12 votes

This town in Mexico threw out their government. Things couldn't be going better

6 comments

  1. Silbern
    Link
    Very interesting. I've always found these cases to be pretty fascinating; a revolution that does actually lead to a better life for the majority is rare. One of the key things I've noticed is a...

    Very interesting. I've always found these cases to be pretty fascinating; a revolution that does actually lead to a better life for the majority is rare. One of the key things I've noticed is a strong sense of community; this revolution doesn't seem to have had any single leader or person in charge, and that might be a key component why it hasn't collapsed yet. That the sense of shame is powerful to have stopped anyone so far from banding together a counter-militia and overthrowing this new government is fascinating to me, and proof that humans are not inherently as selfish as we commonly believe they are.

    Some of these tenants aren't very practical though; for example, while a ban on political parties sounds nice, it's not enforceable in practice. People will naturally group together in their opinions, because there's only a finite number of answers to any given problem; and the primary way that political parties cause unrest, insults and stereotypes, can be easily circumvented in some other way. (and some political groupings, like conservatives vs liberals, don't need particular parties to form).

    Nonetheless, this is pretty cool, and this kind of cooperative communal rule sounds a lot like a form of democratic socialism, as I understand it. I am particularly interested to see if this success is enduring, and how we can potentially apply it to our own political system if it lasts.

    4 votes
  2. Diet_Coke
    Link

    Seven years ago, the people of Cherán — a town of some 20,000 inhabitants in the highlands of Michoacán, one of the Mexican states worst-affected by the drug wars of the last decade — decided it was time to start over. And now, after they've kicked out all the criminals, cops, and politicians, things couldn't be going better.

    2 votes
  3. [3]
    starchturrets
    Link
    I find it neat that they kicked out the corrupt cops and politicians. See: Not executed. Drove out. Why?

    I find it neat that they kicked out the corrupt cops and politicians. See:

    disarmed and drove out

    Not executed. Drove out. Why?

    1 vote
    1. Neverland
      Link Parent
      I think that extralegal executions were a big part of the problem that they were trying to get rid of.

      Not executed. Drove out. Why?

      I think that extralegal executions were a big part of the problem that they were trying to get rid of.

      6 votes
    2. edward
      Link Parent
      Because execution is barbaric?

      Because execution is barbaric?

      2 votes
  4. eYredWkae3QVaX8b
    Link
    Now they sing Beasts of England but life will go on as it always has

    Now they sing Beasts of England but life will go on as it always has

    1 vote