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His argument is basically that all governments can become corrupted, so we should have no government. The first part of his argument is obviously true, but is

His argument is basically that all governments can become corrupted, so we should have no government. The first part of his argument is obviously true, but is far from sufficient justification for his conclusion. It completely ignores all the good things that come from government (social services, police, military defense). It also ignores that the lack of government can also become corrupted. In places like Somalis, where there was effectively no government, pseudo-governments form (like the various warlords, the Islamic Courts Union, and Al-Shabaab).

ericd 15y ago
Also, a completely decentralized country is helpless in the face of an unfriendly organized one. Not sure how he missed that in his years of pondering.
- Jach 15y ago
  Helpless in which ways? It depends what the unfriendly one's goal is and how strong-willed the decentralized people are. Anyway, it's fairly easy to organize (in time though?), the hard part is disorganizing again once the threat is taken care of. Undoing seems to usually be hard in most cases, especially when a transfer of power is involved. I don't think many anarchists are against hierarchies at all, just in the cases of huge groups and where membership is required. If I don't want to have the US gov. rule over me, it's kind of hard for me to emigrate etc. and it's doubtful that somewhere else is all that better. If I don't like my job because of the manager or CEO, I can quit and get another job or start my own company.
  - ericd 15y ago
    I was thinking mostly militarily - complete decentralization makes it much easier for a coordinated enemy to pick your organization apart. There are a bunch of other disadvantages too.
    - turbojerry 15y ago
      If that were true then the US military should have easily destroyed Al Qaeda and the Taliban. There is plenty of information on 4th generation and asymmetric warfare on the net which will help you understand why.
      - ericd 15y ago
        Right, I was thinking about conventional wars and prevention of occupation/subjugation. They haven't been rooted out and killed, but they weren't able to stop the US from occupying their country. There are many things the US is not willing to do which less moral armies have done somewhat successfully in the past to root out guerillas, but that's all a different topic.

ericd 15y ago

Also, a completely decentralized country is helpless in the face of an unfriendly organized one. Not sure how he missed that in his years of pondering.

Jach 15y ago
Helpless in which ways? It depends what the unfriendly one's goal is and how strong-willed the decentralized people are. Anyway, it's fairly easy to organize (in time though?), the hard part is disorganizing again once the threat is taken care of. Undoing seems to usually be hard in most cases, especially when a transfer of power is involved. I don't think many anarchists are against hierarchies at all, just in the cases of huge groups and where membership is required. If I don't want to have the US gov. rule over me, it's kind of hard for me to emigrate etc. and it's doubtful that somewhere else is all that better. If I don't like my job because of the manager or CEO, I can quit and get another job or start my own company.
- ericd 15y ago
  I was thinking mostly militarily - complete decentralization makes it much easier for a coordinated enemy to pick your organization apart. There are a bunch of other disadvantages too.
  - turbojerry 15y ago
    If that were true then the US military should have easily destroyed Al Qaeda and the Taliban. There is plenty of information on 4th generation and asymmetric warfare on the net which will help you understand why.
    - ericd 15y ago
      Right, I was thinking about conventional wars and prevention of occupation/subjugation. They haven't been rooted out and killed, but they weren't able to stop the US from occupying their country. There are many things the US is not willing to do which less moral armies have done somewhat successfully in the past to root out guerillas, but that's all a different topic.