claim that the +term is self-contractory rests on the assumption that socialism requires +the state in order to exist and that socialism is incompatible with +liberty. This assumption, as is often true of objections to socialism, is +based on a misconception of what socialism is, a misconception that many +authoritarian socialists and the state capitalism of Soviet Russia have +helped to foster. In reality it is the term "state socialism" which is an +oxymoron. + +The right (and many on the left) consider that, by definition, "socialism" +*is* state ownership and control of the means of production, along with +centrally planned determination of the national economy (and so social +life). This definition has become common because many Social Democrats, +Leninists, and other statists *call* themselves socialists. However, the +fact that certain people call themselves socialists does not imply that +the system they advocate is really socialism. We need to analyse and +understand the systems in question, by applying critical, scientific +thought, in order to determine whether their claims to the socialist label +are justified. As we'll see, to accept the above definition one has to +ignore the overall history of the socialist movement and consider only +certain trends within it as representing the movement as a whole. + +Even a quick glance at the history of the socialist movement indicates +that the identification of socialism with state ownership and control is +not common. For example, Anarchists, many Guild Socialists, council +communists, and other libertarian Marxists, as well as followers of Robert +Owen, all rejected state ownership. Indeed, anarchists recognised that +the means of production did not change their form as capital when the +state took over their ownership, and hence that state ownership of capital +was a tendency *within,* not *opposed* to, capitalism (see section H.2.2 +for more on this). + +So what *does* socialism mean? And is it compatible with libertarian +ideals? _Webster's New International Dictionary_ defines a libertarian as +"One who holds to the doctrine of free will; also, one who upholds the +principles of liberty, esp. individual liberty of thought and action." As +we discussed earlier, capitalism denies liberty of thought and action +within the workplace (unless one is the boss, of course). Therefore, +*real* libertarian ideas mean that workers control the work they do, +determining where and how they do it and what happens to the fruit of +their labour, which in turn means the elimination of wage labour. It +implies a classless and anti-authoritarian (i.e. libertarian) society in +which people manage their own affairs, either as individuals or as part +of a group (depending on the situation). In other words, it implies +self-management in all aspects of life. + +According to the _American Heritage Dictionary_ "socialism" is "a social +system in which the producers possess both political power and the means +of producing and distributing goods." This definition fits neatly with +the implications of the word "libertarian" indicated above. In fact, it +shows that socialism is *necessarily* libertarian, not statist. For if the +state possesses the workplace, then the producers do not, and so they will +not be at liberty to manage their own work but will instead be subject to +the state as the boss. Moreover, replacing the capitalist owning class +by state officials in no way eliminates wage labour; in fact it makes it +worse in many cases. Therefore "socialists" who argue for +nationalisation of the means of production are *not* socialists (which +means that the soviet union and the other 'socialist" countries and +parties are *not* socialist). + +Since it's an essential principle of socialism that inequalities of power +between people must be abolished in order to ensure liberty, it makes no +sense for a genuine socialist to support any institution based on +inequalities of power. And as we discussed in section B, the state and +the authoritarian workplace are just such institutions. However, the +meaning of "equality" has been so corrupted by capitalist ideologues, with +their "ethics of mathematics," that "equality" has come to mean +"identical." Given the uniqueness of individuals, any attempt to create a +society of people who are "equal" in the sense of identical would, of +course, not only be doomed to failure but would also create a slave +society in the process. + +So, libertarian socialism rejects the idea of state ownership and control +of the economy, along with the state as such. Through workers' +self-management it proposes to bring an end to authority, exploitation, +and hierachy in production. This in itself will increase, not reduce, +liberty. Those who argue otherwise rarely claim that political democracy +results in less freedom than political dictatorship (although a few +"libertarian" capitalist supporters of the "natural law" dogma effectively +do so -- see section F.7). + +The communal ownership advocated by collectivist and communist anarchists +is not the same as state ownership. This is because it is based on +horizontal relationships between the actual workers and the "owners" of +social capital (i.e. the federated communities as a whole), not vertical +ones as in nationalisation. In addition, all the members of a +participatory anarchist community fall into one of three categories: (1) +producers (i.e. members of a collective or self-employed artisans), (2) +those unable to work (i.e. the old, sick and so on, who *were* +producers), or (3) the young (i.e. those who *will be* producers). +Therefore, workers' self-management within a framework of communal +ownership is entirely compatible with libertarian and socialist ideas +concering the possession of the means of producing and distributing goods +by the producers themselves. Hence, far from there being any +contradiction between libertarianism and sociaism, libertarian ideals +imply socialist ones, and vice versa. As Bakunin argued in 1867, "We are +convinced that freedom without Socialism is privilege and injustice, and +that Socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" [_Bakunin on +Anarchism_]. History has proven him correct. + +I.1.1 Didn't Ludwig von Mises's "calculation argument" prove that + socialism can't work? + +In 1920, von Mises declared socialism to be impossible on the grounds that +without private ownership of the means of production, there cannot be a +competitive market for production goods; that without a market for +production goods, it is impossible to determine their values; and that +without knowing their values, economic rationality is impossible. This is +his "calculation argument," which "anarcho"-capitalists are fond of +claiming is a "proof" that libertarian (or any other kind of) socialism is +impossible in principle. + +As David Schweickart observes in _Against Capitalism_, however, it has +long been recognized that von Mises's argument is logically defective, +because even without a market in production goods, their monetary values +can be determined. In other words, economic calculation based on prices is +possible in a libertarian socialist system. In addition, the Mondragon +cooperatives indicate that a libertarian socialist economy can exist and +flourish. There is no need for capital markets in a system based on mutual +banks and networks of cooperatives. Unfortunately, the state socialists +who replied to Mises did not have such a libertarian economy in mind. + +In response to von Mises initial challenge, a number of economists pointed +out that Pareto's disciple, Enrico Barone, had already, 13 years earlier, +demonstrated the theoretical possibility of a "market-simulated +socialism." However, the principal attack on von Mises's argument came +from Fred Taylor and Oscar Lange. (For a collection of their main papers, +see _On the Economic Theory of Socialism_, ed. by Benjamin Lippincott, +Univ. of Minnesota, 1938.) In light of their work, Frederick Hayek shifted +the question from theoretical impossibility to whether the theoretical +solution could be approximated in practice. Thus even Hayek, a major +free-market capitalist guru, seemed to think that von Mises's argument +could not be defended. + +Moreover, it should be noted that both sides of the argument accepted the +idea of central planning of some kind or another. This means that von +Mises's and Hayek's arguments did not apply to libertarian socialism, +which rejects central planning along with every other form of +centralisation. This is a key point, as most members of the right seem to +assume that "socialists" all agree with each other in supporting a +centralised economic system. In other words, they ignore a large segment +of socialist thought and history in order to concentrate on Social +Democracy and Leninism. The idea of a network of "people's banks" and +cooperatives working together to meet their common interests is ignored, +although it has been a common feature in socialist thought since the time +of Robert Owen. + +Thus the economic crises of the 1980s in the Soviet Union and Eastern +Europe do not provide evidence that Mises and Hayek were correct in +maintaining that "socialism" cannot be made to work in practice. For as +shown in the previous section, these countries were not socialist at all. +Obviously the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries had +authoritarian "command economies" with central bureaucratic planning, and +so their failure cannot be taken as proof that a decentralized, +libertarian socialism cannot work. The latter kind of socialism did in +fact work remarkably well during the Spanish Revolution in the face of +amazing difficulties, with increased productivity and output in many +workplaces (see Sam Dolgoff, _The Anarchist Collectives_ and section I.8 +of this FAQ). + +Finally, let us note that the theoretical work of Schweickart, Engler and +others on market socialism shows that von Mises was wrong in asserting that +"a socialist system with a market and market prices is as self-contradictory +as is the notion of a triangular square." So far, most models of market +socialism have not been fully libertarian, but instead involve the idea of +workers' control within a framework of state ownership of capital (Engler +is an exception to this, supporting community ownership). However, as we +argue in G.4, libertarian forms of market socialism are indeed possible and +would be similar to Proudhon's mutualism (as some Leninist Marxists recognise, +see _Against the Market_ in which the author argues that Proudhon was precuser +of the current market socialists). + +I.1.2 Does Mises' argument mean libertarian communism is impossible? + +No. While the "calculation argument" is often used by right-libertarian's +as *the* "scientific" basis for the argument that communism (a moneyless +society) is impossible, it is based on certain false ideas of what money +does and how an anarchist society would function without it. This is +hardly surprising, as Mises based his theory on the "subjective" theory of +value and marxian social-democratic ideas of what a "socialist" "economy" +would look like. However, it is useful here to indicate exactly why a +moneyless "economy" would work and why the "calculation argument" is +flawed as an objection to it. + +Mises argued that without money there was no way a socialist economy would +make "rational" production decisions. Not even von Mises denied that a +moneyless society could estimate what is likely to be needed over a given +period of time (as expressed as physical quantities of definite types and +sorts of objects). As he argued, "calculation *in natura* in an economy +without exchange can embrace consumption-goods only." [_Collectivist +Economic Planning_, ed. F.A. Von Hayek, p. 104] Mises' argument is that +the next step, working out which productive methods to employ, would not +be possible, or at least would not be able to be done "rationally," i.e. +avoiding waste and inefficiency. As he argues, the evaluation of producer +goods "can only be done with some kind of economic calculation. The human +mind cannot orient itself properly among the bewildering mass of +intermediate products and potentialities without such aid. It would simply +stand perlexed before the problems of management and location" [Op. Cit., +103]. Mises' claimed that monetary calculation based on market prices is +the only solution. + +This argument is not without its force. How can a producer be expected to +know if tin is a better use of resources than iron when creating a +product? However, Mises' argument is based on a number of flawed +assumptions. Firstly, he assumes a centralised, planned economy. While +this was a common idea in Marxian social democracy, it is rejected by +anarchism. No small body of men can be expected to know what happens in +society. As Bakunin argued, it would lead to "an extremely complex +government. This government will not content itself with administering and +governing the masses politically. . .it will also administer the masses +economically, concentrating in the hands of the State [all economic +activity]. . .All that will demand an immense knowledge and many heads +`overflowing with brains' in this government. It will be the reign of +*scientific intelligence,* the most aristocratic, despotic, arrogant, and +elitist of all regimes. There will be a new class, a new hierarchy. . . +Such a reigme will not fail to arouse very considerable discontent in the +masses of the people, and in order to keep them in check. . .[a] +considerable armed force [would be required]." [_Bakunin on Anarchism_, +p.319] Hence anarchists can agree with Mises: central planning cannot work +in practice. However, socialist ideas are not limited to Marxian Social +Democracy, and so Mises ignores far more socialistic ideas than he attacks. + +His next assumption is equally flawed. This is that without the market, no +information is passed between producers beyond the final outcome of +production. In other words, he assumes that the final product is all that +counts in evaluating its use. Needless to say, it is true that without +more information than the name of a given product, it is impossible to +determine whether using it would be an efficient utilization of resources. +But Mises misunderstands the basic concept of use-value, namely the +utility of a good to the consumer of it. As Adam Buick and John Crump +point out, "at the level of the individual production unit or industry, +the only calculations that would be necessary in socialism would be +calculations in kind. On the one side would be recorded the resources +(materials, energy, equipment, labour) used up in production and on the +other the amount of good produced, together with any by-products. . . . +Socialist production is simply the production of use values from use +values, and nothing more" [_State Capitalism: The Wages System Under New +Management_, p. 137]. + +The generation and communication of such information implies a decentralised, +horizontal network between producers and consumers. Therefore, as John O'Neil +notes, "the market may be *one* way in which dispersed knowledge can be put +to good effect. It is not... the only way" [_Ecology, Policy and Politics_, +p. 118] + +So, in order to determine if a specific good is useful to a person, that +person needs to know its "cost." Under capitalism, the notion of cost has +been so associated with *price* that we have to put the word "cost" in +quotation marks. However, the real cost of, say, writing a book, is not a +sum of money but so much paper, so much energy, so much ink, so much human +labour. In order to make a rational decision on whether a given good is +better for meeting a given need than another, the would-be consumer +requires this information. However, under capitalism this information is +*hidden* by the price. + +Therefore, a purely market-based system leaves out information on which to +base rational resource allocations (or, at the very least, hides it). The +reason for this is that a market system measures, at best, preferences of +*individual* buyers among the *available* options. This assumes that all +pertinent use-values that are to be outcomes of production are things that +are to be consumed by the individual, rather than use-values that are +collectively enjoyed (like clean air). In other words, prices hide the +actual costs that production involved for the individual, society, and the +environment, and instead boils everything down into *one* factor, namely +price. There is a lack of dialogue and information between producer and +consumer. As John O'Neil argues, "the market distributes a little +information and. . . blocks the distribution of a great deal [more]. . . +The educative dialogue exists not through the market, but alongside of it" +[_Ecology, Policy and Politics_, p. 143]. + +Lastly, Mises assumes that the market is a rational system. As O'Neil +points out, "Von Mises' earlier arguments against socialist planning +turned on an assumption about commensurability. His central argument was +that rational economic decision-making required a single measure on the +basis of which the worth of alternative states of affairs could be +calculated and compared" [Op. Cit., p. 115]. This central assumption was +unchallenged by Talyor and Lange in their defense of socialism, meaning +that from the start the debate against Von Mises was defensive and based +on the argument that socialist planning could mimic the market and produce +results which were efficient from a capitalist point of view. Thus, no +one challenged Mises' assumptions either about the centrally planned +nature of socialism or about the market being a rational system. Little +wonder that the debate put the state socialists on the defensive. As +their system was little more than state capitalism, it is unlikely they +would attack the fundamentals of capitalism (namely wage labour and +centralisation). + +So, is capitalism rational? Well, it does exist, but that does not prove +that it is rational. The Catholic Church exists, but that shows nothing +about the rationality of the institution. To answer the question, we must +return to our earlier point that using price means basing all decision +making on one criterion and ignoring all others. This has seriously +irrational effects, because the managers of capitalist enterprises are +obliged to choose technical means of production which produce the cheapest +results. All other considerations are subordinate, in particular the +health and welfare of the producers and the effects on the environment. +The harmful effects resulting from "rational" capitalist production +methods have long been pointed out. For example, speed-ups, pain, stress, +accidents, boredom, overwork, long hours and so on all harm the physical +and mental health of those involved, while pollution, the destruction of +the environment, and the exhaustion of non-renewable resources all have +serious effects on both the planet and those who live on it. + +To claim that prices include all these "externalities" is nonsense. If +they did, we would not see capital moving to third-world countries with +few or any anti-pollution or labour laws. At best, the "cost" of pollution +would only be included in price if the company was sued successfully in +court for damages -- in other words, once the damage is done. Ultimately, +companies have a strong interest in buying inputs with the lowest prices, +regardless of *how* they are produced. As Noam Chomsky points out, "[i]n a +true capitalist society, . . . socially responsible behavior would be +penalized quickly in that competitors, lacking such social responsibility, +would supplant anyone so misguided as to be concerned with something other +than private benefit" [_Language and Politics_, pp. 300-1]. It is +reductionist accounting and its accompanying "ethics of mathematics" that +produces the "irrationality of rationality" which plagues capitalism's +exclusive reliance on prices to measure "efficiency." Moreover, the +critique we have just sketched ignores the periodic crises that hit +capitalist industry and economies to produce massive unemployment and +social distruption -- crises that are due to subjective and objective +pressures on the operation of the price mechanism. + +Under communist-anarchism, the decision-making system used to determine +the best use of resources is not more or less "efficient" than market +allocation, because it goes beyond the market-based concept of +"efficiency." It does not seek to replace the market but to do what the +market fails to do. This is important, because the market is not the +rational system its defenders often claim. While reducing all decisions +to one common factor is, without a doubt, an easy method of decision +making, it also has serious side-effects *because* of its reductionistic +basis (as discussed further in the next section). As Einstein once pointed +out, things should be made as simple as possible but not simplistic. The +market makes decision making simplistic and generates a host of +irrationalities and dehumanising effects. + +Sections I.4.4 and I.4.5 discusses one possible framework for a communist +economic decision-making process. Such a framework is necessary because +"an appeal to a necessary role for practical judgements in decision +making is *not* to deny any role to general principles. Neither...does it +deny any place for the use of technical rules and algorithmic +procedures...Moreover, there is a necessary role for rules of thumb, +standard procedures, the default procedures and institutional +arrangements that can be followed unreflectively and which *reduce* the +scope for *explicit* judgements comparing different states of affairs. +There are limits in time, efficient use of resources and the dispersal of +knowledge which require rules and institutions. Such rules and +institutions can fee us for space and time for reflective judgements +where they matter most" [John O'Neil, Op. Cit., pp.117-118]. + +As two libertarian socialists point out, "socialist society still has to +be concerned with using resources efficiently and rationally, but the +criteria of 'efficiency' and 'rationality' are not the same as they are +under capitalism." [Buick and Crump, Op. Cit., p. 137] So, to claim that +communism will be "more" efficient than capitalism misses the point. It +will be "efficient" in a totally different way and people will act in ways +considered "irrational" only under the logic of capitalism. + +I.1.3 What is wrong with markets anyway? + +A lot. Markets soon result in what are termed "market forces," +"impersonal" forces which ensure that the people in the economy do what is +required of them in order for society to function. The market system, in +capitalist apologetics, is presented to appear as a regime of freedom +where no one forces anyone to do anything, where we "freely" exchange with +others as we see fit. However, the facts of the matter are somewhat +different, since the market often ensures that people act in ways +*opposite* to what they desire or forces them to accept "free agreements" +which they may not actually desire. Wage labour is the most obvious +example of this, for, as we indicated in section B.4, most people have +little option but to agree to work for others. + +However, even if we assume a mutualist or market-socialist system of +competing self-managed workplaces, it's clear that market forces would +soon result in many irrationalities occurring. Most obviously, operating +in a market means submitting to the profit criterion. This means that +however much workers might want to employ social criteria, they cannot. To +ignore profitability would cause their firm to go bankrupt. Markets +therefore create conditions that compel workers and consumers to decide +things which are not be in their interest, for example introducing +deskilling or polluting technology, longer hours, and so on. We could also +point to the numerous industrial deaths which are due to market forces +making it unprofitable to introduce adequate safety equipment or working +conditions, (conservative estimates for industrial deaths in the USA are +between 14, 000 and 25, 000 per year plus over 2 million disabled), or to +increased pollution and stress levels which shorten lifespans. + +In addition, a market-based system can result in what we have termed "the +ethics of mathematics," where things (particularly money) become more +important than people. This can have a de-humanising effect, with people +becoming cold-hearted working calculators who put profits before people. +This can be seen in capitalism, where economic decisions are far more +important than ethical ones. Merit does not "necessarily" breed success, +and the successful do not "necessarily" have merit. The truth is that, in +the words of Noam Chomsky, "wealth and power tend to accrue to those who +are ruthless, cunning, avaricious, self-seeking, lacking in sympathy and +compassion, subservient to authority and willing to abandon principle for +material gain, and so on." (Thorstein Veblen elaborated at length on this +theme in _The Leisure Class_, a classic analysis of capitalist +psychology.) A system which elevates making money to the position of the +most important individual activity will obviously result in the degrading +of human values and an increase in neurotic and pyschotic behaviour. + +Any market system is also marked by a continuing need to expand production +and consumption. This means that market forces ensure that work +continually has to expand, causing potentially destructive results for +both people and the planet. Competition ensures that we can never take it +easy, for as Max Stirner argued, "Restless acquistion does not let us take +breath, take a calm *enjoyment*. We do not get the comfort of our +possessions. . . . Hence it is at any rate helpful that we come to an +agreement about *human* labours that they may not, as under competition, +claim all our time and toil" [_The Ego and Its Own_] + +Value needs to be created, and that can only be done by labour. It is +ironic that supporters of capitalism, while usually saying that "work" is +and always will be hell, support an economic system which must continually +expand that "work" (i.e. labour) while deskilling and automating it and +those who do it. Anarchists, in contrast, argue that work need not be +hell, and indeed, that when enriched by skills and self-management, can be +enjoyable. We go further and argue that work need not take all our time +and that *labour* (i.e. unwanted and boring work) can and must be +minimised. Hence, while the "anti-work" capitalist submits humanity to +more and more labour, the anarchist desires the liberation of "work" and +the end of "labour" as a way of life. + +In addition, market decisions are crucially conditioned by the purchasing +power of those income groups that can back their demands with money. The +market is a continuous bidding for goods, resources, and services, with +those who have the most purchasing power the winners. This means that the +market system is the worst one for allocating resources when purchasing +power is unequally distributed. This is why orthodox economists make the +connvenient assumption of a 'given distribution of income' when they try +to show that a market-based allocation of resources is the best one (for +example, "Pareto optimality"). + +With the means of life monopolised by one class, the effects of market +forces and unequal purchasing power can be terrible. As Allan Engler +points out, "[w]hen people are denied access to the means of livelihood, +the invisible hand of market forces does not intervene on their behalf. +Equilibrium between supply and demand has no necessary connection with +human need. For example, assume a country of one million people in which +900,000 are without means of livelihood. One million bushels of wheat are +produced. The entire crop is sold to 100,000 people at $10 a bushel. +Supply and demand are in equilibrium, yet 900,000 people will face +starvation" [_Apostles of Greed_, pp. 50-51]. In case anyone thinks that +this just happens in theory, the example of African countries hit by +famine gives a classic example of this occuring in practice. There, rich +landowners grow cash crops and export food to the developed nations while +millions starve in their own. + +Lastly, there are the distributional consequences of the market system. As +markets inform by 'exit' only -- some products find a market, others do +not -- 'voice' is absent. The operation of 'exit' rather than 'voice' +leaves behind those without power in the marketplace. For example, the +wealthy do not buy food poisoned with additives, the poor consume it. This +means a division grows between two environments: one inhabited by those +with wealth and one inhabited by those without it. As can be seen from the +current capitalist practice of "exporting pollution" to developing +countries, this problem can have serious ecological and social effects. +Far from the market being a "democracy" based on "one dollar, one vote," +it is an oligarchy in which (e.g) the 79,000 Americans who earned the +minimum wage in 1987 have the same "influence" or "vote" as Michael +Milken, who "earned" as much as all of them combined. + +So, for all its talk of "invisible hands" and "individual freedom," +capitalism ignores the actual living individual in the economy and +society. The "individual rights" on which capitalists' base their "free" +system are said to be "man's rights," on what "man needs." But "man," +after all, is only an abstraction, not a real living being. By talking +about "man" and basing "rights" on what this abstraction is said to need, +capitalism and statism ignore the uniqueness of each person and the +conditions required to develop that uniqueness. As Max Stirner pointed +out, "[h]e who is infatuated with *Man* leaves persons out of account so +far as that infatuation exists, and floats in an ideal, sacred interest. +*Man*, you see, is not a person, but an ideal, a spook." [_The Ego and Its +Own_, p. 79] And like all spooks, it requires sacrifice -- the sacrifice +of individuality to hierarchy and authority. + +This anti-individual biases in capitalism can be seen by its top-down +nature and the newspeak used to disguise its reality. For example, there +is what is called "increasing flexibility of the labor market." +"Flexibility" sounds great: rigid structures are unappealing and hardly +suitable for human growth. In reality, as Noam Chomsky points out, +"[f]lexibility means insecurity. It means you go to bed at night and don't +know if you have a job tomorrow morning. That's called flexibility of the +labor market, and any economist can explain that's a good thing for the +economy, where by 'the economy' now we understand profit-making. We don't +mean by 'the economy' the way people live. That's good for the economy, +and temporary jobs increase flexibility. Low wages also increase job +insecurity. They keep inflation low. That's good for people who have +money, say, bondholders. So these all contribute to what's called a +'healthy economy,' meaning one with very high profits. Profits are doing +fine. Corporate profits are zooming. But for most of the population, very +grim circumstances. And grim circumstances, without much prospect of a +future, may lead to constructive social action, but where that's lacking +they express themselves in violence" [_Keeping the Rabble in Line_]. + +This does not mean that social anarchists propose to "ban" the market -- +far from it. This would be impossible. What we do propose is to convince +people that a profit-based market system has distinctly *bad* effects on +individuals, society and the planet's ecology, and that we can organise +our common activity to replace it with libertarian communism. As Max +Stirner argued, "competition. . .has a continued existence. . . [because] +all do not attend to *their* *affair* and come to an *understanding* with +each other about it. . . .Abolishing competition is not equivalent to +favouring the guild. The difference is this: In the *guild* baking, etc., +is the affair of the guild-brothers; in *competition*, the affair of +chance competitors; in the *union*, of those who require baked goods, and +therefore my affair, yours, the affair of neither guildic nor the +concessionary baker, but the affair of the *united*" [_Ego and Its Own_, +p. 275]. + +Therefore, social anarchists do not appeal to "altruism" in their struggle +against the de-humanising effects of the market, but rather, to egoism: +the simple fact that cooperation and mutual aid is in our best interests +as individuals. By cooperating and controlling "the affairs of the +united," we can ensure a free society which is worth living in, one in +which the individual is not crushed by market forces and has time to fully +develop his or her individuality and uniqueness. "Solidarity is therefore +the state of being in which Man attains the greatest degree of security +and wellbeing; and therefore egoism itself, that is the exclusive +consideration of one's own interests, impels Man and human society towards +solidarity" [Errico Malatesta, _Anarchy_, p. 28]. + +I.1.4 If capitalism is exploitative, then isn't socialism as well? + +Some "Libertarian" capitalists say yes to this question, arguing that the +labour theory of value (LTV) does not imply socialism but what they call +"self-managed" capitalism. This, however, is not a valid inference. The +LTV can imply both socialism (selling the product of ones labour) and +communism (distribution according to needs). The theory is a critique of +capitalism, not necessarily the basis of a socialist economy, although it +*can* be considered this as well. For example, Proudhon used the LTV as +the foundation of his proposals for mutual banking and cooperatives, while +Robert Owen used it as the basis of his system of labour notes. Though a +system of cooperative selling on the market or exchanging labour-time +values would not be communism, it is *not* capitalism, because the workers +are not separated from the means of production. Therefore, right +libertarians' attempts to claim that it is capitalism are false, an +example of misinformed insistence that virtually *every* economic system, +bar state socialism and feudalism, is capitalist. Some libertarian +Marxists claim, similarly, that non-communist forms of socialism are just +"self-managed" capitalism. Why libertarian Marxists desire to reduce the +choices facing humanity to either communism some form of capitalism is +frankly strange, but also understandable because of the potential +dehumanising effects of market systems seen under capitalism. + +However, it could be argued that communism (based on free access and +communal ownership of resources) would mean that workers are exploited by +non-workers (the young, the sick, the elderly and so on). While this may +reflect the sad lack of personal empathy (and so ethics) of the +pro-capitalist defenders of this argument, it totally misses the point as +far as communist anarchism goes. This is because "anarchist communism . . . +means voluntary communism, communism from free choice" [A. Berkman, _ABC +of Anarchism_, p. 11], which means it is not imposed on anyone but is created +and practiced only by those who believe in it. Therefore it would be up +to the communities and syndicates to decide how they wish to distribute +the products of their labour. Some may decide on equal pay, others on +payment in terms of labour time, yet others on communistic associations. +We have indicated elsewhere why communism would be in people's +self-interest, so we will not repeat ourselves here. The important thing +to realise is that cooperatives will decide what to do with their output, +whether to exchange it or to distribute it freely. Hence, because it is +based on free agreement, anarchist communism cannot be exploitative. +Members of a cooperative which is communistic are free to leave, after +all. Needless to say, the cooperatives will usually distribute their +product to others within their confederation and exchange with the +non-communist ones in a different manner. We say "usually," for in the +case of emergencies like earthquakes and so forth the situation would call +for mutual aid. + +The reason why capitalism is exploitative is that workers *have* to agree +to give the product of their labour to another (the boss) in order to be +employed in the first place (see section B.4). Capitalists would not remain +capitalists if their capital did not produce a profit. In libertarian +communism, by contrast, the workers themselves agree to distribute part of +their product to others (i.e. society as a whole, their neightbours, +friends, and so forth). It is based on free agreement, while capitalism +is marked by power, authority, and the firm hand of market forces. Similiarly, +capitalism by its very nature, needs to expand into new areas, meaning +that unlike socialism, it will attempt to undermine and replace other +social systems (usually by force, if history is any guide). As freedom +cannot be given, there is no reason for a libertarian-socialist system to +expand beyond the effect of a "good example" on the oppressed of +capitalist regimes. + +I.2 Is this a blueprint for an anarchist society? + +No, far from it. There can be no such thing as a "blueprint" for a free +society. All we can do here is indicate those general features that we +believe a free society *must* have in order to qualify as truly libertarian. +For example, a society based on hierarchical management in the workplace +(like capitalism) would not be libertarian, nor would it remain anarchist +for long, as private or public states would soon develop to protect the +power of those in the top hierarchical positions. Beyond such general +considerations, however, the specifics of how to structure a +non-hierarchical workplace must remain open for discussion and +experimentation. + +So, this section of the anarchist FAQ should not be regarded as a detailed +plan. Anarchists have always been reticent about spelling out their +vision of the future in too much detail. For it would be contrary to +anarchist principles to dogmatise about the precise forms the new society +must take. Free people will create their own alternative institutions in +response to conditions specific to their area, and it would be +presumptuous of us to attempt to set forth universal policies in advance. +Not only that, given the ways in which our own unfree society has shaped +our ways of thinking, it's probably impossible for us to imagine what new +forms will arise once humanity's ingenuity and creativity is unleashed by +the removal of its present authoritarian fetters. + +Nevertheless, anarchists have been willing to specify some broad +principles indicating the general framework within which they expect the +institutions of the new society to grow. It is important to emphasize that +these principles are not the arbitrary creations of intellectuals in ivory +towers. Rather, they are based on the actual political and economic +structures that have arisen *spontaneously* whenever the working class has +attempted to throw off its chains during eras of heightened revolutionary +activity, such as the Paris Commune, the Spanish Revolution, and the +Hungarian uprising of 1956, to name a few. Thus, for example, it is clear +that democratic workers' councils are basic libertarian-socialist forms, +since they have appeared during all revolutionary periods -- a fact that +is not surprising considering that they are rooted in traditions of +communal labor, shared resources, and participatory decision making that +stretch back tens of thousands of years, from the clans and tribes of +prehistoric times through the "barbarian" agrarian village of the +post-Roman world to the free medieval city, as Kropotkin documents in his +classic study _Mutual Aid_. + +So, when reading these sections, please remember that this is just an +attempt to sketch the outline of a possible future. It is in no way an +attempt to determine *exactly* what a free society would be like, for such +a free society will be the result of the actions of all of society, not +just anarchists. As Malatesta argues, "[no] one can judge with certainty who +is right and who is wrong, who is nearest to the truth, or which is the +best way to achieve the greatest good for each and everyone. Freedom, +coupled by experience, is the only way of discovering the truth and what +is best; and there is no freedom if there is a denial of the freedom to +err" [_Malatesta: Life and Ideas_, p. 49] + +I.2.1 Why discuss what an anarchist society would be like at all? + +Partly, in order to indicate why people should become anarchists. Most +people do not like making jumps in the dark, so an indication of what +anarchists think a desirable society would look like may help those people +who are attracted intellectually by anarchism, inspiring them to become +committed as well to its practical realization. Partly, it's a case +of learning from past mistakes. There have been numerous anarchistic +social experiments on varying scales, and its useful to understand what +happened, what worked and what did not. In that way, hopefully, we will +not make the same mistakes twice. + +However, the most important reason for discussing what an anarchist +society would look like is to ensure that the creation of such a society +is the action of as many people as possible. As Errico Malatesta indicated +in the middle of the Italian "Two Red Years" (see section A.5.5), "either +we all apply our minds to thinking about social reorganisation, and right +away, at the very same moment that the old structures are being swept +away, and we shall have a more humane and more just society, open to +future advances, or we shall leave such matters to the 'leaders' and we +shall have a new government." [_The Anarchist Revolution_, p. 69] + +Hence the importance of discussing what the future will be like in the +here and now. The more people who have a fairly clear idea of what a free +society would look like, the easier it will be to create that society and +ensure that no important matters are left to the "leaders" to decide for +us. The example of the Spanish Revolution comes to mind. For many years +before 1936, the CNT and FAI put out publications discussing what an +anarchist society would look like (for example, _After the Revolution by +Diego Abel de Santallian and _Libertarian Communism_ by Isaac Puente]. In +fact, anarchists had been organising and educating in Spain for almost +seventy years before the revolution. When it finally occurred, the +millions of people who participated already shared a similar vision +and started to build a society based on it, thus learning firsthand where +their books were wrong and which areas of life they did not adequately +cover. + +So, this discussion of what an anarchist society might look like is not a +drawing up of blueprints, nor is it an attempt to force the future into +the shapes created in past revolts. It is purely and simply an attempt to +start people discussing what a free society would be like and to learn +from previous experiments. However, as anarchists recognise the +importance of building the new world in the shell of the old, our ideas of +what a free society would be like can feed into how we organise and +struggle today. And vice versa; for how we organise and struggle today +will have an impact on the future. + +As Malatesta pointed out, such discussions are necessary and essential, +for "[i]t is absurd to believe that, once government has been destroyed +and the capitalists expropriated, 'things will look after themselves' +without the intervention of those who already have an idea on what has to +be done and who immediately set about doing it. . . . [for] social life, +as the life of individual's, does not permit of interruption" [Op. Cit., +p. 121] + +We hope that this Section of the FAQ, in its own small way, will encourage +as many people as possible to discuss what a libertarian society would be +like and use that discussion to bring it closer. + +I.2.2 Will it be possible to go straight to an anarchist society from +capitalism? + +Possibly. It depends on the social situation and what anarchists you +ask. For example, Bakunin and other collectivists have doubted the +possibility of introducing a communistic system instantly after a +revolution. Some anarchists, like the individualists, do not support the +idea of revolution and instead see anarchist alternatives growing within +capitalism and slowly replacing it. For Kropotkin and many other +anarcho-communists, communistic anarchy can, and must, be introduced at +once in order to ensure a successful revolution. + +One thing that all anarchists do agree on is that it's essential for both +the state and capitalism to be undermined as quickly as possible. It is +true that, in the course of social revolution, we anarchists may not be able +to stop a new state being created or the old one from surviving. It all depends +on the balance of support for anarchist ideas in the population and how +willing people are to introduce them. There is no doubt, though, that for +a social revolt to be fully anarchist, the state and capitalism must be +destroyed and new forms of oppression and exploitation not put in their +place. + +Most anarchists, however, agree that an anarchist society cannot be +created overnight, for to assume so would be to imagine that anarchists +could enforce their ideas on a pliable population. Libertarian socialism +can only be created from below, by people who want it and understand it, +organising and liberating themselves. The results of the Russian +Revolution should have cleared away long ago any contrary illusions about +how to create "socialist" societies. The lesson from every revolution is +that the mistakes made by people in liberating themselves are always +minor compared to the results of creating authorities, who eliminate such +"ideological errors" by destroying the freedom to make mistakes. For +freedom is the only real basis on which socialism can be built. + +Therefore, most anarchists would support Malatesta's claim that "[t]o +organise a [libertarian] communist society on a large scale it would be +necessary to transform all economic life radically, such as methods of +production, of exchange and consumption; and all this could not be +achieved other than gradually, as the objective circumstances permitted +and to the extent that the masses understood what advantages could be +gained and were able to act for themselves" [_Malatesta: Life and Ideas_, +p. 36] + +One thing is certain: an anarchist social revolution or mass movement +will need to defend itself against attempts by statists and capitalists to +defeat it. Every popular movement, revolt, or revolution has had to face a +backlash from the supporters of the status quo. An anarchist revolution or +mass movement will face (and indeed has faced) such counter-movements. + +However, this does not mean that the destruction of the state and +capitalism need be put off until after the forces of reaction are defeated +(as Marxists usually claim). A social revolution can only be defended by +anti-statist means, for example arming the people and organising popular +militias, as the Mexican, Ukrainian, and Spanish anarchists did. + +So, given an anarchist revolution which destroys the state, the type and +nature of the economic system created by it will depend on local +circumstances and the level of awareness in society. The individualists +are correct in the sense that what we do now will determine how the future +develops. Obviously, any "transition period" starts in the *here and now,* +as this helps determine the future. Thus, while social anarchists usually +reject the idea that capitalism can be reformed away, we agree with the +individualists that it is essential for anarchists to be active today in +constructing the ideas, ideals and new liberatory institutions of the +future society within the current one. The notion of waiting for the +"glorious day" of total revolution is not one held by anarchists. + +Thus, all the positions outlined at the start of this section have a grain +of truth in them. This is because, as Malatesta put it, "We are, in any +case, only one of the forces acting in society, and history will advance, +as always, in the direction of the resultant of all the [social] forces." +[_Malatesta: Life and Ideas_. p. 109] This means that different areas will +experiment in different ways, depending on the level of awareness which +exists there -- as would be expected in a free society which is created by +the mass of the people. + +Ultimately, the most we can say about the timing and necessary conditions +of revolution is that an anarchist society can only come about once people +liberate themselves (and this implies an ethical and psychological +transformation), but that this does not mean that people need to be +"perfect" nor that an anarchist society will come about "overnight," +without a period of self-activity by which individuals reshape and change +themselves as they are reshaping and changing the world about them. + +I.3 What could the economic structure of anarchy look like? + +Here we will examine a possible framework of a libertarian-socialist +economy. It should be kept in mind that in practice it is impossible to +separate the economic realm from the social and political realms, as there +are numerous interconnections between them. Also, by discussing the +economy first we are not implying that dealing with economic domination is +more important than dealing with other aspects of the total system of +domination, e.g. patricentric values, racism, etc. We follow this order of +exposition because of the need to present one thing at a time, but it +would have been equally easy to start with the social and political +structure of anarchy. + +The aim of any anarchist society would be to maximize freedom and so +creative work. In the words of Noam Chomsky, "[i]f it is correct, as I +believe it is, that a fundamental element of human nature is the need for +creative work or creative inquiry, for free creation without the arbitrary +limiting effects of coercive institutions, then of course it will follow +that a decent society should maximize the possibilities for this fundamental +human characteristic to be realized. Now, a federated, decentralized system +of free associations incorporating economic as well as social institutions +would be what I refer to as anarcho-syndicalism. And it seems to me that +it is the appropriate form of social organization for an advanced +technological society, in which human beings do not have to be forced +into the position of tools, of cogs in a machine." + +So, as one might expect, since the essence of anarchism is opposition to +hierarchical authority, anarchists totally oppose the way the current +economy is organised. This is because authority in the economic sphere is +embodied in centralized, hierarchical workplaces that give an elite class +(capitalists) dictatorial control over privately owned means of production, +turning the majority of the population into order takers (i.e. wage slaves). +In constrast, the libertarian-socialist "economy" will be based on +decentralized, equalitarian workplaces ("syndicates") in which workers +democratically self-manage *socially* owned means of production. Let's +begin with the concept of syndicates. + +The key principles of libertarian socialism are decentralization, +self-management by direct democracy, voluntary association, and +federation. These principles determine the form and function of both +the economic and political systems. In this section we'll consider just the +economic system. Bakunin gives an excellent overview of such an economy +when he writes: "The land belongs to only those who cultivate it with +their own hands; to the agricultural communes. The capital and all the +tools of production belong to the workers; to the workers' associations +. . . The future political organisation should be a free federation of +workers." [_Bakunin on Anarchy_, p. 247] + +The essential economic concept for libertarian socialists is *workers' +control.* However, this concept needs careful explanation, because, like +the terms "anarchist" and "libertarian," "workers' control" is also is +being co-opted by capitalists. + +As anarchists use the term, workers' control means collective worker +ownership and self-management of all aspects of production and distribution, +through participatory-democratic workers' councils, agricultural syndicates, +and people's financial institutions which perform all functions formerly +reserved for capitalist owners, executives, and financiers. + +"Workers' ownership" in its most limited sense refers merely to the +ownership of individual firms by their workers. In such firms, surpluses +(profits) would be either equally divided between all full-time members of +the cooperative or divided unequally on the basis of the type of work +done, with the percentages allotted to each type being decided by +democratic vote, on the principle of one worker, one vote. + +Worker cooperatives of this type do have the virtue of preventing the +exploitation of wage labor by capital, since workers are not hired for +wages but, in effect, become partners in the firm, so that the value-added +that they produce is not appropriated by a privileged elite. However, this +does not mean that all forms of economic domination and exploitation would +be eliminated if worker ownership were confined merely to individual +firms. In fact, most social anarchists believe this type of system would +degenerate into a kind of "petty-bourgeois cooperativism" in which +worker-owned firms would act as syndicate capitalists and compete against +each other in the market as ferociously as the previously individual +capitalists. This would also lead to a situation where market forces +ensured that the workers involved made irrational decisions (from both +a social and individual point of view) in order to survive in the market. +As these problems were highlighted in section I.1.3 (What's wrong with +markets anyway?), we will not repeat ourselves here. + +For individualist anarchists, this "irrationality of rationality" is the +price to be paid for a free market and any attempt to overcome this +problem holds numerous dangers to freedom. + +Social anarchists disagree. They think cooperation between workplaces can +increase, not reduce, freedom. Social anarchists' proposed solution is +*society-wide* ownership of the major means of production and distribution, +based on the anarchist principle of voluntary federation, with confederal +bodies or coordinating councils at two levels: first, between all firms in +a particular industry; and second, between all industries, agricultural +syndicates, and people's financial institutions throughout the society. +As Berkman put it, "[a]ctual use will be considered the only title - not to +ownership but to possession. The organisation of the coal miners, for example, +will be in charge of the coal mines, not as owners but as the operating +agency. Similarly will the railroad brotherhoods run the railroads, and so +on. Collective possession, co-operatively managed in the interests of the +community, will take the place of personal ownership privately conducted +for profit." [_ABC of Anarchism_, p. 69] + +While, for many anarcho-syndicalists, this structure is seen as enough, +many communist-anarchists consider that the economic federation should be +held accountable to society as a whole (i.e. the economy must be +communalised). This is because not everyone in society is a worker (e.g. +the young, the old and infirm) nor will everyone belong to a syndicate +(e.g. the self-employed), but as they also have to live with the results of +economic decisions, they should have a say in what happens. In other +words, in communist-anarchism, workers make the day-to-day decisions +concerning their work and workplaces, while the social criteria behind +these decisions are made by everyone. + +In this type of economic system, workers' assemblies and councils would be +the focal point, formulating policies for their individual workplaces and +deliberating on industry-wide or economy-wide issues though general +meetings of the whole workforce in which everyone would participate in +decision making. Voting in the councils would be direct, whereas in larger +confederal bodies, voting would be carried out by temporary, unpaid, +mandated, and instantly recallable delegates, who would resume their +status as ordinary workers as soon as their mandate had been carried out. + +"Mandated" here means that delegates from workers' councils to meetings +of higher confederal bodies would be instructed, at every level of +confederation, by the workers they represent on how to deal with any +issue. The delegates would be given imperative mandates (binding +instructions) that committed them to a framework of policies within which +they would have to act, and they could be recalled and their decisions +revoked at any time for failing to carry out the mandates they were given. +Because of this right of mandating and recalling their delegates, workers' +councils would be the source of and final authority over policy for all +higher levels of confederal coordination of the economy. + +A society-wide economic federation of this sort is clearly not the same +thing as a centralized state agency, as in the concept of nationalized or +state-owned industry. Rather, it is a decentralized, participatory-democratic +organization whose members can secede at any time and in which all power and +initiative arises from and flows back to the grassroots level. Thus +Kropotkin's summary of what anarchy would look like: + +"harmony in such a society being obtained, not by submission to law, or by +obedience to any authority, but by free agreements concluded between the +various groups, territorial and professional, freely constituted for the +sake of production and consumption, as also for the satisfaction of the +infinite variety of needs and aspirations of a civilized being. In a society +developed on these lines. . . voluntary associations. . . would represent +an interwoven network, composed of an infinite variety of groups and +federations of all sizes and degrees, local, regional, national and +international temporary or more or less permanent - for all possible +purposes: production, consumption and exchange, communications, sanitary +arrangements, education, mutual protection, defence of the territory, and so +on; and, on the other side, for the satisfaction of an ever-increasing +number of scientific, artistic, literary and sociable needs. Moreover, such +a society would represent nothing immutable. On the contrary - as is seen in +organic life at large - harmony would (it is contended) result from an +ever-changing adjustment and readjustment of equilibrium between the +multitudes of forces and influences, and this adjustment would be the easier +to obtain as none of the forces would enjoy a special protection from the +state." ["Anarchism", from _The Encyclopaedia Britannica_, 1910] + +If this type of system sounds "utopian" it should be kept in mind that it +was actually implemented and worked quite well in the collectivist economy +organized during the Spanish Revolution of 1936, despite the enormous +obstacles presented by an ongoing civil war as well as the relentless +(and eventually successful) efforts of both the Stalinists and Fascists +to crush it. (See Sam Dolgoff, _The Anarchist Collectives: Workers' +Self-management in the Spanish Revolution, 1936-1939_, New York: +Free Life Editions, 1974). + +As well as this (and other) examples of "anarchy in action" there have been +other libertarian socialist economic systems described in writing. All share +the common features of workers' self-management, cooperation and +so on we discuss here and in section I.4. These texts include _Syndicalism_ +by Tom Brown, _The Program of Anarcho-Syndicalism_ by G.P. Maximoff, _Guild +Socialism Restated_ by G.D.H. Cole, _After the Revolution_ by Abad de +Santillan, _Anarchist Economics_ and _Principles of Libertarian Economy_ +by Abraham Guillen, _Workers Councils and the Economics of a Self-Managed +Society_ by Cornelius Castoriadis among others. Also worth reading are +_The Political Economy of Participatory Economics_ and _Looking Forward_ +by Micheal Albert and Robin Hanel which contain some useful ideas. Fictional accounts include William Morris' _News from Nowhere_, _The Dispossessed_ by +Ursula Le Guin and _Women on the Edge of Time_ by Marge Piercy. + +I.3.1 What is a "syndicate"? + +As we will use the term, a "syndicate" (often called a "producer +cooperative," or "cooperative" for short, sometimes "collective" or +"association of producers" or "guild factory" or "guild workplace") is a +democratically self-managed productive enterprise whose productive assets +are either owned by its workers or by society as a whole. + +It is important to note that individuals who do not wish to join syndicates +will be able to work for themselves. There is no "forced collectivization" +under *any* form of libertarian socialism, because coercing people is +incompatible with the basic principles of anarchism. Those who wish to be +self-employed will have free access to the productive assets they need, +provided that they neither attempt to monopolize more of those assets +than they and their families can use by themselves nor attempt to employ +others for wages (see section I.3.7). + +In many ways a syndicate is similar to a cooperative under capitalism. +Indeed, Bakunin argued that anarchists are "convinced that the cooperative +will be the preponderant form of social organisation in the future, in +every branch of labour and science" [_Basic Bakunin_, p. 153]. Therefore, +even from the limited examples of cooperatives functioning in the +capitalist market, the essential features of a libertarian socialist +economy can be seen. The basic economic element, the workplace, will be a +free association of individuals, who will organise their joint work +cooperatively. + +"Cooperation" in this context means that the policy decisions related to +their association will be based on the principle of "one member, one +vote," with "managers" and other administrative staff elected and held +accountable to the workplace as a whole. Workplace self-management does +not mean, as many apologists of capitalism suggest, that knowledge and +skill will be ignored and *all* decisions made by everyone. + +This is an obvious fallacy, since engineers, for example, have a greater +understanding of their work than non-engineers and under workers' +self-management will control it directly. As G.D.H. Cole argues, "we must +understand clearly wherein this Guild democracy consists, and especially +how it bears on relations between different classes of workers included in +a single Guild. For since a Guild includes *all* the workers by hand and +brain engaged in a common service, it is clear that there will be among +its members very wide divergences of function, of technical skill, and of +administrative authority. Neither the Guild as a whole nor the Guild +factory can determine all issues by the expedient of the mass vote, nor +can Guild democracy mean that, on all questions, each member is to count +as one and none more than one. A mass vote on a matter of technique +understood only by a few experts would be a manifest absurdity, and, even +if the element of technique is left out of account, a factory administered +by constant mass votes would be neither efficient nor at all a pleasant +place to work in. There will be in the Guilds technicians occupying +special positions by virtue of their knowledge, and there will be +administrators possessing special authority by virtue both of skill an +ability and of personal qualifications" [G.D.H. Cole, _Guild Socialism +Restated_, pp. 50-51] + +The fact that decision-making powers would be delegated in this manner +sometimes leads people to ask whether a syndicate would not just be +another form of hierarchy. The answer is that it would not be +hierarchical because the workers' councils, open to all workers, would +decide what types of decision-making powers to delegate, thus ensuring +that ultimate power rests at the mass base. For example, if it turned out +that a certain type of delegated decision-making power was being abused, +it could be revoked by the whole workforce. Because of this grassroots +control, there is every reason to think that crucial types of +decision-making powers with the potential for seriously affecting all +workers' lives -- powers that are now exercised in an authoritarian manner +by managers under capitalism, such as those of hiring and firing, introducing +new production methods or technologies, changing product lines, relocating +production facilities, etc. -- would not be delegated but would remain +with the workers' assemblies. + +As Malatesta put it, "of course in every large collective undertaking, a +division of labour, technical management, administration, etc. is +necessary. But authoritarians clumsily play on words to produce a *raison +d'etre for government out of the very real need for the organisation of +work. . . [However] Government means the delegation of power, that is the +abdication of initiative and sovereignty of all into the hands of a few; +administration means the delegation of work, that is tasks given and +received, free exchange of services based on free agreement. . .let one +not confuse the function of government with that of an administration, for +they are essentially different, and if today the two are often confused, +it is only because of economic and political privilege" [_Anarchy_, pp. +39-40]. + +New syndicates will be created upon the initiative of individuals within +communities. These may be the initiative of workers in an existing +syndicate who desire to expand production, or members of the local +community who see that the current syndicates are not providing adequately +in a specific area of life. Either way, the syndicate will be a voluntary +association for producing useful goods or services and would spring up +and disappear as required. Therefore, an anarchist society would see +syndicates developing spontaneously as individuals freely associate to +meet their needs, with both local and confederal initatives taking place. +(The criteria for investment decisions is discussed in section I.4.7). + +What about entry into a syndicate? In the words of Cole, workers syndicates +are "open associations which any man [or woman] may join" but "this does not +mean, of course, that any person will be able to claim admission, as an +absolute right, into the guild of his choice." [Op. Cit., p. 75] This means +that there may be training requirements (for example) and obviously "a man +[or woman] clearly cannot get into a Guild [i.e. syndicate] unless it needs +fresh recruits for its work. [The worker] will have free choice, but only +of the available openings." [Ibid.] Obviously, as in any society, an +individual may not be able to pursue the work they are most interested +(although given the nature of an anarchist society they would have the +free time to pursue it as a hobby). However, we can imagine that an anarchist +society would take an interest in ensuring a fair distribution of work and +so would try to arrange work sharing if a given work placement is popular. + +Of course there may be the danger of a syndicate or guild trying to +restrict entry from an ulterior motive. The ulterior motive would, of +course, be the exploitation of monopoly power vis-a-vis other groups in +society. However, in an anarchist society individuals would be free to +form their own syndicates and so ensure that such activity is self-defeating. +In addition, in a non-mutualist anarchist system, syndicates would be part +of a confederation (see section I.3.4). It is a responsibility of the +inter-syndicate congresses to assure that membership and employment in the +syndicates is not restricted in any antisocial way. If an individual or +group of individuals felt that they had been unfairly excluded from a +syndicate then an investigation into the case would be organised at the +congress. In this way any attempts to restrict entry would be reduced +(assuming they occured to begin with). And, of course, individuals are +free to form new syndicates or leave the confederation if they so desire +(see section I.4.13 on the question of who will do unpleasant work in +an anarchist society). + +To sum up, syndicates are voluntary associations of workers who manage +their workplace and their own work. Within the syndicate, the decisions +which affect how the workplace develops and changes are in the hands of +those who work there. In addition, it means that each section of the +workforce manages its own activity and sections and that all workers +placed in administration tasks (i.e. "management") are subject to election +and recall by those who are affected by their decisions. (Workers' +self-management is discussed further in section I.3.2 "What is +workers' self-management?"). + +I.3.2 What is workers' self-management? + +Quite simply, workers' self-management (sometimes called "workers' +control") means that all workers affected by a decision have an equal +voice in making it, on the principle of "one worker, one vote." As noted +earlier, however, we need to be careful when using the term "workers' +control," as the concept is currently being co-opted by the ruling elite, +which is to say that it is becoming popular among sociologists, industrial +managers, and social-democratic union leaders, and so is taking on an +entirely different meaning from the one intended by anarchists (who +originated the term). + +In the hands of capitalists, "workers' control" is now referred to by such +terms as "participation," "democratization," "co-determination," +"consensus," "empowerment", "Japanese-style management," etc. As Sam +Dolgoff notes, "For those whose function it is solve the new problems of +boredom and alienation in the workplace in advanced industrial capitalism, +workers' control is seen as a hopeful solution. . . . a solution in which +workers are given a modicum of influence, a strictly limited area of +decision-making power, a voice at best secondary in the control of +conditions of the workplace. Workers' control, in a limited form +sanctioned by the capitalists, is held to be the answer to the growing +non-economic demands of the workers" ["Workers' Control" in _The +Anarchist Collectives_, ed. Sam Dolgoff, Free Life Editions, 1974, p. +81]. + +The new managerial fad of "quality circles" -- meetings where workers are +encouraged to contribute their ideas on how to improve the company's +product and increase the efficiency with which it is made -- is an example +of "workers' control" as conceived by capitalists. However, when it comes +to questions such as what products to make, where to make them, and +(especially) how revenues from sales should be divided among the workforce +and invested, capitalists and managers don't ask for or listen to +workers' "input." So much for "democratization," "empowerment," and +"participation!" In reality, capitalistic "workers control" is merely an +another insidious attempt to make workers more willing and "cooperative" +partners in their own exploitation. + +Hence we prefer the term "workers' self-management" -- a concept which +refers to the exercise of workers' power through collectivization and +federation (see below). Self-management in this sense "is not a new form +of mediation between the workers and their capitalist bosses, but instead +refers to the very process by which the workers themselves *overthrow* +their managers and take on their own management and the management of +production in their own workplace. Self-management means the organization +of all workers . . . into a workers' council or factory committee (or +agricultural syndicate), which makes all the decisions formerly made by +the owners and managers" [Ibid., p. 81]. + +Therefore workers' self-management is based around general meetings of the +whole workforce, held regularly in every industrial or agricultural syndicate. +These are the source of and final authority over decisions affecting policy +within the workplace as well as relations with other syndicates. These +meeting elect workplace councils whose job is to implement the decisions of +these assemblies and to make the day to day administration decisions that +will crop up. These councils are directly accountable to the workforce and +its members subject to re-election and instant recall. It is also likely +that membership of these councils will be rotated between all members of +the syndicate to ensure that no one monopolises an administrative position. +In addition, smaller councils and assemblies would be organised for +divisions, units and work teams as circumstances dictate. + +It is the face-to-face meetings that bring workers directly into the +management process and give them power over the economic decisions that +affect their lives. In social anarchism, since the means of production are +owned by society as a whole, decisions on matters like how to apportion the +existing means of production among the syndicates, how to distribute and +reinvest the surpluses, etc. will be made by the grassroots *social* +units, i.e. the community assemblies (see section I.5.2), not by the workers' councils. This does not mean that workers will have no voice in decisions +about such matters, but only that they will vote on them as citizens in their +local community assemblies, not as workers in their local syndicates. As +mentioned before, this is because not everyone will belong to a syndicate, +yet everyone will still be affected by economic decisions of the above type. +This is an example of how the social/political and economic structures of +social anarchy are intertwined. + +I.3.3 What role do syndicates play in the "economy"? + +As we have seen, private ownership of the means of production is the +lynchpin of capitalism, because it is the means by which capitalists are +able to exploit workers by appropriating surplus value from them. To +eliminate such exploitation, anarchists propose that social capital -- +productive assets such as factories and farmland -- be owned by society as +a whole and shared out among syndicates and self-employed individuals by +directly democratic methods, through face-to-face voting of the whole +electorate in local neighbourhood and community assemblies, which will be +linked together through voluntary federations. It does *not* mean that the +state owns the means of production, as under Marxism-Leninism or social +democracy, because there is no state under libertarian socialism. (For +more on neighbourhood and community assemblies, see sections I.5.2 and +I.5.3). + +Production for use rather than profit is the key concept that +distinguishes collectivist and communist forms of anarchism from market +socialism or from the competitive forms of mutualism advocated by +Proudhon and the individualist anarchists. Under mutualism, workers +organize themselves into syndicates, but ownership of a syndicate's +capital is limited to its workers rather than resting with the whole +society. Under most versions of market socialism, the state owns the +social capital but the syndicates use it to pursue profits, which are +retained by and divided among the members of the individual syndicates. +Thus both mutualism and market socialism are forms of "bourgeois +cooperativism" in which the worker-owners of the cooperatives function +as collective "capitalists", competing in the marketplace with other +cooperatives for customers, profits, raw materials, etc. -- a situation +that gives rise to many of the same problems that arise under capitalism +(see section H.4). + +In contrast, within anarcho-collectivism and anarcho-communism, society +as a whole owns the social capital, which allows for the elimination of +both competition for profits and the tendency for workers to develop a +proprietary interest the enterprises in which they work. This in turn +enables goods to be either sold at their production prices so as to +reduce their cost to consumers or distributed in accordance with +communist principles (namely free); it facilitates efficiency gains +through the consolidation of formerly competing enterprises; and it +eliminates the many problems due to the predatory nature of capitalist +competition, including the destruction of the environment through the +"grow or die" principle, the development of oligopolies from capital +concentration and centralization, and the business cycle, with its +periodic recessions and depressions. + +For social anarchists, therefore, libertarian socialism is based on +decentralised decision making within the framework of communally-owned but +independently-run and worker-self-managed syndicates (or cooperatives). + +In other words, the economy is communalised, with land and the means of +production being turned into communal "property." The community +determines the social and ecological framework for production while the +workforce makes the day-to-day decisions about what to produce and how to +do it. This is because a system based purely on workplace assemblies +effectively disenfranchises those individuals who do not work but live with +the effects of production (e.g., ecological disruption). In Howard Harkins' +words, "the difference between workplace and community assemblies is that +the internal dynamic of direct democracy in communities gives a hearing to +solutions that bring out the common ground and, when there is not +consensus, an equal vote to every member of the community." ["Community +Control, Workers' Control and the Cooperative Commonwealth", pp. 55-83, +_Society and Nature_ No. 3, p. 69] + +This means that when a workplace joins a confederation, that workplace is +communalised as well as confederated. In this way, workers' control is +placed within the broader context of the community, becoming an aspect of +community control. This does not that workers' do not control what they +do or how they do it. Rather, it means that the framework within which +they make their decisions is determined by the community. For example, +the local community may decide that production should maximise recycling +and minimise pollution, and workers informed of this decision make +investment and production decisions accordingly. In addition, consumer +groups and cooperatives may be given a voice in the confederal congresses +of syndicates or even in the individual workplaces (although it would +be up to local communities to decide whether this would be practical or +not). + +Given the general principle of social ownership and the absence of a +state, there is considerable leeway regarding the specific forms that +collectivization might take -- for example, in regard to methods of +surplus distribution, the use or non-use of money, etc. -- as can be seen +by the different systems worked out in various areas of Spain during the +Revolution of 1936-39 (as described, for example, in Sam Dolgoff's _The +Anarchist Collectives_). + +Nevertheless, democracy is undermined when some communities are poor +while others are wealthy. Therefore the method of surplus distribution must +insure that all communities have an adequate share of pooled revenues and +resources held at higher levels of confederation as well as guaranteed +minimum levels of public services and provisions to meet basic human needs. + +I.3.4 What relations would exist between individual syndicates? + +Just as individuals associate together to work on and overcome common +problems, so would syndicates. Few, if any workplaces are totally +independent of others, but require raw materials as inputs and consumers +for their products. Therefore there will be links between different +syndicates. These links are twofold: firstly, free agreements between +individual syndicates, and secondly, confederations of syndicates (within +branches of industry and regionally). Let's consider free agreement +first. + +Anarchists recognise the importance of letting people organise their own +lives. This means that they reject central planning and instead urge +direct links between workers' associations. Those directly involved in +production know their needs far better than any bureaucrat. Therefore +anarchists think that "[i]n the same way that each free individual has +associated with his brothers [and sisters!] to produce . . .all that was +necessary for life, driven by no other force than his desire for the full +enjoyment of life, so each institution is free and self-contained, and +cooperates and enters into agreements with others because by so doing it +extends its own possibilities." [George Barret, _The Anarchist +Revolution_, p. 18] An example of one such agreement would be orders for +products and services. + +This suggests a decentralised economy -- even more decentralised than +capitalism (which is "decentralized" only in capitalist mythology, as shown +by big business and transnational corporations, for example) -- one +"growing ever more closely bound together and interwoven by free and +mutual agreements." [Ibid., p. 18] For social anarchists, this would take +the form of "free exchange without the medium of money and without profit, +on the basis of requirement and the supply at hand." [Alexander Berkman, +_ABC of Anarchism_, p. 69] + +Therefore, an anarchist economy would be based on spontaneous order as +workers practiced mutual aid and free association. The anarchist economy +"starts from below, not from above. Like an organism, this free society grows +into being from the simple unit up to the complex structure. The need +for . . . the individual struggle for life . . . is . . .sufficient to set +the whole complex social machinery in motion. Society is the result of the +individual struggle for existence; it is not, as many suppose, opposed to +it." [G. Barret, Op. Cit., p. 18] + +In other words, "[t]his factory of ours is, then, to the fullest extent +consistent with the character of its service, a self-governing unit, managing +its own productive operations, and free to experiment to the heart's content +in new methods, to develop new styles and products. . . This autonomy of +the factory is the safeguard. . . against the dead level of medicocrity, +the more than adequate substitute for the variety which the competitive +motive was once supposed to stimulate, the guarantee of liveliness, and +of individual work and workmanship." [G.D.H. Cole, _Guild Socialism +Restated_, p. 59] + +This brings us to the second form of relationships between syndicates, +namely confederations of syndicates. If individual or syndicate +activities spread beyond their initial locality, they would probably +reach a scale at which they would need to constitute a confederation. +At this scale, industrial confederations of syndicates are necessary to +aid communication between workplaces who produce the same goods. No +syndicate exists in isolation, and so there is a real need for a means by +which syndicates can meet together to discuss common interests and act on +them. + +A confederation of syndicates (called a "guild" by some libertarian +socialists, or "industrial union" by others) works on two levels: within +an industry and across industries. The basic operating principle of these +confederations is the same as that of the syndicate itself -- voluntary +cooperation between equals in order to meet common needs. In other words, +each syndicate in the confederation is linked by horizontal agreements +with the others, and none owe any obligations to a separate entity above +the group (see section A.11, "Why are anarchists in favour of direct +democracy?" for more on the nature of anarchist confederation). + +As such, the confederations reflect anarchist ideas of free association +and decentralised organisation as well as concern for practical needs: + +"Anarchists are strenuously opposed to the authoritarian, centralist spirit +. . . So they picture a future social life in the basis of federalism, from +the individual to the municipality, to the commune, to the region, to the +nation, to the international, on the basis of solidarity and free agreement. +And it is natural that this ideal should be reflected also in the organisation +of production, giving preference as far as possible, to a decentralised +sort of organisation; but this does not take the form of an absolute +rule to be applied in every instance. A libertarian order would be in itself, +on the other hand, rule out the possibility of imposing such a unilateral +solution." [Luigi Fabbri, "Anarchy and 'Scientific Communism", pp. 13-49, +_The Poverty of Statism_, Albert Meltzer (ed), p. 23] + +As would be imagined, these confederations are voluntary associations and +"[j]ust as factory autonomy is vital in order to keep the Guild system alive +and vigorous, the existance of varying democratic types of factories in +independence of the National Guilds may also be a means of valuable +experiment and fruitful initiative of individual minds. In insistently +refusing to carry their theory to its last 'logical' conclusion, the +Guildsmen [and anarchists] are true to their love of freedom and varied +social enterprise." [G.D.H. Cole, Op. Cit., p. 65] + +If a workplace agrees to confederate, then it gets to share in the +resources of the confederation and so gains the benefits of mutual aid. In +return for the benefits of confederal cooperation, the syndicate's tools +of production become the "property" of society, to be used but not owned +by those who work in them. This does not mean centralised control from the +top, for "when we say that ownership of the tools of production, including +the factory itself, should revert to the corporation [i.e. confederation] +we do not mean that the workers in the individual workshops will be ruled +by any kind of industrial government having power to do what it pleases +with [them]. . . . No, the workers. . .[will not] hand over their hard-won +control. . . to a superior power. . . . What they will do is. . . to +guarantee reciprocal use of their tools of production and accord their +fellow workers in other factories the right to share their facilities [and +vice versa]. . .with [all] whom they have contracted the pact of +solidarity." [James Guillaume, _Bakunin on Anarchism_, pp. 363-364] + +Facilitating this type of cooperation is the major role of +inter-industry confederations, which also ensure that when the members of +a syndicate change work to another syndicate in another (or the same) +branch of industry, they have the same rights as the members of their new +syndicate. In other words, by being part of the confederation, a worker +ensures that s/he has the same rights and an equal say in whatever +workplace is joined. This is essential to ensure that a cooperative +society remains cooperative, as the system is based on the principle of +"one person, one vote" by all those involved the work process. + +So, beyond this reciprocal sharing, what other roles does the +confederation play? Basically, there are two. Firstly, the sharing and +coordination of information produced by the syndicates (as will be +discussed in section I.3.5), and, secondly, determining the response to +the changes in production and consumption indicated by this information. +As the "vertical" links between syndicates are non-hierarchical, each +syndicate remains self-governing. This ensures decentralisation of power +and direct control, initiative, and experimentation by those involved in +doing the work. Hence, "the internal organisation [of one syndicate] ... +need not be identical [to others]: Organisational forms and procedures +will vary greatly according to the preferences of the associated workers" +[Ibid., p. 361]. In practice, this would probably mean that each syndicate +gets its own orders and determines the best way to satisfy them (i.e. +manages its own work and working conditions). + +As indicated above, free agreement will ensure that customers would be +able to choose their own suppliers, meaning that production units would +know whether they were producing what their customers wanted, i.e., +whether they were meeting social need as expressed through demand. If +they were not, customers would go elsewhere, to other production units +within the same branch of production. However, the investment response +to consumer actions would be coordinated by a confederation of syndicates +in that branch of production. By such means, the confederation can ensure +that resources are not wasted by individual syndicates over-producing +goods or over-investing in response to changes in production (see section +I.3.5). + +It should be pointed out that these confederated investment decisions will +exist along with the investments associated with the creation of new +syndicates, plus internal syndicate investment decisions. We are not +suggesting that *every* investment decision is to be made by the +confederations. (This would be particularly impossible for *new* +industries, for which a confederation would not exist!) Therefore, in +addition to coordinated production units, an anarchist society would see +numerous small-scale, local activities which would ensure creativity, +diversity, and flexibility. Only after these activities had spread across +society would confederal coordination become necessary. + +Thus, investment decisions would be made at congresses and plenums of +the industry's syndicates, by a process of horizontal, negotiated +coordination. This model combines "planning" with decentralisation. Major +investment decisions are coordinated at an appropriate level, with each +unit in the confederation being autonomous, deciding what to do with its +own productive capacity in order to meet social demand. Thus we have +self-governing production units coordinated by confederations (horizontal +negotiation), which ensures local initiative (a vital source of +flexibility, creativity, and diversity) and a rational response to +changes in social demand. + +It should be noted that during the Spanish Revolution syndicates organised +themselves very successfully as town-wide industrial confederations of +syndicates. These were based on the town-level industrial confederation +getting orders for products for its industry and allocating work between +individual workplaces (as opposed to each syndicate receiving orders for +itself). Gaston Leval noted that this form of organisation (with increased +responsibilities for the confederation) did not harm the libertarian +nature of anarchist self-management: + +"Everything was controlled by the syndicates. But it must not therefore +be assumed that everything was decided by a few higher bureaucratic +committees without consulting the rank and file members of the union. +Here libertarian democracy was practised. As in the CNT there was a +reciprocal double structure; from the grass roots at the base. . . +upwards, and in the other direction a reciprocal influence from the +federation of these same local units at all levels downwards, from the +source back to the source" [_The Anarchist Collectives_, p. 105]. + +Such a solution, or similar ones, may be more practical in some situations +than having each syndicate receive its own orders and so anarchists do not +reject such confederal responsibilities out of hand (although the general +prejudice is for decentralisation). This is because we "prefer decentralised +management; but ultimately, in practical and technical problems, we defer +to free experience." [Luigi Fabbri, Op. Cit., p. 24] The specific form of +organisation will obviously vary as required from industry to industry, +area to area, but the underlying ideas of self-management and free association +will be the same. Moreover, in the words of G.D.H Cole, the "essential +thing. . . is that its [the confederation or guild] function should be kept +down to the minimum possible for each industry." [Op. Cit., p. 61] + +I.3.5 What would confederations of syndicates do? + +Voluntary confederation among syndicates is required in order to decide +on the policies governing relations between syndicates and to coordinate +their activities. There are two basic kinds of confederation: within all +workplaces of a certain type, and within the whole economy (the federation +of all syndicates). Both would operate at different levels, meaning there +would be confederations for both industrial and inter-industrial +associations at the local and regional levels and beyond. The basic aim +of this inter-industry and cross-industry networking is to ensure that +the relevant information is spread across the various elemental parts of +the economy so that each can effectively coordinate its plans with the +others. By communicating across workplaces, people can overcome the +barriers to coordinating their plans which one finds in market systems +(see section C.7.1) and so avoid the economic and social disruptions +associated with capitalism. + +However, it is essential to remember that each syndicate within the +confederation is autonomous. The confederations seek to coordinate +activities of joint interest (in particular investment decisions for new +plant and the rationalisation of existing plant in light of reduced +demand). They do not determine what work a syndicate does or how they do +it. As Kropotkin argues (based on his firsthand experience of Russia under +Lenin), "[n]o government would be able to organize production if the +workers themselves through their unions did not do it in each branch of +industry; for in all production there arise daily thousands of +difficulties which no government can solve or foresee. It is certainly +impossible to foresee everything. Only the efforts of thousands of +intelligences working on the problems can cooperate in the development of +a new social system and find the best solutions for the thousands of +local needs." [_Revolutionary Pamphlets_, pp. 76-77] + +Thus Coles statement: + +"With the factory thus largely conducting its own concerns, the duties of +the larger Guild organisations [i.e confederations] would be mainly those +of coordination, or regulation, and of representing the Guild in its +external relations. They would, where it was necessary, co-ordinate +the production of various factories, so as to make supply coincide +with demand. . . they would organise research . . . This large Guild +organisation. . . must be based directly on the various factories +included in the Guild." [_Guild Socialism Restated_, pp. 59-60] + +So it is important to note that the lowest units of confederation -- the +workers' councils -- will control the higher levels, through their power +to elect mandated and recallable delegates to meetings of higher +confederal units. "Mandated" means that the delegates will go to the +meeting of the higher confederal body with specific instructions on how +to vote on a particular issue, and if they do not vote according to that +mandate they will be recalled and the results of the vote nullified. +Delegates will be ordinary workers rather than paid representatives or +union leaders, and they will return to their usual jobs as soon as the +mandate for which they have been elected has been carried out. In this +way, decision-making power remains with the workers' councils and does not +become concentrated at the top of a bureaucratic hierarchy in an elite +class of professional administrators or union leaders. For the workers' +councils will have the final say on *all* policy decisions, being able to +revoke policies made by those with delegated decision-making power and to +recall those who made them: + +"When it comes to the material and technical method of production, anarchists +have no preconceived solutions or absolute prescriptions, and bow to what +experience and conditions in a free society recommend and prescribe. What +matters is that, whatever the type of production adopted, it should be the +free choice of the producers themselves, and cannot possibly be imposed, +any more than any form is possible of exploitations of another's labour +. . . Anarchists do not *a priori* exclude any practical solution and +likewise concede that there may be a number of different solutions at +different times. . ." [Luigi Fabbri, "Anarchy and 'Scientific Communism", +pp. 13-49, _The Poverty of Statism_, Albert Meltzer (ed), p. 22] + +Confederations (negotiated-coordination bodies) would, therefore, be +responsible for clearly defined branches of production, and in general, +production units would operate in only one branch of production. These +confederations would have direct links to other confederations and the +relevant communal confederations, which supply the syndicates with +guidelines for decision making (as will be discussed in section I.4.4) +and ensure that common problems can be highlighted and discussed. These +confederations exist to ensure that information is spread between +workplaces and to ensure that the industry responds to changes in social +demand. In other words, these confederations exist to coordinate new +investment decisions (i.e. if demand exceeds supply) and to determine how +to respond if there is excess capacity (i.e. if supply exceeds demand). + +In this way, the periodic crises of capitalism based on over-investment +and over-production (followed by depression) and their resulting social +problems can be avoided and resources efficiently and effectively +utilised. In addition, production (and so the producers) can be freed +from the centralised control of both capitalist and state hierarchies. + +However, it could again be argued that these confederations are still +centralised and that workers would still be following orders coming from +above. This is incorrect, for any decisions concerning an industry or plant +are under the direct control of those involved. For example, the steel +industry confederation may decide to rationalise itself at one of its +congresses. Murray Bookchin sketches the response to this situation as +follows: "[L]et us suppose that a board of highly qualified technicians is +established [by this congress] to propose changes in the steel industry. +This board. . . advances proposals to rationalise the industry by closing +down some plants and expanding the operation of others. . . . Is this a +"centralised" body or not? The answer is both yes and no. Yes, only in the +sense that the board is dealing with problems that concern the country as +a whole; no, because it can make no decision that *must* be executed for +the country as a whole. The board's plan must be examined by all the +workers in the plants [that are affected]. . . . The board itself has no +power to enforce 'decisions'; it merely makes recommendations. +Additionally, its personnel are controlled by the plant in which they work +and the locality in which they live" [_Post Scarcity Anarchism_, p. 267]. + +Therefore, confederations would not be in positions of power over the +individual syndicates. As Bookchin points out, "They would have no +decision-making powers. The adoption, modification or rejection of their +plans would rest entirely with the communities involved." [Op. Cit., p. +267]. No attempt is made to determine which plants produce which steel +for which customers in which manner. Thus, the confederations of +syndicates ensure a decentralised, spontaneous economic order without the +negative side-effects of capitalism (namely power concentrations within +firms and in the market, periodic crises, etc.). + +As one can imagine, an essential feature of these confederations will be +the collection and processing of information in order to determine how an +industry is developing. This does not imply bureaucracy or centralised +control at the top. Taking the issue of centralisation first, the +confederation is run by delegate assemblies, meaning that any officers +elected at a congress only implement the decisions made by the delegates +of the relevant syndicates. It is in the congresses and plenums of the +confederation that new investment decisions, for example, are made. The +key point to remember is that the confederation exists purely to +coordinate joint activity and share information, it does not take an +interest in how a workplace is run or what orders from consumers it fills. +(Of course, if a given workplace introduces policies which other +syndicates disapprove of, it can be expelled). As the delegates to these +congresses and plenums are mandated and their decisions subject to +rejection and modification by each productive unit, the confederation is +not centralised. + +As far as bureaucracy goes, the collecting and processing of information +does necessitate an administrative staff to do the work. However, this +problem affects capitalist firms as well; and since syndicates are based +on bottom-up decision making, its clear that, unlike a centralised +capitalist corporation, administration would be smaller. + +In fact, it is likely that a fixed administration staff for the confederation +would not exist in the first place! At the regular congresses, a particular +syndicate may be selected to do the confederation's information processing, +with this job being rotated regularly around different syndicates. In this +way, a specific administrative body and equipment can be avoided and the +task of collating information placed directly in the hands of ordinary +workers. Further, it prevents the development of a bureaucratic elite by +ensuring that *all* participants are versed in information-processing +procedures. + +Lastly, what information would be collected? That depends on the context. +Individual syndicates would record inputs and outputs, producing summary +sheets of information. For example, total energy input, in kilowatts and +by type, raw material inputs, labour hours spent, orders received, orders +accepted, output, and so forth. This information can be processed into +energy use and labour time per product (for example), in order to give an +idea of how efficient production is and how it is changing over time. For +confederations, the output of individual syndicates can be aggregated and +local and other averages can be calculated. In addition, changes in demand +can be identified by this aggregation process and used to identify when +investment will be needed or plants closed down. In this way the chronic +slumps and booms of capitalism can be avoided without creating a system +which is even more centralised than capitalism. + +I.3.6 What about competition between syndicates? + +This is a common question, particularly from defenders of capitalism. +They argue that syndicates will not cooperate together unless forced to +do so, but will compete against each other for raw materials, skilled +workers, and so on. The result of this process, it is claimed, will be +rich and poor syndicates, inequality within society and within the +workplace, and (possibly) a class of unemployed workers from unsuccessful +syndicates who are hired by successful ones. In other words, they argue +that libertarian socialism will need to become authoritarian to prevent +competition, and that if it does not do so it will become capitalist very +quickly. + +For individualist anarchists and mutualists, competition is not viewed as +a problem. They think that competition, based around cooperatives and +mutual banks, would minimise economic inequality, as the credit structure +would eliminate unearned income such as profit, interest and rent and give +workers enough bargaining power to eliminate exploitation. Other +anarchists think that whatever gains might accrue from competition would +be more than offset by its negative effects, which are outlined in section +I.1.3. It is to these anarchists that the question is usually asked. + +Before continuing, we would like to point out that individuals trying to +improve their lot in life is not against anarchist principles. How could +it be? What *is* against anarchist principles is centralized power, +oppression, and exploitation, all of which flow from large inequalities +of income. This is the source of anarchist concern about equality -- +concern that is not based on some sort of "politics of envy." Anarchists +oppose inequality because it soon leads to the few oppressing the many (a +relationship which distorts the individuality and liberty of all involved +as well as the health and very lives of the oppressed). + +Anarchists desire to create a society in which such relationships are +impossible, believing that the most effective way to do this is by +empowering all, by creating an egoistic concern for liberty and equality +among the oppressed, and by developing social organisations which encourage +self-management. As for individuals' trying to improve their lot, anarchists +maintain that cooperation is the best means to do so, *not* competition. + +Robert Axelrod, in his book, _The Evolution of Cooperation_ agrees and +presents abundant evidence that cooperation is in our long term interests +(i.e. it provides better results than short term competition). This suggests +that, as Kropotkin argued, mutual aid, not mutual struggle, will be in an +individual's self-interest and so competition in a free, sane society would +be minimalised and reduced to sports and other individual pastimes. + +Now to the "competition" objection, which we'll begin to answer by noting +that it ignores a few key points. Firstly, the assumption that +libertarian socialism would "become capitalist" in the absence of a +*state* is obviously false. If competition did occur between collectives +and did lead to massive wealth inequalities, then the newly rich would +have to create a state to protect their private property (means of +production) against the dispossessed. + +Secondly, as noted in section A.2.5, anarchists do not consider "equal" +to mean "identical." Therefore, to claim that wage differences mean +inequality makes sense only if one thinks that "equality" means everyone +getting *exactly* equal shares. As anarchists do not hold such an idea, +wage differences in an otherwise anarchistically organised syndicate do +not indicate a lack of equality. How the syndicate is *run* is of far +more importance, because the most pernicious type of inequality from the +anarchist standpoint is inequality of *power,* i.e. unequal influence on +political and economic decision making. + +Under capitalism, wealth inequality translates into such an inequality of +power, and vice versa, because wealth can buy private property (and state +protection of it), which gives owners authority over that property and those +hired to produce with it; but under libertarian socialism, minor or even +moderate differences in income among otherwise equal workers would not lead +to this kind of power inequality, because direct democracy, social ownership +of capital, and the absence of a state severs the link between wealth and +power (see further below). + +Thirdly, anarchists do not pretend that an anarchist society will be +"perfect." Hence there may be periods, particularly just after capitalism +has been replaced by self-management, when differences in skill, etc., +leads to a few people exploiting their fellow workers and getting more +wages, better hours and conditions, and so forth. This problem existed in +the industrial collectives in the Spanish Revolution. As Kropotkin +pointed out, "But, when all is said and done, some inequalities, some +inevitable injustice, undoubtedly will remain. There are individuals in +our societies whom no great crisis can lift out of the deep mire of egoism +in which they are sunk. The question, however, is not whether there will +be injustices or no, but rather how to limit the number of them." [_The +Conquest of Bread_, p. 110] + +In other words, these problems will exist, but there are a number of +things that anarchists can do to minimise their impact. Primarily there +must be a "gestation period" before the birth of an anarchist society, in +which social struggle, new forms of education and child-rearing, and other +methods of consciousness-raising increase the number of anarchists and +decrease the number of authoritarians. + +The most important element in this gestation period is social struggle. +Such self-activity will have a major impact on those involved in it +(see section J.2). By direct action and solidarity, those involved develop +bounds of friendship and support with others, develop new forms of ethics +and new ideas and ideal. This radicalisation process will help to ensure that +any differences in education and skill do not develop into differences in +power in an anarchist society. + +In addition, education within the anarchist movement should aim, among other +things, to give its members familiarity with technological skills so that they +are not dependent on "experts" and can thus increase the pool of skilled +workers who will be happy working in conditions of liberty and equality. +This will ensure that differentials between workers can be minimised. + +In the long run, however, popularisation of non-authoritarian methods of +child-rearing and education are particularly important because, as we have +seen, secondary drives such as greed and the desire the exercise power over +others are products of authoritarian upbringing based on punishments and fear +(See sections B.1.5, "What is the mass-psychological basis for authoritarian +civilization?" and J.6, "What methods of child rearing do anarchists +advocate?"). Only if the prevalence of such drives is reduced among the +general population can we be sure that an anarchist revolution will not +degenerate into some new form of domination and exploitation. + +However, there are other reasons why economic inequality -- say, in +differences of income levels or working conditions, which may arise from +competition for "better" workers -- would be far less severe under any form +of anarchist society than it is under capitalism. Firstly, the syndicates +would be democratically managed. This would result in much smaller wage +differentials, because there is no board of wealthy directors setting +wage levels for their own gain and who think nothing of hierarchy and +having elites. The decentralisation of power in an anarchist society will +ensure that there would no longer be wealthy elites paying each other vast +amounts of money. This can be seen from the experience of the Mondragon +cooperatives, where the wage difference between the highest paid and lowest +paid worker was 4 to 1. This was only increased recently when they had to +compete with large capitalist companies, and even then the new ratio of 9 +to 1 is *far* smaller than those in American or British companies (in +America, for example, the ratio is even as high at 200 to 1 and beyond!). + +It is a common myth that managers, executives and so on are "rugged +individuals" and are paid so highly because of their unique abilities. +Actually, they are so highly paid because they are bureaucrats in command +of large hierarchical institutions. It is the hierarchical nature of the +capitalist firm that ensures inequality, *not* exceptional skills. Even +euthusiastic supporters of capitalism provide evidence to support this claim. +Peter Drucker (in _Concept of the Corporation_) brushed away the claim that +corporate organisation brings managers with exceptional ability to the top +when he noted that "[n]o institition can possibly survive if it needs geniuses +or supermen to manage it. It must be organised in such a way as to be able to +get along under a leadership of average human beings." [p. 35] For Drucker, +"the things that really count are not the individual members but the relations +of command and responsibility among them." [p. 34] + +Anarchists argue that high wage differences are the result of how capitalism +is organised and that capitalist economics exists to justify these results by +assuming company hierarchy and capitalist ownership evolved naturally (as +opposed to being created by state action and protection). The end of +capitalist hierarchy would also see the end of vast differences of income +because decision making power would be decentralised back into the hands of +those affected by those decisions. + +Secondly, corporations would not exist. A network of workplaces coordinated +by confederal committees would not have the resources available to pay +exhorbitant wages. Unlike a capitalist company, power is decentralised in +a confederation of syndicates and wealth does not flow to the top. This +means that there is no elite of executives who control the surplus made +from the company's workers and can use that surplus to pay themselves +high wages while ensuring that the major shareholders receive high enough +dividends not to question their activities (or their pay). + +Thirdly, management positions would be rotated, ensuring that everyone gets +experience of the work, thus reducing the artificial scarcity created by the +division of labour. Also, education would be extensive, ensuring that +engineers, doctors, and other skilled workers would do the work because +they *enjoyed* doing it and not for financial reward. And lastly, we should +like to point out that people work for many reasons, not just for high wages. +Feelings of solidarity, empathy, friendship with their fellow workers would +also help reduce competition between syndicates for workers. Of course, having +no means of unearned income (such as rent and interest), social anarchism +will reduce income differentials even more. + +Of course, the "competition" objection assumes that syndicates and members +of syndicates will place financial considerations above all else. This is +not the case, and few individuals are the economic robots assumed in +capitalist dogma. Since syndicates are *not* competing for market share, +it is likely that new techniques would be shared between workplaces and +skilled workers might decide to rotate their work between syndicates in +order to maximise their working time until such time as the general skill +level in society increases. + +So, while recognising that competition for skilled workers could exist, +anarchists think there are plenty of reasons not to worry about massive +economic inequality being created, which in turn would re-create the +state. The apologists for capitalism who put forward this argument forget +that the pursuit of self-interest is universal, meaning that everyone +would be interested in maximising his or her liberty, and so would be +unlikely to allow inequalities to develop which threatened that liberty. + +As for competition for scarce resources, it is clear that it would be in +the interests of communes and syndicates which have them to share them with +others instead of charging high prices for them. This is for two reasons. +Firstly, they may find themselves boycotted by others, and so they would be +denied the advantages of social cooperation. Secondly, they may be subject +to such activities themselves at a future date and so it would wise for +them to remember to "treat others as you would like them to treat you +under similar circumstances." As anarchism will never come about unless +people desire it and start to organise their own lives, it's clear that +an anarchist society would be inhabited by individuals who followed +that ethical principle. + +It is doubtful that people inspired by anarchist ideas would start to +charge each other high prices, particularly since the syndicates and +community assemblies are likely to vote for a wide basis of surplus +distribution, precisely to avoid this problem and to ensure that +production will be for use rather than profit (see section I.4.9, "What +would be the advantage of a wide basis of surplus distribution?"). In +addition, as other communities and syndicates would likely boycott any +syndicate or commune that was acting in non-cooperative ways, it is +likely that social pressure would soon result in those willing to exploit +others rethinking their position. Cooperation does not imply a willingness +to tolerate with those who desire to take advantage of you. + +Examples of anarchism in action show that there is frequently a +spontaneous tendency towards charging cost prices for goods, as well as +attempts to work together to reduce the dangers of isolation and +competition. One thing to remember is that anarchy will not be created +"overnight," and so potential problems will be worked out over time. +Underlying all these kinds of objections is the assumption that +cooperation will *not* be more beneficial to all involved than +competition. However, in terms of quality of life, cooperation will soon +be seen to be the better system, even by the most highly paid workers. +There is far more to life than the size of one's pay packet, and anarchism +exists in order to ensure that life is far more than the weekly grind of +boring work and the few hours of hectic consumption in which people +attempt to fill the "spiritual hole" created by a way of life which places +profits above people. + +I.3.7 What about people who do not want to join a syndicate? + +In this case, they are free to work alone, by their own labour. Anarchists +have no desire to force people to join a syndicate, for as Malatesta +argued, "what has to be destroyed at once. . . is *capitalistic property,* +that is, the fact that a few control the natural wealth and the instruments +of production and can thus oblige others to work for them . . . [but one +must have a] right and the possibility to live in a different regime, +collectivist, mutualist, individualist -- as one wishes, always on the +condition that there is no oppression or exploitation of others." +[_Malatesta: Life and Ideas_, p. 102] + +In other words, different forms of social life will be experimented with, +depending on what people desire. Of course some people (particularly +right-wing "libertarians") ask how anarchists can reconcile individual +freedom with expropriation of capital. All we can say is that these +critics subscribe to the idea that one should not interfere with the +"individual freedom" of those in positions of authority to oppress others, +and that this premise turns the concept of individual freedom on its head, +making oppression a "right!" + +However, right-wing "libertarians" do raise a valid question when they ask +if anarchism would result in self-employed people being forced into +cooperatives as the result of a popular movement. The answer is no, +because the destruction of title deeds would not harm the independent +worker, whose real title is possession and the work done. What anarchists +want to eliminate is not possessions but capitalist "property" -- namely +"the destruction of the titles of the proprietors who exploit the labour +of others and, above all, of expropriating them in fact in order to put +. . . all the means of production at the disposal of those who do the work" +[Op. Cit., p. 103]. + +This means that independent producers will still exist within an anarchist +society, and some workplaces -- perhaps whole areas -- will not be part of +a confederation. This is natural in a free society, for different people +have different ideas and ideals. Of course, some people may desire to +become capitalists, and they may offer to employ people and pay them wages. +However, such a situation would be unlikely. Simply put, why would anyone +desire to work for the would-be employer? Malatesta makes this point as +follows: + +"It remains to be seen whether not being able to obtain assistance or +people to exploit -- and he [the would-be capitalist] would find none +because nobody, having a right to the means of production and being free +to work on his own or as an equal with others in the large organisations +of production would want to be exploited by a small employer -- . . . it +remains to be seen whether these isolated workers would not find it more +convenient to combine with others and voluntarily join one of the existing +communities" [Op. Cit., p. 102-103]. + +So where would the capitalist wannabe find people to work for him? + +However, let us suppose there is a self-employed inventor, Ferguson, who +comes up with a new innovation without the help of the cooperative sector. +Would anarchists steal his idea? Not at all. The cooperatives, which by +hypothesis have been organized by people who believe in giving producers +the full value of their product, would pay Ferguson an equitable amount +for his idea, which would then become common across society. However, if +he refused to sell his invention and instead tried to claim a patent +monopoly on it in order to gather a group of wage slaves to exploit, no +one would agree to work for him unless they got the full control over both +the product of their labour and the labour process itself. + +In addition, we would imagine they would also refuse to work for someone +unless they also got the capital they used at the end of their contract +(i.e. a system of "hire-purchase" on the means of production used). In +other words, by removing the statist supports of capitalism, would-be +capitalists would find it hard to "compete" with the cooperative sector +and would not be in a position to exploit others' labour. + +With a system of communal production (in social anarchism) and mutual +banks (in individualist anarchism), "usury" -- i.e. charging a use-fee for +a monopolized item, of which patents are an instance -- would no longer be +possible and the inventor would be like any other worker, exchanging the +product of his or her labour. As Ben Tucker argued, "the patent monopoly. +. . consists in protecting inventors and authors against competition for a +period of time long enough for them to extort from the people a reward +enormously in excess of the labour measure of their services -- in other +words, in giving certain people a right of property for a term of years in +laws and facts of nature, and the power to extract tribute from others for +the use of this natural wealth, which should be open to all. The abolition +of this monopoly would fill its beneficiaries with a wholesome fear of +competition which should cause them to be satisfied with pay for their +services equal to that which other labourers get for theirs, and secure it +by placing their products and works on the market at the outset at prices +so low that their lines of business would be no more tempting to +competitors than any other lines" [_The Anarchist Reader_, p. 150-1]. + +In other words, with the end of capitalism and statism, a free society has +no fear of capitalist firms being created or growing again, because it +rejects the idea that everyone must be in a syndicate. Without statism to +back up various class-based monopolies of capitalist privilege, capitalism +could not become dominant. In addition, the advantages of cooperation +between syndicates would exceed whatever temporary advantages existed for +syndicates to practice commodity exchange in a mutualist market. + +I.4 How could an anarchist economy function? + +This is an important question facing all opponents of a given system - what +will you replace it with? We can say, of course, that it is pointless to make +blueprints of how a future anarchist society will work as the future will +be created by everyone, not just the few anarchists and libertarian socialists +who write books and FAQs. This is very true, we cannot predict what a free +society will actually be like or develop and we have no intention to do +so here. However, this reply (whatever its other merits) ignores a key point, +people need to have some idea of what anarchism aims for before they decide +to spend their lives trying to create it. + +So, how would an anarchist system function? That depends on the economic +ideas people have. A mutualist economy will function differently than a +communist one, for example, but they will have similar features. As Rudolf +Rocker put it, "[c]ommon to all Anarchists is the desire to free society of +all political and social coercive institutions which stand in the way of +the development of a free humanity. In this sense, Mutualism, Collectivism, +and Communism are not to be regarded as closed systems permitting no further +development, but merely assumptions as to the means of safeguarding a free +community. There will even probably be in the society of the future different +forms of economic cooperation existing side-by-side, since any social +progress must be associated with that free experimentation and practical +testing-out for which in a society of free communities there will be +afforded every opportunity" [_Anarcho-Syndicalism_, p.16] + +So, given the common aims of anarchists, its unsurprising that the economic +systems they suggest will have common features. For all anarchists, a +"voluntary association that will organise labour, and be the manufacturer and +distributor of necessary commodities... *is to make what is useful. The +individual is to make what is beautiful.*" [Oscar Wilde, _The Soul of Man +Under Socialism_, page 25] Or, to bring this ideal up to day, as Chomsky +put it, "[t]he task for a modern industrial society is to achieve what is +now technically realizable, namely, a society which is really based on free +voluntary participation of people who produce and create, live their lives +freely within institutions they control, and with limited hierarchical +structures, possibly none at all." + +In other words, anarchists desire to organise voluntary workers associations +which will try to ensure a minimisation of mindless labour in order to maximise +the time available for creative activity both inside and outside "work." This +is to be achieved by free cooperation between equals, for while competition may +be the "law" of the jungle, cooperation is the law of civilisation. + +This cooperation is *not* based on "altruism," but self-interest. As Proudhon +argued, "[m]utuality, reciprocity exists when all the workers in an industry +instead of working for an entrepreneur who pays them and keeps their products, +work for one another and thus collaborate in the making of a common product +whose profits they share amongst themselves. Extend the principle of reciprocity +as uniting the work of every group, to the Workers' Societies as units, and +you have created a form of civilisation which from all points of view - +political, economic and aesthetic - is radically different from all earlier +civilisations." [quoted by Martin Buber, _Paths in Utopia_, page 29-30] +In other words, solidarity and cooperation allows us time to enjoy life +and to gain the benefits of our labour ourselves - Mutual Aid results in a +better life than mutual struggle and so "the *association for struggle* will +be a much more effective support for civilisation, progress, and evolution +than is the *struggle for existence* with its savage daily competitions" +[Luigi Geallani, _The End of Anarchism_, p. 26] + +Combined with this desire for free cooperation is a desire to end centralised +systems. The opposition to centralisation is often framed in a distinctly +false manner. This can be seen when Alex Nove, a leading market socialist, +argues that "there are horizontal links (market), there are vertical links +(hierarchy). What other dimension is there? [Alex Nove, _The Economics of +Feasible Socialism_, p. 226] In other words, Nove states that to oppose +central planning means to embrace the market. This, however, is not true. +Horizontal links need not be market based any more than vertical links need +be hierarchical. But the core point in his argument is very true, an +anarchist society must be based essentially on horizontal links between +individuals and associations, freely cooperating together as they (not a +central body) sees fit. This cooperation will be source of any "vertical" +links in an anarchist economy. When a group of individuals or associations +meet together and discuss common interests and make common decisions they +will be bound by their own decisions. This is radically different from a +a central body giving out orders because those affected will determine +the content of these decisions. In other words, instead of decisions being +handed down from the top, they will be created from the bottom up. + +So, while refusing to define exactly how an anarchist system will work, we +will explore the implications of how the anarchist principles and ideals +outlined above could be put into practice. Bear in mind that this is just +a possible framework for a system which has few historical examples to draw +upon as evidence. This means that we can only indicate the general outlines +of what an anarchist society could be like. Those seeking "recipes" and +exactness should look elsewhere. In all likelihood, the framework we present +will be modified and changed (even ignored) in light of the real experiences +and problems people will face when creating a new society. Lastly we should +point out that there may be a tendency for some to compare this framework with +the *theory* of capitalism (i.e. perfectly functioning "free" markets or +quasi-perfect ones) as opposed to its reality. A perfectly working capitalist +system only exists in text books and in the heads of ideologues who take the +theory as reality. No system is perfect, particularly capitalism, and to +compare "perfect" capitalism with any system is a pointless task. + +I.4.1 What is the point of economic activity in anarchy? + +The basic point of economic activity is an anarchist society is to ensure +that we produce what we desire to consume and that our consumption is +under our own control and not vice versa. The second point may seem strange; +how can consumption control us -- we consume what we desire and no one +forces us to do so! It may come as a surprise that the idea that we consume +only what we desire is not quite true under a capitalist economy. Capitalism, +in order to survive, *must* expand, *must* create more and more profits. +This leads to irrational side effects, for example, the advertising industry. +While it goes without saying that producers need to let consumers know what +is available for consumption, capitalism ensures advertising goes beyond this +by creating needs that did not exist. + +Therefore, the point of economic activity in an anarchist society is to +produce as and when required and not, as under capitalism, to organise +production for the sake of production. For anarchists, "Real wealth +consists of things of utility and beauty, in things that help create strong, +beautiful bodies and surroundings inspiring to live in." [Emma Goldman, +_Red Emma Speaks_, p. 53] + +This means that, in an anarchist society, economic activity is the process by +which we produce what is both useful *and* beautiful in a way that empowers +the individual. As Oscar Wilde put it, individuals will produce what is +beautiful, based upon the "study of the needs of mankind, and the means of +satisfying them with the least possible waste of human energy" [Peter +Kropotkin, _The Conquest of Bread_, p. 175] This means that anarchist +economic ideas are the same as what Political Economy should be, not what +it actually is, namely the "essential basis of all Political Economy, +the study of the most favourable conditions for giving society the greatest +amount of useful products with the least waste of human energy" (and, we must +add today, the least disruption of nature). [_The Conquest of Bread_, p. 144] +The anarchists charge capitalism with wasting human energy and time due to +its irrational nature and workings, energy that could be spent creating what +is beautiful (both in terms of individualities and products of labour). + +Under capitalism, instead of humans controlling production, production controls +them. Anarchists want to change this and desire to create an economic network +which will allow the maximisation of an individual's free time in order for +them to express and develop their individuality (or to "create what is +beautiful"). So instead of aiming just to produce because the economy will +collapse if we did not, anarchists want to ensure that we produce what is +useful in a manner which liberates the individual and empowers them in all +aspects of their lives. They share this desire with the classical Liberals +and agree totally with Humbolt's statement that "the end of man . . . is +the highest and most harmonious development of his powers to a complete +and consistent whole." [cited by J.S. Mill in _On Liberty_, chapter III] + +This desire means that anarchists reject the capitalist definition of +"efficiency." Anarchists would agree with Albert and Hahnel when they +argue that "since people are conscious agents whose characteristics and +therefore preferences develop over time, to access long-term efficiency we +must access the impact of economic institutions on people's development." +[_The Political Economy of Participatory Economics_, p.9] Capitalism, as +we have explained before, is highly inefficient in this light due to the +effects of hierarchy and the resulting marginalisation and disempowerment +of the majority of society. As Albert and Hehnel go on to note, +"self-management, solidarity, and variety are all legitimate valuative +criteria for judging economic institutions . . . Asking whether particular +institutions help people attain self-management, variety, and solidarity +is sensible" [Op. Cit., p.9] + +In other words, anarchists think that any economic activity in a free society +is to do useful things in such a way that gives those doing it as much pleasure +as possible. The point of such activity is to express the individuality of +those doing it, and for that to happen they must control the work process +itself. Only by self-management can work become a means of empowering the +individual and developing his or her powers. + +In a nutshell, useful work will replace useless toil in an anarchist society. + +I.4.2 Why do anarchists desire to abolish work? + +Anarchists desire to see humanity liberate itself from "work." This may +come as a shock for many people and will do much to "prove" that anarchism +is essentially utopian. However, we think that such an abolition is not +only necessary, it is possible. This is because "work" is one of the major +dangers to freedom we face. + +If by freedom we mean self-government, then it is clear that being subjected +to hierarchy in the workplace subverts our abilities to think and judge +for ourselves. Like any skill, critical analysis and independent thought +have to be practiced continually in order to remain at their full potential. +However, as well as hierarchy, the workplace environment created by these +power structures also helps to undermine these abilities. This was +recognised by Adam Smith: + +"The understandings of the greater part of men are necessarily formed by +their ordinary employments." That being so, "the man whose life is spent +in performing a few simple operations, of which the effects too are, perhaps, +always the same, or nearly the same, has no occasion to extend his +understanding... and generally becomes as stupid and ignorant as it is +possible for a human creature to be... But in every improved and civilised +society this is the state into which the labouring poor, that is the great +body of the people, must necessarily fall, unless government takes pains +to prevent it" [Adam Smith, quoted by Noam Chomsky, _Year 501_, p. 18] + +Smith's argument (usually ignored by those who claim to follow his ideas) +is backed up by extensive evidence. The different types of authority +structures and different technologies have different effects on those who +work within them. Carole Pateman (in _Participation and Democratic Theory_) +notes that the evidence suggests that "[o]nly certain work situations were +found to be conducive to the development of the psychological characteristics +[suitable for freedom, such as] . . . the feelings of personal confidence +and efficacy that underlay the sense of political efficacy." [p. 51] Within +capitalist companies based upon highly rationalised work environment, +extensive division of labour and "no control over the pace or technique +of his [or her] work, no room to exercise skill or leadership" [Op. Cit., +p.51] workers, according to a psychological study, is "resigned to his lot +. . . more dependent than independent . . .he lacks confidence in himself +. . .he is humble . . .the most prevalent feeling states . . .seem to be +fear and anxiety." [p. 52] + +However, in workplaces where "the worker has a high degree of personal +control over his work . . . and a very large degree of freedom from +external control . . .[or has] collective responsibility of a crew of +employees . . .[who] had control over the pace and method of getting +the work done, and the work crews were largely internally self-disciplining" +[p. 52] a different social character is seen. This was characterised by +"a strong sense of individualism and autonomy, and a solid acceptance +of citizenship in the large society . . .[and] a highly developed feeling +of self-esteem and a sense of self-worth and is therefore ready to +participate in the social and political institutions of the community." +[p. 52] + +She notes that R. Blauner (in _Alienation and Freedom_) states that the +"nature of a man's work affects his social character and personality" and +that an "industrial environment tends to breed a distinct social type." +[cited by Pateman, p. 52] As Bob Black argues: + +"You are what you do. If you do boring, stupid, monotonous work, chances +are you'll end up boring, stupid, and monotonous. Work is a much better +explanation for the creeping cretinization all around us than even such +significant moronizing mechanisms as television and education. People who +are regimented all their lives, handed to work from school and bracketed by +the family in the beginning and the nursing home in the end, are habituated +to hierarchy and psychologically enslaved. Their aptitude for autonomy is so +atrophied that their fear of freedom is among their few rationally grounded +phobias. Their obedience training at work carries over into the families +they start, thus reproducing the system in more ways than one, and into +politics, culture and everything else. Once you drain the vitality from +people at work, they'll likely submit to hierarchy and expertise in +everything. They're used to it." [_The Abolition of Work_] + +For this reason anarchists desire, to use Bob Black's phrase, "the +abolition of work." "Work," in this context, does not mean any form of +productive activity. Far from it. "Work" (in the sense of doing necessary +things) will always be with us. There is no getting away from it; crops +need to be grown, schools built, houses fixed, and so on. No, "work" in this +context means any form of labour in which the worker does not control his or +her own activity. In other words, *wage labour* in all its many forms. + +A society based upon wage labour (i.e. a capitalist society) will result in +a society within which the typical worker uses few of their abilities, +exercise little or no control over their work because they are governed by a +boss during working hours. This has been proved to lower the individual's +self-esteem and feelings of self-worth, as would be expected in any social +relationship that denied self-government to workers. Capitalism is marked +by an extreme division of labour, particularly between mental labour and +physical labour. It reduces the worker to a mere machine operator, following +the orders of his or her boss. Therefore, a libertarian that does not +support economic liberty (i.e. self-management) is no libertarian at all. + +Capitalism bases its rationale for itself on consumption. However, this +results in a viewpoint which minimises the importance of the time we +spend in productive activity. Anarchists consider that it is essential +for individual's to use and develop their unique attributes and capacities +in all walks of life, to maximise their powers. Therefore, the idea that +"work" should be ignored in favour of consumption is totally mad. Productive +activity is an important way of developing our inner-powers and express +ourselves; in other words, be creative. Capitalism's emphasis on consumption +shows the poverty of that system. As Alexander Berkman argues: + +"We do not live by bread alone. True, existence is not possible without +opportunity to satisfy our physical needs. But the gratification of these +by no means constitutes all of life. Our present system of disinheriting +millions, made the belly the centre of the universe, so to speak. But in +a sensible society . . . [t]he feelings of human sympathy, of justice and +right would have a chance to develop, to be satisfied, to broaden and grow." +[_ABC of Anarchism_, p. 15] + +Therefore, capitalism is based on a constant process of alienated +consumption, as workers try to find the happiness associated within +productive, creative, self-managed activity in a place it does not exist - +on the shop shelves. This can partly explain the rise of both mindless +consumerism and of religions, as individuals try to find meaning for +their lives and happiness, a meaning and happiness frustrated in wage +labour and hierarchy. + +Capitalism's impoverishment of the individual's spirit is hardly surprising. +As William Godwin argued, "[t]he spirit of oppression, the spirit of +servility, and the spirit of fraud, these are the immediate growth of +the established administration of property. They are alike hostile to +intellectual and moral improvement." [_The Anarchist Reader_, p. 131] In +other words, any system based in wage labour or hierarchical relationships in +the workplace will result in a deadening of the individual and the creation +of a "servile" character. This crushing of individuality springs *directly* +from what Godwin called "the third degree of property" namely "a system. . . +by which one man enters into the faculty of disposing of the produce of +another man's industry" in other words, capitalism. [Op. Cit., p. 129] + +Anarchists desire to change this and create a society based upon freedom in +all aspects of life. Hence anarchists desire to abolish work, simply because +it restricts the liberty and distorts the individuality of those who have to +do it. To quote Emma Goldman: + +"Anarchism aims to strip labor of its deadening, dulling aspect, of its gloom +and compulsion. It aims to make work an instrument of joy, of strength, of +color, of real harmony, so that the poorest sort of a man should find in +work both recreation and hope." + +Anarchists do not think that by getting rid of work we will not have to +produce necessary goods and so on. Far from it, an anarchist society "doesn't +mean we have to stop doing things. It does mean creating a new way of life +based on play; in other words, a ludic revolution . . .a collective adventure +in generalized joy and freely interdependent exuberance. Play isn't passive." +[Bob Black, Op. Cit.] + +This means that in an anarchist society every effort would be made to reduce +boring, unpleasant activity to a minimum and ensure that whatever productive +activity is required to be done is as pleasant as possible and based upon +voluntary labour. However, it is important to remember Cornelius Castoriadis +point that a "Socialist society will be able to reduce the length of the +working day, and will have to do so, but this will not be the fundamental +preoccupation. Its first task will be to . . .transform the very nature of +work. The problem is not to leave more and more 'free' time to individuals - +which might well be empty time - so that they may fill it at will with +'poetry' or the carving of wood. The problem is to make all time a time +of liberty and to allow concrete freedom to find expression in creative +activity." [_Workers' Councils and the Economics of a Self-Managed Society_, +p. 14] Essentially, "the problem is to put poetry into work." [Op. Cit., +p. 15] + +This is why anarchists desire to abolish "work" (i.e. wage labour), to ensure +that whatever work (i.e. economic activity) is required to be done is +under the direct control of those who do it. In this way it can be liberated +and so become a means of self-realization and not a form of self-negation. +In other words, anarchists want to abolish work because "Life, the art of +living, has become a dull formula, flat and inert." [A. Berkman, Op. Cit., +p. 27] Anarchists want to bring the spontaneity and joy of life back into +productive activity and save humanity from the dead hand of capital. + +All this does not imply that anarchists think that individuals will not +seek to "specialise" in one form of productive activity rather than another. +Far from it, people in a free society will pick activities which interest +them as the main focal point of their means of self-expression. This +"division of work" is common in humanity and can be seen under capitalism - +most children and teenagers pick a specific line of work because they are +interested, or at least desire to do a specific kind of work. This natural +desire to do what interests you and what you are good at will encouraged +in an anarchist society. The difference is that individuals will manage +all aspects of the "work" required (for example, engineers will also take +part in self-managing their workplaces) and the strict division of labour +of capitalism will be abolished (see section I.4.3). In other words, +anarchists want to replace the division of labour by the division of work. + +I.4.3 How do anarchists intend to abolish work? + +Basically by workers' self-management of production and community control +of the means of production. It is hardly in the interests of those who do +the actual "work" to have bad working conditions, boring, repetitive labour, +and so on. Therefore, a key aspect of the liberation from work is to +create a self-managed society, "a society in which everyone has equal means +to develop and that all are or can be at the time intellectual and manual +workers, and the only differences remaining between men [and women] are those +which stem from the natural diversity of aptitudes, and that all jobs, all +functions, give an equal right to the enjoyment of social possibilities." +[Errico Malatesta, _Anarchy_, p. 40] + +Essential to this task is decentralisation and the use of appropriate +technology. Decentralisation is important to ensure that those who do +work can determine how to liberate it. A decentralised system will ensure +that ordinary people can identify areas for technological innovation, and so +understand the need to get rid of certain kinds of work. Unless ordinary +people understand and control the introduction of technology, then they +will never be fully aware of the benefits of technology and resist +advances which may be in their best interests to introduce. This is the +full meaning of appropriate technology, namely the use of technology which +those most affected feel to be best in a given situation. Such technology +may or may not be technologically "advanced" but it will be of the kind +which ordinary people can understand and, most importantly, control. + +The potential for rational use of technology can be seen from capitalism. +Under capitalism, technology is used to increase profits, to expand the +economy, not to liberate *all* individuals from useless toil (it does, +of course, liberate a few from such "activity"). As Ted Trainer argues: + +"Two figures drive the point home. In the long term, productivity (i.e. +output per hour of work) increases at about 2 percent per annum, meaning +that each 35 years we could cut the work week by half while producing as +much as we were at the beginning. A number of OECD. . . countries could +actually have cut from a five-day work week to around a one-day work +week in the last 25 years while maintaining their output at the same +level. In this economy we must therefore double the annual amount we +consume per person every 35 years just to prevent unemployment from +rising and to avoid reduction in outlets available to OASK up investable +capital. + +"Second, according to the US Bureau for Mines, the amount of capital per +person available for investment in the United States will increase at 3.6 +percent per annum (i.e. will double in 20-year intervals). This indicates +that unless Americans double the volume of goods and services they consume +every 20 years, their economy will be in serious difficulties" + +"Hence the ceaseless and increasing pressure to find more business +opportunities" ["What is Development", p 57-90, _Society and Nature_, +Issue No. 7, p.49] + +And, remember, these figures include production in many areas of the +economy that would not exist in a free society - state and capitalist +bureaucracy, weapons production, and so on. In addition, it does not +take into account the labour of those who do not actually produce +anything useful and so the level of production for useful goods would +be higher than Trainer indicates. In addition, goods will be built to last +and so much production will become sensible and not governed by an +insane desire to maximise profits at the expense of everything else. + +The decentralisation of power will ensure that self-management becomes +universal. This will see the end of division of labour as mental and +physical work becomes unified and those who do the work also manage it. +This will allow "the free exercise of *all* the faculties of man" [Peter +Kropotkin, _The Conquest of Bread_, p. 148] both inside and outside "work." + +Work will become, primarily, the expression of a person's pleasure in +what they are doing and become like an art - an expression of their +creativity and individuality. Work as an art will become expressed in +the workplace as well as the work process, with workplaces transformed +and integrated into the local community and environment (see section +I.4.14 - What will the workplace of tomorrow be like?). This will +obviously apply to work conducted in the home as well, otherwise the "half +of humanity subjected to the slavery of the hearth would still have to +rebel against the other half." [Peter Kropotkin, _The Conquest of Bread_] + +In other words, anarchists desire "to combine the best part (in fact, the +only good part) of work -- the production of use-values -- with the best +of play. . . its freedom and its fun, its voluntariness and its +intrinsic gratification" - the transformation of what economists call +production into productive play. [Bob Black, _Smokestack Lightning_] + +In addition, a decentralised system will build up a sense of community and +trust between individuals and ensure the creation of an ethical economy, one +based on interactions between individuals and not commodities caught in the +flux of market forces. This ideal of a "moral economy" can be seen in both +social anarchists desire for the end of the market system and the +individualists insistence that "cost be the limit of price." Anarchists +recognise that the "traditional local market. . .is essentially different +from the market as it developed in modern capitalism. Bartering on a local +market offered an opportunity to meet for the purpose of exchanging +commodities. Producers and customers became acquainted; they were relatively +small groups. . .The modern market is no longer a meeting place but a +mechanism characterized by abstract and impersonal demand. One produces +for this market, not for a known circle of customers; its verdict is based +on laws of supply and demand." [_Man for Himself_, pp. 67-68] + +Anarchists reject the capitalist notion that economic activity should be based +on maximising profit as the be all and end all of such work (buying and +selling on the "impersonal market"). As markets only work through people, +individuals, who buy and sell (but, in the end, control them - in "free +markets" only the market is free) this means that for the market to be +"impersonal" as it is in capitalism it implies that those involved have to +be unconcerned about personalities, including their own. Profit, not ethics, +is what counts. The "impersonal" market suggests individuals who act +in an impersonal, and so unethical, manner. The morality of what they +produce is irrelevant, as long as profits are produced. + +Instead, anarchists consider economic activity as an expression of the +human spirit, an expression of the innate human need to express ourselves +and to create. Capitalism distorts these needs and makes economic activity +a deadening experience by the division of labour and hierarchy. Anarchists +think that "industry is not an end in itself, but should only be +a means to ensure to man his material subsistence and to make accessible to +him the blessings of a higher intellectual culture. Where industry is +everything and man is nothing begins the realm of a ruthless economic +despotism whose workings are no less disastrous than those of any political +despotism. The two mutually augment one another, and they are fed from the +same source." [Rudolph Rocker, _Anarcho-Syndicalism_]. + +Anarchists think that a decentralised social system will allow "work" to +be abolished and economic activity humanised and made a means to an end +(namely producing useful things and liberated individuals). This would +be achieved by, as Rudolf Rocker puts it, the "alliance of free groups of +men and women based on co-operative labor and a planned administration of +things in the interest of the community." [Ibid.] + +However, as things are produced by people, it could be suggested that a +"planned administration of things" implies a "planned administration of +people" (although few who suggest this danger apply it to capitalist firms +which are like mini-centrally planned states). This objection is false simply +because anarchism aims "to reconstruct the economic life of the peoples +from the ground up and build it up in the spirit of Socialism." [Ibid.] + +In other words, those who produce also administer and so govern themselves +in free association (and it should be pointed out that any group of +individuals in association will make "plans" and "plan," the important +question is who does the planning and who does the work. Only in anarchy +are both functions united into the same people). Rocker emphasizes this +point when he writes that + + "Anarcho-syndicalists are convinced that a Socialist economic + order cannot be created by the decrees and statutes of a + government, but only by the solidaric collaboration of the + workers with hand and brain in each special branch of production; + that is, through the taking over of the management of all plants + by the producers themselves under such form that the separate + groups, plants, and branches of industry are independent members + of the general economic organism and systematically carry on + production and the distribution of the products in the interest + of the community on the basis of free mutual agreements." + [Op. Cit. p. 94] + +In other words, the "planned administration of things" would be done +by the producers *themselves,* in independent groupings. This would likely +take the form (as we indicated in section I.3) of confederations of +syndicates who communicate information between themselves and respond to +changes in the production and distribution of products by increasing or +decreasing the required means of production in a cooperative (i.e. "planned") +fashion. No "central planning" or "central planners" governing the economy, +just workers cooperating together as equals. + +Therefore, an anarchist society would abolish work by ensuring that +those who do the work actually control it. They would do so in a network +of self-managed associations, a society "composed of a number of societies +banded together for everything that demands a common effort: federations +of producers for all kinds of production, of societies for consumption . . . +All these groups will unite their efforts through mutual agreement . . . +Personal initiative will be encouraged and every tendency to uniformity +and centralisation combated" [Peter Kropotkin, quoted by Buber in _Paths +in Utopia_] + +In response to consumption patterns, syndicates will have to expand or +reduce production and will have to attract volunteers to go the necessary +work. The very basis of free association will ensure the abolition of work, +as individuals will apply for "work" they enjoy doing and so would be +interested in reducing "work" they did not want to do to a minimum. Such +a decentralisation of power would unleash a wealth of innovation and ensure +that unpleasant work be minimalised and fairly shared (see section I.4.13). + +Now, any form of association requires agreement. Therefore, even a society +based on the communist-anarchist maxim "from each according to their +ability, to each according to their need" will need to make agreements +in order to ensure cooperative ventures succeed. In other words, members of +a cooperative commonwealth would have to make and keep to their agreements +between themselves. This means that syndicates would agree joint starting and +finishing times, require notice if individuals want to change "jobs" and +so on within and between syndicates. Any joint effort requires some degree +of cooperation and agreement. Therefore, between syndicates, an agreement +would be reached (in all likelihood) that determined the minimum working +hours required by all members of society able to work. How that minimum +was actually organised would vary between workplace and commune, with +worktimes, flexi-time, job rotation and so on determined by each syndicate +(for example, one syndicate may work 8 hours a day, another 4, one may +use flexi-time, another more rigid starting and stopping times). + +As Kropotkin argued, an anarchist-communist society would be based upon the +following kind of "contract" between its members: + +"We undertake to give you the use of our houses, stores, streets, +means of transport, schools, museums, etc., on condition that, from twenty +to forty-five or fifty years of age, you consecrate four or five hours a +day to some work recognised as necessary to existence. Choose yourself the +producing group which you wish to join, or organize a new group, provided +that it will undertake to produce necessaries. And as for the remainder of +your time, combine together with whomsoever you like, for recreation, art, +or science, according to the bent of your taste . . . Twelve or fifteen +hundred hours of work a year . . . is all we ask of you." [_The Conquest of +Bread_, p. 153-4] + +With such work "necessary to existence" being recognised by individuals +and expressed by demand for labour from productive syndicates. It is, of +course, up to the individual to decide which work he or she desires to +perform from the positions available in the various associations in +existence. A union card would be the means by which work hours would be +recorded and access to the common wealth of society ensured. And, of course, +individuals and groups are free to work alone and exchange the produce of +their labour with others, including the confederated syndicates, if they so +desired. An anarchist society will be as flexible as possible. + +Therefore, we can imagine a social anarchist society being based on two basic +arrangements -- firstly, an agreed minimum working week of, say, 20 hours, +in a syndicate of your choice, plus any amount of hours doing "work" which +you feel like doing - for example, art, experimentation, DIY, composing, +gardening and so on. The aim of technological progress would be to reduce +the basic working week more and more until the very concept of necessary +"work" and free time enjoyments is abolished. In addition, in work considered +dangerous or unwanted, then volunteers could trade doing a few hours of +such activity for more free time (see section I.4.13 for more on this). + +It can be said that this sort of agreement is a restriction of liberty +because it is "man-made" (as opposed to the "natural law" of "supply +and demand"). This is a common defense of the free market by individualist +anarchists against anarcho-communism, for example. However, while in theory +individualist-anarchists can claim that in their vision of society, they +don't care when, where, or how a person earns a living, as long as they are +not invasive about it the fact is that any economy is based on interactions +between individuals. The law of "supply and demand" easily, and often, makes +a mockery of the ideas that individuals can work as long as they like - +usually they end up working as long as required by market forces (ie the +actions of other individuals, but turned into a force outwith their control, +see section I.1.3). This means that individuals do not work as long as +they like, but as long as they have to in order to survive. Knowing that +"market forces" is the cause of long hours of work hardly makes them any +nicer. + +And it seems strange to the communist-anarchist that certain free agreements +made between equals can be considered authoritarian while others are not. +The individualist-anarchist argument that social cooperation to reduce +labour is "authoritarian" while agreements between individuals on the +market are not seems illogical to social anarchists. They cannot see +how it is better for individuals to be pressured into working longer than +they desire by "invisible hands" than to come to an arrangement with others +to manage their own affairs to maximise their free time. + +Therefore, free agreement between free and equal individuals is considered +the key to abolishing work, based upon decentralisation of power and +the use of appropriate technology. + +I.4.4 What economic decision making criteria could be used in anarchy? + +Firstly, it should be noted that anarchists do not have any set idea +about the answer to this question. Most anarchists are communists, desiring +to see the end of the wages system, but that does not mean they want to +impose communism onto people. Far from it, communism can only be truly +libertarian if it is organised from the bottom up. So, anarchists would +agree with Kropotkin that it is a case of not "determining in advance +what form of distribution the producers should accept in their different +groups - whether the communist solution, or labor checks, or equal salaries, +or any other method" [_Kropotkin's Revolutionary Pamphlets_, p. 166] +while considering a given solution best in their opinion. Free experiment +is a key aspect of anarchism. + +However, we will outline some possible means of economic decision making +criteria as this question is an important one (it is the crux of the +"libertarian socialism is impossible" argument, for example). Therefore, +we will indicate what possible solutions exist in different forms of +anarchism. + +In a mutualist or collectivist system, the answer is easy. Prices will exist +and be used as a means of making decisions. Mutualism will be more market +orientated than collectivism, with collectivism being based on confederations +of collectives to respond to changes in demand (i.e. to determine investment +decisions and ensure that supply is kept in line with demand). Mutualism, +with its system of market based distribution around a network of cooperatives +and mutual banks, does not really need a further discussion as its basic +operations are the same as in any non-capitalist market system. Collectivism +and communism will have to be discussed in more detail. However, all systems +are based on workers' self-management and so the individuals directly affected +make the decisions concerning what to produce, when to do it, and how to do +it. In this way workers retain control of the product of their labour. It +is the social context of these decisions and what criteria workers use to +make their decisions that differ between anarchist schools of thought. + +Although collectivism promotes the greatest autonomy for worker associations, +it should not be confused with a market economy as advocated by supporters +of mutualism (particularly in its Individualist form). The goods produced +by the collectivized factories and workshops are exchanged not according to +highest price that can be wrung from consumers, but according to their actual +production costs. The determination of these honest prices is to be by a "Bank +of Exchange" in each community (obviously an idea borrowed from Proudhon). +These "Banks" would represent the various producer confederations and +consumer/citizen groups in the community and would seek to negotiate these +"honest" prices (which would, in all likelihood, include "hidden" costs +like pollution). These agreements would be subject to ratification by +the assemblies of those involved. + +As Guillaume puts it "...the value of the commodities having been established +in advance by a contractual agreement between the regional cooperative +federations [i.e. confederations of syndicates] and the various communes, +who will also furnish statistics to the Banks of Exchange. The Bank of Exchange +will remit to the producers negotiable vouchers representing the value of their +products; these vouchers will be accepted throughout the territory included +in the federation of communes." [_Bakunin on Anarchism_, p. 366] These +vouchers would be related to hours worked, for example, and when used as a +guide for investment decisions could be supplemented with cost-benefit +analysis of the kind possibly used in a communist-anarchist society (see +below). + +Although this scheme bears a strong resemblance to Proudhonian "People's +Banks," it should be noted that the Banks of Exchange, along with a "Communal +Statistical Commission," are intended to have a "planning" function as well +to ensure that supply meets demand. This does not imply a "command" economy, +but simple book keeping for "each Bank of Exchange makes sure in advance that +these products are in demand [in order to risk] nothing by immediately issuing +payment vouchers to the producers." [Op. Cit., p. 367] The workers syndicates +would still determine what orders to produce and each commune would be free +to choose its suppliers. + +As will be discussed in more depth later (see section I.4.7) information +about consumption patterns will be recorded and used by workers to inform +their production and investment decisions. In addition, we can imagine that +production syndicates would encourage communes as well as consumer groups and +cooperatives to participate in making these decisions. This would ensure +that produced goods reflect consumer needs. Moreover, as conditions permit, +the exchange functions of the communal "banks" would (in all likelihood) be +gradually replaced by the distribution of goods "in accordance with the needs +of the consumers." In other words, most supporters of collectivist anarchism +see it as a temporary measure before anarcho-communism could develop. + +Communist anarchism would be similar to collectivism, i.e. a system of +confederations of collectives, communes and distribution centers ("Communal +stores"). However, in an anarcho-communist system, prices are not used. How +will economic decision making be done? One possible solution is as follows: + +"As to decisions involving choices of a general nature, such as what forms +of energy to use, which of two or more materials to employ to produce a +particular good, whether to build a new factory, there is a ... technique... +that could be [used]... 'cost-benefit analysis'... in socialism a points +scheme for attributing relative importance to the various relevant +considerations could be used... The points attributed to these considerations +would be subjective, in the sense that this would depend on a deliberate +social decision rather than some objective standard, but this is the case +even under capitalism when a monetary value has to be attributed to some +such 'cost' or 'benefit'... In the sense that one of the aims of socialism +is precisely to rescue humankind from the capitalist fixation with +production time/money, cost-benefit analyses, as a means of taking into +account other factors, could therefore be said to be more appropriate for +use in socialism than under capitalism. Using points systems to attribute +relative importance in this way would not be to recreate some universal +unit of evaluation and calculation, but simply to employ a technique to +facilitate decision-making in particular concrete cases." [Adam Buick and +John Crump, _State Capitalism: The Wages System Under New Management_, +pp. 138-139] + +This points system would be the means by which producers and consumers +would be able to determine whether the use of a particular good is +efficient or not. Unlike prices, this cost-benefit analysis system would +ensure that production and consumption reflects social and ecological costs, +awareness and priorities. Of course, as well as absolute scarcity, prices +also reflect relative scarcity (while in the long term, market prices +tend towards their production price, in the short term prices can change +as a result of changes in supply and demand under capitalism). How a communist +society could take into account such short term changes and communicate them +through out the economy is discussed in section I.4.5 (What about "supply and +demand"?). Needless to say, production and investment decisions based upon +such cost-benefit analysis would take into account the current production +situation and so the relative scarcity of specific goods. + +Therefore, a communist-anarchist society would be based around a network +of syndicates who communicate information between each other. Instead of +the "price" being communicated between workplaces as in capitalism, actual +physical data will be sent. This data is a summary of the use values +of the good (for example labour time and energy used to produce it, +pollution details, relative scarcity and so forth). With this information a +cost-benefit analysis will be conducted to determine which good will be best +to use in a given situation based upon mutually agreed common values. The +data for a given workplace could be compared to the industry as a whole (as +confederations of syndicates would gather and produce such information - see +section I.3.5) in order to determine whether a specific workplace will +efficiently produce the required goods (this system has the additional +advantage of indicating which workplaces require investment to bring them +in line, or improve upon, the industrial average in terms of working +conditions, hours worked and so on). In addition, common rules of thumb +would possibly be agreed, such as agreements not to use scarce materials +unless there is no alternative (either ones that use a lot of labour, +energy and time to produce or those whose demand is currently exceeding +supply capacity). + +Similarly, when ordering goods, the syndicate, commune or individual involved +will have to inform the syndicate why it is required in order to allow the +syndicate to determine if they desire to produce the good and to enable them +to prioritise the orders they receive. In this way, resource use can be guided +by social considerations and "unreasonable" requests ignored (for example, if +an individual "needs" a ship-builders syndicate to build a ship for his +personal use, the ship-builders may not "need" to build it and instead builds +ships for the transportation of freight). However, in almost all cases of +individual consumption, no such information will be needed as communal stores +would order consumer goods in bulk as they do now. Hence the economy would be +a vast network of cooperating individuals and workplaces and the dispersed +knowledge which exists within any society can be put to good effect (*better* +effect than under capitalism because it does not hide social and ecological +costs in the way market prices do and cooperation will eliminate the business +cycle and its resulting social problems). + +Therefore, production units in a social anarchist society, by virtue of +their autonomy within association, are aware of what is socially useful +for them to produce and, by virtue of their links with communes, also +aware of the social (human and ecological) cost of the resources they +need to produce it. They can combine this knowledge, reflecting overall +social priorities, with their local knowledge of the detailed circumstances +of their workplaces and communities to decide how they can best use their +productive capacity. In this way the division of knowledge within society +can be used by the syndicates effectively as well as overcoming the +restrictions within knowledge communication imposed by the price mechanism. + +Moreover, production units, by their association within confederations +(or Guilds) ensure that there is effective communication between them. This +results in a process of negotiated coordination between equals (i.e horizontal +links and agreements) for major investment decisions, thus bringing together +supply and demand and allowing the plans of the various units to be +coordinated. By this process of co-operation, production units can reduce +duplicating effort and so reduce the waste associated with over-investment +(and so the irrationalities of booms and slumps associated with the price +mechanism, which does not provide sufficient information to allow +workplaces to efficiently coordinate their plans - see section C.7.1). + +One final point on this subject. As social anarchists consider it important +to encourage all to participate in the decisions that affect their lives, +it would be the role of communal confederations to determine the relative +points value of given inputs and outputs. In this way, *all* individuals in a +community determine how their society develops, so ensuring that economic +activity is responsible to social needs and takes into account the desires of +everyone affected by production. In this way the problems associated with +the "Isolation Paradox" (see section B.6) can be over come and so consumption +and production can be harmonised with the needs of individuals as members +of society and the environment they live in. + +I.4.5 What about "supply and demand"? + +Anarchists do not ignore the facts of life, namely that at a given moment +there is so much a certain good produced and so much of is desired to be +consumed or used. Neither do we deny that different individuals have different +interests and tastes. However, this is not what is usually meant by "supply +and demand." In often in general economic debate, this formula is given a +certain mythical quality which ignores the underlying realities which it +reflects as well as some unwholesome implications of the theory. So, before +discussing "supply and demand" in an anarchist society, it is worthwhile to +make a few points about the "law of supply and demand" in general. + +Firstly, as E.P. Thompson argues, "supply and demand" promotes "the notion +that high prices were a (painful) remedy for dearth, in drawing supplies to +the afflicted region of scarcity. But what draws supply are not high prices +but sufficient money in their purses to pay high prices. A characteristic +phenomenon in times of dearth is that it generates unemployment and empty +pursues; in purchasing necessities at inflated prices people cease to be +able to buy inessentials [causing unemployment] . . . Hence the number of +those able to pay the inflated prices declines in the afflicted regions, +and food may be exported to neighbouring, less afflicted, regions where +employment is holding up and consumers still have money with which to pay. +In this sequence, high prices can actually withdraw supply from the most +afflicted area." [_Customs in Common_, pp. 283-4] + +Therefore "the law of supply and demand" may not be the "most efficient" +means of distribution in a society based on inequality. This is clearly +reflected in the "rationing" by purse which this system is based on. While +in the economics books, price is the means by which scare resources are +"rationed" in reality this creates many errors. Adam Smith argued that +high prices discourage consumption, putting "everybody more or less, but +particularly the inferior ranks of people, upon thrift and good management." +[cited by Thompson, Op. Cit., p. 284] However, as Thompson notes, "[h]owever +persuasive the metaphor, there is an elision of the real relationships +assigned by price, which suggests. . .ideological sleight-of-mind. Rationing +by price does not allocate resources equally among those in need; it +reserves the supply to those who can pay the price and excludes those +who can't. . .The raising of prices during dearth could 'ration' them +[the poor] out of the market altogether." [Op. Cit., p. 285] + +In other words, the market cannot be isolated and abstracted from the network +of political, social and legal relations within which it is situated. This +means that all that "supply and demand" tells us is that those with money +can demand more, and be supplied with more, than those without. Whether this +is the "most efficient" result for society cannot be determined (unless, of +course, you assume that rich people are more valuable than working class +ones *because* they are rich). This has an obvious effect on production, with +"effective demand" twisting economic activity. As Chomsky notes, "[t]hose +who have more money tend to consume more, for obvious reasons. So +consumption is skewed towards luxuries for the rich, rather than necessities +for the poor." George Barret brings home of the evil of such a "skewed" form +of production: + +"To-day the scramble is to compete for the greatest profits. If there is +more profit to be made in satisfying my lady's passing whim than there is +in feeding hungry children, then competition brings us in feverish haste +to supply the former, whilst cold charity or the poor law can supply the +latter, or leave it unsupplied, just as it feels disposed. That is how it +works out." [_Objections to Anarchism_] + +Therefore, as far as "supply and demand" is concerned, anarchists are well +aware of the need to create and distribute necessary goods to those who +require them. This, however, cannot be achieved under capitalism. In effect, +supply and demand under capitalism results in those with most money +determining what is an "efficient" allocation of resources for if financial +profit is the sole consideration for resource allocation, then the wealthy +can outbid the poor and ensure the highest returns. The less wealthy can +do without. + +However, the question remains of how, in an anarchist society, do you know +that valuable labour and materials might be better employed elsewhere? How +do workers judge which tools are most appropriate? How do they decide +among different materials if they all meet the technical specifications? +How important are some goods than others? How important is cellophane +compared to vacuum-cleaner bags? + +It is answers like this that the supporters of the market claim that their +system answers. However, as indicated, it does answer them in irrational and +dehumanising ways under capitalism but the question is: can anarchism answer +them? Yes, although the manner in which this is done varies between anarchist +threads. In a mutualist economy, based on independent and cooperative labour, +differences in wealth would be vastly reduced, so ensuring that irrational +aspects of the market that exist within capitalism would be minimalised. +The workings of supply and demand would provide a more just result than +under the current system. + +However, collectivist, syndicalist and communist anarchists reject the +market. This rejection often implies, to some, central planning. As the +market socialist David Schweickart puts it, "[i]f profit considerations do +not dictate resource usage and production techniques, then central direction +must do so. If profit is not the goal of a productive organisation, then +physical output (use values) must be." [_Against Capitalism_, p. 86] + +However, Schweickart is wrong. Horizontal links need not be market based +and cooperation between individuals and groups need not be hierarchical. +Therefore, it is a question of distributing information between producers +and consumers, information which the market often hides or activity blocks. +This information network has partly been discussed in the last section +where a method of comparison between different materials, techniques and +resources based upon use value was discussed. However, the need to indicate +the current fluctuations in production and consumption needs to be indicated +which complements that method. + +In a non-Mutualist anarchist system it is assumed that confederations of +collectives will wish to adjust their capacity if they are aware of the need +to do so. Hence, price changes in response to changes in demand would not +be necessary to provide the information that such changes are required. This +is because a "change in demand first becomes apparent as a change in the +quantity being sold at existing prices [or being consumed in a moneyless +system] and is therefore reflected in changes in stocks or orders. Such +changes are perfectly good indicators or signals that an imbalance between +demand and current output has developed. If a change in demand for its +products proved to be permanent, a production unit would find its stocks +being run down and its order book lengthening, or its stocks increasing and +orders falling....Price changes in response to changes in demand are therefore +not necessary for the purpose of providing information about the need to +adjust capacity" [Pat Devine, _Democracy and Economic Planning_, p. 242] + +Therefore, to indicate the relative changes in scarcity of a given good +it will be necessary to calculate a "scarcity index." This would inform +potential users of this good so that they may effectively adjust their +decisions in light of the decisions of others. This index could be, for +example, a percentage value which indicates the relation of orders placed +for a commodity to the amount actually produced. For example, a good which +has a demand higher than its supply would have an index value of 101% or +higher. This value would inform potential users to start looking for +substitutes for it or to economise on its use. Such a scarcity figure would +exist for each collective as well as (possibly) a generalised figure for +the industry as a whole on a regional, "national," etc. level. In this way, +a specific good could be seen to be in high demand and so only those +producers who *really* required it would place orders for it (so ensuring +effective use of resources). Needless to say, stock levels and other +basic book-keeping techniques would be utilised in order to ensure a +suitable buffer level of a specific good to take into account unexpected +changes in consumption. This may result in some excess supply of goods +being produced and used as used as stock to buffer out unexpected changes +in the aggregate demand for a good. + +This, combined with cost-benefit analysis described in section I.4.4, would +allow information about changes within the "economy" to rapidly spread +throughout the whole system and influence all decision makers without +the great majority knowing anything about the original causes of these +changes (which rest in the decisions of those directly affected). The +relevant information is communicated to all involved, without having to +be order by an "all-knowing" central body as in a Leninist centrally +planned economy. As argued in section I.1.2, anarchists have long realised +that no centralised body could possibly be able to possess all the +information dispersed throughout the economy and if such a body attempted +to do so, the resulting bureaucracy would effectively reduce the amount of +information available to society and so cause shortages and inefficiencies. + +Therefore, each syndicate receives its own orders and supplies and sends +its own produce out. Similarly, communal distribution centers would order +required goods from syndicates it determines. In this way consumers can +change to syndicates which respond to their needs and so production units +are aware of what it is socially useful for them to produce as well as the +social cost of the resources they need to produce it. In this way a network +of horizontal relations spread across society, with coordination achieved +by equality of association and not the hierarchy of the corporate structure. +This system ensures a cooperative response to changes in supply and +demand and so reduces the communication problems associated with the +market which help causes periods of unemployment and economic downturn +(see section C.7.1). + +While anarchists are aware of the "isolation paradox" (see section B.6) +this does not mean that they think the commune should make decisions *for* +people on what they were to consume. This would be a prison. No, all +anarchists agree that is up to the individual to determine their own needs +and for the collectives they join to determine social requirements like parks, +infrastructure improvements and so on. However, social anarchists think that +it would be beneficial to discuss the framework around which these decisions +would be made. This would mean, for example, that communes would agree to +produce eco-friendly products, reduce waste and generally make decisions +enriched by social interaction. Individuals would still decide which sort +goods they desire, based on what the collectives produce but these goods +would be based on a socially agreed agenda. In this way waste, pollution +and other "externalities" of atomised consumption could be reduced. For +example, while it is rational for individuals to drive a car to work, +collectively this results in massive *irrationality* (for example, traffic +jams, pollution, illness, unpleasant social infrastuctures). A sane society +would discuss the problems associated with car use and would agree to +produce a fully integrated public transport network which would reduce +pollution, stress, illness, and so on. + +Therefore, while anarchists recognise individual tastes and desires, they +are also aware of the social impact of them and so try to create a social +environment where individuals can enrich their personal decisions with the +input of other people's ideas. + +On a related subject, it is obvious that different collectives would produce +slightly different goods, so ensuring that people have a choice. It is +doubtful that the current waste implied in multiple products from different +companies (sometimes the same company) all doing the same job would be +continued in an anarchist society. However, production will be "variations on +a theme"in order to ensure consumer choice and to allow the producers to know +what features consumers prefer. It would be impossible to sit down beforehand +and make a list of what features a good should have - that assumes perfect +knowledge and that technology is fairly constant. Both these assumptions +are of limited use in real life. Therefore, cooperatives would produce +goods with different features and production would change to meet the demand +these differences suggest (for example, factory A produces a new CD player, +and consumption patterns indicate that this is popular and so the rest of +the factories convert). This is in addition to R&D experiments and test +populations. In this way consumer choice would be maintained, and enhanced +as consumers would be able to influence the decisions of the syndicates +as producers (in some cases) and through syndicate/commune dialogue. + +Therefore, anarchists do not ignore "supply and demand." Instead, they +recognise the limitations of the capitalist version of this truism and +point out that capitalism is based on *effective* demand which has no +necessary basis with efficient use of resources. Instead of the market, +social anarchists advocate a system based on horizontal links between +producers which effectively communicates information across society about +the relative changes in supply and demand which reflect actual needs of +society and not bank balances. The response to changes in supply and +demand will be discussed in section I.4.7 (What are the criteria for +investment decisions?) and section I.4.13 ( Who will do the dirty or +unpleasant work?) will discuss the allocation of work tasks. + +I.4.6 Surely anarchist-communism would just lead to demand exceeding supply? + +Its a common objection that communism would lead to people wasting resources +by taking more than they need. Kropotkin stated that "free communism . . . +places the product reaped or manufactured at the disposal of all, leaving to +each the liberty to consume them as he pleases in his own home." [_The Place +of Anarchism in the Evolution of Socialist Thought_, p. 7] + +But, some argue, what if an individual says they "need" a luxury house or +a personal yacht? Simply put, workers may not "need" to produce for that +need. As Tom Brown puts it, "such things are the product of social labour. . . +Under syndicalism. . .it is improbable that any greedy, selfish person would +be able to kid a shipyard full of workers to build him a ship all for his +own hoggish self. There would be steam luxury yachts, but they would be +enjoyed in common" [_Syndicalism_, p. 51] + +Therefore, communist-anarchists are not blind to the fact that free access +to products is based upon the actual work of real individuals - "society" +provides nothing, individuals working together do. This is reflected in +the classic statement of communism - "From each according to their ability, +to each according to their needs." Therefore, the needs of both consumer +*and* producer are taken into account. This means that if no syndicate or +individual desires to produce a specific order an order then this order can +be classed as an "unreasonable" demand - "unreasonable" in this context +meaning that no one freely agrees to produce it. Of course, individuals +may agree to barter services in order to get what they want produced if +they *really* want something but such acts in no way undermines a +communist society. + +Communist-anarchists recognise that production, like consumption, must be +based on freedom. However, it has been argued that free access would +lead to waste as people take more than they would under capitalism. This +objection is not as serious as it first appears. There are plenty of examples +within current society to indicate that free access will not lead to abuses. +Let us take three examples, public libraries, water and pavements. In public +libraries people are free to sit and read books all day. However, few if any +actually do so. Neither do people always take the maximum number of books +out at a time. No, they use the library as they need to and feel no need to +maximise their use of the institution. Some people never use the library, +although it is free. In the case of water supplies, its clear that people +do not leave taps on all day because water is often supplied freely or for +a fixed charge. Similarly with pavements, people do not walk everywhere +because to do so is free. In both cases individuals use the resource as and +when they need to. + +We can expect a similar effect as other resources become freely available. +In effect, this argument makes as much sense as arguing that individuals will +travel to stops *beyond* their destination if public transport is based on +a fixed charge! And only an idiot would travel further than required in +order to get "value for money." + +However, there is a deeper point to be made here about consumerism. Capitalism +is based on hierarchy and not liberty. This leads to a weakening of +individuality and a lose of self-identity and sense of community. Both these +senses are a deep human need and consumerism is often a means by which +people overcome their alienation from their selves and others (religion, +ideology and drugs are other means of escape). Therefore the consumption +within capitalism reflects *its* values, not some abstract "human nature." +As Bob Black argues: + + "what we want, what we are capable of wanting is relative to the forms + of social organization. People 'want' fast food because they have to + hurry back to work, because processed supermarket food doesn't + taste much better anyway, because the nuclear family (for the + dwindling minority who have even that to go home to) is too small + and too stressed to sustain much festivity in cooking and eating + -- and so forth. It is only people who can't get what they want + who resign themselves to want more of what they can get. Since we + cannot be friends and lovers, we wail for more candy." + [_Smokestack Lightning_] + +Therefore, most anarchists think that consumerism is a product of a +hierarchical society within which people are alienated from themselves +and the means by which they can make themselves *really* happy (i.e. +meaningful relationships, liberty, work, and experiences). Consumerism is +a means of filling the spiritual hole capitalism creates within us by denying +our freedom. + +This means that capitalism produces individuals who define themselves by +what they have, not who they are. This leads to consumption for the sake +of consumption, as people try to make themselves happy by consuming more +commodities. But, as Erich Fromm points out, this cannot work for and only +leads to even more insecurity (and so even more consumption): + +"*If I am what I have and if what I have is lost, who then am I?* +Nobody but a defeated, deflated, pathetic testimony to a wrong way of living. +Because I *can* lose what I have, I am necessarily constantly worried that +I *shall* lose what I have." [_To Have Or To Be_, p. 111] + +Such insecurity easily makes consumerism seem a "natural" way of life and +so make communism seem impossible. However, rampant consumerism is far more +a product of lack of meaningful freedom within an alienated society than a +"natural law" of human existence. In a society that encouraged and protected +individuality by non-hierarchical social relationships and organisations, +individuals would have a strong sense of self and so be less inclined to +mindlessly consume. As Fromm puts it, "If *I am what I am* and not what I have, +nobody can deprive me of or threaten my security and my sense of identity. +My centre is within myself." [Op. Cit., p. 112] Such self-centred individuals +do not have to consume endlessly to build a sense of security or happiness +within themselves (a sense which can never actually be created by those means). + +In other words, the well-developed individuality that an anarchist society +would develop would have less need to consume than the average person in a +capitalist one. This is not to suggest that life will be bare and without +luxuries in an anarchist society, far from it. A society based on the +free expression of individuality could be nothing but rich in wealth and +diverse in goods and experiences. What we are arguing here is that an +anarchist-communist society would not have to fear rampant consumerism +making demand outstrip supply constantly and always precisely because +freedom will result in a non-alienated society of well developed +individuals. + +Of course, this may sound totally utopian. Possibly it is. However, as +Oscar Wilde said, a map of the world without Utopia on it is not worth +having. One thing is sure, if the developments we have outlined above fail +to appear and attempts at communism fail due to waste and demand exceeding +supply then a free society would make the necessary decisions and introduce +some means of limiting supply (such as, for example, labour notes, equal +wages, and so on). Whether or not full communism *can* be introduced instantly +is a moot point amongst anarchists, although most would like to see society +develop towards a communist goal eventually. + +I.4.7 What are the criteria for investment decisions? + +Obviously, a given society needs to take into account changes in consumption +and so invest in new means of production. An anarchist society is no +different. As G.D.H Cole points out, "it is essential at all times, and +in accordance with considerations which vary from time to time, for a +community to preserve a balance between production for ultimate use and +production for use in further production. And this balance is a matter +which ought to be determined by and on behalf of the whole community." +[_Guild Socialism Restated_, p. 144] + +How this balance is determined varies according to the school of anarchist +thought considered. All agree, however, that such an important task should +be under effective community control. The mutualists see the solution to the +problems of investment as creating a system of mutual banks, which reduce +interest rates to zero. This would be achieved "[b]y the organisation of +credit, on the principle of reciprocity or mutualism. . .In such an +organisation credit is raised to the dignity of a social function, managed +by the community; and, as society never speculates upon its members, it will +lend its credit . . .at the actual cost of transaction. " [Charles A. Dana, +_Proudhon and his "Bank of the People"_, p. 36] This would allow money to +be made available to those who needed it and so break the back of the +capitalist business cycle (i.e. credit would be available as required, +not when it was profitable for bankers to supply it) as well as capitalist +property relations. Under a mutualist regime, credit for investment would +be available from two sources. Firstly, an individual's or cooperative's own +saved funds and, secondly, as zero interest loans from mutual banks, credit +unions and other forms of credit associations. Loans would be allocated to +projects which the mutual banks considered likely to succeed and repay the +original loan. + +Collectivist and communist anarchists recognise that credit is based on +human activity, which is represented as money. As the Guild Socialist G.D.H. +Cole pointed out, "The understanding of this point [on investment] depends +on a clear appreciation of the fact that all real additions to capital +take the form of directing a part of the productive power of labour and +using certain materials not for the manufacture of products and the +rendering of services incidental to such manufacture for purposes of +purposes of further production." [_Guild Socialism Restated_, p. 143] +Collectivist and Communist anarchists agree with their Mutualist cousins +when they state that "[a]ll credit presupposes labor, and, if labor were to +cease, credit would be impossible" and that the "legitimate source of +credit" was "the labouring classes" who "ought to control it" and "whose +benefit [it should] be used" [Charles A. Dana, Op. Cit., p. 35] + +Therefore, in collectivism, investment funds would exist in the confederations +of collectives, community "banks" and other such means by which depreciation +funds could be stored and as well as other funds agreed to by the collectives +(for example, collectives may agree to allocate a certain percentage of their +labour notes to a common account in order to have the necessary funds available +for new investment). In a communist-anarchist society, the collectives would +agree that a certain part of their output and activity will be directed to +new means of production. In effect, each collective is able to draw upon the +sums approved of by the Commune in the form of an agreed claim on the labour +power of all the collectives. In this way, mutual aid ensures a suitable +pool of resources for the future from which all benefit. + +As for when investment is needed, it is clear that this will be based on the +changes in demand for goods. As Guilliame points it, "[b]y means of statistics +gathered from all the communes in a region, it will be possible to +scientifically balance production and consumption. In line with these +statistics, it will also be possible to add more help in industries where +production is insufficient and reduce the number of men where there is +a surplus of production." [_Bakunin on Anarchism_, p. 370] Obviously, +investment in branches of production with a high demand would be essential +and this would be easily seen from the statistics generated by the collectives +and communes. Tom Brown states this obvious +point: + +"Goods, as now, will be produced in greater variety, for workers like +producing different kinds, and new models, of goods. Now if some goods +are unpopular, they will be left on the shelves. . . Of other goods more +popular, the shops will be emptied. Surely it is obvious that the +assistant will decrease his order of the unpopular line and increase his +order of the popular" [_Syndicalism_, p. 55] + +As a rule of thumb, syndicates that produce investment goods would be +inclined to supply other syndicates who are experiencing excess demand +before others, all other things being equal. Because of such guidelines and +communication between producers, investment would go to those industries +that actually required them. + +As production would be decentralised as far as possible, each locality would +be able to understand its own requirements and apply them as it sees fit. + +This, combined with an extensive communications network, would ensure that +investment not only did not duplicate unused plant within the economy but +that investments take into account the specific problems and opportunities +each locality has. Of course, collectives would experiment with new lines +and technology as well as existing lines and so invest in new technologies +and products. As occurs under capitalism, extensive consumer testing would +occur before dedicating major investment decisions to new products. In the +case of new technology and plant, cost benefit analysis (as outlined in +section I.4.4) would be used to determine which technology would produce +the best results and whether changes should be made in plant stock. + +Similarly with communities. A commune will obviously have to decide upon and +plan civic investment (e.g. new parks, housing and so forth). They will also +have the deciding say in industrial developments in their area as it would +be unfair for syndicate to just decide to build a cement factory next to a +housing cooperative if they did not want it. There is a case for arguing +that the local commune will decide on investment decisions for syndicates +in its area (for example, a syndicate may produce X plans which will be +discussed in the local commune and 1 plan finalised from the debate). For +regional decisions (for example, a new hospital) would be decided at the +appropriate level, with information fed from the health syndicate and +consumer cooperatives. The actual location for investment decisions will +be worked out by those involved. However, local syndicates must be the +focal point for developing new products and investment plans in order to +encourage innovation. + +Therefore, under social anarchism no capital market is required to determine +whether investment is required and what form it would take. The work that +apologists for capitalism claim currently is done by the stock market can +be replaced by cooperation and communication between workplaces in a +decentralised, confederated network. The relative needs of different +consumers of a product can be evaluated by the producers and an informed +decision reached on where it would best be used. + +Without a capital market, housing, workplaces and so on will no longer +be cramped into the smallest space possible. Instead, housing, schools, +hospitals, workplaces and so on will be built within a "green" environment. +This means that human constructions will be placed within a natural +environment and no longer stand apart from it. In this way human life +can be enriched and the evils of cramping as many humans and things into +a small a space as is "economical" can be overcome. + +In addition, the stock market is hardly the means by which capital is +actually raised within capitalism. As Engler points out, "Supporters of the +system... claim that stock exchanges mobilise funds for business. Do they? +When people buy and sell shares, 'no investment goes into company treasuries... +Shares simply change hands for cash in endless repetition.' Company +treasuries get funds only from new equity issues. These accounted for an +average of a mere 0.5 per cent of shares trading in the US during the +1980s" [_Apostles of Greed_, pp. 157-158] And it hardly needs to be repeated +that capitalism results in production being skewed away from the working +class and that the "efficiency" of market allocation is highly suspect. + +Only by taking investment decisions away from "experts" and placing it in +the hands of ordinary people will current generations be able to invest +according to their, and future generations', self-interest. It is hardly in +our interest to have a institution whose aim is to make the wealthy even +wealthier and on whose whims are dependent the lives of millions of people. + +I.4.8 What about funding for basic research? + +In a libertarian-socialist society, people are likely to "vote" to allocate +significant amounts of resources for basic research from the available +social output. This is because the results of this research would be freely +available to all enterprises and so would aid everyone in the long term. In +addition, because workers directly control their workplace and the +local community effectively "owns" it, all affected would have an interest +in exploring research which would reduce labour, pollution, raw materials +and so on or increase output with little or no social impact. + +This means that research and innovation would be in the direct interests of +everyone involved. Under capitalism, this is not the case. Most research +is conducted in order to get an edge in the market by increasing productivity +or expanding production into new (previously unwanted) areas. Any increased +productivity often leads to unemployment, deskilling and other negative +effects for those involved. Libertarian socialism will not face this problem. + +It should also be mentioned here that research would be pursued more and +more as people take an increased interest in both their own work and +education. As people become liberated from the grind of everyday life, +they will explore possibilities as their interests take them and so +research will take place on many levels within society - in the workplace, +in the community, in education and so on. + +In addition, it should be noted that basic research is not something which +capitalism does well. The rise of the Pentagon system in the USA indicates +that basic research often needs state support in order to be successful. As +Kenneth Arrow noted over thirty years ago that market forces are +insufficient to promote basic research: + +"Thus basic research, the output of which is only used as an informational +input into other inventive activities, is especially unlikely to be +rewarded. In fact, it is likely to be of commercial value to the firm +undertaking it only if other firms are prevented from using the +information. But such restriction reduces the efficiency of inventive +activity in general, and will therefore reduce its quantity also" +["Economic Welfare and the Allocation of Resources for Inventiveness," in +National Bureau of Economic Research, _The Rate and Direction of +Inventive Activity_, Princeton Univ. Press, 1962, p. 618]. + +Would modern society have produced so many innovations if it had not +been for the Pentagon system, the space race and so on? Take the +Internet, for example -- it is unlikely that this would have got off the +ground if it had not been for the state. + +I.4.9 Should technological advance be seen as anti-anarchistic? + +Not necessarily. Because technology allows us to "do more with less," +technological progress can improve standards of living for all people, and +technologies can be used to increase personal freedom: medical technology, +for instance, can free people from the scourges of pain, illness, and a +"naturally" short lifespan; agricultural technology can be used to free +labor from the mundane chore of food production; advanced communications +technology can enhance our ability to freely associate. The list goes on +and on. However, most anarchists agree with Kropotkin when he pointed +out that the "development of [the industrial] technique at last gives +man [sic!] the opportunity to free himself from slavish toil" [_Ethics_, +p.2] + +Of course technology can be used for oppressive ends, as indicated in section +D.10. Human knowledge, like all things, can be used to increase freedom or +to decrease it. Technology is neither "good," nor "bad" per se, but may be +used for either. What can be said is that in a hierarchical society, +technology will be introduced that serves the interests of the powerful and +helps marginalise and disempower the majority. This means that in an +anarchist society, technology would be developed which empowered those who +used it, so reducing any oppressive aspects of it, and, in the words of +Cornelius Castoriadais, the "conscious transformation of technology will +. . .be a central task of a society of free workers." [_Workers' Councils +and the Economics of a Self-Managed Society_, p. 13] + +For example, increased productivity under capitalism usually leads to +further exploitation, displaced workers, etc. But it doesn't have to in +an anarchist world. By way of example, consider a small, self-sufficient +group in which all resources are distributed equally amongst the members. +Let's say that this group has 5 people and, for the sake of argument, 20 +man-hours of production per week is spent on baking bread for the group. +Now, what happens if the introduction of automation reduces the +amount of labor required for bread production to 5 man-hours per week? +Clearly, no one stands to lose - even if someone's work is "displaced", that +person will continue to receive the same resource income as before - and +they might even gain. This last is due to the fact that 15 man-hours have +been freed up from the task of bread production, and those man-hours may now +be used elsewhere or converted to leisure, either way increasing each +person's standard of living. + +Obviously, this happy outcome derives not only from the technology, +but from its use in an equitable economic system. Certainly, a wide variety +of outcomes would be possible under alternative allocations. Yet, we have +managed to prove our point: in the end, there's no reason why increases in +productivity need lead to a lower standard of living! Therefore, "[f]or +the first time in the history of civilisation, mankind has reached a point +where the means of satisfying its needs are in excess of the needs themselves. +To impose, therefore, as hitherto been done, the curse of misery and +degradation upon vast divisions of mankind, in order to secure well-being +and further development for the few, is needed no more: well-being can be +secured for all, without placing on anyone the burden of oppressive, +degrading toil and humanity can at last build its entire social life +on the basis of justice." [_Ethics_, p. 2] + +It is for these reasons that anarchists have held a wide range of opinions +concerning the relationship between human knowledge and anarchism. Some, +such as Peter Kropotkin, were themselves scientists and saw great potential for +the use of advanced technology to expand human freedom. Others have held +technology at arm's length, concerned about its oppressive uses, and a few +have rejected science and technology completely. All of these are, of course, +possible anarchist positions. But most anarchists support Kropotkin's +viewpoint, but with a healthy dose of practical Luddism when viewing how +technology is (ab)used in capitalism. + +So technological advancement is important in a free society in order to +maximise the free time available for everyone and replace mindless toil +with meaningful work. The means of doing so is the use of *appropriate* +technology (and *not* the worship of technology as such). Only by +critically evaluating technology and introducing such forms which +empower, are understandable and are controllable by individuals and +communities as well as minimising ecological distribution (in other +words, what is termed appropriate technology) can this be achieved. +Only this critical approach to technology can do justice to the power of +the human mind and reflect the creative powers which developed the technology +in the first place. Unquestioning acceptance of technological progress is +just as bad as being unquestioning anti-technology. + +So whether technological advance is a good thing or sustainable depends on +the choices we make, and on the social, political, and economic systems we +use. We live in a universe which contains effectively infinite resources +of matter and energy, yet at the moment we are stuck on a planet whose +resources can only be stretched so far. Anarchists (and others) differ as +to their assessments of how much development the earth can take, and of the +best course for future development, but there's no reason to believe that +advanced technological societies per se cannot be sustained into the +foreseeable future if they are structured and used properly. + +I.4.10 What would be the advantage of a wide basis of surplus distribution? + +We noted earlier (H.4) that competition between syndicates can lead to +"petty-bourgeois cooperativism," and that to eliminate this problem, the basis +of collectivisation needs to be widened so that surpluses are distributed +industry-wide or even society-wide. We also pointed out another advantage +of a wide surplus distribution: that it allows for the consolidation of +enterprises that would otherwise compete, leading to a more efficient +allocation of resources and technical improvements. Here we will back up +this claim with illustrations from the Spanish Revolution. + +Collectivization in Catalonia embraced not only major industries like +municipal transportation and utilities, but smaller establishments as +well: small factories, artisan workshops, service and repair shops, etc. +Augustin Souchy describes the process as follows: "The artisans and small +workshop owners, together with their employees and apprentices, often +joined the union of their trade. By consolidating their efforts and +pooling their resources on a fraternal basis, the shops were able to +undertake very big projects and provide services on a much wider scale. . +. . The collectivisation of the hairdressing shops provides an excellent +example of how the transition of a small-scale manufacturing and service +industry from capitalism to socialism was achieved." + +"Before July 19th, 1936 [the date of the Revolution], there were 1,100 +hairdressing parlors in Barcelona, most of them owned by poor wretches +living from hand to mouth. The shops were often dirty and ill-maintained. +The 5,000 hairdressing assistants were among the most poorly paid +workers. . . Both owners and assistants therefore voluntarily decided to +socialize all their shops. + +"How was this done? All the shops simply joined the union. At a general +meeting they decided to shut down all the unprofitable shops. The 1,100 +shops were reduced to 235 establishments, a saving of 135,000 pesetas per +month in rent, lighting, and taxes. The remaining 235 shops were +modernized and elegantly outfitted." From the money saved, income per +worker was increased by 40 percent, with everyone having the right to work +and all earning the same amount. "The former owners were not adversely +affected by socialization. They were employed at a steady income. All +worked together under equal conditions and equal pay. The distinction +between employers and employees was obliterated and they were transformed +into a working community of equals -- socialism from the bottom up" +["Collectivisation in Catalonia," in Dolgoff, _The Anarchist Collectives_, +pp. 93-94]. + +Therefore, cooperation ensures that resources are efficiently allocated +and waste is minimised by cutting down needless competition. As consumers +have choices in which syndicate to consume from as well as having direct +communication between consumer cooperatives and productive units, there +is little danger that rationalisation in production will hurt the interests +of the consumer. + +I.4.11 If libertarian socialism eliminates the profit motive, won't + creativity and performance suffer? + +According to Alfie Kohn, a growing body of psychological research suggests +that rewards can lower performance levels, especially when the performance +involves creativity ["Studies Find Reward Often No Motivator," _Boston +Globe_, Monday 19 January 1987]. Kohn notes that "a related series of +studies shows that intrinsic interest in a task -- the sense that +something is worth doing for its own sake -- typically declines when +someone is rewarded for doing it." + +Much of the research on creativity and motivation has been performed by +Theresa Amabile, associate professor of psychology at Brandeis +University. One of her recent experiments involved asking elementary +school and college students to make "silly" collages. The young children +were also asked to invent stories. Teachers who rated the projects found +that those students who had contracted for rewards did the least creative +work. "It may be that commissioned work will, in general, be less +creative than work that is done out of pure interest," Amabile says. + +In 1985, Amabile asked 72 creative writers at Brandeis and at Boston +University to write poetry. "Some students then were given a list of +extrinsic (external) reasons for writing, such as impressing teachers, +making money and getting into graduate school, and were asked to think +about their own writing with respect to these reasons. Others were given +a list of intrinsic reasons: the enjoyment of playing with words, +satisfaction from self-expression, and so forth. A third group was not +given any list. All were then asked to do more writing. + +"The results were clear. Students given the extrinsic reasons not only +wrote less creatively than the others, as judged by 12 independent poets, +but the quality of their work dropped significantly. Rewards, Amabile +says, have this destructive effect primarily with creative tasks, +including higher-level problem-solving. 'The more complex the activity, +the more it's hurt by extrinsic reward, she said'" [Ibid.]. + +In another study, by James Gabarino of Chicago's Erikson Institute for +Advanced Studies in Child Development, it was found that girls in the +fifth and sixth grades tutored younger children much less effectively if +they were promised free movie tickets for teaching well. "The study, +showed that tutors working for the reward took longer to communicate +ideas, got frustrated more easily, and did a poorer job in the end than +those who were not rewarded" [Ibid.] + +Such studies cast doubt on the claim that financial reward is the only +effective way -- or even the best way -- to motivate people. As Kohn +notes, "[t]hey also challenge the behaviorist assumption that any activity +is more likely to occur if it is rewarded." Amabile concludes that her +research "definitely refutes the notion that creativity can be operantly +conditioned." + +Such studies cast doubt on the claim that financial reward is the only +effective way -- or even the best way -- to motivate people. As Kohn +notes, "[t]hey also challenge the behaviorist assumption that any activity +is more likely to occur if it is rewarded." Amabile concludes that her +research "definitely refutes the notion that creativity can be operantly +conditioned." + +These findings re-inforce the findings of other scientific fields. Biology, +social psychology, ethnology and anthropology all present evidence that +support cooperation as the natural basis for human interaction. For +example, ethnological studies indicate that virtually all indigenous +cultures operate on the basis of highly cooperative relationships and +anthropologists have presented evidence to show that the predominant +force driving early human evolution was cooperative social interaction, +leading to the capacity of hominids to develop culture. This is even +sinking into capitalism, with industrial psychology now promoting "worker +participation" and team functioning because it is decisively more +productive than hierarchical management. More importantly, the evidence +shows that cooperative workplaces are more productive than those organized +on other principles. All other things equal, producers' cooperatives will +be more productive than capitalist or state enterprises, on average. +Cooperatives can often achieve higher productivity even when their equipment +and conditions are worse. Furthermore, the better the organization +approximates the cooperative ideal, the better the productivity. + +All this is unsurprising to social anarchists (and it should make +individualist anarchists reconsider their position). Peter Kropotkin +(in _Mutual Aid_) asserted that, "[i]f we . . . ask Nature: 'who are +the fittest: those who are continually at war with each other, or those +who support one another?' we at once see that those animals which acquire +habits of mutual aid are undoubtedly the fittest. They have more chances +to survive, and they attain, in their respective classes, the highest +development of intelligence and bodily organization." From his observation +that mutual aid gives evolutionary advantage to living beings, he derived +his political philosophy--a philosophy which stressed community and +cooperative endeavor. + +Modern research has reinforced his argument. For example, Alfie Kohn is +also the author of _No Contest: The Case Against Competition_ and he +spent seven years reviewing more than 400 research studies dealing +with competition and cooperation. Prior to his investigation, he +believed that "competition can be natural and appropriate and healthy." +After reviewing research findings, he radically revised this opinion, +concluding that, "The ideal amount of competition . . . in any environment, +the classroom, the workplace, the family, the playing field, is none . . . [Competition] is always destructive." [_Noetic Sciences Review_, +Spring 1990] + +Here we present a very short summary of his findings. According to Kohn, +there are three principle consequences of competition: + +Firstly, it has a negative effect on productivity and excellence. This is +due to increased anxiety, inefficiency (as compared to cooperative sharing +of resources and knowledge), and the undermining of inner motivation. +Competition shifts the focus to victory over others, and away from intrinsic +motivators such as curiosity, interest, excellence, and social interaction. +Studies show that cooperative behaviour, by contrast, consistently +predicts good performance--a finding which holds true under a wide range of +subject variables. Interestingly, the positive benefits of cooperation +become more significant as tasks become more complex, or where greater +creativity and problem-solving ability is required (as indicated above). + +Secondly, competition lowers self-esteem and hampers the development of +sound, self-directed individuals. A strong sense of self is difficult to +attain when self-evaluation is dependent on seeing how we measure up to +others. On the other hand, those whose identity is formed in relation to +how they contribute to group efforts generally possess greater +self-confidence and higher self-esteem. + +Finally, competition undermines human relationships. Humans are social +beings; we best express our humanness in interaction with others. By +creating winners and losers, competition is destructive to human unity +and prevents close social feeling. + +Anarchists have long argued these points. In the competitive mode, people +work at cross purposes, or purely for (material) personal gain. This leads +to an impoverishment of society and hierarchy, with a lack of communal +relations that result in an impoverishment of all the individuals +involved (mentally, spiritually, ethically and, ultimately, materially). +This not only leads to a weakening of individuality and social disruption, +but also to economic inefficiency as energy is wasted in class conflict +and invested in building bigger and better cages to protect the haves from +the have-nots. Instead of creating useful things, human activity is +spent in useless toil reproducing an unjustice and authoritarian system. + +All in all, the results of competition (as documented by a host of +scientific disciplines) shows its poverty as well as indicating that +cooperation is the means by which the fittest survive. + +I.4.12 Won't there be a tendency for capitalist enterprise to reappear + in any socialist society? + +This is a common right-libertarian objection. Robert Nozick, for example, +imagines the following scenario: "[S]mall factories would spring up in a +socialist society, unless forbidden. I melt some of my personal +possessions and build a machine out of the material. I offer you and +others a philosophy lecture once a week in exchange for yet other things, +and so on. . . .some persons might even want to leave their jobs in +socialist industry and work full time in this private sector. [This is] +how private property even in means of production would occur in a +socialist society." Hence Nozick claims that "the socialist society will +have to forbid capitalist acts between consenting adults." [_Anarchy, State +and Utopia_, pp. 162-3] + +As Jeff Stein points out, however, "the only reason workers want to be +employed by capitalists is because they have no other means for making a +living, no access to the means of production other than by selling +themselves. For a capitalist sector to exist there must be some form of +private ownership of productive resources, and a scarcity of +alternatives. The workers must be in a condition of economic desperation +for them to be willing to give up an equal voice in the management of +their daily affairs and accept a boss" ["Market Anarchism? Caveat +Emptor!", a review of _A Structured Anarchism : An Overview of +Libertarian Theory and Practice_ by John Griffin, _Libertarian Labor +Review_ #13, Winter 1992-93, pp. 33-39]. + +In an anarchist society, there is no need for anyone to "forbid" +capitalist acts. All people have to do is *refrain* from helping would-be +capitalists set up monopolies of productive assets. This is because, as +we have noted in B.3.2, capitalism cannot exist without some form of state +to protect such monopolies. In a libertarian-socialist society, of +course, there would be no state to begin with, and so there would be no +question of it "refraining" from doing anything, including protecting +would-be capitalists' monopolies of the means of production. In other +words, would-be capitalists would face stiff competition for workers +in an anarchist society. This is because self-managed workplaces would be +able to offer workers more benefits (such as self-government) than the +would-be capitalist ones. The would-be capitalists would have to offer +not only excellent wages and conditions but also, in all likelihood, +workers' control and hire-purchase on capital used. The chances of making +a profit once the various monopolies associated with capitalism are +abolished are slim. + +It should be noted that Nozick makes a serious error in his case. He assumes +that the "use rights" associated with an anarchist (i.e. socialist) society +are identical to the "property rights" of a capitalist one. This is *not* +the case, and so his argument is weakened and loses its force. Simply put, +there is no such thing as an absolute or "natural" law of property. As J.S. +Mill points out, "powers of exclusive use and control are very various, and +differ greatly in different countries and in different states of society." +["Chapters on Socialism," _John Stuart Mill on Politics and Society_, p. 354] +Therefore, Nozick slips an ideological ringer into his example by erroneously +interpreting socialism (or any other society for that matter) as specifying +a distribution of private property (like those he, and other supporters +of capitalism, believes in) along with the wealth. + +In other words, Nozick assumes that in *all* societies property rights must +replace use rights in both consumption *and* production (an assumption that +is ahistorical in the extreme). As Cheyney C. Ryan comments, "Different +conceptions of justice differ not only in how they would apportion society's +holdings but in what rights individuals have over their holdings once they +have been apportioned." ["Property Rights and Individual Liberty", in +_Reading Nozack_, p. 331] + +In effect, what possessions someone holds within a libertarian +socialist society will not be his or her property (in the capitalist sense) +any more than a company car is the property of the employee under +capitalism. This means that as long as an individual remained a member of +a commune then they would have full use of the resources of that commune +and could use their possessions as they saw fit. Such lack of *absolute* +"ownership" does not reduce liberty any more than the employee and the company +car he or she uses (bar destruction, the employee can use it as they see +fit). + +Notice also that Nozick confuses exchange with capitalism ("I offer you a +lecture once a week in exchange for other things"). This is a telling +mistake by someone who claims to be an expert on capitalism, because the +defining feature of capitalism is not exchange (which obviously took place +long before capitalism existed) but labor contracts involving capitalist +middlemen who appropriate a portion of the value produced by workers - in +other words, wage labour. Nozick's example is merely a direct labor contract +between the producer and the consumer. It does not involve any capitalist +intermediary taking a percentage of the value created by the producer. It +is only this latter type of transaction that libertarian socialism prevents -- +and not by "forbidding" it but simply by refusing to maintain the conditions +necessary for it to occur, i.e. protection of capitalist property. + +Lastly, we must also note that Nozick also ignores the fact that acquisition +*must* come before transfer, meaning that before "consenting" capitalist acts +occur, individual ones must precede it. As argued above, for this to happen +the would-be capitalist must steal communally owned resources by barring +others from using them. This obviously would restrict the liberty of those +who currently used them and so be hotly opposed by members of a community. +If an individual did desire to use resources to employ wage labour then they +would have effectively removed themselves from "socialist society" and so +that society would bar them from using *its* resources (i.e. they would +have to buy access to all the resources they currently took for granted). + +It should also be noted here that Nozick's theory does not provide any support +for such appropriation of commonly held resources, meaning that his +(right) libertarianism is totally without foundations. His argument in +favour of such appropriations recognises that certain liberties are very +definitely restricted by private property (and it should be keep in mind +that the destruction of commonly held resources, such as village commons, +were enforced by the state - see section F.8.3). As Cheyney C. Ryan points +out, Nozick "invoke[s] personal liberty as the decisive ground for +rejecting patterned principles of justice [such as socialism] and +restrictions on the ownership of capital. . .[b]ut where the rights of +private property admittedly restrict the liberties of the average person, +he seems perfectly happy to *trade off* such liberties against material +gain for society as a whole." ["Property Rights and Individual Liberty", +in _Reading Nozack_, p. 339] + +Again, as pointed out in section F.2 (What do "anarcho"-capitalists mean +by "freedom?") right-libertarians would better be termed "Propertarians." +Why is liberty according a primary importance when arguing against socialism +but not private property restricts liberty? Obviously, Nozick considers +the liberties associated with private property as more important than +liberty *in general.* Likewise, capitalism must forbid corresponding +socialist acts by individuals (for example, squatting unused property) and +often socialist acts between consenting individuals (i.e. the formation of +unions). + +So, to conclude, this question involves some strange logic (and many +question begging assumptions) and ultimately fails in its attempt to prove +libertarian socialism must "ban" "capitalistic acts between individuals." +In addition, the objection undermines capitalism because it cannot support +the creation of private property out of communal property in the first +place. + +I.4.13 Who will do the dirty or unpleasant work? + +That depends on the kind of community you are a member of. Obviously, few +would argue against the idea that individuals will voluntarily work at things +they enjoyed doing. However there are some jobs that few, if any, would +enjoy (for example, collecting rubbish, processing sewage, dangerous work, +etc.). So how would an anarchist society deal with it? + +It will be clear what is considered unpleasant work in any society - few +people (if any) will volunteer to do it. As in any advanced society, +communities and syndicates who required extra help would inform others +of their need by the various form of media that existed. In addition, it +would be likely that each community would have a "division of activity" +syndicate whose work would be to distribute information about these +posts and to which members of a community would go to discover what +placements existed for the line of "work" they were interested in. +So we have a means by which syndicates and communes can ask for new hands +and the means by which individuals can discover these placements. Obviously, +some work will still require qualifications and that will be taken into +account when syndicates and communes "advertise" for help. + +For "work" placements in which supply exceeded demand, it would be easy +to arrange a work share scheme to ensure that most people get a chance to do +that kind of work (see below for a discussion of what could happen if the +numbers applying for a certain form of work were too high for this to work). +When such placements are marked by an excess of demand by supply, its obvious +that the activity in question is not viewed as pleasant or desirable. Until +such time as it can be automated away, a free society will have to encourage +people to volunteer for "work" placements they do not particularly want to do. + +So, it is obvious that not all "jobs" are equal in interest or enjoyment. It +is sometimes argued that people would start to join or form syndicates +which are involved in more fun activities. By this process excess workers would +be found in the more enjoyable "jobs" while the boring and dangerous ones +would suffer from a scarcity of willing workers. Hence, so the argument +goes, a socialist society would have to force people to do certain jobs +and so that requires a state. Obviously, this argument ignores the fact that +under capitalism usually it is the boring, dangerous work which is the least +well paid with the worse working conditions. In addition, this argument +ignores the fact that under workers self-management boring, dangerous work +would be minimised and transformed as much as possible. Only under capitalist +hierarchy are people in no position to improve the quality of their work and +working environment. As George Barret argues: + +"Now things are so strangely organised at present that it is just the +dirty and disagreeable work that men will do cheaply, and consequently +there is no great rush to invent machines to take their place. In a free +society, on the other hand, it is clear that the disagreeable work will be +one of the first things that machinery will be called upon to eliminate. It +is quite fair to argue, therefore, that the disagreeable work will, to a +large extent, disappear in a state of anarchism." [_Objections to Anarchism_] + +Moreover, most anarchists would think that the argument that there would +be a flood of workers taking up "easy" work placements is abstract and +ignores the dynamics of a real society. While many individuals would +try to create new productive syndicates in order to express themselves +in innovative work outwith the existing research and development going +on within existing syndicates, the idea that the majority of individuals +would leave their current work at a drop of a hat is crazy. A workplace +is a community and part of a community and people would value the links +they have with their fellow workers. As such they would be aware of the +impacts of their decisions on both themselves and society as a whole. So, +while we would expect a turnover of workers between syndicates, the mass +transfers claimed in this argument are unlikely. Most workers who did want +to try their hand at new work would apply for work places at syndicates that +required new people, not create their own ones. Because of this, work +transfers would be moderate and easily handled. + +However, the possibility of mass desertions does exist and so must be +addressed. So how would a libertarian socialist society deal with a majority +of its workers deciding to all do interesting work, leaving the boring +and/or dangerous work undone? It, of course, depends on the type of +anarchism in question and is directly related to the question of who +will do the "dirty work" in an anarchist society. So, how will an anarchist +society ensure that individual perferences for certain types of work +matches the requirements of social demand for labour? + +Under mutualism, those who desired a certain form of work done would +reach an agreement with a workers or a cooperative and pay them to do +the work in question. Individuals would form cooperatives with each +cooperative would have to find its place on the market and so this +would ensure that work was spread across society as required. Individuals +desiring to form a new cooperative would either provide their own start +up credit or arrange a interest free loan from a mutual bank. However, this +could lead to some people doing unpleasant work all the time and so is hardly +a solution. As in capitalism, we may see some people doing terrible work +because it is better than no work at all. This is a solution few anarchists +would support. + +In a collectivist or communist anarchist society, such an outcome would +be avoided by sharing such tasks as fairly as possible between a community's +members. For example, by allocating one day in a month to all fit members +of a community to do work which no one volunteers to do, it would soon be +done. This, however, may not prove to a possible in some "work" placements. +Possible solutions could be to take into account the undesirability of the +work when considering the level of labour notes received or communal +hours worked. + +In other words, in a collectivist society the individuals who do unpleasant +work may be "rewarded" (along with social esteem) with a slightly higher +pay - the number of labour notes, for example, for such work would be +a multiple of the standard amount, the actual figure being related to +how much supply exceeds demand. In a communist society, the number of +necessary hours required by an individual would be reduced by an amount +that corresponds to the undesirability of the work involved. The +actual levels of "reward" would be determined by agreements between +the syndicates. + +To be more precise, in a collectivist society, individuals would either +use their own savings and/or arrange loans of community labour banks +for credit in order to start up a new syndicate. This will obviously +restrict the number of new syndicates being formed. In the case of individuals +joining existing syndicates, the labour value of the work done would be +related to the number of people interested in doing that work. For example, +if a given type of work has 50% more people wanting to do it than actually +required, then the labour value for one hours work in this industry would +correspondingly be less than one hour. If it is in excess, then the labour +value would increase, as would holiday time, etc. + +In this way, "supply and demand" for workers would soon approximate each +other. In addition, a collectivist society would be better placed than the +current system to ensure work-sharing and other methods to spread unpleasant +and pleasant tasks equally around society. + +A communist-anarchist society's solution would be similar to the collectivist +one. There would still be basic agreements between its members for work done +and so for work placements with excess supply of workers the amount of hours +necessary to meet the confederations agreed minimum would correspondingly +increase. For example, an industry with 100% excess supply of volunteers +would see its minimum requirement increase from (say) 20 hours a week to 30 +hours. An industry with less applicants than required would see the number +of required hours of "work" decrease, plus increases in holiday time and +so on. As G.D.H. Cole argues in respect of this point: + +"Let us first by the fullest application of machinery and scientific methods +eliminate or reduce . . . 'dirty work' that admit to such treatment. This has +never been tried. . . under capitalism. . . It is cheaper to exploit and ruin +human beings. . . Secondly, let us see what forms of 'dirty work' we can do +without . . . [and] if any form of work is not only unpleasant but degrading, +we will do without it, whatever the cost. No human being ought to be allowed +or compelled to do work that degrades. Thirdly, for what dull or unpleasant +work remains, let us offer whatever special conditions are required to +attract the necessary workers, not in higher pay, but in shorter hours, +holidays extending over six months in the year, conditions attractive +enough to men who have other uses for their time or attention to being +the requisite number to undertake it voluntarily."[_Guild Socialism +Restated_, p. 76] + +By these methods a balance between industrial sectors would be achieved +as individuals would balance their desire for interesting work with their +desires for free time. Over time, by using the power of appropriate +technology, even such time keeping would be minimised or even got eliminated +as society developed freely. + +And it is important to remember that the means of production required by +new syndicates do not fall from the sky. Other members of society will +have to work to produce the required goods. Therefore it is likely that +the syndicates and communes would agree that only a certain (maximum) +percentage of production would be allocated to start-up syndicates (as +opposed to increasing the resources of existing confederations). Such a +figure would obviously be revised periodically in order to take into +account changing circumstances. Members of the community who decide to +form syndicates for new productive tasks or syndicates which do the same +work but are independent of existing confederations would have to get the +agreement of other workers to supply them with the necessary means of +production (just as today they have to get the agreement of a bank to +receive the necessary credit to start a new business). By budgeting the +amounts available, a free society can ensure that individual desires for +specific kinds of work can be matched with the requirements of society for +useful production. + +And we must point out (just to make sure we are not misunderstood) that +there will be no group of "planners" deciding which applications for +resources get accepted. Instead, individuals and associations would apply +to different production units for resources, whose workers in turn decide +whether to produce the goods requested. If it is within the syndicate's +agreed budget then it is likely that they will produce the required materials. +In this way, a communist-anarchist society will ensure the maximum amount +of economic freedom to start new syndicates and join existing ones plus +ensure that social production does not suffer in the process. + +Of course, no system is perfect - we are sure that not everyone will be +able to do the work they enjoy the most (this is also the case under +capitalism, we may add). In an anarchist society every method of ensuring +that individuals pursue the work they are interested in would be +investigated. If a possible solution can be found, we are sure that it will. +What a free society would make sure of was that neither the capitalist +market redeveloped (which ensures that the majority are marginalised into +wage slavery) or a state socialist "labour army" type allocation process +developed (which would ensure that free socialism did not remain free or +socialist for long). + +In this manner, anarchism will be able to ensure the principle of +voluntary labour and free association as well as making sure that +unpleasant and unwanted "work" is done. Moreover, most anarchists are +sure that in a free society such requirements to encourage people to +volunteer for unpleasant work will disappear over time as feelings +of mutual aid and solidarity become more and more common place. Indeed, +it is likely that people will gain respect for doing jobs that others might +find unpleasant and so it might become "glamourous" to do such activity. +Showing off to friends can be a powerful stimulus in doing any +activity. So, anarchists would agree with Albert and Hahnel when they +say that: + +"In a society that makes every effort to depreciate the esteem that derives +from anything other than conspicuous consumption, it is not surprising that +great income differentials are seen as necessary to induce effort. But to +assume that only conspicuous consumption can motivate people because under +capitalism we have strained to make it so is unwarranted. There is plenty +of evidence that people can be moved to great sacrifices for reasons other +than a desire for personal wealth...there is good reason to believe that for +nonpathological people wealth is generally coveted only as a *means* of +attaining other ends such as economic security, comfort, social esteem, +respect, status, or power." [_The Political Economy of Participatory +Economics_, p. 52] + +We should note here that the education syndicates would obviously take +into account the trends in "work" placement requirements when deciding +upon the structure of their classes. In this way, education would +respond to the needs of society as well as the needs of the individual +(as would any productive syndicate). + +I.4.14 What about the person who will not work? + +Anarchism is based on voluntary labour. If people do not desire to work +then they cannot (must not) be forced to. However, this does not mean that +an anarchist society will continue to feed, clothe, house someone who can +produce but refuses to. As Camillo Berneri points out, anarchism is +based upon "no compulsion to work, bit no duty towards those who do not +want to work." ["The Problem of Work", in _Why Work?_ ed. Vernon Richards, +p. 74] + +Obviously, there is a difference between not wanting to work and being unable +to work. The sick, children, the old, pregnant women and so on will be +looked after by their friends and family. As child rearing will be considered +"work" along with other more obviously economic tasks, mothers and fathers +will not have to leave their children unattended and work to make ends meet. +Instead, consideration will be given to the needs of both parents and +children as well as the creation of community nurseries and child care +centres. + +So, in an anarchist society, individuals have two options, either they +can join a commune and work together as equals, or they can work as an +individual or independent cooperative and exchange the product of their +labour with others. If an individual joins a commune and does not carry +their weight, even after their fellow workers ask them to, then that person +will possibly be expelled and given enough land, tools or means of production +to work alone. Of course, if a person is depressed, run down or otherwise +finding it hard to join in communal responsibilities then their friends +and fellow workers would do everything in their power to help and be +flexible in their approach to the problem. + +So people will have to work, but how they do so will be voluntary. If +people did not work, society would obviously fall apart and to let some live +off the labour of those who do work would be a reversion to capitalism. +However, most social anarchists think that the problem of people trying +not to work would be a very minor one in an anarchist society. This is +because work is part of human life to express oneself. With work being +voluntary and self-managed, it will become like current day hobbies and +many people work harder at their hobbies than they do at work. It is the +nature of employment under capitalism that makes it "work" instead of +pleasure. Work need not be a part of the day that we wish would end. + +This, combined with the workday being shortened, will help ensure +that only an idiot would desire to work alone. As Malatesta argued, the +"individual who wished to supply his own material needs by working alone +would be the slave of his labours." [_The Anarchist Revolution_, p. 15] + +So, enlightened self-interest would secure the voluntary labour and +egalitarian distribution anarchists favour in the vast majority of the +population. The parasitism associated with capitalism would be a thing of +the past. + +I.4.15 What will the workplace of tomorrow look like? + +Given the anarchist desire to liberate the artist in all of us, we can +easily imagine that a free society would transform totally the working +environment. No longer would workers be indifferent to their workplaces, +but they would express themselves in transforming them into pleasant +places, integrated into both the life of the local community and into +the local environment. + +A glimpse of the future workplace can been seen from the actual class +struggle. In the 40 day sit-down strike at Fisher Body plant #1 in Flint, +Michigan in 1936, "there was a community of two thousand strikers . . . +Committees organised recreation, information, classes, a postal service, +sanitation. . .There were classes in parliamentary procedure, public +speaking, history of the labour movement. Graduate students at the +University of Michigan gave courses in journalism and creative writing. +[Howard Zinn, _A People's History of the United States_, p. 391] + +Therefore the workplace would be expanded to include education and +classes in individual development. This would allow work to become +part of a wider community, drawing in people from different areas to +share their knowledge and learn new insights and ideas. In addition, +children would have part of their school studies with workplaces, getting +them aware of the practicalities of many different forms of work and so +allowing them to make informed decisions in what sort of activity they +would be interested in pursuing when they were older. + +Obviously, a workplace managed by its workers would also take care to make +the working environment as pleasant as possible. No more "sick building +syndrome" or unhealthy and stressful work areas. Buildings would be +designed to maximise space and allow individual expression within them. +Outside the workplace, we can imagine it surrounded by gardens and allotments +which were tended by workers themselves, giving a pleasant surrounding +to the workplace. + +Therefore the future workplace would be an expression of the desires of +those who worked there. It would be based around a pleasant working +environment, within gardens and with extensive library, resources for +education classes and other leisure activities. All this, and more, will +be possible in a society based upon self-realisation and self-expression +and one in which individuality is not crushed by authority and capitalism. +Such a vision is possible and is only held back by capitalism which +denounces such visions of freedom as "uneconomic." However, as William +Morris points out: + +"Impossible I hear an anti-Socialist say. My friend, please to remember +that most factories sustain today large and handsome gardens, and not +seldom parks . . .*only* the said gardens, etc. are twenty miles away from +the factory, *out of the smoke,* and are kept up for *one member of the +factory only,* the sleeping partner to wit" [_A Factory as It Might Be_, +pp. 7-8] + +Pleasant working conditions based upon the self-management of work can +produce a workplace within which economic "efficiency" can be achieved +without disrupting and destroying individuality and the environment. + +I.5 What could the social structure of anarchy look like? + +The social and political structure of anarchy is parallel to that of the +economic structure, i.e., it is based on a voluntary federation of +decentralized, directly democratic policy-making bodies, the neighborhood +and community assemblies. In these grassroots political units, the concept +of "self-management" becomes that of municipal self-government, a form +of civic organization in which people take back control of their +living places from the bureaucratic state and the capitalist class whose +interests it serves. As Kropotkin argued, "socialism must become *more +popular*, more communalistic, and less dependent upon indirect government +through elected representatives. It must become more *self-governing.*" +[_Revolutionary Pamphlets_, p. 185] + +This empowerment of ordinary citizens through decentralization and direct +democracy will eliminate the alienation and apathy that are now rampant in +the modern city, and (as always happens when people are free) unleash a +flood of innovation in dealing with the social breakdown now afflicting +our urban wastelands. The gigantic metropolis with its hierarchical and +impersonal administration, its atomised and isolated "residents," will be +transformed into a network of humanly scaled participatory communities +(sometimes called "communes"), each with its own unique character and +forms of self-government, which will be cooperatively linked through +federation with other communities at several levels, from the municipal +through the bioregional to the global. + +Of course, it can (and has) been argued that people are just not +interested in "politics." Further, some claim that this disinterest is +why governments exist -- people delegate their responsibilities and power +to others because they have better things to do. Anarchists, however, do +not draw this conclusion from the current apathy that surrounds us. In +fact, we argue that this apathy is not the cause of government but its +result. Government is an inherently hierarchical system in which ordinary +people are deliberately marginalised. The powerlessness people feel due to +the workings of the system ensure that they are apathetic about it, thus +guaranteeing that wealthy and powerful elites govern society without +hindrance from the majority. + +This result is not an accident, and the marginalisation of "ordinary" people +is actually celebrated in "democratic" theory. As Noam Chomsky notes, +"Twentieth century democratic theorists advise that 'The public must be +put in its place,' so that the 'responsible men' may 'live free of the +trampling and roar of a bewildered herd,' 'ignorant and meddlesome +outsiders' whose 'function' is to be 'interested spectators of action,' +not participants, lending their weight periodically to one or another of +the leadership class (elections), then returning to their private +concerns. (Walter Lippman). The great mass of the population, 'ignorant +and mentally deficient,' must be kept in their place for the common good, +fed with 'necessary illusion' and 'emotionally potent oversimplifications' +(Wilson's Secretary of State Robert Lansing, Reinhold Niebuhr). Their +'conservative' counterparts are only more extreme in their adulation of the +Wise Men who are the rightful rulers -- in the service of the rich and +powerful, a minor footnote regularly forgotten." [_Year 501_, p. 18] + +As discussed in Section B.2.6 (Who benefits from centralisation?) this +marginalisation of the public from political life ensures that the wealthy +can be "left alone" to use their power as they see fit. In other words, +such marginalisation is a necessary part of a fully functioning +capitalist society (as predicted by Thomas Jefferson, among others, when +he said that "The end of democracy and the defeat of the American +Revolution will occur when the government falls into the hands of banking +institutions and monied incorporations"). Hence, under capitalism, +libertarian social structures are to be discouraged. Or as Chomsky puts +it, the "rabble must be instructed in the values of subordination and a +narrow quest for personal gain within the parameters set by the +institutions of the masters; meaningful democracy, with popular +association and action, is a threat to be overcome." [Op. Cit., p. 18] +This philosophy can be seen in the statement of a US Banker in Venezuela +under the murderous Jimenez dictatorship: "You have the freedom here to +do whatever you want to do with your money, and to me, that is worth all +the political freedom in the world." [quoted by Chomsky, Op. Cit., p. 99] + +Deterring libertarian alternatives to statism is a common feature of our +current system. By marginalising and disempowering people, the ability of +individuals to manage their own social activities is undermined and +weakened. They develop a "fear of freedom" and embrace authoritarian +institutions and "strong leaders," which in turn reinforces their +marginalisation. + +This consequence is hardly surprising. Anarchists maintain that the desire to +participate and the ability to participate are in a symbiotic relationship: +participation feeds on itself. By creating the social structures that allow +participation, participation will increase. As people increasingly take control +of their lives, so their ability to do so also increases. The challenge of +having to take responsibility for decisions that make a difference is at the +same time an opportunity for personal development. To begin to feel power, +having previously felt powerless, to win access to the resources required for +effective participation and learn how to use them, is a liberating experience. +Once people become active subjects, making things happen in one aspect of +their lives, they are less likely to remain passive objects, allowing things +to happen to them, in other aspects. + +Hence a meaningful communal life based on self-empowered individuals is a +distinct possibility. It is the hierarchical structures in statism and +capitalism, marginalising and disempowering the majority, which is at the +root of the current social apathy in the face of increasing social and +ecological disruption. Libertarian socialists therefore call for a +radically new form of political system to replace the centralized +nation-state, a form that would be based around confederations of +self-governing communities. In other words "*Society is a society of +societies; a league of leagues of leagues; a commonwealth of commonwealths +of commonwealths; a republic of republics of republics.* Only there is +freedom and order, only there is spirit, a spirit which is +self-sufficiency and community, unity and independence." [Gustav +Landauer, _For Socialism_, pp. 125-126] + +To create such a system would require dismantling the nation-state and +reconstituting relations between communities on the basis of +self-determination and free and equal confederation from below. In the +following subsections we will examine in more detail why this new system +is needed and what it might look like. We will point out here that we +are discussing the social structure of areas within which the inhabitants +are predominately anarchists. It is obviously the case that areas in which +the inhabitants are not anarchists will take on different forms depending +upon the ideas that dominate there. Hence, assuming the end of the current +state structure, we could see anarchist communities along with statist +ones (capitalist or socialist) and these communities taking different +forms depending on what their inhabitants want - communist to individualist +communities in the case of anarchist ones, republician to private state +organisations in the statist areas, ones based on religious sects and so +on. As it is up to non-anarchists to present their arguments in favour of +their kind of statism, we will concentrate on discussing anarchist ideas +on social organisation here. + +I.5.1 What are participatory communities and why are they needed? + +As Murray Bookchin argues in _The Rise of Urbanization and the Decline of +Citizenship_, the modern city is a virtual appendage of the capitalist +workplace, being an outgrowth and essential counterpart of the factory +(where "factory" means any enterprise in which surplus value is extracted +from employees.) As such, cities are structured and administered primarily +to serve the needs of the capitalist elite -- employers -- rather than the +needs of the many -- their employees. From this standpoint, the city must +be seen as (1) a transportation hub for importing raw materials and +exporting finished products; and (2) a huge dormitory for wage slaves, +conveniently locating them near the enterprises where their labor is to +exploited, providing them with entertainment, clothing, medical +facilities, etc. as well as coercive mechanisms for controlling their +behavior. + +The attitude behind the management of these "civic" functions by the +bureaucratic servants of the capitalist ruling class is purely +instrumental: worker-citizens are to be treated merely as means to +corporate ends, not as ends in themselves. This attitude is reflected in +the overwhelmingly alienating features of the modern city: its inhuman +scale; the chilling impersonality of its institutions and functionaries; +its sacrifice of health, comfort, pleasure, and aesthetic considerations +to bottom-line requirements of efficiency and "cost effectiveness"; the +lack of any real communal interaction among residents other than +collective consumption of commodities and amusements; their consequent +social isolation and tendency to escape into television, alcohol, drugs, +gangs, etc. Such features make the modern metropolis the very antithesis +of the genuine community for which most of its residents hunger. This +contradiction at the heart of the system contains the possibility of +radical social and political change. + +The key to that change, from the anarchist standpoint, is the creation of +a network of participatory communities based on self-government through +direct, face-to-face democracy in grassroots neighbourhood and community +assemblies. These assemblies will be general meetings open to all citizens +in every neighbourhood, town, and village, and will be the source of and +final authority over public policy for all levels of confederal +coordination. Such "town meetings" will bring ordinary people directly +into the political process and give them an equal voice in the decisions +that affect their lives - "a people governing itself directly - when +possible - without intermediaries, without masters." [Peter Kropotkin, +_The Great French Revolution_ Vol 1, p. 210] Traditionally, these "town +meetings" or participatory communities were called *communes* in anarchist +theory. + +As Kropotkin pointed out, a "new form of political organisation has to be +worked out the moment that socialistic principles shall enter our life. +And it is self-evident that this new form will have to be *more popular, +more decentralised, and nearer to the folk-mote self-government* than +representative government can ever be." [_Kropotkin's Revolutionary Pamphlets_, +p. 184] He, like all anarchists, considered the idea that socialism could +be created by taking over the current state or creating a new one as +doomed to failure. Instead, he recognised that socialism would only be +built using new organisations that reflect the spirit of socialism (such +as freedom, self-government and so on). Kropotkin, like Proudhon and +Bakunin before him, therefore argued that "*[t]his was the form that +the social revolution must take* -- the independent commune. . .[whose] +inhabitants have decided that they *will* communalize the consumption of +commodities, their exchange and their production" [Op. Cit., p. 163] + +The size of the neighbourhood assemblies will vary, but it will probably +fluctuate around some ideal size, discoverable in practice, that will +provide a viable scale of face-to-face interaction and allow for both a +variety of personal contacts and the opportunity to know and form a +personal estimation of everyone in the neighborhood. Some anarchists have +suggested that the ideal size for a neighbourhood assembly might be around +300 to 600 adults, meeting in neighborhoods of 500 to 1,000 people. (See, +for example, "Green Political and Social Change" by the Syracuse/Onandaga +County Greens, in _Our Generation_ magazine, vol. 24, No 2. ). Such +assemblies would meet regularly, perhaps monthly, and deal with a variety +of issues. "Neighborhoods of this size can support their assemblies to +oversee the administration of elementary schools, child care centers, +retail outlets for basic home supplies, solar based energy sources, +community gardens, community handicraft and machine tool workshops, +community laundries, and much more, all within close walking distance" +[Ibid.]. + +Community assemblies and councils would be larger political units covering +groups of neighborhoods involving perhaps 5,000 to 10,000 people. Like the +neighborhood assemblies, they would be based on direct, "town-meeting"-style +democracy. Most economies of scale are reached at this size: + +"For example, assuming today's technology, division of labor, +and level of workforce participation, a community of 10,000 with 2,000 +manufacturing workers would be able to staff three plants of current +average size in each of the thirteen basic manufacturing categories -- +enough to supply the community with most of its manufacturing needs with +considerable variety. Add multi-purpose machines, miniaturization, and +cybernation, and the possibilities for a high degree of economic +self-reliance become obvious. At this scale, the community still remains +comprehensible, community control of the economy feasible, and such +measures as distribution according to need and the regular rotation of +people through a full range of types of work and public administrative +responsibilities can be easily introduced. Communities of 5,000 to 10,000 +would combine community assemblies, meeting perhaps quarterly to decide on +basic policy, with community councils consisting of mandated, recallable, +and rotating delegates from the neighborhood assemblies to oversee day to +day coordination and administration of community policies" [Ibid.] + +I.5.2 Why are confederations of participatory communities needed? + +Since not all issues are local, the neighbourhood and community assemblies +will also elect mandated and recallable delegates to the larger-scale +units of self-government in order to address issues affecting larger +areas, such as urban districts, the municipality as a whole, the county, +the bioregion, and ultimately the entire planet. Thus the assemblies +will confederate at several levels in order to develop and coordinate +common policies to deal with common problems. + +This need for cooperation does not imply a centralised body. As Kropotkin +pointed out, anarchists "understand that if no central government was needed +to rule the independent communes, if national government is thrown +overboard and national unity is obtained by free federation, then a +central *municipal* government becomes equally useless and noxious. The +same federative principle would do within the commune." [_Kropotkin's +Revolutionary Pamphlets, pp. 163-164] + +As in the economic federation of collectives, the lower levels will control +the higher, thus eliminating the current pre-emptive powers of centralised +government hierarchies. Delegates to higher-level coordinating councils or +conferences will be instructed, at every level of confederation, by the +assemblies they represent, on how to deal with any issue. These +instructions will be binding, committing delegates to a framework of +policies within which they must act and providing for their recall and the +nullification of their decisions if they fail to carry out their mandates. +Delegates may be selected by election and/or sortition (random selection +by lot, as for jury duty). + +Most anarchists recognize that there will be a need for "public officials" +with delegated "powers" within the social confederation. However, "powers" +is not the best word to describe their activities, because their work is +essentially administrative in nature -- for example, an individual may be +elected to look into alternative power supplies for a community and report +back on what he or she discovers. Or one may be elected to overlook the +installation of a selected power supply. Because such a person is an elected +delegate of the community, he or she is a "public official" in the broadest +sense of the word, essentially an agent of the local community who is +controlled by, and accountable to, that community. + +Therefore, such "officials" are unlike politicians. This is for two reasons. +Firstly, they cannot make policy decisions on behalf of those who elected +them, and so they do not have governmental power over those who elected them. +Taking the example of alternative power supplies, the elected "official" +would present findings to the body by which he or she had been mandated. +These findings are *not* a law which the electors are required to follow, +but a series of suggestions and information from which they chose what +they think is best. By this method the "officials" remain the servants of the +public and are not given power to make decisions for people. In addition, +these "officials" will be rotated frequently to prevent a professionalization +of politics and the problem of politicians being largely on their own once +elected. + +Therefore, such "public officials" would be under the strict control of +the organisations that elected them to administration posts. But, as +Kropotkin argued, the general assembly of the community "in permanence - +the forum always open - is the only way . . .to assure an honest and +intelligent administration . . . [and is based upon] *distrust of all +executive powers.*" [_The Great French Revolution_ Vol.1, p. 211] + +As Murray Bookchin argues, a "confederalist view involves a clear distinction +between policy making and the coordination and execution of adopted policies. +Policy making is exclusively the right of popular community assemblies based +on the practices of participatory democracy. Administration and coordination +are the responsibility of confederal councils, which become the means for +interlinking villages, towns, neighbourhoods, and cities into confederal +networks. Power flows from the bottom up instead of from the top down, and +in confederations, the flow of power from the bottom up diminishes with the +scope of the federal council ranging territorially from localities to +regions and from regions to ever-broader territorial areas." ["The Meaning +of Confederation", p. 48, _Society and Nature_ No.3, pp. 41-54] + +Thus the people will have the final word on policy, which is the essence +of self-government, and each citizen will have his or her turn to +participate in the coordination of public affairs. In other words, the +"legislative branch" of self-government will be the people themselves +organized in their community assemblies and their confederal coordinating +councils, with the "executive branch" (public officials) limited to +implementing policy formulated by the legislative branch, that is, by the +people. + +Besides rotation of public officials, means to ensure the accountability +of such officials to the people will include a wider use of elections and +sortitions, open access to proceedings and records of "executive" +activities by computer or direct inspection, the right of citizen +assemblies to mandate delegates to higher-level confederal meetings, +recall their officials, and revoke their decisions, and the creation of +accountability boards, elected or selected by lot (as for jury duty), for +each important administrative branch, from local to national. + +I.5.3 What will be the scales and levels of confederation? + +Virtually all the services and productive enterprises necessary to meet +the needs of the population are present in today's small cities of 50,000 +to 100,000. Beyond this size, diseconomies of scale begin to appear due to +the complexities of coordinating urban services across wide areas and +large populations. Therefore a libertarian-socialist society would +probably form another level of confederation at the 50,000 to 100,000 +range. Such units of confederation would include urban districts within +today's large cities, small cities, and rural districts composed of +several nearby towns. At this size, economies of scale can be achieved for +nearly all the remaining social needs such as universities, hospitals, and +cultural institutions. + +However, face-to-face meetings of the whole population are impractical at +this size. Therefore, the legislative body at this level would be the +*confederal council,* which would consist of mandated, recallable, and +rotating delegates from the neighborhood assemblies. These delegates would +formulate policies to be discussed and voted on by the neighborhood +assemblies, with the votes being summed across the district to determine +district policy by majority rule. + +To quote the Syracuse/Onandaga County Greens again, "Since almost all of +the economies of scale and public decisions necessary for social +self-management can be achieved by the time we reach the 50,000 to 100,000 +scale, larger levels of confederation can be oriented mainly around +bioregional and cultural affinities and the few remaining but important +economic resources that must be shared at these scales." ["Green Political +and Social Change", Ibid.] + +Ties between bioregions or larger territories based on the distribution of +such things as geographically concentrated mineral deposits, climate dependent +crops, and production facilities that are most efficient when concentrated +in one area will unite communities confederally on the basis of common +material needs as well as values. At the bioregional and higher levels of +confederation, councils of mandated, recallable, and rotating delegates +will coordinate policies at those levels, but such policies will still be +subject to approval by the neighborhood and community assemblies through +their right to recall their representatives and revoke their decisions. + +In the final analysis, libertarian socialism cannot function optimally -- +and indeed may be fatally undermined -- unless the present system of +competing nation-states is replaced by a cooperative system of +decentralized bioregions of self-governing communities confederated on a +global scale. For, if a libertarian-socialist nation is forced to compete +in the global market for scarce raw materials and hard cash with which to +buy them, the problems of "bourgeois cooperativism," previously noted, +will have merely been displaced to a higher level of organization. That +is, instead of individual cooperatives acting as collective capitalists +and competing against each other in the national market for profits, raw +materials, etc., the nation *as a whole* will become the "collective +capitalist" and compete against other nations in the global capitalist +market -- a situation that is bound to reintroduce many problems, e.g. +militarism, imperialism, and alienating/disempowering measures in the +workplace, justified in the name of "efficiency" and "global +competitiveness." + +To some extent such problems can be reduced in the transition period by +achieving self-sufficiency within bioregions (which should be easier in a +libertarian-socialist economy where artificial needs are not manufactured +by massive advertising campaigns of giant profit-seeking corporations) and +by limiting interbioregional trade as much as possible to other members of +the libertarian-socialist federation. However, to eliminate the problem +completely, anarchists envision a global council of bioregional delegates +to coordinate global cooperation based on policies formulated and approved +at the grassroots by the confederal principles outlined above. + +I.5.4 How will anything ever be decided by all those confederal conferences? + +Firstly, we doubt that a free society will spend all its time in +assemblies or organising confederal conferences. As these congresses are +concerned purely with joint activity and coordination, it is likely that +they will not be called very often. Different associations and +cooperatives have a functional need for cooperation and so would meet more +regularly and take action on practical activity which affects a specific +section of a community or group of communities. Not every issue that a +member of a community is interested in is necessarily best discussed at a +meeting of all members of a community or at a confederal conference. + +In other words, communal assemblies and conferences will have specific, +well defined agendas, and so there is little danger of "politics" taking +up everyone's time. Hence, far from discussing abstract laws and pointless +motions which no one actually knows much about, the issues discussed in +these conferences will be on specific issues which are important to those +involved. In addition, the standard procedure may be to elect a sub-group +to investigate an issue and report back at a later stage with +recommendations. The conference can change, accept, or reject any +proposals. As Kropotkin argued, anarchy would be based on "free agreement, +by exchange of letters and proposals, and by congresses at which +delegates met to discuss well specified points, and to come to an +agreement about them, but not to make laws. After the congress was over, +the delegates [would return]. . .not with a law, but with the draft of a +contract to be accepted or rejected" [_Conquest of Bread_, p. 131] + +By reducing conferences to functional bodies based on concrete issues, the +problems of endless discussions can be reduced, if not totally eliminated. +In addition, as functional groups would exist outside of these communal +confederations (for example, industrial collectives would organise +conferences about their industry with invited participants from consumer +groups), there would be a limited agenda in most communal get-togethers. + +The most important issues would be to agree on the guidelines for +industrial activity, communal investment (e.g. houses, hospitals, etc.) +and overall coordination of large scale communal activities. In this way +everyone would be part of the commonwealth, deciding on how resources +would be used to maximise human well-being and ecological survival. The +problems associated with "the tyranny of small decisions" would be +overcome without undermining individual freedom. (In fact, a healthy +community would enrich and develop individuality by encouraging +independent and critical thought, social interaction, and empowering +social institutions based on self-management). + +Is such a system fantasy? As Murray Bookchin points out, "Paris in the late +eighteenth century was, by the standards of that time, one of the largest +and economically most complex cities in Europe: its population +approximated a million people. . .Yet in 1793, at the height of the French +Revolution, the city was managed *institutionally* almost entirely by [48] +citizen assemblies. . .and its affairs were coordinated by the *Commune*. +. .and often, in fact, by the assemblies themselves, or sections as they +were called, which established their own interconnections without recourse +to the *Commune.