My Proposal for a New Political Party-- The Vulcan Party

[dgiharris]

OK. So data drives the party's preferred methods.

What drives the Vulcan party's values?

To Maximize Utility of America

There is the flaw in the basic premise of the OP. The OP assumes that logic will bring everyone to the same conclusions but that just is not what we see in reality..

That is a flaw in your assumption, I am NOT assuming that we will all reach the same conclusions via logic-- though I will readily admit that using a data driven / math based methodology will DRAMATICALLY increase the frequency upon which we do reach the same conclusions.

However, there are plenty of instances where two people using data and math can reach different conclusions. However, what I would argue is that in the case I outline, each member will be able to see and understand "the logic" of the other person's deductions and thus respect their conclusion. This sort of thing happens in business all the time and it doesn't destroy successful companies and their subsequent programs-- Everyone is working to the same goal, a decision is made, we move on to the next task...

As a party, we would be infinitely more efficient than current political parties. Sure, we wouldn't be perfect, but we'd be a 100 times better. Similarly, we would in effect be apolitical, that is, we would not be political. Every decision is made independent of some party platform mandate... We'd be less prone to manipulation...

... Though there is a lot of illogical foolishness out there. The real sticking points between sides lie in the contradictory nature of their basic assumptions more than in their logical reasoning.

\\

what you say is true, but my goal isn't some sort of group think unity... Disagreements between human beings will forever happen. However, if a party used a data driven and math/logic based methodology then IMHO it would dramatically reduce conflicts while increasing the odds that the correct action occur. Again, I would use a successful company as an example. Within any company program (like develop Widget X) there are always different choices to be made with pros and cons. However, once a decision is made, everyone moves forward. If you can see and respect the logic someone else used, it dramatically increases your probability of being "okay" with a decision you do not support.

 

[dgiharris]

(1) What is the Vulcan Party platform on tribal sovereignty and honoring treaties?

(2) What's the Vulcan Party platform on LGBT rights and same-sex marriage?

(3) What's the Vulcan Party platform on gender equality within the workplace?

(4) What's the Vulcan Party platform on environmentalism and climate change?

(5) What's the Vulcan Party platform on gun rights and gun ownership?

(6) What's the Vulcan Party platform on access to adequate healthcare and an education?

The answer is simple: Whatever Maximizes Utility for America.

Is it to the benefit of all Americans to respect equality and rule of law for everyone?
Is it to the benefit of all Americans to treat all of its citizens equally?
Is it to the benefit of America to have a clean sustainable environment (see how a bad environment impacts Russia)
Is it to the benefit of all Americans for law abiding citizens to own guns vs the damage guns do per year?
Is it to the benefit of all Americans to have adequate healthcare and education?

Truth is, a lot of the answers to the above questions is very easy to figure out using data and math. Once you divorce yourself from dogma and party and just look at the data and the math and the logic... the solution is clear and easy to see.

For the environment, you do a simple cost benefit analysis of jobs created and lost vs environmental impact vs adverse impacts to humanity (like cancer rates, etc). You also throw in some modeling about future and projected impacts vs various environmental policies. Then look at countries that have horrifically bad environmental practices (like Russia and China) and then look at the health impact to their respective citizens. If you do all of that then your party affiliation does not matter.

However, that is not what is currently done by Either the Republicans or Democrats.

The way it works now is: Party X says QRS about the environment and Party X does NOT care what the data says regarding QRS. Party X has a position and if you belong to Party X you must support that position no matter what...

What I'm proposing is infinitely better. Sure, it isn't perfect, but it is light years better than what we have now.

 

[Tanj]

Now, at first glance this might sound like Socialism

Actually, 1st through to 10th glances suggest Utilitarianism. Where it is flawed is who gets to rank order various aspects of utility.

 

[Nithavela]

No, I don't want a circus and that's why I didn't vote for Donald Trump or for Hillary Clinton.

And the one you voted for won the election?

 

[durangodawood]

To Maximize Utility of America....

Utility of what? Muffin production?

 

[durangodawood]

That sounds pretty awful on a number of levels.

Especially haircuts. Yikes.

