Same as before

Posted Oct 29, 2025 12:18 UTC (Wed) by paulj (subscriber, #341)
In reply to: Same as before by brunowolff
Parent article: Python Software Foundation withdraws security-related grant proposal

> But I think you also want local representation as well as party representation, so it's going to be messy.

In the likes of the Scottish Parliament elections, you have 2 ballots. One where you have a list of candidates for the local constituency, and a second "party" list of regional candidates. The local constituency vote is first-past-the-post, the regional/party list is D'Hondt.

To be honest I think it's tedious and over-complex, and somewhat the product of the UK's sentimental love for FPTP. I think the Irish system of just having 2 to 5 candidates per constituency (changes according to population distribution) and just having one ballot for them voting by PR-STV is much simpler and better.

I also like the fact Ireland's count is entirely manual pencil and paper, conducted in sports halls (school, GAA, whatever) all across the country, where anyone can go watch and with independent "tally men" watching over the tables and keeping their own scores as the count goes on - which is generally done in half a day.

to post comments

Same as before

Posted Oct 29, 2025 13:46 UTC (Wed) by jzb (editor, #7867) [Link] (4 responses)

Obligatory "this is not aimed at any specific person" editorial comment. This has strayed well far away from the topic at hand at this point. In the interest of keeping the comment stream related to LWN topics, let's stop here with discussions on currency, electoral systems, etc.

Same as before

Posted Oct 29, 2025 14:44 UTC (Wed) by paulj (subscriber, #341) [Link] (1 responses)

So let's get back to DEI and the US culture wars?

/me ducks ;)

(Direction otherwise taken FWIW - just couldn't resist this joke).

Same as before

Posted Oct 29, 2025 14:50 UTC (Wed) by jzb (editor, #7867) [Link]

That's not quite what I meant...

We all, or at least most of us, no doubt have opinions about those things. But they're certainly not going to be solved here, and it's exceedingly unlikely that any minds will be changed one way or the other.

I am happy to have those conversations over beers at any conferences that I attend, though. And, should that person or persons be at our "maniacal supporter" level, I'll even buy the first beer (or beverage of their choice).

Same as before

Posted Oct 29, 2025 16:42 UTC (Wed) by marcH (subscriber, #57642) [Link] (1 responses)

> let's stop here with discussions on currency, electoral systems, etc.

Just for the record: comparing electoral systems is off-topic and I tried to avoid getting into the weeds. But the current, "winner takes all" voting system does play a major role in the current DEI and culture wars. "Win, win, win!" Discarding votes is an essential element in the culture of not listening to each other, rejecting compromise, living in echo chambers, etc. If that was ever needed, the recent, "extreme Gerrymandering" efforts clearly demonstrate that connection. Who cares what you think? The next election will let us ignore you anyway! Let's tweak the voting system and make it even more broken to make sure.

Beyond voting systems, ignoring or cherry-picking numbers and data in general is also a major element of every DEI debate and culture war. It is required to have an alternate reality. More on one side but not just one side.

Maybe I'm getting senile and nostalgic, but I feel like: people never found data fun, but there used to be some respect for science and some vague desire to share a common reality. Not anymore, at least not on the most popular mob media. The engineers around here should at least take notice.

Same as before

Posted Oct 29, 2025 16:47 UTC (Wed) by jzb (editor, #7867) [Link]

Understood, thanks for the explanation. At any rate, we can wind it up here and move on to more relevant ~~arguments~~ topics.