Re: CFVI and CVV on KBDI-12

[Ralph Shnelvar <ralphs@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Pete:

I tried getting through.  KBDI answered but did not put me on air.  I was on
hold for about 30 minutes.  Sigh.

I wanted to make three points but managed to make zero.  Those three points,
below.


On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 22:13:48 -0600, you wrote:

>I was the second caller with the "what if flash memory fails" question;
>which they totally dodged, instead of answering, by saying, well it just
>won't fail.
>
>The moderator never got it: "what's the difference if I verify what I write
>vs. if I verify what I touch?"
>
>I think that points up the "level of enlightenment" we must deal with to win
>hearts and minds: 

[snip]

This is absolutely correct.  That's why I proposed a skit showing what
happens inside a machine.  Anyone remember the skit I wanted to produce
regarding the Monster Raving Loony Party?  (Which is, by the way, a real
political party in the U.K..  http://www.omrlp.com/)

Bless Bob, he brought visuals with him to the show.  It made a big, big
positive difference.



The three points I wanted to make:

1) The difference between using a calculator and using a computer to count
votes is that there is no money to be made by screwing up a calculator.

2) I was a poll watcher in the last election.  As a poll watcher, what would
I be watching?

3) At the end of an election there are legal requirements to certify the
election.  What is being certified by the certifiers?



Yes, Pete, Reggie Rivers (the moderator) doesn't "get it."  Actually, I
think he _does_ "get it" but that he deliberately didn't in order to keep
the show entertaining and "balanced."


Last, I want to congratulate Joe and Bob for doing a first-rate job on that
show.  They had exactly the right balance of assertiveness.  That was tough
given that they were up against a pair of slick politicians as well as a
pair of "grandmotherly" women.

Good job!

Ralph