Comments on: The End Of “One Person – One Vote” http://www.minthegap.com/2009/10/28/the-end-of-one-person-one-vote/ Standing in the Gap in a Society that's Warring with God. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:17:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: MInTheGap http://www.minthegap.com/2009/10/28/the-end-of-one-person-one-vote/comment-page-1/#comment-85652 MInTheGap Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:19:46 +0000 http://www.minthegap.com/2009/10/28/the-end-of-one-person-one-vote/#comment-85652 The then Instant Runoff is close to what I was proposing, and wholeheartedly agree with it-- anything to get a better vote there. As far as NY-23, Newt Gingrich and the RNC supported her. Her stated reasons for getting out were that she was losing and was not able to raise funds to confront how her opponents have defined her. The problem for her is that her record sunk her with Republicans-- she was backed by Daily Kos, NARAL, etc. She considered running as a Democrat. If you check her against the biggest Republican issues, I'm not sure that she qualifies even as inlcuded in the "big tent". She was running as a Republican on "she won't vote for Pelosi to be speaker" and "she won't support the current health care bill-- public option." That puts her left of most Republicans when you factor in pro-abortion, pro-same sex marriage, and pro-stimulus. It's convenient for those that agree with Democrat principles to say that it's somehow a commentary on Republicanism in 2009-- and I would agree that it's in the midst of a party that doesn't know whether to look more like a Democrat or more like a Conservative-- but this race, run in a Republican district, Hoffman was the real choice against a Democratic agenda. The then Instant Runoff is close to what I was proposing, and wholeheartedly agree with it– anything to get a better vote there.

As far as NY-23, Newt Gingrich and the RNC supported her. Her stated reasons for getting out were that she was losing and was not able to raise funds to confront how her opponents have defined her. The problem for her is that her record sunk her with Republicans– she was backed by Daily Kos, NARAL, etc. She considered running as a Democrat. If you check her against the biggest Republican issues, I’m not sure that she qualifies even as inlcuded in the “big tent”.

She was running as a Republican on “she won’t vote for Pelosi to be speaker” and “she won’t support the current health care bill– public option.” That puts her left of most Republicans when you factor in pro-abortion, pro-same sex marriage, and pro-stimulus.

It’s convenient for those that agree with Democrat principles to say that it’s somehow a commentary on Republicanism in 2009– and I would agree that it’s in the midst of a party that doesn’t know whether to look more like a Democrat or more like a Conservative– but this race, run in a Republican district, Hoffman was the real choice against a Democratic agenda.

]]> By: Charles http://www.minthegap.com/2009/10/28/the-end-of-one-person-one-vote/comment-page-1/#comment-85647 Charles Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:36:32 +0000 http://www.minthegap.com/2009/10/28/the-end-of-one-person-one-vote/#comment-85647 Since the Republican Party "leadership" disowned her and supported her opponent, she got out of the race. Apparently the Republicans have a very tiny tent and she didn't fit in it. Instant Runoff Voting goes more or less like this (there are web sites for this of course): Instead of voting for one candidate, you rank order the candidates indicating your first, second and third choices for the race. The first tally looks at the number of people who voted for each candidate as their first choice and the 3rd place person is eliminated. Then they take the second place votes of that person and add them to the totals for the other two and see which one wins. It can work with more than 3 candidates but you get the idea I hope. The system is used in a number of countries and some states and is just as easy and cost-effective as our current system. Since the Republican Party “leadership” disowned her and supported her opponent, she got out of the race. Apparently the Republicans have a very tiny tent and she didn’t fit in it.

Instant Runoff Voting goes more or less like this (there are web sites for this of course): Instead of voting for one candidate, you rank order the candidates indicating your first, second and third choices for the race. The first tally looks at the number of people who voted for each candidate as their first choice and the 3rd place person is eliminated. Then they take the second place votes of that person and add them to the totals for the other two and see which one wins. It can work with more than 3 candidates but you get the idea I hope.

