,GEORGE ,MONBIOT3 ,MUPPET ( ! WEEK6 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,IA9 ,MC,KAY 

,TEXT 3 

,P>T #a 

,GEORGE ,MONBIOT1 ! GRE5 ACTIVI/ & WRIT]1 HAS NEV] LET HIS IGNORANCE ( AN>*ISM /OP HIM FROM COMM5T+ ON IT4 ,IT TAKES A WILLFULLY IGNORANT P]SON TO WRITE ! NONS5SE AB\T AN>*ISM CONTA9$ 9 HIS SELF-CONTRADICTORY BOOK1 0,! ,AGE ( ,CONS5T40 ,SADLY1 MANY ( ?OSE READ+ & REVIEW+ ?AT BOOK W]E EQUALLY IGNORANT 7,JOHANN ,H>RI1 PLEASE TAKE A B[7 & SO HE HAD LITTLE TO WORRY AB\T4 

,ONE ?+ SEEMS SURE1 LIKE MANY A LIB]AL & ,M>XI/ HE DISLIKES \R IDEAS & SEEKS TO SME> US BY MEANS ( 0GUILT BY ASSOCIATION40 ,?IS HE DID REC5TLY 9 ,! ,GU>DIAN :5 DISCUSS+ NEO-LIB]ALISM4 ,AS HE PUT IT1 ! NEO-LIB]AL 0PROJECT WAS ASSI/$ BY IDEAS :I* >OSE 9 A V]Y DIFF]5T QU>T]4 ,! REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5TS ( #aifh ALSO S\<T GREAT] 9DIVIDUAL LIB]TIES1 & MANY ( ! SOIXANTE-HUIT>DS SAW ! /ATE AS !IR OPPRESSOR 444 ! NEOLIB]ALS COOPT$ !IR LANGUAGE & IDEAS4 ,SOME ( ! AN>*I/S ,I KN[ /ILL VOICE NOTIONS ALMO/ ID5TICAL TO ?OSE ( ! NEOLIB]ALS3 ! 9T5T IS DIFF]5T1 BUT ! CONSEQU5CES V]Y SIMIL>40 70,H[ ! NEOLIB]ALS /IT*$ UP ! WEAL? ( NATIONS = !MSELVES01 ,AUGU/ #b#h1 #b#g7 

,YES1 9DE$1 H[ C\LD ?OSE 9 ! ,P>ISIAN /REETS FI<T+ ! RIOT COPS :O HAD ATTACK$ !IR PROTE/S POSSIBLY CONSID] ! /ATE AS OPPRESSIVE8 ,H[ C\LD !Y FAIL TO SEE H[ WRONG !Y W]E TO CONSID] ! /ATE AS ! DEF5D] ( SOCIAL HI]>*Y AS WELL AS ! CAPITALI/ CLASS & ITS P[] & PROP]TY8 ,H[ DID WE AN>*I/S FAIL TO NOTE H[ NEOLIB]ALISM WAS1 9 FACT1 REALLY FI<T+ AGA9/ WAGE LABOR & FACTORY FASCISM8 ,H[ C\LD WE FAIL TO NOTE ,MILTON ,FRI$MAN'S & ,FR$]ICK VON ,HAYEK'S \TSPOK5 OPPOSITION TO PR(ITS1 R5T1 9T]E/1 WAGE LABOR1 HI]>*ICAL AU?ORITY & PATRI>*AL FAMILY /RUCTURE8 ,H[ C\LD WE FAIL TO SEE ! NEOLIB]ALS PROCLAIM ) ,PR\DHON ?AT PROP]TY IS BO? !FT & DESPOTISM & URGE ITS ABOLITION8 

,EQUALLY /RANGELY1 ! 0,U,S OLIG>*S & !IR F\NDATIONS0 :O HAVE 0P\R$ HUNDR$S ( MILLIONS 9TO SETT+ UP ?9KTANKS1 F\ND+ BUS9ESS S*OOLS & TRANS=M+ UNIV]SITY ECONOMICS DEP>TM5TS 9TO BA/IONS ( ALMO/ TOTALIT>IAN NEOLIB]AL ?9K+0 HAVE NOT BE5 AS =?COM+ FUND+ AN>*I/ PROJECTS & ORGANIZATIONS4 ,DON'T !SE PEOPLE REALIZE ?AT WE %>E !IR 0LANGUAGE & IDEAS08 ,APP>5TLY NOT4 

,TRUE1 ! NEO-LIB]ALS DO WAFFLE ON AB\T 0LIB]TY0 A LOT1 BUT !N ! ,/AL9I/ BUREAUCRATS US$ TO WAFFLE ON AB\T 0SOLID>ITY0 A LOT1 TOO4 ,PRESUMABLY1 ?AT MEANS WE AN>*I/S 0/ILL VOICE NOTIONS ALMO/ ID5TICAL0 TO ?OSE ( ! ,/AL9I/ DICTATORS8 ,UNLIKELY1 AL?\< SOME ON ! RI<T 7LIKE1 SAY1 ! NEO-LIB]ALS7 SAY WE DO4 ,P]HAPS WE CAN LOOK =W>D TO ,MONBIOT'S CRITIQUE ( ,R\SSEAU BY NOT+ HE TALK$ AB\T DEMOCRACY & REPUBLICS A LOT :I* MEANS ?AT ,DEMOCRATIC ,REPUBLIC ( ,*9A'S RUL]S HAVE 0COOPT$0 HIS 0LANGUAGE & IDEAS08 

