Anarchist and elections

[alanjjohnstone]

An interesting interview with an anarcho-syndicalist who engages in electoral activity

On Direct Democracy and Demarchy

I think he risks becoming a radical reformist rather than a revolutionary but our own initial political delegates will face similar dilemmas as he is trying to resolve. 

Quote:

In using the current structure to bend it step by step, to gradually eliminate the need for power structures. My campaign was all about Direct Democracy – and if elected – my voice would be as valuable as any other citizen’s, despite holding office…

…Basically, my proposal is that political representatives are selected randomly from citizens from our communities, to serve in a limited amount of time in office…Ancient Greeks practiced the system, as did the Venetian Republic to some extent. It’s still operational today, most notable in jury processes.

[alanjjohnstone]

The anarchists' role-model, the Zapatistas are putting up a presidential candidate.They chose María de Jesús Patricio Martínez, a Nahua indigenous healer, as their spokesperson and presidential candidate for the 2018 elections in Mexico. As a presidential candidate chosen by the CNI and Zapatistas, she is not interested in winning votes, but in grassroots organizing and resisting the destruction that so many communities in Mexico are facing.

Quote:

“The political class only see the earth and our natural resources as means of making money, not things that benefit the community and need protecting.” “Our participation is for life,” she explained at a press conference in Chiapas. “It’s to bring together our communities that have been hit hard for years and years and that, I think, right now need to look for a way to keep on existing.” Her goal is for Mexicans to “to join forces to be able to destroy this system that is generally finishing us all off.” Though seeking office, Patricio is less of a candidate and more of a spokesperson for the CNI and Zapatistas. She reflects and represents the democratic indigenous governing council, its consultations with communities, and local indigenous customs. One goal of her candidacy is to expand this network and governing model while rejecting the Mexican political system.

In a communique released by the Zapatistas and CNI released in October of 2016, titled “May The Earth Tremble at its Core.” they said "We build rebellion from our small local assemblies that combine to form large communal assemblies, ejidal assemblies, Juntas de Buen Gobierno [Good Government Councils], and coalesce as agreements as peoples that unite us under one identity…In order to defend what we are, our path and learning process have been consolidated by strengthening our collective decision-making spaces, employing national and international juridical law as well as peaceful and civil resistance, and casting aside the political parties that have only brought death, corruption, and the buying off of dignity…We confirm that our struggle is not for power, which we do not seek. Rather, we call on all of the originary peoples and civil society to organize to put a stop to this destruction and strengthen our resistances and rebellions, that is, the defense of the life of every person, family, collective, community, or barrio. "Full article herehttps://www.counterpunch.org/2017/07/10/dismantling-power-the-zapatista-indigenous-presidential-candidates-vision-to-transform-mexico-from-below/ Much of the language and its sentiments i think should make ourselves pause for thought as it appears to resonate somewhat and reflect our own general approach – or at least to a number of our membersExperience is bringing many anti-parliamentarians towards our own nuanced position to political power

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