As any means for accomplishing a task, be it a machine or a process, becomes more complicated – the opportunities for unintentional errors or intentional abuse rises proportionally. Complexity breeds fragility.

Everybody understands how paper and pens, or paper and punch-holes work. It doesn’t take a computer-science professional to count tick-marks.

As the technology used for voting becomes more arcane, the audit process needs to be exhaustively comprehensive and the mechanisms secure but transparent: Imagine watching a gear-box encased in bullet-proof glass.

Insomuch as the mechanism for voting provides ample opportunity for subtle manipulation; insofar as unscrupulous self-serving agents of political abuse have the method to effect these manipulations; and so long as we continue to elect those who chose to benefit from the motives of corrupt, short-sighted and unpatriotic cronies – we will see our beloved democracy decay.

It is imperative that our Political decision-makers become familiar with the and assured of both the security and transparency of voting mechanisms. I have personal and direct knowledge that the government’s approach to computing systems tends to be slap-dash and replete with flaws from conception, to construction through deployment and support. Corners are cut, process which should have nothing to do with bureaucracy become crippled by incompetency born of partisanship, graft, cronyism and nepotism.

I applaud H.R. 550 as a necessary and heartening step in the right direction of assuring transparency and security.

I support John Laesch as an arbiter and facilitator of desperately-needed oversight and decision-making.

Wednesday, July 26th, 2006 @ 12:03 pm Local Politics
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