Comments on: Voting for cognitive dissonance

By: John

John — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 17:38:14 +0000

I see this in the software world all the time. Once people decide to use a certain software package or system, they will stick by it even when much cheaper and better alternatives are presented. “Why do you keep using windows, when Linux is free?” MSoffice vs OpenOffice etc..

By: Sandra Kallander

Sandra Kallander — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 14:30:28 +0000

If you didn’t have ballot access restrictions, you’d use something else for them to sign or do in any small way, such as promise to tell pollsters they want to see the candidate debate even if they don’t think they’ll vote for him.

I think this all relates to the story of, was it Benjamin Franklin?, who borrowed a book from an opponent. The opponent then voted to support him, having already loaned him a book. We, too, can get human nature to work for us.

By: Stephen Gordon

Stephen Gordon — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 15:08:22 +0000

Sandra — that actually sort of relates to something I said in a speech last weekend. One advantage of ballot access restrictions is that people who have signed a petition are already somewhat invested in a campaign.

By: Sandra Kallander

Sandra Kallander — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 14:56:48 +0000

This same mechanism can be used to our advantage. By asking for a favor that’s easy to grant in support of the LP, you set the stage for an actual vote or votes subsequently.

Example: if polling numbers are required in order to qualify to get into a debate, you ask people to tell pollsters that they want the Libertarian candidate in the debate, even if they don’t plan to vote for them. Once they’ve supported an LP candidate this much, they are more likely to actually “waste” their votes on L candidates in races they don’t care about (why not?), and eventually to affirmatively vote for them.

When the tide turns, it will turn relatively quickly.

By: Stephen Gordon

Stephen Gordon — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 14:34:27 +0000

Hmmm — this might make for a persuasive argument to get rid of primary elections or for third parties to be included in them.

By: Nigel Watt

Nigel Watt — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 01:49:37 +0000

The cool thing is, I imagine that most people, if informed of this, would try to fight against it – very good news for us.

By: error

error — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:23:57 +0000

I certainly didn’t plan it that way. I’ve had the story since yesterday, and just got around to posting it.

By: Stephen Gordon

Stephen Gordon — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:11:32 +0000

Dude — we got two Brian Doherty links in a row. That was certainly unplanned on my part.