Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of anarchy because they imagine that authority is all that stands between vulnerable people and their abusers, however inadequately. What they fail to realize is that these abusers *are part of that authority*, which is why abuse is so rampant in societies that pretend to be liberal, enlightened, safe, and equal. Anarchism does not propose to leave vulnerable people helpless to defend themselves. Anarchism proposes to strip abusers of their authority and empower vulnerable people.