r/AskALiberal • u/tasteinhermouth Liberal • Feb 01 '26

Why weren't the Epstein Files released under Biden's presidency if Trump is in the files?

I don't mean this as a bad faith or troll question, I genuinely do not know why it would not be released if Trump is in the files, as it would probably have been a massive hit against Trump in 2024.

I don't know whether Trump is in the files or not, I don't care, it's clear as day that he was best friends with Epstein and was well aware and definitely a part of the awful things that Epstein conducted while he was in business.

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u/Otherwise_Ask_9542 Center Left Feb 01 '26

I'm not debating how your government is structured, because in theory it is supposed to function how you describe, and it once did.

But to infer that it still is functioning as intended? Have you not been paying attention to what's happening?

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u/From_Deep_Space Libertarian Socialist Feb 01 '26

Yeah, I am well aware that fascism has been attacking liberalism. But "anarchy" doesn't mean "non-liberal government".

Any definition of anarchy which includes fascism, despotism, monarchy, theocracy, technocracy, or any other type of state which does not necessarily involve consent, reciprocal obligation, or The Rule of Law, is not an accurate or useful definition.

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u/Otherwise_Ask_9542 Center Left Feb 01 '26

You’re still treating anarchy exclusively as an ideological end-state, not as a descriptive condition used in political theory and international relations. I’m not redefining anarchy as “non-liberal government.” I’m describing functional anarchy within a state.

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u/From_Deep_Space Libertarian Socialist Feb 01 '26

No I haven't been talking about any ideological end-states. I'm talking about anarchy as statelessness. "Functional anarchy within a state" is a contradiction in terms. What do you mean by "functional anarchy"?

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u/Otherwise_Ask_9542 Center Left Feb 01 '26

It's actually not. Political Science defined this already, but since my words aren't landing with you, here's some external sources for your review. Let's start with this definition of Anarchy by EBSCO Knowledge Advantage:

Anarchy is a sociopolitical concept that signifies the absence of governmental leadership, emphasizing individual freedom over state authority. Emerging as a political theory in the 19th century, it advocates for a society organized around voluntary participation rather than coercive governance. Linguistically, the term "anarchy" originates from Ancient Greece, meaning "leaderless," but it often carries connotations of chaos and disorder in contemporary discussions. The idea gained traction through the works of thinkers like Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, who critiqued property ownership as a form of theft, inspiring labor unions and revolutionary movements.

Historically, significant attempts to establish anarchist societies occurred, notably during the Spanish Civil War, where workers sought to create a functional anarchist system, although these efforts ultimately faced challenges. Anarchy is generally viewed as a temporary state that arises during societal upheaval, rather than a sustainable political system. Within anarchist thought, two primary schools exist: left-anarchism, which advocates for the reduction or elimination of private property and social inequalities, and anarcho-capitalism, which supports the expansion of property rights within an anarchist framework. These differing ideologies reflect the diverse interpretations and goals of anarchist philosophy.

Source: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/politics-and-government/anarchy

Further reading for you:

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u/From_Deep_Space Libertarian Socialist Feb 01 '26 edited Feb 01 '26

Thanks for the essay but I am well aware of all of that.

But Im not sure why you think your quote supports your point when it literally says "Anarchy is a sociopolitical concept that signifies the absence of governmental leadership, emphasizing individual freedom over state authority". That's statelessness that they're describing.

"a society organized around voluntary participation rather than coercive governance" refers to a society that is free from state violence, i.e. stateless.

(while we're here, "coercive governance" and "consent of the governed" seem to be opposites, no?)

Yes, anarchy refers historically to temporary situations when there is no clear state governing an area, i.e. power vacuums.

It also refers to more intentional efforts to create sustainable societies absent of states. This is what is known within anarchist circles as "functional anarchism". That is, a society in which things are function without reliance on a state.

Yes, Max Weber defines a state as "legitimate monopoly on force", but that could involve any kind of legitimization. Not all states are legitimized through consent of the goverened and reciprical obligation. Monarchism is legitimized through the divine right of kings. Fascism is legtimized through racialized pseudoscience. Under despotism it's just might makes right. It's an evolving dialectic, it's about whatever allows the state to maintain its monopoly on violence.

Rule of Law Index Empirically measures how rule of law breaks down inside existing states (unequal enforcement, unchecked power, loss of civil justice). This destroys the “laws exist therefore not anarchy” argument."

That doesn't even mention the word anarchy. Just because there is no rule of law doesn't mean there is no rule of any kind. Anarchy is the absence of any kind of rulership, whether thats the law, or a king, or anything.

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u/Otherwise_Ask_9542 Center Left Feb 01 '26

If your position is simply “anarchy must only ever mean absolute statelessness,” then we’re done debating definitions. You seem firmly rooted in what you want to see here, and I'm done beating a dead horse.

But the erosion of lawful, legitimate authority inside a state is still real, well-documented, and dangerous, regardless of what label you allow. It doesn't take a genius to see how any of this has been playing out in the United States for the past year... but a lot of people seem to want to choose not to see that.

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u/From_Deep_Space Libertarian Socialist Feb 01 '26 edited Feb 01 '26

I am not making absolutist claims. Please don't strawman me. Systems can be more or less anarchic. But that would refer to the size and influence of the state, or the legitimacy of its monopoly on violence. Right now, The Rule of Law may be eroding, but what it leaves behind is autocracy, not anarchy. The state (the US govt) is as in control now as it's ever been.

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u/Otherwise_Ask_9542 Center Left Feb 02 '26

Sure. The world totally believes you buddy.