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expect no gratitude from the authoritarian almost always nonviolent but they got long BOOK REVIEWS left and no better climate in which to terms of imprisomnent anyway. Anarchist Economics. Building Successful advance their distinctive project. Russian Bufe is big on vague foggy generalities Social Alternatives, by Roger Hallam A4 80 anarchists enjoyed far more freedom of but weak on particulars - a serious default in pages. action under the Czars than under the an essay about "getting there." Repeatedly HAVING spent a good deal of energy commissars. he holds up ZEGG, apparently a German trying to encourage more discussion around After a perfunctory review of some commune, as an exemplar but he never tells economics, I was delighted to come across economic statistics, Bufe moves on to us a damned thing about what ZEGG is (or this substantial private publication on identify the mechanism of social control as even what the initials stand for). Bufe thinks Ereedom ,Bookshop's shelves. However, it's fundamentally psychological. It is the that "model communities" are the way to a pity that its physical weight is not matched authoritarian conditioning imposed above go, but he has nothing to say about the by the economics, for alas the latter is very all in the "patriarchal" family which reduces history of the htmdreds of anarchist or slight indeed, and indeed, the subtitle is the masses to servitude, primarily through utopian socialist intentional communities much more descriptive of the contents. sexual repression. "Patriarchal" religion which were set up in America in and atter Roger has a lot of experience working reinforces familial repression. The everyday the 1840's. Anybody thinking of starting up Volume 2 Number 2 Spring 2000 £1.00 with Housing Co-ops, and it is in that authoritarian conditioning imposed by state such a community should, at the very least, context that he writes best, giving an functionaries (including schoolteachers) is become acquainted with the experiences of interesting account of Radical Routes, slighted, and that imposed by wage-labour its predecessors. Some risks are inherent, where successful co-ops have been is mostly ignored. Bufe has not only but others are avoidable. If the point of an indirectly financed through housing benefit! vulgarized Wilhelm Reich, he has severed anarchist intentional cormnunity is to set a He goes on to discuss DIY co-operative the link which Reich strove to sustain good example, then everything possible banking and the Mondragon group of between society and psyche. If he should be done to ensure that the example is of these violent acts were often at also confuses the issues at stake. The Spanish co-ops. Unfortunately these CONTENTS virtually point blank range resulting in real issues: opposition to environmental understood the logic of his own position, good. Bufe doesn't do this. Page I Editorial A | sections fill only pages 51-65. serious injtny. The conduct of the Bufe would have to concede that what most Page 2 Thoughts on Co-operative and ecological destruction, the growing Much of what remains are rambling people (who, he reports, don't "think very prison authorities in their treatment of global opposition to the unrestrained discourses on the problems of small Anarchist Economics by Ed Stamm well") need is not revolution but therapy. Letter Page 4 hrdividualism, Anarchy and around 500 arrested protesters is also power of globalised corporate anarchist ventures like cafes. These parts Whereas I think revolution is the best Dear Editor open to condemnation. American civil properly edited and structured around the Compassion by the Boston Anarchist capitalists, the global reach of the state, therapy there is. In her article Wherein does Wrongness Drinking Brigade liberties personnel carried out risk being lost amid the broken glass Radical Routes material could have made a The main message of Bufe's essay is that Lie? Wendy McElroy makes the all-too- Page 5 Human Rights? Not Likely! by interviews with those arrested as they and the tear gas. much more lively read. The economics, "any realistic movement toward real social comrnon mistake (as did Tucker) of where you can find it, is at best simplistic, Jean Pollard were released and this revealed many However, it is a moot point that some change must address sexual issues." Bufe thinking that Stimer's The Ego And His Page 6 Pragmatic ‘Anarchism’ or and at worst tediously banal, and the use of identifies no such issues, except for Own is an anarchist work. It is not. Not only violent and oppressive acts and assaults issues are not being thought through by terminology is sloppy: "wages" and Anarchism: a response to John Griffin had been carried out on a large certain opponents of the WTO. The implying that teenagers should be allowed does Stirner not claim to be an anarchist, by Takis Fotopoulos "profits" for example are both used in to fuck. Most American teenagers do fuck, one of his main targets is the anarchist percentage of the protesters held in elites who control the corporate relation to the remuneration of co-op Page 8 lndividualist Anarchism or but that doesn't seem to have revolutionized theoretician Pierre Joseph Proudhon. lirec Communism'?. by Richard Garner custody. capitalist organisations and the State members. their thinking or stripped them of character- Certainly there are parallels between some There was some minor violence political structures and Governments Roger links his practical experience with Page 9 Evolution versus Revolution by armor. They don't need leftist organizations of his views and those of anarchists, but at Richard Griffin against property, particularly banks, are clear about their own agenda, Mondragon and the future free society, on to tell them that what they're doing is okay. bottom they do not meet. Anarchism is an ongoing practical approach which I like, Page 10 Communism and Decon- from a relatively small number of which is to set the rules of international The kids are alright, it's neurotic grown-ups essentially a creed of renuncz'ati012: structionism by John Griffm Anarchist protestors. These latter trade and relations to operate in their but it was a mistake to try to extend to like Bufe who have sexual hang-ups. domination of man by man is an evil and for economic content beyond the fmancing of Page 12 Book Reviews, Letters & images have been used by authoritarian interest at the expense of the poor and Bufe has a serious preoccupation with true relations between humans such a sin Subscription details. Radical Routes, without much more ground "violence," with "coercion." "You can't cannot be allowed. ln a nutshell: politicians and police to justify their powerless everywhere, but especially in work, and a lot of editing. achieve a non-coercive society through the Dominating People Is wrong. Stirner's own violent actions. The state the undeveloped areas of the world. John Griffin use of coercion," he says. Since we have authorities do not condemn the violence philosophy, however, has nothing against However, the opposition organisations never achieved a non-coercive society at all, my dominating another individual, or group of their own police and prison and groups at events such as Seattle and BUFE GOOF Reviewed through coercion or otherwise, there's no of individuals, if this is in my interest and EDITORIAL personnel, nor do the politicians point the J18 events in 1999 are at times by Bob Black way to verify or falsify this sweeping within my capacity. Indeed he explicitly Seattle 1999: a signpost out the overwhelmingly peaceful inconsistent in their means and ends. generalization. Violence is a natural and states that "I do not want the liberty of men, conduct of the protesters, Anarchists The broad opposition agenda is to normal dimension of social life. It occurs in nor their equality; I want only my power to beyond 2000? included. Clearly the violence of the reduce injustice and ecological damage A Future Worth Living: Thoughts on all forms of society, including anarchist over them." police and state forces was unjustified Getting There. By Chaz Bufe. Tucson, AZ: band and tribal societies. Most anarchists To properly understand The Ego Arid His and to restore local control and local See Sharp Press, 1998. hope and expect that in the anarchist society Own it needs