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Peter,<br>
<br>
This is necessarily my favoured definition of consensus but rather the
most thorough one that I have seen. Just meant to illustrate the amount
of work sometimes required to reach consensus.<br>
<br>
Bui<br>
<br>
Peter Emerson wrote:
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Dear Bui, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">You propose
the following definition:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">"Consensus is a group decision
- which some
members may not feel is the best decision but which they can all live
with,
support, and commit themselves to not undermine - arrived at without
voting,
through a process whereby the issues are fully aired, all members feel
that
they have been adequately heard, in which everyone has equal power and
responsibility, and different degrees of influence by virtue of
individual
stubbornness or charisma are avoided, so that all are satisfied with
the process.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: navy;">May I suggest a
slight amendment, adding the
two words ‘</span></font><font color="red"><span style="color: red;">with
or</span></font><font color="navy"><span style="color: navy;">’, as
follows:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">"Consensus is a group decision
- which some
members may not feel is the best decision but which they can all live
with,
support, and commit themselves to not undermine - arrived at </span></font><font
color="red"><span style="color: red;">with or</span></font> without
voting, through
a process whereby the issues are fully aired, all members feel that
they have
been adequately heard, in which everyone has equal power and
responsibility,
and different degrees of influence by virtue of individual stubbornness
or
charisma are avoided, so that all are satisfied with the process.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: navy;">And a voting
process in which</span></font>
“everyone has equal power” <font color="navy"><span
style="color: navy;">is, may I further suggest (as in my original
splurb), a consensus vote, a
multi-option preference vote, a Modified Borda Count.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: navy;">Just because some
voting procedures are so
dreadful – probably the worst is the two-option majority vote – does
not mean that all voting procedures are bad. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: navy;">Peter</span></font><font
color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Peter Emerson</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.deborda.org">www.deborda.org</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
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color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size: 12pt; color: windowtext;">
<hr tabindex="-1" align="center" size="2" width="100%"></span></font></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font color="black" face="Tahoma" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: windowtext; font-weight: bold;">From:</span></font></b><font
color="black" face="Tahoma" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: windowtext;"> <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName> [mailto:<st1:PersonName w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">On Behalf Of </span></b>Harrison
Owen<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> 15 August 2008
20:30<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: A Common
Consensus</span></font><font color="black"><span
style="color: windowtext;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">I quite like
what Scott Peck says,
although when you read it, it sounds like very hard work, something
which can
be achieved only occasionally and under special circumstances. I wonder
whether
the truth is rather different. Indeed I might suggest that the vast
majority of
decisions made in any group or organization occur by consensus. There
is no
argument, no great discussion, “it” whatever it was, just seemed
like the right thing to do – and that is what happened. Somewhere along
the line we came to the notion that decision is always a matter of
formal
action, constrained by rules and procedure. This certainly seems to be
the
reality in a number of organizations – which I find totally
claustrophobic! Probably just me – but my experience is that the
essence of
life is deciding. Most of the time it just sort of flows. But there are
certainly times when it gets bumpy and hard and most usually that
happens when
I try to force things. Crazy?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><font color="navy"
face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Harrison</span></font></st1:place><font
color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font color="black"
face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Harrison Owen</span></font></st1:PersonName><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><font
color="black" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">189 Beaucaire Ave</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font
color="black" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Camden</span></font></st1:City><font
face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">, <st1:State w:st="on">ME</st1:State>
<st1:PostalCode w:st="on">04843</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">207-763-3261 (Summer)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">301-365-2093 (Winter)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Website <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.openspaceworld.com">www.openspaceworld.com</a>
</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Personal Website <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.ho-image.com">www.ho-image.com</a>
</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font color="black"
face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">OSLIST</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></font>To
subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options <font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html"
title="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</span></font></a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size: 12pt; color: windowtext;">
<hr tabindex="-1" align="center" size="2" width="100%"></span></font></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font color="black" face="Tahoma" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: windowtext; font-weight: bold;">From:</span></font></b><font
color="black" face="Tahoma" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: windowtext;"> <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName> [mailto:<st1:PersonName w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">On Behalf Of </span></b>Bui
Petersen<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Friday, August
15, 2008 1:46
PM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: A Common
Consensus</span></font><font color="black"><span
style="color: windowtext;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I have been absent from this
list for a rather long
time. Life has intervened again (I have just moved from <st1:City
w:st="on">Vancouver</st1:City>
to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">St. John's</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Newfoundland</st1:State></st1:place>) and kept me away from
anything
to do with Open Space. But the discussion on consensus makes me come
out from
hiding.<br>
<br>
<st1:place w:st="on">Harrison</st1:place>, I agree with much of what
you say.
