Community Assistance – the societal super-glue that will cement community cohesion whilst getting stuff done

Once a few prototypes exist and word spreads about the overwhelming superiority of OA-cities over conventional OB-cities, OASIS-CITY start-ups will be swamped with applications from aspiring citizens.  Even after hundreds or even thousands of OA-cities have been built, long waiting lists will persist for decades.

FOUNDERS GROUPS will therefore be in a strong position to set the bar of admission high and mandate conditions and duties for aspiring residents that would be considered unacceptable were it not an Oasis City..!   

NOT SO MUCH A CHORE, MORE A WAY OF MEETING NEW 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 the likelihood of a 4-day – or even 3.5 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 CAP is not – as some will allege – simply to get stuff done for free, but to cement community cohesion by working in teams, eating canteen meals together, possibly followed by a convivial session of social drinks when the work is done.   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 they would henceforth be acquaintances rather than complete strangers.

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

Not every OA-City will have CAP

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

The sceptics will surely be proved wrong since CAP will deliver cheaper and more efficient services, meaning lower taxes and community charges, thus compounding the financial viability of the project.  CAP will reinforce the other advantages of OA-Cities, notably the social benefits derived from a HIGH-TRUST virtual island community   

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 CAP 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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CAP services would be those usually 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 juveniles, 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.

 

CAP duties will not usually be hard work and could even be great fun, being an opportunity to meet and befriend fellow citizens – around the lunch table, on tea breaks, and perhaps convivial social drinks once the work is done.   It will be seen as a small price to pay for the privilege of living in such beautiful surroundings and being part of a friendly co-operative community..!