How Do We Govern a Commune

While reading Reece’s chapter on Twin Oaks, I can’t help but think that the only way we as people can develop important connections with one another while attempting to produce or contribute in some way to the community, is through small groups run like Twin Oaks. And I think Reece is suggesting that, too. The problem with Acorn is that it relies on the community’s consensus on decision-making rather than relying on those who serve as planner-managers. There isn’t enough accountability for those who’d like to sit around all day smoking cigarettes and not performing the 42 hours of work per week. I really like that Twin Oaks helps subsidize other small groups like it in order to encourage this micro-society based on egalitarian values. However I understand the problem Reece runs into when he tries to imagine the “perfected” society. Once Twin Oaks starts mandating that its sister community, Acorn, adopt the same governing ideals that they possess, there is a totalitarian force creeping up on the group. The best thing we can do as community members is communicate our grievances with one another and try to be considerate and active members for each other and for ourselves. Those guys smoking in Acorn may or may not realize that their laziness damages the community as a whole. If they are asked to work on these issues by council members or else they will be asked to leave, it might make them realize that they are not cut out for dedicated communal living of this sort. Let them start their own community and realize that in order to live sustainably based on egalitarian principles, work must shared by each member of the community.

Something I find very important in Reece’s observations of Acorn is his description of the aesthetics of the community. He describes the “feel of 1960s ‘drop cities’ ” and the dingy “sag” feeling he experiences (Reece 176). There is a general sense of lack of upkeep here. Even simple issues that could be improved in order to make the community look more attractive are ignored. If we look at these communities in the same way that Acorn sees itself (externally capitalist), then membership demand would likely be greater if the desires to live in a happy, clean, and fair community were aspects that they could easily recognize on a visit to the commune. Then the greater demand causes more communities of shared values begin to spring up around them and more people are able to engage in this type of living concept. – Dana

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