Re: Work or Pay Systems | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: David Mandel (dlmandelpacbell.net) | |
Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:01:05 -0700 (PDT) |
Nearly all the comments on this topic have correctly recognized that residents have different physical abilities and time availabilities when it comes to performing community work. True enough, and important to accept. But what's touted as an OK solution to the collective limitations -- just hire someone to do the work -- utterly ignores the fact that residents also have different levels of disposable income that they can afford for such purposes. This is especially relevant when, rarely, a cohousing community adopts a real commitment to creating (as we did) and sustaining (as we haven't, to my great disappointment) equal opportunity of membership for at least some truly low-income households. In my view, it becomes particularly insidious when the discussion leads to a policy of "work or pay" as an individual "choice," as if everyone truly has the same degree of choice. The result in an economically diverse community can easily devolve into a microcosmic class divide: Those who can easily pay a bit more instead of contributing fully to community work, freely deciding that other parts of their lives are just more important; vs. others who simply don't have the cash and therefore must devote more hours to community work. Talk about a formula for breeding resentment -- try overlaying this on that which may already occur with differential work involvement among economic equals. I've been a bit out of the national cohousing loop, but my impression is still that few communities really achieve much in the way of economic diversity or affordability for low-income members, despite a lot of verbal support for the idea. I realize it is truly difficult in our society where housing is a commodity and affordable housing development is generally segregated, to the extent it still exists. But perhaps this discussion can serve as a reminder also that if affordability is achieved to some degree in creation of a community, it doesn't stop being an issue. Our monthly fee is substantial, just to cover common utilities, insurance, reserves and other necessary items. Making it larger to pay for work that could be done by members may impose a much more significant burden on some than on others, magnified many times when it's presented as an individual choice. David Mandel Southside Park Cohousing, Sacramento Joanie Connors <jvcphd [at] gmail.com> wrote: Some comments on the sustainability issue for the work involved in cohousing - 1. It is natural to experience a lack of energy for tasks when the community is out of balance in power (lack of listening or respect), support (meeting needs) or change dynamics (stuck in a rut). The same is true in work settings and families - people don't want to work when they don't care and they don't care when they feel they don't matter. As Rachel and others have said, when you feel good, you want to contribute. It feels invigorating to contribute when you are building something important together, and seems less like work. 2. I keep hearing this assumption that cohousing should cut your workload and make life easier. Where did that come from? Perhaps this is part of the US individualist mindset (everything is here to meet my needs), or a response to the insane level of busy-ness of our lives. If individualism is the problem, then perhaps we need to value our communities and their structures more. Think of the dearth of parental involvement in schools and voter apathy. A matter of priorities. I think it's important that children and teens contribute too, so they can learn these values. If busy-ness is the problem, then it's time to sit down and look at what you can afford to cut out. I've found, like Rob, that cutting my load doesn't seem to stop the world from turning. Many things get done without my involvement (or wait till I have time), and I've become more balanced between the work I do for my own needs and for community needs. Of course the points about keeping the community workload moderate and hiring out onerous tasks are extremely helpful. _________________________________________________________________ Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at: http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L/
- Re: Sustainability of community service, (continued)
- Re: Sustainability of community service Matthew Whiting, July 24 2008
- Re: Sustainability of community service netipotlady, July 25 2008
- Re: Work or Pay Systems Tim Mensch, July 24 2008
- Re: Work or Pay Systems Joanie Connors, July 24 2008
- Re: Work or Pay Systems David Mandel, July 27 2008
- Re: Work or Pay Systems Sharon Villines, July 28 2008
- Re: Work or Pay Systems Tim Mensch, July 28 2008
- Re: Work or Pay Systems: Is uqality necessary? Rob Sandelin, July 28 2008
- Re: Work or Pay Systems: Is uqality necessary? PattyMara Gourley, July 28 2008
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