On the other hand, there is the question of diversity.

When I joined FT there was a rule that at least two members of TB had to live outside of the US/Canada. Of course, this was very helpful to non-North American candidates. You could come in 12th in the election but as long as there was a non-US spot open, you were elected.

I opposed that rule (yes, I realize that it would work in my benefit) and tried to get it changed. My motion did not pass: 5 voted in favor of it, 3 against, and 1 abstained.

Randy, however, stepped in and adopted my motion even though it failed. He said that the 2 spots had been reserved for foreign residents when almost all members lived in the US/Canada. It was felt at the time that diversity on TB was crucial to FT's success. Since then, however, TB had become a truly international IBB -- as evidenced by the fact that 3 of the 9 members elected lived overseas.

There remains, however, a situation where moderators are over-represented on TB by a tremendous proportion. Whereas they represent less than 0.01% of the general membership, they often form a majority of TB membership.

That definitely is not the diversity which Randy had originally sought.