RAAN Cell Sabotages 150+ Parking Meters

[Nachie]

Communique posted on internet, reposted here:

5/25/07

Friends,

Early this morning, warriors of the Red & Anarchist Action Network (RAAN) used an industrial bonding agent to sabotage and disable over 150 coin-operated parking meters in downtown Lexington, Kentucky.

That we have provided an unexpected dose of free parking to this city is not to say that we are in favor of car culture, which turns our environment into a dangerous and unfriendly space by removing us from it - or that we want to people to have an easier time commuting to their awful jobs, though we do earnestly hope that our actions have brightened someone's Friday. No, we are always looking towards a world where both coins and commuting are irrelevant. We wished only to demonstrate how easily and instantaneously the militance and ingenuity of those who struggle can alter those same oppressive situations we take for granted day after day.

Our actions are meant to coincide with today's 5th year anniversary of RAAN's diverse radical activity as a dispersed insurrectionary network. We send our warmest regards and heartfelt solidarity to all those around the world who are continuing to build this unique revolutionary tendency, always understanding its cultural significance along the way.

FOR SOCIAL EQUALITY THROUGH SOCIAL UNREST! UP THE NIHILISTIC ATTACK ON SOCIAL ORDER!

Sincerely,

A bluegrass cell of the R.A.A.N.

-------------------------------------------------

MORE INFO:

http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?...007052823392783 (http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=2007052823392783)

http://www.redanarchist.org

[RedAnarchist]

I bet that cherred up a lot of workers :)

That may be a mslal action, but imagine if that happened in many cities on an almost daily basis, enabling people to park without having to pay for the privilege.

[Whitten]

I recomend you read this Nachie: The Bankrupcy of Individual Terrorism (http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1911/11/tia09.htm)

While I recognise that you are not a marxist and that RAAN is strongly Leninphobic, that's irrelivant to the article.

[RedAnarchist]

Originally posted by [email protected] 30, 2007 08:03 pm
I recomend you read this Chimx: The Bankrupcy of Individual Terrorism (http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1911/11/tia09.htm)

While I recognise that you are not a marxist and that RAAN is strongly Leninphobic, that's irrelivant to the article.
How is smashing parking meters "individual terrorism"? Who exactly are you terrorising apart from the authorities?

[Whitten]

Originally posted by Makhno+May 30, 2007 07:07 pm--> (Makhno @ May 30, 2007 07:07 pm)
[email protected] 30, 2007 08:03 pm
I recomend you read this Chimx: The Bankrupcy of Individual Terrorism (http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1911/11/tia09.htm)

While I recognise that you are not a marxist and that RAAN is strongly Leninphobic, that's irrelivant to the article.
How is smashing parking meters "individual terrorism"? Who exactly are you terrorising apart from the authorities? [/b]
It doesn't matter who its committed against.

although while on that subject those marking meters are publicly owned, so its a crime against the people.

[RedAnarchist]

Originally posted by Whitten+May 30, 2007 08:24 pm--> (Whitten @ May 30, 2007 08:24 pm)
Originally posted by [email protected] 30, 2007 07:07 pm

[email protected] 30, 2007 08:03 pm
I recomend you read this Chimx: The Bankrupcy of Individual Terrorism (http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1911/11/tia09.htm)

While I recognise that you are not a marxist and that RAAN is strongly Leninphobic, that's irrelivant to the article.
How is smashing parking meters "individual terrorism"? Who exactly are you terrorising apart from the authorities?
It doesn't matter who its committed against.

although while on that subject those marking meters are publicly owned, so its a crime against the people. [/b]
Even if they are publically owned, the public have to pay for them twice by taxes and by using them when they park up. Why should people have to pay to park on a peice of road?

[RedAnarchist]

Originally posted by [email protected] 30, 2007 08:03 pm
I recomend you read this Chimx: The Bankrupcy of Individual Terrorism (http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1911/11/tia09.htm)

While I recognise that you are not a marxist and that RAAN is strongly Leninphobic, that's irrelivant to the article.
btw, Nachie posted this, not Chimx.

[Red October]

Technically, cop cars, tanks, bombers, and everything else used by the government is public property and owned by the people as a whole. should we leave those alone?

[which doctor]

although while on that subject those marking meters are publicly owned, so its a crime against the people.
Give me a fucking brake! Nothing about a parking meter is public, they're despised by the public. If they're owned by the public, then so is the government. So I guess we shouldn't touch them either. After all we elected them :rolleyes: .

Government is a private corporation that just happens to have the authority to force it's customers to pay them for their services.

[The Grey Blur]

This has to be the stupidest political thing (bar the SWP dressing up a giant human tap to protest water charges) that I have ever seen.

[RedAnarchist]

Originally posted by Permanent [email protected] 30, 2007 09:09 pm
This has to be the stupidest political thing (bar the SWP dressing up a giant human tap to protest water charges) that I have ever seen.
Can you actually give us reasons why?

[Organic Revolution]

Originally posted by Whitten+May 30, 2007 01:24 pm--> (Whitten @ May 30, 2007 01:24 pm)
Originally posted by [email protected] 30, 2007 07:07 pm

[email protected] 30, 2007 08:03 pm
I recomend you read this Chimx: The Bankrupcy of Individual Terrorism (http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1911/11/tia09.htm)

While I recognise that you are not a marxist and that RAAN is strongly Leninphobic, that's irrelivant to the article.
How is smashing parking meters "individual terrorism"? Who exactly are you terrorising apart from the authorities?
It doesn't matter who its committed against.

although while on that subject those marking meters are publicly owned, so its a crime against the people. [/b]
Thank you for being naive. Have you ever had to pay a parking meter, or better yet, were late for work, and didnt have the quarters to pay the meter, so you got a 75 dollar ticket?

Its another way for the local governments to fuck us.

[Enragé]

Originally posted by Permanent [email protected] 30, 2007 08:09 pm
This has to be the stupidest political thing (bar the SWP dressing up a giant human tap to protest water charges) that I have ever seen.
nah its not stupid, it wouldnt be my preferred target by which to protest capitalism, but its not that bad.
Its a nice action, though i dont think all that productive.

its a nice change from handing out leaflets and protesting.

[Whitten]

I would address all the responses seperatly but theres a fair few of them and they all say pretty mush the same thing, so I'll just make one reply.

Parking meter's have twofold purpose, to reduce the amount of cars parked in high demand areas, so those who really need to can get parked, and secondly as a minor source of revenue for local government. Neither of these things is especially oppressive in nature. The money raised through parking meters contributes towards publicly funded initiatives.

[Entrails Konfetti]

Fuck up some ATMs while your at it-- make them pour free money!

Just tell me when and where!

[which doctor]

Parking meter's have twofold purpose, to reduce the amount of cars parked in high demand areas, so those who really need to can get parked,
By selectively discriminating against those short of change?


minor source of revenue for local government.
Government is government, fuck it.


The money raised through parking meters contributes towards publicly funded initiatives.
Or maybe it goes to padding the city officials' wallets?

Do you also support paying taxes?


This has to be the stupidest political thing (bar the SWP dressing up a giant human tap to protest water charges) that I have ever seen.
Well, it's not a political thing at all. In fact, it's anti-political. And by that alone it makes it more revolutionary than any "socialist" protest.

