I'm so grateful for this list. The fact that there are other electoral methods thinkers and activists out there besides the Greens and CVD was a blessing. I thought I was a freak, a crank for thinking to myself, "IRV sure sounds interesting and better than plurality, but aren't there other methods too? What about their merits and flaws?"
But is that enough? Is that all that there is, Alfie? I attended the LP National Convention in Indianapolis earlier this month. Someone from the TX delegation told me that they thought Rob LeGrand was there, but that was errata. Paul Hager was there, and quoted in the local daily trashing the LP, now that he's a Republican. Well, let's see what position they're taking on election methods. I introduced an amendment to the new language of the electoral platform plank to strike "IRV" and substitute "alternative single winner election methods." Neutrality. This was unacceptable to Bill Redpath, a long time VA activist and Platform Committee member who has been focused on IRV and PR for a long, long time. My amendement failed on a voice vote and we walked the CVD plank of IRV and PR by a narrow margin. They have a new book, media appearances and a highly probable victory in AK forthcoming next month. I fear we are in imminent danger of becoming the Locofocos of the electoral reform movement. Doug ---- For more information about this list (subscribe, unsubscribe, FAQ, etc), please see http://www.eskimo.com/~robla/em
