a very Republican idea
I am for decentralization. In our commerce, in our religion(s), in media and in government. At one point in our history, (actually, at several points), the Republican Party was the minimalist party, advocating small government, small taxes and very limited engagement in almost anything.
As I think back to my childhood, and listening (often from under the table) to the various discussions cum arguments that seemed to break out at the communal table at my gransparents house, that usually translated into a question of money, those who had it did not want to support a large government that would be to the advantage of those that did not have it. Looking back, the definitions of "having money" and "not having money" were quite fluid. Nobody believed that they were at the top or bottom of the economic heap, regardless of how well off they were relative to the general population. The rich were those above us, and the poor were below us.
Now that I have digressed suitably, I will come back to the issue that popped into my head. Those who follow the news might have heard or read of some controversy around the country regarding the issue of how we vote. Some states have or are imlimenting a system of electronic balloting, a system that collects data that is input from a terminal and tabulates it almost instantly in a centralized location. There have been several instances where the possibility of errors (or fraud, to put it bluntly), have been reported, and the code that operates the system has been leaked or released to various parties. Most recently, a state legislator in Maryland was given disc's that purported to be code to alter the results of tabulated votes, (as reported on the WMDT website). In other states, there is controversy over requiring a photo ID at the polls to be able to vote. In the past two Presidential elections, there have been doubts raised as to the veracity of the final results, in many cases due to the unreadability of the ballots that were cast.
I say that it is time for a giant leap backwards. I propose here, and will forward this to my elected representatives, (after the upcoming election), that the US Constitution be amended to standardize the method of casting ballots in national elections. I think that they should be on paper, should be marked by hand, and signed by the voter. (Something along the lines of the old 'darken in the square' method on the Iowa Basic Skills test would work). The amendment should also prescribe penalties for fraud or tampering.
It has been said that voting is our sacred franchise. If so, why are we rushing headlong into a system that allows little or no accountability? (It seems to me that this is like having open heart surgery at a first-come, first-severed drive up clinic). Is it really necessary to know who won an election before we go to bed that night? I believe that a holiday on election day every fourth year would be appropriate. This may seem trivial to us today, but such a step could have a long lasting impact on the attitudes towards voting and government on generations to follow.
Think about it.
Stay focused.
As I think back to my childhood, and listening (often from under the table) to the various discussions cum arguments that seemed to break out at the communal table at my gransparents house, that usually translated into a question of money, those who had it did not want to support a large government that would be to the advantage of those that did not have it. Looking back, the definitions of "having money" and "not having money" were quite fluid. Nobody believed that they were at the top or bottom of the economic heap, regardless of how well off they were relative to the general population. The rich were those above us, and the poor were below us.
Now that I have digressed suitably, I will come back to the issue that popped into my head. Those who follow the news might have heard or read of some controversy around the country regarding the issue of how we vote. Some states have or are imlimenting a system of electronic balloting, a system that collects data that is input from a terminal and tabulates it almost instantly in a centralized location. There have been several instances where the possibility of errors (or fraud, to put it bluntly), have been reported, and the code that operates the system has been leaked or released to various parties. Most recently, a state legislator in Maryland was given disc's that purported to be code to alter the results of tabulated votes, (as reported on the WMDT website). In other states, there is controversy over requiring a photo ID at the polls to be able to vote. In the past two Presidential elections, there have been doubts raised as to the veracity of the final results, in many cases due to the unreadability of the ballots that were cast.
I say that it is time for a giant leap backwards. I propose here, and will forward this to my elected representatives, (after the upcoming election), that the US Constitution be amended to standardize the method of casting ballots in national elections. I think that they should be on paper, should be marked by hand, and signed by the voter. (Something along the lines of the old 'darken in the square' method on the Iowa Basic Skills test would work). The amendment should also prescribe penalties for fraud or tampering.
It has been said that voting is our sacred franchise. If so, why are we rushing headlong into a system that allows little or no accountability? (It seems to me that this is like having open heart surgery at a first-come, first-severed drive up clinic). Is it really necessary to know who won an election before we go to bed that night? I believe that a holiday on election day every fourth year would be appropriate. This may seem trivial to us today, but such a step could have a long lasting impact on the attitudes towards voting and government on generations to follow.
Think about it.
Stay focused.
posted by eccentric recluse at 11:22 AM
4 Comments:
Hi. Thanks for visiting my blog earlier. Nice blog you have here. I think the holiday every 4 years is a great idea! Employers can't legally complain, but some make it obvious that they disapprove of employees taking time off to go anywhere, even to vote. I have another thought too - people who don't care should not be encouraged to vote. I know I don't want people who vote randomly to decide my fate.
thanks for the comment anne, please come back anytime!
East Side baby! We all know it's the best side!
I don't know what to think about that sort of thing, unless the polls were to remain open for the same real time frame, with polls opening nationwide on east coast time, and closing nationwide on Hawaii time. Then any results would be unofficial until all polling places closed. But to withhold legitimate data from the press, or for the press to withhold it from its constituency would cast the shadow of suspicion on the whole event.
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