 

[iluvatar5150]

That is a flaw in your assumption, I am NOT assuming that we will all reach the same conclusions via logic-- though I will readily admit that using a data driven / math based methodology will DRAMATICALLY increase the frequency upon which we do reach the same conclusions.

However, there are plenty of instances where two people using data and math can reach different conclusions. However, what I would argue is that in the case I outline, each member will be able to see and understand "the logic" of the other person's deductions and thus respect their conclusion. This sort of thing happens in business all the time and it doesn't destroy successful companies and their subsequent programs-- Everyone is working to the same goal, a decision is made, we move on to the next task...

As a party, we would be infinitely more efficient than current political parties. Sure, we wouldn't be perfect, but we'd be a 100 times better. Similarly, we would in effect be apolitical, that is, we would not be political. Every decision is made independent of some party platform mandate... We'd be less prone to manipulation...

As much as I identify with and appreciate the Vulcan mindset and as much as I would love for things to work this way, I think there's danger in assuming that our data and logic will be so readily received and assimilated by the masses. Many (most?) people are actually pretty bad at incorporating data into their worldviews and using it to make rational decisions, instead filtering that information through layers of fear, preference, belief, and even self-delusion. In fact, the entire field of economics operated for a long time under the assumption that everybody acts rationally (as in your model); and it's only been within the last couple decades that they've started to incorporate human psychology into their models, to better reflect how people actually behave rather than how some idealized, emotionless robot should behave.

The problem for voters today is not that we don't have data. We have plenty of data. We have more data and more access to data now than at any time in history. The problem is in analyzing the data, choosing whose analysis to accept, and, most importantly, in choosing the analysis that best fits with our preferred values. There's too much data for the average person to analyze and, so, we have to rely on the analysis provided by others - many of whom have ulterior motives.

I guarantee you that every single political analyst worth his/her paycheck would have zero problem operating within a "Vulcan" framework. Those are smart cats whose entire livelihoods are built on parsing data. However, if "data" as a marketing device got votes, they'd be using it. They play on emotions because it works.

 

[eleos1954]

I am beyond disgusted with both political parties.

Every election it is the same thing: "THEY are evil and stupid and trying to destroy America while WE are good and smart and are trying to save America..."

The problem as I see it is that each party is defined by issues and therein lies the rub. It feels like political parties are more about toeing the line than actual rationale or argumentative methodologies.

What I would love to see is a political party that does not define themselves by litmus test issues. What I desperately want is a political party whom's membership is dependent on your ability to use logic, reason, and data in making your decisions.

Enter the Vulcan Party
The Vulcan Party is first and foremost Data Driven. Science and Math are King, emotional opinions and tear jerking anecdotes hold no sway in this party. This party is all about the data. The equation is simple: Maximize the Utility of America.

Now, at first glance this might sound like Socialism but I assure you it is not. Capitalism is the best form of economy thus it would be the optimum way to maximize Utility for America...

Similarly, this party's mission is efficiency efficiency efficiency... It would take a cold hard look at all the governmental programs, subsidies, etc and eliminate redundancies, inefficiencies, etc.

For example-- It would look at our exploding prison population and ask the basic common sense questions like, "Why on Earth is our incarceration rate #1 in the world?" and then it would use data driven methodologies to solve that problem (hint this problem is very easy to solve).

There would be no such thing as a "left" or a "right" in this party because that is irrelevant. All that is relevant is the net benefit to America and your ability to use a data driven methodology and logical argument to support your case.

Incidentally a fallout of "what's best for America" would include favorable alliances and relationships with our allies because the world economy is interconnected...

In a nutshell, a data driven, math based, and logical political party is what I dream about. But alas, I don't think such a party will ever be realized in the US... not even close...

Sadly we are going to be stuck with the Mickey Mouse Club. ;o)

 

[dgiharris]

Utility of what? Muffin production?

more or less yes.

If we did normalize for maximizing Muffin production that would be more efficient than what we currently maximize for which is fear, paranoia, division, deception, and control...

if we set out to maximize our muffin production the best way to do that would involve having the strongest economy right? and having a strong economy is to the benefit of most people right? The more people that benefit the higher the probability that more people are happy right?

