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Hi Robin,<br>
<br>
what do you mean with "democracy generally"? You mean the USA?<br>
<br>
The first free elections in Cambodia after decades of turmoil were
held in 1993, organized the the United Nations Transitional
Authority in Cambodia. But voter turnout remains high, in spite of a
lot of logistic difficulties. Have a look:<br>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">1993 – 86.8%, 1998 – 93.7%, 2003 –
83.2%, 2008 - 75.2%<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It was a big surprise in the media
here that "the great democracy of the USA" had a president elected
with 44% voter participation (if I remember the figure correctly
for a Bush election).<br>
</p>
<br>
I agree, "Low voter turn-out is not a problem that is unique to
NCSG" - so what is it then? <br>
<br>
And I agree again: that is what we have to figure out - now, after
the struggled to draft the charter, then for the vote, and now the
charter accepted, I hope we can do this more.<br>
<br>
<br>
Norbert<br>
<br>
<br>
On 08/31/2011 09:02 AM, Robin Gross wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:B3BEB604-8AF5-4556-95EE-253E9747E77F@ipjustice.org"
type="cite">
<div>This election turn-out is actually quite in-line with
democracy generally - or perhaps a bit better.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>For example, in recent federal election, the voter turn-out
in California was only 23% of eligible voters. That's common.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Low voter turn-out is not a problem that is unique to NCSG.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>However, let's not let that stop us from trying to figure out
how to achieve greater participation from the entire membership.
:-)</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Thanks to all for this achievement!</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Best,</div>
<div>Robin</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<br>
<div>
<div>On Aug 30, 2011, at 6:45 PM, nhklein wrote:</div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
<blockquote type="cite">
<div bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000"> On 08/31/2011 03:38 AM,
Ron Wickersham wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:Pine.BSO.4.64.1108301327260.19105@mail.alembic.net"
type="cite">On Mon, 29 Aug 2011, Avri Doria wrote: <br>
[snip]</blockquote>
<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:Pine.BSO.4.64.1108301327260.19105@mail.alembic.net"
type="cite"> For <br>
future on votes of this importance (an issue that would
make/break <br>
the exisistence of the NCSG)<big><b> i would suggest we
ask that paper <br>
ballots be mailed</b></big> to the eligible voters.
This is no small task or <br>
expense, but pales with the expenses ICANN incurrs in
holding the <br>
board meetings around the workd and other routine
expenses. <br>
<br>
-ron <br>
</blockquote>
<big><b><br>
Please don't</b></big> - e-mail I get immediately, paper
mail about once a week, mostly useless advertisements etc. -
too difficult to sort out if there is occasionally something
important.<br>
<br>
If someone cannot handle e-mail - are they able to actively
analyze the questions we as non-commercials, are facing in
ICANN?<br>
<br>
The poor participation of the "active" membership in the
election requires some soul searching about the
non-commercial public's interest and commitment to get and
to be involved. The Intellectual Property lobby have their
interest, so they act. <br>
<br>
The 61.9% is not the result of poor technology - especially
considering the huge "management" input by Avri.<br>
<br>
<br>
Norbert <br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
A while ago, I started a new blog:
...thinking it over... after 21 years in Cambodia
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.thinking21.org/">http://www.thinking21.org/</a>
continuing to share reports and comments from Cambodia.
Norbert Klein
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:nhklein@gmx.net">nhklein@gmx.net</a>
Phnom Penh / Cambodia
</pre>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate;
color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;
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<div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
<br class="khtml-block-placeholder">
</div>
<div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder">
</div>
<div>IP JUSTICE</div>
<div>Robin Gross, Executive Director</div>
<div>1192 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94117 USA</div>
<div>p: +1-415-553-6261 f: +1-415-462-6451</div>
<div>w: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.ipjustice.org">http://www.ipjustice.org</a>
e: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:robin@ipjustice.org">robin@ipjustice.org</a></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
</span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
</div>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
A while ago, I started a new blog:
...thinking it over... after 21 years in Cambodia
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.thinking21.org/">http://www.thinking21.org/</a>
continuing to share reports and comments from Cambodia.
Norbert Klein
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:nhklein@gmx.net">nhklein@gmx.net</a>
Phnom Penh / Cambodia
</pre>
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