RE: British Election turnout - one of the lowest: Special case or common cause?

["Aidan Ward" <aidan_ward@antelopes.com>]

John, Denizens

>
> Beyond these questions, I would say that using the data to prove
> voter apathy is a leap of faith that is typical of media types
> when faced with statistical data. The possible cyclical patterns
> suggest a periodic shifting of the data mean values that are
> likely more complex than mere apathy.
> Anybody agree?

There is nothing in the data can connect directly to voter apathy, what has
happened here is that instead of looking at the data to see if a special
cause might need looking for, a special cause has gone looking for support
in the data. This is the normal thought process and in my experience if you
look long enough you can justify most things. It is called prejudice.

Interestingly, the thought process mirrors my perception of what was wrong
with the election. Rather than ask open questions about the future, it
became clear that votes would be interpreted in a particular way for a
particular political purpose. It was no longer the voters' game but a closed
outcome consultation process. It was like filling in a questionnaire full of
leading questions. There was actually no way to keep self respect except to
refuse to play. (I voted out of principle, but I question this). The
previous election was about new hope, this one seemed to deny possibility.

There is an underlying principle for Deming work here that openness to the
interpretation of the data by the people who enact the process will always
be important to avoid error.

Regards,

Aidan

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