The Contract
Here we are proposing a basic contract, in trust form, for holding a commons of property. This is taken through the Zero Hour framework.
The Theory
The underlying theory in a nutshell.
We propose to test the theory that property is maintained best in the form of a commons with a well-defined participation contract. We theorize that productive resources should not be privatized if the greatest benefit for all of humankind is sought. One of the corollaries to this is that land should not be for sale. It is to be stewarded by responsible hands, with eternal principles guiding the stewardship of this land.
We theorize that there is an effective mechanism - the Commons Trust - which we call OSE Trust herein - that, by virtue of its governance contract - remains productive in perpetuity, contributes to distributive production in perpetuity, increases in its quality in perpetuity - and is never sold on the market.
The governance contract that achieves this, we theorize, is one that puts simple, self-governing regulations on the land, and any disputes are solved immediately by agreement of all inhabitants of a given trust. If a problem has no immediate solution, it is subjected to the binding determination of a Council of Elders.
Existing problems
-in the real world that relate to this theory, a brief description.
Wherever civilization touches, it leaves behind deserts - see [[1]]. Land is a prime target for speculation today, as it has been for as long as land has been enclosed. Abuse of land - pollution, loss of biodiversity, soil loss - is a common practice. Moreover, enclosure of land or control of its use
Proposed way
- to apply the theory to those existing problems, the context or pre-requisites for this solution
Related existing work
- that verifies feasability with context summary of links to those references
- Land trusts are a proven, tax-free form of land tenure
Related existing data
- or facts that support theory
Existing constraints
- and barriers to deploying
Related existing work that argues against
- theory (or summary and link to a place where this already exists)
facts and data
- that support arguments against theory
A brief summary
- about how this is related to Open Source Ecology (Relevance to OSE) core values
Links
- to partner site references