The money pot

It was the summer after the summer of love, July 1970. When someone at Innisfree rang the bell, all 60 community members were expected to attend and participate in group process until the problem (whatever it was) was resolved by group consensus. The process was modeled after general meetings held at Summerhill.

One such meeting, I recall, had to do with theft at Innisfree. After a few hours of discussion, it became clear to all that the root of the problem was that some had, while others had not (or at least not as much as they wanted). A simple solution was agreed upon. Consensus was that a pot -- actually, it was more like a tupperware bowel -- would be placed in the living room. Anyone who had money to spare would place it in the pot. Those who needed would be free to to take as their needs required. Pure socialism, in a teapot. As the vessel made its way around the room, generous idealists filled it with paper currency and change. Finally, it was placed on the shelf.

There would be no more stealing. The money belonged to everyone, so stealing was not possible, the group concluded. "From each according to his ability; to each according to his need," someone quoted hopefully.

The next day, the meeting bell rang once again. The money pot was empty! A quick investigation revealed that a six-year-old who had been a central focus of the original discussion had helped himself to the entire amount and purchased a stock of candy at the local general store. After all, he said, it was his right. He got there first.

Adding insult to injury, the young entrupeunor opened a "store" of his own on the Innisfree lawn, arranging chocolate bars on the bottom of an inverted orange crate, and doubling their sale price. Penny candy went for two cents, a nickel chocolate bar for a dime, etc.