Jim: I've been thinking more about your interest in writing a new constitution---and how that applies to the TDG.

The early TDG builders will be getting lots of practice putting together constitutions.

The first constitutions will be mostly about local TDGs governing themselves. They should be kept simple. They will be written by the local TDG builders. They will be learning how to work together in a consensual way--and gaining news skills and attitudes. They will take these skills and attitudes to the next level.

As the TDG grows, it will require more complex rules to govern itself. At some time, it will also be looking at new structures for when it does assume governance.

That's when ideas like yours will come into play. By that time, there will not only be a vested interest in developing these ideas, the TDGers will be quite able to discuss and evaluate to evaluate them.

Other than four salient feature features, I leave all the TDGs to design themselves.

In my first TDG novel, I describe a TDG group writing their constitution. I provide a sample constitution. If the builders rely on that document as their blueprint, they will have about 40 or 50 items to work through and evaluate how to best implement these items in their local area. For example:

Who is a member?

When does the TDG hold elections?

How many members are elected into the executive committee?

How is the constitution amended?

How does this TDG merge with another?

Working through these kinds of question will not only write the constitution, it is also a forum for gaining the necessary skills and attitudes.

I hope this explains things a little better.