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A weird little thought experiment about auctioning off three hundred million Senate seats. Burr Send a noteboard - 27/02/2013 07:49:48 PM

Suppose somehow we got an amendment into the Constitution that replaced elections with the following system:

First, the U.S. government auctions off a seat, and the highest individual bidder gets it.

Next, a new seat is added, and a new auction is held. (The final price, presumably, will be lower this time.)

And then another... and another... until literally every single citizen of America who wants to be in a Senate can afford to pay what they think is a fair price for it.

Here's the question: given that everyone would know from the very beginning that later seats will be cheaper, and that everyone who wants one will be able to afford one, what would the price distribution look like in the end and how much revenue would be earned?


I don't really have any reason or point for asking this other than it quirks my interest. But if I must supply a purpose: could perhaps the answer give the true value of political representation in the Senate?

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Only so evil.
This message last edited by Burr on 27/02/2013 at 07:51:47 PM
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A weird little thought experiment about auctioning off three hundred million Senate seats. - 27/02/2013 07:49:48 PM 559 Views
Depends on if it is limit one per customer - 27/02/2013 11:40:39 PM 271 Views
Pretty much what Isaac said. - 28/02/2013 03:16:39 PM 252 Views
A lot will have to do with how fast you sell the lot. - 28/02/2013 08:34:52 PM 269 Views
I'm assuming there would be a time limit on getting them out - 28/02/2013 10:55:45 PM 277 Views

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