Without land in the hands of individuals and secured for the benefit of local communities, we will be always subject to the whims of the ruling class and the capitalists.

Malcolm X said: “Revolution is based on land. Land is the basis of all independence. Land is the basis of freedom, justice, and equality.”

I think he’s right.

We need to restore and remember THE COMMONS, and change our concept of what it means to “own” or steward land.

WTF is “the commons”?!?!

Perhaps people hold different definitions “the commons”, but as a concept the Wikipedia article is roughly what people are talking about when using that term.

The commons were very real and a way of organizing society before the monarchy invented private property and propaganda over the course of thousands of years erased that notion from our minds, save parks and roads.

And the best thing about it is you don’t have to give up your family home to Socialist Suzie and Anarchist Aaron to get down with it!!

When did the concept of “land ownership” arise?

Depends on who you ask, but it’s a relatively recent concept as of the 17th and 18th centuries.

It’s informative to read the history of land ownership and how it began and evolved in many parts of the world (check out the history of “enclosures” in England).

Many mainstream viewpoints surrounding land ownership and property which are held by people of all political persuasions and codified by law are rooted in colonialism, genocide, and slavery and/or come from legislation of monarchies seeking to keep people from any sort of power.

This colonial concept of land ownership is deeply embedded in our culture, values system, “education”, and legal system.

We buy into the rental system, watching money drain from our communities into the hands of the most wealthy, who use their wealth to stockpile more land for profit.

Meanwhile the market ensures that renters pay a certain percentage of whatever we make and contributes to the epidemic of poverty.

Defining terms

When I say “land in the hands of the people”, I mean housing as a fundamental human right that graces every individual, not a commodity that’s sold in the form of rentals and mortgages to those that can afford that privilege. Land sovereignty for lack of a better term.

I realize I’m getting back into idealist visions, because what I’m talking about would never happen in the US or other countries without much struggle.

Everyone deserves to have a place to sleep at night. We have enough resources to make this happen, and we have the people power to make it happen…so what are we waiting for?