Occupiers! Stop Using Consensus!

Consensus process is in many ways an attempt to formalize the act of resistance, which I suspect is what makes it so popular in activist communities. Let's compare this to democracy, a system which was invented to formalize dissent. With democracy, you could fight and disagree without resorting to violence. Feathers could be ruffled, progress could be made, and life moved on according to plan. Resistance on the other hand is when you're so angry at something, that you're willing to go on a crusade and use all available means to stop that thing from happening Resistance knows no rules. It is something that should never happen, yet is the responsibility of any socially conscious individual. It's a wild beast which cannot be tamed. Now ask yourself what happens when you get a bunch of people in one room, people whose nature inclines them towards resistance, and then give them the power to resist with a simple hand gesture and a requirement that all others be subservient to their demand. You do the math.

To give an example, the first time I saw a block used at Occupy was at one of the first general assemblies in August 2011. There were about a hundred people that day and in the middle of the meeting a proposal was made to join Verizon workers on the picket line as a gesture of solidarity in the hope that they might also support us in return. People loved the idea and there was quite a bit of positive energy until one woman in the crowd, busy tweeting on her phone, casually raised her hand and said, "I block that". The moderator, quite flabbergasted asked why she blocked and she explained that showing solidarity with workers would alienate the phantasm of our right-wing supporters. Discussion then abruptly ended and the meeting went on. The truth was irrelevant, popular opinion didn't matter, and solidarity—the most important of all leftist values—was thrown to the wind based on the whims of just one individual. Occupy had to find a new way to do outreach.

But as bad as that sounded, it was actually one of the most graceful instances I've seen of a block being used. This is because the proposal was actually dropped as though it never happened. Things don't always go so smoothly. Blocks have a tendency to bring out the worst in people. The thing they don't tell you about consensus, is that it only works if you're willing to exclude others from it. When faced with a block, it's common for people to use psychological manipulation, threats, invent process to deny that person a vote, or even pressure them to leave the group entirely. Oftentimes when such people don't get their way, they'll leave the group themselves. Consensus invites the most awful type of conflict because there can be no agreeing to disagree. But at the same time consensus also quells the more constructive forms of dissent because most considerate and rational people aren't masochistic enough to welcome the hatred and backlash inherent in blocking a proposal.

Consensus process can also be hacked. This is because it leaves too much to interpretation, doesn't actually specify procedure, and doesn't make sense! Take for instance kicking someone out of your group. Do you need consensus to kick them out? Or do you need consensus to keep them on board? Oftentimes such things aren't clear, so the system becomes ripe for manipulation and exploitation. If you ever want to be evil and push a proposal through a consensus body, just make a compelling argument that you need consensus to not pass your proposal (rather than the other way around). If that doesn't work, try writing your proposal with the opposite language and blocking it yourself. If people call you out on your shenanigans, just accuse them of being authoritarians who refuse to follow process and demand that they either step down or reach consensus on creating a rule to forbid what you’re doing. Then block that proposal too. If they tell you that you’re not allowed to block then you can always complain that true consensus cannot be reached until there’s a quorum of every single group member present.

Grassroots activist groups also follow the spirit of consensus regardless of what process they use. This is because participation in occupy assemblies, working groups, and affinity groups is entirely voluntary. Generally speaking, these groups do not control any land or resources upon which their members depend, therefore making it nearly impossible to practice any real coercion. When freedom of association exists in the truest sense of the words, the act of participation in and of itself can be considered itself a form of a consent, even if decision-making power rests in the hands of the majority or an individual leader.


A Simple Solution To Reduce Liability

The insurance climate is constantly changing. Costs for coverage fluctuate and new regulations are continually created. Though insurance claims can prove costly, operating a business without coverage, particularly in the information technology industry, can create a highly vulnerable situation for the organization. To keep insurance costs at bay, companies can take proactive steps to curb insurance claims.

