(en) anarkismo.net: Why it's right to resist the Government
by Joe Conlon - WSM
"The law is essentially the weapon of the privileged, it is made by them for the purpose
of enshrining their power and the people need to dismantle it entirely if they want to be
genuinely free" - Errico Malatesta ---- Does this mean anarchists are against laws?
Anarchists are against laws that are created by the rich and the privileged liar of
society that are used in their favour. These same laws are used to exploit and oppress the
rest of society. These laws are designed to give as little as possible to people. ---- A
lot of people if not most would think anarchists are against rules, police, the state,
organisation of society, etc. Anarchists are against aspects of all of the mentioned, this
is true, but we are against hierarchy and power being centralized in the hands of a
minority in society. The rules/laws that we are against are those that oppress and exploit
others; we are against the police because the police are a tool that are used by the
ruling elite to keep their power over the rest of society, it's the same with armies and
prison warders. The old saying "power corrupts" is very true, you can see this especially
with police, prison wards, soldiers and all types of state officials, bureaucrats,
managers, boss, etc. Once a person puts on a uniform or is given some type of position of
power they start a process of transformation to becoming a tyrant.
We anarchists are against the way the current society in which we live is organized. Its
organized in a statist hierarchical way, a tiny minority sits on top of society, more or
less telling the majority of people what to do and how to live. The corrupt villainous
elite use brut power and threats to keep their privileges and riches. Their weapons are;
the state with its arsenal of oppressive laws, police force, prisons, military, weapons,
and laws; the media; banks and the government. These are all used to corral the people
like cows or sheep.
The government is the biggest sham of all. This gives people the illusion (but not that
much of an illusion) that we live in a democratic and just society. But all governments
and government elections are, the right for the people, every few years to vote for and
elect different sections of the ruling class to exploit and oppress us.
A blatant example of this is the government using the people's money that is meant to be
going on medical care and hospitals, housing, educations, etc. Being used to bail out the
banks and all the corrupt slimy business people, companies and corporations that have
enriched themselves off the backs of the workers and the people, who got off scout free
from helping towards creating the recession that is having such a damaging effect on
people. The state and government has blatant contempt for society.
There are laws against theft. If a person gets caught shoplifting, they will either get a
fine, suspended sentence, get a few hundred hours community service or a 6 month prison
sentence. If a person gets caught holding up a bank and robs 5'000 euro, or if the person
is really lucky and manages to rob 100'000 euro, they will get 10 years in jail. Now let's
look at a bank official that robs millions and gets caught. How long do you think they'll
get in jail? The answer is they won't spend a single day. Are these laws in the society we
live fair or right? Who benefits more?
Why isn't there a low against homelessness, a law against inequality, or a law against
being poor?
Yes we anarchists are against the state and everything it stands for. Anarchists want to
smash the state and get rid of it. Anarchist want to do this because in order to transform
and create a better society for all the state needs to be removed. But we don't want to
smash or get rid of the good aspects of this society. Aspects such as public transport,
social welfare, jobs, shops or any publicly owned services that are controlled by the
state, or even privately owned service that provide people with a better life.
These things were organised to serve the interests of capitalism (for the rich to profit
off) but they also serve needs of the people. These services play a dual role, capitalists
profit from them and they also pacify people. Anarchists want to get rid of the blood
thirsty money hungry leach's that control and profit from these instruments, we want to
see this property took from them so to be reorganised by the people and used to make
everyone's life better, so the people could reap the full rewards from these resources.
These instruments and resources could be used in way that could benefit everyone.
These things what people depend upon to live are used by the powerful corrupt elites as a
means to oppress and exploit society, therefore these resources have to be took from them.
Political Parties and reformism
"The very essence of politics is corruption, sail-trimming, the sacrifice of your ideals
and integrity for success." - Alexander Berkman
When anarchists talk about smashing and over-throwing the state we do not intend to
replace the state with society of chaos with no organisation; no, we want organization,
the workers and all the oppressed and exploited people organized to take power themselves
and for them to organize society in the best way possible that can benefit everyone to
meet their full needs.
It is a delusion that a few laws can be passed by a government to create a better, more
equal society for us all to live. This does not mean that it is impossible to create a new
better society, no; the answer lies in the hands of the people themselves. Only the people
know what they need, no political party can predetermine what the people need and want.
Political parties and governments always go back on their promise what they make before
getting elected, they cannot be trusted, the people will not betray themselves.
A government cannot reorganise society for the better, for one thing, we'll be waiting a
long time before we see a government (no matter how left orientated they may be)
expropriate and take back from the corrupt criminal elite what they stole off the people.
Look at the Syriza party in Greece, where has their rhetoric got the people in Greece?
Look at Hugo Chaves party and their "Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela"? Hugo Chaves
proclaimed it socialism of the 21st century. Although there has been some positives to
Hugo Chaves reforms in Venezuela, but it's a far cry from socialism.
