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For tradesmen
Help us put lawyers out of work. Over the last 50 years, the culture of craftsmanship that built America was replaced by top-down technocratic management. The construction industry became an extension of the legal industry: code inspectors and lawyers battling over whether code was precisely followed, rather than craftsmen solving problems to ensure a building is safe, practical, and beautiful. New Athens represents a rebirth of craftsmanship and guild-based leadership, where people trust the buildings they live and work in because they know the guys who built them, and those guys take pride in their work because doing a good job is the right thing to do. We invite you to join us.
A revival of craftsmanship and guilds
Over the last 50 years, the culture of craftsmanship that built American was replaced by top-down technocratic management. The construction industry became an extension of the legal industry: code inspectors and lawyers battling over whether code was precisely followed, rather than craftsmen solving problems to ensure a building is safe, practical, and beautiful.
Problem exemplified in assumiton in many parts of the US that you will not get paid, or will get otherwise ripped off, if you don’t have your own lawyer.
Culture must change
in a nutshell, people should trust buildings they live and work in because they know the guys who built them, and those guy take pride in their work. and they take pride because sourounded by guys who also take the work seriously.
Processes must change
in practice, this requires major changes in how things get built
- revival of guilds and unions
- changes to project management and ways crews are formed
- new incentives for doing a good job
- changes to code and how it’s enforced. fewer lawyers and inspectors. more power—and accountability—to journeymen
Some people will thrive; others should stay away
don’t come if:
- you can’t show up to work on time
- the minute you show up, you can’t wait to leave
- you like to see what you can get away with
- the quality of the work you do now isn’t better than the work you did last year
come if:
You are reading version 1.0 published September 23 2025. Next version expected Q1 2026.
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