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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Dear Bui, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>You propose the following definition:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>"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 size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;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 size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>"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 size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;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 size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;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 size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Peter</span></font><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Peter Emerson</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><a href="http://www.deborda.org">www.deborda.org</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:windowtext'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:windowtext;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;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 size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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 size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Harrison</span></font></st1:place><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;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 size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;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 size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Camden</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;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 size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>207-763-3261 (Summer)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>301-365-2093 (Winter)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Website <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com">www.openspaceworld.com</a>
</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Personal Website <a 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 size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>OSLIST</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font>To
subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options <font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><a
href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html"
title="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html"><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;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 size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:windowtext'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:windowtext;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;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 size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>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 size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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 size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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 size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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 size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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 size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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 size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Harrison</span></font></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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 size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Harrison Owen</span></font></st1:PersonName><o:p></o:p></p>
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u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on"><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;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
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Camden</span></font></st1:City><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;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>
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10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>207-763-3261 (Summer)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>301-365-2093 (Winter)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Website <a
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com" moz-do-not-send=true>www.openspaceworld.com</a>
</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
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<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>OSLIST</span></font></st1:PersonName><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your
options </span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><a
href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html"
title="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html"
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style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'> <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'> <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;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 size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Dear Jack, <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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 size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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 size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Cheers, <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Peter<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Peter Emerson</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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 size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;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
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Belfast</span></font></st1:City></st1:place><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> BT14 7QQ</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'> <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>028 90 711795</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>078 377 17979</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'> <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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 size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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 size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'> <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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 align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;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 size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Peter,<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>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 size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>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 size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Catch-22!<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Warm wishes,<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>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>
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