I want to add another thought about Forest's proposed proxy method: Not only is it a reasonable first step toward better single-winner methods, it is also a step toward PR. Indeed, the candidates will essentially form an "electoral college" chosen by PR, in that each candidate's vote has a weight proportional to his support from the electorate. This body only makes a single decision, but it will introduce the public to the notion that "If party X gets y% of the vote it should constitute y% of an elected body."
I think this may be the best first-step reform to propose to the public, as it serves as a bridge to two different categories of reforms. Alex ---- For more information about this list (subscribe, unsubscribe, FAQ, etc), please see http://www.eskimo.com/~robla/em