The Community

[Adahn]

[size=2]I think it's obvious that Communism doesn't work as a form of Government, but that's not what I'm suggesting here.[/size]
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[size=2]I wonder if Communism could operate within a capitalistic society. Of course, it wouldn't be called Communism, it would be called The Community. It would take one person, or a group of like-minded individuals to start something like The Community. They would really have to put themselves on the line. They would pool their assets, purchasing a building to become the center of The Community, or the "Hub", as I like to call it. In the surrounding residential area, land would be purchased and relatively small homes constructed. This would mark the beginnings of The Community.[/size]
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[size=2]Next, the function of the Hub must be addressed. The Hub will serve as a center for entertainment, public gatherings, and an eating area. It's size and functions could be modified to suit the resources and desires of the community. The Hub will contain many of the resources required for daily living, so that the residential areas need not be very large, though still spacy given that the Hub takes care of most things that can be accomplished in a community setting.[/size]
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[size=2]I'm not a lawyer/politician, so I don't know exactly what rules must be set up to maintain such a place, but I will lay down a few of the basics. Those entering the community must sign a contract agreeing to the rules of the community. Part of that contract requires that the applicant set up a 'retainer' of 50,000 dollars minimum, so that should the applicant wish to leave, they will leave with their retainer. This also serves to rule out applicants without the ability to acquire income. The applicants may bring any number of family members with them, though each married couple must set up a retainer, and each unmarried adult must have a retainer. All applicants must agree to make their tax returns available to the accountant, who will be elected within the community. The accountant will be on a tight leash, since he/she will have access to sensitive documents and money. Money will enter the community's general fund through donations by its members. Donations are completely voluntary, and the amount deposited is always anonymous, except to the accountant. After tax returns are filed and a yearly income is determined for all members of the community, the percentage of donations in relation to income for each member of the community is made public. The amount each person makes is private, but the percentage donated is public. This serves as a way to allow members of the community to see the generosity of their fellow community members, and the community members may decide on a certain percentage as the minimum donation. They may also vote for a reasonable minimum income. The members may then call a vote for the exile of such members from the community, or some other penalty. Percentage can also be gained by working within the community for no cash, reducing the amount of money lost to outside contractors. Percentage cannot exceed 100%. Percentage can be used for various things that the community decides. Although percentage is expended doing such things, the amount the individual started out with is the only thing that is required to be public, and spending percentage can never be the cause of community action against the individual. At some point in the year, it will be time to decide what the money in the general fund is used for. A certain amount must be left for necessities, a certain amount for emergencies, but the rest can be used for anything to benefit the community. Perhaps at this time the votes cast must be cast in percentage, so that members who didn't use up their percentage for personal gain will have more influence on what the community gains. The estimated (or exact) cost of each thing being voted for will be known, and after votes are cast, the thing with the highest percentage will be accepted, followed by the next highest percentage, and so on until the money in the fund is exhausted. If there is money left over, then it will go into the emergency fund, an investment, next year's general fund, or something like that which has been pre-decided by the community. All things that are voted for must not benefit a single individual or group within the community. All things purchased must be available to the whole community. Purchases for the community necessities will be made in bulk, reducing the price.[/size]
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[size=2]Well, I've spent a long time brooding over this, so there is much more. If you have any thoughts, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to share them. If something is unclear, I will attempt to resolve it. If I cannot, then I will admit now that my faculties in certain areas that concern this idea are perhaps not up to par with your own.[/size]

[Boba Fett]

[quote name='Adahn][size=2']I wonder if Communism could operate within a capitalistic society. Of course, it wouldn't be called Communism, it would be called The Community.[/quote]

[color=green]It already does, and we call it socialism.[/color]

[quote name='Adahn'] It would take one person, or a group of like-minded individuals to start something like The Community. They would really have to put themselves on the line.[/quote]

[color=green]Like, say, the U.S. founding fathers?[/color]

