The Peoples Council
Part 2 - Intro
Author - James The Traveller
Publish Date - 2nd September 2023 - 995 Words
This example story of a voluntarism peoples council meeting covers the following chapters and topics.
- Questions & discussion
- Negative statement turned into a positive
- Building communities from scratch
- Project specific leadership and temwork
- Community Meeting Organisation Team & Host Rotation
- Concerns about police and courts
- The PMA
- How do we expand our community?
- What do we do about taxes?
- Concerns about roads
- Why our current roads are so bad
- The cycle of control
- Road solutions
- Taxation vs donations
- Are we just creating a new government?
- Closing
Questions & Discussion
Larry, Alex, Theresa, Charlie & Rebecca were seated next to each other on the stage facing the community.
Rebecca raised her mic.
“Ok, now that we’re all refreshed after our break, let’s move into the next segment for the evening.
We’re going to remain up here on the stage to assist answering any questions that may arise.”
She waved at the other speakers.
“If anyone has any questions about how we’re going to proceed with transforming our town or if you’d like to present an idea of your own, for say approximately 5-10 minutes, you’re free to do so.
Please don’t be afraid of asking questions. The only stupid question is the one you don't ask!
We’ve got an hour or so and we want to hear as many voices and have as many questions as we can.
Many of you will have the same questions, so be brave and ask not just for your own clarity, but for everyone.
If you would like to present an idea on stage, stand up, share with everyone a quick elevator pitch of your idea, then we’ll take a vote to see if the people would like you to continue or not.
As I’m sure some of you may have brilliant ideas, but the community may not want to hear it right now.
All in good time.
So, any takers for a question or to share an idea?”
Theresa raised her mic.
“Apologies, I would just like to add that people think democracy is majority rules, but only once, every few years.
They think it’s an effective strategy because to give power and opportunity to the people to decide the outcome of all relevant decisions is ‘too slow’.
Well, let’s show them how that is not the case” she finished with a laugh that was joined by the others on stage and a few in the crowd.
An old man stood up and started speaking.
A Negative Statement That Leads To Something Positive
“This all sounds great and everything, very optimistic, but it’s just not practical. The government is going to crack down on this and stop it before it even begins. How are we meant to build entire new communities with the current system like it is, we just don’t have the money. People aren’t interested in change, this isn’t going to work, we need to just fight back against the system like we've already been doing, try and vote in new political parties and tell the cops to stick it where the sun don’t shine….”
Larry stood up and lifted his mic to to quickly interrupt the old codgers flow “Ok everyone, let’s take a vote right now if you would like this optimistic gentlemen to take the stage and continue speaking about….how we're all doomed…?”
No one in the audience raised their hand.
“Thank you for your contribution, your input is appreciated. I do mean that sincerely. I’ll show you why.”
Larry looked around the room and made eye contact with many people.
“Does this look like a beginning of something to you?” Larry asked in a loud passionate voice of the community.
The community of Frocksville clapped and cheered, all 1,500 of them.
“Raise your hand if you’re interested in change”?
The whole room raised their hands.
“Raise your hand if you’d be willing to donate your hard earned coins towards things you cared about and which you had a real say”?
Most of the people raised their hand.
“I know I’m asking a lot, especially from my presentation, but how many police are in the room? I promise we won’t lynch you it’s Ok” Larry laughed.
Two tentative hands went in the air from a man and woman sitting together at the back of the room.
“Now, who here thinks fighting this man and woman is a good idea to bring about positive change?”
No hands went up.
“Who here thinks we should teach them our message, invite them into our community with open arms and show them a better way?”
Every hand in the community went up.
Larry looked at the negative old man who had spoken earlier.
“That’s why we appreciate your input friend, every voice matters. Thank you.”
The crowd clapped and cheered again.
Building New Communities From The Ground Up
Charlie stood up and added “We don’t need to build entirely new communities from scratch.
It’s not necessary.
If that is what you’d like to do, then by all means go ahead.
But we already have the people and the infrastructure built here in our town.
We just need to adapt our current way of thinking and operating to reflect higher values and levels of cooperation.
It’s all about mindset and shifting attitudes from ‘me against the world’ to ‘our community against challenges’.
Just think about the amount of work that needs to go into establishing brand new communities.
It’s possible of course, but a lengthy and very challenging process.
It will be easier to educate people in our town about a better way of co-operating then it is to create some new from the ground up.
Although I will say again, if you have a group of people who are very focused and dedicated to building a new community, then sure, give it a good ole crack.
I hope that answers that question.”
