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Title: Anarchists Fixing Potholes In Roads In Portland, Oregon
Source:
Activist Post
URL Source: http://www.activistpost.com/2017/03 ... -roads-in-portland-oregon.html
Published: Mar 14, 2017
Author: Vic Bishop
Post Date: 2017-03-15 06:36:46 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 11097
Comments: 48
By Vic Bishop Over one half of every tax dollar we give to Uncle Sam is spent on ‘defense,’ yet anytime a free-thinker questions the need to be ruled by a giant, bloated, corrupt government, the argument is that we need government because we need roads. Public infrastructure is in serious neglect, though, and to set an example of this disconnect between reality and fantasy, a group of Portland anarchists has established a group which fixes potholes in public roads without notifying the government, and without using public taxes. From the ‘about’ section on their Facebook page: “Because we believe in building community solutions to the issues we face, outside of the state. Because society portrays anarchists as only breaking windows and blocking roads. Because the city of Portland refuses to adequately repair roads in a timely manner. We are Portland Anarchist Road Care. We believe in community oriented direct action. We believe the state cares more about funding a militarized police force to suppress free speech than caring for and repairing the roads. The city of Portland has shown gross negligence in its inadequate preventative care through this winter’s storms, and through its slow repair of potholes as weather has improved. Daily, this negligence is an active danger to cyclists and causes damage to people’s automobiles, and an increased risk of collision and bodily injury. Portland Anarchist Road Care aims to mobilize crews throughout our city, in our neighborhoods, to patch our streets, build community, and continue to find solutions to community problems outside of the state.” [Source] Declaring itself as a political organization, the group considers this type of basic road repair by members of the local community to be a political action, highlighting the fact that we live in a time where the state has taken over many areas of shared society which have historically been managed by members of the community. PARC takes the state of the roads of PDX into the hands of the people. State neglect has caused the streets to fall into disrepair. We will fix the streets. [Source] The state inserts itself into every mundane and communal area of life, so it will be interesting see how the government handles citizens doing basic work such as this. Will Portland treat this group as many cities are treating groups who feed the homeless? Will the government outlaw fixing potholes by saying that it is not safe for people other than government to do such work? Will they call it vandalism? Will the people who are doing this be arrested for taking matters in to their own hands? Anarchism is the idea that people can create and maintain societies without the presence of organized, bureaucratic government. What do you think, is this possible in our world today? Read more articles by Vic Bishop. Vic Bishop is a staff writer for WakingTimes.com and OffgridOutpost.com Survival Tips blog. He is an observer of people, animals, nature, and he loves to ponder the connection and relationship between them all. A believer in always striving to becoming self-sufficient and free from the matrix, please track him down on Facebook. 
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 45.
#45. To: Deckard, Gatlin, A K A Stone, sneakypete, misterwhite (#0)
I was curious how much the anarchist collective coughed up to pay for its roadway repairs. I think I may have found the sack of goop they used to patch with at the Lowe's site. Sets instantly, no finish work or drying time. Lowe's: Road Rescue 50lb. Asphalt Patch $12.98 for 50 lbs, covers 7 square feet. Or they have a bag of the QPR Asphalt Path for about $14. So let's allow our hippie saints one bag per hole at $15/bag. So total cost for filling 5 potholes would be $75. Hell, those anarchists couldn't get much more than a quarter ounce of top-quality indica buds for a measly $75. I noticed that nothing about the two young hippies in the picture indicated they were wearing anything that would indicate they were working men. Probably college students or career barista experts.
#46. To: Tooconservative (#45)
Lowe's: Road Rescue 50lb. Asphalt Patch $12.98 for 50 lbs, covers 7 square feet. Or they have a bag of the QPR Asphalt Path for about $14. You can get a big torch to heat it up and smash it better.
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Replies to Comment # 45. I think I may have found the sack of goop they used to patch with at the Lowe's site. Sets instantly, no finish work or drying time.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 45.
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