[quote name='Adahn']They would pool their assets, purchasing a building to become the center of The Community, or the "Hub", as I like to call it. In the surrounding residential area, land would be purchased and relatively small homes constructed. This would mark the beginnings of The Community.[/size][/quote]

[color=green]A country, perhaps? With a capitol and surrounding private residences?[/color]

[quote name='Adahn][size=2']Next, the function of the Hub must be addressed. The Hub will serve as a center for entertainment, public gatherings, and an eating area. Its size and functions could be modified to suit the resources and desires of the community. The Hub will contain many of the resources required for daily living, so that the residential areas need not be very large, though still spacy given that the Hub takes care of most things that can be accomplished in a community setting.[/size][/quote]

[color=green]Reminds me of the mall. Or the public library. Town hall. The office building I work in. The school I am educated in.[/color]

[quote name='Adahn][size=2']Those entering the community must sign a contract agreeing to the rules of the community... This also serves to rule out applicants without the ability to acquire income. The applicants may bring any number of family members with them...[/size][/quote]

[color=green]Immigrants are subjected to a visa process in our current society.[/color]

[quote name='Adahn']All applicants must agree to make their tax returns available to the accountant, who will be elected within the community. The accountant will be on a tight leash, since he/she will have access to sensitive documents and money. Money will enter the community's general fund through donations by its members.[/quote]

[color=green]Mr. IRS?[/color]

[quote name='Adahn']At some point in the year, it will be time to decide what the money in the general fund is used for. A certain amount must be left for necessities, a certain amount for emergencies, but the rest can be used for anything to benefit the community... The estimated (or exact) cost of each thing being voted for will be known, and after votes are cast, the thing with the highest percentage will be accepted, followed by the next highest percentage, and so on until the money in the fund is exhausted. If there is money left over, then it will go into the emergency fund, an investment, next year's general fund, or something like that which has been pre-decided by the community.[/quote]

[color=green]Congress is supposed to do this.


Forgive me, but you seem to have reinvented the wheel.[/color]

[Adahn]

[size=2]Of course the things I mentioned have precedents, and have a place in our government. What you've done is broken what I've written into segments and told me that none of those parts were anything new, when it was my intention that something new be constructed by those parts. Here's an analogy. Let's say our government is made of Lego's. Now, dismantle our government and separate it nicely into its parts. Take my idea, and do the same thing. "Look, they're made of the same things, so they are the same thing!" seems to be your argument. You're forgetting the fact that different structures can be built from the same materials.[/size]
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[size=2]The idea behind communism is to make everyone equal. As a governmental system, it fails. My suggestion is to set up a "little communism" that operates within the confines of capitalism. If it doesn't work on a large scale, could it work on a smaller scale in a different environment? I had hoped that my long-winded explanation of basic functions would flesh out the idea by identifying parallels to other systems, showing that it could operate as a separate, but enclosed entity, but I appear to have failed. If this is the case, then please address the concept, rather than picking apart my futile attempt at drawing comparisons.[/size]

[Stark]

Adahn, it sounds rather utopian in a few aspects. Communism was the same way, rather utopian. It's an idea that sounds great when typed out, but in action has many flaws. Flaws like where a person's incentives lie and the like.

You mentioned it on a smaller scale, sounding to me like a little sub community type construct where people separate themselves from the greater part of society. But they already have places like that, like nudist colonies, where people can do as they will and not have to worry.

On that idea it could work, if a person wants to live in a box. frankly, it doesn't sound that appealing to me.

[Adahn]

[size=2]Honestly, the idea comes from the Bible where Jesus' followers all pooled their money and lived together. It doesn't require a spiritual leader, but I'm wondering if that sort of set-up could exist today in some form or another.[/size]

[different ki]

There are communities like that; they're called communes. They aren't very common, but they do exist.

EDIT: Actually, regular condominiums count as group living. The people live in the same building, there are rules for everyone to follow, and everyone pays the fee to use common facilities and pay for repairs.