[EM] The meaning of a vote (or lack thereof)

[Fred Gohlke]

Good Morning, JQ

re: "... I do not think that you can ... conclude that any method
      which does not reach all those goals (i.e., all voters being
      able to participate in  meaningful fashion) is thereby
      useless.  In fact, I think that such imperfect methods are
      necessary stepping stones to your vision.)

I agree.  At the same time, it's important to keep the goal in sight. 
It's too easy to fall into the trap of becoming so absorbed with the 
minutiae of methods that the purpose of the process is obscured.

One guard against this eventuality is to include in Fobes 'Declaration' 
the principle that electoral methods are designed to afford the 
electorate meaningful participation in the electoral process.  Last week 
I suggested identification of principles as a prelude to creating the 
declaration, in the hope the members would include such a principle.

Do you think it worth considering that there are attempts to establish 
democratic regimes going on at several places in the world?  Would it 
not be proper to discuss the flaws we've experienced in the party-based 
model openly and in considerable depth so those struggling with 
embryonic systems can avoid them?

Fred Gohlke