Page 3: Stages of Transition

Stages of Transition

Step One: Take stock of local assets and create an action plan.

Each community has different resources. You may have plentiful sunshine, wind power, or empty lots. Work with your group to take stock of local assets that could be useful in transition and create an action plan. This action plan, which is a localized and in-depth transition plan, is then presented to community thought leaders you identify in an attempt to “sell your vision” and get them to help promote the time bank. Keep in mind you don’t need their support before your group can start trading with itself.  Make two versions: One that’s in-depth, and another that’s simple so it can be read by people who don’t have much time.

Step Two: Decide where you want to begin.

Chances are, you don’t have a “full team”. That’s okay- just determine your priorities, assign roles and develop your satellite teams.

Step Three: Sell the vision, sell the plan.

One thing I’ve learned from experience is to have your plan ready BEFORE you attempt to sell your vision to others. Start with the overview to gauge interest, and if you find people who want to help, invite them to your local group. Build a mailing list and get more input. At this point, you may have to edit the plan somewhat.

Step Four: Get on the floor.

(Actually ground, but hey floor rhymes). Each of your independent members’ satellite teams should have mini-plans of their own. They should have a list of 2-3 near-term projects they can work on to further the transition in their area.

- Develop near term projects and begin work preparation

- Fix any niggling issues

- Consolidate your attainable goals

Step Five: Deepen your network.

Get more people involved and broaden your reach. Actually do projects, and network these projects with other efforts. This step may take some time.

- Don’t go it alone

- Results matter, not speed

Step Six: Local Assemblies gain legitimacy

Legitimacy and recognition come only from results. Around now, you should begin to see some payoff from all that hard work, and you can hold your first elections. Assemblies assume the position of a parallel institution and provide local services, as desired by the people.

- Give the people true democracy: Start offering happiness surveys and being responsive to the needs of your community. It’s at this point where you can start referring to people as “citizens” of the global assembly.

Murray Rothbard:

“The American Revolution occurred precisely by the people spontaneously and voluntarily creating local and then regional committees and assemblies totally apart from the State apparatus, and progressively taking on more and more of the State’s functions."

Step Seven: Community-owned businesses are created and gain market share

Following your local transition plan, your COBs open for customers and gain market share due to lower prices.

- Acquisition of resources

- Pay for more advanced self-sufficiency technology

Most societies of any size follow these stages of development; they may be useful for you when deciding which businesses to open first.

1. Agricultural (Mainly grows crops)

2. Cottage (Using the crops you grow to make clothes, cheese and baskets etc)  

3. Light Industry (Final Assembly of products from other places)

4. Heavy Industry (Creation of raw materials)

5. High-Technology (Where most 1^st world countries are now)

6. Full Automation? (Where we want to be in 10-20 years)

Step Eight: More growth

Nearby communities are forced to get with the program through pure economic necessity.

- Open “embassies” in nearby cities to act as pop-up information centers

- Blue shirt rallies and flash mobs are organized to raise awareness.

- “Colonies”, or outlying business partners join the network to cut costs and begin step seven anew.

- The bustling market becomes a major revenue generator and attraction in its own right.

Step Nine: Local Assemblies network with each other and begin to govern

After creating so much change on the ground, The Global Assembly has given community residents a taste of true autonomy. We encourage residents to ratify the new constitution they’ve developed through numerous consultations, and the city becomes fully autonomous if not by law, in practice. Local Assemblies provide education, health services, recycling, community policing plus a fair system of dispute mediation. All the while, the same thing happens in nearby cities around the country and world.

There will be no distinct day or moment when The Global Assembly “takes control”. Rather, a gradual process of the new constitution spreading and being seen as legitimate, along with an effective hollowing-out of state power will lead to transition over time. Compare to how the seemingly all-powerful monarchies and Soviet Union crumbled through loss of authority and legitimacy. Very few people will be voting in the “official” elections at this point.

Step Ten: The assemblies’ first IPO

Any remaining private businesses cash in, give their resources to the people and use the credits to buy stock in various assemblies around the world.

Step Eleven: Transition Complete

The worlds’ resources and people are now under democratic control. 

Next: http://globalassembly.blogspot.com/2015/09/page-4-how-to-solve-money-time-and.html

Prev: http://globalassembly.blogspot.com/2015/09/a-guide-to-transition-for-rbe.html