This article on anarchist thought comes from this link.
The fast approaching downfall of capitalism, as shown by the worldwide economic debacle, is driving men to think about a new social order.
It is generally admitted, even by conservatives, that capitalism is on it’s last legs.
The greatest confusion prevails as to what should be done.
Many so-called remedies are suggested, ranging from earnest prayer as recommended by the Pope, to fifty-seven varieties of dictatorship – as urged by Fascists, Communists, and Socialists.
The proposed remedies while differing in many respects, possess one quality which is common to all.
They are based upon an abiding faith that government can remedy all evils. They would extend the functions of the State.
The State would control and operate all the industries, would regulate the distribution of commodities, determine the conditions of labor, monopolize the sources of information and enlightenment – schools, newspapers, radio, etc.
It would thrust itself into the life of every individual.
No one would dare question its authority.
The delegation of power into the hands of an all omnipotent State cannot solve the problems which are facing the working class – the problems of exploitation, of monopoly, of inequality, of suppression of the individual.
The State bureaucracy constitutes a class in itself.
This privileged class, not being engaged in productive labor, must be supported by the workers.
The tremendous waste, inefficiency, and corruption of present day government is well known.
How much greater would this burden become, how much more entrenched would this bureaucracy become, should the powers of the State be multiplied a thousand fold?
The growth of a bureaucratic class endowed with special privileges must give rise to inequality.
The interests of those who rule, and the interests of those who are ruled cannot be reconciled.
The people finding themselves reduced to mere tools in the hands of the all-enveloping State machine would be compelled to check the ever-growing power of the bureaucracy.
The Contradictions inherent in state socialism, far from being solved through the metaphysical “Withering away of the state” must result in a war between the privileged bureaucracy and the oppressed masses.
It would lead to a social-revolution.
The State cannot conduct the economic life of Society in the interests of all.
The State cannot lose its class character.
The abolition of capitalism is not sufficient as long as the State and its bureaucracy are maintained.
The new social order must be based on entirely different principles.
The need for a social philosophy which will avoid the pitfalls of state centralization is becoming more and more pressing in the face of the ever-growing tendencies toward dictatorship of one type or another.
Anarchism is the only Social theory capable of filling this need.
Anarchism aims to establish a society in which the economic activities will be conducted by voluntary groups and federations.
It aims to institute mutual agreement in place of coercion as the guiding principle of human life.
The development of the individual should be the sole aim of social life.
A social system which does not provide for the development of the individual is a failure.
A social system based upon exploitation and oppression cannot allow for the fullest development of the individual.
We therefore believe in the abolition not only of Capitalism but also of the State.
Society is an organic whole intricately connected and bound by a thousand ties.
Should one organ fail to function it will immediately affect the others.
The tremendous complexity and interdependence of social life is leading to communism.
Communism is a system whereby industry is operated for the benefit of the whole of society.
Society must be conducted upon the basis of “From each according to his ability and to each according to his needs.”
No man has the right to monopolize that which generations of men have labored to produce.
The combined efforts of all are necessary in order to produce the means of life, consequently all are entitled to share alike that which all have labored to produce.
There is no room in such a society for privilege, inequality or dictatorship.
Anarchist-communism combines freedom and equality.
One is indispensable to the other.
The economic life of society should be conducted by those who are actually engaged in industry, through co-operatives, industrial unions, federations and voluntary societies of all kinds and for all purposes.
The needs of mankind are so infinitely varied, the specific problems affecting a given industry or locality are so different that no single body, be it a bureaucratic state or a centralized administrative agency, can ascertain and efficiently attend to the needs of society, even if government would be impartial and wholly disinterested which it is not and cannot be.
An all-seeing omnipotent governmental bureaucracy in Washington, cannot work the mines in Pennsylvania, or drill oil wells in Oklahoma, or can fruit in California.
Only the people who do the work, who are intimately acquainted with the needs of a given industry or community can successfully solve the problems that constantly present themselves.
The economic structure must be based upon the fullest possible amount of local autonomy and independent action.
The economic basis of society must correspond to life itself, must reflect its many sidedness and its varied interests.
This can be done only when every group and every individual if free to conduct his affairs in accordance with his needs.
The decentralization of functions in the hands of those directly concerned will ensure freedom for the producers, and will prevent the monopoly, oppression, and inefficiency which are the distinguishing characteristics of centralized institutions.
An examination of present-day society will show the extent to which voluntary association and mutual co-operation are responsible for all that is constructive in modern life.
The voluntary scientific societies of all types, without which the wonders of modern life would be impossible, the voluntary educational societies, producers’ and consumers’ co-operatives, labor unions, mutual benefit associations, and societies of all types embracing every field of human endeavor are indispensable to social life.
Social life is impossible without mutual agreement.
The need for mutual co-operation is so great that even centuries of governmental oppression and red-tape have been unable to crush them.
Recent history fully bears out the contention that government is absolutely helpless in any emergency, that only the creative impetus of the masses is capable of responding to such situations.
The abolition of the State and Capitalism will release the masses from the dead weight of exploitation and oppression.
Voluntary associations, increased in scope and united by the impetus of mutual necessity, would be free to develop.
The constructive genius of mankind would regenerate the social-organism.
The question of the economic structure of the future society will be further developed in the next article, which will also deal with the tactics to be pursued in realizing our Ideal.
This series of posts will insure that these anarchists' works live on in living memory.
If only a few.
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