[EM] Re: IRV majority vs Ghost Majority of a Bottom Method

DEMOREP1 at aol.com DEMOREP1 at aol.com
Thu Dec 14 07:08:20 PST 2000


Mr. Cretney wrote--

But Donald, IRV _is_ a Bottom Method.  By attempting to mandate a
majority when none exists, you end up counting detractors as
supporters.  Then your majority-by-fiat will elect someone despised by a
majority.  

Example:

49%  A(10)   B(9)   C(0)
25%  B(10)   C(1)   A(0)    
26%  C(10)   B(9)   A(0)

On a scale of 0..10, candidate B is rated by every voter as being very
near that voter's favorite.  In other words, B is a Top Candidate (and
is almost certainly the Approval winner).  Plurality winner A is another
top candidate, with nearly a majority of first-choice votes.

With IRV, a Bottom Method, candidate C wins with a manufactured
majority, even though B is despised by 74% of the voters (a Bottom
Candidate if there ever was one).  Surely you must agree that a majority
consisting of 26% supporters and 74% detractors is a Ghost Majority, if
that term has any meaning at all.

And you are right, with a Bottom Method such as IRV, the 49% who
supported A are not allowed to change their votes, and must stay with
the loser.
---
D- The B and C folks are yet another divided majority.

What happens if there is a YES/NO vote on each choice ??? Which of the 
choices get a YES majority ???  Let us guess or do the math.  Duh-- does only 
B get a YES majority (besides beating each of the others head to head) ???



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