RE: [ALSC-Forum] Re: Direct vs. Indirect elections

[Mary Jaekl]

I completely agree.  Furthermore, it has been my experience that many
ordinary users do not see (or care) what relevance ICANN has to them.
They would prefer simply to see results that take their needs/opinions
into account.  

After all, how many microwave oven users would want to join an
organization devoted to the design of microwave ovens?  Not many.  Some
wouldn't mind filling in the odd survey or participating in focus
groups, but further participation is unlikely.

Thus, although there are many users, I think relatively few would
participate as at-Large members - rather ICANN would need to actively
solicit their participation and opinion.  (And personally, I think that
is an area where at-large members can have a role)  Those users who are
would like to actively participate are going to be those who are willing
to jump through a few hoops - and registering a domain name is not that
big a hoop.

Mary Jaekl
Mary@Phibian.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Joop Teernstra [mailto:terastra@terabytz.co.nz] 
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 4:51 PM
To: eric@cafeinternet.info
Cc: jandl@jandl.com; forum@atlargestudy.org; Sandy Harris
Subject: Re: [ALSC-Forum] Re: Direct vs. Indirect elections



At 08:26 19/10/01 -0700, Eric Dierker wrote:

>Yes it does Leah,
>
>But the issue by in large is not being ignored.  Although in principal 
>we may lose the first round for non domain name holders it will be 
>better than no progress.

This is also my view. By starting to ask for the (near) impossible, you 
help guaranteeing that we never get user input at all.

Domain Name Holders have a strong case as stakeholders in the DNS. They
need a channel of communication with the supply -side in this 
industry, within an ICANN where their vote counts.

Wider democracy where Internet users without Domains can have a voice,
can 
come when the first objective has actually been realized and tested for 
effectiveness.

In the non-internet history of democracy too we have seen an
evolutionary 
process.
Suffrage rights were first obtained by taxpayers, then by all people
with 
some education, then the women were included, and only then  all above a

certain age limit got the vote.

--Joop