,! UND]LY+ M5TALITY IS 9T]E/+4 ,RA!R ?AN AN>*I/S BE+ 9 AGREEM5T ) IDEAS ( NEO-LIB]ALISM 7OR VICE V]SA71 IT IS 9 FACT ,MONBIOT :O AGREES ) !M4 ,CLE>LY1 = HIM1 FRE$OM SIMPLY MEANS BE+ FREE TO EXPLOIT1 TO OPPRESS1 TO BE ANTI-SOCIAL & ANTI-ECOLOGICAL RA!R ?AN1 SAY1 ! FRE$OM TO BE Y\RSELF & MANAGE Y\R [N AFFAIRS 9 ASSOCIATION ) O!RS & 9 H>MONY ) ! PLANET4 ,?US FRE$OM IS ASSOCIAT$ ) CAPITALISM & \R RADICAL HELPS PU% BACK ! /RUGGLE = AN ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY BY ASSOCIAT+ IT ) /ATISM & RULE BY 7AT BE/7 WELL-MEAN+1 BUT ULTIMATELY CLUELESS1 POLITICIANS1 BUREAUCRATS & 9TELLECTUALS4 ,MONBIOT'S LOGIC IS CLE>3 PEOPLE CANNOT BE FREE TO GOV]N !MSELVES AS ?IS WILL LEAD TO ! EXCESSES ( CAPITALISM - & ! NEO-LIB]ALS JO9 9 & PROCLAIM 0HALLELUJAH1 ANO!R CONV]T60 

,9 REALITY1 A LOT ( /ATE VIOL5CE WAS REQUIR$ TO CREATE CAPITALISM &1 ( C\RSE1 TO MA9TA9 IT -- ! /ATE HAS ALWAYS BE5 AN 9/RUM5T ( M9ORITY RULE & CAPITALISM1 LIKE ANY HI]>*ICAL SY/EM1 DEP5DS ON IT4 ,:5 LEFT ALONE1 PEOPLE =M COMMUNITIES & ASSOCIATIONS TO DET]M9E & LOOK AFT] !IR [N 9T]E/S & TO DEF5D !MSELVES AGA9/ ?OSE SEEK+ TO EXPLOIT OR OPPRESS !M -- SOME?+ NO RUL+ CLASS HAPPILY TOL]ATES 7P>TICUL>LY AS SU* POPUL> ORGANIZATIONS CREATE ! POT5TIAL ( A NEW WORLD :ILE FI<T+ ! OLD74 ,H5CE ! NEO-LIB]AL ASSAULT ON UNIONS1 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS1 & PROTE/ 9 G5]AL4 ,?IS IS A TRUISM1 GIV5 ! NATURE ( CAPITALISM AS A SY/EM BUT ALSO GIV5 ?AT ITS VISION ( HUMANITY IS AT ODDS ) REAL PEOPLE4 ,NEO-LIB]ALISM1 AT HE>T1 AIMS TO MAKE ! REAL WORLD RESEMBLE ! MODEL ( NEOCLASSICAL ECONOMI/S :I*1 9 TURN1 ALL[S ! LATT] TO APPE> MORE REALI/IC ?AN IT ACTUALLY IS4 ,AS ,BAKUN9 W>N$1 TO IMPOSE ! AB/RACTIONS ( SCI5TI/S 7TO BE G5]\S TO MA9/REAM ECONOMI/S1 IDEOLOGUES W\LD BE MORE ACCURATE7 ONTO ! WORLD W\LD BE BO? DEVA/AT+ TO ! G5]AL PUBLIC & REQUIRE /ATE =CE4 

,UNSURPRIS+1 !N1 ! AU?ORIT>IANISM AT ! HE>T ( NEO-LIB]ALISM -- EV5 A SUP]FICIAL LOOK AT ! POLITICS ( NEO-LIB]ALISM %[S ?AT IT IS FIRMLY 9 FAVOR ( 0>*Y40 ,OBVI\SLY1 ?IS APPLIES ECONOMICALLY )9 ! WORKPLACE 7WAGE LABOR GIVES !M NO PROBLEMS7 BUT IT ALSO APPLIES POLITICALLY AS WELL4 ,! NEO-LIB]AL AG5DA HAS ALWAYS TURN$ TO ! /ATE1 JU/ AS CAPITALISM HAS ALWAYS DONE4 ,EV5 ,MONBIOT RECOGNIZ$ ?IS3 0,! CONDITIONS ?AT NEOLIB]ALISM DEM&S 9 ORD] TO FREE HUMAN BE+S FROM ! SLAV]Y ( ! /ATE - M9IMAL TAXES1 ! DISMANTL+ ( PUBLIC S]VICES & SOCIAL SECURITY1 D]EGULATION1 ! BREAK+ ( ! UNIONS - JU/ HAPP5 TO BE ! CONDITIONS REQUIR$ TO MAKE ! ELITE EV5 RI*]40 

