{"content":{"sharePage":{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"14052445","dateCreated":"1252450194","smartDate":"Sep 8, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"gottliebja","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/gottliebja","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/simcommunity.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/14052445"},"dateDigested":1532390179,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"My Vision","description":"My interest in exploring alternative communities began last year when I heard on NPR that 28% of adults in Muskegon, MI were unemployed. Maybe the answer is to keep working within the traditional model to try to improve things, but it may be time to give real thought to alternative approaches.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nI think we could lay out a viable economic argument to a state government to subsidize the purchase of some land for us based on savings in social services for the families (a significant percentage of whom would have been living in poverty; otherwise, I don't see the point of all of this. This can't just be for the rich to feel good about themselves. You know the group on the University of Michigan campus whose families are the wealthiest? It's the kids who live in the co-ops. What does that say?) <br \/>\n<br \/>\nI personally am excited about the educational opportunities in a community like this - the chance to get some kids and their families from an urban area, get them out in the woods somewhere and give them a real education right alongside kids who come from wealthier backgrounds. Who knows, maybe some of the differences would not be quite as important in this place.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nWe could extend a fairly open invitation to come to this community. You just have to be willing to work. You will participate in the building of your space, the growing of food, the cleaning and maintenance of the community spaces, the education of our children, etc.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nI envision large community spaces with much smaller private living spaces for each family. I must admit I am really picturing the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek Next Generation. The spaces need to be modular, so we could start with a relatively few people and then add people and space as we went along. I have the number 50,000 for a target population in mind, but I can't support that with very many good reasons. The architecture piece would be fascinating. Where is that Howard Roark when you need him?<br \/>\n<br \/>\nI do not think we should set this up in opposition to traditional communities but as an alternative and a partner to them. We are not fanatical. The borders between our community and others are fluid. People can come and go. We would have the internet in every classroom. We are not renouncing all ties to the rest of the world, just exploring new ways to be in it.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nFeel free to point out where I've lost the plot. Also, extra credit to the first person who posts his or her sketches of the buildings.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nMore soon.<br \/>\nJosh","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[],"more":0}]}],"more":false},"comments":[]},"http":{"code":200,"status":"OK"},"redirectUrl":null,"javascript":null,"notices":{"warning":[],"error":[],"info":[],"success":[]}}