Reply #43: The lines are drawn

[BeFree]

On one side are those who think privately owned machines can be made to produce an accurate count. The operative word is "can be made to". They think that 550 will enforce that mantra "can be made to."
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On the other side are those who think that the invisible hand of the private companies needs to be cut off completely. And that 550 tends to codify and strengthen that invisible hand.

Yes, we think the machines should be tossed into Boston Harbor. We don't trust the same bought congress who gave us HAVA to release that privatized control over how our votes are counted.
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Having said that, if there is a machine that the experts can recommend to everyone, lets hear about that machine. I have yet to hear of one vendor who has the confidence of the leaders.

Since no machine has thus far appeared, the rest of us can't accept the idea of allowing the invisible hand anymore power.

It is about whether you want more private control, or more open, public control, over how the votes are counted.