Striking A Balance Between Individual Needs & Common Good
Within the global network of communitarian unions, the concept of balancing individual needs and the common good is at the heart of eco-social, on the ground everyday practical activism, both constitutionally and in practice. While the Union emphasizes collective well-being and shared provisioning, it also recognizes that the fulfillment of individual needs and desires plays a critical role in the life, liberty and happiness of those who live a collaborative lifestyle and love-style. The challenge lies in achieving a harmonious balance, where both individual fulfillment and the common good are embraced, integrated, supported and nurtured.
From inception, the collaborative unions navigate the delicate interplay between personal autonomy and communal contribution, ensuring that individual satisfaction enhances the collective rather than diminishing it.
Integrating the needs of the Individual within the Eco-social SHARE Economy Charter
Whether on a local or regional level, the communitarian unions are founded on the commitment to stimulate, develop, integrate, and utilize the talents of individual associates, while simultaneously accommodating their needs and aspirations. This dual focus on individual and collective development is essential to the global network’s form, facilities, productivity, longevity, and overall capacity to provide material support as well as opportunities for intellectual and emotional development, both internally, and externally through Outreach Programs intentionally designed to engage vegans who have the potential to embrace communitarian principles and practices.
Individual needs can range from basic survival requirements such as clean-green healthful living foods, accommodation, and healthcare, to more complex emotional, intellectual, and aspirational wants that may include support to pursue creative interests, vocational skilling and educational advancement, or adventure and leisure.
Within current secular capitalist – every man for themselves, individualistic societies, the pursuit of personal fulfillment is often unrestrained and frequently prioritized over and above the needs of the whole of humanity, animal right to life and liberty, as well as, the limits of environmental and resource-use and availability constraints. The wasteful unplanned, uncalculated and chaotic production and distribution economies allowed to run rampant across the globe, have proven only to enslave entire generations to know no other way of existing, other than to give themselves over to dog-eat-dog competition, inequality, and isolation; all of which fuels the social and environmental decay that demands urgent, cooperative solutions.
In contrast, the network of communitarian unions is designed to integrate individual needs within a framework of planned, participatory governed collaborative provisioning production and distribution SHARE economic organisation. The foundations of this eco-social arrangement, provides the scaffolding for personal goals to align with the core values, missions and overall vision of the local and regional associations, which results in the mutual benefit for all who combine forces to contribute to the common good.
Satisfying Individual Needs & Desires
Within the Unions, individual needs and wants are respected and considered as part of the decision-making processes. The key practices that support this include:
Personal Autonomy within Collective Responsibility
Associates have the freedom to express their desires, pursue their interests, and develop their talents. However, these pursuits are always in the context of collective well-being. For example, an individual associate may seek financial support and ‘time away from assigned duties’ to study a new skill, however this pursuit will also serve the community by contributing to its collective knowledge bank, and, or economic output.
Flexible Resource Allocation
While resources such as food, shelter, and medical care are provided communally, there is flexibility to accommodate individual preferences and needs. Those who have adopting a shared living and loving lifestyle are encouraged to make their specific needs known so that the community can respond in a way that supports both individual and collective well-being.
Welcoming Individual Expression
The collaborative associations place great emphasis on personal development and emotional well-being, understanding that mature, evolving and content individuals contribute positively to the unions. For these reasons, creative expression, personal projects, and time for self-reflection are encouraged as essential parts of a balanced life within associative living that includes facility and resource sharing.
Common Good – the foundational principle & practice of ‘common purse’ provisioning of all that supports Life, Liberty & Happiness
In the context of Deep Union, focusing on the “common good” is the shared goal of ensuring the welfare and prosperity of all associates. It is built on the principles of mutual aid and shared decision-making in regard to the allocation of resources that support life, liberty and happiness. While the main goal of common good focuses on ensuring material security for those who contribute to the ‘common pot’, it also encompasses the practical cultivation of social cohesion, emotional well-being, and mutually beneficial relationships built on trust born of toiling alongside each other on common, practical eco-social activism and Right Livelihood Enterprise projects.
Prioritizing The Common Good
Collaborative Provisioning
The communal union’s resources – whether food, energy, or knowledge, are held in common and distributed based on need. This prevents hoarding and ensures that every associate has access to essential resources. However, this does not imply that individual wants are neglected. For example, dietary preferences or special health requirements are taken into account in provisioning systems.
Collective Decision-Making
Whether at a local or regional level, governance of the communitarian unions is participatory – meaning decisions regarding resource allocation, project priorities, and even individual needs are made through inclusive processes, ensuring that all voices are heard. This collaborative participatory approach allows for a balance between personal interests and communal needs, which in turn fosters a culture of peace born of willingness to further the common good.
Social Safety Nets
Social services including physical as well as mental health support, along with material support is provided for those who are Communal Union shareholders. Communal spaces for shared activities such as the daily Communal Meal, the weekly Gestalt Group Development Sessions as well as the Sunday Celebrations are seen as integral parts of maintaining balance between individual satisfaction and collective stability.
Striking A Balance - Satisfying Individual Wants Within the Collaborative Living & Loving Ethos
The challenge for the network of communitarian union across the globe is achieving a balance where individual wants and the common good reinforce each other, rather than compete. However a workable level of equilibrium can be reached through following several proven mechanisms:
1. Dialogue & Transparency
Ongoing open and honest dialogue between associates is essential for understanding the community’s needs and desires. Regular meetings, open forums, and shared decision-making processes ensure that individual wants are not ignored and that the common good is reliably maintained. Transparency regarding the community’s resources and challenges helps individuals manage expectations and align their desires with the social-emotional as well as material complexities of communal living.
2. Flexible Contribution and Committed Participation
Within Communitarian Union circles, associates contribute to domestic cleaning and maintenance tasks, along with participate in Right Livelihood provisioning endeavours, based on their capacities and skills. However flexibility is key. Personal satisfaction can come from the opportunity to engage in toil and activities that match individual talents and interests, while also benefiting the community. For example, someone skilled in carpentry will likely find great personal fulfillment in building structures for the Communal Unions, while also contributing to the common good.
3. Personal Development Initiatives
The Communitarian Union fosters environments where individuals can grow personally and contribute to the community’s overall success. Personal goals and desires are seen as vital to the communal union’s progress. The philosophy of Rich By Association lays the foundation for associates that have progressed to communal living to become enriched through their closely-bonded relationships, shared success, and access to communal resources, that lead to both personal and collective fulfillment.
4. Balancing resource allocation
The Union balances resource allocation by providing essentials for all SHARE HOLDERS while leaving room for personal preferences. For example, while everyone may have access to food and accommodation, individuals can tailor their living spaces and choose from a variety of communal meals to ensure their personal tastes are not sacrificed for the sake of uniformity.
Navigating Tensions when Individual Wants Conflict with the Common Good
There are times when individual wants conflict with the communal union’s goals or available resources. In such cases, the Communitarian Union relies on its core values of mutual respect, dialogue, and transparency to mediate these tensions. Associates are encouraged to compromise and find creative solutions that respect both personal desires and communal needs.
For example, if an associate wants to pursue an expensive personal project that could strain communal resources, a discussion may ensue about how this project could be aligned with the community’s goals or whether alternative resources could be used. The Union’s approach to problem-solving emphasizes collaboration and understanding.
Striking a balance between these two forces requires ongoing dialogue, flexibility, and a shared commitment to mutual aid. By aligning personal fulfillment with the common good, the Communitarian Union offers a model for a harmonious and equitable society where both individual autonomy and collective well-being are prioritized.
