Comments on: No democracy without trust

by: indiegreen

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 21:32:32 +0000

I agree adamently w/iowa. The big question is, how long are we going to wait? even my (few) Republican friends are waiting for martial law to be declared in order to simply take power. 2 elections have been stolen and we’ve done nothing, so, just like kids who push the limits, the current regime will more than likely just take power permanently. The only way to stop this, in my humble opinion, is to demand paper ballots for November’s election. I have helped with recounts at the state level. With 12 pair of eyes from both parties looking at the ballots, it is hard to steal an election.

by: Chuck

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 03:17:31 +0000

I do despair that we will have an election any more honest than those that have taken place in Iraq. But then I get my hopes up once again because I see no alternative.
We’ve started at the local city & state level to require verifiable ballots & etc., but that seems to be a distant possibility. So I become alternately hopeful & cynical. But then again, I’m reminded of a quote (or mis-rememberd quote,) that said ” cynicism is what passes for insight by the mediocre.”, so I get my hopes up again because I don’t want to think of myself as “mediocre”, even though “mediocre” has connotations of being “average”, and, as they say in Lake Wobegon, “everyone is above average.”

by: SWConnie

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 22:27:32 +0000

So glad that you addressed the e-voting issue. What we need to insure a fair election is for demonstration to take place across the country demanding paper ballots that are hand counted.
Until we get those all important hand counted paper ballots we won’t have fair and honest elections. We can’t let this happen considering the way our country is being run by those who will go to any length to steal elections. The last 6 years have been more than enough prove to know that we need to change how elections are conducted. There should be no purging of voters without allowing enough time for those who have been wrongly purged to be notified and re-instated. We need to come together on this issue or lose our democracy. Those who are sleeping through this need to wake up and become more aware and involved. No more stolen election and no more lies about a candidate’s character. Just stick to the issues and how best to handle those issues. Abortion, gay rights, and stem cell research should not even be addressed. What should be addressed are the economy, jobs growth, wages, health coverage, education, infrastructure, crime which is on the rise under this administration,and all things that are for common good of all our people. Not just a handful of the wealthiest amongst us. We are losing our strong middle class, and without them we return to a thrid world state.

by: alwayshope

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 21:41:54 +0000

I’m with you, iowa
Then what?
Exit polling is forbidden. Why? Bacause it gets it right. It tells us how the people voted but it doesn’t tell us how their votes were counted. We NEED exit polling, we NEED a media that will follow through. We also need voters.
I think I’ll paint my finger purple after I vote, the middle one on my LEFT hand. That way when some idiot, who has never voted (because he might get called for jury duty if he does) asks me about it, I can hold it up and tell him, “It’s because I voted, it’s because I love my country, it’s because no one threatened to chop my head if I voted and it’s because someone has to protect and defend idiots, like you, who don’t vote.
I’m a little ticked today. I really thought Rove would be indicted.
GRRRRRRRR. Why do I get my hopes up? What the hell is wrong with me?

by: iowametal76

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 21:01:19 +0000

So what will happen in November if/when the GOP wins a sweeping victory again, despite all evidence (thus far) to the contrary? Will most people accept this and continue to trust in the democratic process? Even if they don’t, and the majority of the public actually calls them on it and cries “foul!”, will it matter? How far will the GOP push it? They lost the presidential election in 2000. They lost in 2004. My gut tells me (as opposed to my slightly less truthy brain) that they will win again in November and again in 2008. And if by some miracle they aren’t able to pull off another fraudulent victory, then I wouldn’t be surprised to see some sort of “terrorist attack” or “bird flu” outbreak that will be used to declare marshall law, thereby suspending elections or preventing a change in leadership. So even if they do actually lose (again) this time around, I fear they will simply refuse to leave.
Then what?