I don't think that knowing the results influences those results as much as people think they do. If anything, seeing your candidate losing (especially when it's a one vs one contest) should make you want to vote more; not less. Otherwise your vote won't be heard. Seeing how close candidates are in the primaries gives you a chance to switch horses. That's why they do things the way they do. I suppose if it's not a close contest, you'll see people less motivated to vote. Usually, though, when it's close it benefits candidates.
The real problem with American Representative Democracy is that we allow our politicians to be bought and sold for the highest dollar. We have Super PACs trying to outspend each other, so they have candidates who owe them. So long as we have that, it won't matter if we have preferential voting, if we vote on Saturdays, or anything else. Having fewer parties no doubt makes this easier, but having more parties will do little good until we get money out of politics.
The real problem with American Representative Democracy is that we allow our politicians to be bought and sold for the highest dollar. We have Super PACs trying to outspend each other, so they have candidates who owe them. So long as we have that, it won't matter if we have preferential voting, if we vote on Saturdays, or anything else. Having fewer parties no doubt makes this easier, but having more parties will do little good until we get money out of politics.
The whole tone of Church teaching in regard to woman is, to the last degree, contemptuous and degrading. - Elizabeth Cady Stanton