The system is used in a number of countries and some states and is just as easy and cost-effective as our current system.

]]> By: MInTheGap http://www.minthegap.com/2009/10/28/the-end-of-one-person-one-vote/comment-page-1/#comment-85643 MInTheGap Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:01:47 +0000 http://www.minthegap.com/2009/10/28/the-end-of-one-person-one-vote/#comment-85643 What do you mean by "Instant Runoff"? How fast is instant? My only problem with runoffs is that it messes with the dynamics of the votes and it costs more, but that would be much better than what we have now. What do you mean by “Instant Runoff”? How fast is instant? My only problem with runoffs is that it messes with the dynamics of the votes and it costs more, but that would be much better than what we have now.

]]> By: MInTheGap http://www.minthegap.com/2009/10/28/the-end-of-one-person-one-vote/comment-page-1/#comment-85642 MInTheGap Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:29:18 +0000 http://www.minthegap.com/2009/10/28/the-end-of-one-person-one-vote/#comment-85642 How would instant runoff voting work? Is that different than what David was talking about? I agree that the major parties would rather find any excuse-- cost or whatever-- to prevent a viable third party. However, I have heard that <a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/1009/BREAKING_Scozzafava_drops_out_of_NY_23.html">the NY-23 race has changed with the Republican contender getting out.</a> She claims it's all about money, but that plea sounds like she's being a martyr while attacking her opponents. It could be a pretty slick tactic near the end. How would instant runoff voting work? Is that different than what David was talking about?

I agree that the major parties would rather find any excuse– cost or whatever– to prevent a viable third party.

However, I have heard that the NY-23 race has changed with the Republican contender getting out. She claims it’s all about money, but that plea sounds like she’s being a martyr while attacking her opponents. It could be a pretty slick tactic near the end.

]]> By: Charles http://www.minthegap.com/2009/10/28/the-end-of-one-person-one-vote/comment-page-1/#comment-85638 Charles Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:30:43 +0000 http://www.minthegap.com/2009/10/28/the-end-of-one-person-one-vote/#comment-85638 Instant runoff voting is a great idea and far superior to the first past the post method used in most American jurisdictions. It would really help independent and 3rd party candidates win elections, which is why we will never get it here. The entrenched system just won't do anything to help the competition. Instant runoff voting is a great idea and far superior to the first past the post method used in most American jurisdictions. It would really help independent and 3rd party candidates win elections, which is why we will never get it here. The entrenched system just won’t do anything to help the competition.

]]> By: MInTheGap http://www.minthegap.com/2009/10/28/the-end-of-one-person-one-vote/comment-page-1/#comment-85618 MInTheGap Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:20:06 +0000 http://www.minthegap.com/2009/10/28/the-end-of-one-person-one-vote/#comment-85618 The only thing I could say to that is cost. Whereas my solution only has one balloting time, having a runoff means organizing another vote, plus all that goes along with changing campaign slogans based on exit data, etc. If this is supposed to be a "poll" of the people on the given date, having another one can have a weird effect on the outcome. Though I think it's not a bad solution at that. It would certainly be better than the current, in my opinion. The only thing I could say to that is cost. Whereas my solution only has one balloting time, having a runoff means organizing another vote, plus all that goes along with changing campaign slogans based on exit data, etc. If this is supposed to be a “poll” of the people on the given date, having another one can have a weird effect on the outcome.

Though I think it’s not a bad solution at that. It would certainly be better than the current, in my opinion.

]]> By: David http://www.minthegap.com/2009/10/28/the-end-of-one-person-one-vote/comment-page-1/#comment-85617 David Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:00:56 +0000 http://www.minthegap.com/2009/10/28/the-end-of-one-person-one-vote/#comment-85617 Why not do runoff elections when say no candidate is able to secure more than say 40% of the vote? Why not do runoff elections when say no candidate is able to secure more than say 40% of the vote?

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