*" [_Society and Nature_, issue no. 5, p. 96] Kropotkin +argued that these "sections" (as they were called" showed "the principles +of anarchism, expressed some years later in England by W. Godwin, . . . +had their origin, not in theoretical speculations, but in the *deeds* +of the Great French Revolution" [_The Great French Revolution_, Vol. 1, +p.204] + +In other words, it *is* possible. It *has* worked. With the massive +improvements in communication technology it is even more viable than +before. Whether or not we reach such a self-managed society depends on +whether we desire to be free or not. + +I.5.4 Aren't participatory communities and confederations just new states? + +No. As we have seen in section B.2, a state can be defined both by its +structure and its function. As far as structure is concerned, a state +involves the politico-military and economic domination of a certain +geographical territory by a ruling elite, based on the delegation of power +into the hands of the few, resulting in hierarchy (centralised authority). +As Kropotkin argued, "the word 'State' . . . should be reserved for those +societies with the hierarchical system and centralisation." [_Ethics_, +p. 317f] + +In a system of federated participatory communities, however, there is no +ruling elite, and thus no hierarchy, because power is retained by the +lowest-level units of confederation through their use of direct democracy +and mandated, rotating, and recallable delegates to meetings of +higher-level confederal bodies. This eliminates the problem in +"representative" democratic systems of the delegation of power leading to +the elected officials becoming isolated from and beyond the control of the +mass of people who elected them. As Kropotkin pointed out, an anarchist +society would make decisions by "means of congresses, composed of +delegates, who discuss among themselves, and submit *proposals*, not +*laws*, to their constituents" [_The Conquest of Bread_, p. 135], and so +is based on *self*-government, *not* representative government (i.e. +statism). + +In addition, in representative democracy, elected officials who must make +decisions on a wide range of issues inevitably gather an unelected +bureaucracy around them to aid in their decision making, and because of +its control of information and its permanency, this bureaucracy soon has +more power than the elected officials (who themselves have more power than +the people). In the system we have sketched, policy proposals formulated +by higher-level confederal bodies would often be presented to the +grassroots political units for discussion and voting (though the +grassroots units could also formulate policy proposals directly), and +these higher-level bodies would often need to consult experts in +formulating such proposals. But these experts would not be retained as a +permanent bureaucracy, and all information provided by them would be +available to the lower-level units to aid in their decision making, thus +eliminating the control of information on which bureaucratic power is +based. + +Perhaps it will be objected that communal decision making is just a form +of "statism" based on direct, as opposed to representative, democracy -- +"statist" because the individual is still be subject to the rules of the +majority and so is not free. This objection, however, confuses statism +with free agreement (i.e. cooperation). Since participatory communities, +like productive syndicates, are voluntary associations, the decisions they +make are based on self-assumed obligations (see section A.2.11 - Why are +anarchists in favour of direct democracy?), and dissenters can leave the +association if they so desire. + +In addition, in a free society, dissent and direct action can be used by +minorities to press their case (or defend their freedom) as well as debate. +As Carole Pateman argues, "Political disobedience is merely one +possible expression of the active citizenship on which a self-managing +democracy is based." In this way, individual liberty can be protected +in a communal system and society enriched by opposition, confrontation and +dissent. Without self-management and minority dissent, society would become +"an ideological cemetery" which would "stifle the dialectic of ideas that +thrives" on discussion, and we may add, stifle the development of the +individuals within that society. [Bookchin, Op. Cit., p.9] Therefore it +is likely that a society based on voluntary agreements and self-management +would, out of interpersonal empathy and self-interest, create a society +that encouraged individuality and respect for minorities. + +Therefore, a commune's participatory nature is the opposite of statism. +April Carter, in _Authority and Democracy_ agrees. She states that +"commitment to direct democracy or anarchy in the socio-political sphere +is incompatible with political authority" [p. 69] and that the "only +authority that can exist in a direct democracy is the collective +'authority' vested in the body politic . . . it is doubtful if authority +can be created by a group of equals who reach decisions be a process of +mutual persuasion." [p. 380] + +Anarchists assert that individuals and the institutions they create +cannot be considered in isolation. Authoritarian institutions will +create individuals who have a servile nature, who cannot govern themselves. +Anarchists, therefore, consider it common sense that individuals, in order to +be free, *must* have take part in determining the general agreements they +make with their neighbours which give form to their communities. Otherwise, +society itself could not exist and individuals would be subject to rules +others make *for* them (following orders is hardly libertarian). Therefore, +anarchists recognise the social nature of humanity and the fact any society +based on contracts (like capitalism) will be marked by authority, injustice +and inequality, *not* freedom. As Bookchin points out, "To speak of 'The +Individual' part from its social roots is as meaningless as to speak of a +society that contains no people or institutions." ["Communalism: The +Democratic Dimension of Anarchism", _Society and Nature_ no. 8, p. 15] + +Society cannot be avoided and "[u]nless everyone is to be psychologically +homogeneous and society's interests so uniform in character that dissent +is simply meaningless, there must be room for conflicting proposals, +discussion, rational explication and majority decisions - in short, +democracy." [Op. Cit, pp. 15-16] Those who reject democracy in the name +of liberty (such as many supporters of capitalism) usually also see +the need for laws and hierarchical authority (particularly in the workplace). +This is unsurprising, as such authority is the only means left by which +collective activity can be coordinated if "democracy" is rejected (usually +as "statist", which is ironic as the resulting institutions, such as +a capitalist company, are far more statist than directly democratic ones). + +However, it should be noted that communities can expel individuals or +groups of individuals who constantly hinder community decisions. As +Malatesta argued, "for if it is unjust that the majority should +oppress the minority, the contrary would be quite as unjust; and if the +minority has a right to rebel, the majority has a right to defend itself. +. . it is true that this solution is not completely satisfactory. The +individuals put out of the association would be deprived of many social +advantages, which an isolated person or group must do without, because +they can only be procured by the cooperation of a great number of human +beings. But what would you have? These malcontents cannot fairly demand +that the wishes of many others should be sacrificed for their sakes." [_A +Talk about Anarchist-Communism_, p. 29] + +Nevertheless, such occurrences would be rare (for reasons discussed in +section I.5.6), and their possibility merely indicates that free +association also means the freedom *not* to associate. This a very +important freedom for both the majority and the minority, and must be +defended. However, as an isolated life is impossible, the need for +communal associations is essential. It is only by living together in a +supportive community can individuality be encouraged and developed along +with individual freedom. + +Lastly, that these communities and confederations are not just states +with new names in indicated by two more considerations. Firstly, in regard +to the activities of the confederal conferences, it is clear that they +would *not* be passing laws on personal behaviour or ethics, i.e. not +legislating to restrict the liberty of those who live in these communities +they represent. For example, a community is unlikely to pass laws +outlawing homosexuality or censoring the press, for reasons discussed in +the next section. Hence they would not be "law-making bodies" in the modern +sense of the term, and thus not statist. Secondly, these confederations +have no means to enforce their decisions. In other words, if a confederal +congress makes a decision, it has no means to force people to act or not +act in a certain way. We can imagine that there will be ethical reasons +why participants will not act in ways to oppose joint activity -- as they +took part in the decision making process they would be considered childish +if they reject the final decision because it did not go in their favour. + +So, far from being new states by which one section of a community imposes +its ethical standards on another, the anarchist commune is just a public +forum. In this forum, issues of community interest (for example, +management of the commons, control of communalised economic activity, and +so forth) are discussed and policy agreed upon. In addition, interests +beyond a local area are also discussed and delegates for confederal +conferences are mandated with the wishes of the community. Hence, +administration of things replaces government of people, with the community +of communities existing to ensure that the interests of all are managed by +all and that liberty, justice and equality are more than just ideals. + +For these reasons, a libertarian-socialist society would not create a new +state as far as structure goes. But what about in the area of function? +As noted in section B.2.1, the function of the state is to enable the +ruling elite to exploit subordinate social strata, i.e. to derive an +economic surplus from them, which it does by protecting certain economic +monopolies from which the elite derives its wealth, and so its power. But +this function is completely eliminated by the economic structure of +anarchist society, which, by abolishing private property, makes it +impossible for a privileged elite to form, let alone exploit "subordinate +strata" (which will not exist, as no one is subordinate in power to anyone +else). In other words, by placing the control of productive resources in +the hands of the workers councils and community assemblies, every worker +is given free access to the means of production that he or she needs to +earn a living. Hence no one will be forced to pay usury (i.e. a use-fee) +in the form of appropriated surplus value (profits) to an elite class that +monopolizes the means of production. In short, without private property, +the state loses its reason for existence. + +I.5.6 Won't there be a danger of a "tyranny of the majority" under + libertarian socialism? + +There is, of course, this danger in *any* system of democracy, direct or +indirect. However, while there is cause for concern (and anarchists are +at the forefront in expressing it), the "tyranny-of-the-majority" +objection fails to take note of the vast difference between direct and +"representative" forms of democracy. + +In the current system, as we pointed out in section B.5, voters are mere +passive spectators of occasional, staged, and highly rehearsed debates +among candidates preselected by the corporate elite, who pay for campaign +expenses. More often the public is expected to choose simply on the basis +of political ads and news sound bites. Moreover, once the choice is made, +cumbersome and ineffective recall procedures insure that elected +representatives can act more or less as they (or rather, their wealthy +sponsors) please. The function, then, of the electorate in bourgeois +"representative government" is ratification of "choices" that have been +*already made for them!* + +By contrast, in a direct, libertarian democracy, decisions are made +following public discussion in community assemblies open to all. After +decisions have been reached, outvoted minorities -- even minorities of one +-- still have ample opportunity to present reasoned and persuasive +counterarguments to try to change the decision. This process of debate, +disagreement, challenge, and counter-challenge, which goes on even after +the defeated minority has temporarily acquiesced in the decision of the +majority, is virtually absent in the representative system, where "tyranny +of the majority" is truly a problem. In addition, minorities can secede +from an association if the decision reached by it are truly offensive to +them. + +And let's not forget that in all likelihood, issues of personal conduct or +activity will not be discussed in the neighbourhood assemblies. Why? +Because we are talking about a society in which most people consider +themselves to be unique, free individuals, who would thus recognise and +act to protect the uniqueness and freedom of others. Unless people are +indoctrinated by religion or some other form of ideology, they can be +tolerant of others and their individuality. If this is not the case now, +it has to do with the existence of authoritarian social relationships and +the type of person they create -- relationships that will be dismantled +under libertarian socialism. + +Today an authoritarian worldview, characterized by an inability to think +beyond the categories of domination and submission, is imparted by +conditioning in the family, schools, religious institutions, clubs, +fraternities, the army, etc., and produces a type of personality that is +intolerant of any individual or group perceived as threatening to the +perpetuation of that worldview and its corresponding institutions and +values. Thus, as Bakunin argues, "public opinion" is potentially intolerant +"simply because hitherto this power has not been humanized itself; it has +not been humanized because the social life of which it is ever the +faithful expression is based. . .in the worship of divinity, not on +respect for humanity; in authority, not on liberty; on privilege, not on +equality; in the exploitation, not on the brotherhood, of men; on iniquity +and falsehood, not on justice and truth. Consequently its real action, +always in contradiction of the humanitarian theories which it professes, +has constantly exercised a disastrous and depraving influence" [_God and +the State_, p. 43ff]. + +In an anarchist society, however, a conscious effort will be made to +dissolve the institutional and traditional sources of the +authoritarian/submissive type of personality, and thus to free "public +opinion" of its current potential for intolerance. In addition, it should +be noted that as anarchists recognise that the practice of self-assumed +political obligation implied in free association also implies the right to +practice dissent and disobedience as well. As Carole Pateman notes, "[e]ven +if it is impossible to be unjust to myself, I do not vote for myself alone, +but alone with everyone else. Questions about injustice are always +appropriate in political life, for there is no guarantee that participatory +voting will actually result in decisions in accord with the principles +of political morality." [_The Problem of Political Obligation_, p. 160] + +If an individual or group of individuals feel that a specific decision +threatens their freedom (which is the basic principle of political +morality in an anarchist society) they can (and must) act to defend that +freedom. "The political practice of participatory voting rests in a +collective self-consciousness about the meaning and implication of +citizenship. The members of the political association understand that to +vote is simultaneously to commit oneself, to commit one's fellow citizens, +and also to commit oneself to them in a mutual undertaking . . . a refusal +to vote on a particular occasion indicates that the refusers believe . . . +[that] the proposal . . . infringes the principle of political morality +on which the political association is based . . A refusal to vote [or the +use of direct action] could be seen as an appeal to the 'sense of justice' +of their fellow citizens." [Carole Pateman, Op. Cit., p. 161] + +As they no longer "consent" to the decisions made by their community they +can appeal to the "sense of justice" of their fellow citizens by direct +action and indicate that a given decision may have impacts which the +majority were not aware. Hence direct action and dissent is a key aspect +of an anarchist society and help ensure against the tyranny of the majority. +Anarchism rejects the "love it or leave it" attitude that marks classical +liberalism as well as Rousseau (this aspect of his work being inconsistant +with its foundations in participation). + +It should be stressed, however, that most anarchists do not think that the +way to guard against tyranny by the majority is to resort to +decision-making by consensus (where no action can be taken until every +person in the group agrees) or a property system (based in contracts). +Both consensus (see section A.2.12 - Is consensus an alternative to direct +democracy?) and contracts (see section A.2.14 - Why is voluntarism not +enough?) soon result in authoritarian social relationships developing in +the name of "liberty." + +For example, decision making by consensus tends to eliminate the creative +role of dissent and mutate into a system that pressures people into +psychic and intellectual conformity -- hardly a libertarian ideal. In the +case of property- and contract-based systems, those with property have +more power than those without, and so they soon determine what can and +cannot be done -- in other words, the "tyranny of the minority" and +hierarchical authority. Both alternatives are deeply flawed. Hence most +anarchists have recognized that majority decision making, though not +perfect, is the best way to reach decisions in a political system based +on maximising freedom. Direct democracy in grassroots confederal +assemblies and workers' councils ensures that decision making is +"horizontal" in nature (i.e. between *equals*) and not hierarchical (i.e. +governmental, between order giver and order taker). + +I.5.7 What if I don't want to join a commune? + +As would be expected, no one would be *forced* to join a commune nor take +part in its assemblies. To suggest otherwise would be contrary to +anarchist principles. We have already indicated why the communes would not +be likely to restrict individuals with new "laws". However, what about +individuals who live within the boundaries of a commune (obviously +individuals can leave to find communities more in line with their own +concepts of right and wrong if they cannot convince their neighbours of +the validity of their ideas)? For example, a local neighbourhood may include +households that desire to associate and a few that do not. Are the communal +decisions binding on non-members? Obviously not. If an individual or family +desire *not* to join (for whatever reason), their freedoms must be respected. +However, this also means that they cannot benefit from communal activity and +resources (such a free housing, hospitals, and so forth) and, possibly, +have to pay for their use. As long as they do not exploit or oppress +others, an anarchist community would respect their decision. + +However, many who oppose anarchist direct democracy in the name of freedom +often do so because they desire to oppress and exploit others. In other +words, they oppose participatory communities because they (rightly) fear +that this would restrict their ability to oppress, exploit and grow rich off +the labour of others. This type of opposition can be seen from history, when +rich elites, in the name of liberty, have replaced democratic forms of +social decision making with representative or authoritarian ones (see +section B.2.6). Regardless of what defenders of capitalism claim, +"voluntary bilateral exchanges" affect third parties and can harm others +indirectly. This can easily be seen from examples like concentrations of +wealth which have effects across society, or crime in the local +community, or the ecological impacts of consumption and production. + +As a way to minimize this problem, an anarchist revolution aims to +place social wealth (starting with the land) in the hands of all and to +protect only those uses of it which are considered just by society as a +whole. In other words, by recognising that "property" is a product of +society, an anarchist society will ensure than an individual's "property" +is protected by his or her fellows when it is based purely upon actual +occupancy and use. As Malatesta put it, some "seem almost to believe that +after having brought down government and private property we would allow +both to be quietly built up again, because of respect for the *freedom* +of those who might feel the need to be rulers and property owners. A +truly curious way of interpreting our ideas." [_Anarchy_, p. 41] + +So, it goes without saying that the minority, as in any society, +will exist within the ethical norms of society and they will be "forced to +adhere" to them in the same sense that they are "forced to adhere" not to +murder people. Few people would say that forcing people not to commit murder +is a restriction of their liberty. Therefore, while allowing the maximum +of individual freedom of dissent, an anarchist community would still have +to apply its ethical standards to those beyond that community. Individuals +would not be allowed to murder or enslave others and claim that they are +allowed to do so because they are not part of the local community (see +section I.5.8 on crime in an anarchist society). Similarly, individuals +would not be allowed to develop private property (as opposed to possession) +simply because they wanted to. Such a "ban" on private property would not be +a restriction on liberty simply because stopping the development of +authority hardly counts as an authoritarian act (for an analogy, supporters +of capitalism do not think that banning theft is a restriction of liberty +and because this view is - currently - accepted by the majority, it is +enforced on the minority). Even the word "ban" is wrong, as it is the +would-be capitalist who is trying to ban freedom for others from their +"property." Members of a free society would simply refuse to recognise the +claims of private property - "occupancy and use" (to use Tucker's term) +would be the limits of possession - and so property would become "that +control of a thing by a person which will receive either social sanction, +or else unanimous individual sanction, when the laws of social expediency +shall have been fully discovered." [B. Tucker, _Instead of a Book_, p. 131] + +Therefore anarchists support the maximum of experimentations while ensuring +that the social conditions that allow this experimentation are protected +against concentrations of wealth and power. As Malatesta put it, "Anarchism +involves all and only those forms of life that respect liberty and recognise +that every person has an equal right to enjoy the good things of nature and +the products of their own activity." [_The Anarchist Revolution_, p. 14] +This means that Anarchists do not support the liberty of being a boss +(anarchists will happily work *with* someone but not *for* someone). Of +course, those who desire to create private property against the wishes of +others expect those others to respect their wishes. So, when the would-be +propertarians happily fence off their "property" and exclude others from it, +could not these others remember these words from Woody Guthrie's _This Land +is Your Land_, and act accordingly? + + "As I went rumbling that dusty highway + I saw a sign that said private property + But on the other side it didn't say nothing + This land was made for you and me" + +While happy to exclude others from "their" property, such owners seem more +than happy to use the resources held in common by others. They are the +ultimate "free riders," desiring the benefits of society but rejecting the +responsibilities that go with it. In the end, such "individualists" usually +end up supporting the state (an institution they claim to hate) precisely +because it is the only means by which private property and their "freedom" +to exercise authority can be defended . + +Therefore, individuals are free not to associate, but their claims of +"ownership" will be based around *use* rights, not property rights. +Individuals will be protected by their fellows only in so far as what +they claim to "own" is related to their ability to use said "property." +Without a state to back up and protect property "rights," we see that all +rights are, in the end, what society considers to be fair (the difference +between law and social custom is discussed in section I.7.3). What the +state does is to impose "rights" which do not have such a basis (i.e. +those that protect the property of the elite) or "rights" which have been +corrupted by wealth and would have been changed because of this corruption +had society been free to manage its own affairs. + +In summary, individuals will be free not to join a participatory community, +and hence free to place themselves outside its decisions and activities +on most issues that do not apply to the fundamental ethical standards of +a society. Hence individuals who desire to live outside of anarchist +communities would be free to live as they see fit but would not be able +to commit murder, rape, create private property or other activities +that harmed individuals. It should be noted, moreover, that this does not +mean that their possessions will be taken from them by "society" or +that "society" will tell them what to do with their possessions. Freedom, +in a complex world, means that such individuals will not be in a position +to turn their possessions into *property* and thus recreate capitalism. (For +the distinction between "property" and "possessions," see B.3.1.) This will +not be done by "anarchist police" or by "banning" voluntary agreements, +but purely by recognising that "property" is a social creation and by +creating a social system that will encourage individuals to stand up for +their rights and cooperate with each other. + +I.5.8 What about crime? + +For anarchists, "crime" can best be described as anti-social acts, or +behavior which harms someone else or which invades their personal space. +Anarchists argue that the root cause for crime is not some perversity of +human nature or "original sin," but is due to the type of society by which +people are moulded. For example, anarchists point out that by eliminating +private property, crime could be reduced by about 90 percent, since about +90 percent of crime is currently motivated by evils stemming from private +property such as poverty, homelessness, unemployment, and alienation. +Moreover, by adopting anarchist methods of non-authoritarian child rearing +and education, most of the remaining crimes could also be eliminated, +because they are largely due to the anti-social, perverse, and cruel +"secondary drives" that develop because of authoritarian, pleasure-negative +child-rearing practices (See section J.6 What methods of child rearing do +anarchists advocate?) + +"Crime", therefore, cannot be divorced from the society within which it +occurs. Society, if you like, gets the criminals it deserves. For example, +anarchists do not think it unusual nor unexpected that crime exploded +under the pro-free market capitalist regimes of Thatcher and Reagan. Crime, +the most obvious symptom of social crisis, took 30 years to double in +Britain (from 1 million incidents in 1950 to 2.2 million in 1979). However, +between 1979 and 1992 the crime rate more than doubled, exceeding the 5 +million mark in 1992. These 13 years were marked by a government firmly +committed to the "free market" and "individual responsibility." It +was entirely predictable that the social disruption, atomisation of +individuals, and increased poverty caused by freeing capitalism from +social controls would rip society apart and increase criminal activity. +Unsurprisingly (from an anarchist viewpoint), under these pro-market +governments we also saw a reduction in civil liberties, increased state +centralisation, and the destruction of local government. As Malatesta put +it, the classical liberalism which these governments represented could +have had no other effect, for "the government's powers of repression must +perforce increase as free competition results in more discord and +inequality" [_Anarchy_, p. 46] + +Hence the paradox of governments committed to "individual rights," the +"free market" and "getting the state off our backs" increasing state power +and reducing rights while holding office during a crime explosion is no +paradox at all. "The conjuncture of the rhectoric of individual freedom and +a vast increase in state power," argues Carole Pateman, "is not unexpected +at a time when the influence of contract doctrine is extending into the +last, most intimate nooks and crannies of social life. Taken to a conclusion, +contract undermines the conditions of its own existance. Hobbes showed +long ago that contract - all the way down - requires absolutism and the +sword to keep war at bay" [_The Sexual Contract_, p. 232] + +Capitalism, and the contract theory on which it is built, will inevitably +rip apart society. Capitalism is based upon a vision of humanity as isolated +individuals with no connection other than that of money and contract. Such +a vision cannot help but institutionalise anti-social acts. As Kropotkin +argued "it is not love and not even sympathy upon which society is based +in [humanity]. It is the conscience - be it only at the stage of an instinct +- of human solidarity. It is the unconscious recognition of . . . the close +dependency of every one's happiness upon the happiness of all; and of the +sense of justice, or equity, which brings the individual to consider the +rights of every other individual as equal to [one's] own." [_Mutual Aid_, +p. xiv] + +The social atomisation required and created by capitalism destroys the basic +bonds of society - namely human solidarity - and hierarchy crushes the +individuality required to understand that we share a common humanity with +others and so understand *why* we must be ethical and respect others rights. + +We should also point out that prisons have numerous negative affects on +society as well as often re-inforcing criminal (i.e. anti-social) behaviour. +Kropotkin originated the accurate description of prisons as "Universities +of Crime" wherein the first-time criminal learns new techniques and have +adapt to the prevailing ethical standards within them. Hence, prisons would +have the effect of increasing the criminal tendencies of those sent there +and so prove to be counter-productive. In addition, prisons do not affect +the social conditions which promote many forms of crime. + +We are not saying, however, that anarchists reject the concept of individual +responsibility. While recognising that rape, for example, is the result of +a social system which represses sexuality and is based on patriarchy (i.e. +rape has more to do with power than sex), anarchists do not "sit back" and +say "it's society's fault." Individuals have to take responsibility for +their own actions and recognise that consequences of those actions. Part +of the current problem with "law codes" is that individuals have been +deprived of the responsibility for developing their own ethical code, and so +are less likely to develop "civilised" social standards (see section I.7.3). + +Therefore, while anarchists reject the ideas of law and a specialised +justice system, they are not blind to the fact that anti-social action may +not totally disappear in a free society. Therefore, some sort of "court" +system would still be necessary to deal with the remaining crimes and to +adjudicate disputes between citizens. + +These courts would function on two levels. Firstly, if the parties +involved could agree to hand their case to a third party, then the "court" +in question would be the arrangements made by those parties. Secondly, if +the parties could not agree (or if the victim was dead), the issue could +be raised at a communal assembly and a "court" appointed to look into the +issue. These "courts" would be independent from the commune, their +independence strengthened by popular election instead of executive +appointment of judges, by protecting the jury system of selection of +random citizens by lot, and by informing jurors of their right to judge +the law itself, according to their conscience, as well as the facts of a +case. As Malatesta pointed out, "when differences were to arise between +men [sic!], would not arbitration voluntarily accepted, or pressure +of public opinion, be perhaps more likely to establish where the right +lies than through an irresponsible magistrature which has the right to +adjudicate on everything and everybody and is inevitably incompetent +and therefore unjust?" [_Anarchy_, p. 43] + +In the case of a "police force," this would not exist as either a public +or private specialised body or company. If a local community did consider +that public safety required a body of people who could be called upon for +help, we imagine that a new system would be created. This system would be +based around a voluntary militia system, in which all members of the +community could serve if they so desired. Those who served would not +constitute a professional body; instead the service would be made up of +local people who would join for short periods of time and be replaced if +they abused their position. Hence the likelihood that a communal militia +would become corrupted by power, like the current police force or a +private security firm exercising a policing function, would be vastly +reduced. + +Such a body would not have a monopoly on protecting others, but +would simply be on call if others required it. It would no more be a +"police force" than the current fire service is a police force (individuals +are not banned from putting out fires today because the fire service +exists, similarly individuals will be free to help stop anti-social crime +by themselves in an anarchist society). + +Of course there are anti-social acts which occur without witnesses and +so the "guilty" party cannot be readily identified. If such acts did +occur we can imagine an anarchist community taking two courses of +action. The injured party may look into the facts themselves or appoint +an agent to do so or, more likely, an ad hoc group would be elected at +a community assembly to investigate specific crimes of this sort. Such +a group would be given the necessary "authority" to investigate the crime +and be subject to recall by the community if they start trying to abuse +whatever authority they had. Once the investigating body thought it had +enough evidence it would inform the community as well as the affected parties +and then organise a court. Of course, a free society will produce different +solutions to such problems, solutions no-one has considered yet and so +these suggestions are just that, suggestions. + +As is often stated, prevention is better than cure. This is as true of +crime as of disease. In other words, crime is best fought by rooting out +its *causes* as opposed to punishing those who act in response to these +causes. For example, its hardly surprising that a culture that promotes +individual profit and consumerism would produce individuals who do not +respect other people (or themselves) and see them as purely means to +an end (usually increased consumption). And, like everything else in +a capitalist system, such as honour and pride, conscience is also available +at the right price -- hardly an environment which encourages consideration +for others, or even for oneself. + +In addition, a society based on hierarchical authority will also tend to +produce anti-social activity because the free development and expression +it suppresses. Thus, irrational authority (which is often claimed to be +the only cure for crime) actually helps produce it. As Emma Goldman +argued, "Crime is naught but misdirected energy. So long as every institution +of today, economic, political, social, moral conspires to misdirect human +energy into wrong channels; so long as most people are out of place doing +things they hate to do, living a life they loathe to live, crime will be +inevitable, and all the laws on the statues can only increase, but never +do away with, crime" [_Red Emma Speaks_, p. 57] + +Eric Fromm, decades latter, makes the same point: + +"It would seem that the amount of destructiveness to be found in individuals +is proportionate to the amount to which expansiveness of life is curtailed. +By this we do not refer to individual frustrations of this or that instinctive +desire but to the thwarting of the whole of life, the blockage of spontaneity +of the growth and expression of man's sensuous, emotional, and intellectual +capacities. Life has an inner dynamism of its own; it tends to grow, to +be expressed, to be lived. . .the drive for life and the drive for +destruction are not mutually interdependent factors but are in a reversed +interdependence. The more the drive towards life is thwarted, the stronger +is the drive towards destruction; the more life is realised, the less +is the strength of destructiveness. *Destructiveness is the outcome of +unlived life.* Those individual and social conditions that make for +suppression of life produce the passion for destruction that forms, so to +speak, the reservoir from which particular hostile tendencies -- either +against others or against oneself -- are nourished" [_The Fear of Freedom_, +p. 158] + +Therefore, by reorganising society so that it empowers everyone and +actively encourages the use of all our intellectual, emotional and +sensuous abilities, crime would soon cease to be the huge problem that +it is now. As for the anti-social behavior or clashes between individuals +that might still exist in such a society, it would be dealt with in a +system based on respect for the individual and a recognition of the +social roots of the problem. Restraint would be kept to a minimum. + +Anarchists think that public opinion and social pressure would be the +main means of preventing anti-social acts in an anarchist society, with +such actions as boycotting and ostracising used as powerful sanctions to +convince those attempting them of the errors of their way. Extensive +non-cooperation by neighbours, friends and workmates would be the best +means of stopping acts which harmed others. + +An anarchist system of justice, we should note, would have a lot to learn +from aboriginal societies simply because they are examples of social order +without the state. Indeed many of the ideas we consider as essential to +justice today can be found in such societies. As Kropotkin argued, "when +we imagine that we have made great advances in introducing, for instance, +the jury, all we have done is to return to the institutions of the +so-called 'barbarians' after having changed it to the advantage of the +ruling classes" [_The State - Its Historic Role_, p. 18] + +Like aboriginal justice (as documented by Rupert Ross in _Returning to the +Teachings: Exploring Aborginal Justice__) anarchists contend that offenders +should not be punished but justice achieved by the teaching and healing +of all involved. Public condemnation of the wrongdoing would be a key +aspect of this process, but the wrong doer would remain part of the +community and so see the effects of their actions on others in terms of +grief and pain caused. It would be likely that wrong doers would be +expected to try to make amends for their act by community service or +helping victims and their families. + +So, from a practical viewpoint, almost all anarchists oppose prisons +on both practical grounds (they do not work) and ethical grounds ("We +know what prisons mean - they mean broken down body and spirit, degradation, +consumption, insanity" Voltairine de Cleyre, quoted by Paul Avrich in +_An American Anarchist_, p. 146]). The Makhnovists took the usual anarchist +position on prisons: + +"Prisons are the symbol of the servitude of the people, they are always +built only to subjugate the people, the workers and peasants. . . Free +people have no use for prisons. Wherever prisons exist, the people are not +free. . . In keeping with this attitude, they [the Makhnovists] demolished +prisons wherever they went." [Peter Arshinov, _The History of the Makhnovist +Movement_, p. 153] + +With the exception of Benjamin Tucker, no major anarchist writer supported +the institution. Few anarchists think that private prisons (like private +policemen) are compatible with their notions of freedom. All anarchists +are against the current "justice" system which seems to them to be +organised around *revenge* and punishing effects and not fixing causes. + +However, there are psychopaths and other people in any society who are +too dangerous to be allowed to walk freely. Restraint in this case would +be the only option and such people may have to be isolated from others +for their own, and others, safety. Perhaps mental hospitals would be +used, or an area quarantined for their use created (perhaps an +island, for example). However, such cases (we hope) would be rare. + +So instead of prisons and a legal code based on the concept of +punishment and revenge, anarchists support the use of pubic opinion +and pressure to stop anti-social acts and the need to therapeutically +rehabilite those who commit anti-social acts. As Kropotkin argued, +"liberty, equality, and practical human sympathy are the most effective +barriers we can oppose to the anti-social instinct of certain among us" +and *not* a parasitic legal system. [_The Anarchist Reader_, p. 117] + +I.5.9 What about Freedom of Speech under Anarchism? + +Many express the idea that *all* forms of socialism would endanger +freedom of speech, press, and so forth. The usual formulation of this +argument is in relation to state socialism and goes as follows: if the +state (or "society") owned all the means of communication, then only the +views which the government supported would get access to the media. + +This is an important point and it needs to be addressed. However, before +doing so, we should point out that under capitalism the major media are +effectively controlled by the wealthy. As we argued in section D.3, the +media are *not* the independent defenders of freedom that they like to +portray themselves as. This is hardly surprising, since newspapers, +television companies, and so forth are capitalist enterprises owned by the +wealthy and with managing directors and editors who are also wealthy +individuals with a vested interest in the status quo. Hence there are +institutional factors which ensure that the "free press" reflects the +interests of capitalist elites. + +However, in democratic capitalist states there is little overt censorship. +Radical and independent publishers can still print their papers and books +without state intervention (although market forces ensure that this +activity can be difficult and financially unrewarding). Under socialism, +it is argued, because "society" owns the means of communication and +production, this liberty will not exist. Instead, as can be seen from +all examples of "actually existing socialism," such liberty is crushed in +favour of the government's point of view. + +As anarchism rejects the state, we can say that this danger does not +exist under libertarian socialism. However, since social anarchists argue +for the communalisation of production, could not restrictions on free +speech still exist? We argue no, for two reasons. Firstly, publishing +houses, radio stations, and so on will be run by their workers, directly. +They will be supplied by other cooperatives, with whom they will make +agreements, and *not* by "central planning" officials, who would not +exist. In other words, there is no bureaucracy of officials allocating +(and so controlling) resources (and so the means of communication). Hence, +anarcho-syndicalist self-management will ensure that there is a wide +range of opinions in different magazines and papers. There would be +community papers, radio stations, etc., and obviously they would play an +increased role in a free society. But they would not be the only media. +Associations, political parties, syndicates, and so on would have their +own media and/or would have access to the resources of communication +workers' syndicates, so ensuring that a wide range of opinions can be +expressed. + +Secondly, the "ultimate" power in a free society will be the individuals +of which it is composed. This power will be expressed in communal and +workplace assemblies that can recall delegates and revoke their +decisions. It is doubtful that these assemblies would tolerate a set of +would-be bureaucrats determining what they can or cannot read, see, or +hear. In addition, individuals in a free society would be interested in +hearing different viewpoints and discussing them. This is the natural +side-effect of critical thought (which self-management would encourage), +and so they would have a vested interest in defending the widest possible +access to different forms of media for different views. Having no vested +interests to defend, a free society would hardly encourage or tolerate +the censorship associated with the capitalist media ("I listen to criticism +because I am *greedy.* I listen to criticism because I am *selfish.* I +would not deny myself another's insights." [_The Right to be Greedy_] + +Therefore, anarchism will *increase* freedom of speech in many important +ways, particularly in the workplace (where it is currently denied under +capitalism). This will be a natural result of a society based on maximising +freedom and the desire to enjoy life. + +We would also like to point out that during both the Spanish and Russian +revolutions, freedom of speech was protected within anarchist areas. + +For example, the Makhnovists in the Urkaine "fully applied the revolutionary +principles of freedom of speech, of thought, of the Press, and of political +association. In all the cities and towns occupied . . . [c]omplete freedom +of speech, Press, assembly, and association of any kind and for everyone +was immediately proclaimed." [Peter Arshinov, _The History of the Makhnovist +Movement_, p. 153] This is confirmed by Micheal Malet who notes that "[o]ne +of the most remarkable achievements of the Makhnovists was to perserve a +freedom of speech more extensive than any of their opponents." [_Nestor +Makhno in the Russian Civil War_, p. 175] + +In revolutionary Spain republicians, liberals, communists, trotskyites and +many different anarchist groups all had freedom to express their views. +Emma Goldman writes that "[o]n my first visit to Spain in September 1936, +nothing surprised me so much as the amount of political freedom I found +everywhere. True, it did not extend to Fascists . . . [but] everyone of +the anti-Fascist front enjoyed political freedom which hardly existed +in any of the so-called European democracies." [_Vision on Fire_, David +Porter (ed), p.147] This is confirmed in a host of other eye-witnesses, +including George Orwell in _Homage to Catalonia_ (in fact, it was +the rise of the pro-capitalist republicans and communists that introduced +censorship). + +Both movements were fighting a life-and-death struggle against fascist and +pro-capitalist armies and so this defense of freedom of expression, given +the circumstances, is particularly noteworthy. + +Therefore, based upon both theory and practice we can say that anarchism +will not endanger freedom of expression. + +I.5.10 What about political parties? + +Political parties and other interest groups will exist in an anarchist +society as long as people feel the need to join them. They will not be +"banned" in any way, and their members will have the same rights as +everyone else. Individuals who are members of political parties or +associations can take part in communal and other assemblies and try to +convince others of the soundness of their ideas. + +However, there is a key difference between such activity and politics +under a capitalist democracy. This is that elections to positions of +responsibility in an anarchist society will not be based on party tickets. +In other words, when individuals are elected to administrative posts they +are elected to carry out their mandate, *not* to carry out their party's +programme. Of course, if the individuals in question had convinced their +fellow workers and citizens that their programme was correct, then this +mandate and the programme would be identical. However this is unlikely in +practice. We would imagine that the decisions of collectives and communes +would reflect the complex social interactions and diverse political +opinions their members and of the various groupings within the +association. + +Hence anarchism will likely contain many different political groupings and +ideas. The relative influence of these within collectives and communes +would reflect the strength of their arguments and the relevance of their +ideas, as would be expected in a free society. As Bakunin argued, "The +abolition of this mutual influence would be death. And when we vindicate +the freedom of the masses, we are by no means suggesting the abolition of +any of the natural influences that individuals or groups of individuals +exert on them. What we want is the abolition of influences which are +artificial, privileged, legal, official" [quoted by Malatesta in _Anarchy_] + +It is only when representative government replaces self-management that +political debate results in "elected dictatorship" and centralisation of +power into the hands of one party which claims to speak for the whole of +society, as if the latter had one mind. + +I.5.11 What about interest groups and other associations? + +Anarchists do not think that social life can be reduced to political and +economic associations alone. Individuals have many different interests and +desires which they must express in order to have a truly free and +interesting life. Therefore an anarchist society will see the development +of numerous voluntary associations and groups to express these +interests. For example, there would be consumer groups, musical groups, +scientific associations, art associations, clubs, housing cooperatives and +associations, craft and hobby guilds, fan clubs, animal rights associations, +groups based around sex, sexuality, creed and colour and so forth. +Associations will be created for all human interests and activities. +As Kropotkin argued: + +"He who wishes for a grand piano will enter the association of musical +instrument makers. And by giving the association part of his half-days' +leisure, he will soon possess the piano of his dreams. If he is fond of +astronomical studies he will join the association of astronomers. . . and +he will have the telescope he desires by taking his share of the +associated work. . .In short, the five or seven hours a day which each +will have at his disposal, after having consecrated several hours to the +production of necessities, would amply suffice to satisfy all longings for +luxury, however varied. Thousands of associations would undertake to +supply them." [_The Conquest of Bread_, p. 120] + +We can imagine, therefore, an anarchist society being based around +associations and interest groups on every subject which fires the +imagination of individuals and for which individuals want to meet in +order to express and further their interests. Housing associations, +for example, would exist to allow inhabitants to manage their local +areas, design and maintain their homes and local parks and gardens. +Animal rights and other interest groups would produce information on +issues they consider important, trying to convince others of the +errors of eating meat or whatever. Consumer groups would be in dialogue +with syndicates about improving products and services, ensuring that +syndicates produce what is required by consumers. Environment groups +would exist to watch production and make sure that it is not creating +damaging side effects and informing both syndicates and communes of +their findings. Feminist, homosexual, bisexual and anti-racist groups +would exist to put their ideas across, highlighting areas in which social +hierarchies and prejudice still existed. All across society, people +would be associating together to express themselves and convince others +of their ideas on many different issues. + +Hence in a anarchist society, free association would take on a stronger +and more positive role than under capitalism. In this way, social life +would take on many dimensions, and the individual would have the choice of +thousands of societies to join to meet his or her interests or create new +ones with other like-minded people. Anarchists would be the last to deny +that there is more to life than work! + +I.6 What about the "Tragedy of the Commons"? Surely communal + ownership will lead to overuse and environmental destruction? + +It should first be noted that the paradox of the "Tragedy of the Commons" +is actually an application of the "tragedy of the free-for-all" to the +issue of the "commons" (communally owned land). Resources that are "free +for all" have all the problems associated with what is called the "Tragedy +of the Commons," namely the overuse and destruction of such resources; but +unfortunately for the capitalists who refer to such examples, they do not +involve true "commons." + +The "free-for-all" land in such examples becomes depleted (the "tragedy") +because hypothetical shepherds each pursue their maximum individual gain +without regard for their peers or the land. What is individually rational +(e.g., grazing the most sheep for profit), when multiplied by each +shepherd acting in isolation, ends up grossly irrational (e.g., ending the +livilehood of *every* shepherd). What works for one cannot work as well +for everyone in a given area. But, as discussed below, because such land +is not communally *managed* (as true commons are), the so-called Tragedy +of the Commons is actually an indictment of what is, essentially, +laissez-faire capitalist economic practices! + +As Allan Engler points out, "[s]upporters of capitalism cite what they +call the tragedy of the commons to explain the wanton plundering of +forests, fish and waterways, but common property is not the problem. When +property was held in common by tribes, clans and villages, people took no +more than their share and respected the rights of others. They cared for +common property and when necessary acted together to protect it against +those who would damage it. Under capitalism, there is no common property. +(Public property is a form of private property, property owned by the a +government as a corporate person.) Capitalism recognises only private +property and free-for-all property. Nobody is responsible for free-for-all +property until someone claims it as his own. He then has a right to do as +he pleases with it, a right that is uniquely capitalist. Unlike common or +personal property, capitalist property is not valued for itself or for its +utility. It is valued for the revenue it produces for its owner. If the +capitalist owner can maximise his revenue by liquidating it, he has the +right to do that." [_Apostles of Greed_, pp. 58-59] + +So, the *real* problem is that a lot of economists and sociologists +conflate this scenario, in which *unmanaged* resources are free for all, +with the situation that prevailed in the use of "commons," which were +communally *managed* resources in village and tribal communities. + +The confusion has, of course, been used to justify the stealing of +communal property by the rich and the state. The continued acceptance of +this "confusion" in political debate is due to of the utility of the +theory for the rich and powerful, who have a vested interest in +undermining pre-capitalist social forms and stealing communal resources. +Therefore, most examples used to justify the "tragedy of the commons" are +*false* examples, based on situations in which the underlying social +context is radically different from that involved in using true commons. + +In reality, the "tragedy of the commons" comes about only after wealth and +private property, backed by the state, starts to eat into and destroy +communal life. This is well indicated by the fact that commons existed for +thousands of years and only disappeared after the rise of capitalism -- +and the powerful central state it requires -- had eroded communal values +and traditions. Without the influence of wealth concentrations and the +state, people get together and come to agreements over how to use communal +resources, and have been doing so for millennia. That was how the commons +were managed, so "the tragedy of the commons" would be better called the +"tragedy of private property." + +As E.P. Thompson notes in an extensive investigation on this subject, the +tragedy "argument [is] that since resources held in common are not owned +and protected by anyone, there is an inexorable economic logic that dooms +them to over-exploitation. . . . Despite its common sense air, what it +overlooks is that commoners themselves were not without common sense. Over +time and over space the users of commons have developed a rich variety of +institutions and community sanctions which have effected restraints and +stints upon use. . . . As the old. . . institutions lapsed, so they fed +into a vacuum in which political influence, market forces, and popular +assertion contested with each other without common rules" [_Customs in +Common_, p. 107]. + +In practice, of course, both political influence and market forces are +dominated by wealth. Popular assertion means little when the state +enforces property rights in the interests of the wealthy. "Parliament and +law imposed capitalist definitions to exclusive property in land" [Ibid., +p. 163]. + +The working class is only "left alone" to starve. In practice, the +privatisation of communal land has led to massive ecological destruction, +while the possibilities of free discussion and agreement are destroyed in +the name of "absolute" property rights and the power and authority which +goes with them. + +For more on this subject, try _The Question of the Commons_, Bonnie M. +McCoy and James M. Acheson (ed), Tucson, 1987 and _The Evolution of +Cooperation_ by Robert Axelrod, Basic Books, 1984. + +I.6.1 How can anarchists explain how the use of property "owned by + everyone in the world" will be decided? + +First, we need to point out the fallacy normally lying behind this +objection. It is assumed that because everyone owns something, that +everyone has to be consulted in what it is used for. This, however, +applies the logic of private property to non-capitalist social forms. +While it is true that everyone owns collective "property" in an anarchist +society, it does not mean that everyone *uses* it. Anarchists, therefore, +think that those who *use* a part of society's wealth have the most say +in what happens to it (e.g. workers control the means of production they +use and the work they do in using it). This does not mean that those using +it can do what they like to it. Users are subject to recall by local +communities if they are abusing their position (for example, if a +workplace was polluting the environment, then the local community could +act to close down the workplace). Thus use rights (or usufruct) replace +property rights in a free society. + +It is no coincidence that societies that are stateless are also without +private property. As Murray Bookchin points out "an individual appropriation +of goods, a personal claim to tools, land, and other resources . . . is +fairly common in organic [i.e. aboriginal] societies. . . By the same +token, cooperative work and the sharing of resources on a scale that +could be called communistic is also fairly common. . . But primary to +both of these seemingly contrasting relationships is the practice of +*usufruct.*" [_The Ecology of Freedom_, p.50] + +Such stateless societies are based upon "the principle of *usufruct,* the +freedom of individuals in a community to appropriate resources merely by +the virtue of the fact they are using them. . . Such resources belong to +the user as long as they are being used. Function, in effect, replaces +our hallowed concept of possession." [Op. Cit., p. 50] The future +stateless society anarchists hope for would also be based upon such a +principle. + +As for deciding what a given area of commons is used for, that falls to +the local communities who live next to them. If, for example, an +anarchosyndicalist factory wants to expand and eat into the commons, then +the local community who uses (and so controls) the local commons would +discuss it and come to an agreement concerning it. If a minority *really* +objects, they can use direct action to put their point across. But +anarchists argue that rational debate among equals will not result in too +much of that. Or suppose an individual wanted to set up a some allotment +in a given area, which had not been allocated as a park. Then he or she +would notify the community assembly by appropriate means (e.g. on a notice +board or newspaper), and if no one objected at the next assembly or in a +set time-span, the allotment would go ahead, as no one else desired to use +the resource in question. + +Other communities would be confederated with this one, and joint activity +would also be discussed by debate, with a community (like an individual) +being free *not* to associate if they so desire. Other communities could +and would object to ecologically and individually destructive practices. +The interrelationships of both ecosystems and freedom is well known, and +its doubtful that free individuals would sit back and let some amongst +them destroy *their* planet. + +Therefore, those who use something control it. This means that "users' +groups" would be created to manage resources used by more than one person. +For workplaces this would (essentially) be those who worked there (with, +possibly, the input of consumer groups and cooperatives). Housing +associations made up of tenants would manage housing and repairs. +Resources that are used by associations within society, such as communally +owned schools, workshops, computer networks, and so forth, would be +managed on a day-to-day basis by those who use them. User groups would +decide access rules (for example, time-tables and booking rules) and how +they are used, making repairs and improvements. Such groups would be +accountable to their local community. Hence, if that community thought +that any activities by a group within it was destroying communal +resources or restricting access to them, the matter would be discussed at +the relevent assembly. In this way, interested parties manage their own +activities and the resources they use (and so would be very likely to +have an interest in ensuring their proper and effective use), but +without private property and its resulting hierarchies and restrictions on +freedom. + +Lastly, let us examine clashes of use rights, i.e. cases where two or more +people or communities/collectives desire to use the same resource. In +general, such problems can be resolved by discussion and decision +making by those involved. This process would be roughly as follows: if +the contesting parties are reasonable, they would probably mutually agree +to allow their dispute to be settled by some mutual friend whose judgment +they could trust, or they would place it in the hands of a jury, randomly +selected from the community or communities in question. This would take +place if they could not come to an agreement between themselves to share +the resource in question. + +On thing is certain, however: such disputes are much better settled without +the interference of authority or the re-creation of private property. If +those involved do not take the sane course described above and instead +decide to set up a fixed authority, disaster will be the inevitable +result. In the first place, this authority will have to be given power to +enforce its judgment in such matters. If this happens, the new authority +will undoubtedly keep for itself the best of what is disputed, and allot +the rest to its friends! By re-introducing private property, such +authoritarian bodies would develop sooner, rather than later, with two +new classes of oppressors being created -- the property owners and the +enforcers of "justice." + +It is a strange fallacy to suppose that two people who meet on terms of +equality and disagree could not be reasonable or just, or that a third +party with power backed up by violence will be the incarnation of justice +itself. Common sense should certainly warn us against such an illusion. +Historical "counterexamples" to the claim that people meeting on terms of +equality cannot be reasonable or just are suspect, since the history of +disagreements with unjust or unreasonable outcomes (e.g. resulting in war) +generally involve conflicts between groups with unequal power and within +the context of private property and hierarchical institutions. + +Communal "property" needs communal structures in order to function. Use +rights, and discussion among equals, replace property rights in a free +society. Freedom cannot survive if it is caged behind laws enforced by +public or private states. + +I.6.2 Doesn't any form of communal ownership involve restricting + individual liberty? + +This point is expressed in many different forms. John MacKay (an +individualist anarchist) puts the point as follows: + +"Would you [the social anarchist], in the system of society which you call +'free Communism' prevent individuals from exchanging their labor among +themselves by means of their own medium of exchange? And further: Would +you prevent them from occupying land for the purpose of personal use?"... +[The] question was not to be escaped. If he answered 'Yes!' he admitted +that society had the right of control over the individual and threw +overboard the autonomy of the individual which he had always zealously +defended; if on the other hand he answered 'No!' he admitted the right of +private property which he had just denied so emphatically." + +However, as is clearly explained above and in sections B.3 and I.5.7., +anarchist theory has a simple and clear answer to this question. This is +to recognise that use rights replace property rights. In other words, +individuals can exchange their labour as they see fit and occupy land for +their own use. This in no way contradicts the abolition of private +property, because occupancy and use is directly opposed to private +property. Therefore, in a free communist society individuals can use land +as they personally wish. If they do so, however, they cannot place claims +on the benefits others receive from cooperation and their communal life. + +John MacKay goes on to state that "every serious man must declare +himself: for Socialism, and thereby for force and against liberty, or for +Anarchism, and thereby for liberty and against force," which is a strange +statement, as individualist anarchists like Ben Tucker considered +themselves socialists and opposed private property. However, MacKay's +statement begs the question, does private property support liberty? He +does not address or even acknowledge the fact that private property will +inevitably lead to the owners of such property gaining control over the +individual and so denying them liberty (see section B.4). Neither does he +address the fact that private property requires extensive force (i.e. a +state) to protect it against those who use it or could use it. + +In other words, MacKay ignores two important aspects of private property. +Firstly, that private property is based upon force, which must be used +to ensure the owner's right to exclude others (the main reason for the +existence of the state). And secondly, he ignores the anti-libertarian +nature of wage labour-- the other side of "private property" -- in which +the liberty of employees is obviously restricted by the owners whose +property they are hired to use. Therefore, it seems that in the name of +"liberty" John MacKay and a host of other "individualists" end up +supporting authority and (effectively) some kind of state. This is hardly +surprising as private property is the opposite of personal possession, +not its base. + +Therefore, far from communal property restricting individual liberty (or +even personal use of resources) it is in fact its only defense. + +I.7 Won't Libertarian Socialism destroy individuality? + +No. Libertarian socialism only suppresses individuality for those who are +so shallow that they can't separate their identity from what they own. +However, be that as it may, this is an important objection to any form +of socialism and, given the example of "socialist" Russia, needs to be +discussed more. + +The basic assumption behind this question is that capitalism encourages +individuality, but this assumption can be faulted on many levels. As +Kropotkin noted, "individual freedom [has] remained, both in theory and +in practice, more illusory than real" [_Ethics_, p. 27] and that "the want +of development of the personality [leading to herd-psychology] and the lack +of individual creative power and initiative are certainly one of the chief +defects of our time." [Op. Cit., p. 28] In effect, modern capitalism has +reduced individuality to a parody of what it could be (see section I.7.4). +As Alfie Kohn points out, "our miserable individuality is screwed to the +back of our cars in the form of personalized license plates." + +So we see a system which is apparently based on "egoism" and "individuality" +but whose members are free to expand as standardized individuals, who +hardly express their individuality at all. Far from increasing individuality, +capitalism standardizes it and so restricts it - that it survives at all +is more an expression of the strength of humanity than any benefits of +the capitalist system. This impoverishment of individuality is hardly +surprising in a society based on hierarchical institutions which are +designed to assure obedience and subordination. + +So, can we say that libertarian socialism will *increase* individuality or +is this conformity and lack of "individualism" a constant feature of the +human race? In order to make some sort of statement on this, we have to +look at non-hierarchical societies and organisations. We will discuss +"primitive" cultures as an example of non-hierarchical societies in section +I.7.1. Here, however, we indicate how anarchist organisations will protect +and increase an individual's sense of self. + +Anarchist organisations and tactics are designed to promote individuality. +They are decentralised, participatory organisations and so they give those +involved the "social space" required to express themselves and develop their +abilities and potential in ways restricted under capitalism. As Gaston Leval +notes in his book on the anarchist collectives during the Spanish Revolution, +"so far as collective life is concerned, the freedom of each is the right +to participate spontaneously with one's thought, one's will, one's initiative +to the full extent of one's capacities. A negative liberty is not liberty; +it is nothingness." [_Collectives in the Spanish Revolution_, p. 346] + +By being able to take part in and manage the decision making processes which +directly affect you, your ability to think for yourself is increased and +so you are constantly developing your abilities and personality. The +spontaneous activity described by Leval has important psychological impacts. +As Eric Fromm notes, "[i]n all spontaneous activity, the individual embraces +the world. Not only does his [sic] individual self remain intact; it becomes +stronger and more solidified. *For the self is as strong as it is active.*" +[_Escape from Freedom_, p. 225] + +Therefore, individuality does not atrophy within an anarchist organisation +and becomes stronger as it participates and acts within the social +organisation. In other words, individuality requires community. As Max +Horkheimer once observed, "individuality is impaired when each man decides +to fend for himself. . . . The absolutely isolated individual has always been +an illusion. The most esteemed personal qualities, such as independence, +will to freedom, sympathy, and the sense of justice, are social as well as +individual virtues. The fully developed individual is the consummation of a +fully developed society." [_The Eclipse of Reason_, p. 135] + +The sovereign, self-sufficient individual is as much a product of a healthy +community as it is from individual self-realization and the fulfillment of +desire. Kropotkin, in _Mutual Aid_, documented the tendency for *community* to +enrich and develop *individuality.* As he proved, this tendency is seen +throughout human history, which suggests that the abstract individualism of +capitalism is more the exception than the rule in social life. In other +words, history indicates that by working together with others as equals +individuality is strengthen far more than in the so-called "individualism" +associated with capitalism. + +This communal support for individuality is hardly surprising as +individuality is a product of the interaction between *social* forces +and individual attributes. The more an individual cuts themselves off +from social life, the more likely their individuality will suffer. This +can be seen from the 1980's when neoliberal governments supporting the +"radical" individualism associated with free market capitalism were +elected in both Britain and the USA. The promotion of market forces +lead to social atomisation, social disruption and a more centralised +state. As "the law of the jungle" swept across society, the resulting +disruption of social life ensured that many individuals became +impoverished ethically and culturally as society became increasingly +privatised. + +In other words, many of the characteristics which we associate with a +developed individuality (namely ability to think, to act, to hold ones +own opinions and standards and so forth) are (essentially) *social* skills +and are encouraged by a well developed community. Remove that social +background and these valued aspects of individuality are undermined by +fear, lack of social interaction and atomisation. Taking the case of +workplaces, for example, surely it is an obvious truism that a hierarchical +working environment will marginalise the individual and ensure that they +cannot express their opinions, exercise their thinking capacities to the +full or manage their own activity. This will have in impact in all aspects +of an individual's life. + +Hierarchy in all its forms produces oppression and a crushing of +individuality (see section B.1). In such a system, the "business" side +of group activities would be "properly carried out" but at the expense +of the individuals involved. Anarchists agree with John Stuart Mill when +he asks, under such "benevolent dictatorship," "what sort of human beings +can be formed under such a regimen? what development can either their +thinking or their active faculties attain under it? . . .Their moral +capacities are equally stunted. Wherever the sphere of action of human +beings is artificially circumscribed, their sentiments are narrowed and +dwarfed." [_Representative Government_, pp. 203-4] Like anarchists, Mill +tended his critique of political associations into all forms of associations +and stated that if "mankind is to continue to improve" then in the end +one form of association will predominate, "not that that which can exist +between a capitalist as chief, and workpeople without a voice in the +management, but the association of labourers themselves on terms of equality, +collectively owning the capital with which they carry on their operations, +and working under managers elected and removable by themselves." [_Collected +Works_, book II, p. 205] + +Hence, anarchism will protect and develop individuality by creating the +means by which all individuals can participate in the decisions that affect +them, in all aspects of their lives. Anarchism is build upon the central +assertion that individuals and their institutions cannot be considered in +isolation from one another. Authoritarian organisations will create a +servile personality, one that feels savest conforming to authority and +what is considered normal. A libertarian organisation, one that is based +upon participation and self-management will encourage a strong personality, +one that knows his or her own mind, thinks for itself and feels confident in +his or her own powers. + +A libertarian re-organisation of society will be based upon, and encourage, +a self-empowerment and self-liberation of the individual and by participation +within self-managed organisations, individuals will educate themselves for +the responsibilities and joys of freedom. As Carole Pateman points out, +"participation develops and fosters the very qualities necessary for it; +the more individuals participate the better able they become to do so." +[_Participation and Democratic Theory_, pp. 42-43] + +Such a re-organisation (as we will see in section J) is based upon the +tactic of *direct action.* This tactic also encourages individuality by +encouraging the individual to fight directly, by their own self-activity, +that which they consider to be wrong. As Voltairine de Cleyre puts it: + +"Every person who ever thought he had a right to assert, and went boldly and +asserted it, himself, or jointly with others that shared his convictions, +was a direct actionist. . . Every person who ever had a plan to do anything, +and went and did it, or who laid his plan before others, and won their +co-operation to do it with him, without going to external authorities to +please do the thing for them, was a direct actionist. All co-operative +experiments are essentially direct action. . . [direct actions] are the +spontaneous retorts of those who feel oppressed by a situation." [_Direct +Action_] + +Therefore, anarchist tactics base themselves upon self-assertion and this +can only develop individuality. Self-activity can only occur when there is +a independent, free-thinking self. As self-management is based upon +the principle of direct action ("all co-operative experiments are essentially +direct action") we can suggest that individuality will have little to +fear from an anarchist society. + +For anarchists, like Mill, real liberty requires social equality. For "[i]f +individuals are to exercise the maximum amount of control over their own +lives and environment then authority structures in these areas most be +so organised that they can participate in decision making." [Pateman, +Op. Cit., p. 43] Hence individuality will be protected, encouraged and +developed in an anarchist society far more than in a class ridden, +hierarchical society like capitalism. It is because wonders are many, and +none is more wonderful than individuality that anarchists oppose capitalism +in the name of socialism -- libertarian socialism, the free association +of free individuals. + +I.7.1 Do "Primitive" cultures indicate that communalism defends individuality? + +Yes. In many so-called primitive cultures, we find a strong respect for +individuals. As Paul Radin points out, "If I were to state... what are the +outstanding features of aboriginal civilisation, I... would have no +hesitation in answering that... respect for the individual, irrespective +of age or sex" is the first one. [_The World of Primitive Man_, p. 11] + +Murray Bookchin comments on Radin's statement as follows, "respect for the +individual, which Radin lists first as an aboriginal attribute, deserves +to be emphasized, today, in an era that rejects the collective as destructive +of individuality on the one hand, and yet, in an orgy of pure egotism, has +actually destroyed all the ego boundaries of free-floating, isolated, and +atomised individuals on the other. A strong collectivity may be even more +supportive of the individual as close studies of certain aboriginal societies +reveal, than a 'free market' society with its emphasis on an egoistic, but +impoverished, self" [_Remaking Society_, p. 48] + +This individualization associated with "primitive" cultures was also noted +by Howard Zinn when he wrote that "Gary Nash describes Iroquois culture. No +laws and ordinances, sheriffs and constables, judges and juries, or courts or +jails - the apparatus of authority in European societies - were to be +found in the northeast woodlands prior to European arrival. Yet boundaries +of acceptable behaviour were firmly set. Though priding themselves on the +autonomous individual, the Iroquois maintained a strict sense of right +and wrong..." [_Columbus, the Indians and Human Progress, 1492-1992_] + +In addition, Native American tribes also indicate that communal living and +high standards of living can and do go together. The Cherokees, for +example, in the 1870s, "land was held collectively and life was contented +and prosperous" with the Department of the Interior recognising that it +was "a miracle of progress, with successful production by people living +in considerable comfort, a level of education 'equal to that furnished by an +ordinary college in the States,' flourishing industry and commerce, an +effective constitutional government, a high level of literacy, and a state +of 'civilization and enlightenment' comparable to anything known: 'What +required five hundred years for the Britons to accomplish in this direction +they have accomplished in one hundred years,' the Department declared in +wonder." [Noam Chomsky, _Year 501_, p. 231] + +Senator Henry Dawes of Massachusetts visited "Indian Territory" in 1883 and +described what he found in glowing terms: "There was not a pauper in that +nation, and the nation did not owe a dollar. It built its own capitol, in +which we had this examination, and it built its schools and its hospitals." +No family lacked a home. [Cited by Chomsky, Op. Cit., p. 231] + +(It must be mentioned that Dawes recommended that the society must be +destroyed because "[t]hey have got as far as they can go, because they own +their land in common. . .there is no enterprise to make your home any better +than that of your neighbors. There is no selfishness, which is the bottom of +civilization. Till this people will consent to give up their lands, and +divide them among their citizens so that each can own the land he cultivates, +they will not make much more progress." The introduction of capitalism - +as usual by state action - resulted in poverty and destitution, again +showing the link between capitalism and high living standards is not clear +cut, regardless of claims otherwise). + +Undoubtedly, having access to the means of production ensured that members +of such cultures did not have to place themselves in situations which could +produce a servile character structure. As they did not have to follow the +orders of a boss they did not have to learn to obey others and so could +develop their own abilities to govern themselves. This self-government +allowed the development of a custom in such tribes called "the principle of +non-interference" in anthropology. This is the principle of defending +someone's right to express the opposing view and it is a pervasive principle +in the "primitive" world, and it is so much so as to be safely called a +"universal". + +The principle of non-interference is a powerful principle that extends +from the personal to the political, and into every facet of daily life. +Most modern people are aghast when they realize the extent to which it is +practiced, but it has proven itself to be an integral part of living +anarchy (as many of these communities can be termed, although they would +be considered imperfect anarchies in some ways). It means that people +simply do not limit the activities of others, period. This in effect +makes absolute tolerance a custom, or as the modern would say, a law. But +the difference between law and custom is important to point out. Law is +dead, and Custom lives (see section I.7.3). + +As modern people we have so much baggage that relates to "interfering" with +the lives of others that merely visualizing the situation that would +eliminate this daily pastime for many is impossible. But think about it. +First of all, in a society where people do not interfere with each other's +behavior, people tend to feel trusted and empowered by this simple social +fact. Their self-esteem is already higher because they are trusted with +the responsibility for making learned and aware choices. This is not +fiction; individual responsibility is a key aspect of social responsibility. + +Therefore, given the strength of individuality documented in tribes with +little or no hierarchical structures within them, can we not conclude that +anarchism will defend individuality and even develop it in ways blocked +by capitalism? At the very least we can say "possibly," and that is enough +to allow us to question that dogma that capitalism is the only system based +on respect for the individual. + +I.7.2 Is this not worshipping the past or the "noble savage"? + +No. However, this is a common attack on socialists by supporters of +capitalism and on anarchists by Marxists. Both claim that anarchism is +"backward looking", opposed to "progress" and desire a society based on +inappropriate ideas of freedom. In particular, ideological capitalists +maintain that all forms of socialism base themselves on the ideal of the +"noble savage" and ignore the need for laws and other authoritarian social +institutions to keep people "in check." + +Anarchists are well aware of the limitations of the "primitive communist" +societies they have used as example of anarchistic tendencies within +history or society. They are also aware of the problems associated with +using *any* historical period as an example of "anarchism in action." Take +for example the "free cities" of Medieval Europe which was used by +Kropotkin as an example of the potential of decentralised, confederated +communes. He was sometimes accused of being a "Medievalist" (as was +William Morris) while all he was doing was indicating that capitalism +need not equal progress and that alternative social systems have existed +which have encouraged freedom in ways capitalism restricts. + +Again it is hardly surprising to find that many supporters of capitalism +ignore the insights that can be gained by studying "primitive" cultures +and the questions they raise about capitalism and freedom. Instead, they +duck the issues raised by these insights and accuse socialists of +idealising "the noble savage." As indicated, nothing could be further from the +truth. What socialists point out from this analysis is that the atomised +individual associated with capitalist society is not "natural" and that +capitalist social relationships help to weaken individuality. All the +many attacks on socialist analysis of past societies is a product of +capitalists attempts to deny history and state that "Progress" reaches its +final resting place in capitalism. + +Moreover, as George Orwell points out, such attacks miss the point: + +"In the first place he [the defender of modern life] will tell you that it +is impossible to 'go back'. . .and will then accuse you of being a medievalist +and begin to descant upon the horrors of the Middle Ages. . .As a matter of +fact, most attacks upon the Middle Ages and the past generally by apologists +of modernity are beside the point, because their essential trick is to +protect a modern man, with his sqeamishness and his high standard of comfort, +into an age when such things were unheard of. But notice that in any case +this is not an answer. For dislike of the mechanized future does not imply +the smallest reverence for any period of the past. . .When one pictures +it merely as an objective; there is no need to pretend that it has ever +existed in space and time." [_The Road to Wigan Pier_, p. 183] + +We should also note that such attacks on anarchist investigations of past +cultures assumes that these cultures have *no* good aspects at all and so +indicates a sort of intellectual "all or nothing" approach to modern life. +The idea that past (and current) civilisations may have got *some* things +right and others wrong and should be investigated is rejected for a +totally uncritical "love it or leave" approach to modern society. Of course, +the well known "free market" capitalist love of 19th century capitalist +life and values warrants no such claims of "past worship" by the supporters +of the system. + +Therefore attacks on anarchists as supporters of the "noble savage" ideal +indicate more about the opponents of anarchism and their fear of looking +at the implications of the system they support than about anarchist theory. + +I.7.3 Is the law required to protect individual rights? + +No, far from it. While it is obvious that, as Kropotkin put it, "[n]o +society is possible without certain principles of morality generally +recognised. If everyone grew accustomed to deceiving his fellow-men; if +we never could rely on each other's promise and words; if everyone +treated his fellow as an enemy, against whom every means of warfare is +justified - no society could exist." [_Kropotkin's Revolutionary +Pamphlets_, p. 73] this does not mean that a legal system (with its +resultant bureaucracy, vested interests and inhumanity) is the best way +to protect individual rights within a society. + +What anarchists propose instead of the current legal system (or an +alternative law system based on religious or "natural" laws) is *custom* +- namely the development of living "rules of thumb" which express what +a society considers as right at any given moment. + +However, the question arises, if a fixed set of principles are used to +determine the just outcome, in what way would this differ from laws? + +The difference is that the "order of custom" would prevail rather than the +"rule of law". *Custom* is a body of living institutions that enjoys the +support of the body politic, whereas *law* is a codified (read dead) body +of institutions that separates social control from moral force. This, as +anyone observing modern Western society can testify, alienates +everyone. A *just outcome* is the predictable, but not necessarily the +inevitable outcome of interpersonal conflict because in a traditional +anarchistic society people are trusted to do it themselves. Anarchists +think people have to grow up in a social environment free from the +confusions generated by a fundamental discrepancy between morality, and +social control, to fully appreciate the implications. However, the essential +ingredient is the investment of trust, by the community, in people to come +up with *functional solutions* to interpersonal conflict. This stands in +sharp contrast with the present situation of people being infantilized by +the state through a constant bombardment of fixed social structures removing +all possibility of people developing their own unique solutions. + +Therefore, anarchist recognise that social custom changes with society. What +was once considered "normal" or "natural" may become to be seen as oppressive +and hateful. This is because the "conception of good or evil varies +according to the degree of intelligence or of knowledge acquired. There is +nothing unchangeable about it." [Op. Cit., p. 92] Only by removing the +dead hand of the past can society's ethical base develop and grow with +the individuals that make it up (see section A.2.19 for a discussion of +anarchist ethics). + +We should also like to point out here that laws (or "The Law") also restrict +the development of an individual's sense of ethics or morality. This is +because it relieves them of the responsibility of determining if something +is right or wrong. All they need to know is whether it is legal. The morality +of the action is irrelevant. This "nationalisation" of ethics is very +handy for the would be capitalist, governor or other exploiter. In addition, +capitalism also restricts the development of an individual's ethics because +it creates the environment where these ethics can be bought. To quote +Shakespeare's _Richard III_: + +"Second Murderer : . . .Some certain dregs of conscience are yet within me. + +First Murderer : Remember our reward, when the deed's done. + +Second Murderer : Zounds! He dies. I had forgot the reward. + +First Murderer : Where's thy conscience now? + +Second Murderer : O, in the Duke of Gloucester's purse." + +Therefore, as far as "The Law" defending individual rights, it creates the +necessary conditions (such as the de-personalisation of ethics, the existence +of wealth, and so on) for undermining individual ethical behaviour, and so +respect for other individual's rights. Individual rights, for anarchists, +are best protected in a social environment based on the self-respect and +sympathy. Custom, because it is based on the outcome of numerous individual +actions and thought does not have this problem and reflects (and encourages +the development of) individual ethical standards and so a generalised +respect for others. + +Tolerance of other individuals depends far more on the attitudes of the +society in question that on its system of laws. In other words, even if +the law does respect individual rights, if others in society disapprove +of an action then they can and will act to stop it (or restrict individual +rights). All that the law can do is try to prevent this occurring. Needless +to say, governments can (and have) been at the forefront of ignoring +individual rights when its suits them. + +In addition, the state perverts social customs for its own, and the +economically powerful's interests. As Kropotkin argued, "The law has +used Man's social feelings to get passed not only moral precepts which +were acceptable to Man, but also orders which were useful only to the +minority of exploiters against whom he would have rebelled" [quoted by +Malatesta in _Anarchy_, pp. 21-22] + +Therefore anarchists argue that state institutions are not only unneeded +to create a ethical society (i.e. one based on respecting individuality) +but activity undermines such a society. That the economically and politically +powerful state that a state is a necessary condition for a free society and +individual space is hardly surprising. Malatesta put it as follows: + +"A government cannot maintain itself for long without hiding its true nature +behind a pretense of general usefulness. . .it cannot impose acceptances +of the privileges of the few if it does not pretend to be the guardian of +the rights of all" [_Anarchy_, p. 21] + +Therefore, its important to remember why the state exists and so whatever +actions and rights it promotes for the individual it exists to protect the +powerful against the powerless. Any human rights recognised by the state +are a product of social struggle and exist because of pass victories in +the class war and not due to the kindness of ruling elites. In addition, +capitalism itself undermines the ethical foundations of any society by +encouraging people to grow "accustomed to deceiving his fellow-men" and +women and treating "his fellow as an [economic] enemy, against whom every +means of warfare is justified." Hence capitalism undermines the basic +social context within which individuals develop and need to become fully +human and free. Little wonder that a strong state has always been required +to introduce a free market - firstly, to protect wealth from the increasingly +dispossessed and secondly, to try to hold society together as capitalism +destroys the social fabric which makes a society worth living in. + +I.7.4 Does capitalism protect individuality? + +Given that many people claim that *any* form of socialism will destroy +liberty (and so individuality) it is worthwhile to consider whether +capitalism actually does protect individuality. As noted briefly in +section I.7 the answer must be no. Capitalism seems to help create a +standardisation which helps to distort individuality and the fact that +individuality does exist under capitalism says more about the human +spirit than capitalist social relationships. + +So, why does a system apparently based on the idea of individual profit +result in such a deadening of the individual? There are four main reasons: + +1) capitalism produces a hierarchical system which crushes self-government +in many areas of life (see sections B.1 and B.4). This, naturally, represses +individual initiative and the skills needed to express ones own mind; + +2) there is the lack of community which does not provide the necessary +supports for the encouragement of individuality (see section I.7 and +I.7.1); + +3) there is the psychological impact of "individual profit" when it becomes +identified purely with monetary gain (as in capitalism); + +4) the effects of competition in creating conformity and mindless obedience +to authority. + +These last two points are worth discussing more thoroughly, and we will do +so here. + +Taking the third point first, when this kind of "greed" becomes the guiding +aspect of an individual's life (and the society they live in) they usually +end up sacrificing their own ego to it. Instead of the individual dominating +their "greed," "greed" dominates them and so they end up being possessed by +one aspect of themselves. This "selfishness" hides the poverty of ego who +practices it. + +As Erich Fromm argues: + +"Selfishness if not identical with self-love but with its very opposite. +Selfishness is one kind of greediness. Like all greediness, it contains +an insatiability, as a consequence of which there is never any real +satisfaction. Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an +endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction. . . +this type of person is basically not fond of himself, but deeply dislikes +himself. + +"The puzzle in this seeming contradiction is easy to solve. Selfishness +is rooted in this very lack of fondness for oneself. . . He does not have +the inner security which can exist only on the basis of genuine +fondness and affirmation" [_The Fear of Freedom_, pp. 99-100] + +In other words, the "selfish" person allows their greed to dominate their +ego and they sacrifice their personality feeding this new "God." This +was clearly seen by Max Stirner who denounced this as a "one-sided, unopened, +narrow egoism" which leads the ego being "ruled by a passion to which he +brings the rest as sacrifices" (see section G.6). Like all "spooks," +capitalism results in the self-negation of the individual and so the +impoverishment of individuality. Little wonder, then, that a system +apparently based upon "egoism" and "individualism" ends up weakening +individuality. + +The effects of competition on individuality are equally as destructive. + +Indeed, a "culture dedicated to creating standardized, specialized, +predictable human components could find no better way of grinding them +out than by making every possible aspect of life a matter of competition. +'Winning out' in this respect does not make rugged individualists. It +shapes conformist robots." [George Leonard, "Winning Isn't Everything. +It's Nothing", p. 46, _Intellectual Digest_, October, 1975, pp. 45-47] + +Why is this? + +Competition is based upon outdoing others and this can only occur if you +are doing the same thing they are. However, individuality is the most +unique thing there is and "unique characteristics by definition cannot +be ranked and participating in the process of ranking demands essential +conformity." [Alfie Kohn, _No Contest: The Case Against Competition_, +p. 130] According to Kohn in his extensive research into the effects of +competition, the evidence suggests that it in fact "encourages rank +conformity" as well as undermining the "substantial and authentic kind +of individualism" associated by such free thinkers as Thoreau. [Op. Cit., +p. 129] + +As well as impoverishing individuality by encouraging conformity, competition +also makes us less free thinking and rebellious: + +"Attitude towards authorities and general conduct do count in the kinds of +competitions that take place in the office or classroom. If I want to get +the highest grades in class, I will not be likely to challenge the teacher's +version of whatever topic is being covered. After a while, I may cease to +think critically altogether. . . If people tend to 'go along to get along,' +there is even more incentive to go along when the goal is to be number one. +In the office or factory where co-workers are rivals, beating out the next +person for a promotion means pleasing the boss. Competition acts to +extinguish the Promethean fire of rebellion." [Op. Cit., p. 130] + +In section I.4.11 (If libertarian socialism eliminates the profit motive, +won't creativity suffer?) we noted that when an artistic task is turned +into a contest, children's work reveal significantly less spontaneity +and creativity. In other words, competition reduces creativity and so +individuality because creativity is "anti-conformist at its core: it is +nothing if not a process of idiosyncratic thinking and risk-taking. +Competition inhibits this process." [Op. Cit., p. 130] + +Competition, therefore, will result in a narrowing of our lives, a failing +to experience new challenges in favour of trying to win and be "successful." +It turns "life into a series of contests [and] turns us into cautious, +obedient people. We do not sparkle as individuals *or* embrace collective +action when we are in a race." [Op. Cit., p. 131] + +So, far from defending individuality, capitalism places a lot of barriers +(both physical and mental) in the path of individuals who are trying to +express their freedom. Anarchism exists precisely because capitalism has +not created the free society it supporters claimed it would during its +struggle against the absolutist state. + +I.8 Does revolutionary Spain show that libertarian socialism can + work in practice? + +Yes. As Murray Bookchin puts it, "[i]n Spain, millions of people took +large segments of the economy into their own hands, collectivized them, +administered them, even abolished money and lived by communistic +principles of work and distribution -- all of this in the midst of a +terrible civil war, yet without producing the chaos or even the serious +dislocations that were and still are predicted by authoritarian +'radicals.' Indeed, in many collectivized areas, the efficiency with +which an enterprise worked by far exceeded that of a comparable one in +nationalized or private sectors. This 'green shoot' of revolutionary +reality has more meaning for us than the most persuasive theoretical +arguments to the contrary. On this score it is not the anarchists who are +the 'unrealistic day-dreamers,' but their opponents who have turned their +backs to the facts or have shamelessly concealed them ["Introductory," +in _The Anarchist Collectives_, ed. Sam Dolgoff, Free Life Editions, +1974] + +Sam Dolgoff's book is by far the best English source on the Spanish +collectives and deserves to be quoted at length (as we do below). He +points out that more than 60% of the land was very quickly collectivized +and cultivated by the peasants themselves, "without landlords, without +bosses, and without instituting capitalist competition to spur +production. In almost all the industries, factories, mills, workshops, +transportation services, public services, and utilities, the rank and file +workers, their revolutionary committees, and their syndicates reorganized +and administered production, distribution, and public services without +capitalists, high-salaried managers, or the authority of the state. + +"Even more: the various agrarian and industrial collectives immediately +instituted economic equality in accordance with the essential principle of +communism, + +'From each according to his ability and to each according to his needs.' + +They coordinated their efforts through free association in +whole regions, created new wealth, increased production (especially in +agriculture), built more schools, and bettered public services. They +instituted not bourgeois formal democracy but genuine grass roots +functional libertarian democracy, where each individual participated +directly in the revolutionary reorganization of social life. They +replaced the war between men, 'survival of the fittest,' by the universal +practice of mutual aid, and replaced rivalry by the principle of +solidarity" [Ibid.] + +According to Gaston Leval in _Espagne Libertaire_, about eight million people directly or indirectly participated in the new economy during the short +time it was able to survive the military assaults and of the fascists and +the sabotage of the Communists. + +Lest the reader think that Dolgoff and Bookchin are exaggerating the +accomplishments and ignoring the failures of the Spanish collectives, in +the following subsections we will present specific details and answer some +objections often raised by misinformed critics. We will try to present +an objective analysis of the revolution, both its strong points and weak +points, the mistakes made and possible lessons to be drawn from those +mistakes. + +I.8.1 Wasn't the Spanish Revolution primarily a rural phenomenon and + therefore inapplicable as a model for modern industrialized states? + +It's true that collectivization was more extensive and lasted longer in +the rural areas. However, about 75% of Spanish industry was concentrated +in Catalonia, the stronghold of the anarchist labor movement, and +widespread collectivization of factories took place there. + +As Dolgoff rightly observes, "[t]his refutes decisively the allegation that +anarchist organizational principles are not applicable to industrial areas, +and if at all, only in primitive agrarian societies or in isolated +experimental communities" [Ibid., pp. 7-8]. + +There had been a long tradition of peasant collectivism in the Iberian +Peninsula, as there was among the Berbers and in the ancient Russian +*mir.* The historians Costa and Reparaz maintain that a great many +Iberian collectives can be traced to "a form of rural libertarian-communism +[which] existed in the Iberian Peninsula before the Roman invasion. Not +even five centuries of oppression by Catholic kings, the State and the +Church have been able to eradicate the spontaneous tendency to establish +libertarian communistic communities" [cited Ibid., p. 20]. So it's not +surprising that there were more collectives in the countryside. + +According to Augustin Souchy, "[i]t is no simple matter to collectivize +and place on firm foundations an industry employing almost a quarter of a +million textile workers in scores of factories scattered in numerous +cities. But the Barcelona syndicalist textile union accomplished this +feat in a short time. It was a tremendously significant experiment. The +dictatorship of the bosses was toppled, and wages, working conditions and +production were determined by the workers and their elected delegates. +All functionaries had to carry out the instructions of the membership and +report back directly to the men on the job and union meetings. The +collectivization of the textile industry shatters once and for all the +legend that the workers are incapable of administrating a great and +complex corporation" [cited Ibid., p. 94]. + +Therefore the Spanish Revolution cannot be dismissed as a product a of +pre-industrial society. The urban collectivisations occurred in the most +heavily industrialised part of Spain and indicate that anarchist ideas +are applicable to modern societies. In addition, by 1936 agriculture +itself was predominately capitalist (with 2% of the population owning +67% of the land). The revolution in Spain was the work (mostly) of +rural and urban wage labourers (joined with poor peasants) fighting a +well developed capitalist system. + +I.8.2 How were the anarchists able to obtain mass popular support in + Spain? + +Anarchism was introduced in Spain in 1868 by Giuseppi Fanelli, an +associate of Michael Bakunin, and found fertile soil among both the +workers and the peasants of Spain. + +The peasants supported anarchism because of the rural tradition of Iberian +collectivism mentioned in the last section. The urban workers supported it +because its ideas of direct action, solidarity and free federation of unions +corresponded to their needs in their struggle against capitalism and the +state. + +In addition, many Spanish workers were well aware of the dangers of +centralisation and the republican tradition in Spain was very much +influenced by federalist ideas (coming, in part, from Proudhon's work). +The movement later spread back and forth between countryside and cities +as union organisers and anarchist militants visited villages and as +peasants came to industrial cities like Barcelona, looking for work. + +Therefore, from the start anarchism in Spain was associated with the +labour movement (as Bakunin desired) and so anarchists had a practical +area to apply their ideas and spread the anarchist message. By applying +their principles in everyday life, the anarchists in Spain ensured that +anarchist ideas became commonplace and accepted in a large section of +the population. + +The Spanish Revolution also shows the importance of anarchist education +and media. In a country with a very high illiteracy rate, huge quantities +of literature on social revolution were disseminated and read out loud at +meetings by those who could read to those who couldn't. Anarchist ideas +were widely discussed. "There were tens of thousands of books, pamphlets +and tracts, vast and daring cultural and popular educational experiments +(the Ferrer schools) that reached into almost every village and hamlet +throughout Spain" [Ibid., p. 28]. + +Newspapers and periodicals were extremely important. By 1919, more than +50 towns in Andalusia had their own libertarian newspapers. By 1934 the +C.N.T. [the anarcho-syndicalist labor union] had a membership of 1,500,000 +and the anarchist press covered all of Spain. In Barcelona the C.N.T. +published a daily, _Solidaridad Obrera_, with a circulation of 30,000. +The magazine _Tierra y Libertad_ [Land and Liberty] in Barcelona had a +circulation of 20,000. In Gijon there was _Vida Obrera_ [Working Life], +in Seville _El Productor_ [The Producer], and in Saragossa _Accion y +Cultura_ [Action and Culture], all with large circulations. There were +many more. + +As well as leading struggles, organising unions, and producing books, +papers and periodicals, the anarchists also organised libertarian schools, +cultural centres, cooperatives, anarchist groups (the F.A.I.), youth groups +(the Libertarian Youth) and women's organisations (the Free Women movement). +They applied their ideas in all walks of life and so ensured that ordinary +people saw that anarchism was practical and relevant to them. + +This was the great strength of the Spanish Anarchist movement. It was a +movement "that, in addition to possessing a revolutionary ideology [sic], +was also capable of mobilising action around objectives firmly rooted in the +life and conditions of the working class.... It was this ability +periodically to identify and express widely felt needs and feelings that, +together with its presence at community level, formed the basis of the +strength of radical anarchism, and enabled it to build a mass base of +support." [Nick Rider, "The practice of direct action: the Barcelona rent +strike of 1931", p. 99, from _For Anarchism_, pp. 79-105] + +The Spanish anarchists, before and after the C.N.T. was formed, fought in +and out of the factory for economic, social and political issues. This +refusal of the anarchists to ignore any aspect of life ensured that they +found many willing to hear their message, a message based around the ideas +of individual liberty. Such a message could do nothing but radicalise +workers for "the demands of the C.N.T. went much further than those of any +social democrat: with its emphasis on true equality, autogestion +[self-management] and working class dignity, anarchosyndicalism made demands +the capitalist system could not possibly grant to the workers." [J. Romero +Maura, "The Spanish case", p. 79, from _Anarchism Today_, edited by +J. Joll and D. Apter] + +The structure and tactics of the C.N.T. encouraged the politicisation, +initiative and organisational skills of its members. It was a federal, +decentralised body, based on direct discussion and decision making from +the bottom up. "The CNT tradition was to discuss and examine everything", +as one militant put it. In addition, the C.N.T. created a viable and +practical example of an alternative method by which society could be +organised. A method which was based on the ability of ordinary people to +direct society themselves and which showed in practice that special ruling +authorities are undesirable and unnecessary. + +The very structure of the C.N.T. and the practical experience it provided +its members in self-management produced a revolutionary working class the +likes of which the world has rarely seen. As Jose Peirats points out, +"above the union level, the C.N.T. was an eminently political organisation +. . ., a social and revolutionary organisation for agitation and +insurrection." [_Anarchists in the Spanish Revolution_, p. 239] It was +the revoluntary nature of the C.N.T. that created a militant membership +who were willing and able to use direct action to defend their liberty. +Unlike the German workers who did nothing to stop Hilter, the Spanish +working class (like their comrades in anarchist unions in Italy) took to +the streets to stop fascism. + +The revolution in Spain did not "just happen"; it was the result of nearly +seventy years of persistent anarchist agitation and revolutionary +struggle, including a long series of peasant uprisings, insurrections, +industrial strikes, protests, sabotage and other forms of direct action +that prepared the peasants and workers organise popular resistance to the +attempted fascist coup in July 1937 and to take control of the economy when +they had defeated it in the streets. + +I.8.3 How were Spanish industrial collectives organized? + +The collectives were based on workers' democratic self-management of their +workplaces, using productive assets that were under the custodianship of +the entire working community and administered through federations of +workers' associations. Augustin Souchy writes: + +"The collectives organized during the Spanish Civil War were workers' +economic associations without private property. The fact that collective +plants were managed by those who worked in them did not mean that these +establishments became their private property. The collective had no right to +sell or rent all or any part of the collectivised factory or workshop, The rightful custodian was the C.N.T., the National Confederation of Workers +Associations. But not even the C.N.T. had the right to do as it pleased. +Everything had to be decided and ratified by the workers themselves through +conferences and congresses." [cited in _The Anarchist Collectives_, p. 67] + +According to Souchy, in Catalonia "every factory elected its administrative +committee composed of its most capable workers. Depending on the size of +the factory, the function of these committees included inner plant +organization, statistics, finance, correspondence, and relations with +other factories and with the community. . . . Several months after +collectivization the textile industry of Barcelona was in far better shape +than under capitalist management. Here was yet another example to show +that grass roots socialism from below does not destroy initiative. Greed +is not the only motivation in human relations." [Ibid., p 95]. + +A plenum of syndicates met in December of 1936 and formulated norms for +socialization in which the inefficiency of the capitalist industrial +system was analyzed. The report of the plenum stated: + +"The major defect of most small manufacturing shops is fragmentation and +lack of technical/commercial preparation. This prevents their +modernization and consolidation into better and more efficient units of +production, with better facilities and coordination. . . . [F]or us, +socialization must correct these deficiencies and systems of organization +in every industry. . . . To socialize an industry, we must consolidate the +different units of each branch of industry in accordance with a general +and organic plan which will avoid competition and other difficulties +impeding the good and efficient organization of production and +distribution." + +As Souchy points out, this document is very important in the evolution of +collectivization, because it indicates a realization that "workers must +take into account that partial collectivization will in time degenerate +into a kind of bourgeois cooperativism," as discussed earlier (see +H.4). Thus many collectives did not compete with each other for profits, +as surpluses were pooled and distributed on a wider basis than the +individual collective -- in most cases industry-wide. + +We have already noted some examples of the improvements in efficiency +realized by collectivization during the Spanish Revolution (I.4.10). +Another example was the baking industry. Souchy reports that, "[a]s in the +rest of Spain, Barcelona's bread and cakes were baked mostly at night in +hundreds of small bakeries. Most of them were in damp, gloomy cellars +infested with roaches and rodents. All these bakeries were shut down. +More and better bread and cake were baked in new bakeries equipped with +new modern ovens and other equipment" [Ibid., p. 82]. + +Therefore, the collectives in Spain were marked by workplace democracy +and a desire to cooperate within and across industries. This attempt +at libertarian socialism, like all experiments, had its drawbacks as +well as successes and these will be discussed in the next section as +well as some of the conclusions drawn from the experience. + +I.8.4 How were the Spanish industrial collectives coordinated? + +The methods of cooperation tried by the collectives varied considerably. +Initially, there were very few attempts to coordinate economic activities +beyond the workplace. This is hardly surprising, given that the overwhelming +need was to restart production, convert a civilian economy to a wartime one +and to ensure that the civilian population and militias were supplied with +necessary goods. This, unsurprisingly enough, lead to a situation of anarchist +mutualism developing, with many collectives selling the product of their own +labour on the market (in other words, a form of simple commodity production). + +This lead to some economic problems as there existed no framework of +institutions between collectives to ensure efficient coordination of +activity and so lead to pointless competition between collectives (which +lead to even more problems). As there were initially no confederations of +collectives nor mutual/communal banks this lead to the inequalities that +initially existed between collectives (due to the fact that the collectives +took over rich and poor capitalist firms) and it made the many ad hoc +attempts at mutual aid between collectives difficult and temporary. + +Therefore, the collectives were (initially) a form of "self-management +straddling capitalism and socialism, which we maintain would not have +occurred had the Revolution been able to extend itself fully under the +direction of our syndicates." [Gaston Leval, _Collectives in the Spanish +Revolution_, p. 227-8] As economic and political development are closely +related, the fact that the C.N.T. did not carry out the *political* aspect +of the revolution meant that the revolution in the economy was doomed to +failure. + +Given that the C.N.T. program of libertarian communism recognized that a +fully cooperative society must be based upon production for use, many C.N.T. +militants fought against this system of mutualism and for inter-workplace +coordination. They managed to convince their fellow workers of the +difficulties of mutualism by free debate and discussion within their +unions and collectives. + +For example, the woodworkers' union had a massive debate on socialisation and +decided to do so (the shopworkers' union had a similar debate, but the majority +of workers rejected socialisation). According to Ronald Frazer a "union +delegate would go round the small shops, point out to the workers that the +conditions were unhealthy and dangerous, that the revolution was changing all +this, and secure their agreement to close down and move to the union-built +Double-X and the 33 EU."[Ronald Frazer, _Blood of Spain_, p. 222] + +This process went on in many different unions and collectives and, +unsurprisingly, the forms of coordination agreed to lead to different forms +of organisation in different areas and industries, as would be expected in +a free society. However, the two most important forms can be termed +syndicalisation and confederationalism (we will ignore the forms created +by the collectivisation decree as these were not created by the workers +themselves). + +"Syndicalisation" (our term) meant that the C.N.T.'s industrial union ran the +whole industry. This solution was tried by the woodworkers' union after +extensive debate. One section of the union, "dominated by the F.A.I. [the +anarchist federation], maintained that anarchist self-management meant that +the workers should set up and operate autonomous centres of production so as +to avoid the threat of bureaucratization." [Ronald Frazer, _Blood of Spain_, +p. 222] However, those in favour of syndicalisation won the day and +production was organised in the hands of the union, with administration +posts and delegate meetings elected by the rank and file. + +However, the "major failure . . . (and which supported the original anarchist +objection) was that the union became like a large firm . . . [and its] +structure grew increasingly rigid." According to one militant, "From the +outside it began to look like an American or German trust" and the workers +found it difficult to secure any changes and "felt they weren't particularly +involved in decision making." + +In the end, the major difference between the union-run industry and a +capitalist firm organisationally appeared to be that workers could vote for +(and recall) the industry management at relatively regular General Assembly +meetings. While a vast improvement on capitalism, it is hardly the best +example of participatory self-management in action although the economic +problems caused by the Civil War and Stalinist led counter-revolution +obviously would have had an effect on the internal structure of any +industry and so we cannot say that the form of organisation created was +totally responsible for any marginalisation that took place. + +The other important form of cooperation was what we will term +"confederalisation." This form of cooperation was practiced by the Badalona +textile industry (and had been defeated in the woodworkers' union). It was +based upon each workplace being run by its elected management, sold its own +production, got its own orders and received the proceeds. However, everything +each mill did was reported to the union which charted progress and kept +statistics. If the union felt that a particular factory was not acting in +the best interests of the industry as a whole, it was informed and asked to +change course. According to one militant, "The union acted more as a +socialist control of collectivised industry than as a direct hierarchized +executive" [Op. Cit., p. 229] + +This system ensured that the "dangers of the big 'union trust' as of +the atomised collective were avoided" [Frazer, Op. Cit., p. 229] as well +as maximising decentralisation of power. Unlike the syndicalisation +experiment in the woodworkers' industry, this scheme was based on horizontal +links between workplaces (via the C.N.T. union) and allowed a maximum of +self-management *and* mutual aid. The ideas of an anarchist economy +sketched in section I.3 reflects the actual experiments in self-management +which occurred during the Spanish Revolution. + +Therefore, the industrial collectives coordinated their activity in many +ways, with varying degrees of direct democracy and success. As would be +expected, mistakes were made and different solutions found. When reading +this section of the FAQ its important to remember that an anarchist society +can hardly be produced "overnight" and so it is hardly surprising that the +workers of the C.N.T. faced numerous problems and had to develop their +self-management experiment as objective conditions allowed them to. + +Unfortunately, thanks to fascist aggression and Communist Party +backstabbing, the experiment did not last long enough to fully answer all +the questions we have about the viability of the solutions they tried. +Given the time, however, we are sure they would have solved the problems +they faced. + +I.8.5 How were the Spanish agricultural cooperatives organized and + coordinated? + +Jose Peirats describes collectivization among the peasantry as follows: + +"The expropriated lands were turned over to the peasant syndicates, and it +was these syndicates that organized the first collectives. Generally the +holdings of small property owners were respected, always on the condition +that only they or their families would work the land, without employing +wage labor. In areas like Catalonia, where the tradition of petty peasant +ownership prevailed, the land holdings were scattered. There were no +great estates. Many of these peasants, together with the C.N.T., organized +collectives, pooling their land, animals, tools, chickens, grain, +fertilizer, and even their harvested crops. + +"Privately owned farms located in the midst of collectives interfered with +efficient cultivation by splitting up the collectives into disconnected +parcels. To induce owners to move, they were given more or even better +land located on the perimeter of the collective. + +"The collectivist who had nothing to contribute to the collective was +admitted with the same rights and the same duties as the others. In some +collectives, those joining had to contribute their money (Girondella in +Catalonia, Lagunarrotta in Aragon, and Cervera del Maestra in Valencia)." +[cited _The Anarchist Collectives_, p. 112]. + +Peirats also notes that in conducting their internal affairs, all the +collectives scrupulously and zealously observed democratic procedures. +For example, "Hospitalet de Llobregat held regular general membership +meetings every three months to review production and attend to new +business. The administrative council, and all other committees, submitted +full reports on all matters. The meeting approved, disapproved, made +corrections, issued instructions, etc." [Ibid., p. 119] + +Dolgoff observes that "[S]upreme power was vested in, and actually +exercised by, the membership in general assemblies, and all power derived +from, and flowed back to, the grass roots organizations of the people" +[Ibid., p 119]. This is confirmed by Gaston Leval [in _Espagne +Liberataire_, p. 219]: "Regular general membership meetings were convoked +weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. . . and these meetings were completely +free of the tensions and recriminations which inevitably emerge when the +power of decisions is vested in a few individuals -- even if +democratically elected. The Assemblies were open for everyone to +participate in the proceedings. Democracy embraced all social life. In +most cases, even the 'individualists' who were not members of the +collective could participate in the discussions, and they were listened +to by the collectivists." + +It was in these face-to-face assemblies that decisions upon the distribution +of resources were decided both within and without the collective. Here, when +considering the importance of mutual aid, appeals were made to an +individual's sense of empathy. As one activist remembers: + +"There were, of course, those who didn't want to share and who said that +each collective should take care of itself. But they were usually convinced +in the assemblies. We would try to speak to them in terms they understood. +We'd ask, 'Did you think it was fair when the cacique [local boss] let people +starve if there wasn't enough work?' and they said, 'Of course not.' They +would eventually come around. Don't forget, there were three hundred +thousand collectivists [in Aragon], but only ten thousand of us had been +members of the C.N.T.. We had a lot of educating to do." [Felix Carrasquer, +quoted in _Free Women of Spain_, p. 79] + +In addition, regional federations of collectives were formed in many +areas of Spain (for example, in Aragon and the Levant). The federations were +created at congresses to which the collectives in an area sent delegates. +These congresses agreed a series of general rules about how the federation +would operate and what commitments the affiliated collectives would +have to each other. The congress elected an administration council, which +took responsibility for implementing agreed policy. + +These federations had many tasks. They ensured the distribution of surplus +produce to the front line and to the cities, cutting out middlemen and +ensuring the end of exploitation. They also arranged for exchanges between +collectives to take place. In addition, the federations allowed the +individual collectives to pool resources together in order to improve the +infrastructure of the area (building roads, canals, hospitals and so on) +and invest in means of production which no one collective could afford. + +In this way individual collectives pooled their resources, increased +and improved the means of production they had access to as well as +improving the social infrastructure of their regions. All this, combined +with an increase of consumption at the point of production and the +feeding of militia men and women fighting the fascists at the front. + +Rural collectivisations allowed the potential creative energy that +existed among the rural workers and peasants to be unleashed, an energy +that had been wasted under private property. The popular assemblies allowed +community problems and improvements to be identified and solved directly, +drawing upon the ideas and experiences of everyone and enriched by +discussion and debate. This enabled rural Spain to be transformed from +one marked by poverty and fear, into one of hope and experimentation (see +the next section for a few examples of this experimentation). + +Therefore self-management in collectives combined with cooperation in rural +federations allowed an improvement in quality of rural life. From a +purely economic viewpoint, production increased and as Benjamin Martin +summarises, "[t]hough it is impossible to generalize about the rural +land takeovers, there is little doubt that the quality of life for most +peasants who participated in cooperatives and collectives notably improved." +[_The Agony of Modernization_, p. 394] + +More importantly, however, this improvement in the quality of life included +an increase in freedom as well as in consumption. To requote the member +of the Beceite collective in Aragon we cited in section A.5.6, "it was +marvellous. . . to live in a collective, a free society where one could +say what one thought, where if the village committee seemed unsatisfactory +one could say. The committee took no big decisions without calling the +whole village together in a general assembly. All this was wonderful." +[Ronald Frazer, _Blood of Spain_, p. 288] + +I.8.6 What did the agricultural collectives accomplish? + +Here are a few examples cited by Jose Peirats: "In Montblanc the +collective dug up the old useless vines and planted new vineyards. The +land, improved by modern cultivation with tractors, yielded much bigger +and better crops. . . . Many Aragon collectives built new roads and +repaired old ones, installed modern flour mills, and processed +agricultural and animal waste into useful industrial products. Many of +these improvements were first initiated by the collectives. Some +villages, like Calanda, built parks and baths. Almost all collectives +established libraries, schools, and cultural centers." [cited +_The Anarchist Collectives_, p. 116]. + +Gaston Leval points out that "the Peasant Federation of Levant . . . +produced more than half of the total orange crop in Spain: almost four +million kilos (1 kilo equals about 2 and one-fourth pounds). It then +transported and sold through its own commercial organization (no +middlemen) more than 70% of the crop. (The Federations's commercial +organization included its own warehouses, trucks, and boats. Early in +1938 the export section established its own agencies in France: +Marseilles, Perpignan, bordeaux, Cherbourg, and Paris.) Out of a total +of 47,000 hectares in all Spain devoted to rice production, the +collective in the Province of Valencia cultivated 30,000 hectares." +[cited Ibid., p. 124] + +To quote Peirats again: "Preoccupation with cultural and pedagogical +innovations was an event without precedent in rural Spain. The Amposta +collectivists organized classes for semi-literates, kindergartens, and +even a school of arts and professions. The Seros schools were free to all +neighbors, collectivists or not. Grau installed a school named after its +most illustrious citizen, Joaquin Costa. The Calanda collective (pop. +only 4,500) schooled 1,233 children. The best students were sent to the +Lyceum in Caspe, with all expenses paid by the collective. The Alcoriza +(pop. 4,000) school was attended by 600 children. Many of the schools +were installed in abandoned convents. In Granadella (pop. 2,000), classes +were conducted in the abandoned barracks of the Civil Guards. Graus +organized a print library and a school of arts and professions, attended +by 60 pupils. The same building housed a school of fine arts and high +grade museum. In some villages a cinema was installed for the first +time. The Penalba cinema was installed in a church. Viladecana built an +experimental agricultural laboratory. + +"The collectives voluntarily contributed enormous stocks of provisions and +other supplies to the fighting troops. Utiel sent 1,490 litres of oil and +300 bushels of potatoes to the Madrid front (in addition to huge stocks of +beans, rice, buckwheat, etc.). Porales de Tujana sent great quantities of +bread, oil, flour, and potatoes to the front, and eggs, meat, and milk to +the military hospital. + +"The efforts of the collectives take on added significance when we take +into account that their youngest and most vigorous workers were fighting +in the trenches. 200 members of the little collective of Vilaboi were at +the front; from Viledecans, 60; Amposta, 300; and Calande, 500." [Ibid., +pp. 116-120]. + +Peirats sums up the accomplishments of the agricultural collectives as +follows: "In distribution the collectives' cooperatives eliminated +middlemen, small merchants, wholesalers, and profiteers, thus greatly +reducing consumer prices. The collectives eliminated most of the +parasitic elements from rural life, and would have wiped them out +altogether if they were not protected by corrupt officials and by the +political parties. Non-collectivized areas benefited indirectly from +the lower prices as well as from free services often rendered by the +collectives (laundries, cinemas, schools, barber and beauty parlors, +etc.)." [Ibid., p114]. + +Leval emphasizes the following achievements (among others): "In the +agrarian collectives solidarity was practiced to the greatest degree. +Not only was every person assured of the necessities, but the district +federations increasingly adopted the principle of mutual aid on an +inter-collective scale. For this purpose they created common reserves to +help out villages less favored by nature. In Castile special institutions +for this purpose were created. In industry this practice seems to have +begun in Hospitalet, on the Catalan railways, and was applied later in +Alcoy. + +Had the political compromise not impeded open socialization, the +practices of mutual aid would have been much more generalized. + +"A conquest of enormous importance was the right of women to livelihood, +regardless of occupation or function. In about half of the agrarian +collectives, the women received the same wages as men; in the rest the +women received less, apparently on the principle that they rarely live +alone. + +"In all the agrarian collectives of Aragon, Catalonia, Levant, Castile, +Andalusia, and Estremadura, the workers formed groups to divide the labor +or the land; usually they were assigned to definite areas. Delegates +elected by the work groups met with the collective's delegate for +agriculture to plan out the work. This typical organization arose quite +spontaneously, by local initiative. + +"In land cultivation the most significant advances were: the rapidly +increased use of machinery and irrigation; greater diversification; and +forestation. In stock raising: the selection and multiplication of +breeds; the adaptation of breeds to local conditions; and large-scale +construction of collective stock barns." [Ibid., pp. 166-167]. + +I.8.7 I've heard that the rural collectives were created by force. Is this + true? + +No, it is not. The myth that the rural collectives were created by "terror," +organised and carried out by the anarchist militia, was started by the +Stalinists of the Spanish Communist Party. More recently, some right-wing +Libertarians have warmed up and repeated these Stalinist fabrications. +Anarchists have been disproving these allegations since 1936 and it is +worthwhile to do so again here. + +As Vernon Richards notes, "[h]owever discredited Stalinism may appear to +be today the fact remains that the Stalinist lies and interpretation of +the Spanish Civil War still prevail, presumably because it suits the +political prejudices of those historians who are currently interpreting it." +[Introduction to Gaston Leval's _Collectives in the Spanish Revolution_, +p. 11] Here we shall present evidence to refute claims that the rural +collectives were created by force. + +Firstly, we should point out that rural collectives were created in many +different areas of Spain, such as the Levant (900 collectives), Castile (300) +and Estremadera (30), where the anarchist militia did not exist. In Catalonia, +for example, the C.N.T. militia passed through many villages on its way to +Aragon and only around 40 collectives were created unlike the 450 in Aragon. +In other words, the rural collectivisation process occurred independently of +the existence of anarchist troops, with the majority of the 1,700 rural +collectives created in areas without a predominance of anarchist troops. + +One historian, Ronald Frazer, seems to imply that the Aragon Collectives were +imposed upon the Aragon population. As he puts it the "collectivization, +carried out under the general cover, if not necessarily the direct agency, +of C.N.T. militia columns, represented a revolutionary minority's attempt to +control not only production but consumption for egalitarian purposes and +the needs of the war." [_Blood of Spain_, p. 370] Notice that he does not +suggest that the anarchist militia actually *imposed* the collectives, a +claim for which there is little or no evidence. Earlier he states that +"There was no need to dragoon them [peasants] at pistol point [into +collectives]: the coercive climate, in which 'fascists' were being shot, +was sufficient. 'Spontaneous' and 'forced' collectives existed, as did +willing and unwilling collectivists within them." [Op. Cit., p.349] + +Therefore, his suggestion that the Aragon collectives were imposed upon the +rural population is based upon the insight that there was a "coercive +climate" in Aragon at the time. Of course a civil war against fascism would +produce a "coercive climate," particularly at the front line, and so the +C.N.T. can hardly be blamed for that. In addition, in a life and death +struggle against fascism, in which the fascists were systematically +murdering vast numbers of anarchists, socialists and republicans in the +areas under their control, it is hardly surprising that some anarchist troops +took the law into their own hands and murdered some of those who supported +and would help the fascists. Given what was going on in fascist Spain, and +the experience of fascism in Germany and Italy, the C.N.T. militia knew +exactly what would happen to them and their friends and family if they lost. + +The question does arise, however, of whether the climate was made so coercive +by the war and the nearness of the anarchist militia that individual choice +was impossible. + +The facts speak for themselves -- rural collectivization in Aragon embraced +more than 70% of the population in the area saved from fascism. Around +30% of the population felt safe enough not to join a collective, a +sizable percentage. + +If the collectives had been created by anarchist terror or force, we would +expect a figure of 100% membership in the collectives. This was not the case, +indicating the basically voluntary nature of the experiment (we should point +out that other figures suggest a lower number of collectivists which makes +the forced collectivisation argument even less likely). In addition, if the +C.N.T. militia had forced peasants into collectives we would expect the +membership of the collectives to peak almost overnight, not grow slowly +over time. However, this is what happened: + +"At the regional congress of collectives, held at Caspe in mid-February 1937, +nearly 80 000 collectivists were represented from 'almost all the villages +of the region.' This, however, was but a beginning. By the end of April the +number of collectivists had risen to 140 000; by the end of the first +week of May to 180 000; and by the end of June to 300 000." [Graham Kelsey, +"Anarchism in Aragon," pp. 60-82, _Spain in Conflict 1931-1939_, +Martin Blinkhorn (ed), p. 61] + +If the collectives has been created by force, then their membership would +have been 300 000 in February, 1937, not increasing steadily to reach that +number four months later. Neither can it be claimed that the increase was +due to new villages being collectivised, as almost all villages had sent +delegates in February. This indicates that many peasants joined the +collectives because of the advantages associated with common labour, the +increased resources it placed at their hands and the fact that the surplus +wealth which had in the previous system been monopolised by the few was +used instead to raise the standard of living of the entire community. + +The voluntary nature of the collectives is again emphasized by the number of +collectives which allowed smallholders to remain outside. According to evidence +Frazer presents (on page 366), an FAI schoolteacher is quoted as saying that +the forcing of smallholders into the collective "wasn't a widespread problem, +because there weren't more than twenty or so villages where collectivisation +was total and no one was allowed to remain outside..." Instead of forcing +the minority in a village to agree with the wishes of the majority, the +vast majority (95%) of Aragon collectives stuck to their libertarian +principles and allowed those who did not wish to join to remain outside. + +So, only around 20 were "total" collectives (out of 450) and around 30% of the +population felt safe enough *not* to join. In other words, in the vast majority +of collectives those joining could see that those who did not were safe. +These figures should not be discounted, as they give an indication of the +basically spontaneous and voluntary nature of the movement. + +As was the composition of the new municipal councils created after July 19th. +As Graham Kesley notes, "[w]hat is immediately noticeable from the results +is that although the region has often been branded as one controlled by +anarchists to the total exclusion of all other forces, the C.N.T. was far +from enjoying the degree of absolute domination often implied and inferred." +[_Anarchosyndicalism, Libertarian Communism and the State_, p. 198] + +In his account of the rural revolution, Burnett Bolloton notes that "many +of the 450 collectives of the region were largely voluntary" although "it +must be emphasized that this singular development was in some measure due +to the presence of militiamen from the neighboring region of Catalonia, the +immense majority of whom were members of the C.N.T. and FAI." + +As Gaston Leval points out, "it is true that the presence of these forces +. . . favoured indirectly these constructive achievements by preventing +active resistance by the supporters of the bourgeois republic and of +fascism." [_Collectives in the Spanish Revolution_, p. 90] + +In other words, the presence of the militia changed the balance of +class forces in Aragon by destroying the capitalist state (i.e. the local +bosses - caciques - could not get state aid to protect their property) +and many landless workers took over the land. The presence of the militia +ensured that land could be taken over by destroying the capitalist "monopoly +of force" that existed before the revolution (the power of which will be +highlighted below) and so the C.N.T. militia allowed the possibility of +experimentation by the Aragonese population. + +This class war in the countryside is reflected by Bolloten's statement that +"[if] the individual farmer viewed with dismay the swift and widespread +collectivisation of agriculture, the farm workers of the Anarchosyndicalist +C.N.T. and the Socialist UGT saw it as the commencement of a new era." +[_The Spanish Civil War_, p. 63] Both were mass organisations and +supported collectivisation. + +Therefore, anarchist militia allowed the rural working class to abolish the +artificial scarcity of land created by private property (and enforced by the +state). The rural bosses obviously viewed with horror the possibility that +they could not exploit day workers' labour. As Bolloten points out "the +collective system of agriculture threaten[ed] to drain the rural labour +market of wage workers." [Op. Cit., p. 62] Little wonder the richer peasants +and landowners hated the collectives. + +Bolloten also quotes a report on the district of Valderrobes which indicates +popular support for the collectives: + +"Collectivisation was nevertheless opposed by opponents on the right and +adversaries on the left. If the eternally idle who have been expropriated +had been asked what they thought of collectivisation, some would have +replied that it was robbery and others a dictatorship. But, for the +elderly, the day workers, the tenant farmers and small proprietors who +had always been under the thumb of the big landowners and heartless +usurers, it appeared as salvation" [Op. Cit., p. 71] + +However, most historians ignore the differences in class that existed in +the countryside. They ignore it and explain the rise in collectives in +Aragon (and ignore those elsewhere) as the result of the C.N.T. militia. +Frazer, for example, states that "[v]ery rapidly collectives. . . began +to spring up. It did not happen on instructions from the C.N.T. leadership - +no more than had the [industrial] collectives in Barcelona. Here, as there, +the initiative came from C.N.T. militants; here, as there, the 'climate' +for social revolution in the rearguard was created by C.N.T. armed strength: +the anarcho-syndicalists' domination of the streets of Barcelona was +re-enacted in Aragon as the C.N.T. militia columns, manned mainly by +Catalan anarcho-syndicalist workers, poured in. Where a nucleus of +anarcho-syndicalists existed in a village, it seized the moment to carry +out the long-awaited revolution and collectivized spontaneously. Where +there was none, villagers could find themselves under considerable pressure +from the militias to collectivize. . ." [Op. Cit., p. 347] + +In other words, he implies that the revolution was mostly imported into Aragon +from Catalonia. However, the majority of C.N.T. column leaders were opposed to +the setting up of the Council of Aragon (a confederation for the collectives) +[Frazer, Op. Cit., p. 350]. Hardly an example of Catalan C.N.T. imposed +social revolution. The evidence we have suggests that the Aragon C.N.T. was +a widespread and popular organisation, suggesting that the idea that the +collectives were imported into Aragon by the Catalan C.N.T. is simply *false.* + +Frazer states that in "some [of the Aragonese villages] there was a +flourishing C.N.T., in others the UGT was strongest, and in only too many +there was no unionisation at all." [_Blood of Spain_, p. 348] The question +arises of how extensive was that strength. The evidence we have suggests +that it was extensive, strong and growing, so indicating that rural Aragon +was not without a C.N.T. base, a base that makes the suggestion of imposed +collectives a false one. + +Murray Bookchin summarises the strength of the C.N.T. in rural Aragon as +follows: + +"The authentic peasant base of the C.N.T. [by the 1930s] now lay in Aragon +. . .[C.N.T. growth in Zaragoza] provided a springboard for a highly +effective libertarian agitation in lower Aragon, particularly among +the impoverished laborers and debt-ridden peasantry of the dry steppes +region." [_The Spanish Anarchists_, p. 220] + +Graham Kelsey, in his social history of the C.N.T. in Aragon between 1930 +and 1937, provides the necessary evidence to more than back Bookchin's +claim of C.N.T. growth. Kesley points out that as well as the "spread of +libertarian groups and the increasing consciousness among C.N.T. members +of libertarian theories . . .contribu[ting] to the growth of the +anarchosyndicalist movement in Aragon" the existence of "agrarian unrest" +also played an important role in that growth [_Anarchosyndicalism, Libertarian +Communism and the State_, pp.80-81]. This all lead to the "revitalisation +of the C.N.T. network in Aragon" [p. 82] and so by 1936, the C.N.T. had built +upon the "foundations laid in 1933. . . [and] had finally succeeded in +translating the very great strength of the urban trade-union organisation +in Zaragoza into a regional network of considerable extent." [Op. Cit., +p. 134] + +Kelsey and other historians note the long history of anarchism in Aragon, +dating back to the late 1860s. However, before the 1910s there had been +little gains in rural Aragon by the C.N.T. due to the power of local bosses +(called *caciques*): + +"Local landowners and small industrialists, the *caciques* of provincial +Aragon, made every effort to enforce the closure of these first rural +anarchosyndicalist cells [created after 1915]. By the time of the first +rural congress of the Aragonese CNT confederation in the summer of 1923, +much of the progress achieved through the organization's considerable +propaganda efforts had been countered by repression elsewhere." +[Graham Kelsey, "Anarchism in Aragon," p. 62] + +A C.N.T. activist indicates the power of these bosses and how difficult +it was to be a union member in Aragon: + +"Repression is not the same in the large cities as it is in the villages +where everyone knows everybody else and where the Civil Guards are +immediately notified of a comrade's slightest movement. Neither friends +nor relatives are spared. All those who do not serve the state's repressive +forces unconditionally are pursued, persecuted and on occassions beaten +up." [cited by Kelsey, Op. Cit., p. 74] + +However, while there were some successes in organising rural unions, +even in 1931 "propaganda campaigns which led to the establishment of scores +of village trade-union cells, were followed by a counter-offensive from +village *caciques* which forced them to close." [Ibid. p. 67] But even in +the face of this repression the C.N.T. grew and "from the end of 1932. . . +[there was] a successful expansion of the anarchosyndicalist movement into +several parts of the region where previously it had never penetrated." +[Kesley, _Anarchosyndicalism, Libertarian Communism and the State_, p. 185] + +This growth was built upon in 1936, with increased rural activism which had +slowly eroded the power of the *caciques* (which in part explains their support +for the fascist coup). After the election of the Popular Front, years of +anarchist propaganda and organisation paid off with a massive increase +in rural membership in the C.N.T.: + +"The dramatic growth in rural anarch-syndicalist support in the six +weeks since the general election was emphasized in the [Aragon CNT's +April] congress's agenda. . . the congress directed its attention +to rural problems . . . [and agreed a programme which was] exactly +what was to happen four months later in liberated Aragon." [Kesley, +"Anarchism in Aragon", p. 76] + +In the aftermath of a regional congress, held in Zaragoza at the start of +April, a series of of intensive propaganda compaigns was organized +through each of the provinces of the regional confederation. Many +meetings were held in villages which had never before heard anarcho- +syndicalist propaganda. This was very successful and by the beginning +of June, 1936, the number of Aragon unions had topped 400, compared to +only 278 one month earlier (an increase of over 40% in 4 weeks). [Ibid., +pp. 75-76] + +This increase in union membership reflects increased social struggle +by the Aragonese working population and their attempts to improve their +standard of living, which was very low for most of the population. A +journalist from the conservative-Catholic _Heraldo de Aragon_ visited +lower Aragon in the summer of 1935 and noted "[t]he hunger in many homes, +where the men are not working, is beginning to encourage the youth to +subscribe to misleading teachings." [cited by Kesley, Ibid., p. 74] + +Little wonder, then, the growth in CNT membership and social struggle +Kesley indicates: + +"Evidence of a different kind was also available that militant trade +unionism in Aragon was on the increase. In the five months between +mid-February and mid-July 1936 the province of Zaragoza experienced +over seventy strikes, more than had previously been recorded in any +entire year, and things were clearly no different in the other two +provinces . . . the great majority of these strikes were occuring in +provincial towns and villages. Strikes racked the provinces and in at +least three instances were actually transformed into general strikes." +[Ibid., p. 76] + +Therefore, in the spring and summer of 1936, we see a massive growth in +C.N.T. membership which reflects growing militant struggle by the urban +and rural population of Aragon. Years of C.N.T. propaganda and organising +had ensured this growth in C.N.T. influence, a growth which is also +reflected in the creation of collectives in liberated Aragon during the +revolution. Therefore, the construction of a collectivized society was +founded directly upon the emergence, during the five years of the Second +Republic, of a mass trade-union movement infused by libertarian, anarchist +principles. These collectives were constructed in accordance with the +programme agreed at the Aragon C.N.T. conference of April 1936 which +reflected the wishes of the rural membership of the unions within Aragon +(and due to the rapid growth of the C.N.T. afterwards obviously reflected +popular feelings in the area). + +In the words of Graham Kesley, "libertarian dominance in post-insurrection +Aragon itself reflected the predominance that anarchists had secured before +the war; by the summer of 1936 the CNT had succeeded in establishing +throughout Aragon a mass trade-union movement of strictly libertarian +orientation, upon which widespread and well-supported network the extensive +collective experiment was to be founded." [Ibid., p. 61] + +Additional evidence that supports a high level of C.N.T. support in +rural Aragon can be provided by the fact that it was Aragon that was the +center of the December 1933 insurrection organised by the C.N.T. As Bookchin +notes, "only Aragon rose on any significant scale, particularly Saragossa +. . .many of the villages declared libertarian communism and perhaps the +heaviest fighting took place between the vineyard workers in Rioja and the +authorities" [M. Bookchin, Op. Cit., p. 256] + +It is unlikely for the C.N.T. to organise an insurrection in an area within +which it had little support or influence. According to Kesley's in-depth +social history of Aragon, "it was precisely those areas which had most +important in December 1933 . . . which were now [in 1936], in seeking to +create a new pattern of economic and social organisation, to form the basis +of libertarian Aragon" [G. Kesley, _Anarchosyndicalism, Libertarian Communism +and the State_, p. 161] After the revolt, thousands of workers were jailed, +with the authorities having to re-open closed prisons and turn at least +one disused monastrey into a jail due to the numbers arrested. + +Therefore, it can be seen that the majority of collectives in Aragon +were the product of C.N.T. (and UGT) influenced workers taking the opportunity +to create a new form of social life, a form marked by its voluntary and +directly democratic nature. For from being unknown in rural Aragon, the +C.N.T. was well established and growing at a fast rate - "Spreading out from +its urban base... the CNT, first in 1933 and then more extensively in 1936, +succeeded in converting an essentially urban organisation into a truly +regional confederation." [Ibid., p. 184] + +Therefore the evidence suggests that historians like Frazer are wrong to +imply that the Aragon collectives were created by the C.N.T. militia and +enforced upon a unwilling population. The Aragon collectives were the natural +result of years of anarchist activity within rural Aragon and directly +related to the massive growth in the C.N.T. between 1930 and 1936. Thus +Kesley is correct to state that: + +"Libertarian communism and agrarian collectivisation were not economic +terms or social principles enforced upon a hostile population by special +teams of urban anarchosyndicalists . . ." [G. Kesley, Op. Cit., p. 161] + +This is not to suggest that there were *no* examples of people joining +collectives involuntarily because of the "coercive climate" of the front +line. And, of course, there were villages which did not have a C.N.T. union +within them before the war and so created a collective because of the +existence of the C.N.T. militia. But these can be considered as exceptions +to the rule. + +Moreover, the way the C.N.T. handled such a situation is noteworthy. Frazer +indicates such a situation in the village of Alloza. In the autumn of +1936, representatives of the C.N.T. district committee had come to suggest +that the villagers collectivise (we would like to stress here that the +C.N.T. militia which had passed through the village had made no attempt +to create a collective there). + +A village assembly was called and the C.N.T. explained their ideas and +suggested how to organise the collective. However, who would join and how +the villagers would organise the collective was left totally up to them (the +C.N.T. representatives "stressed that no one was to be maltreated"). Within +the collective, self-management was the rule. + +According to one member, "Once the work groups were established on a +friendly basis and worked their own lands, everyone got on well enough," +he recalled. "There was no need for coercion, no need for discipline and +punishment. . . A collective wasn't a bad idea at all." [Op. Cit., p. 360]. +This collective, like the vast majority, was voluntary and democratic - +"I couldn't oblige him to join; we weren't living under a dictatorship." +[Op. Cit., p. 362] In other words, *no* force was used to create the +collective and the collective was organised by local people directly. + +Of course, as with any public good (to use economic jargon), all members of +the community had to pay for the war effort and feed the militia. As Kesely +notes, "The military insurrection had come at a critical moment in the +agricultural calendar. Throughout lower Aragon there were fields of grain +ready for harvesting. . . At the assembly in Albalate de Cinca the opening +clause of the agreed programme had required everyone in the district, +independent farmers and collectivists alike, to contribute equally to +the war effort, thereby emphasizing one of the most important considerations +in the period immediately following the rebellion." + +In addition, the collectives controlled the price of crops in order to ensure +that speculation and inflation were controlled. However, these policies +as with the equal duties of individualists and collectivists in the war +effort were enforced upon the collectives by the war. + +Lastly, in support of the popular nature of the rural collectives, we +will indicate the effects of the suppression of the collectives in August +1937 by the Communists, namely the collapse of the rural economy. This +sheds considerable light on the question of popular attitudes to the +collectives. + +At a meeting of the agrarian commission of the Aragonese Communist Party +(October 9th, 1937), Jose Silva emphasized "the little incentive to work of +the entire peasant population" and that the situation brought about by the +dissolution of the collectives was "grave and critical." [quoted by +Bolloten, Op. Cit., p. 530] A few days earlier the Communist-controlled +Regional Delegation of Agrarian Reform acknowledged that "in the majority of +villages agricultural work was paralyzed causing great harm to our agrarian +economy." [Ibid.] + +Jose Peirats explains the reasons for this economic collapse as a result +of popular boycott: "When it came time to prepare for the next harvest, +smallholders could not by themselves work the property on which they had +been installed [by the communists]. Dispossessed peasants, intransigent +collectivists, refused to work in a system of private property, and +were even less willing to rent out their labour." [_Anarchists in the +Spanish Revolution_, p. 258] + +If the collectives were unpopular, created by anarchist force, then why did +the economy collapse after the suppression? If Lister had overturned a +totalitarian anarchist regime, why did the peasants not reap the benefit of +their toil? Could it be because the collectives were essentially a +spontaneous Aragonese development and supported by most of the population +there? This analysis is backed up by Yaacov Oved's statement (from a paper +submitted to the XII Congress of Sociology, Madrid, July 1990): + +"Those who were responsible for this policy [of "freeing" the Aragon +Collectivists], were convinced that the farmers would greet it joyfully +because they had been coerced into joining the collectives. But they were +proven wrong. Except for the rich estate owners who were glad to get their +land back, most of the members of the agricultural collectives objected and +lacking all motivation they were reluctant to resume the same effort of in the +agricultural work. This phenomenon was so widespread that the authorities and +the communist minister of agriculture were forced to retreat from their +hostile policy." [Yaacov Oved, _Communismo Libertario and Communalism in +the Spanish Collectivisations (1936-1939)_] + +Even in the face of Communist repression, most of the collectives kept going. +This, if nothing else, proves that the collectives were popular institutions. +As Yaacov Oved argues in relation to the breaking up of the collectives: + +"Through the widespread reluctance of collectivists to cooperate with the +new policy it became evident that most members had voluntarily joined the +collectives and as soon as the policy was changed a new wave of collectives +was established. However, the wheel could not be turned back. An atmosphere +of distrust prevailed between the collectives and the authorities and +every initiative was curtailed" [Op. Cit.] + +Jose Peirats sums up the situation after the communist attack on the +collectives and the legalisation of the collectives as follows: + +"It is very possible that this second phase of collectivisation better +reflects the sincere convictions of the members. They had undergone a +sever test and those who had withstood it were proven collectivists. Yet +it would be facile to label as anti-collectivists those who abandoned +the collectives in this second phase. Fear, official coercion and +insecurcity weighed heavily in the decisions of much of the Aragonese +peasantry." [Op. Cit., p. 258] + +While the collectives had existed, there was a 20% increase in production +(and this is compared to the pre-war harvest which had been "a good crop." +[Frazer, p. 370]); after the destruction of the collectives, the economy +collapsed. Hardly the result that would be expected if the collectives were +forced upon an unwilling peasantry. The forced collectivisation by Stalin +in Russia resulted in a famine. Only the victory of fascism made it possible +to restore the so-called "natural order" of capitalist property in the +Spanish countryside. The same land-owners who welcomed the Communist +repression of the collectives also, we are sure, welcomed the fascists +who ensured a lasting victory of property over liberty. + +So, overall, the evidence suggests that the Aragon collectives, like their +counterparts in the Levante, Catalonia and so on, were *popular* +organisations, created by and for the rural population and, essentially, +an expression of a spontaneous and popular social revolution. Claims that +the anarchist militia created them by force of arms are *false.* While acts +of violence *did* occur and some acts of coercion *did* take place +(against C.N.T. policy, we may add) these are the exceptions to the rule. +Bolloten's summary best fits the facts: + +"But in spite of the cleavages between doctrine and practice that plagued +the Spanish Anarchists whenever they collided with the realities of power, +it cannot be overemphasized that notwithstanding the many instances of +coercion and violence, the revolution of July 1936 distinguished itself +from all others by the generally spontaneous and far-reaching character of +its collectivist movement and by its promise of moral and spiritual +renewal. Nothing like this spontaneous movement had ever occurred before" +[Op. Cit., p. 78] + +I.8.8 But did the Spanish collectives innovate? + +Yes. In contradiction to the old capitalist claim that no one will +innovate unless private property exists, the workers and peasants exhibited +much more incentive and creativity under libertarian socialism than they +had under the private enterprise system. This is apparent from Gaston +Leval's description of the results of collectivization in Cargagente: + +"Carcagente is situated in the southern part of the province of Valencia. +The climate of the region is particularly suited for the cultivation of +oranges. . . . All of the socialized land, without exception, is cultivated +with infinite care. The orchards are thoroughly weeded. To assure that +the trees will get all the nourishment needed, the peasants are +incessantly cleaning the soil. 'Before,' they told me with pride, 'all +this belonged to the rich and was worked by miserably paid laborers. The +land was neglected and the owners had to buy immense quantities of +chemical fertilizers, although they could have gotten much better yields +by cleaning the soil. . . .' With pride, they showed me trees that had +been grafted to produce better fruit. + +"In many places I observed plants growing in the shade of the orange +trees. 'What is this?,' I asked. I learned that the Levant peasants +(famous for their ingenuity) have abundantly planted potatoes among the +orange groves. The peasants demonstrate more intelligence than all the +bureaucrats in the Ministry of Agriculture combined. They do more than +just plant potatoes. Throughout the whole region of the Levant, wherever +the soil is suitable, they grow crops. They take advantage of the four +month [fallow period] in the rice fields. Had the Minister of Agriculture +followed the example of these peasants throughout the Republican zone, the +bread shortage problem would have been overcome in a few months." [cited in +Dolgoff, _Anarchist Collectives_, p. 153]. + +This is just one from a multitude of examples presented in the accounts +of both the industrial and rural collectives (for more see section C.2.3 +in which we present more examples to refute that charge that "workers' +control would stifle innovation" and I.8.6). The available evidence proves +that the membership of the collectives showed a keen awareness of the +importance of investment and innovation in order to increase production +and to make work both lighter and more interesting *and* that the +collectives allowed that awareness to be expressed freely. The Spanish +collectives indicate that, given the chance, everyone will take an interest +in their own affairs and express a desire to use their minds to improve +their surroundings. In fact, capitalism distorts what innovation exists +under hierarchy by channeling it purely in how to save money and maximise +investor profit, ignoring other, more important, issues. + +As Gaston Leval argues, self-management encouraged innovation: + +"The theoreticians and partisans of the liberal economy affirm that +competition stimulates initiative and, consequently, the creative spirit +and invention without which it remains dormant. Numerous observations made +by the writer in the Collectives, factories and socialized workshops permit +him to take quite the opposite view. For in a Collective, in a grouping +where each individual is stimulated by the wish to be of service to his +fellow beings research, the desire for technical perfection and so on +are also stimulated. But they also have as a consequence that other +individuals join those who were first to get together. Furthermore, when, +in present society, an individualist inventor discovers something, it is +used only by the capitalist or the individual employing him, whereas in +the case of an inventor living in a community not only is his discovery +taken up and developed by others, but is immediately applied for the +common good. I am convinced that this superiority would very soon manifest +itself in a socialised society." [_Collectives in the Spanish Revolution_, +p. 247] + +Therefore the actual experiences of self-management in Spain supports the +points made in section I.4.11. Freed from hierarchy, individuals will +creatively interact with the world to improve their circumstances. This +is not due to "market forces" but because the human mind is an active +agent and unless crushed by authority it can no more stop thinking and +acting than the Earth stop revolving round the Sun. In addition, the +Collectives indicate that self-management allows ideas to be enriched +by discussion, as Bakunin argued: + +"The greatest intelligence would not be equal to a comprehension of the +whole. Thence results... the necessity of the division and association +of labour. I receive and I give - such is human life. Each directs and +is directed in his turn. Therefore there is no fixed and constant +authority, but a continual exchange of mutual, temporary, and, above all, +voluntary authority and subordination" [_God and the State_, p. 33] + +The experience of self-management proved Bakunin's point that society is +more intelligent than even the most intelligent individual simply because +of the wealth of viewpoints, experience and thoughts contained there. +Capitalism impoverishes individuals and society by its artificial boundaries +and authority structures. + +I.8.9 Why, if it was so good, did it not survive? + +Just because something is good does not mean that it will survive. + +For example, the Warsaw Ghetto uprising against the Nazis failed but that +does not mean that the uprising was a bad cause or that the Nazi regime +was correct, far from it. Similarly, while the experiments in workers' +self-management and communal living undertaken across Republican Spain +is one of the most important social experiments in a free society ever +undertaken, this cannot change the fact that Franco's forces and the +Communists had access to more and better weapons. + +Faced with the aggression and terrorism of Franco, and behind him the +military might of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, the treachery of the +Communists, and the aloofness of the Western bourgeois "republics" (whose +policy of "non-intervention" was strangely ignored when their citizens +aided Franco) it is amazing the revolution lasted as long as it did. + +This does not excuse the actions of the anarchists themselves. As is well +known, the C.N.T. cooperated with the other anti-fascist parties and trade +unions on the Republican side (see next section). This cooperation lead to +the C.N.T. joining the anti-fascist government and "anarchists" becoming +ministers of state. This cooperation, more than anything, helped ensure the +defeat of the revolution. + +Some anarchists still maintain that the Spanish anarchist movement had +no choice and that collaboration (while having unfortunate effects) was +the only choice available. This view was defended by Sam Dolgoff and +finds some support in the writings of Gaston Leval, August Souchy and +many other anarchists. + +Most anarchists opposed collaboration at the time and most think it was a +terrible mistake. This viewpoint finds its best expression in Vernon Richard's +_Lessons of the Spanish Revolution_ and, in part, in such works as _Anarchists +in the Spanish Revolution_ by Jose Pierats and _Anarchist Organisation: +The History of the FAI_ by Juan Gomaz Casas as well as in a host of +pamphlets and articles written by anarchists ever since. + +So, regardless of how good a social system is, objective facts will +overcome that experiment. Saturnino Carod (a leader of a C.N.T. Militia +column at the Aragon Front) sums up the successes of the revolution +as well as its objective limitations: + +"Always expecting to be stabbed in the back, always knowing that if we +created problems, only the enemy across the lines would stand to gain. It +was a tragedy for the anarcho-syndicalist movement; but it was a tragedy for +something greater - the Spanish people. For it can never be forgotten that +it was the working class and peasantry which, by demonstrating their ability +to run industry and agriculture collectively, allowed the republic to +continue the struggle for thirty-two months. It was they who created a war +industry, who kept agricultural production increasing, who formed militias +and later joined the army. Without their creative endeavour, the republic +could not have fought the war..." [_Blood of Spain_, 394] + +I.8.10 What political lessons were learned from the revolution? + +The most important political lesson learned from the Spanish Revolution is +that a revolution cannot compromise with existing power structures. + +The Spanish Revolution is a clear example of the old maxim, "those who only +make half a revolution dig their own graves." Essentially, the most important +political lesson of the Spanish Revolution is that an anarchist revolution +will only succeed if it follows an anarchist path and does not seek to +compromise in the name of fighting a "greater evil." + +On the 20th of July, after the fascist coup had been defeated in Barcelona, +the C.N.T. sent a delegation of its members to meet the leader of the Catalan +Government. A plenum of C.N.T. union shop stewards, in the light of the +fascist coup, agreed that libertarian communism would be "put off" until +Franco had been defeated (the rank and file ignored them and collectivised +their workplaces). They organised a delegation to visit the Catalan president +to discuss the situation - "The delegation. . . was intransigent . . . +[e]ither Companys [the Catalan president] must accept the creation of a +Central Committee [of Anti-Fascist Militias] as the ruling organisation or +the C.N.T. would *consult the rank and file and expose the real situation +to the workers.* Companys backed down." [Abel Paz, _Durruti - the people +armed_, p. 216, our emphasis] + +The C.N.T. committee members used their new-found influence in the eyes of +Spain to unite with the leaders of other organisations/parties but not the +rank and file. This process lead to the creation of the "Central Committee of +Anti-Fascist Militias", in which political parties as well as labour unions +were represented. This committee was not made up of mandated delegates, but +of representatives of existing organisations, nominated by committees. +Instead of a genuine confederal body (made up of mandated delegates from +workplace, militia and neighbourhood assemblies) the C.N.T. created a body +which was not accountable to, nor could reflect the ideas of, ordinary +working class people expressed in their assemblies. The state and government +was not abolished by self-management, only ignored. + +This first betrayal of anarchist principles led to all the rest, and so the +defeat of the revolution and the civil war. In the name of "antifascist" +unity, the C.N.T. worked with parties and classes which hated both them and +the revolution. In the words of Sam Dolgoff "both before and after July +19th, an unwavering determination to crush the revolutionary movement was +the leitmotif behind the policies of the Republican government; irrespective +of the party in power." [_The Anarchist Collectives_, p. 40] + +To justify their collaboration, the leaders of the C.N.T.-F.A.I. claimed not +to collaborate would have lead to a civil war within the civil war. In +practice, while paying lip service to the revolution, the Communists and +republicans attacked the collectives, murdered anarchists, cut supplies to +collectivised industries (even *war* industries) and disbanded the anarchist +militias after refusing to give them weapons and ammunition (preferring to +arm the Civil Guard in the rearguard in order to crush the C.N.T. and so the +revolution). By collaborating, a civil war was not avoided. One occurred +anyway, with the working class as its victims, as soon as the state felt +strong enough. + +Garcia Oliver (the first ever, and hopefully last, "anarchist" minister +of justice) stated that collaboration was necessary and that the C.N.T. +had "renounc[ed] revolutionary totalitarianism, which would lead to +the strangulation of the revolution by anarchist and Confederal [C.N.T.] +dictatorship. We had confidence in the word and in the person of a Catalan +democrat" Companys (who had in the past jailed anarchists). Which means that +only by working with the state, politicians and capitalists can an anarchist +revolution be truly libertarian! + +However, as Vernon Richards makes clear: + +"[Was it] essential, and possible, to collaborate with political parties that +is politicians honestly and sincerely, and at a time when power was in the +hands of the two workers organisations?. . . All the initiative. . . was in +the hands of the workers. The politicians were like generals without armies +floundering in a desert of futility. Collaboration with them could not, by +any stretch of the imagination, strengthen resistance to Franco. On the +contrary, it was clear that collaboration with political parties meant the +recreation of governmental institutions and the transferring of initiative +from the armed workers to a central body with executive powers." [Vernon +Richards, _Lessons of the Spanish Revolution_, p. 42] + +The false dilemma of "anarchist dictatorship" or "collaboration" was +fundamentally wrong. It was never a case of banning parties, etc. under an +anarchist system, far from it. Full rights of free speech, organisation and +so on should have existed for all but the parties would only have as much +influence as they exerted in union/workplace/community/militia/etc. +assemblies, as should be the case! "Collaboration" yes, but within the rank +and file and within organisations organised in an anarchist manner. +Anarchism does not respect the "freedom" to be a boss or politician. + +In his history of the FAI, Juan Gomaz Casas (an active F.A.I. member in 1936) +makes this clear: + +"How else could libertarian communism be brought about? It would always +signify dissolution of the old parties dedicated to the idea of power, or at +least make it impossible for them to pursue their politics aimed at seizure +of power. There will always be pockets of opposition to new experiences and +therefore resistance to joining 'the spontaneity of the unanimous masses.' +In addition, the masses would have complete freedom of expression in the +unions as well as. . .their political organisations in the district and +communities." [_Anarchist Organisation: the History of the FAI_, p. 188] + +Instead of this "collaboration" from the bottom up, the C.N.T. and F.A.I. +committees favoured "collaboration" from the top down. The leaders ignored +the state and cooperated with other trade unions as well as political +parties in the _Central Committee of Anti-Fascist Militias_. In other words, +they ignored their political ideas in favour of a united front against what +they considered the greater evil, namely fascism. This lead the way to +counter-revolution, the destruction of the militias and collectives. + +In particular, the continued existence of the state ensured that economic +confederalism between collectives (i.e. extending the revolution under the +direction of the syndicates) could not develop naturally nor be developed +far enough in all places. Due to the political compromises of the C.N.T. +the tendencies to coordination and mutual aid could not develop freely +(see next section). + +It is clear that the defeat in Spain was due to a failure not of anarchist +theory and tactics but a failure of anarchists to *apply* their theory and +tactics. Instead of destroying the state, the C.N.T.-F.A.I. ignored it. For +a revolution to be successful it needs to create organisations which can +effectively replace the state and the market; that is, to create a widespread +libertarian organisation for social and economic decision-making through +which working class people can start to set their own agendas. Only by going +this route can the state and capitalism be effectively smashed. + +In building the new world we must destroy the old one. Revolutions are +authoritarian by their very nature, but only in respect to structures and +social relations which promote injustice, hierarchy and inequality. It is +not "authoritarian" to destroy authority and not tyrannical to dethrone +tyrants! + +Revolutions, above all else, must be libertarian in respect to the oppressed. +That is, they must develop structures that involve the great majority of the +population, who have previously been excluded from decision-making about +social and economic issues. + +As the _Friends of Durruti_ argued "A revolution requires the absolute +domination of the workers' organisations." ["The Friends of Durruti accuse", +from _Class War on the Home Front_, p. 34] Only this, the creation of viable +anarchist social organisations, can ensure that the state and capitalism can +be destroyed and replaced with a just system based on liberty, equality and +solidarity. + +The second important lesson is on the nature of anti-fascism. The C.N.T. +leaders were totally blinded by the question of anti-fascist unity, leading +them to support a "democratic" state against a "fascist" one. While the bases +of a new world was being created around them by the working class, inspiring +the fight against fascism, the C.N.T. leaders collaborated with the system +that spawns fascism, As the Friends of Durruti make clear, "Democracy +defeated the Spanish people, not Fascism." [_Class War on the Home Front_, +p. 30] + +To be opposed to fascism is not enough, you also have to be anti-capitalist. + +In Spain, anti-fascism destroyed the revolution, not fascism. As the Scottish Anarchist Ethal McDonald argued at the time, "Fascism is not something new, +some new force of evil opposed to society, but is only the old enemy, Capitalism, under a new and fearful sounding name. . . Anti-Fascism is the +new slogan by which the working class is being betrayed." [_Workers Free +Press_, Oct 1937] + +I.8.11 What economic lessons were learned from the revolution? + +The most important lesson from the revolution is the fact that ordinary +people took over the management of industry and did an amazing job of +keeping (and improving!) production in the face of the direst circumstances. +Not only did workers create a war industry from almost nothing in Catalonia, +they also improved working conditions and innovated with new techniques and +processes. The Spanish Revolution shows that self-management is possible. + +From the point of view of individual freedom, its clear that self-management +allowed previously marginalised people to take an active part in the decisions +that affected them. Egalitarian organisations provided the framework for a +massive increase in participation and individual self-government, which +expressed itself in the extensive innovations carried out by the Collectives. +The Collectives indicate, in Stirner's words, that "[o]nly in the union can +you assert yourself as unique, because the union does not possess you, but +you possess it or make it of use to you." [_The Ego and Its Own_, p. 312] + +As predicted in anarchist theory, and borne out by actual experience, there +exists large untapped reserves of energy and initiative in the ordinary +person which self-management can call forth. The collectives proved +Kropotkin's argument that cooperative work is more productive and that if +the economists wish to prove "their thesis in favour of *private property* +against all other forms of *possession*, should not the economists demonstrate +that under the form of communal property land never produces such rich +harvests as when the possession is private. But this they could not prove; +in fact, it is the contrary that has been observed." [_The Conquest of Bread_, +p. 146] + +Therefore, five important lessons from the actual experience of a libertarian +socialist economy can be derived: + +Firstly, that an anarchist society cannot be created overnight, but is a +product of many different influences as well as the objective conditions. + +The lesson from every revolution is that the mistakes made in the process +of liberation by people themselves are always minor compared to the results +of creating institutions *for* people. The Spanish Revolution is a clear +example of this, with the "collectivisation decree" causing more harm than +good. Luckily, the Spanish anarchists recognized the importance of having +the freedom to make mistakes, as can be seen by the many different forms +of collectives and federations tried. + +Secondly, that self-management allowed a massive increase in innovation and +new ideas. + +The Spanish Revolution is clear proof of the anarchist case against +hierarchy and validates Isaac Puente words that in "a free collective +each benefits from accumulated knowledge and specialized experiences of all, +and vice versa. There is a reciprocal relationship wherein information is +in continuous circulation." [cited in _The Anarchist Collectives_, p. 32] + +Thirdly, the importance of decentralisation of management. + +The woodworkers' union experience indicates that when an industry becomes +centralised, the administration of industry becomes constantly merged in fewer +hands which leads to ordinary workers being marginalised. This can happen even +in democratically run industries and soon result in apathy developing within +it. This was predicted by Kropotkin and other anarchist theorists (and by +many F.A.I. members in Spain at the time). While undoubtedly better than +capitalist hierarchy, such democratically run industries are only close +approximations to anarchist ideas of self-management. Importantly, however, +the collectivisation experiments also indicate that cooperation need not +imply centralisation (as can be seen from the Badelona collectives). + +Fourthly, the importance of building links of solidarity between workplaces +as soon as possible. + +While the importance of starting production after the fascist uprising +made attempts at coordination seem of secondary importance to the +collectives, the competition that initially occurred between workplaces +helped the state to undermine self-management. Because there was no +People's Bank or other communistic body to coordinate credit and +production, state control of credit and the gold reserves made it +easier for the Republican state (through its monopoly of credit) to +undermine the revolution and control the collectives and (effectively) +nationalise them in time (Durruti and a few others planned to seize the +gold reserves but were advised not to by De Santillan). + +This attack on the revolution started when the Catalan State issued a decree +legalising (and so controlling) the collectives in October 1936 (the famous +"Collectivisation Decree"). The counter-revolution also withheld funds for +collectivised industries, even war industries, until they agreed to come +under state control. The industrial organisation created by this decree +was a compromise between anarchist ideas and those of other parties +(particularly the communists) and in the words of Gaston Leval, "the +decree had the baneful effect of preventing the workers' syndicates +from extending their gains. It set back the revolution in industry." +[_The Anarchist Collectives_, p. 54] + +And lastly, that an economic revolution can only succeed if the existing +state is destroyed. As Kropotkin argued, a new economic system requires +a new political system - capitalism needs the state, socialism needs +anarchy. + +Due to the failure to consolidate the revolution *politically,* it was lost +*economically.* The decree "legalising collectivisation" "distorted everything +right from the start" [_Collectives in the Spanish Revolution_, p. 227] and +helped undermine the revolution by ensuring that the mutualism of the +collectives did not develop freely into libertaria communism ("The +collectives lost the economic freedom they had won at the beginning" due +to the decree, as one participant put it. [Ronald Frazer, _Blood of Spain_, +p. 230]). + +As Frazer notes, it "was doubtful that the C.N.T. had seriously envisaged +collectivisation of industry. . .before this time." [Op. Cit., p. 212] +C.N.T. policy was opposed to the collectivisation decree. As an eyewitness +pointed out, "The C.N.T.'s policy was thus not the same as that pursued by +the decree." [Op. Cit., p. 213] Indeed, leading anarchists like Abad +de Santillan opposed it and urged people to ignore it: "I was an enemy +of the decree because I considered it premature. . .when I became +councilor, I had no intention of taking into account or carrying out the +decree: I intended to allow our great people to carry on the task as they +best saw fit, according to their own inspiration." [Op. Cit., p. 212] + +However, with the revolution lost politically, the C.N.T. was soon forced +to compromise and support the decree (it did propose more libertarian +forms of coordination between workplaces but these were undermined by +the state). A lack of effective mutual aid organisations allowed the state +to gain power over the collectives and so undermine and destroy +self-management. Working class control over the economy (important as it +is) does not automatically destroy the state. In other words, the economic +aspects of the revolution cannot be considered in isolation from its +political ones. + +However, these points do not diminish the successes of the Spanish +revolution. Beyond doubt these months of economic liberty in Spain shows +that not only that libertarian socialism *works* but that it can improve +the quality of life and increase freedom. Given the time and breathing +space, the experiment would undoubtedly have ironed out its problems. Even +in the very difficult environment of a civil war (and with resistance of +almost all other parties and unions) the workers and peasants of Spain +showed that a better society is possible. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001761.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001761.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..df39a14f --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001761.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6741 @@ +Section J - What do anarchists do? + +J.1 Are anarchists involved in social struggles? + J.1.1 Why are social struggles important? + J.1.2 Are anarchists against reforms? + J.1.3 Why are anarchists against reformism? + J.1.4 What attitude do anarchists take to "single-issue" campaigns? + J.1.5 Why do anarchists try to generalise social struggles? + +J.2 What is direct action? + J.2.1 Why do anarchists favour using direct action to change things? + J.2.2 Why do anarchists reject voting as a means for change? + J.2.3 What are the political implications of voting? + J.2.4 Surely voting for radical parties will be effective? + J.2.5 Why do anarchists support abstentionism and what are its + implications? + J.2.6 What are the effects of radicals using electioneering? + J.2.7 Surely we should vote for reformist parties in order to show + them up for what they are? + J.2.8 Will abstentionism lead to the right winning elections? + J.2.9 What do anarchists do instead of voting? + J.2.10 Does rejecting electioneering mean that anarchists are + apolitical? + +J.3 What forms of organisation do anarchists build? + J.3.1 What are affinity groups? + J.3.2 Why do anarchists organise into federations? + J.3.3 What is "the Platform"? + J.3.4 What is anarcho-syndicalism? + J.3.5 Why do many anarchists think anarcho-syndicalism is not enough? + J.3.6 What is a TAZ? + +J.4 What trends in society aid anarchist activity? + J.4.1 Why is social struggle a good sign? + J.4.2 Are the new social movements a positive development + for anarchists? + J.4.3 What is the "economic structural crisis" and why is it important + to social struggle? + J.4.4 Are declining state revenues a hopeful sign for anarchists? + J.4.5 What are implications of anti-government and anti-big business + feelings? + J.4.6 What about the communications revolution? + J.4.7 What is the significance of the accelerating rate of change + and the information explosion? + J.4.8 What are Netwars? + +J.5 What alternative social organisations do anarchists create? + J.5.1 What is community unionism? + J.5.2 Why do anarchists support industrial unionism? + J.5.3 What attitude do anarchists take to existing unions? + J.5.4 What are industrial networks? + J.5.5 What forms of co-operative credit do anarchists support? + J.5.6 What are the key features of mutual credit schemes? + J.5.7 Do most anarchists think mutual credit is sufficient to abolish + capitalism? + J.5.8 What would a modern system of mutual banking look like? + J.5.9 How does mutual credit work? + J.5.10 Why do anarchists support co-operatives? + J.5.11 If workers really want self-management, why aren't there more + producer co-operatives? + J.5.12 If self-management is more efficient, surely capitalist firms + will be forced to introduce it by the market? + J.5.13 What are Modern Schools? + J.5.14 What is Libertarian Municipalism? + J.5.15 What attitude do anarchists take to the welfare state? + J.5.16 Are there any historical examples of collective self-help? + +J.6 What methods of child rearing do anarchists advocate? + J.6.1 What are the main principles of raising free children and + the main obstacles to implementing those principles? + J.6.2 What are some examples of libertarian child-rearing methods + applied to the care of newborn infants? + J.6.3 What are some examples of libertarian child-rearing methods + applied to the care of young children? + J.6.4 If children have nothing to fear, how can they be good? + J.6.5 But how can children learn *morality* if they are not given + punishments, prohibitions, and religious instruction? + J.6.6 But how will a free child ever learn unselfishness? + J.6.7 Isn't what you call "libertarian child-rearing" just another + name for spoiling the child? + J.6.8 What is the anarchist position on teenage sexual liberation? + J.6.9 But isn't this concern with teenage sexual liberation just a + distraction from issues that should be of more concern to + anarchists, like restructuring the economy? + +J.7 What do anarchists mean by "social revolution"? + J.7.1 Is social revolution possible? + J.7.2 Why is social revolution needed? + J.7.3 What would a social revolution involve? + +Section J - What do anarchists do? + +This section discusses what anarchists get up to. There is little point +thinking about the world unless you also want to change it for the better. +And by trying to change it, you change yourself and others, making radical +change more of a possibility. Therefore anarchists give their whole-hearted +support to attempts by ordinary people to improve their lives by their +own actions. As Max Stirner pointed out, "The true man does not lie in +the future, an object of longing, but lies, existent and real, in the +present." [_The Ego and Its Own_, p. 327] + +For anarchists, the future is *already appearing in the present* and is +expressed by the autonomy of working class self-activity. Anarchy is +not some-day-to-be-achieved utopia, it is a living reality whose growth +only needs to be freed from constraint. As such anarchist activity +is about discovering and aiding emerging trends of mutual aid which +work against capitalist domination (i.e. what is actually developing), +so the Anarchist "studies society and tries to discover its *tendencies*, +past and present, its growing needs, intellectual and economic, and in +his [or her] ideal he merely points out in which direction evolution +goes." [Peter Kropotkin, _Kropotkin's Revolutionary Pamphlets_, p. 47] + +The kinds of activity outlined in this section are a general overview +of anarchist work. It is by no means exclusive as we are sure to have +left something out. However, the key aspect of *real* anarchist +activity is *direct action* - self-activity, self-help, self-liberation +and solidarity. Such activity may be done by individuals (for example, +propaganda work), but usually anarchists emphasis collective activity. This +is because most of our problems are of a social nature, meaning that their +solutions can only be worked on collectively. Individual solutions to +social problems are doomed to failure (for example green consumerism). + +In addition, collective action gets us used to working together, promoting +the experience of self-management and building organisations that will allow +us to activity manage our own affairs. Also, and we would like to emphasis +this, it's *fun* to get together with other people and work with them, +it's fulfilling and empowering. + +Anarchists do not ask those in power to give up that power. No, they +promote forms of activity and organisation by which all the oppressed +can liberate themselves by their own hands. In other words, we do not +think that those in power will altruistically give up that power or +their privileges. Instead, the oppressed must take the power *back* +into their own hands by their own actions. We must free ourselves, +no one else can do it for use. + +As we have noted before, anarchism is more than just a critique of statism +and capitalism or a vision of a freer, better way of life. It is first and +foremost a movement, the movement of working class people attempting to +change the world. Therefore the kind of activity we discuss in this +section of the FAQ forms the bridge between capitalism and anarchy. By +self-activity and direct action, people can change both themselves and +their surroundings. They develop within themselves the mental, ethical and +spiritual qualities which can make an anarchist society a viable option. + +As Noam Chomsky argues, "Only through their own struggle for liberation +will ordinary people come to comprehend their true nature, suppressed and +distorted within institutional structures designed to assure obedience and +subordination. Only in this way will people develop more humane ethical +standards, 'a new sense of right', 'the consciousness of their strength and +their importance as a social factor in the life of their time' and their +capacity to realise the strivings of their 'inmost nature.' Such direct +engagement in the work of social reconstruction is a prerequisite for +coming to perceive this 'inmost nature' and is the indispensable +foundations upon which it can flourish." [preface to Rudolf Rocker's +_Anarcho-Syndicalism_, p. viii] + +In other words, anarchism is not primarily a vision of a better future, but +the actual social movement which is fighting within the current unjust and +unfree society for that better future and to improve things in the here and +now. Without standing up for yourself and what you believe is right, nothing +will change. Therefore anarchists would agree whole-heartedly with Frederick +Douglass (an Abolitionist) who stated that: + +"If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favour +freedom and yet deprecate agitation are people who want crops without plowing +up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. That struggle +might be a moral one; it might be a physical one; it might be both moral and +physical, but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. +It never did and never will. People might not get all that they work for in +this world, but they must certainly work for all they get." + +In this section of the FAQ we will discuss anarchist ideas on struggle, +what anarchists actually (and, almost as importantly, do not) do in the +here and now and the sort of alternatives anarchists try to build within +statism and capitalism in order to destroy them. As well as a struggle +against oppression, anarchist activity is also struggle for freedom. As +well as fighting against material poverty, anarchists combat spiritual +poverty. By resisting hierarchy we emphasis the importance of *living* +and of *life as art.* By proclaiming "Neither Master nor Slave" we urge +an ethical transformation, a transformation that will help create the +possibility of a truly free society. + +This point was argued by Emma Goldman after she saw the defeat of the +Russian Revolution by a combination of Leninist politics and capitalist +armed intervention: + +"the ethical values which the revolution is to establish must be initiated +with the revolutionary activities. . . The latter can only serve as a real +and dependable bridge to the better life if built of the same material as +the life to be achieved" [_My Further Disillusionment in Russia_] + +In other words, anarchist activity is more than creating libertarian +alternatives and resisting hierarchy, it is about building the new +world in the shell of the old not only with regards to organisations +and self-activity, but also within the individual. It is about transforming +yourself while transforming the world - both processes obviously interacting +and supporting each other - "the first aim of Anarchism is to assert and +make the dignity of the individual human being." [Charlotte Wilson, _Three +Essays on Anarchism_, p. 17] + +And by direct action, self-management and self-activity we can make the +words first heard in Paris, 1968 a living reality - + + "All power to the imagination!" + +Words, we are sure, the classic anarchists would have whole-heartedly +agreed with. There is a power in humans, a creative power, a power to alter +what is into what should be. Anarchists try to create alternatives that will +allow that power to be expressed, the power of imagination. + +In the sections that follow we will discuss the forms of self-activity and +self-organisation (collective and individual) which anarchists think will +stimulate and develop the imagination of those oppressed by hierarchy, build +anarchy in action and help create a free society. + +J.1 Are anarchists involved in social struggles? + +Yes. Anarchism, above all else, is a movement which aims to not only +analyze the world but also to change it. Therefore anarchists aim to +participate in and encourage social struggle. Social struggle includes +strikes, marches, protests, demonstrations, boycotts, occupations and so +on. Such activities show that the "spirit of revolt" is alive and well, +that people are thinking and acting for themselves and against what +authorities want them to do. This, in the eyes of anarchists, plays a +key role in helping create the seeds of anarchy within capitalism. + +Anarchists consider socialistic tendencies to develop within society, as +people see the benefits of cooperation and particularly when mutual aid +develops within the struggle against authority, oppression and +exploitation. Therefore, anarchists do not place anarchy abstractly against +capitalism, but see it as a tendency within (and against) the system - a +tendency which can be developed to such a degree that it can *replace* +the dominant structures and social relationships with new, more liberatory +and humane ones. This perspective indicates why anarchists are involved +in social struggle - they are an expression of this tendency within but +against capitalism which can ultimately replace it. + +As we will see later (in section J.2) anarchists encourage direct action +within social struggles as well as arguing anarchist ideas and theories. +However, what is important to note here is that social struggle is a sign +that people are thinking and acting for themselves and working together to +change things. Anarchists agree with Howard Zinn when he points out that: + +"civil disobedience. . . is *not* our problem. Our problem is civil +*obedience.* Our problem is that numbers of people all over the world +have obeyed the dictates of the leaders of their government and have +gone to war, and millions have been killed because of this obedience. . . +Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face +of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our +problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty +thieves, and all the while the grand thieves are running the country. +That's our problem." [_Failure to Quit_, p. 45] + +Therefore, social struggle is an important thing for anarchists and we +take part in it as much as we can. Moreover, anarchists do more than just +take part. We are fighting to get rid of the system that causes the +problems which people fight again. We explain anarchism to those who are +involved in struggle with us and seek to show the relevance of anarchism to +people's everyday lives through our work in such struggles and the popular +organisations which they create (in addition to trade unions, campaigning +groups and other bodies). By so doing we try to popularise the ideas and +methods of anarchism, namely solidarity, direct democracy and direct action. + +Anarchists don't engage in abstract propaganda (become an anarchist, wait for +the revolution). We know that our ideas will only win a hearing and respect +when we can show both their relevance to people's lives in the here and now, +and show that an anarchist world is both possible and desirable. In other +words, social struggle is the "school" of anarchism, the means by which +people become anarchists and anarchist ideas are applied in action. Hence +the importance of social struggle and anarchist participation within it. + +Before discussing issues related to social struggle, it is important to +point out here that anarchists are interested in struggles against all +forms of oppression and do not limit ourselves to purely economic issues. +The exploitative nature of the capitalist system is only part of the story +- other forms of oppression are needed in order to keep it going and have +resulted from its workings. Like the bug in work, exploitation and oppression +soon spreads and invests our homes, our friendships and our communities. + +Therefore, anarchists are convinced that human life (and the struggle against +oppression) cannot be reduced to mere money and, indeed, the "proclivity +for economic reductionism is now actually obscurantist. It not only shares +in the bourgeois tendency to render material egotism and class interest +the centrepieces of history it also denigrates all attempts to transcend +this image of humanity as a mere economic being. . . by depicting them as +mere 'marginalia' at best, as 'well-intentioned middle-class ideology' at +worse, or sneeringly, as 'diversionary,' 'utopian,' and 'unrealistic.' . . . +Capitalism, to be sure, did not create the 'economy' or 'class interest,' +but it subverted all human traits - be they speculative thought, love, +community, friendship, art, or self-governance - with the authority of +economic calculation and the rule of quantity. Its 'bottom line' is the +balance sheet's sum and its basic vocabulary consists of simple numbers." +[Murray Bookchin, _The Modern Crisis_, pp. 125-126] + +In other words, issues such as freedom, justice, individual dignity, quality +of life and so on cannot be reduced to the categories of capitalist economics. +Anarchists think that any radical movement which does so fails to understand +the nature of the system they are fighting against. Indeed, economic +reductionism plays into the hands of capitalist ideology. So, when anarchists +take part in and encourage social struggle they do not aim to restrict or +reduce them to economic issues (however important these are). The anarchist +knows that the individual has more interests than just money and we consider +it essential to take into account the needs of the emotions, mind and spirit +just as much as those of the belly. + +As the anarchist character created by the science-fiction writer Ursula +Le Guin (who is an anarchist) points out, capitalists "think if people have +enough things they will be content to live in prison." [_The Dispossessed_, +p. 120] Anarchists disagree, and the experience of social revolt in the +"affluent" 1960s proves their case. + +This is unsurprising for, ultimately, the "antagonism [between classes] is +spiritual rather than material. There will never be a sincere understanding +between bosses and workers. . . because the bosses above all want to remain +bosses and secure always more power at the expense of the workers, as well +as by competition with other bosses, whereas the workers have had their fill +of bosses and don't want any more." [Errico Malatesta, _Life and Ideas_, +p. 79] + +J.1.1 Why are social struggles important? + +Social struggle is an expression of the class struggle, namely the struggle +of working class people *against* their exploitation, oppression and +alienation and *for* their liberty from capitalist and state authority. +It is what happens when one group of people have hierarchical power over +another. Where there is oppression, there is resistance and where there +is resistance to authority you will see anarchy in action. For this reason +anarchists are in favour of, and are involved within, social struggles. +Ultimately they are a sign of individuals asserting their autonomy and +disgust at an unfair system. + +When it boils down to it, our actual freedom is not determined by the law +or by courts, but by the power the cop has over us in the street; the +judge behind him; by the authority of our boss if we are working; by the +power of teachers and heads of schools and universities if we are students; +by the welfare bureaucracy if we are unemployed or poor; by landlords if we +are tenants; by prison guards if we are in jail; by medical professionals if +we are in a hospital. These realities of wealth and power will remain unshaken +unless counter-forces appear on the very ground our liberty is restricted +- on the street, in workplaces, at home, at school, in hospitals and so +on. + +Therefore social struggles for improvements are important indications of +the spirit of revolt and of people supporting each other in the continual +assertion of their (and our) freedom. They show people standing up for +what they consider right and just, building alternative organisations, +creating their own solutions to their problems - and are a slap in the +face of all the paternal authorities which dare govern us. Hence their +importance to anarchists and all people interested in extending freedom. + +In addition, social struggle helps break people from their hierarchical +conditioning. Anarchists view people not as fixed objects to be classified +and labeled, but as human beings engaged in making their own lives. They +live, love, think, feel, hope, dream, and can change themselves, their +environment and social relationships. Social struggle is the way this +is done collectively. + +Struggle promotes attributes within people which are crushed by hierarchy +(attributes such as imagination, organisational skills, self-assertion, +self-management, critical thought, self-confidence and so on) as people +come up against practical problems in their struggles and have to solve +them themselves. This builds self-confidence and an awareness of +individual and collective power. By seeing that their boss, the state +and so on are against them they begin to realise that they live in a +class ridden, hierarchical society that depends upon their submission +to work. As such, social struggle is a politicising experience. + +Struggle allows those involved to develop their abilities for self-rule +through practice and so begins the process by which individuals assert +their ability to control their own lives and to participate in social life +directly. These are all key elements of anarchism and are required for +an anarchist society to work. So self-activity is a key factor in +self-liberation, self-education and the creating of anarchists. In a +nutshell, people learn in struggle. + +A confident working class is an essential factor in making successful +and libertarian improvements within the current system and, ultimately, in +making a revolution. Without that self-confidence people tend to just +follow "leaders" and we end up changing rulers rather than changing +society. + +Part of our job as anarchists is to encourage people to fight for +whatever small reforms are possible at present, to improve our/their +conditions, to give people confidence in their ability to start taking +control of their lives, and to point out that there is a limit to whatever +(sometimes temporary) gains capitalism will or can concede. Hence the need +for a revolutionary change. + +Until anarchist ideas are the dominant/most popular ones, other ideas will +be the majority ones. If we think a movement is, all things considered, a +positive or progressive one then we should not abstain but should seek to +popularise anarchist ideas and strategies within it. In this way we create +"schools of anarchy" within the current system and lay the foundations of +something better. + +Hence the importance of social (or class) struggle for anarchists (which, +we may add, goes on all the time and is a two-sided affair). Social struggle +is the means of breaking the normality of capitalist and statist life, a +means of developing the awareness for social change and the means of +making life better under the current system. The moment that people refuse +to bow to authority, it ceases to exist. Social struggle indicates that +some of the oppressed see that by using their power of disobedience they +can challenge, perhaps eventually end, hierarchical power. + +Ultimately, anarchy is not just something you believe in, it is not a cool +label you affix to yourself, it's something you do. You participate. If you +stop doing it, anarchy crumbles. Social struggle is the means by which we +ensure that anarchy becomes stronger and grows. + +J.1.2 Are anarchists against reforms? + +No, we are not. While most anarchists are against reformism (namely the +notion that we can somehow reform capitalism and the state away) they are +most definitely in favour of reforms (i.e. improvements in the here and now). + +The claim that anarchists are against reforms and improvements in the here +and now are often put forth by opponents of anarchism in an effort to paint +us as extremists. Anarchists are radicals; as such, they seek the root causes +of societal problems. Reformists seek to ameliorate the symptoms of societal +problems, while anarchists focus on the causes. + +For example, a reformist sees poverty and looks at ways to lessen the +destructive and debilitating effects of it: this produced things like the +minimum wage, affirmative action, and the projects in the USA and similar +reforms in other countries. An anarchist looks at poverty and says, "what +causes this?" and attacks that source of poverty, rather than the symptoms. +While reformists may succeed in the short run with their institutional +panaceas, the festering problems remain untreated, dooming reform to +eventual costly, inevitable failure--measured in human lives, no less. +Like a quack that treats the symptoms of a disease without getting rid of +what causes it, all the reformist can promise is short-term improvements +for a condition that never goes away and may ultimately kill the sufferer. +The anarchist, like a real doctor, investigates the causes of the illness +and treats them while fighting the symptoms. + +Therefore, anarchists are of the opinion that "[w]hile preaching against +every kind of government, and demanding complete freedom, we must support +all struggles for partial freedom, because we are convinced that one learns +through struggle, and that once one begins to enjoy a little freedom one +ends by wanting it all. We must always be with the people. . . [and] get +them to understand. . . [what] they may demand should be obtained +by their own efforts and that they should despise and detest whoever is +part of, or aspires to, government." [Errico Malatesta, _Life and Ideas_ +p. 195] + +Anarchists keep the spotlight on the actual problems, which of course +alienates them from their "distinguished" reformists foes. Reformists are +uniformly "reasonable" and always make use of "experts" who will make +everything okay - and they are always wrong in how they deal with a problem. + +The recent "health care crisis" in the United States is a prime example of +reformism at work... + +The reformist says, "how can we make health care more affordable to people? +How can we keep those insurance rates down to levels people can pay?" + +The anarchist says, "should health care be considered a privilege or +a right? Is medical care just another marketable commodity, or do living +beings have an inalienable right to it?" + +Notice the difference? The reformist has no problem with people paying for +medical care-business is business, right? The anarchist, on the other hand, +has a big problem with that attitude - we're talking about human lives, here! +For now, the reformists have won with their "managed care" reformism, which +ensures that the insurance companies and medical industry continue to rake +in record profits - at the expense of people's lives. + +Reformists get acutely uncomfortable when you talk about genuinely bringing +change to any system - they don't see anything wrong with the system itself, +only with a few pesky side effects. In this sense, they are stewards of the +Establishment, and are agents of reaction, despite their altruistic +overtures. By failing to attack the sources of problems, and by hindering +those who do, they ensure that the problems at hand will only grow over +time, and not diminish. + +So, anarchists are not opposed to struggles for reforms and improvements +in the here and now. Indeed, few anarchists think that an anarchist society +will occur without a long period of anarchist activity encouraging and +working within social struggle against injustice. Thus Malatesta's words: + +"the subject is not whether we accomplish Anarchism today, tomorrow or +within ten centuries, but that we walk towards Anarchism today, tomorrow +and always." ["Towards Anarchism,", _Man!_, M. Graham (Ed.), p. 75] + +So, when fighting for improvements anarchists do so in an anarchist way, +one that encourages self-management, direct action and the creation of +libertarian solutions and alternatives to both capitalism and the state. + +J.1.3 Why are anarchists against reformism? + +Firstly, it must be pointed out that the struggle for reforms within +capitalism is *not* the same as reformism. Reformism is the idea +that reforms within capitalism are enough in themselves and +attempts to change the system are impossible (and not desirable). +As such all anarchists are against this form of reformism - we think +that the system can be (and should be) changed. + +In addition, particularly in the old social democratic labour movement, +reformism also meant the belief that social reforms could be used to +*transform* capitalism into socialism. In this sense, only the Individualist +anarchists and Mutualists can be considered reformist as they think +their system of mutual banking can reform capitalism into a cooperative +system. However, in contrast to Social Democracy, such anarchists +think that such reforms cannot come about via government action, but +only by people creating their own alternatives and solutions by their +own actions. + +So, anarchists oppose reformism because it takes the steam out of revolutionary +movements by providing easy, decidedly short-term "solutions" to deep social +problems. In this way, reformists can present the public with they've done +and say "look, all is better now. The system worked." Trouble is that over +time, the problems will only continue to grow, because the reforms didn't +tackle them in the first place. + +Reformists also tend to objectify the people whom they are "helping;" they +envision them as helpless, formless masses who need the wisdom and guidance +of the "best and the brightest" to lead them to the Promised Land. Reformists +mean well, but this is altruism borne of ignorance, which is destructive over +the long run. As Malatesta put it, "[i]t is not true to say . . . [that +anarchists] are systematically opposed to improvements, to reforms. They +oppose the reformists on the one hand because their methods are less +effective for securing reforms from government and employers, who only give +in through fear, and because very often the reforms they prefer are those +which not only bring doubtful immediate benefits, but also serve to +consolidate the existing regime and to give the workers a vested interest +in its continued existence." [_Life and Ideas_, p. 81] + +Reformists are scared of revolutionaries, who are not easily controlled; +what reformism amounts to is an altruistic contempt for the masses. +Reformists mean well, but they don't grasp the larger picture--by focusing +exclusively on narrow aspects of a problem, they choose to believe that is +the whole problem. In this willfully narrow examination of pressing social +ills, reformists are, in effect, counter-revolutionary. The disaster of the +urban rebuilding projects in the United States (and similar projects in +Britain which moved inter-city working class communities into edge of +town developments during the 1950s and 1960s) are an example of reformism +at work: upset at the growing slums, reformists supported projects that +destroyed the ghettos and built brand-new housing for working class people +to live in. They looked nice (initially), but they did nothing to +address the problem of poverty and indeed created more problems by +breaking up communities and neighbourhoods. + +Logically, it makes no sense. Why dance around a problem when you can attack +it directly? Reformists dilute revolutionary movements, softening and +weakening them over time. The AFL-CIO labour unions in the USA, like the +ones in Western Europe, killed the labour movement by narrowing and channeling +labour activity and taking the power from the workers themselves, where it +belongs, and placing it the hands of a bureaucracy. And that's precisely +what reformists do; they suck the life from social movements until the +people who are supposed to be in a better situation because of the reformists +end up in a worse situation. + +Reformists say, "don't do anything, we'll do it for you." You can see why +anarchists would loathe this sentiment; anarchists are the consummate +do-it-yourselfers, and there's nothing reformists hate more than people who +can take care of themselves, who won't let them "help" them. + +Also, it is funny to hear left-wing "revolutionaries" and "radicals" put +forward the reformist line that the capitalist state can help working people +(indeed be used to abolish itself!). Despite the fact that leftists blame +the state and capitalism for most of the problems we face, they usually +turn to the state (run primarily by rich - i.e. capitalist - people) to +remedy the situation, not by leaving people alone, but by becoming more +involved in people's lives. They support government housing, government +jobs, welfare, government-funded and regulated child care, government-funded +drug "treatment," and other government-centered programmes and activities. If +a capitalist (and racist/sexist/authoritarian) government is the problem, +how can it be depended upon to change things to the benefit of working class +people or other oppressed sections of the population like blacks and women? + +Instead of encouraging working class people to organise themselves and +create their own alternatives and solutions to their problem (which can +supplement, and ultimately replace, whatever welfare state activity which +is actually useful), reformists and other radicals urge people to get the +state to act for them. However, the state is not the community and so +whatever the state does for people you can be sure it will be in *its* +interests, not theirs. As Kropotkin put it: + +"each step towards economic freedom, each victory won over capitalism will +be at the same time a step towards political liberty - towards liberation +from the yoke of the state. . . And each step towards taking from the +State any one of its powers and attributes will be helping the masses to +win a victory over capitalism." [_Kropotkin's Revolutionary Pamphlets_, +pp. 181-2] + +Getting the state out of the way is the only thing that will lead to the +changes that can produce an improvement in the lives of working class people. +Encouraging people to rely on themselves instead of the state can lead to +self-sufficient, independent, and, hopefully, more rebellious people - people +who will rebel against the real evils in society (capitalist and statist +exploitation and oppression, racism, sexism, ecological destruction, and +so on) and not their neighbours. + +Working class people, despite having fewer options in a number of areas in +their lives, due both to hierarchy and restrictive laws, still are capable +of making choices about their actions, organising their own lives and are +responsible for the consequences of their decisions, just as other people +are. To think otherwise is to infantilise them, to consider them less fully +human than other people and reproduce the classic capitalist vision of +working class people as means of production, to be used, abused, and +discarded as required. Such thinking lays the basis for paternalistic +interventions in their lives by the state, ensuring their continued dependence +and poverty and the continued existence of capitalism and the state. + +Ultimately, there are two options: + +"The oppressed either ask for and welcome improvements as a benefit +graciously conceded, recognise the legitimacy of the power which is over +them, and so do more harm than good by helping to slow down, or divert . . . +the processes of emancipation. Or instead they demand and impose improvements +by their action, and welcome them as partial victories over the class +enemy, using them as a spur to greater achievements, and thus a valid +help and a preparation to the total overthrow of privilege, that is, +for the revolution." [Errico Malatesta, Ibid., p. 81] + +Reformism encourages the first attitude within people and so ensures the +impoverishment of the human spirit. Anarchism encourages the second +attitude and so ensures the enrichment of humanity and the possibility +of meaningful change. Why think that ordinary people cannot arrange +their lives for themselves as well as Government people can arrange it +not for themselves but for others? + +J.1.4 What attitude do anarchists take to "single-issue" campaigns? + +Firstly, we must note that anarchists do take part in "single-issue" +campaigns, but do not nourish false hopes in them. This section +explains what anarchists think of such campaigns. + +A "single-issue" campaign are usually run by a pressure group which +concentrates on tackling issues one at a time. For example, C.N.D. +(The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) is a classic example of +"single-issue" campaigning with the aim of getting rid of nuclear +weapons as the be all and end all of its activity. For anarchists, +however, single-issue campaigning can be seen as a source of false +hopes. The possibilities of changing one aspect of a totally +inter-related system and the belief that pressure groups can +compete fairly with transnational corporations, the military and +so forth, in their influence over decision making bodies can both +be seen to be optimistic at best. + +In addition, many "single-issue" campaigns desire to be "apolitical", +concentrating purely on the one issue which unites the campaign and +so refuse to analyze or discuss the system they are trying to change. +This means that they end up accepting the system which causes the +problems they are fighting against. At best, any changes +achieved by the campaign must be acceptable to the establishment +or be so watered down in content that no practical long-term good +is done. + +This can be seen from the green movement, where groups like +Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth accept the status quo as a given +and limit themselves to working within it. This often leads to them +tailoring their "solutions" to be "practical" within a fundamentally +anti-ecological political and economic system, so slowing down (at +best) ecological disruption. + +For anarchists these problems all stem from the fact that social +problems cannot be solved as single issues. As Larry Law argues +"single issue politics. . .deals with the issue or problem in +isolation. When one problem is separated from all other problems, +a solution really is impossible. The more campaigning on an issue +there is, the narrower its perspectives become. . .As the perspective +of each issue narrows, the contradictions turn into absurdities. . . +What single issue politics does is attend to 'symptoms' but does +not attack the 'disease' itself. It presents such issues as nuclear +war, racial and sexual discrimination, poverty, starvation, pornography, +etc., as if they were aberrations or faults in the system. In reality +such problems are the inevitable consequence of a social order based +on exploitation and hierarchical power. . .single issue campaigns +lay their appeal for relief at the feet of the very system which +oppresses them. By petitioning they acknowledge the right of those +in power to exercise that power as they choose" [_Bigger Cages, Longer +Chains_, pp. 17-20]. + +Single issue politics often prolong the struggle for a free society +by fostering illusions that it is just parts of the capitalist system +which are wrong, not the whole of it, and that those at the top of +the system can, and will, act in our interests. While such campaigns +can do some good, practical, work and increase knowledge and education +about social problems, they are limited by their very nature and can +not lead to extensive improvements in the here and now, nevermind a +free society. + +Therefore, anarchists often support and work within single-issue +campaigns, trying to get them to use effective methods of activity +(such as direct action), work in an anarchistic manner (i.e. from +the bottom up) and to try to "politicise" them into questioning +the whole of the system. However, anarchists do not let themselves +be limited to such activity as a social revolution or movement is +not a group of single-issue campaigns but a mass movement which +understands the inter-related nature of social problems and so the +need to change every aspect of life. + +J.1.5 Why do anarchists try to generalise social struggles? + +Basically, we do it in order to encourage and promote solidarity. This +is *the* key to winning struggles in the here and now as well as creating +the class consciousness necessary to create an anarchist society. At its +most simple, generalising different struggles means increasing the chances +of winning them. Take, for example, a strike in which one trade or one +workplace goes on strike while the others continue to work: + +"Consider yourself how foolish and inefficient is the present form of labour +organisation in which one trade or craft may be on strike while the other +branches of the same industry continue to work. Is it not ridiculous that +when the street car workers of New York, for instance, quit work, the +employees of the subway, the cab and omnibus drivers remain on the job? . . . +It is clear, then, that you compel compliance [from your bosses] only when +you are determined, when your union is strong, when you are well organised, +when you are united in such a manner that the boss cannot run his factory +against your will. But the employer is usually some big . . . company that +has mills or mines in various places. . . If it cannot operate . . . in +Pennsylvania because of a strike, it will try to make good its losses by +continuing . . . and increasing production [elsewhere]. . . In that way +the company . . breaks the strike." [Alexander Berkman, _The ABC of +Anarchism_, pp. 53-54] + +By organising all workers in one union (after all they all have the same +boss) it increases the power of each trade considerably. It may be easy +for a boss to replace a few workers, but a whole workplace would be far +more difficult. By organising all workers in the same industry, the +power of each workplace is correspondingly increased. Extending this +example to outside the workplace, its clear that by mutual support between +different groups increases the chances of each group winning its fight. + +As the I.W.W. put it, "An injury to one is an injury to all." By generalising +struggles, by practicing mutual support and aid we can ensure that when +we are fighting for our rights and against injustice we will not be +isolated and alone. If we don't support each other, groups will be picked +off one by one and if we are go into conflict with the system there will +be on-one there to support us and we may lose. + +Therefore, from an anarchist point of view, the best thing about generalising +different struggles together is that it leads to an increased spirit of +solidarity and responsibility as well as increased class consciousness. +This is because by working together and showing solidarity those involved +get to understand their common interests and that the struggle is not +against *this* injustice or *that* boss but against *all* injustice and +*all* bosses. + +This sense of increased social awareness and solidarity can be seen from the +experience of the C.N.T in Spain during the 1930s. The C.N.T. organised all +workers in a given area into one big union. Each workplace was a union branch +and were joined together in a local area confederation. The result was that: + +"The territorial basis of organisation linkage [of the C.N.T. unions] brought +all the workers form one area together and fomented working class solidarity +over and before corporative [i.e. industrial] solidarity." [J. Romero Maura, +"The Spanish Case", in _Anarchism Today_, D. Apter and J. Joll (eds)., p. 75] + +This can also be seen from the experiences of the syndicalist unions in Italy +and France as well. The structure of such local federations also situates +the workplace in the community where it really belongs (particularly if +the commune concept supported by social anarchists is to be realistic). + +Also, by uniting struggles together, we can see that there are really no +"single issues" - that all various different problems are interlinked. For +example, ecological problems are not just that, but have a political and +economic basis and that economic exploitation spills into the environment. +Inter-linking struggles means that they can be seen to be related to other +struggles against capitalist exploitation and oppression. What goes on in +the environment, for instance, is directly related to questions of domination +and inequality within human society, that pollution is often directly +related to companies cutting corners to survive in the market or increase +profits. Similarly, struggles against sexism or racism can be seen as +part of a wider struggle against hierarchy, exploitation and oppression in +all their forms. As such, uniting struggles has an important educational +effect above and beyond the benefits in terms of winning struggles. + +J.2 What is direct action? + +Direct action, to use Rudolf Rocker's words, is "every method of +immediate warfare by the workers [or other sections of society] against +their economic and political oppressors. Among these the outstanding are: +the strike, in all its graduations from the simple wage struggle to the +general strike; the boycott; sabotage in all its countless forms; +[occupations and sit-down strikes;] anti-militarist propaganda, and +in particularly critical cases,... armed resistance of the people for +the protection of life and liberty" [_Anarcho-Syndicalism_, p. 66]. + +Not that anarchists think that direct action is only applicable within +the workplace. Far from it. Direct action must occur everywhere! So, in +non-workplace situations, direct action includes rent strikes, consumer +boycotts, occupations (which, of course, can include sit-in strikes by +workers), eco-tage, individual and collective non-payment of taxes, +blocking roads and holding up construction work of an anti-social nature +and so forth. Also direct action, in a workplace setting, includes strikes +and protests on social issues, not directly related to working conditions +and pay. Such activity aims to ensure the "protection of the community +against the most pernicious outgrowths of the present system. The social +strike seeks to force upon the employers a responsibility to the public. +Primarily it has in view the protection of the customers, of whom the +workers themselves [and their families] constitute the great majority" +[Op. Cit., p. 72] + +Basically, direct action means that instead of getting someone else to act +for you (e.g. a politician) you act for yourself. Its essential feature is +an organised protest by ordinary people to make a change by their own efforts. +Thus Voltairine De Cleyre's excellent statement on this topic: + +"Every person who ever thought he had a right to assert, and went boldly and +asserted it, himself, or jointly with others that shared his convictions, +was a direct actionist. Some thirty years ago I recall that the Salvation +Army was vigorously practicing direct action in the maintenance of the +freedom of its members to speak, assemble, and pray. Over and over they were +arrested, fined, and imprisoned; but they kept right on singing, praying, +and marching, till they finally compelled their persecutors to let them +alone. The Industrial Workers [of the World] are now conducting the same +fight, and have, in a number of cases, compelled the officials to let them +alone by the same direct tactics. + +"Every person who ever had a plan to do anything, and went and did it, or who +laid his plan before others, and won their co-operation to do it with him, +without going to external authorities to please do the thing for them, was a +direct actionist. All co-operative experiments are essentially direct +action. + +"Every person who ever in his life had a difference with anyone to settle, +and went straight to the other persons involved to settle it, either by a +peaceable plan or otherwise, was a direct actionist. Examples of such action +are strikes and boycotts; many persons will recall the action of the +housewives of New York who boycotted the butchers, and lowered the price of +meat; at the present moment a butter boycott seems looming up, as a direct +reply to the price-makers for butter. + +"These actions are generally not due to any one's reasoning overmuch on the +respective merits of directness or indirectness, but are the spontaneous +retorts of those who feel oppressed by a situation. In other words, all +people are, most of the time, believers in the principle of direct action, +and practicers of it. . ." [_Direct Action_] + +So direct action means acting for yourself against injustice and oppression. +It can, sometimes, involve putting pressure on politicians or companies, for +example, to ensure a change in an oppressive law or destructive practices. +However, such appeals are direct action simply because they do not assume +that the parties in question we will act for us - indeed the assumption is +that change only occurs when we act to create it. Regardless of what the +action is, "if such actions are to have the desired empowerment effect, +they must be largely self-generated, rather than being devised and +directed from above." [Martha Ackelsberg, _Free Women of Spain_, p. 33] + +So, in a nutshell, direct action is any form of activity which people +themselves decide upon and organise themselves which is based on their +own collective strength and does not involve getting intermediates to act +for them. As such direct action is a natural expression of liberty, of +self-government for "[d]irect action against the authority in the shop, +direct action against the authority of the law, direct action against +the invasive, meddlesome authority of our moral code, is the logical, +consistent method of Anarchism." [Emma Goldman, _Red Emma Speaks_, +pp. 62-63] It is clear that by acting for yourself you are expressing +the ability to govern yourself. Thus its a means by which people can +take control of their own lives. It is a means of self-empowerment and +self-liberation: + +"Direct action meant that the goal of any and all these activities was +to provide ways for people to get in touch with their own powers and +capacities, to take back the power of naming themselves and their lives." +[Martha Ackelsberg, Op. Cit., p. 32] + +In other words, anarchists reject the view that society is static and that +people's consciousness, values, ideas and ideals cannot be changed. Far from +it and anarchists support direct action *because* it actively encourages +the transformation of those who use it. Direct action is the means of +creating a new consciousness, a means of self-liberation from the chains +placed around our minds, emotions and spirits by hierarchy and oppression. + +Because direct action is the expression of liberty, the powers that be are +vitally concerned only when the oppressed use direct action to win its +demands, for it is a method which is not easy or cheap to combat. Any +hierarchical system is placed into danger when those at the bottom start +to act for themselves and, historically, people have invariably gained more +by acting directly than could have been won by playing ring around the +rosy with indirect means. + +Direct action tore the chains of open slavery from humanity. Over the +centuries it has established individual rights and modified the life and +death power of the master class. Direct action won political liberties +such as the vote and free speech. Used fully, used wisely and well, +direct action can forever end injustice and the mastery of humans +by other humans. + +In the sections that follow, we will indicate why anarchists are in +favour of direct action and why they are against electioneering as +a means of change. + +J.2.1 Why do anarchists favour using direct action to change things? + +Simply because it is effective and it has a radicalising impact on those +who practice it. As it is based on people acting for themselves, it +shatters the dependency and marginalisation created by hierarchy. As +Murray Bookchin argues, "[w]hat is even more important about direct action +is that it forms a decisive step toward recovering the personal power +over social life that the centralised, over-bearing bureaucracies have +usurped from the people... we not only gain a sense that we can control +the course of social events again; we recover a new sense of selfhood +and personality without which a truly free society, based in self-activity +and self-management, is utterly impossible." [_Toward and Ecological +Society_, p. 47] + +By acting for themselves, people gain a sense of their own power and +abilities. This is essential if people are to run their own lives. As +such, direct action is *the* means by which individuals empower themselves, +to assert their individuality, to make themselves count as individuals. It +is the opposite of hierarchy, within which individuals are told again and +again that they are nothing, are insignificant and must dissolve themselves +into a higher power (the state, the company, the party, the people, etc.) and +feel proud in participating in the strength and glory of this higher power. +Direct action, in contrast, is the means of asserting ones individual +opinion, interests and happiness, of fighting against self-negation: + +"man has as much liberty as he is willing to take. Anarchism therefore +stands for direct action, the open defiance of, and resistance to, all +laws and restrictions, economic, social and moral. But defiance and +resistance are illegal. Therein lies the salvation of man. Everything +illegal necessitates integrity, self-reliance, and courage. In short, it +calls for free independent spirits, for men who are men, and who have +a bone in their back which you cannot pass your hand through." [Emma +Goldman, _Red Emma Speaks_, pp. 61-62] + +In addition, because direct action is based around individuals solving their +own problems, by their own action, it awakens those aspects of individuals +crushed by hierarchy and oppression - such as initiative, solidarity, +imagination, self-confidence and a sense of individual and collective +power, that you do matter and count as an individual and that you, and others +like you, *can* change the world. Direct Action is the means by which people +can liberate themselves and educate themselves in the ways of and skills +required for self-management and liberty. Hence: + +"anarchists insisted that we learn to think and act for ourselves by joining +together in organisations in which our experience, our perception and our +activity can guide and make the change. Knowledge does not precede +experience, it flows from it. . . People learn to be free only by +exercising freedom. [As one Spanish Anarchist put it] 'We are not going +to find ourselves. . . with people ready-made for the future. . . Without +continued exercise of their faculties, there will be no free people. . . +The external revolution and the internal revolution presuppose one +another, and they must be simultaneous in order to be successful.'" +[Martha Ackelsberg, _Free Women of Spain_, pp. 32-33] + +So direct action, to use Murray Bookchin's words, is "the means whereby each +individual awakens to the hidden powers within herself and himself, to a new +sense of self-confidence and self-competence; it is the means whereby +individuals take control of society directly." [Op. Cit., p. 48] + +In addition, direct action creates the need for new forms of social +organisation. These new forms of organisation will be informed and shaped +by the process of self-liberation, so be more anarchistic and based upon +self-management. Direct action, as well as liberating individuals, can also +create the free, self-managed organisations which can replace the current +hierarchical ones. In other words, direct action helps create the new world +in the shell of the old: + +"direct action not only empowered those who participated in it, it also +had effects on others. . . [including] exemplary action that attracted +adherents by the power of the positive example it set. Contemporary +examples. . . include food or day-care co-ops, collectively run businesses, +sweat equity housing programmes, women's self-help health collectives, urban +squats or women's peace camps [as well as traditional examples as industrial +unions, social centres, etc.]. While such activities empower those who +engage in them, they also demonstrate to others that non-hierarchical +forms of organisation can and do exist - and that they can function +effectively." [Martha Ackelsberg, Op. Cit., p. 33] + +Also, direct action such as strikes encourage and promote class consciousness +and class solidarity. According to Kropotkin, "the strike develops the +sentiment of solidarity" while for Bakunin it "is the beginnings of the +social war of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie. . . Strikes are a +valuable instrument from two points of view. Firstly, they electrify the +masses, invigorate their moral energy and awaken in them the feeling of +the deep antagonism which exists between their interests and those of +the bourgeoisie. . . secondly they help immensely to provoke and establish +between the workers of all trades, localities and countries the consciousness +and very fact of solidarity: a twofold action, both negative and positive, +which tends to constitute directly the new world of the proletariat, +opposing it almost in an absolute way to the bourgeois world." [cited +in Caroline Cahm, _Kropotkin and the Rise of Revolutionary Anarchism +1872-1886_, p. 256, pp. 216-217] + +Direct action and the movements that used it (such as unionism) would be +the means to develop the "revolutionary intelligence of the workers" and +so ensure "emancipation through practice" (to use Bakunin's words). + +Direct action, therefore, helps to create anarchists and anarchist +alternatives within capitalism and statism. As such, it plays an +essential role in anarchist theory and activity. For anarchists, +direct action "is not a 'tactic'. . . it is a moral principle, an ideal, +a sensibility. It should imbue every aspect of our lives and behaviour +and outlook." [Murray Bookchin, Op. Cit., p. 48] + +J.2.2 Why do anarchists reject voting as a means for change? + +Simply because electioneering does not work. History is littered with +examples of radicals being voted into office only to become as, or even +more, conservative than the politicians they replaced. + +As we have discussed previously (see B.2 and related sections) any +government is under pressure from two sources of power, the state bureaucracy +and big business. This ensures that any attempts at social change would be +undermined and made hollow by vested interests, assuming they even reached +that level of discussion to begin with (the de-radicalising effects of +electioneering is discussed below in section J.2.6). Here we will highlight +the power of vested interests within democratic government. + +In section B.2 we only discussed the general nature of the state and +what its role within society is (i.e. "the preservation of the economic +'status quo,' the protection of the economic privileges of the ruling +class," in the words of Luigi Galleani). However, as the effectiveness of +the vote to secure change is now the topic we will have to discuss how and +why the state and capital restricts and controls political action. + +Taking capital to begin with, if we assume that a relatively +reformist government was elected it would soon find itself facing +various economic pressures. Either capital would disinvest, so forcing +the government to back down in the face of economic collapse, or the +government in question would control capital leaving the country and so +would soon be isolated from new investment and its currency would become +worthless. Either way, the economy would be severely damaged and the +promised "reforms" would be dead letters. In addition, this economic +failure would soon result in popular revolt which in turn would lead +to a more authoritarian state as "democracy" was protected from the +people. + +Far fetched? No, not really. In January, 1974, the FT Index for the +London Stock Exchange stood at 500 points. In February, the miner's went +on strike, forcing Heath to hold (and lose) a general election. The new +Labour government (which included many left-wingers in its cabinet) talked +about nationalising the banks and much heavy industry. In August, 74, Tony +Benn announced Plans to nationalise the ship building industry. By December +of that year, the FT index had fallen to 150 points. By 1976 the British +Treasury was spending $100 million a day buying back of its own money to +support the pound [_The London Times_, 10/6/76]. The economic pressure +of capitalism was at work: + +"The further decline in the value of the pound has occurred despite the high +level of interest rates. . . dealers said that selling pressure against the +pound was not heavy or persistent, but there was an almost total lack of +interest amongst buyers. The drop in the pound is extremely surprising in +view of the unanimous opinion of bankers, politicians and officials that the +currency is undervalued" [_The London Times_, 27/5/76] + +The Labour government faced with the power of international capital ended up +having to receive a temporary "bailing out" by the I.M.F. who imposed a +package of cuts and controls which translated to Labour saying "We'll do +anything you say", in the words of one economist [Peter Donaldson, _A +Question of Economics_, p. 89]. The social costs of these policies was +massive, with the Labour government being forced to crack down on strikes +and the weakest sectors of society (but that's not to forget that they "cut +expenditure by twice the amount the I.M.F. were promised." [Ibid.]). In +the backlash to this, Labour lost the next election to a right-wing, +pro-free market government which continued where Labour had left off. + +Or, to use a more recent example, "The fund managers [who control the flow +of money between financial centres and countries] command such vast +resources that their clashes with governments in the global marketplace +usually ends up in humiliating defeat for politicians. . . In 1992, US +financier George Soros single-handedly destroyed the British government's +attempts to keep the pound in the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). +Soros effectively bet, and won, that he could force the British government +to devalue. Using his huge resources, he engineered a run on the pound, +overwhelming the Bank of England's attempts to use its reserves to keep +sterling within its ERM band. The British government capitulated by +suspending sterling's membership of the ERM (an effective devaluation) and +Soros came away from his victory some $1bn richer. Fund managers then +picked off other currencies one by one, derailing the drive for European +monetary union, which would, incidentally, have cut their profits by making +them unable to buy and sell between the different European currencies." +[Duncan Green, _The Silent Revolution_, p. 124] + +The fact is that capital will not invest in a country which does not meet +its approval and this is an effective weapon to control democratically +elected governments. And with the increase in globalisation of capital over +the last 30 years this weapon is even more powerful (a weapon we may add +which was improved, via company and state funded investment and research in +communication technology, precisely to facilitate the attack on working class +reforms and power in the developed world, in other words capital ran away +to teach us a lesson - see sections C.8.1, C.8.2, C.8.3 and D.5.3). + +As far as political pressures go, we must remember that there is a difference +between the state and government. The state is the permanent collection of +institutions that have entrenched power structures and interests. The +government is made up of various politicians. It's the institutions that +have power in the state due to their permanence, not the representatives +who come and go. In other words, the state bureaucracy has vested interests +and elected politicians cannot effectively control them. This network +of behind the scenes agencies can be usefully grouped into two parts: + +"By 'the secret state' we mean. . . the security services, MI5 [the FBI in +the USA], Special Branch. . . MI6 [the CIA]. By 'the permanent government' +. . . we mean the secret state plus the Cabinet Office and upper echelons +of Home and Foreign and Commonwealth Offices, the Armed Forces and Ministry +of Defence, the nuclear power industry and its satellite ministries; and +the so-called 'Permanent Secretaries Club,' the network of very senior +civil servants - the 'Mandarins.' In addition. . . its satellites" +including M.P.s (particularly right-wing ones), 'agents of influence' in +the media, former security services personnel, think tanks and opinion +forming bodies, front companies of the security services, and so on. +[Stephen Dorril and Robin Ramsay, _Smear! Wilson and the Secret State_, +p. X, XI] + +These bodies, while theoretically under the control of the elected government, +can effectively (via disinformation, black operations, bureaucratic slowdowns, +media attacks, etc.) ensure that any government trying to introduce policies +which the powers that be disagree with will be stopped. In other words +the state is *not* a neutral body, somehow rising about vested interests +and politics. It is, and always will be, a institution which aims to protect +specific sections of society as well as its own. + +An example of this "secret state" at work can be found in _Smear!_, where +Dorril and Ramsay document the campaign against the Labour Prime Minister of +Britain, Harold Wilson, which resulted in his resignation. They also indicate +the pressures which Labour M.P. Tony Benn was subjected to by "his" Whitehall +advisers: + +"In early 1985, the campaign against Benn by the media was joined by the +secret state. The timing is interesting. In January, his Permanent Secretary +had 'declared war' and the following month began the most extraordinary +campaign of harassment any major British politician has experienced. While +this is not provable by any means, it does look as though there is a clear +causal connection between withdrawal of Prime Ministerial support, the +open hostility from the Whitehall mandarins and the onset of covert +operations." [Stephen Dorril and Robin Ramsay, Op. Cit., p. 279] + +Not to mention the role of the secret state in undermining reformist and +radical organisations and movements. Thus involvement goes from pure +information gathering on "subversives", to disruption and repression. +Taking the example of the US secret state, Howard Zinn notes that in 1975 +"congressional committees. . . began investigations of the FBI and CIA. + +"The CIA inquiry disclosed that the CIA had gone beyond its original mission +of gathering intelligence and was conducting secret operations of all kinds +. . . [for example] the CIA - with the collusion of a secret Committee of +Forty headed by Henry Kissinger - had worked to 'destabilize' the +[democratically elected, left-wing] Chilean government. . . + +"The investigation of the FBI disclosed many years of illegal actions to +disrupt and destroy radical groups and left-wing groups of all kinds. The +FBI had sent forged letters, engaged in burglaries. . . opened mail +illegally, and in the case of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, seems to +have conspired in murder. . . + +"The investigations themselves revealed the limits of government willingness +to probe into such activities. . . [and they] submitted its findings +on the CIA to the CIA to see if there was material the Agency wanted +omitted." [_A People's History of the United States_, pp. 542-3] + +Also, the CIA secretly employs several hundred American academics to write +books and other materials to be used for propaganda purposes, an important +weapon in the battle for hearts and minds. In other words, the CIA, FBI +[and their equivalents in other countries] and other state bodies can hardly +be considered neutral bodies, who just follow orders. They are a network of +vested interests, with specific ideological viewpoints and aims which usually +place the wishes of the voting population below maintaining the state-capital +power structure in place. + +This can be seen most dramatically in the military coup in Chile against +the democratically re-elected (left-wing) Allende government by the military, +aided by the CIA, US based corporations and the US government cutting economic +aid to the country (specifically to make it harder for the Allende regime). +The coup resulted in tens of thousands murdered and years of terror and +dictatorship, but the danger of a pro-labour government was stopped and the +business environment was made healthy for profits. An extreme example, we +know, but important ones for any believer in freedom or the idea that the +state machine is somehow neutral and can be captured and used by left-wing +parties. + +Therefore we cannot expect a different group of politicians to react in +different ways to the same economic and institutional influences and +interests. Its no coincidence that left-wing, reformist parties have +introduced right-wing, pro-capitalist ("Thatcherite/Reaganite") policies +at the same time as right-wing, explicitly pro-capitalist parties introduced +them in the UK and the USA. As Clive Ponting (an ex-British Civil Servant) +points out, this is to be expected: + +"the function of the political system in any country in the world is to +regulate, but not alter radically, the existing economic structure and +its linked power relationships. The great illusion of politics is that +politicians have the power to make whatever changes they like. . . On a +larger canvas what real control do the politicians in any country have +over the operation of the international monetary system, the pattern of +world trade with its built in subordination of the third world or +the operation of multi-national companies? These institutions and the +dominating mechanism that underlies them - the profit motive as a sole +measure of success - are essentially out of control and operating on +autopilot." [quoted in _Alternatives_, # 5, p. 10] + +Of course there have been examples of quite extensive reforms which +did benefit working class people in major countries. The New Deal in +the USA and the 1945-51 Labour Governments spring to mind. Surely these +indicate that our claims above are false? Simply put, no, they do not. +Reforms can be won from the state when the dangers of not giving in +outweigh the problems associated with the reforms. Reforms can therefore +be used to save the capitalist system and the state and even improve their +operation (with, of course, the possibility of getting rid of the reforms +when they are no longer required). + +For example, both the reformist governments of 1930s USA and 1940s UK +were under pressure from below, by waves of militant working class +struggle which could have developed beyond mere reformism. The waves +of sit-down strikes in the 1930s ensured the passing of pro-union laws +which while allowing workers to organise without fear of being fired. +This measure also involved the unions in running the capitalist-state +machine (and so making them responsible for controlling "unofficial" +workplace action and so ensuring profits). The nationalisation of roughly +20% of the UK economy during the Labour administration of 1945 (the most +unprofitable sections of it as well) was also the direct result of +ruling class fear. As Quintin Hogg, a Tory M.P. at the time, said, +"If you don't give the people social reforms they are going to give you +social revolution". Memories of the near revolutions across Europe after +the first war were obviously in many minds, on both sides. Not that +nationalisation was particularly feared as "socialism." Indeed it was +argued that it was the best means of improving the performance of the +British economy. As anarchists at the time noted "the real opinions of +capitalists can be seen from Stock Exchange conditions and statements of +industrialists than the Tory Front bench . . . [and from these we] see that +the owning class is not at all displeased with the record and tendency of +the Labour Party" [_Neither Nationalisation nor Privatisation - Selections +from Freedom 1945-1950_, Vernon Richards (Ed), p. 9] + +So, if extensive reforms have occurred, just remember what they were in +response to militant pressure from below and that we could have got so +much more. + +Therefore, in general, things have little changed over the one hundred years +since this anarchist argument against electioneering was put forward: + +"in the electoral process, the working class will always be cheated and +deceived. . . if they did manage to send, one, or ten, or fifty of +them[selves to Parliament], they would become spoiled and powerless. +Furthermore, even if the majority of Parliament were composed of workers, +they could do nothing. Not only is there the senate . . . the chiefs of +the armed forces, the heads of the judiciary and of the police, who would +be against the parliamentary bills advanced by such a chamber and would +refuse to enforce laws favouring the workers (it has happened [for example +the 8 hour working day was legally created in many US states by the 1870s, +but workers had to strike for it in 1886 as it as not enforced]; but +furthermore laws are not miraculous; no law can prevent the capitalists +from exploiting the workers; no law can force them to keep their factories +open and employ workers at such and such conditions, nor force shopkeepers +to sell as a certain price, and so on." [S. Merlino, quoted by L. Galleani, +_The End of Anarchism?_, p. 13] + +Moreover, anarchists reject voting for other reasons. The fact is +that electoral procedures are the opposite of direct action - they +are *based* on getting someone else to act on your behalf. Therefore, +far from empowering people and giving them a sense of confidence and +ability, electioneering *dis*-empowers them by creating a "leader" figure +from which changes are expected to flow. As Martin observes "all the +historical evidence suggests that parties are more a drag than an +impetus to radical change. One obvious problem is that parties +can be voted out. All the policy changes they brought in can simply be +reversed later. More important, though, is the pacifying influence of the +radical party itself. On a number of occasions, radical parties have been +elected to power as a result of popular upsurges. Time after time, the +'radical' parties have become chains to hold back the process of radical +change" ["Democracy without Elections," _Social Anarchism_, no. 21, 1995] + +This can easily be seen from the history of the various left-wing parties. +Ralph Miliband points out that labour or socialist parties, elected in +periods of social turbulence, have often acted to reassure the ruling +elite by dampening popular action that could have threatened capitalist +interests [_The State in Capitalist Society_, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, +1969]. For example, the first project undertaken by the Popular Front, +elected in France in 1936, was to put an end to strikes and occupations +and generally to cool popular militancy, which was the Front's strongest +ally in coming to power. The Labour government elected in Britain in 1945 +got by with as few reforms as it could, refusing to consider changing +basic social structures. In addition, within the first week of taking office +it sent troops in to break the dockers strike. Labour has used troops to +break strikes far more often than the Conservatives have. + +These points indicate why existing power structures cannot effectively be +challenged through elections. For one thing, elected representatives are +not *mandated,* which is to say they are not tied in any binding way to +particular policies, no matter what promises they have made or what voters +may prefer. Around election time, the public's influence on politicians is +strongest, but after the election, representatives can do practically +whatever they want, because there is no procedure for *instant recall.* +In practice it is impossible to recall politicians before the next +election, and between elections they are continually exposed to pressure +from powerful special-interest groups -- especially business lobbyists, +state bureaucracies and political party power brokers. + +Under such pressure, the tendency of politicians to break campaign +promises has become legendary. Generally, such promise breaking is blamed +on bad character, leading to periodic "throw-the-bastards-out" fervour -- +after which a new set of representatives is elected, who also mysteriously +turn out to be bastards! In reality it is the system itself that +produces "bastards," the sell-outs and shady dealing we have come to +expect from politicians. As Alex Comfort argues, political office +attracts power-hungry, authoritarian, and ruthless personalities, or at +least tends to bring out such qualities in those who are elected +[_Authority and Delinquency in the Modern State: A Criminological Approach +to the Problem of Power_ , Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1950]. + +In light of modern "democracy", it is amazing that anyone takes the system +seriously enough to vote at all. And in fact, voter turnout in the US and +other nations where "democracy" is practiced in this fashion is typically +low. Nevertheless, some voters continue to participate, pinning their +hopes on new parties or trying to reform a major party. For anarchists, +this activity is pointless as it does not get at the root of the problem. +It is not politicians or parties which are the problem, its a system +which shapes them into its own image and marginalises and alienates +people due to its hierarchical and centralised nature. No amount of party +politics can change that. + +However, we should make it clear that most anarchists recognise there is a +difference between voting for a government and voting in referendum. Here +we are discussing the former, electioneering, as a means of social +change. Referenda are closer to anarchist ideas of direct democracy +and are, while flawed, far better than electing a politician to office +once every four years or so. + +In addition, Anarchists are not necessarily against all involvement in +electoral politics. Bakunin thought it could sometimes be useful to +participate in local elections in relatively small communities where +regular contact with representatives can maintain accountability. This +argument has been taken up by such Social Ecologists such as Murray +Bookchin who argues that anarchists, by taking part in local elections, +can use this technique to create self-governing community assemblies. +However, few anarchists support such means to create community assemblies +(see section J.5.9 for a discussion on this). + +However, in large cities and in regional or national elections, certain +processes have developed which render the term "democracy" inappropriate. +These processes include mass advertising, bribery of voters through government +projects in local areas, party "machines," the limitation of news coverage to +two (or at most three) major parties, and government manipulation of the news. +Party machines choose candidates, dictate platforms, and contact voters by +phone campaigns. Mass advertising "packages" candidates like commodities, +selling them to voters by emphasising personality rather than policies, +while media news coverage emphasise the "horse race" aspects of campaigns +rather than policy issues. Government spending in certain areas (or more +cynically, the announcement of new projects in such areas just before +elections) has become a standard technique for buying votes. And we have +already examined the mechanisms through which the media is made dependent +of government sources of information (see D.3), a development that +obviously helps incumbents. + +Therefore, for these related reasons anarchists reject the voting as a +means of change. Instead we wholeheartedly support direct action as +the means of getting improvements in the here and now as well as the +means of creating an alternative to the current system. + +J.2.3 What are the political implications of voting? + +At its most basic, voting implies agreement with the status quo. It +is worth quoting the Scottish libertarian socialist James Kelman at +length on this: + +"State propaganda insists that the reason why at least 40 percent of +the voting public don't vote at all is because they have no feelings one +way or the other. They say the same thing in the USA, where some 85 +percent of the population are apparently 'apolitical' since they don't +bother registering a vote. Rejection of the political system is +inadmissible as far as the state is concerned. . . Of course the one +thing that does happen when you vote is that someone else has endorsed an +unfair political system. . . A vote for any party or any individual is +always a vote for the political system. You can interpret your vote in +whichever way you like but it remains an endorsement of the apparatus. . . +If there was any possibility that the apparatus could effect a change +in the system then they would dismantle it immediately. In other words +the political system is an integral state institution, designed and +refined to perpetuate its own existence. Ruling authority fixes the +agenda by which the public are allowed 'to enter the political arena' +and that's the fix they've settled on" [_Some Recent Attacks_, p.87] + +We are taught from an early age that voting in elections is right and a +duty. In US schools, children elect class presidents and other officers. +Often mini-general elections are held to "educate" children in "democracy". +Periodically, election coverage monopolises the media. We are made to +feel guilty about shirking our "civic responsibility" if we don't vote. +Countries that have no elections, or only rigged elections, are regarded +as failures [Benjamin Ginsberg, _The Consequences of Consent: Elections, +Citizen Control and Popular Acquiescence_, Addison-Wesley, 1982]. As a +result, elections have become a quasi-religious ritual. + +As Brian Martin points out, however, "elections in practice have served +well to maintain dominant power structures such as private property, the +military, male domination, and economic inequality. None of these has been +seriously threatened through voting. It is from the point of view of +radical critics that elections are most limiting" ["Democracy without +Elections," _Social Anarchism_, no. 21, 1995]. + +Benjamin Ginsberg has noted other ways in which elections serve the +interests of state power. Firstly, voting helps to legitimate government; +hence suffrage has often been expanded at times when there was little +popular demand for it but when mass support of government was crucial, as +during a war or revolution. Secondly, since voting is organised and +supervised by government, it comes to be seen as the only legitimate form +of political participation, thus making it likely that any revolts by +oppressed or marginalised groups will be viewed by the general public as +illegitimate. [_The Consequences of Consent_] + +In addition, Ginsberg argues that, historically, by enlarging the number +of people who participate in 'politics,' and by turning this participation +into the "safe" activities of campaigning and voting, elections have +reduced the risk of more radical direct action. That is, voting +disempowers the grassroots by diverting energy from grassroots action. +After all, the goal of electoral politics is to elect a representative who +will act *for* us. Therefore, instead taking direct action to solve +problems ourselves, action becomes indirect, though the government. This +is an insidiously easy trap to fall into, as we have been conditioned in +hierarchical society from day one into attitudes of passivity and +obedience, which gives most of us a deep-seated tendency to leave +important matters to the "experts" and "authorities." + +Anarchists also criticize elections for giving citizens the false +impression that the government serves, or can serve, the people. As +Martin puts it, "the founding of the modern state a few centuries ago was +met with great resistance: people would refuse to pay taxes, to be +conscripted or to obey laws passed by national governments. The +introduction of voting and the expanded suffrage have greatly aided the +expansion of state power. Rather than seeing the system as one of ruler +and ruled, people see at least the possibility of using state power to +serve themselves. As electoral participation has increased, the degree of +resistance to taxation, military service, and the immense variety of laws +regulating behaviour, has been greatly attenuated" [Op. Cit.] + +Ironically, however, voting has legitimated the growth of state power to +such an extent that the state is now beyond any real popular control by +the form of participation that made that growth possible. Nevertheless, +as Ginsberg observes, the idea that electoral participation means popular +control of government is so deeply implanted in people's psyches "that +even the most overtly skeptical cannot fully free themselves from it" +[_The Consequences of Consent_, op. cit., p. 241]. + +Therefore, voting has the important political implication of encouraging +people to identify with state power and to justify the status quo. In +addition, it feeds the illusion that the state is neutral and that +electing parties to office means that people have control over their +own lives. Moreover, elections have a tendency to make people passive, +to look for salvation from above and not from their own self-activity. +As such it produces a division between leaders and led, with the voters +turned into spectators of activity, not the participants within it. + +All this does not mean, obviously, that anarchists prefer dictatorship +or an "enlightened" monarchy. Far from it, democratising state power +can be an important step towards abolishing it. All anarchists agree +with Bakunin when he argued that "the most imperfect republic is a +thousand times better that even the most enlightened monarchy." [cited +by Guerin, _Anarchism_, p. 20] . But neither does it mean that anarchists +will join in with the farce of electioneering, particularly when there +are more effective means available for changing things for the better. + +J.2.4 Surely voting for radical parties will be effective? + +There is no doubt that voting can lead to changes in policies, which can +be a good thing as far as it goes. But such policies are formulated and +implemented within the authoritarian framework of the hierarchical +capitalist state -- a framework which itself is never open to challenge by +voting. To the contrary, voting legitimates the state framework, ensuring +that social change will be mild, gradual, and reformist rather than rapid +and radical. Indeed, the "democratic" process has always resulted in (and +will always result in) all successful political parties becoming committed +to "more of the same" or tinkering with the details at best (which is +usually the limits of any policy changes). + +However, given the need for radical systemic changes as soon as possible +due to the exponentially accelerating crises of modern civilisation, working +for gradual reforms within the electoral system must be seen as a potentially +deadly tactical error. In addition, it can never get to the root causes of +our problems. Anarchists reject the idea that our problems can be solved by +the very institutions that cause them in the first place! What happens in +our communities, workplaces and environment is too important to be left +to politicians - or the ruling elite who control governments. + +Because of this anarchists reject political parties and electioneering. +Electioneering has always been the death of radicalism. Political parties +are only radical when they don't stand a chance of election. However, many +social activists continue to try to use elections, so participating in the +system which disempowers the majority and so helps create the social problems +they are protesting against. + +"It should be a truism that elections empower the politicians and not the +voters," Brian Martin writes, "yet many social movements continually are +drawn into electoral politics." ["Democracy without Elections," _Social +Anarchism_, no. 21, 1995] There are a number of reasons for this. "One is +the involvement of party members in social movements. Another is the +aspirations for power and influence by leaders in movements. Having the +ear of a government minister is a heady sensation for many; getting elected +to parliament oneself is even more of an ego boost. What is forgotten in +all this 'politics of influence' is the effect on ordinary activists." + +Rudoph Bahro gives an example of how working "within the system" +disempowered grassroots Green activists in Germany during the early +eighties, pointing out that the coalitions into which the Greens entered +with Social Democrats in the German legislature often had the effect of +strengthening the status quo by co-opting those whose energies might +otherwise have gone into more radical and effective forms of activism +[_Building the Green Movement_, New Society Publishers, 1986]. + +No doubt the state is more complicated than the simple "executive +committee of the ruling class" pictured by Marxists. There are +continual struggles both within and without the state bureaucracies, +struggles that influence policies and empower different groups of people. +Because of this, many radical parties believe that it makes sense to work +within the state -- for example, to obtain labour, consumer, and +environmental protection laws. However, this reasoning ignores the fact +that the organisational structure of the state is not neutral. + +To quote Martin again, "The basic anarchist insight is that the structure +of the state, as a centralised administrative apparatus, is inherently +flawed from the point of view of human freedom and equality. Even though +the state can be used occasionally for valuable ends, as a means the state +is flawed and impossible to reform. The nonreformable aspects of the state +include, centrally, its monopoly over 'legitimate' violence and its +consequent power to coerce for the purpose of war, internal control, +taxation and the protection of property and bureaucratic privilege. + +"The problem with voting is that the basic premises of the state are never +considered open for debate, much less challenge. The state's monopoly over +the use of violence for war is never at issue. Neither is the state's use +of violence against revolt from within. The state's right to extract +economic resources from the population is never questioned. Neither is the +state's guarantee of either private property (under capitalism) or +bureaucratic prerogative (under state socialism) -- or both" [Op. cit.] + +But, it may be said, if a new political group is radical enough, it will +be able to use state power for good purposes. While we discuss this in +more detail later in section J.2.6, let us consider a specific case: +that of the Greens, many of whom believe that the best way to achieve +their aims is to work within the representative political system. + +By pledging to use the electoral system to achieve change, Green parties +necessarily commit themselves to formulating their proposals as +legislative agendas. But once legislation is passed, the coercive +mechanisms of the state will be needed to enforce it. Therefore, Green +parties are committed to upholding state power. However, our analysis +in section. B.2 indicated that the state is a set of hierarchical +institutions through which a ruling elite dominates society and +individuals. And, as we have seen in the introduction to section E, +ecologists, feminists, and peace activists -- who are key constituencies +of the Green movement -- all need to *dismantle* hierarchies and +domination in order to achieve their respective aims. Therefore, since +the state is not only the largest and most powerful hierarchy but also +serves to maintain the hierarchical form of all major institutions in +society (since this form is the most suitable for achieving ruling-class +interests), the state itself is the main obstacle to the success of key +constituencies of the Green movement. Hence it is impossible *in +principle* for a parliamentary Green party to achieve essential objectives +of the Green movement. A similar argument would apply to any radical +party whose main emphasis was social justice, which like the goals of +feminists, radical ecologists, and peace activists, depends on dismantling +hierarchies. + +And surely no one who even is remotely familiar with history will +suggest that 'radical' politicians, even if by some miracle they were to +obtain a majority in the national legislature, might dismantle the state. +It should be axiomatic by now that when a 'radical' politician (e.g. a +Lenin) says to voters, "Give me and my party state power and we will +'wither away'" it's just more campaign rhetoric (in Lenin's case, the +ultimate campaign promise), and hence not to be taken seriously. And, as +we argued in the previous section, radical parties are under pressure +from economic and state bureaucracies that ensure that even a sincere +radical party would be powerless to introduce significant reforms. + +The only real response to the problems of representative democracy is to +urge people not to vote. This can be a valuable way of making others aware +of the limitations of the current system, which is a necessary condition +for their seriously considering the anarchist alternative, as we have +outlined in this FAQ. The implications of abstentionism are discussed +in the next section. + +J.2.5 Why do anarchists support abstentionism and what are its + implications? + +At its most basic, anarchists support abstentionism because "participation +in elections means the transfer of one's will and decisions to another, +which is contrary to the fundamental principles of anarchism." [Emma +Goldman, "Anarchists and Elections", _Vanguard_ III, June-July 1936, +p. 19] + +If you reject hierarchy and government then participating in a system +by which you elect those who will govern you is almost like adding insult +to injury! And as Luigi Galleani points out, "[b]ut whoever has the political +competence to choose his own rulers is, by implication, also competent +to do without them." [_The End of Anarchism?