Comments on: Voters ARE Stupid… Even When They Agree With Me http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2003/10/10/voters-are-stupid-even-when-they-agree-with-me/ The Sweet Release of Reason Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:37:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: nobody.really http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2003/10/10/voters-are-stupid-even-when-they-agree-with-me/#comment-582447 nobody.really Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:29:54 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=248#comment-582447 How does it happen that people comment on a 5-yr-old post?<br><br>And a cute post at that. At the risk (certainty?) of being a killjoy, I’d expect smart voters to make the right decision (however defined) and stupid voters to make a random decision. I’m not aware of any reason to believe that all those techniques for swaying voters that do not positively correlate with merit must therefore negatively correlate with merit. <br><br>Thus the fact that the public supports any proposition is, at worst, meaningless. How does it happen that people comment on a 5-yr-old post?

And a cute post at that. At the risk (certainty?) of being a killjoy, I’d expect smart voters to make the right decision (however defined) and stupid voters to make a random decision. I’m not aware of any reason to believe that all those techniques for swaying voters that do not positively correlate with merit must therefore negatively correlate with merit.

Thus the fact that the public supports any proposition is, at worst, meaningless.

]]> By: Travis http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2003/10/10/voters-are-stupid-even-when-they-agree-with-me/#comment-582446 Travis Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:30:10 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=248#comment-582446 While I don't dispute the math you use to arrive at the conclusion that a large electorate will probably yield a 'wrong' candidate, I do ask the question of what constitutes 'right' and 'wrong'.<br><br>Inherent in a belief in democracy is the notion that the majority of the people of a nation are the best to decide what's 'right' and 'wrong'. If this were not so, we would believe in oligarchy or plutocracy, as those systems more closely follow a 'the best lead the rest' paradigm.<br><br>Please remember mathematical formulae produce results only as good as the values put into the equation. With no solid universal criteria to rate 'right' and 'wrong' the math about the electorate choosing 'right' or 'wrong' leaders becomes just an interesting mental exercise of little practical value.<br><br>Thanks,<br>-Travis While I don't dispute the math you use to arrive at the conclusion that a large electorate will probably yield a 'wrong' candidate, I do ask the question of what constitutes 'right' and 'wrong'.

Inherent in a belief in democracy is the notion that the majority of the people of a nation are the best to decide what's 'right' and 'wrong'. If this were not so, we would believe in oligarchy or plutocracy, as those systems more closely follow a 'the best lead the rest' paradigm.

Please remember mathematical formulae produce results only as good as the values put into the equation. With no solid universal criteria to rate 'right' and 'wrong' the math about the electorate choosing 'right' or 'wrong' leaders becomes just an interesting mental exercise of little practical value.

Thanks,
-Travis

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