More comments on Lord Jenkin's proposals

[New Democracy]

  ----------- Forwarded Message ----------
From: Owen
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 13:30:12 EDT
To: donald at mich.com,
Mime-Version: 1.0
Subject: Re: More comments on Lord Jenkin's proposals

In a message dated 25/09/98 10:13:01 GMT,
[in a post by] donald at mich.com [David Marsay] writes:

<<
 3) A centre candidate will win unless it has the least support or some
 other candidate has an absolute majority (as above).

     This violates the Smith criterion. But maybe that is a small price to
pay. In extremis, a centre candidate with 2 supporters could win using the
Smith criterion.  Do we really want to elect the candidate who has least local
support? Also note that methods that appear to respect the Smith criterion do
not encourage honest voting, so may not 'really' meet the criterion. >>

I think, if this is the only choice we have, that a centre candidate with only
2% first preferences but massive 2nd. preferences would be a better democratic
choice than a left or right wing candidate with negligible 2nd. choice
support.

What I really regret is the apparent unwillingness of those in power to
institute multi-member constituencies.   If you only have one elected member
then by definition that member cannot be proportional.

Owen Dumpleton

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Dear Owen Dumpleton,

     Those in power are there because of the current system.

     If they were to "institute multi-member constituencies", as many as
     fifty percent of them would be out of power.

Donald Davison


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