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

[keith smith]

I say no to any tests or qualifications to vote other than one must be here legally.  No tax requirement or test to qualify.
------------------------
Keith Smith


--- On Sun, 8/30/09, James Lee Bell <nuclear-cowboy at cox.net> wrote:

> From: James Lee Bell <nuclear-cowboy at cox.net>
> Subject: Re: Politics/Ethics: Operation PinWale - Obama Administration Seeks Emergency Control of the Internet
> To: "Main PLUG discussion list" <plug-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
> Date: Sunday, August 30, 2009, 9:39 PM
> 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 :-)).
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