When it comes to political theory, anarchism is really the closest thing I can associate my ideas with. As with so many things I gravitate towards, this is just another label that tends to lend itself to cliques and elitist attitudes in the most unfortunate of ways. Most recently this became ever so prevalent in reading the latest offering from Oakland’s AK Press.

An Anarchist FAQ (AFAQ), Volume 1 edited by Iain McKay would seem more aptly titled A Selection of Anarchist Quotes. While this is something McKay addressed in the introduction, it is almost amusing to flip through the book and look for the bold type referencing the title of a quoted book. I also appreciate Iain’s understanding that with anrachism being what it is at a base level - individual freedom, many will not agree with the way he (and an apparent collective) have defined the word or its adherents. However, in acknowledging this fact, it seems an impossibilty to nail down such a definition. In doing so, I feel AFAQ reads more in a “my way or the highway” style rather than allowing the true freedom anarchist theory would generally suggest. A rather ludicris section in the book (A.1.3) goes about quoting the American Heritage Dictionary on the words Libertarian and Socialism, afterwards stating that “Those wanting to debate dictionary definitions are free to persue this unending and politically useless hobby but we will not.” All while this is the essence of AFAQ, to determine or answer what is and is not anarchy!

In all it’s bound splendor, AFAQ is over 500 pages of terrefic anarchist quotes linked together by McKay’s incessant rights and wrongs of anarchism as according to himself and a short list of contributors. I love it for a lot of the quotes and hate it for what seems to be an absolute want for recognition as well as the overbearing need to discredit the anarcho-capitalist theory on McKay’s end.

Again, with anarchism being the freedom angled theory it is, I felt AFAQ reads in too many absolutes. This is really too bad considering the size and obvious effort that has gone into the project. Being a book McKay stated he would hope turns others on to anarchy, I am surprised this is the final outcome.

Find out more as well as find some great reading at AK Press

I’ve had a pretty slow week at work so I’ve been reading the latest thing to show up in my mailbox from AK Press (review soon), browsing the news and catching up on international and civil conflicts from around the world. When taking only a few minutes to read over ongoing conflicts happening throughout the world it is absolutely maddening what the simple idea of non-aggression could accomplish. I am disgusted by the attrocities delt out in the name of government, religion and finally, personal opinion.
In being human there is no reason anyone should not have the right to live their own lives in the way they see most appealing given they are not harming another person. Why anyone thinks the way they feel about any given issue is the right way for everyone to live is a genuine tragedy. Regardless of vote by majority or full blown tyranny, when you choose to control others you are choosing the path of agression over freedom. I can only hope for the total collapse of the U.S. government and in the aftermath having individuals stand up to choose voluntary interaction with one another over the coerciveness of another government.