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One of the most notable aspects of Samuel Edward Konkin III’s thought was his embrace of science-fiction as a literary genre uniquely suited to spreading radical libertarian attitudes and ideas. As he stated in New Libertarian Manifesto:
“Seeking an art form to express the horror potential of the State and extrapolate the many possibilities of Liberty, Libertarianism found Science Fiction already in the field.”
This tendency perhaps found it’s most explicitly agorist expression so far in J. Neil Schulman’s Alongside Night. The names L. Neil Smith, Victor Koman and Brad Linaweaver also stand out prominently. The Libertarian Futurist Society continues to recognize excellent science-fiction with a libertarian theme or elements with it’s Prometheus Award on an ongoing basis.
In the context of both terrorism and its cynical exploitation by factions of the ruling elite with a neo-fascist agenda of torture, extraordinary rendition, near or total abolition of habeas corpus, restrictions on free speech, Halliburton constructed “detention centers” and worse — the question of if, when and how the American people will ever fight back has been on the minds of of more than a few, and not just libertarians. No one has ever done more to bolster support within the Democratic Party for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in recent memory than George W. Bush.
While the recent Democratic victory sweep in mid-term Congressional elections has prompted the naive to sigh with relief, principled libertarians recognize that the Democratic Party is unlikely to significantly roll back State power. The unlikelihood of that prospect is perhaps signaled most prominently by Nancy Pelosi’s pledge to not impeach George W. Bush.
Some points suggest themselves:
So let me ask those of my readers who identify as agorists or radical libertarians of some sort…
Would there be interest in putting together a compilation of short science-fiction stories that examine the role of violence in taking down the fictional state of Ruritania? By interest, I mean you would write one if a few others indicate they would do so as well? Leave comments.
Suggested Background Reading:
Cross-posted to my MLL blog.
The occasion of MLL comrade Wally Conger’s publication of an Anti-Electoral Manifesto, his turning it into a sorely needed MLL anti-electoral handbill and the posting of related followup responses seems like a good time for me to weigh in on this matter.
Generally, I agree with Stefan Molyneux that moral appeals are more important for radical libertarians than appeals to utility. On the matter of why I have renounced voting, though, I have a very simple point that I have fixed upon and it could simultaneously be considered both a moral and a practical point.
I am an anarchist revolutionary. My goal is the abolition of the State. No matter how gradual or non-violent my methods may be, I can not deny my fundamental nature as a revolutionary. It is my duty to my own values, to my own integrity and to my own “soul” if you will, that I resist the seductive allure of attempting to ameliorate the evil of the state by participating in its evil myself — for to do so is to ultimately strengthen it, my enemy. Instead, I must stand outside it to the best of my ability in order that I myself do not lose my own sense of perspective, grow to comfortable with oppression and ultimately abandon long term efforts to destroy this monster.
