AA literature and history together - Read Bill's 1948 Grapevine article on Tradition Nine: Tradition Nine The least possible organization, that's our universal ideal. No fees, or dues, no rules imposed on anybody, one alcoholic bringing recovery to the next; that's the substance of what we most desire, isn't it? But how shall this simple ideal best be realized? Often a question, that. We have, for example, the kind of AA who is for simplicity. Terrified of anything organized, he tells us that AA is getting too complicated. He thinks money only makes trouble, committees only make dissension, elections only make politics, paid workers only make professionals, and clubs only coddle slippers. Says he, let's get back to coffee and cakes by cozy firesides. If any alcoholics stray our way, let's look after them. But that's enough. Simplicity is our answer. Quite opposed to such halcyon simplicity is the AA promoter. Left to himself, he would "ban...