RE: [ALSC-Forum] Benefits and goals of At-Large involvement

[Bruce Young]

Comments about Alexander Svensson's reply to Sabine Fercher:

> . . . user-elected directors are not likely to decide any slower than
unelected directors.

As my kids say: Duh!  :)

>Is there a way of 'transcending' the nation state when
>it comes to the ICANN elections? I.e., are nation states
>negligible just because the Internet is a global medium?

I would say that we have *three* complimentary interest groups that
transcend national borders, each with their own interests, :

-  Corporate and Business Interests (driven by their desire for profit)

-  Government Interests (driven by a desire to control others!  This group
could be said to fit into national borders, but as regards the Internet they
tend to work through international bodies, treaty organizations, etc.)

-  Personal Interests (each individual user, following their own interests)

Of course, members of the third group includes members of the first two, but
when operating for themselves, not their employers!

All three have a ligitimate right to help direct the future course of the
Internet.  However, the first two are well represented by the current board.
The third is not.  That is why the @Large effort is so important: it will
ensure that individual users, particularly those with no influence in
government and industry, have a voice to protect their interests.

Bruce Young
Portland, Oregon
byoung651@home.com
http://members.home.net/byoung651/index.html