Caitlin asked:
However, isn't this a political discussion?
The technical issues are whether you can have a single name
space without a single algorithm/authority for resolving
conflicts, and the mechanism(s) for distributing that
information.
Debating the first point quickly resembles discussions of
square circles and perpetual motion machines. Everytime it
is pointed out that the lack of a single algorithm/authority
would mean that there was no longer a single name space the
topic shifts and has a tendency to focus on the *identity*
of those currently in charge of that namespace.
All of which is irrelevant.
I would suggest that those who believe ICANN is a problem
should spend their time writing their congressisonal
representatives. It is not a technical issue.
Larry Lessig has shown his books Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace
and in the Future of Ideas that you attempt to pretend that laws and
politics and economics have no effect on technical issues at your
peril. You may want to study your Lessig before you tell the rest
of us to write our congress critters.
But look, I can't impose ideas on anyone so I really don't wish to
debate the issue. it quickly turns into way too much of a black hole
for gobbling up time. After four years of observing ICANN I will
say that we are now seeing sea change in the attitudes of many people
who have long been willing to give ICANN the benefit of the doubt and
now are no longer willing to do so.
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