"Jared, anarchists apply a double standard. They take advantage of the state and the many progressive reforms in education, employment, health, etc., in their own lives and then turn around and say ignore all this?"

Anonymous — I sign all my posts, so I'm not sure why you've singled me out here.

"In the first bit you quote some anarchist theorist who's been dead for decades and probably never knew NZ existed. It's all very stirring and I'm sure the picture of a mighty proletariat fighting back gives you goosebumps. Then in the second paragraph you come back down to earth and realise that actually what you've quoted means nothing at all in the present context in NZ. And you think the priority at this election is to raise awareness about anarchist theory?!"

You have a great way of twisting words. You seem to think that by me admitting realities of numbers it somehow dismisses my argument — far from it. The quote still applies, as does the argument about the lesser evil, even more so for our current context. Due to these realities, the elections — due to raised poltical awareness — is a perfect time to DISCUSS alternatives, and is definitly up there (in my mind) as being a priority.

You confuse not discussing single issues as some kind of flaw compared with other parties — but here's the thing: single issues, whether it's Working For Families etc etc all make up the connected systems of domination and exploitation we are interested in challenging, so concentrating on single issues could be considered fruitless. No one is saying to ignore those issues, but to take into acount their larger implications, which, relates back to the state, political parties, and voting.

As for your other arguments (which, since they are directed at me, and not the text presented above), well, what can I say? Maybe by putting out my name here and trying to encourage debate warrants the kind of personal political floundering found in parliament you seem to revert too (which, funnily enough, tend to divert attention away from the issues at hand), but I don't even now who you are? So, I'm going to try and stick to the points you have made.

You completely dismiss the internationalist aspect of any kind of radical left ideas every time you harp on about finding NZ examples of literature or analysis. While there is, this argument implicates that Marxism, or even our concepts of Voting and Democracy, should be considered void because they were written by dead men hundreds of years ago?

Or, maybe I should repeat the entire quote you've used, which does deal with NZ:

"Faced with these powers, we have seen left-wing governments from Spain to *New Zealand* introduce right-wing policies. So even if we elected a radical party, or even the lesser evil, they would be powerless to change anything important and soon be forced to attack us in the interests of capitalism. Politicians come and go, but the state bureaucracy and big business remain forever!"

Or maybe, I need to repost the links above, to literature that specifically deals with Aotearoa? Like the many books and texts written over the years, and in more recent times (Toby's book 'Rebel Rousers', for example), or things like The Trade Union History Project (while not specifically anarchist, it recognises the influence of radical syndicalist ideas in NZ). How about the rich history of Anarchism and Aotearoa — women like Lola Ridge, an Anarcha-Feminist from the west coast who's poetry is widely recognised in the US, and may even be our most published poet ever? How about the intention of Emma Goldman, a radical and thought-provoking anarchist (of Malatesta's time) had not only 'heard' of NZ, but was intending to visit here until her visa was denied? How about the fact that the key founder of the International Workers of the World was from NZ? I could prattle on about the internationalist link of anarchism and it's universiality — and how they do relate to NZ, as equally as they relate the the universiality of Capitalism and the State — but then you'd have to be reading what I've been writing.

I don't even need to reply to your 'idealistic and hypocrsy' slurr, as the millions of oppressed individuals, workers, and peasants who have practiced direct action, mutual aid, self-management, and libertarian socialism speaks for itself. Maybe your the one who would do well in dusting off the books?

Cheers

Jared D