h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

what about 'united states of the world' against Ohio.........

WWWA?
When people rig their elections they don't give a sh!t. That's what's wrong with them.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/index.php?id=284
And some stats if you think he's making it up.
http://ustogether.org/election04/FloridaDataStats.htm

Why is nobody stopping this? Are the Democrats really so ineffective? WTF were all those lawyers DOING?

If this had happened in France there would be about 20million people in the streets protesting! The shrub lost AGAIN!

PS I think I'm turning into a conspiracy theorist. I don't like that feeling at all.

People of Canada:

Prepare for a mass immigration of Liberal Democrats. God knows I'll hopefully be there soon.

What's happened is that the people are powerless to complain. The words 'conspiracy nuts' are useful tools against any objections, the word 'traitor' is a useful tool against pacifist thinking.
If you've got the money, you've got the power and so it is in George Bushs jr's best interest to keep those off side voters poor. The Florida results surprised me as did a whole lot of other places.
Why in god's name were the poor voting for the rich cats to keep them poor? It makes no sense. Why were terrorised people voting on supposedly moral issues?
We'll have to see what the UK election brings and see if we have any more power than people across the Atlantic.

The pickle is that even if Kerry had reasons to believe the elections were tampered with, I'm not sure he would reveal them. He would be taking a big risk if he would. He could give the Democrats the image of sore losers for the rest of their existance. And he could undermine the legitimacy of Bush's position, which would be bad for the USA as a whole.
I don't agree with these points - the sorest loser is a cheater, and it is only fair Bush's legitimacy is questioned - but it is how (many)politicians think. Let's hope I underestimated Kerry.

<>

So it would seem! I don't understand why people are not up in arms... even the in NZ would be getting upset if one of the rightwing parties pulled something similar here...

*Sighs. Mumbles: This is beyond insane.*

You guys don't have to believe me; but there is NO WAY IN HELL that the Republicans even COULD have rigged the Election if they TRIED!

*Any* election can be rigged if you are prepared to spend enough money to bribe the right people. Thats all it takes, a thick wallet.

However, there are steps that can be taken to make rigging as difficult as possible and if it does occur, make it easy to spot. One the best way of doing that is to keep the electoral system as simple as possible.

The simplest means of holding an election is to have the electors make a cross on a piece of paper with a pencil. Simple, effective and even the most poorly educated person can do that without difficulty.

Touch screen VDU's are a recipe for disaster, especially when you consider that the elector has to be supervised to make sure they do it right.

Donald

I don't think the US election was rigged. We had many years of Thatcherism here in the UK - eventually we turned back to the 'left' again. (OK I know Blair isn't that left), but there are at least some decent socialists in power - and what ever anyone says Blair is preferable to Thacher. Any way I digress. I think it is better to accept the reality of the situation, and work out a way to win next time.

At least Bush has to sort out his own mess - and it won't be easy........

>> We had many years of Thatcherism here in the UK - eventually we turned back to the 'left' again. (OK I know Blair isn't that left),<<

Yes, but look at the alternatives. Michael Foot and Neil Kinnock plus a strong recollection of what went before. Blair only won because he moved the Labour Part a hugh leap to the right.

Donald

Mr X, I know it does seem beyond belief that the election was rigged, but look at the michael moore link again; there was an interview on US TV which said, 'This is how to rig the election.'

Although how the thousands of Democrat lawyers didn't spot it IS a possible weak point in the theory...

I still think this business of thinking that the eletion was rigged leads absolutely nowhere. Look to the future cos people in the US (even the christian right) won't let the Republicans in again if they foul up. I still believe that the vast majority of Americans are not extremists, and what is happenning at present is a reaction to 9/11..

>> and what is happenning at present is a reaction to 9/11..<<

So why did New York vote Democratic?

Donald

I'm talking about 9/11 as a symbolice attack upon American soil, stupid.

So New Yorkers didn't think 9/11 was a good reason to vote for Bush, why did the rest of the USA. What has voting for a self serving war monger got to do with 9/11. There was nothing symbolic about 9/11 as far as New Yorkers are concerned, but it's still no reason to vote for Bush.

You don't still believe the there is a connection between 9/11 and Iraq do you? Or that the "War on Terror" is going to stop it happening again? In fact the "War on Terror" is likely to increase the chances of it happening again.

If you haven't got the wit to argue your point without being abusive, they you cannot have much of a point to argue.

Donald

>> there was an interview on US TV which said, 'This is how to rig the election. <<

Only one tiny flaw in MM's argument there*...if you did such a thing you would be *caught*. "Anyone who can hack a computer can do this" er...no. sorry Michael, it's a bit more complicated than that. Try doing it without leaving any trace that you'd actually made any changes.

RF

* Like in so many of his arguments.

Since when did voting have anything to do with rationality....Sorry if you find my reference to Clinton, (stupid) offended you; its just that I find your understanding of US politics a little naive, Donald. I've visited the US a few times and found the people there to be much like they are in ther UK.

Whats Clinton got to do with it? He was out of office when 9/11 occurred. Your reference to stupid seemed suspiciously aimed at me, so much so I was tempted to yikes it but decided against it.

I have visited America a few times and have associated with Americans a lot in the Armed Forces. Yes, they are like us in many ways. But there are also a lot of differences, believe me there are.

Donald

Yes, we spell it aluminum.