Those not convinced of fraud when we were, moved on and evolved in their thinking. We ER experts kept thinking of them as "the people who cannot see". We persisted in proving to them the truths that are all now in the past... with the mistaken perception that only convincing them would change the present and future. We never bothered asking ourselves "What do these "non-seers" think today?"
My friends, times have changed since the first thefts and the first ER movements. Our fellow citizens have moved on, while we pine for Election Reform, thinking the only route is to teach them an old and dated lesson.
In the meantime, our fellow citizens have been thinking, observing, and sometimes changing their minds. Sometimes developing new opinions, which we don’t understand because we’re fixed on the past, that moment of our own enlightment.
And so concentrated are we on the past ourselves, and our sometimes outdated goals, we have failed to pay attention to the temperment and mindset of our fellow citizens. Which brings me to this past week.
Our Missouri organization, Show Me The Vote!, chose to screen Dorothy Fadiman's film Stealing America:Vote by Vote, for three days this past week at UMKC.
During the screenings, we seated somewhere over two hundred people, with the hope that some would become "enlightened" about thefts in 2004, and before. And, becoming "enlightened", they would wish to become involved in Election Reform; specifically to support a Constitutional Initiative requiring Missouri to use Hand Counted Paper Ballots.
That is when I noticed something odd. It seemed that, though the audience was fascinated by this excellent film, they were not being won over to the “theft” idea even with the heavy weight of evidence in the film.
It seemed that, based upon the questions and answers, they had either, 1) determined for themselves that theft had occurred, and they devoured the specifics of the film, seizing on data which fit that determination, or,
2) they were totally unhappy with the present electoral process, and desperately wanted it changed. This insistence on change was not, however, dependent upon evidence of past fraud for validation!
What I heard was this.
1) That they knew voting was a right, not a privilege, and wanted that right guaranteed. They needed to know that a vote would be counted as they cast it.
2) They felt it was obvious, having a guaranteed right to vote, that they should have a guaranteed right to affirm for themselves both that, and how, it was counted. That they were owed proof that the vote was correctly counted, and that proof was the ability to see the vote counted.
3) That they believed that the SoS, all Election Directors and all County Clerks were their elected employees. And that they should defer completely to the wishes of their constituents as to the manner in which the votes were cast and counted. Further, that non-compliant EDs shouldn’t be in office, and deserved to be voted out.
Moreover, in accordance with these opinions, they were delighted to learn that the Missouri Constitution had an Initiative Clause, allowing them to formulate law, to have it put on a general ballot, and be able to vote it into the Missouri Constitution as an amendment.
When offered an opportunity to sign an Initiative Petition, forcing a vote to change the Missouri Constitution to require Hand Counted Paper Ballots, virtually every single person chose to do so.
Phil ~ Great job! Being a relative newbie (since 04), I've often thought we haven't won a thing since my involvement. But, I've had to revise that lately when I talk to people outside the movement.
Our message has been received. We did reach most folks; they get that our elections are vulnerable to fraud.
I wish you success with the HCPB initiative - that is when I can begin to see a basis for confidence in reported results.
Leaders in my state have been talking about a similar initiative for as long as I've been involved, but I have yet to see or sign a petition. Hopefully, your efforts will motivate them into action.
Thanks for fighting the good fight!
peace,
Rady
by
Rady Ananda (127 articles, 289 quicklinks, 37 diaries, 1124 comments)
on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at 4:02:48 PM
I actually hold a PhD in the Obvious which I think qualifies me to endorse what you're saying. There is one huge group and a few fragments. The huge group is the public. They know that skepticism is a requirement when evaluating governments conducting elections. They also know that total distrust is appropriate for vendors who take over those government function. One of the two fragments consists of "experts" telling us how the vote works and the other the "elected." We just need to wake up and recognize that we are the people, of them and about them. The case for voting without hindrance, voting on hand counted paper ballots (by citizens), and public financing only for elections is made. We just need to get the vast majority, of all stripes, ready to take back their nation through peaceful and relentless advocacy. Excellent post, you degree is in the mail.
by
Michael Collins (106 articles, 16 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 358 comments)
on Thursday, March 8, 2007 at 10:35:15 PM
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