[Election-Methods] Partisan Politics

[Dave Ketchum]

On Sun, 02 Mar 2008 10:45:42 -0500 Fred Gohlke wrote:
> This site focuses on methods of conducting elections, but most posts 
> address only a single aspect of that topic; the way votes are counted. 
> Is not the object for which votes are cast a matter of even greater 
> concern?  When our public officials are not representative of the people 
> who elect them and are masters of misdirection, obfuscation and deceit, 
> ought we not ask ourselves whether there is a taint in the method by 
> which they are selected?  Ought we not consider the role of political 
> parties in the political process?
> 
Reading this I think of:
      A direct attack on the party system, demanding that it release control.
      The party system, having the power to do so, retaliates - nets much 
pain and no gain.

I have two thoughts:
      Let Fred establish a group for his goal.
      Let Election Methods stick with its current efforts.

EM can and should think more of our environment, toward making our 
proposals more salable.  Burying Plurality voting deserves to be an easy 
sale   Think of three Presidential elections (though I am NOT ready to 
touch the Electoral College - that would need careful separate thought):
      2000 and 2004 - with main race in a near tie, interaction as to how 
Plurality handles third parties caused much pain.  NOTE that we are not 
against third parties; just against Plurality's handling.
      2008 - Hillary and Barack are in a desperate struggle grasping for 
the single slot the Democrat party can offer due to Plurality's weakness. 
  Letting both get to the general election and be handled reasonably would 
be better.

Note that eliminating Plurality makes for healthier elections and more 
power to third parties.  However, it does not prevent major parties from 
adapting and continuing - assuming they earn this.
...
-- 
  davek at clarityconnect.com    people.clarityconnect.com/webpages3/davek
  Dave Ketchum   108 Halstead Ave, Owego, NY  13827-1708   607-687-5026
            Do to no one what you would not want done to you.
                  If you want peace, work for justice.