Monday 1 August 2011

Undesirable, unnecessary and harmful; yep, pretty much covers it

Via The Appalling Strangeness, I learn that the Metropolitan Rozzer Service is interested in anarchism. From the Graun:
"Anarchism is a political philosophy which considers the state undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, and instead promotes a stateless society, or anarchy. Any information relating to anarchists should be reported to your local police."
Notice that there is no mention of criminal behaviour or conspiracy engaged in by anarchists, just 'any information'. What, do they want to borrow my copy of ' The Ethics of Liberty'?

Passing by the initial fury, this could be a golden opportunity to proselytise, to get out there and preach the anarchist creed to the state's foot-soldiers, making clear the distinction between good, wholesome individualist anarchists, and those nasty, pasty-faced commies who like to break windows.

Maybe we could build a cadre of Rothbardians within the Met, although I would expect their new-found enlightenment and concomitant pangs of conscience may cut short their careers.

As for me, please note, would-be snitches: I usually consider myself a minarchist, rather than an anarchist, although I'm not sure the distinction will cut much ice as they kick down my door and cudgel me off to the dungeons. Still, I suppose I better read my copy of 'Man, Economy and State', before it's seized as evidence.

6 comments:

Captain Ranty said...

I just 'fessed up as well.

See you in gaol.

CR.

Trooper Thompson said...

As well? Not me, Ranty, I'm a limited government kinda guy. Those Rothbard books? They were in the flat when I moved in. The 'Enemy of the State' teeshirt? Not sure where that came from...

so, probably will see you in jail then.

Captain Ranty said...

In my more expansive moments I allow for two ministers: one for Defence and one for Foreign Relations.

Does that make me a minarchist?

Those are the only two legitimate posts that I can narrow it down to.

Maybe I'm a microminarchist.

CR.

Trooper Thompson said...

I like the label. When they come for me and accuse me of being an anarchist I shall say 'how dare you! I'm a micro-minarchist'.

You're not off the watchlist yet, though.

Guy Jean said...

Michael Kay suggests a change of name: Reality Economics and Peaceful Cooperation

Trooper Thompson said...

Guy,

it's not particularly snappy, is it? The problem of changing a name, is those that have dirtied up the original name can easily dirty up the new name.