thesilentarmies-deactivated2012 asked: I considered myself an anarchist prior to being 22 as well. I think it was around that time that I started to... lose my idealism. I admit that I understand your frustration with hierarchy, state, and hopefully capital as well, being that capital is a form of hierarchy, and thus a form of rule, but I soon felt like... it's a joke to think anything can be accomplished as a group without a system, and that it's further ridiculous to think that that system isn't a government itself. I have no faith


Answer:

I have no issue with capital. I have an issue with force. People should be able to do whatever they want as long as it doesn’t harm anyone else. Socialism is fine too, but I personally have had horrible experiences with it on a small level (even voluntarily), and I think collectivism is creepy and cult-like. Acquiring property and running a business doesn’t harm anyone, it helps them in most cases. The only reason you see “capitalism” as harmful is that government is behind many big corporations, which allows the consumer to be unfairly treated and given no other options. Many things have been accomplished through individuals alone. It’s how this country started out in the first place, and they were better off (though not perfect) until government began to get bigger.

My philosophy isn’t rooted in idealism. It’s rooted in right and wrong. Idealism is thinking that any greater good can be accomplished through government, or that we’ll ever even be close to a fair and ordered society through the force that it involves. I’ve already stated that I don’t have any real hope of ever seeing anarchism accomplished, nor do I have any faith in humanity whatsoever. But I’m not going to contribute to that by telling people that they’re stupid and therefore must be ruled by more stupid people. I’m not going to take part in a system that tells people it’s okay to force others to do things against their will. The only idealism I have is in myself and what I can do and how I can be better. I have no interest in trying to make other people better when they don’t want to be. I’ll be the proof of what humanity can be but is too uneducated and selfish to strive for.

Basically what you’re saying is that we’re fucked, and I agree. But I’d sooner say that than say that we need a flawed, immoral system to survive. You’ve given up, and that’s fine. It’s probably because you thought you were going to change something, but I have no such hope. I can’t be let down when I know I don’t have control. But at least my conscience is clear.