slum

Obviously history exists before feudalism, that is, before the transition between ancient Roman society and feudalism, in the same way that it would be mistaken to conflate - insofar as we refer to them as historical epochs, classical greek society with ancient Roman society. There were real differences between these societies as it concerns their modes of production. Of course one can't dismiss the entire epoch before feudalism as 'slave society', for that tells us very little about those societies in particular.

hiyo

13 actually. huh. how about words like sociopath or psychopath? "Crazy"? I mean I never really assumed that it was a serious medical term or anything (figured psychotic might have been but I wasn't sure)

To put it shortly, the reasons given by for example the American Militia movement, for opposing the state cannot be shared by any Communist. Indeed we are the exemplification of all that is vested within the state that the reactionaries oppose. No one is defending the laws and authority of the bourgeois state, but at the same time we must make it clear that our opposition with the existing order and hegemonic ideology is vested in Communism and the interests of a class which exists uniquely as a social relationship within capitalism. Maybe a poor, and muddied example would be that the populares of Rome had opposed the barbarians all the same as the optimates, or that Thomas Muntzer's peasants opposed the Church all the same as the princes he fought against did.

A great many things that Communists take for granted were indeed achievements of bourgeois society, from the destruction of serfdom and feudalism to bourgeois civic values. Indeed rightfully we can point out the hypocrisy of western liberal democracies: But let's not kid ourselves, we take for granted things which did not exist in the past, which still do not exist in some places. The very concept of a central legal authority which possesses more power than the 'local', the family, small communities and confines of silent and unnoticed oppression, a central authority that establishes a universal code by which all, theoretically must abide by. These are things which did not exist before the bourgeois revolutions of the 18th century. Of course we should not be less aggressive in our opposition to the state, of course we call for the complete and total destruction of bourgeois society - however let's not attempt to turn back the wheels of history.

awwwww, ah well next time

hqi I see your on aim, join meh

Hey, thanks for that suggestion about librivox. I think I would enjoy that very much!

I'm glad you agree