We citizens of the USA live in a capitalist oligarchic, therefore necessarily non-democratic, society. Who could refute this with any hard evidence?
The authorities and powers of this society (the oligarchs) want either to protect the structural status quo which they can thoroughly exploit or they want structural change that moves further in the direction of what is called 'anarcho-capitalism' which means capitalism that has no independent government structure it must be accountable to. The current government structure does not qualify as such. The oligarchs own the current government though they retain its mask of impartial arbiter of protection and justice.
'Anarcho-capitalism' is not representative of genuine anarchist philosophy which holds to the principle of no central or hierarchical governmental authority. 'Anarcho-capitalism' would simply replace the central/hierarchical government structure with the innate structure of capitalism itself which is centralized hierarchy. 'Anarcho-capitalism' is not a genuine anarchist movement. It is financially rooted tyranny in the extreme: Dictatorship of the Oligarchs.
The primary offensive and defensive weapon of the oligarchic government is the capacity for covering both sides of any social conflict. It builds traps that face both ways. So whichever side you take, you walk into the trap. This prevents structural change of any sort save that desired by the oligarchs. Consider the Malheur occupation.
In this situation, the oligarchic government doesn't really care which side prevails because its interests cover both sides. If the 'anarcho-capitalist' occupation prevails or if the occupation is undone by the FBI the interests of oligarchic government will be served. The situation can only become a gain for 'anarcho-capitalism' as a philosophy and actuality (which the oligarchs want) or become an affirmation of the oligarchic government as the authoritative protector of the citizenry, the official defender of justice for the vulnerable law-abiding citizens. The oligarchs can't lose here - unless we don't step into the trap by taking one side or the other.
I am dismayed by how often 'progressives' blast the oligarchic government for its utter corruption (domestic greed and endless war for purposes of global hegemony) then demand that that same government protect the citizenry. Protect it against what? It is usually against the government itself or against some consequences of the government's positions.
Some people say the Malheur occupiers are terrorists and traitors and should be brought to justice by the government and some say they are rebels with some truth and justification on their side. I recently read an article on OEN that says that the USA has become a country with no rule of law and that the Malheur occupiers are victims of this unfortunate fact. Then there are counter comments claiming that the occupiers are themselves an example of no rule of law (supported by the Koch brothers) and should be charged with sedition. And so the dog chases its tail and winds up confused and exhausted without having achieved anything.
If the side of the occupiers is taken then we are supporting 'anarcho-capitalism' and the oligarchs are happy. If the government undoes the occupation and affirms itself as the official protector needed by all law-abiding and patriotic citizens then the oligarchs are happy. Either way they get something they want.
What they don't want is structural change that diminishes their power. This means that the proper approach to the Malheur occupation for anyone interested in diminishing their power is to not take sides at all, but to simply observe and record in the most objective and minute detail what happens. And make this record visible to all. Don't clutter the scene with conflicting emotion and opinion that will produce confusion and fog. Keep it clean and clear and just record the facts. It is the facts themselves that will eventually show the hand of the oligarchs. We have to trust that reality will prevail if we let it.
I am by no means saying we should forget Malheur. I am saying we should not let it out of our sight. The hunter always returns to the traps he has set to see what has been caught. This time let us make sure that it will be the hunter who is caught.
The hunter's hand will be revealed if you let it.
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