[OS:N:] Re: When CNN says it...

[John Hinsley <johnhinsley blueyonder co uk>]

Daniel Carrera wrote:

>A consenting oligarchy is definitelly a democracy.

OK, but can we then call oligarchies where the consent is of as short a 
duration as possible (I'm thinking of the Soviet's set up in the early days 
of the Russian revolution, by Bolsheviks, Menshaviks, and Mahkno's insurgents 
in the Ukraine) or where elected officials are "delegates" rather than 
"representatives" (common trade union practice, then and now) more 
democratic?

>Communism is an economic system and it's the
opposite of capitalism.


Agreed.


anthony baldwin wrote:

>Communism, as a political system precludes demoncracy.

But communism isn't a political system (see above) (at least, in Marx) and 
this seems to me to be nothing more than argument by definition. Alexander 
Berkman (surely a candidate for the title of Great Unrecognised American 
Hero) could even produce a tract entitled: Now and After: The ABC of 
Communist Anarchism.

It's online at:

http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/anarchist_archives/bright/berkman/comanarchism/whatis_toc.html

Getting way off topic..........

Cheers

John