healthy further evolution?
Bob Allisat <bob@wtv.net> Sun, 15 February 1998 14:50 UTC
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Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 09:46:04 -0500
To: Camillo Pasquariello <Camillo.Pasquariello@mci2000.com>
From: Bob Allisat <bob@wtv.net>
Subject: healthy further evolution?
Cc: gtld-discuss@gtld-mou.org, ietf@ns.ietf.org
Kent Crispin wrote: >I suspect the majority of the IETF doesn't feel that it needs Ira >Magaziner, or any other USG bureaucrat to run its affairs, either. I replied: >"Interesting. IETF, IANA, IAB, >ISOC, IESG, ETC, organizations >made up of more or less the same >people (Americans) believe them >selves to be above any law. Even >that of the US which funded and >created their Internet playground. >Very amusing. > >Now if these people feel their >own US Government has no jurisdiction >over their ACRONYM activities >who does? It certainly isn't the so- >called "Netizens" who are *never* >given any opportunity to vote on >anything. Is it the UN? If The >Secretary General of The United >Nations issued a Paper calling >for elections, open public process, >accountability, wide participation, >etc. what would happen? I suspect >exactly the same thing. He/she > would be told "Stay out of our >business". > >So IETF/IANA/ISOC/IAHC/ITAG/ETC >regard themselves as a sort of >overarchingand imperious cyber >world government. They will take >direction from *no-one* and regard >themselves as above any law not of >their own making. A pretty >chilling reality. It is imperative >that some group working in the >public trust finally controls this >collection of totalitarian leaning >technocrats before they turn the >whole Internet into some sort of >Virtual Gulag with themselves >permanently installed as info-czar >leadership forever. And the 60 plus >million rest of us as are relegated >permanent to info-serf inmate status. C.Joe P commented: >Mr Crispin's comment on IETF views concerning the US Government >[quoted below], is based on an inaccurate characterization of USG >policy, as well as pure speculation regarding the views of the >"majority of the IETF". > >Even the most casual reading of the several official USG >pronouncements on Internet governance, should make it clear that the >USG has no intention of "running the Internet's affairs". > >Further - your characterization of the I* bodies as "(Americans)" is >quite incorrect. > >There is, in fact, a substantial non American (i.e. non-US American) >presence in these bodies. Take a look at the ISOC Board of Trustees, >and other I* leadership bodies. Take a look at the IETF registrants, >sources of IETF postings, etc. > >That said though - the more significant point, I believe, is that in >my experience, these folks who you choose to brand as 'renegade >dictators' are generally respected - world-wide - as major >contributors to the creation of the Internet phenomenon, and are >seriously concerned about its healthy further evolution. They are, regardless and never-the-less acting without caution and in no way appear interested in consesnsus building or in including the dissenting majority in their tightly knit clublike company. Allegedly representative bodies are stacked with cronies and ignore significant new participants, excluding willing partners without explaination. These groups generally rush, full steam ahead with whatever idea was originally intended no matter how many reasonable, powerful or serious objections are voiced. I have witnessed this process occur repeatedly. If this does not reflect the opinion of the majority of IANA/IETF/ISOC/ETC people then why is this policy pursued so uniformly and so damned relentlessly? One has only to point to the composition and history of the disasterous IAHC and now the equally malcast ITAG to demonstrate just how out incompetant and insensitive your leadership has become. Especially when dealing with contentious issues. They are acting like the most ineffective and inmcompetant of petty politicians. These fellows should stick to what they're good at: advising on technical issues. Unfortunately these guys seem determined to install themselves as some sort of de facto Internet government. Then they proceded to act just like the most narrow and corrupt local politicians: ignoring requests, denying representation and attempting to evade protests and dissent of those who hold legitimate opinions. And no-one even elected these cyber burgher miesters! I'd say you people had better reign in your leadership if you don't agree with their actions or pronouncements. They are begining to attract the negative attention of governments world wide. Governments which may not be quite as sensitive as the USG to getting involved neck deep and forever. For the record I am a citizen of the sorry so-called nation of Canada, pitiful lapdog of Americano Imperialism. You won't get much trouble out of these politicos alas. But the same can't be said for the rest of the teeming world which will give your IETF/IANA/ISOC/ETC buddies pretty shrift in shoving obstructions out of their way. Permanently and probably quite violently. Forewarned ... TeleVirtually Yours, Bob Allisat http://www.wtv.net http://www.fcn.net
- healthy further evolution? Bob Allisat