Communes in the US

[strk]

I visited a commune once as an assignment in some class long ago.  I didnt expect much but was suprised at what I found in that every person there had his/her own room, and they worked and lived on a large farm where they raised animals and produced food.  They also had 3 or 4 business run by the people there that brought in a half million dollars a year.  Every member had health insurance through blue cross.  One thing that realy struck me about the place was all the kids that were there - of all ages and how much fun they were having in this big social group on a huge farm.  There were just a few hippies there and the majority of the people were generally nice granola-types.

Needless to say it was better organized than I expected and it was a very libertarian atmosphere - you did what you wanted as long as you didnt mess with someone else.  All viewpoints and religions and creeds were welcome.  THere were lots of work that needed to be done and people would have a farm job and a non farm job, or something like that.  Bottom line was that everyone worked.  You could get a job outside the commune if you wanted also.

So great and all, I spent a day there, it was a long time ago and what not.  It was an eye-opener - seeing how people could share resources to the extent these people did.   So I was thinking a few days ago about what we call the safety net - welfare and food stamps and housing assistance - and I remembered the commune.  This idea percolates every now and then so I will share it with you.

Couldn't places like that farm commune be the bottom of the safety net?  Homeless, realy poor people, non-violent felons coming out of prison, assisted living folks (all segregated to some degree so that it makes sense) could choose to live and work on a farm until they could get back on their feet, or could stay there indefinitely.

If that place could make a half mil a year (many years ago), couldnt these places be self-sustainable?  And wouldnt that end welfare as we know it or at least significantly reduce the cost?

Discuss!  and strkophobes please notice that this is a non-partisan non-political post so please do not start calling me a commie or I will have to tell my mom on you!

[ra]

If you can pick and choose who lives with you, you can build a pretty sound little community.  I doubt very much these communes allow just anyone to join.  If too many unproductive people were allowed to join it would not be able to sustain itself financially.   The same is true with all societies.

[Chairboy]

I wonder if the ratio of 'unproductive people' is as high as we might first think.  If someone has structure (like a commune) where they are directly accountable and surrounded by people who know have a stake in them doing their job, then peer pressure should be enough to keep most people working.

It's an interesting idea.

[Capt. Pork]

Originally posted by strk


Couldn't places like that farm commune be the bottom of the safety net?  Homeless, realy poor people, non-violent felons coming out of prison, assisted living folks (all segregated to some degree so that it makes sense) could choose to live and work on a farm until they could get back on their feet, or could stay there indefinitely.

 

Almost like an Americanized Kibbutz.

I can see it now: Animal Farm in da hood.

[GRUNHERZ]

I'll bet that group was heavily selective and very driven to have the commune succeed by internal factors.

If you just got together a bunch of homeless or poor and GAVE them a commune to start it would fail in most cases and cost a ton to do.

You see I fully belive "communism" of this sort can work if a small dedicated group of generally like minded individuals decides to form one and contol membership and equalkly share work always.  

However if this is some instituted thing with govewrnment money behind it then it would fail because you would not have he above drive.

[GRUNHERZ]

Originally posted by Chairboy
I wonder if the ratio of 'unproductive people' is as high as we might first think.  If someone has structure (like a commune) where they are directly accountable and surrounded by people who know have a stake in them doing their job, then peer pressure should be enough to keep most people working.

It's an interesting idea.

I'll say 25% are very hard working, 50% so-so, and 25% are low performers. This is pretty much a consitent pattern in most human organizations.