Diane and all,
As I and other on the MAC mailing list pointed out on more than one
occasion there is not "Fail-Safe" method of "Capture" in any election
or voting process. There are are however practical methods that can
severely curtail such a potential, also mentioned on the MAC mailing
list
by myself and several others, that would allow for one person one vote.
This however is not reason or good evidance/argument for delaying
the installation of the membership, and the study, which you Diane,
participated in on the MAC committee, and very well done I might add
as well. >;) Such delays from the ICANN (Initial?) Interim board along
these lines are indeed contrived and intentional, as was made evident
to me at least when I had my initial conversation with Mike Roberts
(Recording available, should the need arise), and this was the main
subject.
Diane Cabell wrote:
> Weisberg wrote:
>
> > In this regard, I could not find any reference to board action on the
> > "geographic diversity" proposal. Did the board perceive that both models are
> > threatened by single board seat elections in five huge geographic regions?
> > Does it perceive that such a scheme "complicates" every thing else we are
> > trying to do and would frustrate what you correctly identified as the purpose
> > of our governance structure--to avoid capture/(enable representation)? Are any
> > means of obtaining geographic diversity without jeopardizing other, more
> > meaningful forms of diversity under discussion? Is there a forum in which list
> > members may participate in that discussion?
>
> The Board did not act on the Interim Policy for Geographic Diversity, but did
> respond to the MAC proposal:
>
> > WHEREAS, the Board reaffirms its intention to establish, as soon as practicable, a
>system that permits individuals to select geographically diverse
> > At-Large Directors, but also recognizes that this effort, given the unique context
>of a new form of global consensus organization with responsibility for
> > oversight of an important global resource, is likely to be both administratively
>complex and expensive (especially in relation to ICANN's anticipated
> > budget);
> >
> http://www.icann.org/berlin/berlin-resolutions.html#3
>
> I cannot speak for the Board, but the MAC recognized the problems inherent with
> geographical diversity requirements. However, our consensus was that if the
> registered membership itself was not representational, then no method of vote
> tallying would make the election more so. I believe that it is unlikely we will
> attract vast numbers of voters in the early years and thus, the greater risk at
> this time is that a single special interest may be able to enroll enough members to
> capture the election.
>
> Reasonable people can disagree on this, Eric, and we tried to find some objective
> criteria by which we could define capture so as to try and inhibit it. For
> example, what if 70% of the registered at-large members were from San Jose, CA?
> Would that be evidence that the membership itself is not "representative" or would
> that just be evidence that Karl Auerbach convinced his entire theater group to
> plunge into Internet politics? :-)
>
> I know you've given voting methodology a great deal of thought and we included your
> points in the MAC analysis. However, we ran out of time before finding a fail-safe
> solution to this conflict, if one can ever be found. Until the Internet population
> is more evenly balanced, however, the non-US users have a legitimate concern that
> their voices will be drowned out by the heavy American vote. You may argue that
> the non-commercial users have as much right to such protection as the Africans, and
> you could be right. I just can't say that you are "more right" than Nii Quaynor.
>
> Greg Crew is following through on membership and would welcome any suggestions you
> have, I'm sure. The [EMAIL PROTECTED] comment list may still be operational and
> ICANN staff have quite faithfully reported on all messages posted there.
>
> Diane Cabell
> http://www.mama-tech.com
> Fausett, Gaeta & Lund, LLP
> Boston, MA
Regards,
--
Jeffrey A. Williams
CEO/DIR. Internet Network Eng/SR. Java/CORBA Development Eng.
Information Network Eng. Group. INEG. INC.
E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Contact Number: 972-447-1894
Address: 5 East Kirkwood Blvd. Grapevine Texas 75208