_, p. 37] In other words, +because anarchists reject the idea of authority, we reject the idea that +by picking the authority (be it bosses or politicians) makes us free. +Therefore, anarchists reject governmental elections in the name of +self-government and free association. We refuse to vote as voting is +endorsing authoritarian social structures. We are (in effect) being asked +to make obligations to the state, not our fellow citizens, and so anarchists +reject the symbolic process by which our liberty is alienated from us. + +For anarchists, then, when you vote, you are choosing between rulers. +Instead of urging people to vote we raise the option of choosing to rule +yourself, to organise freely with others - in your workplace, in your +community, everywhere - as equals. The option of something you cannot +vote for, a new society. And instead of waiting for others to do make some +changes for you, anarchists urge that you do it yourself. This is the +core of the anarchist support for abstentionism. + +In addition, beyond this basic anarchist rejection of elections from a +anti-statist position, anarchists also support abstentionism as it allows +us to put across our ideas at election time. It is a fact that at election +times individuals are often more interested in politics than usual. So, +by arguing for abstentionism we can get our ideas across about the +nature of the current system, how elected politicians do not control +the state bureaucracy, now the state acts to protect capitalism and so +on. In addition, it allows us to present the ideas of direct action and +encourage those disillusioned with political parties and the current +system to become anarchists by presenting a viable alternative to the +farce of politics. + +And a sizable percentage of non-voters and voters are disillusioned +with the current set-up. According to the US paper _The Nation_ +(dated February 10, 1997): + +"Protest is alive and well in the growing non-electorate, now the majority +(last fall's turnout was 48.8 percent). According to a little-noticed +post-election survey of 400 nonvoters conducting by the Polling Company, a +Washington-based firm, 38 percent didn't vote for essentially political +reasons: they 'did not care for any of the candidates' (16 percent), they +were 'fed up with the political system' (15 percent) or they 'did not feel +like candidates were interested in people like me' (7 percent). That's at +least 36 million people--almost as many as voted for Bob Dole. The nonvoting +majority is also disproportionately liberal-leaning, compared with those +who did vote." + +So, anarchist abstentionism is a means of turning this negative reaction +to an unjust system into positive activity. So, anarchist opposition to +electioneering has deep political implications which Luigi Galleani addresses +when he writes that the "anarchists' electoral abstentionism implies not +only a conception that is opposed to the principle of representation +(which is totally rejected by anarchism), it implies above all an absolute +lack of confidence in the State. . . Furthermore, anarchist abstentionism +has consequences which are much less superficial than the inert apathy +ascribed to it by the sneering careerists of 'scientific socialism' +[i.e. Marxism]. It strips the State of the constitutional fraud with +which it presents itself to the gullible as the true representative +of the whole nation, and, in so doing, exposes its essential character +as representative, procurer and policeman of the ruling classes. + +"Distrust off reforms, of public power and of delegated authority, can +lead to direct action [in the class struggle]. . . It can determine the +revolutionary character of this . . . action; and, accordingly, anarchists +regard it as the best available means for preparing the masses to manage their +own personal and collective interests; and, besides, anarchists feel that even +now the working people are fully capable of handling their own political and +administrative interests." [_The End of Anarchism?_, pp. 13-14] + +Therefore abstentionism stresses the importance of self-activity and +self-libertarian as well as having an important educational effect in +highlighting that the state is not neutral, but serves to protect class +rule, and that meaningful change only comes from below, by direct action. +For the dominant ideas within any class society reflect the opinion of the +ruling elite of that society and so any campaign at election times which +argues for abstentionism and indicates why voting is a farce will obviously +challenge these dominant ideas. In other words, abstentionism combined with +direct action and the building of socialist alternatives is a very effective +means of changing people's ideas and encouraging a process of self-education +and, ultimately, self-liberation. + +Anarchists are aware that elections serve to legitimate government. We +have always warned that since the state is an integral part of the system +that perpetuates poverty, inequality, racism, imperialism, sexism, +environmental destruction, and war, we should not expect to solve +any of these problems by changing a few nominal state leaders every four +or five years. [See P. Kropotkin, "Representative Government," _The +Commonweal_, Vol. 7, 1892; Errico Malatesta, _Vote: What For?_, Freedom +Press, 1942]. Therefore anarchists (usually) advocate abstentionism +at election time as a means of exposing the farce of "democracy", the +disempowering nature of elections and the real role of the state. + +Therefore, anarchists urge abstentionism in order to *encourage* activity, +not apathy. The reasons *why* people abstain is more important than the act. +The idea that the USA is closer to anarchy because around 50% of people +do not vote is nonsense. Abstentionism in this case is the product of +apathy and cynicism, not political ideas. So anarchists recognise that +apathetic abstentionism is *not* revolutionary or an indication of anarchist +sympathies. It is produced by apathy and a general level of cynicism at +*all* forms of political ideas and the possibility of change. + +Not voting is *not* enough, and anarchists urge people to *organise* and +*resist* as well. Abstentionism must be the political counterpart of class +struggle, self-activity and self-management in order to be effective - +otherwise it is as pointless as voting is. + +J.2.6 What are the effects of radicals using electioneering? + +While many radicals would be tempted to agree with our analysis of the +limitations of electioneering and voting, few would automatically +agree with anarchist abstentionist arguments. Instead, they argue that +we should combine direct action with electioneering. In that way (it is +argued) we can overcome the limitations of electioneering by invigorating +the movement with self-activity. In addition, it is argued, the state +is too powerful to leave in the hands of the enemies of the working +class. A radical politician will refuse to give the orders to crush +social protest that a right-wing, pro-capitalist one would. + +This reformist idea met a nasty end in the 1900s (when, we may note, social +democracy was still considered revolutionary). In 1899, the Socialist +Alexandre Millerand joined the cabinet of the French Government. The +Marxian-Socialist Second International approved of this with such leaders +as Lenin and Kautsky supporting it at the 1904 conference. However, nothing +changed: + +"thousands of strikers. . . appealed to Millerand for help, confident that, +with him in the government, the state would be on their side. Much of this +confidence was dispelled within a few years. The government did little +more for workers than its predecessors had done; soldiers and police were +still sent in to repress serious strikes." [Peter N. Stearns, _Revolutionary +Syndicalism and French Labour_, p. 16] + +In 1910, the Socialist Prime Minister Briand used scabs and soldiers to again +break a general strike on the French railways. And these events occurred +during the period when social democratic and socialist parties were +self-proclaimed revolutionaries and arguing against anarcho-syndicalism +by using the argument that working people needed their own representatives +in office to stop troops being used against them during strikes! + +Looking at the British Labour government of 1945 to 1951 we find the same +actions. What is often considered the most left-wing Labour government +ever used troops to break strikes in every year it was in office, starting +with a dockers' strike days after it became the new government. And again +in the 1970s Labour used troops to break strikes. Indeed, the Labour Party +has used troops to break strikes more often than the right-wing Conservative +Party. + +In other words, while these are important arguments in favour of radicals +using elections, they ultimately fail to take into account the nature of +the state and the corrupting effect it has on radicals. If history is +anything to go by, the net effect of radicals using elections is that by +the time they are elected to office the radicals will happily do what they +claimed the right-wing would have done. Many blame the individuals elected +to office for these betrayals, arguing that we need to elect *better* +politicians, select *better* leaders. For anarchists nothing could be more +wrong as its the means used, not the individuals involved, which is the +problem. + +At its most basic, electioneering results in the party using it becoming +more moderate and reformist - indeed the party often becomes the victim +of its own success. In order to gain votes, the party must appear "moderate" +and "practical" and that means working within the system. This has meant +that (to use Rudolf Rocker words): + +"Participation in the politics of the bourgeois States has not +brought the labour movement a hair's-breadth nearer to Socialism, but +thanks to this method, Socialism has almost been completely crushed +and condemned to insignificance. . . Participation in parliamentary +politics has affected the Socialist Labour movement like an insidious +poison. It destroyed the belief in the necessity of constructive Socialist +activity, and, worse of all, the impulse to self-help, by inoculating +people with the ruinous delusion that salvation always comes from above." +[_Anarcho-Syndicalism_, p. 49] + +This corruption does not happen overnight. Alexander Berkman indicates how +it slowly develops when he writes: + +"[At the start, the Socialist Parties] claimed that they meant to use politics +only for the purpose of propaganda. . . and took part in elections on order +to have an opportunity to advocate Socialism + +"It may seem a harmless thing but it proved the undoing of Socialism. +Because nothing is truer than the means you use to attain your object soon +themselves become your object. . . [so] There is a deeper reason for this +constant and regular betrayal [than individual scoundrels being elected] +. . . no man turns scoundrel or traitor overnight. + +"It is *power* which corrupts. . . Moreover, even with the best intentions +Socialists [who get elected]. . . find themselves entirely powerless to +accomplishing anything of a socialistic nature. . . The demoralisation and +vitiation [this brings about] take place little by little, so gradually +that one hardly notices it himself. . . [The elected Socialist] perceives +that he is regarded as a laughing stock [by the other politicians]. . . +and finds more and more difficulty in securing the floor. . . he knows +that neither by his talk nor by his vote can he influence the proceedings +. . . His speeches don't even reach the public. . . [and so] He appeals to +the voters to elect more comrades. . . Years pass. . . [and a] number . . . +are elected. Each of them goes through the same experience. . . [and] +quickly come to the conclusion. . . [that] They must show that they are +practical men. . . that they are doing something for their constituency. . . +In this manner the situation compels them to take a 'practical' part in the +proceedings, to 'talk business,' to fall in line with the matters actually +dealt with in the legislative body. . . Spending years in that atmosphere, +enjoying good jobs and pay, the elected Socialists have themselves become +part and parcel of the political machinery. . . With growing success in +elections and securing political power they turn more and more conservative +and content with existing conditions. Removal from the life and suffering +of the working class, living in the atmosphere of the bourgeoisie. . . they +have become what they call 'practical'. . . Power and position have +gradually stifled their conscience and they have not the strength and +honesty to swim against the current. . . They have become the strongest +bulwark of capitalism."[_What is Communist Anarchism?_, pp. 78-82] + +And so the "political power which they had wanted to conquer had gradually +conquered their Socialism until there was scarcely anything left of it." +[Rudolf Rocker, Op. Cit., p. 50] Not that these arguments are the result +of hindsight, we may add. Bakunin was arguing in the early 1870s that +the "inevitable result [of using elections] will be that workers' deputies, +transferred to a purely bourgeois environment, and into an atmosphere +of purely bourgeois political ideas. . . will become middle class in their +outlook, perhaps even more so than the bourgeois themselves." [_The +Political Philosophy of Bakunin_, p. 216] History proved Bakunin's +prediction correct (as it did with his prediction that Marxism would +result in elite rule). + +History is littered with examples of radical parties becoming a part of +the system. From Marxian Social Democracy at the turn of the 19th +century to the German Green Party in the 1980s, we have seen radical +parties, proclaiming the need for direct action and extra-parliamentary +activity denouncing these activities once in power. From only using +parliament as a means of spreading their message, the parties involved +end up considering votes as more important than the message. Janet +Biehl sums up the effects on the German Green Party of trying to combine +radical electioneering with direct action: + +"the German Greens, once a flagship for the Green movement worldwide, +should now be considered stink normal, as their *de facto* boss himself +declares. Now a repository of careerists, the Greens stand out only for +the rapidity with which the old cadre of careerism, party politics, and +business-as-usual once again played itself out in their saga of +compromise and betrayal of principle. Under the superficial veil of their +old values - a very thin veil indeed, now - they can seek positions and +make compromises to their heart's content. . . They have become 'practical,' +'realistic' and 'power-orientated.' This former New Left ages badly, not +only in Germany but everywhere else. But then, it happened with the S.P.D." +[The German Social Democratic Party] in August 1914, then why not with +Die Grunen in 1991? So it did." ["Party or Movement?", _Greenline_, no. +89, p. 14] + +This, sadly, is the end result of all such attempts. Ultimately, +supports of using political action can only appeal to the good intentions +and character of their candidates. Anarchists, however, present an analysis +of the structures and other influences that will determine how the character +of the successful candidates will change. In other words, in contrast to +Marxists and other radicals, anarchists present a materialist, scientific +analysis of the dynamics of electioneering and its effects on radicals. +And like most forms of idealism, the arguments of Marxists and other +radicals flounder on the rocks of reality as their theory "inevitably +draws and enmeshes its partisans, under the pretext of political tactics, +into ceaseless compromises with governments and political parties; that is, +it pushes them toward downright reaction." [Bakunin, Op. Cit., p. 288] + +However, many radicals refuse to learn this lesson of history and keep +trying to create a new party which will not repeat the saga of compromise +and betrayal which all other radical parties have suffered. And they say +that anarchists are utopian! In other words, its truly utopian to +think that "You cannot dive into a swamp and remain clean." [Alexander +Berkman, Op. Cit., p. 83] Such is the result of rejecting (or +"supplementing" with electioneering) direct action as the means to +change things, for any social movement "to ever surrender their commitment +to direct action for 'working within the system' is to destroy their +personality as socially innovative movements. It is to dissolve back +into the hopeless morass of 'mass organisations' that seek respectability +rather than change." [Murray Bookchin, _Toward an Ecological Society_, +p. 47] + +Moreover, the use of electioneering has a centralising effect on the +movements that use it. Political actions become considered as parliamentary +activities made *for* the population by their representatives, with the +'rank and file' left with no other role than that of passive support. +Only the leaders are actively involved and the main emphasis falls upon +the leaders and it soon becomes taken for granted that they should +determine policy (even ignoring conference decisions when required - how +many times have politicians turned round and done the exact opposite of +what they promised or introduced the exact opposite of party policy?). In +the end, party conferences become simply like parliamentary elections, +with party members supporting this leader against another. + +Soon the party reflects the division between manual and mental labour +so necessary for the capitalist system. Instead of working class +self-activity and self-determination, there is a substitution and +a non working class leadership acting *for* people replaces self-management +in social struggle and within the party itself. Electoralism strengthens +the leaders dominance over the party and the party over the people it +claims to represent. And, of course, the real causes and solutions to +the problems we face are mystified by the leadership and rarely discussed +in order to concentrate on the popular issues that will get them elected. + +And, of course, this results in radicals "instead of weakening the false +and enslaving belief in law and government . . . actually work[ing] to +*strengthen* the people's faith in forcible authority and government." +[A. Berkman, Op. Cit., p. 84] Which has always proved deadly to encouraging +a spirit of revolt, self-management and self-help - the very keys to creating +change in a society. + +Instead of trying to gain control of the state, for whatever reasons, +anarchists try to promote a culture of resistance within society that +makes the state subject to pressure from without. To use an analogy, +the pro-election radical argues that the state is like an person with +a stick that intends to use it against you and your friends. Then you notice +that their grasp of that stick is uncertain, and you can grab that stick +away from them. If you take the stick away from them, that doesn't mean +you have to hit them. After you take the weapon away from them, you can +also break it in half and throw it away. They will have been deprived of +its use, and that's the important thing. + +In response the anarchist argues that instead of making plans to take their +stick, we develop our muscles and skill so that we don't need a stick, so +that we can beat them on our own. It takes longer, sure, to build up +genuinely libertarian working class organs, but it's worth it simply +because then our strength is part of us, and it can't be taken away by +someone offering to "wield it on our behalf" (or saying that they will +break the stick when they get it). And what do socialist and radical +parties do? Offer to fight on our behalf and if we rely on others to +act for us then we will be disarmed when they do not (and instead use +the stick against us). Given the fact that power corrupts, any claim +that by giving the stick of state power to a party we can get rid of +it once and for all is naive to say the least. + +And, we feel, history has proven us right time and time again. + +J.2.7 Surely we should vote for reformist parties in order to show + them up for what they are? + +Some Leninist socialists (like the British Socialist Workers Party and their +offshoots like ISO in the USA) argue that we should urge people to vote for +Labour and other social democratic parties. This is because of two reasons. + +Firstly, it is argued, radicals will be able to reach more people by +being seen to support popular, trade union based parties. If they do not, +then they are in danger of alienating sizable sections of the working class +by arguing that such parties will be no better than explicitly pro-capitalist +ones. + +The second argument, and the more important one, is that by electing reformist +parties into office the experience of living under such a government will +shatter whatever illusions its supporters had in them. In other words, by +getting reformist parties elected into office they will be given the test of +experience. And when they betray their supporters to protect the status +quo the experience will radicalise those who voted for them, who will then +seek out *real* socialist parties (namely the likes of the SWP and ISO). + +Anarchists reject these arguments for three reasons. + +Firstly, it is a deeply dishonest tactic as it hides the true thoughts of +those who support the tactic. To tell the truth is a revolutionary act. +Radicals should not follow the capitalist media by telling half-truths or +distorting the facts or what they believe. They should not hide their +politics or suggest they support a system or party they are opposed to. If +this means being less popular in the short run, then so be it. Attacking +capitalism, religion, or a host of other things can alienate people but few +radicals would be so opportunistic as to hold their tongues attacking these. +In the long run being honest about your ideas is the best way of producing +a movement which aims to get rid of a corrupt social system. Starting such +a movement with half-truths is doomed to failure. + +Secondly, anarchists reject the logic of this theory. The logic underlying +this argument is that by being disillusioned by their reformist leaders +and party, voters will look for *new,* "better" leaders and parties. However, +this fails to go to the root of the problem, namely the dependence on +leaders which hierarchical society creates within people. Anarchists do not +want people to follow the "best" leadership, they want them to govern +themselves, to be *self*-active, manage their own affairs and not follow +any would-be leaders. If you seriously think that the liberation of the +oppressed is the task of the oppressed themselves (as these Leninists claim +to do) then you *must* reject this tactic in favour of ones that promote +working class self-activity. + +And the third reason is that this tactic has been proven to fail time and +time again. What most of its supporters seem to fail to notice is that +voters have indeed put reformist parties into office many times (for example, +there have been 7 Labour Party governments in Britain before 1997, all of +whom attacked the working class) and there has been no movement away from +them to something more radical. Lenin suggested this tactic over 70 +years ago and there has been no general radicalisation of the voting +population by this method, nor even in reformist party militants. Indeed, +ironically enough, most such activists have left their parties when its +been out of office and they have become disgusted by the party's attempts +to appear "realistic" in order to win the next election! And this disgust +often expresses itself as a demoralisation with socialism *as such*, +rather than with their party's watered down version of it. + +This total failure, for anarchists, is not surprising, considering the +reasons why we reject this tactic. Given that this tactic does not attack +hierarchy or dependence on leaders, does not attack the ideology and +process of voting, it will obviously fail to present a real alternative +to the voting population (who will turn to other alternatives available +at election time and not embrace direct action). Also, the sight of a +so-called "socialist" or "radical" government managing capitalism, imposing +cuts, breaking strikes and generally attacking its supporters will damage the +credibility of any form of socialism and discredit all socialist and radical +ideas in the eyes of the population. And if the experience of the Labour +Government in Britain during the 1970s is anything to go by, it may result +in the rise of the right-wing who will capitalise on this disillusionment. + +By refusing to argue that no government is "on our side," radicals who urge +us to vote reformist "without illusions" help to disarm theoretically the +people who listen to them. Working class people, surprised, confused and +disorientated by the constant "betrayals" of left-wing parties may turn +to right wing parties (who can be elected) to stop the attacks rather +than turn to direct action as the radical minority within the working +class did not attack voting as part of the problem. + +How many times must we elect the same party, go through the same process, +the same betrayals before we realise this tactic does not work? And, if +it *is* a case of having to experience something before people reject it, few +state socialists take this argument to its logical conclusion. We rarely +hear them argue we must experience the hell of fascism or Stalinism or the +nightmare of free market capitalism in order to ensure working class people +"see through" them. + +Anarchists, in contrast, say that we can argue against reformist politics +without having to associate ourselves with them by urging people to vote for +them. By arguing for abstentionism we can help arm theoretically people who +will come into conflict with these parties once they are in office. By arguing +that all governments will be forced to attack us (due to the pressure from +capital and state) and that we have to reply on our own organisations and +power to defend ourselves, we can promote working class self-confidence in +its own abilities, and encourage the rejection of capitalism, the state and +hierarchical leadership as well as encouraging the use of direct action. + +And, we may add, it is not required for radicals to associate themselves with +the farce of parliamentary propaganda in order to win people over to our +ideas. Non-anarchists will see us use *direct action,* see us *act,* see +the anarchistic alternatives we create and see and read our propaganda. +Non-anarchists can be reached quite well without taking part or associating +ourselves with parliamentary action. + +J.2.8 Will abstentionism lead to the right winning elections? + +Possibly. However anarchists don't just say "don't vote", we say "organise" +as well. Apathy is something anarchists have no interest in encouraging. So, +if anarchists could persuade over half the voters to abstain it would, in all +probability, contribute to a electoral victory for the Right. However, this +would be a hollow victory for what government could rule when half the +electorate had expressed its lack of confidence in all governments by not +voting? + +In other words, whichever party was in office would have to rule over a +country which had rejected government as such. This means that the politicians +would be subjected to *real* pressures from people who believed in their +own power and acted accordingly. So anarchists call on people *not* to vote, +but instead organise themselves and be conscious of their own power as both +individuals and as part of a union with others. This will command the +respect of any government and can curb the power of the state more than +millions of crosses on bits of paper ever could. + +As Emma Goldman pointed out, "if the Anarchists were strong enough to +swing the elections to the Left, they must also have been strong enough +to rally the workers to a general strike, or even a series of strikes. . . +In the last analysis, the capitalist class knows too well that officials, +whether they belong to the Right or the Left, can be bought. Or they are +of no consequence to their pledge." [_Vision on Fire_, p. 90] + +The mass of the population, however, cannot be bought off and if they +are willing and able to resist then they can become a power second to none. +Only by organising, fighting back and practicing solidarity where we live +and work can we *really* change things. That is where *our* power lies, that +is where we can create a *real* alternative. By creating a network of +self-managed, pro-active community and workplace organisations we can +impose by direct action that which politicians can never give us from +Parliament. And only such a movement can stop the attacks upon us by whoever +gets into office. A government (left or right) which faces a mass movement +based upon direct action and solidarity will always think twice before +proposing cuts or introducing authoritarian laws. + +Of course, all the parties claim that they are better than the others +and this is the logic of this question - namely, we must vote for the +lesser evil as the right-wing in office will be terrible. But what this +forgets is that the lesser evil is still an evil. What happens is that +instead of the greater evil attacking us, we get the lesser evil doing +what the right-wing was going to do. And, since we are discussing the +"lesser evil," let us not forget it was the "lesser evil" of the Democrats +(in the USA) and Labour (in the UK) who introduced the monetarist and +other policies that Reagan and Thatcher made their own (and we may add +that the US Air Traffic Controllers union endorsed Reagan against Carter +in 1980 because they thought they would get a better deal out of the +Republicans. Reagan then went on to bust the union once in office). Simply +put, we cannot expect a different group of politicians to react differently +to the same economic and political pressures and influences. + +So, voting for other politicians will make little difference. The reality +is that politicians are puppets. As we argued above (in section J.2.2) +real power in the state does not lie with politicians, but instead within +the state bureaucracy and big business. Faced with these powers, we have +seen left-wing governments from Spain to New Zealand introduce right-wing +policies. So even if we elected a radical party, they would be powerless +to change anything important and soon be forced to attack us in the +interests of capitalism. Politicians come and go, but the state bureaucracy +and big business remain forever! + +Therefore we cannot rely on voting for the lesser evil to safe us from +the possible dangers of a right-wing election victory brought about by +abstentionism. All we can hope for is that no matter who gets in, the +population will resist the government because it knows and can use its +real power - direct action. For the "only limit to the oppression of +government is the power with which the people show themselves capable +of opposing it." [Errico Malatesta, _Life and Ideas_, p. 196] + +J.2.9 What do anarchists do instead of voting? + +While anarchists reject electioneering and voting, it does not mean +that we are politically apathetic. Indeed, part of the reason why +anarchists reject voting is because we think that voting is not part of +the solution, its part of the problem. This is because it endorses an +unjust and unfree political system and makes us look to others to fight +our battles for us. It *blocks* constructive self-activity and direct +action. It *stops* the building of alternatives in our communities and +workplaces. Voting breeds apathy and apathy is our worse enemy. + +Given that we have had universal suffrage for well over 50 years in many +countries and we have seen the rise of Labour and Radical parties aiming +to use that system to effect change in a socialistic manner, it seems +strange that we are probably further away from socialism than when +they started. The simple fact is that these parties have spent so much +time trying to win elections that they have stopped even thinking about +creating socialist alternatives in our communities and workplaces. That +is in itself enough to prove that electioneering, far from eliminating +apathy, in fact helps to create it. + +So, because of this, anarchists argue that the only way to not waste your vote +is to spoil it! We are the only political movement who argue that nothing +will change unless you act for yourself, take back the power and fight the +system *directly.* Only direct action breaks down apathy and gets results - +and its the first steps towards real freedom, towards a free and just +society. + +Therefore anarchists are the first to point out that not voting is not +enough - we need to actively struggle for an alternative to both voting +*and* the current system. Just as the right to vote was won after a long +series of struggles, so the creation of a free, decentralised, self-managed, +libertarian socialist society will be the product of social struggle. + +Anarchists are the last people to deny the importance of political +liberties or the importance in wining the right to vote. The question we +must ask is whether it is a more a fitting tribute to the millions of people +who used direct action, fought and suffered for the right to vote to use +that victory to endorse a deeply unfair and undemocratic system or to use +other means (indeed the means they used to win the vote) to create a system +based upon true popular self-government? If we are true to our (and +their) desire for a real, meaningful democracy, we would have to reject +political action in favour of direct action. So, if we desire a truly +libertarian and democratic society then its clear that the vote will not +achieve it (and indeed put back the struggle for such a society). + +This obviously gives an idea of what anarchists do instead of voting, +we agitate, organise and educate. While we will discuss the various +alternatives anarchists propose and attempt to organise in more detail +in section J.5 ( What alternative social organisations do anarchists +create?) it is useful to give a brief introduction to anarchist activity +here, activity which bases itself on the two broad strategies of encouraging +direct action and building alternatives where we live and work. + +Taking the first strategy, anarchists say that by using direct action we +can force politicians to respect the wishes of the people. For example, +if a government or boss tries to limit free speech, then anarchists would +try to encourage a free speech fight to break the laws in question until +such time as they were revoked. If a government or landlord refuses to +limit rent increases or improve safety requirements for accommodation, +anarchists would organise squats and rent strikes. In the case of +environmental destruction, anarchists would support and encourage attempts +at halting the damage by mass trespassing on sites, blocking the +routes of developments, organising strikes and so on. If a boss refuses +to introduce an 8 hour day, then workers should form a union and go on +strike or stop working after 8 hours. Unlike laws, the boss cannot ignore +direct action (and if such action is successful, the state will hurry to +pass a law about it). + +Similarly, strikes combined with social protest would be effective means of +stopping authoritarian laws being passed. For example anti-union laws would +be best fought by strike action and community boycotts (and given the utterly +ineffectual defence pursued by pro-labour parties using political action +to stop anti-union laws who can seriously say that the anarchist way would +be any worse?). And of course collective non-payment of taxes would ensure +the end of unpopular government decisions. The example of the poll tax +rebellion in the UK in the late in 1980s shows the power of such direct +action. The government could happily handle hours of speeches by opposition +politicians but they could not ignore social protest (and we must add +that the Labour Party which claimed to oppose the tax happily let the +councils controlled by them introduce the tax and arrest non-payers). + +In this way, by encouraging social protest, any government would think +twice before pursuing authoritarian, destructive and unpopular policies. In +the final analysis, governments can and will ignore the talk of opposition +politicians, but they cannot ignore social action for very long. In +the words of a Spanish anarchosyndicalist, anarchists + +"do not ask for any concessions from the government. Our mission and our +duty is to impose from the streets that which ministers and deputies are +incapable of realising in parliament."[quoted by Graham Kelsey, +_Anarchosyndicalism, Libertarian Communism and the State_, p. 79] + +The second strategy of building alternatives flows naturally from the +first. Any form of campaign requires organisation and by organising in +an anarchist manner we build organisations that "bear in them the living +seed of the new society which is replace the old world" (to use Bakunin's +words). In organising strikes in the workplace and community we can create a +network of activists and union members who can encourage a spirit of revolt +against authority. By creating assemblies where we live and work we can create +an effective countering power to the state and capital. Such a union, as the +anarchists in Spain and Italy proved, can be the focal point for recreating +self-managed schools, social centres and so on. In this way the local +community can ensure that it has sufficient independent, self-managed +resources available to educate its members. Also, combined with credit +unions (or mutual banks), cooperative workplaces and stores, a self-managed +infrastructure could be created which would ensure that people can directly +provide for their own needs without having to rely on capitalists or +governments. + +In other words, an essential part of anarchist activity is (in the +words of a C.N.T. militant): + +"We must create that part of libertarian communism which can be created +within bourgeois society and do so precisely to combat that society with +our own special weapons." [quoted Op. Cit., p. 79] + +So, far from doing nothing, by not voting the anarchist actively encourages +alternatives. But what about government policies which actually do help +people? While anarchists would "hesitate to condemn those measures +taken by governments which obviously benefited the people, unless we saw +the immediate possibility of people carrying them out for themselves. This +would not inhibit us from declaring at the same time that what initiatives +governments take would be more successfully taken by the people themselves +if they put their minds to the same problems. . . to build up a hospital +service or a transport system, for instance, from local needs into a national +organisation, by agreement and consent at all levels is surely more +economical as well as efficient than one which is conceived at top level +[by the state]. . . where Treasury, political and other pressures, not +necessarily connected with what we would describe as *needs*, influence the +shaping of policies." [_The Raven_, no. 14, p. 179] + +Ultimately, what the state and capital gives, they can also take away. +What we build by our own self-activity can last as long as we want it +to and act to protect it. And anarchists are convinced that: + +"The future belongs to those who continue daringly, consistently, to fight +power and governmental authority. The future belongs to us and to our +social philosophy. For it is the only social ideal that teaches independent +thinking and direct participation of the workers in their economic struggle +[and working class people in their social struggles, we may add]. For it is +only through he organised economic [and social] strength of the masses that +they can and will do away with the capitalist system and all the wrongs +and injustices it contains. Any diversion from this stand will only retard +our movement and make it a stepping stone for political climbers." [Emma +Goldman, _Vision on Fire_, p. 92] + +J.2.10 Does rejecting electioneering mean that anarchists are apolitical? + +No. Far from it. The "apolitical" nature of anarchism is Marxian nonsense. +As it desires to fundamentally change society, anarchism can be nothing +but political. However, anarchism does reject (as we have seen) "normal" +political activity as ineffectual and corrupting. However, many (particularly +Marxists) imply this reject of the con of capitalist politics means +that anarchists concentration on purely "economic" issues like wages, +working conditions and so forth. And, by so doing, Marxists claim that +anarchists leave the political agenda to be dominated by capitalist +ideology, with disastrous results for the working class. + +This view, however, is *totally* wrong. Indeed, Bakunin explicitly rejected +the idea that working people could ignore politics and actually agreed +with the Marxists that political indifference only led to capitalist +control of the labour movement: + +"[some of] the workers in Germany . . .[were organised in] a kind of +federation of small associations. . . 'Self-help'. . . was its slogan, +in the sense that labouring people were persistently advised not to +anticipate either deliverance or help from the state and the government, +but only from their own efforts. This advise would have been excellent +had it not been accompanied by the false assurance that liberation for +the labouring people is possible under *current conditions of social +organisation* . . . Under this delusion. . . the workers subject to [this] +influence were supposed to disengage themselves systematically from all +political and social concerns and questions about the state, property, +and so forth. . . [This] completely subordinated the proletariat to the +bourgeoisie which exploits it and for which it was to remain an obedient +and mindless tool." [_Statism and Anarchy_, p. 174] + +So, anarchists reject capitalist politics (i.e. electioneering), but we +do not ignore politics nor wider political discussion. Anarchists have +always recognised the importance of political debate and ideas in social +movements. As Bakunin argued should "the International [an international +organisation of working class unions and groups]. . . cease to concern itself +with political and philosophical questions? Would [it] . . . ignore progress +in the world of thought as well as the events which accompany or arise from +the political struggle in and between states[?]. . . We hasten to say that it +is absolutely impossible to ignore political and philosophical questions. An +exclusive pre-occupation with economic questions would be fatal for the +proletariat. . . [I]t is impossible for the workers to stop there without +renouncing their humanity and depriving themselves of the intellectual and +moral power which is so necessary for the conquest of their economic rights" +[_Bakunin on Anarchism_, p. 301] + +As Rudolf Rocker points out, anarchists desire a unification of political +and economic struggles as the two as inseparable: + +"[T]he Anarchists represent the viewpoint that the war against capitalism +must be at the same time a war against all institutions of political power, +for in history economic exploitation has always gone hand in hand with +political and social oppression. The exploitation of man by man and the +domination of man over man are inseparable, and each is the condition +of the other." [_Anarcho-Syndicalism_, p. 15] + +Such a unification must take place on the social and economic field, not +the political, as that is where the working class is strongest. In other words +anarchists "are not in any way opposed to the political struggle, but in +their opinion this struggle. . . must take the form of direct action. . . +It would. . . be absurd for them [the working class] to overlook the +importance of the political struggle. Every event that affects the live of +the community is of a political nature. In this sense every important +economic action. . . is also a political action and, moreover, one of +incomparably greater importance than any parliamentary proceeding." +[Rudolf Rocker, Op. Cit., pp. 65-66] + +So, anarchists reject the idea that political and economic struggles can +be divided. Such an argument just reproduces the artificially created +division of labour between mental and physical activity of capitalism +within working class organisations and within anti-capitalist movements. +We say that we should not separate out politics into some form of +specialised activity that only certain people (i.e. our "representatives") +can do. Instead, anarchists argue that political struggles, ideas and +debates must be brought into the *social* and *economic* organisations +of our class where they must be debated freely by all members as they +see fit and that political and economic struggle and change must go +hand in hand. + +History indicates that any attempt at taking social and economic issues into +political parties has resulting in wasted energy and the watering down +of these issues into pure reformism. In the words of Bakunin, such activity +suggests that "a political revolution should precede a social revolution... +[which] is a great and fatal error, because every political revolution taking +place prior to and consequently without a social revolution must necessarily +be a bourgeois revolution, and a bourgeois revolution can only be instrumental +in bringing about bourgeois Socialism", i.e. State Capitalism. [_The Political +Philosophy of Bakunin, p. 289] + +We have discussed this process of socialist parties becoming reformist in +section J.2.6 and will not repeat ourselves here. Only by rejecting the +artificial divisions of capitalist society can we remain true to our +ideals of liberty, equality and solidarity. Anarchists "maintain that +the State organisation, having been the force to which minorities resorted +for establishing and organising their power over the masses, cannot be +the force which will serve to destroy these privileges." [Peter Kropotkin, +_Kropotkin's Revolutionary Pamphlets_, p. 170]. Every example of radicals +using the state has resulted in them being changed by the system instead of +them changing it and, to use Bakunin's words, "tied the proletariat to +the bourgeois towline" (i.e. resulted in working class movements becoming +dominated by capitalist ideas and activity - becoming "realistic" and +"practical"). + +Therefore Anarchist argue that such a union of political ideas and social +organisation and activity is essential for promoting radical politics as it +"digs a chasm between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat and places the +proletariat outside the activity and political conniving of all parties within +the State. . . in placing itself outside all bourgeois politics, the +proletariat necessarily turns against it." So, by "placing the proletariat +outside the politics in the State and of the bourgeois world, [the union +movement] thereby constructed a new world, the world of the united +proletarians of all lands." [Michael Bakunin, Op. Cit., p. 303, p. 305] + +In addition, so-called "economic" struggles do not occur in a social vacuum. +They take place in a social and political context and so, necessarily, there +can exist an separation of political and economic struggles only in the +mind. Strikers or eco-warriors, for example, face the power of the state +enforcing laws which protect the power of employers and polluters. This +necessarily has a "political" impact on those involved in struggle. As +Bakunin argued social struggle results in "the spontaneous and direct +development of philosophical and sociological in the International [i.e. +union/social movement], ideas which inevitably develop side by side with and +are produced by the first two movements [of strikes and union organising]" +[Op. Cit., page 304]. By channeling any "political" conclusions drawn by +those involved in struggle into electoral politics, this development of +political ideas and discussion will be distorted into discussions of what +is possible in the current system, and so the radical impact of direct +action and social struggle is weakened. + +Therefore anarchists reject electioneering not because they are "apolitical" +but because they do not desire to see politics remain a thing purely for +politicians and experts. Political issues are far too important to leave to +such people. Anarchists desire to see political discussion and change +develop from the bottom up, this is hardly "apolitical" - in fact with our +desire to see ordinary people directly discuss the issues that affect them, +act to change things by their own action and draw their own conclusions +from their own activity anarchists are very "political." The process of +individual and social liberation is the most political activity we can think +of! + +J.3 What forms of organisation do anarchists build? + J.3.1 What are affinity groups? + J.3.2 Why do anarchists organise into federations? + J.3.3 What is "the Platform"? + J.3.4 What is anarcho-syndicalism? + J.3.5 Why do many anarchists think anarcho-syndicalism is not enough? + J.3.6 What is a TAZ? + +J.4 What trends in society aid anarchist activity? + J.4.1 Why is social struggle a good sign? + J.4.2 Are the new social movements a positive development + for anarchists? + J.4.3 What is the "economic structural crisis" and why is it important + to social struggle? + J.4.4 Are declining state revenues a hopeful sign for anarchists? + J.4.5 What are implications of anti-government and anti-big business + feelings? + J.4.6 What about the communications revolution? + J.4.7 What is the significance of the accelerating rate of change + and the information explosion? + J.4.8 What are Netwars? + +J.5 What alternative social organisations do anarchists create? + +Anarchism is all about "do it yourself," people helping each other out +in order to secure a good society to live within and to protect, extend +and enrich their personal freedom. As such anarchists are keenly aware of +the importance of building alternatives to both capitalism and the state +in the here and now. Only by creating practical alternatives can we +show that anarchism is a viable possibility and train ourselves in +the techniques and responsibilities of freedom: + +"If we put into practice the principles of libertarian communism within +our organisations, the more advanced and prepared we will be on that +day when we come to adopt it completely." [C.N.T. member, quoted by +Graham Kelsey, _Anarchosyndicalism, Libertarian Communism and the +State_,p. 79] + +By building the new world in the shell of the old, we help create the +environment within which individuals can manage their own affairs and +develop their abilities to do so. In other words, we create "schools of +anarchism" which lay the foundations for a better society as well as +promoting and supporting social struggle against the current system. +Make no mistake, the alternatives we discuss in this section are not +an alternative to direct action and the need for social struggle - they +are an expression of social struggle and a form of direct action. They +are the framework by which social struggle can build and strengthen the +anarchist tendencies within capitalist society which will ultimately +replace it. + +Therefore it is wrong to think that anarchists are indifferent to making +life more bearable, even more enjoyable, under capitalism. A free society +will not just appear from nowhere, it will be created be individuals and +communities with a long history of social struggle and organisation. For +as Wilheim Reich so correctly pointed out: + +"Quite obviously, a society that is to consist of 'free individuals,' +to constitute a 'free community' and to administer itself, i.e. to +'govern itself,' cannot be suddenly created by decrees. It has to +*evolve* organically." [_The Mass Psychology of Fascism_, p. 241] + +And it is this organic evolution that anarchists promote when they create +anarchist alternatives within capitalist society. The alternatives anarchists +create (be they workplace or community unions, co-operatives, mutual banks, +and so on) are marked by certain common features such as being self-managed, +being based upon equality and decentralisation and working with other groups +and associations within a confederal network based upon mutual aid and +solidarity. In other words, they are *anarchist* in both spirit and +structure and so create a practical bridge between what is and what is +possible. + +Therefore, anarchists consider the building of alternatives as a key +aspect of their activity under capitalism. This is because they, like +all forms of direct action, are "schools of anarchy" and also because +they make the transition to a free society easier. "Through the +organisations set up for the defence of their interests," in Malatesta's +words, "the workers develop an awareness of the oppression they suffer and +the antagonism that divides them from the bosses and as a result begin to +aspire to a better life, become accustomed to collective struggle and +solidarity and win those improvements that are possible within the +capitalist and state regime." [_The Anarchist Revolution_, p. 95] By +creating viable examples of "anarchy in action" we can show that +our ideas are practical and convince people of anarchist ideas by "good +examples." Therefore this section of the FAQ will indicate the alternatives +anarchists support and *why* we support them. + +The approach anarchists take to this activity could be termed "social +unionism" -- the collective action of groups to change certain aspects +(and, ultimately, all aspects) of their lives. This "social unionism" +takes many different forms in many different areas (some of which, not +all, are discussed here) -- but they share the same basic aspects of +collective direct action, self-organisation, self-management, solidarity +and mutual aid. These "social unions" would be a means (like the old labour +movement) "of raising the morale of the workers, accustom them to free +initiative and solidarity in a struggle for the good of everyone and +render them capable of imagining, desiring and putting into practice +an anarchist life." [Errico Malatesta, _The Anarchist Revolution_, +p. 28] + +As will quickly become obvious in this discussion (as if it had not +been so before!) anarchists are firm supporters of "self-help," an +expression that has been sadly corrupted (like freedom) by the right +in recent times. Like "freedom", "self-help" should be saved from +the clutches of the right who have no real claim to that expression. +Indeed, anarchism was created from and based itself upon working class +self-help -- for what other interpretation can be gathered from the famous +slogan of the _First International_ that "the emancipation of the working +class must be the task of the working class itself"? So, Anarchists have +great faith in the abilities of working class people to work out for +themselves what their problems are and act to solve them. + +Anarchist support, and promotion, of alternatives is a *key* aspect +of this process of self-liberation, and so a key aspect of anarchism. +While strikes, boycotts, and other forms of high profile direct action +may be more sexy than the long and hard task of creating and building +social alternatives, these are the nuts and bolts of creating a new +world as well as the infrastructure which supports the "high profile" +activities. Hence the importance of highlighting the alternatives anarchists +support and build. The alternatives we discuss here is part of the process +of building the new world in the shell of the old -- and involve both +combative organisations (such as community and workplace unions) as well +as more defensive/supportive ones (such as co-operatives and mutual banks). +Both have their part to play in the class struggle, although the combative +ones are the most important in creating the spirit of revolt and the +possibility of creating an anarchist society (which will be reflected +in the growth of supportive organisations to aid that struggle). + +We must also stress that anarchists look to "natural" tendencies +within social struggle as the basis of any alternatives we try to +create. As Kropotkin put it, anarchism is based "on an analysis of +*tendencies of an evolution that is already going on in society*, and +on *induction* thereform as to the future." It is "representative . . . +of the creative, instructive power of the people themselves who aimed at +developing institutions of common law in order to protect them from the +power-seeking minority." In other words, anarchism bases itself on those +tendencies that are created by the self-activity of working class people +and while developing within capitalism are *in opposition* to it -- such +tendencies are expressed in organisational form as trade unions and +other forms of workplace struggle, cooperatives (both productive and +credit), libertarian schools, and so on. For anarchists, anarchism is +"born among the people - in the struggles of real life and not in the +philosopher's studio" and owes its "origin to the constructive, creative +activity of the people . . . and to a protest - a revolt against the +external force which hd thrust itself upon [communal] . . . institutions." +[_Kropotkin's Revolutionary Pamphlets_, p. 158, p. 147, p. 150, +p. 149] This "creative activity" is expressed in the organisations +created in the class struggle by working people, some of which we +discuss in this section of the FAQ. Therefore, the alternatives +anarchists support should not be viewed in isolation of social struggle +and working class resistance to hierarchy - the reverse in fact, as these +alternatives are almost always expressions of that struggle. + +Lastly, we should note that this list of alternatives does not list all the +forms of organisation anarchists create. For example, we have ignored +solidarity groups and organisations which are created to campaign against or +for certain issues or reforms. Anarchists are in favour of such organisations +and work within them to spread anarchist ideas, tactics and organisational +forms. However, these interest groups (while very useful) do not provide a +framework for lasting change as do the ones we highlight below although we +stress that anarchists do not ignore such organisations and struggles (see +sections J.1.4 and J.1.5 for more details on anarchist opinions on such +"single issue" campaigns). + +We have also ignored what have been called "intentional communities". This +is when a group of individuals squat or buy land and other resources within +capitalism and create their own anarchist commune in it. Most anarchists +reject this idea as capitalism and the state must be fought, not ignored. +In addition, due to their small size, they are rarely viable experiments +in communal living and nearly always fail after a short time (for a good +summary of Kropotkin's attitude to such communities, which can be taken +as typical, to such schemes see Graham Purchase's book _Evolution & +Revolution_, pp. 122-125). Dropping out will not stop capitalism and +the state and while such communities may try to ignore the system, they +will find that the system will not ignore them -- they will come under +competitive and ecological pressures from capitalism whether they like +it or not. + +Therefore the alternatives we discuss here are attempts to create anarchist +alternatives within capitalism and which aim to *change* it (either by +revolutionary or evolutionary means). They are based upon *challenging* +capitalism and the state, not ignoring them by dropping out. Only by a +process of direct action and building alternatives which are relevant to +our daily lives can we revolutionise and change both ourselves and society. + +J.5.1 What is community unionism? + +Community unionism is our term for the process of creating participatory +communities (called "communes" in classical anarchism) within the state. + +Basically, a community union is the creation of interested members of a +community who decide to form an organisation to fight against injustice +in their local community and for improvements within it. It is a forum +by which inhabitants can raise issues that affect themselves and others +and provide a means of solving these problems. As such, it is a means +of directly involving local people in the life of their own communities +and collectively solving the problems facing them as both individuals +and as part of a wider society. Politics, therefore, is not separated +into a specialised activity that only certain people do (i.e. politicians). +Instead, it becomes communalised and part of everyday life and in the +hands of all. + +As would be imagined, like the participatory communities that would +exist in an anarchist society, the community union would be based +upon a mass assembly of its members. Here would be discussed the +issues that effect the membership and how to solve them. Like the +communes of a future anarchy, these community unions would be +confederated with other unions in different areas in order to +co-ordinate joint activity and solve common problems. These +confederations, like the basic union assemblies themselves, would +be based upon direct democracy, mandated delegates and the +creation of administrative action committees to see that the +memberships decisions are carried out. + +The community union could also raise funds for strikes and other +social protests, organise pickets and boycotts and generally aid +others in struggle. By organising their own forms of direct action +(such as tax and rent strikes, environmental protests and so on) +they can weaken the state while building an self-managed +infrastructure of co-operatives to replace the useful functions +the state or capitalist firms currently provide. + +So, in addition to organising resistance to the state and capitalist +firms, these community unions could play an important role in +creating an alternative economy within capitalism. For example, +such unions could have a mutual bank or credit union associated +with them which could allow funds to be gathered for the creation +of self-managed co-operatives and social services and centres. In +this way a communalised co-operative sector could develop, along +with a communal confederation of community unions and their +co-operative banks. + +Such community unions have been formed in many different countries +in recent years to fight against particularly evil attacks on the +working class. In Britain, groups were created in neighbourhoods across +the country to organise non-payment of the conservative government's +community charge (popularly known as the poll tax). Federations of these +groups and unions were created to co-ordinate the struggle and pull +resources and, in the end, ensured that the government withdrew the +hated tax and helped push Thatcher out of government. In Ireland, +similar groups were formed to defeat the privatisation of the water +industry by a similar non-payment campaign. + +However, few of these groups have been taken as part of a wider strategy +to empower the local community but the few that have indicate the potential +of such a strategy. This potential can be seen from two examples of +community organising in Europe, one in Italy and another in Spain. + +In Italy, anarchists have organised a very successful _Municipal Federation +of the Base_ (FMB) in Spezzano Albanese (in the South of that country). This +organisation is "an alternative to the power of the town hall" and provides +a "glimpse of what a future libertarian society could be" (in the words of +one activist). The aim of the Federation is "the bringing together of all +interests within the district. In intervening at a municipal level, we +become involved not only in the world of work but also the life of the +community. . . the FMB make counter proposals [to Town Hall decisions], +which aren't presented to the Council but proposed for discussion in +the area to raise people's level of consciousness. Whether they like +it or not the Town Hall is obliged to take account of these proposals." +["Community Organising in Southern Italy", pp. 16-19, _Black Flag_ +no. 210, p. 17, p. 18] + +In this way, local people take part in deciding what effects them and their +community and create a self-managed "dual power" to the local, and national, +state. They also, by taking part in self-managed community assemblies, +develop their ability to participate and manage their own affairs, so +showing that the state is unnecessary and harmful to their interests. +In addition, the FMB also supports co-operatives within it, so creating +a communalised, self-managed economic sector within capitalism. Such a +development helps to reduce the problems facing isolated co-operatives +in a capitalist economy -- see section J.5.11 -- and was actively done +in order to "seek to bring together all the currents, all the problems +and contradictions, to seek solutions" to such problems facing co-operatives +[Ibid.]. + +Elsewhere in Europe, the long, hard work of the C.N.T. in Spain has also +resulted in mass village assemblies being created in the Puerto Real +area, near Cadiz. These community assemblies came about to support +an industrial struggle by shipyard workers. As one C.N.T. member explains, +"[e]very Thursday of every week, in the towns and villages in the area, +we had all-village assemblies where anyone connected with the particular +issue [of the rationalisation of the shipyards], whether they were +actually workers in the shipyard itself, or women or children or +grandparents, could go along. . . and actually vote and take part +in the decision making process of what was going to take place." +[_Anarcho-Syndicalism in Puerto Real: from shipyard resistance to +direct democracy and community control_, p. 6] + +With such popular input and support, the shipyard workers won their +struggle. However, the assembly continued after the strike and +"managed to link together twelve different organisations within the +local area that are all interested in fighting. . . various aspects +[of capitalism]" including health, taxation, economic, ecological and +cultural issues. Moreover, the struggle "created a structure which +was very different from the kind of structure of political parties, +where the decisions are made at the top and they filter down. What +we managed to do in Puerto Real was make decisions at the base +and take them upwards." [Ibid.] + +In these ways, a grassroots movement from below has been created, with +direct democracy and participation becoming an inherent part of a local +political culture of resistance, with people deciding things for +themselves directly and without hierarchy. Such developments are the +embryonic structures of a world based around direct democracy and +participation, with a strong and dynamic community life. For, as +Martin Buber argued, "[t]he more a human group lets itself be represented +in the management of its common affairs. . . the less communal life there +is in it and the more impoverished it becomes as a community." [_Paths +in Utopia_, p. 133] + +Anarchist support and encouragement of community unionism, by creating +the means for communal self-management, helps to enrich the community +as well as creating the organisational forms required to resist the +state and capitalism. In this way we build the anti-state which will +(hopefully) replace the state. Moreover, the combination of community +unionism with workplace assemblies (as in Puerto Real), provides a +mutual support network which can be very effective in helping winning +struggles. For example, in Glasgow, Scotland in 1916, a massive rent +strike was finally won when workers came out in strike in support of +the rent strikers who been arrested for non-payment. + +Such developments indicate that Isaac Puente was correct to argue that +"[l]ibertarian Communism is the organisation of society without the state +and without capitalism. To establish Libertarian Communism it will not be +necessary to invent artificial social organisations. The new society will +naturally emerge from 'the shell of the old.' The elements of the future +society are already planted in the old existing order. They are the Union +and the Free Commune which are old, deeply rooted, non-statist popular +institutions, spontaneously organised, and embracing all towns and +villages in urban and rural areas. Within the Free Commune, there is also +room for co-operative associations of artisans, farmers and other groups or +individuals who prefer to remain independent or form their own groupings +to meet their own needs [providing that they do not exploit hired labour +for wages] . . . + +The terms libertarian and communism denote the fusion of two inseparable +concepts, the indispensable prerequisites for the free society: +collectivism an individual freedom . . ." [_Libertarian Communism_] + +The combination of community unionism, along with industrial unionism +(see next section), will be the key of creating an anarchist society, +Community unionism, by creating the free commune within the state, +allows us to become accustomed to managing our own affairs and seeing +that an injury to one is an injury to all. In this way an social power +is created in opposition to the state. The town council may still be +in the hands of politicians, but neither they nor the central government +can move without worrying about what the people's reaction might be, +as expressed and organised in their community unions and assemblies. + +J.5.2 Why do anarchists support industrial unionism? + +Simply because it is effective, expresses our ideas on how industry will +be organised in an anarchist society and is a key means of ending +capitalist oppression and exploitation. As Max Stirner pointed out the +"labourers have the most enormous power in their hands, and, if they +once become thoroughly conscious of it and used it, nothing could withstand +them; they would only have to stop labour, regard the product of labour as +theirs, and enjoy it. This is the sense of the labour disturbances which +show themselves here and there." [_The Ego and Its Own_, p. 116] + +Libertarian workplace organisation is the best way of organising and +exercising this power. However, before discussing why anarchists support +industrial unionism, we must point out that the type of unionism anarchists +support has very little in common with that associated with reformist or +business unions like the TUC in Britain or the AFL-CIO in the USA (see +next section). + +In such unions, as Alexander Berkman points out, the "rank and file +have little say. They have delegated their power to leaders, and +these have become the boss. . . Once you do that, the power you +have delegated will be used against you and your interests every +time." [_The ABC of Anarchism_, p. 58] Reformist unions, even if +they do organise by industry rather than by trade or craft, are +top-heavy and bureaucratic. Thus they are organised in the same +manner as capitalist firms or the state -- and like both of these, +the officials at the top have different interests than those +at the bottom. Little wonder anarchists oppose such forms of +unionism as being counter to the interests of their members. The +long history of union officials betraying their members is proof +enough of this. + +Therefore anarchists propose a different kind of workplace organisation, +one that is organised in a totally different manner than the current, +mainstream, unions. We will call this new kind of organisation "industrial +unionism" (although perhaps industrial syndicalism or workplace +assemblies may be a better, less confusing, name for it). + +Industrial unionism is based upon the idea that workers should directly +control their own organisations and struggles. As such, it is based +upon workplace assemblies and their confederation between different +workplaces in the same industry as well as between different workplaces +in the same locality. An industrial union is a union which organises all +workers in a given type of industry together into one body. This means +that all workers regardless of their actual trade would ideally be in +the one union. On a building site, for example, brick-layers, plumbers, +carpenters and so on would all be a member of the Building Workers +Union. Each trade may have its own sections within the union (so +that plumbers can discuss issues relating to their trade for +example) but the core decision making focus would be an assembly +of all workers employed in a workplace. As they all have the same +boss it is logical for them to have the same union. + +However, industrial unionism should *not* be confused with a closed +shop situation where workers are forced to join a union when they +become a wage slave in a workplace. While anarchists do desire to +see all workers unite in one organisation, it is vitally important +that workers can leave a union and join another. The closed shop +only empowers union bureaucrats and gives them even more power +to control (and/or ignore) their members. As anarchist unionism has +no bureaucrats, there is no need for the closed shop and its voluntary +nature is essential in order to ensure that a union be subject to +"exit" as well as "voice" for it to be responsive to its members wishes. + +As Albert Meltzer argues, the closed shop means that "the [trade union] +leadership becomes all-powerful since once it exerts its right to expel +a member, that person is not only out of the union, but out of a job." +Anarcho-syndicalism, therefore, "rejects the closed shop and relies on +voluntary membership, and so avoids any leadership or bureaucracy." +[_Anarchism: Arguments for and against_, p. 56 -- also see Tom Wetzel's +excellent article "The Origins of the Union Shop", part 3 of the series +"Why does the union bureaucracy exist?" in _Ideas & Action_ no. 11, +Fall 1989 for a fuller discussion of these issues] Without voluntary +membership even the most libertarian union may become bureaucratic and +unresponsive to the needs of its members and the class struggle (even +anarcho-syndicalist unions are subject to hierarchical influences by +having to work within the hierarchical capitalist economy although +voluntary membership, along with a libertarian structure and tactics, +helps combat these tendencies -- see section J.3.5). + +Obviously this means that anarchist opposition to the closed shop has +nothing in common with boss, conservative and right-wing libertarian +opposition to it. These groups, while denouncing coercing workers into +trades unions, support the coercive power of bosses over workers without +a second thought (indeed, given their justifications of sexual harassment +and other forms of oppressive behaviour by bosses, we can imagine that +they would happily support workers having to join *company* unions to +keep their jobs -- only when bosses dislike mandatory union membership +do these defenders of "freedom" raise their opposition). Anarchist +opposition to the closed shop (like their opposition to union bureaucracy) +flows from their opposition to hierarchy and authoritarian social +relationships. The right-wing's opposition is purely a product of their +pro-capitalist and pro-authority position and the desire to see the worker +subject only to *one* boss during working hours, not *two* (particularly +if this second one has to represent workers interests to some degree). +Anarchists, on the other hand, want to get rid of all bosses during +working hours. + +In industrial unionism, the membership, assembled in their place of +work, are the ones to decide when to strike, when to pay strike pay, +what tactics to use, what demands to make, what issues to fight over +and whether an action is "official" or "unofficial". In this way the +rank and file is in control of their unions and, by confederating with +other assemblies, they co-ordinate their forces with their fellow workers. +As syndicalist activist Tom Brown makes clear: + +"The basis of the Syndicate is the mass meeting of workers assembled +at their place of work. . . The meeting elects its factory committee +and delegates. The factory is Syndicate is federated to all other +such committees in the locality. . . In the other direction, the +factory, let us say engineering factory, is affiliated to the District +Federation of Engineers. In turn the District Federation is affiliated +to the National Federation of Engineers. . . Then, each industrial +federation is affiliated to the National Federation of Labour . . . +how the members of such committees are elected is most important. +They are, first of all, not representatives like Members of Parliament +who air their own views; they are delegates who carry the message of +the workers who elect them. They do not tell the workers what the +'official' policy is; the workers tell them. + +"Delegates are subject to instant recall by the persons who elected +them. None may sit for longer than two successive years, and four +years must elapse before his [or her] next nomination. Very few will +receive wages as delegates, and then only the district rate of wages +for the industry. . . + +"It will be seen that in the Syndicate the members control the +organisation - not the bureaucrats controlling the members. In a +trade union the higher up the pyramid a man is the more power he +wields; in a Syndicate the higher he is the less power he has. + +"The factory Syndicate has full autonomy over its own affairs. . ." +[_Syndicalism_, pp. 35-36] + +As can be seen, industrial unionism reflects anarchist ideas of +organisation - it is organised from the bottom up, it is decentralised +and based upon federation and it is directly managed by its members +in mass assemblies. It is anarchism applied to industry and the needs +of the class struggle. By supporting such forms of organisations, +anarchists are not only seeing "anarchy in action," they are forming +effective tools which can win the class war. By organising in this +manner, workers are building the framework of a co-operative society +within capitalism. Rudolf Rocker makes this clear: + +"the syndicate. . . has for its purpose the defence of the interests of +the producers within existing society and the preparing for and the +practical carrying out of the reconstruction of social life . . . +It has, therefore, a double purpose: 1. As the fighting organisation +of the workers against their employers to enforce the demand of the +workers for the safeguarding of their standard of living; 2. As the +school for the intellectual training of the workers to make them +acquainted with the technical management of production and +economic life in general." [_Anarcho-Syndicalism_, p. 51] + +Given the fact that workers wages have been stagnating (or, at +best, falling behind productivity increases) across the world as +the trade unions have been weakened and marginalised (partly +because of their own tactics, structure and politics) it is clear that +there exists a great need for working people to organise to defend +themselves. The centralised, top-down trade unions we are accustomed +to have proved themselves incapable of effective struggle (and, indeed, +the number of times they have sabotaged such struggle are countless +- a result not of "bad" leaders but of the way these unions organise +and their role within capitalism). Hence anarchists support industrial +unionism (co-operation between workers assemblies) as an effective +alternative to the malaise of official trade unionism. How anarchists +aim to encourage such new forms of workplace organisation and struggle +will be discussed in the next section. + +We are sure that many radicals will consider that such decentralised, +confederal organisations would produce confusion and disunity. However, +anarchists maintain that the statist, centralised form of organisation +of the trades unions would produce indifference instead of involvement, +heartlessness instead of solidarity, uniformity instead of unity, and +elites instead of equality, nevermind killing all personal initiative +by lifeless discipline and bureaucratic ossification and permitting +no independent action. The old form of organisation has been tried +and tried again - it has always failed. The sooner workers recognise +this the better. + +One last point. We must note that many anarchists, particularly +communist-anarchists, consider unions, even anarchosyndicalist ones, as +having a strong reformist tendency (as discussed in section J.3.5). +However, all anarchists recognise the importance of autonomous class +struggle and the need for organisations to help fight that struggle. +Thus anarchist-communists, instead of trying to organise industrial +unions, apply the ideas of industrial unionism to workplace struggles. +In other words, they would agree with the need to organise all workers +into a mass assembly and to have elected, recallable administration +committees to carry out the strikers wishes. This means that such +anarchists they do not call their practical ideas "anarcho-syndicalism" +nor the workplace assemblies they desire to create "unions," there are +*extremely* similar in nature and so we can discuss both using the term +"industrial unionism". The key difference is that many (if not most) +anarcho-communists consider that permanent workplace organisations that +aim to organise *all* workers would soon become reformist. Because of +this they also see the need for anarchist to organise *as anarchists* +in order to spread the anarchist message within them and keep their +revolutionary aspects at the forefront (and so support industrial +networks -- see next section). + +Therefore while there are slight differences in terminology and practice, +all anarchists would support the ideas of industrial unionism we have +outlined above. + +J.5.3 What attitude do anarchists take to existing unions? + +As noted in the last section, anarchists desire to create organisations +in the workplace radically different from the existing trade unions. +The question now arises, what attitude do anarchists generally take to +these existing unions? + +Before answering that question, we must stress that anarchists, no matter +how hostile to trade unions as bureaucratic, reformist institutions, *are* +in favour of working class struggle. This means that when trade union +members or other workers are on strike anarchists will support them +(unless the strike is totally reactionary -- for example, no anarchist +would support a strike which is racist in nature). This is because almost +all anarchists consider it basic to their politics that you don't scab and +you don't crawl (a handful of individualist anarchists are the exception). +So, when reading anarchist criticisms of trade unions do not for an +instant think we do not support industrial struggles -- we do, we +are just very critical of the unions that are sometimes involved. + +So, what do anarchists think of the trade unions? + +For the most part, one could call the typical anarchist opinion toward +them as one of "hostile support." It is hostile insofar as anarchists +are well aware of how bureaucratic these unions are and how they continually +betray their members. Given that they are usually little more than "business" +organisations, trying to sell their members labour-power for the best deal +possible, it is unsurprising that they are bureaucratic and that the +interests of the bureaucracy are at odds with those of its membership. +However, our attitude is "supportive" in that even the worse trade +union represents an attempt at working class solidarity and self-help, +even if the attempt is now far removed from the initial protests and ideas +that set the union up. For a worker to join a trade union means having to +recognise, to some degree, that he or she has different interests from +their boss. There is no way to explain the survival of the unions other +than the fact that there are different class interests, and workers have +understood that to promote their own interests they have to organise on +class lines. + +No amount of conservatism, bureaucracy or backwardness within the unions +can obliterate the essential fact of different class interests. The very +existence of trade unions testifies to the existence of some level of +basic class consciousness -- even though most trade unions claim otherwise +and that capital and labour have interests in common. As we have argued, +anarchists reject this claim with good reason, and the very existence of +trade unions show that this is not true. If workers and capitalists have +the same interests, trade unions would not exist. Moreover, claiming that +the interests of workers and bosses are the same theoretically disarms +both the unions and its members and so weakens their struggles (after all, +if bosses and workers have similar interests then any conflict is bad +and the decisions of the boss must be in workers' interests!). + +Thus anarchist viewpoints reflect the contradictory nature of business/trade +unions -- on the one hand they are products of workers' struggle, but on +the other they are *very* bureaucratic, unresponsive and centralised and +(therefore) their full-time officials have no real interest in fighting +against wage labour as it would put them out of a job. Indeed, the very +nature of trade unionism ensures that the interests of the union (i.e. +the full-time officials) come into conflict with the people they claim +to represent. + +This can best be seen from the disgraceful activities of the TGWU with +respect to the Liverpool dockers in Britain. The union officials (and +the TUC itself) refused to support their members after they had been +sacked in 1995 for refusing to cross a picket line. The dockers +organised their own struggle, contacting dockers' unions across the +world and organising global solidarity actions. Moreover, a network +of support groups sprung up across Britain to gather funds for their +struggle (and, we are proud to note, anarchists have played their role +in supporting the strikers). Many trade unionists could tell similar +stories of betrayal by "their" union. + +This occurs because trade unions, in order to get recognition from +a company, must be able to promise industrial pieces. They need to +enforce the contracts they sign with the bosses, even if this goes +against the will of its members. Thus trade unions become a third +force in industry, somewhere between management and the workers and +pursuing its own interests. This need to enforce contracts soon ensures +that the union becomes top-down and centralised -- otherwise its +members would violate the unions agreements. They have to be able +to control their members - which usually means stopping them +fighting the boss - if they are to have anything to bargain with +at the negotiation table. This may sound odd, but the point is that +the union official has to sell the employer labour discipline and +freedom from unofficial strikes as part of its side of the bargain. +Otherwise the employer will ignore them. The nature of trade unionism +is to take power away from out of local members and centralise it +into the hands of officials at the top of the organisation. + +Thus union officials sell out their members because of the role trade +unions play within society, not because they are nasty individuals +(although some are). They behave as they do because they have too much +power and, being full-time and highly paid, are unaccountable, in any real +way, to their members. Power -- and wealth -- corrupts, no matter who you +are. (also see Chapter 11 of Alexander Berkman's _What is Communist +Anarchism?_ for an excellent introduction to anarchist viewpoints on +trade unions). + +While, in normal times, most workers will not really question the nature +of the trade union bureaucracy, this changes when workers face some threat. +Then they are brought face to face with the fact that the trade union +has interests separate from theirs. Hence we see trade unions agreeing to +wage cuts, redundancies and so on -- after all, the full-time trade union +official's job is not on the line! But, of course, while such a policy +is in the short term interests of the officials, in the longer term it goes +against their interests -- after all, who wants to join a union which rolls +over and presents no effective resistance to employers? Little wonder +Michael Moore has a chapter entitled "Why are Union Leaders So F#!@ing +Stupid?" in his book _Downsize This!_ -- essential reading to realise how +moronic trade union bureaucrats can actually be. Sadly trade union +bureaucracy seems to afflict all who enter it with short-sightedness, as +seen by the countless times the trade unions have sold-out their members -- +although the chickens do, finally, come home to roost, as the bureaucrats +of the AFL, TUC and other trade unions are finding out in this era of +global capital and falling membership. So while the activities of trade +union leaders may seem crazy and short-sighted, these activities are +forced upon them by their position and role within society -- which +explains why they are so commonplace and why even radical leaders end +up doing exactly the same thing in time. + +Few anarchists would call upon members of a trade union to tear-up their +membership cards. While some anarchists, particularly communist anarchists +and some anarcho-syndicalists have nothing but contempt (and rightly so) +for trade unions (and so do not work within them -- but will support trade +union members in struggle), the majority of anarchists take a more pragmatic +viewpoint. If no alternative syndicalist union exists, anarchists will work +within the existing unions (perhaps becoming shop-stewards -- few anarchists +would agree to be elected to positions above this in any trade union, +particularly if the post was full-time), spreading the anarchist message and +trying to create a libertarian undercurrent which would hopefully blossom +into a more anarchistic labour movement. + +So most anarchists "support" the trade unions only until they have created +a viable libertarian alternative. Thus we will become trade union members +while trying to spread anarchist ideas within and outwith them. This means +that anarchists are flexible in terms of their activity in the unions. For +example, many IWW members were "two-carders." This meant that as well +as being members of the IWW, they were also in the local AFL branch in +their place of work and turned to the IWW when the AFL hierarchy refused +to back strikes or other forms of direct action. Anarchists encourage +rank and file self-activity, *not* endless calls for trade union +bureaucrats to act for us (as is unfortunately far too common on +the left). + +Anarchist activity within trade unions reflects our ideas on hierarchy and +its corrupting effects. We reject totally the response of left-wing social +democrats, Stalinists and mainstream Trotskyists to the problem of trade +union betrayal, which is to try and elect and/or appoint 'better' officials. +They see the problem primarily in terms of the individuals who hold the posts. +However this ignores the fact that individuals are shaped by the environment +they live in and the role they play in society. Thus even the most left-wing +and progressive individual will become a bureaucrat if they are placed +within a bureaucracy -- and we must note that the problem of corruption +does not spring from the high-wages officials are paid (although this is a +factor), but from the power they have over their members (which partly +expresses itself in high pay). + +Any claim that electing "radical" full-time officials who refuse to take +the high wages associated with the position will be better is false. The +hierarchical nature of the trade union structure has to be changed, not +side-effects of it. As the left has no problem with hierarchy as such, +this explains why they support this form of "reform." They do not actually +want to undercut whatever dependency the members has on leadership, they +want to replace the leaders with "better" ones (i.e. themselves or members +of their party) and so endlessly call upon the trade union bureaucracy to +act *for* its members. In this way, they hope, trade unionists will see +the need to support a "better" leadership -- namely themselves. Anarchists, +in stark contrast, think that the problem is not that the leadership of the +trade unions is weak, right-wing or does not act but that the union's +membership follows them. Thus anarchists aim at undercutting reliance on +leaders (be they left or right) by encouraging self-activity by the rank +and file and awareness that hierarchical leadership as such is bad, not +individual leaders. + +Instead of "reform" from above (which is doomed to failure), anarchists work +at the bottom and attempt to empower the rank and file of the trade unions. +It is self-evident that the more power, initiative and control that lies with +the rank & file membership on the shop floor, the less it will lie with the +bureaucracy. Thus anarchists work within and outwith the trade unions in order +to increase the power of workers where it actually lies: at the point of +production. This is usually done by creating networks of activists who +spread anarchist ideas to their fellow workers (see next section -- "What +are Industrial Networks?"). + +These groups "within the unions should strive to ensure that they [the trade +unions] remain open to all workers of whatever opinion or party on the sole +condition that there is solidarity in the struggle against the bosses. They +should oppose the corporatist spirit and any attempt to monopolise labour or +organisation. They should prevent the Unions from becoming the tools of the +politicians for electoral or other authoritarian ends; they should preach and +practice direct action, decentralisation, autonomy and free initiative. They +should strive to help members learn how to participate directly in the life +of the organisation and to do without leaders and permanent officials. + +"They must, in short, remain anarchists, remain always in close touch with +anarchists and remember that the workers' organisation is not the end but +just one of the means, however important, of preparing the way for the +achievement of anarchism." [Errico Malatesta, _The Anarchist Revolution_, +pp. 26-27] + +As part of this activity anarchists promote the ideas of Industrial +Unionism we highlighted in the last section -- namely direct workers +control of struggle via workplace assemblies and recallable committees +-- during times of struggle. However, anarchists are aware that economic +struggle (and trade unionism as such) "cannot be an end in itself, since +the struggle must also be waged at a political level to distinguish the +role of the State." [Errico Malatesta, _Life and Ideas_, p, 115] Thus, +as well as encouraging worker self-organisation and self-activity, +anarchist groups also seek to politicise struggles and those involved +in them. Only this process of self-activity and political discussion +between equals *within* social struggles can ensure the process of +working class self-liberation and the creation of new, more libertarian, +forms of workplace organisation. + +The result of such activity may be a new form of workplace organisation +(either workplace assemblies or an anarcho-syndicalist union) or a reformed, +more democratic version of the existing trade union (although few anarchists +believe that the current trade unions can be reformed). But either way, +the aim is to get as many members of the current labour movement to become +anarchists as possible or, at the very least, take a more libertarian and +radical approach to their unions and workplace struggle. + +J.5.4 What are industrial networks? + +Industrial networks are the means by which revolutionary industrial unions +and other forms of libertarian workplace organisation can be created. +The idea of Industrial Networks originated with the British section of the +anarcho-syndicalist International Workers' Association in the late 1980s. It +was developed as a means of promoting anarcho-syndicalist/anarchist ideas +within the workplace, so creating the basis on which a workplace movement +based upon the ideas of industrial unionism (see section J.5.2) could grow +and expand. + +The idea is very simple. An Industrial Network is a federation of +militants in a given industry who support the ideas of anarchism and/or +anarcho-syndicalism, namely direct action, solidarity and organisation +from the bottom up (the difference between purely anarchist networks +and anarcho-syndicalist ones will be highlighted later). In other words, +it would "initially be a political grouping in the economic sphere, aiming +to build a less reactive but positive organisation within the industry. +The long term aim. . . is, obviously, the creation of an anarcho-syndicalist +union." [_Winning the Class War_, p. 18] + +The Industrial Network would be an organisation of groups of anarchists +and syndicalists within a workplace united into an industrial basis. They +would pull their resources together to fund a regular bulletin and other +forms of propaganda which they would distribute within their workplace +and industry. These bulletins and leaflets would raise and discuss issues +related to work and how to right back and win as well as placing workplace +issues in a social and political context. This propaganda would present +anarchist ideas of workplace organisation and resistance as well as general +anarchist ideas and analysis. In this way anarchist ideas and tactics +would be able to get a wider hearing and anarchists can have an input *as +anarchists* into workplace struggles. + +Traditionally, many syndicalists and anarcho-syndicalists advocated the +*One Big Union* strategy, the aim of which was to organise all workers into +one organisation representing the whole working class. Today, however, most +anarcho-syndicalists and all social anarchists advocate workers assemblies +for decision making during struggles (the basic form of which we discussed +in section J.5.2). The role of the anarchist group or anarcho-syndicalist +(or revolutionary) union would basically be to call such workplace assemblies, +argue for direct workers control of struggle by these mass assemblies, promote +direct action and solidarity, put across anarchist ideas and politics and +keep things on the boil, so to speak. + +This support for industrial networks exists because most anarcho-syndicalists +recognise that they face dual unionism (which means there are more than one +union within a given workplace or country). This was the case, historically, +in all countries with a large anarcho-syndicalist union movement - in Spain +and Italy there were the socialist unions along with the syndicalist ones +and so on). Therefore most anarcho-syndicalists do not expect to ever get +a majority of the working class into a revolutionary union before a +revolutionary situation develops. In addition, anarcho-syndicalists +recognise that a revolutionary union "is not just an economic fighting +force, but also an organisation with a political context. To build such +a union requires a lot of work and experience" of which the Industrial +Networks are but one aspect. [Ibid.] + +Thus industrial networks are intended to deal with the actual situation +that confronts us, and provide a strategy for moving from our present +reality toward out ultimate goals. Where one has only a handful of +anarchists and syndicalists in a workplace or scattered across several +workplaces there is a clear need for developing ways for these fellow +workers to effectively act in union, rather than be isolated and +relegated to more general agitation. A handful of anarchists cannot +meaningfully call a general strike. But we can agitate around specific +industrial issues and organise our fellow workers to do something about +them. Through such campaigns we demonstrate the advantages of +rank-and-file unionism and direct action, show our fellow workers +that our ideas are not mere abstract theory but can be implemented +here and now, attract new members and supporters, and further develop +our capacity to develop revolutionary unions in our workplaces. + +Thus the creation of Industrial Networks and the calling for workplace +assemblies is a recognition of where we are now -- with anarchist ideas +very much in the minority. Calling for workers assemblies is not +an anarchist tactic per se, we must add, but a working class one developed +and used plenty of times by workers in struggles (indeed, it was how the +current trade unions were created). It also puts the onus on the reformists +and reactionary unions by appealing directly to their members as workers +and showing their bureaucrat organisations and reformist politics by +creating an effective alternative to them. + +A few anarchists reject the idea of Industrial Networks and instead support +the idea of "rank and file" groups which aim to put pressure on the current +trade unions to become more militant and democratic (a few anarcho-syndicalists +think that such groups can be used to reform the trade-unions into libertarian, +revolutionary organisations -- called "boring from within" -- but most reject +this as utopia, viewing the trade union bureaucracy as unreformable as +the state's). Moreover, opponents of "rank and file" groups argue that +they direct time and energy *away* from practical and constructive activity +and instead waste them "[b]y constantly arguing for changes to the union +structure. . . the need for the leadership to be more accountable, etc., +[and so] they not only [offer] false hope but [channel] energy +and discontent away from the real problem - the social democratic +nature of reformist trade unions." [_Winning the Class War_, p. 11] + +Supporters of the "rank and file" approach fear that the Industrial Networks +will isolate anarchists from the mass of trade union members by creating +tiny "pure" syndicalist unions or anarchist groups. But such a claim is +rejected by supporters of Industrial Networks. They maintain that they +will be working with trade union members where it counts, in the +workplace and not in badly attended, unrepresentative branch +meetings. So: + +"We have no intention of isolating ourselves from the many workers who +make up the rest of the rank and file membership of the unions. We +recognise that a large proportion of trade union members are only +nominally so as the main activity of social democratic [i.e. reformist] +unions is outside the workplace. . . *We aim to unite and not divide +workers.* + +"It has been argued that social democratic unions will not tolerate this +kind of activity, and that we would be all expelled and thus isolated. +So be it. We, however, don't think that this will happen until. . . +workplace militants had found a voice independent of the trade unions +and so they become less useful to us anyway. Our aim is not to +support social democracy, but to show it up as irrelevant to the +working class." [Op. Cit., p. 19] + +Whatever the merits and disadvantages of both approaches are, it seems +likely that the activity of both will overlap in practice with Industrial +Networks operating within trade union branches and "rank and file" groups +providing alternative structures for struggle. + +As noted above, there is a slight difference between anarcho-syndicalist +supporters of Industrial Networks and communist-anarchist ones. This is to +do with how they see the function and aim of these networks. While both +agree that such networks should agitate in their industry and call and +support mass assemblies to organise resistance to capitalist exploitation +and oppression they disagree on who can join the network groups and what +they aims should be. Anarcho-syndicalists aim for the Industrial +Networks to be the focal point for the building of permanent syndicalist +unions and so aim for the Industrial Networks to be open to all workers +who accept the general aims of the organisation. Anarcho-communists, +however, view Industrial Networks as a means of increasing anarchist +ideas within the working class and are not primarily concerned about +building syndicalist unions (while many anarcho-communists would +support such a development, some do not). + +These anarchists, therefore, see the need for workplace-based branches +of an anarchist group along with the need for networks of militant +'rank and file' workers, but reject the idea of something that is one +but pretends to be the other. They argue that, far from avoiding the +problems of classical anarcho-syndicalism, such networks seem to emphasise +one of the worst problems -- namely that of how the organisation +remains anarchist but is open to non-anarchists. + +But the similarities between the two positions are greater than the +differences and so can be summarised together, as we have done here. + +J.5.5 What forms of co-operative credit do anarchists support? + +Anarchists tend to support must forms of co-operation, including those +associated with credit and money. This co-operative credit/banking takes +many forms, such as credit unions, LETS schemes and so on. In this +section we discuss two main forms of co-operative credit, *mutualism* +and *LETS*. + +Mutualism is the name for the ideas associated with Proudhon and his _Bank +of the People_. Essentially, it is a confederation of credit unions in +which working class people pool their funds and savings. This allows +credit to be arranged at cost, so increasing the options available to +working people as well as abolishing interest on loans by making increasing +amount of cheap credit available to working people. LETS stands for Local +Exchange Trading Schemes and is a similar idea in many ways (and apparently +discovered independently) -- see _Bringing the Economy Home from the +Market_ by V.G. Dobson for a detailed discussion on LETS. + +Both schemes revolve around creating an alternative form of currency and +credit within capitalism in order to allow working class people to work +outwith the capitalist money system by creating "labour notes" as a +new circulating medium. In this way, it is hoped, workers would be able +to improve their living and working conditions by having a source of +community-based (very low interest) credit and so be less dependent on +capitalists and the capitalist banking system. Some supporters of mutualism +considered it as the ideal way of reforming capitalism away. By making +credit available to the ordinary worker at very cheap rates, the end of +wage slavery would soon occur as workers would work for themselves by +either purchasing the necessary tools required for their work or, by their +increased bargaining power within the economy, gain industrial democracy +from the capitalists by buying them out. + +Such ideas have had a long history within the socialist movement, originating +in the British socialist movement in the early 19th century. Robert Owen +and other Socialists active at the time considered the idea of labour +notes and exchanges as a means of improving working class conditions within +capitalism and as the means of reforming capitalism into a society of +confederated, self-governing communities. Indeed, "Equitable Labour Exchanges" +were "founded at London and Birmingham in 1832" with "Labour notes and the +exchange of small products" [E.P. Thompson, _The Making of the English +Working Class_, p. 870] Apparently independently of these early attempts +in England at what would later be called mutualism, P-J Proudhon arrived +at the same ideas decades later in France. In his words, "The People's Bank +quite simply embodies the financial and economic aspects of the principle +of modern democracy, that is, the sovereignty of the People, and of the +republican motto, 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.'" [_Selected Writings of +P-J Proudhon_, p. 75] Similarly, in the USA (partly as a result of Joshua +Warren's activities, who got the idea from Robert Owen) there was extensive +discussion on labour notes, exchanges and free credit as a means of protecting +workers from the evils of capitalism and ensuring their independence and +freedom from wage slavery. When Proudhon's works appeared in North America, +the basic arguments were well known. + +Therefore the idea that mutual banking using labour money as a means +to improve working class living conditions, even, perhaps, to achieve +industrial democracy, self-management and the end of capitalism has a long +history in Socialist thought. Unfortunately this aspect of socialism became +less important with the rise of Marxism (which called these early socialists +"utopian") attempts at such credit unions and alternative exchange schemes +were generally replaced with attempts to build working class political +parties. With the rise of Marxian social democracy, constructive socialistic +experiments and collective working class self-help was replaced by working +within the capitalist state. Fortunately, history has had the last laugh +on Marxism with working class people yet again creating anew the ideas of +Mutualism (as can be seen by the growth of LETS and other schemes of +community money). + +J.5.6 What are the key features of mutual credit schemes? + +Mutualism, as noted in the last section, is a form of credit co-operation, +in which individuals pull their resources together in order to benefit +themselves as individuals and as part of a community. LETS is another form +of mutualism which developed recently, and apparently developed independently +(from its start in Canada, LETS has spread across the world and there are +now hundreds of schemes involved hundreds of thousands of people). Mutual +banks and LETS have the following key aspects: + + 1) Co-operation: No-one owns the network. It is controlled by + its members directly. + 2) Non-exploitative: No interest is charged on account balances + or credit. At most administrative costs are charged, a result + of it being commonly owned and managed. + 3) Consent: Nothing happens without it, there is no compulsion + to trade. + 4) Money: They use their own type of money (traditionally called + "labour-notes") as a means of aiding "honest exchange". + +It is hoped, by organising credit, working class people will be able to +work for themselves and slowly but surely replace capitalism with +a co-operative system based upon self-management. While LETS schemes +do not have such grand schemes, historically mutualism aimed at +working within and transforming capitalism to socialism. At the very +least, LETS schemes reduce the power and influence of banks and finance +capital within society as mutualism ensures that working people +have a viable alternative to such parasites. + +This point is important, as the banking system and money is often +considered "neutral" (particularly in capitalist economics). However, +as Malatesta correctly argues, it would be "a mistake to believe . . . +that the banks are, or are in the main, a means to facilitate +exchange; they are a means to speculate on exchange and currencies, +to invest capital and to make it produce interest, and to fulfil +other typically capitalist operations." [_Life and Ideas_, p. 100] + +Within capitalism, money is still to a large degree a commodity which +is more than a convenient measure of work done in the production +of goods and services. As a commodity it can and does go anywhere in +the world where it can get the best return for its owners, and so it +tends to drain out of those communities that need it most. It is the +means by which capitalists can buy the liberty of working people and +get them to produce a surplus for them (wealth is, after all, "a power +invested in certain individuals by the institutions of society, to +compel others to labour for their benefit." [William Godwin, _The +Anarchist Writings of William Godwin_, p. 130]. From this +consideration alone, working class control of credit and money +is an important part of the class struggle as having access to +alternative sources of credit can increase working class options +and power. + +Moreover, credit is also an important form of social control -- +people who have to pay their mortgage or visa bill are more pliable, +less likely to strike or make other forms of political trouble. And, +of course, credit expands the consumption of the masses in the face +of stagnant or falling wages while allowing capitalists to profit +from it. Indeed, there is a link between the rising debt burden on +households in the 1980s and 1990s and the increasing concentration +of wealth. This is "because of the decline in real hourly wages and +the stagnation in household incomes, the middle and lower classes +have borrowed to stay in place; they've borrowed from the very rich +who have gotten richer. The rich need a place to earn interest on +their surplus funds, and the rest of the population makes a juicy +lending target." [Doug Henwood, _Wall Street_, pp. 64-65] + +Little wonder that the state (and the capitalists who run it) is so +concerned to keep control of money in its own hands or the hands +of its agents. With an increase in mutual credit, interest rates +would drop, wealth would stay more in working class communities, +and the social power of working people would increase (for people +would be more likely to struggle for higher wages and better +conditions -- as the fear of debt repayments would be less). + +Therefore, mutualism is an example of what could be termed +"counter-economics". By counter-economics we mean the creation of +community-based credit unions that do not put their money into +"Capital Markets" or into capitalist Banks. We mean finding ways +for workers to control their own retirement funds. We mean finding +ways of using money as a means of undermining capitalist power +and control and supporting social struggle and change. + +In this way working people are controlling more and more of the +money supply and using it ways that will stop capital from using +it to oppress and exploit the working class. An example of why +this can be important can be seen from the results of the existing +workers' pension fund system. Currently workers pension funds are +being used to invest in capitalist firms (particularly transnationals +and other forms of Big Business) and these companies use the invested +money to fund their activities. The idea is that by so investing, +workers will receive an adequate pension in their old age. + +However, the only people actually winning are bankers and big companies. +Unsurprisingly, the managers of these pension fund companies are +investing in those firms with the highest returns, which are usually +those who are downsizing or extracting most surplus value from their +workforce (which in turn forces other companies to follow the same +strategies to get access to the available funds in order to survive). + +Basically, if you are lending your money to be used to put your +fellow worker out of work or increase the power of capital, +then you are not only helping to make things harder for others +like you, you are also helping making things worse for yourself. +No person is an island, and increasing the clout of capital over +the working class is going to affect you directly or indirectly. +And, of course, it seems crazy to suggest that workers desire to +experience insecurity, fear of downsizing and stagnating wages +during their working lives in order to have slightly more money +when they retire. + +This highlights one of the tricks the capitalists are using against +us, namely to get us to buy into the system through our fear of old age. +Whether it is going into lifelong debt to buy a home or lending our +money to capitalists, we are being encouraged to buy into something +which we value more than what is right and wrong. This allows us to +be more easily controlled by the government. We need to get away +from living in fear and stop allowing ourselves to be deceived +into behaving like "stakeholders" in Capitalistic and Plutocratic +systems. As can be seen from the use of pension funds to buy +out firms, increase the size of transnationals and downsize +the workforce, such "stakeholding" amounts to trading in the +present *and* the future while others benefit. + +The real enemies are *not* working people who take part in such +pension schemes. It is the people in power, those who manage the +pension schemes and companies, who are trying to squeeze every +last cent out of working people to finance higher profits and stock +prices -- which the unemployment and impoverishment of workers on +a world-wide scale aids. They control the governments of the world. +They are making the "rules" of the current system. Hence the +importance of limiting the money they have available, of creating +community-based credit unions and mutual risk insurance +co-operatives to increase our control over our money and create our +own, alternative, means of credit and exchange (as presented as +mutualism) which can be used to empower ourselves, aid our struggles +and create our own alternatives. Money, representing as it does the +power of capital and the authority of the boss, is not "neutral" and +control over it plays a role in the class struggle. We ignore such +issues at our own peril. + +J.5.7 Do most anarchists think mutual credit is sufficient to abolish + capitalism? + +The short answer is no, they do not. While the Individualist Anarchists +and Mutualists (followers of Proudhon) do think that mutual banking is +the only sure way of abolishing capitalism, most anarchists do not see +mutualism as an end in itself. Few think that capitalism can be +reformed away in the manner assumed by Proudhon. Increased access to +credit does not address the relations of production and market power +which exist within the economy and so any move for financial transformation +has to be part of a broader attack on all forms of capitalist social power +in order to be both useful and effective (see section B.3.2 for more +anarchist views on mutual credit and its uses). So, for most anarchists, +it is only in combination with other forms of working class self-activity +and self-management that mutualist institutions could play an important +role in the class struggle. + +By creating a network of mutual banks to aid in creating co-operatives, union +organising drives, supporting strikes (either directly by gifts/loans or +funding food and other co-operatives which could supply food and other +essentials free or at a reduction), mutualism can be used as a means of +helping build libertarian alternatives within the capitalist system. Such +alternatives, while making life better under the current system, also can +play a role in overcoming that system by being a means of aiding those in +struggle make ends meet and providing alternative sources of income for +black-listed or sacked workers. Thus Bakunin's comments: + +"let us co-operate in our common enterprise to make our lives a little +bit more supportable and less difficult. Let us, wherever possible, +establish producer-consumer co-operatives and mutual credit societies which, +though under the present economic conditions they cannot in any real or +adequate way free us, are nevertheless important inasmuch they train the +workers in the practices of managing the economy and plant the precious +seeds for the organisation of the future." [_Bakunin on Anarchism_, +p. 173] + +Therefore, while few anarchists think that mutualism would be enough +in itself, it can play a role in the class struggle. As a compliment to +direct action and workplace and community struggle and organisation, +mutualism has an important role in working class self-liberation. For +example, community unions (see section J.5.1) could create their own +mutual banks and money which could be used to fund co-operatives and +support strikes and other forms of social struggle. In this way a +healthy communalised co-operative sector could develop within capitalism, +overcoming the problems of isolation facing workplace co-operatives +(see section J.5.11) as well as providing a firm framework of support +for those in struggle. + +Moreover, mutual banking can be a way of building upon and strengthening +the anarchistic social relations within capitalism. For even under +capitalism and statism, there exists extensive mutual aid and, indeed, +anarchistic and communistic ways of living. For example, communistic +arrangements exist within families, between friends and lovers and +within anarchist organisations. + +Mutual banking could be a means of creating a bridge between this +alternative (gift) "economy" and capitalism. The mutualist alternative +economy would help strength communities and bonds of trust between +individuals, and this would increase the scope for increasing the scope +of the communistic sector as more and more people help each other out +without the medium of exchange - in other words, mutualism will help +the gift economy that exists within capitalism to grow and develop. + +J.5.8 What would a modern system of mutual banking look like? + +The mutual banking ideas of Proudhon could be adapted to the conditions of +modern society, as will be described in what follows. (Note: Proudhon is +the definitive source on mutualism, but for those who don't read French, +there are the works of his American disciples, e.g. William B. Greene's +_Mutual Banking_, and Benjamin Tucker's _Instead of a Book by a Man Too +Busy to Write One_). + +One scenario for an updated system of mutual banking would be for a +community barter association to begin issuing an alternative currency +accepted as money by all individuals within the system. This "currency" +would not at first take the form of coins or bills, but would be +circulated entirely through transactions involving the use of barter-cards, +personal checks, and "e-money" transfers via modem/Internet. Let's call +this currency-issuing type of barter association a "mutual barter +clearinghouse," or just "clearinghouse" for short. + +The clearinghouse would have a twofold mandate: first, to extend credit +at cost to members; second, to manage the circulation of credit-money within +the system, charging only a small service fee (probably one percent or less) +which is sufficient to cover its costs of operation, including labour costs +involved in issuing credit and keeping track of transactions, insuring +itself against losses from uncollectable debts, and so forth. + +The clearinghouse would be organised and function as follows. Members +of the original barter association would be invited to become +subscriber-members of the clearinghouse by pledging a certain amount of +property as collateral. On the basis of this pledge, an account would be +opened for the new member and credited with a sum of mutual dollars +equivalent to some fraction of the assessed value of the property pledged. +The new member would agree to repay this amount plus the service fee +by a certain date. The mutual dollars in the new account could then be +transferred through the clearinghouse by using a barter card, by writing a +personal check, or by sending e-money via modem to the accounts of other +members, who have agreed to receive mutual money in payment for all +debts. + +The opening of this sort of account is, of course, the same as taking out +a "loan" in the sense that a commercial bank "lends" by extending credit +to a borrower in return for a signed note pledging a certain amount of +property as security. The crucial difference is that the clearinghouse +does not purport to be "lending" a sum of money that it *already has,* as +is fraudulently claimed by commercial banks. Instead it honestly admits +that it is creating new money in the form of credit. New accounts can +also be opened simply by telling the clearinghouse that one wants an +account and then arranging with other people who already have balances to +transfer mutual money into one's account in exchange for goods or +services. + +Another form is that associated with LETS systems. In this a number of +people get together to form an association. They create a unit of exchange +(which is equal in value to a unit of the national currency usually), +choose a name for it and offer each other goods and services priced in +these units. These offers and wants are listed in a directory which is +circulated periodically to members. Members decide who they wish to +trade with and how much trading they wish to do. When a transaction is +completed, this is acknowledged with a "cheque" made out by the buyer +and given to the seller. These are passed on to the system accounts +administration which keeps a record of all transactions and periodically +sends members a statement of their accounts. The accounts administration +is elected by, and accountable to, the membership and information about +balances is available to all members. + +Unlike the first system described, members do not have to present property +as collateral. Members of a LETS scheme can go into "debt" without it, +although "debt" is the wrong word as members are not so much going into +debt as committing themselves to do some work within the system in the +future and by so doing they are creating spending power. The willingness +of members to incur such a commitment could be described as a service to +the community as others are free to use the units so created to trade +themselves. Indeed, the number of units in existence exactly matches +the amount of real wealth being exchanged. The system only works if +members are willing to spend and runs on trust and builds up trust +as the system is used. + +It is likely that a fully functioning mutual banking system would +incorporate aspects of both these systems. The need for collateral may +be used when members require very large loans while the LETS system of +negative credit as a commitment to future work would be the normal +function of the system. If the mutual bank agrees a maximum limit for +negative balances, it may agree to take collateral for transactions +that exceed this limit. However, it is obvious that any mutual banking +system will find the best means of working in the circumstances it +finds itself. + +J.5.9 How does mutual credit work? + +Let's consider an example of how business would be transacted in the new +system. There are two possibilities, depending on whether the mutual +credit is based upon whether the creditor can provide collateral or +not. we will take the case with collateral first. + +Suppose that A, an organic farmer, pledges as collateral a certain plot +of land that she owns and on which she wishes to build a house. The land +is valued at, say, $40,000 in the capitalist market. By pledging the land, +A is able to open a credit account at the clearinghouse for, say, $30,000 +in mutual money (a ratio of 3/4). She does so knowing that there are +many other members of the system who are carpenters, electricians, +plumbers, hardware dealers, and so on who are willing to accept mutual +dollars in payment for their products or services. + +It's easy to see why other subscriber-members, who have also obtained +mutual credit and are therefore in debt to the clearinghouse for mutual +dollars, would be willing to accept such dollars in return for their goods +and services. For they need to collect mutual dollars to repay their +debts. But why would someone who is not in debt for mutual dollars be +willing to accept them as money? + +To see why, let's suppose that B, an underemployed carpenter, currently +has no account at the clearinghouse but that he knows about the +clearinghouse and the people who operate it. After examining its list of +members and becoming familiar with the policies of the new organisation, +he's convinced that it does not extend credit frivolously to untrustworthy +recipients who are likely to default. He also knows that if he contracts +to do the carpentry on A's new house and agrees to be paid for his work in +mutual money, he'll then be able to use it to buy groceries, clothes, car +repairs, and other goods and services from various people in the community +who already belong to the system. + +Thus B will be willing, and perhaps even eager (especially if the economy +is in recession and regular money is tight) to work for A and receive +payment in mutual dollars. For he knows that if he is paid, say, $8,000 +in mutual money for his labour on A's house, this payment constitutes, in +effect, 20 percent of a mortgage on her land, the value of which is +represented by her mutual credit. B also understands that A has promised +to repay this mortgage by producing new value -- that is, by growing +organic fruits and vegetables and selling them for mutual dollars to other +members of the system -- and that it is this promise to produce new wealth +which gives her mutual credit its value as a medium of exchange. + +To put this point slightly differently, A's mutual credit can be thought +of as a lien against goods or services which she has guaranteed to create +in the future. As security of this guarantee, she agrees that if she is +unable for some reason to fulfil her obligation, the land she has pledged +will be sold for mutual dollars to other members. In this way, a value +sufficient to cancel her debt (and probably then some) will be returned to +the system. This provision insures that the clearinghouse is able to +balance its books and gives members confidence that mutual money is sound. + +It should be noticed that since new wealth is continually being created, +the basis for new mutual credit is also being created at the same time. +Thus, suppose that after A's new house has been built, her daughter, C, +along with a group of friends D, E, F, . . . , decide that they want to +start a collectively owned and operated organic restaurant (which will +incidentally benefit A, as an outlet for her produce), but that C and her +friends do not have enough collateral to obtain a start-up loan. A, +however, is willing to co-sign a note for them, pledging her new house +(valued at say, $80,000) as security. On this basis, C and her partners +are able to obtain $60,000 worth of mutual credit, which they then use to +buy equipment, supplies, furniture, advertising, etc. and lease the +building necessary to start their restaurant. + +This example illustrates one way in which people without property are able +to obtain credit in the new system. Another way -- for those who cannot +find (or perhaps don't wish to ask) someone with property to co-sign for +them -- is to make a down payment and then use the property which is to be +purchased on credit as security, as in the current method of obtaining a +home or auto loan. With mutual credit, however, this form of financing +can be used to purchase anything, including capital goods. + +Which brings us to the case of an individual without means for providing +collateral - say, for example A, the organic farmer, does not own the +land she works. In such a case, A, who still desires work done, would +contact other members of the mutual bank with the skills she requires. +Those members with the appropriate skills and who agree to work with +her commit themselves to do the required tasks. In return, A gives +them a check in mutual dollars which is credited to their account and +deducted from hers. She does not pay interest on this issue of credit +and the sum only represents her willingness to do some work for other +members of the bank at some future date. + +The mutual bank does not have to worry about the negative balance, as +this does not create a loss within the group as the minuses which have +been incurred have already created wealth (pluses) within the system +and it stays there. It is likely, of course, that the mutual bank +would agree an upper limit on negative balances and require some form +of collateral for credit greater than this limit, but for most exchanges +this would be unlikely to be relevant. + +It is important to remember that mutual dollars have no *intrinsic* value, +since they can't be redeemed (at the mutual bank) in gold or anything else. +All they are promises of future labour. Thus, as Greene points out in +his work on mutual banking, mutual dollars are "a mere medium for the +facilitation of barter." In this respect they are closely akin to the +so-called "barter dollars" now being circulated by barter associations +through the use of checks and barter cards. To be precise, then, we +should refer to the units of mutual money as "mutual barter dollars." But +whereas ordinary barter dollars are created at the same time that a barter +transaction occurs and are used to record the values exchanged in that +transaction, mutual barter dollars are created *before* any actual barter +transaction occurs and are intended to facilitate *future* barter +transactions. This fact is important because it can be used as the basis +for a legal argument that clearinghouses are essentially barter +associations rather than banks, thrifts, or credit unions, and therefore +should not be subject to the laws governing the latter institutions. + +J.5.10 Why do anarchists support co-operatives? + +Support for co-operatives is a common feature in anarchist writings. Indeed, +anarchist support for co-operatives is as old as use of the term anarchist to +describe our ideas is. So why do anarchists support co-operatives? Basically +it is because a co-operative is seen as an example of the future social +organisation anarchists want in the present. As Bakunin argued, "the +co-operative system. . . carries within it the germ of the future economic +order." [_The Philosophy of Bakunin_, p. 385] + +Anarchists support all kinds of co-operatives - housing, food, credit unions +and productive ones. All forms of co-operation are useful as they accustom +their members to work together for their common benefit as well as ensuring +extensive experience in managing their own affairs. As such, all forms of +co-operatives are useful examples of self-management and anarchy in action +(to some degree). However, here we will concentrate on productive +co-operatives, i.e. workplace co-operatives. This is because workplace +co-operatives, potentially, could *replace* the capitalist mode of production +with one based upon associated, not wage, labour. As long as capitalism +exists within industry and agriculture, no amount of other kinds of +co-operatives will end that system. Capital and wealth accumulates by +oppression and exploitation in the workplace, therefore as long as wage +slavery exists anarchy will not. + +Co-operatives are the "germ of the future" because of two facts. Firstly, +co-operatives are based on one worker, one vote. In other words those who do +the work manage the workplace within which they do it (i.e. they are based +on workers' self-management in some form). Thus co-operatives are an example +of the "horizontal" directly democratic organisation that anarchists support +and so are an example of "anarchy in action" (even if in an imperfect way) +within the economy. In addition, they are an example of working class +self-help and self-activity. Instead of relying on others to provide work, +co-operatives show that production can be carried on without the existence +of a class of masters employing a class of order takers. + +Workplace co-operatives also present evidence of the viability of an anarchist +"economy." It is well established that co-operatives are usually more +productive and efficient than their capitalist equivalents. This indicates +that hierarchical workplaces are *not* required in order to produce +useful goods and indeed can be harmful. Indeed, it also indicates that +the capitalist market does not actually allocate resources efficiently +(as we will discuss in section J.5.12). So why should co-operatives be more +efficient? + +Firstly there are the positive effects of increased liberty associated +with co-operatives. + +Co-operatives, by abolishing wage slavery, obviously increases the liberty +of those who work in them. Members take an active part in the management +of their working lives and so authoritarian social relations are replaced +by libertarian ones. Unsurprisingly, this liberty also leads to an increase +in productivity - just as wage labour is more productive than slavery, so +associated labour is more productive than wage slavery. Little wonder +Kropotkin argued that "the only guarantee not to be robbed of the fruits +of your labour is to possess the instruments of labour. . . man really +produces most when he works in freedom, when he has a certain choice in +his occupations, when he has no overseer to impede him, and lastly, when +he sees his work bringing profit to him and to others who work like him, +but bringing in little to idlers." [_The Conquest of Bread_, p. 145] + +There are also the positive advantages associated with participation +(i.e. self-management, liberty in other words). Within a self-managed, +co-operative workplace, workers are directly involved in decision +making and so these decisions are enriched by the skills, experiences +and ideas of all members of the workplace. As workers also own their place +of work, they have an interest in developing the skills and abilities of +their members and, obviously, this also means that there are few conflicts +within the workplace. Unlike capitalist firms, there is no need conflict +between bosses and wage slaves over work loads, conditions or the division +of value created between them. All these factors will increase the quality, +quantity and efficiency of work and so increases efficient utilisation of +available resources and facilities the introduction of new techniques and +technologies. + +Secondly, the increased efficiency of co-operatives results from the benefits +associated with co-operation itself. Not only does co-operation increase +the pool of knowledge and abilities available within the workplace and +enriches that source by communication and interaction, it also ensures that +the workforce are working together instead of competing and so wasting +time and energy. As Alfie Kohn notes (in relation to investigations of +in-firm co-operation): + +"Dean Tjosvold of Simon Frazer. . .conducted [studies] at utility companies, +manufacturing plants, engineering firms, and many other kinds of organisations. +Over and over again, Tjosvold has found that 'co-operation makes a work force +motivated' whereas 'serious competition undermines co-ordination.' . . . +Meanwhile, the management guru. . . T. Edwards Demming, has declared that +the practice of having employees compete against each other is 'unfair [and] +destructive. We cannot afford this nonsense any longer. . . [We need to] +work together on company problems [but] annual rating of performance, +incentive pay, [or] bonuses cannot live with team work. . . What takes +the joy out of learning. . .[or out of] anything? Trying to be number one.'" +[_No Contest_, p. 240] + +(The question of co-operation and participation within capitalist firms will +be discussed in section J.5.12). + +Thirdly, there are the benefits associated with increased equality. Studies +prove that business performance deteriorates when pay differentials become +excessive. In a study of over 100 businesses (producing everything from +kitchen appliances to truck axles), researchers found that the greater the +wage gap between managers and workers, the lower their product's quality. +[Douglas Cowherd and David Levine, "Product Quality and Pay Equity," +_Administrative Science Quarterly_ no. 37 (June 1992), pp. 302-30] Businesses +with the greatest inequality were plagued with a high employee turnover +rate. Study author David Levine said: "These organisations weren't able to +sustain a workplace of people with shared goals." [quoted by John Byrne in +"How high can CEO pay go?" _Business Week_, April 22, 1996] + +(In fact, the negative effects of income inequality can be seen on a national +level as well. Economists Torsten Persson and Guido Tabellini conducted a +thorough statistical analysis of historical inequality and growth, and found +that nations with more equal incomes generally experience faster productive +growth. ["Is Inequality Harmful for Growth?", _American Economic Review_ +no. 84, June 1994, pp. 600-21] Numerous other studies have also confirmed +their findings. Real life yet again disproves the assumptions of +capitalism - inequality harms us all, even the capitalist economy +which produces it). + +This is to be expected. Workers, seeing an increasing amount of the value +they create being monopolised by top managers and a wealthy elite and not +re-invested into the company to secure their employment prospects, will +hardly be inclined to put in that extra effort or care about the quality +of their work. Managers who use the threat of unemployment to extract +more effort from their workforce are creating a false economy. While they +will postpone decreasing profits in the short term due to this adaptive +strategy (and enrich themselves in the process) the pressures placed +upon the system will bring a harsh long term effects - both in terms of +economic crisis (as income becomes so skewed as to create realisation +problems and the limits of adaptation are reached in the face of +international competition) and social breakdown. + +As would be imagined, co-operative workplaces tend to be more egalitarian +than capitalist ones. This is because in capitalist firms, the incomes of +top management must be justified (in practice) to a small number of +individuals (namely, those shareholders with sizeable stock in the firm), +who are usually quite wealthy and so not only have little to lose in +granting huge salaries but are also predisposed to see top managers as +being very much like themselves and so are entitled to comparable incomes. +In contrast, the incomes of top management in worker controlled firms +have to be justified to a workforce whose members experience the relationship +between management incomes and their own directly and who, no doubt, are +predisposed to see their top managers as being workers like themselves +and accountable to them. Such an egalitarian atmosphere will have a positive +impact on production and efficiency as workers will see that the value +they create is not being accumulated by others but distributed according +to work actually done (and not control over power). In the Mondragon +co-operatives, for example, the maximum pay differential is 14 to 1 +(increased from 3 to 1 in a response to outside pressures after much +debate, with the actual maximum differential at 9 to 1) while (in the +USA) the average CEO is paid over 140 times the average factory worker +(up from 41 times in 1960). + +Therefore, we see that co-operatives prove (to a greater or lesser extent) +the advantages of (and interrelationship between) key anarchist principles +such as liberty, equality, solidarity and self-management. Their application, +whether all together or in part, has a positive impact on efficiency and +work -- and, as we will discuss in section J.5.12, the capitalist market +actively *blocks* the spread of more efficient productive techniques instead +of encouraging them. Even by its own standards, capitalism stands condemned +- it does not encourage the efficient use of resources and actively places +barriers in the development of human "resources." + +From all this its clear to see why co-operatives are supported by anarchists. +We are "convinced that the co-operative could, potentially, replace capitalism +and carries within it the seeds of economic emancipation. . . The workers +learn from this precious experience how to organise and themselves conduct +the economy without guardian angels, the state or their former employers." +[Michael Bakunin, Op. Cit., p. 399] Co-operatives give us a useful insight +into the possibilities of a free, socialist, economy. Even within the +hierarchical capitalist economy, co-operatives show us that a better +future is possible and that production can be organised in a co-operative +fashion and that by so doing we can reap the individual and social +benefits of working together as equals. + +However, this does not mean that all aspects of the co-operative movement +find favour with anarchists. As Bakunin pointed out, "there are two kinds of +co-operative: bourgeois co-operation, which tends to create a privileged +class, a sort of new collective bourgeoisie organised into a stockholding +society: and truly Socialist co-operation, the co-operation of the future +which for this very reason is virtually impossible of realisation at +present." [Op. Cit., p. 385] In other words, while co-operatives are the +germ of the future, in the present they are often limited by the +capitalist environment they find themselves and narrow their vision to +just surviving within the current system. + +For most anarchists, the experience of co-operatives has proven without +doubt that, however excellent in principle and useful in practice, if they +are kept within the narrow circle of "bourgeois" existence they cannot +become dominant and free the masses. This point is argued in Section J.5.11 +and so will be ignored here. In order to fully develop, co-operatives must +be part of a wider social movement which includes community and industrial +unionism and the creation of a anarchistic social framework which can +encourage "truly Socialist co-operation" and discourage "bourgeois +co-operation." As Murray Bookchin correctly argues, "[r]emoved from +a libertarian municipalist [or other anarchist] context and movement +focused on achieving revolutionary municipalist [or communalist] goals +as a *dual power* against corporations and the state, food [and other +forms of] co-ops are little more than benign enterprises that capitalism +and the state can easily tolerate with no fear of challenge." [_Democracy +and Nature_ no. 9, p. 175] + +Therefore, while co-operatives are an important aspect of anarchist ideas and +practice, they are not the be all or end all of our activity. Without a +wider social movement which creates all (or at least most) of the future +society in the shell of the old, co-operatives will never arrest the growth +of capitalism or transcend the narrow horizons of the capitalist economy. + +J.5.11 If workers really want self-management, why aren't there more + producer co-operatives? + +Supporters of capitalism suggest that producer co-operatives would spring +up spontaneously if workers really wanted them. Their argument is that +co-operatives could be financed at first by "wealthy radicals" or by +affluent workers pooling their resources to buy out existing capitalist +firms; then, if such co-operatives were really economically viable and +desired by workers, they would spread until eventually they undermined +capitalism. They conclude that since this is not happening, it must be +because workers' self-management is either economically unfeasible or is +not really attractive to workers or both. [see, for example, Robert Nozick, +_Anarchy, State, and Utopia_, pp. 250-52] + +David Schweickart has decisively answered this argument by showing that +the reason there are not more producer co-operatives is structural: + +"A worker-managed firm lacks an expansionary dynamic. When a capitalist +enterprise is successful, the owner can increase her profits by +reproducing her organisation on a larger scale. She lacks neither the +means nor the motivation to expand. Not so with a worker-managed firm. +Even if the workers have the means, they lack the incentive, because +enterprise growth would bring in new workers with whom the increased +proceeds would have to be shared. Co-operatives, even when prosperous, +do not spontaneously grow. But if this is so, then each new co-operative +venture (in a capitalist society) requires a new wealthy radical or a new +group of affluent radical workers willing to experiment. Because such +people doubtless are in short supply, it follows that the absence of a +large and growing co-operative movement proves nothing about the viability +of worker self-management, nor about the preferences of workers." +[_Against Capitalism_, p. 239] + +There are other structural problems as well. For one thing, since their +pay levels are set by members' democratic vote, co-operatives tend to be +more egalitarian in their income structure. But this means that in a +capitalist environment, co-operatives are in constant danger of having +their most skilled members hired away. Moreover, there is a difficulty in +raising capital: "Quite apart from ideological hostility (which may be +significant), external investors will be reluctant to put their money into +concerns over which they will have little or no control -- which tends to +be the case with a co-operative. Because co-operatives in a capitalist +environment face special difficulties, and because they lack the inherent +expansionary dynamic of a capitalist firm, it is hardy surprising that +they are far from dominant." [Ibid., p 240] + +In addition, co-operatives face the negative externalities generated +by a capitalist economy. The presence of wage labour and investment capital +in the economy will tempt successful co-operatives to increase their flexibility +to adjust to changes in market changes by hiring workers or issuing shares +to attract new investment. In so doing, however, they may end up losing their +identities as co-operatives by diluting ownership or by making the co-operative +someone's boss: + +"To meet increased production, the producer co-operatives hired outside +wage workers. This created a new class of workers who exploit and profit +from the labour of their employees. And all this fosters a bourgeois +mentality." [Michael Bakunin, _Bakunin on Anarchism_, p. 399] + +Hence the pressures of working in a capitalist market may result in +co-operatives pursuing activities which may result in short term gain or +survival, but are sure to result in harm in the long run. Far from +co-operatives slowly expanding within and changing a capitalist environment +it is more likely that capitalist logic will expand into and change the +co-operatives that work in it (this can be seen from the Mondragon +co-operatives, where there has been a slight rise in the size of wage +labour being used and the fact that the credit union, since 1992, has +invested in non-co-operative firms). These externalities imposed upon +isolated co-operatives within capitalism (which would not arise within a +fully co-operative context) block local moves towards anarchism. The idea +that co-operation will simply win out in competition within well developed +capitalist economic systems is just wishful thinking. Just because a +system is more liberatory and just does not mean it will survive in an +authoritarian economic and social environment. + +There are also cultural problems as well. As Jon Elster points out, it is +a "truism, but an important one, that workers' preferences are to a large +extent shaped by their economic environment. Specifically, there is a +tendency to adaptive preference formation, by which the actual mode of +economic organisation comes to be perceived as superior to all others." +["From Here to There", in _Socialism_, p. 110] In other words, people +view "what is" as given and feel no urge to change to "what could be." +In the context of creating alternatives within capitalism, this can +have serious effects on the spread of alternatives and indicates the +importance of anarchists encouraging the spirit of revolt to break +down this mental apathy. + +This acceptance of "what is" can be seen, to some degree, by some +companies which meet the formal conditions for co-operatives, for +example ESOP owned firms in the USA, but lack effective workers' control. +ESOP (Employee Stack Ownership Plans) firms enable a firms workforce +to gain the majority of a companies shares but the unequal distribution +of shares amongst employees prevents the great majority of workers from +having any effective control or influence on decisions. Unlike real +co-operatives (based on "one worker, one vote") these firms are based +on "one share, one vote" and so have more in common with capitalist +firms than co-operatives. + +Moreover, we have ignored such problems as natural barriers to entry +into, and movement within, a market (which is faced by all firms) and +the difficulties co-operatives can face in finding access to long term +credit facilities required by them from capitalist banks (which would +effect co-operatives more as short term pressures can result in their +co-operative nature being diluted). As Tom Cahill notes, the "old co-ops +[of the nineteenth century] also had the specific problem of . . . +*giving credit* . . . [as well as] problems . . . of *competition +with price cutting capitalist* firms, highlighting the inadequate +reservoirs of the under-financed co-ops." ["Co-operatives and +Anarchism: A contemporary Perspective", in _For Anarchism_, edited by +Paul Goodway, p. 239] + +In addition, the "return on capital is limited" in co-operatives [Tom +Cahill, Op. Cit., p. 247] which means that investors are less-likely +to invest in co-operatives, and so co-operatives will tend to suffer +from a lack of investment. Which also suggests that Nozick's argument +that "don't say that its against the class interest of investors to +support the growth of some enterprise that if successful would end +or diminish the investment system. Investors are not so altruistic. +They act in personal and not their class interests" is false [Op. Cit., +pp. 252-3]. Nozick is correct, to a degree -- but given a choice +between high returns from investments in capitalist firms and lower +ones from co-operatives, the investor will select the former. This +does not reflect the productivity or efficiency of the investment -- +quite the reverse! -- it reflects the social function of wage +labour in maximising profits and returns on capital (see next +section for more on this).In other words, the personal interests +of investors will generally support their class interests (unsurprisingly, +as class interests are not independent of personal interests and +will tend to reflect them!). +

+Tom Cahill outlines the investment problem when he writes that +the "financial problem" is a major reason why co-operatives failed +in the past, for "basically the unusual structure and aims of +co-operatives have always caused problems for the dominant sources +of capital. In general, the finance environment has been hostile +to the emergence of the co-operative spirit. . ." And he also +notes that they were "unable to devise structuring to *maintain +a boundary* between those who work and those who own or control. . . +It is understood that when outside investors were allowed to have +power within the co-op structure, co-ops lost their distinctive +qualities." [Op. Cit., pp. 238-239] Meaning that even *if* +co-operative do attract investors, the cost of so doing may be +to transform the co-operatives into capitalist firms. + +Thus, in spite of "empirical studies suggest[ing] that co-operatives are +at least as productive as their capitalist counterparts," with many +having "an excellent record, superior to conventionally organised firms +over a long period" [Jon Elster, Op. Cit., p. 96], co-operatives are more +likely to adapt to capitalism than replace it and adopt capitalist +principles of rationality in order to survive. All things being equal, +co-operatives are more efficient than their capitalist counterparts - but +when co-operatives compete in a capitalist economy, all things are *not* +equal. + +In spite of these structural and cultural problems, however, there has been +a dramatic increase in the number of producer co-operatives in most Western +countries in recent years. For example, Saul Estrin and Derek Jones report +that co-operatives in the UK grew from 20 in 1975 to 1,600 by 1986; in +France they increased from 500 to 1,500; and in Italy, some 7,000 new +co-operatives came into existence between 1970 and 1982 ["Can Employee-owned +Firms Survive?", Working Paper Series, Department of Economics, Hamilton +College (April, May, 1989)]. Italian co-operatives now number well over +20,000, many of them large and having many support structures as well +(which aids their development by reducing their isolation and providing +long term financial support lacking within the capitalist market). + +We have already noted the success of the Mondragon co-operatives in Spain, +which created a cluster of inter-locking co-operatives with its own credit +union to provide long term financial support and commitment. Thus, in Europe +at least, it appears that there *is* a rather "large and growing co-operative +movement," which gives the lie to Nozick's and other supporters of +capitalism arguments about co-operatives' lack of economic viability +and/or attractiveness to workers. + +However, because co-operatives can survive in a capitalist economy it does +not automatically mean that they shall *replace* that economy. Isolated +co-operatives, as we argued above, will more likely adapt to capitalist +realities than remain completely true to their co-operative promise. For +most anarchists, therefore, co-operatives can reach their full potential +only as part of a social movement aiming to change society. As part of +a wider movement of community and workplace unionism, with mutualist banks +to provide long terms financial support and commitment, co-operatives +could be communalised into a network of solidarity and support that +will reduce the problems of isolation and adaptation. Hence Bakunin: + +"We hardly oppose the creation of co-operative associations; we find +them necessary in many respects. . . they accustom the workers to +organise, pursue, and manage their interests themselves, without +interference either by bourgeois capital or by bourgeois control. . . +[they must] above all [be] founded on the principle of solidarity and +collectivity rather than on bourgeois exclusivity, then society will +pass from its present situation to one of equality and justice without +too many great upheavals." [Op. Cit., p. 153] + +Co-operation "will prosper, developing itself fully and freely, embracing +all human industry, only when it is based on equality, when all capital +. . . [and] the soil, belong to the people by right of collective +property." [Ibid.] + +Until then, co-operatives will exist within capitalism but not replace it +by market forces - only a *social* movement and collective action can +fully secure their full development. As David Schweickart argues: + +"Even if worker-managed firms are preferred by the vast majority, and +even if they are more productive, a market initially dominated by capitalist +firms may not select for them. The common-sense neo-classical dictum that only +those things that best accord with people's desires will survive the struggle +of free competition has never been the whole truth with respect to anything; +with respect to workplace organisation it is barely a half-truth." +[Op. Cit., p. 240] + +This means that while anarchists support, create and encourage co-operatives +within capitalism, they understand "the impossibility of putting into +practice the co-operative system under the existing conditions of the +predominance of bourgeois capital in the process of production and +distribution of wealth." [Michael Bakunin, Op. Cit., p. 185] Because of +this, most anarchists stress the need for more combative organisations +such as industrial and community unions and other bodies "formed," +to use Bakunin's words, "for the organisation of toilers against the +privileged world" [Ibid.] in order to help bring about a free society. + +J.5.12 If self-management is more efficient, surely capitalist firms will + be forced to introduce it by the market? + +While it may be admitted that co-operatives cannot reform capitalism away +(see last section), many supporters of "free market" capitalism will claim +that a laissez-faire system would see workers self-management spread within +capitalism. This is because, as self-management is more efficient than +wage slavery, those capitalist firms that introduce it will gain a +competitive advantage, and so their competitors will be forced to +introduce it or go bust. While not being true anarchistic production, +it would (it is argued) be a very close approximation of it and so +capitalism could reform itself naturally to get rid of (to a large degree) +its authoritarian nature. + +While such a notion seems plausible in theory, in practice it does not +work. Free market capitalism places innumerable barriers to the spread of +worker empowering structures within production, in spite (perhaps, as we +will see, *because*) of their more efficient nature. This can be seen +from the fact that while the increased efficiency associated with workers' +participation and self-management has attracted the attention of many +capitalist firms, the few experiments conducted have failed to spread. +This is due, essentially, to the nature of capitalist production and +the social relationships it produces. + +As we noted in section D.10, capitalist firms (particularly in the west) +made a point of introducing technologies and management structures that +aimed to deskill and disempower their workers. In this way, it was hoped +to make the worker increasingly subject to "market discipline" (i.e. easier +to train, so increasing the pool of workers available to replace any specific +worker and so reducing workers power by increasing management's power to fire +them). Of course, what actually happens is that after a short period of +time while management gained the upper hand, the workforce found newer +and more effective ways to fight back and assert their productive power +again. While for a short time the technological change worked, over +the longer period the balance of forces changed, so forcing management to +continually try to empower themselves at the expense of the workforce. + +It is unsurprising that such attempts to reduce workers to order-takers +fail. Workers' experiences and help are required to ensure production +actually happens at all. When workers carry out their orders strictly and +faithfully (i.e. when they "work to rule") production threatens to stop. +So most capitalists are aware of the need to get workers to "co-operate" +within the workplace to some degree. A few capitalist companies have +gone further. Seeing the advantages of fully exploiting (and we do mean +exploiting) the experience, skills, abilities and thoughts of their employers +which the traditional authoritarian capitalist workplace denies them, some +have introduced various schemes to "enrich" and "enlarge" work, increase +"co-operation" between workers and their bosses. In other words, some +capitalist firms have tried to encourage workers to "participate" in +their own exploitation by introducing (in the words of Sam Dolgoff) "a +modicum of influence, a strictly limited area of decision-making power, a +voice - at best secondary - in the control of conditions of the workplace." +[_The Anarchist Collectives_, p. 81] The management and owners still have +the power and still reap the majority of benefits from the productive +activity of the workforce. + +Therefore, capitalist-introduced and supported "workers' control" is very like +the situation when a worker receives stock in the company they work for. If +it goes some way toward redressing the gap between the value of that person's +labour, and the wage they receive for it, that in itself cannot be a totally +bad thing. The real downside of this is the "carrot on a stick" enticement +to work harder - if you work extra hard for the company, your stock will be +worth more. Obviously, though, the bosses get rich off you, so the more you +work, the richer they get, the more you are getting ripped off. It's a +choice that anarchists feel many workers cannot afford to make - they need +or at least want the money - but we believe that the stock does not work +for many workers, who end up working harder, for less. After all, stocks +do not represent all profits (large amounts of which end up in the hands +of top management) nor are they divided just among those who labour. +Moreover, workers may be less inclined to take direct action, for fear +that they will damage the value of "their" company's stock, and so they +may find themselves putting up with longer, more intense work in worse +conditions. + +The results of such capitalist experiments in "workers' control" are +interesting (and they bear direct relevance to the question of why *real* +co-operatives are not widespread within capitalism -- see last section). + +According to one expert "[t]here is scarcely a study in the entire +literature which fails to demonstrate that satisfaction in work is +enhanced or. . .productivity increases occur from a genuine increase +in worker's decision-making power. Findings of such consistency, I +submit, are rare in social research." [Paul B. Lumberg, cited by +Hebert Gintiz, "The nature of Labour Exchange and the Theory of +Capitalist Production", _Radical Political Economy_ vol. 1, p. 252] + +In spite of these findings, a "shift toward participatory relationships +is scarcely apparent in capitalist production. . . [this is] not +compatible with the neo-classical assertion as to the efficiency of +the internal organisation of capitalist production." [Herbert Gintz, +Op. Cit., p. 252] Why is this the case? + +Economist William Lazonick indicates the reason when he writes that "[m]any +attempts at job enrichment and job enlargement in the first half of the +1970s resulted in the supply of more and better effort by workers. Yet +many 'successful' experiments were cut short when the workers whose work +had been enriched and enlarged began questioning traditional management +prerogatives inherent in the existing hierarchical structure of the +enterprise." [_Competitive Advantage on the Shop Floor_, p. 282] + +This is an important result, as it indicates that the ruling sections within +capitalist firms have a vested interest in *not* introducing such schemes, +even though they are more efficient methods of production. As can easily be +imagined, managers have a clear incentive to resist participatory schemes +(and David Schweickart notes, such resistance, "often bordering on sabotage, +is well known and widely documented" [_Against Capitalism_, p. 229]). + +However, it could be claimed that owners, being concerned by the bottom-line +of profits, could *force* management to introduce participation. By this +method, competitive market forces would ultimately prevail as individual +owners, pursuing profits, reorganise production and participation spreads +across the economy. Indeed, there are a few firms that *have* introduced +such schemes, but there has been no tendency for them to spread. This +contradicts "free market" capitalist economic theory which states that +those firms which introduce more efficient techniques will prosper and +competitive market forces will ensure that other firms will introduce the +technique. + +This is for two reasons. Firstly, the fact is that within "free market" +capitalism *keeping* (indeed strengthening) skills and power in the hands +of the workers makes it harder for a capitalist firm to maximise profits. +Workers' control basically leads to a usurpation of capitalist prerogatives +-- including their share of revenues. So, in the short run workers' +control may lead to higher productivity (and so may be toyed with), +in the long run, it leads to difficulties for capitalists to maximise +their profits. So, "given that profits depend on the integrity of the +labour exchange, a strongly centralised structure of control not only +serves the interests of the employer, but dictates a minute division +of labour irrespective of considerations of productivity. For this +reason, the evidence for the superior productivity of 'workers +control' represents the most dramatic of anomalies to the neo-classical +theory of the firm: worker control increases the effective amount of +work elicited from each worker and improves the co-ordination of +work activities, while increasing the solidarity and delegitimising +the hierarchical structure of ultimate authority at its root; hence +it threatens to increase the power of workers in the struggle over +the share of total value." [Hebert Gintz, Op. Cit., p. 264] + +Thus increased workers' control reduces the capitalists potential +to maximise their profits and so will be opposed by both management +*and* owners. Indeed, it can be argued that hierarchical control +of production exists solely to provide for the accumulation of +capital in a few hands, *not* for efficiency or productivity +(see Stephan A. Margin, "What do Bosses do? The Origins and +Functions of Hierarchy in Capitalist Production", Op. Cit., +pp. 178-248] So profit maximisation does not entail efficiency +and can actively work against it. + +So a workplace which had extensive workers participation would hardly +see the workers agreeing to reduce their skill levels, take a pay cut +or increase their pace of work simply to enhance the profits of capitalists. +Simply put, profit maximisation is not equivalent to technological efficiency. +By getting workers to work longer, more intensely or in more unpleasant +conditions can increase profits but does not yield more output for +the *same* inputs. Workers' control would curtail capitalist means of +enhancing profits by changing the quality and quantity of work. It is +*this* requirement which is the key to understanding why capitalists +will not support workers' control -- even though it is more efficient, +it reduces the ability of capitalists to maximise profits by minimising +labour costs. Moreover, demands to change the nature of workers' inputs +into the production process in order to maximise profits for capitalists +would provoke a struggle over the time and intensity of work and over +the share of value added going to workers, management and owners and +so destroy the benefits of participation. + +Secondly, to survive within the "free" market means to concentrate +on the short term. Long terms benefits, although greater, are irrelevant. +A free market requires profits *now* and so a firm is under considerable +pressure to maximise short-term profits by market forces (a similar +situation occurs when firms invest in "green" technology, see +section E.5). + +Participation requires trust, investment in people and technology and +a willingness to share the increased value added that result from workers' +participation with the workers who made it possible. All these factors +would eat into short term profits in order to return richer rewards in the +future. Encouraging participation thus tends to increase long term +gains at the expense of short-term ones (for it ensures that workers +do not consider participation as a con, they must experience *real* +benefits in terms of power, conditions and wage rises). For firms within +a free market environment, they are under pressure from share-holders +and their financiers for high returns as soon as possible. If a company +does not produce high dividends then it will see its stock fall as +shareholders move to those companies that do. Thus the market *forces* +companies (and banks, who in turn loan over the short term to companies) +to act in such ways as to maximise short term profits. + +If faced with a competitor which is not making such investments (and +which is investing directly into deskilling technology or intensifying +work loads which lowers their costs) and so wins them market share, or +a downturn in the business cycle which shrinks their profit margins +and makes it difficult for the firm to meet its commitments to its +financiers and workers, a company that intends to invest in people +and trust will usually be rendered unable to do so. Faced with the +option of empowering people in work or deskilling them and/or using +the fear of unemployment to get workers to work harder and follow +orders, capitalist firms have consistently chosen (and probably +preferred) the latter option (as occurred in the 1970s). + +Thus, workers' control is unlikely to spread through capitalism because +it entails a level of working class consciousness and power that is +incompatible with capitalist control. In other words, "[i]f the +hierarchical division of labour is necessary for the extraction of +surplus value, then worker preferences for jobs threatening capitalist +control will not be implemented." [Hebert Gintiz, Op. Cit., p. 253] +The reason why it is more efficient, ironically, ensures that a +capitalist economy will not select it. The "free market" will +discourage empowerment and democratic workplaces, at best reducing +"co-operation" and "participation" to marginal issues (and management +will still have the power of veto). + +In addition, moves towards democratic workplaces within capitalism is an +example of the system in conflict with itself - pursuing its objectives +by methods which constantly defeat those same objectives. As Paul Carden +argues, the "capitalist system can only maintain itself by trying to +reduce workers into mere order-takers. . . At the same time the system +can only function as long as this reduction is never achieved. . . [for] +the system would soon grind to a halt. . . [However] capitalism constantly +has to *limit* this *participation* (if it didn't the workers would soon +start deciding themselves and would show in practice now superfluous the +ruling class really is)." [_Revolution and Modern Capitalism_, pp. 45-46] + +The experience of the 1970s supports this thesis well. Thus "workers' +control" within a capitalist firm is a contradictory thing - too little +power and it is meaningless, too much and workplace authority structures +and short-term profits (i.e. capitalist share of value added) can be +harmed. Attempts to make oppressed, exploited and alienated workers +work if they were neither oppressed, exploited nor alienated will +always fail. + +For a firm to establish committed and participatory relations internally, +it must have external supports - particularly with providers of +finance (which is why co-operatives benefit from credit unions and +co-operating together). The price mechanism proves self-defeating to +create such supports and that is why we see "participation" more fully +developed within Japanese and German firms (although it is still along +way from fully democratic workplaces), who have strong, long term +relationships with local banks and the state which provides them with +the support required for such activities. As William Lazonick notes, +Japanese industry had benefited from the state ensuring "access to +inexpensive long-term finance, the sine qua non of innovating +investment strategies" along with a host of other supports, such as +protecting Japanese industry within their home markets so they +could "develop and utilise their productive resources to the point +where they could attain competitive advantage in international +competition." [Op. Cit., p. 305] The German state provides its +industry with much of the same support. + +Therefore, "participation" within capitalist firms will have little or +no tendency to spread due to the "automatic" actions of market forces. +In spite of such schemes being more efficient, capitalism will not +select them because they empower workers and make it hard for capitalists +to maximise their short term profits. Hence capitalism, by itself, will +have no tendency to produce more libertarian organisational forms within +industry. Those firms that do introduce such schemes will be the exception +rather than the rule (and the schemes themselves will be marginal in most +respects and subject to veto from above). For such schemes to spread, +collective action is required (such as state intervention to create the +right environment and support network or -- from an anarchist point of +view -- union and community direct action). + +However such schemes, as noted above, are just forms of self-exploitation, +getting workers to help their robbers and so *not* a development +anarchists seek to encourage. We have discussed this here just to be +clear that, firstly, such forms of structural reforms are *not* +self-management, as managers and owners still have the real power, +and, secondly, even if such forms are somewhat liberatory, market forces +will not select them (i.e. collective action would be required). + +For anarchists "self-management is not a new form of mediation between +workers and their bosses . . . [it] refers to the very process by which +the workers themselves *overthrow* their managers and take on their +own management and the management of production in their own workplace." +[Sam Dolgoff, Op. Cit., p. 81] Hence our support for co-operatives, unions +and other self-managed structures created and organised from below by +and for working class people. + +J.5.13 What are Modern Schools? + +Modern schools are alternative schools, self-managed by students, teachers +and parents which reject the authoritarian schooling methods of the +modern "education" system. Such schools have a feature of the anarchist +movement since the turn of the 20th century while interest in libertarian +forms of education has been a feature of anarchist theory from the beginning. +All the major anarchist thinkers, from Godwin through Proudhon, Bakunin +and Kropotkin to modern activists like Colin Ward, have stressed the +importance of libertarian (or "rational") education, education that +develops all aspects of the student (mental and physical -- and so termed +"integral" education) as well as encouraging critical thought and mental +freedom. The aim of such education is, to use Proudhon's words, ensure +that the "industrial worker, the man [sic!] of action and the intellectual +would all be rolled into one" [cited by Steward Edward in _The Paris +Commune_, p. 274] + +Anyone involved in radical politics, constantly and consistently challenges +the role of the state's institutions and their representatives within our +lives. The role of bosses, the police, social workers, the secret service, +middle managers, doctors and priests are all seen as part of a hierarchy +which exists to keep us, the working class, subdued. It is relatively +rare though for the left-wing to call into question the role of teachers. +Most left wing activists and a large number of libertarians believe that +education is good, all education is good, and education is always good. +As Henry Barnard, the first US commissioner of education, appointed in +1867, exhorted, "education always leads to freedom". + +Those involved in libertarian education believe the contrary. They +believe that national education systems exist only to produce citizens +who'll be blindly obedient to the dictates of the state, citizens who +will uphold the authority of government even when it runs counter to +personal interest and reason, wage slaves who will obey the orders of +their boss most of the time and consider being able to change bosses +as freedom. They agree with William Godwin (one of the earliest critics +of national education systems) when he wrote in _An Enquiry Concerning +Political Justice_ that "the project of a national education ought to be +discouraged on account of its obvious alliance with national government +. . . Government will not fail to employ it to strengthen its hand +and perpetuate its institutions. . .Their views as instigator of a +system will not fail to be analogous to their views in their political +capacity." [cited by Colin Ward, _Anarchy in Action_, p. 81] + +With the growth of industrialism in the 19th century schools triumphed, +not through a desire to reform but as an economic necessity. Industry +did not want free thinking individuals, it wanted workers, instruments +of labour, and it wanted them punctual, obedient, passive and willing +to accept their disadvantaged position. According to Nigel Thrift, many +employers and social reformers became convinced that the earliest +generations of workers were almost impossible to discipline (i.e. to get +accustomed to wage labour and workplace authority). They looked to children, +hoping that "the elementary school could be used to break the labouring +classes into those habits of work discipline now necessary for factory +production. . . Putting little children to work at school for very +long hours at very dull subjects was seen as a positive virtue, for +it made them habituated, not to say naturalised, to labour and fatigue." +[quoted by Juliet B. Schor in _The Overworked American_, p. 61] + +Thus supporters of Modern Schools recognise that the role of education +is an important one in maintaining hierarchical society -- for government +and other forms of hierarchy (such as wage labour) must always depend on +the opinion of the governed. Franciso Ferrer (the most famous supporter +of Modern Schooling due to his execution by the Spanish state in 1909) +argued that: + +"Rulers have always taken care to control the education of the people. They +know their power is based almost entirely on the school and they insist on +retaining their monopoly. The school is an instrument of domination in the +hands of the ruling class." [cited by Clifford Harper, _Anarchy: A Graphic +Guide_, p. 100] + +Little wonder, then, that Emma Goldman argued that the "modern method of +education" has "little regard for personal liberty and originality of +thought. Uniformity and imitation is [its] motto" and that the school +"is for the child what the prison is for the convict and the barracks +for the solder - a place where everything is being used to break the +will of the child, and then to pound, knead, and shape it into a being +utterly foreign to itself." [_Red Emma Speaks_, p. 118, p. 116] + +Hence the importance of Modern Schools. It is a means of spreading +libertarian education within a hierarchical society and undercut one +of the key supports for that society -- the education system. Instead +of hierarchical education, Modern schools exist to "develop the +individual through knowledge and the free play of characteristic +traits, so that [the child] may become a social being, because +he had learned to know himself [or herself], to know his [or her] +relation to his fellow[s]. . . " [Emma Goldman, Op. Cit., p. 121] +It would, in Stirner's words, be "an education for freedom, not +for subservience." + +The Modern School Movement (also known as the Free School Movement) +over the past century has been an attempt to represent part of this +concern about the dangers of state and church schools and the need +for libertarian education. The idea of libertarian education is that +knowledge and learning should be linked to real life processes and +personal usefulness and should not be the preserve of a special +institution. Thus Modern Schools are an attempt to establish an +environment for self development in an overly structured and +rationalised world. An oasis from authoritarian control and as +a means of passing on the knowledge to be free. + +"The underlying principle of the Modern School is this: education is +a process of drawing out, not driving in; it aims at the possibility +that the child should be left free to develop spontaneously, directing +his [or her] own efforts and choosing the branches of knowledge +which he desires to study. . . the teacher . . . should be a sensitive +instrument responding to the needs of the child . . . a channel +through which the child may attain so much of the ordered knowledge +of the world as he shows himself [or herself] ready to receive and +assimilate". [Emma Goldman, Op. Cit., p. 126] + +The Modern School bases itself on libertarian education techniques. +Libertarian education, very broadly, seeks to produce children who +will demand greater personal control and choice, who think for +themselves and question all forms of authority: + +"We don't hesitate to say we want people who will continue to develop. +People constantly capable of destroying and renewing their surroundings +and themselves: whose intellectual independence is their supreme power, +which they will yield to none; always disposed for better things, eager +for the triumph of new ideas, anxious to crowd many lives into the life +they have. It must be the aim of the school to show the children that +there will be tyranny as long as one person depends on another." +[Ferrer, quoted by Clifford Harper, Op. Cit., p. 100] + +Thus the Modern School insists that the child is the centre of gravity +in the education process -- and that education is just that, *not* +indoctrination: + +"I want to form a school of emancipation, concerned with banning from the +mind whatever divides people, the false concepts of property, country and +family so as to attain the liberty and well-being which all desire. I will +teach only simple truth. I will not ram dogma into their heads. I will not +conceal one iota of fact. I will teach not what to think but how to think." +[Ferrer, cited by Harper, Op. Cit., pp. 99-100] + +The Modern School has no rewards or punishments, exams or mark -- the +everyday "tortures" of conventional schooling. And because practical +knowledge is more useful than theory, lessons were often held in factories, +museums or the countryside. The school was also used by the parents, and +Ferrer planned a Popular University. + +"Higher education, for the privileged few, should be for the general +public, as every human has a right to know; and science, which is +produced by observers and workers of all countries and ages, ought +not be restricted to class." [Ferrer, cited by Harper, Op. Cit., +p. 100] + +Thus Modern Schools are based on encouraging self-education in a +co-operative, egalitarian and libertarian atmosphere in which the +pupil (regardless of age) can develop themselves and their interests +to the fullest of their abilities. In this way Modern Schools seek +to create anarchists by a process of education which respects the +individual and gets them to develop their own abilities in a +conducive setting. + +Modern Schools have been a constant aspect of the anarchist movement +since the later 1890s. The movement was started in France by Louise +Michel and Sebastien Faure, where Franciso Ferrer became acquainted +with them. He founded his Modern School in Barcelona in 1901, and +by 1905 there were 50 similar schools in Spain (many of them funded +by anarchist groups and trade unions and, from 1919 onward, by the +C.N.T. -- in all cases the autonomy of the schools was respected). In +1909, Ferrer was falsely accused by the Spanish government of leading an +insurrection and executed in spite of world-wide protest and overwhelming +proof of his innocence. His execution, however, gained him and his +educational ideas international recognition and inspired a Modern School +progressive education movement in Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Italy, +Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Argentina, Brazil, +Mexico, China, Japan and, on the greatest scale, in the USA. + +However, for most anarchists, Modern Schools are not enough in themselves +to produce a libertarian society. They agree with Bakunin's argument +that "[f]or individuals to be moralised and become fully human . . . +three things are necessary: a hygienic birth, all-round education, +accompanied by an upbringing based on respect for labour, reason, +equality, and freedom and a social environment wherein each human +individual will enjoy full freedom and really by, *de jure* and *de +facto*, the equal of every other. + +"Does this environment exist? No. Then it must be established. . . +[otherwise] in the existing social environment . . . on leaving +[libertarian] schools they [the student] would enter a society +governed by totally opposite principles, and, because society is +always stronger than individuals, it would prevail over them . . . +[and] demoralise them." [_The Basic Bakunin_, p, 174] + +Because of this, Modern Schools must be part of a mass working class +revolutionary movement which aims to build as many aspects of the new +world as possible in the old one before, ultimately, replacing it. +Otherwise they are just useful as social experiments and their impact +on society marginal. Little wonder, then, that Bakunin supported the +International Workers Association's resolution that urged "the various +sections [of the International] to establish public courses . . . +[based on] all-round instruction, in order to remedy as much as possible +the insufficient education that workers currently receive." [quoted by +Bakunin, Op. Cit., p. 175] + +Thus, for anarchists, this process of education is *part of* the class +struggle, not in place of it and so "the workers [must] do everything +possible to obtain all the education they can in the material circumstances +in which they currently find themselves . . . [while] concentrat[ing] their +efforts on the great question of their economic emancipation, the mother +of all other emancipations." [Michael Bakunin, Op. Cit., p. 175] + +Before finishing, we must stress that hierarchical education (like the media), +cannot remove the effects of actual life and activity in shaping/changing +people and their ideas, opinions and attitudes. While education is an +essential part of maintaining the status quo and accustoming people to +accept hierarchy, the state and wage slavery, it cannot stop individuals +from learning from their experiences, ignoring their sense of right and +wrong, recognising the injustices of the current system and the ideas that +it is based upon. This means that even the best state (or private) education +system will still produce rebels -- for the *experience* of wage slavery and +state oppression (and, most importantly, *struggle*) is shattering to the +*ideology* spoon-fed children during their "education" and reinforced by +the media. + +For more information on Modern Schools see Paul Avrich's _The Modern +School Movement: Anarchism and education in the United States_, +Emma Goldman's essay "Francisco Ferrer and the Modern School" in +_Anarchism and Other Essays_ and A.S Neil's _Summerhill_. For a good +introduction to anarchist viewpoints on education see "Kropotkin and +technical education: an anarchist voice" by Michael Smith in _For +Anarchism_ and Michael Bakunin's "All-Round Education" in _The Basic +Bakunin_. For an excellent summary of the advantages and benefits +of co-operative learning, see Alfie Kohn's _No Contest_. + +J.5.14 What is Libertarian Municipalism? + +In his article "Theses on Libertarian Municipalism" [in _The Anarchist +Papers_, Black Rose Press, 1986], Murray Bookchin has proposed a +non-parliamentary electoral strategy for anarchists. He has repeated +this proposal in many of his later works, such as _From Urbanisation to +Cities_ and has made it -- at least in the USA -- one of the many +alternatives anarchists are involved in. The main points of his argument +are summarised below, followed by a brief commentary. + +According to Bookchin, "the proletariat, as do all oppressed sectors of +society, comes to life when it sheds its industrial habits in the free +and spontaneous activity of *communising,* or taking part in the +political life of the community." In other words, Bookchin thinks that +democratisation of local communities may be as strategically important, +or perhaps more important, to anarchists than workplace struggles. + +Since local politics is humanly scaled, Bookchin argues that it can be +participatory rather than parliamentary. Or, as he puts it, "[t]he +anarchic ideal of decentralised, stateless, collectively managed, and +directly democratic communities -- of confederated municipalities or +'communes' -- speaks almost intuitively, and in the best works of +Proudhon and Kropotkin, consciously, to the transforming role of +libertarian municipalism as the framework of a liberatory society. . . " +He also points out that, historically, the city has been the principle +countervailing force to imperial and national states, haunting them as +a potential challenge to centralised power and continuing to do so +today, as can be seen in the conflicts between national government and +municipalities in many countries. + +But, despite the libertarian potential of urban politics, "urbanisation" +-- the growth of the modern megalopolis as a vast wasteland of suburbs, +shopping malls, industrial parks, and slums that foster political apathy +and isolation in realms of alienated production and private consumption -- +is antithetical to the continued existence of those aspects of the city +that might serve as the framework for a libertarian municipalism. "When +urbanisation will have effaced city life so completely that the city no +longer has its own identity, culture, and spaces for consociation, the +bases for democracy -- in whatever way the word in defined -- will have +disappeared and the question of revolutionary forms will be a shadow game +of abstractions." + +Despite this danger, however, Bookchin thinks that a libertarian politics +of local government is still possible, provided anarchists get their act +together. "The Commune still lies buried in the city council; the +sections still lie buried in the neighbourhood; the town meeting still lies +buried in the township; confederal forms of municipal association still +lie buried in regional networks of towns and cities." + +What would anarchists do electorally at the local level? Bookchin +proposes that they change city and town charters to make political +institutions participatory. "An organic politics based on such radical +participatory forms of civic association does not exclude the right of +anarchists to alter city and town charters such that they validate the +existence of directly democratic institutions. And if this kind of +activity brings anarchists into city councils, there is no reason why such +a politics should be construed as parliamentary, particularly if it is +confined to the civic level and is consciously posed against the state." + +In a latter essay, Bookchin argues that Libertarian Muncipalism "depends +upon libertarian leftists running candidates at the local level, calling +for the division of municipalities into wards, where popular assemblies +can be created that bring people into full and direct participation in +political life . . . municipalities would [then] confederate into a +dual power to oppose the nation-state and ultimately dispense with it +and with the economic forces that underpin statism as such." [_Democracy +and Nature_ no. 9, p. 158] This would be part of a social wide +transformation, whose "[m]inimal steps . . . include initiating Left +Green municipalist movements that propose neighbourhood and town +assemblies - even if they have only moral functions at first - and +electing town and city councillors that advance the cause of these +assemblies and other popular institutions. These minimal steps can +lead step-by-step to the formation of confederal bodies. . . Civic +banks to fund municipal enterprises and land purchases; the fostering +of new ecologically-orientated enterprises that are owned by the +community. . ." [_From Urbanisation to Cities_, p. 266] + +Thus Bookchin sees Libertarian Muncipalism as a process by which the +state can be undermined by using elections as the means of creating +popular assemblies. Part of this process, he argues, would be the +"municipalisation of property" which would "bring the economy *as +a whole* into the orbit of the public sphere, where economic policy +could be formulated by the *entire* community." [Op. Cit. p. 235] + +Bookchin considers Libertarian Muncipalism as the key means of +creating an anarchist society, and argues that those anarchists +who disagree with it are failing to take their politics seriously. +"It is curious," he notes, "that many anarchists who celebrate the +existence of a 'collectivised' industrial enterprise, here and there, +with considerable enthusiasm despite its emergence within a thoroughly +bourgeois economic framework, can view a municipal politics that entails +'elections' of any kind with repugnance, even if such a politics is +structured around neighbourhood assemblies, recallable deputies, radically +democratic forms of accountability, and deeply rooted localist networks." +["Theses on Libertarian Municipalism"] + +In evaluating Bookchin's proposal, several points come to mind. + +Firstly, it is clear that Libertarian Muncipalism's arguments in +favour of community assemblies is important and cannot be ignored. +Bookchin is right to note that, in the past, many anarchists placed +far too much stress on workplace struggles and workers' councils +as the framework of a free society. Many of the really important +issues that affect us cannot be reduced to workplace organisations, +which by their very nature disenfranchise those who do not work +in industry (such as housewives, the old, and so on). And, of +course, there is far more to life than work and so any future +society organised purely around workplace organisations is +reproducing capitalism's insane glorification of economic activity, +at least to some degree. So, in this sense, Libertarian Muncipalism +has a very valid point -- a free society will be created and +maintained within the community as well as in the workplace. + +Secondly, Bookchin and other Libertarian Muncipalists are totally +correct to argue that anarchists should work in their local communities. +As noted in section J.5.1, many anarchists are doing just that and +are being very successful as well. However, most anarchists reject +the idea that using elections are a viable means of "struggle toward +creating new civic institutions out of old ones (or replacing the +old ones altogether)." [_From Urbanisation to Cities_, p. 267] + +The most serious problem has to do with whether politics in most cities +has already become too centralised, bureaucratic, inhumanly scaled, and +dominated by capitalist interests to have any possibility of being taken +over by anarchists running on platforms of participatory democratisation. +Merely to pose the question seems enough to answer it. There is no such +possibility in the vast majority of cities, and hence it would be a waste +of time and energy for anarchists to support libertarian municipalist +candidates in local elections -- time and energy that could be more +profitably spent in direct action. If the central governments are too +bureaucratic and unresponsive to be used by Libertarian Municipalists, +the same can be said of local ones too. + +The counter-argument to this is that even if there is no chance of such +candidates being elected, their standing for elections would serve a +valuable educational function. The answer to this is: perhaps, but would +it be more valuable than direct action? And would its educational value, +if any, outweigh the disadvantages of electioneering mentioned in sections +J.2.2 and J.2.4, such as the fact that voting ratifies the current system? +Given the ability of major media to marginalise alternative candidates, we +doubt that such campaigns would have enough educational value to outweigh +these disadvantages. Moreover, being an anarchist does not make one immune +to the corrupting effects of electioneering (as highlighted in section +J.2.6). History is littered with radical, politically aware movements +using elections and ending up becoming part of the system they aimed to +transform. Most anarchists doubt that Libertarian Muncipalism will be +any different -- after all, it is the circumstances the parties find +themselves in which are decisive, not the theory they hold (the social +relations they face will transform the theory, not vice versa, in other +words). + +Lastly, most anarchists question the whole process on which Libertarian +Muncipalism bases itself on. The idea of communes is a key one of anarchism +and so strategies to create them in the here and now are important. However, +to think that using alienated, representative institutions to abolish +these institutions is mad. As the Italian activists (who organised a +neighbourhood assembly by non-electoral means) argue, "[t]o accept power +and to say that the others were acting in bad faith and that we would +be better, would *force* non-anarchists towards direct democracy. We +reject this logic and believe that organisations must come from the +grassroots." ["Community Organising in Southern Italy", pp. 16-19, +_Black Flag_ no. 210, p. 18] + +Thus Libertarian Municipalism reverses the process by which community +assemblies will be created. Instead of anarchists using elections to +build such bodies, they must work in their communities directly to +create them (see section J.5.1 - "What is Community Unionism?" for +more details). Using the catalyst of specific issues of local interest, +anarchists could propose the creation of a community assembly to discuss +the issues in question and organise action to solve them. Instead of +a "confederal muncipalist movement run[ning] candidates for municipal +councils with demands for the institution of public assemblies" [Murray +Bookchin, Op. Cit., p. 229] anarchists should encourage people to +create these institutions themselves and empower themselves by +collective self-activity. As Kropotkin argued, "Laws can only *follow* +the accomplished facts; and even if they do honestly follow them - which +is usually *not* the case - a law remains a dead letter so long as there +are not on the spot the living forces required for making the *tendencies* +expressed in the law an accomplished *fact*." [_Kropotkin's Revolutionary +Pamphlets_, p. 171] Most anarchists, therefore, think it is far more +important to create the "living forces" within our communities directly +than waste energy in electioneering and the passing of laws creating or +"legalising" community assemblies. In other words, community assemblies +can only be created from the bottom up, by non-electoral means, a process +which Libertarian Muncipalism confuses with electioneering. + +So, while Libertarian Muncipalism *does* raise many important issues +and correctly stresses the importance of community activity and +self-management, its emphasis on electoral activity undercuts its +liberatory promise. For most anarchists, community assemblies can +only be created from below, by direct action, and (because of its +electoral strategy) a Libertarian Municipalist movement will end up +being transformed into a copy of the system it aims to abolish. + +J.5.15 What attitude do anarchists take to the welfare state? + +Currently we are seeing a concerted attempt to rollback the state within +society. This has been begun by the right-wing in the name of "freedom," +"individual dignity and responsibility" and "efficiency." The position +of anarchists to this process is mixed. On the one hand, we are all in +favour of reducing the size of the state and increasing individual +responsibility and freedom, but, on the other, we are well aware that +this process is part of an attack on the working class and tends to +increase the power of the capitalists over us as the state's (direct) +influence is reduced. Thus anarchists appear to be on the horns of a +dilemma -- or, at least, apparently. + +So what attitude *do* anarchists take to the welfare state and the current +attacks on it? (see next section for a short discussion of business based +welfare) + +First we must note that this attack of "welfare" is somewhat selective. +While using the rhetoric of "self-reliance" and "individualism," the +practitioners of these "tough love" programmes have made sure that the +major corporations continue to get state hand-outs and aid while attacking +social welfare. In other words, the current attack on the welfare state +is an attempt to impose market discipline on the working class while +increasing state protection for the ruling class. Therefore, most +anarchists have no problem in social welfare programmes as these can +be considered as only fair considering the aid the capitalist class +has always received from the state (both direct subsidies and protection +and indirect support via laws that protect property and so on). And, +for all their talk of increasing individual choice, the right-wing +remain silent about the lack of choice and individual freedom during +working hours within capitalism. + +Secondly, most of the right-wing inspired attacks on the welfare state +are inaccurate. For example, Noam Chomsky notes that the "correlation +between welfare payments and family life is real, though it is the +reverse of what is claimed [by the right]. As support for the poor has +declined, unwed birth-rates, which had risen steadily from the 1940s through +the mid-1970s, markedly increased. 'Over the last three decades, the rate of +poverty among children almost perfectly correlates with the birth-rates among +teenage mothers a decade later,' Mike Males points out: 'That is, child +poverty seems to lead to teenage childbearing, not the other way around.'" +["Rollback III", _Z Magazine_, April, 1995] The same can be said for +many of the claims about the evil effects of welfare which the rich +and large corporations wish to save others (but not themselves) from. +Such altruism is truly heart warming. + +Thirdly, we must note that while most anarchists *are* in favour of +collective self-help and welfare, we are opposed to the welfare state. +Part of the alternatives anarchists try and create are self-managed and +communal community welfare projects (see next section). Moreover, in the +past, anarchists and syndicalists were at the forefront in opposing state +welfare schemes (introduced, we may note, *not* by socialists but by +liberals and other supporters of capitalism to undercut support for +radical alternatives and aid long term economic development by creating +the educated and healthy population required to use advanced technology +and fight wars). Thus we find that: + +"Liberal social welfare legislation. . . were seen by many [British +syndicalists] not as genuine welfare reforms, but as mechanisms of +social control. Syndicalists took a leading part in resisting such +legislation on the grounds that it would increase capitalist discipline +over labour, thereby undermining working class independence and +self-reliance." [Bob Holton, _British Syndicalism: 1900-1914_, +p. 137] + +Anarchists view the welfare state much as some feminists do. While they +note the "patriarchal structure of the welfare state" they are also +aware that it has "also brought challenges to patriarchal power and +helped provide a basis for women's autonomous citizenship." [Carole +Pateman, "The Patriarchal Welfare State", in _The Disorder of Women_, +p. 195] She does on to note that "for women to look at the welfare state +is merely to exchange dependence on individual men for dependence on +the state. The power and capriciousness of husbands is replaced by the +arbitrariness, bureaucracy and power of the state, the very state that +has upheld patriarchal power. . . [this] will not in itself do +anything to challenge patriarchal power relations." [Ibid., p. 200] + +Thus while the welfare state does give working people more options than +having to take *any* job or put up with *any* conditions, this relative +independence from the market and individual capitalists has came at +the price of dependence on the state -- the very institution that +protects and supports capitalism in the first place. And has we have +became painfully aware in recent years, it is the ruling class who has +most influence in the state -- and so, when it comes to deciding what +state budgets to cut, social welfare ones are first in line. Given that +state welfare programmes are controlled by the state, *not* working class +people, such an outcome is hardly surprising. Not only this, we also +find that state control reproduces the same hierarchical structures +that the capitalist firm creates. + +Unsurprisingly, anarchists have no great love of such state welfare schemes +and desire their replacement by self-managed alternatives. For example, +taking municipal housing, Colin Ward writes: + +"The municipal tenant is trapped in a syndrome of dependence and resentment, +which is an accurate reflection of his housing situation. People care about +what is theirs, what they can modify, alter, adapt to changing needs and +improve themselves. They must have a direct responsibility for it. + +". . .The tenant take-over of the municipal estate is one of those obviously +sensible ideas which is dormant because our approach to municipal affairs +is still stuck in the groves of nineteenth-century paternalism." [_Anarchy +in Action_, p.73] + +Looking at state supported education, Ward argues that the "universal education +system turns out to be yet another way in which the poor subsidise the rich." +Which is the least of its problems, for "it is in the *nature* of public +authorities to run coercive and hierarchical institutions whose ultimate +function is to perpetuate social inequality and to brainwash the young +into the acceptance of their particular slot in the organised system." +[Op. Cit., p. 83, p. 81] + +The role of state education as a means of systematically indoctrinating +the working class is reflected in William Lazonick's essay "The +Subjection of Labour to Capital: The rise of the Capitalist System": + +"The Education Act of 1870. . . [gave the] state. . . the facilities. . . +to make education compulsory for all children from the age of five to +the age of ten. It had also erected a powerful system of ideological +control over the next generation of workers. . . [It] was to function +as a prime ideological mechanism in the attempt by the capitalist class +through the medium of the state, to continually *reproduce* a labour +force which would passively accept [the] subjection [of labour to +the domination of capital]. At the same time it had set up a public +institution which could potentially be used by the working class for +just the contrary purpose." [_Radical Political Economy_ Vol. 2, p. 363] + +Lazonick, as did Pateman, indicates the contradictory nature of welfare +provisions within capitalism. On the one hand, they are introduced to help +control the working class (and to improve long term economic development). +On the other hand, these provisions can be used by working class people as +weapons against capitalism and give themselves more options than "work or +starve" (the fact that the recent attack on welfare in the UK -- called, +ironically enough, _welfare to work_ -- involves losing benefits if you +refuse a job is not a surprising development). Thus we find that welfare +acts as a kind of floor under wages. In the US, the two have followed a +common trajectory (rising together and falling together). And it is *this*, +the potential benefits welfare can have for working people, that is the +*real* cause for the current capitalist attacks upon it. + +Because of this contradictory nature of welfare, we find anarchists like +Noam Chomsky arguing that (using an expression popularised by South American +rural workers unions) "we should 'expand the floor of the cage.' We know +we're in a cage. We know we're trapped. We're going to expand the floor, +meaning we will extend to the limits what the cage will allow. And we intend +to destroy the cage. But not by attacking the cage when we're vulnerable, +so they'll murder us. . . You have to protect the cage when it's under +attack from even worse predators from outside, like private power. And +you have to expand the floor of the cage, recognising that it's a cage. +These are all preliminaries to dismantling it. Unless people are willing +to tolerate that level of complexity, they're going to be of no use to +people who are suffering and who need help, or, for that matter, to +themselves." [_Expanding the Floor of the Cage_] + +Thus, even though we know the welfare state is a cage and an instrument +of class power, we have to defend it from a worse possibility -- namely, +the state as "pure" defender of capitalism with working people with +few or no rights. At least the welfare state does have a contradictory +nature, the tensions of which can be used to increase our options. And +one of these options is its abolition *from below*! + +For example, with regards to municipal housing, anarchists will be +the first to agree that it is paternalistic, bureaucratic and hardly +a wonderful living experience. However, in stark contrast with the +"libertarian" right who desire to privatise such estates, anarchists +think that "tenants control" is the best solution as it gives us +the benefits of individual ownership *along with* community (and so +without the negative points of property, such as social atomisation). +And anarchists agree with Colin Ward when he thinks that the demand +for "tenant control" must come from below, by the "collective resistance" +of the tenants themselves, perhaps as a growth from struggles against +rent increases. [Op. Cit., p. 73] + +And it is here that we find the ultimate irony of the right-wing, "free +market" attempts to abolish the welfare state -- neo-liberalism wants to +end welfare *from above,* by means of the state (which is the instigator +of this "individualistic" "reform"). It does not seek the end of dependency +by self-liberation, but the shifting of dependency from state to charity +and the market. In contrast, anarchists desire to abolish welfare from +below, by the direct action of those who receive it by a "multiplicity +of mutual aid organisations among claimants, patients, victims" for +this "represents the most potent lever for change in transforming the +welfare state into a genuine welfare society, in turning community care +into a caring community." [Colin Ward, Op. Cit., p. 125] + +Ultimately, unlike the state socialist/liberal left, anarchists reject the +idea that the case of socialism, of a free society, can be helped by using +the state. Like the right, the left see political action in terms of the +state. All its favourite policies have been statist - state intervention +in the economy, nationalisation, state welfare, state education and so on. +Whatever the problem, the left see the solution as lying in the extension +of the power of the state. And, as such, they continually push people in +relying on *others* to solve their problems for them (moreover, such +state-based "aid" does not get to the core of the problem. All it does +is fight the symptoms of capitalism and statism without attacking their +root causes -- the system itself). + +Invariably, this support for the state is a move away from working class +people, of trusting and empowering them to sort out their own problems. +Indeed, the left seem to forget that the state exists to defend the +collective interests of capitalists and other sections of the ruling +class and so could hardly be considered a neutral body. And, worst of +all, they have presented the right with the opportunity of stating that +freedom from the state means the same thing as the freedom of the market +(and as we have explained in detail in sections B, C and D, capitalism is +based upon domination -- wage labour -- and needs many repressive measures +in order to exist and survive). Anarchists are of the opinion that changing +the boss for the state (or vice versa) is only a step sideways, *not* +forward! After all, it is *not* working people who control how the +welfare state is run, it is politicians, "experts" and managers who +do so. Little wonder we have seen elements of the welfare state used +as a weapon in the class war *against* those in struggle (for example, +in Britain during the 1980s the Conservative Government made it illegal +to claim benefits while on strike, so reducing the funds available to +workers in struggle and helping bosses force strikers back to work faster). + +Therefore, anarchists consider it far better to encourage those who +suffer injustice to organise themselves and in that way they can change +what *they* think is actually wrong, as opposed to what politicians and +"experts" claim is wrong. If sometimes part of this struggle involves +protecting aspects of the welfare state ("expanding the floor of the +cage") so be it -- but we will never stop there and will use such +struggles as a step in abolishing the welfare state from below by +creating self-managed, working class, alternatives. As part of this +process anarchists also seek to *transform* those aspects of the welfare +state they may be trying to "protect". They do not defend an institution +which *is* paternalistic, bureaucratic and unresponsive. For example, if +we are involved in trying to stop a local state-run hospital or school +from closing, anarchists would try to raise the issue of self-management +and local community control into the struggle in the hope of going beyond +the status quo. + +Not only does this mean that we can get accustomed to managing our own +affairs collectively, it also means that we can ensure that whatever +"safety-nets" we create for ourselves do what we want and not what +capital wants. In the end, what we create and run by our own activity +will be more responsive to our needs, and the needs of the class +struggle, than reformist aspects of the capitalist state. This much, +we think, is obvious. And it is ironic to see elements of the +"radical" and "revolutionary" left argue against this working class +self-help (and so ignore the *long* tradition of such activity in +working class movements) and instead select for the agent of their +protection a state run by and for capitalists! + +There are two traditions of welfare within society, one of "fraternal +and autonomous associations springing from below, the other that of +authoritarian institutions directed from above." [Colin Ward, Op. Cit., +p. 123] While sometimes anarchists are forced to defend the latter +against the greater evil of "free market" corporate capitalism, we +never forget the importance of creating and strengthening the former. +A point we will discuss more in section J.5.16 when we highlight the +historical examples of self-managed communal welfare and self-help +organisations. + +J.5.16 Are there any historical examples of collective self-help? + +Yes, in all societies we see working people joining together to practice +mutual aid and solidarity. These take many forms, such as trade and +industrial unions, credit unions and friendly societies, co-operatives +and so on, but the natural response of working class people to the +injustices of capitalism was to practice collective "self-help" in order +to improve their lives and protect their friends, communities and fellow +workers. + +Unfortunately, this "great tradition of working class self-help and +mutual aid was written off, not just as irrelevant, but as an actual +impediment, by the political and professional architects of the welfare +state. . . The contribution that the recipients had to make to all +this theoretical bounty was ignored as a mere embarrassment - apart, +of course, for paying for it. . . The socialist ideal was rewritten +as a world in which everyone was entitled to everything, but where +nobody except the providers had any actual say about anything. We +have been learning for years, in the anti-welfare backlash, what a +vulnerable utopia that was." [Colin Ward, _Social Policy: an +anarchist response_, p. 3] + +Ward terms this self-help (and self-managed) working class activity +the "welfare road we failed to take." + +Indeed, anarchists would argue that self-help is the natural side +effect of freedom. There is no possibility of radical social change +unless people are free to decide for themselves what their problems +are, where their interests lie and are free to organise for themselves +what they want to do about them. Self-help is a natural expression of +people taking control of their own lives and acting for themselves. +Anyone who urges state action on behalf of people is no socialist +and any one arguing against self-help as "bourgeois" is no +anti-capitalist. It is somewhat ironic that it is the right who +have monopolised the rhetoric of "self-help" and turned it into +yet another ideological weapon against working class direct action +and self-liberation (although, saying that, the right generally +likes individualised self-help -- given a strike or squatting +or any other form of *collective* self-help movement they will be +the first to denounce it): + +"The political Left has, over the years, committed an enormous +psychological error in allowing this king of language ["self-help", +"mutual aid", "standing on your own two feet" and so on] to be +appropriated by the political Right. If you look at the exhibitions +of trade union banners from the last century, you will see slogans +like Self Help embroidered all over them. It was those clever +Fabians and academic Marxists who ridiculed out of existence the +values by which ordinary citizens govern their own lives in favour +of bureaucratic paternalising, leaving those values around to be +picked up by their political opponents." [Colin Ward, _Talking +Houses_, p. 58] + +We cannot be expected to provide an extensive list of working class +collective self-help and social welfare activity here, all we can +do is present an overview. For a discussion of working class self-help +and co-operation through the centuries we can suggest no better source +than Kropotkin's _Mutual Aid_. Here we will (using other sources than +_Mutual Aid_) indicate a few examples of collective welfare in action. + +In the case of Britain, we find that the "newly created working class +built up from nothing a vast network of social and economic initiatives +based on self-help and mutual aid. The list is endless: friendly +societies, building societies, sick clubs, coffin clubs, clothing +clubs, up to enormous federated enterprises like the trade union +movement and the Co-operative movement." [Colin Ward, _Social Policy: +an anarchist response_, p. 2] + +The historian E.P. Thompson confirms this picture of a wide network +of working class self-help organisations: + +"Small tradesmen, artisans, labourers - all sought to insure themselves +against sickness, unemployment, or funeral expenses through membership +of . . . friendly societies." These were "authentic evidence of +independent working-class culture and institutions . . . out of +which . . . trade unions grew, and in which trade union officers were +trained." Friendly societies "did not 'proceed from' an idea: both +the ideas and institutions arose from a certain common experience +. . . In the simple cellular structure of the friendly society, with +its workaday ethos of mutual aid, we see many features which were +reproduced in more sophisticated and complex form in trade unions, +co-operatives, Hampden clubs, Political Unions, and Chartist +lodges. . . Every kind of witness in the first half of the +nineteenth century - clergymen, factory inspectors, Radical +publicists - remarked upon the extent of mutual aid in the +poorest districts. In times of emergency, unemployment, strikes, +sickness, childbirth, then it was the poor who 'helped every one +his neighbour.'" [_The Making of the English Working Class_, +p. 458, pp. 460-1, p. 462] + +Taking the United States, Sam Dolgoff presents an excellent summary +of similar self-help activities by the American working class: + +"Long before the labour movement got corrupted and the state stepped +in, the workers organised a network of co-operative institutions of +all kinds: schools, summer camps for children and adults, homes for +the aged, health and cultural centres, credit associations, fire, +life, and health insurance, technical education, housing, etc." +[_The American Labour Movement: A New Beginning_, p. 74] + +Dolgoff, like all anarchists, urges workers to "finance the establishment +of independent co-operative societies of all types, which will respond +adequately to their needs" and that such a movement "could constitute +a realistic alternative to the horrendous abuses of the 'establishment' +at a fraction of the cost." [Op. Cit., p. 74, pp. 74-75] + +In this way a network of self-managed, communal, welfare associations +and co-operatives could be built -- paid for, run by and run for +working class people. Such a network could be initially build upon, +and be an aspect of, the struggles of claimants, patients, tenants, +and other users of the current welfare state (see last section). + +The creation of such a co-operative, community-based, welfare system +will not occur over night. Nor will it be easy. But it *is* possible, +as history shows. And, of course, it will have its problems, but as +Colin Ward notes, that "the standard argument against a localist and +decentralised point of view, is that of universalism: an equal service +to all citizens, which it is thought that central control achieves. +The short answer to this is that it doesn't!" [Colin Ward, Op. Cit., +p. 6] He notes that richer areas generally get a better service from +the welfare state than poorer ones, thus violating the claims of +equal service. And a centralised system (be it state or private) will +most likely allocate resources which reflect the interests and (lack +of) knowledge of bureaucrats and experts, *not* on where they are +best used or the needs of the users. + +Anarchists are sure that a *confederal* network of mutual aid +organisations and co-operatives, based upon local input and control, +can overcome problems of localism far better than a centralised one +-- which, due to its lack of local input and participation will more +likely *encourage* parochialism and indifference than a wider vision +and solidarity. If you have no real say in what affects you, why +should you be concerned with what affects others? Centralisation leads +to disempowerment, which in turn leads to indifference, *not* solidarity. +Rudolf Rocker reminds us of the evil effects of centralism when he +writes: + +"For the state centralisation is the appropriate form of organisation, +since it aims at the greatest possible uniformity in social life for the +maintenance of political and social equilibrium. But for a movement whose +very existence depends on prompt action at any favourable moment and on the +independent thought and action of its supporters, centralism could but be a +curse by weakening its power of decision and systematically repressing all +immediate action. If, for example, as was the case in Germany, every local +strike had first to be approved by the Central, which was often hundreds of +miles away and was not usually in a position to pass a correct judgement +on the local conditions, one cannot wonder that the inertia of the apparatus +of organisation renders a quick attack quite impossible, and there thus +arises a state of affairs where the energetic and intellectually alert +groups no longer serve as patterns for the less active, but are condemned by +these to inactivity, inevitably bringing the whole movement to stagnation. +Organisation is, after all, only a means to an end. When it becomes an end +in itself, it kills the spirit and the vital initiative of its members and +sets up that domination by mediocrity which is the characteristic of all +bureaucracies." [_Anarcho-Syndicalism_, p. 54] + +And, as an example, he notes that while the highly centralised German +labour movement "did not raise a finger to avert the catastrophe" of Hitler's +seizing power and "which in a few months beat their organisation completely +to pieces" the exact opposite happened in Spain ("where Anarcho-Syndicalism +had maintained its hold upon organised labour from the days of the First +International"). There the anarcho-syndicalist C.N.T. "frustrated the +criminal plans of Franco" and "by their heroic example spurred the Spanish +workers and peasants to the battle." Without the heroic resistance of the +Anarcho-Syndicalist labour unions the Fascist reaction would have dominated +the whole country in a matter of weeks. [Op. Cit., p. 53] + +This is unsurprising, for what else is global action other than the product +of thousands of local actions? Solidarity within our class is the flower +that grows from the soil of our local self-activity, direct action and +self-organisation. Unless we act and organise locally, any wider organisation +and action will be hollow. Thus *local* organisation and empowerment is +essential to create and maintain wider organisations and mutual aid. + +To take another example of the benefits of a self-managed welfare system, +we find that it "was a continual complaint of the authorities [in the +late eighteenth and early nineteenth century] that friendly societies allowed +members to withdraw funds when on strike." [E.P. Thompson, Op. Cit., +p. 461f] The same complaints were voiced in Britain about the welfare +state allowing strikers to claim benefit will on strike. The Conservative +Government of the 1980s changed that by passing a law barring those in +industrial dispute to claim benefits -- and so removing a potential support +for those in struggle. Such a restriction would have been far harder (if +not impossible) to impose on a network of self-managed mutual aid +co-operatives. And such institutions would have not become the plaything +of central government financial policy as the welfare state and the +taxes working class people have to pay have become. + +All this means that anarchists reject totally the phoney choice between +private and state capitalism we are usually offered. We reject both +privatisation *and* nationalisation, both right and left wings (of +capitalism). Neither state nor private health care are user-controlled +-- one is subject to the requirements of politics and the other places +profits before people. As we have discussed the welfare state in the +last section, it is worthwhile to quickly discuss privatised welfare and +why most anarchists reject this option even more than state welfare. + +Firstly, all forms of private healthcare/welfare has to pay dividends to +capitalists, fund advertising, reduce costs to maximise profits by +standardising the "caring" process - i.e. McDonaldisation - and so on, +all of which inflates prices and produces substandard service across the +industry as a whole. According to Alfie Kohn, the "[m]ore hospitals and +clinics are being run by for-profit corporations; many institutions, +forced to battle for 'customers,' seem to value a skilled director of +marketing more highly than a skilled caregiver. As in any other economic +sector, the race for profits translates into pressure to reduce costs, +and the easiest way to do it here is to cut back on services to +unprofitable patients, that is, those who are more sick than rich . . ." +"The result: hospital costs are actually *higher* in areas where there +is more competition for patients." [Alfie Kohn, _No Contest_, p. 240] +In the UK, attempts to introduce "market forces" into the National +Health Service also lead to increased costs as well as inflating +the services bureaucracy. + +Looking at Chile, hyped by those who desire to privatise Social Security, +we find similar disappointing results (well, disappointing for the +working class at least, as we will see). Seemingly, Chile's private system +has achieved impressive average returns on investment. However, once +commissions are factored in, the real return for individual workers +is considerably lower. For example, although the average rate of return +on funds from 1982 through 1986 was 15.9 percent, the real return after +commissions was a mere 0.3 percent! Between 1991 and 1995, the +pre-commission return was 12.9 percent, but with commissions it +fell to 2.1 percent. According to Doug Henwood, the "competing mutual +funds have vast sales forces, and the portfolio managers all have their +vast fees. All in all, administrative costs . . . are almost 30% of +revenues, compared to well under 1% for the U.S. Social Security system." +[_Wall Street_, p. 305] Although market competition was supposed to lower +commissions in Chile, the private pension fund market is dominated by a +handful of companies. These, according to economists Peter Diamond and +Salvador Valdes-Prieto, form a "monopolistic competitive market" rather +than a truly competitive one. A similar process seems to be taking place +in Argentina, where commissions have remained around 3.5 percent of +taxable salary. As argued in section C.4, such oligopolistic tendencies +are inherent in capitalism and so this development is not unexpected. + +Even if commission costs were lowered (perhaps by regulation), the +impressive returns on capital seen between 1982 and 1995 (when the +real annual return on investment averaged 12.7 percent) are likely +not to be sustained. These average returns coincided with boom years +in Chile, complemented by government's high borrowing costs. Because +of the debt crisis of the 1980s, Latin governments were paying +double-digit real interest rates on their bonds -- the main investment +vehicle of social security funds. In effect, government was subsidising +the "private" system by paying astronomical rates on government bonds. + +Another failing of the system is that only a little over half of +Chilean workers make regular social security contributions. While many +believe that a private system would reduce evasion because workers have a +greater incentive to contribute to their own personal retirement accounts, +43.4 percent of those affiliated with the new system in June of 1995 did +not contribute regularly (see Stephen J. Kay, "The Chile Con: Privatizing +Social Security in South America," _The American Prospect_ no. 33, +July-August 1997, pp. 48-52 for details). + +All in all, privatisation seems to be beneficial only to middle-men and +capitalists, if Chile is anything to go by. As Henwood argues, while +the "infusion of money" resulting from privatising social security "has +done wonders for the Chilean stock market" "projections are that as many +as half of future retirees will draw a poverty-level pension." [Op. Cit., +pp. 304-5] + +So, anarchists reject private welfare as a con (and an even bigger one +than state welfare). Instead we try to create *real* alternatives to +hierarchy, be it state or capitalist, in the here and now which reflect +our ideas of a free and just society. For, when it boils down to it, +freedom cannot be given, only taken and this process of *self*-liberation +is reflected in the alternatives we build to help win the class war. + +The struggle *against* capitalism and statism requires that we build *for* +the future ("the urge to destroy is a creative urge" - Bakunin) and, +moreover, we should always remember that "he who has no confidence in the +creative capacity of the masses and in their capability to revolt doesn't +belong in the revolutionary movement. He should go to a monastery and get +on his knees and start praying. Because he is no revolutionist. He is a +son of a bitch." [Sam Dolgoff, quoted by Ulrike Heider, _Anarchism: left, +right, and green_, p. 12] +J.6 What methods of child rearing do anarchists advocate? + +Anarchists have long been aware of the importance of child rearing and +education. As such, we are aware that child rearing should aim to develop +"a well-rounded individuality" and not "a patient work slave, professional +automaton, tax-paying citizen, or righteous moralist." [Emma Goldman, +_Red Emma Speaks_, p. 108] In this section of the FAQ we will discuss +anarchist approaches to child rearing bearing in mind "that it is through +the channel of the child that the development of the mature man must go, +and that the present ideas of. . . educating or training. . . are such as +to stifle the natural growth of the child." [Ibid., p. 107] + +If one accepts the thesis that the authoritarian family is the breeding +ground for both individual psychological problems and political reaction, +it follows that anarchists should try to develop ways of raising children +that will not psychologically cripple them but instead enable them to +accept freedom and responsibility while developing natural self-regulation. +We will refer to children raised in such a way as "free children." + +Work in this field is still in its infancy (no pun intended). Wilhelm +Reich is again the main pioneer in this field (an excellent, short +introduction to his ideas can be found in Maurice Brinton's _The Irrational +in Politics_). In _Children of the Future_, Reich made numerous suggestions, +based on his research and clinical experience, for parents, psychologists, +and educators striving to develop libertarian methods of child rearing. +(He did not use the term "libertarian," but that is what his methods are.) + +Hence, in this and the following sections we will summarise Reich's main +ideas as well as those of other libertarian psychologists and educators who +have been influenced by him, such as A.S. Neill and Alexander Lowen. +Section J.6.1 will examine the theoretical principles involved in raising +free children, while subsequent sections will illustrate their practical +application with concrete examples. Finally, in section J.6.8, we will +examine the anarchist approach to the problems of adolescence. + +Such an approach to child rearing is based upon the insight that children +"do not constitute anyone's property: they are neither the property of +the parents nor even of society. They belong only to their own future +freedom." [Michael Bakunin, _The Political Philosophy of Bakunin_, p. 327] +As such, what happens to a child when it is growing up *shapes* the +person they become and the society they live in. The key question for +people interested in freedom is whether "the child [is] to be considered +as an individuality, or as an object to be moulded according to the +whims and fancies of those about it?" [Emma Goldman, Op. Cit., +p. 107] Libertarian child rearing is the means by which the individuality +of the child is respected and developed. + +This is in stark contrast to standard capitalist (and individualist anarchist +we should note) claim that children are the *property* of their parents. +If we accept that children *are* the property of their parents then we are +implicitly stating that a child's formative years are spent in slavery, +hardly a relationship which will promote the individuality and freedom of +the child or the wider society. Little wonder that most anarchists reject +such assertions. Instead they argue that the "rights of the parents shall +be confined to loving their children and exercising over them . . . authority +[that] does not run counter to their morality, their mental development, +or their future freedom." [Bakunin, Op. Cit., p. 327] Being someone's +property (i.e. slave) runs counter to all these and "it follows that +society, the whole future of which depends upon adequate education and +upbringing of children. . . , has not only the right but also the duty +to watch over them..." [Ibid., p. 327] + +Hence child rearing is *part* of society, a communal process by which +children learn what it means to be an individual by being respected as +one by others. In Bakunin's words, "real freedom - that is, the full +awareness and the realisation thereof in every individual, pre-eminently +based upon a feeling of one's dignity and upon the genuine respect for +someone else's freedom and dignity, i.e. upon justice - such freedom can +develop in children only through the rational development of their minds, +character and will." [Op. Cit., p. 327] + +We wish to point out at the beginning that a great deal of work remains to +be done in this field. Therefore our comments should be regarded merely +as tentative bases for further reflection and research by those involved +with raising and educating children. There is, and cannot be, any "rule +book" for raising free children, because to follow an inflexible +rule book is to ignore the fact that each child and its environment is +unique and therefore demands unique responses from its parents. Hence the +"principles" of libertarian child rearing to which we will refer should +not be thought of as rules, but rather, as experimental hypotheses to be +tested by parents within their own situation by applying their intelligence +and deriving their own individual conclusions. + +Bringing up children must be like education, and based on similar principles, +namely "upon the free growth and development of the innate forces and +tendencies of the child. In this way alone can we hope for the free +individual and eventually also for a free community, which shall make +interference and coercion of human growth impossible." [Goldman, Op. Cit., +p. 115] Indeed, child rearing and education *cannot* be separated as +life itself is an education and so must share the same principles and +viewed as a process of "development and exploration, rather than as one +of repressing a child's instincts and inculcating obedience and discipline." +[Martha A. Ackelsberg, _Free Women of Spain_, p. 132] + +Moreover, the role of parental example is very important to raising +free children. Children often learn by mimicking their parents - children +do what their parents do, not as they say. If their mother and father lie +to each other, scream, fight and so on, then the child will probably do +so as well. Children's behaviour does not come out thin air, they are a +product of the environment they are brought up in (partly by, initially at +least, copying the parent). Children can only be encouraged by example, not +by threats and commands. How parents act can be an obstacle to the development +of a free child. Parents must, therefore, be aware that they must do more +than just *say* the right things, but also act as anarchists in order to +produce free children. + +The sad fact is that most modern people have lost the ability to raise +free children, and regaining this ability will be a long process of trial +and error and parent education in which it is to be hoped that each +succeeding generation will learn from the failures and successes of their +predecessors, and so improve. In the best-case scenario, over the course +of a few generations the number of progressive parents will continue to +grow and raise ever freer children, who in turn will become even more +progressive parents themselves, thus gradually changing mass psychology +in a libertarian direction. Such changes *can* come about very fast, +as can be seen from various communes all over the world and especially +in the Israel-Palestine kibbutz where society is organised according to +libertarian principles, and children are mainly growing in their +collective homes. As Reich puts it: + +"We have learned that instead of a jump into the realm of the Children of +the Future, we can hope for no more than a steady advance, in which the +healthy new overlaps the sick old structure, with the new slowly +outgrowing the old." [_Children of the Future_, pp. 38-39] + +By means of freedom-based child rearing and education, along with other +methods of consciousness raising, as well as encouraging resistance to +the existing social order anarchists hope to prepare the psychological +foundation for a social paradigm shift, from authoritarian to +libertarian institutions and values. And indeed, a gradual cultural +evolution toward increasing freedom does seem to exist. For example, as +A.S. Neill writes in _Summerhill_, "There is a slow trend to freedom, sexual +and otherwise. In my boyhood, a woman went bathing wearing stockings and +a long dress. Today, women show legs and bodies. Children are getting +more freedom with every generation. Today, only a few lunatics put +cayenne pepper on a baby's thumb to stop sucking. Today, only a few +countries beat their children in school." [p. 115] + +Most anarchists believe that, just as charity begins at home, so does +the anarchist revolution. As some anarchists raise their own children in +capitalist society and/or are involved in the raising and education of the +children of other parents, they can practice in part libertarian +principles even before the revolution. Hence we think it is important +to discuss libertarian child rearing in some detail. + +J.6.1 What are the main principles of raising free children and the main + obstacles to implementing those principles? + +Let's consider the obstacles first. As Reich points out, the biggest one +is the training and character of most parents, physicians, and educators. +Based on his clinical experience, Reich maintained that virtually all +adults in our society have some degree of psychological problems, which +is manifested somatically as a rigid muscular "armour": chronic muscular +tensions and spasms in various regions of the body. One of the main +functions of this armour is to inhibit the pleasurable sensations of +life-energy that naturally "stream" or flow through an unarmoured body. +Reich postulated that there is one basic bioenergy ("orgone") in the body, +identical with what Freud called "libido," which, besides animating the +tissues and organs is also the energy of sex and the emotions (we should +note that most anarchists do not subscribe to Reich's idea of "orgone" - +the existence of which, we may note, has not been proved. However, the +idea of character armour, by which individuals within a hierarchical +society create psychological walls/defences around themselves is one +most anarchists accept. Such walls will obviously have an effect both on +the mental and physical state of the individual, and their capacity +for living a free life and experiencing pleasure). This means that the +pleasurable "streamings" of this bioenergy, which can be felt when the +muscular armour is relaxed, have an erotic or "libidinous" quality. Thus +an unarmoured organism (such as a new-born infant) automatically experiences +pleasure with every breath, a pleasure derived from perception of the +natural bioenergetic processes within its body. Such a mode of being +in the world makes life intrinsically worth living and renders +superfluous all questions about its "meaning" or "purpose" -- questions +that occur only to armoured people, who have lost contact with their +bioenergetic core of bodily sensations (or it is distorted, and so is +changed from a source of pleasures to a source of suffering) and thus +restricts their capacity to fully enjoy life. + +It is important for those involved in child rearing and education to +understand how armouring develops in the new-born child. Reich points out +that under the influence of a compulsive, pleasure-denying morality, +children are taught to inhibit the spontaneous flow of life-energy in +the body. Similarly, they are taught to disregard most bodily sensations. +Due to Oedipal conflicts in the patriarchal family (see below), parents +usually take the most severely repressive disciplinary measures +against sexual expressions of life-energy in children. Thus, all erotic +feelings, including the erotically-tinged "streaming" sensations, come to +be regarded as "bad," "animalistic," etc., and so their perception begins +to arouse anxiety, which leads, among other bad results, to chronic +muscular tensions as a way of cutting off or defending against such +perceptions and their attendant anxiety. Shallow breathing, for example, +reduces the amount of life-energy available to flow into excitation +and emotion; tightening the muscles of the pelvic floor and abdomen +reduces sexual feelings, and so on. As these tensions become chronic +and unconscious, piling up in layer after layer of muscular armour, +the person is eventually left with a feeling of inner emptiness or +"deadness" and -- not surprisingly -- a lack of joy in life. + +For those who fail to build a stable physical and psychological armour +around themselves to suppress these feelings and sensation, they just +twist them and are flooded again and again with intense unpleasant +feelings and sensations. + +Muscular armouring has its most profound effect on back pains and various +respiration problems. Reich found that the "normal" man or woman in our +society *cannot* spontaneously take full, deep, natural breaths, which +involves both the chest and abdomen. Instead, most people (except when +making a conscious effort) restrict their breathing through unconscious +tensing of various muscles. Since the natural response to any restriction +in the ability to breathe is anxiety, people growing up in repressive +cultures such as ours are plagued by a tendency toward chronic anxiety. +As a defence against this anxiety, they develop further layers of +muscular armouring, which further restricts their ability to breathe, +and so on, in a vicious circle. In other words, it is *literally* +true that, as Max Stirner said, one cannot "take breath" in our +authoritarian society with its life-denying atmosphere based on +punishments, threats, and fear. + +Of course sex is not the only expression of life-energy that parents try +to stifle in children. There are also, for example, the child's natural +vocal expressions (shouting, screaming, bellowing, crying, etc.) and +natural body motility. As Reich notes, + +"Small children go through a phase of development characterised by +vigorous activity of the voice musculature. The joy the infant derives +from loud noises (crying, shrieking, and forming a variety of sounds) is +regarded by many parents as pathological aggressiveness. The children are +accordingly admonished not to scream, to be "still," etc. The impulses of +the voice apparatus are inhibited, its musculature becomes chronically +contracted, and the child becomes quiet, "well-brought-up," and +withdrawn. The effect of such mistreatment is soon manifested in eating +disturbances, general apathy, pallor of the face, etc. Speech +disturbances and retardation of speech development are presumably caused +in this manner. In the adult we see the effects of such mistreatment in +the form of spasms of the throat. The automatic constrictions of the +glottis and the deep throat musculature, with subsequent inhibition of the +aggressive impulses of the head and neck, seems to be particularly +characteristic." [Op. Cit., p. 128] + +(And we must add, that the suppression of the urge to move all children +have is most destructive to the 15% or so of "Hyper-active" children, +whose urge to move is hard to suppress.) + +"Clinical experience has taught us," Reich concludes, "that small children +must be allowed to 'shout themselves out' when the shouting is inspired by +pleasure. This might be disagreeable to some parents, but questions of +education must be decided *exclusively in the interests of the child,* not +in those of the adults." [Ibid.] + +Besides deadening the pleasurable streamings of life energy in the body, +muscular armouring also functions to inhibit the anxiety generated by the +presence of anti-social, cruel, and perverse impulses within the psyche +(impulses referred to by Reich as "secondary" drives) -- for example, +destructiveness, sadism, greed, power hunger, brutality, rape fantasies, +etc. Ironically, these secondary drives result from the *suppression of +the primary drives* (e.g. for sex, physical activity, vocal expression, +etc.) and the sensations of pleasure associated with them. The secondary +drives develop because, when muscular armouring sets in and a person loses +touch with his or her bioenergetic core and other emotional urges, +the only emotional expressions that can get through the thick, hard +wall of armour are distorted, harsh, and/or mechanical. Thus, for example, +a heavily armoured person who tries to express love may find that the +emotion is shredded by the wall of armour and comes out in distorted +form as an impulse to hurt the person loved (sadism) -- an impulse +that causes anxiety and then has to be repressed. In other words, +compulsive morality (i.e. acting according to externally imposed +rules) becomes necessary to control the secondary drives *which +compulsion itself creates.* By such processes, authoritarian +child-rearing becomes self-justifying. Thus: + +"Psychoanalysts have failed to distinguish between primary natural and +secondary perverse, cruel drives, and they are continuously killing nature +in the new-born while they try to extinguish the 'brutish little animal.' +They are completely ignorant of the fact that it is *exactly this killing +of the natural principle which creates the secondary perverse and cruel +nature,* human nature so called, and that these artificial cultural +creations in turn make compulsive moralism and brutal laws necessary" +[Ibid., p. 17-18]. + +Moralism, however, can never get at the root of the problem of secondary +drives, but in fact only increases the pressure of crime and guilt. The +real solution is to let children develop what Reich calls *natural +self-regulation.* This can be done only by not subjecting them to +punishment, coercion, threats, moralistic lectures and admonitions, +withdrawal of love, etc. in an attempt to inhibit their spontaneous +expression of natural life-impulses. The systematic development of the +emphatic tendencies of the young infant is the best way to "socialise" +and restrict activities that are harmful to the others. As A.S. Neill +points out, "self-regulation implies a belief in the goodness of human +nature; a belief that there is not, and never was, original sin." +[Op. Cit., p. 103] + +According to Neill, children who are given freedom from birth and not +forced to conform to parental expectations spontaneously learn how to keep +themselves clean and develop social qualities like courtesy, common +sense, an interest in learning, respect for the rights of others, and so +forth (see next section). However, once the child has been armoured +through authoritarian methods intended to *force* it to develop such +qualities, it becomes what Reich calls "biopathic" -- out of touch with +its living core and therefore no longer able to develop self-regulation. +In this stage it becomes harder and harder for the pro-social emotions +to shape the developing mode of life of the new member of society. At +that point, when the secondary drives develop, parental authoritarianism +becomes a *necessity.* As Reich puts it: + +"This close interrelation between biopathic behaviour and authoritarian +countermeasures seems to be automatic. Self-regulation appears to have no +place in and no influence upon emotions which do not come from the living +core directly but only as if through a thick hard wall. Moreover, one has +the impression that secondary drives cannot stand self-regulatory +conditions of existence. They force sharp discipline on the part of the +educator or parent. It is as if a child with an essentially +secondary-drive structure feels that it cannot function or exist without +disciplinary guidance. This is paralleled by the interlacing of +self-regulation in the healthy child with self-regulation in the +environment. Here the child cannot function unless it has freedom of +decision and movement. It cannot tolerate discipline any more than the +armoured child can tolerate freedom." + +This inability to tolerate freedom, which the vast majority of people +develop *automatically* from the way they are raised, is what makes the +whole subject of armouring and its prevention of crucial importance to +anarchists. Reich concludes that if parents do not suppress nature in +the first place, then no anti-social drives will be created and no +authoritarianism will be required to suppress them: "*What you so +desperately and vainly try to achieve by way of compulsion and admonition +is there in the new-born infant ready to live and function. Let it grow as +nature requires, and change our institutions accordingly*" [Ibid., p. 47, +italics in original]. + +As Alexander Lowen points out in _Fear of Life_, parents are particularly +anxious to suppress the sexual expressions of life energy in their +children because of unresolved Oedipal conflicts within themselves. + +Hence, in order to raise psychologically healthy children, parents need +to acquire self-knowledge, particularly of how Oedipal conflicts, sibling +rivalry, and other internal conflicts develop in family relationships, +and to free themselves as much as possible from neurotic forms of +armouring. The difficulty of parents acquiring such self-knowledge +and sufficiently de-conditioning themselves is obviously another +obstacle to raising self-regulated children. + +However, the greatest obstacle is the fact that armouring and other +twisting mechanisms set in so very early in life, i.e. soon after +birth. Reich emphasises that *with the first armour blockings, the +infant's self-regulatory powers begin to wane.* "They become steadily +weaker as the armouring spreads over the whole organism, and they *must* +be replaced by compulsive, moral principles if the child is to exist +and survive in its given environment." [Ibid., pp. 44-45] Hence it +is important for parents to obtain a thorough knowledge of what +armouring and other rigid suppressions are and how they function, +so that from the beginning they can prevent (or at least decrease) +them from forming in their children. Some practical examples of how +this can be done will be discussed in the next section. + +Finally, Reich cautions that it is crucial to avoid any mixing of +concepts. "One cannot mix a bit of self-regulation with a bit of moral +demand. Either we trust nature as basically decent and self-regulatory or +we do not, and then there is only one way, that of training by +compulsion. It is essential to grasp the fact that the two ways of +upbringing do not go together." [Ibid., p. 46] + +J.6.2. What are some examples of libertarian child-rearing methods + applied to the care of new-born infants? + +According to Reich, the problems of parenting a free child actually begin +before conception, with the need for a prospective mother to free herself +as much as possible from chronic muscular tensions, especially in the +pelvic area, which may inhibit the optimal development of a foetus. As +Reich points out, the mother's body provides the environment for the +child from the moment the embryo is formed until the moment of birth, +and strong muscular armouring in her pelvis as a result of sexual +repression or other emotional problems is very detrimental. Such a +mother will have a bioenergetically "dead" and possibly spastic uterus, +which can traumatise an infant even before it is born by reducing the +circulation of blood and body fluids and making the energy metabolism +inefficient, thus damaging the child's vitality. + +Moreover, it has been found in many studies that not only the physical +health of the mother can influence the foetus. Various psychological +stresses influence the chemical and hormonal environment, affecting +the foetus. Even short ones, when acute, can have significant effects +on it. + +Immediately after birth, it is important for the mother to establish +contact with her child. This means, basically, constant loving +attention to the baby, expressed by plenty of holding, cuddling, +playing, etc., and especially by breast feeding. By such "orgonotic" +contact (to use Reich's term), the mother is able to establish the +initial emotional bonding with the new born, and a non-verbal +understanding of the child's needs. This is only possible, however, +if she is in touch with her own internal processes - emotional +and cognitive - and bioenergetic core, i.e. is not too neurotically +armoured (in Reich's terminology). Thus: + +"The orgonotic sense of contact, a function of the . . . energy field of +both the mother and the child, is unknown to most specialists; however, +the old country doctor knew it well. . . . *Orgonotic contact is the most +essential experiential and emotional element in the interrelationship +between mother and child,* particularly prenatally and during the first +days and weeks of life. The future fate of the child depends on it. It +seems to be the core of the new-born infant's emotional development." [Ibid. +p. 99] It is less crucial but still important for the father to +establish orgonotic contact as well, although since fathers lack the +primary means of establishing it -- namely the ability to breast feed -- +their contact can never be as close as the mother's (see below). + +A new-born child has only one way of expressing its needs: through +crying. Crying has many nuances and can convey much more than the +level of distress of the child. If a mother is unable to establish +contact at the most basic emotional ("bioenergetic," according to +Reich) level, she will be unable to understand intuitively what needs +the child is expressing through its crying. Any unmet needs will +in turn be felt by the child as a deprivation, to which it will +respond with a wide array of negative emotions and deleterious +physiological processes and emotional tension. If continued for +long, such tensions can become chronic and thus the beginning of +"armouring" and adaptation to a "cruel" reality. + +The most important factor in the establishment of bonding is the +tender physical contact between mother and infant is undoubtedly +breast feeding. Thus: + +"The most salient place of contact in the infant's body is the +bioenergetically highly charged mouth and throat. This body organ reaches +out immediately for gratification. *If the nipple of the mother reacts to +the infant's sucking movements in a biophysically normal manner with +sensations of pleasure, it will become strongly erect and the orgonotic +excitation of the nipple will become one with that of the infant's mouth, +just as in the orastically gratifying sexual act, in which the male and +female genitals luminate and fuse orgonotically*. There is nothing +'abnormal' or 'disgusting' in this. Every healthy mother experiences the +sucking as pleasure and yields to it. . . . However, about 80 percent of +all women suffer from vaginal anaesthesia and frigidity. Their nipples +are correspondingly anorgonotic, i.e. 'dead.' The mother may develop +anxiety or loathing in response to what would naturally be a sensation of +pleasure aroused in the breast by the infant's sucking. This is why so +many mothers do not want to nurse their babies." [pp. 115-116] + +Reich and other libertarian psychologists therefore maintain that the +practice of bottle feeding is harmful, particularly if it completely +replaces breast feeding from the day of birth, because it eliminates one +of the most important forms of establishing bioenergetic contact between +mother and child. This lack of contact can then contribute in later life +to "oral" forms of neurotic character structure or traits. (For more on +these, see Alexander Lowen, _Physical Dynamics of Character Structure_, +Chapter 9, "The Oral Character"]. Lowen believes that the practice of +breast feeding should be continued for about three years, as it usually is +among "primitive" peoples, and that weaning before this time is +experienced as a major trauma. "[I]f the breast is available to a child +for about three years, which I believe to be the time required to fulfil +a child's oral needs, weaning causes very little trauma, since the loss of +this pleasure is offset by the many other pleasures the child can then +have." [_Depression and the Body_, p. 133] + +Another harmful practice in infant care is the compulsive-neurotic method +of feeding children on schedule, invented by Pirquet in Vienna, which "was +devastatingly wrong and harmful to countless children." Frustration of +oral needs through this practice (which is fortunately less in vogue now +than it was fifty years ago), is guaranteed to produce neurotic armouring +in infants. + +As Reich puts it, "As long as parents, doctors, and educators approach +infants with false, unbending behaviour, inflexible opinions, +condescension, and officiousness, instead of with orgonotic contact, +infants will continue to be quiet, withdrawn, apathetic, "autistic," +"peculiar," and, later, "little wild animals," whom the cultivated feel +they have to "tame." [Op. Cit. p. 124] + +Another harmful practice is allowing the baby to "cry itself out." Thus: +"Parking a baby in a baby carriage in the garden, perhaps for hours at a +time, is a dangerous practice. No one can know what agonising feelings of +fear and loneliness a baby can experience on waking up suddenly to find +himself alone in a strange place. Those who have heard a baby's screams +on such occasions have some idea of the cruelty of this stupid custom." +[Neill, _Summerhill_, p. 336] Indeed, in _The Physical Dynamics of +Character Structure_, Lowen has traced specific neuroses, particularly +depression, to this practice. Hospitals also have been guilty of +psychologically damaging sick infants by isolating them from their +mothers, a practice that has undoubtedly produced untold numbers of +neurotics and psychopaths. + +Also, as Reich notes, "the sadistic habit of circumcision will soon be +recognised as the senseless, fanatical cruelty it truly is." [Op. Cit., p. +68] He remarks that he has observed infants who took over two weeks to +"recover" from the trauma of circumcision, a "recovery" that left +permanent psychological scars in the form of chronic muscular tensions in +the pelvic floor. These tensions form the first layer of pelvic armouring, +to which sexual repression and other inhibitions (especially those +acquired during toilet training) later add. + +The diaphragm, however, is perhaps the most important area to protect from +early armouring. After observing infants for several years in a research +setting, Reich concluded that armouring in babies usually appears first as +a blocking of free respiration, expressed as harsh, rough, uneven, or +laboured breathing, which may lead to colds, coughs, bronchitis, etc. + +"The early blocking of respiration seemed to gain importance rapidly as +more children were observed. Somehow the diaphragmatic region appeared to +respond first and most severely to emotional, bioenergetic discomfort." +[Ibid., p. 110] Hence the infant's breathing is a key indicator of its +emotional health, and any disturbance is a signal that something is +wrong. Or, as Neill puts it, "The sign of a well-reared child is his +free, uninhibited breathing. It shows that he is not afraid of life" +[Op. Cit., p. 131]. + +Neill sums up the libertarian attitude toward the care of infants as +follows: "*Self-regulation means the right of a baby to live freely +without outside authority in things psychic and somatic*. It means that +the baby feeds when it is hungry; that it becomes clean in habits only +when it wants to; that it is never stormed at nor spanked; that it is +always loved and protected." [Op. Cit. p. 105] + +Obviously self-regulation doesn't mean leaving the baby alone +when it heads toward a cliff or starts playing with an electrical +socket. Anarchists do not advocate a lack of common sense. We +recognise that adults must override an infant's will when it is a question +of protecting its physical safety. As Neill writes, "Only a fool in charge +of young children would allow unbarred bedroom windows or an unprotected +fire in the nursery. Yet, too often, young enthusiasts for +self-regulation come to my school as visitors, and exclaim at our lack of +freedom in locking poison in a lab closet, or our prohibition about +playing on the fire escape. The whole freedom movement is marred and +despised because so many advocates of freedom have not got their feet on +the ground." [Ibid., p. 106] + +Nevertheless, the libertarian position does not imply that a child should +be *punished* for getting into a dangerous situation. Nor is the best +thing to do in such a case to shout in alarm (unless that is the +only way to warn the child before it is too late), but simply to remove the +danger without any fuss. As Neill says, "Unless a child is mentally +defective, he will soon discover what interests him. Left free from +excited cries and angry voices, he will be unbelievably sensible in his +dealing with material of all kinds." [Ibid., p. 108] Provided, of course, +that he or she has been allowed self-regulation from the beginning, and +thus has not developed any irrational, secondary drives. + +J.6.3 What are some examples of libertarian child-rearing methods + applied to the care of young children? + +The way to raise a free child becomes clear when one considers how +an *un*free child is raised. Thus imagine the typical infant, John Smith, +whose upbringing A.S. Neill describes: + +"His natural functions were left alone during the diaper period. But when +he began to crawl and perform on the floor, words like *naughty* and +*dirty* began to float about the house, and a grim beginning was made in +teaching him to be clean. + +"Before this, his hand had been taken away every time it touched his +genitals; and he soon came to associate the genital prohibition with the +acquired disgust about faeces. Thus, years later, when he became a +travelling salesman, his story repertoire consisted of a balanced number of +sex and toilet jokes. + +"Much of his training was conditioned by relatives and neighbours. +Mother and father were most anxious to be correct -- to do the proper +thing -- so that when relatives or next-door neighbours came, John had to +show himself as a well-trained child. He had to say *Thank you* when +Auntie gave him a piece of chocolate; and he had to be most careful about +his table manners; and especially, he had to refrain from speaking when +adults were speaking." [_Summerhill_, p. 97] + +When he was little older, things got worse for John. "All his +curiosity about the origins of life were met with clumsy lies, lies so +effective that his curiosity about life and birth disappeared. The lies +about life became combined with fears when at the age of five his mother +found him having genital play with his sister of four and the girl next +door. The severe spanking that followed (Father added to it when he came +home from work) forever conveyed to John the lesson that sex is filthy and +sinful, something one must not even think of." [Ibid.] + +Of course, parents' ways of imparting negative messages about sex are not +necessarily this severe, especially in our allegedly enlightened age. +However, it is not necessary for a child to be spanked or even scolded or +lectured in order to acquire a sex-negative attitude. Children are very +intuitive and will receive the message "sex is bad" from subtle parental +cues like facial expressions, tone of voice, embarrassed silence, +avoidance of certain topics, etc. Mere "toleration" of sexual curiosity +and play is far different in its psychological effects from positive +affirmation. + +Based on the findings of clinical psychiatry, Reich postulated a "first +puberty" in children, from the ages of about 3 to 6, when the child's +attention shifts from the satisfaction of oral needs to an interest in its +sexuality -- a stage characterised by genital play of all kinds. The +parents' task at this stage is not only to allow children to engage in such +play, but to encourage it. "In the child, before the age of four or five, +genitality has not yet fully developed. The task here plainly consists of +removing the obstacles in the way of natural development toward full +genitality. To fulfil this task, we must agree that a first puberty in +children exists; that genital games are the peak of its development; that +lack of genital activity is a sign of sickness and not of health, as +previously assumed; and that healthy children play genital games of all +kinds, which should be encouraged and not hindered." [_Children of the +Future_, p. 66] + +Along the same lines, to prevent the formation of sex-negative attitudes +means that nakedness should never be discouraged. "The baby should see +its parents naked from the beginning. However, the child should be told +when he is ready to understand that some people don't like to see children +naked and that, in the presence of such people, he should wear clothes." +[Neill, _Summerhill_, p. 229] + +Neill maintains that not only should parents never spank or punish a child +for genital play, but that spanking and other forms of punishment should +never be used in *any* circumstances, because they instil fear, turning +children into cowards and often leading to phobias. "Fear must be +entirely eliminated -- fear of adults, fear of punishment, fear of +disapproval, fear of God. Only hate can flourish in an atmosphere of +fear." [Ibid., p. 124] + +Punishment also turns children into sadists. "The cruelty of many +children springs from the cruelty that has been practised on them by +adults. You cannot be beaten without wishing to beat someone else. . . +Every beating makes a child sadistic in desire or practice." [Ibid., p. 269, +271] This is obviously an important consideration to anarchists, as +sadistic drives provide the psychological ground for militarism, war, +police brutality, and so on. Such drives are undoubtedly also part of the +desire to exercise hierarchical authority, with its possibilities for +using negative sanctions against subordinates as an outlet for +sadistic impulses. + +Child beating is particularly cowardly because it is a way for adults to +vent their hatred, frustration, and sadism on those who are unable to +defend themselves. Such cruelty is, of course, always rationalised with +excuse like "it hurts me more than it does you," etc., or explained in +moral terms, like "I don't want my boy to be soft" or "I want him to +prepare him for a harsh world" or "I spank my children because my parents +spanked me, and it did me a hell of a lot of good." But despite such +rationalisations, the fact remains that punishment is always an act of +hate. To this hate, the child responds in kind by hating the parents, +followed by fantasy, guilt, and repression. For example, the child may +fantasise the father's death, which immediately causes guilt, and so is +repressed. Often the hatred induced by punishment emerges in fantasies +that are seemingly remote from the parents, such as stories of giant +killing -- always popular with children because the giant represents +the father. Obviously, the sense of guilt produced by such fantasies is +very advantageous to organised religions that promise redemption from "sin." +It is surely no coincidence that such religions are enthusiastic promoters +of the sex-negative morality and disciplinarian child rearing practices +that keep supplying them with recruits. + +What is worse, however, is that punishment actually *creates* "problem +children." This is so because the parent arouses more and more hatred +(and diminishing trust in other human beings) in the child with each +spanking, which is expressed in still worse behaviour, calling for more +spankings, and so on, in a vicious circle. In contrast, "The +self-regulated child does not need any punishment," Neill argues, "and +he does not go through this hate cycle. He is never punished and he does +not need to behave badly. He has no use for lying and for breaking things. +His body has never been called filthy or wicked. He has not needed to +rebel against authority or to fear his parents. Tantrums he will usually +have, but they will be short-lived and not tend toward neurosis." [Ibid., +p. 166] + +We could cite many further examples of how libertarian principles of +child-rearing can be applied in practice, but we must limit ourselves to +these few. The basic principles can be summed up as follows: Get rid of +authority, moralism, and the desire to "improve" and "civilise" children. +Allow them to be themselves, without pushing them around, bribing, +threatening, admonishing, lecturing, or otherwise forcing them to do +anything. Refrain from action unless the child, by expressing their +"freedom" restricts the freedom of others and *explain* what is wrong +about such actions and never mechanically punish. + +This is, of course, a radical philosophy, which few parents are willing to +follow. It is quite amazing how people who call themselves libertarians +in political and economic matters draw the line when it comes to their +behaviour within the family -- as if such behaviour had no wider social +consequences! Hence, the opponents of children's freedom are legion, as +are their objections to libertarian child rearing. In the next few sections +we will examine some of the most common of these objections. + +J.6.4 If children have nothing to fear, how can they be good? + +Obedience that is based on fear of punishment, this-worldly or +otherworldly, is not really goodness, it is merely cowardice. True +morality (i.e. respect for others and one-self) comes from inner +conviction based on experience, it cannot be imposed from without +by fear. Nor can it be inspired by hope of reward, such as praise or +the promise of heaven, which is simply bribery. As noted in the +previous section, if children are given as much freedom as possible +from the day of birth and not forced to conform to parental expectations, +they will spontaneously learn the basic principles of social behaviour, +such as cleanliness, courtesy, and so forth. But they must be allowed to +develop them *at their own speed,* at the natural stage of their growth, +not when parents think they should develop them. And what is "natural" +timing must be discovered by observation, not by defining it a priori +based on one's own expectations. + +Can a child really be taught to keep itself clean without being punished +for getting dirty? According to many psychologists, it is not only +possible but *vitally important* for the child's mental health to do so, +since punishment will give the child a fixed and repressed interest in his +bodily functions. As Reich and Lowen have shown, for example, various +forms of compulsive and obsessive neuroses can be traced back to the +punishments used in toilet training. Dogs, cats, horses, and cows have no +complexes about excrement. Complexes in human children come from the +manner of their instruction. + +As Neill observes, "When the mother says *naughty* or *dirty* or even +*tut tut*, the element of right and wrong arises. The question becomes a +*moral* one -- when it should remain a *physical* one." He suggests that +the *wrong* way to deal with a child who likes to play with faeces is to +tell him he is being dirty. "The right way is to allow him to live out +his interest in excrement by providing him with mud or clay. In this way, +he will sublimate his interest without repression. He will live through +his interest; and in doing so, kill it." [_Summerhill_, p. 174] + +Similarly, sceptics will probably question how children can be induced to +eat a healthy diet without threats of punishment. The answer can be +discovered by a simple experiment: set out on the table all kinds of +foods, from candy and ice cream to whole wheat bread, lettuce, sprouts, +and so on, and allow the child complete freedom to choose what is desired +or to eat nothing at all if he or she is not hungry. Parents will find +that the average child will begin choosing a balanced diet after about +a week, after the desire for prohibited or restricted foods has been +satisfied. This is an example of what can be called "trusting nature." +That the question of how to "train" a child to eat properly should even be +an issue says volumes about how little the concept of freedom for children +is accepted or even understood, in our society. Unfortunately, the +concept of "training" still holds the field in this and most other areas. + +The disciplinarian argument that that children must be *forced* to respect +property is also defective, because it always requires some sacrifice of +a child's play life (and childhood should be devoted to play, not to +"preparing for adulthood," because playing is what children spontaneously +do). The libertarian view is that a child should arrive at a sense of +value out of his or her own free choice. This means not scolding or +punishing them for breaking or damaging things. As they grow out of +the stage of preadolescent indifference to property, they learn to +respect it naturally. + +"But shouldn't a child at least be punished for stealing?" it will be +asked. Once again, the answer lies in the idea of trusting nature. The +concept of "mine" and "yours" is adult, and children naturally develop it +as they become mature, but not before. This means that normal children +will "steal" -- though that is not how they regard it. They are simply +trying to satisfy their acquisitive impulses; or, if they are with friends, +their desire for adventure. In a society so thoroughly steeping in the +idea of respect for property as ours, it is no doubt difficult for parents +to resist societal pressure to punish children for "stealing." The reward +for such trust, however, will be a child who grows into a healthy +adolescent who respects the possessions of others, not out of a cowardly +fear of punishment but from his or her own self-nature. + +J.6.5 But how can children learn *ethics* if they are not given + punishments, prohibitions, and religious instruction? + +Most parents believe that, besides taking care of their child's physical +needs, the teaching of ethical/moral values is their main responsibility +and that without such teaching the child will grow up to be a "little wild +animal" who acts on every whim, with no consideration for others. This idea +arises mainly from the fact that most people in our society believe, at +least passively, that human beings are naturally bad and that unless they +are "trained" to be good they will be lazy, mean, violent, or even +murderous. This, of course, is essentially the idea of "original sin." +Because of its widespread acceptance, nearly all adults believe that it is +their job to "improve" children. + +According to libertarian psychologists, however, there is no original +sin. In fact, it would be more accurate to say that there is "original +virtue." As we have seen, Reich found that externally imposed, +compulsive morality actually *causes* immoral behaviour by creating cruel +and perverse "secondary drives." Neill puts it this way: "I find that +when I smash the moral instruction a bad boy has received, he becomes a +good boy." [_Summerhill_, p. 250] + +Unconscious acceptance of some form of the idea of original sin is, as +mentioned previously, the main recruiting tool of organised religions, as +people who believe they are born "sinners" feel a strong sense of guilt +and need for redemption. Therefore Neill advises parents to "eliminate +any need for redemption, by telling the child that he is born good -- not +born bad." This will help keep them from falling under the influence of +life-denying religions, which are inimical to the growth of a healthy +character structure. + +As Reich points out, "The Church, because of its influence on the +sexuality of youth, is an institution that exerts an extremely damaging +effect on health." [_Children of the Future_, p. 217] Citing ethnological +studies, he notes the following: + +"Among those primitive peoples who lead satisfactory, unimpaired sexual +lives, there is no sexual crime, no sexual perversion, no sexual brutality +between man and woman; rape is unthinkable because it is unnecessary in +their society. Their sexual activity flows in normal, well-ordered +channels which would fill any cleric with indignation and fear, because +the pale, ascetic youth and the gossiping, child-beating woman do not +exist in these primitive societies. They love the human body and take +pleasure in their sexuality. They do not understand why young men and +women should not enjoy their sexuality. But when their lives are invaded +by the ascetic, hypocritical morass and by the Church, which bring them +'culture' along with exploitation, alcohol, and syphilis, they begin to +suffer the same wretchedness as ourselves. They begin to lead "moral" +lives, i.e. to suppress their sexuality, and from then on they decline +more and more into a state of sexual distress, which is the result of +sexual suppression. At the same time, they become sexually dangerous; +murders of spouses, sexual diseases, and crimes of all sorts start to +appear." [Ibid., p. 193] + +Such crimes in our society would be greatly reduced if libertarian child +rearing practices were widely followed. These are obviously important +considerations for anarchists, who are frequently asked to explain how +crime can be prevented in an anarchist society. The answer is that if +people are not suppressed during childhood there will be far less crime, +because the secondary-drive structure that leads to anti-social behaviour +of all kinds will not be created in the first place. In other words, the +solution to the so-called crime problem is not more police, more laws, or a +return to the disciplinarianism of "traditional family values," as +conservatives claim, but depends mainly on *getting rid* of such +values. + +There are other problems as well with the moralism taught by organised +religions. One danger is making the child a hater. "If a child is taught +that certain things are sinful, his love of life must be changed to hate. +When children are free, they never think of another child as being a +sinner." [Neill, Op. Cit., p. 245] From the idea that certain people are +sinners, it is a short step to the idea that certain classes or races +of people are more "sinful" than others, leading to prejudice, +discrimination, and persecution of minorities as an outlet for repressed +anger and sadistic drives -- drives that are created in the first place by +moralistic training during early childhood. Once again, the relevance +for anarchism is obvious. + +A further danger of religious instruction is the development of a fear of +life. "Religion to a child most always means only fear. God is a mighty +man with holes in his eyelids: He can see you wherever you are. To a +child, this often means that God can see what is being done under the +bedclothes. And to introduce fear into a child's life is the worst of all +crimes. Forever the child says nay to life; forever he is an inferior; +forever a coward." [Ibid., p. 246] People who have been threatened with +fear of an afterlife in hell can never be entirely free of neurotic +anxiety about security in *this* life. In turn, such people become easy +targets of ruling-class propaganda that plays upon their material +insecurity, e.g. the rationalisation of imperialistic wars as necessary to +"preserve jobs" (cited, for example, by US Secretary of State James Baker +as one rationale for the Gulf War). + +J.6.6 But how will a free child ever learn unselfishness? + +Another common objection to self-regulation is that children can only be +taught to be *unselfish* through punishment and admonition. Again, +however, such a view comes from a distrust of nature and is part of the +common attitude that nature is mere "raw material" to be shaped by human +beings according to their own wishes. The libertarian attitude is that +unselfishness develops at the proper time -- which is *not* during +childhood. Children are primarily egoists, generally until the beginning +of puberty, and until then they usually don't have the ability to identify +with others. Thus: + +"To ask a child to be unselfish is wrong. Every child is an egoist and +the world belongs to him. When he has an apple, his one wish is to eat +that apple. The chief result of mother's encouraging him to share it with +his little brother is to make him hate the little brother. Altruism comes +later -- comes naturally -- *if the child is not taught to be unselfish.