to be read without the HE December newspapers and and the response of the State's forces democracy. Many Anarchists among This pamphlet purports to explain why the they strive for, violence would be preconceptions that ideologies such as | TV reports were full of news was disproportionate to the actions of them call for the ending of this abuse revolutionary left isn't rumiing the country. drastically reduced. l share their hope and anarchism provide. stories regarding the WTO this minority of protestors. A few and the bamring of that. But how can For Bufe, this is cause for regret; for most their expectation- But "getting there," in Yours sincerely meeting and accompanying protests in broken windows do not justify the supporting change via State actions and of us, it is cause for thanks. Although he Bufe's phrase, is something else again. S. E. Parker m=* Seattle. planned. systematic and violent attempt legislation be an acceptable means for claims to be an anarchist, Bufe makes clear Without glorifying armed struggle, it's As is now so often the case the event to suppress free speech and freedom of Anarchists? that he is a leftist first and foremost; his possible to point out that there has rarely if Subscriptions to TOTAL LIBERTY are was marked by organised and protest against the actions of global anarchism is an afterthought. It never occurs £8.00 per 4 issues (£5.00 for We are for the ending of ever been an entirely bloodless social systematic violence from the forces of corporate capitalist corporations and the to him that for anarchists, the "disarray" of revolution. The authorities are violent low/unwaged.) Send Cash or Postal Governments and the State. We are for the left might be an opportunity, not a through and through, so there will be Orders only to Total Liberty, Box the state. particularly the Seattle Police state. their replacement by a society based on misfortune. Why anarchists, so tew in violence whether or not the anarchists EMAB, 88 Abbey Street, Derby l)E22- and prison personnel. The street TV However, Anarchists and others individual freedom and voluntary co- numbers and so limited in resources, should refrain from initiating it. I really don't see 3SQ. Back Issues l-5 are available for reports saw images of Police tear- calling for change would do well to operation. Using State structures as a waste themselves on the thankless and why the anarchists should swear off £1.31 each inc. P&P. gassing protesters. pepper-spraying avoid giving the excuse for violence to means to achieve ends is contradictorv. -,1 . . probably futile chore of re-animating the violence altogether - does anybody think the Total Liberty can be visited on line at: protestors and firing plastic baton police and politicians who in fact it legitimises the authority and actions left, Bufe never explains. Should they cops and courts will give them any credit http://freedomtao.ca/totlib/indexhtml rounds at peaceful enviromnentalists, welcome it. They welcome it because it of the state. A more consistent succeed, history teaches that they can for their forbearance? The Wobblies were Anarchists and other protesters. Many deflects criticism from themselves. it approach is to use peaceful and non-

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I violent direct action. Anarchists can voluntary organisation, and by century and beyond. It is then, quite member co-operatives, but I guess his visits to various peasant collectives much more likely that anarchist draw on the best ideas of a number of developing such we can work to erode relevant, that this issue of Total Liberty, that's ok, if not ideal. in Spain during the revolution/civil war economic arrangements will evolve Anarchist traditions: Individualist, and ultimately end the power of the includes a nmnber of articles on While a doctor's skills are more of 1936-3 9. One interesting observation from this level than be adopted Social and Green, to build the outline of State and Corporate elites by peaceful different aspects of economics. highly valued than a plurnber's, both I made was that there was generally dramatically on a society-wide scale. a new society within the shell of the and evolutionary methods. The Anarchism is still short of serious workers are doing what they know, only one co-operative per village, and One way an anarchist cornmrmity could old. We can build alternatives such as authoritarian commrmist regimes of thought in this area, and if we are to have an interest in, and were trained for that these co-operatives attempted to evolve is if anarchists with a worker co-ops, housing co-ops, local Eastern Europe were not brought down progress from criticism to positive and by the community. Both provide a provide for all the needs of their communitarian if orientation could economies, small scale private firms, by violence but ultimately by the constructive actions we need to vital service to the community. In an members. If you had an arrangement of simply migrate to the same location. small family firms and community peaceful non co-operation of millions establish a firm basis of first principles. anarchist economy, a doctor should not several ad hoc co-operatives in one Once in geographic proximity, they businesses. We can promote self of their citizens. Peaceful and deserve a better lifestyle just because village, people would either have to would naturally get to know one employment, Credit Unions, Alter- evolutionary means of achieving Jonathan Simcock they are talented and able to acquire a split their labour into tiny segments in another and help one another. As trust native Currencies, LETS schemes, change are the way forward for the new valuable skill from those willing to pass order to help produce all the goods and builds up among them, more and more on their knowledge, a skill which the services they would want to consume ambitious co-operative projects could

community could have trained any (15 minutes weeding tomatoes to get a be organized. People could participate interested and intelligent member to share of the tomatoes, 30 minutes of in projects they favour and opt out of perform. Despite the absence of a child care to have access to child care, those they don't need or like. The purely economic incentive to go etc.) or engage in all kinds of barter or members of the various co-operatives ' "i~‘* through the difficult training required to monetary transactions to exchange their would overlap, and co-operatives become a doctor, there would probably products for others they need. While would coordinate their activities when be no shortage of volunteers, since one co-operative union per village necessary. People could, if they chose doctors enjoy prestige for being would make more economic sense, to, share or barter their skills as especially valuable members of the since it is more eflicient to have individuals instead of as members of a community and because some people workers doing what they do best, and co-operative. Eventually, as the range _:l _ I ‘ 1T3,1r ._ are attracted to this vocation by their sharing the production, instead of of goods and services available interest in the subject. Ironically, it dividing their labour into tiny segments, becomes more diverse, more and more could be argued that plumbers prevent making a multitude of small of the members‘ needs could be met as much illness as doctors cure, by transactions, or having each individual within the co-operative network, with providing a safe and environmentally or co-op barter their production with less and less reliance on the mainstream Thoughts on Co-operative Anarchist Economics responsible water and wastewater one another, tomatoes for child care, economy. At first, most of the Ed Stamm system! There should be equal access to etc., one can easily imagine a village participants would be employed in the goods and services for all members of splitting into factions over how work mainstream economy, but more and the confederation in good standing, should be organized, hours of labour more of them could gradually be OST essays on the possible which members were allowed to work services will be available to members regardless of the type of productive required, personality conflicts, etc. and absorbed by co-operative projects or be forms that an anarchist fewer hours in exchange for consuming of the co-operative confederation. A