Consensus and Voting [ was Question about Household Decision | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Sharon Villines (sharonsharonvillines.com) | |
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2018 08:34:34 -0700 (PDT) |
> On Apr 5, 2018, at 10:23 AM, Philip Dowds <rphilipdowds [at] me.com> wrote: > > One critique I’ve heard is that consensus decision-making is most effective > for groups united in pursuit of a clear goal or well-defined mission. In > such circumstances, extended dialog normally, or eventually, produces > agreement on the optimum path or choice for achieving the group purpose. > Unfortunately, most cohousing communities may have trouble coming up with a > well-defined, non-ambiguous, measurable common goal or mission. Lacking a > shared standard of excellence against which to test choices, consensus > (removal of all objections) can often be hard to obtain. > > At Cornerstone, we reformed our consensus process in 2013. We embellished it > with a dialog structure and schedule of events and interactions that turned > it into a real process. The process is never shorter than 2 months (2 > plenaries), and for controversial matters, may take 3 months or more. But > the intent is always the same: Develop and adopt a proposal falling within > the tolerance range of all, by identifying, exploring and resolving all > objections. (I call this achieving unanimity, but I know experts and purists > are dead set against allowing “unanimity” to be the result of the consensus > effort.) > > Now here’s the problem: Let’s say we’ve been at it for quite a few months, > working strenuously and in good faith to find consensus, and have forged > compromises and creative solutions that have resolved all objections … > except, maybe, for a couple. We have a couple members who simply don’t > “like” the proposal, and apparently will never consent to it. So what’s the > best outcome for the community: The status quo (a failed proposal)? Or, > “voting” to allow the preferences of the strong majority to prevail? > > At Cornerstone, we’ve gone for the latter. Yes, let’s try very hard for > consensus — but in some cases, if that’s simply not working out (for lack of > shared purpose), then let’s try super-majority voting. At Cornerstone, the > threshold for over-riding a few unresolvable objections is 75%. I quoted this whole message back to the list because I think it is an excellent description of the issues involved in reaching consensus in a group without a common aim. In cohousing we can’t always have common aims because we don’t join the group on the basis of a common aim. We have a central aim related to cohousing but everyday living is much more complex. And our best selves do not always rise to the top. Sometimes people just disagree but still have to move forward. Another consideration of personal druthers is that sometimes people need to be allowed to vote no. We have members who vote no by not attending the last meeting on a consensus decision. But not everyone is willing to do that — they want to say no, even if only to show that they never agreed to something. It can be a question of your needs vs mine. The fact that there are 30 of you and one of me doesn’t mean I have to say yes when I don’t want to. Allowing the voting option is often seen as a way to overrun some people’s rights and/or feelings. But it can also be a way of allowing everyone to take a stand without being regarded as “blocking”. Then the group can move on. A vote doesn’t have to be regarded as a win-lose event. I think the process Phil has outlined is one that ensures people won’t be ignored. In fact their ability to vote no in the end may mean their objections or druthers are taken more seriously than if they just went along with the group. We have kept the stand aside option because we have members who will not consent on certain issues even when the issue has no personal effect on them. Will not be seen to say yes to television in the CH, for example. By standing aside their reason is recorded in the minutes and that is enough acknowledgement. For other people it might not be. Sharon ---- Sharon Villines Sociocracy: A Deeper Democracy http://www.sociocracy.info
- Re: Question about Household Decision, (continued)
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Re: Question about Household Decision Muriel Kranowski, April 4 2018
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Re: Question about Household Decision Alicia Nowicki, April 5 2018
- Re: Question about Household Decision Ann Zabaldo, April 5 2018
- Re: Question about Household Decision Philip Dowds, April 5 2018
- Consensus and Voting [ was Question about Household Decision Sharon Villines, April 5 2018
- Re: Question about Household Decision Bob Leigh, April 5 2018
- Re: Question about Household Decision Sharon Villines, April 5 2018
- Re: Question about Household Decision Bob Leigh, April 5 2018
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Re: Question about Household Decision Alicia Nowicki, April 5 2018
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Re: Question about Household Decision Muriel Kranowski, April 4 2018
- Re: Question about Household Decision Muriel Kranowski, April 5 2018
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