Ballot Lessons from Taiwan
Category: News Commentary...
Posted Saturday, March 20, 2004 at 10:12 PM [GMT-6]

Setting aside the question about the wisdom of asking the voting public to decide such significant foreign policy issues as deployment of anti-ballistic missiles, Taiwan's [failed] referendum offers a good example of how to word a ballot:

1. The people of Taiwan demand that the Taiwan Strait issue be resolved through peaceful means. Should mainland China refuse to withdraw the missiles it has targeted at Taiwan and refuse to openly renounce the use of force against us, would you agree that the government should acquire more advanced anti-missile weapons to strengthen Taiwan's self-defense capabilities?

2. Would you agree that our government should engage in negotiation with mainland China on the establishment of a peace and stability framework for cross-strait interactions in order to build consensus and for the welfare of the peoples on both sides?

Granted, this is someone's translation from the original (Cantonese?) ballot, but it certainly reads well, compared to some of the monstrosities I've seen on US ballots (especially those dealing with amendments to the Texas state constitution).

Taiwan's politicians have a lot to learn about the noble art of legislative obfuscation.

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Comments

Let's not forget that oversimplifying an issue can be used as obfuscation, as well. A "simple" ballot question can be used to slant an issue very easily.

Suppose for example, a ballot question read,
"Would you agree that a woman has the right to make medical decisions regarding the biological events go on in her own body and should have the right to seek medical intervention if certain biological events counter-act her wishes?"

How about this one...
"Do you support including obstetric and reproductive health care to currently existing medical assistance programs for the poor and needy?

Or maybe this one...
"Would you agree that the law should let a person pay a small fee, sign a few papers, take a few classes, and then law enforcement officials have to issue a permit against their better judgement so that person can walk around like some assassin, carrying a dangerous handgun where nobody can see it until it's too late?"

There's such a thing as making a ballot very easy to understand from a certain point of view, to the exclusion of all others.

Posted by: Mr. Freen at March 21, 2004 04:54 AM

Well, you're right, of course, and even the Taiwanese referenda could have -- probably do have, in fact -- some inherent bias in their wording, based on the outcome desired by those putting forth the propositions.

Simplicity should not be confused with accuracy, nor should it imply trustworthiness.

Posted by: Eric at March 21, 2004 03:19 PM
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