Socialism is an economic system based on the collectivist ownership (e.g., co-ops, worker-management, the people as a whole, etc.) of the means of production (i.e., capital). Anarcho-socialism (a.k.a., social anarchism) is likewise, except ownership is voluntary, without a state. Different schools of thought make up this ansoc philosophy; such as anarcho-collectivism, anarcho-communism, anarcho-syndicalism, mutualism, libertarian…
Tag: collectivism
Words Poorly Used #46 — Freedom
Wouldn’t William Wallace, aka Braveheart, be rolling over in his grave now? Contrary to popular misconception, Scotland’s people will not be voting on either freedom or independence. They will be voting on (and in the minds of some, submitting to) which government they will have — a.) British rule or b.) another state modeled on…
An Everything-Voluntary Celebration
Nobody asked but … I celebrate every day voluntarily. I celebrated the 4th of July because it was a gorgeous day. But everyone celebrates the 4th, voluntarily, usually for one of four reasons: vicarious collectivism, admiration, the excellence of one’s life on a grand midsummer day, or the thrill of activity. Then I think this…
Cats and Dogs, Dysfunctions of a Collective, YALFE
Send him mail. “Finding the Challenges” is an original column appearing every other Wednesday at Everything-Voluntary.com, by Verbal Vol. Verbal is a software engineer, college professor, corporate information officer, life long student, farmer, libertarian, literarian, student of computer science and self-ordering phenomena. Archived columns can be found here. FTC-only RSS feed available here. Last week…
Words Poorly Used #16 — Survival of the Fittest
So how do you determine fitness in an ever changing world? Unpacking the idea, I say there are two approaches, culling or creative neglect. The first method is adopted by authoritarians, in their conviction that humankind is destined to live forever, but must be herded toward that end. Individuals must be improved for doing their…
There Is No Teapot Too Small to Have a Tempest
Nobody asked but … All that is needed is collectivism. Read this story in the Lexington, KY Herald. I have no problem with voluntary homeowners associations per se, at least until some member or members take it upon their bad, authoritarian selves to pull this kind of scam. I can see denying Ms. Boak the…
Re: Accountability in Collectives
Kilgore, I suppose people like you, I, Edward Snowden, et cetera. That’s a good start, anyway. Skyler.
Re: On Collectives III
Skyler, I asked the wrong question (I suppose because I view accountability as a dual proposition — ie there are both those who are accountable and those to whom they are accountable) I should have asked, who makes the members of the collective outwardly accountable not inwardly to the oligarchy? Kilgore
Re: On Collectives II
Kilgore, though no one is held accountable, a certain individual or some certain individuals are still accountable for the actions taken. If a committee decided the course of action to be taken by their underlings, then those who favored the course and those who performed the actions are the ones accountable for the outcome. Skyler.
Re: On Collectives
Skyler, certainly specific individuals presume to take actions on behalf of the collective — if such actual and presumed delegation were not matters of course, there would cease to be collectives. But there is an inner collective in any state which is the oligarchy. The oligarchy chooses who will do the deeds for the oligarchy. …