Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.ircc.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!MITCH.ENG.SUN.COM!wmb From: wmb@MITCH.ENG.SUN.COM (Mitch Bradley) Newsgroups: comp.lang.forth Subject: Re: Apology for American Education Message-ID: <9102121524.AA24182@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> Date: 10 Feb 91 22:24:48 GMT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Reply-To: Mitch Bradley Organization: The Internet Lines: 40 Okay, so Brad and I have used the word "democracy" incorrectly. As Steve Martin would say, "excuuuuse me". I realize that this is yet another example of my shallow education, having chosen to quote Steve Martin instead of the redoubtable Mrs. McGillicutty. However, in our quest for linguistic accuracy, let us not lose sight of the intended point, which I believe was: ANS Forth decisions are made by voting. Call it what you will, that is what I meant. I hereby promise to refrain from using the word "democracy" anymore. Some observations: No one person has absolute authority. There is no computer that is programmed to objectively evaluate every committee decision according to a preprogrammed set of rules. There are guidelines and stated goals and principles, but their application and interpretation is subject to the vote. Anyone can join the committee. It is true that not everybody can afford the time commitment or the expense of maintaining membership, but the committee has made every effort to minimize the expense (X3J14 is probably one of the least expensive ANSI committees). Short of having some "sugar daddy" to subsidize the effort, I don't see how the barriers to joining could be much lower. No "loyalty oath" or "pledge of allegiance to the principles" is required for members; show up at two consecutive meetings, and you are a full-fledged voting member. Most decisions involve some amount of compromise; nobody gets exactly what he wants, and most people get something they can live with. Furthermore, I believe that outside people *are* listened to, and quite carefully. At the last meeting, I personally championed quite a few issues that were raised by outside people. Several of those issues passed; all were given serious consideration, and subjected to a vote. Nobody will be forced to implement or to use ANS Forth. Personally, I plan to both implement it and use it, because I think it is a big step in the right direction. Mitch