A Common Consensus

[Peter Emerson]

Dear Jack, 

 

They key, then, is to ask these folks, do they believe in democracy?  Yes?
Oh jolly good.  And do they believe democracy is for everybody, or just a
majority?  And if they agree to the former, away you go.

 

Mediation works only when the parties to the dispute agree to it.  Democracy
should work for all democrats.  Russians and Georgians claim the adjective.
But the idea that a majority can determine the fate of an unwilling minority
should be abhorrent. to both.  

 

Cheers, 

 

Peter

 

 

Peter Emerson

Director, The de Borda Institute

36 Ballysillan Road

Belfast BT14 7QQ

 

028 90 711795

078 377 17979

 

pemerson at deborda.org

www.deborda.org

 

The Borda count "is the best protection ever devised from the tyranny of the
majority."  Professor Sir Michael Dummett.

  _____  

From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Jack
Martin Leith
Sent: 14 August 
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: A Common Consensus

 

Peter,

 

Thanks for taking the trouble to explain the method in so much detail. I've
turned your post into a Word document and filed it under Decision Making
Methods for future reference.

 

The challenge is getting people's agreement to use the method.

 

Catch-22!

 

Warm wishes,

 

Jack 

Jack Martin Leith
Now-to-New activist
Bristol, United Kingdom
Mobile: 07831 840541 (+44 7831 840541)
Skype: jackmartinleith
email: jack at jackmartinleith.com
www.jackmartinleith.com

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