These values are reflected in the Charter of New Hope
Cultural Beliefs
- That the land belongs to the community and the community should benefit when the land is exploited
- That every individual owns their own labour and any individual is entitled to benefit from their own labour
- The more an individual puts into the community, the more they deserve to get out of it
- The more an individual gives to the community, the more right they have to be heard in matters of community management
- Each individual should be held responsible for their own actions, and only their own actions.
- An offence against an individual, is an offence against the community
It works out as …
“That the land belongs to the community and the community should benefit when the land is exploited” – the mountain that the town is built on belongs to the community and therefore everything on Mount Hope belongs to the community as a whole. That includes the mine, the market place, the quay and the high field that the town uses to grow its food. Therefore the use of any of those resources should return something to the community as a whole - hence daily or weekly ‘tickets’ or ‘licences’ to use the facility. Beyond that - the buildings within new Hope itself belong to the community as well. Anyone can stay in the city, but if they are using the cities buildings and space, then the city itself is entitled to benefit.
In other words - you rent rooms, apartments houses etc direct from the city, and if you want to work, you buy a day licence to use the cities resources.
“That every individual owns their own labour and any individual is entitled to benefit from their own labour” No one will tell you that you must work, and no one will tell you where to work. Once you have paid any licences you keep what ever you earn, there is no income tax. If you want to work for someone else - that’s fine there is still no income tax - just make sure they have all the right licences.
“The more an individual puts into the community, the more they deserve to get out of it” – Once you have been recognised as making a ‘good’ or ‘special’ contribution its only fair that you give a little less in other ways, and get the best better treatment than most . It is a thank you from the community.
In other words - licences are less, and you can get better rooms.
“The more an individual gives to the community, the more right they have to be heard in matters of community management” - those people who put lots in to the community - obviously have the communities interests at heart – there fore they should have a bigger say in running the town.
In effect - all ‘government’ posts must be given to citizens. Citizens, Masters and Patricians all get to vote, but Masters votes are worth more than Citizens and Patricians votes are worth even more. Patricians, because they have given so much to the town already - get even more freedom. They are the only group who can ‘own’ land and devlop it exactly how they like.
“Each individual should be held responsible for their own actions, and only their own actions” – If you commit a crime, you must pay the penalty - You won’t be help responsible for your servant killing a man - your servant will. If you hold the man while the servant strikes the blow - you are guilty too. If you instruct the servant to kill the man, you are guilty. If your friend kills a man and you injure a man. You friend will be guilty of murder; you will be guilty of assault. If the guard calls you to stop, and you don’t, you will be attacked. If you get killed ‘resisting arrest’ that’s your own fault and you need to find your own resurrection price.
“An offence against an individual is an offence against the community” – If you steal from a man and he raises a Hue and Cry, the city guard will chase you. If the city guard chases you, all the members of the militia will join in. That’s every Citizen, Master and Patrician …