Re: [wg-d] WG Principles

["Bret A. Fausett" <baf@fausett.com>]

>I don't believe it is proper for those who don't vote to be counted as
>"supporters" of a proposal.  Rather, I assert that those votes should be
>counted either as abstaining or in opposition.

By the same token, shouldn't there be a way for organizations (or 
constituencies, for that matter) to make the views of their members known 
without requiring each member to personally participate? And, if certain 
criteria are met, an organizational vote might be weighted higher than an 
individual vote, to better reflect the size of the organization's 
membership.

But, IMO, the organization/constituency shouldn't be allowed to say, 
we're a 1000 members strong, and we vote for/against the proposal. Not 
every organizational spokesperson speaks for the membership. 

Here's some language, borrowed from an early version of the Paris Draft 
and modified for another purpose later, that may be helpful to give you 
an idea of what, I think, might be an acceptable balance between 
individual and organizational interests:

  In commenting on any issue or proposal under consideration by the 
  constituency, individuals may choose to identify their comments as 
coming 
  from an organization to which they belong. Such organizational comments 
  may be used by the [the Working Group] to determine what weight to 
  give a particular point of view. To assist [the Working Group] in 
determining 
  what weight organizational comments should be given, organizations are 
  required to report (1) the specific steps, if any, by which they have 
  polled their subordinate members on the question at issue and (2) the 
  terms of any express grant to them by their membership of authority to 
  state the member's views on the question at issue.

I like this concept, but I throw it out for discussion. But Karl, I 
understand that once you allow this kind of weighted voting (especially 
allowing a WG to weigh votes), you're giving up the precision that comes 
with one-person, one-vote systems. I just worry that limiting votes to 
individuals will limit the universe of voters to those who have the 
time/work authorization to participate.

      -- Bret