[EM] Re: Extremism

[Donald Davison]

Greetings list members,

Alex Small wrote: "It is sometimes asserted in various places (including,
occasionally, this forum) that PR promotes extremism and single member
districts (SMD) promote moderation.  There's no denying that PR would give
representation
to small extremist factions.  But small extremist factions would still have
small caucuses while large centrist groups would have large caucuses."
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2003 23:03:19 -0700 (PDT)


Donald here:  While it is true that PR allows extremism to have its own
party, its own candidates, and yes, even its own elected representatives,
that is the best solution for those who fear someone else's extremism.

Otherwise, extremists would impose themselves into the single allowed party
or into the duo allowed parties.  These extremism people will work hard and
be far more active than regular party members.  The extremist would take
any party office, no matter how small.  Soon the extremist would wield more
power and control in the party than their numbers deserve.

Now, you could try keeping the worst extremist out of the way by giving him
some useless job in he party, say, like make him `secretary of the party',
turn him into a pencil pusher.

If you do think of doing this, you should be informed that this has already
been tried.

Stalin found his belittling new position as secretary to be a very good
career move.


Donald,