On Trial: Democracy in America

The system we call representative democracy is seriously threatened in many ways, and if it is finally destroyed, it will happen (a) through apathy, decadence and neglect, and (b) in silence, invisibly.

Because, short of alien invasion, for it to happen requires that nobody notices or believes it's happening. It requires the near total cooperation of government, business and major media, and at least for awhile--perhaps even still--the electorate.

Fear and decadence (expressed in distraction and cynicism as well as bland faith) blinds people to the consequences of the Bushites usurpation of power from the other branches and its violations of Constitutional obligations and Constitutionally guaranteed rights, as well as checks and balances. But where democracy is most obviously threatened is at the ballot box.

Several new book adds more fuel to the gathering fire over the last two stolen presidential elections, from the triumph of gerrymandering that guarantees safe districts for incumbents, and the strategy of voter suppression which is growing in sophistication and size, to theft by other means. But as Joel Bleifuss, the author of one of these books points out, even if electronic voting machines weren't being used to steal votes, we're all but inviting somebody to try by not taking the idea seriously:

Sixty-four percent of Americans voted on direct recorded electronic (DRE) voting machines or optical-scan systems, both of which are, to different degrees, vulnerable to interference through hacking or programming fraud. In most cases Americans are being asked, in effect, to place our absolute trust in voting-machine corporations that have failed to meet minimal expectations of impartiality, honesty, freedom from conflict of interest and transparency. Why haven't the companies that produce electronic voting machines made them so that they provide an audit trail (which is easily achieved through paper records)? And why haven't they allowed government regulators to inspect their software? The answer to both these questions is that no one has effectively demanded that they do so.

Don't be a sap, don't be a patsy. Demand that your state guaranteed safe voting and fair elections.