Re: [ga] Motion asking for GA poll on rebid of ICANN contract

["William S. Lovell" <wsl@cerebalaw.com>]

In normal practice, and for what it's worth, I would agree with Thomas here.
 The Best 
Practices procedure developed by Joanna Lane and myself is indeed specifically
designed 
to preclude rushing to a vote on anything.

However, Best Practices also has the provision that just about anyone can
ask for a poll 
at just about any time.  The difference, of course, is that a poll has no
"legal effect," but is
more in the way of "testing the waters" to get the sense of a group, and
thereby can be 
quite useful in guiding future Discussion and ultimately Debate that might
well develop 
into a formal "Vote."  James Love is seeking, in his words, "to establish
how the GA 
members feel about the issue," which is precisely the kind of query that
simple polls
are designed to answer, and they need no formal sequence of steps to get
established.

Bill Lovell

Thomas Roessler wrote:
> 20020502173937.GF20657@yoda.does-not-exist.org">
> On 2002-05-02 11:31:14 -0400, James Love wrote: 
>   
> > I don't mind you having any opinion you want on
> > this.  But I am   asking for a vote, to estabish how the GA members feel
> > about this   issue.  The GA doesn't have the power to force decisions, but
> > it   can let people know what its members (not only its chair) think.    I
> > am asking for a vote.  We can address what is on the ballot if   we can agree
> > that there will be a vote. 
> >     
>     
> You seem to be seriously mistaken about how things work. 
>     
> First, you produce a reasonable motion.  You don't do this alone,   but you
> do this by way of discussion on this very list. Second, you   try to generate
> substantial support.  Third, you get the vote. 
>     
> You are just about to begin with step one of this process. 
>     
>