Journal sam_handelman's Journal: Anarcho-Syndicalism 1
A business - including especially a joint stock corporation - is nothing but a small government. In the case of a joint stock corporation, this is literally true - they are created with a constitution by a writ of one or another "real" government.
Some forms of anarchist thinking maintain that such institutions should be demolished entirely. This is not the position of anarcho-syndicalist thinkers, which is:
* Any institution, if it controls resources or wields power of any kind, is a form of government.
* The restrictions which liberal thinking places on governments should be applied to all such institutions.
* If their existence cannot be justified, they should be demolished.
* If their existence can be justified, they should be democratic in nature, and be forced to respect fundamental human rights.
- Stockholders in General Motors have no more right to make decisions for General Motors than someone who holds a US Treasury Note has a right to make public policy.
- This does not involve the abrogation of private property (which is generally recognized as a natural right), but there is no concept of stock. You can own a physical object, but not an institution (or an idea, for that matter.)
- The institution cannot fire you because the governance of that istitution (even if properly democratic) does not like you or does not like what you say. Any punitive action against an employee must be justified.
* The material interests of the community are a justification. Therefore, it is legitimate for institutions to engage in economic activity (provided that the gain in efficiency is great enough to justify the inevitable loss of some personal freedom, which is a judgement call), and to provide for community needs which require the coordinated action of multiple people.
The other key philosophical assertion of anarcho-syndicalism is that it is consonant with the inherent moral nature of human beings; it is intended to be a codification of the better aspects of human nature, and derived from (rather than imposing itself on), that nature.
Anarcho-syndicalism is generally a gradualist form of anarchism, rather than a revolutionary one. Actions which elevate the power of individuals, which weaken illegitimate institutions, which force existing institutions to respond to the public will (becoming more democratic, even if not formally so) or which strengthen individual rights are seen as steps towards achieving a just society within existing frameworks.
The key differences between anarcho-syndicalism and anarcho-capitalism are:
* Anarcho-capitalist notions are cynically exploited by the wealthy to pursue their own agenda. 90% of articulate anarcho-capitalists in the media (e.g. the Economist) are frauds, being neither anarchists nor capitalists, being advocates of corporate power, which amounts to a return to feudalism and private government.
* Anarcho-syndicalism views taxation for purposes of providing social services as legitimate, provided that justification can be met, which in the case of social services it generally can. It should be noted that, even in the United States, a majority of the population agrees (supports socialized medicine, for example.)
* Anarcho-syndicalism does not recognize property rights in so far as they attach to ideas or institutions. Anarcho-syndicalism does not ascribe natural rights to institutions. It should be noted that some anarcho-capitalists share these ideas, but not the 90% of articulate anarcho-capitalists who are cynical liars.
* Individuals have a natural right to a stake in, and to control of, their own productive output, which must be balanced against, and generally trumps, any property rights invested in capital goods.
* Anarcho-syndicalism views wage labor, as it exists today, as little better than slavery.
We built a Model Govenment on these lines (Score:2)
We also had a lottery (Jury Duty) for key roles in government.