[members-discuss] Mortal Kombat over fees? Proposal.

Proposal to RIPE members actively participating in heated discussions
on the mailing list.

I think new ideas sort of dried up, so it's time to take a break and
let the dust settle.
Current discussion degraded mostly to same ideas as before, just with
different wording and now with NEW(tm) feature - mutual insults. It's
not productive anymore, and it's not fun anymore.

Let's summarize the discussion so far. I might be bold on some
statement, but better to say truth than to sugarcoat it.
- People very angry not just about fees increase, but lack of proper
communication and transparency about whole budgeting process.
- Many also have perception that answers of RIPE NCC employees and RIPE
EB are inappropriate and not addressing concerns of members.
- Many members have concerns that fees structure are not fair, by
several reasons: some members hold very large resources and do a lot of
transactions, but pay same as small LIRs; some members have concerns
that fees are not fair to their country's economy; some members don't
want to fund projects they don't see as useful.
- Last tiered proposal was not appreciated, but not because people
don't want tiered fees, but because it was not well thought out and
mixed with other changes.
- We are not offered option "None of the above" in budget voting, which
is again very angry point for many members.
- For many years many members didn't care about what is happening in
RIPE NCC, they put their trust in RIPE NCC and EB, and now they feel
betrayed.
- Certain RIPE members blindly defend all RIPE NCC and EB actions, and
attack anyone who dares to criticize them. This is not productive and
not helpful. They went to such extent that they started to insult other
members, which is not acceptable. We either work for better future, or
if you want to be enemies, be my guest, but this will be very bad for
RIPE NCC and RIPE community.

Also i want to underscore that RIPE NCC, EB, RIPE "supporters" are not
our enemies. They are our partners in this community. We all want
better future for RIPE community, and we all want RIPE NCC to be
successful. But we have different opinions on how to achieve this. We
need to find common ground and work together to achieve this.

Let's say we swallow the bitter pill and accept that fees will
increase. We can't avoid it now, but in return we demand from RIPE NCC
and EB certain changes.
My proposal is to set clear goals:
- RIPE NCC and EB should clearly understand, if they are just trying to
win time and wait until situation calms down, and do business as usual,
consequences will be very bad for RIPE NCC. This time we will not
forget, and will demand roadmap of changes with clear deadlines. And if
they are not done and we will see it is just a trick, we will demand
changes in RIPE NCC staff and leadership or go to extreme measures.
- We demand to have more control over budgeting process, and not just
to vote on limited budget options proposed by RIPE EB. We want to have
more say in budgeting process, to participate in task forces, etc.
- As RIPE members funding RIPE NCC activities, we have full right to
demand accountability and match modern standards of transparency and
governance not only for budgeting, but for all RIPE processes, from
core activities, to projects, purchases, hiring, etc.
- Many RIPE NCC projects are beneficial for world, but barely for
members. This have to change and details discussed. If fees are
increased, we want return on investment. 
- The fact that some of projects are flawed, and some has no proper
report to members for 2 years, is not acceptable. If project does not
bother to report to members, it means it is not important for members,
and should be stopped. We demand to have more control over projects,
and to have more say in projects funding. If project clearly show
neglect to members and goals set together with members, it should be
stopped.

Now, i wonder, did anybody read this long email? :)
Let's move to Telegram chat https://t.me/ripe_budget_talks and start
collecting and writing down ideas.