The Last of the Wildmen

[Os Cangaceiros]

A somewhat thought-provoking article on @news about recent "wildmen" (survivalist-types) who were captured:

http://anarchistnews.org/content/last-wildmen

Even though the ideology of such people (if they are even politically inclined to begin with) is often very much at odds with the left, I find it very depressing when they get captured. The "Barefoot Bandit" was another one who I was depressed when he got caught...just their existence as rebels, albeit apolitical or perhaps even reactionary ones, is inspiring to me in the face of a society that's increasingly controlling and fenced off.

[Raúl Duke]

I can someone understand where you're coming from. Although personally I prefer those who were a bit more self-reliant (i.e. didn't have to routinely loot to be able to sustain themselves), there's a 'romantic' notion, so to say, to these kinds of people in this day and age particularly among those who has grown increasingly weary/alienated of the society/culture around them to a maddening degree.

I remember when I was younger, I thought Supertramp was stupid. Sure, he was dumb in the sense of certain things that lead to his death but now I sometimes think to myself about "getting away from it all" whether alone or with a few select others.

[Crixus]

Because capitalism depends on people having no other choice but to take part in property based market relations. These property based market relations were forced on us via disposesion and have been made the law of the land and any attempt to live outside it is criminalized.

LmEPigRmTXQ

This is the dispossesion capitalism relies on. And in the end the garden was bulldozed. And in the end you WILL rely on market based property relations for every aspect of existence because otherwise profits cannot be maintained. Say hello to globalization/imperialism/war. Soon farmers in Afghanistan will be eating at McDonald's.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Well I think that there's now no more "outside" for capital to expand into (or if there is it's only in limited examples, like Afghanistan, which is too devastated and violent for any real investment to take place). When there's no more outside the only thing left is some sort of systemic evolution, or self-cannibalization, like in the Japanese housing boom that (IIRC) took place sometime in the 80's or 90's...the only problem was that the entirety of Japan was already developed, so criminal gangs in the form of the yakuza were enlisted to attempt to "convince" property owners to sell off their interests.

[Crixus]

Well I think that there's now no more "outside" for capital to expand into (or if there is it's only in limited examples, like Afghanistan, which is too devastated and violent for any real investment to take place). When there's no more outside the only thing left is some sort of systemic evolution, or self-cannibalization, like in the Japanese housing boom that (IIRC) took place sometime in the 80's or 90's...the only problem was that the entirety of Japan was already developed, so criminal gangs in the form of the yakuza were enlisted to attempt to "convince" property owners to sell off their interests.

They can always start charging for oxygen. What's your carbon footprint?

Anyhow, why do you think troops are still there?

http://www.trade.gov/afghanistan/

http://www.rferl.org/content/afghanistan-investment-once-troops-leave-capital/24812673.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8339570.stm

Paradoxically can the earth support this ever expanding market? Yes, I see an oxygen tax coming soon. Either that or the absolute limit of capitalism.