RE: C.V.V. Statement

["Paul Tiger" <tigerp@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Lou,

This is similar to what I was saying at last night's meeting. The only way
to make this or any deadline enforceable is to turn off funding. I guess
that they could throw Tom Halicki in jail, but that would probably be the
last choice on their short list.

First the state would probably step in and start buying equipment for us, as
they supposedly will for the counties that don't make their own decisions by
their deadlines.

The only why that the fed has ever been able to enforce jack has been to
turn off the federal money tap that pours down over the capitol in Denver.
They've done it with highway, energy, water funds, etc. Sometimes they've
turned off the taps on things that had nothing to do with each other, except
that the fed was the money source.
Of course we all pay in, so the fed jumps from slavery to simple theft
(Libertarian talk).

The thing is that our county commissioners are all Democrats. I don't want
to make this a partisan conversation, but the fact is and has been for some
time, as shown by past examples, that they will jump to use anyone else's
money (fed - state) rather than from their own general fund. Makes sense,
except that when we use other people's money, we have to play by their
rules.

Of course we know this and we don't want them to do that. We want them to
think for themselves and for our interests. We want them to tell the fed and
the state to back off while we come up with a suitable answer.

I'm with Ralph - its time to stand on the courthouse lawn and bang pots
until people pay attention. I am in great fear that without more attention
to this issue that in 16 days the commissioners are going to lay down and
let the fed, state, and corporate greed drive over them in a steamroller.

Paul Tiger


-----Original Message-----
From: Lou Puls [mailto:lpuls@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2003 11:54 AM
To: CVV List
Cc: lpuls@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: C.V.V. Statement

Paul Tiger wrote:

> BC has card DataVote system that will be outlawed on January 1^st of
> 2004. This must be replaced before the August primary.
>
I may well be wrong, but my understanding of the deadline is rather
different.  It seems to be more the typical Carrot/Stick system -
compliance with HAVA, and its implementation by a State, is "voluntary"
since by the Constitution voting is largely handled by the States unless
precluded by the Constitution, as with disenfranchisement by property,
religion, poll tax, gender, "race", etc.

However if local officials want to have financial support to become
'voluntarily' compliant, then they 'must' follow the Federal guidelines.
 This is similar to such programs as the Federal highway funding:  if a
state wants money to keep up the freeways, they have to be compliant on
drinking age, alcohol blood levels, etc.
If local officials feel strongly enough about such compliance, they can
do without.  If going along with a HAVA, amended or otherwise, that
enables a voting system that is irrational, insecure, and possibly
fraudulent, then indeed the funding help should not be a valid incentive
for compliance.

The deadline is important in that BoCo should not choose a bad system in
ignorance.  If it does, or moves toward doing so, the only rational
course is to file in court to force the County to cease and desist.  I
think such a Plan B ought to be in the works if our loyal opposition
approach fails.

Lou