On Nov 24, Branden Robinson wrote: > How do we know this would happen at all, let alone "ad nauseum"? I can't prove that it *would* happen, but it's a definite possibility. A scenario: Assume controversial subject X arises and the developer community is evenly split, pro/con. Vote #1 occurs. 6 more pros turn out than cons. Losers decide to get that vote overturned; since they're ticked off, they turn out more in Vote #2, where the repeal wins by (say) 7. Now the pros are pissed, demand another vote, and it is reinstated by 4 votes. Now, assume a 2:1 supermajority requirement. Assume even the developer community is split 2:1 for. If Vote #1 wins, repeal is extremely unlikely, as it would require a 2:1 margin to repeal; this is robust to a large degree even in the face of differential turnout, where the simple majority requirement isn't. If Vote #1 loses, the game might be repeated ad nauseum until it passes. But at least the risk of lurching back and forth is reduced substantially, and this requires proponents to maintain a long-term interest in passage. It also encourages proponents to compromise with opponents (thus encouraging consensus), as gathering a 2:1 margin is relatively hard. Chris -- Chris Lawrence <cnlawren@phy.olemiss.edu> - http://www.lordsutch.com/chris/ Computer Systems Manager, Physics and Astronomy, Univ. of Mississippi 125B Lewis Hall - 662-915-5765
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