video

[highhealplz]

Hi! Hi again, to people I know already, hello for the first time, to anyone I haven't met yet. I'm Ashraf Salib, one of the heads of the clinic, high priest, snazzy dresser… [ He waves a hand. ] General things like that.

So, I'll get straight to the point. In the wake of the mutiny, I've seen a lot of talk on the network that I haven't seen before. Establishing a code of conduct, uniting… there was even some discussion of who you personally look to as a leader. Whatever your opinion of the mutiny may be, you have to admit that it's sparked some new subjects for us. And I'd say they're things we've been needing to talk about.

It isn't just a matter of wresting control from the Initiative, I think that was overly hasty and shortsighted. I think what we should be looking at is how to take control of ourselves. We're a really big group up here, with over three-hundred of us. That's a lot of voices to be heard at once, especially when none of them have much in the way of a recognized authority.

So, I think that should change.

My suggestion would be a council, voted on by the entire Transport body from a number of nominations. The people that we most trust are the ones we should have speaking for us — deciding for us. Because someone needs to. That we're still locked in this base after over two months up here should be evidence enough that it's difficult to achieve much of anything with no one calling the shots.

I've got some specific ideas about the organization of this council, which I wrote down and can attach here, but I want to hear from you. How should we organize ourselves? How can we decide who to listen to? This won't work if we don't all agree to it, and we need to agree on something. We're in a precarious position up here that frankly can't last, and it's past time that we take it into our own hands to change that.

{attached: councilnotes.txt}

Choosing Council Members
- 11 members total, to allow for tie-breaking (do we need more?)
- Members should be elected from nominations (should it take 2 votes to nominate? maybe 3…)
- Every 3-4 months (more often? less?) we vote again, which is meant to keep our current members or replace them with new ones

Council Voting
- Anyone can propose an issue to the Council for voting
- Voting on routine issues should be monthly
- Emergency issues should have immediate votes

Potential Issues
- Being sent home by the Transporter! Members can be replaced in the quarterly(?) election, but if the group falls under a certain number (7?), we can hold an emergency election
- Decisions made the majority doesn't agree with: should a majority vote in the Transport population overturn a Council decision? Or only make the Council revote after open debating of it?
- What if someone is nominated and voted in, but unwilling to take the position?
- What should be done with those who refuse to acknowledge the authority of a Council?
- What boundaries can be placed on what the Council has the power to decide on, to avoid a tyranny of the majority?
- Can we perform audits, to be sure our Council members aren't becoming corrupt?

Suggestions received so far:
- Designated seats for established groups? DITR, clinic, non-humans, etc. This would assure they're given a voice, respectively as experts and those with different values
- Nominations should fit an agreed-upon criteria
- Background checks should be run before a Council member is accepted
- A 60% vote by the Transport population can overrule a Council decision
- Should voting on Council members be mandatory? We want as varied a vote as possible, but uninformed votes are worse than fewer votes
- Elections could run on cycles, replacing (or keeping) only 3-4 Council members at a time
- Pending return to Exsilium, this should be used as a civilian council, and a military council can be arranged as well
- A code of conduct: no one can be tried for a crime committed at home


red = ideas recently added from this post, thank you to everyone for them!

Comments

[highhealplz]

What if there's a tie in the voting?

[firstgoldson]

Usually such matters calls for a recount; but the civilizations I was involved in back home there were variety of political and even tribal parties that need a voice in a budding government, and the even number of seats usually helps giving such parties a chance at that seat. Remember, when you create any sort of political structure, you will always face the chance of the creating minority parties. These such developments always occur.

My preference might not work here, however; for the elves I worked with lived long lives, but we, on the other hand, face the prospect of Transporting out at any moment of time.

[highhealplz]

It sounds like you have a lot of experience with exactly this, which means I'm really glad to have your opinion on it. I've never tried anything like it before. And with that in mind, I'm not seeing where having an even number of votes on the Council gives a voice to minority groups. I'm probably missing something, but all I can see it leading to is a number of recounts. Can you explain that?

[firstgoldson]

An even number doesn't always correlate with to granting a voice to the minority, it merely enhance its chances. There's no guarantee of it. Infrastructure and politics go hand in hand, especially where money and resources are concerned; it is with these exchanges of money and policies that can allow a minority to obtain such voices and influences. At worst, they can be a pariah political party with no voice whatsoever. At best, they are a party worthy of tolerance, even if their core ethos and political say-sos are not valued by the public at large.

With the votes in one seat at a tie, you have to remember that not everyone votes. Some individuals will simply forget the voting process, others would too busy to consider and there are some who are too apathetic or cynical to even think about taking part. You have to take those in account, unless you want to force everyone to vote and I'm not sure if that move is wise at this time.

I would recommend that the Council to take the final vote if the recount comes to another tie.

[highhealplz]

Let me take this one issue at a time — like I said, I'm new. About granting voices to minorities, what is it about an even number on the council that relates to it?