Cohousing-L Mailing List: Consensus and ideology

[Becky Schaller (bschaller]

I have a question about consensus.  In our community, we've been looking at
the question of the relationship between holding up a red card because you
think the proposal goes against the good of the community  and one's own
personal beliefs.  This has come up in the context of trying to decide what
kind of climbing eqipment to buy for the community.  Some people thought we
should purchase the less expensive piece because as a community it was
better for us to pay less than to pay more.  Others thought we should pay
more because they thought that by purchasing the  less expensive piece, we
were supporting a company that was very harmful for the environment.

So my question is, What does it mean - for the good of the community?  Does
that phrase refer to the 36 households that live on our 4 and 3/4 acres?
And if it does, is it a legitimate argument to say that I'm going to red
card this issue because it goes against the  good of our community to
support the destruction of our larger environment?  I could very easily see
one making such a case.  I could also see that someone else might make a
legitimate argument by saying that it goes against the good of our community
to support a company which exploits their workers.

But then, How do you buy anything?  Or at least very much?

Becky Schaller
Sonora Cohousing
Tucson, Arizona

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