On Anarchy

Recently, Doug Casey, aka International Man, wrote a piece, titled, Do We Need the State? Casey’s theme is anarchy is a better way when it comes to the organization of human affairs.

My first question is, what state? The modern state, or the state as envisioned by the ancients?

I am being snarky here, and I admit it. I know what Casey wants. He wants the newest version of a “state,” one that is self-governing, its landowners cooperating with the others without compulsion. In others words, no politics.

I had a friend that used to say if you get three people in a room, it is political. We were members of a social organization, nonetheless, when it came to operations, there was discussion, and voting.

The average man and woman will say we need a state. And, they will say the state needs a political organization to rule it. Or, if it makes you feel better, to operate it. Which is to say, a political government that can operate a justice system and get roads built. Because people cannot conceive of the notion that a private person can build a road. Of course, the rich guy, or a private company can build a road. And charge a toll. It was the way of the world before all those democracies sprang up. As for justice, I have studied my history. Justice is huge, and complex, and so forth.

I think it may be the democracy that Casey really objects to. I am with him there. I do favor that other state, the one with a permanent head, called a monarch. I also prefer a group that holds sacred the same myths as I do, so that we’re all on the same page when it comes to operations of said state. Democracy is nothing more than a long road down into chaos. As for that third state that Aristotle talked about, the one run by the oligarchs, that bunch is always around, monarchy or democracy, republic or kingdom.

Anarchy is rarely attempted. Because not only is there three sorts of governments, there are three sorts of people. Doers, followers, and those that don’t care. I would add a fourth; those that like to complain or suggest, but have no follow through. Those who write about utopia, without a glance back at the past, well, they miss a point. And that is to ask the question, “How did we get here, from there?”

My answer is simple. Nature. As in human nature, and the laws of nature.

I have friends who have bought much land to develop into an anarchist community. I do wish them luck. Now, here’s the thing; a small community has more promise of success than a large one. It is easier to cooperate with your neighbors when you know them. However, I suggest our modern states cannot be anarchist because they are too damn big.

Our modern states consist of billions of people, most of whom live in huge, unwieldily cities. The question is, how do we keep order when too many people inhabit too little space? Those of you living in those metros know the chaos of traffic jams, overcrowded public transportation systems, out of control, drugged street dwellers, and the expensive housing costs. Many places no longer build new single family dwellings, so people are stuffed into high rise apartments, which increases the density. We live as bees in a hive, without the governing ability of a queen bee.

Humans are a bit more complex than bees. They have sovereignty, unless they are a part of a communist community. But even there, those doer types can figure out a way to work their system. Thus, they gain more freedom through influence. Others do not because they are more akin to their counterparts in the insect world; they are the drones and workers, during the day. What they do with their time off is their affair.

To answer the question, how did we get here, the best answer is that human beings, as imperfect as we are, we have a nice success rate in creating a world that has its guard up against nature’s laws. The doers have figured out how to keep us alive and healthy a lot longer than before. This is so, because the doers from all those yesterdays, figured out how to make tools that delivered a better way of life than living in caves or huts, and having to hunt big wooly mammoths for food and clothing.

It is dangerous being a Hunter-gatherer. And many of those first versions of human beings didn’t make the cut. I mean, how many Homo erectus have you seen walking down the street lately? True, Neanderthal is still with us, as a gene in millions of sapiens. Nonetheless, the Homo sapiens brought us to these current times, with millions of people staying alive well into their 80s. And beyond. We also have children who survive those awful childhood diseases, and grow into adulthood.

As I said, we are a success.

The question I would ask Casey, and other anarchists, why not refine what we have? Civilizations were created by doers, who were chiefs that turned into monarchs. It was these men, mostly, who had a vision of the possibilities, and an understanding of human nature, that created the foundations for what we have today. And that understanding is what I stated above, that there are doers, followers, and those who do not pay attention, but like to eat anyway.  Because, dear Mr. Casey, you will get this same bunch in your utopia. The followers, mostly, will want someone else to make decisions about the roads. I mean, sir, why did things happen the way they did? Because we may have sovereignty, but that doesn’t mean everyone is equal in their abilities. So I predict that your utopia will evolve like all those first civilizations did. Someone will end up as the monarch.

Why this is so is explained in the mythological/religious literature throughout time. Read the creation myths, about humans and their beginnings. The monotheists talk about how things, in the beginning, were perfect, and then there was that, “fall of man” episode. But I rather like the Swahili version, that man was created imperfect from the get-go. Extending from that premise, humans are a work in progress. The gods are not finished with us. No matter what government system we choose, we will muck it up. It is who we are. No system we create will be perfect, until we are.

To hear the Swahili version of the creation of humans, go here.