Eugene weekly., June 28, 2012, Page 4, Image 4

mic check!
BY NICOLE MEDEMA
Building Democracy
Consensus informs better decisions
O
ccupy Wall Street is a movement to equality.
Worldwide, facets of Occupy make a variety
of demands, but, fundamentally, the
movement represents the classic human striving
for equality.
Occupy’s founding grievance decries the
corrupt relationship between citizens with money
and citizens elected as politicians. It has always
been true: Money talks. So, it is not surprising
that our elected offi cials create laws that favor the
ultra-rich. In our present system, money is necessary
to fund campaigns and the mass media that make or
break a candidate.
Although millions of Americans have lost their jobs, their homes, and
their health in a fi rst-world country, there has been limited response by our
elected offi cials to protect the real risk-takers of our economy, the working
lower and middle class.
In this country, groups who fought for equal rights for women and racial
minorities were once smeared as radical and dangerous. Today, the Occupy
movement is smeared as a volatile group of have-nots insisting on monetary
handouts. However, equality need not mean that we all drive luxury cars and
own three houses each. Equality is the impulse of every citizen to treat each
other fairly and with dignity. We continue in the footsteps of our predecessors,
as a country and as the human race, to realize democracy.
The Occupy movement has proved signifi cant in America’s current
system, while it has also quietly planted the seed of a different one. It is
called consensus, and it is practiced by Occupy as a form of self-government.
Made famous by the Quakers, consensus is designed to invigorate initiative
and responsibility through the empowerment of the individual.
There are no leaders or elected representatives in the Occupy structure.
Instead, decisions are made by motivated persons and committees, or, by the
main governing body of the movement, the General Assembly (GA). The GA is
run by a myriad of trained facilitators who act in service to the group, inclusive of
anybody who wants to participate. There, anybody can make a proposal, which is
an action suggested for the entire group. Proposals are decided on by everyone.
The GA is the body that fi nds solutions for issues that affect the movement.
For approval of those solutions, consensus must be reached. According to
the website of the Alpha Institute, a local training and mediation organization
for consensus, “the essence of consensus decision-making is the recognition
that all members of a group are equal in their ability to bring a piece of the
truth to the decision process.” Therefore, majority does not rule. In reality,
every individual present must agree with the proposal for it to pass.
Here in the Eugene area, consensus is used by Occupy as well as various
intentional communities, such as Alpha Farm, the East Blair Housing
Cooperative, Lost Valley, and the Community Village of the Oregon Country
Fair. Only in a city as progressive as Eugene do you fi nd so many people
practicing the art. Here, folks act on a cultural norm to participate in the
cultivation of not just their homes but their communities. Now take it further
and imagine meeting with your neighbors to decide for yourselves if that new
strip mall should be built or the coal trains be allowed to pass — instead of
having to petition an offi cial.
Individual empowerment comes with great responsibility and some fi nd
that our society has not prepared us with the skill set necessary to fl uidly
enact self-government. Disputes can arise, proposals blocked for personal
reasons, or the process drawn out too long. Still, the human race begs for
freedom. It must be forged.
The path to self-actualization is a path of discovery. We are like dancers
learning to collaborate in harmony to make a work of art unfathomable
without the contribution of each dancer. We are like young knights in training,
learning to wield the weight of a sword. We are idealists, envisioning a society
in which power is not based on monetary wealth, but on the integrity you
earn from your community.
The redistribution of power is often confused with the redistribution
of money because money, in many ways, is power. Yet, most people in the
Occupy movement are not asking for special entitlements. They are asking for
democracy. If 99 percent of the country’s population had as much power in
making decisions as the wealthy do, we would be living in a different country.
Nicole Medema is a writer for the Eugene Occupier, the monthly newsletter for Occupy Eugene, which you can
find at Occupy Eugene V, 7th and Polk., the Federal Building encampment, and various locations around town.
You can reach Medema at Newsletter@occupyeugenemedia.org and learn more about Occupy Eugene at http://
occupyeugenemedia.org/ or call 525-0130.
4
JUNE 28, 2012
EUGENE WEEKLY
letters
TO THE EDITOR
URBAN AGRICULTURE
Each generation leaves an architectural
layer atop the old. We can read the cultural
narrative of peoples in foundations and
sherds, in tillage and midden heaps.
Eugene, like every city, is swooping
into the 21st, hopefully with the majestic
grace of a, er, duck.
One Eugenean architectural experience
which pleases my particular sense of
21stness has got to be that garden down
by the U.S. Courthouse. To stroll amongst
the strong green crops bathed in refl ected
gleamings off that mirrory mesa of an
edifi ce; to raise a bemused eye from a
frond to the Fed; is somehow sensationally
gratifying. That garden is architectural
genius of the highest order.
Now, if only we could graze goats on the
lawn for the amusement of the zigguratti
who in the Courthouse work.
David H. Tyson
Eugene
BORN TO RUN
Welcome U.S. daughters and sons,
It is time to throw, jump and RUN!
Sorry ‘bout the lack of sun,
Hear the crack of the gun.
The faster you go the sooner it’s done.
It all happens so fast,
only a laser knows who won.
Thanks for your dedication,
you are second to none
While here, by all means
pay homage to “Pre,”
Oregon’s favorite son.
Give it your all, leave it on the track
and please have some fun!
Know, no matter the results,
we are proud of you.
Tim Boyden
Eugene
WHY OBJECT TO EMX?
I’m really confused why so many
businesses are against the EmX. Have any
of them used the LTD bus system for a day
to try and get around town? The city bus
system is terrible! The EmX is so much
easier to ride, reliable, and you can get
places on time. Taking the EmX into UO
takes me 10 minutes. Going from work to
school using the city bus takes me an hour
and a half. Having to wait 30 minutes to
an hour to get somewhere via the city bus
system makes it impossible to plan your
day. Why would they be against people
getting around town easier? If anything it
makes their businesses more accessible.
I see signs saying something about EmX
taking a lane — well if more people could
get places effi cently then they wont need to
drive and we wont need so many lanes. If I
could take the EmX to West 11th I’d prefer
it over driving with all the construction.
Those against the EmX need to use the bus
system for a week and they will grow to
love the EmX and it’s effi ciency.
Robin Payne
Eugene
IN DEFENSE OF GREENHILL
I am writing in response to the letter
written by Kelly Coulter in the June 21 issue.
Ms. Coulter’s claim that Greenhill Humane
Society “has killed animals” for treatable
conditions in the last month is completely
false and, to be honest, offensive.
I am a volunteer in the surgical suite at
Greenhill and have been since last year. I
have never seen an animal euthanized. The
medical staff practices with integrity and
diligence to treat each and every animal
and their medical needs. This thorough and
compassionate care enables these animals
to continue on to safe, long, happy lives.
They utilize every resource available
to improve the lives of their patients,
traditional and alternative.
Any animal that passes through
Greenhill’s doors is treated with kindness,
respect, and love. The people who work and
volunteer at Greenhill are compassionate and
ethical and are doing this work simply for
the love of animals. These are good people
doing good work. To suggest otherwise is
incorrect and to make allegations that have
no basis is ignorant. Lane County is lucky
to have Greenhill stepping in and all the
animals, pets or strays, can look forward to
protection, healing, and care.
Anne Harris
Eugene
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