Author: Robert Hyatt
Date: 08:11:16 12/03/00
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On December 03, 2000 at 06:52:42, David Rasmussen wrote: >On December 02, 2000 at 23:01:28, Robert Hyatt wrote: > >> >>Just so you know, _all_ of the following are true: >> >>1. there is _no_ perfect voting methodology. Some are more error-prone >>than others (punched cards comes to mind) but _all_ have an error rate that >>is larger than the margin in the Florida election. >> > >That might be true, but it might also be false. That's just an opinion, that >maybe statistically supported. > >>2. there is _no_ way to prevent corruption. There are ways to attempt to >>control it. But it is _impossible_ to eliminate, when you have 100 million >>potential votes to deal with. >> > >Agreed. Although not all countries have corruption. > >>3. recounting 6 million of anything, since the error rate can not be zero, >>is going to produce a different answer the second time. And the third time. >>All within the standard error for the process, generally, but errors still. >> > >Well, in Denmark we have about 4 million votes, and a hand count is ALWAYS done >after the initial machinecounting, and the handcounting is always done until it >shows exactly the same result twice in a row. So it's not impossible. Nor would >it be impossible to do it in the entire US, as there are more people >proportionally. > I can also flip a coin 10 times... and then continue to flip until I get another 10 flip set that matches exactly. optical scanners make errors. Levers have mechanical problems. "hole" counters (punched cards) misread. I don't know of any technology I would be willing to certify as 100% reliable. >>4. 99% of the time, the election isn't close enough to make the error rate >>significant. This is an exception. >> > >True. > >>5. The US will have a new president soon, and things will be back to normal >>quickly, and things will run smoothly for the next 4 years, until the next >>election. > >As smoothly as it ever runs ;)
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