ing humanure into safe, sweet-smelling garden soil. When our rivers are no longer poisoned by poop, fish will return and be edible. We will be able to swim with them. Capturing rooftop rain in barrels and cisterns further reduces water pumping loads. Assuming that more of us will be unable to afford health insurance, we’ll need to create our own nonprofit co-op health plans. Assuming that local government will not have enough money to expand the free clinic system, we’ll need to create our own memberowned free clinics. Assuming that dollars with which we buy food and fuel and housing and health care continue to lose value, we’ll need to print our own inflation-proof money that’s backed by neighborhood and business networks providing local skills, tools and time. Assuming that global markets continue to invest in wars, prisons, rainforest destruction, junk food and cars, we’ll need to create our own regional stock exchanges which reward investment in the processes above. Assuming that media continue to emphasize that people are violent more than kindly, that it’s risky to trust one another, and that we are not capable of organizing our own neighborhoods to make this city beautiful, then we will need to create our own media. Assuming that government will be unable to raise taxes enough to maintain crumbling centralized infrastructure, we’ll need to create neighborhoods that thrive on decentralized technologies. These would be powerful neighborhoods combining all the above whose residents are homeowners; whose homes are superinsulated and solarized; whose lands generate food and jobs; whose vacant buildings become microindustries; whose preventive health care is provided through co-op mini-clinics; whose humanure and leaves are sanitized and recycled onsite; whose trash is feedstock for new industry; whose streets are greenspace; whose schools teach neighborhood management; whose talents are celebrated; whose networks of mutual aid are backed by local currencies; whose people are proud and sufficient. Such neighborhoods need fewer government services for police, courts, jails, streets, trash, sewage; and less government subsidy for food, fuel, housing, medical care and mental health. These bold notions have proven practical at small scales in various cities. Welcoming them all to our city, through respectful and orderly transitions, will set an example for the world and make the future fun.
Four Great Tasks 1. Rebuild housing for maximum energy efficiency. 2. Rebuild transit to liberate the city from cars. 3. Convert to waterless toilets to end water abuse. 4. Plant orchards and gardens for food security.