[EM] Kristofer, regarding Proxy DD

[MIKE OSSIPOFF]

Kristofer:

MIKE OSSIPOFF wrote:

> If one is going to propose a method involving proxies, then Proxy DD is the biggest and most
> ambitious improvment. I described it in a posting when you asked about it. 
> 
> Though it's a much more ambitious thing to ask for, maybe people _would_ want a
> good proxy system such as Proxy DD.  A good single-winner method should be used with it.

Excuse me for hijacking the thread, but I haven't been following up on 
the development on proxy direct democracy. I assume this is the same 
thing as "liquid democracy", i.e. that you have a direct democracy where 
the voters can subscribe or give their voting power to proxies.

[endquote]

I haven't read those proposals, so I can't say if Proxy DD is the same.
Maybe. I haven't claimed to be the first to propose such a system. It would
be surprising if no one else had. I haven't plagiarized anyone. I've discussed
a form of DD. Such methods have been re-invented many times, over a long
period of time.

You continued:

What's the answer to the vote-buying objection to proxy democracy? This 
goes something like: "we can easily offer some proxy money to vote for 
X, because we'll simply subscribe to this proxy and see if he tells his 
constituents to vote for X, and not give him any money if he doesn't". 
That, if unaddressed, would weaken proxy democracy's counterbalance to 
the power of money.

[endquote]

Of course. Any representative, proxy or delegate could (if crooked) be bought.

That's an inevitable consequence of representation.

It happens all the time here now. It's said that we have the best government
that money can buy.

The solution: Choose someone honest, as your proxy. That's a big difference from
ordinary representation. You, and you only, choose your proxy.

If you don't think anyone is honest, then don't use a proxy.

Mike Ossipoff


 		 	   		  
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