How many people here have heard of the concept of "Prisoner's Dilemma"?

[brooklynite]

It's the philosophical conflict between what's good for the individual and what's good for the group. Assume there are two criminals being seperately questioned by the police. If both remain silent they both go free. If both confess they both get a medium sentence. But if one confesses (implicating the other) and the other remains silent, the one who confesses gets a short sentence and the other gets a long one. It's in the interest of both to remain silent, but it's potentially in the interest of EACH to confess.

Apply the same principle to the proposal to have Electoral College members change their vote. A Clinton and Trump EC member can promise in advance to flip their vote to someone else, but if they're not in the same room when voting occurs, how do they know the other will live up to the bargain?

[oberliner]

1. I think if they both remain silent, they both get the lesser sentence

If one betrays the other, and the other remains silent, then the betrayer is freed.

[brooklynite]

2. The scale can vary but the premise remains the same.

[oberliner]

4. But the idea is if you betray the other person and they remain silent, then you walk

Whereas if you both remain silent, you both get a small punishment.

[doc03]

3. Does the Eloectorial College vote on a secret ballot? nt

[brooklynite]

5. Yes and no...

...because the EC vote is largely a formality, it is generally held in public (frequently the State legislature chamber), and the EC members openly place their ballots in a ceremonial ballot box. While some States allow the EC member to write in the name themselves, others issue them a ballot with the names pre-printed.

[marylandblue]

6. Not a prisoner's dilemma

Because the penalty doesn't change based on the actions of the other person. In fact, in many states, there is no penalty at all.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. I'm familiar with it.

But the EC vote has zero in common with the Prisoner's Dilemma. Zero.