labour they perform. But would-be forming several coexisting co- engaged in bartering with the co- less, or be given credits for hours work. confederal credit union could be set up economic arrangement might authors, artists, athletes, etc. would operatives that would work out operative. People could invest their In either case. shirkers would be looked to make loans for purchasing supplies take seem to focus on the macro- probably not be able to "do their thing" exchanges among themselves. In fact, a private savings in co-operative economic level, or the level of society down upon by other members of the and equipment to member co- as their contribution to the community, system of smaller co-operatives in a ventures, but would be guaranteed operatives. One thorny question is how as a whole. The ‘big picture‘ which community and could be expelled if unless of course there is an actual village would mirror the co-operative repayment in the event they decide to appeals to me is an arrangement where they were unwilling to put in their share would member co-operatives be market for their skill. If they are able to confederation. As time goes on and withdraw from the venture. The venture money circulates, but‘ where most of productive labour. The co-operative prevented from selling their goods and successfully barter their skills, or sell people get the system working more would borrow money from the services on the open market for hard economic activity takes places between would try to find some type of them on the open market, that would be and more smoothly, the co-operatives mainstream economy if necessary to co-operatives, which barter goods and productive work that is agreeable to currency when there is still unmet ok, but if not, it is unlikely that co- could become nrore closely linked and repay departing members. Working in services among themselves whenever unproductive members, or for those demand within the confederation‘? If operatives could support scores of less barter or currency exchanges the mainstream economy to earn hard possible, and only use hard currency to with physical, mental or psychological there is excess production. outside sales aspiring poets or dancers. Of course would be necessary, on all levels. currency, and having access to credit purchase goods and services from limitations. The more productive co- would not be a problem, quite the they could pursue their calling, but it Eventually, as co-operatives merge, are two examples of how the existing contrary, hard currency would be outside the co-operative confederation. operatives, or those who produce wouldn't count as their labour there could eventually be large co- economy would be a useful "crutch" for These autonomous but economically superior products or services. and needed to purchase goods and services contribution to the co-operative, unless operative unions. resulting in a situation anarchist co-operatives rmtil they are linked co-operatives would supply their therefore have lots of barter partners, not available within the confederation. that was ageeable to the other where "each produces according to able to stand on their own. It would be members needs without using currency But outside sales, while there is unmet will enjoy a higher standard of living members. When the community's their ability and consumes according to extremely difiicult for a group to demand within the confederation, within their network. Within each than less productive co-operatives, or material needs were met. then this their needs" without any barter or provide for all its members‘ needs member co-operative, each person those whose output is of lower quality. means a member co-operative would could be loosened up quite a bit. Hey. exchange being necessary between overnight, without any pre-existing But it would not be a competitive game have less to barter with within the would be expected to put in an agreed l'd love to be a writer, book publisher members. infrastructure or organization. Another upon number of hours of economically anymore, and the struggling co- confederation, and while it would be or a scholar. but it doesn't pay the bills. While it is interesting and necessary way capital for starting a co-operative productive labour. Ideally, everyone operatives could ask for help from the less efficient for other members of the Membership in a co-operative would to think about anarchist macro- could be raised, besides the personal better organized or more efficient confederation to make outside would agree on the same number of be voluntary, and you could choose to economics, it might be more practical savings of members, is through purchases with hard currency for the hours, and in return they would have groups, who would have an incentive to be independent of any co-operative, and to try to envision how anarchist donations made by activists in their help, since the goal is meeting very goods a member co-operative is equal access to whatever goods and interact with the co-operatives on a economics would function on the wills. And members have personal lines consumer demand, not cornering the selling on the market, I guess that services the co-operative is able to cash basis. This is the arrangerrrent that nricro-econornic level. or on the level of credit they could borrow against as market. If they can increase or improve would be each member co-operative's produce or provide through barter or Augustin Souchy described in his book of the individual, family, business or well. The really hard part is getting production at other co-operatives, it choice to make. The result could be hard currency exchanges. A more "With the Peasants of Aragon", about other basic economic unit. I suspect it is enough interested parties in geographic complex variation would be one in means more and better goods and hard currency exchanges between 2 3

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care of themselves. But who, just like today, it is not unreasonable to expect proximity, and building up enough trust inefficiencies of capitalism (luxury sovereignty and local customs. and such people would be helped in a vast numbers of Americans, despite everyone who is able, to work for their among the participants that they are demands of rich are met but not basic most of us will find ourselves wage stateless society. heavy taxation to support government keep. Collectivists seem to believe that willing to attemm such an arrangement. needs of the poor, thus a large security slaves and political subjects of Long before the welfare state came benefits, also contribute voluntarily to individuals and their private if these types of co-operatives were apparatus is required, huge numbers of intemational corporations. Although into existence, fraternal societies private charities, individuals in a organisations cannot be trusted to be attempted without a majority of small transactions, complex and labour there has been no big push to enforce existed in the united states which provided both formal and informal stateless world would also contribute to compassionate, and that, therefore, anarchist participants, it is likely the intensive financial system, speculation, international labour protections and private organizations dedicated to the compassion must be socialized and project would stray and become a non- boom and bust cycles resulting in norms, the U.S. being deficient in this mutual aid in the form of life insurance, care of those unable to care for administered by the community. profit business, a traditional business, oversupply, shortages, business area, since employees who attempt to health insruance, survivors‘ benefits, themselves. Individualists, on the other hand, while or some other type of hierarchical failures, and unemployment, shortages organize labour unions are brazenly old age housing, and other social There remains the question of those perhaps not motivated primarily by arrangement, with a board of directors of skilled workers since many families fired" and/or blacklisted here, for services. And these societies, such as able, but unwilling, to provide for compassion, work towards a world and wage slaves as employees, as is can't afi"ord to pay for their children's example, there certainly is a concerted the Masons, the True Reforrners, and themselves. In an individualist society, where people, as free