Jeffrey Selinger, a Professor of Government in Maine, has this column in the Bangor Daily News, describing the dynamic of how voters decide whom to vote for in three-candidate races. The column does not mention the obvious solution, ranked-choice voting or approval voting.
To: APS NEWSWIRE
From: Secretary James Ogle [Free Parliamentary]
Subject: SPECIAL BULLETIN 8/15/2014: California Mock Unity Coalition
http://www.allpartysystem.com/day-to-day/
* * *
NOTE: If you would like to be removed (or added)
to this email communication link, please email the
message “unsubscribe” (or subscribe) to
secretary@allpartysystem.org.
OK to “reply all”
–James
(831) 383-1409
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1. Sign Up Now for California State Mock Unity Coalition
2. USA Parliament Cabinet
3. Super-state Parliament Vote Counts
4. Californian “Mock Unity Coalition” and Platform
5. California Members of Parliament (MSPs) Please Vote Now
6. International Parliament
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1. Sign Up Now for California State Mock Unity Coalition
MONTEREY CALIFORNIA USA
All world, please sign up now to support the Mock Unity Coalition;
#1 Greg Conlon [Republican] for State Treasurer of California
#2 Ron Gold [Republican] for Attorney General of California
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To help raise money for the effort please sign up as a Donor:
http://www.usparliament.org/dues.php
Donors will be privately invited to vote on the executives
and rules via their preferred communication method which is
customized to each Donor to help the unity campaign.
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2. USA Parliament Cabinet
http://usparliament.org/cab-1.php
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Minister
Nikhil Chakma [Jumma indigenous people, Chittagong Hill Tracts]
elected on 8/4/2014
Deputy Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Minister
Sevenlayercake [Roseannearchist]
elected on 8/4/2014
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3. Super-state Parliament Vote Counts
7th California Super-state Parliament
http://www.usparliament.org/ss11.php
President James Ogle [Free Parliamentary]
Vice President Ron Gold [Republican]
First PacifNW Super-state Parliament
http://www.usparliament.org/ss12.php
President Kristy Knight [Respublica of Earth]
Vice President Heli Tattari [Respublica of Earth]
First Texas Super-state Parliament
http://www.usparliament.org/ss9.php
President Ben Saenz [Indigenous People]
Vice President Epifanio Hernandez [Indigenous People]
First Mid-West Super-state Parliament
http://www.usparliament.org/ss8.php
President Barbara Schroeppel [Respublica of Earth]
Vice President Roneen Henn [Democratic]
First Mid-Atlantic Super-state Parliament
http://www.usparliament.org/ss4.php
President Ryan Doody [Land and Freedom]
Vice President Rebecca Belding [Mtualism and Cooperation]
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4. Californian “Mock Unity Coalition” and Platform
http://www.usparliament.org/ca-2014b-1a.php
#1 Unity Candidate MSP Greg Conlon [Republican]
Candidate for California State Treasurer in 2014
Voted for Unity Platform on 8/9/2014 as follows:
#1 Advocate for legislation that will improve tax revenue by
decreasing both individual and corporate tax rates.
MSP=member of super-state parliament
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#2 Unity Candidate MSP Ron Gold [Republican]
Candidate for California State Attorney General in 2014
Voted for Unity Platform on 8/13/2014 as follows:
#1 End all corruption in the State of California.
#2 Advocate for legislation that will improve tax revenue by
decreasing both individual and corporate tax rates.
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Totals for Unity Platform:
http://www.usparliament.org/ca-2014d-1.php
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California Whig Party Chair MSP Alan Reynolds [Whig]
Former Candidate for California State Lt. Governor in 2014
Voted for Unity Platform on 8/13/2014 as follows:
#1 End all corruption in the State of California.
#2 Added specific ending of corrupting influence of money in politics, including but not limited to repealing Citizens United, lower campaign donation limits, clean money disclosures and up to some form of publicly funded campaigns (if deemed necessary)
#3 Improved utilization of internet and technology for interactive citizen-government relationship at all levels of government and community
#4 Comprehensive tax reform upon further analysis with the goal of lessening the tax burden on middle and lower earners, removing loopholes for corporations in order to spread the tax burden, and potentially lessen the overall taxes on both corporations and individuals.
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PhD, MSP Jeffery Drobman [Democratic], former candidate for
Secretary of State of California, voted one write-in plank
as follows:
#1 Online Voting via any Internet device — to increase voter participation.
See the totals and his eballot here:
http://www.usparliament.org/ca-2014d-1.php
Rules vote totals:
http://www.usparliament.org/ss11-rules2.php
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5. California Members of Parliament (MSPs) Please Vote Now
California Super-state Parliament (ss11) Three “Eballots”
For members of California super-state (MSPs)
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Eballots #1, 2 & 3
Eballot #1:
Platform Eballot for “Mock Unity Coalition” Phase Two
Simultaneously Elects “Unity Platform”, All Items Receiving Votes from
Simple Majority of Elected Members in “Coalition of Seven”
Voting Schedule is August 10th to November 3rd, 2014
Please copy the eballot below, paste the eballot on an email message addressed
to vvc at allpartysystem dot org, mark your choices in blank “___” space,
and reply to vvc at allpartysystem dot org.