However, I think the difficulty with any discussion on consensus is
that
everybody has a different interpretation of what "consensus" means.
The way I see it, consensus is not something you come at easily.
Reaching what
I consider to be true consensus requires a process that gives plenty of
space
for disagreements to be voiced. If a solution can be found that
everyone
believes is the best and most reasonable (considering the
alternatives),
and that everyone is willing to support, that could be considered
consensus. It
requires a lot of time and effort and is not always practical or even
desirable.<br>
<br>
What irritates me the most is when people talk about consensus as if it
only
means a strong majority, as in "8 out of 10 support this options; it
looks
like we have consensus. A more common problem, however, is that people
suppress
their disagreement in order to not be seen as "difficult".<br>
<br>
The most thorough definition of consensus that I have come across is:<br>
<br>
"Consensus is a group decision - which some members may not feel is the
best decision but which they can all live with, support, and commit
themselves
to not undermine - arrived at without voting, through a process whereby
the
issues are fully aired, all members feel that they have been adequately
heard,
in which everyone has equal power and responsibility, and different
degrees of
influence by virtue of individual stubbornness or charisma are avoided,
so that
all are satisfied with the process. The process requires the members to
be
emotionally present and engaged; frank in a loving, mutually respectful
manner;
sensitive to each other; to be selfless, dispassionate, and capable of
emptying
themselves; and possessing a paradoxical awareness of both people and
time,
including knowing when the solution is satisfactory, and that it is
time to
stop and not re-open the discussion until such time that the group
determines a
need for revision." [<i><span style="font-style: italic;">© 1988,
Valley Diagnostic, Medical, and Surgical Clinic, Inc. of <st1:City
w:st="on">Harlingen</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">Texas</st1:State> and the Foundation for
Community
Encouragement, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Knoxville</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">Tennessee</st1:State></st1:place></span></i>]
(as quoted by M. Scott
Peck).<br>
<br>
My two cents.<br>
<br>
Bui<br>
<br>
<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Harrison Owen</st1:PersonName> wrote: <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><u1:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PostalCode"><u1:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"><u1:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="country-region"><u1:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"><u1:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"><u1:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="Street"><u1:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="address"><u1:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PersonName"></u1:SmartTagType></u1:SmartTagType></u1:SmartTagType></u1:SmartTagType></u1:SmartTagType></u1:SmartTagType></u1:SmartTagType></u1:SmartTagType>Peter
– Tyranny by the majority is certainly a downside of Democracy as
practiced in my country (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">USA</st1:country-region></st1:place>). That
said, it seems to me
that there are circumstances where it is the preferable alternative.
The
passage of the Civil Rights Act here in the US was vociferously and
often
violently opposed by a very vocal minority, however I would doubt that
many
black Americans opposed the vigorous enforcement of that act, and
fortunately
(for the good of the country) a majority of all Americans, regardless
of hue,
were in agreement. <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Consensus
politics has much to commend it,
but it too has its downsides. Resolution at the lowest common
denominator is
one such, which often appears to be no resolution at all.
Alternatively, the
whole system may simply become paralyzed. At such times, I for one find
myself
longing for a straight up or down vote. There is also such a thing a
Tyranny of
Consensus, I think. <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Perhaps it
is useful to think in terms of
both/and as opposed to either/or? For example, Majority Rule, as in the
case of
the Civil Rights act, was possible only because of a prior consensus in
the
American Population that the Rule of Law was to be preferred even if
you were
on the wrong side of the Law.<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">I suspect
that the situation is infinitely
more complicated than the simple alternative (Consensus/Majority Rule).