[which doctor]

Haha, according to a Lexington newspaper a "Leninist-anarchist" group was the culprit. I wonder how they made that mistake! LOL.

http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/83704.html

[Luís Henrique]

The problem with this kind of action is not that it is illegal, violent, terroristic, pointless, or stupid.

The problem is it is carried not by workers, but on behalf of workers, by other people instead of workers, and so is easily turned by the bourgeoisie against both its perpetrators and against the working class.

It is a substitutionist action; never mind how much you would like to shoot Lenin in the head Saigon style, you have much more in common with him than you realise. :rolleyes:

Luís Henrique

[Entrails Konfetti]

Originally posted by Luís [email protected] 30, 2007 11:29 pm
The problem with this kind of action is not that it is illegal, violent, terroristic, pointless, or stupid.

The problem is it is carried not by workers, but on behalf of workers, by other people instead of workers, and so is easily turned by the bourgeoisie against both its perpetrators and against the working class.

It is a substitutionist action; never mind how much you would like to shoot Lenin in the head Saigon style, you have much more in common with him than you realise. :rolleyes:

Luís Henrique
Whats to say RAAN members have never held jobs? Or from working backgrounds?

I guess you mean the punky members should replace their studded jean jackets for trucker shirts and Dickies.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

next can we egg the post office?

[Red October]

Lol, I geuss they didn't see the "Fuck Lenin" flyer on RAAN's website.

[which doctor]

Originally posted by Luís [email protected] 30, 2007 06:29 pm
The problem is it is carried not by workers, but on behalf of workers, by other people instead of workers, and so is easily turned by the bourgeoisie against both its perpetrators and against the working class.
Where is it mentioned by RAAN that this action was carried out on behalf of the workers?

[KC]

It wasn't. It has absolutely nothing to do with the class struggle. It should be in chit-chat.

[Black Dagger]

Nice work comrades :)


Originally posted by Whitten+--> (Whitten)although while on that subject those marking meters are publicly owned, so its a crime against the people. [/b]

LOL :lol:

So you oppose the damaging/destruction of state property? You're gonna have a hell of a dilemma once the insurrection begins!

Remember kids, don't torch those cop cars, that's a crime against the people! :lol:


Zampano
It wasn't. It has absolutely nothing to do with the class struggle. It should be in chit-chat.

You're right!

Nachie, could you pass this on to the kentucky crew?

Make it more class struggley next time! Wear hard-hats or something, you know, like real workers do.

[apathy maybe]

Originally posted by Luís Henrique+May 31, 2007 01:29 am--> (Luís Henrique @ May 31, 2007 01:29 am) The problem with this kind of action is not that it is illegal, violent, terroristic, pointless, or stupid.

The problem is it is carried not by workers, but on behalf of workers, by other people instead of workers, and so is easily turned by the bourgeoisie against both its perpetrators and against the working class.

It is a substitutionist action; never mind how much you would like to shoot Lenin in the head Saigon style, you have much more in common with him than you realise. :rolleyes:

Luís Henrique [/b]
You have got to be fucking kidding me.

1) Who said it wasn't carried out by workers.
2) Who said it was carried out on behalf of workers (if I do this sort of thing, I do it for my own self gratification, this sort of individualist action doesn't raise consciousness).
3) What the fuck are you talking about?
(Are you saying that illegal actions are problematic? Are you saying that gluing parking meters is "violent" or "terroristic"? (WTF?) You honestly think this sort of action is pointless and stupid?)


Z
It wasn't. It has absolutely nothing to do with the class struggle. It should be in chit-chat.Who said it had anything to do with "the class struggle"? Why does everything have to do with "the class struggle"?


Anyway, my take on this is, "good work". Yes it isn't a revolutionary act (but neither is getting 20 folks to stand on a side walk protesting the war in Iraq). Yes it wasn't an act of "class struggle". But who the fuck cares?
For a while at least, more then 150 parking meters were put out of action, a direct attack on the power of government. It also means that a few more workers get to keep a few extra bucks in their pocket, rather then have to hand them over to the government. This sort of action is better then nothing, even if it isn't revolutionary. (Besides which, it is fun! Remember kids, anarchists have more fun! :AO: :A: :ph34r:)

[bolshevik butcher]

What a complete waste of time. This is not going to in anyway help build class consciousness or a revolutionary movement.

[welshred]

Well done RAAN, maybe we should do the same here with speed cameras?

[apathy maybe]

Originally posted by bolshevik butcher+May 31, 2007 11:03 am--> (bolshevik butcher @ May 31, 2007 11:03 am) What a complete waste of time. This is not going to in anyway help build class consciousness or a revolutionary movement. [/b]

Originally posted by apathy [email protected]
Who said it had anything to do with "the class struggle"? Why does everything have to do with "the class struggle"?

Is voting Labour revolutionary or building class consciousness? Is participating in a liberal reformist protest revolutionary? Is participating in the G8 protests building class consciousness?


apathy maybe
For a while at least, more then 150 parking meters were put out of action, a direct attack on the power of government. It also means that a few more workers get to keep a few extra bucks in their pocket, rather then have to hand them over to the government. This sort of action is better then nothing, even if it isn't revolutionary. (Besides which, it is fun! Remember kids, anarchists have more fun! :AO: :A: :ph34r:)

Is smoking a joint or drinking a beer a waste of time? Is watching a movie a waste of time?

Is spraying an anarchist or communist symbol up on a wall, revolutionary, building class consciousness or a waste of time? :hammer: :AO:?

:rolleyes:

I think I'll stick with being an anarchist, we obviously have more fun...

[Whitten]

Apathy Maybe has the right idea, this is individualist terrorism, any who pretends this is a revolutionary actions is fooling themselves.

What I've been trying to point out is that it will only end up costing the working class more.

[apathy maybe]

HOW THE FUCK IS IT TERRORISM?!!?

Terrorism is surely trying to cause terror, gluing up locks or parking meters is not and cannot be fucking terrorism! Stop trying to twist my words and claim that I'm saying something I'm not.

If I have the correct idea, then more people should be doing this sort of thing.

Another thing, explain properly how this will end up costing anyone other then the government (and perhaps the perpetrators if they get caught) anything?


(And please, it is "apathy maybe", not "Apathy Maybe", I'm not a capitalist...)

[An archist]

2 pages o this subject already?
For fuck's sake, it's not a revolutionary act and it's not a counter-revolutionary act. It pissed off some cops and officials, cheered up some people who didn't have to pay and caused a thrill for the vandalisers.
That's it, it's a fait-divers. (does that word exist in english?)

[bolshevik butcher]

Apathy protests, demos etc provide excellent oppertunites and platforms at which socialists can spread their ideas and are good for propaganda purposees. They allow socialists to contact the vaguely conscious people on them and any coverage of such an event allows for the ideas to spread further. So yes they do help build a movement and class consciousness.

I'm not debating whether this stuff was fun or whatever, fine if it was fun then do it because it's fun. That doesn't mean that it can be passed off as worthwhile political activity.

[YSR]

Every little bit counts. Cheers, FWs.

