HOW NEW YORK'S STORY WILL END:

WHAT CAN NEW YORKERS DO TO PREVENT THE UNDERMINING OF OUR DEMOCRACY

Anyone reading this could definitely answer that question. What is our responsibility having elected our legislators and our governor? At the moment, our legislators and the agency they appointed (SBOE) to make decisions regarding the next electoral system for New York, seem to be suffering from a condition that might be described as "under the influence". Alcohol consumption would be relatively harmless in this situation. It is the influence of the voting vendors that have successfully disinformed those who are poised to force New Yorkers to vote on theft-enabling voting machines. How else can we account for the fact that notwithstanding what California has now made public New York is still planning on buying these defective, unsafe machines? Of course nothing's preventing our decision-makers from getting beyond the propaganda from the vendors. Why should our decision-makers be permitted to remain misinformed about something as critical as the means by which we protect our sovereignty?

When we found out that the Ford Pinto blew up upon impact, did we run out to test drive them and give them another chance? When Mattel announced it was recalling 11 of Barbie's playsets for lead paint and investigating the lead paint in other toys, how many parents rushed to embrace the other Barbie products? We expect people are capable of a rational response to such revelations. Why can't we insist our representatives behave rationally?

Consider this.

The federal government sets minimum performance and safety requirements for automobiles which are certified for use on public roads and highways. Failure to comply with these standards results in a recall of the car or its defective parts.

When there's lead found in the toys Mattel distributes, what's the consequence? Mattel at least claims to undertake extensive testing to ensure the safety and quality of the toys it sells, apologizes to the public, accepts responsibility and recalls millions of toys.

But when the voting vendors are exposed for selling shoddy, insecure equipment, that has been certified for use in public elections, what's the consequence? No recall. No apologies. No vendors accepting responsibility. Just legislators who, having waited this long, now can't wait to spend hundreds of millions of our dollars buying the should-have-been-recalled equipment for us!

New York can take advantage of what other states have had to learn the hard way and forego falling victim to these vendors' misrepresentations. New York can create a publicly accountable, reliable, properly safeguarded electoral system. Unfortunately it doesn't look like the people who want us to re-elect them have any interest in protecting our rights or behaving rationally. Our public officials in Albany seem to think the inadequate theft-enabling equipment sold by these vendors, who continue to misrepresent their defective products, is good enough for us. You gotta wonder where they're getting their information from. Certainly not from scientists who repeatedly have tried to tell us not to fall for the snake oil.

If New Yorkers get conned at this late date, we're going to be the rightful butt of that well known (if not well delivered) adage, fool-me-twice. We're also going to be stuck with the snake oil for a long time.

Matt Blaze of the University of Pennsylvania, lead reviewer California's Inspection 10

The people must remain the masters of their technology and their government, both of which are there to serve the people. Until such technology exists that we can use to serve our interests with the level of assurance that is required by a people who mean to retain their freedom, we should proudly insist on our right and ability to count our votes by our own hand, with our own eyes. We look to you to lead New York and to be a beacon for the nation.