House of Relentless Opinions

How Anarchy Could Work

2006-01-26T23:16:00.000-05:00

I have always been a big naysayer when it comes to anarchism or libertarianism. However I do think there is one way that we could exist in an anarchic society peacefully.
If the idea of anarchy could be to use direct action (anarcho-syndicalism) to control corporations, I could see it work if people became fed up enough to actually go that route. Then, once that has been taken care of, they can spread these ideas to their children teaching them their responsiblity to boycott corporations who sacrifice social responsiblity for profitability.
The problem is that we are doing too good for our own good. We are doing so well with the current system that people would be afraid to change. But. if we don't change, we'll hit trouble. Humanity, at the moment, is like a sports car speeding towards the edge of a cliff. If we don't change direction, we will fall. However, change must be slow and gradual for it to work. Rapid change will only result in us spinning out of control, and faling off the cliff anyways.
I believe we should work towards 'anarchy' as I understand it but, as human beings are not ready for rapid change, they are not ready for an anarchic society. Therefore, social democracy is the only sure way of progressing towards my vision of the 'ideal society' which is pure yet peaceful anarchy.

Born on the Fourth of July

2005-12-18T19:00:00.000-05:00

This is a movie about Ron Kovik, who was a veteran of the Vietnam war and turned into a protestor. I must say, this is a great movie. The parrells between back then and whats going on now is so close together that one could wonder how you cannot draw parrells from Vietnam to Iraq.
This movie really made me want to do something. I debated with myself if I should start a club of "anti war students" or something. However, that idea went up in a blaze when I realized that I would probably end up being the only person interested.
I would really like to show those conservative chicken hawks how much support the anti war movement has though. It would be a nice display if we could have people chanting "One, Two, Three, Four, We don't want your fucking war." But perhaps later.

Protestors Massacred in CHina

2005-12-18T17:22:00.000-05:00

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/12/13/chinese_mourn_victims_of_a_land_protest/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+World+News
The very country with whom our brave and noble leader, George W Bush talked tough to about human rights, has just recently massacred protestors in a land dispute with the government. The Chinese gov't has tried to cover it up by filtering seach engines, giving false statistics, and refusing an independent investigation into the massacre but we know whats really going on in China.
Your best weapon to fight against totalitarianism in China is information. http://www.hrichina.org/public/index

Humans Fundamentally Good Or Evil?

2005-12-12T16:30:00.000-05:00

And so the same old debate continues. If you remember Hobbes and the other enlightenment philsophers, this is one thats been debated about for centuries.
So whats my opinion? I think that all humans are born good. No one is evil from the start. I think humans have both the capacity to do good and the capacity to do evil. I believe its not so simple as they would make it out to believe. Its not just all black and white.
I think a lot of it has to do with your parents and how your raised. Some people who are raised in the poorest areas grow up living in a place where violence is common place and the only means to which you can survive is to do violence in return. In this way, people grow up "evil" but in a way it is not their fault. They were merely living their lives the only way they knew how.
On the other hand, those who grow up with parents who encourage them,teach them moral lessons, and guide them into the world with good values, they turn into good people. Thats the way this world works. Parents pretty much set down the basis for what the kid does in his later life. If the kid has a bad child hood, its most likely he isn't going to do very good things in later life. If he grows up in a bad enviroment, its most likely the lure of easy money or what not will drive him to do evil.
So is that just it then? Parents will decide the fate of the children? Well not neccesarily. Thats why education is important. A lot of programs on PBS teach children good values. When it gets into the realm of politics, I believe thats best left up to the parents. If I believed that a certain way of doing things was right and correct, I could try and talk other people into doing it but I could never force my values on them. That is wrong. Human beings should have a choice. If they are brainwashed or forced into doing whats good, what does that make them. Happy? They merely become slaves to the society. But if society showed them their way was not appreciated, they may stop. But they should never have it forced upon them.
Its pretty deep shit actually. I've racked my brain over stuff like this many a time. I would suggest, if my philosophy is too involved for you guys, to read a book or watch the movie "A Clockwork Orange", which is disturbing but fascinating.