,BREAK+ ( ! UNIONS8 ,?AT HAS ALWAYS REQUIR$ /ATE P[]1 AS DOES DISMANTL+ PUBLIC S]VICES & SO =?4 ,AN>*I/S1 ( C\RSE1 PREF] DIRECT ACTION - LIKE1 = EXAMPLE1 /RIKES & ORGANIZ+ WORK]S ON ! %OP-FLOOR - Y\ KN[1 ! K9D ( ?+ NEOLIB]ALS USE ! /ATE TO /OP4 ,:AT BETT] EXAMPLE DO Y\ NE$ ?AT WE AN>*I/S 0VOICE NOTIONS ALMO/ ID5TICAL TO ?OSE ( ! NEOLIB]ALS0 ?AN ?AT8 ,NOR %\LD WE =GET ?AT ! 0FIR/ NEOLIB]AL PROGRAM ( ALL WAS IMPLEM5T$ 9 ,*ILI FOLL[+ ,P9O*ET'S C\P1 ) ! BACK+ ( ! ,U,S GOV]NM5T & ECONOMI/S TAU<T BY ,MILTON ,FRI$MAN40 ,SOME SOCIALI/S MAY SUBSCRIBE TO ! P>LIAM5T>Y ROAD TO SOCIALISM1 BUT NO AN>*I/ ADVOCATES ! MILIT>Y DICTATOR%IP WAY TO AN>*ISM4 

,SO1 IMPLICITLY1 ,MONBIOT PRES5T$ 5\< ( REALITY TO %[ ?AT AN>*I/S & NEOLIB]ALS REALLY DO NOT %>E ANY?+ 9 COMMON4 ,9 FACT1 NEOLIB]ALISM HAS ALWAYS EXPLICITLY PURSU$ A /ATI/ POLITICAL /RATEGY & GOAL1 NAMELY ! /ATE R$UC$ TO ITS 0M9IMUM0 ROLE AS PROTECTOR ( PRIVATE PROP]TY & ! P[] :I* GOES ) IT -- I4E41 ! K9D ( REGIME AN>*ISM CUT ITS TEE? ON OPPOS+ 9 ! N9ETE5? C5TURY4 ,AS ANYONE EV5 VAGUELY AW>E ( AN>*ISM W\LD KN[4 

,)9 A WEEK1 HE NOTIC$ ! CONTRADICTION4 0,AFT] MY COLUMN LA/ WEEK10 HE WROTE1 0SEV]AL PEOPLE WROTE TO PO9T \T ?AT ! NEOLIB]AL PROJECT - :I* DEM&S A M9IMAL /ATE & MAXIMUM CORPORATE FRE$OM - ACTUALLY RELIES ON CON/ANT GOV]NM5T SUPPORT4 ,!Y >E1 ( C\RSE1 QUITE RI<T40 70,?IS GREAT FREE-M>KET EXP]IM5T IS MORE LIKE A CORPORATE WELF>E S*EME01 ,SEPTEMB] #d1 #b#g7 

,SO :Y SAY O!RWISE 9 ! FIR/ COLUMN & SUGGE/ ?AT AN>*I/S & NEO-LIB]ALS %>E COMMON AIMS & IDEAS8 ,DO AN>*I/S SUPPORT ! NEO-LIB]AL AG5DA ( 0CON/ANT GOV]NM5T SUPPORT0 TO 5SURE A 0M9IMAL /ATE & MAXIMUM CORPORATE FRE$OM08 ,( C\RSE NOT4 ,WE JU/ REALIZE ?AT FRE$OM IS TOO IMPORTANT A WORD TO LEAVE TO ! SUPPORT]S ( CAPITALISM TO MONOPOLIZE & ?AT ! /ATE1 EV5 ,MONBIOT'S BELOV$ SOCIAL-DEMOCRATIC ONE1 EXI/S TO KEEP CAPITALISM GO+ & 5SURE ?AT ! G5]AL PUBLIC DO NOT FREE !MSELVES FROM BO? /ATE & CORPORATE RULE4 

,?AT ! CORPORATE ELITE MAY OBJECT TO C]TA9 FUNCTIONS ( ! /ATE %\LD NOT BL9D US TO ! FACT ?AT !Y NE$ IT4 ,NOR TO ! FACT ?AT !Y WILL ALWAYS TURN TO IT :5 REQUIR$ -- EV5 TO ACCEPT SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC RE=MS IF PRESSUR$ BY DIRECT ACTION FROM BEL[ 7P>TICUL>LY IF ! ALT]NATIVE IS G5U9E SOCIAL TRANS=MATION74 ,WE AN>*I/S >GUE ?AT )\T ?AT PRESSURE1 ?+S WILL GET WORSE4 ,?AT IS :Y WE SUPPORT DIRECT ACTION1 SOLID>ITY & POPUL> SELF-ORGANIZATION & /RUGGLE -- AS ! NEOLIB]AL ]A %[S1 RELY+ ON POLITICIANS TO DO IT = Y\ IS DOOM$ TO FAILURE4 ,ONLY PRESSURE FROM ! /REETS & WORKPLACES CAN C\NT]M& ! P[] ( CAPITAL ON ! /ATE- &1 ULTIMATELY1 GET RID ( BO? ONCE & = ALL4 

