[governance] Truths and Proofs

Thu Oct 8 12:49:11 EDT 2009

The "proof" of the premise that voting is necessary in some form is contained in many places.* The reality of trustworthy votes is as ancient as the travesty that women would have no vote, and the concepts of Ideology in Europe**.  Tyranny justified by necessity is an accepted reality as we see from Pitt***. So the arguments of possibility of fraud are not justification for denying international direct voting on matters of Internet Governance. (I specifically do not include IANA type Standard setting, and this should be done through appropriate representation via the scientific community and endorsed by those elected)

Of course all things of human making are subject to flaw -- thank goodness this includes computers ;-)  The flaws are never appropriate reason for not acting -- that is the difference between a justification and an excuse. 

Marketing is Education and Education is Marketing.  People cringe at this phrase of mine, introduced to a communist country Internet Governance undergoing a Doi Moi, but several truths that are necessary here are held within.  It takes some type of propaganda to get folks caring enough to get out and participate and vote. There is a very fine line between revisionist history and education, Generally the debate between the two is settled by what the power at large wants to market. If we just accept that fact here we can move forward and begin to capitalize on the tools available.

We must begin the process of educating the users of the Internet of the fact that they in fact do have rights.  That the outsourced voice on the end of a helpline is not God.  That here they must Question Authority. That Use Agreements and Disclaimers and FAQs are not divinely inspired. We must begin to empower users -- not from without, to begin with, but from within their own self styled thought boxes. We must continue to act in a way that sheds some light on our freedoms and how they transcend modern global economies and instant communication networks.

When Parminder is tired and when McTim feels frustrated and when Paul believes no one cares and when Roland is cynical and when Avri only has hope -- they must get up and try harder and lead the way. They must talk when they are hoarse, must write when they are weary and must rally on bad news and celebrate on good. This is the foundation of Governance. Not polls or money or ease. But hard work and diligence and leading when there is no one to follow.

*
Article 21.

(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. 
(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country. 
(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures. 

http://books.google.com/books?id=dodcJC_b1_QC&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=universal+suffrage+was+achieved+in+britain+in+the
+year&source=bl&ots=j_IIwx4i9s&sig=UhN50VnhxHAGIE
QN65QoFM1q5ao&hl=en&ei=dAHOSs7tIIOotgOSkdnJDg&sa=X&oi=book_
result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CCAQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false

*** http://thinkexist.com/quotation/necessity_is_the_plea_for_every_infringement_of/226531.html

--- On Thu, 10/8/09, Paul Lehto <lehto.paul at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Paul Lehto <lehto.paul at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [governance] Truths and Proofs
To: governance at lists.cpsr.org, "Eric Dierker" <cogitoergosum at sbcglobal.net>
Date: Thursday, October 8, 2009, 2:30 PM

A good summary, though I'm not saying it's a complete statement
because I'm not analyzing it that thoroughly, but it is good
nonetheless.  But I'd make one addition, for now:

If a person or entity thinks it is too bothersome or difficult to
measure the will of the people and obtain their consent, it takes a
lot of chutzpah, and then some, to presume to violate, structure,
frame, regulate or control the exercise of that person's freedom.
Note especially that freedom is the DEFAULT rule, it exists globally
wherever a legitimate law does not take it away.  Thus, neither ICANN
nor government can Grant rights of freedom, they exist beforehand,
they can only reduce freedom via laws, and then only if those laws are
promulgated legitimately.

For purposes of the above, I'm ignoring for the moment the substantial
issue of whether anything short of bona fide elections can provide the
necessary consent and will of the people, as well as ignoring the
extreme dubiousness of the trustability of internet-based "elections"
on topics the bulk of which will concern the fundamental business
interests of many of the most computer-savvy companies in the world,
with ample motive, means and opportunity to affect such an internet
election by "hacking" and the like.  This consideration applies
regardless of whether any such attempts occur, or not, because it is a
problem of perception based on possibility, even if we could know for
sure (and we can't) that a particular piece of software did not
contain  for example a double trojan horse.  See the classic paper
"Reflections on Trusting Trust".

Paul Lehto, Juris Doctor

On 10/8/09, Eric Dierker <cogitoergosum at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> Somethings do not need to be debated.  Somethings are self evident by their
> mere existance - hence cogitoergosum.  Some things are in fact Universally
> held. (exceptions and variance is the spice, not the rule - see Gregor
> Mendel.
>
> ICANN exists and must be dealt with.
>
> Universal Human Rights are worth fighting for, defending and advancing.
>
> The will of the people can never be frozen and kept into a nice and neat
> formula.
>
> Most, if given the choice, would like to exercise their own freedoms.
>
> Highly technical matters are not within the area of common knowledge. See
> TLD .lowtech
>
> In that Internet Governance is generally needed, not to protect the
> interests of those already in power, but to protect the rights of those not
> in power, we should be concerned with determining what the will of the
> people who use the Internet is.

-- 
Paul R Lehto, J.D.
P.O. Box #1
Ishpeming, MI  49849
lehto.paul at gmail.com
906-204-4026
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