Thanks for the essay, Kurt.

The cartoon image of 'self-governance' that I've long wanted to put onto a t-shirt was a scene I saw in NYC, where a dog and owner walking down the street together were obeying the NYC leash law, but the dog trotted along, both wearing the leash on his neck AND holding its end in its mouth.

It might sound like an attempt to be cute and ironic, but the image was really a positive one to me. There is always a greater force (the 'owner') that is nearby and ready to impel us in directions we can't control.. we are left with the option to control ourselves, and keep our eyes open on the world..

It's the serenity prayer again.. 'Grant me the strength to change (control?) what I can, the patience to accept what I cannot change, and the wisdom to know the difference'

Bob

There is no coherent civilization that does not demand the exchange of personal freedom for community. In *that* sense, I find this essay another example of a lot of intellectualizing to make the simple complex. I'm left thinking, "And?" How far beyond living with other people requires compromise and living in society involves compromise do we need to go?

I say this not in terms of the value of scholarship in, and of, itself, but in terms of the audience: I wonder what much of this intellectualizing does to help reach people who are not either academics or intrinsically motivated wrt these issues?

To address the question:

The above said, I think the ecovillage (intentional communities), transition movements and relocalization-type movements are examples of possible future directions for balancing autonomies - at least for the people within that group, and as a group.

The ecovillage (or any intentional community) as community is a strange animal in that personal freedom is high but very strong conditions are imposed for group membership. In that sense, no different than typical modern societies, except that it can be strangely more so. One cannot be voted out of one's town, but might be voted out of an intentional community, e.g. However, that there is a focus on the commons at the organizing principle may overcome some of the fear of loss of autonomy. Safety for freedom.

Transition and relocation movements might be better examples as they tend to not demand such high degrees of adherence to the group communication/personal behavior ethos while still being centered around an ethical structure that puts a premium on the commons.

Further, they include gov't participation, but emphasize individual action in a cooperative framework. This might ultimately return to the people some of the autonomy we have voted ourselves out of over time.

Or whatever.

Cheers