Topolobampo Founding Principles

This is a written manifesto describing the principles whereupon Topolobampo was built. Elocuted in a confident cadence, the text’s tone is informative, stressing the importance of “co-operation” amongst the inhabitants of Topolobampo. Laid bare are the expectations of this utopia’s citizens regarding food, resources, leisure, employment and labor. Regarding these last two aspects, the literature describes a labor of directionality, meaning all Topolobampo residents are to partake in the development of their respective municipality. The labor is provided by the inhabitants, both males and females, who directly reap the benefits of that labor and subsequently exchange amongst each other services, circumventing the need to exchange currency. This is not to say that there was no currency in this society but rather that the true holders of wealth are not the greenbacks but are instead the land and its deposits. Of course, there must be an entity to oversee these exchanges of services and ensure that the citizens’ labor is always accounted for on paper. The Labor Clearing House is that entity, a “public depository” to where all citizens may go and document his or her “crude labor” or “finished labor product” from which a value may be accrued.

With regards to resources, the text states that there should be a clear distinction between property that is private and that which is municipal – meaning it belongs to the society. Belonging in the latter category are things such as the woods, game, fish and power, heat, electricity, telephones, etc. Items subsumed under the category of private ownership include the home and the things contained therein i.e. the sewing machines, work tools and, by extension, cows and carriages.

By emphasizing the collective moral, intellectual and physical development of its citizens and the labor structure, this text communicates what the masthead promises: that is the basic philosophy underpinning Topolobampo.