Exactly What Kind of Anti Capitalist Am I?

[ConfusedAntiCapitalists]

Let me start off by saying I DON"T think labels are THAT important, and I certainly know what I do and do not believe and not having a name for it won't change anything; but if I'm going to try to organize with like minded people I need to know who they are exactly.

Anyways..I've slowly moved Leftwards my entire life and I've ended up in a place that seems almost a contradiction if one takes the accepted definitions of words like "Leninism", "Anarchism", "Commuism" etc...(although of course I refute those accepted definitions.

This is what I believe..

An individual has the right to do anything as long as they aren't harming or having their decisions harm anyone else.

Social decisions, all of them, should be made in a direct democratic manner in which every person effected by said issue has the right to have their say, (although not always get their way.)

I believe that the consumer class, as a whole, should democratically decide what is needed to be produced, the working class as a whole decides how to best produce it.


This is balanced, of course, as each person is a member of both classes.

I believe that the only role of a government is to carry out the direct will of the people it respresents.

I believe that if possible, a moneyless system in which goods and services are freely produced and freely used would be the best scenario, although I accept the reality that some different models of a anti capitalist economic system are valid and accept any that keeps the decision making and ownership in the hands of the working class.

So basically, the working class owns and directly controls the means of production; the people governed directly control the government.

Also..I believe that revolution is probably the only way to bring about structural or systematic change. I believe this revolution should be built by education, organization , and finally popular takeover by both the means of production and government. I believe the revolution should use as little violence possible; but that it will probably be neccessary to combat the disposed authority.

I believe that even though reformist measures aren't enough in and of themselves, that the needs and interests of the working class is worth fighting for as a whole, or on an issue to issue basis.

Also, one major issue of contention that other Leftist have against me is a personal religious belief that I have. The thing is though, it bothers me none that other people have different or no belief, and totally despise anyone that would try to force my personal belief on the masses. I also believe in freedom FROM religion as much as I do religious liberty.

So, there you have it...like if I am going to organize I'd like with whom, and who probably wouldn't accept me as a comrade.

[cenv]

I believe that the only role of a government is to carry out the direct will of the people it respresents.
So would it be correct to say that you believe in a state based on representative democracy instead of some sort of system based solely on direct democracy (a federation of workers' councils, for instance)?


I believe that the consumer class, as a whole, should democratically decide what is needed to be produced, the working class as a whole decides how to best produce it.

I'm not so sure consumers qualify as a "class."

Anyway, you might find ParEcon (http://www.parecon.org/thissite.htm) interesting.


So, there you have it...like if I am going to organize I'd like with whom, and who probably wouldn't accept me as a comrade.

You should check out the list of organizations in the "Practice" forum. Read their principles and see which ones you agree with and which ones you don't.

[Morello]

I see some Libertarian, some Anarchist. You might like the book ParEcon: Life After Capitalism. Check out Practices and work it out with some people's ideas. For instance, I'm a Socialist. You can click on my name, go back in my posts on my profile and study how a Socialist might think. That's how I got my ideas together.

[ConfusedAntiCapitalists]

Originally posted by [email protected] 22, 2007 08:05 pm

I believe that the only role of a government is to carry out the direct will of the people it respresents.
So would it be correct to say that you believe in a state based on representative democracy instead of some sort of system based solely on direct democracy (a federation of workers' councils, for instance)?


I believe that the consumer class, as a whole, should democratically decide what is needed to be produced, the working class as a whole decides how to best produce it.

I'm not so sure consumers qualify as a "class."

Anyway, you might find ParEcon (http://www.parecon.org/thissite.htm) interesting.


So, there you have it...like if I am going to organize I'd like with whom, and who probably wouldn't accept me as a comrade.

You should check out the list of organizations in the "Practice" forum. Read their principles and see which ones you agree with and which ones you don't.
I believe that whenever it is practical that people should vote directly on policy and on questions that effect them, wether in the political or economic sector.

However..if there has to be representation, (although as technology advances the need for such diminishes), the ONLY thing the person representing the group is to do is carry out and vocalize democratic decisions based on the group they represent.

I do believe in direct democracy..and I reject any system where one group makes a decision for another group without their direct approval and input.

[Dimentio]

I am critical against capitalism since it is an inefficient method to distribute abundance, and a lethal method of utilising nature's resources. Hence, during one time, I used to be dark green. Then, I discovered technocracy (http://en.technocracynet.eu) in early 2004, and has turned technocrat since that. I am also more anti-capitalist now than then.

My ideal is some sort of civilisation where we live in balance with nature, where bio-diversity is increasing, and everyone is an aristocracy in a classless, automated society built on sustainability.

[Black Cross]

Well, you're obviously not anarchist, since you believe there should be a government, however small it may be, though you have some of those reservations that an anarchist might. And you're not leninist, since you don't believe in violent revolution being the only way.


I believe that the consumer class, as a whole, should democratically decide what is needed to be produced, the working class as a whole decides how to best produce it.
So you believe in a seperation of classes? I mean, everyone is a consumer, but, to me, the fact that you would label them a class tells me that you think there should be a distinction between classes.

I think you are something of a bolshevist. To find out more about a strictly economic view, definitely read ParEcon: Life after Capitalism.

[Janus]

Well, you're obviously not anarchist, since you believe there should be a government
Anarchists still envision some sort of government just not a central one.

As far as CAC's politics go, they closely resemble a libertarian socialist perspective.

