Politics/Ethics: Operation PinWale - Obama Administration Seeks Emergency Control of the Internet

[James Lee Bell]

Jason Spatafore wrote:
> Until the representatives are removed...we will constantly struggle with
> this so-called Democracy. Technology has finally caught up to where it
> can be used for a direct Democratic country with lower costs than
> running elections every two years. Now is the time to start
> implementing.
I rarely get involved in these discussions, preferring to lurk, but this
is a very intriguing concept that *might* actually be feasible and
achievable. All we have to do is figure out how to accomplish absolutely
unhackable authentication without violating every right to privacy we
hold dear.  Anybody want to hack that up by next Thursday? :-)

> And yes, my first vote is to eliminate paper ballots and bar people
> without access to computers from elections. Sorry, a computer is
> available almost everywhere you go. It's time to grow with the times and
> move on.
I have to say I find this specific means-testing inappropriate just
considering simple demographics. Have we even broken the 50% threshold
of our eligible-to-vote citizens that could have access beyond dial-up?
Hey, you want to computerize (*securely*) the collection of votes in
such a way that folks in "flyover country (/sarcasm)" get to use the
mechanism without owning the device and infrastructure, and without the
yearly trip to Bethlehem, I'm right there with you. Give it 25 years,
and maybe every citizen will have some level of computing device to
participate. Until then...

Just to take a philosophical hitch that'll probably generate a reaction
to put me back in lurk mode, I absolutely think there should be a simple
means test to earn voting rights: for the government entity in which you
are about to vote (fed, state, city), have you paid taxes to that entity
in x% of your eligible voting life (18+)? (asbestos underwear engaged :-)).