Urban Anarchy Building A System Of Voluntary Cooperation

In my series of Urban Anarchy I am not presenting the definitive steps to anarchy, but some foundations for steps we can take to implement Anarchist solutions under the state. We looked at who these solutions would be directed towards. By focusing on the unemployed, underemployed, the working poor and the urban demographic we will be focusing on solving a real problem we are facing in the current economy. Instead of going to businesses and corporations begging for wage labor we must create our own means of production. We do not beg for jobs we must create them.

These jobs we are creating may be small steps at first. They should be intentional. We are looking to meet needs that we currently rely on major corporations and the state to provide. This could be as simple as producing food to begin with. As we learn to feed ourselves through mutual aid and cooperatives we can look at other areas that are monopolized by the state and corporations. Transportation, protection, energy and communications are all areas we can focus on creating independence.

Being intentional in how we create these cooperative solutions is the key. During the great depression workers united to create many solutions to provide for themselves. Some created forms of exchange which deviated from the mainstream economy. As these solutions flourished the state stepped in. Alternatives were created by the state drawing people from their independence. They were not creating solutions out of a desire to become independent from the system, they were becoming independent from the system out of desperation. Our push for Urban Anarchy is done with intention. We wish to avoid a need to create these solutions out of desperation.

We must realize that the American Empire will not last forever. As we cling to the system we will suffer as it suffers. To break free we can create economies that are independent allowing us to have less of an impact from the overall economy as the state throws the product of our labor at wars and militarization of the police forces that occupy the territory we live in. We are looking to end support of the war machine with the wealth of our production and instead focus that labor on building up our communities and meeting the needs we have. The area I am choosing to focus on first is food. With food we can feed ourselves. We create a product of value that is able to be exchanged between ourselves. We can maintain life, we eat and we do so outside of the system. No more funding Monsanto or McDonalds. We are seeking to get the FDA out of our food chain.

As we move forward we must be intentional in our dealings. Starting at a place like food could easily become nothing more than a crazy anarchist selling food at a farmers market. There are a few things to keep in mind in whatever area you are beginning. We must remember we are looking to expand. This is why we must diversify. Learning new skills allows us to branch out and begin more than one solution. If I grow food I  can also begin to learn to work on cars or bikes to cut out the need for outside help in transportation. We must also be looking at expanding. The production is a tool to reach others and to show that what we preach can be done. The key is always education. We must create schools and other means to educate those who join us. By education we give liberation of the mind and we learn from one another. Transportation and education are two areas I will be addressing in articles that I will be posting soon.

We are focusing today on production. As we are able to meet the needs of more people we are able to bring more people into our cooperatives. More people will bring in more knowledge and skills. They will be able to provide for our communities in areas we are not able to provide initially. By expanding this way we are able to pull more from the system. There must be intent that pulls away from the system in how we structure. At first we may be trading in the current system and interacting more within the current economy. As we organize we can do so with two goals in mind, providing and liberation from the system. Being self sufficient is often seen as something the ‘rugged individualist’ strives to attain. We are going forward with a desire to be self sufficient within our communities. We are interdependent within the system. We simply are choosing to move this interdependence from the control of the corporation and the state to a system of voluntary cooperation.

The questions you must begin asking yourselves is what can you do? What can you learn to do? How can we grow in our communities? How can we provide without relying on state monopolies or the capitalist? Just look around at the things you use or rely on every day and see where you can focus your skills and innovation. It could be food like myself. It could be that you are a network administrator and you can help create networks for communities that help them obtain independence from internet service providers or phone companies. You may be a mechanic and able to help with providing car repairs for your community in exchange for food and internet services. You may be able to sow and provide clothes. You may be able to help work toward energy independence. The carpenter, plumber, welder and baker all have a place in our communities. No more begging to do what we can do, we begin to create the opportunity for each other to work their trade by providing the other needs for each other.

As you grow in your community you will have to face issues like how to exchange goods. How do we arbitrate disputes? I do believe that arbitration and protection are two key points in our independence. They may take a little more time to address through free cooperation under the current system, but with patience and growth they will come.