* +It probably never comes at all if the child has been forced to be +unselfish. By suppressing the child's selfishness, the mother is fixing +that selfishness forever." [Neill, Op. Cit., pp. 250-251] + +Unfulfilled wishes (like all "unfinished business") live on in the +unconscious. Hence children who are pressured too hard - "taught" - +to be unselfish will, while conforming outwardly with parental +demands, unconsciously repress part of their real, selfish wishes, and +these repressed infantile desires will make the person selfish (and +possibly neurotic) throughout life. Moreover, telling children that what +they want to do is "wrong" or "bad" is equivalent to teaching them to +hate themselves, and it is a well-known principle of psychology that +people who do not love themselves cannot love others. Thus moral +instruction, although it aims to develop altruism and love for others, +is actually self-defeating, having just the opposite result. + +Moreover, such attempts to produce "unselfish" children (and so adults) +actually works *against* developing the individuality of the child and +their abilities to develop their own abilities (in particular their +ability of critical thought). As Erich Fromm puts it, "[n]ot to be selfish +implies not to do what one wishes, to give up one's own wishes for the +sake of those in authority. . . Aside from its obvious implication, it +means 'don't love yourself,' 'don't be yourself', but submit yourself to +something more important than yourself, to an outside power or its +internalisation, 'duty.' 'Don't be selfish' becomes one of the most +powerful ideological tools in suppressing spontaneity and the free +development of personality. Under the pressure of this slogan one is +asked for every sacrifice and for complete submission: only those acts +are 'unselfish' which do not serve the individual but somebody or something +outside himself." [_Man for Himself_, p. 127] + +While such "unselfishness" is ideal for creating "model citizens" and +willing wage slaves, it is not conducive for creating anarchists or +even developing individuality. Little wonder Bakunin celebrated the +urge to rebel and saw it as the key to human progress! Fromm goes on to +note that selfishness and self-love, "far from being identical, are actually +opposites" and that "selfish persons are incapable of loving others. . . +[or] loving themselves..." [Op. Cit., p. 131] Individuals who do not love +themselves, and so others, will be more willing to submit themselves to +hierarchy than those who do love themselves and are concerned for their +own, and others, welfare. Thus the contradictory nature of capitalism, +with its contradictory appeals to selfish and unselfish behaviour, can be +understood as being based upon lack of self-love, a lack which is promoted +in childhood and one which libertarians should be aware of and combat. + +Indeed, much of the urge to "teach children unselfishness" is actually an +expression of adults' will to power. Whenever parents feel the urge to +impose directives on their children, they would be wise to ask themselves +whether the impulse comes from their own power drive or their own +selfishness. For, since our culture strongly conditions us to seek power +over others, what could be more convenient than having a small, weak +person at hand who cannot resist one's will to power? Instead of issuing +directives, libertarians believe in letting social behaviour develop +naturally, which it will do after other people's opinions becomes +important *to the child.* As Neill points out, "Everyone seeks the good +opinion of his neighbours. Unless other forces push him into unsocial +behaviour, a child will naturally want to do that which will cause him +to be well-regarded, but this desire to please others develops at a +certain stage in his growth. The attempt by parents and teachers to +artificially accelerate this stage does the child irreparable damage." +[Neill, Op. Cit., p. 256] + +Therefore, parents should allow children to be "selfish" and "ungiving", +free to follow their own childish interests throughout their childhood. And +when their individual interests clash with social interests (e.g. the +opinion of the neighbours), the individual interests should take precedence. +Every interpersonal conflict of interest should be grounds for a lesson +in dignity on one side and consideration on the other. Only by this process +can a child develop their individuality. By so doing they will come to +recognise the individuality of others and this is the first step in +developing ethical concepts (which rest upon mutual respect for others +and their individuality). + +J.6.7 Isn't what you call "libertarian child-rearing" just another name + for spoiling the child? + +No. This objection confuses the distinction between freedom and license. +To raise a child in freedom does not mean letting him or her walk all over +you; it does not mean never saying "no." It is true that free children +are not subjected to punishment, irrational authority, or moralistic +admonitions, but they are not "free" to violate the rights of others. As +Neill puts it, "in the disciplined home, the children have *no* rights. +In the spoiled home, they have *all* the rights. The proper home is one +in which children and adults have equal rights." Or again, "To let a +child have his own way, or do what he wants to *at another's expense,* is +bad for the child. It creates a spoiled child, and the spoiled child is a +bad citizen." [_Summerhill_, p. 107, 167] + +There will inevitably be conflicts of will between parents and children, +and the healthy way to resolve them is to come to some sort of a +compromise agreement. The unhealthy ways are either to resort to +authoritarian discipline or to spoil the child by allowing it to have all +the social rights. Libertarian psychologists argue that no harm is done +to children by insisting on one's individual rights, but that the harm +comes from moralism, i.e. when one introduces the concepts of right and +wrong or words like "naughty," "bad," or "dirty," which produce guilt. + +Therefore it should not be thought that free children are free to "do as +they please." Freedom means doing what one likes so long as it doesn't +infringe on the freedom of others. Thus there is a big difference between +compelling a child to stop throwing stones at others and compelling him or +her to learn geometry. Throwing stones infringes on others' rights, but +learning geometry involves only the child. The same goes for forcing +children to eat with a fork instead of their fingers; to say "please" and +"thank you;" to tidy up their rooms, and so on. Bad manners and +untidiness may be annoying to adults, but they are not a violation of +adults' rights. One could, of course, define an adult "right" to be free +of annoyance from *anything* one's child does, but this would simply +be a license for authoritarianism, emptying the concept of children's +rights of all content. + +As mentioned, giving children freedom does not mean allowing them to +endanger themselves physically. For example, a sick child should not +be asked to decide whether he wants to go outdoors or take his +prescribed medicine, nor a run-down and overtired child whether she +wants to go to bed. But the imposition of such forms of necessary +authority is compatible with the idea that children should be given as +much responsibility as they can handle at their particular age. For only +in this way can they develop self-assurance. And again, it is important for +parents to examine their own motives when deciding how much responsibility +to give their child. Parents who insist on choosing their children's' +clothes for them, for example, are generally worried that little Tommy +might select clothes that would reflect badly on his parents' social +standing. + +As for those who equate "discipline" in the home with "obedience," the +latter is usually required of a child to satisfy the adults' desire for +power. Self-regulation means that there are no power games being played +with children, no loud voice saying "You'll do it because I say so, or +else!" But, although this irrational, power-seeking kind of authority is +absent in the libertarian home, there still remains what can be called a +kind of "authority," namely adult protection, care, and responsibility, as +well as the insistence on one's own rights. As Neill observes, "Such +authority sometimes demands obedience but at other times gives obedience. +Thus I can say to my daughter, 'You can't bring that mud and water into +our parlour.' That's no more than her saying to me, 'Get out of my room, +Daddy. I don't want you here now,' a wish that I, of course, obey without +a word" [Op Cit., p. 156]. Therefore there will still be "discipline" in +the libertarian home, but it will be of the kind that protects the +individual rights of each family member. + +Raising children in freedom also does not imply giving them a lot of toys, +money, and so on. Reichians have argued that children should not be given +everything they ask for and that it is better to give them too little than +too much. Under constant bombardment by commercial advertising campaigns, +parents today generally tend to give their children far too much, with the +result that the children stop appreciating gifts and rarely value any of +their possessions. This same applies to money, which, if given in excess, +can be detrimental to children's' creativity and play life. If children +are not given too many toys, they will derive creative joy out of making +their own toys out of whatever free materials are at hand -- a joy of +which they are robbed by overindulgence. Psychologists point out that +parents who give too many presents are often trying to compensate for +giving too little love. + +There is less danger in rewarding children than there is in punishing +them, but rewards can still undermine a child's morale. This is because, +firstly, rewards are superfluous and in fact often *decrease* motivation +and creativity, as several psychological studies have shown (see section +I.4.10). Creative people work for the pleasure of creating; monetary +interests are not central (or necessary) to the creative process. Secondly, +rewards send the wrong message, namely, that doing the deed for which the +reward is offered is not worth doing for its own sake and the pleasure +associated with productive, creative activity. And thirdly, rewards +tend to reinforce the worst aspects of the competitive system, leading to +the attitude that money is the only thing which can motivate people to do +the work that needs doing in society. + +These are just a few of the considerations that enter into the distinction +between spoiling children and raising them in freedom. In reality, it +is the punishment and fear of a disciplinarian home that *spoils* +children in the most literal sense, by destroying their childhood +happiness and creating warped personalities. As adults, the victims of +disciplinarianism will generally be burdened with one or more anti-social +secondary drives such as sadism, destructive urges, greed, sexual +perversions, etc., as well as repressed rage and fear. The presence of +such impulses just below the surface of consciousness causes anxiety, +which is automatically defended against by layers of rigid muscular +armouring, which leaves the person stiff, frustrated, bitter, and burdened +with feelings of inner emptiness. In such a condition, people easily fall +victim to the capitalist gospel of super-consumption, which promises that +money will enable them to fill the inner void by purchasing commodities -- +a promise that, of course, is hollow. + +The neurotically armoured person also tends to look for scapegoats on whom +to blame his or her frustration and anxiety and against whom repressed +rage can be vented. Reactionary politicians know very well how to direct +such impulses against minorities or "hostile nations" with propaganda +designed to serve the interests of the ruling elite. Most importantly, +however, the respect for authority combined with sadistic impulses which +is acquired from a disciplinarian upbringing typically produces a +submissive/authoritarian personality -- a man or woman who blindly follows +the orders of "superiors" while at the same time desiring to exercise +authority on "subordinates," whether in the family, the state bureaucracy, +or the corporation. In this way, the "traditional" (e.g., authoritarian, +disciplinarian, patriarchal) family is the necessary foundation for +authoritarian civilisation, reproducing it and its attendant social evils +from generation to generation. Irving Staub's "Roots of Evil" includes +interviews of imprisoned SS men, who, in the course of extensive interviews +(meant to determine how ostensibly "normal" people could perform acts of +untold ruthlessness and violence) revealed that they overwhelmingly came +from authoritarian, disciplinarian homes. + +J.6.8 What is the anarchist position on teenage sexual liberation? + +One of the biggest problems of adolescence is sexual suppression by +parents and society in general. The teenage years are the time when +sexual energy is at its height. Why, then, the absurd demand that +teenagers "wait until marriage," or at least until leaving home, before +becoming sexually active? Why are there laws on the books in "advanced" +countries like the United States that allow a 19-year-old "boy" who makes +love with his 17-year-old girlfriend, with her full consent, to be +*arrested* by the girl's parents (!) for "statutory rape?" + +To answer such questions, let us recall that the ruling class is +not interested in encouraging mass tendencies toward democracy and +independence and pleasure not derived from commodities but instead +supports whatever contributes to mass submissiveness, docility, +dependence, helplessness, and respect for authority -- traits that +perpetuate the hierarchies on which ruling-class power and privileges +depend. + +We have noted earlier that, because sex is the most intense form of +pleasure (one of the most prominent contributors for intimacy and +bonding people) and involves the bioenergy of the body and emotions, +repression of sexuality is the most powerful means of psychologically +crippling people and giving them a submissive/authoritarian character +structure (as well as alienating people from each other). As Reich +observes, such a character is composed of a mixture of "sexual +impotence, helplessness, a need for attachments, a nostalgia for +a leader, fear of authority, timidity, and mysticism." As he also +points out, "people structured in this manner are *incapable of +democracy.* All attempts to build up or maintain genuine democratically +directed organisations come to grief when they encounter these character +structures. They form the psychological soil of the masses in which +dictatorial strivings and bureaucratic tendencies of democratically +elected leaders can develop. . . . [Sexual suppression] produces the +authority-fearing, life-fearing vassal, and thus constantly creates new +possibilities whereby a handful of men in power can rule the masses." +[_The Sexual Revolution: Toward a Self-Regulating Character Structure_, +p. 82, emphasis added] + +No doubt most members of the ruling elite are not fully conscious that +their own power and privileges depend on the mass perpetuation of +sex-negative attitudes. Nevertheless, they unconsciously sense it. +Sexual freedom is the most basic and powerful kind, and every +conservative or reactionary instinctively shudders at the thought of +the "social chaos" it would unleash -- that is, the rebellious, +authority-defying type of character it would nourish. This is why +"family values," and "religion" (i.e. discipline and compulsive sexual +morality) are the mainstays of the conservative/reactionary agenda. Thus +it is crucially important for anarchists to address every aspect of sexual +suppression in society. And this means affirming the right of adolescents +to an unrestricted sex life. + +There are numerous arguments for teenage sexual liberation. For example, +many teen suicides could be prevented by removing the restrictions on +adolescent sexuality. This becomes clear from ethnological studies of +sexually unrepressive "primitive" peoples. Thus: + +"All reports, whether by missionaries or scholars, with or without the +proper indignation about the 'moral depravity' of 'savages,' state that +the puberty rites of adolescents lead them immediately into a sexual life; +that some of these primitive societies lay great emphasis on sexual +pleasure; that the puberty rite is an important social event; that some +primitive peoples not only do not hinder the sexual life of adolescents +but encourage it is every way, as, for instance, by arranging for +community houses in which the adolescents settle at the start of puberty +in order to be able to enjoy sexual intercourse. Even in those primitive +societies in which the institution of strict monogamous marriage exists, +adolescents are given complete freedom to enjoy sexual intercourse from +the beginning of puberty to marriage. None of these reports contains any +indication of sexual misery or suicide by adolescents suffering from +unrequited love (although the latter does of course occur). The +contradiction between sexual maturity and the absence of genital sexual +gratification is non-existent." [Ibid., p. 85] + +Teenage sexual repression is also closely connected with crime. If there +are hundreds of teenagers in a neighbourhood who have no place to pursue +intimate sexual relationships, they will do it in dark corners, in cars +or vans, etc., always on the alert and anxious lest someone discover them. +Under such conditions, full gratification is impossible, leading to a +build-up of tension, frustration and stagnation of bioenergy (sexual +stasis). Thus they feel unsatisfied, disturb each other, become jealous +and angry, get into fights, turn to drugs as a substitute for a +satisfying sex life, vandalise property to let off "steam" (repressed +rage), or even murder someone. As Reich notes, "juvenile delinquency +is the visible expression of the subterranean sexual crisis in the +lives of children and adolescents. And it may be predicted that no +society will ever succeed in solving this problem, the problem of +juvenile psychopathology, unless that society can muster the courage +and acquire the knowledge to regulate the sexual life of its children +and adolescents in a sex-affirmative manner." [Ibid., p. 271] + +For these reasons, it is clear that a solution to the "gang problem" +also depends on adolescent sexual liberation. We are not suggesting, of +course, that gangs themselves suppress sexual activity. Indeed, one of +their main attractions to teens is undoubtedly the hope of more +opportunities for sex as a gang member. However, gangs' typical +obsessiveness with the promiscuous, pornographic, sadistic, and other +"dark" aspects of sex shows that by the time children reach the gang age +they have already developed unhealthy secondary drives due to the +generally sex-negative and repressive environment in which they have grown +up. The expression of such drives is *not* what anarchists mean by "sexual +freedom." Rather, anarchist proposals for teenage liberation are based on +the premise that unrestricted sexuality in early childhood is the +necessary condition for a *healthy* sexual freedom in adolescence. + +Applying these insights to our own society, it is clear that teenagers +should not only have ample access to a private room where they can be +undisturbed with their sexual partners, but that parents should actively +*encourage* such behaviour for the sake of their child's health and +happiness (while, of course, encouraging the knowledge and use of +contraceptives and safe sex in general as well as respect for the other +person involved in the relationship). This last point (of respecting +others) is essential. As Maurice Brinton points out, attempts at sexual +liberation will encounter two kinds of responses from established society - +direct opposition and attempts at recuperation. The second response +takes the form of "first alienating and reifying sexuality, and then of +frenetically exploiting this empty shell for commercial ends. As modern +youth breaks out of the dual stranglehold of the authoritarian patriarchal +family it encounters a projected image of free sexuality which is in fact +a manipulatory distortion of it." This can be seen from the use of sex in +advertising to the successful development of sex into a major consumer +industry. + +However, such a development is the opposite of the healthy sexuality +desired by anarchists. This is because "sex is presented as something to +be consumed. But the sexual instinct differs from certain other instincts... +[as it can be satisfied only by] another human being, capable of thinking, +acting, suffering. The alienation of sexuality under the conditions of +modern capitalism is very much part of the general alienating process, in +which people are converted into objects (in this case, objects of sexual +consumption) and relationships are drained of human content. Undiscriminating, +compulsive sexual activity, is not sexual freedom - although it may sometimes +be a preparation for it (which repressive morality can never be). The illusion +that alienated sex is sexual freedom constitutes yet another obstacle on +the road to total emancipation. Sexual freedom implies a realisation and +understanding of the autonomy of others." [_The Irrational in Politics_, +p. 60, p. 61] + +Therefore, anarchists see teenage sexual liberation as a means of developing +free individuals *as well as* reducing the evil effects of sexual repression +(which, we must note, also helps dehumanise individuals by encouraging +the objectification of others, and in a patriarchal society, particularly +of women). + +J.6.9 But isn't this concern with teenage sexual liberation just a distraction + from issues that should be of more concern to anarchists, like + restructuring the economy? + +It would be insulting to teenagers to suggest that sexual freedom is, or +should be, their *only* concern. Many teens have a well-developed social +conscience and are keenly interested in problems of economic exploitation, +poverty, social breakdown, environmental degradation, and the like. + +However, it is essential for anarchists to guard against the attitude +typically found in Marxist-Leninist parties that spontaneous discussions +about the sexual problems of youth are a "diversion from the class +struggle." Such an attitude is economistic (not to mention covertly +ascetic), because it is based on the premise that the economy must be +the focus of all revolutionary efforts toward social change. No doubt +restructuring the economy is important, but without mass sexual +liberation no working class revolution be complete. In a so called +free society, there will not be enough people around with the character +structures necessary to create a *lasting* worker-controlled economy -- +i.e. people who are capable of accepting freedom with responsibility. +Instead, the attempt to force the creation of such an economy without +preparing the necessary psychological soil for its growth will lead to a +quick reversion to some new form of hierarchy and exploitation. + +Moreover, for most teenagers, breaking free from the sexual suppression +that threatens to cripple them psychologically is a major issue in their +lives. For this reason, not many of them are likely to be attracted to +the anarchist "freedom" movement if its exponents limit themselves to dry +discussions of surplus value, alienated labour, and so forth. Instead, +addressing sexual questions and problems must be integrated into a +multi-faceted attack on the total system of domination. Teens should feel +confident that anarchists are on the side of sexual pleasure and are not +revolutionary ascetics demanding self-denial for the "sake of the +revolution." Rather, it should be stressed that the capacity for full +sexual enjoyment is the an essential part of the revolution. Indeed, +"incessant questioning and challenge to authority on the subject of sex +and of the compulsive family can only complement the questioning and +challenge to authority in other areas (for instance on the subject of who +is to dominate the work process - or the purpose of work itself). Both +challenges stress the autonomy of individuals and their domination of +over important aspects of their lives. Both expose the alienated concepts +which pass for rationality and which govern so much of our thinking and +behaviour. The task of the conscious revolutionary is to make both +challenges explicit, to point out their deeply subversive content, and +to explain their inter-relation." [Maurice Brinton, Op. Cit., p. 62] + +We noted previously that in pre-patriarchal society, which rests on the +social order of primitive communism, children have complete sexual freedom +and that the idea of childhood asceticism develops as matricentric clan +societies turn toward patriarchy in the economy and social structure (see +section B.1.5). This sea-change in social attitudes toward childhood +sexuality allows the authority-oriented character structure to develop +instead of the formerly non-authoritarian ones. Ethnological research has +shown that in pre-patriarchal societies, the general nature of work life +in the collective corresponds with the free sexuality of children and +adolescents -- that is, there are no rules coercing children and +adolescents into specific forms of sexual life, and this creates the +psychological basis for voluntary integration into the collective and +voluntary discipline in work. This historical fact supports the premise +that widespread sex-positive attitudes are a necessary condition of a +viable libertarian socialism. + +Psychology also clearly shows that every impediment to infantile and +adolescent sexuality by parents, teachers, or administrative authorities +must be stopped. As anarchists, our preferred way of doing so is by +direct action. Thus we should encourage teens to feel that they have +every chance of building their own lives. This will certainly not be an +obstacle to or a distraction from their involvement in the anarchist +movement. On the contrary, if they can gradually solve the problem of +(e.g.) private rooms themselves, they will work on other social projects +with greatly increased pleasure and concentration. For, contrary to +Freud, Reichian psychologists argue that beyond a certain point, excess +sexual energy cannot be sublimated in work or any other purposeful +activity but actually disturbs work by making the person restless +and prone to fantasies, thus hindering concentration. + +Besides engaging in direct action, anarchists can also support legal +protection of infantile and adolescent sexuality (repeal of the insane +statutory rape laws would be one example), just as they support +legislation that protects workers' right to strike, family leave, and so +forth. However, as Reich observes, "under no circumstances will the new +order of sexual life be established by the decree of a central authority." +[Ibid., p. 279] That was a Leninist illusion. Rather, it will be +established from the bottom up, by the gradual process of ever more +widespread dissemination of knowledge about the adverse personal and +social effects of sexual suppression, which will lead to mass acceptance +of libertarian child-rearing and educational methods. + +A society in which people are capable of sexual happiness will be one +where they prefer to "make love, not war," and so will provide the best +guarantee for the general security. Then the anarchist project of +restructuring the economic and political systems will proceed +spontaneously, based on a spirit of joy rather than hatred and revenge. +Only then can it be defended against reactionary threats, because the +majority will be on the side of freedom and capable of using it +responsibly, rather than unconsciously longing for an authoritarian +father-figure to tell them what to do. + +Therefore, concern and action upon teenage sexual liberation (or child +rearing in general or libertarian education) is a *key* part of social +struggle and change. In no way can it be considered a "distraction" +from "important" political and economic issues as some "serious" +revolutionaries like to claim. As Martha A. Ackelsberg notes (in relation +to the practical work done by the *Mujeres Libres* group during the Spanish +Revolution): + +"Respecting children and educating them well was vitally important to the +process of revolutionary change. Ignorance made people particularly vulnerable +to oppression and suffering. More importantly, education prepared people +for social life. Authoritarian schools (or families), based upon fear, +prepared people to be submissive to an authoritarian government [or +within a capitalist workplace]. Different schools and families would +be necessary to prepare people to live in a society without domination." +[_Free Women of Spain_, p. 133] + +J.7 What do anarchists mean by "social revolution"? + J.7.1 Is social revolution possible? + J.7.2 Why is social revolution needed? + J.7.3 What would a social revolution involve? diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001762.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001762.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ad0aefe1 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001762.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1635 @@ +Appendix : Anarchism and "anarcho"-capitalism + +This appendix exists for one reason, namely to explain why the the idea +of "anarcho"-capitalism is a bogus one. While we have covered this topic +in some detail in section F, we thought that this appendix should be +created in order to update and bring together our critique of Bryan Caplan's +"Anarchist Theory FAQ." Caplan's FAQ is the main on-line attempt to give the +oxymoron of "anarcho"-capitalism some form of justification and so it is +worthwhile explaining, using his FAQ as the base, why such an attempt fails. + +As we will prove, Caplan's FAQ fails in its attempt to prove that "anarcho" +capitalism can be considered as part of the anarchist movement and in fact his +account involves extensive re-writing of history. This appendix is in two +parts, a reply to Caplan's most recent FAQ release (version 5.2) and an +older reply to version 4.1.1 (which was originally section F.10 of the FAQ). +The introduction to the reply to version 4.1.1 indicates what most anarchists +think of Caplan's FAQ and its claims of "objectivity" as so we will not +repeat ourselves here. + +We have decided to include these replies in an appendix as they are really +an addition to the main body of the FAQ. Parties interested in why Caplan's +claims are false can explore this appendix, those who are interested in +anarchist politics can read the FAQ without having to also read on-line +arguments between anarchists and capitalists. + +We should, perhaps, thank Caplan for allowing us an opportunity of explaining +the ideas of such people as Proudhon and Tucker, allowing us to quote them +and so bring their ideas to a wider audience and for indicating that +anarchism, in all its forms, has always opposed capitalism and always will. + +* Replies to Some Errors and Distortions in Bryan Caplan's "Anarchist Theory + FAQ" version 5.2 + + 1 Individualist Anarchists and the socialist movement + 2 Why is Caplan's definition of socialism wrong? + 3 Was Proudhon a socialist or a capitalist? + 4 Tucker on Property, Communism and Socialism + 5 Anarchism and "anarcho"-capitalism + 6 Appendix: Defining Anarchism + +* Replies to Some Errors and Distortions in Bryan Caplan's "Anarchist Theory + FAQ" version 4.1.1. + + 1 Is anarchism purely negative? + 2 Anarchism and Equality + 3 Is anarchism the same thing as socialism? + 4 Anarchism and dissidents + 5 How would anarcho-capitalism work? + + *********************** + +* Replies to Some Errors and Distortions in Bryan Caplan's "Anarchist Theory + FAQ" version 5.2 + +1 - Individualist Anarchists and the socialist movement. + +Caplan, in his FAQ, attempts to rewrite anarchist history by trying to +claim that the individualist anarchists were forerunners of the +so-called "anarcho-capitalist" school. However, as is so often the case +with Caplan's FAQ, nothing could be further from the truth. + +In section 5 (What major subdivisions may be made among anarchists?) +of his FAQ, Caplan writes that: + + "A large segment of left-anarchists is extremely skeptical about + the anarchist credentials of anarcho-capitalists, arguing that + the anarchist movement has historically been clearly leftist. In + my own view, it is necessary to re-write a great deal of history + to maintain this claim." + +and quotes Carl Landauer's _European Socialism: A History of Ideas +and Movements_ as evidence: + + "To be sure, there is a difference between + individualistic anarchism and collectivistic or + communistic anarchism; Bakunin called himself a + communist anarchist. But the communist anarchists also + do not acknowledge any right to society to force the + individual. They differ from the anarchistic + individualists in their belief that men, if freed from + coercion, will enter into voluntary associations of a + communistic type, while the other wing believes that + the free person will prefer a high degree of isolation. + The communist anarchists repudiate the right of private + property which is maintained through the power of the + state. The individualist anarchists are inclined to + maintain private property as a necessary condition of + individual independence, without fully answering the + question of how property could be maintained without + courts and police." + +Caplan goes on to state that "the interesting point is that before the +emergence of modern anarcho-capitalism Landauer found it necessary to +distinguish two strands of anarchism, only one of which he considered to +be within the broad socialist tradition." + +However, what Caplan seems to ignore is that both individualist and +social anarchists agree that there *is* a difference between the two +schools of anarchist thought! Some insight. Of course, Caplan tries +to suggest that Landauer's non-discussion of the individualist anarchists +is somehow "evidence" that their ideas are not socialistic. Firstly, +Landauer's book is about _European_ Socialism. Individualist anarchism +was based within America and so hardly falls within the book's subject +area. Secondly, from the index Kropotkin is mentioned on *two* pages +(one of which a footnote). Does that mean Kropotkin was not a socialist? +Of course not. It seems likely, therefore, that Landauer is using a +common Marxian terminology of defining Marxism as Socialism, while calling +other parts of the wider socialist movement by their self-proclaimed +names of anarchism and syndicalism. Hardly surprising that Kropotkin is +hardly mentioned in a history of "Socialism" (i.e. Marxism). + +Moreover, Kropotkin and Tucker both distinguished between two types of +anarchism as well as two types of socialism. Both of them considered +their ideas and movement to be part of the broader socialist tradition. As +evidence of the anti-socialist nature of individualist anarchism, Caplan's +interpretation of Landauer's words is fundamentally nonsense. If you look +at the writings of people like Tucker you will see that they called +themselves socialists and considered themselves part of the wider +socialist movement. + +Interestingly, Landauer includes Proudhon in his history and states that +he was "the most profound thinker among pre-Marxian socialists." [p. 67] +Given that Caplan elsewhere in his FAQ tries to co-opt Proudhon into the +"anarcho"-capitalist school as well as Tucker, his citing of Landauer is +particularly dishonest. Landauer presents Proudhon's ideas in some +depth in his work within a chapter headed "The three Anticapitalistic +Movements." Indeed, he starts his discussion of Proudhon's ideas with +the words "In France, post-Utopian socialism begins with Peter Joseph +Proudhon." [p. 59] + +Tucker and the other individualist anarchists considered themselves +as followers of Proudhon's ideas (as did Bakunin and Kropotkin). For +example, Tucker stated that his journal _Liberty_ was "brought into +existence as a direct consequence of the teachings of Proudhon" and +"lives principally to spread them." [cited by Paul Avrich in his +"Introduction" to _Proudhon and his "Bank of the People"_ by Charles +A. Dana] + +Obviously Landauer considered Proudhon a socalist and if individualist +anarchism follows Proudhon's ideas then it, too, must be socialist. + +Unsurprisingly, then, Tucker also considered himself a socialist. To state +the obvious, Tucker and Bakunin both shared Proudhon's opposition to *private* +property (in the capitalist sense of the word), although Tucker confused +this opposition (and possibly the casual reader) by talking about possession +as "property." + +So, it appears that Caplan is the one trying to rewrite history. + +2 - Why is Caplan's definition of socialism wrong? + +Perhaps the problem lies with Caplan's "definition" of socialism. In +section 7 (Is anarchism the same thing as socialism?) he states: + + "If we accept one traditional definition of socialism -- 'advocacy + of government ownership of the means of production' -- it seems + that anarchists are not socialists by definition. But if by + socialism we mean something more inclusive, such as 'advocacy of + the strong restriction or abolition of private property,' then + the question becomes more complex. + +Which are hardly traditional definitions of socialism unless you are +ignorant of socialist ideas! By definition one, Bakunin and Kropotkin +are not socialists. As far as definition two goes, all anarchists +were opposed to private property and argued for its abolition and its +replacement with possession. The actual forms of possession differed +from between anarchist schools of thought, but the common aim to +end private property (capitalism) was still there. To quote Dana, +in a pamphlet called "a really intelligent, forceful, and sympathetic +account of mutual banking" by Tucker, individualist anarchists desire +to "destroy the tyranny of capital,- that is, of property." [Charles +A. Dana, _Proudhon and his "Bank of the People"_, p. 46] by mutual credit. + +Interestingly, this second definition of socialism brings to light a +contradiction in Caplan's account. Elsewhere in the FAQ he notes that +Proudhon had "ideas on the desirability of a modified form of private +property." In fact, Proudhon did desire to restrict private property to +that of possession, as Caplan himself seems aware. In other words, +even taking his own definitions we find that Proudhon would be considered +a socialist! Indeed, according to Proudhon, "all accumulated capital is +collective property, no one may be its exclusive owner." [_Selected +Writings of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon_, Stewart Edwards (ed), p. 44] Thus +Jeremy Jennings' summary of the anarchist position on private property: + +"The point to stress is that all anarchists [including Spooner and Tucker], +and not only those wedded to the predominant twentieth-century strain of anarchist communism have been critical of private property to the extent +that it was a source of hierarchy and privilege." ["Anarchism", _Contemporary +Political Ideologies_, Roger Eatwell and Anthony Wright (eds), p. 132] + +He goes on to state that anarchists like Tucker and Spooner "agreed with the +proposition that property was legitimate only insofar as it embraced +no more than the total product of individual labour." [Ibid.] + +In fact, a definition of socialism which socialists would agree with would +be one that stated that "the workers shall own the means of production." +Or, in Proudhon's words, "abolition of the proletariat." The common agreement +between all socialists was that capitalism was based upon wage slavery, that +workers did not have access to the means of production and so had to sell +themselves to the class that did. To use Tucker's own words: + +"the fact that one class of men are dependent for their living upon +the sale of their labour, while another class of men are relieved of the +necessity of labour by being legally privileged to sell something that is +not labour. . . . And to such a state of things I am as much opposed as any +one. But the minute you remove privilege. . . every man will be a labourer +exchanging with fellow-labourers. . . What Anarchistic-Socialism aims to +abolish is usury. . . it wants to deprive capital of its reward" [Ben +Tucker, _Instead of a Book_, p. 404.] + +By ending wage labour, anarchist socialism would ensure "The land to the +cultivator. The mine to the miner. The tool to the labourer." Wage labour, +and so capitalism, would be no more and "the product [would go] to the +producer." [from Tucker's essay "State Socialism and Anarchism" in _Instead +of a Book_] In other words, the "abolition of the proletariat." + +Therefore, like all socialists, Tucker wanted workers to own and control +the means of production they used. He aimed to do this by reforming +capitalism away by creating mutual banks and other cooperatives. Here +is Kropotkin on Proudhon's reformist socialism: + +"When he proclaimed in his first memoir on property that 'Property is theft', +he meant only property in its present, Roman-law, sense of 'right of use +and abuse'; in property-rights, on the other hand, understood in the limited +sense of possession, he saw the best protection against the encroachments of +the state. At the same time he did not want violently to dispossess the +present owners of land, dwelling-houses, mines, factories and so on. He +preferred to *attain the same end* by rendering capital incapable of earning +interest." [our emphasis] + +In other words, like all anarchists, Proudhon desired to see a society +without capitalists and wage slaves ("the same end") but achieved by +different means. When Proudhon wrote to Karl Marx in 1846 he made the +same point: + +"through Political Economy we must turn the theory of Property against +Property in such a way as to create what you German socialists call +*community* and which for the moment I will only go so far as calling +*liberty* or *equality*" [_Selected Writings of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon_, +p. 151] + +In other words, he shared the common aim of all socialists (namely to +abolish capitalism) by disagreed with the means. + +Caplan states that the "United States has been an even more fertile ground +for individualist anarchism: during the 19th-century, such figures as Josiah +Warren, Lysander Spooner, and Benjamin Tucker gained prominence for their +vision of an anarchism based upon freedom of contract and private property." + +However, as indicated, Tucker and Spooner did *not* support private property +in the capitalist sense of the word and Kropotkin and Bakunin, no less +than Tucker and Spooner, supported free agreement between individuals and +groups. What does that prove? That Caplan seems more interested in the +words Tucker and Proudhon used rather than the meanings *they* attached +to them. Hardly convincing. + +Perhaps Caplan should consider Proudhon's words on the subject of socialism: + +"Modern Socialism was not founded as a sect or church; it has seen a number +of different schools." [_Selected Writings of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon_, +Stewart Edwards (ed), p. 177] + +3 - Was Proudhon a socialist or a capitalist? + +In section 8 (Who are the major anarchist thinkers?), Caplan tries his best +to claim that Proudhon was not really a socialist at all. He states that +"Pierre[-Joseph] Proudhon is also often included [as a "left anarchist"] +although his ideas on the desirability of a modified form of private property +would lead some to exclude him from the leftist camp altogether." + +"Some" of which group? Other anarchists, like Bakunin and Kropotkin? Obviously +not - Bakunin claimed that "Proudhon was the master of us all." According +to George Woodcock Kropotkin was one of Proudhon's "confessed disciples." +Perhaps that makes Bakunin and Kropotkin proto-capitalists? Obviously not. +And, as we noted above, the socialist historian Carl Launder considered +Proudhon a socialist, as did the noted British socialist G.D.H. Cole in +his History of Socialist Thought (and in fact called him one of the "major +prophets of Socialism."). What about Marx and Engels, surely they would +be able to say if he was a socialist or not? According to Engels, Proudhon +was "the Socialist of the small peasant and master-craftsman." + +However, perhaps all these "leftists" are wrong. Perhaps they just did +not understand what socialism actually is (and as Proudhon stated "I am +socialist" this also applies to Proudhon himself!). So the question arises, +did Proudhon support private property in the capitalist sense of the +word? The answer is no. To quote George Woodcock summary of Proudhon's +ideas on this subject we find: + +"He [Proudhon] was denouncing the property of a man who uses it to exploit +the labour of others, without an effort on his own part, property +distinguished by interest and rent, by the impositions of the non-producer +on the producer. Towards property regarded as 'possession,' the right +of a man to control his dwelling and the land and tools he needs to live, +Proudhon had no hostility; indeed he regarded it as the cornerstone of +liberty." ["On Proudhon's 'What is Property?'", _The Raven_ No. 31, +pp. 208-9] + +George Crowder makes the same point: + +"The ownership he opposes is basically that which is unearned. . . including +such things as interest on loans and income from rent. This is contrasted +with ownership rights in those goods either produced by the work of the +owner or necessary for that work, for example his dwelling-house, land +and tools. Proudhon initially refers to legitimate rights of ownership +of these goods as 'possession,' and although in his latter work he calls +*this* 'property,' the conceptual distinction remains the same." +[_Classical Anarchism_, pp. 85-86] + +Indeed, according to Proudhon himself, the "accumulation of capital and +instrument is what the capitalist owes to the producer, but he never pays +him for it. It is this fraudulent deprivation which causes the poverty of +the worker, the opulence of the idle and the inequality of their conditions. +And it is this, above all, which has so aptly been called the exploitation +of man by man." [_Selected Writings of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon_, Stewart +Edwards (ed), p. 43] + +He called his ideas on possession a "third form of society, the synthesis +of communism and property" and calls it "liberty." [_The Anarchist Reader_, +p. 68]. He even goes so far as to say that property "by its despotism and +encroachment, soon proves itself oppressive and anti-social." [Op. Cit., +p. 67] Opposing private property he thought that "all accumulated capital +is collective property, no one may be its exclusive owner." Indeed, he +considered the aim of his economic reforms "was to rescue the working +masses from capitalist exploitation." [_Selected Writings of Pierre-Joseph +Proudhon_, p. 44, p. 80] + +In other words, Proudhon considered capitalist property to be the source +of exploitation and oppression and he opposed it. He explicitly constrasts +his ideas to that of capitalist property and *rejects* it as a means of +ensuring liberty. + +Caplan goes on to claim that "[s]ome of Proudhon's other heterodoxies include +his defence of the right of inheritance and his emphasis on the genuine +antagonism between state power and property rights." + +However, this is a common anarchist position. Anarchists are well aware that +possession is a source of independence within capitalism and so should be +supported. As Albert Meltzer puts it: + +"All present systems of ownership mean that some are deprived of +the fruits of their labour. It is true that, in a competitive society, only +the possession of independent means enables one to be free of the economy +(that is what Proudhon meant when, addressing himself to the self-employed +artisan, he said 'property is liberty', which seems at first sight a +contradiction with his dictum that it was theft)"[_Anarchism: Arguments +for and against_] + +Malatesta makes the same point: + +"Our opponents. . . are in the habit of justifying the right to +private property by stating that property is the condition and guarantee +of liberty. + +"And we agree with them. Do we not say repeatedly that poverty is +slavery? + +"But then why do we oppose them? + +"The reason is clear: in reality the property that they defend is capitalist +property. . . which therefore depends on the existence of a class of +the disinherited and dispossessed, forced to sell their labour to the +property owners for a wage below its real value. . . This means that +workers are subjected to a kind of slavery." [_The Anarchist Revolution_, +p. 113] + +As does Kropotkin: + +"the only guarantee not to be robbed of the fruits of your labour +is to possess the instruments of labour. . . man really produces most +when he works in freedom, when he has a certain choice in his +occupations, when he has no overseer to impede him, and lastly, +when he sees his work bringing profit to him and to others who +work like him, but bringing in little to idlers." [_The Conquest +of Bread_, p. 145] + +Perhaps this makes these three well known anarcho-communists "really" +proto-"anarcho"-capitalists as well? Obviously not. Instead of wondering +if his ideas on what socialism is are wrong, he tries to rewrite history +to fit the anarchist movement into his capitalist ideas of what anarchism, +socialism and whatever are actually like. + +Interestingly, one of Proudhon's "other heterodoxies" he does not mention +is his belief that "property" was required not only to defend people against +the state, but also capitalism. He saw society dividing into "two classes, +one of employed workers, the other of property-owners, capitalists, +entrepreneurs." He thus recognised that capitalism was just as oppressive +as the state and that it assured "the victory of the strong over the weak, of +those who property over those who own nothing." [_On the Political Capacity +of the Working Classes_, p. 141] + +Indeed, he considered that "companies of capitalists" were the "exploiters +of the bodies and souls of their wage earners" and an outrage on "human +dignity and personality." Instead of wage labour he thought that the +"industry to be operated, the work to be done, are the common and +indivisible property of all the participant workers." In other +words, self-management and workers control. In this way there would +be "no more government of man by man, by means of accumulation of +capital" and the "social republic" established. Hence his support for +cooperatives: + +"The importance of their work lies not in their petty union interests, +but in their denial of the rule of capitalists, usurers, and governments, +which the first [French] revolution left undisturbed. Afterwards, when +they have conquered the political lie. . . the groups of workers should +take over the great departments of industry which are their natural +inheritance." [cited in _Pierre-Joseph Proudhon_, E. Hymans, pp. 190-1, +and _Anarchism_, George Woodcock, p. 110, 112] + +In other words, a *socialist* society as workers would no longer be +separated from the means of production and they would control their +own work (the "abolition of the proletariat," to use Proudhon's +expression). This would mean recognising that "the right to products +is exclusive - jus in re; the right to means is common - jus ad rem" +[cited by Woodcock, _Anarchism, p. 96] which would lead to +self-management: + +"In democratizing us, revolution has launched us on the path of +industrial democracy." [_Selected Writings of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon_, +Stewart Edwards (ed), p. 63] + +As Woodcock points out, in Proudhon's "picture of the ideal society of the +ideal society it is this predominance of the small proprietor, the peasant +or artisan, that immediately impresses one" with "the creation of +cooperative associations for the running of factories and railways." +["On Proudhon's 'What is Property?'", Op. Cit., p. 209, p. 210] + +To summarise, Proudhon was a socialist and Caplan's attempts to rewrite +anarchist and socialist history fails. Proudhon was the fountainhead +for both wings of the anarchist movement and _What is Property?_ "embraces +the core of nineteenth century anarchism. . . [bar support for revolution] +all the rest of later anarchism is there, spoken or implied: the +conception of a free society united by association, of workers controlling +the means of production. . . [this book] remains the foundation on which +the whole edifice of nineteenth century anarchist theory was to be +constructed." [OP. Cit., p. 210] + +Little wonder Bakunin stated that his ideas were Proudhonism "widely +developed and pushed to these, its final consequences." + +4 - Tucker on Property, Communism and Socialism. + +That Tucker called himself a socialist is quickly seen from _Instead of +A Book_ which means that either Caplan has not looked at it (with obvious +implications for the accuracy of his FAQ) or he decided to ignore +these facts in favour of his own ideologically tainted version of +history (again with obvious implications for the accuracy of his FAQ). + +Caplan, in an attempt to deny the obvious, quotes Tucker from 1887 as +follows In section 14 (What are the major debates between anarchists? +What are the recurring arguments?): + + "It will probably surprise many who know nothing of Proudhon save + his declaration that 'property is robbery' to learn that he was + perhaps the most vigorous hater of Communism that ever lived + on this planet. But the apparent inconsistency vanishes when + you read his book and find that by property he means simply + legally privileged wealth or the power of usury, and not at + all the possession by the labourer of his products." + +You will instantly notice that Proudhon does not mean by property "the +possession of the labourer of his products." However, Proudhon did include +in his definition of property the possession of the capital to steal profits +from the work of the labourers. As is clear from the quote, Tucker and +Proudhon was opposed to capitalist property ("the power of usury"). From +Caplan's own evidence he proves that Tucker was not a capitalist! + +But lets quote Tucker on what he meant by "usury": + +"There are three forms of usury, interest on money, rent on land and houses, +and profit in exchange. Whoever is in receipt of any of these is a usurer." +[cited in _Men against the State_ by James J. Martin, p. 208] + +Which can hardly be claimed as being the words of a person who supports +capitalism! + +And, we may add, since when was socialism identical to communism? Perhaps +Caplan should actually read Proudhon and the anarchist critique of private +property before writing such nonsense? We have indicated Proudhon's +ideas above and will not repeat ourselves. However, it is interesting +that this passes as "evidence" of "anti-socialism" for Caplan, indicating +that he does not know what socialism or anarchism actually is. + +So this, his one attempt to prove that Tucker, Spooner and even Proudhon were +really capitalists by quoting the actual people involved is a failure. + +He asserts that for any claim that "anarcho"-capitalism is not anarchist +is wrong because "the factual supporting arguments are often incorrect. For +example, despite a popular claim that socialism and anarchism have been +inextricably linked since the inception of the anarchist movement, many +19th-century anarchists, not only Americans such as Tucker and Spooner, but +even Europeans like Proudhon, were ardently in favour of private property +(merely believing that some existing sorts of property were illegitimate, +without opposing private property as such)." + +The facts supporting the claim of anarchists being socialists, however, +are not "incorrect." Proudhon was reknown as the leading French Socialist +theorist when he was alive. His ideas were widely known in the socialist +movement and in many ways his economic theories were similar to the ideas of +such well known early socialists as Robert Owen and William Thompson. As +Kropotkin notes: + +"It is worth noticing that French mutualism had its precursor in England, in +William Thompson, who began by mutualism before he became a communist, and +in his followers John Gray (A Lecture on Human Happiness, 1825; The Social +System, 1831) and J. F. Bray (Labour's Wrongs and Labour's Remedy, 1839)." + +Perhaps Caplan will now claim Robert Owen and William Thompson as capitalists? + +Tucker called himself a socialist on many different occasions and stated +that there were "two schools of Socialistic thought . . . State Socialism +and Anarchism." And stated in very clear terms that: + +"liberty insists on Socialism. . . - true Socialism, Anarchistic Socialism: +the prevalance on earth of Liberty, Equality, and Solidarity." [_Instead of +a Book_, p. 363] + +And like all socialists, he opposed capitalism (i.e. wage slavery) and wished +that "there should be no more proletaires." [see the essay "State Socialism +and Anarchism" in _Instead of a Book_] + +Caplan, of course, is well aware of Tucker's opinions on the subject +of capitalism and private property. In section 13. (What moral justifications +have been offered for anarchism?) he writes: + + "Still other anarchists, such as Lysander Spooner and Benjamin + Tucker as well as Proudhon, have argued that anarchism would + abolish the exploitation inherent in interest and rent simply by + means of free competition. In their view, only labour income is + legitimate, and an important piece of the case for anarchism is + that without government-imposed monopolies, non-labour income + would be driven to zero by market forces. It is unclear, however, + if they regard this as merely a desirable side effect, or if they + would reject anarchism if they learned that the predicted + economic effect thereof would not actually occur." + +What did Tucker consider as a government-imposed monopoly? Private +property, particularly in land! As he states "Anarchism undertakes to +protect no titles except such as are based upon actual occupancy and +use" and that anarchism "means the abolition of landlordism and the +annihilation of rent." [_Instead of a Book_, p. 61, p. 300] In other +words, Tucker considered capitalism as the product of statism while +socialism (libertarian of course) would be the product of anarchy. + +So, Caplan's historical argument to support his notion that anarchism +is simply anti-government fails. Anarchism, in all its many forms, have +distinct economic as well as political ideas and these cannot be parted +without loosing what makes anarchism unique. In particular, Caplan's +attempt to protray Proudhon as an example of a "pure" anti-government +anarchism also fails, and so his attempt to co-opt Tucker and Spooner +also fails. If Proudhon was a socialist, then his self-proclaimed followers +will also be socialists - and, unsuprisingly, Tucker called himself a +socialist and considered anarchism as part of the wider socialist +movement. + +5 - Anarchism and "anarcho"-capitalism + +Caplan tries to build upon the nonexistent foundation of Tucker's and +Proudhon's "capitalism" by stating that: + + "Nor did an ardent anarcho-communist like Kropotkin deny + Proudhon or even Tucker the title of 'anarchist.' In his + Modern Science and Anarchism, Kropotkin discusses not only + Proudhon but 'the American anarchist individualists who were + represented in the fifties by S.P. Andrews and W. Greene, + later on by Lysander Spooner, and now are represented by + Benjamin Tucker, the well-known editor of the New York + Liberty.' Similarly in his article on anarchism for the 1910 + edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, Kropotkin again + freely mentions the American individualist anarchists, + including 'Benjamin Tucker, whose journal Liberty was + started in 1881 and whose conceptions are a combination of + those of Proudhon with those of Herbert Spencer.'" + +There is a nice historical irony in Caplan's attempts to use Kropotkin to +prove the historical validity of "anarcho"-capitalism. This is because +while Kropotkin was happy to include Tucker into the anarchist movement, +Tucker often claimed that an anarchist could not be a communist! In +_State Socialism and Anarchism_ he stated that anarchism was "an ideal +utterly inconsistent with that of those Communists who falsely call +themselves Anarchists while at the same time advocating a regime of +Archism fully as despotic as that of the State Socialists themselves." +["State Socialism and Anarchism", _Instead of a Book_] + +While modern social anarchists follow Kropotkin in not denying Proudhon +or Tucker as anarchists, we do deny the anarchist title to supporters +of capitalism. Why? Simply because anarchism as a *political* movement +(as opposed to a dictionary definition) has always been anti-capitalist +and against capitalist wage slavery and oppression. In other words, +anarchism (in all its forms) has always been associated with specific +political *and* economic ideas. Both Tucker and Kropotkin defined +their anarchism as an opposition to both state and capitalism. To quote +Tucker on the subject: + +"Liberty insists. . . [on] the abolition of the State and the abolition +of usury; on no more government of man by man, and no more exploitation +of man by man." [cited in _Native American Anarchism - A Study of Left-Wing +American Individualism_ by Eunice Schuster, p. 140] + +Therefore anarchism was never purely a political concept, but always +combined an opposition to oppression with an opposition to exploitation. +Anarchism and capitalism are two *different* political ideas with specific +(and opposed) meanings - to deny these meanings is to deny history and the +development of ideas. + +As Kropotkin knew Proudhon to be an anti-capitalist, a socialist (but +not a communist) it is hardly surprising that he mentions him. Again, +Caplan's attempt to provide historical evidence for a "right-wing" +anarchism fails. Funny that the followers of Kropotkin are now defending +individualist anarchism from the attempted "adoption" by supporters of +capitalism! That in itself should be enough to indicate Caplan's attempt to +use Kropotkin to give credence to "anarcho"-capitalist co-option of Proudhon, +Tucker and Spooner fails. + +Interestingly, Caplan admits that "anarcho"-capitalism has recent origins. +In section 8 (Who are the major anarchist thinkers?) he states: + + "Anarcho-capitalism has a much more recent origin in the latter + half of the 20th century. The two most famous advocates of + anarcho-capitalism are probably Murray Rothbard and David + Friedman. There were however some interesting earlier precursors, + notably the Belgian economist Gustave de Molinari. Two other + 19th-century anarchists who have been adopted by modern + anarcho-capitalists with a few caveats are Benjamin Tucker and + Lysander Spooner. (Some left-anarchists contest the adoption, + but overall Tucker and Spooner probably have much more in + common with anarcho-capitalists than with left-anarchists.)" + +Firstly, as he states, Tucker and Spooner have been "adopted" by the +"anarcho"-capitalist school. Being dead they have little chance to +protest such an adoption, but it is clear that they considered themselves +as socialists, against capitalism. Secondly, Caplan lets the cat +out the bag by noting that this "adoption" involved a few warnings - +more specifically, the attempt to rubbish and ignore the underlying +socio-economic ideas of Tucker and Spooner. + +Individualist anarchists are, indeed, more similar to classical liberals +than social anarchists. Similarly, social anarchists are more similar to +Marxists than Individualist anarchists. But neither statement means that +Individualist anarchists are capitalists, or social anarchists are state +socialists. It just means some of their ideas overlap (and we may point +out that Individualist anarchist ideas overlap with Marxist ones, and +social anarchist ones with liberal ones). + +So, if we accept Kropotkin's summary that Individualist Anarchism was +a combination of the ideas of Proudhon and Spencer, what the "anarcho" +capitalist school is trying to is to ignore the Proudhon (i.e. socialist) +aspect of their theories. However, that just leaves Spencer and Spencer was +not an anarchist, but a right-wing Libertarian (a "champion of the +capitalistic class" as Tucker put it). + +In other words, "anarcho"-capitalism is a development of ideas which have +little in common with anarchism. Jeremy Jennings, in his overview of +anarchist theory and history, agrees: + +"It is hard not to conclude that these ideas ["anarcho"-capitalism] - with +roots deep in classical liberalism - are described as anarchist only on the +basis of a misunderstanding of what anarchism is" [_Contemporary Political +Ideologies_, Roger Eatwell and Anthony Wright (eds), p. 142] + +and Barbara Goodwin agrees that the "anarcho"-capitalists' "true place +is in the group of right-wing libertarians" not in anarchism. [_Using +Political Ideas, p. 148] + +Caplan's attempt in his FAQ is an example to ignore individualist anarchist +theory and history. Ignored is any attempt to understand their ideas on +property and instead Caplan just concentrates on the fact they use the word. +Caplan also ignores: + +- their many statements on being socialists and part of the wider socialist + movement. + +- their opposition to capitalist property, exploitation and usury. + +- their support for strikes and other forms of direct action by workers to + secure the full product of their labour. + +In fact, the only things considered useful seems to be the individualist +anarchist's support for free agreement (something Kropotkin also agreed +with) and their use of the word "property." But even a cursory investigation +indicates the non-capitalist nature of their ideas on property and +the socialistic nature of their theories. + +Perhaps Caplan should ponder these words of Kropotkin supporters of the +"individualist anarchism of the American Proudhonians . . . soon realize +that the individualization they so highly praise is not attainable by +individual efforts, and . . . abandon the ranks of the anarchists, and are +driven into the liberal individualism of the classical economist." + +Caplan seems to confuse the end of the ending place of ex-anarchists +with their starting point. As can be seen from his attempt to co-opt +Proudhon, Spooner and Tucker he has to ignore their ideas and rewrite +history. + +6 - Appendix: Defining Anarchism + +In his Appendix "Defining Anarchism" we find that Caplan attempts +to defend his dictionary definition of anarchism. He does this +by attempting to refute two arguments, The Philological Argument +and the Historical Argument. + +Taking each in turn we find: + +Caplan's definition of "The Philological Argument" is as follows: + + "Several critics have noted the origin of the term "anarchy," which + derives from the Greek "arkhos," meaning "ruler," and the prefix "an-," + meaning "without." It is therefore suggested that in my definition the + word "government" should be replaced with the word "domination" or + "rulership"; thus re-written, it would then read: "The theory or + doctrine that all forms of rulership are unnecessary, oppressive, and + undesirable and should be abolished." + +Caplan replies by stating that: + +"This is all good and well, so long as we realize that various groups of + anarchists will radically disagree about what is or is not an instance + of 'rulership.'" + +However, in order to refute this argument by this method, he has to +ignore his own methodology. A dictionary definition of ruler is +"a person who rules by authority." and "rule" is defined as "to have +authoritative control over people" or "to keep (a person or feeling etc.) +under control, to dominate" [_The Oxford Study Dictionary_] + +Hierarchy by its very nature is a form of rulership (hier-*archy*) and is +so opposed to by anarchists. Capitalism is based upon wage labour, in which a +worker follows the rules of their boss. This is obviously a form of hierarchy, +of domination. Almost all people (excluding die-hard supporters of capitalism) would agree that being told what to do, when to do and how to do by a boss +is a form of rulership. + +Thus Caplan is ignoring the meaning of words to state that "on its own terms +this argument fails to exclude anarcho-capitalists" because they define +rulership to exclude most forms of archy! Hardly convincing. + +Thus Caplan's critique of the "Philological Argument" fails because he +tries to deny that the social relationship between worker and capitalist +is based upon *archy,* when it obviously is. + +Moving on, Caplan defines the Historical Argument as: + +"A second popular argument states that historically, the term 'anarchism' +has been clearly linked with anarcho-socialists, anarcho-communists, +anarcho-syndicalists, and other enemies of the capitalist system. Hence, the +term 'anarcho-capitalism' is a strange oxymoron which only demonstrates +ignorance of the anarchist tradition." + +He argues that "even if we were to accept the premise of this argument -- +to wit, that the meaning of a word is somehow determined by its historical +usage -- the conclusion would not follow because the minor premise is wrong. +It is simply not true that from its earliest history, all anarchists were +opponents of private property, free markets, and so on." + +Firstly, anarchism is not just a word, but a political idea and movement +and so the word used in a political context is associated with a given +body of ideas. Secondly, it is true that anarchists like Tucker were +not against the free market, but they did not consider capitalism to +be defined by the free market but by wage labour (as do all socialists). +In addition, as we have proved elsewhere, Tucker was opposed to capitalist +private property just as much as Kropotkin was but in a different way. Thus +Caplan's attempt to judge the historical argument on its own merits fails +because he has to rewrite history to do so. + +Caplan is right to state that the meaning of words change over time, but +this does not mean we should run to use dictionary definitions. Dictionaries +rarely express political ideas well - for example, most dictionaries define +the word "anarchy" as "chaos" and "disorder." Does that mean anarchists aim +to create chaos? Of course not. Therefore, Caplan's attempt to use dictionary +definitions is selective and ultimately useless - anarchism as a political +movement cannot be expressed by dictionary definitions and any attempt +to do so means to ignore history. + +The problems in using dictionary definitions to describe political ideas +can best be seen from the definition of the word "Socialism." According +to the _Oxford Study Dictionary_ Socialism is "a political and economic +theory advocating that land, resources, and the chief industries should +be owned and managed by the State." + +The _Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary_, conversely, defines +socialism as: + +"any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or +government ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods." + +Clearly the latter source has a more accurate definition of socialism than +the former, by allowing for "collective" versus solely "State" control of productive means. + +So, one's view depends on *which* dictionary one uses, and *when* it was +written which is why they are not the best means of resolving disputes - if resolution of disputes is, in fact, your goal. + +Both Kropotkin and Tucker stated that they were socialists and that +anarchism was socialistic. If we take this modern meaning of the word as the valid one then Tucker and Kropotkin are *not* socialists and no form of +anarchism is socialist. This is obviously nonsense and it shows the +limitations of using dictionary definitions on political theories. + +Therefore Caplan's attempt to justify using the dictionary definition +fails. Firstly, because the definitions used would depend which dictionary +you use. Secondly, dictionary definitions cannot capture the ins and +outs of a *political* theory or its ideas on wider subjects. + +Ironically enough, Caplan is repeating an attempt made by State Socialists +to deny Individualist Anarchism its socialist title (see "Socialism and +the Lexicographers" in _Instead of a Book_). In reply to this attempt, +Tucker noted that: + +"The makers of dictionaries are dependent upon specialists for their +definitions. A specialist's definition may be true or it may be erroneous. +But its truth cannot be increased or its error diminished by its acceptance +by the lexicographer. Each definition must stand on its own merits." +[_Instead of a Book_, p. 369] + +And Tucker provided many quotes from *other* dictionaries to refute the +attempt by the State Socialists to define Individualist Anarchism away. +He also notes that any person trying such a method will "find that the +Anarchistic Socialists are not to be stripped of one half of their title +by the mere dictum of the last lexicographer." [_Instead of a Book_, p. 365] + +Caplan should take note. His technique been tried before and it failed then +and it will fail again for the same reasons. + +As far as his case against the Historical Argument goes, this is equally as +flawed. Caplan states that: + +"Before the Protestant Reformation, the word "Christian," had referred almost +entirely to Catholics (as well as adherents of the Orthodox Church) for +about one thousand years. Does this reveal any linguistic confusion on the +part of Lutherans, Calvinists, and so on, when they called themselves +'Christians'? Of course not. It merely reveals that a word's historical usage +does not determine its meaning." + +However, as analogies do this is pretty pathetic. Both the Protestants and +Catholics followed the teachings of Christ but had different interpretations +of it. As such they could both be considered Christians - followers of the +Bible. In the case of anarchism, there are two main groupings - individualist +and social. Both Tucker and Bakunin claimed to follow, apply and develop Proudhon's ideas (and share his opposition to both state and capitalism) and +so are part of the anarchist tradition. + +The anarchist movement was based upon applying the core ideas of Proudhon +(his anti-statism and socialism) and developing them in the same spirit, and +these ideas find their roots in *socialist* history and theory. For example, +William Godwin was claimed as an anarchist after his death by the movement +because of his opposition to both state and private property, something +all anarchists oppose. Similarly, Max Stirner's opposition to both state +and capitalist property places him within the anarchist tradition. + +Given that we find fascists and nazis calling themselves "republicans," +"democrats," even "liberals" it is worthwhile remembering that the names +of political theories are defined not by who use them, but by the ideas +associated with the name. In other words, a fascist cannot call themselves +a "liberal" any more than a capitalist can call themselves an "anarchist." +To state, as Caplan does, that the historical usage of a word does not +determine its meaning results in utter confusion and the end of meaningful +political debate. If the historical usage of a name is meaningless will we +soon see fascists as well as capitalists calling themselves anarchists? In +other words, the label "anarcho-capitalism" is a misnomer, pure and simple, +as all anarchists have opposed capitalism as an authoritarian system based +upon wage slavery. + +Perhaps a better analogy for the conflict between anarchism and "anarcho" +capitalism would be between Satanists and Christians. Would we consider +as Christian a Satanist grouping claiming to be Christian? A grouping +that rejects everything that Christians believe but who like the name? +Of course not. Neither would we consider as a right-libertarian someone who +is against the free market or someone as a marxist who supports capitalism. + +Both social and individualist anarchists defined their ideas in terms of +both political (abolition of the state) *and* economic (abolition +of wage slavery) ideas. Kropotkin defined anarchism as "the no-government +form of socialism" while Tucker insisted that anarchism was "the abolition +of the State and the abolition of usury." + +In other words, a political movement's economic ideas are just as much a +part of its theories as their political ideas. Any attempt to consider +one in isolation from the other kills what defines the theory and makes +it unique. And, ultimately, any such attempt, is a lie: + +"[classical liberalism] is in theory a kind of anarchy without socialism, +and therefore simply a lie, for freedom is impossible without equality, +and real anarchy cannot exist without solidarity, without socialism." +[Errico Malatesta, _Anarchy_, p. 46] + +Therefore Caplan's case against the Historial Argument also fails - +"anarcho-capitalism" is a misnomer because anarchism has always, in all +its forms, opposed capitalism. Denying and re-writing history is hardly +a means of refuting the historical argument. + +Caplan ends by stating: + +"Let us designate anarchism (1) anarchism as you define it. Let us desiginate +anarchism (2) anarchism as I and the American Heritage College Dictionary +define it. This is a FAQ about anarchism (2)." + +Note that here we see again how the dictionary is a very poor foundation +upon to base an argument. Again using _Webster's Ninth New Collegiate +Dictionary_, we find under "anarchist" - "one who rebels against any authority, +established order, or ruling power." This definition is very close to that +which "traditional" anarchists have - which is the basis for our own opposition +to the notion that anarchism is merely rebellion against *State* +authority. + +Clearly this definition is at odds with Caplan's own view; is Webster's then +wrong, and Caplan's view right? Which view is backed by the theory and +history of the movement? + +What Caplan fails to even comprehend is that his choices are false. +Anarchism can be designated in two ways: + +(1). Anarchism as you define it +(2). Anarchism as the anarchist movement defines it and finds expression + in the theories developed by that movement. + +Caplan chooses anarchism (1) and so denies the whole history of the +anarchist movement. Anarchism is not a word, its a political theory +with a long history which dictionaries cannot cover. Therefore any attempt +to define anarchism by such means is deeply flawed and ultimately +fails. + +Although most anarchists disagree on many things, the denial of its +history is not one of them. + + *************************** + +* Replies to Some Errors and Distortions in Bryan Caplan's "Anarchist Theory + FAQ" version 4.1.1. + +There have been a few "anarchist" FAQ's produced before. Bryan Caplan's +anarchism FAQ is one of the more recent. While appearing to be a +"neutral" statement of anarchist ideas, it is actually in large part an +"anarcho"-capitalist FAQ. This can be seen by the fact that anarchist ideas +(which he calls "left-anarchist") are given less than half the available +space while "anarcho"-capitalist dogma makes up the majority of it. +Considering that anarchism has been around far longer than +"anarcho"-capitalism and is the bigger and better established movement, +this is surprising. Even his use of the term "left anarchist" is +strange as it is never used by anarchists and ignores the fact that +Individualist Anarchists like Tucker called themselves "socialists" and +considered themselves part of the wider socialist movement. For +anarchists, the expression "left anarchist" is meaningless as all +anarchists are anti-capitalist. + +Caplan also frames the debate only around issues which he is comfortable with. +For example, when discussing "left anarchist" ideas he states that "A key +value in this line of anarchist thought is egalitarianism, the view that +inequalities, especially of wealth and power, are undesirable, immoral, +and socially contingent." This, however, is *not* why anarchists +are egalitarians. Anarchists oppose inequalities because they undermine +and restrict individual and social freedom. + +Taking another example, under the question, "How would left-anarchy +work?", Caplan fails to spell out some of the really obvious forms of +anarchist thought. For example, the works of Bookchin, Kropotkin, Bakunin +and Proudhon are not discussed in any detail. His vague and confusing +prose would seem to reflect the amount of thought that he has put into it. +Being an "anarcho" capitalist, Caplan concentrates on the economic aspect +of anarchism and ignores its communal side. The economic aspect of anarchism +he discusses is anarcho-syndicalism and tries to constrast the confederated +economic system explained by one anarcho-syndicalist with Bakunin's opposition +to Marxism. Unfortunately for Caplan, Bakunin is the source of +anarcho-syndicalism's ideas on a confederation of self-managed workplaces +running the economy. Therefore, to state that "many" anarchists "have been +very skeptical of setting up any overall political structure, even a democratic +one, and focused instead on direct worker control at the factory level" +is simply *false*. The idea of direct local control within a confederated +whole is a common thread through anarchist theory and activity, as any +anarchist could tell you. + +Lastly, we must note that after Caplan posted his FAQ to the "anarchy-list," +many of the anarchists on that list presented numerous critiques of the +"anarcho"-capitalist theories and of the ideas (falsely) attributed to +social anarchists in the FAQ, which he chose to ignore. + +Therefore, as can be seen from these few examples, Caplan's "FAQ" is blatantly +biased towards "anarcho-capitalism" and based on the mischaracterizations +and the disemphasis on some of the most important issues between +"anarcho-capitalists" and anarchists. It is clear that his viewpoint is +anything but impartial. + +This section will highlight some of the many errors and distortions in +that FAQ. Numbers in square brackets refer to the corresponding sections +Caplan's FAQ. + +F.10.1 Is anarchism purely negative? + +[1]. Caplan, consulting his _American Heritage Dictionary_, claims: +"Anarchism is a negative; it holds that one thing, namely government, is +bad and should be abolished. Aside from this defining tenet, it would be +difficult to list any belief that all anarchists hold." + +The last sentence is ridiculous. It is not at all difficult to +find a more fundamental "defining tenet" of anarchism. We can do so +merely by analyzing the term "an-archy," which is composed of the Greek +words _an_, meaning "no" or "without," and _arche_, meaning literally "a +ruler," but more generally referring to the *principle* of rulership, i.e. +hierarchical authority. Hence an anarchist is someone who advocates +abolishing the principle of hierarchical authority -- not just in +government but in all institutions and social relations. + +Anarchists oppose the principle of hierarchical authority because it +is the basis of domination, which is not only degrading in itself but +generally leads to exploitation and all the social evils which follow from +exploitation, from poverty, hunger and homelessness to class struggle and +armed conflict. + +Because anarchists oppose hierarchical authority, domination, and +exploitation, they naturally seek to eliminate all hierarchies, as the +very purpose of hierarchy is to facilitate the domination and (usually) +exploitation of subordinates. + +The reason anarchists oppose government, then, is because government is +*one manifestation* of the evils of hierarchical authority, domination, +and exploitation. But the capitalist workplace is another. In fact, the +capitalist workplace is where most people have their most frequent and +unpleasant encounters with these evils. Hence workers' control -- the +elimination of the hierarchical workplace through democratic +self-management -- has been central to the agenda of classical and +contemporary anarchism from the 19th century to the present. Indeed, +anarchism was born out of the struggle of workers against capitalist +exploitation. + +To accept Caplan's definition of anarchism, however, would mean that +anarchists' historical struggle for workers' self-management has never +been a "genuine" anarchist activity. This is clearly a reductio ad +absurdum of that definition. + +Caplan has confused a necessary condition with a sufficient condition. +Opposition to government is a necessary condition of anarchism, but not a +sufficient one. To put it differently, all anarchists oppose government, +but opposition to government does not automatically make one an +anarchist. To be an anarchist one must oppose government for anarchist +reasons. + +Self-styled "anarcho"-capitalists do not oppose government for anarchist +reasons. That is, they oppose it not because it is a manifestation of +hierarchical authority, but because government authority often *conflicts* +with capitalists' authority over the enterprises they control. By +getting rid of government with its minimum wage laws, health and safety +requirements, union rights laws, environmental standards, child labour +laws, and other inconveniences, capitalists would have even more power to +exploit workers than they already do. These consequences of +"anarcho"-capitalism are diametrically opposed to the historically +central objective of the anarchist movement, which is to eliminate +capitalist exploitation. + +We must conclude, then, that "anarcho"-capitalists are not anarchists at +all. In reality they are capitalists *posing* as anarchists in order to +attract support for their laissez-faire economic project from those who +are angry at government. This scam is only possible on the basis of the +misunderstanding perpetrated by Caplan: that anarchism means nothing +more than opposition to government. + +Better definitions of anarchism can be found in other reference works. +For example, in _Grollier's Online Encyclopedia_ we read: "Anarchism +rejects all forms of hierarchical authority, social and economic as well +as political." According to this more historically and etymologically +accurate definition, "anarcho"-capitalism is not a form of anarchism, since +it does not reject hierarchical authority in the economic sphere (which has +been the area of prime concern to anarchists since day one). Hence +it is *bogus* anarchism. + +F.10.2 Anarchism and Equality + +[5.] On the question "What major subdivisions may be made among +anarchists?" Caplan writes: "Unlike the left-anarchists, +anarcho-capitalists generally place little or no value on equality, +believing that inequalities along all dimensions -- including income +and wealth -- are not only perfectly legitimate so long as they 'come +about in the right way,' but are the natural consequence of human +freedom." + +This statement is not inaccurate as a characterization of +"anarcho"-capitalist ideas, but its implications need to be made clear. +"Anarcho"-capitalists generally place little or no value on equality -- +particularly economic equality -- because they know that under their +system, where capitalists would be completely free to exploit workers to +the hilt, wealth and income inequalities would become even greater than +they are now. Thus their references to "human freedom" as the way in +which such inequalities would allegedly come about means "freedom of +capitalists to exploit workers;" it does not mean "freedom of workers +_from_ capitalist exploitation." + +But "freedom to exploit workers" has historically been the objective only +of capitalists, not anarchists. Therefore, "anarcho"-capitalism again +shows itself to be nothing more than capitalism attempting to pass itself +off as part of the anarchist movement -- a movement that has been +dedicated since its inception to the destruction of capitalism! One would +have to look hard to find a more audacious fraud. + +F.10.3 Is anarchism the same thing as socialism? + +[7.] In this section ("Is anarchism the same thing as socialism?") Caplan +writes: "Outside of the Anglo-American political culture, there has been +a long and close historical relationship between the more orthodox +socialists who advocate a socialist government, and the anarchist +socialists who desire some sort of decentralized, voluntary socialism. +The two groups both want to severely limit or abolish private property..." + +The statement that anarchists want to severely limit or abolish private +property is misleading if it is not further explained. For the way it +stands, it sounds like anarchism is just another form of coercive "state" +(i.e. a political entity that forcibly prevents people from owning private +property), whereas this is far from the case. + +It is not that anarchists want to pass laws making private property +illegal. Rather they want to restructure society in such a way that the +means of production are freely available for workers to use. This does +not mean "anarchist police" standing around with guns to prohibit people +from owning private property. Rather, it means dismantling the coercive +state agencies that make private property possible, i.e., the departments +of real police who now stand around with guns protecting private property. + +Once that occurs, anarchists maintain that capitalism would be impossible, +since capitalism is essentially a monopoly of the means of production, +which can only be maintained by organized coercion. For suppose that in +an anarchist society someone (call him Bob) somehow acquires certain +machinery needed to produce widgets (a doubtful supposition if +widget-making machines are very expensive, as there will be little wealth +disparity in an anarchist society). And suppose Bob offers to let workers +with widget-making skills use his machines if they will pay him "rent," +i.e. allow him to appropriate a certain amount of the value embodied in +the widgets they produce. The workers will simply refuse, choosing +instead to join a widget-making collective where they have free access to +widget-making machinery, thus preventing Bob from living parasitically on +their labour. + +In this scenario, private property was "abolished," but not through +coercion. Indeed, it was precisely the abolition of organized coercion +that allowed private property to be abolished. + +In addition, for Caplan to claim that anarchism is not the same thing as +socialism, he has to ignore anarchist history. For example, the Individualist +anarchists called themselves "socialists." as did social anarchists. Therefore, +*within* the "Anglo-American political culture," *all* types of anarchists +considered themselves part of the socialist movement. This can be seen not +only from Kropotkin's or Bakunin's work, but also in Tucker's (see +_Instead of a Book_). So to claim that the "Anglo-American" anarchists did +not have "a long and close historical relationship" with the wider socialist +movement is simply *false.* + +F.10.4 Anarchism and dissidents + +[9.] On the question "How would left-anarchy work?" Caplan writes: "Some +other crucial features of the left-anarchist society are quite unclear. +Whether dissidents who despised all forms of communal living would be +permitted to set up their own inegalitarian separatist societies is rarely +touched upon. Occasionally left-anarchists have insisted that small +farmers and the like would not be forcibly collectivized, but the limits +of the right to refuse to adopt an egalitarian way of life are rarely +specified." + +This is a straw man. "Left" (i.e. real) anarchist theory clearly implies +the answer to these questions. + +Regarding "dissidents" who wanted to set up their own "inegalitarian +separatist societies," if the term "inegalitarian" implies economic +inequalities due to private property, the answer is that private property +requires some kind of state, if not a central state then private security +forces ("private-state capitalism"), as advocated by "anarcho"-capitalists, +in order to protect private property. Therefore, "anarcho"-capitalists +are asking if an anarchist society will allow the existence of states! + +Thus suppose that in a hypothetical libertarian socialist society, Bob +tries to set up private security forces to protect certain means of +production, e.g. farmland. By the hypothesis, if Bob merely wanted to +work the land himself, there would be no reason for him go to the trouble +of creating a private state to guard it, because use-rights guarantee that +he has free access to the productive assets he needs to make a living. +Thus, the only plausible reason Bob could have for claiming and guarding +more farmland than he could use himself would be a desire to create a +monopoly of land in order to exact tribute from others for the privilege +of using it. But this would be an attempt to set up a system of feudal +exploitation in the midst of a free community. Thus the community is +justified in disarming this would-be parasite and ignoring his claims to +"own" more land than he can use himself. + +In other words, there is no "right" to adopt an "inegalitarian way of +life" within a libertarian community, since such a right would have to be +enforced by the creation of a coercive system of enslavement, which would +mean the end of the "libertarian" community. To the contrary, the +members of such a community have a right, guaranteed by "the people in +arms," to resist such attempts to enslave them. + +The statement that "left" anarchists have "occasionally" insisted that +small farmers and the like would not be forcibly collectivized is too +weak. No responsible left libertarian advocates forced collectivization, +i.e. compelling others to join collectives. Self-employment is always an +option. Thus during the Spanish Revolution, small farmers who did not +wish to join collective farms were allowed to keep as much land as they +could work themselves. After perceiving the advantages of collectives, +however, many joined them voluntarily [see Sam Dolgoff, ed., _The +Anarchist Collectives_]. To claim that social anarchists "occasionally" +oppose forced collectivisation is a smear, pure and simple, with little +basis in anarchist activity and even less in anarchist theory. + +F.10.5 How would anarcho-capitalism work? + +[10.] This section (How would anarcho-capitalism work?) contains Caplan's +summary of arguments for "anarcho"-capitalism, which he describes as an +offshoot of Libertarianism. Thus: + +"So-called 'minarchist' libertarians such as Nozick have argued that the +largest justified government was one which was limited to the protection +of individuals and their private property against physical invasion; +accordingly, they favour a government limited to supplying police, courts, +a legal code, and national defence." + +The first thing to note about this argument is that it is stated in such a +way as to prejudice the reader against the left-libertarian critique of +private property. The minarchist "libertarian," it is said, only wants to +protect individuals and their private property against "physical +invasion." But, because of the loose way in which the term "property" is +generally used, the "private property" of most "individuals" is commonly +thought of as *personal* *possessions,* i.e. cars, houses, clothing, +etc. (For the left-libertarian distinction between private property and +possessions, see B.3.1.) Therefore the argument makes it appear that +right libertarians are in favour of protecting personal possessions +whereas left-libertarians are not, thus conjuring up a world where, for +example, there would be no protection against one's house being +"physically invaded" by an intruder or a stranger stealing the shirt off +one's back! + +By lumping the protection of "individuals" together with the protection of +their "private property," the argument implies that right libertarians +are concerned with the welfare of the vast majority of the population, +whereas in reality, the vast majority of "individuals" *don't* *own* any +private property (i.e. means of production) -- only a handful of +capitalists do. Moreover, these capitalists use their private property to +exploit the working class, leading to impoverishment, alienation, etc., and +thus *damaging* most individuals rather than "protecting" them. + +Caplan goes on: + +"This normative theory is closely linked to laissez-faire economic theory, +according to which private property and unregulated competition generally +lead to both an efficient allocation of resources and (more importantly) a +high rate of economic progress." + +Caplan does not mention the obvious problems with this "theory," e.g. that +during the heyday of laissez-faire capitalism in the US there was vast +wealth disparity, with an enormous mass of impoverished people living in +slums in the major cities -- hardly an "efficient" allocation of resources +or an example of "progress." Of course, if one defines "efficiency" as +"the most effective means of exploiting the working class" and "progress" +as "a high rate of profit for investors," then the conclusion of the "theory" +does indeed follow. + +Next we get to the meat of the defence of "anarcho"-capitalism: + +"Now the anarcho-capitalist essentially turns the minarchist's own logic +against him, and asks why the remaining functions of the state could not +be turned over to the free market. And so, the anarcho-capitalist +imagines that police services could be sold by freely competitive firms; +that a court system would emerge to peacefully arbitrate disputes between +firms; and that a sensible legal code could be developed through custom, +precedent, and contract." + +Indeed, the functions in question could certainly be turned over to the +"free" market, as was done in certain areas of the US during the 19th +century, e.g. the coal towns that were virtually owned by private coal +companies. We have already discussed the negative impact of that +experiment on the working class in section F.6.2. Our objection is not +that such privatization can't be done, but that it is an error to call it +a form of anarchism. In reality it is an extreme form of laissez-faire +capitalism, which is the exact opposite of anarchism. The defence of +private power by private police is hardly a move towards the end of +authority, nor are collections of private states an example of anarchism. + +Caplan: + +"The anarcho-capitalist typically hails modern society's increasing +reliance on private security guards, gated communities, arbitration and +mediation, and other demonstrations of the free market's ability to +supply the defensive and legal services normally assumed to be of +necessity a government monopoly." + +That the law code of the state is being defended by private companies is +hardly a step towards anarchy. This indicates exactly why an "anarcho"- +capitalist system will be a collection of private states united around a +common, capitalistic, and hierarchical law code. In addition, this system +does not abolish the monopoly of government over society represented by +the "general libertarian law code," nor the monopoly of power that owners +have over their property and those who use it. The difference between +public and private statism is that the boss can select which law +enforcement agents will enforce his or her power. + +The threat to freedom and justice for the working class is clear. The +thug-like nature of many private security guards enforcing private power +is well documented. For example, the beating of protesters by "private +cops" is a common sight in anti-motorway campaigns or when animal right +activists attempt to disrupt fox hunts. The shooting of strikers during +strikes occurred during the peak period of American laissez-faire +capitalism. However, as most forms of protest involve the violation of +"absolute" property rights, the "justice" system under "anarcho"-capitalism +would undoubtedly fine the victims of such attacks by private cops. + +It is also interesting that the "anarcho"-capitalist "hails" what are actually +symptoms of social breakdown under capitalism. With increasing wealth +disparity, poverty, and chronic high unemployment, society is becoming +polarized into those who can afford to live in secure, gated communities +and those who cannot. The latter are increasingly marginalized in ghettos +and poor neighbourhoods where drug-dealing, prostitution, and theft become +main forms of livelihood, with gangs offering a feudalistic type of +"protection" to those who join or pay tribute to them. Under +"anarcho"-capitalism, the only change would be that drug-dealing and +prostitution would be legalized and gangs could start calling themselves +"defence companies." + +Caplan: + +"In his ideal society, these market alternatives to government services +would take over _all_ legitimate security services. One plausible market +structure would involve individuals subscribing to one of a large number +of competing police services; these police services would then set up +contracts or networks for peacefully handling disputes between members of +each others' agencies. Alternately, police services might be "bundled" +with housing services, just as landlords often bundle water and power +with rental housing, and gardening and security are today provided to +residents in gated communities and apartment complexes." + +This is a scenario designed with the middle and upper classes in mind. +But under capitalism, the tendency toward capital concentration leads to +increasing wealth polarization, which means a shrinking middle class and a +growing underclass. Thus the number of people who could afford to buy +protection and "justice" from the best companies would continually +decrease. For this reason there would be a growing number of people at +the mercy of the rich and powerful, particularly when it comes to matters +concerning employment, which is the main way in which the poor would be +victimized by the rich and powerful (as is indeed the case now). + +Caplan: + +"The underlying idea is that contrary to popular belief, private police +would have strong incentives to be peaceful and respect individual +rights. For first of all, failure to peacefully arbitrate will yield to +jointly destructive warfare, which will be bad for profits. Second, +firms will want to develop long-term business relationships, and hence be +willing to negotiate in good faith to insure their long-term +profitability. And third, aggressive firms would be likely to attract +only high-risk clients and thus suffer from extraordinarily high costs (a +problem parallel to the well-known "adverse selection problem" in e.g. +medical insurance -- the problem being that high-risk people are +especially likely to seek insurance, which drives up the price when +riskiness is hard for the insurer to discern or if regulation requires a +uniform price regardless of risk)." + +The theory that "failure to peacefully arbitrate will yield to jointly +destructive warfare, which will be bad for profits" can be faulted in two +ways. Firstly, if warfare would be bad for profits, what is to stop a +large "defence association" from ignoring a smaller one's claim? If +warfare were "bad for business," it would be even worse for a small +company without the capital to survive a conflict, which could give big +"defence associations" the leverage to force compliance with their business +interests. Price wars are often bad for business, but companies sometimes +start them if they think they can win. Secondly -- and this is equally +if not more likely -- a "balance of power" method to stop warfare has +little to recommend it from history. This can be seen from the First World +War and feudal society. + +What the "anarcho"-capitalist is describing is essentially a system of +"industrial feudalism" wherein people contract for "protection" with armed +gangs of their choice. Feudal societies have never been known to be +peaceful, even though war is always "unprofitable" for one side or the +other or both. The argument fails to consider that "defence companies," +whether they be called police forces, paramilitaries or full-blown armies, tend +to attract the "martial" type of authoritarian personality, and that this +type of "macho" personality thrives on and finds its reason for existence in +armed conflict and other forms of interpersonal violence and intimidation. +Hence feudal society is continually wracked by battles between the forces +of opposing warlords, because such conflicts allow the combatants a chance to +"prove their manhood," vent their aggression, obtain honours and titles, +advance in the ranks, obtain spoils, etc. The "anarcho" capitalist has +given no reason why warfare among legalized gangs would not continue under +industrial feudalism, except the extremely lame reason that it would not +be profitable -- a reason that has never prevented war in any known feudal +society. + +It should be noted that the above is not an argument from "original sin." +Feudal societies are characterized by conflict between opposing +"protection agencies" not because of the innate depravity of human beings +but because of a social structure based on private property and hierarchy, +which brings out the latent capacities for violence, domination, greed, +etc. that humans have by creating a financial incentive to be so. But this + is not to say that a different social structure would not bring out latent +capacities for much different qualities like sharing, peaceableness, and cooperation, which human beings also have. In fact, as Kropotkin argued in _Mutual Aid_ and as recent anthropologists have confirmed in greater detail, +ancient societies based on communal ownership of productive assets and little +social hierarchy were basically peaceful, with no signs of warfare for thousands +of years. + +Caplan: + +"Anarcho-capitalists generally give little credence to the view that their +"private police agencies" would be equivalent to today's Mafia -- the cost +advantages of open, legitimate business would make "criminal police" +uncompetitive. (Moreover, they argue, the Mafia can only thrive in the +artificial market niche created by the prohibition of alcohol, drugs, +prostitution, gambling, and other victimless crimes. Mafia gangs might +kill each other over turf, but liquor-store owners generally do not.)" + +As we have pointed out in F.6.2, the "Mafia" objection to +"anarcho"-capitalist defence companies is a red herring. The biggest +problem would not be "criminal police" but the fact that the rich would be +able to buy better police protection and "justice" than the poor and that +the "general" law code these companies would defend would be slanted towards +the interests and power of the capitalist class. And as we also noted, such +a system has already been tried in 19th-century America, with the result that +the rich reduced the working class to a serf-like existence, capitalist +production undermined independent producers (to the annoyance of +individualist anarchists at the time), and the result was the emergence of +the corporate America that "anarcho"-capitalists say they oppose. + +Caplan: + +"Unlike some left-anarchists, the anarcho-capitalist has no objection +to punishing criminals; and he finds the former's claim that punishment +does not deter crime to be the height of naivete. Traditional punishment +might be meted out after a conviction by a neutral arbitrator; or a system +of monetary restitution (probably in conjunction with a prison factory +system) might exist instead." + +Let us note first that in disputes between the capitalist class and the +working class, there would be no "neutral arbitrator," because the rich +would either own the arbitration company or influence/control it through +the power of the purse (see section F.6). In addition, "successful" +arbitrators would also be wealthy, therefore making neutrality even more +unlikely. + +Second, the left-libertarian critique of punishment does not rest, as +"anarcho"-capitalists claim, on the naive view that intimidation and +coercion aren't effective in controlling behaviour. Rather, it rests on +the premise that capitalist societies produce large numbers of criminals, +whereas societies based on equality and community ownership of productive +assets do not. + +The argument for this is that societies based on private property and +hierarchy inevitably lead to a huge gap between the haves and the +have-nots, with the latter sunk in poverty, alienation, resentment, anger, +and hopelessness, while at the same time such societies promote greed, +ambition, ruthlessness, deceit, and other aspects of competitive +individualism that destroy communal values like sharing, cooperation, and +mutual aid. Thus in capitalist societies, the vast majority of "crime" +turns out to be so-called "crimes against property," which can be traced +to poverty and the grossly unfair distribution of wealth. Where the top +one percent of the population controls more wealth than the bottom 90 +percent combined, it is no wonder that a considerable number of those on +the bottom should try to recoup illegally some of the maldistributed +wealth they cannot obtain legally. (In this they are encouraged by the +bad example of the ruling class, whose parasitic ways of making a living +would be classified as criminal if the mechanisms for defining "criminal +behavior" were not controlled by the ruling class itself.) And most of the +remaining "crimes against persons" can be traced to the alienation, +dehumanization, frustration, rage, and other negative emotions produced +by the inhumane and unjust economic system. + +Thus it is only in our societies like ours, with their wholesale +manufacture of many different kinds of criminals, that punishment appears +to be the only possible way to discourage "crime." From the +left-libertarian perspective, however, the punitive approach is a band-aid +measure that does not get to the real root of the problem -- a problem +that lies in the structure of the system itself. The real solution is the +creation of a non-hierarchical society based on communal ownership of +productive assets, which, by eliminating poverty and the other negative +effects of capitalism, would greatly reduce the incidence of criminal +behaviour and so the need for punitive countermeasures. + +Finally, as to the desirability of a "prison factory system," we will +merely note that, given the capitalist principle of "grow-or-die," if +punishing crime becomes Big Business, one can be sure that those who +profit from it will find ways to ensure that the "criminal" population keeps +expanding at a rate sufficient to maintain a high rate of profit and growth. + + +Caplan: + +"Probably the main division between the anarcho-capitalists stems from the +apparent differences between Rothbard's natural-law anarchism, and David +Friedman's more economistic approach. Rothbard puts more emphasis on the +need for a generally recognized libertarian legal code (which he thinks +could be developed fairly easily by purification of the Anglo-American +common law), whereas Friedman focuses more intently on the possibility of +plural legal systems co-existing and responding to the consumer demands +of different elements of the population. The difference, however, is +probably overstated. Rothbard believes that it is legitimate for +consumer demand to determine the philosophically neutral content of the +law, such as legal procedure, as well as technical issues of property +right definition such as water law, mining law, etc. And Friedman admits +that 'focal points' including prevalent norms are likely to circumscribe +and somewhat standardize the menu of available legal codes." + +The argument that "consumer demand" would determine a "philosophically +neutral" content of the law cannot be sustained. Any law code will +reflect the philosophy of those who create it. Under "anarcho"-capitalism, +as we have noted (see section F.6), the values of the capitalist rich +will be dominant and will shape the law code and justice system, as they +do now, only more so. The law code will therefore continue to give priority +to the protection of private property over human values; those who have the +most money will continue being able to hire the best lawyers; and the best +(i.e. most highly paid) judges will be inclined to side with the wealthy and +to rule in their interests, out of class loyalty (and personal interests). + +Caplan: + +"Critics of anarcho-capitalism sometimes assume that communal or worker-owned +firms would be penalized or prohibited in an anarcho-capitalist society. It +would be more accurate to state that while individuals would be free to +voluntarily form communitarian organizations, the anarcho-capitalist simply doubts that they would be widespread or prevalent." + +There is good reason for this doubt. Worker cooperatives would not be +widespread or prevalent in an "anarcho-capitalist society for the same +reason that they are not widespread or prevalent now: namely, that the +socioeconomic, legal, and political systems would be structured in such as +way as to automatically discourage their growth. + +As we will explain in more detail in J.5.2, the reason why there are not +more producer cooperatives is structural, based on the fact that +cooperatives have a tendency to grow at a slower rate than capitalist +firms. This is a good thing if one's primary concern is, say, protecting +the environment, but fatal if one is trying to survive in a competitive +capitalist environment. + +Under capitalism, successful competition for profits is the fundamental +fact of economic survival. This means that banks and private investors +seeking the highest returns on their investments will favour those +companies that grow the fastest. Under such conditions, capitalist firms +will attract more investment capital, allowing them to buy more +productivity-enhancing technology and thus to sell their products more +cheaply than cooperatives. Hence there will be pressure on the +cooperatives to compete more effectively by adopting the same cost-cutting +and profit-enhancing measures as capitalist firms. Such measures will +include the deskilling of workers; squeezing as much "productivity" as is +humanly possible from them; and a system of pay differentials in +which the majority of workers receive low wages while the bulk of profits +are reinvested in technology upgrades and other capital expansion that +keeps pace with capitalist firms. But this means that in a capitalist +environment, there tend to be few practical advantages for workers in +collective ownership of the firms in which they work. + +This problem can only be solved by eliminating private property and the +coercive statist mechanisms required to protect it (including private states +masquerading as "protection companies"), because this is the only way to +eliminate competition for profits as the driving force of economic +activity. In a libertarian socialist environment, federated associations +of workers in cooperative enterprises would coordinate production for +*use* rather than profit, thus eliminating the competitive basis of the +economy and so also the "grow-or-die" principle which now puts +cooperatives at a fatal economic disadvantage. (For more on how such an +economy would be organized and operated, as well as answers to objections, +see section I.) + +Caplan: + +"However, in theory an "anarcho-capitalist" society might be filled with +nothing but communes or worker-owned firms, so long as these associations +were formed voluntarily (i.e., individuals joined voluntarily and capital +was obtained with the consent of the owners) and individuals retained the +right to exit and set up corporations or other profit-making, +individualistic firms." + +It's interesting that the "anarcho"-capitalists are willing to allow +workers to set up "voluntary" cooperatives so long as the conditions are +retained which ensure that such cooperatives will have difficulty +surviving (i.e. private property and private states), but they are +unwilling to allow workers to set up cooperatives under conditions that +would ensure their success (i.e. the absence of private property and +private states). This reflects the usual vacuousness of the +right-libertarian concepts of "freedom" and "voluntarism." + +In other words, these worker-owned firms would exist in and be subject +to the same capitalist "general libertarian law code" and work in the +same capitalist market as the rest of society. So, not only are these +cooperatives subject to capitalist market forces, they exist and operate +in a society defined by capitalist laws. As discussed in Section F.2, +such disregard for the social context of human action shows up the +"anarcho" capitalist's disregard for meaningful liberty. + +All Caplan is arguing here is that as long as people remain within the +(capitalist) "law code," they can do whatever they like. However, what +determines the amount of coercion required in a society is the extent to +which people are willing to accept the rules imposed on them. This is as +true of an "anarcho"-capitalist society as it is of any other. In other words, +if more and more people reject the basic assumptions of capitalism, the more +coercion against anarchistic tendencies will be required. Saying that +people would be free to experiment under "anarcho"-capitalist law (if they +can afford it, of course) does not address the issue of changes in social +awareness (caused, by example, by class struggle) which can make such "laws" +redundant. So, when all is said and done, "anarcho"-capitalism just states +that as long as you accept their rules, you are free to do what you like. + +How generous of them! + +Caplan: + +"On other issues, the anarcho-capitalist differs little if at all from +the more moderate libertarian. Services should be privatized and opened +to free competition; regulation of personal AND economic behavior should +be done away with." + +The "anarcho"-capitalist's professed desire to "do away" with the +"regulation" of economic behaviour is entirely disingenuous. For, by +giving capitalists the ability to protect their exploitative monopolies of +social capital by the use of coercive private states, one is thereby +"regulating" the economy in the strongest possible way, i.e. ensuring that +it will be channeled in certain directions rather than others. For +example, one is guaranteeing that production will be for profit rather +than use; that there will consequently be runaway growth and an endless +devouring of nature based on the principle of "grow or die;" and that the +alienation and deskilling of the workforce will continue. What the +"anarcho"-capitalist really means by "doing away with the regulation of +economic behaviour" is that ordinary people will have even less +opportunity than now to democratically control the rapacious behaviour of +capitalists. Needless to say, the "regulation of personal" behavior would +*not* be done away with in the workplace, where the authority of the +bosses would still exist and you would have follow their petty rules and +regulations. + +Caplan: + +"Poverty would be handled by work and responsibility for those able to +care for themselves, and voluntary charity for those who cannot. +(Libertarians hasten to add that a deregulated economy would greatly +increase the economic opportunities of the poor, and elimination of +taxation would lead to a large increase in charitable giving.)" + +Notice the implication that poverty is now caused by laziness and +irresponsibility rather than by the inevitable workings of an economic +system that *requires* a large "reserve army of the unemployed" as a +condition of profitability. The continuous "boom" economy of +"anarcho"-capitalist fantasies is simply incompatible with the fundamental +principles of capitalism. To requote Michael Kalecki, "Lasting full +employment is not at all to [the] liking [of business leaders]. The +workers would 'get out of hand' and the 'captains of industry' would be +anxious 'to teach them a lesson'" as "'discipline in the factories' and +`political stability' are more appreciated by business leaders than +profits. Their class interest tells them that lasting full employment is +unsound from their point of view and that unemployment is an integral +part of the 'normal' capitalist system" [_Political Aspects of Full +Employment_, 1943]. (See section C.7, "What causes the capitalist business +cycle?," for a fuller discussion of this point.) + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001763.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001763.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5072c99d --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/SPUNK/sp001763.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1748 @@ + +A response to a Response to "Left-Anarchist" Criticisms of Anarcho-Capitalism + +This is a reply to the anti-anti-"anarcho"-capitalist FAQ to be +found at http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/7895 by Chris Wilson. +It aims to "correct the misrepresentations of anarcho-capitalism (and +"right-wing" libertarianism in general) made by the anarcho-socialists +[sic!] who run the Anarchist FAQ webpage, and to counter the +criticisms the authors make which happen to be legitimate" which +are claimed to be in old section F of our FAQ. + +The author claims that "[m]uch of the anarcho-socialist FAQ is severely +distortive of the position that the authors wish to refute, and the authors +provide little textual evidence in support of their preconceived notions +of anarcho-capitalism." This has been the first such attempt since the +FAQ went on-line in early 1996. If we did produce "mostly strawmen +arguments which do not truly address the actual positions that +anarcho-capitalists hold" then no "anarcho"-capitalist before +Wilson thought it worthwhile to let us know. + +The author claims that his "FAQ aims to correct these errors, and to set +the record straight for once." That is his right. However, when he first +approached us with his criticism we said that we were in the process of +revising that section and that we would like to hear his comments in order +to correct any mistakes or strawmen we may have accidentally placed in +our FAQ (after all, this section contains some of the oldest work on the +FAQ and it came from our experiences of discussing with "anarcho"-capitalists +on-line so mistakes could easily creep in). Instead of providing us +with feedback, he decided to place his critique on-line (which again is +his right). Here we reply is his criticism's of the old section F. + +The new section F should also be consulted, which was being revised as +Wilson created his critique of the old section F. + + --------------------------------------------------------- + +* Section F.1 (Are "Anarcho"-Capitalists Really Anarchists?) + +This section of the FAQ has been extensively revised and so much of the +comments made are to text now found in other sections. The new section +F.1 is far more explicit on why "anarcho"-capitalism is not part of the +anarchist tradition. However, it is worthwhile to discuss the old version. + +Mr Wilson starts off by noting us "that this FAQ does not begin by giving a +general explanation of what anarcho-capitalism is. The authors instead +decided to launch right into their rebuttal, without first informing the +reader of their opposition's position." Yes, very true. We assumed that +the reader would be familiar enough with the concept so that such a +general explanation would not be required. In section B, for example, +we discuss general capitalist attitudes towards, say, property, wage +labour and so as "anarcho"-capitalism bases itself on these concepts +it would be unnecessary to repeat them again. + +He then quotes our FAQ: + + So-called "anarcho"-capitalists only oppose the centralised state, + not the hierarchical-authoritarian capitalist workplace. Thus + it is absurd for them to call themselves anarchists, because the + capitalist workplace is where the majority of people have their + most frequent, direct, personal, and unpleasant experiences of + authoritarianism. + +And comments: + +"More accurately, anarcho-capitalists oppose the governing of a person's +behaviour by other persons without that first person's prior consent. +A-C'ers do not support the centralised state because it holds a geographical +monopoly upon the use of force, which infringes upon the individual +sovereignty of those living within that area. Regardless of whether the +state is a representative democracy or a dictatorship, it necessarily +violates the conditions that make consent a possibility. Specifically, +the state thrives on a policy of coercion, which consists of initiating +interference with the actions and will of individuals and benefiting at +their expense." + +So, in other words, "consent" is required and that makes authoritarianism +okay. Thus capitalist hierarchy is fine because workers agree to it but +state hierarchy is bad because citizens do not "consent". But as we +argue in the new section F.2.3 (Can "anarcho"-capitalist theory justify +the state?) in a liberal or democratic state citizens are free to move +to another state. They can withdraw their "consent" just as a worker +can withdraw their "consent" and look for another job. If consent is +the key aspect of whether something is evil or not then the modern +state is based upon consent. No one forces you to stay in a given +state. Thus "consent" is not enough in itself to justify hierarchy. + +In addition, we should not that the boss also interferes with the actions +and will of individuals and benefits at their expense. Indeed, Murray +Rothbard actually states that *if* the state legitimately owned the +land it claims then it would be perfectly justified in "interfering" +with those lived on its property in exactly the same way that any +other property does! (see section F.2.3). His opposition to the state +is simply that the property it claims was *unjustly* acquired, not +that it restricts individual freedom. + +Thus, for "anarcho"-capitalists, the difference between restrictions +on freedom created by property and those created by statism is that +the former are caused by a "just" history (and so are fine) while the +later are caused by an "unjust" history (and so are bad). However, +given that the property regime we live in is deeply affected by past +state actions (see section F.8), this criteria is phoney as capitalism +shares a history of violence with the state. If state hierarchy is +wrong, so is capitalist -- if "history" is actually to account for +anything rather than just as rhetoric to justify capitalist +oppression. + +Wilson goes on to state that "anarcho"-capitalists "do not wish to +abolish the 'hierarchical-authoritarian capitalist workplace', because +of the fact that doing so would place a restriction upon the number of +alternatives people can choose to improve their situations without +violating the liberty of others." + +Sounds lovely and freedom enhancing does it not? Until you think about +it more deeply. Then you realise that such glorification of choice is +just a "dismal politics", where most of the choices are bad. After all, +in "actually existing" capitalism the percentage of non-wage slaves +in the workforce is around 10% (and this figure includes bosses and +not just self-employed workers). The percentage of self-employed has +steadily decreased from the dawn of capitalism which means that capitalism +itself restricts the number of alternatives people have to choice from! + +And let us see what the "hierarchical-authoritarian capitalist workplace" +involves. It is based upon the worker selling their liberty to gain entry +to it. Why do they do that? Because the circumstances they face means +that they have little choice but to do so. And these circumstances are +created by the rights framework within society; in other words *capitalist* +property rights. Wilson assumes that abolishing capitalist property rights +will involve "violating the liberty of others" but it is clear that +that maintaining these rights results in people "voluntarily" selling +their liberty due to the circumstances created by these property rights. +In other words, the enforcement of property rights involves the +violation of liberty of those subject to the rules and regulations +of the property owner. For example, the boss can ban numerous free +agreements and exchanges on his property -- the joining of a union, +free speech, freedom to wear what you like and so on. + +Wilson goes on to argue that "a person enters into a bilateral exchange with +another person out of an expectation that the benefits of the exchange will +exceed its costs. . . . He [the capitalist] underwent the expense involved +in purchasing and/or producing these capital goods, and if he does not +consent to give them up to the workers, any forceful appropriation of +them on behalf of the workers would be a violation of his autonomy." + +So, just to be clear, if the worker has the option of selling her labour +and starving to death then the worker "freely" sells her liberty. Any +attempt to change the rights framework of society is a "violation" of +the capitalist's "autonomy". The same could be said of the state. After all, +the state has went to the expense of purchasing and protecting the land +it claims. But, of course, this initial claim was invalid and so the +state is to be opposed. But the capitalist class has profited from the +state's use of force many a time and the economic circumstances it +has helped create. After all, it was state enforcement of the "land +monopoly" that created a pool of landless workers who had no choice +but to enter into wage slavery. The capitalists enriched themselves +at the expense of desperate people with no other options, with state +aid to repress strikes and unions. + +If the state's claims of ownership are phoney, then so are the +claims of capitalists. + +Wilson then laments that: + +"A worker who does not possess the same amount of wealth as an entrepreneur +will often consent to what anarcho-socialists would call an 'unequal +exchange' because of the fact that he forecasts that an improvement in his +situation will result from it. To prevent this type of exchange from +occurring would be to constrain the number of options available that one can +choose to improve one's lot." + +As noted above, it is capitalism that constrains the number of options +available to "improve one's lot". But Wilson seems to be assuming that +anarchists desire to somehow "ban" wage labour. But we made no such claim. +We argued that we need to change the rights framework of society and +take back that which has been stolen from us. After all, capitalists +have used the state to enrich themselves at our expense for hundreds +of years (indeed, as we argue in section F.8 the state played a key +role in the development of capitalism in the first place). + +As Nozick argues in _Anarchy, State, and Utopia_, only "justly" acquired +property can be legitimately transferred. But under capitalism, property +was not justly acquired (indeed, even Nozick's conceptual theory of +land acquisition does not justify land ownership -- see section B.3.4). +Thus we are not violating the liberty of capitalists if we take their +property and modify the rights framework because it was not their +property to begin with! + +Wilson goes on to argue that "Despite the unpleasant rules that a worker may +have to follow when on the job, the worker does it for the purpose of +securing something greater in the end." + +The same logic has been used to justify the state. Despite the unpleasant +rules that a citizen may have to follow, they do it for the purpose of +securing something greater in the end" -- security, liberty, whatever. +That is hardly a convincing argument and seems more to do with justifying +and rationalising unfreedom than anything else. + +So what is the "something greater"? Usually to have enough money to buy +food, shelter and so on. Most workers are a pay packet away from poverty. +As the "something greater" is to be able to live, that suggests that +workers do not "consent" freely to become a wage slave. They have little +choice. + +Wilson goes on: + +"This is why anarcho-capitalists do not wish to abolish consensual hierarchy +or a mutual acceptance of rules (which is what the anarcho-socialists call +'authoritarian' in this case). If people consent to such relationships, +it's for the purpose of acquiring a higher degree of freedom that will +exceed the degree of sacrifice that the transaction involves. They value +the projected outcomes of the exchanges they make more than they value the +result of not making the exchange at all." + +And what is the result of not making the exchange? Poverty, starvation. +Wow, some "choice". But anarchists do not wish to abolish consensual +hierarchy. We wish to give people a real choice. This real choice is +impossible under capitalism and so the vast majority sell their liberty. +That Wilson ignores the circumstances that force people to wage labour +says a lot. + +Now, anarchists have no problem with the "mutual acceptance of rules". This +does not need to be "authoritarian" (no matter what Wilson claims we think). +For example, in a co-operative the members create their own rules by +mutual agreement and debate. That is not authoritarian. What *is* +authoritarian is when one person says "I make the rules round here and +you can love it or leave it". That is what the state does and it is +what the capitalist does. It is authoritarian because the rules are +imposed on the rest -- who then have the choice of following these +rules or leaving. Thus the capitalist workplace is a dictatorship and +so authoritarian. + +Moving on, Wilson disagrees with anarchist claims that capitalism is +based upon exploitation and oppression. He states that "[w]hat this FAQ +does not mention (in this particular section) is that exploitation doctrine +is based upon an economic theory of value, which is, shall we say, less +than universally accepted by political theorists and economists today. +This is the labour theory of value (LTV). . . " + +Yes, it is true that most economists and political theorists do not +accept the Labour Theory of Value. Most do not understand it and present +strawmen arguments against it. But small but significant groupings of +economists and political theorists do accept it (for example, individualist +anarchists, Marxists, many social anarchists, many post-keynesianists). But +the question arises, *why* is the LTV rejected? Simply because it argues +that capitalism is based upon exploitation and that non-labour income is +usury. Unsurprisingly, when it comes to supporting economic theories, +the wealthy will pick those which justify their incomes and riches, not +those which argue that they are illegitimate. Thus the LTV along with +Henry George's ideas would not be selected within the "free marketplace +of ideas" -- indeed the followers of George argue that neo-classical +economics was deliberately funded by the wealthy to marginalise their +ideas. + +So, to state that the LTV is a "less than universally accepted" is like +arguing that because democratic theory was "less than universally accepted" +in Nazi Germany there must be something wrong with it. Wilson falls into +the common fallacy that economic ideas are value free and do not reflect +class interests. + +He goes on to state "anarcho"-capitalists do not "accept that theory" +(which comes as no surprise as they do not like to think about what +goes on at the point of production that much) and even if we *do* +accept the LTV that it is "still not obvious that the +'profits = exploitation' conclusion follows from it. In his book +Hidden Order, David Friedman makes an interesting point that 'the +laws of physics tell us that the sum total of energy can neither +be increased, nor reduced. What we call 'production' is the rearrangement +of matter and energy from less useful to more useful (to us) forms.' [David +Friedman, Hidden Order, p 128] Production managers, just like manual +labourers, do precisely this. They produce by rearranging matter through +time and space, but rather than rearranging constituent parts to produce a +good, they rearrange the goods themselves into the hands of customers (which +manual labourers do not do)." + +Funnily enough, the FAQ does not deny the importance of management and +administration skills. No anarchist has ever maintained that workplaces +do not need to be managed. Nor did we argue that "manual labour" was the +only form of labour that added value. Quite the reverse in fact. What we +*did* argue was that in a dictatorship those at the top will consider +that *their* contribution added most value to a product and reward +themselves appropriately. We argued that the higher up the management +structure you go, the less value the labour adds to output. Indeed, +the basic function of management is to organise labour in such a +way as to maximise profits. That is why the hierarchical workplace +exists. In the words of one economist: + +"Managers of a capitalist enterprise are not content simply to respond +to the dictates of the market by equating the wage to the value of +the marginal product of labour. Once the worker has entered the +production process, the forces of the market have, for a time at least, +been superseded. The effort-pay relation will depend not only on +market relations of exchange but also. . . on the hierarchical relations +of production - on the relative power of managers and workers within +the enterprise." [William Lazonick, _Business Organisation and the +Myth of the Market Economy_, pp. 184-5] + +Thus profits are maximised by maximising the labour workers do while +minimising the amount paid to them. That is what the management structure +exists for. That Wilson denies this suggests that he views the firm +as some kind of "black-box" within which human social relationships +and action are irrelevant. But this is not the case -- what does on +in production is the key to profitability. As the early socialist +Thomas Hodgskin put it: + +"Fixed capital does not derive its utility from previous, +but present labour; and does not bring its owner a profit because +it has been stored up, but because it is a means of obtaining a +command over labour." + +And nothing has changed. As Proudhon long ago argued, only labour +is productive. Without labour capital would rust away. Thus the +LTV is far more applicable that Wilson would like us to believe. + +Now, Wilson claims that "manual labourers" do not "rearrange the goods +themselves into the hands of customers" but in a co-operative the +workforce does just that. They elect managers and take part in the +management structure. Wilson fails to notice that workers do not do +that in capitalist firms because the management structure is top-down +and is designed to disempower workers. So if workers do not do these +tasks it is because management has the monopoly of (official) power +and decides that *it* adds most value and deserves a higher reward. +So, in other words, capitalist property rights create dictatorship +and those in the dictatorship enrich themselves. Not a surprising +outcome. + +Wilson then argues that "anarcho"-capitalists "reject the labour theory of +value in favour of marginal utility theory, which holds that prices are +determined by the subjective preferences and plans of individuals." + +Of course, the LTV also argues that prices are determined by the subjective +preferences of individuals. In order to have exchange value, a commodity +must have a use value to a customer. And, of course, exchange value does +not equal price but is instead an abstraction of the fact that when a +commodity is produced a specific set of costs have been spent on it. +These costs are objective facts and determine whether a commodity makes +a profit or not. In the long term, commodities would exchange at a +price equivalent to the abstract exchange value but in the short term +they vary according to supply and demand. As we argue in section C, +the marginal utility theory ignores the fact that a commodity has an +objective cost associated with it which is its exchange value. When +it boils down to it, the profit which a product generates is what +capitalists "subjectively value" and these profits are dependent on +the productivity of labour (i.e. the more workers make in a given +period for the same wage, the higher potential profits will be). + +Wilson goes on to state that "It's obvious that the author has little +respect for the reasoned arguments published by free-market economists +and political theorists in the last century. It's pretty insulting when +somebody responds to a reasoned argument by scoffing at it and referring +to it as 'apologetics' or 'rationalisation', rather than giving it serious +consideration." But, strangely enough, we discussed why we think the +LTV is a better way of analysing capitalism that than those provided +by "free-market economists and political theorists" and in our humble +opinion, it is apologetics and rationalisations. Sorry is Mr Wilson +does not agree, but then again he would not. For example, most of +"anarcho"-capitalism seems to involve apologetics and rationalisations +for the restrictions of individual liberty associated with capitalism. +See, for example, section F.2.1 in which Murray Rothbard rationalises +away capitalist oppression even when it clearly has similarities +with statist oppression. Similarly, many Stalinists and supporters of +Nazism provided many "reasoned arguments" to indicate why the fact +of dictatorship was essential. Just because currently capitalist +ideology is widely accepted does not make it any less apologetics +than these "reasoned arguments." Again, Wilson assumes that economic +theory is value free rather than being the "economics of the rich" +to use Edward Herman's cutting phrase. + +Wilson then states that "[t]his paragraph is both a form of argument +from intimidation and argument ad hominem, and hence we shall let it pass +without further comment." Well, having discussed in section C why we +think that capitalism is exploitative we did not think we really had +to repeat ourselves. And as far as arguments from intimidation and +arguments ad hominem go, Wilson indulges himself in this later with +his "parasite", "dictator" and other comments. + +He then quotes the FAQ: + + "Anarcho"-capitalists, however, believe that capitalist companies + will necessarily remain hierarchical even if the public state has + been dissolved. This is because only hierarchical workplaces are + "efficient" enough to survive in a 'free' market. This belief + reveals the priority of their values: "efficiency" (the bottom + line) is considered more important than eliminating the + domination, coercion, and exploitation of workers. In addition, + such hierarchies will need "defending" from those oppressed by + them; and hence, due to its support of private property (and thus + authority), "anarcho"-capitalism + ends up retaining a state in its "anarchy," namely a private state + whose existence its proponents attempt to deny simply by refusing + to call it a state, like an ostrich hiding its head in the sand + (see section F.6 for more on this and why "anarcho"-capitalism is + better described as "private state" capitalism). + +And argues that "[t]his is rhetoric, not argument. Apparently, the authors +would rather rave on about their own beliefs, rather than give a fair +representation of anarcho-capitalism. Notice that no assertion in the +above quote is defended--not the assertion that capitalist production +involves 'domination, coercion, or exploitation', nor the assertion that +ownership of private property is 'authoritarian'. Nor do we receive a +definition for any of these slippery concepts. Nor do they bother to +give a fair explanation as to why anarcho-capitalists disagree with them +on these issues." + +Now, lets see about these claims. Now, the reason why anarchists think +that capitalist production involves "domination, coercion, and exploitation" +of workers was discussed at great length in sections B and C of the FAQ. +Indeed, it is mentioned in passing in section A on why anarchists are +socialists and why anarchists support direct democracy. Apparently we +should have repeated all our arguments again in order to meet Wilson's +inability to look at the rest of the FAQ. Of course, perhaps, we should +have placed links to the appropriate sections but given that we doubted +that anyone would jump straight into section F.1 we did not. Now as far +as a "fair explanation" as to why "anarcho"-capitalists disagree with +real anarchists on these issues we indicate why capitalistic property +is wrong (and we argued in section B.3 and B.1 why private property +is "authoritarian" -- something, we should note, that "anarcho"-capitalists +do not actually disagree with. They just argue that "consent" ensures +that the authoritarian relationships it creates are not a restriction +of liberty). Now, the aim of section F of the FAQ was to explain why +"anarcho"-capitalism was not a form of anarchism. And this is what +we did. Hence Wilson's comments are misplaces, to say the least. + +Wilson then does on to argue that capitalist production "does involve +hierarchy, considering that the owners of the means of production must +direct the disposal of their resources so that they don't go to waste." +So, as noted, he agrees that capitalist private property *is* authoritarian +(how could hierarchy be anything else?). Thus his laments that we just +"assert" this fact is somewhat strange. He then tries to get out of +this by noting that: + +"the same situation will accrue under worker ownership. All production +strategies and guidelines would be established by a system of majority +vote, and so it's doubtful that any single individual will have a much +greater influence in determining them than one would under a under +an hierarchical capitalist corporation." + +Really? But a key aspect of anarchist ideas of self-management is that +capitalist corporations must be broken up and replaced by a confederation +of self-managed workplaces. The workers in a given workplace would +have extensive control over what affects them directly and the possibility +of influencing the decisions of the wider issues that affect their +industry. So it is nonsense to say that individuals will not have a +greater influence than in a hierarchical capitalist firm. Unlike in +a capitalist firm they are not just order takers (and lets not forget +that this is what the worker is under capitalism). They can and do +have control over many important aspects of their work. This can +be seen when limited workers control is introduced into capitalist +firms, so Wilson's claims are just an attempt to justify factory +fascism. + +Talking of which, he celebrates this when he argues that: + +"The only difference that might possibly accrue as a result of worker +ownership would be a higher degree of gridlock involved in determining +company policy. With respect to a political institution, gridlock is +good; it prevents any single individual from having too much power and from +subsequently passing a great deal of tyrannical statute law. With respect +to a business, gridlock is bad, because it prevents business from adapting +to constantly changing market conditions." + +Which is, of course, a fascist argument transferred from the political +to the economic regime (which, of course, is something fascists also +do). And, as Bob Black argued in _The Libertarian as Conservative_, +it is also an argument put forward by Marx, Engels and Lenin. What +strange bed-fellows right-libertarians have! Now, Wilson is attacking +economic democracy because it creates "grid lock" (although, as all +co-operatives indicate, it does nothing of the kind) which, he claims, +is good in politics because "it prevents any single individual from +having too much power". What "logic". Economic dictatorship *does* place +"too much power" in the hands of the boss, that is why anarchists have +always recognised that (to use Proudhon's words) that "property is +despotism". + +How strange. Identical social relationships switch from being bad to +good purely on whether it is a capitalist that has power or a state +official. Such is the power of "consent"! + +Wilson then moves onto bigger and better claims: + +"Some 'anarchists' claim that there will not be any competition between +worker-owned firms under their version of 'anarchy', because all individual +firms will be subordinated to the direction of a larger system of worker +management. Of course, what this 'larger system of worker management' +amounts to is an institution that falls neatly under the Weberian definition +of a state. That isn't to say, of course, that the 'anarchists' who +advocate this social arrangement aren't opposed to statism. On the +contrary, they're vehemently opposed to the state provided that they and +their comrades aren't in charge of it." + +Yes, anarchists who favour workplace self-management *really* want to +be "in charge" of a new state! What wonderful logic! Using this logic +it would be simple to prove that Hitler was an anarchist (he argued +for dictatorship but obviously he favoured anarchy just as the anarchists +who argue for self-management desire dictatorship). Moreover, Wilson +totally misrepresents anarchist ideas of workplace confederation. The +"larger system of worker management" is based upon freely joining a +confederation and the individual workplaces within it have as much +autonomy as they agree they need. To claim that this is statist is +just plain silly -- it is clearly an agreement between groups to +work together. + +Now, let us look at the capitalist workplace or corporation. Within +these the boss bans all competition within his/her property he/she +does not desire. So if the anarchist system of confederation meets +the Weberian definition of a state so does the capitalist firm! +Indeed, as we argue in section F.6.4, the property owner can "ban" +workers from, say, joining a union or subscribing to specific "defence" +firms. In other words, the "anarcho"-capitalist are vehemently +opposed to the state provided that the capitalists are not in charge +of it. + +So Wilson highlights the central fallacy of "anarcho"-capitalism, namely +that private property some how does not meet the Weberian definition of +the state. But, in fact, it clearly does. Something, a may note that +Murray Rothbard (in his own way) recognised but did not consider +important enough to draw the obvious conclusions from. Which +presents us with the question: Is voluntary democracy more libertarian +than voluntary dictatorship? Anarchists think that self-management has +far more to do with liberty that hierarchy and so oppose capitalism. +"Anarcho"-capitalists seem to think that dictatorship has no effect +on liberty. Which is somewhat strange, to say the least. + +Wilson then goes on to state that "worker ownership and even communal +ownership of the means of production would be perfectly legitimate under +anarcho-capitalism, provided that nobody violates anybody else's consent." + +Which is ironic, as capitalism was created by violating the rights of +working people to worker ownership/control and communal ownership +(see section F.8). How that the capitalists have the upper hand, +they can embrace "free competition" knowing that their advantage on +the market will ensure that workers control will not spread (see +sections J.5.11, J.5.12 and J.5.13). Kind of like the thief who +argues that you can take back what was stolen from you as long +as you do not violate his consent (which he is not going to give)! + +So Wilson is simply acknowledging that under capitalism you have to +buy the freedom which should be your birth right from those who have +stolen it! How generous. + +Wilson then goes to agree with the FAQ by stating that management "does +set the terms of the use and disposal of company property (whoever the owners +happen to be)" and so workers *are* subject to authoritarian social +relationships and so are not free. But, he argues, "according to what +standard would the workers have a right to forcibly seize the means of +production out of dissatisfaction with the situation?" There are many +answers to this (answers which Mr Wilson does not present which means, +to paraphrase his good self, "nor does he bother to give a fair explanation +as to why anarchists disagree with them on this issue"). + +If we take a Stirnerite point of few, we could argue that workers need +no "right" to take them over. They desire them and desire freedom. That +is good enough in itself. As the capitalists have no "right" to restrict +the liberty of workers, workers have no "right" to stop that restriction. +They do it anyway. Or we could take a Proudhonist viewpoint which argues +that the land cannot be appropriated and so capitalists have no right to +their capital as the initial appropriations were illegitimate and they +have enriched themselves by the labour of others who have been placed +in evil circumstances by capitalist property rights. Or we could argue +along Bakuninist lines that freedom is what we value most and so society +should be re-organised so that unnecessary domination is eliminated, +particularly the domination that flows from unpaid labour. + +Of course Wilson assumes that capitalist "rights" to their property are +beyond question. Let us turn the question on its head. By what right +do capitalists have of oppressing workers and barring people from their +property? If we take Rothbard's "Homesteading" conceptual theory (see +section F.4.1) then it boils down to "finders keepers" and so humanity +will always be enchained by the first people to appropriate land. So +living people will see their liberty restricted because of past history. + +Wilson *does* present one "right", namely: + +"Because they use it while working on it?" By this criterion, it's +acceptable for one to seize anything that one is capable of using, without +regard to those who already hold it in their possession. I would imagine +that any anarcho-socialist who prefers an arrangement in which there is +some form of peaceful social order would hold that certain predatory forms +of behaviour are not acceptable, but to grant use-rights to anybody who is +capable of using something is to encourage such forms of behaviour. If there +are to be rights of usage at all, people must forgo the power involved +in appropriating resources that are already in use by other people. If +people do not forgo that particular freedom, then nobody will be able to +secure access to the resources that they use, or to be able to exercise +their freedom in relation to it. The physical objects and resources that +one utilises for one's purposes would always be up for claim by the next +person who comes along (and may the strongest man win!)." + +Well, where to start. Anarchists argue that use-rights will ensure that +workers self-management is secured. This is because whoever is currently +using a resource (as a factory) has the right to take part in the +management of that resource. Now, it kind of goes without saying that +use rights are based upon respecting other people's use of resources. +Thus it is not a case of Hobbesian "anarchy" in which people do not +respect others. Thus people will "forgo the power" of taking what other +people are using (except in emergencies, of course). Thus the "strongest" +would not be able to kick tenants out of the house they are living in. +So, use-rights simply means that when using something people manage its +use. Workers in a workplace manage its use and anyone who newly joins +the co-operative gets to take part in decision making. Use rights are +the way of restricting domination by promoting self-management. + +Wilson argues that granting "use-rights" will encourage Hobbesian behaviour, +which suggests that he thinks that people cannot live together peacefully +without police forces and laws (well, then again, he *is* an +"anarcho"-capitalist). It seems strange to think that an anarchist +society would develop in which people would have so little respect +for others. Given that the whole point of the expropriation of the +capitalists was to maximise individual freedom and dignity, it is +doubtful that people would start to violate those values. But Wilson +is assuming that without police forces humanity would turn into +a Hobbesian war of all against all but this has never been the case +of communities based upon use rights (see Kropotkin's _Mutual Aid_ +for extensive evidence). + +Wilson, after misrepresenting anarchist ideas, now moves on to justifying +capitalist domination: + +"Abiding by the rules and codes enforced on the job may be irritating at +times, but an exchange is a relationship that one enters into voluntarily." + +But the same could be said of the state. No one forces you to remain in +any given state. There are plenty more to choose from. If you do not +want to move then you have voluntarily consented to the social contract. +So, abiding by the rules and codes enforced in the state may be irritating +at times, but an exchange is a relationship that one enters into +voluntarily. After all, as Rothbard himself argued, *if* the state had +acquired its property "justly" then the "anarcho"-capitalist would +have no problems with its laws, rules and codes (see section F.2.3). + +By stressing "consent" and ignoring the relationships generated by the +contract, "anarcho"-capitalism ends up justifying state-like structures. +If the current system of states was replaced by, say, 500 large companies, +would that make the rules and codes any different from state laws? Of +course not. + +Wilson argues that "if one does not think that the value offered by the +other party is sufficient to cover the cost of the transaction, then one +should not make the exchange in the first place." + +How true. The woman who agrees to sleep with her boss to keep her job, +the drowning man who agrees to pay a passing boatman $5 million to be +saved, the landless peasant who agrees to work in a sweatshop for +14 hours a day all "freely" make an exchange. After all, if they do +not what they face is even worse than the options of the "exchange". +Who can deny that they all think that the "value" offered by the +other party makes it worthwhile to enter into the exchange? And who +but an "anarcho"-capitalist will deny that these exchanges are +evil ones which violate the liberty and dignity of the party in +unfortunate circumstances? + +To concentrate on "exchange" is simply to blind oneself to relations +of domination and oppression. + +Wilson then goes on to wax-lyrical on the "mentality" of the strawman +he has created above: + +"The opinion that one has the right to appropriate from others at whim +without their consent whenever one is dissatisfied with one's situation +is the doctrine of a thief or a dictator. He who accepts this doctrine +possesses the mentality of a parasite and a free-rider, not the mentality +of a person who is willing to respect the sovereignty of other people +(i.e., a person fit to live in a civilised society)." + +Now, do anarchists say that we support appropriation from others "at +whim"? No, anarchists argue that we support appropriations that stop +unnecessary domination and oppression. Thus we argue for the appropriation +of the capitalist class because, firstly, their goods are stolen property +and, secondly, they create relations of domination and dictatorship +between people. It was only a matter of time before Wilson started +going on about "free-riders" and "parasites" and we are surprised it +has taken this long for him to do so. It is somewhat ironic, to say +the least, that supporters of capitalism argue that anarchists are +"parasites". Far from it. Anarchists desire to end the system where +capitalists are parasites upon the working class. Similarly, we desire +to end capitalist property because it does not respect the sovereignty +of other people (workers do not have the right of self-management within +capitalist workplaces and circumstances force them to sell their liberty +to others in order to survive). + +Actually, it is Wilson who expresses the mentality of a dictator when +he attacks use-rights. You can just imagine a feudal lord or aristocrat +arguing that just because someone lives on their land, it does not +give them any right to determine the laws they are subject to. That +rests with the owner, namely the lord or state. Indeed, we have shades +of Locke in Wilson's argument. Locke argued that only the wealthy should +pass laws within civil society. The poor, while being subject to them, +do not have a say in them. They are included within, but not part of, +civil society. Wilson's diatribe against use rights exposes the elitist +roots of "anarcho"-capitalism and that this regime will universal +monarchy and dictatorship in the name of "liberty" (after all, it will +be the property owner who determines the laws and rules which those +who just happen to work or life there are subject to). + +Now, as far as people able to "live in a civilised society" goes it is +pretty clear that a rights system that can result in famine, hierarchy +and extreme poverty is hardly "civilised". Indeed, until the rise of +capitalism the idea that people had a right to life was a common one. +All that changed and now we face the option "work or starve". How +*very* civilised. And, of course, how "civilised" is a system which +ensures that the majority has to sell their liberty to others? If +civilisation is the progress of individual liberty, then capitalism +is not a form of civilisation. + + Wilson then quotes the FAQ: + + And, of course, inequalities of power and wealth do not restrict + themselves to workplaces nor is the damage of hierarchy upon + individuals and their liberty limited to working hours. Both have + a deep impact on the rest of society, expanding into all areas of + life and restricting liberty everywhere. + +and asks: + +"Evidence? If people enter into relationships that they perceive as leading +to improvements over their initial situation, it's difficult to see how +liberty can be restricted as a result. One can make errors of judgement when +making these decisions, but one of the conditions of living in a free +society is that one possess the freedom to make mistakes (even disastrous +ones!) and to learn from them." + +Evidence? Section B.1 has evidence on the wider effects of capitalism. +That inequalities of wealth and power have a deep impact on the rest +of society is a truism (see section F.3 for some discussion). Now +Wilson claims that "people enter into relationships that they perceive +as leading to improvements over their initial situation, it's difficult +to see how liberty can be restricted as a result" which is wonderful! + +Let as see, workers enter into relationships they perceive as leading +to improvements over their initial situation (their initial situation +is that they will starve to death unless they get money; unsurprisingly +they enter into the wage slave relationship). As a result of this +relationship, profits accumulate in the hands of the few. This increases +inequality within society and, after all, money is power. Thus "bilateral +exchanges" can result in restrictions of liberty for those involved +and externalities in terms of inequality which affect other people +(see section F.2 and F.3). Increasing inequality means that the few have +increased clout and so can hang out longer then the less well off. +This means that the less well off compromise faster and deeper than +they would otherwise do. These compromises increase inequalities +and so the process continues, with the few increasing their power +within society and the amount of land/resources they own. + +Yes, indeed, people can make errors of judgement and the freedom to +make mistakes is essential, but neither of these facts means that +we should support capitalism. If making decisions is the thing we +value then supporting a system which actively restricts decision +making (for example, in work) is somewhat strange. Similarly, +to support a system which promotes inequalities which end up +restricting out options to (effectively) choosing which boss +will govern us hardly promotes choice. So, in a free society, we +must take responsibility for our decisions but capitalism so +restricts these decisions as to make a mockery of freedom. +That is why anarchists oppose it. + +Wilson then says that it is "interesting to note that the first person the +FAQ quotes in its section on anarcho-capitalism is an anarcho-socialist who +understands the position being critiqued about as well as the authors of +the FAQ." Actually, Chomsky gets to the root of the problem with +"anarcho"-capitalism, it is just "anarchism for the rich" and would +soon result in extensive restrictions of liberty for the majority. It +is clear that Wilson does not understand this basic point and so ignores +it. + +He then states: + +"So much for providing textual evidence in support of the position being +critiqued. But then again, fair representation of the opposition is obviously +not one of the intentions behind the FAQ." + +But, as Wilson himself as indicated, we have not needed to provide textual +support of the position being critiqued. He himself as acknowledged that +"anarcho"-capitalism has no problem with capitalist hierarchy and has +indeed went out of his way to justify factory fascism. Perhaps he will ask +us to provide textual evidence that "anarcho"-capitalism supports +capitalism? And the intention of the FAQ? To argue why "anarcho"-capitalism +is not anarchist, something Wilson has done so in his critique. + +Wilson quotes the FAQ: + + It is clear, then, that "anarcho"-capitalists are not really + anti-authoritarians, because they would allow authoritarianism to + persist where it has the most direct impact on ordinary people: in + the workplace. + +and comments: + +"It's not clear from the FAQ at all, considering that it doesn't once site a +work written by an anarcho-capitalist in this section, nor does it give a +considerate explication of anarcho-capitalist viewpoints." + +Well, why cite a work on "anarcho"-capitalism which states that they +support capitalism? Perhaps we should also cite a work by Marxists +which states they support Marxism? As Wilson himself makes clear, +our argument that "anarcho"-capitalists are not anarchists +because they support capitalist hierarchy is correct. He agrees that +"anarcho"-capitalists *are capitalists*! Now, as far as a "considerate +explication" of "anarcho"-capitalist viewpoints go we have argued +that they are not anarchists because they support capitalist hierarchy. +As Wilson agrees, they do support them. We discussed why we fought that +capitalist claims that workers "consent" to wage labour were phoney +in section B.4 and so did not go into details here. Thus we *did* +present the case that capitalist hierarchy was fine because workers +"consent" to it (and that, after all, is Wilson's "defence" of capitalist +hierarchy). + +In other words, Wilson "critique" is bogus as he fails to place +the section he is critiquing in context. + +Wilson then states that: + +"It's much more clear that it would be authoritarian to prevent "capitalist +acts among consenting adults" (Nozick's term), because people enter in these +relations to improve their lot." + +But, as noted above, anarchists have no desire to prevent wage labour in +an anarchist society. Thus Wilson totally misrepresents anarchist ideas. +Moreover it is *capitalism* that actively restricts the number of +relationships that people can enter into to improve their lot, *not* +anarchism. Similarly, Nozick's argument fails to acknowledge that +these "acts" generate authoritarian social relationships and creates +circumstances in which the majority have little choice but to "consent" +to capitalist acts (i.e. wage labour). + +Moreover, within the capitalist workplace the capitalist can and does +prevent socialist acts among consenting adults (for example, the +forming of a union, self-managed work, and so forth). So it is much +more clear that capitalism is authoritarian simply because it creates +relations of domination between the property owning class and the +working class. Wilson fails to understand this because he makes an +idol of "consent", an idol which can and has been used to define +the state (after all, no one forces you to live in a given state). + +Thus Wilson's defence of "freedom" indicates a definition of freedom +which is little more than the justification of relationships of +domination and authority (see section F.2 for more on this). + +He quotes the FAQ again: + + But anarchism is, by definition, anti-authoritarian (see sections + A.1 and A.2.8). Thus "anarcho"-capitalists have illegitimately + appropriated the prefix "anarcho" to describe themselves. In + reality they are bogus anarchists. + +and states, "[i]n reality, the authors of the anarcho-socialist FAQ are +offering no more than a bogus critique." Which is funny, as Wilson +has agreed with our analysis. Yes, he acknowledges, capitalist workplaces +*are* hierarchical. Yes, "anarcho"-capitalists have no problem with +them because they are "voluntary". Of course, he fails to note the +objective conditions facing those who "consent" and makes no attempt +to discover whether "anarcho"-capitalism would reinforce these pressures +or not (just as he fails to note we addressed this issue of "consent" +in section B.4 of the FAQ). + +So is this a "bogus critique"? No, far from it. While we have totally +revised this section of the FAQ in order to make the differences +between anarchism and "anarcho"-capitalism clearer, it cannot be +said that it is "bogus". After all, Wilson has agreed with our +analysis. He just thinks that "consent" makes unfreedom okay. But +for anarchists the circumstances which we face are essential for +determining whether something is truly consented to. As Wilson +takes capitalism and capitalist property rights as given and +unchangeable, his objections are question begging in the extreme. + +Thus, far from being a "bogus critique" Wilson indicates well +why "anarcho"-capitalists are not anarchists. Indeed, their theory +is little more than an attempt to justify capitalist domination +and cloak it with the title "liberty". As Wilson himself shows. + +* A Critique of Section F.1.2 (How libertarian is right-Libertarian theory?) + +Wilson starts off by insults: + +"Unfortunately, the authors aren't in any position to assess whether or +not libertarianism is based upon critical thought, considering that they +themselves haven't exercised the critical thought necessary to understand +the position they're attempting to critique." + +Strong words. The truth of this statement will be discussed below. He +notes that "As for 'theory based upon assumptions', we will see during +the course of this FAQ that once we look at these assumptions, they'll +appear to be much more sound than the anarcho-socialists [sic!] have +let on." + +Which, of course, is acknowledging that right-libertarianism *is* +built upon assumptions! It is just that these assumptions are +considered "sound" by "anarcho"-capitalists. + +He then states that: + +"As far as 'change and the ability to evolve' go, 'right' [sic!] +libertarians do not have any problems with it in itself. There are +many forms of changes that most anarcho-capitalists avidly support (such +as technological development), but they do not advocate change for its +own sake, nor do they advocate just any form of change. Change is not +desirable if it somehow compromises the individual integrity and autonomy +of individuals; that cannot be stressed enough." + +How true. "Anarcho"-capitalists do stress technological change. After all, +that is one of needs of capitalism. But the point is that right-libertarians +do not stress change within society's rights framework. They assume that +capitalist property rights are unchangeable, regardless of how they +compromise "individual integrity and autonomy of individuals." That +Wilson starts off by using an example of technology (which has often +been used to control workers and compromise their autonomy, by the way) +is an example of this. As we will see, the assumption that capitalist +property rights are unchangeable is one that is commonplace within +right libertarianism (and we wonder why Wilson puts right in quotes. +Does he not know that "libertarian" was first used by anarchists in +the 1880s and that right-libertarianism has stolen the name?). + +He quotes the FAQ as follows: + + Right-Libertarianism is characterised by a strong tendency of + creating theories based upon a priori theorems. Robert Nozick in + Anarchy, State and Utopia makes no attempt to provide a + justification of the property rights his whole theory is based + upon. Indeed he states that "we shall not formulate [it] here." + [Anarchy, State and Utopia, p. 150] Moreover, it is not + formulated anywhere else by Nozick either. And if it is not + formulated, what is there to defend? His whole theory is based + upon assumptions. + +And argues that "It's true that Nozick builds his argument upon certain +starting 'assumptions' that go undefended within the course of the book. +What the authors do not say is that Nozick's main 'assumption' is that +'[i]ndividuals have rights, and [that] there are certain things no person +or group may do to them (without violating their rights).' [Anarchy, State, +and Utopia, p. ix] This 'assumption' isn't one that turns out to be all +that implausible." + +Quite. And the question now becomes, what rights do we assume that they +have? Do people have a right to be free? Not according to Nozick, as +his self-ownership thesis ensures that people will be subject to authoritarian +social relationships if they "consent" to them. Similarly, many people +think that individuals should have a right to life but that is not one +that Nozick accepts. If you are starving to death then it would be a +worse evil to tax a millionaire $1 than use that $1 to feed you (see +section F.4 for example, or the new section F.1.2). + +Now, the assumption is "plausible" but that was not the assumption we +focused upon. Nozick assumes his property rights system, the whole +basis of his theory. Thus his theory of transfer is based upon his +theory of appropriation of property, a theory which he clearly states +he will not provide us with! Somewhat strange that the crux of his +whole theory is just not provided. After all, if his argument for +appropriating land is proven false then his whole entitlement theory +also falls (indeed, as we argue in section B.3.4, such a defence +can be put together from Nozick's work and it does not provide such +support). So to just assume its truth is amazing. That Wilson fails +to even acknowledge the importance of this omission is not surprising, +after all it would mean that our argument was correct -- Nozick +assumed *the* key aspect of his theory and that his whole book is +built upon an unproven assumption. Little wonder he does off on a +tangent and does not address the point we make. + +Wilson then continues with Nozick's "rights" assumption by stating that +"Though this is a moral intuition that Nozick doesn't defend in ASU, it +is a sufficiently broad-based intuition to be held securely by a rational +person. Is the intuition that people have rights one that the authors of +the FAQ would deny? If they don't accept the premise that there ought to be +certain obligatory side-constraints upon human behaviour for the purpose of +preserving the autonomy of people (i.e., rights), that would seem to suggest +that they have a rather weak commitment to the ideal of human freedom." + +Quite what to make of this is difficult to tell. After all, what (say) +Marx, Hitler, J.S. Mill, Bakunin, Stirner and so on would consider +as "intuitive" rights and what Nozick would consider as such is open +to much debate. A rational person would, perhaps, consider the consequences +of these rights and determine whether they actually *did* ensure a +strong commitment of the ideal of human freedom. If, for example, +Nozick's rights resulted in a society of large scale (voluntary) slavery +due to minority control of resources then that society would hardly +be based on a commitment to human freedom. + +Thus a rational person rather than following a train of logic which +resulted in massive violations of human liberty would decide to change +the rights framework they supported. Such a process could be seen at +work in J.S. Mill who realised that under capitalism workers could +be in a situation little than slavery. Thus an abstract commitment +to liberty may result in circumstances that violated the liberty of +the many. Thus to claim that anarchists have a "rather weak commitment +to the ideal of human freedom" is nonsense. It is rather the right +libertarian whose definition of freedom is such so weak as to make +a mockery of freedom in practice. + +And notice that Wilson has still not addressed the issue of the +assumption of capitalist property rights and instead decided to +imply that anarchists are into violating the rights of others +(these rights, of course, being undefined). + +Wilson then goes on: + +"Perhaps they reject Nozick's starting moral premise because it hasn't been +rationally validated. The truth is: Neither has any basic moral premise. +Hume's dictum that it is impossible to derive a normative statement from a +set of descriptive statements (assuming that they're free of normative +content) still holds, and I challenge the anarcho-socialists to demonstrate +that their most basic normative premises can validated in a way that doesn't +rely upon intuition." + +Or perhaps not. Perhaps we reject Nozick's starting premise because it +cannot deliver what it promises, namely a free society of free individuals. + +Wilson continues: + +"It should also be mentioned that although Nozick assumes premises as basic +as the one that people have rights, he does not simply assume the form they +must take or their form of application. On the contrary, he argues for his +libertarian conception of rights via a critical analysis of other political +conceptions of justice as well as his own, and he does so rigorously and +brilliantly." + +Actually, quote a lot of ink (and electrons) has been used to indicate +that Nozick's "rigorous" and "brilliant" "critical analysis" is nothing +of the kind. For example, his (in)famous "Wilt Chamberlain" argument +that "liberty upsets patterns" is based on the very capitalist property +rights he is defending. Thus his example is question begging in the +extreme. Indeed, many authors have recognised that his analysis is +little more than a justification of capitalist domination and that +it fails to acknowledge that the consequences of his theory could +result in a society in which the major have little or no option +but to follow the orders of the few (for a decisive critique of +Nozick which shows how weak his theory is see Will Kymlicka's +_Contemporary Political Philosophy_). + +Wilson again: + +"Notice that the authors of the FAQ offer no criticisms of Nozick's actual +arguments, but simply dismiss him as quickly as possible. They quote +isolated sections of text for their own purposes of "refutation", +and completely fail to engage the sections of ASU that really matter. Many +political philosophers have expressed serious disagreement with Nozick over +the past few decades, but unlike the authors of the anarcho-socialist FAQ, +they have critically engaged Nozick's views because they recognised that if +they were to advocate a non-libertarian political theory, Nozick's +objections would have to be answered." + +Funnily enough, we have quoted Nozick and his arguments many times and +have attempted to answer his "objections" (for example, sections B.3.4, +J.5.12, J.5.13, F.2 and I.4.12). As for "criticisms" of his "actual +arguments" you can find them there. What this section of the FAQ was +discussing was the starting basis of Nozick's arguments, namely in +assumptions. And as Wilson acknowledges, Nozick does build his system +on assumptions. Now, given that Nozick's whole argument is based on +providing a justification for property rights then this section +"really matters". If he provides no arguments for private property +then the rest of his system is nonsense (after all, as the initial +appropriation was unjust, then all the other transfers are unjust +as well). So for Nozick is state he will not provide it is important. +That Wilson does not recognise this is strange to say the least. + +After presenting a list of other right-libertarian theorists (although +see Will Kymlicka's _Contemporary Political Philosophy_ for an +excellently critique of many of these theories along with Nozick) +he then states that "we will eventually arrive at section F.7, which +does an excellent job demolishing a fictitious strawman of the admittedly +elusive concept of 'natural law'. This FAQ will demonstrate why the +anarcho-socialist FAQ doesn't actually refute a moral theory that many +libertarians buy into" although section F.7 does not refute a strawman +unless it is a strawman created by supporters of "Natural Law" themselves. + +Wilson then disagrees with Murray Bookchin's arguments against "the law +of identity" arguing that identity "doesn't merely account for an entity's +current state of being. The concept of 'identity' easily accounts for +existential change by subsuming the attribute of potentiality. This +criticism attacks Aristotle's first law of logic while ignoring his +conception of the material cause." + +This is strange. If we assume "potentiality" then we are arguing that +"A can *potentially* be A", not that "A is A". Water can "potentially" +be both steam and water, does that mean "water is steam" or "water +is ice"? If you argue that "A is A" and then modify it to acknowledge +that "A can perhaps be A sometime in the future" is somewhat strange. +Either the law of identity states that "A is A" or it does not. Adding +on "potentiality" just indicates how limited the law of identity +actually is. + +He then quotes the FAQ: + + In other words, right-Libertarian theory is based upon ignoring + the fundamental aspect of life - namely change and evolution. + +And argues that the authors "have in no way demonstrated this. They're +simply pulling arguments out of a hat with out heed to whether or not +they actually apply to the position they're trying to critique." + +Now, we argued that must of right-libertarian theory was built upon +assumptions. Indeed, Wilson agrees with us. We argued that by using +assumptions and deducing things from these assumptions means that +you fail to take into account change (this can be clearly seen from +Rothbard's claims on "Natural law" quoted in section F.7). Thus, +using "natural rights" as Nozick, Rand and Rothbard do is to use +the law of identity and this, as Bookchin noted, fails to take +into account change. Thus we are not "pulling arguments out of a +hat" but trying to draw out the implications of the methodology +used. Now, Wilson is free to consider that these points do +not apply to the positions in question, but obviously we do not +agree with him. If you start with certain assumptions about "Man" +and then deduce conclusions from these assumptions then you +fail to see now these assumptions can change in use. For example, +the assumption of self-ownership is all fine and well but in +practice it can become the means of denying liberty, not protecting +it (see section B.4.2 and F.2). Also, to assume "Man's nature" +is unchanging (as Rothbard et al do) is itself to force capitalist +assumptions onto the history of the human race. + +Wilson then quotes the FAQ again: + + Unfortunately for right-Libertarians (and fortunately for the rest + of humanity), human beings are not mechanical entities but instead + are living, breathing, feeling, hoping, dreaming, changing living + organisms. + +And states: + +"Where precisely have 'right' libertarians denied any of this, and how is +this supposed to be a rebuttal to 'right' libertarian theory?" + +It is true that right-libertarians do pay lip service to human beings +as living organisms but in much of their ideology they deny it. Thus +Rothbard, for example, argues that "natural law" is unchanging, which +is to state that human beings do not change. What inspires people changes. +What people think is right and wrong changes. Thus a theory that +uses the law of identity ("natural rights" and so forth) fails to take +this into account and so there is a mechanical core to the theory. A +core which can be seen from the mechanical attempts to justify capitalist +property rights in ways that can create terrible consequences (see +sections F.4, F.4.2, F.2.3 and F.2.7 for example). Indeed, Robert Anton +Wilson in _Natural Law_ makes a similar point, namely that right +libertarianism is infected with "robot ideologists" and this undermines +liberty with dogma. + +So a theory which mechanically argues, for example, that "slave contracts" +are an expression of liberty is simply nonsense. That is how it is supposed +to be a rebuttal to right-libertarian theory -- that it places the theory +above common-sense and justifies extreme unfreedom in the name of liberty. + +Wilson goes on to argue that "As of so far, the authors have only given +a single short and out-of-context example of Nozick's as evidence that +'right' libertarians do not base their theory upon facts, and I have +already shown how that example is utterly misleading. Right now, the +authors are doing no more than shooting down imaginary positions and citing +Bookchin quotes that give bad arguments against the law of identity." + +Now, was the Nozick example "out-of-context"? Wilson has not even addressed +the example and instead concentrated on another assumption of Nozick's +(namely that people have rights -- an intuitive argument which produces +some very non-intuitive outcomes, we must note). As far as "bad arguments +against the law of identity" goes we have indicated that this is not +the case and that Rothbard and Rand base their arguments on said law. +So, just to be clear, as "evidence" we presented Nozick, Rand and +Rothbard as right-libertarian thinkers who base themselves on assumptions. +Far more evidence than Wilson suggests we present. + +Wilson then quotes the FAQ again: + + From a wider viewpoint, such a rejection of liberty by + right-libertarians is unsurprising. They do, after all, support + capitalism. Capitalism produces an inverted set of ethics, one in + which capital (dead labour) is more important that people (living + labour). + +And argues that: + +"This makes very little sense. If a business owner both purchased capital +and hired labours to help him produce, there is no economic reason why one +would necessarily be more important than the other." + +Actually there is as capital investments are far more valuable than +individual workers. You can easily fire a worker, it is somewhat +harder to dismantle a workplace with millions of dollars of capital +within it. It can also be seen when capitalists hire workers to +labour in unsafe and dangerous conditions as it gives them a competitive +edge that would be eroded if they invested in safe working conditions. +So, there are plenty of economic reasons why capital is more important +than labour -- and history (and current practice) proves this argument +again and again. That Wilson cannot see this says a lot about his ideology. + +Moving on Wilson argues: + +"The marginal utility of a capital good or a worker would depend upon its +marginal product, i.e., the level of output that increases as a result of +an additional input. Perhaps the authors find something vulgar about this +because certain people are assigning 'utility' to other people. But this +means nothing more than that people obtain a measure of subjective value +from the presence or activities of a person." + +Or to translate from marginalist speak, the capitalist employs a worker +because he/she has a *use value* for the capitalist; namely that they +produce more goods than they get paid for in wages (the exchange value +of goods produces is higher than the exchange value of the worker). +We have no problem with individual's subjectively valuing other +individuals but we do have a problem with exploitation. And this is +what the "marginal utility" theory was invented to deny. But it is +clear that the capitalist will only "value" a worker who produces +more than they get paid -- i.e. performs unpaid labour. If this +condition is not meet, then they are fired. + +Wilson argues that "This doesn't imply that people are necessarily being +misused, and libertarians hold that they aren't, provided that the value one +derives from the presence or activities of another doesn't entail that that +person's actions are determined in a way that doesn't involve his/her consent." + +Which brings us straight back to "consent". So, if the state taxes you +then this is wrong because you do not "consent" to it. However, as +noted above, you are free to leave a state at any time and seek out a +state closer to your desires -- just as the worker is free to seek +out a new capitalist. Since the worker does not do this, "anarcho" +capitalists assume that the worker "consents" to the rules and orders +of her boss. That the same argument can be applied to the state is +one that is hotly denied by "anarcho"-capitalists (see section F.2.3). + +Now it could be argued that ordering people about is "misusing" them, +after all you are subjecting them to your will. Similarly, when the boss +orders the worker into dangerous conditions that too could be classed +as "misuse". But "consent" is the key and for anarchists capitalism is +marked by inequalities that make "consent" purely formal (just as +the "consent" associated with the liberal state is purely formal). +We discuss this in section F.2 and F.3 and so will not do so here. + +Wilson continues and quotes the FAQ again: + + This can be seen when the Ford produced the Pinto. The Pinto had a + flaw in it which meant that if it was hit in a certain way in a + crash the fuel tank exploded. The Ford company decided it was more + "economically viable" to produce that car and pay damages to those + who were injured or the relatives of those who died than pay to + change the invested capital. The needs of capital came before the + needs of the living. + +He argues: + +"This is an invalid application of the odd statement the authors made above, +as well as being an odd and nonsensical statement in its own right. Capital +doesn't have needs. Only the living have needs, and the cited case is one +in which one group of people perceived it as being to their advantage to +sell unsafe automobiles to people willing to buy them. This means that +sellers unethically endangered the lives of others for the sake of profit. +Under no social arrangement will such a phenomenon always be avoided, but +the fact is that there will necessarily be much less of it under an +arrangement in which people are legally required to bear the full liability +for the costs of their actions. This is the type of arrangement that +anarcho-capitalists advocate." + +Which is an interesting argument. Under "no social arrangement will such +a phenomenon always be avoided"? But it was the desire to make a profit +and so survive on the market that prompted Ford's decision. Such "phenomenon" +would have been avoided in a socialist society simply because competitive +pressures would have been lacking and people would be placed before +profits. And Ford was well aware that it would face "the costs of their +actions" and did those actions anyway. Now as "anarcho"-capitalists +support a market based law system it is not at all clear that a corporation +would "bear full liability for the costs of their actions." After all, the +law system will be marked by inequalities in the bargaining position +and resources of the agents involved. It could be that Ford would be able +to use its market power to undermine the legal system or skew it in its +favour (see section F.6.3) but the fact remains that Ford deliberately +placed profits before human beings. The same occurs everyday in capitalism +where workers are placed in unsafe working conditions. + +So our point remains. Capitalism *does* create an environment where +people are used as resources by others and the needs of profit are +placed before people. Wilson sees that this is the case but refuses to +look at why it happens. If he did so then, perhaps, he would realise +that capitalist ideology places property before/above liberty (as +can be seen from their definitions of "freedom" -- see section F.2) +and so the actions of Ford as an expression of a deeper psychosis. + +He ends by arguing that: + +"It's unclear why the authors need to speak incoherently about 'the needs of +capital' to prove a point. Perhaps it's to single out capitalism as the +primary cause of the type of disaster that they speak of. Contrary to the +false impression that the authors give, such incidents are more likely to +occur under a socialistic economy in which the funding of industries are +guaranteed, and in which workers have nothing to lose from performing the +job in a irresponsible manner. Recently, there have been numerous train +crashes in Italy, and many deaths have occurred as a result. Many of the +engineers were reportedly drunk while operating the trains. These trains +were a part of a socialised railroad scheme. The authors are arbitrarily +and unjustly singling out the free market as a producer of defective +products and services." + +Strange, we were not aware that Italy was a socialistic economy. Nor do +we consider *nationalised* industries the same as "socialised" ones. But +let us ignore these obvious points. Wilson presents the example of the +drunk engineers as an example of how a "socialistic" economy would create +more of the Ford Pinto type situations. Now, did the bosses of the +nationalised railways deliberately decide to employ the drunk engineers? +Did they do a cost-benefit analysis and decide that employing drunk +engineers would be more profitable than sacking them? Of course not. What +was a deliberate act on the part of Ford was not done with the nationalised +Italian railways. *If* the managers of the railways *had* acted in the +way that Ford did then Wilson would have had a point, but they did not. +His example seems to be an arbitrary and unjust attempt to whitewash the +actions prompted by free market pressures. + +It seems strange that Wilson does not consider the implications of +Ford's acts. After all, most normal people would be horrified by these +acts (like the actions of any capitalist firm that harms people in order +to make a bit more profit) and seek a reason for them (i.e. in the +system that created the pressures Ford and other employers face). +However, rather than look at the pressures that resulted in this act, +he seems to take them as unavoidable and isolated from the economic +system he supports. How strange, but unsurprising. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + Critique of Section F.1.3 (Is right-Libertarian theory scientific in + nature?) + +Wilson starts by quoting the FAQ: + + Usually, no. The scientific approach is inductive, the + right-Libertarian approach is deductive. The first draws + generalisations from the data, the second applies preconceived + generalisations to the data. A completely deductive approach is + pre-scientific, however, which is why right-Libertarians cannot + legitimately claim to use a scientific method. Deduction does + occur in science, but the generalisations are primarily based on + other data, not a priori assumptions. + +And states that: + +"This is partially true. It's not true that libertarians reject the method +of drawing generalisations upon the basis of data. What libertarians do +reject is the position that one can approach aggregate and statistical data +with any hope of possibly understanding it if they have not previously laid +down a reliable theoretical grounding for it's interpretation. Economic +data are highly complex, and it's fallacious to believe that one can infer a +causal relationship between two or more macroeconomic phenomena on the basis +of observances of correlations. Too many elements play a role in +constituting the identity of concepts such as "GNP", "GDP", "the money +supply", "consumption", etc., for one to be able to gain an understanding of +them without the aid of "preconceived generalisations". This is why +libertarians hold that it's necessary to apply a microeconomic theory +founded upon generalisations made from simple facts to the study of +macroeconomic data." + +Actually, the Austrian school of economics (which has inspired much of +right-libertarianism) argue at great length that you cannot use past +any data to test theories. Murray Rothbard states approvingly that: + +"Mises indeed held not only that economic theory does not need to be +'tested' by historical fact but also that it *cannot* be so tested." +["Praxeology: The Methodology of Austrian Economics" in _The Foundation +of Modern Austrian Economics_, p. 32] + +And this applies to *all* data. Including simple data. They argue, +in effect (and misleadingly), that the econometrician is a historian +*not* a theorist. Moreover, many economists would argue that using +complex data should be taken with care. Now, the claim that it is +"necessary to apply a microeconomic theory founded upon generalisations +made from simple facts to the study of macroeconomic data" is false, +at least from the Austrian school. They explicitly argue that economic +theory *cannot* be tested and that economic theory is *not* built upon +generalisations from simple facts but rather from logical deductions +from assumptions (perhaps these are the "simple facts" that Wilson is +referring to but in that case his "simple facts" is the axiom that +"humans act" and not, say, simple facts/data gathered from the studying +specific events as might be imagined). + +Wilson continues by saying "[i]t certainly isn't surprising that the authors +derived their (mis)information concerning Austrian economic theory through +a secondary source written by an author more in their favour. In light of +source of the authors (mis)information, it should be remembered that their +(mis)representation of Austrian economics is no more than an interpretation +of an interpretation." + +But as we will see, nothing could be further from the truth. In the new +section F.1.3 we provide more quotes from Austrian sources which state +exactly the same thing as we argue here. The Rothbard quote above +clearly indicates that our comments are correct. Let us not forget +that Austrian economics is based upon deductions from the basis axiom +"humans act". + +He states that "we arrive at a commonly made, and yet highly fallacious +criticism of Austrian economics" namely that (quoting von Mises) that +Austrian economics is based upon rejecting any data that conflicts with +their theory. This, Wilson argues "constitutes a serious misunderstanding +of the importance of Mises' method" and states that "[s]ince the authors +do not even mention what Mises' theorems actually are, it's easy for the +uneducated reader to dismiss Mises as a crackpot without first understanding +him. The methodological individualism and methodological subjectivism of +the Austrian school is predicated upon the simple and relatively +uncontroversial premise that humans act." + +Is the assumptions of the methodology actually relevant to discussing the +methodology itself? The assumptions may be "uncontroversial" but if the +net result is that you dismiss data that contradicts your theory then +the theory itself and its assumptions cannot be evaluated! As Rothbard +makes clear, "since praxeology begins with a true axiom, A, all that can +be deduced from this axiom must also be true. For if A implies be, and +A is true, then B must also be true." [Op. Cit., pp. 19-20] Now A is +the premise "humans act" but upon this axiom is built a whole series +of other axiom's, all claimed to be true because the first one is true. +Given that this premise of one that Proudhon, Marx, Keynes, Kalecki and +a host of non-free market economists would have agreed too it seems a very +big leap of faith to claim that all the other axioms are true. Now, if the +facts of reality are to be dismissed if your theory is logically +consistent (after all, that is what von Mises is arguing, let us not +forget that) then it is impossible to evaluate your theory and the +axioms you have generated. Hence our comments. The methodology von Mises +supports means that your theories can *never* be revised since A was +correct. This is the opposite of the scientific method, as we argued. + +Wilson states that: + +"What the praxeologist methodology intends to do is to explain more holistic +economic phenomenon--such as prices, firms, production, etc--through the +analysis of the discrete components that give rise to them, namely +individual actors purposefully pursuing their own plans and goals on the +basis of the information they have access to. It's a microeconomic approach +that seeks to inquire into the nature of complex entities by analysing the +behaviour of it's simple components. Econometric methods discard human +behaviour as irrelevant, and deal solely with aggregate data while attempting +to draw inferences of causation through observation of statistical +correlation. Too many variables have an influence upon aggregate data for a +methodological holist procedure to yield conclusive results explaining human +behaviour, and this is why Austrians reject this approach." + +But that may be what it intends, but that is not what it achieves. What +it achieves is a mindset that prefers to reject facts in favour of theory. +It also ignores the fact that the more holistic phenomenon has an important +impact on discrete components and that by concentrating on these +components important facts are ignored. As we argue in section F.2, +right-libertarians concentrate their analysis on the "discrete component" +of contracts within capitalism. This effectively blinds them to the +way the objective facts of a given society influence these contracts. +For example, contracts made during periods of full employment have +different impacts than those made during high unemployment. The human +behaviour expressed in these contracts are influenced by aggregate +facts which the Austrian analysis discards. Similarly, the aggregate +outcome of these discrete acts may have a distinctly different impact +than we would guess at if we looked at them in isolation and so +aggregate analysis can provide us with insights the microeconomic +approach fails to provide. + +Also, when deductively generating axioms from the "simple data" of +"humans act", it is easy to discard or ignore forms of human +behaviour which do have an impact on the final outcome. Dealing +solely with deductive generation can also fail to take into +account human behaviour. + +Wilson goes on to argue that: + +"If theory is grounded in one's knowledge of simple facts (like human +action) and deductions made from those facts, yes, it would be silly +to accept the validity of aggregate data that conflicts with one's theory. +Data is composed of many elements and components, and is far too complex for +one understand with a greater degree of certainty than basic facts about +human behaviour (e.g. preference, choice, incentives, etc.). If a piece of +statistical data yields conclusions that appear to conflict prima faciae +with a theoretical framework grounded upon simple observations, it is +completely reasonable to either [a] look to see how the statistical data +might be misinterpreted, or [b] reject the data. Knowledge of simple data +is more reliable than Knowledge of complex data, and without knowledge of +simple data it is impossible to interpret complex data. It is always +possible that one's theoretical analysis may be invalid, but within the +context of the social sciences, it's unwise to determine the validity of +one's theory by comparing it to complex data that seems to conflict. One +can demonstrate the invalidity of one's theory through logic and conceptual +analysis, however." + +But, as noted, Austrians think that *all* economic theories are untestable. +Including those based upon "simple data" as opposed to "aggregate data" +(and simple data is somewhat different than simple facts). However, by +"simple data" Wilson is referring to the axioms derived from the first +axiom "humans act". Thus he is arguing that *if* you base yourself on +deductive logic from an initial axiom, then you will not be inclined +to view experience as being very useful to evaluating. This approach is +taken by most churches who can easily dismiss arguments against the +existence of god as being irrelevant to the first axiom that "god exists". +Wilson is essentially arguing that we perform a "leap of faith" and +join the Austrian school in deductive logic and pre-scientific logic. + +Now, the Austrian approach is such that they reject the idea that data +can be used to evaluate their claims. They argue even if the facts +contradict one of their theories that does not mean that their theories +are false, far from it. It just means that in this case their theory +was not applicable (see the new section F.1.3 for a quote on this)! Now +Wilson seems to be trying to present this argument in the best possible +light but it does not change the fact that von Mises and other Austrian's +argue that their theories are true *no matter what*. They are essentially +placing their economic ideas above analysis as all and any evidence can be +ignored as not applicable in this case -- just, as we may note, religions +do. + +In contrast to Wilson, we think it is "silly" to have a theory which +is grounded in denying and/or rejecting empirical evidence or +using empirical evidence to inform your theory. It seems "unwise" +to accept a theory which major argument seems to be that it cannot +be tested. After all, logic can lead us to many areas and it is only +by seeing whether our chain of thought approximates reality can +we evaluate the validity of our ideas. If econometric methods +discard human behaviour as irrelevant, then so can the Austrian system +-- for there are too many variables that can have an influence upon +individual acts to yield conclusive results explaining human +behaviour. Indeed, the deductive approach may ignore as irrelevant +certain human motivations which have a decisive impact on an +outcome (there could be a strong tendency to project "Austrian Man" +onto the rest of society and history, for example). + +Wilson quotes the FAQ again: + + Such an approach makes the search for truth a game without rules. + The Austrian economists (and other right-libertarians) by using + this method are free to theorise anything they want, without such + irritating constrictions as facts, statistics, data, history or + experimental confirmation. Their only guide is logic. But this is + no different from what religions do when they assert the logical + existence of God (or Buddha or Mohammed or Gaia). Theories + ungrounded in facts and data are easily spun into any belief a + person wants. Starting assumptions and trains of logic may contain + inaccuracies so small as to be undetectable, yet will yield + entirely different conclusions. + +And argues that: + +"It is certainly the case that certain small and undetectable flaws in one's +train of logic can result in horridly inaccurate conclusions, but precisely +the same thing can be said concerning statistical and historical analysis. +The problem is even more pervasive when dealing with statistical and +historical analysis because of the phenomenon of incomplete information. +Certain facts will always be unintentionally discarded from the equation, +and certain factors responsible for the existence of complex facts and +events will always go unaccounted for." + +But we are not arguing that we base our theories *totally* on historical +data. Such extreme empiricism is just as false as von Mises method. +What we in fact argued that statistical and historical data should +be used to back-up any theory we have and if this data disproves our +theory then modify the theory, *not* reject the data. Von Mises' +methodology is such that this approach is dismissed (due to the +untestability argument) and that is its problem. Without a founding +in fact, Austrians are free to theorise about whatever they like, +without such irritating constrains as facts, statistics, data, +history and so forth. Wilson's arguments have not refuted our analysis, +rather he has provided apologetics for von Mises' methodology (a +methodology he admits "can result in horridly inaccurate conclusions"). +As Austrians can dismiss evidence as "inapplicable" they are in no +position to re-evaluate their ideas in the light of reality and so +their ideas are little more than dogmas. + +Now, how logic chains deduced from axioms can also unintentionally +discard certain facts and factors responsible for the existence of +complex facts. And the question remains, how do you evaluate whether +your logical chains are indeed correct? By evaluating them against +reality (i.e. "complex facts"). A given chain of logic does not +provide any idea on the relative strengths of certain derived +factors (which empirical study can indicate). Nor can it indicate +whether the chain is incomplete or missing essential factors. A +given chain may be internally consistent but still miss out +important factors or stress insignificant ones. So deductive +logic has all the problems of statistical analysis and a few +more as statistical analysis at least recognises that theories +must be evaluated using experience rather than reason alone. + +Wilson argues that: + +"Most libertarians would find it reasonable to rethink the basic principles +or derivations of one's theory if one found them to consistently fail to +explain historical events or macroeconomic data, but those of the Austrian +persuasion, and even to some extent those of the neoclassical persuasion, +would say that the observance of historical and macroeconomic facts is +never, in itself, sufficient to invalidate the conclusions of deductive and +conceptual analysis." + +But let us not forgot that many right-libertarians follow the ideas of +Murray Rothbard and Ayn Rand, both firm supporters of Austrian economics. +Politically, the dangers of this approach are easily seen. For example, +Wilson himself has indicated how his "basic principles" produce +relations of domination and oppression which are identical to those +created by the state and he sees nothing wrong with this. Similarly, +macroeconomic data indicates that capitalism has done best under +Keynesianism rather than laissez-faire and the current economic +performance in the USA is dependent upon the state maintaining a +"natural" rate of unemployment. + +Let us not forget that, as Wilson points out, von Mises' method if one +used by more mainstream economics as well (as pointed out by Homa Katouzian +who, it seems, is are fair more reliable guide than Wilson would like to +admit). So, let us be clear, that the case for "free market" capitalism +often involves theories which "the observance of historical and macroeconomic +facts is never, in itself, sufficient to invalidate." That is some claim. +No matter the evidence, capitalist theory cannot be disproved. That says +a lot about capitalist economic ideology and its role in society. + +Moving on, Wilson again quotes the FAQ: + + So, von Mises, Hayek and most right-libertarians reject the + scientific method in favour of ideological correctness and so deny + the key aspect of both life (change and evolution) and liberty + (critical analysis and thought). A true libertarian would + approach a contradiction between reality and theory by changing + the theory, not by ignoring reality. Right-Libertarian theory is + neither libertarian nor scientific. + +He then states that: + +"Here, the authors demonstrate how ignorant they are of the position they're +critiquing. If they had pained themselves to study the primary sources, +they would have learned about how Mises and other Austrians were concerned +with grounding their theory upon simple observable facts of reality so that +they could enable themselves to understand the subjects of macroeconomics +and history--two realms of complexity." + +Let us not forget that these "simple observable facts" is "humans act" +and the axioms deduced from this fact. That is it. This is the "two" +realms of complexity -- that individual acts and the resultant of +these acts. Now, von Mises argues that (in the quote we provided) +that no experience can disprove these derived axioms. If we look +at the primary sources (such as these we quote in the new section F.1.3) +we find that Austrians are clear about the use of data and how it +relates to their theories (which are *all* deduced from the axiom +"humans act" and nothing else). This axiom ("humans act") is the +"grounding" of the Austrian theory which Wilson talks about. Everything +else flows from this. And anything else above this axiom (or derived +axioms) is another "realm of complexity" -- so the actual workings and +results of the capitalist system is another realm (which is true, +reality *is* another realm than that of logic deductions within +the mind). + +So, far from showing "ignorance" all we have done is to point out the +implications and religious nature of these perspectives. Austrians +"ground" themselves on the axiom "humans act" and argue that simple +and/or complex observable facts cannot be used to evaluate the axioms +they derive from this initial axiom. Hence our comments and analysis +are painfully accurate. Austrian economics is more like a "free market" +religion than a scientific analysis of capitalism. + +So the primary sources argue that because Austrian economics is based +upon the axiom "humans act" all its other axioms and arguments are +correct *and* that these cannot be disproven by experience. Thus +our comments on von Mises seem appropriate and the rationale for +this rejection of experience seems inappropriate. + +Wilson goes on to state that: + +"The implication of the views being espoused by the authors above is that +it's inappropriate to learn about the world via the application of a +methodology. If the authors would alter their methodology (if they have +one) every time they stumble across a series of facts that that appear, +prima faciae, to conflict with it, then it would appear that the authors +see no need for methodology at all, and would prefer to rush headlong +into the complex realm of the social sciences, unequipped with any + reliable means of interpretation. Now which approach is more closely +connected to reality?" + +But such an "implication" is so radically false as to be a misrepresentation +of our argument. We argued that any analysis or theory we have should be +grounded in facts and that if a set of facts contradict our theory then, +assuming that the facts are correct of course, change the theory, *not +deny reality.* Quite simple really and a methodology which most people +would consider as sensible (assuming that you are not an Austrian +economist of course). For example, Proudhon argued that competition +resulted in the undermining of competition. That is a theory which +can be tested against facts. The facts indicate that, over time, +capitalist markets evolve towards oligopoly and that this market +power results in super-profits (see sections C.4 and C.5). Now, if +the facts indicate that a market does not become dominated by a +few firms then we would be inclined to reject that theory. But, +if we were Austrians, we could just argue that our theory is true +but that it has not been applicable! Now, which approach is more +closely connected to reality? + +Then, as an aside, Wilson argues that: + +(To accuse Hayek, of all people, of denying change and evolution is simply +astounding. When one considers all of his writings on his principle of +'spontaneous order', and on the dispersed evolution of customs within a +society, this charge becomes as absurd as one claiming that Noam Chomsky +doesn't report upon international politics. The authors are ignoring the +primary subject matter of most of Hayek's popular works.) + +Now, unlike Kropotkin who also studied evolution, von Hayek used the example +of "evolved" or "spontaneous" order to justify "free market" capitalism +rather than to analyse how society itself was evolving and changing. +Because (according to von Hayek) the "market" is a "spontaneous order" +you should not mess with it. But such an analysis is false as the +"order" on the market is dependent on the state determining the +rights framework in which this order to generated. Thus, rather than +supporting change and evolution, von Hayek's work is about stopping +change and evolution (i.e. the change and evolution of society into +a different, non-capitalist, form). He supported the state and the +capitalist rights it enforces and, moreover, desired to ensure that +capitalist property rights were unchangeable by modifying democracy +as to place effective power into the hands of a few people (for example, +his schemes for using age as a determining factor in voting and +being able to occupy a set in Parliament). + +Similarly, his "analysis" of the evolution of customs just assumes +that those customs he dislikes (as socialistic or tribal) have been +made irrelevant by evolution. However, that is the thing about evolution, +you just do not know which of these social customs are required to +progress the species. It could be that the social customs von Hayek +approves off have been generated within society by state action and +would not survive in a truly free society. + +And, as the history of capitalism shows, it is very far from an +"evolved" order -- state action played a key role in creating it. +Thus Hayek's claims are somewhat strange, unless you realise his +motivation for them -- namely to counter any attempt to change +capitalism into something better. + +Thus von Hayek, unlike Kropotkin, can be said to deny change and +evolution simply because he assumes that we have reached the +"end of history" (to coin a phrase). Just because von Hayek talks +about evolution and change does not mean that he supports it. +In fact, quite the reverse -- he uses the concepts to try and +stop change and evolution. + +Wilson concludes as follows: + + The real question is why are such theories taken seriously and + arouse such interest. Why are they not simply dismissed out of + hand, + +"Because more honest and responsible people bothered to first come to an +understanding of them before passing judgement." + +Really? But as we have indicated our comments on right-libertarianism +are accurate. That Wilson does not like the way we have presented then, +but that does not make them false. Indeed, his "critique" of our +account has not found anything incorrect about them, which seems +strange for "dishonest" and "irresponsible" people. His comments that +we, for example, ignore Nozick's assumption that "individuals have +rights" ignores the point we made that Nozick *assumes* the property +rights that are the basis of his system. Instead Wilson discusses +something else altogether. Similarly, Wilson's attempt to justify the +axiomatic methodology of von Mises fails to appreciate that this +methodology cannot be evaluated from looking at the starting axiom +as it ensures that its logical chains cannot be tested. Moreover, he +attempts to discredit the strawman of extreme empiricism rather +than truly addressing the issue that von Mises methodology presents +a dogmatic, pre-scientific attitude which has more of a religious +feel than anything else. If anything, his comments actually show that +we were correct in our analysis -- after all, he has indicated that +"anarcho"-capitalists have no problem with capitalist hierarchy, the +right-libertarians *do* based their ideas of assumptions and deductions +from these without regard for consequences and that the Austrian school +rejects the use of empirical evidence to test their theories. + +How strange. Could it be that we have just informed people of a +few home truths about right-libertarianism that its supporters +prefer to keep quiet about? + + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/a-12xtra.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/a-12xtra.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4a786899 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/a-12xtra.txt @@ -0,0 +1,52 @@ +Here is the info on the plaques at the Blackbird Airpark as read from +Paul Stahl's photos he sent me. Thanks again to Paul for sending them +to me. Please note that there are a few typos/spelling errors in this +information. I included them in the spirit of accurate reporting!? + + LOCKHEED + + A-12 + +The A-12 was the proof-of-concept vehicle for the SR-71/YF-12 family +of "Blackbirds." It was the 12th in a series of designs for a U-2 +replacement from Kelly Johnson's "Skunk Works," hence the designation +"A-12." Although its operational service is shrouded in mystery, it +is believed the single-seat A-12 was used exclusively in covert +operations by the CIA from 1967 to 1968. + + ************** + +Of the fifteen A-12's produced, this is the prototype aircraft, +#60-6924....the first one built and flown. Although momentarily +lifting off during a high-speed taxi check on Apr 24, 1962, it's +first real flight was two days later, from the Air Force's classi- +fied Groom Lake flight test facility in Nevada. Restoration +courtesy of Lockheed Advanced Development Company. + + + SPECIFICATIONS + + Wing Span...........................55.6 ft + Wing Area.......................1,795 sq ft + Length (excluding pitot)...........98.75 ft + Height..............................18.5 ft + Empty Weight.....................60,000 lbs + Gross Takeoff Weight............120,000 lbs + Engine.....2 Pratt & Whitney J-58 Turbojets + Static Thrust (each)...........32,500 lbs + (Note: #6924 made its first flight with + two Pratt & Whitney J75's installed.) + Crew......................................1 + Sensor Payload....................2,500 lbs + + + PERFORMANCE + + Maximun Speed.........Mach 3.35 (2,211 mph) + at 85,000 ft (estimated) + Maximum Range (unrefuelled)........2,500 mi + Maximum Operational Ceiling.......95,000 ft + + + This aircraft is on loan from the USAF Museum Program + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/a-i-wars.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/a-i-wars.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..db48f711 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/a-i-wars.txt @@ -0,0 +1,207 @@ + ARAB-ISRAELI WARS + ================= + +Since the United Nations partition of PALESTINE in 1947 and the +establishment of the modern state of ISRAEL in 1948, there have +been four major Arab-Israeli wars (1947-49, 1956, 1967, and +1973) and numerous intermittent battles. Although Egypt and +Israel signed a peace treaty in 1979, hostility between Israel +and the rest of its Arab neighbors, complicated by the demands +of Palestinian Arabs, continued into the 1980s. + +THE FIRST PALESTINE WAR (1947-49) + +The first war began as a civil conflict between Palestinian +Jews and Arabs following the United Nations recommendation of +Nov. 29, 1947, to partition Palestine, then still under +British mandate, into an Arab state and a Jewish state. +Fighting quickly spread as Arab guerrillas attacked Jewish + settlements and communication links to prevent implementation +of the UN plan. + +Jewish forces prevented seizure of most settlements, but Arab +guerrillas, supported by the Transjordanian Arab Legion under +the command of British officers, besieged Jerusalem. By April, +Haganah, the principal Jewish military group, seized the +offensive, scoring victories against the Arab Liberation Army +in northern Palestine, Jaffa, and Jerusalem. British military +forces withdrew to Haifa; although officially neutral, some +commanders assisted one side or the other. + +After the British had departed and the state of Israel had been +established on May 15, 1948, under the premiership of David +BEN-GURION, the Palestine Arab forces and foreign volunteers +were joined by regular armies of Transjordan (now the kingdom +of JORDAN), IRAQ, LEBANON, and SYRIA, with token support from +SAUDI ARABIA. Efforts by the UN to halt the fighting were +unsuccessful until June 11, when a 4-week truce was declared. +When the Arab states refused to renew the truce, ten more days +of fighting erupted. In that time Israel greatly extended the +area under its control and broke the siege of Jerusalem. +Fighting on a smaller scale continued during the second UN +truce beginning in mid-July, and Israel acquired more +territory, especially in Galilee and the Negev. By January +1949, when the last battles ended, Israel had extended its +frontiers by about 5,000 sq km (1,930 sq mi) beyond the 15,500 +sq km (4,983 sq mi) allocated to the Jewish state in the UN +partition resolution. It had also secured its independence. +During 1949, armistice agreements were signed under UN auspices +between Israel and Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. The +armistice frontiers were unofficial boundaries until 1967. + +SUEZ-SINAI WAR (1956) + +Border conflicts between Israel and the Arabs continued despite +provisions in the 1949 armistice agreements for peace +negotiations. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs who +had left Israeli-held territory during the first war +concentrated in refugee camps along Israel's frontiers and +became a major source of friction when they infiltrated back to +their homes or attacked Israeli border settlements. A major +tension point was the Egyptian-controlled GAZA STRIP, which was +used by Arab guerrillas for raids into southern Israel. +Egypt's blockade of Israeli shipping in the Suez Canal and Gulf +of Aqaba intensified the hostilities. + +These escalating tensions converged with the SUEZ CRISIS caused +by the nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egyptian president +Gamal NASSER. Great Britain and France strenuously objected to +Nasser's policies, and a joint military campaign was planned +against Egypt with the understanding that Israel would take the +initiative by seizing the Sinai Peninsula. The war began on +Oct. 29, 1956, after an announcement that the armies of Egypt, +Syria, and Jordan were to be integrated under the Egyptian +commander in chief. Israel's Operation Kadesh, commanded by +Moshe DAYAN, lasted less than a week; its forces reached the +eastern bank of the Suez Canal in about 100 hours, seizing the +Gaza Strip and nearly all the Sinai Peninsula. The Sinai +operations were supplemented by an Anglo-French invasion of +Egypt on November 5, giving the allies control of the northern +sector of the Suez Canal. + +The war was halted by a UN General Assembly resolution calling +for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of all occupying +forces from Egyptian territory. The General Assembly also +established a United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) to replace +the allied troops on the Egyptian side of the borders in Suez, +Sinai, and Gaza. By December 22 the last British and French +troops had left Egypt. Israel, however, delayed withdrawal, +insisting that it receive security guarantees against further +Egyptian attack. After several additional UN resolutions +calling for withdrawal and after pressure from the United +States, Israel's forces left in March 1957. + +SIX-DAY WAR (1967) + +Relations between Israel and Egypt remained fairly stable in +the following decade. The Suez Canal remained closed to +Israeli shipping, the Arab boycott of Israel was maintained, +and periodic border clashes occurred between Israel, Syria, and +Jordan. However, UNEF prevented direct military encounters +between Egypt and Israel. + +By 1967 the Arab confrontation states--Egypt, Syria, and +Jordan--became impatient with the status quo, the propaganda +war with Israel escalated, and border incidents increased +dangerously. Tensions culminated in May when Egyptian forces +were massed in Sinai, and Cairo ordered the UNEF to leave Sinai +and Gaza. President Nasser also announced that the Gulf of +Aqaba would be closed again to Israeli shipping. At the end of +May, Egypt and Jordan signed a new defense pact placing +Jordan's armed forces under Egyptian command. Efforts to +de-escalate the crisis were of no avail. Israeli and Egyptian +leaders visited the United States, but President Lyndon +Johnson's attempts to persuade Western powers to guarantee free +passage through the Gulf failed. + +Believing that war was inevitable, Israeli Premier Levi ESHKOL, +Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan, and Army Chief of Staff +Yitzhak RABIN approved preemptive Israeli strikes at Egyptian, +Syrian, Jordanian, and Iraqi airfields on June 5, 1967. By the +evening of June 6, Israel had destroyed the combat +effectiveness of the major Arab air forces, destroying more +than 400 planes and losing only 26 of its own. Israel also +swept into Sinai, reaching the Suez Canal and occupying most of +the peninsula in less than four days. + +King HUSSEIN of Jordon rejected an offer of neutrality and +opened fire on Israeli forces in Jerusalem on June 5. But a +lightning Israeli campaign placed all of Arab Jerusalem and the +Jordanian West Bank in Israeli hands by June 8. As the war +ended on the Jordanian and Egyptian fronts, Israel opened an +attack on Syria in the north. In a little more than two days +of fierce fighting, Syrian forces were driven from the Golan +Heights, from which they had shelled Jewish settlements across +the border. The Six-Day War ended on June 10 when the UN +negotiated cease-fire agreements on all fronts. + +The Six-Day War increased severalfold the area under Israel's +control. Through the occupation of Sinai, Gaza, Arab +Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Golan Heights, Israel shortened +its land frontiers with Egypt and Jordan, removed the most +heavily populated Jewish areas from direct Arab artillery +range, and temporarily increased its strategic advantages. + +OCTOBER WAR (1973) + +Israel was the dominant military power in the region for the +next six years. Led by Golda MEIR from 1969, it was generally +satisfied with the status quo, but Arab impatience mounted. +Between 1967 and 1973, Arab leaders repeatedly warned that they +would not accept continued Israeli occupation of the lands lost +in 1967. + +After Anwar al-SADAT succeeded Nasser as president of Egypt in +1970, threats about "the year of decision" were more frequent, +as was periodic massing of troops along the Suez Canal. +Egyptian and Syrian forces underwent massive rearmament with +the most sophisticated Soviet equipment. Sadat consolidated +war preparations in secret agreements with President Hafez +al-ASSAD of Syria for a joint attack and with King FAISAL of +Saudi Arabia to finance the operations. + +Egypt and Syria attacked on Oct. 6, 1973, pushing Israeli +forces several miles behind the 1967 cease-fire lines. Israel +was thrown off guard, partly because the attack came on Yom +Kippur (the Day of Atonement), the most sacred Jewish religious +day (coinciding with the Muslim fast of Ramadan). Although +Israel recovered from the initial setback, it failed to regain +all the territory lost in the first days of fighting. In +counterattacks on the Egyptian front, Israel seized a major +bridgehead behind the Egyptian lines on the west bank of the +canal. In the north, Israel drove a wedge into the Syrian +lines, giving it a foothold a few miles west of Damascus. + +After 18 days of fighting in the longest Arab-Israeli war since +1948, hostilities were again halted by the UN. The costs were +the greatest in any battles fought since World War II. The +Arabs lost some 2,000 tanks and more than 500 planes; the +Israelis, 804 tanks and 114 planes. The 3-week war cost Egypt +and Israel about $7 billion each, in material and losses from +declining industrial production or damage. + +The political phase of the 1973 war ended with disengagement +agreements accepted by Israel, Egypt, and Syria after +negotiations in 1974 and 1975 by U.S. Secretary of State Henry +A. KISSINGER. The agreements provided for Egyptian +reoccupation of a strip of land in Sinai along the east bank of +the Suez Canal and for Syrian control of a small area around +the Golan Heights town of Kuneitra. UN forces were stationed +on both fronts to oversee observance of the agreements, which +reestablished a political balance between Israel and the Arab +confrontation states. + +Under the terms of an Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty signed on +Mar. 26, 1979, Israel returned the Sinai peninsula to Egypt. +Hopes for an expansion of the peace process to include other +Arab nations waned, however, when Egypt and Israel were +subsequently unable to agree on a formula for Palestinian +self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In the 1980s +regional tensions were increased by the activities of militant +Palestinians and other Arab extremists and by several Israeli +actions. The latter included the formal proclamation of the +entire city of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital (1980), the +annexation of the Golan Heights (1981), the invasion of +southern Lebanon (1982), and the continued expansion of Israeli +settlement in the occupied West Bank. DON PERETZ + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/aacanada.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/aacanada.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3ad3cdb6 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/aacanada.txt @@ -0,0 +1,291 @@ +From: Debra Floyd + +-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- + A f r i c a n A m e r i c a n N e w s S e r v i c e + Deborah K. Floyd, M.A., Publisher + Kenneth M. Richards, Editor + Anika Collins, Editor + -=-=-=-=- + a service of the Institute for Global Communications + PeaceNet * EcoNet * ConflictNet * LaborNet * WomensNet +-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- + + How to get into Canada + +Are you looking for the land of milk and honey, where you can have a +much better life without even working? Then you are looking for +CANADA. + +Even if you are just looking for a "Western" country, or want to get +into the United States of America, Canada is a very easy stepping +stone to these other countries. + +Why Canada? + +Canada has the most generous of all government benefit programs as +well as being the easiest country to get into in the whole world. + +BENEFITS +******** + +As a refugee or "landed immigrant" in Canada you can not run for +political office or vote in provincial election, but other than that +you are legally entitled to more government benefits than do their own +citizens. (It is a pretty good idea when you do get to the country to +join one of the mainstream political parties, as it will help you in +the future to get high paying political appointments to various +government departments and committees.) You can get free housing, +free health care, free day-care (for your children,) free education, +free money, free food, and all levels of government: federal, +provincial and municipal, will fight each other to see who will give +you the most. In addition there are religious organization who will +give you free help, plus many government funded multicultural (ethnic) +groups who will do everything possible to make your life there as easy +and prosperous as possible. Ever if you are not a citizen, the +government will give you money to start your own multicultural +organization to help other people going to Canada. If you do get +government funding to set up such a group, you decide what salary to +pay yourself, limited only by the size of the government grant. + +If you want a job, any job, you have advantages over many Canadian +citizens, and more rights than white Canadian males. The federal +(Canadian) government and many provinces have Employment Equity Laws +that set minimum quotas for (ethnic) minorities and women, based upon +local statistics. This gives you an advantage in jobs, especially +management positions, even if you don't have any experience in that +occupation. If you are obviously non-white, you are almost guaranteed +a government job, if you want one. Should you not get a job you want, +not only can you make a complaint with an Employment Equity Commission +you can also go to the provincial and federal Human Rights Commission. +There are also many training programs available free of charge to +assist you, that are not available to citizens. The government will +even give you money to start your own business. + +Should you decide you don't want to work, but instead receive Welfare +or Family Benefits, there is no difficulty in doing so. The more +children you have (or claim are yours though they might not be) the +more money you will get. They are so liberal in their social services +policies, so eager to please, that the administration of these +programs is set up so that you can easily falsely register as five or +ten or more people and therefore receive five or ten or more times the +benefits and never get caught. Many people do this and use the money +to purchase their own home, or a multiple unit dwelling they can then +rent out to other newcomers. + +The government benefits you receive are highest in the major urban +areas (and their surrounding areas) such as Vancouver (and Richmond,) +British Columbia, Toronto (North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, +Mississauga and Bramalea,) Ontario, and in Montreal, Province of +Quebec. The government encourages newcomers to settle in these areas, +and with the assistance of multicultural (ethnic) organizations, will +assist you in doing so. + +Education is free for your children. If you get enough people from +your home country to petition a school to have a "Heritage Language +Program" the school will be obliged to teach your children your home +language. If the school doesn't already have a teacher who knows that +language, they will be obliged to hire one of the parents (or another +person) who knows that language and can teach it to the children (and +the language teachers does not need to have any teaching or other +credentials to do so). + +EASE OF ENTRY +************* + +Of all the countries in the World, Canada is the easiest in which to +become an immigrant. Should you wish to get into the U.S.A., get into +Canada first, and then entry into the U.S.A. is easy. With all the +benefits due to you upon getting to Canada, the only reason why you +might not want to live there is their cold winters. Canada is +democratic, peaceful, has a very low crime rate, and a relatively +small police force. Should you ever get caught for any criminal +offence, Canada has the most lenient sentences, often just giving you +a waring, though for serious violent crimes you will likely be sent +home (at the government's expense). + +There are four main methods of entering Canada: illegally, as a +refugee, as a landed immigrant (permanent resident status), or as a +citizen. + +Illegally: + +Entering Canada illegally shouldn't be necessary, as they have by far +the most liberal immigration and refugee entry laws in the whole +world. If you do plan to enter illegally because you have not or will +not be accepted any other way, you can visit Canada using a Visitor's +or Student visa, and then once it is about to run out, you can easily +disappear in Canada. Under a student visa you are eligible for free +health care in most provinces. + +Additionally, Canadian documents such as: entry permits, returning +resident permits, renewal of Minister's permits, immigration visa, +visitor visas and employment authorizations can easily be purchased. +There is no need to buy poor quality fake documents, as real +Government of Canada documents are in wide distribution, worldwide; as +many government workers appear to supplement their salaries by selling +these forms. + +At the present time, it is estimated that out of a population of 27.5 +million peole, 500,000 are in that country illegally. For political +reasons, every few years, the Canadian government solves the problem +of illegal immigrants by granting them all an amnesty; that is during +these amnesties anybody who is in that country illegally who comes +forward and admits it automatically gets "landed immigrant" status +unless they have been caught committing a serious violent criminal +act. + +Refugees: + +Every year about 20,000 go to Canada as political refugees. The +Canadian Minister of Immigration has announced that figure may rise to +as high as 60,000 a year. + +Half of these peole go to Canada sponsored and paid for by the +Government of Canada. Most of the rest are sponsored and their +transporation paid for by refugee organizations; many are church and +other religious groups, and the others are ethnic organizations. + +The United Nations Convention on Refugees defines a refugee as +somebody who has reason to fear persecution in their home country +because of their race, religion, gender, nationality, political +viewpoint, or membership in a particular social group. Canada has +expanded this definition; for instance their Supreme Court has +included "reproductive freedom" so that a Chinese woman who is +pregnant with her second child (which is against the law of the +Peoples' Republic of China, and will result in her being sterilized +against her will after the birth of that child,) can claim refugee +status, and Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) permits +political refugee status on the basis of homosexuality. + +Should you be refused entry for reasons such as not meeting the +medical criterion, you can use these same medical grounds (such as +having TB or AID's) to claim entry for compassionate and humanitarian +reasons. + +You should contact a church or other religious organization, or the +Canadian Embassy or Consulate in your country. Remember the U.N. +definition of a Convention Refugee before you give the reason(s) why +yo may fear for you and your family's lives, and keep your story +simple so you don't get caught lying. + +Once you get to Canada, stay in touch with the organization who +arranged your entry as they can make sure you get the maximum benefits +your are entitled to in Canada. + +Immigration: + +Canada grants over 250,000 people a year "landed immigrant" +(permanent resident) status. With only 27.5 million people in their +country, this is by far, the highest per capita figure in the World. + +You can emmigrate to Canada on several grounds: + - Family Class Sponsorship + - Entrepreneurs, + - Investors, + - the self-employed, or as an + - Independent Applicant. + +To enter under the Family Class Sponsorship, your relative who must be +a "landed immigrant" or citizen in Canada, requests of the Canadian +government, that you join them. This can easily be taken advantage of +as in many countries there is little provable documentation as to whom +is related to who. This is the easiest way to emmigrate to Canada. + +Investors and Entrepreneurs typically need to bring a minimum of +$250,000 with them to Canada. This money is meant to be invested in +Canada or to start a business there. It is common for several people +to put their money together so as to have over the $250,000 and this +money is used to get the first person into Canada as an Entrepreneur +or Investor. After a year, that money is sent out of Canada, and then +re-enters the country with another "entrepreneur". Using this method, +the very same money can be used to get several people into Canada over +several years. + +The "self-employed" must prove that they can make a significant +artistic, cultural or economic contribution to Canada to gain entry. +To be able to use this criterion, your best bet is to be an "artist" +or a "writer" and contact an artistic or cultural groups to provide +you wil a letter to back up your story even if you never really made +your living this way. + +The second easiest way to get "landed immigrant" status in Canada is +under the heading of an "Independent Applicant". + +Canada has a point system to decide your eligibility. There are +three methods get into Canada using that system: + +1 - They give points depending upon your education. The more + education; the more points. You just have to provide the + documents or certificates. Due to the number of applicants, they + almost never verify if your documents are real or forgeries. + +2 - Points are assigned based upon your claimed occupation. The + maximum number of points (almost enough to guarantee your entry,) + are awarded if you claim to be a: scientist, computer programmer, + engineer or electronic technician. You should have documents to + support your claims. They do not test you to see if you actually + have any knowledge of your claimed specialty, and rarely verify + your documents. Fake engineering degrees and computer programming + certificates that will almost guarantee your entry are widely + available in Asia and most of Eastern Europe. + +3 - If you have a job guarantee in Canada, your chances of getting + into Canada are extremely good. + + There are many employment agencies throughout the World and + Canada that will arrange jobs in any occupation in Canada. If you + are female there is a very high demand for "domestic helpers" + (housekeepers and nannies). Check for ads in your country's + newpaper's or ethnic newspapers from Canada. + + Even if there isn't a job waiting for you in Canada, for a price, + most of these companies will provide you with fake documentation + saying there is a guaranteed job waiting for you in Canada, and + you can use this documentation to get into the country. + + Warning: It is best to get a personal recommendation from somebody + who has successfully gotten to Canada, as to the reputation of the + employment agency. A few agencies have been known to abuse their + applicants and send them to Canada to be prostitutes. + +Citizenship: + +Normally it takes at least three years of living in Canada to become a +citizen of that country. There are two ways to instantly become a +citizen: marry a Canadian citizen, or be born in Canada. + +Many countries have marriage bureaus. Usually they bring together +women from their home country with Canadian men. (A few will also +introduce men to Canadian women.) It is your right to find the +richest man you can, to marry. If you marry him and stay married for +at least 6 months, even if you then get divorced, you get to keep your +Canadian citizenship. Additionally, if you actually marry the +Canadian man and then divorce him for a good reason, you will likely +get one-half of all his assets (businesses, family home, other +property, cars, etc.). If you want half of his assets, it is best to +create a record of repeated physical abuse, whether or not any has +occured. To do this contact any women's groups after 4 or 5 months of +marriage, to complain of physical abuse, to establish a record of +your first complaints. In the sixth month or later, hit or otherwise +injure yourself so that you will have at least bruising and call +the Police and say your husband has beaten you. You will then do +the same a second time, but first call the women's shelter and then +the Police. This second time, ask the Police to drive you to the +women's shelter on the grounds that you fear for your life. The +shelter will get you a place to live and get you a free lawyer to help +you divorce your Canadian husband and claim half of all his assets. +Feminist groups will also greatly assist you. You will now not only +be a Canadian citizen, but also be rich! + +Another way to get into Canada is to be a parent of a Canadian. It is +common for a pregnant woman to get a visitor's visa to visit Canada, +but to time the visit to be around the date of the birth. If the +child is born in Canada, it is automatically a Canadian citizen. +Having a child who is a Canadian citizen greatly increases the chance +for the woman to be given "landed immigrant" status. Once the woman +is a landed immigrant, she can now sponsor her husband and other +members of her family to come to Canada. + +With all its benefits, Canada is the greatest place to emmigrate to! + +. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/aarp.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/aarp.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e302ef1d --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/aarp.txt @@ -0,0 +1,341 @@ +"Work, Family, Future" +Address to the American Association of Retired Persons +Governor Bill Clinton +Henry Gonzales Convention Center +San Antonio, Texas +June 4, 1992 + +Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much President +Burgess, ladies and gentlemen. I am so honored to be invited to be +here with you today. I appreciate the warm welcome on coming in. +It is an amazing thing to be through this long string of +presidential primaries where I learned a lot about not only how +much we have in common, but how different we are as Americans. I'm +always amazed at each day I learn something about how American +people can look at the same set of facts and draw different +conclusions from it. And since I am here at the AARP, I thought I +would tell you a story I heard the other day that illustrates this +point so well -- about a couple who'd been married just a little +over fifty years. They were sitting out on their porch rocking in +their chairs, and the husband looked at his wife and he said, +"Sarah, you know we've been together a long time." And she said, +"Yes." And he said, "I'm really a man of few words -- all these +years there are so many things I should have said to you that I +didn't." She said, "Yeah." He said, "You know, we got married in +the depression and you believed in me, but it was the depression. +And not long after we got married our little business went down and +I was flat broke, but you hung in there with me." And she said, +"Yeah, I did." He said, "Then I went off to World War II and I got +that bad wound, and it took me a year to overcome it, but you hung +in there with me everyday." She said, "Yeah, I did." He said, +"Then after the war, we finally moved into our own home for the +first time and six months later a tornado came along and blew it +down. It took us six years to get in our house again, but you hung +in there with me, didn't you." And she said, "Yes, I did." And +he said, "Well, Sarah, before it is too late, I just want to tell +you one thing. Honey, you're bad luck." So, if you want to be +involved in this enterprise on which I have embarked, you have to +be willing to have people see facts in a different way than you do. +In that connection, I want to compliment your president for the +theme of this conference: generations coming together. As +governor, I have worked hard to serve the retired people of my +state -- one of the states with the highest percentage of people +over 65 in the United States. But, I want to be president to +restore the promise of the American Dream for our children. When +I was a freshman at Georgetown University 28 years ago, I had a +professor of Western Civilization who said that the very special +thing about our civilization in general, and the United States in +particular, is that we had always believed that the future could be +better than the present, and that each of us has a personal, moral +responsibility to make it so. That's what I want to talk about +today -- beyond the talk of Democrats and Republicans, beyond +pointing the finger of blame to the assumption of responsibility. +For the plain truth is that millions of our fellow citizens of all +ages do not believe the future will be better than the present, and +millions more do not believe they have a personal, moral +responsibility to make it so. I learned the American Dream and I +lived the American Dream as a child growing up in Arkansas. Nearly +half a century ago, I was born in a little town called Hope. +Somebody's here from there, probably. We're everywhere now. I have +two delegates from Chicago who were born in Hope -- one from +Queens. We're way over our quota. My father died in a car wreck +three months before I was born. My mother went back to nursing +school so that she could earn a living to support me. Until I was +four, I was raised by loving grandparents of modest means but great +determination. They taught me to read and count when I was two and +three. They taught me in their own way that our country isn't +just another place, it's an idea -- a solid covenant that spans +generations, a commitment to uphold the values we learn in our +families -- to honor our parents and grandparents, to offer a +helping hand to our sisters and brothers, to protect and provide +for our children and our children's children. I learned from +my grandparents the basic contract of American life that if you +work hard and play by the rules, you will be rewarded. That promise +has come true for me beyond my wildest dreams. But as I have +traveled across this great nation of ours, I've met too many good, +hardworking people for whom that promise has been broken. Coming +over here today, I couldn't help remembering the encounter I had in +Nashua, New Hampshire with a couple named Mary Annie and Edward +Davis, who broke down crying telling me how every week they had to +chose between their food and the medicine they needed to stay alive +and healthy. People like them have done right by America and now +it's time for America to do right by them. One of the reasons I +entered this race for president is that I was tired of seeing +people being punished for their devotion to work and family, to +country, and community. If any Americans have kept faith with the +American promise, it's the generation that worked their way out of +the Great Depression, brought their way to victory over Nazism and +Fascism, led the way through the Cold War and sacrificed to provide +my generation with opportunities our parents never had. I'm going +to be a president who does right by older Americans because you've +done right by America. And your country owes you that. Doing right +means understanding that Social Security is a commitment that must +be kept, not just for today's beneficiaries, but to today's working +people who are paying into the system for their tomorrows. It's a +covenant -- Social Security -- a covenant between generations, and +I will honor that. Doing right means understanding, that in spite +of Medicare, most senior citizens still pay too much for health +care. In fact, a recent study found that the average elderly person +is actually paying a higher percentage of income for health care +today than in 1965 -- just before Medicare was enacted in the first +place. During the first year of my administration, we'll send a +national health plan to Congress to control the cost of health care +by taking on the insurance and health care and government +bureaucracies that add tens of billions of dollars in unnecessary +costs to our system. My plan will provide a comprehensive package +of benefits and have measures to discourage excessive cost and +especially to hold down the price of prescription drugs. The plan +will include long term care for the elderly and the disabled -- +charging people based on their ability to pay -- and will emphasize +greater choice in care, from home to nursing home service. After +you've worked hard all of your life you shouldn't be wiped out by +serious illness and you should have as much control over your own +life as possible. America is the only advanced nation in the world +without a national health plan. We spend 30% more of our income on +health care than any of our major competitors, and we do less with +it. And we lag behind them as a result on many measures of health +care from infant mortality, to heart disease, to life expectancy. +We also, I might add, are dramatically underfunding women's health +research and development in areas from breast cancer to ovarian +cancer to osteoporosis and that's why the bill now in the Congress +ought to pass for new health investment. As you know so well, +Americans pay more for prescription drugs than the citizens of +nations who have national health plans. This is a special burden to +elderly people who aren't poor enough to be on Medicaid but aren't +rich enough to pay their bills themselves. Their numbers are +legion. Mary Annie and Edward Davis are but two of the hundreds of +thousands of them. As the Senate Special Committee on Aging, +chaired by my good friend and fellow Arkansan, David Pryor found, +prices of prescription drugs during the last decade have risen by +three times the rate of inflation. And to add insult to injury, +some American drug companies charge Americans more for the same +products here than they charge people in other countries. That's +wrong and I want to change it. That's why I support Senator +Pryor's bill to take away tax breaks for drug companies to raise +their prices more than the rate of inflation. When you go to the +doctor or the drug store or the hospital, your next stop shouldn't +be the poor house. These issues have long been a concern to me. +Fifteen years ago, as one of America's youngest attorney generals, +I created the Advocates for the Elderly Program to help older +people with their legal problems. As governor of my state I led the +nation's governors in fighting to stop the unfair termination of +Social Security disability benefits. In Arkansas, we started a +long-term care program called Elder Choices, which let seniors use +money normally reserved for nursing home care for long-term care +services of their own choice -- from personal care to home health +care to adult day care. The country I want to lead will honor its +obligations to people who've worked hard all their lives. But I +also have to come here today to challenge you and all older +Americans to honor our obligations to our nation's children because +our future depends on their strength, their intelligence, their +skills, their citizenship. Thanks to Social Security and +Medicare, our country has made progress in reducing poverty among +older Americans. We can all be proud of the fact that, beginning in +1985, for the first time in the history of America, the elderly +were less poor than the rest of America. By contrast, poverty has +exploded among our children. Our new poor in America are young +children and their mothers -- most of whom are working mothers -- +and we cannot be proud of that. We can't be proud that 13% of +America's children have no health coverage whatever; that 30% of +all of our pre-schoolers are not immunized against mumps, measles, +and rubella; that every year 40,000 babies born in the United +States die before their first birthday. And many more are born with +very low birth weights, imposing great costs on society and bearing +mental and physical limitations which may dog them throughout their +lives and further undermine their ability to be contributing +citizens. We can't be proud of the fact that 20% of all children +under eighteen and 25% of all children under six are living under +poverty; that teenage boys are more likely to die from gunshot +wounds than natural causes; that each year a half-a-million +American children do not finish high school, and millions more stop +there with no further education, thus condemned to losing out in +the tough global competition in which what you earn depends on what +you can learn. It is astonishing to note that families under the +age of 30 are earning more than 25% less than what their +counterparts were seventeen years ago. We cannot be proud of this +because today's children are tomorrow's workers, tomorrow's tax +payers, tomorrow's parents, tomorrow's citizens. If they grow up +malnourished, unhealthy, and unprepared to compete in the 21st +century, then America will be neither safe nor solvent, neither +prosperous nor powerful. We must not neglect our children and let +their decline be the legacy of our generation. They are the +national security issue of 1992. As all of you know, we know what +works. We know what works in raising children -- how to help them +grow up healthy and hopeful, loving and learning, and ready to +build their futures and libraries and laboratories instead of +giving their lives away to gangs and guns on our meanest streets. +Mr. Bush says when it comes to investing in America, we have more +will than wallet. What I say, now that we've won the Cold War, +we've got to find the will to invest in our people, in our jobs, in + our education, in our health care and reclaim our own legacy. We +have the wallet to spend over $100 billion on the savings and loan +bailout in this year alone. We have the wallet to let health care +cost go up two and three times the rate of inflation with the money +going straight to insurance and bureaucracy while our competitors +hold them down. We have the wallet to keep protecting Germany from +the Soviet threat, while German factory workers earn 20% more than +Americans for a shorter work week, and the Germans invest in the +former Soviet Republics, while the former Soviet Republics slash +their own defense budgets far more than we have cut ours. And in +the 1980's, we had the wallet to cut taxes on the wealthiest +Americans and corporations, while raising taxes on the middle +class, slashing our investments in the future, and exploding the +federal deficit. I know that the generation that won World War II +and the Cold War has the vision and the will and the discipline to +join this crusade to invest in our young people and reinvigorate +our economy. Your generation has sweated and sacrificed and died +for others. You've never had the attitude, "I've got mine, you get +lost." At the end of World War II, you led a strong America in +rebuilding Europe and Japan. At the end of the Cold War, you must +lead us in rebuilding America -- in regaining our commitment to the +future. You can teach all Americans lessons in patriotism, and +citizenship, and responsibility. As president, I must challenge +you, and all Americans, to support a new national commitment to +provide every baby born in the United States with a healthy start +in life from health care and nutrition for expectant mothers and +their infants to immunization for young children. I will challenge +you and all Americans to provide pre school for every child who +needs it by finally fully funding Head Start so all our children +can start school ready to learn. All this is in your self-interest +and in our national interest. If we don't fully fund Head Start +today, we may not be able to fully fund Social Security twenty +years from now. As president, I must challenge you and all +Americans to help make every American school a model school because +all our children deserve the best. I will challenge you and all +Americans to support a domestic GI Bill -- a domestic peace corp +that will offer college loans to every American of every age +willing to repay the loan or give a couple of years of service back +to our community here at home -- not a peace corp for abroad, but +a peace corp for America. Think of it as we are here in San +Antonio. If every young person from San Antonio, or El Paso, or +Laredo, or Houston, or Dallas, or Texarkana, or Lubbock, if every +one of them got a college education from a national service loan +and came home to work as a police officer, a teacher, in a drug +rehabilitation program, with kids in trouble, we could solve the +problems of America at home and educate a whole generation of +Americans. It would be the best money we ever spent. For those +who do not want to go to college, we should follow our competitors +and give every high school graduate at least two years of further +education and training on the job with a national apprenticeship +program to restore the dignity of blue collar work in America. In +order to do this, we must have the discipline to control health +care costs -- which is the single most important force in the +exploding federal deficit today -- to reinvest all of our defense +costs in rebuilding the American economy, and to ask upper income +Americans to pay their fair share of taxes. Those who received most +of the benefits of the 1980's should shoulder more of the burden of +the 1990's. Let me be specific, although it may not be politically +popular. If your income went up and your taxes went down in the +last twelve years, if family income is over $200,000, you should +pay more. We cannot ask the middle class to pay more. Their incomes +went down and their taxes went up in the 1980's. I support a +higher rate for the richest Americans and a sur-tax on +millionaires, such as that recommended in the recent tax bill +sponsored by Senator Lloyd Bentsen and vetoed by the president. And +if an older American on Medicare has an income in excess of +$125,000 a year, I think there should be a higher price for +Medicare if, in return, you get control of health care costs and a +sensible system of long-term care. No one should be forced to pay +for the same old system and just take money out of private pocket +and send it direct to health care companies or a bureaucracy that +is out of control. We didn't get into this mess overnight, and we +won't get out of it without some sacrifice from those most able to +make it. The days of something for nothing for a few at the top are +over. To make America work again, we need more incentives for +private investment and new plant and equipment, to start new +businesses, to invest in the most depressed areas of our cities and +rural America. We also need more direct investment in education and +in health care in our future. Unless those whose incomes went +up while their taxes went down in the 80's pay their fair share, we +simply cannot afford to increase these investments and bring down +our huge deficit. These are problems we must all face. I +also hope you will support other policies which reinforce the +values of work and family. For all of those working poor families +I talked about, how about a simple tax system that says we will +increase the earned income tax credit so that if you work forty +hours a week and you've got children in the house you will be +lifted above the poverty line. How about a welfare reform system +that says we'll invest more in your education and training and +child care and medical coverage, but you have to go to work. We +have to end welfare as we know it. How about providing more +choices for elderly people in long-term care and more choices among +public schools for parents and their children so there will be some +competition but no private vouchers to deplete the limited +resources of our public education system. How about the toughest +possible system of child support enforcement so people can't bring +kids into this world, cross the state line, and leave them for the +government to raise. That's the kind of thing we ought to be +supporting. How about a safe streets initiative that will bring +police back to the blocks everyday, walking the same streets, +working with the same neighbors, enlisting the energies of people +to shut down the crack houses and open up the city parks. These are +the kind of programs we need in America today. And so I say to the +AARP, I respect the theme of this conference. I ask you to live it. +I ask you to go home and ask your fellow Americans to reach across +generational lines. As I said at the beginning, I was raised by my +grandparents until I was four. I spent a lot of time with my +great-grandparents who lived out in the country in what would be +called a shack today. They were poor, but they were loving and +strong people. They made me feel loved and know discipline. They +gave me self-esteem and respect for others. In the governor's +office in Arkansas, I've got a picture of my grandmother in grade +school in 1916, a picture a my grandfather at the furnace of a +sawmill in 1923, a picture of my great-grandfather holding my hand +in a hospital room in 1952. It's a long way in America from the +photographs I have on my wall to our meanest streets where children +don't know who their grandparents are, too often have to worry +about their parents' own behavior and even drug abuse, and where +too many join gangs to find the extended family I knew naturally as +a child. America's future needs an investment of your time as well +as money. America's children need grandparents, even if they are +not their own. I want to lift the earnings limit on Social Security +but I know our Social Security depends on your time being given +over to more than earnings. The elderly people of this country +could revolutionize the lives of troubled children of America +through volunteer programs in schools and communities all across +this land. For America is a dream every child must cherish, a +promise every generation must keep, a legacy we must leave to our +children and our grandchildren. And so I challenge you not only to +fight and strive and struggle to save social security, but also to +preserve, protect and defend the security of our children; to fight +not only to keep medicare strong and stable but to make our economy +grow and prosper; to work not only to keep older Americans out of +poverty but to lift our children up as well. Support programs that +reflect our shared values, putting the future ahead of the present, +moving people from welfare to work, establishing tough child +support, lifting the working poor, creating a new system of +national service for college education and more. Work, family, +future -- that is what we must honor and reward. Together we can +end this era of every person for himself and begin the era of we're +all in this together. Together we can do for America, what America +did for Europe and Japan at the end of World War II: build a +prosperous and powerful new economy with millions of new jobs and +dozens of new industries with people who are healthy and strong, +and children who believe the future will be better than the +present. Most of all, we can leave our children a nation that is +stronger, freer and richer than the one we inherited. That must, in +the end, be the true measure of our legacy as Americans: did we +leave this world better than we found it? Today, the answer would +be no, tomorrow the answer can be yes. It is that question on which +this coming election depends. Thank you, and God bless you all. +  \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/abecant.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/abecant.