,P>T #b 

,REC5TLY1 ,I EXPOS$ ! SILLY CLAIMS ( ,GEORGE ,MONBIOT AS REG>DS AN>*ISM & ITS 7NON-EXI/5T7 SIMIL>ITIES ) NEO-LIB]ALISM4 ,AFT] PROCLAIM+ ?AT BO? NEO-LIB]ALISM & AN>*ISM AIM$ TO DE/ROY ! /ATE1 ,MONBIOT HAD TO ADMIT A FEW DAYS LAT] ?AT ! =M] WAS ALL 9 FAVOR ( /ATE 9T]V5TION - AS LONG AS IT WAS = ! RI*4 ,A FACT HE WAS WELL AW>E (1 BE=E DECID+ TO SME> AN>*ISM VIA GUILT BY ASSOCIATION4 

,MONBIOT IS1 UN=TUNATELY1 AT IT AGA94 ,9 A WOND]FULLY SELF-CONTRADICTORY >TICLE1 HE TAKES ! CLAIM ( RI<T-W+ FREE M>KET CAPITALI/S TO BE+ 0LIB]T>IAN0 AT FACE VALUE & PROCLAIMS ?AT 0,GOV]NM5TS >5'T P]FECT1 BUT IT'S ! LIB]T>IANS :O BLE$ US DRY0 7,! ,GU>DIAN1 ,OCTOB] #b#c1 #b#g74 

,! >TICLE IS NOT TOTAL NONS5SE1 ?\<4 ,IT DOES1 VIA ! LIFE-/ORY ( ,MATT ,RIDLEY 7! *AIRMAN :O GOT ,NOR!RN ,ROCK 9TO ITS REC5T MIS=TUNES71 EXPOSE ! UTT] HYPOCRISY ( MO/ SUPPORT]S ( FREE M>KET CAPITALI/ :O ATTACK /ATE AID = EV]YONE -- B> !MSELVES & !IR CLASS4 ,RIDLEY1 ,MONBIOT NOTES1 0RAIL$ AGA9/ ALL GOV]NM5T 9T]V5TION & MOCK$ LESS 5LI<T5$ BE+S = !IR FAILURE TO UND]/& ECONOMICS & F9ANCE0 YET :5 HIS 0LIB]T>IAN .<SIC6.> BUS9ESS MODEL FAIL$1 ,RIDLEY HAD TO GO BEGG+ TO ! DETE/$ /ATE40 ,YET1 ANYONE ) ANY UND]/&+ ( CAPITALISM & ITS HI/ORY WILL KN[ ?AT ?IS IS /&>D PRACTICE1 AL?\< IT IS R>ELY DISCUSS$ 9 PUBLIC4 ,AFT] ALL1 IT IS H>D TO JU/IFY CUTT+ ! WELF>E /ATE = ! MANY :ILE SUPPORT+ IT = ! FEW4 ,AS ,MONBIOT PUT IT3 0,SO MU* = ! VIRTUES ( UNREGULAT$ FREE 5T]PRISE40 

,SADLY1 :ILE EXPOS+ ONE ASPECT ( TODAY'S D\BLETALK1 ,MONBIOT ACCEPTS ANO!R BY ALL[+ ! RI<T TO APPROPRIATE ! T]M 0LIB]T>IAN0 TO DESCRIBE !IR DEEPLY HI]>*ICAL & AU?ORIT>IAN SY/EM1 CAPITALISM4 ,H[ 0LIB]T>IAN0 IS A SY/EM 9 :I* ! WEAL?Y FEW ORD] AB\T !IR WAGE SLAVES :ILE ! LATT]'S LIB]TY IS LITTLE MORE ?AN *ANG+ MA/]S8 

,P]HAPS ?IS IS NOT TOO SURPRIS+1 GIV5 ?AT ,MONBIOT ACCEPTS ! WORLDVIEW ( ! V]Y PEOPLE HE CLAIMS TO OPPOSE4 0,RIDLEY'S CORE >GUM5T0 IS ?AT PEOPLE 0ACT ONLY 9 !IR [N 9T]E/S4 ,BUT \R SELFI% 9/9CTS 5C\RAGE US TO BEHAVE 9 WAYS ?AT APPE> ALTRUI/IC4 ,BY COOP]AT+ & BY BE+ P]CEIV$ AS G5]\S1 WE E>N O!R PEOPLE'S TRU/4 ,?IS ALL[S US TO ADVANCE \R [N 9T]E/S MORE EFFECTIVELY ?AN WE C\LD BY *EAT+1 /EAL+ & FI<T+40 ,GOV]NM5T %\LD 0)DRAW FROM \R LIVES & /OP 9T]F]+ 9 BUS9ESS & O!R HUMAN RELATIONS0 7EXCEPT1 ,MONBIOT FAILS TO NOTE1 TO DEF5D PRIVATE PROP]TY & ! HI]>*IES IT PRODUCES74 

