Full Representation vs Total Representation

[New Democracy]

Dear List members,

     In the latest update from the Center for Voting and Democracy, Rob
Richie is making a move away from the term proportional representation to
the term full representation. This is a good move.

     I am going to claim bragging rights because I made the move away from
the term proportional representation more than a year ago when I started to
use the term Total Representation. I may like the word Full better than
Total - I will think about it. Below is some text from my web site that
explains my position.
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My text on election reform has a difference from the text of others. Where
others will talk about Proportional Representation I give most of the
attention to Total Voter Representation. The Two are not the same. As we
increase voter representation we also increase proportional representation
but the reverse is not true. Gerrymandering is an example of an effort to
increase proportional representation but it does not increase voter
representation. I define voter representation as being the percentage of
votes that elected all the winning candidates to a lawmaking body. One
hundred percent would be Total Voter Representation - a goal. Preference
Voting is a method that makes it possible for us to come close to this
goal.
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Also in October of last year I wrote in a letter to the Election Methods
list the following:

Donald: "I think everyone needs to generalize their focus from the term
proportational representation to something else.

The term is carrying baggage. First because of coalition governments in
other countries and then the perception in this country that it has
something to do with that EVIL thing known as Gerrymandering.

I've been using Total Voter Representation - meaning that I focus on
increasing representation ..."
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To be a leader a person must decide the direction and then get ahead of the
people. In this one case I was able to do that. It feels good to be ahead
of everyone else - if only now and then.

I would like to suggest that we do not use FR for full representation -
instead we should use something like Full-rep if someone feels the need to
shorten the term. FR is like a speed bump while reading - the mind must
stop and decide what FR means. The writer knows what FR means but the
writer should want to convey his message to others as smooth as possible.

Don,

Donald Eric Davison of New Democracy at http://www.mich.com/~donald

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