>...
> There has been a rule that says that ten people must disagree with
> something before it is put up for a vote. That extends the excom's power
> based on keeping the members unmotivated. I believe this rule should be
>...
>I think
> members should have an abstain option on each ballot and everyone should be
> pushed to either vote or abstain via email so we can see that most of the
> group is involved.
Bob,
Others have commented on the voting and rough consensus issues,
and I don't have anything to add on those subjects. Re the
above, however: I think the reality is that "most of the group"
is not involved most of the time and will be heard from, time
permitting, when something comes up which they feel impacts them
and which they happen to notice. It may get worse over time as
things settle down in DNS-land and there are fewer policy issues
of broad concern to broad numbers of organizations. That is
clearly not the best of situations and one would wish otherwise.
However, as we have discussed before on this list in other
contexts, I think it is better to try to face that situation and
work within it than to try to force people to vote or express
opinions -- the latter can only lead to reductions in the size
of the PAB and its membership, and that is _not_ a good idea.
I favor the idea of permitting formal abstentions. I just don't
think it should be tied to, or confused with, trying to "push"
organizations to participate more actively.
john