Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Consensus and the Concept of Blocking

[Cathy Angell (CathyAngell]

>This is all done from the context of listening to everyone's concern and
>looking at what is best for the good of the group.  Once you have a
>process in place that will prevent one person from stopping the action,
>you can really learn how to make decisions for the good of the group.
>You don't get this if you have a voting backup as a way out.
>
See my earlier response.   I believe we do have a process for listening to
everyone's concerns, AND we do have a voting back up.   Voting twice in 7
years has not caused us to opt out of true listening to all concerns, and
yet knowing that we could move forward with voting if necessary has been a
strength to encourage further discussion and resolution.

I do  acknowledge that the process of having to use the voting procedure
produced considerable grief for many and possibly all remaining members, and
yet I believe that it was crucial to the very survival of the project.

 It has certainly not led us to give up our normal consensual process - I
believe  it has strengthened our mutual commitments to it.


Cathy Angell
Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood
West Auckland
New Zealand
www.cohousing.pl.net



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