Anarchy House Project

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why Is the group living an important part of the project?

-Mostly for defensive measures.  I am vemenently opposed to violence, so creative methods of frustrating the enforcment of the government laws is important.  Group living promotes a form of family environment.  If someone is arrested after an act of civil disobiediance, their belongings will still be there when they get out of jail, the other housemates can inform their work and family that they have been arrested, and there is more likely to be someone in the house at all times. 

Q.  Why do you call anarchy a lifestyle?

-Anarchy is not just about resisting violent and coersive government.  It is a way of life.  Most people take for granted things such as on call police and schools.  But those things are both paid for by first stealing the money from unwilling persons.  Anarchy requires one to live without encroaching on others, which of course prevents stealing.  So the many things that are taken for granted, must be provided in other ways, or substitutes found.  

Q. Why not try to end all government?

-Such a thing is provably impossible in todays world.  Most persons believe that government is needed, and to try to forcefully take something others believe is needed is encroachment.  I am concerned that the government simply leave me alone, and that I do not hurt others.  My civil disobedience with the government is not one I picked.  The government has encroached on my liberty, and on the liberty and claims of those I care about, and I believe I must stand against the minor tyrannies, because they always lead to major tyrannies. 

Q. Is this another take over the government scheme?

-No.  It is clear to me that most people want government.  As strange as it seems, you cannot force freedom onto others. It is in fact encroachment to take government away from people that want it.  When others are ready to live peacefully and without government masters they will join us.  

 Q.  How will you prevent the police from taking the property?

-I plan to occupy the land.  I will sell off most of my land if possible to decentralize ownership.  Then I will 'Occupy' my own land.  The strategy for occupation is that the police can walk up to me an arrest me any time they want, but when they release me I will return to my home.  I will send a polite letter to all auction houses and real estate offices the government does business with, and state the property is in dispute, and I believe it is mine and that I will continue to live here.  The letter will also state that even if the government decides that they have a right to steal my land, and arrests me, that I intend to go back to my property.  It would be a great disservice to the auction house to sell my home, as I will still be there.   The more people that join me the more effective occupation strategy will work.  All of this can be done 100% non-violently. 

Q. Do you believe in the right of self defense?

-Of course I do.  When someone attempts to master you by force you have the right to forcibly resist.  I believe that to do so against the gov't is unwise though.  The gov't is unique among groups of individuals, because it is accepted by the greater society that they have the right to initiate force against innocent persons.  To defend yourself forcibly against this legitimized force, would be to your disadvantage at this time.  Most people would see it as an attack on 'good', and would embrace gov't and accept anything it does to you as acceptable.  Violence against gov't only makes it stronger.  The only time this does not happen, is when gov't loses its legitamacy, and we are a very long way away from that. 

On the flip side of the legitamacy coin, if the gov't uses what is normally acceptable violence against clearly peaceful people, than they start to lose some of their legitimacy.  That is the power behind nonviolent resistance.  My hope is that in the gov'ts desire to maintain their legitimacy and respect that they have with the majority, they choose to leave us alone.  Then we have successfully gained a foothold of anarchy within the existing society.