Re: (OPE-L) Rakesh's suggestion

[Rakesh Bhandari <rakeshb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>         I'm not certain exactly what Rakesh is objecting to--- other than
> Jerry's tenure (and, if that's the sole question, I'm certain he'd want
> Fidel to be long gone).

James Becker from whom Levy claims to have learned so much made the
rotation of tasks one of the keys of socialism.



>  From my perspective, the main role that Jerry plays
> is as a catalyst--- regularly raising new issues and questions.

No he has had inordinate influence over who is admitted. He has had
the power to threaten to intercept posts. He has been immune from
subjection to administrative warning. I don't think he has always
been fair-minded in his criticisms of TSS. I was also quite put off
by what I took to be his bad faith debating tactics in the arguments
over the character of plantation slavery.



>  (Rakesh has
> played a very good role in this respect, too.) He doesn't really moderate
> as far as I can see (e.g., is much less hands-on than Michael Perelman on
> Pen-l--- that crowd can get pretty unruly at times).

Well he threatened to cut off my posts in the Venezuela exchange. Who
the hell was he to do that? And he did that without consulting the
advisory committee first. It's time for him to step down. Nine years
is enough.



>  Other than that,
> Jerry's role seems to be one of introducing new people.

And how are they chosen?



>  Am I missing
> something? Has someone been excluded or thrown off the list by Jerry's
> unilateral action?

Yes you are missing the above.



>         For the record, I'm quite happy with what I observe Jerry to be
> doing, and I find that discussions on the list suffer every summer (when he
> is off sailing)-- ie., when we are without his role.

The discussion is pretty much dead all the time.

Bhandari



>         in solidarity,
>          Lebowitz
>
> At 13:24 16/05/2004, you wrote:
> >  >  I am sure that most of those OPE-L'ers who are thankful or
> > >  moderately thankful for your administration would agree that nine
> > >  years from any one person is enough, that administration should be
> > >  rotated, and that the advisory committee should appoint someone new.
> >
> > Rakesh:
> >
> > You are sure, are you?
> >
> > Why don't we let list members *speak for themselves* without replies
> > from *either one of us*?  That is, I think you would have to agree that
> > list members will be more forthcoming in stating their perspectives
> > if they know that _both_ of us will read what they write without our
> > responding immediately to what they wrote.  I propose that we _both_
> > are silent on this question for *one week* while we _listen_ to what others
> > think.
> >
> > *** Rakesh has suggested that the Advisory Committee appoint a new
> > coordinator.  Who agrees with that suggestion?  Why or why not? ***
> >
> > In solidarity, Jerry
>
> Michael A. Lebowitz
> Professor Emeritus
> Economics Department
> Simon Fraser University
> Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6
>
> Currently based in Venezuela. Can be reached at
>
> Residencias Anauco Suites
> Departamento 601
> Parque Central, Zona Postal 1010, Oficina 1
> Caracas, Venezuela
> (58-212) 573-4111
> fax: (58-212) 573-7724