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<div>From: simmonfo@up.edu<br>
<pre><tt>> Check this out:<br>
> <br>
> <a href="http://counterpunch.org/husseini10192006.html" target="_blank">http://counterpunch.org/husseini10192006.html</a><br>
> <br>
> Thanks,<br>
</tt></pre>
Is it even legal for 2 people to fill out 2 absent ballots together
? If so, then that seems to completely break the secret ballot
mechanism if it is easy to vote that way.<br>
<br>
However, I wonder how much trust would actually be needed. If the
middle candidate manages to get into 2nd place, then the trust
requirement disappears.<br>
<br>
Maybe another way would be if newspapers just asked 2 questions for polls.<br>
<br>
"Who do you prefer?"<br>
and<br>
"Who are you going to vote for?"<br>
<br>
If the results were:<br>
<br>
"Who do you prefer"<br>
D: 30<br>
R: 37<br>
T: 33<br>
<br>
"Who are you going to vote for?"<br>
D: 45<br>
R: 53<br>
T: 2<br>
<br>
Would that break the 2 party system ? Hopefully, on the next poll
there would be alot of people saying they will vote for the 3rd party
candidate. <br>
<br>
Having said that, there is a good arguement that you need to know not
only favorite but also 2nd favorite candidates. This would give a
3*3 grid ... which may be a little complex. Even if only
the top 2 choices are present, it would still probably be informative
enough.<br>
</div>
<div> <br>
However, maybe not. A candidate is most valuable (pork-wise), if
he is from whatever party wins the election. This could act
against the 3rd party candidate. There is also ofc the problem
that a centerist will tend to have a
disproportionately low number of top preferences, so the wouldn't get
the 33 in the example above. Maybe the endorsement could be "I
recommend you vote for T if he manages to get 1/3 in the polls"<br>
<br>
OTOH, if the 3rd party holds balance of power, they may be able to use
it to divert alot of pork to their districts. However, that is
all very negative and assumes that every member of each party will do
what they are told. Likely, the third party will be best able to
maintain discipline as their members will know that their power is
dependent on it. However, presumably the 2 main parties would be
able to convince members of the other main party to support a bill with
an arguement like "This bill is going to pass no matter what, but if
you support it, the "benefits" will be re-directed to your
district". Even appealing to their sense that pork should be
reduced may work.<br>
<br>
IMO, each representative/senator should have an equal share of the
budget. What should people who happen to be part of the main
party effectively get a larger share of the budget.<br>
<br>
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">Raphfrk<br>
--------------------<br>
Interesting site<br>
"what if anyone could modify the laws"<br>
<br>
www.wikocracy.com</div>
<br>
<br>
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