"The key to organizing an alternative society is to organize people around what they can do, and more importantly, what they want to do"

Abbie Hoffman’s words highlight a central principle of meaningful social change: the necessity to empower individuals by focusing on their talents, passions, and agency. External systems often coerce people into roles based on economic necessity or pre-established structures of authority, ignoring personal desires and unique abilities. Hoffman suggests that the creation of a truly alternative society, one that differs fundamentally from the mainstream, requires a shift in this approach. Rather than organizing people in rigid hierarchies for efficiency or productivity, transformative organization must consider personal motivation as the driving force.

By organizing people around their skills, communities draw upon a diverse array of strengths. Someone passionate about gardening contributes to collective sustenance and beauty; those who enjoy teaching or healing create educational and health networks. This organic distribution of roles fosters a sense of ownership and fulfillment, as individuals participate by choice rather than obligation. It counters alienation, a common product of traditional institutions, and builds deeper engagement and solidarity. When people do what they want, they are more likely to persist through difficulties, innovate, and invest emotionally in communal success.

Hoffman underscores that ability alone is insufficient if interest is absent. A society that is merely functional, without joy or self-expression, replicates the very oppressive mechanisms it seeks to escape. A revolutionary alternative must be rooted in authenticity, creativity, and shared purpose, with space for people to grow and contribute as whole beings. The process itself becomes liberatory, as it encourages continuous dialogue about needs, goals, and desires, rather than imposing a fixed template.

Ultimately, Hoffman’s vision demands a reimagining of society, not as a machine to be managed, but as a living community shaped by the collective aspirations of its members. Only then can alternative systems genuinely challenge the status quo and foster environments where everyone thrives on their own terms.