Section D - How does statism and capitalism affect society?
This section of the FAQ indicates how both statism and capitalism affect
the society they exist in. It is a continuation of sections B (
Why do
anarchists oppose the current system?) and C (What are the myths of
capitalist economics?) and it discusses the impact of the underlying
social and power relationships within the current system on society.
This section is important because the institutions and social relationships
capitalism and statism spawn do not exist in a social vacuum, they have deep
impacts on our everyday lives. These effects go beyond us as individuals
(for example, the negative effects of hierarchy on our individuality) and have
an effect on how the political institutions in our
society work, how technology develops, how the media operates and so on.
Therefore it is worthwhile to point out how (and why) statism and capitalism
affect society as a whole outwith the narrow bounds of politics and economics.
So here we try and sketch some of the impact of concentrations of political
and economic power has upon society. While many people attack the results
of these processes (like state intervention, ecological destruction,
imperialism, etc.) they ignore their causes. This means that the
struggle against social evils will be never-ending, like a doctor fighting
the symptoms of a disease without treating the disease itself. We have
indicated the roots of the problems we face in sections
B and C; now we
discuss some of the other problems they create. This section of the FAQ
explores the interactions of the causes and results and draws out how the
authoritarian and exploitative nature of capitalism affects the world we
live in.
It is important to remember that most supporters of capitalism refuse to
do this. Yes, many of them point out some flaws and problems within
society but they never relate them to the system as such. As Noam Chomsky
points out, they will attribute the catastrophes of capitalism "to any
other cause other than the system that consistently brings them about."
[Deterring Democracy, p. 232]
That the system and its effects are interwoven can best be seen from the
fact that while right-wing parties have been elected to office promising
to reduce the role of the state in society, the actual size and activity
of the state has not been reduced, indeed it has usually increased in
scope (both in size and in terms of power and centralisation). This is
unsurprising, as "free market" implies strong (and centralised) state --
the "freedom" of Management to manage means that the freedom of workers
to resist authoritarian management structures must be weakened by state
action. Thus, ironically, state intervention within society will continue
to be needed in order to ensure that society survives the rigours of market
forces and that elite power and privilege are protected from the masses.
“That’s a big honor,” commented Larry. “The passenger, while they were high up, threw something and hit the pilot, the seaplane went out of control, the man jumped—and then cut free his parachute, cut the sack holding the emeralds, and hid in the swamp.” “I see a light,” Sandy said as the airplane swung far out over the dark water. “A green light, but the hydroplane wouldn’t carry lights.” "No, no; it's a good deal, but it ain't too much. Not that it could be more, very well," he added, and he glanced furtively at the woman within, who had stretched out on the lounge with her face to the wall. Mrs. Taylor was fanning her. But though the 21st of January was to be the day of the grand attack on the Ministry, the battle was not deferred till then. Every day was a field-day, and the sinking Minister was dogged step by step, his influence weakened by repeated divisions, and his strength worn out by the display of the inevitable approach of the catastrophe. The first decided defeat that he suffered was in the election of the Chairman of Committees. The Ministerial candidate, Giles Earle, was thrown out by a majority of two hundred and forty-two to two hundred and thirty-eight, and the Opposition candidate, Dr. Lee, was hailed by a shout that rent the House. Other close divisions followed. The fall of Walpole was now certain, and he would have consulted both his dignity and comfort in resigning at once. This was the earnest advice of his friends, but he had been too long accustomed to power to yield willingly. He was oppressed with a sense of his defeats, and the insolence of enemies whom he had so long calmly looked down upon without fear. He was growing old and wanted repose, but he still clung convulsively to his authority, though he had ceased to enjoy it. "Should think they was bride and groom, if they wasn't so old." "March them right over to that shed there," said the Major, "and the Quartermaster will issue them muskets and equipments, which you can turn over again when you reach Chattanooga. Good-by. I hope you'll have a pleasant trip. Remember me to the boys of the old brigade and tell them I'll be with them before they start out for Atlanta." The train finally halted on a side-track in the outskirts of Chattanooga, under the gigantic shadow of Lookout Mountain, and in the midst of an ocean of turmoiling activity that made the eyes ache to look upon it, and awed every one, even Si and Shorty, with a sense of incomprehensible immensity. As far as they could see, in every direction, were camps, forts, intrenchments, flags, hordes of men, trains of wagons, herds of cattle, innumerable horses, countless mules, mountains of boxes, barrels and bales. Immediately around them was a wilderness of trains, with noisy locomotives and shouting men. Regiments returning from veteran furlough, or entirely new ones, were disembarking with loud cheering, which was answered from the camps on the hillsides. On the river front steamboats were whistling and clanging their bells. "Go out and git you a rebel for yourself, if you want to know about 'em," Shorty had snapped at the Orderly. "There's plenty more up there on the hill. It's full of 'em." "Drat 'em! durn 'em!" "He's dead," said Realf. Should you leave me too, O my faithless ladie!" The odds were generally on Reuben. It was felt that a certain unscrupulousness was necessary to the job, and in that Backfield had the advantage. "Young Realf wudn't hurt a fly," his champions had to acknowledge. Though the money was with Reuben, the sympathy was mostly with Realf, for the former's dealings had scarcely made him popular. He was a hard man to his customers, he never let them owe him for grain or roots or fodder; his farm-hands, when drunk, spoke of him as a monster, and a not very tender-hearted peasantry worked itself sentimental over his treatment of his children. Caro was frightened, horrified—she broke free, and scrambled to her feet. She nearly wept, and it was clear even to his muddled brain that her invitation had been merely the result of innocence more profound than that which had stimulated her shyness. Rough seaman though he was, he was touched, and managed to soothe her, for she was too bashful and frightened to be really indignant. They walked a few yards further along the path, then at her request turned back towards Odiam. Calverley reluctantly departed on his mission, cursing the interruption that prevented his enjoying the degradation of his rival, and the baron now inquired whether Holgrave had confessed himself his villein. HoME国家产免费一级毛卡片
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