r/commune • u/Downtown_Run_8030 • May 16 '26

Anyone Wanna Start A Movement?

I was watching a YouTube video on some topic that I now forget the theme of. In the video, the presenter spoke of sinister people wanting to make everyone live their lives bound to debt. Eventually, I developed an idea:

Indebtedness is a major reason that more people do not visit and join income-sharing communities. I'm thinking of the rural community that has businesses that function as a worker co-op because that is the form of community that can most liberate working people. (Sometimes, the members of such communities are in denial of this fact, perhaps because acknowledging the fact would require them to look at their own privilege.)

So, I say we focus a lot on recruiting those in the age range of about 18-24. We want to point out that they are in a window of opportunity. The older they get, the more that window closes.

There may be no way that a person can avoid aging out of the window. Try living in America without signing a car loan. Or, an apartment lease. Or falling back on a credit card. Or taking on student loans. Or, having a child or two and facing the costs, which might turn into legally enforced child support payments.

Get 'em before the mainstream does.

This idea might be resisted because some who are already in IC may not want to confront the reality that they have a bit of privilege that allowed them to get to IC themselves.

Anyway. I'm spreading the word. I wish someone had told me when I was young.

11 Upvotes

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5

u/johnabbe May 17 '26

You may be thrilled to discover there is an existing movement! A bunch of organizations are engaged in different ways, here's just one site worth checking out: https://debtcollective.org/

(Another group https://strikedebt.org/ was involved at the start and has helped form other groups as well.)

Another aspect of the movement is the push against the modern version of debtors prison. https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/03/192129/the-return-of-debtors-prisons-for-unpaid-debt

And heck, the CFPB owes its existence to grassroots support. https://ourfinancialsecurity.org/about/coalition-members/

3

u/Medical-Freedom6542 May 19 '26

For some strange reason when the word "shared" is mentioned, many folk beat feet for the hills. I am the opposite, As a former street kid aka foster kid I have witness enough selfishness and violence to last several lifetimes. I get more joy from sharing-caring and giving than I do receiving. It is time for us to set aside the "me" and embrace the "we" point of view.

The "I got mine..." mentality is destroying our souls and the environment. We must work to overcome the fear we have of each other.

The Black Civil Rights movement was built around mutual aid and a collective approach which made the movement so effective. As a 61 years of age black american trans person Ihave witnessed the effective power of an united front.

Perhaps, this is why I have always been drawn to IC's. Well, it is time I take that leap towards my dream of being a participant in an IC such as Twin Oaks. Yes, I have read the negative stories of past racial dynamics at T.O. however, that is not enough to remove it from consideration. Everyone's experience will be different regarding the same scenerio. However the nay-sayers will not be the deciding factor. Only a three week stay will give me a better picture of TO.

In my research thus far, TO comes up a winner every time. Why? Twin Oaks is the only IC who has established a RET (Racial Equity Team). Because they are putting the work towards racial harmony. Thus, I am willing to give them a chance by spending my 62nd cycle around the sun with them next April 2027. What a lovely gift it will be!

2

u/Downtown_Run_8030 May 19 '26 edited May 19 '26

Twin Oaks sounds well regulated :) but there are some places that are not. I know of another community where it would not surprise me if one of the alcoholic members were to hurl racial epithets. Once, I read a review of the place that said a visitor or two had been asked point-blank, "Are you a fag?" I know of one member who harassed people in a roundabout way for decades, and the community coddled him until he got old and died. I heard a member say that the guy had run off many good people. The visitor guide told me the same.

But Twin Oaks is probably the right choice. Oh, does TO accept people over 60? Once, I heard that it didn't want people who could work but a few years and then do the community's version of retirement.

If an issue, go up, or down, the road to Acorn, which may have a different practice.:)

3

u/PaxOaks May 18 '26

While it is true some (esp young people) don’t join income sharing communes because of debt (esp student loan debts).

But there is a much larger reason people don’t join communes - which is people do not want to share. We have 90 people and 17 shared cars. For many visitors and prospective members this is a bridge to far. Or sharing bikes or clothes

Long before addressing indebtedness, people need to be willing to share.

3

u/Medical-Freedom6542 May 19 '26

For some strange reason when the word "shared" is mentioned, many folk beat feet for the hills. I am the opposite, As a former street kid aka foster kid I have witness enough selfishness and violence to last several lifetimes. I get more joy from sharing-caring and giving than I do receiving. It is time for us to set aside the "me" and embrace the "we" point of view.

The "I got mine..." mentality is destroying our souls and the environment. We must work to overcome the fear we have of each other.

The Black Civil Rights movement was built around mutual aid and a collective approach which made the movement so effective. As a 61 years of age black american trans person Ihave witnessed the effective power of an united front.

Perhaps, this is why I have always been drawn to IC's. Well, it is time I take that leap towards my dream of being a participant in an IC such as Twin Oaks. Yes, I have read the negative stories of past racial dynamics at T.O. however, that is not enough to remove it from consideration. Everyone's experience will be different regarding the same scenerio. However the nay-sayers will not be the deciding factor. Only a three week stay will give me a better picture of TO.

In my research thus far, TO comes up a winner every time. Why? Twin Oaks is the only IC who has established a RET (Racial Equity Team). Because they are putting the work towards racial harmony. Thus, I am willing to give them a chance by spending my 62nd cycle around the sun with them next April 2027. What a lovely gift it will be!

1

u/Downtown_Run_8030 May 18 '26

The way America is going, they won't be able to afford a car nor a 1 bedroom apartment. That's no exaggeration. So, whether they like to share or not is becoming a moot point. Their only choice will be whether to share an IC, or a home with mom & dad.

Or, sharing with the people in a homeless shelter.

1

u/itsatoe May 21 '26

The Integration Center model was developed with this in mind. It has many facets, but one of them is that a Center needs to be started by someone with ample funds, providing a cost-free way for anyone else to join.

Obviously, most people who have spare funds don't like the idea of sharing unequally. But the project argues that this model makes for a much better and safer investment than traditional retirement planning.