A SAD weakness about what is being said.
On Aug 24, 2011, at 12:55 PM, Fred Gohlke wrote:
Michael Allan wrote:
"But not for voting. The voting system guarantees that my vote
will have no effect and I would look rather foolish to suppose
otherwise. This presents a serious problem. Do you agree?"
TRULY, this demonstrates lack of understanding of cause and effect.
IF the flask capacity is 32 oz then pouring in 1 oz will:
. Do nothing above filling if the flask starts with less than 31 oz.
. Cause overflow if flask already full.
In voting there is often a limit at which time one more would have an
effect. If the act were pouring sodas into the Atlantic the limit
would be far away.
To which Warren Smith responded:
"--no. A single ballot can change the outcome of an election.
This is true in any election method which is capable of having
at least two outcomes."
Proof: simply change ballots one by one until the outcome
changes. At the moment it changes, that single ballot
changed an election outcome. QED.
BUT there could be many previous ballots of which none made any change.
Since, as stated, "A single ballot can change the outcome of an
election." and "This is true in any election method which is capable
of having at least two outcomes.", why would a voter prefer a new
electoral method over the existing plurality method?
From the voter's perspective, (s)he is already familiar with
plurality, so , if the new method produces the same result, why
change?
Truly no reason PROVIDED the new method provides the same result,
given the same input.
Cui bono? Obviously, not the voter.
When considering the 'meaning' of a vote, it is more important to
examine the question of what the voter is voting for or against.
Voting, of the type used in plurality contests, is profoundly
undemocratic, not because of the vote-counting method, but because
the people can only vote for or against candidates and issues chosen
by those who control the political parties - the people Robert
Michels' described as oligarchs.
If the object of changing the electoral method is to build a more
just and democratic government, the proposed methods must give the
people a way to influence the choice of candidates and the issues on
which they vote.
Fred Gohlke
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