[NorthStarRepublicML]

Yes it isn't a revolutionary act (but neither is getting 20 folks to stand on a side walk protesting the war in Iraq). Yes it wasn't an act of "class struggle". But who the fuck cares?

obviously not anarchists .....

this is juvenile, if your going to go so far as to destroy government property why not destroy property that actually matters ... like a bridge or a building ....

no i think not, RAAN is nothing more then childish pranksters

these actions, as suggested elsewhere in the thread, are essentially meaningless .... but as apathy maybe points out in the above quote that is apparently good enough for some ...

anyway .... you guys go and have "fun" some of us have work to do ...

-R

[which doctor]

Originally posted by [email protected] 31, 2007 11:14 am
this is juvenile, if your going to go so far as to destroy government property why not destroy property that actually matters ... like a bridge or a building ....
Why would you destroy a bridge? Now that my friend, is an act of terrorism.

[Pirate Utopian]

Originally posted by An [email protected] 31, 2007 11:36 am
2 pages o this subject already?
For fuck's sake, it's not a revolutionary act and it's not a counter-revolutionary act. It pissed off some cops and officials, cheered up some people who didn't have to pay and caused a thrill for the vandalisers.
That's it, it's a fait-divers. (does that word exist in english?)
True.
Big deal that they wrecked some parking meters.

[Invader Zim]

Originally posted by Organic Revolution+May 30, 2007 09:52 pm--> (Organic Revolution @ May 30, 2007 09:52 pm)
Originally posted by [email protected] 30, 2007 01:24 pm

Originally posted by [email protected] 30, 2007 07:07 pm

[email protected] 30, 2007 08:03 pm
I recomend you read this Chimx: The Bankrupcy of Individual Terrorism (http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1911/11/tia09.htm)

While I recognise that you are not a marxist and that RAAN is strongly Leninphobic, that's irrelivant to the article.
How is smashing parking meters "individual terrorism"? Who exactly are you terrorising apart from the authorities?
It doesn't matter who its committed against.

although while on that subject those marking meters are publicly owned, so its a crime against the people.
Thank you for being naive. Have you ever had to pay a parking meter, or better yet, were late for work, and didnt have the quarters to pay the meter, so you got a 75 dollar ticket?

Its another way for the local governments to fuck us. [/b]
Yes, though it was a £35 ticket.

But that is irrelevent. If you smash up couincil property then the council has to pay, which leads to an increase in council tax.

Who pays that?

Not to mention I would keep parking permits. Do you know why? Well, have you ever been late to work and not been able to find a parking space because the parking is free and every individual for half a mile is parking there? Or been stuck in a traffic jam for an hour because inner cities are highly congested because parked cars are reducing road capacity?

Well, like the former I have had the latter and while I may dislike having to pay and dislike traffic wardens, parking charges are not just an extra tax; that is an ignorant myth.

[NorthStarRepublicML]

Why would you destroy a bridge? Now that my friend, is an act of terrorism.

whats your definition of terrorism?

no, really i'm just saying that RAAN wants to pretend they are "warriors" fighting against the state but their weapons of choice are super glue and their targets are parking meters .... i would hardly call them "warriors" or revolutionaries ..... definatly not terrorists (more an annoyance)

and this they claim on their website, and then in a thread like this claiming
warriors of the Red & Anarchist Action Network

then when they are called on it they claim things like
Yes it isn't a revolutionary act (but neither is getting 20 folks to stand on a side walk protesting the war in Iraq). Yes it wasn't an act of "class struggle". But who the fuck cares?

if they were class "warriors" like they claim they would be destroying state property that actually matters (like bridges) not pulling stupid pranks.

i checked out some of these RAAN kids mysapce accounts, hardly underground class warriors and hardly members of the working class .... in their pictures (not smart to post them) look like suburban emo *****es.

-R

[black magick hustla]

Some of you are boring as fuxk.

Who cares if it isn't as "effective" in spreading class consciousness, it is fun, and it is a concrete example of struggle against the social order.

[Avtomat_Icaro]

Closet revolutionaries in heavy debate whether this little thing is revolutionary or not. They were probably just as revolutionary as us posting here how much we dont like the system :rolleyes:

[Fawkes]

then when they are called on it they claim things like
"They" never claimed that. apathy maybe is not a member of RAAN, nor has he ever been as far as I know; he was merely defending this action as something other than an act of revolution.

[bcbm]

Free parking? Sweet.
More work for some folks? Sweet.
A little thorn in the side of the state? Sweet.

Where is the problem again? Oh right, that it was RAAN who did it, not anything to do with the action itself. Now it all makes sense.

Get over yourselves people, fucking seriously.:rolleyes:

[The Grey Blur]

That last sentence must have been directed at RAAN, because it wouldn't make sense otherwise.

Like BB said if this was fun, great, well done - hope it was a barrel of laughs. Don't try and pass it off as political activity though.

[bcbm]

Originally posted by Permanent [email protected] 31, 2007 06:35 pm
That last sentence must have been directed at RAAN, because it wouldn't make sense otherwise.

Like BB said if this was fun, great, well done - hope it was a barrel of laughs. Don't try and pass it off as political activity though.
Actually it makes perfect sense when directed at everyone in this thread- even RAAN. I'd be keen to know what more important activities everyone else is engaged in, especially folks like Zampano who won't even bother participating in local anti-racist activities. Hmmm. And I'm sure some of you are doing great things (er, I'd like to hope), but that doesn't make this action completely worthless, as much as you hate RAAN. Will it single-handedly do anything great? Of course not, but that is true of every action we do. Things like this contribute to a larger climate of instability and insurrection, and that is a good thing.

[Bilan]

Originally posted by [email protected] 01, 2007 08:07 am
Some of you are boring as fuxk.

Who cares if it isn't as "effective" in spreading class consciousness, it is fun, and it is a concrete example of struggle against the social order.
Possibly the most accurate post in here so far.

[Rawthentic]

Wow the Raanies shot up some parking meters. Who gives a fuck?

Its neither revolutionary nor political nor useful, but it was fun I suppose. I don't make anything out of it.

Anarchists have more fun, but thats about as far it gets it shows.

[Mujer Libre]

Originally posted by VGT
Anarchists have more fun, but thats about as far it gets it shows.
Yes, because this is all RAAN does. Seriously, you people need to get a life. BCBM's posts on the previous page are right on.

It seems quite a few people here subscribe to the Axel1917 school of thought, as demonstrated by the quote in my sig.

[BobKKKindle$]

I would contend that this kind of action is political or at least has a political dimension- it poses a challenge to Capitalism and the State prmarily through demonstrating how people are able to confront power and authority in their own lives. Look at the reaction of the state to what is really something that is fairly harmless!

Original and imaginative actions like this engage with the oppressed to a greater extent than other ideologically-orientated events such as political meetings and seminars which most people simply cannot relate to and do not find interesting.

I have misgivings about Anarchists - but their actions are way more original and amusing - both for those involved and those they aim to engage with - than those of Socialists.

[Avtomat_Icaro]

Originally posted by Mujer Libre+June 01, 2007 06:42 am--> (Mujer Libre @ June 01, 2007 06:42 am)
VGT
Anarchists have more fun, but thats about as far it gets it shows.
Yes, because this is all RAAN does. Seriously, you people need to get a life. BCBM's posts on the previous page are right on.

