Neither "consensus" nor "democracy" by themselves produce good work. It is
possible for the overwhelming majority (consensus) or bare majority
(democracy) to choose the mediocre over the good. At least with consensus
a few can have a more significant effect.
So, as I see it, it is the few rather than the many, who do the good
work. TCP works as well as it does because of the work of handful of
people, not the democracy of the majority or the consensus of the
population of the IETF.
The only advantage the majority of the IETF has is that in "the olden days"
the majority was involved in the day-to-day construction of networks and
were capable enough to recognize really good work. Sadly, today I don't
believe this is true and the current work of the IETF supports this
supposition in my own mind. (YMMV)
So, the IETF is a victim of its own success. Many who did the original
good work have fallen by the wayside for whatever reason. Some are still
here and raising their voices periodically but, sadly, many are missing and
those who remain are absorbed by the process and not contributing new good
work.
I miss the old IETF and would like to see something like that organization
continue. But most of my children have grown up and moved away too. I
guess life moves on, people and organizations die, and those of us left
have to live with it.
Brian Lloyd
brian(_at_)lloyd(_dot_)com
+1.530.676.1113 - voice
+1.360.838.9669 - fax