My
learning has been that our capacity to design and implement effective
systems
of all sorts (political, corporate, etc) is limited at best. We simply
cannot
comprehend the infinite complexity and random occurrences (essential
chaos),
characteristic of all living systems. Our solutions are always
approximations,
and try as we might, we will never get it “right” – and for
sure we will never be in control. This doesn’t mean that we
shouldn’t keep trying, but I think it is essential that we understand
the
true status of our creations – they are maps, and never to be confused
with the territory. Like all maps, some are better than others, and as
conditions change these maps become more or less relevant/accurate.<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">We really
get in trouble when we decide
that there is “<st1:Street u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on"><st1:address
u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">One Right Way</st1:address></st1:Street>.”
This effectively limits our options and reduces the living space (open
space).
Pushed to extremes the system will die – which is the end state of all
systems,
regardless. When you run out of space/time you run out of life.
Fortunately our
maps do not create the systems, and our systems are infinitely more
robust than
our designs could ever be. Are they perfect? No. They are always on the
way to
something new. And if they ever get “there” that will be the end, I
think.<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<u1:p></u1:p>
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style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><st1:PersonName u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on"><font
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style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Harrison Owen</span></font></st1:PersonName><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><st1:Street u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on"><st1:address
u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">189
Beaucaire Ave</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City u2_x003a_st="on"
w:st="on"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Camden</span></font></st1:City><font
color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">, <st1:State
u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">ME</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode
u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">04843</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">207-763-3261
(Summer)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">301-365-2093
(Winter)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
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</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
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<u1:p></u1:p>
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style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font><font
color="navy"><span style="color: navy;">To subscribe, unsubscribe,
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size: 12pt;">
<hr tabindex="-1" align="center" size="2" width="100%"></span></font></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font color="black" face="Tahoma" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-weight: bold;">From:</span></font></b><font
face="Tahoma" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> <st1:PersonName
u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName> [mailto:<st1:PersonName
u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">On Behalf Of </span></b>Peter
Emerson<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Thursday, August
14, 2008
5:21 AM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName
u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: A Common
Consensus</span></font><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Dear Jack, <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">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.<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">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 <i><span
style="font-style: italic;">should</span></i> be abhorrent… to both. <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Cheers, <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Peter<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Peter Emerson</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Director,
The de Borda Institute</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><st1:Street u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on"><st1:address
u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">36
Ballysillan Road</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City u2_x003a_st="on"
w:st="on"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Belfast</span></font></st1:City></st1:place><font
color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> BT14 7QQ</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: navy;"> <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">028 90 711795</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">078 377 17979</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: navy;"> <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><a
href="mailto:pemerson@deborda.org" moz-do-not-send="true">pemerson@deborda.org</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><a
href="http://www.deborda.org" moz-do-not-send="true">www.deborda.org</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: navy;"> <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">The Borda
count "is the best
protection ever devised from the tyranny of the majority." Professor
Sir Michael Dummett.</span></font><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size: 12pt;">
<hr tabindex="-1" align="center" size="2" width="100%"></span></font></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font color="black" face="Tahoma" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-weight: bold;">From:</span></font></b><font
face="Tahoma" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> <st1:PersonName
u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName> [mailto:<st1:PersonName
u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on"><st1:PersonName u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</st1:PersonName>]
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">On Behalf Of </span></b>Jack
Martin Leith<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> 14 August <br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName
u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on"><st1:PersonName u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</st1:PersonName><br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: A Common
Consensus</span></font><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Peter,<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">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.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The challenge is getting
people's agreement to use the
method.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Catch-22!<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Warm wishes,<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jack <br clear="all">
<br>
Jack Martin Leith<br>
Now-to-New activist<br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">Bristol</st1:City>,
<st1:country-region u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">United Kingdom</st1:country-region></st1:place><br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">Mobile</st1:City></st1:place>:
07831 840541 (+44 7831 840541)<br>
Skype: jackmartinleith<br>
email: <a href="mailto:jack@jackmartinleith.com" moz-do-not-send="true">jack@jackmartinleith.com</a><br>
<a href="http://www.jackmartinleith.com" moz-do-not-send="true">www.jackmartinleith.com</a><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
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<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist">http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist</a>
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view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu:
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To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
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