Since Detroit’s bankruptcy and utter failures on every civic front, it’s clear that some people aren’t made for governance. Maybe some cities aren’t either. Shortly after the bankruptcy, I promoted the concept that Detroit should be made into a charter city a la Hong Kong or the fictional Ur from Gods of Ruin. That, of course would take a pretty substantial paradigm shift in the city and even the state and nation to happen. In essence, it’s more likely that the city council continues leading Detroit in an unprecedented collapse and bring the surrounding municipalities and even the country down with it.

Some people, however, don’t want to wait for that unlikely paradigm shift to happen. They’re going to make it happen on their own, if not on the city-wide scale that it should happen. Anarchists in the city have begun planning a government-free zone in the middle of the plighted municipality—a miniature Hong Kong inside the greater Detroit. The State Weekly reports:

In their plans, coalition members believe they’ll be purchasing an estimated five blocks of property, whether it is the individual who pays for the house and lives there or someone who buys it merely to invest in the idea. Katie Testa, an active member in MPLC and participant in Free Detroit, contacted The State Weekly, telling us that there’s been a tremendous amount of support towards the project. Testa also said many entrepreneurial spirits are joining in on the project, as they see Free Detroit as a way to explore anarchy.

This is fantastic. Why wait for the powers that be to change when you can affect change at a smaller level immediately?

How would a community-based anarchy inside a government-run city work? A member of Free Detroit, Rob Bert explains:

Literacy programs, job opportunities through privately owned farms and home renovation, extensive permaculture development to feed the hungry.

Out of destruction comes creation. And the result of that creation may just revolutionize the country. As Hong Kong paved the way for a more economically liberalized China and mirror special administration zones throughout the country, this experiment may result in similar projects in America.

If anarchy doesn’t work for Detroit, perhaps making it a private company could.