Why Anarchy Does Not Work

Anarchy: (a.) absence of government (b) a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority (c) a utopian society of individuals who enjoy complete freedom without government.

By James Donahue

Ever since Crowley penned the words “Do what thou wilt,” as a call for a new expression of freedom in what he described as the new Age of Horus, his followers has sought this state of existence, knowing full well that they were calling for anarchy.

While anarchy may sound appealing to many, we know from historical experience that the human race, in its present spiritual condition, does not do well without the iron rule of government.

We watched the nation of Iraq fall into a chaotic state of near civil war, held back only by the presence of American, British and other International troops, after the fall of the dictator Saddam Hussein. Similar problems are occurring in nearby Afghanistan where various tribal factions jockey for control once outside military forces leave. If there was anything that joined the people of these two Islamic countries in common it has been a desire to drive the invading American forces from their soil.

The African nation of Somalia is yet another place where anarchy has existed ever since the British rule ended there in 1960. The country suffered for years from civil war and through the help of the United Nations, presently operates under a weak transitional federal assembly with members chosen from various clans. The assembly still lacks the strength to rule beyond the capital City of Mogadishu, thus the rest of Somalia remains in a state of anarchy. The nation is the home of pirate gangs that have been capturing ships at sea and holding them for ransom. It also has become one of many world hide-outs for Al-Qaeda terrorist cells.

Yemen, a poverty-stricken country at the south edge of the Arabian Peninsula, is yet another nation lacking strong central power. It functioned under a monarchy until 1967 when it came under British rule. In 1970, after the British withdrew, Yemen adopted a Communist system of government. It has functioned as a republic since 1990. Despite efforts to form a central government, the country has been racked by civil warfare among the various tribal clans. Yemen has become another hide-away for Al-Qaeda. It was at the Yemen port of Aden that the USS Cole was hit and nearly sunk by suicide bombers in 2,000.

The events in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Yemen are but a microscopic examination of the state of the human race. Sadly, we find that most humans are not evolved enough to be given the freedom of true anarchy. They appear to be so bound by religious belief systems and too often religious extremism that they are incapable of reaching the state of self-control . . . of taking responsibility for their own actions.

Because of this flaw, attempts at granting human freedoms through the creation of a republic, tried unsuccessfully with the old Roman Empire and once more with the founding of the United States, both failed. While the Romans had a longer run at it than the Americas, both “republics” were unsuccessful. Those deadly sins; greed, envy, lust, gluttony, sloth, pride and wrath work their way into the hearts of the people elected to represent the masses. Clever ways of sidestepping the rules are devised. Eventually the republic crumbles into something called democracy, where mob rule reins. After this, the only effective leadership evolves to that of an iron fist.

The concept of republic is still practiced in the United States, yet people openly define their government as a democracy. The mob has been fooled into thinking it is still free to choose its leadership when, in reality, it secretly became an autarchy at about the time of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The real controllers are the big corporate leaders that finance the multi-million dollar campaigns of our presidents and legislators.

The way in which the people in the United States allowed themselves to be lulled into complacency about governmental changes via the skilled promotion of athletic games, materialism and patriotism is almost shocking to those of us who easily see through the thinly veiled deceptions. One sublime act of alleged terrorism (i.e. the events of 9-11) and the masses can be manipulated into wrath by even the unskilled words of the chosen figurehead of the moment. We refer, of course to former President George W. Bush.

The concept of freedom, while still reveled by every American and desired by every human on the planet, is only an illusion. It is a Hollywood manufactured dream of living in a grass hut on a tropic island, with food growing in the lush vegetation all about, and handsome, friendly natives to keep us company in a utopian, uncontrolled society where everybody lives in peace and harmony.

Such places exist, but only for the very wealthy. Instead of grass huts, these people live in luxury palaces. The friendly natives are, in actuality, paid servants or indentured slaves trained to mask their true feelings with false smiles as they serve their master's every whim.

Wealth, when attained, is a slippery thing that must be constantly guarded. It makes its possessor a target by thieves and confidence artists who plot in clever ways to steal it. Thus even the wealthy never know true peace and happiness. Without peace and happiness, they lack true freedom. They must always be on their guard lest they lose the comforts their money provides for them.

Thus the wealthy tend to band together, creating governments and military protection to guard the materialism that becomes their god.

What then is the answer to this dilemma? How does man achieve true freedom?

Until the human race learns to turn on the right brain and evolve into the beautiful and complex collective form it was created to be, it has not earned the right, nor achieved the ability to enjoy the kind of freedom that true anarchy brings. Thus the masses must continue to be enslaved to the iron fist of government. Without this, there is only chaos.