Do not use X marks. Mark your choice(s) with numbers only.
Put the figure 1 beside your first choice, the figure 2
beside your second choice, the figure 3 beside your third choice,
and so on. Consecutive numbers beginning with the #1 only.
You may rank as many choices as you please.
Do not put the same figure beside more than one choice/name.
___ _____________________________________________ (write in new item)
___ _____________________________________________ (write in new item)
___ _____________________________________________ (write in new item)
___ Advocate for legislation that will improve tax revenue by decreasing both individual and corporate tax rates.
___ End all corruption in the State of California.
___ Added specific ending of corrupting influence of money in politics,
including but not limited to repealing Citizens United, lower campaign
donation limits, clean money disclosures and up to some form of
publicly funded campaigns (if deemed necessary)
___ Improved utilization of internet and technology for interactive
citizen-government relationship at all levels of government and
community
___ Comprehensive tax reform upon further analysis with the goal of
lessening the tax burden on middle and lower earners, removing
loopholes for corporations in order to spread the tax burden, and
potentially lessen the overall taxes on both corporations and
individuals.
* * *
Eballot #2:
Rules Eballot for California Super-state Parliament (ss11)
___ _____________________________________________ (write in new item)
___ _____________________________________________ (write in new item)
___ _____________________________________________ (write in new item)
___ Only candidates for the seven state-wide offices; Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, Controller and Attorney General who accept the nomination of their name will be added to the ballot, and/or elected, for the “Mock Unity Coalition” election.
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___ The names on the ballots for the Mock Unity Coalition will be published based on the most recent ranking totals. The rankings set by the totals of votes cast based on eballots cast by the candidates themselves for both the names and the decisions will determine the order of the names and decisions on the ballots.
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___ The California Parliament’s “Mock Unity Coalition” of California State recognized ballot qualified and write-in candidates for the seven state public offices up for election shall be in two phases; one before the California state primary and one after.
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___ The effective date of phase one of the election of the Mock Unity Coalition shall be from the date of ballot release for the CA State Elections which is to be from approximately March 28th (or when the names are known) and will end on May 7th, 2014.
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___ The effective date of “Phase Two” shall be from August 10, 2014, through September 10th, 2014.
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___ If a write-in name does appear in the results, we can always contact them to see what we might want to adjust at that time.
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___ Phase Two will elect a “Mock Unity Coalition” and the election guidelines are:
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___ The top ranked names elected to the 7th California Super-state Parliament on August 6th, 2014, may pick which of the which open seats on the Unity Coalition if they’d like their name elected (i.e. they may pick Governor, Lt. Governor Attorney General, Secretary of State, Controller, Insurance Commissioner or Treasurer), all seven top-ranked names pick until the seven seats are filled. Theose “picking” may also pick another name to represent them, but only one for each of the seven state-wide seats may be picked.
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___ If any of the seven CA State at-large election seats on the Mock Unity Coalition remain open, then the eighth ranked name may pick, and each consecutively ranked elected name from the 7th California Parliament may pick seats in consecutive order for the “Mock Unity Coalition” until all seven seats are filled by at least one name. More than one name may be not picked for each open office (Governor, Lt. Gov., etc.) and each elected member of the CA Super-state Parliament (MSP) may pick only one name.
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___ For the next four years of the 7th California Parliament, this system will remain in effect if/when there are any deaths, resignations or those who stand down, then the next highest ranked name will always be the first to pick any open seat(s).
* * *
___ The elections of the 7th California Super-state Parliament’s executives (three prime ministers & two secretaries), rules and Unity Coalition voting continues as new votes for names, rules and other voting activities through 2018.
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___ Only the elected three Prime Ministers and two Secretaries are permitted to vote on the sixty full Cabinet Ministers under the “parliamentary go-ahead” for the four years of the 7th California Parliament; August 6th 2014 through August 5th, 2018.
* * *
___ The Mock Unity Coalition may make their own decisions as individuals regarding initiatives and propositions on ballots in state elections.
* * *
___ Decisions should be made by a simple majority of the seven members of the “Mock Unity Coalition” who vote on an eballot or a paper ballot, to be known as the “majority coalition method”. In this method, one or more of the seven may approve decisions and 50% plus one of the voting members is considered a majority.
* * *
___ Once the rules for the election of the “Mock Unity Coalition” have been approved by one or more California MSPs (MSPs=members of Super-state Parliament), the rules shall be posted in the US Parliament’s California Super-state Parliament, via a link to the rules at: http://usparliament.org/ss11-rules.php
* * *
___ When ever any doubts occur as to what the precedent shall be, for decisions which are not covered by the set of rules for California Super-state (ss11), then the set of rules approved by the USA Parliament shall be used to set precedents; http://www.usparliament.org/rules.php
* * *
___ The Mock Unity Coalition should be known only as the “Mock Unity Coalition”.
* * *
Eballot #3:
Eballot for “Mock Unity Coalition” Phase Two
Voting Schedule is August 10th to November 4th 2014
Simultaneously Elects Mock Unity Coalition
Please copy the eballot below, paste the eballot on an email message addressed
to vvc at allpartysystem dot org, mark your choices in blank “___” space,
and reply to vvc at allpartysystem dot org.
