[UK-CONTEST] Ofcom/RSGB meeting

[Bob Henderson]

----- Original Message ----- 
"Ed - G3SQX" wrote:
> I vehemently disagree with GI4NKB when he says
> "Why are the RSGB not representing the views of the majority of Amateurs 
> in
> respect of the FL and arriving at a FL that will be acceptable to the
> majority?"  The majority of Amateurs are totally unrepresentative of those
> who might consider getting a Foundation Licence, and therefore should have
> their views considered, but should not dominate.  Insofar as it's 
> possible,
> the entry level licence ought to be reasonable both in terms of what 
> people
> need to know to operate tolerably well, and the extent to which the 
> licence
> fits in with the rest of the system.  The Foundation Licence is far from
> perfect, but the situation is absolutely nothing like the dark picture 
> that
> GI4NKB presents.
>

Ed

There is a perversity in the logic of the above statement, I find troubling. 
Self evidently, the majority of radio amateurs must be totally 
unrepresentative of those who might consider getting a Foundation Licence. 
How less representative could a group of folks holding a superior licence 
and therefore having absolutely no personal need for a FL be?

Would you apply similar logic to the UK democratic process, arguing for 
adjustment to give the balance of elective authority to those who are 
prepared to become politicians, because the majority of the electorate are 
unrepresentative of those who want the job?  Or perhaps, the right to decide 
how life should be within the penal system to the prisoners?  After all, 
they are the users of the system.  The majority of the populace are 
completely unrepresentative.

I really have no idea whether the assertion made by GI4NKB is true and the 
majority of UK radio amateurs don't want the FL in its current form.  But if 
it were, would it really be appropriate for the RSGB to follow a course so 
contrary to the views of the membership at large?  If I have interpreted the 
above statement correctly, you think it appropriate for RSGB leadership to 
publicly represent their own views in preference to those of the membership.

Really?

Bob, 5B4AGN