Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] "they all deserve up or down votes"

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Sat, 4 Jun 2005, Andrew Deering wrote:

> How do we solve this???  We have to get away from the two party system 
> that is not dictated by the people but the powers that be.

Right.  This is why I have long advocated for Condorcet voting.  We cannot 
get away from a two-party system without changing our voting system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duvergers_Law


> Vote Libertarian, move to New Hampshire.  JUST DO SOMETHING.

Vote Libertarian and throw away your vote:  That's the nature of the 
current system.  That is why we need Condorcet.  Read about it here:

http://www.electionmethods.org/Condorcet.htm
http://condorcet.org/

We need computerized vote tallys with open source software and paper 
trails.  Once that's all set up, Condorcet rank-based voting is the way to 
go.  It is not perfect, but it is better than anything else.  Regarding 
perfection, Arrow won a Nobel in Econ for showing that a perfect system is 
impossible...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrow's_Impossibility_Theorem
http://www.electionmethods.org/Arrow.htm

...but when there is a Condorcet winner, that is the best choice.

Another benefit of a switch to Condorcet rank-based voting is that it 
would serve to reduce negative campaigning.  Think about it.  If you have 
only two candidates, they can help themselves as much by bashing the other 
guy as by promoting themselves.  People often end up voting for "the 
lesser of two evils."  With many serious candidates, it become strategic 
to promote oneself instead of bashing opponents.

Mike

--
Michael B. Miller, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health
and Institute of Human Genetics
University of Minnesota
http://taxa.epi.umn.edu/~mbmiller/
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