I've been doing some limited reading considering I am still without internet. I've read so far today:
-An essay on Max Stirner by E. Armand
- "The False Principles of Our Education" from Max Stirner's Lesser Writings
- Excerpts from The Ego and His Own regarding freedom of the individual, what is termed the state, the party vs. association and revolt vs. revolution
-Stirner's rebuttals to criticism by Ludwig Feuerbach, Moses Hess and Kuno Fischer
- "The Young Proudhon: A Self Portrait" by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
- "Property is Theft" from What is Property? by Proudhon


How I do adore knowledge.


Considering today is my day off, I've already gone for a jog, read political material, discussed Libertarianism with Debbe's father and paid the necessary bills. Next on the agenda: yoga, look up route to rail road station in Anaheim, eat lunch/dinner and go for another jog tonight. I'm going to make an attempt to sleep before 2am tonight.

Tags: proudhon, stirner
Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: "Africa" by Chemical Brothers

While reading extensively up on anarcho-capitalism, it began to remind me of a book I have (and adore): Jennifer Government.

The book is set in the future in a world where capitalizm reigns supreme and government is severely limited in its power in the 'Americas' (which in the book encompasses several over countries and continents). Corporations run schools, Police are contracted out as a private business and free trade is not needed because America owns half the world (Europe is disdained in the book as a 'socialist' area and no business is done with them).

I'm pretty sure I loaned that book to my mom because I wanted her to read it. I should get it back. It's time to do some re-reading.

Tags: anarcho-capitalism, books, jennifer government
Current Mood: tired

People tend to brand me 'bleeding-heart liberal' far to easy these days. I attribute it to having a history in political activism and using the first admendment without abandon. Because I have excercised the right to peacefully assemble, protest current government actions and have even participated (accidentally) in the destruction of a flag, it does not brand me a 'bleeding-heart liberal'.

There are 'left' matters to which I agree with and I willfully acknowledge my political leanings are towards that side of the spectrum. I believe in the freedom to marry whomever one desires, am against the current war in Iraq, exploitative nature of globalization and quite a few other issues.

However, there are numerous things that set me apart from the typical 'progressive left'. For example, I don't believe we should take any reference to God out of all school textbooks and other similar items. Really now, don't we have more important places to spend money than replacing textbooks? Furthermore, I wholeheartedly support the legalization of drugs. The government would thus be able to regulate it properly and deplete part of the black market. The same goes for my support of the right to bear arms. If that was taken away, there'd be a larger black market for such and fire arms would still fall into the hands of criminals. Fire arms are just as dangerous as knives, boxcutters and any other item capable of harming people. Globalization is causing exploitation of workers in third world countries, but I am not a *complete* supporter of fair trade. I have extensively researched the movement and the organization through which growers are certified. There is plenty to which I disagree with. On that note, I support Starbucks as a 'good' corporation. As much as I dislike capitalism, it's not going away in my life. Hence, you take what you are given and attempt to make it better. The true power these days isn't so much in the votes, but where you spend your money. So much for being a bleeding-heart, aye?

On a final note, I don't support affirmative action. I want to get a job because I am qualified enough, not because I am a female. Furthermore, I came from the 'ghetto' and know first-hand people who went on to college and even prestigious universities not based on their ethnicity, but because they worked their asses off to be at the top of their classes.




As much as my heart would love to say I identify most closely with being a democratic socialist, I don't believe that is a possibility in our current society. Hence, I am realistic by being a socialist democrat.



A blog will follow later on the difference between the two.

Tags: liberalism, politics