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..54690928 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/abecant.txt @@ -0,0 +1,58 @@ +THE 10 "CANNOTS" BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN + +"You cannot build character and courage + by taking away man's initiative and independence." + +"You cannot help small men + by tearing down big men." + +"You cannot strengthen the weak + by weakening the strong." + +"You cannot lift the wage earner + by pulling down the wage payer." + +"You cannot help the poor man + by destroying the rich." + +"You cannot keep out of trouble + by spending more than your income." + +"You cannot further the brotherhood of man + by initiating class hatred." + +"You cannot establish security + on borrowed money." + +"You cannot bring about prosperity + by discouraging thrift." + +"You cannot help men permanently + by doing for them + what they could and should + do for themselves." + + + +X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X + + Another file downloaded from: NIRVANAnet(tm) + + & the Temple of the Screaming Electron Jeff Hunter 510-935-5845 + Salted Slug Systems Strange 408-454-9368 + Burn This Flag Zardoz 408-363-9766 + realitycheck Poindexter Fortran 415-567-7043 + Lies Unlimited Mick Freen 415-583-4102 + Tomorrow's 0rder of Magnitude Finger_Man 408-961-9315 + My Dog Bit Jesus Suzanne D'Fault 510-658-8078 + + Specializing in conversations, obscure information, high explosives, + arcane knowledge, political extremism, diversive sexuality, + insane speculation, and wild rumours. ALL-TEXT BBS SYSTEMS. + + Full access for first-time callers. We don't want to know who you are, + where you live, or what your phone number is. We are not Big Brother. + + "Raw Data for Raw Nerves" + +X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/ablwrk.sng b/textfiles.com/politics/ablwrk.sng new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c4fd87a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/ablwrk.sng @@ -0,0 +1,584 @@ + + +THE ABOLITION OF WORK by Bob Black + + + + + + No one should ever work. + + Work is the source of nearly all the misery in the world. Almost any +evil you'd care to name comes from working or from living in a world designed +for work. In order to stop suffering, we have to stop working. + + That doesn't mean we have to stop doing things. It does mean creating a new +way of life based on play; in other words, a _ludic_ revolution. By "play" I +mean also festivity, creativity, conviviality, commensality, and maybe even art. +There is more to play than child's play, as worthy as that is. I call for a +collective adventure in generalized joy and freely interdependent exuberance. +Play isn't passive. Doubtless we all need a lot more time for sheer sloth and +slack than we ever enjoy now, regardless of income or occupation, but once re- +covered from employment-induced exhaustion nearly all of us want to act. + + The ludic life is totally incompatible with existing reality. So much the +worse for "reality," the gravity hole that sucks the vitality from the little in +life that still distinguishes it from mere survival. Curiously -- or maybe not +-- all the old ideologies are conservative because they believe in work. Some of +them, like Marxism and most brands of anarchism, believe in work all the more +fiercely because they believe in so little else. + + Liberals say we should end employment discrimination. I say we should end +employment. Conservatives support right-to-work laws. Following Karl Marx's +wayward son-in-law Paul Lafargue, I support the right to be lazy. Leftists favor +full employment. Like the surrealists -- except that I'm not kidding -- I favor +full _un_employment. Trotskyists agitate for permanent revolution. I agitate for +permanent revelry. But if all the ideologues (as they do) advocate work -- and +not only because they plan to make other people do theirs -- they are strangely +reluctant to say so. They will carry on endlessly about wages, hours, working +conditions, exploitation, productivity, profitability. They'll gladly talk about +anything but work itself. These experts who offer to do our thinking for us +rarely share their conclusions about work, for all its saliency in the lives of +all of us. Among themselves they quibble over the details. Unions and management +agree that we ought to sell the time of our lives in exchange for survival, +although they haggle over the price. Marxists think we should be bossed by +bureaucrats. Libertarians think we should be bossed by businessmen. Feminists +don't care which form bossing takes, so long as the bosses are women. Clearly +these ideology-mongers have serious differences over how to divvy up the spoils +of power. Just as clearly, none of them have any objection to power as such and +all of them want to keep us working. + + You may be wondering if I'm joking or serious. I'm joking _and_ serious. To +be ludic is not to be ludicrous. Play doesn't have to be frivolous, although +frivolity isn't triviality; very often we ought to take frivolity seriously. I'd +like life to be a game -- but a game with high stakes. I want to play +_for_keeps_. + + The alternative to work isn't just idleness. To be ludic is not to be +quaaludic. As much as I treasure the pleasure of torpor, it's never more +rewarding than when it punctuates other pleasures and pastimes. Nor am I pro- +moting the managed, time-disciplined safety-valve called "leisure"; far from +it. Leisure is nonwork for the sake of work. Leisure is time spent recovering +from work and in the frenzied but hopeless attempt to forget about work. Many +people return from vacations so beat that they look forward to returning to work +so they can rest up. The main difference between work and leisure is that at +work at least you get paid for your alienation and enervation. + + I am not playing definitional games with anybody. When I say I want to +abolish work, I mean just what I say, but I want to say what I mean by defining +my terms in non-idiosyncratic ways. My minimum definition of work is _forced_ +_labor_, that is, compulsory production. Both elements are essential. Work is +production enforced by economic or political means, by the carrot or the stick. +(The carrot is just the stick by other means.) But not all creation is work. +Work is never done for its own sake, it's done on account of some product or +output that the worker (or, more often, somebody else) gets out of it. This is +what work necessarily is. To define it is to despise it. But work is usually +even worse than its definition decrees. The dynamic of domination intrinsic to +work tends over time toward elaboration. In advanced work-riddled societies, +including all industrial societies whether capitalist or "communist," work +invariably acquires other attributes which accentuate its obnoxiousness. + + Usually -- and this is even more true in "communist" than capitalist +countries, where the state is almost the only employer and everyone is an +employee -- work is employment, i.e. wage-labor, which means selling yourself on +the installment plan. Thus 95% of Americans who work, work for somebody (or +some_thing_) else. In the USSR of Cuba or Yugoslavia or Nicaragua or any other +alternative model which might be adduced, the corresponding figure approaches +100%. Only the embattled Third World peasant bastions -- Mexico, India, Brazil, +Turkey -- temporarily shelter significant concentrations of agriculturists who +perpetuate the traditional arrangement of most laborers in the last several +millennia, the payment of taxes (= ransom) to the state or rent to parasitic +landlords in return for being otherwise left alone. Even this raw deal is +beginning to look good. _All_ industrial (and office) workers are employees and +under the sort of surveillance which ensures servility. + + But modern work has worse implications. People don't just work, they have +"jobs." One person does one productive task all the time on an or-else basis. +Even if the task has a quantum of intrinsic interest (as increasingly many jobs +don't) the monotony of its obligatory exclusivity drains its ludic potential. A +"job" that might engage the energies of some people, for a reasonably limited +time, for the fun of it, is just a burden on those who have to do it for forty +hours a week with no say in how it should be done, for the profit of owners who +contribute nothing to the project, and with no opportunity for sharing tasks or +spreading the work among those who actually have to do it. This is the real +world of work: a world of bureaucratic blundering, of sexual harassment and +discrimination, of bonehead bosses exploiting and scapegoating their subordi- +nates who -- by any rational/technical criteria -- should be calling the shots. +But capitalism in the real world subordinates the rational maximization of +productivity and profit to the exigencies of organizational control. + + The degradation which most workers experience on the job is the sum of +assorted indignities which can be denominated as "discipline." Foucault has +complexified this phenomenon but it is simple enough. Discipline consists of the +totality of totalitarian controls at the workplace -- surveillance, rote-work, +imposed work tempos, production quotas, punching-in and -out, etc. Discipline +is what the factory and the office and the store share with the prison and the +school and the mental hospital. It is something historically original and +horrible. It was beyond the capacities of such demonic dictators of yore as Nero +and Genghis Khan and Ivan the Terrible. For all their bad intentions, they +just didn't have the machinery to control their subjects as thoroughly as modern +despots do. Discipline is the distinctively diabolical modern mode of control, +it is an innovative intrusion which must be interdicted at the earliest +opportunity. + + Such is "work." Play is just the opposite. Play is always voluntary. What +might otherwise be play is work if it's forced. This is axiomatic. Bernie de +Koven has defined play as the "suspension of consequences." This is unaccept- +able if it implies that play is inconsequential. The point is not that play is +without consequences. This is to demean play. The point is that the conse- +quences, if any, are gratuitous. Playing and giving are closely related, they +are the behavioral and transactional facets of the same impulse, the play- +instinct. They share an aristocratic disdain for results. The player gets +something out of playing; that's why he plays. But the core reward is the +experience of the activity itself (whatever it is). Some otherwise attentive +students of play, like Johan Huizinga (_Homo_Ludens_), _define_ it as game- +playing or following rules. I respect Huizinga's erudition but emphatically +reject his constraints. There are many good games (chess, baseball, Monopoly, +bridge) which are rule-governed but there is much more to play than game- +playing. Conversation, sex, dancing, travel -- these practices aren't rule- +governed but they are surely play if anything is. And rules can be _played_ +_with_ at least as readily as anything else. + + Work makes a mockery of freedom. The official line is that we all have +rights and live in a democracy. Other unfortunates who aren't free like we are +have to live in police states. These victims obey orders or else, no matter how +arbitrary. The authorities keep them under regular surveillance. State bureau- +crats control even the smaller details of everyday life. The officials who push +them around are answerable only to higher-ups, public or private. Either way, +dissent and disobedience are punished. Informers report regularly to the +authorities. All this is supposed to be a very bad thing. + + And so it is, although it is nothing but a description of the modern work- +place. The liberals and conservatives and Libertarians who lament totalitarian- +ism are phonies and hypocrites. There is more freedom in any moderately de- +Stalinized dictatorship than there is in the ordinary American workplace. You +find the same sort of hierarchy and discipline in an office or factory as you do +in a prison or a monastery. In fact, as Foucault and others have shown, prisons +and factories came in at about the same time, and their operators consciously +borrowed from each other's control techniques. A worker is a part-time slave. +The boss says when to show up, when to leave, and what to do in the meantime. He +tells you how much work to do and how fast. He is free to carry his control to +humiliating extremes, regulating, if he feels like it, the clothes you wear or +how often you go to the bathroom. With a few exceptions he can fire you for any +reason, or no reason. He has you spied on by snitches and supervisors, he +amasses a dossier on every employee. Talking back is called "insubordination," +just as if a worker is a naughty child, and it not only gets you fired, it +disqualifies you for unemployment compensation. With- out necessarily endorsing +it for them either, it is noteworthy that children at home and in school receive +much the same treatment, justified in their case by their supposed immaturity. +What does this say about their parents and teachers who work? + + The demeaning system of domination I've described rules over half the +waking hours of a majority of women and the vast majority of men for decades, +for most of their lifespans. For certain purposes it's not too misleading to +call our system democracy or capitalism or -- better still -- industrialism, but +its real names are factory fascism and office oligarchy. Anybody who says these +people are "free" is lying or stupid. + + You are what you do. If you do boring, stupid, monotonous work, chances are +you'll end up boring, stupid, and monotonous. Work is a much better ex- +planation for the creeping cretinization all around us than even such signifi- +cant moronizing mechanisms as television and education. People who are regi- +mented all their lives, handed to work from school and bracketed by the family +in the beginning and the nursing home in the end, are habituated to hierarchy +and psychologically enslaved. Their aptitude for autonomy is so atrophied that +their fear of freedom is among their few rationally grounded phobias. Their +obedience training at work carries over into the families _they_ start, thus +reproducing the system in more ways than one, and into politics, culture and +everything else. Once you drain the vitality from people at work, they'll likely +submit to hierarchy and expertise in everything. They're used to it. + + We are so close to the world of work that we can't see what it does to us. +We have to rely on outside observers from other times or other cultures to +appreciate the extremity and the pathology of our present position. There was a +time in our own past when the "work ethic" would have been incomprehensible, and +perhaps Weber was on to something when he tied its appearance to a religion, +Calvinism, which if it emerged today instead of four centuries ago would +immediately and appropriately be labelled a cult. Be that as it may, we have +only to draw upon the wisdom of antiquity to put work in perspective. The +ancients saw work for what it is, and their view prevailed (the Calvinist cranks +notwithstanding) until overthrown by industrialism -- but not before receiving +the endorsement of its prophets. + + Let's pretend for a moment that work doesn't turn people into stultified +submissives. Let's pretend, in defiance of any plausible psychology and the +ideology of its boosters, that it has no effect on the formation of character. +And let's pretend that work isn't as boring and tiring and humiliating as we all +know it really is. Even then, work would _still_ make a mockery of all +humanistic and democratic aspirations, just because it usurps so much of our +time. Socrates said that manual laborers make bad friends and bad citizens +because they have no time to fulfill the responsibilities of friendship and +citizenship. He was right. Because of work, no matter what we do, we keep +looking at our watches. The only thing "free" about so-called free time is that +it doesn't cost the boss anything. Free time is mostly devoted to getting ready +for work, going to work, returning from work, and recovering from work. Free +time is a euphemism for the peculiar way labor, as a factor of production, not +only transports itself at its own expense to and from the workplace, but assumes +primary responsibility for its own maintenance and repair. Coal and steel don't +do that. Lathes and typewriters don't do that. No wonder Edward G. Robinson in +one of his gangster movies exclaimed, "Work is for saps!" + + Both Plato and Xenophon attribute to Socrates and obviously share with him +an awareness of the destructive effects of work on the worker as a citizen and +as a human being. Herodotus identified contempt for work as an attribute of the +classical Greeks at the zenith of their culture. To take only one Roman example, +Cicero said that "whoever gives his labor for money sells himself and puts him- +self in the rank of slaves." His candor is now rare, but contemporary primitive +societies which we are wont to look down upon have provided spokesmen who have +enlightened Western anthropologists. The Kapauku of West Irian, according to +Posposil, have a conception of balance in life and accordingly work only every +other day, the day of rest designed "to regain the lost power and health." Our +ancestors, even as late as the eighteenth century when they were far along the +path to our present predicament, at least were aware of what we have forgotten, +the underside of industrialization. Their religious devotion to "St. Monday" -- +thus establishing a de facto five-day week 150-200 years before its legal +consecration -- was the despair of the earliest factory owners. They took a long +time in submitting to the tyranny of the bell, predecessor of the time clock. In +fact it was necessary for a generation or two to replace adult males with women +accustomed to obedience and children who could be molded to fit industrial +needs. Even the exploited peasants of the _ancien_regime_ wrested substantial +time back from their landlords' work. According to Lafargue, a fourth of the +French peasants' calendar was devoted to Sundays and holidays, and Chayanov's +figures from villages in Czarist Russia -- hardly a progressive society -- +likewise show a fourth or fifth of peasants' days devoted to repose. Controlling +for productivity, we are obviously far behind these backward societies. The +exploited _muzhiks_ would wonder why any of us are working at all. So should we. + + To grasp the full enormity of our deterioration, however, consider the +earliest condition of humanity, without government or property, when we wan- +dered as hunter-gatherers. Hobbes surmised that life was then nasty, brutish and +short. Others assume that life was a desperate unremitting struggle for +subsistence, a war waged against a harsh Nature with death and disaster await- +ing the unlucky or anyone who was unequal to the challenge of the struggle for +existence. Actually, that was all a projection of fears for the collapse of +government authority over communities unaccustomed to doing without it, like the +England of Hobbes during the Civil War. Hobbes' compatriots had already +encountered alternative forms of society which illustrated other ways of life +-- in North America, particularly -- but already these were too remote from +their experience to be understandable. (The lower orders, closer to the con- +dition of the Indians, understood it better and often found it attractive. +Throughout the seventeenth century, English settlers defected to Indian tribes +or, captured in war, refused to return to the colonies. But the Indians no more +defected to white settlements than West Germans climb the Berlin Wall from the +west.) The "survival of the fittest" version -- the Thomas Huxley version -- of +Darwinism was a better account of economic conditions in Victorian England than +it was of natural selection, as the anarchist Kropotkin showed in his book +_Mutual_Aid,_a_Factor_in_Evolution_. (Kropotkin was a scientist who'd had ample +involuntary opportunity for fieldwork whilst exiled in Siberia: he knew what he +was talking about.) Like most social and political theory, the story Hobbes and +his successors told was really unacknowledged autobiography. + + The anthropologist Marshall Sahlins, surveying the data on contemporary +hunter-gatherers, exploded the Hobbesian myth in an article entitled "The +Original Affluent Society." They work a lot less than we do, and their work is +hard to distinguish from what we regard as play. Sahlins concluded that "hunters +and gatherers work less than we do; and, rather than a continuous travail, the +food quest is intermittent, leisure abundant, and there is a greater amount of +sleep in the daytime per capita per year than in any other condition of so- +ciety." They worked an average of four hours a day, assuming they were "working" +at all. Their "labor," as it appears to us, was skilled labor which exercised +their physical and intellectual capacities; unskilled labor on any large scale, +as Sahlins says, is impossible except under industrialism. Thus it satisfied +Friedrich Schiller's definition of play, the only occasion on which man realiz- +es his complete humanity by giving full "play" to both sides of his twofold +nature, thinking and feeling. Play and freedom are, as regards production, +coextensive. Even Marx, who belongs (for all his good intentions) in the +productivist pantheon, observed that "the realm of freedom does not commence +until the point is passed where labor under the compulsion of necessity and ex- +ternal utility is required." He never could quite bring himself to identify this +happy circumstance as what it is, the abolition of work -- it's rather anom- +alous, after all, to be pro-worker and anti-work -- but we can. + + The aspiration to go backwards or forwards to a life without work is +evident in every serious social or cultural history of pre-industrial Europe, +among them M. Dorothy George's _England_in_Transition_ and Peter Burke's +_Popular_Culture_in_Early_Modern_Europe_. Also pertinent is Daniel Bell's essay +"Work and Its Discontents," the first text, I believe, to refer to the "revolt +against work" in so many words and, had it been understood, an important cor- +rection to the complacency ordinarily associated with the volume in which it +was collected, _The_End_of_Ideology_. Neither critics nor celebrants have +noticed that Bell's end-of-ideology thesis signalled not the end of social +unrest but the beginning of a new, uncharted phase unconstrained and uninformed +by ideology. + + As Bell notes, Adam Smith in _The_Wealth_of_Nations_, for all his en- +thusiasm for the market and the division of labor, was more alert to (and more +honest about) the seamy side of work than Ayn Rand or the Chicago economists or +any of Smith's modern epigones. As Smith observed: "The understandings of the +greater part of men are necessarily formed by their ordinary employments. The +man whose life is spent in performing a few simple operations... has no occasion +to exert his understanding... He generally becomes as stupid and ignorant as +it is possible for a human creature to become." Here, in a few blunt words, is +my critique of work. Bell, writing in 1956, the Golden Age of Eisenhower +imbecility and American self-satisfaction, identified the unorganized, +unorganizable malaise of the 1970's and since, the one no political tendency is +able to harness, the one identified in HEW's report _Work_in_America_, the one +which cannot be exploited and so is ignored. It does not figure in any text by +any laissez-faire economist -- Milton Friedman, Murray Rothbard, Richard Posner +-- because, in their terms, as they used to say on _Star_Trek_, "it does not +compute." + + If these objections, informed by the love of liberty, fail to persuade +humanists of a utilitarian or even paternalist turn, there are others which they +cannot disregard. Work is hazardous to your health, to borrow a book title. In +fact, work is mass murder or genocide. Directly or indirectly, work will kill +most of the people who read these words. Between 14,000 and 25,000 workers are +killed annually in this country on the job. Over two million are disabled. +Twenty to 25 million are injured every year. And these figures are based on a +very conservative estimation of what constitutes a work-related injury. Thus +they don't count the half-million cases of occupational disease every year. I +looked at one medical textbook on occupational diseases which was 1,200 pages +long. Even this barely scratches the surface. The available statistics count the +obvious cases like the 100,000 miners who have black lung disease, of whom 4,000 +die every year. What the statistics don't show is that tens of millions of +people have their lifespans shortened by work -- which is all that homicide +means, after all. COnsider the doctors who work themselves to death in their +late 50's. Consider all the other workaholics. + + Even if you aren't killed or crippled while actually working, you very well +might be while going to work, coming from work, looking for work, or trying to +forget about work. The vast majority of victims of the automobile are either +doing one of these work-obligatory activities or else fall afoul of those who do +them. To this augmented body-count must be added the victims of auto- industrial +pollution and work-induced alcoholism and drug addiction. Both cancer and heart +disease are modern afflictions normally traceable, directly or indir- ectly, to +work. + + Work, then, institutionalizes homicide as a way of life. People think the +Cambodians were crazy for exterminating themselves, but are we any different? +The Pol Pot regime at least had a vision, however blurred, of an egalitarian +society. We kill people in the six-figure range (at least) in order to sell Big +Macs and Cadillacs to the survivors. Our forty or fifty thousand annual highway +fatalities are victims, not martyrs. They died for nothing -- or rather, they +died for work. But work is nothing to die for. + + State control of the economy is no solution. Work is, if anything, more +dangerous in the state-socialist countries than it is here. Thousands of Russian +workers were killed or injured building the Moscow subway. Stories reverberate +about covered-up Soviet nuclear disasters which make Times Beach and Three Mile +Island look like elementary-school air-raid drills. On the other hand, deregu- +lation, currently fashionable, won't help and will probably hurt. From a health +and safety standpoint, among others, work was at its worst in the days when the +economy most closely approximated laissez-faire. Historians like Eugene Genovese +have argues persuasively that -- as antebellum slavery apologists insisted -- +factory wage-workers in the North American states and in Europe were worse off +than Southern plantation slaves. No rearrangement of relations among bureaucrats +seems to make much difference at the point of production. Serious enforcement of +even the rather vague standards enforceable in theory by OSHA would probably +bring the economy to a standstill. The enforcers apparently appreciate this, +since they don't even try to crack down on most malefactors. + + What I've said so far ought not to be controversial. Many workers are fed +up with work. There are high and rising rates of absenteeism, turnover, employee +theft and sabotage, wildcat strikes, and overall goldbricking on the job. There +may be some movement toward a conscious and not just visceral rejection of work. +And yet the prevalent feeling, universal among bosses and their agents and also +widespread among workers themselves, is that work itself is inevitable and +necessary. + + I disagree. It is now possible to abolish work and replace it, insofar as +it serves useful purposes, with a multitude of new kinds of free activities. To +abolish work requires going at it from two directions, quantitative and quali- +tative. On the one hand, on the quantitative side, we have to cut down massively +on the amount of work being done. AT present most work is useless or worse and +we should simply get rid of it. On the other hand -- and I think this is the +crux of the matter and the revolutionary new departure -- we have to take what +useful work remains and transform it into a pleasing variety of game-like and +craft-like pastimes, indistinguishable from other pleasurable pastimes except +that they happen to yield useful end-products. Surely that wouldn't make them +_less_ enticing to do. Then all the artificial barriers of power and property +could come down. Creation could become recreation. And we could all stop being +afraid of each other. + + I don't suggest that most work is salvageable in this way. But then most +work isn't worth trying to save. Only a small and diminishing fraction of work +serves any useful purpose independent of the defense and reproduction of the +work-system and its political and legal appendages. Twenty years ago, Paul and +Percival Goodman estimated that just five percent of the work then being done +-- presumably the figure, if accurate, is lower now -- would satisfy our min- +imal needs for food, clothing and shelter. Theirs was only an educated guess but +the main point is quite clear: directly or indirectly, most work serves the +unproductive purposes of commerce or social control. Right off the bat we can +liberate tens of millions of salesmen, soldiers, managers, cops, stockbrokers, +clergymen, bankers, lawyers, teachers, landlords, security guards, ad-men and +everyone who works for them. There is a snowball effect since every time you +idle some bigshot you liberate his flunkies and underlings also. Thus the +economy _implodes_. + + Forty percent of the workforce are white-collar workers, most of whom have +some of the most tedious and idiotic jobs ever concocted. Entire industries, +insurance and banking and real estate for instance, consist of nothing but +useless paper-shuffling. It is no accident that the "tertiary sector," the +service sector, is growing while the "secondary sector" (industry) stagnates and +the "primary sector" (agriculture) nearly disappears. Because work is +unnecessary except to those whose power it secures, workers are shifted from +relatively useful to relatively useless occupations as a measure to ensure +public order. Anything is better than nothing. That's why you can't go home just +because you finish early. They want your _time_, enough of it to make you +theirs, even if they have no use for most of it. Otherwise why hasn't the aver- +age work week gone down by more than a few minutes in the last fifty years? + + Next we can take a meat-cleaver to production work itself. No more war +production, nuclear power, junk food, feminine hygiene deodorant -- and above +all, no more auto industry to speak of. An occasional Stanley Steamer or Model T +might be all right, but the auto-eroticism on which such pestholes as Detroit +and Los Angeles depend is out of the question. Already, without even trying, +we've virtually solved the energy crisis, the environmental crisis and assorted +other insoluble social problems. + + Finally, we must do away with far and away the largest occupation, the one +with the longest hours, the lowest pay and some of the most tedious tasks. I +refer to _housewives_ doing housework and child-rearing. By abolishing wage- +labor and achieving full unemployment we undermine the sexual division of labor. +The nuclear family as we know it is an inevitable adaptation to the division of +labor imposed by modern wage-work. Like it or not, as things have been for the +last century or two, it is economically rational for the man to bring home the +bacon, for the woman to do the shitwork and provide him with a haven in a heart- +less world, and for the children to be marched off to youth concentration camps +called "schools," primarily to keep them out of Mom's hair but still under con- +trol, and incidentally to acquire the habits of obedience and punctuality so +necessary for workers. If you would be rid of patriarchy, get rid of the nuclear +family whose unpaid "shadow work," as Ivan Illich says, makes possible the work- +system that makes _it_ necessary. Bound up with this no-nukes strategy is the +abolition of childhood and the closing of the schools. There are more full-time +students than full-time workers in this country. We need children as teachers, +not students. They have a lot to contribute to the ludic revolution because +they're better at playing than grown-ups are. Adults and children are not ident- +ical but they will become equal through interdependence. Only play can bridge +the generation gap. + + I haven't as yet even mentioned the possibility of cutting way down on the +little work that remains by automating and cybernizing it. All the scientists +and engineers and technicians freed from bothering with war research and planned +obsolescence should have a good time devising means to eliminate fatigue and +tedium and danger from activities like mining. Undoubtedly they'll find other +projects to amuse themselves with. Perhaps they'll set up world-wide all- +inclusive multi-media communications systems or found space colonies. Perhaps. I +myself am no gadget freak. I wouldn't care to live in a push button paradise. I +don't want robot slaves to do everything; I want to do things myself. There is, +I think, a place for labor-saving technology, but a modest place. The his- +torical and pre-historical record is not encouraging. When productive technology +went from hunting-gathering to agriculture and on to industry, work increased +while skills and self-determination diminished. The further evolution of indus- +trialism has accentuated what Harry Braverman called the degradation of work. +Intelligent observers have always been aware of this. John Stuart Mill wrote +that all the labor-saving inventions ever devised haven't saved a moment's +labor. The enthusiastic technophiles -- Saint-Simon, Comte, Lenin, B.F. Skinner +-- have always been unabashed authoritarians also; which is to say, techno- +crats. We should be more than sceptical about the promises of the computer +mystics. _They_ work like dogs; chances are, if they have their way, so will the +rest of us. But if they have any particularized contributions more readily +subordinated to human purposes than the run of high tech, let's give them a +hearing. + + What I really want to see is work turned into play. A first step is to +discard the notions of a "job" and an "occupation." Even activities that already +have some ludic content lose most of it by being reduced to jobs which certain +people, and only those people, are forced to do to the exclusion of all else. Is +it not odd that farm workers toil painfully in the fields while their air- +conditioned masters go home every weekend and putter about in their gardens? +Under a system of permanent revelry, we will witness the Golden Age of the +dilettante which will put the Renaissance to shame. There won't be any more +jobs, just things to do and people to do them. + + The secret of turning work into play, as Charles Fourier demonstrated, is +to arrange useful activities to take advantage of whatever it is that various +people at various times in fact enjoy doing. To make it possible for some people +to do the things they could enjoy, it will be enough just to eradicate the +irrationalities and distortions which afflict these activities when they are +reduced to work. I, for instance, would enjoy doing some (not too much) +teaching, but I don't want coerced students and I don't care to suck up to +pathetic pedants for tenure. + + Second, there are some things that people like to do from time to time, but +not for too long, and certainly not all the time. You might enjoy baby-sitting +for a few hours in order to share the company of kids, but not as much as their +parents do. The parents meanwhile profoundly appreciate the time to themselves +that you free up for them, although they'd get fretful if parted from their +progeny for too long. These differences among individuals are what make a life +of free play possible. The same principle applies to many other areas of +activity, especially the primal ones. Thus many people enjoy cooking when they +can practice it seriously at their leisure, but not when they're just fuelling +up human bodies for work. + + Third, other things being equal, some things that are unsatisfying if done +by yourself or in unpleasant surroundings or at the orders of an overlord are +enjoyable, at least for a while, if these circumstances are changed. This is +probably true, to some extent, of all work. People deploy their otherwise wasted +ingenuity to make a game of the least inviting drudge-jobs as best they can. +Activities that appeal to some people don't always appeal to all others, but +everyone at least potentially has a variety of interests and an interest in +variety. As the saying goes, "anything once." Fourier was the master at specula- +ting about how aberrant and perverse penchants could be put to use in post- +civilized society, what he called Harmony. He thought the Emperor Nero would +have turned out all right if as a child he could have indulged his taste for +bloodshed by working in a slaughterhouse. Small children who notoriously relish +wallowing in filth could be organized in "Little Hordes" to clean toilets and +empty the garbage, with medals awarded to the outstanding. I am not arguing for +these precise examples but for the underlying principle, which I think makes +perfect sense as one dimension of an overall revolutionary transformation. Bear +in mind that we don't have to take today's work just as we find it and match it +up with the proper people, some of whom would have to be perverse indeed. + + If technology has a role in all this, it is less to automate work out of +existence than to open up new realms for re/creation. To some extent we may want +to return to handicrafts, which William Morris considered a probable and +desirable upshot of communist revolution. Art would be taken back from the snobs +and collectors, abolished as a specialized department catering to an elite audi- +ence, and its qualities of beauty and creation restored to integral life from +which they were stolen by work. It's a sobering thought that the Grecian urns we +write odes about and showcase in museums were used in their own time to store +olive oil. I doubt our everyday artifacts will fare as well in the future, if +there is one. The point is that theres' no such thing as progress in the world +of work; if anything, it's just the opposite. We shouldn't hesitate to pilfer +the past for what it has to offer, the ancients lose nothing yet we are en- +riched. + + The reinvention of daily life means marching off the edge of our maps. +There is, it is true, more suggestive speculation than most people suspect. Be- +sides Fourier and Morris -- and even a hint, here and there, in Marx -- there +are the writings of Kropotkin, the syndicalists Pataud and Pouget, anarcho- +communists old (Berkman) and new (Bookchin). The Goodman brother's _Communitas_ +is exemplary for illustrating what forms follow from given functions (purposes), +and there is something to be gleaned form the often hazy heralds of alternative/ +appropriate/intermediate/convivial technology, like Schumacher and especially +Illich, once you disconnect their fog machines. The situationists -- as repre- +sented by Vaneigem's _Revolution_of_Everyday_Life_ and in the _Situationist_ +_International_Anthology_ -- are so ruthlessly lucid as to be exhilarating, even +if they never did quite square the endorsement of the rule of the workers' +councils with the abolition of work. Better their incongruity, though, than any +extant version of leftism, whose devotees look to be the last champions of work, +for if there were no work there would be no workers, and without workers, who +would the left have to organize? + + So the abolitionists will be largely on their own. No one can say what +would result from unleashing the creative power stultified by work. Anything can +happen. The tiresome debater's problem of freedom vs. necessity, with its theo- +logical overtones, resolves itself practically once the production of use-values +is coextensive with the consumption of delightful play-activity. + + Life will become a game,or rather many games, but not -- as it is now -- a +zero/sum game. An optimal sexual encounter is the paradigm of productive play. +The participants potentiate each other's pleasures, nobody keeps score, and +everybody wins. The more you give, the more you get. In the ludic life, the best +of sex will diffuse into the better part of daily life. Generalized play leads +to the libidinization of life. Sex, in turn, can become less urgent and +desperate, more playful. If we play our cards right, we can all get more out of +life than we put into it; but only if we play for keeps. + + Workers of the world... RELAX! + + + + + +-------- +footnote +-------- +This essay is in the public domain. It may be distributed, translated +or excerpted freely. This ASCII file version was produced by Tangerine +Network. Contacts as of April 1989: +Bob Black can be reached at P.O. Box 2159, Albany NY 12220. +Tangerine Network can be reached at P.O. Box 547014, Orlando FL 32854. +EOF + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/abortion.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/abortion.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8f881e4e --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/abortion.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7736 @@ + 119 page printout + Reproducible Electronic Publishing can defeat censorship. + + This file, its printout, or copies of either + are to be copied and given away, but NOT sold. + + Bank of Wisdom, Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + +Big Blue Book No. 474 + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + by + Martin Avery + (non de plume) + + Intimate Sidelights on the Secret Human, Sorrow, Drama and +Tragedy in the Experience of a Doctor Whose Profession It Is To +Perform Illegal Operations. + 1939 + + Haldeman-Julius Company + GIRARD -- : -- KANSAS + + 1. EARLY DAYS AND IDEAS + + Sometimes I find myself thinking wistfully of the days when I +was young and sure of myself and my future, when I thought the +solid ground under my feet was a foundation for an air castle and +when right and wrong were very definite things, and black was black +and white was white and I would have nothing to do with gray. + + I had no such regrets, of course, when first I gloated +childishly over the neat little black and gold sign that announced +to the world that Martin Avery was a doctor of medicine and ready +to practice. I admired my small library of medical textbooks, my +shiny surgical instruments and I repeated over and over the +sonorous words of the oath I had taken. Much has happened to me +since then, much that I somehow feel compelled to put on paper. +Perhaps even after these years I want to prove that in my way I +have tried to be faithful to my youthful ideas. + + So this is a human-interest document designed to show troubled +women that they have companions in distress, I shall not clutter it +up with medical terms. I have no patience with doctors who think +they must sprinkle Latin in every sentence and generally talk as +though they were dictating a highly technical article for a medical +journal. I am not trying to be impressive nor am I trying to +preach. This book might be called "Sidelights on Tragedy." If it +will make a few less persons look disdainful or horrified at the +word "abortion," I will have succeeded in my purpose. + + I must have been a somewhat priggish Sir Galahad when I was +graduated from medical school. I saw myself curing the world of +nice, respectable diseases like measles and smallpox and perhaps +halting epidemics by quickness of thought or saving a rich man's +life by my miraculous skill as a surgeon. + + I had lived a fairly clean life, almost unbelievably clean it +seems to me now. But then I never had much money. My people were +farmers. That accounted for part of my pride. I thought Myself +mighty smart to be going up a rung in the ladder, from peasant to +professional man. Sometimes I thought it would be nice if I had a + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 1 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +physician father to take me in with him and a long line of medical +ancestor's to give me an honorable tradition. But at the same time +my egotism fed itself on the thought that I was the first of my +family to have guts and ambition and brains enough to escape the +soil for a white-collar profession. + + I liked to hear my mother refer proudly to "My son, the +doctor," and I liked to strut around in front of the neighbors. To +be sure, the white collar and the shiny instruments and even the +neat little office were mortgaged to my father, whose dirt- +encrusted hands had earned the money that sent me through school. +But I had visions of grateful patients showering me with gold. I +was an idealist in those days and I had plenty of illusions, too. + + The sad thing about my office was that it stayed empty as did +likewise my purse. I angled after connections as hotel physician, +and I tried to get a job as a city clinic doctor; but I had no +political pull, and, being a farm boy, no influence in any other +lines. Most of my few patients had little money and came to me +because they believed I would be cheap. + + So for a while I pursued my honorable profession by lancing a +few boils, prescribing for a few bad hangovers, treating a child +for a nail wound, issuing headache pills to a woman who went from +doctor to doctor seeking an audience for her complaints and dishing +out enough medicine for common colds to stock a drug store. I was +so anxious to display all my knowledge that I went in for complete +examinations no matter how trifling the complaint, tried to look +wise, clucked thoughtfully and shook my head. + + At times I wished to high heaven that I lived in England, +where I could buy a steady practice and not have to sit in my +office reading and re-reading medical journal's and wondering if +I'd soon lose any surgical skill I possessed for lack of practice. + + It amuses me now to recall how I felt when I first treated a +house girl who had gonorrhea. I treated the girl, and then gave her +a lecture in which, as I recall, I told her that because of my oath +I would protect her secret but that she was running a horrible +risk. I know now that she must have been choking with laughter, but +at the time I thought that she was mightily impressed. And I felt +quite the man of the world. In fact, I made up some impressive -- +to me -- thoughts about how my profession brought me in contact +with the dregs of the world and how it was up to me to maintain my +purity of thought in spite of all the depravity I was forced to +see. I meant to deliver these noble sentiments to a pure sweet girl +whenever my practice grew enough that I could afford to seek this +marvelous woman who would be chosen as my wife. + + I still had this holier-than-thou attitude when a very pretty +blonde came to see me. She looked like a "nice girl," and this +shocked me all the more when she told me, in a frightened way, that +she was "caught" and she wanted an abortion. Her father was dead, +and she lived with her mother and her brother, a prominent +businessman in the town. I had heard of the girl as a well-known +college student and a gay member of the younger set. She was not a +social luminary, but she was a class ahead of me. + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 2 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + I made the finger examination and there was no doubt that she +was pregnant -- about two months along. She wanted a +"prescription," she said. She was ignorant about such things, but +a friend had told her that for a few dollars she could buy some +medicine that would cause a miscarriage. + + It seems odd to realize that I was shocked about this. I had +heard of girls who were "knocked up" and did something about it. +There had been plenty of such gossip in the farming community where +I had lived, and I'd heard methods of causing crude abortions +discussed among the medical students. In fact, I knew one medical +student who worked his way through his senior year as an +abortionist among the lower classes of the university town. He had +told me something about the method he had used, but I had paid +little attention and had disapproved of the whole business. + + I was stern and righteous with this girl and asked her why she +did not marry the man. + + She burst into tears. "I can't," she said. + + "Is he married?" I asked. + + She shook her head. + + "Engaged to another man?" I asked. Those were the only two +reasons that my mid-Victorian mind could conceive why any man would +refuse to marry her. + + "No," she said, "but he says that it is my fault. And I guess +it is. He asked me if I were doing anything about this, and I +suppose I was a fool, for I said that I was. I didn't know anything +to do. I asked a girl I know, and she told me to take a douche +anytime within 24 hours." + + Dumb as I was, I was shocked at this ignorance. Bit by bit she +unfolded a story that was new and pitiful to me then but which I +have heard so often since that I can supply it before the girl +opens her mouth. + + Katherine, as I shall call her, had fallen in love with a man +about seven years older than herself, a bachelor businessman. She +had gone absolutely crazy about him. + + The man was the sort who likes sexual freedom and gets panicky +at the thought of marriage. He had given Katherine a big rush, for, +of all reasons, her look of wholesomeness. He had said that she had +a "wholesome attitude" toward sex. As a matter of fact, she was too +deeply infatuated to have any definite attitude except to agree +with everything he said. A man's idea of a wholesome attitude +toward sex usually is one that leaves him absolutely free, while a +woman's idea is one that leads inevitably toward marriage. + + Because she wanted to appear worldly-wise, she denied being a +virgin. I was astounded to hear that, but I learned afterward that +a great many young girls do the same thing. Frequently they +themselves cannot explain why. Almost invariably, it is when they + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 3 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +are having affairs with older men. They seem to believe that the +man will wonder why they have not had affairs before and will think +less of them. So they try to disguise their awkwardness and +ignorance; and since many athletic girls do not have hymens, the +man does not find it out. + + Katherine had talked vaguely about an imaginary previous +affair. She seemed to think that it would make her more interesting +if the man believed she was sexually experienced and had been +desired before. "A lot of men had made overtures to me," she told +me. "but I had managed to evade them. I knew that Don had had a lot +of affairs and told him some lies so he wouldn't think I was quite +so dumb." + + This, of course, released the man from any feeling of +responsibility and had also made him think that she knew about +contraceptives and could take care of herself. And she was too +inexperienced to know whether he was protecting her. It was an +example of the dangers of innocence and where ignorance was not +bliss. + + Naturally, when she did not insist that the man use +contraceptives, he omitted them. She told me that when she learned +she was pregnant, she had explained the situation to him and he had +advised her to go to a doctor. But I think now that she lied. A lot +of girls are overwhelmed with false modesty in such circumstances +and will go instead to girls as inexperienced as they are. Having +pretended to be worldly-wise, they are caught in a web of their own +lies. + + This girl was not as stupid as she seems in this narrative. +She had sense enough to realize just what type of man she loved. +Apparently he had made it plain that he did not intend to marry her +and he expected her to take her full share of the responsibility in +this affair. She couldn't tell her mother because mother was the +type who would "rather See her daughter in her grave" than have an +abortion and she probably would try to force the man into a shotgun +marriage. Katherine was sensible enough to see that the man would +evade this, or if he married her, would hate her for the trick. +Too, since she had lied to him about her virginity, she had thrown +away that hold. + + So she had gone to a girl friend and the girl had said +something about a mysterious medicine that would cause her to +resume menstruation. Then she had come to me, for, of all reasons, +the fact that she did not know me and I was new in town. She did +not want to go to her family doctor or any physician whom she knew. + + It was a case of the blind going to the blind. I was horrified +and told her that, of course, I could not perform an abortion I had +heard about some of the drastic medicines given in such cases and +I warned her against them. I told her that I could go to prison for +doing what she wanted, and I was against such things personally. I +probably sounded fierce, for I was afraid someone would find out +that she'd been to me with such a request, and I feared even that +would get me into trouble. + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 4 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + She left me a great deal more frightened than when she +arrived. I had told her that no decent doctor would perform an +abortion. And I had scared her pretty badly about using any home +devices. Also I'd added a little homily on her 'sins. I should have +been shot, but I felt righteous about the whole business. She had +some money. She'd been teaching school and saved several hundred +dollars and she offered me the whole sum if I would get her out of +the jam. I needed the money, but I felt a virtuous glow over +turning it down. I was living up to medical ethics. I was being a +good citizen and an honorable physician. + + So she went away, and I settled back in my empty office and +read medical journals and old magazines and treated a few persons +who came in with colds and indigestion. + + The next day her name leaped at me from the front page of the +daily newspaper. Her body had been found on the doorstep of her +home, at one o'clock that morning, by her brother as he was +returning from a dance. She had shot herself, and she died in the +ambulance on the way to, the hospital. + + The newspaper account said she had resigned her position as a +teacher because of a nervous breakdown culminating when she fainted +in the class room. Her relatives had noticed that she seemed very +nervous, refused to eat and was unable to sleep at night. They had +tried, without success, to arouse her interest in social life. She +had left no note -- just gone out in the yard and shot herself with +her brother's revolver. + + There followed several paragraphs telling how prominent and +popular she had been in school, how she had a promising future as +a teacher. Her family was. grief-stricken. + + It shook me pretty badly. I tried to console myself by saying +that she had not threatened suicide to me, that I was within my +rights, in refusing to help her, and it was unfair of her to ask me +to risk my future by performing an illegal operation. + + But I kept seeing that description of her. "She was a pretty +blonde girl. College mates described her as always being full of +fun and active in all school enterprises." She had belonged to +several clubs. I wondered which sorority sister had advised her to +"get a prescription." + + I wondered how her lover felt. I was filled with sudden hatred +for him, taking this young girl easily and selfishly and ruining +her life, talking to her glibly about her "wholesome attitude +toward sex." Now she was dead, and innuendoes would be whispered +about her nervous condition and her fainting spells and her lack of +appetite and her insomnia. Her relatives would feel bad about it. +It might even ruin their lives, too. Of course, her puritanical +relatives were partly to blame. Had they been more tolerant, they +would have helped her. It was her own fault, too, for being so +careless. She had trusted people and life too much. She had been +too confident in the decency of others. + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 5 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + In the back of my head there was a nagging thought that I, +too, was to blame. I might have found someone else to help her. I +might have made arrangements. I was not so stupid that I did not +know of a doctor whose legitimate practice was small but who, drove +around in a big car with a chauffeur and had plenty of money. It +was common talk that he did a lot of illegal operations. He was a +pretty good surgeon, too. + + It was all a mess, and I resented being dragged into it, and +being made to feel guilty over the death of a strange girl. + + + II. MY FAMILY SPEAKS + + I went out in the country to see my family every Sunday. This +meant that I got a good meal and my depressed spirits were helped +by my mother's soothing prediction that soon her boy's practice +would pick up. + + The next Sunday the conversation happened to turn to the +suicide of Katherine J--. + + "The poor girl," my mother said. "Sounds like she was in the +family way." + + She clucked her tongue sympathetically. "I wish you had seen +her," she said. "If she'd come to you, you could have sent her to +old Ma Gooding, the one folks call Feather Sally, because she uses +a goose feather. Lots of good doctor's send patients to Feather +Sally, and she's never lost a one. Good money she makes, too." + + I was shocked. + + "She did come to me," I said indignantly, "waving her money in +my face as if I were a quack she could buy with a few hundred +dollars. But I refused to have anything to do with it. That's a +prison offense." + + My mother looked at me queerly. "And it's no prison offense to +drive a girl to suicide?" she asked. + + "It was her own lookout," I said, "She couldn't expect me to +risk my future with a criminal operation in order to get her out of +a jam." + + "If you keep on turning down hundred-dollar fees, it doesn't +look as if you're going to have much future," my father said dryly. +"The drought hit us pretty bad son, and we're needing money out +here, too. Doesn't pay to be too choosy about how you earn it. Old +Doc Kennedy over at Clear Creek makes plenty of money that way. +Specializes in it. You'd be surprised to know the names of some of +his patients, too." + + I felt like a badgered animal. It was not until years later +that I realized that only youth is moral in the accepted way. Youth +judges more severely and expects more rigid living up to standards. +Old age is more tolerant; it has learned to compromise and give +only lip-service to awkward convention. + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 6 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + And like most youths I had the idea that my parents were very +strict. It was a shock, now that they had admitted me to adulthood, +to learn some of their views. + + "Folks call it murder," sniffed my mother. "Ain't hardly +nothing more'n a germ at first. Ain't no more murder than doin' +something aforehand to keep from having children. As far as that +goes, it ain't really no more murder than bein' an old maid and not +havin' nothin' to do with man at all. If you want to argue, you can +always say that every woman could bear a child, and it's murder if +She don't do it. Talk about the child's right to be born! The child +ain't saying nothin' about it. How do all these preacher's know the +child wants to be born. I've seen some cases where if the child +knew what was coming to him afterward he wouldn't want to be born. +Her voice softened. "Poor unwanted little mites. No money and no +name and not much chance in the world." + + "It was a case of professional ethics, mother," I said. "Of +course, quack doctors do a lot of underhanded business. And +probably they risk the girl's life by crude methods. But good +doctors avoid such things." + + "Maybe," 'sniffed my mother. + + "Some of these days the laws may be changed," I said, "and +birth-control methods and abortions may be legalized. But until +then, I must obey my oath and abide by the medical code." + + This did not impress my parents. Country people are not much +in favor of laws. Laws to them mean disagreeable taxes, game laws +which preserve the quail and ducks for the benefit of city folks +who swarm over the land, shooting at everything that appears on the +horizon, foreclosing of mortgages and other unpleasant +interferences with their lives. + + "Human beings come before laws," my mother said. "Some of +these laws are made by folks who want to kick others in the gutter +so's to make themselves seem higher up. I ain't never had no use +for such folks. Pull themselves up by pushing others down. I've +known some mighty good women who had convenient miscarriages and +women who were in trouble and later on made fine marriages and good +wives." + + She sighed. "If I'd known that poor girl, maybe I could have +told her something to do. They're more ways of killing a cat than +choking it with butter." + + My father laughed. "Ma could tell her," he said. "She'd have +had her jumping off porches and riding houses and merry-go-rounds +and climbing up and down stairs and taking hot baths and purgatives +and God knows what all." + + My mother smiled. "That's all right for you," she said. "Many +a time you've been thankful I wasn't so green." + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 7 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "I never could stand to see a poor young girl bringin' a +fatherless babe into the world," my mother went on. "Of course, +sometimes they love the children just as much as if they were born +in wedlock and sometimes they make good marriages later on. But the +run of folks are hard on them, and it's bad trying to live down +your mistakes." + + My father, however, was more upset by the idea that I had let +a hundred or so dollars slip out of my hands because of ethics. + + "It's dangerous," I said. "Suppose I'd done a bad job and +she'd died because of the operation. Her folks would claim that I +murdered her." + + "She killed herself anyhow, didn't she?" my father said. +"Looks to me like it's six of one and a half-dozen of the other." + + It was a relief for me to get back to my bare room in a cheap +Lodging house in the city. My pleased glow of virtue had departed, +and I remembered the boy who had worked his way through school with +abortions and a young interne who frankly had announced that he +meant to specialize in illegal operations. + + "They're the easiest way for a young doctor to get started," +he had said. "And they're no more dangerous than, performing any +other operations. I'll wait until I get a little money saved and +then I'll be respectable. It takes money to be high and mighty." + + Some nagging prick of conscience forced me to go to Katherine +J's funeral. I eyed her weeping relatives with scorn. A little of +the love they were parading in public would have saved the girl's +life if they had exercised it in private. Some of the money that +went into the flower's, the elaborate coffin, the big monument, +could have sent the girl away on a "vacation" and brought her back +whole in body, and presently her heart would be healed. Later on, +I was to learn that while broken hearts cannot be cured by a +doctor, a little surgical or medical aid for the by-products helps +along a lot. + + Since then I've seen many girls, who were as tragic in speech +as Katherine, laugh about the whole episode a year later. By then +they had put it down as a valuable lesson and forgotten the horror +and fear they first felt. + + After the funeral, I drifted into a coffee shop and +encountered a doctor I admired. + + "You look low," he remarked. + + "I've been to a funeral," I said, and gave the girl's name. + + He nodded. "Nasty business. I suppose it's the old story." +"Yes," I looked at him. "I guess you see plenty of them," I went +on. + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 8 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "Not so many now," he said. "I get about two patients a year +who want abortions. I got more of them when I first started to +practice. I guess they thought that, being a young doctor, I'd need +the money. But luckily I made money from the start. I had plenty of +friends, and so I didn't need to take the risk." + + "What do you do about the ones who come to you now?" I blurted +out. + + He gave me a keen glance. "Give them an examination and tell +them whether they're really pregnant. Chances are they're only +delayed by something. Up until three months, it's not easy to tell, +especially with the finger examination." + + This, it might be added, was before the rabbit test was widely +used. Nowadays it is possible to tell immediately by injecting +urine, into the rabbit and examining its ovaries 36 hour's later. + + "Then," the doctor went on, "I say nothing more unless the +Patient obviously is ignorant of anything to do, I may drop a hint +about the proper doctor to go to. Usually I don't do this, because +most people have ways of finding that out for themselves. However, +of course you know that some doctors make a good deal of money with +such recommendations and split fees. If I do drop a hint, I make +sure that I can trust the doctor." + + "It's a problem," I said frankly, "I've been wondering what to +do about such business. People come to me for medical aid and I +have to refuse treatment. We are permitted to treat venereal +diseases and we can be called in after miscarriage --" + + He grinned. "Of course. You know the stock alibi. You were +called in, and it was obvious that something had been done to cause +a partial abortion and your aid was needed to save the girl's life. +As soon as the uterus is punctured or the fetus is expelled, the +abortion is a fact. No one can prove anything against you as long +as you and the patient keep mum." + + "Understand," he went on. "I'm not taking sides. I'm not the +type of doctor that crusades for birth-control legislation. A +successful doctor -- of my variety -- can't afford to. I admire the +kind of doctor who does -- but he usually doesn't make any money. +Whenever anyone asks me, I give them what birth-control data I can, +which isn't much. Anyhow, they probably won't follow instructions." + + "Maybe the laws will be changed," I suggested. + + "I'm not very hopeful about legislative reform," he said. "In +my opinion, the whole business will work out for itself. +Information will be spread more widely. To me, it seem's better to +send a girl to a good surgeon than to let her get an infection by +going to a quack or trying some crude home method. I knew one poor +girl whose sweetheart kicked her in the abdomen and almost killed +her." + + "Of course," I said weakly. "It's the women's fault." + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 9 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "I blame the men more. Some of these men are just like +animals. They don't give a damn what happens to the woman. They may +know all about contraceptives; but they don't want to use them, and +some of them think it's fun to fool the woman. But even those men +aren't so bad as the ones who carry disease and won't warn the girl +or take any precautions. A girl may escape pregnancy but she'll +probably get a dose. I'd Like to see all venereal-disease carriers +quarantined or branded. And if they're incurable, they ought to be +sterilized or shut up." + + I grinned to myself. The doctor, in spite of his suave +exterior, was like all good doctors, a bit of a crusader when you +got him on his pet subject. + + "They send habitual criminals to prison," he went on. "But a +man can get dose after dose of a disease and remain at large. He's +just as dangerous, if not more so, to the community than a habitual +burglar. He's worse, in my opinion. A burglar only rob's people +who've got plenty of dough. But a man probably will give a dose to +some poor dumb girl who hasn't sense or money enough to get proper +treatment, and she may die or be ruined for life. Reformers talk +about sterilization of criminals and the insane, but I'm in favor +of sterilization of any man who's had a disease more than twice. A +man can get a dose once without really being to blame. But if he's +got any sense, he takes care of himself after that." + + He seemed to weary of the subject then, and I went home a +mighty thoughtful young doctor. I'd been so busy passing exams and +skimping along on my allowance that I'd never gone in for many bull +session's. Anyhow, a lot of the stuff that we talked at medical +school seemed haywire now. I'd gone around with a bunch of young +idealists who talked about being second Pasteur's and great +surgeons and doing good for humanity and in the back of my mind I'd +always seen myself saving a millionaire's life and bringing young +beauties back from sure death by tuberculosis. + + But I was getting rid of my fancy ideas mighty fast. + + + III. I TAKE A CASE + + Two or three days after my talk with the old doctor, a well +dressed man came into my office. + + "There'll be a girl up here pretty soon for treatment for +gonorrhea," he said bluntly. "I'm paying for it. She's a dumb cluck +who got mixed up with one of my employees. He won't pay for it, but +something had to be done for the girl, and I told her I'd have her +cured if she wouldn't see him again.' You fix her up and send me +the bill. I don't want to give the girl the money because she might +spend it on something else or quit after one treatment. See that +she's clean, but if she comes back with another dose I won't be +responsible for any more bills." + + He gave me his card and the girl's name. He was managing +editor of one of the local newspapers. + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 10 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "See if you can get any sense into her head," he added. "I +don't want any more trouble with her." + + He went out then, looking irritated, and I grinned. I figured +it was one of those "A-friend-of-mine" stories in which the +personal pronoun is soon brought into play. I wondered a little why +he told such a clumsy lie. + + But when the girl came in, half-frightened, half-angry, I +learned his story was the truth. + + One of the reporters had seduced the girl, whom I shall call +June. She was a pretty business-college student, dumb but +attractive in a virginal fashion. It may have been that very docile +innocence that attracted the man. He played around with a +sophisticated, hard-drinking crowd and it probably was, amusing to +find a girl who didn't know the ropes, didn't drink, didn't smoke, + + June, on the other hand, had heard about Jim, the reporter, +and she was fascinated by his reputation as a dapper man-about- +town. Jim was a handsome and entertaining scoundrel. He said that +he did not know she was a virgin until he had already started the +sex act. This may have been true, but it did not stop him then. + + Afterward, he either was conscience-stricken or decided that +it was dangerous to play around with her. Innocence may be +dangerous not only to the girl but to the man. At any rate, he did +not see her for about a month. + + But June was seized by the crazy infatuation which many young +girls feel for their first lovers. She telephoned Jim, she wrote +him notes asking why he was angry with her, what had she done? She +wept. She reminded him that, although a virgin, she had gone to bed +with him. + + Jim told his boas that he firmly intended to stay away from +June. Whether he was deeply attracted and some remnants of chivalry +motivated his refusal to see her or whether she bored him, I don't +know. But in the meantime he had been playing around with girls +equally dumb but not so innocent, and he got gonorrhea. He was +forced to tell his wife and to refrain from any intercourse with +her. But apparently his scruples did not apply to the young girl he +had seduced, for he went back to her. She got the disease and the +whole thing began again with the girl pursuing the reporter and +asking for medical treatment. The badgered newsman had gone to his +editor for sympathy. + + But his editor cursed him and told him to do something to keep +June from calling the office and coming down to the newsroom. Jim +refused, saying that he didn't have the money and anyhow the girl +had been with plenty of other men since he first seduced her. +Whether this was true, I do not know. It may have been. Frequently +girls who have just lost their virginity become promiscuous if +their first lovers desert them. + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 11 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + Such girls seem to feel that since, they have lost their much- +guarded chastity it doesn't make much difference what they do and +they weakly succumb to any man who comes along. It takes some time +for the girls to recover their emotional balance and become +discriminating. June denied that she had been with any other men. +And Jim admitted that he was diseased when he was with her. + + So the editor went to June and agreed to pay for her +treatments if she would promise never to see any of his reporters +again. She was grateful but at the same time she was a little +indignant about it. The editor had not minced words in describing +her lover, and she resented being forced to face the fact that +there was no romance in her seduction. She wanted the treatments, +but at the same time she would have liked to save her vanity. + + Since then, I have noticed the same traits in many girls. They +will try to find excuses for their first lovers, and say that it +"wasn't all his fault." They generally have remarkably few +illusion's about later lovers, but they want a little glamour over +the first affair. + + One intelligent girl talked to me about it. "It's a matter of +vanity for women to lie to themselves about their sweethearts," she +remarked. "The worst thing about breaking up an affair is that I +finally have to admit to myself that I have been kidding myself all +along. You see, I know that I am only an average girl and therefore +will attract only an average man. I know there are exceptions, and +sometimes you see a fine man absolutely crazy about a very +commonplace girl. But I, of course, have an ideal man in mind. +Whenever a man falls in love with me, I try to see my ideal +characteristics in him and I exaggerate those I do find. I try to +convince myself and my friends that he's a better man than he is. +When we break up, I have to see him as himself. That hurts, because +it shows me that I'm not attractive enough to get the sort of man +I want and hold him." + + But to go back to June. I sent my bill in to the editor and he +paid it promptly. June's spirits grew better as her cure +progressed. This time I gave no lecture on morals. Instead I tried +to teach her a few principles of hygiene. + + "Listen," I said, when I had pronounced her cured, "there is +no Santa Claus in this sex business, even if your case does look +like it. You were darned lucky. There are not many men who would do +for you what this editor did. It wasn't for the good of his soul, +either. He couldn't afford to have one of his men in a jam. So +don't go around expecting good Samaritans to yank you out of the +gutter. And don't try to get out of your class. You thought it was +romantic to have a love affair with a social butterfly, a dashing +columnist. But look what happened. A stranger got you out of your +jam. He did it because you were making a nuisance of yourself. If +you'd been in this guy's class, he would have taken more +precautions. He didn't give his wife a dose, but he figured you +didn't count. And to him you didn't. So you play in your own back +yard." + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 12 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + She nodded. Later she married a clerk and they have three or +four kids. I don't know whither she ever told him about her first +affair. If she was smart, she didn't. + + The editor was pleased, because she kept away from his men And +two or three weeks later he sent me an abortion. This time didn't +quibble, I did it. + + IV. WHY I AM AN ABORTIONIST + + Since then I've performed hundreds of abortions and when I did +all the work I've had no fatalities. Of course, I've been called in +on bungled jobs when it was too late; there was infection or a +hemorrhage and death was a matter of hours. + + I have changed from the surgical operation, in which the womb +was scraped, to use of heat, bacteria and exercise to cause a +natural premature birth with very little danger. I discarded the +finger test for the rabbit test of pregnancy. My prices went up as +the danger went down. + + I don't regret the fact that I have risked prison terms +constantly. As I went up the financial scale, I tried to use more +discrimination and to work for the sake of humanity. I have refused +to abort young society women who merely wanted to save their +figures, who shrank from the responsibilities of children. I have +turned away young women who could afford to marry and who I felt, +should mate legally and carry on the race. I have seen women whom +I felt needed children to make their lives fuller and who were +merely lazy or afraid of pain. And I have performed operations +later regretted by the women when they wanted children and for some +reason could not have them. That has made me more careful. + + I am not bragging that I really made the world better. I am an +older man now and a little tired and a bit inclined to be cynical. +Perhaps all these things would have worked out anyhow. But I +believe that I have saved valuable members of the race from +disgrace or from suicide, that I have kept families from being +wrecked. And I have not had a repeat case in years, + + The reformers argue that we must pay for our sins. But I do +not know that I agree with their definition of sin. There are times +when our instincts are too strong for us. There are accidents. +There are many cases in which it does not seem to me that I should +judge. I do not believe in populating the world with unwanted +children. I do not like to see the women suffer when the man +escapes without even blame. If there is some disease or some taint +of insanity, I do not believe in allowing the child to be born. And +if the birth of the child is going to wreck even one adult life, it +seems to me kinder to stop it. The people who yell "child murder" +have almost invariably never been faced with the problem. + + Criminologists say that crime is caused by children being born +into families where they have no opportunity for proper upbringing. +The children turn to stealing to get money for luxuries, even +necessities. They run in the streets because they have no +playgrounds. Their minds are warped in childhood. I believe it to + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 13 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +be an act of crime prevention to halt any such children coming into +the world with the stigma of illegitimacy and a mother who is going +to have a much harder time making a living after the child is born. + + I am always irritated when I hear politicians talk about as +being the only land of equal opportunity. It isn't. Illegitimate +children had far better chances in the medieval days when "natural" +sons and daughters were the "natural" thing. + + I have never been in favor of forced marriages. In this +complex world the married couple starts out with enough problems +without being handicapped by an unwanted child and probably +unwanted mates. + + A great many cases have been like that of poor June, who fell +in love with a married man of a class slightly superior to her own. +Had she been slightly above him socially, the chances are that the +man would have obtained a divorce and married her. At least he +would have given her much better treatment. I get many girls who +have had affairs with their employer's, either married or +unmarried. The men do not want to marry them. Frequently they blame +the girl, for a great many men seem to think that it is up to the +girl to protect herself. + + I have heard men who considered themselves ethical in sexual +matters say that they believe the women should protect themselves. +Some of them excuse this by saying that women cannot trust the men +and so they must get accustomed to taking their own precautions. +Others frankly admit that they will not use anything that +interferes with their pleasure. + + A fellow doctor, one high in his profession and a man who +gives birth-control advice to his patients, once told me that he +received his pleasure from the thought of the risk. + + "If my wife is even a week pregnant, my pleasure is gone," he +said. "And I wouldn't touch a woman if I knew she was using any +sort of protective device. Man is still primitive enough to want +copulation for conception." + + He might have added that man is still primitive enough to want +to shirk all responsibility for the act and perhaps civilized +enough to regret any consequences. + + For these reasons I advise my women patients to take their own +precautions. One girl told me that she was shocked when her lover +asked her if she never used any contraceptive devices. He had made +love to her several times and she thought that he was protecting +her. She came to me for a pregnancy test. Fortunately she was all +right. But she was indignant and disgusted with the man. + + "I thought he was a swell fellow," she said. "I'd had only one +love affair and then the man took care of everything and I supposed +this man would do the same. He's shocked now because I won't see +him any more. But I hate to ask him to do anything and I'm afraid + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 14 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +to risk dating him unless this is arranged beforehand. Suppose I +get a little tight? Anyhow, I can't carry around a medical kit when +I go on a date. And it's more awkward for the girl to do such +things than for the boy." + + She laughed a little self-consciously. "It sounds silly to +talk about modesty at a time like this. But these affairs usually +aren't deliberately planned. It's one thing for a man and girl to +have a steady affair and go to a hotel room with a private bath or +to an apartment where they can have everything handy. It's quite +another thing to go to a dance and have a hot petting scene on the +way back. I take this business seriously and I'm not promiscuous. +I don't mean that I've got matrimony in my eye all the time, but if +I let a man "make" me I mean for this to be an affair of fairly +long duration and I'm fond of the man. But there has to be a first +time for it; and I'm not sure when that's coming and maybe I won't +get an opportunity to protect myself. Girls in an excited emotional +state aren't noted for using their heads." + + "And another thing," she continued. "My generation may sound +hard-boiled and as if we knew what it was all about. But most of my +girl friends are pretty dumb about sex. We think we're smart +because we keep a few college boys from "making" us. And we joke +about the trade names of contraceptives, but you'd be surprised how +little practical knowledge most young girls have. A girl told me +the other day that she'd die of shame before she'd go to a doctor +and ask him about feminine hygiene. I told her that she might die +of shame if she didn't. There are a lot of jokes about how a girl +can't be raped, but if she's a little tight she hasn't got much +resistance. And most girls get panicky when they find themselves in +a difficult situation." + + The answer to all this of course would be that a girl who +can't take care of herself shouldn't take a drink and shouldn't go +out with men she can't trust. But at the same time it seems to me +that men would find it easier and better to use a little +discretion. Where do they expect the girls to get any knowledge of +birth Control? Their mothers certainly aren't going to tell them -- +not if they're nice girls. The girls are afraid to ask a doctor. +The other girls they know are just as dumb. They can't believe the +advertisements they read -- if they do they'll probably get caught, +either because they don't follow the direction's or because the +stuff isn't any good. They may ruin themselves with too strong +douches or they may trust some preparation applied too long before +or too long after the sex act. + + Anyhow, the girl usually wants this whole business sentimental +and glamorous. She wants to be swept off her feet. Otherwise she +feels a little guilty about it. So she doesn't precede her moment +of grand passion with a questionnaire on hygiene. Furthermore, the +inexperienced girl has no way of knowing whether she can trust a +man. Usually she finds out that she can't when it's too late. + + A lot of the fault lies with young boys who got their first +sex experiences with older women who knew enough to guard +themselves, or with prostitutes. From the talk of youths who come +into my office, I've decided that they don't have sense enough to +take care of themselves let alone protect the girl. They're not + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 15 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +bothered by false modesty, but a lot of them think it's smart to +fool the girls, either by lying to them or using some cheap trick +to make their precautions useless. The older men have more sense, +but some of them are selfish and not much concerned with protecting +a girl, or they find it hard to believe that a young woman can be +ignorant of matters so vital to her. + + I haven't any answer to the problem. Gradually hygiene classes +are becoming more liberal, but they still fall far short of what is +necessary. Doctors do what they can, but we can't go from house to +house instructing girls and boys. Like lawyers, we're usually +called in when the damage has been done. I'd like to see all high +school students given compulsory sex education. + + One doctor I know says that there should be a stiff penalty +for spreading venereal disease. I asked him how he was going to get +witnesses to testify, and I said the medical profession had better +clean house first. I pointed out that doctors have been run out of +small towns for introducing disease-stricken, cheap prostitutes who +spread the disease and brought business to the physician. + + "It's just like blackmail," I said, "The ones who are really +hurt by diseases are the nice girls, and they'd never testify +against a man. The list of men I've had in for treatment would +sound like a Who's Who of the town. You can't regulate sex. We've +just got to do the beat we can. Even if there were a fool-proof +contraceptive, which there isn't, people would forget to use it or +they wouldn't know about it, or they wouldn't believe in it." + + The most cheering thing to me is that doctors are getting more +skillful in such matters and the present generation is becoming +wiser regarding the need for knowledge. Anne, who said she would +feel foolish interrupting an ardent love scene to arrange for her +contraceptive, did not allow that false modesty to keep her from +dashing down to my office immediately for a pregnancy test instead +of waiting and worrying for several weeks until time for her +menstruation. + + More and more women are making a practice of monthly visits to +the doctor to make sure that nothing has gone wrong and to get +early aid if anything has. + + In the last few years I have had fewer women patients who had +to be told that they had waited too late; that it was too dangerous +for them to have an abortion and they'd better arrange matters so +they could have the child and have it adopted. Fewer women spend +months of mental agony hoping that something will happen to cause +a miscarriage or trying dangerous home devices. The doctor's bill +may sound steep, but it's cheaper than risking an injury by home +use of sharp instruments or by violent blows in the abdomen. + + I get more women whose menstruation has merely been delayed by +natural causes but who know it is wise to go to a doctor as soon as +they are a week or 10 days overdue. A hot bath, a few drinks, a +strong purgative or a simple prescription saves them from a lot of +worry and from dangerous patent remedies. A woman who is +persistently irregular needs medical treatment, anyhow. + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 16 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + While I admire these self-reliant young women, I see a danger +in their new attitude. I do not mean the risk of promiscuity that +moralists raise whenever the birth-control question comes up. +Promiscuity, I believe, is a matter of taste and character and not +knowledge. Too, a woman who takes the trouble to inform herself on +these matters and who spends money to protect herself is going to +be smart enough to use discrimination. She's not going to be as +casual as the dumb girl who doesn't know what she's getting into. + + Nor do I howl race-suicide and say that the country will go to +the dogs because all the big families are in the lower classes. The +lower classes have always had big families. Let them share in the +knowledge, too. Many of the women would be grateful for birth- +control data. + + But I will give you an example. Not long ago a young girl came +in to see me. She was about 29, attractive, intelligent, earning +her own living. She wanted an abortion. She had the money to pay +for it and she said she wanted the best one she could get. + + I always ask the history of these cases, but it happened that +I knew this girl. Her lover was a young businessman in the same +town, handsome, healthy and with a promising future. + + "Why don't you marry, Dorothy, and have this child?" I asked. +"I know that when you started this affair your lover was still +married, although he was separated from his wife and the divorce +was pending. But now there's no obstacle to marriage. You're both +earning good salaries. You could afford a child. It would be better +for you. It isn't natural for two adults such as you and Bruce to +continue living with your families and have a clandestine +relationship. It's hard on you. It's making you nervous." + + She shrugged her shoulders. "I know," she said. "But Bruce is +panicky about marriage. He had one, and it failed. And he hates +responsibility. I'm not sure that I'd be a good wife, either. I +don't want children and I hate domesticity." + + "You're spoiled," I told her. "And even if it weren't for the +child, you ought to marry. Marriage isn't such an outdated +institution as you young folks seem to believe. There are plenty of +reasons for it, especially from the woman's standpoint. You've got +too much to risk. Here you are sneaking into my office and jumping +whenever you hear a door slam. And if I do this, you'll have to +stay in hiding for about 10 days, I don't think there's any danger, +because you're a healthy young woman. But you'll have to keep it a +secret, of course, and that's going to be a strain." + + "I know all that, too," she replied. "But Bruce and I agreed +long ago that if anything happened I was to get an abortion and +we'd split the expenses. I can't go back on that now. I'm not going +to pull the weeping-woman stunt and sandbag him into marriage. I'll +admit I'd like to be married. I'm tired of this hole-in-the-corner +business. I'm as much to blame as Bruce is for what's happened and +I'm not going to have him suspect that I arranged this to trick him +into marriage." + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 17 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "You don't need to Sandbag him, as you phrase it," I +protested. "If you're in love with each other, surely you want +something more than this. You can't go on forever having just an +affair. You can be subtle about this and arouse his sense of +possession. A lot of the happiest marriages didn't start with +romantic proposals on the bended knee. People need to have a few +responsibilities. A little encouragement and he'd be proud of the +child and proud of his marriage. And a child would hold you +together." + + "Maybe," she said, with a touch of bitterness. "And maybe not. +He had a child by his first marriage, and his wife had an abortion +when she was pregnant the second time. Children didn't hold that +marriage together. Maybe he'd be proud of me; maybe not. But I'm +too proud to make the first move. I've bragged too much about how +I, can take care of myself and how I want to stand on my own feet." + + She smiled at me. "And don't say that Bruce isn't any good +either, doctor, I happen to love him. I'll admit that he has his +faults and he's selfish. Maybe that's the fault of his first wife. +Maybe it's my fault for spoiling him. She wanted too much and asked +for it and I ask for too little. Maybe sometime we will marry. But +I'm not going to play the helpless innocent to arrange it. I don't +blame him for not wanting to marry me. His family disapproves of me +because my reputation isn't exactly unspotted. His friends don't +like me. It would make trouble if he married me -- so why should +he? This way he can take sex as an adventure." + + "It's an unhealthy state for you," I said. "You're getting to +be an emotional, nervous type." + + "I know," she interrupted impatiently, "and wondering what's +going to happen all the time doesn't make me any more calm. But +then neither does having a series of casual dates and keeping +almost strangers from 'making' me. That or an affair are the two +choices I have until some man decides to make an honest woman of +me. And i'm too proud to use any of the old gags to get a proposal. +I'm used to working as a man and getting a man's salary and being +respected as an equal." + + "You're not an equal now," I told her. "Your lover is paying +half the expenses but you are the one who'll be away from work, +who'll suffer the pain, the fear of discovery. In sex, you'll never +be man's equal. You've got to turn your weaknesses into strength. +But it's your own business, of course." + + "Sure," she said, "and if you don't want to do this, doctor, +I'll go out of town to a strange physician and use a fake name and +a fake story." + + "I'll do it," I promised, "but I don't want you back again as +a customer." + + I didn't either. At first, as I said, I did abortions for the +money in them. Later I did them because I felt I was doing the +right thing. Maybe in this case I made a mistake. The girl got +along fine. But later on she told me that after it was all over, + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 18 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +her lover said that he wished she hadn't had to do it, "And then," +she added bitterly, "he said very quickly, 'but of course I knew +that it would be impossible for you to have the child.' And I +agreed that it would have been. You see, he didn't add that he +wanted to marry me." + + But if all doctors had refused to perform the illegal +operation, he probably would have married her. And they might have +been happy. On the other hand, she might have tried some home +method and inflicted an irreparable injury. + + That's one type of patient. There was another in which I had +no qualms at all. A young teacher with a promising future came to +me. She was about 32, and did not have a very attractive face, but +she had one of the most beautiful bodies I have ever seen. And +bodies are no novelty to a doctor. + + Furthermore, she was naturally a passionate woman. But because +of her position she had to be very discreet and lead a circumspect +life. She told me that she had had sexual intercourse only two or +three times in her entire life. + + That summer she had gone to a farm to spend a week. A cousin, +who was almost an idiot, was staying there. He came into her room +one night. The teacher had one of those sudden bursts of passion +that occasionally overcome women who are forced to live suppressed +lives. She had intercourse several times with her cousin. And, +unfortunately, she was caught. + + Even had the man been fit mentally to be a father, it would +have ruined the woman's career to give birth to the child. She +would have had to marry her cousin, and that would have forced her +resignation. + + "I hate him now," she told me. "I'd rather die than marry him. +I just went crazy, that's all. And disgrace of any sort would ruin +me in my profession. I couldn't go somewhere else and start all +over again. Teachers can't do that. The Slightest stain on my +character would prevent me from getting another job." + + "Stop worrying," I said. "Everything is going to be all +right." Later on she married a fellow teacher. She came to me +before the marriage. + + "I haven't told him about it," she explained. "He knows I'm +not a virgin and he can't expect me to be -- at my age. That +doesn't make any difference. But I wonder if I should tell him the +whole story." + + "Don't," I advised her. "You paid the penalty for it. There's +no reason why you can't have children. No one can prove that you +had an abortion. Forget the whole thing." + + + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 19 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + V. THEY AREN'T SO EASY + + But those sample cases were several years after my first +abortion. I'll admit I was a little panicky then. I was an +inexperienced doctor and such operations were more dangerous then. +The death rate among women with abortions was much higher than the +deaths in childbirth. If the girl died, I would go to prison and my +life would be ruined. But I needed the money. + + "I might as well go to prison as starve," I thought, and I +went ahead. + + This girl was far different from the poor teacher who had +killed herself. A married man had got her into trouble and was +paying for her operation. She didn't seem worried about it. In +fact, she seemed rather proud of her affair with a prominent man. + + "For God's sake, try to get it through her head that this is +serious business," the intermediary said. "I know that you'll keep +your month shut, but that fool girl hasn't any sense. Tell her +she'll go to jail. Tell her anything to keep her from talking." + + Her lover was married to a wealthy woman, and it was necessary +to keep the story from the wife. + + "She'd divorce him in a minute," the editor who brought me the +case said. "She's 'strait-laced. And to do X justice he isn't the +playboy type. He's got several children and he's crazy about them +and he loves and respects his wife. He went on a party with two or +three other businessmen. It started out as a stag drinking party +and someone suggested that they bring in some women. They did, and +this girl, Dot, was one of them. She was X's girl. Everybody got +drunk, and it wound up as a hotel party." + + I grained. "The usual story. Only this time. it was a man who. +got betrayed." + + "Exactly. X said that Dot, was a good sport. She isn't a +chippy or anything like that. She just went along for the party, +and it wasn't her idea to stay all night and she wasn't paid for +it. X is about 40 and he's always behaved himself pretty well. He +was flattered at a young girl liking him and he said that he wanted +to see her again. He forgot all about it, and then she telephoned +him. He felt that he owed her something for keeping quiet about the +party so he went out to see her, thinking that he'd take her a box +of candy and apologize again for the jam they'd been In. After +that, he saw a lot of her. He told me that he knew she was cheap +and ignorant but somehow that was what fascinated him. He'd seen +too much of over-civilized, inhibited women, and it was a relief to +find a girl who was pleased with whatever he did for her, who +enjoyed sex for itself alone and who gave him a good time. Pagan is +too lovely a word for it and animal sounds a little too vulgar. But +whatever she had, it went over with X." + + Dot, in her way, was one of the most unusual girts I've ever +met -- and in my business I've seen all kinds. I could see why she +had attracted a sedate, prominent businessman, and I could see why +she puzzled the editor. + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 20 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + Pagan was not the right word for her. That somehow implies +unspoiled naturalness. Dot used make-up far too liberally. She +curled her black hair tightly. She drank and she smoked. She was +not childish, she was not innocent and yet she was not vulgar. Her +idea when drinking was to keep on until she got soused. She took +her hangovers philosophically. She never seemed envious, never +blamed anyone, was always good-natured, enjoyed every treat with +fresh pleasure. + + I suppose she was mentally a little deficient, but sometimes +I've thought it would be a better world if we were all more like +Dot. Her happy-go-lucky attitude made her helpless and at the same +time provided a protection. People wanted to do things for her +because she did not clamor for her rights. + + She did not envy her lover his wealth or think that he had +hurt her. In fact, she seemed a little sorry for him. + + "He doesn't have much fun," she told me. "His wife is too +good. + + I do not like very good women." + + I smiled. "Why?" I asked. + + She looked a little astonished that I did not understand. +"Good women want to boss because they think they're always right. +They won't let people alone. When I was little, people were always +telling me to be good. Whatever I really wanted to do wasn't good +for me. And it was always bad people who did nice things for me. +And never asked anything in return." + + Oddly enough, though, it was by telling her that people would +think her lover was not a good man that I got her to promise +secrecy about the whole business. She realized that it was +important for him to appear "good." + + X came to me when it was all over and paid me. "I felt like a +cad not coming down with her," he said. "But Ben (Ben was the +editor) insisted that he'd arrange everything. And I guess he's +right when he says it's best for me not to see Dot again. I hate to +do it. It's like slapping a child. Dot's a sweet kid. A lot of +girls would be howling for money and making trouble and wanting +marriage. I've never seen anyone like her." + + "And you won't again." + + "I know," he hesitated again. "She does things that in any +other woman would disgust me. You know the sort of things I mean. +But they seem all right coming from her. She pulls tricks that I +know she must have learned from prostitutes. And with her they seem +an innocent desire to give as much pleasure as possible. I +sometimes think that if she wanted me to, I'd give up everything +and marry her." + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 21 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + But he wouldn't, of course. It was the fact that she made no +demands of any kind that made him feel guilty, and he got a feeling +of virtue from toying with the idea of what he'd do if she wanted +him to. He liked to think of giving up his prestige, his money, his +respectability, as a gallant gesture. But if it came to brass +tacks, he would have decided that she was just another gold-digger +and howled like the dickens. + + Since then, I've heard a lot of men make the same curtain +speeches. Sometimes I've wanted to say exactly what I thought about +them. Sometimes it's amusing. A man comes to me to arrange for an +illegal operation. He's sweating blood. Maybe he really loves the +girl and he's worried about her. He's worried about himself, too. +And he's in a hurry. He and the girl may have waited for a month, +waiting to see if she actually were pregnant. As soon as they find +out, they're in a hurry to get the abortion over, especially the +man, since he's afraid the girl will, change her mind. + + The man is in a panic-stricken state until I agree to do it. +For once he has to eat humble pie. No matter how well he pays me +he's asking me a favor and I let him know that. The law can't do +anything to his girl for the operation. But it can do something to +me. + + He worries until everything is over and the girl is all right. +Then the cold sweat dries off and there is a reaction. Probably the +girl cools off a little. Her, scare is over, too, but her nerves +have been shot to pieces and the usual effect is that she's +irritable and quarrelsome. What she wants is a lot of tenderness, +but the man in his relief tries to laugh the whole business off. So +the man begins to think that he hasn't cut a very impressive +figure, and he wants to justify himself. + + Usually he talks a lot about what he would have been willing +to do. He figures he's safe in doing that. I don't mean that he's +always a cad, because he isn't. Men are usually a little frightened +by pregnancy. It's one thing they can't quite understand, in spite +of the graphic descriptions of childbirth that have been written by +masculine authors. He's had his nervous ordeal, too, and he'd like +to forget it but a nagging feeling of being made to appear a coward +and a fool makes him talk about it, sometimes to the girl and often +to the doctor. + + Some of the men who send girls from other towns and have +friends make all the arrangements tell me that they'd have been +glad to see me personally beforehand but they couldn't get away +from business or they felt that it was too big a risk when secrecy +was necessary. And some of the men get a little sentimental abut +the unborn child and say that if circumstances had been different +they would have been glad to do the proper thing. + + Even when they foot the entire bill and make the arrangements, +they sometimes have a feeling that they haven't exactly done their +share in this and that makes them angry. And they feel that they've +lost caste. + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 22 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + I've seen a lot of couples who were genuinely fond of each +other quarrel bitterly after the worst apparently was over, simply +because neither of them knew enough to allow for the inevitable +aftermath of such an ordeal. In the first place the man usually +minimizes what the girl is going through. A pregnant married woman +gets a lot of attention. She complains about her health, she goes +regularly to the doctor, she is petted and pampered. She gets a +special diet. She isn't allowed to do any heavy work. She is +honored by stork showers. Her husband is supposed to be especially +gentle with her. And usually he keeps up a pose, at least, even if +he is having an affair with another woman while his wife is +pregnant. He knows if he doesn't, he'll get hell from his wife's +relatives and her friends; and while men are freer from the +domination of society than women, they're just as particular, if +not more so, about cutting a good figure in the eyes of the world. + + It makes me laugh sometimes when I read masculine authors who +say wives are too strict with their husbands, just to please their +vanity and to cut a good appearance in the eyes of their friends. +Those men ought to be in my trade for a while and see some of the +things that go on under the surface. + + The girl who has an abortion doesn't dare complain about her +nausea, or her pains, or her dizziness. She has to pretend to be +bright and happy for fear people will suspect what is wrong with +her. And she has to go through an operation that is a severe +nervous shock. An abortion is not the easy thing that people who +haven't had one seem to think it is. Married mothers talk loudly +enough about how they went through the valley of the shadow of +death for their children. + + But these women can go to a good hospital and have the best +doctors and can lie in bed for the proper time afterward. And +they've got the child after they're through. The girl who has an +abortion frequently goes back to work or to her daily life before +she's ready. She can't explain too much mysterious absence. Her +first reaction is one of relief. Then she wants to talk about it +and get sympathy. Usually the only person she can talk to is her +lover. Naturally, he isn't fond of listening to her go on for hours +about how sick and scared she was. It makes him sound like a cad +for getting her into this condition. And sometimes he worries a +little about the money and that makes her mad and sometimes he +tries to justify himself by making her share the blame. If he's any +sort of a man, he feels that he was a worm for getting the girl +pregnant. + + But the girl isn't in any mood for arguing about whose fault +it was. What she wants is to be told that she is an unsung heroine, +that her lover appreciates the gallant way she went through it, +that she was humiliated by being asked a lot of questions, by +having to admit that she was, to all outside appearances, a scarlet +woman having a criminal operation. She wants to be told that her +lover admires her for what she did and loves her all the more. +Above all else, she doesn't want to have flung at her what she +usually knows, that the affair is not serious enough and their love +not deep enough for her and her lover to throw everything overboard +and go away together, get respective divorces or eliminate any +other obstacles to marriage. + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 23 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + She realizes the situation and that's why she went through a +nasty, disagreeable business. But right at the moment she wants to +pretend that this is a grand passion and worth any amount of +suffering and humiliation. + + For despite what the moralists say, a lot of "nice" women have +abortions. When you consider that doctors estimate the abortion +rate in any city as being about five times the reported birth rate, +you must realize that all these cases cannot come from the dregs of +society such as gang molls and prostitutes. As a matter of fact, +few prostitutes have abortions. They are too smart, and frequently +they get so they cannot have children, even. Then they want them +Nature has made them sterile. + + Sometimes I think that these after-quarrels are the saddest +part of the whole business. Usually the couples are reconciled +because they are genuinely fond of each other. But sometimes they +aren't, and there is bitterness over what nature intended as a +means of bringing a man and woman closer together. + + Usually my clients try to bring me an iron-clad reason why I +should perform an abortion. Sometimes I know they're lying. +Sometimes it simply happens that an affair is drifting to a close. +And at the wrong psychological moment, an accident happens, love +has died or is dying and neither the man nor woman wants marriage. +Sometimes, as Dorothy frankly admitted, the man is not the marrying +kind. More and more young and eligible men seem to be panicky about +marriage. And it is in these cases that emotional disturbances +almost invariably follow the abortion. The man and woman resent an +accident disturbing the smooth course of their love affair. Their +love is not old enough and deep enough to stand much strain, and +when the emergency is over there is a quarrel. However, I do not +moralize about such affairs. I have seen many affairs that lasted +as long as most modern marriages. Some of the couples drifted into +marriage as they grew older. And I have about as much respect for +such liaisons as for a marriage. Frequently there is more honesty, +and more fidelity, and more genuine love than in the average legal +union. + + Not long ago, I heard a young girl say glibly, "Oh, abortions +are nothing. I know a girl who had one in the morning and played +bridge that night." She may have played bridge that night, but I'll +bet she was gritting her teeth under her smile. If she did it, she +was a fool. She should have been in bed. I'll bet that after her +guest's left she burst into nervous tears. And probably for weeks +before and after the abortion it seemed to her that the +conversation was filled with joking references to pregnant women. +The truth is very rarely evident in such matters. Naturally the +girl is not going to talk about what a hard time she had. That girl +obviously had had the knife used on her. She may have felt pretty +good at the time and then weeks or maybe months later suffered +pains and discovered that she had not escaped so easily. The knife, +I maintain even in the face of those who still use it, is +dangerous. + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 24 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + VI. I HAVE A PROSTITUTE PATIENT + + After Dot, my next case was a country woman who already was in +a serious condition. Her husband, a hulking man with more +stinginess than sense, had given her a crude abortion with an +umbrella rib without even sterilizing it. Naturally the woman got +an infection. I brought her to the hospital and did what I could. +But she died. The man tried to save a small amount of money and +lost his wife. + + He tried to avoid paying me, saying that I had caused a +useless hospital bill and his wife had died anyway. But I +threatened him with complete exposure of the case and he came +across. I had no pity for him. He was the sort of man who refuses +to either restrain himself or use any sort of precaution. His wife +was a small, dainty red-haired woman, and he was a big man, too big +for her. They were mismated even if he had not been utterly callous +in his treatment of her. He could be punished only through his +purse. + + They had four small boys, the oldest only eight years old, and +his wife had rebelled against her fifth pregnancy. I gathered that +she had never really loved her husband, but he had been crazy about +her and had argued her into marriage. Later he treated with +contempt the very refinement and daintiness that had first +attracted him, boasting that there were many women who would be +glad to have him as a lover. He seemed to think it his wife's fault +that she had so many children. + + "She got pregnant when I just looked at her," he said. + + He married again a few months later but I never saw him again. + + I managed to save a neighbor of his who had given herself an +abortion and had a hemorrhage. I packed her and put her to bed. + + Some of the crude methods used are laugh-provoking; some are +tragic. I heard of a man who thrust a glass. tube into his wife's +uterus and pumped her full of air with a bicycle pump. But the +history of such cases is not completely written when the abortion +is over. The damage may not appear until the woman is pregnant +again. Women come into my office and complain of backaches, pains +in the side, general weakness. They say that they've been taking +patent medicines with no luck. Eventually I learn that they have +had miscarriages and I suspect that they were artificial. + + However, I've known of natural abortions that left no bad +aftereffects. They may have been caused by sudden shocks, by undue +exertion, by a jolt, by a nervous condition. + + It wasn't necessary for me to advertise that I was willing to +step over the line to help the fallen. Such things get about. A +pimp soon came in to arrange for an operation for his girl. + + One of the silliest objections to legalizing abortions that I +have ever heard is that it would spread vice. Crusaders have been +trying since the world began to stop vice, and the oldest +profession still flourishes. It will continue to do so. Personally, + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 25 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +I'm in favor of it, with strict medical supervision. I would rather +that my young son go to a bawdy house, where a smart girl would +wise him up to the use of contraceptives, than have him +experimenting with some dumb virgin or a pick-up. I think he run's +less risk of disease if he goes to a high-priced house. He is in +less danger of being yanked into an undesirable marriage or being +gold-dug or blackmailed. + + Not long ago a boy was brought to me with a bad case of +gonorrhea, His father was tremendously shocked. The boy had tried +to keep it a secret until he grew too ill to, disguise it. + + "I've warned him and warned him," the father said. + + "That's the trouble," I replied. "You warned him against the +wrong thing." + + The father was so goody-goody that he wouldn't face the facts. +He wouldn't admit that a boy of 17 has sexual desires and it is +natural for him to satisfy them. The boy had been warned against +prostitutes, and instead of going to a house he went to a "high +class girl" who was "giving away a million dollars worth of it +free." The girl was also giving away a lot of valuable medical +business. She didn't tell the boy, of course, that she had the +disease. Instead she let him buy her some cheap gin and they went +out for a ride in the country. + + He might have got a dose at a $3 house, but I doubt it. If the +girl saw that he was dumb she'd wise him up about prophylactics. +And there wouldn't have been so much risk of the boy's trying to +make some young girl in his own set while he was diseased, if he +went to such places when he wanted only physical relief. I'm not +advising young men to go to prostitutes, but sometimes they are the +lesser of two evils, + + The pimp made arrangements for the operation in a business- +like fashion and brought his girl down. She took it for granted as +one of the risks of her profession, although some girls in the +business raise hell if they're caught. I had no scruples about +performing the operation. I didn't feel then that I was spreading +vice and I don't feel that way now. It seems to me doubly important +that a house girl should not give birth to a child. Some of the +girls marry their pimps and get out of the profession when they +become pregnant. But if they don't marry, it seems to me a crime +against society to let the child be born. The girl may have a +disease that seems to be cured and the child may be born horribly +deformed. Its father may have been diseased and the girl did not +know it. + + There have been some romantic tales written -- and some of +them may have a foundation of fact -- about beautiful young girls +reared in convents on the wages of sin. There have been more +unsavory stories of such young girls being pressed into service +when they were young; of children who led miserable lives because +of their mothers' occupation. Naturally, the girls usually cannot + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 26 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +name the fathers of their children, so no help would come from that +source. For half a dozen reasons, I don't think a prostitute should +give birth to a child. And after she's pregnant, there is no time +for lecturing on why she shouldn't have allowed herself to get in +that condition. + + Fortunately, Violet had escaped disease, so there were no +complications from that source. She derived an ironic amusement +from her condition, but resented having to pay out hard-earned +money for the operation. + + "It's a helluva world," she said cheerfully. "I work all day +at this job and then for fun I get knocked up." + + She told me in private that her pimp was not the father, but +that she didn't want him to know it. + + "He's always bragging about how good he is to me in giving me +a rest when I get off work, and it would make him madder than hell +if he knew I stepped out on him," she said. + + The next girl I got from the same house wasn't nearly so calm. +She had a hot temper, and she was wanting to get virtually every +man in town to pay for the job. Violet brought her down and laughed +at her. + + "Fat chance you'd have proving anything," she jeered. "You'd +have to say, It's either Jones or Smith or Brown or Thompson if it +isn't some man I never saw before.' Just keep your mouth shut and +don't be so damned lazy." + + I got quite a lot of that trade thereafter. Later, I tried to +discourage as much of it as I could. The girls might be recognized +coming into my office. They couldn't pay much, and I was out after +higher class trade. It was bad business having them sit around in +the waiting room, although most of them were well-dressed, quiet- +looking girls. + + However, I will say that I didn't have to pamper along their +nerves and I didn't have to keep soothing them and impressing the +need for secrecy. Prostitutes have so many tough breaks that one +more didn't mean much to them. + + One day a dainty, petite little blonde came in. She was +tearful and indignant at the same time. She had such a short vagina +that douches did her no good. + + "I can't get to the bathroom quick enough," she said, "and +that fool of a husband I've got won't do anything." + + She had had one child and didn't want another one. Her husband +hated the use of contraceptives, and they were constantly +squabbling. + + "I tell him I'll leave him and I will," she said. "He doesn't +have to worry! The darned fool got me half-drunk or I wouldn't be +this way." + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 27 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + She wanted a sterilization operation, but I refused to give it +to her. "You may want a child later on," I told her. "And then +You'll blame me." + + She told me about a friend of her's who was in somewhat the +same position. + + "She wants her husband to be made sterile," the woman told me. +"I've got sense enough not to ask that. But I think I'll get a +divorce. Jim is an ideal husband in other ways. But it isn't worth +it. I can't get any pleasure out of sex because I'm afraid of the +consequences. And I keep resenting Jim's attitude. He'll promise, +and then at the last minute he says that it's no fun if he has to +use anything." + + "Send him in to me," I said. + + I didn't bother him with any lectures on the mental strain he +was forcing on his wife. Instead I said, "Which would you rather +have, a frigid wife or a little less pleasure because you're +sensible and use precautions? If you're not careful, this abortion +will finish the job." + + He really loved his wife, and this warning frightened him. + + "I didn't know whether she really was telling the truth," he +said. "We had the first child because we wanted it. That's been +more than two years ago, and nothing has happened since. Part of +the time I've used contraceptives and part of the time I haven't. +I thought," he added, "that she was, just getting a lot of funny +notions from some of those cats she plays around with, and that I'd +better not humor her." + + "Better try humoring her," I told him. "It's a doctor's +prescription." + + "I will, doctor," he promised. "I didn't realize that she was +telling me the truth about the douches. She wouldn't let me go to +the doctor with her and I didn't know but what she was just panicky +or lazy. I have a friend whose wife is so sloppy that he has to +force her to go to the bathroom. Otherwise, she'll just lay there. +She wants him to do everything." + + He looked at me. "I don't suppose Anna told you. I'd been +married before?" + + "No," I answered, beginning to take an interest in Jim. It +looked as if there were another side to the story. I'd believed be +was merely thoughtless to what I deemed an almost criminal point. + + "I was divorced from my first wife," he said. "And the reason +I fell in love with Anna was because she seemed to be so gay and +wholesome about sex." + + "A man's idea of a wholesome attitude toward sex frequently +means that the girl is either dumb or too trusting," I interrupted. +"A woman who runs the risk of unwelcome pregnancy rather than + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 28 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +insist that a man use artificial methods to prevent conception is +going to become nervous and irritable sooner or later. A wholesome +attitude is one where you can discuss this matter and arrive at a +decision agreeable to you both." + + He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't mean that. I'll explain. +When my first wife, Audrey, and I were on our honeymoon, we went to +a quaint inn up in the mountains. We had a big room with a +fireplace and a bearskin rug in front of it. I wanted to make love +to her on the rug. She objected; said it made her feel like a dog. +Later I wanted to make love to her in a meadow filled with flowers. +She thought it was beastly. When we went to visit her people or my +people, she refused to have anything to do with me because they +might hear us. And she was always afraid the servants might hear +something." + + "It began to give me inhibitions," he said frankly. "I'd been +brought up in a fairly strict household myself. Audrey's attitude +ruined our marriage and my love for her. Her idea of the proper +approach to sex took away most of my pleasure. Finally we got a +divorce. I was gun-shy of marriage until I met Anna. She Seemed so +free from complexes that I guess I went to extremes the other way. + + I remembered Dot who had been so "natural" according to her +lover. I found myself telling Jim about her. He stared at me. + + "I knew her slightly," he said. "You mean Dow' and he gave her +real name. + + It was my turn to be a little startled. "Yes, but I didn't +mean to violate a confidence. I hope you'll keep this a secret. I +didn't suppose you'd ever heard of the girl." + + He smiled a little grimly. "You're not violating any +confidence. Or at least you're not spilling any beans. I knew all +about it. X's wife is my sister. But didn't you know Dot is dead?" + + "Good God, no," I exclaimed. "What was the matter? The +operation was a success. I'm positive of that." + + "Oh, the operation was all right. And X, like a good boy, went +back to his wife and was the model husband. He gave Dot some money, +but since he became the virtuous spouse he didn't feel that he +should keep on paying money to a woman he no longer saw. And Dot +was too good looking and too carefree to hold a job long. So she +drifted from one man to another, and finally one of them strangled +her with her own silk stocking. He caught her being unfaithful with +another man." + + "I don't remember seeing anything about it in the newspapers," +I said. + + "Oh, it wasn't in this town," Jim told me. "But she'd kept a +card of my brother-in-law's all these years. So they notified him +of her death. He was in a funk. He was afraid they'd learn of the +old affair. So he sent me to keep him out of it, arrange for the + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 29 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +funeral and send her some flowers, anonymously. I told the +officials that he'd helped to get her a job once. And I managed to +get her a quiet funeral and send her some flowers without mixing +him up in it." + + He was more impressed by my connecting Dot with his wishes +regarding his wife than by any lecture I could have given him. I +saw his wife later and she seemed perfectly happy. She told me that +her married life was now perfect. + + I had not lied when I told Jim that abortions sometimes made +women frigid. The same thing often happens with childbirth. Memory +of the pain soon fades, but there is a vague emotional hangover, +especially if the woman feels she has been unfairly treated. Women +who are naturally a little under-sexed may have their emotions +drained by the experience. + + On the other hand, sometimes it makes women more passionate. +They feel that they know the worst that can happen to them. And +usually they have acquired better knowledge of birth-control +measures, either from the doctor or from realization that previous +carelessness must be stopped. + + I talked to a woman recently who had been having an affair for +several years. Her nerves were shaky. She asked me several discreet +but leading questions about abortion's. + + "Do you need one?" I asked bluntly. + + She shook her head. "I don't think so, but this is one of my +worrying days. I worry constantly for about the last half of my +period. I feel safe during menstruation and for some reason feel +quite safe for the first week or so thereafter. I suppose it's +relief from having passed another period without danger. But along +about this time I get nervous and wonder if something could have +gone wrong and figure out what I'd do if anything happened. +Sometimes I think I'd feel better if I were caught and had to go +through an operation. Then Id know that there is no fool-proof +method of contraception. I'd know what to do in case anything went +wrong again and just what it would be like. And I could decide once +and for all whether to go on with this affair." + + "I don't see how women stand it," I said frankly. "Of course, +we doctors have our worries, too. But we've got a good stock alibi +ready if anything slips and we get paid well for our worrying. It's +bad enough for married women. However, most of them plan to have +children when they marry. But girls like you --." + + "Some of us don't stand it." She gave me a wry smile. "I could +give you a list of some who haven't borne up under it too well. The +thing that saves the majority of modern mistresses from nervous +breakdowns is that the affairs don't last more than a year or so, +and then the couple either marries or they break up and the girl is +so sick of uncertainty that she marries the first man who comes +along with a proposal in his hand." + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 30 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + I grinned. "And by then, I suppose they're so tired of +worrying that it's almost a relief when they get pregnant and stay +that way." + + She nodded. "That's why you see a lot of attractive young +businesswomen -- girls in their late 20's and early 30's -- who +have been going around with equally attractive men suddenly marry +sappy-looking eggs who can offer them a home and security but no +romance. The ones who don't -- well, a friend of mine is in a +hospital now recovering from a nervous collapse. Other girls drink +too much. I know one who has taken to drugs." + + I never have become calloused to hearing stories like that. Of +course, I took them much more seriously when I first started to +practice. For a while it seemed to me that I was peculiarly lucky +in being first too poor and then too busy to have much to do with +sex except in a professional way. + + + VII. MY OWN ROMANCE CRASHES + + After I had launched myself into the illegal side of my +profession I began to take it for granted. Of course, I solemnly +warned my sub-resa patients of the danger of talking. But my name +was mentioned because many of my later patients came to me on the +recommendation of friends who said that I was discreet, efficient +and reasonable in price. + + I didn't object, because such advice was given in confidence +to persons who were not likely to broadcast the information in the +wrong quarters. + + However, it was not until I met Rose that I saw how the change +in my professional attitude might effect my private life. + + I had more money now, and could afford to have more +recreation. I had a bank account, and I was slowly paying my father +back the loan he had made me. I felt that I was entitled to a +little fun. So I looked up a friend of college days and he invited +me to a party. Rose was there. + + It was a case of immediate mutual attraction. I was girl- +starved and I was still idealistic as far as my personal life was +concerned. That was in the days of the short skirts. Rose wore a +frivolous blue taffeta frock coming just to her knees. Above it her +blond curls, blue eyes and rosebud mouth looked like those of a big +doll. Nowadays I probably would dismiss her as insipid. Then I +thought she was the prettiest girl I had ever seen. + + I had just acquired a car and was very proud of it. I took +Rose home. I think she was thrilled by her conquest. Women like to +display their power, a trait that frequently gets them into +trouble. They will encourage a man just to flatter their vanity and +then try to retreat when he gets serious. + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 31 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + I gave Rose a big rush. My intentions were honorable, as the +old-fashioned phrase has it. I thought it was a good idea for a +doctor to be married and I thought Rose would make me a perfect +wife. I see now how foolish that was and how lucky I was to escape +her, but at the time I was youthful enough to consider beauty all- +sufficient. + + I met her father, a pompous businessman, and her mother, a +minor society woman. The whole thing seemed ideal. I would get a +young and pretty wife. I would be allied with a respectable family, +and that would help me in my profession. A few women like a good- +looking young doctor, but the majority of the patients want a +middle-aged or elderly man with a lot of dignity. The young doctor +may be a better physician, but patients believe that the older man +can be relied upon more because of his experience. However, +marriage lends an Aura of respectability. + + Mothers feel better when their children are being examined by +a gray-haired man with the manner of a priest at confession. And +with men there is it jealousy of a young doctor. I think they would +prefer the old Chinese custom of having eunuchs to wait upon their +women. I have had women tell me that their husbands and lovers were +jealous because "strange doctors" give them examinations. I know of +such cases in my own practice, when men reluctantly gave permission +to have their wives or sweethearts examined, or treated, or even +submit to an abortion. They seemed to feel that in some fashion I +have ravished them or had a sexual experience that they had been +denied. + + But to go back to my romance. I paid court in the traditional +fashion. I sent Rose flowers and candy. I took her to the theater +and to parties. I restricted myself to a few kisses and embraces. +I intended my marriage to be free from any emotional hangover. I +wanted a virgin bride, and I wanted an aroma of orange blossoms +around everything. + + I had been going with Rose for about six weeks when she +telephoned that her mother wanted to see me. Rose let me in the +house and avoided my hasty kiss. She looked pale and somehow +indignant. + + "Aha," I thought, "the old lady's been inquiring about my +intentions and Rose is peeved because I haven't popped the +question. I'll soon put that right." + + I felt a little irritated as I smiled in an encouraging +fashion at Rose. The Garners seemed to be rushing things a little. +I wanted to propose and receive her acceptance in the best 19th +Century romantic style -- my literature was old-fashioned -- and +then go to her father to ask for her hand. I was in favor of +marrying as soon as possible, but I wanted to arrange the whole +business in my own way. + + Mrs. Garner rose from her chair when I came into the room. She +didn't invite me to sit down. + + "I'm sorry to have to say this to you, Martin," she began. "I +understand from Rose that you have always treated her with respect +--" + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 32 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "Of course," I said hurriedly. "I want to marry Rose, Mrs. +Garner. Perhaps I should have declared my intentions sooner, but I +was not sure Rose returned my affection. I can support a wife. I +haven't much money now, but my practice is growing. If she's +willing to start humbly --" + + Her face hardened. "Don't add insult to injury, Dr. Avery. I +know all about your profession. I didn't want to have to drag that +in. Fortunately, you hadn't mentioned it to Rose. I have not told +her the details. As for her affections, she will get over this +foolish infatuation quickly enough. I have, caught it in time, +thank heavens!" + + I was stunned. "What's the matter with my profession?" I +demanded. "I'm a doctor. I'm not a very good one yet, but I'm +making a living. It's an honorable calling." + + "You," she was almost stuttering with cold rage. "You're a +child murderer! My husband told me all about it. And you want to +drag our daughter into the filth and slime of your work! You who +help the hardened creatures of the world with their sins -- only +you are worse than they are. If it were not for people like you, +they might reform." + + "It isn't murder," I retorted angrily, forgetting that I had +once very nearly shared her view. "It isn't murder any more than it +was murder when you and your husband decided not to have any more. +children after Rose was born." + + "Get out," she shouted furiously. "I won't bandy words with +you. Get out, and stay away from my daughter!" + + I got out. I was mad enough not to try to see Rose, either. +I'd wanted me drama in my romance and I got it. And in my anger I'd +hit the sorest point in the armor of the righteous. + + There are very few women who want their children, and there +are fewer yet who want an unlimited number. I've met a few young +wives who wanted children immediately, but most of them don't want +to be tied down. They want to arrange their children. That's +reasonable and natural. And the crusaders usually don't have many +children. If they did, they wouldn't have time to run other +people's business. A lot of them are equally indignant about the +large, families among the poor. They're not so much against big +families as they are against the parents having any fun. + + I used to marvel at the twisted, perverted forms that sex +took. Nowadays I marvel that there is as much naturalness connected +With sex a's there is. + + Mrs. Garner hated me because I helped girls out of their +mistakes. She wanted them to suffer because she hadn't enjoyed +herself. Probably she was one of those unfortunate women who spend +the early part of their lives dreading pregnancy so that they never +enjoy the sex act, the sort of woman who thinks it somehow cheap to +be caught on her wedding night. Then with her menopause, she +probably found out that she'd waited too late for sex enjoyment. +Either her passion had died a natural death or her husband was +impotent. + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 33 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + Since the time when Mrs. Garner arbitrarily decided that I was +not a fit companion for her daughter because I faced the facts +about sex, I have seen a lot of peculiar things and developed more +tolerance. Then I was furious at her. Oddly enough I probably +treated-her daughter with more respect than most other men would +have, partly because I was still young and idealistic and partly as +a reaction from the sordid part of my business. + + I would have made Rose a much cleaner and more romantic +husband than some man who had not seen the results of sexual +abnormalities and irregularities and flouting of conventions. + + Eventually, Mrs. Garner married Rose to a small-time +businessman who made a household drudge out of her. Rose grew fat, +peevish and complaining. She came to me several times with minor +ailments. She didn't have good health. She virtually ruined herself +by taking too strong medicines and using too harsh disinfectants. +I could have saved her all that. But her mother was a good woman! +Afterward, I was thankful that I'd escaped Rose. She and her mother +drove her husband half mad complaining because he didn't make +enough money. Finally he became a habitual drunkard. He was weak +and so was Rose; and Mrs. Garngr ruined their lives by prying and +dictating. Rose felt that she committed a crime when she became +pregnant and felt equally guilty when she tried to prevent +conception. + + But that day, of course, I didn't know anything about that. I +went on a binge and wound up in a house of prostitution. + + And there, ironically enough, I found myself in a room with +Violet, the first house girl I'd had for a patient. + + "What the hell are you doing here, doc?" she demanded. "I'm a +cash customer," I laughed. "What do you think I'm doing, picking +daisies?" + + "You're drunk," she told me. + + "Of course," I agreed amiably. "My girl's mother told me to +get the hell out of there. She thinks I live in the gutter with +girls like you. So here I am." + + Violet sniffed. "Probably her old man comes here, too, for +half and half. That's what good women do to men." I sobered up and +went back to work the next day and knocked a lot more silly, +romantic ideas out of my head. At lunch I met a doctor friend of +mine, one who sent me some business occasionally. I hear you're +going to marry," he said. + + Eventually," I told him, "but I've no prospects in sight just +now. + + "What's happened to the big romance?" he asked. "I saw you +beaming at the Garner girl like a love-sick calf the other night." + + "The love-sick calf has had a good dose of salts and is +cured," I told him. "Mamma and papa disapprove of the way I +practice my great profession." + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 34 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + He grinned. "You've got a clean job compared to some +psychoanalysts I know. They really get the sex dirt dished out to +them. I've just been talking to one. A woman came to me and asked +to be examined, said she wasn't getting any kick out of her married +life." + + "Tell her to be glad she's a good woman," I grunted. + + "I told her she had nothing organically wrong with her," my +friend went on. "Then I asked her the usual questions. Everything +seemed all right to me. She said the sex act was completed, she +loved her husband, nothing is wrong with him, no trace of +perversion. From her description, it sounded like a perfectly +normal coition. But she wasn't satisfied. She thought she was being +cheated out of something. So she went to the psychiatrist. And you +ought to hear the pay-off." + + "Go on," I said. "I'm listening." + + "That was her trouble, too. She'd been listening to a gal in +the same apartment house, a divorcee. The other woman got a divorce +because she couldn't or wouldn't sleep with her husband. She +doesn't have much to do with men nowadays, and when she doe's, +she's a teaser. Gets a big kick out of the preliminaries, but won't +go any farther. However, she's been driving two or three of her +married women friends crazy with descriptions of how thrilling the +sex act should be. As a matter of fact, she's never got any kick +out of it at all, not even the normal kind. And she's not a pervert +or a practicing one at least." + + "Nice woman," I muttered. + + "Very," said my friend. "The psychiatrist had a hard time +convincing my patient that she was getting everything there was out +of sex and that she should pay no attention to her neighbor. +Advised her to move, in fact. I'd rather have an out-and-out +pervert try to Convert my wife than have one of those dirty-minded +wenches around. They're worse than the so-called good women who try +to tell a woman that enjoyment of sex is sinful. It's pretty hard +to convince a woman that it's wrong for her to have a good time. +But when someone tells her that she ought to be having a better +time, she's liable to start trying out other men." + + "The whole business is crazy," I said. "Seems to me that we'd +be more sensible if we had rutting period's as the animals do and +got it all over with in a few days." + + He grinned. "We're the higher order. We can think! We can +reason!" + + I went back to the office pretty well soured on the whole +thing. A woman came in and tried to convince me she was pregnant. +Most women fight against the idea and keep hoping that even the +doctor may be wrong, But once in a while there's a nut who's so +full of symptom's, both genuine and imaginary that she wears a path + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 35 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +to the doctor's office. This woman didn't want a child, but the +fear of pregnancy obsessed her. If she gained a pound and it showed +as it usually does, on her breasts and hip's, she decided that She +was caught and rushed right down to see me. + + I got rid of her and settled down with a magazine. Then two +well-dressed, pretty young women came in. One of them looked as if +she had been crying. Both were nervous. I recognized the symptoms. + + The prettiest girl introduced herself and her companion. She +was tall and slender without being either skinny or curved in the +wrong places. Even in the awkward knee-length dresses of that +period she looked graceful. She had intelligent-looking gray eyes, +dark brown hair, combed simply and lips with a tendency to curve +upward. Her companion was sweet-looking rather than beautiful and +she didn't have the competent air of her friend. + + Norma, the prettier of the two, did the talking for herself +and for Pearl. She came right to the point. She said she understood +that sometimes I helped girls out of trouble. + + I was cautious. Neither girl wore a wedding ring. They didn't +look like street-walker's, but I had to be careful. I told them to +tell me the whole story, adding that it would be in strict secrecy. + + "It's a simple story," Norma said. "Pearl is in a jam. She +isn't married, and so it's important that she get rid of the child +and do it as quickly as possible. I've heard that she can register- +in at a hospital and say she's married and have the operation as +essential to her health. But I don't know how to go about it." + + "Better not try it," I advised. "It's too risky. In the first +place, in this State three physicians must certify that the +operation is essential to her health, And the case would be +investigated. A good doctor isn't going to risk putting his name on +record in such a case." + + "Then what do you advise?" Norma asked. + + "Where's the father of the child?" I asked. I always want the +men in the case to appear. In the first place, the men usually foot +the bills. In the second, I want to have a clear understanding +among all concerned before I risk my career for an operation. A +hysterical woman may -- and sometimes does -- rush into my office +and want something done right away. Later She may discover that the +man would have married her and she blames me. Or the man may have +scruples against such operations or the family may raise hell. +Sometimes wives try to get abortions when their husbands are +absent. The husband may stir up a devil of a mess when he finds it +out, and the woman may not be able to pay and there may be charges +that the doctor induced the woman to undergo the operation. If +something happens to the woman in such a case, the doctor may as +well buy his railroad ticket and leave before he finds himself +behind bars. + + "He's on a business trip," Pearl said, "and it's important +that I don't bring him back for this." + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 36 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + That sounded fishy and I said so in as tactful a fashion as I +could manage. I told her that his presence was important. Then the +story came out. The man was married to an insane woman now in an +institution. The wife was a Catholic and so were all her people. +The husband made her regular visits, and he was on one now. He +occupied a position in a firm largely controlled by his wife's +relatives. He couldn't divorce his wife, and so they we're waiting, +patiently hoping that her failing health would end her life. + + The man's job took him away from our city much of the time. He +had been gone for about six weeks and it would be several weeks +before he returned. Pearl wanted to get the whole business over +before he came back. + + "I'll tell him, of course," she said. "But it's almost +impossible for him to return now and it would do no good. I've +plenty of money and Norma will look after me. He's got troubles +enough without my adding to them. If I let him know now he'd +probably dash back here and the whole story might come out. We've +gone through too much to risk endangering everything because of +this unfortunate happening. + + I believed her. She was in a bad spot. + + "All right," I said. "I'll help you." + + "We'll pay you in advance," Norma told me eagerly. "Then +you'll know we're all right." + + Of course, it is customary in all these cases to get payment +in advance. No abortionist is going to take the risk without being +paid, and paid well, in advance. Once the abortion is over, the +doctor has no hold over the woman. It is the surgeon who commits +the crime, not the girl. + + No girl needs to be blackmailed by a quack abortionist if she +will keep that in mind. He may threaten to expose the whole thing; +may produce documents from his files. But if she pays him in cash, +pays him in advance, and then bluffs, she'll be all right. He won't +dare say anything about it. He'll not only let himself in for a +prison sentence but he'll also kill his practice at once. Once he +has come out in the open about one abortion, no one else will trust +him. + + But that day I forgot my strict rules. "No hurry about that," +I told them "You can take your time." + + They looked a little relieved. I learned afterward that they +had brought every cent they had in the world and were prepared to +offer it to me. My charges then were not so high as they are at +present, when I never accept anything less than $125, and sometimes +my fees are as high as $500. + + The girl had arranged to take a short vacation. She moved into +a small apartment with Norma. It may be that I called there oftener +than professional purposes required. But the appreciation expressed +by the two girl's helped to soothe my vanity, wounded by Mrs. +Garner's outburst. + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 37 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "It's ridiculous," Norma exclaimed, "that we have to hide in +here in order to prevent a tragedy. Oh, I know we have to do it," +she added quickly. "But here is Pearl, trying to get a little +happiness. Here you are, trying to do some good. Here I am, just +standing by. And all three of us would be disgraced if this got +out. If someone wrote a play about the situation and a beautiful +woman did it on the stage, she'd be a heroine. But in real life the +fiction Situations don't work out so well." + + "I know," I said. "Camille is a figure of romance and all the +women in the audience weep when she dies. But if Camille were +working hard to earn her living and trying to have a little +pleasure in the evening and got caught and went to an abortionist, +she'd be that 'wild little French girl' and the good ladies would +sniff and say it only went to show that foreigners couldn't be +trusted and they've been thinking that their husbands should fire +that dark-haired, dark-eyed girl in the office. She's too pretty to +be a really efficient typist." + + I told Norma about my brief fling with Rose Garner. + + "Even my love affair aborted," I Said grimly. + + But Norma was laughing. She choked and waved her hands. "I +don't mean to laugh at you. It's just that I remembered what Mr. +Garner does." + + "He's a druggist. He's something in a wholesale company." + + "And he's also a big stockholder in a company that +manufactures hot water bottles and syringes," Norma replied. "It's +all right to buy a douche bag. And you can buy all the salves and +jellies and everything else for 'feminine hygiene' that you want. +A lot of them may be dangerous; a lot of them may be worthless. But +nothing is done about that. The ounce of prevention is perfectly +legal, and if the prevention isn't any good, the manufacturers are +safe. Mr. Garner sells plenty of disinfectant that is less powerful +than soap and water and some that's so harsh the solution ruins +your hands. But when people actually need help, he's moralizing +somewhere." + + "Well," I said, "no statues are being erected to me. And a lot +of the time I don't get any thanks for what I've done." + + Of course, no doctor expects thanks. He's supposed to do his +best even if he feels the patient isn't worth saving. He's supposed +to work when he feels that he isn't going to get paid. But he isn't +risking his future and a damned disagreeable prison sentence for +it. + + A lot of my patients come in virtually on their knees. They +continue to be abject until the operation is a success. Then they +may hear about a quack who would have done the same thing for $10 +or $15. Why shouldn't he be cheap? He hasn't had any expensive +medical training. He hasn't got half as much to lose as I have. He + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 38 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +may be good. There are men who can perform abortions skillfully and +can't do anything else. Some of them are doctors who have already +lost their licenses to practice; Some are premedical student's who +dropped out. And there are old women with an uncanny skill at the +business. + + So when it's all over and the money has been paid in advance, +a patient, or more often the man who footed the bills, may get to +thinking that that was a lot of money for what little was done. And +he feels wronged. An abortion has no permanent effect like the +removal of an appendix or tonsil's. The man wants to blame somebody +for this business just to get rid of surplus irritation that he +hasn't dared to take out on the girl. So he treats me as a quack +and a sharper and a few other disagreeable things. + + It reminds me of a man I knew who went on periodical drunks. + + "I stay sober for weeks and nobody says that it's fine I'm +restraining myself," he told me once, "but as soon as I go on a +toot, everybody says, 'Look, he's drunk again." + + I told the story to Norma. She didn't laugh. "It's funny, I +know. But look at us. I mean, Pearl and myself. Outwardly we're +good girls, nicely mannered, hard working. Nobody brags on us +because we are behaving ourselves. That"s natural. We're all +supposed to behave ourselves. But let us, make one slip and we're +marked for life. Oh, I know, people don't talk about scandal +constantly as some girls seem to think. And lots of girls who have +been naughty become nice. But always there's someone who's going to +say, 'I remember when she got into a jam and they say there was a +hush hush operation.' Probably that person doesn't mean anything by +it. It's just casual gossip. But did you ever notice the peculiar +glint women get in their eyes when the subject of pregnancy is +introduced. They invariably count the months if the woman is +married. And if she's not, they lower their voices and start +discussing the possible fathers." + + I grinned. Norma and I were good friends by now. I enjoyed +blowing off steam to her and she talked with amazing frankness to +me. I told her how I'd started doing abortions. + + "I suppose vanity was one reason why I hated it," I remarked. +"Any starving doctor could look down upon me for violating the +ethics of the profession. Same way any physician rather looks down +on a dentist. The dentist may be making a lot more money but he +never has ranked quite so high." + + "I know," Norma said. "I knew a girl who fell in love at first +sight with a man. But when she found out he was a dentist, she was +humiliated and refused to see him again." + + She looked at me. "I'm not noted for any piety," but I believe +that your credits and debits will balance on Judgment Day." + + It was about this time that I turned down my first case. I had +always told myself that I meant to use discrimination in this +business and the only way I could maintain my self respect was to +take only such case's as I felt worthwhile. + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 39 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + A very pretty, richly-dressed young woman came into my office, +accompanied by her mother and her sister. This was unusual. It had +so happened that my previous clandestine patients before had +consisted of girls anxious to keep news of the operations from +their families. It is an indictment of family life and the much- +touted mother love that girls will tell their troubles to friends +before they will confide in their parents. + + Of course, there are several other reasons for that. Sometimes +it is merely a desire to spare pain and worry. The girls are not in +a mood to listen to maternal anxiety. It is the same thing that +causes many girls to want their lovers or husbands away when they +are going through an abortion. They sometimes prefer the more +impersonal kindliness of a nurse or a close friend. They know that +they are going to be in a great deal of pain, that they are not +going to be at their best and vanity keeps them from wanting anyone +really close to them around. + + But I was pleased at the sight of the mother. I felt somehow +that she lent more respectability to the visit. This thought +disappeared in a few moments. The girl, I learned, was the wife of +a wealthy young man in a nearby city. + + She was annoyed and petulant over her pregnancy. She was just +starting to have a good time as a young wife in a smart young +married set, and she hated to have her fun interrupted by +motherhood. + + "I know just how Frances feels," her mother told me. "She has +all those lovely new clothes and the season is just beginning. And +she has such a beautiful figure. It would never be the same again. +Men are so selfish about such things." + + "Then her husband doesn't approve of the operation?" I asked. + + Both mother and daughter burst into tirades against the +general selfishness of mankind. Finally I managed to extract the +information that the young husband did not even know his wife was +pregnant. + + "And he isn't going to," Frances said firmly. "He'd probably +raise the dickens and insist on my going through with it. Men are +foolish about children, They don't have to get all ugly and clumsy +and ridiculous-looking. Of course, I did tell Jack that I wanted +children. But I don't want them right away. Later on, I'd like a +boy and a girl, right together so they'll be cute to dress." + + She paused, apparently admiring herself as an attractive young +mother. + + "Later on it may be harder for you to have children," I +remarked. + + She dismissed that. She was the type who regards everything +beyond tomorrow as being vaguely in the far distant future and not +to be taken into consideration. + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 40 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + Both women annoyed me. They irritated me further by saying +that they would pay any price "so long as it's reasonable." They +seemed to regard the whole business in the light of pulling a +disfiguring tooth. There also was the attitude that they were +really doing me a favor by bringing the job to me. + + "I can't do anything about it," I told them. "If your husband +should find out about it he could send me to prison. Even with his +consent, it would still be too dangerous. Later, you'll want a +child, and if you can't have one you'll blame me. You're young and +healthy and you have plenty of money. Your husband will love you +even more if you have the child. So go home and forget about it." + + They burst into torrents of rage then, but I shooed them +firmly out of my office and gasped with relief. They were the worst +type of patient. In the first place, they would have made trouble +all through the case, complaining about any pain and having to be +pampered. + + "I usually try to send the mother home," a doctor told me +later. "She'll raise hell all the time she isn't telling you what +to do and how she had her children. Mothers make the worst possible +nurses because they want to do whatever the patient asks instead of +what is good for her. They'll feed the girl the wrong things, +refuse to make her exercise and spread the news around at the tops +of their voices." + + Another danger is that patients of this type are babblers. +Secure in their moneyed and social positions, they don't give a +damn what happens to the doctors. Afterward they are likely to +regard all abortion in the light of an interesting tea-table +conversation subject, along with nervous breakdowns and trips to +Europe. They tell the whole thing, including the doctor's name and +address. + + Such frivolous women may manage to keep the abortions secret +from their husbands for a while, but when it's all over they get +careless. And when they can't have children, the husbands blame the +doctor and think he probably performed a sterilization operation in +secret or did a bad job. There is something mysterious about an +abortion to the lay mind, anyhow. I've heard people inquire if I +actually cut out some of the organs. An abortion is simply what the +name implies, a premature birth, before the woman is more than +three months pregnant. After that it is more dangerous and comes +under the term of miscarriage. But I have had girls come to my +office and expect to go under ether and have ugly abdominal sears. + + A successful abortion does not prevent a woman from having +children later on. But some women are not very fertile and one +pregnancy exhausts them. Or society women, such as Frances, may +keep their vitality at low ebb by reducing diets or by high nervous +strain and be unable to bear a child. Or they may ruin themselves +by use of too strong contraceptives. And in all such cases the +abortionist is blamed. + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 41 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + In Frances' case, the fault lay in the lack of understanding +between husband and wife. It may take some of the roses and +moonlight and glamour out of young married life to discuss such +things cold-bloodedly, and one woman told me that she grew to hate +her. husband because he insisted on analyzing their emotions before +and after the sex act, but there would be fewer husbands and wives +drifting apart if they talked things over. + + Frances probably lacked the courage to tell her fiance that +she didn't want children for several years. She may have been +afraid that he would not marry her if he knew her true views. I +don't think she wanted children at all, but there are other wives +who actually desire a family but want the first year or two of +their marital companionship without the complications of a child. + + A man came to me once for examination. "I want to know if +there's anything the matter with me," he said. "I've been married +two years, and we haven't had any children. If I'm sterile, I +should know it because it isn't fair to my wife. She wants +children." + + I suppressed a laugh. I knew that his wife used contraceptives +regularly because she had come to me about them. + + "Is she in a hurry for a child?" I asked. + + "No. She's very nice about the matter. But when we were +married we both agreed that we wanted children. Of course, nothing +definite was said about when, I thought we'd just let nature take +its course." + + I told him there was nothing wrong with him and advised him to +talk it over with his wife. I also told him to send her to me. She +came in a few days later. + + I didn't bother about giving her an examination. She was a +friend of mine, and I simply told her what her husband had said. +She sighed. + + "I didn't know he was in a hurry about having a child. Of +course I'm willing. I want children and I told Leslie so. But he +never said anything definite about the matter and didn't appear +very eater to be a father, So I thought I'd enjoy being carefree as +long as possible." + + "You see," she went on, "I know husbands who talk about how +fond they are of children, but then when their wives become +pregnant, they are peeved because she doesn't feel well and she +can't be gay and a good sport. And when the child comes, It's the +woman's responsibility Even if the man is a good father, it's the +woman who has to take care of the child all day. I'm not going to +be one of those women who complain about being tied down by a +child. Leslie is tied down to a desk all day supporting me, and I +ought to do my share." + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 42 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + She grinned a little impishly. "I don't take that too +seriously, either," she added. "Leslie was tied down to that desk +before he met me. The only difference is now he has more +responsibilities. But I didn't see any point in adding to those +responsibilities unless I thought he wanted them." + + I smiled at her. "You're a smart woman, Jane. But be careful +of being too smart and figuring things out too closely. There's as +much danger in making a slip in too close calculations based on +human nature as there is in being too careless." + + "You're telling me," she replied. "I thought I was being smart +in saving Leslie from the results of his vagueness, and here he is +dashing around to doctors to find out if anything is wrong with +him. But you see, Martin, when we were going together, Leslie was +cursed by a desire to evade being definite about anything. He was +the sort of man who telephoned and said he might call me later that +night if he could get away. That kept me at home all evening +waiting for his call, because I'd rather take a chance of being +with him than go somewhere else and disappoint him if he did call. +Or he'd say that he'd call me about the middle of the week and I'd +stay at home Wednesday and Thursday nights. And he'd say, 'I'll +come by between seven-thirty and eight-thirty,' leaving me +twiddling my fingers for an hour." + + I nodded. Such things often seem unimportant to the man who is +busy until the time he goes to see a girl, but they may make or +break the romance. I knew a girl who broke off a love affair +because of such treatment. + + "If he can't make up his mind when he wants to see me when +he's courting me, what will he be like after we're married when he +feels that he can take me for granted?" She, had said. + + But Jane was still talking. "And he had a beautiful habit of +just dropping by in the morning to see me. He'd be out and around +town on business. He'd find me looking like hell and busy. But he +thought it nice to surprise me. Same way, sometimes he'd drive by +at night or call at an hour when I had either decided to stay at +home or had made other arrangements. I was so much in love that +this seemed petty. But I decided that after marriage I would take +things into my own hands a little more. So I did. Leslie was just +as vague about having children." + + Shocking as it might seem to their mothers, who preferred to +Vail the whole thing in reticence and look upon pregnancy either as +an act of God or a cross to bear, most modern young women prefer to +plan their romances, their marriages and their children. It's only +natural. Everything else about their lives is planned. This is +especially true of businesswomen who marry. They want a certain +number of children at a time when they can afford them and at a +time when the birth does interfere with other important things. + + VIII. I CONTRIBUTE TO THE ARTS + + Shortly after I turned down the case of the society bride, I +did perform an abortion on a married woman. + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 43 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + A young couple came into the office. They were shabbily +dressed but there was something clean and vital about them. They +held hands shamelessly and came into my private office together. + + The girl was slight with a mop of rumpled curl's and big dark +eyes. She was not really pretty but she had a vivid charm. The +youth had a freshly-washed, boyish look that appealed to me. + + They both started to talk at once, then looked at each other +and were silent. Finally the boy acted as spokesman. + + "I'm an artist," he announced, "and my wife here is a writer. +We've just been married about six months and we're poor as church +mice. We've got what are known as futures but very little present." + + I guessed immediately what they wanted but I let them go on. +The boy, he was just that, introduced them. The girl's name was +vaguely familiar to me. She had sold some free-lance material to +newspapers and to a few cheap magazines. I had read one of the +stories. It was not smoothly written but it had life in it. The boy +had painted pictures that were hung in good exhibits but thus far +neither had had any financial success. But they were still hopeful. +And now they had the chance of a life-time. A magazine had offered +to sponsor them on a boat trip along several scenic rivers. The +girl was to write the articles and the boy was to illustrate them. +They had expended most of their capital on a boat, supplies and +painting materials. + + "It might be made into a book afterward," the girl's eyes were +glowing. "But since we're unknowns, we can't get much of an +advance. We got a little and spent that on the boat and our camping +outfit. And then," she flung out her hands, "then I had to go and +get pregnant." + + "Can't you go ahead with the tour?" I asked. + + She gave me a sickly grin. "With me already having nausea in +the mornings?" she asked. "I'm going to be the type that takes it +hard. I'm so darned little in the first place and so excitable. +We'd meant to go ahead and have the child and starve in a garret. +And then along comes this opportunity. We'd written to the magazine +about it and sent along sample sketches. And they've accepted and +want us to start. It would all coincide neatly with baby's arrival. +I can't bounce over mountain river rapids and sleep in a pup tent +and eat when and what I can and work when I'm this way. And It's +our big chance. If we back out now, we'll get a black eye with the +magazine, especially since we've spent their advance. We've got +about two weeks, but if we postpone it any longer, there'll be +another author available. To be frank, we're about third choice +with the editor, but we were selected because we were footloose at +the right time." + + Here was a case where by a little lying I could have got the +girl into a hospital and said that the abortion was necessary. As +she said, she was in too delicate health to endure any hardships +while pregnant. She needed the best of care. And they could not +afford the best of care. + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 44 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + But hospitalization would also have been beyond their means. +They told me frankly just how much money they could pay me. + + "It isn't what we can afford but what we have," the man told +me. "I don't much like the idea of an abortion. But I don't like +the idea of taking Sally on a trip when she isn't up to it nor do +I like the idea of watching her work and suffer in a cheap lodging +house because I can't afford to buy her the proper food and take +her somewhere where she could rest and have sunlight. Later on, +when we can afford it, I'm all for having a lot of children." + + Sally was one of the most gallant patients I've ever had. She +joked about the matter and made it into an adventure. + + "I want children," she told me in a more serious moment. "And +I thought about this a lot before I came down here. I haven't any +scruples against abortions. Kent and I were just careless. I see +nothing any worse about what I'm doing than in what we did the +nights when I wasn't caught. If we had even a little money, I'd +never let poverty stop me from having this child. But it isn't fair +to either of us to let this happen now; not fair to me nor to Kent +nor to the child. If we missed this job, it might be that we'd +never have another one like it, although I think that sooner or +later we'd crash into money because we work hard and we've got a +little ability. But we'd always hold it against the child that we +lost a big job because of it. And I couldn't bear to have Kent +think that I held him back when he got his first chance and he'd +feel guilty about me. We're young and we've got plenty of time for +more children." + + The articles caught on immediately. I read every one of them. +Sally had a blithe style of writing and Kent's pictures were good. +As they predicted, the articles were put into book form and had a +good sale. Eighteen months later, Kent and Sally came into my +office. At first I didn't recognize them. They were deeply tanned, +healthy looking and were well dressed, They no longer appeared +hungry and haunted by poverty. + + Sally handed me a book, autographed by both of them. It is one +of my treasured possessions now. + + "We intended to send it to you," she said. "We were in the +East when it came out. But we meant to come back here after a while +and Kent said we'd bring it." + + Kent wanted to pay me some more money. I grinned. + + "That's the first time anyone has ever come back to make me +another payment," I told him. "Usually the return visits are to +make complaints." + + "You cut your price for us," he said. "I knew about what your +lowest charge was when we came here. I was so thankful then that +you left us a little grub-stake that I didn't say anything." + + "That's all right," I told them. "A lot of doctors charge by +the income of their patients." + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 45 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "Yeah," he grinned. "But they usually charge more than $10 and +a picture. The picture may be worth Something sometime, but you +didn't know it when you took it. Anyhow, our income is bigger now +and I want to make it right." + + "I'll just keep the picture and watch it increase in value," +I remarked. + + As a matter of fact, later I was offered enough money for the +picture to more than make up the difference between my usual price +and what I had charged for the abortion. But I turned it down. + + "In that case," Sally said, "I want to engage you as my +physician. I'm pregnant again." Her eyes twinkled up at me. "It +seems incurable in me. But this time I'm going through with it." + + I knew that they didn't have much money even then. But they +had the start they wanted. I felt pretty good about it. I'll admit +I was a little relieved when I learned that Sally meant to have a +child. Irresponsibility can become a habit. There is an old saying +that when a woman has one abortion she will have two more. And +there's a reason for it. If the first operation is comparatively +painless and inexpensive, the woman may grow careless. Always in +the back of her mind is the thought that she can afford to take a +risk. There's an easy way out for her. That is the type of patient +I try to discourage. + + Pearl had long ago recovered from her operation. She moved to +another city, but Norma remained behind, and I continued to see +her. Pearl's lover had had his headquarters. transferred, and she +could be with him more. Two or three months after her departure, +Norma telephoned. + + "Come over and Say goodbye to me," she said. + + I was shocked. I'd gotten into the habit of dropping in to see +Norma two or three nights a week. "What's the matter?" I asked. + + Pearl has arranged a better job for me in her city." + + I hurried right over. + + "I had a job here I was hoping that you'd take," I told her as +soon as I got in the door. "I know a doctor who needs an able +assistant." + + She stared at me. "But I don't know anything about medicine." +"You know a lot about this doctor," I said. "It might mean a cut in +pay, but I wish you'd stay and marry me." She smiled. "You've hired +a wife." Later she told me that she had planned to jolt me into a +proposal. "If it didn't work, I'd have gone, of course," she told +me frankly. "Because I didn't want to stay here any longer if I +wasn't married to you. But I hoped you'd take the hint." + + She looked at me anxiously "Are you sure this isn't just a +rebound from Rose?" She asked. + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 46 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "No. Rose was a rebound from life. She was my calf-love affair +and my revolt against the realities, all rolled into one. This is +the real thing. I had to get over my rose-tinted spectacles stage. +It may be unfair to you. This hasn't been a glamorous courtship, by +any means." + + She laughed. "We're spared that re-adjustment, at least." + + And we were. We started with no illusions about each other. +She knew all about my profession. I knew that she had had to face +some harsh things. Our love was based on the solid foundation of +friendship. We had simply become necessary to each other. + + I'm not against glamour and romance. Every girl feels that she +has a right to a romantic courtship. But glamour is also frequently +a trick of nature to lure a girl into fulfilling her biological +duties, and sometimes it backfires. + + A Young girl came into my office late one afternoon. + + "What's the matter with you?" I asked. + + "Too much moonlight and light fiction," she replied. + + She was about 18, but she looked older and more sophisticated. +Nowadays young girls dress and act as if they knew everything, and +men are not always to be blamed if they take them at their face +value. + + Patricia, as I shall call her, told me her story with a sort +of ironical amusement, the attitude of the newly-made cynic. + + "I'd feel better if I'd been soused to the gills, Then I could +have waved my hands and said that the cad took advantage of me when +I was too drunk to know what I was doing." + + But she had been intoxicated on something headier and more +dangerous than whiskey. She'd been drunk on the idea of glamour. + + She was a debutante in a small city, Popular with boys she'd +known since childhood. Pretty and clever in a superficial way, she +imitated the mannerisms of her favorite movie stars and mouthed +risque flippancies with only a vague idea what they meant. + + Boys had tried to "paw" her, and she was a little intoxicated +with her power over them. She easily evaded their advances, +although she said she'd done a good deal of wrestling. + + "Sometimes I wanted to go ahead," she told me frankly. "But I +was always glad I hadn't when I got home." + + With three other girls, Patricia went to a resort to spend a +week. They had a cabin and no chaperon. Chaperons are out-dated +today. Anyhow, the girls were all grown and parents had become +careless. + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 47 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + All the girls had vague hopes of meeting someone "really +exciting" at the resort. They were tired, they said, of the youths +they had been going with. There was no thrill in dating boys they'd +known from childhood, boys with only a little pocket money and +their fathers' cars. + + Unfortunately for Patricia, she met an "exciting new man" at +a hotel dance. The girls' cabin was close to a resort, and they +went over without escorts. + + It was fun, Patricia thought, to dance with a stranger. She'd +been rushed by strange youths at college dances, although the man +introduced himself or was brought up by a friend. This man only +gave his first name and preserved a glamorous mystery about +himself. He was well dressed, handsome and danced well. Patricia +fell for him at once. + + Girls of that age have an unfortunate tendency to exaggerate +all their emotions. Patricia decided she had a violent crush on the +man. She went driving with him and he kissed her. + + "I'd been kissed before," she,related. "But never like that. +The boys I'd been going around with were pretty amateurish. I +didn't have sense enough to know that this was just good technique. +I thought that it was the real thing." She laughed a little. "Don't +think I'm so dumb. Men are mighty egotistical about the way they +kiss or hug a girl, but a lot of them have the idea that the thing +to do is break a girl's neck or crush her ribs and then aim in the +general direction of her mouth, This man was different. I wasn't +such an idiot as I sound in falling for him." + + She talked a good deal about it. I let her ramble on. It was +for her nerves and I want to have all the details I can before I do +anything about these cases. Success as an abortionist depends on a +lot of things, and skillful handling of the patient is necessary to +save my own neck. I must learn everything I can before I commit +myself. + + "When I was little," Patricia went on, twisting her hands +nervously, "I used to worry a lot about how I'd feel when I was +converted to the Church. I thought there'd be a great blinding +light of some kind. I thought falling in love would be about the +same thing. Well, I saw the light all right. Or rather I felt as if +I'd been shocked by a big volt of electricity. + + She sat there, a pert, lipsticked young girl with frightened +eyes. Her hair was smoothly coiffed. She was expensively dressed. +But her manicured fingers twisted constantly with a handkerchief, +wadding it and then unfolding it. The red lips trembled as she +talked. + + The money expended on her personal appearance, exclusive of +the casual jewelry she wore, must have been at least a hundred +dollars. Her parents had provided her with a good home. They spent +money lavishly on her. Yet they had neglected to prepare her for +life. Sex to her meant dates, dancing, light flirtation's and +finally marriage to the "right man" to be picked by heaven-sent + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 48 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +inspiration. No one had ever told her to beware of passion, no one +had ever told her that her own emotions were unreliable, that she +carried within her enough dynamite to ruin her life. The thing that +constantly amazes me about such gals is not that they get into +trouble but that they do not get into more trouble. + + "It seemed just like something in a story," the girl went on. +"Meeting a good-looking stranger and falling in love right away. I +thought about how I'd gloat over the girls. It was just like a +movie." + + She had been unresisting in the hands of an experienced man. +The sex act had been disappointing. She was a little frightened and +yet a little thrilled at the emotion of the man. She was so sure +before that this was love that she was almost incredibly reckless. +He didn't even tell her his entire name until after her seduction. +He simply touched a match to all the stored-up longing for romance +and passion in her 18-year old body. I never laugh at jokes about +girls who don't find out the real names of their lovers beforehand. + + Patricia had agreed to go to a little cabin he said he had. It +all seemed thrilling. She had visions of herself, a gingham apron +tied over her evening dress, cooking his breakfast. It was in line +with all the silly 'stories she'd read or seen portrayed on the +screen in which the 'heroine takes refuge in the hero's cabin and +he nobly surrenders his bed and sleeps on the couch. + + This, she thought, was adventure, romance. This was heaven. + + She spent a week end with him. It was a puzzling week end, but +her faith in her lover persisted until he dumped her back at the +resort and said he hoped that he'd see her again sometime. Then the +whole thing burst upon her full force. She'd deliberately avoided +asking about several things that seemed strange and had reassured +herself by thinking of his love-making. + + In a daze, she murmured some sort of excuse, telling her +friends that she had been swept off to a house party and there'd +been no telephone or telegraph facilities. Fortunately they hadn't +notified her parents of her absence. She had meant to surprise them +with news of her whirlwind courtship and romantic marriage. + + She went home and tried to conceal her feelings. She was badly +hit. She had fallen in love head over heels, and the +disillusionment was bitter. + + She felt that she had somehow been lacking; that if she had +been prettier or more interesting or more passionate she would have +held the stranger and he would have married her. She was especially +worried about her lack of passion. + + "He kept telling me that I was a sweet child and lovable," she +said. "But I didn't want to be a sweet child. I wanted to be a +woman." + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 49 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + Then one day she picked up a paper and saw the picture of her +lover. He was a notorious gangster. He had been hiding out at the +resort. Most criminal's are careful about the women they pick up. +They've known of too many comrades betrayed, either intentionally +or unconsciously, by a girl outside the racket. Their women have to +be in the know. They must be able to keep their mouths shut when +questioned by the police; they must know who is safe and who isn't. +But some of them forget -- as newspaper headlines and pictures of +"the woman in the case" show. + + Patricia's hero, however, was notorious for similar episodes. +He could not resist a pretty face, and he preferred "nice girls." +He had left a trail of brief romances all through the Middle West. +He was handsome, usually had plenty of money, was a liberal spender +and appeared to be a wealthy young businessman on vacation. + + He was, of course, a scoundrel, and his sexual crimes were +worse than his robberies. But then a lot of factors contributed to +Patricia's private tragedy. One is that conventions have relaxed so +that introductions are no longer necessary and young girls know +little or nothing about the men they meet at parties and dances. +Another is that while mother's may warn their daughters vaguely +against strangers, there has grown up a romantic tradition of the +fascinating stranger. He is encountered in parks, taxis, at the +theater, at parties, in lonely mountain cabins, on yachts, and, he +is always at the scene of any accident. In fiction, he is +invariably chivalrous and proposes after the first kiss, In real +life, he's a risky subject. + + Patricia had not told her mother when she missed menstruation +and decided she was pregnant. + + "I can't," she said. "I'll do anything before I'll tell her. +She thinks I'm such a nice, sweet girl, and it would break her +heart. If I can keep her from finding this out, I will be a nice +girl. I've learned my lesson. But she'd never get over it. She'd +tell me that she'd rather see me dread. And she'd blame herself for +letting me go on an unchaperoned house party. She'd always be +suspicious of me afterward, She'd want to keep me under lock and +key, and she'd be asking questions all the time about my friend's. +Father would have to be told and he'd say that I've brought +disgrace on the family." + + She was crying now. I remembered the young girl who'd come to +me when I first started to practice and how she'd killed herself. +Here was my chance to wipe out that old feeling of guilt. + + "There, there," I said soothingly. "It's all right. Your +parents won't need to know anything about it." "I've got money," +she sobbed. "I've got $200. It's my Christmas and birthday money. +And I can sell my pearls." + + "You won't need much money," I soothed her. "But you'll have +to manage to be away from home for a few days. Can you do that?" + + She nodded. Then she began to cry again. + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 50 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "I'm all right. I'm just relieved. It's been so awful, not +daring to say anything. I worried all the time even before I knew +I was overdue. And then I'd dream I was all right and wake up +believing it." + + "I know," I told her. Such dreams are common to pregnant +women, just as women who are worried about themselves may dream of +pregnancy. + + I've heard women going into orgies of self-pity over their +tragic lives when there's been sickness in the family, financial +distress and even death. And I always think of that gallant, tragic +army of young women who march into my office on leaden feet. +There's a vast difference between trouble that can be shared, and +trouble that must be kept secret. + + The real tragedies are the young Patricias, who must pretend +to be gay and guard carefully against any betrayal of their +worries. Patricia had to stand alone. She had not even dared to go +to her family doctor. She had got my name by accidentally hearing +a conversation in which a girl said that I'd arranged an abortion +for a friend " + + She had been afraid that her doctor would tell her parents. Of +course, he would have kept the secret. But it is usually less +embarrassing to go to strangers with humiliating confessions. Every +time she saw her doctor thereafter, she would be reminded of her +sordid episode. + + It would have been safer for me had I insisted that Patricia +tell the story to her parents and obtain their permission for the +abortion. Her father was prominent in the town. If anything +happened to Patricia, he would raise hell and might charge me with +anything from murder to being the father of the unborn child. +Patricia's story, sounded a little fishy, which made me trust her. +Stories that are too pat probably have been framed. The unexpected +usually happens in sex. + + Patricia was sure that her parents would object to an +abortion. + + "They wouldn't do anything but make my life miserable," she +explained. "They'd call me a murderer and they'd make me have the +child and then put it in an orphanage. An abortion doesn't seem any +worse than that. And they wouldn't believe my story. They'd think +I was shielding someone, and they'd talk day and night trying to +get me to name the man. They're old. They don't understand how I +wanted excitement and how tired I got of the nice boys who brought +me home at 10 o'clock. But believe me, I'll appreciate the nice +boys from now on." + + I didn't tell her what her parents would do to me if they +found out. She was going to keep her mouth shut. And it would have +frightened her needlessly. However, I've seen some "helping hands" +get slapped. + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 51 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + A friend of mine helped his niece by marriage to get an +abortion. She was an adopted child, and the family was puritanical. +So the girl went to him, and he gave her the money and brought her +to me. Her lover was a worthless scamp who went away at the first +news of trouble. + + Several years later she died. In her possession, were papers +that revealed the story, but fortunately, not my name. However, her +uncle's connection was shown. + + There was a great uproar. The abortion had nothing to do with +the girl's death. But her relatives professed to believe that it +had "ruined" her. Furthermore, they declared the uncle must have +been the man in the case. Otherwise, why did the girl go to him +instead of her parents and why did he help her in secrecy? + + He told his story, but they did not believe him. He had no +right, they said, to take so much responsibility. His wife left +him. The name of the poor, dead girl was bandied about by the +people who had talked so loudly of their love for her. + + "Everything I ever did with or for her was raked up wrong +interpretation given it," he told me. "I loaned her my car +occasionally. She used it for dates. She may have told her folks +that she was out with me. I don't know. She was of age and I +figured she knew what she was doing. She would have gone ahead with +her affairs anyhow. And now, because she came to me when she was in +trouble, they're trying to make me out an absolute scoundrel." + + "I'd give her a drink once in a while," he went on. "She +couldn't drink at home. And I gave her cigarettes. That's dragged +out now to show that I had a tremendous affair with this girl. I +gave her the money for the abortion because she didn't have any and +she needed it at once and she couldn't think of anyone else to go +to. She knew that I had a good income and could get it for her +without much trouble. And she knew I'd keep my mouth shut about it. +She said she'd pay me back but she never got enough money together, +and she knew I didn't need it badly." + + "Calm down," I told him. "I could tell the way you behaved +when you brought her to me that you weren't responsible for it. You +were worried about the girl and you were fond of her, but I could +see that you weren't guilty, and you never tried to defend yourself +then." + + I thought of this case and what happened to my friend when I +agreed that it was best that Patricia not tell her parents. I'm not +saying that it was best. As it happened, it did turn out all right. +Patricia arranged a "trip," and instead went to a discreet +apartment hotel where she could have seclusion and be treated for +colitis. + + Naturally she was nervous as the dickens and I let her blow +off to me. She had a nurse, but she liked to talk to me. While she +was firm in her decision not to tell her mother, she fretted about +it and conducted debates with herself. + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 52 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "Mother is fine," she said, "but she worries me so with +questions about little things. Usually it's something I don't mind +telling her. But she tries to worm it out of me in a tactful +fashion and I can see through her little tricks and that annoys me. +She'll try to find out what time I came home. Instead of asking me +a direct question, she beats around the bush. She doesn't know I've +ever had a cocktail and she disapproves of my smoking. And she +talks about my boy friends in such a silly, areh way that it keeps +me from being honest about my dates." + + "I know," I said. "All mothers and daughters -- or most of +them -- go through the same stage. The mother can't become adjusted +to the idea that her daughter has a right to private thoughts and +a private life." + + Sometimes I've thought it would be a good thing if mothers +could hear some of the things their daughter's tell me -- and I get +the cases where the mothers apparently have made a failure of their +job. I told Patricia that. + + "I don't think it would do any good," she replied, "It might +change mother in the long run. But she'd be hurt at first because +I didn't talk to her instead of a doctor. I can't treat mother like +a human being. She's always reminding me that she's my mother, and +so I must give everything she says special consideration. For +instance, if I do something silly, just a little harmless thing, I +can't tell mother about it and laugh. She will give me a lecture +from a sense of duty. Even if I know I made a fool of myself and +admit it, she's still got to go motherly on me." + + If mother's could only learn to graduate their supervision +through the teens and concentrate on the bigger things, I'd lose a +lot of my business but I'd be thankful to do it. But they are so +accustomed to commanding their children's lives, from what time +they go to bed and get up to what they eat and wear and think, that +they can't get used to the idea that their children now have minds +of their own and that these minds must be respected. + + Patricia's mother was fairly typical of a certain class of +well-to-do women. Of course, Patricia's case was unusual in that +she met an utter rotter. But she might have received virtually the +same treatment at the hands of a jaded businessman on vacation at +a resort and a little plastered. Or she might have been knocked up +by a reckless school boy who would be too frightened to be of any +help. Such lads get panicky, try to evade the blame and in so doing +spread the story and do the girl more harm. They rush to their +parents, deny everything and the story is circulated that way. + + Patricia's mother lost her daughter's confidence because she +failed to give the girl the same friendliness and tolerance that +she would give some one not a relative. She expected perfection +from her daughter, and even the most modest mothers seem to think +that this perfection can be attained by implicit obedience. +Maternal orders usually are so vague or so contradictory that the +daughter finally ignores them altogether and begins a series of +minor deceptions which can never be ended because confession of one +of them would cause the mothers to become suspicious or to discover +the others. + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 53 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "Mother is always telling me to be like Mary Warren, and she's +a pill." Patricia said. "She never gets to go anywhere. Or she +tells me to be like some girl who plays up to the chaperons and +gets away with murder on the sly. She never gives me any practical +advice. She just tells me to be a nice girl and to associate only +with nice boys and girls and gives me a lot of platitudes. She told +me once that I shouldn't let boys kiss me. But all the girls pet a +little, and if I didn't I wouldn't go anywhere." + + "She never told me anything about --" Patricia stopped rather +than use any words for sexual intercourse. "She always says that +she'll tell me more about thing's at the proper time. I suppose she +means when I marry. She just says for me not to do anything bad. +But this didn't seem bad when I did it. I couldn't help It. Or I +thought I couldn't. I got all dizzy when Darrell started kissing +me, and then I was weak and burning all over." + + It sounds almost unbelievable that there could be girls as +innocent as Patricia in the world today. But there are. Some of the +girls who tell risque jokes so glibly are almost as ignorant of the +volcanic properties of sex. + + Patricia went home a sadder and wiser girl. As far as I know, +she never told her mother about her experience. Later she married +a young bank clerk whose chief characteristic seemed to be +placidity. She had lost her taste for excitement and wanted the +prosaic. + + A mother I consider far above the average in intelligence told +me that she had been criticized by her neighbors for bringing the +confessions magazines home and allowing her daughter's to read +them. + +"The literary standard may not be high and the stories may be +written by staff members," she remarked. "I don't mind that. We +have plenty of good books in the house to offset any lowering of +literary standards. I told my girls the facts of life as early as +I thought they would understand them. I was criticized for that, +too, because the neighboring mothers were still favoring the stork +theory and the doctor's black bag, and they were peeved because my +children explained the processes of nature to their youngsters. But +I never saw any reason for lying to children if I could keep from +it. + + "I've had mothers say they didn't wish their children to read +the newspapers because they were so full of scandal. It's my +experience that adolescents don't read the newspapers enough. I +encourage that. I may be robbing my children of the bloom of +innocence, but when my oldest boy has a hangover he tell's me so +with a sheepish look and I fix him a pick-up and he doesn't need a +lecture. I know he's going to do a little drinking and I want to +know what he drinks and see that he doesn't make too big a fool of +himself. I won't find out if I try the heavy mother act. I let him +give beer parties at the house and I don't sit around telling the +boys how nice it is that they come and how I want to know all +Jimmy's little friends. That went out after his 10th birthday. I +tell them that the house is theirs, but not to break any furniture. + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 54 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +I encouraged Jimmy to start dating when he was young because I +figured he'd be safer with a nice girl than he would be hanging +around pool halls or running the streets with a gang of sensation- +hunting boys. I had his father give him a lecture on diseases and +dangers of picking-up girls, too, with no mincing of words about +it. + + "I told my girls the same thing. I don't want them to think +that sex is a sordid matter, but I do want them to be able to +distinguish between cheap thrills and genuine affection when it +comes. I don't want my girls to be manhandled and overkissed. But +I want them to do enough kissing that they won't be swept off their +feet the first time anyone puts any enthusiasm in the embrace. I +gossip with them, too, for that's an easy way of putting in my +opinions without a formal lecture on the style of 'Now mother wants +to tell her little girls something.' It's just as foolish to let a +teen-age girl remain ignorant of the dangers of sex as it is to let +her go motoring without warning her of the dangers of drunken +driving." + + "How is it working out?" I asked. + + "Fine," she said. "I have to catch myself from relating to +neighbor mothers some facts about their dear, pure daughters that +my girls have told me. They're still trying to keep that virgin +bloom on the theory that the girls will be more attractive brides +in the marriage market. But if my prospective sons-in-law are going +to be frightened away because my daughters know the detail's of +their anatomy and the difference between a marriage proposal and a +proposition, they can remain away. They'll find out all the facts +sooner or later and I'd prefer that they find out from me. That +way, I know they'll learn the truth and not a distorted version +from some girl friend. It's easier for them to hear it from me, and +they won't be afraid of shocking me with confidences. I want them +to talk easily to me. If ever any of them need your services, +doctor," she concluded with a smile, "I'll be right along. But I +don't think they will." + + And they haven't either. If more mothers were like Mrs. X, the +world would be a better place for everyone except abortionists. +Some of the young girls who come to me have been warned +sufficiently about the dangers of sex but in such garbled fashion +that they received no practical information and sex held a morbid +fascination for them. Some of them were frightened to death after +they had their first sex experience. But when nothing happened, +they recovered from their scare. They were excited over their +initiation into womanhood and they went to extremes. Their mothers +had tried to control them by fright rather than reason. When fright +left, there was no longer any deterrent. + + "I try to make chastity something besides just a word to my +daughters," Mrs. X said. "There are so many jokes about chastity +and the scarcity of virgins that the mere terms are not enough to +do any good. Common sense and good taste must be added. + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 55 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "I tell them that they're pretty girls and a lot of men are +going to want them. But they must have a yardstick to measure the +men and they must think of the future. You can't expect girls to do +much reasoning when a man is making love to them. But if you can +get them to ask themselves if they would want to marry this man, +you have a foundation for good behavior. If he's attractive enough +to be considered seriously as a husband, then the girl should not +risk losing marriage by an affair. If he's not husband-material, +he's not good enough to be taken as a casual lover. My girls must +learn to make their own decisions, but they must have something on +which to base their judgment. Just telling them to go around with +nice men and to behave isn't enough." + + She is right. Some of the mothers who come weeping into my +office wondering why their daughters failed to follow their advice +were always careful to tell their girls to be "nice." + + Even when confronted with evidence of their failures, many +such mothers resent any insinuation that they did not follow the +wisest course. They have the excuse of the weakling, "I did the +best I could." The favorite alibi is, "My children won't listen to +me any more," These mothers never pause to wonder why their +children won't listen to them. + + Patricia's mother undoubtedly would have wrung her hands and +justified herself by saying, "But how could I know that Pat would +meet a horrible gangster?" + + How could she know Pat wouldn't meet a gangster? She knew +there were such things. Pat might have received worse treatment. At +least, she didn't get a disease. How could she know her glamour- +seeking daughter might not meet a blackmailer who would drug her +and photograph her nude in an obscene pose? Girls of some of the +best families have been treated in such fashion. How could she know +that her daughter wouldn't meet some diseased and reckless youth +who thought it smart to give a girl a dose or to knock her up! How +could she know that Pat might not meet some man with emotions so +jaded that his ardor could only be aroused by fresh young purity or +a pervert seeking new converts? How could she be so blindly +optimistic as to think that a young girl guided only by platitudes +would reach the altar without a single misstep along the way? + + IX. SOME TRAGEDY AND COMEDY + + All my cases do not have happy endings. A young country girl +was brought to me by her father. She was a rather attractive girl, +but sensitive about her "country" look. She had gone to a town +high-school and had been embarrassed by her sunburned skin, her +work-roughened hands, her faded and old-fashioned dresses. She had +no mother, and she had to work hard. Her father was a prosperous +farmer, but it never occurred to him to hire a girl to do the +housework while his daughter went to school. + + As a consequence, his daughter was always a little harassed by +the conflict between her housework, her studying and her school +days. She had little time to devote to her personal appearance, +even if she had possessed money and taste to buy clothes. I tell +this because it was important from the standpoint of what happened +to her. + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 56 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + Small town's are more snobbish than cities, because lines are +more sharply visible. The daughters of the town's leading families +sneered at Kate. And most of the other girls toadied to them. So +she was deprived of the normal girl companionship of high-school. +She had no chum with whom to discuss her crushes, and, anyhow, she +had no time for walking arm in arm around the town after school, +going to basketball and football games, having sodas in the drug +store. + + This lack of time would seem to prevent her from getting into +trouble. But, instead, it had the opposite effect. She was So +hungry for any sort of companionship that she proved a "pushover" +for the small-town toughs. The high-school boys did not think it +necessary to treat a "green country girl" with any respect or to +ask her on regular dates and parties. One of the boys took her home +one night from a play and "made" her. She was flattered because he +came from a "good" family, and she was too dumb to realize that he +was treating her like an unpaid prostitute. He had several similar +"dates" with her, usually leaving her immediately after -- +sometimes making her walk home. Presently she learned that she was +pregnant. + + Her father found her weeping one day and forced her to tell +him the story. She concealed the name of the boy from him and she +refused to tell me. I gathered, however, from talking to her that +she had been with several boys. I think she knew which one of them +was to blame, but he had apparently threatened her with something, +and so she protected him. Probably he used the old trick of telling +her that he would deny everything and that he would prove she had +gone with other boys. + + She maintained a sullen, frightened silence most of the time +she was in my office. Her father wanted me to get the man's name +from her so that he could either horsewhip him or force him to +marry Kate. + + "He won't marry me, papa," the girl said. "I told you that. +Ain't no use trying." + + The girl was diseased, too, and I refused to risk an abortion. + + "I can cure the disease," I told her father. "Then perhaps you +can send her away somewhere to have the child." + + He grunted, and they left. Several days later I heard that the +girl had hanged herself from a rafter in the barn loft. Maybe it +was for the best. Life would have been a pretty dismal business if +she had had to remain in the same community. Fundamentally she was +a decent girl. She had simply been the victim of cheap small-town +toughs and a social system. Probably she was wise in not telling +her father the names of her lovers -- although that is a strange +word to use in such a case. The boy to blame might have been +frightened into a shotgun marriage. But if he were under age, the +marriage could be annulled by his parents. There would be an ugly +quarrel in which the girl's name would be drugged deeper into the +filth and the whole incident made unforgettable. + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 57 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + I saw that happen in another small-town case. The boy, a son +of the local banker, was called "wild," but I have a more blunt +term for youths of his type. He was spoiled by too much money, too +much prestige. For several years there were rumors of how he had +tried to assault various girls, but they were kept quiet for fear +of parental wrath. The banker could make things financially +embarrassing for a great many people. The boy behaved himself +fairly well around girls of his own set. + + Then he seduced the daughter of a widow. "Seduced" is the +proper term, for I believe he led her to believe that he meant to +marry her. Perhaps he didn't say so in so many words, but he told +her that he loved her, and to her 16-year-old mind that meant +marriage. + + He bragged to all the town youth of his conquest of a virgin. +Some of the other boys tried to follow in his footsteps, but had no +luck. Then the girl became Pregnant. She went to the boy and asked +that their marriage be hurried. He took the refuge of such sexual +cowards. He said that he was not to blame, refused to believe that +she had been faithful to him and even that she had been a virgin. + + She was a delicate little thing with an Irish beauty, smoky +gray eyes, black curls and a fair skin with a few freckles +scattered over her nose. Ordinarily she was shy, but desperation +lent her new courage. She tried to see the boy's mother. She +failed, but the boy heard of it and got the wind up, He went to his +father and told him that the girl was trying to force him into +marriage. He painted the girl as a fortune hunter, knowing this the +most powerful appeal to his money-mad parent. + + The banker was enthusiastic about his Son's plan of getting +other boys to swear that they, too, had intercourse with the girl, +Bessie, and that she had not been a virgin at the time. Then the +father went to Bessie's mother and accused her of trying to marry +her daughter to his son. This was the first the amazed woman had +beard of the whole thing. She knew Bessie had been dating the +banker's son, but she thought it just a boy and girl friendship. + + For once, a mother remained loyal. Usually it seems to me that +those whose love and faith should be bulwarks for our younger +generation are the first to believe any rumors about their beloved +offspring. I've had girls fell me that their mothers accused them +of immorality if they stayed out late at night, and refused to +believe their explanation of tardiness. Some of these girls +eventually decided that they might as well play the game if they +were to get the blame. + + But Bessie's mother, Mrs. G, refused to believe the banker's +lurid tale of how Bessie had been playing fast and loose with the +town boys and was now trying to fasten the blame on his innocent +son. Part of her loyalty may have sprung from the banker's misstep +in including her in the accusation. He blamed her for plotting the +whole business and using her daughter as a willing tool. + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 58 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + Mrs. G. also refused to believe that her daughter had been +intimate with any boy other than the banker's son. Bessie told her +the whole thing, and she upheld her daughter. The town was in an +uproar. The widow and her daughter were requested to leave. A +friend of Mrs. G's brought her to me. + + "I wouldn't want my daughter to marry a boy like that, even if +he were willing," she said. "What kind of a life could she lead +with him after this? And I certainly don't want her to have a child +by him. He isn't fit to be a father. I don't want any of his money, +and I don't want my daughter to have a child that would be +supported by such horrible people. I'm going to leave the town and +I want to get rid of the child. But X isn't going to get off by +paying me a little money." + + In the general uproar, some of the boys revealed -- in +youthful boasts -- how they had lied about Bessie and how young X +had bragged that Bessie was a virgin. The banker soon saw that he +had stirred up a hornet's nest. The whole story came out, and was +whispered throughout the community. The banker's enemies took +delight in spreading it. Finally he tried to buy off the widow. She +refused any of his money, even enough to pay for the abortion. The +banker's son was shipped off to a military academy. + + The girl got her abortion. I saw to that. There was no time +for arguing over who was to pay for it and who wasn't. I admired +the widow's spunk in refusing the money that, according to any +code, her daughter was entitled to. It was her best way of refuting +charges that she was trying to gold-dig or blackmail the banker. +She had to leave the town, of course, for the girl's sake. But she +was not entirely unavenged. + + I don't mean to paint all small towns as dens of iniquity +where a poor girl is never safe. If I exaggerate, it is simply that +I hear few tales of sweetness and light in my office. + + Shortly after the case of Mrs. G, I got exactly the opposite. +A designing mother accused the son of a prominent man of seducing +her daughter. The son denied it, and the father believed him. They +forced the girl to have an examination, which proved that she was +a virgin. + + In my business, you soon learn that truth about sex is +stranger than fiction. A prosecuting attorney told me of a 10-year- +old girl who came into his office with her mother. The child's +parents were divorced and she divided her time between them. + + The father lived on a farm. The girl didn't like it, and she +wrote her mother making accusations of incest against her father. +The mother rushed to her, and then went to the prosecutor to file +charges against her former husband and to obtain complete custody +of the child. + + "The kid acted mighty funny," the attorney told me. "I could +see that she didn't like to live in the country. She was used to +town, where she could go to movies and have plenty of playmates. So +I had the county physician examine her. Sure enough, he found no + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 59 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +signs that she'd been ravished. The kid then admitted that she'd +made the whole story up so that she could go back to her mother. I +told the mother that she'd better drop the charges and work out +some friendly agreement with her ex-husband. + + He sighed. "Attorneys and doctors hear some queer things" he +said philosophically. + + He was right. When people ask the secret of my marital +happiness I say that I see enough tragedy in my office and I +learned my lessons without any experiments at home. + + A colleague of mine told me about a prominent woman who was +trying to divorce her husband. She told all her friends he was +impotent. Just as they succeeded in agreeing on a friendly charge, +she became pregnant. + + I don't know how she managed her divorce, but it probably was +an embarrassing situation. My colleague laughed heartily. I didn't. +For a somewhat similar case was brought to me. + + "I'm planning to divorce my husband," the woman, whom I shall +call Janet said. "I'm going to marry another man. And now to throw +a monkey wrench into the works, I am pregnant." + + "Well," I told her, "if you're planning to marry the man, go +ahead and have the child. You can get the divorce in Reno in plenty +of time. It may be a bit embarrassing, but that's one of the risks +you took. You and your lover will just have to face the music." + + "You don't understand," she said. "My husband is the father of +the child." + + With difficulty I restrained a grin. "That does make it a +problem." + + "I can't go through with it," she explained desperately. "You +see, it's like this. I'm divorcing my husband because of +infidelity. We've been married about five years and I see there's +no hope of changing his ways. He's fond of me but he can't resist +women -- and they can't resist him. I don't think these affairs +mean much to him -- but they mean a lot to me." + + Janet paused for a few moments, searching for words. I waited. +You can't just walk into a doctor's office -- unless he's an out- +and-out quack -- and demand an abortion. All these confessions may +sound a bit queer, but if a doctor has any standing at all, he has +to be convinced that for the sake of humanity this case is worth +taking a risk. + + "I stood it as long as I could," she said. "Finally I was +forced to realize that such a marriage would drive me crazy. I like +security. I want to be respectable. Don made me feel casual, +unimportant. I was his wife, but there was nothing that we had that +he didn't share with any woman of uneasy virtue. It was killing my +love and my self respect. I was tormented by jealousy at first, and +then I found myself becoming a little resigned. But I never knew + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 60 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +when he'd meet some woman who'd make a fuss. One or two of his +flames did come to me and demand that I give Don up to them. Don +was horrified at that. He liked being married to me -- because it +gave him plenty of freedom. But I hate scenes." + + "And then," Janet went on. "I met Andy. I admit I poured it on +a little about being the misunderstood wife. Andy was sympathetic, +and we fell in love with each other. With Andy I could have +everything I want, security, comfort. I could be an actual wife. He +is steady-going and he has high ideals. If I lose Andy, I'll +probably try the dismal experiment of becoming a philandering wife. +I'm not cut out for that sort of thing and I'd make a mess of it." + + "I know," I told her. I'd 'seen plenty of women driven to +extramarital affairs by unfaithful husbands. Frequently it wrecks +their marriages because the husbands never feel that anything they +have done justifies the same action in their wives. + + "Andy and I agreed that I should get a divorce," Janet +continued. "I put off telling Don about it. I know Andy won't +understand that. He's a matter-of-fact person who makes a decision +and sticks to it. And he couldn't understand how I could still be +fond of Don and hate to hurt him, even if he has hurt me a lot in +the past. Finally I just left the traditional note on the pin +cushion and departed." + + "And then?" I asked. + + "And then I discover I'm pregnant." She shrugged her +shoulders. "I've got to do something about it, and I didn't want to +try any crude things that might keep me from bearing Andy's +children. It's so early that it should be simple. But you can see +my position. I could never make Andy understand that after I had +agreed to a divorce I would take my husband as a lover. I've +thought of all the possible reasons and none of them would be +credible to Andy. He'd feel that I didn't really love him -- and I +do. He'd think it my duty to stay with Don if I loved him enough to +go to bed with him, and he'd think me utterly a hussy if I told him +I didn't want to live with Don any more." + + "And why did you do it?" I asked. + + "I don't know." Janet flung her hands up. "Why do we do +anything? Why did I marry Don when I knew pretty well what he was +then? I did it because he was so attractive to me that I felt I'd +rather risk a little unhappiness than lose him entirely. And oddly +enough I'm still a little fond of him. We've lived together five +years. It's hard to wipe all of that out. To be honest," she turned +and faced me, "I think it was more or less force of habit. He came +into my room late at night when I was asleep, and the next thing I +knew he was making love to me. That was always Don's way of +starting a reconciliation after he'd been unfaithful. And I had +submitted to him before when I was angry or sad, and, anyhow, there +wasn't time to think. I suppose I could have made a scene and told +Don I meant to divorce him. But the fact remains that I didn't. + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 61 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "Maybe there was a little sentimentalism about it, too. A +desire to have one pleasant night with Don before our life was +closed entirely. Anyhow, he stayed the rest of the night with me, +and I didn't use any preventives. And, of all the nights, it had to +be that one on which I was caught. I once wanted a child thinking +it would help me hold Don. Later, I decided it would be bad because +Don didn't care for children; he would assuredly be unfaithful +while I was pregnant and I would hate that and the child would make +me even more helpless. Now, just as I had put an end to the whole +dismal mess, this had to happen." + + "Don't you think you ought to tell Andy the truth?" I asked. + + "What is the truth?" Janet asked. "That I, being still a wife +in name, did not refuse my husband? I can't ask Andy to marry me +when I'm carrying Don's child. It would be an impossible situation. +If the child already were born, it would be different. He might not +object to a two or three-year-old child, although Andy is great on +doing his duty and there would be difficulty about the custody of +the child. But I couldn't go to him like this. There would be jokes +-- he'd be suspected of being the father, of course. It might +seriously hurt, his business career if there was scandal." + + "Can't you blame it on Andy?" I asked. + + She shook her head. "He's too honorable. We haven't been +lovers, and he won't take me until we're married. I know; I've +offered myself to him. + + "He isn't as much of a prig as I've made him out to be. Just +as I suppose I've given Don a little too much of the worst of it in +talking to Andy. A woman probably would understand how I +automatically let my husband make passionate love to me when I was +half-asleep. And she could understand how, even when I had decided +it was impossible for me to live with Don any longer, I could have +a sort of affection for him, a remembrance of our honeymoon days +and early married life and the fun we have had together, that would +make it pleasant, even more pleasant when I thought that it would +be our last time together." + + "I know," I said. "Over-compensation. You find it in men and +women who are being unfaithful or have decided to separate. The +guilty person feels that he or she has taken something important +away from the other mate and by way of compensation lavishes +tenderness on them." + + She nodded. "But Andy's never been married, and I'm afraid +he's never had any really passionate love affairs. I say I'm +afraid, because I'll probably make a lot of little slips, such as +calling him Don or talking about Don without rancor. But he's what +I want, and he's what I need. I'm not going to let Don or Don's +unexpected child cheat me out of it." + + Here was a neat problem. She could have gone back to Don. She +had not committed adultery, and she said Don would take her back, +although he did not seem greatly upset over. her desertion. + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 62 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "He fancies I'll come back of my own free will if he lets me +alone," she said. "And he's too lazy to exert himself. Out of sight +is out of mind with Don. If he happened to meet me he'd probably +make an eloquent little speech urging me to return and saying he is +broken-hearted. But if he doesn't see me, he'll let the whole thing +slide and besides he might take the attitude that the child is +Andy's and I've been jilted by Andy. He couldn't understand Andy's +attitude in not making passionate love to me. Anyhow, as I said, I +don't want to go back to Don." + + Perhaps she should have told Andy. After all, the child was +not illegitimate. She was not disgraced. She had made Andy no +promises. Janet was not a loose woman. But, as she said, a bachelor +of Andy's type could not realize how after several years of +marriage sex becomes more or less automatic. Don, of course, was +innocent of blame in that particular instance. He did not know that +Janet was planning a friendly divorce. The interlude did not change +Janet's mind. She merely regarded it as the close of her sex life +with Don, and she felt that it was really no more of an infidelity +to Andy than any similar experience she had had with Don since she +had met Andy. + + On the surface, it looked as if she should take it on the chin +and go through what would simply be an embarrassing situation; +perhaps wait until after the child was born before she got her +divorce. She was still fond of Don and perhaps she should take up +her married life again. That probably would be the viewpoint of the +moralists, + + But Janet was not stupid about herself or her condition. + + "My pregnancy is an accident occurring at the worst time," she +said. "I'm not dumb enough to think that it was an act of God at a +dramatic moment to keep Don and me together. Don doesn't want +children. I want them, but I don't want Don's. If I stayed with +him, I should hate the child, hate myself for being a darned fool +and hate Don for getting me into this fix, although it really isn't +his fault. I'd think that his selfish desire to have me when he +wanted me ruined my life. I'd reached the limit of endurance in my +present existence. If I felt that sex had cheated me out of my +chance for happiness, I'd fling my cap over the windmill for good +and try to outdo Don. Then things would be in a mess." + + So she got her abortion. Then she obtained a quiet divorce and +married Andy. They seem very happy. She has never told him of the +incident. I think she is wise. She understands him as well as one +person can understand another. And so she knows there are certain +things that he could never understand. + + A second husband or wife is always vaguely jealous of the +first. A second wife was pregnant, and came to me -- not for an +abortion -- but for other medical advice. As it happened, she had +had an abortion before marriage. + + "I've never told David about it and I won't," she said. "He +talks to me a good deal about his first wife and that's bad enough +without my chiming in with tales of my past lovers. If he were +jealous, it would be bad, and if he weren't, it would be worse. I + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 63 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +tried asking David not to talk about Alice, his first wife, but he +looked surprised and hurt and said one of the nicest things about +me was that he could talk about such things freely. He doesn't see +any danger in it, because he knows that it is all over. But I am +forced to realize that he must once have been very fond of Alice +and wonder if his affection for me will dwindle just as quickly. +Also, I can't keep from feeling somehow that his first wife had the +best of it. She had him when he was youthful and idealistic and +more romantic than he is now. Of course, I know that my marriage is +safer because my husband wasn't romantic and impulsive when he +selected me. All the same, I wince, when he talks of some youthful +and quixotic thing he did with her." + + The more I see of the mistakes made in sex, the less I think +of the noble idea of a man and woman telling everything in their +pasts before marriage. Of course, if there is something that the +husband is sure to find out, such as a previous marriage or a +scandal that will be immediately resurrected, then the woman had +better beat the gossips to it. + + "When I became engaged, my husband began asking a lot of +question's, in a joking way," a woman once told me. "He smiled, but +he was serious behind his light manner. I hadn't given him an +opening by asking him about his past. I didn't want to know about +it. I knew he was virile and he was not diseased. I liked him for +himself, not for any record as a Casanova or a monk. So after I had +answered or evaded several questions, I said, Look, John, if you +want virginal innocence in a bride you have asked the wrong woman +to marry you. I'm not a virgin and you'd be sorry if, at my age, I +were. I have done a few things in my life that I regret and very +few that I'm ashamed of. Probably I've been a fool at times, as who +hasn't? But I've a sense of loyalty to the men who've been in my +past and I'm not going to talk about them. I took my affairs +seriously then or I wouldn't have gone through with them and they +deserve some reticence now.'" + + "What did he say?" I asked. + + "He was a little offended at first," she replied. "I told him +that I hadn't asked him any questions because I thought that a man +I loved would naturally be all right. I thought I deserved the same +faith. I was 30 years old when I married. It would have been odd if +there had been no men in my life. Some of the men had asked me to +marry them. One of my former lovers still lived in my town. Had I +told John all about my past, it would have risen to haunt me from +time to time. John would have looked at my former men friends with +jealous and prejudiced eyes. He would have suspected me of +lingering affection for my former lover. Or he might have thought +that I was regretting not having married some more prosperous man. +Then he would never understand the accidents." + + "Accidents?" I asked. + + She nodded. "Yes, accidents. He'd think they were planned or +I was weak or something was wrong, although he probably has had the +same type of experiences. I mean things like going somewhere and +having the car or the motorboat break down and staying the night. + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 64 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +Maybe you just sleep. Maybe you sleep together. I'll give you an +example. A man and I went on an all-day picnic to a cabin omened by +some mutual friends. The whole thing, I warn you, sounds like a +plot for a romance except for the ending. We went in a car. when we +started the man said, 'Now remind me to get some gasoline.' I +agreed. Well, it was one of those trips when you whiz past a +filling station and the driver says, 'I should have stopped there,' +and by that time you're a mile on down the road and you wait for +the next one. Finally we ran out of stations because we were in a +wooded country and off the highway. Jack thought we had enough +gasoline to get us there and back to civilization. There wasn't +anything. deliberate about it. We were just careless." + + I grinned. "So you ran out of gas." + + She nodded again. "We didn't discover it until we got ready to +go home. We'd spent a perfectly congenial day, had our picnic, +walked around, admired the views and it was dark when we started to +go back. The car wouldn't start. I was dead tired. So was Jack. +Something had gone wrong with the gasoline gauge. It showed about +two gallons. Jack looked at me and laughed and we decided to stay +there. The next morning Jack could hunt around for a farmhouse. It +seemed utterly silly to go barging around in the dark when there +was a snug cabin stocked with wood and groceries. + + "Plausible enough," I agreed. + + "Yes. But here comes the part that is hard to explain to a man +you're about to marry. I'd met Jack about three years before had +been attracted to him. But he was going with someone else then and +so was I, and nothing came of it. About a week or so before the +picnic, I'd met Jack again. He was just back from a long trip, and +he gave me a rush. I wasn't going with anyone in particular. We'd +done a little petting, nothing else. + + "Jack hadn't been with a woman for months. The inevitable +happened. I liked and respected Jack. He was very attractive +physically. But I wasn't in love with him and he wasn't in love +with me and we didn't pretend to be. I like to look back on the +episode as being an adventure. The next morning, we found a tin of +gasoline in the back of a woodshed. If we'd rummaged around a +little more or had a flashlight we'd probably have found it the +night before. We laughed, but both of us said that we were glad we +hadn't discovered it." + + "And you don't intend to tell your husband about it?" I asked. + + "No," she replied. "You see Jack and I had a couple more dates +and then his business took him away, probably forever. If he'd +stayed, we might have had a long love affair; we might even have +been married by now. I don't know. I've heard men say that when two +nice people meet and have a powerful physical attraction the thing +to do is, well, to do something about it. But I once ruined a +beginning love affair by telling this story to the man. He had told +me of experiences which seemed much more casual to me. But it +ruined his idealistic view of me, and he couldn't bear that." + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 65 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "So I learned my lesson," she concluded briskly. "I've thought +a lot about that since. I was going to be frank and straightforward +with that man. I was being idealistic when I told him about Jack. +I thought the man was so fine and understanding that he deserved +nothing less than the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the +truth. I thought he'd appreciate my frankness and my confidence. I +should have known better. He was extremely jealous, and in his +jealousy he said things that hurt. Afterward he felt that he'd made +a fool of himself and he tried to salve his vanity by convincing +himself I was not what he had thought. This is getting a little +complicated. But it was a matter of his egotism. He took it calmly +when I first told him, and afterward he started thinking of it and +began to get more jealous; and he exploded and insisted I had done +an awful thing, so he could excuse his own spasm." + + "I agree with you," I said. "There are only a few things any +woman needs to tell her husband. I think she should say whether she +had been married before or that she doesn't really love him and +loves someone that she can't marry for some reason. Then she should +tell him if she can't have children, if she doesn't like children +or if she has a child already. I mean, of course, an illegitimate +child whose existence is being concealed. Chances are, he'll find +out about the child later and then it will be worse. And she should +tell him if there is anything wrong with her physically so that she +can't do her share in the sex partnership. That seems to me all the +information any woman needs to or should give her husband and all +any husband needs to give his wife. I include abortions in the list +of things she doesn't need to tell him, unless there is a big +chance that he may find out about it or unless the job has been +bungled so that she can't have children." + + There has always seemed something grisly and morbid to me +about raking over the past just as a marriage is about to begin. It +is unhealthy emotionally. Why drag out the dead on the eve of a +wedding? It turns it into a wake. An emotional woman probing into +the past may become upset and wonder if she's doing the right thing +or start thinking of what might have been. Likewise, tiny doubts of +the other person must creep in after detailed reminiscences of the +past. + + A young girl came to me for a physical examination before her +marriage. + + "I'm going to have a clean bill of health for my husband at +any rate," she told me. "If I'm pronounced sound of wind and limb +and technically a good girl I think that's enough. I'm not going to +drag out the love letters. I burn them as soon as I get them, +anyhow. And any girl past her middle 20's is a fool if she +confesses her life and loves; If she's been at all popular it's +going to sound pretty over-whelming to the gentleman in love with +her, and if she hadn't been popular, she doesn't want him to know +it." + + She smiled at me. "Some girls get too modern. But it isn't +modern to know when to keep your mouth shut. Our grandmothers knew +plenty about maidenly reticence. The trouble with the modern girl +is not so much what she does but her habit of talking about it at +the top of her voice." + + Which seemed words of wisdom to a man in my profession. + + 66 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + X. MY WIFE LENDS A HAND + + Ordinarily, as I have said, I tried to keep Norma separate +from my professional life. Of course, I talked over my cases with +her and frequently I relied upon her decisions. + + When we were first married, she wanted to act as my office +girl. + + "It would save you money," she insisted. "Then you'd need only +a nurse for operations. I could keep books and answer the telephone +and sterilize instruments as well as a nurse could." + + I shook my head. "No. I've found out by now that most of the +old platitudes are true. One of them is that you can't touch pitch +without being defiled. I don't want you to come in daily contact +with the most sordid side of sex. One of the nicest things about +our marriage is that I can look forward to coming home at night and +finding you serene and lovely. I can talk over anything that +bothers me, but you haven't been upset by seeing these people and +hearing their stories." + + She laughed. "Darling, don't think I don't hear about sex just +because I keep away from your office. When two women get together, +the conversation goes from clothes and diet to its logical end of +sex." + + I grinned. "I didn't know. I know that women talk to me mostly +of sex, but in a strictly professional way." + + "I went to a bridge luncheon today," Norma said. "And we got +to talking about abortions and miscarriages. Don't look shocked. +These were all nice women. It just happened that one of them had +had an operation. She said it was a curettage to stop a hemorrhage, +but we were all a little suspicious, I think. Anyway the +conversation turned to Women Who Do Things. And such a lot of +gossip as you wouldn't hear in days, I heard that Doctor B does +abortions, too. I didn't know that before." + + "I don't know it yet," I answered. "Doctor B might do one for +a close friend, but I rather doubt it. He'd probably send the +friend to me or to another doctor here who has some shady practice. +Don't believe all you hear about such matters. A lot of women who +come to me thought that they could persuade their family physicians +to help them out of jams, but they were mistaken when it came to a +showdown." + + "I know," she said. "Women will say something as rumor and +when it's next repeated it's a fact and next time it's doubled. For +instance, some one told me that Mrs. G had had three abortions." + + I grinned again. "Mrs, G had an operation several years ago +that would prevent her having any children. She had a tumor, and +she didn't menstruate for some time. What happened was that the +tumor made her abdomen enlarged and there were rumor's that she was +pregnant. Since she didn't have any children, a lot of gossip- +minded women supposed that she was doing something about it." + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 67 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "That's what I suspected. But you know I hadn't been around +married women much before I married. I am still a little amazed at +the way the wives all seize a chance to talk about sex. I suppose +they feel that this is one of the privileges of wifehood, to drop +all reticence in such matters, and they make the most of it. +Before, they had to be careful, for nice, unmarried girls aren't +supposed to know about such things." + + "That's why my practice grows," I remarked flippantly. "But a +lot of married women don't know very much about sex, and that +causes trouble when they go to dishing out advice. A woman who has +escaped having more than one or two children, chiefly through luck, +isn't in a position to give much advice to a woman who doesn't want +them." + + "I'm very popular," Norma said, "because they know I'm a +doctor's wife and they all figure they can get some free +information as well as a lot of gossip from me. I just tell them +that my husband never discusses his cases with me. But I was +surprised at how much talk, true or otherwise, there is floating +around about women. If a woman has a bad time at menstruation, half +her friends jump to the conclusion that she's had a miscarriage. +And if she has an abdominal operation, everyone wants to know if +she had her ovaries removed. If she did, a lot of women think she +probably was diseased or she didn't want children. And how they +dwell on the detail's of their menopauses." + + I grinned. "Maybe you'd better come to the office, where the +air is pure and clean and disinfected." + + "I Almost burst out laughing at one fat woman," Norma told me. +"She has two children, and she said that when she knew she was +pregnant the second time she was so irritated. I got so mad at +Frank that I just went out and jumped off the porch two or three +times, she said. 'But it didn't do any good. Of course, I don't +think it's right to do anything about such things.'" + + "What she meant," I interrupted, "was that she didn't think it +right to go to a doctor for such things because that would cost +money and she'd probably have to tell her husband and it might get +out. So she's willing to risk her health by some such silly trick. +A fall might have caused her to abort and on the other hand it +might just have injured the child or broken her leg. Probably she +braced herself for the jump so she landed lightly." + + "Another woman said that she got nervous and so she took +something," Norma went on. "It just made her awfully sick and about +a week later she had a normal menstruation. She said she was +ashamed of herself and never told her husband." + + "Of course not. She wouldn't tell her husband, but she +probably was irritable and nervous and raised hell about something +else and he wondered what was the matter with her and why she +didn't seem to want anything to do with him sexually; and he +decided that she was tired of him. And it may be that at that +psychological moment he met an attractive woman who didn't seem to +have many scruples, and the next thing he knew he was having an +affair. That's the way those things usually go. Then the wife talks + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 68 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +about how she was dishonored and betrayed and men are only animals +after all. She say's that she's always been faithful and she's +suffered agonies of anxiety on his behalf and that is the way he +treats her. But she never let him know about her worrying." + + "I don't know," Norma mused thoughtfully. "You'd think that +two people who are married could talk anything over and reach an +understanding. But sometimes it seems to me that love causes +misunderstanding. At first the wife hates to do anything that would +spoil the romantic attitude of the honeymoon. Later she's afraid of +discussion that will cause her husband to be less ardent." + + She smiled at me. "We started with less disadvantages than +most couples, because we had talked over so much of this before +marriage and understood each other. But I can see how wives would +hate to bring up such things. You, being a doctor, ask me personal +questions that an ordinary husband probably wouldn't think about. +For instance, you check my periods, and if I'm delayed you do +something about it. But no average husband would think of that. And +if he comes home worried, the wife hates to add to his worries. If +the husband seems gay, she feels that she doesn't want to Spoil his +mood by dragging up a disagreeable subject. So she just lets it go, +waiting for the perfect opportunity. And the opportunity never +comes." + + "I know," I agreed. "And oddly enough, some women resent their +husbands asking them questions. I've had women say that their sex +life was marred because their husbands asked them how they felt and +how they enjoyed intercourse. The men were merely trying to make +Sure the wives were satisfied. They were unusually thoughtful and +knew that some women are slower than the man. But the wives got +self-conscious about it." + + I used to be constantly amazed at the many mental quirks women +have regarding sexual matters. But most of them are easily traced +to a desire to calm their consciences and to the idea that anything +that isn't found out is all right. + + For instance, a woman will excuse home attempts to abort +herself. Going to a doctor seems to definitely ally herself with +the wrong kind of woman and forces her to come out in the open and +admit that she doesn't want a child and is willing to enlist +assistance to get rid of the fetus. + + She will risk injury to herself by several such attempts, and +then go ahead and have the child if she fails, rather than go to a +doctor and do the thing scientifically and safely. Then she may +preen herself later because she didn't do anything, forgetting that +it was because of ignorance that she didn't succeed in aborting +herself. + + Likewise, many women feel that it is all right to have +abortions up to about two months, explaining that the fetus is +"nothing much but a germ." Of course, the danger increases as time +passes, but five days after conception there is life. What these +women really mean is that if they wait until they are far along +people will notice the change in their bodies and suspect something +if there is an abortion. + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 69 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + Similarly, women, especially religious women, feel that +withdrawal on the part of the man or continence during dangerous +periods is all right, while use of artificial devices to prevent +contraception is sinful. Here again the fear of being found out +enters into it. Most women hate to purchase any type of +contraceptive. Likewise, they hate to ask other women for definite +advice. + + Some of them might be shocked out of this false modesty if +they knew the freedom with which men, both married and single, +discuss such matters. Men have far less hesitancy about going to a +doctor for an examination or information and they buy +contraceptives calmly at a drug store. + + One woman almost broke up her marriage because she refused to +go to the doctor. She had a physical defect which made intercourse +painful. Yet she delayed a visit to the doctor. Finally her husband +forced her to go. Even then she sulked about it. She even tried the +argument that her husband should be willing to abandon sex life. + + On the other hand, there was another young bride who was a +virgin before marriage. For several weeks she had intercourse every +night. Then came a night when her husband was tired and did not +make love to her. She seemed a trifle upset but he paid little +attention to that. He thought that she surely knew that there were +limits to the man's physical powers. + + The next day she hastened down to my office, greatly +disturbed. She had been filled with the usual mass of +misinformation that seems to be dished out to virgins by their +feminine relatives and friends and she thought that her sex life +was over just because she had missed one night I assured her that +her husband's love hadn't cooled, and that he hadn't suddenly +become impotent. She went home a wiser wife. + + I told Norma about it, but she didn't laugh. + + "That isn't so uncommon," she said. "And on the other hand, +there are girls who have been told that once a week is the limit +and they are afraid their husbands are over-sexed if they want +intercourse more often. This girl's case was no joke. A friend of +mine divorced her husband because she wanted intercourse every +night and he couldn't stand it." + + Such women are usually dismissed lightly as over-sexed, but in +many cases that isn't true. The man may be too hasty, and the woman +therefore does not get satisfaction. The partly-completed act on +her part leaves her restless, nervous and irritable and desiring +intercourse again as soon as possible, Some men cannot tell when +their wives have had an orgasm, and if the woman doesn't tell them +they may postpone the second act. Too, some types of contraceptive +devices prevent the normal culmination of the sex act. + + As I said, I tried to keep my home life separated from my +practice, although I discussed things freely, with Norma. After the +birth of our first child, of course, she was too busy at home to +want to work in my office. But from time to time she did bring + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 70 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +cases to me. I objected, because I didn't want her placed in the +position of a go-between for an abortionist. She laughed when I +told her that. + + "Don't you remember how we first met?" she asked. + + The first case she called to my attention went smoothly. A +friend came to her and said that another woman, whom I shall call +Gladys, was pregnant and wanted to do something about it. + + Gladys was married, but she already had four children, and she +and her husband could not afford any more. She was not in good +health and she hated her present condition. + + She had told her friend, Anna, about it and Anna had gone to +her own doctor. The doctor refused to take the case. It was another +example of how a woman optimistically declares that her doctor will +perform an illegal operation and then is turned down. The doctor, +I gathered, had been a little indignant and had asked if Anna had +used his name in any way. Fortunately Anna had not -- or at least +she said she had not. + + The next time she tried a more round-about way, by approaching +Noma. Anna said that Gladys had tried the more common home methods, +without success. She was desperate, and was in a continual nervous +state. She had been warned at the birth of her last child that it +would be better for her to wait several years until she had another +one. + + "She's one of these helpless women who don't know how to +manage anything," Anna said with a shrug of her shoulders. "You +know the kind. She means well, but somehow she always manages to +muddle things. She didn't have sense enough to insist that her +husband be more careful, and now she's with child again." + + Norma saw Gladys and was upset at her weeping. So she, came to +me. + + "She'll keep on doing things until she gets herself in such a +condition that she'll either die in childbirth or she'll kill the +child beforehand," she told me. "She's in that hysterical state +where she's willing to try anything. And, you know, old women can +offer more methods of abortion than they can for curing colds. +She'll keep it a secret, and Anna has promised to see that you will +get your money." + + I told them to bring Gladys in. She was what I call the "faded +petunia" type of woman. She worked so hard fixing things for her +husband and her children and keeping her house clean that she never +had any time left for herself. Her skin was wrinkled and her hair +lacked luster. She was not the "good manager" type, and it showed +in her last year's clothes and her bedraggled hair and work- +roughened hands. Of course, her husband did not make much money. +But some women seem to be able to keep themselves up in spite of +being pinched for funds. She was the sort of woman who will make a +martyr of herself and then wonder dumbly why she isn't appreciated, +why her husband doesn't stay home and why her children, when they +grow up, seem to lack respect for her but give her, instead, a sort +of pitying affection. + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 71 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + I told her I would help her out. Her husband didn't object, +although he was the sort of man who didn't exactly approve of +abortions, just as he liked to pretend that he didn't use +contraceptives because he "disapproved" of such things. He was +willing, it seemed, as long as he did not have to do much about it. +There was nothing to do but give Gladys temporary help by aborting +her and then try to frighten her into being a little more firm with +her husband. + + "Isn't there a way that you could fix it so Gladys wouldn't +have any more children?" Anna asked. + + I looked my most professional. "She could, of course, have her +ovaries removed. But they are in good condition and I would refuse +to perform such an operation or to advise it." + + Anna hesitated a moment. "I've heard that operations can be +performed on men so that they can't become fathers but they still +have their normal sexual feelings." + + "Don't believe all you hear," I evaded. "I wouldn't attempt +such a thing. If that's what you mean. In the first place, you'd +never get the man to agree to it. In the second place, the woman +might regret it later. These people want some children. The +children they have might die, and then they couldn't have any more. +I'll give temporary help, but I won't perform sterilization +operations. And don't let anyone fool you with these theories about +hypodermic injections that will make the man sterile for a few +months. Most of the talk about magic and simple operations, is +quackery, along with sure-fire cheap abortions and positive +contraceptives." + + Anna, who had gone to school with her, brought me the money +beforehand. Gladys got along as well as could be expected. When she +was well, I sent for Anna. + + "I know you've impressed the need for secrecy on her," I said. +"But for some reason I'm upset about the woman. I can't help +feeling sorry for her. For the love of Mike, try to get her to +understand that unselfishness is not always a virtue. Too much +unselfishness makes other people uncomfortable. As long as she has +that air of hang-dog devotion, she'll be run over. She's made a +mild rebellion in having an abortion. See if you can keep up the +good work." + + I don't know what Anna told her. Probably she hinted that if +Gladys didn't pay more attention to herself, her husband would +start straying. There were plenty of examples she could point to. +Later I saw Gladys and she looked amazingly better. Her children +were no longer dressed in the most expensive coats and hats and the +daintiest of handmade frocks and I doubt if she still slaved hours +over a pet dish of her husband's. I remarked about it to Anna. Anna +looked vague and mysterious. + + "Her husband took his stenographer out to lunch and dinner +while she was "sick," she said. Then she grinned. "But he doesn't +do it now," she added. + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 72 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + Which reminds me of a young bride who came to me for +information about birth control. + + "I thought I heard you say once that you wanted children," I +said. "You came in here before marriage for a physical examination +and said you wanted to be sure that you could bear healthy children +without much pain. What's made you change your mind?" + + "Just before I was married, I saw something that gave me a +decided shock," she replied. "One of my best friends has only been +married about a year and she's pregnant. She's the sort who takes +it hard. She had a lovely figure, and she hates to go around now +that she's big and clumsy. Besides, she's ill, nausea in the +morning, headaches, general listlessness and all that. Betty was +the sort who was always the life of the party, and she won't go +anywhere feeling bad. So she stays at home." + + "Yes," I told her, "but the chances are you'd got by pretty +easy if you took care of yourself" + + "Oh, I'm going to have children. But in my own good time. I +hadn't finished my story. Betty's husband, Jim, married her because +they had so much fun together. He likes to dance and get around. +They decided after marriage that it would be more fun to just +forget precautions and let nature take its course. Jim fancied that +it would be fan to have a toddler around the house. And they said +they wanted to be young enough that they could grow up with the +children." + + "Yes," I responded, "I've heard that. It has its points. But +one of the disadvantages is that children need a civilized adult +for a parent and not a happy-go-lucky playmate." + + "Well," she said, "I saw Jim lunching with an attractive girl +the other day, and then I saw him dining with another girl. I know +it's no fun for him to go home and find Betty moaning on the couch +or to learn that she's at her mother's and have her mother looking +reproachfully at him for what he's done to her darling girl. But at +the same time, Jim is doing considerable partying and in the +company of a good-looking divorcee who always had her eye on him. +I don't know how far the affair has gone, and I didn't tell Betty, +because I'm not the sort of girl who rushes to her friends and says +'I think you ought to know.' Betty isn't in any condition to have +to face too many facts." + + "Anyhow," I suggested, "her husband probably will repent +sooner or later and rush back to her." + + "Maybe. But I'll admit I didn't like to see this on the eve of +my own marriage. For Jim and Betty were one of the good examples +that caused me to take the leap. But I'm no babe-in-the-woods. I +realize that it's fairly common for a man to do some playing around +while his wife is pregnant. I know that a lot of men feel that it's +unfair for them to be denied sex life for three or four months. +Personally I feel that's a selfish viewpoint. But I believe in +facing facts. I thought it over and decided that my husband was a +normal male, and that, being so, the wedding ceremony was no +insurance that he really was going to cherish me forever and be +blind to all other women." + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 73 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "Yes," I agreed. I like to encourage these girls to talk to me +because I may be able to pass some of their good advice on later. + + "So I decided that since I loved the man and had gone this far +with the engagement, there was no point in being a coward. But +there was no point either in making things too hard for myself. +What I want is to have as much fun with my husband as I can for a +year or two. We can't keep the rose-colored spectacles on forever. +But I want to have a little care-free youth together first." + + "And," I said, "You want your husband to get into the habit of +thinking of you as his permanent partner in fun so that you'll be +more certain if he does stray a little he'll come back to you." + + "Certainly," she agreed. "And I don't believe that six or +seven. months is enough time for that. I want our marriage to be +well established before I take on any risks. If after two years of +married companionship I get pregnant, I can more easily condone any +lack of attention from my husband. I'll remember that we've had a +lot of fun and maybe a slight marital vacation wouldn't hurt either +of us. Furthermore, Bill would be used to regarding himself as a +married man. He'd have got in the habit of making small adjustments +and sacrifices for our mutual welfare. And people would be +accustomed to regarding him as a married man, which is important. + + "I don't want to wait too long. For if I do, I may wait until +our marriage is beginning to pall a little on Bill and my pregnancy +would be the one thing needed to cause him to seek diversion +elsewhere. It's all very well," and she grinned at me, "to talk +about baby hands bringing people together and husbands rushing back +to their wives when they find them sewing tiny garments. But while +the husband may be pleased, he may also be annoyed. And he isn't +going to enjoy having a wife who is just a human incubator for +several months." + + "Well," I told her, "I'm thankful that you're thinking of this +before and not after you're pregnant. I don't think you'll have any +trouble with Bill. Just remember that it's important not to go to +thinking you're too smart and let the iron hand come out of the +velvet glove. Don't ever let your husband know that you're managing +him. You can be too modern in this sex game. + + And you can. Which brings me back to my wife again. I came +home one knight to find her laughing. + + "I think I've got other case for you," she announced. "I +demand, of course, that you split your fee." + + "Split fees are unethical," I said sternly, and then kissed +her, "Who's been bothering you now?" + + "It's really funny and yet it isn't. Kitty was over here +today." + + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 74 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + I knew Kitty and I grimaced. The last time I saw her she was +playing her usual good Samaritan role. She married a wealthy man +and the marriage turned a little sour. So she finds her pleasure in +doing as much good as she can with her social prestige and her +money. I like Kitty, but she usually finds good works for her +friends to do. + + "She hasn't found another old woman trying to trick a young +man into marriage, has she?" I asked. + + Kitty had once brought me a middle-aged widow who urgently +wanted to marry. She'd started an affair with a young man, taking +him as her protege. The man was a young artist; and she bought some +pictures from him and also got some of her friends to help. + + Then she'd used her help to get the man to become her lover. +it was a disagreeable story. The woman appeared very pleasant and +cultured, but she really was an unscrupulous hell-cat. The artist +was a handsome young idiot, and, like many creative workers, he had +little common sense about finances or about his social life. It was +simply that most of his intelligence went into his work. He drifted +into the affair, and the woman persuaded him that she was using +contraceptives. Then she told him that she was pregnant and they +must marry. I gathered that she had used other wiles without +success. Part of the time the boy simply did not know what she was +getting at. He really thought she was interested in his work and in +himself only as an artist. He became her lover because he thought +that would make her happier. He never dreamed of marriage until she +came out flat-footed with the demand. + + He went to Kitty in horror. She felt responsible, for she'd +bought some pictures from him and had introduced him to the other +woman. Kitty came to me. + + "The old hag has her hooks on him and she won't let him go," +she said with brutal frankness. "And he's still got enough ideals +and chivalry to think that he must marry her if she wants him to. +He knows that it's her fault, but he feels that if she loved him +enough to do a thing like this he ought to marry her and give her +what happiness he can. Then he feels indebted to her. + + "Understand," she went on. "He isn't the gigolo type. He +really has talent, if not genius, but he had a lot of hard luck. +And this old dame looked like a god-send to him. She's clever and +she arranged it so that he wasn't suspicious of what she wanted +until too late. I should have guessed what she was up to, but I +didn't think that he was so dumb, and I thought she merely wanted +an affair." + + "Well," I asked, "why doesn't he marry her, and play her own +game. He can wait until after the child is born and then sue her +for divorce." + + "You don't get it," she responded. "I told you he wasn't the +gigolo type. Probably she'd soon tire of him, but I don't know. +She's the sort who would feed on youth. But even if she'd let him +get a divorce soon, she'd absolutely ruin him first. Alone, he +might get to be a great artist, but he won't if he marries her." + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 75 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + I talked to the boy, and I saw some of his work. He hadn't +fallen yet for his patroness talk about an easy road to fame and +fortune. He was bewildered at her failure to understand that he had +to have rest and solitude to do any work. He was already in a bad +physical condition from too much drink, late hours, rich food and +hectic gaiety. + + "You see," Kitty told me, "the boy's not spoiled yet. But it +isn't good for young artists to have too much money. He's got to +work hard. What he needs, if he marries, is a woman who will +sacrifice herself to his art, see that he eats, sleeps and has +plenty of time to work. Mrs. D will ruin him forever in a year. And +he's good. I know about such things." + + He did have a picture of a young alums madonna that haunted +me. But Mrs. D wanted him to paint pretty women, society ladies. He +didn't want to. He said there was no truth, no art, in that. + + So I agreed to help Kitty. She brought Mrs. D to me, and I +examined her. She was pregnant, all right. Then I told her vaguely +that she was going to have a bad time. I gave her some medicine +which increased rather than helped her nausea. Kitty laid it on +pretty thick about how she'd lose her figure -- she was one of +those women who dieted and massaged in order to keep slim. And she +was afraid of pain. Her idea seemed to be that with enough +specialists she could somehow slide through, but I really believe +she had never intended to go through with childbirth. She probably +meant to have an abortion as soon as the marriage was performed. + + But she had an abortion first. I performed it. She wanted it +kept secret and this fitted in fine with Kitty's plans. The +engagement hadn't been announced, and I pretended ignorance of the +whole business. I was simply a doctor who had been called in. As +soon as the abortion was completed, Kitty got the boy away. Mrs. D +suspected some underhanded work, but she had no comeback. She'd +asked for the abortion, and she got it. She certainly wasn't going +to picture herself as a jilted woman. And when the young idealist +learned that his fiancee had had an abortion rather than lose her +figure, he forgot everything she'd said about the sacredness of +their perfect love and its culmination in the birth of their child. + + Naturally, however, I was wary of any more of Kitty's plans +for saving humanity. My role is not persuading women to have +abortions. + + "What did Kitty want this time?" I inquired bluntly. + +"It's a little complicated," Norma explained. + +"All Kitty's stories are complicated. And I don't like your being +mixed up in them. You can get burned putting out a fire as well as +playing with one. But go ahead." + + Kitty, it seemed, had a friend, a small town girl who had run +away from home, come to the city and drifted in with a Bohemian +set. Like most girls of this type, she went to extremes, or wanted +to. She got a good job and she had a couple of love affairs broken + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 76 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +off before they really got started. That gave her a sort of phobia. +She felt that she must have a really modern liaison. She talked the +usual hooey about liberating herself and being utterly free. + + Her set did a lot of preaching about free love and the +advantages of illegitimate children. Most of them practiced free +love all right, but they confined their love children to writing +pamphlets about them and long discussions in cigarette-smoke filled +garrets and tea rooms. + + Then the girl, Clara, met a middle-aged man who was married +and had three children. He was satisfied with his marriage, but he +was still handsome and since he worked in town and his home was in +the country, he took advantage of "business conferences" to have a +series of love affairs. + + Blair usually pictured his wife as a dull housewife whose sole +thoughts were about the children. He was whimsical about his own +"dreary" existence, and he kept a flat in town where he entertained +his lady-loves in the best romantic fashion. + + He met Clara, and in an exceedingly short time took her for +his mistress. She was filled with ideas about the beauty of free +love and she thought it romantic to have an affair with an older +and a married man. Blair, on the other hand, had just been given +his dismissal by a married woman who preferred not to risk losing +her husband, and it soothed his vanity to immediately take a young +and good looking girl. + + Kitty said that he was a romantic lover, having his meetings +in a flat decked out like an Oriental harem and going in for +poetical thoughts and tenderness. Clara immediately fell deeply in +love with him, so much so that he began to get worried, for she +wanted to go away on week ends with him and finally asked him to +desert his wife. This didn't suit him. Like most men of that age +and type, be, wanted adventure, but wanted it adjusted to a +comfortable routine, one that did not interfere with his business +or his family. + + Clara suspected that he was tiring of her a little, and she +conceived the idea of having a child by him: Then, she thought, he +would remain her lover forever, she could move into his flat or +perhaps have a little place in the country. The latter idea seemed +more romantic; he could go out there for week ends and nights and +they could be closer than ever. It would keep him from having to go +to parties, which, he said, bored him, and save him from too much +time with his wife. Eventually she thought they might be married, +but that was not important. + + She didn't tell Blair this until she actually got with child. +As soon as she had missed her period she informed him of it and +waited for his gratitude for what she had done. It didn't come, +Blair was tiring of her and of her demands. It had been fun to +initiate this girl into sex life and watch her respond and her +passion grow. But she was becoming too demanding, and he was no +longer as young as he used to be. He was about ready to break it +off. + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 77 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + He was horrified when she told him. He urged her to do +something immediately, and offered to make all the arrangements or +to give her the money. She refused, and he then jumped at something +she'd said and broke up the affair. + + Since then, she'd tried to see him but failed. And she +couldn't decide what to do. + + "Tell Kitty to let her make up her mind," I growled irritably. +"You know, Norma, that I lean over backward in this business rather +than have any insinuations that I try to build up my practice by +urging abortions or even consenting to do them without A very good +reason." + + "Anyhow," I added. "the girl sounds like a fool." + + "She isn't a fool. She's just got some silly radical notions. +Kitty said that Blair is an utter cad, and he will deny all blame. +And Blair's wife is a fine woman. She knows about Blair, but she +takes it rather than break up the home and ruin her children's +lives. Clara just needs a little time to settle down." + + "I'll talk to Kitty," I promised. + + Kitty had about persuaded Clara that giving birth to a free- +love child was not the noble thing she'd thought it would be. She'd +lose her job and it would be hard to find another one when she was +burdened with the child. She was thoroughly disillusioned now about +Blair, and there was no point in having a child as a souvenir of +the affair. + + "Clara had a pretty hard time when she first came to town and +I hate to see her make a fool of herself," Kitty told me. "But I'm +really thinking more about Blair' wife. If Clara has this child, +it's going to be pretty hard to keep Dorothy from finding out about +it. Clara had some haywire ideas about going to Dorothy and asking +her to give up Blair. But Blair knocked that out of her head." + + "I can't see it, Kitty,", I said. "It's too risky. I'm not +going to be put into a position of persuading this girl to abet me +in a crime. If she's the fool she sounds, she'll spread it all over +town as evidence of her emancipation." + + "You trusted my judgment once before," Kitty reminded me. "I +think this will teach Clara a lesson. But to be frank, I'm afraid +that she'll later go to Blair's wife and demand help in taking care +of the child. Dorothy has had enough punishment. I'm willing to pay +the fee to spare her constant humiliation, either directly or +indirectly, from Clara." + + I hesitated. "You talk to the girl again," I urged. + + She did, and Clara agreed to the abortion. I was nervous about +it. I figured it was a case in which we were meddling too much. And +I was right. + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 78 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + But I never suspected what would happen. Clara went through +the abortion all right, although she had orgies of self-pity. She +did have some intelligence, but she was so filled with silly ideas +and so self-centered that she was doomed for trouble. I've seen +many people like that. They are so absorbed in themselves that they +utterly disregard other people until too late. + + To please Kitty, I was pleasant to her. And I stressed that +this was a favor I was doing her and was not my usual practice. +That was, of course, just a line that I used on most patients to +keep them from spreading the news indiscriminately that I was an +abortionist. + + But Clara took the whole affair the wrong way. She'd been +badly upset by her affair with Blair, and sympathy went to her +bead. So she fell for me on the rebound. + + It was the first time this had happened to me, to my +knowledge, at least. A great many of my patients became my friends. +But the very nature of the work kept sentiment out of it. + + Clara, however, was so filled with the idea that she must be +ultra-modern that she felt it dramatic for there to be some +physical-bond between us. She exaggerated everything I said to her. +She kept coming back to my office when there was no need. She +twisted what I said to mean that I considered myself her guardian. +She invited me to lunches, to dinners. She would call for me to +come to her apartment. + + I was irritated, but I didn't take it seriously. I knew other +doctors who had to be diplomatic about calls that were obviously +subterfuges. I kept myself impersonal and was as polite. to her as +I could be. + + Then she went to Norma and made a scene. She told my wife that +the needed my perfect understanding and sympathy; that Norma had +had several years of marriage with me, had a child by me and should +share me with her. She was positive that it was only Norma's mid- +Victorian scruples and selfishness that kept me from having an +affair. And she wanted Norma to consent to it. She said that she +had made a mistake before in not going to the wife, but she wanted +this to be open and aboveboard. + + Norma kept her head and, thank God, had sense enough not to +lose her temper or to take it too seriously. But she was upset +about it and told me. + + "I'm telling you this, darling, because I trust you," she said +to me when I came home. "I know that you're not having an affair +with Clara because you have more sense. I'm egotistical enough, +too, to think you have better taste. But I don't want Clara +broadcasting that I'm interfering with your life." + + She grinned at me. "Darling, if you ever do have an affair, +for God's sake pick out a woman who is so charming and so beautiful +that I can see she's superior to me and you couldn't possibly +resist her. Otherwise, it will ruin my self-respect. + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 79 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + I was furious. I called Kitty and told her the whole Story. + + "Quit pampering that fool," I demanded, "and shut her up +somehow. Make her understand that I don't want to see her. I'll go +with you to do it. She's had too much done for her. I thought this +was a mistake." + + And for once I didn't use any tact. I took Kitty along, for I +didn't want Clara to have any excuse to misinterpret that visit. +And I told Clara frankly why I had helped her and what I thought of +her. She started to act, but Kitty put an end to that by telling +her not to be a fool; that she'd done enough emoting off the stage +to last the rest of her life. + + I never saw Clara again. Kitty was deeply apologetic. I heard +afterward that Clara went out to the country, got good and sick of +the rural peace she'd wanted, came back to town and got a job. She +kept her mouth shut about the affair. and that was all I wanted. + + XI. DANGER SIGNALS AHEAD + + At first I had been constantly amazed at my lack of trouble. +I had feared in my first case that the sheriff would come in any +moment. + + Gradually I began to take it all as a matter of course and to +think myself a pretty clever fellow. I grew more prosperous. Norma +and I moved into a nice little house in the better part of town. We +felt that we could afford children. + + I took as many precautions as I could in my business. My +apparent immunity was also due to the fact that any girl who goes +to a doctor instead of a quack or a midwife in such cases usually +is intelligent enough to keep her mouth shut. + + Then I had a whole series of lucky breaks. Not in my actual +work. I was constantly improving my technique and I never lost a +patient. But in other ways I was lucky. + + My home life continued serene. Norma and I started out with +few illusions, and we followed the French idea of a marriage for +happiness rather than pleasure. I was teased a great deal when we +had our first child. + + "So you don't let your practice interfere with your home +work," a colleague told me. + + Once a woman asked Norma if she wasn't jealous of my many +women patients. She had come to me professionally and noticed that +there were several unusually pretty girls in the waiting room each +time. + + "Most women who come to see my husband are not feeling +flirtatious," Norma said calmly. + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 80 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + Not long after that, she did have a disagreeable experience. +An acquaintance of ours came to me for an abortion. She was a +married woman, she could afford the child and I saw no reason why +she should have the abortion, especially as she was very anxious to +keep it a secret from her husband. I declined to have anything to +do With it. The woman was healthy, and I told her that she +exaggerated her fears of childbirth and that if her husband had any +objections he'd forget them after the birth of the child. + + I had a feeling that Mrs. C was lying to me. It usually is +easy for a doctor to tell when a woman is keeping something back. +Sooner or later, the patient makes a slip. The "friend" for whom +they are making these embarrassing inquiries becomes a pronoun in +the first person. + + Mrs. C made her slip when she said that she and her husband +were not getting along well. + + I remembered the case when a woman was planning to divorce her +husband and became with child by him. + + "Do you intend to divorce him?" I asked. + + "Oh, heavens, no," she said hastily. + + Her husband had a good deal of money and I thought that any +temporary fuss probably would be settled soon. Anyhow, I refused to +take the case. + + Then she went to my wife and threw a hysterical scene, begging +Norma to interfere and get me to perform the abortion. As a final +argument, she told Norma that I was the father of the child. Norma +merely laughed. + + "I said it was your business," she told me afterward, "and +that if It were your child you'd undoubtedly perform the abortion +or divorce me and marry her. That frightened her. I regret to say, +darling, that she didn't seem to desire your private attention's -- +only your professional services." + + I heard the whole story afterward. Mrs. C and her husband were +not getting along well, and Mrs. C had taken a lover. Since +marriage, she had let her husband take care of contraceptives and +she expected her lover to do the same. He was careful in the early +stages of their affair. Then the mutual ardor cooled. Mrs. C was +afraid her husband would hear of the romance, and the man soon +tired of her. I can't believe that he was deliberately responsible, +but, anyhow, she was caught. + + Mrs. C and her husband had not lived together as man and wife +for several months. They were amiable enough, and Mrs. C hoped for +a reconciliation. Like a great many philandering wives, she was +much more cowardly about paying for her fun than the unmarried +woman. She wanted to have her cake and eat it, too. + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 81 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + She finally went to a quack, he bungled the job, and she +almost died. Probably it was the best solution she could have +arranged, for her husband was so anxious about her health that he +took the blame for everything and there was no divorce. I think she +may have told him that she tried to commit suicide and that caused +a miscarriage. Faking or threatening suicide to force a +reconciliation with a husband is a fairly common trick of the +neurotic. + + It may sound as if I were quibbling in this case when I had +performed abortions on married women. But Mrs. C was a thoroughly +selfish person, and there was no question of wrecking a subsequent +marriage as in Janet's triangle. C had not been unfaithful. Mrs. C +had merely tired of him and sought thrills elsewhere. + + I draw a distinction between a married woman who has affairs +with single men and a single girl who has affairs with married men. +The married woman usually allows her husband to support her while +she's being unfaithful. She takes his money to make herself +attractive to her lover, and frequently uses his home for her +assignations. She usually has her affair with some man who shirks +the responsibility of matrimony. She is secretly taking away from +her husband what she has publicly promised him. Sometimes she is +endangering the future of her children. + + The bachelor girl who has an affair with a married man may be +almost forced into it for social reasons. Most such girls hold jobs +which are not good enough to give them much money and prestige. +They usually come from families having little social standing. They +are unable to get single men who attract them. They come in contact +with intelligent, attractive and married businessmen. They know +better than to have such affairs but when the alternative is to sit +alone in a tiny apartment or bedroom or go to the movies with a +girl friend. I don't blame them overmuch for succumbing to the +overtures of the man and their own natural desire. Women cannot get +physical relief from prostitutes. Frequently the single men they +meet treat them with less respect and consideration than the +married men. So they drift into liaisons with an attractive and +moneyed husband. + + Fortunately, Norma did not believe Mrs. C's wild accusations, +but it did start a time of trouble for both of us. I am not +superstitious, but I do believe that every person gets a few good +breaks that are due as much to chance as to hard work, and I think +we all get some bad breaks we don't deserve. + + Immediately after Mrs. C's outburst, I began getting mine! + + Police found the body of a once-beautiful young blonde girl in +the river. She had apparently died as the result of an illegal +operation. Detectives took her photograph to all the doctors to see +if we could identify her. She had not come to me and I said so, but +the police asked me to go to the morgue and look at her. + + Eventually she was identified as an out-of-town school +teacher. Her mother saw her picture in an old newspaper and claimed +the body. If the detail's of the crime were discovered, they were + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 82 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +never published. But there was a howl about quack doctors preying +on young girls, editorials in the newspapers and one minister +preached a sermon on abortionists. + + It was comparatively easy to guess what had happened. The girl +had gone to a quack and had died as the result of his ignorance and +carelessness. Then either her lover or the quack had become +frightened at the responsibility and had dumped her body into the +river. I don't believe she was physically able to kill herself. Nor +could she have destroyed all the clues to her identity and effaced +her trail so skillfully alone. + + I didn't like detectives snooping around, and I got the wind +up. My legitimate practice was growing and I couldn't afford to +jeopardize it as much as when almost all my livelihood came from +illegal work. + + It was while the investigation into the girl's death was still +going on that the head of a vice combination came to me with a +proposition. + + He beat around the bush for quite a while, but the general +gist of his offer was that I should devote all my time to his +combination which included a variety of rackets. + + I was amazed at the information he had about me. He knew the +exact state of my finances, that I was paying for a new house, that +I had a wife and a child and was expecting another. He also knew +that I had performed many abortions. He made me a flattering offer +as far as money was concerned. But I declined it. + + Although he'd been purposefully, vague, I knew what my duties +would be. I'd treat diseased prostitutes, perform abortions, +extract bullets and probably have to do a little facial surgery. + + A year or so before I'd pulled a few wires attempting to get +a job as city inspector of houses in my town. He knew that. He +pointed out that this would be about the same thing, only on the +wrong side of the law. I am in favor of strict supervision of +houses and I'm in favor of preventing childbirth among women who +are still in the profession. But I did not intend to become a +gangster physician. Such doctors have a way of disappearing +mysteriously. + + "Better think this over again," the vice lord told me. "That's +a lot of money, and people who go against us have a way of being +sorry." + + "You mean you'll take me for a ride?" I asked. "Don't be +foolish. I'm certainly not going to go to the police and report +your visit. For you to kill me would be a pointless murder and +dangerous. I could leave a message to be opened in case of my +death. You don't wait a doctor who is against your organization and +would betray you if promised protection from the police. And if you +mean to rake up a scandal about me, try to do it! You may have some +vague rumors but no proof and you're not likely to go to the police +or the medical association just to satisfy a small grudge." + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 83 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + He grinned at this, said that he was only bluffing, but that +I was a smart man and if I ever changed my mind to insert a +personal advertisement in a newspaper in another city and leave it +in for a week. + + "No hard feelings," he said, and sauntered out. + + But he left me with some hard feelings. I smelled danger. I +didn't like to be in a position where detectives called on me when +bodies were found. Of course, their excuse was that the girl might +have come to me for an examination or to ask me to perform the +operation. I didn't like to be in a position where gangsters felt +that they could approach me. I couldn't express too much righteous +indignation. To the criminal mind, I was outside the law and the +gangster was outside the law and why didn't we get together? My +fine shading of gray between the black of crime and the white of +law would be lost on my caller, + + There was a chance that he had proof from some patient of mine +and could make me serious trouble. I resolved to temper my sail's +to the wind and turn down all such cases for a time. + + And the very next day, I had a chance to try my new +resolution. A man and woman came into my office. They were not +recommended, that is, no other doctor had sent them to me, +notifying me by telephone beforehand and sending a letter of +introduction with the patient. Those were the cases I liked best +because another doctor shared the responsibility and the patients +were hand-picked. Such persons were responsible citizens who went +about an illegal business as discreetly and efficiently as +possible. + + the situation. He was married, he said, and the man explained +while he and his wife did not live together, she would not divorce +him and he had no cause for divorce against her. She was willing to +live with him, and had never been unfaithful. He meant to keep away +from her until eventually she decided it would be simpler to +divorce him. + + In the meantime, he had met this girl and they had drifted +into an affair. He meant to marry her if he ever got the divorce. +But now she was with child and he was willing to pay for an +abortion for her. + + I didn't like either the man or the woman. And when all is +said about questions and promises, I must trust a great deal to +personal judgment of patients. The average doctor may not like his +patients, but it really isn't going to hurt him if they blab all +over town that his medicine did them no good. + + The girl sat in sullen silence. She was unattractive, thick- +browed, with small gray eyes, too big a mouth and thick, bushy +hair. She had a chunky, peasant's figure. She stared at the floor, +her lower lip protruding. The man was glib and talkative; a little +too talkative. He was nervous, and said too much about how be was +"Willing" to pay for the abortion. + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 84 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + He was rather flashily dressed, and wore a big diamond ring on +his little finger. I stared at that ring and wondered if this were +a frame-up job designed to force me into the vice combination. But +I doubted that. The girl looked too dumb and inexperienced to be +associated with a vice syndicate. + + The girl didn't seem to be taking any interest in the +conversation, and I didn't like that. Unless she were anxious to +have an abortion, she might be a trouble-maker. Nothing was said +about whether she was a virgin when she met this man. That's +usually important. A girl who's had several lovers regarded +pregnancy as one of the risks of the game, and isn't so likely to, +try to force marriage. She's probably had to worry about an +abortion before, and she takes it more or less for granted. Her +feeling usually is that she's been lucky to escape one so far, and +it's up to her to stick her chin out and take her punishment. + + If the man was so anxious to brag about how he was "willing" +to foot the bills, he'd probably be the sort to quibble over the +price. Besides, as I said, I had the wind up. So I told them curtly +that there was nothing doing. I offered to examine the girl to make +sure that she was pregnant but I told them they had been +misinformed if they thought I took such cases. + + The man was nervously apologetic, and I went on stressing the +enormity of the act he was asking of me. + + "Do you know of any other doctors who would do it?" he asked. +"I'd pay anything." + + I shook my head. "No registered doctor would do it," I said. +"You might find a man whose license has been taken away from him +but who still does some hole-in-the-wall practice. However, I don't +know of any." + + They went away, then, the girl still sullen, the man trying to +placate her. I felt sorry for him. It didn't look to me as if that +girl had been seduced. I couldn't imagine her believing anything +but an affidavit. I could see that he was afraid of her. + + He had good reason to be frightened. Two days later the news +papers were full of the story. She had shot and killed him. She +surrendered meekly to the police and told her story. She worked at +a cheap lodging house where the man stayed. She claimed that he +promised to marry her, but I've always doubted that she was seduced +in the literal meaning of the word. Also, I didn't believe her +statement that she was a virgin when she met him. + + At any rate, when she became with child she demanded immediate +marriage. Then, she said, he told her that he was already married. +Police discovered that his story of his separation was false. His +wife had divorced him several years before. However, I can't blame +him for trying to evade marriage with the sullen, black-browed +girl. + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 85 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + The girl did not want an abortion, She was the animal type, +insensitive to everything except pain and passion. She was afraid +of an abortion and she wanted to hang on to her man and had sense +enough to see that if she got rid of the child she'd probably lose +him. So she proposed that they go away and live as man and wife and +have the child. He refused, saying that it would cost him his job. +She found him packing his clothes, and killed him. + + I heaved a sigh of relief that I'd followed my intuition. The +man already was tired of the affair, and he would have fled as soon +as be arranged an abortion. The girl would have raised hell and +either followed him or gone to the police. Then the story would +have come out and I would have been implicated in a much more +dangerous fashion. + + As it was, the police came to me and I had a straight story +for them. I simply said that the man brought the girl to me, wanted +an abortion and I refused to take the case. My Story tallied with +that of the girl. + + "He promised to marry me and then he wouldn't do that," the +girl told the police. "Then he said it would be easy to fix me up, +and the first doctor we went to said that he wouldn't do it for +anything, that no good doctor would and that it would be dangerous +to go to a bad doctor." + + So unwittingly my warning against abortions had sent a man to +his death. Everything I had said about quacks was true of