On Anarchism: A Micro-Essay

We're social animals and that means we're always willing to take the risk that someone is going to screw us. It's the exact same dynamic at work in a prison, where guys would rather risk the violence of the yard and the involuntary romance of the shower than stay in solitary confinement.

I'm no anarchist. I once tried to be, but I stopped because anarchism is impossible. We are relationship-driven, social animals, and we'll always group together, and not just to stop brigands from stealing our womenfolk. It's an innate need. So we form groups, and in any group, a gorilla is going to rise to the top, whether it's a tribal chieftain or a kulak-killing General Secretary of the Party or a mysterious machine that showers its own country with LSD, sponsors LGBTQ+ parades in hopes of searing the social fabric, and funnels money to the machine's handlers.

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