Proxy P.R. method- Variable size body

[DEMOREP1 at aol.com]

D- General reply to Mr. Layton-

There are variations in proxy p.r. methods just as there are variations in 
single winner methods (such as the various tiebreakers with Condorcet single 
winner methods).    The question in the U.S.A. is how simple election methods 
(and their cost) should be in view of the really low average political 
intelligence level in the U.S.A. (compared to the accuracy of any reform 
method).

D- >Thus, only proxy p.r. is 100 percent accurate in representing ALL voters 

>(though a voter may not be represented by his/her early choice(s) (first, 

>second, etc.).

The first, second, etc. applies to the more complex proxy p.r. methods- not 
to the variable size body posting.

Mr. Layton-
Nominating petition?  An actual petition where a candidate needs 4 percent

of the voters signing the petition before they are allowed to run?  Hmm. We

limit candidates by charging them a certain amount of money to run.  If the

candidate doesn't get a certain percentage of the vote (either first

preference or just before they get eliminated) they don't get the money

back.  If you still have too many factions, raise the price.  Petitions are

probably better, but if you charge you might be able to run the election at

no cost to the taxpayer.

D- The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the 14th Amendment's Equal 
Protection Clause prohibits having only filing fees (discrimination against 
poor candidates).  Many States have nominating petitions only for major 
offices and filing fees or nominating petitions for lower offices.  Such 
nominating petitions for primary elections of the major parties (Democrat and 
Republican) currently require around 0.25 percent of the voters in the last 
election in the area involved.
Thus a 4 percent requirement would limit the number of serious candidates.

Mr. Layton- How can you have a number of members per district, if every 
candidate who gets votes is elected?

These two elements I agree with.  There is some suggestion that 7 is the

optimal number of members per district.  The rest of your system has been

different each time you've posted it.  Should I assume these are successive

improvements?  I'm not taking this as a disagreement with my posting, as

this system would certainly pass the legitimacy test with compulsory voting.

D- The fixed number of members per district applies to my earlier posting- 
does not apply to the variable size body.

See general comment at beginning.  Compulsory voting in the U.S.A. would 
probably be deemed to violate the First Amendment (freedom of speech- freedom 
NOT to use speech in voting).   That is, if you do not vote in the U.S.A, 
then you do not care what sort of government that you get (noting that many 
U.S.A. folks are functionally illiterate so they do not vote-- i.e. do not 
understand ANY government forms- voter registration, ballots, etc.).