0,LIKE ,RIDLEY10 ,MONBIOT IS 0A BIOLOGICAL DET]M9I/0 & 0ACCEPT.<S.> ! EVID5CE HE PUTS =W>D1 BUT DRAW.<S.> COMPLETELY DIFF]5T CONCLUSIONS4 ,HE BELIEVES ?AT MOD]N HUMANS >E DE/9$ TO BEHAVE WELL IF LEFT TO !IR [N DEVICES2 ,I BELIEVE ?AT !Y >E LIKELY TO BEHAVE BADLY40 ,COOP]ATION ONLY WORKS IF WE >E 0P>T A SMALL GR\P ( 9TELLIG5T HOM9IDS1 ALL ( :OM >E WELL KN[N TO EA* O!R40 ,H[EV]1 0.<I.>F1 ON ! O!R H&1 Y\ CAN SWIT* COMMUNITIES AT WILL1 TRAVEL FREELY1 BUY 9 ONE C\NTRY & SELL 9 ANO!R1 HIRE /RANG]S !N FIRE !M1 Y\ WILL GA9 MORE FROM ACT+ ONLY 9 Y\R [N 9T]E/40 

,YET :O >E !SE 0/RANG]S0 :O ALL[ Y\ TO ACT 9 ?IS WAY8 ,:O >E ! PEOPLE 9 !SE 0COMMUNITIES0 :O TOL]ATE SU* ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR8 ,DO !Y NOT HAVE ANY 9T]E/S ( !IR [N8 ,SO IT APPE>S ?AT ONLY SOME PEOPLE HAVE SELF-9T]E/ - ! RE/ >E M]ELY WALK+ & TALK+ AUTOMATIONS :O HAVE NO NOTION ( :AT IS 9 !IR BE/ 9T]E/S & TOL]ATE SU* ANTI-SOCIAL PEOPLE4 ,SO1 ! RE=MI/ AGREES ) ! CAPITALI/3 0,RIDLEY & ,I HAVE ! SAME VIEW ( HUMAN NATURE3 ?AT WE >E 9H]5TLY SELFI%40 ,YET1 = SOME /RANGE REASON1 !SE 09H]5TLY SELFI%0 PEOPLE ACT AGA9/ !IR [N 9T]E/S & LET O!RS 0GA9 MORE0 ?AN !MSELVES4 ,H[ /RANGE4 

,EV5 /RANG]1 \R POLITICAL RUL]S >E ( A DIFF]5T SPECIES ?AN ! RE/ ( US4 ,:AT O!R CONCLUSION CAN BE DRAWN8 ,= ,MONBIOT >GUES ?AT 0WE CAN NO LONG] BE SCRUT9IZ$ & HELD TO ACC\NT BY A SMALL COMMUNITY4 ,WE NE$ GOV]NM5TS TO FILL ! REGULATORY ROLE VACAT$ :5 \R T9Y CLANS DISSOLV$40 ,>E GOV]NM5TS NOT MADE UP BY ! SAME 09H]5TLY SELFI%0 PEOPLE SOCIETY IS MADE UP (8 ,>E POLITICIANS1 POLICE1 BUREAUCRATS & (FICIALS NOT SEEK+1 LIKE ! RE/ ( US1 TO 0GA9 MORE FROM ACT+ ONLY 9 Y\R [N 9T]E/08 

,:AT IS TO /OP \R POLITICAL RUL]S ACT+ AS ! RE/ ( US1 NAMELY 7TO USE ,MONBIOT'S WORDS7 :5 0ALL[$ TO PURSUE !IR G5ETIC 9T]E/S )\T CON/RA9T1 !Y WILL HURT O!R PEOPLE4 ,!Y WILL GRAB O!R PEOPLE'S RES\RCES1 !Y WILL DUMP !IR WA/E 9 O!R PEOPLE'S HABITATS1 !Y WILL *EAT1 LIE1 /EAL & KILL4 ,& IF !Y HAVE P[] & WEAPONS1 NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO /OP !M EXCEPT ?OSE ) MORE P[] & BETT] WEAPONS40 ,SO TO /OP PEOPLE ACT+ 0)\T CON/RA9T0 WE >E TO GIVE SOME ( !M 7! GOV]NM5T7 0P[] & WEAPONS0 EV5 ?\<1 AS ,MOBIOT /ATES1 ?IS WILL MEAN 0NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO /OP !M EXCEPT ?OSE ) MORE P[] & BETT] WEAPONS40 ,:I* EXPLA9S HIS SUPPORT = WORLD GOV]NM5T1 PRESUMABLY4 ,EXCEPT1 ( C\RSE1 :O WILL /OP ! WORLD GOV]NM5T8 

