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	<title>Comments on: Voting to Do the Most Good</title>
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	<description>Sometimes controversial, sometimes fallacious, sometimes thought-provoking, and always fun.</description>
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		<title>By: peterhurford</title>
		<link>http://mtgap.wordpress.com/2012/08/04/voting-to-do-the-most-good/#comment-2048</link>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[peterhurford]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 04 Aug 2012 23:29:34 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[I&#039;m going to nitpick over your initial utility equations, but I wanted to let you know that the rest of your essay was great stuff.

1. The distinction about caring about only yourself versus every citizen equally is a false dilemma, so that means that neither equation will be the one that people use.
2. The value of f will be different in each equation.
3. If e is a variable of average value, then it&#039;s not applicable in the self-interested calculation, because I&#039;m looking at value to a particular person -- me.
4. Though you mention it later in your essay, your equation doesn&#039;t mention utility from voting apart from the electoral outcome (showing support, attracting attention to your values, exercising civic virtue, etc.)

I think this equation works regardless of the agent&#039;s values:

U(V) = expected net utility of deciding to vote
P(e*) = expected probability of your vote being the deciding vote of the election
U(e*) = expected net utility of your candidate winning
U(e) = expected net utility from the action of voting, apart from the electoral outcome
C(o) = expected net utility of highest utility option you forgo by voting via opportunity vost

U(V) = P(e*)U(e*) + U(e)

If U(V) &gt; C(o), then vote.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;m going to nitpick over your initial utility equations, but I wanted to let you know that the rest of your essay was great stuff.</p>
<p>1. The distinction about caring about only yourself versus every citizen equally is a false dilemma, so that means that neither equation will be the one that people use.<br />
2. The value of f will be different in each equation.<br />
3. If e is a variable of average value, then it&#8217;s not applicable in the self-interested calculation, because I&#8217;m looking at value to a particular person &#8212; me.<br />
4. Though you mention it later in your essay, your equation doesn&#8217;t mention utility from voting apart from the electoral outcome (showing support, attracting attention to your values, exercising civic virtue, etc.)</p>
<p>I think this equation works regardless of the agent&#8217;s values:</p>
<p>U(V) = expected net utility of deciding to vote<br />
P(e*) = expected probability of your vote being the deciding vote of the election<br />
U(e*) = expected net utility of your candidate winning<br />
U(e) = expected net utility from the action of voting, apart from the electoral outcome<br />
C(o) = expected net utility of highest utility option you forgo by voting via opportunity vost</p>
<p>U(V) = P(e*)U(e*) + U(e)</p>
<p>If U(V) &gt; C(o), then vote.</p>
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