course, +but it had been the one touch needed to set aflame the shouldering +wrath of the girl. I had made her lover a liar on all counts. + + I can't say that I felt sorry. The man was no loss to +humanity. He would have left me holding the bag if I had done what +he wished. And I would have been in a damned awkward position if +the girl had killed him after I'd performed an abortion and perhaps +had shot herself, too. + + All the same, it gave me a bad scare. The defense brought me +into court. It didn't do me any good to appear as a witness for the +defense in a sordid sex murder and have it broadcast that the +murdered man brought his mistress to me for an illegal operation. + + I talked it over with Norma after the trial closed, with the +woman receiving a light sentence. Her counsel had pleaded emotional +insanity. + + "Maybe it would be better for me to stick to straight practice +now," I argued. "After all, a lot of young doctor's do this stuff +just to get started. I've paid my debt to my father and we've got +a little money ahead." + + "I don't know," she said slowly. "Remember how we met?" + + Of course, I did. She had come in with a friend who wanted an +abortion. + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 86 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "You seemed to us an angel in disguise. Pearl had expected +some rather nasty man who'd treat her as if she were a prostitute. +You were so gentle and considerate that you made the whole thing a +lot easier." + + "So," I grinned, "that's why you fell in love with me." + + She took it seriously. "Partly," she admitted. "I could see +that it wasn't entirely for money that you were breaking the law. +You actually wanted to help people in trouble. And you did it with +gentleness and consideration and courtesy -- all admirable +qualities in a husband. It looked to me as if you had tolerance and +a breadth of vision." + + She looked at me. "I'm feminine enough to hope that other +women who come to your office won't think so much of the same +things. But at the same time it doesn't seem to me that because +none of my friends happen to be in trouble now, I should urge you +to quit that part of your practice and force girls to go to other +doctors who are in need of money and aren't good enough to get a +legitimate practice." + + "I was quitting chiefly for you," I said. "I didn't want you +to have to tell the children that their papa is in prison." + + "You haven't been in any serious trouble yet," she reminded +me. + + I knew that, but I still had the feeling that trouble was in +the air. I'm not superstitious, and there had been three times I +had skated on thin ice, the girl in the river, Mrs. C's hysterical +visit, and the trial. I have heard people say that suicides go by +threes, explaining that there usually are several persons thinking +about suicide. The publicity given the first one to take the leap +serves as an impetus for the others. + + However, I began taking abortion cases again. A prominent +businessman brought his daughter to me. His story was one that was +all-too-familiar to me, although I heard it from the girl more +frequently than from the parent. + + The girl was a high-school student, who had got mixed up with +a set of sensation-hunters. They were all sons and daughters of +well-to-do families and had liberal allowances. There were two or +three leaders who, had they come from less wealthy families, would +have been the moving spirits of juvenile gangs. Some of them were +children of divorce, given cars and too much spending money in lieu +of parents. + + They started going to dances too soon, drinking too much, +driving too fast for a thrill. Then they took up marijuana. It was +considered a great joke to give a girl a marijuana cigarette +instead of the regular variety. + + Jane Alice had received bids to all the Christmas dances given +by high-school fraternities and sororities. I have always felt that +these high-school organizations are a mistake. Their members + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 87 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +attempt to imitate the college Greek-letter 'Societies' but do not +have strict supervision by national authorities, nor are the +members old enough to know how to take care of themselves. + + The Christmas dances in my city were marked by a lot of +drinking, usually bad liquor, since the Christmas expenses put such +a drain on the purse of a high-school boy that good liquor could +not be included. A lot of the girls drank because they were afraid +if they were not "good sports" their escorts simply would not call +to get them or they would be wallflowers at the dance. This "good +sport" fallacy causes more trouble than any one other thing in +modern youth. The idea that popularity must be had at all costs is +another road to heartbreak. + + "Her mother and I knew there were chaperons at the dance's," +Mr. B told me. "And we were slightly acquainted with most of the +other youngsters who went. We knew that Jane Alice came home pretty +late, but then the dances lasted until 2 o'clock. Most of the kids +usually went somewhere for coffee and sandwiches after the dance.. +We didn't want to keep Jane Alice from being popular by making her +punch a time-clock." + + Jane Alice was one of those "average" girls who must work hard +for popularity. So she had weakly submitted to a high-school boy, +drunk and amorous. He had given her a brief rush and she felt that +she must pay with her body. + + Fortunately for the girl, she was a weakling and accustomed to +going to her mother with all her complaints, her need for a new +dress, her desire for a party, for a new permanent, for an increase +in her allowance. She didn't have the courage or self-reliance to +keep her secret. The boy had dropped her after he found her "easy." +so she went to her mother and told the whole story. + + The mother was shocked, but luckily she had sense enough to +keep the matter quiet and consult with her husband. They decided +that Jane Alice was far too young to marry, even if the boy were +willing, which was doubtful. Besides, Jane Alice now had a nervous, +hysterical hatred of the youth. There is a superstition that a girl +always has a special tenderness for her first lover. But this is +not always true. Jane Alice now regarded the experience as virtual +rape. + + The affair had seared her back into a desire for normal +girlhood. She had a glimpse of what it meant to be a woman, and she +was thoroughly frightened and disgusted. She hadn't got any +pleasure out of her sexual experience. And the boy, who had +appeared glamorous when she was tight, now seemed only a pimply- +faced, callow high-school youth. + + I have seen the same thing happen after a hasty elopement. The +girl, who was all for being an adult, wants to hurry back to the +warm protection of her family and her care-free adolescence. + + So the B's decided not to tell the youth or his parents. + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 88 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "He isn't old enough to be married," Mr. B said, "and even if +Jane Alice did act the fool, he isn't good enough for her. His +parents might stir up trouble by believing the boy if he denied the +charge. We figured that the less said about the whole thing the +better." + + I agreed. There was no point in letting the boy know the +results of his carelessness. It might have frightened him into +being more careful thereafter, and then again it might have made +him think that he needn't take any precaution's because if the girl +were caught her parents would take care of everything. Too, he +might have started boasting about what a man he was and how he had +knocked up the daughter of one of the town's leading citizens. The +much-vaunted chivalry of man usually comes only when he has +acquired enough sense to see the value of silence -- not only to +protect the girl but for his own benefit. + + The abortion was a success. Afterward Jane Alice wanted to go +away to a girl's school, but I advised against it. + + "You're asking me and I'm telling you," I said frankly to Mr. +B "Jane Alice is just a kid, but she's woman enough to get herself +into a mess of this type, and so she ought to be adult enough to +face some of the less disagreeable of the consequences." + + "I know," he agreed. "That's what I told my wife. Sooner or +later Jane Alice must learn to take things on the chin. She's got +to learn that she can't run away from everything. She may not spend +her life in this town, but on the other hand she may live here for +several years. The only way she can get over the idea that she +can't face her friends is to force herself to do it. She wanted to +resign from her sorority, but I told her that would cause talk. I +think that she'll be able to avoid any wild parties and that she's +learned her lesson. I've promised her that if she finishes this +year here, she can go away to a girls' boarding-school." + + I nodded. "But there's still another reason. I don't agree +with people who say that all boarding-schools are hotbeds of +perversion. But I do think that it is unhealthy to bottle up girls +who have had dates and a few sex thrills just at their most +dangerous adolescent period. It's natural for a young girl to be +restless and to seek excitement. And if she's subjected to too +strict discipline and her normal contact with boys is taken away, +she may find the wrong outlet for her energy. + + "And that is particularly true in Jane Alice's case. She is +slightly over-sexed. Right now, she feels a natural aversion to men +and to sex. She feels that she got a dirty deal. That might recoil +into Lesbianism. I've seen young girls turn pervert from being +jilted, the death of their fiances or through unpopularity at a +sensitive period. Too, Jane Alice doesn't want to forget this too +easily for fear she may decide that the whole business wasn't so +bad. She needs a normal life, but she also needs the supervision of +people who know what she's done." + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 89 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + Mr. B was a sensible man, as I have said. "I see what you +mean," he agreed. "I've given this matter a lot of thought, because +Jane Alice is an only child and it looks as though two fairly +intelligent persons ought to make a success of one child." + + He sighed. "I've tried not to be the sort of father who +forgets all about his youth and does a lot of aimless preaching. +That's why I gave Jane Alice as much freedom as possible and didn't +blame her over-much for what happened. And I'm relieved that Jane +Alice isn't posing as a sort of young Madame X, betrayed before she +was of age and being very dramatic in the best motion picture form. +She admits it was partly her fault. I'm under no illusion about my +child. She isn't overloaded with brains. She's too docile, and I +should have realized that and instead of trying to develop +initiative I should have relied more on obedience. But it's hard +for a man to judge his own child, and it's hard to remember the +damn-fool things I did when I was young. I never got any girls in +trouble," he added, "but it's a wonder I didn't." + + "Sometimes," he went on, "I think the savages handle these +things better. They pay more attention to puberty. They make a +ceremony of it and the girls have their womanhood more forcibly +impressed on them. Here we pass by puberty with a little bygienic +lecture and continue to regard the girls as children until they're +16 or 18, forgetting that from the ages of 12 to 14 they are, +physically, women." + + "I know," I told him. "Parents hate to see their children grow +up. It's worse in the mothers. They feel they've gone through more +for the children and they resent their sons' and daughters' leaving +home as soon as they're able to take care of themselves. A mother +bird will push her fledglings out of the nest. But the human mother +is more possessive. The children usually are ready to leave about +the time the mother's own sex life is going or gone. And somehow +that makes it harder for the mothers. So we get a mother who wants +her big son to escort her around and tries to behave like his +sister. And we get the type of mother who keeps her daughter at +home, preaching duty to her, and begging her not to marry until +after the mother's death. What she usually means is that she can't +bear the sight of her daughter having a happy sex life when she is +lonely and her own life is virtually ended as far as personal +pleasure is concerned." + + Mr. B went out after thanking me again. I heard afterward that +Jane Alice stayed in school and went in for athletics, hiking and +all sorts of outdoor sports which used up her dangerous energy. I +have never believed in the creed that children should be seen and +not heard, and I wince when a nervous mother urges her daughters to +sit in the corner and be quiet. The girls should be taught to be +well-mannered, of course, but they should have some outlet for that +well of restless energy. Otherwise they may come to me. + + + + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 90 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + XII. STRANGER THAN FICTION + + About a week later I got a case that admirably illustrated Mr. +C's sympathy for the daughters of neurotic mothers. + + A very pretty young girl, with a defiant look in her soft dark +eyes, came in to see me. She had refused to give the office girl +her name, and I suspected immediately what she wanted. + + "You're going to say that my story sounds exactly like the +hokum in cheap magazines," she began. + + I smiled. "That doesn't mean it isn't true. Nor that the +stories in magazines aren't true to life. I know a writer who gets +all his material from the correspondence of a 'lovelorn' editor. +He's accused of being unreal and melodramatic, but he told me that +almost invariably he had to tone down the facts." + + "I'm in one of the usual triangles," she said. "And I'm in the +usual jam." + + "Tell me about it," I invited. + + "I want to begin way back. Because," she paused and gave me a +teary smile. "You see, I know something about you and I was told to +tell you the entire story because if I didn't you'd turn me down. +So I'll start with my very beginning. I was an unwanted child. My +mother had been a belle, and she made a good marriage. And then +right away I came along to spoil the fun -- and my mother's figure, +as I've had dinned into my ear's since childhood." + + It was a pathetic story she told, but I don't believe it was +exaggerated. She had been paraded around as a baby and her mother +had posed as a martyr to motherhood. But when she outgrew the cute +roly-poly stage and began to have long legs and arms and be a big +girl, she was shunted off to school in winter and camp in summer +rather than spoil her mother's lies about her age. + + "Mother has always claimed that she was a mere child when she +married," Dorothy said bitterly, "As a matter of fact, she wa's 24, +and getting pretty nervous about being an old maid. I was kept in +short socks as long as possible. Finally father died and left me +some money, but in mother's care, and I wasn't to get it until I am +21. I'm 20 now, but I'm still mother's little girl. I'd started in +school so early and had it so concentrated that at 18 there wasn't +any place except college she could send me. And mother was afraid +of college. I don't know exactly why. She had the old-fashioned +idea that college made blue stockings out of women and I'd never +marry. She is vain enough not to want an old maid for a daughter, +although at the same time she doesn't want me to marry because then +she'd be a mother-in-law and perhaps a grandmother. She was afraid, +too, that college would make me strong-willed. Too, when I was away +at boarding-school it sounded as if I were about 12. She never had +any pictures made of me after I was 10. But a girl at college +sounds grown-up. + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 91 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + She smiled again, a smile with no mirth. "That sounds awfully +bitter, but you never had it drilled into you that it was a crime +for you to grow up normally. Mother is always talking about what a +pretty child I was and sighing. And she worries for fear I'll be as +pretty as she was. I won't. I look more like father. Well, I came +home and I started dating a little in spite of anything mother +could do. I went away to visit some school friends and I met a +young engineer. I fell for him -- hard. He loved me, wanted to +marry me. But he wanted to do everything in the traditional +fashion. He wanted to ask my mother for my hand. I was against +that. After all, I'm 20. And, I forgot to tell you, if I marry +after I'm 18, I get full control of my money without waiting until +I'm 21. Sometimes I think father put that clause in to encourage me +to marry and escape from mother." + + I nodded. "Go on," I told her. I knew the girl either had to +tell her story or go into hysterics. She'd been bottling it up too +long. + + "I fought against telling mother," Dorothy went on. "I knew +she'd do something to spoil it. Sandy couldn't understand. He +wanted me to meet his mother, who is also a widow. He thought it +would be nice for our mothers to get to be good friends. His mother +is a dear, old-fashioned but sweet. I knew mother wouldn't like her +and would make fun of her and I couldn't bear that. Sandy had a job +offered him with an engineering firm here and he wanted to take it +so that we could live close to our relatives. He'd been wandering +over the world, but he said it was no way for a woman to live. +Anyhow, he wanted children." + + "I knew it wouldn't work," she said, almost hysterically. +"Mother would fight it. She couldn't bear to have me living in the +same town and raising a family. She'd break up our marriage, if we +were allowed to be married. I wanted to elope and go to South +America where Sandy could work. But he was tired of living there." + + She smiled ironically. "Finally, I did get him to go away with +me for a week-end or so. I told him that I was modern and believed +people should find out if they are sexually mated before they were +married. He was a little shocked at first, but he wanted me, too. +After that, he insisted that we must be married right away just in +case anything happened. And he was more determined to meet mother. +So he came here. I thought that I could tell mother that we had +been lovers and shock her into letting us marry. But she beat me to +it." + + She shuddered. "Oh, it's too horrible to talk about!" "I can +guess," I said. "You mother is shrewd and she saw what sort of a +man your lover was. So she told him you weren't a good girl." + + "Worse than that. She first told him that I was under 18 and +couldn't marry without her consent. But he knew better than that +because I'd told him about all the schools I'd gone to and pretty +well outlined my life. But I'd never told him the truth about +mother. His own mother was so different, you know, and I hate to +play the mistreated daughter. I thought he'd think less of me and +might wonder if I weren't like her, or if I were exaggerating. +Anyhow, I am well dressed and well fed and fairly well educated. I +don't look mistreated." + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 92 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "And you were too happy to want to spoil it by talking about +your past sorrows," I suggested. + + She nodded. "They seemed somehow unimportant if I could escape +them with Sandy. But when mother saw that the under-age gag +wouldn't work, she went on. She got panicky and she didn't really +mean to say as much as she did. She's apologized since. But she +told him that I didn't want children and that I was over-sexed and +she'd had to send me to girls' schools to keep me out of trouble. +That wasn't true, of course, although," she hesitated for a moment, +"I'd done some rather indiscreet things in rebellion, such as +getting drunk with the wrong people, and going on wild parties. I +hadn't been a plaster saint, but I'd never had any sex experience +before. Mother is charming, she's, a good actress, and of course +Sandy believed her. It all fitted in neatly with my frantic desire +that we have each other before marriage. Mother even told him that +doctors had talked of giving me a sterilization operation but she +had refused, thinking I'd outgrow my indiscretions." + + The tears were rolling down her cheeks. She cried naturally. +like a child, not bothering to wipe away the drops. "I suppose I +behaved in a peculiar fashion, too, and that made things worse. I +knew mother was lying to him, but I didn't know what about and I +made some silly explanations designed to cover virtually everything +or anything. The next thing I knew, he told me that perhaps I was +right in saying it was all a mistake -- I told him that when I saw +him regarding me oddly. Now he's gone to South America. And," she +spread out. her hands, "here I am." + + "Have you told your mother you're pregnant?" I asked. + + "For God's sake, no. She'd use it as a lever over me all my +life or she'd ship me off to South America. As soon as she found +out that Sandy had gone away to work, she was sorry for what she'd +done. she'd thought, of course, that we'd live here. Then she told +me part of what she'd said and I guessed the rest and made her +admit It. Of course, it was partly, my fault. I was nervous, and +when Sandy began acting strangely I flared up instead of telling +him the truth. I was so upset I didn't know what I was doing." + + "Look," I said. "You came here for an abortion, but you don't +really want one, and so I'm not going to give it to you." + + She stared at me hopelessly. "You must. I thought at first I'd +have Sandy's child and salvage that much of him. But it's +impossible. I won't have any freedom until I'm 21. Oh, I've got a +little money, and I can pawn some things and pay your fee. But I +haven't enough to support me somewhere and take me through all the +trouble mother would make for me. She'd ruin it somehow." + + "I don't mean that," I told her. "You're going to follow your +man. You still love him or you wouldn't want his child. The trouble +with you is that all your life you've been afraid of your mother. +You were scared, or you would have saved yourself a lot of misery, +told Sandy the truth and gone with him to interview your mother. +You were a coward then. You went away and hid while he talked to +her. So now you've got to do something more courageous. You must go +to South America and find him." + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 93 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "I couldn't. I've got only the vaguest idea where he is. And +I don't want to force him into marrying me because I'm pregnant." + + I shrugged my shoulders impatiently. "And how do you think he +would feel if he ever heard the real story and knew that because of +false pride and cowardice you cheated both of you out of happiness? +You come home with me and my wife will talk to you." + + The upshot of it was that Norma went with her to Sandy's +mother. + + "She'll be horrified," Dorothy protested, "She's one of those +sweet, old-fashioned women." + + "Old-fashioned women know a lot about life," Norma told her. + + And Norma was right. She told me about it on her return. + + "I almost lost my nerve when we got there," Norma related. +"The set-up was too mid-Victorian for words. And there was Mrs. S, +a grandmotherly woman with white hair and an apple-blossom akin. +Dorothy got cold feet and I had to tell the story. I meant to skip +about Dorothy's wanting an abortion, but she blurted it out. The +old lady just clucked her tongue and kissed Dorothy. + + "Then she said it reminded her so much of an old woman who +wanted her daughter to look after her and so she told the poor +girl's beau that Maisie wasn't a nice girl. She wound up by saying, +'But poor Maisie didn't have your courage, my dear, or your money +and so there was nothing she could do about it.' She wasn't shocked +that Dorothy was pregnant. She just said, 'Such things happen to +the young, dear, and we who are old should be ready to help. That's +why we are here after our child-bearing duties are over.'" + + Mrs. S took things into her own delicate hands, and when Norma +left she was busy getting passports for them. She had introduced +Dorothy everywhere as her daughter-in-law and she had cabled her +son that she was coming to see him and bringing along her new +daughter. + + "I just told him that I'd explain later," she said. "I don't +think it best to surprise him. Sandy knows and trusts me, and he +probably has had time to think things over by now and realize his +mistake. But he's a wee bit stubborn, like all the Scotch." + + I like to think of Dorothy and her happiness. She and Sandy +were married upon her arrival, with Mrs. S beaming on them. It +helps Whenever I hear abortionists described as monsters who fatten +on child murder. I have never performed an abortion unless I felt +that it was best for humanity. And I have prevented many of them, +especially in the last few years. + + As methods have improved and women are wiser in birth-control +methods, more and more young women have lost their horror of the +whispered, "She got rid of the baby somehow." They come into my +office seeking an easy way out of their difficulties. But a lot of +them have gone out convinced that the hardest way might be the best + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 94 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +after all. To many of them I said, "Bring your man in here and let +me talk to him. This is his business, too. Don't get too modern. +You're not modern enough to escape the oldest of all biological +traps." + + There is something about a doctor's office that make's people +more humble, more ready to listen. I think it must be that each +sick, hopeless or hopeful patient leaves something of his patience +or his despair or his resignation in the atmosphere. People will +listen to things from a doctor that they will not take from anyone +else. Possibly it is because few doctors ever preach, and the +patient realizes that the doctor knows what he is talking about. + + When marriage to possible, I refuse to perform an abortion +merely to cover up carelessness. The patient may regret it later. +I am not in favor of shotgun marriages, but I have had literally +dozens of cases where abortions were refused and the marriages were +normally happy. Sometimes there is a difference in social position +and moneyed prestige. A society girl has an affair with a +workingman and is caught. She hates to face the disapproval of her +family, the possible ridicule of having married beneath her. If it +was purely momentary passion, I am not in favor of forcing a union +and allowing a child to be born when a divorce is inevitable and +the child will always be under a handicap. + + But if the affair has been going on for several months -- and +despite all the stories of conception after one sex act, it is a +rare thing -- then it seems to me that there is no reason why +marriage shouldn't follow, and I say so. And when two young working +people are selfishly intent on leading their own lives and want an +abortion for the girl because they are afraid the child and +marriage might interfere with freedom, I refuse to act. + + There has grown up in recent years a group of modern +mistresses, workingwomen who are afraid that marriage might +interfere with their jobs, who want to artificially prolong their +youth by not having children or other responsibilities. They say +that they intend to have sex anyhow, and they indulge in affairs of +long duration. Sometimes these women actually would make poor +mothers, and in that case an abortion is advisable. At other times, +I try to exert the slight pressure that is necessary to overcome +the idea that marriage would interfere too much with the designs of +their living. + + I have tried in this casebook to present a random selection of +patients. I have made mistakes. I have had women come in and blame +me for their sterility. They do not believe me when I tell them +that they have undoubtedly done something since the abortion to +cause their barren state. + + Likewise, I have had wives blame me for urging them into +marriages which proved unhappy. It did no good to point out that +there are many divorces not caused by the handicap of premature +childbirth. + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 95 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + I played God a little in the case of Dorothy and Sandy because +I thought it worth the risk. If she had stayed with her mother, she +might have become promiscuous out of sheer rebellion. She admitted +having gone on wild parties as an emotional relief after a quarrel +with her mother. I wanted to avoid what happened in one case that +came to me. + + June's mother had been a pretty, spoiled village girl. She had +married a city man and lived happily for a while. But eventually +June's father was unfaithful to her mother. The mother discovered +it, and they were estranged. Denied his wife, the man went in for +a series of affairs. The wife had expected to find her husband at +her feet, begging for forgiveness, and became bitter when he was +not abject. + + She eventually separated from her husband and he gave her a +handsome settlement. The mother now exacted the utmost in slavery +from the daughter. June in rebellion took the obvious course. She +began a clandestine affair with an utter cad. She knew what sort of +a man he was, that is, she knew that he was reputed to be "wild." +But that lent more glamour to the affair. She went farther than she +intended, and found herself in a jam. So she came to me. + + "I didn't really love the man," she explained, "and I knew I +Was cutting off my nose to spite my face, but somehow I just went +on and on. If I tell mother, she'll say I'm my father's, daughter +and all the rest of my life she'll talk about how I ruined myself +and broke her heart." + + "When you get out of this mess, get a job and a little more +independence," I told her. "You're too old to be so childish. I can +understand how your mother drives you to do wild things. But you +don't want to spend your life playing the fool just because you +feel you're getting even with her. You can't be happy that way." + + "I know," she answered meekly. "I know i've made a darned fool +of myself. And I don't understand why I picked out this way of +trying to get even with mother. I just did. It seemed the worst +thing I could do to her." + + I didn't find that extraordinary. Sex is used frequently as a +weapon by the woman. The young girl, angry at her mother, thinks +"I'll run away" and adds as a postscript, that she'll run away with +some boy her mother dislikes. The angry wife withholds her caresses +and looks around for someone to whom she can give her body as +additional punishment to her husband. + + A young woman who frankly admits to 30 was talking to me the +other day about woman's use of sex, + + "People talk of feminine wiles and age-old tricks," she +remarked scornfully. "They talk about women not being +straightforward about sex. How can they? You've seen what happened +to girls who tried to meet man on his own ground." + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 96 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + She paused a moment. "Probably I'm malicious. But I've got so +sick of men who want my body for a night or a few nights and expect +me to be delighted because they say so and because they admit that +they like me and are attracted by me. They feel that the mere fact +that they want me should cause me to submit immediately. They never +bother to inquire whether I feel the same way or whether I object +to being shopworn. But I'm going to have my fun some of these days. +There are two or three men I'm watching and I mean to have some +quiet laughs at their expense in about 10 years." + + "What do you mean?" I asked. + + "I know about half a dozen attractive men in their late 20's +and early 30's. They're all earning enough to support a wife but +they don't want one. They say that they want sex as an adventure. +They usually want one girl as a self-supporting mistress and then +perfect freedom to date any other girls they are attracted to. The +women don't like the idea; it robs them even of the security of a +steady boy friend. They can't even count upon an escort whenever +they want one; they have to find out whether their lovers have +other plans, and it keeps them from getting a matrimonial-minded +man. I know a couple of these gay dogs who are past 40. One already +has lost his manhood and another is losing his. Now they're +beginning to see the woman's viewpoint. They have to stand by and +watch younger men get the women they want. The women their own age +don't appeal to them, and they're having the novel experience of +being a little abject, of pleading to see women, of asking small +favors." + + I grinned. "I know what you mean. I've seen some of those +birds who claim they're prematurely impotent. Some of them are, of +course. But you'd be surprised to know how many men in their middle +40's, men who haven't taken any care of themselves and are in +generally poor physical condition, are hollering their heads off in +the privacy of a doctor's office." + + "Sure," she agreed. "I know one man who wasn't willing to make +any sacrifices to insure a lasting companionship. He didn't see any +women worth marrying or worth giving up his freedom for. Now he's +consumed with self-pity. He sees old age approaching and not much +more fun. So he wants some attractive woman to fall in love with +him and spend her life taking care of him. There are still women +who would marry him, but he doesn't want them. He's used to the +best. And he can't adjust himself to the idea that he's no longer +in a position to take what he wants. he's like a woman now. He has +to take what he can get. + + "A man told me the other day that he'd always been fair to +women; he'd never promised to marry any of them; they knew what +they were getting into when he had a sex affair with them. And he +never got them into any jams. Now he's full of self-pity because he +wants a woman and can't get her. She has never promised to marry +him, either. It never occurred to him that some of these women who +gave him pleasure may have fallen in love with him -- he was a +handsome devil -- and concealed it from pride. If a man tells a +woman he loves her, she usually feels that sometime he may get + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 97 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +around to proposing. And a man has no compunction about asking the +girl if she loves him. That puts the whole affair on a higher +plane. And if she doesn't have hysterics or shoot him, he feels +that this is all right with her." + + "I know," I said. "A man cane to me the anther day and asked +if I could predict how much longer he could have an active sex +life. He was beginning to weaken. I told him it was impossible for +me to tell. He was about 50, and wasn't in very good physical +condition. He said that he wanted to marry a girl of about 25. He +would do it if he thought he could have sexual relations with her +for four or five years. He said that if he became immediately +impotent, he would not feel right about marrying her, but he +thought that after four or five years of married life he could +expect her to be faithful. + + "He was an old friend of mine, and I told him that he was just +laying up misery for himself. I asked him if he expected a girl of +30 to be faithful to a man of 55. He hemmed and hawed and said that +he knew she must have a sex life -- he thought in terms of sex +still rather than love -- and he wouldn't object as long as he +didn't know about it. He was willing to condemn the girl to +clandestine' affairs, to being the unfaithful wife of an old man, +in order to have four or five years of happiness. And, of course, +he would be jealous and suspicious. Most of these old men with +young wives are." + + "Naturally," the woman said. "He'd tell her that he understood +her need for sex, but he'd see that she felt guilty, and he'd +torment her by trying to find out about it and telling her that all +her men friends were scoundrels." + + I chuckled. "You've got him right. He then told me that he'd +let her divorce him if she wanted to -- but I didn't take that too +seriously, either. Men in that condition will promise virtually +anything. Then he said that she'd be left a moneyed widow when she +was a little past 30, and she could have plenty of time to have her +fun." + + "It would serve him right if he married her and she was +flagrantly unfaithful and let him know she was waiting for him to +carry out his promise to die and leave her his money," the woman +exclaimed. "I told you I was a little soured on this sex business. +In the past 10 years, I've had several affairs. Some of them have +left pleasant memories and some not so nice. But when I try to +count the men of all ages, descriptions and previous, condition of +servitude who have made me proposition's, and men who have let me +get into trouble through their carelessness and expected me to get +out by myself, well, it doesn't seem very pleasant." + + She looked at me and grinned. "I don't mean the time I came to +you, either. Larry was all right then. He did his duty. But I must +say that he was content to sit back and furnish his share of the +money and let me make the arrangements. Which is one reason why I +didn't use any of the much-vaunted feminine wiles to try to trick +him into marriage. Of course, I know it was in character for Larry +to be quiet and easy-going. But I admit that I would have admired +him more if he hadn't stood back so meekly and let me handle it." + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 98 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + I laughed. "You modern girls yell for equal rights, and when +you get them you're peeved because men don't try to dominate you +and don't do everything for you." + + "Well put," she agreed. "But there's another viewpoint, +Martin, in my world, where sex frequently is a casual matter -- to +judge from some of the propositions made me -- there are only a few +ways of knowing when a man really cares for a woman. I'm always +skeptical of the word, love. There are so many varieties, ranging +from momentary passion and infatuation or friendly fondness to the +honest to gosh till-death-do-us-part kind. And this womanly +intuition business has been greatly overrated. I've heard men say +that a woman always knows somehow when a man really loves her. +That's bosh. Women have a keener eye for deception in people they +don't love; and frequently they try to kid themselves and others +when they really know better. + + "When it all boils down, there are only three or four ways in +which a woman can be reassured that a man loves her. And those +don't always work. One is when he offers her a wedding ring. Larry, +for instance, told me that he loved me as much as if we were +married, I always thought when he said that, 'Well, why don't you +ask me to marry you, then?' He got angry once when I said I +couldn't believe in him, and asked me whether a wedding ring were +the only way I could be sure of him. He pointed out that there +wasn't anything sure about marriage. I knew that, of course, but +what he didn't realize was that to a woman a proposal doesn't +merely meat that the man is signifying his willingness to be +branded as the woman's property, but that he is anxious that the +woman be known as his wife.. No woman like's to be told merely that +she can be sure of the man. She wants the man to want to be sure of +her. Otherwise, she has a feeling that he's a little +condescending." + + "Male egotism," I explained. "So that's why you didn't want to +marry larry?" + + "Partly," she admitted. "And he wasn't jealous enough. I had +no way of knowing whether this was perfect faith or utter +indifference, and sometimes I needed assurance that it wasn't +indifference. As it was, at times I got the idea that he didn't +really give a damn what I did so long as it didn't interfere with +his having me when he wanted me, or reflect on his reputation, or +keep him from his other social pleasures." + + "Marriage and jealousy then," I ticked them off on my fingers. +"What are the other things a woman needs as proof of love?" + + "illustrated again by Larry," she replied. "Now Larry said +later he would have been glad to arrange all the disagreeable +preliminaries for my abortion. But the point is, he didn't rush up +with the offer at the time and he didn't insist. God knows how many +times I've heard men say -- after I've expressed the suggestion -- +'If I had known you wanted to go, I'd have been delighted to fix +it.' They may have been sincere, but it sounds like lip-courtesy, +especially since they didn't do anything more about it. Now I will +ask favors of men who mean little to me -- or who perhaps are good +friends of mine. But I want my lover to make offers of service + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 99 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +because he wants to, not because I suggested it. And once in a +while I want him to override my wishes if he thinks it is best for +me. Now you are a friend of mine. But if I told you I was going to +get drunk, you'd shrug your shoulders and think it was my business. +As a matter of fact, you wouldn't care enough to find out who I'd +be drinking with. I don't expect more from you. But from a lover, +I'd want a little more interest in my welfare." + + "You want perfection," I told her. + + "No," she protested, "I don't mean that I should always be the +passive member of the couple. But I'd want some assurance that he +thought of me without my having to call his attention to me. +Otherwise, I'd never know whether he was genuinely anxious to be +with me." + + She grinned. "We sound so smart we ought to write a book about +clandestine sex." + + "I am," I told her. "I've kept a sort of casebook and I'm +compiling an informal record of them. I thought it might show some +of my stuffed shirt friends there's more to sex than the birth and +wedding notices," + + "How are you going to end it." she asked. + + "I don't know. I've been lucky so far. I'm happily married, +with two children. Sometimes I think that the reason I am happily +married is because other people make my mistakes for me. And so far +I've been pretty lucky. Of course by the time the book comes out I +may be in prison." + + "Let me finish it," she asked eagerly. "I like to come over +here and talk to you, knowing that you'll regard it as a +confessional. I can't talk about these things to the men and women +I know. It might do me some good to get it off my chest, and it +might do others some good to hear the woman's side of the case. + + "All right," I agreed. + + "You can present the sex situation from an impersonal +viewpoint," she explained with an ironic grin, "and I'll give the +story of the fallen woman, 20th Century style." + + "So be it," I said. "I am never satisfied with endings, +anyhow. The happy ending's make me feel that if I look on the front +page tomorrow I'll see a divorce suit being filed. And when I see +tragic endings I know that presently the characters will begin to +feel that life isn't so bad after all and a good meal or a stiff +drink is in order." + + And so my book ends, appropriately enough, with the first +person story of one of my patients. Its writer will remain +anonymous, without even the cloak of a fictitious first name. A +week after our talk my patient brought it to me, neatly typed. I +found it an absorbing human document. She told me that she had kept +a diary at the time. I present it in her own words. + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 100 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + XIII. ONE GIRL'S STORY + + When you mention the word "abortion," most people either laugh +or look avidly interested, depending on whether you are being +general or personal in the discussion. + + The discussion won't be in the first person, singular, because +an abortion is one strictly feminine operation women don't talk +about. That sounds like a joke. It isn't to one who has gone +through the hush-hush business of having one. + + Married women have bored we by dwelling on the details of +their sacrifice and pain in childbirth. But the unmarried girl is +silent about the torture, mental and physical, she endured to +prevent an unwelcome child entering a hostile world. Her silence is +part of her punishment. And no small part. Not for her the sympathy +lavished on the ill or the bereaved. She has to smile before, +during, and after her premature accouchement. + + By my code of ethic, an abortion was the only possible curse. +My lover and I had not wished to marry, before I became pregnant. +There was no reason why accidental conception should force us into +a repugnant marriage. I had no moral scruple's against ridding +myself of the "mistake." I could see no difference between an +abortion and use of contraceptives. + + At times, I felt that I would like to have a child. I even +speculated regarding its probable traits and appearance. Even now, +I sometimes find myself wondering what the child would have looked +like, figuring out how old it would be and speculating regarding +any change it would have made in my life. But thus far I'm glad +that I did not have it. + + I did not want to bring an illegitimate child into the world. +I had decided ideas upon what a child's upbringing should be. It +would not be fair to myself to jeopardize my reputation and my +possible career, and the same thing was true regarding my lover. I +did not want the responsibility; neither did the father. It would +be impossible for me to even support the child decently. I had no +right to bring a child into the world under such circumstances. + + I was, I believe, exceptionally lucky. I obtained, easily a +small amount of ready money. I was able to spend a short time away +from my home without suspicion attaching to my sudden departure. My +lover shared the expenses, and we were able to keep the affair +secret. At times during that dreary period when my family doctor +thought it best to wait and see if my menstruation had not simply +been delayed, I wanted to talk about my fears, to argue aloud. in +order to convince myself that I was being foolish. Again, I wanted +to try to forget the whole business. I even thought about remaining +drunk or at giddy parties the remainder of the time I must wait, I +resent my constant worry. I sought easy physical tasks which would +occupy my hands and mind and shut out thought. It was a strain to +carry on a normal conversation. I'd forget for a few minutes. and +then back would come the nagging worry. + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 101 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + The doctor had thought I might have just skipped a +menstruation period, because there had been a tiny flow. As time +approached for the deciding period, I was obsessed with a desire to +get it over with. I was optimistic with the doctor. But I was +secretly convinced that I was pregnant. Time dragged and then +spurted. I had the usual wish-fulfillment dreams in which I fancied +that I was menstruating normally. They caused me unpleasant +awakenings and a dread of going to sleep. I acquired an unhealthy +curiosity about my anatomy. Was my indigestion nausea? Was a chance +abdominal pain the stirring of menstruation? I feared to complain +about any petty ailment, thinking it might be recognized as a tell- +tale symptom. Any chance joke about pregnancy made me grow cold. + + Since childhood I had suffered from nervousness. Now I feared +that the additional mental strain might cause me to become +hysterical and blurt out the truth or might cause a nervous +breakdown which would make more difficult the coming ordeal. + + I was in a state of complete jitters during the all-important +few days when I should have been menstruating. Then I bolstered +courage for a decisive visit to my doctor. + + An hour's wait in the outer office gave ample time for +phrasing and rephrasing the essential questions. I eyed the other +patients and envied them their ailments. They didn't have to hide +their symptoms or worry about a listening nurse. + + I told the doctor that nothing had happened. Afterward it was +odd to think this was the worst of many visits to doctors. Later it +became a matter of course, the way was smoothed before me, doctors +were more adroit about relieving nervous strain. + + This doctor wasted no time in being tactful. He put his +fingers together and looked thoughtful. "You'd better have an +examination," he advised. + + I kept up a running flow of chatter which deceived neither of +us into thinking that I was taking the matter lightly. All the time +my mind was repeating, "This can't happen to me. Not to me. This is +the sort of thing that happens to stupid girls." + + The doctor probed. It hurt. I winced. + + "You're pregnant all right," he said. "Two months." I felt a +little numb, a little relieved. At least I knew. But I wanted to +get out of there quickly. + + "So that's that," I remarked. "I'm a fallen woman. How much do +I owe you?" + + "Two dollars." He helped me with my coat and gave me a +friendly slap on the back. "I'm sorry," he observed. "It's just a +bad break." + + I went out into the waiting-room. I said something funny to +the girl attendant. I met some old friends on the street. They were +genial. + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 102 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "How are you getting along?" asked a man who had once had a +romantic attachment for me. + + "Just fine," I smiled. It was funny, I thought, how many +people must be saying "just fine" when they felt like the devil. + + I flattered myself that I was taking all this very well. I +hoped that I could maintain my composure when I got into a +sympathetic atmosphere. I went into the hotel room where my lover +was waiting for me. I tried to keep my smile from sliding. I was +afraid my eye's were filling with childish tears. I told myself +that I must behave like an adult, facing a problem that had been +met by thousands of persons. + + "I want a drink," I told him. I held the highball in my hand +and sipped it while I gave the doctor's verdict. I lit a cigarette. +I thought that it certainly helped along my appearance as a fallen +woman to sit in a hotel room with a cigarette and a highball while +I listened to what, in my hyper-sensitive condition, seemed an +interminable discussion of plans and the necessity for secrecy. + + God knows that I didn't want to broadcast the news. But I felt +so ungodly tired. I wanted bed and rest and the friendly +unawareness of my family. I knew these arrangements had to be made. +But it seemed to me that the same things were being said over and +over again. I suppose they were. My lover probably was nervous, +too, although he didn't show it. His very calm irritated me. + + I wonder now if I had to do it over again whether I would try +to be so gay and gallant. Probably it looked as if I were frivolous +and didn't take it very seriously. Maybe if I hadn't tried to act +so brave and efficient, Larry wouldn't have seemed so far away. +Perhaps I should have gone feminine and helpless. I don't know. + + Anyhow, it was decided that I should go to a nearby city where +a friend of mine would arrange things. I live there now. I made a +suitable excuse and drove away. Ordinarily I like going anywhere +and part of the day I managed to enjoy the trip. But there was the +strain of explaining things to the friend, getting his assistance. +I had told him during my waiting period that I might require his +help. I knew that he was a friend of several doctors and would be +in a position to help. + + I told my friend, and I tried to tell myself that the reason +Larry did not go along was because it was difficult for him to get +away from work, it would be doubly expensive for us both and it +would increase the danger of being found out if we were both away +from home at the same time. + + I realized that there was no real need for him to go with me. +X could handle this business with more efficiency and more secrecy, +but at the same time I wished Larry had wanted to go or had asked +to come up and bring me back. That trip home was beastly lonely as +I remember It. + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 103 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + I checked in at the hotel and went to see X. He was +sympathetic but a little brusque about my foolishness in getting +into a jam. He asked why I didn't marry the man. I tried making +explanations, and they all sounded foolish, so at last I said +bluntly that I didn't want to and that was that. He agreed to help, +and I went back to my hotel. Books I had brought failed to hold my +attention. The room seemed first too hot and then too cold. My +dozing was nightmarish. + + There were moments that first night when the whole thing +seemed to be only a trifling incident; others when it loomed up as +a calamity and I broke out in cold sweat, remembering my cowardice +about physical pain, my utter ignorance of the whole procedure. I +had to trust blindly to X. + + I told myself that it was foolish that I should be so upset. +The morning dragged while I waited for a telephone message from my +friend. On the radio a laconic female voice chanted, "Everything's +been done before. I just want to do what's been done before." The +telephone rang. "Everything is O.K.," X said. + + I rushed over for a conference. A medical friend had agreed to +arrange it. But he refused to take my doctor's finger examination +verdict. There must be a laboratory verification. So I bought a +rabbit. + + The rabbit cost me $15 and 36 hours of waiting. + + Oddly enough this period of waiting, while nerve-wracking, did +bring a strange relief from other worries. My fate for the next few +days was in the hands of impersonal scientists. I hoped, of course, +that the test would be negative. But this was one decision I did +not have to make. And suddenly it seemed to me that I was +unutterably weary of making decisions. People had said that I was +gay and carefree, with 'nothing to worry about' They little knew of +the complications of my private life, my worrying over whether I +had made a mistake in turning down a man who loved me and wanted to +marry me in order to pursue a futile affair with a man who did not; +the constant speculation over, whether I hadn't better leave the +hole thing behind and go somewhere else, start life over again. + + Finally the 36 hours were over. I went back to the doctor's +office. + + "We can kill it any time now," he reported cheerfully. "Come +on into the laboratory. A magnificent rabbit, must weigh four +pounds. We'll have it for supper tonight, in a stew." + + The thought of the doctor's family dining with pleasure on my +rabbit amused and yet slightly irritated me. After all, I had paid +$15 for that rabbit, and spent 36 hours worrying over its health. +I Wondered if medical etiquette required my presence while. it was +being eaten. Apparently not; and I was a little relieved, for it +would have seemed like cannibalism to me. + + The doctor killed the rabbit by injecting air into its +arteries. Then he opened it, and fished out two tiny pink objects +with purple spots on them. They Were the ovaries. + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 104 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "There you are, my dear," he said genially. "Very positive +reaction. Those purple spots are hemorrhages on the ovary. It's the +only positive test. You're pregnant. No doubt about it." + + He carefully put the pink objects away on a piece of paper. +Then he cleaned the rabbit in the sink and wrapped it in a section +of brown paper before putting it in a refrigerator, crammed with +specimens of one kind and another. + + "I'll save these ovaries," he observed. "Some of the younger +doctors are interested in these tests, and may want to know what +they look like." + + So, indirectly, I was making my contribution to science. + + He telephoned the surgeon, and they amiably discussed their +respective healths and when I should appear on the scene. It seemed +that the surgeon was ready to leave his office, so I should come +the next day. This meant an extra day's waiting, of course, but +time and tide in such things mean little to the doctor. + + "Now cautioned the doctor. "You must remember not to breathe +a word of this to anyone." + + "Of course," I agreed. + + "The surgeon is not doing this for financial reasons," he went +on. "He is no quack. But he and I feel that there are times when it +is better for humanity that some children should not be born. I +understand that in your situation it would mess up the child's life +as well as your own and that of your lover. It is a racial waste, +for your child probably would be a fine, healthy one. But I believe +we are justified in aborting you for sociological reasons." + + My friend, I think, had exaggerated things Slightly in +explaining to the doctor why I could not marry. But I did not feel +it best to say anything Just then. So I went back to the hotel, +which was beginning to pall on me. I didn't think it best to spend +too much time with my friend. I realized that at the moment I was +far from an agreeable companion. I read until my eyelids would +close in defiance of my will, and my mind would refuse to +concentrate on the contents of the printed page. + + The next day I went to the surgeon's office. The first doctor +had given me a note of introduction. Life seemed to be a succession +of appointments and introductions and doctors' offices. + + Doctor A was a likeable middle-aged man with a friendly +manner. He frightened me at first by telling me briskly that I +would need a nurse and probably would have to stay in the city for +at least another week and possibly 10 days. It would be best for me +to get a little apartment. + + Obediently I checked out of my hotel and registered in the +apartment hotel he suggested. Then I returned to his office and +waited while the reception room slowly cleared of patients. There +were magazines that I tried to read without much success, The +office attendant telephoned for my nurse. + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 105 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + "You won't need her until tomorrow," she explained casually. +"You'll get along all right tonight. Then tomorrow, about 11, you +can come down here and meet her." + + "Here?" I asked incredulously. I fully expected to be borne +away from the doctor's office in an ambulance. The next day I +supposed I would be moaning and tossing in my bed, yelping for +morphine." + + "Sure," said the nurse. "You'll be able to walk a few blocks +tomorrow, all right. Walking's good for you, anyway." + + Doctor A stood in the doorway. + + "You're the next victim," he grinned. "I'll give you a little +treatment and send you on your way rejoicing." + + I didn't answer. With all the joyous sensations of a condemned +man -- there wasn't even a hearty breakfast to cheer me up, for I'd +been too nervous to eat -- I walked into the office. The low tones +of the nurse and the doctor, the whispered consultations, had been +entirely too reminiscent of the death room. + + "Better take off your coat and hat," he suggested, + + I obeyed, and began unfastening my dress, looking around for +the traditional white nightgown buttoned down the back. + + "No need to take off your dress," he explained cheerfully. + + I sat down on a white table, of a type that was becoming all +too familiar, and hooked my feet in the stirrup-like circles. The +doctor squeezed some white salve out of a tube, and then I felt him +probing. "Don't I take an anesthetic?" I asked, although nothing +very painful had been done to me so far. + + "Of course not," he replied, and launched into a discussion of +the jitters he'd had when his tonsils were cut out. + + He was probing with some instrument now, and I winced a +little. + + "I don't see how you girls stand this," commented the doctor +cheerfully. "It hurts me just to do it." + + "Oh, it isn't so bad," I hastened to assure him. + + He turned away and washed his hands. + + "You can sit up now," he said. "That's all." + + I sat up. I stared. + + "You mean," I paused for emphasis. "You mean that this is all +you do?" + + "That's all the first treatment," he answered. + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 106 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + I felt like laughing. I felt like crying. There was such a +sudden let-down in all the courage I'd bolstered for a painful +operation. I didn't feel any different. I didn't feel as if I'd had +an abortion. It wasn't any more painful than the examinations I'd +had before. + + "Sit down and get your breath," the surgeon suggested. + + "But I thought you had to cut something out, and then stuff me +full of medicated gauze," I protested. This abortion business +seemed too good to be true. + + "Oh, that's the old French method. That's a barbarous +business, and dangerous. I never do that any more. Nowadays I just +loosen the membranes, and let nature expel the thing in the +natural way." + + He told me the name of this new method, but the word meant +nothing to me. It seemed to have something to do with heat. + + "I've had thousands of cases, and never a failure yet. High +school girls, girls your age, older women -- all ages. You're +healthy and fit -- you won't have any trouble. Keep on your feet, +eat and drink anything you want, except alcohol, but don't smoke +too much. Take these two pills tonight, and your nurse will tell +you what to do tomorrow. You'll run a temperature tonight, and +perhaps have a chill, but don't worry. You'll be all right." + + I was all right. I went jubilantly back to the apartment, too +jubilantly I learned later. I felt like toe-dancing. Instead, I ate +five sandwiches, drank a bottle of beer and literally quarts of +water and felt very good indeed. The high temperature came in due +time, I took the pills, which were shiny, black, deadly-looking +things. I learned later that they were merely laxatives. Then I +settled down to await developments. + + Developments arrived promptly the next morning. First came the +original doctor, with the cheering news of the price, which was $50 +more than I had been led to expect. I was to pay $125. But before +I had much time to worry about that, there came a peremptory +telephone call, urging, me to hurry down to the surgeon's office to +meet my nurse. + + "Better get a rubber sheet," urged the first doctor genially. +"Be sure to get it right away, before you expel this thing, because +it won't do you any good afterward. And your worst is yet to come," +be added. "You won't get off this easy." + + The "worst" began within 15 minutes. I perceived now why the +surgeon had said "your first treatment" on the preceding day. +Treatment Number Two hurt more. I began to feel less gratitude +toward the surgeon. He was no longer one of the Lord's anointed +tome. He was, I thought bitterly, getting plenty for what little +he'd done. I remembered the first doctor's admonition to keep quiet +about this matter. It gave me some pleasure to feel that Doctor A +was partially in my power. I could hurt him, too. I could send him +to jail. I toyed with the idea. + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 107 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + My thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of a tall gray +haired woman. She was wearing rubbers, and carried an umbrella. She +was the nurse. + + "This is Miss K," said the surgeon. "She'll tell you what to +do." + + She certainly did tell me what to do, and I obeyed meekly. She +began immediately by commanding me to walk back to my apartment +hotel where she ordered some groceries and hurried the maid around +with a great air of authority. Everybody around the hotel seemed to +know her. Evidently she had had numerous patients at the same +place. + + The first part, and apparently the most important part, of my +program was to get plenty of exercise. My God! I'd thought that for +once in my life I'd be coddled. It seemed to me that I'd done a +God's plenty of walking. Now I felt I should lie in bed and be +waited on by this scrawny female. Was I paying this homely woman $6 +a day just to make me walk and boss me around? + + We walked downtown and Miss K ate a hearty lunch at my +expense. Then we shopped. We bought a pink rubber sheet for 29 +cents -- the clerk said that pink was best for babies. A huge +package containing four dozen sanitary napkins of a popular brand +cost me 62 cents, a package of safety pins was 10 cents. Then we +added a 25-cent bottle of a well-known disinfectant, two shiny pie +pans at a nickel apiece and two wash cloths ditto. After that we +walked back. The nurse went to bed. + + I bought two dollars' worth of groceries to feed her, and 30 +cents; worth of newspapers for her to read. The newspapers would +come in handy later, anyway, she said. They did. For days I had to +lie on newspapers atop a crib sheet. A smooth sheet felt utterly +luxurious to me after hot rubber, rough towels and crackling +newspapers. + + Miss K lay comfortably on the davenport while I walked the +floor, according to her instructions. Occasionally she would +inquire how I was feeling. I gathered from the conversation with +one of the maids that I was supposed to be taking treatment for +hemorrhoids at a nearby clinic. The maid had hemorrhoids, too, and +I had to listen to a long dissertation on her symptoms. + + My friend purchased a small bottle of whisky the nurse ordered +for me. She thought that he was my lover, and called him "your +friend" with tactful emphasis. This amused me considerably. She was +always suggesting that I go to the movies or something with him, +and, I had to tactfully decline and stay at home with her. I surely +was taking good care of that nurse. + + I escorted her downtown again at night to fill her to the brim +with expensive grub. She had a mania for cafeterias, where shed +displayed an uncanny knack at picking out the most costly dishes. + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 108 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + Accustomed to walking, I took a malicious delight in leading +Miss K at a rapid pace. She had corns, I learned early in the day. +Thereafter, I was hell on exercise, except in domestic duties +around the apartment. She stopped in front of every fur shop to +gaze in admiration at the mink wraps. I reflected bitterly that I +could have decked myself in splendor on the costs of my present +pleasure-excursion. It was getting pretty monotonous, this +patrolling the city and waiting for The Pains, which were always +capitalized by Miss, K's slow voice. I vented my irritation in +malicious thoughts about, my nurse, who wasn't a bad sort at all. + + Promptly at 9:30, I was sent to bed. Miss K was horrified at +my suggestion that we leave the light on for a while, so that I +could read myself to sleep. I lay there in the dark, feeling +aggrieved. I am accustomed to reading before I go to sleep. It +helps me to relax. The more I thought of it the more militant I +felt. I rolled; I tossed. By God, if I couldn't read, she shouldn't +sleep. I was beginning to have aches and pains, too. I felt very +bad. + + I had to lie there in the dark and suffer in silence, because +this old dame didn't read anything but the newspapers. Naturally +she had no sympathy with night consumption of great literature. I +began thinking of all the nasty things I could say about her. +Greatly pleased with these fancies, I drifted off into a series of +hellish nightmares and chill's. My nurse had appropriated two- +thirds of the blankets. In the morning I was delighted to learn +that she had slept badly and that her head hurt. My head hurt, too. +I, hurt all over. + + She cooked my breakfast and washed the dishes. Meanwhile, she +informed me that the doctor almost had pneumonia. I was overjoyed. +She forced me to walk to the doctor's office. I grew sick to my +stomach sitting in the close, hot room. My pains were worse but as +yet I knew I had not had The Pains. + + I viewed with interest the entrance of a pretty young girl I +had noticed with an elderly couple at my first visit. I had thought +it odd the way they had entered the doctor's office, first papa, +then mama and daughter while papa came out. Then mama and daughter +stood in the hall while papa went back in. Daughter hadn't looked +very happy. + + Today she whispered something to mama and remained standing. +I glanced downwards. By their feet ye shall know them! Her trim +pumps had been replaced by scuffed oxfords suitable for walking. + + She looked worried. She glanced at me curiously. I resisted an +impulse to say, "Walking certainly is fun in this damned cold, +rainy weather, but if you get tired of it you can climb stairs or +get some lovely jolting on street cars. Come over to my place. +We've got a roof garden and we can walk together." + + The doctor treated with glee the news that I felt terrible. He +gave me another treatment. I was getting along beautifully he +observed. A doctor doesn't believe beauty is only skin deep. When +be wants to flatter you, he talks about your healthy liver and +kidneys, A doctor's courtship ought to be a novel experience. + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 109 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + We walked, Miss K ate a delicious lunch at my expense. I was +getting it in the neck for all the times I'd been entertained at +lunch. I couldn't remember ever having paid the cheek for any woman +before and I sure wouldn't pick out this half-deaf woman for a boon +companion. I brought her home and put her to bed. I was sick to my +stomach and couldn't sleep. It was no hardship to keep from +smoking. I couldn't even consume the three cigarettes a day I was +allowed. + + "That's fine," the doctor exclaimed, clapping me on the back +next day. "We want you to be sick to your stomach. Are you holding +your meals?" + +"Yes." + + "That's fine," he commented. "You must eat to keep up your +strength. But we want you to be sick to your stomach. And ache. You +must ache. You're doing fine." + + I wasn't really sick to my stomach, anyhow, he added. It was +my uterus being disturbed. I didn't know anything about cause, but +I knew how I felt. + + Nausea returned three-fold that night. I refused to go to a +restaurant, and my nurse allowed me to purchase half a grocery- +store. She had told me previously that she had lived for years with +her mother. Mama must have done the marketing, for Miss K, who was +quite at home in a cafeteria, was nonplussed by the absence of +price signs in the grocery. She couldn't pick out the most +expensive items. It seemed to me that in my nervous condition I +should not be required to struggle with menus and marketing, along +with The Pains. + + I won my fight to read in bed and I went to sleep like a baby, +after my reading, while Miss K tossed restlessly all night. She won +her bacon for breakfast, but I absolutely refused the cooked +cereals. Abortions are bad enough, without oatmeal. + + The next day was Sunday, and the nausea became much worse. +About noon, we went to the surgeon's office again, and he gave me +another treatment -- like the others but much more painful this +time. During the process I burst into tears. Doctor A patted me +comfortingly on the back. + + Then came the long street-car ride which the doctor +prescribed, the idea being that the jolting movement was good for +what ailed me. After that I strolled through a zoo, where I peered +at a hippopotamus in a tank of water, and watched some kangaroo's +scratching themselves. That's what their small front legs are for, +I was told: to convey food to their mouths, to scratch themselves, +and to clasp the mate. + + I began to feel like hell on the way home. My nurse chattily +decided which of the town's most exclusive restaurants. would be +best, and we got off the car. Miss K lost interest in my jolting as +soon as her stomach began to feel empty., Once off the car, I +became so ill that I could hardly stand. I burst into tears again, + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 110 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +and I felt a cold, deadly fury against the nurse. Was I paying her +$6 a day to drag me about to expensive restaurants, when all I +wanted was to lie quietly in bed? She suggested that I sit down on +the cold, concrete curb and relax, but it didn't appeal to me. +Finally she hailed a taxi, and I wept quietly all the way back to +the apartment. + + Once in my flat, I gave Miss K a dollar and invited her to go +out for her own lunch. As soon as she was out of the room, I +defiantly ate some cheese out of the refrigerator, and began to +feel a little better. Her starched smock, the general air of +neatness and what she called genteel conversation was getting on my +nerves. + + That night The Pains began. There was no difficulty in +recognizing them. They began slowly around the back and side, and +worked up to a grand climax in front. Miss K gave me a few lessons +in the ancient art of "bearing down." All the positions she +recommended seemed rather silly to me. I should stand up and put my +hands on the edge of the bed and "work!" + + Early in the evening "the Water burst." This seemed to please +the nurse. I hoped that everything would come to pass immediately, +but I wasn't to be a lucky patient. I had to "work" for what I got +and hard work, too. I spent a night of feverish agony and finally +went to sleep in the wee hours. I awakened very early, deathly sick +and having more pains than ever. + + "That's fine," said the nurse. She always hailed any symptom +of excruciating agony with pleasure. "I hope you vomit now," she +added. But I didn't. Just gagged and moaned loudly. + + "You mustn't make so much noise," she told be, when I wanted +to read the newspapers while I was "bearing down." "The people next +door will hear you." + + I felt like saying "To hell with the people next door," but I +didn't. You don't talk back to the nurse. But in my torment it +seemed a small matter whether the people next door heard me moaning +or rattling papers. + + Then she made me walk. When my whole body ached horribly, I +had to pace up and down the room until I collapsed on the bed with +a chill. The apartment seemed frigid, but Miss X was a fresh-air +fiend. She cheerfully invited me to breakfast. + + "Eat heartily," she urged. "It'll be good for you. You must +keep up your strength." + + But the thought of food nauseated me. I lay limp on the bed. +It seemed to me that Heaven could be no more than a bed and sleep. +"If you haven't done anything by 11 o'clock, you'll have to dress +and walk to the doctor's," the nurse threatened. I chilled again at +the thought. + + She gave me some quinine, but I was unable to swallow the +first capsule. It floated around in my mouth until it melted and I +got the full benefit of the flavor. But I managed to down the +second one. + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 111 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + The Pains went lower now. I was put to bed and a towel tied to +the end of the bed was given me to pull. I sat over one of the +shiny pie pans. I pulled. I grew red in the face. But I triumphed. +There was a sudden gurgle just as I thought I would explode -- and +the thing came. + + A wave of relief overwhelmed me. I felt a tremendous sense of +personal triumph. But the pain's were not over yet. Nor the +working. "Don't stop," the nurse warned. "If you have another pain, +work just as hard. We've got to get the afterbirth." + + I worked hard, but without success. Miss K sent me to bed. + + "Keep off your feet," she ordered. "We don't want to risk a +hemorrhage. Don't move any more than necessary." + + Her words were needless. I never wanted to stir again. I +rested. blessed rest, until the doctor came an hour later. But he +blasted my peace. + + "What are you doing in bed," he demanded. + + "The nurse put me here. She said to keep off my feet. The most +blessed words of tongue or pen. And I'm obeying orders implicitly." + + "Get back on your feet," he said. "There's some membrane yet +I want to see. Get up and move around." + + Wearily I shook the crumbs of toast from my bed-clothes. I +crawled out of bed, the bed I wanted to remain in the rest of my +life. I walked. Not much, but I walked. The whole discouraging +process had to be gone through again. + + There is a gap in the diary I kept then. I didn't feel like +writing. I didn't feel like walking either. But I had to walk. Each +day I had to walk to the doctor's office. He inquired if I were +flowing. I said I was. Then he told me to go home and walk some +more. He said I was getting along fine. I felt terrible. I was no +longer so horribly nauseated, but I was sore in every part of my +body. I alternately perspired until the sheets were drenched or +chilled all night long. Sleep was an unknown quantity. So was even +rest. The nurse had asked me whether I fainted easily. I said I did +not know; I had never fainted. But I felt if I got in crowds, I +would soon acquire the art of swooning. + + I could not eat in restaurant's. I simply groaned and looked +at the food. Finally Miss K allowed me to eat in the apartment. I +walked in the roof garden. I refused point-blank to go out except +to the doctor's office. I didn't want to faint on the streets or be +overcome by hysterical weeping in a restaurant. I didn't want to +see healthy, happy people. + + It is impossible, writing this later, to recapture the spirit +of dull, weary resignation, alternating with periods of frantic +worry about whether the afterbirth ever would come. I blindly +followed the nurse's orders. I even tried to be gay about it. She +said one patient had an easy time because she did the laundry. So + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 112 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + +dizzily I stood in the bathroom and washed out hose and lingerie. +I even laughed. I marveled at myself. I wisecracked. The nurse +enjoyed it. She made me repeat it all to the doctor. He enjoyed it, +too. He called me "darling" and said I was a star patient. + + The nurse said that I would have fun doing anything. It +required little effort for me to think of things I would enjoy +more. But I was determined to be gallant, so I kept up my hectic +gaiety. It helped. It kept me from weeping. + + Days lost meaning. I went in the morning or early afternoon to +the doctor's office. But he gave me no treatments. Then came +another night of sickening pain. My nerves were shattered. If I +dozed off uneasily, I had horrible nightmares. I spent a morning +pacing the floor and groaning. Part of the afterbirth came with +what seemed to me terrible straining. I took another capsule. The +doctor came to see me. Again the monotonous repetition of "Stay on +your feet. It has to come and it will. But it's being stubborn. +It'll take it's own sweet time. You can't tell from one patient to +another. It's really better to be slow. There's less danger of +hemorrhage." + + Then, unaccountably, I quit worrying. I ceased straining at +every pain. + + I knew that there were two things the doctor could do if I +didn't get results soon. He could give me a hypodermic which would +cause my muscles to move of their own accord and relieve me of some +of the pain and perspiration-evoking effort of "bearing down." Or +he could pack me, and that would bring the afterbirth immediately. +The last would be painful, but I was past caring about pain. I was +deadened by pain. + + Suddenly I felt care-free. They wanted me to walk, didn't +they? Well, I'd walk. I'd try the doctor's latest position. But I +was through worrying. Let them worry for a change. + + I slept better that night than I had for a week. The next day +I walked in the roof garden with the radio turned, on. I laughed. +I even danced a few steps. I felt better. I came downstairs and sat +up all morning. When the nurse asked me if I wanted to lie down, I +refused. I was tired of lying down. I ate some breakfast. + + I prepared to go to the doctor's office. But suddenly the +after-birth came. "I don't have to go to the doctor," I said as +calmly as possible. + + My battle was won. I submitted to going to bed, although I +felt fine. I wanted to go parading up and down the halls shouting +that the whole business was over. I wanted to go down to the +doctor's office and laugh in his face about this bearing down +business. + + But I went to bed. The nurse telephoned the doctor discreetly. +She smiled. The doctor came to see me and drank up the remainder of +the whisky I had not needed. I felt somehow proud that I had got +through it without drinking any whisky. I told the doctor I felt +fine. The nurse went out to eat. I lay in bed and read. But I no +longer wanted to stay quiet and rest. I wanted to get up. + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 113 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + Miss K soaked my breasts in camphor and tied me up tightly +with muslin, like a mummy. I looked thin-chested, The whole +business amused me. It was to prevent my breasts filling with +fluid. Some patients have a great deal of trouble with that, I was +told, and even had high fever. But I didn't. I lay in bed and read +and asked when I might get up. After all my desperate craving to +stay in bid for weeks, I now wanted to be up and going. + + There was one big pain when my uterus contracted. Then there +was peace. My nurse gave me sponge-baths and washed me with +disinfectant. I smelled like rotten eggs. But I felt fine. She gave +me castor oil. I didn't even mind that. I told the nurse it was a +conspiracy to keep me in the bathroom constantly, on one excuse or +another. + + I stayed in bed all that night and the next day. The next +night I was allowed to get up for a few minutes. I felt shaky and +weak and I broke out in perspiration when I moved. But there were +no pains. I had no hemorrhage. I was getting by fine. + + Next morning the doctor came to see me. + + "When can I go home?" I demanded. "I feel great. I don't want +to stay in this bed. My breasts aren't filling. Miss K took off the +bandage this morning. I'm all right." + + "Go home now if you want to," he told me. + + He shook hand's with me and departed. That afternoon I paid +the nurse. Sixty dollars -- but it, too, was virtually painless. I +felt a slight regret at seeing her go. Suddenly she seemed pitiful +to me. Poor Miss K with her life filled with patients and her +dreary home existence. I asked if she wanted the afternoon off. She +hadn't had any time off or much sleep. + +But to my surprise, she wanted to spend the afternoon with me. She +had another patient moving in that night. She said I had been +pleasant. We exchanged polite statements about how nice every thing +had been. She said I got along fine and told me the troubles some +of her patients had. She didn't even mention the ones who paid her +$10 a day. + + I was still weak. When I washed the dishes, I went to lie down +twice. But I was restless. I couldn't remain quiet. I wanted to go +home. Now with the ordeal over, and the danger past, I worried +about trifles. Would I be able to stand the trip? Would I be able +to carry my luggage into the house? Would my alibi for the trip. +stand up? + + Miss K moved out. I read in bed until late. But it seemed odd +without her lying on the davenport. It seemed so quiet without her +asking me if I hadn't read long enough. I missed her slow voice +interrupting my reading with what at the time seemed tedious +anecdotes. + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 114 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + My world had been composed of a doctor, a nurse, and a few +visits from my friend for two weeks. Now that world had +disintegrated. I felt lonely. I thought about telephoning a few +persons I knew in the city. But that would be foolhardy. I was +registered under a false name. I didn't feel like entertaining or +giving any sort of story. I felt like getting tight. But I didn't +want to drink alone. Anyhow, I was still on a diet, no milk, no +cream soups, not much to drink in the way of alcoholic liquors. + + It was amazing how quickly the ordeal began to fade. It took +an effort to recall how the pains slowly surged forward, beginning +at my back and going all over my abdomen and increasing until they +were almost unbearable and then slowly going away. They had been +difficult to describe. Miss K would ask if they were worse than the +day before, but I could not tell. The day before had passed into +blankness. + + I cooked a leisurely breakfast. Then I took my crib sheet, my +pans, the remainder of the castor oil, the muslin I hadn't needed, +the disinfectant and the groceries I had left, in to the girl next +door. I felt it would be somehow fitting to make a gift to my +successor. + + She was a slim, pajama-clad girl with huge dark eyes and +jaunty dark curls piled atop her head. She moved restlessly around +her tiny apartment and smoked incessantly. + + "You'll have to cut down on cigarette's," I warned her. + + She gave me a startled look. "They hadn't told me," and she +crushed out her cigarette. + + "I'd forgotten," Miss K said. "But you have been smoking too +much." + + She looked in bewilderment at the pie pans. Miss K had washed +and disinfected them. + + "What are they for?" she asked. + + "You'll find out," I laughed. + + Miss K had asked me to tell her to relax. But I knew it would +be useless. You can't relax just because someone tells you to, You +can't be calm because someone say's that it's better for you. So I +told her. "It isn't so bad." + + "I'm not dreading it," she replied. I knew she was lying. + + "But she says she'll be home in two or three days," Miss K +chuckled. We were old-timers together. + +"That's what I said," I remarked with a grin. "Are you nervous?" +Miss K gave me a warning glance. She didn't want me to make the new +patient fretful. + + "No. I'm not the nervous type. All that worries me is that I +wish it would hurry up and happen and they won't tell me when it +will." + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 115 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + I laughed. It was remarkably easy to laugh that morning. I was +going home that afternoon. + + "That's all that worries anyone. But you can't hurry it. just +walk and forget about time." + + "My feet are sore now," she complained. "They walked my legs +off yesterday. But I'm going home by Thanksgiving. I've got to get +home by Thanksgiving." + + It's a long time until Thanksgiving," the nurse soothed her. + + "You'll be home then," I said. + + She thanked me for the stuff . I'll pay you for it," she +offered. I shook my head. "You'll be paying for plenty of things." +She reached for a cigarette and then drew her hand back and glanced +at the nurse. Then she put her arms over her head. + + "Don't do that," I cautioned. "You've', got to keep your arms +down." + + "I didn't know." She meekly folded her hands in her lap. + + I felt sorry for her, and I wished I could make things easier +for her. But I couldn't. She looked at me curiously and I knew that +she hated my leaving her alone with the nurse. There was a strange +kinship between us. I was introduced to her, but I didn't catch the +name nor did I ask for it to be repeated. We were part of an army +of nameless women. I rather wished that she'd been there when was +and we could have walked together and exchanged complaints. But I +went away. We both smiled. And that was that. + + I thought that would be the end of my story, But it wasn't. I +went home. Everything went smoothly. My parents accepted my story +of an extended visit with friends. There was not much pain -- a +little, but nothing serious. But the nervous shock lingered on. +weak, irritable. I quarreled with my lover. He felt that I blamed +him. I felt that he blamed me. I wanted to be coddled and he wanted +to forget it. + + We had several serious quarrels about it and finally made up. +I felt that it would make me out a damn fool to go through that +ordeal for his sake and then quit going with him immediately. And +he may have felt the same way. But I fancied myself neglected. I +was sarcastic. My nerves gave way, and I had tantrums, not because +I wanted to but as a reaction from what I had gone through. I tried +to stop fussing, but it was a physical and mental condition beyond +control. + + I tried to explain this to him, and for a while we drifted on. +But looking back now at the wreck of our affair, I wonder just how +much effect it had on our breaking up. I believe a great deal. +Subconsciously I always felt that he should do something to make up +to me what I had suffered. I know, of course, that there was no +reason why he should. Certainly he regretted it and the whole +affair was an accident. + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 116 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + But from time to time whenever I felt that I was being +neglected I would find myself thinking, "After all I've gone +through for that man." And if he took another girl out on a casual +date I resented it. I'd think bitterly, "And what has she endured +for him?" + + Before we had boasted that ours was a free and easy +companionship. Now I rather resented that term. I had refused to +assert my claims at the logical time but somehow I felt that my +ordeal should give me some privilege and I was exasperated when +treated as just the "girl friend." I felt like flaring up and +saying, "Oh, no, there's nothing really between us. He was just the +father of my unborn child." But I didn't. And eventually I went +away. He was a little bewildered and a little angry. But I had been +bewildered and angry too long. + + I know that the episode had one lasting effect. It made me +take sex more seriously. It gave me a horror of "free and easy" +companionship. + + One of the first people I looked up when I moved to the city +was the doctor. One reason was that it gave me mental relief to +talk over the case. I got rid of a lot of bitterness by dragging it +out of the past and learning that other girls had quarreled with +their lovers and that my nervousness and resentment were natural. + + The doctor says that as long as he continues in his profession +there can be no logical ending for his "confessions." Likewise +there can be no real ending for my story, for there always will be +a tiny mental sear. + + But now that I have come nearly to the close, there are a few +things that I would like to say to other girl's. Don't confide your +own story even to your closest friends unless you have used them +for alibis. Then better make up some other story if you can. There +will be a slight coolness or you may imagine there is, which is +just as bad. You'll be greeted with, "But how did you happen to get +into such a fix? + + It's useless to make any explanation other than that accident. +will happen in the best of families. And it's better to keep +yourself in a position where no explanations are necessary. + + Think it over pretty carefully before you tell your future +husband about it. He might think you didn't want children at all. +He might believe you had been pretty wild in your youth. It's +terribly easy to misunderstand these things and sometimes words +make them worse. + + When you go home, ask your doctor about birth-control +information and stick to what he says. Don't change around because +some woman dishes out a lot of "absolutely safe methods." Usually +the more positive the woman, the more inaccurate her information. +I know one woman who discovered a new and pleasant system and +rushed around telling all her friends. She neglected to say that +this system depended on the woman being regular in her periods, and +that it had to be adjusted to her cycle. + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 117 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + Likewise, what works with one woman may not work with another. +I know girls who get along all right with certain douches and +others who can't risk them. Before any woman convinces you, ask a +doctor. + + I know that you will be irritated when you hear people talking +as if any girl who got into a jam was a fool. But realize that it +is futile for one girl to crusade against the campaign of secrecy, +scandal and disapproval waged by society. If you really feel deeply +about this matter, join an organization for that purpose. I am +annoyed when I hear women say that abortions are cheap and simple +affairs and they are confident that their doctors will help them +out if they need help. But I find it wisest to remain silent. + + Similarly if you really want to give advice adopt a very +impersonal, "several friends of mine," instead of the thin "a +friend of mine" with a mass of details. Be very careful before you +recommend your doctor to anyone. Never give letters of introduction +to him. If you really want to help, make the doctor a personal +visit before you mention his name to the girl. + + If you haven't become one of the initiated, let me give you a +few words of advice. Don't wait and worry if you're overdue. Go +immediately to the doctor, your family doctor. If you are caught, +ask his advice. He may help you, and thus you'll be saved a lot of +additional expense. + + Don't let false modesty keep you from telling your lover about +it and asking his help. Unless he's an absolute rotter, he'll +arrange things. If he is a cad, you want to find it out. And if you +intend to marry him and have children, now is the time to do it. + + I made a mistake in trying to protect my lover, and so I was +accused of being bossy. Don't repeat my error. Let him take as much +responsibility as he is willing to. That will prevent a lot of +resentment later on. Go to him first, before you go to a friend. +Then he'll feel that you trust him and later on you won't quarrel +about that. Furthermore, there's a danger if you go to a man friend +that your lover will feel that perhaps he isn't the father of the +unborn child. + + This sounds pretty disagreeable but it's better than +bitterness and squabbling afterward. If your lover wants to pay all +the expenses, lot him do it. You'll have the suffering to do. But +don't let yourself get to feeling that you are a martyr, that all +men are selfish, and sex is an ugly trap. When you begin to feel +that, look around at some of your friends and remember that you are +only one of thousands of girls with secrets in their eyes and +smiles on their lips. + + Don't degenerate into a whiner because you had one bad break. +But on the other hand, don't make any mistake and try to be too +brave and too gallant. If you do, your lover may think that you +don't take this very seriously and he will dismiss it lightly. Let +him know that you're scared, you are suffering and that you need +gentleness and consideration. Don't be too modern. + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 118 + + CONFESSIONS OF AN ABORTIONIST + + And another thing. This is not the time to skimp on expenses. +Go to the best doctor you can, even if you have to borrow the +money. But don't hesitate to let the doctor know if you're hard up. +If you are staying at a good hotel, are well dressed and don't +mention money, he may charge you more than his minimum price, send +you to an expensive place to stay and give you a more expensive +nurse. Most good doctors charge according to the estimated income +of the patient. + + When you're ready to leave, ask the doctor about any possible +danger from going back to work, when you can have intercourse again +and what to do if something happens. Chances are there will be a +slight flow for perhaps a month. But if you are in pain, rush right +down to a doctor; don't wait and worry. + + Your mind is going to be filled with the subject. So be +careful about drinking. You're not supposed to do much anyhow. +Remember that there is no subject on which there are so many +violent opinions. The woman who talks tolerantly of birth control +and abortions may speak in an entirely different way regarding some +friend or relative. + + + + + **** **** + + + Reproducible Electronic Publishing can defeat censorship. + + + + The Bank of Wisdom is a collection of the most thoughtful, +scholarly and factual books. These computer books are reprints of +suppressed books and will cover American and world history; the +Biographies and writings of famous persons, and especially of our +nations Founding Fathers. They will include philosophy and +religion. all these subjects, and more, will be made available to +the public in electronic form, easily copied and distributed, so +that America can again become what its Founders intended -- + + The Free Market-Place of Ideas. + + The Bank of Wisdom is always looking for more of these old, +hidden, suppressed and forgotten books that contain needed facts +and information for today. If you have such books please contact +us, we need to give them back to America. + + + **** **** + + + + + + + + + + BANK of WISDOM + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 119 + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/about-ef b/textfiles.com/politics/about-ef new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f1fcb18a --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/about-ef @@ -0,0 +1,230 @@ + +************************************************************************ +General Information about the Electronic Frontier Foundation +************************************************************************ +The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) was founded in July, 1990, +to assure freedom of expression in digital media, with a particular +emphasis on applying the principles embodied in the Constitution +and the Bill of Rights to computer-based communication. + +>From the beginning, EFF was determined to become an organization +that would combine technical, legal and public policy expertise, and +would apply these skills to the myriad issues and concerns that arise +whenever a new communications medium is born. + +By remaining faithful to this initial vision, EFF has become an +organized voice for the burgeoning community of nationally and +inter- nationally networked computer users. We perform the +multiple roles of guardian, advocate and innovator, to serve and +protect the public interest in the information age. + +We have defended civil liberties in court. We have shaped the policy +debate on emerging communications infrastructure and regulation. +We have increased awareness both on the Net and among those law +enforcement officials, policy makers and corporations whose +insufficient under- standing of the digital environment threatened +the freedom of Cyberspace. Yet there is still much to be done. + +Goals of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, 1993 + +EFF's mission is to understand the opportunities and challenges of +digital communications, in order to foster openness, individual +freedom and community. + +We expect to carry out our mission through activities in the following +areas: + +POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVOCACY. EFF has been working to +promote an open architecture for telecommunications by various +means, including the Open Platform Initiative, the fight against the +FBI's Digital Telephony wiretap proposal, and efforts to free robust +encryption technologies from NSA control. + +FOSTERING COMMUNITY. Much of the work we have done has been +directed at fostering a sense of community in the online world. +Because we realize that we know far less about the conditions +conducive to the formation of virtual communities than is necessary +to be effective in creating them, we will devote a large portion of our +R & D resources to developing better understanding in this area. + +LEGAL SERVICES. EFF was born to defend the rights of computer +users against overzealous and uninformed law enforcement officials. +This continues to be an important focus of EFF's work. We provide +legal information to individuals who request it and support for +attorneys who are litigating. 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EFF is a membership +organization with both individual and corporate members from +throughout the United States and the world. + + How to Connect to the EFF + +Internet and USENET: + +General information requests, submissions for EFFector Online, and +the like can be mailed to eff@eff.org. + +If you receive any USENET newsgroups, your site may carry the +newsgroups comp.org.eff.news and comp.org.eff.talk. The former is a +moderated newsgroup for announcements, newsletters, and other +information; the latter is an unmoderated discussion group for +discussing the EFF and issue relating to the electronic frontier. + +For those unable to read the newsgroups, there are redistributions +via electronic mail. Send requests to be added to or dropped from +the eff-news mailing list to eff-request@eff.org. + +Mail eff-talk-request@eff.org to be added to a redistribution of +comp.org.eff.talk by mail; please note that it can be extremely high- +volume at times. + +A document library containing all of the EFF news releases, John +Barlow's "Crime and Puzzlement", and other publications of interest is +available via anonymous FTP from ftp.eff.org. Mail ftphelp@eff.org if +you have questions, or are unable to use FTP. + +To be on a mailing list specific to a discussion of technical and policy +pub-infra-request@eff.org. + +The WELL: + +There is an active EFF conference on the WELL, as well as many other +related conferences of interest to EFF supporters. Access to the WELL +is $15/month plus $2/hour. Outside the San Francisco area, telecom +access for $4.50/hour is available through the CompuServe Packet +Network. 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A selection of EFF +information files already exists in the Awakened Eye Sig which is +also in the MCM Forum. + +Our Addresses + +Electronic Frontier Foundation, Inc. +666 Pennsylvania Avenue S.E., Suite 303 +Washington, DC 20003 ++1 202 544 9237 ++1 202 547 5481 FAX +Internet: eff@eff.org + +Electronic Frontier Foundation, Inc. +238 Main St. +Cambridge, MA 02142 ++1 617 576 4500 ++1 617 576 4520 FAX +Internet: eff@eff.org + +MEMBERSHIP IN THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION + +In order to continue the work already begun and to expand our +efforts and activities into other realms of the electronic frontier, we +need the financial support of individuals and organizations. + +If you support our goals and our work, you can show that support by +becoming a member now. Members receive our bi-weekly electronic +newsletter, EFFector Online (if you have an electronic address that +can be reached through the Net), answers to your legal questions, +special releases and other notices on our activities. (Because we +believe that support should be freely given, you can receive these +things even if you do not elect to become a member.) +Your membership dues and other donations are fully tax deductible. + +============================================================= +Mail to: +Electronic Frontier Foundation, Inc. +238 Main St. +Cambridge, MA 02142 + +I wish to become a member of EFF. I enclose: $_______ +$20.00 (student or low income membership) $40.00 (regular +membership) +$100.00 (Corporate or organizational membership. +This allows any organization, if it wishes, to designate up to five +individuals +within the organization as members.) + +[ ] I enclose an additional donation of $_______ + +Name: + +Organization: + +Address: + +City or Town: + +State: Zip: Phone: ( ) (optional) + +FAX: ( ) (optional) + +Email address: + +I enclose a check [ ]. +Please charge my membership in the amount of $ to my Mastercard [ +] Visa [ ] American Express [ ] + +Number: + +Expiration date: + +Signature: ________________________________________________ + +Date: + +Our privacy policy: The Electronic Frontier Foundation will never sell +any part of our membership list. We will, from time to time, share +this list with other nonprofit organizations whose work we determine +to be in line with our goals. However, you must explicitly grant us +permission to share your name with these other groups. Member +privacy is our default. + +I hereby grant permission to EFF to share my name with other +nonprofit groups from time to time as it deems appropriate [ ]. +Initials:___________________________ + +Last Update: 16 February 1993 + +********************************************************** + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/abt_blck.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/abt_blck.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..74b654bc --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/abt_blck.txt @@ -0,0 +1,184 @@ +The following article is from the Spring/Summer 1988 issue +of CIVIL LIBERTIES, a newspaper published by the American +Civil Liberties Union. It is presented for the purpose of +editorial critique. The opinions of the authors are not +necessarily those of this presenter. + + BOYFRIENDS AND HUSBANDS USE COURTS + TO BLOCK WOMEN'S ABORTIONS + + By Dawn Johnsen and Lynn Paltrow + (Staff Attorneys, "ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project") + +During the last several months, the anti-abortion forces +have implemented a new strategy in their systematic campaign +to deprive women of their reproductive freedom. In cases in +Indiana, Utah, and Pennsylvania, individual men, represented +by anti-choice lawyers, have sought and obtained temporary +restraining orders ("TROs") from state courts enjoining +women from exercising their right to choose to have an +abortion. Three cases were recently brought by men who +claimed to be the women's "boyfriends" and two were brought +by the women's husbands. + +These cases, usually orchestrated by anti-choice activists, +only arise where there is a problem in the marriage or the +relationship. They frequently reflect not a concern for the +woman or the baby that might be, but rather a hurt or +spurned lover's desire to continue or control the +relationship. Husbands and boyfriends, of course, have +every right to express their views on pregnancy from the +beginning of the relationship and to seek a different +relationship if the couple's views on childbearing do not +coincide. Partners who disagree about terminating a +pregnancy should seek help from a professional counselor not +a court order from a judge. + +Thus far, these cases have been concentrated in Indiana, +where courts have issued three TROs in the last two months. +This strategy was devised by Indiana attorney James Bopp, +Jr., who is general counsel to the National Right to Life +Committee. Bopp has stated that his ultimate goal is to +bring one of these cases to the U.S. Supreme Court as a +device to have Roe vs. Wade, and the many subsequent cases +recognizing a woman's right to choose to have an abortion, +overturned. Bopp has made available at no cost, and is +advertising nationwide, what he calls a "Father's Rights +Litigation Kit." It contains all of the legal documents +necessary to bring a case seeking to enjoin a woman from +having an abortion. In addition to the Indiana cases, this +litigation kit has already been used by a "boyfriend" to +obtain a TRO against a pregnant woman in Philadelphia. +Anti-choice lawyers have issued ominous warnings of more +cases to come. + + WITHOUT A HUSBAND'S CONSENT + +Although the pregnant women in the five current (and any +future) cases are almost certain to prevail in the end, +these women have and will suffer devastating constitutional +deprivations prior to their ultimate victory. Ordering a +woman not to end an unwanted pregnancy directly conflicts +with a long line of U.S. Supreme Court decisions recognizing +the constitutional right of every individual to decide +whether and when to have a child. The Court specifically +held in 1976 that a woman has the right to have an abortion +without her husband's consent. And every lower federal +court to address the issue has ruled that requiring spousal +consent or notification is unconstitutional; spousal consent +laws are ultimately just a mechanism for harming pregnant +women through delay and/or harassment. + +The harms to pregnant women are clear from the experiences +of the women in the first two Indiana cases. On April 4, +1988, a court in Vigo County, Indiana, issued a TRO +prohibiting a young unmarried woman from obtaining an +abortion. Clinics and physicians were also ordered not to +perform an abortion on her. The woman, identified as Jane +Doe, had no prior notice and no opportunity to oppose the +court order which was requested by an man identified as John +Smith, allegedly Jane's boyfriend. + +Three days later, the court held a hearing to determine +whether it would permanently order Jane not to have an +abortion. The court permitted John to testify about the +most intimate details of Jane's life, with the judge +personally evaluating her sexual relationships, her use of +birth control, and the degree to which Jane and her +boyfriend allegedly loved each other. The court also +permitted three other people to testify on John's behalf. +Jane herself refused to be subjected to the embarrassment of +testifying and being cross-examined, properly maintaining +that her reasons for wanting an abortion were highly +personal and the court was acting unlawfully in seeking to +examine those reasons. + + BOYFRIEND OF THREE MONTHS + +The Vigo court ignored the Constitution and controlling +Supreme Court precedent and issued a permanent injunction +ordering Jane to bear a child. Forcing nine months of +pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and unwanted motherhood on +anyone is an awesome and intolerable burden. Moreover, Jane +was only 18 years old, John claimed to have been her +boyfriend for only three months, and his responsibility for +the pregnancy was challenged. + +Based solely on the testimony of John and his three +witnesses, the court found that Jane's reasons (never +articulated by her) for wanting an abortion were not good +enough. The court trivialized the abortion decision by +focusing on, for example, John's claim that Jane simply +"wishes to look nice in a bathing suit this summer," +ignoring the many obvious reasons such as age, length of +relationship, life plans, and health which undoubtedly +influenced Jane's decision to have an abortion. By the time +of the court order, her abortion had been delayed at least +five days and though abortion is safer than childbirth at +all stages, each week of delay increases by 50 percent the +physical risks to a woman's life and by 30 percent the risks +to her health. + +On April 13, Jane notified the Indiana Supreme Court that +she had terminated her pregnancy despite the court order; +like the millions of women who sought and obtained illegal +abortions before Roe vs. Wade, Jane would not tolerate the +unconstitutional invasion of her rights and the risks to her +physical and emotional health that the court order imposed. +The issue, however, is not over. + +As briefs were being filed in Jane's case, yet another +Indiana court issued a TRO ordering a woman not to have an +abortion, again at the request of an alleged "boyfriend." +Although the court ultimately dismissed the court order, +properly finding that the woman had a clearly established +constitutional right to make the decision to choose to have +an abortion, the boyfriend immediately requested a further +court order from the Indiana Court of Appeals, then from the +Indiana Supreme Court, and then from two U.S. Supreme Court +Justices, all of whom denied his request. This case, which +took a total of sixteen days before the woman was no longer +under a court order not to have an abortion, exemplifies the +extreme tenacity of the opponents of reproductive freedom. + + THE BURDEN OF PREGNANCY + +The so-called right-to-lifers' attempts to justify their +harassment of these women as a desire to simply balance +legitimate rights of the men involved is unconvincing. +There is not way to balance the burden of pregnancy; it is +not possible for the woman to carry the fetus for four-and - +a-half months and then give it to the man to carry for four- +and-a-half months. As the Supreme Court has recognized, as +long as the fetus is inside the woman's body, she must be +the one to decide. Moreover, it is clear that Bopp and +others taking these cases seek to prohibit ALL abortions +whether the husbands and boyfriends agree or not. + +Certainly every individual has the constitutional right to +decide, free from government interference, whether or not to +have a child. This right, however, clearly does not give a +man the right to force a particular woman to have his child. +To the contrary, the Constitution guarantees that the power +of the government will not be used to compel anyone, male or +female, to be an unwilling participant in procreation. If +men can force women to continue pregnancies, then men could +just as easily get court orders to force women to have +abortions, and women could force men to produce sperm or +undergo vasectomies. + +The ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project is working with the +Indiana Civil Liberties Union to represent the women in the +first two Indiana cases. Bopp is representing the men. The +ACLU also has alerted its affiliates to watch for further +such attempts to deprive pregnant women of their +constitutional rights and has distributed a model brief to +help defeat this latest attack on the right of ALL people to +reproductive freedom. + +(Dawn Johnsen and Lynn Paltrow are staff attorneys for the +ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project.) + Jane's boyfriend. + +Thr + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/access1.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/access1.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c7d52661 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/access1.txt @@ -0,0 +1,192 @@ + TOWARD EQUAL ACCESS: PROVIDING INFORMATION + ACCESS SERVICES TO BLIND + AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS + UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) + +THE INFORMATION ACCESS PROJECT FOR BLIND INDIVIDUALS +NATIONAL INFORMATION ACCESS CENTER +NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND +1800 JOHNSON STREET +BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21230 +(410) 659-9314 + +A Project of the National Federation of the Blind +with financial support from the U.S. Department of Justice + + The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) provides new legal +protection to millions of persons not previously covered by a civil +rights law. The Act, which was signed by President Bush on July 26, +1990, has established "a clear and comprehensive national mandate +for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with +disabilities." Specific provisions of the ADA apply to employment, +activities conducted by units of state and local government, +transportation services, public accommodations, and to +telecommunications services. With financial support from the United +States Department of Justice, the National Federation of the Blind +has established The National Information Access Center to assist +these entities and blind persons in meeting the ADA's information +access requirements. The Center is part of a nationwide information +access project primarily designed to assist units of state and +local government and places of public accommodation in meeting +their respective obligations under titles II and III of the ADA. + Forms of prohibited discrimination include using disability as +the grounds for failing to hire or promote persons in employment; +excluding persons with disabilities from covered programs or +services that are commonly available to others; failing to give +persons with disabilities the benefits, privileges, and advantages +provided to others by any covered program, service, or activity; +and failing to provide persons with disabilities with auxiliary +aids and services or other reasonable modifications needed by such +persons to have equal access to covered opportunities, aids, +benefits, services, and programs. + As with other civil rights laws, the ADA seeks equal access +for the persons covered. Equal access in the case of persons with +disabilities will often mean providing opportunities for +participation by anyone who is otherwise eligible without regard to +disability. There are circumstances, however, when active planning +and steps to remove barriers to access will have to be done. +Barriers to access exist when full enjoyment of an opportunity, +aid, benefit, or service is limited by any particular disabling +condition. + Most entities covered by the ADA produce information of +various kinds to describe their services and programs. The +information may include general descriptions, detailed +instructions, reports, directories, regulatory documents, and so +forth. These materials are produced in the normal course of +business and are readily available in ink print form. For the most +part they are not readily available in alternative non-visual +media. Failure to consider the information access needs of blind +and visually impaired persons in covered activities would violate +the ADA. + Reasonable means do exist to provide written information in +ink print and in alternative non-visual forms as well, but most +entities covered by the ADA are not well informed about both their +obligations to provide accessible materials and the methods +available for doing so. This brochure will explain the ADA's +information access requirements and suggest existing alternatives +for meeting them. + +WHO MUST PROVIDE INFORMATION IN ALTERNATIVE NON-VISUAL MEDIA? + + Requirements for providing accessible information in +alternative non-visual media are an integral part of the ADA's +nondiscrimination policy. The policy applies generally to all +covered activities, including both the employment practices and +non-employment-related services of ADA-covered entities. Covered +activities include the services, programs, and activities of units +of state and local governments, providers of public transportation +services, and places of public accommodation, and the employment +practices of most employers. The ADA's requirements with respect to +employment practices generally become effective on July 26, 1992 +for employers with twenty-five or more employees and two years +later for employers with fifteen or more employees. Services +provided by places of public accommodation, and by public entities +(units of state and local government) must comply with the +nondiscrimination requirements on January 26, 1992. + Places of public accommodation include entities in twelve +specific categories, which include the following: lodging places, +inns and hotels; restaurants, bars, or other establishments serving +food and drink; motion picture houses, theaters, concert halls, +stadiums, or other places of entertainment; auditoriums, convention +centers, lecture halls, or other place of public gathering; +bakeries, grocery stores, clothing stores, hardware stores, +shopping centers, or other sales or rental establishments, +laundromats, dry-cleaners, banks, barber shops, beauty shops, +travel services, shoe repair services, funeral parlors, gas +stations, offices used for professional services; transportation +terminals or depots; museums and galleries; places of recreation +and education; and social service agencies. + +WHAT COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS APPLY + + The general nondiscrimination policy of the ADA is restated in +each of its major titles. The policy is designed to afford persons +with disabilities an equal opportunity to obtain the same +opportunities, aids, benefits, services, and programs (including +employment opportunities) that any covered entity provides to +persons without disabilities. Equal outcomes resulting from +opportunities are not required, but equal access to opportunities +must be assured. + The existence of a disabling condition may not cause or result +in the denial of aids, benefits, services, and programs. To further +that goal the ADA requires employers to make reasonable +accommodations necessary for persons with disabilities to perform +the essential functions of a job. Covered entities are also +expected to make reasonable modifications in the provision of their +aids, benefits, or services so that persons with disabilities will +be afforded equal access. Auxiliary aids and services are +specifically required, as a part of this obligation. + The provision of information in alternative non-visual media +is both a form of reasonable accommodation and an auxiliary aid or +service. Covered entities must analyze their methods of +communicating with employees or patrons and take steps to provide +information in alternative non-visual media. Information which is +provided solely in ink print is not accessible to most blind +people. The media chosen to be accessible must be appropriate to +the needs of blind or visually impaired persons and must respond to +individual needs for accessible communications. The law encourages +flexible approaches to achieve the goal of equal access for each +individual. + The ADA's standard of "reasonableness" must be emphasized. The +provision of information in media accessible to the blind should +not pose unreasonable burdens in most instances. However, demands +for accessible information that exceed the reasonable capabilities +of a covered entity would not be required. Instead, a covered +entity would be required to provide accessible information to the +extent that reasonable alternatives for doing so are available. +Reasonable accommodations or alternatives are those which would not +pose an undue hardship or an undue burden for the covered entity. +Budget, size, and programmatic factors are considered in balancing +off the competing standards of reasonable accommodation and undue +burden. + +FORMS OF ALTERNATIVE NON-VISUAL MEDIA + + Alternative forms of accessible media may include sound +recordings, Braille, raised line drawings, enlarged print, and +digital text in computer readable formats. Acquisition or +modification of equipment may be necessary in some instances to +provide blind and visually impaired persons with equal access to +printed information. For example, a place of public accommodation, +such as a hotel, that provides printed information to its sighted +guests may provide the same information in sound recorded form for +blind guests. In that event, the hotel should also have a device +capable of playing the sound recording, which may be used by a +blind guest upon request. + Advancements in computer technology make reproduction of +documents by computer in full-word speech and in Braille both +affordable and feasible. Moreover, computers capable of running +programs for synthetic speech as well as print-to-Braille +translation programs are now widely available and used by most +covered entities. Synthetic speech output devices can be purchased +for as low as $600.00. High quality Braille translation programs +are also available for as low as $250.00. Special devices to +provide hard-copy Braille output can be purchased at prices +approximately the same as a high quality laser printer. + Selection of alternative non-visual media must be made to meet +individual needs and in response to individual requests and +circumstances. The provision of auxiliary aids and services on a +case-by-case basis may mean that a sighted person will read aloud +the printed text or material to a blind person. For instance, the +ADA does not require that all restaurants have Brailled editions of +their menus available. It does require that the server or another +employee read the menu if that form of assistance is requested. +Although Braille is highly useful in many circumstances, not all +blind persons have been trained adequately to use it efficiently. +Therefore, the provision of information in media accessible to the +blind must necessarily be handled with flexibility. There are some +circumstances in which the use of a sighted reader may be the most +reasonable and efficient alternative available. In other +situations, such as in the case of documents containing lengthy +instructions or guidelines to be used as a reference, Brailled, +recorded, large print, and computer readable versions may all be +necessary. + +FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: +THE INFORMATION ACCESS PROJECT FOR BLIND INDIVIDUALS +NATIONAL INFORMATION ACCESS CENTER +NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND +1800 JOHNSON STREET +BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21230 +(410) 659-9314 + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/across-e b/textfiles.com/politics/across-e new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c8a80969 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/across-e @@ -0,0 +1,186 @@ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + + +ACROSS THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER + +by: Mitchell Kapor and John Perry Barlow + Electronic Frontier Foundation + Washington, D.C. + July 10, 1990 + +Over the last 50 years, the people of the developed world have begun to +cross into a landscape unlike any which humanity has experienced before. +It is a region without physical shape or form. It exists, like a +standing wave, in the vast web of our electronic communication systems. +It consists of electron states, microwaves, magnetic fields, light +pulses and thought itself. + +It is familiar to most people as the "place" in which a long-distance +telephone conversation takes place. But it is also the repository for +all digital or electronically transferred information, and, as such, it +is the venue for most of what is now commerce, industry, and broad-scale +human interaction. William Gibson called this Platonic realm +"Cyberspace," a name which has some currency among its present +inhabitants. + +Whatever it is eventually called, it is the homeland of the Information +Age, the place where the future is destined to dwell. + +In its present condition, Cyberspace is a frontier region, populated by +the few hardy technologists who can tolerate the austerity of its savage +computer interfaces, incompatible communications protocols, proprietary +barricades, cultural and legal ambiguities, and general lack of useful +maps or metaphors. + +Certainly, the old concepts of property, expression, identity, movement, +and context, based as they are on physical manifestation, do not apply +succinctly in a world where there can be none. + +Sovereignty over this new world is also not well defined. Large +institutions already lay claim to large fiefdoms, but most of the actual +natives are solitary and independent, sometimes to the point of +sociopathy. It is, therefore, a perfect breeding ground for both +outlaws and vigilantes. Most of society has chosen to ignore the +existence of this arising domain. Every day millions of people use +ATM's and credit cards, place telephone calls, make travel reservations, +and access information of limitless variety. . . all without any +perception of the digital machinations behind these transactions. + +Our financial, legal, and even physical lives are increasingly dependent +on realities of which we have only dimmest awareness. We have entrusted +the basic functions of modern existence to institutions we cannot name, +using tools we've never heard of and could not operate if we had. + +As communications and data technology continues to change and develop at +a pace many times that of society, the inevitable conflicts have begun +to occur on the border between Cyberspace and the physical world. + +These are taking a wide variety of forms, including (but hardly limited +to) the following: + +I. Legal and Constitutional Questions + +What is free speech and what is merely data? What is a free press +without paper and ink? What is a "place" in a world without tangible +dimensions? How does one protect property which has no physical form +and can be infinitely and easily reproduced? Can the history of one's +personal business affairs properly belong to someone else? Can anyone +morally claim to own knowledge itself? + +These are just a few of the questions for which neither law nor custom +can provide concrete answers. In their absence, law enforcement +agencies like the Secret Service and FBI, acting at the disposal of +large information corporations, are seeking to create legal precedents +which would radically limit Constitutional application to digital +media. + +The excesses of Operation Sun Devil are only the beginning of what +threatens to become a long, difficult, and philosophically obscure +struggle between institutional control and individual liberty. + +II. Future Shock + +Information workers, forced to keep pace with rapidly changing +technology, are stuck on "the learning curve of Sisyphus." +Increasingly, they find their hard-acquired skills to be obsolete even +before they've been fully mastered. To a lesser extent, the same applies +to ordinary citizens who correctly feel a lack of control over their own +lives and identities. + +One result of this is a neo-Luddite resentment of digital technology +from which little good can come. Another is a decrease in worker +productivity ironically coupled to tools designed to enhance it. +Finally, there is a spreading sense of alienation, dislocation, and +helplessness in the general presence of which no society can expect to +remain healthy. + +III. The "Knows" and the "Know-Nots" + +Modern economies are increasingly divided between those who are +comfortable and proficient with digital technology and those who neither +understand nor trust it. In essence, this development disenfranchises +the latter group, denying them any possibility of citizenship in +Cyberspace and, thus, participation in the future. + +Furthermore, as policy-makers and elected officials remain relatively +ignorant of computers and their uses, they unknowingly abdicate most of +their authority to corporate technocrats whose jobs do not include +general social responsibility. Elected government is thus replaced by +institutions with little real interest beyond their own quarterly +profits. + +We are founding the Electronic Frontier Foundation to deal with these +and related challenges. While our agenda is ambitious to the point of +audacity, we don't see much that these issues are being given the broad +social attention they deserve. We were forced to ask, "If not us, then +who?" + +In fact, our original objectives were more modest. When we first heard +about Operation Sun Devil and other official adventures into the digital +realm, we thought that remedy could be derived by simply unleashing a +few highly competent Constitutional lawyers upon the Government. In +essence, we were prepared to fight a few civil libertarian brush fires +and go on about our private work. + +However, examination of the issues surrounding these government actions +revealed that we were dealing with the symptoms of a much larger malady, +the collision between Society and Cyberspace. + +We have concluded that a cure can lie only in bringing civilization to +Cyberspace. Unless a successful effort is made to render that harsh and +mysterious terrain suitable for ordinary inhabitants, friction between +the two worlds will worsen. Constitutional protections, indeed the +perceived legitimacy of representative government itself, might +gradually disappear. + +We could not allow this to happen unchallenged, and so arises the +Electronic Frontier Foundation. In addition to our legal interventions +on behalf of those whose rights are threatened, we will: + +% Engage in and support efforts to educate both the general public +and policymakers about the opportunities and challenges posed by +developments in computing and telecommunications. + +% Encourage communication between the developers of technology, +government, corporate officials, and the general public in which we +might define the appropriate metaphors and legal concepts for life in +Cyberspace. + +% And, finally, foster the development of new tools which will endow +non-technical users with full and easy access to computer-based +telecommunications. + +One of us, Mitch Kapor, had already been a vocal advocate of more +accessible software design and had given considerable thought to some of +the challenges we now intend to meet. + +The other, John Perry Barlow, is a relative newcomer to the world of +computing (though not to the world of politics) and is therefore +well-equipped to act as an emissary between the magicians of technology +and the wary populace who must incorporate this magic into their daily +lives. + +While we expect the Electronic Frontier Foundation to be a creation of +some longevity, we hope to avoid the sclerosis which organizations +usually develop in their efforts to exist over time. For this reason we +will endeavor to remain light and flexible, marshalling intellectual and +financial resources to meet specific purposes rather than finding +purposes to match our resources. As is appropriate, we will communicate +between ourselves and with our constituents largely over the electronic +Net, trusting self-distribution and self-organization to a much greater +extent than would be possible for a more traditional organization. + +We readily admit that we have our work cut out for us. However, we are +greatly encouraged by the overwhelming and positive response which we +have received so far. We hope the Electronic Frontier Foundation can +function as a focal point for the many people of good will who wish to +settle in a future as abundant and free as the present. + +The Electronic Frontier Foundation +155 Second Street +Cambridge, MA 02141 ++1 617 864 1550 + +eff@eff.org + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/address b/textfiles.com/politics/address new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b7e165d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/address @@ -0,0 +1,2163 @@ + ADDRESSES, MESSAGES, AND REPLIES + by Thomas Jefferson + + + _Response to the Citizens of Albemarle_ + + February 12, 1790 + + GENTLEMEN, + The testimony of esteem with which you are pleased to honour my +return to my native country fills me with gratitude and pleasure. +While it shews that my absence has not lost me your friendly +recollection, it holds out the comfortable hope that when the hour of +retirement shall come, I shall again find myself amidst those with +whom I have long lived, with whom I wish to live, and whose affection +is the source of my purest happiness. Their favor was the door thro' +which I was ushered on the stage of public life; and while I have +been led on thro' it's varying scenes, I could not be unmindful of +those who assigned me my first part. + + My feeble and obscure exertions in their service, and in the +holy cause of freedom, have had no other merit than that they were my +best. We have all the same. We have been fellow-labourers and +fellow-sufferers, and heaven has rewarded us with a happy issue from +our struggles. It rests now with ourselves alone to enjoy in peace +and concord the blessings of self-government, so long denied to +mankind: to shew by example the sufficiency of human reason for the +care of human affairs and that the will of the majority, the Natural +law of every society, is the only sure guardian of the rights of man. +Perhaps even this my sometimes err. But it's errors are honest, +solitary and short-lived. -- Let us then, my dear friends, for ever +bow down to the general reason of the society. We are safe with +that, even in it's deviations, for it soon returns again to the right +way. These are lessons we have learnt together. We have prospered +in their practice, and the liberality with which you are pleased to +approve my attachment to the general rights of mankind assures me we +are still together in these it's kindred sentiments. + + Wherever I may be stationed, by the will of my country, it will +be my delight to see, in the general tide of happiness, that yours +too flows on in just place and measure. That it may flow thro' all +times, gathering strength as it goes, and spreading the happy +influence of reason and liberty over the face of the earth, is my +fervent prayer to heaven. + + + + + _First Inaugural Address_ + + March 4, 1801 + + FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS, + Called upon to undertake the duties of the first executive +office of our country, I avail myself of the presence of that portion +of my fellow-citizens which is here assembled to express my grateful +thanks for the favor with which they have been pleased to look toward +me, to declare a sincere consciousness that the task is above my +talents, and that I approach it with those anxious and awful +presentiments which the greatness of the charge and the weakness of +my powers so justly inspire. A rising nation, spread over a wide and +fruitful land, traversing all the seas with the rich productions of +their industry, engaged in commerce with nations who feel power and +forget right, advancing rapidly to destinies beyond the reach of +mortal eye -- when I contemplate these transcendent objects, and see +the honor, the happiness, and the hopes of this beloved country +committed to the issue and the auspices of this day, I shrink from +the contemplation, and humble myself before the magnitude of the +undertaking. Utterly, indeed, should I despair did not the presence +of many whom I here see remind me that in the other high authorities +provided by our Constitution I shall find resources of wisdom, of +virtue, and of zeal on which to rely under all difficulties. To you, +then, gentlemen, who are charged with the sovereign functions of +legislation, and to those associated with you, I look with +encouragement for that guidance and support which may enable us to +steer with safety the vessel in which we are all embarked amidst the +conflicting elements of a troubled world. + + During the contest of opinion through which we have passed the +animation of discussions and of exertions has sometimes worn an +aspect which might impose on strangers unused to think freely and to +speak and to write what they think; but this being now decided by the +voice of the nation, announced according to the rules of the +Constitution, all will, of course, arrange themselves under the will +of the law, and unite in common efforts for the common good. All, +too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of +the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful +must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, +which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression. +Let us, then, fellow-citizens, unite with one heart and one mind. +Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection +without which liberty and even life itself are but dreary things. +And let us reflect that, having banished from our land that religious +intolerance under which mankind so long bled and suffered, we have +yet gained little if we countenance a political intolerance as +despotic, as wicked, and capable of as bitter and bloody +persecutions. During the throes and convulsions of the ancient +world, during the agonizing spasms of infuriated man, seeking through +blood and slaughter his long-lost liberty, it was not wonderful that +the agitation of the billows should reach even this distant and +peaceful shore; that this should be more felt and feared by some and +less by others, and should divide opinions as to measures of safety. +But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We +have called by different names brethren of the same principle. We +are all Republicans, we are all Federalists. If there be any among +us who would wish to dissolve this Union or to change its republican +form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with +which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to +combat it. I know, indeed, that some honest men fear that a +republican government can not be strong, that this Government is not +strong enough; but would the honest patriot, in the full tide of +successful experiment, abandon a government which has so far kept us +free and firm on the theoretic and visionary fear that this +Government, the world's best hope, may by possibility want energy to +preserve itself? I trust not. I believe this, on the contrary, the +strongest Government on earth. I believe it the only one where every +man, at the call of the law, would fly to the standard of the law, +and would meet invasions of the public order as his own personal +concern. Sometimes it is said that man can not be trusted with the +government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government +of others? Or have we found angels in the forms of kings to govern +him? Let history answer this question. + + Let us, then, with courage and confidence pursue our own +Federal and Republican principles, our attachment to union and +representative government. Kindly separated by nature and a wide +ocean from the exterminating havoc of one quarter of the globe; too +high-minded to endure the degradations of the others; possessing a +chosen country, with room enough for our descendants to the +thousandth and thousandth generation; entertaining a due sense of our +equal right to the use of our own faculties, to the acquisitions of +our own industry, to honor and confidence from our fellow-citizens, +resulting not from birth, but from our actions and their sense of +them; enlightened by a benign religion, professed, indeed, and +practiced in various forms, yet all of them inculcating honesty, +truth, temperance, gratitude, and the love of man; acknowledging and +adoring an overruling Providence, which by all its dispensations +proves that it delights in the happiness of man here and his greater +happiness hereafter -- with all these blessings, what more is +necessary to make us a happy and a prosperous people? Still one +thing more, fellow-citizens -- a wise and frugal Government, which +shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them +otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and +improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it +has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is +necessary to close the circle of our felicities. + + About to enter, fellow-citizens, on the exercise of duties +which comprehend everything dear and valuable to you, it is proper +you should understand what I deem the essential principles of our +Government, and consequently those which ought to shape its +Administration. I will compress them within the narrowest compass +they will bear, stating the general principle, but not all its +limitations. Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state +or persuasion, religious or political; peace, commerce, and honest +friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none; the +support of the State governments in all their rights, as the most +competent administrations for our domestic concerns and the surest +bulwarks against antirepublican tendencies; the preservation of the +General Government in its whole constitutional vigor, as the sheet +anchor of our peace at home and safety abroad; a jealous care of the +right of election by the people -- a mild and safe corrective of +abuses which are lopped by the sword of revolution where peaceable +remedies are unprovided; absolute acquiescence in the decisions of +the majority, the vital principle of republics, from which is no +appeal but to force, the vital principle and immediate parent of +despotism; a well-disciplined militia, our best reliance in peace and +for the first moments of war till regulars may relieve them; the +supremacy of the civil over the military authority; economy in the +public expense, that labor may be lightly burthened; the honest +payment of our debts and sacred preservation of the public faith; +encouragement of agriculture, and of commerce as its handmaid; the +diffusion of information and arraignment of all abuses at the bar of +the public reason; freedom of religion; freedom of the press, and +freedom of person under the protection of the habeas corpus, and +trial by juries impartially selected. These principles form the +bright constellation which has gone before us and guided our steps +through an age of revolution and reformation. The wisdom of our +sages and blood of our heroes have been devoted to their attainment. +They should be the creed of our political faith, the text of civic +instruction, the touchstone by which to try the services of those we +trust; and should we wander from them in moments of error or of +alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps and to regain the road +which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety. + + I repair, then, fellow-citizens, to the post you have assigned +me. With experience enough in subordinate offices to have seen the +difficulties of this the greatest of all, I have learnt to expect +that it will rarely fall to the lot of imperfect man to retire from +this station with the reputation and the favor which bring him into +it. Without pretensions to that high confidence you reposed in our +first and greatest revolutionary character, whose preeminent services +had entitled him to the first place in his country's love and +destined for him the fairest page in the volume of faithful history, +I ask so much confidence only as may give firmness and effect to the +legal administration of your affairs. I shall often go wrong through +defect of judgment. When right, I shall often be thought wrong by +those whose positions will not command a view of the whole ground. I +ask your indulgence for my own errors, which will never be +intentional, and your support against the errors of others, who may +condemn what they would not if seen in all its parts. The +approbation implied by your suffrage is a great consolation to me for +the past, and my future solicitude will be to retain the good opinion +of those who have bestowed it in advance, to conciliate that of +others by doing them all the good in my power, and to be instrumental +to the happiness and freedom of all. + + Relying, then, on the patronage of your good will, I advance +with obedience to the work, ready to retire from it whenever you +become sensible how much better choice it is in your power to make. +And may that Infinite Power which rules the destinies of the universe +lead our councils to what is best, and give them a favorable issue +for your peace and prosperity. + + + + + + _To Elias Shipman and Others, a Committee of the Merchants of +New Haven_ + + Washington, July 12, 1801 + + GENTLEMAN, + I have received the remonstrance you were pleased to address to +me, on the appointment of Samuel Bishop to the office of collector of +New Haven, lately vacated by the death of David Austin. The right of +our fellow citizens to represent to the public functionaries their +opinion on proceedings interesting to them, is unquestionably a +constitutional right, often useful, sometimes necessary, and will +always be respectfully acknoleged by me. + + Of the various executive duties, no one excites more anxious +concern than that of placing the interests of our fellow citizens in +the hands of honest men, with understandings sufficient for their +station. No duty, at the same time, is more difficult to fulfil. +The knolege of characters possessed by a single individual is, of +necessity, limited. To seek out the best through the whole Union, we +must resort to other information, which, from the best of men, acting +disinterestedly and with the purest motives, is sometimes incorrect. +In the case of Samuel Bishop, however, the subject of your +remonstrance, time was taken, information was sought, & such obtained +as could leave no room for doubt of his fitness. From private +sources it was learnt that his understanding was sound, his integrity +pure, his character unstained. And the offices confided to him +within his own State, are public evidences of the estimation in which +he is held by the State in general, and the city & township +particularly in which he lives. He is said to be the town clerk, a +justice of the peace, mayor of the city of New Haven, an office held +at the will of the legislature, chief judge of the court of common +pleas for New Haven county, a court of high criminal and civil +jurisdiction wherein most causes are decided without the right of +appeal or review, and sole judge of the court of probates, wherein he +singly decides all questions of wills, settlement of estates, testate +and intestate, appoints guardians, settles their accounts, and in +fact has under his jurisdiction and care all the property real and +personal of persons dying. The two last offices, in the annual gift +of the legislature, were given to him in May last. Is it possible +that the man to whom the legislature of Connecticut has so recently +committed trusts of such difficulty & magnitude, is `unfit to be the +collector of the district of New Haven,' tho' acknoleged in the same +writing, to have obtained all this confidence `by a long life of +usefulness?' It is objected, indeed, in the remonstrance, that he is +77. years of age; but at a much more advanced age, our Franklin was +the ornament of human nature. He may not be able to perform in +person, all the details of his office; but if he gives us the benefit +of his understanding, his integrity, his watchfulness, and takes care +that all the details are well performedby himself or his necessary +assistants, all public purposes will be answered. The remonstrance, +indeed, does not allege that the office _has been_ illy conducted, +but only apprehends that it _will be_ so. Should this happen in +event, be assured I will do in it what shall be just and necessary +for the public service. In the meantime, he should be tried without +being prejudged. + + The removal, as it is called, of Mr. Goodrich, forms another +subject of complaint. Declarations by myself in favor of _political +tolerance_, exhortations to _harmony_ and affection in social +intercourse, and to respect for the _equal rights_ of the minority, +have, on certain occasions, been quoted & misconstrued into +assurances that the tenure of offices was to be undisturbed. But +could candor apply such a construction? It is not indeed in the +remonstrance that we find it; but it leads to the explanations which +that calls for. When it is considered, that during the late +administration, those who were not of a particular sect of politics +were excluded from all office; when, by a steady pursuit of this +measure, nearly the whole offices of the U S were monopolized by that +sect; when the public sentiment at length declared itself, and burst +open the doors of honor and confidence to those whose opinions they +more approved, was it to be imagined that this monopoly of office was +still to be continued in the hands of the minority? Does it violate +their _equal rights_, to assert some rights in the majority also? Is +it _political intolerance_ to claim a proportionate share in the +direction of the public affairs? Can they not _harmonize_ in society +unless they have everything in their own hands? If the will of the +nation, manifested by their various elections, calls for an +administration of government according with the opinions of those +elected; if, for the fulfilment of that will, displacements are +necessary, with whom can they so justly begin as with persons +appointed in the last moments of an administration, not for its own +aid, but to begin a career at the same time with their successors, by +whom they had never been approved, and who could scarcely expect from +them a cordial cooperation? Mr. Goodrich was one of these. Was it +proper for him to place himself in office, without knowing whether +those whose agent he was to be would have confidence in his agency? +Can the preference of another, as the successor to Mr. Austin, be +candidly called a removal of Mr. Goodrich? If a due participation of +office is a matter of right, how are vacancies to be obtained? Those +by death are few; by resignation, none. Can any other mode than that +of removal be proposed? This is a painful office; but it is made my +duty, and I meet it as such. I proceed in the operation with +deliberation & inquiry, that it may injure the best men least, and +effect the purposes of justice & public utility with the least +private distress; that it may be thrown, as much as possible, on +delinquency, on oppression, on intolerance, on incompetence, on +ante-revolutionary adherence to our enemies. + + The remonstrance laments "that a change in the administration +must produce a change in the subordinate officers;" in other words, +that it should be deemed necessary for all officers to think with +their principal. But on whom does this imputation bear? On those +who have excluded from office every shade of opinion which was not +theirs? Or on those who have been so excluded? I lament sincerely +that unessential differences of political opinion should ever have +been deemed sufficient to interdict half the society from the rights +and the blessings of self-government, to proscribe them as characters +unworthy of every trust. It would have been to me a circumstance of +great relief, had I found a moderate participation of office in the +hands of the majority. I would gladly have left to time and accident +to raise them to their just share. But their total exclusion calls +for prompter correctives. I shall correct the procedure; but that +done, disdain to follow it, shall return with joy to that state of +things, when the only questions concerning a candidate shall be, is +he honest? Is he capable? Is he faithful to the Constitution? + + I tender you the homage of my high respect. + + + + _First Annual Message_ + + December 8, 1801 + + FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + It is a circumstance of sincere gratification to me that on +meeting the great council of our nation, I am able to announce to +them, on the grounds of reasonable certainty, that the wars and +troubles which have for so many years afflicted our sister nations +have at length come to an end, and that the communications of peace +and commerce are once more opening among them. While we devoutly +return thanks to the beneficent Being who has been pleased to breathe +into them the spirit of conciliation and forgiveness, we are bound +with peculiar gratitude to be thankful to him that our own peace has +been preserved through so perilous a season, and ourselves permitted +quietly to cultivate the earth and to practice and improve those arts +which tend to increase our comforts. The assurances, indeed, of +friendly disposition, received from all the powers with whom we have +principal relations, had inspired a confidence that our peace with +them would not have been disturbed. But a cessation of the +irregularities which had effected the commerce of neutral nations, +and of the irritations and injuries produced by them, cannot but add +to this confidence; and strengthens, at the same time, the hope, that +wrongs committed on offending friends, under a pressure of +circumstances, will now be reviewed with candor, and will be +considered as founding just claims of retribution for the past and +new assurances for the future. + + Among our Indian neighbors, also, a spirit of peace and +friendship generally prevailing and I am happy to inform you that the +continued efforts to introduce among them the implements and the +practice of husbandry, and of the household arts, have not been +without success; that they are becoming more and more sensible of the +superiority of this dependence for clothing and subsistence over the +precarious resources of hunting and fishing; and already we are able +to announce, that instead of that constant diminution of their +numbers, produced by their wars and their wants, some of them begin +to experience an increase of population. + + + To this state of general peace with which we have been blessed, +one only exception exists. Tripoli, the least considerable of the +Barbary States, had come forward with demands unfounded either in +right or in compact, and had permitted itself to denounce war, on our +failure to comply before a given day. The style of the demand +admitted but one answer. I sent a small squadron of frigates into +the Mediterranean, with assurances to that power of our sincere +desire to remain in peace, but with orders to protect our commerce +against the threatened attack. The measure was seasonable and +salutary. The bey had already declared war in form. His cruisers +were out. Two had arrived at Gibraltar. Our commerce in the +Mediterranean was blockaded, and that of the Atlantic in peril. The +arrival of our squadron dispelled the danger. One of the Tripolitan +cruisers having fallen in with, and engaged the small schooner +Enterprise, commanded by Lieutenant Sterret, which had gone as a +tender to our larger vessels, was captured, after a heavy slaughter +of her men, without the loss of a single one on our part. The +bravery exhibited by our citizens on that element, will, I trust, be +a testimony to the world that it is not the want of that virtue which +makes us seek their peace, but a conscientious desire to direct the +energies of our nation to the multiplication of the human race, and +not to its destruction. Unauthorized by the constitution, without +the sanction of Congress, to go out beyond the line of defence, the +vessel being disabled from committing further hostilities, was +liberated with its crew. The legislature will doubtless consider +whether, by authorizing measures of offence, also, they will place +our force on an equal footing with that of its adversaries. I +communicate all material information on this subject, that in the +exercise of the important function considered by the constitution to +the legislature exclusively, their judgment may form itself on a +knowledge and consideration of every circumstance of weight. + + I wish I could say that our situation with all the other +Barbary states was entirely satisfactory. Discovering that some +delays had taken place in the performance of certain articles +stipulated by us, I thought it my duty, by immediate measures for +fulfilling them, to vindicate to ourselves the right of considering +the effect of departure from stipulation on their side. From the +papers which will be laid before you, you will be enabled to judge +whether our treaties are regarded by them as fixing at all the +measure of their demands, or as guarding from the exercise of force +our vessels within their power; and to consider how far it will be +safe and expedient to leave our affairs with them in their present +posture. + + I lay before you the result of the census lately taken of our +inhabitants, to a conformity with which we are to reduce the ensuing +rates of representation and taxation. You will perceive that the +increase of numbers during the last ten years, proceeding in +geometrical ratio, promises a duplication in little more than +twenty-two years. We contemplate this rapid growth, and the prospect +it holds up to us, not with a view to the injuries it may enable us +to do to others in some future day, but to the settlement of the +extensive country still remaining vacant within our limits, to the +multiplications of men susceptible of happiness, educated in the love +of order, habituated to self-government, and value its blessings +above all price. + + Other circumstances, combined with the increase of numbers, +have produced an augmentation of revenue arising from consumption, in +a ratio far beyond that of population alone, and though the changes +of foreign relations now taking place so desirably for the world, may +for a season affect this branch of revenue, yet, weighing all +probabilities of expense, as well as of income, there is reasonable +ground of confidence that we may now safely dispense with all the +internal taxes, comprehending excises, stamps, auctions, licenses, +carriages, and refined sugars, to which the postage on newspapers may +be added, to facilitate the progress of information, and that the +remaining sources of revenue will be sufficient to provide for the +support of government to pay the interest on the public debts, and to +discharge the principals in shorter periods than the laws or the +general expectations had contemplated. War, indeed, and untoward +events, may change this prospect of things, and call for expenses +which the imposts could not meet; but sound principles will not +justify our taxing the industry of our fellow citizens to accumulate +treasure for wars to happen we know not when, and which might not +perhaps happen but from the temptations offered by that treasure. + + These views, however, of reducing our burdens, are formed on +the expectation that a sensible, and at the same time a salutary +reduction, may take place in our habitual expenditures. For this +purpose, those of the civil government, the army, and navy, will need +revisal. + + When we consider that this government is charged with the +external and mutual relations only of these states; that the states +themselves have principal care of our persons, our property, and our +reputation, constituting the great field of human concerns, we may +well doubt whether our organization is not too complicated, too +expensive; whether offices or officers have not been multiplied +unnecessarily, and sometimes injuriously to the service they were +meant to promote. I will cause to be laid before you an essay toward +a statement of those who, under public employment of various kinds, +draw money from the treasury or from our citizens. Time has not +permitted a perfect enumeration, the ramifications of office being +too multipled and remote to be completely traced in a first trial. +Among those who are dependent on executive discretion, I have begun +the reduction of what was deemed necessary. The expenses of +diplomatic agency have been considerably diminished. The inspectors +of internal revenue who were found to obstruct the accountability of +the institution, have been discontinued. Several agencies created by +executive authority, on salaries fixed by that also, have been +suppressed, and should suggest the expediency of regulating that +power by law, so as to subject its exercises to legislative +inspection and sanction. Other reformations of the same kind will be +pursued with that caution which is requisite in removing useless +things, not to injure what is retained. But the great mass of public +offices is established by law, and, therefore, by law alone can be +abolished. Should the legislature think it expedient to pass this +roll in review, and try all its parts by the test of public utility, +they may be assured of every aid and light which executive +information can yield. Considering the general tendency to multiply +offices and dependencies, and to increase expense to the ultimate +term of burden which the citizen can bear, it behooves us to avail +ourselves of every occasion which presents itself for taking off the +surcharge; that it may never be seen here that, after leaving to +labor the smallest portion of its earnings on which it can subsist, +government shall itself consume the residue of what it was instituted +to guard. + + In our care, too, of the public contributions intrusted to our +direction, it would be prudent to multiply barriers against their +dissipation, by appropriating specific sums to every specific purpose +susceptible of definition; by disallowing applications of money +varying from the appropriation in object, or transcending it in +amount; by reducing the undefined field of contingencies, and thereby +circumscribing discretionary powers over money; and by bringing back +to a single department all accountabilities for money where the +examination may be prompt, efficacious, and uniform. + + An account of the receipts and expenditures of the last year, +as prepared by the secretary of the treasury, will as usual be laid +before you. The success which has attended the late sales of the +public lands, shows that with attention they may be made an important +source of receipt. Among the payments, those made in discharge of +the principal and interest of the national debt, will show that the +public faith has been exactly maintained. To these will be added an +estimate of appropriations necessary for the ensuing year. This last +will of course be effected by such modifications of the systems of +expense, as you shall think proper to adopt. + + A statement has been formed by the secretary of war, on mature +consideration, of all the posts and stations where garrisons will be +expedient, and of the number of men requisite for each garrison. The +whole amount is considerably short of the present military +establishment. For the surplus no particular use can be pointed out. +For defence against invasion, their number is as nothing; nor is it +conceived needful or safe that a standing army should be kept up in +time of peace for that purpose. Uncertain as we must ever be of the +particular point in our circumference where an enemy may choose to +invade us, the only force which can be ready at every point and +competent to oppose them, is the body of neighboring citizens as +formed into a militia. On these, collected from the parts most +convenient, in numbers proportioned to the invading foe, it is best +to rely, not only to meet the first attack, but if it threatens to be +permanent, to maintain the defence until regulars may be engaged to +relieve them. These considerations render it important that we +should at every session continue to amend the defects which from time +to time show themselves in the laws for regulating the militia, until +they are sufficiently perfect. Nor should we now or at any time +separate, until we can say we have done everything for the militia +which we could do were an enemy at our door. + + The provisions of military stores on hand will be laid before +you, that you may judge of the additions still requisite. + + With respect to the extent to which our naval preparations +should be carried, some difference of opinion may be expected to +appear; but just attention to the circumstances of every part of the +Union will doubtless reconcile all. A small force will probably +continue to be wanted for actual service in the Mediterranean. +Whatever annual sum beyond that you may think proper to appropriate +to naval preparations, would perhaps be better employed in providing +those articles which may be kept without waste or consumption, and be +in readiness when any exigence calls them into use. Progress has +been made, as will appear by papers now communicated, in providing +materials for seventy-four gun ships as directed by law. + + How far the authority given by the legislature for procuring +and establishing sites for naval purposes has been perfectly +understood and pursued in the execution, admits of some doubt. A +statement of the expenses already incurred on that subject, shall be +laid before you. I have in certain cases suspended or slackened +these expenditures, that the legislature might determine whether so +many yards are necessary as have been contemplated. The works at +this place are among those permitted to go on; and five of the seven +frigates directed to be laid up, have been brought and laid up here, +where, besides the safety of their position, they are under the eye +of the executive administration, as well as of its agents and where +yourselves also will be guided by your own view in the legislative +provisions respecting them which may from time to time be necessary. +They are preserved in such condition, as well the vessels as whatever +belongs to them, as to be at all times ready for sea on a short +warning. Two others are yet to be laid up so soon as they shall have +reserved the repairs requisite to put them also into sound condition. +As a superintending officer will be necessary at each yard, his +duties and emoluments, hitherto fixed by the executive, will be a +more proper subject for legislation. A communication will also be +made of our progress in the execution of the law respecting the +vessels directed to be sold. + + The fortifications of our harbors, more or less advanced, +present considerations of great difficulty. While some of them are +on a scale sufficiently proportioned to the advantages of their +position, to the efficacy of their protection, and the importance of +the points within it, others are so extensive, will cost so much in +their first erection, so much in their maintenance, and require such +a force to garrison them, as to make it questionable what is best now +to be done. A statement of those commenced or projected, of the +expenses already incurred, and estimates of their future cost, so far +as can be foreseen, shall be laid before you, that you may be enabled +to judge whether any attention is necessary in the laws respecting +this subject. + + Agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and navigation, the four +pillars of our prosperity, are the most thriving when left most free +to individual enterprise. Protection from casual embarrassments, +however, may sometimes be seasonably interposed. If in the course of +your observations or inquiries they should appear to need any aid +within the limits of our constitutional powers, your sense of their +importance is a sufficient assurance they will occupy your attention. +We cannot, indeed, but all feel an anxious solicitude for the +difficulties under which our carrying trade will soon be placed. How +far it can be relieved, otherwise than by time, is a subject of +important consideration. + + The judiciary system of the United States, and especially that +portion of it recently erected, will of course present itself to the +contemplation of Congress: and that they may be able to judge of the +proportion which the institution bears to the business it has to +perform, I have caused to be procured from the several States, and +now lay before Congress, an exact statement of all the causes decided +since the first establishment of the courts, and of those which were +depending when additional courts and judges were brought in to their +aid. + + And while on the judiciary organization, it will be worthy your +consideration, whether the protection of the inestimable institution +of juries has been extended to all the cases involving the security +of our persons and property. Their impartial selection also being +essential to their value, we ought further to consider whether that +is sufficiently secured in those States where they are named by a +marshal depending on executive will, or designated by the court or by +officers dependent on them. + + I cannot omit recommending a revisal of the laws on the subject +of naturalization. Considering the ordinary chances of human life, a +denial of citizenship under a residence of fourteen years is a denial +to a great proportion of those who ask it, and controls a policy +pursued from their first settlement by many of these States, and +still believed of consequence to their prosperity. And shall we +refuse the unhappy fugitives from distress that hospitality which the +savages of the wilderness extended to our fathers arriving in this +land? Shall oppressed humanity find no asylum on this globe? The +constitution, indeed, has wisely provided that, for admission to +certain offices of important trust, a residence shall be required +sufficient to develop character and design. But might not the +general character and capabilities of a citizen be safely +communicated to every one manifesting a _bona fide_ purpose of +embarking his life and fortunes permanently with us? with +restrictions, perhaps, to guard against the fraudulent usurpation of +our flag; an abuse which brings so much embarrassment and loss on the +genuine citizen, and so much danger to the nation of being involved +in war, that no endeavor should be spared to detect and suppress it. + + These, fellow citizens, are the matters respecting the state of +the nation, which I have thought of importance to be submitted to +your consideration at this time. Some others of less moment, or not +yet ready for communication, will be the subject of separate +messages. I am happy in this opportunity of committing the arduous +affairs of our government to the collected wisdom of the Union. +Nothing shall be wanting on my part to inform, as far as in my power, +the legislative judgment, nor to carry that judgment into faithful +execution. The prudence and temperance of your discussions will +promote, within your own walls, that conciliation which so much +befriends national conclusion; and by its example will encourage +among our constituents that progress of opinion which is tending to +unite them in object and in will. That all should be satisfied with +any one order of things is not to be expected, but I indulge the +pleasing persuasion that the great body of our citizens will +cordially concur in honest and disinterested efforts, which have for +their object to preserve the general and State governments in their +constitutional form and equilibrium; to maintain peace abroad, and +order and obedience to the laws at home; to establish principles and +practices of administration favorable to the security of liberty and +prosperity, and to reduce expenses to what is necessary for the +useful purposes of government. + + + + + + _To Messrs. Nehemiah Dodge and Others, a Committee of the +Danbury Baptist Association, in the State of Connecticut_ + + January 1, 1802 + + GENTLEMAN, + The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you +are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury +Baptist Association, give me the highest satisfaction. My duties +dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my +constituents, and in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity +to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more +pleasing. + + Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely +between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his +faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach +actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign +reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that +their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of +religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a +wall of separation between church and State. Adhering to this +expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights +of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of +those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, +convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties. + + I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing +of the common Father and Creator of man, and tender you for +yourselves and your religious association, assurances of my high +respect and esteem. + + + + _Third Annual Message_ + + October 17, 1803 + + TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED +STATES: + In calling you together, fellow citizens, at an earlier day +than was contemplated by the act of the last session of Congress, I +have not been insensible to the personal inconve-niences necessarily +resulting from an unexpected change in your arrangements. But +matters of great public concernment have rendered this call +necessary, and the interest you feel in these will supersede in your +minds all private considerations. + + Congress witnessed, at their last session, the extraordinary +agitation produced in the public mind by the suspension of our right +of deposit at the port of New Orleans, no assignment of another place +having been made according to treaty. They were sensible that the +continuance of that privation would be more injurious to our nation +than any consequences which could flow from any mode of redress, but +reposing just confidence in the good faith of the government whose +officer had committed the wrong, friendly and reasonable +representations were resorted to, and the right of deposit was +restored. + + Previous, however, to this period, we had not been unaware of +the danger to which our peace would be perpetually exposed while so +important a key to the commerce of the western country remained under +foreign power. Difficulties, too, were presenting themselves as to +the navigation of other streams, which, arising within our +territories, pass through those adjacent. Propositions had, +therefore, been authorized for obtaining, on fair conditions, the +sovereignty of New Orleans, and of other possessions in that quarter +interesting to our quiet, to such extent as was deemed practicable; +and the provisional appropriation of two millions of dollars, to be +applied and accounted for by the president of the United States, +intended as part of the price, was considered as conveying the +sanction of Congress to the acquisition proposed. The enlightened +government of France saw, with just discernment, the importance to +both nations of such liberal arrangements as might best and +permanently promote the peace, friendship, and interests of both; and +the property and sovereignty of all Louisiana, which had been +restored to them, have on certain conditions been transferred to the +United States by instruments bearing date the 30th of April last. +When these shall have received the constitutional sanction of the +senate, they will without delay be communicated to the +representatives also, for the exercise of their functions, as to +those conditions which are within the powers vested by the +constitution in Congress. While the property and sovereignty of the +Mississippi and its waters secure an independent outlet for the +produce of the western States, and an uncontrolled navigation through +their whole course, free from collision with other powers and the +dangers to our peace from that source, the fertility of the country, +its climate and extent, promise in due season important aids to our +treasury, an ample provision for our posterity, and a wide-spread +field for the blessings of freedom and equal laws. + + With the wisdom of Congress it will rest to take those ulterior +measures which may be necessary for the immediate occupation and +temporary government of the country; for its incorporation into our +Union; for rendering the change of government a blessing to our +newly-adopted brethren; for securing to them the rights of conscience +and of property: for confirming to the Indian inhabitants their +occupancy and self-government, establishing friendly and commercial +relations with them, and for ascertaining the geography of the +country acquired. Such materials for your information, relative to +its affairs in general, as the short space of time has permitted me +to collect, will be laid before you when the subject shall be in a +state for your consideration. + + Another important acquisition of territory has also been made +since the last session of Congress. The friendly tribe of Kaskaskia +Indians with which we have never had a difference, reduced by the +wars and wants of savage life to a few individuals unable to defend +themselves against the neighboring tribes, has transferred its +country to the United States, reserving only for its members what is +sufficient to maintain them in an agricultural way. The +considerations stipulated are, that we shall extend to them our +patronage and protection, and give them certain annual aids in money, +in implements of agriculture, and other articles of their choice. +This country, among the most fertile within our limits, extending +along the Mississippi from the mouth of the Illinois to and up the +Ohio, though not so necessary as a barrier since the acquisition of +the other bank, may yet be well worthy of being laid open to +immediate settlement, as its inhabitants may descend with rapidity in +support of the lower country should future circumstances expose that +to foreign enterprise. As the stipulations in this treaty also +involve matters within the competence of both houses only, it will be +laid before Congress as soon as the senate shall have advised its +ratification. + + With many other Indian tribes, improvements in agriculture and +household manufacture are advancing, and with all our peace and +friendship are established on grounds much firmer than heretofore. +The measure adopted of establishing trading houses among them, and of +furnishing them necessaries in exchange for their commodities, at +such moderated prices as leave no gain, but cover us from loss, has +the most conciliatory and useful effect upon them, and is that which +will best secure their peace and good will. + + The small vessels authorized by Congress with a view to the +Mediterranean service, have been sent into that sea, and will be able +more effectually to confine the Tripoline cruisers within their +harbors, and supersede the necessity of convoy to our commerce in +that quarter. They will sensibly lessen the expenses of that service +the ensuing year. + + A further knowledge of the ground in the north-eastern and +north-western angles of the United States has evinced that the +boundaries established by the treaty of Paris, between the British +territories and ours in those parts, were too imperfectly described +to be susceptible of execution. It has therefore been thought worthy +of attention, for preserving and cherishing the harmony and useful +intercourse subsisting between the two nations, to remove by timely +arrangements what unfavorable incidents might otherwise render a +ground of future misunderstanding. A convention has therefore been +entered into, which provides for a practicable demarkation of those +limits to the satisfaction of both parties. + + An account of the receipts and expenditures of the year ending +30th September last, with the estimates for the service of the +ensuing year, will be laid before you by the secretary of the +treasury so soon as the receipts of the last quarter shall be +returned from the more distant States. It is already ascertained +that the amount paid into the treasury for that year has been between +eleven and twelve millions of dollars, and that the revenue accrued +during the same term exceeds the sum counted on as sufficient for our +current expenses, and to extinguish the public debt within the period +heretofore proposed. + + The amount of debt paid for the same year is about three +millions one hundred thousand dollars, exclusive of interest, and +making, with the payment of the preceding year, a discharge of more +than eight millions and a half of dollars of the principal of that +debt, besides the accruing interest; and there remain in the treasury +nearly six millions of dollars. Of these, eight hundred and eighty +thousand have been reserved for payment of the first instalment due +under the British convention of January 8th, 1802, and two millions +are what have been before mentioned as placed by Congress under the +power and accountability of the president, toward the price of New +Orleans and other territories acquired, which, remaining untouched, +are still applicable to that object, and go in diminution of the sum +to be funded for it. + + Should the acquisition of Louisiana be constitutionally +confirmed and carried into effect, a sum of nearly thirteen millions +of dollars will then be added to our public debt, most of which is +payable after fifteen years; before which term the present existing +debts will all be discharged by the established operation of the +sinking fund. When we contemplate the ordinary annual augmentation +of imposts from increasing population and wealth, the augmentation of +the same revenue by its extension to the new acquisition, and the +economies which may still be introduced into our public expenditures, +I cannot but hope that Congress in reviewing their resources will +find means to meet the intermediate interests of this additional debt +without recurring to new taxes, and applying to this object only the +ordinary progression of our revenue. Its extraordinary increase in +times of foreign war will be the proper and sufficient fund for any +measures of safety or precaution which that state of things may +render necessary in our neutral position. + + + Remittances for the instalments of our foreign debt having been +found impracticable without loss, it has not been thought expedient +to use the power given by a former act of Congress of continuing them +by reloans, and of redeeming instead thereof equal sums of domestic +debt, although no difficulty was found in obtaining that +accommodation. + + The sum of fifty thousand dollars appropriated by Congress for +providing gun-boats, remains unexpended. The favorable and peaceful +turn of affairs on the Mississippi rendered an immediate execution of +that law unnecessary, and time was desirable in order that the +institution of that branch of our force might begin on models the +most approved by experience. The same issue of events dispensed with +a resort to the appropriation of a million and a half of dollars +contemplated for purposes which were effected by happier means. + + We have seen with sincere concern the flames of war lighted up +again in Europe, and nations with which we have the most friendly and +useful relations engaged in mutual destruction. While we regret the +miseries in which we see others involved let us bow with gratitude to +that kind Providence which, inspiring with wisdom and moderation our +late legislative councils while placed under the urgency of the +greatest wrongs, guarded us from hastily entering into the sanguinary +contest, and left us only to look on and to pity its ravages. These +will be heaviest on those immediately engaged. Yet the nations +pursuing peace will not be exempt from all evil. In the course of +this conflict, let it be our endeavor, as it is our interest and +desire, to cultivate the friendship of the belligerent nations by +every act of justice and of incessant kindness; to receive their +armed vessels with hospitality from the distresses of the sea, but to +administer the means of annoyance to none; to establish in our +harbors such a police as may maintain law and order; to restrain our +citizens from embarking individually in a war in which their country +takes no part; to punish severely those persons, citizen or alien, +who shall usurp the cover of our flag for vessels not entitled to it, +infecting thereby with suspicion those of real Americans, and +committing us into controversies for the redress of wrongs not our +own; to exact from every nation the observance, toward our vessels +and citizens, of those principles and practices which all civilized +people acknowledge; to merit the character of a just nation, and +maintain that of an independent one, preferring every consequence to +insult and habitual wrong. Congress will consider whether the +existing laws enable us efficaciously to maintain this course with +our citizens in all places, and with others while within the limits +of our jurisdiction, and will give them the new modifications +necessary for these objects. Some contraventions of right have +already taken place, both within our jurisdictional limits and on the +high seas. The friendly disposition of the governments from whose +agents they have proceeded, as well as their wisdom and regard for +justice, leave us in reasonable expectation that they will be +rectified and prevented in future; and that no act will be +countenanced by them which threatens to disturb our friendly +intercourse. Separated by a wide ocean from the nations of Europe, +and from the political interests which entangle them together, with +productions and wants which render our commerce and friendship useful +to them and theirs to us, it cannot be the interest of any to assail +us, nor ours to disturb them. We should be most unwise, indeed, were +we to cast away the singular blessings of the position in which +nature has placed us, the opportunity she has endowed us with of +pursuing, at a distance from foreign contentions, the paths of +industry, peace, and happiness; of cultivating general friendship, +and of bringing collisions of interest to the umpirage of reason +rather than of force. How desirable then must it be, in a government +like ours, to see its citizens adopt individually the views, the +interests, and the conduct which their country should pursue, +divesting themselves of those passions and partialities which tend to +lessen useful friendships, and to embarrass and embroil us in the +calamitous scenes of Europe. Confident, fellow citizens, that you +will duly estimate the importance of neutral dispositions toward the +observance of neutral conduct, that you will be sensible how much it +is our duty to look on the bloody arena spread before us with +commiseration indeed, but with no other wish than to see it closed, I +am persuaded you will cordially cherish these dispositions in all +discussions among yourselves, and in all communications with your +constituents; and I anticipate with satisfaction the measures of +wisdom which the great interests now committed to _you_ will give you +an opportunity of providing, and _myself_ that of approving and +carrying into execution with the fidelity I owe to my country. + + + + _Second Inaugural Address_ + + March 4, 1805 + + Proceeding, fellow citizens, to that qualification which the +constitution requires, before my entrance on the charge again +conferred upon me, it is my duty to express the deep sense I +entertain of this new proof of confidence from my fellow citizens at +large, and the zeal with which it inspires me, so to conduct myself +as may best satisfy their just expectations. + + On taking this station on a former occasion, I declared the +principles on which I believed it my duty to administer the affairs +of our commonwealth. My conscience tells me that I have, on every +occasion, acted up to that declaration, according to its obvious +import, and to the understanding of every candid mind. + + In the transaction of your foreign affairs, we have endeavored +to cultivate the friendship of all nations, and especially of those +with which we have the most important relations. We have done them +justice on all occasions, favored where favor was lawful, and +cherished mutual interests and intercourse on fair and equal terms. +We are firmly convinced, and we act on that conviction, that with +nations, as with individuals, our interests soundly calculated, will +ever be found inseparable from our moral duties; and history bears +witness to the fact, that a just nation is taken on its word, when +recourse is had to armaments and wars to bridle others. + + At home, fellow citizens, you best know whether we have done +well or ill. The suppression of unnecessary offices, of useless +establishments and expenses, enabled us to discontinue our internal +taxes. These covering our land with officers, and opening our doors +to their intrusions, had already begun that process of domiciliary +vexation which, once entered, is scarcely to be restrained from +reaching successively every article of produce and property. If +among these taxes some minor ones fell which had not been +inconvenient, it was because their amount would not have paid the +officers who collected them, and because, if they had any merit, the +state authorities might adopt them, instead of others less approved. + + The remaining revenue on the consumption of foreign articles, +is paid cheerfully by those who can afford to add foreign luxuries to +domestic comforts, being collected on our seaboards and frontiers +only, and incorporated with the transactions of our mercantile +citizens, it may be the pleasure and pride of an American to ask, +what farmer, what mechanic, what laborer, ever sees a tax-gatherer of +the United States? These contributions enable us to support the +current expenses of the government, to fulfil contracts with foreign +nations, to extinguish the native right of soil within our limits, to +extend those limits, and to apply such a surplus to our public debts, +as places at a short day their final redemption, and that redemption +once effected, the revenue thereby liberated may, by a just +repartition among the states, and a corresponding amendment of the +constitution, be applied, _in time of peace_, to rivers, canals, +roads, arts, manufactures, education, and other great objects within +each state. _In time of war_, if injustice, by ourselves or others, +must sometimes produce war, increased as the same revenue will be +increased by population and consumption, and aided by other resources +reserved for that crisis, it may meet within the year all the +expenses of the year, without encroaching on the rights of future +generations, by burdening them with the debts of the past. War will +then be but a suspension of useful works, and a return to a state of +peace, a return to the progress of improvement. + + I have said, fellow citizens, that the income reserved had +enabled us to extend our limits; but that extension may possibly pay +for itself before we are called on, and in the meantime, may keep +down the accruing interest; in all events, it will repay the advances +we have made. I know that the acquisition of Louisiana has been +disapproved by some, from a candid apprehension that the enlargement +of our territory would endanger its union. But who can limit the +extent to which the federative principle may operate effectively? +The larger our association, the less will it be shaken by local +passions; and in any view, is it not better that the opposite bank of +the Mississippi should be settled by our own brethren and children, +than by strangers of another family? With which shall we be most +likely to live in harmony and friendly intercourse? + + In matters of religion, I have considered that its free +exercise is placed by the constitution independent of the powers of +the general government. I have therefore undertaken, on no occasion, +to prescribe the religious exercises suited to it; but have left +them, as the constitution found them, under the direction and +discipline of state or church authorities acknowledged by the several +religious societies. + + The aboriginal inhabitants of these countries I have regarded +with the commiseration their history inspires. Endowed with the +faculties and the rights of men, breathing an ardent love of liberty +and independence, and occupying a country which left them no desire +but to be undisturbed, the stream of overflowing population from +other regions directed itself on these shores; without power to +divert, or habits to contend against, they have been overwhelmed by +the current, or driven before it; now reduced within limits too +narrow for the hunter's state, humanity enjoins us to teach them +agriculture and the domestic arts; to encourage them to that industry +which alone can enable them to maintain their place in existence, and +to prepare them in time for that state of society, which to bodily +comforts adds the improvement of the mind and morals. We have +therefore liberally furnished them with the implements of husbandry +and household use; we have placed among them instructors in the arts +of first necessity; and they are covered with the aegis of the law +against aggressors from among ourselves. + + But the endeavors to enlighten them on the fate which awaits +their present course of life, to induce them to exercise their +reason, follow its dictates, and change their pursuits with the +change of circumstances, have powerful obstacles to encounter; they +are combated by the habits of their bodies, prejudice of their minds, +ignorance, pride, and the influence of interested and crafty +individuals among them, who feel themselves something in the present +order of things, and fear to become nothing in any other. These +persons inculcate a sanctimonious reverence for the customs of their +ancestors; that whatsoever they did, must be done through all time; +that reason is a false guide, and to advance under its counsel, in +their physical, moral, or political condition, is perilous +innovation; that their duty is to remain as their Creator made them, +ignorance being safety, and knowledge full of danger; in short, my +friends, among them is seen the action and counteraction of good +sense and bigotry; they, too, have their anti-philosophers, who find +an interest in keeping things in their present state, who dread +reformation, and exert all their faculties to maintain the ascendency +of habit over the duty of improving our reason, and obeying its +mandates. + + In giving these outlines, I do not mean, fellow citizens, to +arrogate to myself the merit of the measures; that is due, in the +first place, to the reflecting character of our citizens at large, +who, by the weight of public opinion, influence and strengthen the +public measures; it is due to the sound discretion with which they +select from among themselves those to whom they confide the +legislative duties; it is due to the zeal and wisdom of the +characters thus selected, who lay the foundations of public happiness +in wholesome laws, the execution of which alone remains for others; +and it is due to the able and faithful auxiliaries, whose patriotism +has associated with me in the executive functions. + + During this course of administration, and in order to disturb +it, the artillery of the press has been levelled against us, charged +with whatsoever its licentiousness could devise or dare. These +abuses of an institution so important to freedom and science, are +deeply to be regretted, inasmuch as they tend to lessen its +usefulness, and to sap its safety; they might, indeed, have been +corrected by the wholesome punishments reserved and provided by the +laws of the several States against falsehood and defamation; but +public duties more urgent press on the time of public servants, and +the offenders have therefore been left to find their punishment in +the public indignation. + + Nor was it uninteresting to the world, that an experiment +should be fairly and fully made, whether freedom of discussion, +unaided by power, is not sufficient for the propagation and +protection of truth -- whether a government, conducting itself in the +true spirit of its constitution, with zeal and purity, and doing no +act which it would be unwilling the whole world should witness, can +be written down by falsehood and defamation. The experiment has been +tried; you have witnessed the scene; our fellow citizens have looked +on, cool and collected; they saw the latent source from which these +outrages proceeded; they gathered around their public functionaries, +and when the constitution called them to the decision by suffrage, +they pronounced their verdict, honorable to those who had served +them, and consolatory to the friend of man, who believes he may be +intrusted with his own affairs. + + No inference is here intended, that the laws, provided by the +State against false and defamatory publications, should not be +enforced; he who has time, renders a service to public morals and +public tranquillity, in reforming these abuses by the salutary +coercions of the law; but the experiment is noted, to prove that, +since truth and reason have maintained their ground against false +opinions in league with false facts, the press, confined to truth, +needs no other legal restraint; the public judgment will correct +false reasonings and opinions, on a full hearing of all parties; and +no other definite line can be drawn between the inestimable liberty +of the press and its demoralizing licentiousness. If there be still +improprieties which this rule would not restrain, its supplement must +be sought in the censorship of public opinion. + + Contemplating the union of sentiment now manifested so +generally, as auguring harmony and happiness to our future course, I +offer to our country sincere congratulations. With those, too, not +yet rallied to the same point, the disposition to do so is gaining +strength; facts are piercing through the veil drawn over them; and +our doubting brethren will at length see, that the mass of their +fellow citizens, with whom they cannot yet resolve to act, as to +principles and measures, think as they think, and desire what they +desire; that our wish, as well as theirs, is, that the public efforts +may be directed honestly to the public good, that peace be +cultivated, civil and religious liberty unassailed, law and order +preserved; equality of rights maintained, and that state of property, +equal or unequal, which results to every man from his own industry, +or that of his fathers. When satisfied of these views, it is not in +human nature that they should not approve and support them; in the +meantime, let us cherish them with patient affection; let us do them +justice, and more than justice, in all competitions of interest; and +we need not doubt that truth, reason, and their own interests, will +at length prevail, will gather them into the fold of their country, +and will complete their entire union of opinion, which gives to a +nation the blessing of harmony, and the benefit of all its strength. + + I shall now enter on the duties to which my fellow citizens +have again called me, and shall proceed in the spirit of those +principles which they have approved. I fear not that any motives of +interest may lead me astray; I am sensible of no passion which could +seduce me knowingly from the path of justice; but the weakness of +human nature, and the limits of my own understanding, will produce +errors of judgment sometimes injurious to your interests. I shall +need, therefore, all the indulgence I have heretofore experienced -- +the want of it will certainly not lessen with increasing years. I +shall need, too, the favor of that Being in whose hands we are, who +led our forefathers, as Israel of old, from their native land, and +planted them in a country flowing with all the necessaries and +comforts of life; who has covered our infancy with his providence, +and our riper years with his wisdom and power; and to whose goodness +I ask you to join with me in supplications, that he will so enlighten +the minds of your servants, guide their councils, and prosper their +measures, that whatsoever they do, shall result in your good, and +shall secure to you the peace, friendship, and approbation of all +nations. + + + + _Sixth Annual Message_ + + December 2, 1806 + + TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES +IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED: + It would have given me, fellow citizens, great satisfaction to +announce in the moment of your meeting that the difficulties in our +foreign relations, existing at the time of your last separation, had +been amicably and justly terminated. I lost no time in taking those +measures which were most likely to bring them to such a termination, +by special missions charged with such powers and instructions as in +the event of failure could leave no imputation on either our +moderation or forbearance. The delays which have since taken place +in our negotiations with the British government appears to have +proceeded from causes which do not forbid the expectation that during +the course of the session I may be enabled to lay before you their +final issue. What will be that of the negotiations for settling our +differences with Spain, nothing which had taken place at the date of +the last despatches enables us to pronounce. On the western side of +the Mississippi she advanced in considerable force, and took post at +the settlement of Bayou Pierre, on the Red river. This village was +originally settled by France, was held by her as long as she held +Louisiana, and was delivered to Spain only as a part of Louisiana. +Being small, insulated, and distant, it was not observed, at the +moment of redelivery to France and the United States, that she +continued a guard of half a dozen men which had been stationed there. +A proposition, however, having been lately made by our +commander-in-chief, to assume the Sabine river as a temporary line of +separation between the troops of the two nations until the issue of +our negotiations shall be known; this has been referred by the +Spanish commandant to his superior, and in the meantime, he has +withdrawn his force to the western side of the Sabine river. The +correspondence on this subject, now communicated, will exhibit more +particularly the present state of things in that quarter. + + The nature of that country requires indispensably that an +unusual proportion of the force employed there should be cavalry or +mounted infantry. In order, therefore, that the commanding officer +might be enabled to act with effect, I had authorized him to call on +the governors of Orleans and Mississippi for a corps of five hundred +volunteer cavalry. The temporary arrangement he has proposed may +perhaps render this unnecessary. But I inform you with great +pleasure of the promptitude with which the inhabitants of those +territories have tendered their services in defence of their country. +It has done honor to themselves, entitled them to the confidence of +their fellow-citizens in every part of the Union, and must strengthen +the general determination to protect them efficaciously under all +circumstances which may occur. + + Having received information that in another part of the United +States a great number of private individuals were combining together, +arming and organizing themselves contrary to law, to carry on +military expeditions against the territories of Spain, I thought it +necessary, by proclamations as well as by special orders, to take +measures for preventing and suppressing this enterprise, for seizing +the vessels, arms, and other means provided for it, and for arresting +and bringing to justice its authors and abettors. It was due to that +good faith which ought ever to be the rule of action in public as +well as in private transactions; it was due to good order and regular +government, that while the public force was acting strictly on the +defensive and merely to protect our citizens from aggression, the +criminal attempts of private individuals to decide for their country +the question of peace or war, by commencing active and unauthorized +hostilities, should be promptly and efficaciously suppressed. + + Whether it will be necessary to enlarge our regular force will +depend on the result of our negotiation with Spain; but as it is +uncertain when that result will be known, the provisional measures +requisite for that, and to meet any pressure intervening in that +quarter, will be a subject for your early consideration. + + The possession of both banks of the Mississippi reducing to a +single point the defence of that river, its waters, and the country +adjacent, it becomes highly necessary to provide for that point a +more adequate security. Some position above its mouth, commanding +the passage of the river, should be rendered sufficiently strong to +cover the armed vessels which may be stationed there for defence, and +in conjunction with them to present an insuperable obstacle to any +force attempting to pass. The approaches to the city of New Orleans, +from the eastern quarter also, will require to be examined, and more +effectually guarded. For the internal support of the country, the +encouragement of a strong settlement on the western side of the +Mississippi, within reach of New Orleans, will be worthy the +consideration of the legislature. + + The gun-boats authorized by an act of the last session are so +advanced that they will be ready for service in the ensuing spring. +Circumstances permitted us to allow the time necessary for their more +solid construction. As a much larger number will still be wanting to +place our seaport towns and waters in that state of defence to which +we are competent and they entitled, a similar appropriation for a +further provision for them is recommended for the ensuing year. + + A further appropriation will also be necessary for repairing +fortifications already established, and the erection of such works as +may have real effect in obstructing the approach of an enemy to our +seaport towns, or their remaining before them. + + In a country whose constitution is derived from the will of the +people, directly expressed by their free suffrages; where the +principal executive functionaries, and those of the legislature, are +renewed by them at short periods; where under the characters of +jurors, they exercise in person the greatest portion of the judiciary +powers; where the laws are consequently so formed and administered as +to bear with equal weight and favor on all, restraining no man in the +pursuits of honest industry, and securing to every one the property +which that acquires, it would not be supposed that any safeguards +could be needed against insurrection or enterprise on the public +peace or authority. The laws, however, aware that these should not +be trusted to moral restraints only, have wisely provided punishments +for these crimes when committed. But would it not be salutary to +give also the means of preventing their commission? Where an +enterprise is meditated by private individuals against a foreign +nation in amity with the United States, powers of prevention to a +certain extent are given by the laws; would they not be as reasonable +and useful were the enterprise preparing against the United States? +While adverting to this branch of the law, it is proper to observe, +that in enterprises meditated against foreign nations, the ordinary +process of binding to the observance of the peace and good behavior, +could it be extended to acts to be done out of the jurisdiction of +the United States, would be effectual in some cases where the +offender is able to keep out of sight every indication of his purpose +which could draw on him the exercise of the powers now given by law. + + The states on the coast of Barbary seem generally disposed at +present to respect our peace and friendship; with Tunis alone some +uncertainty remains. Persuaded that it is our interest to maintain +our peace with them on equal terms, or not at all, I propose to send +in due time a reinforcement into the Mediterranean, unless previous +information shall show it to be unnecessary. + + We continue to receive proofs of the growing attachment of our +Indian neighbors, and of their disposition to place all their +interests under the patronage of the United States. These +dispositions are inspired by their confidence in our justice, and in +the sincere concern we feel for their welfare; and as long as we +discharge these high and honorable functions with the integrity and +good faith which alone can entitle us to their continuance, we may +expect to reap the just reward in their peace and friendship. + + The expedition of Messrs. Lewis and Clarke, for exploring the +river Missouri, and the best communication from that to the Pacific +ocean, has had all the success which could have been expected. They +have traced the Missouri nearly to its source, descended the Columbia +to the Pacific ocean, ascertained with accuracy the geography of that +interesting communication across our continent, learned the character +of the country, of its commerce, and inhabitants; and it is but +justice to say that Messrs. Lewis and Clarke, and their brave +companions, have by this arduous service deserved well of their +country. + + The attempt to explore the Red river, under the direction of +Mr. Freeman, though conducted with a zeal and prudence meriting +entire approbation, has not been equally successful. After +proceeding up it about six hundred miles, nearly as far as the French +settlements had extended while the country was in their possession, +our geographers were obliged to return without completing their work. + + Very useful additions have also been made to our knowledge of +the Mississippi by Lieutenant Pike, who has ascended to its source, +and whose journal and map, giving the details of the journey, will +shortly be ready for communication to both houses of Congress. Those +of Messrs. Lewis and Clarke, and Freeman, will require further time +to be digested and prepared. These important surveys, in addition to +those before possessed, furnish materials for commencing an accurate +map of the Mississippi, and its western waters. Some principal +rivers, however, remain still to be explored, toward which the +authorization of Congress, by moderate appropriations, will be +requisite. + + I congratulate you, fellow-citizens, on the approach of the +period at which you may interpose your authority constitutionally, to +withdraw the citizens of the United States from all further +participation in those violations of human rights which have been so +long continued on the unoffending inhabitants of Africa, and which +the morality, the reputation, and the best interests of our country, +have long been eager to proscribe. Although no law you may pass can +take prohibitory effect till the first day of the year one thousand +eight hundred and eight, yet the intervening period is not too long +to prevent, by timely notice, expeditions which cannot be completed +before that day. + + The receipts at the treasury during the year ending on the 30th +of September last, have amounted to near fifteen millions of dollars, +which have enabled us, after meeting the current demands, to pay two +millions seven hundred thousand dollars of the American claims, in +part of the price of Louisiana; to pay of the funded debt upward of +three millions of principal, and nearly four of interest; and in +addition, to reimburse, in the course of the present month, near two +millions of five and a half per cent. stock. These payments and +reimbursements of the funded debt, with those which have been made in +the four years and a half preceding, will, at the close of the +present year, have extinguished upwards of twenty-three millions of +principal. + + + The duties composing the Mediterranean fund will cease by law +at the end of the present season. Considering, however, that they +are levied chiefly on luxuries, and that we have an impost on salt, a +necessary of life, the free use of which other-wise is so important, +I recommend to your consideration the suppression of the duties on +salt, and the continuation of the Mediterranean fund, instead +thereof, for a short time, after which that also will become +unnecessary for any purpose now within contemplation. + + When both of these branches of revenue shall in this way be +relinquished, there will still ere long be an accumulation of moneys +in the treasury beyond the instalments of public debt which we are +permitted by contract to pay. They cannot, then, without a +modification assented to by the public creditors, be applied to the +extinguishment of this debt, and the complete liberation of our +revenues -- the most desirable of all objects; nor, if our peace +continues, will they be wanting for any other existing purpose. The +question, therefore, now comes forward, -- to what other objects +shall these surpluses be appropriated, and the whole surplus of +impost, after the entire discharge of the public debt, and during +those intervals when the purposes of war shall not call for them? +Shall we suppress the impost and give that advantage to foreign over +domestic manufactures? On a few articles of more general and +necessary use, the suppression in due season will doubtless be right, +but the great mass of the articles on which impost is paid is foreign +luxuries, purchased by those only who are rich enough to afford +themselves the use of them. Their patriotism would certainly prefer +its continuance and application to the great purposes of the public +education, roads, rivers, canals, and such other objects of public +improvement as it may be thought proper to add to the constitutional +enumeration of federal powers. By these operations new channels of +communication will be opened between the States; the lines of +separation will disappear, their interests will be identified, and +their union cemented by new and indissoluble ties. Education is here +placed among the articles of public care, not that it would be +proposed to take its ordinary branches out of the hands of private +enterprise, which manages so much better all the concerns to which it +is equal; but a public institution can alone supply those sciences +which, though rarely called for, are yet necessary to complete the +circle, all the parts of which contribute to the improvement of the +country, and some of them to its preservation. The subject is now +proposed for the consideration of Congress, because, if approved by +the time the State legislatures shall have deliberated on this +extension of the federal trusts, and the laws shall be passed, and +other arrangements made for their execution, the necessary funds will +be on hand and without employment. I suppose an amendment to the +constitution, by consent of the States, necessary, because the +objects now recommended are not among those enumerated in the +constitution, and to which it permits the public moneys to be +applied. + + The present consideration of a national establishment for +education, particularly, is rendered proper by this circumstance +also, that if Congress, approving the proposition, shall yet think it +more eligible to found it on a donation of lands, they have it now in +their power to endow it with those which will be among the earliest +to produce the necessary income. This foundation would have the +advantage of being independent on war, which may suspend other +improvements by requiring for its own purposes the resources destined +for them. + + This, fellow citizens, is the state of the public interest at +the present moment, and according to the information now possessed. +But such is the situation of the nations of Europe, and such too the +predicament in which we stand with some of them, that we cannot rely +with certainty on the present aspect of our affairs that may change +from moment to moment, during the course of your session or after you +shall have separated. Our duty is, therefore, to act upon things as +they are, and to make a reasonable provision for whatever they may +be. Were armies to be raised whenever a speck of war is visible in +our horizon, we never should have been without them. Our resources +would have been exhausted on dangers which have never happened, +instead of being reserved for what is really to take place. A +steady, perhaps a quickened pace in preparations for the defence of +our seaport towns and waters; an early settlement of the most exposed +and vulnerable parts of our country; a militia so organized that its +effective portions can be called to any point in the Union, or +volunteers instead of them to serve a sufficient time, are means +which may always be ready yet never preying on our resources until +actually called into use. They will maintain the public interests +while a more permanent force shall be in course of preparation. But +much will depend on the promptitude with which these means can be +brought into activity. If war be forced upon us in spite of our long +and vain appeals to the justice of nations, rapid and vigorous +movements in its outset will go far toward securing us in its course +and issue, and toward throwing its burdens on those who render +necessary the resort from reason to force. + + The result of our negotiations, or such incidents in their +course as may enable us to infer their probable issue; such further +movements also on our western frontiers as may show whether war is to +be pressed there while negotiation is protracted elsewhere, shall be +communicated to you from time to time as they become known to me, +with whatever other information I possess or may receive, which may +aid your deliberations on the great national interests committed to +your charge. + + + + + + _Special Message on the Burr Conspiracy_ + + January 22, 1807 + + TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED +STATES: + Agreeably to the request of the House of Representatives, +communicated in their resolution of the sixteenth instant, I proceed +to state under the reserve therein expressed, information received +touching an illegal combination of private individuals against the +peace and safety of the Union, and a military expedition planned by +them against the territories of a power in amity with the United +States, with the measures I have pursued for suppressing the same. + + I had for some time been in the constant expectation of +receiving such further information as would have enabled me to lay +before the legislature the termination as well as the beginning and +progress of this scene of depravity, so far it has been acted on the +Ohio and its waters. From this the state and safety of the lower +country might have been estimated on probable grounds, and the delay +was indulged the rather, because no circumstance had yet made it +necessary to call in the aid of the legislative functions. +Information now recently communicated has brought us nearly to the +period contemplated. The mass of what I have received, in the course +of these transactions, is voluminous, but little has been given under +the sanction of an oath, so as to constitute formal and legal +evidence. It is chiefly in the form of letters, often containing +such a mixture of rumors, conjectures, and suspicions, as render it +difficult to sift out the real facts, and unadvisable to hazard more +than general outlines, strengthened by concurrent information, or the +particular credibility of the relater. In this state of the +evidence, delivered sometimes too under the restriction of private +confidence, neither safety nor justice will permit the exposing +names, except that of the principal actor, whose guilt is placed +beyond question. + + Some time in the latter part of September, I received +intimations that designs were in agitation in the western country, +unlawful and unfriendly to the peace of the Union; and that the prime +mover in these was Aaron Burr, heretofore distinguished by the favor +of his country. The grounds of these intimations being inconclusive, +the objects uncertain, and the fidelity of that country known to be +firm, the only measure taken was to urge the informants to use their +best endeavors to get further insight into the designs and +proceedings of the suspected persons, and to communicate them to me. + + It was not until the latter part of October, that the objects +of the conspiracy began to be perceived, but still so blended and +involved in mystery that nothing distinct could be singled out for +pursuit. In this state of uncertainty as to the crime contemplated, +the acts done, and the legal course to be pursued, I thought it best +to send to the scene where these things were principally in +transaction, a person, in whose integrity, understanding, and +discretion, entire confidence could be reposed, with instructions to +investigate the plots going on, to enter into conference (for which +he had sufficient credentials) with the governors and all other +officers, civil and military, and with their aid to do on the spot +whatever should be necessary to discover the designs of the +conspirators, arrest their means, bring their persons to punishment, +and to call out the force of the country to suppress any unlawful +enterprise in which it should be found they were engaged. By this +time it was known that many boats were under preparation, stores of +provisions collecting, and an unusual number of suspicious characters +in motion on the Ohio and its waters. Besides despatching the +confidential agent to that quarter, orders were at the same time sent +to the governors of the Orleans and Mississippi territories, and to +the commanders of the land and naval forces there, to be on their +guard against surprise, and in constant readiness to resist any +enterprise which might be attempted on the vessels, posts, or other +objects under their care; and on the 8th of November, instructions +were forwarded to General Wilkinson to hasten an accommodation with +the Spanish commander on the Sabine, and as soon as that was +effected, to fall back with his principal force to the hither bank of +the Mississippi, for the defence of the intersecting points on that +river. By a letter received from that officer on the 25th of +November, but dated October 21st, we learn that a confidential agent +of Aaron Burr had been deputed to him, with communications partly +written in cipher and partly oral, explaining his designs, +exaggerating his resources, and making such offers of emolument and +command, to engage him and the army in his unlawful enterprise, as he +had flattered himself would be successful. The general, with the +honor of a soldier and fidelity of a good citizen, immediately +despatched a trusty officer to me with information of what had +passed, proceeding to establish such an understanding with the +Spanish commandant on the Sabine as permitted him to withdraw his +force across the Mississippi, and to enter on measures for opposing +the projected enterprise. + + The general's letter, which came to hand on the 25th of +November, as has been mentioned, and some other information received +a few days earlier, when brought together, developed Burr's general +designs, different parts of which only had been revealed to different +informants. It appeared that he contemplated two distinct objects, +which might be carried on either jointly or separately, and either +the one or the other first, as circumstances should direct. One of +these was the severance of the Union of these States by the Alleghany +mountains; the other, an attack on Mexico. A third object was +provided, merely ostensible, to wit: the settlement of a pretended +purchase of a tract of country on the Washita, claimed by a Baron +Bastrop. This was to serve as the pretext for all his preparations, +an allurement for such followers as really wished to acquire +settlements in that country, and a cover under which to retreat in +the event of final discomfiture of both branches of his real design. + + He found at once that the attachment of the western country to +the present Union was not to be shaken; that its dissolution could +not be effected with the consent of its inhabitants, and that his +resources were inadequate, as yet, to effect it by force. He took +his course then at once, determined to seize on New Orleans, plunder +the bank there, possess himself of the military and naval stores, and +proceed on his expedition to Mexico; and to this object all his means +and preparations were now directed. He collected from all the +quarters where himself or his agents possessed influence, all the +ardent, restless, desperate, and disaffected persons who were ready +for any enterprise analogous to their characters. He seduced good +and well-meaning citizens, some by assurances that he possessed the +confidence of the government and was acting under its secret +patronage, a pretence which obtained some credit from the state of +our differences with Spain; and others by offers of land in Bastrop's +claim on the Washita. + + This was the state of my information of his proceedings about +the last of November, at which time, therefore, it was first possible +to take specific measures to meet them. The proclamation of November +27th, two days after the receipt of General Wilkinson's information, +was now issued. Orders were despatched to every intersecting point +on the Ohio and Mississippi, from Pittsburg to New Orleans, for the +employment of such force either of the regulars or of the militia, +and of such proceedings also of the civil authorities, as might +enable them to seize on all the boats and stores provided for the +enterprise, to arrest the persons concerned, and to suppress +effectually the further progress of the enterprise. A little before +the receipt of these orders in the State of Ohio, our confidential +agent, who had been diligently employed in investigating the +conspiracy, had acquired sufficient information to open himself to +the governor of that State, and apply for the immediate exertion of +the authority and power of the State to crush the combination. +Governor Tiffin and the legislature, with a promptitude, an energy, +and patriotic zeal, which entitle them to a distinguished place in +the affection of their sister States, effected the seizure of all the +boats, provisions, and other preparations within their reach, and +thus gave a first blow, materially disabling the enterprise in its +outset. + + In Kentucky, a premature attempt to bring Burr to justice, +without sufficient evidence for his conviction, had produced a +popular impression in his favor, and a general disbelief of his +guilt. This gave him an unfortunate opportunity of hastening his +equipments. The arrival of the proclamation and orders, and the +application and information of our confidential agent, at length +awakened the authorities of that State to the truth, and then +produced the same promptitude and energy of which the neighboring +State had set the example. Under an act of their legislature of +December 23d, militia was instantly ordered to different important +points, and measures taken for doing whatever could yet be done. +Some boats (accounts vary from five to double or treble that number) +and persons (differently estimated from one to three hundred) had in +the meantime passed the falls of the Ohio, to rendezvous at the mouth +of the Cumberland, with others expected down that river. + + Not apprized, till very late, that any boats were building on +Cumberland, the effect of the proclamation had been trusted to for +some time in the State of Tennessee; but on the 19th of December, +similar communications and instructions with those of the neighboring +States were despatched by express to the governor, and a general +officer of the western division of the State, and on the 23d of +December our confidential agent left Frankfort for Nashville, to put +into activity the means of that State also. But by information +received yesterday I learn that on the 22d of December, Mr. Burr +descended the Cumberland with two boats merely of accommodation, +carrying with him from that State no quota toward his unlawful +enterprise. Whether after the arrival of the proclamation, of the +orders, or of our agent, any exertion which could be made by that +State, or the orders of the governor of Kentucky for calling out the +militia at the mouth of Cumberland, would be in time to arrest these +boats, and those from the falls of the Ohio, is still doubtful. + + On the whole, the fugitives from Ohio, with their associates +from Cumberland, or any other place in that quarter, cannot threaten +serious danger to the city of New Orleans. + + By the same express of December nineteenth, orders were sent to +the governors of New Orleans and Mississippi, supplementary to those +which had been given on the twenty-fifth of November, to hold the +militia of their territories in readiness to co-operate for their +defence, with the regular troops and armed vessels then under command +of General Wilkinson. Great alarm, indeed, was excited at New +Orleans by the exaggerated accounts of Mr. Burr, disseminated through +his emissaries, of the armies and navies he was to assemble there. +General Wilkinson had arrived there himself on the 24th of November +and had immediately put into activity the resources of the place for +the purpose of its defence; and on the tenth of December he was +joined by his troops from the Sabine. Great zeal was shown by the +inhabitants generally, the merchants of the place readily agreeing to +the most laudable exertions and sacrifices for manning the armed +vessels with their seamen, and the other citizens manifesting +unequivocal fidelity to the Union, and a spirit of determined +resistance to their expected assailants. + + Surmises have been hazarded that this enterprise is to receive +aid from certain foreign powers. But these surmises are without +proof or probability. The wisdom of the measures sanctioned by +Congress at its last session had placed us in the paths of peace and +justice with the only powers with whom we had any differences, and +nothing has happened since which makes it either their interest or +ours to pursue another course. No change of measures has taken place +on our part; none ought to take place at this time. With the one, +friendly arrangement was then proposed, and the law deemed necessary +on the failure of that was suspended to give time for a fair trial of +the issue. With the same power, negotiation is still preferred and +provisional measures only are necessary to meet the event of rupture. +While, therefore, we do not deflect in the slightest degree from the +course we then assumed, and are still pursuing, with mutual consent, +to restore a good understanding, we are not to impute to them +practices as irreconcilable to interest as to good faith, and +changing necessarily the relations of peace and justice between us to +those of war. These surmises are, therefore, to be imputed to the +vauntings of the author of this enterprise, to multiply his partisans +by magnifying the belief of his prospects and support. + + By letters from General Wilkinson, of the 14th and 18th of +September, which came to hand two days after date of the resolution +of the House of Representatives, that is to say, on the morning of +the 18th instant, I received the important affidavit, a copy of which +I now communicate, with extracts of so much of the letters as come +within the scope of the resolution. By these it will be seen that of +three of the principal emissaries of Mr. Burr, whom the general had +caused to be apprehended, one had been liberated by _habeas corpus_, +and the two others, being those particularly employed in the endeavor +to corrupt the general and army of the United States, have been +embarked by him for our ports in the Atlantic States, probably on the +consideration that an impartial trial could not be expected during +the present agitations of New Orleans, and that that city was not as +yet a safe place of confinement. As soon as these persons shall +arrive, they will be delivered to the custody of the law, and left to +such course of trial, both as to place and process, as its +functionaries may direct. The presence of the highest judicial +authorities, to be assembled at this place within a few days, the +means of pursuing a sounder course of proceedings here than +elsewhere, and the aid of the executive means, should the judges have +occasion to use them, render it equally desirable for the criminals +as for the public, that being already removed from the place where +they were first apprehended, the first regular arrest should take +place here, and the course of proceedings receive here its proper +direction. + + + + _Special Message on Gun-Boats_ + + February 10, 1807 + + TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES + In compliance with the request of the House of Representatives, +expressed in their resolution of the 5th instant, I proceed to give +such information as is possessed, of the effect of gun-boats in the +protection and defense of harbors, of the numbers thought necessary, +and of the proposed distribution of them among the ports and harbors +of the United States. + + Under the present circumstances, and governed by the intentions +of the legislature, as manifested by their annual appropriations of +money for the purposes of defence, it has been concluded to combine +-- 1st, land batteries, furnished with heavy cannon and mortars, and +established on all the points around the place favorable for +preventing vessels from lying before it; 2d, movable artillery which +may be carried, as an occasion may require, to points unprovided with +fixed batteries; 3d, floating batteries; and 4th, gun-boats, which +may oppose an enemy at its entrance and co-operate with the batteries +for his expulsion. + + On this subject professional men were consulted as far as we +had opportunity. General Wilkinson, and the late General Gates, gave +their opinions in writing, in favor of the system, as will be seen by +their letters now communicated. The higher officers of the navy gave +the same opinions in separate conferences, as their presence at the +seat of government offered occasions of consulting them, and no +difference of judgment appeared on the subjects. Those of Commodore +Barron and Captain Tingey, now here, are recently furnished in +writing, and transmitted herewith to the legislature. + + The efficacy of gun-boats for the defence of harbors, and of +other smooth and enclosed waters, may be estimated in part from that +of galleys, formerly much used, but less powerful, more costly in +their construction and maintenance, and requiring more men. But the +gun-boat itself is believed to be in use with every modern maritime +nation for the purpose of defence. In the Mediterranean, on which +are several small powers, whose system like ours is peace and +defence, few harbors are without this article of protection. Our own +experience there of the effect of gun-boats for harbor service, is +recent. Algiers is particularly known to have owed to a great +provision of these vessels the safety of its city, since the epoch of +their construction. Before that it had been repeatedly insulted and +injured. The effect of gun-boats at present in the neighborhood of +Gibraltar, is well known, and how much they were used both in the +attack and defence of that place during a former war. The extensive +resort to them by the two greatest naval powers in the world, on an +enterprise of invasion not long since in prospect, shows their +confidence in their efficacy for the purposes for which they are +suited. By the northern powers of Europe, whose seas are +particularly adapted to them, they are still more used. The +remarkable action between the Russian flotilla of gun-boats and +galleys, and a Turkish fleet of ships-of-the-line and frigates, in +the Liman sea, 1788, will be readily recollected. The latter, +commanded by their most celebrated admiral, were completely defeated, +and several of their ships-of-the-line destroyed. + + From the opinions given as to the number of gun-boats necessary +for some of the principal seaports, and from a view of all the towns +and ports from Orleans to Maine inclusive, entitled to protection, in +proportion to their situation and circumstances, it is concluded, +that to give them a due measure of protection in time of war, about +two hundred gun-boats will be requisite. According to first ideas, +the following would be their general distribution, liable to be +varied on more mature examination, and as circumstances shall vary, +that is to say: -- + + To the Mississippi and its neighboring waters, forty gun-boats. + + To Savannah and Charleston, and the harbors on each side, from +St. Mary's to Currituck, twenty-five. + + To the Chesapeake and its waters, twenty. + + To Delaware bay and river, fifteen. + + To New York, the Sound, and waters as far as Cape Cod, fifty. + + To Boston and the harbors north of Cape Cod, fifty. + + The flotilla assigned to these several stations, might each be +under the care of a particular commandant, and the vessels composing +them would, in ordinary, be distributed among the harbors within the +station in proportion to their importance. + + Of these boats a proper proportion would be of the larger size, +such as those heretofore built, capable of navigating any seas, and +of reinforcing occasionally the strength of even the most distant +port when menaced with danger. The residue would be confined to +their own or the neighboring harbors, would be smaller, less +furnished for accommodation, and consequently less costly. Of the +number supposed necessary, seventy-three are built or building, and +the hundred and twenty-seven still to be provided, would cost from +five to six hundred thousand dollars. Having regard to the +convenience of the treasury, as well as to the resources of building, +it has been thought that one half of these might be built in the +present year, and the other half the next. With the legislature, +however, it will rest to stop where we are, or at any further point, +when they shall be of opinion that the number provided shall be +sufficient for the object. + + At times when Europe as well as the United States shall be at +peace, it would not be proposed that more than six or eight of these +vessels should be kept afloat. When Europe is in war, treble that +number might be necessary to be distributed among those particular +harbors which foreign vessels of war are in the habit of frequenting, +for the purpose of preserving order therein. + + But they would be manned, in ordinary, with only their +complement for navigation, relying on the seamen and militia of the +port if called into action on sudden emergency. It would be only +when the United States should themselves be at war, that the whole +number would be brought into actual service, and would be ready in +the first moments of the war to co-operate with other means for +covering at once the line of our seaports. At all times, those +unemployed would be withdrawn into places not exposed to sudden +enterprise, hauled up under sheds from the sun and weather, and kept +in preservation with little expense for repairs or maintenance. + + It must be superfluous to observe, that this species of naval +armament is proposed merely for defensive operation; that it can have +but little effect toward protecting our commerce in the open seas +even on our coast; and still less can it become an excitement to +engage in offensive maritime war, toward which it would furnish no +means. + + + + + + _Eighth Annual Message_ + + November 8, 1808 + + TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED +STATES: + It would have been a source, fellow citizens, of much +gratification, if our last communications from Europe had enabled me +to inform you that the belligerent nations, whose disregard of +neutral rights has been so destructive to our commerce, had become +awakened to the duty and true policy of revoking their unrighteous +edicts. That no means might be omitted to produce this salutary +effect, I lost no time in availing myself of the act authorizing a +suspension, in whole or in part, of the several embargo laws. Our +ministers at London and Paris were instructed to explain to the +respective governments there, our disposition to exercise the +authority in such manner as would withdraw the pretext on which the +aggressions were originally founded, and open a way for a renewal of +that commercial intercourse which it was alleged on all sides had +been reluctantly obstructed. As each of those governments had +pledged its readiness to concur in renouncing a measure which reached +its adversary through the incontestable rights of neutrals only, and +as the measure had been assumed by each as a retaliation for an +asserted acquiescence in the aggressions of the other, it was +reasonably expected that the occasion would have been seized by both +for evincing the sincerity of their profession, and for restoring to +the commerce of the United States its legitimate freedom. The +instructions to our ministers with respect to the different +belligerents were necessarily modified with reference to their +different circumstances, and to the condition annexed by law to the +executive power of suspension, requiring a degree of security to our +commerce which would not result from a repeal of the decrees of +France. Instead of a pledge, therefore, of a suspension of the +embargo as to her in case of such a repeal, it was presumed that a +sufficient inducement might be found in other considerations, and +particularly in the change produced by a compliance with our just +demands by one belligerent, and a refusal by the other, in the +relations between the other and the United States. To Great Britain, +whose power on the ocean is so ascendant, it was deemed not +inconsistent with that condition to state explicitly, that on her +rescinding her orders in relation to the United States their trade +would be opened with her, and remain shut to her enemy, in case of +his failure to rescind his decrees also. From France no answer has +been received, nor any indication that the requisite change in her +decrees is contemplated. The favorable reception of the proposition +to Great Britain was the less to be doubted, as her orders of council +had not only been referred for their vindication to an acquiescence +on the part of the United States no longer to be pretended, but as +the arrangement proposed, while it resisted the illegal decrees of +France, involved, moreover, substantially, the precise advantages +professedly aimed at by the British orders. The arrangement has +nevertheless been rejected. + + This candid and liberal experiment having thus failed, and no +other event having occurred on which a suspension of the embargo by +the executive was authorized, it necessarily remains in the extent +originally given to it. We have the satisfaction, however, to +reflect, that in return for the privations by the measure, and which +our fellow citizens in general have borne with patriotism, it has had +the important effects of saving our mariners and our vast mercantile +property, as well as of affording time for prosecuting the defensive +and provisional measures called for by the occasion. It has +demonstrated to foreign nations the moderation and firmness which +govern our councils, and to our citizens the necessity of uniting in +support of the laws and the rights of their country, and has thus +long frustrated those usurpations and spoliations which, if resisted, +involve war; if submitted to, sacrificed a vital principle of our +national independence. + + Under a continuance of the belligerent measures which, in +defiance of laws which consecrate the rights of neutrals, overspread +the ocean with danger, it will rest with the wisdom of Congress to +decide on the course best adapted to such a state of things; and +bringing with them, as they do, from every part of the Union, the +sentiments of our constituents, my confidence is strengthened, that +in forming this decision they will, with an unerring regard to the +essential rights and interests of the nation, weigh and compare the +painful alternatives out of which a choice is to be made. Nor should +I do justice to the virtues which on other occasions have marked the +character of our fellow citizens, if I did not cherish an equal +confidence that the alternative chosen, whatever it may be, will be +maintained with all the fortitude and patriotism which the crisis +ought to inspire. + + The documents containing the correspondences on the subject of +the foreign edicts against our commerce, with the instructions given +to our ministers at London and Paris, are now laid before you. + + The communications made to Congress at their last session +explained the posture in which the close of the discussion relating +to the attack by a British ship of war on the frigate Chesapeake left +a subject on which the nation had manifested so honorable a +sensibility. Every view of what had passed authorized a belief that +immediate steps would be taken by the British government for +redressing a wrong, which, the more it was investigated, appeared the +more clearly to require what had not been provided for in the special +mission. It is found that no steps have been taken for the purpose. +On the contrary, it will be seen, in the documents laid before you, +that the inadmissible preliminary which obstructed the adjustment is +still adhered to; and, moreover, that it is now brought into +connection with the distinct and irrelative case of the orders in +council. The instructions which had been given to our ministers at +London with a view to facilitate, if necessary, the reparation +claimed by the United States, are included in the documents +communicated. + + Our relations with the other powers of Europe have undergone no +material changes since your last session. The important negotiations +with Spain, which had been alternately suspended and resumed, +necessarily experience a pause under the extraordinary and +interesting crisis which distinguished her internal situation. + + With the Barbary powers we continue in harmony, with the +exception of an unjustifiable proceeding of the dey of Algiers toward +our consul to that regency. Its character and circumstances are now +laid before you, and will enable you to decide how far it may, either +now or hereafter, call for any measures not within the limits of the +executive authority. + + + With our Indian neighbors the public peace has been steadily +maintained. Some instances of individual wrong have, as at other +times, taken place, but in nowise implicating the will of the nation. +Beyond the Mississippi, the Iowas, the Sacs, and the Alabamas, have +delivered up for trial and punishment individuals from among +themselves accused of murdering citizens of the United States. On +this side of the Mississippi, the Creeks are exerting themselves to +arrest offenders of the same kind; and the Choctaws have manifested +their readiness and desire for amicable and just arrangements +respecting depredations committed by disorderly persons of their +tribe. And, generally, from a conviction that we consider them as +part of ourselves, and cherish with sincerity their rights and +interests, the attachment of the Indian tribes is gaining strength +daily -- is extending from the nearer to the more remote, and will +amply requite us for the justice and friendship practised towards +them. Husbandry and household manufacture are advancing among them, +more rapidly with the southern than the northern tribes, from +circumstances of soil and climate; and one of the two great divisions +of the Cherokee nation have now under consideration to solicit the +citizenship of the United States, and to be identified with us in +laws and government, in such progressive manner as we shall think +best. + + In consequence of the appropriations of the last session of +Congress for the security of our seaport towns and harbors, such +works of defence have been erected as seemed to be called for by the +situation of the several places, their relative importance, and the +scale of expense indicated by the amount of the appropriation. These +works will chiefly be finished in the course of the present season, +except at New York and New Orleans, where most was to be done; and +although a great proportion of the last appropriation has been +expended on the former place, yet some further views will be +submitted by Congress for rendering its security entirely adequate +against naval enterprise. A view of what has been done at the +several places, and of what is proposed to be done, shall be +communicated as soon as the several reports are received. + + Of the gun-boats authorized by the act of December last, it has +been thought necessary to build only one hundred and three in the +present year. These, with those before possessed, are sufficient for +the harbors and waters exposed, and the residue will require little +time for their construction when it is deemed necessary. + + Under the act of the last session for raising an additional +military force, so many officers were immediately appointed as were +necessary for carrying on the business of recruiting, and in +proportion as it advanced, others have been added. We have reason to +believe their success has been satisfactory, although such returns +have not yet been received as enable me to present to you a statement +of the numbers engaged. + + I have not thought it necessary in the course of the last +season to call for any general detachments of militia or volunteers +under the law passed for that purpose. For the ensuing season, +however, they will require to be in readiness should their services +be wanted. Some small and special detachments have been necessary to +maintain the laws of embargo on that portion of our northern frontier +which offered peculiar facilities for evasion, but these were +replaced as soon as it could be done by bodies of new recruits. By +the aid of these, and of the armed vessels called into actual service +in other quarters, the spirit of disobedience and abuse which +manifested itself early, and with sensible effect while we were +unprepared to meet it, has been considerably repressed. + + Considering the extraordinary character of the times in which +we live, our attention should unremittingly be fixed on the safety of +our country. For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a +well-organized and armed militia is their best security. It is, +therefore, incumbent on us, at every meeting, to revise the condition +of the militia, and to ask ourselves if it is prepared to repel a +powerful enemy at every point of our territories exposed to invasion. +Some of the States have paid a laudable attention to this object; but +every degree of neglect is to be found among others. Congress alone +have power to produce a uniform state of preparation in this great +organ of defence; the interests which they so deeply feel in their +own and their country's security will present this as among the most +important objects of their deliberation. + + Under the acts of March 11th and April 23d, respecting arms, +the difficulty of procuring them from abroad, during the present +situation and dispositions of Europe, induced us to direct our whole +efforts to the means of internal supply. The public factories have, +therefore, been enlarged, additional machineries erected, and in +proportion as artificers can be found or formed, their effect, +already more than doubled, may be increased so as to keep pace with +the yearly increase of the militia. The annual sums appropriated by +the latter act, have been directed to the encouragement of private +factories of arms, and contracts have been entered into with +individual undertakers to nearly the amount of the first year's +appropriation. + + The suspension of our foreign commerce, produced by the +injustice of the belligerent powers, and the consequent losses and +sacrifices of our citizens, are subjects of just concern. The +situation into which we have thus been forced, has impelled us to +apply a portion of our industry and capital to internal manufactures +and improvements. The extent of this conversion is daily increasing, +and little doubt remains that the establishments formed and forming +will -- under the auspices of cheaper materials and subsistence, the +freedom of labor from taxation with us, and of protecting duties and +prohibitions -- become permanent. The commerce with the Indians, +too, within our own boundaries, is likely to receive abundant aliment +from the same internal source, and will secure to them peace and the +progress of civilization, undisturbed by practices hostile to both. + + The accounts of the receipts and expenditures during the year +ending on the 30th day of September last, being not yet made up, a +correct statement will hereafter be transmitted from the Treasury. +In the meantime, it is ascertained that the receipts have amounted to +near eighteen millions of dollars, which, with the eight millions and +a half in the treasury at the beginning of the year, have enabled us, +after meeting the current demands and interest incurred, to pay two +millions three hundred thousand dollars of the principal of our +funded debt, and left us in the treasury, on that day, near fourteen +millions of dollars. Of these, five millions three hundred and fifty +thousand dollars will be necessary to pay what will be due on the +first day of January next, which will complete the reimbursement of +the eight per cent. stock. These payments, with those made in the +six years and a half preceding, will have extinguished thirty-three +millions five hundred and eighty thousand dollars of the principal of +the funded debt, being the whole which could be paid or purchased +within the limits of the law and our contracts; and the amount of +principal thus discharged will have liberated the revenue from about +two millions of dollars of interest, and added that sum annually to +the disposable surplus. The probable accumulation of the surpluses +of revenue beyond what can be applied to the payment of the public +debt, whenever the freedom and safety of our commerce shall be +restored, merits the consideration of Congress. Shall it lie +unproductive in the public vaults? Shall the revenue be reduced? Or +shall it rather be appropriated to the improvements of roads, canals, +rivers, education, and other great foundations of prosperity and +union, under the powers which Congress may already possess, or such +amendment of the constitution as may be approved by the States? +While uncertain of the course of things, the time may be +advantageously employed in obtaining the powers necessary for a +system of improvement, should that be thought best. + + Availing myself of this the last occasion which will occur of +addressing the two houses of the legislature at their meeting, I +cannot omit the expression of my sincere gratitude for the repeated +proofs of confidence manifested to me by themselves and their +predecessors since my call to the administration, and the many +indulgences experienced at their hands. The same grateful +acknowledgments are due to my fellow citizens generally, whose +support has been my great encouragement under all embarrassments. In +the transaction of their business I cannot have escaped error. It is +incident to our imperfect nature. But I may say with truth, my +errors have been of the understanding, not of intention; and that the +advancement of their rights and interests has been the constant +motive for every measure. On these considerations I solicit their +indulgence. Looking forward with anxiety to their future destinies, +I trust that, in their steady character unshaken by difficulties, in +their love of liberty, obedience to law, and support of the public +authorities, I see a sure guaranty of the permanence of our republic; +and retiring from the charge of their affairs, I carry with me the +consolation of a firm persuasion that Heaven has in store for our +beloved country long ages to come of prosperity and happiness. + + + + + + _To the Inhabitants of Albemarle County, in Virginia_ + + April 3, 1809 + + Returning to the scenes of my birth and early life, to the +society of those with whom I was raised, and who have been ever dear +to me, I receive, fellow citizens and neighbors, with inexpressible +pleasure, the cordial welcome you are so good as to give me. Long +absent on duties which the history of a wonderful era made incumbent +on those called to them, the pomp, the turmoil, the bustle and +splendor of office, have drawn but deeper sighs for the tranquil and +irresponsible occupations of private life, for the enjoyment of an +affectionate intercourse with you, my neighbors and friends, and the +endearments of family love, which nature has given us all, as the +sweetener of every hour. For these I gladly lay down the distressing +burthen of power, and seek, with my fellow citizens, repose and +safety under the watchful cares, the labors, and perplexities of +younger and abler minds. The anxieties you express to administer to +my happiness, do, of themselves, confer that happiness; and the +measure will be complete, if my endeavors to fulfil my duties in the +several public stations to which I have been called, have obtained +for me the approbation of my country. The part which I have acted on +the theatre of public life, has been before them; and to their +sentence I submit it; but the testimony of my native country, of the +individuals who have known me in private life, to my conduct in its +various duties and relations, is the more grateful, as proceeding +from eye witnesses and observers, from triers of the vicinage. Of +you, then, my neighbors, I may ask, in the face of the world, "whose +ox have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed, or +of whose hand have I received a bribe to blind mine eyes therewith?" +On your verdict I rest with conscious security. Your wishes for my +happiness are received with just sensibility, and I offer sincere +prayers for your own welfare and prosperity. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/adlchek.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/adlchek.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0fb45308 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/adlchek.txt @@ -0,0 +1,437 @@ + History of Information Sharing With Israel + + Bullock's attorney turned over to investigators an FBI +intelligence report on the Nation of Islam whose disappearance +had caused alarm at the bureau. The search of ADL offices in San +Francisco and Los Angeles turned up more FBI materials, including +a three-volume report on a Middle East terrorist group. Moreover, +Bullock's written reports to the ADL, which he said were +channeled across the country, contained legally confidential +material that he attributed to "official friends," the ADL's +euphemism for law enforcement officers. + While denying that the ADL spies on individuals, Foxman testily +argued in an interview that the organization has a right to do +whatever it must within the law to combat antisemitism. "What are +they [the FBI volumes] doing in our files?" Foxman said. "Because +they belong in our files. ... because somebody shared it with +us." + Since news of the investigation broke, a group of Arab +Americans listed in the ADL's files has charged in a civil +lawsuit that the ADL invaded the Arab Americans' privacy with its +"massive spying operation" and forwarded confidential information +to the governments of Israel and South Africa. + Evidence of the ADL's information sharing with the Israeli +government is largely historical. In 1961, former ADL national +director Benjamin R. Epstein wrote to a B'nai B'rith official +that the ADL was following Arab diplomats and activists in +America and sharing its information with the governments of +Israel and the United States. + In his 1988 autobiography, ADL general counsel Arnold Forster, +who oversaw the fact-finding operation, described how "fact- +finding and counteraction became the heart of the organization." +He also wrote that he was often a "source" for the Mossad, +Israel's CIA, in tracking down suspected war criminals. + "ADL does not act as an agent of Israel," said Foxman, +bristling at the charge. He called such questions about ADL's +conduct "antisemitism. ... I'm sorry if it offends some people. +This is far reaching. We see a conspiracy. I see a conspiracy. +It's out there ... it's proved itself every day." + Underlying the San Francisco case is a gradual evolution in the +ADL's mission. Soon after the organization was founded, the 1915 +lynching of Leo Frank, a leader of the Atlanta chapter of the +Jewish fraternal organization B'nai B'rith, caused the group to +focus much of its energy on protecting the physical safety of +Jews by publicly exposing bigotry and forcing officials to act. + Organized intelligence gathering was a natural outgrowth. In +the 1930s, the ADL "undertook a massive research operation which +uncovered the interlocking directorates of hate groups, their +links to Hitler's Germany and other centers of Nazi propaganda," +according to an ADL account. In the civil rights era, it worked +in concert with the FBI to combat the Ku Klux Klan. + In 1975, the ADL issued a report entitled "Target U.S.A.: The +Arab Propaganda Offensive" that described how mainstream Arab- +American groups were allied with non-Arab "apologists" such as +"some church people, clergy and lay, a number of university-based +intellectuals and scholars, plus elements in the liberal +community ... some groups formerly active in the antiwar movement +during the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, plus the extreme Left, +Old and New, segments of the political Far Right, and the +traditional anti-Jewish hate fringe . . . and a small number of +anti-Israel, anti-Zionist Jews." + Once this broad rationale took hold, the civil rights watchdog +increasingly devoted its investigative apparatus to +"counteracting" what it calls "anti-Israel" sentiment or "the new +antisemitism" in the United States. + In practice, this means the ADL keeps track of politically +active Americans or groups that repeatedly criticize Israel or +lobby for Palestinian rights. The ADL argues that any threat to +Israel's "image" in America endangers the $3 billion annual +package of U.S. military and economic aid to Israel and thereby +jeopardizes the long-term fate of all Jews. + "I understand that it's difficult for other people to +understand," said Foxman, but a "viable, safe, secure haven" in +Israel is "part and parcel of the safety and security and +survival of the Jewish people." + Bullock's work as described in the lengthy transcripts of his +interviews with police and in FBI summaries of his +statements tracks the shift in the ADL's emphasis. In the 1960s +and 1970s, he focused primarily on tradtional organized +antisemitic extremist organizations. But during the 1980s, +Bullock said he increasingly focused on groups critical of +Israeli policies, such as anti-apartheid groups, but not overtly +antisemitic. + + Bullock's computer database grew to include more than 10,000 +names of individuals and hundreds of political, social and +business groups, including some that had worked closely with the +ADL. But his primary concentration was on groups he labeled +"Right," "Arabs," "Pinkos," and "Skins." He acknowledged sharing +his information with law enforcement, a fact investigators +confirmed when they searched Gerard's police department files and +found duplicates of Bullock's files. Bullock told police that ADL +officials knew about his database. + Bullock said he got "checks regular once-a-week" from the ADL +that were paid through Los Angeles attorney Bruce Hochman. +Hochman said in an interview that he paid Bullock at the ADL's +request to protect the undercover role. + Bullock told police that he met Gerard at a meeting at the San +Francisco ADL office and that executive director Richard +Hirschhaut was aware that Gerard was a key source. + The ADL dispatched Bullock on special assignments to Chicago +and Germany. For a particularly sensitive operation he said he +got the approval of Irwin Suall, national director of fact +finding. Both officials have come under scrutiny in the +investigation. Suall and Hirschhaut declined comment. + Bullock told police he was the ADL's "resident expert" on +antisemitism in San Francisco and maintained the ADL office +files. He said he was the only "fact finder, spy, whatever you +want to call me, on the West Coast." + Bullock monitored several of the groups profiled in the ADL's +published reports, occasional exposes that are a blend of +advocacy journalism and intelligence briefings. In 1987, Bullock +volunteered to work on a march of the Mobilization for Jobs, +Peace and Justice, a coalition of liberal groups that included +the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), according +to director Carl Finamore. + "He [Bullock] just showed up at our office one day to help. He +comes in, he's friendly, insinuates himself, asserts himself, +tells a little bit about his personal background to get you +interested in him as a human being, makes suggestions," Finamore +said. + + Some `Material Is Clearly Contraband' + + The ADL wanted information on the ADC, a group that challenges +defamatory Arab stereotypes, because it considered the +organization a "highly active pro-PLO propaganda group." An ADL +report said the ADC's members favor "political support for +suspected PLO terrorists residing in the U.S." + Bullock also volunteered at the ADC's San Francisco Bay Area +chapter, where he carried banners, helped with crowd control +during demonstrations and took photographs, according to Osama +Doumani, who at the time served as the ADC's regional director. +"He would come to my office and he would hug me in a comradely +fashion and volunteer for work. He wanted to have a presence +whenever we had something important," he said. + The ADL has labored to draw a distinction between Bullock's +more controversial activities and work he was authorized to do +for ADL, leaving investigators largely unconvinced. + In a court affidavit, San Francisco Police Inspector Ronald +Roth said that based on a comparison of Bullock's database with +the seized ADL records, "It is believed that Bullock's databases +are in fact the ADL databases." + Assistant District Attorney Thomas Dwyer argued in court that +"some of that [ADL] material is clearly contraband." The ADL, he +said, does not "have the right to rap sheet photographs; they do +not have the right to people's fingerprint cards." + But Foxman and other ADL officials say its fact finders +basically employ the methods of investigative journalists, taking +notes at public meetings, culling published material for facts, +and cultivating law enforcement sources, in order to publish +important exposes about bigotry and prejudice. + "It's a First Amendment right," Foxman said. "We have a right +to gather information and to disseminate it. ... We look at +pieces. We look at individuals. We look at ideologies." + + [end] + + + + The Washington Post + October 19, 1993 + page A13 + + EVOLUTION OF THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE + + FULL NAME: Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith. + + MISSION: "The immediate object of the league is to stop, by + appeals to reason and conscience, and if necessary, by + appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people and + to secure justice and fair treatment to all citizens + alike." (ADL founding charter, 1913) + + ORGANIZATION: National director Abraham H. Foxman oversees 200 + staff members who work in New York, Washington, and 30 + regional offices in major cities. About 15,000 ADL + supporters donate time, money and advice. + + BUDGET: $31 million in 1992, chiefly raised through donations to + the ADL, which is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit + foundation established for educational purposes. + + BRIEF HISTORY: + + 1913 A group of Jewish attorneys in Chicago forms the ADL, + using a grant from B'nai B'rith, an international + fraternal organization. + + 1915 Lynching of Atlanta B'nai B'rith leader Leo Frank + galvanizes the ADL to work toward protecting the physical + safety of Jews. + + 1930s The ADL leads the U.S. fight against pro-Fascist groups + and "America First" isolationists, establishing a pattern + in which ADL research was shared with federal agencies. + + 1940s The ADL emphasizes involvement in civil rights + litigation, contesting harsh immigration policies and + opposing restrictive covenants that prevented Jews from + moving into desirable neighborhoods. + + 1950s The ADL supplies federal agencies with information on + alleged subversives, but also challenges Sen. Joseph R. + McCarthy (R-Wis.) and works quietly to clear those + wrongly accused of being communists or their + sympathizers. + + 1960s The ADL works closely with law enforcement authorities + on various types of civil rights litigation. It forms + department of Middle Eastern affairs after the Six Day + War in 1967 underscores Israel's vulnerability. + + 1970s The ADL increasingly focuses on the threat to Israel of + pro-Arab or anti-Israel advocates in the United States, + especially their efforts to persuade the United States to + end its military assistance to Israel. + + 1980s The ADL emerges as a vigorous member of the pro-Israel + lobby, even as it continues to investigate left- and + right-wing extremist groups. It develops a model for hate + crimes legislation, which recently was upheld by the U.S. + Supreme Court. + +Recent ADL reports: In addition to its annual audits of antisemitic +incidents, the ADL has published reports that discussed the views of +such diverse figures as Patrick J. Buchanan, David Duke, Lyndon H. +LaRouche, Jr., and Louis Farrakhan. It has issued studies on +antisemitic sentiment among black nationalist and left-wing radicals; +the continuing activities of Ku Klux Klan leaders, the pursuit of +Nazi war criminals, the phenomenon of Skinheads and several reports +on what it calls the "anti-Israel Lobby" or pro-Arab propaganda +groups in the United States. + + + Compiled by Barbara J. Saffir from news services and ADL. + + [end] + +The Washington Post +October 19, 1993 +page A12 + + Case of the Critical Librarians + + Research on Bibliographer Used to Counter Vote on Israeli Censorship + +by Jim McGee + + Reference librarian David L. Williams says he learned firsthand how +the ADL's fact-finding operation uses information to counteract +critics of Israel. + Williams, who works at the Chicago Public Library, was listed in +ADL fact finder Roy H. Bullock's files as an "Arab" activist. +Involved in liberal causes since the Vietnam War, Williams in 1977 +joined the Palestine Human Rights Campaign (PHRC), a Chicago-based +group that published a newsletter about what it considered human +rights abuses by Israel. The ADL has described the PHRC as an "anti- +Israeli propaganda group." + The Chicago ADL office built up a file on Williams, according to +Barry Morrison, who headed the city's ADL office at the time. Bullock +told the FBI that he was sent to Chicago on special assignment +specifically to investigate the PHRC. Williams's name was listed in +the database that Bullock shared with a San Francisco police +intelligence officer, Thomas Gerard. + Williams's interest in the rights of Palestinians dovetailed with +his duties at the Chicago Public Library, where he was assigned to +order books on the Middle East. In 1989, Williams prepared an in- +house bibliography for the Chicago library system on the Palestinian- +Israeli conflict. + The ADL thought the bibliography was weighted in favor of the pro- +Palestinian authors and went to Williams's superiors with its +information on his political activities. + Williams also was a member of the American Library Association +(ALA), which for years has approved resolutions condemning censorship +in other countries. In 1992, Williams and other ALA members persuaded +the association to adopt a resolution criticizing Israeli censorship +in the occupied territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. + Morrison met privately with ALA officials to argue that a +resolution singling out Israel was unfair and laid out the ADL's +information on Williams. ALA President Marilyn Miller said she told +the ADL officials that "we don't censor our own members." + "Obviously I felt strongly that ALA should take a stand on this or +I wouldn't have gone to them with this," Williams said. "... They +[the ADL] equate that with antisemitism." + In February, the ADL issued a news release condemning the ALA for +its failure to retract what the ADL called a "false and biased anti- +Israel resolution." The release noted that the ADL "fights +antisemitism and all forms of bigotry." + "When we ultimately found that despite numerous efforts that we had +failed, then we chose to condemn and attack the ALA," Morrison said. +"Ultimately their officials are responsible for the image, reputation +and stature of their organization." + "I think they [the ALA] were made to feel that they were in danger +of being condemned for being antisemitic for voicing any kind of +criticism of Israel," said Mark Rosenweig, a Jewish librarian from +New York who supported the ALA's censorship resolution. + The ADL began working at the "grass-roots level," according to +Morrison, encouraging Jewish librarians in the library association to +push for retraction of the measure. An ALA group called the Jewish +Librarians Committee took the lead; a fact sheet prepared by the ADL +was distributed to ALA members. In June, at its annual convention in +New Orleans, the ALA revoked the Israeli censorship resolution. + "ADL did not engage in any form of pressure or intimidation ...," +said Kenneth Jacobson, the ADL's director of international affairs. +"We recognize and respect the First Amendment rights of Israel's +critics in this country and fully exercise our own free speech +rights. There is nothing illegal, improper, or clandestine about our +efforts and nothing merits our apology." + + [end] + + +The Washington Times +October 19, 1993 +page A13 + + Loudoun Investigator's Mission: An Expenses-Paid Trip to Israel + +by Robert O'Harrow, Jr. + + For much of his career, Donald Moore was an investigator with +the Loudoun County sheriff's department. He loved undercover +surveillance, and sometimes went through trash dumpsters in a +furtive search for clues. + For eight days in May 1991, More became a police emissary of +sorts on an all-expenses paid "mission" to Israel sponsored by +the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of B'nai B'rith. He and 11 other +American officers, including some from the District and +Montgomery County, received a military briefing and shared ideas +with national police leaders. + Two years later, the trip and other ADL-sponsored missions came +under scrutiny by the San Francisco District Attorney's office, +which has been examining whether the ADL granted favors to peace +officers to encourage them to share confidential police +information with the organization. + One officer who went along on Moore's trip, former San +Francisco inspector Thomas Gerard, has pleaded not guilty to +felony charges that he passed along police information to +longtime ADL operative Roy H. Bullock. + Authorities say Moore and the other officers on the May 1991 +trip are not targets of the investigation; at least three of the +officers have been interviewed by the FBI or police authorities +in California. + Bullock has said the ADL had "numerous peace officers" +supplying confidential criminal records and other information, +court records show. Some civil rights groups and privacy rights +experts say they fear the ADL, and possibly other private groups, +quietly have supplemented police intelligence-gathering by doing +investigative work off limits to police. + "That is a real question that we have, not only in San +Francisco, but also in other communities," said John Crew, an +American Civil Liberties Union attorney. + ADL officials acknowledge they have worked closely with law +enforcement on investigating bias crimes, police training, and +drafting hate crimes legislation. But they say such cooperation +is part of the organization's civic duty and deny knowingly +accepting illegal information. "There's nothing that we do that +is sinister and there's nothing that we do that is against the +law," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL's national director. + Moore and other officers say they often have turned to the ADL +for help, but not to the point of sharing restricted information. +Moore was fired last year in an unrelated incident after +sheriff's officials said he was found going through private phone +messages. He was acquitted last year of charges that he helped +plan an abduction of Lewis du Pont Smith, an heir to the du Pont +fortune and a longtime follower of political extremist Lyndon H. +LaRouche Jr. + It was his investigation of LaRouche that brought Moore into +close contact with the ADL. In 1986, he was assigned to +investigate LaRouche followers after the group moved its +headquarters to Leesburg in Loudoun County. + Working as a local point man in an investigation that +eventually involved federal agents in several cities, Moore set +up a computer database in Leesburg listing LaRouche associates +and cultivated local residents to help track their movements. + Moore began working with ADL fact finder Mira Boland, who +joined the ADL in 1982 and was assigned to cultivate law +enforcement sources. Boland is now widely known among police as a +source of reliable tips, sometimes from "snitches" who infiltrate +hate groups. Boland declined repeated requests to be interviewed, +saying ADL leaders denied her permission. + Beginning in 1986, court records show, Boland said she began +sharing information on LaRouche with Moore and other Loudoun +sheriff's deputies. The two regularly exchanged details about +LaRouche, including clips from his groups' publications and +county gun permit records. + When LaRouche was convicted of conspiracy and mail fraud in +1988 in Alexandria, the ADL celebrated with prosecutors, Moore +and others involved in the case. Boland has a photo of the +celebration in her office. + + Transcripts of a recent federal wiretap of Moore's telephone on +an unrelated case describe his relationship with the ADL. "I need +to find a guy the ADL had a little old woman knocking on his +apartment in New York two hours after I had asked," Moore said on +the recording, court papers show. "I told the feds exactly where, +when and how to get him. And he was got." + Moore said in an interview that he has never passed along +restricted records to the ADL. "Did I share any information with +them? Nothing that wasn't public information," he said. + Despite questions raised by investigators about ADL's tactics, +Washington area police agencies praise the group. They say +Boland's fact-finding office in the District and the publications +it produces are helpful in researching extremist groups. + In Maryland, the District and Virginia, for instance, police +are not allowed to create files on individuals or groups solely +because of their political or racial views. The ADL has no such +restraints, police say. ADL officials say fact finders such as +Boland work in the same ways as journalists. + "In one way, it's like another law enforcement agency," said +Lt. Tim Boyle, of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police in +Montgomery, who went on the 1991 ADL trip to Israel. "They can +tell you who the leaders are, when they started, that type of +thing. They have no restrictions on them." + Boyle turned to the ADL in 1989 when a teenager of Asian +descent was taunted as a "gook" and attacked with steel-toed +boots by a gang of Skinheads. + When one of the gang leaders disappeared, the ADL offered to +use its sources to help find him, Boyle said. Eventually, using a +young undercover operative, the ADL infiltrated the Skinheads and +found the suspect, who was arrested in Pittsburgh. + Much of the ADL's work with law enforcement goes beyond +investigations. In New Jersey, the ADL helped the state attorney +general's office produce a hate-crime training video, now +circulated to some 700 police agencies across the country. The +ADL also helps police draft legislation to curb hate crimes. + The ADL views its special police missions to Israel as another +intensive training activity, giving officers a chance to meet +with top Israeli police, intelligence officers and political +leaders. + "They have been our unofficial consultant," said James +Mulvihill, a New Jersey assistant attorney general who speaks +with ADL officials on an almost weekly basis. "I regard them as +the premier prejudice fighting organization. + + [end] + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/age0int.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/age0int.