,9CR$IBLY1 ,MONBIOT IS COM+ \T ) ! SAME SELF-CONTRADICTORY >GUM5TS AN>*I/S HAVE BE5 REFUT+ = OV] ONE HUNDR$ YE>S4 ,= 0:ILE \R OPPON5TS SEEM TO ADMIT !RE IS A K9D ( SALT ( ! E>? -- ! RUL]S1 ! EMPLOY]S1 ! LEAD]S -- :O1 HAPPILY 5\<1 PREV5T ?OSE BAD M5 -- ! RUL$1 ! EXPLOIT$1 ! L$ -- FROM BECOM+ /ILL WORSE ?AN !Y >E0 WE AN>*I/S 0MA9TA9 ?AT BO? RUL]S & RUL$ >E SPOIL$ BY AU?ORITY0 & 0BO? EXPLOIT]S & EXPLOIT$ >E SPOIL$ BY EXPLOITATION40 ,SO 0!RE IS .<A.> DIFF]5CE1 & A V]Y IMPORTANT ONE4 ,WE ADMIT ! IMP]FECTIONS ( HUMAN NATURE1 BUT WE MAKE NO EXCEPTION = ! RUL]S4 ,!Y MAKE IT1 AL?\< SOMETIMES UNCONSCI\SLY1 & BECAUSE WE MAKE NO SU* EXCEPTION1 !Y SAY ?AT WE >E DREAM]S40 7,KROPOTK91 ,ACT = ,Y\RSELVES1 P4 #h#c7 

,LOOK+ AT /ATES1 WE F9D !M ACT+ AS ,MONBIOT CLAIMS HUMANS DO3 0WE %\LD APPEASE ?OSE :O >E MORE P[]FUL ?AN \RSELVES & EXPLOIT ?OSE :O >E LESS P[]FUL4 ,! SURVIVAL /RATEGIES ?AT ONCE 5SUR$ COOP]ATION AMONG EQUALS N[ 5SURE SUBS]VI5CE TO ?OSE :O HAVE BROK5 ! SOCIAL CONTRACT40 ,! WORDS ,BU%1 ,BLAIR & ,IRAQ SPR+ TO M9D6 ,& ,MONBIOT WANTS TO GIVE ! /ATE EV5 MORE P[]S8 ,:Y W\LD C5TRALIZ+ P[] ON ! WORLD LEVEL BE ANY BETT] ?AN C5TRALIZ+ IT AT ! LEVEL ( ! NATION /ATE8 

,SOME:AT IRONICALLY1 ,MONBIOT VAGUELY RECOGNIZES ?IS4 ,HE /ATES ?AT ! 0DEMOCRATIC *ALL5GE 444 IS TO MIMIC ! GOV]NANCE SY/EM ( ! SMALL HOM9ID TROOP4 ,WE NE$ A /ATE ?AT REW>DS US = COOP]AT+ & PUNI%ES US = *EAT+ & /EAL+4 ,AT ! SAME TIME1 WE MU/ 5SURE ?AT ! /ATE IS ALSO TREAT$ LIKE A MEMB] ( ! HOM9ID CLAN & PUNI%$ :5 IT ACTS AGA9/ ! COMMON GOOD40 ,EXCEPT1 ( C\RSE1 ! /ATE IS BAS$ ON A DELEGATION ( P[] 9TO A FEW H&S1 :O HAVE ! MEANS ( 5=C+ !IR DECISIONS 7I4E41 0PUNI%ES US0 = DISOB$I5CE TO ITS DECISIONS & LAWS74 ,?AT IS :Y ELITES HAVE ALWAYS TURN$ TO ! /ATE - IT DISEMP[]S ! MANY SO ?AT ! FEW CAN RULE & FLEECE !M4 ,?IS IS ! CASE UND] LAISSEZ-FAIRE CAPITALISM AS ANY O!R REGIME3 

0:ILE ALL ,GOV]NM5TS HAVE GIV5 ! CAPITALI/S & MONOPOLI/S FULL LIB]TY TO 5RI* !MSELVES ) ! UND]PAID LABOR ( WORK+ M5 .<& WOM5.> 444 !Y HAVE NEV]1 NO:]E GIV5 ! WORK+ .<PEOPLE.> ! LIB]TY ( OPPOS+ ?AT EXPLOITATION4 ,NEV] HAS ANY ,GOV]NM5T APPLI$ ! 'LEAVE ?+S ALONE' PR9CIPLE TO ! EXPLOIT$ MASSES4 ,IT RES]V$ IT = ! EXPLOIT]S ONLY 444 NO:]E HAS ! SY/EM ( 'NON9T]V5TION ( ! ,/ATE' EV] EXI/$4 ,EV]Y:]E ! ,/ATE HAS BE51 & /ILL IS1 ! MA9 PILL> & ! CREATOR1 DIRECT & 9DIRECT1 ( ,CAPITALISM & ITS P[]S OV] ! MASSES4 ,NO:]E1 S9CE ,/ATES HAVE GR[N UP1 HAVE ! MASSES HAD ! FRE$OM ( RESI/+ ! OPPRESSION BY CAPITALI/S444 ,! /ATE HAS ALWAYS 9T]F]$ 9 ! ECONOMIC LIFE 9 FAVOR ( ! CAPITALI/ EXPLOIT]4 ,IT HAS ALWAYS GRANT$ HIM PROTECTION 9 ROBB]Y1 GIV5 AID & SUPPORT = FUR!R 5RI*M5T4 ,& IT C\LD NOT BE O!RWISE4 ,TO DO SO WAS ONE ( ! FUNCTIONS -- ! *IEF MISSION -- ( ! ,/ATE40 7,KROPOTK91 ,EVOLUTION & ,5VIRONM5T1 P4 #i#f7 

