I am somewhat aware of Slab City, but I am one of the weirdos who tries to understand how societies actually work, and likes to look I to fringe groups.

There is a common misconception that communities as we know them emerged alongside governments, so therefore government is necessary and essential for community. Cum hoc, ergo propter hoc. This is exacerbated by government monopolization of services like criminal investigation, dispute adjudication, and education.

In reality, society always predates the State. People have diverse ideas about what society should be, and there is a natural and healthy form of tribalism that results as we gather into like-minded communities. We can interact and exchange peacefully through the market provess, and forge relationships with others who live differently. People have done this since pre-history, and archaeological evidence of global trade networks can be found.

The unhealthy tribalism of hatred toward people who live differently is exploited by those who desire to live by plunder rather than productivity and peace. First, such people claimed to be gods, or to be descended from the gods, or to ascend to godhood on death. The denarius the Pharisees brought to the temple to entrap Christ probably bore an inscription declaring the emperor to be the son of a God. Then they claimed to rule by divine right no matter how ungodly their actions. Now we have rulers who claim secular authority through the magic and mystery of democracy. It's oh-so-secular, but the claim to authority is just as arbitrary and presumptuous in reality.

The veneer of legitimacy and appeals to the status quo make it difficult to challenge, though, especially when the education system is built on belief in political legitimacy. That, and not the nature of human society, is our biggest hurdle. People are bad, so therefore we need to give some people a monopoly in violence, but don't worry, there's NO WAY such power could draw the corrupt or present perverse incentives should anyone virtuous manage to get in! It's sad, really.