Midwest Action Network

Welcome to the anti-politics forum.

At this forum we are more interested in the quality of discussion than the quantity.

In order for the discussion to remain of high quality, please attempt to refrain from personal attacks and mere assertions. Instead, try to make a counter-argument about the perspective, ideas or argument being put forth. Any direct threats, trolls or advertising will be deleted.

It seems to be quite common on the internet for people to wander into a forum and immediately make a huge number of assumptions about the other people on the forum without knowing them in the least. These assumptions usually revolve around the newcomer assuming that they are the only working class person in the world, or that they are the only ones doing anything other than discussing on the internet. Of course, it doesn't take long to realize how stupid these types of assumptions are (not to mention the question of why one would want to start off with new people like that). Instead of assuming a lot about people you don't know, how about trying to ease into the discussion and repond to what people are actually saying. If you don't find the discussions to be of value, you can certainly simply leave.

If you are confused about the language and terms being used by people, just ask. The language is actually not that complicated if you spend time reading slowly and thinking through what is being said. If you don't think this is worth your time, then perhaps you should rethink being here.

While threads tend to wander, if your post is off topic consider starting a new thread.

If you are unfamiliar with the content of this forum, we suggest that you read for a while before you post. Also, try reading some of the articles below, which will give you a better understanding of what anti-politics is all about. This is not a general anarchist forum.

Highly recommended articles:

Browse the articles on the Insurrection and organization page at the Killing King Abacus website: http://www.geocities.com/kk_abacus/ioaa/ioaa.html

FROM POLITICS TO LIFE: Ridding anarchy of the leftist millstone, By Wolfi Landstreicher http://www.geocities.com/kk_abacus/ioaa/life.html

Some notes on insurrectionary anarchismhttp://www.geocities.com/kk_abacus/kka/NTINSUR.html

At Daggers Drawn, by Anon. http://www.geocities.com/kk_abacus/ioaa/dagger.html

The Adventure Of Militant Man, By ASAN http://www.againstsleepandnightmare.com/ASAN6/Militant.pdf

The Anarchist Tension, by Alfredo Bonanno http://www.geocities.com/kk_abacus/ioaa/tension.html

The Insurrectional Project http://www.geocities.com/kk_abacus/vbinsur.html

The Anarchist Ethic in the Age of the Anti-Globalization Movement, from Killing King Abacus http://www.geocities.com/kk_abacus/kka/ethic.html

Give Up Activism, by Andrew X. http://www.geocities.com/kk_abacus/ioaa/guactivism.html

When Insurrections Die, by Gilles Dauve http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/3909/whenidie/

A few notes on definitions:

Over some time, people on this forum have explored and questioned certain themes and developed a particular approach to them. That exploration continues, but in order for it to be a creative exploration, the following summary might usefully serve as an introduction.

activism: a practice in which the organizer conceive of him/herself as separate from those being organized. This role is often celebrated and reinforced by activists, when in actual fact the separation between the organizer and organized is a block to the spread of insurrection. As conscious revolutionaries, we attempt to overcome, instead of reinforce, the separation between us and the dispossessed, who are not at the moment consciously revolutionary. We are, thus, against the specialization of revolutionary practice into the hands of self-proclaimed activists or militants. Those who take on these roles with gusto often play the role of managers of revolt and revolt managed is revolt blocked.

anti-politics: a revolutionary practice that eschews the political role of the activist, militant or leftist. This means not attempting to represent others or claim a constituency. It means struggling in the tension between the consciously revolutionary and the dispossessed in general in order to overcome it, instead of reinforcing that separation. It means the struggle to steal back the power that we have been dispossessed of, our power to create our lives, instead of politically petitioning the state to act in our name.

communism: On this forum, communism is generally not used to talk about the Soviet Union, China or Cuba; they were socialist societies, which, I would argue, is a form of capitalism. People here generally use the term communism in a different way: a society of equal access to our conditions of existence a society without property, commodity or exchange relations. Or, some people use it to mean the struggle of the dispossessed for the creation of a real human community.

insurrection: A moment when the state loses social control. The social spread and deepening of uncontrollability.

the left: The left wing of capital. The left attempts to become the managers of revolt and dissatisfaction with the present. In this political role in plays an important part in capitals control over the dispossessed. Left organizations work essential to create and maintain a series of vampiric rackets. These groupings and parties work to channel the rebellious desire of the dispossessed into the task of constructing and maintaining the organization. In times of widespread social revolt groupings of revolutionaries dissolve themselves into the broader uprising as equals whilst rackets work to assert their own dominance and leadership. This shows the un-revolutionary nature of Leftist groups. That rather than participate in the actual revolution, they work to maintain their existence under capitalism, for ever building for a faux-revolution their existence works to suppress. During times of revolt the left stands behind the dispossessed in revolt, attempting to reign them in.

politics: the control over or apportioning of power-over or alienated power. We have been dispossessed of our power to create; it has been alienated from us and instituted in the state form. Much of the left plays the role of fighting for a share in alienated power by claiming to be the legitimate representative of a constituency; in other words, it is thoroughly political. We want to end the reign of alienated power, by taking back our power to create our lives.

(Thanks to Dave A. dot, and Angela for wording. Anyone who wants to suggest additions or changes, please post below or p.m. sasha k . I will either adopt the changes and delete the post (if it becomes redundant) or just leave it up for discussion.)

best,
sasha