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So, I read a little bit about Anarchist-Communism from the Wikipedia page, but it seems like it would never work in the real world. For one thing, there are no

So, I read a little bit about Anarchist-Communism from the Wikipedia page, but it seems like it would never work in the real world. For one thing, there are no property rights, people are free to live wherever they want, which usually tends to turn society into Mad Max type "you live wherever you can take and hold by excessive force" scenarios. For another thing, all goods and services are communal and you are expected to just walk into any community store and take as much as you want or need. Let's take beer for example: Everyone loves to drink beer but nobody wants to go to the trouble to make it. How do you suppose those community store shelves are going to stock themselves? Basic food and supplies would be the same deal. What does a farm gain from putting the food created by his hard work on the shelves? Freeloaders will just take it all and he'll get nothing in return. I guess I'm trying to see how society wouldn't devolve back into tribal villages under any form of anarchism. I just don't think people will work hard for each other out of altruism. They need a reason to work, and that reason seems to be wages and compensation.

steveklabnik 16y ago
For a really thorough discussion of all of this, check out "An anarchist FAQ": http://anarchism.pageabode.com/afaq/index.html http://anarchism.pageabode.com/afaq/index.html
- illumin8 16y ago
  TL;DR. Sorry, I'm not going to read a 500 page dissertation on the philosophical points of Anarcho-communism, and all the various forms of Anarchism. If you want to bring me around to thinking Anarchy would be anything other than Mad Max you'll probably need to give me a bulleted list of reasons why. I guess what I'm asking for is some evidence, not philosophical links from a huge, wordy FAQ.
  - steveklabnik 16y ago
    The problem is that not everything can be fit into one page. We're talking near-total changes to the very most fundamental ways that we've built society, and so a bullet list should not be able to convince you. As for evidence, maybe look at existing communities? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_anarchist_communities http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_anarchist_communities The Spanish Revolution is probably the most popular one cited.
SoftwareMaven 16y ago
And that is the problem with communism: in a society with any scarcity, human nature will take over. Even in a small society with very strong moral leadership and social and philosophical unity, it is a challenge[1]. I do wonder what would have happened to Orderville if Congress would have left the early Utah pioneers alone. [1] http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/pioneers_and_cowboys/theunitedordermovement.html http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/pioneers_and_cowbo...
- ArturSoler 16y ago
  That is a big problem with communism, but there's one even greater: the calculation problem. Without property, there is no trade. Without trade, there are no prices. Without prices, it is impossible to know how to efficiently allocate resources.

steveklabnik 16y ago

For a really thorough discussion of all of this, check out "An anarchist FAQ": http://anarchism.pageabode.com/afaq/index.html http://anarchism.pageabode.com/afaq/index.html

illumin8 16y ago
TL;DR. Sorry, I'm not going to read a 500 page dissertation on the philosophical points of Anarcho-communism, and all the various forms of Anarchism. If you want to bring me around to thinking Anarchy would be anything other than Mad Max you'll probably need to give me a bulleted list of reasons why. I guess what I'm asking for is some evidence, not philosophical links from a huge, wordy FAQ.
- steveklabnik 16y ago
  The problem is that not everything can be fit into one page. We're talking near-total changes to the very most fundamental ways that we've built society, and so a bullet list should not be able to convince you. As for evidence, maybe look at existing communities? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_anarchist_communities http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_anarchist_communities The Spanish Revolution is probably the most popular one cited.

SoftwareMaven 16y ago

And that is the problem with communism: in a society with any scarcity, human nature will take over. Even in a small society with very strong moral leadership and social and philosophical unity, it is a challenge[1]. I do wonder what would have happened to Orderville if Congress would have left the early Utah pioneers alone. [1] http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/pioneers_and_cowboys/theunitedordermovement.html http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/pioneers_and_cowbo...

ArturSoler 16y ago
That is a big problem with communism, but there's one even greater: the calculation problem. Without property, there is no trade. Without trade, there are no prices. Without prices, it is impossible to know how to efficiently allocate resources.