[EM] Why bicameralism ?

[Stephane Rouillon]

Behind-the-scene deals are among many things often the consequence
of balance of power, usually when well defined groups decide to trade
in their mutual benefit instead of giving their opinion about public
interest...

Yes I understand that human nature will always make a place for an analysis
of personal benefits in taking a decision. But as electoral system
designers,
we can make it harder and less relevant if decision takers cannot be
rewarded (at least electoraly) by decision beneficiaries.

So please state what are those geographical advantages you see,
that an astrological district-based electoral system could not provide.
Please do not forget that even if you a representative is not anymore
elected by a region, he/she still comes from somewhere and thus
have an intimate knowledge of that region.

Stephane Rouillon.

"Dr.Ernie Prabhakar" a écrit :

> Congratulations, on the Ph.D., Stephane!
>
> On Sep 1, 2004, at 9:01 AM, Brian Olson wrote:
> > On Sep 1, 2004, at 6:18 AM, Stephane Rouillon wrote:
> >> Stop internal behind-the-scene
> >> deals and start an open and neutral decisional process that would
> >> encourage
> >> politicians to take decisions that benefit the most to get reelected.
> >
> > You're going to have to justify that more. I'm not sure why one system
> > or another minimizes "behind-the-scene deals". As far as I can tell,
> > the best fix is a responsive participatory democracy where people at
> > whatever level (voter, representative) are paying some attention to
> > what goes on in the parts they have a vote over and they vote the bums
> > out as needed.
>
> I'm with Brian on this.   I agree (I think) that geographic
> representatives often engage in pork barrel politics of various kinds,
> but that's just a perverse reflection of the valid fact that they *are*
> responsible for looking out for the interests of their region -- not
> just the people who voted for them.   I think there are better ways to
> avoid back-room dealing than eliminating geographic districts.  And
> there are some advantages.  I ran across this lovely quote by Sir
> Walter Scott:
>
> http://www.rampantscotland.com/quotations/blquotesf.htm
> "I dinna ken muckle about the law," answered Mrs Howden; "but I ken,
> when we had a king, and a chancellor, and parliament-men o' our ain, we
> could aye peeble them wi' stanes when they werena gude bairns - Bit
> naebody's nails can reach the length o' Lunnon."
>
>  From "The Heart of Midlothian" by Sir Walter Scott, in 1818.
>
> I think PR and geographic representation both have different structural
> flaws and advantages.   Bicameralism is a one way to play those
> weaknesses against each other, encouraging more robust legislation.
> Having two mechanisms with different systematic errors is the best way
> to improve accuracy.
>
> Cheers,
> - Ernie P.
> (my Ph.D. is in physics, so electoral theory is still fun :-)