http://www.survivalblog.com/2010/08/community_crisis_planning_for.htmlThis is a interesting compilation of ideas on keeping a community together for mutual survival. I personaly think it would be hard for most communities to pull together for the common good.
We just spent a weekend with a off the grid, end of a several mile bad road group of folks. They live off of selling high end art work and have a older patriarchal leader/benevolent dictator. Spiritual when it suits them and free flowing drugs and booze. They think they are outside the whole consumer society but wouldn't last long at all without the current society. Plus they would be easy prey for the meaner elements of society.
This summer we camped with a large group of native americans while a Sundance ceremony took place. The participants did three days without food and water and did flesh offerings and tied themselves to the sundance tree and pulled the fastenings out of their pectoral muscles. These sufferings are done so the rest of the tribe doesn't have to suffer or for personal healing. Meanwhile the crowd around the sundance lodge is cooking steaks and sitting in lawn chairs. This area has one of the highest suicide rates of young people and one of the lowest income per capita. My short wave radio sure worked good out away from any electrical wires.
