Re: [ALSC-Forum] At Large Choreography - smoking gun?

[Esther Dyson]

Yes, it does read like an excerpt from the worst at-large-related 
conspiracy theories... So why should you believe it just because Antony 
wrote it?  Why not at least wait to see what the study committee comes up with?

It seems to me - individually - that this gives us more freedom rather than 
less in our recommendations...but it doesn't change the principles on which 
we will make them, which is hoe to find an effective way for individuals to 
participate in ICANN policy-making and influence ICANN board decisions.  If 
there *is* a conspiracy, they haven't let us in on it.

Esther Dyson


At 06:24 13.06.01, Thomas Roessler wrote:

>Call me naive - I just wanted to believe that there is some kind of honest 
>effort behind this study committe.  And indeed, I still sincerely believe 
>that some people are indeed acting in good faith.
>
>
>However, consider this message from Antony Van Couvering to inta-list 
>(ICANNwatch pointed to it first), which does actually read like an excerpt 
>from the worst at-large-related conspiracy theories:
>
>>The ccTLD "breakaway" is a good deal less serious than the press coverage 
>>("ccTLDs Revolt") would make out.  At every single meeting the ccTLDs 
>>make this threat, and nothing has ever come of it.  In Melbourne, 
>>however, the ICANN Board whispered in the ccTLD Administrative 
>>Committee's ear that this would be a Good Thing. And lo!, it has come to 
>>pass.  That said, the move does answer to the ccTLDs fury at being 
>>saddled with ICANN finances when they receive nothing in return.
>
>>In a cross-constituency meeting, all the other constituencies applauded 
>>the move and wished the ccTLDs best of luck.
>
>>This should be seen as part of the ICANN Board's continuing efforts to 
>>reconstitute the DNSO.  If as a Supporting Organization, the ccTLDs get 
>>three Board seats, what happens to those At-Large seats that were never 
>>elected?  Do they increase the size of the Board? Don't be surprised to 
>>see the number of At-Large seats diminished. The choreography here is 
>>more organized than at first it might appear.
>
><http://www.biglist.com/lists/lists.inta.org/tmtopics/archives/0106/msg00084.html>
>
>However, this message is not from some lunatic - but from a message of the 
>ccTLD constituency's administration committee 
><http://www.wwtld.org/whoiswho/>.  I'd suppose it should be taken seriously.
>
>
>The obvious question this raises is, of course, this one: Why the hell 
>should we bother with the at large study, with the committee, and with 
>this forum, when it's just part of some "organized choreography" (to use 
>Antony's wording)?  Why should we spend time and brain power when the 
>result will either look the way certain forces on the board want it to 
>look like, or will quite probably be ignored?
>
>
>If the board really wants to create irate opposition against ICANN, this 
>is the way to do it.
>
>Tell people that you are honestly studying some questions, appoint a 
>committee with big names on it - and work behind the scenes to make that 
>committee's result irrelevant.  (Getting caught with a smoking gun is, 
>certainly, not suitable to improve the situation.)
>
>
>Of course, individuals' opposition may be quite irrelevant for the overall 
>picture - however, if that's what the board's majority thinks and acts 
>like, the board should be so honest to put the cards onto the table 
>instead of using the At Large elections and directors as fig leaf style 
>legitimization which can be used when the board's majority may stand naked 
>otherwise.
>
>(Or should I just have said - "the board should stop lying"?  I wouldn't 
>have thought I'd write something like this even a few weeks ago.)
>
>--
>Thomas Roessler                        http://log.does-not-exist.org/



Esther Dyson			Always make new mistakes!
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