The Doom Loop, brought to you by Julia Meier and Candace Avalos plus the gullibility of Portland voters who created this monster. This is exactly what they wanted. Either repeal multi-district ranked choice voting or move out of Multnomah County: What other option is there for rational, tax-paying citizens who want their vote to count and their government to function?
As thrilled as I am with what happened nationally I certainly am scratching my head at the complete city council incumbency as well as the Multnomah County election results.
If attachments were allowed in comments I’d be including the meme of the guy on the bicycle with a stick. He puts the stick in the front wheel and falls off the bike.
You called it, Allan, kudos to you. I'm like LA upthread--thrilled by the national, and gobsmacked by how poorly Arnold and Torres did. The two ran great campaigns, were good at fundraising, and were appealing candidates.
Yes. I wondered about this too. I fear there are more variables at work here than we might assume.
I know my personal reasons why I preferred Arnold over Green, but why on earth should I expect that any other voter have the same reasons?
And if not those reasons, how likely were voters apt to read sufficient negative reports about Green, to make him less available for returning votes? Probably not that many - not many news reports, not many well-read articles, not sufficient word word circulated to reach a tipping point in the voting populace. And then there is the question whether a growing segment of voters are more pro-social Democrats or seek disruptive candidates to shake a struggling city leadership into active change. I have to assume that for some, the mere idea of a (former) policeman taking political office is worrisome to some voters too.
Most of these voting decisions are hastily made, looking to research and select choices quickly, so that one can return to other daily duties - whether work (commitment) or fun (preferred.) The act of voting is a privilege, possibly a duty, but still often an unpleasant chore. In an average day spent toiling in order to eke out a few hours of happy freedom - this vote becomes just another chore. And this leads to low voter turnout and much last minute vote delivery - we put off what we least like to do.
And finally, yes, we can look at the tiered voting system and ask whether it is to blame too. Yes, it probably is. For every non -vote does not act as a negative vote, it does not subtract weight from those unselected. Only those selected receive any weight of that vote. Apparently 56% of all registered voters cast ballots, The silent 44% had no punishing effect on the political career of our incumbent commissioners. And I would not be surprised to learn, were the stats available, that of the 56% voting, less than half properly or did-complete the tiered voting requirements on the ballot for commissioner candidates. Those that won are just as likely served by these voting failures than by all else we might assume. Yes, it is likely time that that nonsense weighted system be stricken by a popular vote of the populace.
What happened with Mult Co chair is also a punch in the gut. I just went through the preliminary numbers, you can't tell from the chart who Brim-Edwards and Singleton voters ranked 2nd (or if they indicated a 2nd ranking), but it appears that nearly a quarter of Meiran voters didn't rank a 2nd candidate. Singleton would have still won, but Brim-Edwards would have come much closer.
The interpretation of how to vote in the ranked choice system varies from person to person. Since how people interpret proper voting under the system varies, and reasonably so, the system depends on how people interpret the "way" to vote. As such, the system is psychologically driven, like the stock market or gambling. Whether it is unconstitutional I don't know, but it creates an artificiality about the process. Group psychology determines the outcome, and in that way, it is untethered and arbitrary. The number of opinions about how to vote in such a system should reflect how screwed up it is.
In 2022, when I was part of a group opposing the proposed charter due to the multi-member districts and single transferable voting version of ranked choice requiring only 25% +1 to win, I termed it "Incumbent Protection Act."
Not to take away from any candidate who won, but last night's results clearly seem to support that notion.
Say you have three candidates. One voter is allowed to vote for two of them. The other voter can only vote for one of them. The voter who can only vote for one is discriminated against mathematically. It doesn't matter that ranked choice give the voter the option. The individual voter doesn't know how the other voters are voting in the system. Therefore, the individual voter is disempowered. Unconstitutional.
Y'all voted for the Charter, y'all got it. Bigly. Interesting that one of the commenters below mentioned the not-to-be-uttered-name, Meier. Also beyond interesting that two of the 12 councilors helped write the charter that has given them $133K for life, if they want it (and where else could they make that kind of money?).
If I could clamp on the electrodes and interview Ms. Meier (now flipped to an NGO), I'd ask: Did you anticipate that the "minorities" would be communists? She doesn't answer emails--so go pound sand.
Given the absurdly low participation rate in this scuzzy election--55-percent--you'll have to conclude that no one in their right mmind will ever run to dislodge an incumbent under the rank choice system...unless they are useful idiots who jst want to gum up the choice-chart. Or are paid to do so.
I put a lot of blame on Willamette Week who either didn’t do their homework or want to continue with the Vega Pederson years by promoting Singleton. Was WW even paying attention the last two years with the peacocks on the council? Millions of dollars lost through incompetence, trips, payouts, dishonesty. Two really smart women won’t have a chance to get this city moving in the right direction. Let’s watch how defunding the police and fire department some more works out. So many crucial departments gutted under Vega Pederson. There are some exceptional council members and Portlanders need to show up and support them. We need to unite Portland like the Dems did with the midterms.
The Doom Loop, brought to you by Julia Meier and Candace Avalos plus the gullibility of Portland voters who created this monster. This is exactly what they wanted. Either repeal multi-district ranked choice voting or move out of Multnomah County: What other option is there for rational, tax-paying citizens who want their vote to count and their government to function?
As thrilled as I am with what happened nationally I certainly am scratching my head at the complete city council incumbency as well as the Multnomah County election results.
If attachments were allowed in comments I’d be including the meme of the guy on the bicycle with a stick. He puts the stick in the front wheel and falls off the bike.
