Re: RFP Evaluation Team NDA

[Neal McBurnett <neal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Folks - it's time to take a few deep breaths. 
 
I think we all are working, in our own way, for a better world, as we
perceive it.  We of course understand different aspects of the world.
Progress is difficult and complicated, and we make different
tradeoffs.  We need to celebrate that, not vilify people for not
behaving the way *we* want people to behave.
 
I agree with Bo that perspective is really important, that going 
overboard can be a pain, and that being perceived as a PITA can have 
some pretty counter-productive consequences.  I hope he will help 
counteract the common tendency towards "guilt by association" which 
is prevalent on all sides of this debate.
 
I also think that there are reasons for some sorts of information to 
be kept private when governments do purchases and negotiations.  But 
if the agreement Joe posted is accurate, it goes way overboard, and 
would certainly make me worry about participation.  Thankfully, 
Shelley Bailey is in the process of re-drafting the agreement to take 
into account the change to an Open Meetings procedure, in which much 
of the information is open.  Hopefully it will encourage the team to
be open about everything that the public should know about.

Neal McBurnett                 http://bcn.boulder.co.us/~neal/
Signed and/or sealed mail encouraged.  GPG/PGP Keyid: 2C9EBA60

On Tue, Mar 14, 2006 at 03:51:56AM -0700, Delta wrote:
> There is an axiom in public service/government:
> 
> The bigger a pain in the ass you are....the less co-operation you will get.
> whether you're right or wrong.
> 
> There's also a little corollary:
> Rub elbows with PITAs and you will be considered a PITA, too.
> 
> I think Neal is seeing ramifications from Crazy Al's actions....
> 
> Of course, Neal isn't helping any....why is it necessary to see these
> non-disclosure documents? what the hell do they have to do with choosing
> election equipment????
> 
> Not that I don't agree with the Open Meeting laws.....but I see them abused
> too many times.
> 
> Like now.
> 
> Everybody in CVV wants to have their two cents counted.....and for what??
> for crissakes, the county is only considering RENTING these things for one
> election.....and we have ONE choice.....how much affect could ANYone have on
> this decision??? And it's entirely temporary!! How much *more* will you know
> about this system if you use it once? and don't hand me that conspiracy to
> defraud the voter crap. EVERYONE involved wants a fair election. It's just a
> matter of what can make it easier without compromising integrity.
> 
> If you people would give just a friggin iota...and let this process continue
> with *minimal* interference.....you could concentrate your resources AND the
> favors you curry....on the REAL DEAL.....when the County chooses a system to
> BUY.
> 
> but, nooooo.......
> Lets play like big shots and demand everything we can to show we have
> power.....because we can.
> THAT's why democracy is a very bad form of government. (A quote form the
> great Roman Statesman, Seneca)
> 
> Bo Shaffer