individuals, can often the case with existing co- training, shoddy goods and services, effort to provide a laissez-faire business the Ladies of the Maccabees, consisted largely of poor working people who unless those unwilling to work were establish voluntary, overlapping operatives. etc.). Marx's analysis of capitalism environment across national able to convince some individual or networks to provide for all their needs Modern economies are able to access appears to have been pretty accurate as boundaries. If it's not bad enough banded together voluntarily to take care group that their companionship or and those of others. When free people labour, goods and services world-wide we see nrore and more small businesses already, it will definitely be in every of themselves and their fellow members. These groups, of course, existence was worth the cost of their are confronted with a problem, through the capitalist market system. being replaced by Walmarts, working person's interest to get an upkeep, they would have to either work individualists believe, they will rise to and it will take some time to develop a McDonalds and other chain stores, as alternative economic arrangement were in addition to the family and churches which were primary providers or leave the community and seek more the occasion. Although collectivists socially just replacement that can these huge corporations nrerge into going so that we won't be dependent on hospitable surroundings. It is unlikely, may talk more about the social benefits operate as efiiciently. Eventually, this even larger ones, and as fewer and corporate capitalism as the noose of reciprocal assistance before the however, that even the most altruistic of anarchist society, individualists will new, co-operative economy could fewer average people are able to be tightens even further. govermnent began providing social collective or commune would long provide them just as well, and in a freer potentially outperform the capitalist successfully self employed. Free Trade security and other benefits. Similar voluntary associations and tolerate slackers more gladly than setting. system, because of all the built-in will soon trump even national social networks could again provide the would a group of individualists. Boston Anarchist Drinking Brigade bulk of assistance for needy individuals Additionally, since the amount of work (BAD Brigade) PO Box 381323 in an anarchist society. There would, necessary to acquire the means to feed, Cambridge, MA 02238-1323 lntemet: however, need to be different clothe, and house oneself would bbriggdegagworld.std.com provisions made for those who were probably not be nearly as much in any permanently unable to work or take kind of future anarchist society as it is

Individualism, Anarchy and Compassion HUMAN RIGHTS? NOT LIKELY! BAD Broadside #14 Jean Pollard

NE of the problems that and institutions of other kinds of government and law, whereas 0 individualist anarchists have in societies. collectivists view people as rmable or N 2nd October, 2000, the be no need for a Declaration if it were rights" are only what is politically trying to promote acceptance of Individualists tend not to errrphasize unlikely to lead full and happy lives Human Rights Act I998 not for the governments who make such expedient for the ruling group of the their ideas among other anarchists, as the social service aspects of anarchist without a formal social network of becomes law in this country. It declarations! Govenmrents start wars; time. well as many non-arrarchists, is that society, instead talking about the responsibilities and benefits, even in a incorporates the European Convention governments run totalitarian regimes. So what are we being offered next they are sometimes seen as being freedom it would provide for stateless world. of Human Rights into domestic law and Every human being should have the October? The Articles (the Rights) insufficiently compassionate. Individ- independent and able people to live the Individualists don't believe anyone cases which went to the court in right to flower to their full potential. range from Prohibition of Torture ualists envision a future where personal way they wish, collabourating or "deserves" anything other than the full Strasbourg can now be heard in this unrestricted by a system which (Article 3) to the Right to Respect for freedom, self-reliance, independence, cooperating with others when and fruit of their labour, ownership of country. It is supposed to give more chamrels them into a govermnent- Private and Family Life (Article 8), but and private property are the order of the where they choose to. Collectivists, on property acquired by means of this power and rights to the individual. accepting drone. The person then finds anarchists will recognise the day, and some believe that such a the other hand, often concentrate on labour, fulfillment of any agreement However, as this article airrrs to show, it his or her own way in the world and hollowness of government's concept of society would not provide well for what individuals will get from the freely entered into with others, and the is just another govermnent illusion. interacts, by mutual aid and co- human rights in such issues as The those unable to work or otherwise fend community in an anarchist future, e.g., freedom to be otherwise left alone. What are human rights? In the operation, with others. The "protection" Right to Marry (Article I2) and the for themselves. But, while an free education, free health care, Despite this, individualists do legislative framework, they are of the individual's flowering should Protection of Property (The First individualist society would certainly communal food stores, etc. This acknowledge that sonre people, and described in detail and the whole idea come from the person themselves and Protocol, Article l). These are not not provide aid -to those in need in the difference arises from their different perhaps most people at some time. will of the Act. taken from the Declaration from the group with whom they share "human" rights: these are prescriptive same way that the welfare state or an views of people. Individualists see need assistance from others to get by of Human Rights of the United Nations, their existence. But once govenmrent issues designed by a controlling system. anarchist commune would, free people as generally capable of fending because of unforeseen and/or following the Second World War, was harnesses human conduct. it becomes Those Articles which look. at first individuals are just as capable of being for themselves when not prevented unfortunate circumstances. And to ensure that totalitarian states do not rigid and narrow. It does not take nruch sight, to be significant and offer some helpful to others as are the members from reaching their full potential by individualists do have ideas about how rise again. But of course, there would working out to realise that "human change are, on closer examination, 5 4

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No wonder that Griffin supports the hedged with so many restrictions that to see the restriction in full because it are the bedrock of govermnent - you theory ‘there is no thorough going a significant part of the first chapter of need for a money economy on the they become meaningless. Article 9, shows the illusion of the Right- and your family life come second. economics, just smatterings from the book drawing the crucial difference "Necessary in a democratic society" is The only restriction. such as it is. on Baldelli _gnd Castoriadis’. it is really between markets, (which indeed did grounds that ‘psycho-social tendencies relevant to all free-thinking people, is like power seeking and greed, are an example. The right is immediately govermnent is that where they seek to strange that when he came across the exist for centuries) and the system of entitled "Freedom of Thought, surely not going to be "engineered" out Conscience and Religion". It states: restricted by being in a "democratic interfere with a Right and are using the first modern attempt at the development the market economy - which is a broader term for capitalism - and only of existence by monkeying around with "Everyone has the right to freedom of society" because that means requirement of "necessity", the of a libertarian economics he did not has a history of two