,SO IF1 AS ,MONBIOT ASS]TS10.<H.>UMAN WELF>E 444 IS GU>ANTE$ ONLY BY MUTUAL SCRUT9Y & REGULATION0 !N \R TASK IS TO GET RID ( ! /ATE4 ,=1 ULTIMATELY1 H[ >E ! P[]LESS TO PUNI% ! /ATE :5 IT 0ACTS AGA9/ ! COMMON GOOD08 ,H[ IS ?AT 0COMMON GOOD0 TO BE DET]M9$ :5 ! COMMUNAL 9/ITUTIONS REQUIR$ TO =MULATE IT 7F$]ATIONS ( COMMUNITY & WORKPLACE ASSEMBLIES7 >E REPLAC$ BY ! /ATE8 ,IF ! PEOPLE >E 9 A POSITION TO =MULATE 0! COMMON GOOD0 & HAVE ! P[] TO 0PUNI%0 ! /ATE :5 IT CONTRAV5ES IT !N :Y HAVE ! /ATE AT ALL8 ,:Y GIVE A FEW POLITICAL1 ECONOMIC & SOCIAL P[] :5 Y\ KN[ ?AT !Y WILL ABUSE IT & Y\ NE$ TO ORGANIZE TO RESI/ IT8 ,H5CE ! PRESS+ NE$ TO ABOLI% /ATE ALONG ) CAPITALISM & O!R SOCIAL HI]>*IES4 

,?US WE HAVE ! C5TRAL CONTRADICTION 9 ,MONBIOT'S IDEOLOGY4 ,IF PEOPLE >E AS SELFI% & SELF-SEEK+ AS HE CLAIMS1 !N GIV+ ONLY SOME ( !M P[] IS A BAD IDEA4 ,IF WE DO GIVE AN ELITE SU* P[]1 !N WE WILL NE$ TO ORGANIZE TO RESI/ IT4 ,&1 AS AN>*I/S HAVE LONG >GU$1 IF WE ORGANIZE TO RESI/ IT !N WE >E MORE ?AN ABLE TO DO )\T IT - I4E41 GOV]N \RSELVES DIRECTLY4 

,! /ATE HAS ! P[] TO ACT AGA9/ ! COMMON GOOD = A REASON - IT IS AN 9/RUM5T ( M9ORITY RULE4 ,ITS HI/ORY IS ROOT$ 9 DE/ROY+ POPUL> ORGANIZATIONS :I* CAN CONTE/ ELITE RULE 7SEE ,KROPOTK9'S 0,MUTUAL ,AID074 ,AS SU*1 ,MONBIOT IS REWRIT+ HI/ORY TO ASS]T ?AT 0.<S.>ELF-S]V+ AS GOV]NM5TS MI<T BE1 ! TRUE SOCIAL P>ASITES >E ?OSE :O DEM& !IR DISSOLUTION40 ,GOV]NM5TS HAVE1 9 FACT1 ALWAYS BE5 ! MEANS BY :I* 0SOCIAL P>ASITES0 HAVE 5SUR$ !IR POSITION 9 SOCIETY4 ,UNLESS1 ( C\RSE1 ! V>I\S MON>*IES1 OLIG>*IES1 DICTATOR%IPS & BUREAUCRACIES ! G5]AL PUBLIC HAVE BE5 SUBJECT$ TO HAVE1 AS !Y CLAIM$1 REALLY EXPRESS$ ! 0G5]AL WILL0 AFT] ALL - :I* IS A HI<LY UNLIKELY SITUATION4 

,WE NE$ NOT BO!R TOO MU* 9 WOND]+ :E!R ! CURR5T PSEUDO-DEMOCRATIC /ATE IS ANY DIFF]5T4 ,CLE>LY1 IT IS NOT - AS ,MONBIOT HIMSELF HAS DOCUM5T$ ! NEO-LIB]AL AG5DA IS BE+ IMPOS$ BY SU* REGIMES AS WELL AS BY DICTATORIAL ONES4 ,NOR DO WE NE$ TO POND] :E!R ! /ATE IS REGULAT+ SOCIETY & ! ECONOMY = ! MANY OR TO 5SURE ?AT ! FEW >E SECURE 9 !IR POSITION4 ,=1 AS ,MALATE/A NOT$1 ! 0GOV]NM5T CANNOT WANT SOCIETY TO BREAK UP1 = IT W\LD MEAN ?AT IT & ! DOM9ANT CLASS W\LD BE DEPRIV$ ( S\RCES ( EXPLOITATION2 NOR CAN IT LEAVE SOCIETY TO MA9TA9 ITSELF )\T (FICIAL 9T]V5TION1 = !N PEOPLE W\LD SOON REALIZE ?AT GOV]NM5T S]VES ONLY TO DEF5D PROP]TY [N]S 444 & !Y W\LD HA/5 TO RID !MSELVES ( BO?40 7,AN>*Y1 P4 #b#e7 