It seems quite a few people here subscribe to the Axel1917 school of thought, as demonstrated by the quote in my sig. [/b]
And all we seem to do here is whine on forums like this that capitalism is the great evil and that one day the apocalyptic revolution will come and cleanse the world of all bad things turning it into paradise :blink:

[Louis Pio]

This is certainly the first step in the world revolution! The destruction of parking meters will prompt the masses into action or something....

[Pirate Utopian]

Sure people can say it gets the state angry or whatever, but you all know this will have as much affect as farting at a garbage dump.

[Bilan]

these actions, as suggested elsewhere in the thread, are essentially meaningless .... but as apathy maybe points out in the above quote that is apparently good enough for some ...

anyway .... you guys go and have "fun" some of us have work to do ...

-R

Baha!
Yes, I suppose fun might even be considered counter-revolutionary by you!

[Avtomat_Icaro]

You being here is already counter revolutionary since you support a capitalist system here...once the servers are a bit fucked here you will see this place (and its leaders) true capitalist nature: "re-direct all power to the che store"!

YOU REACTIONARY SWINES!!!!

Nah...Im kidding...I hope I didnt scare some high ranking figures with this little remark :P

[bcbm]

Anarchists have more fun, but thats about as far it gets it shows.

They've made more ground in the US than any commie lot has in the past decade, and accomplished a whole fuck-lot more. Much of the left here seems to be asleep at the wheel, so you should probably save your judgments about how far things go.


Originally posted by Big [email protected] 01, 2007 06:53 am
Sure people can say it gets the state angry or whatever, but you all know this will have as much affect as farting at a garbage dump.
So what're you up to that's so challenging?

[The Grey Blur]

Originally posted by black coffee black metal+June 01, 2007 03:26 am--> (black coffee black metal @ June 01, 2007 03:26 am)
Permanent [email protected] 31, 2007 06:35 pm
That last sentence must have been directed at RAAN, because it wouldn't make sense otherwise.

Like BB said if this was fun, great, well done - hope it was a barrel of laughs. Don't try and pass it off as political activity though.
Actually it makes perfect sense when directed at everyone in this thread- even RAAN. I'd be keen to know what more important activities everyone else is engaged in, especially folks like Zampano who won't even bother participating in local anti-racist activities. Hmmm. And I'm sure some of you are doing great things (er, I'd like to hope), but that doesn't make this action completely worthless, as much as you hate RAAN. Will it single-handedly do anything great? Of course not, but that is true of every action we do. Things like this contribute to a larger climate of instability and insurrection, and that is a good thing. [/b]

RAAN wouldn't dream of it! Everyone knows the real political activity is being done by highschool socialists.
I talk to people in my school, have gotten people along to meetings, intervened in working-classes issues, worked with youth unions, picketed shops that have mistreated workers, written lead offs, held stalls, electioneered, gone to demos and protest, worked in building up our Party, educated myself and others as well as being in active in different solidarity campaigns. Seriously I shouldn't even have had to list all that stuff - some of us on here are actual revolutionaries, even if you aren't so keep your insecurities to yourself.


Some of you are boring as fuxk.
No actually I have plenty of fun, sometimes this overlaps with political activity since most comrades are great craic. What I don't have though, is the horrendous lack of brain cells that allows idiots to pass of pranks like these as legitimate political activity.

If this had been the RCP or Sparts or any other idelogoical strain I would still have said it was a fucking dopey idea, nothing to do with Anarchists. I know Anarchists here in Belfast and they don't waste their time glueing parking meters, they're active in working-class struggles and attempting to raise class conscousness.

[which doctor]

So PR, when was the last time Socialist Youth concretely liberated people from some of the restrains of the state?

[Black Dagger]

Originally posted by PR+--> (PR)some of us on here are actual revolutionaries, even if you aren't so keep your insecurities to yourself.[/b]

LMAO, i've been doing your 'revolutionary' political work (save the 'building up our Party' and electioneering parts) probably longer than you've been a leftist, so fucking what? That doesnt make me a 'better' (or 'more') revolutionary than you, nor you better or more revolutionary than any raanista in kentucky.

I'm not insecure, least of all in your company, i just want a lot of the respondents to this thread to stop pretending like the work they do (for the people who are running their mouths and actually have anything to back it up with mind you) is special, superior or so damn meaningful; or as if the crew responsible for this sabotage has completed their annual quota for political action. Y'all are practically falling over yourselves trying see which of you l33t class struggle veterans can reply with the most cynical, 'biting' holier-than-thou criticism. Yup, all kentucky raanistas have done and ever do is superglue parking meters, for fucks sake that shit is so starkly moronic it's painful.


PR
If this had been the RCP or Sparts or any other idelogoical strain I would still have said it was a fucking dopey idea, nothing to do with Anarchists.

Yeah you're right, just repeating the same 'actions' (i use that term loosely in this context) over and over and over and over and over and over and over again, shit's bound to fall into place sometime!

[Jazzratt]

As much as I think RAAN are a bunch of pricks I have absloutlety no problem with this particular action, fuck it I hope some group does something similar to make my life cheaper/easier for the day.

It may not be earth shatteringly revolutionary, but it is something and just because it doesn't fit in with the "march around shouting slogans" approach that a lot of other members of this board take as the one true way doesn't mean it isn't useful.

[Guest]

Originally posted by EL [email protected] 30, 2007 11:44 pm
Whats to say RAAN members have never held jobs? Or from working backgrounds?

I guess you mean the punky members should replace their studded jean jackets for trucker shirts and Dickies.
No. I mean that the action was not discussed democratically with workers. RAAN members may well be all of them workers (though, for some reason, I highly doubt it). It would not change that a bit. This is an action of a political group separated from the working class. It is not an action of the class.

Thousands of workers go to soccer games or vote Democrat; it doesn't turn going to soccer games or voting Democrat a working class action.

And dressing has nothing to do with it. I never wore "trucker shirts and Dickies", and I am a worker.

Luís Henrique

[Guest]

Originally posted by apathy [email protected] 31, 2007 08:30 am
You have got to be fucking kidding me.

1) Who said it wasn't carried out by workers.
I did. See my previous post.


Who said it had anything to do with "the class struggle"? Why does everything have to do with "the class struggle"?

You did. Like this:


2) Who said it was carried out on behalf of workers (if I do this sort of thing, I do it for my own self gratification, this sort of individualist action doesn't raise consciousness).


3) What the fuck are you talking about?
(Are you saying that illegal actions are problematic? Are you saying that gluing parking meters is "violent" or "terroristic"? (WTF?) You honestly think this sort of action is pointless and stupid?)

No. I am saying that if you discuss an action like this democratically, rallying some thousand workers, and go across the city glueing the parkimeters, and confronting police if necessary to do it, then it is a working class action. If you do it at night, by a small group of people who have discussed it secretely, then it is not a working class action.


Anyway, my take on this is, "good work". Yes it isn't a revolutionary act (but neither is getting 20 folks to stand on a side walk protesting the war in Iraq). Yes it wasn't an act of "class struggle". But who the fuck cares?

