Functional Coordination vs Power Hierarchy

TogetherOS makes a crucial distinction between two types of organization:

Power Hierarchy (Traditional)

In traditional organizations, power flows DOWN:

Leader (decides)
   ↓
Managers (implement leader's vision)
   ↓
Workers (follow orders)

• Decisions made at the top
• Power concentrated in few hands
• Followers surrender governing responsibility
• Leaders can be corrupted, captured, or co-opted

Functional Coordination (TogetherOS)

In TogetherOS, mandates flow UP:

Collective (decides through proposals)
   ↑
Coordinators (execute collective will)
   ↑
All Members (propose, vote, participate)

• Decisions made collectively
• Power distributed among all members
• Coordinators are tools for execution
• Corruption of coordinators gains nothing

Why This Matters

"Hierarchy" often means positions of power. In TogetherOS:

• The power is with the people
• The "average person position" holds the power
• Coordinators have function (coordination) but not power (decision-making)

Exceptional People

We value exceptional people. They receive admiration and recognition for their contributions. But:

• Being great at something ≠ ruling over everything
• Expertise informs decisions, doesn't replace collective choice
• No one person becomes indispensable

The Result

• Corruption-proof: Corrupting a coordinator gains nothing
• Resilient: Removing a coordinator changes nothing (another takes their place)
• Democratic: Real power stays with the collective