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<p>There is a very simple voting method that "voting systems"
experts commonly neglect, because it is not a "voting system" as
in Arrow's theorem, and neglecting this leads to no end of
paradoxes and unresolvable difficulties.</p>
<p>It is called majority rule, and the practical application is that
no decision is made democratically that has not been explicitly
supported by a majority of those voting (and then there are
various rules that deal with details.)</p>
<p>If one must determine a result from a single poll, a condition
rejected by Robert's Rules of Order unless absolutely necessary,
then score probably is best, but when we look at the real-world
situations where that requirement is established, the necessity is
only a matter of habit. Instead of submitting a complex question
multiple-choice question for direct vote, one could create an
Asset electoral college to make negotiation efficient by reducing
the discussion group size. And the Asset college could then use
ordinary deliberative process to review all possibities, and that
college could use polling methods to speed up the process,
requiring a majority vote to create a decision.</p>
<p>Decisions actually approved by only a plurality are not
democratic decisions, not under Robert's Rules. They even consider
a ballot with any mark on it as valid, even if the intent cannot
be deciphered. And if a majoritiy of ballots don't approve a
"winner," the election fails and the whole process must be
repeated. Not this "top two" bullshit.</p>
<p>Ultimately, the attempt to make "democracy" more efficient by
disregarding the requirement for a majority approval of a result
sets up a kind of fascism and has historically enabled serious,
deep, and highly destructive fascism. Yeah, but they made the
trains run on time.</p>
<p>Until the full impact of disregarding basic democracy was felt,
when almost the whole society was demolished.</p>
<p>I have used score to make personal decisions. Ask a series of
questions about options, weight the questions according to
importance, then sum the utilities.</p>
<p>And if I don't like the result, I throw it out and do what I
choose. We do best with Yes/No decisions, because we can assess
the relative merits by affinity and aversion. Score, a brilliant
polling method, can advise us, but we are foolish if we let it
deprive us of choice.</p>
<p>(I have seen approval used in an assembly with a very
controversial proposal to change what had been practice for
decades. The status quo probably had the firm support of
two-thirds of those present. But when the assembly saw that there
was another proposal with unanimous minus one support, only one
disapproval, then the motion was made to change to that. And it
was unanimously approved.</p>
<p>That is how real democracy works, in a functional organization.
There was only one actual vote, on a single proposal, by an
electorate informed though discussion and polling.</p>
<p>We are so accustomed to the nonsense that passes for democracy in
common public elections, that we don't realize what is possible.<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 4/12/2019 8:45 PM, Forest Simmons
wrote:<br>
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<div>This message is a further comment on Lomax' recent post.</div>
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<div>I agree that Asset voting is often the simplest entirely
adequate solution. But it depends on what kind of
alternatives are under consideration; are they sentient beings
or merely congress critters or inanimate objects, like
competing locations for company headquarters.</div>
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<div>Hence the need for other kinds of election methods that can
deal with alternatives that cannot consciously participate in
the deliberations of the voters.</div>
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<div>That's my best answer to Lomax. Thanks for the question!<br>
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