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consensus   by Tom Taylor  12/02/04  Polling is a valuable tool with limits. What do decision makers do? Do they vote with the majority of those polled (often with a biased sample) at the expense of the minorities? Perhaps where we are moving is to a point where clear decisions are made by elected representatives, critical problems are addressed by stakeolders and experts in consensus processes and the electeds adopt consensus recommendations and decide on unresolved issues using analysis of options from the consensus processes. Polls can educate and test acceptability of options by the larger communities of interest. [ Reply to This ]        296  Consensus Builders   by John Helie  10/15/04  Will the government of the future become more dependent on building consensus across a wide and deep segment of the population?  And thus leaders become valued for thier ability to build consensus. [ Reply to This ]        199  Community Consensus Building in the Future   by Kathryn McCarty  10/24/04  I am not sure that consensus building will become the norm in seeking community input.  I think that we will need to rethink how to involve citizens more effectively.  I would suggest that you visit the Arlington County VA's webpage to read a recent report (Nov. 2003) on civic engagement.  If you can't find it on the Home page, visit the county manager's page.  It can be found at www.arlingtonva.us/cmo.   [ Reply to This ]  Agree   by John Helie  10/25/04  Kathryn, I agree, it is doubtful that Consensus will become a cultural norm for making decisions.  In my work with group decision-making processes, I use consensus as a gauge. So rather than gauging levels of consensus, I suppose that it could be seen as gauging the levels of agreement.   Civic life and civic involvement is in constant search for levels of agreement. Ultimately the elected officials or the Voting process makes the next decision, but split votes or officials without a mandate generally tell us that many people do not like the decision.  If we can call for a vote or turn it over to the officials at a point where many, if not most of the people agree, we will have a better outcome.    Perhaps we are looking for leadership in our communities that is capable of creating the highest levels of agreement. [ Reply to This ]  Agree as well   by Kathryn McCarty  10/25/04  I have used consensus processes for the past 20 years in my work as well.  I only wanted to suggest that we will need to find new, emerging tools that are less cumbersome and time-consuming.  I find that citizens are "too busy" to participate in lengthy-drawn out processes.   Also, the citizens who do participate are often not representative of the community as a whole.  For example, new residents to the US (e.g., immigrants) typically don't turn out for consensus processes.  How will we ensure that their voices are heard before elected officials cast their votes?  The study that I referred in Arlington County, VA begins to ask these questions and challenges our "traditional" citizen engagement processes.  I hope you will read it and share your comments.     [ Reply to This ]  Easy locator   by John Helie  10/26/04  It was not the easiest document to find. So here is the link directly to it.  http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/CountyManager/issues/civic_engagement/arlington_report.pdf I am reading it over and have comments soon.  consensus   by larry  11/02/04  It was not the easiest document to find. So here is the link directly to it.  http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/CountyManager/issues/civic_engagement/arlington_report.pdf I am reading it over and have comments soon. < [ Reply to This ]  by jcmeg56  11/02/04  With methodology available now to ascertain the views and opinions of the public, certainly good government should mean that our elected officials make a proactive effort to inform themselves about what the electorate believes about the more controversial issues on which they must vote.  I cannot think of a better use of public coffers than for our elected representatives to employ the methodology and technologies developed to allow them to poll their constituencies on matters of import.  Otherwise what profit is the progress we have made over the last 20 years in developing these processes?  We, the people, ought to require it of them by holding them accountable at election time if they have not actively sought out our opinions and polled our concerns.  They are without excuse if they are voting in an information vacuum when so many stand ready to assist them in assessing where their public stands.  Government should be regularly making law by consent of the governed.  How can they know where their constituents stand unless they seek to surmise public opinion through systematic effort?  In the 21st century that means hiring professionals and employing technology to empower the individuals in their political subdivisions, districts and states.  We should find those who are doing so and praise them for their progressive use of process and technology; then demand that such best practices be employed by all.    [ Reply to This ]

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