SO yeah, Muffin production wouldn't be a bad thing to maximize for... there are other much better options, but as stated above, maximizing for muffin production is better than what we are doing now...

Actually, 1st through to 10th glances suggest Utilitarianism. Where it is flawed is who gets to rank order various aspects of utility.

True, however, I posit that even if you are a little off in your stratification and ranking of 1 through 10, that would be infinitely better than what we currently maximize for now which is more or less nothing (as I stated above).

 

[SkyWriting]

I am beyond disgusted with both political parties.

Every election it is the same thing: "THEY are evil and stupid and trying to destroy America while WE are good and smart and are trying to save America..."

The problem as I see it is that each party is defined by issues and therein lies the rub. It feels like political parties are more about toeing the line than actual rationale or argumentative methodologies.

What I would love to see is a political party that does not define themselves by litmus test issues. What I desperately want is a political party whom's membership is dependent on your ability to use logic, reason, and data in making your decisions.

Enter the Vulcan Party
The Vulcan Party is first and foremost Data Driven. Science and Math are King, emotional opinions and tear jerking anecdotes hold no sway in this party. This party is all about the data. The equation is simple: Maximize the Utility of America.

Now, at first glance this might sound like Socialism but I assure you it is not. Capitalism is the best form of economy thus it would be the optimum way to maximize Utility for America...

Similarly, this party's mission is efficiency efficiency efficiency... It would take a cold hard look at all the governmental programs, subsidies, etc and eliminate redundancies, inefficiencies, etc.

For example-- It would look at our exploding prison population and ask the basic common sense questions like, "Why on Earth is our incarceration rate #1 in the world?" and then it would use data driven methodologies to solve that problem (hint this problem is very easy to solve).

There would be no such thing as a "left" or a "right" in this party because that is irrelevant. All that is relevant is the net benefit to America and your ability to use a data driven methodology and logical argument to support your case.

Incidentally a fallout of "what's best for America" would include favorable alliances and relationships with our allies because the world economy is interconnected...

In a nutshell, a data driven, math based, and logical political party is what I dream about. But alas, I don't think such a party will ever be realized in the US... not even close...

I vote for the emoticon party to challenge the Vulcan party platform.

 

[durangodawood]

more or less yes.

If we did normalize for maximizing Muffin production that would be more efficient than what we currently maximize for which is fear, paranoia, division, deception, and control...

if we set out to maximize our muffin production the best way to do that would involve having the strongest economy right? and having a strong economy is to the benefit of most people right? The more people that benefit the higher the probability that more people are happy right?

SO yeah, Muffin production wouldn't be a bad thing to maximize for... there are other much better options, but as stated above, maximizing for muffin production is better than what we are doing now......

If we optimized for muffin production we'd probly end up with all the people dead and some automated system for growing raw materials and baking delicious muffins.

otoh, would that be so bad?

 

[cow451]

"They KNOW, Captain -- they have reasoned it out."

And the healthcare plan, VulcanCare?

 

[cow451]

If we optimized for muffin production we'd probly end up with all the people dead and some automated system for growing raw materials and baking delicious muffins.

otoh, would that be so bad?

Would the Vulcan Party outlaw Cupcakes?

 

[durangodawood]

Would the Vulcan Party outlaw Cupcakes?

If the prime directive was to maximize muffin production, then absolutely, cupcakes would compete with that objective.

 

[Anto9us]

It is illogical to outlaw cupcakes to extinction.

 

[cow451]

It is illogical to outlaw cupcakes to extinction.

The Red ones are dangerous. They are the advance party for body snatchers from another dimension.

 

[Anto9us]

Then let the Green Ones live long and prosper.

(thx for the Bones pic)

 

[Anto9us]

On Rigel 7, VulcanCare provided so many raw materials for muffins that some species underwent carbohydrate saturation -- resulting in obesity -- which paradoxically aided such species in survival.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Nice idea but there would be so few actual followers. The voting population is irrational.

 

[Anto9us]

But if the logical VOTE EARLY and VOTE OFTEN there may be hope!