[EM] Sincere voting till one finds out about the strategy problem.

[MIKE OSSIPOFF]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chris said:

"For IRV, sincere rankings are fine, because IRV has its serious strategy
problems even if everyone votes sincerely."

Isn't the phrase "strategy problems..if everyone votes sincerely" 
oxymoronic?

I reply:

Not really. I didn't say everyone would keep on voting sincerely after they 
found out what happened to them when they voted sincerely. Sure, if everyone 
had no reason to do other than keep on voting sincerely, that would mean 
there's no strategy problem. The test represents a particular election, and 
would show what happens when voting is sincere. That sincere voting in the 
test in no way implies a belief that voters will always keep on voting 
sincerely in IRV.

Chris continued:

How can there be a "strategy problem" if no-one votes strategically?

I reply:

Easily.  First you vote sincerly. Then IRV makes you regret that you votred 
sincerely.
IRV doesn't need any offensive strategy to make you sorry that you didn't 
use the defensive strategy of favorite-burial.

Wouldn't it be nice if sincere voting by a particular individual voter were 
all that it took to avoid strategy problems.

Mike Ossipoff

_________________________________________________________________
Enjoy a special introductory offer for dial-up Internet access — limited 
time only! http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup