I'm reminded of the governing principles of an anarchistic commune I inhabited for awhile in '77, just before moving to Santa Barbara. Who says there's no cultural diversity in the U.S. - how about cultural whiplash?
We had three primary rules and no individual leader by design:
Rules -
1. Projects - If you feel some activity is worth doing, make it happen. If you need help, ask for it. If others agree, they are free to help or support it.
2. Conflicts - If you have a problem with some individual, work it out directly. The issue can't be resolved by talking with others about the issue or about the individual.
3. Participation - Everyone participates in the weekly meeting of the community and everyone contributes money or equivalent time to the primary economic requirements and infrastructure of the community.
A minor rule was - no illegal drugs grown on the property.
This commune was formed by a network of Univ. of Illinois activists who were among the most active in creating post-Vietnam war community businesses and enterprise in the late '60s - early '70s. (e.g. Earthworks Garage by Dave Baker)
The high degree of independent experience among the members allowed them to avoid the charismatic leader/hierarchy syndrome typical of communes and utopian experiments.
Instead of staying on campus and talking about utopia, 20 adults and 9 children purchased a 175 acre "hollow" in Tennessee and lived the idea. It's still going - they burned the mortgage papers a few years back.
Bruce Hanna, Paradigm Innovation associates
Results-oriented innovation...the human element
[email protected] Santa Barbara,CA (805)962-6677
"... imagination is stronger than knowledge, myth is more potent than history..." Fulghum