[Procedures] Sensible and Efficient Processes

[jackswin]

Dear process-weary greens,
I do not mean to imply that you are unaware of the 
following analysis. I find it useful to restate my understanding 
of issues and processes in these email forums because 
so much of the communication gets scattered and disjointed, 
(due to the medium more than the people.)
I am attempting to lay the foundation for constructive discussion 
that will lead to sensible and efficient process development.

This is a function of the Procedures Working Committee 
of which I am a member.

Tony Lorenzen raised the following (re-phrased) question:
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How can we make the democratic consensus-seeking 
process efficient enough that we can respond effectively 
to the regional and global crises that we aspire to resolve?
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The modified consensus, Tony referred to, is the method 
that we have adopted. Namely, when we fail to reach full 
consensus we automatically revert to a form of majority 
vote. The major difference that we apply to the 
voting process is designed to avoid the 'tyranny of the 
majority'; we set high majority thresholds for important 
decisions. 

The implication of the high threshold idea is that different 
thresholds apply to different circumstances. A good example 
is StateCom delegates needing 75% to change the bylaws 
while State Convention membership can reverse that decision 
with a mere 51%. We can (and should) adopt various 
thresholds to achieve a dynamic balance between theory 
and practice.

Tony raised another question, however,  
that is not always apparent in the outcome of tangible decisions.
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How do we learn from our processes?
-----------------------------------------?
This is one argument in favor of accountability. Office 
holders are often motivated by self interest to present their 
activities in the best possible light, especially if they fear 
reprisals. In our society, the media (theoretically) 
provides an alternate view of official activities. The general 
population (or membership) then has alternate sources of info 
to learn from while they seek to influence their representatives. 

What is not so apparent to an inquisitive population is 
the motivations and goals of attacks by one set of members 
on the integrity of another set of members. This is where it 
is to our advantage to slow down the process sufficiently to 
get to the bottom of all the implications. How much we choose 
to slow or speed the process is a function of our goals as 
an organization. If our goal is to achieve victory for particular 
interests then we teach ourselves to compete with opposing 
factions. If our goal is to achieve consensus then we teach 
ourselves to understand everyone's concerns. 

These two goals are characterized by the processes we use 
to implement them. The competition process is simpler and 
more efficient to implement because it allows us to focus more 
on our goals. The consensus process takes far more energy 
and time to implement but results in a more cohesive and 
dynamic membership in the long run.

These two processes are a common source of conflict in 
developing organizations - especially us inexperienced green 
parties. Resolving this conflict will be a major coup in achieving 
credibility as a viable political alternative. Failing to resolve 
this conflict leaves us vulnerable to the well-developed 
manipulation that plagues the big-name parties today.

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The following links have info regarding three methods we 
have used to make StateCom decisions.

email process description:
http://www.massgreens.org/StateCom/email_proposals.html

MGP Bylaws:
Section 5: Meetings & decision making
Section 8: State committee 
http://www.massgreens.org/Documents/ByLaws/bylaws_2002_03_23.pdf

On-line emergency StateCom meeting (link to introductory email):
http://massgreens.org/pipermail/statecom/2002-June/002130.html
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Be Well,
Jack Swindlehurst
Berkshire County

\=====================||=====================/
 if i appear to have lost some good advice 
  that you so graciously accepted from me 
                 in the past 
    please return it to me in good faith

          and thank you in advance
          \================||================/
.
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