E-lection 2008

It’s been a few days since my last post, I procrastinated, but I’ll rationalize it for you. I was waiting for a story that I thought would capture the essence of what Back in Context will be covering. I think it would also be pertinent for you all to know that I’m writing this at 3:45 in the morning. As enthralling as the Situation Room is, my brain, unlike those of the divinely chosen “best political team on television” can not handle hearing the same story every hour; but don’t worry, I’m not bored, the1,346 plasma screens will take care of that.

It was while John King was playing with one of CNN’s new multi-touch screens that I realized one of the largest stories was being suppressed. As impressed as I was by what I’m sure is secretly nicknamed “the best television on television” by CNN, the insouciant manner with which elections and technology are intertwined worried me. Electronic voting machines, direct recording electronic systems (DRE’s), e-ballot; different words that all describe the same threat. These machines do not only pose a problem due to their paperless and unverifiable results, but also subtlety disenfranchises the poor, uneducated and elderly citizens of this country.

According to FindLaw.com, approximately 1/3 of voters in the November 2004 election cast their ballot on DRE’s. This is after a survey of 1000 people found 42% of Americans were distrustful of the machines. When nearly half of the country does not trust something, it probably should not be implemented on a large scale, but we all know from GW that the nation’s levels of distrust can get to around 70% without anything happening.

Many of us have heard the statistics regarding e-voting machines. Hacked in four minutes, physically penetrated even faster. This is unacceptable, but not where the majority of my disagreement lies. I am not a technology expert, nor have I ever hacked a voting machine. I can not verify the truth as of now regarding the security of these devices. What I do disagree with is the effects these machines will have on voters. Civic engagement is crucial to a democracy. The political philosopher John Locke wrote, in much more eloquent words than I will use, that if a person was excluded from the decision making process, even one, the decision could not be made. It is a day when all can participate that I dream of. The same technology that is being used for political gains can just as easily, as Nick Dyer-Witherford writes in Cyber Marx, be used to harness the collective power of humanity for the common good.

Sixty-six percent of Americans had access to the internet in 2007 according to internetworldstats.com. Although many more have been exposed to this communication tool, the ability to understand, use, or feel comfortable using should not be assumed by the state. The same goes for the poor and uneducated, limiting the voting options, especially to one without a true record, will only end in fraud. This disenfranchisement would not be without precedent. Florida (circa 2000), for instance, had numerous reports of broken machines in poor areas, state troopers blocking entrances, and registered voters being purged from lists. No one who wants to legally participate in elections should be denied that right.

In order to help right this wrong, I am asking for any anecdotes, stories, pictures, anything at all, from you the readers. If you have witnessed these electronic voting machines in inaction, or any other unfair voting methods please send them in. It’s time to put this story back in context.

--Philip

Real I.D.iocracy

The World Journeys On

I have always been inspired by a poem written by Earl C. De Mott entitled "The World Journeys On." Before beginning our discussions (and I hope they will be discussions) I would like to give you the opportunity to read it:

The World Journeys On

Walk past the killing fields, the oil spills, the famished,

the residents of the streets, the unemployed, the smallpox
patients, the corporate scandals, the greed, the human rights
violations, the court battles, the domestic abuse, the racial
inequality, the prejudice and bias, the nuclear weapons
buildups, the arsons and rapes and abductions and media
blitzes, the jihads and crusades, the cold war, and the hot war,
and the war without words that sucks
the soul out of the living...

Walk past it all, and you have a beautiful world.

- Earl. C. De Mott

Something I've always wanted to say.

Click the title of the link to listen to what I have to say.

Before I start with the regular posts I thought it would be advantageous to express why I am doing this, and why I think your support is so important. The link is to a speech of mine that I have always had in my head but never written down or recorded until now. Please let me know what you think, I'll be placing more audio commentary on this blog as it progresses and I will be using your comments to make sure I'm talking about what you want to hear about.

Welcome

Let me first say thank you for finding, and hopefully continuing to read "Back in Context." You, the reader, will be the most important aspect of what I hope Back in Context will become. The purpose of my starting this blog is to illuminate the many ways the mainstream media has a stranglehold over American society, and all that is included within that term. From the sharks-in-a-feeding-frenzy lead up to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, to the horribly negligent and unprofessional coverage of the presidential primaries, the news networks of America must be held accountable. This is not to say that I don't realize that people make mistakes, but when making "mistakes" becomes the mission statement, it's time for a change. My posts will cover a wide variety of topics, some humorous, some serious, some written at 4:30am in between cups of coffee during finals (which could end up being seriously humorous). I will be analyzing and correcting as many news outlets as possible, and putting what they report back in context.

One of the most exciting parts for me about this blog is the input I hope to receive from all of you. I will be asking for your own Back in Context reports about your local news, because no manipulation or uncorrected mistakes are acceptable no matter the locale. There will be much more to come, and I am looking forward to hearing from you the entire way. Thank you again; together I know we can make the change America needs.