ECC’s position on the Zcash Dev Fund

[Dodger]

@wobbzz

My understanding of ZAC is that it was to be used as a mechanism to inform ECC’s view of the Zcash community’s consensus and that input obtained from ZAC would be used to ensure decisions on the development fund renewal reflect a broad consensus.

I was taken aback when the survey didn’t include other proposals discussed in the community.

Two years ago, I expressed concerns about ECC’s approach to major decisions that have far-reaching consequences.

I’ll quote now what I wrote then because it is as relevant today as it was then.

@Dodger

Decisions like these normally follow a process along these lines:

1. Identify the problem, and assess its impact.
   a. “What’s the problem? Is it really a problem?”
2. Brainstorm potential solutions, and do an initial assessment of their impact.
   a. “Any ideas?”
3. Create a shortlist of options, and do a deeper dive into the consequences and risks of each one.
   a. “So, if we do x, that will reduce the impact of the problem by this much but it will also…”
4. Decide what, if any, solution should be implemented, taking into account the net impact of the positive and negative consequences, and the risks incurred.
   a. “Let’s do x.” or
   b. conclude that “The best thing is to do nothing because the negative consequences and/or risks outweigh the positive consequences.”

In my opinion, the Zcash community should be involved at all four stages, so that a diversity of opinions and ideas can be heard, and there’s an opportunity for a clear consensus to emerge. Involving the community in the process builds trust (both in the organisations involved, and in the suitability of the end result) and supports decentralisation.

[…]

If we truly want to give the Zcash community a genuine voice in how Zcash is governed, we must involve them in the decision-making process.

Making decisions behind closed doors and presenting them as faits accomplis is not the way we should be doing things. It centralises power, shuts down open discussion, disenfranchises the community, fosters division and conflict, and generally makes for worse decisions…