By all means, the early builders should research different ways and learn from them.

As I mentioned earlier, most Canadians who accept a condominium plan accept the rules that come their purchase. But the mentality changes with a detached house: something about the perceived middle class freedom. It's not hard to imagine some people trying to intimidate a HOA neighbor about the rules, yet acquiesce to a bylaw officer sent by the municipal office. When the TDG is mature, it will be able to find the better way for its culture.

I have a little anecdote. Thornhill BC is the rural municipality surrounding Terrace BC, a city of about 20,000. Thornhill has grown to 20,000 as well, and it's often hard to see the boundaries between these two "cities." Terrace is civilized; Thornhill was a junkyard. You would see forestry workers often overhauling their logging trucks on their front lawn.

About 20 years ago, many citizens of Thornhild wanted to join civilization. They convinced the council to adopt some cleanliness bylaws. Let's just say it took about a decade for these bylaws to be reasonably enforced. Thornhill looks a lot cleaner.

I bring this anecdote up because stories (and research) like this can help the TDG mature and make better decisions.

I envision local TDGs learning from each other as they experiment with TDG governance. This should accelerate the maturation.

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I did a little research on the 17th Amendment, where Senators are directly elected. It took about 30 years for the advocates to finalize this change.

I believe when 1% of Americans (or other western countries) get behind the TDG , it will take 10-20 years to develop the skills to take responsiblity for real governance.

Buildng the TDG will take less time than the popular reforms being suggested today. There reforms really won't fix much.

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I spent six years as an active volunteer for a Canadian political party. Outsiders may believe that the party is about pushing an ideology or agenda on the rest of us, but a more sinister force is the informal contest of acquiring status, influence, power, and favors. This taints everything we do as a society. This is what really needs to be fixed.

Unfortunately political parties cannot change this nature, just like lions cannot be talked into becoming vegetarians.

All the popular reforms will eventually come to nothing--if we leave political parties in place .

The TDG is about building a new culture.