1.What do you mean “democracy?” E-mail al_calloway@...

2.BETWEEN THE LINES:
Finishing King's Fight: Re-igniting 'The Poor People's Campaign' and the War On Poverty

BY ANTHONY ASADULLAH SAMAD       Last week I wrote a commentary on the problems Black's can't escape. The problems were largely socio-political in scope, some self-perpetuating while others were perpetuated by the historical disparities.       The inference that the problems of Black America were incalculable and inescapable was not lost on many of you (who responded in-kind through a bombardment of e-mails) that we can't give up hope. While I appreciate the response (good to know folk are readin') you missed the point of the commentary.       The point of the commentary was to contextualize the dilemmas facing Black America and the multiplier effect that compounded social problems have created. Hope without action is, like faith without works, dead. We have to do more than HOPE things change. It's time for us all to act. Story Below.

----- Original Message -----

From: falconcam

To: electionreform@yahoogroups.com ; pbcer ; votingintegrityalliance_tampabay_fl@... ; ProjectBlackout@yahoogroups.com ; ircelections ; Mark Adams

Cc: Bev Harris ; DEC Florida ; Woody Smith ; Flash Love ; Dem-FL ; dem-Fl-Broward ; Dem-FL-Miami-Dade ; democrats@... ; PalmBeachCountyDemocrat@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2007 12:32 PM

Subject: [electionreform] Florida's decision to give hundreds of thousands of ex-felons the right to vote should turn into a windfall for the Democratic Party.

