Revolution in Iceland, UK, and the downfall of capitalism

[XC(A)libur]

Recently there have been major disruptions in the west, including riots following the murder of a 15 year-old, a 3 million citizen general strike in France supported by 90% of the population, a fall of government in Iceland after riots, and a spread of this news to the United States, which has sparked minor activity.

Is this the start of the end for this system?

Before posting, reassure yourself that the anarchist movement and the socialist stature today makes the 60's peace movement look like complacency. In numbers, and in actions, this movement is becoming bigger than anything we've seen before.

 

[richi1173]

Capitalism, the economic system, is not in any jeopardy, as far as I see, but the capitalist social system is coming to an end.

The pompous fat-cats are becoming aware that they cannot gnaw on the bones of the less fortunate to enlarge their pockets while assuming that the people will just stand back and take it.

The anarchic and socialist movements, in full and in their present state, are not worth any merit. Both movements stand excusing their failures, while not producing results comparable to the capitalist system, which although imperfect, has gotten us to where we are today. We should learn from their failures and triumphs (and we have) in order to integrate those lessons into today's system.

 

[Jug Pilot]

I really see it more as the last gasp of a feudal society with the aristocracy currently able to get the uneducated and ignorant to fight against their best interests using propaganda and religion. The primary targets, as always, are the intellectuals and those that ask questions looking for the truth behind the propaganda.

 

[Moky]

I known about this for a while now and my first thought was, "Are you kidding me?" Honestly, violence is one of the worst ways to protest something. I also heard they were chanting something about banning money and currency, which is a god awful idea. Money simplifies a lot of things.

 

[Nemesis]

The majority of anarchists aren't violent and do not support violent protests.

 

[XC(A)libur]

I really see it more as the last gasp of a feudal society with the aristocracy currently able to get the uneducated and ignorant to fight against their best interests using propaganda and religion. The primary targets, as always, are the intellectuals and those that ask questions looking for the truth behind the propaganda.

Anarchism is the rejection of deities. So let me get this straight, you see the stuff like the G20 protests as a tool being used by the elite? Those protests are aimed at the elite...

 

[XC(A)libur]

The majority of anarchists aren't violent and do not support violent protests.

But a huge fraction of protesters which are now growing in increasingly high increments support the action of liberation by any measn necessary. And we can now see that peaceful protesting does not exist, you are not going to peacefully "protest" anything, all that is, is abiding by the state's rules and standards, instead of doing what is necessary for liberation.

 

[Weirdtopia]

the discussion would not the end of capitalism but the end of democracy is someway because the people are supposed to make up the government and how it's supposed to run but when people are ignorant or violent the governments have to protect the safety of the people so they have security. The people in France do run a real democracy when they take to the streets and the government acts to meet the needs of the people and when the people go to far the government acts. But the problem is that the people want to tear down the government instead of helping the government but governments were made by people who wanted a government so that the individual and the collective work together and be safe. Ironic isn't it!

 

[Jug Pilot]

Anarchism is the rejection of deities. So let me get this straight, you see the stuff like the G20 protests as a tool being used by the elite? Those protests are aimed at the elite...

You got it backwards. The G20 protests are the counter (by the people) for what the aristocracy has been using with their own protestors/propaganda. Note the fake outrage that occurs when something that would help society (the people, and take away power from the aristocracy) is supported by some in the media.

Unfortunately, the aristocracy has convinced some that democracy is a failure and a benevolent dictatorship is the only way to have a peaceful successful society that protects them. Talking to these types is truly scary.

How close do you think we are to a trigger event (people have had enough)? Will this be settled by Evolution or Revolution?

 

[Nemesis]

I hope something good comes out of this crisis... maybe people will start to wonder why they need a state.

 

[irmerk]

I have yet to hear of anything presented so far... What system is supposedly or hopefully falling? What do the riots and protests have to do with it? Explain more, because I am interested.