If it isn't an act of class struggle, it does not further the destruction of the bourgeois State. If it doesn't further the destruction of the bourgeois State, then it is not revolutionary. If it is not revolutionary, it is not "good" in a political sence.

And, good question: who cares? I suppose those who posted it here do care. Because this board is not about having fun, it is about fighting the bourgeoisie and its State. So, if it was not directed to that end, why post it here?

Let me make a "statement":

I just ate a pizza!

It was fun! I greatly appreciated it!

But I wouldn't post it here, except for the reasons I am posting it now: to make the difference between what is political and what is not.

Luís Henrique

[Ander]

LOL @ the Leninists up in hurr.

Obviously the only worthwhile action to possibly do is shoot a cop in the face or smash a shop window!

Why do we even post here? That's certainly not doing anything for "class struggle" and the "revolutionary cause." Just shut the hell up and realise this was not supposed to be a major blow to capitalism because it obviously wasn't.

Btw, PR once again proved himself to be a big nooblet.

And why do I find myself agreeing more and more with anarchists?

[bcbm]

No. I am saying that if you discuss an action like this democratically, rallying some thousand workers, and go across the city glueing the parkimeters, and confronting police if necessary to do it, then it is a working class action. If you do it at night, by a small group of people who have discussed it secretely, then it is not a working class action.

So if you can't rally a thousand workers to some form of militant action, you shouldn't undertake any? That's just silly. Individual workers perform anti-capitalist actions all the time on the job and I think those certainly are "working class actions."


If it isn't an act of class struggle, it does not further the destruction of the bourgeois State. If it doesn't further the destruction of the bourgeois State, then it is not revolutionary. If it is not revolutionary, it is not "good" in a political sence.

Actions like this, when done frequently and over a large enough area, can contribute to the destruction of the bourgeois state, certainly. The terrain of the social war is vast.

[Red October]

Originally posted by [email protected] 01, 2007 03:50 pm
No. I am saying that if you discuss an action like this democratically, rallying some thousand workers, and go across the city glueing the parkimeters, and confronting police if necessary to do it, then it is a working class action. If you do it at night, by a small group of people who have discussed it secretely, then it is not a working class action.
Cool, let's put out an announcement and tell the cops exactly what we're going to do and where we're going to do it. That certainly won't get your ass shut down before you even start.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

look this is a fine action. Nothing wrong with it. It did liberate people from the restrains of the State! On the otherhand, who gives a fuck? The state will raise taxes and then put back the parking meters. Maybe even increase the amount of cops in the town or some shit. What pisses me off about this is that its RAAN and that RAAN is always so proud that they are a bunch of drunk teenage suburbinites on a friday night who think they are badass. This is all I here RAAN doing! Nachie posts these comminques which are just degrading to our movement because they are presented in an official way. I guess it all just comes down to my hate for all of RAAN and its members due to the fact that they thinks it awesome to smash the windows of Revolution Books so I can't be objective. SO I owe it to RAAN to say that if it was some other party and it Was in chit-chat I'd definately defend it.

[Rawthentic]

They've made more ground in the US than any commie lot has in the past decade, and accomplished a whole fuck-lot more. Much of the left here seems to be asleep at the wheel, so you should probably save your judgments about how far things go.
Maybe where you live. Certainly not here. Its a bit hard to say so unless you tour the entire country right?

Right.

[KC]

You're right!

Nachie, could you pass this on to the kentucky crew?

Make it more class struggley next time! Wear hard-hats or something, you know, like real workers do.

Sorry to hurt your feelings, but it's true.


Who said it had anything to do with "the class struggle"? Why does everything have to do with "the class struggle"?


Anyway, my take on this is, "good work". Yes it isn't a revolutionary act (but neither is getting 20 folks to stand on a side walk protesting the war in Iraq). Yes it wasn't an act of "class struggle". But who the fuck cares?

Because it's not a progressive political action. Sure, it'd probably be fun to fuck up some parking meters, and it might be a political action, but I'd hardly consider it progressive. It's just something to do; it doesn't advance a cause or anything like that, aside from either giving people free parking or no parking for a few weeks.


For a while at least, more then 150 parking meters were put out of action, a direct attack on the power of government.

I could steal library books and that would be a "direct attack on the power of government" too, right? I mean, it's a government-funded institution that I'm taking resources from. Of course, neither of these actions would really be effective in the overall picture of actually taking power away from the bourgeois government, so neither of them are really relevant as progressive political actions. I'm not saying this action was bad or reactionary; it just wasn't progressive.


This sort of action is better then nothing, even if it isn't revolutionary.

This sentence reeks of individualism.


2 pages o this subject already?
For fuck's sake, it's not a revolutionary act and it's not a counter-revolutionary act. It pissed off some cops and officials, cheered up some people who didn't have to pay and caused a thrill for the vandalisers.
That's it, it's a fait-divers. (does that word exist in english?)

I completely agree with this.


Every little bit counts.

Steal library books! Vote democrat! Every little bit counts! :rolleyes:


Who cares if it isn't as "effective" in spreading class consciousness, it is fun, and it is a concrete example of struggle against the social order.

Of course it's fun, but representing it as a valid progressive political action is unrealistic. As for it being a "concrete example of struggle against the social order": so what? That doesn't mean anything. Luddites are a "concrete example of struggle against the social order" as well.


Actually it makes perfect sense when directed at everyone in this thread- even RAAN. I'd be keen to know what more important activities everyone else is engaged in, especially folks like Zampano who won't even bother participating in local anti-racist activities. Hmmm. And I'm sure some of you are doing great things (er, I'd like to hope), but that doesn't make this action completely worthless, as much as you hate RAAN. Will it single-handedly do anything great? Of course not, but that is true of every action we do. Things like this contribute to a larger climate of instability and insurrection, and that is a good thing.

Don't drag me into your whiny rant about the political action of RLers. I have been very active in numerous movements and have helped organized and participated in numerous actions both in and out of the local area. I think it's incredibly hypocritical of you to play the "more revolutionary than thou" card when anarchists on this board constantly criticize Marxists for doing the same thing. The fact of the matter is that you don't know shit about what I've done, what I'm doing, or what I've been involved in, and to make such a blatant attack on me without even knowing me or even ever talking to me is fucking low and serves no one else but the capitalists you claim to oppose. If you weren't such an ass and actually acted comradely towards me instead of pulling bullshit like this then maybe eventually we'd end up working together, but I'm never going to work with someone that pulls this kind of sectarian shit and effectively contributes to the incredible division that is already weakening the left in the capitalists' favor. Fuck off.

[redcannon]

fuck, some of you guys have to chill out about this. Why are you bringing down people who make living a bit cheaper? I mean, they didn't "storm the bastille" or anything like that, but this action didn't arm anyone physically and that's less money going to the state (and don't give me that bullshit about less money going to welfare or park development, that's only a small fraction compared to the money spent on the police and the judicial system.)

plus: now those pigs look fuckin rediculous on bycicles...

