Mustang Springs Ranch
Introduction

Welcome to Mustang Springs Ranch. We will try to outline how we conduct business and built a very special type of ranch, an LLC Pony Ranch. This is the basic framework for operating the Company and it appears hyper-legal and overwhelming, but its really quite simple and fair. We are not usually exposed to this type of fairness in policy making, finances, management and membership, so it is important to study this document to see what the potential is. In order to create a new relationship with each other beyond the traditional servitude between landlords/bosses and tennants/laborers, we need a system that fosters membership and ownership in the project.

It also fosters a more responsible relationship to the land and surroundings. Sustainable Development is only sustainable if the people get their fair share of the harvest and make a good living and have a decent community and environmental structure. This legal format will help many to create such a world. It will help create communities that are nurturing, productive and sharing, with many of the best features of other Utopian Systems.

Based on people's relationship to the land, people fall into five major classes:

  1. LANDLORDS. They do not work the land themselves, but sometimes supervise the work. Instead they hire labor or let the land to sharecroppers.
  2. RICH PEASANTS. They work in the fields but have more land than they can cultivate alone. They gain most of their income from land they cultivate with hired labor or sharecroppers.
  3. MIDDLE PEASANTS. The classic self-sufficient small farmer. They earn their livings mainly by working their own land, though at times they may work for others or hire others to work for them.
  4. POOR PEASANTS. They own a little land, but not enough to support themselves. They earn their livings mainly by working as sharecroppers or wage earners.
  5. LANDLESS LABORERS. They do not own any land except sometimes their house site. Lacking tools, equiptment or livestock, they seldom can work as sharecroppers, and must depend upon wages for their livelihoods. In what class do you stand?

To overcome the many problems facing people trapped in oppressive systems, they created new Utopian Systems, often just as oppressive or more than the previous ones, but that's history. We need to learn from history and try not to repeat all the mistakes. Utopias historically have taken six basic forms outlined briefly here. The purpose is to place the many communitites we have around us into context and perspective. Each has many merits and faults, but by extracting the best from each, and reassembling, a more comprehensive benevolent Utopia can be created, much as the Founding Fathers attempted to do in creating the United States. We can do this on a small scale community basis: idealistic, democratic, productive, supportive, secure, healthy and natural.

  1. RELIGIOUS: Monasteries and Religious Communities based on Religious Beliefs. From ancient times people have grouped together and dug in hard. Hanging onto fundamental knowledge and goodness as best they can. Ten Commandments, Noble Eightfold Path, Gospels, Hinduism, Koran etc.
  2. BUSINESS: Communities based on common interest in Financial Goals. Banking, Trading, Stocks, Bonds and Currencies etc. Savings, investment, capital, wealth, production. etc. Dow 30, S&P 500, Nasdaq, down to Strip Malls and Trailer parks etc.
  3. LEFT WING: Socialist, Communist based on Social & Community goals. Distribution of Wealth and Means of Production, Health Care and other Social Projects for the good of the population and workers. Socialist Scandinavia, Communist China and a few others left.
  4. RIGHT WING: Pharoahs, Monarchies, Dictators etc. Concentration of Wealth and Power, Autocratic, Prosperity, security, status quo, class, family. Monaco's Monarchy, and the numerous Dictatorships worldwide.
  5. SPORTS: Communities based on common Sports Activities and Goals. Teamwork, Competition, Fitness, Personal Development, Fun. Country Clubs and Sports Teams, Olympics, Gyms, Health Spas etc.
  6. ECOLOGICAL: Based on nature, wildlife, science, recreation, conservation. Man's relationship to the land and animals, laws of nature, diversity. Intentional Communities, Camps/Parks, Farms/Ranches, Villages.

So, starting with the basics such as land and some fundamental principals, we can begin to piece together a new plan. Then add in the details of the Operations, Financials, and Activities etc. The materials presented here are by no means complete, but we will try to fill them in as we go along. We are trying to get you started and share what we have so far. Utopia should always be a work in progress, not carved in stones, pyramids or concrete.

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