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                          THE FIDONET LEGACY   
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                    Fidonet is not a democracy   
                     Bj”rn Felten, 2:2/2   
      
      Democracy is an almost perfect system of governance, if executed   
   properly. Unfortunately, there are few examples of this. The most   
   crucial factor is that the electorate must be adequately educated,   
   so that they can make informed decisions. They must know what and   
   whom they are voting for.   
      
      A network is a technical entity, and as such, every decision must   
   be made by individuals who possess the necessary knowledge. That means   
   it has to be a technocracy.   
      
      Technocracy, in the context of governance, refers to a system where   
   decision-making is guided by individuals with specialised technical   
   expertise rather than elected politicians.   
      
      It is essentially a form of government where experts in specific   
   fields provide advice and guidance on policy matters, leading to   
   decisions that, at least in theory, are based on rational and data-   
   driven principles rather than political considerations.   
      
      In Fidonet, we use Coordinators to ensure its smooth operation.   
   Only they know what it takes. Really know. That is why our policy   
   makes sure that only Coordinators can make the proper decisions about   
   how to operate it.   
      
      This, of course, is how it works in a perfect world, with perfect   
   people who always follow the rules. Unfortunately, this has not always   
   been the case. In the next episode, you will learn more about how   
   power- and money-greed sometimes have had a detrimental impact on our   
   network.   
      
      
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   --- Azure/NewsPrep 3.0   
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