[Luís Henrique]

Originally posted by black coffee black [email protected] 01, 2007 10:46 pm
So if you can't rally a thousand workers to some form of militant action, you shouldn't undertake any? That's just silly. Individual workers perform anti-capitalist actions all the time on the job and I think those certainly are "working class actions."
If if you can't rally a thousad worker to some form of militant action, then you do some other form of militant action, to which you can.

And about "anti-capitalist" actions on job: yes, they certainly are working class actions, and they certainly are class struggle actions. But then they are hardly "individual". They stem from the collective need to lower labour intensity and give workers some break. Otherwise people who do them would quickly get snitched by the other workers.

To take class struggle into the streets requires another level of mobilisation.


Actions like this, when done frequently and over a large enough area, can contribute to the destruction of the bourgeois state, certainly. The terrain of the social war is vast.

Oh, yes. If we could do that everyday, we would be able to even storm city halls. But you only will be able to do such things "frequently and over a large enough area" if you can rally thousands of workers to do it.

There is no way to avoid it: only the working class is revolutionary. Small groups, small vanguard groups aren't.

Luís Henrique

[Luís Henrique]

Originally posted by Red [email protected] 01, 2007 11:29 pm
Cool, let's put out an announcement and tell the cops exactly what we're going to do and where we're going to do it. That certainly won't get your ass shut down before you even start.
No, let's do it "secretly" and then put it into an internet site so that the police will never be able to find who did it.

Class struggle cannot be earnestly made anonimously.

And I have to say that to people who supposedly are anti-Leninists? :rolleyes:

Luís Henrique

[bcbm]

Don't drag me into your whiny rant about the political action of RLers.

Wow, the point completely flew over your head, congratulations. I was only curious what all of the people who railed against this as "pointless" and "bullshit" were up to that was so absolutely fantastic. I even gave people the benefit of the doubt in the bit you quoted (whoops). My point is that most of us aren't doing the greatest things in the world, obviously, and to lash out at one group for not pulling off the greatest thing ever seems completely asinine. It isn't about every action being perfect or whatever you and the others' criteria is (hard to figure out when you shit talk without offering any advice). Pulling off lots of smaller actions has an effect too, and can be part of a larger struggle.


I think it's incredibly hypocritical of you to play the "more revolutionary than thou" card when anarchists on this board constantly criticize Marxists for doing the same thing.

Who said anything about being more revolutionary than anyone? I certainly didn't. Its you and your ilk that have been playing that card, given the incredible amount of lame denunciations here of the action as "not really revolutionary," etc, etc. I, once again, was just curious what other people were doing that they thought was way better than this, and why this action brought so much condemnation out. Of course the answer has always been obvious: because its RAAN.


The fact of the matter is that you don't know shit about what I've done, what I'm doing, or what I've been involved in, and to make such a blatant attack on me without even knowing me or even ever talking to me is fucking low

If you are who I think you are, then I know enough to think my claims have some validity, but I could be wrong and if I am I apologize.


and serves no one else but the capitalists you claim to oppose.

:rolleyes: Lolz. Do you read this shit before you post it? Yeah dude, me slagging your actions after you slag other anti-capitalists doing some actions means I am serving the capitalists.


If you weren't such an ass and actually acted comradely towards me instead of pulling bullshit like this then maybe eventually we'd end up working together, but I'm never going to work with someone that pulls this kind of sectarian shit and effectively contributes to the incredible division that is already weakening the left in the capitalists' favor.

To be honest, I never had a problem with you personally, whatever our disagreements politically, until you started talking some mad shit on my friends (who you obviously don't know very well... hmm, who was just complaining about that?) and, once again, slagging off people for an action they'd performed instead of offering any form of solidarity, even though there were a lot of arrests and the potential of some serious charges. So don't fucking lecture me about "sectarian shit," because you're guilty at least as much as I am. I'm perfectly happy to work with anybody, but when they pull shit like that, then I get a little pissy and remain so. But it doesn't have to be that way, and I don't feel we need to be at each other's throats either, so I'll bury the hatchet if you will. I'm actually moving in to your town tonight, so if you want to grab a coffee or a beer some time, just shoot me a pm. Hell, I'll even buy the first one, just to show my good faith here.

That's my offer, take it or leave it.

---

Luis- I'll write you a response when I can, like I mentioned, I'm moving, so I am a bit busy right now. ;)

[chimx]

I don't know about Luis or Zampano, but I wear a hard hat.

[seicer]

Don't be 'hatin!

I thought it was humorous at best. According to the city, parking at a disabled meter can earn you a citation. Too bad this was done in the summer when all the students are out :D

[Hiero]

No. I mean that the action was not discussed democratically with workers. RAAN members may well be all of them workers (though, for some reason, I highly doubt it). It would not change that a bit. This is an action of a political group separated from the working class. It is not an action of the class.


No. I am saying that if you discuss an action like this democratically, rallying some thousand workers, and go across the city glueing the parkimeters, and confronting police if necessary to do it, then it is a working class action. If you do it at night, by a small group of people who have discussed it secretely, then it is not a working class action.

This is how illegal revolutionary action occurs, all throughout history. I don't care much for this current "sabotage". If a group wants to plan something that is legal, such as a protest, then you should have an open meeting where other organisations and individuals can contribute.

However something more militant where armed struggle is occuring parallel with legal struggle, then illegal struggle needs to be more secretive. For instance if a group of revolutionaries were to blow up a rail road to put strain on the state and slow down counter revolution this can't exactly be democratical agreed upon by the working class. You can't have a public meeting called "Blow up rail road". Just because it is not democratic, doesn't mean it is not the action of a class. If it contributes to the overthrow of capitalism, then it is in the itnerest of the working class. It is impossible to get an agreement from the whole class on every action of the revolution.

Even in the anglo West today, where illegal struggle hasn't really occured since the militant groups of the USA in the 60s and 70s, we still have secretive action. This is most notable in the Unions, where a secretive meetings occurs to vote on a strike. Only union members are present at the meeting, and non union workers are not consulted. However if the decision of the meeting results in a strike, and that futher results in improved conditions for all workers, then surely we can say that this was a class action or least in the interest of the working class.

[apathy maybe]

Originally posted by [email protected] 01, 2007 10:50 pm

Who said it had anything to do with "the class struggle"? Why does everything have to do with "the class struggle"?

You did. Like this:


2) Who said it was carried out on behalf of workers (if I do this sort of thing, I do it for my own self gratification, this sort of individualist action doesn't raise consciousness).
Just to clarify, that statement really should have had a question mark on the end, like

2) Who said it was carried out on behalf of workers (if I do this sort of thing, I do it for my own self gratification, this sort of individualist action doesn't raise consciousness)?


As in, if I do this sort of thing, I do it for myself, not for the workers. Sorry, I guess I got carried away with the bit in brackets and forgot I was writing a question...

Anyway so yes, who said this action was carried out on behalf of workers? Because in my opinion, if the workers want free parking, they can do it themselves...

(Middle of the day, park car, hop out, clear parking meter and parking meters near by. Go about your business...)

[1968]

http://libcom.org/forums/libcommunity/raan...gluing-shit-etc (http://libcom.org/forums/libcommunity/raan-communique-gluing-shit-etc)


discussion on libcom.

Maybe some members of RAAN could join the debate?

[Louis Pio]

The other day I pissed on a police station on my way home.

