Date: 05/27/2004 08:46 PM
Name: Jim (kilzzz@hotmail.com)
Subject: E-Vote Printers' High-Stakes Test
I am an election judge in Cook County, Illinois ("E-Vote Printers' High-Stakes Test," May 27, 2004). Though we do not have a touch-screen system in place here, we have used electronic voting for two years. A ballot scanner is used to check each ballot cast with the butterfly ballot. The ballot is inserted by the voter and it informs that person if he or she voted twice or didn't vote for all races.
The votes are all counted electronically and the scanner has a log printout of all activity. I feel safer that the paper trail is there in case a problem or question arises.
I think any voting system that doesn't have a paper trail is insane and a system ripe for abuse. The printers on the scanners haven't given us any problems yet.
I look forward to participating in an election in the future. I hope technology helps us in the future. But everything has to be fair. We have to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. We should not move forward until the checks and balances that a printout will give us are in place.
I am an election judge because I want to make sure that everything is on the up and up. After all, as long as it's a fair race may the best person win.
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Date: 05/27/2004 05:18 PM
Name: HazE (lazyboy454@yahoo.com)
Subject: Drug Farms Forced Underground
Indoor growing is very expensive ("Drug Farms Forced Underground," May 27, 2004). This technique is only profitable when growing cannabis, due to its illegality. This is a huge waste of money caused by uninformed environmental groups. I have been told by anti-GMO organizations that they are trying to use animal DNA in food crops. That is total BS. The only genes being transferred into plants are from other plants. Plus, GMO plants are usually healthier and yield more. The anti-GMO groups will have you believe that humans have never modified DNA to suit their needs. That also is total BS. Mendelian breeding techniques have slowly been changing the genetics of every domestic plant on the planet. What do you think Brassica oleracea is? Broccoli, cabbage, brussell sprouts, cauliflower, and spinach. It all started from a wild plant that we domesticated over the years. Most people who oppose GMO don't even know how the whole process works. Anyone who knows how breeding works, would have no problems with GMO.
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Date: 05/27/2004 03:22 PM
Name: Danilo Campos (weeb@mac.com)
Subject: Tony Long Shapes Up
It's nice to see Tony Long behaving himself and offering substantive Furthermore pieces. The University of Alexandria bit was most enjoyable.
Thanks for listening.
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Date: 05/27/2004 12:16 PM
Name: Wayne Bell (wabell10@hotmail.com)
Subject: Wartime Wireless Worries Pentagon
So we've started broadcasting to the enemy where we are and what we're up before our troops know ("Wartime Wireless Worries Pentagon," May 26, 2004). The stupidity of the news media in these matters is what gives me concern. The element of surprise is the best weapon that our troops have and some want to take that away from them by allowing uncontrolled information to come from the battlefield. Anyone who advocates this has no concern for the safety of our sons and daughters. I have the solution to this: Draft all news reporters and put them on the front lines and then broadcast to the whole world where they will be. When my son was activated, I was told by a neighbor that he was to be activated. He didn't know it yet and I didn't either. The neighbor had read it in a local newspaper. Is this the kind of treatment that we want our children and their families to have when they are trying to protect our way of life? Now some apparently want to transfer this stupidity to the battlefield.
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