tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post109726163376632118..comments2024-01-28T00:20:40.933-08:00Comments on Agoraphilia: Electoral TriageUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1097282648738139602004-10-08T17:44:00.000-07:002004-10-08T17:44:00.000-07:00Yes, a proportional allocation of electorates on a...Yes, a proportional allocation of electorates on a state by state basis would increase the number of states where the margin of error mattered. However, if we abandonded the presidential form of the executive branch and instead replaced it with a proportional representative form of government (such as is found in Germany with the chancellorship and in France as well) would be better because then instead of having 50 states to divide the populace, we might have 435 (the number of districts) instead. It seems to me that PR government would be much more representative as well as causing less chances for an electoral debacle like we saw in 2000.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1097278019351123012004-10-08T16:26:00.000-07:002004-10-08T16:26:00.000-07:00Its unclear whether there is a cost or a benefit. ...Its unclear whether there is a cost or a benefit. Insensitivity to error goes hand-in-hand with insensitivity to actual changes. Yeah, the fact that the system produces the same result if there is a 2% margin of error in California as if there is a 0% margin means that error doesn't cause a need for a recount. But it also means if there is an *actual* 2% shift in CA sentiment, it also has no effect on the election.<br /><br />It insulates the system against errors by making many people's votes irrelevant.<br /><br />-Patri FriedmanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com