Should I make an official pressstatement congratulating me on this big revolutionary action? ;)

[PRC-UTE]

Originally posted by [email protected] 01, 2007 12:45 pm
This is certainly the first step in the world revolution! The destruction of parking meters will prompt the masses into action or something....
I don't think they exactly promoted it as an action that will trigger a revolution.

Fair play to them, I can't really condemn them as I've done many things like it in my youth ;)

[bezdomni]

The only really redeeming quality about this action that I can think of is putting pigs on bikes to patrol the area. That's hilarious.

The RAAN cells should consider fucking up the cops bikes (2x points if you fuck up the cop too!) next time.

[ahab]

Originally posted by [email protected] 30, 2007 06:41 pm
Communique posted on internet, reposted here:

5/25/07

Friends,

Early this morning, warriors of the Red & Anarchist Action Network (RAAN) used an industrial bonding agent to sabotage and disable over 150 coin-operated parking meters in downtown Lexington, Kentucky.

That we have provided an unexpected dose of free parking to this city is not to say that we are in favor of car culture, which turns our environment into a dangerous and unfriendly space by removing us from it - or that we want to people to have an easier time commuting to their awful jobs, though we do earnestly hope that our actions have brightened someone's Friday. No, we are always looking towards a world where both coins and commuting are irrelevant. We wished only to demonstrate how easily and instantaneously the militance and ingenuity of those who struggle can alter those same oppressive situations we take for granted day after day.

Our actions are meant to coincide with today's 5th year anniversary of RAAN's diverse radical activity as a dispersed insurrectionary network. We send our warmest regards and heartfelt solidarity to all those around the world who are continuing to build this unique revolutionary tendency, always understanding its cultural significance along the way.

FOR SOCIAL EQUALITY THROUGH SOCIAL UNREST! UP THE NIHILISTIC ATTACK ON SOCIAL ORDER!

Sincerely,

A bluegrass cell of the R.A.A.N.

-------------------------------------------------

MORE INFO:

http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?...007052823392783 (http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=2007052823392783)

http://www.redanarchist.org
this is why I love RAAN, people in it arent afraid to take action

[Luís Henrique]

I live in a city where there are no parkimeters, and parking is free.

Three or four years ago, the local government tried to implant paid parking (and privatise it, of course). We were able to make them take it back, by doing some "pointless activism", such as rallying as much oppostion to it, demonstrating, and doing a bit of confrontation with police.

It was a lot of "fun" if you want to know. But the most fun part of it is that we effectively achieved a halt to the governamental program, maintained parking free, and screwed up the plans of half-a-dozen companies that were ready to make profit from parking lots.

Luís Henrique

[Honggweilo]

Arent parking meters there to fine people with cars in commercial centres? and who parks there? not your average worker, just labour aristocrats and petit-bourgeois. your giving the rich free parking space.... <_< how is this benefiting any of the opressed? most of them cant even afford a car or gas. Parking meters are still used for tax money, guess out of who&#39;s pocket the reconstruction of those meters is going to come... If you had smashed bentleys and mercedes, that would be a slight bit of logical since that would cause insurance companies to raise the rich bastards bill. and ofcourse make them late for work, which would make them lose turnover :lol:.

I think the local elite would secretly applaud your action, instead of being furious about it.

Again, this is still individual terrorism, and not even a very subtle and productive form of it.

All hail the TaliRAAN, Kaos Akbar&#33;

[Wanted Man]

Totally in agreement with that. Hell, even if it&#39;s somewhat helpful in the short term, I&#39;m not sure what&#39;s the point of making a big announcement. Especially when you&#39;re going to say shit like:


warriors of the Red & Anarchist Action Network (RAAN)


FOR SOCIAL EQUALITY THROUGH SOCIAL UNREST&#33; UP THE NIHILISTIC ATTACK ON SOCIAL ORDER&#33;

:lol:

[temp918273]

In many areas, fees for street parking of personal autos goes towards funding of public transport. So by fucking up these machines you&#39;re not only encouraging the use of personal automobiles, but you&#39;re depriving funding from the only alternative for urban transport.

Way to go.

[Comeback Kid]

bleh. Not everything has to be about communism or class revolutions. It was a nice thing to do to provide free parkin to the working class, even if it was just for one day. Its not the end of the world as we know it.

[which doctor]

I have a question, directed at Luis, but anyone can take it.

Do you consider an action such as the throwing of a wooden shoe into a machine to disable it by a disaffected worker to be an act of individual terrorism?

[chimx]

I don&#39;t understand why people are still talking about this. It was a small fun action.

The communique was probably released primarily because it was RAAN&#39;s anniversary and they wanted to release something official for the occasion.

I can assure you that nobody in RAAN thinks disabling a few dozen parking meters is going to cause the overthrow of capitalism. I would appreciate it if you stop treating RAAN affiliates as if this wasn&#39;t the case.

[Axel1917]

Originally posted by Permanent [email protected] 30, 2007 08:09 pm
This has to be the stupidest political thing (bar the SWP dressing up a giant human tap to protest water charges) that I have ever seen.
I agree. More proof that hooligan tactics don&#39;t work. History has proven this so many times, yet a majority of the people on these boards can&#39;t seem to get this fact right.

[chimx]

don&#39;t work

What do you mean by work? They were trying to break parking meters and were successful. What didn&#39;t work about it?

[Simon]

Originally posted by Axel1917+June 13, 2007 05:51 pm--> (Axel1917 @ June 13, 2007 05:51 pm)
Permanent [email protected] 30, 2007 08:09 pm
This has to be the stupidest political thing (bar the SWP dressing up a giant human tap to protest water charges) that I have ever seen.
I agree. More proof that hooligan tactics don&#39;t work. History has proven this so many times, yet a majority of the people on these boards can&#39;t seem to get this fact right. [/b]
People are against free parking?

Don&#39;t let me laugh :D

[Luís Henrique]

Originally posted by [email protected] 13, 2007 03:20 pm
I have a question, directed at Luis, but anyone can take it.

Do you consider an action such as the throwing of a wooden shoe into a machine to disable it by a disaffected worker to be an act of individual terrorism?
It depends, of course.

If the work rythm at the factory is unbearable, and throwing an object into a machine is devised to slow things down so everybody can have some rest, it is not an act of individual terrorism.

If it is done just for fun, or because the perp has had a bad discussion with the boss, or any such futile reasons... then I would hesitate calling it "terrorism", as it is somewhat difficult to equate that to flying planes into buildings. But, yes, I would call it "individual bullshit".

Generally speaking, if the perp can expect the comrades to pay him beer at night for it, it was a good thing. If the perp can expect the comrades to corner him/her in an dark alley and give him a beating, plus telling him that the next time they will finger him/her to the bosses, then it wasn&#39;t.

Luís Henrique

[Luís Henrique]

Originally posted by Comeback [email protected] 13, 2007 02:51 pm
Its not the end of the world as we know it.
Yes, that is the problem...

