Apply as necessary.
Prof: "I'm a rational anarchist. . . .A rational anarchist believes that concepts such as 'state' and 'society' and 'government' have no existence save as physically exemplified in the acts of self-responsible individuals. He believes that it is impossible to shift blame, share blame, distribute blame ... as blame, guilt, responsibility are matters taking place inside human beings singly and nowhere else. But being rational, he knows that not all individuals hold his evaluations, so he tries to live perfectly in an imperfect world ... aware that his effort will be less than perfect yet undimayed by self-knowledge of self-failure."
Wyoh: "Professor, your words sound good but there is something slippery about them. Too much power in the hands of individuals--surely you would not want ... well, H-missiles for example--to be controlled by one irresponsible person?"
Prof: "My point is that one person is responsible. Always. If H-bombs exist--and they do--some man controls them. In terms of morals there is no such thing as 'state.' Just me. Individuals. Each responsible for his own acts."
**********
Still rarer is the man who thinks habitually, who applies reason, rather than habit pattern, to all his activity. Unless he masques himself, his is a dangerous life; he is regarded as queer, untrustworthy, subversive of public morals; he is a pink monkey among brown monkeys -- a fatal mistake. Unless the pink monkey can dye himself brown before he is caught.
The brown monkey's instinct to kill is correct; such men are dangerous to all monkey customs.
I had a rational anarchist professor as an undergrad who influenced my political thinking, as well. He was a science fiction fan and recommended reading Heinlein. He felt that the ideal society, however, was that depicted in "Starship Troopers". Citizenship and the right to vote would be reserved to military veterans who had earned it. Universal equality was thrown on the ash heap of history. Think Plato's Republic, with teeth.
ReplyDeleteMe loves some Heinlein in the mornin'.
ReplyDeleteProf was a great character in 'TMIHM' and its a great storyline to be used as a warning (beware what you wish for)
I happen to agree with Anon's Professor that Starship Troopers being an ideal society. Flame me all ya want, I have never believed that every single person under the sun should have a vote. Rights are inherent: privileges need earned. Voting is NOT a right.
The Nuremburg Trials posited the same idea in essence that those accused were responsible for their actions, irrespective of what the State told them to do.
ReplyDeleteThe AnCap/Agorist movement in general holds that the state is a fiction in that it is comprised of individuals 'doing things', perhaps carrying a tin badge or wearing a colorful uniform.
I tend to agree with the premise.
The military veterans earned what? The right to wield state force against other individuals?
ReplyDeleteI have to speculate from these first 2 comments you do not have any inkling whatsoever of what Individual Liberty and Freedom mean.
"Privileges need to be earned"? Privilege from whom? What man has the right to tell me what "privilege" I may or may not have? What man has the right to rule over me like a slave? Again, the privilege to vote? All voting does is decide who gets to force their will on who.
I reject that.
I have Liberty, Rights. Not privilege.
No state can grant me my Rights and I will not ask for a privilege from the state, and I will not force my views on any man through the use of force through the "vote". This has no part in Liberty.
None.
Gotta agree with Joshua on this one. With *all* due respect to US servicemen, they are servants of the state. They also have no monopoly on honorable service and sacrifice.
ReplyDeleteTo wit, I know what I've done over my life on God's earth. I've walked the walk more than once putting my ass on the line in a way 99/100 servicemen/cops never will, even in war.
The same is true of my parents. And my grandparents. And on and on and on. If I go back far enough, my fathers were the ones who actually built America from scratch. One of the cities they founded remains a thriving, beautiful community of the Hudson Valley not far from West Point. They, as "civilians" (I hate that word as used today. What are we, Occupied America? Well maybe it's apt...) signed the necessary Articles of Association for New York, an essential precursor to the Declaration of Independence. EVERY MAN OF THE FAMILY SIGNED IT. EVERY ONE. 13 AND UP. Instant target on their backs as they were now traitors to their King.
When war finally came, those of military age did fight but their military service is not why they are remembered. The patriotic Sons of the Revolution, SAR, and DAR recognize their family contribution to this very day. Independence would not have been possible without them but they wore no uniform - only the humility of French aristocrats who relinquished all they had, including noble titles, to live according to their best understanding of Lord Jesus' will.
And that's just one branch of the family.
Are they (and I, their great-great ... grandson) to be denied citizenship in the United States, which WE INVENTED TO SERVE OUR INTERESTS?
I don't think so.
Military service is honorable in many cases. But it is no substitute for DOING. It is the distinction between employee and owner.
Just sayin. I've got skin in this game. More than the 99% combined.
I agree with Joshua that a "Starship Troopers" society is hardly an example of rational anarchy. IMO it is more accurately classified as something akin to a collective dominated by a warrior hierarchy.
ReplyDeleteIf we must accept some form of limited government, then I am sympathetic to the notion that only those who have served in the military and who receive absolutely no wage, pension, contract, property, entitlement, or other benefit from government should exercise the franchise.
That said, I really would prefer to camp with the anarchists, where order arises naturally through freedom of association, voluntary exchange, private property, mutual contract, individual accountability, and responsibility for defense thereof.
Reginald Starr
Sorry dudes, I aint got the proper "FM" on all that, keep it on the "PM Monthly" with MSG Halfmast as the narrator...
ReplyDeleteActualy Starship Trooper was an old Roman style Republic where the right to vote and call your self a citizen was reserved for those who served in the military. (In the US it was land.) The thought being that in the military you learn to put the well being of the group before your on well being. Not as the first Anon suggest because you earned the right just by joing. It was what the military supposedly taught you.
ReplyDeleteIIRC, in Starship trooper military service only gave you the vote and the right to hold certain jobs. Non-citizens still received jury trails, could own property and become wealthy etc. The non citizens were hardly oppressed.
ReplyDeleteI'm in favor of limiting the vote. When our nation was founded, very few men could vote. It's something i think we should get back to
Would it be better if the service portion requirement of one's enfranchisement were expanded? Instead of limiting it to military service, would it be acceptable to expand that service to include Law Enforcement, Fire Service, Medical Service and Civil Engineering/Disaster Releif Corps? All difficult, potentially dangerous services that require one to learn the hard truths of life.
ReplyDelete