[Linux-aus] Why Didn't You Vote?

[Bret Busby]

On Tue, 27 Jan 2009, James Purser wrote:

> Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:21:58 +1100
> From: James Purser <james at jamespurser.com.au>
> To: Linux Australia List <linux-aus at linux.org.au>
> Subject: [Linux-aus] Why Didn't You Vote?
> 
> This article does raise a valid point even though it seems to contain a
> kernel of snark:
>
> http://www.itwire.com/content/view/22871/1141/
>
> Why do we get low voter turnouts when we obviously have a much larger
> membership? If you didn't vote, I would like to hear why, no blame
> attached, just would be interesting to see the reasons.
> -- 
>

Don't know the candidates.

Previously said (but, surprise, surprise, just got derogatory criticism 
of the suggestion) that we should have state-based representation.

Perhaps, that way, we might have some idea of who is standing and thus, 
for whom to vote.

The Linux Australia Council, or Committee, or whatever, seems oriented 
around the conference, and, unless a person attends the conference, the 
person is unlikely to know anything much of any of the candidates.

And, in not knowing anything much of the candidates (how many went 
doorknocking amongst potential voters?), what is the point in 
preferential voting?

That is probably the ultimate question - with the way that it is done, 
what is the point? Really?

A simplified system, with state or regional based representation, so 
that potential voters can have some real idea of who are the people 
who are candidates, other than what we have now; virtual beings, of 
whom, most of us have not seen nor met nor heard, and thus, we could 
have some real idea of for whom to vote, and, knowing that the vote 
really mattters, and that the council or committee is more than just a 
conference venue selection body, may inspire more people to vote.

Perhaps, what would be better, might be for the Linux Australia 
committee to comprise of the presidents of state and territory, or, 
similarly, regigional based organisations, perhaps like the mediaeval 
system of a parliament consisting of the headman of each village.

It would more likely give members more of a feeling of representation, 
and belonging, rather than just being part of an online, virtual 
community.

As it is now, Linux Australia, in WA, is as far removed, as "second 
Life", as at http://secondlife.com/whatis/ .

So, Linux Australia needs to become something real for its members, 
rather than just a virtual community, to get its members to participate.

And, what is "a kernel of snark"?

Is that something that fell off the jabberwocky, after "The vorpal 
blade went snicker-snack!"? (See 
http://www.jabberwocky.com/carroll/jabber/jabberwocky.html )

It certainly sounds like that.

--
Bret Busby
Armadale
West Australia
..............

"So once you do know what the question actually is,
  you'll know what the answer means."
- Deep Thought,
   Chapter 28 of Book 1 of
   "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
   A Trilogy In Four Parts",
   written by Douglas Adams,
   published by Pan Books, 1992

....................................................