Re: [EM] 05/13/02 - The Education of Poor Richard:

[Alex Small]

Well stated, Forest!

It's worth re-emphasizing that using the Condorcet Criterion to evaluate a
method does not mean one automatically considers the Condorcet Method to be
the best election method.  Some on this list have pointed out that there
are instances where an Approval winner may be more socially desirable
(using admittedly very subjective criteria) than the CW.

It has also been pointed out that the best way of resolving cyclic
ambiguities is, well, somewhat ambiguous.  This is to be considered when
advocating a Condorcet method.  Also, some methods have simplicity
advantages over Condorcet.

None of this is to necessarily argue for or against using Condorcet
methods, just to point out that methods satisfying the Condorcet Criterion
are not automatically sacred and above reproach in comparison with other
methods.  Donald seemed to accuse me of using the illogic that "A method is
only good if it is identical to the one that I prefer."

Finally, among methods that do not always elect the CW (if it exists) one
can still try to determine how frequently a method will flunk the Condorcet
Criterion, or what circumstances will lead to the election of somebody
other than the CW.  Brams and Fishburn, the elder statesmen of Approval
Voting, perform just such an analysis in their book, and nobody can accuse
them of thinking Condorcet is the only acceptable method in the world.

Alex

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