Jay Fenello posted:
>
> HERNDON, VA, November 10, 2000 /PRNewswire/ -- The Domain Name
> Rights Coalition (DNRC), an organization dedicated to protecting the
> interests of entrepreneurs, small business owners and individuals in
> domain name issues, in conjunction with other Public Interest groups
> such as Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility as well as
> influential individuals in the area of Domain Names released a letter
> calling upon ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and
> Numbers, to keep their word.
Well, now, that should make them sit up and take notice, eh? Their
word, is it, by golly? Oh, they will be sensitive to that. Their
word has always been good. Hasn't it? Their word about the SOs
having user representatives, for example. Yes, indeed, they will not
want to be thought to have broken their sacred word of honor. This
is a strong threat. Oh, my, yes.
> In 1998, ICANN pledged to the Department of Commerce that it would
> never change the bylaws guaranteeing direct elections by the Internet
> rank-and-file of 9 electors, or half the Board. "We commit that will
> never happen," wrote Esther Dyson, Chair of ICANN and one of the
> "Interim" unelected Board members, to the Commerce Department in 1998
> as part of ICANN's petition to become stewards of the Domain Name
> System (DNS). After receiving the contract to manage the DNS, however,
> ICANN reduced the number of At Large Directors from nine to five, and
> has announced it will re-examine whether to permit any Internet user
> representation after the terms of the newly elected directors expire.
Then they haven't kept their word. They are liars. Could it be that
they don't care? That they don't give a hoot what we think of them?
Astounding! Incredible!
> The letter calls upon ICANN to restore the representation promised to
> the Internet community since 1998, and renounce its threat to abolish
> At Large representation.
A call is made. Hear ye, hear ye. We call upon ICANN. We call for
fair play. For honesty. For democracy. Hear us, O ICANN! Hear us,
and relent!
> "When ICANN was in serious trouble in 1998
> and 1999, they promised open elections for all" said Mikki Barry,
> President of the Domain Name Rights Coalition. "The Internet
> Community relied on their word."
Not quite. Only naive fools who "call upon ICANN", who "urge the
Board". Who refuse to face the truth.
> Barry cited Congressional Testimony of Esther Dyson at an oversight
> hearing before the House Commerce Committee in 1999, as well as
> letters to the Commerce Department and members of Congress, as
> evidence of ICANN's initial insistence it would provide Internet
> users the right to elect 9 directors. "But once Congress and
> Commerce seemed satisfied and NSI was brought into the fold,
> ICANN began a full reversal of their original stance."
Naturally. Just like the Department of Commerce itself lied to
Congress about half the DNSO being for the users. They lie, and the
poor whipped fools in these interminable castrated "Internet
democracy" groups believe their lies, until, no longer able to
ignore the truth, they "call on" ICANN to "keep its word".
What a disgusting spectacle!
> Public interest groups warned ICANN that it would risk its legitimacy
> if it did not fulfill its promise of nine elected members from the
> At Large membership.
Well, and they haven't done so. So, what's next? What is the threat
that these public interest groups hold over ICANN? How do they plan
to de-legitimize it? ICANN never had any legitimacy. Do these poor
fools think that the people who created ICANN give a damn whether
DNRC or CPSR or anyone else declares them legitimate or
illegitimate?
> The letter called upon the four remaining
> "Boardsquatters," the four unelected "Interim" Directors who have
> extended their terms three times, to resign.
Ha-ha! The ICANN Board is going to resign because DNRC and CPSR
"call on" them to do so. Unbelievable! These people are still
infants who think they are the center of the world. They are going
to call on mother ICANN to step down, and momma's going to oblige
little boo-boo. Isn't that sweet?
> It also urged the Board
> to follow the recommendations of Professor Michael Froomkin and allow
> the five democratically elected directors from the At Large to fill
> the four vacancies until new At Large elections could fill them.
"Dear ICANN Board, won't you please follow Michael Froomkin's
recommendations? Please? Pretty please? Pretty pretty please?
Wontcha? Hunh? Please?"
> The letter has already sparked a lively debate. Hans Klein, Chair
> of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR), cited
> the letter extensively in a panel discussion at the on-going ICANN
> meetings in Marina del Rey
Oh, I'll do you
And you do me
We're all here together
Now one, two, three
Do the circle jerk
Yay, yay, yay
Do the circle jerk
In Marina del Rey.
We'll call on ICANN
We'll plead and we'll beg
We'll urge them and scourge them
To keep their word.
They're good little guys
Just like us.
So what's the trouble?
Why all the fuss?
Just be happy
Don't worry
Get with it
Join with us and do
The circle jerk,
Yeah, yeah, yeah
The ICANN circle jerk.
Hooray!
> "The prospect of a clean-sheet study is
> a significant departure from ICANN's prior commitments," said Klein.
ICANN's prior commitments? What the *&%$* is this hypocrite Klein
talking about?
> "We fear that the so-called "clean slate" study may attempt to make
> a "clean sweep" of the At Large membership, ending democratic
> accountability in ICANN."
Hans Klein "fears" it? Oh, golly. Gee whiz. Ending democratic
accountability in ICANN. NO! Whatever are we to do without ICANN's
democratic accountability, so precious to all? Oh dear, oh dear, oh
dear!
> CPSR is a signatory to the DNRC letter.
Wonderful! A signatory to the letter calling on, and urging, and
begging, and threatening loss of legitimacy in their eyes, for fear
of losing all the democratic accountability... Fantastic!
Congratulations, CPSR! Halleluyah!!!
Michael Sondow
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INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF INDEPENDENT INTERNET USERS
http://www.iciiu.org (ICIIU) [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tel(718)846-7482 Fax(603)754-8927
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