I wish there was times that HN supported Quadratic Voting[0] so that I could more (but costly) up votes to a really sane and pertinent comment.
I upvoted you for your link, but actually the argument that it would be good because people who care more will make a better decision than those who don't does not completely convince me. Someone could care a lot about something but still have the wrong idea about it.
Groups frequently make collective decisions through majority rule. Legislators pass bills by majority; shareholders make most corporate decisions by (share-weighted) majority rule, as do directors; clubs, university faculties, and civic associations typically use majority rule as well. The reason that they do so is not entirely clear. (Emphasis mine).
Not clear? It's almost too clear as to be tautological.
They do because they (a) think all members should have equal say, (b) most members in the group want X to be done.
Unless we're talking about submitting to force or listening to expertise, why would many people wanting to do something, let fewer people tell them what to do instead?
Heck, if it comes to fighting for what's to be done (the most effective but primitive form of getting a decision), the majority could beat up the minority and have its way anyway.
What I imagine QV does is find the point at which participants who don't care so much would rather pocket the funds and walk away, rather than spend it on voting.
If the ballot measure is "Eat Vinnl", you might want to spend a lot to vote it down, but it might not take much to convince the others not to spend it back at you (and you all eat berries instead). If the ballot measure is "Vinnl eats everyone else", you won't be able to spend enough that everyone else can't just spend it back at you, more efficiently.
Edit: one important difference here is that unless the GP is actually going to pony up real money, something of value to those they inconvenience with their (imo silly) opinion, it doesn't make much sense.
Anyway, I see it's been submitted separately :) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15206291