Anarchism

I began this discussion by voicing a difficult but genuine concern: that many self-described anarchist groups seem to end up supporting fascist tactics. I understand why that was met with hostility, but that concern is rooted in a pattern I've observed. This exchange, unfortunately, has served as a stark and unambiguous example of that pattern.

The approval of specific killings is disturbing, but the truly dangerous element here is the underlying framework that allows for it. It is a process of radical dehumanization. It begins by reducing a person—a citizen, a neighbor, someone with a family and a complex life—to a single political label. Once a person is nothing more than a label like "fascist," their life is stripped of value, and their murder can be reframed as a righteous or necessary act.

The tragic killing of Aaron Danielson is a clear example of this. He was reduced to his political affiliation and a hat, and for that, he was targeted and killed. What makes this case even more damning is that his killer then fabricated a story of self-defense—a lie that the evidence does not support. This is a critical point. The lie itself is a confession that the murder could not be justified on its own terms. To champion this act is to align oneself not with a principled defender of justice, but with someone who murdered a fellow citizen and then lied to posthumously blame his victim.

I understand the anger fueled by political rhetoric from all sides. But there is a vast and sacred line between engaging in provocative speech and the final, irreversible act of taking a human life. To glamorize a murder built on a lie is to erase that line entirely. It is how movements, in their quest to fight monsters, become monstrous themselves.

This framework has no logical stopping point. If a political activist or commentator is a legitimate target, the circle of "legitimate targets" inevitably expands to include anyone who supports them or shares their views. It is a blueprint for civil war, not justice. Let's call this what it is: an ideology that justifies terrorizing and eliminating citizens based on their political beliefs is, by definition, totalitarian and fascist. It does not fight fascism; it becomes a mirror of it.

For anyone reading this who is drawn to anarchism out of a genuine desire to challenge corrupt systems like corporatocracy, I hope this exchange serves as a cautionary tale. It demonstrates how a movement with understandable goals can be used as a vehicle for an ideology that justifies murdering political enemies.

I believe everyone has the potential to see through the tribal manipulation that pits us against each other. The genuine desire for a better world—one free from corporate control and injustice—is a powerful starting point. But true progress is achieved through the difficult work of persuasion, coalition-building, and creating systems so just and appealing that they win people over without coercion. That is the only path that leads to lasting change, rather than just another cycle of retaliatory violence.