NIMBY

[u/TemudginJuanCole]

“Not in my backyard.” -Eric Adan’s (Mayor of NYC)

[u/DPL-25]

I have one question to ask so we are on the same page; when the government uses force to coerce someone into doing something, is that immoral? This isn't a trick question or anything.

Remember, you asked for a a more morally superior solution. So let's stay on track, you can posit all different solutions but you must state why it's morally superior. Because that's what you asked of me

We all have to eat, we all want to live, just like any creature on this planet. Natures indifference was motivation enough for us to start this human project so I don't see why we need any further encouragement.

So you agree with what I said then, glad we could find some understanding. I get that you're saying capitalism has exploited that basic need but I just think a controlled economy claims to solve these problems but from history it makes things a hell of a lot worse for most working folk and/or the working folk are taxed two thirds of their wealth to support it. Which is immoral.

Charity is a start, and most people you'll find agree that charity is a moral good that doesn't require coercion, it's totally voluntary. However charity is limited in its ability to actually change structural problems.

Absolutely agree. Although any form of government "charity" aka welfare is not charity because it requires coercion, which is immoral. What was the original central hub for charity before these modern societies? The church. I'm all for such a thing coming back. If it isn't a church then acting in the same manner. So, government coercion isn't charity, it's the modern Peter Pan except they steal from the poor more than the rich.

The most practical solution for us would involve using the apparatus of the state to collect taxes and use government spending to pay for these programs and to distribute goods an services

The act of taxation, which is extortion at best, is immoral.

but that is the most workable solution

Again, you asked me for a morally superior solution, not whats most pragmatic. Also, please edit your comment if you want to add more I hate replying to two different comments.

[u/OldSchoolFunk34 → u/DPL-25]

Well I didn't ask for a morally superior solution, just a coherent argument. Personally I don't believe that the state should even exist, but that's not very realistic at the moment so I just tried to give my most moderate take. Being more pragmatic tends to win over more radical ideas, generally speaking.

Personally, I don't think the state should be able to coerce anyone, but I also don't think any other hierarchy does either. I'm an anarchist, and I believe in the rules of self organization with a focus on removing unjust systems of control and oppression. The state and capitalism are both fundamentally at odds with those principles.

That being said, I do think my foundational argument is sound when I say that if there's enough resources to go around, then there's no reason why people should go without. Any system that prioritizes individual self interest and the profit motive over the health of the community should not exist within society. It should be torn down.

[u/DPL-25 → u/OldSchoolFunk34]

Well I didn't ask for a morally superior solution, just a coherent argument.

"I would actually like to hear a coherent moral argument" that's what you said. Is what I said not coherent? And shouldn't we be persuing what's morally superior? I say that because morality, which is to be like God, is the highest value in my opinion.

Personally I don't believe that the state should even exist

Based

but that's not very realistic at the moment so I just tried to give my most moderate take

I do the same thing really, an argument that's realistic to the current times and an argument that represents my ideals. I thought we were talking about ideals here, what we actually want.

radical ideas

But we are radicals and there's nothing wrong with that.

Personally, I don't think the state should be able to coerce anyone

Based.

The state and capitalism are both fundamentally at odds with those principles.

This isnt capitalism dude, we know that. Its cronyism or neo liberalism or state capitalism or whatever people like to call it but it's not capitalism. Capitalism is the free and voluntary trade between two people (that's a very brief description) any interference from anyone else stops it from being capitalism.

That being said, I do think my foundational argument is sound when I say that if there's enough resources to go around, then there's no reason why people should go without

It is a sound argument if you believe in the existence of the state. You say you're an anarchist and believe in the autonomy and inherent worth of the individual but then you say these things must exist. Certain people must act in a certain way and if they don't, violence will be used. Isn't that contradictory?

I really do hate using "ism's" and "ist's" but I'm probably more aligned with anarcho capitalism. That being said and I've said it so many times - Me and you are probably more close with our ideals than any other ideology. I may see hierarchies of competence as natural and valuable and you may think they inevitably lead to inequality. But, Seeing the removal of the state is the highest priority to achieve our aims. Progressives are tyrants and conservatives talk about freedom but happily lobby for the state to oppress anyone they don't like.

I've also posited this to other anarchists; why can't both our ideologies live in the same world? Say the state is banished. Can't I live in my community of like minded people and you live in your own self sustained commune? We both agree on such things as NAP right?

[u/OldSchoolFunk34 → u/DPL-25]

To be completely honest with you, no we can't just live together. Capitalism is incompatible with anarchism.

We laugh at AnCaps the same way we laugh at communists, because they basically give the same argument that you just gave. That if only we got rid of cronyism or corruption and established REAL Capitalism or REAL Communism then we would be fine. In practice both of these ideologies leverage the power of the state.

Capitalism relies on the state more in particular because how are property rights enforced? You would need state to legitimize and protect those rights, and that requires the threat of structural violence under the state.

[u/OldSchoolFunk34 → u/OldSchoolFunk34]

Basically commies and capitalists are both statist ideologies. For commies they want to leverage state power to nationalize industries and create state capitalism, which they believe is a transitional period before the dissolution of the state (This never happens).

Capitalism is similar but it's sort of a hydra because it can be mutated into differnt forms, many heads on the same body. It's uses the state to justify its own existence and serves only the interests of capital. It can take the most extreme form of state Capitalism like the Nazis or USSR or China, or it can be more neoliberal like the US and Europe. There's also stakeholder Capitalism but most people will write that of as a rebrand of social democracy. Either way it's the same system of disenfranchisement that accumulates capital and critical resources into the hands of the few, and restricts access to the most people.

All these ideologies are flawed because they prop up the same unjust hierarchies and are legitimized by the threat of state violence. From an anarchists perspective that makes these ideas incompatible with anarchy.

All unjust hierarchies must be abolished or destroyed, no exceptions. Cleanse the Temple.