158,000 is rather dismal.

But I remember sitting at ICANN meetings in 1999 where members of the ICANN's Interim board projected only 100 - 200 people would be interested enough to register for the election. (The Interim board members are the At Large members appointed to the board with the guiding hand of IBM. 5 of these are to be replaced in this election.)

How could they of been so wrong? Well, some of the Interim board members really think the ICANN is a technical and administrative body. These board members haven't a clue as to their responsibility for the broader society. They don't see the impact the net is having on the world as something they need be concerned about. And they think, "Why would people vote?"

This view receives some small support in the technical world from people who just want to code and not be bothered by "politicians." This group says, "Melting the polar ice caps - me?"

But most on the ICANN board know that the technical and administrative claim is just a ploy to keep inquiring minds out of their bailiwick. The business oriented board thinks they have this rigged. And they're probably right. They've closed off communication between members making a discussion of issues impossible.

I'm a candidate for an At Large position, and I think there's good reason to put me on the board. But I can't communicate with the voting members - I can't even get a list of fellow members. And there's no discussion allowed on the ICANN web site.

But I'm delighted to see 158,000 registered as At Large voters. If we could find out how to communicate with one another, maybe we'd have a democratic election. Maybe next time.

But for now I thank God for Slashdot, at least some communication can take place.

Tom Lowenhaupt
At Large Candidate