Kinky Sex Makes The World Go Round- Dead Kennedys

2005-12-11T14:50:00.000-05:00

"Greetings... This is the Secretary at the State Department of the United States... We have a problem. The companies want something done about this sluggish world economic situation... Profits have been running a little thin lately and we need to stimulate some growth... Now we know there's an alarming high number of young people roaming around in your country with nothing to do but stir up trouble for the police and damage private property. It doesn't look like they'll ever get a job... It's about time we did something constructive with these people... We've got thousands of 'em here too. They're crawling all over... The companies think it's time we all sit down, have a serious get-together - and start another war... The president? He loves the idea! All those missiles streaming overhead to and fro... Napalm... People running down the road, skin on fire... The Soviets seem up for it... The Kremlin's been itching for the real thing for years. Hell, Afghanistan's no fun... So whadya say?... We don't even have to win this war. We just want to cut down on some of this excess population... Now look. Just start up a draft; draft as many of those people as you can. We'll call up every last youngster we can get our hands on, hand 'em some speed, give 'em an hour or two to learn how to use an automatic riffle and send 'em on their way... Libya? El Salvador? How 'bout Northern Ireland? Or a 'moderately repressive regime' in South America? We'll just cook up a good Soviet threat story in the Middle East - we need that oil... We had Libya all ready to go and Colonel Khadafy's hit squad didn't even show up. I tell ya... that man is unreliable. The Kremlin had their fingers on the button just like we did for that one... Now just think for a minute - we can make this war so big - so BIG... The more people we kill in this war, the more the economy will prosper... We can get rid of practically everybody on your dole queues if we plan this right. Take every loafer on welfare right off our computer rolls... Now don't worry about those demonstrators - just pump up your drug supply. So many people have hooked themselves on heroin and amphetamines since we took over, it's just like Vietnam. We had everybody so busy with LSD they never got too strong. Kept the war functioning just fine... It's easy. We've got our college kids so interested in beer they don't even care if we start manufacturing germ bombs again. Put a nuclear stockpile in their back yard, they wouldn't even know what it looked like... So how 'bout it? Look - war is money. The arms manufacturers tell me unless we get our bomb factories up to full production the whole economy is going to collapse... The Soviets are in the same boat. We all agree the time has come for the big one, so whadya say?!?... That's excellent. We knew you'd agree... the companies will be very pleased. "

If you cannot see how true this song is in relation to todays events, specifically Iraq, then you are blind. Corporations definatly have way too much influence on our governments decisions. I just felt like sharing this song because its not only really funny but its really true. The Dead Kennedys are a great band and I highly reccomend you listen to them though, admittedly, they suck now without Jello.

What Do Parties Have To Do With It?

2005-12-11T03:25:00.000-05:00

If there is anything in this world that irritates me so much as that I would be willing to jump up and down screaming and pounding on the floor, it is when people assume that, because I happen to hold liberal beliefs, I am a democrat and that I am support them and I am expected to defend every single action of theirs.
While it is true that I tend to support democrats more than republicans for obvious reasons, that does not mean I actually think they are much better. Democrats have their own idiots same as everyone else. Jesse Jackson is a good example of a democrat who I would never trust. Both sides play their own political games. These games are neither productive nor are they, for the most part, honest. So therefore, I reject both parties.
Politicians are a two faced breed. You cannot trust any of them completely and you always have to be aware of their own motives for influencing the people. Though I have come to expect this out of politicians these days, it still never ceases to anger me. Even Abraham Lincoln isn't completely unguilty of these political games. If there is anything I have learned about politics that I can be sure I am right about, it is that you simply cannot trust politicians.
Unfortunately, politicians almost have to be liars. In order to keep the people happy, they feel they have to make themselves appear more moderate then they are and then, when we are done voting, they start introducing policies that aren't so moderate. At the same time, however, they also have to appease their base in order to keep them from changing sides.
This isn't neccesary though. You can gain the trust of the people by proving yourself as being for the people. After that, it doesn't matter what the opposition thinks and they might even catch on too. The People like honesty. Honesty and integrity are something that people always complain lacks in todays candidates. Bring back the honesty and integrity, and the world is yours.
Now don't get the wrong idea, this doesn't mean I am totally against parties. But I still don't think you can trust any of them. At the moment, I am not in a party. I may join one in the near future but not now. However, you can be assured that if I do join a party, it won't be the Democrat Party.

