Diebold as dinner conversation - Democratic Underground

obietiger

(438 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Nov-06-03 07:52 AM
Original message

Diebold as dinner conversation

Was having dinner last evening at a restaurant in the town of Diebold Incorporated. Nice restaurant but tables so close you feel like you are part of the party next to you. Can shut out their conversation ok until I hear the words "Bush" and "Diebold" - a youngish lady was telling an older lady about how we need a paper trail on machine voting. She even gave her the website where she could sign the petition for such.

The word is spreading!

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Loonman

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Nov-06-03 07:54 AM
Response to Original message

1. Occasionally

Every now and then, I'll call the Diebold switchboard or email them to ask how much the GOP and Karl Rove is paying them to rig the 2004 election.

Usually they are not amused.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

JHB

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Nov-06-03 08:03 AM
Response to Original message

2. Remember: not just a "paper trail"...

...push for a "paper ballot", so that the actual legal vote is the thing (physical object)the voter has looked at and approved. Simply requiring a "paper trail" still leaves them some wiggle-room to keep systems insecure while complying with the letter of the law.

"A great nation is not saved by wars, it is saved by acts without external picturesqueness; by speaking, writing, voting reasonably; by smiting corruption swiftly; by good temper between parties; by the people knowing true men when they see them, and preferring them as leaders to rabid partisans or empty quacks."
---William James (1842-1910), American Philosopher

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

markus

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Nov-06-03 08:29 AM
Response to Reply #2

5. What we have in Fargo, ND

I agree wholeheartedly. That is what we have in Fargo. We mark paper ballots (think standardized test), which are read via optical recognition immediately after voting.

It even spits it back at you if your vote is unclear. I'm not sure what happens if you vote for more than one candidate inappropriately.

But this way there is a set of paper ballots to validate the machine total against.

Don't accept anything less.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

JHB

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Nov-06-03 08:38 AM
Response to Reply #5

6. That was one of the problems in Florida

We mark paper ballots (think standardized test), which are read via optical recognition immediately after voting.

It even spits it back at you if your vote is unclear. I'm not sure what happens if you vote for more than one candidate inappropriately.

One of the problems in Florida in 2000 was that the optical scanners were not set uniformly. In predominantly white/Republican districts the settings were like yours -- to spit back anything ambiguous. However, it turned out that in some predominantly black districts they were set to just accept them and void any mistakes (leaving those for a later hand count). The reuslt: many "errors" that could have been corrected on the spot had to be dealt with in the swampy aftermath, which makes it unclear if they were ever actually counted.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

AWD

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Nov-06-03 08:16 AM
Response to Original message

3. Which restaurant?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

obietiger

(438 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Nov-06-03 08:24 AM
Response to Reply #3

4. 91

excellent food

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

cmd

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Nov-06-03 08:53 AM
Response to Original message

7. Good news, obietiger

I rarely overhear anyone talking about issues when I'm eating out, but when I do the whole establishment seems to stop and listen. This is a great way to get our message out. It empowers and reassures people who agree with us. It would be a very good strategy to meet with like minded people and openly discuss political viewpoints.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

obietiger

(438 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Nov-06-03 09:01 AM
Response to Reply #7

8. agreed

I know that you and AWD live in the same general area that I do - maybe in the future.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Fri Apr 26th 2024, 11:43 AM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.