[EM] Re: Bolson Reply

[MIKE OSSIPOFF]

When Mr. Olson explained about the linear transformation, to change the 
extremes of a the points assignments, I objected that the numbers would no 
longer be in the same proportion as the original numbers. I objected because 
it had been said that they'd remain in the same proportion, or something 
pretty much to that effect had been said. But that's a trivial quibble.

I agree that there's nothing wrong with transforming the points ratings in 
that way, because the differences between the ratings, especially their 
difference from the minimum rating, are what's really important.

Well, I should qualify that. If you're applying the transformation to the 
extremes of the voter's ballot, rather than to the election's official 
maximum & minimum, then you could make that voters's ballot look more 
extreme than it is.

Say the offilcial limits are 0-100, and you want to change it to -1 to 1. 
Say a voter gives someone  85.

In the new numbering, the -1 to 1 system, that rating of hirs should be -1 + 
(.85)2 = .7

Even if .85 is the highest rating that voter gave to anyone.

Notice that the rating of 85, in the 0 to 100 system, is clearer in its 
meaning than .7 in the -1 to 1 system. In the 0 to 100 system it's obvious 
that that voter has rated that candidate 85% of the way from the maximum to 
the minimum. That isnt obvious from the .7 in the -1 to 1 system.

Though the -1 to 1 system is a very good public proposal, because voters 
would love to give negative ratings, the use of negative ratings can't 
really be justified in any other way.

Not if you want to use the sincere ratings to show how voters feel about the 
candidates.

If you call the middle of the range zero, and give every rating a positive 
or negative sign, what does that positive or negative sign mean, other than 
the fact that the candidate is rated above or below the midpoint of the 
allowed range? All it does is obfuscate where, percentage-wise,the voter has 
rated that candidate in the allowed range.

Mike Ossipoff

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