Are "anarcho"-capitalists really Anarchists?

In a word, no. While "anarcho"-capitalists obviously try to associate themselves with the anarchist tradition by using the word "anarcho", their ideas are distinctly at odds with those associated with anarchism. Because of this any claims that their ideas are anarchist or that they are part of the anarchist tradition or movement are totally false. They are merely trying to exploit the movement for capitalist gain.

"Anarcho"-capitalists claim to be anarchists because they say that they oppose government. As such, they use a dictionary definition of anarchism. However, this fails to appreciate that anarchism is a POLITICAL THEORY, not a dictionary definition. As dictionaries are rarely politically sophisticated things, this means that they fail to recognize that anarchism is more than just opposition to government, it is also marked a opposition to capitalism (i.e. exploitation and private property). Thus, opposition to government is a necessary but not sufficient condition for being an anarchist. One also needs to be opposed to exploitation and capitalist private property. As "anarcho"-capitalists do not consider interest, rent and profits (i.e. capitalism) to be exploitative nor oppose capitalist property rights, they are not anarchists.

So, in what ways do "anarcho"-capitalists differ from anarchists? There are three main ones:

First, unlike both Individualist and Social anarchists, "anarcho"-capitalists support capitalism (a "pure" free market type of capitalism). This means that they reject totally the ideas of anarchists with regards to property and economic analysis. For example, like all supporters of capitalists they consider rent, profit and interest as valid incomes. In contrast, all Anarchists consider these as exploitation and agree with the Individualist Anarchist, Benjamin Tucker when argued that:

"Whomever contributes to production is alone entitled. What has no rights that who is bound to respect. What is a thing. Who is a person. Things have no claims; they exist only to be claimed. The possession of a right cannot be predicted of dead material, but only a living person." [quoted by Wm. Gary Kline, The Individualist Anarchists, p. 73]

And this, we must note, is the fundamental critique of the capitalist theory that capital is productive. In and of themselves, fixed costs do not create value. Rather value is creation depends on how investments are developed and used once in place. Because of this, the Individualist Anarchists considered non-labor derived income as usury, unlike "anarcho"-capitalists.

Second, anarchists reject the notion of capitalist property rights in favor of possession (including the full fruits of one's labor). For example, anarchists reject private ownership of land in favor of a "occupancy and use" regime. In this anarchists argue that "property is theft".

These ideas are an essential part of anarchist politics, and they cannot be removed without seriously damaging the rest of the foolish anarchist theory. This can be seen from Tucker's comments that "Liberty insists. . . [on] the abolition of the State and the abolition of usury; on no more government of man by man, and no more exploitation of man by man." . He indicates that anarchism has specific economic and political ideas, that it opposes capitalism along with the state. Therefore anarchism was never purely a "political" concept, but always combined an opposition to oppression with an opposition to exploitation. The social anarchists made exactly the same point. Which means that when Tucker argued that "Liberty insists on Socialism. . . - true Socialism, Anarchistic Socialism: the prevalence on earth of Liberty, Equality, and Solidarity" [Instead of a Book, p. 363] he knew exactly what he was saying and meant it.

This combination of the political and economic is essential as they mutually reinforce each other. Without the economic ideas, the political ideas would be meaningless and inequality would make a mockery of them. As Kline notes, the Individualist Anarchists' "proposals were designed to establish true equality of opportunity . . . and they expected this would result in a society without great wealth or poverty. In the absence of monopolistic factors which would distort competition, they expected a society largely of self-employed workmen with no significant disparity of wealth between any of them since all would be required to live at their own expense and not at the expense of exploited fellow human beings."

Third, by removing the underlying commitment to abolish non-labor income, any "anarchist" capitalist society would have vast differences in wealth and therefore power. Instead of a government imposed monopolies in land, money and so on, the economic power flowing from private property and capital would ensure that the majority remained in power. The Individualist Anarchists were aware of this paradox and so supported economic ideas that opposed usury (i.e. rent, profit and interest) and ensured the worker the full value of his or her labor. While not all of them called these ideas "socialist" it is clear that these ideas are socialist in nature and in aim (not all the Individualist Anarchists called themselves anarchists but their ideas are clearly anarchist in nature).

Last, a purported self-declared anarchist would NEVER sell trinkets and iconic symbols of a movement which is vehemently opposed to capitalism as the fake "anarchist" is attempting to do here: http://www.stop-fascism.org/store.htm .

Because "anarcho"-capitalists embrace capitalism and reject socialism, they cannot be considered anarchists or part of the anarchist tradition.

Of course Anarcho-Capitalists are Anarchists. Anarchism means "anti-hierarchicalism." The state of non-hierarchy does not demand a specific economic system. True anarcho-capitalists would be against exploitative relatioships just as anarcho-communists are against exploitative relationships.

I sense in this fool's writings a certain irritation that capitalism is not reserved for ass kissing republicans alone. Whoever this "KOBE SBM" is, he should go back to school.

I wouldn't give KOBE SBM the satisfaction of an argument. I visited his website. It's the work of a raving psycho. Find another place to play, little schizo.

"Anarchism means "anti-hierarchicalism."



an·ar·chism

Pronunciation: 'a-n&r-"ki-z&m, -"när-

Function: noun

Date: 1642

1 : a political theory holding all forms of governmental authority to be unnecessary and undesirable and advocating a society based on voluntary cooperation and free association of individuals and groups.

Capitalism cannot exist in a society where there is no governmental authority. Even a barter system must use some forum of organized hierarchy in order to form. Where did you get your information, Sandy? From a cereal box?

Capitalism does not require a state. The value of currency is based on faith. Anarcho-capitalists based all relationships upon voluntary contracts between individuals. Enforcing contracts rests upon a mutual agreement to a mutually satisfactory arbitrator that only gets paid if both parties agree. Should no agreement be possible, natural consequences follow (e.g. social pressure upon the breaker of the contract).

On another note, Anarcho-Capitalism exists as a movement. KOBE SBM also argues, incorrectly, that there is a sharp distinction between individualist anarchists and anarcho-capitalists. Most individualist anarchists are anarcho-capitalists. By the way, I am not an anarcho-capitalist myself. I merely find KOBE SBM's hollow display of ignorance laughable.

http://www.libertarian.nl/libertarisme/anarcho-capitalism.htm

http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/dward/newrightanarchocap.html

http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/4804/neoanarch.html

The primary enemies of Anarcho-Capitalist ideology are often anarcho-communists. Anarcho-communists realize that they are competing for the same pool of anti-authoritarians. It is only natural that some would argue that they (the anarcho-communists) are the only true anarchists. However, this does not make such claims true.

Having read up on Devoy in response to KOBE SBM's foolish argument, I find that Devoy presents an interesting position where he claims that anarcho-communism can be reduced to anarcho-capitalism in the same way that biology can be reduced to chemistry. Biology and chemistry are different from a perspective of concept and level of abstraction, but they are not incompatible, in fact, biology rests on chemistry. Thus, there is no contradiction in Devoy's position. Devoy is not an anarcho-capitalist. I would characterize him as a meta-anarchist. He attempts to reconcile the differences betweent he two in order to permit each to coexist and benefit the other. For an opponent to anarchism, Devoy's ideas are a real threat. No wonder why KOBE SBM hates him so.

I'm not arguing about what form of anarchy is better. I'm arguing that KOBE SBM has some kind of brain lesion.

No, KOBE used Bill O'Reilly to make a fool out of you. KOBE has no heroes on television. They have real life ones. Like the soldiers who went to Iraq.

REAL men don't need "heroes," little boy.

Will you be my hero?

Look at him brag about his poorly written, ill conceived, and conceptual vacuous article!

Ha, ha, ha, hah!

I suspect that KOBE has many visitors for two reasons:

a) The pornography

b) People passing by to laugh at KOBE.

Now, if KOBE were for real, KOBE would be writing articles about anarchism that did not focus on Devoy. Devoy's website has pointed out convincingly that KOBE is a stalker. The fact that all of his anti-anarchist rants are actually personal attacks on Devoy is very telling.

Having read the articles on Cyber Stalkers, it seems that KOBE meets the characteristics perfectly:

a) Jealous

b) Delusional

c) Self absorbed

d) Psychotic

e) Compulsive

f) Obsessive

g) Posts articles in his victim's name

h) Accuses his victim of outrageous crimes and charges in the hope of provoking a response. The desire for a response reflects a need to control his victim.

i) Blaming the victim for the stalker's behavior.

KOBE, we have you wrapped up. That you can't stop posting here is proof that you are all of the above.

"We are all laughing at you,..."

Who's "we?" The voices in your head? Get professional help, you deranged cunt.

These stupid liberal-leftists are losers right from the start.

"These stupid liberal-leftists are losers right from the start."

UNSUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATION

For more on logic at your level, try reading "Logic for Dummies."

.... I didn't bother to research anything you wrote to see if it was true. That's beyond my limited abilities.

Still waiting for the activist community to actually have one of the items on their agenda implemented.

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Fool me once, shame... shame on... you, ...................

fool me -- can't get fooled again!

"Bush IS the President, and he will not be impeached."

*******Hmmm. Bush IS the President.*********

"The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors"



*******Hmmm. Bush has done nothing on this list.******

I could make that same statement. Does that make me a psychic too?

They will have to do MUCH better than that. At least they are deleting DeVoid's posts too. Whaddaya know. Los Angeles "Independent Media" stooping to the old censorship ploy. We have succeded once again. What was once a bastion of free speech will become just another censored relic of a bygone passion for the outspoken.

If you really want to shout it out, then visit these forums: http://www.kobehq.com/KOBEBOARDS2/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=1 where you can post anything you want....well ALMOST. See you there.

You know who...BWAHAHAH

"I could make that same statement. Does that make me a psychic too?"

No, it makes you an idiot.

The activist community is dying

Organize!

Organize!

BWAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA