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Policy Analysis

By: Michael Grant
To: Dale Ross
Re: Changing FidoNet

MG> The present election rules do not "force" any form of a vote on any region. Were it a zone-wide sysop-level vote, that /would/ be forced on all regions without recourse. That is the important difference. If there is to be one option and one option only, the RCC MUST be unanimous in accepting it, because of the fact that there are no other options available. The present rules, not imposing any particular format on any region, does not require unanimity because many options are still open to each region. It only denies the zone-wide sysop level vote, but does not deny regional sysop-level votes, or NC or RC represented votes.

DR> I understand that the RCC must be unanimous. That is one of the flaws in the system that will prevent change. I do not know how this can change either. A policy for Zone 1 could be written that would create a better system. However, there is a little problem there... that a Zone policy would have to be passed by the Zone 1 RCCs and it would have to be a unanimous decision.

MG> Debatable... I think as long as regions are allowed to have their own regional/net policies, it doesn't have to be a unanimous vote in the RCC for a zone policy (as there are other options available to a disagreeing region, unlike the zone-wide sysop vote idea..) In fact, it states in the P-4.07 document that only a majority of RC's within the zone are needed to initiate a policy referendum. The referendum itself determines whether the new policy is adopted.

DR> I can live with-in what we have. What do we really use this medium for anyway? Echomail. Yes there are still some systems that communicate via NetMail only. They do not use nor have Internet connectivity. So a big question concerning change. How would it really impact how we use this medium? The only fear that one has today is that a slap happy *C could remove a listing from the NodeList.

MG> One thing about the shrinking nodelist in Zone 1; it makes this sort of thing a lot more noticable and harder to keep quiet. In the days when Fidonet was a lot larger, it was hard to keep tabs on everything that was going on. I doubt any *C attempting this sort of thing today would get very far with it, and certainly it would not carry on for nearly as long as a Bob Kohl type of incident did.

DR> So we get a sysop-level Zone wide vote. What did we really get? We are assured that the Z1C is our popular choice. But once we have this Z1C what do we get? Even if he/she is the best person out there how does our hobby change? That is the real question for a candidate to answer.

MG> Sadly, this is the most important question of all, but largely due to the bickering and suspicions about the process, it's been overlooked in this election. My line of questioning to the candidates was aimed at finding out who would be the best choice. Many others just chose to attack the candidates over their own personal views and support of one form of vote over another. That's a waste of time IMO, and time is something I don't have much of these days.

DR> I've been in FidoNet for what 11 years now going on 12. So I've been through several Z1Cs. The only things that I can point my finger at that has changed my hobby has nothing to do with a *C.

MG> Software developers have had a far bigger impact, I would think...

* Origin: MikE'S MaDHousE: WelComE To ThE AsYluM! (1:134/11)