In article , "Bert Craig"
writes:

"Rupert" wrote in message
link.net...
Len Over 21 wrote:

As of 6 PM EST on 11 November 2003, the number of ECFS
documents on public view a

What would be interesting is to find out how many are for the change,
and how many want to keep the code.

Me too. All this roundabout bravo sierra could be bypassed if there was a
ballot sent to all approx. 700,000 U.S. licensed hams. As long as quorum is
met, it's on! This concept (Democracy) frightens the bejesus out of many
folks who claim to speak for those not yet licensed.

But that's an empty argument. Get licensed and vote, tah dah! The big bad
"barrier" does not preclude anyone from getting their no-code Tech ticket
and executing a vote.

Simply announce a "record date" by which one must be licensed (To give those
"yet to be licensed a fair shot at a voice in the process.) and send a
ballot out to all those licensed "of record." Makes too much sense and
requires some effort. IOW, against the contemporary trend.

Perhaps, but you might find that it's more complex than it appears at first.

Suppose someone did, indeed, poll everyone with a US ham license.

First off, there'd be a considerable number of ballots returned because the
license holder was either dead, dropped out, or didn't have a current address
in the database. Note that the last in that list is a rules violation.....

Second, the survey would have to be carefully constructed to get accurate
results. And you'd probably find that there's a wider diversity of opinion than
just "keep the code test/dump the code test". Yet at the same time you'd want
the survey to be simple.

Perhaps something like this:

"What is your opinion of code testing for an amateur license?"

1) It should be totally abolished
2) It should be required only for Extra
3) It should be required only for Extra and General
4) It should be required for any license with HF privileges
5) It should be required for any amateur license
6) No opinion/don't care

Yet this question doesn't address code speed or medical waivers, or other
possibilities like "choose the code test or a special written test".

The more choices given, the greater the possibility that none of them would be
a majority answer, or even a clear plurality. Then you'd be right back where
you were before.

Or you might find that the majority opinion was 6). What happens in that case?

73 de Jim, N2EY