[no subject]

It seems to me that a leveraged buy out of the voting machine division is
not out of the question.  With their base of customers and a promise of
transparent and open-source code that one could sell a good voting system
world-wide and make substantial amounts of money.

Venture money is beginning to open up.  A good executive summary of a
business plan could probably be done in a week and money could probably be
secured some time shortly after this November's election.

I welcome further comments.

So, Evan, to answer your question, you don't put a stake in its heart.  You
put heart into the stake.

Ralph



On Thu, 22 Sep 2005 19:16:17 -0600 (MDT), you wrote:

>
>
>How can we put a stake in its heart? -Evan
>
>(also in Businessweek)
>
>Associated Press, 09.21.2005, 11:05 AM
>
>Diebold Shares Fall on Lowered Forecast
>
>
>Shares of Diebold Inc. plunged to a new year low Wednesday after the
>company said its PRESIDENT QUIT  and it slashed its earnings forecast
>for the third quarter, blaming Hurricane Katrina and rising fuel costs
>along with a lower outlook for its automated teller machine business.
>
>The North Canton company, which also makes security and voting machines,
>said its president and chief operating officer quit and that Walden W.
>O'Dell, Diebold's chairman and chief executive, would assume those
>positions to become more involved in the company's global operations.
>
>"Our recent financial performance has been unacceptable, and these
>organizational changes are a major step toward improving our direction,"
>O'Dell said.
>
>Diebold says it now expects to make 32 to 37 cents a share for the
>quarter, including restructuring charges of 7 cents a share. Analysts
>surveyed by Thomson Financial had projected third-quarter earnings of 66
>cents a share.
>
>Full year earnings are expected to be between $1.90 and $2 a share,
>excluding restructuring charges. The company earned $2.53 a share in
>2004.
>
>The company's shares fell $4.98, or 11 percent, to $39.39 in morning
>trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock had previously traded
>in a 52-week range between $44.31 and $57.81.
>
>Half of the company's global revenue from ATMs is from North America,
>where about $50 million in lower revenue expectations are tied to
>customer delays and operational inefficiencies, O'Dell said.
>
>The hurricane affected scheduled ATM deliveries, security installations,
>maintenance contracts and other near-term business throughout the Gulf
>region.
>
>Also, the hurricane hindered deliveries of VOTING MACHINES in the Gulf
>region, costing the company approximately $10 million in revenue during
>the quarter.
>
>Higher fuel prices are also pushing up costs in freight and
>service-fleet operations, Diebold said. The company is starting a fuel
>surcharge on certain services.
>
>The company did not mention whether it is considering job cuts.
>
>"We are evaluating further restructuring and other actions to improve
>our performance and competitiveness beyond the current restructuring
>guidance," O'Dell said.
>
>"We will have more to report on all these efforts during the coming
>months."
>
>O'Dell is assuming the responsibilities of Eric Evans, president and
>chief operating officer. Diebold said Evans is leaving the company and
>has resigned from its board of directors.
>
>+  +  +
>---------------------------------------------------------
>Evan Ravitz          303 440 6838           evan@xxxxxxxx
>Vote to Ratify the National Initiative at http://Vote.org
>Photo Adventures:                         http://Vote.org/photos
>Sins of the father Bush                   http://Vote.org/silence
>
>              "If there is a problem with democracy,
>           the solution is more democracy." -Jefferson
>"The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to
>make and to alter their constitutions of government." -Washington