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During the recent In Depth interview with author Robert Higgs, a caller accused him of being a fascist for advocating the elimination of numerous social programs and such. But from what I've heard from his response to that caller and others, he sounds more like an anarchist than a fascist. That is, he often explains that governments use violence and threats of violence to implement their policies. Likewise, anarchists are always saying they oppose government because it uses violence and threats of violence to implement governmental policies.
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Michigan
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Re: He sounds like an anarchist
Tue, April 7, 2009 - 9:23 AMI don't know who Robert Higgs is. I'll have to familiarize myself with him.
But anarchists do correctly understand that the state is a violent institution. However, this pacifist anarchist advocates the end of the war on terror and the war on drugs so that we can put the money saved towards social programs such as drug education, counseling, rehabilitation, which all help addicts infinitely more than prison time ever has.
Terrorism has always been a law enforcement issue, not a military issue, so sending our military into Iraq wasn't meant to eliminate terrorism nor did it depose Saddam Hussein. That's not what militaries do. They were sent in to secure our interests, with little regard to the local populations, as is evidenced by the millions of refugees created by doing so.
I am still in shock and awe, and Obama is not changing course in any definitive way. He'll continue the drug war and the war on terror. What ally of the bankers wouldn't?
I feel swindled. -
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Re: He sounds like an anarchist
Wed, April 8, 2009 - 4:40 PMGovernments don't always use violence to implement programs, and in the cases that they do, it is because there is resistance. I am not a promoter or a faciliatator of violence, but it is unfair to slump all governments AND all levels of government into one group and then stereotype them. Remember, that at the end of the day, governments are made up of people and laws. It's up to us to try and influence our government (in a democracy anyway) to bring about the changes we want to see.
Finally, on Obama: the man is not a revolutionary. He's a centrist. I'm not sure why you feel swindled. He just seemed revolutionary because we had gotten so used to the Bush Administration. -
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Re: He sounds like an anarchist
Wed, April 8, 2009 - 4:50 PM"I'm not sure why you feel swindled."
Perhaps because of all the lies he told on the campaign trail that were touted as the truth, all his supporters saying that Obama would actually do the things he said. He did coke and smoked pot but now he is saying he won't legalize pot or end the war on drugs. He catered to the anti-war movement although he is now showing that he is definitely not anti-war, evidenced by his sending more troops to Afghanistan and his decision to keep troops in Iraq by labeling them trickily. Continuing the drone attacks in Pakistan. Allowing his banker and other Wall St buddies to make a killing while shaking a finger in their direction. Saying he was pro-Single Payer on the campaign trail and completely abandoning that once in office.
Why shouldn't I feel swindled? It's the same old shit. He merely pretended that he is different. -
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Re: He sounds like an anarchist
Sat, April 11, 2009 - 3:50 PMYou're looking at this campaign "promises" in very simplistic -- and frankly -- naive terms. I never heard him say that he'll end the war, but with that aside, all the issues that you've mentioned are tremendous. You can't expect an administration to make such changes in three months, particularly when there's such division. With the political climate we're in, we've got to move slowly and practically, and he's always said that, particularly in the last days of his campaign.
Also, if there are somethings that he rescinded on -- even though I don't think that's really what's happening -- it's just that his administration is realizing the reality of the extent and limit of its power. I don't think he's trying to deceive us at all. It's just that change takes time and is complicated. Politics on whole, but particularly in a democracy, is a dynamic thing. You have to accept it for what it is, but in the meantime hold him and his administration accountable. -
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Re: He sounds like an anarchist
Sat, April 11, 2009 - 8:20 PMI'm going dancing. Fuck the government.
And cheers. I hope he satisfies you at least.
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