Books Make you Smarter

2005-12-10T15:41:00.000-05:00

I've always loved reading but, only until very recently, I've realized that it doesn't always just tell you a good story, but it makes you smarter. They make me think, which is something that is rare even in the most intelligent movies. So, I am constantly reading. Every night at 9:00, I make tea (dark indian blend; no sugar) and I read for two hours. Every night. Besides the fact that I find that my vocabulary far advanced to those in my school and a lot of times I end up saying words they do not understand, I've also realized how much of an effect it has on the way I think. Books have a certain reality to it that can prove an effective argument for any means of thinking whether you agree or disagree. And they aren't overly convincing either, this meaning that I can find flaws in their "arguments" and their philosopies etc. Some books I find more truthful, more exaggerated, more flawed and so forth. I think if everyone read the amount of books I did, they would become smarter also.This is my steps for reading that can make you more intelligent.
1)Make tea (dark; no sugar preferably without tea bags)
2) find a place where its completely quiet and where you will have little chance of being interupted.
3) Lighting should be as minimal as possible. Just so much as you can see the pages.
4)Read for a long time. If the book is good, you most likely won't want to stop anyways so that shoulndn't be too hard
5) Do this regularily

People sometimes wonder why I am so smart at such a young age and I think this is the reason. Reading=knowledge. I've also been playing a lot less video games and I think that helps also. Reading has also helped my writing. The more you read, the more you'll write, the better you get. All I can suggest is that you try it just once for a week and I gurantee it will become a regular pastime for you.

Progressing Towards the Ideal Society: Social Democracy As I Envison It

2005-12-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

The Ideal Society is one that is free, equal, and happy. Libertarians encompass freedom while Socialists go for equality. Both try to create what they feel is the ideal society.
Libertarians, while admirable in their attempts to establish a completly free society, fail in this because their idea of Laissez-faire economics gives too much power to the corporations, allowing them to influence our politicians decisions that have an effect on us.
Socialists, while admirable in their attempts to create a more just society, fail because in trying to make us equal, they instead make us all equal in our misery.
This makes both sides unsatisfactory.
Libertarians are realistic but offer no solutions while socialists offer solutions but unrealistic ones.
The thing we need for an ideal society is one that offers both solutions to problems of war, hunger, and poverty while, at the same time, remaining realistic.
Were I forced to choose between a libertarian society and a socialist society, I would have to go with libertarian mainly because, while they offer no solutions, they leave room for progression. However, if we continue to follow the libertarian way of thinking, they will lead us right off a cliff.
Pure Capitalism is no better then pure Socialism. The only difference is the short-term affects of socialism are more noticable because of the way in which they shove the socialist reforms down the peoples throats.
Social Democracy, as I understand it, is the best way to progress towards the eventual goal of an ideal society. It is both realistic and offers solutions.
Social Democracy must be accomplished through democratic means. The only way a revolution should ever be advocated is when the government that rules the People becomes so authoritarian, that trying to change the regime through democracy doesn't work. Even then, however, Social Democracy should come into power through elections.
If Social Democrats were ever given the chance to run (which is doubtful nowadays but not impossible), we would need to convince the People that our way was the best way. The best way to do this is by being honest. We would argue with our intellectual arguments as opposed to our opposing side that would bash us with terms like "Socialist" or "Fascist" or whatever they choose to try and distract the populace from the real issues. If the people could see that Social Democrats had an air of honesty about them that was lacked in our right-wing opponents, we may very well garner the support we need to win the elections.
When (and if) Social Democrats get power, the eventual reforms that they would enact should be slow but steady. The people, and especially the doubters, for they would be in large numbers, would have to see that we kept our promises after enacting reforms. Once the results of our reforms came in and if they worked as we hoped they would, we would show them we kept our promise and introduce another.
A free press is essential to the Social Democratic movement. This should be established early so that later generations would not forget it. The People would have to see that the changes we are making are positive. However, criticism should also be encouraged. If we discourage criticism through imprisonment and threats, what makes us any better then the right? Criticism not only shows that we aren't oppressive but it also is helpful towards our government. We could take the criticism we get and also see what the public thinks on certain issues and try to make improvements. At the same time, however, we should not appease the opposing side. Legitimate criticism should be considered but not immediatly acted upon if we are only working to appease the opposistion.
The first term for Social Democrats will be the most important one because, if it is succesful, it will show the People that our way works and that if they continue to support us, many great changes could be made. Once this happens though, we must not self destruct by enacting reform after reform and cripple ourselves. We must remain slow but steady.
Our foreign relations to other nations should be friendly but, at the same time, firm. Trade should be kept with those that are friendly and we should refuse to help those who are shady, no matter what the economic rewards might be.
When it comes to wars, we should do our best to remain neutral but, if attacked, we must be able to respond effectivly. We need to have a strong military but we should try our best not to use them. The reason for this is because, while we should take a firm stance on neutrality, we should also not look too weak. Our army should be gradually withdrawn from all over the world back to the US. We should yield our title as 'World Policemen' to those who are willing and able to deal with the hardships that come with it. We should be able to gain the trust of the world by showing ourselves as non-hostile.
Nuclear weapons should neither be used nor ever allowed to be used. In this area, we would have to work with countries to make sure that potentionally hostile contries know that any building of weapons of mass destruction, would be responded to with swift and harsh action.

