Anarchists

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 16

Anarchists

Sir,—Even under “advanced communism” the State would never wither away. The mem-

bers of the Politburo would see to that They are not so stupid as to relinquish their omnipotence over their victims. Also, “State capitalism” is a contradiction in terms. It does not exist. Id today’s world it is a choice between reason and mysticism (religious or secular mysticism); rational self-interest and selfsacrifice or altruism; Individualism and collectivism; and capitalism and communism. The degree of communism or socialism in any country can be measured by the amount of governmentinitiated force, fraud, coercion or compulsion that is inflicted upon its citizens. The proper function of government in a free society is to protect, when necessary, the private property rights of its citizens with defensive force. It is that simple.—Yours, etc., D. B. ROWBERRY. Wellington, January 1 6, 1987. Sir,—ln his all-embracing, determinedly nihilistic agnosticism David Shanks (January 5), lumping together anarchism, Marxism, fascism, astrology, voodoo and teacup-reading, may delude himself that foe has dismissed with Olympian intellectual majesty all such foolish fads. All that he does, In effect, is demonstrate the abdication of his intellect’s open inquiry. On the same day’s leader page is an article “Why creationism is bogus.” David Shanks could, with equal justice, dismiss evolution and creationism as “refined oracular enterprises.” His statement that “Marxists read the tealeaves of history," uttered with all the brashness of bluff, is a self-betraying revelation of how minimal or non-existent his knowledge, understanding or acquaintance with Marxism really is, reinforced by his further claim that it has no rational credentials, a stricture which can be truly applied to fascism.— Yours, etc., M. CREEL. January 5, 1987.