The Meaning of "Anarchist"

 "an" = without;  "archy" = ruler 

 (from the Greek)

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I know this is probably a waste of time, and a pointless exercise, but it comes up all the time, and it exasperates me.

"Anarchy" is used by a lot of people as a synonym for "chaos". Even my little desktop dictionary widget (thanks Apple) defines it thus:

"Lawlessness, nihilism, mobocracy, revolution, insurrection, disorder, chaos, mayhem, tumult, turmoil."

(Interestingly, it claims the antonyms are:  "government" and "order", but does not include "no-government" in the definition. Merely "lawlessness".)

On the other hand, American Heritage Dictionary (an actual book!)  has as the first definition:  "The absence of any form of political authority."

Which, of course, is the proper definition. Indeed, "Anarchism" in the same dictionary is defined as:

"The theory or doctrine that all forms of government are oppressive and undesirable, and should be abolished."

Hard for me to argue with that.

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A friend who was a witness to a local "Occupy" action noted that the rioters who called themselves "anarchists" spent their energy and time mostly destroying private property, i.e., businesses, and the public square.

As another friend said..."No doubt they came out to riot for more government handouts."

The irony is so thick it's hard to breathe.

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Government is ALWAYS evil, treacherous, dangerous, corrupt, greedy and soulless. Indeed, "Inside the Beltway" is just another way of saying "The Borg Collective Hive Mind".

"Anarchy" means freedom from it. 

I will grudgingly concede that there are times that government does seems useful, but I am not entirely convinced it's actually necessary.

The Free Market has a very handy way of providing pretty much everything we need and want—without destroying our freedom in the process.

So...I'd appreciate it if nincompoops, illiterates and widget makers would stop equating "Anarchy" with chaos and lawlessness...and learn the language they purportedly speak...as well as the political reality of what very little freedom we have in "the Land of the Free"...because of the growth and power and centralization of Government.

Sign me...(almost) AnarchoCapitalist,

/gun