Posted by Solstice on December 1, 2010, at 10:35:59
In reply to Re: some kind of Elders Council » Solstice, posted by Dinah on December 1, 2010, at 9:11:39
> But my reluctance to be a politician is more than that. A politician is always worried about reelection. Posting the votes for or against puts an elder in the role of politician, who must consider how their vote will impact on their popularity. I find myself unwilling to even have the temptation to have the exercise of my values influenced by a concern for popularity.See..Dr. Bob? This is the instinctive wisdom I was talking about. I think Dinah's describing what is at the core of the 'abhorernce.' It's about 'elections' and 'rejection' and violating one's conscience because of our biological need to not be rejected. This is an example of why Bob has every reason to trust the wisdom of this community.
> I am far more suited to be an appointee than a politician. To serve by Dr. Bob's grace and approval, but to not serve Dr. Bob but rather the posters.YES! That's what I've been trying to say! I sure do wish I knew how to get it all into two sentences like you do.... :-) So yes. Appointment. Maybe Bob could announce that he wants nominations on all the boards, and give - say - a 2 week period to send nominations to him privately. He alone will know the members who are getting the most nominations, which is an indication of the level of trust the community has in the nominees. Bob can make his appointments based on that, and on his own thoughts on each nominee's experience, etc. that would make them good for the job. This would be similar to how the Senate confirms Presidential appointments to the Supreme Court - but inversely. The President nominates who he likes for the Supreme Court, and the Senate's job is to make sure they are qualified. Here - the community nominates, and Bob picks the five he thinks are most qualified. Then he could privately contact those five and ask if thy are willing to accept the appointment. At that time he can personally answer questions and concerns they each may have about serving. That will help ensure no one rejects the appointment because of an inaccurate assumption. When he finds five who are willing to accept, then he announces this year's Council members. Each year he could repeat the process - which would provide what he wanted with the Community being able to Not re-nominate.
> To be a politician would be to deny every fundamental thing I know about myself.
>
> In addition to not being all that willing to be hurt.I think the appointment thing would get around those problems. Do you?
> Dr. Bob seems to be wishing to shift the focus and responsibility to the group itself.I think that by creating a Council, he's trying to respond to the demands for self-governance. As for his idea about elections, I think he was trying to solve the "Bob's Minions" problem. He wanted Council to totally represent the posters. He just may not have thought about the more negative underlying aspects of 'elections' that you have done so well at pointing out.
> That's fine. This is just not a part I am willing to play. It's a fundamental shift in philosophy and ought to be carried out by those who are comfortable doing so.I'm thinking you're talking specifically about the election idea - and not about Council in general? As a temperature guage.. would you (as someone opposed to politics and competition) be willing to serve and/or support the Council concept with the kind of appointment process I described?
Solstice
poster:Solstice
thread:964630
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20101201/msgs/972066.html