Voting Envy

Social Venture Partners Cincinnati "voted" last night for the 2010/2011 Investee (our term for the non-profit we will team with for 3-5 years). I put "vote" in quotes because the real vote is by the Council after the Investment Committee makes a recommendation.

Sounds complicated - and all governance is complicated. Wrapped up in legal mumbo jumbo, operating agreements, etc. The common man discovers how unpowerful his vote is when he finds out that the power of his vote was delegated to a board - or to a representative of the governing body.

So the real vote was when you elected the Board, or voted for your congressional representative. This indirect feeling of power becomes incomplete when the current issue at hand strikes passion into your soul and you want your voice to be heard and your vote to be counted!!

Instead you are subjugated to the back of the line - a distance voice from the hot issue at hand while your representative makes his/her decision with "your interest in mind".