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Re: CHAT (POLITICS!!!): Putting the duh in Florida

From:Morgan Palaeo Associates <morganpalaeo@...>
Date:Sunday, December 3, 2000, 15:17
Nik Taylor wrote, quoting myself (Adrian Morgan):

> > This may sound a little harsh, but I find it unbelievable that a > > reasonably literate nation should still use a FPTP voting system (i.e. > > where everyone marks just one candidate). I think FPTP is suitable > > for developing nations with very low literacy, but I don't see why it's > > accepted elsewhere, because in the end it says nothing about which > > candidate really carries most favour with the community. I'd like to see > > Americans adopt a preferential voting system, or an equally
sophisticated
> > equivalent. > > I agree. Is the preferential system wherein a person can vote for one > or more candidates? I've heard that called Approval Voting. The best > system, IMO. It would certainly improve the chances of third parties, > since there'd be no risk of "wasting your vote".
As I've described in the reply I've just posted to Yoon, it's a tad more complicated than that. I realise that the preferential system would be daunting in a country with as large a population as America (although modern communication methods between vote counters would help), which is precisely why I added "or an equally sophisticated equivalent". As for approval voting, I'd want to be able to give candidates one point, zero points or minus one points.
> > Of course, I'm an Australian who voted 'no' at the referendum :-) > > Which referendum is that?
The one where we decided that we don't want to become a republic or have a president (at least, not until we get a better offer). If you're really curious, I can provide some information. Adrian.