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fdb184da --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/age0int.txt @@ -0,0 +1,846 @@ + 13 page printout + + THE AGE OF REASON. + EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION. + + + WITH SOME RESULTS OF RECENT RESEARCHES. + + IN the opening year, 1793, when revolutionary France had +beheaded its king, the wrath turned next upon the King of kings, by +whose grace every tyrant claimed to reign. But eventualities had +brought among them a great English and American heart -- Thomas +Paine. He had pleaded for Louis Caper -- "Kill the king but spare +the man." Now he pleaded, -- "Disbelieve in the King of kings, but +do not confuse with that idol the Father of Mankind!" + + In Paine's Preface to the Second Part of "The Age of Reason" +he describes himself as writing the First Part near the close of +the year 1793. "I had not finished it more than six hours, in the +state it has since appeared, before a guard came about three in the +morning, with an order signed by the two Committees of Public +Safety and Surety General, for putting me in arrestation." This was +on the morning of December 28. But it is necessary to weigh the +words just quoted -- "in the state it has since appeared." For on +August 5, 1794, Francois Lanthenas, in an appeal for Paine's +liberation, wrote as follows: "I deliver to Merlin de Thionville a +copy of the last work of T. Payne [The Age of Reason], formerly our +colleague, and in custody since the decree excluding foreigners +from the national representation. This book was written by the +author in the beginning of the year '93 (old style). I undertook +its translation before the revolution against priests, and it was +published in French about the same time. Couthon, to whom I sent +it, seemed offended with me for having translated this work." + + Under the frown of Couthon, one of the most atrocious +colleagues of Robespierre, this early publication seems to have +been so effectually suppressed that no copy bearing that date, +1793, can be found in France or elsewhere. In Paine's letter to +Samuel Adams, printed in the present volume, he says that he had it +translated into French, to stay the progress of atheism, and that +he endangered his life "by opposing atheism." The time indicated by +Lanthenas as that in which he submitted the work to Couthon would +appear to be the latter part of March, 1793, the fury against the +priesthood having reached its climax in the decrees against them of +March 19 and 26. If the moral deformity of Couthon, even greater +than that of his body, be remembered, and the readiness with which +death was inflicted for the most theoretical opinion not approved +by the "Mountain," it will appear probable that the offence given +Couthon by Paine's book involved danger to him and his translator. +On May 31, when the Girondins were accused, the name of Lanthenas +was included, and he barely escaped; and on the same day Danton +persuaded Paine not to appear in the Convention, as his life might +be in danger. Whether this was because of the "Age of Reason," with +its fling at the "Goddess Nature" or not, the statements of author +and translator are harmonized by the fact that Paine prepared the +manuscript, with considerable additions and changes, for +publication in English, as he has stated in the Preface to Part II. + + + + + + Bank of Wisdom + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 1 + THE AGE OF REASON. + EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION. + + A comparison of the French and English versions, sentence by +sentence, proved to me that the translation sent by Lanthenas to +Merlin de Thionville in 1794 is the same as that he sent to Couthon +in 1793. This discovery was the means of recovering several +interesting sentences of the original work. I have given as +footnotes translations of such clauses and phrases of the French +work as appeared to be important. Those familiar with the +translations of Lanthenas need not be reminded that he was too much +of a literalist to depart from the manuscript before him, and +indeed he did not even venture to alter it in an instance +(presently considered) where it was obviously needed. Nor would +Lanthenas have omitted any of the paragraphs lacking in his +translation. This original work was divided into seventeen +chapters, and these I have restored, translating their headings +into English. The "Age of Reason" is thus for the first time given +to the world with nearly its original completeness. + + It should be remembered that Paine could not have read the +proof of his "Age of Reason" (Part I.) which went through the press +while he was in prison. To this must be ascribed the permanence of +some sentences as abbreviated in the haste he has described. A +notable instance is the dropping out of his estimate of Jesus the +words rendered by Lanthenas "trop peu imite, trop oublie, trop +meconnu." The addition of these words to Paine's tribute makes it +the more notable that almost the only recognition of the human +character and life of Jesus by any theological writer of that +generation came from one long branded as an infidel. + + To the inability of the prisoner to give his work any revision +must be attributed the preservation in it of the singular error +already alluded to, as one that Lanthenas, but for his extreme +fidelity, would have corrected. This is Paine's repeated mention of +six planets, and enumeration of them, twelve years after the +discovery of Uranus. Paine was a devoted student of astronomy, and +it cannot for a moment be supposed that he had not participated in +the universal welcome of Herschel's discovery. The omission of any +allusion to it convinces me that the astronomical episode was +printed from a manuscript written before 1781, when Uranus was +discovered. Unfamiliar with French in 1793, Paine might not have +discovered the erratum in Lanthenas' translation, and, having no +time for copying, he would naturally use as much as possible of the +same manuscript in preparing his work for English readers. But he +had no opportunity of revision, and there remains an erratum which, +if my conjecture be correct, casts a significant light on the +paragraphs in which he alludes to the preparation of the work. He +states that soon after his publication of "Common Sense" (1776), he +"saw the exceeding probability that a revolution in the system of +government would be followed by a revolution in the system of +religion," and that "man would return to the pure, unmixed, and +unadulterated belief of one God and no more." He tells Samuel Adams +that it had long been his intention to publish his thoughts upon +religion, and he had made a similar remark to John Adams in 1776. +Like the Quakers among whom he was reared Paine could then readily +use the phrase "word of God" for anything in the Bible which +approved itself to his "inner light," and as he had drawn from the +first Book of Samuel a divine condemnation of monarchy, John Adams, +a Unitarian, asked him if he believed in the inspiration of the Old + + + Bank of Wisdom + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 2 + THE AGE OF REASON. + EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION. + +Testament. Paine replied that he did not, and at a later period +meant to publish his views on the subject. There is little doubt +that he wrote from time to time on religious points, during the +American war, without publishing his thoughts, just as he worked on +the problem of steam navigation, in which he had invented a +practicable method (ten years before John Fitch made his discovery) +without publishing it. At any rate it appears to me certain that +the part of "The Age of Reason" connected with Paine's favorite +science, astronomy, was written before 1781, when Uranus was +discovered. + + Paine's theism, however invested with biblical and Christian +phraseology, was a birthright. It appears clear from several +allusions in "The Age of Reason" to the Quakers that in his early +life, or before the middle of the eighteenth century, the people so +called were substantially Deists. An interesting confirmation of +Paine's statements concerning them appears as I write in an account +sent by Count Leo Tolstoi to the London 'Times' of the Russian sect +called Dukhobortsy (The Times, October 23, 1895). This sect sprang +up in the last century, and the narrative says: + + "The first seeds of the teaching called afterwards +'Dukhoborcheskaya' were sown by a foreigner, a Quaker, who came to +Russia. The fundamental idea of his Quaker teaching was that in the +soul of man dwells God himself, and that He himself guides man by +His inner word. God lives in nature physically and in man's soul +spiritually. To Christ, as to an historical personage, the +Dukhobortsy do not ascribe great importance ... Christ was God's +son, but only in the sense in which we call, ourselves 'sons of +God.' The purpose of Christ's sufferings was no other than to show +us an example of suffering for truth. The Quakers who, in 1818, +visited the Dukhobortsy, could not agree with them upon these +religious subjects; and when they heard from them their opinion +about Jesus Christ (that he was a man), exclaimed 'Darkness!' From +the Old and New Testaments,' they say, 'we take only what is +useful,' mostly the moral teaching. ... The moral ideas of the +Dukhobortsy are the following: -- All men are, by nature, equal; +external distinctions, whatsoever they may be, are worth nothing. +This idea of men's equality the Dukhoborts have directed further, +against the State authority. ... Amongst themselves they hold +subordination, and much more, a monarchical Government, to be +contrary to their ideas." + + Here is an early Hicksite Quakerism carried to Russia long +before the birth of Elias Hicks, who recovered it from Paine, to +whom the American Quakers refused burial among them. Although Paine +arraigned the union of Church and State, his ideal Republic was +religious; it was based on a conception of equality based on the +divine son-ship of every man. This faith underlay equally his +burden against claims to divine partiality by a "Chosen People," a +Priesthood, a Monarch "by the grace of God," or an Aristocracy. +Paine's "Reason" is only an expansion of the Quaker's "inner +light"; and the greater impression, as compared with previous +republican and deistic writings made by his "Rights of Man" and +"Age of Reason" (really volumes of one work), is partly explained +by the apostolic fervor which made him a spiritual, successor of +George Fox. + + + Bank of Wisdom + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 3 + THE AGE OF REASON. + EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION. + + Paine's mind was by no means skeptical, it was eminently +instructive. That he should have waited until his fifty-seventh +year before publishing his religious convictions was due to a +desire to work out some positive and practicable system to take the +place of that which he believed was crumbling. The English engineer +Hall, who assisted Paine in making the model of his iron bridge, +wrote to his friends in England, in 1786: "My employer has Common +Sense enough to disbelieve most of the common systematic theories +of Divinity, but does not seem to establish any for himself." But +five years later Paine was able to lay the corner-stone of his +temple: "With respect to religion itself, without regard to names, +and as directing itself from the universal family of mankind to the +'Divine object of all adoration, it is man bringing to his Maker +the fruits of his heart; and though those fruits may differ from +each other like the fruits of the earth, the grateful tribute of +every one, is accepted." ("Rights of Man." See my edition of +Paine's Writings, ii., p. 326.) Here we have a reappearance of +George Fox confuting the doctor in America who "denied the light +and Spirit of God to be in every one; and affirmed that it was not +in the Indians. Whereupon I called an Indian to us, and asked him +'whether or not, when he lied, or did wrong to anyone, there was +not something in him that reproved him for it?' He said, 'There was +such a thing in him that did so reprove him; and he was ashamed +when he had done wrong, or spoken wrong.' So we shamed the doctor +before the governor and the people." (Journal of George Fox, +September 1672.) + + Paine, who coined the phrase "Religion of Humanity (The +Crisis, vii., 1778), did but logically defend it in "The Age of +Reason," by denying a special revelation to any particular tribe, +or divine authority in any particular creed of church; and the +centenary of this much-abused publication has been celebrated by a +great conservative champion of Church and State, Mr. Balfour, who, +in his "Foundations of Belief," affirms that "inspiration" cannot +be denied to the great Oriental teachers, unless grapes may be +gathered from thorns. + + The centenary of the complete publication of "The Age of +Reason," (October 25, 1795), was also celebrated at the Church +Congress, Norwich, on October 10, 1895, when Professor Bonney, +F.R.S., Canon of Manchester, read a paper in which he said: "I +cannot deny that the increase of scientific knowledge has deprived +parts of the earlier books of the Bible of the historical value +which was generally attributed to them by our forefathers. The +story of Creation in the Book of Genesis, unless we play fast and +loose either with words or with science, cannot be brought into +harmony with what we have learnt from geology. Its ethnological +statements are imperfect, if not sometimes inaccurate. The stories +of the Fall, of the Flood, and of the Tower of Babel, are +incredible in their present form. Some historical element may +underlie many of the traditions in the first eleven chapters in +that book, but this we cannot hope to recover." Canon Bonney +proceeded to say of the New Testament also, that the Gospels are +not so far as we know, strictly contemporaneous records, so we must +admit the possibility of variations and even inaccuracies in +details being introduced by oral tradition." The Canon thinks the +interval too short for these importations to be serious, but that + + + Bank of Wisdom + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 4 + THE AGE OF REASON. + EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION. + +any question of this kind is left open proves the Age of Reason +fully upon us. Reason alone can determine how many texts are as +spurious as the three heavenly witnesses (i John v. 7), and like it +"serious" enough to have cost good men their lives, and persecutors +their charities. When men interpolate, it is because they believe +their interpolation seriously needed. It will be seen by a note in +Part II. of the work, that Paine calls attention to an +interpolation introduced into the first American edition without +indication of its being an editorial footnote. This footnote was: +"The book of Luke was carried by a majority of one only. Vide +Moshelm's Ecc. History." Dr. Priestley, then in America, answered +Paine's work, and in quoting less than a page from the "Age of +Reason" he made three alterations, -- one of which changed "church +mythologists" into "Christian mythologists," -- and also raised the +editorial footnote into the text, omitting the reference to +Mosheim. Having done this, Priestley writes: "As to the gospel of +Luke being carried by a majority of one only, it is a legend, if +not of Mr. Paine's own invention, of no better authority whatever." +And so on with further castigation of the author for what he never +wrote, and which he himself (Priestley) was the unconscious means +of introducing into the text within the year of Paine's +publication. + + If this could be done, unintentionally by a conscientious and +exact man, and one not unfriendly to Paine, if such a writer as +Priestley could make four mistakes in citing half a page, it will +appear not very wonderful when I state that in a modern popular +edition of "The Age of Reason," including both parts, I have noted +about five hundred deviations from the original. These were mainly +the accumulated efforts of friendly editors to improve Paine's +grammar or spelling; some were misprints, or developed out of such; +and some resulted from the sale in London of a copy of Part Second +surreptitiously made from the manuscript. These facts add +significance to Paine's footnote (itself altered in some +editions!), in which he says: "If this has happened within such a +short space of time, notwithstanding the aid of printing, which +prevents the alteration of copies individually; what may not have +happened in a much greater length of time, when there was no +printing, and when any man who could write, could make a written +copy, and call it an original, by Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. + + Nothing appears to me more striking, as an illustration of the +far-reaching effects of traditional prejudice, than the errors into +which some of our ablest contemporary scholars have fallen by +reason of their not having studied Paine. Professor Huxley, for +instance, speaking of the freethinkers of the eighteenth century, +admires the acuteness, common sense, wit, and the broad humanity of +the best of them, but says "there is rarely much to be said for +their work as an example of the adequate treatment of a grave and +difficult investigation," and that they shared with their +adversaries "to the full the fatal weakness of a priori +philosophizing." [NOTE: Science and Christian Tradition, p. 18 +(Lon. ed., 1894).] Professor Huxley does not name Paine, evidently +because he knows nothing about him. Yet Paine represents the +turning-point of the historical freethinking movement; he renounced +the 'a priori' method, refused to pronounce anything impossible +outside pure mathematics, rested everything on evidence, and really + + + Bank of Wisdom + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 5 + THE AGE OF REASON. + EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION. + +founded the Huxleyan school. He plagiarized by anticipation many +things from the rationalistic leaders of our time, from Strauss and +Baur (being the first to expatiate on "Christian Mythology"), from +Renan (being the first to attempt recovery of the human Jesus), and +notably from Huxley, who has repeated Paine's arguments on the +untrustworthiness of the biblical manuscripts and canon, on the +inconsistencies of the narratives of Christ's resurrection, and +various other points. None can be more loyal to the memory of +Huxley than the present writer, and it is even because of my sense +of his grand leadership that he is here mentioned as a typical +instance of the extent to which the very elect of free-thought may +be unconsciously victimized by the phantasm with which they are +contending. He says that Butler overthrew freethinkers of the +eighteenth century type, but Paine was of the nineteenth century +type; and it was precisely because of his critical method that he +excited more animosity than his deistical predecessors. He +compelled the apologists to defend the biblical narratives in +detail, and thus implicitly acknowledge the tribunal of reason and +knowledge to which they were summoned. The ultimate answer by +police was a confession of judgment. A hundred years ago England +was suppressing Paine's works, and many an honest Englishman has +gone to prison for printing and circulating his "Age of Reason." +The same views are now freely expressed; they are heard in the +seats of learning, and even in the Church Congress; but the +suppression of Paine, begun by bigotry and ignorance, is continued +in the long indifference of the representatives of our Age of +Reason to their pioneer and founder. It is a grievous loss to them +and to their cause. It is impossible to understand the religious +history of England, and of America, without studying the phases of +their evolution represented in the writings of Thomas Paine, in the +controversies that grew out of them with such practical +accompaniments as the foundation of the Theophilanthropist Church +in Paris and New York, and of the great rationalist wing of +Quakerism in America. + + Whatever may be the case with scholars in our time, those of +Paine's time took the "Age of Reason" very seriously indeed. +Beginning with the learned Dr. Richard Watson, Bishop of Llandaff, +a large number of learned men replied to Paine's work, and it +became a signal for the commencement of those concessions, on the +part of theology, which have continued to our time; and indeed the +so-called "Broad Church" is to some extent an outcome of "The Age +of Reason." It would too much enlarge this Introduction to cite +here the replies made to Paine (thirty-six are catalogued in the +British Museum), but it may be remarked that they were notably +free, as a rule, from the personalities that raged in the pulpits. +I must venture to quote one passage from his very learned +antagonist, the Rev. Gilbert Wakefield, B.A., "late Fellow of Jesus +College, Cambridge." Wakefield, who had resided in London during +all the Paine panic, and was well acquainted with the slanders +uttered against the author of "Rights of Man," indirectly brands +them in answering Paine's argument that the original and +traditional unbelief of the Jews, among whom the alleged miracles +were wrought, is an important evidence against them. The learned +divine writes: + + + + + Bank of Wisdom + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 6 + THE AGE OF REASON. + EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION. + + "But the subject before us admits of further illustration from +the example of Mr. Paine himself. In this country, where his +opposition to the corruptions of government has raised him so many +adversaries, and such a swarm of unprincipled hirelings have +exerted themselves in blackening his character and in +misrepresenting all the transactions and incidents of his life, +will it not be a most difficult, nay an impossible task, for +posterity, after a lapse of 1700 years, if such a wreck of modern +literature as that of the ancient, should intervene, to identify +the real circumstances, moral and civil, of the man? And will a +true historian, such as the Evangelists, be credited at that future +period against such a predominant incredulity, without large and +mighty accessions of collateral attestation? And how transcendently +extraordinary, I had almost said miraculous, will it be estimated +by candid and reasonable minds, that a writer whose object was a +melioration of condition to the common people, and their +deliverance from oppression, poverty, wretchedness, to the +numberless blessings of upright and equal government, should be +reviled, persecuted, and burned in effigy, with every circumstance +of insult and execration, by these very objects of his benevolent +intentions, in every corner of the kingdom?" + + After the execution of Louis XVI., for whose life Paine +pleaded so earnestly, -- while in England he was denounced as an +accomplice in the deed, -- he devoted himself to the preparation of +a Constitution, and also to gathering up his religious compositions +and adding to them. This manuscript I suppose to have been prepared +in what was variously known as White's Hotel or Philadelphia House, +in Paris, No. 7 Passage des Petits Peres. This compilation of early +and fresh manuscripts (if my theory be correct) was labelled, "The +Age of Reason," and given for translation to Francois Lanthenas in +March 1793. It is entered, in Qudrard (La France Literaire) under +the year 1793, but with the title "L'Age de la Raison" instead of +that which it bore in 1794, "Le Siecle de la Raison." The latter, +printed "Au Burcau de l'imprimerie, rue du Theatre-Francais, No. +4," is said to be by "Thomas Paine, Citoyen et cultivateur de +I'Amerique septentrionale, secretaire du Congres du departement des +affaires etrangeres pendant la guerre d'Amerique, et auteur des +ouvrages intitules: LA SENS COMMUN et LES DROITS DE L'HOMME." + + When the Revolution was advancing to increasing terrors, +Paine, unwilling to participate in the decrees of a Convention +whose sole legal function was to frame a Constitution, retired to +an old mansion and garden in the Faubourg St. Denis, No. 63. Mr. +J.G. Alger, whose researches in personal details connected with the +Revolution are original and useful, recently showed me in the +National Archives at Paris, some papers connected with the trial of +Georgeit, Paine's landlord, by which it appears that the present +No. 63 is not, as I had supposed, the house in which Paine resided. +Mr. Alger accompanied me to the neighborhood, but we were not able +to identify the house. The arrest of Georgeit is mentioned by Paine +in his essay on "Forgetfulness" (Writings, iii., 319). When his +trial came on one of the charges was that he had kept in his house +"Paine and other Englishmen," -- Paine being then in prison, -- but +he (Georgeit) was acquitted of the paltry accusations brought +against him by his Section, the "Faubourg du Nord." This Section + + + + Bank of Wisdom + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 7 + THE AGE OF REASON. + EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION. + +took in the whole east side of the Faubourg St. Denis, whereas the +present No. 63 is on the west side. After Georgeit (or Georger) had +been arrested, Paine was left alone in the large mansion (said by +Rickman to have been once the hotel of Madame de Pompadour), and it +would appear, by his account, that it was after the execution +(October 31, 1793) Of his friends the Girondins, and political +comrades, that he felt his end at hand, and set about his last +literary bequest to the world, -- "The Age of Reason," -- in the +state in which it has since appeared, as he is careful to say. +There was every probability, during the months in which he wrote +(November and December 1793) that he would be executed. His +religious testament was prepared with the blade of the guillotine +suspended over him, -- a fact which did not deter pious +mythologists from portraying his death-bed remorse for having +written the book. + + In editing Part I. of "The Age of Reason," I follow closely +the first edition, which was printed by Barrois in Paris from the +manuscript, no doubt under the superintendence of Joel Barlow, to +whom Paine, on his way to the Luxembourg, had confided it. Barlow +was an American ex-clergyman, a speculator on whose career French +archives cast an unfavorable light, and one cannot be certain that +no liberties were taken with Paine's proofs. + + I may repeat here what I have stated in the outset of my +editorial work on Paine that my rule is to correct obvious +misprints, and also any punctuation which seems to render the sense +less clear. And to that I will now add that in following Paine's +quotations from the Bible I have adopted the Plan now generally +used in place of his occasionally too extended writing out of book, +chapter, and verse. + + Paine was imprisoned in the Luxembourg on December 28, 1793, +and released on November 4, 1794. His liberation was secured by his +old friend, James Monroe (afterwards President), who had succeeded +his (Paine's) relentless enemy, Gouvemeur Morris, as American +Minister in Paris. He was found by Monroe more dead than alive from +semi-starvation, cold, and an abscess contracted in prison, and +taken to the Minister's own residence. It was not supposed that he +could survive, and he owed his life to the tender care of Mr. and +Mrs. Monroe. It was while thus a prisoner in his room, with death +still hovering over him, that Paine wrote Part Second of "The Age +of Reason." + + The work was published in London by H.D. Symonds on October +25, 1795, and claimed to be "from the Author's manuscript." It is +marked as "Entered at Stationers Hall," and prefaced by an +apologetic note of "The Bookseller to the Public," whose +commonplaces about avoiding both prejudice and partiality, and +considering "both sides," need not be quoted. While his volume was +going through the press in Paris, Paine heard of the publication in +London, which drew from him the following hurried note to a London +publisher, no doubt Daniel Isaacs Eaton: + + + + + + + Bank of Wisdom + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 8 + THE AGE OF REASON. + EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION. + + "SIR, -- I have seen advertised in the London papers the +second Edition [part] of the Age of Reason, printed, the +advertisement says, from the Author's Manuscript, and entered at +Stationers Hall. I have never sent any manuscript to any person. It +is therefore a forgery to say it is printed from the author's +manuscript; and I suppose is done to give the Publisher a pretence +of Copy Right, which he has no title to. + + "I send you a printed copy, which is the only one I have sent +to London. I wish you to make a cheap edition of it. I know not by +what means any copy has got over to London. If any person has made +a manuscript copy I have no doubt but it is full of errors. I wish +you would talk to Mr. ----- upon this subject as I wish to know by +what means this trick has been played, and from whom the publisher +has got possession of any copy. + + T. PAINE. + "PARIS, December 4, 1795," + + Eaton's cheap edition appeared January 1, 1796, with the above +letter on the reverse of the title. The blank in the note was +probably "Symonds" in the original, and possibly that publisher was +imposed upon. Eaton, already in trouble for printing one of Paine's +political pamphlets, fled to America, and an edition of the "Age of +Reason" was issued under a new title; no publisher appears; it is +said to be "printed for, and sold by all the Booksellers in Great +Britain and Ireland." It is also said to be "By Thomas Paine, +author of several remarkable performances." I have never found any +copy of this anonymous edition except the one in my possession. It +is evidently the edition which was suppressed by the prosecution of +Williams for selling a copy of it. + + A comparison with Paine's revised edition reveals a good many +clerical and verbal errors in Symonds, though few that affect the +sense. The worst are in the preface, where, instead of "1793," the +misleading date "1790" is given as the year at whose close Paine +completed Part First, -- an error that spread far and wide and was +fastened on by his calumnious American "biographer," Cheetham, to +prove his inconsistency. The editors have been fairly demoralized +by, and have altered in different ways, the following sentence of +the preface in Symonds: "The intolerant spirit of religious +persecution had transferred itself into politics; the tribunals, +styled Revolutionary, supplied the place of the Inquisition; and +the Guillotine of the State outdid the Fire and Faggot of the +Church." The rogue who copied this little knew the care with which +Paine weighed words, and that he would never call persecution +"religious," nor connect the guillotine with the "State," nor +concede that with all its horrors it had outdone the history of +fire and faggot. What Paine wrote was: "The intolerant spirit of +church persecution had transferred itself into politics; the +tribunals, styled Revolutionary, supplied the place of an +Inquisition and the Guillotine, of the Stake." + + An original letter of Paine, in the possession of Joseph +Cowen, ex-M.P., which that gentleman permits me to bring to light, +besides being one of general interest makes clear the circumstances +of the original publication. Although the name of the correspondent + + + Bank of Wisdom + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 9 + THE AGE OF REASON. + EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION. + +does not appear on the letter, it was certainly written to Col. +John Fellows of New York, who copyrighted Part I. of the "Age of +Reason." He published the pamphlets of Joel Barlow, to whom Paine +confided his manuscript on his way to prison. Fellows was +afterwards Paine's intimate friend in New York, and it was chiefly +due to him that some portions of the author's writings, left in +manuscript to Madame Bonneville while she was a freethinker were +rescued from her devout destructiveness after her return to +Catholicism. The letter which Mr. Cowen sends me, is dated at +Paris, January 20, 1797. + + "SIR, -- Your friend Mr. Caritat being on the point of his +departure for America, I make it the opportunity of writing to you. +I received two letters from you with some pamphlets a considerable +time past, in which you inform me of your entering a copyright of +the first part of the Age of Reason: when I return to America we +will settle for that matter. + + "As Doctor Franklin has been my intimate friend for thirty +years past you will naturally see the reason of my continuing the +connection with his grandson. I printed here (Paris) about fifteen +thousand of the second part of the Age of Reason, which I sent to +Mr. F[ranklin] Bache. I gave him notice of it in September 1795 and +the copy-right by my own direction was entered by him. The books +did not arrive till April following, but he had advertised it long +before. + + "I sent to him in August last a manuscript letter of about 70 +pages, from me to Mr. Washington to be printed in a pamphlet. Mr. +Barnes of Philadelphia carried the letter from me over to London to +be forwarded to America. It went by the ship Hope, Cap: Harley, who +since his return from America told me that he put it into the post +office at New York for Bache. I have yet no certain account of its +publication. I mention this that the letter may be enquired after, +in case it has not been published or has not arrived to Mr. Bache. +Barnes wrote to me, from London 29 August informing me that he was +offered three hundred pounds sterling for the manuscript. The offer +was refused because it was my intention it should not appear till +it appeared in America, as that, and not England was the place for +its operation. + + "You ask me by your letter to Mr. Caritat for a list of my +several works, in order to publish a collection of them. This is an +undertaking I have always reserved for myself. It not only belongs +to me of right, but nobody but myself can do it; and as every +author is accountable (at least in reputation) for his works, he +only is the person to do it. If he neglects it in his life-time the +case is altered. It is my intention to return to America in the +course of the present year. I shall then [do] it by subscription, +with historical notes. As this work will employ many persons in +different parts of the Union, I will confer with you upon the +subject, and such part of it as will suit you to undertake, will be +at your choice. I have sustained so much loss, by disinterestedness +and inattention to money matters, and by accidents, that I am +obliged to look closer to my affairs than I have done. The printer + + + + + Bank of Wisdom + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 10 + THE AGE OF REASON. + EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION. + +(an Englishman) whom I employed here to print the second part of +'the Age of Reason' made a manuscript copy of the work while he was +printing it, which he sent to London and sold. It was by this means +that an edition of it came out in London. + + "We are waiting here for news from America of the state of the +federal elections. You will have heard long before this reaches you +that the French government has refused to receive Mr. Pinckney as +minister. While Mr. Monroe was minister he had the opportunity of +softening matters with this government, for he was in good credit +with them tho' they were in high indignation at the infidelity of +the Washington Administration. It is time that Mr. Washington +retire, for he has played off so much prudent hypocrisy between +France and England that neither government believes anything he +says. + + "Your friend, etc., + + "THOMAS PAINE." + + It would appear that Symonds' stolen edition must have got +ahead of that sent by Paine to Franklin Bache, for some of its +errors continue in all modern American editions to the present day, +as well as in those of England. For in England it was only the +shilling edition -- that revised by Paine -- which was suppressed. +Symonds, who ministered to the half-crown folk, and who was also +publisher of replies to Paine, was left undisturbed about his +pirated edition, and the new Society for the suppression of Vice +and Immorality fastened on one Thomas Williams, who sold pious +tracts but was also convicted (June 24, 1797) of having sold one +copy of the "Age of Reason." Erskine, who had defended Paine at his +trial for the "Rights of Man," conducted the prosecution of +Williams. He gained the victory from a packed jury, but was not +much elated by it, especially after a certain adventure on his way +to Lincoln's Inn. He felt his coat clutched and beheld at his feet +a woman bathed in tears. She led him into the small book-shop of +Thomas Williams, not yet called up for judgment, and there he +beheld his victim stitching tracts in a wretched little room, where +there were three children, two suffering with Smallpox. He saw that +it would be ruin and even a sort of murder to take away to prison +the husband, who was not a freethinker, and lamented his +publication of the book, and a meeting of the Society which had +retained him was summoned. There was a full meeting, the Bishop of +London (Porteus) in the chair. Erskine reminded them that Williams +was yet to be brought up for sentence, described the scene he had +witnessed, and Williams' penitence, and, as the book was now +suppressed, asked permission to move for a nominal sentence. Mercy, +he urged, was a part of the Christianity they were defending. Not +one of the Society took his side, -- not even "philanthropic" +Wilberforce -- and Erskine threw up his brief. This action of +Erskine led the Judge to give Williams only a year in prison +instead of the three he said had been intended. + + While Williams was in prison the orthodox colporteurs were +circulating Erskine's speech on Christianity, but also an anonymous +sermon "On the Existence and Attributes of the Deity," all of which +was from Paine's "Age of Reason," except a brief "Address to the + + + Bank of Wisdom + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 11 + THE AGE OF REASON. + EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION. + +Deity" appended. This picturesque anomaly was repeated in the +circulation of Paine's "Discourse to the Theophilanthropists" +(their and the author's names removed) under the title of "Atheism +Refuted." Both of these pamphlets are now before me, and beside +them a London tract of one page just sent for my spiritual benefit. +This is headed "A Word of Caution." It begins by mentioning the +"pernicious doctrines of Paine," the first being "that there is No +GOD" (sic,) then proceeds to adduce evidences of divine existence +taken from Paine's works. It should be added that this one dingy +page is the only "survival" of the ancient Paine effigy in the +tract form which I have been able to find in recent years, and to +this no Society or Publisher's name is attached. + + The imprisonment of Williams was the beginning of a thirty +years' war for religious liberty in England, in the course of which +occurred many notable events, such as Eaton receiving homage in his +pillory at Choring Cross, and the whole Carlile family imprisoned, +-- its head imprisoned more than nine years for publishing the "Age +of Reason." This last victory of persecution was suicidal. +Gentlemen of wealth, not adherents of Paine, helped in setting +Carlile up in business in Fleet Street, where free-thinking +publications have since been sold without interruption. But though +Liberty triumphed in one sense, the "Age of Reason." remained to +some extent suppressed among those whose attention it especially +merited. Its original prosecution by a Society for the Suppression +of Vice (a device to, relieve the Crown) amounted to a libel upon +a morally clean book, restricting its perusal in families; and the +fact that the shilling book sold by and among humble people was +alone prosecuted, diffused among the educated an equally false +notion that the "Age of Reason" was vulgar and illiterate. The +theologians, as we have seen, estimated more justly the ability of +their antagonist, the collaborator of Franklin, Rittenhouse, and +Clymer, on whom the University of Pennsylvania had conferred the +degree of Master of Arts, -- but the gentry confused Paine with the +class described by Burke as "the swinish multitude." Skepticism, or +its free utterance, was temporarily driven out of polite circles by +its complication with the out-lawed vindicator of the "Rights of +Man." But that long combat has now passed away. Time has reduced +the "Age of Reason" from a flag of popular radicalism to a +comparatively conservative treatise, so far as its negations are +concerned. An old friend tells me that in his youth he heard a +sermon in which the preacher declared that "Tom Paine was so wicked +that he could not be buried; his bones were thrown into a box which +was bandied about the world till it came to a button-manufacturer; +"and now Paine is travelling round the world in the form of +buttons!" This variant of the Wandering Jew myth may now be +regarded as unconscious homage to the author whose metaphorical +bones may be recognized in buttons now fashionable, and some even +found useful in holding clerical vestments together. + + But the careful reader will find in Paine's "Age of Reason" +something beyond negations, and in conclusion I will especially +call attention to the new departure in Theism indicated in a +passage corresponding to a famous aphorism of Kant, indicated by a +note in Part II. The discovery already mentioned, that Part I. was +written at least fourteen years before Part II., led me to compare +the two; and it is plain that while the earlier work is an + + + Bank of Wisdom + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 12 + THE AGE OF REASON. + EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION. + +amplification of Newtonian Deism, based on the phenomena of +planetary motion, the work of 1795 bases belief in God on "the +universal display of himself in the works of the creation and by +that repugnance we feel in ourselves to bad actions, and +disposition to do good ones." This exaltation of the moral nature +of man to be the foundation of theistic religion, though now +familiar, was a hundred years ago a new affirmation; it has led on +a conception of deity subversive of last-century deism, it has +steadily humanized religion, and its ultimate philosophical and +ethical results have not yet been reached. + + **** **** + + + + + + + + **** **** + + Reproducible Electronic Publishing can defeat censorship. + + The Bank of Wisdom is a collection of the most thoughtful, +scholarly and factual books. These computer books are reprints of +suppressed books and will cover American and world history; the +Biographies and writings of famous persons, and especially of our +nations Founding Fathers. They will include philosophy and +religion. all these subjects, and more, will be made available to +the public in electronic form, easily copied and distributed, so +that America can again become what its Founders intended -- + + The Free Market-Place of Ideas. + + The Bank of Wisdom is always looking for more of these old, +hidden, suppressed and forgotten books that contain needed facts +and information for today. If you have such books please contact +us, we need to give them back to America. + + **** **** + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Bank of Wisdom + Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201 + 13 + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/agee-cia.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/agee-cia.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9088ad2f --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/agee-cia.txt @@ -0,0 +1,849 @@ + +The following is the text of a speach about the Gulf War not given by +former CIA agent Phil Agee. The reason Agee wasn't able to give the +speech is because Bush and his CIA buddies have deemed that what Agee +has to say is too dangerous for the American public to know about. + +The text of Agee's speech, taken from Z magazine and posted recently +by Bill Mills is included below so that anyone who wishes to know what +this former CIA-agent has to say can do so, in accordance with the +right of Freedom of Speech in the Constitution so revered, we are +told, by those who would burn it rather than respect it, and who would +censor "dangerous" speech such as that below. Whether you read it, all +of it, is, now, a matter of free choice. + +[Errors corrected since prev. post listed at end] + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +PRODUCING THE PROPER CRISIS a speech by Philip Agee, formerly of the CIA. +From Z magazine, Oct. 1990 + +On the eve of Philip Agee's 20-city tour to campuses and community +groups throughout the U.S. the Nicaraguan foreign ministry revoked his +Nicaraguan passport preventing him from traveling freely. Jean Caiani +of Speak Out!, who organized his tour, is helping coordinate a +national campaign to regain his original passport which was revoked in +1979 on the grounds that Agee's writings and speaking pose "a serious +threat to the national security of the United States." Following is +the speech that Agee planned to give at his scheduled engagements. + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + +Sooner or later it had to happen: the fundamental transformation of +U.S. military forces was really only a matter of time. Transformation, +in this sense, from a national defense force to an international +mercenary army for hire. With a U.S national debt of $3 trillion, some +$800 billion owned by foreigners, The United States sooner or later +would have to find, or produce, the proper crisis - one that would +enable the president to hire out the armed forces, like a national +export, in order to avoid conversion of the economy from military to +civilian purposes. Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, encouraged, it seems, by +the Bush administration, is the necessary crisis. + +Not long after the invasion, I watched on Spanish television Bush's +call to arms, when he said "our way of life" is at stake. For days +afterwards I kept watching and reading for news of the tens of +millions of people in this country, who would take to the streets in +joy, in celebration that their days of poverty, homelessness, +illiteracy and uncared-for illness might soon end. What I saw instead, +like most of you, was the Bush "way of life" - fishing, boating, and +golfing on the coast of Maine like any respectable member of the +Eastern elite. Bush's military machismo of recent weeks reminded me of +what General Noriega said about Bush a couple of years ago, before +Bush decided to smash Panamanian nationalism for the foreseeable +future. You remember? Noriega told his deputy in the Panamanian +Defense Forces, who later made it public, he said, "I've got George +Bush - by the balls." + +When I read that, I thought, how interesting - one of those rare +statements that contain two revelations. Back in the 1970s, when he +was director of the CIA, Bush tried to get a criminal indictment +against me for revelations I was making about CIA operations and +personnel. But he couldn't get it, I discovered later in documents I +received under the Freedom of Information Act. The reason was that in +the early 1970s the CIA had committed crimes against me while I was in +Europe writing my first book. If they indicted and prosecuted me, I +would learn the details of those crimes, whatever they were: +conspiracy to assassination, kidnapping, a drug plant. So they couldn't +indict because the CIA under Bush, and before him under William Colby, +said the details had to stay secret. So what did Bush do? He prevailed +on President Ford to send Henry Kissinger, then Secretary of State, to +Britain where I was living, to get them to take action. A few weeks +after Kissinger's secret trip a Cambridge policeman arrived at my door +with a deportation notice. After living in Britain nearly five years, +I had suddenly become a threat to the security of the realm. During +the next two years I was not only expelled from Britain, but also from +France, Holland, West Germany, and Italy - all under U.S. pressure. +For two years I didn't know where I was living, and my two sons, then +teenagers, attended four different schools in four different +countries. + +The latest is the government's attempt to prevent me from speaking in +the U.S now. Where this will end, we still don't know. + +How many of you have friends or relatives right now in Saudi Arabia or +the Persian Gulf area? I wonder how they feel, so close to giving +their lives to protect a feudal kingdom where women are stoned to +death for adultery, where a thief is punished by having his hand +amputated, where women can't drive cars or swim in the same pool as +men? Where bibles are forbidden and no religion save Islam is allowed? +Where Amnesty International reports that torture is routine, and that +last year 111 people were executed, 16 of them political prisoners, +all but one by public beheading. And not by clean cut, with a +guillotine, but with that long curved sword that witnesses say +requires various chops. Not that Saudi Arabia, or Kuwait before the +invasion, are any different in terms of political repression than any +number of U.S.-supported allies. But to give your life for those +corrupt, cruel, family dictatorships? Bush says we're "stopping +aggression." If that were true, the first thing U.S. forces would have +done after landing, they would have dethroned the Gulf emirs, sheiks, +and kings, who every day are carrying out the worst aggression against +their own people, especially women. Mainstream media haven't quite +said it yet, as far as I know, but the evidence is mounting that +George Bush and his entourage wanted the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, +encouraged it, and then refused to prevent it when they could have. +I'll get back to Bush later, but first, a quick review of what brought +on this crisis. Does the name Cox bring anything special to mind? Sir +Percy Cox? + +In a historical sense this is the man responsible for today's Gulf +crisis. Sir Percy Cox was the British High Commissioner in Baghdad +after World War I who in 1922 drew the lines in the sand establishing +for the first time national borders between Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, and +Saudi Arabia. And in each of these new states the British helped set +up and consolidate ruling monarchies through which British banks, +commercial firms, and petroleum companies could obtain monopolies. +Kuwait, however, had for centuries belonged to the Basra province of +the Ottoman Empire. Iraq and the Iraqis never recognized Sir Percy's +borders. He had drawn those lines, as historians have confirmed, in +order deliberately to deprive Iraq of a viable seaport on the Persian +Gulf. The British wanted no threat from Iraq to their dominance in the +Gulf where they had converted no less than ten sheikdoms, including +Kuwait, into colonies. The divide and rule principle, so +well-practiced in this country since the beginning. In 1958 the +British-installed monarchy in Iraq was overthrown in a military coup. +Three years later, in 1961, Britain granted independence to Kuwait, +and the Iraqi military government massed troops on the Kuwaiti border +threatening to take the territory by force. Immediately the British +dispatched troops, and Iraq backed down, still refusing to recognize +the border. Similar Iraqi threats occurred in 1973 and 1976. + +This history, Saddam Hussein's justification for annexing Kuwait, is +in the books for anyone to see. But weeks went by as I waited and +wondered why the International Herald Tribune, which publishes major +articles from the Washington Post, New York Times and wire services, +failed to carry the background. Finally, a month after the invasion, +the Herald Tribune carried a Washington Post article on the historical +context written by Glenn Frankel. I've yet to find this history in +Time or Newsweek. Time, in fact, went so far as to say that Iraq's +claims to Kuwait were "without any historical basis." Hardly +surprising, since giving exposure to the Iraqi side might weaken the +campaign to Hitlerize Saddam Hussein. Also absent from current accounts +is the CIA's role in the early 1970s to foment and support armed +Kurdish rebellion in Iraq. The Agency, in league with the Shah of +Iran, provided $16 million in arms and other supplies to the Kurds, +leading to Iraqi capitulation to the Shah in 1975 over control of the +Shat al Arab. This is the estuary of the Tigris and Euphrates, that +separates the two countries inland from the Gulf and is Iraq's only +access to Basra, its upriver port. Five years later, in 1980, Iraq +invaded Iran to redress the CIA-assisted humiliation of 1975, and to +regain control of the estuary, beginning the eight year war that cost +a million lives. + +Apart from Iraq's historical claims on Kuwait and its need for access +to the sea, two related disputes came to a head just before the +invasion. First was the price of oil. OPEC had set the price at $18 +per barrel in 1986, together with production quotas to maintain that +price. But Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates had long exceeded their +quotas, driving the price down to around $13 in June. Iraq, saddled +with a $70 billion debt from the war with Iran, was losing billions of +dollars in oil revenues which normally account for 95 precent of its +exports. Meanwhile, industrialized oil consumers like the United +States were enjoying the best price in 40 years, in inflation-adjusted +dollars. Iraq's other claim against Kuwait was theft. While Iraq was +occupied with Iran during the war, Kuwait began pumping from Iraq's +vast Rumaila field that dips into the disputed border area. Iraq +demanded payment for oil taken from this field as well as forgiveness +of Kuwaiti loans to Iraq during the war with Iran. Then in July, Iraq +massed troops on the Kuwaiti border while OPEC ministers met in +Geneva. That pressure brought Kuwait and the Emirates to agree to +honor quotas and OPEC set a new target price of $21, although Iraq had +insisted on $25 per barrel. After that Hussein increased his troops on +the border from 30,000 to 100,000. On August 1, Kuwaiti and Iraqi +negotiators, meeting in Saudi Arabia, failed to reach agreement over +the loans, oil thefts, and access to the sea for Iraq. The next night +Iraq invaded. Revelations since then, together with a review of events +prior to the invasion, strongly suggest that U.S. policy was to +encourage Hussein to invade and, when invasion was imminent, to do +nothing to discourage him. Consider the following. + +During the Iraq-Iran war in the 1980s, the U.S. sided with Iraq and +continued this policy right up to August 2, the day of the invasion. +In April, the Assistant Secretary of State for the Middle East, John +Kelly, testified before Congress that the United States had no +commitment to defend Kuwait. On July 25, with Iraqi troops massed on +the Kuwait border, the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, April Glaspie, met +with Hussein. Minutes of the meeting were given by the Iraqis to the +Washington Post in mid-August. + +According to these minutes, which have not been disputed by the State +Department, the Ambassador told Hussein that Secretary of State James +Baker had instructed her to emphasize to Hussein that the U.S. has "no +opinion" on Iraqi-Kuwait border disputes. She then asked him, in light +of Iraqi troop movements, what his intentions were with respect to +Kuwait. Hussein replied that Kuwait's actions amounted to "an economic +war" and "military action against us." He said he hoped for a peaceful +solution, but if not, he said, "it will be natural that Iraq will not +accept death..." A clearer statement of his intentions would be hard +to imagine, and hardly a promise not to invade. The Ambassador gave no +warning from Baker or Bush that the U.S. would oppose an Iraqi +takeover of Kuwait. On the contrary she said, "I have a direct +instruction from the President to seek better relations with Iraq." On +the same day Assistant Secretary of State Kelly killed a planned Voice +of America broadcast that would have warned Iraq that the U.S. was +"strongly committed" to the defense of its friends in the Gulf, which +included, of course, Kuwait. During the week between the Ambassador's +meeting with Hussein and the invasion, the Bush administration forbade +any warning to Hussein against invasion, or to the thousands of people +who might become hostages. The Ambassador returned to Washington as +previously scheduled for consultations. Assistant Secretary Kelly, two +days before the invasion, again testified publicly before Congress to +the effect that the U.S. had no commitment to defend Kuwait. And, +according to press reports and Senator Boren, who heads the Senate +Intelligence Committee, the CIA had predicted the invasion some four +days before it happened. + +Put these events together, and add the total absence of any public or +private warning by Bush to Hussein not to invade, together with no +U.S. effort to create international opposition while there was time. +Assuming the U.S. was not indifferent to an invasion, one has to ask +whether Bush administration policy was in effect to encourage Hussein +to create a world crisis. After all, Iraq had chemical weapons and had +already used them against Iran and against Kurds inside Iraq. He was +know to be within two to five years of possessing nuclear weapons. He +had completely upset the power balance in the Middle East by creating +an army one million strong. He aspired to leadership of the Arab world +against Israel, and he threatened all the so-called moderate, i.e., +feudal regimes, not just Kuwait. And with Kuwait's oil he would +control 20 percent of the world's reserves, a concentration in radical +nationalist hands that would be equal, perhaps to the Soviet Union, +Iraq's main arms supplier. Saddam Hussein, then, was the perfect +subject to allow enough rein to create a crisis, and he was even more +perfect for post-invasion media demonization, a la Qaddafi, Ortega, +and Noriega. + +Why would Bush seek a world crisis? The first suggestion came, for me +at least, when he uttered those words about "our way of life" being at +stake. They brought to mind Harry Truman's speech in 1950 that broke +Congressional resistance to Cold War militarism and began 40 years of +Pentagon dominance of the U.S. economy. It's worth recalling Truman's +speech because Bush is trying to use the Gulf crisis, as Truman used +the Korean War, to justify what some call military Keynesianism as a +solution for U.S. economic prqoblems. This is, using enormous military +expenditures to prevent or rectify economic slumps and depressions, +while reducing as much as possible spending on civilian and social +programs. Exactly what Reagan and Bush did, for example, in the early +and mid-1980s. + +In 1950 the Truman administration adopted a program to vastly expand +the U.S and West European military services under a National Security +Council document called NSC-68. This document was Top Secret for 25 +years and, by error, it was released in 1975 and published. The +purpose of military expansion under NSC-68 was to reverse the economic +slide that began with the end of World War II wherein during five +years the U.S. GNP had declined 20 percent and unemployment had risen +from 700,000 to 4.7 million. U.S. exports, despite the subsidy program +known as the Marshall Plan, were inadequate to sustain the economy, +and remilitarization of Western Europe would allow transfer of +dollars, under so-called defense support grants, that would in turn +generate European imports from the U.S. As NSC-68 put the situation in +early 1950: "the United States and other free nations will within a +period of a few years at most experience a decline in economic +activity of serious proportions unless more positive governmental +programs are developed..." + +The solution adopted was expansion of the military. But support in +Congress and the public at large was lacking for a variety of reasons, +not least the increased taxes the programs would require. So Truman's +State Department, under Dean Acheson, set out to sell the so-called +Communist Threat as justification, through a fear campaign in the +media that would create a permanent war atmosphere. But a domestic +media campaign was not enough. A real crisis was needed, and it came +in Korea. Joyce and Gabriel Kolko, in their history of the 1945-55 +period, "The Limits of Power", show that the Truman administration +manipulated this crisis to overcome resistance to military build-up +and a review of those events show striking parallels to the Persian +Gulf crisis of 1990. Korea at the end of World War II had been divided +north-south along the 38th parallel by the U.S. and the Soviets. Five +years of on-again, off-again conflict continued: first between +revolutionary forces in the south and U.S. occupation forces, then +between the respective states established first between the U.S. in +the south, then by the Soviets in the north. Both states threatened to +reunify the country by force, and border incursions with heavy +fighting by military forces were common. In June 1950, communist North +Korean military forces moved across the border toward Seoul, the South +Korean capital. At the time, the North Korean move was called "naked +aggression", but I.F. Stone made a convincing case, in his "Hidden +History of the Korean War", that the invasion was provoked by South +Korea and Taiwan, another U.S. client regime. + +For a month South Korean forces retreated, practically without +fighting, in effect inviting the North Koreans to follow them south. +Meanwhile Truman rushed in U.S. military forces under a United Nations +command, and he made a dramatic appeal to Congress to for an +additional $10 billion, beyond requirements for Korea, for U.S. and +European military expansion. Congress refused. Truman then made a +fateful decision. In September 1950, about three months after the +conflict began, U.S., South Korean, and token forces from other +countries, under the United Nations banner, began to push back the +North Koreans. Within three weeks the North Koreans had been pushed +north to the border, the 38th parallel, in defeat. That would have +been the end of the matter, at least the military action, if the U.S. +had accepted a Soviet UN resolution for a cease-fire and UN-supervised +country-wide elections. Truman, however, needed to prolong the crisis +in order to overcome congressional and public resistance to his plans +for U.S. and European rearmament. Although the UN resolution under +which U.S. forces were fighting called only for "repelling" aggression +from the north, Truman had another plan. In early October U.S. and +South Korean forces crossed the 38th parallel heading north, and +rapidly advanced toward the Yalu River, North Korea's border with +China where only the year before the communists had defeated the +U.S.-backed Kuomintang regime. The Chinese communist government +threatened to intervene, but Truman had decided to overthrow the +communist government in North Korea and unite the country under the +anti-communist South Korean dictatorship. As predicted, the Chinese +entered the war in November and forced the U.S. and its allies to +retreat once again southward. The following month, with the media full +of stories and pictures of American soldiers retreating through snow +and ice before hordes of advancing Chinese troops, Truman went on +national radio, declared a state of national emergency, and said what +Bush's remarks about "our way of life" at stake recalled. Truman +mustered all the hype and emotion he could, and said: "Our homes, our +nation, all the things that we believe in, are in great danger. This +danger has been created by the rulers of the Soviet Union." He also +called again for massive increases in military spending for U.S. and +European forces, apart from needs in Korea. + +Of course, there was no threat of war with the Soviet Union at all. +Truman attributed the Korean situation to the Russians in order to +create emotional hysteria, a false threat, and to get the leverage +over Congress needed for approval of the huge amounts of money that +Congress had refused. As we know, Truman's deceit worked. Congress +went along in its so-called bi-partisan spirit, like the sheep in the +same offices today. The U.S. military budget more than tripled from +$13 billion in 1950 to $44 billion in 1952, while U.S. military forces +doubled to 3.6 million. The Korean War continued for three more years, +after it could have ended, with the final casualty count in the +millions, including 34,000 U.S. dead and more than 100,000 wounded. +But in the United States, Korea made the permanent war economy a +reality, and we have lived with it for 40 years. + +What are the parallels with the current Gulf crisis? First, Korea in +June 1950 was already a crisis of borders and unification demands +simply waiting for escalation. Second, less than six months before the +war began Secretary of State Dean Acheson publicly placed South Korea +outside the U.S. defense perimeter in Asia, just as Assistant +Secretary Kelly denied any U.S. defense commitment to Kuwait. Third, +the U.S. obtained quick UN justification for a massive military +intervention, but only for repelling the North Koreans, not for +conquest of that country. Similarly, the UN resolutions call for +defense of Saudi Arabia, not for military conquest of Iraq - contrary +to the war mongers who daily suggest that the U.S. may be "forced" to +attack Iraq, presumably without UN sanction or declaration of war by +Congress. Fourth, both crises came at a time of U.S. economic weakness +with a recession or even worse downturn threatening ahead. Fifth, and +we will probably see this with the Gulf, the Korean crisis was +deliberately prolonged in order to establish military expenditures as +the motor of the U.S. economy. Proceeding in the same manner now would +be an adjustment to allow continuation of what began in 1950. NSC-68 +required a significant expansion of CIA operations around the world in +order to fight the secret political Cold War - a war against socialist +economic programs, against communist parties, against left social +democrats, against neutralism, against disarmament, against relaxation +of tensions, and against the peace offensive then being waged by the +Soviet Union. + +In Western Europe, through a vast network of political action and +propaganda operations, the CIA was called upon to create in the +public mind the specter of imminent Soviet invasion combined with the +intention of the European left to enslave the population under Soviet +dominion. By 1953, as a result of NSC-68, the CIA had major covert +action programs underway in 48 countries, consisting of propaganda, +paramilitary, and political action operations - such as buying +elections and subsidizing political parties. The bureaucracy grew +accordingly: in mid-1949 the covert action arm of the CIA had about +300 employees and seven overseas field stations. Three years later +there were 2,800 employees and 47 field stations. In the same period +the covert action budget grew from $4.7 million to $82 million. + +By the mid-1950s the name for the "enemy" was no longer just the +Soviet Union. The wider concept of "International Communism" better +expressed the global view of secret conspiracies run from Moscow to +undermine the U.S. and its allies. One previously secret document from +1955 outlines the CIA's tasks: "Create and exploit problems for +International Communism. Discredit International Communism and reduce +the strength of its parties and organization. Reduce international +Communist control over any area of the world... specifically such +operations shall include any covert activities related to: propaganda, +political action, economic warfare, preventive direct action, +including sabotage, anti-sabotage, demolition, escape and invasion and +evacuation measures; subversion against hostile states or groups, +including assistance to underground resistance movements, guerrillas +and refugee liberation groups, support of indigenous and +anti-communist elements in threatened countries of the free world; +deception plans and all compatible activities necessary to accomplish +the foregoing." + +Another document on CIA operations from the same period said, in +extracts: "Hitherto accepted norms of human conduct do not apply... +long-standing American concepts of fair play must be reconsidered... +we must learn to subvert, sabotage, and destroy our enemies by more +clever, more sophisticated and more effective methods than those used +against us. It may become necessary that the American people be made +acquainted with, understand, and support this fundamentally repugnant +philosophy." And so, from the late 1940s until the mid-1950s, the CIA +organized sabotage and propaganda operations against every country of +Eastern Europe, including the Soviet Union. They tried to foment +rebellion and to hinder those countries' effort to rebuild from the +devastation of World War II. Though unsuccessful against the Soviet +Union, these operations had some successes in other countries, notably +East Germany. This was the easiest target because, as one former CIA +officer wrote, before the wall went up in 1961 all an infiltrator +needed was good documents and a railway ticket. + +From about 1949, the CIA organized sabotage operations against targets +in East Germany in order to slow reconstruction and economic recovery. +The purpose was to create a high contrast between West Germany, then +receiving billions of U.S. dollars for reconstruction, and the "other +Germany" under Soviet control. William Blum, in his excellent history +of the CIA, lists an astonishing range of destruction: "through +explosives, arson, short circuiting, and other methods, they damaged +power stations, shipyards, a dam, canals, docks, public buildings, +petrol stations, shops, outdoor stands, a radio station, public +transformation... derailed freight trains... blew up road and railway +bridges used special acid to damage vital factory machinery... killed +7,000 cows... added soap to powdered milk destined for East German +schools," and much, much more. These activities were worldwide, and +not only directed against Soviet-supported governments. + +During 40 years, as the east-west military standoff stabilized, the +CIA was a principle weapon in waging the north-south dimension of the +Cold War. It did so through operations intended to destroy +nationalist, reformist, and liberation movements of the so-called +Third World, through political repression (torture and death squads), +and by the overthrow of democratically elected civilian governments, +replacing them with military dictatorships. The Agency also organized +paramilitary forces to overthrow governments, with the contra +operation in Nicaragua only a recent example. This north-south +dimension of the Cold War was over control of natural resources, +labor, and markets and it continues today, as always. Anyone who +thinks the Cold War ended should think again: the east-west dimension +may have ended with the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, but +the north-south dimension, which is where the fighting really took +place, as in Vietnam, is still on. The current Persian Gulf crisis is +the latest episode, and it provides the Bush administration with the +pretext to institutionalize the north-south dimension under the +euphemism of a "new international order," as he calls it. The means +will be a continuation of U.S. militarism within the context, if they +are successful, of a new multi-lateral, international framework. +Already James Baker has been testing the winds with proposals for a +NATO-style alliance in the Gulf, an idea that William Safire aptly +dubbed GULFO. + +The goal in seeking and obtaining the current stops short, I believe, +of a shooting war. After all, a war with Iraq will not be a matter of +days or even weeks. Public opinion in the U.S. will turn against Bush +if young Americans in large numbers start coming back in body bags. +And Gulf petroleum facilities are likely to be destroyed in the +process of saving them, a catastrophe for the world economy. +Nevertheless, press accounts describe how the CIA and U.S. special +forces are organizing and arming guerrillas, said to be Kuwaitis, for +attacking Iraqi forces. These operations provide the capability for +just the right provocation, an act that would cause Hussein to order +defensive action that would then justify an all-out attack. + +Such provocations have been staged in the past. In 1964, CIA +paramilitary forces working in tandem with the U.S. Navy provoked the +Tonkin Gulf incidents, according to historians who now question +whether the incidents, said to be North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. +ships, even happened. But Lyndon Johnson used the events as a pretext +to begin bombing North Vietnam and to get a blank check resolution +from Congress to send combat troops and escalate the war. + +I think the purpose is not a shooting war but a crisis that can be +maintained as long as possible, far after the Iraqi-Kuwait problem is +resolved. This will prolong the international threat - remember Truman +in 1950 - and allow Bush to prevent cuts in the military budget, to +avoid any peace dividend, and prevent conversion of the economy to +peaceful, human-oriented purposes. After all, when you count all U.S. +defense-related expenses, they add up to more than double the official +figure of 26 percent of the national budget for defense - some experts +say two-thirds of the budget goes for defense in one way or another. + +The so-called national security state of the past 40 years has meant +enormous riches, and power, for those who are in the game. It has also +meant population control - control of the people of this and many +other countries. Bush and his team, and those they represent, will do +whatever is necessary to keep the game going. Elitist control of the +U.S. rests on this game. If anyone doubts this, recall that from the +very beginning of this crisis, projections were coming out on costs, +implying that Desert Shield would last for more than a year, perhaps +that large U.S. forces would stay permanently in the Gulf. Just +imagine the joy this crisis has brought to U.S. military industries +that only months ago were quaking over their survival in a post-Cold +War world. Not six weeks passed after the Iraqi invasion before the +Pentagon proposed the largest arms sale in history: $21 billion worth +of hardware for defense of the Saudi Arabian throne. Very clever when +you do the sums. With an increase in price of $15 per barrel, which +had already happened, Saudi Arabia stands to earn more than $40 +billion extra dollars during the 14 months from the invasion to the +end of the next U.S. fiscal year. Pentagon calculations of Desert +Shield costs come to $18 billion for the same 14 months. Even if the +Saudis paid all that, which they won't because of other contributors, +they would have more than $20 billion in windfall income left over. +O.K., bring that money to the States through weapon sales. That, I +suppose, is why the Saudi Arms sale instantly became known as the +Defense Industry Relief Act of 1990. + +As for the price of oil, everyone knows that when it gets above $25-30 +a barrel it becomes counter-productive for the Saudis and the Husseins +and other producers. Alternative energy sources become attractive and +conservation again becomes fashionable. Saddam Hussein accepted $21 in +July, and even if, with control of Kuwait, he had been able to get the +price up to $25, that would have been manageable for the United States +and other industrial economies. Instead, because of this crisis, it's +gone over $35 a barrel and even up to $40, threatening now to provoke +a world depression. With talk of peaceful solutions, like Bush's +speech to the UN General Assembly, they will coax the price down, but +not before Bush and others in the oil industry increase their already +considerable fortunes. + +Ah, but the issue, we're told, is not the price of oil, or +preservation of the feudal Gulf regimes. It's principle. Naked +aggression cannot be allowed, and no one can profit from it. This is +why young American lives may be sacrificed. Same as Truman said in +1950, to justify dying for what was then, and for many tears +afterwards, one of the world's nastiest police states. When I read +that Bush was putting out that line, I nearly choked. + +When George Bush attacks Saddam Hussein for "naked aggression", he +must think the world has no knowledge of United States history - no +memory at all. One thing we should never forget is that a nation's +foreign policy is a product of its domestic system. We should look to +our domestic system for the reasons why Bush and his entourage need +this crisis to prevent dismantling the national security state. + +First, we know that the domestic system in this country is in crisis, +and that throughout history foreign crises have been manufactured, +provoked, and used to divert attention from domestic troubles - a way +of rallying people around the flag in support of the government of the +day. How convenient now for deflecting attention from the S&L scandal, +for example, to be paid not by the crooks but by ordinary, honest +people. + +Second, we know that the system is not fair, that about one in three +people are economically deprived, either in absolute poverty or so +close that they have no relief from want. We also know that one in +three Americans are illiterate, either totally or to the degree that +they cannot function in a society based on the written word. We also +know that one in three Americans does not register to vote, and of +those who register 20 percent don't vote. This means we elect a +president with about 25 percent or slightly less of the potential +votes. The reasons why people don't vote are complex, but not the least +of them is that people know their vote doesn't count. + +Third, we know that during the past ten years these domestic problems +have gotten even worse thanks to the Reagan-Bush policy of +transferring wealth from the middle and poor classes to the wealthy, +while cutting back on social programs. Add to this the usual litany of +crises: education, health care, environment, racism, women's rights, +homophobia, the infrastructure, productivity, research, and inability +to compete in the international marketplace, and you get a nation not +only in crisis, but in decline as well. In certain senses that might +not be so bad, if it stimulates, as in the Soviet Union, public debate +on the reasons. But the picture suggests that continuation of foreign +threats and crises is a good way to avoid fundamental reappraisal of +the domestic system, starting where such a debate ought to start, with +the rules of the game as laid down in the constitution. + +What can we do? Lots. On the Gulf crisis, it's getting out the +information on what's behind it, and organizing people to act against +this intervention and possible war. Through many existing +organizations, such as Pledge of Resistance, there must be a way to +develop opposition that will make itself heard and seen on the streets +of cities across the country. We should pressure Congress and the +media for answers to the old question: During that week between +Ambassador Glaspie's meeting with Hussein, "What did George know, when +did he know it, and why didn't he act publicly and privately to stop +the invasion before it happened?" In getting the answer to that +question, we should show how the mainstream media, in failing to do +so, have performed their usual cheerleading role as the government's +information ministry. + +The point on the information side is to show the truth, reject the +hypocrisy, and raise the domestic political cost to Bush and every +political robot who has gone along with him. At every point along the +way we must not be intimidated by those voices that will surely say: +"You are helping that brute Saddam Hussein." We are not helping +Hussein, although some may be. Rather we are against a senseless +destructive war based on greed and racism. We are for a peaceful, +negotiated, diplomatic solution that could include resolution of other +territorial disputes in the region. + +We are against militarist intervention and against a crisis that will +allow continuing militarism in the United States. We are for +conversion of the U.S. and indeed the world economy to peaceful, +people-oriented purposes. In the long run, we reject one-party elitist +government, and we demand a new constitution, real democracy, with +popular participation in decision-making. In short, we want our own +glasnost and restructuring here in the United States. If popular +movements can bring it to the Soviet Union, that monolithic tyranny, +why can't we here in the United States? + +------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Corrections I made from last post: + +-- "Assuming the U.S. was not indifferent to an invasion, one has to act" +Was changed to "..one has to ask" + +-- The two paragraphs starting with "Why would Bush seek a world crisis?" +needed to be "filled", i.e., new-lines inserted. + +-- "Truman attributed the Korean situation to the RUssians in order to +create emotinal hysteria, a false, threat, and to get the leverage..." +The comma after "false" was deleted. + +-- "In Western Europe, through a vast network of political action and +propaganda operations, the CIA was called upon the create in the +public mind, the specter of imminent Soviet invasion combined with the +intention of the European left to enslave the population under +Soviet..." Was changed to "..CIA was called upon to create..." and the +comma after "mind" was deleted. + + + +Please join the campaign to help Phil Agee regain his passport; don't +let Bush decide for us what's too "dangerous" for us to hear (namely +dirty deeds committed by the CIA, as only a former agent can reveal) +-Harel +------------------------------------------------------------------ + Speak Out! +Dear Friends: San Francisco, CA + +Speak Out! is organizing a national campaign on behalf of Philip Agee, +former CIA officer and internationally recognized author, lecturer, and +foreign policy critic. + +On September 22, the Chamorro government revoked Philip Agee's +Nicaraguan passport. The impetus for this action in all likelihood came +from the U.S. State Department. The revocation came on the eve of his +trip to the U.S. to begin a 20-city speaking tour. + +This is merely the latest in an on-going effort to silence Agee and to +prevent him from traveling freely to and from the U.S. + +We are appealing to Philip's supporters to help us circulate this +information as widely as possible. The government must not be allowed +to limit U.S. citizens' right to travel and speak freely. If they +succeed in this campaign against Philip Agee there will be ramifications +for all of us. + +We invite you to join Noam Chomsky, Margaret Randall, Ramsey Clark, +Michael Parenti, Holly Sklar and many others in sending a brief +statement of protest to: + +Secretary of State James Baker +U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT +Washington, DC 20520 + +and + +Judge Gerhard Gesell +U.S. COURT HOUSE +Third and Constitution NW +Washington, DC 20001 + +Please also send a copy to us at: + +Speak Out! 2215-R Market Street, #520, +San Francisco, CA 94114 +(415) 864-4451 + +Agee and Speak Out! staff thank you in advance for any +assistance you can provide in spreading the word. + +In solidarity, + +Jean Caiani +Speak Out! Coordinator + +################################################################## + Statement from Agee +################################################################## + +Following is an excerpted statement from Philip Agee in Madrid, Spain. +It is from a speech he intended to give during his U.S. speaking tour. + + +GREETINGS TO ALL OF YOU: + +I'm very sorry I'm not able to be with you tonight. I am not with you +because the U.S. government, including the Federal Courts, has once +again taken measures to prevent exercise of a citizen's First Amendment +rights. Not that this is so unusual in a national security state. For +me it's familiar, the latest such action in nearly 20 years of efforts +to prevent my speaking, above all to people in the United States. + +Two weeks ago I heard indirectly that my Nicaraguan passport, with which +I have travelled for years, was revoked by the Chamorro government. I +checked with friends in Managua, who confirmed the action. + +Without a passport I am unable to travel to the United States because I +could not return to my wife and work in Spain where a valid passport is +required for entry. For almost four years I have been trying +unsuccessfully to get a U.S. passport but the State Department, at the +CIA's urging, has refused. + +In June my lawyers filed suit in the District Court in Washington +demanding a court order requiring the State Department either to issue a +passport or to re-open a hearing that in its first phase, three years +ago, was conducted in clear and open violation of the Department's own +regulations. + +Those regulations give me the right to "confrontation and +cross-examination" of William Webster, the CIA Director and only witness +against me. The State Department refused to produce Webster despite a +ruling by its Board of Appellate Review that it do so. Ultimate +resolution, perhaps in the Supreme Court, is no doubt years away. By +such delay the government wins its case de facto, without any legal +decision. + +After revocation of my Nicaraguan passport, my lawyers asked Judge +Gerhard Gesell, who is presiding my case, for an emergency order +requiring issuance of a passport so that I could fulfill agreements to +speak in the U.S. during October and November, to attend hearings on my +case in his court, to participate in any re-opened State Department +passport hearing, and to visit my family. He refused, knowing full well +that without the passport I could not return to Spain. + +Gesell refuses me the possibility to attend sessions on my case in his +court, or any re-opened State Department passport hearing that he might +order, let alone speaking at this meeting tonight. For this and his +past prejudice in a suit I brought under the FOIA ten years ago, I call +on him to disqualify himself from my case. And I ask you to support me +by demanding also that he either reconsider, and issue the order for the +passport, or quit the case. + +The object of this exercise is education: to show how the federal court +system is the most undemocratic institution we have. Nobody elects +those judges, who are political appointees for life, and they answer to +no one. The result finds judges masking political decisions in pompous +legalese with total immunity from public reaction. But we should not +take such hypocrisy quietly. + +However serious my problems are, they are certainly mild compared with +others. I urge you to support political prisoners like Leonard Peltier +of the American Indian Movement, and the many others deprived of +constitutional rights thanks to the racism and prejudice in what passes +for U.S. justice. + +I regret that I cannot be with you. I thank you for whatever support +you can give to help me regain my right to come and go from the United +States, and to be with you on another occasion. + + Best Wishes, + + Philip Agee + +################################################################## + +PHILIP AGEE DEFENSE CAMPAIGN + +On October 1, Speakout! launched a national campaign on behalf of one of +our speakers, Philip Agee. Agee was the first CIA officer to go public +in protest of the Agency's policies and remains its most controversial +critic since its founding in 1947. For fifteen years Agee has been a +leading American activist against CIA support of torture, political +assassinations, death squads, and destabilization of democratic +governments around the world. His bestselling book Inside the Company: +CIA Diary, was the first uncensored expose of CIA activities written by +one of its own. So that American citizens might know what crimes their +government is committing in their name, Agee has paid and is still +paying a high price: his freedom to travel and speak freely. + +In 1979, Agee's U.S. passport was revoked for "national security" +reasons. He applied for the return of his passport in 1987. His +application was denied six months later by Secretary of State George +Shultz, alleging that Agee's activities (writing and speaking), "are +continuing to cause serious damage to the national security and foreign +policy of the United States." No evidence has ever been presented to +substantiate this charge however, and the US government has never +charged Agee with any crime. + +Despite on-going efforts to stop him, Agee has traveled freely on an +honorary Nicaraguan passport he received in 1983. Twice a year he has +been touring the United States, speaking about CIA activity to overflow +crowds on hundreds of college campuses. In addition to his talks, he +always meets with students and community organizers to listen to and +advise them, explaining how to become involved in the CIA-Off Campus +Movement and linking them with other activists in the area. + +He travels with dozens of books, journals, periodicals, and pamphlets, +encouraging and guiding his audiences to read and to think critically. +As a result of his most recent tour, book sales in the spring of 1990 +totalled $10,000. His visits have been so successful that dozens of +CIA-Off Campus committees now exist and a national student newspaper +(Campus Watch) to monitor CIA activities on campuses enjoys a wide +circulation. As a result of his exposes, CIA recruitment has been +banned from many campuses. As Christine Kelley of Student Action Union +(national student organization) says, "If you want to get the CIA off +your campus, bring Phil Agee on." + +On September 22, 1990, the eve of a Agee's 20-city US tour organized by +Speakout!, the Chamorro government revoked Agee's Nicaraguan passport, +evidently in response to pressure from the US State Department. This is +just the latest action in nearly 20 years of harassment and efforts to +silence him. State Department pressure has also prevented him from +obtaining a passport from any other country. + +After revocation of his passport, Agee's lawyers asked Judge Gerhart +Gesell, who is presiding his case, for an emergency order requiring +issuance of a passport so that he could fulfill agreements to speak at +meetings scheduled in October and November, attend hearings on his case +in court, and visit his family. Judge Gesell refused, knowing full well +that without a passport Agee would be unable to return to his wife and +work in Spain. + +Speakout! protests this violation of Philip Agee's first amendment +rights and believes that as an American citizen, he is entitled to +travel freely and to express dissent. It is unconstitutional for the US +government to suboordinate the rights of its citizens to some undefined +national security concern. Speakout! will work to ensure that Philip +Agee's voice continues to be heard in the United States. + +Following the successful campaigns to stop the deportation of South +African exile Dennis Brutus and feminist Margaret Randall under the +Reagan Administration, Speakout! has launched a campaign to Agee regain +his passport. We are already receiving some radio and newspaper +coverage, and have mailed support packets to individuals and +organizations encouraging them to write protest letters to Judge Gesell. + +------------------------------------------------------------------ +Subject: video on Agee speech +To: Multiple recipients of list ACTIV-L +/** pn.publiceye: 18.6 **/ +** Written 7:23 pm Jan 29, 1991 by nlgclc in cdp:pn.publiceye ** +------------------------------------------------------------------ + +To order a videotape of Philip Agee speaking on the Middle East and +the Gulf Crisis, send $10 (US) to: + Jean Caiani + SPEAK OUT + 2215-R Market Street, #520 + San Francisco, CA 94114 + + (415) 864-4561 + +Make checks payable to: Philip Agee Defense Campaign + +** End of text from cdp:pn.publiceye ** + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/agri.wh b/textfiles.com/politics/agri.wh new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2c07a220 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/agri.wh @@ -0,0 +1,397 @@ + + + + + +August 6, 1992 + + + PRESIDENT BUSH ON AGRICULTURE + + + "The quantity and variety of goods that fill our Nation's + grocery stores are unparalleled -- a shining testament to + the ingenuity and productivity of the American farmer." + + President George Bush + November 20, 1991 + + + "Today, the trade practices of the European Community hurt + American farmers.... I am not going to put our farmers at an + unfair disadvantage. Sooner or later, the EC must stop + hiding behind its own iron curtain of protectionism. + Meanwhile, we will remain leaner, tougher and more + competitive." + President George Bush + January 13, 1992 + + + +Summary + +o President Bush is committed to ensuring that our farmers and + ranchers can compete in the world marketplace. The + President has worked hard to provide greater flexibility for + our farmers, promoting new uses for agricultural products, + opening markets for farm exports, and helping to mitigate + undue burdens of regulations. + +o Under the Bush Administration, nominal farm income has + reached a record high, and farm debt has fallen by one- + third. At the same time, farmers are now receiving more and + more of their revenues from markets, instead of the federal + government. + +o In November 1990, President Bush signed into law the market- + oriented 1990 Farm Bill. The President vigorously pursued + this bill which builds on the successes of the 1985 Reagan + legislation. This program will keep American farmers + competitive in world markets, assist farmers in their + efforts to conserve soil and water and stabilize farm income + and the U.S. food supply. + Agricuture -- page 2 + + +Increasing Farm Income + +o Under President Bush, farm income is at record levels. + Government support through farm programs, the reduction in + the debt load of farmers, increased international markets + due to aggressive market opening and export programs, and + President Bush's position on reducing interest rates all + contributed to the expansion in farm income. + + -- After adjusting for inflation, it is estimated that net + farm income for the period 1989-92 will be 14 percent + above the previous four year period. Agriculture sales + and gross cash receipts have increased $16 billion + since President Bush took office -- to $167 billion. + At the same time, government payments to farmers have + fallen as farmers have received more money from private + markets. + + -- In 1984, farm debt was $194 billion; by 1991 it had + fallen to $123 billion (forecast). Lower interest + rates combined with declining farm debt have + significantly improved the financial position of + farmers. + + -- Farmers' equity has grown by $45 billion in the three + years from 1988 to 1991. As farmers continue to cut + debt and increase assets, about 60 percent of the + equity decline which took place in the first half of + the 1980s will be regained by the end of 1992. + + +Maintaining Farm Program Support + +o President Bush's major domestic farm policy challenge during + his first term was the 1990 Farm Bill. The President led + the effort to maintain support for America's farmers while + achieving the Congressionally mandated reduction in + agricultural subsidies and government costs. + + -- To offset the effects of lower government expenditures, + the Bush Administration advocated the concept of + "planting flexibility," which lowered the restraints on + cropping choices. + + -- Greater flexibility has made U.S. agriculture more + competitive in global markets. + + -- In 1992, farmers used their new freedom to plant over 8 + million acres to alternative crops. + Agriculture -- page 3 + + + -- The market-oriented Farm Bill provisions are raising + farm productivity and efficiency and helping farmers + earn more in the marketplace, thereby reducing their + reliance on government payouts. At the same time, + vital support continues. + + +Reducing the Burden of Agricultural Regulation + +o In his State of the Union address in January, President Bush + vowed to eliminate unnecessary regulations that impede + economic growth and accelerate implementation of those that + promote growth. + +o On March 19, the Bush Administration announced a package of + agricultural regulatory changes totaling $1 billion in + economic benefits. These initiatives range from ways to + reduce compliance costs for nutritional labeling of meat and + poultry products to streamlining the application procedures + for FmHA farmer loan programs to speeding up a new loan + program for beginning farmers. + +o The President's directive to get the government off the + backs of farmers continues to succeed. In recent weeks, + rule changes have reduced the number of trips that are + necessary to local USDA offices. Other changes include + flexibility in enrolling wetlands in the Conservation + Reserve Program and making the Export Enhancement Program + and Export Credit Guarantee Programs easier for exporters to + use. + +o The President recognizes that unduly burdensome regulations + are a brake on economic progress for U.S. farmers. + Significant headway is being made to dismantle such rules to + put money back into farmer's pockets instead of wasting it + on unnecessary compliance costs. + + +Promoting Agricultural Trade + +o President Bush is committed to breaking down trade barriers + and opening new markets around the world. Agricultural + exports are up, topping $37 billion in 1991, and are + expected to reach $41 billion with an $18 billion surplus in + agriculture trade this year alone. + +o The President has successfully negotiated expanded markets, + such as agreements on beef and citrus exports to Japan and + similar dropping of barriers in other growing Asian markets. + Agriculture -- page 4 + + +o The President has worked to reduce the unfair agricultural + subsidies of our competitors through the GATT negotiation + process, and other diplomatic and economic efforts. + + -- The U.S. oilseeds case against the EC has twice been + judged by the GATT in our favor; however, the EC has so + far refused to change their unfair policies toward U.S. + oilseed producers. While we continue to negotiate with + the EC within the framework of the GATT, we are + prepared to use all our trade remedies should the EC + not bring its policies in line with GATT requirements. + +o The President has extended agricultural credits guarantees + to Russia and other nations of the former Soviet Union to + meet their needs in this critical time. The U.S. has made + available $4.85 billion in credit guarantees for the + purchase of U.S. agricultural goods to the former Soviet + republics and up to $165 million in food aid. This will + help increase farm income and retain important markets. + +GATT Uruguay Round: + +o President Bush has led the world in pushing for global + reform to open markets in the Uruguay Round negotiations of + the GATT. Foreign markets absorb 20-25 percent of U.S. + agricultural sales. A successful agreement could expand + farm exports by $4 to $5 billion by the year 2000. This + would add $5 billion in farm cash receipts, reduce federal + outlays by $2 to $3 billion, add 40,000 to 60,000 new U.S. + jobs in the food and agriculture sector, and require only a + few changes in U.S. domestic support programs. + +o Agricultural reforms in the Uruguay Round would mark an + historic departure from the costly protectionist measures + that have restrained agricultural trade growth, largely + outside GATT disciplines. These reforms would have + significant benefits for farmers, taxpayers, and consumers + in the United States and the rest of the world. They will + help to level the playing field for U.S. farm exports and + will provide fair import safeguards for U.S. farmers. + +o President Bush, supported by other GATT members, has + demanded that any final GATT agreement include a commitment + by all parties, including the EC, to significantly reduce + trade barriers and to require their farmers to compete + fairly in the world market. + Agriculture -- page 5 + + + -- The Bush Administration has aggressively focused and + spent $850 million so far this year on the Export + Enhancement Program (EEP). This program is + specifically designed to counter the EC's massive + export subsidies and maintain pressure to negotiate a + settlement. + + -- This commitment demonstrates that the Bush + Administration is determined not to reduce these + subsidies unilaterally, and put U.S. farmers at a + tremendous disadvantage to subsidized competitors. + +o The EC's recent reform of its Common Agricultural Policy + could promote further progress on the GATT. CAP reform + alone, however, does not resolve the problem of the EC's + unwillingness to reduce export subsidies. The EC must take + further steps to join the rest of the world in reducing + subsidies and opening its markets to competitive trade. + +North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA): + +o President Bush has been at the forefront of negotiating a + fair free-trade agreement with Mexico. With nearly 90 + million consumers and an expanding economy, Mexico will + provide a vital and expanding market for U.S. agricultural + products. NAFTA offers a total market of 360 million + people. + +o U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico have almost tripled + since 1986 to a record $3 billion in 1991. The U.S. is + currently the largest supplier of agricultural products to + Mexico. Under a NAFTA even more can be done since Mexico's + remaining trade barriers are still higher than those of the + U.S. (Mexican tariffs on U.S. products average about 11 + percent while the U.S. tariffs are only about 4 percent.) + +o President Bush firmly supports the development of a strong + NAFTA agreement which will secure further export + opportunities for agricultural products to Mexico. A NAFTA + will provide adequate transition provisions for U.S. + producers. This will include import safeguards and long + term phase-in periods for sensitive crops to avoid severe + impacts on any commodity or industry. + +o At the same time, the Administration will ensure that health + and safety standards are not relaxed on food imports. The + U.S. will maintain the right to exclude any products that do + not meet U.S. health or safety requirements and will Agriculture -- page 6 + + + continue to enforce those requirements. President Bush + seeks a commitment to work together with Mexico to enhance + environmental, health, and safety standards regarding + products and to promote their enforcement. + +Trade Agreements in Asia: + +o The largest region for U.S. agricultural export market is + Asia, accounting for 44 percent of farm exports in fiscal + year 1990-91. In that year, U.S. sales of agricultural + products to Japan (our largest single market for farm + products) totalled $7.7 billion; sales to Taiwan were $1.7 + billion. However, there are still many trade restrictions + facing the U.S. agricultural industry. President Bush has + actively pursued trade agreements to open Asian markets. + + -- A 1990 agreement was negotiated with South Korea which + will completely open its beef markets to the U.S. by + 1997. Currently, South Korea is the third largest + market for U.S. beef. + + -- An agreement with Japan led to a complete lifting of + quotas on beef imports on April 1, 1991. The U.S. has + increased its beef exports to Japan from $557 million + in 1987 to $889 million in 1991. + + -- A 1990 agreement with Japan on processed wood products + will increase exports by $1 billion. + + +Promoting New Uses for Farm Products + +o The Administration is supporting a growing effort to expand + nontraditional markets for farm and forestry products. + Markets for fuels, lubricants, biodegradable materials, + inks, and pharmaceuticals offer tremendous potential for + American agriculture. Expanded markets will increase farm + income, create economic opportunity in Rural America, help + achieve a cleaner healthier environment, and reduce our + reliance on foreign oil. + + -- Funding for activities in these areas has increased + substantially. The President has requested that + Congress more than double funding for the Alternative + Agricultural Research and Commercialization Center + (AARC) in FY 1993 from $4.5 million to $10 million. + AARC's mission is to facilitate the movement of new + technology and nontraditional products from the + laboratory and testing phases into the marketplace. + Agriculture -- page 7 + + + -- USDA's Agriculture Research Service (ARS) is increasing + its effort in the area of new uses. Funding requested + for FY 1993 is $5 million higher than FY 1992. + + -- Products and materials made from crops are generally + environmentally friendly and safe to handle. + Disposable packaging made from starch is biodegradable + and nontoxic and thereby providing one solution to the + increasing solid waste disposal problems. + +o The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, proposed and signed + into law by the President, provides expanded market + opportunities for biofuels, both ethanol and biodiesel. + Biodiesel is a clean burning substitute for diesel fuel and + can be made from oilseeds and animal byproducts. + + -- USDA is currently working with EPA and DOE to ensure + that ethanol will enjoy the market opportunities + available to it under the Clean Air Act. + + -- USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) estimates that + increasing ethanol production to 5 billion gallons will + create 100,000 jobs, many of them in rural areas. + + -- An expanding market for ethanol will also reduce + emissions of carbon monoxide and other harmful air + pollutants. Growing crops for fuel will also reduce + the amount of new carbon released into the atmosphere + helping to stabilize levels of carbon in the air. + +o The President's National Energy Strategy also calls for an + expanded market for biofuels to increase our domestic energy + production and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. + +o Funding for activities within USDA to encourage the + development of ethanol and biodiesel markets has increased + substantially. Funding requested for FY 1993 is almost + three times that appropriated in FY 1992. + + -- ERS has identified new cost-saving technologies that + can lower the cost of producing ethanol by as much as + 20 to 30 percent and increase market opportunities even + more. USDA's Office of Energy, ARS and other agencies + are working to develop these new technologies and make + them available to the private sector. + + Agriculture -- page 8 + + +Agriculture and the Environment + +o Recognizing that farmers are the first environmentalists and + have been working for generations to protect and preserve + their lands to maintain productivity, the President has + oriented farm policy toward the goal of assisting farmers in + their efforts. + +o The Administration has been working with farmers to provide + them with information regarding best management practices + and new technology to assist them in reducing inputs and + complying with State and local environmental laws. The + Administration has sought to ensure that zeal for + environmental protection does not transfer into laws so + restrictive as to put people out of business. + +o The President supports the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), + the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and the Water + Quality Incentives Program which are all voluntary programs + available to producers to assist in the protection of their + lands. + +o The Administration supports greater planting flexibility as + a means to divert from monocultural practices and + opportunities for exploration and experimentation with new + crops to achieve the best management practices for the land. + +o The President believes that it is possible to protect + important wetlands and at the same time have a balanced, + sensible approach to protection that takes into account the + property rights of farmers. + + + + + # # # + + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/agric.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/agric.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2e74f25c --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/agric.txt @@ -0,0 +1,208 @@ +##### updated format + + + + CLINTON/GORE ON AGRICULTURE + + + +As farm state natives, Bill Clinton and Al Gore +appreciate how much American farmers have done for +their country. The commitment and sacrifice of +those who feed the United States and much of the +world must not go unnoticed. A Clinton/Gore +Administration will create an agriculture policy +that both recognizes the small-family producers who +have done so much to make America great and treats +consumers and taxpayers fairly. + +Bill Clinton and Al Gore understand that +guaranteeing an adequate quality food supply is an +important strategic goal of the United States. Our +current farm programs, properly managed, can +achieve reasonable prices for producers and +guarantee a safe and stable food and fiber supply +for consumers. Bill Clinton and Al Gore believe +that American farmers are the most competitive and +efficient farmers in the world. A Clinton/Gore +Administration will help them stay that way. + + + + THE CLINTON/GORE PLAN + + Trade + + Protecting our environment + + Expand food aid + + Research, development and new ideas + + A department for agriculture + + + +Trade + +* Work hard to open new markets for American + agricultural products, particularly in Eastern + Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent + States. + +* Support full use of federal export tools like + the Export Enhancement Program (EEP) to expand + trade and enter new markets. + +* Act swiftly to level the playing field in + international trade when foreign competitors + use export subsidies to gain an unfair + advantage over American farmers -- instead of + sitting idly by as the Bush Administration has + done. + +* Remove unfair trade barriers through tough + negotiation with our trading partners to pry + open closed markets, including the support of + reciprocal retaliation against the European + Community unless the E.C. removes its ban on + U.S. pork. + +Protecting our environment + +* Include farmers in the national debate on + environmental policy -- because farmers and + ranchers are among the best stewards of the + land; they pay taxes and bank notes on their + land and they ought to have a say in what is + done with it. + +* Ensure that environmental decisions are based + on sound scientific data, not politics, and + that Americas farmers do not carry the costs + of environmental protection alone. + +Expand food aid + +* Expand food aid overseas to assist emerging + democracies and developing nations. + +* Increase funding for the Food for Peace + program. + +Research, development, and new ideas + +* Provide American leadership in world + agriculture through modernization and + development of current farm programs, and + expansion of agriculture research and + development. + +* Bring existing farm programs into the + communications age by equipping federal + agriculture offices with the most modern + communications and computer equipment + available. + +* Consolidate forms and processes to cut down on + wasted time and delays. + +* Utilize federal research funds to improve + cooperation among farmers and between states + in the same region. + +A department for agriculture + +* Give American farmers a friend and advocate at + the USDA by appointing a Secretary of + Agriculture who is respected by American + farmers and who will work tirelessly on their + behalf. The USDA must be a department for + agriculture, not an annex to the Office of + Management and Budget or the State Department. + + +THE RECORD + + +* Bill Clinton made numerous trade missions to + Europe and Japan to negotiate open markets for + Arkansas products. + +* Created the Division of Agriculture + Development to work closely with farmers and + relay their concerns to the Governors office. + +* Developed the Farm Mediation Program to assist + farmers and lenders in finding solutions to + debt payment problems. + +* Created the Arkansas Linked Deposit Program, + which provides a new source of agricultural + and small business loans by allowing up to $50 + million of state funds in lending institutions + to be loaned at lower-than-market rates. + +* Aggressively addressed brucellosis, resulting + in a reduction by herd count of over 92% from + 1983 to 1991, moving Arkansas from Class C to + Class A. + +* Established the Small Business Revolving Loan + Fund to provide loans to small and minority + businesses primarily in rural areas. + +* Established the Revolving Loan Fund for + Expansion of Fruit and Vegetable Cooperatives + to provide loans in rural areas to assist + agricultural co-ops in marketing their + produce. + +* Implemented the Beginning Farmer Loan Program, + a tax-exempt bond program that assists farmers + in acquiring agricultural land at low interest + rates by enabling lending institutions, + individuals, partnerships and corporations to + receive tax-exempt interest for direct loans + or contract sales made to new farmers. + +* Led a bipartisan effort to strengthen farm + finance through measures designed to refinance + the debts of productive farms as a meber of + the National Governors Association (NGA) + Agriculture Committee. + +* Served on the NGA Task Force on Rural + Development, which issued strong, practical + recommendations to revitalize rural + communities. + +* Senator Gore grew up on a farm in Carthage, + Tennessee, and now owns a farm in Carthage. + +* Consistently supported the family farmer and + helped protect basic farm income. + +* Fought for an Agriculture program that helps + agriculture producers move toward a profitable + and sustainable production system. + +* Fought to provide adequate funding for + conservation programs requiring the nation's + farmers to meet numerous standards for + protection of soil and water resources. + +* Cosponsored a 1987 act to reform and improve + the Farm Credit System. + +* Led efforts to provide disaster relief to + farmers suffering from drought and flooding. + +* Aggressively insisted that U.S. negotiators + focus on trade fairness and opening new + markets for American agricultural products. + +* Coauthored legislation to reduce access + charges for residential and small business + telephone rate payers and increase support for + rural companies. diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/aids.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/aids.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dd6f0e42 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/aids.txt @@ -0,0 +1,211 @@ +***** Reformated. Please distribute. + + + CLINTON GORE ON AIDS + + + +Fighting the AIDS epidemic will be a top priority of a Clinton/Gore +Administration. If we fail to commitour hearts and resources now to +fighting AIDS, we will pay a far greater price in the future, both in +deaths and in dollars. We need leaders who will focus national +attention on AIDS, to encourage compassion and understanding, to +promote education and to speak out against intolerance. + +We can't afford another four years without a plan to declare war on +AIDS. We can't afford to have yet another President who remains +silent about AIDS or who puts the issue on the back burner. + + +THE CLINTON/GORE PLAN + + +Increase funding for desperately needed new initiatives in research, +prevention and treatment. + +Appoint an AIDS policy director to coordinate federal AIDS policies, +cut through bureaucratic red tape and implement recommendations +made by the National Commission on AIDS. + +Speed up the drug approval process and commit increased resources +to research and development of AIDS-related treatments and +vaccines, and ensure that women and people of color are included in +research and drug trials. + +Fully fund the Ryan White CARE Act. Work closely with individuals +and communities that are affected by HIV to create a partnership +between the federal government and those with knowledge and +experience in fighting HIV. + +Promote a national AIDS education and prevention initiative that +disseminates frank and accurate information to reduce the spread of +the disease, and educates our children about the nature and threat of +AIDS. + +Provide quality health coverage to all Americans with HIV as part of +a broader national health care program; work vigorously to improve +access to promising experimental therapies for people with +life-threatening illnesses; and improve preventive and long-term care. + +Combat AIDS-related discrimination and oppose needless mandatory +HIV testing in federal organizations such as the Peace Corps, Job +Corps and the Foreign Service; stop the cynical politicization of +immigration policies by directing the Justice Department to follow +the Department of Health and Human Services' recommendation +that HIV be removed from the immigration restrictions list; promote +legislation based on sound scientific and public health principles, not +on panic, politics and prejudice. + +Prevention and education + + Launch a strong and effective AIDS education campaign. + +Reevaluate the AIDS prevention budget at the U.S. Centers for +Disease Control to ensure that education is a top priority. + +Ensure that increased funding for prevention and services goes +directly to community based organizations that are on the frontline +of the battle against the HIV virus. + +Promote AIDS education in American schools. + +Provide drug treatment on demand to stop the spread of HIV by +intravenous drug users. + +Increase funding for behavior and social science research so that we +can better understand the behaviors that put people at risk for HIV. + +Support local efforts to make condoms available in schools. + + +Treatment and care + + +Provide health care for all Americans, including those with HIV, +through coverage they obtain either on the job or through +government-mandated programs, which will include: + + - Comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services, including +frequent diagnostic monitoring, early intervention therapies, and +psychological care. + + - Prescription drugs and improved access to experimental therapies. +Because treatments are not accessible unless they are affordable, a +Clinton/Gore Administration will support legislation that denies tax +breaks to companies that raise the cost of drugs faster than +Americans' ability to pay for them. + + - Adequate options for long-term home and community-based care +that minimize unnecessary and wasteful hospitalizations. + + - Voluntary, confidential, or anonymous testing and counseling for +AIDS and HIV for every American who wants it. + +Encourage the Centers for Disease Control to review periodically +their definition of AIDS to ensure that symptoms and infections that +occur among women, people of color and drug users are included in +the federal definition, and promptly made eligible for all federal +benefit programs for people with AIDS. + +Develop programs with the Department of Health and Human +Service to ensure that America's health care professional are kept fully +and regularly informed aobut diagnosing and treating HIV. + +Have the National Institutes of Health (NIH) develop a formalized +mechanism to make sure that state-of-the-art informations is broadly +and rapidly disseminated to health professional and people with HIV +disease. + + +Treatment and drug development + + Work vigorously to develop a vaccine against AIDS and to find +therapies that will destroy HIV, repair the immune system and +prevent and treat AIDS-related infections. + +Increase funding for both AIDS-specific and general biomedical +research. + +Expand clinical and community based trials for treatments and +vaccines, and raise the level of participation of under-represented +populations. + +Reorganize the NIH infrastructure to streamline AIDS research +efforts and improve planning efficiency and communication. + +Promote a more rapid review by the NIH of research grant +applications and a speedier distribution of funding for approved +studies. + +Facilitate greater access to drugs and work to speed up the drug +approval process. + +Ensure that the FDA has the resources to assist in the efficient design +of AIDS-related drug trials and to review their results rapidly. The +FDA will also make possible greater access to promising experimental +therapies without compromising patient safety. + +Discrimination + +Fight all AIDS-related discrimination and discrimination based on +race, gender and sexual orientation. + +Fully implement the Americans with Disabilities Act and resist any +efforts to weaken its provisions. + +The Department of Justice and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights +must make it a high priority to monitor the occurrence of +AIDS-related discrimination and the enforcement of the ADA with +respect to HIV-related complaints. + +Forbid health insurance companies form denying coverage to +HIV-positive applicants. + +Prhohibit all health plans from adopting discriminatory caps or +exclusions that provide lower coverage for AIDS than for any other +life-threatening illnesses. No American will be denied health coverage +because he or she loses a job or has a pre-existing condition. + +Oppose mandatory testing in federal organizations like the Peace +Corps and Foreign Service. + +Lift the current ban on travel and immigration to the U.S. by +foreign nationals with HIV. + + +The Record + +As chairman of the National Governors' Association, Governor +Clinton formed the first working group of governors to develop an +AIDS policy. Clinton was a moving force in the creation of an AIDS +action plan adopted by the Governors' Association which called for +education and prevention efforts at the local, state and federal levels. + +Governor Clinton supported teacher training for AIDS education and +a detailed study of the availability of HIV education at the local +level. + +Since 1990, AIDS education has been required in all Arkansas +schools, and there has been a 40% increase in HIV counseling and +voluntary testing in Arkansas. + +The Arkansas AIDS Advisory Committee was established in 1987. +This committee makes recommendations on HIV policy and +program services. HIV services in the state currently include +anonymous testing at two centers and confidential testing and +counseling at public health clinics in all 75 Arkansas counties. + + +Senator Al Gore voted to ban discrimination against people with +AIDS or HIV. + +Voted for legislation to remove HIV from the immigration +restrictions list. + +Supported funding for the Ryan White AIDS Act. + +Voted to provide emergency relief to metropolitan areas hardest hit +by AIDS, to health care facilities serving many low-income +individuals and families with HIV and to states to assist in improving +the quality of treatment and support services for people with HIV. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/al_gore.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/al_gore.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1f69e781 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/al_gore.txt @@ -0,0 +1,108 @@ + Why I Totally Oppose Al Gore as Candidate for + Vice-President of United States of America + +1.) Term Limits for Congress: + May 22, 1991, voted against an amendment to limit Senators to two + consecutive terms if they fund their campaigns with tax dollars. + +2.) Using Taxes To Promote Abortion: + July 16, 1991, voted against a bill to prohibit tax-funded family- + planning clinics from promoting abortion. + +3.) Abstinence-Based Sex Education: + September 12, 1991, voted against an amendment to transfer $10 million + from surveys on adult sexual behavior to the abstinence-based Adolescent + Family Life Program, thus voting against abstinence-based sex education. + +4.) Taxpayer Funding of Pornography: + September 19, 1991, voted against an amendment prohibiting the National + Endowment for the Arts from spending taxpayers funds on pornographic art. + Fortunately, amendment passed 68-28. + +5.) School Prayer: + January 23, 1992, voted against amendment to state the sense for the + Senate that the Supreme Court should reverse its decisions prohibiting + voluntary prayer and Bible reading in public schools. + +6.) Freedom of Choice In Education: + January 23, 1992, voted against an amendment to provide low-income parents + with money to enroll their children at the public or private school of + their choice, including religious schools, thus giving parents a choice + as to where to send their children to school. + +7.) Line--Item Veto: + February 27, 1992, voted against an amendment which would give the + President line-item veto authority. With this ability, the President + could veto such items as pay raises, ridiculous regulations designed + to increase budget spending, and other items that get tacked on at + the end of a bill. Incidentally 47 of our 50 states now have such + authority. + +8.) Taxes: + March 13, 1992, Gore voted for an amendment which had it passed, would + have been a motion to permit consideration to require 3/5 vote of the + Senate to raise taxes but to let a simple majority cut taxes. Motion + was fortunately rejected 37-58. + +9.) Balanced Budget Amendment: + April 9, 1992, he voted against a motion to state the sense of the + Senate that it should adopt by June 5 a joint resolution proposing + a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution. Motion passed 63-32. + +10.) Environment Issues (what's termed as his speciality): + Al Gore has pushed environment issues to the point of absurdity, fraud, + and deceit. He states and makes claims which lack proof, are based on + accusations of findings, misinterpretations, and glory reporting. For + every issue that you find he stands by with "firm" conviction stating + that he speaks and knows "the facts to be...", you can also find an equal + or greater source which contradicts his entire scope and basis for argument. + I do not think any one man can be so sure of an issue(s) which clearly has + so many unanswered questions, variables, and contradictions. + + In fact, NASA has come forth recently stating that their findings + concerning ozone depletion (from which ALL current information concerning + ozone levels was derived from a report released by NASA), was taken out + of context, claiming the media misunderstood and/or misinterpreted the + reports. This recent information brought forth by NASA stating the need + for the public to know and understand the truth came about following an + article released by Time magazine which, according to NASA, was the point + at which they knew they must inform the public correctly. NASA reported + that what we refer to as ozone "depletion" is not depletion at all... + rather ozone has been found to act seasonally. The NASA reports released + were misinterpreted suggesting that depletion was occuring. NASA stated + that it did not correct these misinterpretations immediately because they + offered no threat, only a misunderstanding brought on by the medias own + ignorance and perceived as dangerous by the media. However, with all the + press on doom and gloom, they felt compelled to come forth and try to + straighten out the situation following the release of the Time issue which + featured a cover depicting an ozone hole on fire. (Their rebuke can be + found in Insight Magazine). How then, according to Al Gore, can there + positively be a hole in the ozone over Kenney Bunkport, Maine (funny how + coincidental that this is where George Bush's retreat is) when in fact it + was after these statements and the release of Al Gore's book, that NASA + came forth to confirm otherwise, that there is no depletion, and that their + findings only show ozone to be seasonal. + + For more information on how ecology and environment deceit plays a role + in political platforms, I suggest you read Al Gore's book, then compare + it to Dixie Lee Ray's book entitled "Trashing The Planet". (Ray is former + governor of Washington, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, assistant + secretary of state in the U.S. Bureau of Oceans, and long-time member of + the Zoology faculty of the University of Washington.) The comparison will + be interesting even if you don't agree with me. ...but you will. + + I present this evidence to show that Al Gore is not change, but rather + damaging to the beliefs of the majority of Americans, the needs for our + country, and the rights of individuals to hold on to the freedoms we so + dearly cherish, and to further give evidence that this election, although + construde by many as a chance for change, is really about much more. We + must find a way to inform the people so that we can return to the type of + government we now must envision. As Ross Perot said simply, "Our choices + should be Heads you win, or Tails you win". Unfortunately, I find myself + defending a candidate I too am unhappy with, but trying to point out the + absolute absurdity in thinking we have an opportunity for change. We don't! + So please consider the issues, and vote not about change, but for what is + best. Change is not always good. It is my hope that this may serve as a + prime example. + + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/alembic1.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/alembic1.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..db44cff1 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/alembic1.txt @@ -0,0 +1,277 @@ + The ALEMBIC + first edition / Spring 1989 + a magazine for those who "think too much" and have a "bad attitude" + + *The Power of Negative Thinking + *Language for Social Control + *The Coming Food Crisis + *Feminism as Fascism + *Religion as Rabies + ...and more! + + WARNING! Contains controversial material. + Parental discretion should be exorcised. + + + ______________________________________________________________________________ + Editorial: The Naming of Names + + When I embarked upon the search for a worthy name for this new magazine, I recalled an experience I had in the early 1980's when I attended a meeting of liberals, left-wingers, artists and musicians who were trying to start a counter-culture magazine. One of the first questions we grappled with was what to call the thing, and I suggested "kaleidoscope." I got my first taste of liberals' hypocrisy when the ones present at that meeting said the poor working masses wouldn't know what a kaleidoscope is, and anyway it sounded too much like "collide" and therefore wasn't mellow enough. I immediately withdrew from that project and swore that someday I'd start a magazine with a really obscure word as its name, a magazine that wouldn't be crippled by compromise, committee thinking, or fear of controversy. And so, after many years of dicking around with various media experiments, I've finally gotten around to fulfilling this promise to myself. + An "alembic" is a type of mediaeval distillation apparatus used by alchemists and others interested in the refinement and purification of substances and ideas. An apt slogan might be, if you can't stand the heat, stay out of The Alembic. -RKH + + +______________________________________________________________________________ +The ALEMBIC is published sporadically. No copyright. To receive the next four editions, send five dollars (cash currency please) to The Alembic, Box 547014, Orlando FL 32854 USA. + + +______________________________________________________________________________ +Editor's Note: Choosing an appropriate lead-off article to set the tone for the rest of The Alembic's existence was a difficult task requiring months of reading and careful thought. I selected this essay by the most radical philosopher currently living on the earth, a man who finds most anarchists to be too conservative for his taste. Bob wrote the following article several years ago inspired by incidents in which fanatical feminists fire-bombed pornography dealerships in hopes of drawing attention to porn and getting the legal system to clamp down on the dealers. Although these "actions" were supported by some firmly-entrenched anarchist 'zines, notably the hideous Open Road and Kick it Over, Bob was one of the few writers in the anti-authoritarian world with the courage to point out that such actions and motivations have nothing to do with the quest for freedom. For exposing irrationalities and contradictions in spite of the social consequences, we award Mr. Black the lead-off position in our batting order. + + + Feminism as Fascism + by Bob Black + + + As the title of a childhood classic points out, Pigs Is Pigs - and this is regardless of the shape of their genitals. Ilse Koch was a Nazi, not a "sister." Love is not hate, war is not peace, freedom is not slavery, and book-burning is not liberatory. Anti-authoritarians who would be revolutionaries confront many difficult questions. First, though, they should answer the easy ones correctly. + All hyperbole and metaphor aside, what passes for "radical feminism" is fascism. It promotes chauvinism, censorship, maternalism, pseudo-anthropology, scapegoating, mystical identification with nature, apartheid, tricked-up pseudo-pagan religiosity, and enforced uniformity of thought and even appearance (in some quarters, Hera help the ectomorphic or "feminine" feminist!). Here is all of the theory and too much of the practice we should all be able to recognize by now. + An ominous tactical continuity with classical fascism, also, is the complementarity between private-vigilantist and statist methods of repression. Thus Open Road, the Rolling Stone of anarchism, applauded some anti-porn actions in Vancouver, not as direct action, hence understandable even if misdirected, but rather because they encouraged lethargic prosecutors to persecute. In post World War 1 Italy, fascist gangs attacked socialist and trade-union organizations with the tacit approval of the police, who never intervened except against the left. (The suppression of the IWW in America followed a similar pattern.) As I once wonderingly asked, "How come these women won't get in bed with any man except the DA?" + Not that I could care less about the porn-for-profit industry, for its "rights" of free speech or property. That is beside the point, which is: why single out this species of business? To target porn bespeaks planning and priorities, not elemental anti-capitalist spontaneity. Those who carry out a calculated policy can't complain if their reasons are asked for, and questioned. + Fascist ideology always incongruously asserts to its audience, its chosen people, that they really are at one and the same time oppressed and superior. The Germans didn't really lose the First World War (how could they? ex hypothesi they are superior) therefore, they were stabbed in the back. (But how could a superior race let such a situation arise in the first place?) Men alone, we are told in a feminist Anti-Pornography Movement diatribe in Toronto's Kick It Over,"have created the nature-destroying and woman-hating culture." If so, then either women have contributed absolutely nothing to culture, or there is something more or something else to this culture than destroying nature and hating women. + For their own purposes (some of which are as mundane as sexual rivalry with straight men for the women they both desire), self-styled radical feminists actually reduce women to nothing but helpless, cringing near-vegetables, passive victims of male contempt and coercion. This profoundly insults women in a way which the worst patriarchal ideologies - the Jewish notion of woman as a source of pollution, for instance, or the Christian nightmare of woman as temptress and uncontrollable sexual nature-force - fell short of. They defamed woman as evil but could hardly regard her as powerless. The new woman-as-victim stereotype is directly traceable to 19th century Victorian patriarchal attitudes reducing (bourgeois) women to inert ornaments. By denying to women the creative power inherent in everyone, it places women's demands on a par with those advanced for, say, baby seals. + Suppose instead what only the most demented feminists and misogynists deny, that things aren't quite that bad, that women have been subjects as well as objects of history. Then how can women - or any other subordinated group: workers, blacks, indigenous peoples - be entirely acquitted of all complicity in the arrangements which condemn them to domination? There are reasons for these accomodations. There is no excuse for denying their existence. + (Just a quick comment on a striking imbecility in the quoted comment which passed unquestioned in Kick It Over. It is generally supposed, and not only by the When God Was a Woman crowd, that women probably invented agriculture. Among the consequences of this discovery were - to say nothing of the state, class society, property, etc. - the destruction of most of the ecosystems which previously flourished. Agriculture has annihilated much of the diversity of the biosphere already, creating deserts and extinguishing the habitats not only of countless plants and animals but also of the last remaining stateless, classless human societies. What then of woman's innate affinity with nature? "When God was a woman" it was already necessary to abolish her.) + This isn't sour grapes. It has never bothered me that some women dislike men, even to the point of having nothing to do with them. I don't like most men myself, especially the archetypal "masculine" ones. I can't help but notice, though, that the vast majority of women feel otherwise. The radical feminists have noticed it too and it drives them to distraction. I would be the first to agree that vast majorities can be wrong. But then I criticize majorities, I don't pretend to speak for them. Radical feminists, in contrast, are vanguardists. As such they need to rationalize their animosities, and so they have, making a dick-determinist demonology out of their prejudices. As man-haters they can't help but be woman-haters also. + To equate pornography with rape - beneath the rancorous rhetorical froth, this seems to be the core APM axiom - is presumably intended to make porn seem more serious. And yet, if men call the shots and the system's built-in tendency is (as we're told) to denature oppositional initiatives of which the feminists' is the most revolutionary, then the likely result is rather to make rape seem more trivial. It's the old story of the womyn who cried wolf. + According to feminoid epistemology, men understand nothing of the real nature of women. One might logically suppose that the estrangement of the sexes resulting from disparate rles and discrimination would work both ways, and so most of us attending to our actual experience reluctantly conclude. But no: men don't understand women, but women (at least their radical feminist vanguard) understand men. Women - feminist experts, anyway - understand pornography and its meaning for men much better than the men who write and read it - and lesbian-separatists, who avoid men and decline to have sex with them, appreciate these verities best of all. The more remote your experience is from the real life of actual men, the better you understand them. Turning this around, isn't the Pope, as he claims, the ultimate authority on women and sexuality? + The asserted connection of porn with rape is allegorical, not empirical. As a correlation it compares with the recently revived "reefer madness" marijuana-to-heroin Rake's Progress line in its absurdity and in its suitability for the state's purposes. If feminism didn't exist, conservative politicians would have had to invent it. (Why, pray tell, did all-male legislatures ever criminalize "obscenity" in the first place? And why do all-male courts arbitrarily exclude it from constitutional protection?) APM harpies, should they ever deal with people instead of their own fevered projections, would discover that porn is of no interest to the majority of post-pubescent males - not because they are politically correct but because most males find porn gross, sleazy, and above all, inferior to the real thing. + The feminist book-burners are cowardly opportunists. If what they object to is the subliminal socialization of women into subservient rles vis-a-vis men (curiously, adopting the same rles vis-a-vis butch lesbians is harmless fun), their primary, near-premptive preoccupation would have to be Cosmopolitan, Barbara Courtland romances, and the vast cryptopornographic pop literature written for and snapped up by women. After all, the gore and violence are derivative: only victims can be victimized in any way. Fifteen years ago, the original women's liberationists (subsequently switched like changelings with today's priestesses, lawyers and upscale bureaucrettes) at least lashed out at influential enemies like Hugh Hefner and Andy Warhol. Nowadays they terrorize teenage punk anarchists whose collages insinuate, for instance, that Margaret Thatcher is a ruler, the "mother of a thousand dead," not a "sister." Such is the logic of this bizarre biological determinism: any animal equipped with a vagina is one of Us, any prick-privileged person is one of Them. One can only echo The Firesign Theatre: "Who am us, anyway?" + Male leftists are easy and often willing yes-men to feminist aggrandizement. They combine guilt at past improprieties (by and large, those who feel guilty - toward women, blacks, foreigners, whatever - usually are) with a present ambition to get into the leftist-feminists' pants. Thus Berkeley, California, where I used to live, is crawling with male "feminists" who converted, the easier to get laid. Much the same scam seems to be happening in Toronto and, doubtless, many other places. These ulterior ambitions don't in themselves discredit the ideologies to which they are appended - one can come to the right conclusion for the worst of reasons. But insofar as the opinions at issue certainly seem to be idiotic to anyone without an extraneous interest in embracing them, otherwise inexplicable paroxysms by (male) intellectuals seem to be most plausibly explainable as self-interested insincere rationalizations. + Possibly the ideology I've excoriated is something that some people had to work through in order to free themselves to the extent necessary to venture upon a project of collective liberation. Already a few alumnae of feminism have moved on to the common quest for freedom, and some are the better for what they've been through. We all have our antecedent embarrassments (Marxism, libertarianism, syndicalism, Objectivism, etc.) to put behind us. Had we not thought in ideological terms it's hard to believe we'd ever get to the point where we could think for ourselves. To be a Trotskyist or a Jesuit is, in itself, to be a believer, that is to say a chump. And yet a rigorous romp through any system might show the way out of the Master-System itself. + Not likely, however, when women critics are ostracized as renegades while male critics are ignored or defamed as a matter of principle. (A precisely parallel mechanism for maintaining a conspiracy of silence is worked by Zionists: Gentile critics are "anti-Semites," Jewish critics can only be consumed by "Jewish self-hatred.") Separatism may be absurd as a social program and riddled with inconsistencies (scarcely any separatists separate from patriarchal society to anything like the extent that, say, survivalists do - and nobody intervenes more to mind other people's business than separatists). But semi-isolation makes it easier to indoctrinate neophytes and shut out adverse evidence and argument, an insight radical feminists share with Moonies, Hare Krishna, and other cultists. It's fortunate that their doctrines and subculture as initially encountered are so unappetizing. Indeed, I've noticed a graying of radical feminism - as Sixties politics and culture continue to gutter out, less and less women have had the proper pre-soak preparing them for feminist brainwashing. Radical feminists (so-called) in their early twenties are rare, and getting scarcer. + Radical feminism (no point disputing title to the phrase with its present owners), then, is a ludicrous, hate-filled, authoritarian, sexist dogmatic construct which revolutionaries accord an unmerited legitimacy by taking seriously at all. It is time to stop matronizing these terrorists of the trivial and hold them responsible for preaching genocidal jive and practicing the very evil (even, if the truth be told, rape!) they insist has been inflicted on them. (Or, rather, as it usually turns out, some other suppositious "sister": the typical radical feminist has had it pretty good.) How to thwart femino-fascism? That's easy: just take feminists at face value and treat them as equals... then hear them howl! The Empress has no clothes...and that's what I call obscene. + +Our thanks to the author for providing the current version of the above. A book of his collected essays is available for $6 postpaid: Bob Black, P.O. Box 2159, Albany NY 12220. + + +______________________________________________________________________________ + + Non-Voters Defeat Politicians + by Rick Harrison + + The news media have been very quiet about the fact that half the population didn't vote on November 8th. They have also tried to avoid reporting that 29% of American adults refused to register this year in defiance of the increasingly shrill and emotional shrieking of newscasters, commentators and other clowns in the media circus. Once again the band of looters known as politicians have suffered a defeat at the hands of the non-voters. The growing number of abstainers are calling into question the phony form of democracy foisted off as "free and open elections" in this country. The false nature of elections and their irrelevance to our everyday lives are becoming so obvious that even ordinary people are starting to notice. + In Marxist nations' phony elections, the voter is given a ballot with the name of the Communist Party's candidate, a box labelled "yes" and a box labelled "no." The majority of voters mark the "yes" box because a "no" vote would be futile; the Party candidate would take office anyway. + In the United States, the voter is presented with an equally bleak choice: Republican or Democrat. And, thanks to the antics of pollsters and newscasters, the outcome of the election is equally pre-determined. The difference between the two "choices" is increasingly small. It is almost impossible for other political parties to get on the ballot, and even if they succeed in doing so, they cannot get serious media attention, and cynical commentators tell people that voting for a third party is like "throwing your vote away" - as if voting for the Republi-crats were any less futile. + In this year's Presidential race - and it is a 'race,' similar to a horse race - the "choice" was so distasteful that over four hundred newspapers across the country refused to endorse either candidate! The Democrats and Republicans are really just two branches of the same scurrilous party, the political mafia, which funnels tax dollars extorted by force from productive citizens into the pockets of defense contractors and other profiteering pirates. + Large advertising budgets and negative, selfishness-inducing TV commercials are what win elections. The candidate's personality, if any, is hidden behind a carefully built media image. Voters dutifully march off to the polls and select their favorite illusions. The apparent importance of the ceremony is propped up by the media who try to make themselves look important by rushing around to cover the masochistic farce. The true "bias" of the media - a leaning toward shallowness and conformity - is shown by their support of the electoral spectacle. It is widely conceded that only wealthy and influential persons can successfully run for a national political office. This situation bears no resemblance to true democracy, to say nothing of true liberty. + This year the non-voters have, once again, outnumbered the supporters of any political party. A significant number of people are moving toward real freedom by shrugging off the government-sponsored, duty-polluted ritual of voting. We frighten the establishment; this is obvious in the hysterical tones of their pro-voting advertisements. How long can they pretend to be running a legitimate government? These vermin should be ashamed to take office. What if they had an election and nobody came? With any luck, we'll find out pretty soon! + + +______________________________________________________________________________ + + Flush the Family! + by Carlos Eagle Smythe + + Politicians and religion-pushers place great value on "the family" and use it as a basis for many of their absurd claims. They're in a frenzy to create a police state to "save our children from drugs;" we have to sacrifice our right to privacy and submit to searches and urine tests, they say, because "drugs are destroying our families." They want to reward promiscuous heterosexuals with tax credits for their irresponsible, uncontrolled production of noisy, repulsive babies because "the family is the foundation of our society." During campaign season - the most depressing aspect of autumn - flabby white men wearing suits parade their pale, ugly, beardless, wimpy faces in front of us and claim that we should vote for them because they're "family men." If authoritarians and moral tyrants are so bloody enthusiastic about "the family," it obviously must be one of the delusions from which their illegitimate power is derived. + The fantasy of the ideal family has been explored in TV shows like The Waltons and Leave it to Beaver. The hideous reality has been hinted at in movies like "Texas Chain Saw Massacre" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf." The dichotomy between the typical destructive family and the imaginary supportive family is a source of stress and distraction for many individuals leading dissipated lives. Phone-in talk shows, office gossip sessions and psychiatrists' couches are full of people wondering why their parents don't approve of them, why their children aren't obedient, or why they can't quite force themselves to love the more repugnant members of their families. Instead of trying in vain to realize the untenable ideal of "normal family life," these tormented souls should gleefully cast off that yoke of unfounded obligations and endeavor to become free individuals. The "family bond" is a noose! + Being part of a family is like having a job or being in prison - it forces you to associate with people you would never voluntarily go near. The idea that one should tolerate a tyrannical parent or an irritating sibling just because that person is related to you, through an accident of birth over which you had no control, is ludicrous. But today's apologists for authority support the family precisely because it is based on involuntary servitude. The obligatory nature of the traditional family puts it in direct opposition to the anti-authoritarian ideal of voluntary, face-to-face co-operation among agreeable individuals. Of course, if you have a relative to whom you feel favorably disposed, I'm not suggesting that you should tell him/her to take a flying leap. On the other hand, if any of your kinfolk are trying to obligate, coerce or manipulate you in some way, consider the liberatory possibilities of telling them to take a long walk on a short pier. + In those households where it's still intact enough to be recognizable, the family is the primary training ground for blind obedience and delayed (i.e. denied) gratification. The catch-phrases used by familial dictators include: + "Because I said so, that's why!" (brilliant example of authoritarian logic); + "As long as you live under my roof, you'll live by my rules!" (as if children have any choice about where they live); + and, who could forget, the barbarian's stand-by, "Do you want to get spanked?!" Authority is also maintained by various punishment-and-reward schemes which remind me of the way people train puppies not to crap on the carpet. It seems strange - not to mention morally questionable - that the average ignoramus who happens to have children uses methods of discipline that would be more suitable for dealing with pets. The traditional techniques of child-rearing, like sausages, are easy to swallow as long as you don't examine them too closely. + More often than not, families only succeed in passing on their worst characteristics to successive generations. Victims of child abuse frequently become child abusers. Likewise, alcoholism, ignorance, religion, military careers, vulgar accents, various physical diseases and other hideous traits are the repulsive legacies which many parents leave to their offspring. + The nuclear family has been so effectively merchandised that we may have difficulty imagining more ethical ways to deal with those little rascals known as children. For starters, maybe kids shouldn't be considered prisoners who always have to be in the custody of some parent, teacher, day-care drone or other self-appointed dictator. Sending children to school every morning prepares them to waste their lives going to work every day to perform tasks they consider meaningless, so the abolition of school is a top priority, and the high drop-out rate may be a hopeful sign that millions of untrained, uncontrollable people are entering the population. They are likely to be morons but at least they will have escaped a considerable amount of brainwashing. + As human beings, we have a duty to ourselves to consider the ways in which the irrational institution of the family has interfered with our freedom, and to formulate alternative ways of living. For starters, we can wipe our disagreeable relatives off our buttocks, drop them into the commode, and flush the family! + + +______________________________________________________________________________ + + The Power of Negative Thinking + anonymous + + A particular form of social submission is very popular these days. Known as positive attitude, positive energy or positive thinking, this style of rolling over and playing dead is widely endorsed by bosses, psychologists, religious leaders and others who have an interest in controlling people. I am not suggesting that there's anything wrong with optimism if it fits the circumstances and your personality. However, the current promoters of positivity have taken phony optimism to an extreme and transformed it into a tool for dominating others. + I've experienced several workplaces where the people in charge considered a willingness to smile and hug more important than having the talent or intelligence to do one's job. One place went down the toilet financially because its customers and directors were more interested in exchanging "warm fuzzies" than in doing the things necessary to make a business survive. This particular case, the demise of the local health food co-op in 1986, serves as a vivid example of how pre-occupation with attitude and atmosphere can eclipse more significant concerns. Although the co-op financially self destructed by bending over backwards to project an aura of mellowness, for example by failing to sue or prosecute a former manager who allowed hundreds of dollars to "disappear," its collapse paradoxically created a lot of hard feelings when the members realized they would not be able to recover their "membership investments." There's no way you can win when you play the attitude game. + In most social circles, this positive stupidity is used bluntly to squash any opposition to the establishment. In certain "liberal" and even "anarchist" groups and publications, anyone who points out factual errors, flawed logic or questionable tactics is brushed off as "just being negative" or "engaging in a personal vendetta." The reactions of innumerable "radical" magazines to Bob Black's criticisms of their flaws serve as a glaring example of this tactic. On the local scene, professional activist Bruce Gagnon returns mail unopened when it comes from anarchists who've had the nerve to point out the silliness of his collaborating with earth-destroying corporations, the miserable masochism of his groups' choreographed marches and spectacular arrests, and other conspicuous contradictions. The anarchists are too negative and fanatical, he would say, which means they threaten his livelihood by revealing that he is a steam valve which protects the repressive machinery he pretends to resist. + In any organization, whenever someone points out the leadership's blunders, the affected bureaucrats throw up a smoke screen by wailing about negativity, bad attitude, sour grapes, personal attacks, etc. They try to divert attention away from their error by making it look like there's something wrong with the person who pointed it out. However, in most cases, the person accused of having a "bad attitude" is merely saying what everybody else is thinking. + I have a friend who works in a corporate environment where people are advanced or demoted mainly on the basis of their attitude. The people who run this company are something less than geniuses. Their letters and memos are full of spelling errors and flawed grammar; their speech reveals an inability to deal with complex thoughts or logical reasoning. It's amazing that other companies are willing to deal with an enterprise which so openly displays the subnormal intelligence of those who control it. On second thought, maybe it's not so amazing; maybe the clients hope to take advantage of these businessmen's stupidity. + Anyway, my friend was doing pretty well at this company; his hours and responsibilities were steadily increasing, and he was looking forward to a promotion to full-time status. Then, one Friday morning, the corporate brass suddenly asked him to work the next night, but he declined because he had long ago made plans to take his girlfriend to a party that evening. + Later, this friend of mine was discussing an upcoming event with one of his supervisors, a woman who leaves a trail of confusion and inaccuracy everywhere she goes but who manages to cling to her job by hugging and smiling a lot. Three times during the meeting, this spacey supervisor said that a certain event would occur at one location, and my friend pointed out that it was actually planned for a completely different location. The third time this happened, she glared at him and said through clenched teeth, "DON'T PUSH IT!" + Oops, her mask came off! For a moment the phony facade, the vacuous corporate smile, slipped away and revealed the insecure, confused, power-grasping bureaucrat that lies beneath the hugging and grinning disguise! + It is generally known throughout the corporation that, as a result of these two incidents, my friend is no longer considered to have a 100% positive attitude, and his chances of getting official full-time status with benefits are nil, even though he works six days a week! But this is typical of business shrouded in the fog of phony positivity; they'll smile at you, shake your hand or hug you while simultaneously passing judgement on you, exploiting you, violating contracts and union regulations and labor laws and anything else that might impede their profits. And, maybe even worse, they'll continue to make mistakes and stupid decisions that make your life harder, and then they'll fire or demote you if you lose control of yourself and blurt out the truth about their imbecility! + Those of us who are boldly negative (toward bureaucrats' lies) are feared and despised in every organization precisely because our bluntness has the potential to depose every nasty little authoritarian who relies on social sleight of hand to maintain power over others. + It should come as no surprise that every organization, company and +movement depends on dirty tricks to keep itself glued together. This is precisely why practitioners (as opposed to professors) of philosophy rarely if ever belong to any organizations. As one compulsive truth-teller observed, "Every organization has more in common with every other organization than it has with any of the unorganized." + If someone accuses you of being negative or having a bad attitude, what they really mean is you've given them an unwanted dose of reality, a shocking glimpse of truth which threatens to dislodge the makeshift mental structures with which they've propped themselves in an untenable position. + Being opposed to stupidity or negative toward irrationality is nothing to be ashamed of. Don't let the lying bureaucrats of the world get away with referring to honesty as negativity. When they offer you a chance to support their illusions, JUST SAY NO. + +Post Scriptum. The friend mentioned above finally did get full-time status, but if he ever divides his salary by the number of hours he's working, I don't think he'll be too thrilled. + + +______________________________________________________________________________ + + The Coming Food Crisis in America + by Lawrence Livermore +excerpted from Lookout!, a sporadic leftwing magazine available for $1 per issue from Lookout!, P. O. Box 1000, Laytonville CA 95454. + + Probably you don't give a whole lot of thought to where food comes from; it's one of those things like water or electricity or television that you can pretty much count on always being there, provided, of course, that you have the money to pay for it. + That's the way it's been as long as most of us can remember. In fact, for much of the 20th century, the industrialized countries of the world have been producing more food than they could possibly use. True, millions of people have starved to death during that time, not because of a shortage of food, but because a certain amount of hunger is deemed necessary to keep the food business profitable. In theory, if the world's harvest were distributed more or less equally, no one would lack adequate nutrition. + That may have been true up until now, but that same lack of enlightened leadership has produced a potentially disastrous situation. The United States has squandered its agricultural resources so badly that we may be forced in our lifetimes to deal with severe shortages of food, perhaps even outright famine. + Already the quality if not the quantity of what we eat is in doubt. A person from the 19th century set loose in a modern supermarket might well wonder where the food is kept. Except for one aisle of produce and one of meat, the rest of the store would present a bewildering array of cans and boxes with lists of ingredients that read more like a chemistry experiment than the components of a nutritious diet. + And it is an experiment, the results of which remain to be seen. Consider that throughout all of human existence, the things that people ate remained remarkably unchanged, being limited to what they could catch or what grew up out of the ground. Processed and refined foods are almost completely a development of the past century. Omnivorous man would appear to have adapted well to the many strange and bizarre foodstuffs that have emerged out of the lab and the factory, but perhaps it is still too soon to tell. Life expectancies are greater than at any time in recorded history, but so is the occurrence of diet-related illnesses like cancer and heart disease. + But regardless of whether we eat our food fresh from the ground or only after it has been packaged and sanitized, we can produce nothing without the basic raw materials. In the case offood, the raw materials are so simple that the temptation to take them for granted is overwhelming. Earth and water: two of the most common things in the world. And sunlight, of course, something of which we have a free and never-ending supply. + But with the earth's protective ozone layer being rapidly stripped away by pollution, even the sun threatens to become the destroyer rather than the giver of life. And soil and water are disappearing at a rate that should constitute a national, actually a global crisis. But there is a general sense of complacency, even among those actually engaged in agriculture, let alone those who know little or nothing about its workings. Technology has increased the efficiency and yield of the modern farm dramatically; why should we not assume that it can deal with any new problems that might emerge? + Part of the problem is that, as poet (and farmer) Wendell Berry points out, we have lost much of our sense of "culture" involved in agriculture: "the economy of money has infiltrated and subverted the economies of nature, energy, and the human spirit." In the same way that city dwellers have largely lost touch with the nature of the earth that sustains them, many farmers have, strange as it may seem, become alienated from the land that they cultivate. + Though there are other factors involved, by far the biggest one +is economics. As much of a disaster as collective farming has been in the Soviet Union, so has capitalism been in the United States, albeit +in a completely different way. + There is enormous pressure on the individual American farmer to continually expand at any cost. The average size of farms has grown while the number of individuals involved in farming has drastically shrunk. This is especially true in the western United States, where the costs of irrigating and fertilizing marginal land make it almost inevitable that the corporate farm will become dominant. + In traditional farming, a family might have had as little as 10 or 20 acres that would be passed down from generation to generation, and which would be that family's sole source of sustenance. It would obviously be in the farmer's interest to know that land as well as he knew his own children, and to take equally good care of it. He would not be inclined to casually experiment with some potion offered him by a city slicker with the promise that it would produce twice the crops in half the time. + But what is such a farmer to do when a large company buys up the adjacent 5000 acres, spikes the soil with potent fertilizers, plows out all the windbreaks and protective contours, and sinks deep wells that suck out ground water twice as fast as it can be replenished? In the long run such techniques will lead todisaster, but in the meantime they will produce large yields that will drive prices down, and if the smaller farmer doesn't adopt similar techniques to keep up with the competition, he's out of business. + At this point some sort of food crisis is nearly inevitable; even if we start today to make all the necessary changes in our agricultural practices (something which is really not likely to happen until some sort of obvious calamity shocks people into action), we are not going to be able to continue producing and consuming food so profligately. Those who stand to suffer the most are the ones who assume that they will always be able just to stroll into Safeway and pick up whatever they need, and those farmers who have mortgaged their futures to agricultural techniques that are rapidly becoming obsolete and self-defeating. + One absolute essential is that we reduce our agriculture to a manageable scale, not just back to the old-fashioned family farm, though that would be a step in the right direction, but to the point where back yards and vacant lots all over our cities begin producing things more useful than ornamental (and extremely wasteful) lawns and shrubberies. Our present system of mass-producing food in one location and then trucking it all over the place is insane; not only is the amount of energy thus squandered unconscionable, but it leaves us dangerously dependent on a system of transportation that could be rendered useless by even a brief interruption in our oil supply. + On a society-wide basis, we need to make major changes; there's no denying that. Among them are the elimination of all toxic herbicides and pesticides, a ban or a severe limitation on the production of non-biodegradable materials, mandatory recycling of all waste products, sustained yield management of our water resources, and the end of all subsidies to massive corporate-run farms. We also need to increase people's consciousness about what they put into their bodies and to help them realize that fresh, whole foods are better both for them and for society as a whole. + If we wait for the rest of the country to institute these changes, we're going to be in deep trouble. The best thing we can do is to begin learning how to provide for ourselves in a healthy, ecologically balanced manner, and in the process demonstrate to others how much better things work that way. But it's important that we get started now. Otherwise, things could get pretty hungry around here. + + +______________________________________________________________________________ + + Superceding Situationism + +The following item appeared as a letter to the editor in SNARL, formerly known as SMILE (available for $1 plus postage from Box 3502, Madison WI 53704). Whether situationism is a valid form of political analysis or just a particularly oblique and obfuscatory style of writing is still a matter for debate, in our opinion... + + I noticed that SMILE is very much influenced by the Situationist writings. Since they have been a major influence in the development of my own analysis and practice, I wont tell you that you are making a mistake, but be aware that Situationist thought is not beyond criticism. Its proponents seemed to try to make it appear so, as did the proponents of its predecessors Marxism and Hegelianism. + The failings of Situationist thought are as follows: + 1) An inadequate investigation of the natures of technology and of organization, and of their relationships to work and to domination. + 2) A continued, unadmitted adherence to humanism. + 3) An inadequate analysis of the nature of use value and its place in the suppression of free play. + 4) An inadequate analysis of self-management; non-recognition that it may, in fact, be the most efficient form of capitalism. + 5) An inability to see the need to eroticize the world, not just the human race. + 6) A continued willingness to suppress the immediacy of desire as shown by their attachment to high-tech fantasies which would require production. + 7) From which follows, an inadequate analysis of the nature of production and economy. + -Feral Fawn + + +______________________________________________________________________________ + + Methods as Message, or, Religion as Rabies + by X. Rayburn + + + People who have political or religious beliefs usually try to convince others to share their beliefs, and their methods of persuasion can say a lot about the validity of their concepts. Factions which publish their ideas or share them face-to-face with others are contributing to the evolution of mankind's understanding of the universe. Factions which engage in bully tactics such as bombings, threats, hostage-taking, or having their opponents jailed or executed, are simply wrong. Their ideas are wrong and they instinctively know it, but they've become addicted to the adrenalin rush of fanaticism, so they cling to their beliefs and practically try to force others to adopt them. + Consider the religious conversion of Duffey Strode, a North Carolina schoolboy who has been suspended several times for disrupting school activities by shouting hateful, abusive, religious comments at people. A recent Washington Post article reveals how this boy was introduced to his inhumane faith. + His father David Strode came home from work one day when the boy was five years old and described the horrors of "hell" in graphic, terrifying terms. He then told his son, "You are a sinner and you are going to hell." {The Strodes' religion teaches that god is going to punish people for the imperfections which god himself created. The fact that this makes no sense at all never seems to dawn on them.} + David Strode describes the subsequent conversion of his son in these terms: "Man, those tears begun to run and he looked at me and he said, 'Daddy, I don't want to go to hell.' I said, 'I know somebody who will get you out of hell and his name is Jesus Christ.'" The young boy who had been scared out of his wits said, "Daddy, I want to be saved." + He needs to be saved, for sure - not from the imaginary deep fat fryer of "hell" but from his father, and the howling hobgoblins of dark-ages superstition. + Barry Weaver, another Carolina street preacher, similarly told his daughter that she was going to burn in "hell" when she was five years old. Weaver, in the hick dialect of English frequently used by such morons, brags, "I let my daughter lay and cry herself to sleep for a week straight about the flames of hell. I could have ran right in there and gave her the gospel and she could have made a profession of salvation, but I let it get deep into her memory...that there is a hell. And that will affect her whole life. That's why she's an obedient child." + Thanks, Mr. Weaver, for showing us the links between the inhumane institutions of religion, authority, and the traditional family. If there were a hell, it would be reserved for sadistic bastards like you who make themselves feel powerful by mentally torturing their own helpless offspring. + The fact that these whackos have to terrorize young children to get converts says something about their religion. These fanatics, who are hated by hundreds of their townspeople, cannot persuade adults through rational conversation and logical argument; instead, they shout about "hell," as if increased volume of voice could turn fantasy into fact, and they scare infants into submission. + As their methods of conversion show, their whole religion is based on fear, hence the phrase "god-fearing people." The fear in question is probably a fear of the unknown, and in the case of these rabid lunatics who terrorize children, "the unknown" includes practically everything. + Remember, this is the same religion that used to imprison, torture, hang and burn individuals who dared to be non-believers. The followers of this faith would do the same today if given the chance, but their power has been diluted somewhat by the forces of science, philosophy, and an increasing number of people who resist the moralistic meddling of wretched religionists. We must never cease to defend ourselves against the fanatically faithful. + + +______________________________________________________________________________ + + Language and Liberty + by Alfredo Bonanno + +from the book From Riot to Insurrection, translated by Jean Weir, published by and available from Elephant Editions, B.M. Elephant, London WC1N 3XX, England. Bonanno points out that robots and automated devices are replacing workers at a rapid pace, creating a huge and permanent underclass of under-employed and un-employed persons whom he calls "the excluded." He asserts that the potentially dangerous hordes of the excluded will be pacified and controlled through, among other things, language + + So what will the privileged try to do? They will try to cut the excluded off from the included. Cut off in what way? By cutting off communication. This is the central concept of the repression of the future, a concept which, in my opinion, should be examined as deeply as possible. To cut off communication means two things. To construct a reduced language that is modest and has an absolutely elementary code to supply to the excluded so that they can use the computer terminals. Something extremely simple that will keep them quiet. And to provide the included, on the other hand, with a language of "the included," so that their world will go towards that utopia of privilege and capital that is sought more or less everywhere. That will be the real wall: the lack of a common language. This will be the real prison wall, one that is not easily scaled. + This problem presents various interesting aspects. Above all there is the situation of the included themselves. Let us not forget that in this world of privilege, there will be people who in the past have had a wide revolutionary-ideological experience, and they may not enjoy their situation of privilege tomorow, feeling themselves asphyxiated inside the Teutonic castle. These will be the first thorn in the side of the capitalist project. The class homecomers, that is, those who abandon their class. Who were the homecomers of the class of yesterday? I, myself, once belonged to the class of the privileged. I abandoned it to become "a comrade among comrades," from privileged of yesterday to revolutionary of today. But what have I brought with me? I have brought my Humanist culture, my ideological culture. But the homecomer of tomorrow, the revolutionary who abandons tomorrow's privileged class, will bring technology with him, because one of the characteristics of tomorrow's capitalist project and one of the essential conditions for it to remain standing, will be a distribution of knowledge that is no longer pyramidal but horizontal. Capital will need to distribute knowledge in a more reasonable and equal way - but always within the class of the included. Therefore the deserters of tomorrow will bring with them a considerable number of usable elements from a revolutionary point of view. + And the excluded? Will they continue to keep quiet? In fact, what will they be able to ask for once communication has been cut off? To ask for something, it is necessary to know what to ask for. I cannot have an idea based on suffering and the lack of something of whose existence I know nothing, which means absolutely nothing to me and which does not stimulate my desires. The severing of a common language will make the reformism of yesterday - the piecemeal demand for better conditions and the reduction of repression and exploitation - completely outdated. Reformism was based on the common language that existed between exploited and exploiter. If the languages are different, nothing more can be asked for. Nothing interests me about something I do not understand, which I know nothing about. So, the realisation of the capitalist project of the future - of this post-industrial project as it is commonly imagined - will essentially be based on keeping the exploited quiet. It will give them a code of behavior based on very simple elements so as to allow them to use the telephone, television, computer terminals, and all the other objects that will satisfy the basic, primary, tertiary and other needs of the excluded and at the same time ensure that they are kept under control. This will be a painless rather than a bloody procedure. Torture will come to an end. No more bloodstains on the wall. That will stop - up to a certain point, of course. There will be situations where it will continue. But, in general, a cloak of silence will fall over the excluded. + However, there is one flaw in all this. Rebellion in man is not tied to need alone, to being aware of the lack of something and struggling against it. If you think about it, this is a purely illuminist concept which was later developed by English philosophical ideology - Bentham and co. - who spoke from a Utilitarian perspective. For the past 150 years our ideological propaganda has been based on these rational foundations, asking why it is that we lack something, and why it is right that we should have something because we are all equal; but, comrades, what they are going to cut along with language is the concept of equality, humanity, fraternity. The included of tomorrow will not feel himself humanly and fraternally similar to the excluded, but will see him as something other.The excluded of tomorrow will be outside the Teutonic castle and will not see the included as his possible post-revolutionary brother of tomorrow. They will be two different things. In the same way that today I consider my dog "different" because it does not "speak" to me but barks. Of course I love my dog, I like him, he is useful to me, he guards me, is friendly, wags his tail; but I cannot imagine struggling for equality between the human and the canine races. All that is far beyond my imagination, is other. Tragically, this separation of languages could also be possible in the future. And indeed, what will be supplied to excluded, what will make up that limited code, if not what is already becoming visible: sounds, images, colours. Nothing of that traditional code that was based on the word, on analysis and common language. Bear in mind that this traditional code was the foundation on which the illuminist and progressive analysis of the transformation of reality was made, an analysis which still today constitutes the basis of revolutionary ideology, whether authoritarian or anarchist (there is no difference as far as the point of departure is concerned). + We anarchists are still tied to the progressive concept of being +able to bring about change with words. But if capital cuts out the word, things will be very different. + We all have experience of the fact that many young people today do not read at all. They can be reached through music and images (television, cinema, comics). But these techniques, as those more competent than myself could explain, have one notable possibility - in the hands of power - which is to reach the irrational feelings that exist inside all of us. In other words, the value of rationality as a means of persusasion and in developing self-awareness that could lead us to attack the class enemy will decline, I don't say completely, but significantly. + + +______________________________________________________________________________ + + Announcing Lojban + excerpted with the permission of the Logical Language Group + + Lojban is a constructed language: the culmination of a project first described in the article "Loglan" in Scientific American, June, 1960. The language has been built over three decades by dozens of workers and hundreds of supporters. There are many artificial languages, but Lojban has been engineered to make it unique in several ways. + Lojban was originally designed for the purpose of supporting research on a concept known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. Simply expressed, this hypothesis states that the structure of a language constrains the thinking of people using that language. Lojban allows the full expressive capability of a natural language, but differs in structure from other languages in major ways. This allows its use as a test vehicle for scientists studying the relationships between language, thought, and culture. Since it was intended for scientific research, several constraints were imposed on the Lojban design that are not found in other languages. + Like computer languages, Lojban can be parsed by automated algorithms. Unlike natural languages, Loglan has no syntactic ambiguity. Yet, unlike computer languages, Lojban can be spoken naturally by people in everyday communication. Examples of this type of ambiguity in English include the phrase "pretty little girls school." There are no English rules that dictate the grouping of modifiers in the phrase. Lojban has unique ways of expressing each of the twenty logical interpretations of this phrase. + Lojban's grammar is simpler than any natural language. Most of the syntax was tested on a CP/M-based personal computer. (Computers played a vital role in developing and testing the language. Tools used to design computer languages were used to prove that the syntax is unambiguous.) Lojban has none of the standard parts of speech with which you may be familiar. Lojban's predicates (gismu and their compounds) are all of the same part of speech. Each can serve as the equivalent of a noun, verb, adjective or adverb, simultaneously and interchangeably. + Lojban developers have emphasized the early development of computer-aided teaching tools to further enhance learning of the language. You can learn Lojban at home with the help of your personal computer. The orientation in the Lojban community towards computer-based instruction is unique among constructed languages, and solves the problem of how to rapidly spread the language from a small initial base of speakers. + The perceptions of those who have worked on Lojban are that it has already changed our thinking in significant ways. Even those who have never successfully learned other languages have found that we see new meanings in everyday speech, new ways of expressing ideas, and new ideas to express. When the Sapir-Whorf experiment is finally conducted, we have no doubt that Lojban will verify the hypothesis. + Lojban has been developed almost totally by volunteer labor and small donations of money. Like science fiction conventions and computer software development, Lojban attracts people who are willing to devote a lot of time to seeing their dreams become reality. You can register to receive Lojban newsletters and materials by contacting: The Logical Language Group, Bob LeChevalier, 2904 Beau Lane, Fairfax VA 22031, phone (703) 385-0273. + + +______________________________________________________________________________ + + Alembic trigram #1: College + + "How has your college education helped you? Can't you make a cup of tea without understanding osmosis, brownian motion, capillary action, the meniscus, the laws of thermodynamics and the principles of fluidics? You'd probably make better tea, better in flavor and spiritually more honest, if you'd never studied those academic abstractions." + + -Eric Fahrender in conversation, 1979 + + + "I can only say that for my own part I've come to the conclusion that almost every single moment I spent in authoritarian educational systems was wasted, and I wish now that I'd managed to get myself kicked out when I was 15 instead of 25. Education and learning are good things, but not the way they're conducted at present... Learn whatever you want to learn by reading books and magazines, and thus educate yourself without becoming a mental slave." + + -Fred Woodworth in The Match!, 1988 + + + "If I wished a boy to know something about the arts and sciences, for instance, I would not pursue the common course, which is merely to send him into the neighborhood of some professor, where anything is professed and practiced but the art of life; - to survey the world through a telescope or a microscope, and never with his natural eye; to study chemistry, and not know how his bread is made, or mechanics, and not learn how it is earned; to discover new satellites to Neptune, and not detect the motes in his eyes, or to what vagabond he is a satellite himself; or to be devoured by the monsters that swarm all around him, while contemplating the monsters in a drop of vinegar." + + -Henry David Thoreau in Walden, chapter one + + +______________________________________________________________________________ + + Connections + by the Alembic staff + + This column is a compendium and encapsulation of recent receptions. + "Mormonoids from the Deep" is a highly unusual adventure game for the Macintosh computer. The player has to navigate through the surreal town of Mormonville, Utah without being killed, converted, or sobering up. On two diskettes for $10 from Robert Carr, c/o Smurfs in Hell, 2210 North 9th Street, Boise ID 83702. + Possessed is a quarterly magazine of poetry, collage, and radical commentary; sample for $1 from P. O. Box 20545, Seattle WA 98102. + Chalcedon Report is a magazine of Christian commentary. A recent edition celebrates a British law mandating that state-sponsored schools have a Christian slant and suggests that Nature itself and human-kind's natural condition are basically devilish and desparately in need of salvation. Bizarre and erroneous. Available for a donation from Box 158, Vallecito CA 95251. + Homocore is a magazine of poems, comics, photos and snide comments for gay punk rockers and other "social mutants." $1 from P.O. Box 77731, San Francisco CA 94107. + "Radio Free America," not be confused with the RFA being done in California or the RFA that transmitted from a ship in the Atlantic, is an audible anarchist magazine on cassette tape assembled by your humble editor. $5 from Rick Harrison, Box 7014, Orlando FL 32854. + Sound Choice is 96 pages of reviews and ads for independently published musical recordings, $3 from Audio Evolution Network, Box 1251, Ojai CA 93023. Indispensible for those who produce or consume unusual musical commodities. + Dream World by Kent Winslow is the autobiography of a contemporary anarchist, detailing his hassles with cops, run-ins with bullies, landlords, religious nuts, and other elements of a world that doesn't appreciate his attempts to improve it. $8 from Fred Woodworth, Box 3488, Tuscon AZ 85722. + +______________________________________________________________________________ + + Coming up in future editions of The Alembic: merciless attacks on automobiles, New Ageism, copyright laws, television, and everything else that the average ignoramus takes for granted. Relevant contributions are welcome. Letters to the editor will also be published, providing they are sufficiently concise, controversial and somehow related to past or future articles in this magazine. + + +______________________________________________________________________________ + + Footnote to the Electronic Edition + by Rick Harrison + + At one point in history, the development of paper made the use of clay tablets seem ridiculous. We're entering a time when the development of electronic data transfer is likely to make the use of paper and ink seem equally clumsy and absurd. + Computers make it possible to electronically transmit text and graphics over ordinary phone lines almost instantly; to store an amount of text equal to 12 hardcopy editions (240 pages) of The Alembic on one small diskette; and to encrypt text so that it can only be read by the desired audience. Computers can read text aloud to visually handicapped readers, can display text in your choice of type style and size, and make it easy to correct mistakes or otherwise re-work written material. + Electronic data transfer can accomplish all this and more without requiring the slaughter of oxygen-producing trees; without requiring anyone to work around noisy, sometimes dangerous printing presses that have to be cleaned with toxic, volatile chemicals; and without providing print shop owners and post office cretins an opportunity to suppress or mangle material they don't approve of. + Paper-and-ink publishing is a dinosaur. High quality printing may continue to exist as a fine art, as calligraphy has, but periodical publishers and audiences who cling to hardcopy too long will eventually come to be regarded as selfish, backward, tree-murdering neanderthals. + That's why I have taken advantage of Mike Gunderloy's bold offer of an opportunity to leave this magazine on the Factsheet Five electronic bulletin board. This form of distribution makes The Alembic freely available to everyone who has the wits and good taste to download it, at no cost other than the long distance phone line (and of course the cost of the computer equipment, but many people can get free access to computers from friends or at their workplaces). This completely solves many of the problems that I faced as an ultra-small-press publisher, problems like: how to pay for the postage, how to find potentially appreciative readers, how to physically mail various sizes of magazine without having them get chewed up by the postal service. I was never able to afford to advertise, purchase mailing lists and/or mail many free samples of my hardcopy publications to people, so it was impossible for me to build up a readership of financially self-sustaining size; here in the ethereal world of electronic data transfer, I can make a magazine available to a potentially infinite number of readers for the cost of one upload. + Since all of my print-media publications have operated at a financial loss, as is usually the case with the very small press, I'm not going to bother trying to extract money from the audience. If you feel that reading The Alembic was worthwhile, you could send me a small financial donation to help me recover the long distance charges I incurred while uploading it, but I would just as soon have you leave a written response on this BBS or on CompuServe's E-mail service, which has the embarrassingly silly name of "Easyplex" (my user ID there is 72537,1203). Audience feedback is the main reward sought by small-press publishers, and I am no exception. + Until we meet again, thank your for your attention. Have a good time. + +______________________________________________________________________________ + + The Alembic is a Tangerine Network production. [EOF] + + + + + + Another file downloaded from: NIRVANAnet(tm) + + & the Temple of the Screaming Electron 415-935-5845 + Just Say Yes 415-922-2008 + Rat Head 415-524-3649 + Cheez Whiz 408-363-9766 + + Specializing in conversations, obscure information, high explosives, + arcane knowledge, political extremism, diversive sexuality, + insane speculation, and wild rumours. ALL-TEXT BBS SYSTEMS. + + Full access for first-time callers. We don't want to know who you are, + where you live, or what your phone number is. We are not Big Brother. + + "Raw Data for Raw Nerves" + + +  \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/all11.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/all11.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7eff30e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/all11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1730 @@ + +The Declaration of Independence of The United States of America + + +When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for +one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected +them with another, and to assume, among the Powers of the earth, +the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and +of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions +of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which +impel them to the separation. + +We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, +that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, +that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. +That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, +deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, +That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, +it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute +new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing +its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect +their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments +long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; +and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed +to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing +the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and +usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce +them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw +off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. +--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now +the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. +The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated +injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment +of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts +be submitted to a candid world. + +He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary +for the public good. + +He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate +and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation +till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, +he has utterly neglected to attend to them. + +He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of +large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish +the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right +inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. + +He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, +uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their +Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them +into compliance with his measures. + +He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing +with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. + +He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, +to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, +incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large +for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed +to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. + +He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; +for that purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; +refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, +and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. + +He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent +to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers. + +He has made judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure +of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. + +He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of +Officers to harass our People, and eat out their substance. + +He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies +without the Consent of our legislatures. + +He has affected to render the Military independent of +and superior to the Civil Power. + +He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction +foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; +giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended legislation: + +For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: + +For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders +which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: + +For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: + +For imposing taxes on us without our Consent: + +For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: + +For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences: + +For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring +Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, +and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once +an example and fit instrument for introducing the same +absolute rule into these Colonies: + +For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, +and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: + +For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves +invested with Power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. + +He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection +and waging War against us. + +He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, +and destroyed the lives of our people. + +He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries +to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun +with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the +most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy of the Head of a civilized nation. + +He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas +to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of +their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. + +He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has +endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, +the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, +is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. + +In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress +in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered +only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked +by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler +of a free People. + +Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren. +We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their +legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. +We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and +settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice +and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our +common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably +interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been +deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, +acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, +as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. + +We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, +in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of +the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, +and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, +solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, +and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; +that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, +and that all political connection between them and the State +of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; +and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to +levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, +and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may +of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm +reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge +to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. + + + +December, 1972 [Etext #2] + + +****The Project Gutenberg Etext of The U. S. Bill of Rights**** + + + +The United States Bill of Rights. + +The Ten Original Amendments to the Constitution of the United States +Passed by Congress September 25, 1789 +Ratified December 15, 1791 + + + +I + +Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, +or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, +or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, +and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. + + +II + +A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, +the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. + + +III +No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, +without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, +but in a manner to be prescribed by law. + + +IV + +The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, +and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, +and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath +or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, +and the persons or things to be seized. + + +V + +No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, +unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising +in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service +in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for +the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; +nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, +nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; +nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation. + + +VI + +In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a +speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district +wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have +been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature +and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; +to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, +and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. + + +VII + +In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed +twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, +and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court +of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. + + +VIII + +Excessive bail shall not be required nor excessive fines imposed, +nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. + + +IX + +The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, +shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. + +X + +The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, +nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, +or to the people. + + + + +[Etext #3] November 22, 1973, 10th Anniversary of Assassination +[Officially rereleased for November 22, 1993, 30th Anniversary] + + + +**The Project Gutenberg Etext of Kennedy's Inaugural Address** + + +This is a retranscription of one of the first Project +Gutenberg Etexts, offically dated November 22, 1973-- +and now officially re-released on November 22, 1993-- +on the 30th anniversary of his assassination. + + + +***The Project Gutenberg Etext of Kennedy's Inaugural Address** + +JFK's Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961, 12:11 EST + + +We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom. . . +symbolizing an end as well as a beginning. . .signifying renewal +as well as change for I have sworn before you and Almighty God +the same solemn oath our forbears prescribed nearly a century +and three-quarters ago. + +The world is very different now, for man holds in his mortal hands +the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. +And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forbears fought +are still at issue around the globe. . .the belief that the rights of man +come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God. +We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. + +Let the word go forth from this time and place. . .to friend and foe alike. . . +that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans. . . +born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, +proud of our ancient heritage. . .and unwilling to witness or permit the slow +undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, +and to which we are committed today. . .at home and around the world. + +Let every nation know. . .whether it wishes us well or ill. . . +that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, +support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and +the success of liberty. This much we pledge. . .and more. + +To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share: +we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United. . .there is +little we cannot do in a host of co-operative ventures. +Divided. . .there is little we can do. . .for we dare not meet +a powerful challenge, at odds, and split asunder. +To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free: +we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not +have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. +We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. +But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their +own freedom. . .and to remember that. . .in the past. . .those who +foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside. +To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe +struggling to break the bonds of mass misery: we pledge our best +efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period +is required. . .not because the Communists may be doing it, +not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. +If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, +it cannot save the few who are rich. + +To our sister republics south of our border: we offer a special pledge. . . +to convert our good words into good deeds. . .in a new alliance for progress +. . .to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of +poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of +hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them +to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. . .and let +every other power know that this hemisphere intends to remain the master +of its own house. + +To that world assembly of sovereign states: the United Nations. . . +our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war +have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge +of support. . .to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for +invective. . .to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak. . . +and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run. + +Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversaries, +we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew +the quest for peace; before the dark powers of destruction unleashed +by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction. +We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient +beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed. +But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from +our present course. . .both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, +both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing +to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of Mankind's +final war. + +So let us begin anew. . .remembering on both sides that civility +is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. +Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. +Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring +those problems which divide us. Let both sides, for the first time, +formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and +control of arms. . .and bring the absolute power to destroy +other nations under the absolute control of all nations. +Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead +of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the +deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage +the arts and commerce. Let both sides unite to heed in all corners +of the earth the command of Isaiah. . .to "undo the heavy burdens. . . +let the oppressed go free." + +And if a beachhead of co-operation may push back the jungle of suspicion. . . +let both sides join in creating not a new balance of power. . . +but a new world of law. . .where the strong are just. . . +and the weak secure. . .and the peace preserved. . . . + +All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. +Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days. . . +nor in the life of this administration, nor even perhaps +in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin. + +In your hands, my fellow citizens. . .more than mine. . .will rest the +final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, +each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony +to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered +the call to service surround the globe. Now the trumpet summons us again. . . +not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need. . .not as a call to battle. . . +though embattled we are. . .but a call to bear the burden of a long +twilight struggle. . .year in and year out, rejoicing in hope, +patient in tribulation. . .a struggle against the common enemies of man: +tyranny. . .poverty. . .disease. . .and war itself. Can we forge against +these enemies a grand and global alliance. . .North and South. . . +East and West. . .that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? +Will you join in that historic effort? + +In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted +the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger; I do not shrink +from this responsibility. . .I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us +would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. +The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor +will light our country and all who serve it. . .and the glow from +that fire can truly light the world. + +And so, my fellow Americans. . .ask not what your country can +do for you. . .ask what you can do for your country. My fellow +citizens of the world. . .ask not what America will do for you, +but what together we can do for the Freedom of Man. + +Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, +ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice +which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, +with history the final judge of our deeds; let us go forth to lead +the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that +here on earth God's work must truly be our own. + + + +December, 1974 [Etext #4] + + +**The Project Gutenberg Etext of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address** + + +This is a retranscription of one of the first Project +Gutenberg Etexts, offically dated December 31, 1974-- +and now officially re-released on November 19, 1993-- +130 years after it was spoken. We will rerelease the +Inaugural Address of President Kennedy, officially on +November 22, 1993, on the day of the 30th anniversary +of his assassination. + + + +Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, given November 19, 1863 +on the battlefield near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, USA + + +Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth +upon this continent a new nation: conceived in liberty, and +dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. + +Now we are engaged in a great civil war. . .testing whether +that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated. . . +can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. + +We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place +for those who here gave their lives that this nation might live. +It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. + +But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate. . .we cannot consecrate. . . +we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, +who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power +to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, +what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. + +It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished +work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. +It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining +before us. . .that from these honored dead we take increased devotion +to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. . . +that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. . . +that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. . . +and that government of the people. . .by the people. . .for the people. . . +shall not perish from this earth. + + + + +December, 1975 [Etext #5] + + +*****The Project Gutenberg Etext of The U. S. Constitution***** + +The following edition of The Consitution of the United States of America +has been based on many hours of study of a variety of editions, and will +include certain variant spellings, punctuation, and captialization as we +have been able to reasonable ascertain belonged to the orginal. In case +of internal discrepancies in these matters, most or all have been left. + +In our orginal editions the letters were all CAPITALS, and we did not do +anything about capitalization, consistent or otherwise, nor with most of +the punctuation, since we had limited punctionation in those days. + +This document does NOT include the amendments, as the Bill of Rights was +one of our earlier Project Gutenberg Etexts, and the others will be sent +in a separate posting. + +*** + +We would ask that any Consitutional scholars would please take a minute, +or longer, to send us a note concerning possible corrections. + +*** + + + +THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1787 + + + +We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, +establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, +promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves +and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the +United States of America. + + +Article 1 + +Section 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a +Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and +House of Representatives. + +Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members +chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, +and the electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite +for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislature. + +No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the +Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a citizen of the United States, +and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which +he shall be chosen. + +Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among +the several States which may be included within this Union, +according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined +by adding to the whole number of free Persons, including those +bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, +three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made +within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the +United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, +in such Manner as they shall by law Direct. The number of +Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, +but each State shall have at least one Representative; +and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire +shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island +and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, +New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, +Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three. + +When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive +Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies. + +The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; +and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment. + +Section 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of +two Senators from each State, chosen by the legislature thereof, +for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote. + +Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, +they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of +the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the expiration of the +second Year, of the second Class at the expiration of the fourth Year, +and of the third Class at the expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third +may be chosen every second Year; and if vacancies happen by Resignation, +or otherwise, during the recess of the Legislature of any State, +the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the +next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies. + +No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of +thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, +and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State +for which he shall be chosen. + +The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, +but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided. + +The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a President +pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall +exercise the Office of President of the United States. + +The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. +When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. +When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice +shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence +of two thirds of the Members present. + +Judgment in cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal +from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, +Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall +nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and +Punishment, according to Law. + +Section 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and +Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; +but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, +except as to the Places of chusing Senators. + +The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, +and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, +unless they shall by law appoint a different Day. + + +Section 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, +Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a +Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; +but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, +and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, +in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide. + +Each house may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, +punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the +Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member. + +Each house shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, +and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may +in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the +Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of +one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal. + +Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the +Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to +any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting. + +Section 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation +for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury +of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and +Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance +at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning +from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, +they shall not be questioned in any other Place. + +No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, +be appointed to any civil Office under the authority of the United States, +which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been +increased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the +United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance +in Office. + +Section 7. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the +House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with +Amendments as on other Bills. + +Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and +the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the +President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, +but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House +in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections +at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. +If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that house +shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, +together with the Objections, to the other House, by which +it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds +of that House, it shall become a law. But in all such Cases +the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, +and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be +entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill +shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) +after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, +in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their +Adjournment prevent its Return, in which case it shall not be a Law. + +Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate +and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question +of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; +and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, +or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of +the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules +and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill. + +Section 8. The Congress shall have Power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, +Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence +and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises +shall be uniform throughout the United States; + +To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; + +To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, +and with the Indian Tribes; + +To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws +on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; + +To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, +and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; + +To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities +and current Coin of the United States; + +To establish Post Offices and Post Roads; + +To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing +for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right +to their respective Writings and Discoveries; + +To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court; + +To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, +and Offenses against the Law of Nations; + +To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, +and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; + +To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use +shall be for a longer term than two Years; + +To provide and maintain a Navy; + +To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces; + +To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, +suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; + +To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for +governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the +United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment +of the Officers, and the Authority of training the militia according +to the discipline prescribed by Congress; + +To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, +over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, +by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, +become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to +exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent +of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, +for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, Dockyards, +and other needful Buildings;--And + +To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying +into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested +by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, +or in any Department or Officer thereof. + +Section 9. The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any +of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not +be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight +hundred and eight, but a Tax or Duty may be imposed on such Importation, +not exceeding ten dollars for each Person. + +The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless +when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it. + +No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed. + +No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion +to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken. + +No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State. + +No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue +to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, +or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another. + +No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence +of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account +of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be +published from time to time. + +No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States; +and no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, +without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, +Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, +or foreign State. + +Section 10. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or +Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; +emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender +in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, +or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility. + +No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties +on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing +it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, +laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury +of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision +and Controul of the Congress. + + +No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of +Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any +Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or +engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger +as will not admit of delay. + +ARTICLE 2 + +Section 1. The executive Power shall be vested in a President +of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during +the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President +chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows: + +Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, +a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives +to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or +Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under +the United States, shall be appointed an Elector. + +The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot +for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not lie an Inhabitant of +the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of +all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; +which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to +the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the +President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, +in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, +open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. +The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, +if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; +and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal +Number of votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately +chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have +a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House +shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, +the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State +having one Vote; a Quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member +or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the +States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice +of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of +the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain +two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them +by Ballot the Vice President. + +The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, +and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day +shall be the same throughout the United States. + +No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, +at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to +the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that +Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, +and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States. + +In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, +Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the +said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the +Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation +or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what +Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, +until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected. + +The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, +a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during +the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive +within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them. + +Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the +following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that +I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, +and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the +Constitution of the United States." + +Section 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army +and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, +when called into the actual Service of the United States; +he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer +in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to +the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power +to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, +except in Cases of impeachment. + +He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the +Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators +present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice +and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public +Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other +Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein +otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: +but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, +as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, +or in the Heads of Departments. + +The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen +during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall +expire at the End of their next session. + +Section 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress +Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their +Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; +he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either +of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to +the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall +think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; +he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall +Commission all the Officers of the United States. + +Section 4. The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the +United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, +and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. + +ARTICLE THREE + +Section 1. The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested +in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may +from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme +and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good behavior, +and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, +which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office. + +Section 2. The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, +arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties +made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting +Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty +and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the United States +shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two or more States;--between a +State and Citizens of another State;--between Citizens of different States; +--between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of +different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, +and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects. + +In all cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, +and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have +original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the +supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, +with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make. + +The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; +and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall +have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial +shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed. + +Section 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in +levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them +Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on +the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession +in open Court. + +The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of Treason, +but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, +or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted. + + +ARTICLE FOUR + +Section 1. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the +public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. +And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, +Records, and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof. + + +Section 2. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all +Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. + +A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, +who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, +shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from +which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having +Jurisdiction of the Crime. + +No person held to Service or Labor in one State, under the Laws thereof, +escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, +be discharged from such Service or Labor, But shall be delivered up on Claim +of the Party to whom such Service or Labor may be due. + + +Section 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; +but no new States shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction +of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two +or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the +Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress. + +The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules +and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging +to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so +construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, +or of any particular State. + +Section 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union +a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against +Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive +(when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence. + + +ARTICLE FIVE + +The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, +shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of +the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention +for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents +and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures +of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths +thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by +the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the +Year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect +the first and fourth Clauses in the ninth Section of the first Article; +and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of it's +equal Suffrage in the Senate. + +ARTICLE SIX + +All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption +of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States +under this Constitution, as under the Confederation. + +This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made +in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, +under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme +Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, +any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary +notwithstanding. + +The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the +several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, +both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound +by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious +Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust +under the United States + +ARTICLE SEVEN + +The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the +Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same. + +Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present +the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one +thousand seven hundred and eighty seven and of the Independence of the +United States of America the Twelfth In Witness whereof We have +hereunto subscribed our Names, + +Go. WASHINGTON-- +Presid. and deputy from Virginia + +New Hampshire + +John Langdon +Nicholas Gilman + +Massachusetts + +Nathaniel Gorham +Rufus King + +Connecticut + +Wm. Saml. Johnson +Roger herman + +New York + +Alexander Hamilton + +New Jersey + +Wil: Livingston +David Brearley +Wm. Paterson +Jona: Dayton + +Pennsylvania + +B Franklin +Thomas Mifflin +Robt Morris +Geo. Clymer +Thos FitzSimons +Jared Ingersoll +James Wilson +Gouv Morris + +Delaware + +Geo: Read +Gunning Bedford jun +John Dickinson +Richard Bassett +Jaco: Broom + +Maryland + +James Mchenry +Dan of St Thos. Jenifer +Danl Carroll + +Virginia + +John Blair-- +James Madison Jr. + +North Carolina + +Wm. Blount +Rich'd Dobbs Spaight +Hu Williamson + +South Carolina + +J. Rutledge +Charles Cotesworth Pinckney +Charles Pinckney +Pierce Butler + +Georgia + +William Few +Abr Baldwin + + +Attest: +William Jackson, Secretary + + + + +December, 1975 [Etext #6] + + +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Give Me LIberty Or Give Me Death + +Officially released in December 1975, unofficially released for +the 200th anniversary of the speech by Patrick Henry before the +"House" as he referred to it. [Which was the Virgina Provincial +Convention, March 23, 1775] + + +Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death + + +Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775. + + +No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, +of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different +men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it +will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do +opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my +sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. +The questing before the House is one of awful moment to this country. +For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of +freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject +ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that +we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility +which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions +at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself +as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty +toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings. + +Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. +We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the +song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part +of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? +Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, +and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their +temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, +I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it. + +I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of +experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. +And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct +of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with +which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. +Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? +Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves +to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our +petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and +darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and +reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that +force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, +sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to +which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if +its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other +possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of +the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, +she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. +They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British +ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? +Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. +Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the +subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. +Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we +find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, +deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert +the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; +we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have +implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and +Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced +additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; +and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! +In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and +reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free-- +if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which +we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble +struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged +ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest +shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! +An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us! + +They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable +an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, +or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British +guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength but +irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance +by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until +our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make +a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. +The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a +country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy +can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. +There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will +raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the +strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, +we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late +to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! +Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! +The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come. + +It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- +but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps +from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! +Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? +What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, +or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? +Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; +but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! + + + + +Officially released December 31, 1977 [Etext #7] +Officially re-released November 25, 1993 +In honor of Thanksgiving + +******The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Mayflower Compact***** + + + +The Mayflower Compact + +November 11, 1620 [This was November 21, old style calendar] + +In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, +the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereigne Lord, King James, +by the Grace of God, of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, +King, Defender of the Faith, &c. + +Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of +the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, +a Voyage to plant the first colony in the Northerne Parts +of Virginia; doe, by these Presents, solemnly and mutually +in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and +combine ourselves together into a civill Body Politick, +for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance +of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof do enact, +constitute, and frame, such just and equall Laws, Ordinances, +Acts, Constitutions, and Offices, from time to time, +as shall be thought most meete and convenient for the +Generall Good of the Colonie; unto which we promise +all due Submission and Obedience. + +In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names +at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Raigne of our +Sovereigne Lord, King James of England, France, and Ireland, +the eighteenth, and of Scotland, the fiftie-fourth, +Anno. Domini, 1620. + +Mr. John Carver Mr. Stephen Hopkins +Mr. William Bradford Digery Priest +Mr. Edward Winslow Thomas Williams +Mr. William Brewster Gilbert Winslow +Isaac Allerton Edmund Margesson +Miles Standish Peter Brown +John Alden Richard Bitteridge +John Turner George Soule +Francis Eaton Edward Tilly +James Chilton John Tilly +John Craxton Francis Cooke +John Billington Thomas Rogers +Joses Fletcher Thomas Tinker +John Goodman John Ridgate +Mr. Samuel Fuller Edward Fuller +Mr. Christopher Martin Richard Clark +Mr. William Mullins Richard Gardiner +Mr. William White Mr. John Allerton +Mr. Richard Warren Thomas English +John Howland Edward Doten +Edward Liester + + + +December, 1978 [Etext #8] + +**The Project Gutenberg Etext of Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address** + + + + +Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address +March 4, 1865 + + + +Fellow countrymen: At this second appearing to take the oath +of the presidential office, there is less occasion for an extended +address than there was at the first. Then a statement, somewhat +in detail, of a course to be pursued, seemed fitting and proper. +Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations +have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great +contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies +of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress +of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known +to the public as to myself; and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory +and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction +in regard to it is ventured. + +On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts +were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it-- +all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered +from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, +insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war-- +seeking to dissolve the Union, and divide effects, by negotiation. +Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather +than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather +than let it perish. And the war came. + +One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed +generally over the Union, but localized in the Southern part of it. +These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew +that this interest was, somehow, the cause of the war. To strengthen, +perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the +insurgents would rend the Union, even by war; while the government claimed +no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. + +Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration +which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause +of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself +should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less +fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible, and pray +to the same God; and each invokes his aid against the other. +It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's +assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; +but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both +could not be answered--that of neither has been answered fully. + +The Almighty has his own purposes. "Woe unto the world because +of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe +to that man by whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose +that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the +providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued +through his appointed time, he now wills to remove, and that he +gives to both North and South this terrible war, as the woe due +to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any +departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a +living God always ascribe to him? Fondly do we hope--fervently +do we pray--that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. +Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by +the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil +shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn by the lash +shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said +three thousand years ago, so still it must be said, "The +judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." + +With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in +the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on +to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; +to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, +and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just +and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations. + + + + +December, 1978 [Etext #9] + +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Lincoln's 1st Inaugural Address + + + +Lincoln's First Inaugural Address +March 4, 1861 + + + +Fellow citizens of the United States: in compliance with a custom as old +as the government itself, I appear before you to address you briefly +and to take, in your presence, the oath prescribed by the Constitution +of the United States, to be taken by the President "before he enters +on the execution of his office." + +I do not consider it necessary, at present, for me to discuss those matters +of administration about which there is no special anxiety, or excitement. + +Apprehension seems to exist among the people of the Southern States +that by the accession of a Republican administration their property +and their peace and personal security are to be endangered. +There has never been any reasonable cause for such apprehension. +Indeed, the most ample evidence to the contrary has all the while +existed and been open to their inspection. It is found in +nearly all the published speeches of him who now addresses you. +I do but quote from one of those speeches when I declare that +"I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with +the institution of slavery where it exists. I believe I have +no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so." +Those who nominated and elected me did so with full knowledge +that I had made this and many similar declarations, and had +never recanted them. And, more than this, they placed in the +platform for my acceptance, and as a law to themselves and to me, +the clear and emphatic resolution which I now read: + +"Resolved: that the maintenance inviolate +of the rights of the States, and especially +the right of each State to order and control +its own domestic institutions according to +its own judgment exclusively, is essential +to that balance of power on which the perfection +and endurance of our political fabric depend, +and we denounce the lawless invasion by armed +force of the soil of any State or Territory, +no matter under what pretext, +as among the gravest of crimes." + +I now reiterate these sentiments; and, in doing so, I only press upon +the public attention the most conclusive evidence of which the case +is susceptible, that the property, peace, and security of no section +are to be in any wise endangered by the now incoming administration. +I add, too, that all the protection which, consistently with the +Constitution and the laws, can be given, will be cheerfully given +to all the States when lawfully demanded, for whatever cause-- +as cheerfully to one section as to another. + +There is much controversy about the delivering up of fugitives +from service or labor. The clause I now read is as plainly +written in the Constitution as any other of its provisions: + +"No person held to service or labor in one State, +under the laws thereof, escaping into another, +shall in consequence of any law or regulation +therein be discharged from such service or labor, +but shall be delivered up on claim of the party +to whom such service or labor may be due." + +It is scarcely questioned that this provision was intended by those +who made it for the reclaiming of what we call fugitive slaves; +and the intention of the lawgiver is the law. All members +of Congress swear their support to the whole Constitution-- +to this provision as much as to any other. To the proposition, +then, that slaves whose cases come within the terms of this clause +"shall be delivered up", their oaths are unanimous. Now, if they +would make the effort in good temper, could they not with nearly +equal unanimity frame and pass a law by means of which to keep good +that unanimous oath? + +There is some difference of opinion whether this clause should +be enforced by national or by State authority; but surely that +difference is not a very material one. If the slave is to be +surrendered, it can be of but little consequence to him or to others +by which authority it is done. And should any one in any case be +content that his oath shall go unkept on a merely unsubstantial +controversy as to HOW it shall be kept? + +Again, in any law upon this subject, ought not all the safeguards of +liberty known in civilized and humane jurisprudence to be introduced, +so that a free man be not, in any case, surrendered as a slave? +And might it not be well at the same time to provide by law for the +enforcement of that clause in the Constitution which guarantees that +"the citizen of each State shall be entitled to all privileged and +immunities of citizens in the several States?" + +I take the official oath today with no mental reservations, +and with no purpose to construe the Constitution or laws by +any hypercritical rules. And while I do not choose now to specify +particular acts of Congress as proper to be enforced, I do suggest +that it will be much safer for all, both in official and private stations, +to conform to and abide by all those acts which stand unrepealed, +than to violate any of them, trusting to find impunity in having +them held to be unConstitutional. + +It is seventy-two years since the first inauguration of a President +under our national Constitution. During that period fifteen different +and greatly distinguished citizens have, in succession, administered +the executive branch of the government. They have conducted it through +many perils, and generally with great success. Yet, with all this scope +of precedent, I now enter upon the same task for the brief Constitutional +term of four years under great and peculiar difficulty. A disruption of +the Federal Union, heretofore only menaced, is now formidably attempted. + +I hold that, in contemplation of universal law and of the Constitution, +the Union of these States is perpetual. Perpetuity is implied, +if not expressed, in the fundamental law of all national governments. +It is safe to assert that no government proper ever had a provision +in its organic law for its own termination. Continue to execute all +the express provisions of our National Constitution, and the Union will +endure forever--it being impossible to destroy it except by some action +not provided for in the instrument itself. + +Again, if the United States be not a government proper, but an association +of States in the nature of contract merely, can it, as a contract, +be peaceably unmade by less than all the parties who made it? +One party to a contract may violate it--break it, so to speak; +but does it not require all to lawfully rescind it? + +Descending from these general principles, we find the proposition +that in legal contemplation the Union is perpetual confirmed by +the history of the Union itself. The Union is much older than +the Constitution. It was formed, in fact, by the Articles of +Association in 1774. It was matured and continued by the +Declaration of Independence in 1776. It was further matured, +and the faith of all the then thirteen States expressly plighted +and engaged that it should be perpetual, by the Articles of Confederation +in 1778. And, finally, in 1787 one of the declared objects for ordaining +and establishing the Constitution was "TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION." + +But if the destruction of the Union by one or by a part only of the States +be lawfully possible, the Union is LESS perfect than before the Constitution, +having lost the vital element of perpetuity. + +It follows from these views that no State upon its own mere motion +can lawfully get out of the Union; that Resolves and Ordinances +to that effect are legally void; and that acts of violence, +within any State or States, against the authority of the United States, +are insurrectionary or revolutionary, according to circumstances. + +I therefore consider that, in view of the Constitution and the laws, +the Union is unbroken; and to the extent of my ability I shall take care, +as the Constitution itself expressly enjoins upon me, that the +laws of the Union be faithfully executed in all the States. +Doing this I deem to be only a simple duty on my part; +and I shall perform it so far as practicable, unless my +rightful masters, the American people, shall withhold the +requisite means, or in some authoritative manner direct the contrary. +I trust this will not be regarded as a menace, but only as the +declared purpose of the Union that it WILL Constitutionally +defend and maintain itself. + +In doing this there needs to be no bloodshed or violence; and there +shall be none, unless it be forced upon the national authority. +The power confided to me will be used to hold, occupy, and possess +the property and places belonging to the government, and to collect +the duties and imposts; but beyond what may be necessary for these objects, +there will be no invasion, no using of force against or among the people +anywhere. Where hostility to the United States, in any interior locality, +shall be so great and universal as to prevent competent resident citizens +from holding the Federal offices, there will be no attempt to force +obnoxious strangers among the people for that object. While the strict +legal right may exist in the government to enforce the exercise of +these offices, the attempt to do so would be so irritating, +and so nearly impracticable withal, that I deem it better +to forego for the time the uses of such offices. + +The mails, unless repelled, will continue to be furnished in all parts +of the Union. So far as possible, the people everywhere shall have that +sense of perfect security which is most favorable to calm thought +and reflection. The course here indicated will be followed unless current +events and experience shall show a modification or change to be proper, +and in every case and exigency my best discretion will be exercised +according to circumstances actually existing, and with a view and +a hope of a peaceful solution of the national troubles and the +restoration of fraternal sympathies and affections. + +That there are persons in one section or another who seek to destroy +the Union at all events, and are glad of any pretext to do it, I will +neither affirm nor deny; but if there be such, I need address no word +to them. To those, however, who really love the Union may I not speak? + +Before entering upon so grave a matter as the destruction of our +national fabric, with all its benefits, its memories, and its hopes, +would it not be wise to ascertain precisely why we do it? +Will you hazard so desperate a step while there is any possibility +that any portion of the ills you fly from have no real existence? +Will you, while the certain ills you fly to are greater than all +the real ones you fly from--will you risk the commission of so +fearful a mistake? + +All profess to be content in the Union if all Constitutional rights +can be maintained. Is it true, then, that any right, plainly written +in the Constitution, has been denied? I think not. Happily the human +mind is so constituted that no party can reach to the audacity of doing this. +Think, if you can, of a single instance in which a plainly written provision +of the Constitution has ever been denied. If by the mere force of numbers a +majority should deprive a minority of any clearly written Constitutional right, +it might, in a moral point of view, justify revolution--certainly would if such +a right were a vital one. But such is not our case. All the vital rights of +minorities and of individuals are so plainly assured to them by affirmations +and negations, guaranties and prohibitions, in the Constitution, that +controversies never arise concerning them. But no organic law can ever be +framed with a provision specifically applicable to every question which may +occur in practical administration. No foresight can anticipate, +nor any document of reasonable length contain, express provisions +for all possible questions. Shall fugitives from labor be surrendered +by national or State authority? The Constitution does not expressly say. +May Congress prohibit slavery in the Territories? The Constitution does not +expressly say. MUST Congress protect slavery in the Territories? +The Constitution does not expressly say. + +From questions of this class spring all our constitutional controversies, +and we divide upon them into majorities and minorities. If the minority +will not acquiesce, the majority must, or the government must cease. +There is no other alternative; for continuing the government is +acquiescence on one side or the other. + +If a minority in such case will secede rather than acquiesce, +they make a precedent which in turn will divide and ruin them; +for a minority of their own will secede from them whenever +a majority refuses to be controlled by such minority. +For instance, why may not any portion of a new +confederacy a year or two hence arbitrarily secede again, +precisely as portions of the present Union now claim to secede from it? +All who cherish disunion sentiments are now being educated to the +exact temper of doing this. + +Is there such perfect identity of interests among the States +to compose a new Union, as to produce harmony only, +and prevent renewed secession? + +Plainly, the central idea of secession is the essence of anarchy. +A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations, +and always changing easily with deliberate changes of popular +opinions and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people. +Whoever rejects it does, of necessity, fly to anarchy or to despotism. +Unanimity is impossible; the rule of a minority, as a permanent arrangement, +is wholly inadmissible; so that, rejecting the majority principle, +anarchy or despotism in some form is all that is left. + +I do not forget the position, assumed by some, that Constitutional +questions are to be decided by the Supreme Court; nor do I deny +that such decisions must be binding, in any case, upon the parties +to a suit, as to the object of that suit, while they are also entitled +to very high respect and consideration in all parallel cases by all other +departments of the government. And while it is obviously possible that +such decision may be erroneous in any given case, still the evil effect +following it, being limited to that particular case, with the chance that +it may be overruled and never become a precedent for other cases, +can better be borne than could the evils of a different practice. +At the same time, the candid citizen must confess that if the policy +of the government, upon vital questions affecting the whole people, +is to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court, +the instant they are made, in ordinary litigation between parties +in personal actions, the people will have ceased to be their own rulers, +having to that extent practically resigned their government into the hands +of that eminent tribunal. Nor is there in this view any assault upon +the court or the judges. It is a duty from which they may not shrink +to decide cases properly brought before them, and it is no fault of +theirs if others seek to turn their decisions to political purposes. + +One section of our country believes slavery is RIGHT, and ought +to be extended, while the other believes it is WRONG, and ought +not to be extended. This is the only substantial dispute. +The fugitive-slave clause of the Constitution, and the law for the +suppression of the foreign slave-trade, are each as well enforced, +perhaps, as any law can ever be in a community where the moral +sense of the people imperfectly supports the law itself. +The great body of the people abide by the dry legal obligation +in both cases, and a few break over in each. This, I think, +cannot be perfectly cured; and it would be worse in both cases +AFTER the separation of the sections than BEFORE. The foreign +slave-trade, now imperfectly suppressed, would be ultimately revived, +without restriction, in one section, while fugitive slaves, +now only partially surrendered, would not be surrendered +at all by the other. + +Physically speaking, we cannot separate. We cannot remove our +respective sections from each other, nor build an impassable wall +between them. A husband and wife may be divorced, and go out of +the presence and beyond the reach of each other; but the different +parts of our country cannot do this. They cannot but remain +face to face, and intercourse, either amicable or hostile, +must continue between them. Is it possible, then, to make +that intercourse more advantageous or more satisfactory after +separation than before? Can aliens make treaties easier than +friends can make laws? Can treaties be more faithfully enforced +between aliens than laws can among friends? Suppose you go to war, +you cannot fight always; and when, after much loss on both sides, +an no gain on either, you cease fighting, the identical old questions +as to terms of intercourse are again upon you. + +This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. +Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise +their CONSTITUTIONAL right of amending it, or their REVOLUTIONARY right +to dismember or overthrow it. I cannot be ignorant of the fact +that many worthy and patriotic citizens are desirous of having the +national Constitution amended. While I make no recommendation of +amendments, I fully recognize the rightful authority of the people +over the whole subject, to be exercised in either of the modes prescribed +in the instrument itself; and I should, under existing circumstances, +favor rather than oppose a fair opportunity being afforded the people +to act upon it. I will venture to add that to me the convention mode +seems preferable, in that it allows amendments to originate with +the people themselves, instead of only permitting them to take or +reject propositions originated by others not especially chosen +for the purpose, and which might not be precisely such as they would +wish to either accept or refuse. I understand a proposed amendment +to the Constitution--which amendment, however, I have not seen--has +passed Congress, to the effect that the Federal Government shall +never interfere with the domestic institutions of the States, +including that of persons held to service. To avoid misconstruction +of what I have said, I depart from my purpose not to speak of particular +amendments so far as to say that, holding such a provision to now be +implied Constitutional law, I have no objection to its being made express +and irrevocable. + +The chief magistrate derives all his authority from the people, +and they have conferred none upon him to fix terms for the +separation of the states. The people themselves can do this +also if they choose; but the executive, as such, has nothing to +do with it. His duty is to administer the present government, +as it came to his hands, and to transmit it, unimpaired by him, +to his successor. + +Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice +of the people? Is there any better or equal hope in the world? +In our present differences is either party without faith of being +in the right? If the Almighty Ruler of Nations, with his eternal +truth and justice, be on your side of the North, or on yours +of the South, that truth and that justice will surely prevail, +by the judgment of this great tribunal, the American people. + +By the frame of the government under which we live, this same people +have wisely given their public servants but little power for mischief; +and have, with equal wisdom, provided for the return of that little +to their own hands at very short intervals. While the people retain +their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of +wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government +in the short space of four years. + +My countrymen, one and all, think calmly and WELL upon this +whole subject. Nothing valuable can be lost by taking time. +If there be an object to HURRY any of you in hot haste to a step +which you would never take DELIBERATELY, that object will be +frustrated by taking time; but no good object can be frustrated +by it. Such of you as are now dissatisfied, still have the +old Constitution unimpaired, and, on the sensitive point, +the laws of your own framing under it; while the new administration +will have no immediate power, if it would, to change either. +If it were admitted that you who are dissatisfied hold the +right side in the dispute, there still is no single good reason +for precipitate action. Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity, +and a firm reliance on him who has never yet forsaken this favored land, +are still competent to adjust in the best way all our present difficulty. + +In YOUR hands, my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen, and not in MINE, +is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail YOU. +You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. +YOU have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the government, while _I_ +shall have the most solemn one to "preserve, protect, and defend it." + +I am loathe to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not +be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break +our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from +every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone +all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union +when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature. + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/alternat.13 b/textfiles.com/politics/alternat.13 new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e2762db6 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/alternat.13 @@ -0,0 +1,4022 @@ +From rec.arts.sf.written Wed Jan 13 13:43:14 1993 +Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written +Path: lysator.liu.se!isy!liuida!sunic!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!batcomputer!cornell!uw-beaver!newsfeed.rice.edu!rice!spacsun.rice.edu!schmunk +From: schmunk@spacsun.rice.edu (Robert Schmunk) +Subject: LIST: Alternate Histories (0/5) +Message-ID: +Sender: news@rice.edu (News) +Reply-To: schmunk@spacsun.rice.edu (Robert Schmunk) +Organization: Dept. of Space Physics, Rice University, Houston TX +Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 02:46:08 GMT +Lines: 82 + +The following 5 postings comprise the 13th posting of the Alternate History +List. It includes 772 published English-language stories and books, plus 7 +whose publication is expected. + +A major restructuring of the list has been made since last posting. The +division into vanilla alternate history, crosstime tales and change-the-past +stories has been dropped. + +Also included is an appendix listing 88 Alternate Histories in non-English +languages. This appendix is an experiment and will be included in future +postings only if there is favorable feedback, and hopefully contributions. + +Added to the English-language list or published since last posting were: +Aiken's DIDO AND PA +Aldiss' "What You Get for Your Dollar" +KJ Anderson's "Music Played on the Strings of Time" +Attanasio's IN OTHER WORLDS +Bohme et al's "Alternatives in Science" +Borden & Graham's essays +Bova's TRIUMPH (prev listed as APRIL 1945) +Bowes' WARCHILD and GOBLIN MARKET +Capek's "Pseudo Lot, or Concerning Patriotism" +Chamberlin's THE IFS OF HISTORY +Demandt's HISTORY THAT NEVER HAPPENED +Di Filippo's "Mairzy Doats" +Dick's THE CRACK IN SPACE +Disraeli's "Of a History of Events Which Have Not Happened" +Drake's FORTRESS +Erickson's TOURS OF THE BLACK CLOCK +Farren's NECROM +Ferguson's "The Monroe Doctrine" +Fleming's OPERATION SEA LION +Flynn's IN THE COUNTRY OF THE BLIND +Friesner's "Jane's Fighting Ships" +Gluckman & Guthridge's THE MADAGASCAR MANIFESTO: CHILD OF THE LIGHT +Hamilton's "What If--?" +Jackson's VALLEY MEN +Jacobson's THE GOD-FEARER +Jeschke's THE LAST DAY OF CREATION +Koning's "Ifs: Destiny and the Archduke's chauffeur" +Levine's WHAT IF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM WERE DIFFERENT? +Livy's AB URBE CONDITA +Lupoff's "At Vega's Taqueria" +Milan's WILD CARDS XII: TURN OF THE CARDS +Murrin's "No Awakening, No Revolution? More Counterfactual Speculations" +Pierce's "On the Edge" +Pignotti's THE HISTORY OF TUSCANY +Reilly's "What If? Short By a Nose" +Rutman's CLASH OF EAGLES +Smith's BRIGHTSUIT MCBEAR and TAFLAK LYSANDRA +Toynbee's "If Alexander the Great had Lived On" +Toynbee's "If Ochus and Philip had Lived On" +Turtledove's "Down in the Bottomlands" +Vanauken's "The World After the South Won" +Waldron's "If Lincoln had Yielded" +Wodhams' "Try Again" +Womack's ELVISSEY + +Deleted were: +Bisson's TALKING MAN +Bretnor's "Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and All" +Cook's A MATTER OF TIME +Dick's "Jon's World" +Nolan's "Death Double" +Dozois and Dann's "Playing the Game" +Heinlein's THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST and THE CAT WHO WALKS THROUGH WALLS +Reed's DOWN THE BRIGHT WAY +Stevens' HEADS OF CERBERUS + +Thanks to Alan Beale, Thomas Cron, Beth Friedman, Evelyn Leeper, Andreas Morlok +and Harry Turtledove for recent contributions. + +Enjoy, +rbs + +-- +Robert B. Schmunk +SPAC, Rice Univ, Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251 USA +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +[He] turned back to the window and the opaque Houston sky. "You know, there +isn't anything wrong with this town that a couple of really good hurricanes +couldn't fix." --Peter Gent, THE FRANCHISE + +From rec.arts.sf.written Wed Jan 13 13:43:20 1993 +Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written +Path: lysator.liu.se!isy!liuida!sunic!