Freedom or Totalitarianism

Freedom or Totalitarianism
Liberty or Death

Monday, July 8, 2013

Emma Goldman: 'The Individual, Society and The State'


Source:Libertarianism.Org- talking about Anarchist Emma Goldman.

Source:FreeState Now

"Emma Goldman discusses the nature of the state as an institution and how it is fundamentally at odds with the dignity of the individual.

The minds of men are in confusion, for the very foundations of our civilization seem to be tottering. People are losing faith in the existing institutions, and the more intelligent realize that capitalist industrialism is defeating the very purpose it is supposed to serve.

The world is at a loss for a way out. Parliamentarism and democracy are on the decline. Salvation is being sought in Fascism and other forms of “strong” government.

The struggle of opposing ideas now going on in the world involves social problems urgently demanding a solution. The welfare of the individual and the fate of human society depend on the right answer to those questions The crisis, unemployment, war, disarmament, international relations, etc., are among those problems.

The State, government with its functions and powers, is now the subject of vital interest to every thinking man. Political developments in all civilized countries have brought the questions home. Shall we have a strong government? Are democracy and parliamentary government to be preferred, or is Fascism of one kind or another, dictatorship—monarchical, bourgeois or proletarian—the solution of the ills and difficulties that beset society today?

In other words, shall we cure the evils of democracy by more democracy, or shall we cut the Gordian knot of popular government with the sword of dictatorship?" 


What I at least see from this piece at Libertarianism.Org, is a lot of analysis, but what the writer views as problems with American government and other western government's, specifically parliamentary forms of government, social democratic forms of government that are common Europe and in the rest of the developed world. But you don't see any alternative here to the American, federal, liberal democratic, form of government. 

In the 1940s and 50s, left-wing Americans were terrified about being outed as Communists and even Socialists. You are now thanks to Senator Bernie Sanders and other left-wing members of Congress, seeing more American leftists come out as Democratic Socialists, if not Socialists all together. But today it's right-wing Anarchists on the Right, who at least publicly seem to having a hard time admitting to their anarchism, coming out of their political closet. 

If you are not an Anarchist, (right or left) then what you want government to do?

What are you willing to pay for the government that you think your country needs and how would those fees or taxes be set up, what levels, etc? 

These are my questions for anyone who calls themself a Libertarian, but doesn't seem to have any role for government whatsoever. At least no role that they're willing ti pay for themself.

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