[EM] (1) The fact of an objectively meaningless vote

[Fred Gohlke]

Good Morning, Michael

I've pondered your assertion that "the effect of an individual vote is 
exactly zero" for a considerable time and do not believe it is sound. 
Your 5 points assume that elections are static events.  They're not.

 > 1. Take the last election in which you voted, and look at
 >    its political outcome (P).  Who got into office?
 > 2. Subtract your vote from that election.
 > 3. Recalculate the outcome without your vote (Q).
 > 4. Look at the difference between P and Q.
 > 5. Repeat for all the elections you ever participated in.

Elections do not take place in a vacuum.  Individuals are inspired to 
vote (or not vote) by the circumstances extant at the time of polling. 
You cannot subtract a vote from an election without considering the 
change in circumstances that caused the individual to not vote and 
accounting for the effect of the changed circumstances on the 
electorate.  If the new circumstances caused an entire bloc of 
like-minded individuals to not vote, it would alter the election result. 
  The only question is the extent of the alteration.  It may, or may 
not, change the result.

I do not question the fact that the effect of a single vote is 
infinitesimal, but it is not zero.  A single vote affects an election in 
the same way a single drop of sea-water affects the tides.

I'm unclear about why you think the difference between infinitesimal and 
zero is significant.  Perhaps your response to the "questions about 
other sections" will clarify the matter.

Fred Gohlke