Typically, companies will have General Liability insurance coverage, which addresses claims of bodily injury or property damage, and Professional Liability insurance, also known as Errors and Omissions insurance, which protects organizations against claims of professional negligence and errors or omissions in professional work. While protecting the company with General Liability and Professional Liability insurance coverage provides a certain level of risk management, avoiding claims all together by enhancing quality control has proven to be most beneficial. In fact, recent trends point to kinks in quality control as the primary contributor to claims made on these two forms of coverage. This is especially important to General Liability insurance for computer consultants.


After Auto Repair You Can Go Anywhere

Paying for auto repair might feel like a drag at the time, but guess what? After you've slipped your mechanic that chunk of change or swiped your credit card one more time, you have just bought yourself more than a workable vehicle. You've just purchased yourself some freedom. When your car is running on a wing and a prayer, it doesn't make the driver feel very secure about setting off on an adventure. Now does it? But when everything's been fixed and the thing is purring like a tiger, it's time to break out and enjoy that newfound freedom. Where can you drive your highly functional, well maintained vehicle? Anyplace you want - within reason. Here are some ideas.


As Police Protest In Cairo

The seven-story building houses the ministry's communications center and is topped by a towering radio antenna. Ambulances and fire engines raced to the scene under a thick plume of black smoke that hung over downtown Cairo.

More than a thousand onlookers ” most uniformed police officers ” stared up at the flames as paramedics and firefighters pushed through the throngs. At least eight people were injured, security sources said, and 12 protesters were arrested on suspicion of arson.

The police officers had spent the day demonstrating for higher wages, health care benefits and the return of Mahmoud Wagdy as interior minister. Mr. Wagdy had been replaced by Mansour el-Essawy after a cabinet shake-up on March 3 removed the last officials from the era of former President Hosni Mubarak.


Body Resistance For Long Distances

The conduct certain kinds of exercise may represent an extra burden for the body, as the aspects that make up these sports lead to extreme physical capacities demanded by athletes special conditions in order to act in these sports activities. To better understand the context of which mention is made, sports events would like marathons, cycling, triathlon among others, so the main factor is presented in this sport is the presence of very large areas to travel, thus part of athletes requires the presence of a very good resistance to the long distances, which no doubt requires the development of certain skills and habits to acquire some skills appropriate for this type of ability, which is achieved through a constant training.


Books That Changed The World

The Communist Manifesto, co-authored with Friedrich Engels, was published in 1848. Commissioned by the Communist League, the manifesto urged the working classes to overthrow its rulers and establish a classless society without private property. The Russian Revolution turned his theory into reality and the world was never the same again.

Das Kapital, published in 1867, is critique of capitalism and how it exploits the workers. If the Communist Manifesto urges action then Das Kapital explains why change is required. Would Douglas Coupland have popularized the term ˜McJob' in his 1991 novel, Generation X, without Marx and his work so long ago.


Buy Food Processing Scrips

FDI in 2010 in the food processing sector has gone up by 175%. France, Germany and Canada are investing in the highly potential food processing sector in India.

We suggest you buy food scrips at declines. Wait for the market to bottom out and buy these scrips !

The major food scrips are

Nestle India Ltd

Cadbury's India Ltd

Kelloggs India

Hindustan Lever Ltd

ITC-Agro

Godrej Foods

MTR Foods Ltd

Amul

Ruchi Soya

Brittania

Marico

Tata Tea

Dabur

etc

Amul's turnover is more than 1.7 billion USD. ITC Foods' Ashirvad and Sunfeast brands have already captured the market. MTR Foods is a good buy. It has been acquired by ORKLA. One need not unduly highlight the potential of the MNC scrips like Cadbury's, Nestle and Kellogs !


Christmas – Introduce The Beloved European

Have you ever heard of 'santons'? Well they are big for Christmas collectors in Europe. Santon is derived from the word 'santouon' which means 'little saint'. They are clay figures, hand painted and about 70 millimeter high representing 19th century French Provencal characters.

Many people have a real passion for collecting these figures. There are hundreds of different figures, animals and accessories from which to choose. There are bakers, millers, fishermen, water carriers and even bear trainers! It is popular for most families to add a piece or two every year to their home collections. Santon collections are considered family heirlooms which are passed down lovingly from parent to child through the generations. Each year families enjoy the fun of choosing a new addition or two for their collections.