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Re: [atlarge-discuss] The Rights and Responsibilities of Voting...
Good morning, Walter:
I am sorry that you feel my unwillingness to treat this election as a game
of roulette is "shameful". I do not feel ashamed.
I am concerned that as of election day, only 7 candidates had posted to this
list (other than a nomination acceptance) and that sixteen of the candidates
have never posted at all.
How can I, or anyone else, know how those candidates feel about the issues
that we are to address? Why should I throw my vote onto the table and let
it fall where it may? That would not only be grossly irresponsible, but it
would counter any effort that you, or others, may make to visit with, or
research, or get to know any of the potentially good people who have, for
whatever reason, failed to post their platform to the discuss list.
Voting does have its responsibilities, and one of them is to vote one's
conscience. My conscience tells me that it is not a good thing to damage
your valuable research by gambling with 11 votes, just because I can.
If I read your message correctly, it is one's responsibility to diligently
research everything about every candidate in order to know which 11 to
choose. And then, whether you think the candidates suitable or not, to
choose 11 anyway. Failing that one should not vote at all. (Your words).
Well, Walter, I am sure you have done all of the above, but it may well be
that you are the only one of our 1000 members who has done that. Does that
mean that the rest of us should not vote? How sad if the other 999 (or any
small number of them) were to play roulette with their votes, as you
suggest, and render worthless all of your hard work. I choose not to do that
to you.
Ron
----- Original Message -----
From: "Walter Schmidt" <walts@dorsai.org>
To: "Atlarge Discuss List" <atlarge-discuss@lists.fitug.de>
Cc: "Walter Schmidt" <walts@dorsai.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2003 7:56 AM
Subject: [atlarge-discuss] The Rights and Responsibilities of Voting...
>
> On Mon, 26 May 2003, Ron Sherwood wrote:
>
> > Walter Schmidt wrote:
> >
> > > From my point of view, if you do not vote for 11, and vote (say) for
> > > only four, all you are doing is letting someone else determine who are
> > > the "other 7"
> > >
> > > The concept of a "bullet vote" sounds like a concept one might foist
> > > on a group in an attempt to "steal the majority" of seats.
> >
> > Exactly, Walter:
> >
> > If there are 100 candidates, 90 of whom I do not know enough about to
> > want them to represent me on our Panel, why would you want me to damage
> > your chance if electing a candidate that YOU want to be on the Panel,
> > simply because I am expected to vote for 11 people?
>
> ...Again, I am not a statistician...
>
> You have 11 votes - if you use only 4 (keeping with my original example),
> you allow others to have a "louder" voice which could result in 4 people
> getting 150 votes and 7 getting 2 - all elected.
>
> I believe we also differ on the responsibilities that go along with the
> right to vote - read on...
>
> > You may really want # 99 but I, and possibly a few others, may vote for
> > #98, not because we think she is the right person but because you feel
> > that we have to vote for 11 candidates.
>
> ...not what I am suggesting, and not something I would ever recommend
>
> > That my friend is democracy.
>
> ...no it's not - it's the lazy persons way around doing what is
> "required" - exercising not just the right, but also the responsibilities
> of voting - again read on
>
> > Please explain to me how this could possibly amount to "stealing the
> > majority of seats".
>
> ...first let's talk about the responsibilities associated with the
> right to vote.
>
> The "right to vote" is not just the voting, but includes the whole
> process. We decided to elect 11. We used a process that did not provide
> most of us with 11 "known-or-recommended names" - shame on us.
>
> I, as a voter with 11 votes and as part of the organization which has
> allowed itself to be in this situation, now have the responsibility to do
> what I must to "know" enough about 11 candidates to vote for them. Yes,
> that means work on my part - searches, reading, etc. Do I want to do this,
> no. But, my right to vote includes certain responsibilities - if I do no
> care to vote responsibly, I should not vote at all.
>
> One of these responsibilities, in our organization as we have defined the
> process, is to knowingly vote for 11 candidates - to do less, by one's
> actions or lack of action, is to fail in one's
> right-to-vote-responsibilities, ...
>
> ...and shame on you!
>
> --
>
> --- REgards, walts@dorsai.org Walter C. Schmidt, IT CPA Blue(^) ---
> - - Microsoft MVP - Windows XP Media Center Edition - HPMC 873n ---
> - - Associate Expert - Expert Zone - -
> --- http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/ ---
> - - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/schmidt/ ---
> - - 52 Ken http://www.dorsai.org/~walts/ Sun 57 - -
>
>
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