Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: A Glimps of Cohousing in 2060

[R Philip Dowds (rpdowds]

This is an interesting theoretical twist.  I would have guessed that consensus 
decision-making is about seeking and emphasizing the commonalities that unite 
us, rather than celebrating the divergences and idiosyncrasies that distinguish 
us.  (And make us interesting?)  The pursuit of unanimity (solidarity?) is not 
an obvious route to the end of (intellectual) oppression.

Said another way … I agree that toleration of diversity and the end of 
oppression are much to be desired.  But I’m not convinced that consensus 
decision-making is the key to this challenge.

RPD

> On Dec 23, 2014, at 8:23 AM, Tom Smyth <tom [at] sassafras.coop> wrote:
> 
> I sure hope and believe consensus decision making is not a fad. I think a
> key part of our evolution as a species is to stop being so oppressive
> toward everyone who isn't exactly like us. This is exactly what consensus
> decision making is for, and it seems far more natural than its
> alternatives.