Re: [ALSC-Forum] Self-regulation and ICANN

[Esther Dyson]

I wish irresponsible governments were routinely destroyed in the next 
election.

I think the point is to create an organization that is specific and 
therefore is *more* accountable, responsive and transparent. I is focused 
on these issues and the people who vote to elect its directors and 
influence policies are voting on *those* issues rather than a broad  party 
identified with other issues, left or right or whatever.  And ICANN  is 
responsive directly rather than delegated to some mid-level government 
department  by politicians (and voters) whose interest is more focused on 
local (regional/national?) matters and on tax policy, social security, 
defense policy or perhaps the latest political scandal.

Esther

At 10:32 AM 7/17/2001, you wrote:

>On Tue, 17 Jul 2001, Alexander Svensson wrote:
>(---)
> > of an intergovernmental organization, both on the
> > national and the international level -- it's hard
> > to believe that the outcome corresponds to the
> > input, especially if the voter on the national level
> > does not even know what is going on and is not
> > sufficiently interested.
>(---)
>
>That problem is evident and I agree. Do you think the proposed
>global Internet parties will solve this problem?
>
>My main concern is that even the uninterested - like my mother in the
>given example or the African population outside of the 130 voters - needs
>a voice in ICANN. The government will provide such a voice in the same
>fashion it does when it comes to the environment. With a responsible
>government I do not need to care about the development of agriculture in
>Poland eventhough it will affect my enviroment in Sweden. If the
>government is irresponsible, the opposition will "destroy" them in
>the next election and I will not vote for them. In my opinion the same
>thing should apply to the Internet issues. Most democratic governments
>will use their participation in an utilitarian way, trying to achieve good
>and utility for the vast majority of their citizens. This could be argued
>in a philosophical way, but it will also be the result of realpolitik. Few
>governments are prepared to make decisions in the international community
>that will lead to them loosing the next election.
>
>Do you think the proposed global Internet parties will solve this problem?
>
>(---)
> > way, it should do so. If ICANN takes user interests
> > seriously, it may well be better equipped to tackle
> > the issues than an assembly of national representatives.
>
>That would be governance in the fashion Plato suggests in the State.
>However, I trust the governments - with all their flaws - more than I
>trust the philosopher kings of ICANN of making such policy. I consider
>the development of new top level domain names as policy and politics more
>than just a technical best effort issue. If you consider ICANN a pure
>technical body without any real policy making (RFC 1591) the view might be
>different.
>
>One could - more or less on the same grounds - argue that the IETF should
>be changed to a more democratic organization or even be governed by ICANN
>or post-ICANN. I am not in favour of such a change. IETF is a working
>meritocraty. So far the IETF has worked well without (at least to my
>knowledge) rising inequalities. However, there is a difference in the
>policy making. IETF makes technical recommendations and  endorsements -
>followed on a non-enforceable basis.
>
>When it comes to the question of effiency a dictatorship will always be
>more efficient than a democracy. It might not - however - always make the
>"best" or "good" decisions or "win" in the long run.
>
>Regards
>
>Mikael Pawlo
>
>
>_________________________________________________________________________
>
>   ICQ:35638414                                mailto:mikael@pawlo.com
>   +46-70 421 58 25                            http://www.pawlo.com/



Esther Dyson			Always make new mistakes!
chairman, EDventure Holdings
writer, Release 3.0 (on Website below)
edyson@edventure.com
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