Do not use X marks. Mark your choice(s) with numbers only.
Put the figure 1 beside your first choice, the figure 2
beside your second choice, the figure 3 beside your third choice,
and so on. Consecutive numbers beginning with the #1 only.
You may rank as many choices as you please.
Do not put the same figure beside more than one choice/name.
___ _____________________________________________ (write in new item)
___ _____________________________________________ (write in new item)
___ _____________________________________________ (write in new item)
___ Greg Conlon [Republican] for State Treasurer
___ Ronald Gold [Republican] for State Attorney General
* * *
6. International Parliament
http://www.international-parliament.org/
Announcing the results of the “First International Parliament Vote of Confidence Election”!
Equality Chair Cathy Bilsky [Ubuntu] USA (10/2/2013)
Ombudsman Kristy Knight [Consciousness] USA (7/14/2014)
Ombudsman Heli Tattari [Respublica of Earth] Earth (7/1/2014)
President Haji Ajmal Shamali [Independent] Afghanistan (9/18/2013)
[Seat Title] Nikhil Chakma [Jumma indigenous people, Chittagong Hill Tracts] Bangladesh 8/10/2014
Ombudsman Ian Luckett [Respublica of Earth] UK (7/2/2014)
Intelligence Director Ernest Wells [Communist] USA (5/2/2013)
Vice President James Ogle [Free Parliamentary] USA (9/18/2013)
Ombudsman Gary Jordon [Respublica of Earth] Earth
General Secretary Renil Chakma [Social Worker] Bangledesh (8/10/2014)
MIP Horacio Daniel Fernandez [Info. Not Avail.] self elected on 8/12/2014
MIP Liz Haemmel [Peace & Freedom] USA self elected on 8/12/2014
All world may now vote for the Members of International Parliament (MIPs) here:
http://www.usparliament.org/ip11.php
* * *
end
I mentioned exactly that in this interview on Wis. public radio yesterday, towards the end in response to a caller raising the “wasted vote” argument.
http://www.wpr.org/should-libertarians-be-included-wisconsins-gubernatorial-debates
The current RCV is F-A-T-A-L.
34 LMR
33 RML
16 MLR
16 MRL
99
With RCV, M loses.
50 L beats R 49
Head to Head —
65 M beats 34 L
66 M beats 33 R
i.e. M has a mere 99 of 99 votes in 1st and 2nd places
— means Nothing to the RCV FANATIC LUNATICS.
Instant Runoff Voting would help a lot, but it’s certainly not a complete “solution”, the way Approval Voting is. E.g. say you have:
35% Left > Center > Right
33% Right > Center > Left
32% Center > others
IRV would eliminate Center, and then either Left or Right would win. But Center is preferred to Right by a huge 65% majority of the voters. And Center is preferred to Left by a huger 67% majority.
If Center voters don’t think Center is likely to win, they’ll be strategically motivated to insincerely rank their second favorite candidate in first place.
Whereas Approval Voting makes it 100% safe to support your favorite candidate, regardless of any concerns about electability.
Again, either system would be an improvement over what they have now.
There is another possible solution, and it is used around the country and around the world. There’s a 50% plus 1 requirement for executive races and the top two vote-getters in the general election go to a runoff election 2, 3, or 4 weeks later. I’m not a fan of the ‘instant runoff’ or ranked choice voting, and it’s because I like the idea of having time elapse between the general election and the runoff. That time allows for more ‘politics’ to happen and it’s more fun that way.
The U.S. has so many citizens who are overseas most or all of the time, having two elections any closer than six weeks is no longer considered feasible.
L = Stalin clone
R = Hitler clone
M = George Washington
50 Stalin beats 49 Hitler — let Civil WAR II start ??? Duh.
See the Iraq chaos since 2003.
Louisiana held its open primary on November 6, 2012; and a runoff on December 8, 2012, 32 days later.
The short turn around of course was facilitated by the fact that the electorate was the same for the two elections.
Louisiana can vote on this timetable because overseas voters use a ranked choice ballot. This was done in congressional primary runoffs in four other states this year, allowing a shorter runoff time period and almost certainly higher turnout because of greater ability to sustain interest. See
http://www.fairvote.org/research-and-analysis/blog/proven-innovations-to-uphold-voting-rights-for-overseas-voters/
As long as you’re using plurality voting, runoffs aren’t going to save the day. If there are multiple candidates in a plurality election with a runoff, let’s hope you don’t like moderates. Plurality sure doesn’t, and neither does plurality with a runoff. http://www.electology.org/runoffs