We are now that meme.
We need to repeal ranked choice voting, it’s the only way.
You called it, Allan, kudos to you. I'm like LA upthread--thrilled by the national, and gobsmacked by how poorly Arnold and Torres did. The two ran great campaigns, were good at fundraising, and were appealing candidates.
Status quo in Multnomah Co.
Yes. I wondered about this too. I fear there are more variables at work here than we might assume.
I know my personal reasons why I preferred Arnold over Green, but why on earth should I expect that any other voter have the same reasons?
And if not those reasons, how likely were voters apt to read sufficient negative reports about Green, to make him less available for returning votes? Probably not that many - not many news reports, not many well-read articles, not sufficient word word circulated to reach a tipping point in the voting populace. And then there is the question whether a growing segment of voters are more pro-social Democrats or seek disruptive candidates to shake a struggling city leadership into active change. I have to assume that for some, the mere idea of a (former) policeman taking political office is worrisome to some voters too.
Most of these voting decisions are hastily made, looking to research and select choices quickly, so that one can return to other daily duties - whether work (commitment) or fun (preferred.) The act of voting is a privilege, possibly a duty, but still often an unpleasant chore. In an average day spent toiling in order to eke out a few hours of happy freedom - this vote becomes just another chore. And this leads to low voter turnout and much last minute vote delivery - we put off what we least like to do.
And finally, yes, we can look at the tiered voting system and ask whether it is to blame too. Yes, it probably is. For every non -vote does not act as a negative vote, it does not subtract weight from those unselected. Only those selected receive any weight of that vote. Apparently 56% of all registered voters cast ballots, The silent 44% had no punishing effect on the political career of our incumbent commissioners. And I would not be surprised to learn, were the stats available, that of the 56% voting, less than half properly or did-complete the tiered voting requirements on the ballot for commissioner candidates. Those that won are just as likely served by these voting failures than by all else we might assume. Yes, it is likely time that that nonsense weighted system be stricken by a popular vote of the populace.
Eli Arnold is still a police officer, not "former."
indeed. And thank the goddesses that we have this kind of humane person on our streets.
It was parenthetical to suggest "former" upon his election to the commission. A play with words that did not quite make sense, I guess.
What happened with Mult Co chair is also a punch in the gut. I just went through the preliminary numbers, you can't tell from the chart who Brim-Edwards and Singleton voters ranked 2nd (or if they indicated a 2nd ranking), but it appears that nearly a quarter of Meiran voters didn't rank a 2nd candidate. Singleton would have still won, but Brim-Edwards would have come much closer.
Depressing results for Multnomah Cty and Portland. Public spending hoping for better outcomes is insanity.
Those happy with the national results do not care about:
1) our closed borders to more non-assimilating invaders,
2) return of public education to states ( good luck with Tina),
3) no trans women in girls sports
4) aggressive attacks on Medicare fraud,
5) lower taxes,
And
6) the deterence of Iran to have nuclear weapons.
The president was not on the ballot and our youngest voters endorse socialism. Ignorance is bliss.
I suspect rank choice is unconstitutional. I think it might disenfranchise voters. It neuters the public voice.
The interpretation of how to vote in the ranked choice system varies from person to person. Since how people interpret proper voting under the system varies, and reasonably so, the system depends on how people interpret the "way" to vote. As such, the system is psychologically driven, like the stock market or gambling. Whether it is unconstitutional I don't know, but it creates an artificiality about the process. Group psychology determines the outcome, and in that way, it is untethered and arbitrary. The number of opinions about how to vote in such a system should reflect how screwed up it is.
I believe rank choice voting discriminates against the individual voter.
In 2022, when I was part of a group opposing the proposed charter due to the multi-member districts and single transferable voting version of ranked choice requiring only 25% +1 to win, I termed it "Incumbent Protection Act."
Not to take away from any candidate who won, but last night's results clearly seem to support that notion.
This is one screwed up process and the voters lose, regardless
Say you have three candidates. One voter is allowed to vote for two of them. The other voter can only vote for one of them. The voter who can only vote for one is discriminated against mathematically. It doesn't matter that ranked choice give the voter the option. The individual voter doesn't know how the other voters are voting in the system. Therefore, the individual voter is disempowered. Unconstitutional.
Y'all voted for the Charter, y'all got it. Bigly. Interesting that one of the commenters below mentioned the not-to-be-uttered-name, Meier. Also beyond interesting that two of the 12 councilors helped write the charter that has given them $133K for life, if they want it (and where else could they make that kind of money?).
If I could clamp on the electrodes and interview Ms. Meier (now flipped to an NGO), I'd ask: Did you anticipate that the "minorities" would be communists? She doesn't answer emails--so go pound sand.
Given the absurdly low participation rate in this scuzzy election--55-percent--you'll have to conclude that no one in their right mmind will ever run to dislodge an incumbent under the rank choice system...unless they are useful idiots who jst want to gum up the choice-chart. Or are paid to do so.
I put a lot of blame on Willamette Week who either didn’t do their homework or want to continue with the Vega Pederson years by promoting Singleton. Was WW even paying attention the last two years with the peacocks on the council? Millions of dollars lost through incompetence, trips, payouts, dishonesty. Two really smart women won’t have a chance to get this city moving in the right direction. Let’s watch how defunding the police and fire department some more works out. So many crucial departments gutted under Vega Pederson. There are some exceptional council members and Portlanders need to show up and support them. We need to unite Portland like the Dems did with the midterms.