Political Theory

Re: Agorism vs Anarcho-capitalism

vive la insurrection — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:52:55 GMT

If some poor college kid takes Agorism seriously - he is in danger of involving himself in markets that he has no business being in, that may lead to some really bad and dangerous situations. It's a stupid idea.

Ask yourself what the hell you're doing in the black market you just entered, and what brought you there (is it idealogical, did you come in "cold"?). If you own a business, chances are you do as much stuff "under the table" or on the side anyway, and in a more controlled and knowledgable setting

so,

Q: who cares about agorism?

A: college profs who probably have little real involvment in the business world, and are not worth taking financial advice from. Or a kid selling small amounts of pot to his buddies and now can obnoxiously pat himself on the back, because he is "doing something".

Re: Agorism vs Anarcho-capitalism

Williamloveseconomics — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:26:21 GMT

Well going to prison for tax evasion isn't going to bring change till a huge number of people start being sent to jail for it. Im talking 1/7 of the population. Me personally, am too much of a wimp too follow agorism. I was however planning on fight all the way with the healthcare mandate, but i got a job that offers so im not in any danger of a fine now.

Re: Agorism vs Anarcho-capitalism

NonAggresionist — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:06:38 GMT

Nooooo. Rothbard himself said that political action was the only viable means of social change (or something along those lines). Ancaps believe in polical action; agorists believe in nonpolitical action.

Re: Agorism vs Anarcho-capitalism

MaikU — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:09:21 GMT

wat. Since when ancaps try to reach ancapistan through voting and other political actions???? Pretty much what ancapism is goes against voting and ANY political action. I am a little bit offended, even though I don't consider myself an ancap. What you defined is anarcho-capitalism in a nutshell. Strange.

Re: Agorism vs Anarcho-capitalism

Evilsceptic — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:48:49 GMT

I am sympathetic to agorism, in that I oppose voting as means to reduce the state. Though I accept that political campaigns like Paul's have educated and converted a great number of people, I don't think they will ever be able to abolish, or even reduce the size of, the state. If we (market anarchists) are going to be succeed it will be because people begin to see the state as just another private firm, and refuse to grant it anymore legitimacy than a private firm. When this happens the state will crumble. As long as we are waiting for 'our guy' to get in, we are implicitly accepting the legitimacy of the state. I am not saying that this makes state coercion legitimate, just that we will never see the public rescind its support for the state while it still goes out and votes in attempt to work within the political system.

Re: Agorism vs Anarcho-capitalism

gamma_rat — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 15:55:33 GMT

Isn't anarcho-capitalism a view on political economy (the state should be abolished) whereas agorism is a strategy in accordance with that view (boycott the state)?

Re: Agorism vs Anarcho-capitalism

mikachusetts — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 15:55:01 GMT

There are so many problems with agorism, I just don't see how it could be useful for anything else besides fitting anarcho-capitalism into the punk DIY subculture.

Most libertarians don't want to involve themselves in illegal activities, and black markets tend to attract individuals who are really good at using violence and intimidation to achieve their goals.

If agorists somehow managed to become successful with their black market endeavors, they would immediately find themselves co-opted by the mainstream, making their project no longer agorist.

Re: Agorism vs Anarcho-capitalism

NonAggresionist — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 14:05:00 GMT

Sure. Agorism is really just anarcho-capitalism, but instead of getting to an ancap society by voting and other political action, it is through means of the black market/counter economy. Agorism also supports not paying taxes and is much more revolutionary.

Re: Agorism vs Anarcho-capitalism

triknighted — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 14:00:02 GMT

NonAggresionist:

Which do you guys believe in and why? Why is the other guy wrong?

I read about Agorism but I still don't understand it. All sources just keep saying, "It's supra-Rothbardianism" and such. Can you simply define it?

Agorism vs Anarcho-capitalism

NonAggresionist — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 13:33:17 GMT

Which do you guys believe in and why? Why is the other guy wrong?