centuries! As I the currency‘ (point 5 of his specific thought, conscience and religion; this government controlled. And interference must. as decided by one manage to perceive it as such. case in Strasbourg, "correspond to a However, this fact may not be as make clear in the book, the reason I comments). It seems that for 'pragrnatic' right includes freedom to change his "necessary" could mean anything which ID anarchists people are bom greedy and religion or belief and freedom, either goverrmrent decides is expedient for its pressing social need and be strange as it looks prima facie. His argue for a moneyless, stateless, marketless economy is based on the are not made greedy by the alone or in community with others and own ends: at one stage it was thought proportionate to the legitinrate aim concluding statement below is not only historical analysis offered in the first moneylmarket economy, as libertarians in public or private, to manifest his "necessary" to place mothers of pursued by the state". "Any a monument of errors and distortions. used to believe before the discovery of religion or belief, in worship, teaching illegitimate children in mental interpretation of "pressing social need" but also indicative of the sort of part of the book which shows that pragmatic ‘anarchism’. If this is institutions and sometimes even giving and "legitimate aim", will ultimately be pragmatic ‘anarchism’ its author today's market econonries have nothing practice and observance." anarchism, one wonders, why bother Taking the religious aspect out of it, them lobotomies. Notice how the other by the European Court but it does not suggests: to do with the 'pre-market economies‘ (i.e. pre-capitalist) markets. Since the with it and not join, instead, the left the paragaph looks impressive for parts of the paragraph are expressed in take much imagination to realise that I firund "Towards an Inclusive time of the industrial revolution. the wing of the Labour party. This way we those of us who may wish to challenge a paternalistic way by the "interest of any government action can easily be Denrocrac.-)2" to be strongly reminiscent socially controlled markets of the past would be even more ‘effective’, and the accepted beliefs and be able to say public safety" and "protection" of fitted into such phrases. of "Workers Councils and the have been converted into the systems of effectiveness seems to be the litmus test so in public and in a teaching forum. "health and morals" and possibly the There is something tawdry about Economics of the .S‘el_f-Managed Society” bv Cornelius Castoriadis, market economies of today for the for any theory of action, as far as this Add to that Article I0, the Freedom of most hypocritical of them all, "the having "human rights" expressed in II’ fi' reasons I explain in the book. sort of pragmatic ‘anarchism’ is Expression which says: "Everyone has protection of the rights and freedoms of legislation. It is like caging a wild bird 1972. and "Social Anarchism" by others". and still calling it free. Human beings Giovanni Baldelli. 1971. What ls concerned. the right to freedom of expression. This To return to the book, the first part. right shall include freedom to hold It is interesting to note that single can live peaceably with each other and astounding to me, as a practical man. is that ant/one can be so reckless as to which was ignored by my reviewer. is mothers today could be in no better it is only the corruption of the -L" _ opinions and to receive and impart critical in understanding the second information and ideas without position under the Human Rights Act individual by government and its propose throwing away all the pieces of part. This is because the proposal for an interference by public authority and than before the Second World War. consequent intrusion into our lives that the existing economic jigsaw. in favour inclusive democracy is not just another regardless of frontiers." and it looks Article 8 states that everyone has the has interfered with human behaviour. of just one untried wstem, yet utopian libertarian proposal. It is seen right to respect for private and family The expression of any "human rights" Fotopoulos follows the above writers like any dissenters can spread their own as perhaps the only way out of the life, home and correspondence. but would not be necessary in a society arid doesjust that. All seem blind to the views anywhere they like - the McLibel present crisis which, as this part of the trial may never have been brought! again there is the second paragraph in where each individual lived their life to fact that the market, and the tnforrnal book shows, is due to the concentration Not surprisingly, this is not the case. similar terms to Article 9. So if the full in peaceable co-operation with unregulated economy, are concrete of power at all levels to which the goverrmrent thinks it is "necessary". those who surround them. realities because they work, and have Article 9 has a second paragraph: present system based on the market "Freedom to manifest one's religion or bolstered by the brainwashed people There will be much hype and media been working effiectively for centuries - economy and the nation-state has led who accept that this is for their own attention when the new Act gets under stnce the Greeks infact. beliefs shall be subject only to such us. protection, then you can be sure that the way, but whatever happens, we can be I will list the errors/distortiorrs in this limitations as are prescribed by law and In the rest of this response, being incarceration and lobotomies would sure that the people will only get staterrrent. are necessary in a democratic society in conscious of the space constraints. I continue. whatever "rights" govermnent want to a) The economic model proposed by the interests of public safety, for the will try to deal briefly with some of the protection of public order, health and Article 8 is also further restricted by give them. "Human rights" can never Castoriadis has ahnost nothing in HflV..29-fli?f.'CL. E99 specific points of ‘criticism’ raised by necessary interference for "the be in the gift of govermnents. common with the Inclusive Demo- morals, or for the protection of the John Griffin. economic well-being of the country" cracy model since the former rights and freedoms of others." Therefore, any current talk about going 1. It is an absolute distortion that the Forgive the inclusion of another and for the "prevention of disorder or presupposes a real market and money back to pre-industrial rrrarkets which core idea of the libertarian model of the chunk of legislation, but it is important crime": once again, money and order economy whereas the latter, following the anarchist!libertarian tradition is would be socially controlled etc... economy proposed by the book is explicitly based on a moneyless, betrays a complete lack of ‘ongoing economic planning meetings, marketless and stateless economy. understanding of the dynamic of the to replace the billions of decisions market economy, which has inevitably b) The model suggested by Baldelli made by individuals in the market‘, and led to the present globalised (or better differs significantly from the Inclusive that the voucher system, which is PRAGMATIC 'ANARCHISM' OR ANARCHISM? - interrrationalised) market economy. The Democracy model, as I made obvious characterised as ‘heavily bureaucratic‘, establishment of a true economic - A RESPONSE TO JOHN GRIFFIN I in the book in which I only used one is burdened by additional operating idea from Baldelli (assessing democracy seeming equal distribution costs, and ‘likely to collapse rmder the of economic power among all citizens weight of all those meetings.