From Antonio Rossin

Date: 12/08/2007

Message 1:
~~~~~~~~~~

Dear PVR,

I agree on Anarchism as the accomplishing the human need of freedom.

Buttt... as soon as the Anarchism principles are put into current communication
relationships, i.e. free discussion, since communication is in itself hierarchical,
anarchism becomes paradoxical. nonsense. Anarchism cannot but be a private
business, outside from (public) discussion sharing-in.

Hoping this helps,

regards, antonio

Message 2:
~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Mirek (and list)

Thanks for this very enlightening post.

Now here are my comments to your 10 points below, plus a 0 point
about the term "Anarchism" itself.

0. Anarchism.
I am no native English speaker. Therefore, since the English is
the shared language of worldwide democracy, I am obliged to
apply to an English dictionary in order to check out the shared
meaning of the English words we use. Let's suppose, also the
great majority of the eligible democrats worldwide are no native
English speakers , so I think we should point out and suggest to
all the eligible democrats a shared English dictionary in order to
legitimize a shared meaning of words.

On this basis, I go to my Oxford Advanced Learners dictionary
and read under the items:
- Anarchy = 1. absence of government or control in society.
Lawlessness. 2. Disorder, confusion
- Anarchism = political theory that laws and government should
be abolished.
- Anarchist = person who believes in anarchism

Well now, I have nothing against some inhabitants of the world
who decide to adopt a different, personal meaning for words that
have a shared meaning by the remaining majority of the inhabitants
the world. But -- if they do so -- they are a sect, not a member of democracy.

BTW, I go back to my shareable OAL dictionary, and read under
the item "sect":
- Sect = group of people who share (esp religious) beliefs or
opinions which differ from those of most people.

Now, Mirek, let me comment each at once your quoted 10 theses:

1. Decentralization - Centralization of political and economic
power leads to abuse and corruption. Political and the economic
structures should be human-scale.
Ok. to me

2. Liberty – each person should be free to do what they wish
providing they do no harm to other people.
Not so clear. Who is he, or she, who decides that something is not
harmful to other people? This implies others' awareness. And what
about, if the harmed people were unaware? Let's look around with
sensitive eyes, and we will see how many people are unaware of the
damages they undergo, to the advantage of few. This is the problem
of the so-called Golden Rule. More on this point at
[evans-experientialism.freewebspace.com]

3. Self-management - Each person should have control over
those situations that effect him/her, in both the work place and
the community.
Ok.

4. Federation – decentralized groups, whether communities
or work places unite in a federation to create an "economy of scale"
without creating an authoritarian, top-down structure.
Ok.

5. Autonomy – each group or community should have the
right to control those aspects which effect it.
Ok.

6. Direct Democracy – Decisions ought to be taken directly
by the people effected. Where decisions must be made at a larger
scale, such as with a federation, recallable delegates are selected.
See item 2 and 5 above; This implies full awareness by all the people,
because, in the age of globalization, it is very hard to know whether a
decision does or does not affect other people [ is "effected" a mistyping?]

7. Localism – It is best for the environment that as much as
possible of our needs are met locally.
Not only. Every proposal or policy should have a local grassroots
bottom-up origin.

8. Regionalism – We live in a place and that place is a region.
Each region has its own history, environment and culture and
these are the basis of community.
Isn't it the same as 7. Localism?
9. Community – A lack of community brings social breakdown.
We must work to restore community.
Not only. A lack of Family brings community breakdown. We must
work to restore the family. I've stressed this very point at
[evans-experientialism.freewebspace.com] ,
(and throughout my website [www.flexible-learning.org] )

10. Internationalism – Nothing exists in isolation, and in truth
"an injury to one, is an injury to all" The destruction of a community
abroad helps to undermine community locally. The repression of
workers overseas, leads to the oppression of workers here.
Ok.

In conclusion, it seems to me that the ten points in your quote
belong to genuine democracy, something else but anarchism.

That the anarchist may claim that those ten points belong to
"anarchism", it sounds somehow abusive, the dictionary tells.

Hoping this helps, best regards

antonio

webmaster