This should sum up my idea of how a Social Democracy should be implemented and what some specific policys they should have to ensure its success. Social Democrats should remain firm yet diplomatic, progressive yet steady, realistic yet optimistic and, above all, be able to accomodate the three things most important to an ideal society;

Freedom, Equality, and Happiness.

Nothing is Impossible. . .

2005-12-09T20:10:00.000-05:00

Humans constantly evolve and take advantage of certain things. Conditions can constantly be improved if one is willing to progress. We are very unique in this as a species. Thus, the possibility of war being abolished, poverty being abolished, and pretty much anything being abolished, is within our grasp if we only remain willing to progress. This is truth.

Constantly thinking on subjects of "Why we are here' is inevitably frutiless. The reason is because there is no answer and the answer will never be discovered. Universe is eternal. Humans have a hard time understanding this so they create gods in order to fufill that need for a purpose in life. The only true "point" to your life is to live it. So long as what you do does not harm other people, there is no reason why a government should have any say in what you can or cannot do.

However, there ARE certain things in this world that need to be protected. Corporations may do as they will until it begins to affect us in an overly negative way. Factory workers in Bangledesh are no exception to this. The United States of America shouldn't exploit those less fortunate simply because they can. It is immoral and no different from the early days of the industrial revolution. Those living in the slums of East Beijing and other places like it are the new child labor. They are considered cheap and expendable, just the same as children were considered in the early days of the Industrial Revolution. Some may argue that eventually child labor wasn't needed anymore back in the Industrial Revolution once the economy started to grow andthat exploiting workers in foreign countries will not be. However, even if that is true (which it is not), we should be working to improve the conditions for today as well as tomorrow. If one is to be progressive, one must find new ways of doing things.

This leads us to another issue that is bound to come up. Money seems to have any easy way of influencing those who we trust not to be influenced purely by money, namely politicians and the like. This is bad. Businesses are supposed to make goods to sell to us so they can make money. Thats as far as their power should go. They should have no special privledges in government. The people should be the priority and not the few. This will lead inevitably towards. . .

. . .Communism. However communism, as originally planned, can never work. Why? Because Karl Marx never took into account that people can be greedy. This is unfortunate but it is human nature. If communism were to achieve its original purpose of a "classless society" , it would inevitably (and history has proven this countless times) have to be done so through an authoritarian government. Books like George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty Four" and "Animal Farm" describe this very accurately.

This is when communism starts to defeat its original purpose. If the goal of communism is to create an equal society, then it should also be a free society. The reason people would support communism is so they can be happy. But equality doesn't always equal happiness. Inevitably, we simply become equal in our own misery.

Corporations, therefore, cannot be beaten into submission. They must be persuaded and enticed into doing the moral thing. This might work by giving them support (as in money) for putting ahead social responsibility instead of profitability. You can train corporations like you can train a dog. If a dog constantly jumps up on the couch you can encourage them not to jump on the couch by giving them a treat. Similarily, you can give corporations money in order to encourage them not to do things that are immoral.

These are my beliefs. If you had to put a label on my beliefs, it would be Social Democratism. This seems to describe me best so therefore, I will describe myself henceforth as a Social Democrat.

Introduction

2005-12-09T20:00:00.000-05:00

I am Finn Mac Cool. I am a 16 year old living in New York who has an interest (obsession) with politics. This blog doesn't attempt to be unbiased. No blog is. However, I follow George Orwell's philosophy of being hard on the right without flattering the left. That is what you will see in this blog.