Christiania-a free town

[David]

This is a city of about 900 people who homesteaded abandoned military barracks in Denmark. 
While it isn't really planned, and not any certain political orientation, it is somewhat anarchic.  Certainly not pure, but close in a lot of ways.
About the only rules they have is no hard drugs, no violence, no cars, maybe a few others.  None of the rules are strongly enforced untill they get pissed, then a mass of them root out the trouble makers.  They effectively forced out the violent drug gangs, including a motorcycle gang.  They put up stone blockades to keep cars out.  The reason is they are afraid of police intervention.  The police routinely root out the blockades, and the town puts them back.  They look the other way in regards to the soft drugs, and on a street known as pusher street, they prohibit pictures.  All of this is done decentralized, except when dealing with the few violet gangs. 
There have been a few violent clashes with the police in regards to not paying taxes and the blockades, the police will enforce their laws if the can. 

Despite the occasional violent responces to the police, I really admire this city.  Their stubborn tenacity in regards to the blockades is brilliant.  They welcome the drug trade to some degree, but absolutely reject the violence.  This is important because the main organized distributers of drugs are the gangs, and violence has become part of their culture due to the drug prohibitions and the following repression.  While I am a big fan of videotaping the police, because they have more to hide than I do, and this requires video cameras to be present for maximum useability, I see why they do not allow any cameras on pusher street.  The police have not been able to force or convince the people to move out. 

If this was done with a more anarchic and nonviolent worldview and approach, the results could be amazing.  Combined with the peacefull occupation strategy, could give us a solid start to real anarchy.
anarchyhouseproject1.org/home

I don't have money for land.  As much as I want to, I cannot do this stuff alone.  I have always viewed a porchouse or the house project as a way to get this started, but I am unable to do it myself.  I can only afford about 500 bucks in rent/mortgage max.  If I had a partner with similar goals, we could join in to buy land by pooling resources etc. 
That to me is the most important part, just getting started.  Once we get started, we can have a place for new members to easily join, or even visit to get a feel for the project.  We can expand later, or even move to some land on the outskirts of Keene to start something that has the potentual to expand even more. 

[J’raxis 270145]

Sounds more oppressive than what we have in society-at-large nowadays, but it also sounds like a voluntary community, so I presume people are free to leave and so forth.

As to land, have you heard of this? There's actually a meetup this Sunday I'm checking out.

[Eli]

Alot of the permaculture communities I've encountered have been very socialist in their organizations and philosophies.  But they have also been very independent.

[J’raxis 270145]

This one's being organized by a freestater.

[picaro]

This one's being organized by a freestater.

Is that a Kucinich sign on the barn?

Seriously, self-sufficiency is a good nexus between anti-authoritarian right and left.    It was downright surprising how much commonality existed between the Kucinich supporters and Ron Paul people I met.   They weren't all stark raving marxists -- much to my amazement.

[J’raxis 270145]

This one's being organized by a freestater.

Is that a Kucinich sign on the barn?

Seriously, self-sufficiency is a good nexus between anti-authoritarian right and left.    It was downright surprising how much commonality existed between the Kucinich supporters and Ron Paul people I met.   They weren't all stark raving marxists -- much to my amazement.

Kucinich would be a libertarian if someone just taught the man economics. He has most of the right ideas, he just doesn't realize you can't use the government to do it.

[David]

Sounds more oppressive than what we have in society-at-large nowadays, but it also sounds like a voluntary community, so I presume people are free to leave and so forth.

As to land, have you heard of this? There's actually a meetup this Sunday I'm checking out.

Of course they are very free to leave.  I doubt it is oppressive.  And if it is worse than the propaganda states, no big deal.  I would never replicate it exactly.  My idea would fit very nicely within the non aggression policy. 

[Caleb]

Wouldn't it be nice if others hadn't excluded you from land? 

Ok, look at it this way: You borrow $50,000 at 6.5% interest for a term of 15 years. How many acres can you buy for $50,000? Let's say 10? That's only $435 per month. You live in a tent on your land until you can build yourself a small compressed earth room. First thing to do is dig your well and get some toilet and shower facilities. So you set an acre aside for communal purposes. Divide the rest of the land 50 ways, and then charge people $1000 to buy a little share (around .2 acre if my math is correct, with access to the communal acre.) For every person who buys in, you pay the money straight to the bank and now owe less money back to the bank. So if you can convince 50 people to buy in and join you in the first year, then the land is owned free and clear.

I will actually commit to purchasing one share at $1000 if you manage to go that route.

[Caleb]

chirp  chirp  chirp  chirp  chirp ...

<tumbleweed blows across this thread>

Ok, so you didn't like the $50,000 idea....

Let's go a little smaller and see if we can entice you to take some steps here.
http://www.beangroup.com/real_estate/listings/Land/NH/Swanzey/604817

$12,000 for 2.7 acres. I bet you can talk them down to $10,000.

Set aside  .7 acres for communal use. (Shower facilities/bathroom. Kitchen/Dining Room. Party area/gameroom.) Divide the two acres ten ways (once again, .2 acres per person, more than enough to build a small sleeping area and have a little land to play with.) $1000 per share. Like I said, I will purchase a share, so you have 10% of it right now. If you match me, you've just raised 20% towards your goal.... You don't even need a bank loan, just see how quick you can raise $10000)

I realize that you don't like the idea of buying land and building on it. But that's affordability my friend. You are, as you are quite aware, engaging in highly risky behavior here by flaunting their laws. A prebuilt house is expensive. You can dream on about finding enough people to take tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of risk ... or you can do something now.

[TresJay]

"Bring new life to this great recreation lot! Bargain priced land located in Swanzey is a great find for the nature lover. This 2.7 acre lot features an old well where a hunting camp once sat in the 70's. Invest or have fun on your own land! Not a building lot. MLS # 2686860 offered at $12,000"

Any idea what that means?

[Caleb]

Usually it means that they have rules in place that say that you aren't allowed to build any permanent structures.

But since Dave is interesting in flaunting there laws and living free (or dying), then a little thing like that won't matter. 

[David]

I like both of your ideas Caleb. Just didn't post.   And no, I am not interested in living free or 'dying', more like living free or living in jail.  You are right about the desire for low cost.  I could always build a crappy shack.     A 'compound' depending on who you talk to. 

[Caleb]

Here's another idea, Dave. Start collecting money now. Create a savings account or better yet an e-gold (or equivalent) account and start setting aside a little money every week for this. It will show people you are serious, and let other people donate to it as well.  Then if an opportunity strikes, you will have some funds already available with which to make a move.

[Russell Kanning]

Sounds more oppressive than what we have in society-at-large nowadays, but it also sounds like a voluntary community, so I presume people are free to leave and so forth.

actually it sounds lovely to me

[J’raxis 270145]

Sounds more oppressive than what we have in society-at-large nowadays, but it also sounds like a voluntary community, so I presume people are free to leave and so forth.

actually it sounds lovely to me

Only because all their rules must be something you agree with.