Village-city equalization?

[bropasaran]

Are there any organization that have this goal as a part of their basic program? Particularly Marxist organization (especially if there are any orthodox, gradualist ones), having in mind that this was put forth as part of the basic demands both in The Principles of Communism:

"(ix) Construction, on public lands, of great palaces as communal dwellings for associated groups of citizens engaged in both industry and agriculture and combining in their way of life the advantages of urban and rural conditions while avoiding the one-sidedness and drawbacks of each."

and in The Communist Manifesto:

"9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the populace over the country."

It seems this kind of idea is almost totally forgotten. What is your opinion about this kind of measure?

[Blake's Baby]

I don't know if most groups have a policy on how it should be carried out (as in 'the Central Committee decrees that ever hectare will support 9.8 persons' or whatever) but I can't see how any group that claims the heritage of the Manifesto and the First International (so, Marxist or Anarchist) could possibly think that our current living arrangements shouldn't be completely transformed. I mean, cities-and-countryside is a stupid way to live. "Oh no! Everything's totally overcrowded! Except for the bits that are completely empty!"

[Jimmie Higgins]

Yeah I don't think contemporary revolutionaries are really in a position to develop plans for these kind of developments. I think this concept would come into being probably only partially due to specific intent anyway. Much of it would simply be the result of not having a profit motive which dictates the allocation of things and the way development happens.