OpenSource Civics

Social Software for the People

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

Motivation

I have been reading

Antonio Melonio

‘s work for a while. One of his latest pieces was particularly moving.

The Tyranny of the State

Being an optimistic SolarPunk Architect, this kind of writing motivates me to find solutions. How can we do better? How can we govern ourselves without oppression and tyranny?

Vision

My vision of a better future looks like a Federated Network of OpenSource EcoCommunities. It combines the idea of a Network State with OpenSource Technology and BioRegional Ecological Economics. The result is small, purpose-driven, self-governing, mostly-self-sufficient EcoCommunities, connected by the internet, roads, and eventually “hyperloop” tracks, AirShip routes, or other yet-to-be-imagined modes of transportation. People are allowed and encouraged to move between communities as their interests and vibrations change.

HydroponicTrash

did a fantastic job explaining a lot of that in one of his latest articles:

Federated Ecovillages & Steps Towards a Modern Cybersyn

That reality is still a few shifts away, but it is what the Regenerative Collective is working towards. One of the components I want to explore on the way there is how we govern ourselves.

OpenSource

Having spent a decade in the software industry, I am very familiar with the idea of OpenSource Technology. But it does not just apply to software. It is actively gaining ground in many sectors. Any piece of information, be it a cooking recipe, a DIY plan for a greenhouse, or a how-to on self care, can be OpenSource. Public blogs and websites, and even sites like Wikipedia, YouTube and Reddit, are all working towards this age of Open Information. Organizations like One Community Global, Open Source Ecology, and OikoSol are specifically focusing on open-sourcing information that will help us build these EcoCommunities.

OpenSource Civics

So, what about OpenSource Civics? Can we govern ourselves with OpenSource software and the same ideals that encourage democracy and expertise in OpenSource projects?

I believe we can. And I am not alone. There have already been experiments and organizations moving this way. With the rise of Web3 and blockchain related technologies, we have seen a rise in DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) and similar organizational structures, all aiming to be less oppressive and more regenerative. Less hierarchical and more cooperative.

My biggest concern with blockchain related technology is the sheer computing power (and therefore the mineral extraction and energy consumption) required to keep the infrastructure running.

Depending on the scale, and therefore level of trust that must be provided by the software itself, I think there are other options we should explore.

What do we really need out of the software?

• Immutable record keeping

• Distributed hosting for the source-of-truth

• Democratic decision making

• Transparency

Holochain?

For organizations that don’t have the trust that comes from also co-existing in the same physical space, the software needs to take on a little more of the trust in the equation. To that end, I am very excited to have learned about Holochain. It provides many of the same benefits as blockchain, but without the heavy computational requirements. I still need to explore it more, but it looks very promising.

Git?

OpenSource Software projects already have a lot of these properties by utilizing git (and tooling like GitHub on top) for their source-code control. I have speculated on what it would look like to simply run an organization on top of a git repository?

• Change history on the main branch can be configured to be immutable.

• Git is inherently distributed as each contributor has a copy of the source.

• There can be all sorts of rules around what it takes to get a change merged into the main branch.

• All of that information can be freely available to the public or the organization.

For smaller organizations that also have an element of in-person trust — like a Village — I believe this may be enough. Anyone who can read/write, or even speech-to-text can contribute and propose modifications to the contracts of an organization. And if a Village is open to sharing the way they run things as OpenSource, then the next Village that wants to start can simply “fork” (copy) their work and have a solid foundation to build from.

Conclusion

We are in troubling times, oppressed and controlled by our “Governments” that do more to hold the status quo than to take care of their people. We are in need of a new governance model.

In the pursuit of a governance model that aligns with our values, I believe we can adopt useful tools and practices from OpenSource Software projects. Leveraging git and its collaborative functionalities, organizations can embody transparency, democratic decision-making, and immutable record-keeping. The concept of running an entire organization on top of a git repository invites contemplation and holds promise, particularly for smaller entities rooted in mutual trust, like villages.

Thanks for reading. If you resonate with what I’m writing and where I’m heading, please feel free to subscribe and reach out. We can only make this new reality come true with radical collaboration, so let’s collaborate!