‘ In fact. obvious from the author's decision to development as he (mis)represents it, _£.:£ desirability for each type of work) olm Grifiin's review of my book is incompatible with markets, money the opposite is the case! The voucher JTowards An Inclusive Democracy, igrrore the entire first part of the book, but an attempt to devise an alternative which I expanded and changed into a and states. It seems however that system has been proposed as an (Cassell, 1997) - Total Liberty on the grounds that ‘earlier chapters libertarian ecorronrics on the emergence complex index of desirability. Griffin's ‘pragmatic’ anarchism (and effective way of replacing the real are critiques of capitalist development, of the market economy and its c) An even stronger example of his (Vol. 2 No.1, surmner 1999) - is so full unfortrmately this characterises several market - which is singularly unable to state socialism and the ecological development into the present reckless reading, however. is his of distortions and misrepresentations people in the British anarchist meet the needs of all citizens (in fact, that one wonders whether this is due to crisis; assuming readers to be too intemationalised market economy - an statement that. following Castoriadis movement) can live with a market the majority of world citizens) - with an a deliberate attack by a ‘pragmatic’ familiar with these matters. I'll pass on economics which is based on power and Baldelli in rejecting the market economy based on money - a stand artificial market, a way which avoids anarchist or just to the fact that the quickly to the positive proposals, relations rather than the usual Marxist (which he adopts as a concrete reality which is not that different from the one the bureaucracy of the planning elabourated upon in much detail in the categories. As the same author in an ‘because it works'!), I tend ‘perhaps author never went further than reading supported by the demoralised Left mechanism and at the same time a couple of chapters of it (which he also latter pages. ' All this, when the first earlier issue of TL (Vol l No 3) was deliberately to confuse it with the today ! secures freedom of choice and the manages to misrepresent)! This is part was not just a critique of capitalist lamenting the fact that in libertarian capitalist nrarket'. All this when I spent 6 7

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meeting of the needs of all citizens. The not provide for any mechanism of been expressed in the book Towards An raw materials. own capital, engage in a global population and all future voluntarily. It is conceivable that every billions of decisions Griffin refers to allocation of scarce resources because I Inclusive Democracy (which has commercial enterprise, and increase my generations will simply choose not to community could be communistically will still be made by individuals, think that such an economy belongs to already been published in Italian and wealth due to this. Even though I live in use their resources as private capital, arranged in such a mamrer, thus through vouchers, and only the overall the cormntmist fiction of a post-scarcity Greek and is being translated into a society where goods are distributed in and will simply choose not to exchange engendering communism ‘without any allocation of resources will be decided society. Spanish) as well as in Democracy and accordance to some socialist pattern, their labour for goods with which they need for a coercive structure such as by the assemblies. It seems. however, 4. The reason why ‘there is no Nature, The Jotnnal of Inclusive the fact that I am entitled to control may supplement or replace their basic govermnent. that the pragmatic ‘anarchism’ of John discussion of what might constitute Democracy, of which five volumes what it is considered just for me to supply. Why they would do this we Now consider the aims of the Griffin carmot do without money and sustainable levels of consumption‘ is have been published (15 issues of about own, and because I am free to make cannot tell. The best and most "anarchist" communist - to choose to markets, despite the fact that most that this cannot be determined in 220 pages each). The reason is that voluntary arrangements, I can set up a extensive writings on anarchist freely maintain communism and not to important anarchist writers, from advance, without knowledge of the British anarchism is tmfortunately commercial enterprise. This leaves economics (rather than anthropology or engage in commercial enterprises. Isrr‘t Bakturin and the other classical specific circumstances and the dominated by ‘pragmatist‘ or communists with two options: psychology) have been produced by this the situation that would arise out of anarchists in the past, to Bookchin time/place constraints. This is a irrationalist tendencies, which are (l) They could forget that need entitles individualists, not connnunists - and are the society of free, property owning today, have always talked about a decision to be taken democratically by inimical to any idea of a radical you to own wealth and decide that thus market oriented; Josiah Warren's individuals as described above? A moneyless and marketless economy! citizens‘ assemblies and I have remaking of society on the basis of a “soeiety" always has the right to communities lasted longer than both the person is unlikely to do what they have 2.‘ As regards the question of how the explained in the book why the genuine democracy. But it is at least regulate and control individual conduct Spanish and Ukrainian anarchist decided that they ought not to do tmless exchanges between factories on raw institutional framework of an inclusive ironic that the same people who lament and the usage of resources as it sees fit. communist ventures, and, because prevented from choosing any other materials etc. would be effected and democracy is highly likely to raise the the desperate ‘tmder theorisation’ of So, for instance, although the state or individuals had more control over their option, because that would contradict what form investment would take, I level of ecological consciousness. This libertarian economics should dismiss commune has decided that the average lives than the collectives did, they were the “ought“‘. Therefore someone who have described in the book (p 267) the is so because, in contrast to today's and attack an attempt (as far as I know person needs a certain quantity of X to more anarchist. Thus there is little believes that they ought to be able to general principles behind the way in marketlmoney institutional framework the only attempt at the moment) to live. individual holders of X. as practical or theoretical evidence to choose not to engage in commercial which the production of such (which pragmatic ‘anarchists’ do not remedy this, not by engaging in a distributed to them by the assume that, if the state were abolished, enterprises must also believe that they ‘intermediate goods‘ and technology reject), in an inclusive democracy there rational debate about it but by simply state/commune. may be forbidden from individuals would choose communist have a right to. Thus voluntary would be determined will be no institutional pressures for the distorting and misrepresenting it! constructing machines or capital from arrangements over market oriented communism, or free commtmism can 3. I never ‘rejected’ the gift economy, production/reproduction of a growth it. And/or society could forbid the sort ones. However. this contention is only occur properly where people have as my critic asserts. People can use the economy. Takis Fotopoulos of free agreements by which labour and debatable, so instead we will a right to property that is not interfered goods they obtain by means of non- In conclusion, I would like to stress raw materials are purchased. This way deconstruct the proposition that people with, and a right to make free basic vouchers for whatever purpose that, to my mind, it is not accidental Editor. Democracy and Nature The people are forbidden to dispose of their will voluntarily agree not to set up ageements (liberty of association) and they like, including, of course, the that British anarchists have for the most Journal of Inclusive Democracy labour and the goods that they are commercial enterprises and hire labour, arrangements that are not interfered expression of mutual aid. What I ruled part either ignored or attacked the entitled to as they see fit, but ought to in order to achieve the same ends that with, even if they be cormnercial out was a ‘moral’ economy which does inclusive democracy project, as has be forced to do what is in the "‘general the state socialists aim for using arrangements. Free connnunism carmot good". This is hardline commtmism, coercive means. exist where people don't have these authoritarian socialism with a Well, consider this: in the state rights. . vengeance. It actually would appear, socialist society described above the Thus it is a necessary truth that under this system, that workers, and integrity of communism