Four Winds Organizational Structure

“Carving out a commune in the central city will involve claiming certain rights as our own - out front. Rights that have not been respected to now. Property rights. It will involve building a political, social and economic infrastructure, capable of filling the vacuum that has been left by the establishment ruling class and pushing the occupying forces of the enemy culture from our midst. The implementation of this new social, political and economic program will feed and comfort all the people on at least a subsistence level, and force the “owners” of the enemy bourgeois culture either to tie their whole fortunes to the communes and the people, or to leave the land, the tools, and the market behind.”

 - George Jackson, “Blood in My Eye”

Goal

We are essentially attempting to create a communalistic way of living, one that offers an alternative social and economic structure to fill the void left by the individualistic capitalist lifestyle.

We build this in our own neighborhood. We declare that we have certain rights. Those rights are as follows:

• The right to food and water. We as humans need these to live, and as long as we work together, we make sure no neighbor goes hungry.
• The right to organize. We are building a structure to protect and provide for each other, and we will consider all neighbors who join equally.
• The right to give and receive aid from one another. It is not a crime to give freely, according to our ability. We will join together as neighbors to meet each others’ needs.
• The right to shelter. This union means that our bond goes beyond just our proximity to each other, and the status of our housing. Members of our union will be given reasonable accommodation to fulfill the human need of shelter from the elements.
• The right to settle our own disputes. We will work together to assure the peace and prosperity of our neighborhood, that matters of social conflict and wrongdoing be handled by all members in a democratic fashion.
• The right to democracy. The present order of business in this country does not allow for democracy in our daily lives. We will practice democracy of our own, working as a neighborhood to solve problems together and debate among ourselves.

Membership:

•  All members of the member household should be in agreement to the new social contract.
•  All member households share a small amount to a community pot used in times of need. (This is pending. It implies elected roles, a treasurer, a president, etc.)
•  All member households should, in case of another member’s eviction, provide transitory housing if the need arises.
•  All member households should be prepared to block evictions and deportations. Raids by outside forces of the state are to be disrupted, observed, documented, and members will know their legal rights.
•  All member households have an equal vote in matters of social dispute.
•  All member households will submit to the results of a democratic vote, and are guaranteed the opportunity to have their viewpoint heard.

The New Social Contract:

•  Neighbors will not steal from each other.
•  Neighbors will be expected to share in accordance with their ability.
•  Neighbors will turn to each other for help when it is needed.
•  Neighbors will not call the police.
•  Neighbors will not lie to each other.
•  Neighbors will not let neighbors go cold or hungry.

If this sounds reasonable to you, then let us work together, get to know each other, and build a strong, sovereign community according to the principles of the Four Winds Approach, to be outlined in this document.