Kurt Jaeger wrote:
Thanks for the wise words. Paying a few thousand EURs per year to have a very professional organisation lobbying for our interests worldwide. Maybe many fine lunches, dinners, but even more very professional work! Yes, RIPE is worth every cent.
Then form an independent lobbying group, and don't use my money for it. Certain organisations - like the RIPE and maybe LINX as a random examples - work as an industry body up until a point where consensus is no longer possible because of size. Then either politics or apathy or both get in the way, and those in control get to stay in control by virtue of being good at maintaining a status quo that is not offensive enough for people to collectively vote against. Perhaps I am suggestion that point is here, now.
Please re-consider the "cost-cutting-efforts" going on:
If there had been no RIPE with crystal-clear policies as a very good example of self-gouvernance, many national government regulations would be in place instead -- and it would be a big mess.
Er, and it isn't now ? What other organisation drops 50% annual membership fee rises on a community that has no choice ? Peter