A Reason to Vote....

I know there is a fair amount of contention within the anarchist community on whether voting while living in a democratic system is a tool to monkeywrench from the inside or an abominable act of compliance. Can a moral act within a corrupt system still be considered moral or is its essential nature fundamentally immoral due its existence within an oppressive system? As my partner would say, it is a thing. I certainly believe in situational purity, that when the two options are equally evil, abstention is the most moral response. Such was the case for me in the Kerry-Bush election. (Some blame for the last four years of awful must be placed on the Democrats' shoulders for nominating an unpopular, stilted windbag in such a key election year. They seem to have learned their lesson, though, with the overwhelmingly qualified pool of candidates this year. Yummy.) However, when one option is so overwhelmingly evil and the other might actually facilitate some positive change, it is immoral to passively allow the overwhelming evil to overcome, which brings me to the point of this post.

If Mike Huckabee wins the Republican bid, as he very well may, any anarchist who does not do everything in his or her power to prevent his ascent will be guilty on account of apathy for the moral carnage guaranteed to follow. He is an evangelical preacher. The evangelicals hate women, GLBTQ anything, art, music, science, yoga, vegetarians, the environment, and everything that is good and wholesome and loving in the world. (Caveat: if people choose to believe in such things, I will fight furiously for their right to do so, even though they would not return the favor for me.) I just can't imagine an evangelical preacher being able to separate his socially dangerous beliefs from his oath to uphold the constitution, since separation of church and state has been interpreted in there and it seems like the concepts of secular government and evangelism are mutually exclusive. In fact, Huckabee has gained such round support on the basis of his intolerant, fundamentalist rhetoric. If you don't vote against him, the insane backwater folks who believe a woman's only place is silent in the home, GLBTQ individuals are morally infected and should be quarantined, expression should be quelled, and science is the devil's work will win, at a dear cost to liberty, beauty, and America's place in the world. If this ominous warning has not changed your mind about showing up at the polls, I hope this video and column by the fine folks at AlterNet might. Included are actual clips of what Mike Huckabee professes and why we should all be very afraid.

How about a little Anarchy in the new year?

I had a brief but thought-provoking conversation with a dear friend the other night. He mused about what would happen if the Bush administration and their ilk were to stay in office and NOT be impeached or left to crawl off in disgrace after the next elections like so many of us hope. Instead, what would happen if the criminals were allowed to stay a little longer and grow more superficially powerful, what if the corruption were allowed to spread, if it would bring about the collapse necessary for revolution? It is important to ponder whether it would be worth the chaos, the human rights violations and the war crimes sure to ensure, if it were to foment an environment that would ultimately lead to the fracturing and downfall of the system we find so economically oppressive and inherently evil. Does allowing the pigs to wallow in the glory of their own filth a little longer become absolved by the downfall of the greater evil of American Democracy?

From a utilitarian perspective, I would say, damn straight it's worth it. Let them bring their own destruction then the cessation movements and revolutionaries may rise in the wake of empires falling. Yet, there is the persistent deontological voice that says the revolution must be swift and nonviolent and that no end can justify the means of allowing it to continue for one more day without a fight. It is a conundrum that has split the camps of revolutionaries for ages. Can the revolution be achieved merely with the use of nonviolent subversive tactics, or must we speak in the language of the oppressors-that of violence? I call loudly for revolution by any means necessary, but I am not convinced that violence is indeed necessary, especially with the ubiquity of the internet and its ability to transcend borders and economic barriers. We are equal here and therefore, equally able to be heard. Speak loudly and often and perhaps the revolution can come without bloodshed, but in a fury of internet conspirators. It is important for us to realize, fellow bloggers, that this is not just a toy, but can be a tool. Use it accordingly.

On a lighter note, every revolution seems to come with a fashion. My vote for the armory of the revolution is Cryoflesh.com (the clothing/accessory directory is on the right). Sexy as hell, soft and utilitarian. My fellow cyberpunks swear by the stuff. Let's look good while subverting the system and doing a little good for our karma by supporting non-mainstream outfitters, shall we?

Also, all this talk of revolution makes me giggle, so here is my meme of the day.