[EM] Settle for how much less?

[MIKE OSSIPOFF]

Alex wrote:

Personally, I am so thirsty for a viable third party that if an IRV
initiative came to CA I would vote for it. I would get involved early on
and encourage the organizers to consider Condorcet, Approval, or Cardinal
Ratings, but if it became clear that the voting reform momentum was behind
IRV I'd back it.

Progress is about improvement, not perfection. There are many types of
change: Small steps backward, small steps forward, big steps backward, big
steps forward, and status quo.

I reply:

I regard IRV as a step backward into a mudhole.

Wouldn't you agree that if IRV gets adoped, voters will then
be reluctant to replace it for a long time? Australia has used
IRV for 80 years or so, in spite of the widespread lesser-of-2-evils
strategy that many feel compelled to use. It would be nice if
we could be sure that IRV would be replaced as soon as it was
noticed that it retained the Plurality's problem, but I don't think there's
reassurance about that. After all, it's now known that IRV will
keep that problem, but that doesn't stop the IRVies.
And their opponents can't match their promotional money and manpower.

Alex continued:

Of course, if one believes that IRV is worse than plurality, then I don't
fault that person for campaigning against it. I'm a libertarian, so follow
your conscience.

I reply:

IRV will only help the Libertarians so far, as you know. When they
become a threat to the Republicans, those preferring Libertarian
candidates will often return to insincerely voting the Republican in
1st place--if they ever stop doing so under IRV.

The IRVies are trying to sell you an aircraft engine that they
guarantee won't conk out till the aircraft approaches takeoff speed.

Strategic freedom to vote one's favorite in 1st place as long as
s/he's a sure loser doesn't sound at all reassuring to me. Not worth
the effect that IRV will have in interfering with genuine single-winner
reform. When IRV gets adopted in a few places, it will make the news
and will have a strong advantage everywhere else, greatly to the
detriment of Approval's or CR's chances anywhere.

If IRV is adopted, we'll be stuck with it for how long? A generation
or two?

Mike Ossipoff


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