[EM] Condorcet for public proposals - Tounament

[Rob Speer]

On Wed, Jan 28, 2004 at 10:31:49AM -0500, Dave Ketchum wrote:
> This thread is looking for something for the public, rather than what we 
> might enjoy within our group.
> 
> While tournament comes from the time of knights, it gets used for golf 
> tours, etc., in the modern world.
> 
> I do not demand winning this debate, but think tournament should be 
> considered.

I also approve of the word "tournament".

People _understand_ tournaments. People watch sports, where winners are
decided by systems that are far more complex and obscure than Condorcet.

In fact, here's a way I sometimes explain Condorcet vs. plurality:

Say you have a bunch of basketball teams, and you want to find out which
one is the best. Do you have them all run onto a court at once and fight
over the ball? No - you have them compete two at a time, and hold a
tournament.

Current plurality voting is like all the teams running onto the court at
once. Condorcet is like a round robin tournament.

Plurality just shows who's good at grabbing the ball, or grabbing
attention. Condorcet shows who's actually good at the game, that is,
being preferred by the people.
-- 
Rob Speer