Anarchists are not against socialism; we are supporters of socialism and want it created
throughout the world. But the socialism we want is democratic and without hierarchy, with
the people in power and not some "vanguard party".
The path of reformism pacifies revolutionary movements and struggles. Movements get caught
up in chasing people for votes and as a result they constantly have to water down their
politics, funding, a lot of time and manpower will be put more and more into getting
members elected. Eventual what was the revolutionary movement will be transformed into a
reformist party no better than the most conservative party.
Socialists in parliament, no matter how radical their rhetoric their speeches may be it
cannot influence a thing. The nature of the governmental system will slowly break their
rhetoric down, watering down their socialism bit by bit. Eventually the socialist
politician will fall into line with the system. They discover they can't bring in
socialism. They see how corrupt parliament is, and the shady deals made in pursuit of
power. They gradually come to the conclusion that socialism cannot be created. They won't
admit a thing because they still want their career in politics.
They then, if best turn into liberals, believing socialism can never be achieved because
they cannot implement it by using the system to do so. Why would the system allow itself
to be destroyed and transformed into socialism? The answer is simple, it wouldn't.
The only way to change the system for the better is to destroy it, overthrow it, and
create a new one. The parliament is the protector of the system, it is not an instrument
to help people, it is an instrument of the ruling elite to keep the people in place.
When socialists are wanting to be elected into parliament and are canvassing for votes
given people false hope that the parliament can make their lives better, helps the people
to keep believing that parliaments and governments can improve and change their lives for
the better. And therefore keeps the ruling elites on top of society, ruling over everyone.
Socialist politicians preach "vote for us, we will change things". These politicians think
revolution is when socialist politicians have gained a majority in government. Again and
again we have seen this fail. In Ireland the Labour Party was established in 1912 by
revolutionary socialists James Connolly and Jim Larkin to fight for the right of the
workers and to fight for a socialist society. They went from being a revolutionary party
to a liberal reformist party sharing government with blue shirts Fine Gael. What would
Connolly and Larkin think of them now?
Then we also have the history of Official Sinn Fein later to be renamed the Workers Party.
This party preached socialist rhetoric, but their downfall was in parliamentarianism. Like
most parties in the 20th century what called themselves Marxist-Leninist, they stuck to
trying to win votes in the attempt to gain majority in parliament. They changed from the
road of revolution to the path of reform. Eventually the Workers Party fell apart and
their TD's such as Pat Rabbitte, Eamon Gilmore, etc went on to join the Labour Party.
These same TD's that once professed socialism, went from fighting against harsh state
taxes when in the Worker's Party to fighting to implement harsh taxes and austerity
measures on the people when in the Labour Party sharing government.
These self-described socialists in the Labour Party, along with Fine Gail are leading the
implementation of the EU's and IMF's neo-liberal policies. They are selling the people's
property and wealth to corporation and big business. The social impact of neo-liberalism
in Ireland is massive and growing, we have still yet to see the full effects from it.
We have high unemployment, state-owned companies which employ thousands sold up, mass
emigration, and a homeless and housing crisis with tens of thousands in need of housing;
massive cuts different branches of health care, education, and many other social programs
that help communities and people. We have massive suicide rates, rising number of people
suffering with mental health problems, rise in substance abuse and addiction. Nothing has
ever been seen like this in the history of the free-state.
These massive cuts and selling of state owned businesses and companies to create money to
pay back EU banks the debts that the criminal elites owe. The state does not actual own
these businesses and companies, the people own them.
Then why is the government selling them? The government doesn't want to lose face with the
EU and IMF. So the government is forcing the people to pay through methods of extortion
and blackmail, to help further enrich greedy corporations, EU banks and the IMF.
These are the same politicians that professed socialism during the 70's, 80's and 90's.So
will we see the latest batch of socialist politicians flip flop in the future?
In another few years it is very likely that parliamentary parties that now proclaim
socialism will do the same. They have already started this process. Their politics are
watered down. Why do they use front names like People before Profit or Anti Austerity
Alliance? Why don't they use their real names? Why do they feel they need to try deceiving
the people they want votes from?
Good example, reverently at a protest in Dublin there was a called for civil disobedience
by a certain socialist politician. This same politician a few months previously condemned
a person that through a brick at a Garda van. This shows how opportunistic parliamentary
politics is. Politicians are constantly jumping from one position to another in order so
they may get a few extra votes.
Socialism cannot be brought through by legislation or laws. The last century of workers
struggles proves this. The socialists are actually strengthening this oppressive and
exploitative system, by giving people false hope that parliaments can be used for good.
But history has shown what lies in parliament; which is compromise.
"if elections could change anything they would be illegal" - Emma Goldman
Words: Joe Conlon
http://www.anarkismo.net/article/28719
