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CAR – No, not that kind of car but a Community Assistance Requirement – the super-glue that will get stuff done whilst cementing community cohesion 

Once a few prototypes exist and word spreads about the many attractions of Oasis-Cities and their overwhelming advantages over conventional OB-cities, OA-city start-ups will be swamped with applications from aspiring citizens.  Even when hundreds or even thousands of OA-cities have been built, long waiting lists will probably persist for decades.

Founders groups will therefore be in a strong position to set the bar of admission high and mandate conditions and duties that would be considered an unacceptable imposition were it not an Oasis City..!   

NOT SO MUCH A CHORE, MORE A WAY OF MAKING FRIENDS..

One such “high bar” might be that every aspiring OA-citizen be required to donate some of their newly freed-up time, perhaps half a day every week, performing community duties..   By “newly freed-up time” I am assuming a probable 4-day working week, in addition to the time saved by not having to waste hours every day commuting to work and all the other tiresome and stressful OB-city chores – like the “school-run” and the big weekly supermarket “outing”.  The motive behind a  CAR is not – as some will allege – simply one of getting things done for free, but to cement community cohesion by working in teams, eating canteen meals together and social drinks at the end of a day.   In this manner friendships will be formed between people from different social and career backgrounds who otherwise would probably never get to meet each other.  Such friendships might not go far beyond sharing a few social drinks and chatting after their duties are done, but at least they would henceforth be acquaintances rather than complete strangers.

I feel confident in saying that OA-Citizens will come to view CAR duties not as an obligatory chore to be endured, but as a very stimulating and rewarding duty – even one to be anticipated with pleasure..!  

Not every OA-City will have CAR

But those that do will be more cohesive, and will surely function more efficiently and more economically.  OA-Cities with CAR will be seen as being friendlier and more rewarding, and having a better lifestyle, thus attracting more and better applicants.  CAR will be a self-validating win-win, and the benefits will ultimately prove too great to be ignored by other (CAR-less) OA-Cities.

Of course the sceptics will scoff – “Ha, nobody is gonna want to give away their free time, especially as OA-Cities pay lower wages in the first place..!”

Such sceptics will be proved wrong because CAR will deliver cheaper and more efficient services, meaning lower taxes and community charges, thus compounding the financial viability of the project. 

CAR will also reinforce the other advantages of OA-Cities, notably the social benefits derived from a high-trust society with strong community cohesion.  

Many poor city people who grew up in the ’40’s and ’50’s reminisce fondly about how they spent summer holidays camping in the countryside, picking hops or fruit or cider apples.

The HOPPIEST days of our lives – recalling summers spent in hop fields 

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HOW CAR COULD WORK…

The nature of the duties to be allocated, and to which individuals, would depend on factors such as –

SKILLS and APTITUDES 

CITIZENSHIP STATUS (longer-term residents may be given more choice)

INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCE (less so for newcomers) 

Newcomers will be supervised by salaried team leaders, part of whose job will be to assess each individuals aptitude for particular duties, so that everyone will eventually be assigned their ideal niche. Of course there will be some unpopular jobs, like cleaning toilets, that everyone will have to do occasionally. 

CAP is a WIN-WIN that will benefit both the community and the individuals involved

Communities will benefit from..

• • Better services at lower cost
  • Enhancing the financial viability of the city project.
  • Making the city more attractive to both residents and investors.

Citizens will benefit from…

• • Opportunity to meet, befriend and bond with many more people
  • Helping to build a cohesive and co-operative high-trust community
  • Learning new skills
  • Lower community service charges

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CAR services would be those otherwise provided by local government

• CHILDCARE CENTRES
• AGED CARE CENTRES
• LIBRARY, MUSEUM, etc
• HOSPITAL/CLINIC
• COMMUNITY CANTEENS
• SCHOOLS
• PARKS, GARDENS
• CITY FARMING 
• WASTE COLLECTION
• RE-CYCLABLES SORTING
• PUBLIC TOILETS & WASHROOMS
• SECURITY DUTIES (admission control, etc)
• LAUNDRIES
• CLEANING DUTIES
• DELIVERY SERVICES
• DOG KENNELS 

All able-bodied citizens, including adolescent children, should have to “muck-in” and do some farm labour, serving the twin objectives of Education and Economy.

Education – everyone will learn useful things about food growing, harvesting, and production, etc.

Economy – increasing the availability of locally-produced food by reducing the labour cost component.

 

CAR will not usually be hard work and could even be great fun, being an opportunity to meet fellow citizens – especially around the lunch table and on tea breaks, etc.   It will be seen as a small price to pay for the privilege of living in such beautiful surroundings and belonging to a friendly co-operative community..!