Reflection from today's certification of a touch screen system in NY State

I am confused and scared tonight. Confused because the fraud that took place with touch screen voting was real in 2004, and yet there seems to be no mass push to end this from ever occurring again. Confused because this should be the number one thing in people’s minds as far as the upcoming election and yet there seems to be a mass denial about it. Confused that touch screen voting is being implemented in NC. Certification is happening in NY and California and scared because no one seems to be in a hurry to stop it before the 2006 elections. This includes many on this marvelous site. As priorities go, this supercedes all others. Fix this on an all the others problems will get solved in a Democracy.

If any of us have followed the rising storm of fear about DREs, computerised voting systems with no traceable code and no way of verifying the real results in the end with a separate paper ballot, then why are we not all united in the hue and cry for immediate reform? This should be the number one issue for all Americans, yet I am seeing no mass action to address it, let alone, stop it.

Today it was announced that a touch screen system with no paper ballot trail, and no way of testing it as a reliable voting system; was certified by my State board, in spite of good people with excellent testimony and arguments struggling these last months to defeat it.
These good patriots have been given; at best, cursory attention from the officials who are decision makers in this and at worst: complete blockage; completely shut out of a process that should be set up to help destroy any doubt as to the veracity of your vote. If you have been aware, you see this is happening in California as well. It has happened in North Carolina.

Do people not understand that their vote is being taken away from them? Do we not understand that soon we might as well poke our finger in mid air and claim "there, I have voted" only to see the wind carry your action away? If I walked up to each and every one of you and said " Today, I am taking away your power to vote, and you will never have it again. Does this bother or deeply concern you?" Would the answer be a silent shrug, as I am seeing happen right now in this country, even from those who care deeply about political issues and believe they still can make change occur?

I am scared. From my current perspective it seems as if the corrupt nature of our system is beyond fixing and is brazenly putting these contemptible machines into place for 2006, in spite of a very strong voice given against it. It seems as if we are going to let them do it, without a rise of outrage and demand. It seems as if we feel rhetoric is enough to spout as we curl up into a ball and protect our soft underbelly.

Here is my real fear folks: I fear that Democracy is already dead and I am just fooling myself in fighting with the handful of others who care about its continuance. I am open to insight. Am I missing something? Am I being too histrionic and over dramatizing this situation? From the silence of my own party and the dull grunts of my fellow voters, I feel as if this must not be an important issue. Although, I am hard pressed to come up with an acceptance of a Democracy without a representational voice from We the People.

Is it apathy, ignorance, or cynicism at the acceptance of a corrupt system that stops us all from gathering and demanding back our Nation? Are we not explaining the real events thouroughly enough. Is it just too big and overwhelming for many who feel as if they cannot make a difference? Or is it, as I fear, a mass acceptance that Democracy is slowly dying before our eyes.
If I am wrong, then please let me know tonight. Tell me of your own struggles, and your own fears. Tell me how to battle and stop this from continuing. I need more than just the passionate writings on this site. As well intentioned as they are. Tonight I need to hear about real actions that have proved effective. I have read, I have watched and I have become too involved to not understand that this is a very real and very present threat. I am asking for support and explanations tonight to end this fear and confusion within me.

is hell-bent on installing unauditable e-voting throughout the nation, and that no argument, no misgivings, no proof of hackability is going to dissuade them . . . it's a done deal . . .

what's most puzzling to me is why the Democrats are going along with this, since the outcome will certainly insure continued Republican control of the Congress and the presidency in 2006, 2008, and beyond . . .