I mean, it looks like literally everything in this thread thus far has not been explained even in the least.

 

[JacobEvans]

Anarchism is the rejection of deities. So let me get this straight, you see the stuff like the G20 protests as a tool being used by the elite? Those protests are aimed at the elite...

Anarchism is the rejection of rulers, Atheism in the rejection of deities.

 

[XC(A)libur]

Anarchism is the rejection of rulers, Atheism in the rejection of deities.

Anarchism means the rejection of all authority. A religious doctrine constitues supreme authority. There are certain circumstances such as parental authority when keeping the child out of danger, but for the most part anarchism means rejection of all authority be that state or government and deities.

 

[JacobEvans]

I guess I apologize then, I was under the impression that you believed anarchism to mean the rejection of deities, not authority which would include deities.

 

[MachineSp1rit]

I have yet to hear of anything presented so far... What system is supposedly or hopefully falling? What do the riots and protests have to do with it? Explain more, because I am interested.

I mean, it looks like literally everything in this thread thus far has not been explained even in the least.

yeah same here.

if this is end of capitalism which system is going to replace it? and what troubles me more, will it be democratic?

 

[XC(A)libur]

I have yet to hear of anything presented so far... What system is supposedly or hopefully falling? What do the riots and protests have to do with it? Explain more, because I am interested.

I mean, it looks like literally everything in this thread thus far has not been explained even in the least.

yeah same here.

if this is end of capitalism which system is going to replace it? and what troubles me more, will it be democratic?

From a historical standpoint, riots and civil unrest usually means the downfall of the current system. USUALLY, the system is replaced with the upper middle class in control and the lower class remaining the same. But anarchic revolutions are different, just look at the spanish civil war, if it were to have been successful the lower class would have control of the production of goods.

 

[richi1173]

But anarchic revolutions are different, just look at the spanish civil war, if it were to have been successful the lower class would have control of the production of goods.

The problem with anarchy is that it does not work if you have a community larger than 50 - 100 people. If I'm a doctor, for example, and my cousin or my friend gets sick, I would certainly administer whatever treatment for no cost at all. However, if I'm treating a complete stranger, I'm not as willing to take my time to treat them. Hell, there are people who will not treat even their own mothers without compensation.

What is going to happen is that communities are going to fracture upon the lines of friendship and family. There is also going to be a lot of extra-community conflict. Its going to be like the Wild West.

 

[Penguin_Factory]

Recently there have been major disruptions in the west, including riots following the murder of a 15 year-old, a 3 million citizen general strike in France supported by 90% of the population, a fall of government in Iceland after riots, and a spread of this news to the United States

Well, are any of these things different in intensity or frequency from what's been happening at other times in history?

This is where "things are getting bad, the world/economy/society is about to end" theories often fall down. The stability of society varies over time, and people often treat fairly mundane occurrences that have happened before as something new and frightening. There's also the matter of worldwide news coverage blowing things out of proportion- the riots in Wherever following the murder of a 15-year old will be over in less than a week, probably aren't as bad as they look and don't really have much to do with capitalism anyway.

As another example of this, Northern Ireland was often viewed as a "war zone" in the middle of the Troubles, and just watching new coverage probably made it seem as if the whole country was on the brink of anarchy. In reality all-out instability was limited to a few areas, but all anyone saw was images of burnt out cars and soldiers patrolling the streets from those areas, not people a few kilometres over going about their lives as normal. If a few incidents like this occur simultaneously it's easy to get the impression that things worldwide are worse then they are.

 

[MikeLibertarian]

My understanding of the events in Iceland were that the economy collapsed and the weeks long riot in the capitol led to the President resigning. The government did not collapse, a new administration is supposed to be voted for in a special election, but my information dates to Jan or Feb when I was studying for a geography class.

 

[XC(A)libur]

Well, are any of these things different in intensity or frequency from what's been happening at other times in history?quote]

You're dead right. And it's going to continue.