[EM] Finding the probable best candidate?

[Forest Simmons]

On Tue, 12 Feb 2002, Blake Cretney wrote:

> Forest Simmons wrote:
> 
>   >
>   >The utilities don't have to be "utilitarian."  They include the 
> altruistic
>   >values held dear by the voters as well as their economic interests.
>   >
> 
> But if you're hoping to use the method to find the candidate that will
> cause the greatest utilitarian benefit, then you don't want people to be
> altruistic.  

You do if altruism is one of the values for which you assign utility.

> You want people to accurately give their personal benefit,
> in the hopes that when the method sums the personal benefits you'll get
> societal benefit.  At least assuming all members of society vote.

Personal benefits add up to societal benefit if the voters are civic
minded enough to consider community benefits of personal worth. If their
attitude is "every man for himself" then community values will be short
changed (notwithstanding the Chicago School of Economics myth to the
contrary).

Forest