could be “anarchist” eonmnmism can only exist Individualist Anarchism, or Free Communism? people in general, would have fewer maintained, but at the expense of as an option, after the aims of the opportunities and possibilities open to liberty. On the other hand, if people had individualist anarchists (be they them than under any other system. the right to own property and dispose of rnutualist or capitalist) have been it in any manner they see fit (that accomplished. Everything everybody owns in exchange for my crude abilities as an People would effectively be Y state socialists and free doesn't violate the personal and Richard Garner economist. The workers agreed to nationalised resources. B conunurrists alike, we are told (possesses), they do so on the basis of negative rights of others), individuals that goods ought to be need according to your principal of accept philosophy lectures in exchange (2) We could have anarchist or free communism. This is based upon the could choose to pool their property and distributed according to need. Engels justice. So everything is owned justly. for their labour, and are thus content dubious assumption that the entire set up communist communities suggested that the state was capable of Suppose that I take my commodity X, with what they get out of the venture. doing this; free communists, such as which I justly hold. I melt it down and Likewise with the suppliers of raw Berkman, have suggested that the reconstruct out of it a machine. Some materials - they are content with what commune could do a similar job locally people I know agree to turn the handle they get. (Possibly, I would have with rationing, in much the same of my machine so long as I give them refused their services if they wanted Evolution Versus Revolution more, or I could offer them more later fashion as was done in Spain. There are philosophy lectures. Some others that I LL anarchists are revolu- time considering what in reality a Firstly while good at gaining power, from the product or from the wealth many other patterns open to socialists - know agree to give me some of the raw tionaries. The form of society revolutionary transformation of society revolutions have by and large simply produced that I have saved. In the to each according to labour, etc. materials that they justly own (in which we all aspire to is so would entail. Gaining power, the main appropriated existing power structures future I could even cease to give However, "from each according to accordance with expected needs, or radically different to the here and now focus of revolutionary activity, in itself and not created new ones. Secondly in lectures and lessons and pay for labour ability, to each according to need" has some other pattern), in exchange for that the actual creation of such a society is not enough. New social systems no country has lasting social change and raw materials out of the proceeds proven the most popular. We could, for some Socratic styled lessons on basic could be nothing but revolutionary in would need to be created, the dominant been achieved. I acknowledge that of the enterprise). the sake of this exercise, though, economics. Thus I own capital because nature. The issue is not. however. ends public nrode of human behaviour would arguments can be made that the The point is, because I am entitled to imagine a socialist society operating wealth has been distributed according but means. How do we get from here to need to change (from competition to problems in Russia, Cuba, North Korea own wealth that it is agreed that I need, under this or any pattern. to need. By voluntary agreement I have there‘? Put bltmtly is a rerun of the 1917 co-operation) and new models of social et al are not the result of the (or in accordance with any other pattern Now, consider this: let us imagine a hired, or bought labour to drive my Russian revolution the best, or only, organisation would need to be brought revolutionary process itself but of the of distribution that you may agree with) society where goods are distributed machine, in exchange for my limited means of transforming society? into being. ideology or individuals behind it, according to your favourite pattern (in skills as a philosopher. By voluntary and because I can make voluntary I do not think that anarchists (and Looking at the history of left wing indeed Western Marxists have made a ageements, I can employ workers, buy this case "to each‘ according to need“). agreement I have bought raw materials other revolutionaries) spend sufficient revolutions, two things seem apparent. career out of trying to explain why the 8 9

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Russian revolution resulted in a system Civil War reflected deep rooted natural evolutionary or sustainable ultimately dependent upon, the innate Promissory notes, or IOUs have been agriculture etc. They could take up an which denied basic freedoms and was changes already taking place in society, change. It was imposed on Russian sociability of our species and its place acceptable for hundreds of years- "I extreme position and advocate a retum economically and enviromnentally they did not impose changes on society. society through violence and was only in the natural world. promise to pay the bearer. . . .“ is still to to pre-industrial technologies to match ineffective. I do not believe this. The Indeed the more radical demands of sustained through violence, but because Communists can be most persuasive be found on our paper money. The the pre-industrial economics; that at problem is the revolutionary process groups like the Diggers and Levellers it was not natural it floundered (unlike when they argue that the ownership of Chancellor has started to sell off the least would be consistent. Mmray itself. It does not work. were defeated. Finally the eighteenth capitalism). the land and all that comes from it is motmtains of gold ingots held by the Bookchin has demonstrated the use of The biggest and most sustainable century saw creation, through advances This does not mean that as anarchists immoral: By what right should anyone Bank of England,‘ obviously seeing modern technology in small economic and social transformation in in technology, of the factory system we have to be passive or wait 500 years claim to own a motmtain or a valley, little need to back paper money with decentralised connmmities - but of the modem period is capitalism. As a and with it the dominance of wage for change! As was pointed out in the along with the snow, trees and animals precious metal. The value of our money course he does this quite miraculously system not only does it survive, but it labour and competition. last issue of Total Liberty everyone is upon it‘? And why should htunan is now very much based on what we without the aid of any economics (look grows so that now, for the first time Capitalism was not created by a an anarchist: there are examples of produce be given a monetary value think it is worth, and with so much of it no hands!). most of the world is capitalist group of bosses storming Parliament. It mutual aid and co-operation all around which debases its use-value and invested in unemployment and global Just as it is ludicrous to pretend that (capitalism has, of course, always been took literally centuries. Its evolution us from squats, to sustainable alienates the paid labour of its ecological collapse, one wonders when communism can be made universal, so global, it is just that the world has not was not however smooth or peaceful. agriculttual projects to LETS and producers‘? When I first came to people will realise that the emperor has too would it be ludicrous to suggest that been capitalist). That capitalism To borrow Stephen Jay Gould's Credit Unions. Like the Medieval City anarchism, I found this kind of no clothes! Will people ever question all exchanges must be contractual - represents a revolutionary change biological evolutionary term its states these may represent the future language irresistible. the continuing proffering of money, people are apt to be offended when compared to the system (in Europe) development was characterised by and became the dominant means of Here was something bright, pristine “real" or plastic, when everywhere we offered payment for what was intended which preceded it (feudalism) is not in ‘punctuated equilibrium‘ - periods of economic