by James | Mar 1, 2019 | Exploration I
How will age affect the process of entering the community?
While in many entries there has been discussion of this there should be a clarity of what it means to ‘enter’ the community. In many communes, monastic groups around the world there are full-time members living in the community perpetually, there are transitionals (laypersons), novices, candidates and even, pilgrims etc. Depending on the type and beliefs of the group in question.
In fact the monastic orders of old were in a constant state of change due to changing ideas of what it meant to be a monk, philosopher or aesthetic.
It seems universal though that a lifetime membership should be just given out to people on a whim, a layperson can help at can be someone of any age giving up their limited leisure time if they believe in the community, or a student could be a transitional merely at the community to obtain experience and an education.
Someone deciding to move into the community on a permanent basis must be firstly old enough to by civil law to leave home or in foster situations, orphaned etc.
While it is not the intention of the community to become another foster system for the plight of abandoned children following the reasons for founding the community, every provision must be made in such circumstances, where possible, in final analysis no child should ever be abandoned.
Similarly someone who wishes to join at an advanced age and brings a huge wealth of experience, or a dedicated effort into the community exceptions can and should be made. Essentially ageism should not blind us to all prescriptive members.
All decisions (as stated in e108) should go through a group selection committee.
**Addendum: Members should go through a lengthy novice and training period to ensure that they will be happy within the community in the long run.
by James | Feb 25, 2019 | Exploration I
How will the hierarchy of the community be decided?
There shouldn’t be a huge hierarchy, any sufficiently complex hierarchy creates too many divisions between those elected and those not elected into positions of control. We are all different levels of our chosen disciplines.
An elected official only holds power only within the purview of his office, any major decisions can be challenged to a debate of peers or a board of review if there is sufficient cause.
Furthermore, people will be randomly assigned to communities and all people within the community have a minimum of 20% of the their hours doing menial chores.
If the community should grow beyond one location there should there be another elected group above the individual communities at a regional, national or international level?
On a large scale representation of each discipline also needs to remain as equal as possible to avoid a bias towards a particular field of study or science. This of course would depend on how many people exist and could take the time to partake in such committees.
by James | Jan 11, 2019 | Exploration I
How much do members earn?
At this point, this is very much an exercise in speculation. But some approximate values can be expressed based on current incomes for technically specialized people. In the UK for example, at time of writing, a graduate with 2 years experience can expect to receive anything from £20-30,000 depending on which region of the UK and the particular company hiring. With the community requiring some money to exist and provide food, water, electricity, insurance and other day to day essentials and materials for the members en mass we can suggest a saving of 5000 to 6000 every 6 months. for each individual should be more than feasible. Providing ample reduction in normal fees for competitive contracts from the community, while also giving the member a large amount of savings from 10,000 to 12,000 per year. But finally also allowing the community to save an excess for future hard times.
** Addendum , having run a business now for the last 5 years I would suggest that excess amounts would be poured primarily into a treasury.
by James | Jul 6, 2014 | Exploration I
How are decisions made in the community?
There appear to be (from previous entries ) a number of methods emerging. Firstly an elected official can make decisions within the purview of his elected position. Secondly, there are are both short term and long term committees made of a random selection of members. Short term committees are created to resolve disputes in the case of an individual vs another or an individual vs an elected official.
Long term committees are created for a number of years to have authority or expertise over a particular part of the legislation, chore distribution etc. In all cases committees should be chosen at random from an equal spread of disciplines, gender etc.
Finally a 2/3 majority is necessary to pass, accept, agree on a verdict if this doesn’t occur more debate time should be allowed and then more members should be added or compromises created.
by James | Jun 25, 2014 | Exploration I
How should new members be found?
The community should encourage new membership broadly through its website, through associations at universities and word of mouth. Affiliations to existing institutions and the creation of educational material software should help spread the word to encourage new members. Public debates and interaction should not be seen as a recruitment drive any interaction with the public should if asked only respond; “The community is always happy to welcome new members” we should be clear we don’t have ulterior motives to any of our acts that help the community and the world, our motive is what we are, what we do and we want the world to improve for the present and subsequent generations.
In fact certain responses should be crafted that give a unified response to all questions that are regularly demanded so the community can speak with one coherent response.