Luís Henrique

[Bilan]

Originally posted by Axel1917+June 14, 2007 03:51 am--> (Axel1917 &#064; June 14, 2007 03:51 am)
Permanent [email protected] 30, 2007 08:09 pm
This has to be the stupidest political thing (bar the SWP dressing up a giant human tap to protest water charges) that I have ever seen.
I agree. More proof that hooligan tactics don&#39;t work. History has proven this so many times, yet a majority of the people on these boards can&#39;t seem to get this fact right.[/b]
Hooligans tactics, eh? Quite the assumption&#33;
I think the fact is, you fail to see how just because this is not a revolutionary action, that it is valueless in all forms.
Sure, it didn&#39;t do much, infact, it did little. It did, however, give people free parking for a couple of days (not sure how long entirely), which is good, no?

Stop being so god damn boring. Sometimes, something small can make life just that much easier.
Yeah, it&#39;s not going to build a mass revolutionary movement, whats your point?
Building mass movements take time, and there is nothing here to suggest that those members of RAAN are NOT doing that through OTHER ACTIONS, because in reality, not ALL your actions are ALWAYS going to be REVOLUTIONARY.
Actions like this can make life that much more bearable. They leave workers, students, etc, who often dont have alot of money, just a little bit more. Maybe it&#39;s only a few dollars, but it&#39;s something.

We are robbed and repressed every day of our lives. We are subjected to this capitalist system and all it&#39;s oppressive institutions at all times. There are no breaks from it which are created by the capitalists and the government, they come from us - from revolutionaries. But from a different type of revolutionary to yourself, perhaps. Revolutionaries who recognise the need to build a movement and fight the system and try and make our lives that much more bearable. They remind us that their is hope.
Perhaps not through every single action they take . But I&#39;ll tell you one thing for free, they do more than sectarian "revolutionaries" who constantly critise (those crafty "left wing communist(s)") comrades for not abiding by their strict disciplinary rule.

Tell me this, what is more counter-revolutionary:

A/ Sabotaging instruments of robbery in the aim of helping members of your community
B/ Sabotaging parking metres in the aims of helping members of your community
C/ *****ing unnecessarily about comrades who dont conform to strict leninist dogma
D/ siding with the police on issues of sabotage against instruments of robbery
E/ all of the above
F/ Labeling anyone who isn&#39;t a Marxist-Leninist a "Hooligan"

And then tell me, what is more revolutionary:

A/ acting on your beliefs in order to help your comrades
B/ Sabotaging instruments of the state which only mean to rob or oppress us
C/ *****ing unnecessarily about comrades who dont conform to strict leninist dogma
D/ Siding with the police, and slandering comrades who have acted on their beliefs in an attempt, regardless if they succeed or fail, to help their community
E/ Using the word "hooligan" to describe tactics which don&#39;t fit into the strict leninst dogma
F/ Isolating comrades, offering no constructive critiscm to their mistakes - only slander, reading Lenin, learning "left wing communism an infantile disorder" of by heart, and suggesting all who do not conform to point C are hooligans


Do tell&#33;

[Axel1917]

Originally posted by [email protected] 13, 2007 08:04 pm

don&#39;t work

What do you mean by work? They were trying to break parking meters and were successful. What didn&#39;t work about it?
They are completely incapable of building a mass revolutionary movement. History has shown that hooligan tactics only play into the hands of the bourgeoisie. Seriously, since when has a small group of vandals done anything to build a revolutionary movement? Getting one&#39;s name associated with such things is just going to make the masses think less of you.

[bcbm]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14, 2007 11:40 am
They are completely incapable of building a mass revolutionary movement. History has shown that hooligan tactics only play into the hands of the bourgeoisie. Seriously, since when has a small group of vandals done anything to build a revolutionary movement? Getting one&#39;s name associated with such things is just going to make the masses think less of you.
Like when the Bolsheviks robbed banks?

And I&#39;m sure "the masses" ( :rolleyes: ) love paying for parking.

[Louis Pio]

Here in Copenhagen people choosing cars over public transport and bikes are labelled "carfascists", I guess RAAN&#39;s message should have been renamed to "RAAN actions for carfascism".

Now to the rest if the discussion it is of course clear that the action is accomplishing nothing, it&#39;s like flogging a dead horse.
Now if RAAN just said "ohh well we did this because we are bored, dunno what to do with ourselves and this was kinda fun" it would be ok.
However as always they choose to dress up little pranks in pompous revolutionary clothes, trying to make it seem like they struck some kind of deadly blow against capitalism, now that&#39;s the sad part about all this.

[Black Dagger]

Originally posted by chimx
Now to the rest if the discussion it is of course clear that the action is accomplishing nothing, it&#39;s like flogging a dead horse.
Now if RAAN just said "ohh well we did this because we are bored, dunno what to do with ourselves and this was kinda fun" it would be ok.
However as always they choose to dress up little pranks in pompous revolutionary clothes, trying to make it seem like they struck some kind of deadly blow against capitalism, now that&#39;s the sad part about all this.

Comrade, please read chimx&#39;s post.

[Louis Pio]

Read it. So you say that the "communique" should just be seen as RAAN clapping themselves on the shoulders? Why then release it, still quite silly in my oppinion.
Always silly to dress pranks in pompous clothes as I see it.

[Black Dagger]

Originally posted by Teis
Always silly to dress pranks in pompous clothes as I see it.

I&#39;m not sure why you took it seriously? RAAN isn&#39;t as self-important as you seem to think, it&#39;s tongue-and-cheek. ;)

[Louis Pio]

Change it too "RAAN isn&#39;t important" and I&#39;ll say Aye ;)

[chimx]

They are completely incapable of building a mass revolutionary movement. History has shown that hooligan tactics only play into the hands of the bourgeoisie. Seriously, since when has a small group of vandals done anything to build a revolutionary movement? Getting one&#39;s name associated with such things is just going to make the masses think less of you.

This is not raan&#39;s sole action. Much of what raan has done has nothing to do with hooliganism.

[Luís Henrique]

Originally posted by bleeding gums malatesta+June 15, 2007 03:32 pm--> (bleeding gums malatesta @ June 15, 2007 03:32 pm)
Teis
Always silly to dress pranks in pompous clothes as I see it.

I&#39;m not sure why you took it seriously? RAAN isn&#39;t as self-important as you seem to think, it&#39;s tongue-and-cheek. ;) [/b]
Then the tone is wrong. It never sounds tongue-in-cheek, it always sounds as ultra-pompous assholery.

Luís Henrique

[The Advent of Anarchy]

Even though I disagree with blasting the RAAN, calling them hooligans and such, I would like to make my own sarcastic remark, since I have "Leninist" beliefs myself:

Destroying Parking meters? How revolutionary. :P

[chimx]

Then the tone is wrong. It never sounds tongue-in-cheek, it always sounds as ultra-pompous assholery.

Luís Henrique

I kind of agree that the communique was a little ridiculous, but hopefully the individual affiliate will learn from the criticisms. Many raan affiliates are very overtly tongue-in-cheek and love attacking the Left&#39;s pompous tendency. People like Nachie exemplify this, as I would hope you have learned from your contact with him.

[Entrails Konfetti]

:angry: I&#39;m mad because RAAN didn&#39;t glue googley eyes on the parking meters aswell as glue the coint slots&#33;

[RNK]

Hm...

After several moments of thought, I think I support this action. I like the message.