,9 ! MEANTIME1 AN>*I/S >GUE PEOPLE SUBJECT TO EXPLOITATION & OPPRESSION TO ORGANIZE TO DEF5D !MSELVES & SOCIETY FROM ! NEGATIVE EFFECTS ( M>KET =CES & CONC5TRATIONS ( P[] - TO COLLECTIVELY PRACTICE MUTUAL AID & DIRECT ACTION 9 !IR [N SELF-9T]E/4 ,?AT IS1 PRECISELY ! K9D ( POPUL> SELF-ORGANIZATION & SELF-ACTIVITY ! /ATE REPRESSES 9 ! 9T]E/S ( ! FEW 7AS SE51 = EXAMPLE1 BY ,?AT*]'S ATTACKS ON ! UNIONS74 

,MONBIOT1 LIKE MANY A RE=MI/ BE=E HIM1 SIMPLY CONFUSES ACTIONS TO SECURE ! HEAL? ( ! SY/EM AS A :OLE 7:I* CAN (T5 CLA% ) ! 9T]E/S ( SPECIFIC CAPITALI/S & FIRMS7 ) A FUNDAM5TAL ANTAGONISM BETWE5 /ATE & CAPITAL4 ,IT IS SOME?+ ELSE HE %>ES ) ! SO-CALL$ 0LIB]T>IAN0 RI<T4 ,&1 IT %\LD BE /RESS$1 FEW RI<T-0LIB]T>IANS0 SEEK TO DISSOLVE ! GOV]NM5T4 ,MO/ >E M9IMAL /ATI/S1 SEEK+ A /ATE :I* WILL DEF5D PRIVATE PROP]TY & 7USUALLY UN/AT$7 ! SOCIAL HI]>*IES & ECONOMIC P[] ?AT GOES ) IT4 ,! FEW 7SO-CALL$ 0AN>*O-CAPITALI/S07 :O SEEK ! ABOLITION ( ! PUBLIC /ATE SIMPLY WANT TO PRIVATIZE ITS DEF5SE ( PROP]TY FUNCTIONS - 9 O!R WORDS1 PRIVATE POLICE PROTECT+ PRIVATE P[]4 ,V]Y FEW AN>*I/S1 NE$LESS TO SAY1 CONSID] ?IS REMOTELY LIB]T>IAN - WE SEEK TO DISSOLVE ! /ATE AT ! SAME TIME AS WE DISSOLVE PRIVATE P[] 7CAPITALISM74 

,SO G5U9E AN>*I/S HAVE ALWAYS BE5 AW>E ?AT CAPITALISM REQUIRES /ATE REGULATION TO KEEP IT GO+4 ,WE W\LD AGREE ) ,MONBIOT'S /ATEM5T ?AT 0.<U.>NLESS TAXPAY]S' MONEY & PUBLIC S]VICES >E AVAILABLE TO REPAIR ! DE/RUCTION IT CAUSES1 LIB]T>IANISM .<SIC6.> DE/ROYS PEOPLE'S SAV+S1 WRECKS !IR LIVES & TRA%ES !IR 5VIRONM5T40 ,?AT IS :Y WE >GUE CAPITALISM NE$S TO BE REPLAC$ BY A G5U9E LIB]T>IAN SY/EM1 ONE ROOT$ 9 COMMUNITY & WORKPLACE SELF-MANAGEM5T4 ,WE DISAGREE ?AT FREE M>KET CAPITALISM HAS ANY?+ TO BE ) 0LIB]T>IANISM40 ,SADLY1 ,MONBIOT IS AID+ ! RI<T BY ALL[+ !M TO APPROPRIATE 0LIB]T>IAN0 = !IR AG5DA ( REPLAC+ ! /ATE ) PRIVATE S]FDOM4 

,P]HAPS IF ,MONBIOT HAD READ1 SAY1 ,KROPOTK9'S 0,MUTUAL ,AID0 OR 0,! ,/ATE3 ,ITS ,HI/ORIC ,ROLE0 HE W\LD NOT WRITE SU* IGNORANT & SELF-CONTRADICTORY NONS5SE4 ,BUT1 AS HE HAS PROV5 SO MANY TIMES BE=E1 IGNORANCE ( SOME?+ DOES NOT /OP HIM WAFFL+ ON AB\T IT - P>TICUL>LY IF IT HAS SOME?+ TO DO ) AN>*ISM4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,FEBRU>Y #b1 #bba 3 ,GEORGE ,MONBIOT3 ,MUPPET ( ! WEEK6 -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #g1 #bbb 3 ,GEORGE ,MONBIOT3 ,MUPPET ( ! WEEK6 -- ,UPDAT$4 

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