A quote from Ideal Democracy∞ with with I fully identify:
- Consensus, although not always a practical form of democracy, is the ideal. Consensus-driven groups, i.e., Quakers, some indigenous groups, peace groups, and others, sit patiently through tedious meetings; but the result is absolute autonomy and power for each individual as well as absolute cohesion, focus, and power for the group. Majority-rule divides a group and stiffles discussion; consensus-rule unites a group and produces compromise decisions.
- In an ideal democracy, every participant needs equal opportunity to bring up new issues, equal opportunity to participate in every discussion, equal opportunity to vote in every decision, every opportunity to change his vote in response to discussion, and equal weight in each vote.