Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin

Psephology and the science of voting

13 snips
Feb 13, 2019
Uncover the fascinating science behind voting! Delve into the historical evolution of voting systems and how polling shapes elections today. Explore the role of secret ballots and the possibility of trading votes across states. Discover innovative alternatives like Likert-style approval voting and how our preferences impact political stability. Reflect on the internet's function as a massive voting machine and its influence on our priorities. This thought-provoking discussion challenges conventional notions of representation and voting efficiency.
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ANECDOTE

Lost Safety Patrol Election

  • Seth Godin lost his first election for Safety Patrol captain in fifth grade using a head-down, hand-raise voting method.
  • He uses this memory to show how typical one-person-one-vote, geography-based elections feel and function.
INSIGHT

One-Person-One-Vote Is Historical

  • One-person-one-vote geography-based systems arise from historical technological limits, not necessity.
  • New technology removes those limits and opens alternative voting models.
INSIGHT

Majority Rule Needs Safeguards

  • Majority rule can harm minorities and requires institutions that protect them for long-term stability.
  • Republic elements like boundaries and representation exist to prevent majority abuse.
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