Michael Ossipoff, you don't seem to take the time to carefully read the messages posted here.

In this case it appears that you failed to notice my use of the word "component."

I have a degree in Physics, so I can assure you that I am not the one who is failing to understand the concept of resonance. (FYI, Wikipedia has a great explanation of the topic.)

To all: In politics the resonant frequency can be issue-specific, and also depends on factors such as the time between elections, how long it takes to enact and enforce a change, how long it takes to notice effects, how long it takes for investigative journalism to call attention to undesired effects, and much more.

In local politics the resonant frequency might be as short as one cycle per four years (assuming two years between elections and quick changes with obvious consequences). In large-scale politics, the frequency can be as long as one cycle per three generations. The latter case amounts to a "period" (one divided by the frequency) of about about 100 years, which coincides with some boom-and-bust cycles, probably including the one we are in now. (Often such cycles involve a "new" generation forgetting what an earlier generation learned the hard way.)

Getting back to the original concept, term limits would be like building barriers to limit the swing of a pendulum. It does limit the swings. However, putting a "damper" on the pendulum also would reduce excessively "wild swings."

Making elections fairer would be like putting a damper on politics. The momentum that can cause wild swings would be difficult to get started.

Richard Fobes



On 1/18/2013 1:51 PM, Michael Ossipoff wrote:
Fobes says:

Such over-runs are a component of the concept of "resonance" in Physics.
   This over-extended "state" quickly lead to an ever-increasing push
back to center.

[endquote]

Incorrect.

Resonance, in physics, refers to a physical system's natural frequency
of oscillation. The frequency at which it would oscillate without any
outside influences.

As for the "ever increasing push back towards center": For small
displacements the restoring-force typically tends to be approximately
proportional to the displacement from the center (toward which the
restoring force acts). Motion under the influence of such a
restoring-force is called "simple harmonic motion. For instance,
clocks, whether with pendulum, balance wheel or quartz, are designed
for simple harmonic oscillation, because one of its results is an
oscillatory period that is independent of the amplitude.

Galileo is said to have observed that independence, in the swinging of
a chandelier

But "resonance" only refers to natural frequency.


Fobes continued:

  Yet, overall, the result is an oscillation that
averages out to be centered.

[endquote]

???

Meaning?

Mike Ossipoff
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