and social organisation. and hopeful. so utterly removed from see shelves groaning with "goodies"? to be a gift. All economic forms have doubt. What is interesting, though, is to slow steady growth or stasis, Direct action, confronting the state the machinations of power and greed, it Don't we just need to even things out, their uses and limitations, there is no consider how capitalism became the punctuated by periods of rapid with protests and demonstration are demanded to be taken up with a fervour so we can all make a contribution to the logical basis for adopting one or dominant economic and social system accelerated change, (in human history also necessary. The power of the state that bounded on the "religious"; it felt social product and enjoy a comfortable another on ideological / doctrinal first in the West and now (almost) the as in the rest of nature these periods are (and global capitalist companies) need so indisputably "right" as to be a life? grotmds. world over. frequently characterised by violence; to be challenged This activism should "natural" way of thinking. Kropotkin‘s This is not the place to argue a For a movement which talks long Simplifying somewhat capitalism's there is nothing fluffy about evolution). not, though, be narrowly focused on use of mutual aid is really a form of detailed case for continued monetary about "holism“ and “many-sidedness", origins can be traced back to the The important point to note is that the one class but embrace everyone Social Darwinism. regulation. Suffice it to say that I it does at times show an alamnng thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the future begins in small ways in the wishing for a more civilised, humane Alongside a naturalistic view of suspect the withdrawal of money from tendency to erect spurious "isms". very height of feudalism, with the present. The medieval Italian City way of living. social life. communist-anarchism our contemporary economy would be Encouraging dialogue across these creation of the first City States and the states such as Venice relying on finance From where we are now achieving an stresses ethical considerations which like riding a bike with no hands, OK for divides is always welcome, but it is development of new land and tenure and trade rather than land ownership anarchist future seems like climbing most tend to find difficult to rebut, nor a while, but you soon need the checks surely more appropriate to deconstruct rights in England The creation of a existed in a world dominated by Mount Improbable. Attempting to reach do I wish to do so here. However, we and balances that the handlebars their bogus ideologies. I use pragmatic new class (called ‘the middling sort‘ in feudalism. Few in the fourteenth the summit in one leap (as some should be careful. to note that its provide. Nevertheless, I am enthusiastic philosophy to do just that, but England) not bound by land ownership, century would have guessed that revolutionaries seem to want to) will be critique in effect denies economics, at about no cash exchanges wherever they anarchists should not need to learn their but driven by the accumulation and Venice represented the future. impossible, however climbing one step least as it is conventionally understood, are workable, and where people wish to way to understanding that freedom reproduction of capital gathered pace in The idea that lasting, sustainable at the time is much more feasible. We for it rejects the use of a means of use them. History demonstrates their requires flexible multi-stranded the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries change can just be imposed on a social need to put as much of the future in exchange. Without money there can be success in locally resourced, self- approaches. Some of our fiercest (fuelled by population growth and the system is wrong. Before the Russian place as we can. We should to seek as no formal regulation and integration of sufficient and socially cohesive doctrinal wrangles have been around expansion of international trade). A revolution, as Kropotkin pointed out. Marxists do to appropriate the production and consumption; without societies, and even our own money- economics. the most tmder-theorised series of what Marxists call no examples of a Soviet style system structures of capitalism (the state. some means of measuring relative mad society has a large informal facet of anarchism; I fear that if we Bourgeoisie revolutions (such as the existed. On his train journey from the factories, mass unions etc...) but to values there can be no meaningful economy. Less money means a reduced don't sort it out we are going to be stuck English Civil War and French Finland station Lenin could not point to create something different. Many economics. Economics is essentially banking and insurance bureaucracy, so with the sectarianism. Revolution) were the begimrings of a living examples of the dictatorship of anarchists are doing this. about measurement. We need look no there are pragmatic reasons as well as John Griffin shift in power away from the old landed the proletariat or of a community of Richard Griffin further for communist disenchantment ethical ones for at least reducing the aristocracy to the new merchant class. artists all painting in the style of social with economics; the two are mutually size of the cash economy, if not getting Footnotes Violent upheavals such as the English realism. Marxist Leninism was not a incompatible. conflict between them is rid of it altogether. Communist-anarchists reject all that built in! The economic chickens come attaches to exchange economies: money, markets» and the concept of ownership. That said. commrmists are right to whizzing back home to roost when Some reject even battered exchanges condemn the grotesque over-emphasis communism is presented as the only because, like the market, they too involve on market values in our society. and yet valid system for anarchists. A value judgements. Economic regulation is Communism and Deconstruction paradoxically, maybe we are moving in technically sophisticated economy like through the exercise of individual a money-less direction. With the our own camrot function with all responsibility and social controls exercised OTAL LIBERTY has played a persuasion, I do have a multi stranded individualist approaches to economics. introduction of bank cheque accounts, transactions made in face-to-face by the community. I useful role in stimulating the approach to anarchism, which looks These terms are of course also used credit cards and direct debiting, the act encounters: more remote. i.e. Collectivist-anarchists accept money and ongoing debate arotmd forward to a time when our internal elsewhere, and sometimes confusingly. of paying for something is becoming an contractual relationships, are almost markets, but want an egalitarian society in libertarian economics. The recent focus ideological differences can be in relation to social characteristics increasingly remote experience. With- certainly inevitable, given the uneven which ownership and control of the economy is spread as widely as possible on individualism, an often neglected deconstructed and finally consigned to generally. What the academics call the out all that coin-clinking and note spread of resources throughout the through the use of federations etc. viewpoint, has been welcome, but history. "social" and the "economic" are often rustling. without weight, texture and globe. Commturists. in denial of the real Individualist-anarchists are also happy worrying to me has been the lack of For those who may be confused over not easy to separate; indeed. economic smell. money is becoming ever less substance of economics. are usually with the market, but dislike federal contributions from commmrists who terminology, the brief notes below activity is inevitably social to some "real". reduced to expressions of common- structures. Each would require a directly after all do make up the bulk of the should make clear the basic differences degree. The communist perspective Long gone are the days when sense generalised desires for a careful controllable stake in the economy, which movement. Whilst not of that between communist, collectivist and more than any other is rooted in. and payment in gold was demanded. use of resources. or soundly based would be wholly redeemable at any time. IO ll