Sunday, October 19, 2008

Voter Fraud - Nobody Wins!

This entry was originally posted a week ago and today some very disturbing news was reported about 50,000 registered voters being purged from the rolls in Georgia. With all the fuss about ACORN, those phony voters registered are minor and will not be able to vote come election day, but there are lawsuits in Colorado, and many other concerns about voters being secretly and possibly illegally purged from voter rolls in many states just DAYS before the election.

Here is one thing we can ALL agree on: Democracy means nothing if our elections are not free and fair, and open to all. Every citizen has the right to vote, and that right should be fiercely guarded by all of us, or soon we may find that it is our rights being trampled.

America has been a watchdog for free and fair elections around the world, and a huge proponent of democracy, and yet our own elections have been suspect over the past several years. Voter suppression, intimidation tactics, suspect voting machines without a paper trail, long lines caused by not enough or non-functional voting machines in certain precincts, random voter purges from election rolls, intentional misinformation campaigns and other nefarious tactics have been used to disenfranchise voters.

This website details voter suppression tactics being carried out RIGHT NOW in different parts of the country, such as misinformation campaigns targeted at college students in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Colorado – curiously, all swing states in the upcoming election, poll location changes without voter notification, and problems with registrations and absentee ballot applications in several states. One of the most disappointing reports concerns the possible denial of voting rights to those who have had their homes foreclosed in Michigan because they can’t prove their current address. Talk about insult to injury.

When we no longer have government “of the people, by the people, and for the people,” as Abraham Lincoln proclaimed in the Gettysburg Address, this nation is headed for a fall. The Declaration of the Independence declares, “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” What are the chances that black voters in Cleveland will show up to vote this time after standing in the rain for 8-9 hours in 2004 – many giving up and leaving. How likely are those who have lost their homes to foreclosure to show up at the polls to be further humiliated and possibly turned away? How many Colorado voters will show up on Nov. 4th after having waited in impossibly long lines in 2004?

Rolling Stone recently published a lengthy story asking if the 2004 election was stolen. It cites numerous sources, and was written by Robert Kennedy, Jr. and BBC Reporter Greg Palist. Wikipedia also dedicates a fair amount of information on this subject with well-documented sources.

However, whatever bitterness still remains about the 2000 and 2004 elections is NOT the point. The point is that we cannot allow our electoral system to be compromised in the future. Who really wins if the results of an election are tainted? Not “we the people,” not democracy.

Some sources for information about voter suppression and fraud:

Free For All - trailer

Free For All - full movie

http://www.stealbackyourvote.org/

www.gregpalist.com

Saturday, October 11, 2008

How This Works

Ok, so it's taken me a long time to really get this going because I wasn't quite sure how to make it work. I want it to be a dialogue about the political and social issues that divide us. I want us to be able to eschew labels such as liberal, conservative, Democrat and Republican, and talk as people about what concerns us, ignites our passions and fires us up enough to fight for. It is easy to be against something. It is easy to use a scare tactic to ignite fear and make people angry. I want to know what you're for, what you need, what you believe in and how we can begin to work together to fix the problems in this country and global society we now live in.

I strongly believe that being divided, making the other side out to be evil, and standing so firmly on the mantle of our beliefs without a willingness to listen to and try to understand someone else's view-point will be our downfall as a nation. I have posted my views about healthcare, and I welcome comments in the attitude of seeking first to understand. It is so easy in today's society to surround yourself with only those who agree with you, and real discussion is difficult if not impossible when the hard-core rhetoric is trotted out. Given that, the rules for this discussion will be as follows:

- No name-calling, labels, or political party rhetoric has a place here. If that is what you are seeking, there are plenty of other places on the web to post your comments and find others who will agree with you. You will be blocked if you don't respect the rules.
- Full names are required in order to post. That is why you will be required to log-in in order to comment. I honestly think the anonymity of most internet commenting is what gives people license to be insulting and demeaning. If you aren't willing to include your full name in relation to a comment, then you probably shouldn't be making it publicly.
- The goal is to find common ground, not stand your ground or defend your point of view. "Seek First to Understand and then to be understood." Please ask questions, seek clarification, and be willing to be open and honest about why you believe what you believe. Yes, share opposing viewpoints when necessary, but do so respectfully.
- Please don't quote others. Let this be about your voice. If you want to share a link that reinforces your POV or cite an article or resource, feel free, but this dialogue will be best when it is about what YOU believe, not the NYT or Fox News or your Uncle Fred.

There are many, many factors that play a role in shaping our beliefs and making us who we are. I urge you to explore your own ideology and make sure that it is yours. Sure, we were raised by our parents in a certain way, taught values perhaps by a religious tradition, and we are impacted every day by what we listen to, watch and read in the media. When it comes down to it, what is it that YOU believe? What is important to you? Please approach this discussion with a mind toward answering those questions for yourself, and finding common ground with your neighbors, co-workers, family members and fellow citizens.

Please submit your own essay of 1000 words or less to meetinmiddle@gmail.com. some possible topics include:

Energy
Global Warming/Climate Change
Our place in the global community
Immigration
The Economy
Education
Taxes
Free Markets
Gay Rights
Abortion
Family Values
Sex Education
Research Funding

Of course there are many, many more. Choose an issue that informs your vote and share your thoughts with us.