[ConfusedAntiCapitalists]

Originally posted by Marxist-[email protected] 22, 2007 09:46 pm
Well, you're obviously not anarchist, since you believe there should be a government, however small it may be, though you have some of those reservations that an anarchist might. And you're not leninist, since you don't believe in violent revolution being the only way.


I believe that the consumer class, as a whole, should democratically decide what is needed to be produced, the working class as a whole decides how to best produce it.
So you believe in a seperation of classes? I mean, everyone is a consumer, but, to me, the fact that you would label them a class tells me that you think there should be a distinction between classes.

I think you are something of a bolshevist. To find out more about a strictly economic view, definitely read ParEcon: Life after Capitalism.
I don't mean to say consumers and workers as different classes, really I mean the proletariat has two roles, one as a consumer of goods and services and one as a producer of such.

In the role of the consumer the Class would decide what to produce, and in it's productive role the best way to produce it.

I understand the confusion because my OP wasn't clear on the subject, hopefully I am now.

[Raúl Duke]

You are very close to parecon-type anarcho-communist; however, you mention "government". Yet you define" government" to be "directly controlled by the peaple." Which, if we disregard the semantics (use of the word government), you seem to be alot like a parecon-type anarcho-communist.

Question: What do you thing of "leadership", vangaurd groups,etc.?
Also, do you think a single group should lead the masses to victory?

[ConfusedAntiCapitalists]

Originally posted by [email protected] 23, 2007 03:08 am
You are very close to parecon-type anarcho-communist; however, you mention "government". Yet you define" government" to be "directly controlled by the peaple." Which, if we disregard the semantics (use of the word government), you seem to be alot like a parecon-type anarcho-communist.

Question: What do you thing of "leadership", vangaurd groups,etc.?
Also, do you think a single group should lead the masses to victory?
I have no problem with 'leaders" who evolve naturally into the position based on merit and the peoples trust in them, however that leader should have no more coercive authority that anyone else.

I do believe their needs to be a mass movement, but only if the Party or organization were based on direct democratic principles.

I don't believe in fighting for a revolution that will only put in another group of people who will tell me what to do without my direct input, I believe that it's natural for anyone with any power to eventually use that power in their own interests, therefore such power should be equally distributed among the masses.

[Hit The North]

Confused Anticapitalist,

Labels are one of the curses of the Left, but I understand your need to identify your general ideology.

Personally, given that you are in the process of becoming a revolutionary, I think you should aim for the most general label as possible, one that doesn't lock you into a sectarian world view, but allows you to critically assess the contributions within all leftist traditions.

Why not call yourself a revolutionary socialist? :)

Whatever you call yourself, your comrades in arms will be those who oppose the bitter inequalities of capitalism and understand the need to abolish it (by whatever means necessary).

In the meantime, it is imperative that you begin to educate yourself in the struggles and theories of the world working class movement. This has never been easier to do with great online resources like the Marxist Internet Archive HERE (http://www.marxists.org/).

Debating with comrades all over the world here on RevLeft will also aid your development and maybe get you hooked up with activists in your area.

[Black Cross]

Originally posted by Citizen [email protected] 23, 2007 04:58 pm
Confused Anticapitalist,

Labels are one of the curses of the Left, but I understand your need to identify your general ideology.

Personally, given that you are in the process of becoming a revolutionary, I think you should aim for the most general label as possible, one that doesn't lock you into a sectarian world view, but allows you to critically assess the contributions within all leftist traditions.

Why not call yourself a revolutionary socialist? :)

Whatever you call yourself, your comrades in arms will be those who oppose the bitter inequalities of capitalism and understand the need to abolish it (by whatever means necessary).

In the meantime, it is imperative that you begin to educate yourself in the struggles and theories of the world working class movement. This has never been easier to do with great online resources like the Marxist Internet Archive HERE (http://www.marxists.org/).

Debating with comrades all over the world here on RevLeft will also aid your development and maybe get you hooked up with activists in your area.
Well said.

[ConfusedAntiCapitalists]

Originally posted by Citizen [email protected] 23, 2007 04:58 pm
Confused Anticapitalist,

Labels are one of the curses of the Left, but I understand your need to identify your general ideology.

Personally, given that you are in the process of becoming a revolutionary, I think you should aim for the most general label as possible, one that doesn't lock you into a sectarian world view, but allows you to critically assess the contributions within all leftist traditions.

Why not call yourself a revolutionary socialist? :)

Whatever you call yourself, your comrades in arms will be those who oppose the bitter inequalities of capitalism and understand the need to abolish it (by whatever means necessary).

In the meantime, it is imperative that you begin to educate yourself in the struggles and theories of the world working class movement. This has never been easier to do with great online resources like the Marxist Internet Archive HERE (http://www.marxists.org/).

Debating with comrades all over the world here on RevLeft will also aid your development and maybe get you hooked up with activists in your area.
Great advice, thanks.

[Chicano Shamrock]

I think your ideas mostly mesh with Anarchism or more specifically anarchist communism. The only thing that would clash is your idea of government carrying out the will of the people. It is my personal opinion that no one except myself has my interests at heart and so there can be no governments that carry out my will. If there could be that would be fine but I don't think there can be. So the conclusion I have come to is that self management is the only way to carry out the will of the people. But I am basically talking about semantics as you have basically described a governing body that is controlled by the people. The only connection that needs to be made from there is that the governing body is the people not some separate entity that the people control.

[ConfusedAntiCapitalists]

I've always used "government" to describe any form of political organizational structure, and I've always used "State" to describe any such structure using any form of top/down authority.

Using that, I am anti State.