Comments on: An appalling and politically impossible way to improve voting outcomes. http://justindomke.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/an-appalling-and-politically-impossible-way-to-improve-voting-outcomes/ Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:15:07 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Yiannis Aloimonos http://justindomke.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/an-appalling-and-politically-impossible-way-to-improve-voting-outcomes/#comment-23 Yiannis Aloimonos Sun, 19 Oct 2008 20:50:25 +0000 http://justindomke.wordpress.com/?p=90#comment-23 Well, the reason citizens in large democracies are uninformed is because it is irrelevant who wins the election. The two party system dominating large democracies, gives you two parties that are the same. Moreover, they use the same techniques to attract voters; as a result they get just about the same number of votes I recall in Greece (small democracy) when 5 or 6 parties were prominent (70's and 80s) everyone was informed. Now, they also have two parties, almost equivalent. Apparently, many people are uninformed. Your proposal is an interesting exercise in the foundations of probability and I would not be surprised if it is implemented in some form in the future. I mean, a group of people chooses one person to vote for them and they pay him/her. I wonder how the notion (also ancient greek) of assigning different weights to different votes, within your sample, makes things better or worse. Your analysis is first class - you should submit it to the Mathematical Intelligencer. Well, the reason citizens in large democracies are uninformed is because it is irrelevant who wins the election. The two party system dominating large democracies, gives you two parties that are the same. Moreover, they use the same techniques to attract voters; as a result they get just about the same number of votes

I recall in Greece (small democracy) when 5 or 6 parties were prominent (70’s and 80s) everyone was informed. Now, they also have two parties, almost equivalent. Apparently, many people are uninformed.

Your proposal is an interesting exercise in the foundations of probability and I would not be surprised if it is implemented in some form in the future. I mean, a group of people chooses one person to vote for them and they pay him/her.
I wonder how the notion (also ancient greek) of assigning different weights to different votes, within your sample, makes things better or worse.

Your analysis is first class – you should submit it to the Mathematical Intelligencer.

]]> By: Seun Osewa http://justindomke.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/an-appalling-and-politically-impossible-way-to-improve-voting-outcomes/#comment-22 Seun Osewa Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:35:41 +0000 http://justindomke.wordpress.com/?p=90#comment-22 @Charlzz: Excellent point. @Charlzz: Excellent point.

]]> By: Charlzz http://justindomke.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/an-appalling-and-politically-impossible-way-to-improve-voting-outcomes/#comment-21 Charlzz Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:25:53 +0000 http://justindomke.wordpress.com/?p=90#comment-21 Given there are so few people, what would prevent bribery? One of the voters say they will vote for the candidate whose supporter gives them the most money. It's hard to bribe enough voters when many millions vote, but with 10000? Seems very possible. Given there are so few people, what would prevent bribery? One of the voters say they will vote for the candidate whose supporter gives them the most money. It’s hard to bribe enough voters when many millions vote, but with 10000? Seems very possible.

]]> By: Any Mouse http://justindomke.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/an-appalling-and-politically-impossible-way-to-improve-voting-outcomes/#comment-20 Any Mouse Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:46:15 +0000 http://justindomke.wordpress.com/?p=90#comment-20 The extra influence of voters in small states is a feature, not a bug. Random over the population isn't the only reasonable choice. In fact, it's a pretty horrible one as it increases the bias towards urban centers. The extra influence of voters in small states is a feature, not a bug.

Random over the population isn’t the only reasonable choice. In fact, it’s a pretty horrible one as it increases the bias towards urban centers.

]]> By: Mayson Lancaster http://justindomke.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/an-appalling-and-politically-impossible-way-to-improve-voting-outcomes/#comment-19 Mayson Lancaster Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:35:55 +0000 http://justindomke.wordpress.com/?p=90#comment-19 I like it. Another good way might be to empanel a large grand jury, with subpoena powers, to elect officials. I like it. Another good way might be to empanel a large grand jury, with subpoena powers, to elect officials.

]]> By: FSK http://justindomke.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/an-appalling-and-politically-impossible-way-to-improve-voting-outcomes/#comment-18 FSK Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:17:08 +0000 http://justindomke.wordpress.com/?p=90#comment-18 I disagree with your conclusion that "anarchy isn't viable". Anarchy is a workable system. I consider "agorism" or "market anarchism" to be the best version of anarchy. All services currently provided by government are provided by multiple competing vendors in a true free market. http://fskrealityguide.blogspot.com/2007/09/agorist-philosophy-overview.html I disagree with your conclusion that “anarchy isn’t viable”. Anarchy is a workable system. I consider “agorism” or “market anarchism” to be the best version of anarchy. All services currently provided by government are provided by multiple competing vendors in a true free market.

http://fskrealityguide.blogspot.com/2007/09/agorist-philosophy-overview.html

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