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!batcomputer!cornell!uw-beaver!newsfeed.rice.edu!rice!spacsun.rice.edu!schmunk +From: schmunk@spacsun.rice.edu (Robert Schmunk) +Subject: LIST: Alternate Histories (1/5) (850 lines) +Message-ID: +Sender: news@rice.edu (News) +Reply-To: schmunk@spacsun.rice.edu (Robert Schmunk) +Organization: Dept. of Space Physics, Rice University, Houston TX +Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 02:47:18 GMT +Lines: 857 + + + THE USENET ALTERNATE HISTORY LIST + Version 13 - 12 Jan 1993 + + Maintained by R.B. Schmunk + InterNet: schmunk@spacsun.rice.edu + USPS: 1648 W Alabama #4, Houston, TX 77006 + + + "...I've come to the conclusion that the stupidest + words in the language are 'What if?'" + --'William Faulkner', in + William Sanders' THE WILD BLUE AND THE GRAY + + "What's past is past...and cannot be changed." + --'Robert E. Lee', in + Harry Turtledove's THE GUNS OF THE SOUTH + + +This is an annotated list of stories involving Alternate Histories (aka What- +Ifs, Allohistory or Counterfactuals), stories in which a past event has been +altered and its effect on later history described. The list is occasionally +posted to the UseNet newsgroup rec.arts.sf.written and most of its contents +were contributed by readers of that newsgroup. Much has been extracted from: + +Hacker, Barton C., & Gordon B. Chamberlain, "Pasts that Might Have Been, II: A + Revised Bibliography of Alternative History", in ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES (eds + Waugh & Greenberg) {Garland 86}; +Contento, William, INDEX TO SCIENCE FICTION ANTHOLOGIES AND COLLECTIONS {George + Prior/G.K. Hall 78}; +-----------------, INDEX TO SCIENCE FICTION ANTHOLOGIES AND COLLECTIONS 1977- + 1983 {G.K. Hall 84}. + +Alternate history (abbrev. "AH" below) criteria are generally the same as in: + +Chamberlain, Gordon B., "Allohistory in Science Fiction", in ALTERNATIVE + HISTORIES (eds Waugh & Greenberg) {Garland 86}. + +Thus, alterations affect more than fictional individuals, and the story is not +secret history, does not rely on events entirely futureward of when the author +wrote the story, etc. Submissions for new entries are always appreciated, as +are corrections to the old. + +Entries have been separated into three categories: + +Anthologies -- collections of genre short stories and/or essays, each of which + is also listed separately; +Alternate Histories -- what-if stories, essays and novels; +Reference Materials -- discussions of the genre and/or specific stories. + +In the entries, please note that: + +The notation "W:" beginning a description stands for "What if:", and that line +describes the divergence of that AH from ours. An "S:" means "Story:", and that +line describes the plot. A "C:" indicates "Comments:". If none of these is +present, "C:" or "S:" is assumed. + +If an author's name is replaced by dashes, the entry is a sequel to or in the +same series as the preceding entry. If replaced by dashes within arrows, it is +part of a series collected within the previous book entry. Double arrows +indicate inclusion in a book collected within an omnibus volume. + +If you can't find a particular short story, check other entries by the author +to see if it was retitled or included in a larger work. + +References to anthologies containing a short story include an editor's name +only if different from the author of the story. + +Not all of the available publication data about the entries is presented here, +and in some cases the list of books in which a story appears has been limited. +Where the latter occurs, "etc" appears at the end of the book list. If you need +more publication info about a story, drop me a line at the address above. + +Abbrevs. frequently used in publication listings are: +<#AW> = THE 19# ANNUAL WORLD'S BEST SF (eds Wollheim [& Saha]) {DAW #} + = ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES (eds Waugh & Greenberg) {Garland 86} + = ALTERNATE KENNEDYS (ed Resnick) {Tor 92} + = ALTERNATIVES (eds Adams & Adams) {Baen 89} + = ALTERNATE PRESIDENTS (ed Resnick) {Tor 92} + = ALTERNATE WARRIORS (ed Resnick) {Tor 93} + = ROBERT ADAMS' BOOK OF ALTERNATE WORLDS (eds Adams et al) {NAL/Signet + 87} + = BEYOND TIME (ed Ley) {Pocket 76} + = The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction + = THE FANTASTIC CIVIL WAR (ed McSherry) {Baen 91} + = THE GREAT SF STORIES: # (eds Asimov & Greenberg) {DAW 86, 88-91} + = HITLER VICTORIOUS (eds Benford & Greenberg) {Garland 86; Berkley 87} + = [Isaac] Asimov's Science Fiction [Magazine] + = IF I HAD BEEN..., TEN HISTORICAL FANTASIES (ed Snowman) {Rowman & + Littlefield 79} + = IF IT HAD HAPPENED OTHERWISE, ver X (ed Squire); ver A {Longmans, + Green 31}; ver B as IF: OR HISTORY REWRITTEN {rev Viking 31; Kennikat 64}; + ver C {exp Sidgwick & Jackson 72; St. Martin's 74} + = SPECULATIONS ON AMERICAN HISTORY (Borden & Graham) {Heath 77} + = WHAT IF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM WERE DIFFERENT? (ed Levine) {M.E. + Sharpe 92} + = WHAT IF? EXPLORATIONS IN SOCIAL-SCIENCE FICTION (ed Polsby) {Lewis 82} + = WORLDS OF MAYBE (ed Silverberg) {Thomas Nelson 70; Dell 74} + = WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN? VOLUME # (eds Benford & Greenberg) {Bantam 89-92} + = THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION, #TH ANNUAL COLLECTION (ed Dozois) + {Blue Jay 85; St. Martin's 87-92} + +This list would not have been possible without the generous and continuing +help of Evelyn C. Leeper. Significant contributions were also made by Will +Linden and Duncan MacGregor. Many thanks to them and the numerous readers of +rec.arts.sf.written who have made submissions. + +And now, the list: + + +Anthologies: + +Adams, Robert, & Pamela Crippen Adams (eds), ALTERNATIVES {Baen 89} + New stories by JF Carr & RJ Green, RJ Green, Shwartz, LN Smith and + Turtledove. +Adams, Robert, Martin H. Greenberg & Pamela Crippen Adams (eds), ROBERT + ADAMS' BOOK OF ALTERNATE WORLDS {NAL/Signet 87} + Reprints of by Bixby, de Camp, Effinger, Fehrenbach, Leinster, Niven and + Piper. +Benford, Gregory, & Martin H. Greenberg (eds), HITLER VICTORIOUS: ELEVEN + STORIES OF THE GERMAN VICTORY IN WORLD WAR II {Garland 86; Berkley 87} + Reprints and new stories by Bailey, Bear, Benford, Brin, Budrys, Finch, + Goldsmith, Kornbluth, Linaweaver, K Roberts and Shippey. +Benford, Gregory, & Martin H. Greenberg (eds), WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN? VOLUME + 1: ALTERNATE EMPIRES {Bantam 89} + New stories by P Anderson, Benford, Effinger, Fowler, Malzberg, Morrow, + Niven, Pohl, Robinson, Silverberg and Turtledove. +---------------------------------------------, WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN? VOLUME + 2: ALTERNATE HEROES {Bantam 90} + New stories exploring the Great Man hypothesis by Cassutt, Finch, Harrison & + Shippey, Laidlaw, Malzberg, Morrow, Rucker & Di Filippo, Shwartz, + Silverberg, Tarr, Turtledove, WJ Williams and Zebrowski. +---------------------------------------------, WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN? VOLUME + 3: ALTERNATE WARS {Bantam 91} + New stories and a reprint exploring results of battles/wars by P Anderson, + Busby, Benford, Churchill, Kress, Malzberg, McDevitt, Morrow, M Resnick, + Steele, Turtledove and Zebrowski. +---------------------------------------------, WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN? VOLUME + 4: ALTERNATE AMERICAS {Bantam 92} + Semi-new stories to mark the quincentennial of Columbus' first voyage by + Attanasio, de Camp, Eklund, Finch, Friesner, Malzberg, Oltion, Sargent, + Silverberg, Turtledove and Zebrowski. +Borden, Morton, & Otis L. Graham, Jr., SPECULATIONS ON AMERICAN HISTORY + {Heath 77} + Twelve essays on American AHs by Borden and Graham. +Chamberlin, J.E., THE IFS OF HISTORY {Atheneum 08} + 22 short essays. +Hearnshaw, F.J.C., THE "IFS" OF HISTORY {George Newnes 29} + Nineteen essays. +Levine, Herbert M. (ed), WHAT IF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM WERE + DIFFERENT? {M.E. Sharpe 92} + Essays on the effect of different US political structures (with minimal + historical development) by Cohen, Esberey, Ferrell, Gentry, Jeansonne, + Levine and Pitney. +Ley, Sandra (ed), BEYOND TIME {Pocket 76} + New stories by Chilson, Cooper, Cores, J Coulson, R Coulson, Davidson, + Eklund, AD Foster, Gat, Gotschalk, Lafferty, O Ley, W Moore, Orgill, Percy, + D Thompson and Zebrowski. +Polsby, Nelson W. (ed), WHAT IF? EXPLORATIONS IN SOCIAL-SCIENCE FICTION + {Lewis 82} + Stories and essays by Averneri, Dexter, Fried, CO Jones, RA Kagan, Long, + Masters, Minogue, Murphy, Polsby, Riker, Salisbury, Seabury, Wildavsky and + PM Williams. +Resnick, Mike (ed), ALTERNATE KENNEDYS {Tor 92} + New stories. AH entries by Aronson, Cadigan, Effinger, Friesner, Gerrold, + Katze, Kube-McDowell, Malzberg, L Resnick, M Resnick, Rusch, Soukup, Tarr + and Von Rospach. +------------------, ALTERNATE PRESIDENTS {Tor 92} + New stories involving American elections by Cadigan, J Carr, Chalker, G + Cox, Delaplace, Easton, Fawcett, Gerrold, Gilliland, Gunn, King, Kube- + McDowell, Malzberg, Nimersheim, Nye, Person, L Resnick, M Resnick, R + Roberts, Rusch, Sheckley, Shwartz, Thomsen and Watt-Evans. +------------------, ALTERNATE WARRIORS {Tor 93, not yet published} + New stories. +Silverberg, Robert (ed), WORLDS OF MAYBE: SEVEN STORIES OF SCIENCE FICTION + {Thomas Nelson 70; Dell 74} + Reprints of P Anderson, Asimov, deFord, Farmer, Leinster and Niven. +Snowman, Daniel (ed), IF I HAD BEEN..., TEN HISTORICAL FANTASIES {Rowman & + Littlefield 79} + Corrections of decisions by 10 historical figures by Allen, Blakemore, + Calvert, Edwards, Morgan, Pearton, Shukman, R Thompson, Windsor and Wright. +Squire, J.C. (ed), IF IT HAD HAPPENED OTHERWISE: LAPSES INTO IMAGINARY + HISTORY {Longmans, Green 31; exp Sidgwick & Jackson 72; St. Martin's 74}; + rev as IF: OR HISTORY REWRITTEN {Viking 31; Kennikat 64} + The classic AH book. Stories by Belloc, Chesterton, Churchill, Fisher, + Guedalla, Knox, Ludwig, Maurois, Nicolson, Squire and Waldman. Rev ed swaps + Knox for Van Loon. Exp ed adds Petrie and Trevelyan. +Waugh, Charles, G., & Martin H. Greenberg (eds), ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES: + ELEVEN STORIES OF THE WORLD AS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN {Garland 86} + Reprints and new stories by P Anderson, Benet, IE Cox, de Camp, Elgin, Hale, + Lafferty, Piper, K Roberts, Robinson and Utley & Waldrop. Reference material + by Chamberlain and Hacker & Chamberlain. + + +Alternate Histories: + +Adams, Robert, CASTAWAYS IN TIME {Donning 79; Signet 82} + W: Nestorians won at the Council of Ephesus, 451. + S: Tourists trapped in a remote villa are transported to a 17th-century in + which the Moorish pope has declared a Crusade against England. +-------------, THE SEVEN MAGICAL JEWELS OF IRELAND {Signet 85} + The battlefield between Pope Abdul and Arthur III Tudor shifts to the high + seas and to Ireland. +-------------, OF QUESTS AND KINGS {Signet 86} +-------------, OF CHIEFS AND CHAMPIONS {Signet 87} +-------------, OF MYTHS AND MONSTERS {Signet 88} + S: +Aiken, Joan, THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE {Cape 62; Doubleday 63; + Hutchinson 75; Dell 81} + W: The Stuarts won the Jacobite wars. + S: Two English girls face wolves and an evil governess. + C: Except for wolves besetting England c. 1830, this volume is not AH. +-----------, BLACK HEARTS IN BATTERSEA {Doubleday 64; Cape 65; Dell 69} + Hanoverians plot against James III. +-----------, NIGHTBIRDS ON NANTUCKET {Doubleday 66; Dell 69} + A mad scientist in New England develops a transatlantic zap-gun aimed at St. + James' Palace. +-----------, THE STOLEN LAKE {Cape 81; Delacorte 81} + A kingdom founded by Celtic refugees from the battle of Camlann is + discovered in the Andes. +-----------, THE WHISPERING MOUNTAIN {Doubleday 69} + The Prince of Wales (later Richard IV) has a Welsh adventure. +-----------, THE CUCKOO TREE {Cape 71; Doubleday 71} + Hanoverian plotters return to disrupt the coronation of Richard IV. +-----------, DIDO AND PA {Delacorte 86} + Another Hanoverian plot against Richard IV. +Aksyonov, Vassily, + Michael Henry Heim (tr), THE ISLAND OF CRIMEA {Random + House 83; Vintage 84}; orig OSTROV KRYM + W: The Crimea was an island and White Russians successfully held it against + the Bolsheviks and established a provisionary democratic gov't. + S: In the early 1980s, a Crimean newspaper editor spearheads the Common Fate + re-unification movement, playing into Soviet hands. +Aldiss, Brian W., THE MALACIA TAPESTRY {Cape 76} + W: Humans evolved from dinosaurs rather than hominids. + S: +Aldiss, Brian W., "Matrix" (aka "Danger: Religion!"), in Science Fantasy Oct + 62, THE SALIVA TREE AND OTHER STRANGE GROWTHS {Faber 66; Gregg 81}, + NEANDERTHAL PLANET {Avon 69, xx}, THE UNFRIENDLY FUTURE (ed Boardman), etc + In 2042, a theocratic timeline crosstime abducts people for advice on + dealing with a slave revolt, but they develop other plans. +Aldiss, Brian W., "What You Get for Your Dollar", in THE NEW IMPROVED SUN + (ed Disch) {Harper & Row 75; Hutchinson 76} + W: The UN took strong action following the Anglo-French attack on Egypt in + 1956, including an internat'l reclamation project in the Sinai. + S: A man from our world, beset by an energy crisis, visits the utopian Sinai + of another and describes its history. +Aldiss, Brian W., THE YEAR BEFORE YESTERDAY {Franklin Watts 87; St. Martin's + 88} + W: Churchill was killed during a visit to Finland in 1935. Later, Germany + gobbled up W Europe but left the Zinoviev-led Soviet Union alone. + S: A Finnish composer finds the body of a girl alongside the road, and + inside her backpack is an SF thriller about a different WW2. +Allen, Louis, "If I had been... Hideki Tojo in 1941", in + W: The prime minister of Japan pursued a path which would maximize Japan's + gains without forcing a war with the United States. + C: Japan's takeover of Java and Siberia provokes a worried America to elect + MacArthur in 44 and to ally with Germany. The falling Japan uses nukes. +Amis, Kingsley, THE ALTERATION {Cape 76; Viking 76; Panther 78} + W: Catherine of Aragon and Arthur of Wales had a son who became king upon + the death of Henry VII. Later, Martin Luther became pope. + S: A boy soprano in 1976 Catholic England tries to flee becoming a papal + castrato. +Anderson, Kevin J., "Music Played on the Strings of Time", in Analog Jan 93 + W: Various famous rock stars did not die tragic deaths. + S: A man visiting alternate Earths to obtain "new" music by "dead" rockers + comes across an album with his name on it. +Anderson, Kevin J., & Doug Beason, THE TRINITY PARADOX {Bantam 91} + W: US nuclear weapons research was slowed down, while the Nazis accelerated + theirs. + S: An accident propels an anti-nuclear activist back to 1943 Los Alamos and + she sets out to prevent the Trinity test. +Anderson, Poul, "Delenda Est", in Dec 55, GUARDIANS OF TIME + {Ballantine 60; exp Pinnacle 81}, , , , THE TIME PATROL {Tor + 91}, etc + W: The Scipios were killed at Ticinus and Hannibal later captured and + destroyed Rome. + S: Celts are driving steamcars in 1955 "New York"; it's up to Time Patrolman + Manse Everard to go back to the 2nd Punic War and set things right. +--------------, THE SHIELD OF TIME {Tor 90} + S: Everard and Wanda Tamberley patch history up at Bactra (209 BC) and + Rignano (1137). + C: Non-AH entries in series are "Time Patrol", "Brave to be a King", "The + Only Game in Town", "Gibraltar Falls", "Ivory, and Apes, and Peacocks", "The + Sorrow of Odin the Goth", "Star of the Sea" and "The Year of the Ransom". + All may be found in THE TIME PATROL {Tor 91} and elsewhere. +Anderson, Poul, "Eutopia", in DANGEROUS VISIONS (ed Ellison) {Doubleday 67; + NAL 75}; PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE PERFECT (eds Wolf & Fitz Gerald) {Fawcett + 73} and THE DARK BETWEEN THE STARS {Berkley 81} + W: Alexander lived longer *or* Christianity fell before Norse, Arab and + Magyar attacks. + S: A crosstime explorer from an advanced Alexandrine timeline violates a + taboo while visiting a Norse-Magyar N America +Anderson, Poul, "In the House of Sorrows", in + W: Assyrians captured Jerusalem and the Diasporah occurred before + Christianity could get started. + S: Adventures of a courier from North Markland (America) in an alternate + Israel/Palestine. +Anderson, Poul, A MIDSUMMER TEMPEST {Doubleday 74; Ballantine 75, Orbit/ + Futura 75} + W: Shakespeare's plays were real history and the Industrial Revolution + arrived two centuries early. Also, magic works. + S: In order to keep Charles I on England's throne, a Cavalier prince + searches for Prospero's isle. +Anderson, Poul, OPERATION CHAOS {Doubleday 71; Lancer xx; Berkley 78; Baen + xx}; rev of stories in Sep 56, Jan 57, Oct 59 and May-Jun 69 + W: Men learned to remove antimagical properties of iron and magical + technology ensued. + S: A werewolf and witch are involved in repeated struggles against the + machinations of Hell during WW2, as the Saracens invade America. +Anderson, Poul, THREE HEARTS AND THREE LIONS {Doubleday 61; Avon xx; Berkley + 78; Ace 84} + A Dane from our Earth must save a magical alternate Europe from the forces + of Chaos, but why are the people there expecting him? +Anderson, Poul, "When Free Men Shall Stand", in + W: Lucien Bonaparte convinced Napoleon to consolidate the French hold on + Europe rather than invade Egypt. Later, the French won at Trafalgar. + S: In 1849, Sam Houston talks history with a French diplomat during the + battle for New Orleans in the 2nd French-American War. +Anvil, Christopher, "Apron Chains", in Analog Dec 70 + W: The scientific revolution started in the 15th century, the result of a + man's being saved from drowning. + S: Discovery of the Americas is stalled, then stifled, by too-rigid + adherence to the scientific method. +Armstrong, Anthony, & Bruce Graeme, WHEN THE BELLS RANG {Harrap 43} + W: Nazi Germany invaded England in 1940. + S: How the invasion was defeated. +Aronson, Mark, "President-Elect", in + W: Robert Kennedy survived Sirhan Sirhan's assassination attempt, and as a + result adopted a hard anti-crime stance. + S: Facing Democratic rejection, RFK becomes the Republican presidential + nominee as brother Teddy leads the Democrats. Nixon still becomes president. +Asimov, Isaac, THE END OF ETERNITY {J. CUrley 81}; rev of "The End of + Eternity", in THE ALTERNATE ASIMOVS {Doubleday 86; NAL/Roc xx} + W: Enrico Fermi had not become involved in atomic research. + S: A time engineer falls in love with a woman who will, because of a + forthcoming history remake, never have existed. + C: Marginally AH. Divergence is 1932 but all results shown are in *far* + future. +Asimov, Isaac, "Fair Exchange?", in Asimov's SF Adventure Magazine Fall 78, + 3 BY ASIMOV {Targ 81} and THE WINDS OF CHANGE AND OTHER STORIES {Doubleday + 83} + W: Gilbert & Sullivan's operetta THESPIS was not lost. + S: A mental time traveler attempting to learn the score of THESPIS causes + it to go into print, with personally damaging consequences. +Asimov, Isaac, "Living Space", in EARTH IS ROOM ENOUGH {Doubleday 57, + Abelard-Schuman 76}, , VALENCE AND VISION (eds Jones & Roe) {Rinehart + 74}, THE FAR ENDS OF TIME AND EARTH {Doubleday 79}, etc + Using parallel Earths to solve overpopulation in 4000 AD, humans encounter + similar colonists from a world in which Germany won WW2. +Attanasio, A.A., IN OTHER WORLDS {Morrow 84; Bantam 85} + W: WW1 led to a world gov't. + S: +Attanasio, A.A., "Ink from the New Moon", in Nov 92 and + W: North America was discovered and settled by Chinese Buddhists. + S: A scribe describes the Unified Sandalwood Autocracies, and an encounter + on its eastern shores with a European explorer named Christ-bearer. +Averneri, Shlomo, "What if Sadat had come to Jerusalem under a Labor + government? (1977)", in + W: Itzhak Rabin was Israeli PM in early 1977 and while visiting Romania was + advised of Anwar Sadat's peace plans. + C: Peace talks between Sadat and Rabin include King Hussein of Jordan, + leading to an agreement that includes the West Bank, but not the PLO. +Bailey, Hilary, "The Fall of Frenchy Steiner", in New Worlds Jun 64, THE BEST + OF NEW WORLDS (ed Moorcock) {Compact 65}, SF12 (ed Merrill) {Delacorte 68}, + THE BEST SF STORIES FROM NEW WORLDS (ed Moorcock) {Panther 74} and + W: Hitler did not invade Russia. + S: Life in occupied London, 1954. +Ball, Margaret, THE SHADOW GATE {Tor 91} + A New Age woman from our Austin TX is drawn into a magical alternate where + an immortal elven queen rules in France. +Barbet, Pierre, COSMIC CRUSADERS {DAW 80} +>------------<, + Bernard Kay (tr), BAPHOMET'S METEOR {DAW 72}; orig L'EMPIRE + DU BAPHOMET + W: A demon-like alien was shipwrecked on Earth in 1118. + S: The alien aids the Knights Templar as they set out in 1275 to save the + Holy Land and conquer the Mongols. +>------------<, + C.J. Cherryh (tr), STELLAR CRUSADE {only Engl.-language + publ. is in omnibus volume}; orig CROISADE STELLAIRE + S: Outer-space sequel to the above. +Baring, Maurice, "The Alternative", in London Mercury Nov 22, HALF A MINUTE'S + SILENCE {Heinemann 25; Doubleday 25; Books for Libraries 70}, MAURICE BARING + RESTORED {Heinemann 70; Farrar, Straus & Giroux 70} and TRAVELERS IN TIME + (ed Stern) {Doubleday 47} + W: Napoleon's father decided that his son would get the best education + possible if enlisted in the British navy. + S: A sketch of historical and literary consequences from 1800 to 1850. +Barnett, Lisa A.: see Scott, Melissa, & Lisa A. Barnett +Barrett, Neal, Jr., THE LEAVES OF TIME {Lancer 71} + During an alien attack on one Earth, a human soldier is thrown into another + where N America was settled by Vikings. An alien pursues him. +Barton, S.W.: see Kurland, Michael, & S.W. Barton +Basil, Otto, + Thomas Weyr (tr, abr), TWILIGHT MAN {Meredith 68}; orig. WENN + DAS DER FUHRER WUSST + W: Germany won WW2 after dropping a nuclear bomb on London. + S: Hitler's death 20 years later leads to a power struggle. +Bear, Greg, EON {Bluejay 85} +----------, ETERNITY {Warner 88} + A strange artifact comes back in time from the future, only it's a + different future. +Bear, Greg, "Scattershot", in UNIVERSE 8 (ed Carr) {Doubleday 78; Popular + Library 79}, <79AW> and THE WIND FROM A BURNING WOMAN {Arkham House 83} + A woman aboard a spacecraft hit by a "disruptor" beam finds that it has + reassembled with parts (and crew) of ships from alternate universes. +Bear, Greg, "Through Road No Whither", in and THERE WILL BE WAR 8: + ARMAGEDDON (eds Pournelle & Carr) + Nazi officers in a world where Germany won WW2 insult a gypsy woman when + asking for directions, and she arranges for Germany's retroactive defeat. +Beason, Doug: see Anderson, Kevin J., & Doug Beason +Belloc, Hilaire, "If Drouet's Cart had Stuck", in + W: Louis XVI escaped Paris and was not executed. + S: Following Lafayette's defeat of Republican forces, France sinks into + mediocrity and Britain must contend with the mighty Austrian empire. +Benet, Stephen Vincent, "The Curfew Tolls", in Saturday Evening Post 5 Oct + 35; THIRTEEN O'CLOCK {Farrar & Rinehart 71; Books for Libraries 71; Franklin + Library 82}; MOONLIGHT TRAVELER (ed Stern) {Doubleday 42} (aka GREAT TALES + OF FANTASY AND IMAGINATION {Pocket 54}); ; etc + W: Napoleon were born much earlier, say in 1737. + S: An Englishman residing on the Mediterranean coast of France meets a + retired, frustrated French artillery major. +Benford, Gregory, "Manassas, Again", in Oct 91 and + W: Rome developed a steam-driven machine gun. + S: Rome's former American colonies fight a civil war in the 19th century. +Benford, Gregory, TIMESCAPE {Simon & Schuster 80; Pocket 81; Bantam 92}; rev + of "3:02 P.M., Oxford", in If Sep 70, and "Cambridge, 1:58 A.M.", in EPOCH + (eds Silverberg & Elwood) {Berkley/Putnam's 75; Berkley 77} + A UC prof in 1962 worries about tachyon interference in an experiment as he + tries to gain tenure. Mentions the Kennedy wiretapping scandal. +Benford, Gregory, "Valhalla", in + A man from a timeline where WW2 lasted til 1947, allowing completion of the + Final Solution, travels back and sideways to take revenge on Hitler. +Benford, Gregory, "We Could Do Worse", in + W: Nixon threw the California delegation's support to Robert Taft at the + 1952 GOP convention, with the stipulation that Joe McCarthy become Veep. + S: After Taft's sudden death, McCarthy begins to institute a police state, + and 4 years later a congressman is kidnaped. +Bensen, D.R., AND HAVING WRIT... {Bobbs-Merrill 78; Ace 79} + W: Four aliens were stranded on Earth in 1908 when they barely avoided an + explosive impact at Tunguska and splash-landed near San Francisco. + S: To get their ship repaired, they set about accelerating technological + development, but President Edison doesn't want to share with Europe. +Bernau, George, PROMISES TO KEEP {Warner 88} + W: The US presidential assassination attempt on 22 Nov 1963 failed. + S: Hunting the conspirators, plus the elections of 1964 and 68. + C: Borderline AH, as all names have been changed. +Berry, Stephen Ames, THE BATTLE FOR TERRA TWO {Ace 86} + C: Non-AH 1st volume of series is THE BIOFAB WAR. + W: The US never developed the bomb, Nazi Germany did and Hitler was + assassinated in Jul 44. + S: A war against insectoids shifts from our Earth to another. +-------------------, THE A.I. WAR +-------------------, THE FINAL ASSAULT + S: +Bertin, Eddy C., "Timestorm", in <72AW>; orig "Tijdstorm" + A man caught in timestorm discovers humanoid aliens tinkering with the human + past, encouraging the spread of war. +Bester, Alfred, "The Men Who Murdered Mohammed", in Oct 58, THE DARK + SIDE OF THE EARTH {Signet 64}, COSMIC LAUGHTER (ed Haldeman) {Holt, Rinehart + & Winston 74}, THE ARBOR HOUSE TREASURY OF SCIENCE FICTION MASTERPIECES (eds + Silverberg & Greenberg) {Arbor House 83}, THE WORLD TREASURY OF SCIENCE + FICTION (ed Hartwell) {Little, Brown 89}, etc + Due to his wife's infidelity, a Mad Scientist repeatedly goes back in time + to prevent her existence but can only affect his "personal" timeline. +Bier, Jesse, "Father and Son", in A HOLE IN THE LEAD APRON {Harcourt 64} + W: As punishment for participating in or ignoring the Holocaust, the Allies + ordered that 6 million random Germans be executed. + S: An exchange of letters between father and son, respectively a member of + the provisional postwar gov't and a former SS officer. +Bishop, Michael, "For Thus Do I Remember Carthage", in THE UNIVERSE and + W: Science and technology advanced faster in portions of the world. + S: [St.] Augustine of Hippo receives a visitor from Cathay who speaks of + collapsing stars and other arcane heavenly topics. +Bishop, Michael, THE SECRET ASCENSION; OR, PHILIP K. DICK IS DEAD, ALAS {St. + Martin's 87; Tor 89} + W: In a skewed world, Richard Milrose Nixon was elected to four terms as US + president and SF author Philip K. Dick attained more fame. + S: Shortly after his death in 1982, Phil Dick visits a small town in Georgia + and the moon in order to correct history. +Bisson, Terry, FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN {Arbor House 88} + W: With the aid of Harriet Tubman, John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry + (three months early) was successful, and provoked a mass black rebellion. + S: 100 years later, as Pan Africa is about to land on Mars, a woman delivers + to a museum papers describing the roots of the Nova African nation. +Bixby, Jerome, "One Way Street", in Amazing Jan 54, BEST SCIENCE FICTION + STORIES AND NOVELS: 1955 (ed Dikty) {Fredrick Fell 55}, SPACE BY THE TAIL + {Ballantine 64} and + W: Numerous small things were changed; eg., Shakespeare didn't write HAMLET, + the Korean War only lasted two months, etc. + S: A physics experiment knocks a passerby into a similar timeline, and he + must be returned to save the universe. +Blakemore, Harold, "If I had been... Salvador Allende in 1972-3", in + W: Allende moderated Socialist policy and took decisive action against civil + disorder. + C: A description of Chilean troubles and how Allende avoided chaos and a + right-wing takeover. +Bloch, Robert, "The World-Timer", in Fantastic Aug 60 + S: +Bohme, Gernot, Wolfgang van den Daele, & Wolfgang Krohn, + E.G.H. Joffe (tr), + "Alternatives in Science", in Internat'l Journal for Sociology 8; orig + "Alternativen in der Wissenschaft" + C: Includes discussion of a chemical rather than mechanical worldview at + the beginning of the scientific revolution. +Borden, Morton, "1759: What If Canada Had Remained French?", in + W: Montcalm defeated Wolfe to end the French and Indian War. + C: +Borden, Morton, "1784: What If Slavery Had Been Geographically Confined?", in + + W: + C: +Borden, Morton, "1789: Could the Articles of Confederation Have Worked?", in + + W: The Constitution was rejected. + C: +Borden, Morton, "1801: Would Aaron Burr Have Been a Great President?", in + + W: The House of Representatives named Burr president rather than Jefferson + when breaking the Electoral College tie. + C: +Borden, Morton, "1832: What If the Second Bank Had Been Rechartered?", in + + W: Nicholas Biddle renewed the charter of the 2nd Bank of the United States + at a more opportune time. + C: +Borden, Morton, "1850: What If the Compromise of 1850 Had Been Defeated?", in + + W: Zachary Taylor lived longer, causing the COmpromise of 1850 to fail and + the Civil War to start a decade earlier. + C: +Bova, Ben, TRIUMPH {Tor 93} + W: Churchill arranged for Stalin's assassination, and the Nazis won WW2. + S: +Bowes, Richard, WARCHILD {Warner 86} +--------------, GOBLIN MARKET {Warner 88} + Crosstime stories in worlds of a French Canada and a stalemated WW2. +Boyd, John, THE LAST STARSHIP FROM EARTH {Berkley 69; Penguin 78} + W: Judas Iscariot never existed and Jesus lived to age 70. + S: 2000 years later, a Mathematician is tried for miscegenation for sleeping + with a Poet. +Boyett, Steven R., THE ARCHITECT OF SLEEP {Ace 86} + W: Intelligent life evolved from racoons rather than primates. + S: A human spelunker exits a Florida cave to find himself in a world run by + oversize racoons. +Bradbury, Ray, "A Sound of Thunder", in GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN {Doubleday + 53}, R IS FOR ROCKET {Doubleday 62; Bantam 65}, THE STORIES OF RAY BRADBURY + {Knopf 80}, CAUGHT IN THE ORGAN DRAFT (eds Asimov et al) {Farrar, Straus & + Giroux 83}, , etc + S: Accidentally stepping on a butterfly while on a T. rex hunt has its + repercussions. + C: A classic about the effect of a minor change on history, but not really + AH since the only result shown is futureward (?) of the writing. +Brennert, Alan, & Norm Breyfogle, BATMAN: HOLY TERROR {DC Comics 91} + W: Oliver Cromwell lived another 10 years and consolidated the Puritan hold + on Britain and its colonies. + S: A young priest named Bruce Wayne becomes a costumed vigilante fighting + the repressive theocracy running the American Commonwealth. +Breyfogle, Norm: see Brennert, Alan, & Norm Breyfogle +Brin, David, "Thor Meets Captain America", in Jul 86, THE RIVER OF + TIME {Bantam 87} and + W: Nazi rituals resurrected the Norse pantheon, but Loki went over to the + Allies. + S: A captured American officer about to be sacrificed comes face-to-face + with the god of battle. +Brown, Frederic, WHAT MAD UNIVERSE {Dutton 49; Bantam 50] + A pulp editor finds himself in a parallel universe which match the stories + his magazine has been publishing. +Brunner, John, TIMES WITHOUT NUMBER {Ace 69; Ballantine 83}; exp of "Times + Without Number", in Ace Double #xx {Ace 62}; rev of stories in Science + Fiction Adventures Mar 62, Jun 62 and Jul 62 + W: The Armada conquered England. + S: 400 years later, a plot is afoot to destroy the Spanish empire via time- + travel. +Brunner, John, "At the Sign of the Rose", in BEYOND THE GATE OF WORLDS {Tor + 91} + C: In same timeline as Silverberg's THE GATE OF WORLDS. + S: The Tsar of Russia dies under suspicious circumstances; six travelers + tell their tales at a Krakow inn. +Budrys, Algis, "Never Meet Again", in + A scientist dissatisfied with Hitler's victory tries a change of universe, + but that doesn't solve his problems. +Burroughs, William S., CITIES OF THE RED NIGHT {Holt, Rinehart & Winston 81} + W: Capt. Mission's 18th-century pirate commune on Madagascar was not wiped + out by natives. + S: +Busby, F.M., "Play It Again, Sam", in CLARION III (ed Wilson) {Signet 73} + Two friends discuss how the world could be made a better place, working + their way back from event to event. +-----------, "Balancing Act", in 16 Feb 81 +-----------, "Wrong Number", in 21 Dec 81 + S: +Busby, F.M., "Tundra Moss", in + W: Victim of a minor stroke in late 1941, FDR was unable to resist + congressional and public pressure for a Japan First war policy. + S: Japanese saboteurs land on Amchitka just as orders for a crucial American + offensive are being transmitted down the Aleutians via secure cable. +Butler, Ron, "What Number are You Calling?", in Fantastic Oct 55 + Crosstime adventure in New Amsterdam. +Byrne, Eugene: see Newman, Kim, & Eugene Byrne +Byrne, Robert, THE TUNNEL {HBJ 77; Dell 77} + W: The 1973 agreement to dig the English Channel tunnel was not canceled. + S: An American engineer embarks on the biggest project of his career, as an + Irish terrorist plans to destroy it. +Cadigan Pat, "Dispatches from the Revolution", in Jul 91, and + + W: 1960s social protests met with harsh government reaction, LBJ stayed in + the 68 presidential race and Sirhan Sirhan didn't kill Robert Kennedy. + S: The cycle of violence gets bigger and bigger until it all blows up at the + 1968 Democratic Nat'l Convention in Chicago. +Cadigan, Pat, "No Prisoners", in + W: Robert Kennedy decided to become a priest and sister Eunice ended up + going into politics. + S: In 1968, former Attorney General and now Senator Eunice Kennedy is faced + with the final outcome of Father Robert Kennedy's antiwar activism. +Calvert, Peter, "If I had been... Benito Juarez in 1867", in + W: Juarez granted clemency to Mexican Emperor Maximilian, about to be + executed. + C: How it might have happened, but without much further development. +Capek, Karel, + Dora Round (tr), "Pseudo Lot, or Concerning Patriotism", in + APROCRYPHAL STORIES {Penguin 75}; orig "Pseudo-Lot cili o vlastenectvi" + S: Lot rejects the warning of the angels to flee Sodom. +Card, Orson Scott, SEVENTH SON {Tor 87}; exp of "Hatrack River", in + Aug 86, and TERRY CARR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY OF THE YEAR + (ed Carr) {Tor 87} + W: Natural magic works. Also, the Puritan revolution succeeded, altering + English history and the course of American colonization. + S: Born in 1800, the seventh son of a seventh son growing up on the American + frontier meets an itinerant storyteller named William Blake. +-----------------, RED PROPHET {Tor 88} + Captured by Red men, young Alvin Maker and his brother become involved with + Tecumseh, the Prophet and a different massacre at Tippecanoe. +-----------------, PRENTICE ALVIN {Tor 89}; rev of "Prentice Alvin and the + No-Good Plow", in Sunstone Aug 89 and MAPS IN A MIRROR {Tor 90} + Alvin's years as an apprentice blacksmith and the story of a Black-White + "mix-up boy" removed from slavery in Appalachee. +Carr, Jayge, "The War of '07", in + W: When Congress broke the Electoral College tie of 1800, they made Aaron + Burr president rather than Thomas Jefferson. + S: Militant Burr begins the move to manifest destiny 40 years early, but he + also shows no signs of leaving the White House. +Carr, John F., & Roland J. Green, "Kalvan Kingmaker", in + C: 2nd sequel to Piper's LORD KALVAN OF OTHERWHEN. + S: Styphon's House drives barbarians from the N American plains east into + Kalvan's territory in order to destroy him, but he turns the tables on them. +Carr, John F.: see also Green, Roland J., & John F. Carr +Carter, Paul A., "The Constitutional Origins of Westly v. Simmons", in Analog + Oct 85 + W: What if there were no Manhattan project, and Stevenson won the election + of '52. + C: How to change history so that Asimov's "Trends" (Astounding Jul 39) came + true. +Carter, Paul A., "The Mystery of the Duplicate Diamonds", in STELLAR #7 (ed + Del Rey) {Ballantine 81} + W: Robert Kennedy was elected president in 1968 *or* Watergate was never + discovered. + S: Two people from different timelines meet at a jewelry store in a third + trying to exchange different versions of the same ring. +Cassutt, Michael, "Mules in Horses' Harness", in + W: Lincoln was assassinated while visiting a Union hospital on 4 Jul 1863. + Wasn't he? + S: 1980 Confederate differential engineers trying to model history explore + the Great Man hypothesis. +Chadbourne, Billie Niles: see Johnson, Robert B., & Billie Niles Chadbourne +Chalker, Jack L., AND THE DEVIL WILL DRAG YOU UNDER {Ballantine 79} + A man and woman gather jewel-like devices from 5 alternate Earths to cancel + an experiment that caused an asteroid to move toward their Earth. +Chalker, Jack L., "Dance Band on the Titanic", in Jul 78, <79AW>, + ISAAC ASIMOV'S SCIENCE FICTION ANTHOLOGY VOLUME 1 (ed Scithers) {Davis/Dial + 78} (aka ISAAC ASIMOV'S MASTERS OF SCIENCE FICTION) and DANCE BAND ON THE + TITANIC + Adventures of a ferry boat crew traveling between alternate versions of + Maine and Nova Scotia. +Chalker, Jack L., DOWNTIMING THE NIGHT SIDE {Tor 85} + A security officer has to prevent the killing of Karl Marx by a terrorist + and gets drafted in a crosstime war. +Chalker, Jack L., "Now Falls the Cold, Cold Night", in + W: James Buchanan suffered a stroke in Oct 1856 and Millard Fillmore, + candidate of the American ("Know-Nothing") Party, was elected president. + S: When Fillmore upholds the Fugitive Slave Laws in 1858, rioting and worse + commence in New England. +Chandler, A. Bertram, KELLY COUNTRY {DAW 85} + A mental time traveler causes Ned Kelly to escape police capture in 1880 and + eventually become president of an Irish-dominated Australia. +Charmatz, A., "Sailing Through Program Management", in Analog 5 Jan 81 +------------, "A Second Chance", in Analog 9 Nov 81 + W: Columbus returned from his first voyage to find that modern management + techniques were being applied to Spain's exploration efforts. + S: A series of memos showing increasingly poor relations with project + managers, etc, as Columbus reports on voyage one and prepares for the next. +Chesnoff, Richard Z., Edward Klein, & Robert Littell, IF ISRAEL LOST THE WAR + {Coward-McCann 69} + W: While Israel hoped for a diplomatic settlement, Arab forces delivered a + devastating surprise attack on 5 Jun 1967. + S: A day-by-day account of the 6-day fall of Israel and its repercussions in + the US, USSR and the new UAR. +Chesterton, G.K., "If Don John of Austria had Married Mary Queen of Scots", + in and THE COMMON MAN {Sheed & Ward 50} + W: As the title says. + C: Essay on England's place in Christendom and whether it would have + accepted a Scottish Catholic queen and a Spanish prince-consort. +Chiang, Ted, "Tower of Babylon", in Omni Nov 90, and NEBULA AWARDS 26 + (ed Morrow) {HBJ 92} + W: An older idea of cosmology were correct. + S: After centuries of work, the Tower of Babylon has reached the vault of + heaven and stoneworkers now attempt to break through. +Chilson, Robert, "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sky", in + W: Observing the continued success of Stanley brothers in auto racing, Henry + Ford brought out the Model A steamer in 1911. + S: Congress investigates internal combustion engines when a kerosene + shortage arises. +Chilson, Robert, THE SHORES OF KANSAS {Popular Library 76} + W: Teddy Roosevelt was assassinated. + S: +Christopher, John, FIREBALL {Dutton 81; Tempo 84} + Two boys are caught in a strange ball of fire, to emerge in ancient Roman + times and help Christians overthrow the Roman Empire. +-----------------, NEW FOUND LAND {Dutton 83} + The boys flee to N America and face more adventures with Viking settlers + and Aztecs. +-----------------, DRAGON DANCE {Dutton 86} + The boys travel on to California. +Churchill, Winston S., "If Lee had not Won the Battle of Gettysburg", in + Scribner's Dec 30, and + W: Jeb Stuart reached the battlefield in time to support Pickett's charge. + Later, Lee unilaterally freed the slaves and Britain recognized the CSA. + S: Some theorizing about how a Confederate defeat at Gettysburg might have + prevented the formation of the English-speaking union. +Clagett, John, A WORLD UNKNOWN {Popular Library 75} + W: Jesus never lived and Constantine dissolved the Roman empire. + S: A man finds himself in another world when a nuclear airplane experiment + goes awry. +Clark, Ronald W., THE BOMB THAT FAILED {Morrow 69}; as THE LAST DAY OF THE + OLD WORLD {Cape 69} + W: The Trinity test was a failure, due in part to Klaus Fuchs. + S: An agonizing invasion of Kyushu leads to US use of rice fungus bombs, and + the Soviets exploit border incidents for a drive on the English Channel. +Clarke, Comer, IF THE NAZIS HAD COME {World 62} + W: + S: +Cohen, Neil B., "What If There Were No Judicial Review?", in + W: + C: +Cohen, Neil B., "What If There Were No Written Constitution and Bill of + Rights?", in + W: The US had an unwritten constitution, much like Britain's. + C: An essay on how the US gov't would be more authoritarian, with minority + opinions having less weight and no judicial review. +Collyn, George, "Unification Day", in New Worlds May 66 and THE TRAPS OF TIME + (ed Moorcock) {Rapp & Whiting 68} + W: Napoleon won at Waterloo. + S: England notes the 150th anniversary of its inclusion in the French + empire. +Cooper, Edmund, "Jupiter Laughs", in + W: Jesus of Nazareth was slain by Herod's troops before his family could + flee to Egypt. + S: The murder of Jesus, his family and the magi, with an epilog about Rome's + British satrap "Queen" Victoria's humiliating coronation. +Cooper, Giles, THE OTHER MAN + W: + S: +Coppel, Alfred, THE BURNING MOUNTAIN: A NOVEL OF THE INVASION OF JAPAN {HBJ + 83} + W: A lightning strike disrupted the Trinity test. + S: Operations Olympic and Coronet, the invasion of Japan. +Cores, Lucy, "Hail to the Chief", in + W: The Watergate break-in went undiscovered and Richard Nixon was president + until poor health caused his resignation in 1994. + S: In 1996, a plumbers unit breaks into a Hyannisport house to retrieve a + tape stolen from the San Clemente archives. +Cornett, Robert: see Randle, Kevin, & Robert Cornett +Corvo, Baron: see Rolfe, Frederick William +Costello, Matthew J., TIME OF THE FOX {NAL/Roc 90} + A mental time traveler studying what made the Beatles so great is + sidetracked into "change war" action involving Rommel's Afrika Korps. +--------------------, HOUR OF THE SCORPION {NAL/Roc 91} + Our hero becomes a US infantry lieutenant as the time war shifts focus to + the Tet offensive and the attack on the US embassy in Saigon. +--------------------, DAY OF THE SNAKE {NAL/Roc 92} + More time-war action, involving Pearl Harbor. +Coulson, Juanita, "Unscheduled Flight", in + The Bermuda Triangle offers a one-way trip to an America colonized by + Vikings and English pirates. +Coulson, Robert, "Soy la Libertad!", in + W: Magellan discovered the Americas. 350 years later abolitionists blocked + US annexation of Texas. + S: A US Customs inspector considers the disastrous possibilities on a + Balkanized N America of the assassination of Texas president Lyndon Johnson. +Counsil, Wendy, "Black Handkerchiefs", in Dec 91 + W: After defeating the US in WW2, the Japanese set the AmerInds up as + governors of the country. + S: Decades after the war, white Americans meet secretly to enjoy relics of + Euro-American culture, and argue with a man who advocates accommodation. + C: May not be AH. Lack of detail leaves room for the possibility that the + Japanese defeat the US in the future. +Cox, Glen E., "The More Things Change...", in + W: Dewey defeated Truman in the election of 1948. + S: How playing hardball over Communism led to Dewey's win. +Cox, Irving E., Jr., "In the Circle of Nowhere", in Universe Jul 54, + Fantastic Jan 60 and + Following a study of racial equality, an AmerInd from a world where red men + enslaved Europe is transported to our Chicago. +Cox, Richard (ed), OPERATION SEA LION {Thornton Cox 74; Presidio 77} + W: Nazi Germany carried out Operation Sealowe, invading England on 22 Sep + 1940. + S: A detailed account of Germany's miserable 5-day failure. + C: Based on a war game played out in 1974 by British and West German + officers. +Crowley, John, "Great Work of Time", in NOVELTY {Doubleday 90} and + W: Cecil Rhodes died in 1893, and left his fortune to endow a secret society + to preserve and extend the British Empire. + S: Among other tasks, the Otherhood must ensure that Rhodes dies before he + can rethink his will. +Cupp, Scott, "Thirteen Days of Glory", in RAZORED SADDLES (eds Lansdale & + LoBrutto) {Dark Harvest 89; Avon 90} + W: The defenders of the Alamo were homosexuals defending their lifestyle. + S: Drag-queens fight an outraged Mexican army. + C: Borderline AH-secret history. +Dabney, Virginia, "If the South had Won the War", in American Mercury Oct 36 + W: Pickett's Charge succeeded, and the defenders of Vicksburg were a bit + more tenacious. + S: A look at the CSA during Huey Long's presidency. +Daniels, Tony, "The Careful Man Goes West", in Jul 92 + W: AmerInds were absorbed peacefully into a multi-cultural society. + S: People have the ability to choose from a variety of possible futures, and + one of them picked one in which the AmerInds were instead wiped out. +Davidson, Avram, "O Brave New World!", in + W: Offered the choice of going to hell or to America, George II's heir opted + for the latter. + S: The center of British power shifts to Philadelphia, leading to an English + uprising in the early 1800s against American tyranny. +Davidson, Avram: see also Goldstone, Cynthia, & Avram Davidson +Davin, Eric L., "Avenging Angel", in FAR FRONTIERS II (eds Pournelle & Baen) + {Baen 85} and + W: The CSA developed a long-range rocket and fired it on Washington during + Lincoln's second inauguration, 4 Mar 1865. + S: An explanation of its development and how it provoked the sack of + Richmond and a harsher Reconstruction. +de Camp, L. Sprague, "Aristotle and the Gun", in Astounding Feb 58, GUN FOR + DINOSAUR AND OTHER IMAGINATIVE TALES {Doubleday 63}, , MODERN CLASSICS + OF SCIENCE FICTION (ed Dozois) {St. Martin's 92, 93}, etc + W: Aristotle abandoned the study of natural science. + S: Trying to teach Aristotle the scientific method, a time traveler instead + overawes and sours him on scientific research. +de Camp, L. Sprague, LEST DARKNESS FALL {Ballantine 49; Pyramid 63; + Ballantine 74; Ballantine 83}; exp of "Lest Darkness Fall", in Unknown Dec + 39 + Transported to Rome in the time of Justinian, a man decides to start up a + few modern industries and avert the Dark Ages. +de Camp, L. Sprague, "The Round-Eyed Barbarians", in Amazing Jan 92 and + W: The Chinese discovered the Americas at about the same time as Columbus. + S: C. 1560, Spanish and Chinese explorers meet in N America, and a dispute + over a Spaniard's elopement with a AmerInd girl must be settled. +de Camp, L. Sprague, "The Wheels of If", in Unknown Dec 40, THE WHEELS OF IF + {Shasta 48}, and Tor SF Double #20 {Tor 90} + W: Oswiu of Northumbria adopted the Celtic rather than Roman branch of + Christianity. Later, the Arabs won at Tours. + S: A DA from our New York finds himself residing in the body of a Celtic + Christian bishop in "New Belfast". + C: Sequel is Turtledove's "The Pugnacious Peacemaker". + + +From rec.arts.sf.written Wed Jan 13 13:43:26 1993 +Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written +Path: lysator.liu.se!isy!liuida!sunic!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!batcomputer!cornell!uw-beaver!newsfeed.rice.edu!rice!spacsun.rice.edu!schmunk +From: schmunk@spacsun.rice.edu (Robert Schmunk) +Subject: LIST: Alternate Histories (2/5) (850 lines) +Message-ID: +Sender: news@rice.edu (News) +Reply-To: schmunk@spacsun.rice.edu (Robert Schmunk) +Organization: Dept. of Space Physics, Rice University, Houston TX +Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 02:47:54 GMT +Lines: 855 + + +Dean, William, "A Passage in Italics", in May 72 + W: Italy invented the first atomic bomb and won WW2. + S: An Occupying Forces MP harasses the customers in an Amerian barbershop. + Later, the barber discovers his straight razor has disappeared. +deFord, Miriam Allen, "Slips Take Over", in Sep 64 and + S: +Deighton, Len, SS-GB: NAZI-OCCUPIED BRITAIN 1941 {Cape 78; G.K. Hall 79; + Knopf 79; Ballantine 80; Curley 92} + W: Germany won the Battle of Britain. + S: A Scotland Yard detective tries to raise his motherless son and + investigate a murder in occupied England. +Del Rey, Lester, THE INFINITE WORLDS OF MAYBE {Holt, Rinehart & Winston 66} + Crosstimers view the 2nd American War Between the States. +Delaplace, Barbara, "No Other Choice", in + W: Dewey ousted Roosevelt from the White House in 1944. + S: Rather than bomb Hiroshima, Dewey orders that a demonstration shot of the + atomic bomb be given, but the Japanese refuse to surrender. +Deloria, Vine, Jr., "Why the U.S. Never Fought the Indians", in Christian + Century 7-14 Jan 76 + W: In 1813, southern AmerInds joined with Tecumseh to oppose both the US and + Britain in the War of 1812, earning themselves a seat at Ghent. + S: Sharing N America leads to a more humane society, despite such troubles + as the presidential succession crisis of 1876 and the buffalo war of 1880. +Dent, Guy, EMPEROR OF THE IF {Heinemann 26} + W: England was not subject to glaciers during the Ice Ages. + S: +Denton, Bradley, "The Territory", in Jul 92 + W: After his brother was killed by Unionists in 1861, Sam Clemens decided + to remain in Missouri rather than move west to Nevada. + S: Joining Quantrill's raiders just in time for the attack on Lawrence, + Kansas, Clemens begins to wonder about the mess he's gotten into. +Denton, Bradley, WRACK & ROLL {Popular Library 86, 0-445-20306-4} + W: Roosevelt choked on a chicken bone in 1933, and Patton rolled into Russia + after the fall of Germany. + S: NASA is destroyed by fans after a 1967 lunar disaster kills a rock star. + In 1979, her daughter goes on tour. +Derleth, August, & Mack Reynolds, "The Adventure of the Snitch in Time", in + THE MISADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (ed Wolfe) {Citadel 91} + In infinite alternate worlds, even fiction might be true. A traveler visits + one such to ask Sherlock Holmes for help. +Dexter, Lewis A., "What if Joseph McCarthy had not been a U.S. senator ...", + in + W: As the title says. + C: The "witch-hunts" might not have occurred and opposition to Communism + might not have acquired so many anti-intellectual overtones. +Di Filippo, Paul, "Anne", in Science Fiction Age Nov 92 + W: Anne Frank was sent to America in 1939 + S: Anne Frank goes to Hollywood and replaces Judy Garland (who died in a car + crash) in THE WIZARD OF OZ +Di Filippo, Paul, "Mairzy Doats", in Feb 91 + W: Harry Truman became a career soldier, Robert Heinlein went into politics, + and atomic and rocket research moved at a much faster pace. + S: In a 1948 Heinleinian America, an SF writer meets the president and is + recruited for a mission to the Moon to hunt down Axis refugees. +Di Filippo, Paul, "World Wars III", in Interzone Jan 92 + S: +Di Filippo: see also Rucker, Rudy, & Paul Di Filippo +Dick, Philip K., THE CRACK IN SPACE {Ace 66} + W: Sinanthropes rather than man's predecessors became the dominant primates. + S: The future of our world tries to use this alternate world to relieve + overpopulation problems. +Dick, Philip K., THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE {Putnam's 62; Penguin 65; Berkley + 74; Gollancz 75; Gregg 79; Vintage 92} + W: Before his 1933 inaugural, FDR was assassinated in Miami, which + eventually led to the Axis winning WW2. + S: Relations between Americans and their rulers, with light from the Tao and + an AH novel about a world in which the Axis lost the war. +Dick, Philip K., RADIO FREE ALBEMUTH {Arbor House 85; Avon 87} + W: + S: +Dickinson, Peter, KING AND JOKER {Pantheon 76; G.K. Hall 76; Hodder & + Stoughton 76; Avon 77} +----------------, SKELETON-IN-WAITING {Bodley Head 89; Pantheon 89; Thorndike + 90} + W: Edward Duke of Clarence did not die in 1887 and became king of England in + 1910 rather than his brother George. + S: Princess Louise (b. 1963) discovers some skeletons in the (royal) family + closet and must solve some mysteries. +Dicks, Terrance, TIMEWYRM: EXODUS + W: The Nazis conquered Britain. + S: A Dr. Who crosstime adventure. +Disraeli, Isaac, "Of a History of Events Which Have Not Happened", in + CURIOSITIES OF LITERATURE (ed B Disraeli) {Moxon 1849; Routledge, Warne & + Routledge 1863; William Veazie 1864} + Essay on possible alternatives in history, but without much development. +d'Ormesson, Jean, + Barbara Bray (tr), THE GLORY OF THE EMPIRE {Knopf 74}; + orig LA GLOIRE DE L'EMPIRE + W: Eurasia was united under a single empire. + S: +Downing, David, THE MOSCOW OPTION: AN ALTERNATIVE SECOND WORLD WAR {New + English Library 79; St. Martin's 80} + W: An Aug 1941 plane crash left Hitler lying in a coma and Goering in charge + of the 3rd Reich for 6 months. + S: Left to its own devices the Wehrmacht took Moscow in Oct 1941. Also, + details on Pearl Harbor, Malta, Cairo, Midway, Panama and Jerusalem. +Drake, David, FORTRESS {Tor 87, 88} + W: JFK escaped assassination and gave further impetus to the US space + program. + S: Outer space saga in 1985. +Dunn, J.R., "Crux Gammata", in Oct 92 + W: Nazi Germany invaded England and won at Stalingrad, thereby conquering + Europe before the US could enter the war. + S: In the early 1970s, the first American rock band to tour Nazi Europe + tries to avoid provoking an incident, but the authorities have other plans. +Dvorkin, David, BUDSPY {F. Watts 87} + W: Hitler was killed by a Russian attack while visiting the Eastern Front in + Mar 1943 and his successors made peace with the US and Britain. + S: In 1988, while hunting for a Red spy in the Berlin embassy, an American + agent finds that Germany hasn't reformed as much as it pretends. +Easton, Thomas A., "Black Earth and Destiny", in + W: Andrew Jackson outmaneuvered John Quincy Adams and was elected president + in 1824, four years early. + S: Jackson invested government money in biological research. 70 years later, + George Washington Carver contemplates two job offers. +Edwards, Owen Dudley, "If I had been... William Ewart Gladstone in 1880", in + + W: Gladstone appointed a more progressive Cabinet at the beginning of his + 2nd term as British Prime Minister. + C: With his Cabinet's backing, Gladstone pushes through Parliament a Land + Bill which would alleviate Irish unrest. +Edmondson, G.C., TO SAIL THE CENTURY SEA {Ace 81} + S: The US gov't, during Nixon's 4th term, sends a team back to alter the + Council of Nicaea in 325 and the future course of East-West relations. + C: Non-AH predecessor is THE SHIP THAT SAILED THE TIME STREAM. +Effinger, George Alec, "Everything but Honor", in + An African-American physicist decides to use his time machine to alter a + Civil War different from the one we remember. +Effinger, George Alec, LOOK AWAY {Axolotl 90} + W: An internat'l peacekeeping force intervened in the American Civil War. + S: +Effinger, George Alec, "Prince Pat", in + W: The "3rd Generation" of Kennedys included some extra children, including + JFK's son Patrick. + S: In 2000, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy runs for president with the aid of his + numerous cousins, all intent on avoiding 1990s style marketing-politics. +Effinger, George Alec, RELATIVES: A NOVEL {Harper & Row 73; Dell 76}; exp of + "The City on the Sand", in Apr 73, and "Relatives", in BAD MOON + RISING (ed Disch) {Harper & Row 73} + One world in which Europe never colonized America or Africa, another in + which Germany won WW1. +Effinger, George Alec, "Schrodinger's Kitten", in Omni Sep 89, <89AW>, + and NEBULA AWARDS 24 (ed Bishop) {Arbor House 88} + An Arab girl who dreams of potential futures becomes a quantum physicist. + Later she meets Hugh Everett (of the many worlds theory). +Effinger, George Alec, "Target: Berlin! The Role of the Air Force Four-Door + Hardtop", in NEW DIMENSIONS 6 (ed Silverberg) {Harper & Row 76} and + W: In a fit of sanity, world leaders decided to postpone WW2. + S: Excerpts from Effinger's book on how the WW2 of the 1970s was fought with + automobiles instead of aircraft in order to conserve fuel. +Eisenstein, Phyllis, SHADOW OF EARTH {Dell 79} + A student from our world gets stuck in one where the Armada triumphed. +Eklund, Gordon, ALL TIMES POSSIBLE {DAW 74} + A man from a timeline where the US went fascist after FDR's murder sets out + to change the past and becomes dictator of Red America. +Eklund, Gordon, "The Karamazov Caper", in + W: Pope Innocent VIII was assassinated in 1486 and his successor suppressed + knowledge of Columbus' voyage. Later, Bering "discovered" the Americas. + S: 400 years later, tsarist agent Leon Trotsky investigates the ritualistic + murder of a babe near Seattle. +Eklund, Gordon, "Red Skins", in Jan 81 + W: The Americas were discovered in 1219 by a Moslem, but not seriously + colonized until Europeans showed up c. 1700. + S: 100 years after AmerInds banded together to handle the immigration + problem, Nazi Germany threatens war if scientist-refugees are not returned. +Eklund, Gordon, "The Rising of the Sun", in + W: Europe fell to the Moslems and was discovered by the Incas in 1600. + S: In 1899, a renegade Arab inventor detonates an atomic weapon over Cuzco + just as the city falls to the Aztecs. +Eklund, Gordon, SERVING IN TIME {Harlequin 75} + A man from 2169 joins the Time Service and finds out that part of the job + involves re-writing history; e.g., Washington's defeat on Long Island. +Elgin, Suzette Haden, "Hush My Mouth", in + W: The North refused to enlist black soldiers during the Civil War, and + blacks ejected whites from the South after devastating epidemics. + S: Blacks have found that their only common language is the oppressor's + English. Some refuse to speak until a better tongue is found. +Ellis, Charles D., THE SECOND CRASH {Simon & Schuster 73} + W: Jack Golsen did not bail out the brokerage firm of Hayden, Stone in 1970, + thus provoking the worst Wall Street crash in history. + S: Description of the financial aftermath, plus Senate hearings revealing + Wall Street's many excesses and consequent legislation. +Erickson, Steve, TOURS OF THE BLACK CLOCK {Poseidon 89; Avon 89} + W: The Nazis won WW2. + S: +Esberey, Joy E., "What If There Were a Parliamentary System?", in + W: The US adopted a parliamentary form of government after the revolution. + C: +Farber, Sharon N., "Trans Dimensional Imports", in Aug 80 + A woman publishes fiction never written in our timeline and gains moral + strength from talking to her counterpart in another. +Farmer, Philip Jose, "Sail On, Sail On", in Startling Stories Dec 52, , + THE ROAD TO SCIENCE FICTION #3 (ed Gunn) {NAL/Mentor 79}, A TREASURY OF + MODERN FANTASY (eds Carr & Greenberg) {Avon 81}, , etc + W: The world were flat, and Bacon developed a radio from theological + principles. + S: Columbus sails off the edge of Earth. +Farmer, Philip Jose, TWO HAWKS FROM EARTH {Ace 79}; rev of THE GATE OF TIME + {Belmont 70} + American and German pilots from different WW2s meet on an Earth where the + Americas are only an archipelago, but Europe is still at war. +Farren, Mick, NECROM {Ballantine 91, 0-345-36185-7} + Crosstime adventurer visits an Aztec dominated modern Earth. +Fawcett, Bill, "Lincoln's Charge", in + W: Stephen Douglas won the election of 1860, but the Republican-controlled + Senate still provoked Southern secession. + S: In 1863, with the Union facing imminent disaster, General Abe Lincoln and + his Illinois militia must lead an attack at Carrolton, Indiana. +Fehrenbach, T.R., "Remember the Alamo!", in Analog Dec 61, ANALOG 1 (ed + Campbell) {Doubleday 63}, TRANSFORMATION II (ed Roselle) {Fawcett 74}; + POLITICAL SCIENCE FICTION (eds Greenberg & Warrick) {Prentice-Hall 74}, + and + W: Napoleon conquered Britain. + S: A Britisher from our (?) timeline goes back in time to the Alamo, but its + defenders behave like 20th-century liberals. +Ferguson, Brad, THE WORLD NEXT DOOR {Tor 90}; exp of "The World Next Door", + Sep 87 and THERE WILL BE WAR 8: ARMAGEDDON (eds Pournelle & Carr) + W: Nuclear war broke out in the early 1960s. + S: In up-state NY, 1980s survivors of the war have strange dreams of a world + full of home computers, cable television, etc. +Ferguson, Neil, "The Monroe Doctrine", in Interzone 6 and INTERZONE: THE + FIRST ANTHOLOGY (eds Clute et al) {J.M. Dent 85; St Martin's 85} + W: Marilyn Monroe was elected president. + S: When the Soviets invade Czechoslovakia, Marilyn tries a little personal + diplomacy on Leonid Brezhnev. +Ferrell, Thomas H., "What If There Were a Unitary Rather Than a Federal + System?", in + W: The Constitution of 1787 were rejected, but after civil unrest, a more + centrist Constitution was adopted in 1797. + C: Description of a US government and political parties under a system in + which states are little more than geographic regions. +Finch, Sheila, "If There Be Cause", in Amazing Feb 92 and + W: Sir Francis Drake planted the seed of Protestantism among AmerInds of the + Pacific Coast. + S: 200 years later, religious war breaks out when the Spanish begin their + colonization of California. +Finch, Sheila, INFINITY'S WEB {Bantam 85} + Analogous versions of the same woman interact through particle physics, + Tarotry, mysticism and a twist in spacetime. +Finch, Sheila, "Old Man and C", in Amazing Nov 89 and + W: A Swiss patent office employee quit his job to become a professional + musician. + S: As the USA drops a new type of bomb in Korea, a 75-year-old Einstein + frets about whether he's wasted his life as a violin teacher. +Finch, Sheila, "Reichs-Peace", in + W: Rudolf Hess' flight was successful and a Pan-European federation began a + 1000-year peace. + S: An attempt to use telepathy to rescue Hitler's adoptive son after an + accident on the Moon. +Finney, Jack, THE WOODROW WILSON DIME {Simon & Schuster 68}; rev of "The + Other Wife" (aka "The Coin Collector"), in Saturday Evening Post Jan 60 and + ABOUT TIME {Simon & Schuster 86}; incl. in THREE BY FINNEY, etc + Adventures in various timelines with minor differences. +Fisher, H.A.L., "If Napoleon had Escaped to America", in Scribner's Jan 31, + and PAGES FROM THE PAST {Clarendon 39; Books for Libraries 69} + W: Napoleon did not surrender after Waterloo but fled to Boston. + S: L'empereur looks for new lands to conquer and focuses on S America, + but will it be enough? +Fleming, Peter, OPERATION SEA LION: THE PROJECTED INVASION OF ENGLAND IN + 1940, AN ACCOUNT OF THE GERMAN PREPARATIONS AND THE BRITISH COUNTERMEASURES + {Simon & Schuster 57; Ace xx; Greenwood 77}; as INVASION 1940: AN ACCOUNT OF + THE GERMAN PREPARATIONS AND THE BRITISH COUNTERMEASURES {Hart-Davis 57; Pan + 75} + W: Germany occupied England in 1940 *or* made no invasion preparations at + all. + C: Mostly background material but chapter 20 discusses events which could + not have occurred if either supposition were true. +Flynn, Michael F., "Forest of Time", in Analog Jun 87 + W: The US never united, resulting in a collection of independent States + fighting constant border wars. + S: A crosstime traveler is stranded in a Wyoming Valley where Pennsylvania + is fighting for control vs Virginia and New York. +Flynn, Michael F., IN THE COUNTRY OF THE BLIND {Baen 90} + W: Babbage perfected the Difference Engine. + S: A secret society uses the machine to rule the world. + C: Borderline secret history. +Flynn, Michael F., "On the Wings of a Butterfly", in Analog Mar 89 + W: Pizarro's 2nd expedition met with greater success. + S: A member of the Shining Path goes back to ensure that Pizarro encounters + the Inca Empire before civil war broke out. +Ford, John M., THE DRAGON WAITING: A MASQUE OF HISTORY {Simon & Schuster 83; + Avon 85} + W: Byzantine emperor Julian mandated religious tolerance in the empire and + Justinian had time to consolidate his gains. Also, magic works. + S: A Welsh mage, Florentine doctor, German vampire and Greek mercenary + become involved in England's Richard III's struggle for power. +Ford, John M., "Mandalay", in Oct 79 and ISAAC ASIMOV'S SCIENCE + FICTION ANTHOLOGY VOLUME 4 (ed Scithers) {Davis/Dial 80} (aka + ISAAC ASIMOV'S WORLDS OF SCIENCE FICTION) + Crosstime travelers are stranded in a tunnel lined with hatches leading to + all sorts of parallel worlds; they search for the "Homeline." +-------------, "Out of Service", in Jul 80 + An Alternities guide is stranded after the "Fracture" and tries to convince + the local gate operative that it will lead to the correct Homeline. +-------------, "Slowly By, Lorena", in Nov 80 and + A doctor on a vacation offered by the Alternities Corporation is stranded in + an 1867 where British intervention is prolonging the Civil War. +-------------, "Intersections", in 26 Oct 81 + An Alternities guide crosses over into the real 1944 WW2. +Forester, C. S., "If Hitler Had Invaded England", in London Daily Mail xxx, + Saturday Evening Post 16-30 Apr 60 and GOLD FROM CRETE {Little Brown 70; + Joseph 71; Pinnacle 76} + W: Nazi Germany invaded England on 30 Jun 40. + S: +Fortier, Ron, THE BOSTON BOMBERS, 3-issue comic book series {Caliber Comics + 90} + W: "Jesus" was female, leading to a matriarchal Catholic Church. + S: Adventures of League of Nation operatives in the 20th century. +Foster, Alan Dean, "Polonaise", in and WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE... + {Ballantine 77} + W: Poland became an important player on the world stage, capable of putting + down Hitler in 6 months. + S: A secret Polish space project to impose world peace in an age of nuclear + proliferation. +Fowler, Karen Joy, "Game Night at the Fox and Goose", in + W: The war between the sexes took a violent turn in 1872 when American women + began to fight back against degradation. + S: A woman betrayed by her boyfriend meets a traveler who says she can + take her to a more equable world. +Frankowski, Leo, THE CROSS-TIME ENGINEER {Ballantine 86} +---------------, THE HIGH-TECH KNIGHT {Ballantine 89} +---------------, THE RADIANT WARRIOR {Ballantine 89} +---------------, THE FLYING WARLORD {Ballantine 89} +---------------, LORD CONRAD'S LADY {Ballantine 90} + An engineer accidentally transported back to medieval Poland decides to + defeat the coming Mongol invasion. +Fried, Robert C., "What if Hitler got the Bomb? (1944)", in + W: Nazi Germany developed atomic bombs by early 1944, dropping them on + London and Leningrad in May. + C: Speculation on the bombing and its consequences, delaying Normandy only a + bit and still resulting in the defeat of the 3rd Reich. +Friesner, Esther M., DRUID'S BLOOD {NAL/Signet 88} + W: During the reign of Claudius in Rome, a druid magically isolated Britain + from the rest of the world. + S: Mage-queen Victoria employs a Holmesian detective to find a stolen + grimoire on which rests her authority. +Friesner, Esther M., "Jane's Fighting Ships", in + S: +Friesner, Esther M., "Such a Deal", in Jan 92 and + W: Rejected by Ferdinand and Isabella, Columbus' voyage of discovery was + instead financed by a Jewish Granadan merchant. + S: As Catholic Spain lays siege to Granada, Columbus' ships return from + meeting the Aztecs, and they carry more than gold. +Friesner, Esther M., "Told You So", in + W: Magic works. Also, after saving a leprechaun, John Kennedy was granted + the power of making anything true merely by saying so. + S: JFK begins to change the world for the better, but a misstatement in + Berlin has disastrous effects. +Garrett, Randall, "Gentlemen: Please Note", in Astounding Oct 55 and TAKEOFF! + {Donning 80} + W: Frustrated by gov't contractors, Isaac Newton changed his field of study. + S: Newton writes the PRINCIPIA THEOLOGICA. +Garrett, Randall, LORD DARCY {Doubleday/SFBC 83} + W: Richard Couer de Lion survived Chaluz, ruling well and leaving the Anglo- + French kingdom to nephew Arthur. Also, magic was codified c. 1300. +>--------------<, MURDER AND MAGIC {Ace 79} +>>------------<<, "The Eyes Have It", in Analog Jan 64, RULERS OF MEN (ed + Santesson) {Pocket 65} and THE BEST OF RANDALL GARRETT {Pocket 82} + A lecherous count is killed and the best clue pointing to the perpetrator is + the last thing the murdered man saw. +>>------------<<, "A Case of Identity", in Analog Sep 64 and ANALOG 4 (ed + Campbell) {Doubleday 66} + The Marquis of Cherbourg disappears and a man who looks just like him is + found dead near its harbor. +>>------------<<, "The Muddle of the Woad", in Analog Jun 65 and SPECIAL + WONDER (ed McComas) {Random House 70} + Just after the death of the Duke of Kent, his coffin is found occupied by + the body of the Chief Investigator for the Duchy. +>>------------<<, "A Stretch of the Imagination", in MEN AND MALICE (ed + Dickinsheet) {Doubleday 73} + A book publisher in Normandy apparently hangs himself one day. +>--------------<, TOO MANY MAGICIANS {Doubleday 67; Gregg 78, Ace xx}; + serial in Analog Aug-Nov 66 + Lord Darcy investigates espionage-related murders in Cherbourg and at a + sorcerers' convention in London. +>--------------<, LORD DARCY INVESTIGATES {Ace 81} +>>------------<<, "A Matter of Gravity", in Analog Oct 74 and ALFRED + HITCHCOCK'S FATAL ATTRACTIONS (ed Lore) {Davis/Dial 83} + A materialist count is killed when he is flung out of a window in his + laboratory. +>>------------<<, "The Sixteen Keys", in Fantastic Stories May 76 + Lord Vauxhall dies after apparently aging 50 years in an hour, and the + papers he was carrying have disappeared in his 16-room mansion. +>>------------<<, "The Ipswich Phial", in Analog Dec 76 and 13 CRIMES OF + SCIENCE FICTION (eds Asimov et al) {Doubleday 79} + During the search for a stolen magical weapon, a royal secret agent is found + dead on an undisturbed beach in Normandy. +>>------------<<, "The Napoli Express", in Apr 79 and ISAAC ASIMOV'S + SCIENCE FICTION ANTHOLOGY VOLUME 2 (ed Scithers) {Davis/Dial 79} + A copy of a treaty between the Angevin Empire and Byzantium secretly travels + to Athens via the Napoli Express for signing. +----------------, "The Bitter End", in Sep-Oct 78; ISAAC ASIMOV'S + SCIENCE FICTION ANTHOLOGY VOLUME 4 (ed Scithers) {Davis/Dial 80} (aka ISAAC + ASIMOV'S WORLDS OF SCIENCE FICTION) and ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S FEAR (ed Jordan) + {Davis/Dial 82} + A drink of rat poison is used to murder a man in a bar, but magic is + required to explain how the murderer disguised its bitter taste. +----------------, "The Spell of War", in THE FUTURE AT WAR I: THOR'S HAMMER + (ed Bretnor) {Ace 79} and THE BEST OF RANDALL GARRETT {Pocket 82} + S: The first meeting of Lord Darcy and Master Sean, on a battlefield. + C: See also Kurland's STUDY IN SORCERY, TEN LITTLE WIZARDS and THE UNICORN + GIRL. +Gat, Dmitri, "U-Genie SX-1--Human Entrepeneur: Naturally Rapacious Yankee", + in + Time-traveling merchants ruin their present by arranging for the existence + of Henry Ford. +Gatch, Tom, Jr., KING JULIAN: A NOVEL {Vantage 54} + W: George Washington accepted the American crown and his descendants still + rule. + S: +Gentry, Judith F., "What If the 1787 Constitution Had Provided for Equal + Rights?", in + W: + C: +Gerrold, David, "The Impeachment of Adlai Stevenson", in + W: Eisenhower made Joe McCarthy his running mate, leading to Stevenson + winning the election of 1952. + S: A writer assigned to draft Stevenson's resignation speech looks back on + how 6 years of intelligent decisions provoked Congressional uproar. +Gerrold, David, "The Kennedy Enterprise", in + W: After divorcing Rose, Joe Kennedy moved to Hollywood, where he married + Gloria Swanson and his sons went into the movie business. + S: Second-rate actor Jack Kennedy enjoys his greatest successes in sci-fi + features, and ends up the captain of Gene Roddenberry's Enterprise. +Gerrold, David, THE MAN WHO FOLDED HIMSELF {Random House 73; Faber 73; + Popular Library 74; Aeonian 76; Bantam 91} + S: +Gibbons, Dave: see Moore, Alan, & Dave Gibbons +Gibson, William, "The Gernsback Continuum", in UNIVERSE 11 (ed Carr) + {Doubleday 81; Zebra 81}; BURNING CHROME {Arbor House 86; Ace 87} and + MIRRORSHADES (ed Sterling) {Arbor House 86; Ace 88} + A photographer glimpses/visits a timeline where architecture, transport, + etc, are all out of 30s pulp SF. +Gibson, William, & Bruce Sterling, THE DIFFERENCE ENGINE {Bantam 91} + W: Byron led the Industrial Radicals to English power, and Babbage perfected + his analytical engine so that the Information Age began a century early. + S: A paleontologist accidentally acquires a set of punch cards from Ada + Byron, dropping him right in the middle of a circle of mayhem and murder. +Gillies, John, "A Sending Parable: What Might Have Been the Result Had St. + Paul Traveled East to the Orient Instead of West", in Christian Century 24 + Feb 71 + W: As the title says. + S: The difficulties faced by the Tokyo Christian Ministry in Arizona, + particularly its competition with American Christian missions. +Gilliland, Alexis A., "Demarche to Iran", in + W: Gerald Ford gave Nixon a specific, rather than general, pardon, thus + keeping his popularity high enough that he beat Carter in 1976. + S: On his masseur's advice, Ford threatens to break relations with Iran + after the embassy seizure, just like Austria did with Serbia in 1914. +Gluckman & Guthridge, THE MADAGASCAR MANIFESTO: CHILD OF THE LIGHT {St. + Martins} + W: The Nazis establish a Jewish homeland on Madagascar. + S: +Gold, Jerome, THE INQUISITOR {Black Heron 91} + S: +Goldsmith, Howard, "Do Ye Hear the Children Weeping?", in + W: Germany won WW2. + S: An American couple rents a house in Munich and find it haunted by the + previous occupant's Dachau experiments. +Goldstone, Cynthia, & Avram Davidson, "Pebble in Time", in Aug 70 and + LAUGHING SPACE (ed Asimov & Jeppson) {Houghton Mifflin 82} + W: The Mormons bypassed Salt Lake and settled near the San Francisco Bay. + S: A time traveler accidentally diverts Brigham Young and company. +Gotschalk, Felix C., "The Napoleonic Wars", in + W: Napoleon was not defeated at Waterloo. + S: Assassination attempts are constant in 1958 New Orleans, capital of New + France and home of the Emperor-in-exile of Eurasia +Graeme, Bruce: see Armstrong, Anthony, & Bruce Graeme +Graham, Otis L., Jr., "1887: Whites and Indians--Was There a Better Way?", in + + W: + C: +Graham, Otis L., Jr., "1917: What If the United States Had Remained + Neutral?", in + W: The United States was not drawn into WW1. + C: +Graham, Otis L., Jr., "1933: What Would the 1930s Have Been Like Without + Franklin Roosevelt?", in + W: FDR was either not nominated for president in 1932 *or* died at the hands + of Zangara the next spring. + C: +Graham, Otis L., Jr., "1945: The United States, Russia, and the Cold War-- + What if Franklin Roosevelt Had Lived?", in + W: FDR enjoyed better health. + C: +Graham, Otis L., Jr., "1974: What If There Had Been No Watergate?", in + C: +Green, Martin, THE EARTH AGAIN REDEEMED: MAY 26 TO JULY 1, 1984, ON THIS + EARTH OF OURS AND ITS ALTER EGO {Basic 77; Sphere 79} + W: King Antonio defeated the Portugese invading the Kongo at Mbwila in 1665. + S: Interaction of two worlds diverging from the battle, one with the Congo + at the heart of Christianity and one like ours but post-nuclear war. +Green, Roland J., "Exile's Greeting", in MICROCOSMIC TALES (eds Asimov et al) + {Taplinger 80; DAW 92} + W: The American Revolution failed. + S: HMS Bellerophon prepares to transport a defeated enemy leader to exile on + St. Helena, but is he Napoleon? +Green, Roland J., "The Goodwife of Orleans", in + W: Henry V of England did not die in 1422 and was able to consolidate + his hold on the crown of France. + S: A young woman from the village of Arc helps preserve English power in + France. +Green, Roland J., & John F. Carr, GREAT KINGS' WAR {Ace 85} + C: 1st sequel to Piper's LORD KALVAN OF OTHERWHEN. + S: In their first attack on Lord (now King) Kalvan, Styphon's House hits him + with three forces, but is defeated in all cases. +--------------------------------, "Siege at Tarr-Hostigos", in THERE WILL BE + WAR 8: ARMAGEDDON (eds Pournelle & Carr) + C: 3rd sequel to Piper's LORD KALVAN OF OTHERWHEN. + S: Lord Kalvan loses his citadel to the forces of Styphon's House. +Green, Roland J.: see also Carr, John F., & Roland J. Green +Griffin, Peni, "Books", in Nov 91 + A used bookstore gets alternative/fictional world customers. +Grigg, John, 1943: THE VICTORY THAT NEVER WAS {Hill & Wang 80} + W: The Allies invaded France a year earlier. + C: Discussion of Allied errors in WW2. Final chapter speculates that + invading a year earlier would have given a postwar advantage to the West. +Grimwood, Ken, REPLAY {Arbor House 86; Thorndike 86; Berkley 88; Ace 92} + At death's edge, a man has a chance to relive and change his life, again and + again and again. +Guedalla, Philip, "If the Moors in Spain had Won", in + W: Ferdinand and Isabella's army was defeated at Lanjaron in 1491. + S: An overview of the history of the great, enlightened Kingdom of Granada. +Gunn, Eileen, "Fellow Americans", in Dec 91 and + W: Hardball mud-slinging brought disgrace to LBJ in 1964, leading to the + election of Barry Goldwater as president. + S: Vignettes of 1991, when Bush is president and Quayle is veep, but Tricky + Dick has a popular TV talk show that's been on the air for 20 years. +Guthridge: see Gluckman & Guthridge +Gygax, E. Gary, & Terry Stafford, VICTORIOUS GERMAN ARMS: AN ALTERNATE + MILITARY HISTORY OF WORLD WAR II {T-K Graphics 73}, collected from Int'l + Federation of Wargamers newsletter + W: The Axis adopted a coherent grand strategy, resulting in a quick victory + at Stalingrad. + S: Detailed account of German victory in WW2, ending with domination of + Europe and Africa. +Haiblum, Isidore, THE TSADDIK OF THE SEVEN WONDERS {Doubleday 71} + W: + S: Alternate events in Judaic history. +Haldeman, Joe, THE HEMINGWAY HOAX {William Morrow 90; Avon 91}; exp of "The + Hemingway Hoax", in Apr 90, and NEBULA AWARDS 26 (ed Morrow) + {HBJ 92} + A professor planning a Hemingway forgery is killed by a timeline protector + and awakes as another timeline's version of himself. +Haldeman, Joe, "No Future in It", in Omni Apr 79, THE BEST OF OMNI SCIENCE + FICTION (ed Bova) {Omni 80} and DEALING IN FUTURES {Viking 85} + In a bar discussion, a man claims to have traveled back in time and invested + in all the right scientific inventions, but it didn't work. +Hale, Edward Everett, "Hands Off", in Harper's Mar 1881; HANDS OFF {J.S. + Smith 1895}; ISAAC ASIMOV PRESENTS THE BEST FANTASY OF THE 19TH CENTURY (eds + Asimov et al) {Beufort 82}; ; etc + W: Joseph was not sold into slavery in Egypt. + S: A godling discovers the implications of altering an event, as he watches + the Phoenicians take over the Mediterranean. +Hamilton, Franklin, "What If--?", in 1066 {Dial 64} + W: William the Conqueror was beaten at Hastings and the Norman Conquest was + averted. + S: Two possibilities; either fragmented England was later occupied by France + or Harold united the land, but it spent the next millenium in isolation. +Harness, Charles L., LURID DREAMS {Avon 90} + W: Gambling debts did not force Edgar Allen Poe to quit the Univ Virginia, + and he later lived to serve as a Confederate general at Gettysburg. + S: Via astral travel, a 21st-century man searches for when/where Edgar Allen + Poe's life turned to literature. +Harness, Charles L., "O Lyric Love", in Amazing May 85 + S: +Harris, Raymond, THE SCHIZOGENIC MAN {Ace 90} + W: Cleopatra's son Kaisarion escaped the Romans *or* Cleopatra murdered + Octavian. + S: Through cyber-simulation a man visits Cleopatra's Egypt and tries to save + the her son Kaisarion. He awakes in a slightly altered present. +Harris, Robert, FATHERLAND {Random House 92; Thorndike 92} + W: Nazi Germany met greater success invading Russia, and after discovering + that Britain had broken the Enigma code, forced a peace in the west. + S: A cop in 1964 Nazi Berlin investigates an apparent suicide and finds + himself unwrapping a 20-year-old conspiracy. +Harrison, Harry, A REBEL IN TIME {Tor 83} + A racist army officer goes back in time to help the South win the Civil War; + a black soldier follows in order to defeat him. +Harrison, Harry, "Run from the Fire", in EPOCH (eds Silverberg & Elwood) + {Berkley/Putnam's 75; Berkley 77}, CATASTROPHES (eds Asimov et al) {Fawcett + 81} and TIME WARS (eds Waugh & Greenberg) {Tor 86} + A man from our world aids others in timelines where the sun is about to go + nova, including one where Europe is feudal and the Iriquois run N America. +Harrison, Harry, A TRANSATLANTIC TUNNEL, HURRAH! {Faber 72; New English + Library 76; Berkley 74; Tor 81}; as TUNNEL THROUGH THE DEEPS {Putnam's 72, + Berkley 72}; serial in Analog Apr-Jun 72 + W: Spain remained Islamic after Christian defeat at Navas de Tolosa in 1212, + and the War of the Roses fizzled after the early death of Louis XI. + S: A descendant of executed British-American rebel George Washington is in + charge of building the ultimate tunnel. + C: See also the reference entry for Harrison's "Worlds Beside Worlds". +Harrison, Harry, WEST OF EDEN {Bantam 84} +---------------, WINTER IN EDEN {Bantam 86} +---------------, RETURN TO EDEN {Bantam 88, 89} + W: Dinosaurs did not die out and did develop intelligence. + S: Conflict between warm climate saurians and cool climate humans. +Harrison, Harry, "The Wicked Flee", in NEW DIMENSIONS I (ed Silverberg) + {Doubleday 71; Avon 73}, BEST SCIENCE FICTION STORIES OF THE YEAR (1971) (ed + Del Rey) {Dutton 72}; and THE BEST OF HARRY HARRISON {Signet 76} + A scientist flees from 2017 of a world where the death of Henry VIII and + imprisonment of Luther aborted the Reformation. An inquisitor follows. +Harrison, Harry, & Tom Shippey, "Letter from the Pope", in + W: The last Christian king in England broke with the church. + S: In 878, Alfred receives the letter from the pope that pushes him over the + edge. +Heinlein, Robert A., JOB: A COMEDY OF JUSTICE {Ballantine 84} + A man and a woman go hopping between worlds, apparently because some deity + has it in for them. +Henry, O., "Roads of Destiny", in ROADS OF DESTINY {Doubleday, Doran 09; + Doubleday, Page 17} and THE COMPLETE WORKS OF O. HENRY {Doubleday 53} + S: Three possible futures for a French shepherd/poet who comes to a + crossroads. + C: Not really AH since all characters are fictional, but an early statement + of the theme of alternate choices leading to alternate futures. +Hersey, John, WHITE LOTUS {Knopf 65; Bantam 66; Vintage 90} + W: Warlord-run China conquered the US in an undescribed war in the mid + 1900s. + S: Story of an Arizona girl who is taken into slavery in China. +Hoffman, Nina Kiriki, "Visitors", in Weird Tales Winter 91/92 + A woman is visited by her future self, telling her to commit suicide because + everything gets worse, but she has been visited before. +Hogan, James P., THE PROTEUS OPERATION {Bantam 85} + W: The Nazis remained an obscure political party *or* Churchill did not + return to the British cabinet after the 1939 German invasion of Poland. + S: Beleaguered Americans from 1975 go back to stiffen Britain's spine and + promote US atomic weapons research. Unfortunately it's not their own past. +Hood, Gwenyth, THE COMING OF THE DEMONS {Morrow 82} + W: Aliens disrupted the execution of Conradin Hohenstaufen in 1268 Naples. + S: Trying to fix things without technological interference, the aliens + become involved in the conflict over who should be Holy Roman emperor. +Hoyle, Trevor, SEEKING THE MYTHICAL FUTURE {Panther 77; Ace 82} + During an attempt to travel into a potential future, a man finds himself + retrieved from a red ocean by a slave ship traveling to New Amerika. +-------------, THROUGH THE EYE OF TIME {Panther 77; Ace 82} + S: +-------------, THE GODS LOOK DOWN {Panther 78; Ace 82} + S: +Hull, E. M., "The Flight that Failed", in SCIENCE FICTION ADVENTURES IN + DIMENSIONS (ed Conklin) {Vanguard 53} and ADVENTURES IN DIMENSION (ed + Conklin) {Grayson 55} + A man from a future in which Germany won WW2 comes back onto a flight that + had been shot down to save it and change his past so that Germany lost. +Ing, Dean: see Reynolds, Mack, & Dean Ing +Iverson, Eric G.: see Turtledove, Harry +Jablokov, Alexander, "At the Cross-Time Jaunters' Ball", in Aug 87 + and + An art critic of Shadow worlds is haunted by marital trouble and assassins + as he visits various worlds. +Jackson, Donald, VALLEY MEN: A SPECULATIVE ACCOUNT OF THE ARKANSAS EXPEDITION + OF 1807 {Tickner & Fields 83} + W: The American expedition to explore the Arkansas River was not canceled. + S: +Jacobs, Will, & Gerard Jones, THE BEAVER PAPERS: THE STORY OF THE "LOST + SEASON" {Crown 83} + S: +Jacobson, Dan, THE GOD-FEARER {Bloomsbury 92} + Literary fantasy about a Europe where Christianity is a minor sect. +Jakes, John, BLACK IN TIME {Paperback Library 70} + S: +Jeansonne, Glen, "What If There Had Been No Slavery?", in + W: African-Americans voluntarily emigrated to America rather than be + transported as slaves. + C: Various effects on American society, including a shrunken plantation + culture in a more industrialized but less cohesive South. +Jenkins, Will F.: see Leinster, Murray +Jennings, Philip C., "Captain Theodule and the Chileland Kommandos", in + Amazing Jul 91 + W: + S: Realities of European colonization and imperialism are turned upside + down. +Jeschke, Wolfgang, & Gertrud Mander, THE LAST DAY OF CREATION {St. Martin's + 82; Century 82}; orig DER LETZTE TAG DER SCHOPFUNG + W: Mexico stretched from Canada to Venezuela *or* the Axis enjoyed greater + success in WW2. + S: A US attempt to steal Arabian oil using a pipeline in the past runs into + trouble vs. people from other timelines. +Johnson, Robert B., & Billie Niles Chadbourne, TIMES-SQUARE SAMURAI; OR, + THE IMPROBABLE JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK {Tuttle 66} + C: +Jones, Charles O., "What if there had been a Nixon presidency without + Watergate? (1973)", in + W: As the title says. + C: No threat of impeachment and no "search for wrongdoers" occurs in + Washington, but little else changes. +Jones, Douglas C., THE COURT-MARTIAL OF GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER {Scribner's + 76; Warner 77} + W: Custer was the sole survivor among the elements of the 7th Cavalry + wiped out on Custer's Hill, above the Little Bighorn. + S: Army commanding General William Sherman orders Custer court-martialed for + disobeying orders and negligence. +Jones, Diana Wynne, THE MAGICIANS OF CAPRONA {Greenwillow 80} + W: Guy Fawkes suffered a premature explosion. Also, magic works. + S: Two children from powerful, magic-working Italian families cannot perform + magic themselves, but save the city of Caprona from an enchanter. +------------------, THE LIVES OF CHRISTOPHER CHANT {Greenwillow 88} + S: After dream-traveling to other timelines, an English boy becomes the + great mage Chrestomanci. +------------------, CHARMED LIFE {Greenwillow 77; Macmillan 77} + S: Two English children go to live with Uncle Chrestomanci. +------------------, WITCH WEEK {Greenwillow 82} + S: Chrestomanci sorts out strange goings-on at a state-run school for witch- + orphans. +Jones, Gerard: see Jacobs, Will, & Gerard Jones +Kagan, Janet, "Love Our Lockwood", in + W: Minor candidate Belva Ann Lockwood was elected US president in 1888. + S: During the election of 1892, Lockwood personally leads the way to + universal suffrage. +Kagan, Robert A., "What if Abe Fortas had been more discreet? (1969)", in + + W: Richard Nixon was not forced to withdraw his nomination of Fortas for + chief justice of the Supreme Court. + C: Scholarly speculation on the effects that a more liberal US Supreme Court + would have had. +Kantor, Mackinlay, IF THE SOUTH HAD WON THE CIVIL WAR {Bantam 61}; exp of "If + the South had Won the Civil War", in Look 22 Nov 60 + W: Grant was killed on 12 May 1863 and Sherman died in the Vicksburg + debacle. Also, occupation of Culp's Hill led to rebel victory at Gettysburg. + S: Vicksburg, Gettysburg and the end of the war, followed by a review of US, + CS and Texas history until reunification in the 1960s. + C: Synopsis in Fadness' "What If the South Had Won the Civil War?" +Katze, Rick, "Bobbygate", in + W: JFK did not die in 1963 and ran for reelection the next year. + S: A reporter stumbles onto links between Robert Kennedy and a break-in at + the Republican national headquarters, and Joe Kennedy has to take charge. +Kazantzakis, Nikos, + P.A. Bien (tr), THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST {Simon & + Schuster 60}; orig TELEUTAIOS PEIRASMOS + W: Jesus fled his doom. + S: Jesus dreams of the possible result. +Kilian, Crawford, THE FALL OF THE REPUBLIC {Ballantine 87} + Mental Trainables of 1998 use information gained from the future of a + similar timeline to speed up the end of an American Emergency. +----------------, ROGUE EMPEROR {Ballantine 88} + Intemporal Agent Jerry Pierce investigates the assassination of the Roman + emperor Domitian in another timeline by means of an antitank weapon. +----------------, THE EMPIRE OF TIME {Ballantine 87} + Pierce tries to find out how disaster struck Earth in the future, visiting + alternate Earths along the way. +King, Tappan, "Patriot's Dream", in + W: Leila Morse accepted Samuel Tilden's proposal, putting backbone into his + effort to be president during the Electoral College debate of 1877. + S: In 1896, Sam and Leila Tilden tell a reporter how it all happened, and + how Tilden became the Great Reformer and head of the Liberal Party. +Klein, Edward: see Chesnoff, Richard Z., Edward Klein, & Robert Littell +Knight, Damon, "What Rough Beast", in Feb 59, BEST FROM FANTASY AND + SCIENCE FICTION: 9 (ed Mills) {Doubleday 60} (aka FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON AND + OTHER STORIES) and OFF CENTER {Gollancz 69; Award/Tandem xx} + A man from Novo Russie has the mental power to fix things by altering the + events that caused them. +Knox, Ronald, "If the General Strike had Succeeded", in + W: The 1926 British general strike succeeded. + S: An imaginary 1930 London Times shows the social impact of the strike. +Koning, Hans, "Ifs: Destiny and the Archduke's chauffeur", in Harper's May 90 + Short descriptions of numerous ifs: e.g., delaying the Nazi invasion of + Poland to 1941, making William III a heterosexual, etc. +Kornbluth, C.M., "Two Dooms", in Venture Jul 58, THE BEST OF C.M. KORNBLUTH + {Doubleday 76; Taplinger 77}, , , THE FANTASTIC WORLD WAR II (ed + McSherry) {Baen 90}, etc + W: The US did not develop the atomic bomb. + S: A Los Alamos worker concerned about the power of the bomb is given a + glimpse of the Axis partition of America. +Kress, Nancy, "And Wild for to Hold", in Jul 91 and + W: Barred from the presidency in 1877 by subterfuge, Samuel Tilden turned + the tables on James Garfield in 1880. + S: With Charles Guiteau at his side, Garfield vainly attempts to convince + Tilden that they can fix the corrupted electoral system. +Kube-McDowell, Michael P., "The Inga-Binga Affair", in + W: It was revealed during WW2 that Navy officer John F. Kennedy was having + an affair with a suspected Nazi spy. + S: Alerted that the FBI is taping his trysts, JFK plots to get out from + under his father's control. +Kurland, Michael, PERCHANCE {Signet 89} + W: Columbus' first voyage had a fourth ship *or* the Americas were invaded + by Europeans c 1000 BC *or* Germany won an early WW1. + S: An apprentice from Philadelphia meets an amnesiac girl who can blip + between timelines, and a lot of people are hunting for her. +Kurland, Michael, A STUDY IN SORCERY {Ace 89} +----------------, TEN LITTLE WIZARDS {Ace 88} + C: Sequels to Garrett's LORD DARCY, etc. + S: More stories about Lord Darcy. +Kurland, Michael, THE UNICORN GIRL {Pyramid 69} + Crosstime junket, with a stopover in Garrett's Lord Darcy (qv) world. +Kurland, Michael, THE WHENABOUTS OF BURR {DAW 75} + Crosstime adventure involving slightly different versions of the US + Constitution. +Kurland, Michael, & S.W. Barton, THE LAST PRESIDENT {Morrow 80; Lorevan/ + Critic's Choice 85} + W: The Watergate break-ins went undetected. + S: Nixon & Co.'s further activities (more break-ins, internal confinement + camps, canceled elections, etc) provoke a military coup. + C: Borderline AH, as names have been changed. +Kuttner, Henry: see Padgett, Lewis +Lafferty, R. A., "Assault on Fat Mountain", in + W: The state of Franklin resisted suppression by N Carolina and became + independent Appalachia. + S: Backwater USers constantly complain about the wealth of Appalachia. +Lafferty, R.A., "Entire and Perfect Chrysolite", in ORBIT 6 (ed Knight) + {Putnam's 70; Berkley 70}, STRANGE DOINGS {Scribner's 72} and THE GOLDEN + ROAD (ed Knight) {Simon & Schuster 74} + A group of people from the Africa of Erastothenes' world-map goes sailing + and lands on the Africa of our world. +Lafferty, R. A., "Interurban Queen", in ORBIT 8 (ed Knight) {Putnam's 70; + Berkley 71}, CAR SINISTER (eds Silverberg et al) {Avon 79}, RINGING CHANGES + {Ace 84}, , etc + W: Trolleys took the place of the automobile in America's growth. + S: An older man reminisces about when he had to choose between investing in + trolleys or autos, and then helps hunt down an auto outlaw. +Lafferty, R.A., "Rainbird", in Galaxy Dec 61, STRANGE DOINGS {Scribner's 72}, + AGAINST TOMORROW (ed Hoskins) {Fawcett 79}, , etc + An 18th-century inventor grows old, then uses a time machine to go back to + give himself advice. His younger self repeats the process, etc. +Lafferty, R.A., "Selenium Ghosts of the Eighteen Seventies", in UNIVERSE 8 + (ed Carr) {Doubleday 78; Popular Library 78} + W: Television was invented 60 years earlier on somewhat different + principles. + S: A review of some early television programs. +Lafferty, R.A., "The Three Armageddons of Enniscorthy Sweeny", in APOCALYPSES + {Pinnacle 77} + W: + S: In a world in which the World Wars were never fought, a man produces + comic operas based on events in our world, thereby corrupting his own. +Lafferty, R.A., "Thus We Frustrate Charlemagne", in Galaxy Feb 67, WORLD'S + BEST SCIENCE FICTION: 68 (eds Wollheim & Carr) {Ace 68}, NINE HUNDRED + GRANDMOTHERS {Ace 70}, AS TOMORROW BECOMES TODAY (ed Sullivan) {Prentice- + Hall 74}, etc + Future scientists experiment with the battle at Roncesvalles, altering their + past without realizing it. +Laidlaw, Marc, "His Powder'd Wig, His Crown of Thornes", in Omni Sep 89 and + + W: After Benedict Arnold's betrayal of West Point, George Washington was + captured, tortured and executed. + S: 200 years later, an art curator stumbles upon AmerInds who regret their + part in Washington's torture and have elevated him to a Christ figure. +Lansdale, Joe R., "Letter from the South Two Moons West of Nacogdoches", in + Last Wave #5 and BY BIZARRE HANDS {Avon 89} + W: Jesus was run over by a donkey cart and John the Baptist became the + Messiah. + S: A letter from one AmerInd to another reveals the divisions in a N America + controlled by Japanese, Aztecs and various tribes. + + +From rec.arts.sf.written Wed Jan 13 13:43:33 1993 +Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written +Path: lysator.liu.se!isy!liuida!sunic!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!batcomputer!cornell!uw-beaver!newsfeed.rice.edu!rice!spacsun.rice.edu!schmunk +From: schmunk@spacsun.rice.edu (Robert Schmunk) +Subject: LIST: Alternate Histories (3/5) (850 lines) +Message-ID: +Sender: news@rice.edu (News) +Reply-To: schmunk@spacsun.rice.edu (Robert Schmunk) +Organization: Dept. of Space Physics, Rice University, Houston TX +Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 02:48:38 GMT +Lines: 857 + + +Lansdale, Joe R., "Trains Not Taken", in RE:AL and BY BIZARRE HANDS {Avon 89} + W: Japan colonized the western part of N America and Europe the east, + leaving no major frontier. + S: James Hickock meets Bill Cody on a train in the Dakotas, and both lament + their uninteresting lives as businessmen. +Laski, Harold J., "If Roosevelt had Lived", in The Nation 13 Apr 46 + W: Roosevelt did not die in 1945. + S: Ponderings on changes in America's place in the world, including control + of the bomb and the start of the Cold War. +Laski, Marghanita, TORY HEAVEN; OR, THUNDER ON THE RIGHT {Cresset 48} + S: +Laumer, Keith, WORLDS OF THE IMPERIUM {Ace Double 62; Berkley 77; exp Tor + 83}; serial in Fantastic Stories Feb-Apr 61 + Adventures beginning in a world with an Anglo-German Imperium centered in + London, visiting another where Germany won WW1. +-------------, BEYOND THE IMPERIUM {Pinnacle/Tor 81} +>-----------<, THE OTHER SIDE OF TIME {Berkley 65; Walker 71; Signet 72}; + serial in Fantastic Stories Apr-Jun 65 + Adventures continue to a timeline where Napoleon won a glorious victory at + Brussels in 1814. +>-----------<, ASSIGNMENT IN NOWHERE {Berkley 68; Dobson 72} + Adventures continue to a timeline where Richard Couer de Lion avoided battle + at Chaluz but succumbed to French conquest in his old age. +-------------, ZONE YELLOW {Tor 90} + S: +Lawrence, Edmund, IT MAY HAPPEN YET: A TALE OF BONAPARTE'S INVASION OF + ENGLAND {The Author 1899} + W: The French invaded England in 1805. + S: Once ashore, Napoleon has trouble deciding what to do next. +Le Guin, Ursula K., THE LATHE OF HEAVEN {Scribner's 71; R. Bentley 82} + A man's dreams have the power to rewrite history, and a psychiatrist takes + advantage of it. +Leacock, Stephen, "The Hohenzollerns in America", in THE HOHENZOLLERNS IN + AMERICA, WITH THE BOLSHEVIKS IN BERLIN, AND OTHER IMPOSSIBILITIES {John + Lane/Bodley Head/S.B. Gundy 19} + W: Kaiser Wilhelm and family members were exiled to America after WW1. + S: Their voyage across the Atlantic, in 3rd-class steerage, and the Kaiser's + final days as a street pedlar. +Leacock, Stephen, "If Germany Had Won", in THE HOHENZOLLERNS IN AMERICA, WITH + THE BOLSHEVIKS IN BERLIN, AND OTHER IMPOSSIBILITIES {John Lane/Bodley Head/ + S.B. Gundy 19} + W: Germany won WW1. + S: Farcical entries from the New York Imperial Gazette during 1925. +Leiber, Fritz, THE BIG TIME {Ace 61; Gregg 76; Collier/Macmillan 91}; serial + in Galaxy Mar-Apr 58 + At a Snake enclave somewhere outside space and time, a soldier preaches + ChangePeace as the enclave maintainer disappears. +-------------, "No Great Magic", in Galaxy Dec 63, THE SECRET SONGS {Rupert + Hart-Davis 68}, THE CHANGE WAR {Gregg 78}, THE GREAT SCIENCE FICTION SERIES + (eds Pohl et al) {Harper & Row 80} and CHANGEWAR {Ace 83} + The Snake vs. Spider battlefield moves to an anachronistic performance of + MacBeth before Elizabeth I. +-------------, "Catch that Zeppelin!", in Mar 75; <76AW>; THE WORLDS + OF FRITZ LEIBER {Ace 76; Gregg 79}; NEBULA WINNERS ELEVEN (ed Le Guin) + {Harper & Row 77; Bantam 78}; THE HUGO WINNERS, VOLUME FOUR (ed Asimov) + {Doubleday 85}; THE BEST OF THE NEBULAS (ed Bova) {Tor 89}; etc + S: After dining with his son at the Empire State Building, zeppelin designer + Adolf Hitler is caught in a whirl of parallel selves. + C: Non-AH entries in series include THE CHANGE WAR and "Try and Change the + Past" (Astounding Mar 58 and THE BEST OF FRITZ LEIBER). +Leiber, Fritz, "Business of Killing", in SCIENCE FICTION ADVENTURES IN + DIMENSIONS (ed Conklin) {Vanguard 53} + A traveler finds a parallel world in which wars are treated as business + ventures. +Leiber, Fritz, "Destiny Times Three", in Astounding Mar 45, FIVE SCIENCE + FICTION NOVELS (ed Greenberg) {Gnome 52} and BINARY STAR #1 (ed ?) {Dell 78} + In the future, someone gets a "probability machine" that lets them make real + all the possible outcomes from various choices. +Leinster, Murray, "The Other World", in 6 GREAT SHORT NOVELS OF SCIENCE + FICTION (ed Conklin) {Dell 54} and + Ancient Egyptian priests discovered a parallel uninhabited world and + sustain themselves by looting ours, for merchandise and slaves. +Leinster, Murray, "Sideways in Time", in Astounding Jun 34, SIDEWAYS IN TIME + {Shasta 50}, , BEFORE THE GOLDEN AGE (ed Asimov) {Doubleday 74}, THE + BEST OF MURRAY LEINSTER {Ballantine 78; Garland 83} and THE TIME TRAVELERS + (eds Silverberg & Greenberg) {Donald I Fine 85} + On 5 Jun 1935, portions of Earth swapped places with their analogs in other + timelines and a professor tries to take advantage of it. +Leinster, Murray, TIME TUNNEL {Pyramid 64} + W: Napoleon established a permanent dynasty. + S: Men from our world use a time tunnel to investigate odd historical + memories and a mysterious scientist in 1804. +Lem, Stanislaw, + Joel Stern & Maria Swiecicka-Ziemianek (trs), "The + Eighteenth Voyage", in MEMOIRS OF A SPACE TRAVELER {HBJ 82} + Scientist sends a specially tailored particle of matter back to cause the + Big Bang. Someone else tampers with the particle and odd changes occur. +Levine, Herbert M., "What If There Were No Television?", in + W: + C: +Levine, Herbert M., "What If There Had Been No Cold War?", in + W: + C: +Lewis, Oscar, THE LOST YEARS: A BIOGRAPHICAL FANTASY {Knopf 51}; incl. in A + TREASURY OF GREAT SCIENCE FICTION VOL. 2 (ed Boucher) {Doubleday 59} + W: Lincoln survived Booth's assassination attempt and suffered an unpopular + second term trying to implement a humane Reconstruction. + S: Diary and newspaper excerpts about the last month of Lincoln's presidency + and his vacation in California during the summer of 1869. +Ley, Olga, "Checkmate in Six Moves", in + W: Kerensky had Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin arrested in Jul 1917 and shipped + back to Switzerland. + S: How it was done, with an afterword promoting tourism in the 1975 Russian + republic. +Linaweaver, Brad, MOON OF ICE {Arbor House 88}; exp of "Moon of Ice", in + Amazing Mar 82 and + W: FDR was impeached in 1942, and Nazi Germany used nuclear weapons in 44 + to win the war in Europe. + S: The diaries of Joseph Goebbels and his daughter describe the victory, and + an SS plot 20 years later to kill all non-Aryans via biological warfare. +Littell, Robert: see Chesnoff, Richard Z., Edward Klein, & Robert Littell +Livy (Titus Livius) + B.O. Foster (tr), AB URBE CONDITA {Harvard Univ/ + Heinemann 26, 48, 57, 63, 75, 82} + W: Alexander the Great lived longer and turned west to attack the Romans. + S: A digression in book IX, 17-19 of this work suggests that the Romans + would have beaten him. + C: Almost certainly the oldest AH, written during the reign of Augustus (31 + BC-14 AD). +Locke, Robert Donald, "Demotion", in Astounding Sep 52 and PRIZE SCIENCE + FICTION (ed Wollheim) {McBride 53} (aka PRIZE STORIES OF SPACE AND TIME) + W: Hitler were killed during an Allied bombing raid. + S: Change the past tale. +Long, Norton E., "What if Napoleon had not sold Louisiana", in + W: Napoleon did not immediately sell Louisiana to the US in 1803. + C: Speculation that the British would not have been nearly so generous after + the War of 1812, leading to the inclusion of most of N America in Canada. +Longmate, Norman, IF BRITAIN HAD FALLEN {BBC/Hutchinson 72; Stein & Day 74; + Arrow 75} + W: Nazi Germany invaded England. + S: After a narrative scenario of Operation Sealowe, some speculative essays + discuss the direction that the occupation would have taken. + C: Originally presented as a BBC TV program. +Longyear, Barry, "Collector's Item", in Analog 27 Apr 81 and IT CAME FROM + SCHENECTADY + A man finds a silver 1978 quarter and essays by his father's students about + visits by a mysterious friend urging them to higher goals. +Ludwig, Emil, "If the Emperor Frederick had not had Cancer", in + W: Frederick did not die of throat cancer in 1888 and his reign as Kaiser + lasted longer than 91 days. + S: Overview of Bismarck's construct of a network of peace treaties while + Frederick worked on liberalizing the domestic scene. +Lukacs, John, "If Hitler had Won the Second World War", in THE PEOPLE'S + ALMANAC #2 (eds Wallechinsky & Wallace) {Morrow 78; Bantam 78} + W: Nazi Germany used paratroops to invade England on 3 Jun 40, right in the + midst of the Dunkirk chaos. + S: The later history of Europe and how Hitler's successors tempered his + worst excesses. + C: Accompanies Fadness' "What if...?" synopses of other AHs. +Lupoff, Richard A., "At Vega's Taqueria", in Amazing Sep 90 + A mural showing an Aztec wearing a football helmet causes a man to doubt his + sanity until he discovers that he is shifting from one timeline to another. +Lupoff, Richard A., CIRCUMPOLAR! {Simon & Schuster 84; Berkley 85} + W: The Earth were disk-shaped, with the North Hole at the center. + S: Two groups, American and German, travel to the other side. +--------------- A., COUNTERSOLAR! {Arbor House 87; Ace 89} + S: Albert Einstein races the Perons to counter-Earth. +Lupoff, Richard A., INTO THE AETHER {Dell 70} + W: Muscovites drove the Muslims out of Spain, c. 1000. + S: Adventures on a space-faring galleon. +MacCreigh, James: see Pohl, Frederick +MacFarlane, W., "Ravenshaw of WBY, Inc.", in Analog Mar 70 and ANALOG'S + LIGHTER SIDE (ed Schmidt) {Davis/Dial 82, 83} +--------------, "Meet a Crazy Lady Week", in Analog Aug 70 +--------------, "Heart's Desire and Other Simple Wants", in Analog Apr 71 +--------------, "One-Generation New World", in If Mar 71 +--------------, "Country of the Mind", in Analog May 75 + A crosstime traveler hops back and forth from world to world (for no really + coherent reason). +Macksey, Kenneth, INVASION: THE GERMAN INVASION OF ENGLAND, JULY 1940 + {Macmillan 80; Arms & Armour 80} + W: Hitler decided, just before Dunkirk, to invade Britain. + S: A campaign history of July 1940, when Germany destroyed the RAF, invaded + England and forced HM gov't to flee across the Atlantic. +Malzberg, Barry N., "All Assassins", in + W: Nixon was elected president in 1960 and Johnson in 1964 and 1968. + S: In 1972, "the senator" runs again. Upset by his change of heart on the + Vietnam war, "Lee" decides to shoot him and his running-mate in Dallas. +Malzberg, Barry N., "Another Goddamned Showboat", in + W: Ernest Hemingway became a hack science fiction writer. + S: In 1941, Hemingway is still struggling to get published when the latest + issue of Amazing arrives, featuring a story by a kid named Asimov. +Malzberg, Barry N., CHORALE {Doubleday 78} + S: +Malzberg, Barry N., "Heavy Metal", in + W: JFK argued with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley during the presidential + election campaign of 1960. + S: A look at the losing campaign, as Bob Kennedy tries to cure his brother's + self-destructive activities. +Malzberg, Barry N., "In the Stone House", in + W: Joe Kennedy survived WW2 and was elected US president in 1952. + S: Joe Kennedy's presidency collapses after the firing of SecState McCarthy + and in 1963, Joe decided to end his brother's for betraying the family. +Malzberg, Barry N., "January 1975", in Analog Jan 75, DOWN HERE IN THE DREAM + QUARTER {Doubleday 76} and 100 GREAT SCIENCE FICTION SHORT SHORT STORIES + (eds Asimov et al) {Doubleday 78; Avon 78} + W: Nixon was elected president in 1960. + S: A writer in that timeline tries to convince his editor to accept a series + of stories based on the premise that Kennedy was elected. +Malzberg, Barry N., "Kingfish", in + W: Huey Long survived the assassination attempt in 1935 and became president + in 1936 by stealing away FDR's vice-president. + S: John Nance Gardner tells how he struck a deal with the Kingfish, and then + how they dealt with Hitler. +Malzberg, Barry N., THE REMAKING OF SIGMUND FREUD {Ballantine 85}; exp of + "Emily Dickinson-Saved from Drowning", in CHRYSALIS 8 (ed Torgeson) + {Doubleday 80} + W: + S: Freud is murdered by a disappointed patient, only to be reincarnated + aboard a spaceship whose crew need analysis. +Malzberg, Barry N., "Ship Full of Jews", in Omni Apr 92 and + W: Columbus carried several hundred deported Jews along during his first + voyage. + S: Columbus argues with a rabbi about conditions below decks. Meanwhile, + over on the Santa Maria, Torquemada plots. +Malzberg, Barry N., "Turpentine", in + W: Radicals who took over the UChicago campus in 1968 went looking for the + campus reactors. + S: The radicals make extreme demands, forgetting that LBJ is a *vengeful* + lame-duck. +Marriott, J.A.R., "If Queen Victoria--? An Historical Phantasy", in + Fortnightly Apr 41 + W: William IV's heir was male. + S: Effect of British retention of Hanover on German reunification and the + worlds wars. +Martin, George R.R. (ed), WILD CARDS I {Bantam 87} +------------------------, WILD CARDS II: ACES HIGH {Bantam 87} +------------------------, WILD CARDS III: JOKERS WILD {Bantam 87} +------------------------, WILD CARDS IV: ACES ABROAD {Bantam 88} +------------------------, WILD CARDS V: DOWN AND DIRTY {Bantam 88} +------------------------, WILD CARDS VI: ACE IN THE HOLE {Bantam xx} +------------------------, WILD CARDS VIII: ONE-EYED JACKS {Bantam xx} +------------------------, WILD CARDS IX: JOKERTOWN SHUFFLE {Bantam xx} +------------------------, WILD CARDS XI: DEALER'S CHOICE {Bantam 92} +------------------------, WILD CARDS XIII: CARD SHARKS {not yet published} +-------------------, & John J. Miller, WILD CARDS VII: DEAD MAN'S HAND + {Bantam xx} + W: In 1946, a genetically-tailored virus from outer space was released in + Earth's stratosphere, killing many but giving super powers to others. + S: A series of "mosaic novels" explores the effect of the virus during the + ensuing decades. Curiously, history isn't altered all that much. + C: Also in series are Snodgrass' WILD CARDS X: DOUBLE SOLITAIRE and Milan's + WILD CARDS XII: TURN OF THE CARDS. +Martine-Barnes, Adrienne, THE FIRE SWORD {Avon 85} + W: An alteration in the progeny of Henry II resulted in a different English + royal succession. Also, magic works. + S: A woman from our world visits a different olde England. +------------------------, THE CRYSTAL SWORD {Avon 88} + S: +Mason, David, THE SHORES OF TOMORROW {Lancer 71} + Exiles from different N Americas of 1965 meet. +Masters, Roger D. "What if Napoleon had not invaded Russia? (1808)", in + W: Napoleon was struck down by appendicitis in Mar 1808. + C: The avoidance of invasions of Spain and Russia leads to greater success + later, with the US and Russia as nominal French allies. +Maurois, Andre, "If Louis XVI had an Atom of Firmness", in + W: Louis XVI were more stubborn, retaining Turgot as finance minister. + S: An historian from our world goes to Heaven and reads an encyclopedia + entry on the reign of Louis XVI (1774-1820). +Max, Nicholas, PRESIDENT MCGOVERN'S FIRST TERM {Doubleday 73} + W: By asking the voters if they could trust Nixon for 4 more years, George + McGovern was elected president in 1972. + S: An administration insider describes how McGovern's strong moral compass + is diverted by playing politics to get his policies enacted. +McDevitt, Jack, "The Tomb", in + W: Constantine was defeated by Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge, leading to + the complete break-up of Rome and a never-ending dark age. + S: C. 1700, a young man meets an old man excavating a tomb in a ruined city. +McDonald, Ian, "The Best & the Rest of James Joyce", in Interzone Apr 92 + W: James Joyce took up another occupation than writing. + S: Joyce consults with Carl Jung about troublesome dreams in which he + pursued other paths. +McMullen, Sean, "A Greater Vision", in Analog Oct 92 + W: Aborigines in Australia progressed much much faster, developing steam + engines by 22000 BC, atomic power by 10000 BC and rockets by 800 BC. + S: Aborigines decide to stop Columbus' expedition to order to save the world + from Europeans. +Meredith, Richard C., AT THE NARROW PASSAGE {Putnam's 73; Berkley 75; Playboy + 79} + An agent from Macedonian world visits timelines where Britain suppressed + American revolutions and Albigensia survived orthodox crusaders. +---------------------, NO BROTHER, NO FRIEND {Doubleday 766; Playboy 79} + Further adventures in a world of fascist, isolationist America and another + colonized by an England that escaped Norman conquest. +---------------------, VESTIGES OF TIME {Doubleday 78; Playboy 79} + And closing in a world of Punic victory over Rome. +Meredith, Richard C., RUN, COME SEE JERUSALEM! {Ballantine 76} + W: Chicago did not burn in Oct 1871. + S: A time-hopper, fleeing an American religious dictatorship in a history + in which Nazi Germany nuked Chicago, recuperates in 1871 Chicago. +Merwin, Sam, THE HOUSE OF MANY WORLDS {Doubleday 51; Galaxy SF Novel #12 52; + Modern Literary Editions xx}; exp of "The House of Many Worlds", in + Startling Stories Sep 51 + Time guardians intervene in affairs in divergent worlds, including one where + Aaron Burr conquered and reshaped the USA. +Merwin, Sam, "Three Faces of Time", in Ace Double #xx {Ace 55}; exp of + "Journey to Misenum", in Startling Stories Aug 53 + Cross and vertical time-travel adventure in a slightly different ancient + Rome. +Miesel, Sandra, DREAMRIDER {Ace 82}; as SHAMAN {Baen 89} + S: +Milan, Victor J., WILD CARDS XII: TURN OF THE CARDS {Bantam 93} + C: In same series as Martin's WILD CARDS I. +Miller, John J.: see Martin, George R.R., & John J. Miller +Miller, Mark R., "Split End", in Analog Nov 91 + A scientist discovers that time travelers cause the formation of impermanent + alternate "virtual" timelines when they make changes in history. +Minogue, Kenneth, "What if Karl Marx had drowned in a cross-Channel ferry + accident (1847)", in + W: As the title says. + C: The revolutionary and "Communist" movements that have plagued Europe + would have been reduced to a few feeble revolts. +Mitchell, Kirk, NEVER THE TWAIN {Ace 87} + A Bret Harte descendant attempts to make his ancestor the literary giant of + 1900 by arranging for Mark Twain's success in the gold fields. +Mitchell, Kirk, PROCURATOR {Ace 84} +--------------, NEW BARBARIANS {Ace 86} +--------------, CRY REPUBLIC {Ace 89} + W: Pilate spared Jesus of Nazareth, and Rome was never weakened by + Christianity. + S: A 20th-century Roman general who believes in republican gov't becomes + Caesar. +Mitchell, V.E., "Against the Night", serial in Amazing May-Jun 92 + W: + S: WW2 in which the secret British plan to create an aircraft carrier out of + a piece of the Greenland ice shelf was carried out. +Moffett, Judith, "Chickasaw Slave", in Sep 91 and + W: Andrew Jackson's image was tarnished by a land-dealing scandal, leading + to Davey Crockett becoming president in 1828. + S: Just as the Confederacy wins its independence in 1853, a soldier recounts + how the flight of a slave may have broken the Compromise of 1850. +Montana, Ron, THE SIGN OF THE THUNDERBIRD {Manor 77} + Soldiers from post-nuclear war USA are thrown back to 1860, where they help + create an AmerInd nation and a Free State of New Mexico. +Montville, Leigh, "What If? Bubbles and the Babe", in Sports Illustrated + [Classic] Fall 91 + W: Henry Frazee's mistress prevented him from trading Babe Ruth to the New + York Yankees in 1919. + S: Reminiscing about the many men who played for the Boston Red Sox, the + greatest dynasty in baseball history. +Moorcock, Michael, GLORIANA; OR, THE UNFULFILL'D QUEEN. BEING A ROMANCE + {Allison & Busby 78; Fontana 78; Avon 79; Warner/Popular Library 86} + W: Refugees from Troy founded a new empire in Britain. + S: Political machinations in London, capital of Elizabethan-level Albion, + which is ruled by a virgin queen. +Moorcock, Michael, THE NOMAD OF TIME {Doubleday/SFBC xx} +>---------------<, THE WARLORD OF THE AIR {New English Library 71; Ace 71; + rev Quartet 78; DAW 78; Granada 81} + Oswald Bastable travels from 1902 to 1973 in a world where longtime peace + has maintained European imperialism. +>---------------<, THE LAND LEVIATHAN: A NEW SCIENTIFIC ROMANCE {Doubleday + 74; Quartet 74; DAW 76} + Continuing to 1904 on a world where premature technological development did + the world no good. +>---------------<, THE STEEL TSAR {DAW 82} + Bastable ends up on a 1941 Kerenskian Russian airship fighting Japanese + invaders and Cossacks led by a Georgian named Djugashvili. +Moore, Alan, & Dave Gibbons, WATCHMEN {DC Comics xx}; reprints 12-issue comic + book series {DC Comics 86-87} + W: Costumed vigilantes appeared in 1939 and a real superhero with + superpowers was created in 1959 by an accident in a nuclear research lab. + S: In 1986, Nixon is still president, someone is killing old costumed heroes + and nuclear war looks imminent. Why are the latter two related? +Moore, C.L.: see Padgett, Lewis, & C.L. Moore +Moore, Ward, BRING THE JUBILEE {Farrar, Straus & Young 53; Ballantine 53; + Avon 72}; exp of "Bring the Jubilee", in Nov 52 and + W: Confederates occupied the Round Tops during the first day of Gettysburg, + leading to victory in the battle and Confederate independence. + S: An historian from a fifth-rate 1952 US, overshadowed by the CSA and + the Germanic Union, travels back to Gettysburg, 1 Jul 1863. +Moore, Ward, "A Class with Dr. Chang", in + W: The Sino-German alliance defeated Japan and won WW2. + S: A Chinese-American history prof at UC-Monterey finds that his students + are violently bigoted. +Moran, Daniel Keys, THE ARMAGEDDON BLUES {Bantam 88} + In 1968, a woman from 2731 meets an immortal born in 1712, and they set out + to prevent the nuclear war of 2007. +Morgan, Roger, "If I had been... Konrad Adenauer in 1952", in + W: Adenauer did not ignore Stalin's proposal for German re-unification. + C: His five reasons for exploring the idea, plus some commentary about the + all-German election of 1954. +Morris, Howard L., "Not by Sea", in If Feb 66 + W: Napoleon used balloons to invade England. + S: Foiling the invasion. +Morrow, James, "Abe Lincoln in McDonald's", in and <90AW> + W: Lincoln made peace with the Confederacy in 1863. + S: Through time travel, Lincoln gets a look at slavery in 2009. +Morrow, James, "Arms and the Woman", in Amazing Jul 91 and + W: Upon finding out that the Trojan War was being fought over her, Helen + decided she didn't need the guilt. + S: Notified of Helen's desire to end the war, the leaders of both sides + aren't having any of it. +Morrow, James, "Bible Stories for Adults, No. 31: The Covenant", in + W: Moses couldn't get a replacement set for the tablets he smashed on the + golden calf, and society had to be constructed without them. + S: An attempt to computer-reconstruct the law of Moses from the tablet + shards, which have been saved. +Mullally, Frederic, HITLER HAS WON: A NOVEL {Simon & Schuster 75; Macmillan + 75} + W: Hitler attacked the Soviet Union immediately instead of toying with + Greece and Yugoslavia. Meanwhile, Japan attacked Vladivostok. + S: A young officer and a maverick bishop get involved in a last-ditch + attempt to topple Hitler. +Murphy, Walter F., "What if Peter had been Pope During World War II?", in + + W: God re-ran history, with Pope Pius XII changed to have St. Peter's moral + fiber. + C: The Oct 1943 roundup of Roman Jews leads the Pope to criticize the 3rd + Reich and Great Britain, and the Nazis attack the Vatican. +Murrin, John M., "No Awakening, No Revolution? More Counterfactual + Speculations", in Reviews in American History Jun 83 + W: Three men who powered the American Great Awakening did not do so. + C: Scholarly rgument that minus the evangelical movement, the revolution + would still occur and independence probably gained, but no Civil War. +Nabokov, Vladmir, ADA, OR ARDOR: A FAMILY CHRONICLE {McGraw-Hill 69; McGraw- + Hill 86; Vintage 90} + W: + S: +National Lampoon, editors of, "Grand Fifth Term Inaugural Issue: JFK's First + 6,000 Days", in Nat'l Lampoon Feb 77 + W: Jackie Kennedy died in Dallas instead of JFK. + S: A whimsical look at Kennedy's first 16 years, including his marriage to + Christina Onassis and military intervention in N Ireland. +Nelson, Ray, BLAKE'S PROGRESS {Laser 75} + William Blake, his wife and others travel through time changing how things + turn out. In one instance, the Romans never defeat the Egyptians. +Nesbitt, Mark, IF THE SOUTH HAD WON GETTYSBURG {Reliance 80} + W: The CSA won the battle. + S: Details of how Lee could have won the battle. Final chapter speculates on + possible historical impact. +Newman, Kim, "Famous Monsters", in Interzone 23 and + W: H.G. Wells' book THE WAR OF THE WORLDS was not fiction. + S: A Martian gets a job in Hollywood. +Newman, Kim, & Eugene Byrne, "Ten Days That Shook the World", in Aboriginal + Jul/Aug 91 + W: Theodore Roosevelt won the 1912 election, but was assassinated at a labor + strike before the inauguration. + S: The US gov't takes harsher actions against labor organizers, etc, + thereby provoking a revolution. Meanwhile, Mexico retakes much of Texas. +Newman, Kim, & Eugene Byrne, "The Wandering Christian", in TALES OF THE + WANDERING JEW (ed Stableford) {Daedalus 91} + W: Constantine was defeated by Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge, creating a + world in which Jews gained the power Christians had in our world. + S: In the year 4759 (999 AD), the Wandering Jew is present at the great + battle pitting the Jews against the Muslims and Zoroastrians. +Nicolson, Harold, "If Byron had Become King of Greece", in + W: Lord Byron did not die of a fever in 1824. + S: An overview of Byron's life from 1824 to 1854, including how he became + king of Greece in 1831 and his wife's attempts to usurp power. +Nimersheim, Jack, "A Fireside Chat", in + W: Warren Harding died during the campaign of 1920, putting James Cox in the + White House. But Cox died too and his Veep became president. + S: In 1923, President Franklin Roosevelt meets with German Chancellor Adolf + Hitler, who successfully pulled off the Beer Hall Putsch. +Niven, Larry, "All the Myriad Ways", in Galaxy Oct 68, , ALL THE MYRIAD + WAYS {Ballantine 71}, GALAXY: THIRTY YEARS OF INNOVATIVE SCIENCE FICTION + (eds Pohl et al) {Playboy 80; Wideview 81}, N-SPACE {Tor 90}, etc + W: The Cuban Missile Crisis escalated to nuclear exchange. + S: A detective investigates a series of suicides involving the Crosstime + Corporation. +Niven, Larry, "Bird in the Hand", in Oct 70, WORLD'S BEST SCIENCE + FICTION: 71 (eds Wollheim & Carr) {Ace 71} and THE FLIGHT OF THE HORSE + {Ballantine 73} + Time-traveling souvenir hunters destroy Henry Ford's first auto. +Niven, Larry, "Death in a Cage", in THE FLIGHT OF THE HORSE {Ballantine 73} + Post-holocaust time-traveler creates our timeline by preventing a blow-up + resulting from the Cuban missile crisis. +Niven, Larry, "The Return of William Proxmire", in and N-SPACE {Tor + 90} + W: SF author Robert Heinlein did not resign from the navy. + S: Sen. Proxmire tries to destroy NASA by preventing Heinlein from becoming + a writer. +Niven, Larry, "There's a Wolf in My Time Machine", in Jun 71, THE + FLIGHT OF THE HORSE {Ballantine 73}, ZOO 2000 (ed Yolen) {Seabury 73} and + + A time traveler strays sideways to a timeline where the dominant inhabitants + developed from wolves instead of hominids. +Nolan, William F., "The Worlds of Monty Wilson", in Amazing Jul 71, ALIEN + HORIZONS {Pocket 74} and 100 GREAT SCIENCE FICTION SHORT SHORT STORIES (eds + Asimov et al) {Doubleday 78; Avon 78} + In 1990, a NASA employee suddenly "shifts" to a timeline where Sirhan Sirhan + missed Robert Kennedy and Apollo 11 met disaster. +Norden, Eric, THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION {Warner 73} + W: FDR was assassinated in 1933. + S: Police-work in Nazi-occupied New York. +Norton, Andre, THE CROSSROADS OF TIME {Ace 56; Gregg 78} + Caught in a fight between crosstimers, a man from our world is stranded on + one where the Axis attacked US coasts after England's fall. +-------------, QUEST CROSSTIME {Viking 65; Ace 65}; as CROSSTIME AGENT + {Gollancz 75} + Further adventures in a world where Richard III won at Bosworth in 1485 and + Cortez's death prevented the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs. +Norton, Andre, WRAITHS OF TIME {Atheneum 76; Fawcett Crest xx; Tor 92} + Adventures and magic in an African empire of a world where Islam never got + started. +Nourse, Alan E., THE UNIVERSE BETWEEN {Paperback Library 67} + Attempts to transmit matter between planets opens a path to another + universe, with so much damage the alternate has to destroy the transmitter. +Nurse, Patricia, "One Rejection Too Many", Jul-Aug 78 + A woman submitting SF stories written by a time-traveler to gets + upset with their continual rejection and decides to make some changes. +Nye, Jody Lynn, "The Father of His Country", in + W: Ben Franklin was elected president in 1789 rather than Washington. + S: Franklin manipulates the government by using pseudonymous newspaper + writings to influence public opinion, un-nerving Veep John Adams. +Oltion, Jerry, "Red Alert", in Analog Oct 91 and + W: Montezuma kicked the Spaniards out of Mexico and N AmerInds had similar + success, leaving only the European colony on Manhattan Island. + S: The Cuban Missile Crisis, recast in the 1800s as the Iroquois Federation + inter-tribal air force vs. Manhattan. +Orgill, Michael, "Many Rubicons", in + W: MacArthur invaded China against orders and later set himself up as US + dictator. + S: MacArthur turns to psychic exploration of alternate possibilities to find + out where he went wrong. +O'Rourke, P.J., "The Seventies that Never Happened", in Nat'l Lampoon Feb 80 + W: The counterculture took over the US. + S: +Overgard, William, THE DIVIDE {Jove 80} + W: Axis powers using jets and V-4 rockets defeated and partitioned America. + S: Thirty years later, the American resistance develops the atomic bomb. +Padgett, Lewis, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow", in Astounding Jan-Feb 47, TOMORROW + AND TOMORROW AND THE FAIRY CHESSMEN {Gnome 51} and TOMORROW AND TOMORROW + {Consul 51} + S: +Padgett, Lewis, & C.L. Moore, BEYOND HEAVEN'S GATES, in Ace Double D-69 + {Ace 54}; exp of Padgett's "The Portal in the Picture", in Startling + Stories Sep 49 + A man and woman fall into a non-Christian parallel run by alchemic priests, + who believe our New York is Paradise. +Pearton, Maurice, "If I had been... Adolphe Thiers in 1870", in + W: Thiers accepted the appointment to be French Minister of War as the + Franco-Prussian War began. + C: Thiers' diary demonstrates how he used his position to prevent French + aggressive action which would provoke a German unification. +Peirce, Hayford, NAPOLEON DISENTIMED {Tor 87} + W: The Ottomans invaded Russia c 1697, preventing its rise to power and + leaving it helpless before Napoleon a century later. + C: Cross- and vertical time travel adventure involving an attempt to prevent + Napoleon's European takeover. +Percy, H.R., "Letter from America", in and VISIONS FROM THE EDGE (ed + Bell) {Pottersfield 81} + W: The French won the Battle of Quebec and took over Britain's American + territories at the end of the French and Indian War. + S: An annotated letter from a 1975 Boston terrorist seeking Soviet aid for a + British-American revolt against the Republic of New France. +Person, Lawrence, "Details", in Apr 91 + A man tries to cope with slow but steady reality shifts. +Person, Lawrence, "Huddled Masses", in + W: Walter Mondale beat Ronald Reagan in the 1984 election, and Nicaragua + took the opportunity to export revolution. + S: In 1979, while US forces intervene in the Mexican civil war, refugees + overwhelm the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Houston. +Petrie, Charles, "If: A Jacobite Fantasy", in Weekly Westminster 30 Jan 26, + THE JACOBITE MOVEMENT: THE LAST PHASE, 1716-1807 {Eyre & Spottiswoode 50} + and + W: In 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie decided at Derby to continue his advance + into England and the Hanoverians fled. + S: Review of the Stuart restoration and speculation on how the Hanoverians + would have mucked things up, particularly in America. +Pignotti, Lorenzo, + John Browning (tr), THE HISTORY OF TUSCANY {Black, + Young & Young 1823}; orig STORIA DELLA TOSCANA + W: Lorenzo de Medici did not die 1492. + S: He saves Italy from foreign invasion and Europe from the Protestants. +Piper, H. Beam, "Crossroads of Destiny", in Fantastic Universe Jul 59 and THE + WORLDS OF H. BEAM PIPER {Ace 83} + W: George Washington died at Germantown. + S: TV execs discuss an AH TV series, not realizing one participant is from a + different timeline. +Piper, H. Beam, LORD KALVAN OF OTHERWHEN {Ace 65; Garland 75}; as GUNPOWDER + GOD {Sphere 1978}; rev of "Gunpowder God", in Analog Nov 64 and TIME WARS + (eds Waugh & Greenberg) {Tor 86}, and "Down Styphon", in Analog Nov 65 and + ROBERT ADAMS' BOOK OF SOLDIERS (eds Adams et al) {Signet 88} + W: Bronze Age Indo-Aryans crossed the Bering straight to colonize America. + S: A Penn state trooper is transported to a N America where priests of + Styphon exert political control through their monopoly on gunpowder. + C: Sequels are Green & Carr's GREAT KINGS' WAR and "Siege at Tarr-Hostigos" + and Carr & Green's "Kalvan Kingmaker". +Piper, H. Beam, PARATIME {Ace 81} +>------------<, "He Walked Around the Horses", in Astounding Apr 48, THE + GOLDEN AGE OF SCIENCE FICTION (ed Amis) {Hutchinson 81; Penguin 83}, , + SPACE MAIL (eds Asimov et al), , etc + W: Burgoyne won at Saratoga, forestalling American independence and the Age + of Revolution. + S: Germans investigate a man claiming to be a British diplomat and carrying + documents regarding some nonexistent French emperor named Napoleon. +>------------<, "Police Operation", in Astounding Jul 48, SPACE POLICE (ed + Norton) {Cleveland 56}, ANALOG: THE BEST OF SCIENCE FICTION (ed anon.) and + THE BEST OF ASTOUNDING (ed Lewis) {Baronet 78} +>------------<, "Last Enemy", in Astounding Aug 50, ASTOUNDING SF ANTHOLOGY + (ed Campbell) {Simon & Schuster 52} and +>------------<, "Temple Trouble", in Astounding Apr 51 +>------------<, "Time Crime", in Astounding Feb-Mar 55 + Tales of the Paratime Police guarding the crosstime byways. All Earths shown + are exotic locales with no clear divergence from (or similarity to) ours. +Pirie-Gordon, C.H.: see Rolfe, Frederick William, & C.H. Pirie-Gordon +Pitney, John J., Jr., "What If There Had Been No Welfare State?", in + W: + C: +Pitney, John J., Jr., "What If There Were Three Major Parties?", in + W: FDR was killed in 1933, and when Jack Garner instituted no New Deal, + Huey Long ran for president in 36 as a Populist. + C: The many ways in which presidential elections could get hung up in the + Electoral College or Congress if there were three equi-strength parties. +Pohl, Frederick, THE COMING OF THE QUANTUM CATS {Bantam 86} + In a US ruled by a militaristic regime, crosstime travel is used to steal + better technology. Several versions of the same person get caught up. +Pohl, Frederick, "The Deadly Mission of Phineas Snodgrass", in Galaxy Jun 62, + DAY MILLION {Ballantine 70}, 100 GREAT SCIENCE FICTION SHORT SHORT STORIES + (eds Asimov et al) {Doubleday 78; Avon 78}, etc + S: A man travels back to 1 AD Rome and teaches modern medicine, causing a + population explosion. + C: Satire of de Camp's LEST DARKNESS FALL. +Pohl, Frederick, "Let the Ants Try", in Planet Stories Winter 49, ALTERNATING + CURRENTS {Ballantine 56} and BEYOND THE END OF TIME {Doubleday 52; + PermaBooks 52} + Following a nuclear war, a scientist carries some mutated ants 40 Myr into + the past and returns to find his present irrevocably altered. +Pohl, Frederick, "Target One", in Galaxy Apr 55 and ALTERNATING CURRENTS + {Ballantine 56} + Victims of a nuclear war decide to go back in time and kill Einstein. +Pohl, Frederik "The Reunion at the Mile-High", in FOUNDATION'S FRIENDS (ed + Greenberg) {Tor 89} and INSIDE THE FUNHOUSE (ed Resnick) + W: Hearing about Einstein's letter to FDR, a biochemist wrote a similar + letter proposing a crash study of biological warfare. + S: Fred Pohl attends the 50th anniversary meeting of The Futurians and + listens to Isaac Asimov tell a reporter about the typhus bomb. +Pohl, Frederick, "Waiting for the Olympians", in Aug 88, <89AW> and + + W: Jeshua of Nazareth was not executed for sedition and Rome never fell. Two + millennia later, aliens announce their imminent arrival. + S: It is suggested to a sci-rom author in a rut that he try writing a "What + If?" book, but he can't see the point of it. +Polsby, Nelson W., "What if Robert Kennedy had not been assassinated (1968)", + in + W: As the title says. + C: Speculation on the success of a Humphrey-Kennedy Democrat ticket. +Poyer, David C., THE SHILOH PROJECT {Avon 81} + W: Pickett's Charge succeeded and the Confederacy won at Gettysburg, + leading to British recognition of the CSA and Confederate independence. + S: 120 years later, both Confederacy and Underground Railroad plan to hijack + a Union nuclear artillery shell being shipped past Hampton Roads. +Poyer, Joe, TUNNEL WAR {Atheneum 79} + W: Construction of the Chunnel started 80 years earlier. + S: Germany attempts to sabotage the project in 1911. +Pratt, Fletcher, THE BLUE STAR {Ballantine 69; Ballantine 75}; rev of "The + Blue Star", in WITCHES THREE {Twayne 52} + W: Gunpowder was never invented. Also, magic works. + S: +Randle, Kevin, & Robert Cornett, REMEMBER THE ALAMO! +-------------------------------, REMEMBER GETTYSBURG +-------------------------------, REMEMBER THE LITTLE BIG HORN + S: +Reich, Tova, "Mengele in Jerusalem", in Harper's Jun 86 + W: Josef Mengele, the Nazi doctor, hid in Jerusalem, + S: The search for Mengele has an unusual conclusion. +Reilly, Rick, "What If? Short By a Nose", in Sports Illustrated [Classic] + Fall 1992 + W: A sneeze by Jerry Kramer resulted in the Dallas Cowboys winning the 1967 + NFL championship rather than the Green Bay Packers. + S: The decisive play of the game, plus comments on the futures of Kramer, + the Packers and the Cowboys. +Resnick, Laura, "A Fleeting Wisp of Glory", in + W: The Cuban missile crisis blew up. + S: Centuries after Armageddon, legends of the two Camelots become entwined. +Resnick, Laura, "We Are Not Amused", in + W: Victoria Woodhull, the first female candidate, was elected US president + in 1872. + S: Series of letters from Queen Victoria to the radical feminist president, + at first expressing approval but not later. +Resnick, Mike, "The Bull Moose at Bay", in Nov 91 and + W: Theodore Roosevelt was not wounded during the 1912 assassination attempt, + leaving him healthy enough to successfully campaign for president. + S: Four years later, as TR anticipates defeat by Woodrow Wilson, he + discusses women's suffrage with various friends and allies. +Resnick, Mike, "Bully!", in Sep 91, BWANA & BULLY! (Tor SF Double + #33) {Tor 91}, BULLY! (Axolotl 90) and WILL THE LAST PERSON TO LEAVE THE + PLANET PLEASE SHUT OFF THE SUN? {Tor 92} + W: When told during a 1910 safari that 50 white men would join him to tame + Africa, Teddy Roosevelt did not turn the offer down. + S: How TR tried to create a republic of the Congo, ousting the Belgians but + ultimately failing due to the non-democratic traditions of the natives. +Resnick, Mike "Lady in Waiting", in + W: Marilyn Monroe did not become an actress. + S: Washington, DC, waitress Norma Jean gets picked up by the president for + a one-night stand and futilely dreams of becoming first lady. +Resnick, Mike, "The Light That Blinds, the Claws That Catch", in Jul + 92 and WILL THE LAST PERSON TO LEAVE THE PLANET PLEASE SHUT OFF THE SUN? + {Tor 92} + W: Alice Roosevelt did not die on 14 Feb 1884. + S: To protect his wife's fragile health, husband Teddy lives a quiet life as + a naturalist, but dreams of greater accomplishments. +Resnick, Mike, "Over There", in Apr 91, and WILL THE LAST + PERSON TO LEAVE THE PLANET PLEASE SHUT OFF THE SUN? {Tor 92} + W: Under duress, Woodrow Wilson in May 1917 gave Teddy Roosevelt permission + to re-form the Rough Riders and go to France. + S: TR discovers that the natures of war and the enemy have changed in 20 + years. +Reynolds, Mack, & Dean Ing, THE OTHER TIME {Simon & Schuster 84; Baen 84} + An archaeologist is displaced in time and has a chance to witness the + Spanish conquest of Mexico. He wonders if he can change history. +Reynolds, Mack: see also Derleth, August, & Mack Reynolds +Reynolds, Pamela, EARTH TIMES TWO {Lothrop, Lee & Shepherd 70} + Crosstime adventure on a world where telepathic research replaced the + advance of technology. +Richards, John Thomas, "Minor Alteration", in Dec 65 + S: +Richardson, Hal, "The Time of Fear", in Melbourne Argus 28 Jul-6 Sep 56 + W: Japan won the Battle of the Coral Sea. + S: Life in occupied Australia. +Riker, William H., "What if Elbridge Gerry had been more rational and less + patriotic? (1787)", in + W: One of the delegates from Massachusetts voted "no" on a motion, causing + the US constitutional convention in 1787 to fail. + C: Speculation on the consequences, including the breakup of the US into a + number of warring "states" and the non-existence of Canada (map included). +Roberts, John Maddox, KING OF THE WOOD {Doubleday 83; Tor 86} + W: Saxons and Vikings established strong settlements in N America. + S: An outlaw Saxon prince from eastern N America takes part in the Mongol + conquest of Mexico. +Roberts, Keith, PAVANE {Doubleday 68; Ace 68; Berkley 76} +>------------<, "The Signaller", in Impulse Mar 66, ANOTHER WORLD (ed Dozois) + {Follett 77} and THE BEST OF BRITISH SF 2 (ed Ashley) {Futura 77} +>------------<, "The Lady Anne" (aka "The Lady Margaret"), in Impulse Apr 66, + A DAY IN THE LIFE (ed Dozois) {Harper & Row 72}, and THE LEGEND BOOK OF + SCIENCE FICTION (ed Dozois) {Legend 91} (aka MODERN CLASSICS OF SCIENCE + FICTION {St. Martin's 92, 93}) +>------------<, "Brother John", in Impulse May 66 +>------------<, "Lords and Ladies", in Impulse Jun 66 +>------------<, "Corfe Gate", in Impulse Jul 66 +>------------<, "The White Boat", in New Worlds Dec 66 and THE GRAIN KINGS + {Hutchinson 76} + W: Elizabeth I was assassinated, the Armada triumphed and Europe and the New + World languished under 500 years of Church rule. + S: Steam locomotives and heroic semaphore operators represent modern-day + high-tech. Secret quasi-priesthood of scientists hunted by Inquisition. +Roberts, Keith, "Weihnacht[s]abend", in NEW WORLDS QUARTERLY NO. 4 (ed + Moorcock) {Berkley 72}, THE GRAIN KINGS {Hutchinson 76}, THE PASSING OF + DRAGONS, and THE WORLD TREASURY OF SCIENCE FICTION (ed Hartwell) + {Little, Brown 89} + W: A junta overthrew George VI and Churchill in 1940, then made peace with + the Axis. + S: A girl disappears during the joint celebration of Christmas and the Hunt + on an occupied-British estate. +Roberts, Ralph, "How the South Preserved the Union", in + W: In 1849, Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore were killed in an accident, + elevating the Senate president pro tem to the US presidency. + S: David Atchison's presence in the White House provokes the abolitionist + North into secession, leading to a different Civil War. +Robinett, Stephen, "Helbent 4", in Galaxy Oct 75, <76AW>, THE BEST FROM + GALAXY VOLUME IV (ed Baen) {Award 76} and BEST SCIENCE FICTION STORIES OF + THE YEAR, FIFTH ANNUAL COLLECTION (ed Del Rey) {Dutton 76} + A "man" sent to fight aliens returns to Earth 300 years later but it isn't + the Earth he left. The new one thinks he's the menace. +Robinson, Kim Stanley, "The Lucky Strike", in UNIVERSE 14 (ed Carr) + {Doubleday 84}, , NEBULA AWARDS 20 (ed Zebrowski) {HBJ 85}, , THE + PLANET ON THE TABLE {Tor 87}, THERE WON'T BE WAR (eds Harrison & McAllister) + {Tor 91}, etc + W: The "Enola Gay" crashed on a practice flight. + S: The "Lucky Strike" is selected to bomb Hiroshima, but its bombardier is + horrified by the power of the atomic bomb. +----------------------, "A Sensitive Dependence on Initial Conditions", in + REMAKING HISTORY {Tor 91} and Author's Choice Monthly #xx + C: An essay on quantum physics and AH, with various possible outcomes of the + bombing of Hiroshima described. +Robinson, Kim Stanley, "Remaking History", in Mar 89, and + REMAKING HISTORY {Tor 91} + W: The 1980 rescue of the hostages in Iran succeeded. + S: A lunar film company remakes the DeNiro classic ESCAPE FROM TEHERAN and + discusses Great Men and Women. +Rolfe, Frederick William, & C.H. Pirie-Gordon, HUBERT'S ARTHUR: BEING + CERTAIN CURIOUS DOCUMENTS FOUND AMONG THE LITERARY REMAINS OF MR. N.C. + {Cassell 35; Arno 78} + W: Arthur Plantagenet escaped from King John. + S: Arthur becomes King of Jerusalem and later returns to England to + overthrow his uncle. +Romano, Deane, FLIGHT FROM TIME ONE {Walker 72; Fitzhenry & Whiteside 72} + Astral projection to Muslim- and Nazi-dominated Earths. +Rucker, Rudy, THE HOLLOW EARTH: THE NARRATIVE OF MASON ALGIERS REYNOLDS OF + VIRGINIA {Morrow 90} + In 1836, an expedition including Edgar Allen Poe set out for the S Pole to + locate the entrance to the Earth's hollow interior. +Rucker, Rudy, & Paul Di Filippo, "Instability", in + W: Members of the Beat Generation decided to disrupt an H-bomb test. + S: William S. Burroughs, Jack Kerouac and John von Neumann intersect at + White Sands. +Rusch, Kristine Kathryn, "The Best and the Brightest", in + W: Robert Kennedy was elected president in 1964. + S: A black reporter faces a personal crisis when he is given evidence that + Kennedy ordered an assassination attempt on Martin Luther King, Jr. +Rusch, Kristine Kathryn, "Fighting Bob", in + W: Progressive Party candidate Robert La Follette was elected US president + in 1924, but died in 1925 during a stalemate with Congress. + S: Six years later, family, friends and enemies of La Follette meet to argue + over the Wisconsin Senate race, breaking open old wounds. +Russ, Joanna, THE FEMALE MAN {Bantam 75; Gregg 77; Beacon 86} + Interaction of a woman from a future where a plague killed all men, a 1960s + woman from a timeline where WW2 didn't happen, and the author. +Rutman, Leo, CLASH OF EAGLES {Ballantine 90} + W: The Nazis enjoyed enough success in Europe that they could invade the US. + S: +Ryan, J.B., "The Mosaic", in Astounding Jul 40 + A time-traveler from Arabic America alters the outcome at Tours. +Ryman, Geoff, THE UNCONQUERED COUNTRY {Bantam 87} + W: + S: A look at the Pol Pot period in Cambodia. +Saberhagen, Fred, A CENTURY OF PROGRESS {Tor 83} + A man is recruited into helping a group fighting Hitler in all timelines. +Saberhagen, Fred, THE MASK OF THE SUN {Ace 79; Tor 87} + Descendants of the Inca Empire recruit soldiers from other time periods to + stop the Spanish conquests in yet other timelines. +Salisbury, Robert H., "What if Marbury v. Madison and the Impeachment of John + Marshall (1803)", in + W: Congress impeached and removed Supreme Court Chief Justice Marshall from + office. + C: Scholarly history describing the "crippling" of the American legal + system, ending in impeachment of justices who supported abortion in 1973. +Sanders, William, JOURNEY TO FUSANG {Warner/Questar 8x} + W: The Mongols sacked Europe from Moscow to Cordova, leaving the Moors and + Chinese to discover the New World during the 16th century. + S: In the late 1600s, an Irish rogue adrift in N America sets his sights on + Chinese California but must first cope with a Cossack army loose in the SW. +Sanders, William, THE WILD BLUE AND THE GRAY {Warner/Questar 91} + W: With British help, the Confederacy won the Civil War. + S: The sole member of the Cherokee air force is attached to a Confederate + squadron fighting in France in 1916. +Sarban, THE SOUND OF HIS HORN {Davies 52; Ballantine 60} + A man escapes a Nazi POW camp in 1943 and falls into the future of a world + where Germany won WW2. +Sargent, Pamela, "The Sleeping Serpent", in Amazing Jan 92 and + W: The Mongols conquered mainland Europe and crossed the Atlantic. + S: Led by the son of the khan of France, the Iriquois federation moves to + drive the English out of New England. +Saunders, Jake, "Back to the Stone Age", in LONE STAR UNIVERSE (eds Proctor + & Utley) {Heidelberg 76} and BEST SCIENCE FICTION STORIES OF THE YEAR, SIXTH + ANNUAL COLLECTION (ed Dozois) {Dutton 77; Ace 78} + W: Disaster at Oak Ridge scrapped the Manhattan Project, and the US decided + not to invade Japan. + S: In 1954, random bombers fly over the bombed-out Japanese islands, + eliminating any signs of human activity they happen to find. +Schachner, Nat, "Ancestral Voices", in Astounding Dec 33 + S: +Scholz, Carter, "The Ninth Symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven and Other Lost + Songs", in UNIVERSE 7 (ed Carr) {Doubleday 77} + Mental time travelers examining Beethoven's creative process drive the + composer mad before he can complete the Ode to Joy. +Scortia, Thomas N., ARTERY OF FIRE {Doubleday 72; Popular Library 72}; exp of + "Artery of Fire", in Original Science Fiction Stories Mar 60 + S: +Scott, Melissa, A CHOICE OF DESTINIES {Baen 86} + W: After the conquest of Persia, Alexander of Macedon returned west to quell + a rebellion of League cities. + S: His return and dealings with early Rome. +Scott, Melissa, & Lisa A. Barnett, ARMOR OF LIGHT {Baen 88} + W: Witchcraft works. Also, Sir Philip Sidney survived Zutphens. + S: In 1593, Elizabeth I directs Sidney and Christopher Marlowe to protect + James VI/I from magical attacks. + + +From rec.arts.sf.written Wed Jan 13 13:43:44 1993 +Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written +Path: lysator.liu.se!isy!liuida!sunic!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!batcomputer!cornell!uw-beaver!newsfeed.rice.edu!rice!spacsun.rice.edu!schmunk +From: schmunk@spacsun.rice.edu (Robert Schmunk) +Subject: LIST: Alternate Histories (4/5) (850 lines) +Message-ID: +Sender: news@rice.edu (News) +Reply-To: schmunk@spacsun.rice.edu (Robert Schmunk) +Organization: Dept. of Space Physics, Rice University, Houston TX +Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 02:49:13 GMT +Lines: 821 + + +Seabury, Paul, "The Histronaut", in Apr 63 + W: Lenin did not return to Russia from Switzerland. + S: A time traveler destroys Lenin's train, but returns to his home time to + find Washington DC occupied by Germans. +Seabury, Paul, "What If George Washington had been Captured by General Howe: + Mrs. Murray's War (1776)", in + W: The owner of the farm where the battle of Murray Hill (New York City) was + fought persuaded British redcoats to pursue and capture Washington. + C: 150 years later, the Royal New York Historical Society finds a memoir + describing the event and the later celebration of Liberation Day. +Sell, William, "Other Tracks", in Astounding Oct 38 and SCIENCE FICTION + ADVENTURES IN DIMENSIONS (ed Conklin) {Vanguard 53} + S: Two scientific assistants use a time machine to visit the past, and + discover that they have changed the present. + C: 1st known story to theorize that changing the past will alter the time- + traveler's home time. However, little historical development. +Shapiro, Stanley, A TIME TO REMEMBER {Random House 86} + In order to prevent his brother's death in Vietnam, a man travels to the + Dallas of 1963, but an altered history may also need correction. +Shaw, Bob, THE TWO-TIMERS {Ace 68} + A man goes back in time to save his wife from a killer, creating a world in + which the wife didn't die and another version of himself exists. +Shaw, Bob, "What Time Do You Call This?", in TOMORROW LIES IN AMBUSH + {Gollancz 73; Ace 73} + Bank robber tries to use machine to travel between universes to escape after + a heist. +Sheckley, Robert, "The Deaths of Ben Baxter", in Galaxy Jul 57 and STORE OF + INFINITY {Bantam 60} + Scientists manipulating history are faced with three equally undesirable + choices. +Sheckley, Robert, "Dukakis and the Aliens", in + In 1989, on his first day as president, an alien invasion conspiracy is + revealed to Michael Dukakis. His reaction requires reworking history. +Shetterly, Will, & Vince Stone, CAPTAIN CONFEDERACY, 1st series, 12-issue + comic book series {Steeldragon 86-87}; issue #1 rev as CAPTAIN CONFEDERACY + SPECIAL EDITION + W: The South won the Civil War due to un-described events c. 1862. + S: The CSA develops a Captain America-type superhero in the 1980s but he is + unhappy being ordered about in an apartheid-ridden country. + C: Letters to editor often more interesting than the story. +------------------------------, CAPTAIN CONFEDERACY, 2nd series, 4-issue + comic book series {Epic Comics 91-92} + S: Super-heroes from 8 N America nations, Germany and Japan, meet in New + Orleans, where the representative from Texas is murdered for his weaponry. +Shiner, Lewis, "Oz", in FULL SPECTRUM (eds Aronica & McCarthy) {Bantam 88} + W: Lee Harvey Oswald was not murdered. + S: Ozzie is acquitted and later becomes a rock star, with mention of the + conspiracy trials and America's exit from Vietnam. +Shiner, Lewis: see also Sterling, Bruce, & Lewis Shiner +Shippey, Tom, "Enemy Transmissions", in + Occult use of dreams in a 3rd Reich that succeeded, some of which are of our + timeline. +Shippey, Tom: see also Harrison, Harry, & Tom Shippey +Shirer, William, "If Hitler Had Won World War II", in Look 15 Dec 61 + W: + S: Mostly a speculative essay, but passages from the diary that Shirer might + have kept are included. +Shukman, Harold, "If I had been... Alexander Kerensky in 1917", in + W: Kerensky did not stop Kornilov's occupation of Petrograd. + C: Kerensky decides that Kornilov's aid is the only way to alleviate civil + unrest and prevent a Bolshevik takeover. +Shwartz, Susan, BYZANTIUM'S CROWN + W: Mark Antony and Cleopatra won at Actium and moved the Roman capital to + the east. Also, magic works. + S: +Shwartz, Susan, "Count of the Saxon Shore", in + W: Arthur of Britain survived the battle of Camlann. + S: An old warrior reflects on the battle and its aftermath. +Shwartz, Susan, "Loose Cannon", in + W: T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) survived his 1935 motorcycle accident. + S: In 1940, Churchill convinces Lawrence to go back to N Africa, where he + meets Rommel. +Shwartz, Susan, "Suppose They Gave a Peace...", in + W: Due to the increasing count of body bags returning from Vietnam, George + McGovern was elected US president in 1972. + S: Not waiting for the promised US withdrawal, N Vietnamese continue + marching on Saigon. An Ohio family worries about its soldier son. +Silverberg, Robert, THE GATE OF WORLDS {Holt, Rinehart & Winston 67; Methuen + 80; Tor 84} + W: The Black Plague of 1348 killed more than half of Europe, leaving it + defenseless before the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. + S: Travels of an English boy in 1960s Aztec N America. +------------------, "Lion Time in Timbuctoo", in Oct 90 and BEYOND + THE GATE OF WORLDS {Tor 91} + S: Diplomatic intrigue is rife as the Emir of Songhay lies dying. + C: See also Brunner's "At the Sign of the Rose" and Yarbro's "An Exaltation + of Spiders". +Silverberg, Robert, "Looking for the Fountain", in May 92 and + W: A shipload of Crusaders was blown off course and ended up in Florida. + S: While looking for the Fountain of "Youth", Ponce de Leon finds a tribe of + Christian AmerInds who want to sail to Palestine and free Jerusalem. +Silverberg, Robert, "A Sleep and a Forgetting", in Playboy Jul 89, and + THE COLLECTED STORIES OF ROBERT SILVERBERG: VOL. I (Bantam 92} + W: Genghis Khan was abducted at age 11, and after being sold into slavery + became a prince's guard in Constantinople. + S: Modern scientists in our timeline somehow communicate with a palace guard + in old Constantinople, and one reminds him of sense of destiny. +Silverberg, Robert, "To the Promised Land", in and THE COLLECTED + STORIES OF ROBERT SILVERBERG: VOL. I (Bantam 92} + W: The first Exodus failed on the shores of the Red Sea, preventing the rise + of Christianity and its inclement effect on the Roman empire. + S: 4000 years after the failed Exodus, the few remaining Hebrews in Egypt + plan a new Exodus, to space, and recruit an historian to write their tale. +------------------, "An Outpost of the Empire", in Nov 91 + S: 2200 years after the founding of Rome, a clash between the Western + (Roman-influenced) and the declining Eastern (Greek-influenced) empires. +------------------, "Tales from the Venia Woods", in Oct 89 and + S: Early during the 2nd Roman Republic, two children meet a mysterious old + man hiding in a ruined imperial hunting lodge in the Teutonic provinces. +Silverberg, Robert, "Translation Error", in Astounding Mar 59, TRANSFORMATION + II (ed Roselle) {Fawcett 74}, and THE CUBE ROOT OF UNCERTAINTY + {Macmillan 76} + An alien returns to Earth after tampering with history in 1914, finds things + are askew and decides that he has shifted onto a parallel by mistake. +Silverberg, Robert, "Trips", in FINAL STAGE (eds Ferman & Malzberg) + {Charterhouse 74; Penguin 75}; exp in THE FEAST OF DIONYSIUS {Scribner's 75; + Berkley 75}, THE BEST OF ROBERT SILVERBERG VOLUME 2 {Gregg 78} and LOST + WORLDS, UNKNOWN HORIZONS {Thomas Nelson 78} + A man visits a number of different San Franciscos, one in a timeline where + Pres. Willkie maintained US neutrality in WW2. +Silverberg, Robert, UP THE LINE {Ballantine 69} + S: A time-travel tour leader gets in trouble. + C: Basically non-AH, but the result of assassinating Jesus at age 11 is + briefly described. +Simak, Clifford, THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE TALISMAN {Ballantine 78} + W: A series of "blights" periodically prevented Europe from advancing beyond + the Dark Ages. Also, magic works. + S: A young man accompanies a woman and her griffin on a quest to retrieve a + talisman to fight the blight. +Simak, Clifford, RING AROUND THE SUN {Musson 1953; SFBC 1953; Ace 54; World + 60; Avon 67; Four Square 67; New English Library 77; Carroll & Graf 92} + A whole series of parallel Earths (uninhabited) can be reached by mental + means. Emphasis on the mutants and androids than on crosstime aspect. +Simak, Clifford, SPECIAL DELIVERANCE {Ballantine 82} + Six people from different timelines join together on a quest. +Simak, Clifford, WHERE THE EVIL DWELLS {Ballantine 82} + W: Dragons, fairies, etc, are real. + S: The appearance of "The Evil" from over the river provides incentive to + hold the Roman Empire together in a time of schism (c. 1400). +Skimin, Leonard, GRAY VICTORY {St. Martin's 88} + W: Joe Johnston retained command at Atlanta and held Sherman off so long + that McClellan won the 1864 US presidential election. + S: In 1866, while Jeb Stuart is on trial for his actions at Gettysburg, John + Brown's son lays plans for a black insurrection. +Sladek, John T., "1937 AD!", in New Worlds Jul 67; BEST SF: 1967 (eds + Harrison & Aldiss) {Berkley 68} and THE STEAM-DRIVEN BUS {Panther 73} (incl. + in THE BEST OF JOHN SLADEK {Pocket 81}) + An inventor from the US of Columbia in 1878 sets out for 1937, where he + encounters a man who can change history with the stroke of a pen. +Smith, George Henry, "Take Me to Your Leader", in MICROCOSMIC TALES (eds + Asimov et al) {Taplinger 80; DAW 92} + W: The South won the Civil War. + S: A scientist from another Earth warns of Russian attack, but the narrator + lives in a world where Jeff Davis VI is hereditary president of the CSA. +Smith, L. Neil, THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE {Bluejay/Tor 86; Tor 89} + W: Christendom was destroyed in 1349 when an attempt to ship plague-ridden + rats to Saracen lands backfired disastrously. + S: In 2042, a Helvetic North-American escorts a mission from the Saracen + Caliph of Rome into the secretive, mysterious Aztec empire. +Smith, L. Neil, THE PROBABILITY BROACH {Ballantine 80} + W: The Whiskey Rebellion succeeded and the US Constitution was revoked. + S: In 1987, a Denver cop investigating a scientist's murder crosses + timelines and finds himself in a Libertarian utopia. +--------------, "The Spirit of Exmas Sideways", in + In 1988, Detective Bear investigates another murder involving the crosstime + machine. +--------------, THE NAGASAKI VECTOR {Ballantine 83} + In 1993, ... +--------------, THE VENUS BELT {Ballantine 81} + In 1999, with friends and relatives mysteriously disappearing, Bear is off + to the asteroid belt to investigate a crosstime Hamiltonian plot. +--------------, THE GALLATIN DIVERGENCE {Ballantine 85} + In 2119, ... +--------------, BRIGHTSUIT MCBEAR {Avon 88} + S: +--------------, TAFLAK LYSANDRA {Avon 88} + S: +Smith, Martin Cruz, THE INDIANS WON {Belmont 70; Leisure 81} + W: N American Plains Indians banded together to stop the white man's spread, + resulting in East and West USAs with an AmerInd nation in the middle. + S: History of the AmerInd nation alternates with Washington intrigues during + 20th-century white vs. red tensions. +Snodgrass, Melinda M., QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED {Warner/Popular Library 89} + W: Magic exists, as do forces for good and evil. + S: William of Nassau works with the White Queen to defeat the evil forces in + Paris, eventually invading France in 1672. +Snodgrass, Melinda M., WILD CARDS X: DOUBLE SOLITAIRE {Bantam 92} + C: In same series as Martin's WILD CARDS I. +Sobel, Robert, FOR WANT OF A NAIL...; IF BURGOYNE HAD WON AT SARATOGA + {Macmillan 73} + W: Burgoyne beat Gates at Saratoga, and the American rebellion collapsed. + S: Dual history text of the Confederation of N America and the US of Mexico, + from 1775 to 1971. + C: Synopsis in Fadness' "What If the British Had Won the Revolutionary War?" +Somtow, S.P., THE AQUILIAD [: AQUILA IN THE NEW WORLD] {Ballantine 83}; rev + of stories in 18 Jan 82 and Apr 82 and Amazing Jan 83 and May 83 +------------, THE AQUILIAD II: AQUILA AND THE IRON HORSE {Ballantine 88} +------------, THE AQUILIAD III: AQUILA AND THE SPHINX {Ballantine 89} + W: Romans discovered the steam engine and conquered the world. + S: Farcical adventures of a Roman general in the Americas (Terra Novum) and + his entanglements with time guardians. +Somtow, S.P., "Sunsteps", in Unearth Summer 77 and FIRE FROM THE WINE DARK + SEA {Donning 83} + W: + S: Aztecs depopulate the world in order to meet sacrificial needs. +Soukup, Martha, "Plowshare", in + W: William Jennings Bryan was elected president in 1896 and decided to serve + only one term. Also, Teddy Roosevelt never became president. + S: In 1915, as Bryan and his wife look back at the years, the Lusitania is + sunk and war looks imminent, giving Bryan a new message to preach. +Soukup, Martha, "Rosemary's Brain", in + W: Instead of a lobotomy, Rosemary Kennedy received an experimental + operation that turned her into a genius. + S: Rosemary discusses her plans for her future with her godfather. +Spinrad, Norman, THE IRON DREAM {Avon 72; Gregg 77; Jove/HBJ 78; Pocket 82; + Bantam 86} + W: Hitler emigrated to the USA in 1919 and after several years as a + commercial artist turned to writing SF. + S: The text of Hitler's Hugo Award-winning novel LORD OF THE SWASTIKA. +Spruill, Steven G., "The Janus Equation", in BINARY STAR NO. 4 (ed Frenkel) + {Dell 80} + W: JFK wasn't assassinated. + S: A man tries to create a time machine in a world dominated by multi-nat'l + corporations. +Squire, J.C., "If It Had Been Discovered in 1930 that Bacon Really Did Write + Shakespeare" (aka "Professor Gubbin's Revolution"), in London Mercury Jan + 31, and OUTSIDE EDEN {Heinemann 33; Books for Libraries 71} + W: As the title says. + S: Satirical look at the ensuing literary chaos. +Squire, J.C., "What Might Have Happened", in OUTSIDE EDEN {Heinemann 33; + Books for Libraries 71} + W: Britain adopted Prohibition. + S: +Stableford, Brian, THE EMPIRE OF FEAR {Carroll & Graf 91}; exp of "The Man + who Loved the Vampire Lady", in Aug 88 and + W: Attila's horde brought real vampirism to Europe and the vampires took + control. + S: 1200 years later, a human scientist searches for the vampires' secret of + immortality. +Stafford, Terry: see Gygax, E. Gary, & Terry Stafford +Stall, Michael, "Rice Brandy", in NEW WRITINGS IN SF 25 (ed Bulmer) {Sidgwick + & Jackson 75; Corgi 76} + With 20th-century help, a 15th-century Khmer king turns back a Thai + invasion, then industrializes. +Stapledon, Olaf, "East is West", in FAR FUTURE CALLING {Oswald Train 79} + An Englishman temporarily trades places with his counterpart in a world + where England prepares to challenge Japanese world domination. +Stapp, Robert, A MORE PERFECT UNION {Harper's Magazine Press 70; Berkley 71} + W: Lincoln ordered the evacuation of Fort Sumter, and the South was allowed + to go in peace. + S: In 1981, the USA faces a hostile, nuclear-capable, police-state CSA and + decides that assassination is the only solution. +Stasheff, Christopher, HER MAJESTY'S WIZARD {Ballantine 86} + A grad student finds a manuscript which sends him to an another Earth where + magic works and northern Europe and most of Britain are covered with ice. +Steele, Allen, "Goddard's People", in Jul 91 and + W: Warned that Nazi Germany was developing a trans-Atlantic rocket, the US + started a crash rocket development program, headed by Robert Goddard. + S: A history of Project Blue Horizon and its critical race with the Nazis; + concludes with mention of the first manned mission to Mars in 1976. +-------------, "John Harper Wilson", in Jun 89 + S: The US gov't plans to claim the moon, but the commander of the first + manned landing goes in peace for all mankind. +Stephenson, Andrew M., THE WALL OF YEARS {Futura 79; rev Dell 80} + Crosstime and time-travel intrigue centered on attempts to alter Alfred's + dealing with the Danes. +Sterling, Bruce, & Lewis Shiner, "Mozart in Mirrorshades", in Omni Sep 85, + MIRRORSHADES {Arbor House 86; Ace 88} and THE SEVENTH OMNI BOOK OF SCIENCE + FICTION (ed Datlow) + Europe and America of 1775 are exploited by the future of another timeline + hungry for oil, but resistance forms. +Sterling, Bruce: see also Gibson, William, & Bruce Sterling +Stervermer, Caroline: see Wrede, Patricia C., & Caroline Stervermer +Stirling, S. M., MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA {Baen 88} +---------------, UNDER THE YOKE {Baen 89} +---------------, THE STONE DOGS {Baen 90} + W: American Tories colonized S Africa (Drakeland) after the revolution. + S: The Dominion of the Draka strives to take over the world (1940-2000) and + only the US stands in the way. With much supplemental info in appendices. +Stone, Vince: see Shetterly, Will, & Vince Stone +Sucharitkul, Somtow: see Somtow, S.P. +Swanwick, Michael, "The Edge of the World", in FULL SPECTRUM 2 (eds Aronica + et al) {Doubleday 89}, and THE LEGEND BOOK OF SCIENCE FICTION (ed + Dozois) {Legend 91} (aka MODERN CLASSICS OF SCIENCE FICTION {St. Martin's + 92, 93}) + W: Earth has an edge. + S: Three teen-agers living at an American air force base in the Middle East + climb down a stairway on the edge of the world. +Swanwick, Michael, "In Concert", Sep 92 + W: Rock & roll got started decades earlier, and had the power to shape + history. + S: An American attends the final performance of Lenin, "The Boss", hearing + such standards as "The Workers Control the Means of Production". +Swanwick, Michael, IN THE DRIFT {Ace 85}; exp of "Mummer Kiss", in UNIVERSE + 11 (ed Carr) {Doubleday 81}, and "Marrow Death", in Dec 84 + W: Three Mile Island melted down, irradiating eastern Pennsylvania. + S: Life in Philadelphia and the adjacent Drift, 100 years later, and the + conflict for power. +Tarr, Judith, "Roncesvalles", in + W: Upon hearing of Roland's death and Ganelon's treachery, Charlemagne + converted to Islam. + S: Describes the event, but no follow through. +Tarr, Judith, "Them Old Hyannis Blues", in + W: The Kennedy brothers went into music. + S: After switching from big band music to rock 'n roll, the Kennedys play at + President Presley's inaugural ball, and foil an assassination attempt. +Tenn, William, "Brooklyn Project", in SHOT IN THE DARK (ed Merrill) {Bantam + 50}, VOYAGERS IN TIME (ed Silverberg) {Meredith 67}, THE WOODEN STAR + {Ballantine 68}, THE ROAD TO SCIENCE FICTION #3 (ed Gunn) {NAL/Mentor 79}, + , etc + Scientists send a sphere back in time, claiming it has no effect. Each time + it comes back, things change but they just don't notice. +Thayer, James Stewart, S-DAY: A MEMOIR OF THE INVASION OF ENGLAND {St. + Martin's 90} + W: Nazi Germany did not invade Russia, but geared up for an invasion of + Britain on 28 May 1942. + S: The American Expeditionary Force takes the brunt of the invasion and its + commander violates the articles of war in order to save London. +Thomas, Donald, PRINCE CHARLIE'S BLUFF {Macmillan 74} + W: Britain was defeated by France on the Plains of Abraham. + S: The battle and subsequent break-up of BNA, with the Stuart restoration in + Virginia following Bonnie Prince Charlie's victory at Annapolis. +Thompson, Don, "Worlds Enough", in + Stealing a timeline jumper in an accident, a man looks around for an + invention, yet undiscovered in his home timeline, that will make him rich. +Thompson, Roger, "If I had been... the Earl of Sherburne in 1762-5", in + W: The Earl of Sherburne was placed in charge of peace negotiations with + France after the 7 Year War, and then became Treasury Minister. + C: The earl contemplates returning Canada to the French and avoiding taxes + on the 13 colonies, actions which would prevent the American Revolution. +Thomsen, Brian, "Paper Trail", in + W: Even after being fired by the Washington Post, Bob Woodward and Carl + Bernstein continued their investigation of the Watergate break-in. + S: Woodward's articles in the New York Post about Watergate and the murder + of Bernstein lead to McGovern's election in 1972. +Thurber, James, "If Grant Had Been Drinking at Appomattox", in New Yorker 6 + Dec 30, THE THURBER CARNIVAL {Harper & Row 45; Harper 53}, Feb 52, + VINTAGE THURBER {Hamish Hamilton 63}, etc + W: As the title says. + S: Grant gives his sword to Lee. +Tilton, Lois, "A Just and Lasting Peace", in Oct/Nov 91 and + W: Lincoln was assassinated early by Jesse and Frank James, and the South, + suffering a harsher Reconstruction, never actually stopped fighting. + S: The tale of a Southern boy during Reconstruction, with an afterword + written in 1952 by his grandson, a member of the Nazi's RE Lee Brigade. +Toynbee, Arnold J., "The Forfeited Birthright of the Abortive Far Western + Christian Civilization", in A STUDY OF HISTORY, VOLUME II {Oxford Univ 34} + W: The Synod of Whitby (664) adopted the teachings of Colman, and Charles + Martel lost at Tours. + C: How European Christianity would have divided between the Celts of the + North and the Roman-Orthodox of the South and East, with France Muslim. +Toynbee, Arnold J., "The Forfeited Birthright of the Abortive Scandinavian + Civilization", A STUDY OF HISTORY, VOLUME II {Oxford Univ 34} + W: The Vikings captured Constantinople in 860, established stronger colonies + in N America, harassed the Muslims in the Caspian, etc. + C: How more aggressive expansion would have resulted in Viking control of N + America, Europe and northern Asia by 1400. +Toynbee, Arnold J., "The Forfeited Birthright of the Abortive Far Eastern + Christian Civilization", in A STUDY OF HISTORY, VOLUME II {Oxford Univ 34} + W: The Umayyads did not press on after their defeat at the Kish-Samarkand + pass in 731. + C: How Nestorian Christianity could have spread into Asia, later leading to + Moslem destruction at the hands of Christianized Seljuks and Mongols. +Toynbee, Arnold J., "If Alexander the Great had Lived On", in SOME PROBLEMS + IN GREEK HISTORY {Oxford Univ 69} + W: Alexander of Macedon listened to his physicians' advice in 323 BC, and + later returned to the Mediterranean. + S: How Alexander made the Pheonicians his Navy, conquered Carthage, allied + with Rome, conquered India and Ch'in and finally died in 287 BC. + C: Synopsis in Demandt's HISTORY THAT NEVER HAPPENED. +Toynbee, Arnold J., "If Ochus and Philip had Lived On", in SOME PROBLEMS IN + GREEK HISTORY {Oxford Univ 69} + W: Artaxerxes III Ochus did not die in 338 BC and Philip II of Macedon did + not die in 336 BC. + S: Surviving an assassination attempt, Philip ends up killing son Alexander, + conquers Rome and pushes Ochus' Persia back to the Euphrates. +Trevelyan, G.M., "If Napoleon had Won the Battle of Waterloo", in Westminster + Gazette Jul 07, CLIO: A MUSE {Longmans, Green 13; Longmans, Green 30; Books + for Libraries 68} and + W: Blucher's breach of faith led to Napoleon's victory at "Mont St. Jean". + S: Despite the Napoleon of Peace, his former enemies maintain their standing + armies, stifling all reformist movements for decades. + C: Synopsis in Fadness' "What If Napoleon Had Won at Waterloo?" +Tuchman, Barbara, "If Mao Had Come to Washington", in Foreign Affairs Oct 72, + NOTES FROM CHINA {Collier 72} and PRACTICING HISTORY {Knopf 81; Ballantine + 82} + W: Ambassador Hurley relayed Mao and Chou En-lai's request for a meeting + with FDR in 1945. + C: Primarily a discussion of why it made no difference, but a few brief + comments on how it might have averted the Korean and Vietnam wars. +Turtledove, Harry, "Counting Potsherds", in Amazing Mar 89 and + W: The Persians defeated the Greeks and democracy never developed. + S: Investigations of a Persian eunuch sent by his king to look into the + Greek situation. +Turtledove, Harry, "Departures", in Jan 89 and + W: Mohammad became a Christian. The lack of Moslem pressure meant Byzantium + never fell but faced a technologically sophisticated Persia. + S: Christian monks, including a powerful hymn writer named Mouamet, flee a + Sinai monastery for Constantinople as Persian forces approach. +-----------------, AGENT OF BYZANTIUM {Congdon & Weed 87; Worldwide 88} +>---------------<, "The Eyes of Argos" (aka "Etos Kosmou 6814"), in Amazing + Jan 86 + S: Byzantine agent Basil Argyros discovers that the telescope has been + invented in the steppes north of the Danube. +>---------------<, "Strange Eruptions" (aka "Etos Kosmou 6816"), in + Aug 86 + S: Argyros finds a cure for smallpox. +>---------------<, "Unholy Trinity" (aka "Etos Kosmou 6824"), in Amazing Jul + 85 + S: Argyros discovers the invention of dynamite. +>---------------<, "Archetypes" (aka "Etos Kosmou 6825"), in Amazing Nov 85 + S: Argyros investigates numerous identical seditious handbills appearing + near the Persian frontier. +>---------------<, "Images" (aka "Etos Kosmou 6826"), in Mar 87 + S: Argyros is embroiled in an argument about religious icons. +>---------------<, "Superwine" (aka "Etos Kosmou 6829"), in Apr 87 + and HIGH ADVENTURE (eds Manson & Ardai) + S: Argyros is also there for the invention of brandy. +-----------------, "Pillar of Cloud, Pillar of Fire", in 15 Dec 89 + S: Argyros is sent to deal with labor strikes in Alexandria, Egypt. +Turtledove, Harry, A DIFFERENT FLESH {Congdon & Weed 88} + W: European explorers discovered Ramapithecan "sims" instead of red-skinned + men when they reached the New World. +>---------------<, "Vilest Beast", in Analog Sep 85 + S: In 1610, sims steal a babe from a Jamestown cradle and her father + ventures into the wilderness to save her. +>---------------<, "And So to Bed", in KALEIDOSCOPE {Ballantine 90} and TERRY + CARR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY OF THE YEAR (ed Carr) {Tor 87} + S: In 1661, Samuel Pepys purchases two sims to help out around the house and + contemplates the origins of species. +>---------------<, "Around the Salt Lick", in Analog Feb 86 + S: In 1691, a Virginia hunter is captured by wild sims and hopes that his + sim assistant will think of rescuing him. +>---------------<, "The Iron Elephant", in Analog May 86 + S: In 1782, steam-driven trains first appear, and a race is held with one of + the mammoth-pulled trains they threaten to replace. +>---------------<, "Though the Heavens Fall", in Analog Sep 86 + S: In 1804, a lawyer uses the existence of sims to argue that a runaway + Negro slave should not be returned to his one-time owner. +>---------------<, "Trapping Run" + S: In 1812, a trapper in the Rockies is wounded by a bear and is nursed back + to health by sims. +>---------------<, "Freedom" + S: In 1988, university students opposed to medical experiments on sims + kidnap a sim carrying AIDS but do not take enough of the new HIV inhibitor. +Turtledove, Harry, "Down in the Bottomlands", in Analog Jan 93 + W: The Mediterranean basin never opened to the ocean. + S: In modern days, a murder during a tour of the Bottomlands Trench reveals + a plot to destroy the "Gibraltar" mountains with a nuclear weapon. +Turtledove, Harry, THE GUNS OF THE SOUTH: A NOVEL OF THE CIVIL WAR + {Ballantine 92}; excerpt publ. as "The Long Drum Roll", in + W: The Confederacy obtained advanced weaponry just before the Wilderness. + S: Afrikaaners from 2014 provide the CSA with AK-47s, etc, leading to + Confederate victory in the Civil War, but strings are attached to the gift. +Turtledove, Harry, "Hindsight", Analog mid-Dec 84 and KALEIDOSCOPE + {Ballantine 90} + A woman from 1988 goes back 40 years and sells SF stories written in between + plus accounts of famous events, such as "Neutron Star" and "Watergate". +Turtledove, Harry, IN THE BALANCE {not yet published} + W: Space aliens arrived on Earth in 1942. + S: +Turtledove, Harry, "In the Presence of Mine Enemies", in Jan 92 + W: Isolationist America stayed out of WW2 until it was attacked by Germany + and Japan a generation after the fall of Britain and Russia. + S: Even in a 2010 Berlin at the heart of a world dominated by Nazi Germany, + the Jews will still survive. +Turtledove, Harry, "Islands in the Sea", in + W: Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire fell to the Muslims in the 8th + century AD. + S: Fifty years after the fall of Constantinople, the king of the Bulgars + invites Muslims and Christians to decide which faith he should adopt. +Turtledove, Harry, "King of All", in New Destinies Winter 88 + W: Cocaine were legal and caffeine illegal. + S: A day in the life of a policeman fighting "caffeine addiction", who + orders "coke" the next day at a MacDonald's. +Turtledove, Harry, "The Last Article", in Jan 88, , and THE + FANTASTIC WORLD WAR II (ed McSherry) {Baen 90} + W: Hitler's armies penetrated all the way to India. + S: Gandhi preaches non-violent resistance to the German occupation. +Turtledove, Harry, "The Pugnacious Peacemaker", in Tor SF Double #20 {Tor 90} + C: Sequel to de Camp's "The Wheels of If". + S: The former New York DA and New Belfast bishop, now a judge, is sent to S + America to adjudicate a complex religio-political dispute. +Turtledove, Harry, "Ready for the Fatherland", in + W: Hitler was shot and killed by one of his generals on 19 Feb 1943 in + retaliation for an insult, and his successors made peace with the Soviets. + S: In 1979 fascist Croatia, British agents meet with a Serbian partisan + seeking weapons. +Turtledove, Harry, "Report of the Special Committee on the Quality of Life", + in UNIVERSE 10 (ed Carr) {Doubleday 80} and + W: Columbus' proposed voyage was subject to an environmental impact study. + S: The text of the report, suggesting that Columbus be turned down. +Turtledove, Harry, A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE {Ballantine 90} + W: The formation of Mars resulted in a larger planet, capable of sustaining + a thicker atmosphere and surface water. + S: After a tool-bearing lifeform destroys a Viking probe on the surface of + "Minerva", competitive American and Soviet manned missions are sent out. +Utley, Steven, "Look Away", in Feb 92 + W: Albert Sidney Johnston survived Shiloh (a Confederate victory) and + carried the Civil War north to Ohio. + S: After the war, former army officers debate whether the CSA should pursue + its own version of "manifest destiny" in Mexico and points south. +Utley, Steven, & Howard Waldrop, "Custer's Last Jump", in UNIVERSE 6 (ed + Carr) {Doubleday 76; Popular Library 77}; THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION OF THE + YEAR #6 (ed Carr) {Holt, Rinehart & Winston 77}; SCIENCE FICTION A TO Z (eds + Asimov et al) {Houghton Mifflin 82}; ; etc + W: Ben Franklin invented the internal combustion engine and the Civil War + was fought with mechanized transport. + S: Info about the airplane Crazy Horse inherited from the Confederacy and + later flew at the Little Big Horn. +Van Arnam, Dave: see White, Ted, & Dave Van Arnam +van den Daele, Wolfgang: see Bohme, Gernot, Wolfgang van den Daele, & + Wolfgang Krohn, + E.G.H. Joffe (tr) +Van Loon, Hendrik Willem, "If the Dutch had Kept New Amsterdam", in + W: + S: Manhattan remains a tolerant enclave until the 19th century, and its + persisting laws have curious effects on Prohibition. +Van Rjndt, Phillipe, THE TRIAL OF ADOLF HITLER {Summit 78} + W: Hitler faked his suicide and survived WW2, but was found in the 1970s. + S: An internat'l tribunal considers his fate. +Vanauken, Sheldon, "The World After the South Won", in Southern Partisan + Spring 84 + W: Britain recognized the Confederacy in Dec 1862, and her contribution of + troops tipped the scales at Gettysburg. + S: The story of the intervention, and some of the later effects of the + British-Confederate alliance. +Von Rospach, Charles, "'Til Death Do Us Part", in + W: Marilyn Monroe was caught sneaking out of the White House in the middle + of a 1962 night. + S: After her suicide, Monroe's ghost haunts JFK, urging him to find a way + to be with her. +Waldman, Milton, "If Booth had Missed Lincoln", in Scribner's Nov 30 and + + W: John Wilkes Booth's gun misfired. + S: Critical review of a Lincoln biography which blamed the president's woes + on the Radical Republicans rather than on his reconstruction policies. + C: Synopsis in Fadness' "What If Booth's Bullet Had Missed Lincoln?" +Waldron, Webb, "If Lincoln had Yielded", in Century Magazine Jun 26 + W: Lincoln withdrew Major Anderson et al from Fort Sumter. + S: In 1926, an Englishman discusses society, literature and politics with + three Northerners variously happy and unhappy with the events of 1861. +Waldrop, Howard, "The Effects of Alienation", in Omni Jun 92 + W: On the brink of defeat, Nazi Germany employed nuclear-tipped rockets to + win WW2. + S: 15 years later, a Nazi secret policeman attends "The Three Stooges Space + Opera" at a Zurich cafe run by the widow of Berthold Brecht. +Waldrop, Howard, "Fin de Cycle", in NIGHT OF THE COOTERS {Ursus/Ziesing 90} + and Mid-Dec 91 + W: The industrial revolution took an odd twist, resulting in steam-powered + stilts and multi-wheel cycles for transport. + S: In 1890s Paris, Melies joins with Rousseau, Satie, Proust and Picasso to + make a movie about the Dreyfus affair. +Waldrop, Howard, "The Passing of the Western", in RAZORED SADDLES (eds + Lansdale & LoBrutto) {Dark Harvest 89; Avon 90} and NIGHT OF THE COOTERS + {Ursus/Ziesing 90} + W: Taming the American West also involved bringing water to it, plus the + film industry set up in Boise. + S: Excerpts from books and magazine articles about Boise's one-time + fascination with cloudbusters. +Waldrop, Howard, "Hoover's Men", in Omni Oct 88 and NIGHT OF THE COOTERS + {Ursus/Ziesing 90} + W: Al Smith beat Herbert Hoover in the election of 1928. + S: Afterwards, Smith asks Hoover to become head of the new Federal Radio + Agency, which also gives TV an early push. +Waldrop, Howard, "Ike at the Mike", in Omni Jun 82, THE FIRST OMNI BOOK OF + SCIENCE FICTION (ed Datlow) {Zebra 83}, HOWARD WHO? {Doubleday 86} and + STRANGE THINGS IN CLOSE-UP {Legend 90} + W: Dwight Eisenhower cashed in his train ticket to West Point so that he + could learn to play jazz clarinet. + S: In 1968, Senator Aron Presley attends Ike's final performance when + President Joe Kennedy awards medals to him and Louis Armstrong. +Waldrop, Howard, "The Lions are Asleep This Night", in Omni Aug 86, ALL ABOUT + STRANGE MONSTERS OF THE RECENT PAST {Ursus 87}, <87AW>, STRANGE THINGS IN + CLOSE-UP {Legend 89} and STRANGE MONSTERS OF THE RECENT PAST {Ace 91} + W: Columbus found the Americas uninhabited. Later, African slaves imported + to mine Peruvian gold rebelled, leading to white decline worldwide. + S: In 1894, an African boy writes a play about an African king while reading + a history of the fall of European power. +Waldrop, Howard, THEM BONES {Ace 84; Ziesing 89} + Time travelers trying to avert WW3 end up in wrong locales: one in right + time, wrong timeline; the rest vice versa. +Waldrop, Howard, "...The World as We Know't", in Shayol #6, HOWARD WHO? + {Doubleday 86} and STRANGE THINGS IN CLOSE-UP {Legend 89} + W: Phlogiston exists. + S: A late 19th-century scientist attempts to isolate pure phlogiston, with + apocalyptic results. +Waldrop, Howard: see also Utley, Steven, & Howard Waldrop +Wall, John W.: see Sarban +Watson, Ian, CHEKHOV'S JOURNEY {Carroll & Graf 89, 91} + Hypnotized to portray Anton Chekhov's Sakhalin trip, an actor instead + describes an anachronistic expedition to the Tunguska site. +Watt-Evans, Lawrence, "New Worlds", in Dec 91 and CROSSTIME TRAFFIC + {Ballantine 92} + Crosstime traveler offers to sell the secret to parallel worlds, and finds + one with faster-than-light travel. Both sides fear the other. +Watt-Evans, Lawrence, "Storm Trooper", in Jan 92 and CROSSTIME + TRAFFIC {Ballantine 92} + Reality storms occasionally swap pieces of Earth with pieces of alternates, + and New York sets up a Discontinuity Control Squad. +Watt-Evans, Lawrence, "Truth, Justice, and the American Way", in and + CROSSTIME TRAFFIC {Ballantine 92} + W: Smith split the Democrats in 1932, causing Hoover to beat FDR. The US- + Japan fight started earlier, and a firm response at Munich averted WW2. + S: 20 years later, the Secretary of State looks for a country to which he + can name a Jewish consul without offending the host government. +Watt-Evans, Lawrence, "Why I Left Harry's All-Night Hamburgers", in + xxx xx; THE NEW HUGO WINNERS, VOLUME II (ed Asimov) and CROSSTIME TRAFFIC + {Ballantine 92} +--------------------, "A Flying Saucer with Minnesota Plates", in Aug + 91 and CROSSTIME TRAFFIC {Ballantine 92} + S: A West Virginia diner caters to late-night customers from parallel + Earths. + C: Except for short comments on possibilities, neither story is particularly + AH. +Webb, Lucas, THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF JOHN F. KENNEDY: A POLITICAL + FANTASY {Reginald/Borgo 76} + W: + S: A Lord President of the US remembers his boyhood during the early 1960s. +Weissman, Barry Alan, "Past Touch-the-Sky Mountain", in If May 68 + W: Marco Polo discovered America. + S: An English merchant and wives in Chinese America is mysteriously + transported crosstime to the Lone Star State, where he meets a traffic cop. +Wells, H.G., A MODERN UTOPIA {Chapman & Hall 05; Univ Nebraska 67}; incl. in + WORKS, vol. 9 {Scribner's 25} + W: The Dark Ages never happened. + S: A look at a Utopian 20th century. + C: Borderline AH, as the world is identical to Earth except that it is + "beyond Sirius". +Wentz, Richard E., "Reflections of a Rebellion Averted", in Christian Century + 23-30 Jun 76 + W: The American Revolution never occurred. + S: Musings on life in idyllic, non-nationalist N America, but without any + detail. +West, Wallace, RIVER OF TIME {Avalon 63} + Teen-agers try to avert WW3 by saving Julius Caesar. +Westheimer, David, LIGHTER THAN A FEATHER: A NOVEL {Little Brown 71}; as + DOWNFALL {Bantam 72} + W: The atomic bomb was not used on Japan. + S: Operation Olympic, the invasion of Kyushu. +White, James, THE SILENT STARS GO BY {Ballantine 91} + W: C. 200 BC, an Irishman returned home from Alexandria with the plans for + Hero's aeolipile, leading to an industrial revolution 1000 years early. + S: In 1491, the Empire of Hibernia launches man's first starship, and her + outspoken surgeon suspects a religious conspiracy aboard. +White, Ted, THE JEWELS OF ELSEWHEN {Belmont 67} + S: +White, Ted, & Dave Van Arnam, SIDESLIP {Pyramid 68} + W: Alien intervention averted WW2. + S: Hitler ends up in America, calling for resistance against the "angels." +Wildavsky, Aaron, "What if the U.S. had had one law for its allies and + another for its adversaries? The Suez Crisis (1956)", in + W: The US did not come down hard on France and Britain during the 1956 war. + C: Scholarly speculations on alternative outcomes, including friendlier + relations with France, and an Israel less threatened by Arabs. +Williams, Emlyn, HEADLONG: A NOVEL {Heinemann 80; Viking 81; Magnum 82} + W: The British royal family was wiped out by a 1935 airship disaster, and it + took 5 weeks to locate an heir. + S: A 25-year-old stage actor becomes king of England and discovers the + limits on royal power in the 1900s. + C: Basis for the non-AH movie KING RALPH. +Williams, Philip M., "What if Hugh Gaitskell had become Prime Minister + (1963)", in + W: The British Labor party leader did not suddenly die in Jan 1963. + C: A more moderate Labor party and movement results, with general economic + success and an early end to Rhodesia's UDI plans. +Williams, Walter Jon, "No Spot of Ground", in Nov 89, and + FACETS {Tor 90} + W: Edgar Allen Poe did not die in 1849, but lived to become a Confederate + general. + S: After Pickett becomes ill, Poe takes command of his troops at the battle + of Hanover Junction during the Forty Days. +Williamson, Jack, THE LEGION OF TIME {Bluejay 85} + Hero from 1930s is shown two possible futures which hinge on whether or not + a particular event happens; future woman tries to affect what happens. +Wilson, Robert Charles, GYPSIES {Doubleday 89} + S: +Windsor, Philip, "If I had been... Alexander Dubcek in 1968", in + W: Dubcek retained more control over events during Prague Spring. + C: Musings on a middle course which might have averted a Soviet invasion. +Wodhams, Jack, "Try Again", in Amazing Nov 68 + W: Germany pursued a more rational course in WW2, avoiding the invasion of + Russia til 44 and tipping the US off to Japanese plans in the Pacific. + S: A man gets the chance to relive his life, and the Nazis hear about the + amazing boy with prophetic powers. Detailed history of a different WW2. +Wolfe, Gene, "How I Lost the Second World War and Helped Turn Back the German + Invasion", in Analog May 73, THE BEST OF ANALOG (ed Bova) {Baronet 78; Ace + xx} and GENE WOLFE'S BOOK OF DAYS {Doubleday 81}; incl in CASTLE OF DAYS + {Tor 92} + W: Germany and Japan used economic warfare instead of military conquest in + the 1930s and 40s. Also, Churchill returned to journalism after WW1. + S: A retired US Army officer from Abilene KS invents a game called World + War, and participates in a race between German and British compact cars. +Womack, Jack, TERRAPLANE: A NOVEL {Tor 90} + W: Lincoln was murdered in Baltimore on the way to his inauguration, and + Teddy Roosevelt freed the slaves in 1907. Later, Zangara killed FDR. + S: Fleeing an ultra-violent future Moscow, corporate agents end up in 1939 + New York of a different past. +------------, ELVISSEY {Tor 93} + S: In a future with religions based on Elvis Presley, two people plan a trip + to an alternate past and bring back Elvis. + C: Non-AH entries in series are AMBIENT and HEATHERN. +Wrede, Patricia C., & Caroline Stervermer, SORCERY AND CECILIA {Ace 89} + W: Magic works, in Regency London. + S: +Wright, Esmond, "If I had been... Benjamin Franklin in the Early 1770s", in + + W: Franklin returned to America in 1775 with evidence of a softening British + attitude towards dealings with the colonies. + C: Franklin contemplates the troubles, and then describes the appointment of + Washington as governor of Vandalia (Ohio) and other compromises. +Wyndham, John, "Random Quest", in CONSIDER HER WAYS & OTHERS {M. Joseph 61; + Penguin 65}, THE INFINITE MOMENT {Ballantine 61}, AS TOMORROW BECOMES TODAY + (ed Sullivan) {Prentice-Hall 74}, etc + W: The League of Nations prevented WW2. + S: A man searches for the analog of a woman with whom he fell in love in a + parallel world. +Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn, ARIOSTO: ARIOSTO FURIOSO, A ROMANCE FOR AN ALTERNATIVE + RENAISSANCE {Pocket 80} + W: The Medicis brought together Italia Federata in 1515. + S: A court poet to il Primario is involved in intrigues to hold Italy + together, but dreams of a world where he is a famous soldier-poet. +Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn, "An Exaltation of Spiders", in BEYOND THE GATE OF + WORLDS {Tor 91} + C: In same timeline as Silverberg's THE GATE OF WORLDS. + S: The True Inca, seeking a solution to possible invasion by the False Inca + of Brazil, sends a mission to the Maori nation. +Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn, ON SAINT HUBERT'S THING {Cheap Street 82} + W: + S: Religious intrigue in a world where Christian Europe is divided north vs. + south. +Yulsman, Jerry, ELLEANDER MORNING: A NOVEL {St. Martin's/Marek 84; Tor 85} + W: Hitler died in 1913 while still a starving artist. + S: A woman is mystified by a strange book entitled the TIME-LIFE HISTORY OF + WW2 and by her grandmother's murder of an obscure Viennese artist. +Zebrowski, George, "The Cliometricon", in Amazing May 75, and THE + MONADIC UNIVERSE {Ace 77} + A machine lets historians study AHs, with looks at D-Day and Thermopylae. +-----------------, "The Number of the Sand", in Amazing Aug 91 and + A cliometrician examines the possible lives of Hannibal and their effect on + the 2nd Punic War. +-----------------, "Let Time Shape", in Amazing Mar 92 and + Examines the possibilities of Columbus finding the Americas populated by the + techonologically sophisticated descendants of refugees from Carthage. +Zebrowski, George, "The Eichmann Variations", in LIGHT YEARS AND DARK (ed + Bishop) {Berkley 84} and NEBULA AWARDS 20 (ed Zebrowski) {HBJ 85} + W: WW2 ended with Japan surrendering after the Allies dropped nuclear + weapons on Germany in 1946. + S: Adolf Eichmann, captured by the Israelis in 1961, is executed 6e6 times. +Zebrowski, George, "Lenin in Odessa", in Amazing Mar 90 and + W: Lenin was assassinated in 1918 by a Russian expatriate. + S: Stalin describes the assassin and the occasion. +Zebrowski, George, STRANGER SUNS {Bantam 91}; rev of "Stranger Suns", serial + in Amazing Jan and Mar 91 + An alien ship found in Antarctica includes portals to alternate Earths, but + those who explore them can never return to their home lines. +Zelazny, Roger, "The Game of Blood and Dust", in Galaxy Apr 75, THE BEST + FROM GALAXY VOLUME IV (ed Baen) {Award 76}, THE LAST DEFENDER OF CAMELOT + {Pocket 80; Underwood/Miller 81; Avon 88}, etc + Two aliens play at changing events in our past to compete in achieving their + individual goals (success or failure for humanity). +Zelazny, Roger, ROADMARKS {Ballantine 79} + On a strange road that reaches from past to future, a man fights assassins + and attempts to prevent a Greek defeat at Marathon. + + +Reference Materials: + +Ash, Brian (ed), THE VISUAL HISTORY OF SCIENCE FICTION {Harmony 77; Pan 78} + Includes discussion of AH (pp 116, 121-123) and parallel worlds (142-144), + with bibliographies. +Brownlow, Kevin, HOW IT HAPPENED HERE: THE MAKING OF A FILM {Secker & Warburg + 68; Doubleday 68} + Description of the making of IT HAPPENED HERE, a movie directed by Brownlow + and Andrew Mollo, about a nurse in Nazi-occupied Britain. +Carter, Paul A., "The Fate Changer: Human Destiny and the Time Machine", in + THE CREATION OF TOMORROW {Columbia Univ 77} + Includes short discussion of some Change the Past stories (e.g. Moore's + BRING THE JUBILEE and Ryan's "The Mosaic"). +---------------, "The Phantom Dictator: Science Fiction Discovers Hitler", in + THE CREATION OF TOMORROW {Columbia Univ 77} + Includes short discussion of some WW2-related AH stories (e.g. Dick's THE + MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE and Mullally's HITLER HAS WON). +Chamberlain, Gordon B., "Allohistory in Science Fiction", in + Discussion of what AH is and isn't. +Demandt, Alexander, + Colin. D. Thompson (tr), HISTORY THAT NEVER HAPPENED: A + TREATISE ON THE QUESTION, WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF--? {McFarland 93}; + orig UNGESCHEHENE GESCHICHTE: EIN TRAKTAT UBER DIE FRAGE, WAS WARE + GESCHEHEN, WENN--? + Commentary on various possibilities, plus a synopsis of Toynbee's "If + Alexander the Great had Lived On". +Fadness, Fern Bryant, "What If Booth's Bullet Had Missed Lincoln?", in THE + PEOPLE'S ALMANAC #2 (eds Wallechinsky & Wallace) {Morrow 78; Bantam 78} + Synopsis of Waldman's "If Booth had Missed Lincoln". +--------------------, "What If Napoleon Had Won at Waterloo?", in THE + PEOPLE'S ALMANAC #2 (eds Wallechinsky & Wallace) {Morrow 78; Bantam 78} + Synopsis of Trevelyan's "If Napoleon had Won the Battle of Waterloo". +--------------------, "What If the British Had Won the Revolutionary War?", + in THE PEOPLE'S ALMANAC #2 (eds Wallechinsky & Wallace) {Morrow 78; Bantam + 78} + Synopsis of Sobel's FOR WANT OF A NAIL...; IF BURGOYNE HAD WON AT SARATOGA. +--------------------, "What If the South Had Won the Civil War?", in THE + PEOPLE'S ALMANAC #2 (eds Wallechinsky & Wallace) {Morrow 78; Bantam 78} + Synopsis of Kantor's IF THE SOUTH HAD WON THE CIVIL WAR. +Hacker, Barton C., & Gordon B. Chamberlain, "Pasts that Might Have Been, II: + A Revised Bibliography of Alternative History", in + 61-page listing of AHs published before 1986, with short synopses and + publication histories. +Harrison, Harry, "Worlds Beside Worlds", in SCIENCE FICTION AT LARGE (ed + Nicholls) {Gollancz 76; Harper & Row 76} + On writing AH and the reasoning behind A TRANSATLANTIC TUNNEL, HURRAH! +McHale, Brian, POSTMODERNIST FICTION {Methuen 87} + Includes 3-page discussion of "apocryphal history" and 2 pages on related + "creative anachronisms". +Pierce, John J., "On the Edge", in GREAT THEMES OF SCIENCE FICTION: A STUDY + IN IMAGINATION AND EVOLUTION {Greenwood 87} + Subchapter "The Possibility Binders" discusses time travel, parallel worlds + and AH stories, including some French and Japanese tales. + +49 Submissions Not Yet Evaluated: + + +From rec.arts.sf.written Wed Jan 13 13:43:59 1993 +Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written +Path: lysator.liu.se!isy!liuida!sunic!mcsun!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!rpi!batcomputer!cornell!uw-beaver!newsfeed.rice.edu!rice!spacsun.rice.edu!schmunk +From: schmunk@spacsun.rice.edu (Robert Schmunk) +Subject: LIST: Alternate Histories (5/5) (500 lines) +Message-ID: +Sender: news@rice.edu (News) +Reply-To: schmunk@spacsun.rice.edu (Robert Schmunk) +Organization: Dept. of Space Physics, Rice University, Houston TX +Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 02:50:01 GMT +Lines: 472 + + + THE USENET ALTERNATE HISTORY LIST + Version 13 - 12 Jan 1993 + + APPENDIX - NON-ENGLISH PUBLICATIONS + +This appendix lists Alternate Histories published in languages other than +English. The bulk of this data is taken from the Hacker & Chamberlain +bibliography (described above) but some was also provided by Andreas Morlok. + +Each entry contains an "E:" or "ELE:" line. The former indicates a translation +of the story's title; the latter is the title of an English-language edition of +the entry, details about which may be found in the main list. + + +In Czech: + +Capek, Karel, "Pseudo-Lot cili o vlastenectvi", in KNIHA APOKRYFU {Borovy 45} + ELE: "Pseudo Lot, or Concerning Patriotism" + S: Lot rejects the warning of the angels to flee Sodom. + + +In Dutch: + +Mulisch, Harry, DE TOEKOMST VAN GISTEREN: PROTOKOL VAN EEN SCHRIJVERIJ {De + Bezige Bij 72} + E: YESTERDAY'S FUTURE: OUTLINE OF A WORK + W: Hitler was assassinated in 1944. + S: Discussion of a possible novel about the assassination, the SS + countercoup and German victory in WW2. + + +In Esperanto: + +Capek, Karel, + Josef Vondrousek (tr), title unknown, in LIBRO DE APOKRIFOJ + {Ceha Esperanto-Asocio 70}; orig "Pseudo-Lot cili o vlastenectvi" + ELE: "Pseudo Lot, or Concerning Patriotism" + S: Lot rejects the warning of the angels to flee Sodom. + + +In French: + +Andrevon, Jean-Pierre, "L'Anniversaire du Reich de mille ans", in C'EST + ARRIVE MAIS ON N'EN A RIEN SU {Denoel 84} + E: "The Anniversary of the Thousand-Year Reich" + W: + S: Nazi power lasts *exactly* 1000 years. +Andrevon, Jean-Pierre, "Qu'est-ce qu'il faisait, le jeune docteur + Frankenstein, en mai 81? et en mai 68?", in C'EST ARRIVE MAIS ON N'EN A RIEN + SU {Denoel 84} + E: "What Was He Doing, Young Dr. Frankenstein, in May 1981 and May 1968?" + W: Camus, Philipe and Vian did not die in the early 1960s. + S: A descendant of Dr. Frankenstein extends the lives of Camus, Philipe and + Vian to see how they would have affected later French history. +Arnoux, Alexandre, FAUT-IL BRULER JEANNE? {Gallimard 54} + E: MUST JOAN BURN? + W: Joan of Arc was rescued. + S: God allows Joan to be rescued, much to her disillusionment. +Aron, Robert, VICTOIRE A WATERLOO {Andre Sabatier 37; Plon 64; Rombaldi 76, + 2-231-00191-8} + E: VICTORY AT WATERLOO + W: Napoleon won at Waterloo. + S: Despite victory, Napoleon suffers an identity crisis and abdicates. +Balthasar, AS-TU VU MONTEZUMA? {Le Monde 80}; serial in Le Monde Jun-Sep 80 + E: HAVE YOU SEEN MONTEZUMA? + S: +Barbet, Pierre, CARTHAGE SERA DETRUITE: SETNI ENQUETER TEMPOREL, 2 {Fleuve + Noir 84} + E: CARTHAGE WILL BE DESTROYED: TIME INVESTIGATOR SETNI, 2 + W: Hannibal captured Rome. + S: A renegade time agent helps out Hannibal, and tries to found a + Carthaginian colony in Quebec. +Barbet, Pierre, L'EMPIRE DU BAPHOMET {Fleuve Noir 72} + ELE: BAPHOMET'S METEOR + W: A demon-like alien was shipwrecked on Earth in 1118. + S: The alien aids the Knights Templar as they set out in 1275 to save the + Holy Land and conquer the Mongols. +--------------, CROISADE STELLAIRE {Fleuve Noir 74} + ELE: STELLAR CRUSADE + S: Outer-space sequel to the above. +Barbet, Pierre, LIANE DE NOLDAZ {Fleuve Noir 73} + ELE: THE JOAN-OF-ARC REPLAY + S: +Barbier, J.-B., SI NAPOLEON AVAIT PRIS LONDRES {Libraire Francais 70} + E: IF NAPOLEON HAD TAKEN LONDON + S: +Blanqui, Louis-Auguste, L'ETERNITE PAR LES ASTRES: HYPOTHESE ASTRONOMIQUE {G + Bailliere 1872} + E: ETERNITY THROUGH THE STARS: AN ASTRONOMICAL HYPOTHESIS + S: +Boireau, Jacques, "Les enfants d'Ibn Khaldoun", in UNIVERS 07 (ed Sadoul) + {J'ai Lu 76} + E: "Children of Ibn Khaldun" + W: The Arabs won at Tours. + S: Progressive Muslim southern France later suffers emigration from the + north. +Boireau, Jacques, "L'ete", in FICTION {Opta 84} + E: "Summer" + S: +Bon, Frederic, & Michel-Antoine Burnier, SI MAI AVAIT GAGNE: FACETIE + POLITIQUE {Pauvert 68} + E: IF MAY HAD SUCCEEDED: A POLITICAL PLEASANTRY + W: The May 1968 riots produced a socialist revolution rather than a + conservative backlash. + S: +Bopp, Leon, LIAISONS DU MONDE {vol 1, Gallimard 38; vol 2-4 Editions du + Dialogue 41-44; complete Gallimard 49} + E: LIFE'S CONJUNCTIONS + W: The Popular Front gov't of 1936 France led to a leftist revolution. + S: A detailed history text. +Burnier, Michel-Antoine: see Bon, Frederic, & Michel-Antoine Burnier +Caillois, Roger, PONCE PILATE: RECIT {Gallimard 61} + E: PONTIUS PILATE: A STORY + W: Pilate found Jesus innocent and released him. + S: Christianity is aborted. +Costa, A., L'APPEL DU 17 JUIN: ROMAN {Lattes 80} + E: THE APPEAL OF JUNE 17: A NOVEL + S: +Delisle de Sales, Jean Claude Izouard, MA REPUBLIQUE {xxx 1791} + E: MY REPUBLIC + C: A history text of France, but chapter 21 speculates on an alternate + French Revolution resulting from a stronger Louis XVI. +d'Ormesson, Jean, LA GLOIRE DE L'EMPIRE {Gallimard 71} + ELE: THE GLORY OF THE EMPIRE + S: +Douay, D., LE PRINCIPE DE L'OEUF {Calmann-Levy 80} + E: THE EGG PRINCIPLE + S: +Droit, Jacques, MALHEUREUX ULYSSE {xxx 56} + E: UNHAPPY ULYSSES + W: Louis XVI escaped arrest. + S: In 1870, France is ruled by Louis XIX. +Duits, Charles, PTAH HOTEP {Denoel 71, 81} + W: Constantine suppressed Christianity. + S: Far future of a Egyptian-Roman-Arab world. +Etienne, Gerard, UN AMBASSADEUR-MACUTE A MONTREAL {Nouvelle-Optique 79} + E: A HAITIAN AMBASSADOR AT MONTREAL + W: Quebec seceded from Canada in 1970. + S: Interaction between the Duvalier dictatorship of Haiti and Quebecois + separatists. +Geoffroy-Chateau, Louis-Napoleon, NAPOLEON ET LA CONQUETE DU MONDE, 1812- + 1823: HISTOIRE DE LAN MONARCHIE UNIVERSELLE {Dellaye 1836; J. Bry 1851; + Tallandier 83}; as NAPOLEON APOCRYPHYE {Paulin 1841; Librairie Illustree + 1896} + E: NAPOLEON AND THE CONQUEST OF THE WORLD, 1812-1823: HISTORY OF THE + UNIVERSAL MONARCHY or THE APOCRYPHAL NAPOLEON + W: Napoleon sought out and destroyed the Russian army rather than freeze in + Moscow. + S: Napoleon keeps on going. + C: Believed to be the first AH written in novel length. +Goldring, Maurice, LA REPUBLIQUE POPULAIRE DU FRANCE {Belfond 84} + E: THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF FRANCE + S: +Grousset, Rene, FIGURES DE PROUE {Plon 49} + E: FIGUREHEADS + S: +Hertel, Francois, "Lepic et l'histoire hypothetique", in JEREMIE ET BARABBAS + {Le Jour 66} + E: "Lepic and hypothetical history" + W: Montcalm beat Wolfe at the battle of Montreal. + S: 1940s Canada as a prosperous, ultra-Catholic nation. +Jeanne, Rene: see Laumann, E.M., & Rene Jeanne +Laumann, E.M., & Rene Jeanne, SI, LE 9 THERMIDOR...: HYPOTHESE HISTORIQUE + {Tallandier 29} + E: IF, ON 27 JULY 1794...: AN HISTORICAL HYPOTHESIS + W: Robespierre escaped the guillotine. + S: +Le Brun, Claire, "Les chansons de geste: la tentation de l'uchronie au moyen + age", in Imagine Autumn 82 + E: "The Chansons de Geste: the Temptation of Allohistory in the Middle Ages" + C: +Lesage, Alain-Rene, LES AVENTURES DE MONSIEUR ROBERT CHEVALIER, DIT DE + BEAUCHENE {Ganeau 1732; Dufour & Roux 1780} + E: THE ADVENTURES OF M. ROBERT CHEVALIER, AKA DE BEAUCHENE + W: AmerInds discovered Europe before vice versa. + C: Borderline AH, but a very early publication. +Mazarin, Jean, L'HISTOIRE DETOURNEE {Fleuve Noir 84} + E: HISTORY SIDETRACKED + W: Germany won WW2 using atomic weapons. + S: WW3 in 1989 against Japan. +Morin, Edgar, "Le Camarade-Dieu: un conte de Noel", in France Observateur 28 + Dec 61 + E: "The Comrade-God: a Christmas Story" + W: Surviving death in 1953, Stalin is proclaimed a living god in 1961. + S: Reactions from elsewhere. +Noel-Noel, VOYAGEUR DES SIECLES + E: TRAVELER THROUGH THE CENTURIES + S: +Quilliet, Bernard, LA VERITABLE HISTOIRE DE FRANCE {Presses de la Renaissance + 83} + E: THE TRUE HISTORY OF FRANCE + S: +Renouvier, Charles, UCHRONIE {Bureau de la Critique Philosophique 1876; Alcan + 01} + E: UCHRONIA or ALLOHISTORY + W: Marcus Aurelius helped reform the Roman army, free the slaves, repress + the Christians and avert the Dark Ages. + S: + C: Reputedly the origin of the word "uchronie". +Richard-Bessiere, F., CROISIERE DANS LE TEMPS {Fleuve Noir 51} + E: CRUISE IN TIME + W: Time travelers prevented the assassination of Henri IV in 1610. + S: France unifies Europe, but world war begins a century later and + civilization collapses in the 20th century. +Rigaut, Jacques, "Un brillant sujet", in Litterature Mar 21 and PAPIERS + POSTHUMES {Sans Pareil 34} + E: "A Brilliant Subject" + S: A time traveler poisons Jesus, does plastic surgery on Cleopatra, etc. +Robban, Randolph, SI L'ALLEMAGNE AVAIT VAINCU {Editions de la Tour du Guet + 50} + E: IF GERMANY HAD WON + W: Germany won WW2 using atomic weapons. + S: A diplomat imagines a world in which Germany lost. +Schuiten, Francois, & Benoit Peeters, LES MURAILLES DE SAMARIS {Casterman 83} + E: THE WALLS OF SAMARIS + S: +Thiry, Marcel, ECHEC AU TEMPS {Nouvelle France 45; La Renaissance du Livre + 62; Jacques Antoine 86} + E: REPULSE IN TIME + W: Napoleon won at Waterloo. + S: Time travelers reverse the event. +Van Herck, Paul, CAROLINE OH CAROLINE {Champs-Elysee 76} + W: Napoleon won at Waterloo. + S: Hitler leads an AmerInd-Negro army against Europe. +Van Herck, Paul, OPERATION BONAPARTE + S: + + +Reference Materials: + +Angenot, Marc, Farko Suvin, & Jean-Marc Gouanvic, "L'uchronie, histoire + alternative et science-fiction", in Imagine Autumn 82 + E: "Allohistory, alternative history and science fiction" + C: +Boireau, Jacques, "La machine a ralentir le temps" + E: "The time-slowdown machine" + C: Contrasts utopian French AHs with distopian American AHs. +Brie, Marc-Andre, "Quelques reperes pour une bibliographie de l'uchronie" + E: "Some Benchmarks for a Bibliography of Allohistory" + C: A bibliography of AH. +Gouanvic, Jean-Marc, "Pourquoi un 'Special Uchronie'", in Imagine Autumn 82 + E: Why an "Allohistory Special" + C: Discussion of AH in conjunction with a special issue of Imagine. +Herp, Jacques van, "Dans les corridors de l'espace-temps", in PANORAMA DE LA + SCIENCE-FICTION {Gerard 73; Marabout 75} + E: "In the Halls of Space-Time" + C: Includes discussion of AH. +Leccia, Pierre, "Uchronie: l'histoire detournee", in POLITIQUE/FICTION (ed + Riche) + E: "Allohistory: History Sidetracked" + C: Brief discussion and bibliography of AH. + + +In German: + + "Das Wort "Wenn" ist das deutscheste aller deutschen Worter." + <> + --'Friedrich Hebbel', in + Alexander Demandt's UNGESCHEHENE GESCHICHTE + +Amery, Carl, AN DEN FEUERN DER LEYERMARK {Nymphenburger 79; Heyne 83} + E: AT THE LIGHTS OF THE LEYERMARK or BY LEYERMARK CAMPFIRES + W: Former Confederate soldiers were hired as mercenaries by Bavaria and used + to subjugate Prussia. + S: Bavaria replaces Prussia as the dominant German power and important + European player. +Amery, Carl, DAS KONIGSPROJEKT {Piper 74; Deutscher Taschenbuchverlag 78; + Heyne 84} + E: THE KING-PROJECT or PROJECT ROYALTY + S: The Vatican tries to use Leonardo da Vinci's time machine to support a + Bavarian-Stuart reversal of the Reformation. +Basil, Otto, WENN DAS DER FUHRER WUSSTE {Molden 66} + ELE: TWILIGHT MAN + W: Germany won WW2 after dropping a nuclear bomb on London. + S: Hitler's death 20 years later leads to a power struggle. +Blumenberg, Hans C., "Und wenn er nicht gestorben ist...", in Tempo Jun 92 + E: "And if he didn't die..." + W: Film director Rainer Werner Fassbinder didn't die in 1982. + S: He later receives two Oscars, one for BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ starring + Robert DeNiro. +Boeheim, Carl von, DIE KAISERSAGA: UTOPIA AUSTRIACA {A. Kraft 60} + E: IMPERIAL SAGA: AN AUSTRIAN UTOPIA + W: Emperor Franz Josef had a 2nd son, named Franz Stefan. + S: Franz Stefan preserves the Hapsburg Empire by revolution from above. +Bohme, Gernot, Wolfgang van den Daele & Wolfgang Krohn, "Alternativen in + der Wissenschaft", in Zeitschrift fur Soziolofie 1 + ELE: "Alternatives in Science" + C: Includes discussion of a chemical rather than mechanical worldview at + the beginning of the scientific revolution. +Franzel, Emil: see Boeheim, Carl von +Jeschke, Wolfgang, DER LETZTE TAG DER SCHOPFUNG {Nymphenburger 81; Heyne 85} + ELE: THE LAST DAY OF CREATION + W: Mexico stretched from Canada to Venezuela *or* the Axis enjoyed greater + success in WW2. + S: A US attempt to steal Arabian oil using a pipeline in the past runs into + trouble vs. people from other timelines. +Krohn, Wolfgang: see Bohme, Gernot, Wolfgang van den Daele & Wolfgang Krohn +Mahr, Kurt, MENSCHEN ZWISCHEN DER ZEIT {Terra 61} + E: MAN BETWEEN TIME + S: Hunt for a man who is trying to destroy the world financial system with + dollars from a timeline suffering high inflation. +Mahr, Kurt, 2 * PROFESSOR MANSTEIN {Terra 61} + S: A scientist from our world is transported to another to fight an alien + invasion. +Mayer, Christian: see Amery, Carl +Mielke, Thomas R.P., GRAND ORIENTALE 3301 {Heyne 80} + W: The Arabs continued during the Middle Ages to rise in power and + technology, but become divided. + S: People from our world encounter a fight between Arabic nations fighting + for control of powerlines from hydroelectric power plants in Europe. +Tucholsky, Kurt, "Was ware, wenn...?", in GESAMMELTE WERKE (ed Gerold- + Tucholsky & Raddatz) {Rowohlt 60-62} + E: "What if...?" + C: Series of political commentaries on use of AH for political satire. +van den Daele: see Bohme, Gernot, Wolfgang van den Daele & Wolfgang Krohn +Ziegler, Thomas, DIE STIMMEN DER NACHT {Ullstein 84}; exp of "Die stimmen + der Nacht", in PHANTASTISCHE LITERATUR 83 (ed Gorden) {Bastei-Lubbe 83} + E: VOICES OF THE NIGHT + W: FDR didn't die in 1945, and it required use of the bomb on Berlin to + force a German surrender. + S: Refugees from the agrarian German state dominate S America and cause a + nuclear war in 1984. + +Reference Materials: + +Demandt, Alexander, UNGESCHEHENE GESCHICHTE: EIN TRAKTAT UBER DIE FRAGE, WAS + WARE GESCHEHEN, WENN--? {Vandenheock & Ruprecht 84, 86} + ELE: HISTORY THAT NEVER HAPPENED: A TREATISE ON THE QUESTION, WHAT WOULD + HAVE HAPPENED IF--? + C: Commentary on various possibilities, plus a synopsis of Toynbee's "If + Alexander the Great had Lived On". + + +In Greek: + +Kazantzakis, Nikos, TELEUTAIOS PEIRASMOS + ELE: THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST + W: Jesus fled his doom. + S: Jesus dreams of the possible result. + + +In Italian: + +Eriksson, James S., AMERICA VICCHINGA {Frasinelli 84} + E: VIKING AMERICA + S: +Menard, Pierre, 1938: LA DISTRUZIONE DI PARIGI {Frasinelli 84} + E: 1938: THE DESTRUCTION OF PARIS + W: Petain led a successful French coup in 1934. + S: +Motta, Luigi, IL TONNEL SOTTOMARINO {xxx 27} + E: THE UNDERSEA TUNNEL + W: A transatlantic tunnel was begun in the 1920s. + S: +Pignotti, Lorenzo, STORIA DELLA TOSCANA {Didot 1813-14; Marchini 1821} + ELE: THE HISTORY OF TUSCANY + W: Lorenzo de Medici did not die in 1492. + S: He saves Italy from foreign invasion and Europe from the Protestants. + + +In Japanese: + +Hanmura Ryo, SENGOKU JIEITAI {Hayakawa Shobo 71} + E: THE WARRING STATES SELF DEFENSE FORCE + S: + C: Basis of the Kadokawa movie TIME SLIP. +Hirose Tadashi, EROSU {Hayakawa Shobu 71} + E: EROS + S: +Komatsu Sakyo, "Chi ni wa heiwa o", in SF Magajin xxx 61 + E: "Peace on Earth" + W: The US invaded Japan at the end of WW2. + S: +Mitsuse Ryu, SEITO TOTOKUFU {Hayakawa Shobu 75} + E: HEADQUARTERS OF THE FAR EAST + W: Japan lost the Sino-Japanese War. + S: +Toyota Aritsune, MONGORU NO ZANKO {Kadokawa Shoten 67} + E: AFTERGLOW OF THE MONGOLS + W: The Mongols conquered Europe during the 13th century. + S: Centuries later, a Caucasian falsely accused of murder steals a time + machine in order to prevent the Mongol dominance. +Toyota Aritsune, TAIMU SURIPPU DAISENSO {Kadokawa Shoten 67} + E: THE TIME SLIP WAR + S: + + +In Latin: + +Livy (Titus Livius), AB URBE CONDITA + ELE: AB URBE CONDITA + W: Alexander the Great lived longer and turned west to attack the Romans. + S: A digression in book IX, 17-19 of this work suggests that the Romans + would have beaten him. + C: Almost certainly the oldest AH, written during the reign of Augustus (31 + BC-14 AD). + + +In Polish: + +Lem, Stanislaw, title unkown, in DZIENNIKI GWIAZDOWE + ELE: "The Eighteenth Voyage" + S: Scientist sends a specially tailored particle of matter back to cause the + Big Bang. Someone else tampers with the particle and odd changes occur. +Parnicki, Teodor, CZAS SIANIA I CZAS ZBIERANIA + E: A TIME TO SOW AND A TIME TO REAP + S: +Parnicki, Teodor, I U MOZNYCH DZIWNY: POWIESC Z WIEKU XVII {Instytut + Wydawniczy Pax 79} + E: STRANGE EVEN AMONG THE MIGHTY + S: +Parnicki, Teodor, MUZA DALEKICH PODROZNY {xxx 70} + E: THE MUSE OF DISTANT JOURNEYS + W: The 4th Polish Kingdom was established following the 1793 uprising. + S: +Parnicki, Teodor, SAM WYIDE BEZBRONNY: POWIESC HISTORYCZNO-FANTASTYCZYNA W + TRSECH CZESCIACH {Pax 76} + E: I SHALL LEAVE DEFENSELESS + W: Julian the Apostate survived the Persian campaign and lived until 383. + S: +Parnicki, Teodor, SREBRNE ORLY {xxx 43} + E: THE SILVER EAGLES + W: A Polish state was created in the 10th century. + S: + + +In Portugese: + +Gibson, William, + Eduardo Salo (tr), title unknown, in REFLEXOS DO FUTURO + {Edicao/Livros do Brasil 88}; orig "The Gernsback Continuum" + A photographer glimpses/visits a timeline where architecture, transport, + etc, are all out of 30s pulp SF. +Sterling, Bruce, & Lewis Shiner, + Eduardo Salo (tr), title unknown, in + REFLEXOS DO FUTURO {Edicao/Livros do Brasil 88}; orig "Mozart in + Mirrorshades" + Europe and America of 1775 are exploited by the future of another timeline + hungry for oil, but resistance forms. + + + +In Russian: + +Aksyonov, Vassily, OSTROV KRYM {Ardis 81} + ELE: THE ISLAND OF CRIMEA + W: The Crimea was an island and White Russians successfully held it against + the Bolsheviks and established a provisionary democratic gov't. + S: In the early 1980s, a Crimean newspaper editor spearheads the Common Fate + re-unification movement, playing into Soviet hands. + + +In Spanish: + +Borges, Jorge Luis, "El jardin de senderos que se bifurcan" + E: "The Garden of Forking Paths" + S: +Caron, Carlos Maria, "La Victoria de Napoleon", in LOS ARGENTINOS EN LA LUNA + (ed Goligorsky) {Flor 68} + E: "Napoleon's Victory" + S: Future astronauts use a super telescope to look into Earth's history, but + they see Napoleon's conquest of England, a Chinese invasion of Europe, etc. +Lindo, Hugo, "Espejos paralelos" + E: "Parallel Mirrors" + S: + + +-- +Robert B. Schmunk +SPAC, Rice Univ, Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251 USA +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +[He] turned back to the window and the opaque Houston sky. "You know, there +isn't anything wrong with this town that a couple of really good hurricanes +couldn't fix." --Peter Gent, THE FRANCHISE + diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/amendme.nts b/textfiles.com/politics/amendme.nts new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b014e69f --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/amendme.nts @@ -0,0 +1,414 @@ +AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION IF THE UNITED STATES + + +AMENDMENT I (1791) + +Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or +prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of +speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to +assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. + + +AMENDMENT II (1791) + +A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free +state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be +infringed. + + +AMENDMENT III (1791) + +No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without +the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be +prescribed by law. + + +AMENDMENT IV (1791) + +The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, +and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be +violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, +supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place +to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. + + +AMENDMENT V (1791) + +No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous +crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in +cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in +actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be +subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or +limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness +against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without +due to be taken for public use, without just compensation. + + +AMENDMENT VI (1791) + +In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a +speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district +wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have +been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature +and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses +against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his +favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. + + +AMENDMENT VII (1791) + +In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed +twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no +fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the +United States, than according to the rules of the common law. + + +AMENDMENT VIII (1791) + +Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor +cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. + + +AMENDMENT IX (1791) + +The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be +construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. + + +AMENDMENT X (1791) + +The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor +prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respective- +ly, or to the people. + + +AMENDMENT XI (1798) + +The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to +extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against +one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens +or subjects of any foreign state. + + +AMENDMENT XI (1804) + +The electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot +for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be +an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in +their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct +ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make +distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all +persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for +each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to +the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the +President of the Senate;--The President of the Senate shall, in the +presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the +certificates and the votes shall then be counted;--the person having +the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if +such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; +and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the +highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as +President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by +ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall +be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; +a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from +two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be +necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not +choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon +them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-- +President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other +constitutional disability of the President. The person having the +greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-Presi- +dent, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors +appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest +numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a +quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number +of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a +choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of +President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United +States. + + +AMENDMENT XIII (1865) + +SECTION 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a +punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, +shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their +jurisdiction. + +SECTION 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by +appropriate legislation. + + +AMENDMENT XIV (1868) + +SECTION 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and +subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States +and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce +any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of +the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, +liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any +person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. + +SECTION 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several +states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number +of persons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the +right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President +and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, +the executive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the +legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such +state, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United +States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, +or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in +the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the +whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such state. + +SECTION 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, +or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil +or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having +previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of +the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an +executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution +of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion +against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But +Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such +disability. + +SECTION 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, +authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of +pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection +or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United +States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation +incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United +States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; +but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held +illegal and void. + +SECTION 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate +legislation, the provisions of this article. + + +AMENDMENT XV (1870) + +SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not +be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account +of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. + +SECTION 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by +appropriate legislation. + + +AMENDMENT XVI (1913) + +The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from +whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several +states, and without regard to any census of enumeration. + + +AMENDMENT XVII (1913) + +The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from +each state, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each +Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each state shall have the +qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of +the state legislatures. + +When vacancies happen in the representation of any state in the Senate, +the executive authority of such state shall issue writs of election to +fill such vacancies: Provided, that the legislature of any state may +empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the +people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct. + +This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or +term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the +Constitution. + + +AMENDMENT XVIII (1919) + +SECTION 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the +manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, +the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the +United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for +beverage purposes is hereby prohibited. + +SECTION 2. The Congress and the several states shall have concurrent +power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. + +SECTION 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been +ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the +several states, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years +from the date of the submission hereof to the states by the Congress. + + +AMENDMENT XIX (1920) + +The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied +or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. + +Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate +legislation. + + +AMENDMENT XX (1933) + +SECTION 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at +noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Repre- +sentatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such +terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the +terms of their successors shall then begin. + +SECTION 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and +such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they +shall by law appoint a different day. + +SECTION 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the +President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President +elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen +before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the Presi- +dent elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect +shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the +Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President +elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who +shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act +shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a +President or Vice President shall have qualified. + +SECTION 4. The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of +any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a +President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, +and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the +Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall +have devolved upon them. + +SECTION 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of +October following the ratification of this article. + +SECTION 6. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been +ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of +three-fourths of the several states within seven years from the date of +its submission. + + +AMENDMENT XXI (1933) + +SECTION 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of +the United States is hereby repealed. + +SECTION 2. The transportation or importation into any state, territory, +or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of +intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby +prohibited. + +SECTION 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been +ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the +several states, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years +from the date of the submission hereof to the states by the Congress. + + +AMENDMENT XXII (1951) + +SECTION 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President +more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or +acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some +other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of +the President more than once. But this article shall not apply to any +person holding the office of President when this article was proposed +by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding +the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within +which this article becomes operative from holding the office of +President or acting as President during the remainder of such term. + +SECTION 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been +ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of +three-fourths of the several states within seven years from the date of +its submission to the states by the Congress. + + +AMENDMENT XXIII (1961) + +SECTION 1. The District constituting the seat of government of the +United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct: + +A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole +number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the Dist- +rict would be entitled if it were a state, but in no event more than +the least populous state; they shall be in addition to those appointed +by the states, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the +election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a +state; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as +provided by the twelfth article of amendment. + +SECTION 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by +appropriate legislation. + + +AMENDMENT XXIV (1964) + +SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any +primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors +for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in +Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any +state by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax. + +SECTION 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by +appropriate legislation. + + +AMENDMENT XXV (1967) + +SECTION 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of +his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President. + +SECTION 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice +President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take +office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress. + +SECTION 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro +tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives +his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and +duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declara- +tion to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the +Vice President as Acting President. + +SECTION 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the +principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body +as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore +of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their +written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the +powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately +assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President. + +Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore +of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his +written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the +powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a +majority of either the principal officers of the executive department +or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within +four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of +the House of Representatives their written declaration that the Presi- +dent is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. There- +upon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight +hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within +twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if +Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is +required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that +the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his +office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as +Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and +duties of his office. + + +AMENDMENT XXVI (1971) + +SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years +of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United +States or any state on account of age. + +SECTION 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by +appropriate legislation. + +------------------------------------- + +Prepared by Gerald Murphy (The Cleveland Free-Net - aa300) + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/amendmen.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/amendmen.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..433838b3 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/amendmen.txt @@ -0,0 +1,430 @@ +AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES + + +Amendment I (1791) + +Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of +religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or +abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the +right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition +the government for a redress of grievances. + +Amendment II (1791) + +A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security +of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear +arms, shall not be infringed. + +Amendment III (1791) + +No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, +without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but +in a manner to be prescribed by law. + +Amendment IV (1791) + +The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, +papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, +shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon +probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and +particularly describing the place to be searched, and the +persons or things to be seized. + +Amendment V (1791) + +No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise +infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand +jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, +or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war +or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the +same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; +nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness +against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, +without due process of law; nor shall private property be +taken for public use, without just compensation. + +Amendment VI (1791) + +In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right +to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state +and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which +district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and +to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; +to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have +compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, +and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. + +Amendment VII (1791) + +In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall +exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be +preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise +reexamined in any court of the United States, than according +to the rules of the common law. + +Amendment VIII (1791) + +Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines +imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. + +Amendment IX (1791) + +The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall +not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. + +Amendment X (1791) + +The powers not delegated to the United States by the +Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are +reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. + +Amendment XI (1798) + +The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed +to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted +against one of the United States by citizens of another state, +or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state. + +Amendment XII (1804) + +The electors shall meet in their respective states and vote +by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at +least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with +themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person +voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person +voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct +lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons +voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for +each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit +sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, +directed to the President of the Senate;--The President of +the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of +Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall +then be counted;--the person having the greatest number of +votes for President, shall be the President, if such number +be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and +if no person have such majority, then from the persons having +the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those +voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall +choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing +the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the +representation from each state having one vote; a quorum +for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from +two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states +shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of +Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the +right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day +of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act +as President, as in the case of the death or other +constitutional disability of the President. The person +having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall +be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the +whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a +majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the +Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the +purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of +Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary +to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the +office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President +of the United States. + +Amendment XIII (1865) + +Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except +as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been +duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any +place subject to their jurisdiction. + +Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this +article by appropriate legislation. + +Amendment XIV (1868) + +Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, +and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the +United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state +shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges +or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any +state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without +due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction +the equal protection of the laws. + +Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several +states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole +number of persons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed. But +when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors +for President and Vice President of the United States, +Representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers +of a state, or the members of the legislature thereof, is denied +to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one +years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way +abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, +the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the +proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear +to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age +in such state. + +Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in +Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold +any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under +any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member +of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a +member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial +officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United +States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against +the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But +Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove +such disability. + +Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, +authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of +pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection +or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United +States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation +incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United +States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; +but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held +illegal and void. + +Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by +appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. + +Amendment XV (1870) + +Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote +shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any +state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. + +Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this +article by appropriate legislation. + +Amendment XVI (1913) + +The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on +incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment +among the several states, and without regard to any census +of enumeration. + +Amendment XVII (1913) + +The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two +Senators from each state, elected by the people thereof, for +six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors +in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for +electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislatures. + +When vacancies happen in the representation of any state in the +Senate, the executive authority of such state shall issue writs +of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, that the +legislature of any state may empower the executive thereof +to make temporary appointments until the people fill the +vacancies by election as the legislature may direct. + +This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the +election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes +valid as part of the Constitution. + +Amendment XVIII (1919) + +Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this +article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating +liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation +thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the +jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited. + +Section 2. The Congress and the several states shall have concurrent +power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. + +Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall +have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the +legislatures of the several states, as provided in the Constitution, +within seven years from the date of the submission hereof +to the states by the Congress. + +Amendment XIX (1920) + +The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not +be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on +account of sex. + +Congress shall have power to enforce this article by +appropriate legislation. + +Amendment XX (1933) + +Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall +end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of +Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, +of the years in which such terms would have ended if this +article had not been ratified; and the terms of their +successors shall then begin. + +Section 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every +year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of +January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. + +Section 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term +of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice +President elect shall become President. If a President shall not +have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his +term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, +then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a +President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law +provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a +Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall +then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act +shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until +a President or Vice President shall have qualified. + +Section 4. The Congress may by law provide for the case of the +death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives +may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have +devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the +persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever +the right of choice shall have devolved upon them. + +Section 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day +of October following the ratification of this article. + +Section 6. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall +have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the +legislatures of three-fourths of the several states within +seven years from the date of its submission. + +Amendment XXI (1933) + +Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the +Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed. + +Section 2. The transportation or importation into any state, +territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or +use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws +thereof, is hereby prohibited. + +Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall +have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by +conventions in the several states, as provided in the +Constitution, within seven years from the date of the +submission hereof to the states by the Congress. + +Amendment XXII (1951) + +Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the +President more than twice, and no person who has held the +office of President, or acted as President, for more than two +years of a term to which some other person was elected President +shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. +But this article shall not apply to any person holding the office +of President when this article was proposed by the Congress, +and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office +of President, or acting as President, during the term within +which this article becomes operative from holding the office of +President or acting as President during the remainder of such term. + +Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall +have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the +legislatures of three-fourths of the several states within seven +years from the date of its submission to the states by the Congress. + +Amendment XXIII (1961) + +Section 1. The District constituting the seat of government +of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the +Congress may direct: + +A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to +the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to +which the District would be entitled if it were a state, but in +no event more than the least populous state; they shall be in +addition to those appointed by the states, but they shall be +considered, for the purposes of the election of President and +Vice President, to be electors appointed by a state; and they +shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided +by the twelfth article of amendment. + +Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this +article by appropriate legislation. + +Amendment XXIV (1964) + +Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote +in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, +for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or +Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by +the United States or any state by reason of failure to pay any +poll tax or other tax. + +Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this +article by appropriate legislation. + +Amendment XXV (1967) + +Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office +or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall +become President. + +Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the +Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President +who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of +both Houses of Congress. + +Section 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President +pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of +Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to +discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he +transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, +such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice +President as Acting President. + +Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of +either the principal officers of the executive departments +or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, +transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the +Speaker of the House of Representatives their written +declaration that the President is unable to discharge the +powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall +immediately assume the powers and duties of the office +as Acting President. + +Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro +tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of +Representatives his written declaration that no inability +exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office +unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal +officers of the executive department or of such other body as +Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the +President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the +House of Representatives their written declaration that the +President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his +office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling +within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. +If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the +latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, +within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, +determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President +is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, +the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as +Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the +powers and duties of his office. + +Amendment XXVI (1971) + +Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who +are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or +abridged by the United States or any state on account of age. + +Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this +article by appropriate legislation. + +------------------------------------- + +Prepared by Gerald Murphy (The Cleveland Free-Net - aa300) +Distributed by the Cybercasting Services Division of the + National Public Telecomputing Network (NPTN). + +Permission is hereby granted to download, reprint, and/or otherwise + redistribute this file, provided appropriate point of origin + credit is given to the preparer(s) and the National Public + Telecomputing Network. +VRT + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/textfiles.com/politics/america.txt b/textfiles.com/politics/america.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0b3bc6d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/textfiles.com/politics/america.txt @@ -0,0 +1,711 @@ +The following message was delivered at Grace Community Church in Panorama +City, California, by John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC +80-112, titled "What's Wrong with America." A copy of the tape can be +obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or +by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. + +I have made every effort to ensure that an accurate transcription of the +original tape was made. Please note that at times sentence structure may +appear to vary from accepted English conventions. This is due primarily to +the techniques involved in preaching and the obvious choices I had to make in +placing the correct punctuation in the article. + +It is my intent and prayer that the Holy Spirit will use this transcription +to strengthen and encourage the true Church of Jesus Christ. + + Tony Capoccia + + + + What's Wrong with America + (Romans 1:18-32) + by + John MacArthur + + +Tonight we are going to be considering a subject that I think is on all of +our hearts. I want, as I always would want to do--to take you to the Word of +God and not just give you some kind of political, or theological, +philosophical speech. I want to address the subject of, "What's Wrong with +America." In order to do that I find myself drawn to Romans, chapter one, +and I would like to read for you, starting at verse 24 and reading down +through verse 32, + + Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to + impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. For + they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and + served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed + forever. Amen. + + For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for + their women exchanged the natural function for that which is + unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the + natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward + one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving + in their own persons the due penalty of their error. + + And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, + God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which + are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, + wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, + malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, + arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, + without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and + although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice + such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but + also give hearty approval to those who practice them. + +Three times in those verses you have the statement "God gave them over:" +verse 24, verse 26, and verse 28. Another way that phrase would be, +[translated is] "Abandoned by God." + +One of the most tragic scenes on the pages of Scripture involves the +strongest man who ever lived--the mighty man Samson: the original and +legitimate, and real, genuine "Superman." In Judges 16, verses 18-20, this +is what we read, + + When Delilah saw that he had told her all that was in his heart, + she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, "Come + up once more, for he has told me all that is in his heart." + Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and brought + the money in their hands. + + And she made him sleep on her knees, and called for a man and + had him shave off the seven locks of his hair. Then she began + to afflict him, and his strength left him. And she said, "The + Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And he awoke from his sleep + and said, "I will go out as at other times and shake myself + free." (Then this line) But he did not know that the Lord had + departed from him. + + Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and + they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains, + and he was a grinder in the prison. + +He didn't know that the Lord had departed from him; abandoned by God because +of his sins--what a tragedy. + +To the Sons of Israel God said in Judges 10, "You have forsaken Me and served +other gods: therefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry out to the +gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your +distress." Not only was Samson abandoned by God, but so was Israel. + +Proverbs, chapter 1, verses 24 to 31, records similar sentiment, + + Because I called, and you refused; I stretched out my hand, and + no one paid attention; and you neglected all my counsel, and did + not want my reproof; I will even laugh at your calamity; I will + mock when your dread comes, when your dread comes like a storm, + and your calamity comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and + anguish come on you. + + Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek + me diligently, but they shall not find me, because they hated + knowledge, and did not chose the fear of the Lord. + + They would not accept my counsel, they spurned all my reproof. + So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be satiated + with their own devices. + +To all, not only Samson, not only Israel, but to all who turn their back on +the wisdom of God, they are left abandoned by God to eat the fruit of their +own ways. In Hosea, chapter 4, and verse 17, it is recorded that God said +this frighting sentence, "Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone." +Abandoned by God was Ephraim. Ephraim made its choice--God said let him go. + +In the New Testament, I think of all the things that Jesus ever said about +the Pharisees, this was the most frighting, He said to His disciples (in +Matthew 15:14) this, "Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And +when the blind lead the blind, everybody falls into the pit." "Let them +alone!" + +There comes a point in God's dealing with men and nations, groups of people, +when He abandons them. The consequence of that abandonment is: they will eat +the fruit of their own choices. If I were to simply answer the question, +"What's wrong with America?" I would say, "God has abandoned America, and +America is now feeding on its own choices." + +Chosen to sin--they have; chosen to turn their back on God--they have; chosen +to reject the gospel--they have; chosen to reject a Biblical morality--they +have; chosen to disobey the clear commandment of God--they have; and God +says, "Let them alone." This isn't anything new for nations. In Acts 14:16, +listen to these words: Paul said, "In the generations gone by God permitted +all the nations to go their own way." To go their own way. + +C. S. Lewis, writing in his book, "The Problem of Pain," wrote, "The lost +'enjoy' forever the horrible freedom they have demanded and are therefore +self-enslaved." But when you consider all of the Scriptures that talk about +being abandoned by God, none of them is as dramatic as the one I just read +you. Here is the most graphic and comprehensive discussion of being +abandoned by God anywhere in Scripture. And it is this concept of being +abandoned by God that best explains the moral chaos and the moral confusion +that we are experiencing in America. I will go a step further and say, we +are not waiting for God's wrath--we are now experiencing it. God's wrath in +its initial form is simply to allow men to live with the result of their own +choices, to take the restraint off, the protection. That's what's happening +right before you in Romans 1. + +Three times, as I told you, in verses 24 to 32, you have the phrase, "God +gave them over." Now that word can have a judicial sense, that is, making a +judgment on a criminal and handing him over for execution or punishment, and +I think that is its intention here, because the whole scene here is "Man +found guilty before God, and God's wrath released (back in verse 18) against +guilty man." The wrath of God then acts judicially to sentence sinners, and +the first phase of that sentence is to just let the restraints go, and let +them go the way of their own choices, turning them over to the uninterrupted +course and its effect that their sinful choices will produce. To put it +another way, they are deprived of "restraining grace." + +Sin is so rampant in our country, it is so widespread, it is so tolerated by +people in leadership and even people in the church, it is so widely tolerated +it is pandemic: it is endemic; that is, it is in the very fabric of our life +that I believe God has just taken away the restraining grace that might +preserve our nation, and has let our nation run to its own doom. + +Sin is both the cause and the effect. Sin and more sin, and more sin, and +more sin, results in more sin, and more sin, and more sin. Sin causes it: +sin is the result of it. Wrath means that sinning people are allowed the +freedom to sin more blatantly as restraining grace is taken away. + +Now lets look more closely; the first statement is in verse 24, and you will +see a progression, "Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their +hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them." The +first thing God does in expressing wrath on a sinning society is to just let +them go to their lusts. The first evidence of the wrath of God is not +earthquakes, tidal waves, mass executions, it is just letting people go to +operate in the lusts of their hearts to impurity. Moral perversion, sexual +deviation, pornographic desire allowed not only to exist but becoming +popular, tolerated, being serviced by the society itself. Here what you have +is pornographic hearts, lustful hearts. Man now abandoned by God operates +only out of the passions of his impure heart. It doesn't stop there (verse +24 says), it goes to the body. The heart in its impurity and its driving +lusts will ultimately end up in the dishonoring of the body. It can't stop +on the inside, it has got to show up on the outside--the heart is wicked and +the heart is unrestrained, and the body follows, because as Jesus said, "What +comes out of the heart of man is what defiles him." + +Alan Johnson wrote, "In their freedom from God's truth they turn to +perversion. In the end their humanism, or man-centeredness results in +dehumanization of each other." We have already seen that: sex, alcohol, +drugs, abuse, abortion, euthanasia, a low view of everyone else's life that +leads to killings and murders, knifings, shootings, no sense of man being +created in the image of God. No sense of humility, just egos gone wild to +fulfill uncontrolled and unrestrained passion that leads to dishonoring +bodies in every direction. + +Look at the second statement in verse 26, "For this reason God gave them over +to degrading passions." Now we go a little deeper into the level this +corruption reaches, "For their women exchanged the natural function for that +which is unnatural." First, there is sort of this general category of +unrestrained vice, and we know that's a part of our culture. Right? That is +the driving force of our culture. That is the dominating force of our +culture. You hate to admit it, but the great cities of America are populated +by men and women who live for nothing but the fulfillment of their lusts. + +The second level is the degrading passion. He shows you how far it goes: +vile desires, gross affections so perverted, so degenerate, and so +unrestrained is the heart, that it takes over the body and uses the body to +do an unthinkable thing at the very depth of sin, and that thing is called +homosexuality. Isn't it interesting that it starts with women here, who +really are the minority in homosexuality. A very small percentage of women +are lesbians compared to how many men are Sodomites, or homosexuals. But he +starts with the women. Why? Because, he wants you to see how deep the +plunge is. You see, usually the last to be affected in the decline of the +culture are the women, and that's his point--proof that absolutely all virtue +is gone, that the women have come to this base level. + +In verse 27, he adds, "In the same way also the men abandoned the natural +function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men +with men committing indecent acts (and listen to this) and receiving in +their own persons the due penalty of their error." Can you see AIDS there? +Of course you can--among other things. See, that base inversion of God's +created order (there is that principle again) abandons them to the +consequence of their own iniquity. That's what it does: they are abandoned +by God. God pulls back all restraining grace. There will be no mitigation +of the consequence of their sin, and their lives are destroyed morally, +mentally, emotionally, medically, and ultimately physically, and eternally. + +Look at the third level that this abandoning by God plunges men towards, +verse 28, "And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, +(here's the third time this phrase is used) God gave them over to a +depraved (or reprobate) mind, to do those things which are not proper." What +is a depraved mind? A mind tested and found (are you ready for this?) +useless! In other words, a mind that is disqualified for its intended +purpose. In other words, they are so wicked and they are so base that their +reasoning factually is so corrupt it must be rejected. Their intellectual +faculty, their conscience, is so destroyed that they do those things which +are not, a better word than proper, moral, which are not fitting for men to +do. The point is that the depth of their sin has reached the point where it +has rendered their brains useless. They are not rational; they are not +reasonable; they don't think straight. + +When Phil Manley, who is the chaplain at the County USC Medical Center, goes +over there and sees that AIDS ward he has to be startled by what he sees +there. There must be many shocking things to see; none more shocking than +when I was told that one of the problems they have in the ward is keeping the +homosexual males nurses out of the beds of the AIDS patients. All +rationality is gone at that point, and all ability to reason about life and +choices and morality is gone; those are the kind of people in our culture who +are fast rising into positions of leadership, and the Bible says that they +have a mind that is useless. + +What comes out of this when it stretches across our culture, and it isn't +just homosexuality, look how broad it goes--verse 29, "They are filled with +unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, envy, murder, strife, deceit, +malice, gossip, slander, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, +inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, +untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful." That sounds like a description of South +Central Los Angeles or any other city. You could take the time to go through +all of that: unrighteous, wicked, greedy, envious, murderous, fighting, +deceitful, filled with hate, an intention to do evil to people, and so forth. +That's how you define our culture. + +The epitome in verse 32, "And they know the ordinance of God." They know +that. How do they know that? Because, "The law of God is written. . . ." +Where? "In their hearts." They know the ordinance of God; they know what's +right, "That those who practice such things are worthy of death, but they +not only do the same, but they give hearty approval to those who practice +them." They have no conscience; they have no fear; they are without reason; +they are without understanding; they are like beasts--mindless. There is the +lowest point of human descent. + +That's all the way from the people living on drugs, and living for "sex in +the street," and the homosexuals, to the sophisticated yuppies who sit on the +Phil Donahue Show and laugh at sexual deviation and moral perversion. You +see, abandonment by God leads to all of this, and I believe what we +experiencing in our country is nothing more than God just letting us go the +way the nation has chosen to go. They chose their leadership, a man who +advocates sin of this proportion: murder and homosexuality. They get what +they ask for. This I see for the time, God taking off His restraint and +saying, "You want it--you got it!" + +Why is it that God abandons a society? Couldn't we say, "Well, all societies +are like this?" I mean, "You've got to expect this; this is the way people +are. Why would God abandon us in this situation when we need Him most?" The +answer comes in verses 18 to 23, listen to this, "For the wrath of God is +revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who +suppress the truth in unrighteousness." Verse 19, "Because that which is +known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them." You +see, that's the problem. The problem is they had the knowledge of God and +they rejected it. + +I have to conclude that the wrath of God is already at work in our society, +and I would suppose that I would have to say that there is no surer, no +clearer token of a society under the wrath of God then when that society +refuses to define and hate sin, and on the other hand, when it tolerates sin +and sinners completely. Listen, when a society reaches the point where it +will not define sin, where it will not hate sin, where it will tolerate sin +and tolerate sinners, but will not tolerate anger towards sin--that's a +society under God's wrath. And that's the society we live in. + +It isn't new; Schiller wrote, "The history of the world is the judgment of +the world." Great statement: "The history of the world is the judgment of +the world." What does he mean? Nations rise and fall, they come and go, and +that is the chronicle of God's operative wrath. The plunge into unrestrained +iniquity is especially offensive to God because verse 18 says, "They suppress +the truth." Literally it says, "Who are constantly attempting to suppress +the truth by their ungodliness." + +There is God: God is, God exists, and God has divinely authored a spiritual, +moral, and ethical standard that must be obeyed or there will be wrath in the +future (we all know about that wrath, we are learning it in +Revelation--aren't we?), but also in the present. In the future, spiritually +and eternally, and in the present--temporarily. But look at our society: we +assault that standard, we ignore that standard, we reject that standard, we +mock that standard, we do everything to suppress that standard, whether it's +in the legislative branch, or the judicial branch, or the executive branch. +They now have joined the movement, haven't they, to suppress God's standard, +God's truth. + +We want to tell every man that he is free to do anything he wants to do. The +only morality we have is egalitarianism and that is the right for everybody +to do what everybody wants to do. That's the one moral value that our world +would define. Paul says the problem with this is it is a blatant rejection +of the law of God given to man. It is not man in his ignorance--it is man in +his rejection that brings the wrath of God. Expanding on that reality then +in verse 18, Paul lays out four specific reasons for God's wrath, and I will +just give them to you. I think that you will find them absolutely +fascinating. + +Four specific reasons for God's wrath: + +1. REVELATION + +Reason number one is revelation. In verse 19 it says, "That which is known +about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them." In other +words, God (listen to this) has inlaid the evidence of spiritual and moral +truth what is right and what is wrong, in the very nature of man's being. He +has inlaid also in the nature of man's being the awareness that there must be +a God, and that God must be powerful, and wise, and good, and just. Man is +not without the witness of divine reality and divine morality. Men can't +plead ignorance because entirely apart from Scripture which is "Special +Revelation," God has through "General Revelation" made Himself known. Notice +the phrase there in verse 19, "That which may be known of God," that simply +means "What is knowable." + +What is knowable about God, what we can know about Him is made available to +us. Where is this knowledge available? Within them: in the mind; in the +soul; in the reason; in the conscience. You see, the very fabric of +reasoning and understanding is made from the strands of the revelation of +God. That's what Paul means over in chapter two of Romans, in verse 14, when +he says, "The Gentiles who don't have the written Law do instinctively the +things of the Law, because though they are not having the Law they are a law +to themselves." Why? They show (verse 15) "the work of the Law written in +their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately +accusing or else defending them." Conscience, guilt, reason, a rational mind, +those are faculties by which the proper conclusion is: there is right and +there is wrong and there is God. + +It is not obscure to believe in God, it's innate; it's readily apparent. +It's not obscure to believe in right and wrong, it's innate; and just like +when you wound your body you feel pain, when you wound that moral, rational +soul you feel guilt. It's normal to believe in God; it's common sense. The +mind dictates there must be a God and this is what He must be like. + +Over in the Book of Acts, and verse 15 of chapter 14, just a very important +word there: Acts 14:15, Paul and Barnabas, having an interesting time +preaching in Lystra, "Men, why are you doing these things? (they say when +these people want to come and grab them and make them gods) We are also men +of the same nature as you, and we preach the gospel to you in order that you +should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and +the earth and the sea, and all that is in them." Now listen to this: "And in +the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; +and yet He did not leave Himself without. . . ." What? "Witness, in that He +did good and He gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying +your hearts with food and gladness." + +I mean, reason would tell you that there is: + + Somebody sending the rain + + Somebody painting the sunsets + + Somebody making the flowers grow + + Somebody providing this plethora of foods + + Somebody making life happy + + Somebody bringing a precious, sweet, soft, tender, little baby + into the world + + Somebody inventing those immense and overwhelming palpitations + of love from a man to a woman + + Somebody bringing the joy of music + +The mind and the reason, the very fabric of the soul says there is a God, and +He is a Creator, and He is powerful, and He is good, and He is beautiful, and +He is wise. I mean, that's just woven into the very fabric of reason. + +In Acts 17, verse 23, we find Paul on Mars Hill talking to some philosophers +and he follows the same path, he says, "You got this altar here inscribed 'TO +AN UNKNOWN GOD', well, (he camps on that and says) let me tell you who He +is, (verse 24) the God who made the world and all things in it, since He is +the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands." You +see, he assumes something, he is going to evangelize a bunch of pagan +philosophers, but he assumes one thing: their rational minds must require a +creator--that's his assumption; that's where he starts. He knows that they +believe that somebody made everything because not to believe that is +irrational. Nobody times nothing equals everything is the equation of a +moron! + +So the assumption is that they believe that the effect has a cause, and so he +assumes that and he starts with the God who made everything: "Look at the +effect--let me tell you about the One who made it." He says, "He isn't +served with human hands (verse 25), as though He needed anything, since He +Himself gives to all life and breath and all things; and He made from one, +every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth. He designed +the world and created everything in it; sorted out the nations as to where +they are to be, and their boundaries and their times, in order that they +should seek Him." In other words, the very existence of a universe and an +earth, and boundaries and nations, creation, should drive people to seek Who +it is. "If they would grope for Him and find Him though He is not far from +each one of us. For in Him we live and move and exist. As even some of your +own pagan poets have said, 'We are also His offspring.'" + +See, even pagan theology said, "Somebody made us!" That points out again the +idiocy of evolution that "nobody made us!" That's his point, "Being then +(verse 29) the offspring of God we ought not to think the Divine Nature is +like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of +man." Now think about it gentlemen, he's saying to these philosophers, you +look at this entire universe and are you assuming that rock over there with a +face on it made this? You chiseled it! Are you assuming that wooden statue +over there made it? You formed it! You must assume that whoever made it is +greater that it! Pretty powerful stuff. That's just reason. + +He approaches those pagans on a rational basis, because in the fabric of +human reason is the obvious reality that this world demands a creator and it +reflects something of His person in the creation. That is why (go back to +Romans 1) Paul says at the end of verse 20, "That men are without excuse." +Because verse 20 says, "Since the creation of the world (since the very +beginning when creation was first done, way back then--since the very start) +the invisible attributes of God: His eternal power, something about His +divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been +made." In other words, it's the creation that tells the reason there is a +Creator, so that men are absolutely without excuse. + +Do you realize that this is in ancient times even before the microscope and +the telescope? Men weren't even able to comprehend the macrocosm and the +microcosm like we are today. That is what is so blatant about evolution. It +is "flat-out" blatant rejection of God. It has nothing to do with science. +It defies the single greatest scientific principle, cause and effect, and it +reflects an evil intent to pursue sin without responsibility. Even in those +days they could look at the stars; they could look at the incredible +arrangement of the petals on a flower; they could look at leaves on a stem; +they could look at the cycle of water; they could see the mystery of human +birth; the mystery of growth; they could see the glory of a sunrise and the +glory of a sunset; they could understand the roaring and the rolling of the +seas; they could understand the rush of the rivers and the trickle of a +brook; the flight of a bird; they could understand that incredible +transformation of a worm, a caterpillar into a butterfly. Even then the +heavens were declaring the glory of God and the firmament was showing them +His handiwork. Even then the beasts of the field were giving Him glory. + +But, today it is even more potent isn't it? I mean, think about it. We now +know that birds navigate by the stars while they migrate. Birds with this +little tiny brain. Birds raised from eggs inside a building where they have +never seen the sky can be released to flight and instantly orient themselves +towards home. They can even be shown an artificial sky representing a place +their species has never been and orient themselves to it in flight. Archer +fish shoot drops of water with great accuracy at insects for no other reason +than the fun of it. They get their food like all the rest of the fish and +nobody has yet figured out why God had them doing that just for the fun of +it. + +Do you know that mites occupy only one ear in a moth? Because if they +occupied both ears the moth couldn't fly. How do the mites know if somebody +is over in the other one? I love the Bombardier Beetles. They produce +chemicals which mix perfectly and at the right moment explode in the face of +their enemy, but the explosion never occurs prematurely to blow the beetle +up. Think about water. Water is lifted against gravity thousands of feet +into the air, suspended until carried inland where it is needed. It's +incredible; no earthly agency can lift water like that. God equipped the Sun +to do it; it's the Sun that does it through the process of evaporation and +the Sun is 93,000,000 miles away! And so it goes. + +The very essence of a Creator and something of His character is absolutely +everywhere, and for human reason to reject that goes against the grain of +everything, and must be the blatant act of willful sin, and because of that +God gives them over. The mind they refused to use becomes the mind that is +useless--that is judgment. I believe that we are experiencing that kind of +movement in our culture. Men have experienced God, they have experienced His +wisdom, His power, His goodness in every moment of their existence, and He +says they rejected Him. They suppressed the truth. + +Look at the second of these four reasons why God's wrath falls: + +2. REJECTION + +Men had the truth, men turned from the truth: verse 21, "For even though they +knew God, they didn't honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile +in their speculations and their foolish heart was darkened." There it is +again: they didn't use their minds right and instead of thinking wisely, +profoundly, sensibly, their thoughts became futile or empty and useless, and +their foolish heart became black--the light went out! + +Man finds God in creation, he finds God in reason, he suppresses it, he +rejects God, he loves darkness, he plunges into darkness and the light goes +out. Donald Grey Barnhouse wrote this, + + Will God give man brains to see these things, and will man then + fail to exercise his will towards that God? The sorrowful + answer is that both of these things are true. God will give a + man brains to smelt iron and to make a hammerhead and nails. + And God will grow a tree and give man strength to cut it down + and brains to fashion a hammer handle from its wood. And when + man has the hammer and the nails, God will put out His hand and + let man drive those nails through it and place Him on a cross in + the supreme demonstration that men are without excuse. + +"They," Paul says, "did not honor Him as God or give thanks." Man's problem +is not that he can't recognize God, it is that he won't recognize God! For +all the joy of life and all the beauty of life, and all the life, laughter, +all the pain of life, all the tears of life, all the thrills, the pleasures, +the talent, sexual fulfillment, all the children, all the families--for all +the things that God fills life with He gets no thanks and "they become futile +in their speculation." They get nothing but empty human ideas, and they are +running wild in our culture. Aren't they? Isaiah said in Isaiah 47:10, "You +felt secure in your wickedness and said 'No one sees me.' Your wisdom and +your knowledge, they have deluded you, for you have said in your heart, 'I am +and there is no one besides me'" (boy, does that sound familiar). + +I am the center of my world, no one sits in judgment on me--that's how stupid +men have become. Because they would not allow their rational mind, where God +had planted the knowledge of Himself and the knowledge of good and evil in +their conscience, they would not allow themselves to follow that path; they +rejected that, they have now become foolish in their speculations. They are +empty, useless, self-gods, and they have been sucked into the vacuum of their +own emptiness and nothing is there but darkness. Their foolish heart was +darkened. Now they can't know God because the light went out. + +Wrath, because men received revelation; they had the opportunity. Wrath, +because they rejected it. Thirdly, + +3. RATIONALIZATION + +This is the third cause--rationalization: men insist they are doing fine. +Verse 22, "They profess to be. . . ." What? "Wise." They don't say, "Oh, +woe is me, I'm in a pit. I've become an idiot. I've lost my sense. I can't +find my way." No, they have convinced themselves that they are erudite. The +major rationalizations today are egalitarianism, freedom, and psychology. +You know they think they are wise. It reminds me of the guy lying in the +hospital bed (he was in the mental ward) and he kept saying "I'm Napoleon, +I'm Napoleon!" And the guy in the next bed, after about three days of this +said, "Who told you you're Napoleon?" And he said, "God did." And the guy +said, "Oh no I didn't." It reminds me of the lady who walked into the +psychiatrist's office with a duck on a string, and said, "You've got to help +my husband, he thinks he's a duck!" What they assume they perceive isn't +remotely related to reality. + +When he says (verse 22), "Professing to be wise they became fools," he uses +the word "moraino" (Greek), moron we get from it. That's what it means, they +think they are wise and they are morons. + +There is a fourth cause, in spite of the fact that man rejects revelation, +and fully rejects the God and the truth revealed because he wants no +compunctions in his life. And in spite of the fact that he rationalizes that +he is really very wise and everything is fine, he still will inevitably +invent something that becomes the fourth cause: + +4. RELIGION + +He can't exists without some sense of religion. He has got to believe in +something or someone. He has got to have some shrine he bows to, so he +creates his own God to accommodate his useless mind. Voltaire says, "God +made man in His own image and man returned the favor." Verse 23, "They +exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for (here's their religion) an +image in the form of corruptible man and birds and four-footed animals and +crawling creatures." Look at verse 25, same statement, "they exchanged the +truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the +Creator, who is God blessed forever. Amen." Look at verse 28, "And just as +they didn't see fit to acknowledge God any longer." + +So, all of those say they wanted to get rid of the true God, the +incorruptible God, the real God and the truth of God, and in the place of +God they wanted to make their own religion full of lies. They wanted to +worship the creature rather than the Creator. They did not see fit to +acknowledge God. You see, what you have to understand is, man does not rise, +he does not ascend from the muck of paganism and ignorance to the truth of +God. He falls from the truth of God into the slime of religion. Religion is +not man at his highest; religion is man at his lowest. He is down at the +bottom when his willful rejection of the true God is allowed to invent false +gods to accommodate his own life. + +In Second Kings 17, verse 14, it says, "The people didn't listen, they +stiffened their neck like their fathers, who didn't believe in the Lord their +God. And they rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their +fathers, and His warnings which He warned them. They followed vanity (or +emptiness) and became vain and went after the nations which surrounded them, +concerning which the Lord commanded them not to do like them. And they +forsook all the commandments of the Lord their God and made for themselves +molten images." + +That's exactly what happens, you start at the truth of God and you descend +into the muck of religion. Religion is man at the pits. It is the ultimate +insanity. Religion is the ultimate insanity. It is the wickedness of man +rejecting God and creating non-gods. They may be unsophisticated idols; they +may be the Gods of our culture: humanistic gods, materialistic gods, +evolutionary gods. Maybe the gods of self and sex. It maybe the goddess of +"mother nature," or the new religion "Ecofeminism" (sp.). Everything from +the Roman Eagle in ancient time to the spotted owl; from the golden bulls of +Egypt to the whale and dolphin gods of today; from the worship of a stick to +the worship of the earth, from aboriginals to environmentalists; pantheistic +worship to some little tiny god that a man holds in his hand; from +Ecofeminism (sp.) to Islam. + +So, is it any wonder that as a society we are struggling with an ethical +moral system? How can we have an ethical moral system when there is only one +in the universe and we have abandoned it? And when you abandoned it as verse +18 to 23 describe, then verses 24 to 32 tells you. "If you abandon +God. . . ." What? "He'll abandon you," and just take off restraining grace. + +You say, "Is there any hope for America?" Well, the hope for America would +be the same as the hope for any people. First of all, a return to God as +Creator, God as Creator and Law giver. And if this nation does not return to +God as Creator and Law giver--the wrath will continue. + +I want to close with a text of Scripture and then an illustration. The text +is in Psalm 81, verse 11, "But My people didn't listen to My voice and Israel +did not obey Me. So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart to +walk in their own devices." That's it isn't it? They wanted it and they got +it. But then this, verse 13, "Oh that My people would listen to Me, that +Israel would walk in My ways! I would quickly subdue their enemies, and turn +My hand against their adversaries. Those who hate the Lord would pretend +obedience to Him." In other words it would become so popular that people +would fake being spiritual. Then verse 16, "But I would feed you with the +finest of the wheat; and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you." +There's a promise, isn't that? God says, "I let you go, but I could come +back if you'll turn to me." The first point of turning is to turn to God as +Creator and Law giver, and once you affirm that then His law becomes your +standard. + +One of the fascinating things that I saw in Africa, when I visited there, was +huge ant colonies. When I say huge, I mean you can't believe how big these +anthills are. You think of an anthill as a little deal like this; I'm +talking 15 yards long, 20 feet high! Huge, all over everywhere, massive +things. There is a species of ant that lives in some parts of Africa that +lives in these subterranean tunnels and they go way down into the earth and +they go way up. They usually pile them up around some kind of a tree. Down +in the subterranean part of these things I understand is where they put the +young ants, and that's where they shelter them there, and that's where the +queen is housed. The queen is in charge of this massive millions of little +insects. They tell us that the workers go on their way and they have to +forage for food, and they go out to distant places and they come back with +all the stuff the whole colony needs to eat. + +It is said that if when the workers are away the queen is molested, the +workers, even though they are far away from the nest become immediately +nervous and uncoordinated because there is some kind of connection between +them and the queen. If she is killed it says they would become frantic and +rush around aimlessly and die out in the field somewhere. What they have +concluded is that there is some kind of radar device that works between this +one queen and everyone of these ants. If she is killed they are instantly +disoriented and a frenzy takes place that ends in death. + +Frankly, I can't think of a better parallel to what we have seen in Romans 1. +When man believes there is no God, all sense of orientation is lost and he is +in a mad frenzy that ultimately will end in death. There's hope. You have +to pray for that. If our nation will turn back to the Creator and the Law +giver who is the true God and submit to His Word He will bless us. If not +the wrath will continue to unfold. + +Father, we are so grieved as we look around us at this time in our history. +We can think back, it must have been so different in the early days of the +founding fathers who wanted so much to make sure that everyone knew there was +a God and that God had given a Law, and His Law alone could govern man. And +here we are something over 200 years later and the whole nation is plunging +into an abyss of blackness with minds that are absolutely useless, trying to +solve massive far reaching problems of iniquity without a standard, and +really being given the curse of their own sin: more sin, and more sin, and +more sin, unrestrained. + +We see Your wrath and all we can do is plead with You that You would be +gracious to Your people and that You would open their hearts to saving truth. +That You would save our leaders. That you would save them from their sins +and bring them to the foot of the cross. That they would bow the knee to +Jesus Christ. And that the Word of God could again become the authority in +this land as it reflects the Word of the Creator, for Father, unless that +happens many shall continue the plunge into the darkness from which they +cannot recover. + +We remember what you said to the society before the flood, "My Spirit will +not always strive with man." There comes a time when grace runs out. Lord, +before that happens in this land, we can only ask that in Your mercy You +would call out a remnant of such proportion and devotion that they might +begin to bring a new sense of direction by turning the hearts of this people +towards God, towards You. + +We pray tonight Lord for any one in this congregation who is in that death +frenzy and disorientation because they are alienated from You, that You +would turn them; that they would look and see You the Creator, the Law giver, +the Redeemer, who in Christ has purchased their life for time and eternity. +We ask this only that You may be glorified in Your Son's Name. Amen. + +Transcribed by Tony Capoccia of + +BIBLE BULLETIN BOARD MODEM (318)-949-1456 +BOX 130 300/1200/2400/9600/14400 DS HST +SHREVEPORT, LA 71110 + + \ No newline at end of file