harrystottle's favorite anarchism pages, page 1

Last login: 13 hours agoHarrystottle: Harry is a guy from Bristol, England, UK.; Likes 3,770 pages, 126 videos, 20 photos • 95 fans • Received 13 reviews; Member since Oct 03, 2005

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http://www.givemeliberty.org/rtplawsuit/courtfilings/quebec1774.pdf: Aug 19, 3:04pm 1 review anarchism, quotations, democracy, liberty
http://www.givemeliberty.org/rtplawsuit/courtfilings/quebec1774.pdf; Genuine historical documents. In this case the words of the founders of the US Constitution presenting a resolution to the inhabitants of Quebec (presumably seeking to encourage them to join the struggle against the Crown) in October 1774. It reveals the true thinking behind the major Rights enshrined in the constitution:

Just in case you can't face reading it yourself, here is the main meat. Italics are the original emphasis. Bold is mine. (and anything in Brackets is mine as well)

"In this form, the first grand right, is that of the people having a share in their own government by their representatives chosen by themselves, and, in consequence, of being ruled by laws, which they themselves approve, not by edicts of men over whom they have no controul (sic) This is a bulwark surrounding and defending their property, which by their honest cares and labours they have acquired, so that no portions of it can legally be taken from them, but with their own full and free consent, when they in their judgement deem it just and necessary to give them for public service, (This is the principle of VOLUNTARY Taxation - the only form which libertarians and anarchists can endorse. Modern example? The UK National Lottery - whose takings are dedicated to the "good causes" and the sporting cultivation which has begun to pay dividends in Beijing).

The influence of this right extends still farther. If money is wanted by Rulers, who have in any manner oppressed the people, they may retain it, until their grievances are redressed; and thus peacably procure relief, without trusting to despised petitions(a particularly interesting phrase, given that I found this document while reading about the sacred right to petition - more on this later)

The last right we shall mention, regards the freedom of the press. The importance of this, besides the advancement of truth, science, morality, and arts in general, in its diffusion of liberal sentiments (this was clearly in the days when all parties understood liberty and liberal values and didn't regard "liberal" as some kind of insult; a truly psychotic modern response) on the administration of Government, its ready communication of thoughts between subjects, and its consequential promotion of union among them, whereby oppressive officers are shamed or intimidated, into more honourable and just modes of conducting affairs

Would someone care to remind the "free press" of the primary political purpose of their freedom?

JoePlummer.com - We Have the Advantage: Aug 19, 1:38pm 1 review anarchism, democracy
http://joeplummer.com/we_have_the_advantage.html; Joe's stuff always seems more motivational than my own version. Certainly shorter...

Peter Thiel Makes Down Payment on Libertarian Ocean Colonies: May 19, 6:15am 12 reviews activism, anarchism, liberty
http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/news/2008/05/seasteading; Think they'll need more than a flag of convenience to ward off some of the more serious predators, but they've definitely got the seeds of a good plan here...

Ask An Atheist: May 11, 4:15pm 7 reviews anarchism, ethics, religion, democracy, liberty
http://www.askanatheist.org/articles/homosexualsfundamentalists.html; I have a problem with this. Obviously I support their sentiments but the basis of their argument for "not opposing" gay sex is that there may be a genetic predisposition to it in some people and other animals. This is utterly irrelevant.

If I want to get my rocks off fucking the hose off a vaccuum cleaner, that is no business or concern of anyone except me and, perhaps, the owner of said vaccuum cleaner. Providing my behaviour is not causing harm to a 3rd party (without their free and informed consent), no 3rd party has any relevant input into my decision. The same applies to gay sex, premarital sex, the use of recreational drugs, playing violent video games, porn etc etc.

Genetics has buggerall to do with ethics. THAT is the fundamental error made by Leo Strauss - the spiritual father of the Neocons. Let's try to avoid that kind of nonsense on our side of the fence...

India&039;s pink posse hunts down bad guys | FP Passport: Mar 3, 9:22am 40 reviews activism, anarchism, direct-action
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/7995; I'm a big fan of "taking the law into our own hands". That's where, after all, it belongs. For example, when we read about bullying police, it always amazes me that we don't ever read about the local abused population mobbing the local police station and lynching the bastards. This kind of "direct action" is something we need to see a lot more of

http://home.att.net/~bob.wallace/howpropagandaworks.html: Jan 24, 2:28am 11 reviews activism, anarchism, democracy, leadership
http://home.att.net/~bob.wallace/howpropagandaworks.html; Interesting article entirely in agreement with my own views on our sheeplike tendency to follow leaders. The one thing that's missing from the analysis is the recognition that the self selected self important elite who think it is their god given right to abuse and manipulate this unfortunate herd-like tendency in homo sapiens are entirely unconscious of their own severe limitations - particularly their own "logic proof compartments". (as evidenced by their continuing attachment to religion, their support for the War on Drugs, refusal to recognise the need to combat Global Warming etc etc)

It is because they are no different from the rest of us that they have no right or special claim to lead us and we have no sensible reason to follow.

The Lost Art of Cooperation: Jan 10, 2:06pm 2 reviews anarchism, liberal-politics, philosophy, libertarianism, objectivism
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=wq.essay&essay_id=358763; I am sympathetic to his aims. He is, after all, trying to do exactly the same as I am: reconcile the warring factions of co-operators and competitors. But I don't think he's got to the heart of the problem with the competitors.

The root of their problem is the fallacy which begins with their fear of Tocqueville's "Tyranny of the Majority" (which is rational and needs to be addressed) but then moves on through Hayek's "Road To Serfdom" which convinces them that all attempts at collectivism and central planning must lead to totalitarianism. (Irrational and needs to be debunked)

This is then reinforced by a psychotic conclusion from John Nash's game theory which persuades them that only if everyone pursues their own "Self Interest" can stable society be achieved. And, finally, it is topped off with a childish attempt at philosophy by Ayn Rand which persuades a whole generation of non philosophers that the most important conclusions of philosophy can just be ignored to allow them to make up their own rules. This is no more rational than a religion and renders them impervious to most forms of intelligent reasoning.

In short, the scale of the problem is enormous. No less than trying to persuade theists to abandon their belief in a giant universe-creating fairy. I don't have solutions. I'm not even sure there are any. But if there are to be any, the starting position must be a full grasp of the problem and I don't think he's expressed that in this article.

Traffic Lights Replaced By...Courtesy? (TreeHugger): Nov 3, 2007 7:19pm 21 reviews anarchism, bizarre
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/11/traffic_lights.php; rare example of a good press for Anarchism...

Posters - When I Give Food to the Poor : Ricardo Levins Morales:: Aug 5, 2007 3:41pm 43 reviews activism, anarchism, communism
http://www.northlandposter.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?menu=1&item_no=p488&categor...

Henry David Thoreau : On the Duty of Civil Disobedience (1848): Jul 1, 2007 4:52pm 1 review anarchism, politics, thoreau, democracry
http://www.panarchy.org/thoreau/disobedience.1848.html; Here's an extract; and as you read it, bear in mind that it was written in 1848:
"After all, the practical reason why, when the power is once in the hands of the people, a majority are permitted, and for a long period continue, to rule, is not because they are most likely to be in the right, nor because this seems fairest to the minority, but because they are physically the strongest.

But a government in which the majority rule in all cases cannot be based on justice, even as far as men understand it. Can there not be a government in which majorities do not virtually decide right and wrong, but conscience? - in which majorities decide only those questions to which the rule of expediency is applicable? Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward.

It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right."