I subscribed to stumbleupon a while ago. I almost never go to the recommended links, but since I was enjoying some insomnia last night I took a look through what stumbleupon thought I might like to see:
Stumbleupon sure knows it shit because it lead me to articles on the UK's Gaurdian web site by Mark Boyle. He is completing a year of living cash free:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2009/oct/28/live...
which lead me to his blog:
http://www.justfortheloveofit.org/
which lead me to this article:
http://www.justfortheloveofit.org/blog-1371
which inspired me to write this comment, which I also emailed to him directly. I hope that he will consider Detroit as a possible Free Economy Community. In any case I will be following his blog and upcoming book for continued encouragement in my projects.
Hi Mark,
Thank you for sharing your experience. It gives me encouragement in
the project that I am about to embark on and one that I think might
interest you as well.
you write:
"it says write the book as well as you can, give it every ounce of
your soul, get it out to as many people as possible and use the money
to liberate a piece of land from this money-driven world of private
property, and put it back into collective stewardship, where we can
put our ideals into practice on an everymoment basis."
Have you heard about the situation in Detroit, MI, USA? Very much like
the shameful waste of food that exists in our modern world, Detroit is
an entire city going to waste.
Why, well because people can't make the money to stay there. The the
jobs have been disappearing along with the people since the 1970's
I can move to Detroit because I am a web developer and I can work
anywhere there is a broadband connection. Because Detroit has all of
the modern infrastructure, including cable internet, of a late 20th
century city, I can make my living there as well. To that end I have
purchase a house, a beautiful brick tudor style house, built in 1927
for $900.00 US. There are many others that are going for less. The
catch, they have all been emptied of all metals and anything else that
can be scrapped for money. Again that evil money driving destruction
again.
Your project is one that would bring the magic in making Detroit a
viable city once again. Although it would be unlike most US cities.
Much of the land is going back to nature and is being farmed by people
who are able to do so.
I found my house on HUD's foreclosure website:
http://www.mcbreo.com/st_mimain.htm
All of the homes listed have links to Google maps and a property
condition report by HUD. Disclaimer: the actual condition of the
property may not be what it was in the report. There is a great deal
of arson in Detroit and sometimes the houses are gone by the time it
can be purchased.
If you look at the Google map listing it quickly becomes obvious how
empty some of the neighborhoods are.
You can follow my progress in moving to Detroit at:
Here is a blog that I found inspirational to my Detroit project adventure:
http://detroitunrealestateagency.blogspot.com/
There are many more just look, Time magazine has been doing a series
of articles on the downfall of Detroit. It's all "isn't" it awful and
"Urban Blight Porn" stuff but I have found that the reality of the
people in Detroit is one of kindness and hope.