Fight for Civil Rights is not Over, Vote Suppression is Real and still in our Laws   "The argument goes like this: Ex-felons who are denied their civil rights after completing their punishment are disproportionately black. In the general population, blacks generally vote Democratic. Therefore allowing ex-felons to vote means more votes for Democratic candidates such as Gore and MacKay." Study says votes of ex-felons could have changed outcomes By Brian E. Crowley Palm Beach Post Political Editor Saturday, April 07, 2007 President Al Gore? U.S. Sen. Buddy MacKay? Legislature 2007 Get the latest news on the session from Tallahassee. High-profile issues Your Post: Biggest issue of the session? Q: Florida Politics blog Inside scoop on the session from Post staff writers. Politics forum More Florida news Latest state headlines P.B. County, TCoast news Special reports Weather | Traffic | Obituaries Did they really lose because ex-felons were not allowed to vote in Florida? Some believe that's exactly what happened in 2000 when Gore lost to George W. Bush and in 1988 when MacKay lost to Connie Mack. The argument goes like this: Ex-felons who are denied their civil rights after completing their punishment are disproportionately black. In the general population, blacks generally vote Democratic. Therefore allowing ex-felons to vote means more votes for Democratic candidates such as Gore and MacKay. Until Thursday, the argument was merely academic. Now, according to that argument, Florida's decision to give hundreds of thousands of ex-felons the right to vote should turn into a windfall for the Democratic Party. But will it? Political expert Susan MacManus, who has studied Florida politics for decades, scoffs at the idea that ex-felons will be flocking to the polls. "I don't think, for many people in that situation, there is going to be much interest in voting," said MacManus, a political science professor the University of South Florida. MacManus said finding a job, a place to live and the other necessities of life will take precedence for ex-felons. And those who do register to vote may not be overwhelmingly Democratic. "No one really knows," said MacManus. "There is an assumption that because many ex-felons are African-American, low-income, low education, they must be Democrats." She said these are stereotypes about black voters that border on racism. And she said there is no empirical evidence about ex-felons' potential as voters. One 2002 study done by researchers from the University of Minnesota and Northwestern University concluded that Gore and MacKay both would have won if ex-felons had been allowed to vote. In an article in American Sociological Review, Minnesota's Christopher Uggen and Northwestern's Jeff Manza, wrote, "If disenfranchised felons in Florida had been permitted to vote, Democrat Gore would certainly have carried the state and the election." The researchers used a number of statistical variables to match ex-felons' characteristics with those of the rest of the population nationwide. Using this information, they arrived at conclusions about likely voter registration and voting habits. They then examined the history of close presidential races and U.S. Senate races around the country. Gore lost Florida by 537 votes. Using their most conservative formula for the number of ex-felons who might have voted, the researchers said Gore would have won by more than 30,000 votes and, in a best-case, by as many as 80,000 votes. In the 1988 MacKay race, he was "likely to have prevailed ... if felons had been allowed to vote," their article said. MacKay lost by nearly 34,000 votes. The researchers say with ex-felons voting he would have won by more than 11,000 votes. While MacManus doubts that anyone really knows what ex-felons will do in coming elections, she does agree with those who said Florida was overdue in restoring voting rights. "It's a very good thing," she said. "This has been a blemish on Florida." -------Original Message-------   From: falconcam Date: 04/07/07 01:21:01 To: electionreform@yahoogroups.com; pbcer; votingintegrityalliance_tampabay_fl@yahoogroups.c Cc: Bev Harris; DEC Florida Subject: [electionreform] What is the Citizens Awareness Project for Truth? Mainstream Media Blockades prevent Citizens from Knowing the Truth.   What is the Citizens Awareness Project for Truth? Mainstream Media Blockades prevent Citizens from Knowing the Truth. Hold on, it's another Limerick inspired by Bev., Need I say more? It's always yes, so that's rhetorical.   "Government is the servant of the people, and not the master of them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. We insist on remaining informed so that we may retain control over the instruments of government we have created."   What is your auditing plan and which SOE invited you to testing of your audit plan??? Should be good. I would not be asking for input, if I did not want good ideas from the Crew. We are framing our desires for what needs to be done, This is a chance for us all to test another county other than Leon Co. Not all SOEs are created Equally, let's just say. But I'll give you more details if your in and bounce whatever good ideas you have here on the Listserv or contact me directly. Ion will as always help us with the hard issues and serve as the Gold standard. before I commits us a good Debate here would be good for the proposed methods and techniques to be used in an Florida County with a blended system. Does any body have the old training manual of how SOEs counted paper Ballots. Otherwise we will have to do the hand count from memory, let's just say the SOE has been around long enough to remember.   The one I have in mind comes from my Senate Ethics & Elections Committee Proposal, I also gave to the Governor.for Surprise PCOS Transparent Independent Audits by Teams of Citizen Volunteers. I've edited a bit and any words or concepts suggested in a positive manner would be greatly appreciated. In other words, a work in progress by the Universal mind we have become part of.   let me bounce some of my arguments off you. These are in response to the Paper Ballot Purist and on the other side of the coin the PH.d.s and their "Software Independence concept". Both want to do away with Optical Scanners. I say the PCOS is only needed for the sport Election officials must play with the media on Election Day. We would have to completely change the rules of the game to allow time for a hand count. The certification process must have a TIA as validation before certification is allowed.   Proposed Solutions Currently available In the Real world of Florida Elections, most SOE's already have Precinct Count Optical Scanners (PCOS) that use Paper Ballots. I'm only proposing a realistic compromise and Statewide Standards now certified by the SOS and the Department of Elections. The Manual Count of Paper Ballots is proof that the Voting System Technology is not Malfunctioning. The Machine Count is proof that there was no Human Error in the manual count of VVPB. By combining the 2 counts will achieve a "Transparent Independent Audit". It's so simple that I don't know why everyone does not understand we need this solution to stay out of the Courts in the future.   Advantages This approach has a number of significant advantages. Combined, these changes return power to the people. Citizens control the process: The counting of paper ballots would be conducted by citizens, in full public view, on election night. The volunteers would live in the locality where the race took place and represent a cross section of the population. This was done for over a hundred years with far fewer questions about elections than we have now. It’s feasible and a proven success as our history shows. Citizens regain confidence in the process: Instead of a crew of experts from private corporations (the voting machine companies or other vendors) or public officials who disdain inquiries, this approach involves citizens conducting the count that determines the winner. Cross checking between hand and machine count: The complaint about hand counts, complaints from those who sell e-voting machines, is that human error occurs when humans count votes. They forget that there is both human error plus a capability for human avarice at play in the handling and programming of voting machines. Our democracy was built on human hand counts and tabulation of voting results. By putting citizens in charge, errors will be caught and corrected on the spot. Reduced post election controversy: Close elections or elections with nonsensical outcomes are difficult to recount due to state laws that make recounts difficult and often expensive. When recounts take place, the recounts often lack common sense like Virginia’s refusal to allow examination of optical scan forms in 2005. The simultaneous hand counting and machine checking creates a situation where the necessity of recounts is greatly reduced.   a. All future Technical Designs for Voting Systems must require the use of the "Voter Verified Paper Ballot" (VVPB). b. The Voter's physical Act of Marking the Paper Ballot serves as the permanent record that the Voter Verified each selection 100 % of the time. c. Hardcopy of the VVPB comes first before any type of Technology can be Applied allowing the creation of 2 independent records of each vote. d. Voter Verified Paper Ballots are counted by an independent manual method. Those same Ballots are then run on PCOS and the 2 separate counts continue until each is brought into balance. Requiring these principle will Eliminate Human Error and Machine Malfunctions as causes of Voter Disenfranchisement. Recent changes in Florida Election Law Instituted under the States previous Administration by SOS Hood, were clearly meant to serve only the Vendor's interests. Changes need to be made to correct this miscarriage of Justice. For over 200 years the Democracy our Founders created has used the paper ballot. There is no reason to Eliminate the paper ballot when it does not need to be fixed. What's really wrong is the vendor's ability to influence our Laws that were recently changed to eliminate the use of the Dually Accountable VVPB. It's the gold Standard of Business Financial Statements applied to our Elections. Respectfully, Bill William F. Faulkner, MBA VerifiedVoting of Florida Pensacola, FL   -------Original Message-------   From: Ellen H. Brodsky Date: 04/06/07 23:59:03 To: electionreform@yahoogroups.com Subject: [electionreform] Re: CHALLENGE TO HOLT SUPPORTERS TO PROVE ME WRONG by Paul Letho   What is your auditing plan and which SOE invited you to testing of your audit plan??? Should be good. What is the Citizens Awareness Project for Truth? Broward is the poster child for lobbyist influence in the purchase of the DREs. Be happy to provide a white paper, needs to be consolidated. You are so lucky you live up in the panhandle. We don't have any opscan counties for at least 200 miles north, south, east or west. I have a dial up connection so it took way too long to download the videos. But it was worth the wait. Ion is a national treasure! Studying Ion Sancho and listening to his speeches should be taught in universities and categorized. No SOE in modern history has had a more profound influence on championing open, accurate and auditable elections. A great public servant who is without reservation accessible to us with a wealth of information. Best, Ellen --- In electionreform@yahoogroups.com, "falconcam" <falconcam@...> wrote: > > Join the Citizen Awareness Project for Truth in the Media "Pass the Words" > > Here's a Hot one, a Florida SOE has invited me to test our auditing > recommendations. Crew get your Camera's ready. > > Seems I'm making a few allies with the SOE's from the 52 Optical Scan > Counties. Dialog with the SOS & FSASE has been my recommendation from the > beginning. Access to them has really improved lately, Plus SOE Sancho handed > us the solution on a silver platter. "Paper Ballots run on PCOS, but the > Devil's in the Details" Mandatory Surprise Precinct Audits is only the first > audit needed. >